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OPUS • Issue 2 • Spring 2010
Portsmouth Grammar School • www.pgs.org.uk
In memoriam In Memoriam Edward Aylett Cushen (1925-2009) We are indebted to Mr Cushen’s sister, Mrs Joan Rees, for this appreciation of his life. Edward Eylett Cushen died on 4 October 2009. He attended PGS during the evacuation to Bournemouth in September 1939. Ted sat the Higher School Certificate in 1943 and was awarded a State Bursary to read Mechanical Sciences at City and Guilds College, Imperial College, in the University of London. He gained a First two years later after completing a wartime degree. After graduating he was a college apprentice with Metropolitan Vickers and was sent to Turkey to work on a power station there. Ted married Joan, who has predeceased him, and they had a son and a daughter. Ted worked for China Light and Power in Hong Kong before retiring first to Manchester and then to Exmouth where he enjoyed the sea and sailing.
Morley Howarth Freeman, OBE (1916-2009) We are grateful to Hilary Smart, Morley Freeman’s daughter, for this appreciation of his life. My Father, Morley Howarth Freeman, died on 22 December 2009 following a brief period in hospital. He attended PGS from September 1924July 1933. He obtained his BSc. (1st. Class) in Special Mathematics and was awarded the Drew Gold Medal for Mathematics at King’s College, London. He then did a a Teacher’s Certificate and taught for two and a half years before joining the Meteorological Office in April 1940. He was mobilised as Flight Lieutenant RAF in 1943 and was, involved in all major operations undertaken by Bomber Command. After the War he continued working in the Meteorological Office. His principal achievement was to be in charge of
the Meteorological Office on Christmas Island during the H-bomb tests in 1957, for which he was awarded the OBE. As Assistant Director responsible for Synoptic Climatology he was responsible for launching the Long Range Weather Forecasts in 1967. His final positions were Deputy Director (Communications) in 1972 and then Deputy Director (Forecasting) in 1973. He retired in 1975. His retirement was spent doing much charity work with organisations such as Abbeyfield and lecturing and teaching in the USA. He was active in his church and a staunch member of the choir. He had a passion for Bridge. His family was always very important to him and after the passing of his wife, Dorothy, in 1993 he continued to keep close to his two children, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
staff of Maria Gray College in Twickenham. Then he was appointed as Head of Humanities at the about-to-be formed Fareham Park School. He retired early at the age of 55. David thoroughly enjoyed his work and, from the number of ex-pupils who kept in touch with him and Jenny, he was much liked and respected. They had a very active and interesting life in retirement and made very many friends. David had a number of contacts by e-mail on intellectual subjects. Although brought up as a Methodist, he became, actively, a Humanist – though he remained a member of the Hymn Society. He died from Cancer of the Pancreas on 19 June 2009, aged 80.
A thanksgiving service was held on 13 February 2010 which was a joyful celebration of a wonderful life.
We are indebted to David’s brother, Bernard Gosden, for this appreciation of David’s life.
He did his National Service as a Sergeant in the Army Education Corps. and was at Downing, Cambridge, reading Classics, graduating with a good degree. Then he went to Exeter Training College for teacher training (where he met his wife, Jenny) and he started his career and his married life in the West Country teaching classics at Beaminster Grammar School. Subsequently he taught at Scarborough Grammar School, the Southern Grammar School at Portsmouth and spent four years on the
He was a talented man, he drew in pencil and charcoal, painted in watercolours and was a maker of furniture and a wood carver, making many beautiful articles, birds, seals and horses. He also created astonishingly beautiful pictures in marquetry. He originated “The Kinch Formula” for when embarking on a project - “for any job undertaken, estimate the time it will take, then apply the Kinch Formula, i.e. double it for it will always take twice as long”.
Robert James Kinch (Bob) (1920-2009) We are indebted to Bob Kinch’s niece, Caro Steward, for this appreciation of Bob’s life. Bob was born in May 1920 in Winter Road, Portsmouth, where his mother had a drapery shop. He went to Milton Road Primary School and then joined PGS in 1932 where his brother Gordon was already a pupil. After matriculation at the age of 16, he took the
Major David Linaker (1931-2009) David Linaker attended PGS from 1942 to 1949. After leaving school he served with the Royal Tank Regiment and later was President of the Newcastle Branch of the RTR Association for many years. His interest in the RTR led him to write about aspects of military history e.g. uniforms and cap badges. He was also a long standing member of the London Branch of the OP Club for many years. He passed away on 29 October 2009. A Thanksgiving Service took place in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on 8 April 2010.
He had a wide circle of friends both locally and in other parts of the country and he used to enjoy visiting them in his car. Although he never married, he took great delight in being accepted into the families of his friends and he had many godchildren, in whom he took a great interest. Bob died in May 2009 and is survived by his sister in law Joan, his niece Caro and his nephew Victor.
greeted a new challenge with enthusiasm from baking cakes to writing his books about aviation. Interacting with the young was always something that Roy relished. A regular attendee at OP Reunions, Roy was never happier than when not only recounting stories of his own school days but listening to current pupils tell of the opportunities that they now have. He may not have had the distinction of becoming The Oldest Old Boy, something he would have relished, but he was certainly held dear in all our affections and will be greatly missed.
Colonel Graham F Smart RM (1946-2009) Graham Smart died peacefully at his home on Dartmoor, aged 63, on 18 June 2009. His years at PGS paved the way for his very successful career in the Royal Marines.
Among his many interests were local history, natural history - particularly birds, he was a member of the RSPB - poetry, music and politics. He was a frequent member of the audience at The Kings Theatre, Southsea at concerts of the Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, which later became the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. A keen gardener, his window boxes and hanging baskets were a joy to behold, and his garden was always a riot of colour in the summer months. In his youth, he skied and ice skated - at one time he had lessons at Richmond Ice Risk from the lady who later taught Jayne Torville - and he played badminton and tennis. In later life he took up golf and bowls and continued to follow the fortunes of Portsmouth Football Club. He enjoyed board games, particularly Scrabble.
David Gosden (1929-2009)
David attended PGS from 1937-1945 and was evacuated first to Sparsholt House and then to Southborne. He did well at school academically, but apart from Cross Country Running, did not shine at sport. In his final year, David was House Captain of Whitcombe.
entrance exam for the Civil Service and joined the Ordnance Survey in 1937 as an Assistant Clerical Officer. He remained with the Ordnance Survey all his working life, working in Chessington and Southampton, retiring in 1980 as a Senior Executive Officer.
In 1965, as a Troop Commander in 42 Commando, he saw active service in the jungles of Borneo as the Indonesians attempted to crush the fledging Federation of Malaysia. During 1965 he also met his future wife, Hilary, in Singapore. They had two sons, Giles and Guy.
Roy Powell (1922-2010) Thanks to Sue Merton for this appreciation of Roy Powell’s life. Roy Powell died on 24 January 2010. He started his lifelong relationship with The Portsmouth Grammar School in 1934 when, as an eleven year old boy, he won a scholarship and walked nervously under the arch for the first time. He was a natural scientist from early on with an inquisitive mind. He left school aged 16, eventually working in the scientific world developing radar for the Royal Navy. He married Phil and eventually settled in Portsmouth where he renewed his links with PGS. Recruited for the PGS 2004 fundraising campaign. Roy turned his hand to all manner of things from phoning OPs to stuffing envelopes by the thousand. He was a great favourite of all who worked in the PGS Development Office because of his cheerful disposition and willingness to help. Roy never stood still and always
Graham was deployed to Northern Ireland in 1976 and was located in Lenadoon, West Belfast on the sectarian divide. Following a succession of ever increasing staff appointments he became Chief of Staff, British Defence Staff, Washington D.C. where his intellect and great sense of humour made a considerable impact on testing times for U.S./European relations. Having retired from the Corps. Graham went on to become a successful manager in the Health Service.
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