Lalage Bown

From: Sally Nyandiya-Bundy A few weeks after Lalage's passing and before her funeral service, I googled her. Seeing the date on which she died, now as internet history, I cried, more than I had cried when I initially heard news of her passing. I first met Lalage in 1970/71, when as an undergraduate student at the University of Zambia I shared a room with Monica Munachoonga. Monica was friends with one Lilian Jabani who worked in Lalage's Extra Mural department at the university, so I got to meet Lalage Bown and Dr Beryl Steele. Unlike Lalage, Beryl chain smoked so it was quite easy to tell them apart. In September 1975 I was lucky enough to be awarded a postgraduate scholarship at the University of Edinburgh. Nearly a year later, June 1976, I met Bob Bundy who was then a lecturer at the Universityof Lagos and at the time he had come to visit a former student of his, in the same department of Psychology as I was. Then in April 1978, I arrived in Lagos to get married to Bob and who should I meet again but Lalage! Aunty Lala was one of 12 persons who witnessed our wedding at the registry office in Ikoyi on 22 nd April 1978. Later that day with the assistance of Florence Chanakira (later Nyahwa) - one of the few Zimbabweans I met at UNILAG, Aunty Lala provided Bob and I (and guests) with our wedding lunch. I still have her baked beans recipe from that day. From September 1978 to June 1980, thanks to Lalage who was then Dean of Education and Head, Department of Adult Education, I was employed as a part time lecturer. Lalage introduced me to the Psychology of Adult Learning and the fundamental ways this differed from the way children learn. In January 1981 I went back to Edinburgh to complete my studies, Bob remained in Lagos and after Lalage moved back to the UK we visited her at every opportunity. She always had a full diary of travels, lectures, meetings, hosting visitors from all over the world, but as long as she was in the country she would welcome our visits, sometimes at very short notice and she would put us up. On one such occasion she organised for the three of us to visit Beryl Steele and her husband Bill. For me it was a great reunion with Beryl and our Sunday lunch lasted several hours. Lalage's knowledge of history and current affairs was astounding and on the few occasions we visited her here in Shrewsbury she took us on excursions to places of interest and regaled us with historical accounts of everywhere we went to. I used to say if we had Lalage around we didn't need the radio or background music. Indeed I don't ever remember having the tv on when Lalage was around - whether in Lagos, Glasgow or Shrewsbury. She gave us news of mutual friends and acquaintances including her own family: the twins (Kehinde and Taiwo), her mother, her sister, her "American brother" and her "brother Hugh" amongst others. Those of you who knew Lalage also know that she was a great entertainer and I'll share a story some of you may have heard but it makes me smile when I think of her. She was at an air field in some African country, I can't remember which. A man with a clip board then called out for Professor Bown to step forward. She started to make her way towards him and he said "woman (maybe madam) make way for Professor Bown to come forward!". She said "I am Professor Bown", he laughed, looked at her and said, "You?? You?? A woman??". Lalage was great at connecting people and she had boundless energy. I've already mentioned my reunion with Beryl Steele. Sometime in the 90s I was visiting the University of Kent at Canterbury from Harare, on a staff exchange programme. Lalage suggested I pass through Shrewsbury. I duly did. Instead of suggesting that I get a taxi to her address, she came to the railway station to meet me. After depositing my luggage at her house, she announced that we were going to an Italian restaurant for lunch. That evening we went to the Fordhams for dinner. We had a glorious time and although I had run out of steam, Lalage was still going strong. Bob and I visited her in hospital, outside visiting hours after she had her first fall and broke her hip. I expected Lalage to assume the patient role, instead she was surrounded by academic papers and had been drafting lecture notes. Instead of us comforting her, she entertained us with lots of humour and chuckles. Lalage treated all humans with respect and dignity regardless of age and status. She interacted with children like they are full human beings (unlike many adults) and respected her driver in Lagos Mr Yekini, as much as her colleagues and the Vice Chancellor. Over the decades Aunty Lala touched very many lives. Our lives were enriched by knowing her. We'll never forget her and I for one will never have the words to adequately describe her.