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Author Topic: sentimental bench  (Read 1260 times)

Jeremy Roussak

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sentimental bench
« on: January 08, 2013, 06:39:02 pm »

Does this work for anyone who didn't know the dedicatee?

Jeremy
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: sentimental bench
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2013, 07:26:59 pm »

Not knowing Big Bob myself, my first thought was: "Was Big Bob big enough to need a bench that wide just for himself?"
It's a little like "street" photography: The visual elements combine to have enough ambiguity to get the viewer's imagination going.

That way it works for me. Care to tell us about Bob?
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Jeremy Roussak

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Re: sentimental bench
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2013, 03:54:48 am »

That way it works for me. Care to tell us about Bob?

Bob was the Head Porter of St John's College, Cambridge, for some 16 years, from 1969 to 1985, which included my time there at the end of the 1970s. He'd have occupied a goodly proportion of that bench: I remember him as well over six feet tall and, shall we say, generously proportioned. He was popular among the students and supported all aspects of life in the College with great enthusiasm. My own contact with him was fairly limited, since I am as far from a sportsman as it's possible to be and Bob's interest was focussed on the College cricket and boat clubs, but I remember him with much affection.

He and his wife Mary looked after one of the College's graduate hostels, a lovely large house in sizeable grounds a few minutes' walk from the back entrance to the College. I lived there for a year and enjoyed it very much. I was the first of the dozen or so residents to arrive, by a couple of weeks, and it puzzled me for some time that the prime parking space was always free, at whatever time I returned. I learned later that Mary guarded it for me, telling the others not to use it: I was the only medical student there and she had great respect for doctors.

Bob died in 1986. The bench is in one of the College gardens, a peaceful spot where I used to play croquet on summer afternoons (this is turning awfully sentimental, isn't it?). Mary died a couple of years ago; they had no children and she left her entire estate to the College choir.

There's more detail, and a photo of Bob, here.

Jeremy
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Tony Jay

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Re: sentimental bench
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2013, 04:12:34 am »

Well, storytelling at its best.
I enjoyed those reminiscences Jeremy.
The image characterizes itself well in its explanation.
Well done.


Tony Jay
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: sentimental bench
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2013, 11:56:02 am »

Well, storytelling at its best.
I enjoyed those reminiscences Jeremy.
The image characterizes itself well in its explanation.
Well done.


Tony Jay
Yes!

That is one of the finest things a photo can do: stimulate fond memories of someone who has meant a great deal to you.
A fine tribute.
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Rob C

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Re: sentimental bench
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2013, 02:08:52 pm »

A touching, gentle little story, and one of the nicer things about Lula that someone can feel confident in the telling of something personal...

Rob C

Dave (Isle of Skye)

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Re: sentimental bench
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2013, 02:40:38 pm »

A touching, gentle little story, and one of the nicer things about Lula that someone can feel confident in the telling of something personal...

Rob C


Well said Rob, a very touching story.

Dave
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