Former rector dies

[queen of scots]

Former rector of St Andrews, Sir Clement Freud, has died aged 84. Some sinners may remember his time here.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... at-84.html

[Mr Comedy]

Yes, very sad. He was the Rector for the majority of my time here (Andrew Neill was under Rectorial Drag in my 1st year). Always made me chuckle in LPH (despite the fact it was always the same jokes).

[theshadowhost]

i had no idea who he was when he was rector and still dont now. all i know is i recognise his name as being the rector.

[exnihilo]

Where first class minds are made, kids.

[Craig]

i had no idea who he was when he was rector and still dont now. all i know is i recognise his name as being the rector.

This reminds me somewhat of people who post on Have Your Say to tell everyone they have no opinion.

[Jormungand]

i had no idea who he was when he was rector and still dont now. all i know is i recognise his name as being the rector.

This reminds me somewhat of people who post on Have Your Say to tell everyone they have no opinion.

Frankly they tend to be the more tolerable ones...

[Daniel]

Where first class minds are made, kids.

World-class.

Clearly, yours was not one of them.

Daniel

[exnihilo]

Did I get the fatuous slogan wrong? My only defence is that they didn't have it when I were a lad.

[theshadowhost]

I guess the point i was trying to make was: what does the rector do? and why was everyone so happy that he was rector here?

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

I can vaguely recall Sir Clement defining his role to me during freshers week (I'm paraphrasing, although I think he has said this to numerous others):
"In the old days, the rector ran the university. If I'd have wanted to, I could have made the entire place into a brothel. Now I just make sure things run smoothly."

[Bizarre Atheist]

A great loss to the worlds of wit and wisdom. I wonder if he despaired of being perpetually labelled 'grandson of Sigmund, brother of Lucien' just as St Andrews cringes at the ubiquitous suffix 'Prince William's former university'?

I commend the BBC online obituary, which has a video montage and text. This morning the video explained how he was born in Vienna, contradicting the text printed directly below it declaring that he was born in Berlin. Mercifully this has been changed since since...

And as for fatuous slogans, I believe the University has now changed yet again to 'From First to Foremost'. Thus was it printed on the programme for the Principal's Inauguration, at least.

[fearghas]

A great loss to the worlds of wit and wisdom. I wonder if he despaired of being perpetually labelled 'grandson of Sigmund, brother of Lucien'

There is the story of when he and Winston S. Churchill went on a trip to China. Churchill got the better room, and this was the first (and probably only time) that Freud had been "out-grandfathered"

I had the pleasure of sharing a lift in the Rusacks with him on my visit here before I started. Thoroughly charming.

A sad day for the University, Radio 4, politics, comedy, cooking, and dog food.

[Thackary]

I remember a very rambling and lengthy story he told over dinner with us about his grandfather, who worked on the railways - the lesser-known Signalman Freud. After 15-20 minutes of setup, you can't help but laugh.

[harmless loony]

I just heard the news now and feel genuinely sad to hear of his passing - he was rather a quirky character.....definitely a sad day.

[Ashley]

Sad to see. Very funny guy and an always shockingly impressive previous life. He also seemed to take quite an interest in us students while rector.

[mossop]

I shared an ice cream and a chat with him in Janetta's (mint choc chip, if you're interested) - he seemed like a really genuinely nice bloke and hilariously funny, too. Sad news indeed.