Obituary David Lloyd-Jones
My brother, David Lloyd-Jones, died on 16th November 2010 at his home in Glasgow, aged 78, from cancer-related complications. He came to Blundell’s immediately after World War II, having spent the war years in India, where our father was an officer in the Indian Army. Blundell’s was a tough, cold place to be in those post-war years of food and fuel shortages, but David, like most of his contemporaries, accepted it cheerfully and philosophically. His interests while at Blundell’s were entirely of a non-sporting and unmilitary kind. He was active in the Music Society, school and house plays and was an enthusiastic member of the school choir which, under ‘Jazz’ Hall, had an excellent reputation. He initiated a mock election and stood as the Labour candidate. In a school which was then 100% staunchly Tory, it was something of an achievement that he captured 30 votes (which I am now slightly ashamed to admit did not include his brother’s)! It says much for David’s strength of character that he was appointed head of house and then head of school at a time when those who excelled at rugby or were prominent in the Officer Training Corps (as it was then called) were invariably picked out as the school’s leaders. He set an example of tolerant, mature values which I am sure many were grateful for.
From Blundell’s David won a history scholarship to St. John’s College, Cambridge and then went on to an academic career after doing his PhD on the French political philosophers. For many years he was Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics at Glasgow University, liked and respected by colleagues and students for the quality of his lectures, the genuine concern he had for his students, and his general contribution to university life. However, David was best known throughout Scotland and well beyond for his amazing art collection – paintings, illustrated books, ceramics, glassware and furniture, with particular emphasis on Art Nouveau and Art Deco – a collection which featured in three television documentaries, was the subject of articles in international art magazines and was visited by arts societies from all over Europe and even further afield. As a member of the gay community in Glasgow, particularly in earlier, unenlightened years, David was an example to many of how to be true to yourself with dignity, courage and humour. He is survived by his civil partner, Robert McCairley. David was a generous, understanding brother and brother-in-law, a wonderful uncle to my children and a man with many friends. He will be missed.