OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY I DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL
the army. 8th May Clive Coe (Walton Court, 1945) died at the age of 86. He spent most of his life in the Cheltenham area, much of it working as an aerospace engineer at Dowty’s. He also enjoyed working, post-retirement, for Bugatti at the Prestcott hill-climb. He had a huge sense of humour, which he kept (along with an athletic physique) until the end. He leaves behind a wife, June, and son, Chris (also an OD). 17th April Helena Anne Robinson (Shelburne, 1997) died from cancer. Helena enjoyed her two years in the Sixth Form where she successfully passed her A Levels before going to the University of the West of England to study physiotherapy. After qualifying, she worked at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, and then, for most of her working life, at St George’s, Tooting as part of the neuro-physiotherapy service. Her funeral was held at Putney Vale Crematorium on 1st May where the chapel seats 70 people. More than double that number turned up filling not only the seats and standing room but the porch and area outside. Many of her work colleagues and personal friends, and at least three ODs, were present. 2nd April Peter Frederick Browning Preston (Tower, 1944) underwent a cancer operation on his jaw and became very ill and passed away on the 2nd of March 2014. Peter was a local boy having grown up in Tewkesbury with his older sister Rosemary and their parents Frederick and Muriel. He had happy memories of his childhood keeping chickens, cycling around the locality and spending holidays in Devon with his Mother’s family. He arrived at Dean Close from Tewkesbury Grammar School in 1941 having won an exhibition. Unable to go to university due to the war, Peter joined the Royal Engineers in 1944 and at the age of 21 found himself in charge of 260 officers and men. The end of the war meant Peter did not see active service and so in 1948, having been demobilised, he began three years training in Worcester City Engineers and Surveyors Department, graduating from the Institute of Civil Engineers. In 1954 he met his future wife, Betty, with whom he enjoyed 57 years and had two children. He retired in 1987, having worked in local government and later his own private practice, and enjoyed spending his new found freedom with old friends and his beloved grandchildren. In the words of his family, Peter was ‘a lovely warm man’ but above all ‘he was a family man.’
2nd April Peter Alexander Bower (Tower, 1944) Peter who was best friends with Peter Preston (above) at Dean Close, died on the same day other side of the world in Australia. Peter worked at Lloyds bank in the UK and transferred with them when he relocated to Australia. He was the accountant to an Australian sailing and yaught company. 9th March Derek Edward Neale (Brook, 1945) died after a brief illness. Derek arrived at the school in 1941 and left in the first term of 1945 having won his colours for Rugby . He is listed as serving during the Second World War as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Wiltshire Regiment & Assam Rifles. He went on to grow tea in the Nilgiri hills, India and act as a tropical tree consultant.
Libyan Desert, Normandy, Korea, Germany and Bahrain, until retiring in 1965 to become a preparatory schoolmaster, teaching Latin and rifle shooting at Packwood Haugh School, near Shrewsbury. St Clair married Prue Dixon in 1947 who predeceased him and they had 2 daughters. 10th January John Michael Oddy (Gate, 1948) died on the 10th of January leaving a widow, 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren. John was a House Prefect at Dean Close and an all-round good sportsmen. He won his School colours for rugby and Hockey two years running and Cricket colours for 3 years. He also represented his House and won colours for rugby, hockey, cricket and gym and was a Lance Corporal in the J.T.C. In 1998 he was awarded an MBE for his services to Oxfam
6th February Richard Read (Walton Court, 1947) died peacefully at home aged 83 after a long illness bravely borne. He greatly enjoyed seeing his family and grandchildren as he had been bedridden since September. Richard attended Dean Close between 1940 and 1947.
5th January Peter Orloff (Field, 1959) passed away aged 69. Peter was at Dean Close School for 2 years arriving in 1957 and leaving in 1959.
2nd February Robert Arthur Baylis (Brook, 1941) Robert arrived at Dean Close in 1937 and left in 1941 so spanning a turbulent period in the School’s history as the senior pupils were transferred to Monkton Combe and the school struggled to survive. Robert does not seem to have been affected by this. He was House Prefect, Lance Sergeant in the JTC and a very capable sportsmen. He won his School colours for Rugby and Football in 1939 and 1940, for Hockey in 1940 and 1941 the latter as captain, and colours for cricket in 1941. After leaving school he joined the RNVR as a midshipman eventually becoming Lieutenant.
December Anthony (Tony) Sidney Allen (Gate, 1945) died aged 86 from heart failure which was sudden so he did not suffer a great deal. A few years prior Tony met with the School Archivist and recalled some stories which he enjoyed tremendously.
He never forgot Dean Close, donating items from his school years here to the School Archive Collection. Darcie Baylis (daughter-in-law) mentioned that Robert was such a fervent supporter of Dean Close and he had such fond memories. 20th January Major Wilfrid St Clair Tisdall (Brook, 1939) died aged 92. Was awarded an Immediate MC in Holland in 1944, when he was commanding a troop of the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars (8 KRIH), which paid tribute to his courage. Wilfrid, who became known as St Clair, was Head Boy and Captain of Rugby at Dean Close. He went to Wadham College, Oxford, to read Modern Languages and earned pocket money fire-watching at night on the roofs of prominent buildings. He served in the Army in Cairo, the
2013
16th November Richard Bentley Reeve (Brook, 1943) arrived at Dean Close in 1938 leaving in 1943. He served in the RAF in WW2. Afterwards joining the Civil Service until 1983. He studied at St. Peter’s Hall, Oxford. 13th October Christopher George Thompson Dash (Gate, 1956) brother of Dr Michael G. Dash. Chris entered into Gate House when he came over the road from the Junior School. He was a keen Cricketer in his time at DCS. He was a very useful batsman and played a number of times for the Old Decanian Society, of which he was a great supporter. Chris also played hockey and after leaving school played for Lansdown HC. Chris went into Banking and worked for Barclays. 11th October Herbert Arnold Phillips Firth (Walton Court, 1962) died aged 69. At School Hubert excelled at Cross Country. He married his wife Val in 1968 shortley after attending Harrow College of Technology. He became a Quantity Surveyor working for John Laing International Division.
SUMMER 2015 I FLECKER 21