Professor J. Neville Birdsall
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.To me as an Oxford academic (and I am not alone in this respect), his alleged reservations about Oxbridge dons were not made visible. His fluent conversation, in a crisp and emphatic rather than booming voice, gave great pleasure until in his final years illness took its toll, and his comments on the academic world were as a rule suitably sceptical and ironic rather than scurrilous. The episode which led to friction with the British Academy was at least as much a reflection on certain members of that society as it was on Neville. Nor should it go unmentioned that he and his wife provided a scholarship for a young Nigerian to be properly educated, and for this act of generosity he was rewarded by being installed as a chief of the tribe, while his wife was made a chief posthumously.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments