15516 RGS ONA Magazine 90_PRINT 30/01/2014 15:00 Page 14
Obituaries
branch of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve Association; and he played senior roles within the RGS and Ponteland Masonic lodges. He acted as a magistrate for 31 years, and ascended to the office of Chairman of the North Tyneside Juvenile Bench (the poor blighters didn’t stand a chance!)
Geoffrey Thomas Orde (40-49) Born 22 May 1931, died 27 September 2013, aged 82
Geoffrey Thomas Orde was born in Gosforth in 1931, followed in his elder brother John’s (38-47) footsteps in attending RGS, and was also later joined by his younger brother Denis (40-50). Hitler was to directly impact upon Geoff’s (or ‘Peff’, as he was then known) childhood, for the school was evacuated to Penrith during the war. During this time he lodged with Miss Natrass – who owned a laundry in Penrith – and her housekeeper Marjorie; Geoff was forever indebted to them for their extraordinary generosity in providing a warm and caring environment so far from home, and he kept in touch with them for many years. His time in the ‘Lakes’ made a lasting impression upon him: a little early independence; the camaraderie of friendships which were to last him a lifetime; fell-walking; swimming in the River Eamont at the then Penrith Swimming Club, Frenchfield; and, so rumour has it, contributing to an accidental phosphorous fire in a train at Penrith Station. Geoffrey represented the school at boxing, swimming, diving, and rugby – he was by all accounts quite a robust competitor. After leaving the RGS, Geoff read Agriculture at the University of Newcastle (then linked with Durham). Following university he underwent National Service with the Royal Air Force, during which time he was awarded his ‘wings’. Flying was to become a dominant part of his life, and he went on to fly – largely with the 607 (Co of Durham) Squadron – De Havilland Vampires and Gloster Meteors from a variety of bases, including RAF Ouston, RAF Middleton St George, and RAF Cottesmore. During this period of his life he married an old acquaintance from his schooldays: Central High girl, Anne Milburn. Geoff later worked for the Newcastle Breweries, reporting directly to Colonel Porter (of Newcastle Brown Ale fame). However, he was to soon find greater satisfaction working for himself: he branched out into the hospitality industry and, amongst other businesses; he acquired the Schooner Hotel in Alnmouth and was licensee at the Ponteland Memorial Hall and Gosforth Civic Hall. As well as being a devoted family man Geoff was also active in a whole host of community activities. He played fullback for, and later became President (78-79) of, Novocastrians RFC; he rose to the rank of President of the Northumberland
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In his late 50s he rejoined the Royal Air Force, flying ‘air experience flights’ for cadets (I suspect a euphemism for ascertaining whether they could withstand high Gs without vomiting!) in Chipmunks and Bulldogs out of RAF Leeming over the North Yorkshire countryside – an opportunity which he enjoyed immensely, and which I suspect gave him a new lease of life. In his latter years he mastered the age-old Geordie art of growing vegetables, and once won the prize for Best Leek in Show at the Ponteland Memorial Hall – I am told he described this as the proudest moment in his life! After his retirement, Geoff played a variety of roles in the Riding Mill Amateur Dramatics and Choral Societies, and was a keen participant in the Newcastle Aero Club. The Church was also to become a very important and integral part of his life. Always a stalwart of the RGS way of life, he was a very keen participant in old boys’ events, and was to become president of the Old Novocastrians’ Association from 1984-1986. He was a volunteer helper at RGS school summer camps in the ’80s and early ’90s (I recall, when in my first year at school, a group of prefects congratulated me for having a father who “let them drink beer”!) He will of course be remembered by many Old Novos for being the driving force behind countless Penrith reunions – each one absolutely the very last… In his latter years, Geoff suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, but remained true to his principles until the end. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his very loving and devoted family in Hexham General Hospital on 27 September 2013. He is survived by his wife Anne, his four children, Caroline, John (76-81), Lizzie, and Matthew (78-88), and 11 grandchildren. By Matthew Orde (78-88)
The Orde brothers circa. 1940 (L-R) John (38-47), Geoff (40-49) and Denis (40-50)
