The Old Shebbearians' Association

Obituaries

With great sadness we record the passing of Old Shebbearians
and proudly publish their obituaries below (in the sequence received).

Philip Day

Phil Day, a popular teacher at Shebbear in the 1950s and known throughout the school as ”Skip” for his leadership of the Senior Scout Troop, has died.
He was one of a group of young masters recruited by Jack Morris and taught French and English and later Physical Education.
He was a graduate of the University of Wales and also spent three years with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
He was married firstly to the sister of a Shebbearian.
Moving to Canada, he graduated again from the University of Toronto, before teaching at Appleby College. In 1989 joined the faculty of St Andrew’s College “with boundless energy, resolve and commitment”.
A short obituary on the St Andrew’s website said that he retired from teaching in 1994 and “will be remembered for his love of languages, rugby, travel and music.”
He died in January 2005, aged 76, after a long illness, and is survived by his second wife Sheryl, son Nigel and daughter Nicola and their children.

March 2007

Paddy Hipperson

The OSA has learned of the death of Paddy Hipperson who with Trevor Ward enjoyed iconic sporting status in the early 1950s.

He was at Shebbear from 1942-54 after which he entered Cranwell.

In a 20-year career with the RAF, he flew fighter aircraft, trained as a flying instructor and then transferred to RAF Transport Command.

Later he flew civilian aircraft. He was a Boeing 747 Captain with Virgin Atlantic when he retired in 1995.

He died following a heart attack in May 2004, aged 69. A full obituary will appear in the Shebbearian..

26 November 2006

Leonard Brian Andrew

A boy at Shebbear from 1936-42, Brian Andrew was a highly-respected estate agent in Somerset for all his working life. He was also a local politician in Yeovil and a stalwart of the Methodist Church.

He died aged 79 in hospital in Taunton after a long illness in December 2005. An obituary will appear in the next edition of the Shebbearian.

Trevor Ward – Outstanding Sportsman - 26 November 2006

Trevor Ward, outstanding Shebbearian sportsman in the early 1950s, has died after a short illness. He was 71.
After Shebbear, he played cricket and rugby for the RAF, rugby for Dorset & Wilts and Devon, and cricket for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship..
As a left-handed batsman, he formed a formidable opening partnership with Paddy Hipperson. Against Bideford Grammar School in his last season at Shebbear in 1953, Ward scored 105 not out and Hipperson 116. The school declared at 252 for 2.
He trained as a teacher at St Luke’s College, Exeter, and taught for more than 30 years at schools in Paignton.
He had a long association with both the cricket and rugby clubs in the town, scoring more than 1,500 points at fly half for Paignton and was top scorer for 14 seasons.
He was immensely proud of his ability to spot young sportsmen with talent.
One of them was Chris Read who went on to play cricket for England and another, Les Mears, a former pupil, who was picked to play rugby for England recently.
In a tribute, former Test umpire Dickie Bird, who was the cricket professional at Paignton in the late 1960s, said: “I know that helping young youngsters find their way in the sporting world was immensely satisfying for him.”
Old Shebbearian Roger Horrell, with whom Ward played schoolboy rugby for Devon, said: “Trevor was a school hero and immensely popular. Of course, that went with being such a good sportsman, but it owed much to his rather gentle, modest and undemonstrative manner.”
Another OS, author Leslie Scrase said: “I shall always remember Trevor as modest, unassuming, gentle, quiet, good-natured, cheerful, friendly, decent and honest – a man of absolute integrity and reliability.”
The funeral was at Preston Church, Paignton, on April 7.
He leaves a widow Ann, and three children, Rosemary, Joanne and Tim.

End - 9 April 2006

Dr Alan Hall

Dr Alan Hall, who spent his working life as a General Practitioner in Sleaford, Lincs, has died at the age of 85.
He was at Shebbear from 1930 with his younger brother Keith and then entered St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, as a medical student.
Keith, two years younger, writes: “We were both very happy at Shebbear. Alan was quickly spotted as a high flier. He matriculated at fourteen, then spent three years in the sixth form before he was able to get entrance to St Mary’s Medical School.
“Alan was a very good all-rounder. He was opening bat for the 1st X1 when Don Farley was captain. Her also got his rugger colours as a centre three-quarter.
“He finally went into general practice as Assistant GP in Sleaford where he was to spend the remainder of his medical career.
“He lived a very full and active life and read the Daily Telegraph every day. He wrote his first letter to the Telegraph from the sixth form at Shebbear. If I recall correctly it was about the New Prayer Book.
“He continued to write to the Telegraph all his life, usually about politics, about which he was very passionate.”
Dr Hall died in Lincoln County Hospital on April 2. He leaves a widow and two daughters.

End - 10 April 2006

Peter Smoldon

Peter Smoldon, the eldest of three Old Shebbearians brothers died suddenly shortly before Christmas at his home in Burnham on Sea, Somerset. He was 69.
Almost 300 people gathered at Allhallows and St Peter's church, in the nearby village of West Huntspill for the funeral. Among them were six Old Shebbearians.
After Shebbear (1947-52) and National Service, Peter eventually took over the family business in Newport, Barnstaple, before moving into the world of heavy plant hire. He eventually owned his own company in Bristol.
In retirement he indulged in one of his passions - watching cricket and helping out at Gloucestershire Cricket Club. In his youth he had played for the Shebbear First Eleven and the Old Boys. He was also a former member of the Shebbear First Fifteen. An even greater passion was jazz, both as a player and hugely knowledgeable fan. A jazz band played at the funeral and at the wake afterwards.
Peter leaves a widow, Janet, three sons, a granddaughter and a brother Patrick whose twin Roger, a former headmaster and Justice of the Peace, died in 2002 aged 60, and after whom, the rugby ground at Sutton Coldfield is named.

Arthur Buse

Arthur Buse, highly respected as a North Devon businessman and for his service to the community, died on March 12, 2007, at the age of 79. Born in the village he attended Shebbear College from 1938-44 under Leslie Johnson and later Jack Morris.
For most of his life he worked for Thomas Oke & Son, agricultural and builders' merchants of Holsworthy and its successor, serving firstly as assistant to John Oke, the owner and managing director, and later as managing director, when the company was bought by BOCM.

A Shebbear resident for many years before moving to Bude, Arthur was a long-serving member of the parish council and was later elected chairman.
As a young man he was very involved in the project to build a new village hall.
He was founding member of Holsworthy Rotary Club and later its Treasurer. He was also a member and Treasurer of Mid-Torridge Branch of the Royal British Legion.
He is survived by his wife Mary and son Nigel.

Dennis Guy

A fine sportsman, Dennis Guy was a pupil at Shebbear from 1936-39 and was awarded his colours for both rugby and cricket. In his last term he was runner-up for the Victor Ludorum sports trophy. There are some who say he was the best fast bowler the 1st X1 ever had. He also had a fine bass voice, was a leading member of the choir and was much in demand for solo performances in choral works at Christmas and Easter.

He served in the army during the Second World War before returning to manage a successful family bakery business in Exbourne.
He kept up his sporting and other interests long after leaving Shebbear, playing cricket and football for Okehampton and Exbourne.
A widower, he is survived by a son Jonathan and a daughter Rosemary. He died in hospital at Honiton on November 9, 2006, aged 85.

David Roberts

An Exeter boy, David "Rat" Roberts followed in his grandfather's footsteps and entered Shebbear in 1941. He was to stay until the late '40s. He was a member of the 1st XV, became Assistant Scout Master of Troop 2 and was a prefect. Later he qualified as an engineer, specialising in water projects and land drainage. After marriage to Jean, they went to Nigeria for a number of years where he worked for the Government before the country became independent.

When Milton Keynes was still only in the planning stages, David was deputy engineer for land drainage and spoke of the "limitless funds" made available.
He and Jean returned to Exeter when his parents needed their help. In recent years he had been involved in work on the restoration of the Tiverton Canal.
He died on May 18, 2007. He and Jean had no children.
Among Old Shebbearians who attended his funeral at Exeter Crematorium were David Marshall, Ted Lott and Michael Hohl.

Wiliam Gibbons

Known throughout the school as "Gabby", Bill Gibbons was at Shebbear from 1948-56. His home was in Lynton.

He became a Ruddle House prefect and played rugby and cricket, captaining both the 2nd XV and 2nd X1. A hardworking boy, he gained a County Major Scholarship to the University of North Staffordshire (Keele) then one of Britain's newest universities.

In a letter to the Shebbearian in 1958, he wrote: "The main interest in this university seems to centre on the Foundation Year in which one studies all the subjects under the sun. In short, you are given ideas, or ideas are created by you, which you have no time to follow up, and as a result some form of Chauvinism creeps in. However, the first year does give you time to think over your choice of degree subjects and gives you an idea of subjects you might otherwise be totally be wholly ignorant of …"

We were never to know the subject in which he graduated but at some point later he emigrated to New Zealand where he worked as an administrator in education. In 1985 when his old school friend Geoffrey Wrayford, then Vicar of Frome, featured in a news story about officiating at the marriage of an American whose family links with the town went back to the Middle Ages, the story appeared in newspapers around the world.

From Wellington came a letter from Bill saying he had spotted the item. He added he was married, had two small boys, aged three and six, "a house, a mortgage, three quarters of a car, a stamp collection and an overdraft!"

In the 1990s Bill visited the Wrayfords at their new Ministry in Minehead and later one of the Wrayford children stayed with Bill and his wife in Wellington.

Sadder news was to follow. A letter to Geoffrey from Mrs Christine Gibbons said Bill had passed away towards the end of 2005. He would have been about 67

Roger Colwill

An obituary in a newspaper in Victoria, British Columbia, tells of the "incredible spirit" of an old boy who entered Shebbear more than 50 years ago. A friend was quoted as saying: "Any time you spent with him, you came away feeling a better person."

Born in Tintagel and brought up in Launceston, Roger Colwill was to spend five years at Shebbear from 1954-59. On leaving he trained as a chartered surveyor with a large surveying company in Plymouth.

He emigrated to Canada in 1968 where he had a successful and lucrative career in commercial real estate in Vancouver, becoming Associate Vice-President of Royal LePage. He retired at the age of 47 and devoted the rest of his life to environmental issues.

He suffered a severe stroke 10 years ago and spent more than three months in hospital. He was left with impairment to the left side of his body and had to learn to walk again. He fought back, accompanying his former tennis partner on jogs on an electric bike. Naturally left-handed and a keen artist in watercolours, he soon learnt to paint with his right hand. The results were "good".

From the moment of retirement, he "devoured" environmental literature. His "green activism" began with taking part in a project to remove an evasive species of the broom plant that was threatening wild flowers at a local beauty spot.
He also introduced "Green drinks", informal monthly gatherings at a Victoria pub for those concerned with the environment.

Roger died, aged 65, in September 2007 while having a cup of tea with his wife Barbara. He also leaves a son Mike, 27, and a daughter Sarah, 25.

John Wilkins

Teacher and journalist John Wilkins died from a sudden heart attack at his home in Exeter in May 2006. He was aged 60 and unmarried.

His brother Peter writes: "John was at Shebbear from 1956-62 and left to attend Avery Hill College of Education in London where he was successful in obtaining a B.Ed degree.
"He taught in various primary schools in London and Devon before leaving for Queensland, Australia, to take up a teaching post there.

"Through part-time study he took a degree in journalism at the University of Queensland and went on to work for the Publications' Department of the Queensland Department of Education, a post in which he felt very happy and fulfilled.

"He returned to England in 1986 and worked briefly for Reuters news agency before going on to accept a post as a writer for an Exeter firm producing medical manuals for use in hospitals.

"John remained a committed socialist and Christian to the end of his life and regularly attended St Leonard's Church in Exeter.

"He was very proud of being an Old Shebbearian and to the end of his life often mused about his old friends and their likely careers. He possessed very fond memories of the school."

Brian Letheren

Brian Letheren, a member of an old established Hatherleigh family with strong Shebbear connections, died shortly before Christmas. He was 67.

He was at Shebbear from 1951-56, leaving with eight O-levels to join his father in the family firm of agricultural merchants. He later took over the business and eventually saw it combine with Oke's of Holsworthy and Heard's of Morwenstow, all also run by old boys - with many Old Shebbearians among their customers.

At Shebbear, Brian won his 1st XV Rugby Colours, played for the Second X1 cricket team and was a promising athlete. The Shebbearian of Summer 1955, records that he won the 880 and 440 yards, setting new Middle records for both. He also won the shot and was second in the discus.

Edwin Guy

The younger brother of Dennis (see above), Edwin Guy died in December, 2007, at the age of 82. He was at Shebbear from 1939-42 and in Ruddle House.

Like his brother, he was an excellent sportsman playing for both the 1st XV and 1st X1. He was also very musical, a good singer and a member of the choir. He gained his Oxford School Certificate.

Edwin was a popular figure with both boys and staff. He had an engaging sense of humour and excelled in end of term plays. After Shebbear, he returned to his home village of Exbourne where he lived for the rest of his life. He joined the family business of Master Bakers and Confectioners and became a Director of the company, along with Dennis.

He kept up his love of sport playing cricket and football for Exbourne and Okehampton for many years. He is survived by his widow and sons, Andrew and Philip, both Old Shebbearians, and their children.  

C.W. Barfoot

Cyril Barfoot, senior maths and physics master at Shebbear from 1943-57, has died at the age of 93.

He came to Shebbear as one of J.B.Morris’s first recruits with a 1st Class mathematics degree from Birmingham University. Many Shebbearians had reason to be grateful for “his beautifully lucid teaching”.

He was also a first rate model engineer, photographer, stage electrician and scoutmaster of Troop 3.

He left Shebbear for a similar post at Edgehill when his children, two girls and a boy, began to get older and it was necessary to move to Bideford for their education.

While at Edgehill, he was appointed to the permanent panels of examiners for Oxford University O-levels and London University A-levels.

It kept him “more than fully occupied” during the months of June, July and December.

Only a few years ago he was a guest of honour at the OSA President’s reception, following Speech Day at Shebbear.

A Quaker funeral service took place in Bideford on February 14, 2008.

John Mill

A day boy at Shebbear in the 1930s, John Mill would eventually hold a senior position with the Independent Television Authority. Not only was his office in Knightsbridge, London, but his flat overlooked Harrods.

When he left Shebbear at 15 in 1939 where under Leslie Johnson he enjoyed English, Maths, Music and Art and excelled at running, he worked firstly as a clerk with a meat company in Bude. In 1943 he was called up for military service and learned how to fly gliders after being conscripted into the 6th Airborne Division. On his way to Normandy by ship to take part in the D-Day landings he was injured by shrapnel. Once ashore, he was taken to a farmhouse to be treated. While there the farmer’s wife gave birth to a boy who was immediately named John.

After the war he entered Morley College, London, to study personnel Management. He joined the ITA as a personnel manager before being promoted to executive administrator.

In the mid-1950s he returned home to help on the family’s 400-acre farm at Walter’s moor, Shebbear. Five years later he decided to become a probation officer and contacted the ITA for a reference. Instead, they invited him back to work for them again and he stayed until taking early retirement to look after his parents. After their deaths he lived in Cyprus for several years before settling in Westward Ho!

John, a gifted painter in both oils and water colours, died in January 2008, aged 83.

(We are grateful to Reflecting Shebbear, the village magazine, for the biographical details in the this obituary)

Rev F. John Stanbury

John Stanbury came to Shebbear from Launceston as a pupil in 1956 and left at the end of the winter term in 1963 having gained A-levels in English, History and Geography. He was an editor of the magazine, librarian, prefect and shared the duties of organist at Lake Chapel with John Trevitt.  Later, he was ordained as a Minister in the Methodist Church.

In the autumn of 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer. He died aged 62 on January 20, 2008, at the Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice in Oxford. The funeral took place at All Saints Methodist Church, Abingdon, where he had been the much loved Minister, on January 30.

In 2005 he attended the “40 years on” reunion at Shebbear with his wife Rosemary. She said it had been “an unforgettable experience”. He was the devoted father of Susan and Christopher.

 
OSA Hon. Sec. is David Haley, Cold Norton Farm, Ockham Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1LW
Tel: +44 (0)1932 863746 Fax: +44 (0)1932 866709 Website: www.oldshebbearian.co.uk