Obituaries Sir Derek Wanless (59-66) Born 1947, died 22 May 2012, aged 64.
After leaving his job with NatWest he found himself in demand by Gordon, resulting in the Wanless Report on the NHS. ‘The NHS have received x billions, but have no idea where they spent it’, he said to me. This Report was followed by a second analysis four years later Securing Good Care for Older People. He may not have had this incorporated into an Act of Parliament, but he did provide an early warning on provision for all of us who choose to live longer and yet put less aside for their care. Locally he was much, well too much really, involved in the Northern Rock but later, as chairman of Northumbrian Water, helped end the business career on a good note. Derek was credited a full page obituary in The Times on 31 May 2012, having prematurely been taken away from us by pancreatic cancer on 22 May, aged only 64.
Hardly a quiet boy, Derek would groan like the rest of us when Melvyn Wallhead (56-66) master ‘LM’ was announced at the annual timetable reading. He would laugh, as well as master Joe Liddell, when a boy inverted his dinner over the head of another in ‘his’ place. He Laurence Shurman (38-50) was suitably cowed when the fearsome Billy Boll sat in for the timid Mr Macro for one maths lesson. Humour he would Born 1930, died 27 July 2012, aged 81. have needed in plenty when inquisitioned by the chairman of the Treasury Select Committee who refused to recognise the ‘Sir’, and in dealings with the dour Gordon Brown. His joviality never extended to the swimming baths though, where he was to be found shivering in the shallow end. In a different deep end, he towered over NatWest Bank as Chief Executive, with Chairman Lord Alexander, akin to John Hall and KK in their heyday. Blessed with a magnificent intellect, he was the local boy made very good, but never deserted his roots suffering, in common with fellow Geordies, at St James’ Park over many years. He was born in the West End in 1947 in humble surroundings and sponsored by Westminster Bank to the RGS, entering at the senior school level. He was the guy to whom the head of maths, Frank Budden, referred when proof reading for his book. Derek was a mean school chess player too.
Old Novos will be sorry to hear that Laurence Shurman died in July this year.
Laurence made a distinguished contribution to British public life through his leading role in the development of the Ombudsman service as a means of securing wider access Derek was faithful to his sponsors and gained experience in to justice for ordinary people. He was Banking Ombudsman the bank during holidays. Sixth Form was inevitably followed from 1988 to 1996. He helped to found what is now the by King’s College, Cambridge and then Harvard. Returning British and Irish Ombudsman Association (BIOA) and to the bank he was catapulted through the ranks, homing in became its first Chair from 1991 to 1999, encouraging the on London. By now he was married to Vera, a local girl who development of the role and taking the lead in establishing how it should be carried out. He continued to be fully he met at the Oxford Galleries, and remained so to her for involved in BIOA after his time as Chair. He was also an the rest of his life. The trappings of the job included a fine active member of JUSTICE, the all-party law reform and panelled office in Lothbury, City of London, a Jaguar with chauffeur and a family of five children. ‘How did you manage human rights organisation. He was a Governor of the RGS from June 1991 to November 2000. your job with twins?’ – ‘like a zombie’ he said.
14
