obituaries
Obituaries CathArine Parker (1993–2000) Mark Edwards, Jenny Briggs, Edward Preston
Harvey Antrobus (1991–1998) Adapted from William Antrobus’ oration “And when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night.” (Shakespeare) Harvey was a warm, thoughtful, self-contained young man whose parents and brothers are justly proud of his achievements and considerate character. His energy lit up any room and he is sorely missed by his family, girlfriend Zoe, his dog Bede and many friends. There are many cherished memories from family holidays of Harvey’s gentle antics that now help warm hearts that are devastated by his death at such a young age. Sometimes the good die young and while there was so much more to live, Harvey was living every moment and opportunity. At Bablake, Harvey had enjoyed rugby, squash and badminton, had a close circle of friends and is remembered as a student who would dig beneath the surface of a question or statement. Merely accepting a fact or theory did not give enough intellectual satisfaction! A keen interest in engineering was evident throughout his life – from energetic early morning tree house construction at the age of 6, through to his graduation in Aeronautical Engineering at Coventry University and consequent employment at Coventry’s airport. Harvey was dedicated to his work and fortunate enough to find a job that was also his passion. He met challenges scientifically and logically. In fact, nothing was too difficult; there simply had to be a solution. Farming too was close to his heart and he had already acquired land to harvest and cattle to farm. Harvey’s trademark was his opentop Land Rover. Even those who did not know him personally knew him by his Land Rover and the ready wave and smile. He was heavily committed to Young Farmers and an established DJ for events. Harvey had grown very close to his girlfriend Zoe. He was somebody very special whose relationship with his brothers Richard and Charles was also strong. His parents, William and Stella share the memory of the banter, the honesty, the sense of fun and yet that lovely caring kindness the three brothers shared throughout their lives. Everyone who was close to Harvey has lost a dear friend who had a terrific impact on their life. Harvey was handsome, kind, caring, compassionate, strong and inspirational. His achievements and legacy speak loudly. Many of you will remember the news of the mid air collision over Coombe Abbey on August 17th 2008 in which Harvey lost his life. His passion was flying and aircraft and he died doing what he loved.
Catharine joined Bablake as a member of Shell J. She enjoyed her time at the school, making full use of the opportunities available, and even taught a maths lesson on one occasion! She was an active member of the music department, as a singer and cellist, touring with the school several times. At Bablake, Cat developed a passion for Geography and furthered her interest with a degree in that subject from Durham. At university, Cat also developed her shopping skills and discerning taste in shoes and handbags, excellent training for her initial graduate post at Harrods. She then progressed into the world of finance, qualifying as an accountant with KPMG and later working for UBS. Cat was an endless source of fun and amusement, with her bubbly personality and witty comments. Sadly, Cat died suddenly in her sleep earlier this year but will remain fondly in our thoughts. Her memory lives on with an Epilepsy Research UK memorial fund (http://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk). Deepesh Patel (1996–2003) Shekar Venkataraman Deepesh was a warm and sincere friend to all who knew him and his loss is something that I can’t fully express in words. The majority of the 10 years for which I knew him was during our time at Bablake and my memories of Deepesh will forever be intertwined with the school in which we both grew from boys to men. He loved Bablake and the time he spent there, with the school leaving a mark that did not fade from his life. Bablake gave him an education which allowed him to achieve his goals of a career in the city but it provided him and all of us with so much more, a social circle of supportive friends that will never forget his memory. He maintained fond and funny memories of the school, both its teachers and students. He enjoyed his time at Bablake with the same gusto he brought to the rest of his life and this is how he will be remembered. He will be missed by many and forgotten by none. Also: John Carson (1938- 1944) Peter Gill (1941- 1948)
Erratum from 2006-07 issue: Michael Clare, son of Derek, died in 2001. In the next issue, we hope to report on a new Memorial Garden that is being constructed at Bablake. bablake school
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