Canon Brian Macdonald-Milne writes:
FURTHER to your obituary of the Revd
Tom Devonshire Jones (Gazette,
13 March): in the somewhat monastic atmosphere of Cuddesdon
College in the 1950s, Tom seemed to live on a somewhat different
plane from most of us. He loved to play Brahms, and would make a
movement as if to swoon at the mention of his (apparently)
favourite composer. To provide a literary aspect to our studies,
the Vice-Principal boldly gathered a group to study Dante. Tom was
enthralled, and was by far the most eager to embrace Dante's
world.
After I had served in the Pacific Islands, he discussed with me
the influence of that part of the world on Matisse, about whom he
was enthusiastic, especially when he learned that the artist had
been inspired by the calico loincloths worn by many throughout the
islands, as on them were often floral designs of great
boldness.
Tom had a refreshingly artistic approach to life in general, and
we his contemporaries benefited from the warmth of his personality.
It would be good if the arts could continue to be blessed and
encouraged by the Church in general, and by the clergy in
particular, as he hoped and prayed would increasingly be the
case.