The University was saddened to learn that Reginald (Reg) Brown passed away peacefully on Thursday 1 December.

In the early years of the University there was an arrangement whereby selected students from the Rose Bruford college of Speech and Drama were permitted to complete a degree in English at Kent in two years. Reg was one of the first beneficiaries of this scheme, arriving at Kent in 1968. The Gulbenkian opened in June 1969 and the post of Director fell vacant just as Reg graduated a year later in 1970. He was already seeking other possibilities of employment, and was led to apply for it almost by chance, but was duly appointed.

Reg was Director of the Gulbenkian for 22 years, during which time, being a prodigious and versatile worker he directed, acted, sang, built and painted scenery and even serviced the theatre’s van. He fostered excellent town-gown relationships, directing and performing for amateur companies, and importing local talent into University productions. He inaugurated, with the help of the then Music Director Alan Laing, the summer pro-am operatic productions which ran for many years even after Reg’s retirement, and featured large international staff-student choruses. All this he achieved on a shoestring budget.

Widely known and liked, Reg was a defining figure in the University’s first quarter of a century; it is largely thanks to the achievements of Reg that the Gulbenkian gradually expanded into a central University arts complex.

Following Reg’s retirement he continued his long association with the University and with Rutherford College, as a valued Honorary Senior Member. Reg visited the University very recently to attend the 50th anniversary lecture on 14 October and also to attend the memorial service for another former member of staff, Bob Gibson, less than a fortnight ago.

The Rutherford flag is flying at half-mast in recognition of Reg’s long-standing association with the University and College. Reg will be greatly missed by all, and our thoughts are with his wife Janet.

Please contact the Rutherford Master’s Office if you would like to receive funeral details when they are known.

Picture shows: Reg Brown (left) and Bob Gibson (right) as the ‘Porters’.