I still have, after all these years, the warmest memory of Sir Arthur Armitage. It started in the autumn of 1949, when, after a feeble School Certificate and a moderate Higher Certificate and unaided by my school, I sought entry into colleges in Cambridge. 

Queens’ responded, so I came up to be interviewed by Arthur Armitage and Mr Potts. To my delighted surprise I was accepted, but there was another hurdle – Latin. There was repeated failure at School Certificate level in this subject, but I was reassured there was the “Little Go” exam – an accompanying dictionary allowed – so a return to Cambridge and a pass.

After 18 months in the army for National Service, where I was fortunate not to be sent to Korea, I went up to Queens’ in September 1951, still with my ration book, to read History with A.A. as my Tutor. I can recall his farewell advice at the end of the first term: “You do your best reading during the vacation.”

Despite not coming within his academic group, there was an invitation to lunch and always a friendly nod in passing. We were, however, intrigued by his accent, for instance Kar-ledge for College was widely imitated.

The decisive meeting occurred during my last term. I had visited the careers opportunity without inspiration, then A.A. summoned me.

“Well, Selby, what are you going to do when you leave Cambridge?”

“I’m going to be a housemaster at a Borstal.”

“Are you SERIOUS?” was the explosive response.

Deep breath, “Yes”.

Pause.

“Very well then, I will arrange an interview with the Director of Borstals.”

These were for young offenders but part of the Prison Commission. Sure enough, a week later I was shown a letter from Major Bradley M.C. - the Director - calling me to be interviewed. My career had started through the efficient agency of A.A.

This was considered a somewhat eccentric career move, but A.A. kept in touch. I was selected in 1964 – by this time a Deputy Governor – for a Senior Course in Criminology, and there at the initial gathering was A.A. “Come and dine with us at High Table,” and out with the diary.

When I was secretary of the Borstals Housemasters’ Annual Conference, I brought it to Queens’ and A.A. attended the evening’s gathering at my invitation. When settling with the Caterer, Mr Cash told me about the recent occurrence of the College VIII going Head of the River for the first time.

“The President saw me and told me to take the champagne and be at Ditton Corner with him on Saturday afternoon. So there we were charging down the Long Reach with the champagne clattering and Mr Armitage cheering away. And when we got the bump, we celebrated! What a day!”

In the late 60s I was a Junior Governor doing my stint in the Home Office and Queens’ invited me to an event held by those reading Law. At a social gathering, A.A. enquired about my progress. I discussed my activities and that my request to visit Sweden was, even now on the Permanent Secretary’s desk.

“Ah,” he said, “Philip!” waving his hand, and there was the P.S., Sir Philip Allen, also a Queensman!

“No, please, no,” I said. He looked disappointed as I explained the tortuous process and the objections within the Prison Department of attempted unofficial influence. I wrote to congratulate him on his Knighthood and he responded in a written personal reply.

The Memorial Service for A.A. at Queens’ was a moving event and the Sermon by the former Dean, Henry Chadwick, was generous and affectionate. This was shared by all those attending which included me.

The importance of A.A’s election to the Presidency for the College has been profound. When I was up, the President was an anonymous figure, occasionally seen vacantly wandering about but making no contact. “What has he done?” we enquired.

“He advised Mussolini on the draining of the Pontine Marshes,” was the reply. But there was no sense of leadership.

The election of Arthur Armitage changed that. He was one of us – a former undergraduate, he was energetic and forceful, he was interested in what we were doing. He made Queens’ matter.

Since then I have met several Presidents, and they all have this essential quality and the effect is evident.