Comments for Slices of Cake

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by Jonathan D'Angour

Jonathan D'Angour — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:29:58 +0000

I pause, as I generally do. John was exceptionally kind to me, at Worcester 1978-81, and later when we corresponded (or I rang) when he was at Middlebury.. but there is a sadness. When, early on, we discussed Cymbeline, and Imogen in particular, James, your father in his flamboyant style talked of your sister, saying “and were she to be alive today, she might be the Imogen of Cymbeline”. In July 1979, when your dad was on sabbatical for a year, my own mother succumbed to brain cancer, and my years at Oxford were then lost. John was understanding, but helpless. I left Oxford with a third, not that it mattered,and our mum died in April 1982, 30 years ago. Later, we never talked about any of this, although my then psychosis left scars on my twenties and thirties. But that phrase, “were she to be alive today”, I echo when I talk of our mum, in fond memory of John’s own trials. John’s Shakespearean influence also left its indelible mark on me, and I became an avid reader, and listener (on tape) of many and much of the dramatic and critical cannon, particularly taking Hesketh Pearson’s comment in his Life of Shakespeare – as far as I remember – that Shakespeare as remembered by Him helped him in the direst days of the war. Thank you, John
p.s. music helps

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by Jennifer Ballinger

Jennifer Ballinger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:59:01 +0000

Was so saddened to hear the news of Prof Wilders’ passing in the most recent Middlebury magazine. It always amazed me how much fun he had with everything he taught–and how much enthusiasm he retained for learning new things about Shakespeare et al, through his students’ eyes–even though he had read and studied all this literature for years and years. He was wonderfully fun and made all literature a joy. Beautifully put, Prof Bertolini.

Jennifer Poinier Ballinger, Midd 1991

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by Daniel Friedman

Daniel Friedman — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:08:06 +0000

I am writing this from the Rad Cam, having spent the past eight weeks in Oxford, with all my memories flooding back about Dr. Wilders. I have written my appreciation to James, and thank you for your comments here.

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by Ian Small

Ian Small — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:46:09 +0000

As a student (too?) actively involved in Oxford drama in the late 1960s I was privileged to know John and to value his incisive but always generous and thoughtful critiques of what we were performing. His advice and encouragement have helped to form and deepen my love of theatre, and he always wore his scholarship lightly – making it more effective by so doing. Although I have not seen him for many years, I know that his quiet, kindly influence still resonates in my life and I am very grateful for knowing him.

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by KC Thornton

KC Thornton — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:45:05 +0000

Fond memories. He will be dearly missed!

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by william parente

william parente — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:37:44 +0000

At Worcester College, Oxford, John was the most tolerant, engaged and encouraging tutor anyone could have wished for. Unlike many dons, he contrived to give the impression that a real dialogue was taking place between him and the pompous, irritable undergraduate in front of him, a dialogue in which both parties stood to gain something. This was a powerful, and wholly undeserved, boost to the student’s ego. He was engagingly open about his human failings- I recall with a smile his hilarious description of the undignified shifts he was put to to conquer his tobacco habit. His attitude to the canon was refreshingly pragmatic: I struggled miserably with Carlyle until John put me out of my misery: ‘I shouldn’t bother with it then. Read something else.’ He brought life and fun into the tutorial, Green Men, drunken Shakespeare rehearsals, the construction of punts. Intellectually, I owe him everything, because, like Samuel Johnson, he understood that the key to learning was enjoyment, and for me this opened every door. I salute his memory, and thank him from my heart for all he gave to so many people.

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by James Wilders

James Wilders — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:11:04 +0000

Dear John & Mary Ellen Bertolini,

I was delighted to come across your obituary of my Dad, John Wilders. I am his youngest son (now aged 49, so not so young). Your description of him rings very true indeed. He was aged 83 when he passed away in the early hours of Maundy Thursday in hospital in Hull. My brother, Tom, was at his bedside and tells me that he died in his sleep without suffering.
My Father had a wonderful life ranging from volunteering for the Royal Navy at the end of World War II when he served on an aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, to then going Cambridge in (I think) the early 50′s to take his BA and begin his PhD, completing his studies at Princeton, then teaching at Bristol University, then Oxford and then Middlebury. He packed loads of things in between these headlines. Best of all he was able to do a job which he loved and which brought fantastic experiences and many interesting and good friends. There aren’t many people who can say that.
The funeral is not until Friday, 13 May (delayed by the great number of public holidays at this time of year) but my feeling is that it should be as much a celebration of someone who achieved a great deal with his life as much as a saying goodbye. As Hamlet said of his own Father, “He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”
James Wilders
PS Doug – I remember you well from my childhood. Your failure in Maths O Level was often discussed at the dinner table. Also I much enjoyed seeing one of your plays at the Oxford playhouse (I think it was called “Oh Well” (?).

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by David Bain

David Bain — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:41:59 +0000

Many thanks, friends, for this beautiful portrait!

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by Doug Lucie

Doug Lucie — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:50:37 +0000

Mary Ellen,
my favourite memory of John, apart from the picnics on the river with his lovely family, is my interview for admission. I was playing Vindice in the Revenger’s Tragedy at school, and had to get back in time for the performance. He said how jealous he was that I was going to be onstage holding that skull that night. A born performer.

He also had his tutorial group do dramatic interventions in his lectures – eg Julius Caesar – where we were all planted in the audience and suddenly erupted with cries of “Liberty! Enfranchisement” etc….
Bless him

Comment on Remembering John Wilders by Mary Ellen Bertolini

Mary Ellen Bertolini — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:06:28 +0000

Thanks so much for your comment, Doug. I can just imagine John sitting there in his squash gear!