Richard Matson (C 56) By his brother Peter (C53) Richard joined his brother Peter in Constables in 1956 and upon leaving Uppingham, spent the first years of his career at The Royal Agricultural University (Cirencester) before joining his father who was already farming one of the largest dairy herds in the UK at that time, producing the renowned Twemlows Farmhouse Cheshire Cheese. Shortly thereafter they lost their entire herd and followers to the foot and mouth disease epidemic that struck North West Midlands in 1967/8. Richard was a huge support to his father during this crisis and helped him through the tough times of replacement and re-building. After his father’s death, Richard faced the challenge of diversifying and equine breeding soon became the mainstay of the farming enterprise. At an early stage Richard took to public life. He became actively involved in the Royal Agricultural Society in the 1980s, and was Honorary Treasurer for 12 years. He was
appointed a Fellow, and later Senior Vice President of the Society. He was always dedicated to improvement in education and became a governor at Packwood Haugh (for 22 years). In 1994 he joined the board of Harper Adams University and became Chairman of the Board of Governors. It was during his term of office that The Privy Council granted Harper Adams full university status. Richard was awarded a Harper Fellowship for his services. He was a founder member, and later Vice Chairman, of the National Equine Forum and an Honorary Fellow. In the spring time he could be seen out as starter at many local point-to-points, and in the summer judged at many international and local agricultural shows; and he regularly judged cheese at Europe’s leading cheese show in Nantwich. Richard was a member of the British Horse Foundation, and President of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, having been a member for over 30 years. The photograph was taken just four months before he passed away suddenly on 11th December 2015.
Bruce Ogston (B 58) By Willie Fulton (C 58) College, Cambridge, but his father made him forgo that in favour of taking articles with a firm of solicitors. This career did not last long and soon he was studying singing in Venice and Vienna. In Venice, he had a small part in Visconti’s Death in Venice. His other film work included Peter Rabbit.
Bruce came to Brooklands in January 1958 from Salisbury Cathedral School, where he had been Bishop’s Chorister. He was a music scholar, singing baritone and playing the cello and organ. At school, he was a member of a string quartet with Peter Cropper (Hf 59), Malcolm Henderson (Hf 58) and Tim Eustace (C 58). After Uppingham, he won an organ scholarship to Magdalene
His taste in music was catholic. He appeared in opera at Sadler’s Wells, Covent Garden, the English National Opera and with many other opera companies; but he also performed in West End musicals, such as Fiddler on the Roof and The Lion King. As Musical Director, he directed touring productions including Side by Side by Sondheim, Bitter Sweet and Treasure Island, he also enjoyed appearing in pantomime. Sacred music was his passion. He was, for many years, the Musical Director of the Carmelite Church in Kensington.
As Musical Director, he directed touring productions including Side by Side by Sondheim, Bitter Sweet and Treasure Island, he also enjoyed appearing in pantomime. 22 Obituaries
In the spring time he could be seen out as starter at many local point-to-points, and in the summer judged at many international and local agricultural shows.
Richard Chanter (WD 61) By his sister, Ruth Binney After Uppingham, Richard studied Hotel Management and Catering at Hendon College of Technology, qualifying top of his year. Following assistant manager positions in the UK, in 1971 he took up a post in Mombasa, Kenya, and was to remain in Africa for the rest of his life. He arrived in Zambia in 1979 as deputy and then manager of the Ridgeway Hotel, Lusaka, where he revived the hotel to a high status. His efforts including live entertainment, in which he often performed the vocals, and the formation and management of the hotel football team. With the encouragement of President Kenneth Kaunda, Richard did a great amount to foster Zambian tourism and from 1998 successfully ran his own lodge, Chanters, in Livingstone. Richard passed away on 20th May after a short illness and leaves four sons and a daughter.
He arrived in Zambia in 1979 as deputy and then manager of the Ridgeway Hotel, Lusaka, where he revived the hotel to a high status. Alistair Frowde (LH 75) By his sister, Tessa Sellick (née Frowde) (Fd 79) Alistair died suddenly on 8th January 2016, on the island of Bali; he was 53. Alistair gained a BSc (Hons) in Geology and emigrated to Australia in 1985. He became an Australian citizen, working in WA and Victoria before moving to Indonesia where he met Mimi;
they married and made their home on Bali. Their daughter Tara was born in 2004. Alistair became the regional exploration manager for Straits Resources Limited in 1997. Always a social person, he is hugely missed by Mimi and Tara, his extended Indonesian family, his father Geoff, former Housemaster of Fircroft, mother Liz and siblings, Tessa (Fd 79) and Jeremy (LH 80).