David (Professor) Baguley

From the Emile Zola Society London: We send our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Professor David Baguley at this very sad time. David made a huge contribution to our Society and will be very greatly missed. We have lost not only a most distinguished scholar, writer and critic, but also a colleague and very good friend. Despite his international reputation as a foremost Zola scholar, David remained unassuming and approachable, always willing to share his scholarship and wide-ranging knowledge with younger colleagues. For a long time President of our Society, David was Editor of the Society’s Bulletin for the last eight years. We shall greatly miss David’s personal warmth and friendliness, while his contribution, in the wider world, to the study of Zola’s works and the times he lived in, is simply immense, and will not be forgotten.

I was terribly sad to hear the news of David's passing a few days ago. I worked with David at the Bader International Study Centre for a number of years and he added so much life and laughter to our community there. He was supportive of students, started a French language conversation table in our dining hall (and was very supportive of me and my very poor French speaking skills), and was so much fun to be around. I have a lasting memory of him helping Daphne Lawson (our Art History lecturer) and I in the Louvre as we were trying to get a large number of our students into the galleries with headsets. As we encountered the beautifully predictable French bureaucracy at the check-in counter, David's gleeful and emphatic approach to getting what we needed from the more than reluctant Louvre employees was a joy to behold. I laughed so much as he worked his magic with that twinkle in his eye never disappearing for one moment. I consider myself lucky to have known David. Condolences to his family and friends.

It is with deep sadness that I write this message of condolence to David's family, friends, colleagues and anyone that had the pleasure of meeting him. During my time working at the Bader International Study Centre I had the pleasure to get to know David and admired his passion, enthusiasm and the genuine care that David had for teaching and supporting students and staff. David will surely be remembered fondly and missed by all.

It was with unfortunate surprise and sadness that I received the news of David's passing. My deepest sympathies are extended to David's family, friends, colleagues and of course, the students who got the chance to learn from such a kind, funny and supportive man. I was lucky enough to get to know David over the past two years while working at the Bader International Study Centre. David's approach to both the staff and students with sincerity and care was very much appreciated, and will certainly be missed by all those who knew him. The Castle will not be the same without David. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

I will forever remember David Baguley as Monsieur Baguley, the enthusiastic and warm-hearted French professor at the Bader International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle. I was lucky enough to be one of his students a few years ago, and I will never forget how genuinely he cared for his work and his pupils. Though he was my oldest professor, he was easily the most energetic and was always so excited to share his passion for the French language and its literature. He was endearing and inclusive; I treasured the times when he invited us students to come sit with him at lunch to practise our French and to otherwise just enjoy good company. I hope his family and friends are doing well during this sad time, my thoughts are with you... Merci Monsieur Baguley... vous nous manquerez.

As a former student of Monsieur Baguley’s, it was with great shock and sadness that I found out this morning about his passing. He was one of the kindest, most caring people I have ever met and he never hesitated to help in any way he could with his student’s questions and curiosity about the topics covered in his classes. He had a real passion and dedication to not only to his students, but to his field and his family, both of which were topics greatly covered during Thursday conversations with him in the Bader International Study Centre’s Dining Hall. He made the French Language fascinating and enjoyable all at the same time, and certainly inspired me to continue on in my study of the language. He never lacked energy and was always so excited about even the smallest things during our classes. Being one of the professors I really felt I got to know during the past year of my studies at the Castle, he will be greatly missed. My deepest condolences go to his family, colleagues, and friends.

Mary Ann and I would like to extend our very sincere condolences and warm support to David's family and other friends as we all try to come to terms with the very sad and untimely loss of a wonderful human being and an outstanding scholar/teacher. I know at first hand how much he was valued and admired by students, colleagues and staff during his time at Herstmonceux Castle, teaching French language there in the Bader International Study Centre Program of Queen's University (Canada) in the UK. I have no doubt it was the same in his previous positions at Universities such as Durham in the UK and Western in Canada. As the leading Anglo-Saxon Zola scholar in the world, his exemplary and tireless scholarship will also be hugely missed in the academy. And, so sadly, I already miss his always generous, stimulating and good-humoured conversation over 'un petit rouge', on summer evenings when he was back in Canada staying at his daughter's... Merci pour tout, David, tu nous manqueras, terriblement...

Dear Yasmine, Jude, Alex, Julie, Natasha and Azfar; We are thinking of you, and we are very sorry for your loss. We will remember your grandfather and father from his visits to watch your soccer games, and for his love of languages, which you share. hugs, the Hynes Family.

David was a great friend, a devoted colleague, an outstanding scholar and an example to us all. My heartfelt condolences to the family. I am so glad to have known him.

I am very sorry to have learned about Professor Baguley's passing. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students.

I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about David's passing. I have had the pleasure of working with David at the Bader International Study Centre. We shared a passion for languages and David has always inspired me to keep my language skills current and fresh. He hosted 'La Table Francaise' in the dining hall every week and David's warm, approachable and jovial nature made everyone feel welcome regardless of their language capabilities. David's passion for the language was truly infectious for everyone. David was an absolute pleasure to work with and I always enjoyed staffing field study trips with him. We often used to have a chat and a giggle in the faculty corridor and often used to refer to ourselves as the 'midlands folk' as we both have links to the area. A truly wonderful, funny, caring and inspiring man who will be greatly missed by all. My deepest condolences to David's family, friends, students, colleagues and all who were lucky enough to get to know him. Qu'il repose en paix.

My deepest sympathy to Natasha and Alexander on the loss of their father. Natasha might remember that David and Kathy welcomed my wife, Irene, and myself to London, Ontario back in 1969 when we first arrived to take up my position on the French Department. We stayed that first week with the Baguleys and were grateful for their kindness and hospitality. Davis was always a mentor to me and it was with his help, when he was Chair of the Department, that I was awarded tenure. David and I ran many, many miles together on out midday jaunts with the Thames Hall Harriers. He was a good friend and I shall miss him.

(Donated to Canadian Cancer Society)

(Donated to Canadian Cancer Society)

(Donated to Canadian Cancer Society)