‘Christ and the Imperial Games Fields’ in South-Central Africa – Sport and the Scottish Missionaries in Malawi, 1880–1914: Utilitarian Compromise

I had the privilege of studying under Professor Mangan’s guidance at the IRCSSS in Strathclyde in 1998 and 1999, and again as a visiting scholar in 2001 and 2002. The

friendly, open-minded, interdisciplinary, and wide-ranging intellectual atmosphere in the centre left a lasting impression on me. Then and afterwards, I benefited immensely

from Professor Mangan’s exemplary supervision and advice. His style was hands-on, meticulous and demanding for both student and supervisor. His emphasis on the revision

of language, expression and argument was priceless training for foreign postgraduates. What I perhaps admired most, however, was his broad outlook, open-mindedness and aversion to formalities. His commitment was to critical academic scholarship and to the

student, not to bureaucracy, hierarchy or empty ritual. For his example, teaching and encouragement I remain deeply grateful.