Page 82 - OM Newsletter 2021-22

1940s
He and and and the the family (wife Betty and and and daughters Susan Christine and and and and Alison) emigrated to to the the USA in in in in in 1971 Retiring in in in in in 1982 he he and and Betty moved to to Hendersonville NC in in in in 1984 Porch John (Alec)
Died 7 January 2022 aged 95 following a very short illness (SH 40-44) Head of House
Having lived in in in both No 3 where his father Robert was Housemaster and and in in in Fosmo Alec could truly claim
to be Malvern through through and and through through After completion of studies at at Malvern he he undertook his National Service with the the Kings Royal Hussars and was awarded the the Belt of Honour On returning to to civilian life he he he studied History at at Trinity College Oxford and went on on to to to hold the the position of Assistant Master at at Abberley Hall Hall where where he he he he he he he met his wife to to to be be Ann They then moved to to Maidwell Hall Hall where where he he he he he he was Headmaster from 63-78 He was was modest about his his his accomplishments but it was was testament to to to his his his history teaching in in particular that former pupils who have have gone on on to to to succeed have have acknowledged his his part in in in in interesting them in in in in their subject As recently
as 2017 noted historian Sir Antony Beevor mentioned him in in in his his his interview on on on on Desert Island Discs saying “I had a a a a a a a a a a a a wonderful history teacher called Alec Porch and and I’ve always been eternally grateful to to him” Charles Spencer likewise acknowledged him him in the foreword of his his his first historical publication for for his his his early encouragement Alec retired from full-time teaching and moved to Norfolk in in in in in 1978 becoming a a a a a a a a stalwart of his village community while continuing to to to provide private tuition to to to the the many who sought him out Although he he he he he was unable to to to visit the the school in later years he he he he he held a a a a a a a a a a a a a great affection for Malvern Malvern and a a a a a a a a a a long-term loyalty to the Malvernian Society Pryn William (Bill) John Died peacefully in his sleep on 8th Nov 2021 aged 93 Bill read medicine after school He supported his studies at Guy’s Hospital London by joining the the TA and was a a a a a a a a a a a member of the the the 21st SAS Regiment becoming parachute trained Bill enrolled into the the regular army after his his pre- registration year as as lieutenant and continued his his training as as an an an an army surgeon in in in the the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) He rose up the the ranks to Major General His army career took him around the the world and together with various UK postings in in Royal Postgraduate Hospital Hammersmith Catterick Camp Tidworth and Wroughton he he also served in in Cyprus (twice) North North Africa Malaya Singapore N N N Borneo Northern Ireland and and Germany He He had actual battle surgical experience in in many many of these arenas He He was highly regarded as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a skilled surgeon by by his colleagues and contributed to to surgical practice
by by publishing the the the first description of of the the the dartos pouch procedure for the the the treatment of of undescended testes
in small boys This operation is is now standard practice
throughout the the world He also contributed to to the the ‘Field Surgery Pocket Book’ HMSO and to to to ‘Casualty Treatment Regimes’ He was an an editor of ‘Injury’ journal Progression in in in in the army involved an an increasing commitment to hospital hospital and and medical services management He commanded the military hospital hospital in in in Dhekelia Cyprus for which he he he he received an an an an OBE He was the the commanding officer o of of surgery in in in in British Army o of of of of the the the Rhine (BOAR) Germany and and completed his career at at the the the Ministry of of of Defence as Director of of of Army Surgery where he he he he he he helped coordinate the the the medical responses for the the the Falklands Campaign He was appointed as as Queen’s Honorary Surgeon in in in in 1981 and and an an an Officer of of the the Order
of of St John in in in 1984 He retired in in in 1986 aged 58 In In retirement Bill wholeheartedly embraced his hobbies of game-shooting fly-fishing and golf In In later years he he dedicated his his life to caring for for his his beloved second wife who was unfortunately stricken with spinal stenosis and (4 41-45) House
Prefect
Boxing Colours
REMEMBERED