We were saddened to hear of the death of Philip Pacey by coincidence on the day we had attended a meeting at the University of Hertfordshire as part of a project commemorating the 150th anniversary of St Albans School of Art. The school had merged with Hatfield Polytechnic to form the university in 1993.
Philip had been tutor-librarian at St Albans when we began as students on the art foundation course in September 1970. It was a time of student grants and progressive education authorities. The college buildings were brand new, incorporating an extensive and comprehensive library, and a vast slide collection.
These Philip administered, but he was also responsible for bringing literary studies to the timetable. There was no rigid programme and certainly no terminal exam; his style was far more informal and conversational. He introduced us to new writers, notably BS Johnson, whose novel Albert Angelo was on our reading list, and who came to talk about his experimental book-in-a-box The Unfortunates.
Philip also made us aware that the library stocked The Naked Civil Servant, the autobiography of our life model, Quentin Crisp.
On Tuesday evenings Philip would host informal gatherings at his house in Fishpool Street where students could bring poetry, prose and music before trooping off to one of many St Albans pubs. He has lived on in our memories after that one brief yet glorious year.
