Bursar Counts Morse Moments
OXFORD HAS BEEN the home to many television series, but none more popular than that of Inspector Morse. Robert Gasser, Bursar at Brasenose College, will be lamenting the demise of the detective more than most people, having appeared in more than half of the episodes.
Along with the book's creator Colin Dexter, he has played numerous small parts in a manner reminiscent of the famous director Alfred Hitchcock. They can be spotted playing various 'Oxford characters' in and around the fictional Lonsdale college - which is filmed in a variety of different colleges to avoid an association with a particular one.
Dr Gasser described how he enjoyed working with John Thaw and the rest of the cast in what Colin Dexter dubbed the "murder capital of the world." Dr Gasser also played the Chancellor in the film Shadowlands along with Richard Attenborough. Last Wednesday he was part of a spread in The Sun newspaper concerning his cameo roles in Morse.
His most enjoyable moment was talking to the late Sir John Gielgud who played the chancellor of Lonsdale College. However, he was disappointed to miss out on a part in one of the recent James Bond films in which the scene he was to take part in was cut.
Dr Gasser acts as the liaison between the university and broadcasting companies to ensure that filming is carried out as easily as possible. Recently, he has been involved with Warner Brothers in the filming of Harry Potter at Christ Church and the Bodleian.
23rd Nov 2000