News

Obituary: Professor Douglas Scott

(24 April 2006)

A retired Professor of German at Durham University, and well-known Quaker in the Durham area, Professor Douglas F S Scott, has died at the age of 95.

He was appointed as a Reader in German in 1949 and was promoted to Professor in 1958. He held this post until his retirement in 1975. Prof Scott was from a German family and his parents had arrived in Britain early in the 20th century. He studied first at London University and took a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Gõttingen in Germany. As a member of the Society of Friends he trained as a medical orderly and served on medical duties during the Second World War. He is remembered particularly for his dedication in building up the German Department, in the 1960s during a period of great re-organisation in the University. As Professor and head of the Department he and his counterpart in French, the late Professor John Lough, championed the interests of modern languages and other arts subjects at meetings of the University Senate and other groups and committees. Retired colleagues who worked with him say he was ahead of his time. He brought together diverse members of staff with complementary skills to share lecturing as well as do other teaching and departmental duties. His own academic interests were in the 18th/19th centuries with an emphasis on the historical context rather than literary developments. His wife predeceased him. He is survived by two daughters. The funeral was held at Durham Crematorium on Saturday 22 April.