In memoriam

We are sad to announce that Paul Proudman died peacefully on Thursday 12 December 2024. He had Alzheimer's disease for the past few years. Paul was both a former student and later on a Senior Lecturer. He helped run the first year of the Architecture degree programme for a number of years and contributed to the life and development of the School to one of the best and largest in the country. Paul had a very strong interest in music and art and exhibited his paintings widely including at the Royal Academy Annual Art Exhibition. He was very much involved in most of the School's activities and the School exhibitions. We cannot forget his famous art creation of a Dalek in the Students Annual Review in the 1970s.
Professor Mike Jenks, former Head of School, said: "Paul was a real presence in the School for such a long time."
Thank you to Paul for all you have done for this School that you loved dearly for all these years.

Matt Gaskin, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology
Professor Byron Mikellides, Emeritus Professor, Oxford Brookes

Andrew (Andy) McNab studied Town and Country Planning at Oxford Polytechnic. In a career that took him to different parts of the world, he specialised in environmental resource projects and strategic planning. He passed away from cancer in March 2020, and is survived by his wife Carolyn and their sons Andrew and Douglas. 

Andy read Town and Country Planning at the then Poly and went to Westmorland. He was there for the transition from Local Government to National Park and Cumbria, an exciting time and a chance to write a new rule book.

He enjoyed orienteering, fell running and amateur dramatics. He and his wife Carolyn exchanged the fells for the wilds of Tasmania where an orienteer might happen across a huge monitor lizard. State planning there encouraged Andy to move into consultancy and he returned to the UK to join a firm in Oxford.

From there and London he worked across the world, specialising in environmental resource projects and strategic planning, such as airport extensions, new ports, fish farms, new towns, heritage work and national parks. He and his wife lived for short periods in Malaysia and China, the latter a constant source of fascination and frustration.

He retired to SW Scotland to create a large garden full of Australian and Chinese himalayan plants, besides serving with the Southern Upland Partnership and Crichton Carbon Centre. He is survived by his wife Carolyn and their sons Andrew and Douglas, the latter also a town planner.

Doris Simms, Brookes' oldest living alumna, passed away in June 2018 at the age of 99. She studied economics and shorthand typing at what was then the Oxford School of Technology, Art and Commerce in 1935. Doris married fellow alumnus, Jack Simms, in 1942. Doris played an important part in Oxford Brookes’ 150th anniversary celebrations in 2015.

Doris studied economics and shorthand typing at what was then the Oxford School of Technology, Art and Commerce in 1935 when she was 16 years old.

Doris played an important part in Oxford Brookes’ 150^th anniversary celebrations in 2015. She attended a special performance of Educating Oxford, a play telling the story of Oxford Brookes, its origins, the development of the institution and the people who were the driving force behind it.

The performance by Flintlock Theatre was held at the Taylor Institution, where the Oxford School of Art was first based. At the event Doris was also reunited with a fellow alumna, Phyliss Timbs, who passed away earlier this year.

Speaking at the time, Doris said: “I was a pupil for a year at the college just after I left grammar school and before I got my first job.

“Technology, art and commerce were the three things that were necessary for people who had left school. Not many of us could go to college at that time and I loved it there. I grew up there.”

Doris also spoke about her fond memories of studying at the School in a video, filmed for the 150^th anniversary.

Doris’ husband was Jack Simms, also an alumnus of the University. After meeting at a dance at the Oxford Town Hall, they married on Boxing Day 1942. Jack passed away in January 2017 aged 93.  

Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, commented: “It was tremendously sad to hear the news that Doris Simms has passed away. I had the privilege of meeting Doris during our 150^th anniversary celebrations and she was a remarkable individual who was intrinsically linked to the rich history of the University. Our thoughts are with Doris’ family and friends at this time.”

(known as Jimmie)

10th May 1924 - 9th June 2016

It is with great sadness to announce the death of Jimmie Cox, former student  and member of staff of the Oxford School of Architecture on Thursday 9th of June 2016 in his home in Savannah Georgia at the age of 92. He became a distinguished Professor in Architectural History at both the University of Virginia and SCAD , the Savannah School of ART and Design.

Jimmy Cox last visit to Oxford from Savannah, Georgia was on Sunday 6th of April 2014 to celebrate his 90th Birthday. He was met by Nigel Hiscock and Geoffrey Randell both of whom shared the distinction of being both students and tutors at the Oxford School of Architecture. Jimmy was teaching here in the 1950’s and 60’s and was the first Oxford tutor to teach in the USA at the University of Virginia where he became a distinguished professor in History and Theory. He eventually retired to Savannah Georgia where he now lives. He was a long running Secretary of the Doric Club and organised the Doric Club meeting at the Town Hall, Oxford in May 1955 chaired by our then Honorary President John Henry Brookes whose name now marks the new University in Oxford.

At the Ashmolean, he was presented with a triptych memo entitled 'The 3 musketeers of the Doric Club' covering 70 years history of the Doric Club and the Oxford School of Architecture. See both the framed presentation attached photos of the occasion at the Ashmolean on the 6th of April. On his way back he stopped at the new John Henry Brookes building and the Glass Tank housing the new Oxford School of Architecture.

The Oxford School of Architecture will greatly miss Jimmie Cox, one of its founding fathers who together with Reginald Cave and John Henry Brookes helped  to build the reputation of one of the best Schools of Architecture in this country. He became the first member of staff from the Oxford School to be appointed Professor in America and he had the Oxford School always at heart.

He was delighted to be back and see the new School at the John Henry Brookes University and witness its  phenomenal progress over the years.

Byron Mikellides,

Doric Club Secretary

Andrzej Galan passed away on 1st January 2015, aged 49.

Andrzej was both an alumnus and former member of staff of Oxford Brookes, having studied Visual Studies and Publishing whilst the University was still a Polytechnic (1986 - 1989) and later working as a Design Officer in the Communications Department. On July 6th 2014 Andrzej was hit by a car while trying to cross a busy highway (the SE-30 in Sevilla, where he had been living for the past 10 years), and had been in hospital ever since. In the last month he was regaining consciousness of things around him, starting to speak again, answer questions. Complications in his respiratory system overtaxed his heart. He was resuscitated, but it stopped again on January 1st definitively.

Andrzej replied to the callout for stories about time spent at Oxford Brookes for our 2015 celebrations with this anecdote:

My time at the Poly, Brookes, would be for my graphic design prof, Don Antonio Evora. He taught everything I know regards design and art and life and music. He is always in my heart. I could tell more than 150 stories about him… So now I will smoke a Cuban cigar and have a glass of Mojito.

Andrzej is survived by his wife, Anne, and sons Adrian and Tomas. She described him as 'painter, guitarist and wonderful person.'

The following is a tribute from colleagues of Viv:

"We recently received the very sad news that Vivienne Satur, a Supervisor in the Grab & Go Shop and alumna of Oxford Brookes, passed away suddenly on Wednesday 28 August.

The shop staff have received messages of sympathy from many University colleagues who knew Vivienne and have decided to open a book of condolence at the Helena Kennedy Shop. This will be passed on to her family as an expression of how highly Vivienne was thought of and how much she will be missed by her friends and colleagues at Brookes.

Any colleagues who would like to contribute to the book can either call in to the shop and write their message in person or email.

The shops are also collecting donations that will be used by Vivienne’s family and friends to create a lasting memorial.

Her colleagues would like to express how Vivienne was a much loved member of the Oxford Brookes community, both as a graduate and staff member. She was always looking to help other people and to make people smile with her friendliness and good humour.

She will be greatly missed here at Oxford Brookes, but her memory will live long with the many people who had the privilege to know her."

Jack passed away after a short illness in 17 January 2014 at the age of 97.

Jack was born in Oxford on 9th April 1917. Although christened John, he was known as Jack throughout his life.

His birth certificate shows him simply as John Simms, but at some point, and at quite a young age, he decided to give himself a middle name, and chose Anthony. His family tell me that they are not sure why he did this, or why he chose that particular name – they think he must have decided that his original name was simply too short, and that John Anthony Simms had more of a ring to it. Jack was brought up in Leckford Road, in North Oxford, and went to school firstly at St Faith’s, then at St Philip & St James, and finally at the Central School in Gloucester Green.

He sang in the choir at Phil & Jim’s, and was a member of the Church Lads Brigade. He greatly enjoyed the Brigade, where his favourite marching tune was Onward Christian Soldiers. He was very keen to attend Brigade camp and first did so at the age of nine – arriving home afterwards with only half of his kit, having managed somehow to lose the rest.

After leaving school in 1932, Jack joined what was then the Pressed Steel Company in Cowley. After three years’ workshop training, he embarked on a five-year engineering apprenticeship. This was the start of a long and illustrious career as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. Jack was a gifted engineer and loved his profession.

During his working life, he was involved in many projects: as well as designing cars, he worked during wartime on planes, armoured vehicles, and even the British version of the jerry can which involved x-raying a German can captured in the western desert.

He was seconded to the Ministry of Works as a consulting engineer, and in 1944 he was Engineer in Charge of the experimental department, working on the Gloster Meteor aircraft and on one-man submarines. Although in a reserved occupation, Jack was a member of the Upper Thames Patrol, part of the Home Guard. The Patrol was known by its initials of UTP, which were considered by many to stand for “up the pub”. The boat in which they patrolled was owned by one of the squad, who was very protective of his varnished decks and insisted that the men wear carpet slippers whilst on duty – a memory which never ceased to amuse Jack. Towards the end of the war and immediately afterwards, Jack continued to work for the Ministry of Works, being involved in the design and production of prefabricated steel housing.

Jack met Doris in 1940 at a dance in Oxford Town Hall. It was apparently not love at first sight, although the relationship blossomed and they married on Boxing Day, 1942. As it was wartime, there are no photos of the day and the wedding cake was made of cardboard. It was, nevertheless, a very happy occasion.

After a short honeymoon at the Cumberland Hotel in London, Doris and Jack took up residence in a flat in George Street, Oxford, above where Jamie’s Italian is now situated, with very few mod cons, even less furniture and no carpets. Jack was seconded to a post in the USA in 1946, to work on a new design of stainless steel railway carriage. He and Doris lived for a year in Philadelphia, having flown out from the original London Airport with its passenger terminals consisting of ex-military marquees.

On their return to Oxford, Jack and Doris settled in Harbord Road, in North Oxford, adopting their daughter Tracy in 1957. In 1958, Jack became Chief Engineer at the Pressed Steel plant in Linwood, and he, Doris and Tracy moved to Scotland, eventually settling in Newton Mearns, just outside Glasgow.

In 1966, he was appointed as Group Standards Engineer at Cowley and the family moved to Woodstock. Jack retired in 1980, his distinguished career earning him a feature in the Oxford Times. He was by this time a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and continued to do consultancy work for the British Standards Institute for some years after he retired. Jack and Doris had many very happy years of retirement.

Jack had always loved driving and both he and Doris enjoyed going out and about – often visiting places of interest around the UK. A particular pleasure was going for pub lunches in the Cotswolds! They also ventured further afield, visiting India and China, as well as European destinations, being particularly fond of France and Italy.

In recent years, Jack and Doris were embraced by Oxford Brookes University as their oldest alumni. Although they didn’t know each other at the time, both had studied part-time in their youth at the Oxford Schools of Technology, Art and Commerce, which came to be known as the Oxford Polytechnic, later Oxford Brookes, and had met John Brookes himself. They were able to contribute their memories to the College’s archives and were delighted and proud to be invited to visit Oxford Brookes and to have their photographs published in the local press.

Jack was in good health until his 96th year but became housebound in November 2012 following a short illness. Doris took wonderful care of him at home until his condition deteriorated earlier this month and he was admitted to hospital, where he passed away three days later.

Jack and Doris were a devoted couple. On the morning of the day he died, before he slipped into unconsciousness, Jack had spoken to the doctor at the JR about their 71 years of marriage. Their long relationship was a central part of their lives and crucially important to them both.

Tribute by his daughter Tracy:

My Dad was a quiet, private and kind man, who rarely spoke without first considering what he had to say and who rarely wasted words. He had a dry sense of humour and could convey his amusement (or sometimes, bemusement!) with a shake of the head and a roll of the eyes. He had a real passion for engineering. He told Mum recently that he felt he had been destined to become an engineer, his interest in building things and making them work having been sparked by a Meccano set which he owned as a boy and which he had used to build large and elaborate models, which filled his bedroom.

He knew his stuff: shortly after Dad’s retirement, I met someone who had worked with him at the Engineering Department in Cowley. We got chatting and, when he discovered that I was Jack Simms’ daughter, he told me that Jack was the only senior person in the department to whom he would ever go for advice, because he knew that the information which Jack gave him would always be accurate.

I told Dad this at the time – typically of him, he didn’t say much but he did smile broadly and look justifiably pleased. Even into old age, Dad never lost his interest in gadgets and he embraced computers in his early eighties. This was at the time when companies and institutions started inviting people to “visit our website for more information”. Dad realised that here was a new innovation, which he hadn’t mastered, and decided that he needed to rectify the situation. He enrolled in a beginners computing course at the local school; we gave him our old computer and he was away – browsing the web, sending emails and writing letters – later graduating to internet banking.

I was very proud of him and told everyone I knew that my dad had become a “silver surfer”. He was very well organised – if there was ever a screw or nail of a particular length needed, Dad would disappear into the garage and produce one from his meticulously labelled stores. He always kept things which he felt would be useful at some point in the future. I don’t know whether he ever actually found a use for that glass washing machine door but, knowing Dad, he probably did.

Dad loved our children, Sophie and Hannah, and he and Mum used to care for them once a week when they were small, while I was at work. The girls and I have recently been thinking and talking about him and both remember enjoying Grandad pushing them around Mum and Dad’s back garden in his wheelbarrow (at some speed)! Sophie remembers them being taught by Granddad to bang their knives and forks on the table at lunchtime, and to shout in unison “where’s my dinner?!” if Nana was a little slow in serving lunch. This is probably the sort of thing, which only grandfathers can get away with!

It was sad to see Dad not able to be active during the last year or so of his life, although even during this time, I think he was able to quietly enjoy life a lot of the time, despite often not feeling well.

He read the paper and watched TV, and didn’t lose his sense of humour. He had a carer, Emma, whose daily visits really cheered him up and Mum and I are both very grateful to her for that. These are just a few of my memories of my Dad. He was a lovely Dad and there is so much more that I could say, if only there were time. He and my Mum were incredibly happy together for 73 years and I don’t know how one could even begin to fit so many years’ worth of memories into such a small space. We will miss him so much – but we will never forget him.

Guy was a highly respected architect, founder of Guy Taylor Associates and an alumnus of the Oxford Polytechnic School of Architecture.

Zoia studied and then taught at the Oxford School of Architecture in the late 1960's

In the early hours of December 5th 2013, Zoia Beresford passed away in Narberth Pembrokeshire at the age of 82.

Zoia, was brought up in Hampshire, and was sent off to the infamous St Trinian’s school. Zoia became a student and later a member of staff at the Oxford School of Architecture from the late sixties till the late seventies, teaching architectural design and specialising in conservation in the Diploma course. She also taught in the School of Surveying. She will be remembered for her enthusiastic involvement with the Doric club, when for a number of years in the 1970s she organised the end of 6th year celebration parties in her house in Old Headington, when both staff and students would splash about in the swimming pool - after the announcement of the final results at the ‘Vicky Arms’ in Old Marston.

In the eulogy read by her son Max, who also studied at the Oxford School, he recalled:

“I remember playing in the diploma studio at Oxford Polytechnic and coming home on a bright summer’s afternoon to find the garden littered with students and staff who appeared to have been drinking all day. Mum and one other member of staff were the only ones standing… but only just”.

On hearing of Zoia’s death, alumni from the Norwegian Doric Club, Bent Stensaker and Gunnar Aaserud remembered fondly the “great garden parties celebrating the final results”. Other members of the Doric Club, including John Assael, Gus Grundt, Andreas Grieg, Mette L’Orange and Tobben Eggen and Erik Romke, sent their condolences to the Doric Club and to the Oxford School of Architecture. The Head of School of Architecture, Matt Gaskin sent flowers on behalf of the School.

Zoia moved to Wales in 1992 where she lived ever since, closer to her family. She had a lifelong passion for horses and dogs and there were many pony trekking adventures in the welsh hills with her son and grandchildren.

The funeral took place at the Narberth Crematorium, Pembrokeshire, on Friday 20th December.

Written by Byron Mikellides and Manfred Thoms.

Andrew Hutton studied a post graduate diploma in Urban Planning for 2 years at the Oxford Polytechnic, graduating in 1971.

Obituary written by Jennifer Hadland (for Root & Branch, the Yorks RTPI newsletter):

"It is sad to note that Andrew Martin Hutton, 63, died suddenly and unexpectedly on 4 September 2012.

"A kind and caring man, who spent the majority of his life working as a Chartered Town Planner, Andrew was a member of the RTPI (Yorkshire) and during his professional life, worked for both the local government (Hull City Council and Ryedale District Council) and the private sector (Smiths Gore).

"Born in Huddersfield in 1948 the family soon moved to Walsall, where he spent his school days, before moving to Matlock in Derbyshire to complete his sixth form education. He kept up those friendships from Matlock Sixth Form, meeting regularly through the years.

"Andrew was the very first Planner at Smiths Gore. At the start, as the sole specialist within the firm, by working with non specialist colleagues and directly for major clients, he covered the whole of England. His application and ability allowed him to forge strong relationships with clients and fellow colleagues. From these beginnings, the Planning department has grown. There are now five offices offering planning advice to clients across the UK.

"Andrew was a kind, caring and patient man, very articulate and logical; a born planner. His eyesight began to deteriorate in 2006 and he was eventually registered as partially sighted due to Macular Degeneration, a setback which he bore with his usual quiet dignity. His ability to embrace technology and use innovative approaches to his work allowed him to continue working until he retired in November 2011.

In addition to his love of planning, Andrew was a keen sportsman. As a young man he enjoyed athletics, football and cricket, continuing to enjoy sport all his life; however, in particular, Andrew will be remembered for his love of music. Not only did Andrew enjoy listening to music, especially Soul and Blues, he was a wonderfully skilled musician and played the accordion and piano.

"Andrew met his wife Bev in 2005 through that mutual love of music, especially Nina Simone. They quickly found that they shared many other interests including Art and Travel and they went on to marry in 2009. Despite his health problems, a time of real joy for Andrew filled with highlights such as; Blues festivals; several trips to the eastern Mediterranean; a memorable visit to The States.

"Sadly all too short.  He will be dearly missed and our thoughts go out to his family and friends".

Pat Sudor wrote: “I first met Andy on the planning course at Oxford Poly (now Oxford Brookes), and got to know him better when we were both area DC officers at Ryedale. He was later promoted to Deputy there before going to Smiths Gore. I also ran into him at blues events, including a memorable Jools Holland concert. He was a nice guy who went far too early”.

Greta had lived in Divinity Road since 1977. She trained at Oxford Brookes to be a community nurse in 1987 and since then she visited, treated and supported hundreds of patients in and around Oxford. She died on 3rd November 2012.

Her husband Richard Josephy wrote:

"Greta, who died on November 3^rd 2012, had lived in Divinity Road since 1977. She qualified at the Middlesex Hospital in 1964 and worked as a nurse, with breaks to look after three young children,until she retired in 2004. In 1987 she trained at Oxford Brookes to be a community nurse and since then she visited, treated and supported hundreds of patients in and around Oxford. She loved her work and always spoke about her patients with warmth and understanding, even the difficult ones. Her only hard words were about unnecessary bureaucracy or anything she perceived to be unkind.

Greta’s interests were wide: music, art, travel, the countryside and in particular her beloved Cornwall, gardening, but above all in people. She was a founder member of the Divinity Singers and sang with the Oxford Harmonic Society, for whom she rarely missed a concert. After retiring, she struck a perfect balance between developing her own interests and continuing to sustain others. She helped children learning to read at East Oxford Primary School where she was much loved by those she worked with. Many friends and neighbours are eternally grateful for Greta’s help and support, particularly when people were ill or dying or bereaved or just going through a difficult time. She always hit the right note: effective but unobtrusive, a calm and reassuring presence when things were hard. For her extended family Greta was a cornerstone around whom members gathered to celebrate in good times and to be supported in difficult ones.

Greta’s diagnosis of a rare lymphoma in 1999 was met with typical optimism and determination to make the most of whatever time was left. As it turned out, her treatment was very effective and for most of the time since then she was fit and active. Not only did she seem to have almost limitless energy and enthusiasm in everyday life; she went, with Richard, on four extended camping trips to Italy. These often included long walks in the hills and Greta also climbed many of the Lake District hills during family holidays there.  Only in the last few months was she really poorly, and even then her positive approach to life and her concern for others shone through. Throughout her illness Greta was under the care of the Haematology Department at the Churchill Hospital. The treatment, care, consideration and kindness she received there were outstanding and she felt privileged to live almost next door to such a centre of excellence.

Greta is missed dreadfully by her family and her many friends, but they are sustained by memories of her warmth, kindness and love of life."

Bob Hoyle, alumnus, lecturer and Oxford City Councillor, died on 13 March 2011.

Bob was born in Leeds in 1956 and grew up in Crosby Liverpool, where he was a pupil at Merchant Taylors' School.

He studied for his bachelor’s degree at the University of Cambridge. This was followed by a master’s at the University of Bristol and a doctorate at the University of Oxford. Bob also took the graduate diploma in law at Oxford Brookes University.

In the early 1990s Bob was a lecturer and research fellow at Oxford Polytechnic and later a welfare rights adviser at Oxford Brookes Students' Union. He later became a tutor in mathematics at Cherwell College.

Bob was an active member of Oxford East Constituency Labour Party, where he met his future wife, Sarah Margetts, and an active member of the Co-operative Party. He served on Oxford City Council as a member for Temple Cowley Ward and was chair of governors at Oxford School and St Francis School.

Bob stood as Labour parliamentary candidate for Hampshire East and later as Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Luton North and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Bristol North West.

He was a lifelong supporter of Everton.

Senior lecturer Dr Sandy Oldfield wrote:

"I first met Theodora in 2006, when she was working as a nurse in the Special Care Baby Unit in Oxford. She had previously qualified and worked as a nurse and midwife in Ghana. Being new to higher education, Theo decided to first attempt some modules as an associate student. Encouraged by her success, Theo subsequently began the post-experience Children’s Nursing BSc (Hons) programme in 2007, from which she graduated in 2009. During that time, I was Theo’s personal tutor, lecturer on a number of her modules and dissertation supervisor.

Theo was an exceptional student, and a delight to teach. I cannot recall anyone in my many years of teaching who was a more enthusiastic proponent of higher education and how it could change people’s lives. Theo radiated enthusiasm in all she did – whether in theory or practice. She had steely determination and stood out as student who went the extra mile in her studies, which was very evident in her engagement in class discussions and other learning opportunities available. Furthermore, she would often offer unique insights gained from her experience of working in different cultural contexts; this definitely helped to encourage her classmates to think and practise cross-culturally. By many of her younger classmates she was viewed like a ‘mother’, because she was so empathetic and supportive of them, and ready to offer help.

Theo was a great believer in the importance of applying evidence in practice for the welfare of children and families. I recall her telling me how she challenged some of the doctors in the unit where she worked to consistently adhere to evidence-based practice in infection control; she said they listened to her, which I suspect was largely due to her good natured and humorous way of doing this. Having undertaken her dissertation on neonatal developmental interventions, she enthusiastically shared her learning from this with others in her workplace, encouraging them to think about how to incorporate research findings in practice. An extract from Theo’s final reference from us speaks for itself in this regard: “Theodora feels she has particularly developed her understanding of evidence-based practice and the physiology underpinning this, as well as management skills; she now feels confident in evaluating and where necessary, challenging practice.” She had very high expectations of herself and other people.

Theo had a lovely open, generous and caring personality, which meant she readily established close relationships with others. Every member of the Children’s Nursing teaching team remembers her with great fondness. We will always remember Theo as a wonderful person, who contributed so much to others’ lives – not only in an educational context but also in health care practice. Although her life was unexpectedly cut short, the way she lived her life will be an inspiration to others for many years to come.

Theodora returned to Ghana in September 2011, but was tragically killed in a car accident in Ghana on December 18th. Her memorial service will be held on Saturday January 28th 2-8pm at Sol House in Manchester."

Peter died in a tragic accident in London on Wednesday 10th August 2011 at the age of 28. Peter was sitting enjoying drinks with his friends outside Le Bouchon Bordelais in Battersea when he was struck on the head by falling masonry.

Peter was an alumnus of the School of the Built Environment, having joined Oxford Brookes University to undertake a MSc Real Estate Management. He graduated with merit in 2007. He then qualified as a Chartered Surveyor with Gerald Eve, where he continued to work until his death.

Nick French, Professor in Real Estate in the Department of Real Estate and Construction Management was his Programme Director and Personal Tutor. “I remember Peter well and I kept in touch with him and many of his peers from the 2006/07 cohort. His year was also my first year at Brookes as Programme Director and I remember that many of his peers found the workload of an intense one year MSc difficult, yet Peter never complained. He worked hard and diligently and was rewarded with a high merit qualification. As a fellow Arsenal fan, I also remember his passion and love of football. He was a quiet unassuming man who enjoyed life. His death is tragic and sad and makes no sense. My thoughts are with his family and all his friends”.

Peter’s funeral was held on Friday 19th August 2011 at St Mary's Church in Bromley. The church was full with standing room only in the aisles. The ceremony was a celebration and, although there were lots of tears, Peter was remembered with love and humour.

Doctor of the University (HonDUniv)

Year conferred: 2000

Claire Rayner was best known as Britain's leading agony aunt. She enjoyed a long and successful career as a journalist, broadcaster and writer, but began her professional life training as a nurse at the Royal Northern Hospital in London. In the latter part of her life she was a vociferous campaigner on the subject of hospital hygiene and the need to stop the spread of MRSA and all other Hospital Acquired Infections.

In 2009 she was a member of the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery.

She was a Vice-President of the British Humanist Association, a Distinguished Supporter of the Humanist Society of Scotland and an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society. She was also a prominent supporter of the British republican movement.

She was an Honorary Associate of the UK's National Secular Society. Rayner became a breast cancer activist at the age of 71 in order to promote the work of the charity Cancer Research UK. Claire sadly died in October 2010.

Oxford Brookes University offers its condolences to the family and friends of Lieutenant Mark Lawrence Evison ’06, of the 1st Battalion, The Welsh Guards, who was shot while on patrol in Afghanistan and later died of his wounds.

Lieutenant Evison was an alumnus of the School of the Built Environment, having graduated in Real Estate Management in 2006. He then trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Welsh Guards on 14 December 2007.

David Shiers, senior lecturer in the Real Estate and Construction Management department and Lieutenant Evison’s personal tutor, paid tribute to the former Oxford Brookes student.

“Reading the many heartfelt and moving tributes paid by his family, friends and fellow soldiers, those of us who taught Mark immediately recognised the student we knew.

“Mark was one of life’s great enthusiasts; energetic and always looking for new challenges which he would take pride and pleasure in meeting. His drive and resourcefulness were obvious characteristics but there was also a warm and generous personality and the sensitivity evident in his achievements in music was also apparent in his dealings with others.

“Projects and assignments which involved team working always brought out the best in him and he consistently attained good marks for this work – achieving one of the highest marks in the whole year for one particular integrated team module. It was no surprise to us that he had forged his talents and abilities into a mature sense of duty and responsibility for others.

“We were all deeply saddened by the loss of someone who we know would have gone on to achieve many more excellent things in his life and who would have continued to bring so much into the lives of others.”

Please visit the Ministry of Defence website or BBC.co.uk for further tributes to Lieutenant Mark Evison.

John Stevens studied at the Oxford School of Architecture and subsequently returned there to teach, being promoted to senior lecturer in 1970. He died peacefully on 22 September 2009. An account of his life provides further details, including a stint carrying cement for the new Abercrombie Building.

John was born in London in 1938, and in 1939 went with his parents and sister, Colette, to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), where his father was a District Officer, and his early years were spent there.

In 1946, the family, now six in number, returned to Jersey, and in 1947, John went to prep school in England while the rest of the family returned to Africa. In 1949, his father retired and the family was reunited in Jersey. His mother, who came from an old Jersey family, later became well known as author of a 2 volume work about old Jersey houses.

In 1951 John went to Winchester College, which he hated, but where he won prizes for art and carpentry and became an accomplished bookbinder. In 1956, he became a student at the Oxford School of Architecture, then part of the College of Technology, (now Oxford Brookes University), becoming an ARIBA in 1962. During one summer vacation he actually worked on the building site of what is now the Abercrombie Building, and carried many hundredweight sacks of cement.

He later returned to the School to teach, being promoted to senior lecturer in 1970. He was a natural teacher, with great enthusiasm for his subject, who considered that students, rather than pure 'admin', were the raison d'etre of higher education, and they in turn greatly appreciated his care and energy. He was a conscientious member of staff and was always involved in course development in the School of Architecture.

He was greatly missed by staff and students when he left in 1984 to return to Jersey to help his mother and sister convert a farmhouse. Retirement allowed him to pursue his passion for vernacular architecture, and he lived variously in Frome, Oxford, Norfolk and Ludlow. His particular research interests were the Medieval Hall House and Medieval Hunting Lodges, and he corresponded with fellow enthusiasts in long letters and telephone calls.

He was a person of considerable charm, looks, social graces, taste and intelligence, who had a strong 'feminine side' and got on well with young people. He was married three times. He died peacefully in Ludlow on 22 September 2009 at the age of 71.

Olive Gibbs, twice Lord Mayor of Oxford and a governor and long-standing supporter of our institution, was in 1986 the recipient of the first honorary degree awarded by Oxford Polytechnic. Although Mrs Gibbs died in 1995 her name lives on in OBU's Gibbs Building, and on 11 April 2015, a blue plaque was unveiled at her childhood home, Christ Church Old Buildings.