Announcements

Peter Bainbridge very sadly died on 15^th October 2023, at the age of 76. He had a bad fall, from which he died suddenly and unexpectedly.

His funeral service was held in Exeter on 10^th November, conducted by his two brothers, David and  Richard, both retired clergy and both OMs

He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Katherine, his three sons Sam, Luke and Ben, his nine grandchildren, and his sister Gillian, as well as his two brothers

Peter was born in London, the third of 4 children, when our Father was Vicar of St Matthew’s Church, Bayswater.  The family then moved to Muswell Hill, where our Father was Vicar of St James’s Church.

Peter was a border at Monkton Combe School from 1960-64.  It was in Muswell Hill that he met Katherine, whose family  were members of St James’s Church.  After leaving school he went as a volunteer to Bechuanaland (now Botswana) to help with famine relief, and then found himself at the age of 18 helping to organise their first ever local government elections.

Katherine and Peter both studied at St. John’s College, Durham, then married in 1970.

Peter had various jobs in education – he was Director of Education in Tyne and Wear, and then worked as an Inspector for the Higher Education Funding Council in the South West.

After retirement he and Katherine lived in the small village of Stockleigh Pomeroy, in Devon, where he continued to be active in the local church and in service to the community – in U3A, as a volunteer Coastguard, and with Refugee Support Devon.   He enjoyed sailing, golf and ‘fixing stuff’.  He had a great sense of humour, and was meticulous in his filing.  For example he joked that, knowing John 14:2 says “In my Father’s house are many rooms” he said he would ask when he got there if there was a spare room for him to use as a study!

He will be greatly missed by so many friends, as well as family.

(Written by Gillian, David, and Richard, Peter’s sister and brothers)

Michael and Charlotte married in Paphos, Cyprus, on 10th October 2023. They are pictured with baby Matilda.

Michael's brother Piers (OM 09) was best man.

Brian Crooks 27th October 1948 - 19th June 2023

Having attended the Park School in Bath, Brian moved onto Monkton in the Winter term of 1962. A very keen sportsman he took up rowing and rugger. He was a natural oarsman in both sculls and VIIIs, participating in many regattas in Colts and 2nd VIII crews, being selected for the 1st VIII at the age of 16. He also represented the school in Colts and 2nd XV rugby. Leaving Monkton in 1965 to take A levels at the Bath Technical College he joined Bath Rugby and captained Bath Colts at the age of 17. During this period, he was selected to play for South West Schoolboys as wing forward and went on tour to West Germany. Playing senior rugby for Bath in 1968 he was selected for the 2nd XV on a regular basis and also was picked for Bath 1st XV on a few occasions under the watchful eye of Peter Sibley (Hon OM ).

Brian declined university offers, instead going into industry joining E, S & A Robinson in Bristol embarking on a lifetime in flexible packaging. Having trained in Bristol he moved to Birmingham and within a few years was asked to join a " start up " packaging business in Worcester as a junior director. This company grew quickly, eventually becoming part of British Polythene and Brian, being part of the senior management team, was taken to many countries around the world. He married Patricia Carey in 1972. Brian maintained his interest in many sports throughout his life, and was a keen fisherman for many years. His wife Pat died in 2006. They are survived by their two daughters Nichola and Paula.

Louis Crooks

John was born on St. Patrick’s Day, the 17" March 1935, to Ruth and Robert Hunter, a younger brother to Bob. Shortly after John’s birth the family moved to Marsh Gibbon and in due time he attended Bloxham Primary school. In 1947 the family moved to Watergate Farm and John went on to Monkton Coombe, a boys Public school near Bath.

John was a good scholar and probably could have been an excellent one if he hadn’t been distracted by sport, especially athletics and tennis, which he did excel in. At Monkton John made many good friends, two boys in particular who went on to become lifelong friends, Tony Bull and Andy Wildish, The Three Musketeers although someone in later life dubbed them the Three Stooges!

On leaving Monkton John did his Articles in Chartered Accountancy and joined his Father’s firm, Rawlingson & Hunter. He travelled extensively in the course of his work, especially to Switzerland Where he managed to find time to improve his already impressive skiing prowess. John did love his Sport.

Towards the end of the 50s John accepted an invitation from Her Majesty to join her Armed Forces, In other words...National Service. The Royal Artillery was his choice of Regiment and after basic training they were posted to Germany, to join the British Army on the Rhine. Here John learnt to drive a tank took part in various exercises.

On one such exercise, Lt. Hunter was in charge of a number of tanks which he had to take to a particular map co-ordinate where he was to meet with other detachments of troops his orders being to shell a strategic target thus enabling said troops to take the supposed strategic position. John and his tanks duly arrived at the meeting point and started to calibrate the guns to reach the target. At this point John is slightly puzzled because nobody else has turned up....no soldiers, no observers, nothing. Also the countryside was remarkably unscarred for an area where manoeuvres were regularly carried out. The time for John’s tanks to unleash their live ammunition was fast approaching...What should he do? He then surveyed the Target, a rather charming village...a rather charming populated village! More consulting of maps and hasty calls to base, thus breaking radio silence, it was ascertained that they were nowhere near where they were meant to be... they were NOT to flatten a German village with live tank shells and as the whole exercise had to be called off, would they please return to Headquarters. I don’t think that last request was quite as polite as that. Back at HQ John endured a rather one sided conversation with his Commanding Officer beginning with “ HUNTER, I’m going to shoot you and then I’m going to shoot myself’....luckily neither of these threats were carried out.

In spite of this slight hiccup John, enjoyed himself in the Army and when his term of National Service was up, he signed on for a further year....and the reason for this was...SKIING!! In 1962 there was a hotly contended Inter services Skiing Championships. John the demon downhill racer was instrumental in winning The Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent Cup for his Regiment...so his extra year in the Army was well spent. He made many good friends who he still met up with for yearly reunions. John valued his friends.

After the Army, John joined his Mother’s Family firm of Strand Electric in London. They were a pioneering Stage lighting company and so John’s interest in the theatre was ignited. When the company was taken over by the Rank Organisation in the 70s it gave John the opportunity to pursue his interest in art and he opened a Gallery called The Circle specialising in mainly 20" Century art.

In 1980 John met Pauline through mutual friends who thought they would be a good match and how right they were. They married in 1984, on a beautiful sunny June day and the reception was held at Watergate Farm. The gardens looked wonderful, it was a very joyful occasion.

At this time John’s parents had gone to live in Switzerland so the newly married Hunters split their time between Watergate and London... Pauline was a successful fashion Model and John ran his Gallery. However, the Farm was demanding more and more of his attention so John sold the Gallery and concentrated on Watergate. In 1985 he laid the foundations for Watergate Holsteins, a prize winning Dairy herd, which he and his Dairy Manager continued to improve over the next decade.

But come the mid 90s dairy farming was becoming a financial challenge and so sadly John decided to sell the herd and over the next few years it was dispersed. In 1987 John bought Caversfield House. It made sense for the Dairy Manager to be on site to supervise the the herd so he moved into the farmhouse at Watergate and John and Pauline moved into Caversfield.

The 80s and 90s were a busy time for the Hunters. In 1981, John still a keen athlete, competed in the inaugural London Marathon. He went on to run in 4 more; Athens, New York, Paris and again in London. In 1985 John inherited Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford, Ireland. It was in some need of renovation so this took place in 1986. But they soon found out that running an hotel in Ireland from England was akin to herding cats, no sooner had one problem been solved then others appeared in numerous other directions and in spite of fortnightly problem-solving trips to Ferrycarrig it was sold in 1990.

Also in the late 80s John becamea Liberal District Councillor for the Fringford Ward He was a hard working and popular member of the council, being re-elected many times. After 17 years of service he decided to retire, much to the regret of his fellow council members.

In the late 90s John bought a very stylish flat in Butlers Wharf, it had belonged to Terrance Conran of Habitat frame, and from there John and Pauline were able to indulge their love of theatre, ballet and opera with frequent visits to The Globe, the Donmar Warehouse and The Royal Opera House. These visits were often shared with friends, they were kind and generous hosts.

At this time Watergate Farmhouse had been empty for some years and John had to decide whether to sell it and live in Caversfield House, or sell Caversfield and totally remodel Watergate. Watergate won.

With the assistance of some very visionary Architects, the rebirth of Watergate was instigated. One of the barns was converted into a temporary home for John and Pauline and they moved there in 2002. As with most building projects there were many delays due to planning, bats, great Crested Newts, etc. But in 2012 building started in earnest and was completed in 2014... the result was breath taking.

John realised that farmers had a responsibility to look after the countryside and that making room for wildlife alongside crops and livestock could be of great benefit to the health of the land so at Watergate he created a haven for nature with woodlands, hedgerows and stunning wildflower meadows which surround their beautiful home.

John loved to include his many friends in the most important milestones of his life....and we love him for it. To mention 2....in 2007 there was a memorable trip to Venice to celebrate a special birthday for Pauline, the sun shone and we all had a magical time and then in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee we were treated to a wonderful weekend in London and it was even arranged for the Queen’s Barge to be moored opposite the Butlers Wharf flat!!... so we had a grandstand view of the flotilla!

John was a loyal friend, a kind and gentle man.

John died on the 29^th October 2022

John lived all his life in the Thames Valley in Reading and Pangbourne.  He attended Reading School and then moved to Monkton Combe.  Next he spent two years serving Her Majesty across the sea, as he liked to call it, meaning the Isle of Wight!

After this he joined his family's shoe firm where he contributed years of diligent, meticulous and caring service and finally became its Chairman.  He was involved in many aspects of the retail trade where he was highly respected and this led to him being presented with the Member of the British Empire award. 

He was married to Ruth for thirty nine happy years and they had three children, Jacqui, Jennie and Jo

John spent nearly thirty years as a valued Justice of the Peace, and also gave four years to undertake administration for 'Interserve Great Britain and Ireland', which is concerned with holistic Christian Ministry. 

He married Margie and they had their twentieth wedding anniversary two days before he left for heaven. 

He enjoyed playing golf, watching sport, especially rugby and football, politics, and classical music, particularly by Elgar and Beethoven.

The one thing that shone through all his life was his deep faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ

John died on the 2nd March 2022

Oliver Burnham, who died in December, gave so much to the school and embodied Monkton’s unique ethos.

We are sad to announce that Thomas Matovu passed away on the 2nd August 2023.

William (Bill) John Maurice Fitzgerald Collis (OM 1970) sadly passed away aged 70 in July 2023. The son of OM Richard Collis, he attended both Junior and Senior from 1962 to 1970. During his time at Monkton, Bill was part of the first group of students to study computer programming. Their teacher, Julian Bewick, would take the punch cards which they had produced up to the University to run them on their computers (as the School did not have any) and would then return with the result. Bill was in School House and was House Prefect. He was in the 1^st VIII (Cross Country).

On graduation from Balliol College, Oxford where he studied Biochemistry, Bill took a lab job at St Thomas’ Hospital but he was drawn to Europe and soon moved to Italy where he met his future wife, Elsa. They had two sons, Robert and Leonardo. For many years he worked as a computer programmer whilst developing an increasing interest in nuclear physics. This culminated in the foundation of The International Society for Condensed Matter Nuclear Science in 2003.

John Charles Brace,  possibly our oldest surviving alumni, passed away at his home in Brantford, Ontario on Friday 7th July 2023.  

Born 21 September 1919, he entered MCJS in 1932 and joined his older brother William Lloyd Brace at MCS in 1933.  He left in 1938 and had a distinguished medical career, qualifying from St Mary’s Paddington before working as a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecological at the North Middlesex Hospital, London. Upon retirement, John emigrated to Canada; his mainstay - apart from his wife and family - was the strength of his faith. 

Nick Hungerford, entrepreneur and founder of Nutmeg, and more recently founder of charity Elizabeth's Smile, passed away on 6th July 2023. Nick left Monkton in 1998 and remained fond of the School. 

Public obituaries can be found here:

The Guardian

BBC

John was one of the oldest surviving OMs - and probably one of the the last to have been at Monkton pre World War Two - until his death at the age of 101 on 5th July.

After the war, John went to Fitzwilliam, Cambridge where he was President of the CICCIU.  He was priested in 1946 and, among his parishes, he served in London at St Cuthbert's, Chitts Hill and at St George's, Holborn, the latter of which had Great Ormond Street in its parish. 

John had very fond memories of his time at Monkton and loved to revisit, particularly when his nephew, James Sertin, became houseparent of his old house Eddystone over 70 years after he had left.  He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and two children, Sophie and Daniel, and was also a much loved uncle, grandfather and great grandfather.  .

His nephew, James, interviewed him as part of the D Day 75th anniversary celebrations and this conversation can be found in Episode 7 here.

Sheila attended Clarendon in the 1930s when the school was based in Malvern.  Her brother Gordon (Don) Davidson attended Monkton as did her cousins the MacLachlans including the famous fighter pilot James who is memorialised in the Old Hall.  

When asked a few years ago what memory of Clarendon had stuck with her most Sheila replied:

"There are many; maybe climbing the Beacon in Malvern on Easter Day before breakfast. Maybe Scriptures lessons with Miss Swain (I still have her notes). Maybe an Easter visit to Eastnor Castle gardens to pick wild daffodils to be sent to Bethnal Green Mission.  Also a week studying architecture in my last term at school when we visited Malvern Priory, Hereford Cathedral, Warwick Castle etc. Basic lessons learnt that week have been a blessing all through my life".

After being at Clarendon, Shiels studied medicine at Glasgow University and after qualifying and specialising in midwifery and gynaecology she went to East Africa where she served in all three territories, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya for almost 20years. First of all under a government agency then with CMS and latterly with a group of Christian doctors in private practise in Nairobi, Kenya.  She and Arthur married in 1960 having met in Tanzania.  They came home to Reigate in Surrey and later moved to the North Cotswolds in 1987 where they remained. In both places they were actively involved in a Christian Evangelical church. 

Sheila I paid her first visit to Monkton Combe School in 2018 for the reunion for Clarendon’s 125^th anniversay where she had the pleasure of meeting Molly Spear (nee Orr-Ewing) after a great many years. In 2020 Sheila and her husband Author visited Monkton between lock downs. Arthur had celebrated his 90th birthday that year and they had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. 

This photograph was taken on Sheila's 100th birthday just after she had finished reading the lesson in her church. 

Anthony and Lottie married at Boconnoc House, Cornwall in May.  OMs present were:  Alice Cass née Brawn OM ‘02- Maid of Honour, Jonty Brawn OM ‘11 Matthew Paynter OM ‘10 - Master of Ceremonies, Luke Paynter OM ‘12, Jono Paynter OM ‘06, Dan Paynter OM ‘08, Tim Alexander-Dann OM ‘78, Chris Dann OM ‘72, Charlotte Dann OM ‘11, Ed Vickers OM ‘10, Abby Vickers née Wynn OM ‘12, Henry Askew-Page OM ‘10, Alice Askew-Page née Allum OM ‘09, Joshua Green OM ‘10, Charlie Adams OM ‘10, William Thomas OM ‘79 - Usher, Will Graves OM ‘10

Tony began teaching in Keighley, Yorkshire then the next ten years took him to Malawi, Nigeria (where he met his wife Connie) and Uganda.  In 1971 he returned to work at Loughborough Grammar School until his retirement.  He taught Classics and History taking expeditions to WW1 battlefields and 13 visits to Russia.  All but the first included girls from Loughborough High School. Other school activities included the Christian Union and athletics. He was also involved in church work in Loughborough and sang for the Leicester Philharmonic choir.

On retirement he went with Volunteer Services Overseas to Eritrea, but war resumed with Ethiopia so the stay was short.

Returning to Great Britain via Cairo Tony ‘volunteered’ his wife to manage the Episcopal guest house for the Church in Egypt.  Two years spent there where Tony did prison visiting and refugee work.

In 1999 Tony and Connie settled in Tewksbury where prison visiting continued and so did refugee work, along with singing for Tewkesbury Choral Society, working with Churches together, ‘Open the Book’ (acting Bible stories in primary school assemblies), writing poetry, painting and drawing.

Tony had a massive stroke on 26^th March but did not die until 21^st April two days short of his 88^th birthday.

On hearing of his death our Syrian refugee Osama a devout Muslim said “He was a good person.  May he rest in peace, praying for Tony”

Tony was a devoted father and father in law. 

Richard and Hazel Meredith will remember Tony and Connie for  their generous hospitality and Tony - the  'Bard of Tewkesbury'  as he became known to them - for his eagerly awaited poems with their perceptive insights inspired by his Christian faith.

Professor Andrew Sims – Former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists sadly passed away last year although a memorial service was held more recently.  An obituary was published in the Times and can be read here. 

Below is an article written by Andrew for an OM publication. 

“After leaving Monkton in 1957 I went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge to read medicine and then on to Westminster Hospital for my clinical training. I had been interested in the mind and what makes it tick since reading Carl Jung in the school Library when I should have been working for A levels! After qualifying I worked in internal medicine for a time before joining an excellent training scheme for psychiatry in Manchester. I became interested in clinical research and, after a few years as a consultant psychiatrist in a large mental hospital, I transferred to academic posts, first in Birmingham and then in Leeds where I was professor of psychiatry until 2000.

Throughout my career in psychiatry I have had two over-riding research involvements. Most of my initial research was on the epidemiology, that is the enumeration of a condition in a defined population, of the neurotic disorders, which are the most frequent of psychiatric illnesses. My other long-term interest has been in descriptive psychopathology: that is studying mental illness from the patient’s own subjective description. This is fundamental for teaching psychiatrists how to do their job, and my book, Symptoms in the Mind, remains the standard text in British-influenced countries for post-graduate trainees through its four editions.

I was a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) from its inception in 1971, replacing a previous organisation that had existed since 1841. With others, I believed that without a strong and independent body, the speciality could not develop to its potential. I became Dean of the College in 1987, in this post being responsible for post-graduate training in psychiatry in the United Kingdom and Ireland, management of the examination for membership of the College and conducting inspection of training facilities throughout the country. There was also involvement with training in other countries. It was a time of expansion of training and the Dean’s was a busy but very enjoyable job.

“Religious belief, far from harming patients, results in significant 

short and long-term benefits in mental and physical health”

I was elected President of the RCPsych in 1990 for three years. This was an extremely demanding and varied post. I had to represent psychiatry to the rest of the medical establishment, to the Department of Health and to ministers and government – not easy at a time when the party in power were trying to cut costs drastically! Working with other psychiatrists in Britain, Ireland and throughout the world was enjoyable and rewarding. Some of the activities I undertook then have only born fruit many years later – sometimes one can shift the equilibrium a little, for example with government, in a way that brings benefits in years to come.

I left Monkton Combe at 18 as an avowed atheist – I have always had problems with conforming! By the grace of God and through the prayers of others I became a Christian before going up to Cambridge whilst labouring in a cheese factory, reading GM Trevelyan’s English Social History in my lunch breaks! In the 1960s and 70s the attitude of senior psychiatrists towards religion, and especially Christianity, was often hostile, seeing beliefs of patients as evidence of being guilt-ridden and lacking clear convictions in life, and belief of doctors as being ‘unscientific’. I am glad to say that the climate has changed markedly and now spiritual aspects are increasingly seen as important within the psychiatric establishment.

Last year I had a book published: Is Faith Delusion? (2009: Continuum) drawing together my beliefs as a Christian and my knowledge as a psychiatrist. In this I have written that delusion has become a psychiatric word with a specific meaning and within any precise definition of delusion faith is not and cannot be regarded as delusional. I also draw out some of the massive evidence to show that religious belief, far from harming patients, results in significant short and long-term benefits in mental and physical health. As a psychiatrist, I have learnt from my believing patients and I hope the book will help them with the dual stigma they face: being mentally ill in a world that discriminates against them and being a Christian in a resolutely secular society.

I am grateful for my time at Monkton. I learnt much, mostly outside the classroom, and made some good friends. I am certainly not the same as I was when I left and I know the school has changed too – mostly for the better.”

Michael Du Boulay (2003) and fiancée Charlotte Waite have welcomed Matilda Katherine Houssemayne Du Boulay to the family. Mum and baby are healthy and well - huge congratulations!

Pat who was a science teacher at Clarendon sadly passed away recently

The Rev Anthony Cathcart died on 12th April 2023, aged 96. Much loved father to Charlie, father in law to Kate. Grandpa to Thomas and Isla and dear friend to Susan. Tony’s warmth and kindness will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Funeral service to take place in Southwark Cathedral on Friday 19th May at 1030am. For further details please contact WG Miller Funeral Directors 020 7226 3886.’

After national service Anthony became a chartered accountant before training for the ministry.  He held a number of positions including a curicy at St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe in London, Licence to officiate London Diocese St Bartholemew the Great and Cathedral Chaplain at Southward Cathedral.  He was also Managing Director of the Sunley Trust. 

Bill Persson died peacefully on 2nd April 2023, aged 95. Greatly loved husband of Ann, father of Rachel, Matthew and Adam, grandfather of many. and great-grandfather of many more. 

Bill Persson graduated from Oriel College, Oxford in 1951, trained for the Anglican ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and was ordained in 1953. He served his curacies at at Emmanuel Croydon and St John's Tunbridge Wells and was then Vicar of Christ Church, South Mimms, London, Rector of Bebington, Cheshire,  Vicar of St John's, Knutsford, Cheshire, before becoming Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster from 1982-92, and in retirement an Assistant Bishop in Bath and Wells from 1993. He also served as a member of the General Synod.

Hannah Cheater married Sam Foster on Saturday 16th July 2022. OMs present were:

Tom Cheater (2009) (pictured below - Master of ceremonies)

Alice Cheater (2009) (pictured below - bridesmaid) 

Antonia Leeb (née Hatzfeldt) (2008) (pictured below) and her daughter was a flower girl.

Sam and Hannah got married in St Mary’s church, Litton Cheney in Dorset.

Sam and Hannah live in Nairobi, Kenya where they have been for the last four years. They are both teaching and Hannah is also doing some freelance writing now, too. Any OMs are more than welcome to come and stay with the Fosters, should they find themselves in Kenya, they would love it! 

John Lyddieth sadly passed away in March

Richard Sewell attended Monkton from 1956 to 1962.  He was sent to Monkton because his grandfather E P Sewell had attended.  Richard was in School House and for the six years he attended, School won the house trophy and House rowing every year. During his time at Monkton, Richard rowed for the third VIIIs boat crew, which he captained to a successful year in '62. He was also a Sgt in the Army section of C.C.F, where he was Platoon Commander of 2 Platoon, also in '62. Richard was a good cricketer. 

After leaving Monkton Richard went on to St Andrew’s University.

Richard passed away on the 21st November 2022

Keisuke and Yuwen were married at Heron House in Manchester on the 7th November 2022. The wedding was an intimate occasion with a further celebration in the planning for next year. 

James Coussey formerly of Monkton Combe School and the Crown Prosecution Service in London passed away on the 20th November  2022

Seth Thomas married Rachel Barnes at St Mary’s Church Southampton on 19 November 2022.  There was a strong Monkton contingent present including Pete Bates who was best man, Alex Shaw, George Cooke, Sarah Denno, Simeon Lapworth, Ben Cheshire, Amma Carter and Tim and Ros Ling.

Two former OCs write about their memories of Stella Mew:

"I was very sorry to hear that Stella Mew died in Tallaght Hospital Dublin on October 5th.  She was a breath of fresh air when she came to Clarendon in the mid 1960's fresh from college, full of fun, laughter and a huge character, a wonderful English teacher who made English Lit. come alive. Her great love of W.B. Yeates even got me reading him and many years later I took myself off to find this Isle of Innisfree that started her on this love of the poet.  

I met up with Stella quite by chance in 2016. We bumped into each other just outside Dublin.  She had the same infectious laugh.  It was as if we had only left Clarendon the day before and 50 years just melted away. I took her to the Irish National Stud where we had a wonderful day together reminiscing on our Clarendon days - the little green post van with the coiled rope in the back that she managed to get Miss Swain into when she caught her in the rain and gave her a lift back to school, much to everyone's amusement; Angus Tara's puppy who grew up to frighten all the cleaning staff and of course my horse Tom who she rode and in payment left his tack somewhere I could find it when it was not my riding day! Stella left Clarendon to go and teach at Heathfield School Ascot in charge of many celebs’ children; it sounded more like St. Trinian’s. She later became Head of Rathdown School.  I heard hair-raising stories that the kids got up to there which made Clarendon look like a teddy bears’ tea party in spite of the odd army boy invasion (not that they stood a chance of catching a glimpse of us with Andy Mills around!)

I am sure many of you have tales of Stella.  I could go on all evening but enough of my memories, we would love to hear yours.

She is a Clarendon memory I won’t forget. I never saw her angry: always a smile and lots of naughty/ funny antics but then she was only a little older than her 6th formers. R.I.P Stella you were one of the best!"

"When Miss Pike retired, Stella came back to Clarendon for one or maybe two years and she was my 'Head of Department.' I loved her - that infectious sense of humour, her astonishing energy, her crazy love of dogs and horses. She frogmarched me into helping with the Ranger Guide Unit she set up - who could forget it? And she teased me mercilessly about my inability to row when every Ranger member in my form could do it effortlessly. She bullied whoever controlled the school's finances into letting her buy Helly Hansen gear for trips to the Snowdonia National Park and youth hostelling and sometimes she'd take me with her on one of her mad drives to get something - memorably to the Passport Office in Liverpool when she'd lost her passport or realised far too late that it needed renewing. On our way back, mission accomplished, we went through a wooded area at dusk. A badger appeared from nowhere right in our path. It was the first time I'd seen one in the wild and I was so excited I shrieked, 'Oh - a beaver!' Well, you can imagine, she never let me forget that and was constantly teasing me about my appalling lack of knowledge of UK wildlife. I was so sad when she left. I visited her home once when I was staying with Rosemary Harpur in Dublin, and met Stella's mother - who was quite unlike Stella - calm, ladylike, quietly spoken... We did correspond for several years. She must have been well into her eighties as I'm 75 and she was at least 10 years older than I am. RIP Stella - you will be missed."

Phyllida (nee Monroe, OM 15) and Christian Stuart are delighted to announce the arrival of Rex Adrian George on April 3^rd 2022 in St Thomas’ Hospital, London.  A nephew for Charmian (OM 18) and Audley (OM 20).

MICHAEL GEORGE COCKERHAM

September 29, 1954 – August 27, 2022

The life of Michael Cockerham, former Director of Music at Monkton Combe School and part of Chris Rogers’ Grange House team, could be summed up in just two words: ‘music’ and ‘family’.

He was not just an organist, pianist, accompanist, oboist, saxophonist, conductor, choirmaster, composer, examiner, or singer. He was all of these, and able to switch roles from one to another quite effortlessly. He was a born teacher: witty, good at nurturing talent and coaxing the very best out of people. He took as much pleasure in a student’s success as they did themselves – whether it was a nervous six-year-old or a diploma candidate giving a wonderful performance of a Beethoven sonata.

Michael was a family man par excellence, completely involved in nurturing his two daughters. A notice he put up in the kitchen read ‘Children spell love T-I-M-E’. It was a reminder to avoid letting the necessities of life overshadow what was really important – the family.

He made up catchy tunes to play on the piano for his daughters to jig along to – even before they could walk. He was also very good at putting on different voices for different characters while reading bedtime stories.

Michael was born in Leeds to Bob and Barbara Cockerham. Soon afterwards, the family moved to Solihull where his younger brother, Paul, was born.

Michael went to King Edward’s School, Birmingham, where his musical talents were swiftly recognised and nurtured by Roy Massey, the director of music and organist at Birmingham Cathedral. Michael sang in numerous choirs and played the piano, organ and oboe.

While still at school, he was awarded an Associateship of the Royal College of Music in the organ, and a Licentiateship of the Royal Academy of Music in the oboe. He then won a choral scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge, despite never having had any formal coaching as a singer. After graduation, he gained a postgraduate certificate in education from Westminster College, Oxford.

His first job, which began in September 1977, was Assistant Director of Music at Monkton Combe School. The director, Harold Jones, introduced him to music festivals at St John’s, Bathwick, where Michael met Jane.  They married in 1983 at St John’s Bathwick, and settled in Winsley, where Nicola was born in 1989 and Joanna in 1990.

Harold Jones writes:

It was a fortunate day for Monkton Combe when Michael Cockerham joined the staff of the Music department.  He was formidably qualified in organ, piano, oboe and singing and his genial personality made him a popular teacher and performer.  As well as his musical activities he took part in the general life of the school (including a memorable performance in Sound the Trumpet from Purcell's Come Ye Sons of Art) and was always willing to give extra time to a nervous or demanding student.   He ran the Chapel Choir with conspicuous flair and made it one of the leading choral ensembles in the area.   He also conducted the Symphony Orchestra and directed a number of performances of music in  various styles - including a memorable account, fully staged, of Guys and Dolls. He also took part along with other musicians from Monkton in a number of performances by Bath Opera.   He will be sadly missed, but we remember him with admiration and affection.

On Harold’s retirement, Michael had been promoted to Director of Music but, by 1992, he needed new challenges and moved to Cheltenham College, followed by Bearwood College in Berkshire.

In 1995 the family returned to Winsley after Michael was appointed Director of Music at Bath High School, later the Royal High School, Bath.

He loved teaching O and A level music, giving individual tuition on various instruments, playing sax in a jazz band, training choirs and being responsible for big end-of-term productions such as The Magic Flute, Grease and Oh! What a Lovely War. He was also organist at St Nicholas, Winsley.

In 2009 he retired – the constant vivace pace of musical life which he set at the school, had caught up with him and he felt he had given as much as he could. Michael became an examiner for Trinity College of Music, London, and revelled in travelling widely; to Scotland, the Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland, Cornwall and India.

However, the constant rounds of ‘Recorder, Grade 1’ began to irk, and so he trained to examine diploma students and found his metier. It was, he said, like listening to a recital. All he had to do was sit back, delight in the playing and concoct a few salient notes using his special ‘examinations’ fountain pen.

Michael also directed Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir from 1998 for 22 years. During this time, the choir toured cathedrals such as St David’s, Chichester, Durham and Winchester, appreciating the pleasure of creating fabulous music together in such beautiful buildings as well as filling in for services at Wells Cathedral when the main choir was on holiday.

Tragically, Michael had to resign in December 2019, when he was diagnosed with a carcinoma of his oesophagus. Bouts of chemotherapy followed, with surgery in 2020, in between episodes of Covid shutdowns. Bristol Royal Infirmary was quite magnificent. However, as time went by, scans revealed widespread metastases. He died very peacefully at home, with great dignity, quiet acceptance and deep grace, just a few weeks short of his 68th birthday. He is buried in St Nicholas, Winsley churchyard.

Brian Sherriff passed away on the 6th August 2022 aged 94.  After leaving Monkton Brian who was born into a corset-making family, ran one of the factuaries but later moved from bras to bees.  He and his wife pioneered a revolutionary 'no hat needed' beekeeping suit made out of lingeried materials. A full obituary can be read in the Daily telegraph.  

We are sorry to announce that Peter Bussell OM 1959 passed away on the 25^th June.  The family has asked that the Monkton community be notified of the funeral arrangements

FUNERAL ON MONDAY 18th JULY

11.30 ALL SAINTS CHURCH, VICTORIA ROAD, PENARTH, VALE OF GLAMORGAN

13.00 BARRY CREMATORIUM

12.00 onwards RECEPTION AT PENARTH YACHT CLUB, THE ESPLANADE, PENARTH

We are sorry to announce that John Jeffery passed away on the 1^st July 2022.  There will be two services held for him both on July 20^th

A Cremation at 10am at Salisbury crematorium and a Thanksgiving service 2.30pm at Donhead St Andrew Church, SP79EB, with refreshments afterwards.

Irene Weller has died at the age of 103.  A remarkable woman who trained as a children’s nurse at Great Ormand Street when she left Clarendon and worked her way up to sister before marrying and having children. Irene returned to nursing in the late 1950s and later worked in a nursery for the children of unmarried mothers awaiting adoption. 

Irene worked for Dorothy hospice for 35 years until she was 93 and was awarded an MBE in 2010. At aged 88 she started a widows’ support group and signed up for the Samaritans. When not caring for others, Irene enjoyed to surf something she did for 50 years still enjoying riding the waves into her 90s.

A more detailed obituary of Irene’s life can be read in the Times online

Martyn Guy (66) reports that his mother, Joan Cansdale, previously Joan Guy, and an Hon OM, sadly died on 11th April in Dorchester hospital.  She had reached the grand old age of 100; indeed she was just a month off her 101st, so she has had a good innings.  Mum was born in Surrey, trained as a children's nurse in London during the War, and met Dad, Kenneth Guy, also an OM (33), at CSSM meetings in the 40s, marrying in 1945.  Dad then returned to Monkton in that year as Assistant Bursar to A.V.Owen, taking over as Bursar in 1947 - thus following in the footsteps of his father Percy who was at Monkton as a boy in the late 1890s and as Bursar from 1927 to 1932.  Mum and Dad were initially living in Woodbine Cottages but moved to Shutecroft in 1948 where they lived for all their time at Monkton until Dad retired in 1975. 

Sisters Shirley and Barbara and myself grew up at Shutecroft, becoming part of the community of ‘staff brats’ having the run of the school during the holidays.  Mum was very much involved with school activities as a staff wife and could claim to be the first ‘house-mother' to the very first girls at Monkton in, I think, 1971.

After 28 years at Monkton, Mum and Dad retired to Weymouth, but ill health meant that Dad had very few years of that retirement.  He died in 1977.  Mum then entered into a second marriage to John Cansdale, brother of George of London Zoo fame, and therefore uncle to OMs David (63) and Richard (65). Mum continued to live at Weymouth with John, who died in 1995. For the remaining years of Mum's life she was very much involved with voluntary work and with the life of St Mary’s Church in Weymouth.  Mother was latterly in a care home in Wyke Regis until a very short illness necessitated a move into hospital at Dorchester where she died very peacefully.

The Monkton association of the family still continues to this day – Mum’s granddaughter Bex is on the teaching staff of the Prep School.

Malcolm Pearce passed away on the 17th February 2022

John Chester (often known as Frank) died on 7 April.. John left in 1954 having rowed in the First VIII for three years and went on to win an Oxford Blue.  He rowed in the men's eight at the Olympic games of 1960. 

Andrew Smith (73) married to Marya McInnes in a civil ceremony on October 2nd 2021 at Coworth Park in Ascot and a church blessing on October 16 at Christ Church, Virginia Water. Marya hails from New Zealand and they are looking forward to a further celebration in Christchurch, New Zealand in October 2022.

Gerald Coates who was a patron of Monkton for a number of years sadly passed away on Sunday 3rd April 2022.  A tribute to his life can be read here. 

Meg Hannington’s reflections on Bob’s life:  

Bob joined Monkton Combe Junior School in the Michaelmas term of 1949.  He was following in the footsteps of his father Jim Hannington and grandfather Robert.  His brothers David and Arthur (Bo) followed. Other family members who were pupils at Monkton were his uncle, Basil Barkworth and cousins, Paul, John and Peter. 

Another family connection was Rosemary Major née Hannington, Bob’s aunt who attended Clarendon School. There at the same time was Joan Campion. Her brother Peter was a contemporary of Jim, Bob’s father, at Monkton and the Campions used to stay with the Hannington family when Peter and Joan’s parents were in Egypt with the army. In the 1970s/80s they met up again in Australia and when Jim’s wife Rachel died in 1985 Jim married Joan whose husband had died some years previously.

While he was still at Monkton, Bob won an RAF scholarship to learn to fly and he gained his private pilot’s licence at Shoreham Airport.

After Bob left Monkton, he joined the RAF as an officer cadet at the RAF Technical College at Henlow in Bedfordshire. We met during this time when I was a student at the Bedford Teachers Training College. Bob’s first posting was to RAF Patrington, a radar station on the east coast of Yorkshire. He was an electrical engineer maintaining the radar equipment. This was the era of the Cold War.

After that he was given the opportunity to follow his passion for flying and trained first on fixed wing and then helicopters before a posting to Singapore where he became a flight commander on a helicopter squadron involved in search and rescue and very challenging jungle training exercises. I recollect on one such exercise in the middle of the Malaysian jungle, Bob met up with another OM! Small world!

Returning to UK, he resumed his career as an electrical engineer and retired from the RAF as a squadron leader in 1978 at the age of 38. 

At this point Bob and I with our sons Michael and Graham and emigrated to Western Australia to join Bob’s parents who had been farming there since 1969. By 1978 they had retired from farming to a property at Bullsbrook near Perth and we built out home on that property.

Then the fun really began, as far as Bob was concerned. His father Jim had worked for the Bristol Aircraft Company and following his interest in aviation he had already joined the Sports Aircraft Builders Club and experimented with building a hovercraft and an ultralight aircraft. On Bob’s arrival he ordered a Zenith Tri-Z aircraft kit and they built this 3-seater fixed wing aircraft together. Subsequently Bob built a Rotorway Exec helicopter (pictured above). During these years Bob worked in I.T. in the mining industry.

Bob’s mother Rachel died in 1985 and his father Jim died in 1990. In 1996 we relocated to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia. Some years later on his retirement Bob built another fixed wing aircraft, an RV 9A. Despite his diagnosis of Parkinson’s, he was able to complete this aircraft and pass rigorous annual flight tests and medicals that enabled him to fly it for several years. I called it the power of a passion! During this time, he was also actively involved with the committees of two local flying organisations and as the CASA approved person for issuing certificates of airworthiness for aircraft built under the experimental category. Alongside this he was a volunteer and training instructor with the local State Emergency Service which involved assisting in fighting bush fires, rescuing injured bush walkers and being an observer in aerial searches.  A busy and fulfilling life together with enjoying the company of our 5 grandchildren.

At Bob’s funeral on a glorious summer morning, he was honoured with a fly past by his fellow pilots. Truly Per Ardua Ad Astra. As our Uniting Church minister so fittingly said, “Ashes to ashes, stardust to stardust”.

What we didn’t know was that his battle was almost over and on 2nd January 2021 he died from aspirational pneumonia. Although Bob’s body was very weak,  he faced each very challenging day with courage and stoicism. We were both deeply grateful for the care and support he received from the staff and other residents at Juniper and our local Uniting Church of which Juniper homes are a part.

Timothy Riland Spenlove-Brown OM ’62 (obit) 

Tim was born in Trinidad in 1944 and moved as a baby to Peru.  He attended Monkton Combe School both Junior and Senior. Following time in the military Tim trained as a teacher and then returned to the Junior School to teach geography and sports until 1991. During this time, he was took part in an exchange with Ashbury College, Ottawa, Canada which allowed him a wonderful opportunity to explore both Canada and some of the US States and enjoy the outdoor life.

Tim loved architecture, sport and travelling and often combined more than one.

In retirement he and his wife moved to Croscombe, Somerset where he continued his interest in orienteering with twice weekly meetings, helped with sports in the village school, worked with SSAFA on various cases and was involved with the local Sustrans. He did many cycling trips with a friend including Lands’ End to Bath, London Overground, St David’s, Pembroke to Bath.  In 2008 in aid of Help for Heroes, Tim cycled the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, of which he was very proud.

One of Tim’s contemporaries reflects on his memories of Tim

David Morgan OM ’62:

“I went to MCJS when I was 11 in 1956.

I was very unhappy as I had never boarded before, and missed my parents and home comforts so much I ran away, managed to get home, but after a few hours was returned to Combe Down. Brian Morris welcomed me back, gave me tea, and didn't punish me, so unlike my previous school which was ruled by fear and the cane.

This when I first met Tim and realised that I could make some really good friends at MCJS, and life after all was NOT all bad.

We became very good friends, and he introduced me to serious athletics, a sport in which Tim was amazing, and it took one's breath away when you saw Tim hurdle.

We were both in The Undefeated 1st XV of 1957. 

We carried on our friendship at MCS. He supported my involvement in Jazz.

I was very jealous when he went to see The Rome Olympics of 1960. Even more jealous of his Braun Paxette camera, so much so I had to have one! this self portrait is taken in the mirror on The Chapel used for checking our C.C.F uniforms! That was the start of all my photography!

Then he went to Sandhurst.

We met up later, went to concerts together such as Dave Brubeck at The Forum in Bath.

We met up again with Tim and Miranda at Vic McWilliams (OM) in Hinton St. George and we sat and watched Vic playing cricket, just like all those years ago on Longmead.

When we moved to Cornwall, he and his wife Miranda introduced us to The Gurnard's Head near Zennor. It was only then I found out his stepfather was The Vicar of Zennor. 

It was as though no time had passed, friends.

Just one amusing thought, Zennor Church, St. Senara's is noted for its Mermaid's Pew End. I am reminded of a famous 1948 film about a mermaid starring Glynis Johns, as The Mermaid Miranda!

He was a gentle, compassionate, caring man. A gentleman, in the true sense of the word.

We miss him. Very much.”

Dudley Edmund Coryton Green 1936 – 2021 

Dudley was the middle son in a clerical family. Our older sister Rosemary died on New Year's Eve just over a year ago whilst our eldest brother Hugh died of a tragic illness shortly after graduating. Dudley usually moved fast - in his age group he was the Sprint Champion of the Isle Wight, no less. By the time he was a year old he had lived in three reigns. I shall be 80 next year and I have only experienced two monarchs.

The Isle of Wight in the war was uncomfortably close to Portsmouth and Southampton. The house next door to his school received a direct hit with the loss of all its inhabitants. Dudley's classmates had to take cover under their desks. When he was eight years old Dudley witnessed the largest armada in history sail past where we were living on D Day.

We three brothers all went to Ryde School, Monkton Combe (which gave generous bursaries to the sons of the clergy) and to Brasenose College, Oxford. My contemporary, Michael Palin, said BNC was like a Dr. Barnardo's Home - it had an ever open door. It is very different today.

Dudley greatly enjoyed his Oxford days. He read Greats (a demanding four year course covering Latin, Greek, Philosophy and Ancient History). As a rest cure, after that he took a Diploma in Education where he learned a lot of theory which I think he mostly ignored thereafter. By contrast in his final year he passed the exams for a Diploma in Theology, which, unusually for Oxford had a 50% failure rate that year. His tutor was, like the previous vicar of St. Martin's, a future Bishop of Salisbury, John Austin Baker.

We thought Dudley was in danger of becoming a perpetual student but in 1960 he started a 35 year career at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School teaching Latin and RE. Latterly a lot bf his time was spent in administration - the school had a large open access Vlth form. I think Dudley was a good teacher and partly because he himself never totally grew up. He had a boyish enthusiasm you usually heard him, before you saw him.

He spent a lot of time leading the Tramps. This club introduced many teenagers to the delights of the Dales. The Lakes, Snowdonia and the Scottish Highlands. There were hairy moments as when a lad decided to display symptoms of appendicitis when he was 2,000 feet up a mountain. Fortunately a local Doctor was with the party that day. One holiday Dudley and two companions had to be rescued by helicopter when there were stranded on a ledge near the summit of Mt. Blanc. 

Dudley may have embraced change with his head but seldom, I think, with his heart. He approved of Latin, Grammar Schools, The Prayer Book, Choral Music, the MCC, and Hampshire's progress or otherwise, in the County Championship. As Patrick Bronte observed, 'The old ways are the best.'

The proximity of Clitheroe to Haworth enabled Dudley to have an interest (bordering on an obsession) with the Bronte's. He was Chairman of the Bronte Society in its Centenary Year 1993. Asa Briggs wrote the foreword to Dudley's edition of Patrick Bronte's letters whilst Rowan Williams introduced Dudley's biography of Patrick. His interest in mountaineering led to a biography of Mallory of Everest fame. Mr. Mallory Jr. thought it was the best of the six biographies of his father which he had read. Dudley also wrote the history of his school (one of my favourites) and a book about Hadrian's Wall. If you want to keep his memory alive, please read his books - I can help you locate them.

In retirement Dudley enjoyed his visits to Charterhouse. Although he had gone native up North, he decided to pocket his pride and to come and live here. Although he continued to miss the wide open spaces North of Watford. He came to Chair our Reading Group. Unlike some retired teachers he let others have their say! Charterhouse looked after him well during his difficult time during his last two years.

I have left till last the most important factor of all. Throughout his life he was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He loved the worship of Blackburn Cathedral where, like St. Martin's, a fine musical tradition is combined with a pioneering outreach to the community. I am corresponding with the Dean of Blackburn and it seems likely that in addition to an existing service of Choral Evensong (possibly in May) there will be an added thanksgiving for Dudley's life and work. Dudley also much appreciated the regular round of worship in this chapel.

Latterly, when his health allowed, he attended St. Martin's. His special contribution was to help sort out and collate the archives there. The clergy at St. Martin's were a constant support in Dudley's last few days, although these clashed with the hectic pre-Christmas period at the Church.

As late as last June Dudley renewed his passport. When. I tried (I hope tactfully) to query whether this was a good idea, Dudley indignantly replied that he still wanted to see other countries. The passport was never used, but it is the Christian hope that he now sees that other country we've heard of long ago all of whose ways are ways of righteousness and all her paths are peace.

God bless you Dudley, I shall never forget you.

Stephen Green OM '62