It is with the deepest sadness we announce the death of Fellow Emeritus, Dr Stephen Trudgill on 18 January 2022.
Steve, as he was known to everyone, was Director of Studies in Geography at Robinson from 1996 until his retirement in 2014, when he became a Fellow Emeritus. Until last month he was also Chair of the Gardens Committee, a member of both the Visual Arts and Bin Brook Editorial Committees and President of our Robinson College Alumni Association (Pegasus).
He graduated in Geography with Geology and Sociology from the University of Bristol in 1968 with his PhD on the geomorphology of Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean in 1972. He was the first resident Geography Director of Studies at Robinson and built-up Geography to be one of the well-established subjects in College. Apart from College activities, Steve was also on his local Parish Council where he served on the Wellcome Trust Liaison Committee of the nearby Sanger Centre.
Steve's many interests included writing, gardening, opera, art and painting, including visiting exhibitions as well as participating in and helping to run several art courses at the Field Studies Council Centres. He recently completed a book for Cambridge University Press: ‘Why Conserve Nature? Perspectives on meanings and motivations’, which was published in February 2022.
Our Warden Sir Richard Heaton said: ‘We have lost a wonderful and much-loved member of the Robinson community.’ He will be missed by all of us. RIP, Steve.
You can read Dr Trudgill's obituary by Chris Elliott (Senior Member, Robinson College) in The Guardian here.