Keith Batchelor (1950 – 2024)

Sadly I have to inform you of the passing of Keith Batchelor (Combined Arts,1969-72) on 8 December 2024, aged 74, following a few years’ of illness. After graduating from St John’s, Keith returned to his hometown of Birmingham as a trainee social worker before pursuing an MA in Social Work at Nottingham University. After several years in practice, he changed career paths, establishing his own computer programming business—first in Nottingham and later in Cornwall. His move to Cornwall was driven in part by his passion for sailing, a skill he mastered over the years. He also became a qualified diving instructor and, more recently, took up cycling. As in the early days he threw himself into everything he did and became proficient at it.

Many of us who were contemporaries of Keith will remember the enthusiastic way he threw himself into College and University life. He was particularly involved in organising social events in the College and was an active member of the University events committee. In his final year he was, for a while, JCR treasurer before immersing himself in revision and gaining a good degree.

Keith leaves a wife, Teresa, and two adult step children.

~ Roy Ledger (Combined Arts, 1969-72)

Our Fellows

Nicola (Nicky) Seal (1964 – 2024)

The Catering Team and wider John’s community lost a fantastic friend and colleague in Nicky Seal who sadly passed away this October. Nicky joined the Catering Team in June 2003 as a Catering Assistant and quickly became a great friend and work colleague with everyone she worked with. She is and wi

David Paul King (1936 – 2023)

Somerset born and bred, Paul was educated at Wells Cathedral School. Somerset was always in his thoughts and he felt a close connection to his roots and his beloved Somerset Cricket team! Another keen interest throughout his life was in the Peninsular Wars and Paul undertook much reading and researc

Suzy Ferguson (née Carter) (1981 – 2012)

Suzy’s time at St John’s was extraordinarily active and passionate, involving herself in many student endeavours with the college and university alike. Suzy was a member of the Bear Witness Theatre Company, where she produced Godspell, sang in student choirs, was a member of the Christian Union,

James (Jimmy) Dunn (1939 – 2020)

Professor James (Jimmy) Dunn was a distinguished New Testament scholar, former Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University, and a longstanding friend of St John’s College and the Wesley Study Centre. During his years in Durham, from 1980 until his retirement to Chichester, he was a famili

Roger Pratt (1947 – 2025)

It is with great sadness that I report on the passing of Roger Pratt (Combined Arts, 1966-69), an Oscar-nominated cinematographer, great St John’s alumnus and good friend. The Guardian obituary relates his extraordinary career, from ‘clapper-boy’ with the Monty Python team, to cin

Richard (Dick) Haigh (1930 – 2024)

We have learnt that St John’s alumnus Richard (Dick) Haigh passed away on 29 May 2024 at the age of 93. Richard attended St John’s College in 1954 to take a BA degree in Social Studies and later a Diploma in Theology. He was ordained at Christmas 1959 to the parish of Stanwix, Carlisle, where he

Dani O’Hagan (1986 – 2021)

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Danielle (Dani) O’Hagan, who passed away on 6th February after a courageous battle with cancer. Dani joined the University in 2006, studying BA Combined Honours in Arts, followed by MA Theology, and quickly became a prominent member of the S

Anthony Thiselton (1937 – 2023)

The College is sad to hear the news of the death of Rev Professor Anthony Thiselton FBA who was Principal of St John’s from 1988 to 1992. He was one of the leading biblical scholars of his generation, where his main contribution was in the area of hermeneutics but he had a wide range of interests

Tom McLeish (1962 – 2023)

It is with great sadness that the College heard of the death of Professor Tom McLeish. Tom was for many years a great friend to the College and long time co-investigator on our Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS) project. Tom founded the project with the Principal and contrib

Mally Yates (1931 – 2023)

The College is saddened to hear of the death of Mally Yates at the age of 92. Mally was one of the most influential people in the history of St John’s. With the admission of female theology students to Cranmer Hall in 1966, Mally was appointed as a new member of staff to care for the new students