Univ Record 2017

Prize in Fundamental Physics. The SNO experiment determined conclusively that
neutrinos from the sun changed from one flavour to another, requiring modifications to
the Standard Model for Elementary Particles and leading to the conclusion that neutrinos
have a finite mass. At the same time, SNO demonstrated that calculations of how the sun
burns via nuclear fusion are very accurate. Davis was an Associate Director of the SNO
project throughout and contributed in many important ways to its success, including
particularly the measurement and control of the very low levels of radioactivity necessary
for the measurements to be made in the ultra-clean laboratory 2 km underground. Davis
was highly respected by his colleagues for his scientific and technical abilities as well as
for his dedication, his collegial nature and his excellent mentoring of young members of
the collaboration.”
His partner Sandy Yeomans has passed on these memories of Davis outside the
laboratory: “Davis was a passionate skier, keen paddler, outdoorsman and back trail
cyclist. His great love was doing two week paddling trips on rivers in northern Canada.
Planning and organizing these trips was part of the excitement. He seemed to have a
photographic memory of rapids, always advising the group what was coming up around
the next corner. After retiring, we started spending three months every winter at a ski
town in British Columbia, doing alpine skiing every day. To be first on the lift was his
goal. In his sixties he decided to take up mountain biking on local trails. His theory was
that he could get better at something new as he was getting slower in his lifelong sports.
Much time was spent fixing up trails as well as fixing his bike and his constant cuts and
bruises. In June 2016 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and after a struggle with
chemotherapy he passed away on 24 December 2016.”
[We are most grateful to Professor McDonald and Ms Yeomans for their help in
compiling this obituary.]
1961
JAMES ALEXANDER “SANDY” SMITH (Fettes) died on 24
April 2017 aged 74. He read Classics at Univ, and then stayed
on for a further year to read for a Dip. Ed. His widow Gill has
kindly written this tribute:
Sandy grew up in the Borders of Scotland and never lost
his love for the Tweed valley and hills of the Border Country.
He looked back over his time at Oxford with deep gratitude
and held a life-long affection for Freddie Wells and George
Cawkwell. A keen musician, he sang in the Chapel Choir
and the Oxford Bach Choir and as a pianist hired a piano
each term in his room and was a popular accompanist. He was on the committee of
the University College Musical Society and also took part in some concerts as an
accompanist. A highlight for him on one of those occasions was playing in piano duet the
Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes with Lady Maud, wife of Sir John, Master of the college,
herself a professional musician.
He joined Harrow School’s Classics Department in 1966, where he taught for
nearly 40 years. A colleague writes ‘a man of tall stature and equal breadth of learning.
Alongside the Classics, he taught English and was Head of General Studies for several
80
years. Outside the classroom he was involved in many activities, notably running the
Golf and the RAF section of the CCF for some years. In 1988 he was appointed House
Master and served the full term of twelve years. His form room style was light in touch,
a good sense of fun as well as high academic standards characterised his work. He was
largely responsible for record numbers taking Classics A-Level subjects and the depth of
his knowledge of the ancient world was evident not only from his book Athens under the
Tyrants but in his admirably lucid teaching of the subject.’
Sandy married Gill in 1971 and they had three daughters. Family life was very
important to him and with his infectious sense of humour, he enjoyed sharing his many
interests and love of life as a father and grandfather.
His strong Christian faith was nurtured and developed during his Oxford years and
in retirement in Buckinghamshire he was actively involved in their parish church. Their
full life in the community was sadly interrupted with the diagnosis at the end of January
2017 of pancreatic cancer. He is greatly missed by all who knew him.
1962
GORDON ALEC BARNETT (Hampton GS) died on 28 June
2016 aged 72. We are very grateful to his widow Cynthia for
supplying the following tribute:
Gordon read biochemistry and he always claimed to be the
first one to do that at Univ. He met his future wife, Cynthia
(St. Hilda’s 1962) at an inter-college darts match organised
by a mutual Univ alumnus friend. After University he joined
Unilever as a management trainee but after a few years
decided to strike out on his own pursuing his favourite hobby,
gardening. He started a small garden centre from scratch
which grew into a very successful business which he ran with his wife for over 30 years,
eventually retiring in 2003. He became an active member of Farnham U3A, serving as
vice-chair for several years and also running a finance interest group and separately from
the U3A an Investment Club. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Oxford University
Society, Surrey branch, becoming chairman shortly before his death.
He always loved returning to Oxford and visiting Univ. He once enjoyed showing a
party from the Institute of Horticulture, of which he was a member, round the College
with particular reference to the trees and plants growing in the grounds and on another
occasion brought visitors from Farnham U3A World Religions group to look round the
College Chapel. He attended a College 50th reunion weekend in 2012 and enjoyed
meeting up with old colleagues many of whom he had not seen since going down.
Gordon and Cynthia had two children, Rachel and Damien. Rachel sadly died in
2004 at the age of 35 leaving a son, Max.
1963
FREDERICK JOHN MARTIN LINDSAY (Clifton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge),
died on 28 December 2016. He came to Univ from our sister College in Cambridge to
read for a Dip. Ed., and became a schoolmaster, teaching Physics at the Oxford High
School for Girls, and then at Newcastle RGS.
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