St Edward's Rhubarb - 2018

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38 ST EDWARD’S r hubarb
V A L E T E
O B I T U A R I E S
often involved in committees
addressing HR, finance and
premises issues. Former
Chairman of St Edward’s,
Mike Stanfield wrote: “Mark
was involved in all the major
decisions we took over those
years not least the decision
over the highly successful move
we made to co-education.
It was really useful having a
businessman on our Board with
such a wide experience both
of a major industrial company
through to the caring world
of business.” Stephen Withers
Green, the current bursar,
remembers an early encounter:
“No one could say that Mark
dominated Board meetings, but
that when he asked a question,
it needed answering properly.
On one occasion he asked the
Bursar through the Chairman
– he was always old school
procedural on these occasions
– whether the bursar had any
comments on the Chancellor’s
recent budget. I said I didn’t
because whatever he said
wouldn’t come into effect
immediately. Mark did not need
to reply because his look said it
all – not good enough, and an
important lesson was learned
by the new young Bursar.”
Mark and Margot enjoyed
a long and happy marriage
but Margot developed a form
of Parkinson’s in 2006. He
nursed and cared for her with
unceasing love and dedication,
determined that she would
stay in her home to the end,
which she did. He missed
her greatly when she died in
2012. He continued to enjoy
spending time with children,
grandchildren and latterly a
great-grandchild, as well as
with many friends around the
country whom he visited or
who made the journey down to
Cornwall to stay with him.
Mark died unexpectedly at
the beginning of April 2018
during the operation he was
having to repair a heart valve.
He always gave wholeheartedly
and unconditionally to
the professional and local
communities to which he
belonged. He was “a truly gentle
man” - as so many people have
said or written about him. He
is survived and much missed
by his four children, twelve
grandchildren and now two
great-grandchildren.
DAVIES – On 20th November
2017, Davd Ifor Rhys Davies
(G, 1954-1959). The following
obituary was kindly provided by
Lynn Powell-Watts with help
from Carol, Rhys’ widow:
While enjoying the cruise
of a lifetime with his wife of 25
years, Rhys Davies sadly passed
away. With great delight, Rhys
had signed up for an excursion
to go snorkelling but got into
difficulties and suffered the
effects of water inhalation. Rhys
was a brilliant diver in his day, a
great golfer and always up for
a sporting challenge. A lifelong
rugby supporter, his allegiance
was split between Wales and
the All Blacks but when it
came down to a choice, Wales,
always Wales. Rhys began his
schooling at Brightlands School
in Gloucester before going on
to St Edward’s. He trained at
Sandhurst and later went on to
serve as an officer in the Royal
Welsh Fusiliers. After leaving the
army he spent time in London
as a silver dealer before starting
his own business in Cardiff. Chris
Nathan, St Edward’s School
Archivist, was a contemporary
of Rhys’ and remembers him
as sporty and clever but more
memorable was his Teddy Boy
‘quiff’ which he took great pride
in, always checking in the mirror
to see if it was in place. While
living in New Zealand in the
90s, Rhys met and married the
prettiest lady in town (that’s
what he told his friends) and
spent the most exciting 25 years
of his life with her as a top-class
antiques dealer. Rhys had always
had the best stories to tell and
entertained his friends and
guests endlessly. After splitting
their time between New
Zealand and their holiday home
in France, they made the move
back to the UK and continued
with their antiques business
until Rhys suffered a stroke in
2007. This was a setback, but
Rhys bounced back with the
determined help of his devoted
wife to spend many more active
years going back to France and
renovating a house. He and his
wife, Carol, welcomed dozens
of friends to their home for
the best St David’s day parties
in France. He left behind a son
and two grandchildren. The
resounding description of Rhys
was of a kind, charming person,
good company and considerate
of others with an in-built zest
for living life to the full. An old-
fashioned gentleman in the very
best sense of the word.
DE JONGH – On 1st April
2017, Nicholas de Jongh (E,
1951-1954), aged 79.
Royal Army Pay Corps 1956-
1958. PR Consultant 1961, then
Corporate Director Public Affairs
for GKN plc. Director of the
Engineering Employers Federation
from 1975. Council Member,
Institute of Employment Studies.
Beloved husband to Lizzie,
father of Alex and Miranda and
grandfather of Eric, Edward and
Ivan.
DE LA BERE – On 23rd June
2017, John Charles William De
La Bere (D, 1936-1940).
St Edward’s Scholar. Scholar
at Trinity, Cambridge 1940-1942
and 1947-9 MA. Royal Aircraft
Establishment Farnborough
Davd Ifor Rhys Davies
Illustration from Paul Goble's book Star Boy