I heard on Facebook that Conrad had died. It was from his friend (a stranger to me) Dominic Thackray, who had been relaying news of Conrad’s hospital adventure, after a fall and with cancer.
In my notes from 1994, between the lines I find the extraordinary generosity of Conrad. Trust him to investigate and find my assets, which I would have doubted. Odd the tantalizing things missing – why was Conrad in Manchester, and no observed detail of Conrad – all I talk about is the joy of driving a Bedford van!
By some contrast Dave Snowden wrote this extraordinary testament to Conrad. He begins: “I learned of Conrad’s death somewhere over the Pacific, en route between Hong Kong and Atlanta. It felt appropriate, somehow, Conrad was always a person you encountered at the edges of things, at the crossroads of movements and technologies and causes, never quite where the mainstream had settled.”
Ideography, our joint venture together.
Rachel’s sparse diary entries for 1994
1994 Sunday 7th August: The Kingdom-Ward Tibet/Nepal is off. Like a magnetic attraction removed, I can continue with my trajectory of living, and find space to make plans. Sad to forsake such an adventure with plant collectors. The decision revolved around Bob, although other peripherals, such as money and setting up a business with Conrad. Yes that’s all new. Conrad wants an equal partnership with me, who know so little. My unique assets – which we listed the other evening as a preliminary to setting this business up – included having a car and an ability to juggle.
An excellent few days spent with Conrad, packing up his mountain of published work in Manchester as the beginning of the wedge to begin his tax and VAT return. I drove a Bedford van, and loved every minute of it, the pur of diesel, the high seat.
Saturday 20 November 1994
Smoking again. Blar! Driven this time, not by an ’emotional upset’ but erratic nerves at giving a talk. At the age of 36 I have had my first taste of public speaking. Lessons leant= if I did this again, I will talk for 10 minutes if asked to talk for 20. In fact I talked for 30, 20 minutes too long. And only one good joke. It was an introduction to the Internet – the buzz thing at the moment in the UK. “Like Leonardo da Vinci, the Internet, was nurtured by a military establishment, the Department of Defence”. I came away feeling empty, and dissatisfied that all I am good at is talking of the past. Conrads presentation on the Web was excellent, and James’ provocative questions at the end woke everyone up. But, it was uplifting as a speaker to break barriers and have a small throng of people coming up to discuss it with me at the end – yes, I enjoyed that element.
Conrad in Linden gardens, with Robert – are we singing opera careoke?
Dominic writes: “We are planning a celebration of Conrad’s life, puns, kindness and sense of fun on Sunday 6 September. This will be in the form of a memorial walk around some nice parts of central London followed by a picnic or pub or both. It will start at 2pm.”
Kalikellett 