It was January 26th 2024, a year ago, that much missed MC Black passed away. We, in the RCS Association, now have our “MC Black – President’s Tankard” to remember him by. The College opted to remember MC by planting a commemorative tree in his name.
So, at 2:30pm on the 29th of January, a year and a few days after MC’s death, representatives of Imperial College, of the Imperial and RCS students Unions, of the RCS Association, the RCSA Trust, Imperial Boat Club, the Exploration Board, the Imperial Lodge and many other parts of College that MC touched throughout his long association, gathered in the ‘Secret Garden’ behind Northside.
Anne Barrett, Archivist & Corporate Record Manager, read a few words from Professor Bob Schroter, who had known MC during his student days, and Anne then went on give her own tribute to MC. Both of those pieces are reproduced here….. in the Book of Condolences.
The College Chaplain, Andrew Wilson, taking inspiration from the young cherry tree (Prunus Kanzan) around which everyone was gathered, read a short secular poem from American poet Mary Oliver entitled When I am Among the Trees. Then, one by one, all that were assembled took it in turn to take the spade and add a few spade-loads of earth to the roots of the young cherry tree.
The photograph shows Brendan Molloy adding a shovel-full of earth, looked on by Anne Barrett and David Legg.
With the planting complete, everyone traversed the garden for the short distance to the Chaplaincy for some commemorative cake and reminiscences.
Enormous thanks must go to Anne for planning and arranging the event. And for discussions and for creating the space in the garden, and sourcing and planting the tree, Lucy Hand, Head Gardener, must be deeply thanked. As must Jane Hay (Neary), Deputy Chief Property Officer (Operations), for her huge support in many ways for this memorial, and to Andrew Wilson, Imperial’s Chaplain, for his support and for his hospitality in the Chaplaincy. And, of course, to everyone that attended.
So, goodbye again, MC Black. Thank you for everything, and may your tree and our memories of you live long.
(If you, like MC Black, approve of the support we offer to our students, why not help us do more? Consider making a donation to the RCSA Trust here…. the Trust that MC chaired for over twenty years. With no paid staff and no building costs you can be assured that every penny of your donation will be gratefully received and faithfully applied to assist the students of the Royal College of Science).
You could donate any amount you wish, but why not donate £100 right now?