The Chronicle 682

21 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Books, Bequests and Buildings In conversation with Malcolm Oxley By Sarah Eldred, Head Librarian When Malcolm Oxley came to visit the School and the new Christie Centre we sat together in the Oxley Library, a room named for Malcolm after his extraordinary Teddies career and his generous bequest of over 4,300 books to the School, and it was my pleasure to interview him. I showed him one of our most precious books, the Luttrell Psalter, donated by an OSE, and although we knew it was a facsimile, we couldn’t help but check for the mysterious snails that turn up from time to

time in the margins of ancient manuscripts. We discussed the books bequeathed to the School and I was keen to hear his thoughts on the new space and how it compared to what he remembered of the Library from his many years at St Edward’s.

We started our discussion remembering Malcolm’s time at Teddies and what he did upon leaving. He arrived in 1962 when Frank Fisher was Warden, appointed to teach History to Sixth Form boys. Later his remit expanded to include Applied Economics, English, Religious Studies and Art History. He was also Director of Studies, Second Master and a Housemaster during his long and distinguished career. Chair of Governors Chris Jones OSE and Blair Worden OSE said in their joint postscript to the School’s History, written by Malcolm and published to coincide with the School’s 150th anniversary, ‘Oxley, who taught at St Edward’s for about a quarter of its 150

had just about mastered slides when they brought in PowerPoint!

years, had an influence on the School perhaps as great as that of any member of the Common Room throughout its history.’ Malcolm: Provided you don’t get me near languages or numbers then I’m all right! I taught less as I became more and more senior. I was a Housemaster of Segar’s for 12 years and for my last 14 years I was Second Master (Sub-Warden). I was here for 38 years. We all retired at around 60 at that time so when I left I started leading cultural tours around Europe and I started teaching adult education courses in Leeds in History and Art History and I did that until about four years ago. I

Although Malcolm no longer teaches he stays active, reading from his extensive personal collection and writing articles based on his research. He is also organising a conference about the Oxford Movement alongside three Oxford University dons which was due to take place last year but had to be postponed owing to lockdown. As the current Head Librarian I was keen to hear about the history of Teddies Library and I asked Malcolm if he could remember who any of the Librarians were when he was at the School – or indeed, if they actually had one!