Page 51 - Old Malvernian Newsletter - Issue 43 - 2020

STAFF OBITUARIES
John Michael McNevin was born on 1 October 1927 and was adopted in November 1927. He grew up in Southbourne, Bournemouth and was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School, under Headmaster Donald Lindsay. For four years of the war, the school was re-located to Southbourne, just outside Bournemouth. Michael and his mother lived opposite the school. Mrs McNevin played an invaluable part in helping find lodgings for some of the boys, persuading friends and many contacts to take boys into their homes. When the RAF arrived in large numbers, landladies soon discovered that they could obtain higher rents housing RAF members than the Grammar School boys. Donald Lindsay regularly found boys waiting in the main entrance before school to inform him that they had nowhere to sleep that night having had their accommodation taken by the RAF. Michael’s mother coped with these problems on a daily basis, always filling her house first and being an enormous support to boys during such a difficult period. The experience stayed with Michael. He later wrote: ‘Inevitably, the reality of war was always with us — fathers or brothers killed or missing — nights when the blitz hit Portsmouth or Southampton, and the glow could be seen, causing acute anxiety over the safety of their families.’
Michael was a good all-rounder, playing for the 1st XI cricket team as well as the 1st XI football team. Academically successful, he
was awarded a senior scholarship and was an active member of the Debating Society. He was a School Prefect and an NCO in the Air Training Corps. Following two years of National Service in the RAF, Michael was able to take up his place at Pembroke College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences. followed by a post graduate Certificate of Education to allow him to embark on his teaching career.
He was appointed as an Assistant Master at Felsted School for four years, teaching Chemistry and running the Scout troop. In 1951 Donald Lindsay, who had moved to Malvern College to become Headmaster invited Michael to come to Malvern to teach Chemistry and to introduce scout-like activities for junior boys as an alternative to CCF, known as the ‘Pioneers’. Very soon he also introduced a scheme whereby all Sixth Formers spent two winter weekends camping in the Brecon Beacons. He writes: ‘On one horrible occasion we came across a roofless, windowless, doorless building and conceived the idea of renovating it.’
This was to become a significant project for Michael. Both he and his wife Betty administered Cwm Llwch for many years as the ‘Hut’ Secretary. The property is still used both by the College, organisations such as Scouts and Old Malvernians; Michael’s family have also had many visits over the years, grandson Rory taking a group of intrepid friends to celebrate New Year 2019. The continued use of this place is a very fitting legacy for a man who so enjoyed the mountains.
For 27 years Michael led expeditions at Easter-time to the Cairngorms for snow- and ice-training, including his daughter Ann in 1976 and his son Niall in 1981. Various expeditions abroad followed, including one to the Kashmir Himalayas. In 1981 Michael on sabbatical carried out a lone reconnaissance for the School’s 1982 expedition.
At Malvern Michael, or Jock as he was more widely known, was at various times Head of Chemistry. He founded the Lucretian Society, and he was delighted to be present at the 50th Anniversary lecture in 2016. He himself gave a lecture to the society on Phosphorus and he did not disappoint his audience as he became completely invisible behind a thick cloud of Phosphorus Oxide.
James Ferguson (a Chemist colleague) writes:
‘It was a matter of principle for him to help others as teacher, housemaster, conservator, colleague and friend, so it galled him at the end to be so dependent. As a chemist he was very progressive and innovative and was very keen for us to adopt the Nuffield A Level system; he helped in its development and was an examiner for over 30 years. But Malvernians will mostly remember his lessons, many of them ending with the lab full of ammonium chloride smoke or, even, just ammonia. He always wanted his own lab and he took over the Geology room at the bottom of the Preston building and designed and equipped it himself. Although the lab had two doors, he kept one of them locked (sensibly, as it was next to the fume cupboard). This did not meet with the approval of the fire inspector who, justifiably, asked Michael what would happen in the event of a fire, saying that the room could be evacuated in fifteen seconds if both doors were in use. Michael clapped his hands and in his inimitable voice shouted ‘FIRE’. The boys all went out through the windows. Michael checked his watch; ‘four seconds’. The door remained locked.’
For 24 years Michael was a Malvern Hills Conservator, and served as a senior committee member and Chair of the Board. Conservation of Books and Church Recording for NADFAS were two interests that kept both Betty and Michael busy in retirement. Michael devoted many years caring for Betty with her decline in health with vascular dementia before her death in 2013. He was greatly supported by the unique community of Malvern College and his close family.
In October 2017, Michael arranged and thoroughly enjoyed his 90th birthday celebration party, a milestone he was pleased to reach and celebrate with friends, old Malvernians, former colleagues and his entire family.
Michael and Betty bore the loss of daughter Ann in 1985, who was tragically killed in a road accident in Egypt having followed in her father’s career of teaching, with fortitude and strength. He is survived by his daughter Jane and son Niall and four grandchildren Rory, Emma, Fiona and Harriet. Up to the weeks before his death Michael followed the educational pursuits and interests of all four as a very proud grandfather. Died 20 February 2019, aged 91.
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