In a letter published in response to the obituary of Dame Bridget Ogilvie, a colleague fondly remembers her wicked sense of humour. The anecdote highlights a moment during the collaboration between the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust to establish the new European Bioinformatics Institute in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire.
According to the letter, a brochure was being prepared for the decision-makers. The text had been agreed upon, and the team was selecting photographs. One image featured scientists John Sulston and Michael Ashburner, who were in charge of the project. They were depicted looking over a stone wall at a field that represented the proposed site. Both men sported bushy beards and wore old tweed jackets.
Upon seeing the photograph, Bridget quipped, 'They're waiting for Godot,' referencing Samuel Beckett's famous play. The remark was delivered with impeccable timing and perfectly captured the absurdity of the situation. The letter writer notes that this moment exemplifies the sharp wit that Bridget brought to her work and interactions.
