Chief Librarian for over 33 years at Habs and, among other many contributions to life here, was responsible for the estab- lishment of the Termites (the fellowship of current and former staff who have completed 100 terms at the schools), the annual blood donation event and playing a major role in the Mencap Fun events (which then took place over a whole weekend). For a number of years, he was also ably assisted in the library by his wife, Mary, who provided him with steadfast support, often in the face of recalcitrant Haberdashers students. On retirement, Keith then took on the vital role of Honorary (he refused to be paid) Archivist, dealing with the often knotty and obscure enquiries sent by local historians, former pupils and current staff, while organising the vast amount of material kept in the rooms below the Aldenham House clocktower. Keith’s knowledge of the school and the Aldenham estate was legend- arily encyclopaedic and we were very fortunate that he held this position until 2016.
As with all Habs long-serving staff, a certain mystique developed around Keith. Known initially as `Boots’ due to the large hobnailed footwear he wore when cycling to and from his family home to work (indeed he has been hailed as the first of hundreds of Staff cyclists at Habs), he was the apparent inspi- ration one summer term for a giant boot etched on the pristine lawn of the Quad through liberal use of weedkiller. A slightly
Anthony Evans C
olleagues at home and abroad will be saddened to learn of the death of Professor Anthony John (Tony) Evans in July 2023. Until his retirement, he was not only an influential and formidable professional leader in the UK, but he was also a significant contributor to international librarianship through his many roles in interna- tional institutions and numerous overseas consultancies. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School, Bristol before he went on to study at the School of Pharmacy at University College, London. There he gained his
B.Pharm and Ph.D. and took up a lectureship at the School of Pharmacy, later becoming the School’s Librarian from 1958-63. In 1964 he moved to Loughborough to become Librarian at the newly designated University of Technology. Loughborough was among a group of Colleges of Advanced Technology which had been elevated to universities. At Loughborough, Tony not only set about creating a library fit for a university in terms of resources and services, but he also realised that there was scope for innovation and development in a range of areas. Recognising the importance of embracing new technology, he pioneered research into library automation in a number of applications. Aware of the potential for information sharing with local industry, he formed a collaboration with the County Library to create LETIS the Leicestershire Technical Information Ser- vice. He also recognised the importance of students developing skills in information seeking and use. He worked creatively with colleagues under Unesco-UNISIST sponsorship to develop an internationally applied skills training guide which he promoted on many overseas assignments.
A central theme of his leadership was staff development which he fostered at every level in the library. He nurtured the idea of part time study for library and information degree studies at Loughborough, adapting the Open University model. He espe- cially encouraged active participation in the Library Association /CILIP by his staff.
Several of those he mentored went on to important leader- ship roles in other institutions. His formidable contribution to Loughborough’s reputation at large was recognised by the award of a Personal Chair in the Department of Information Studies. Moreover, in addition to his position as University Librarian, he was appointed as Dean of the School of Education Studies; a role which he held from1973 to 1976. Perhaps his crowning achieve- ment at Loughborough was when he presided over the conception and commissioning of the showpiece Pilkington Library building designed by the Faulkner-Brown Partnership and which was officially opened in December 1980.
During his career he held many external appointments includ-
ing: Treasurer and President of IATUL; President of COMLA; Member of the Executive Board and Treasurer of IFLA, and Chairman of FAIFE; Chairman of the ISO Advisory Group on Documentation Standards; Member of the Advisory Council of Engineering Information Inc., USA; Council Member and Vice President of ASLIB; Member BSI Board and Chairman of its Documentation Standards Committee; and Member of the Library Association International Committee. He was the recipient of many honours including Honorary Fellowship of the LA; the award of the IFLA Medal; and Honorary Life Mem- ber of IATUL.
In his retirement he devoted much energy to the cause of wheelchair sport and supporting his Paralympian grandson, Joe, in his endeavours. Tony’s overarching legacy will be how, by example, he inspired professionalism and a commitment to service in his colleagues. By setting the bar for performance high, he transformed insti- tutional attitudes from merely regarding a library as a place for keeping books to being an integral and valuable component of scholarly life.
Dr J. Eric Davies. Formerly of Loughborough University, and Director LISU.
For obituary submissions and guidance please email
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk with subject “obituary”, or write to us at Obituaries, CILIP, Room 150, c/o British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB.
48 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL January-Februaryr 2024
surrealist portrait of him still graces the Physics corridor on the ground floor of our science block. Legion are the tales of Keith’s running of the library and his encounters with some of the previously mentioned Habs boys, whose mere presence would test the patience of many a lesser man. Some of the quotes attributed to him by former students he always maintained were apocryphal, but one of these –”If you aren’t reading, get out of my library!” – he once confided, with a smile, he wished he had uttered.
Keith was not afraid of new technology and the Habs library was one of the first in the country to install a security system to help prevent books and magazines from `walking’. However, it was not only the boys who might be found wanting in this respect and Keith would make occasional early morning swoops on the History department where any number of library books might be found `liberated’.
Keith was a man of solid, profound and sincere Christian faith and at Habs was of great assistance with the weekly Chapel services conducted by David Lindsay. His was a career of selfless dedication and loyalty to the School and he will be much missed. Our thoughts are with Mary, their daughter Ruth and the wider Cheyney family.
Roger Llewellyn. Director of the Habs Foundation.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
