visited Urzula in her Somerville accommodation, Halina would Rachel Sykes (1943) run around the corridors shouting "Mama" after her sister. She learnt quickly that this resulted in Urzula buying treats in order If Rachel had been a boy, she would to shut Halina up. Her favourite was marzipan piglets, and have been qualified to play cricket sugared pink mice, that Urszula bought from a bakery around for Yorkshire. Her parents, now living the corner from College. in Oxfordshire, travelled to Bradford After graduation, Urszula emigrated to Australia. She lectured for her birth. The close family unit in Art History first at the University of Sydney, but most of that they formed supported Rachel’s her Australian career in teaching was at the University of success at school and her progress Brisbane. On her return to the UK 13 years later, she became to Somerville to read English. a lecturer, then a research fellow, at the University of Leeds. At Oxford Rachel cultivated the deep She remained here until her retirement. She wrote prolifically: knowledge and love of literature RACHEL SYKES books, articles for academic periodicals, conference papers, that became the foundation of her lectures given at various European universities. She also wrote career as an English teacher. Notably she worked between introductions for exhibition catalogues about artists whom she 1962 and 1984 at Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth. On genuinely respected. her retirement the school journal noted her enthusiasm and Two important areas of Urszula’s life were her love of art and breadth of her contribution. She was, apparently, a dab hand her spirituality. Her work explored the wonder of how visual at doing stage make up for numerous productions, as well as images and constructs, in whatever form, can bring incredible being described as “an encourager of talents, confidence and joy and meaning, arguing how art can challenge our beliefs potentialities”. and can reinterpret the past, our present, and question our In retirement Rachel lived in Wimborne, and was a volunteer future. Moreover, she explored how the individual can use art guide at Wimborne Minster. She enjoyed the idea that, whilst to express their own point of view - and how this has ethical at the minster, the world came to visit her. No doubt she implications. The visual arts of the Renaissance and Baroque inspired visitors through her passion for Dorset and deep were two of her interests, as well as Postmodernism, and the cultural knowledge. Australian art scene. She loved the art of Poland, especially With a slightly mischievous sense of humour, she noted the Symbolists and the artists of the Young Poland, or 'Młoda mannerisms to deploy in stories - in keeping with the best Polska' movement. traditions of the novelist. Her anecdotes recounted the One topic she returned to, time and again, was mysticism and particularities of the human condition - from her childhood the use of alchemical symbols in art. Alchemy also tied in with holidays, to Whitchurch Sunday teas for the locally billeted GIs, her own spiritual practices, believing that alchemists were to the international visitors of the Minster. Although in later not simply searching for a way to transmute base matter into life she was no longer able to enjoy doing the things she loved gold, but were questing to transform themselves spiritually, such as spending time with friends, theatre trips, National and thus reach a higher state of being that went beyond Trust visits and reading and poetry, she enjoyed living in her the physical, every day world. Her Guru, Baba Muktananda, thoughts. She never complained. practiced alchemy and during one of her trips to his ashram Unfailingly generous, warm to her family and friends and at Ganeshpuri in India he suggested she choose this as a topic curious about their lives, Rachel had a broad-minded and for her PhD. Ula had been contemplating a doctorate for a non-judgemental approach to the world. This is evidenced in while but her many interests made a decisive commitment her support of numerous charities ranging from the cultural to to a singular area of study difficult. After 8 years travelling countryside conservation, to health support organisations, to between Australia and libraries in Oxford, Florence, Paris, the prisoner rehabilitation. Vatican, the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, and the British She passed away peacefully on her 99th birthday in the care Library, Ula submitted her thesis to the University of Sydney, home where she had been cared for by excellent staff who entitled: “The Alchemy of Light: Geometry and Optics in Late were very fond of her. Those left behind will miss talking with Renaissance Alchemical Illustration.” She was awarded her Rachel: her anecdotes, wisdom and thoughtfulness. She will be PhD in 1988 and her monographs The Alchemy of Light and remembered with great fondness and love. The Sacrificial Body and the Day of Doom followed in 2000 and 2006. Urszula Szulakowska (1970) Urszula was a practising painter throughout her life. Some of Halina’s earliest memories of her sister are watching her working at her easel, still smelling how she filled their house Urszula came to Somerville to read with the aroma of linseed oil. Her own painting style, she said, History, the elder daughter of Polish was influenced by the Symbolists. refugees who had moved to the UK during WW2. Eighteen years Urszula made an immeasurable difference to many people that younger than her undergraduate she met on her creative, spiritual, and very individual path. Her sister, who was also her god- physical presence may be gone but she lives on in the minds mother, Halina learnt a very simple of her former students, in the academic writing that she left way to annoy her. When the family behind, and in the hearts of everyone who loved her. URSZULA SZULAKOWSKA 57