Page 126 - OM Newsletter 2022-23

1960s
Rodney James
June 2022
(7 56-61)
After Malvern Malvern Rodney Rodney joined his his father’s stockbroking firm Roy James
& Co where he he he stayed throughout his working life Rodney was was perhaps Malvern’s finest golfer ‘Twip’ Collinson the the Master fin in in in charge of of golf golf was was very very excited at at at the the arrival of of Rodney who at at at 13 had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very very low single figure handicap at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a time when there were only 12 golfers in in in in the the the UK with a a a a a a a a a a a a plus handicap When he he he he he he he he left Malvern in in in 1961 he he he he he he he he walked into the the the Hewitt team and and went on on to to play 117 matches from 1962– 2002 In addition he he he he became the the Staffordshire boys Champion in in in 1959 and and and then youth champion He won the the the Staffordshire Open in in in in 1963 and and and and and and 1966 and and and and and and Amateur Amateur in in in in 1965 He was Midland Amateur Amateur Champion in in in in in 1968 and and and and and and 1972 and and and and and and an an an an an an an an English International in in in in 1974 and and and and and and 1975 after being first reserve in in in 1966 He was an an an an an an England selector selector 1980–84 and and and Chairman of the the Walker Cup selectors 1987–1990 In that latter capacity he he he he he he was especially pleased when the the the team he he he he he he and his colleagues had picked became the the the first to win on on American soil at at Peachtree in in in 1989 He set the the pin positions at at every Open Championship from 1996–2008 He He became a a a a a a member of Little Aston in in 1956 was Captain from from 1985–1987 and and President from from 2010–2012 He He won their Club Championship seven times and and naturally played for his County on on on numerous occasions Rodney was also a a a a a a a a a talented cricketer winning his 1st X1 colours in in in in in in 1961 an an an an an 1962 and and and he he played in in in in in in an an an an an outstanding football side for for two years years and and and and was in in in in in the the Rugby XV for for three years years He He represented the the College at boxing and and won a a a a a a Ledbury Cap He He died on 7th June 2022
aged 79 Surawongse Bunnag
June 2023
(6 58-61)
Charlie as as as he he he he was was known was was a a a a a a a a a a a a gifted footballer who played for for his his House and and the College and and even got a a a a a mention in in in The Times for for his his sporting
achievements From Malvern he he he he went to university in in in in the US Back in in in Bangkok he he he he managed his family’s hotel where OMs were always welcomed and entertained He died on 5th June 2023
aged 78 Richard Hardwicke
January 2022
(6 59-63)
R REMEMBERED
ichard initially considered a a a a a a a career on on the the the stage but decided instead to to follow his father into the the the the insurance business by joining the the the Lloyd’s broker Willis Faber in in in in in in in 1964 In 1977 after years in in in in in in in several different areas of of the the business he he he became Director of of the the Reinsurance Division Following a a a a a a merger with Stewart Wrightson in in 1987 he found himself redundant He was an an an excellent carpenter and and so for five years he he he had his his own business making furniture and and custom-made kitchens He then set up his his own successful insurance firm to to develop a a a a a a a personal lines portfolio with which he was still involved until his death He was a a a a a a a a a a keen sportsman at at at school – it it it didn’t matter if the the the ball had to to be hit with a a a a a a a a a a a a bat club or or or or racket or or or or kicked into or or or or over the the the goal he he he he enjoyed them all all He continued to to to play throughout his life and always looked forward to to to the the summer when there were were so many different events to to watch People were were always greeted with with a a a a a a a a warm friendly smile and he he loved to to party with with his huge circle of friends – especially if there was a a a a a a a a a dance floor He died on 5th January 2022
aged 76