35 minute read
Obituaries
Richard Morgan died on 26 May 2021, aged 80. He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret, his daughters Pippa, Victoria and Rachel, and his grandchildren. David Levin, who served as Head of Economics and Second Master during Richard’s Headship, has written the following tribute. Richard Morgan’s qualities as Head of College were those of energy, enthusiasm, a wry sense of humour and a consummate ability to motivate others. The Morgan years at College saw much change. Underlying his achievements were a clear vision, deep religious faith, a sense of history and a great love of both Britain and his family. Margaret’s support of his Headship was a fundamental facet of its strength, as all those who enjoyed the hospitality of College House can confirm. Above all, Richard understood that a successful school must be carefully presented to, and enjoined in, the wider world, as Sir Jeremy Moore (Xt, 1946, past parent and College Council 1980-85) wrote when Richard left College: ‘One of his outstanding contributions has been in presenting Cheltenham College to the outside world. This has taken much energy and much eloquence to communicate the substance of the actual work done inside the school family.’ When Richard commenced his Headship in 1978, aged 38, he did so with explicit Council instructions to modernise without diminishing the best traditions of the school. The Governors had chosen exactly the right man. Richard was someone who could both diagnose weaknesses and deliver necessary change. In promulgating his vision for change, Richard was fond of quoting General Slim, whose motto was ‘to attack on all fronts’. In 1978 the College ‘fronts’ were many and varied.
Richard’s vision was clearly articulated as encompassing six key areas. The importance of Chapel was confirmed through the Chaplain becoming part of the Senior Management Team. Making Chapel the heart of the school also meant outstanding music and rousing Chapel singing, coupled with notable visiting Preachers and Remembrance Days. The inspired appointment of Lindsay Gray as Director of Music, and a music graduate Chaplain, the late Reverend Anthony Stidolph, transformed Chapel, with pupils vying to be selected for the Choir. The core College challenge was the improvement of Academic performance from the 23% A Level A or B grades in 1978. By the late 1980s the picture was very different in terms of exam results and the gaining of university places, not only at Oxford and Cambridge but also at other highly regarded and competitive universities. Over 55% A or B A Level grades were regularly achieved by the late 1980s. Similarly, the number of Oxbridge places gained improved from single figures in 1978 to 19 in 1989.
Academic improvement also involved the introduction of the Upper College Tutorial system which ensured that Tutors were based in a department relevant to their Tutorial pupils’ subjectinterests. Richard encouraged Heads of Department by giving them greater authority, underpinned by agreed Departmental budgets. Staff Appraisal, then unheard of in schools, was introduced. Targets were set and Department Heads held to account with the system including an annual one-to-one meeting with Richard. All left those meetings feeling encouraged and appreciated. College modernisation included substantial improvements to the campus, with extensive new facilities being developed. Information Technology and Careers Centres were created. The provision of a modern ‘Common Room’ was a good motivator for staff and happy social events held there made for staff cohesion.
Richard’s strong emphasis on recruitment generated a rise in pupil numbers and also saw the introduction of girls in the Sixth Form. This prioritisation of recruitment was not based on huge marketing expenditure, but on Richard’s own understanding of the critical importance of Prep Schools’ Heads’ recommendations. That understanding ensured his energetic promotion of the College through his many Prep School Governorships and his being prepared to preach at and attend Prep Schools’ Prize Days. He communicated a strong vision of the future to prospective parents and the resulting rise in College
pupil numbers during his Headship is a tribute to Richard. Richard also believed very firmly in the quality of a school being reflected in the subsequent career development of staff and eight of those at College in the 1980s went on to Headships. Equally, Richard saw a successful school as one drawing upon input from the wider world. This meant regular visiting speakers, interesting preachers, a US Exchange and the development of the Industrial Link Scheme. Boys spent a week with local employers and this both enhanced their understanding of the world beyond College and strengthened College’s local business and parental contacts. The Scheme, as enacted at College, was before its time, like so many of Richard’s initiatives. The Scheme reflected too, the climate of the time in terms of an understanding of the importance of enterprise. Whilst the miners’ strike and IRA bombs are remembered as issues of Thatcher’s time, the 1980s also saw large numbers of new businesses created and a culture of enterprise which College encouraged. The latter was confirmed by pupils winning National Competitions, notably in Electronics, Design and Engineering. It is a tribute to the Morgan era that 1980s College pupils now include so many examples of business success. Many will remember Richard as an immensely kind man who always took trouble to write to people about their personal successes and tragedies, to research the backgrounds of visitors and to remember the details of colleagues’ family circumstances. The warmth underlying his attention to detail is a quality of leadership all too often lacking. It is interesting that boys one now meets from the Morgan era so frequently mention their annual birthday invitations to College House for a chat with Richard and Margaret’s wonderful cakes. Cheltenham College’s loss in 1990 was Radley’s gain.
Dr Anthony Hewitt Atkinson (NH, 1946)
Tony Atkinson died on 2 May 2021, aged 91. Tony, the youngest of three children, grew up during the years of the Great Depression. By the time he was 10 years of age, the world was at war and he was evacuated from London to live with an aunt in the country. Tony learned to box from the age of five. He fought as a flyweight and represented College at the National Boxing competition. On leaving College, Tony studied medicine at university, undertaking his practical training on the wards at Guy’s Hospital in London, where he was also on the boxing team. During this time, he also worked at Buckingham Palace as a footman to Queen Elizabeth II and, if that wasn’t a big enough highlight, met nurse, Terry McCarthy, who only accepted Tony’s proposal of marriage when he got down on one knee! Tony’s profession had them on the move around the UK and even Canada, while he undertook locum work and studied anaesthetics. Their first daughter, Jane, sadly died soon after birth. Lucy was born in 1960 and Sarah 13 months later. In 1962, the family emigrated from the UK to Australia, as ‘Ten Pound Poms’, sailing out on the SS Canberra. Having lived in migrant accommodation at Fisherman’s Bend and undertaken locum work around the country, the family finally settled at Moonee Ponds, where Tony bought into and became a partner in a practice. During this time Tony specialised in gynaecology and obstetrics and delivered babies at the new state of the art Essendon Hospital; he also added to his own family when Kate was born in 1963 and Sophie in 1968. Tony went on to specialise in anaesthetics and epidurals for the rest of his career. He enjoyed his work and was devoted to it; it was his passion. He was well liked and respected, kind and respective of those he worked with, never aloof. He worked into his 80s, stopping only when he suffered a stroke. Tony was a loving and supportive husband to Terry and supported her in her interests, one of which was art, so they’d attend various functions and gallery openings. His own passions were music and opera, and they attended many performances. Closer to home, he enjoyed maintaining his garden and walking the family dog; he always enjoyed a good walk. As a father, Tony was gentle and loving, a calming influence within the home. He provided his children with a secure, carefree upbringing along with instilling good manners within them, the product of his own strict upbringing. He embraced his role as a grandfather and great grandfather, particularly to Lucy’s children after their father passed away. A man who enjoyed the company of others, Tony made good friends throughout his life, who appreciated his honesty, kind heartedness and good sense of humour. Tony loved to make people laugh and always had a good story to tell. In May 2021, Tony passed away peacefully in the presence of two of his daughters, Lucy and Sarah. Tony was predeceased by his beloved wife Terry who died after a stroke in 2011. He is survived by his daughters Lucy, Sarah, Kate and Sophie, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Roger Wareing Byrom Ball (Cheltondale, 1955)
Roger Ball died on the 30 January 2021, aged 84. Roger was born in Kenya in 1936 and by the age of three he had already met Yolande who he was to eventually marry – but not for another 36 years! They happened to be on a ship evacuating children from the UK to Kenya at the beginning of WWII. His father worked for Brooke Bond in Kenya establishing some of the first commercial tea estates there. Roger went to prep school in Nairobi and then to College. His final report said, ‘He was an admiral person of whom we expect to hear as a power in East Africa later on - character and brains travel far together.’ He was awarded the Cohen Essay Prize, and his House 1st XI hockey colours. In his final year he was Head of House and a College Prefect. On leaving College, Roger went on to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, graduating in Agriculture in 1958. He then returned to Kenya to do his National Service with the King’s African Rifles. His first job was with Esso in East Africa who were promoting oil as a solution to deforestation. He worked there for several years. All of this excellent experience clearly appealed to ICI who recruited him to their Plant Protection Division in 1969 and promptly sent him back to Africa! This time to Ibaden in Nigeria where he was ‘their man’ for two years. In 1971 he transferred to the Far East and Pacific Region where he stayed until retirement 25 years later. Mutual friends were responsible for Roger meeting up with Yolande again in 1975. On their first date he impressed his future father-in-law by wearing his Kenyan Regimental tie. That clinched the deal and they were married a year later. Everybody liked and appreciated Roger, colleagues and customers alike. He was an extremely loyal and capable team player with a ready smile and a fine sense of humour – an excellent ambassador for the business. He was a walking Plant Protection bible with his stories from all round the world, and with a wonderful sense of humour.
When he finally retired in 1996, Yolande was a bit concerned about how he would fill his time but she needn’t have worried as Roger threw himself into a number of different activities which meant that they had a long and enjoyable retirement together. Roger was an enthusiastic member of the National Trust Supporters Committee for many years. He enjoyed giving his time to National Trust events and to the community. His legacy includes being the cartographer of the definitive Footpath Map for Black Down, Marley and Hindhead. He walked for miles to check these routes and those of you who walk these paths today have Roger to thank as the one who mapped and updated them. He also gave much of his time introducing children to nature and wildlife at local National Trust sites.
In retirement he and Yolande travelled widely – cruising the Adriatic, cycling the Danube and enjoying the delights of Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Australia and New Zealand. On one occasion they joined friends for a cycling and boating holiday in France and divided their time between boating, cycling and wining and dining. Roger played a good game of bridge and was also a brilliant contributor at quiz nights. His quizzing skills once gained him an appearance on the television show ‘Fifteen to One’ where he acquitted himself admirably. He had very broad sporting interests: he enjoyed playing squash, tennis, golf and even croquet. In every sport he was skilful, a keen competitor and always a gentleman. He loved his golf and whenever the company had Japanese visitors, Roger was invariably the one chosen to accompany them to play at St Andrews.
Roger is survived by his wife Yolande, daughter Juliet and grandsons Henry and William.
Hugh Robert Bousfield
Hamilton (H, 1955)
Hugh Hamilton, brother of Andrew Hamilton (NH, 1965), died on 2 May 2021, aged 83. Hugh was captain of the College fencing team and was awarded his College Colours 1953-1955. He reached the third round of the senior foil in the Public Schools Fencing Championship in 1954 and in 1955 gained a point by reaching the semi-final pool of the sabre, placing College 10th out of some 40 schools. He was awarded his House Rowing Colours in 19541955. Unfortunately, subsequent severe back problems meant that he was unable to continue the sporting prowess he demonstrated at College. On leaving College, Hugh read Law at the University of Nottingham and, after National Service with the Sherwood Foresters, moved to London where he had a successful
career as a solicitor. After Hugh’s move to London, he transferred to the 1st Battalion London Scottish TA regiment where he served as a Lieutenant and was i/c Signals Platoon. He was promoted to Captain and stayed until 1967. Thereafter his interest continued and he kept in contact with several fellow members.
Frances Heigham, a friend and former colleague, wrote, ‘I first met Hugh in the Spring of 1973. I was 26 and he was a partner in Crane & Hawkins, interviewing me for my first professional job as a solicitor. I was accepted into the quasi family that was Crane & Hawkins, a small firm of no more than about 30 people at that stage. For more than 25 years he was a Trustee of the Freud Museum, through acting for and executing the Will of Anna Freud, Sigmund’s daughter. He made frequent professional visits to the US, not to mention hanging about on a couple of occasions in the Turks and Caicos Islands on behalf of a client embroiled in legal proceedings there. He was also the chairman of the Philbeach Choral Society, a very active light opera group. Hugh was clearly very musical, and he had a lovely bass voice.
‘Crane & Hawkins merged in 1984 with Lawrence Graham, a much larger firm, where Hugh became the Head of the Private Client Department. Many of my former colleagues there have been saying that they feel, as I do, that he was the best boss they ever had, who had believed in them when others had not. An example of Hugh’s jokey sense of humour is a story that one April Fools’ Day he circulated an email saying that he had negotiated a 10% discount for departmental staff funerals at a Crematorium. He signed it Alf Porilo, an anagram of April Fool!’ Apart from a lifelong involvement in many charitable committees and trusts, history was a constant passion. Hugh largely attributed his passion for history to his College History teacher, Mr John Bowes. As well as his vast book collection, he chaired the local branch of the Historical Association and in retirement he and Sue went on countless expeditions to study and photograph castles and churches, Romanesque architecture in particular. In his early years and right through to the end of his life, one recurrent theme was just how important family and friends were to him. His sons developed a strong sense of identity because of this. Hugh is survived by his beloved wife Sue, sons Ian and Christopher, and his grandchildren.
Peter Stuart
Hammerson (L, 1962)
Peter Hammerson, brother of David Hammerson (L, 1959), died on 11 January 2021, aged 75. The following tribute was written by Kenneth Hamer (H, 1962). Peter Hammerson was a wonderful man. He was fun and charming to be with, generous, infinitely courteous and kind-hearted. He loved College and adored his wife Jennie. He and Jennie brought sunshine to all. Peter married late in life – his late mother said that she had waited 60 years for this event! – and his friends, of which there were a great many, joined him and Jennie in wishing them their very best wishes. Peter died tragically from Covid on 11 January 2021 after going out on New Year’s Eve to buy a gift for Jennie. Peter was born on 15 February 1945 and came to College in September 1958. After leaving College in the summer of 1962, Peter distinguished himself and by profession became an established and knowledgeable property developer. When things were not going well he never complained and with that wonderful smile by which he was affectionally recognised would answer that he was in ‘Lost Property’! He never lost his sense of humour, his charm, his love for College or his devotion to Jennie. He always had a smile, remembered names and had time to talk to everyone. Peter was a generous supporter of College, funding scholarships and bursaries as well as, in recent years, a Leconfield garden project. Additionally, he was an active and supportive member of the Cheltonian Society Committee for nearly 20 years. The Society Committee, made up largely of OCs, parents and ex-parents, and current and former members of staff, is hugely influential and successful in organising events at College and keeping in touch with OCs. Peter got great satisfaction from his work on the Society Committee in particular, and supporting College generally. In addition to College, Peter was a proud and popular Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of PainterStainers, the fifth oldest Guild in the City of London. Having been installed as a liveryman in 1980, Peter was elected to the Court in 2003 and was Master of the Painters’ Company in 2010. Called on to arrange a speaker during his year as Master he achieved capacity attendance by securing the ‘Voice of Cricket’, Henry Blofeld, who brought the house down. Peter’s generosity to the Painters’ Company knew no bounds. He was very generous with supporting the Company’s efforts to refurbish and add to its treasures. He is remembered in the Painters’ Company with tremendous affection and has been described as a bon viveur who always
seemed to enjoy life to the full, was unfailingly polite and fun to be with. Peter was also a dedicated Freemason; he was initiated into the Playgoers Lodge in 1970 and joined the Old Cheltonian Lodge in 1973. He excelled in both. He was Master of the Playgoers Lodge in 1983 and was twice Master of the Old Cheltonian Lodge in 1984 and 2004. Amongst the many offices he held, he served as Almoner in both Lodges caring with great devotion for elderly or infirmed members or their widows. Peter was Almoner of the Playgoers Lodge from 1992 to 1998 and had been Almoner of the Old Cheltonian Lodge since 2005, a remarkable record. Additionally, Peter was the Charity Steward for many years of the Old Cheltonian Lodge and held the rank of London Grand Rank. It was though perhaps at the Festive Board that Peter came into his own. He was as always a convivial dining companion and one never quite knew what fun and laughter was in store. He and Jennie entertained a group of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire based Freemasons to a magnificent lunch at their retreat near Sapperton. A lasting memory was of Peter and Jennie beavering away in the kitchen and Jennie saying they worked together ‘harmoniously’!
Major Rupert Edward Harding-Newman
(Cheltondale, 1959)
Edward Harding-Newman died on 6 May 2021, aged 78. (A full obituary will be published in the next edition.)
David Frank Megginson
(Thirlestaine, 1961)
David Megginson, brother of Jonathan Megginson (Leconfield, 1967), died on 21 July 2021, aged 77. (A full obituary will be published in the next edition.)
Nik P Le Masurier
(H, 1996)
Nik Le Masurier, partner of Casilda Peel (Ch, 1996), son of Richard Le Masurier (H, 1967), nephew of David Le Masurier (H, 1968), and cousin of Edward Le Masurier (H, 2001), Clare Le Masurier (A, 2004) and Andrew Le Masurier (H, 2011), died on 28 May 2020. After leaving College, Nik continued his education and gained an arts degree at Cardiff University. He then travelled extensively, in particular to India, a country he loved, and also to Spain where he worked for a time. When he returned to the UK, he moved back to Cheltenham and in 2009 he renewed his friendship with a College contemporary, Casilda Peel, who was to become his partner, and they lived for a number of years in St George’s Place. Nik suffered serious ill-health and he and Casilda moved to Bournemouth to be nearer his family. Despite his illness, he became a very proficient photographer and exhibited much of his work on social media where it was widely admired. He was an authority on the arts, particularly music and literature, and he followed all sports, especially cricket and football. Unfortunately, his health continued to deteriorate and, despite numerous operations, he sadly passed away in May 2020, aged just 42.
Alexander Maurice McMullen
(Cheltondale, 1963)
Alex McMullen, son of Gerald McMullen (Cheltondale, 1921), brother of James McMullen (Cheltondale, 1958), nephew of Denis McMullen (Cheltondale, 1919), Colin McMullen (Cheltondale, 1924) and Morrice McMullen (Cheltondale, 1926), and cousin of Terrence McMullen (Cheltondale, 1950) and Ronald McMullen (Cheltondale,1954), died on 16 July 2021, aged 75. (A full obituary will be published in the next edition.)
Jane Lumby (née Pritchard, 1970)
Jane Lumby, daughter of Will Pritchard (Director of Music at College, 1950-73) and sister of Sally (College, 1973-75) died on 21 February 2021, aged 69. Jane shone in the world of music (not surprisingly!) and drama. She even played hockey with the boys! Jane was in the Small Choir and took part in the 1970 Cheltenham Competitive Music and Drama Festival. She was awarded the Ruth Norris Challenge Cup for the Shakespeare Scene, a Silver medal for the Scene Other Than Shakespeare and a Bronze medal for the Reading at Sight from Charles Dickens.
She had leading roles in the Cheltondale House Play A Man for All Seasons and the College Play The Lady’s Not For Burning. Jane was also a member of the Shakespeare Society. The Shakespeare Society report in the 1970 Cheltonian declared, ‘Jane Pritchard was unchallenged as the star of the Society since her memorable Ophelia.’ The final meeting of the year, Lear, was more challenging, as reported in the Cheltonian, ‘This proved more difficult to organise than expected with an economist’s A Level paper and the College Dance on the
intervening day producing an unaccustomed levity, verging on hysteria, quite unsuitable for the diligent rendering of a Shakespearian tragedy. On Wednesday the cast consisted of boy wonders from the Lower forms combined with rakes from the Sixth Form intent only on drowning their sorrows: all of this produced a curious rehearsal with the President and Jane Pritchard as Lear and Cordelia showing everyone how it ought to be done and various other characters showing how it ought not!’ On leaving College she went to The Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, and on graduating she became a teacher of English and Drama. However, her greatest love was nature, poetry and painting, something she really started to develop in the later part of her life, culminating in the publication of a book, The Winding Lane, comprising her poems and paintings, shortly before her death.
Jane is survived by her husband Jonathan, son Michael, daughter Elizabeth, and her grandchildren Lucy, Oliver and Joshua.
Major Maurice Fitzgerald Rea
(NH, 1945)
Maurice Rea, father of Keith Rea (NH, 1973) and Richard Rea (S & Thirlestaine, 1977) died on 15 January 2021, aged 93. He was predeceased by his wife Alfreda and is survived by his sons Keith and Richard. Maurice played in the 1945 Hockey XI. The review of the season published in the 1945 Cheltonian reported, ‘It was not until late in the season that Rea, who had previously played as a wing half, was put in as left back; the change did much to increase the strength of the defence.’ He was also in the Shooting VIII and was awarded his Colours.
The following eulogy was given at Maurice’s funeral by his son Keith.
After leaving College, Maurice was part of the first peacetime intake at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Commissioned into the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, he saw action in Korea during 195152. He didn’t talk much about this period and it is clear it had a profound effect on him. He transferred to the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars in 1955, the year his first son Keith was born. The 8th amalgamated with the 4th Hussars in 1958 to form the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars. These were much happier times for Maurice and his wife Alfreda, living in Luneburg, Germany, as the regiment was part of the British Army of the Rhine. After Germany the family, four in number now after the arrival of second son Richard in 1959, had spells in Scotland, Northern Ireland (pre-troubles), Bovington Camp in Dorset and two years in West Byfleet while Maurice worked at the Ministry of Defence. Maurice also spent nine months in Cyprus in 1965 under the UN banner acting as a liaison officer with the Turks. He took early retirement from the army in 1967 and he was proud for the rest of his life to call himself an Irish Hussar.
By 1967 both of Maurice’s parents had passed away and he considered moving the family permanently to Kenmare Castle, the family home near Limerick in Southern Ireland. However, by 1968 he had concluded that life in Ireland was not going to be viable. Instead, he came full circle from his schooldays in Gloucestershire and in 1970 purchased The Old Rectory in the village of Cowley, situated in the Churn Valley between Cheltenham and Cirencester. This was the family home for the next 21 years, the family’s longest and most settled period in one place. Maurice found employment with the Country Landowners Association (CLA) as Regional Secretary for Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Maurice retired from the CLA in 1986. In 1991 they moved to the village of Cherington, just outside Tetbury. Alfreda’s health was in decline by the early 2000s and in 2007 they said goodbye to Gloucestershire. Alfreda moved to a nursing home in Cranleigh, Surrey, and Maurice lived in a retirement flat in Elmbridge Village, also in Cranleigh. Alfreda died in November 2009. Maurice continued to live at Elmbridge but was declining gently. In 2016, he moved to Birtley House nursing home.
The Hon Peter Richard
Scarlett (BH, 1979)
The Hon Peter Scarlett, younger son of the late Lord and Lady Abinger, passed away suddenly on 24 December 2020, aged 59. The following tribute was written by his brother, Lord Abinger. Peter’s life was lived to the full in a small rural community on the border between Dorset and Somerset. Peter had recently retired from the Dorset Council where he enjoyed a successful career as a chartered surveyor. His great passion for sport was kindled at his prep school, Horris Hill. At College, Peter was introduced to rugby – the sport had been banned at Horris Hill due to concerns over flint in the ground. He became a keen tennis player and a rather indifferent but enthusiastic cricketer. At school, Peter acquired an encyclopaedic knowledge of professional sporting
events which he used to say was useless for anything but winning pub quizzes. Wisden was Peter’s favourite source of sports trivia. He acquired the nickname ‘Captain’ – after the sixties cartoon character Captain Scarlett – which stayed with him for life.
On joining the CCF, he set his sights on joining the Scots Greys, the regiment which his illustrious ancestor General Scarlett, who led the Charge of the Heavy Brigade, had commanded during the Crimean War. Peter subsequently went up to Sandhurst but left without completing officer training. Peter qualified as a chartered surveyor and worked for BAA throughout the 1990s, where he was responsible for managing property within Heathrow Airport. On one occasion he had to deal with the media when terrorists broke through the perimeter fence and blew up a building. Typically, Peter provided a voice of calm authority amidst the chaos. A confident and amusing public speaker, Peter had a rare talent for making everyone he met feel at ease. He became a skilled and diligent manager and was greatly respected by his former work colleagues, reflected in the many tributes that followed news of his unexpected death. Peter made friends easily from all walks of life.
Peter was a proud Old Cheltonian, frequently seen sporting cerise striped socks. Having grown up in the flatlands of East Anglia, Cheltenham was his introduction to the West Country. He thrived at the school and made lifelong friends at both College and the Ladies’ College. ‘Captain’ even joined a Choral Society in order to meet Cheltenham Ladies’ girls, although as his friends will confirm, singing in tune was certainly not his forte!
Peter is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter Lucy and son Harry.
The Reverend Canon Robert Anthony
Stidolph (Hon OC & Past Staff)
Anthony Stidolph, College Chaplain from 1987 to 1994, died on 24 May 2021, aged 66. The following tribute was written by Prebendary Nicholas Lowton (Hon OC & Past Staff 1979-2010). Anthony came to College as Chaplain in 1987 via a somewhat unconventional route. Born and brought up in South Shields, he studied music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire before training for the priesthood at St Stephen’s House in Oxford. He was parish priest in Brighton for seven years before he arrived at College, looking understandably bemused. He followed in the footsteps of the redoubtable Robert Ferguson, from whom, in many ways, he could not have been more different, Robert evincing the languid hauteur of the faded gentry while Anthony was much more down to earth, ready to get his hands dirty in showing the real presence of Christ in the lives of everyone. In fact Anthony very much built on the stones laid by Robert, and, indeed, the two of them got on very well, being prominent members of the Waterloo Place Group – a gathering of school chaplains who met once a term, much to the – thoroughly justified – suspicion of a number of headmasters, to celebrate the Eucharist together either in the Chapel of St James’s Palace or Westminster Abbey, before repairing to the Athenaeum Club for lunch and discussion (of a sort). Anthony was first and foremost a man of prayer, showing by example the central part that prayer and the Eucharist played in his own life. In that, he found College particularly congenial and fertile ground. Every school with a chapel claims that the chapel is the heart of the school life: at College, that was undeniably the case, having survived all the traumas of the ‘60s and ‘70s with daily Chapel still intact, and with the singing in Chapel proving a veritable culture shock to visiting preachers accustomed to restrained parish worship. Anthony built on the established pattern of Chapel worship with the introduction of a daily Eucharist which became the regular heartbeat of the College and, for many members of the community, a real source of comfort – in the proper sense of the word as something which gives people strength together. But Anthony also recognised that what went on inside Chapel was a reflection of what went on outside, and that it was no good for him to know everyone unless he allowed them to get to know him as well. He was tireless in his ministry to everyone in the school, to members of staff – both academic and nonacademic – and, of course, to the pupils. He was fully engaged in all aspects of life in the school, whether as a participant or as a supporter, but he was obviously and naturally most engaged on the pastoral side. He was involved in all of the Houses and was regular visitor to them. I personally found that invaluable as a Housemaster as I recognised that he knew and understood the boys in my House and could see them from a different perspective than mine. He was a dedicated Tutor to a large number of the pupils. And his involvement extended well beyond the limits of term time as he took part in many College trips. Anthony also very early recognised a fundamental difference between his work in the school and his previous post, in that parish ministry can all too often involve ambulance chasing, while a good chaplain
engages in preventative medicine. It was his knowledge of the pupils coupled with his unbridled approachability which warded off a number of storms. And it was always a sure sign that trouble was brewing when the numbers attending the daily Eucharist suddenly grew. He was also vulnerable. This is, curiously, an invaluable quality for anyone in his position. Presenting the Christian faith and asking people to trust in God is always something to be treated with caution, especially so when dealing with people who are of an age when they should rightly be questioning and for whom trust and confidence are not commodities that necessarily come easily. It helped many of the pupils on that path that they recognised that Anthony was not surrounded by an adamantine ring of certainty and that the person who was leading them was not entirely unlike themselves. Other qualities? Well, he was, of course, an outstanding musician who demonstrated his skills inside and outside Chapel. He was a very fine and generous host. And he was unfailingly patient. He was open to everybody, but not at his best with those who seemed to take themselves too seriously, and he certainly never showed that characteristic in himself, except perhaps on one occasion when he resolutely refused to lead the procession out of Chapel one weekday morning when Robin Proctor chose to play as the concluding voluntary The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. And he had his demons, although they were never obvious when he was content and fulfilled, which he was until shortly before his departure from the College in 1994. Chaplaincies followed at Wellington School and Radley College, then he returned to parish life in the Diocese of Chichester as Priest-in-Charge of Worth for five years. There was then a series of short-lived appointments both in this country and in Africa, in none of which he seemed settled, until his final phase at Paphos in Cyprus as Associate Priest to the Anglican churches there, serving, inter alia, at the wonderful church of Ayia Kyriaki, built on a site where St Paul – allegedly – converted the local governor and a church where St Francis of Assisi preached. One of Anthony’s duties was to conduct endless numbers of weddings for British people – about 80 a year. I sat in on one of his weddings and was impressed by the way he still made it individual, personal and special. His final service was a wonderful one in Ayia Kyriaki last February, presided over by the Archbishop of Jerusalem. He found the lockdown particularly stressful and health issues began to arise. He was given a grim prognosis in March this year and, after spending some time in the hospice in Paphos, spent his last weeks at home, looked after by a dedicated team of carers. He was anointed by the Vicar of Paphos and died peacefully surrounded by those who had cared for him in his last weeks. He was buried, according to his wishes, in Cyprus. Anthony touched the lives of a great many people, and he remained in their thoughts and prayers as they remained in his. I was amazed by how many people in his last weeks were in touch to say how much he meant to them. He drew many people to the love of God and made many more feel simply better for having known him, and everyone at College can feel especially blessed to have been served by a Chaplain who found his time there the happiest. May he rest in peace.
James Warren
(BH, 1956)
James Warren, son of the late Lt Col Edmund John Warren DSO (BH, 1931) and brother of Major (retd) Jeremy Warren (BH, 1962), died on 6 December 2020, aged 82. On leaving College, James graduated from the University of Southampton with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He was immediately snapped up with an apprenticeship at Vickers Armstrong, whereupon he began his lifelong career devoted to the aerospace business. Upon finishing his apprenticeship, he moved to BOAC and finally British Aerospace until his retirement. He was involved in the Concorde project, the launch of the Jetstream 31, the BAe 146, the BAe 125 and ultimately was responsible for worldwide support for all BAe civilian aircraft; ‘The Plane Doctor’, as he was known.
Midst all this, James managed to meet Diana in 1966. They were married and moved to Miami, where John was born in 1968 and Harriet arrived in 1975 after the family returned to Wiltshire, UK. After a further 12 years living in Virginia, USA, James returned to the UK in 1993. He met his second wife Judith. They later married at the time of his 70th birthday and the family took a memorable safari trip ‘familymoon’ to mark both occasions.
Aside from his career, James was an avid motorsport fan, a keen photographer and bon viveur. He loved to travel and was, in particular, a Francophile. He knew every small
fortified village in France, and their markets, and in retirement acquired a small apartment in Port Vendres in South West France. He was never happier than when eating a bowl of ‘moules’ with a good sauvignon blanc. The lifestyle eventually caught up with him as he fought off diabetes and latterly kidney disease. In March 2020, at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, James was diagnosed with untreatable cancer. With levels of stamina and stubbornness known only to James, he battled on without complaint. To the end, James was always more interested in his family and others than in his own plight. He was a devoted grandfather to Alex, Amelia and Iona and step grandfather to Freya, Millie and Harry and was never prouder than of the achievements of his progeny. John and Harriet were both with him when he died peacefully at home.
Nicholas Clayton Platt
Winstanley (OJ & Cheltondale, 1963)
Nick Winstanley died on 20 September 2020, aged 74. He is survived by his wife Clare, sons Sam and William, and granddaughters Emma and Lauren. He was the son of Lord Winstanley, the Liberal peer and former Liberal MP. The following tribute was written by Robert Macleod-Smith (Cheltondale, 1965), a contemporary of Nick at College. At the Junior School and then at College Nick’s special talents for cricket and music soon became clear and these were to be important parts of his life thereafter. He played in the Cricket 1st XI for three years as a skilful left arm spin bowler and was in the winning team against Haileybury at Lord’s in 1963. He also played in the Hockey 1st XI for two years and was already a keen golfer. He was the leader of the College orchestra in 1962. Nick went on to read Modern Languages at Queen’s College, Oxford, where his academic studies came a poor second behind his enthusiasm for sport and music and university life in general. He may not have got a top degree but his love of languages was consolidated. His Senior Tutor wrote, ‘Dear Winstanley. You are probably a bit disappointed at the result but I hope not too much. In your career here you did a good many things besides reading books and I hope you enjoyed the net product. Best wishes for the next phase.’ The next phase was teaching English as a second language in Italy before returning to the UK to start a career in marketing and using his foreign languages with Birds Eye Foods, Unigate and Ralston Purina. He married Lorna in 1969 and they had two sons – Sam and William. He took a year out to study for an MBA at Cranfield School of Management which included, of course, more cricket and more wickets. Remarkably he took over 3,000 wickets during his cricketing career. After Cranfield, he moved to Manchester to work for Pace Advertising before leaving the business world to start the first part of a new career in teaching. From 1978 to 1985, Nick taught at the School of Management at Derbyshire College. After the breakup of his marriage, he moved to London and worked for Westminster Cable before returning to teaching in 1987 as a lecturer in Business Studies at the Polytechnic of North London, which later became the University of North London. He was a hugely dedicated and respected teacher as his many students will testify.
Nick met Clare whilst singing with the Camden Choir and they married in 1989. They settled into a busy and varied life with Nick combining work with cricket coaching, golf, choir, music and gardening. He learned to play the bagpipes and enjoyed a loyal audience of goats on the remote hillside above Paleochora in Crete where he and Clare holidayed each year.
Nick retired in 2001 due to ill health but continued to make use of his impressive range of talents in many retirement projects and activities.
These obituaries have been compiled from obituaries published in national and local papers, eulogies given at funerals, and tributes written by family members or those who knew the deceased very well. I am extremely grateful to Hannah Dale (Archivisit) for the research she has carried out and for providing the College photographs. For any that I have missed, if you would like an obituary published in the next edition, please get in touch. Malcolm Sloan, Cheltonian Society Secretary 01242 265694, society@cheltenhamcollege.org
