old perseans
his interest in obstetrics and
Obituaries
gynaecology, later becoming a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He worked, among others, at
Michael Harris (1947)
Hillingdon Hospital, before becoming a GP in West London.
John Harris (1950) writes:
He married Evelyn, also a
My brother Michael died in June
gynaecologist, in 1962, and they
shortly after celebrating his 90th
raised two sons. She sadly died
birthday with his family.
young in 2001. He later had a
It was my good fortune to
partner, Rosemary White, who also
follow three years behind him at school, and also at Emmanuel
Emmanuel College straight from
died before him, in 2018. His last
College. He was able to explain
school: unusual in those days. After
years were spent in a retirement
many aspects of school life, so that
reading medicine there, he did
home near Watford.
I knew in advance what to expect,
clinic training at University College
including, for example, at Scout
London Hospital, where he won
Camps at West Runton when they
a prize for his skill at diagnosis.
resumed after the war. Yes, we had to take our ration books! As a Sixth Former he was part of a fire-watch squad. Exciting times! Medical students could defer national service, so he went to
Barry Mason (1949)
This most un-military man was then commissioned as a Captain
He cared deeply about family, and is survived by his two sons and four grandsons, who were very attached to him. As a grandparent I have had plenty of opportunity
in RAMC, and served in Egypt
to observe sibling rivalry between
and Cyprus which were both
youngsters. I think it is to Michael’s
having troubles in the mid 1950s.
credit that there was none of that
It was there that he developed
when we were growing up.
won the All Britain Dance Band
– Bradley on trumpet and Elliot on
competition for that year. In 1958,
Trombone. Both won scholarships
he was one of many musicians
to study at the famous Berklee
who decided to work and travel to
Jazz College in Boston
New York on the legendary Queen
Massachusetts, from where they
Mary playing in the resident bands
both graduated. Both boys are
on board. Once there, the three
now professional jazz musicians,
day turnaround allowed him to
living and working in New York,
see and hear all the famous jazz
following in the footsteps of
musicians of the day. Barry did this
the father whose tuition and
for a year, travelling back and forth
encouragement led both his sons
and hearing most of his idols in the
to a musical life.
jazz clubs of New York. Christine Mason writes:
In 1959 he joined the Joe
Barry Mason was born on 9 April
Daniels Band at Butlins in
1932 in Cambridge, the son of
Skegness for the summer
Edna & Arthur Mason, who, with
season, and a residency at The
Nicholas Paton-Philip writes:
his brother Ernest started the
Samson & Hercules Ballroom
John was born in Cambridge, with
famous Fitzbillies cake shop in
in Norwich followed in 1960
an older brother and a twin sister.
Trumpington Street in 1920.
with the Cambridge Band of
When recalling his time at The
Ken Stevens. Barry changed
Perse, he mentioned the sports
made business to go into, he
from trumpet to trombone and
teacher writing in a report that
decided to try Music as a career,
stayed with them until 1972,
“Philip was not a very good rugger
playing trumpet. He studied
when he married their vocalist
captain but always seemed to be
with Ernest Hall – a well-known
Christine Vance. As a married
at the right place at the right time!”
and respected trumpet tutor –
couple they worked together
in London and soon found work
in Big Bands and eventually
in Agriculture from St John’s,
playing in clubs and dance halls
their own Quartet, travelling
Cambridge, but his ambition to
with various bands and musicians.
all over the UK playing jazz.
become a rugby blue was dashed
Although Barry had a ready-
In 1956, he played trumpet with the Ken Stevens Band, and they
They had two sons, Bradley and Elliot, and Barry taught them both 20
John Paton-Philip (1943)
He got a first class degree
after falling off a horse while trying to impress members of the
