The Trustees and members of Instruments of Time and Truth were shocked and deeply saddened on hearing of the death of Professor Angus Hawkins, Chairman of IT&T Trustees. He passed away at home, unexpectedly, during the Christmas break. He was 67.

Angus Hawkins (left) with IT&T members Bojan Cicic and Jean Paterson (photo: Patch Harvey)

Angus was Director of Public and International Programmes at the Department of Continuing Education and a Fellow of Keble College. An eminent historian, he specialised in 19th Century British Politics and Modern History. He published several books, including Victorian Political Culture (2015), and directed the Research Centre in Victorian Political Culture. A sabbatical in 2020 had enabled him to complete a further four books.

Within his busy life as a distinguished academic, Angus made time for his love for chamber music. He played the viola in a quartet with three friends. They would meet regularly, but sadly, the COVID-19 restrictions brought their music-making to an end. It was through this quartet that I first met Angus, as I was asked to deputise for the cellist, Rosamund Bartlett, when she was abroad. This was in early 2015, when IT&T had just been launched and was finding its feet. Angus kindly agreed to come on board, firstly as part of an advisory committee, and then as Trustee Chairman.

In the early days, IT&T was something of a ‘runaway train’. Judith Evans and I, although keen for the orchestra to be a success, knew little about management and governance. Through his interest in music and concerts, Angus seemed the ideal person to be involved in the organisation, but I had no idea that he would prove to be such a gem! Angus took huge care of our organisation, getting to know the players and helping to host receptions. He understood the need to secure funding and made introductions that secured the financial support without which we would not have been able to progress as we have, both in promoting concerts and paying for core costs.

Angus had a lovely way with people. He was gracious and courteous, and always took notice of others. He talked little about his own work, which is why it was easy not to realise just how many balls he was juggling. His wealth of experience and talent for dealing with organisations made him a brilliant Chairman of the IT&T Trust. Paradoxically, for somebody who seemed to take his time, talking in a measured and thoughtful way, he managed to keep meetings to time, with an expert and deft touch. Needless digressions were almost invisibly extinguished and sound decisions made. His lovely sense of humour, and his warmth and generosity about the players and Trustees and their plans and endeavours, created a sense of ‘family’ cohesion and common purpose for all associated with IT&T.

It is with a sense of poignancy that we reflect on our most recent communication with Angus. This was in the week preceding the Messiah performance scheduled for December. Although he was clearly busy with other things, Angus took the trouble to consult with all the IT&T Trustees and made the difficult decision to cancel the performance. We are grateful to him for handling a disappointing outcome with grace.

We will miss Angus hugely and shall always be thankful for everything he did for IT&T. Our thoughts are with his mother and two daughters, and his close friends and colleagues.

- Gabriel Amherst, co-founder, IT&T