St Edward's Rhubarb - 2018

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36 ST EDWARD’S r hubarb
V A L E T E
owner of a Frazer Nash sports
car, Geoff developed a passion
for ‘improving’ machinery. He
and his wife, Jane, worked on
numerous projects including
building a 70’ narrowboat
‘Beckwood’, refurbishing a
traction engine, converting a
24-metre Dutch Motor Barge
‘Avanti B’ before downscaling
to classic cars. A practical yet
inquisitive man, Geoff undertook
much of the mechanical work
himself; personally rebuilding
and fitting a Seffle engine in
Beckwood, installing a Rover V8
engine in his Triumph Stag and
fuel injecting his MGB GT are
just three examples of this theme
which endured throughout his
life. Also seeking improvements
beyond the workshop, he and
five colleagues set up the Dutch
Barge Association which he
chaired for the first 5 years.
Geoff and Jane forged many
deep friendships while cruising
the waterways of the UK and
Continent and subsequently
when taking part in motor tours
on the Continent and North
America in their extensively
yet sensitively modified Stag or
bright red MGB GT.
He is survived by: Jane, his
wife of 49 years; son David (E,
1983-1988), Air Commodore
in the RAF; daughter Jo, Everest
summiteer and outdoor
instructor; daughters Clare and
Susan from a previous marriage;
and a total of seven wonderful
grandchildren. Geoff was a fine
man who will be missed by many.
CASH – On 19th September
2017, George Noel Cash (F,
1945-1950). This obituary was
sent by Andy Cash.
Noel Cash, who died
peacefully on 17 September
2017, was born in Plymouth
to his mother Elsie and father
Arthur on 23rd November
1931. He attended Mount
House Preparatory School and
he and his younger brother
John escaped the Plymouth
blitz by spending weekends in
a converted railway carriage
outside Lydford on the western
edge of Dartmoor. He went
on to enjoy his time at Teddies
(Tilly’s House) from 1945 to
1950, he played rugby, rowed,
was in the CCF and sometimes
attended to his studies. He
undertook basic training for his
National Service at Oswestry
and subsequently commissioned
from Mons Officer Training
into a Royal Artillery Survey
Regiment and served from 1952
to 1954. He then joined the TA
and served from 1954 to 1968,
being awarded the Territorial
Decoration in 1967. Following
his National Service, he trained
at Middlesex Hospital and
qualified as Bachelor of Medicine
and Bachelor of Surgery in
1959. At the Middlesex Hospital
he also met Anne, a Ward
Sister, and they were married
at Stoke Wake on 28th January
1961. They had two children,
Pippa and Andrew (G, 1981-86).
After completing his General
Practice training in 1961, they
settled in Northamptonshire
and he was a GP for Rothwell
and Desborough from 1962
until his retirement in 1996. He
always took a deep professional
interest and pride in the
National Health Service and was
a GP member of the Kettering
and District Management Team
from 1972 to 1978; Director
of the Department of General
Practice Studies at Kettering
General Hospital; Founder and
first Director of the Vocational
Training Scheme for General
Practitioners for Kettering and
District; and Secretary of the
BMA Kettering Division. He
became a Fellow of the Royal
College of General Practitioners
in 1978 and was awarded
Fellowship of the British Medical
Association in 1989. He had a
love of the rich tapestry of life
and an ‘unquenchable curiosity’
and enthusiasm spanning
many interests: as a family
man, doctor, soldier, traveller,
archaeologist, photographer,
astronomer, genealogist and
historical researcher. He was
probably best known to his
friends as a sailor, he became an
Ocean Master and was elected
into Membership of the Royal
Institute of Navigation. He
taught navigation for several
years and skippered the Royal
Artillery’s yacht across the
Atlantic in 1988. He remained
a strong supporter of St
Edward’s School throughout
his life, whether acting as
medical officer for their 1969
Morocco expedition or as a
regular attendee at concerts,
plays and reunions. He was a
deeply kind and caring husband,
father, friend, colleague and
doctor. Genuinely interested in
others, he shared their passions,
guided and nurtured them along
the way, gave them a hand up
when things went wrong and
celebrated their successes.
CHICK – On 6th October
2017, John Henley Chick (B,
1947-1952), son of John (B,
1918-1921) and brother of
Patrick (B, 1950-1954).
Loughborough College
1952-1955, Diploma 1st Class
Civil Engineering. Tarmac
Construction Ltd, Chepstow.
MICE. Governor, Clifton High
School. Rotarian.
O B I T U A R I E S
COLES – On 16th February
2017, Timothy John Coles
(C, 1950-1954), unexpectedly
whilst on holiday.
RNR 1954-1956. Bowater-
Scott Paper Manufacturers
1956-1960. Chairman and CEO
Young and Rubicam, London
1960-1982. CEO Chanel Ltd
from 1982. Master of Bolebroke
Beagles 1983-1988.
Much-loved husband of
Biddy, brother of Sally, father of
Victoria, Pippa and Sarah.
COLYER – On 30th June 2017,
Alec (Aled) John David Colyer
(F, 1954-1957).
Retail Buyer, Savile Row 1979.
D’ARCY – On 30th May 2017,
John Robert D’Arcy (A, 1942-
1947). Brother of Michael (A,
1938-1943), Step-grandfather of
Hector Ahern (E, 2006-2011).
At School John was a
member of the Rugby XV
and the Rowing VIII in 1945
and 1946. He was Honorary
Secretary for Rugby and
Shooting, Head Boy for two
terms, Head of Cowell’s House,
Senior Sacristan, Librarian,
Honorary Secretary to the
Kenneth Grahame Society and
Literary Society, acted in school
plays, sang in the choir and was
an Under Officer in the Junior
Training Corps.
After St Edward’s he won a
choral scholarship to St John’s
College, Cambridge. For a while
he practised as a Barrister in
the Inner Temple, but in 1953
became a pilot, flying with
BOAC (later British Airways)
from 1957 -1984. There he was
promoted to Captain in 1971,
General Manager of Flight Crew
in1976, Chief Pilot in 1979,
before becoming a light crew
member for Concorde in 1982.
He was made a Freeman of the
City of London in 1983, then
worked as Operations Manager
Cyprus Airways 1984 – 1986
and an Aviation Consultant
from 1986. He was a Liveryman
Noel Cash