Jonathan Genton (CR 1987-25) arrived at Marlborough College in 1987, starting his career as a teacher of Physics. He carried out many roles over his 38 years at the College, including teacher of Astronomy, Director of Studies, Head of Physics, the Head of Science, he was a tutor in Morris House for many years. Above all, Jonathan was an outstanding teacher – passionate about his subject and generously dedicated to sharing that passion.
In 2010 he took a well earned, year-long sabbatical, travelling the world and evidently reflecting on his future, as on his return, he moved away from the classroom and managing a department. He took on the role of Academic Administrator, masterminding the timetable. More recently he became what was essentially the College Oracle, assuming the title of Academic Consultant – he knew the workings of the College, its systems and its idiosyncrasies like no other.
He kept his hand in with teaching through the Summer School, where he tutored courses such as ‘Fun with Fundamental Physics’. He loved wordplay, alliteration, acronyms, crossword clues and anything that made you think for a moment more. He was a great proponent of ‘life long learning’ and the Summer School gave him the chance to keep teaching. He never stopped learning himself and enjoyed nothing more than a return to the Oxford Physics department for their ‘Saturday Mornings of Theoretical Physics’. Jonathan loved physics, and especially its extension into astrophysics and astronomy. There were many wonderful and fascinating times at the Blackett Observatory, with pupils, with the Friends of the Marlborough Telescope, with family and friends, and with a whole gamut of outreach groups. He was a font of knowledge and enthusiasm, he loved nothing more than a curious mind ready to explore the universe with him. Jonathan was a catalyst for the renovation of the splendid old telescope at the Dome!
His attention to detail was legendary. His timekeeping was more accurate than a Swiss watch. He was the most efficient proof reader known to man, ferreting out even the subtlest of errors with ease! The wonderful thing was that Jonathan was as much at home discussing the virial theorem that dominates the dispersion of open clusters as he was discussing the weekend’s lacklustre performance of his beloved Cheltenham Town Football Club, having calculated the points required and the probability of avoiding relegation this season. He truly enjoyed life. He had a great love of wine, he loved to travel, enjoyed a good game of cricket, was always keen to don his black tie for a smart dinner, ideally with equally smart wine, he appreciated music and had a great singing voice, taking every opportunity to join choirs and the choral society.
Over the last couple of years he had been winding things down at the College. He was working just one day a week until the end of this academic year. His plan was then to retire from Marlborough College, finally, and he was excited about all the opportunities that would bring.
So, since 1987 Jonathan has been a fundamental part of Marlborough College, but we all know that in amongst the fermions, leptons and bosons, alongside the electron, the photon, and the muon, there is one more fundamental particle in the standard model of particle physics… the Genton… the carrier of warmth, wit, and wisdom.
Gavin James (CR)
