OBITUARIES

HANS PETER ROGOSINSKI (45-51)

DIED 10 AUGUST 2022, AGED 89

My oldest and closest friend, Peter was often referred to at school with affection as “Rogo”. Born in the then German city of Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad), his father was an academic mathematician. His father decided in 1937 to flee Nazi Germany and bring his wife and Peter, his only child, to the UK to continue his academic career. In 1945 the family moved to Newcastle, within 100 yards or so of my parents’ home, with his father later becoming a professor of mathematics at Newcastle University; Professor Werner Rogosinski was an internationally renowned mathematician and an FRS.

Each day Peter and I would walk to and from school. At home, Peter’s main focus was academic study and practising the piano, being absorbed in the family academic environment. He was in the A stream, always in the top group of his class winning many school prizes. He was also a very fine pianist, playing memorably, Mozart’s Piano Concerto with the First Orchestra.

Peter and I became interested in astronomy and Colonel Louis Theakstone (31-41 & 46-53), who was a maths master took us to a domed observatory at Rye Hill, Newcastle. The observatory was later relocated to school and is referred to in the Spring 2018 and this issue of ONA Magazine

On leaving school Peter went to Cambridge University, via Manchester University to study mathematics having been awarded a state scholarship. His name is recorded a unique three times on the wood panelled Roll of Honour mounted in the school hall. At Cambridge he was awarded his doctorate, an unusual achievement. He once modestly informed me that when at Cambridge “he received a college prize.” In 1958 he was my best man at my marriage to Linda.

On leaving Cambridge, Peter, like his father pursued an academic career in mathematics, first as a lecturer in the maths department of Birmingham

University before moving to Swansea University, where he remained until his retirement. He stayed in Swansea until a few months ago, when he moved to a care home in Grantham near friends, whom I believe he saw as the family he never had, having remained a bachelor all his life.

Since our leaving school, we continued to have regular contact and later in retirement we holidayed each year around the UK. As youngsters, Peter and I had spent much of our leisure time making music, cycling, discussing many and varied subjects. During our long friendship of some 77 years, we never fell out once.

Peter possessed a quiet disposition being kind, generous with a good sense of humour. My three sons always referred affectionately to him as their “Uncle Peter”. He was a highly intelligent individual, quietly spoken, always interested in what people had to say but outwardly a stereotypical absent minded academic. I looked upon Peter as the brother I never had and would like to complete this tribute with the following quote to my old and closest friend.

“He walked through life and found it good”. Sleep well my friend, Burland.

FJ Burland Jacob (45-49)

Burland’s fuller tribute can be found on the RGS website under ‘RGS Family’.

JOHN MURRAY GALE (43-50)

BORN 5 JUNE 1931, DIED 24 NOV 2021, AGED 90

John Murray Gale was born in Newcastle on Tyne, England on 5 June 1931.

Following his time at RGS, John went to Edinburgh University to study medicine in 1950 and he completed his Medical Degree in 1957. He married Frances Bailey in 1958 and she had also completed her Medical Degree.

John did his two-year residency in Latrobe, Tasmania, Australia and then he worked in a GP practice in Ulverstone for 30 years. Then John started his own GP practice in Shearwater, Tasmania where he worked until he retired at 79 years.

John had four children who all live in Australia. He also remained in contact with his family in England and Canada. John’s wife, Frankie became unwell with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy and John cared for her at home until she passed away in in 2008.

John loved the outdoors sailing was one of his favourite activities and he successfully raced at a club level. Later in life he enjoyed vintage cars and bought a Studebaker.

Christianity always played a big part in John’s life. He attended church regularly and became a lay preacher. Over many years he contributed to the Anglican churches in Ulverstone and Port Sorell

John had his 90th Birthday on the 5 June 2022. He sang the ‘North East England national anthem’ – Blaydon Races It was a wonderful time with many family members and friends present.

John was able to stay in his own home and live an active life only deteriorating markedly in the last two weeks before he passed away. His commitment to family and faith never wavered.

DR ANTHONY ASHCROFT (32-42)

BORN 19 MAY 1924, DIED 7 FEBRUARY 2022, AGED 97

Anthony was born in Stourbridge and moved with his family to Newcastle aged three. He attended RGS from age eight, including the evacuation to Penrith for Fifth and Sixth Form.

He excelled academically and was captain of cross-country running. A capable musician, he initiated the formation of a choir in Penrith, but he was no singer and failed the audition for the choir he helped to found. He also produced much art and calligraphy, keeping an autograph book in which are found the signatures of masters and prefects in 1942, including Dr ER Thomas (22-48) and a drawing by Major Bertram (28-69).

The school wanted him to apply for Oxbridge but he instead chose to study medicine in Newcastle (Durham University) to be near his parents from whom he had been separated for so long. He graduated MB; BS in 1947, having won the Sir Thomas Oliver prize in Anatomy. After a house officer post at Newcastle’s RVI, he spent two years of National Service as a pathologist at RAF Halton, and thereafter served as medical officer in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserve until 1967. He was entitled to retain the rank of Flight Lieutenant for life.

He returned to the North East in 1950 as medical registrar at Dryburn Hospital, Durham and was awarded MD in 1951 with a thesis on emphysema. In 1952 he entered General Practice at Prospect House in the

West End of Newcastle, where he remained until retirement in 1986, the last 10 years as senior partner. He was involved in the creation of the Northumbria Vocational Training Scheme for General Practice, introducing structured training for the first time, and was a trainer in the scheme for many years. In the Asian flu pandemic in 1957, he recalled sharing 80 home visits a day between two doctors, many on foot, plus three surgeries each a day. There was no PPE or remote consultation; doctors just took their chances. At that time, he was living “over the shop” with his young family. In 1982 he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Outside of medicine, Anthony’s life revolved around his family. In 1949 he married Alison Gillespie, who had been secretary to his consultant at the RVI. They had two children: Christine, who married me, Paddy Neligan (56-67), and Philip Ashcroft (60-63) who qualified as a doctor and emigrated to New Zealand. Nothing was too much trouble to help and support his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 2010 Anthony and Alison moved to York to a house just across the road from Christine and me.

In retirement he enjoyed attending Old Novo luncheons well into his eighties, especially meeting up with other Penrith evacuees and after moving to York, he continued to enjoy reading the ON magazine – including looking for old friends in the obituaries.

After a Baptist upbringing, he became a Quaker in 1964, an important part of his life. Silent worship suited him well: thinking deeply and only speaking when he had something useful to say. He served variously in the pastoral role of Overseer and as an Elder and was on the Funeral committee. He also served many years on the board of the Retreat Psychiatric Hospital in York.

After Alison died in 2018 he moved into residential care for his final years. He is survived by Christine and Philip, their partners, eight grandchildren and partners, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Paddy Neligan (56-67)

A fuller version of Dr Ashcroft’s obituary is available online.