The Great Hall was filled to the rafters with those paying their respects to Professor Morag Styles, as a moving memorial took place at Homerton College. Morag’s family and friends were in attendance, many of whom were from the world of literature and education.
“It would be an understatement to say that Morag worked at Homerton. Morag embodied Homerton. In her humanity, her passion for education, her championing of social justice, her commitment to walking the walk and not just talking the talk” – Louise Joy, Fellow in English at Homerton College
During the memorial, which took place on Thursday 23rd January 2025, tributes to Morag were read by many of her friends and colleagues, each focusing on a topic close to Morag’s heart. These tributes included from Helen Taylor (Poetry), Victor Watson (Children’s Literature), Holly Anderson (Language), Evelyn Arizpe (Picturebooks), and David Whitley (Caribbean Poetry Project), as well as a reading by Guyanese poet, Grace Nichols, of her beloved poem ‘Wha me mudder do’ in Caribbean Creole.
Morag’s daughter-in-law, Etta Fung, also performed two powerful songs in tribute to Morag, ‘Vilja’ and ‘Over the Rainbow’, with the latter song accompanied by pink shoes being placed on the lectern as a tribute to Morag’s penchant for brightly coloured clothes.
As per Morag’s request, who “wanted this to be an occasion for the people she loved most to have a chance to meet one another: to reconnect with old friends, and to discover new ones, in true Morag style, over sparkling wine and food” (Louise Joy), the Catering Team at Homerton produced a colourful array of cakes, macaroons, sandwiches and canapés, a spread fit for one of Morag’s famous parties.
"It is so special that so many of these people from all Morag’s different spheres are gathered today in the crucible where so many of her friendships were forged, and where so many of her parties were planned. Morag gave explicit instructions that she wanted this event to be precisely that: the kind of party for which she would have worn her favourite shoes." - Louise Joy, Fellow in English at Homerton College
Copies of Morag’s memoir ‘A Child of Air’, illustrated by her close friend, Pam Smy, were also proudly displayed. Those in attendance were encouraged to take a copy home for themselves to carry on their “own private conversation with her whenever you like, in the most fittingly Morag of all ways: through the words and images that gave life such meaning for Morag and made Morag’s life so meaningful for those of us who were lucky enough to know her” (Louise Joy).
"The best poetry says something that lasts. It leaves a footprint deep in the earth of what it means to be human" - Professor Morag Styles