Rhubarb

St Edward’s r h u b a r b

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well as in the other Eastbourne churches. Following a series of falls and minor strokes in 2013 he spent some in hospital and returned home in November where he was looked after by Judith and a team of carers. He died at home on 16th February 2014. During his school and college years he played rugby and cricket and was a keen follower of Welsh rugby and Aston Villa FC. He was an avid reader, a John Wayne fan and enjoyed foreign travel, classical music, opera and art. SANDERS – In July 2014, John Herbert Sanders (A, 1942-1945). Royal Corps of Signals from 1945-1948, before becoming an apprentice with the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow from 1948-1950, moving to BR Motive Power Department from 1950-1955. He moved to Canada to work as an Instrument Calibrator from 1957-1964, and later became a Model Maker and Engineering SAXEL – On 25th June 2014, Michael Saxel (B, 1948-1951). He worked in the wine trade in South Africa from 1952- 1961, before going to Keele University from 1963-1967 to obtain his BA. He was Assistant Master at Grange Assistant at Hunting Engineering, Ampthill.

O b i t u a r i e s

V a l e t e

The Rev David Edwin Rhys

Peter Thirsk (C, 1947-1951) Top row second from the left, John Thirsk (C, 1947- 1951) Top row third from right, Paul Rollason (C, 1947-1951) Top row end right.

Magdalene with St Michael and All Angels, Woolwich. During his twelve years there he became Sub Dean of Woolwich, Rural Dean of Greenwich and was made an Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral. He was awarded a police medal for his work in helping to set up the first Greenwich Police Community Consultative Group. Ill health led him to take up a part-time post as Vicar of St Mark in the North Downham Team Ministry in 1995 but in 1998 he retired, again on the grounds of ill- health. He was received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1999 and ordained Priest on 14th April 2000 by Bishop Charles Henderson at St Edmund of Canterbury, Beckenham. For the next nine years he assisted Fr Gerry Flood at St Theresa of the Child Jesus, Biggin Hill, and regularly said Mass there and in the churches nearer to Beckenham in the Bromley and Lewisham Deaneries. In 2009 David and Judith returned to Eastbourne and David quickly became involved in the parish of Christ the King with the Holy Rood and St Joachim where he was able to say Mass on a regular basis as

STUART-PRINCE – On 30th June 2014, Richard Geoffrey Stuart-Prince (E, 1940-1944), aged 87. Very peacefully at his home, with all his family present. Beloved of Trudy, Mary, Timothy and Felicity and of his four grandchildren. He attended Corpus Christi, Cambridge, where he studied Natural Science, and was the longest living 1st XV Captain for Chiltern RFC. THIRSK – On 28th September 2013 and 19th October 2013 respectively, John (C, 1947-1951) and Peter Thirsk (C, 1947-1951), both aged 80, after battles with bowel cancer. Born in Bridlington on 14th September 1933 to Thomas ‘Tommy’ Thirsk (renowned golfer and flour mill owner) and Gladys (Dewhirst) Thirsk.

Their lifelong friend Paul Rollason (C, 1947-1951) has kindly provided the following obituary. The twins and I arrived at Field House, Teddies in September 1947. At first we had to present ourselves to Manning, the Music Teacher, to see if we could sing. Peter could and from then on sang in the School Choir looking quite angelic in his choir robes. We all played rugger in the winter. Peter and I played cricket in the summer; John rowed. There was still rationing. We were always hungry. John started the SSS (Sunday Scoffers’ Society), and other than Chapel (twice a day every day), we had Sundays to ourselves. We would share out what food our parents had filled our tuck boxes with and what little was available from the tuck shop. Peter did his national service in the Navy, as I remember, finishing on a Mine Sweeper and John in the Army finishing in command of a Landing Craft, so both of them had a watery time. Afterward, Peter returned to the Thirsk Mill and John joined the overseas branch of Commercial Union insurance company where he covered a wide area in the Middle East. Both twins are greatly missed by their families and many friends.

School, Aylesbury from 1967-1970, and the Head

of Geography at Churcher’s College, Petersfield from 1970.

SMYTH – On 3rd March 2014, Peter Mark Smyth (G, 1953-1958), aged 74, in Perth, Australia following a heart attack. After leaving St Edward’s he attended Pembroke College Oxford.

Peter Mark Smyth