Letter: Ray Howard
I was very sorry to read of the death of Ray Howard, the University’s first and longest-serving Finance Officer, in Tony Sims’ obituary.
As one of the very small number of experimental physicists who came to the University at the beginning of Science here, I first met him in 1962.
Although he had no experience, I believe, of university procedures he soon became sympathetic and helpful to the needs of grant applicants.
He was helpful too, when, completely without experience, I became Treasurer of the Students’ Union in 1962.
In discussions and negotiations in the Technical Staffs Sub-Committee, and especially in the Manual and Ancillary Staffs Committee, he represented the University “side” (as it, regrettably, became) with fairness and firmness, though (for those who attended the “pre-meetings”) not without subtlety.
When the Universities’ Superannuation Scheme (USS) changed, he gave personal and invaluable advice about the new pension options available.
He was a person of great integrity and also had a sense of humour, although that became more obvious after his retirement when we met at annual meetings of Court.
Douglas Brewer, Emeritus Professor of Physics
You can read Tony Sims’ obituary in the 22 August issue of the Bulletin.