Old Decanian News
n~o 86 | Summer 2010
Obituaries Peter Badger (B 65) on July 22nd 2009, aged 57. Peter, son of a Cotswold farmer, followed his older brother Chris into Brook. His school career could scarcely have been more distinguished, rising through the ranks to become Senior Prefect and a triple colour. At the same time he was a loyal member of the choir. He captained the hockey XI and finally left us at Christmas 1969 to join Mansfield College, Oxford to read Geography. He quickly won a place in the University hockey XI, which he eventually captained; he also played for England at U23 level, captaining them also. After gaining a Dip.Ed. he started his career teaching at St Edward’s, Oxford, so we frequently found ourselves up against his wellcoached sides. Peter kept involved in OD activities, particularly Cricket Week, where he was an extremely useful all-rounder, who never knew when he was beaten! In due course he moved to Gresham’s in north Norfolk, so we saw rather less of him, but he was the type of all-round schoolmaster whom Independent Headmasters dream of! Not only did he run the hockey there from 1980-2001, but he also took junior cricket sides. He ran a House from 1990-2004 and, when he finally handed over the top hockey job, he coached the Gresham’s U14 hockey XI to the National Finals, which they duly won. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife Chris and their two children at their untimely loss.
ODN
Ian Barnett (W 38) on January 1st 2010, aged 80. Ian was a talented sportsman at school playing in all 3 major teams and becoming a School Prefect. Leaving in 1947 he did National Service with the RA in Benghazi, before moving back to the Cotswolds, where he resumed his sport with Cheltenham Town HC and became a garage proprietor with some connection with National Benzole. At some point in his early days he attended Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.
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Andrew Baylis (B 59) in September 2009, aged 63. Andrew followed his father Robert to DCS. It is reliably reported
The Society sends its sincere condolences to the families of all Old Decanians who have died. Those we know about are listed below. Our thanks to family members for supplying the information for these obituaries.
that he presented the headmaster’s wife (Mrs Graham) with a brace of trout, thus convincing the HM that he should be allowed to go fishing rather than play sport. But it was in his subsequent career that he really made his mark. From the LSE Andrew moved to a career in the City with Baring Securities, which he helped transform into one of the most successful companies of the 1980s. He was described as ‘a perfectionist, but never pedantic’. He was passionate about Atlantic salmon, wine, furniture, cricket, shooting and general country matters. In 1994 he and his wife Darcie moved to Cornwall where, with great care and determination they began the restoration of the Newton Ferrers estate and gardens. His interests led him to an involvement with the CLA (Countryside Landowners), first in Cornwall, then in the South West and finally on the Board in 2003. His energy was undimmed despite a prolonged battle with cancer over the final 15 years of his life. He is survived by Darcie and their daughter Loelia. (My grateful thanks to Barney Gowar for this information; he and Robert Farnes attended the Memorial Service at St George, Hanover Square).
Ian Blair (G 42) on July 31st 2009, aged 76. Ian had a distinguished school career, rising to Senior Prefect, captaining the swimming team and playing for the rugby XV. He won an Exhibition to Manchester University and embarked on a career as a metallurgist with his BSc. By 1968 he had become Director of metallurgy ZLLM Ltd, Zambia. At some point in his career he also worked for Hatch Associates in Hull. His string of professional qualifications included: FIMC.Eng; FIMM, MCIMM and MTMS. His 3 sons – Andrew, Neill and Keith - all joined Tower during the 1970s.
Brian Bleaney (G 40) on January 12th 2010, aged 80. Brian was the younger of two brothers to join Gate in the early 1940s; his brother Alan died long ago. Both were mechanically minded and Brian’s career was chiefly with Dowty Rotol and Rolls Royce.
Colin Foss-Smith (1934) in May 2009. During the Second War he served with the Indian Army as a Transport Officer on the Burma Rd. Our records suggest he rose to the rank of Captain or possibly even Major with the RIASC. He was a student apprentice with British Thompson-Houston Ltd and later in life he started and ran, with his brother Lester (also DCS) a small factory in Southampton, called Howard Foss Ltd and another called Tapley Meters Ltd. He retired in 1969 and lived with his wife, Gay, in Spain. (Thanks to his son Patrick who notified us of his father’s passing and who commented that “he loved the school and often spoke about it.”).
Michael Foster (T 1932) on 30th December 2009 aged 85. Whilst Michael was at school he had been the Cricket Captain and Prefect. He then went on to be a farmer in Shefford, Bedfordshire. We send sympathies and thoughts to his family.
Richard Hatchwell (T 40) on July 30th 2009, aged 82. Richard served in the Royal Navy during the War and then established himself as an Antiquarian bookseller. For many years he had a shop in Malmesbury, in which I (Richard Padfield) spent many a happy hour without any idea that he was an OD. Later he closed the shop and moved his most precious remaining stock to his home in Great Somerford, where I also visited and made a purchase – and had a good ‘Decanian’ chat as I had placed him by then. Latterly he had a long battle with cancer, but was sustained by a large and loving family.
Anthony Powell (B 37) during 2009. Anthony was the youngest of 3 brothers to attend the school during the 1930s. Kenneth, the eldest, died in action and David, now living in Devon, sent me the gist of what follows: Anthony left in 1939 and immediately developed his interest in Electronics and Radar. He worked with GEC during the War doing Radar research, later joining Devon Shipyards and working for PK Harris