Editor

Just one memory of David Steeds, a lovely man who was always in touch with his students both academically and as shown below in his non-academic roles.

In 1967 I and three fellow maths students took part in the college production of West Side Story. I was ‘Big Deal’, one of the ‘Jets’, and David Steeds was Officer Krupke. It soon became clear that David was a humorous and down-to-earth person.

That September was the opening of Cwrt Mawr, with David as the first warden and so we all applied for a place and luckily we were successful.

This was a completely revolutionary set-up for a hall of residence. At this time female students were still required to sign out and in whenever they left hall. In Cwrt Mawr they, and of course us lads, had total control of when we left and more importantly when we returned to hall.

David and Rhiannon occupied the ground floor of half of A Block with the caretaker having the other half. Of the three initial blocks A block was for female students and they were above David on levels 2 and 3. All was fine until about half way through the first term when David called an emergency meeting for all resident students in the communal block.

His demeanour was not encouraging!

“I have called this meeting as I and my wife have a complaint concerning the comings and goings of presumably male students from the female accommodation. The noise of footsteps clattering up and down the stairs at all hours of the night and early morning has caused us both a lot of lost sleep.”

This was it. Back to signing in and out, restrictions on visiting hours.

“Having discussed this with my wife I propose you all chip in and we by carpeting for the stairs.”

How liberated and sensible was that! Carpet bought. Problem solved.

Great man.

Mike Taylor