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TiffNews Bulletin no. 251
March 2012
Chairman’s Letter - March 2012 Dear Fellow Tiffinian,
At the last meeting of the Trustees, the Board elected me as
its new Chairman. On behalf of the Association, I would like to
thank the outgoing Chairman, Ian Redington for his service
over the past few years. Ian took on the role at a difficult time
when TAL was still in its infancy, and Howard Mallinson, who
had been the driving force behind many of the changes,
became ill. We wish Ian well as he becomes Captain of
Surbiton Golf Club, and we are delighted that he will remain a
Trustee of TAL.
As many of you will be aware, I was involved with the
Association even before I left Tiffin in 1973. I was an active
member of the Old Boys’ Cricket and Rugby clubs. Latter I
served as Chairman, before taking on the roles of OTA
Chairman and Chairman of the Sports Ground Company for a
number of years.
So, “why again?” those slightly longer in the tooth may ask.
Well, I feel there is something new and exciting happening
with TAL and, as I have the time, I was pleased to be able to
offer my services for the next 2-3 years (after which time, it is
anticipated that one of our younger generation of Trustees
will be in a position to take the reins). I am looking forward to
working with these dedicated and highly motivated young
guys, as well as those other members of the Board whose
support and experience is invaluable. I also look forward to
working closely with Hilda Clark who has a strong vision for
our combined future, and brings exciting ideas to the table.
Following my election at the Trustees meeting I laid out what I
see to be the issues and challenges facing the Association
along with my goals for the coming years.
1) TAL's finances must be strengthened. Outgoings are high
relative to our current income and we need to address this in
order that we can fulfil our charitable outreach objectives. We
have identified a number of reasons for this, and work is
already underway to address these. A key part of our income
is from our Alumni/Members, and I would urge you to read
the separate letter regarding this (included in this edition of
Tiffnews).
2) The Membership and Development Committee has done a
great job building up our database of Tiffin Friends. However,
if we are to reach our Alumni objectives, we need to take
another large step forward. One way everyone reading this
can help is by signing up yourself at www.tiffinfriends.org .
Furthermore, if you are in contact with other Tiffinians who
you believe may not be signed up, please forward this edition
to them and encourage them to do so.
3) Grists – the situation with regards to its management,
funding, development and the upgrading of facilities, has to be
addressed and resolved for the better of all concerned over
the next 12 – 24 months.
4) The TAL Board of Trustees needs to be further strengthened
with, I believe, at least two new members. Whilst I would be
more than pleased to hear from anybody interested in helping
with our continued development, we are currently particularly
lacking in people in their late 30s or early 40s (possibily with a
Grists sporting background).
I very much believe in the vision of a strong Alumni working in
conjunction with the School and its associated organisations
for the greater benefit of all involved - past, present and
future. I look forward to your support and please feel free to
contact me with any views, issues or advice that you may
have.
With kind regards and best wishes for the Spring,
Tony Millard, Chairman
Tiffin School Summer Reunion, Friday
6th July 2012 7.30pm to 9.30pm in the Head’s Garden
An opportunity to see the School and catch up with friends
and teachers. The event is open to all Tiffin Alumni and friends
of Tiffin School. The Tiffin School Swing Band will play during
the evening and a cash bar will be available.
Please book your place via www.TiffinFriends.org/Events in
good time or write to Alex Swift, the TAL Administrator to
inform her that you wish to attend.
Parking will be available on-site.
World War II Memories
John King, School Archive Manager, is requesting any
information and memories of the anti-aircraft gun in the
School field, the gunners who lived in the ‘cottage’ by the
London Road gate and Sixth Formers carrying out fire
watching duties. The gun was part of the defences for
Hawkers in Canbury Park Road.
Does anyone have a photograph of it?
How many gunners were there?
Which army unit did they belong to?
Are there any memories of fire watching duties from the roof
of Elmfield?
Are there any memories of the air raid shelters?
The information would be useful as background to the
Kingston Aviation Festival and Project which starts with the
display of a Sopwith Camel in Kingston Market Place over the
long weekend of 2-5 June 2012.
Please send any information to John King at the
School [email protected] .
In Conversation with...Steve Thompson On Tuesday 17 April 2012 the Tiffin Parents Association is
organising the next of its 'In Conversation With...' series.
Steve Thompson, who was Head of Maths at Tiffin School
between 1998 and 2003, will talk about his subsequent career
as a scriptwriter for the BBC. Steve has written scripts for
episodes of BBC series such as Silks, Dr Who and Sherlock.
The evening will take place at 7.30pm in the Main Hall at Tiffin
School.
Tickets: adults £5; students £2 may be purchased online at
http://www.tiffinfriends.org/Events, but will also be available
at the door.
OT Golf Society Our first meeting of the year took place at New Zealand golf
club on 8 March. This was our annual fixture versus Old
Hamptonians. On the day both schools had 15 members and
one guest playing so we agreed to include all 15 cards in our
aggregate calculation. Old Tiffs won narrowly by only 7 points,
thus retaining the Ford trophy.
New Zealand was in excellent condition, but some of us found
the slippery greens difficult to handle, it was also a lovely
sunny day and a great lunch followed. Our winners on the day
were Ian Redington with 36 points (Ian wins the Spring Cup),
Mike Goodbun with 32 points, and Alistair Hickman with 31
points. Front and back nine prizes went to John Edney and
Geoff Howes. Nigel Pimm won the longest drive prize.
After lunch we held our AGM, ably chaired by Peter Smith.
Peter Robinson presented healthy accounts. Nick Wright was
elected captain for 2012 and has agreed to supervise the
knockout competition this year.
Our next meeting is at Puttenham Golf Club on Tuesday 8
May. This is our annual match against Old Kingstonians. Coffee
will be available on arrival and we have the tee from 1pm,
with dinner following the golf. The cost will be a modest £51
for OTGS members. Any guests are welcome to join us at £55.
The closing date for entries is Sunday 6 May. Any old Tiffinian
reading this who would like to join us, please contact
Allan Piggot
TAL Membership and TiffNews Those Tiffinians with a long memory will recall that much has
changed in the Association’s approach to membership over
recent years. The change from the OTA to TAL and the exciting
creation of www.tiffinfriends.org has quickly brought us
hundreds of new ‘friends’ to add to our established Old
Tiffinian ‘members’. We aim to treat you all the same, but for
legal reasons we have to limit formal voting membership to
those who agree to take on a nominal financial liability (of
£10) in the event of the Association being wound up. Readers
who are not already signed up to the website can do so here. I
hope you will take a minute to register, as it helps us greatly to
keep in touch with you, and to share the latest news of both
the School and the Association. If you know other Tiffinians
who are not already signed up, please forward them Tiffnews,
and ask them to sign up too.
Members of the Old Tiffinian Association traditionally paid
annual subscriptions in return for various benefits, including
Tiffnews. The new Association has moved away from charging
a subscription, and we now welcome all Tiffinians
automatically, and ask for voluntary donations to help fund
our efforts to share the benefits of Tiffin across the School and
the Alumni community. Regular readers of Tiffnews will notice
me occasionally asking you to continue your generous support
to TAL and sometimes to specific projects.
If you have previously donated to the Tiffinian Association,
and are willing to continue to do so, or if you are new to the
Association and in a position to make a regular contribution,
we would appreciate if you could complete and return the
standing order form to the address below. We are asking for
regular donations with a suggested figure of £5 a month.
HOWEVER, we will gratefully accept more or less from those
who feel able to raise or lower that figure!
Last year we asked OTA members who wished to continue to
receive Tiffnews in hard copy to increase their annual
donation from the old OTA subscription level to help cover the
rising cost of printing and posting the newsletter. Since Gareth
John took over as editor, Tiffnews has been re-engineered into
what I hope you agree is an excellent new electronic format.
Although we will print out the new Tiffnews and post it to
anyone who cannot receive emails, or who made the
increased annual donation and wishes to request a hard copy,
I hope most of you will be happy with the email version with
its associated links. A lot of work has gone into producing it,
and in the Autumn it will be joined by a new annual, printed
publication.
If you did increase your donation (or if you are a current donor
born before 1 September 1946), and would still like to receive
printed copies of new Tiffnews, please write to Alex Swift at
the address below, or to Gareth John on
[email protected] . For this year we will
automatically send hard copies to OTA members for whom we
have no email address, whether they write in or not; if you
think this may include you, and you are online, please register
at Tiffinfriends.org now. After this year, we will only be able to
send out hard copies if you let us know you would like one!
I appreciate we have moved the goalposts a bit over the last
year or so. The simple fact is that we have been undergoing
quite a transition in terms of our approach, and it took us a
while to pin down the best approach for TAL and for Tiffnews
going forward. I think we are there now, and I ask for your
understanding and your continued enthusiasm, involvement,
and support as we look to build a stronger Association for the
future.
Tony Millard, Chairman
Letters and Emails Dear Alex,
Re: Ben Lyon - Film Star !
Whilst reading the fond memories of Ben Lyon in Tiffnews, I
recalled that Ben had carved his own small niche in British film
history by featuring as a Games master at Grist's in the classic
film "I Could Go On Singing" (director Ronald Neame -1963).
Starring Dirk Bogarde and the legendary Judy Garland, the
story includes a scene in which the characters played by Dirk
and Judy visit their son at his boarding school - he is seen
playing rugby at Grist's... but who is that master depicted
coaching the boys? Ben Lyon! Those closely connected with
the filming in 1962 may have more detailed memories about
this illustrious episode in Ben's acting career.
Best wishes
John Petley-Jones (1965)
In response to which, Mike Lyon (Ben Lyon’s son) wrote:
Dear Alex,
I am pleased to say that John Petley-Jones' letter is absolutely
correct. My father (Ben Lyon) was indeed a film star and it was
a delight to hear from John that he remembers this occasion.
Dad often spoke to me about this rather unique chapter in his
life.
Because of filming schedules etc, the scene had to be taken
during a very hot summer holiday and the ground was bone
dry. The producers had to enlist the services of the local fire
station to water the pitch for many hours to soften it and
make it muddy enough to be authentic.
Dad recalls that many boys eagerly volunteered to take part in
the rugby scene, no “health and safety” or “risk” issues then of
course!
And indeed the boys really couldn't care less that Judy
Garland's "son" was an actor and integral to the movie and
hence gave him a hard time on the pitch.
Dad remembers Dirk Bogarde as an absolute professional and
a real gentleman, whereas Judy Garland caused no end of
headaches to the Director by always being late for the takes.
For playing the part of the Referee, he had two lines in the
film, often sadly cut in TV versions, but it is on the DVD.
However, because he had a speaking part, this meant that he
was paid the sum of £60, which was equivalent to a couple of
month's salary then. Ben and Eleanor (my Mum) were also
invited to the premier opening at the Odeon Leicester Square.
Sadly it is almost impossible to obtain the DVD in the UK, but if
anyone is interested, I have managed to extract the scene
from the American version format. You can see it at
http://goo.gl/aYV0d .
Best wishes,
Mike
Brian West (Tiffnews’ first Editor) wrote:
Dear Gareth,
Congratulations on the first online edition of Tiffnews. How far
we have come from the days when I launched it as a
photocopied sheet having typed all the content myself!
Regards
Brian West
People ATULA ABEYSEKERA (TAL Trustee) is to be granted the
Freedom of the City of London. Atula Abeysekera is a trustee
of the Tiffinian Association and a member of its Membership
and Development Committee. His son Kushala left Tiffin
School in 2005 and is currently studying at Imperial College to
become a doctor. Kushala set up the Tiffin Medics Society and
recently organised mock interviews for potential doctors and
dentists at the school.
“Atula Abeysekera has 25 years experience in the financial
services industry and is a Chartered Accountant with a career
in senior positions in internal audit and risk management at
KPMG, Morgan Stanley, Fidelity Investments, Lazard and
Cazenove Capital. He has extensive experience in setting up
and running internal audit and enterprise risk management
functions.” Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment
JAMES BRETT (1992) has just landed the job of composing the
score for the new Pixar movie 'Planes'. He has recently
finished a film for Stephen Frears called Lay The Favourite
about betting scams in Las Vegas and a European drama called
L’Histoire De Nos Petites Morts (The Tale Of Our Little Deaths)
about a husband and wife’s sexual fantasies. This Christmas
sees the release of his animated musical called Saving Santa,
starring Martin Freeman. Read more in a great interview with
him here: http://goo.gl/cNSno.
TIM MCCANN (staff) wrote a letter to the Telegraph
(published 5/3/12) entitled “Offer Gooch to the Aussies”. It
read: “Since England batting guru Graham Gooch announced
he would make Ian Bell (2011 Test average 118, career Test
average almost 50, world ranking second-equal) the best in
the world, the player has managed just 51 runs, average 8.50,
in an entire series. Could Gooch be persuaded to apply for a
job as batting coach to Australia before we play them again?”
CLEMENT POWER (1996) featured in a recent interview with
the Telegraph.
Ivan Hewett wrote: “Clement Power is making waves as a
brilliantly incisive and persuasive conductor”. He has an
impressive array of forthcoming engagements including
concerts at the Avanti Festival in Finland, a visit to the Lucerne
Festival to conduct Manuel de Falla’s puppet opera El retablo
de maese Pedro, and invitations back to the London
Philharmonic Orchestra. You can read the full interview at
http://goo.gl/Aa6Be .
DAISUKE SAKAGUCHI (1999) has designed one of the London
eggs in the 2012 Big Egg Hunt. You can read more about his
work and see images at http://goo.gl/LWL6m .
De Mortuis MICHAEL WILLIAM SPENCER DANE 1934 2012
I’m honoured to have been
asked to say a few words to
you about Dad Michael,
husband to Rosemary,
brother to David, father to
Nigel, Simon & me, and
grandfather to Emma,
Alexander, Ellie, Sasha,
Charlotte and Jodie, and
friend to everyone here
today. It’s fitting and
humbling that so
have come here today to say goodbye to dad.
We welcome family, friends and colleagues alike. I hope
you’ve come here to celebrate his life, because it was life
worth celebrating, a life of dedication, of hard work and of
honesty and integrity, but also of family and friendship, of
great humour, and the enjoyment of both the simpler and of
the finer things in life.
Dad achieved much in his 77 years, and this was largely the
result of his intelligence, his dedication and commitment to
getting things done. It may have been in Clarkson, Glasgow
where he spent his early years, that he learned his honest, no
nonsense approach to life, and where he learned the value of
improving yourself through honest endeavour.
It was this philosophy no doubt that ensured he won a
scholarship to Tiffin school in Kingston, when the family
moved down to Surrey, soon after the war. He was a fine,
diligent student throughout his years there, fully contributing
on all things academic and sporting. His logical mind le
to become something of a chess champion, representing the
school and the county. Rather than attend university he
opted to go straight to work after his school days, working as
an articled clerk and studying for his Chartered Accountancy
qualifications in the evenings.
He applied the same commitment and integrity when he went
into National Service immediately after passing his
accountancy exams. For dad it wasn’t a question of marking
time, of doing enough to get by. Instead he applied his
talents and rose to the rank of Captain. Indeed, had the
calling of tax accountancy not been so loud, then surely all
ncerts at the Avanti Festival in Finland, a visit to the Lucerne
Festival to conduct Manuel de Falla’s puppet opera El retablo
de maese Pedro, and invitations back to the London
Philharmonic Orchestra. You can read the full interview at
designed one of the London
in the 2012 Big Egg Hunt. You can read more about his
work and see images at http://goo.gl/LWL6m .
2012
I’m honoured to have been
to say a few words to
you about Dad Michael,
husband to Rosemary,
brother to David, father to
Nigel, Simon & me, and
grandfather to Emma,
Alexander, Ellie, Sasha,
Charlotte and Jodie, and
friend to everyone here
today. It’s fitting and
humbling that so many of you
We welcome family, friends and colleagues alike. I hope
you’ve come here to celebrate his life, because it was life
worth celebrating, a life of dedication, of hard work and of
, but also of family and friendship, of
great humour, and the enjoyment of both the simpler and of
Dad achieved much in his 77 years, and this was largely the
result of his intelligence, his dedication and commitment to
ings done. It may have been in Clarkson, Glasgow
where he spent his early years, that he learned his honest, no-
nonsense approach to life, and where he learned the value of
improving yourself through honest endeavour.
ensured he won a
scholarship to Tiffin school in Kingston, when the family
moved down to Surrey, soon after the war. He was a fine,
diligent student throughout his years there, fully contributing
on all things academic and sporting. His logical mind led him
to become something of a chess champion, representing the
school and the county. Rather than attend university he
opted to go straight to work after his school days, working as
an articled clerk and studying for his Chartered Accountancy
He applied the same commitment and integrity when he went
into National Service immediately after passing his
accountancy exams. For dad it wasn’t a question of marking
time, of doing enough to get by. Instead he applied his
ts and rose to the rank of Captain. Indeed, had the
calling of tax accountancy not been so loud, then surely all
NATO’s forces would soon have fallen under his command.
But the army’s loss was commerce’s gain.
His first position after the army was a co
Electronic Products, manufacturers of the world’s first heart &
lung machine (mission statement
have to), then onto XL insurance, Grindley Brandt insurance,
and finally on to Willis Faber, where he became Managing
Director of Willis Caroone worldwide until his retirement in
1994. A first class career based on his intelligence, and the
professional qualities of rationality, fairness and integrity.
His work gave him the opportunity to travel the globe in some
style. Once bitten by the travel bug, he and mum took off to
foreign climes whenever time allowed, seeing the sights,
sitting in the sun and eating the food, right up to the point
where his illness made this impossible.
But all this was the Dad I seldom saw.
he left on the morning train and returned in the evening,
whatever the worries and stresses of the office they were left
behind in London and he was Dad the family man.
Dad married Mum back in 1960
the tennis courts of Stoneleigh, wooing her with his legendary
disguised drop shot off the wood of his racquet. During these
salad days they made friends together that would last a
lifetime.
For us boys Dad was always kind and fun, always cheerful,
never displaying any temper despite intense provocation.
There’s no doubt having three boys appealed to his sporting
tendencies. He always jumped at the opportunity to get out
in the garden to play whatever sport we chose. In fact the
garden at Walton became something of a multi
playing field – football in winter, cricket & tennis in summer.
Even golf.
Every summer he diligently prepared a 22 yard strip to
facilitate our mini test matches, and cheerfully put up with
dark marks all over the pristine w
muddy tennis balls struck the house. Winters he spent trying
to prevent the garden resembling a WW1 battlefield as it sank
under our relentless onslaught.
Dad always enjoyed sport, playing rugby and cricket at Tiffins,
later cricket for Old Tiffinians, before seeing out his playing
career for the Walton Strollers. He was always an opening
bat of classic technique (with certain inevitable modifications),
and I had the pleasure to play with him for the Strollers on a
few occasions, and witnessed what must have been his
farewell half century. Oh the pride !
As we entered our teenage years we started playing cricket for
Walton Cricket Club, and inevitably Dad was generous in his
support. Watching one, two, or occasionally all t
boys throw their wicket away or serve up juicy half volleys to
the opposition, he was always supportive, always uncritical.
Indeed one of our friends, here today, remember
quote, ‘walking round the pitch slowly with a puzzled gai
trying to fathom why his youngest son was turning every ball
into an unplayable Yorker’.
NATO’s forces would soon have fallen under his command.
But the army’s loss was commerce’s gain.
His first position after the army was a company called New
Electronic Products, manufacturers of the world’s first heart &
lung machine (mission statement – we breathe so you don’t
have to), then onto XL insurance, Grindley Brandt insurance,
and finally on to Willis Faber, where he became Managing
Director of Willis Caroone worldwide until his retirement in
1994. A first class career based on his intelligence, and the
professional qualities of rationality, fairness and integrity.
His work gave him the opportunity to travel the globe in some
. Once bitten by the travel bug, he and mum took off to
foreign climes whenever time allowed, seeing the sights,
sitting in the sun and eating the food, right up to the point
where his illness made this impossible.
ad I seldom saw. To my brothers and me
he left on the morning train and returned in the evening,
whatever the worries and stresses of the office they were left
behind in London and he was Dad the family man.
um back in 1960, having caught her eye across
tennis courts of Stoneleigh, wooing her with his legendary
disguised drop shot off the wood of his racquet. During these
salad days they made friends together that would last a
For us boys Dad was always kind and fun, always cheerful,
playing any temper despite intense provocation.
There’s no doubt having three boys appealed to his sporting
tendencies. He always jumped at the opportunity to get out
in the garden to play whatever sport we chose. In fact the
something of a multi-purpose
football in winter, cricket & tennis in summer.
Every summer he diligently prepared a 22 yard strip to
facilitate our mini test matches, and cheerfully put up with
dark marks all over the pristine white walls of Two Oaks, as
muddy tennis balls struck the house. Winters he spent trying
to prevent the garden resembling a WW1 battlefield as it sank
under our relentless onslaught.
Dad always enjoyed sport, playing rugby and cricket at Tiffins,
icket for Old Tiffinians, before seeing out his playing
career for the Walton Strollers. He was always an opening
bat of classic technique (with certain inevitable modifications),
and I had the pleasure to play with him for the Strollers on a
ns, and witnessed what must have been his
Oh the pride !
As we entered our teenage years we started playing cricket for
and inevitably Dad was generous in his
support. Watching one, two, or occasionally all three, of his
boys throw their wicket away or serve up juicy half volleys to
the opposition, he was always supportive, always uncritical.
Indeed one of our friends, here today, remembers him, and I
‘walking round the pitch slowly with a puzzled gait,
trying to fathom why his youngest son was turning every ball
Dad was an MCC member for 45 years and loved spending
time at Lords. Never keen on the one-day version of the
game, he would happily while away a day or three sit
the pavilion at Lords watching the test match unfold.
Dad loved playing golf, and was a member of Burhill Golf Club
for 40 years. No Saturday would be complete without 18
holes in the morning, either with friends at the Club or
ourselves.
Dad was never one to go by the textbook, and this applied to
golf more than anywhere. Off the tee and for the longer irons
Dad had a pretty standard game, hitting shots with a low fade,
accurate, reliable and solid in the wind. However, the closer
he got to the hole, the more idiosyncratic and, dare I say,
interesting, it got. He rejected any lofted pitch in favour of a
low cover drive played at catchable height. Anywhere within
30 yards was putting territory, regardless of the terrain in
between. His putting stroke baffled all who saw it. It was
unique, a thing, if not of beauty then of considerable scientific
interest. But it was the way he did it, and nothing anyone
could say (and they frequently did) would make him change.
Some of my happiest memories, and those of Nigel and Simon,
are of our golfing holidays. They consisted of 4 or 5 days in
Dorset, Somerset or France, and saw us taking on the finest
courses nature could offer, 36 holes a day, no trolleys, no
buggies, no sweat. For someone with a deep seated suspicion
of exercise for its own sake his fitness was remarkable. And,
despite his disturbing technique, it was dad who sank the
winning puts, who held his nerve, and it was one of us,
normally me, who was left sobbing over a missed 3 f
Mum and dad moved to Shepperton after they were married
and set about raising a family. A quietly sociable man, dad
enjoyed membership of numerous clubs and societies. He
was a founder member of Shepperton Round Table and
Shepperton 41 Club, providing a sense of belonging that was
important to both mum and dad. And for 30 years he was an
active and popular member of Walton Rotary Club.
After retirement he became increasingly involved with the
Esher & Walton Conservative Association, where he w
valued for his ability to grasp and simplify complex subjects
and for his quietly stated but firmly held beliefs. His financial
acumen was second to none, and he soon became treasurer
of the Association.
Dad always had a love of history, from the origins of our town
to the lives of great statesmen. After retirement he set about
translating this interest into something more tangible. He
wrote and published a history of the Sassoons of Ashley Park.
Copies can still be purchased from Amazon,
remains the definitive account of this branch of a famous
British family and their time in Walton on Thames. Lord
Sassoon, on his ennoblement, requested 25 copies for his
extended family. As you would expect from dad’s pen it
focuses on the facts, allowing the family themselves to be the
stars.
Dad was an MCC member for 45 years and loved spending
day version of the
ile away a day or three sitting in
the pavilion at Lords watching the test match unfold.
Dad loved playing golf, and was a member of Burhill Golf Club
for 40 years. No Saturday would be complete without 18
holes in the morning, either with friends at the Club or
as never one to go by the textbook, and this applied to
e tee and for the longer irons
ad had a pretty standard game, hitting shots with a low fade,
accurate, reliable and solid in the wind. However, the closer
the hole, the more idiosyncratic and, dare I say,
interesting, it got. He rejected any lofted pitch in favour of a
low cover drive played at catchable height. Anywhere within
30 yards was putting territory, regardless of the terrain in
putting stroke baffled all who saw it. It was
unique, a thing, if not of beauty then of considerable scientific
interest. But it was the way he did it, and nothing anyone
could say (and they frequently did) would make him change.
mories, and those of Nigel and Simon,
are of our golfing holidays. They consisted of 4 or 5 days in
Dorset, Somerset or France, and saw us taking on the finest
courses nature could offer, 36 holes a day, no trolleys, no
th a deep seated suspicion
of exercise for its own sake his fitness was remarkable. And,
despite his disturbing technique, it was dad who sank the
winning puts, who held his nerve, and it was one of us,
normally me, who was left sobbing over a missed 3 footer.
Mum and dad moved to Shepperton after they were married
and set about raising a family. A quietly sociable man, dad
enjoyed membership of numerous clubs and societies. He
Round Table and
viding a sense of belonging that was
important to both mum and dad. And for 30 years he was an
active and popular member of Walton Rotary Club.
After retirement he became increasingly involved with the
Esher & Walton Conservative Association, where he was highly
valued for his ability to grasp and simplify complex subjects
and for his quietly stated but firmly held beliefs. His financial
acumen was second to none, and he soon became treasurer
he origins of our town
to the lives of great statesmen. After retirement he set about
translating this interest into something more tangible. He
wrote and published a history of the Sassoons of Ashley Park.
Copies can still be purchased from Amazon, price £7.99. It
remains the definitive account of this branch of a famous
British family and their time in Walton on Thames. Lord
Sassoon, on his ennoblement, requested 25 copies for his
extended family. As you would expect from dad’s pen it
on the facts, allowing the family themselves to be the
In 2007, after 20 years serving on Elmbridge Council, M
the honour of becoming Mayor of Elmbridge. Unfortunately
at the same time the Alzheimer’s disease was starting to take
a more visible hold on Dad. The role of mayor’s consort is
never an easy one but Dad, suffering as he undoubtedly was,
played it to perfection.
Dad’s final years were spent in Holly Lodge Nursing Home in
Frimley Green, and I must take a moment to thank them for
their wonderful care and for treating dad with such dignity. I
think it’s true testament to Dad’s character that, whatever the
illness threw at him, it couldn’t take away his decency, his
politeness, his care and respect for others.
It’s these qualities that we are gathered here today to
celebrate, to celebrate the 50 happ
with Mum, and the however many years he sp
you.
So let’s give thanks for the life of Michael Dane, friend and
colleague, businessman and traveller, sports lover and
sportsman, author, father, brother and dedicated husband.
(The above address, delivered at the funeral, was kindly
supplied by Michael’s son, Christopher.)
IAIN FAIRLEY DOUGLAS 1930
part of the English Electric Company.
an apprentice, he worked on the Napier Railton lan
record holder and the prototype of the Canberra,
generation jet-powered light bomber
Apprenticeship completed and into the Royal Air Force as a
pilot cadet, until a rugby concussion grounded him whilst
training in Canada. He was posted back to England via New
York where he appeared “In Town Tonight”.
his RAF career and he returned to English Electric as a design
draughtsman engaged on hydroelectric projects, where he
married Diane and relocated to Southport
In 1955 he joined Kennedy & Donkin Consulting Engineers
where he remained for the rest of his career.
the design office and an extended period as the Resident
Mechanical Engineer on the Ffestiniog Pumped Storage
Scheme in North Wales, in 1965 the family moved to Malawi
where Iain was appointed as the firm’s Resident
20 years serving on Elmbridge Council, Mum had
the honour of becoming Mayor of Elmbridge. Unfortunately
at the same time the Alzheimer’s disease was starting to take
ble hold on Dad. The role of mayor’s consort is
never an easy one but Dad, suffering as he undoubtedly was,
Dad’s final years were spent in Holly Lodge Nursing Home in
Frimley Green, and I must take a moment to thank them for
their wonderful care and for treating dad with such dignity. I
think it’s true testament to Dad’s character that, whatever the
hrew at him, it couldn’t take away his decency, his
politeness, his care and respect for others.
It’s these qualities that we are gathered here today to
celebrate, to celebrate the 50 happy years he spent together
um, and the however many years he spent knowing
So let’s give thanks for the life of Michael Dane, friend and
colleague, businessman and traveller, sports lover and
sportsman, author, father, brother and dedicated husband.
(The above address, delivered at the funeral, was kindly
supplied by Michael’s son, Christopher.)
IAIN FAIRLEY DOUGLAS 1930 – 2011
Iain was born in Teddington
and moved to Kingston in
1937, joining Tiffins during
the war years and leaving in
1947. Needless to say,
education was disrupted by
periods of evacuation,
including stays in
Bournemouth.
He signed on for a
mechanical apprenticeship
with D Napier & Son Ltd.,
which subsequently became
part of the English Electric Company. During his four years as
an apprentice, he worked on the Napier Railton land speed
record holder and the prototype of the Canberra, a first-
light bomber.
ship completed and into the Royal Air Force as a
until a rugby concussion grounded him whilst
He was posted back to England via New
York where he appeared “In Town Tonight”. The injury ended
ed to English Electric as a design
draughtsman engaged on hydroelectric projects, where he
married Diane and relocated to Southport.
In 1955 he joined Kennedy & Donkin Consulting Engineers,
where he remained for the rest of his career. After periods in
he design office and an extended period as the Resident
Mechanical Engineer on the Ffestiniog Pumped Storage
Scheme in North Wales, in 1965 the family moved to Malawi
where Iain was appointed as the firm’s Resident
Representative for the Nkula Falls, a hydroelectric s
which he nominated as his favourite project, not least of all
because it represented the start of some 14 years of residence
in Africa.
From Malawi, Iain moved on to Uganda and the Owen Falls
Power Station on the River Nile, then back bri
where he completed his qualification as a Professional
Mechanical Engineer before returning to Malawi.
appointed as the Resident Partner and remained in Malawi
until 1979, with responsibility for numerous hydroelectric and
thermal power projects, together with the associated
transmission and control systems, as well as prestigious
commercial and industrial building projects.
He returned to the UK as an Associate of the Firm, initially in
Woking and, following relocation of the Head
Godalming, with responsibility for development and
implementation of consulting engineering services for clients
in Africa and elsewhere overseas.
Following the change from operating as a Partnership, he was
appointed as a Director of Kennedy & Donkin Group Ltd,
Managing Director of Kennedy & Donkin Generation and
Industrial Ltd. and Chief Executive of the Manchester Office.
In 1988, Iain was elected to the Association of Consulting
Engineers and assumed the role of Group Managing Director
responsible for the day to day management of the Kennedy &
Donkin group of companies and for the implementation of
corporate strategies and policies of subsidiary companies in
the UK and overseas, a post he held until his retirement in
1992.
Retirement saw his return to Cheshire, where he stayed
short sorties into Europe, his desire to travel having been
quenched in his working years. Iain passed away in
September 2011 after a short illness.
Iain is survived by Diane, his son Alistair and daughter Debbie
and their four grandsons, all of whom live in Australia.
plans to move to Australia to be with them all.
BASIL CHARLES GRAY 1921 2012
Basil was born in 1921 in
Westcliff-on Sea
on behind his older brother
Alan. Six years later
family moved to Thames
Ditton, thereby influencing
his lifelong interest in the
river and boating.
His application to become a
pupil at Tiffin School was an
important step for Basil.
Apparently the Headmaster
of that time
Dean, in assessing Basil as a suitable candidate asked him how
to spell the word ‘bicycle’. He seemed to have got that right
roelectric scheme
which he nominated as his favourite project, not least of all
because it represented the start of some 14 years of residence
From Malawi, Iain moved on to Uganda and the Owen Falls
then back briefly to the UK,
where he completed his qualification as a Professional
Mechanical Engineer before returning to Malawi. He was
appointed as the Resident Partner and remained in Malawi
with responsibility for numerous hydroelectric and
together with the associated
as well as prestigious
He returned to the UK as an Associate of the Firm, initially in
Woking and, following relocation of the Head Office, in
Godalming, with responsibility for development and
implementation of consulting engineering services for clients
Following the change from operating as a Partnership, he was
Donkin Group Ltd,
Managing Director of Kennedy & Donkin Generation and
and Chief Executive of the Manchester Office.
In 1988, Iain was elected to the Association of Consulting
Engineers and assumed the role of Group Managing Director
sible for the day to day management of the Kennedy &
Donkin group of companies and for the implementation of
corporate strategies and policies of subsidiary companies in
the UK and overseas, a post he held until his retirement in
where he stayed, with
short sorties into Europe, his desire to travel having been
Iain passed away in
Iain is survived by Diane, his son Alistair and daughter Debbie
and their four grandsons, all of whom live in Australia. Diane
plans to move to Australia to be with them all.
Basil was born in 1921 in
on Sea, following
on behind his older brother
Six years later the
family moved to Thames
thereby influencing
his lifelong interest in the
river and boating.
His application to become a
pupil at Tiffin School was an
important step for Basil.
Apparently the Headmaster
of that time, one Tubby
ng Basil as a suitable candidate asked him how
He seemed to have got that right,
thus ensuring his acceptance to the school.
qualities were beyond dispute!
At Tiffins Basil was very active in several sports, namely rugby,
athletics and shooting. He
member of the school boat club
his older brother, Alan, who was already making waves as an
oarsman, competing for Kingsto
The Second World War quickly put a stop to these river
pursuits, and Basil, who had been a sergeant in the Air Cadets
at school, volunteered to serve in the RAF and learnt to fly.
Among various escapades, including the ‘pranging ‘of three
aircraft for various reasons, he was seconded to Canada in
1942 and taught budding pilots there to fly Harvards.
then transferred to flying Mosquitos
service over France in 1944.
flying missions was a raid set for August 9
when as one of four Mosquito pilots he flew to target the
suspected secret Gestapo HQ in the Garonne district near
Bordeaux. The twin-towered building was successfully
breached and a large number of
(believed to be in the region of a hundred)
freed.
After the war Basil quickly returned to the river and
boating interests, both at KRC and The Skiff Club
sharing the same Turks Boathouse HQ.
together a crew to race in the Grand at Henley (
for eight oared racing), and Basil found himself in the thick of
it at No. 2, being stroked by the formidable character of Dick
Bale, known for his aggressive but dedicated style. This
part of a learning curve for Basil
succumbed to a Leander Eight by one and a half lengths.
1947 the same KRC crew raced Imperial College
one length but losing in the next round to Delft Sport.
perhaps ironic that Kingston on Thames was by then already
twinned to the Dutch town of Delft.
Basil continued to compete for KRC at Henley Royal Regatta in
the Grand Challenge Cup event
stroke seat on three occasions and inclu
competing in both the Grand and t
brother, Alan. In October 1949 he was asked by Richard
Burnell, then head of the selectors
represent England in the team to travel to New Zealand for
The Empire Games. Unfortunately he didn’t quite make it
a heavier crew were finally selected
entered the Thames Cup event with Basil valiantly stroking a
rather mixed ability crew of characters.
progress further.
Basil’s last entry to HRR was in 1956 in the coxless Wyfold
Fours event, when he took on the thankless task of steering
from the bow seat. Despite cries from the towpath of “Hit
‘em Bas” their efforts did not match those of the Lady
Margaret crew who rowed clear to win.
Four crew and Skiff Club member was one Leslie Saywood
who now hails from New Zealand
thus ensuring his acceptance to the school. Clearly his other
qualities were beyond dispute! No eleven-plus at that time !
was very active in several sports, namely rugby,
became in due course a keen
member of the school boat club, no doubt wishing to emulate
who was already making waves as an
competing for Kingston Rowing Club.
The Second World War quickly put a stop to these river
, who had been a sergeant in the Air Cadets
volunteered to serve in the RAF and learnt to fly.
including the ‘pranging ‘of three
he was seconded to Canada in
1942 and taught budding pilots there to fly Harvards. He was
then transferred to flying Mosquitos, which he flew on active
One particular highlight of his
ssions was a raid set for August 9th
1944 into France,
when as one of four Mosquito pilots he flew to target the
suspected secret Gestapo HQ in the Garonne district near
towered building was successfully
umber of the French Resistance
o be in the region of a hundred) were able to be
ickly returned to the river and his
both at KRC and The Skiff Club, both clubs
sharing the same Turks Boathouse HQ. In 1946 KRC put
er a crew to race in the Grand at Henley (the top event
and Basil found himself in the thick of
being stroked by the formidable character of Dick
aggressive but dedicated style. This was
a learning curve for Basil, however, as the crew
succumbed to a Leander Eight by one and a half lengths. !n
1947 the same KRC crew raced Imperial College, winning by
one length but losing in the next round to Delft Sport. It was
that Kingston on Thames was by then already
own of Delft.
Basil continued to compete for KRC at Henley Royal Regatta in
the Grand Challenge Cup event, having been promoted to the
stroke seat on three occasions and including in 1949
competing in both the Grand and the Silver Goblets with his
In October 1949 he was asked by Richard
then head of the selectors, to ready himself to
represent England in the team to travel to New Zealand for
Unfortunately he didn’t quite make it, as
a heavier crew were finally selected. In 1953 the Club
entered the Thames Cup event with Basil valiantly stroking a
rather mixed ability crew of characters. Sadly they did not
ry to HRR was in 1956 in the coxless Wyfold
when he took on the thankless task of steering
ite cries from the towpath of “Hit
their efforts did not match those of the Lady
Margaret crew who rowed clear to win. One of that Wyfold
ub member was one Leslie Saywood,
who now hails from New Zealand, where he is still very
actively involved in the sport of rowing. On hearing of Basil’s
passing he sent these words :
“I am terribly sad to hear the news about Basil. He was a shy
man but with a puckish sense of humour. Together in a
double skiff we were quite successful over a number of years.
I remember on one occasion we were asked why we drank
between heats. Basil’s riposte to this was that ‘we were idling
below peak form’!! Basil was tenacious, never gave up and
was always determined to win. I will always remember him.”
Basil’s Skiff Club record is also impressive,
events over the post-war years and up to 1956 in b
Club Championships and the Skiff Championships
that time he also served on the Skiff Club Committee.
was by then a senior and stalwart supporter of the Club and of
the younger generation and the new intake of recent
schoolboys. He is remembered for his ever-friendly face and
keen interest in the crews and their fortunes.
In 1965 Basil’s life took quite a different turn
marrying Ros. In 1974 Laurette came along and his interests
matured into an active family life. His interest in
KRC did not fade, however, and Basil was always to be seen at
the Regattas, the Heads and the Club’s major social events.
His particular involvement with concocting and dispensing the
grog at the Club’s Christmas Rum Punch Party
is, I am sure, well remembered !
John White, now Chairman of Kingston Regatta
regrets at not being able to attend the funeral
young rowers never really appreciated how much the heavies
like Bas did to run the club for our benefit.
when our turn came ! And in more recent years I really
appreciated his support for the Kingston Regatta and see
both Bas and Ros enjoying themselves at the Regatta Lunch”.
Basil, who was often referred to by his generation of oarsmen
as ‘the boy’, certainly became a ‘man’ in all respects
salute him.
Basil, you will be sorely missed.
COLIN CHARLES KNAPPITT 1950 2012
Colin was b
January 1950 in Kingston
upon Thames, first child
to Ron & Eileen Knappitt,
followed three
by a little sister, Marie.
He lived in New Malden
and Worcester Park
where he attended Old
Malden School, Cheam
Common Junior School
and Tiffin
to Worthing at a
attending Worthing Boys High School. He t
Southampton University, where he attained a degree in
Chemistry. He moved into 41 Cleveland
On hearing of Basil’s
the news about Basil. He was a shy
man but with a puckish sense of humour. Together in a
double skiff we were quite successful over a number of years.
I remember on one occasion we were asked why we drank
that ‘we were idling
below peak form’!! Basil was tenacious, never gave up and
was always determined to win. I will always remember him.”
, winning many
war years and up to 1956 in both the
he Skiff Championships, and during
that time he also served on the Skiff Club Committee. Basil
was by then a senior and stalwart supporter of the Club and of
the younger generation and the new intake of recent
friendly face and
In 1965 Basil’s life took quite a different turn, meeting and
In 1974 Laurette came along and his interests
s interest in rowing and
and Basil was always to be seen at
Heads and the Club’s major social events.
His particular involvement with concocting and dispensing the
grog at the Club’s Christmas Rum Punch Party over many years
now Chairman of Kingston Regatta, sent his
able to attend the funeral but wrote : “We
young rowers never really appreciated how much the heavies
That only hit us,
And in more recent years I really
appreciated his support for the Kingston Regatta and seeing
hemselves at the Regatta Lunch”.
who was often referred to by his generation of oarsmen
certainly became a ‘man’ in all respects, and we
Colin was born on 2nd
January 1950 in Kingston
pon Thames, first child
on & Eileen Knappitt,
followed three years later
by a little sister, Marie.
ived in New Malden
and Worcester Park
where he attended Old
Malden School, Cheam
Common Junior School
and Tiffins, before moving
to Worthing at age 14 and
He then went to
where he attained a degree in
land Road on his
retirement in 1975 and lived there ever since
wonderful garden, where he
growing vegetables and sweet peas with a wild, woodland
area at the back. Although he had left Tiffins at the age of 14,
he joined the Old Tiffinians and kept in touch with the school.
Colin taught physics at Worthing High S
Shoreham College, before taking early retirement at age 55 to
spend time caring for his parents, to whom he was devoted.
He would go round to their bungalow every morning and do
any tasks required, including much maintenance, gardening,
decorating and DIY work – and in recent times dealing with a
plague of indoor mice! Nothing was too much trouble for him
to do for them, and he refused to take a holiday in recent
years, as he didn’t like to leave
He enjoyed playing the violin and trumpet in his younger days
as well as having a fine singing voice throughout his life
sang for St Botolph’s choir for many years up to recent times
and enjoyed an annual trip to the Proms at the Albert Hall.
He was keen on fencing in his early years and
of Worthing Fencing Club.
astronomer all his life, building his own telescope in his early
teens and was a member of the Worthing Astronomical
Society. This caused him to
light pollution from cities and in particular from football pitch
lights. He always got dad to record Patrick Moore’s
Night’ programmes so he could watch them.
family holidays in his youth and later abroa
(North America & South Africa).
Colin participated in Shoreham amateur dramatics and was an
enthusiastic supporter of the Connaught Theatre
every dramatic performance on his season ticket.
a keen environmentalist, supporting the WWF and Woodland
Trust throughout his life. Every Sunday morning for many
years he patrolled the area local to Cleveland Road clearing
litter with his litter picker. He was v
justice, with strong opinions on all kin
many letters to companies and the local paper,
injustices were occurring. In recent years
at High Salvington Windmill and served as their treasurer.
has never owned a television and was always am
number of ‘threatening letters’ he received from the TV
licensing authorities about his non
He wasn’t keen on technology of any
computer, but he did enjoy listening to the radio.
greatly enjoyed reading and had a large and varied ‘library’ of
both non-fiction and fiction books, particularly enjoying the
Sherlock Holmes, Biggles and Billy Bunter series.
the back garden featured high on events remembered with
affection – both by the family and by friends (even being held
in the garage, when the weather turned inclement!)
Colin was an extremely loyal and generous man,
and thoughtful. The family
number of tributes received from
tell of his loyalty, reliability and integrity
stories about his caring support and help to them.
in 1975 and lived there ever since, creating a
where he loved to spend a lot of time,
growing vegetables and sweet peas with a wild, woodland
Although he had left Tiffins at the age of 14,
he joined the Old Tiffinians and kept in touch with the school.
aught physics at Worthing High School for Girls and
before taking early retirement at age 55 to
parents, to whom he was devoted.
He would go round to their bungalow every morning and do
including much maintenance, gardening,
and in recent times dealing with a
Nothing was too much trouble for him
and he refused to take a holiday in recent
as he didn’t like to leave them.
njoyed playing the violin and trumpet in his younger days
as well as having a fine singing voice throughout his life – he
Botolph’s choir for many years up to recent times
and enjoyed an annual trip to the Proms at the Albert Hall.
as keen on fencing in his early years and was a member
of Worthing Fencing Club. He was a keen amateur
astronomer all his life, building his own telescope in his early
teens and was a member of the Worthing Astronomical
him to be extremely concerned about
light pollution from cities and in particular from football pitch
He always got dad to record Patrick Moore’s ‘Sky at
programmes so he could watch them. He enjoyed
family holidays in his youth and later abroad with friends
South Africa).
articipated in Shoreham amateur dramatics and was an
enthusiastic supporter of the Connaught Theatre, attending
every dramatic performance on his season ticket. He was also
pporting the WWF and Woodland
Every Sunday morning for many
years he patrolled the area local to Cleveland Road clearing
He was very keen on fairness and
justice, with strong opinions on all kinds of issues, writing
o companies and the local paper, when he felt
In recent years he has assisted up
at High Salvington Windmill and served as their treasurer. He
has never owned a television and was always amused at the
number of ‘threatening letters’ he received from the TV
about his non-purchase of a TV licence !
He wasn’t keen on technology of any sort and never owned a
ut he did enjoy listening to the radio. He also
atly enjoyed reading and had a large and varied ‘library’ of
fiction and fiction books, particularly enjoying the
Biggles and Billy Bunter series. Barbecues in
the back garden featured high on events remembered with
both by the family and by friends (even being held
when the weather turned inclement!)
n extremely loyal and generous man, kind, caring
have been astonished at the
number of tributes received from unknown people wishing to
tell of his loyalty, reliability and integrity, with many telling
support and help to them.
His sister says they have always been a small
family (their Mum & Dad are both ‘only’ children, so no
uncles or cousins), as they have always lived close to each
other, and the ‘hole’ he leaves is enormous. They
much and always will.
BEN LYON
(The memories below were sent in by John Gately 1960)
A Headmaster, Two
Teachers and a Pupil
“Ouvrez vo
Baritone voice.
teacher (aged 26) in salmon
pink track suit straight from
the gym.
eleven years old, the year
1952, Class 1c (Mr. Enion’s
room). Our first French
lesson. Ben L
Thus began a friendship
which grew over 60 years until Ben’s death in 2011.
During my school years (1952-1960) Ben was inextricably
linked to Ted Key (“Butch and Ben”) in the minds of all
Tiffinians who were serious about rugby and/or cricket.
leaving school I met with Ted regularly over the ensuing years
– visits to home, Twickenham, Cambridge, Probus, etc.
saw him just before he died, when I was visiting from Canada.
These two men defined Tiffins for many boys.
their teaching colleagues, were intensely loyal to a visionary
Headmaster who appeared to be a law unto himself, a man
larger than life who commanded the respect of an outstanding
staff. He was almost a caricature. As I write, I am looking at
the staff photo taken in 1955. These men I got to know much
better by listening to Ben for hours on end over many years.
Because the Brigadier was such a character, it became very
apparent to me that there was a tremendous amount of
humour in the staff room. The mischievous John Dascombe
(French) kept a diary of staff meetings: “the sayings of
Harper”, and this little tome is an absolute gem:
About an unfortunate pupil, “That boy couldn’t kick a ball
through a wet Surrey Comet.”
Before a school band/orchestra performance to Eric Griffi
“I’ll get ’em started and you keep ’em going, Griff.”
On his visit to the Middle East, “I noticed that little had
changed between the time of Christ and my visit.”
One of my favourite stories related to me by Ben involves th
Baptist Chapel across the road from the school.
outgrown the school hall, and morning assemblies were now
held in the chapel. This scenario was perfect for JJ, who loved
pomp and circumstance. He would make his grand entrance
when the whole school and staff were assembled and Dr.
Chapple was installed in the pulpit. The staff occupied the
have always been a small but close-knit
ad are both ‘only’ children, so no aunts,
have always lived close to each
They miss him so
(The memories below were sent in by John Gately 1960)
A Headmaster, Two
Teachers and a Pupil
“Ouvrez vos livres.”
Baritone voice. Young
teacher (aged 26) in salmon
pink track suit straight from
I am nearly
eleven years old, the year
Class 1c (Mr. Enion’s
Our first French
Ben Lyon.
Thus began a friendship
which grew over 60 years until Ben’s death in 2011.
1960) Ben was inextricably
linked to Ted Key (“Butch and Ben”) in the minds of all
Tiffinians who were serious about rugby and/or cricket. After
leaving school I met with Ted regularly over the ensuing years
visits to home, Twickenham, Cambridge, Probus, etc. I last
when I was visiting from Canada.
These two men defined Tiffins for many boys. They, with
were intensely loyal to a visionary
Headmaster who appeared to be a law unto himself, a man
larger than life who commanded the respect of an outstanding
As I write, I am looking at
These men I got to know much
better by listening to Ben for hours on end over many years.
Because the Brigadier was such a character, it became very
apparent to me that there was a tremendous amount of
The mischievous John Dascombe
(French) kept a diary of staff meetings: “the sayings of
and this little tome is an absolute gem:
About an unfortunate pupil, “That boy couldn’t kick a ball
performance to Eric Griffiths,
em going, Griff.”
“I noticed that little had
changed between the time of Christ and my visit.”
One of my favourite stories related to me by Ben involves the
Baptist Chapel across the road from the school. We had
and morning assemblies were now
This scenario was perfect for JJ, who loved
He would make his grand entrance
school and staff were assembled and Dr.
The staff occupied the
front row and Stu Griffiths, whose religious beliefs were
unknown, would sit directly below the pulpit.
something of a law unto himself
his pipe during the service. The rest of the staff would gaze
with baited breath as the smoke from Griffiths’ pipe spiralled
upwards towards the Headmaster’s nostrils.
The Brigadier knew that Tiffins would be defined by its
entrance to university and its ability to compete against the
best in extra-curricular activities.
Levels. The A and B streams sat these exams in our 4
(as opposed to the fifth at other schools)
year in the 6th
Form (Upper VI) to compete for
scholarships after A-Levels. I was a beneficiary of this policy.
I was allowed into LVI Arts with a paltry 4 ‘O’ Levels, none of
which was in science. There I studied Greek and Latin wit
George Worth and Keith Southan and English with Stu Griffiths
for a year. It was at this point I decided I wanted to be a
doctor, and this meant switching from Arts to Science and
leaving the heady world of Thucydides and Chauce
to Dr. Regnart’s dogfish in formalin and eventually the flowers
in JJ’s garden. I did this with the Brigadier’s blessing
though my earlier performance in the Science subject
Geometry in the mock O-Levels) was dismal
What was he thinking? I completed MVI Science with the A
Levels that would be required by the London teaching
hospitals. During this process I realised how a career can so
easily hang by a single thread.
instructed to determine the polarity of two magnets using iron
filings. Quite a simple task you might say; but not so.
not long before the iron filings made a mass exodus from the
bench to the floor. Fortunately my very close friend, Keith
Goodwin, who had little faith
nearby, and he came over to help retrieve the iron filings and
surreptitiously moved one of the ma
meantime Mr Les Wallis discreetly occupied himself over the
other side of the room. Keith, if only for
helped me to realise my aspirations, was quite deservedly
appointed Head Boy the following year.
After A-Levels I decided to go for broke and made it clear I
wanted to go to Cambridge rather than London to read
Medicine. One of the happiest memories of my school days
was being given the complete freedom to follow my own path
(looking back I realise what an exceptional school Tiffins was).
No one from Tiffins had gone to Cambridge to study Medicine
so there was no curriculum for their P
was entering untested waters.
need any help, just give a shout.”
Cambridge in 1960.
Ben lived a stone’s throw from my parents in Ewell
frequently after leaving school.
nurse, as was daughter, Deborah.
Tiffins. He remembers his mother and father and me
nattering into the early hours over a bottle of his father’s
scotch which became a dead soldier
evening.
front row and Stu Griffiths, whose religious beliefs were
unknown, would sit directly below the pulpit. He, like JJ, was
something of a law unto himself and would occasionally light
The rest of the staff would gaze
with baited breath as the smoke from Griffiths’ pipe spiralled
upwards towards the Headmaster’s nostrils.
The Brigadier knew that Tiffins would be defined by its rate of
entrance to university and its ability to compete against the
curricular activities. He was not interested in O-
The A and B streams sat these exams in our 4th
year
(as opposed to the fifth at other schools), thus allowing a 3rd
Form (Upper VI) to compete for university
I was a beneficiary of this policy.
VI Arts with a paltry 4 ‘O’ Levels, none of
There I studied Greek and Latin with
George Worth and Keith Southan and English with Stu Griffiths
It was at this point I decided I wanted to be a
and this meant switching from Arts to Science and
leaving the heady world of Thucydides and Chaucer in Elmfield
ogfish in formalin and eventually the flowers
I did this with the Brigadier’s blessing, even
though my earlier performance in the Science subjects (2% for
Levels) was dismal, to say the least.
I completed MVI Science with the A-
Levels that would be required by the London teaching
During this process I realised how a career can so
easily hang by a single thread. For the Physics practical I was
e polarity of two magnets using iron
Quite a simple task you might say; but not so. It was
not long before the iron filings made a mass exodus from the
Fortunately my very close friend, Keith
who had little faith in my practical abilities, was
came over to help retrieve the iron filings and
surreptitiously moved one of the magnets, while in the
Les Wallis discreetly occupied himself over the
Keith, if only for the fact that he
helped me to realise my aspirations, was quite deservedly
appointed Head Boy the following year.
Levels I decided to go for broke and made it clear I
wanted to go to Cambridge rather than London to read
est memories of my school days
was being given the complete freedom to follow my own path
(looking back I realise what an exceptional school Tiffins was).
No one from Tiffins had gone to Cambridge to study Medicine,
so there was no curriculum for their Parts III and IV, 1st
MB. I
was entering untested waters. “Good luck, old chap; if you
need any help, just give a shout.” I went up to St. Catharines,
Ben lived a stone’s throw from my parents in Ewell, so I visited
leaving school. Ben’s wife, Eleanor, was a
nurse, as was daughter, Deborah. Son Michael was a pupil at
He remembers his mother and father and me
nattering into the early hours over a bottle of his father’s
scotch which became a dead soldier during the course of the
On retirement Ben and Eleanor moved to Albaston in Cornwall
(near Launceston), and I stayed with them whenever I came
over from Canada. They were very happy there for all the
reasons that Martin Williams alluded to in his obituary. Ben
and I would play golf and then join the ladies for what he
called “drop drops”. Eleanor’s premature death was
devastating. I had never seen Ben happier than he was on his
return to that part of England where he grew up and still had
many friends (to them he was Cyril). Ben was dealt a double
blow when his subsequent marriage to Morwenna ended in
tragedy. I stayed with them in Tavistock and witnessed the
progression of Morwenna’s debilitating illness. Because I was
a long-term friend and also a doctor Ben felt able to express
some of his feelings to me. I never heard him complain once.
He was always able to put a positive spin on any adversity.
For a man of his many talents he was remarkably modest and
chose to keep his light under a bushel. He was grateful for
any acts of kindness and never took them for granted. Rarely
have I met a man of such grace and generosity of spirit.
I did not know Ted Key as well as I knew Ben. He had a
reputation of being tough, uncompromising and somewhat
elitist – only the best would do. This was the standard he had
set for himself: fighter pilot, attendance at both Oxford and
Cambridge and member of the Oxford Varsity squad in rugby
after reaching County Level. Ted was seemingly intolerant at
times and did not hesitate to let you know when he thought
you were underperforming; this was an aspect of his teaching
ability that I respected as a schoolboy (tough love). And yet I
experienced the very real nurturing side of his nature – I will
always remember the day he brought to the classroom my
first pair of real cricket boots that had spikes. I was only
fourteen at the time and he had tested me against eighteen-
and nineteen-year-olds by putting me in the First Eleven the
week before. I was run out after slipping and falling in the
only shoes I could afford – gym shoes !
It says a lot about Tiffins that both Ted Key and Ben Lyon
spent their entire careers in the one school.
My years at Tiffins were among the happiest of my life. I was
aware that I was in an extraordinary school, headed by an
extraordinary Headmaster, who had gathered around him an
extraordinary staff. I am sure that he told them that school
started after 4 o’clock, and several teachers, in particular Ben
Lyon and Ted Key, had to combine their home lives with the
life of Tiffin School. The most unlikely of the staff would turn
out on the cricket field on a Saturday to umpire some of the
junior matches, even the diminutive Dr. Regnart, whose index
finger would automatically shoot up into the air in response to
any loud appeal. Tiffins was going places during the period
that Ben would call the “halcyon years” – entry to public
school VIIs, First XV matches against London teaching
hospitals, ongoing Tercel cricket and rugby tours to
Cambridge, an increasingly successful boat club and much,
much more than space in these columns will allow me to
document.
As an amusing aside, a previous correspondent to Tiff News
has inquired about the history of the school bus. Keith
Goodwin and I remember that it was acquired in the 1950s by
Keith Southan for the boat club, although it was also used to
transport rugby and cricket teams to Cambridge. Bert
Seaborn took it upon himself to paint the bus in school colours
(blue and red) both inside and outside. His timing was
impeccable because he chose to do so one July just before the
cricket tour. The seats had barely dried but became very
sticky in the heat; not good for our trousers but ideal for spin
bowling! The bus was OK on petrol but heavy on water.
Either Ben or Ted had to make frequent stops after any hill
climb to obtain water for the radiator from a nearby pub.
I have been asked on a number of occasions (I am a
Consultant Surgeon) how it was that I kept in touch with Ben
Lyon and Ted Key. Well, it was that kind of school; it set the
highest of standards, demonstrated a tremendous caring and
dedication to pupils who wanted to make an effort. Above
all, it encouraged loyalty and gratitude. Hence the privilege
of remaining friends with two men who I felt had invested in
me personally.
We regret to have to announce also the deaths of DAVID WISE
(1949) and WALLACE EDGINGTON (1935).
The Headship of Thomas Dean 1919-1946
(Part II) Continued from February 2012 edition....
The years up to the Second World War were years of little
change except in two ways. Firstly, overcrowding returned as
the number of boys in the school increased and
accommodation remained static. This became a problem as
early as 1934.
Secondly, the uniform changed many times, and again the
Tiffinian is less than detailed on the matter. In the period
1930-32, the mauve felt prefects’ cap made its first
appearance though only for senior prefects. Junior prefects
retained the normal cap (junior in this case did not refer to
younger boys – both varieties of prefects were sixth formers).
The rest of the boys also got new caps: the Australian ones.
They were similar to the caps of the Australian cricketers,
having no button dome, and so were flatter, and were pleated
down the side. During the war they were abolished by a law
designed to outlaw the pleats in women’s skirts. Exactly when
these caps appeared is not clear, but in 1933 boaters, to be
used in Summer Term only, appeared and become popular.
Again World War II legislation KOed them, and an attempt to
reintroduce them after the war failed miserably. The most
important clothing event was the appearance of the famous
striped blazers, the pre-war version having the school badge
on the breast pocket. They began around 1930 as sports’
blazers but by 1934 at the latest, were extended to all boys.
Recently a school cap was sent to the archives. It shook us
rigid, as it had the date 1929 on its brim. It is the only known
example and the intended use for it is not clear though there
appears to be a date too in a photo on a school rowing cox’s
cap.
A major event of the 1930s was the rebuilding of the stage. It
had not been built as originally intended due to financial
problems following the 1929 crash. The story goes that Dean
was told of the coming financial restrictions and was given the
choice of a hall or gymnasium. He chose the hall saying that
the boys doing PT on the field would not be harmed. I think he
made the wrong decision – architecturally I don’t see that they
hall could have been left unfinished as it forms the main wall
of the school. It seems odd that Dean didn’t realise that. His
decision resulted in the school having no gym for the next 20
years. The actual rebuilding of the stage, resulting in a much
widened space, was a marvellous cooperative effort of
parents, old boys and sixth formers. Without this wider stage,
it is difficult to see how the marvellous productions of the
Tiffinian musical and dramatic society in the 1930s could have
taken place. Leadership of the rebuilding efforts fells to a
volunteer, Mr Mitchell, who had three sons in the school. An
architect by profession, he dress up the plans and made a
model to show what it would looks like. It was on display for a
while, where is that model now? His youngest son, Richard,
now living in New Zealand, is one of the few survivors of those
days, holding at the time the honourable post of tea boy. After
the rebuilding, the society led off with the “Dogges of Devon”
which was followed by a series of other elaborate
productions. See previous articles for more about these.
Dean decided that many of the boys at the school were not
academically suitable for the courses they were on, thus he
introduced a less academic course for the C band. According
to Dean, this was very successful. This band was relettered T
band, and first appears on the 1937 prize list. On the other
hand, high flyers were allowed to take their general cert
exams at the end of the fourth year. For an unknown reason,
that option was withdrawn in about 1936.
In 1935 or so the old boy’s football club approached Dean and
said that the absence of football at school was damaging,
almost beyond repair, the soccer section of the Old Boys. I find
Dean’s accession to the request that football should resume at
the school, quite amazing, totally un-Dean-like, but football
did resume at the school.
One of the pleasures that British children suffered was regular
medical examinations. Starting before the First World War for
“normal” schools, where all children met the school doctor at
the age of 5, 8, 11 and 14, the grammar schools generally did
not follow this system. As for Tiffin, medicals of some sort
existed in the old school, but we do have greater information
as to what went on in the 1930s. The cast majority of Tiffin
boys did not see the school doctor at all. Instead they were all
medically assessed by the school nurse, in the room labelled
on the school plans as medical inspection room. Up to 1937,
the school library was in a classroom on the top corridor, but
in 1937 the lending library only, came into the medical
inspection room. To make matters worse, the room also acted
as the home for the prefects, though over what period, I’m far
from sure. The school nurse had one job to decide if a boy
needed to see a doctor for which purpose the boys exposed
their bare chests and feet two or three times during their
school career. However, there were a few boys who received a
full medical from time to time. About 1938/39 a change
occurred. From that date, school doctors came into school and
fully examined chosen boys. The puzzle is how boys were
chosen. I was examined twice while my best friend escaped all
together. Also dentists came regularly into the school to
examine all boys.
The main problem for a school historian during the war years
was who carried “the big stick”; in the case of Tiffin, was it
Dean, the governors, Surrey County Council or the central
government? But we have no such problem in the first major
event of the War. Dean had no option, the governors had no
option, for the government decreed that no school should
open for the autumn term 1939, until they possessed enough
shelters to accommodate the number of children attending.
Like most other schools, Tiffin had none, and a couple of days
before term should have begun, parents received a letter from
Dean stating that the school would not be open on time and it
would not do so until enough shelters had been provided. I
only know of one school, in Carshalton, which opened on
time. There the school authorities had persuaded the powers
that be that the wine cellars bellow the main building
(previously a rich man’s house) obviated the need for shelters.
Boys began to come in on 25 September for assignments to be
done at home. As shelters were completed, the examination
forms commenced full time schooling from 9 October.
Gradually other forms started, the whole school assembling
for the first time on 23 October.
Prior to the war beginning, school teaching hours had been
reorganised with hour sessions in the morning and shorter
periods in the afternoon. From the Autumn Term 1938, the
length of a lesson was reduced to 45 minutes in the morning
and 35 minutes in the afternoon. It was to that time table that
the school started in October.
It must be remembered that, helped by the predictions of
experts who got it all wrong as usual, near panic set in with
regard to the effect of enemy bombing. It was predicted that
thousands would be killed from the air within days of war
starting. The main killer was expected to be poison gas. That
never happened, but plans were drawn up in 1939 to combat
this fear. These plans involved the conversion of the
Kingstonian Football Ground, in Richmond Road, into a centre
to treat gas casualties. The only building certainly built was
one beside the 2nd team pitch at the Burton Road end of the
site. This became an ARP command centre and then, at the
end of the war, was sold to Kingston Council to be used as a
school clinic. I had the pleasure of attending there and I have
never known such a cold building, especially as I was
undressed and waiting. I would be delighted to head the
memories of any O.T. who went here. Plans were also drawn
up to convert Tiffin Girls’ School to a gas treatment centre,
thus closing the school. Presumably it was chosen because it
would have been close to the other centre at the Kingstonian
ground. It is certain that this conversion was never carried out.
I have never seen any plans as to where the girls would have
gone. The school shelters were built in three blocks, next to
the Queen Elizabeth Road, where the dining hall now is, and
also at each end of the “large field”. I have no idea in which
order they were built. Other shelters were built on the far side
of the big field; these were not built for the school but for the
workers of the Celestian Building in London Road. I spoke to
an oldish lady who was a junior typist. She described as
follows: “When the siren went, we dropped everything and
ran into out delivery yard. Then behind the estate agent next
door and then along an alleyway onto Tiffin land and into the
shelters.” It may be that Celestian workers shared school
shelters for a short while, as Dean complained of dirty jokes
being told to the boys by the workers.
The bombing of London started in September 1940 and during
1940/40, the shelters were equipped with electric light. From
6 November 1940 to 10 February 1941, morning school ended
at 11:45am and after a dinner break of only 30 minutes,
afternoon school started to finish at 2pm. Various
modifications of teaching times occurred throughout the war.
I have often commented on the inadequacy of the Tiffinian as
a historical document, but its strongest failing was the failure
to record the ending of Saturday morning school. I have asked
various O.T.s as to their views, but they give differing answers.
I think the first term when there was no Saturday morning
school was the Autumn term of 1940, but I am far from
certain.
A problem with the shelters was that they boys could go to
the shelters and stay there while no bombs fell. However, I
find it rather surprising that the authorities agreed that Tiffin
could use the Hawker alarm system. At Hawkers were my
cousin was blown to pieces by a bomb, they would work on
after the alarm went, until the warning that the bombers were
near. Only then would they go to the shelters. As far as Tiffin
was concerned, a prefect on the school roof would watch for
the hoisting of the danger flags at Hawkers and then, and only
then, did the boys go to the shelters. Fire watching started
from February 1940. The fire watchers were senior boys and
staff who slept on the floor of the staff room while a couple of
their numbers were on the roof.
A government official came down to see a bomb drill. He
decided that boys in the ground floor classrooms could exit via
the opened windows. This happened once and once only, for
Dean is reported to have said “the boys come to school to
learn not to jump out of bloody windows”. What shelter did
the class go to? Did a class always go to the same shelter? No
– each room, regardless of the class in occupation, always
went to the same shelter (hopefully a near one).
The “who was responsible” question rears its head again over
the closure of the juniors. We know when it closed (July 1941),
but we do not know why. Harper claimed it was caused by
Surrey refusing to allow their grammar schools to take
children under the age of 10. He also claims that it was caused
by the Butler Act. That second reason is twaddle – the act was
passed in 1944, by which time the juniors had been dead
three years. What is certain is that it was a rushed decision in
that places had already been allocated for 1941/42. Parents of
these boys received a letter late in the summer term to tell
them that there would be no juniors next school year, but
their acceptance would be honoured by early entry to the first
year. My theory is that the power that be, not sure who,
wanted the juniors’ room in Elmfield for war use as it was the
largest room in the building except for the dining halls. From
time to time the Tiffinian makes mentions such as “the
communications centre is still in use in Elmfield”. Whose
communications centre it was is not known.
Now we come to another who did what, who knew what
situation. I refer to the construction fo the Celestian building
within school grounds. It was build very hurriedly during the
Christmas holidays of 1942/43. I presume the tarmac path
past the London Road shelters was also layed down at the
same time; the Birkenhead Avenue shelters never gained such
a path. After much difficulty, I contacted Celestian and
discovered they had no knowledge of the erection their
second building. They had destroyed their records, which they
now regretted, and I provided them with what I could. The
new Celestian building was built over the Celestian workers’
shelters and when it was pulled down, work was held up to
allow the London museum to see and record the shelters. I
believe further new shelters were built further up towards
Birkenhead Avenue and I presume they are still there. The
poor school field had suffered again, already encroached by
shelters school and Celestian, and a gun emplacement.
Athetics have up and departed for Imber Court for the
duration. I find the building of such a building on such a site
close to criminal. Let us be quite clear, the new building was a
legitimate German bomber target and I can envisage bombs
falling close by the school shelters and killing many boys. A
hundred boys dead would not reach the papers, the censor
would see to that, but the bereaved parents would know.
Presumably a compulsory purchase order was in force, but
even so, did Dean and the governors fight against the
building? Or was an agreements reached by which after the
war, the building would be handed over to the school? Either
way, the building was returned to the school and became the
gym. I know of no payments being made to the school.
In 1941/42, the authorities intervened. Years earlier, the
primary schools had started receiving free milk. Now this was
extended, and Tiffinians were included. Around the same
time, Whites joined Bardwell and Bentalls in providing the
school uniform. D Day occurred in June 1944, and everybody
was delighted. Within a few days, however, there were the
first appearances of V1, the doodlebug, the first of Hitler’s
“terror weapons”. Recently people have appeared on
television claiming that London was terrorised; Rubbish, piffle
and poppycock. We used to stand in the back garden and
watch them go over. We knew perfectly well that as long as
the engine kept going, we were safe. The V2 rocket was
different. Whilst V1s could be shot down from the ground or
by fighter aircraft, there was absolutely no defence against
V2s. My cousin was buried with her house in 1945 and has
only just died in Crawley.
Peace finally came in May 1945. Tiffin had been lucky. As far
as I know, not a single window had been broken and they left
the war with a soon-to-be-acquired gymnasium.
As for Dean, one only has to look at the photo of 1939 and the
one of 1945 to see the difference the war had made. He
retired at Christmas 1945 and was replaced by an ex-teacher
of his pre-war staff, Brigadier JJ Harper. Dean did not return to
the north, but stayed south for his retirement. He died at
Broadstairs, Kent on 7 January 1954. At his funeral, the school
was represented by the Headmaster and senior staff.
There is no doubt that he did a great deal for the school he
inherited in 1919 particularly in the early years of his
headship, and late in his headship, he frightened a short
trousered little boy on the one occasion they met.
BRIAN BUNKER
Queen Elizabeth Road
News
View the latest school newsletter at: http://goo.gl/CP2nC
School Boat Club The rowers have been somewhat low key this year getting
used to coming away from events with at least one piece of
silverware. At the National Junior Sculling Head at Dorney
Lake on 19 March, they did Tiffin proud.
The Senior School Quad (Will Beedham, Guy Thompson, Joel
Nulsen and Jack Claydon) came 4th overall – this is a great
achievement in amongst the top quads from numerous
schools and clubs.
Our J14 quad (Cormac Molloy, Joe Wilson, Joe Everest, Matt
Entwhistle, Coxed ruthlessly by Alex Kirkup) were spectacular
and came in 2nd overall beating 42 other crews.
Last but by no means least our J15 octo (Albi Santiano, Hassan
Amin, Matt Gilbert, Goran Vigurs, Harris Robinson, Devun
Mistry, James HT, Sam Turner, Coxed expertly by Dudley
Trinder) came in 3rd in their category.
Two days later at the Schools Head of the River on a 4.25 mile
championship course marking the end of the winter season,
the Senior School Quad (as above with Richard Clarke
replacing Guy) came 5th overall.
Dates for your diary Thursday 5 April
Old Tiffinian Association Spring Social Lunch
Tuesday 8 May
Golf vs. Old Kingstonians
Monday 21 May
Golf vs. Old Surbitonians
Friday 25 May
Friends of Tiffin Music Reunion
2-5 June
Kingston Aviation Festival
Friday 29 June
Golf vs. Surrey School Old Boys
Thursday 5 July
Old Tiffinian Association Summer Social Lunch
Friday 6 July
Tiffinian Association Summer Reunion
Thursday 20 December
Tiffin School Evening Carol Service