IN MEMORIAM

With indescribable sadness, we announce the death of our much-loved Chairman Alexander Waugh on 22 July 2024. He died at home with his family around him, bravely facing the knowledge that the end was near, having lived with painful, progressive prostate cancer since last year.

Alexander, graduated in music at Manchester University where he had met his wife Eliza. He was opera critic for several newspapers in the 1990s and played violin and piano beautifully. His books include classical music and opera, but much more besides: A New Way of Listening (1995 and 1996), Time (1999), God the Biography (2002), Fathers and Sons (2004) and The House of Wittgenstein (2009).

The De Vere Society represented a second academic life for Alexander and as it’s Chair, he campaigned with vigour and humour to represent Edward De Vere as the true author of the plays of “William Shakespeare” and we have all been aware of the multiple podcasts and knowledgeable videos he has produced in this quest. From Dr Dee to the political and cultural machinations of the Elizabethan world, the case has been forcefully put by Alexander to an increasingly sceptical belief that the man from Stratford could have written a word!

An entertaining speaker and debater, Alexander spoke with great fluency on a number of topics and his passion for the bard gained him many admirers across the world and gave a cogent argument for this passion. The De Vere Society has benefitted from his lively talks at events held annually, encouraging us all to always question the veracity of those traditional naysayers.

The son of journalist and writer Auberon Waugh and grandson of novelist Evelyn Waugh,

Alexander was a member of a truly remarkable family, which is reflected in their wit, independence and literary skills. He leaves a devoted wife Eliza, three grown-up children (all DVS members) and twin granddaughters.

Alexander was an inspiration to us all and a true friend to those who knew him and worked with him and, as a society, we will continue to promote his exceptional work and honour his memory and legacy.