Gathering in memory of Brian Plummer

August 03, 2007

Friends and former colleagues of Brian Plummer will gather at the University of New England's Wright Centre tomorrow (Saturday 4 August) to celebrate his life. Mr Plummer, who lectured in Geography at UNE for 12 years from 1960, died in London late last month.

His UNE contemporaries remember him as an enthusiastic member of the University community, whose primary concern was for the welfare of students. (The photograph of Mr Plummer displayed here was taken during his time at UNE.) He was a Resident Fellow of Wright College, and is affectionately remembered by the College's alumni (who knew him as "Bags" – from his given-name initials "B.A.G.") for his inexhaustible willingness to help others. He served on the College's governing body for several years.

Des Bowlay, President of the Wright College Association, said he had been receiving tributes to Mr Plummer from former Wright College residents who remembered his kindness to them.

Recruited to UNE by Gilbert Butland (Professor of Geography from 1959 to 1972), Brian Plummer played a significant role in the UNE Exploration Society, founded in 1960. His expeditions with the Society included the 1962 Central Australian Expedition, on which he served as "geographer, first-aid officer, and radio operator".

On his return to England he worked at London Guildhall University and Brunel University where, after retirement, he taught and supervised research students. One of his passions was music, and he sang in a church choir for many years.

Mr Plummer flew to Australia last year for the 50th anniversary reunion of Wright College. Tomorrow's memorial gathering at the Wright Centre (the former Wright College dining hall) will be from 11 am till 12 noon. It will be followed by a light lunch.

For more information on the memorial gathering, contact Des Bowlay on (02) 6732 1243 or 0427 102 867.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at August 3, 2007 01:55 PM