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House colours for athletics and cricket, and, as captain of the 4th XI, enjoyed many games of cricket against local villages. He was an NCO in the CCF, Head of House and a School Prefect. He credited his Housemaster, Dudley Heesom, for his lifelong interest and career in history, and one of his best memories was winning the Junior History Prize for an analysis of the architecture of a local Northamptonshire church. He also played the double bass in the School orchestra and Dixieland Jazz Band, with whom he cut a record at the EMI studios in London.
“From Oundle he passed into King’s College, Cambridge, to read History. This was followed by National Service with the Somaliland Scouts (1957-9), before he embarked on a career as a schoolmaster. A Diploma of Education from New College, Oxford, set him up for stints at Marlborough College (1960- 8), Cranbrook School in Sydney (1969-74) and then the bulk of his career (after a temporary assignment back at Oundle for the summer term of 1974) at Canford School, teaching History, Politics and Religious Education. There, his chief interest was the CCF, for service to which he was appointed OBE in 1989.
“He took early retirement in 1993 to enable a return to Australia (where he had met and married his wife, Bridget) on a Royal & Ancient Golf Club tour. Golf was a passion throughout his life, being a native St Andrean. He had joined the club on turning 18, following in the footsteps of some 40 members of the Playfair family, and won the R&A’s Jubilee Vase in 1954.
“His long-standing interest in church history and architecture, ignited at Oundle, together with his calling as a lay reader from 1987, led to him becoming Chairman of the Bath & Wells Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches for 17 years, helping churches to repair and reorder their buildings. He also founded the Friends of Somerset Churches and Chapels in 1995 (now the Somerset Churches Trust) and was Chairman for its first 10 years. The Trust honoured Hugh with the institution of The Playfair Prize, awarded annually for the best church restoration project in the county. His service to the church was recognised in 2016, when he was nominated to receive Maundy money
from HM The Queen at St George’s Chapel. He was the author of a number of books reflecting his interest in family and church history.
“Hugh leaves his loving wife, Bridget, three children (Patrick, Edward and Elizabeth) and five grandchildren.”
Richard Potter (Lx) died 14th March 2018.
Midlands Corresponding Member on the OO Committee and was a stalwart member, always attending meetings and Committee dinners. He was a familiar figure around the town and often dropped into the OO office for a chat with the Oundle Society staff. His contribution to the OO Club is greatly appreciated and he will be sorely missed.
Christopher Smith (Sn) died 6th September 2016.
His son, Tim, writes: “Christopher died peacefully at the age of 80 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease at his residence in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA. He leaves behind his wife, Diana, of the last 23 years, two sons (Timothy and Nigel), two daughters-in-law (Felicia and Cassie) and four grandchildren (Anna, Christopher, Charlotte and Richard), as well as countless extended family and friends in both the US and his native England.
“Christopher was born in Witham, England, to Esmond and Olive Smith. He grew up on the family farm, where his sense of practicality, ingenuity and penchant for early-morning wake-up calls was born. He attended Oundle School and was in Sanderson House, which he enjoyed and returned to many years later to see his godson, Chris Strathon (Sn 89), in the same House. From Oundle he continued his education at Downing College, Cambridge University, where he graduated with high honours in Business, before joining the British Army as part of the Royal Engineers.
“In 1963 he started his ‘US life’ when moving to the Boston area to attend
Harvard Business School – where he
again graduated with distinction. From www
OBITUARIES
Richard was born on Merseyside in 1936, the youngest of four by 10 years. He came to Oundle in 1950 and was Head of Laxton (now Fisher) House when Mike Mills became Housemaster. He left in 1954 and went on to gain a first in Economics from Liverpool University. He had gained a place at Cambridge, but turned it down because they would not let him defer National Service - which had finished by the time he graduated.
He then went on to study accountancy and followed his grandfather, father and brother into Tate and Lyle, where he worked until retirement in 1996.
He had married Marilyn in 1967 and they had two sons. Richard had many happy memories of his time at Oundle, so when he and Marilyn were looking for somewhere to spend their retirement, there was a strong pull towards Oundle. They both subsequently said that moving here in 1999 was the best decision they ever made.
Richard soon involved himself in various activities associated with the School. He was a keen supporter of all School activities and he particularly enjoyed the wide variety of music. He joined the tour guide team to show prospective parents and OOs around the School.
For many years he was the East
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018
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