OBITUARIES A self-portrait by Chris Arnold
Anthony Adler (1956-61)
Christopher Wilberforce Arnold FAIA (1939-44)
Nicholas Driver (1957-1962)
Anthony Adler passed away aged 78 on 25th September 2021, suddenly from a heart attack. Anthony attended St Paul’s School from 1956 to 1961 where he chaired the debating society. He worked for many years in the music industry. More recently he was known for his historical research activities, often questioning accepted and/or recently re-assessed historical interpretations and frequently disproving them by presenting the facts which he investigated meticulously. A loving husband to Jan and brother to Gill, he will be forever missed by them and by family and friends. Anthony’s family and friends
Chris was born in Barnes and like his elder brothers Pat, Michael and Hugh, he attended Colet Court prior to St Paul’s. World War II was declared days before Chris’s first term at School. So, Chris set off on his bicycle together with brother Hugh, to Crowthorne. There, Chris followed the classics and later history, though he loved most his time in the art room, coming under the influence of Erik Sthyr. Chris recalled Sthyr as revolutionary and brilliant. Though it was not to be his career, Chris was an innately talented artist and his paints were to become his constant companion. In his final year Chris became Captain of School. Chris next enlisted in the RAF. After a short course at Cambridge sponsored by the Forces, he was sent to Arizona for pilot training. To Chris’s regret the war ended before he won his wings. However, the experience of the U.S was life changing and he vowed to return. After demobilisation, he studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture, following which he won a Fulbright scholarship to Stanford University. While at Stanford he met his wife, Jodie. They were to make their home in Palo Alto, a short distance from the Stanford campus. They were together for over 67 years. Chris began his career by designing a number of houses and buildings in the Palo Alto area, including some of the dormitories at Stanford. In 1965, he co-founded the architectural firm Business Systems Development to further the then-new principles of systems design. Later he became a specialist in seismic retrofitting and travelled extensively to earthquake sites. In 2000, he served as president of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). Chris also taught at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design and was elected a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). Chris is survived by Jodie, children Vivien, Corry (Sharon), Gina, grandchild Caitlin and his extended family across the globe. John Arnold OBE (1962-67), nephew, and Gina Arnold, daughter
Nick was both son and father of Paulines – Robert (Bobby) (1920-24) and William (1986-91) – and greatly enjoyed his time at School, making many lifelong friends through both his sporting endeavours and the Christian Union. He was a prefect, a member of the 1st XV and the 1st VIII, rowing in the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley. After graduating from the College of Estate Management in 1966, he joined Cluttons, before moving in 1970 to London Merchant Securities, where his career flourished as he rose to become Managing Director, a position he held until retirement in 2004. His sound commercial judgement was highly regarded by his chairman Lord Rayne. In 1968 Nick met Anne while queuing outside the Royal Albert Hall for a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius. This was the start of a long and devoted relationship, which lasted the rest of his life – 53 years. They were married in 1969 and subsequently had two children, Emily and William both now GPs. Nick was very involved in the local community, twice serving as churchwarden at St Mary’s, Stoke d’Abernon and being a member of the PCC for 20 years and in retirement he accepted an invitation to chair the steering committee for the Cobham Envisage Project which involved canvassing the opinions of 22,000 residents on their views for the future of the local area. Additionally, he was a Trustee and volunteer visitor for Independent Age for several years. He, Anne and the family spent many happy holidays, often with friends, in villas in Italy and France and many memorable weeks were spent in Cornwall in their cottage and in Paris in their apartment. For the last few years of his life Nick struggled against the debilitating effects of leukaemia with great courage and resilience, always replying “I’m fine” however parlous his condition. Nick will be remembered with great affection by his wide circle of friends for his kindness, good humour and great generosity. Anne Driver (widow) and friends
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