Obituary for Mrs Lilian Edna Brown (née Oakman)

Mrs Lilian Edna Brown (née Oakman) (BA 1951, Cert Ed, Hon. MA 2005) died in July 2023, aged 95.

Lilian first arrived in Manor Hall in 1948 and received her degree in 'English Language with its Literature' and a Certificate of Education in 1952. It was whilst at Bristol that Lilian met her beloved husband, Richard, or Dickie, Brown. Lilian first saw Richard at a Students’ Union General Meeting in the Victoria rooms, she said she was struck by his marvellous voice and immediately fell in love. They met shortly afterwards at a party at Manor Hall and Richard soon asked her on a date. They were then engaged within six weeks.

Lilian always had so many great stories she shared about her time at Manor Hall. When she arrived in 1948, she soon found out that the Warden, Gladys Morgan took her loco parentis duties very seriously. Lilian explained: "Your own front door key? Certainly not. Male guests had to be signed in and out, whatever the time. We had to find devious means to beat the system and did, even though we faced severe penalties. Even for a minor offence, you could be ‘gated’ for a week and expected to report daily to the office. Once, returning from a party I really hadn’t wanted to miss, I faced the small problem of the gate to the garden. Its height was not insuperable. All I had to do was place my feet between its top prongs – my legs were long enough surely – pull myself up and jump down. Simple. I transformed into a crouching Quasimodo figure, humped over the gate, trapped by my jammed shoes. It was too risky to untie my laces, but I was constantly lit up by passing cars, and exposed to the officials in Clifton Hill House. Feeling the breath of both wardens on me, I took Shakespeare’s advice: ‘desperate diseases must have desperate remedies’. Clinging on with one hand, I managed to untie my laces, get my feet out of my shoes and somehow jump down. As I did so, the gate swung open!"

After leaving the University Lilian continued her love of education, she became a teacher at St. Georges School and remained there for 30 years, becoming Head of House and Senior Mistress. Her devotion to the school and the students was unquestionable and she took a leading role in addressing race relation issues in one of the most culturally diverse schools in the area. Throughout this time, she was an active member of local and national associations for education and multiculturalism. Lilian always had a thirst for knowledge and remained curious throughout her life.

Within the University, she was an invaluable member of the original Manor Hall Association, the University Convocation Committee and on university Court and the Manor Hall Committee. All who have met her benefit enormously from her wisdom, experience and advice. In 2005 she was awarded an Honorary Masters of Arts by the University of Bristol. Lilian was deservedly appointed as Honorary Vice-President when the Association reformed in 2009 for her unwavering dedication to Manor Hall and its residents and her invaluable wealth of experience. Lilian was also a member of the MacInnes Club, who met for monthly talks and dinners in Manor Hall during term time until the closure of the hall for refurbishment in 2012. She often invited student guests along to enjoy proceedings. She continued her involvement with Manor Hall and was attending meetings, Manor Amateur Dramatics productions, carol services, summer balls and other MHA events well after her 90th birthday. The university and Manor Hall was such a large part of Lilian's life.