Randall Erskine Ellison (1904-1984) was educated at Repton School, then New College, Oxford, where he gained an MA. He was Superintendent of Education, Northern Provinces, Nigeria, from 1928 and was seconded to British Somaliland as Director of Education, 1938-1943. During World War Two, he undertook military service with British Somaliland and Nigerian Forces, 1940-1943. He was made Assistant Director of Education, 1945 and Deputy Director, 1946. He was made Deputy Director of Education, Northern Region, Nigeria, 1955, Director, 1956, and Adviser on Education, 1957. He gained the post of Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Northern Region, Nigeria in 1958, retiring in 1961. After his retirement, he was Assistant Secretary of the Church Assembly, Dean's Yard, London, 1962-1963 and Chairman of the Africa Committee of the Church Mission Society, 1969-1973. He was a member of the Council of Westfield College, London University, 1964-1978 and was Honorary Steward, Westminster Abbey, 1964. Awarded the CMG in 1960, he was the author of An English-Kanuri sentence book (London, published on behalf of the Government of Nigeria by the Crown Agents for the Colonies, 1937).