Obituaries

Michael J Smith (49-59)

Born 1941, Died 22 November 2009, aged 68 learn to compose, I answer ‘How did you learn to breathe?” (M J Smith) Music was my brother’s raison d’etre, although he was passionate about all sorts of things –the Lake District, cricket, Scrabble and even the English weather! Michael was at the RGS from the age of 11 until 1959. He was taught to play the violin by Johnson Hood, and Jack Wolstenholme Edwin L L Jones (52-59) died 15 December 2009, aged 68. He was formerly Honorary Treasurer of the ONA. William A Gilchrist (43-51) died 23 December 2009, aged 75. Peter F Jameson (38-40) died 15 January 2010, aged 82. John A Winterburn (38-46) died 1 February 2010, aged 82.

directed him in the school orchestra. He remembers beginning his musical education at the age of one, thanks to our mother, who listened to the 1940s equivalent of Classic FM from morning till night. Mr Hood encouraged his first compositions, and he produced a steady stream of pieces for varying sizes of orchestra and for solo instruments. Our father was determined that he qualify in the ‘real world’ so he went to Leeds University, studying composition under Herbert Howells, and then became a professional violin player, initially in Holland, where he met and married

“If anybody asks me how did you

Muriel Janse. Whilst his two sons, Christopher and Robin, were growing up, Michael played with the Scottish National Orchestra under Alexander Gibson. Back in Holland, he switched to the viola. His joy at finally discovering the instrument which he felt was meant for him expressed itself in the formation of Altorama, one of the first viola ensembles. He was section leader and frequent soloist in the Noord Hollands Orkest until his retirement five years ago and then played in several amateur orchestras. He was as committed to these as to anything in his professional life, and was proud to play Schindler’s List at the annual memorial service for the concentration camp at Vught near where George R Dickson (59-66) died 10 February 2010, aged 62. Ronald Elder (33-40) died 5 February, aged 87. Christopher Sibson (52-56) died in Luxembourg on 22 January 2010, aged 69. His friend Keith Pickering (52-59) writes: He left the RGS when his family moved to Birmingham where he attended King Edwards’s School. We met up again as freshmen at Oxford in 1960 and remained the he lived. Life was often joyous for Michael, but never tranquil. He battled with bipolar disorder all his life, and never ever did things by halves, celebrating his 50th birthday with a 48-hour marathon walk through his beloved Cumbria. As someone who spent countless holidays ‘over the hills and far away’, he vowed to ‘give something back in gratitude for the spiritual inspiration which this district has given me including battling with a Force 11 gale near Styhead Tarn’. I quote here from the programme notes compiled by Michael himself for a concert just a week before his death, with Ryton Choral Society. He had set Wordsworth’s The Prelude as an oratorio, and was lucky enough to find a highly skilled musical director in David Murray to play a selection from the work.

Maybe it was the emotion of hearing his dream come true –who knows. Michael returned after the concert to s’Hertogenbosch, where he had been scheduled to play a solo in the Ashokan Farewell on the 22 December. Sadly, I heard that he had been found dead of a sudden heart attack at his home that morning, and it was at his own funeral that his friends played for him that same haunting piece of music.

Sue Hedworth (Michael Smith’s sister) closest of friends ever since, each fulfilling reciprocal Best Man duties for the other.

Edward Ian Lunn (34-39) died March 2010, aged 85.

John Farthing (50-59) died 1 March 2010, aged 69. He was Honorary Secretary and later President of the ONA (92-94). He distinguished himself at school at rugby and athletics, and later, whilst living in Canada, had a trial for the Canada rugby team.

Archibald Rutherford Scott (29-39)

Born 8 August 1921, died 9 November 2009 aged 88.

Archie was a diligent student and a keen sportsman, representing the school and his house, Stowell, on several teams, in boxing, tennis and rugby. He went on to play for the Old Novos for a number of years, and represented Northumberland County at tennis. Archie continued his education at King’s College, Newcastle, and earned a degree in civil engineering.

In 1942 he joined the Royal Engineers, and was involved in building the Mulberry Harbour at Aramanges, to support the D-day landings; then on to constructing Bailey bridges across the Rhine to allow the allied forces to cross, and finally in North Africa and the Sudan until the war ended. When he was demobbed, Archie joined the family business, Rutherford’s Building Contractors. Later he went on to work for Bowey’s and Stanley Miller’s. For over 50 years, Archie was an active member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and in 1976 became chairman of the North East branch of the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, representing the North East of England on the Counsel in London.

In later years, Archie’s sporting activities narrowed down to playing golf mainly at Ponteland, Arcot Hall and Foxton; and his lifelong love of boats and sailing which he was able to pursue more closely when he and his

Howard Gibson Gale (35-43)

Born 1926, died 3 January 2010, aged 83. practice in Gosforth. Throughout his professional group of patients, including some of society’s

since she was six years old and lived next door. First XV, for Durham University, the United wife Honor retired to live at Beadnell. Archie was a longtime member of Beadnell Sailing Club, serving as Commodore from 1960 to 1962 and latterly as President. Archie passed away peacefully at Ponteland Manor Nursing Home. He is predeceased by his wife Honor, and son John, and leaves two daughters and their husbands, a daughter in law, six grandchildren and a great granddaughter to mourn his passing.

Archie continued until very recently to maintain an interest in the lives of his school friends and acquaintances through the ONA Magazine.

Susan Hardy and Christine Hayward

Born in Whitley Bay, Howard Gale was the younger son of Sydney and Jean Gale and brother to Colin, who was killed in 1943 at Monte Casino during the Eight Army’s Italian Campaign.

Howard was at RGS when the whole school was evacuated to Penrith, housed in the school billet at Round Thorn. His time at Penrith was happy and carefree and he greatly enjoyed the recent reunion, meeting old friends and reliving past events and memories.

On leaving school, he entered the Dental School, King’s College, Newcastle, and gained his degree and dental qualification. In 1950 he married Margot, whom he had known They had three children and then six grandchildren, all of whom created a strong family bond which Howard relished and encouraged. 2010 is Howard and Margot’s Diamond Wedding anniversary. Howard did his national service with the RNVR and then came back north to start a brand new dental practice in Benton, where he practiced until the last few years of his working life, when he worked in school dentistry and part time in a life he’d also taught in the Dental School. As a dentist he was deeply committed to the National Health Service, he saw it as being of great social benefit, and a fundamental human right, and all that despite his fundamentally conservative views. He cared for an eclectic and wide-ranging most vulnerable people. He went out of his way on many occasions, as one friend has reminded Margot that not many dentists would take out a tooth on a Sunday evening!

He was a member of the Royal Navy Reserve for 40 years or more, something which he greatly enjoyed, particularly the weekly training and the annual exercises. His other great passion was rugby. He played in the school’s (Archie’s daughters). Services and for the Old Novocastrians’ Rugby Club, where he had also been President. He also loved golf and was a member of the Northumberland Golf Club for many years. Altogether he lived a full and active life.

Howard was a people person, a real extrovert, a man who enjoyed life to the full, and nothing more than a party and fun. He really enjoyed the Christmas celebrations last year, the first time the whole family had been together for ten years. He had a real presence about him; somehow you always knew when you walked into a room that he was there. He adored his daughters, and was immensely proud of them. He had high expectations of them, but allowed them to find their own paths in life, giving them their own space.

We will remember Howard for his constant good humour and laid back contentment with life, his optimism and cheerful smile.

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