Michael Cansdale

St Edmund Fellow

Michael Cansdale, after Rugby School and National Service, went to the Hall in 1956 to read Law, under David (later Sir David) Yardley and Nick (later Sir Nicholas) Browne-Wilkinson. He was also the Organ Scholar, with responsibilities ranging from music in chapel to madrigal concerts and the summer revue.

On going down in 1959 he spent six years with City Solicitors Stephenson Harwood, also (in those simpler days) able to act as choirmaster at All Souls’ Church, Langham Place, and play the cello in the Royal Amateur Orchestra. On leaving London he moved to Bristol to work for the millionaire John James in buying businesses, later branching out on his own. Eventually he specialised in mail order and direct marketing. Then in the early 1980s, just as China was beginning to open up, he and his wife Hilly imported rare items and antiques for the UK market.

He has always maintained a close contact with the Hall, and was President of the St Edmund Hall Association from 2000 to 2003. Together with his successor, Francis Pocock, he created the concept of the Hall’s Masterclass Awards, a major opportunity for students to achieve ‘excellence’ in a field totally different from their academic subject.

For thirty-five years he has lived in Wells, next to the Cathedral. He has a strong interest in classic cars (attending rallies worldwide), has varied charitable and other interests, a close family including eight grandchild, and is “far too busy to work”.