Obituaries

We are saddened to report the death of the following OPs:

John Polkinghorne (1948)

Alan Weeds (1958) writes: John was born on 16 October 1930 in Weston-Super-Mare, educated initially in Street in Somerset, he joined The Perse in the 4th form when his father became Head Postmaster in Ely. He participated in many school activities, including becoming co-editor of The Pelican alongside Sir Peter Hall (1949). Victor Sederman taught him the intoxicating powers of mathematics and he was awarded a major scholarship at Trinity College to read mathematics, specialising in high-energy physics. Elected a Fellow of Trinity in 1954, a year later he married Ruth Martin whom he had met at the Christian Union (Ruth sadly died in 2006). After a brief period teaching in Edinburgh, John returned to Cambridge as Reader in Theoretical Physics, becoming Professor of Mathematical Physics in 1968. This was a very exciting time in quantum physics, with the discovery of quarks as subatomic particles in neutrons and protons in 1964. Unravelling the mysteries of subatomic physics continued, with the discovery of the Higgs boson (nicknamed the “God particle”) in 2012. John was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974 and served as Chairman of the Nuclear Physics Board in 1978–9.

In 1979, approaching the age of 50, he changed career entirely by becoming ordained, to the incredulity of many Fellows of Trinity. After training at Westcott House he served as a parish priest for four years but returned to Cambridge in 1986 as Dean of Trinity Hall. In 1989 he was elected President of Queens’ College. John’s passion for understanding the mysteries of particle physics now collided with a passion for understanding the mysteries of religion and in particular of ontology. Over a period of 30 years he published more than 20 books focusing on the belief in God in an age of science, including an autobiography “From Physicist to Priest” in 2007. John’s unshakeable Christian faith convinced him that belief in God through the Christian tradition was not just compatible with scientific understanding but that the physical reality of the world could be explained in terms of God’s purposes, something many scientists find hard to reconcile, not least because of advances in our understanding of the origins of the universe and of Darwinian evolution in the light of DNA sequencing. Like Einstein, he believed that mystery was at the centre of all art and all science and retained that sustaining sense of wonder throughout his life. He also believed that we have a duty to help society behave responsibly both for present practice and provision for future generations. He served on many committees related to medical ethics, chaired the Science, Medicine and Technology Committee of the Church of England’s Board of Social Responsibility and also a working party on cloning, held jointly with the Human Embryology Authority.

John was Trinity’s representative Governor at The Perse for many years and Chairman of the Board from 1972 to 1982. Tony Melville, the then Headmaster wrote “It was fortunate for The Perse and for me that John Polkinghorne was prepared to take on the Chairmanship of Governors, by no means a sinecure. He steered us through some controversial years; he knew what the school was for and his contact with it gave confidence to all of us. I shall always be grateful for the firm and understanding way in which he steered the governing body, as well as remembering him as a friend”.

John was appointed KBE in 1997 and in 2002 awarded the Templeton prize, which celebrates scientific and spiritual curiosity, “harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind’s place and purpose within it”. He used much of the prize money to establish a lectureship at Queens’.

I knew John as Fellow at Trinity from 1975 and overlapped with him as a Governor at The Perse, but most of all, I treasure the termly meetings of the “Triangle Club”, where senior academics in Science, Philosophy and Theology met for dinner and talks on matters of common interest, often with an outside speaker. There, over many years, I increasingly admired him for his intellect and breadth of understanding, his modesty and essential humanity, and his infectious smile. John sadly passed away on 9 March 2021 and is survived by his daughter and two sons.

David Emerson (1949)

Neil Emerson (1985) writes: David was born in Birmingham in 1931. The family moved to Cambridge and David attended the Milton Road Primary School followed by The Perse after winning a scholarship. He vividly recalled Headmaster HA Wooton, who was pranked by the Sixth Form by writing “Gob” on all the

doors in the School. He thought the other teachers were an eccentric bunch; one who rode a vintage motor bike and kept a stream launch on the River Cam.

David was a keen sportsman at The Perse, playing rugby, hockey, tennis, swimming, and the unique Perse Fives. He swam in the Cam every morning at The Perse bathing sheds at Coe Fen before cycling into school. It turned out that David was the first of three generations (so far) to attend The Perse, with his grand-daughter Florence finishing there in 2019.

From The Perse, David read medicine at Downing College, Cambridge followed by Lincoln College, Oxford. He captained Cambridge University’s water polo team, gaining a half blue and election to the Hawks Club.

After qualifying, David spent time as a ship’s doctor and then as a doctor in the Falklands and Antarctic. In the Falklands he often did his rounds on a pony so small, he could almost touch the ground while riding along, and David was not a tall man!

David then worked at High Wycombe Hospital where he met his wife, Shirley. David and Shirley had four children and seven grandchildren, with six Doctor Emersons in total. David and Shirley set up the Mill Road Surgery in the 1960s where they worked for 30 years until retirement.

David provided services to help people with drug and alcohol problems. He and Shirley were instrumental in setting up the Cambridge Advisory Centre for Young People, concentrating on birth control and sexual health.

Always happy outdoors, David was secretary of the University bathing sheds in Grantchester and took his children along when he went to cut the lawn. Family holidays were spent camping and walking. He retained his adventurous spirit, and he and Shirley volunteered as medical officers for an expedition to a remote valley in the Indian Himalayas with King's Ely school in 1978. After retirement, David and Shirley walked coast-to-coast across Scotland numerous times.

David loved his food, wine, and dogs. He was well-known by dog walkers at Wandlebury and Fulbourn Fen for his “dog walker parties” and pockets full of treats. He died on 3 December 2020, aged 89.

Robert Rowlinson (1954)

Susan Curry (Staff) writes: Son of Ralph and Alice, Robert was born in Cambridge and grew up in Sawston. At the age of 11 he attended The Perse, but sadly his father died unexpectedly the summer before he began to study there. He went on to study agriculture at Chadacre Agricultural Institute in Suffolk. On completion aged 17 he decided to go on an adventure on his own to Canada, travelling from Liverpool across to Nova Scotia by ship, then by train across the prairies. He worked on his Aunt and Uncle’s farm for two years before returning home to do National Service with the RAF at Cardington in Bedfordshire. During this time, he met Muriel, who he married and had his daughter, Susan. He went on to work at Ciba Geigy in Duxford, then Dynochem UK where he was transport manager until he retired.

Robert passed away aged 85 on 20 October 2020 after a short illness at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. He will be greatly missed by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Michael Stanley (1944)

James Howarth writes: Mike was born in Cambridge and attended The Perse School between 1937–42. Leaving school at 16 during World War II, Mike repaired War Department motorcycles at Hallen’s Motor Cycles on Union Lane until the age of 18. He then joined the Royal Navy, and trained at HMS Ganges in Suffolk and the Isle of Man in the use of radar. He volunteered to work on submarines as that meant double pay, and extra rations! By 1945 hostilities had finished, and he saw out the rest of his National Service ‘sailing around the Isle of Wight’ on the destroyer HMS Paladin.

Following his demobilisation aged 21, he returned to Hallen’s for a period before moving towards vehicle sales, working initially at King & Harper on Thomson’s Lane, and then transferring to Wallis & Sons on Mitcham’s Corner.

At the age of 40, Mike met Malcolm Buckingham who suggested they join forces to take on the Swedish Saab car franchise in Cambridge. They got together in 1967 and formed Buckingham & Stanley Ltd, starting with Saab cars in 1969. Their distinctive greyhound shape quickly became a regular site in and around Cambridge.

By 1978 Malcolm left the business to join the equestrian world and Mike encouraged fellow motor trader, James Howarth, to join him. The Buckingham & Stanley business prospered and

expanded to other sites in and around Cambridge.

Mike was a keen sailor of small boats, and enjoyed several years owning a canal boat on the higher reaches of the Cam. His overriding passion was probably his interest in motor cycles, racing bikes at Boreham in Essex, riding with his son, John, on the famous Brooklands circuit, and motorbike scrambling at Elsworth park. Mike restored several MG cars and owned four at one point, racing the cars at both Brands Hatch and Silverstone. Up until his closing years, he owned several vintage motor cycles, and had at one time eight vintage machines in his care. He took great pride in nurturing them all, and riding, when he could, on ‘fair weather’ days. Mike died aged 94 on 19 January 2021. He leaves his wife, Sue, his son John who emigrated to New Zealand some years past, and Sue’s own three children.

Phillip Stanley Wilkin (1949)

Melanie Luce writes: Philip was born in Cottenham in 1930, the youngest of four boys. His parents, Stanley and Lily Wilkin, were small farmers and growers in the village. After attending primary school in Cottenham Philip achieved scholarship entry into The Perse. He left in 1947 to join Westminster Bank in Cambridge.

In 1948 he did National Service in the Army, achieving the rank of Corporal. He was demobilised in 1950 and returned to the banking world in St Neots, St Ives, Huntingdon, then to Norwich in 1954 after his marriage to Dawn Symonds. In his ten years there, his children Mark and Melanie were born. He then moved to the Bank’s Ipswich branch, as Chief Clerk.

In 1968 Philip was sent to Jersey as Manager of the St Brelade branch where he stayed until retirement in 1989.

Family holidays were camping and caravanning in Europe and skiing. He became Chairman of the 41 Club and Captain of La Moye Golf Club, where he still played last year.

His first marriage ended and in 1978 he married Freda Pennington. They were married for over 41 years. They bought a house in south east Spain and spent winter months in South Africa, joining Somerset West Golf Club. They enjoyed many cruise ship holidays and more recently, river cruises in Europe enjoying the wines and beers of the more inland regions. Philip had a love of motorcycles, both riding and watching.

His interest in Speedway led to a lifelong friendship with World Speedway Champion, Ove Fundin. Philip continued his riding on his scooter, taking part in the annual fundraising event for Holiday for Heroes raising funds for servicemen who need a holiday.

He loved cooking and during lockdown Philip, being a great socialite, could busy himself cooking and entertaining his neighbours.

Since his death the family have received many messages about Philip’s generosity of spirit and desire to enjoy life. He died aged 90 on 12 October 2020 and said how very grateful he was for the life he had and the people he had met along the way. Thomas Dann (Former Staff)

Ravi Mahendra (Staff) writes: Tom Dann (or Tommy as he was known to most) spent five years teaching at The Perse (2009–2014) as PE and Games teacher, 1st XV Rugby coach, Head of Cricket and Football, Lower School and Sixth Form tutor. The variety of responsibilities Tommy held at the School is a testament to his ability to relate to so many pupils from a diversity of backgrounds.

During Tommy’s time at The Perse he led a number of successful teams including the 1st XV Rugby team (2013) who reached the last 16 of the NatWest Cup, and the U15A Cricket team (2012) who won the T20 Magdalen College Cricket Festival and reached the semi-final of the National T20 Cup. Tommy successfully grew the football programme which provided many pupils with an alternative avenue to enjoy their sport and build new communities once they reached the Sixth Form. Tommy will also be remembered by former pupils who have fond memories of the cricket tours to St Lucia (2011) and Antigua (2013).

In the short time after Tommy’s passing it has been wonderful to hear so many stories shared by OPs relating to memorable team talks, words of wisdom, inspiration and acts of kindness. One OP directed me to an article in The Telegraph which was written after Tommy’s 1st XV pulled off an enormous upset beating