Colin died in October 2022 at the age of 94.  He was a remarkable man – a true gentleman, a loyal and devoted husband, a tremendous father, an eloquent conversationalist with a great sense of humour, a Bristol City supporter and a life-long Cathedralian.  He attended his last annual Cathedralian dinner in 2019

Born in July 1928, he lived in Long Ashton where his father ran a local grocer’s shop, Panes Bros, with his brother. It was a full house as the two families lived together. Though Colin’s childhood was generally a happy one he suffered the death of his sister Suzanne in 1932 and brother Elton (part of Bomber Command) in 1941.

Colin’s older brothers, John and Elton, attended Bristol Cathedral School in the 1930s. His sister, Betty, met her future husband, Eric Craddy (a scholarship chorister), on one of the school sports days.  So, Colin was destined to attend there too which he did from 1940-1946, where he formed some of his earliest friendships, including Ron Sims. In September 1940, 4 days after they started there, a bomb landed on the science block just after the class had left the area and gone to the playground.  A German plane flying over Bristol (taking photos to assess the damage caused by a raid the night before) unloaded its bombs before heading home. One high-explosive bomb landed in the Lower Quad and demolished a building.  There had been a PE class in the Quad moments before, but the boys had persuaded the teacher to let them go early and they were all in the tuck shop.  The only casualty was the Headmaster, Rev Watts, who was slightly wounded and rather shocked.  The pupils got 3 weeks off school, not realising the gravity of the situation.

Colin did his national service from 1947 to 1949. He was billeted to Glasgow for part of it which, for a poorly travelled 19-year-old Somerset lad, he later described as ‘like landing on another planet’.  On completing his national service, he got a job with the Civil Service, where he worked in the Departments of Transport and Environment until he retired in 1988.

In 1955, Colin’s brother John introduced him to a secretary who was working at Llewellyn’s Engineering Company, which he ran. This young lady was 19 year old Gillian Wookey. After two years of courtship, they were married in June 1957. In 1959, they had their first child, Jackie, followed by Chris in 1961. In 1962, Colin’s work in the Civil Service took him to Exeter, where Richard was born in June 1966. In 1969, they moved to Swansea, eventually leaving to take up a position in Bristol.  Richard was still in school and completed his education at Colin’s alma mater, Bristol Cathedral School.

Some words from Ron Sims, who met Colin at school and was a lifelong friend.

Colin and I were lifelong friends and first met in September 1940 when we both joined the Cathedral School.  We became friends right away.  Both Colin’s father and my father were grocers.  Colin's with a shop in Long Ashton and mine with one in Southville.  At the end of the first week of school three bombs landed in the playground of the Cathedral School.  One large one in the playground near Anchor Road and two small ones outside the entrance of the school hall.  A couple of lads were slightly injured with a skin injury.  Colin was just entering the hall and I was at the far end of the playground.  Fortunately, there were no other injuries.  We were all sent to the air raid shelters and as there were no serious injuries we were all allowed to go home after being told the school would be closed until further notice.  Much to the boys' delight we had three weeks holiday!

Colin and I became good friends during the rest of our time at school.  I was invited several times out to his family home in Long Ashton where I met his family.  Both his brothers, John and Elton, were also former Cathedralians.  John became a director of engineering works in Bristol.  Elton  was a navigator in a Wellington Bomber which unfortunately was shot down over Hamburg where he was killed.  Colin came into school deeply upset and in tears when the news of his brother’s death was confirmed.

We were good friends at school and Colin and I remained lifelong friends, enjoying each other’s companionship and especially meeting up at Old Cathedralians Dinners. Attached is a picture of us together at the Old Cathedralians dinner on 23 March 2019. 


 

Paul attended the school between 1977 - 1984.  Earlier this year Paul was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and despite chemotherapy his condition worsened rapidly in early November and he died on 14th November, aged 57.

Paul went to Manchester University to study English and American Literature.  After graduation, he made Manchester his home and worked for over 20 years for Manchester City Council's Housing Department, working primarily in Homelessness.  He subsequently left employment to become a full time carer to his disabled daughter.

Although he had not lived in Bristol for many years he maintained links with the city, and his partner Jill and their two children have been frequent visitors.
 

click here

Mrs Mavis John, a former member of staff at BCS and BCCS, sadly died on 11th July 2022 following a long struggle against cancer. The funeral will be held at 11 am on 4th August, St Alban’s Church, Bayswater Avenue, Bristol BS6 7NU.

Mavis John joined the staff of BCS in 1989 and taught there for over 20 years until her retirement due to ill-health.  She originally taught Latin and Classical Civilisation and, later, she set up Learning Support.

Brian Hathway (1944-1949) was born on 8^th October 1933 and passed away on 21^st May 2022 after a short illness aged 89. The funeral was held at St Peter’s Church Henleaze on Thursday 16^th June.

After attending Ashley Down School, Brian won a place at Bristol Cathedral School where he quickly was given the nickname of “Annie”, fondly named after Shakespeare’s wife. He entered into a long standing relationship with the school, Serving on Council and acting as secretary for the Old Cathedralians Society for many years and forged many lifelong friendships, regularly attending Annual Reunion Dinners and other social events.

On leaving BCS he enlisted in the RAF as part of his national service, based at St Athan in Wales. He was in the military band there, which was once inspected by the Queen, a proud moment for him. This interest in music stayed with him and he later joined a number of jazz bands as a trombonist, notably the Fire Brigade Military Band and the Arthur Parkman Big Band which played at the Grand Hotel, Bristol.

Another passion of Brian’s was sport and he enjoyed playing hockey (where he developed another nickname of Flash (due to his speed down the wing and not because of anything inappropriate). He greatly enjoyed tennis and was a member at Bristol Lawn Tennis Club where at he met Judy.

Brian and Judy married on 5^th July 1969 and had two sons, Robert and Nicholas.

He joined E S & A Robinson Ltd, printing and packaging, in Bristol and later Sharpe’s Greeting Cards as a sales representative. After a successful time with them, he took on the ownership of Coldharbour Road, Henleaze, Post Office.

Upon retiring, Brian discovered a new passion when he became a member of Henleaze Bowling Club. He enjoyed the camaraderie and social aspects of the Club as much as the games, going on numerous excursions and away matches over the years and seeing much of the country with Judy by his side. He was selected to play for the City and County of Bristol and in one memorable fixture, he played at Windsor Castle against the Royal Household team. He acted as assistant treasurer of the Club for around 15 years.

Brian enjoyed being a member of the local Probus club and was a member of St Peters Church, Henleaze for nearly 50 years, acting as sidesman and member of the PCC. He maintained his association with the Cathedral and attended monthly services there too, followed by lunch in the refectory and meeting up with many of his Cathedralian friends.
 

David Coxon was a member of staff at Bristol Cathedral School in the 80s/90s, as well as an Honorary Cathedralian.  He began teaching at the school in 1981, after living for 12 years in Kenya, and retired in 1999 after spending 18 years teaching Maths and Computer science.  He was a popular member of staff and was fondly remembered by Peter Templar who ‘worked with and was most grateful to David when entries to O and A  level exams became computerised. Subsequently, he was also most helpful when setting up a new computer to enable me to complete a database of Cathedral School pupils dating from 1920.’

In retirement, David spent 17 years volunteering at the Life Skills Create Centre.  In 2017, he and his wife moved to South Africa to be nearer family and get the help and support they needed. 

As Peter Templar put so well  ‘David was a man of many talents who was a genuine pleasure to know’.
 

Eric Blackman was a long-serving teacher at Bristol Cathedral School (1958 – 1991), he was Bristol’s scrum half in the mid-1950s and went on to serve the club as an outstanding administrator for many years. He also gave exceptional service to schools’ rugby and was a major figure in this sphere at both local and national level.

Eric passed away peacefully in the BRI on Saturday 14th August following a sudden illness (that was not Covid related). He was 89.

He was much cheered in his final days by the news that his grand-daughter, Cecelia had achieved three A grades at A level from BCS, being the third generation of Blackman to either teach or study at the school, following his children, Tom, Peter and Hannah who had all studied there in the past.

Following his retirement, he had continued to work in schools’ rugby, rising to become President of the England Rugby Football Schools Union, serving on the RFU committee, and representing the schools on the RFU Council, the highest administrative body within the Union. He also produced and implemented a wide ranging and successful action plan to retain interest and engagement within the sport, as the impact of professionalism began to have a negative impact on junior rugby playing numbers.

He also travelled the world with England age group teams, taking an U18 team on an unbeaten tour of Australia (which featured such future stars as a young Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Ian Balshaw) and also visiting South Africa and New Zealand with England U20 teams. It was while on tour in New Zealand that he was amused to be introduced as 'one of the 57 old farts of the RFU', as the tour coincided with Will Carling's famously dismissive description of the RFU's ruling body.

Despite all this achievement at a national level, he remained involved in local schools’ rugby, serving as Hon Treasurer to Gloucestershire RFSU until his death. In fact, one of his last wishes was that one of the committee members visit him in hospital so he could go over the books one last time.

A life member of Bristol Rugby, having played for the 1st XV and then served on the committee, and as Chairman in the club's centenary year of 1988, he remained an active member of the Former Players Association, attending games until Covid meant that those fixtures had to be played behind closed doors. Though in some regards no great fan of professionalism and modern marketing, he took great delight in the way that the team, under Pat Lam, played the game in what he called 'the Bristol way' - fast, flowing, and adventurous, and that the crowd continued to chant Bristol, and not the 'Bears'!

While proud of those Cathedralians who went on to achieve great things in sport - be that rugby, cricket, football - he took even greater pleasure from producing tough, resilient teams for BCS who could compete against bigger schools with far greater numbers and resources. As long as his teams, and the boys within them, gave their all, played for each other and took pride in their performance - he was content.

He lived an incredibly full, satisfying life to the end, and will be greatly missed by all the family. He is survived by his wife Deborah, his children Tom, Peter and Hannah, and his grandchildren Cecelia and Beatrice.

As per Eric’s wishes, the funeral will be a small family affair. However, it is hoped that a subsequent memorial service will be arranged soon after and details will be provided once known.  I’m sure that all Cathedralians will want to send their sincere sympathy to Eric’s family at this sad time.
 

ROY WATTS - 3rd November 1932 - 29th April 2021

A memorial service was held for Roy at Woodlands on 19th May.  He was at the school from Autumn 1944 to Summer 1951 and joined the army when he was 18.  When he retired he was Head of Filton Avenue Junior School.  His interests included scouting and he was a pianist.

 

Co-Founder of Pearl & Dean and Cathedralian Jack Dean (1922-2019)

In November 2019 of one of our oldest former students, Jack Dean aged 97, passed away peacefully.  Born in Bristol in 1922, Jack attended Bristol Cathedral School 1934-38 as a chorister and enjoyed success across the board from sports to the arts.  He then joined the Bristol Aerospace Company as a draftsman where he helped design the Bristol Beaufighter as well as working on the Blenheim and Brabazon.

He is much better known, however, for being one of the Dean brothers in 'Pearl & Dean' the iconic advertising company beloved to cinema-goers of post-war Britain.  No-one over the next few decades will forget the distinctive trumpet line 'Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa, pa pa pa pa pa pa, paaah!

A full obituary can be found in the Times (behind a paywall), see here.

 

VICTOR COWLING 1957 - NOV 2020

Vic was born in 1957 and grew up in Bitton.  A keen sportsman, he was a stalwart of several school rugby and cricket teams during his time at school, albeit forgoing rugby in the VI^th Form in pursuit of his passion for Bristol City FC.  He then studied Botany at Leeds University, before returning to the West Country to complete a PhD in Plant Ecology at Bristol University.   Vic remained in Bristol working for the City Council on its Young People Training Team, before becoming Chairman of the Avon Wildlife Trust.  He then made the momentous decision in 1998 to move to Asia where he worked in several countries for a number of ecological agencies, including the WWF, for over 2 decades.  During that time, Vic settled in Laos where he married and raised a family.

Vic’s funeral took place in Vientiane, Laos on 1 Dec 2020.  He is survived by his wife, Phonethip, and children, William and Gina.
 

JOHN WILLIAM LEWIS 20/6/1941 - 12/8/2020

John attended Bristol Cathedral school from 1952 to 1958. John was a keen rugby player and he became a member of the school team.

He went on to work in insurance firstly with the Liverpool and London and Globe, this eventually became Royal Insurance. He started in Bristol and moved to Plymouth, Croydon and eventually up to Head Office in Liverpool in 1975.

Within the company he became a surveyor, a Graduate of the Institution of Fire Engineers and Head of the Department in Surveying. In 1994 John became National Property Underwriter Manager and was appointed Chairman of the Fire Panel of the Association of British Insurers.

He had also been involved with church music since the age of 8 when he sang in his local church choir at Holy Trinity Bristol. He taught himself to play the organ and at Bristol, Plymouth and on the Wirral, he held Organist and Choir Master roles up until his death. His last appointment was at St Peter's Church Heswall on the Wirral a position he had held since 2003.

John also took part in two organ marathons in Chester Cathedral to raise money for both Chester Cathedral and two local churches in Thornton Hough and Heswall.

He was an active member of Probus, MENSA, 1123 Hooton Park Squadron ATC Committee, RSCM Committee and was an Examiner and Fellow of the Guild of Musicians and Singers.

John was diagnosed with Kidney cancer in December 2019, in February he had a kidney removed. He appeared to recover well from this until April 2020, when it became apparent that it had started to spread to his bones. John passed away peacefully at home on 12th August with his wife Eveline and his children Stephen, Paul, Chris, Matt and Kirsten at his side.

Tim passed away on 9th June 2020.  He had been admitted to hospital after becoming ill at home and had been in for a short period.  It was not coronavirus and it seems to have been a recurrence of his Mantle Cell Lymphoma which he had been treated for several years previously.

Tim was born in Liverpool on 7th December 1952 and lived in Kings Bromley, near Rugeley in the Midlands, until he was just over 1 year old, when he moved to Henleaze, in Bristol.

Tim went to the local Henleaze Infants and Junior school and then to Bristol Cathedral School, following his brother Jonathan (Jon).  He did well at school and had an interest in languages. Tim then joined an accounting company in Bristol and achieved his accounting qualification with them.  It was there that he met his future wife, Damaris.  They got married on 28th September 1974.  They had three children, Abigail, Nicholas and Christopher, but his wife Damaris sadly died of a pulmonary embolism In 1998.

Tim joined Bowyers in the Finance Department and the family lived in Trowbridge and Westbury.  Then Tim joined Pearce Construction, moving to Bristol, and pursued his career becoming Finance Director, surviving the company being purchased and a few years later organising a very successful management buyout.  Latterly, Tim and his fellow director sold the company and he retired in 2011.

Tim got his “Day Skipper” licence to go ”big boat” sailing locally and holidays with the family in the 2000’s.  He was a long established member of Tavern Motor Club and gained his International Rally licence so he could go rallying with his sons.  Tim was a keen follower of Bristol City Football Club and went to most games with the family.

He married Alison Hill on 23rd September 2016 and they lived in Long Ashton.

It is with great sadness that we report the death on Thursday 8^th May of Eric Hopton, who reached the age of 90 on 4^th April.

Eric George Hopton started at Bristol Cathedral School in 1941 as a Chorister, a role that he thoroughly enjoyed, and left in 1945. He was an Abbot and good sportsman, winning Half Colours playing in the 1^st XV and was well known as a powerful hitter playing cricket in the 1^st XI.

On leaving School Eric took on a clerical job with the City Treasurer’s Office in Bristol. He spent his National Service in the Army and on his return it soon became clear that his outgoing and persuasive personality would be better suited to a sales environment and after a few years an opportunity arose for Eric to enter the world of insurance with Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Company (CML).

CML was an Australian life office and was at that time establishing itself as an ambitious player in the UK market, based upon direct sales to members of the public rather than via brokers or intermediaries. Eric took to this new venture like the proverbial duck to water, achieving strong sales results and demonstrating management potential. His growing income enabled him and his wife Sheila to purchase an architect designed home with attached smallholding near Corsham, Wiltshire where Eric worked long hours to further build his business with CML, whilst also running a lucrative side-line selling eggs to local retailers from a substantial flock of laying hens in his smallholding.

 In 1958 Eric’s growing prominence as a top sales performer was rewarded with promotion into his first management role as Area Sales Manager of the Devon and Cornwall branch of CML, based in Plymouth. The family settled into a new home in Plymstock and Eric eagerly set about building a thriving branch through the headhunting and recruitment of top insurance salespeople from competitor companies, propelling Devon and Cornwall branch to prominence as one of the leading branches in the UK.

In 1964 he was promoted to the role of Area Sales Manager for Birmingham branch, at which time Eric and his family moved to Solihull.

In 1972 further promotion came as Regional Sales Manager for the Midlands region, responsible for twelve branches 12 Area Sales managers and a workforce in excess of 300 staff. The Midlands Region grew from strength to strength as the powerhouse of CML’s UK business and in 1979 Eric was asked to take up the challenge to similarly drive the growth and performance of the Southern region which encompassed 14 branches from Reading to the South Coast and across the whole of South West England.

His final promotion came in 1984 to a National role within CML responsible for recruitment across the whole of the UK business and provided the opportunity to deploy his skills for the benefit of all 55 branches across the UK. In 1986 Eric took early retirement from his 32 year career with CML and commenced his own general insurance broking business in Solihull which he enthusiastically built up over the ensuing 6 years before selling out to one of his competitors to enter a well-deserved retirement.

He developed his rugby career playing for the Old Cathedralians RFC and also made eleven appearances for Bristol United in the 1947-48 season. In the same season he made his first team debut, at the age of only seventeen. This was on December 27^th 1947 in Bristol’s 9-3 victory over Newbridge. He was awarded his Bristol United cap at the end of the following season and his first team cap a season later.

Eric was a second row forward who played 73 first team games for Bristol and appeared in England trials. He was one of a dwindling group who could claim to have played for the club in the 1940s.

Eric was the last surviving player from Bristol’s first post-war victory over Cardiff. This was a 3-0 win at the Memorial Ground on January 13^th 1951. He partnered Roy Muller in the Bristol second row, and retained vivid memories of his tussle with Cardiff prop Cliff Davies. As he later recalled, “I could see Cliff Davies looking for our jumpers at the first lineout. He deliberately stood next to me and trod on my toe, hoping to niggle me. He wanted me to retaliate and get penalised, but I realised it was best to ignore him. Our little duel continued throughout the game.”  A week after this seminal victory Bristol defeated Llanelli 10-3, with Eric scoring the second and last try of his Bristol career.

In the 1952-53 season there was strong competition for second row places at Bristol, and Eric moved to Bath in search of first team rugby. He made his Bath debut on Boxing Day 1952 against Old Blues and played a total of 125 games for his new club up to 1958. During his time as a Bath player he played for Western Counties against the touring All Blacks at the Memorial Ground in 1953, a match which the tourists won 11-0.

Eric Hopton enjoyed keeping in touch with his playing contemporaries and regularly attended Bristol Rugby Former Players’ reunions.

Eric Hopton was an active member of the Cathedralians Society, a regular attendee with Maureen his companion at Annual Reunion Dinners and served as Chairman of Council from 2007 to 2009, he was President of the Society in 1977/8 and elected Honorary Member of the Society in 2010.

He spent his last years in a care home near Solihull but succumbed to Covid-19 after a seven day battle with the virus. His family had hoped to celebrate his recent 90^th birthday at a later date, but sadly this was not to be.

We extend our sympathy to his sons Jerry and Mark and to his companion Maureen and we are indebted to them for supplying information for this obituary.  We also thank Mark Hoskins, archivist of Bristol Bears Rugby Club, for the information provided on Eric Hopton’s rugby career.

1954 Bath v Bristol

David Winter was a chorister at Christchurch, Bristol, and was awarded a Choral Scholarship from Christchurch to the then Bristol Cathedral School.  He attended there from 1949 and after completing his schooling, went to Keele University where he took double honours in French and Politics.  After graduation he embarked upon a successful career teaching French, eventually being appointed Head of Foreign Languages and then Head of Hall at Trinity School in Leamington Spa. 

After retiring, he became a magistrate, sitting in the youth courts around North Oxfordshire.  David died peacefully at home on January 31st, after a long illness, surrounded by his family.  He survived his wife, to whom he was married for 54 years, their four children, nine grandchildren and a great grandson. 

His family said that David was a proud Cathedralian and spoke often of his days at the Cathedral School.

The funeral will be held at 2pm in All Saints Church, Harbury, Warwickshire CV33 9EY.

Herbert Chappell (1934-2019)

The Society is sad to note the passing of Herbert Chappell (BCS 1945-52).  During his time at school, he was encouraged to compose music by then Head of Music, Clifford Harker, and, aged 12, had two choral compositions performed in the Cathedral! Music Studies at Oriel College, Oxford followed before Herbert embarked on an illustrious composing and documentary making career with, amongst others, the BBC.  An obvious highlight being the production of the video recording of the Three Tenors in Rome during the 1990 World Cup in Italy. A full obituary can be found by following the link below.

click here

Unfortunately, Ted Jackson passed away on Friday 10^th May.  Ted had been unwell for some time and went into hospital the previous Wednesday. Ted, along with Richard Wright and David Baker, formed the Classical Sixth under Cecil Rich.  Ted was a Dean, went to Bristol University to read Law and worked in computer telecommunications with Lucas and Metal Box. He and John Muse were members of the Cirencester Polo Club and entertained other OCs there to watch polo.

 

Julian attended the school from 1967 to 1974. After leaving school he trained to be an accountant and then moved to London where he worked first as an auditor and then as finance director for a number of small to medium sized companies.

Julian’s legacy includes his three children, Dominic, Nick, and Chloe and his laughter. Everyone who knew him - from school chums, teammates in school rugby, work colleagues, and friends – will remember his love of a good joke.

He died suddenly at the age of only 62, but for six decades, and right up to the evening before his sudden death, he was enjoying life to the full and many people were fortunate to enjoy his company.

Peter Edward Jones (1949-1956) an Abbot and School Librarian, was born 20th December 1938 and died on 11th June 2018 aged 79 after a series of falls from which he never really recovered.

After completing his National Service in the Royal Air Force Peter returned to work in the Bristol Central Library. In the RAF he was a Chinese linguist and was stationed in Hong Kong listening to Chinese air force signals. He learnt Chinese in a year-long course at the Joint Services School for Linguists at RAF Pucklechurch. He was adept at learning languages and a few years later he taught himself Russian and was able to make the most of holidays in Russia.

Once back at home in Brislington and at work in the Central Library he settled in but was soon moved to Filwood to be the Branch Library. After a couple of years he was given the task of setting up Bristol's first mobile library service to cover parts of the city where the nearest branch library was too far away for most people to reach.

He stayed in Bristol until 1966 and then moved to Ealing to do the same there. This must have been difficult because he knew nothing about the area but he succeeded and this large London borough had its new mobile service. He was later appointed to a senior post in Ealing Central Library until his retirement in the late 1990s.

Peter never married and in Ealing he devoted much of his spare time working on issues of race relations in that multi-racial borough. He served on the Ealing Race Relations Council and in particular worked with the Nepalese community, helping them with their problems to do with housing, employment and other issues. He made many friends, becoming godfather to more than half a dozen Nepalese children, who regarded him as an honorary uncle. He visited Nepal several times and developed a great affection for the country and its people.

As if that wasn't enough he became a magistrate, serving on the Ealing Bench and in time rose to be Chairman. He enjoyed that, taking it seriously but nevertheless seeing the lighter side of his work. He once told his friend Peter Jackson, with great pride, that he had recently been able to say the immortal words: 'Officer, take him down'. He also said that at a farewell party on his retirement from the bench at the age of 70 many of his former clients were present to see him off. He had a great sense of humour but it was never malicious and he had the gift of cheering people up. As one of his former Bristol colleagues said of him: Pure gold, Jonah, pure gold.

We are indebted to Peter’s friend Peter Jackson, who attended BGS, for supplying the above obituary; he added “I believe that he was someone of whom the Cathedral School would be proud”.

In case anyone who may read this obituary remembers Peter, attached is part of the order of service for his funeral showing him with photographs as a very young man and then how he looked towards the end of his life.

 

James (Jimmy) Newport (1918 – 2018), passed away on 17th December 2018.

Jimmy attended BCS between 1929 and 1935 and, during World War two, served in the
Glider Regiment. His wartime activities were curtailed by a serious injury and he missed
both the Battle of Arnhem and the D-day landings.

After the war Jimmy pursued a printing career, becoming the head of the City of Bristol’s
Printing and Stationery Department.

Outside of work he was involved with rugby and later officiated, becoming a member of
Gloucestershire RFU Referees Society. Golf was a lifetime passion, centred on Henbury Golf
Club where he was a member for 50 years, serving as seniors captain in 1982.

Jimmy served as Cathedralians president and had four children, five grandchildren and
eleven great grandchildren.
 

Roger Crudge has died aged 89 in a care home. 
 

He attended BCS from 1940 to 1948, was Priors House Captain, and Head Boy in 1948. Professionally he was head of the Bristol Music Reference Library. He joined the Central Reference Library when he left School and continued in post until his retirement. His wife is in the same care home as he was and we believe she is 97 years old.

He is well remembered by his contemporaries who have said that under Roger's educated leadership and totally-focused helpfulness, the Central Music Library provided the most brilliant resource of scores, academic books and recordings any aspiring musician could hope to find ... and it existed right on our doorstep!

How very lucky we all were. Mr Crudge and his music library will be a significant footnote in the autobiography any Bristolian musician of the mid-late twentieth-century might imagine writing.

Brian Heppell joined BCS as Head of Geography in 1962 and Peter Templar in 1964. Brian was as keen as Peter was to get pupils out into the field gathering information on the environment. Below is Peter Templar’s reminiscences of the part Brian played in the life of the School.

“Our first excursion was to North Wales joining the staff and pupils of my previous school during the Easter holiday of 1965. The Beeching cuts meant that railway stations were closing and some were being converted by schools into outdoor centres. Thanks to the Parents’ Association BCS ended up with a cottage in the forest above Tintern. Conveniently for us the first Severn Crossing was nearing completion. During the autumn and winter months working parties managed to make the cottage habitable ready to accommodate our first expedition during the Easter holiday of 1966. This sixth form group contained one pupil who was later to become Head of Geography at BCS: one Robin Gildersleeve. During the summer term the fourth forms, divided into three groups (as we could only accommodate twenty ‘bodies’ at a time), were taken there for two nights, travelling on the normal bus service, Bristol to Chepstow to Tintern. Brian accompanied the pupils while I drove with kit and provisions. 

By coincidence our families had settled at Hanham joining Bob Lewis and one evening after a staff meeting fog was so thick that Bristol buses had stopped running and the three of us walked home together!

Brian was accurate in forecasting rain often reminding us that a sudden drop in temperature meant “a cold front passing through will bring rain within twenty minutes”. In 1968 it was more than a cold front passing through! Brian and I were discussing field studies with two ex-pupils at my house. (One became a Professor of Geology at the University of Ulster and a world expert in coastal erosion while the other became Curator of Geology at Bristol Museum.) It was raining and raining heavily. The date was 10^th July 1968 and in less than 24 hours 5” of rain fell on the Chew Valley, the worst flooding in over 50 years. 

In 1971 when Brian moved to Thornbury after nine years, Teddy Martin wrote in The Cathedralian;

‘Brian Heppell made the Geography department one of the best controlled units the School has seen, and City and County have already begun to benefit from the boys he steered towards purposeful use of geographical studies. He was one of the very best Middle School form-masters and, in his nine years here he solved numerous problems that required a clear brain, moral fibre and Christian sympathy. With strong gentleness for the confused, stern reminders for the lazy, he added, for inhibited and uninhibited alike, doses of tough rugby and enthusiastic cricket. He was a vital force in Priors and a Tintern founder who never relaxed his initial belief in in its educational and social value. As Director of Studies at the Castle School, Thornbury, he widens his sphere of influence: the children there must benefit greatly from the strength and integrity he brings to education.’ 

From the Castle School, Brian moved to Cambridge and the Schools’ Examination Board, advising and cajoling committees there and around the world as syllabuses changed. 

In retirement he moved back to Thornbury.

Brian died on 14^th April, 2017 and to his wife Ann and sons Richard and James and their families we send our condolences”.

23 Mar 2017. It is with sadness that we have heard that Norman Sharp has passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all the family at the age of 93. He  was very active and persuasive President (1974) who worked well with the then Head Master of the School, David Jewell. 

We send our condolences to Sue his wife, daughter Janet and son Roger  (OC 1969-74 and past Treasurer of the Society).  

The funeral service will be held at Westerleigh Crematorium om Thursday 23 March 2017 13.15 pm.  The wake will be held at the Compass Inn Tormarton afterwards.

The Cathedralians’ Society was a great part of his life for many years during the 60’s and 70’s, and he continued to show interest in what was going in in the Society.

7 Feb 2017.  It is with great regret that the Society announces the passing of Louis Bartholomew Bloom (BCS 1933-38) on 7th Jan 2017.

Whilst at School, he was both a music scholar and Head Chorister. He served in the Royal Navy during the war, for which he was awarded, amongst the medals, the Artic Star and, quite recently, the Legion d'Honneur for his part in D Day.

21 Nov 2016.  The Society is saddened to report that Freddie Winstone has died at the age of 91 after a long illness. Freddie was at School from 1936 to 1941. He served his National Service in the RAF and was a very active sportsman. During his business life, Freddie was Managing Director of Industrial Factors, Bristol. He also served as President of the Society in 1986/1987 and is remembered as an ever smiling member of Council. 

He was a Mason, a Bristol Savage and Rotarian. 

His funeral was held on Friday 18^th November at 2.00 pm at St Alban’s Church, Westbury Park, Bristol, BS6 7NU.

12 May 2016.  David Yeo passed on Sun 1st May and we have been advised by Colin Panes that his funeral will take place at Long Ashton Parish Church on Fri 13th May at 2.30pm.  Notably, David started at school as an Abbot but was one of those selected for transfer to Canons when the house system was expanded during his time at the school.

12 May 2016.  Nigel Mallett (1955-60) was a Chartered Certified Accountant and member of 'The Lost Sheep' Band. A long-standing member of the society, he served as President in 1994 and, more recently, reprised his musical skills at the Joint Cathedralians/BCCS Concert in 2012.

                  Nigel - BCCS Nov 2012

Nigel passed on Sun 8 May; he had been unwell for many months and an in-patient at Weston-Super-Mare Hospital throughout the winter.
 

22 Dec 2015.  The Society is saddened to announce that R E Lewis passed away earlier this month at the age of 92.


Bob Lewis flanked by Peter Templar and Eric Blackman - 1978

Bob Lewis joined Bristol Cathedral School in 1949, with a First Class Honours degree in French, to assist Jock Hutchings in teaching French and then very successfully added German to his repertoire. He was Head of Modern Languages for ten years from 1972 until his retirement in 1982.

A leading figure in the Bristol – Bordeaux and Bristol- Hannover exchange schemes, he was also appointed by Cecil Rich to organise the School Library, as well as providing sterling work on the scenery for BCS drama productions.

On retirement, Bob was made an Honorary Cathedralian.

The Society extends its sympathy to his wife Doreen at this sad time. The funeral will take place on Tuesday 5^th January 2016 at 2.15pm at Longwell Green United Church, all are welcome.

30 Nov 2015.  We are sorry to report the death after a long illness of Alan Boniface (1930-2015), aged 85. Alan attended Bristol Cathedral School from 1940 to 1948, he was House Captain of Deans and Head Boy of the School in 1948. He read History at Bristol University and, after National Service in the RASC, took up a teaching career, at first at Ashton Park School and later at St. Bede’s School, Lawrence Weston where he taught for many years. At School, Alan was a chorister and played the organ. He continued to be a keen musician and played the violin in a local string quartet. We extend our sympathies to Beryl his widow and to his son Richard and daughter Katherine.

The funeral will take place at Christ Church, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 1RT on Monday 7^th December at 11.00 am followed by refreshments in the Church Hall.

Ian Black died of a stroke in September; he taught art at Bristol Cathedral School for more than 32 years (1960-1992) and set many of its pupils on the path of artistic expression, including the Society’s Vice-Chairman, Mark Blackmore.

He was a regular exhibitor at the RWA and RA and has work in numerous permanent collections such as The New Zealand Government, St Catherine's College Oxford, Bristol Cathedral School and Bath University.

14 Oct 2015.  The Revd Peter Knight died peacefully in his sleep on the 4^th October. Peter, who was at the school from 1959 to 1965, was also President of the Society in 2000. An Englend rugby international, Peter gained his first cap in 1972 against France playing alongside Fran Cotton and Andy Ripley and went on to tour South Africa, New Zealand and Fiji. After 20 years of teaching sport and physical education, he was ordained in 1992 and served as a vicar in Swindon, Wilts and in Buckinghamshire.


Peter in his playing days

Appropriately, Peter composed a prayer before England’s appearance in the 2003 World Cup Final, which reads as follows:

"Heavenly Father, You are Sovereign Lord over all - from the wings of the earth to the mauling masses of creation. You love and care for all - be they furthest away or right in the middle of the action; be they lowly spectator or famous combatant.

"Each and every moment you embrace those you created, encouraging forward movement and skilful transfer of their abilities. From north, south, east and west you brought your children to offer their very selves in sporting prowess.

"Look down, O Lord, upon north and south this Saturday, and whatever the conditions, whatever the result, may the atmosphere and spectacle glorify your Name and through the blood, sweat and 'tries', may many be converted to your ways. In your precious Name. Amen.

"PS Lord, is it too much to ask for a 'Pommie favour'? Amen!"

14 Oct 2015.  Paul Wildgoose, who attended Bristol Cathedral School from 1943 to 1949, has died recently after a long struggle against leukaemia.

27 Aug 2015.  Peter Parry died peacefully in his sleep on 15th August. Peter taught Mathematics from 1959 until his retirement in 1990. He was a Form master throughout that time, as well as a House Master of Priors for fifteen years. He was a keen hand bell ringer and trained many students in that skill, he was also a stalwart of the School Parents’ Choir singing tenor, added to which all four of Peter and Eve’s sons attended BCS.

19 Aug 2015.  Roger Burgess was just one week older than me and began his teaching career at Bristol Cathedral School in 1961 under the imposing (frightening?) figure of the Deputy Head and Historian Arthur Sabin. Three years later, Arthur was replaced by Jock (Bunny) Hutchings, Roger was Head of History and I joined the staff as Master in Charge of Biology. Both of us were young, keen and still able to play soccer in a staff team. Roger often reminded me that if, after those lightening dashes down the right wing, I provided the crosses he would slot the ball home!

A professional in the class room, he was also a hard working contributor to many extracurricular activities. The list is long and included: School plays, both senior and junior; fund raising for the Old Folks’ Parties; school games; foreign travel to Russia and once to Spain where he talked his way across the borders having forgotten his passport! Many times the castles of North Wales were visited and closer to home the mysteries of the Redcliffe Caves were explained. A great supporter of the refurbishment of the cottage at Tintern, he made good use of the facilities for History revision courses for his ‘A’ level students. It is rumoured that the profits of the local hostelries invariably showed an upward trend at these times! All these extracurricular activities were his way of broadening the lives and knowledge of many a pupil between 1961 and 1994. Would there have been an Abbot’s House summer barbecue without Roger? (See attached Independence Song)

In the staffroom, he had the great knack of starting a discussion but somehow, when things got a little agitated, absenting himself with the ‘excuse’ that his presence was required elsewhere immediately. Some of the seeds he planted, however, germinated and bore fruit. Without Roger, soccer would never have become a school sport and then there was his thoughts on the five day week. Who would have believed that Saturday morning school would ever be abolished - eventually, it became David Jewell’s parting gift when he moved to Repton.

In 1992 for future historians, ‘Where the Fat Black Canons Dined’ was published after almost ten years gestation. From the Foreword, The very Revd. Dr. Wesley Carr, Dean of Bristol and Chairman of the Governors wrote 'I congratulate the four authors – Jane Collard, Arthur Sabin, David Ogden and Roger Burgess – on producing this fascinating book'.

And, from the preface:

The original idea for this history came from the indefatigable Christopher Martin, Head Master, in 1983 as he looked ahead to the 450^th anniversary of the refounding of the school in 1992. On his arrival in 1990, Roy Collard saw the significance of an up to date record of a remarkable institution and provided gentle but firm encouragement to the joint authors to complete the task begun nearly a decade earlier.

On retirement Roger moved to Shirenewton, just outside Chepstow, from a Kingsdown flat to a property with a large garden where he could make good use of a retirement gift. Albeit, many a person wanted to know ‘What is a polytunnel?’ To help his finances, he worked in Newport for a time helping the unemployed find work. Unfortunately, the moist atmosphere of the south west saw the onset of arthritis and he returned to the drier climes of the east; Peterborough in fact. Sadly, eighteenth months or so ago his Christmas letter spoke of the onset of Parkinson’s Disease and Christmas 2014 brought no Christmas message.

Roger died on 28 Jul, after finally losing his battle against Parkinson'd disease and his funeral took place in Peterborough on 17 Aug.

Peter Templar

1976 Independence Song.doc

                                      

31 Dec 2013.  The Cathedralians Society is saddened to announce the passing of John Wood (1950-57), better known as the actor, writer and satirist John Fortune.  He was most recently known for his critically acclaimed work with life-long friend John Bird and Rory Bremner for which he shared a Bafta in 1997.  See hyperlink below for more:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/31/john-fortune-dies-at-74

3 Aug 2013.  It was with great sadness that the Society learned of the death of Sir Hugh Smith-Marriott, on Friday 19th July 2013, after a long illness. He attended Bristol Cathedral School from 1936-41, was an Honorary Member of the Society and played an active role as Member of Council until retiring last year for health reasons. As well as taking a great interest in Society affairs, Sir Hugh was the Cathedralians President in 1984-5 and for many years acted as MC at the Society's Annual Reunion Dinner. 

In public life, he had taken leading roles in amateur dramatic and musical productions in the Bristol area for many years and, for 42 years, produced the Festival of Remembrance in the Colston Hall. 

A Memorial Service for Hugh, to which Cathedralians are most welcome, will be held at 11.45 am on Monday 19th August at Westbury-on-Trym Parish Church (Holy Trinity), Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3EQ