Simple City  

I meant to post something about John Derrick, a long-standing and much loved member of the logic group at Leeds University, who died in December. I only knew John in his later years (some time after his official retirement), but would regularly see him at the Wednesday afternoon logic seminar, which was often followed by a trip to the pub. He was always a thoughtful and benevolent presence in the seminar room, and made for entertaining and knowledgeable company over a drink.

For younger members, he was also something of a link to an earlier era, the days when the group was led by Martin Löb (of Löb’s theorem fame).

It is a testamant to his strength of character, and his love of the subject, that he continued to attend and contribute to these seminars through many year of ill-health, up until only a few weeks before his death.

An obituary by Garth Dales appeared in the LMS news-letter and a longer one can be read on the University of Leeds website.

“Men fear thought more than they fear anything else on earth – more than ruin, more even than death. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible; thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habits; thought is anarchic and lawless, indifferent to authority, careless of the will – tried wisdom of the ages. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. It sees man, a feeble speck, surrounded by unfathomable depths of silence, yet bears itself proudly, as unmoved as if it were lord of the universe. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world and the chief glory of man.”

— Bertrand Russell (Why Men Fight)