also remarked that people do their very best work in Mathematics under the age of 45 and he felt that he was ready for a new chapter . Christianity had always been integral part of his life : he had met his wife Ruth , a fellow Maths student , at the Christian Union and she totally backed his new choice . He studied at Wescott House , was ordained in 1982 ; after various posts in 1986 he became Dean of Chapel of Trinity Hall and from 1989 to 1996 was President of Queens ’ College . Knighted in 1997 by HM the Queen , in 2002 he was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize by the Prince of Edinburgh in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace . He was one of the founders of the Society of Ordained Scientists , the founding President of the International Society for Science and Religion , a regular contributor to the Faraday Institute and much , much more !
All this can be read everywhere ; what is unique , though , is my memory of the time he was a guest speaker of our Awayday in October 2008 at the French Church in Soho . Richard and I gave him and Daniele Pevarello , who was then studying for his PhD , a lift by car to London , also because we were carrying a load of books , calendars , magazines etc . Richard , quite rightly , was in a bit of a state about driving into central London , even if we had one of the first navigators . Being anxious made him turn too early and risk taking the wrong way . Luckily we soon had Professor Polkinghorne from the back telling us exactly what 400 or 800 metres meant and when to turn ! We safely reached Soho Square and managed to disembark people and goods . Unfortunately , on our way to find a parking place , though , the navigator didn ’ t spot a barrier , its stentorian voice ordered to go left and our car hit a bollard ! After a splendid talk to a spellbound public John was offered a lift back to Cambridge in the afternoon or a trip sooner with Richard on the recovery truck with the car on top . He chose the truck !
He became a good friend ; I often saw him at theatre , concerts or at the Faraday Institute . Living in the same neighbourhood we met from time to time at our house or his ; he was a keen reader of the Waldensian Review and a great admirer of the Waldensian calendar ! RIP dear John !
ESN
Book review
I have decided to recommend John Dickie ’ s latest book because Freemasonry played a deep part in the Unification of Italy and the spreading of the Gospel preached by the Waldensian Church . The author , a Professor at UCL , came to Torre Pellice to one of the first editions of Torre Pellice book fair Una Torre di Libri and was impressed by the place and the audience .
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