Univ Record 2017

1977
KWABENA BUAHIN MENSAH (Dulwich) died on 31 December 2014 aged 56. Mensah,
known to all as “KB”, read PPE at Univ. His father had been working for the United
Nations at the time of his birth, but returned to his native Ghana in 1961 to work on
President Nkrumah’s seven year Development Plan, at
the National Planning Commission. On completing his
time at Oxford, KB moved to Ghana and worked with
friends on a fish farming venture, and another farming
project with his father. During the 1980s and 1990s,
during the regime of Jerry Rawlings, KB returned
to London, where he helped to compile a register of
victims of the Rawlings regime. During this time he
worked for the BBC, presenting Focus on Africa. As a
pioneer for African journalists working in international
broadcasting organisations, KB was highly respected for
his wide knowledge of events in Africa, and keen analysis
of them, so that his broadcasts on the World Service
received many listeners in Africa, not least because he
offered impartial accounts of events not always available
to them in their own lands. KB returned to Ghana in
2001 where he worked on film and television projects, but also was a member of the
editorial team for the magazine, Africa Report. He was also a correspondent for Africa
Confidential and Bloomberg News. KB was fondly remembered by his colleagues for his
unfailing generosity to them in sharing contacts and for his hospitality. He is survived by
his wife, Angela, and a daughter, Nana-Esi.
2001
MARK ROBERT JENKINS (Hayfield School) died on 20 May 2017. Christopher Nairne
(2002) writes: “After reading English at Univ, Mark pursued a career in theatre, working
first at the Wyvern in Swindon, then Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Almeida in
London. He joined Cranleigh School in Surrey in 2008 as Theatre Manager, where he
worked tirelessly across drama productions, teaching, pastoral support, and international
expeditions, while also indulging (and sharing with others) his various hobbies, which
included rifle shooting and land rovers.
“He sadly took his own life on the morning of Saturday 20 May, aged 34. He is
survived by his parents, Rhona and Mike; his beloved lurchers, Shadow and Annie; his
childhood pony, Marcus; and innumerable friends.”
Former Staff
GORDON “MICK” BINDING, who with his wife Peggy worked for the College as a
Scout, died on 8 March 2017 aged 96.
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ADRIAN BUSBY, formerly Carpenter in the Works Department, died on 30 March
2017 aged 67, from a brain tumour. Adrian was the son of a carpenter, and on leaving
school aged 15 he followed his father’s trade, being apprenticed to Hinkins and Frewin,
where he worked until 1995. He then worked for a firm in Bicester, doing a great deal of
project management, but in 2004 he came to work at Univ as a carpenter, glad to return
to what he loved doing best, staying until his retirement in 2015. At Univ he worked
alongside his wife Barbara, who had come here as the Secretary to the College Surveyor
in 1998. Adrian much enjoyed his time at Univ and
was a great perfectionist; his handiwork can be found
almost all over the College, but he took especial pride
in his work in the Chapel and the Master’s Lodgings,
as well as in the extension to the Lodge, the new
Clerk of Works’ Office (where Barbara worked)
and the creation of our new archive store. Outside
work, Adrian took his carpentry skills in a different
direction when he made a pair of acoustic guitars, of
which he was very proud. He and Barbara celebrated
their ruby wedding in 2016. Adrian leaves two sons,
Martin and Chris. [We are very grateful to Barbara
for helping to prepare this tribute.]
ALAN CARTER, our former Second Chef, died
on 9 February 2017 aged 68. Alan grew up in
Creetown, where thanks to his father he developed
an early interest in cooking. At the age of 12, he entered a national cooking competition
in Scotland, and won it, receiving a bicycle as a prize. On leaving school at the age
of 15, he joined the catering corps in the army, and then went on to catering college.
After working in a couple of hotels, he came
to Univ in 1973 to work in the kitchens here,
and remained there, working alongside Ken
Tucker, until he retired in March 2008, just
before the rebuilding of the kitchens. He always
enjoyed what he did, curries being one of his
specialities. Preparing lunch for the visits of
the Queen and Bill Clinton were highlights for
him, as were the annual Burns Night suppers,
when he would carry in the haggis, but he loved
best preparing the barbecues by the boathouse
during Eights Week. At Univ he met Angela,
the daughter of our former Caretaker and Hall
Supervisor, Ian and Sandra Williamson, and the
Housekeeper at Stavertonia, and they married
in August 2010. Alan leaves a daughter, Nova,
a stepdaughter, Lauren, and a grandson. [We
are very grateful to Angela and Sandra for their
help in preparing this tribute]
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