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ST EDWARD’S
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SMITH
– On 21st July, Toby
Smith (F, 1995-2000).
The following obituary has
kindly been provided by John
Wiggins, St Edward’s School
Rowing Coach;
Awarded an all-rounder
scholarship, Toby excelled at
football, rugby and athletics but
it was rowing that provided the
greatest challenge and sporting
fulfilment. His first appearance
in GB kit as a J16 in a Teddies
four was followed by a rugby
injury that kept him off the
water for months, but his
athleticism and determination
got him straight back into the
eight that went on to win the
PE at Henley in 1999, followed
by gold in the GB junior coxed
four in Plovdiv. As Head of
House and Captain of Boats
his final year saw further golds
at National Schools and the
Home Countries International.
His House Master, Clive Dytor
(MCR) recalled “Toby was
one of the best ever in all my
teaching time”. Ben Lewis (C,
1992-1997), Captain of Boats
in 1997, recalls, “I selected
him to sub for a few days in
the 1st VIII when he was just
15. This was largely down to
him winning the Junior and
Senior Steeplechase (against
all regulations!) in the same
day! It seems appropriate that
we went on to win the Ladies
Plate for Leander in the 4 and
5 seats seven years later. My
overriding memory of Toby,
is that he combined ruthless
competitiveness with a superb
sense of humour. To be full back
for the 1st XV, win the PE and
the Junior Worlds in one year,
is probably a first for any rugby
player!” A rowing scholarship
to California, Berkeley, saw
him stroke the Freshmen crew
before going on to row in the
varsity crew of 2003, winning
bronze at IRA’s, returning to
the UK in time for Henley. He
soon found himself a dream
ticket, winning the Prince
Philip with James Cracknell
and Matthew Pinsent. Having
missed his goal of Athens 2004
he spent the year at Leander
culminating with victory in the
Ladies’ Plate, beating Harvard
in the final. Chris Lloyd, who
paired with Toby for 2004 trials
found him to be one of the
toughest competitors he had
ever rowed with, commanding
the respect of everyone who
had the privilege to row with or
against him. Returning to the US
to complete his history degree,
Toby played rugby for the Cal
Bears and, after graduation,
followed his father, Derek, into
Oury Clark Partners where he
qualified as an accountant, and
met his future wife Amy. He
fought against cancer for several
years and, despite a period of
remission, it returned with a
vengeance. Toby died on 21st
July 2015 at the Royal Marsden,
for which charity his friends
and family still campaign to
raise funds. Along with friends
from Teddies, Oury Clark and
Leander Club, many of his
former Cal crewmates flew
over to pay their last respects at
Mortlake Crematorium, where
the service overflowed with
those from his short life of just
33 years. Chris Bates (H, 1995-
2000) who was close to Toby
since prep school delivered a
wonderful, moving and amusing
tribute to his dear friend;
Jerusalem has rarely been sung
with such feeling.
SMITHES
– In 2015, Peter
Smithes (D, 1957-1961), son of
Archibald Smithes (D, 1927-
1932).
STURGIS
– On 22nd July 2015,
Simon Sturgis (F, 1944-1947),
brother to John Sturgis (F, 1940-
1943).
The following obituary has
kindly been provided by his
wife Penny;
Simon was in Tilly’s from 1944
to 1947, his main subject being
History. After leaving St Edward’s
he was articled as a Chartered
Accountant with Edward Moore
& Sons in Queen Street, London.
After qualifying he did a certain
amount of auditing, and he
joined the fledgling TV company
Associate Rediffusion where
for a time he became involved
with the production side. He
then joined Hawker Siddeley,
working first in London and later
moving to take charge of their
branch near Johannesburg, South
Africa. This was convenient for
him, as John, who had qualified
as a barrister with Gray’s Inn,
was working as a magistrate in
Swaziland. After some 10 years
in South Africa, having met and
married Penny, Simon returned
to England, first working in
London as a trouble-shooter
for various companies and then
moving to Gloucestershire where
he eventually set up his own
small practice in Northleach
in an office over the stable of
their house there, formerly
a pub called The Antelope.
As Penny was working in the
Bodleian Library, they eventually
moved to live in Oxford, and
intended that to be their final
home. When Penny retired they
realised that Oxford house prices
were ridiculously high and they
could find more bricks for their
money elsewhere, they settled
on a former farmhouse with five
acres in Normandy, near Falaise.
For 10 years they were very
happy there, although Simon,
becoming ever deafer, found
it hard to master the French
language. Gradually the upkeep
of the large garden and land
became too burdensome and
they decided to return “to die in
England” as they said. They found
a little house in Fulbrook near
Burford and were busy making it
comfortable for their final years
when Simon, after only two days
of mild pneumonia, just died,
completely suddenly sitting in
his chair during supper – calmly
and quietly, just as he would have
wished. Simon kept in touch with
St Edward’s, albeit spasmodically,
attending the occasional function
including the 150th anniversary
celebrations in 2013. He also
much enjoyed the Henley parties
given by David Parnwell at his
house at Remenham where old
boys and girls from the Dragon
and St Edward’s would gather
and gossip. The Rhubarb Blazer
came about partly through
Simon’s initiative. In the 1980s
he had been attending a party
at Derek Henderson’s and a
group of OSE were staying at
the Feathers Hotel in Ludlow.
In the bar discussion took place
as to the origin of the rhubarb
tie which most of them were
wearing; Simon said those
colours would look absolutely
splendid in blazer form. One of
the others present said that he
knew a cloth weaver and could
get an experimental bolt made
up if everybody would agree
to buy sufficient to make up a
blazer, which they did. Simon
wore his for a number of years
until he grew out of it and earlier
Toby Smith
Simon Sturgis
V A L E T E
O B I T U A R I E S