In memoriam

John Henry Brookes spoke of his desire to educate students for "lives of consequence." We are proud of the contributions made by members of the Brookes community, whose presence made the world a better place. We celebrate their lives below.

If there is someone that you would like to see commemorated here, whether former student, member of staff or friend of the institution, please contact us at alumni@brookes.ac.uk.

Philip Allison

Philip taught Architeture - initiating and leading the computer aided design course - and was a practising architect. He died peacefully on 18 June 2018 and is described as a "big-hearted gentleman and true educator" in this touching obituary in the Henley Standard.
Renate Barber

Dr Barber was appointed Lecturer, Principal lecturer, and Head of Department of Social Sciences at Oxford Polytechnic.
Betty Barnard

Betty worked firstly as a secretary and then as an administrator for the Polytechnic library and latterly to the Oxford Brookes Library.
Zoia Beresford

Zoia studied and taught architecture and conservation at the Oxford Polytechnic in the late 1960’s and was an active member of the DORIC club. She died on 5th December 2013 at the age of 82.
Cath Bowler

Cath was the University’s Payroll Manager from 1993 to 2010, and was a respected and much valued colleague. In 2010, she took a career break due to ill health, and left the University in 2011. Cath passed away mid-June 2015.
Jill Brazil

Jill arrived at Oxford Polytechnic in 1989 to take on the role of leading the administrative support team for the School of Education, which in those days was located at Wheatley campus. Jill worked for the School of Education throughout the 1990s. She died on 30th March 2015.
Joan Brookes

Joan Brookes, daughter of John Henry Brookes and long-time friend of the University that was named after him, died aged 90. Her death is announced in the week that the University is to celebrate the unveiling of a Blue Plaque at the Brookes family home.
John Henry Brookes

John Brookes started his connection with the institution that would ultimately bear his name in 1922 when he took up a post teaching stone carving at the Oxford City School of Arts and Crafts in St Ebbes. Under his guidance it became the College of Technology and its first buildings on Headington Hill opened in 1956, the year he retired. He died in September 1975.

You can buy a copy of Bryan Brown's biography: John Henry Brookes, The Man Who Inspired a University from Blackwell's.
Bernard Caswell

Bernard Caswell came to the Oxford College of Technology in the late 1960s to teach Work Study. He retired some twenty years later as Senior Lecturer at the School of Business. He died on 19 March 2015 aged 88.
Reginald Cave

The name Reginald Cave is synonymous with the Oxford Brookes University School of Architecture where he was an active member for 55 years. He passed away in 2000.
Howard Colley

Professor Howard Colley passed away on 4th November 2015. Professor Colley was a Pro-Vice Chancellor at Brookes for over twenty years (1980-2004) and, following his retirement from the University, served as the Director of Institutions at the Higher Education Academy, Birmingham.
Professor James Cox

It is with great sadness to announce the death of Jimmie Cox, former student and founding father of the Oxford School of Architecture as well as long standing secretary to the Doric club.
Lucy Cupples

Lucy worked from in the Oxford Polytechnic's Inter Library Loans Unit from 1983-4 and continued running the service for many years.
Robert Dyer

Robert was a lecturer in Corporate Strategy and Business Policy at the Oxford Polytechnic between 1987- 1996. He died on 1st September 2013 at the age of 82.
Dorothy Evans

Former lecturer in Mathematics at the Lady Spencer-Churchill College passed away 2016.
Mark Evison, '06

Lieutenant Mark Evison of the 1st Battalion, The Welsh Guards, was shot while on patrol in Afghanistan and died of his wounds on 12 May 2009. Mark graduated in Real Estate Management in 2006 then trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Tony Evora

Tony Evora was Head of the Art Department from 1985–92, and is renowned for his images of Che Guevara. He died in Spain in September 2017.
Andrzej Galan

Andrzej was both an alumnus and a 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 Office.
Professor John Geake

Professor of Education from 2000 – 2008, he contributed to teaching on the undergraduate, post-graduate and higher degree courses in Education as well as leading the doctoral programme at the Westminster Institute. He died in 2011 at the age of 62.
Jill Gibbons

Jill Gibbons, a long-standing member of the Registry at Oxford Polytechnic and Oxford Brookes, died at home suddenly on 5 March 2011.
Olive Gibbs

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.
Susan Goldby '05

Susan was an alumna of the Business School graduating in 2005 with a degree in Business and Marketing. She died in 29 May 2010 peacefully at home.
Peter Goodliffe

Peter was a distinguished photographer who has over the years contributed through his teaching, exhibitions and writing to the aesthetic appreciation of photography. He passed away in 2009.
Tom Hall

Tom Hall was a Senior Lecturer in Computing from 1978 to 1993.
Richard Hamilton

Influential artist Richard Hamilton has died at the age of 89. He was known internationally as the father of British Pop Art and had strong connections with Arts at Oxford Brookes.
Professor Chris Hawes

Oxford Brookes pays tribute to Professor Chris Hawes who sadly died on Thursday 4 July 2019.
Nigel Heard

Nigel, formerly Head of Humanities, died peacefully in his sleep on 31st December 2012.
Betty Hill

A long-time member of the Oxford School of Architecture and prominent member of the Doric Club, Betty Hill died on 11 October 2010. Read the obituary by Byron Mikellides for further information.
Mary Hodges

Miss Mary Hodges, former head of the School of Education, passed away in September 2014.
Michael Howes

An honorary citizen of Chipping Norton and former senior accountancy lecturer at the Oxford Polytechnic has died, aged 76.
Bob Hoyle

Bob Hoyle was a lecturer and research fellow at Oxford Polytechnic as well as being an alumnus of the graduate diploma in law at Oxford Brookes. He is also remembered as an Oxford City Councillor. Bob died on 13 March 2011.
Andrew Hutton ‘71

Andrew studied Urban Planning at the Oxford Polytechnic in the 1970s and went on to become a Planning Consultant in York. He died at the age of 63 and is survived by his wife Bev.
Greta Josephy '87

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.
Tony Lewis

Co-creator of the Duckworth-Lewis method for deciding the results of incomplete one-day cricket matches, and former Oxford Business School lecturer, Dr Tony Lewis sadly passed away in March 2020.
Brian Lloyd

Brian Lloyd, founding Director of Oxford Polytechnic from 1970 to 1980, died on 28 June 2010. The Lloyd building on Headington Campus is named in his honour.
Steve Maybury

Steve worked at Oxford Polytechnic in the School of Art, School of Architecture and Educational Methods Unit. He was a skilled artist and photographer, and set up Maybury Design with his wife, Louisa who runs the shop in Woodstock. Steve sadly passed away on 14 Decvember 2017. He and Louisa have two daughters - Rebecca and Jessica.
Andrew McNab

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 in March 2020, and is survived by his wife Carolyn and their sons Andrew and Douglas.
Peter Morris

Dr Peter Morris, who died in 2015, was a long-serving member of the School of Biological and Molecular Sciences until his retirement in 1997.
Don Morrison

Don worked in the School of Architecture. He died peacefully at Ryder Nettlebed Hospice at the age of 83. His Funeral was held on Saturday 26 May, at Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester on Thames.
Gordon Nelson

Gordon worked as a lecturer in the architecture department between 1969 and 1988. On his retirement he was made an Honorary Fellow. He died at the age of 82 and is survived by his wife and two children.
John Neville

John was an Engineering lecturer at Oxford Polytechnic and the Oxford College of Technology, as well as founding the Neville Dining Club with his late wife, Kay.
John O'Connor

Professor John O'Connor was a former Head of School (Hospitality) and a founding member of the Brookes Society for Retired Staff
Theodora Oduro '11

A qualified nurse from Ghana, Theodora studied Children's Nursing in 2007 and then went on to complete her MSc in Public Health in 2011. Described as 'an inspiration to others for many years to come'.
Professor Paul Oliver

Professor Paul Oliver MBE was a world-leading expert on both vernacular architecture and the blues.
Patrick Charles Osbourne

Patrick taught for many years in the Printmaking department at Oxford Polytechnic. He was a talented artist, printmaker, sculptor and ceramicist as well as a keen hockey and cricket player. Patrick died on 30 May 2013. He was much loved and is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.
Iraj Parvaneh

Iraj was a popular member of staff in the School of Architecture and will be greatly missed.
Mike Pixton

Mike was a member of staff in Computing Services for some 25 years, and was an active member of the Brookes Society for Retired Staff.
Tom Porter
Tom Porter lectured in architecture, with a particular interest in colour and graphics, and published several books on the subject. He died on 3 April 2010. An obituary can be read in The Oxford Mail.
Claire Rayner

Perhaps best known as Britain's leading agony aunt, Claire Rayner OBE was also a journalist, broadcaster and author. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2000. The many obituaries that followed her death on 11 October 2010 included the following from The BBC, The Guardian and The Telegraph.
Clive Robertson

Clive Robertson, who until recently was the Director of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Network of the Higher Education Academy at Oxford Brookes University passed away unexpectedly on March 30th 2012.
Ivor Robinson MBE

Ivor Robinson, master bookbinder, and respected teacher at Oxford Polytechnic, has died in Oxford aged 89.
Anthea Rogers

Anthea died in November 2013. She was a well-known senior staff member of the Business School.
Vivienne Satur

Viv Satur, a much loved member of the shops team and Brookes Alumna, passed away suddenly in August 2014.
Peter Saunders

Described as 'an artist who was inspired by London and the characters of Soho'. He lectured in Art at the Oxford Polytechnic until 1982, after which he moved onto a teaching post at the Sir John Cass Faculty of Arts at London's Guildhall.
Liz Sayigh

Liz taught graduate English second language students and developed and managed the CELTA and DELTA courses taught at Brookes in the late 90s before moving to Rhodes University, South Africa in 2000.
Ken Selvester

Ken taught at the School of Business between 1990 and 2006. He died on 31 January 2021, aged 90.
Doris Simms

Doris Simms, Brookes' oldest 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.
Jack Simms

Jack studied at the Oxford College of Technology, Art and Commerce between 1935-40 while working as an apprentice at Pressed Steel in Cowley. He was a gifted mechanical engineer and was married to 'the love of his life' Doris for 71 years.
Mike Skipper

Mike Skipper, for many years the Photography Technical Specialist for the Department of Arts, lost his brave fight against illness on 8 May 2010. A memorial fund has been set up to celebrate his life.
Geoffrey Smedley-Stevenson

Geoffrey taught in the Department of History from 1970 up until his retirement. He died on 9th August 2013 in Brighton, where he had lived since his retirement.
Michael Stanley

The innovative Director of Modern Art Oxford, Michael died tragically early at the age of 38. He was a friend of the University as well as being a member of Court. He is survived by his wife and 3 children.
John Stevens, '62

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.
Guy Taylor

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

David was the Founding Head of the Department of Town Planning at Oxford Polytechnic.
Mary Tibbetts

Mary died peacefully, aged 96, on 10 June 2013. She was secretary to John Henry Brookes the Principal of the College of Technology in the 1950s.
Ken Trueman

The former Bursar of Lady Spencer Churchill College passed away on 7 December aged 87. Ken became the Bursar on 1 May 1964 and his wife Gwen was Head of Housekeeping.
David Turner

David came from the Ford Motor Company in the late 1960s, joining the Department of Engineering at what was then the Oxford College of Technology. Fulfilling varying lectureship roles, David eventually took on the role as Head of Department for Mechanical Engineering, prior to retiring in 2003. David passed away on 27th July 2015.
Professor Sir David Watson

Professor Watson was Dean and Director of Oxford Polytechnic 1981-1990, as well as a prominent and much respected member of the wider Higher Education community.
Dr Joe Weston '09

Senior Lecturer and Subject coordinator for MSc in Spatial Planning died recently. 'He was totally unique and will be always present in our hearts and in our minds’ said Georgina Butina-Watson.
Peter Westropp '07

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. Peter died on 10 August 2011.
David Whitham

Former member of the Joint Centre for Urban Design and Architecture.
Kenneth Wilson

The Rev Dr Kenneth B Wilson OBE, who died on 12 January 2017 aged 79, was Principal of Westminster College from 1980 to 1996. He led the college through a time of flux in higher education and transformed it into an outward looking institution that promoted curiosity and excellence in its students. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Jennifer and three children, Sarah, Mark and Vanessa.
Wilf Woodhead

Wilf Woodhead was Lecturer in Zoology in the 1950s-1970s in the Department of Science at the Oxford College of Technology and Oxford Polytechnic.
Cliff Wright

Cliff, a former member of staff, died in September 2012.
Professor Sir David Yardley

Professor Yardley passed away on 3rd June 2014. He was a well respected Lecturer in Law.

In memoriam

John Henry Brookes

Bernard Caswell

Olive Gibbs

Patrick Charles Osbourne

Mike Pixton

Mary Tibbetts

Cliff Wright

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