 He became Warden of All Souls (1952–77) in an election in which he famously defeated A. L. Rowse.He was also a Fellow of Winchester (1951–81) and an Honorary Fellow of New College (1956–1992).In Oxford he was well known as a book-collector and bibliographer, and became President of the Oxford University Society of Bibliophiles, in which role he influenced a generation of Oxford bookmen.