Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Obit of the day


Professor Malcolm Parkes' obituary is in today's Times. He was a paleographer and an expert on medieval handwriting at Keble College, Oxford. Here's an excerpt:
"His funeral sermon recalled his role in a student production of Richard II when the college chaplain, now a bishop, pushed him in a wheelbarrow down the aisle of the chapel as together they played the cameo scene of the gardeners, as variations on Bill and Ben, the Flowerpot Men were played on the organ."
One of his students said, "his generosity of spirit was as remarkable as his generosity with spirits was legendary."
RIP

4 Comments:

Blogger Angus said...

Ah, the days when academics were generous with spirits.

8:40 am  
Blogger Whispering Walls said...

Indeed, Angus. My favourite supervision was Latin love poetry from 5-6pm because my supervisor always offered me a glass of sherry at 6 o'clock.

9:02 am  
Blogger Angus said...

Can't compete with the sophistication of that . Mine was 10.00 am Arabic held in the pub with a pint of beer and a steak pie.

8:18 pm  
Blogger Whispering Walls said...

You're an Arabist?

8:31 pm  

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