Old Decanian News
RCP -
N~o 89 | Summer 2013
Saddest news of Olympic Year has been that of the passing of Richard Padfield. In the Pantheon of all-time greatest Decanians, RCP must surely rank among the foremost: great not merely for longevity (an association lasting 60 years), but even more so for loyal contribution of the highest calibre. It is hard to imagine any couple outscoring Richard and Sue Padfield in dedicated service and professional excellence.
“…I was at Dean Close from 1980 to 1985 and although I was in Gate House I always found Richard willing to listen and provide good, clear sensible advice. I was not particularly academic (as Sue will no doubt remember having to get me through O Level maths on my third attempt) so this was a welcome change for me and very much appreciated.”
Chris Walker (Gate 85)
ODN
“I was a student of Mr Padfield’s in the seventies and was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. I live in Canada… I have never forgotten him and it is in part to him that I am in the education field myself. He was a wonderful teacher and a truly special man”.
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Lauren Ashley (Mead 75)
My first conscious memory of him was as a DCJS Colts Hockey half-back in 1953, where the exceptionally successful team was held up to us as an exemplar of “guts, skill and determination” by headmaster EJB Langhorne. Almost the last was of Miserden School Friends’ Quiz Night a year or so ago, where the Lanes were fortunate to be paired with the Padfields, and a red-faced vicar in another team was forced to give best to the gently smiling Richard’s far superior recall of the remote OT prophets. He was an exceptional schoolboy scholar-athlete. Although best known for his Hockey (with all possible school honours, leading to a triple Oxford Blue, Junior Internationals and long-time county success with Wilshire), I had forgotten until recently that he set a school high-jump record which stood for 2 decades, and recall especially his telling captaincy of our 1961 unbeaten Cricket XI. Richard himself scored nearly 500 runs in the season, bowled useful off-breaks, and was a run-out specialist fielding at mid-off: batsmen were lulled by his relaxed demeanour into taking “…It was a privilege to have been at Richard’s funeralamongst many other contacts, he was Head Boy when I arrived at school!”
Paul Youde (Field 65)
casual singles, only to be undone by the cobra-like speed and accuracy of his throw. He also relished upsetting opponents by ensuring (since we had 4 decent left-handers in the side) that there was always a left-hander and right-hander partnership in the middle – an example of the astuteness of his leadership which we so enjoyed. He was a great ‘team man’. Probably he would have ranked as the pinnacle of his sporting career his years with Wiltshire Hockey. They reached the county final 6 times in 9 years, winning 5 of them. Generally their style (at least to the bystander) was to score a goal (rarely more than 2 goals), and then defend it to the metaphorical death. This was achieved by the ‘Iron Men of Wiltshire’ – alias Padfield, Ireland (OD) and Elmitt. They were the bane of the more glitzy Home Counties, relishing their role as underdogs, playing brilliant defensive hockey… and of course making friends for life in the process. Sport seemed to assume almost preeminent school importance in those days. “…I am very sad to hear of Richard’s passing; he gave so much to Dean Close and was a true part of the institution.”
Capt Laurence Whittingham (Brook Court 2003)