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St Edward’s
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V a l e t e
Navin and his love of travel.
Tom Fremantle read the
eulogy, reminding everyone
of Navin’s great gift for
friendship, his zest for life and
his irrepressible laugh. The
congregation sang
Jerusalem
(Navin’s favourite hymn) and
Let it Be
by the Beatles, before
visiting a bench dedicated
to Navin with the words:
IN MEMORY OF NAVIN
SUKHWANI – WHO LOVED
THIS SCHOOL. The last
port of call was the Dewdrop
pub in Summertown to
toast Navin and where the
stories about him rolled
out long into the afternoon.
The congregation included:
Family - Deepika and Raj
Sukhwani, Friends - Chris
Driver (G, 1979-1984), Tom
Fremantle (E, 1979-1984),
James Fry (H, 1988-1993),
Geoff Goodman (A, 1979-
1984), Alexander Goodman,
Mike Harvey (D, 1979-1984),
Nicky Henderson, Dan Hillyer
(F, 1979-1984), Jono Moles (F,
1979-1984), Peter Sinclair (D,
1979-1984), Frances Stanley,
and Matt Todd.
Navin was a popular,
friendly and happy guy to
have as a friend, keen to join
in activities and take part in
the community of the School.
After school he tried his hand
at various city jobs, gained
a place at Leeds University,
and stayed in touch with his
many school friends despite
experiencing poor health and
associated difficulties.
He will be missed by all his
friends from school and the
many he made in life beyond
Teddies, not only for his
generosity and warmness, but
for the courageous way he
bore illness, always maintaining
a brave face.
TUMIM
– In August 2014,
Anthony Elliot Tumim, (A,
1940-1943), aged 89. Brother
of Stephen Tumin, (A, 1944-
1948), he was in the Royal
Navy Volunteer Reserve from
1943-1946. He later became
a Chartered Engineer (MICE
MIHT) and was a member of
Local Government from 1946-
1990.
VERITY
- On 17th October
2014, Donald Wrathall Verity
(C, 1938-1942).
Brother of Colin Verity
(C, 1940-1944), he attended
Exeter College, Oxford, from
1942-1945, and St George’s
Hospital (MRCS LRCP). He
was a Medical Officer in the
Parachute Regiment from 1951-
1954, and the Territorial Army
from 1954-1966. He went on to
become a General Practitioner
in Tadcaster, a Prison Medical
Officer, and a Police Surgeon.
WILMOT-SMITH
– On
3rd September 2014, Charles
Anthony Wilmot- Smith (A,
1940-1943), aged 88. RAC
from 1944-1947. Magdalene
College, Cambridge, from
1947-1949, where he obtained
his MA, before becoming a Sales
Manager at British Aluminium
Co, Twickenham, and a
Barrister, Inner Temple, in 1968.
Charles Anthony Wilmot-Smith
OSE Obituaries
The Memorial Service of Navin Lachmandis Tolani
O b i t u a r i e s
TOLANI (SUKHWANI)
- Navin Lachmandis Tolani
(formerly Sukhwani) (D, 1979-
1984), aged 48 after a long
illness. James Pierce (D, 1979-
1984), provided the following
obituary.
Friends and family of Navin
gathered at the School Chapel
for a Memorial Service to
celebrate his life on January
11th. Navin was a much-loved
character at St Edward’s, a
keen artist, swimmer and
rugby player and above all, a
great friend. The Reverend
David Wippell conducted
the service assisted by Gabs,
the School Organist, and
remembered Navin fondly
having once coached his rugby
team. Navin’s sister, Deepika,
and brother, Raj, mentioned
how touched they were by
the service. Deepika read
the beautiful poem,
To an
English Friend in Africa
by Ben
Okri, which reminded her of