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www spent two years in industry, before going to Westminster School in 1955 to teach Chemistry. He became Senior Science Master, a Housemaster and then, in 1967, Master of the Queens’ Scholars and Under Master. In 1971 he was appointed Headmaster of Malvern College. In 1982 he became Chief Master of King Edward’s School, Birmingham, until 1991. He was elected Chairman of the Headmasters’ Conference in 1987.
“In his tribute, our son, Stephen, said: ‘Our father achieved a tremendous amount during his long lifetime: a Cambridge graduate, member of the ground-breaking Nuffield Chemistry project, the leading pioneer of gas syringe experiments, a published author, progressive headmaster, governor of prep schools and the English College in Prague. He was very pleased to be a governor of Oundle from 1987 to 2001. In 1991 he became Director of the Farmington Institute in Oxford and the founder and inspiration behind the Project for Science and Religion in Schools. In 2000 he received an OBE for Services to Farmington and to Religious Education. He was also an active fundraiser for his parish church and a member of the parochial church council. But, above all, he was a man of science and a man of faith.’
“Martin was a devoted husband for over 60 years, a proud father of two sons and a daughter, and a grandfather of eight.”
1950
R.L. Mason (Sn)
died 25th November 2018.
D.R. McKellar (Sc)
died 6th February 2019.
R.R.G Morris (St A)
died 1st November 2018.
1951
A.R. Catchpole (St A) died 22nd May 2019.
Peter Thomson (Sc) died 18th January 2019.
His brothers, Richard (S 54) and Nicholas (S 61), write: “Peter enjoyed his time at Oundle and it got off to a good start when he discovered that he no longer had to play cricket, which he had greatly disliked at prep school, but could take up rowing instead.
“On leaving the School, he started work as an indentured pupil engineer with Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons at a salary of £3 per week and stayed with McAlpines until commencing National Service with the Royal Engineers in 1954. His two years were spent almost entirely with the Training Regiment in Chatham and having obtained a commission, he participated in the RE Rowing Club’s IV at Henley, winning the Wyfold in 1956. Indeed, it always seemed to us that rowing, rather than soldiering, occupied most of his time. Rowing continued to be his main leisure activity – ball games were played with zest but no finesse – and he was in the Thames Rowing Club VIII who represented England in the 1958 Commonwealth Games and won a bronze medal.
“He married Ann in 1968 and having returned to McAlpines, was seconded by them to manage a contract in Western Australia. After a brief return to the UK, they moved back to Perth in 1974, together with sons David and Christopher, where Peter took up employment with Civil and Civic Pty, and was involved in various construction projects in WA.
“He and Ann became very active in the community of Roleystone, where they had settled. Peter seems to have been willing to turn his hand
to more or less anything that required assistance, including running the township’s monthly newspaper with Ann and getting elected as a local councillor. Following retirement from active civil engineering work, he became more involved with the life of the Uniting Church, both at the Trinity Church in Perth city centre and at synod level, serving on numerous committees.
“In 2010 Peter and Ann downsized to a single-storey house in Bibra Lake, with Christopher’s family only three doors away. This was just as well, as Peter’s health had deteriorated somewhat with heart and blood complaints that gradually reduced his mobility, and the steep hills of Roleystone would have become a problem. He delighted in his five grandchildren and retained his boundless optimism, ferocious handshake and cheerful greeting ‘What Ho!’ to the end.”
1952
Hugh Allen (B)
died 8th March 2019.
His brother, Charles Allen (B 54), writes: “Hugh went to Oundle in 1947 and was in Bramston, following his elder brother, Andrew, who had been there from 1937 to 1941. Hugh was in the Science stream, a keen musician and chorister, and particularly enjoyed fives and cricket. In his final year he gained entrance to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, won a state scholarship and the Conductor’s Baton, and played himself into the cricket 1st XI, winning his School colours.
“After serving most of his two
OBITUARIES
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019