Marcus Paul (Combined Arts, 1970-73) John Buchan Reconsidered: Thirty-Nine Years of War and Peace 1901-1940

Trevor Kerry (Theology, 1960-63) The Lost Dambuster Lancaster: The Story of 617 Squadron’s Attack on Hitler’s V2 Rocket Site

Marcus Paul (Combined Arts, 1970-73) has edited and contributed to a collection of essays by international scholars, with a Preface by Sir Niall Ferguson, entitled John Buchan Reconsidered: Thirty-Nine Years of War and Peace 1901-1940:

An intimate picture of a novelist whose work was of national importance. Like his friend Lawrence of Arabia, he was something of a mystery: an intellectual who was also an adventurer; a profoundly private man who was a household name.

Buchan influenced policies which came to define Britain for almost forty years. This collection of essays reveals a man of principle, who was often at odds with the dominant ideas of his age. He envisaged a world free of the shackles of the worst Victorian prejudices but founded on the clear thinking and high personal endeavour of figures from the past.

As Professor Sir Niall Ferguson writes: ‘Buchan emerges from this volume as a remarkably likable and tolerant man’, one to whose ‘prodigious literary legacy’ we can return ‘with renewed admiration’.

Professor Trevor Kerry (Theology, 1960-63) is shortly to publish a book about a British/Canadian crew from the famous Dambuster (617) Squadron: The Lost Dambuster Lancaster: The Story of 617 Squadron’s Attack on Hitler’s V2 Rocket Site. This historical account is a departure from his usual writing on education themes and about wildlife.

He first encountered the story ten years ago when he was shown three graves in a French churchyard: the pilot and two gunners from the downed Lancaster DV403. Since then, he has been pursuing the story, collecting historical records, and tracing members of the family of the crew. The aircraft was trying to eliminate one of Hitler’s V2 sites in northern France. Londoners especially were under frequent attack from the V1 (doodlebug) terror weapons, and worse was planned. DV403 was hit by flak. Five men died, but three survived – thanks in part to a French Resistance worker, André Schamp.

The book contains the historical narrative but also introduces us to several relatives of the crew. It provides a French as well as a British perspective (thanks to his co-author Gaëtan Sagot). It casts a glance at the strategic and political issues involved. Trevor was interested to find a document from one of the Canadian survivors which tells that the crew were debating among themselves the ethical issues involved in their task. Through this debate, a link is made to the research of G. C. Zahn in the 1960s about chaplaincy in the Royal Air Force and to the dilemmas inherent in contemporary drone weapons.

With a grant of approximately £1000 from the Rebecca Hussey Book Charity, we have been able to acquire over 30 recent titles that introduce fresh voices into our collection and help our shelves reflect the richness of Old Testament scholarship.

An important part of this story is that the idea of applying for the grant was first raised by one of our Student Library Committee Representatives, who heard about the programme. Andy’s initiative set the wheels in motion and is a fantastic example of how impactful student contributions can be. Many of the improvements we make in the library start with something as simple as a student comment on our graffiti board—our latest example being the new docking stations that have been ordered for the computer room! If you’re a student reading this, please know that your ideas are always welcome. Whether it’s a recommendation for a new book, a piece of equipment, or a suggestion for how we do things, your voice matters and can lead to real change.

The new additions include commentaries from series such as Earth Bible, Wisdom Commentary, NICOT (New International Commentary on the Old Testament), and the Asia Bible Commentary. These works bring a wide range of theological, cultural, and interpretive perspectives to our collection, enriching the resources available to our students. Many of the new commentaries relate to books of the Bible that are taught on less frequently, meaning that our existing resources were more limited. We hope the new books will highlight the relevance and significance of these books of the Bible and stimulate student engagement with them. We’re also particularly excited to add titles by scholars such as Ericka Shawndricka Dunbar, Elizabeth Boase and Rhiannon Graybill, whose work brings critical and contemporary insights to biblical texts, often engaging with themes of gender, race, and social justice. These books are now available to borrow from the College Library, and it is wonderful to be able to support the research and learning of our students with a newly strengthened Biblical Studies collection. The Rebecca Hussey Book Charity has a long history of resourcing institutions that support religious study and development and we are incredibly grateful to have benefitted from their work. This grant has not only enhanced our holdings but also helped us move closer to our goal of building a collection that reflects the diversity of voices and approaches within biblical scholarship today.

The new books are currently on display in the College Library, so please do come and have a browse!