Page 87 - OM Newsletter 2021-22

Nieper David Harry
Died 11 August 2021 aged 90 (7 45-50)
David Nieper was born in in in Darley Dale Derbyshire in in in 1931 His father Ronald Ronald had been an OM before him in in in in in in in No 7 joining in in in in in 1915 during the the the First World War Ronald Ronald sent both both his sons David David and and Anthony to to the the College both both to to No 7 and and Malvern Malvern clearly became a a a a a a a a a a a a a a favourite as David’s four children were also ‘sent away’ to to Malvern Malvern despite
the the 100-mile journey from Derbyshire his sons to to to the the College College and daughters to to Ellerslie Now a a a a a a a fourth generation from the the family is is being educated at at at the the College College with four four of his his ten grandchildren current or recent students today This special relationship has made Malvern the family’s school of choice for over 100 years The start of David’s Malvern career was was during the the 2nd World War when when the the the the school was was moved to to Harrow but when when the the the war ended all the the the boys were relocated back to to Malvern Malvern Rackets was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a favourite along with Drama English and Art After Malvern Malvern came National Service in in Egypt guarding the the Suez where he he he he claimed to have seen no action and instead sailed every day for two years polishing the the hull of o his racing racing dingy each morning Sailing became a a a a a a a a a a a a lifelong hobby which moved to offshore racing racing and membership
o of the Royal Ocean Racing Club where he he he he would become a a a a a a a a member for for 64 years years and through which he he he he he met his wife Roe in 1959 They were married for for 62 years years He had little idea what do to for a a a a a a a a a a a a a career and initially gained a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a job at at at the the Derbyshire knitwear manufacturing business John
Smedley Ltd where his his father was MD Unsurprisingly this proved unsustainable and in in in in in in 1961 with his his his new wife he he decided to start his his his own business making women’s nightwear which he he thought “would be easy” He rented a a a a a a a a a a a wartime Nissan hut for £1 per week and found a a a a a a a a a a retired local seamstress to make the the garments his wife had cut out on the the living room floor Unfortunately the the boom bust economy of the the 1960s and 70s made it it it anything but easy however he he he he persisted with a a a a a a a a a a small team and – when trading was at its lowest ebb in in in the the late 70s with the the banks knocking on on his door – he he he made an an inspired decision to to to to switch from selling selling to to to to retail retail shops at at at at wholesale price price to to to to selling selling at at at retail retail price price to to to to private consumers in in in in their own homes by mailorder He started with black & white line drawings for for adverts then eventually saved up for for photography his his first model model being Joanna Lumley a a a a a a a a a a a young fashion model model at the the the time The rest
is is is is is history so so they say with his his son Christopher joining them in in in 1986 Today David Nieper Ltd is is is one one of o very few fashion companies never to to to have gone offshore instead remaining loyal to to local local skills and and and local local people It has a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a full women’s fashion collection and and and employs 300 staff in in Derbyshire and and and at its overseas offices in in in in Europe In the the last five years it it sponsored a a a a a a a a a a failing secondary school school for 850 pupils in in in Alfreton the the the town where the the the company is is is located The school school now carries his name and the the David Nieper Academy is is is oversubscribed A modest private and highly respected man to whom success came slowly In 2019 he he published an autobiography entitled ‘Persistence wins’ Oldham Frank
Died 22 March 2021 aged 80 (3 54-59) School Prefect
Oliver John
Bromley
Died 10 January 2021 aged 88 (9 45-50)
House Prefect
‘Many more lives than a a a a a a a a a a a cat’ was to to to have been the the title of the the autobiography in tribute to to to this man with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a giant heart His life was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a constant evolution from which he he he carried forward such a a a a a a a a a a a knowledge and enthusiasm you could not help but be taken along for for the ride Educated at at Malvern John
developed his his maverick style nearly leading to to expulsion when he he canvassed his his fellow students to to have rugby instead of football Today that legacy is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a renowned team at at at at at the the the College He also showed his natural skills at at at at oration winning the the the prize of the the the full 87