Richard Dixon writes: I got to know Geoffrey Bownas (obituary, March 2) from 1976 when he was sub-warden of the Sorby Hall student residence and I, as a postgraduate at the University of Sheffield, acted as a pastoral tutor. He was clearly a phenomenon as a pioneer of Japanese studies, but he wore his prowess lightly and was always good for a quiet beer, a humorous chat and kindly avuncular advice in one of the common room bars.
A steady stream of academics from Japan vied to spend time in his department. Without exception, these recruits had come to Sheffield based on Geoff’s rigorous scrutiny of their intellectual criteria, and true to cultural stereotype they would painstakingly observe every nuance of manner and custom, not least at the high table at dinner.
One of his definite rejects, politely described as third-rate, successfully applied to the extramural studies department instead and, much to Geoff’s chagrin, washed up at Sorby anyway. Three of us twentysomething tutors were reduced to tearful giggling one Saturday afternoon, when there was a self-service arrangement at the high table, and had to beat a hasty, somewhat hungry, retreat. Geoff’s “friend”, of a large sub-sumo build, had choosen to pile a veritable mini Mount Fuji of pasty, beans, mash, bread, apple pie and custard on a solitary dinner plate.
We regaled Geoff with the tale over a beer straight after the weekend. He grimaced slightly and then I’m sure I heard this foremost Japanese expert say sotto voce in his finest deep Yorkshire stage whisper: “Oh, bloody hell.”
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John Fingleton writes: In addition to all the tributes paid to Trevor Bailey (obituary, Feb 11), his contribution as president for many years of the now defunct Cricketers Club of London should not be overlooked. As one of those responsible for helping him to welcome other great cricketers at the club’s monthly lunches, it was a privilege and a pleasure to work alongside him. In such high regard was he held that at the time of his 80th birthday, in December 2003, it was necessary to hold lunches in his honour on three consecutive days, just to be able to pay something approaching appropriate respect and gratitude.
Gareth Jones writes: R. F. Langley (obituary, March 3) taught me at Bishop Vesey’s in the late 1980s, where his art history classes were an institution. While he concentrated mainly on Italian renaissance art and architecture, he also covered the churches of Suffolk. I was thinking of him only last week, while in the Scrovegni Chapel at Padua looking at the Giotto frescoes, and also on a stag weekend last year when I insisted that the party carry out a tour of inspection of Blythburgh church. I well remember his 90-minute lecture on the carved pew ends there.