John R Scott (51-58) Born 2 October 1939, died 16 May 2017, aged 77
In the Fifth Form, when we had to make up our minds between arts and science, John opted for science and this led to him attending Glasgow University where he studied Veterinary Medicine for five years. He learned his profession as a vet in South West Scotland before becoming a partner in the Hexham practice of Pickerings, at which firm he spent his career. He was John Scott was brought up in Hexham a lifelong member and sometime and it was from there in1951 that he official of Tynedale RFC but when he won a free Scholarship to the RGS, could no longer stagger out onto the which in those days had an annual rugby field he took up golf and excelled intake of about 100 to the Senior in that as well. John was also School. He and I started there in occasionally(!) to be found in the Albert September of that year, both in Stowell. Edward Club in Hexham, a watering John was a big, strong lad and good at hole frequented by the gentlemen of sports; as well as being an excellent the shire. swimmer he excelled at the school’s John was well-liked and very popular, two main sports, rugby and cricket. both at school and in his adult life, and In the Sixth Form he was on both first gave many fine parties at his big, teams and was awarded his Colours in detached villa in Hexham. He was also both sports. At rugby he was a prop in in demand as a dinner guest and the forwards and at cricket he was an enjoyed fine dining. opening fast bowler, being selected for John’s health deteriorated in the the prestigious Cambridge tour in the last couple of years or so of his life and summer of 1958. He had the he spent his final few months in a distinction of being made a Prefect. nursing home. He leaves a widow and He subsequently played rugby for adult children. Tynedale Rugby Club and cricket for Tynedale Cricket Club. By the late Fred Godson (51-58)
Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ S Howles (45-48) Born 12 May 1930, died 6 September 2016, aged 86 Jeff, whose death was reported in Issue 99, was the first ON rowing Blue, the Oxford VIII in 1953. This was the more surprising as he had not rowed at school, indeed I believe that rowing only started again in 1948, the year he left, having been suspended since 1939. He played cricket at school, and was in the school XI in 1947 and 1948, though he didn’t do himself justice. He was also in the boxing team. After going down from
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Oxford he forged a very successful banking career in the US before retiring to Herefordshire. I was sad to hear of his death, as he was a very friendly and amiable man. Before coming to the RGS he had been a chorister at Durham Cathederal. By Bryan Stevens (44-49)
ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Autumn 2017
Howard HH Baker (77-12) born 1954, died 24 September 2017, aged 63. William M Darling CBE DL (45-51) born 1934, died 12 July 2017, aged 83. Nigel J Dodds (67-77) born 1958, died 13 September 2017, aged 59. Fred Godson (51-58) born 1940, died 7 October 2017, aged 77. David Grant (48-54) born 1938, died 20 August 2017, aged 79. Harry Issac Hitman (91-98) born 1979, died 2 June 2017, aged 37. Robert ‘Bob’ Hollingsworth (3339) born 1923, died 4 August 2017, aged 94. Richard Holloway (36-43) born 1925, died 30 September 2017, aged 92. Alan Kirby (33-41), born 1924, died 11 December 2015, aged 91. John ‘Brian’ Oglethrope (48-55) born 1937, died 28 March 2017, aged 79. Alan K Purvis (48-56) born 1938, died 30 June 2017, aged 79. Ian V Stemson (28-38) born 1920, died 7 October 2017, aged 97. Donald F Stephenson MBE (32-40) born 1922, died 8 May 2017, aged 95. Corrections (Issue 100) Page 3. Mr Simon Barker should have been Dr Simon Barker, and Page 21. ‘Hepple’ was incorrectly spelt and should have been ‘Heppell’.