Introduction
The Very Revd. John Herbert Severn Wild (1904–1992) was Dean of Durham and Master of University College, University of Oxford.
J. H. S. Wild was an undergraduate at Brasenose College, Oxford (1923–27) where he studied Greats. He became an assistant curate in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Wild was then a Chaplain Fellow of University College from 1933–1945, before becoming Master. He was the only clerical Master of University College during the 20th century and was not a noted academic.
In 1951, he was selected to be Dean at Durham Cathedral. He succeeded Cyril Alington, whose eldest son, Giles Alington, was a Fellow at University College from 1944 to 1956, including while Wild was Master. Wild later became Dean Emeritus.
He was married to Margaret Elizabeth Everard Wild (née Wainwright), who died on 21 October 2008 at the age of 86.