Rhubarb 2017

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41 ST EDWARD’S r hubarb
O B I T U A R I E S
Subsequently Vibert
managed a cleaning company
in Peterborough, before setting
up his own company, Spruce
Clean, in Leicester in 1972 and
finally retiring in 1990. Vibert
enjoyed philately and exchanged
stamps with his father wherever
they were in the world. In
retirement he gave talks to raise
money for the reconstruction
of a Swordfish in the Fly Navy
Heritage Trust collection. In
1951 Vibert married Anne
Robinson. After she was
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in
2006 he cared for her for three
years, before she had to go in to
a home, where he visited almost
every day. She died in 2014 and
he is survived by their two sons
and a daughter.
WALL – On 31st August 2014,
Anthony Denham Wall (E, 1954-
1957). The following obituary
has kindly been provided by
Anthony’s wife Sue:
Anthony was the son of
Denham Dick Wall and Jane
Wall, MBE. Upon leaving School,
Anthony attended drama school
for three years. He then honed
his skill as an actor by appearing
in several repertory theatres.
He appeared in the West End
productions of Lionel Bart’s Fings
ain’t what they used to be and
Arsenic & Old Lace with Richard
Briars and Dame Sybil Thorndyke.
Tony took various parts in
many films and television series
over the years, including Z- cars,
and he became well known to Dr
Who fans by playing Napoleon
in The Reign of Terror series. On
retiring from his stage and screen
parts he started up his own
production company, and helped
to build one of the first news
gathering outside broadcasting
units.
He moved into the Aviation
business, travelling extensively
and working for some of
the world’s leading aircraft
manufacturers, becoming
the official contractor for the
Farnborough Airshow, making
programmes and supplying
equipment to international
clients. He was responsible for
some outstanding film coverage
of the Red Arrows display team
on their tour of Australia. Tony’s
love of sports, and in particular
rowing, gave him a life-long
love of the River Thames, and
he was the proud owner of a
Broom 1070 vessel, on which
he and his wife Sue spent many
happy hours. In the last two
years of his life, he very much
enjoyed being an assistant lock
keeper at Penton Hook.
On his diagnosis of terminal
kidney cancer, he chose to live
his life to the full, with his wife,
two sons, Simon and Andrew
and his four grandchildren,
desiring quality, over quantity.
He died peacefully in his own
home in Surbiton, nursed by
Sue and the local palliative care
team. His Memorial Service at
Surbiton Hill Methodist Church
was attended by in excess of
three hundred people, many of
whom testified to a wonderfully
kind, honest man, whose life
reflected his Christian values.
Tony often spoke warmly of his
time at St Edward’s, and of the
excellent grounding it gave him
for later life. He encouraged
many others, by giving numerous
people a chance; indeed this
was one of the hallmarks of his
life. He handled his final days
with love and grace, which was
a huge inspiration to us all, not
least to his family, of whom he
was inordinately proud.
WHITTINGTON – On
12th January 2017, Theodore
Thomas Woodman Whittington
(G, 1937-1941), aged 93.
Tom, or Dick, as he was
frequently known, attended
St Edward’s School (Segar’s
House) from 1937 to 1941.
He was the son of Theodore
Whittington (E, 1899-1904)
and elder brother of Harry (G,
1938-1943), and Richard (G,
1943-1947). He rowed in the
1st VIII in 1940 and 1941. He
fortunately survived the war,
unlike five of his fellow 1941
crew members, who tragically
all lost their lives.
Upon leaving school he
joined the army (Signals). He
landed in France on D-Day, with
responsibilities for liaising with
the RAF. Tom, now promoted to
Captain, subsequently served in
Egypt. After the war, he went to
Selwyn College, Cambridge, to
study agriculture, and was also
his college’s Captain of Boats.
When at Cambridge he acquired
his strong Christian belief, which
was such an important influence
in his life, and always gave much
of his time and energy in actively
supporting the work of his local
parish.
Tom married Nancy in 1950
and was successively a farm
manager to Sir Harold Graham
(OSE), Viscount Hereford (with
responsibilities in breeding the
famous Hereford cattle) and
then the Beecham Group, with
farms in Surrey. He then moved
to Abingdon, taking a career
change by joining the firm of
Franklin and Jones, land agents
of Oxford. The two partners
Graham and Brian Jones were
also OSE. He subsequently
qualified as a Chartered
Surveyor. Among his many
clients were landowners affected
by the proposed new M40
motorway.
Tom had three children
and was a devoted father and
grandfather. He also looked after
Nancy as her health declined,
and with her entered Sunrise
care home, Sonning, in 2009,
where he continued to look after
her. She predeceased him, and
he remained at the home until
his death in 2017, aged 93.