Hoyle returned to Cambridge after the war as university lecturer in
mathematics. In 1958 he was appointed the Plumian professor of astronomy
and became the first director of the Cambridge Institute of Theoretical
Astronomy in 1967. Although the occupant of two such distinguished offices,
he became immensely unhappy with his life in Cambridge. The crisis came over
a dispute concerning the election to a professorial chair and he tendered
his resignation as Plumian professor from 1972 and as director of the
institute from 1973. For many years I had been closely associated with
Hoyle in astronomical and policy matters and his attitude to Cambridge was
epitomised in his explanatory letter to me.

"I do not see any sense in continuing to skirmish on a battlefield where I
can never hope to win. The Cambridge system is effectively designed to
prevent one ever establishing a directed policy -- key decisions can be
upset by ill-informed and politically motivated committees. To be effective
in this system one must for ever be watching one's colleagues, almost like
a Robespierre spy system. If one does so, then of course little time is
left for any real science." 

from Bernard Lovell's obituary to Fred Hoyle
Guardian, Thu 23 Aug 2001