We are very sad to report that Stephen died from cancer on 15th October. We thank the Cambridge Evening News for allowing us to use this obituary which appeared in the newspaper last week:- Stephen Bell, who dominated competitive tennis in Cambridgeshire throughout the mid-1990s, died at the Arthur Rank Hospice in Cambridge on October 15th after a brave six-year battle with cancer. The Bassingbourn-born player burst on to the tennis scene in the 1980s as one of Britain’s top junior players, reaching the semi-finals of the under-14s national championships in Eastbourne. He went on to win tennis scholarships to Millfield School, in Somerset, and Illinois State University, while also playing for Cambridgeshire’s senior county team from the age of 15. In a formidable partnership with his Newmarket Tennis Club team-mate Adrian Blackman, he led the county from the sixth tier of the national league to league two, culminating in a match at Wimbledon against the All England Tennis Club. That partnership also yielded five county doubles titles, while Stephen won a hat-trick of singles titles between 1993 and 1995 before regaining the crown again in 1997. Newmarket club captain Ian Evans, who was a frequent tennis partner of Stephen’s, said: "He was such a naturally gifted and skilful player. "If there was one guy you’d want to emulate on a tennis court, it would be Stephen Bell. "He had a style and grace that is perhaps reminiscent of a past era where power didn’t necessarily dominate the game. "He was universally liked and respected by both team mates and opponents alike – an attribute that isn’t so common in the modern sporting arena. But it was indicative of Stephen’s character as a sportsman and person – he was very much a gentleman." After graduating from Illinois, Stephen took a second degree at Birmingham, worked as a professional tennis coach and later qualified as a teacher. He taught in several schools in Suffolk, including Newmarket Upper School, before he was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. However, he remained passionate about sport until the end, working as a school sports co-ordinator at Roysia Middle School, in Royston. Adrian Blackman, who Stephen beat to win his third county singles championship, said: "Stephen was very passionate about his tennis – he was a loyal friend and an amazing guy. We will miss him hugely."

We are sad to report the recent death of Jonathan from a blood clot during surgery, following a car crash near his home in Somerset .

We regret to report the death of Joy, at a Nursing Home in Keinton Mandeville, on Monday 11th January. Joy, who passed away peacefully shortly before her 92nd birthday, was a great friend and benefactor of the school. Although the funeral is for family only, a memorial service will be held at Kingweston Church on March 11th at 11.00. A full obituary will appear here in due course.

The following obituary is from Angus' brother and fellow OM, James.‘Gus was brought up in Hong Kong from 1946 until 1965. After Millfield he worked for KPMG and the Bank of Scotland, then in Australia for Volvo , becoming their Chief Accountant. At Christmas 1974, Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin and Gus went to Darwin as the Director of the Reconstruction Commission. There he worked his way up to be Chief of Staff to the First Minister of the Northern Territory. Gus retired in 1996, but worked in Indonesia with AusAid for several years, before swapping the heat of the Northern Territories, for the peace and quiet of Victor Harbour, in South Australia, where he was soon much in demand by different local organizations. Gus was a beloved brother, a much loved father, an adored grandfather, and an unflappable adventurer. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends’. Angus died on 31st March 2009

Tony Chadburn was born in England, but spent most of his early life on a tea estate in India. Sent back to prep school at the age of 8, he moved on, at 13, to Eastbourne College, where he established himself as a fine sportsman, especially at rugby and athletics, becoming the English School’s Hurdles Champion in 1937. Determined to return to India, he volunteered for service there and was commissioned into the Frontier Force Rifles in 1938. Stationed at first on the Afghan border, the situation changed dramatically when war broke out in Europe and the 4th Indian Division was moved to the Middle East in 1940 to help protect the Suez Canal. Tony found himself with his regiment occupying the French mandate of Syria. Later they joined Montgomery’s 8th Army driving Rommel’s Korps out of North Africa and invading Italy. In March, 1945, he was unexpectedly given three week’s leave from the front and a flight to the UK by the RAF. It gave him sufficient time to persuade Sue Jackson, the sister of school friends, to marry him. When his regiment returned to India in 1945 Sue joined him in spite of the growing tension as the time of independence from Britain approached. In 1947 the British Indian Army ceased to exist and Tony applied to transfer to the army of the country of his birth. He was re-commissioned to the Royal Regiment of Artillery and had to face a period of re-training a the RMA, Sandhurst and the School of Artillery which gave him the opportunity of returning to athletics and having trials for the British Olympic Hurdles team for London in 1948. After some ten years more soldiering, some of which was with the British Military Mission in Washington, he realised that retirement was approaching and took a sponsored course in schoolteaching. Major A P B Chadburn, RA (Ret’d) was appointed to the Geography Department of the Royal Masonic School at Bushey in Hertfordshire and as OC the School CCF. He could not foresee that the school would be closed by the Governors two years later and that he would follow two other members of staff to Millfield in 1963. At that time Boss had agreed to the suggestion that the CCF should no longer be compulsory and a new Training Scheme be set up. Tony was immediately asked to take over the new organisation, “The Redcoats”, and subsequently to command the CCF, both of which gave scope for adventure training not just in the UK but in Europe as well, and in Kenya. He inspired great loyalty among the cadets, some of whom joined the armed forces and gave great service in the Falklands campaign. Of course he helped to coach athletics and rugby. As a match referee he occasionally had to admit having problems when his colour-blindness made it difficult to distinguish which side a player was on. He was a keen supporter of canoeing and turned an outhouse at his home in Butleigh into a factory to make fibre-glass canoes. Fortunately Sue and their three children seem to have been able to forgive him anything and indeed to encourage him. In retirement he continued to lead expeditions, sometimes just Sue and himself; they visited Pakistan and met old comrades from the Frontier Force; and he played a lot of golf with his ex-Indian Army friend and Millfield Tutor, Michael Gilham. Tony died on 26 August, 2009, aged 89. Sue had predeceased him.

Ben Crozier was in France to visit his father when he was killed in a motor accident at Betplan, close to the Pyrenees on 16 August, 2009. A Day Boy at Edgarley, then at Millfield in Phil Cookson’s house, he left at 16 to study Business Studies at Strode College in Street and had just completed his course.

We are very sad to report the recent death of Madge, wife of Bob, from a stroke. Our thoughts go out to Bob, whose son Colin passed away in October. A full obituary will appear here in due course.

Colin Dickens was born in Butleigh Hospital in 1957 and joined Millfield as a member of Etonhurst, where his mother and father, Madge and Bob, opened it as a boarding house, when he was three in 1961. He added Edgarley to his list in 1965 and Millfield as a Day Boy in 1970. In the meantime he had had the misfortune to require treatment for a back problem, which meant lying practically motionless for six weeks in hospital in Bath. However he did his best to catch up with missed work, and returned to school but with limited permission to play games. He chose shooting and duly became a member of the school rifle team. On leaving school he joined a business firm in Woking and he was able to become a member of the Birley Rifle Club. In order to raise extra money to pay for a course in law at the North London Polytechnic he worked on a market staff in Woking selling shoes. In 1983 he took his degree, and then returned westward, becoming articled to a solicitor in Weston-super-Mare, John Hodge & Co. He also studied for two years at Guildford Law School. For a short time he worked with another law firm in Bridgwater, Dobson’s, but returned to Weston, and Hodge’s, as he owned a house there. He also rented a small pied-a-terre in his birthplace, Butleigh, so that he always had somewhere reasonably close to relax after his legal work and the courses to which he was dedicated. He was Chairman of the League of Friends of Weston Hospital, Chairman of the Somerset County Cricket Club Supporters in Weston, Member of the Committee of the Old Millfieldian Society and Member, and devoted supporter, of Somerset County Cricket Club. Colin died suddenly on 13 October, 2009, and two days later the Somerset XI wore black armbands as a mark of respect and affection during a match in India.

John Dixey, who was a School Prefect in Millfield House, died on 3 September, 2008, we have been informed by his widow, Christie. John was one of those OMs who attended the first Society reunion at the Dorchester Hotel on 5 January, 1951.

We are sad to report that Joshua died in September 2008

Bryant Fell visited Millfield several times in the 1950s to play cricket for the South Oxfordshire Amateurs CC against RJOM’s XI, and fell under the spell. He had a distinguished school career at St Edward’s, Oxford, captaining the 1st XV and being a regular member of the 1st XI. On leaving he was called up for National Service and was commissioned in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. On demob he went into business but did not enjoy it and approached Boss to see if he could find a place for him and his wife, Jenny, a qualified nurse. In 1963 Millfield was expanding swiftly and they were offered the housemastership of Holmcroft, then a small house which could double as a sanatorium. Bryant joined the English Department and helped with a number of games though he had developed eyesight problems. The new Training Scheme gave him further opportunity to prove his worth and he set up a Social Services team, largely to help the elderly people of Street and improve relations with the village. In 1969 he elected to attend Rolle College in Devon for a course in Remedial English, and this meant leaving Holmcroft. On return he became Housemaster of Junior Boys and also set up a new aspect of athletics, the Pentathlon. This brought almost immediate success for Millfield, and Bryant was asked to help organise the National Schools event. Two of his first pupil athletes went on to represent Britain in the Olympic Games. In 1974 he left Millfield to take over the headship of the remedial department of a school in Cheshire. He kept in touch with many friends who were subsequently dismayed to hear that Bryant was developing MS and eventually had to retire early. He became wheelchair-bound, but never lost his sense of humour not his interest in happenings at Millfield. He died after a stroke at his Anglesey home on 16 November, 2008.

Andrew Fenton, a twin son of the industrialist Sir William and his wife Lady Fenton, joined Millfield towards the end of WW 2 when Captain Hern, who had been in charge of riding from 1937, returned from Army service to take over the running of the stables from Boss' secretary, Amothe Sankey. A senior pupil was appointed Captain of Riding, with duties including the organisation of cleaning the stables, and Andrew held this post for the whole of his final year. He was not only a fine horseman but also a brilliant organiser and he set the pattern for all his successors. On his departure Andrew was presented by the Boss with a silver cigarette case and he, in turn, gave the school the Fenton Cup to be presented annually to the rider who had made the greatest progress in horsemanship in the previous year. Besides farming, Andrew’s passion was horses and the hunt, and, later in life, international show jumpers. Always a quiet man, Andrew worked in the background but was described as totally reliable at all times and a gentleman whose word was his bond. Andrew died on November 23rd 2008 at St John’s Hospice, Lancaster.

We are sad to learn from his father that John passed away on 1st January after suffering from MS for 10 years

We have heard from Peter’s wife, Patricia, that he died in 2000.

We are sad to announce that Bob died in August from cancer at the age of 58

Teddy Goldsmith came, after wartime evacuation to Canada and the USA, to Millfield in 1945, with his younger brother, Jimmy, with the intention of their being introduced gently to a more formal education. He then went up to Magdalen, Oxford, and, after taking his degree, was called up for National Service and gained a commission in the Intelligence Corps which took him to Germany for two years. After demobilisation he went into business in Paris, his place of birth, but gave up after deciding to join an Oxford friend, John Aspinall, father of OM Damian, in his search for rare animals for his private zoo, Howletts in Kent. Their travels gave Teddy a determination to help primitive peoples round the world retain their way of life. He recognised that economic development was creating their problems. To draw people’s attention to this he set up and edited “The Ecologist”. Support for his ideas led to the setting-up of the People Party, which became the Ecology Party, and finally the Green Party. At different times he stood for Parliament and the European Parliament but was unsuccessful. He was a champion of conservation and organic farming, and was acclaimed by his many supporters as “The Godfather of Green”. Teddy died on 21 August, 2009, aged 80.

We have been informed that John died at Christmas 2008

We have been informed that Duncan died in 2008

David Isaac was a boarder in his two years at Millfield at two short-lived “billets”, but this did not stop him making his mark at the School. He was an outstanding table-tennis player, who won the internal Championship twice, but was the No1 player for the successful School team which at that time played in the Somerset League. David died on 21 May, 2009.

We have heard recently from his wife Anita that Michael died from a heart attack in 2006.

Brian, a former parent whose son Simon was at Millfield in the early 1980's, was a successful boatbuilder and businessman with a wide range of commercial interests. Sadly, he died after a short illness in September. His great affection for Millfield led to him being at the heart of the founding of the Society Sri Lanka Branch and, for well over 20 years, he continued to support Ana Punchihewa, Secretary, in organising regular reunions, particularly when Millfield representatives visited the island.

Thomas Love was the son of a Scottish antique-dealer and left Millfield to join the family firm. We have been told that Tom died in 2009.

We are grateful to Robert Wilkins who has written the following obituary ‘Anna was one of the livelier members of the YLC from 1959 – 1962. After briefly pursuing a career as a Research Chemist, she became a stewardess with BEA. She married Ian Gibbons, an Australian, in 1968, living in Surrey and Somerset until Ian’s sad death in 1996. There were two children from the marriage, a son, Alex, and daughter, Victoria, who now both live in Australia. Anna re-married Alan Lovell from Cape Town and moved there with him, whilst keeping a home in Somerset which they visited every year. Anna’s new and fulfilled life ended tragically early on 27th January when she had a massive heart attack at home in Cape Town. She leaves three grandchildren, her husband, son and daughter. She was a lovely person who always lived life to the full.’ Anna's funeral will be held in Cape Town on 18th February and there will be a service in England, possibly in May, with the interment of Anna’s ashes in a family grave at Blackford. Details will follow when available.

David, who taught Latin and RE at Edgarley, besides being school chaplain there for a time in the mid-70s, died on 14th April, after a battle against cancer. A man of many talents, David was a gifted musician, pastor, and very well-known in the world of Classics for his tireless work in promoting the subject through IT. There was a full congregation for the funeral at his church, Holy Trinity, Street, but news of his death came too late for a wider broadcasting amongst those who had been his colleagues and pupils.

David's brother Tony, also an OM, informed us that he died on 22nd June 2009 at the age of 77.

Peter was the son and publicist of the distinguished WW2 soldier Colonel Richard Pine-Coffin MC. Peter's own son Michael informed us that his father had died on 19th June at the age of 72.

Michael Pitt joined the English Department in 1974, having felt it wise to leave his previous post of Headmaster of a boarding school in Lisbon at a period of political unrest. The son of a clergyman, he was born in London but spent most of his early life in Southampton. He was educated at St Edward’s School, Oxford, and then St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He was still at the latter when war broke out in 1939, and he immediately joined the infantry, being quickly commissioned, and subsequently he volunteered for a new force, the Parachute Regiment. He served all over India and the Middle East, before demobilisation in 1945 and the offer of a post at Uppingham School. Eight years later he became Head of Rishworth School. Ten years on he moved to East Pakistan to set up a new government boarding school, supported by the British Council. With this task completed, recounted in his admirable book “Mad Dogs and Englishmen”, he returned to Europe just after the first Indo-Pakistan war. Selected as Headmaster for the first Portuguese school it must have seemed to be an ideal position for him and his family, but it ended with departure at a moment’s notice. Fortunately Millfield was there to help and they settled in Compton Dundon. He was a delightful, amusing and hard-working colleague, and he made himself particularly popular with a group of staff who played bridge, for he was a real expert and was never reluctant to pass on his skills. On retirement he set himself up as a professional teacher and organised tournaments. Sadly his wife, Helen, died but he was fortunate enough to persuade Millfield tutor, Rachel de Witt, widow of Roger de Witt, another Millfield tutor, to marry him. It was a very successful union, not least because Rachel, who had never played bridge, learned to compete at a very high standard. In 2009 Michael’s health deteriorated very swiftly and he died in hospital on 19 October, aged 89.

We are very sad to report the death of Toby in tragic circumstances in Oxford on Thursday 8th October. His woodland funeral near his home on the West Somerset coast was interspersed with readings, tributes and music, and graced by the presence of over 300 friends and family, including many from his Class of 2006, in a moving display of mutual encouragement, and support for Toby's grieving parents, Chris and Debbie. Here follows an obituary by Toby's Housemaster, Terry Akhurst:- It was a really painful day when the boys and houseparents in Etonhurst house heard the incredibly sad news that one of our own had taken his own life. Toby was one of those quirky individuals that make houseparenting worthwhile. The toothy grin that always greeted you will never be forgotten particularly when his wicked sense of humour was at its best. We were all fortunate to spend some time with this well-read, intelligent and innovative young man. Being chosen to study at Oxford University summed up his intellectual intelligence but never quite showed his remarkable emotional intelligence. It was this gift that set him apart from the many boys in Etonhurst. He once said that “we are all God!” What a perceptive young man he really was! It is a black day for many whilst we reflect on Toby’s death but the memories left by him are the most powerful colours that one can imagine. It is these colours in life that he would want us to remember most! We extend our condolences to Toby’s entire family. Terry and Alicia Akhurst and the Etonhurst boys.

Ben Rushton joined the Edgarley staff in 1958 when the School was being run under the joint headmastership of R J O Meyer and H L Higgins. In 1965 Boss decided that HLH should be the lone Headmaster as he, Boss, was extremely busy with Millfield and “the Project”, which was to raise money to build the school, including Edgarley. In 1968 HLH wished to retire and Ben, who by then had become Director of Studies at Edgarley, was invited to take the Headship by the Governors. They wanted someone who understood the complexities of the School itself and the relationship with Millfield itself. He accepted and the School ran smoothly and happily under his direction for the next ten years. The School numbers had increased and the Governors decided to bring in new blood in the staff and Ben, to his chagrin, was asked to stand down, and, in order to secure his pension, he was offered a place at Millfield to teach Maths. This he felt he had to take for the sake of his family, and he continued teaching for another five years. Ben died in June, 2009.

We are sad to report that Will died on Sunday 15th November after a brave battle against terminal cancer. His funeral servicewas on Wednesday 2nd December at the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Wadhurst East Sussex TN5 6AA Will requested that any donations be made to The Hospice in the Weald or the RNLI, c/o C. Waterhouse & Sons, High Street, Burwash, TN19 7ET. A full obituary will appear here shortly

Mary, whose married name was Montague, won a place at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. Subsequently she and her husband ran a finishing school for girls near Sevenoaks. We were informed she had died some years ago.

Mr Henry Tritt, Gregory's father, informed us that his son had died on 1st May 2008

John Tucker came to Millfield from Cheltenham College and went on to join the family agricultural firm at Brent Knoll. As a member of Burnham and Berrow Golf Club he took a keen and helpful interest in Millfield golf. We have been informed that John died in 2008

Jasper Van Der Hurd died in a motor-cycle accident in upstate New York on 25 April, 2009. He worked as a designer in his mother’s textile business, running the New York office. He was an avid musician and photographer.

Judith Walbank, daughter of Mrs Muriel Walbank, a Housekeeper of Millfield House, came to Millfield from St Audrie’s School at East Quantoxhead. She went on to the Middlesex Hospital to take up nursing. We were informed by her cousin, Mrs Gillian McGregor, née Heard, that Judith had died on 4 May, 2009, of pancreatic cancer.

Adrian's tragiclly early death on 10th August at the age of 54 was the result of an inoperable brain tumour. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family.

Tom Wilkinson joined Millfield in 1962 as a part-time tutor of Religious Studies having been appointed Minister of the Methodist Church in Street in 1959. As well as these duties he found time, he was only 29, to play football and cricket for the village teams and to enjoy the social side of life with his devoted wife, Jean, and their three children. With the agreement of his Church, Tom became Kingweston Housemaster in 1966, soon immersing himself in his House and School duties, making sure that KW, then the largest boarding house, maintained its high standards. In 1971 he added a further appointment, Senior Chaplain, to his role, whilst finding time to develop the primitive golf course, and his own controlled swing, on the Kingweston playing-fields. He was asked to become Head of Religious Studies in September 1971. The phase that followed saw him develop ever closer relationships with the Dean and Chapter of Wells Cathedral. Continuing the pattern of the Inter-Faith Services held before the end-of-year prize-givings in the marquee, Tom was permitted to introduce Millfield’s broad spectrum of religious faith and practice to the 800 year old Christian Cathedral, and, as a personal acknowledgement of his work towards church unity, the Bishop invited Tom to administer the sacrament after a Millfield Confirmation Service, the first Methodist Minister to do so in the Cathedral. In 1978 he relinquished his House Mastership and moved to the village of Ashcott. By 1980 the easy life was palling and Jean was persuaded to become Housemother of a new Girls’ House, Acacia, and Tom went along too, which accounts for the considerable number of marriages he carried out in the following years, as well as baptisms. He added Master in charge of Counselling to his duties before Jean and he retired officially in 1994. This was, of course, ridiculous because he became Chaplain to Edgarley, the Millfield Prep School, acting Vicar of Ashcott, unofficial Ambassador to OMs in the Middle East, and supporter of retired members of staff in the area. Almost inevitably this all took its toll and after warning problems with his heart he decided to risk having a triple by-pass to alleviate the pain. The operation was a success, but an infection which defied all treatment, set in and Tom died in the Bristol Royal Infirmary on 23 November 2008. A Celebration of his life was held in Leigh Road Methodist Church, Street, on 5th December 2008, and a service to celebrate his life, attended by numerous OMs, took place at Wells Cathedral on the Feast of the Epiphany, 6th January 2009.