Rhubarb 2020

ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

Common Room Obituaries

ability to transform a bland experience into a memorable one. His calm demeanour coupled with gregariousness and a touch of mischief made him someone people wanted to be around. Countless tributes to Charles talk of the privilege it was both to be and to be called his friend. For those closest to him, woven through the memories are loyalty and laughter. Were we to strip Charles of all his accomplishments, he remains ‘magnificent’ for his wonderful companionship and softness of heart. 2019-2020 Earl’s Court : Charles returned to London to set up home in a flat with three friends who turned out to be a family of sorts. Between shifts at the local pub, several gardening jobs, swimming early in the Serpentine and helping out his neighbours, he was looking for more suitable work. With so much to offer, interested in politics, foreign policy, joining the Royal Marines, conservation and farming, who knows what Charles would have gone on to do. He was two weeks into an internship in an international, political and aid consultancy when he died. During his all too short life, Charles covered more ground than most of us ever will. In his search for understanding, he had trekked across all kinds of terrain, traversed the seas and reached the summits. One could say that after all his exploring, he had returned to where he started. Despite many unknowns, he knew who he was and where he was going. He had come home. A Thanksgiving Service will be held when circumstances permit. Details will be announced on his Facebook page.

SEDDON, JAMES On 16th May 2020, James Trevor Seddon. (Teacher of Geography and Head of PE – early 1960s to 1973). Sarah, James’ daughter has notified us that her father passed away peacefully aged 84 from cancer. He will be greatly missed by his loving children Sarah, James and John as well as all those whose lives he touched. James taught at Teddies for around 10 years, including teaching Geography to journalist and broadcaster Jon Snow (A, 1961-1966). James was also in the CCF and Sarah has told us that he was on exercises on the day she was born. He left the School in 1973 to take up the Headship of Clayesmore Junior School, but he and the whole family retained fond memories of St Edward’s, including watching the staff plays (in which James’ wife Ann also performed). He had a great love of Labradors, with which he shared most of his life both as a headmaster and during his retirement. During his

final illness he became unable to walk his two dogs and a volunteer from the Labrador Rescue Trust kindly helped walk them so that he could continue to enjoy their company at home. James would be pleased to think that Labradors in need of help will benefit from charitable donations to the Labrador Rescue Trust. A piece in the May 1973 Chronicle , written upon James’ departure, speaks of him with respect and affection and includes this tribute: “Above all, however, it is James’s great warmth that is hardest to express in words; all who know him will appreciate his open friendliness and total integrity, qualities that may seem anachronistic in the cut-and­ thrust of contemporary life. But then he is oldfashioned and likes people to be polite and tidy.” Also mentioned are his popularity and his love of sport, particularly rugby. He had played for Dorset and Wiltshire at county level before joining St Edward’s and was an enthusiastic coach during his time at Teddies.

DAVIES, JOHN On 10th April 2020, John Davies (Volunteer Cricket Umpire). REES, TONY On 17th January 2020, Tony Rees (History Teacher, Summer 1962). These words were written by his sons, Matthew, Nick and Tom. Tony Rees, our father, returned to England from teaching in southern Africa in the early 1960s and soon after was offered a temporary post at Teddies to teach History. Tony also took hockey and cricket teams during his time at Teddies and also, notably, had a part in the Common Room Show (it was HMS Pinafore ) in 1962. During this production Tony met his future wife, and our mother to be, Priscilla (who was a friend of Fred and Sheila Pargeter). On leaving Teddies in July 1962, Tony taught History at Cheadle Hulme School in Cheshire until his retirement in 1988. He sadly died in January, aged 92. We all miss him greatly.

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

James Seddon

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