University of the West Indies (UWI) Chancellor Sir George Alleyne pays tribute to late colleague Sir Roy Marshall, vice chancellor emeritus of the university.
I KNEW HIM WELL before I ever met him.
As a schoolboy in the classical sixth form at Harrison College, I recall vividly that comments on my work and those of others would often be preceded by the remarks of H.W. Clarke, one of our masters “In the days of O.R Marshall”, as if those were the glory days of classical learning at the school and O.R. Marshall would forever benchmark the efforts of budding classical scholars.
One heard with awe and a little pride of his brilliant academic progress in Britain and the various high offices which he held. This high reputation preceded him to Mona and as a young academic, I was initially a little in awe of him, but was the beneficiary of his sage advice and wise counsel on many occasions.
He presided over the University in one of its most turbulent times and his unflappable posture and firm conviction as to the appropriate structure and development of the academy often made for conflict and confrontation which he did not provoke, but which he did not shun, if necessary.
He was in large part responsible for my remaining in the University at Mona and resisting the blandishments of attractive appointments elsewhere. His droll comment to me on one of such occasions “But Champ, you can’t leave, you know” is as fresh with me today as it was when he made it in 1972. 
Many were sorry to see him leave in 1974 at the end of his five years as vice chancellor, but I know he felt that he had done his work; he had kept the faith and he believed that it was still possible to influence University and Caribbean affairs from abroad.
There will be several remembrances of his participation in, and chairmanship of, numerous local, regional and international bodies that affect our lives and living today. He will be remembered by many, not only for the physical structure at Cave Hill which bears his name, but for his readiness to share his many intellectual gifts and a commitment to excellence of the Caribbean institutions and activities with which he was associated over a long and productive life.
Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to say that the continued growth and development of the Cave Hill Campus was in great measure due to the report of the Committee he chaired in 1986.
For my part, I will always recall him as being a very gentle man, easy of address and whether or not one held the same opinion, one would be assured of courtesy, clarity of thought, a listening ear and discourse that was free from carping comment.
I am sure he would appreciate the nautical relevance if I said that he was a Barbadian worthy who had bottom.
