OSE Obituaries

ADAMS – On the 14th October 2009, David Keith Adams (C 1941 – 1945). Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 1945 - 1948. School Boxing and Hockey. Liverpool University, 1948 - 1951 BCom. Chartered Acct 1954 FCA. Private Practice, Dorset.



AUBREY – On 2nd December 2008. Kelvin John Vincent Aubrey (E 1970 - 1976), following a period of ill-health. He was fortunate at his time at Teddies to play in the all-conquering 1975 1st XV, and as right-wing, was the top try scorer with 13 tries. He was subsequently invited to play for Richmond Schoolboys and then for the Harlequins at senior level. Kelvin also represented Teddies at the Oxford City Schools’ Athletic Association Inter-School Championship meeting on the 31st May 1974 when he won both the U20 100 and 200 meter sprints.



BENT – Richard Lincoln Bent (F 1931 - 1936) Queens' College, Cambridge, 1936 – 1939, BA, Rochester University, USA 1939 - 1940. Research Chemist, Eastman Kodak, Rochester NY 1941 – 79. Member of the American Chemical Society, 1945. Publications and Patents in Photographic Chemistry. Retired 1979.



BOWLES – In January 2009. Cecil Bretingham Bowles (E 1938 - 1942). Brother to Philip Cranton Bowles, deceased (E 1938 - 1943) and grandfather to Benjamin Bjorn Bowles (B 1992 – 1997) and Charles Edward Peter Bowles (C 1999 - 2004). 13/18 Hussars, 1942 - 1945 Lieutenant, POW. Managing Director, Cosmo Designs. Played golf for Berks, Bucks, Oxon (Captain 1961 - 1962).



BOWLES – On the 10th February 2009. Philip Cranton Bowles (E 1938 - 1943) and Great uncle to Benjamin Bjorn Bowles (B 1992 – 1997) and Charles Edward Peter Bowles (C 1999 - 2004). Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves, 1944 – 1947, Sub Lieutenant. Trinity, Oxford, 1944 and 1947 - 1948 BA. Barrister, 1950.



BRADSHAW – On 24th June 2009. Robert Anthony Bradshaw (E 1944 – 1948). Brother of Geoffrey Allan Bradshaw (E 1940 – 1944) and Philip Gordon William Bradshaw (E 1943 – 1947). Resident in South Africa for many years. Aged 78.



BUCKINGHAM – On 30th July 2009. Keith De Vere Buckingham (A 1940 – 1944). Son of Horace Caleb George Buckingham (A 1916 - 1918) and father of Philip (A 1970 - 1976). A great family man, enjoyed family life. Served in Royal Navy 1945 - 1947. Director and Company Secretary of Elliotts of Newbury 1956 – 1973. Chartered Accountant, 1969. Professional Philatelist since 1969. Published a book on Philatelist in Nauru. Leaves his wife, Joan.



COOKE – On 9th June 2009. Robert Stephen Tillard Cooke (E 1932 – 1937). Brother to Christopher Tillard Cooke, deceased (E 1935 - 1941). Passed away peacefully. New College, Oxford. Cheshire Regiment 1939-46, Captain. He worked in the paint industry in India from 1947-60, and for the Chemical Paint Federation of India 1958-9. Liverpool 1960-80 - Shipping.



CURTIS – On 5th April 2009. George Curtis (B 1927 – 1932). His wife, Betty wrote to say that George Curtis died peacefully in hospital in his 93rd year. He had for some time suffered from increasing dementia, and also was found to have prostate cancer. He attended Keble College where he obtained a BA in Theology and an MA in Modern languages. He was the University captain of boats. His interests included the violin, Mensa, philately, Guernsey choral & orchestral society. 1939 – 46, war service in Royal Corps of Signals, UK, India, Burma, Last rank - Major. Elizabeth College, Assistant Master/head of French. He retired in 1976.



FARMILOE – On 16th July 2009, Michael Eustace Farmiloe (B 1956 - 1959). He is very sadly missed by his devoted Mother, Mary Jackson who is now living in residential care. He came to the school in the Summer Term of 1956 and left in the Christmas Term of 1959. When he left he was in the History Remove (B) Form and had passed G.C.E. at O Level. He was in 'the Wine Trade in 1963.



FELL – On 1st November 2008. Bryant Turner Fell (F 1948 – 1953) Rolle College, Exmouth 1968 – 1970, Education Certificate. Housemaster at Millfield School, Somerset, 1964 – 1974. Head Remedial Deptartment, Tarporley, Chester, 1974 – 1983, Raunds Manor, 1983 – 1987. Retired in 1987. Member British Dyslexia Association, 1977. Secretary of the British Schools Tetrathlon Association. Former master-in-charge of modern pentathlon at Millfield School and a national selector for the sport.



FRETWELL-DOWNING – 13th May 2009, E. Alastair Fretwell-Downing (F 1955 - 1961). Brother to Francis Anthony Downing (F 1953 - 1959). Interests and achievements at SES: Head of Tilly's House, Captain of boats, Editor of School Chronicle/Lit mag, Senior under officer CCF, Field club, Sacristan. Oxford University PPE, later MA at St Edmund Hall. Chairman, Fretwell-Downing Ltd, IT & catering business. He will be remembered above all else for his sense of fun, wit, dress sense, musical talent and appreciation as well as an insistence on perfection in everything he was involved in.



GAMON – On 19th January 2009. David Keith Gamon (C 1942 – 45). Brother of Ian Humphrey Gamon, deceased (C 1935 - 1937). Royal Army, 1946 - 1948. Technical Sales Representative for Bostik, Storey of Lancaster, Atlantic Rubber, Stuart Turner Ltd. Retired in 1990.

GILBERT-DAVIES – On 19th March 2009. David Ithel Gilbert-Davies (B 1947 – 1951). He was a native of Welshpool in Powys. In 1956 he contracted Polio and for the rest of his life was confined to a wheelchair, which he accepted with remarkable and lasting courage.

GRANT – On 24th October 2008. Innes Cameron Grant (C 1928 – 1931). Brother to Harry Ogilvy Grant, deceased (C 1931 - 1935) Aeronautical engineer of Southampton.


HAWKINS – 1st March 2009, Edward Sinclair Hawkins (D 1950 – 1954). Brother to Richard Sinclair Hawkins (D 1948 – 1951).


HEWITT – On 17th February 2009. Peter Smethurst Hewitt (B 1952 - 1956) Brother to John Vernon Hewitt (B 1947 - 1951) Chartered Accountant – FCA. FCA prize winner in finals 1962. Chairman (controlling shareholder) Keighley Lab Group Ltd.



HOLDEN – On 14th June 2009, Charles William Holden (D 1953 - 1958). He will be remembered for many things, but particularly as a friend and exceptional stroke of School, College and Leander crews.



HUTCHINSON – In 2008, The Reverend Philip Sheldon Hutchinson (E 1945 – 1950). Pembroke College, Cambridge 1952-56, MA. He became a priest in 1959. Curate in Plumstead 1958-60, Roehampton 1960-64 then Rector Old Charlton, Woolwich 1965-59 before moving to Australia.



HURRY – On 1st August 2009, Ian Hurry (A 1967 – 1970). Attended Art College in the 1970s.



JAMES – On 13th January 2009. Anthony Peregrine Lewis James (A 1937 - 1940). RAC 1941-45, Lieutenant. Chartered Accountant FCA. Partner Jones Robathan Thompson & Co, Monmouth.



KISLINGBURY – On 19th November 2008, Robyn Anthony Kislingbury (D 1946 – 1950). Brother to Brian Lesley Arnold Kislingbury (D 1943 - 1946).



LANSDALE – On 21st October 2009. David Lansdale (formerly Wolfgang Lomnitz)(C 1938 – 1944). Married to Paula Lehrer in 1951 and had three daughters and one son, nine grandchildren and one great grandson. One of his heroes was Douglas Bader. He had an Agricultural Diploma at the RAC, Cirencester 1947 - 1949 and was a Farm Manager from 1952 - 1965. Ran a Newsagent in Sevenoaks since 1966.



LATTEY – On 3rd June 2009, Derek Brian Tabor Lattey (G 1944 - 1948), peacefully. He had been in a nursing home, in Reigate, since November 2007, having suffered for a long time, his death was a merciful release. His brother was the last member of the family to visit him.



LILLICRAP – On 1st July 2009. Ivan Lillicrap Esq (A 1936 – 1940). Edinburgh University 1940 – 1944, Royal College of Surgeons. Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 1944 - 1947 Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental). Dental Surgeon, St Leonards, Sussex.



LYNCH - On 27th November. James Michael Randall Lynch (G 1948 - 1952). Lost his battle with cancer and died peacefully at home. Brother to Patrick Henry Robert Lynch, deceased (G 1943 - 1945). OSE Committee member. Chartered Accountant, Hotel and Wine Trade Consultant and Champagne Shipper, James Lynch Ltd. Institute of Hotel and Catering. Champagne Consultant for Mumm & Heidsieck. Mangaing Director of Champagne Delbeck. FHMCI; Academia de Champagne HCITB. Annabels, Les Ambassadeurs.



MACK – In July 2009, Anthony David Mack (B 2004 - 2006).



MELLOR – On the 1st January 2009. Mark Harry Robin Mellor (F 1954 - 1957). Very suddenly in Corfu. Partner of Malbrook Conservatories LTD in Putney, a bespoke conservatory company. Leaves wife Pippa.



SAUNDER – On 29th September 2006, Ernest Philip Saunder (F 1931 – 1934), peacefully at home in Bottesford, Leicestershire, aged 89. Son of Philip Saunder, brother of John Voysey Saunder, deceased (E 1932 – 1935), and father of David Passmore Saunder (E 1965 – 1970). War service in the Royal Signals. National provincial and National Westminster Banks 1936 – 1976. Manager New Milton, Hampshire and Wareham, Dorset.

STEEDS – On 11th May 2009. Dr John Harold Steeds MBE (F 1929 -1936). Peacefully at home, loved by all his family. Father to William Steeds (B 1969 - 1973). St Catherines, Cambridge, MA MBBCHir, Middlesex Hospital, DCH. Middlesex, RFC, Saracens RFC, Barbarians RFC, England RFC. CURFC 1938 MA MB. RNVR 1943-6 Surgeon Lieutenant. Med Practitioner, Colchester BCh DCH FRCGP FRSM. President Colchester Medical Society, Colchester RFC. Rugby also for Middlesex, London Counties, Barbarians, England 1949 - 1950.



TARDIF – On 8th June 2009, Ben Charles De Putron Tardif (E 1986 – 1991). Loughborough University Sports Science, 1992.



THOROGOOD – On 1st July 2009, Peter William Thorogood (F 1941 - 1944). RM 1944-7. Merton College, Oxford 1947-8. Colonial Admin Service 1949-60. District Comissioner for Ghana, Retired 1960. Bowmaker Ltd, Bournemouth 1960.



THURSFIELD – On 31st August 2008. Peter Spencer Thursfield (B 1933 - 1938), on his 89th birthday. MA University College, Oxford. Army 1939-46, Captain. Shipping Federation 1946 and Assistant Secretary 1957. Rugby for Oxon 1938.



WATSON – On 4th October 2009, Neil Alexander Watson (E 1957 - 1962) after an eight-month illness. He was with friends and family at the end and died peacefully. Father to Ben John Watson (C 1984 - 1987) and Robert Nicholas Maxwell Watson (K 1991 - 1992); Grandson of Bernard Turner (D 1895 - 1899). Guy's Hospital, 1962 - 1967 MB BS LRCP. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon FRCS LRCP. Various Hospital Appointments, 1967-79 Australia 1977. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Nuffield Hospital, Oxford 1979 - 1981. Clinical Reader in Orthopaedic, Oxford University and Fellow, Green College, 1979 - 1981. Medical Publications particularly on Hand Surgery. Worked as a freelance artist, writer and teacher in California. He was an instructor at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Recently he has illustrated a book Seeking Venice. The funeral, a celebration of his life, was held on Monday 19th October in St Bartholomew Church, Yarnton. Donations were taken in aid of Sobell House Hospice Charity.



WELLER – On 16th February 2007. Norman Henry Weller (F 1954 - 1956) Brother of Peter Frederick Weller, deceased (F 1943 - 1945) and Michael George Weller, deceased (F 1943 - 1946).



WHICKER – On 10th May 2009. Michael Clayton Whicker (G 1946 – 1950). Died suddenly in hospital following a heart operation. Brother to John Hays Clayton Whicker (G 1948 - 1953). Datchet Water Sailing Club - Club Secretary. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves, 1951 – 1953. Royal Navy Rererves to 1983. Lieutenant Commander. Purser, P&O Line, 1953 - 1976. Bursar for Shiplake College, 1976 - 1986. Secretary for Hayling Island Sailing Club, 1986 - 1989. Accountant Motor Trade, Watlington since 1989. Govenor, West Hill Park School.



WILKINSON – On 31st October 2008. John Robert Ferrier (D 1929 – 1934) Brother to Stephen Austin Wilkinson (D 1932 - 1937). Downing College, Cambridge, MA. Assistant Master Kelly College, 1938. Royal Signals 1940 – 1946, Capt. Assistant Lecturer, Cambridgeshire Technical College and School of Art, 1952.



WOODIN - Walter Michael Woodin (G 1933 - 1935). Brother to Guy Bartlett Woodin, deceased (G 1931 - 1934) after many years of poor health.



BALFOUR – On 3rd February 2009. Richard (Dick) Creighton Balfour (E 1930 - 1934).


Extract from The Times, 4th February 2009. Dick Balfour, who has died aged 93, was a senior official of the Bank of England before blossoming in retirement as a genial and ubiquitous presence among rose growers throughout the world.


Known as "Mr Rose", he served at various times as president of the Royal National Rose Society and of the World Federation of Rose Societies, which he had helped to establish. He travelled widely to trials abroad; on hearing that no British entries were planned for the Montreal Floralies of 1980, he designed a special one-acre garden.

A keen photographer, his work appeared in gardening books and magazines; a model of old-fashioned gallantry, he wore a rose in his buttonhole every day and delighted in ceremony. If in a restaurant which offered music, he would dance first with his wife and then with any other members of the fair sex present.

On the Queen Mother's 90th birthday Balfour arrived in a little red car at Horse Guards, where he distributed varieties from his own garden. On her 100th he marched in the parade down The Mall wearing a rose-festooned top hat and carrying a trug of her favourite roses.

Richard Creighton Balfour was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 3 1916 and became interested in gardening as a boy. After going to St Edward's School, Oxford, he joined the Bank of England as a third-class, uncovenanted clerk, counting notes in the issue office and coin in the vaults.

The month before war was declared he was called up by the RNVR, which sent him to Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he was a decoder during the Battle of the River Plate, off South America. Two years later he joined the staff of Admiral D'Oyly Lyon, C-in-C, Nore, then was on the planning staff for Operation Neptune, the naval part of the D-Day invasion, for which he was appointed MBE. After a spell with Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Tovey, C-in-C, Home Fleet, his last appointment was as assistant to the deputy governor of Hong Kong. He was demobilised in the rank of lieutenant-commander.

On his return to the Bank, Balfour became its agent in Leeds in the early 1960s. He made a point of knowing every staff member from messenger upwards, and submitted reports on the state of the economy.

In time he rose to the senior echelons of the Bank – positions which had been established when the bank was formed in 1694. He was appointed deputy chief cashier, and then chief accountant, in charge of stock issues of government money and computerisation.

After stepping down after 40 years he became a non-executive director of Datasaab, and concentrated on cultivating his garden – which was ringed with roses and visible from the road – at Little Waltham in Essex.

During the 1950s he won several prizes in London for exhibiting the "Peace" rose, and was invited on to the early television programme Gardening Club with Percy Thrower; his family had to go to a neighbour's house to see it as they did not own a set.

Named Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners in 1991, Balfour was ready to provide the national flower for any significant occasion, travelling by train and bus (because he did not drive) with posies for both the incoming and the outgoing Lady Mayoress before the Lord Mayor's Show each year.

He presented roses to Lord's on the bicentenary of MCC; to the garden of St Paul's Cathedral; and to the grounds of the regimental chapel of the 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, at Warley, Essex, in memory of those killed in Afghanistan – always careful to select an appropriate variety, for the last of these he offered "Remember Me".

Dick Balfour died on his 93rd birthday. He married, in 1943, Della Welch, who died in 2004 and with whom he had two sons, David Charles Creighton Balfour (E 1958 - 1963) and Michael James Creighton Balfour (E 1960 - 1965). The Balfours had two roses named after them: the white, ground-covering "Dick's Delight" and the bronze apricot climber "Della Balfour".



DASHWOOD – On the 12th October 2008, John Stewart Michael Dashwood (B 1931 – 1936). Son of John Rawdon Dashwood (B 1903 - 1908); Father to Geoffrey Richard Dashwood (B 1956 - 1961) and Oliver Michael Dashwood (B 1960 - 1965).


His son, Oliver Dashwood writes –

My father lived to be 91 years old, a fairly good innings for someone who was sent home to boarding school from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the age of 5 (Temple Grove in East Sussex). At Teddies he rowed for two years in the First VIII, and was also in the First Shooting team (I remember seeing the shields for these teams with pride). After Teddies he attended Teddy Hall, reading Chemistry (because his father thought Mathematics would not give him a future). Finishing at Oxford as the war started he volunteered for the Royal Engineers, and while he waited for his papers worked as 5th barman at the Savoy (his first duty was to make a pint pot of mustard for the counter lunches). In the Royal Engineers he trained in England, and the first actual Action he saw was at El Alamein, he continued in the desert till training for the Sicily Landings, and then did land in Sicily, and later in Italy. Part way through Italy he came down with Diphtheria and Rheumatic fever, and was invalided back to Alexandria and then England (hearing later that much of his unit died soon after he left when clearing up a booby trapped bridge during the advance.



Out of the army in 1946, he started working for Monsanto Chemicals as an International Salesman, but was later "headhunted" to work for Miles Laboratories (Alka-Selzer etc) in Wales from 1957. He continued with the company and was moved to the United States in 1962, where he continued to rise steadily through the ranks. He was one of 500 "American" businessmen invited to the launch of Apollo XI, and went (seeing some things he should not have seen as he was not an American Citizen!)



During the war he had married his second cousin Jean Dashwood, and they had two sons, my brother Geoffrey (1942, now living in France) and myself, Oliver (1947, now living in Australia). Both boys were sent to St. Edward's, and I believe my brother was the first 3rd Generation Student at the School -- my Grandfather John Rawdon Dashwood attended the school.



When my parents retired, the world was there oyster, with one son in France, the other in Australia, my father's connection with Ceylon, and my mother's similar connection with Argentina. In the end they built a beautiful house in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia and lived there from 1978 until they died (my mother in 2005 and my father in 2008)



EDRICH – On the 31st May 2009, Brian Robert Edrich, in Padstow, aged 86.



Myles Arkell, his friend and colleague writes:


Brian was a very good friend and worked very hard for the School. I first met him when I was running the cricket ad we needed a new cricket professional. He was very easy to work with and was well-liked by all the masters and the boys involved in cricket. He has an easy but firm way with boys of all ages and was tremendous at imparting his vast knowledge of the game.



We fast became friends, helped by our mutual love of cricket, vegetable gardening and of Cornwall, the Padstow area in particular. We had a caravan on the cliffs for our family holidays and Brian, Jane and Fiona hired one nearby, He enjoyed fishing and my two sons, Nick and Dave, loved joining him on the rocks learning to fish. Brian, as I did, enjoyed his pint of beer, and we played darts, both friendly and competitive together.



One of my abiding memories was going with Brian over to Stowe to collect young trees (now of course full grown) for the golf course we made beyond the Piggeries, by the way a playing field he helped to make. He did sterling work as groundsman until he took over as head groundsman and later as master in charge of cricket. He ended by running the RAF section and started a clay-pigeon-shooting club. He was much liked in the Common Room.



Brian was one of the famous Norfolk cricketing family and after the war he played for Kent and Glamorgan. He had many tales to tell such as when he faced Tyson on a sporting Peterborough wicket. Whilst at Teddies he played for Corfe and Oxfordshire.



Unfortunately he had heart and other problems for many of his later years but having moved to his beloved Padstow with Jane and Fiona, he continued to enjoy fishing and working on his allotment until his alter days. Even when bed-ridden he enjoyed remembering cricket and the old days with friend. He is much missed.



FUZZARD – On 23rd August 2009. G E Fuzzard.

Stephen Withers Green writes:


Gordon Fuzzard who was affectionately known as “Fuzz”, retired as Assistant Bursar in December 1995 after 36 years’ service to the School. He died after a long illness, stoically borne, in August this year.



After completion of 2 years’ National Service he curtailed training with an Oxford-based accountancy practice in October 1959 to join the School as Accountant, assisting Hubert Beales, the Bursar. In 1976, after John Armstrong had taken over the reins as Bursar, Gordon was appointed Assistant Bursar with wide ranging responsibilities for the supervision of catering, maintenance, grounds and domestic staff.



David Bramble, the third Bursar under whom he served, wrote on his retirement that he had the most valuable personal attribute of being ‘unflappable’: that he was always even tempered, and took difficult and often late requests in his stride.



Gordon and his wife, Jackie, having settled in Kidlington, were regular supporters of the School during his retirement.



GOVER – On 27th April 2009. Derek Gover. Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 1941 - 1946 Lieutenant. Railway Officer, MCIT. South Railway 1946 – 19451, East African Railway and Harbours 1951 – 1963, District Traffic Superintendant 1955 - 1963 British Rail 1963 - 1985. Exhibition to St Edward’s. Rowing, History. His brother, Geoffrey Gover (A 1945 - 1949) wrote to inform us of Derek’s passing.



Derek Gover was educated at Hydneye House, Hastings before going to St Edwards in 1936. His main sporting achievement was winning the senior sculls in July 1940, shortly before leaving to join the RNVR. He served on HMS Birmingham in the South Atlantic before taking his commission and joining the Submarine Service. He spent about a year in the Arctic region patrolling the convoy routes to Russia in HMS Varangian. I advisedly say “in” as he always told me if you serve on a submarine you get your feet wet! In November 1943 he was transferred to HMS Porpoise, a recently-refitted mine laying submarine .and departed in her for Australia via the Red Sea, going through the Suez Canal on D-Day. Two days before reaching Freemantle he developed symptoms of possible appendicitis. On arrival he was transferred to the local hospital and was duly operated on. Just before he was declared fit to return to duty he developed peritonitis and further surgery prevented him from rejoining her before she left for Trincomalee. Sadly, on her first patrol from that port she was lost with all hands.



Subsequently Derek was promoted to Acting Lieutenant and served in HMS Tantalus, HMS Selene and HMS Voracious, mostly in the seas around the East Indies until the end of the war. His submarine was part of the task force sent to Hong Kong to accept the surrender of the Japanese forces there. On 16 February he married Margaret Myers who was in the WRANS.



Derek returned home in an American Liberty ship, the Georgetown Victory. Apparently there were 'several navigational errors' on the passage home but on the last night, when they were supposedly running up between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, the American Captain finally managed to put then ship on the rocks at the entrance to Strangford loch, breaking the back of the vessel - all this in clear visibility and with two lighthouses in sight. Next morning, when the tide had ebbed, they could almost have walked ashore, but they still got off without getting their feet wet with the help of some local fishermen.



Margaret returned home on the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, temporarily converted to a troopship.



In September Derek started as a Cadet in the Sothern Region Railways and he had a variety of roles until 1950, when the decided to emigrate to Kenya. He joined the East African Railways & Harbours, working his way up to District Traffic Superintendant in Nakuru, Kampala, Mombasa and finally Nairobi. Their two daughters Gill and Susan, were both born in East Africa where they all stayed until Kenya declared her Independence in 1962.



They resettled in Beaconsfield and Derek returned to work at the board of British Rail, where he remained in a variety of posts until his retirement in 1985. He is survived by his wife, Margaret.



MALLETT – On 27th March 2009. John Francis William Mallett (B 1947 – 1953).

His wife Gill writes –

He was born in Brazil in 1935 and went to School in Oxford before two years of National service in Germany and on the front line in Korea. Then he read Physics at Keble College, Oxford, followed by Research at Harwell on Neutron Diffraction. His talent for design and invention were noted as he was made a Senior Scientific Officer there, working on Crystallography, while living in Didcot, married to Gill and with daughters Angela and Jennifer. In 1964, he was invited to join at the MRC at the, then very new, Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Here he set up and ran the Ferranti Argus Computer, then the most advanced in Britain and worked for Dr Max Perutz and Uli Arndt on X-ray diffraction of oxyhaemoglobin and analysis of data using the Flying spot Densitometer. In Cambridge, the third daughter Susan was born.



In 1970, he spent just over a year working on instruments for Paul Sigler at the University of Chicago and afterwards the family toured the states. Frank drove to Chicago from San Diego, California to Banff, Canada and abck to Chicago. Other trips were to New York and Toronto. Back in Cambridge, computer collection of data, networking from a central memory and much else kept Frank fully and happily busy for 36 years until his retirement in 2000. Later, memory loss began to limit Frank’s life, becoming serious in 2004, but he still found enjoyment with Gill walking and living in Cambridge where his hard work, gentle kindness and love of others will, hopefully, be remembered now his long illness is over.”



PIDSLEY – On 30th April 2009. Lt Col Nigel Pidsley (B 1934 - 1938). He was a great supporter of the school together with his lifelong friend from St Peter’s School and St Edward’s, Peter Falkner. His son, Mark Pidsley, sent in the following appreciation from his Thanksgiving service:



Nigel passed away on Thursday 30th April aged 88 following his last 3 mile morning walk. For so many, the clocks were set by his morning walk, all around the Sea Wall and back to the Quay and his beloved garden. He walked every day for over 30 years and even on Christmas Day with his Red Father Christmas bobble hat ! On his walks he was at one with the river which he sailed for 50 years often daily with his wife Liz. He had a wonderful, happy life. A man of strong values, he loved the simple life and a strong routine. He shared his happiness, kindness, integrity and love with everyone. His family, the Community, all the groups and people he helped and his multitude of friends, gave him such great pleasure throughout his eventful life especially in Lymington. With his unassuming nature, many heard little of his earlier life, but his diaries reflect a very rich tapestry which I would have great pleasure in sharing with all his friends.



Born in 1920, he was soon on his first exploits at 6, living in India for 3 years with his parents. He then returned to Exmouth where he attended school at St Peters, Exmouth and then St Edwards, Oxford. In 1935 his father served in the Army in Gibraltar where at 15 he first met his wife Liz. In 1938 Nigel trained at Sandhurst Military Academy and joined the Royal Signals at the outbreak of war. He had a distinguished career which first saw him in active service in North Africa. He travelled by troopship round Africa, Cape of Good Hope and up to the Red Sea arriving in Egypt in February 1941. On arrival he made camp by the Pyramids preparing for 3 months. Then in April 1941 he embarked to make way to Alexandria on a destroyer, first reaching land at midnight and making his way through the eerie shattered streets of Tobruk.

Having been surrounded in Tobruk for 3 months, the breakout from Tobruk in November 1941 was followed by an offensive to Benghaze till January 1942. But in June Nigel was fated to be a part of the historic ‘last man last round stand’ at Knightsbridge, North Africa. Nigel spent all night in slit trenches at the top of the hill. Heavy shelling killed many around him and his close colleague also suffered a direct hit.



His diary recounts: “we then repositioned and heard machine gun fire from behind us and found ourselves surrounded by Germans. Eventually we were captured, they signalled us to walk south. I noticed my driver had no water, he looked so weak I gave him my water bottle. I then signed to our captors that I would get water from our truck.” In his typical humble way, his diary entry simply read “The Germans seemed to have forgotten about me, so I slipped away and headed east out into the Desert and sadly was the only one to reach our lines.” He met up with the Armoured Div and soon after found himself back in Egypt.



He then went on to serve with many units including HQ Delta Force and 10 Corps HQ, planning the 8th Army Desert Rats Alemain offensive. Just before the battle he had the privilege of meeting General Montgomery. He recounted “On greeting me Monty said hmm Pidsley ...was your father on the staff at Sandhurst in 23 ?”, I said “yes sir”. “What’s he doing now then?” asked Monty “I replied something on the staff of HQ First Army”. “Ahhh “said Monty knowingly. With a glint in his eye and hushed voice Monty said “something rather Jolly I think........we’ll find out shortly !” and that evening Nigel had front row seats for the now legendary all night Alemain artillery barrage that started Mongomery’s offensive. His next 3 years service continued and was an epic trip. All forms of transport from foot and Mule to motorcycles and tanks. Through Egypt, Beirut, Syria, Palestine, Persia (now Iran) and Iraq. He went from Damascas to Baghdad to join with the 6th India Div Signals. His transport included mule trains over the mountains. The way he always extended friendship and compassion throughout life was always evident, not the least in this diary entry “My accommodation in this awful war, was a small tent and a dog who joined me. I also found a hedgehog outside which had a nasty gash which I stitched up.” ... a friend indeed.



It was in this tent in the mountains of Persia with his new found friends Dog and Hedgehog, that he received a letter from his mother that signified the direction of the rest of his life. He says, “My mother wrote that Elizabeth who I met in Gibraltar days, had married the Squadron Leader of the famous American Eagle Spitfire Squadron, but had just been widowed after only three months... I felt so sorry for her... little realising that a year later we would be married.”



During that time, light relief came in the form of looking after Joyce Grenfell who was visiting the troops, the diary says “I sat with her having tea amongst much laughter, little did I know how famous she would become”. Soon he was on his way again. “Great excitement” he exclaims in his diary “we received a new Matchless motorcycle... the first with tele-hydraulic forks. Just in time for our move to Basra.... I rode across the sandy tracks from Baghdad to Basra. (Secretly, this was a great adventure, especially as he had to leave his beloved BSA

motorcycle, lying by a hedge in Stourbridge, when very suddenly called to his Field Regiment in 1940. (A small note at this point, if anyone here, found a BSA in Stourbridge in 1940, you now know who to thank!) From there he boarded ship for Bombay and on to Secundrabad in India for 8 months.



Nigel now 25 years old, arrived back in London from India on the evening of VE day, the end of the war in Europe. A day later in Aldershot, fate brought Liz and Nigel together. The diary recalls “ ... I had not seen her since the last OCTU dance 5 years ago.... we were naturally drawn together and during my months leave spent all the days driving around in her little blue 2 seater Singer Le Mans sports car.” In later years, we always laughed when Liz teased him saying that he only married her for her Le Mans sports car! Nigel’s diary continues “We would drive, picnic and lay down in the heather south of the A35 Hogs Back. We used to baby sit for a friend in Ashvale and it was in their house I asked her to marry me, which was a foregone

conclusion. We married at St Peters, Pimlico and had tea at Claridges!” Nigel’s next posting was to MI 8 Signal Intelligence in London then on to Wireless Squadron in Austria. February 1947 saw his return to London with a special task as TA Adjutant. With a staff of 5 his task was to rebuild a new peace time Territorial Army, which today is a back bone to the support of our Regular Army.



Early Christmas Day 1947 their first child arrived. The diary says it all in Nigel’s wonderful way “In those days husbands were not allowed to attend the birth, so, as it was Christmas Day, and I was in the hospital anyway, I joined the nurses party. And as Guy arrived, Liz remembered hearing the Hokey Cokey which I was dancing....... “he adds “ luckily the birth went well !”

A few days in to leave, Nigel had an urgent call to report immediately to 27 Brigade Signals. The diary recalls “ I rang to enquire but was told it was Top Secret. In the background the radio was playing ‘I’m going to get you on a slow boat to China’. Quite prophetic really, as in hours, after a sad and very hurried farewell, I was on a troop ship to Hong Kong and Korea.” Then in August 1950, with just a few days notice he embarked as the Advanced group to where the Americans were in difficulty, having been driven back to the mouth of Pusan in South Korea. Nigel became Officer Commanding with Lt Baldwin, (now General Baldwin) as his 2nd in command, seeing action for 9 months without respite over a very bitter winter. Nearing the end of his 2 years service in the Far East, the president of South Korea came personally to present to Nigel and the Brigade a Citation for Outstanding Action.



It was at this time that Nigel and Liz first became a part of the Lymington community. His father Brigadier Pidsley had just retired as Commander of the Army Education at Sandhurst and settled to Captains Row, Lymington. With occasional visits to Lymington Nigel was posted to Chatam and his son Mark was born. Further postings included Carlisle, Catterick and MOD HQ London where his offices overlooked the Horse Guards Parade. His main tasks were overseeing the Commonwealth Communications and the joint services procedures for automatic communications. He finally retired from the Army in 1961 and set sail for Lymington.



As with so many people, Liz and Nigel fell in love with Lymington. Sadly his father Wilfred an Alderman of the Borough, Harbour Commissioner and Chairman of the League of Friends of the Hospital, died in 1967 and Nigel soon took over much of what his father was involved with, in particular, the Community Centre, Friends of the Hospital, Royal British Legion, RNLI and Lymington Care Group together with support for many other organisations. His teacher training for 3 years at King Alfreds, Winchester was followed by teaching at Priestlands, Noadswood, Durlston Court (where he oversaw the building of the Science laboratories) and Ridgeway School.



Following long service for the League of Friends and the Hospital Appeal, he retired as Chairman in 1981. He has continued unstintingly to fund raise for and support a multitude of Lymington good causes. His absence after all these years at last Saturdays RNLI collection in his regular high street position was noted by so many.



And so finally, the remainder of his wonderful life is now a part of Legend...... We shall all cherish and remember our own, very special experiences and memories. For some a fleeting meeting on the sea wall, a conversation on the Quay, an offer of simple friendship, a wave as they sailed past in the river. One of his last great community pleasures was being here at St Thomas church last year as Father Christmas with three and a half thousand others at the Christmas Lights switch on and fireworks which his son and loyal colleagues put on for Lymington. He too thought, as so many, it truly felt like a Village within the town. Only 2 weeks ago a little girl and her Grandmother stopped him on the sea wall. The little girl sidled up

to him and said “ I know who you are .......but you’re in disguise ! “ with a great big smile she held his hand and whispered “ I know your really Father Christmas but I won’t tell .” Others who were lucky enough, will remember more enduring times experiencing his wisdom, kindness, humour, simplicity of life and friendship. He was devoted to his family, friends and Community and much loved by all those with whom he shared his life so selflessly. A loving patriarch, a friend to all, tea in the garden, a handful of Beans or even a courgette if you were lucky, a great big bear hug, the perfect Gentleman, always there when you needed him. He will be sadly missed but always with us.



Nigel was a pillar of our community whose life and routine is an example to us all. A true Samaritan who always crossed the road (even with oncoming traffic!) He would be so proud to see you all now, a chance for all the community to meet and say hello to each other. If you can all think of one simple thing that you admired and Nigel has valued, said or done. Take this one thing and resolve to take it through your life to come...... Then just through you, he will always be with us, and his spirit will lead you too.





WARD – 30th January 2009. Oliver James Ward (C 1994 - 1999) aged 28.

His brother, Adam Ward (C 1996 – 2001) writes -

Oliver attended St Edward’s school from 1994 to 1999 where he was a member of Field House. I was fortunate enough to spend three years at the same school as Oliver seeing, (and occasionally receiving!) first hand his many practical jokes at the expense of teachers and friends. I always felt the description teachers placed upon him as being a colourful character never quite did him justice, though they only knew the half of it. He excelled at rugby being a member of each of his year’s A team and also the first XV squad. He achieved excellent academic results in his A-levels which provided the solid foundation for him to achieve a law degree from Cardiff University.



After University Oliver embarked on a successful career in advertising; working for McCann Erickson in New York, Delhi and Sydney before settling in London to complete his internship, the then CEO of the London Office remarked that he had already worked in more McCann offices than he had! He then moved on to Euro RSCG as an Account Manager, working on the account for LG and News International. It was here that his true passion for film making began; filming and editing short films for his client News International. He expanded beyond the original short films for News International going on to make promotional films and music videos. After a successful period with Euro, Oliver moved to BBH as an account director at the age of just 27.



Throughout most of his adult life Oliver battled with depression and it is this illness that took his life. His memorial service was held in the church in Kimble where we were baptised and was presided over by the Reverend David Wippell, who taught Oliver Religious Studies at St Edward’s. It was a fitting tribute to my brother who crammed so much into his short life that so many people crammed into the Church to pay their respects.

He will be greatly missed by so many but will live on forever in our hearts.

Adam Ward (1996-2001).