Rhubarb 2017

ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

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Common Room Obituaries Peter Mallalieu 1937–2017

O B I T U A R I E S

Peter was born in Stockport in 1937 and went to Durham University, graduating with a Physics degree. He then took a MSc degree before commencing his physics teaching career which began at Sunderland High School for Girls. Peter’s enduring knowledge and love of art demonstrated itself early in his career in Sunderland where he also managed an art gallery. In 1967 Peter and his family moved south when he took up a post as a physics master at Teddies. He remained there for the next twenty-five years until taking early retirement in 1992. He was also Housemaster of Apsley from 1981-92. Peter was a popular master and he was known for always being willing to help struggling boys (as letters received after his death attest). In 1980, Peter married Jenny to whom he was married for thirty-seven years (they had, in fact, been together in total for forty-three years). He was a very keen and competitive sportsman, and during his time at Teddies he ran the golf team, and he was a Major in the CCF army section. He was also involved in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and Adventure training. He coached the 2nd X1 cricket, and he was a highly effective medium fast bowler himself as well as coaching the 2nd XV rugby. In addition, he was wine member for the Common Room. Peter also led expeditions to Morocco’s Atlas Mountains in 1967, to the Canadian Rockies in 1974 and to the Pyrenees in 1980. As an extremely keen golfer himself, he played here in the UK, France and USA. It was his great joy to be part of the BUDA cup; an annual amateur competition between the UK and the USA. Through this event he made strong friendships with his ‘pals across the pond’. He was a member of the Pedagogue’s Society and enjoyed the Links courses at Littlestone, Rye and Royal St. George’s. Playing at Pinehurst No.2 was a particularly memorable experience for him. Peter was also a mountaineer. In 1986, he was invited by Mike Beeley, Surgeon Commodore RN (OSE, Apsley), as a member of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Mountaineering Club’s 1987 expedition to East Africa, where he climbed Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro. His love of mountaineering led he and Jenny to purchase

a ramshackle property in the Alps where he was able to ski, mountaineer and explore the mountains during the holidays. His first Alpine mountaineering routes were in the Dauphiné Alps in 1987 and 1988; these included routes on Mont Pelvoux and the Barre des Écrins. Although renovation work on the property took up much of his time, he nevertheless took time off from construction activities to climb a number of routes, including the Aiguille de la Vanoise, Pigne d’Arolla, Signalkuppe, Castor, Breithorn, Allalinhorn, Weissmies and the Lagginhorn. During his later years, he did a number of respectable routes including the Grande Casse in the Vanoise National Park and Italy’s Gran Paradiso. He also commenced ski mountaineering and, in 1996, he was delighted to ski the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. When his days of climbing 4,000m mountains ended, he became contented

researched and illustrated 240-page book The Artists of the Alpine Club , the proceed of which went to the Alpine Club climbing fund. He was delighted to be given an emeritus position by the Club in recognition of his outstanding contribution. Latterly, owing to his health issues, Peter and Jenny decided to relocate to the lower altitude of the Auvergne, where they had a wide circle of friends and companions. He and Jenny divided their time between their homes in the UK and France. Peter was very much a family man and took great pride in his grandchildren and great granddaughter. Over 34 visits to the USA, they were able to visit family there and share many happy occasions. He is sorely missed by his wife Jenny and his children, Mark, Cate, Paul and Rachel, but Peter had a full, and a very happy life, and we have much to celebrate.

and very happy to climb lower, less- frequented mountains, of which there are a considerable number in the Alps. Peter became a Full Member of the Alpine Club in autumn 1992, when he was seconded by his colleague from Teddies, Richard Anderson. The Club soon recognised Peter’s outstanding knowledge of art and he became the Honorary Keeper of the Club’s Paintings, and took on the task of restoration – something of which he was extremely proud. Together with Jenny’s help, Peter organised many mountain art

exhibitions at the Alpine Club and in 2011 he produced the delightful, well-