Colleagues pay tribute to Nigel Hollingdale, who passed away earlier this month:
Nigel Hollingdale worked at the University from the late 1960s until his retirement in 2003. Nigel’s long service to the University was of great value in many parts of the institution, and he was highly respected and liked by academic and administrative colleagues alike.
His final role was as Head of the Secretariat, in which he supported the University’s senior committees. His knowledge of the statutes and governance was legendary and he was stickler for procedure and protocol. His attention to detail and knowledge of the institution was of particular value in the University’s expansion during the 1990s, when the Winchester School of Art joined the institution and the National Oceanography Centre Southampton was set up.
As a young administrator, Nigel was sub-warden at Glen Eyre Halls and then Senior Resident at Overdell Court. He had a great talent for friendship and over the years made many friends who are now in, or retired from, academic and administrative posts in universities around the world. He met his wife, Frances Marsden, at the University. She was Deputy Director of Business Services when she left in 2000 to join the fledgling AHRB.
Nigel’s hospitality was generous, and his wit and erudition enlivened gatherings, invariably around good food and wine. He was much loved and will be greatly missed.
Nigel’s funeral will take place on Monday 3 September at 2.00pm at Southampton Crematorium (East Chapel).
Family flowers only, but donations can be made to Cancer Research UK:
c/o J & L Sturney
62 High Street
Lyndhurst
Southampton
Hampshire
SO43 7BJ