The Revd Laurence Arthur Hubbard (1957)

The Reverend Laurence Arthur Hubbard was an undergraduate at the College from 1957 to 1960. Laurie, as he was known among family and friends, always looked back at his time there with affection. He started reading law but found that it was not to his taste. He then turned to theology. No doubt it was at about this time that he realised that he had a vocation for the Anglican priesthood. He always found the late Henry St John Hart immensely supportive. Henry Hart, then Dean of the College, used to refer to him as "brother of Hubbard and son of Hubbard" as both I and our father were members of the College.

Before going up to Cambridge Laurie was at school at St George's Harpenden and then, in common with most of his generation, spent two years in National Service. This latter was mostly spent in Singapore with the Royal Army Service Corps.

After his ordination his first curacy was at Widcombe in Bath. It was here that he met Wendy, a chartered physiotherapist. They married in 1964 and were to spend over sixty years of married life together.

For much of his clerical career Laurie worked abroad. He served with the Church Mission Society in Kenya for many years and then in Damascus in Syria. Subsequently he worked in Aqaba in Jordan for the Mission to Seafarers. With his innate sense of fair play and concern for the underdog he found considerable fulfilment in offering solace and a listening ear to seafarers who perforce had to spend many months away from family and home.

Laurie was a devoted family man. He had three sons and five grandchildren of whom he was immensely proud.

Obituary by John Hubbard, Laurence's brother.