Obituaries

In Memoriam

John S Beastall (1954-59) John Bienenstock CM (1950-54) Robert C Blalack (1965-66) Peter G Boswell (1941-45) Anthony R Boswood (1961-65) Richard G W Codd (1955-61) Christopher P Curwen (1955-60) Robert C Davie (1945-51) Alec M (Mike) Davis (Rugby Coach, 1969-74) Roger L Earl (1954-57) Malcolm D Hillier (1949-55) William N J (Billy) Howard (Headmaster of Colet Court, 1973-92) David H P Jackson (1950-54) Sunil (Skip) Kapadia (1992-97) Brenda King (School House Matron, 1990-2002) Sydney A Levinson (1967-72) Frank G (Gordon) Maunder (1948-54) John M MacDougall (1945-50) Robin J L (Jeremy) McCowen (1951-56) Christopher V Middleton (1967-71) Jonathan A Miller (1949-54) Peter L Oettinger OBE (1935-38) Richard E Palk (1955-60) Martin L Rantzen (1949-55) Nicholas A M Shenton (1957-63) Robert J Strawson (1958-62) Francis P (Peter) Wiggins (Colet Court, 1945-47) Nicholas P Windsor (1989-94) Lawrence Young (1944-50)

Charles Abrams

(1965-69) Charles Abrams was cited in Hansard as having ‘performed a significant act of public service’, through his dedication to perfecting the Financial Services and Markets Act.

A year younger than his contemporaries, Charles’s time at both Colet Court and St Paul’s was marked by a quiet confidence, which shone in his passion for Ancient History and Latin. The friendships he forged enriched his whole life. His exquisite intelligence was rewarded with a place to read history for law at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became a Scholar. At Cambridge, he was consistently inspired by the brilliant minds around him. Academia was a significant focus of Charles’s life, with an emphasis placed on detail and perfection.

Charles won a position at the solicitors Linklaters & Paines in New York, before joining SJ Berwin. He became a partner in 1988, founding and leading its financial services practice. Charles’s mind became renowned, and he co-wrote the definitive guide to the pivotal legislation. In the aftermath of The Big Bang, he worked to prioritise the consideration of intent and ensured that enough checks were placed in the Code of Market Conduct. His impact inspired the EU’s Market Abuse Directive. Charles advised the Conservative Party, gaining recognition for ‘his remarkable grasp of the Act’, which ‘played a major part in shaping the [Conservative Party’s] approach’ to the legislation.

Marrying Georgia in 1987, he imbued his children, Alexandra and Boris, with his inherent values. He shaped their upbringing with a mix of consistent love and education, ensuring that they placed equal importance on morality and the correct use of a comma.

He inspired his contemporaries with his dedication to winning both his personal battles and professional, and achieved vast influence whilst combatting Multiple Sclerosis. He wrote significant letters and books, including the Guide to Financial Services Regulation. Always with a wry smile and dry wit, he never ceased to amaze and lead change. Alexandra Abrams, Daughter

John S Beastall

(1954-59) John ‘Tub’ Beastall, who died in June, was a decorated Civil Servant who was best known in the Pauline community as one of the leaders of the Pauline Meetings. He ran the Ealing Meeting for some 40 years and the affection in which he was held by generations of Paulines was evident in the large numbers who attended his funeral.

Tub joined the Christian Union while a pupil at St Paul’s and served as an ‘officer’ from the early 1960s to his retirement in 2004. He was ever present at House Parties, Sunday meetings and all the Meetings’ activities. Tub’s life was underpinned by his personal faith and he involved himself in the life of all the churches he attended.

He joined St Paul’s in 1954 on a scholarship from Colet Court and enjoyed a distinguished school career. He was hooker in the 1st XV, a prefect and captain of G Club and addressed the Queen in Latin as part of the school’s 450th anniversary celebrations.

He won an Exhibition to Balliol College, Oxford, where he continued his classics studies and his rugby. From university, he went straight into the Treasury. He was PPS to Chancellor Jim Callaghan and worked on a range of policy issues. He was awarded a CB in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 1995 in recognition of his outstanding career of public service.

He took early retirement in the late 1990s and became the school’s first Development Director, starting the campaign of fund raising for bursaries.

He was Chair of Governors of the Green School for Girls in Isleworth and a director of Feltham Community Chaplaincy Trust.

He continued his rugby career after university, captaining the Old Pauline 1st XV. When he gave up playing he refereed at Thames Ditton for many years.

His commitment to the St Paul’s community was recognised in his becoming a Vice President of both the Old Pauline Club and the OPFC and he was delighted to attend the rugby club’s 150th anniversary dinner at Twickenham Stadium in March. John Howard (1971-75)

Anthony (Tony) E W Dux

(1966-71) Born on the 18th December 1952, Anthony started at Colet Court as a scholar in 1960 and was part of the cohort of pupils that moved with the school from Hammersmith to its current location. He started at St Paul’s in 1966, leaving in 1971 to study medicine at the Royal Free, following in his mother’s footsteps.

He qualified as a medical doctor in 1977and went on to specialise initially in paediatrics before focusing his specialisation on radiology. His first Consultant position in Radiology was at Peterborough before he eventually moved to Leicester, where he was able to combine his interest in paediatric medicine with radiology. His passion for medicine never left him and, even after his retirement from the NHS at 60, he continued working notwithstanding his failing health.

Sadly, his final years were blighted by illness and yet he remained interested in current affairs, music, the arts and rugby union – particularly Leicester Tigers. His passion for good food and wine was legendary.

Tony was someone of huge intellect. He was blessed with a phenomenal memory which never deserted him. He was a hugely popular figure both at work and in his local community.

He was married to his wife Sally for over 40 years and they had two children, Emma and Marcus. He also leaves behind three grandchildren and two sisters. He will be greatly missed by us all. Liz Dux, Sister

Alexander R R Eason

(1943-47) Alexander (Alec) Eason was born in Poona, India in 1929 and came to England at the age of two. During WWII he was evacuated to his grandparents’ home in Auchterarder, and later attended St Paul’s School in Crowthorne during the war. Alec truly valued his education and his housemaster, Mr Cook, was a huge influence in his life. He completed his national service before proceeding to St Andrews to study medicine. He excelled at sport, playing rugby for Scottish Exiles, St Paul’s 1st XV and captained the St Andrews 1st XV and Scotland B Team.

After graduation, Alec held house positions at the Southern General Hospital and the Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow, where he became expert in exchange-transfusions of new-borns. He also joined the Territorial Army as a Medical Officer. In 1960, he married Catherine Wilson, a nurse, with whom he enjoyed over sixty years of marriage. They spent two years in the Yorkshire Dales, where Alec worked as a GP, before he established himself in general-practice in Kirkintilloch for the remainder of his career.

Alec was an exceptional doctor; each day before his morning clinic he conducted rounds, supervising the care of the chronic young who became long-term and elderly patients; he showed great care and empathy in his practice, conducted housecalls at all hours, and also supported his patients in dealing with the local authorities. His greatest joy was delivering babies at home, and then taking medical care of these children as they grew. Many young doctors trained with Alec and his knowledge, wide experience and common sense made a huge impact on them.

Alec loved gardening and restoring their holiday home on the Isle of Arran. In his retirement he took painting classes at the Glasgow School of Art. Alec was an extremely generous, highly principled doctor who provided the highest quality of care to generations of Kirkintilloch citizens and surrounding areas. A much-loved family man, he is survived by Cath, his children Fiona, Craig, and Alistair and seven grandchildren. Eason and McDougall family contributions

Malcolm Dudley Hillier

(1949-55) Malcolm’s life was one of creativity and joy which he instilled in everything he accomplished so effortlessly.

Born in Somerset, he spent his early life in Richmond, Surrey. Aged 11, he began acting in the long-running BBC radio serial, ‘Jennings at School’, in which he played Jennings. In his teenage years, he acted in numerous Shakespeare productions.

At St Paul’s, he eschewed the then popular boxing curriculum to train as a pianist and entered the Guildhall School of Music to achieve distinction and concert pianist standard. A talented lyricist, he wrote (with the Hollywood film composer, John Scott) librettos for opera, pop songs, advertising slogans and television programmes, such as the much-lauded Jacques Cousteau series.

At that time, he entered advertising as head of television for the prestigious firm, Benson’s; he commissioned films from such later famed directors as Ridley Scott, Hugh Hudson and Ken Russell.

He then changed direction and established a garden design and florist business. He created gardens in London, the countryside (in Dorset he built the largest maze in Britain: 2½ miles of box hedging), the Caribbean and south of France. He started writing books, first on dried flowers (it sold a million copies and has never been out of print) and eventually sold over four million books worldwide, which were translated into over ten languages.

Latterly, he wrote cookery books and lectured in America and the UK as well as entertaining weekly at his Chelsea homes (first Turner’s house then Whistler’s , Cheyne Walk), where he established a world-famous garden. He also bought a mountain in the Caribbean where he gardened, made furniture, wrote poetry and photographed the flora and fauna, leading to successful exhibitions in London and New York. He was an accomplished ceramicist and devised his own glazes.

He passed away peacefully aged 85 at his riverside home in Kew and is survived by his partner of thirty years, Rodney Engen. Rodney Engen

William (Billy) N J Howard

Headmaster, Colet Court 1973-1992 Billy Howard, one of Colet Court's longest serving Headmasters, has died aged 89. Mr Howard took up his post in April 1973, just a few years after the school moved to its current home in Barnes. The new site was still something of a "work in progress", modern buildings, but no science labs for Coletines and pupils still being bussed to Osterley for their sports activities as the grounds were not yet finished. By the time of his retirement in 1992 there was a new science building and sports were played on site.

Educated at Winchester and New College Oxford, Mr Howard went straight into teaching and was already a headmaster of a typical rural prep school by the age of 28. Taking on such an outstanding and much bigger, urban school was a very different proposition but one that he and his wife, Liz, felt ready for.

Colet Court was already a centre of excellence, not only academically but also in the wider areas of music, drama and sport. What Mr Howard brought to the school was an energetic, somewhat less stuffy, hands-on approach. Quickly getting to know the boys, the staff and the much more pro-active and ambitious cohort of parents was key. He was omnipresent, dropping in on lessons unannounced to observe teaching, eating lunch in the canteen with the boys, teaching scripture to the younger forms and, with Liz by his side, standing on the touchlines of matches and always available to greet parents at concerts, plays and other school events.

He served on the committee of IAPS and took his wealth of experience into retirement as an inspector and Governor of several schools, some run by excolleagues. Retiring to the New Forest allowed more time to pursue his other interests, primarily sailing and gardening. He continued to take an immense interest in the lives and progress of all of his former pupils and staff. Anna Gualtieri, Daughter and Old Paulina

David H P Jackson

(1950-54) Dad was born in Norfolk in 1937. After the war, the family moved to London. He was awarded a scholarship to St Paul's School and was confirmed in the crypt at St Paul's Cathedral. At St Paul's, he learnt to play the violin, developed his love of classical music, and joined the school’s Boy Scout Troop. After school, Dad completed his National Service in the Army and then studied Electrical Engineering at London University. He was involved extensively in designing radar installations.

In 1964, he and Mum, Lynda Mogford, met while out riding. In due course they married and, in 1968, moved to South Africa, where Dad first worked for Fuchs Electronics and then at the Chamber of Mines of South Africa.

My brother, Lester, and I were born and raised in South Africa and, since Dad had been a Boy Scout and Mum a Girl Guide, we joined the Cubs and later the Scouts. This was to become the overriding passion and family activity throughout our youth. Dad was in his element, drawing on his own experiences to help us with our advancements.

As we grew up, he taught us about attention to detail and the importance of proper communication and treating people politely, with dignity and respect.

In 1997, Dad retired as an Assistant Director of the Chamber of Mines. He and Mum moved to Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal to enjoy the climate and the countryside. He enjoyed nature and the outdoors, and loved animals. Dad was an avid photographer from the age of 15; his passion was evident by the scattering of classic cameras all around the house. He also loved reading, with a particular fondness for historical, factual and technical books.

Dad will be remembered as a loving, caring and compassionate person who always wanted the best for his family. We thank him for what he has done for our families and we celebrate a life well lived. Paul Jackson

Brenda King

Matron, School House 1990-2002 Brenda was appointed Matron of School House by Ben Taylor in 1990, her two previous appointments having been at The Royal School, Haslemere and Kings Bruton, Somerset.

When Jane and I took over the House in 1992, Brenda was a tower of strength and her experience invaluable in helping us to settle in. She knew and understood the boys, and could always advise on “the right thing” to do. Her wisdom, good humour and experience were invariably helpful on so many matters.

She had the respect of the boys and all the House staff. She handled, sometimes challenging, situations with a firm grasp, a perceptive twinkle and always with total honesty and integrity.

She regularly went above and beyond the call of duty. Douglas Cairns, our first House Tutor, recalls that Brenda, unhappy with aspects of the external laundry service, washed and ironed some 50 pillow cases a week for the boys.

Jet, her lovely black Labrador, was her constant companion and an important member of the House.

Brenda loved cooking and enjoyed visiting exclusive cookery shops all over London to buy ingredients for our splendid termly House staff dinners. She set a high bar and the dinner parties became increasingly sophisticated.

All of the staff and boys owe Brenda a tremendous amount for the immeasurable and unstinting help that she gave us all.

She retired to Somerset in 2002 at the age of 70 but, sadly, developed dementia and lived out her final years in a care home. Gordon Miller

John M MacDougall

(1945-50) John was born in Harrow, to Donald MacDougall, a banker and former officer of the Seaforth Highlanders and Dr Christine MacRae MacDougall. John and his sister Zeller (who attended St Paul’s Girls’ School) were evacuated to their grandparents in Scotland in 1940 and attended a local primary school there. My father remembered getting sent home early one day as the mine destroyer HMS Port Napier had caught fire, eventually exploding in the nearby loch. The remains can still be seen at low tide to this day.

Returning to London, a life-long passion of sport developed at St Paul’s. John loved rugby, rowing, boxing and cricket. A prize-winning oar from Henley is still in the family possession. After St Paul’s, a stint of National Service was required before starting a course in medicine. This was not to be his profession, though, and eventually John trained as an accountant. He was a member of the London Scottish Rugby Club – player and enthusiastic supporter – and also attended various Caledonian Societies in London. It was here that he met his future wife, Anne.

In the early 1980s he returned to his grandfather’s house in Scotland to live, bringing his wife and children, and set up his own business. He was an active member of the community and was treasurer for many local clubs and the local Free Church. He was instrumental in raising funds for the Kinlochshiel Shinty Club, enabling the purchase and development of a new pitch. This culminated in 2021 with the club winning the Camanachd and MacTavish cups.

Although ill health hampered him latterly, he was still a keen follower of sport on television and loved to hear how his grandchildren were getting on in their chosen careers. He passed away December 2021 with family by his side, just short of his 90th birthday.

He was married to Anne for 60 years and is survived by her, his sons Donald and Sandy, daughter Eleanor and five grandchildren. Eleanor Gallacher

Frank G (Gordon) Maunder

(1948-54) Gordon Maunder was born in Hong Kong in 1935. From the ages of six to ten, he was imprisoned in Camp Stanley together with his mother and two younger brothers.

Following their release, he went to St Paul’s School as a boarder and became Captain of School. He played rugby (1st XV Captain, 1951) and rowed to a high standard; he sustained a passion for both sports throughout his life.

After school, he served two years’ National Service in the British Army, training at Mons Officer Cadet School then serving in Hong Kong.

He then read history at Christ’s College, Cambridge. Here, he slept in John Milton’s room and discovered a passion for poetry. He went straight into the Christ’s 1st VIII and was Captain of Boats in 1958/59, the year the college won the Michell Cup.

He subsequently worked for Shell in Japan, where he learned to climb and ski, and learned fluent Japanese in a year. He joined the British Olympic coaching team as an interpreter at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, and took part in the athletes’ parade.

Gordon then studied at London Business School and started a successful career as a consultant in London, eventually opening an office in Milan for Urwick, Orr and Partners. When they were bought out by Price Waterhouse, Gordon was made a Partner; his office eventually became the Mediterranean HQ for PW.

He travelled extensively and enjoyed skiing and climbing in the Lake District, Scotland and Austria, then Zermatt, where he met Suzanne who was to become his wife in 1970.

Gordon moved to Switzerland,started a family and built a house in the southern Alps. Following retirement, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Despite his condition, he enjoyed running and cross country skiing into a surprisingly old age and was in his garden every day.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Suzanne, daughter Frances, son Andrew, and granddaughter Eleni. Gordon’s family and friends

Christopher Middleton

(1967-71) Chris Middleton will be fondly remembered by his contemporaries.

Chris grew up in Ealing. His elder brother Nigel was also a Pauline. Chris won a scholarship to St Paul’s, started in the Remove, and entered the Classics VIIIth Form. He was an active sportsman, a successful opening bowler, believed to have been the youngest ever member of the First XI. He also enjoyed music and drama, and successfully took the lead role in a school production of Zigger Zagger. Chris was known among his contemporaries for his lively sense of humour, and his gift for witty insight and observation.

Chris won an Exhibition to Trinity College, Cambridge. Then he made his career as a freelance journalist, writing for many publications, in particular he spent over 25 years writing for the Daily Telegraph. His work included the “Modern Manners” column of social commentary (some published in his book “Behave”). Other regular subjects were travel and property. Chris was named Property Writer of the Year in the 2005 Press Awards.

Chris also co-wrote and co-performed comedy at the Edinburgh Festival, and helped to create a BBC children’s television series, Space Vets. His writing was done in his office in the garden shed at home in Wimbledon.

Chris married Sarah, an actress, and they have three children, Julia, Eleanor, and Charles, who speak appreciatively of Chris’ fatherly devotion.

One lifelong passion from boyhood was Brentford Football Club. Another was music, especially the guitar. Another was travel: Chris made several adventurous overland journeys with friends in the 70s and 80s.

Very sadly, Chris was diagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia in 2017, and this increasingly affected his last few years. He died on 20th April 2022.

Chris will be remembered as a friendly, lively, and inspiring presence for those around him, as someone who lived life to the full, and strove to enable others to do the same. Chris’s family and friends