Obituaries

John E Bellamy

(1951-56) Our father John Bellamy was a proud Old Pauline; he often reminisced fondly about his time at St Paul’s. He had won a scholarship from the junior school and was a prefect in his final year. He told hilarious stories of classroom antics – mainly to the detriment of the teacher in charge and was surprisingly proud that, due to being a Scholar, he had received the most minimal of science education. We were reminded frequently that the only topics on which he had any scientific knowledge were water fleas and Magdeburg hemispheres!

As a sportsman he made his mark – as a wing forward in the 1st XV Rugby team (1954-55) he gained the reputation of being able to ‘turn on a sixpence’. He also played for the 1st XI Cricket team in 1956. Having completed two years of National Service with the RAF, his academic and sporting prowess continued at The Queen’s College, Oxford where he read Greats, played lots of rugby and cricket and discovered his singing voice.

Cricket remained an important part of his life while we were growing up. Together with our mum, Jane, many happy Sunday afternoons were spent at Thames Ditton – our chance to wangle a pint of coca cola or, if we were lucky, a shandy. Fellow Old Paulines John Farrell (1941-46) and Godfrey Whittingham (1950-55) became very good family friends.

John made a career in IT and Management Consultancy but his real passion was for acting and singing – he sang in many London choirs and took part in numerous local musical and drama productions. His knowledge of history, ancient and modern, inspired frequent overseas travels – his other big passion. He took pride in being an ‘all-rounder’ who could hold his own in any social situation. We will remember him as a people person, a wicked observer of others and someone who refused to lose an argument. Alexandra and Edward Bellamy

Timothy J Bonham-Carter

(1954-58) I am sad to announce the passing of my father Tim on 16th February who had battled with multiple myeloma for the last 8 years.

Tim helped create the BioIndustry Association (BIA) and was chair for two years. He influenced the change in stock market rules to allow unprofitable biotech companies to list – hard to imagine in today’s speculative world.

While often thought of as a leader, he was never comfortable giving speeches and preferred to be in the background. He suffered from dyslexia that was not appreciated until he was nearly 50. It was tough enough that he once skipped school for 6 weeks and spent the time in London’s galleries.

In the late 1960s in Australia he was a computer consultant yet returned in time to become bankrupt in the 1970s stock market crash. He joined his mother, Lesley, at LH Engineering transforming it to a biotech instrumentation supplier. With Lonrho, research started on monoclonal antibodies, therapeutics that helped prolong his life over 40 years later. He was early, perhaps the first, to attach personal computers to fermenters, such as the Commodore Pet with a 4Kb memory.

He served on the boards or was a trustee of several charities including the Florence Nightingale museum. Tim was also involved in the politics of Richmond, Surrey, and with others, he was an early pioneer of recycling with profits donated to local charities.

He lived longer and more happily than we thought possible, in part due to the provision of drugs that France pays for that the UK NHS would not have. A smoker from 16, hitting 40 a day until he quit overnight when Maggie Thatcher raised duty, he had already survived bowel and prostate cancer.

His final “Good Years” were spent happily with his wife, many friends and family, in a Provencal Hameau enjoying the local produce. His joviality, kindness, welcoming attitude and smile will be greatly missed. John Bonham-Carter (1985-90), son

Nicholas R Gooud

(1958-63) Nicholas grew up and lived in Chiswick and attended Colet Court and then St Paul’s. During his time at School, he found his passion for rugby and became captain of the school team. Once leaving school he carried on playing for The Old Paulines. He also represented the School in rowing. He was a member of the Christian Union and attended many House Parties.

After leaving school he trained at Marks and Spencer and became assistant manager at the Putney branch. In 1967 he had a change of career and went to work at the Bank of England. One of the joys of his job was that he was able to play rugby for The Bank. Against his own better judgment, he continued to play into his forties. His Bank career meant moving around all departments and in 1982 he was working in Exchange Control, when the United Kingdom went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. This was intense work from April to June, but he felt he was part of the war effort.

In 1985 he took the opportunity to go on secondment to help set up the Securities and Investment Board (SIB), which was to become known as the City of London watchdog. In 2001 it became The Financial Services Authority (FSA), where he remained until he retired in 2005 at the age of 60.

Nicholas spent his retirement with his family enjoying his love of cars and films. His family loved him immensely. He married his wife Katharine in 1972, and they set up home in Worcester Park in Surrey. His first son Alexander was born in 1982. His second son Richard was born in 1986. Both boys have inherited his love of cars, films and technology.

The family will never forget Nicholas as a wonderful, dedicated father and an extremely caring husband. The Gooud Family

Gilbert W Green

(1938-42) Gilbert attended St Paul’s before war broke out and was evacuated with the school in 1939. In 1940 the family home in Middlesex was bombed and the school became his only home. He remembers camping out in a scout hut with his father acting as a fire-watcher in the holidays. He was exempted from immediate military service and went to St John’s College, Cambridge in 1942, specialising in geology. After the war he joined the Geological Survey of Great Britain, which became his career for nearly 40 years.

In 1950 Gilbert married Julian Quick, daughter of the theologian Canon Oliver Chase Quick. Their four sons all attended the School: Robert (1965-70), Christopher (Hilary) (1967-72), Matthew (1971-75) and Richard (1973-1977). The family moved to Ealing in 1958 and stayed there until the Survey relocated to Nottingham in 1979.

Gilbert loved his career in geology, which included a secondment to the Geological Survey of Jamaica in 1968-71. He was never happier than when in the field mapping, mainly in Somerset and South Wales. His children joined him in the summer holidays, living in a caravan.

Gilbert was a deeply committed Anglican, frequently acting as churchwarden, and came back to the School to speak at the Christian Union.

In the 1980s he surprised many by developing a passion for forestry and retiring early from the Survey. He bought Biss Wood, outside Trowbridge in Wiltshire, and he and Julian eventually settled in the village of Edington nearby. He applied himself with a will to developing the wood, which is now a nature reserve.

Gilbert lost Julian in 2009, and his last years saw a gradual decline in eyesight, hearing and mobility. He managed to stay in his home until his death, largely thanks to his son Richard, who was his companion in his final years. The Green Family

John L R Melotte

(1971–75) John and I first met at prep school – a quiet thoughtful boy with an improbably early moustache and an unusual gait when he ran. It was immediately clear that he was academically and musically gifted, top of the class and regaling us with Acker Bilk and The Beatles on the clarinet.

He won a scholarship to St Paul’s and continued to thrive academically. He became a prefect, and it was in Barnes that began his lifelong love of rowing, joining the crew in the 1st VIII – “I’m better sitting down than running”.

With another scholarship, John read Mathematics at Exeter College, Oxford, where he rowed in the College First Eight becoming Captain of Boats. Typically, he later confided that he derived most satisfaction from persuading us to try rowing and then in coaching us to our own modest success and great enjoyment.

John’s working life started in IT, initially as a software engineer, but he soon moved into management, and then into the world of mergers and acquisitions with spells living in the United States. He continued to help young companies seek support as a consultant but returned latterly as a director of a burgeoning systems company.

Meanwhile John had continued to row at Molesey and founded the Exeter College Boat Club Association, keeping alumni in contact with each other and the College. He supported Teddington Swimming Club and later became Chairman of Swim England London Regional Management Board.

John had a quick and incisive mind and remarkable organisational skills that he used to great effect at work, but also to help others. He was always quietly guided by compassion and by what was just, and was extraordinarily generous with his time and means, and with his friendship.

John is survived by his wife Julie and three daughters Alice, Sarah and Katherine, and two grandchildren. Francis Lovell and Richard Powell

Charles H Merriman

(1954-58) Charles was born in Surrey in 1941 and attended St Paul’s in 1954, a time he spoke of fondly. Whilst academic, Charles enjoyed representing the School, participating in the Combined Cadet Force, Rugby, Swimming and Boxing teams. He continued to play rugby with the Old Paulines.

Charles’ career started with Price Waterhouse. Accountancy underpinned his further careers in Outdoor Advertising and Computer Software, but mainly a long career in Travel and Tourism, working with Lord Brothers, Laker and Ellermans, latterly running his own business. As a founder member of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, Charles was honoured with a “Fellowship” for his work in the travel industry and as a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Charles was highly respected in the travel industry. This interest continued into his retirement.

For “relaxation” Charles participated in motor racing, car rallying, and Porsche Beaujolais Runs, racing with his team in the UK and abroad. As a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists he became an “Observer” teaching others.

Charles had a positive outlook on life, a twinkle in his eye and an impish sense of humour that was very infectious. Charles always had time to help others, both by arranging and engaging in charity and church events and through teaching and supporting people. Reverend Canon Les Wells described Charles as “a man of God”. St Paul’s ethos is to ensure its education is spiritual and holistic, as well as academic. Charles’ life was entirely underpinned by this principle. He worked hard at a successful career whilst also ensuring those whom he met felt at ease, supported and educated. He took a genuine interest in others.

Charles is survived by his wife Sue, daughters Katherine and Elizabeth and four grandchildren. He died peacefully at home with his family by his side. He is sorely missed by them, his church and friendship group, who are blessed with many beautiful memories. Merriman family

Peter Needham

(1947-52) Peter escaped from Czechoslovakia in January 1939 with the help of the Barbican Mission to the Jews. Aged 4 ½ he was one of the first refugee Jewish children to be flown out of Prague to Croydon Airport. With good fortune and hard work he won a scholarship to St Paul’s in 1947 where he was taught by the dream team of Cotter and Cruickshank and made lifelong friendships.

From St Paul’s he won an open scholarship to study Classics at Oriel College Oxford. After Oriel he spent 2 years completing National Service, which he loathed. His duties were restricted as he was considered a security risk as his father was in Government Service in East Germany.

With his love of Classics, Peter became a school teacher firstly at Bromsgrove School and then at Magdalen College School where he spent 4 happy years before moving to Eton in 1964. Here he found contentment and worked happily for over 30 years.

We married in 1971 and Peter became a devoted family man with two wonderful children and, over the years, 3 badly behaved border collies, the last one joining us in retirement in Datchet in 1998.

Although he rowed at Oriel, Peter was not a natural sportsman, however he was a devoted Arsenal fan from an early age until his sudden death in March this year.

While still teaching he translated two books from German into English. “Caesar” by Matthias Gelzer and “Latin Can Be Fun” by Georg Capellanus. Shortly before retirement Peter translated “A Bear Called Paddington” by Michael Bond into Latin (“Ursus nomine Paddington”).

In early retirement Peter translated the first two “Harry Potter” books into Latin, “Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis” and “Harrius Potter et Camera Secretorum”. This occupied and helped him adjust to a slower pace of life.

Reflecting on Peter’s life a friend wrote of his “… escape from Czechoslovakia to Oxford and Eton and finally Paddington and Datchet followed by Hogwarts. What a life”. Nicky Needham

Dietrich W F (Wennemar) Von Bodelschwingh

(1968-73) Wennemar von Bodelschwingh, born on January 22nd 1955, died on August 25th 2020 due to a brain cancer.

Wennemar grew up in Munich with his twin sister and three older sisters. Regular walks and excursions with the family into the countryside and mountains awakened his passion for nature at an early age. In 1966, the family moved to London, where Wennemar’s father, Dr. Heinz von Bodelschwingh, worked for Siemens. Wennemar went to Sussex House Preparatory School in London until 1968 and then to St Paul’s until 1973. During his school years, Wennemar often cheered on his favourite football team, Chelsea.

In the 1970s, he enjoyed his zoology studies at Queen’s College, Oxford, to the full. His professional career began with a Traineeship in Banking at J. Henry Schroder Wagg & Co. Ltd. in London and took him to Bayerische Vereinsbank in Munich then to Insead in Fontainebleau (MBA) and to Deutsche Bank in Melbourne and Frankfurt where he worked in Corporate Finance.

In October 1994, he married Annette Scheiff with whom he was happily married for 25 years and had two sons. He spent many summer holidays with his sisters in Sweden. He worked at Eurohypo AG where he worked for Investor Relations from 2003 until 2015. His passion for ornithology lured him to many distant countries in recent years. There, observing the birds made him very happy. Wennemar was a modest, humorous and loving family man. Wennemar’s family

Henry J Winson

(1940-46) Henry James Winson was born on December 21st 1927 and was brought up in Wembley Park with his younger brother, Julian (1944-48). After finishing school, he went to University (City of London) where he achieved a Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Commissioned in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers he rose to the rank of Captain. While serving, Henry tumbled out of an army lorry and broke his arm. This led to him meeting his future wife, Brenda, a nurse in London. They married in April 1957.

On leaving the Army, he initially worked for ICI. In 1960, Henry set up his own business, Winson Heating. He was always keen to expand and develop the business and so Applied Energy Systems evolved. He imported engines from America and packaged them for industrial uses such as powering oil rigs, heating large communal swimming pools and hospitals. The business grew, with his main office in Watford and others in Aberdeen, Runcorn and Falmouth.

Henry and Brenda had four children, David, Angela, Nigel and Sandra. They spent many years in Pinner and had a house in Falmouth. When the grandchildren arrived – 8 in 6 years, he bought a house in Littlehampton for the families to enjoy.

Henry was an incredibly generous husband, father and grandfather. The advice he offered was invaluable and his practical approach to life admirable. He loved his time at St Paul’s and continued to go to school reunions well into his 80s and attributed his success to the fine education he received. He enjoyed not only the academic opportunities but also the practical skills offered. He made a working model of a field gun in June 1942, a car jack and a letter opener from ammunition brass; these and other objects remain prized possessions of his family. He lived a long and happy life and passed away after a silent and courageous battle with cancer in February 2021. The Winson Family