LIVES REMEMBERED

MArTiN JAMeS roChe (OS, 1967)

Editor’s note:

We are very grateful to Martin for remembering QEGS in his will and for his incredibly generous gift left to the school. In line with Martin’s love for music and his wishes, we are creating a recording studio within the music department. This will allow the boys to access music technology aspects of the GCSE and A-level courses and in addition the department will be able to produce state of the art recordings of performances which can take place anywhere on the QEGS site.

Martin Roche spent most of his working life as a sole practitioner vet in Colac, 100 miles southwest of Melbourne in Australia. He was born in Morley, Yorkshire, and schooled at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, where he was a Prefect and played quality rugby for the 4th XV. His A Level results took him to Vet Science at Cambridge where his parents had met during WW2. Martin and his father were residents of Queens’ College, and his mother Ruth did her degree in chemistry at Newnham. His parents and younger siblings emigrated to Colac in 1968, and Dr James Roche (“Doc”) became Colac’s ophthalmic surgeon for the next thirty years. Martin followed them to Australia in 1972 and finished his Vet Science Degree at the University of Melbourne.

On Mart’s first trip to Australia Doc met him at Melbourne Airport. As they drove through Melbourne’s suburbs and through Geelong en route to Colac, Mart was positively unimpressed. But once into the typically Australian countryside he began to think maybe this wasn’t so bad after all. By the time they reached Colac, with its large freshwater lake, he was captivated. He grew to love the Aussie bush and felt privileged to have been able to live there.

As a child he spent a lot of time in the Yorkshire Dales and in Ireland mucking around in boats with home-made sails on rivers and lakes. He became a keen sailor, and was a member of the Colac Yacht Club for decades. His love of a variety of sports never faltered. He watched every Formula 1 Grand Prix and F.A. Cup Final live. He continued to follow Leeds United through thick and thin, and was also a keen student of rugby union and cricket. Whilst he loved his adopted country he always rooted for England in sports against Australia - perhaps because he felt one was duty bound to root for the underdog.

But his greatest passion was his bassoon, which he played for 55 years. He started when a student at QEGS water torture for his siblings trying to sleep next door, which might explain why their academic record was not a patch on Martin’s. He became a proficient bassoonist and some of the most rewarding parts of his life in Australia were the decades he spent playing with the Warrnambool, Geelong and Ballarat orchestras.

He practised as a vet in Colac until 2001 after which he worked for the Department of Primary Industry in Warrnambool for a decade before retiring back to Colac. In retirement he volunteered as maintenance manager at the Anam Cara Hospice (a respite and palliative care facility in Colac). He also enjoyed losing his and his nieces’ dogs in the bush, accompanying his partner Robyn on camping holidays, and entertaining his blind sister Mary.

He died unexpectedly on 26 July 2019 and far too soon. He was idiosyncratic, eccentric, quirky and different, but was much loved and certainly irreplaceable.

Mick Roche (brother) Australia

Editor’s notE

We are very grateful for the generous legacy left to QEGS by Mrs Anthea Denton. Mrs Denton was fulfilling the wishes of her husband, Old Savilian and former Head Boy, Anthony Albert Denton (OS, 1955), who sadly passed away in 2001. Her generosity will enable a perpetual scholarship to be created- the Anthony Albert Denton Scholarship.

BRIAN FLETCHER (os, 1966)

Shortly before Christmas 2019, Prof Eric Teasdale (OS, 1966) advised us that the much loved former Head of Biology at QEGS and keen supporter of the Old Savilians Club, Brian Fletcher, passed away. A former classmate at QEGS, Dr David Bullimore, said

“Brian Fletcher was an incredible man and an inspiration. He inspired many, not just a few. He gave me a love of science and a critical outlook on information that has been life- long.”

Eric Teasdale would love to hear from any of his contemporaries. Please email him directly at drelteasdale@gmail.com

BRYAN WILLIAM BARKLEY

(os, 1961)

Bryan was a lifelong sports enthusiast who joined many local societies. Always a Liverpool supporter, he transferred from the Liverpool Institute to Q.E.G.S in 1956. Excelling in athletics, he became sports captain there. He studied at Manchester University, then worked for W.R.C.C.Highways, as a chartered civil engineer, where he joined the sports club, notably the tennis section. After his retirement from W.M.D.C.he joined a variety of local activities, from bridge to Scottish Dancing, including the U3A. He was treasurer for several charities. Bryan died peacefully in Pinderfields with his wife Karen by his side. She and their children Giles, Georgina, Julia, John, and Guy, and seven grandchildren survive him.

J MARTIN BUXTON (os, 1963)

It is with great sadness that we report the death of J.Martin Buxton in 2020. He was born in Hebden Bridge in 1945 and came to Q.E.G.S. Junior School in 1952 to join his elder brother, Richard, as a boarder during the Headships of Mr Grace and Mr Baggaley.

Martin was extremely bright academically and breezed his way to “O” levels in the fast stream. At that point he and his brother entered the V1 form together, both studying science. After “A” levels in 1962 Martin stayed on at school in order to do the Cambridge University examinations and was successful in gaining a place to study Physics. He later returned to Wakefield to work for Dunlop (previously Slazenger) as a scientific adviser.

By Mike Mordue (OS, 1962)

BRIAN MICHAEL HAZELL (os, 1950) MBE, Benemerenti

Brian was born September 1933, son of Norman David & Mary Lillian Hazell, in Selby Street. He was educated at St Austin's School on Teall Street, from where he passed his 'Eleven Plus' examination, gaining him a place at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in September 1945 under the headship of Mr Grace. He was a very proud Old Savilian and in recent years attended the Old Savilians’ Annual Dinner where he became the oldest member there.

After leaving the School, he completed an electrical engineering apprenticeship at the firm of Spencer Wire Company. On completion of his apprenticeship, he spent two years in the Royal Air Force, in Norwich and after two years, he went to a seminary in London, intending to become a priest. This plan collapsed when he met Lynn Fisher of Normanton, a loss to the Church, but after a variety of jobs, including a spell teaching at The Cathedral School and travelling in sales, he established the firm of Ashby Roofing, which eventually became Ashtree Roofing, a highly successful name on the Wakefield building scene.

In his free time, he became involved in sport; for while at school he had played cricket and rugby without distinguishing himself, he went on to develop his skill as a slow bowler, being capped for Wakefield Boys’ and as goal keeper for St Austin’s Soccer team, which won the Championship of the Wakefield Youth League.

He also took up cycling, touring France, Belgium, Ireland and Holland. Whilst there, he managed to locate the grave of a young Eastmoor man, killed on the disastrous Arnhem campaign, bringing back a photo for the young man's mother.

Brian was persuaded to join his big brother Norman as a member of Wakefield M.D. Council and his talent was quickly recognised, becoming Deputy Leader of Conservatives, Deputy Chairman of West Yorkshire Fire Committee and as result of contacts he had made, played a large part in Wakefield being chosen for one of the Northern Freight Terminals for the Channel Tunnel. However, perhaps Brian will be best remembered for establishing the SS Peter & Paul Suzy Fund. During the 45 years that Brian devoted to this charity, more than one million pounds has been raised, all of which has been used to help the starving in the Third World. A principle of Brian's charity, appreciated by everyone, has been 'No Overheads'. This means that its supporters, far beyond Sandal, or the Catholic Church, know that what they give will go directly to help those in need. Brian's efforts were recognised by The Pope who awarded him the Benemerenti Order and by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth with an MBE, presented by Prince Charles.

Brian's life was recorded at a Requiem Mass at SS Peter & Paul church on Wednesday 10th February 2021, in the presence of his children-Dominic, Benedict, Clare, Daniel, Nicholas & Christian. May he rest in peace, in the grave he shares with Lynn in The Lawn Cemetery.

With thanks to his brother, Norman and all the Hazell family for this obituary.

Brian at the Annual Dinner 2019

Brian receiving his MBE from Prince Charles

CHRISTOPHER LITTLE (os, 1959)

We are sad to report that Christopher Little died in January 2021, following a long illness.

He set up a literary agency in 1979 after finding a publisher for his friend and former Old Savilian Philip Nicholson’s book Man on Fire, writing under the pseudonym A J Quinnell. He went on to represent JK Rowling amongst a number of other authors.

You can read the full obituary in The Bookseller.

JOHN CALDON (os, 1965)

John Robert Caldon, investment banker and entrepreneur, rose from humble beginnings in Yorkshire to revolutionise investment banking in Australia. But that was only one huge impact he had on his adopted land.

Born on February 24, 1947, the youngest of two sons to a nurse and ex-navy small businessman, Grace and Harry Caldon, in the small village of Drighlington in Yorkshire, he stood out from a young age. He won academic competitions and a scholarship to study at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. He won another scholarship to study classics (Greek and Latin) at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, 1965-68, and gained an MA with highest honour.

Protest, flower power, the 1960s era of student revolt, was not of much appeal. He could not afford the indulgence. He wanted to get on with life. On graduation, good with numbers, he joined an accounting practice and married childhood sweetheart Pauline nee Shaffrey, a nurse, in Ireland in 1969.

In 1973, the Caldons sailed to Australia. It was a long trip on the boat, and John did his homework, reading the entire Australian tax code on his way over. In 1973, he joined Price Waterhouse, and in 1977 became the youngest tax partner, setting up in the Parramatta office. Pauline continued working as a nurse and they had two children; she later went to university, completed an arts degree at Macquarie University and worked as a librarian. The Caldons separated then divorced in the late 1990s.

Right from the start, John’s special brand of charm, commercial nous and on-his-feet lateral thinking established him as the pre-eminent tax advisor to some of the largest companies in Sydney. Hill Samuel, soon to become Macquarie Bank, became one of his major clients. As they paid the accounting firm so much money annually in fees, it made more sense to hire him as a senior director.

John tried his hand at many businesses, most recently Flame Media, which media celebrity Lyndey Milan, his devoted partner for the past 16 years, founded with him a decade ago. They quickly established Flame as a producer and exporter of leading Australian documentaries and programs that might otherwise not have reached an international audience.

His formidable achievements notwithstanding, his legion of friends remember him most for his insatiable curiosity, abundant generosity of spirit, eagerness to mentor others, readiness to assist colleagues in need and an infectious love of life. In April 2020, John was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. John and Lyndey travelled a journey of every treatment imaginable. He fought for life to exhaustion, but without complaint. It all took a turn for the worse a couple of weeks ago when he suffered a stroke, and he died a week short of 74, on February 16 2021.

He is survived by loving partner Lyndey, son Patrick and daughter Liz, their partners, his brother James, his former wife Pauline, and four grandchildren.

Edited version of the obituary that featured in the Sydney Morning Herald 25 February 2021.

Editor’s note: John was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to business through media content distribution in the Queen’s Birthday Honours June 2021.

GEOFFREY LEA GREEN (os, 1949)

I am writing to inform you of the death of Geoffrey Lea Green (OS, 1949) on the 18th January 2021.

Geoffrey played 2nd Team cricket and also 1st Fifteen rugby (Colours). On leaving school he attended Leeds College of Commerce and was Company Secretary for the family business. He leaves two daughters, Helen and Caroline.

Anthony Peter Green (OS 1952) Brother

It is with great sadness that the family of the late Richard Allott report his passing on Tuesday, 9th March 2021 after a short illness.

He was an old boy of QEGS from 1954 - 1957 before moving South and talked often of the wonderful years he was a pupil there. He was an avid rugby & cricket player and ran the London Marathon on more than one occasion.

Richard went on to have a very successful career in Television as a Sound Supervisor and Director of Live Broadcast; working on "The Wall" in Berlin to commemorate the unification of Germany; The US Open and Wimbledon Tennis Championships; The Greek and Australian Olympics, plus many other music and sporting productions worldwide. He would be touched to think his passing was remembered by his old school.

With Thanks, The Allott family

Geoffrey (back row 3rd from the right)

RICHARD ALLOTT (os, 1957) IAN PANTON (os, 1970)

Dr Ian Robert Panton who passed away at home on 17th October 2020, aged 67 years.

Ian was born in Wakefield on the 29th October 1952 and attended Walton Primary School, before moving to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in September 1964.

From QEGS he went up to Cambridge in 1971 to read Medicine and graduated with a BA in 1974.

In October 1974 he moved to London to complete his clinical training at St George’s Hospital London and qualified with B Chir in 1977 and MB in 1978.

He completed the General Practice training scheme at St George’s Hospital and became a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1982.

He worked as a GP in Glenfield, Leicester from 1982 until he took early retirement in 2009.

Ian was a keen photographer all his life. He enjoyed music and travel, particularly to Italy.

He married Barbara Wood (OG 1971) in 1974. They had a son and a daughter. After 32 years of living in Leicester they decided to move back to Wakefield and moved to Horbury in January 2015.

Written by Barbara Wood (OG, 1971)

GOPI MENON (os, 1973)

Gopi Menon, MD, FRCP, FRCPCH, FBAPM (Hon), was a consultant paediatrician specialising in intensive care of the newborn.

On leaving QEGS in 1973 he went to study undergraduate medicine at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and in 1976 he won the Max Barrett Memorial Prize for a Preclinical Research Project. In 1979 he received an honours degree from the University of Cambridge, having completed his clinical training in St Mary’s Hospital Medical School.

While Gopi was a senior house officer in Alder Hey he met Val who was studying nursing. They married in 1985 and enjoyed 34 years of happiness together.

Gopi was very much an optimist and invariably saw the upside of any situation. He was passionate about improving the quality of neonatal care and made it a central pillar of his British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) presidency. He represented BAPM on the boards of the National Neonatal Audit Programme and the Neonatal Data Analysis Unit. He led the publication of BAPM’s Neonatal Service Quality Indicators as well as numerous other documents around quality improvement.

Gopi was a kind, thoughtful and gentle man – a doctor of complete integrity. But he was also full of surprises. Whenever there was an opportunity to get on stage, lecturing to medical students or taking part in a Christmas show, this calm, meticulous, unflappable character became an irrepressible enthusiast. In amateur dramatics he became affectionately known as The Great Gopendo. A constant feature of Gopi’s life was pride in his family. His wife, Val, became a very fine artist. Their daughters are talented in different spheres: Natasha is a director of operations for a socially conscious jewellery company in Uganda which provides dignified job opportunities for women artisans. Jessica is a sports performance analyst for the Scottish Rugby Union. Gopi remained exceptionally close to his family and would have been the first to say that his daughters inherited all their talents from Val!

With his untimely death from pancreatic cancer, Gopi Menon is missed by professionals throughout the United Kingdom, by his colleagues in Edinburgh, by the many parents who will always remember him, and most especially by his loving family.

He is survived by his wife Val and his daughters Natasha and Jessica. The eldest of three, Gopi is also survived by his brother Anand and his mother Lakshmi.

(Edited version of the obituary that featured in The Scotsman)

ROBERT EDWARD CRAVEN

(os, 1942)

Robert Edward Craven died in Pinderfields Hospital on 22nd April 2020 of Covid 19 and pneumonia aged 90.

He was well known in Wakefield, retiring from his family firm of Craven Fawcett brick machine manufacturers. He was a member of Rotary and Probus and had been President of College Grove Sports Club being involved with Men’s Hockey since 1951. He was also Fellow of the Institute of Ceramics. He was at WGHS prep school and QEGS junior school before going to Worksop College. He leaves a widow and family who would like to thank everyone who sent messages of condolences; they were quite overwhelmed. Due to the pandemic there has not been a funeral service.

Pat Craven (OG, 1951)

Born January 1928; died December 2019

Hans Kornberg was born in Herford, Germany, the elder son of Margarete (nee Silberbach) and Max Kornberg. In 1939 he came to the UK as a refugee from Nazi Germany, and was brought up by his uncle in Yorkshire. Both his parents died in the Holocaust. On leaving Queen Elizabeth grammar school in Wakefield in 1945 at the age of 17, Hans took a job as a technician in the laboratory of Krebs, biochemistry professor at Sheffield University.

After a two-year fellowship at Yale and the Public Health Research Institute of New York in the US, Kornberg rejoined Krebs, who had won a Nobel prize and moved to Oxford. They jointly published a book, Energy Transformations in Living Matter (1957), and Kornberg made his most significant discoveries during this period.

He met Monica King in Oxford: they married in 1956, and had four children.

He was professor of biochemistry at Leicester University and a popular master of Christ’s College, Cambridge. He was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1965, knighted in 1978, and received numerous awards and honorary degrees. He was obliged to retire from his Cambridge posts at the age of 67, but immediately accepted an invitation to become professor of biology at Boston University in Massachusetts, where he continued to teach and research for the rest of his life.

Monica died in 1989 and he later married Donna Haber. He is survived by Donna and by the two daughters, Julia and Rachel, and twin sons, Jonathan and Simon, from his first marriage.

This is an edited version of the obituary that featured in The Guardian. Peter Dewes passed away peacefully on the 3rd May aged 94.

Whilst at QEGS he enjoyed stamp collecting and classics.

On leaving school his national service was as a Bevin Boy, although he didn't enjoy working at the colliery. He then went on to Downing College, Cambridge to gain an MA in Architecture. On becoming qualified he had a long successful career working with Wakefield Council Leeds City Council, J.G.L Poulson, Braithwaite and Jackman amongst others.

He worked all over England producing buildings such as Buxton Swimming Pool, Leeds International Pool and North Shields Library and the interior of BHS in London for Conran. He spent time in Bahrain and Jeddah designing a hospital and shopping centre.

Peter was both a Latin and a Greek scholar, loved gardens, literature and travel to visit classical buildings.

Peter met and married his wife Jean Burnett, a doctor, in 1956 and had a daughter, Celia, in 1959.

He leaves behind his daughter Celia and his sister Patricia.

SAMUEL PETER HARRY JOHNSON

(os, 1977)

22nd September 1958 - 6th May 2021 We are sad to report the unexpected death of Sam Johnson. Sam loved to ride and in his teenage years he competed in point-topointing all over the country and as far afield as Hong Kong, where he competed for GB. At QEGS he excelled both academically and in sport. Rugby became a huge part of his school sporting life and he was acknowledged as one of the best QEGS players which saw him taking the captaincy in his final school years. He was to carry that love of rugby to university where he played for Liverpool Veterinary Team. He was an avid skier. Sam achieved highly at school and was offered a place at Cambridge University. He declined, preferring to go to Liverpool University Veterinary School. After graduating, he began his veterinary career at Churchfield Veterinary Practice in Barnsley before moving into farming. He will be missed terribly by his family and friends and leaves behind his sons James and Henry. Allan Coy (OS, 1954) has informed us of the passing of The Rt Revd Bob Hardy, former Bishop. He died on 9th April aged 84. “Bob’s genius was that he could do both rough and smooth as the occasion demanded. He could be tough and direct; he could be polite and charming. On the surface, there was a smooth unfolding of vocation: Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, where he sang in the cathedral choir with David Hope; Clare College, Cambridge; Cuddesdon; ordination in 1962; a parish in Manchester; Chaplain and Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge; Vicar of Borehamwood; Director of St Albans Ministerial Training Scheme; Bishop of Maidstone with Robert Runcie (he was the youngest bishop in the Church of England at that time); Bishop of Lincoln; and, in retirement, an assistant bishop in Carlisle diocese. In June 2001, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the Church of England and to prisoners. Yet, beneath the surface, there were many challenges — most notoriously the very public issues with Lincoln Cathedral, which caused him great anguish, and which he handled fairly but graciously, at considerable cost to himself. Bob was someone who cared deeply about his work and his responsibilities; he gave himself unstintingly to others. His workload was always huge, and he was often at his desk at ten in the evening. He was always willing to go the extra mile to help others.” Extracted from his full obituary by The Rt Revd Dr Alistair Redfern in The Church Times.

RT REV ROBERT HARDY (os, 1955)

MARTIN DYSON (os, 1954)

Edward Martin Dyson died aged 84 very peacefully on the 22nd December 2019 after a long illness bravely borne. He’d been living at the Hospital of St Cross in Winchester for the past seven years.

Martin attended QEGS from 1947 until 1954, playing a particularly important roll in the success of school cricket as captain in 1953 and 1954. The Savilian of summer 1954 commented: ‘The side has been specially happy in its captain for a second year, E.M.Dyson: his knowledge of the game for a boy is wide and deep and his easy command and friendly leadership have kept the team on its toes to the end of every match. He could not have set a better example in his own play…he is a cricketer of whom the school can be justly proud and we look forward to his bringing us fresh fame a delight when he goes up to Oxford after his national service.’

After school and national service, he attended Keble College, Oxford and in 1958 gained his blue, playing for Oxford against Cambridge at Lord’s. His playing career continued with selection for Yorkshire 2nds and membership of various clubs including M.C.C.,Harlequins, Free Foresters, Incogniti and I.Zingari. He also distinguished himself in his golf, enjoying playing for the County Cricketers and being a member of a number of different clubs including Swinley Forest and The Berkshire.

His teaching career includes many happy years at St Paul’s School, Eton and Ludgrove and, throughout his life, he maintained friendly contact with former colleagues and pupils.

His wife, Evelyn, pre-deceased him but his daughter and son and their families were frequent visitors, keeping in close touch from Australia and Gibraltar.

He often recalled how much he owed to the start he had been given at QEGS.

MRS PAT WHITEMAN

Pat was a great teacher and a loyal ambassador for Wakefield Grammar School Foundation (WGSF) for over 40 years.

Initially she joined Wakefield Girls’ High School (WGHS) as a teacher of Biology in 1968 before retiring in 2003. Needless to say countless students, especially those who went on to pursue careers in science and medicine, will forever be in her debt. I recall many students, particularly those who were aspiring doctors, thanking her for the fastidious nature of her class notes, her unfailing enthusiasm in lessons and the care and support she offered them as individuals. It is testimony to her professionalism that this was a message frequently echoed for over three decades; Pat was a quite remarkable teacher.

Although Pat “believed” that she had retired in 2003, she was persuaded to return to the Foundation, this time at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) in 2006. Although this was on a temporary and part time basis, she remained in post up to 2014! As a consequence, the boys were able to enjoy the same level of teaching and guidance afforded to the girls, displaying equally warm affection for her.

Pat the “person” was equally generous in supporting the wider school community at numerous events and was once presented with her own special award by the Yr 13 girls for being the “happiest person in school”. I vividly recall Pat walking down Jubilee Hall beaming as she collected her prize! Pat always had a smile on her face whenever and wherever you saw her.

On a personal level, she was highly supportive of me when I started at WGHS and often we would discuss our shared interests, most notably school, the achievements of the girls and gardening. Pat and Harry’s garden remains one of the most aesthetic ones I have ever seen - beautifully laid out, carefully nurtured and diligently managed. It was in many respects a work of art, though she wouldn't thank me for saying that.

However, beyond even WGSF and Biology, Pat’s true love was Harry. He came up in every conversation and she almost glowed when recounting his skills and achievements. As a master craftsman, his work was something to behold and rarely seen, with a quite remarkable attention to detail. To the outsider they were the ideal couple - best friends, loyal companions and quite literally a perfect marriage for almost 50 years.

Needless to say, Pat will be sadly missed by all who knew her, quite simply because she offered so much to so many for so long.

David Eggleston

LORD TONY GREAVES (os, 1960)

Anthony Robert Greaves, Politician, born 27th July 1942; died 23rd March 2021.

Tony Greaves, Lord Greaves, who has died aged 78, was a stalwart of the Liberal party and then the Liberal Democrats for half a century. Elevated to the peerage in 2000 on Charles Kennedy’s nomination, he used his position in the Lords to extend his career of community activism and to try to promote a more radical kind of Liberalism in the upper house. While doing so he continued as a member of Pendle borough council in Lancashire, to which he had been elected on its formation in 1973, serving for almost 50 years until his death.

Obituary of Lord Greaves as it appeared in The Guardian. To see the full version please visit

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/01/lordgreaves-obituary

LIVES REMEMBERED

A Gift thAt MAkEs A diffErEnCE

that there shall be one Grammar school of Queen Elizabeth at Wakefield, for the teaching, instructing and bringing up of children and youths in grammar, and other good learning, to continue to that use forever ”

Extract from the Queen Elizabeth i royal Charter

QEGS Wakefield was founded in 1591. Since then the gifts our Old Savilians have left in wills have helped shape our school. Many have enabled the completion of small yet important projects; others have inspired the creation of larger buildings. Most importantly of all, some have given the gift of a QEGS education. Legacy income represents a valuable source of funding, enabling us to plan for the future, fund additional buildings and ensure that more boys can benefit from a QEGS education.

Since our earliest foundation, we have been fortunate to have benefited from a number of legacy donations. The first legacy left to the school was made by one of the original founding governors, George Savile, in 1593.

A legacy gift in your will can benefit the school

long into the future and is a wonderful way of helping future Old Savilians. Whether big or small, every gift makes a world of difference.

If you have already made provision for a gift to QEGS in your will, please do let us know as we would love to hear why you have decided to leave a gift to school. We would also like to thank you for your generosity during your lifetime.

Please contact cworsley@wgsf.net for more information.

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Colin passed away on 20th October, and his funeral was held on Thursday, 5th November 2020 'Lockdown Day'.

Colin was at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School from 19441955. He was Head of House, Captain of School Rugby Team, Captain of School Cricket Team and Secretary of 6th Form Club. Also Yorkshire Schools XV.

He was very proud of QEGS and of being an Old Savilian and was in touch, right to the end, with many of his old school friends. Bill Dawes for one.

After National Service he went to St.Peter’s College, Oxford from 1957-1960 to read Geography.

He played rugby for Oxford University Greyhounds, Oxford University and Yorkshire and toured with the Irish Wolfhounds. He was a proud member of Vincent’s Club.

These are difficult times and I wish you every success with the “Old Savilian" Magazine which I know Colin always enjoyed.

I miss him. Angela Littlewood (wife)

JOHN CHRISTOPHER HARTLEY

(os, 1960)

I am saddened to report the death of my elder brother, John Christopher Hartley, who joined the Junior School in 1949. Chris, known as ‘Jimmy’ at school, was a pillar of the 1st XV team second row in the late 1950s and vice-captain in 195960. In 1957 he was a member of the first rugby tour to London, the hosts being UCS, Hampstead and KCS, Wimbledon. In 1958 and 1959 he played in the specially arranged end of season matches against Sedbergh School, when both teams were recognised as among, if not the best, in the country. The 1959-60 team provided most of those, including Chris, who travelled by mini-bus through Europe to the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. This was the first of what subsequently became Frank Staziker’s many Grand European Tours. Chris was presented with the Photography Cup at his final Speech Day, although it was always a matter of family argument who actually took the winning picture. Belatedly I am happy to concede Chris was indeed the photographer.

Bill Hartley (OS, 1964) John Crapper, who has died at the age of 70 following a short illness, will be remembered by QEGS alumni as an all-round sportsman, in particular a fine top order batsman. He went on to have two successful careers: first, as a well-respected PE teacher and then running his own property business.

John was popular at school and while a competent scholar it was on the games field where he excelled, representing the school in all age groups at both rugby and cricket. When he should normally have been playing for the Colts he was picked for the 1st XI where he was known as ‘Joe’.

After qualifying as a PE teacher he went straight into his first post at Higherside School at Whiston, Lancashire, where he was to stay for the next 19 years. He encouraged students to make the best of their talents in whatever sport they were interested. Several went on to sign professional forms for top soccer clubs including Everton F.C.

Throughout the 70s and 80s he played cricket for Sefton C.C. (now Sefton Park) in the Liverpool & District Competition. Always known as ‘JC’ it was as an example and inspiration to others as much as for his individual talent that he is best remembered. Batting in the top four, he was known as a technically good and gritty bat, difficult to get out when set. This was exemplified by a fine 75 not-out against a Chester Boughton Hall attack that included the young Antiguan pace bowler Winston Benjamin on a wet Sefton track.

On leaving teaching John, who was by then married with a young family, returned to the West Riding. They settled in Oulton where, following his interest in local affairs, he became involved in the Oulton Society where he was Chairman between 2001 and 2018. He played a leading role in establishing the Conservation areas in both Oulton and Woodlesford. His expertise in the area of planning was said to have been invaluable.

His spare time was taken up by supporting his children at school sports and music activities at QEGS and WGHS, gardening and watching Castleford Tigers RLFC where he had been a ticket holder since boyhood.

He is survived by his wife Teresa and their three children, Charlotte (OG, 2008), Katherine (OG, 2010) and James (OS, 2013).

Following completion of this magazine, we have received notification of the sad passing of John Hazzlewood (OS, 1938) and John Frederick Wilkinson. Please see www.qegsonline.org.uk for their full obituaries.

KEY DIARY DATES

After more than a year without an events programme and as we look forward to the easing of restrictions, we are excited to be able to start planning our future events, the first of which is the OS London Dinner on 24 September 2021.

All events can be booked online at www.qegsonline.org.uk

OS London Dinner 2021

24 September 2021 The East India Club, St James’s Sq, SW1Y 4LH

OS Annual Dinner

17 December 2021 QE Hall, QEGS, Wakefield

OS Cambridge Dinner

29 January 2022 Christ’s College, Cambridge

OS Golf Day

17 June 2022 Wakefield Golf Club To book the Golf Day, please email cworsley@wgsf.net

PREVIOUS EVENTS

QEGS Development Office, 154 Northgate, Wakefield, WF1 3QX