Rhubarb 2019

50 ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

Dad was born in Chester, went to school in Bilton Grange and then onto St Edward’s. He loved his schooldays at Teddies and attended a good number of OSE events over the years. If the war hadn’t come along, he would have taken up his place at Oxford University reading Classics. The Royal Artillery trained him at Catterick and he served in Belgium where shrapnel wounds to his leg meant he spent his 21st birthday in hospital in Bruges. After the war, he was stationed in Kashmir and once travelled along the Khyber Pass on a motorbike. After he left the Army, he joined Meredith & Drew which was later bought by United Biscuits. He went into the KP Snacks Division, where he became Sales Director. He worked for the same company for 37 years and loved his work and team, many of whom kept in touch with him throughout his 35 years of retirement. Dad had a strict drinking schedule – beer at lunchtime; whisky on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; gin on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays! David and I loved our special outings to Lords to watch the cricket or whisky tasting in London. Mum was the person who helped keep Dad loved and popular – they were a

great double act – always entertaining. After getting

He became well known in his field and was featured as a true countryman in many publications such as Country Life , The Field and Horse and Hound . Although twice married, he had no children and after the onset of Parkinson’s disease he moved from Cumbria to live in Somerset and then with his sister in Essex, before entering a home near Cambridge where he died. GRIFFITHS – On 27th April 2018, Thomas Michael (Tim) Griffiths (C, 1952-1956). These words were sent to us by Tim’s son Mark Griffiths, on behalf of his mother: Thomas Michael Griffiths (known as Tim) was born on the 25th June 1938. He spent his early years in Radnorshire and then at the age of six, after his father’s death, moved to Shrewsbury, where he would develop a strong affinity with the county of Shropshire. Tim went to Packwood Haugh prep school and played in both the football and cricket 1st teams before going to St Edward’s where he was in the cross country team. He represented Field House in a multitude of sports and this love for sport would continue throughout his life. After school Tim was called up for National Service and was lucky enough to be sent to Jamaica where he was an officer in the Jamaica Regiment. On his return he joined the Territorials and was awarded the Territorial Decoration before leaving with the rank of Major. He remained a committed member of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry throughout his life and attended as many meetings and social events as possible, keeping in touch with the many friends he had made over the years. Tim started work at Simplex Electrics in 1959 where, under different names of the company (Creda/Unilever/GEC) he stayed

until his retirement working in the advertising and marketing departments. In 1961 Tim married Jennifer Benson, whom he had known since he was a teenager. They had 56 very happy years together. He was a devoted father to Katharine (who married an OSE), Jonathan and Mark and ‘Gramps’ to eight grandchildren and a great grandson. Tim had many interests which included stamp collecting as a boy, coin collecting, politics, antique collecting, travel, real ale and watching sport. Since his retirement, gardening was his great joy, especially ‘jungle hacking’ and strimming in his four-acre woodland garden, which he continued to do every day before his sudden death.

married they lived in Bristol but then moved to Rickmansworth and stayed there for 62 years in Valley Road. In retirement Dad enjoyed bridge drives and parties, a familiar daily routine, and watching lots of sport including racing, the Six Nations, golf tournaments and matches involving Watford and Chester FC both of which he supported. Mum and Dad never fell out of love. David and I witnessed it even up to the last time they saw each other, they held youngest grandson asked Poppa a very interesting question on the last afternoon that we saw him in the hospice: ‘Poppa,’ he said, ‘who was the best golfer, Granny or you?’ Dad paused for a moment and said, ‘Granny, but only for a week’. He had humour and cheekiness right to the very last moment of his life. GRAYLING – On 31st March 2019, David Astley Hosier Grayling (E, 1950-1954). Brother of John (E, 1943-1948). This piece has kindly been provided by David’s brother, John. A full obituary will be written by author Robin Page, to appear in The Field and Country Life . David Grayling, who has died at the age of 83, became well known as a bookseller and countryman. After military service and agricultural college, he held a number of posts in farming. He then used his knowledge of the country to start a business in Cumbria, selling antiquarian sporting books and republishing books which had gone out of print. He also became Master and huntsman of the Bleasdale Beagles, a pack with which his family had long associations; in this he saw no conflict with his love of wildlife and nature. hands, kissed and said they loved each other. Eddie, his

V A L E T E O B I T U A R I E S

Thomas Michael (Tim) Griffiths

HARTLEY – On 17th February 2017, Alan Stuart Hartley (B, 1935-1939). Brother of Michael (C, 1931-1935) and Edward (B, 1937-1941). Worcester College Oxford 1939-41. Army 1941. Royal Berkshire Regiment 1941-2 2nd Lieutenant. Gurkha Rifles 1942-5 Major. Malaya Civil Service 1946- 57. Personnel officer ICI Ltd 1958-61. Company Secretary Atlantic College UK Ltd 1963-4. Administrator British Standards Institute 1967-86. Director BSI Pension Trust, Retired 1990. Liveryman St Bride’s Guild, Fleet St 1987-2001.

Peter Robert Frost