We are sorry to announce the death of Dr Jim Naughton, who died on Sunday whilst an inpatient at the Churchill Hospital.



Jim was a much-valued member of the Modern Languages Faculty, whose warmth, intelligence and friendliness will be sadly missed. He came to Oxford from the University of Lancaster in the 1980s to take up a position as University Lecturer in Czech and Fellow of St Edmund Hall. During his 26 years in Oxford, he fulfilled a variety of roles within his College and served as Chair of the Faculty Board.



His tutorial teaching straddled College and University, as for most of his time in Oxford he was the only teacher of his subject. Both undergraduates and postgraduates greatly valued their contact with him and some have remained in touch for many years. He is well-known in the world of Czech studies for his grammars of the Czech and Slovak languages, as well as for his translations, for example of the short stories of Bohumil Hrabal.



A funeral service will take place in the St Edmund Hall Chapel on Wednesday 26 February at 12.30pm, followed by a burial at Wolvercote Cemetery at 2.00pm. Please contact the Revd Will Donaldson (will.donaldson@seh.ox.ac.uk or 01865 279021) for any further information.



Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Jim’s wife and son.