Peter Duncan, a former politics lecturer at Aberystwyth University, has been remembered for his intellectual rigour and distinctive office clutter following his death. Duncan, who taught at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (now Aberystwyth University) from the 1980s, was known for the volume of books and papers placed on all surfaces of his office, as recalled by colleagues.
Civil War in the Labour Club
When Duncan arrived at the politics department in the 1980s, the Labour Club was embroiled in a civil war between adherents of the Militant Tendency and supporters of the orthodox Labour left. Duncan responded by writing the pamphlet Paved With Good Intentions: The Politics of Militant, which provided a thorough, reasoned demolition of the group's cult-like behaviour.
According to Andrew Wade, a former colleague, the pamphlet was also an attempt to contribute to an open, pluralistic Labour party of the sort that many hoped would emerge.
Memories of Cluttered Offices
Peter Mitchell, another colleague, recalled Duncan's homes and offices being filled with “huge ziggurats of newspapers” and books. The volume of material on all surfaces was a hallmark of his scholarly approach.
Duncan's work and teaching left a lasting impression on those who knew him, with his dedication to detailed analysis and open debate being widely praised.
