Canon Anthony Phillips writes:

I was at King's College, London, when Professor Christopher Evans and Dr Morna Hooker joined the teaching staff. While Canon Professor Robin Gill (Recollections, Gazette, 24 August) captures the magic of their teaching, he cannot know the total transformation that they brought to a moribund New Testament department. Even as undergraduates, we used to joke about whether Professor Evans's predecessor had heard of Bultmann. I shall never forget the sheer excitement of Professor Evans's lectures on John, nor the year with Morna Hooker studying just one verse, Mark 9.1. Even then, we knew how very fortunate we were, as later years of teaching and ministry have confirmed.

The Revd Jean Mayland adds: Professor Christopher Evans was my New Testament Tutor when I read for a Diploma in Theology at Oxford in 1958. He opened my eyes to the excitement and value of critical approaches to the Bible, and gave me a lasting love of St Mark's Gospel.

He also took a personal interest in his pupils, and was delighted when I became engaged after meeting my future husband at one of his lectures in Corpus Christi College.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

John Ewington writes:

SIR Bernard Lovell, who died on 7 August, aged 98, was an astronomer with a worldwide reputation, and Director of Jodrell Bank. Perhaps less well-known was his great love of church music and organs. He played at his parish church in Swettenham well into his great age.

Sir Bernard was President of the Guild of Church Musicians from 1976 until 1988, when he was succeeded by Dame Mary Archer, who is still in post. He was awarded the Hon. Fellowship of the Guild in 1986; and was a past Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

He was a kind and courteous man, and will be sadly missed by a great many people. Lady Lovell predeceased him.