Rev Dr John Platt 1936-2019

NEWS |

It is with great sadness that the College has learned of the death of Emeritus Fellow and former Chaplain, Rev Dr John Platt.  The College flag will fly in tribute.

John Platt was born on 9th November 1936 in Fleetwood, Lancashire, the eldest son of Walter John James Platt, a pharmacist.  Educated at Giggleswick School, he matriculated at Pembroke in 1956.  Although he came up to read History,  John changed to Theology after his first two terms and in 1961 was ordained after training at Cuddesdon Theological College.  He later took his MTh from Hull, and his Oxford DPhil in 1977.

Following curacies in his native Lancashire and then in Hull, less than a decade after his first graduation Rev John Platt returned to Pembroke as Assistant Chaplain, and in 1969 he took on the full Chaplaincy role.  After taking his DPhil he joined the University Faculty of Theology and began tutorial teaching in the History and Theology of the Reformation.  In 1985 he was elected to a Senior Research Fellowship and membership of Governing Body, which he held for 17 years.  In 2004 he was elected to an Emeritus Fellowship.

During his years at Pembroke John was a central member of the community.  He took on many and varied roles in addition to his Chaplaincy – including periods as Tutor for Admissions, Dean of Degrees, Secretary and Treasurer of The College Society, and Editor of the College Record.  More than that, he cared deeply about other College members and devoted his time to getting to know them and to supporting them during their time at Pembroke. 

It was clear to all who knew him that John saw his role as Chaplain as one which served and facilitated the College community.  He quickly established a pattern of welcoming as many as possible of each year’s new students personally, and in his earlier years as Chaplain he and his wife Mavis regularly entertained groups of first year undergraduates at their home.  His support for the students extended beyond the Chapel and pastoral care and onto the touchlines and tow paths as he cheered on their sporting endeavours with gusto. 

Large numbers of former students stayed in touch with John after leaving Oxford, and he was always delighted to greet alumni when they returned to College for Gaudies and other special events.  Indeed, many came back to be married by him or to have him baptise their children in the College Chapel.

As Chaplain, John saw many changes over the years.  Attendance at Chapel services declined as attitudes and society changed, but as John himself observed in the College Record in 1975: “if every part of the Church had weathered the past twenty years as well as it has in Pembroke there would be general rejoicing.”   

The Chapel itself was transformed during John’s time, with a great restoration programme carried out in the 1970s both inside and out.  This work was funded in large part by the generosity of alumnus Damon Wells and his family, and it was in recognition of their continuing support over many years for the life and fabric of the Chapel that it was renamed in 1997.  Officiating at the dedication service for The Damon Wells Chapel, John Platt was joined by Lord Runcie, former Archbishop of Canterbury.

As an historian of the College John devoted much time to research and writing.  In 1996 he published the College’s History in Pictures, and in 2014 was co-author of the Gentle History of the Damon Wells Chapel.  When he died John had recently finished the first chapter of his new History of Pembroke College.  His expertise in this work and encyclopaedic knowledge of all things ‘Pembroke’ will be irreplaceable.

In recent years John returned to College regularly to attend alumni events, and to visit the archives as part of his College History research.  He continued to get to know members of the College community, and to maintain his contacts with alumni.  He will be greatly missed by the very many people whose lives he touched.

A memorial service will take place in College in due course.  Unfortunately, due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus the intended March 2020 date has had to be postponed.  Details of the rearranged service will be posted on this website when known.

We are also collecting together messages and memories of John, for sharing with his family and for adding to the College’s archival information.  If you would like to submit a piece, please send your contribution via email to memories@pmb.ox.ac.uk.