Page 89 - Bloxhamist 2017-2018

THE OLD BLOXHAMISTS

David Gray (Cr 48-50). RIP. qualifying he worked in Coventry
where he established branch surgeries
Robert Hemmings (Wn 60-64). RIP. across the city. For over 20 years he
was the veterinary voice for a local
Alban Hunt (Cr 48-54) passed away on radio station, Mercia Sound. He was
15th April 2018, aged 81. on the National Council of the RSPCA
in the 1980s and closely involved with
Daniel Jackson (Wn 57-61) passed establishing the BSAVA. He was a true
away on 3rd December 2017. We are visionary of the future of veterinary
grateful to Robert Galletly (Eg 58-62) practice”. He is survived by his wife of
for the following words: “Dan was 66 years, Heather, his two sons, David
a most charming person: reliable, and Andrew, and four grandchildren.
hardworking and with an excellent
sense of humour. Also, a very safe John Platanias (Ry 71-74) passed away
pair of hands, as fly half, in the 1st XV on 26th October 2017. Aref Al Aref (Ry
team. In 1960 the Queen Mother, in her 72-74) wrote: “John was a very active
red helicopter, landed on the cricket and much-liked Bloxhamist. May his
pitch for the centenary celebration of soul rest in eternal peace and God bless
Bloxham School; Dan was photographed all OBs.”
by the Queen Mother as she bid us
farewell. Dan always stated at school Ib Scott-Iversen (Cr 44-48) passed
that he wanted to join the Metropolitan away peacefully at Cynthia Spencer
Police. He progressed to becoming Hospice on 21st May 2018, aged 85
very senior at Scotland Yard, being years. A beloved and devoted husband
head of the blackmail and serious to Vera.
fraud departments. He was asked to
stay on, which he did for a further David Catty (Eg 58-62) wrote to
five years past his pensionable age. inform us that Michael Scott-Smith
His passing was not sudden and he (Wn 47-50) passed away on 11th
showed brave courage during his last Michael Pittaway JP MRCVS (Wf 39- March 2018. His obituary appeared
three months, always truly humble in 45), passed away on 17th November in the Wellington Dominion and we
his illness; just Dan. To Victoria, his 2017, aged 90. are grateful for the following: Born
daughter, and her family we send our in Lancashire, Michael was educated
love, always remembering her father as We are grateful to his son David at Bloxham School and then was
a dearly missed grandfather, father and Pittaway QC for these words: “A widely commissioned in the infantry for his
wonderful Old Bloxhamist.” respected veterinary surgeon and two years of national service. He is
an innovator within the profession, understood to have spent much of
Adam Khalil (Eg 94-98) passed away on Michael was also a man of great charm the time playing cricket, and showed
13th December 2017, aged 37. and huge energy. He served as a enough slow left-arm bowling skill
magistrate in the City of Coventry for to suggest he could have played
Patrick Lakin (Sy 04) passed away on over 30 years and held many positions professionally. He postponed that
17th November 2016, aged 27. of leadership in the voluntary sector. option when he took a place at RADA,
He was a gifted after-dinner speaker with contemporaries including Peter
Robin Langhorne (Wf 40-45) passed and only two days before he died was O’Toole and Albert Finney. Michael
away on 20th April 2018. regaling a ladies luncheon club with made a huge contribution to New
the story of how in the 1960s he had Zealand television after he left the BBC
Peter Langley (Wf 51-54) passed away carried out a caesarean on a tiger when in 1966 and joined NZBC. His career
on 15th December 2017. As well as a circus visited the city. spanned 50 years and he taught, led,
studying here at Bloxham, he was on the innovated, encouraged and backed
staff from 1964 to 1968. Philip Howard He was born in Coventry in June 1926 his colleagues. He headed NZBC, TV-1
(staff 66-71) writes: “When on the staff and educated at Bloxham School, where and TVNZ drama, documentary and
at Bloxham he taught geography and he developed his love for music and he information division, and produced
economics. He had a very good sense learnt to play the piano and the organ, series. He leaves behind his children
of humour. He taught in a classroom which he continued to do to the end of Michelle, Mark and Samantha, and
immediately below mine and I used to his life. He was a formidable sportsman, his partner Janey Taylor, seven
regularly hear roars of laughter coming playing in the 1st XV, for four out of grandchildren and nine great
from his classroom. He also got good his five years at school. He learned to grandchildren.
results from the boys. He coached shoot, winning competitions at Bisley,
cricket and hockey. After leaving and was a keen athlete. He was at Richard Shields (Eg 48-52) passed
Bloxham he taught for the rest of his heart a countryman and remained a away on 19th July 2017.
career at Windsor Grammar School.” formidable shot until only two years
before his death.
John Markham (Wn 51-56) passed away
in March 2017. He entered the Royal Veterinary
College, London in 1945, and after
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