Farsighted Headmaster of Oakham School John Buchanan was one of the most successful post war headmasters. In 1958 when he went to Oakham as headmaster, the school was direct-grant, and served as a minor public school for 200 boarders and as the local grammar school for Rutland day boys, with a total of 330 pupils. … Read more
Expert in armoured warfare, he rose to oversee the Army’s weapons procurement as Master-General of the Ordnance AS A young officer in the 1960s, Jeremy Blacker came to the appreciation that while, short of war with the Soviet Union, large-scale tank engagements were unlikely, the technical aspects of armoured warfare offered both a challenge and … Read more
Housemaster who became more closely associated with Sherborne than the headmasters he served over 34 years. Peter Boissier, who has died aged 82, was a housemaster at Sherborne School, where his combination of character, moral certainty and muscular Christianity influenced successive generations of boys. With his laconic unshockability, “brothel-creeper” suede boots, duffel-coat and reeking pipe, … Read more
A copy of Rear Admiral Paul Boissier’s “eulogy” to Jo, given at her Thanksgiving Service on 7th July 2006 Good-bye Mum For fifty-odd years you have been there for Wendy and me. Always proud, always supportive, always accommodating – accepting us for what we are – and always giving us your love. It’s been fun. … Read more
Canada’s last Great Escaper Montreal financial manager was one of 26 fliers who lived to tell a remarkable tale of tunnelling out of a German PoW camp in 1944 There are now only six survivors of the 76 men who tunnelled out of a German prisoner of war camp in 1944 in a daring and … Read more
Tony spent virtually all his working life at Felsted School, finishing as Second Master, and undoubtedly a school institution. In retirement he worked for some time as an important member of GAP. Of these activities, I can say little, though I shall learn more at his memorial service. I can really only speak of him … Read more
After only a year or so at ITN he returned to his true vocation as a writer, and worked on The Observer from 1960 to 1966, covering a wide range of cultural and French topics. It was to be his last regular employment. He devoted the last 40 years of his life to writing a … Read more
Bill Anstice Brown, art master at the school from 1953 to 1967. There can be few men who could be said to be as truly Shirburnian as Bill Anstice Brown. Not only did his father, Claude, attend the school, but so did his eight uncles, since the Brown family was already firmly settled in the … Read more