In The Spotlight: Vaughan Southgate

This month, Vaughan Southgate (1954-62) is in the spotlight:  

Tell us about what you do now. Has your time at the School influenced your life today?

The Southgates, comprising Uncle Henry, cousins John and David and my son, Crispin have all benefited from BMS over three generations so I think it would be fair to say we have an affinity for BMS; even my sister married an OBM, the late Dr Robert Caves. The school Crispin went to about 45 years ago was completely different from the one I went to, apart from the name. He did not have to wear a cap, or white shirts with stiff collars, and was not ‘locked up' at 6.30pm, or barred from entering certain chain stores, cinemas or coffee bars. In my day, disobeying these rules and getting caught usually resulted in a drill or punishment, needless to say it did not take long to learn how not to get caught.

Upon leaving BMS well over 60 years ago (forgive me if I go back a little to put my experiences in perspective) I read chemistry, biochemistry and zoology at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. It was here I met my wife, before researching for a PhD at the Molteno Institute of Parasitology and Christ’s College, University of Cambridge. I subsequently joined the British Museum (Natural History), now known as the Natural History Museum, as a Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Zoology for three years, but remained there for my working life. I became a Senior Principal Scientific Office (Special Merit), Head of Biomedical Parasitology and Director of a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre, as well as a member of the WHO Expert Committee on Parasitic Diseases. I regularly carried out field studies on the parasitic disease, schistosomiasis, in the tropics and subtropics of the world (i.e. primarily sub-Saharan Africa, but also India, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Zanzibar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Principe) throughout the whole of my career, supported by the Medical Research Council, the Welcome Trust and the EU, in addition to funding from the Museum, and experimental work in London. I supervised PhD students, examined theses in the UK and Europe and worked with colleagues in universities in London (UCL), Belgium (Ghent), Germany (Würzburg) and France (Perpignan), and the Musée Histoire Naturelle in Paris.

On reflection, outdoor learning through regular outings led by staff in the Biology department of BMS on Sundays identifying trees, plants and animals, and time spent in the Field Studies Council at Flatford Mill through BMS introduced me to the value of field studies and the importance of taxonomy.

Tell us about your time at BMS. Do you have any special memories you would like to share?

I thoroughly enjoyed my school days, playing cricket and rugby, and singing in the choir great choral works such as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St Matthew Passion and B Minor Mass.

I also have a special memory of the visit of Father Trevor Huddleston who did so much to fight apartheid in South Africa. He was Bedford born and bred, and his father and cousins attended BMS. Nelson Mandela unveiled his bust at the top of Silver Street.

I enjoyed the excellent school Museum, curated by F W Kuhlicke, and it was a sad day when it was passed to the Bedford Museum because of lack of space in the school.

Who was someone from your time at BMS who had an impact on you and why?

I enjoyed the Sixth Form and the relationship with the staff was quite different from earlier days. Masters were encouraging, and those studying science were fortunate to be in a relatively new building with excellent facilities. I learnt to dissect animals which proved to be useful in my subsequent career of parasitological research. Importantly I made lifelong friends at BMS, and for those still with us we meet annually at Henley Royal Regatta (Stewards and Leander) and in London for a luncheon in December.

What do you do like to do in your spare time?

Since formally retiring well over 20 years ago I continued to be active in science as a Research Associate at the Natural History Museum for some time, became President of the Linnean Society of London for three years, the oldest extant biological society in the world, based in Burlington House, Piccadilly. I spent a year as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, and since 2009 have been supporting the work of the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire as a Deputy Lieutenant. I have assisted numerous charities and organisations such as the John Spedan Lewis Foundation (Trustee), and locally The Friends of Cople Church, Bedford Millennium Probus Club, Bedford Camera Club  and currently assist Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends (Chairman of Trustees) and Forum 71. I was a founder member of Biggleswade Ivel Rotary Club and a patron of the Higgins, Bedford. It was great honour and privilege to be President of the OBM Club when the school was celebrating its 250th year. The luncheon at Merchant Taylors was memorable with over 250 OBMs present. I attend some lectures at the Zoological Society of London, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Linnean Society of London and the Royal Society of Medicine, all in London.

Two of my interests are fly fishing and shooting. Fly fishing for trout and salmon has taken me to various parts of the world, such as Canada, USA, France/Spain in the Pyrenees, and the chalk streams in England, limestone loughs in Ireland and rivers in Scotland. Shooting for me is confined to the UK; Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Kent, Sussex, Wales and Scotland.  Fortunately the seasons for both sports do not overlap.

I am blessed with eight grandchildren and it is a real pleasure to give them support in their multifarious activities. However, I am reaching the stage in life where they look after me rather than the reverse. None of the grandchildren attended BMS because of geography, but those who attended Framlingham College, Suffolk came across an OBM on the staff, Mark Lavery, and those who went to Tonbridge School, Kent came across former economics teacher, ‘Doc’ Richards.

Sadly losing my wife recently after nearly 58 years of marriage, I am cooking, washing and ironing and spending more time doing many of the hundred and one things she did to ‘keep the show on the road.’

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Work hard, play hard, enjoy life and take opportunities when they arise.  Play up, play up and play the game (from Vitai Lampada, Henry Newbolt), these final words of the poem suggest an inherent belief in fairness, courage and duty.

Are there any other thoughts you would like to share with the OBM and BMS community?

Simply to say that all OBMs are fortunate in that they have had teachers/mentors who have had considerable influence on their lives and the various paths they have chosen to follow. We should all be grateful for their support and guidance, and if possible to give something back.