Robert Jupe (Class of 1974) 1955 ~ 2022          

Robert took his A Levels in 1974 in History, Economics and Maths.  He would have been taught by John Darling, Dave Armsby, Malcolm Curtis among others. He was particularly influenced by David Jones, one of his History teachers, and to some extent he took on some of Jones' high ethical principles and uncompromising political views.

He was reserved but had an impressive mind, with an almost photographic memory. He studied PPE at Keble College Oxford and, after a stint teaching in a Sixth Form College near Southend, joined the University of Kent as a lecturer in Accounting, eventually becoming a professor.  He was an assiduous contributor to various books and journals.  Widely respected and liked by his colleagues and students, he leaves a legacy of valuable research, much of it concerning rail privatisation.  He wrote with clarity and conviction and dealt with subjects such as British Concentration Camps in the Boer War and the Grenfell Tower disaster where his work was cited at the enquiry. He had a keen sense of social justice, was a dogged critic of power, profit and vested interest, and was a committed member of the Lecturers' Union and the Labour Party.  He was incensed by the way public money was increasingly being channelled into private hands. 

One of his colleagues at Kent writes that 'Robert was not only a well-loved teacher but a pioneer in ground-breaking research in the vital areas of public sector management and accounting history.  His studies made an important impact on society as a whole with ethics and humanity at the heart of everything he did.'

He had an amazing gift for recalling pertinent details about various politicians' foibles and misdemeanours over the past fifty years. 

Robert was able to work out complex storylines in films or TV dramas; he excelled at predicting plot outcomes and correctly guessing the identity of mystery killers. He read speedily and voraciously, remembering every detail.  

He enjoyed visits to Saturday theatre matinees in London.  Occasional holidays would be taken in Bath or Stratford on Avon where he would consume yet more theatre.  He enjoyed live comedy and was a regular attendee at the University's Gulbenkian Theatre and Canterbury's Curzon cinema. 

He had an incredibly wide range of cultural interests.  Among his particular passions were The Archers, which could have easily been his Mastermind special subject.  But his overriding joy was Dr Who. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the series and could have written its definitive history. 

Following throat cancer and the ensuing treatment, he had to take early retirement from the University of Kent but continued to stay in touch with his colleagues, joining them on campus for lunch or coffee.  He found retirement hard and his health continued to be problematic.  He died on August 1st 2022.Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his sister Vanessa. 

If you would like to read more or share any memories about Robert, please use the following link: robertjupe.muchloved.com

Jon Meier (Class of 1976)

September 2022