Page 55 - Mansfield 2019/20

mathematical biologist and his main area of expertise was in the theory and applications of delay differential equations. Much of
his recent work was on the mathematical modelling of diseases that are carried by insects, such as malaria and bluetongue disease. However, he also worked in other areas; his most recent publication was on a problem arising in machine-tool vibration. Some of his research was in an area close
to mine, so we would meet now and then
at conferences. I very much looked forward to seeing him and to his presentations, which were models of clarity. Stephen travelled widely and had many friends,
as well as more than 50 collaborators all over the world. Following conversations
at a conference about ten years ago, we published a couple of papers together. As
a friend and colleague he was kind, and generous with both his time and his ideas, with a lovely sense of humour. Professor Glenn Webb from Nashville, another collaborator, writes: ‘I knew him to be a very fine person, friend, and collaborator. He was very valued at his university and in the general science community.’
By coincidence my nephew, David Peeling, was an undergraduate at Surrey and was taught by Stephen. He writes: ‘I have very positive memories of Professor Gourley’s lectures. He was absolutely fantastic and by far the best lecturer I had at Surrey.
Not only was he extremely knowledgeable and able to explain things in a way others couldn’t, he could also do so with great humour and could always put a smile on our faces. He would occasionally have the lecture theatre in stitches as he told one
of his stories. I know others at Surrey feel the same way; he was very popular and
we always looked forward to his lectures. I would go so far as to say he had legendary status amongst the students. I knew of others at Surrey who would select modules purely based on the fact that Professor Gourley taught the module, which shows the regard in which he was held by the students (even though he taught some of the hardest modules).’
Stephen was lovely man who contributed much and will be sorely missed.
Dr Janet Dyson
Nicholas Mason
English, 1958
20 December 1938 – December 2019
Nick arrived at Mansfield to read English in 1958 as one of the first non-theologian undergraduates. He contributed to many areas of College life such as cricket and hockey, but also to the cultural side by helping to set up a discussion group with his English tutors Steven Wall and Malcolm Parkes. Outside of College he pursued his love of film and journalism by writing for Cherwell and on the Oxford Times in the long vac.
After graduating he started both married life and his career as a journalist on
the Evening Chronicle with Thompson newspapers in Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1965 he used a press scholarship to spend three months in Malaysia on the Straits Times. Moving to London he worked as a sub-editor on the Sunday Times Magazine, a period he regarded as the happiest days of his professional life. Next came a spell on the Sunday Times Sports desk where he helped set up the hugely successful Sunday Times Fun Run held in Hyde Park each autumn. He got the running bug and in 1981, ran in the first London Marathon where he clocked a creditable 3 hours 30 minutes.
In the late eighties he left the ST to become Sports Editor on Robert Maxwell’s
ill-fated London Daily News before making his final move to the Guardian as Deputy Sports Editor.
In retirement Nick used his encyclopaedic knowledge of sport, Shakespeare, art
and music by setting up groups on art appreciation, architecture, classic cinema and etymology, as well as lecturing on place names. He was described by all who knew him as great fun, an all-rounder with an equable nature that made him many real lifelong friends.
Oh, did I mention he also wrote a history of football, penned excellent parodies and was a lifelong member of Surrey County Cricket Club? I could go on...
Jane Mason and Victor O’Connell (Geography, 1959)
Revd Dr Stanley Herbert Russell
DPhil Theology, 1955
13 April 1929 – December 2019
All his life, Stanley faced the challenges of reconciling faith and intellect without prejudicing the integrity of either. Born in the Black Country with an evangelical
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