Griffen 2014

17 www.oaclub.org.uk The North Wind – stained glass panel by Louis Davis OA Michael St John Parker, Headmaster 1975-2001, writes: If science dominated the Abingdon curriculum in the last quarter of the twentieth century, this was due not to splendid laboratories but to the strength and the unitary approach of the teaching. So formidable was the resultant power- block that some of us who were not scientists were known to speak of it, usually admiringly but sometimes despairingly, as “the monolith”. The reality, however, was more like a steel-frame than a sarsen stone – and one of the principal members of this structure was David Haynes. A fine scientist, and a versatile teacher, his professional talents commanded the confidence of the Harwell scientist-parents who first attracted him to Abingdon; but what truly distinguished him was the quality of his personality. Here was a man whose steady principles and quiet integrity won the respect of colleagues and pupils alike, while the twinkling humour that readily lit up his slightly worried demeanour evinced his balanced humanity. He was trustworthy and competent in everything he did – more, he always left things better than he found them. Pre-eminently, he was that unfashionable creature, a good man. Iain Herbertson (1967) Born in 1949 Iain came to Abingdon in 1958 just after his mother had died. By his own admission he was not Abingdon’s greatest academic achiever or a major player on the sports field. His presence was felt throughout the School particularly the Headmaster’s Study! Iain was always mindful and appreciative, particularly in the latter years, of the education he had received and went to work tirelessly for numerous charitable organisations that helped educate and find work for young people in the London inner city areas. Iain’s working career started at Sainsbury’s. He went on to join Proctor and Gamble, Thomson Yellow Pages, Aspen, Mirror Group Newspapers and finally Manpower. He held various positions at Manpower eventually being posted to Singapore where he was President of the Asia Pacific Region. It was here that he really made his mark; he enjoyed the challenge of the very different cultures that the various countries presented. Just before retirement he was diagnosed with cancer that he lived with for six years. His incredible enthusiasm for life and his positive attitude to everything was evident for all to see right up to the end on 10 July 2013. Iain was a very proud family man; he leaves a wife, Ann, a son, James, and countless friends and colleagues around the world. Ann Herbertson Richard Hook (1961) Richard died in Trinity the Hospice in the Fylde on Sunday 24 November 2013 aged 69 after a three-year fight with pancreatic cancer. After School, where he was a boarder, Richard worked for Sir James Goldsmith’s Cavenham Foods and for the next 50 years had a number of careers, mainly in Blackpool, as subpostmaster, newsagent and for the past 20 years, professional willwriter. It was a lady that took him to Blackpool for he had met Jane on a school trip to Scandinavia. They married, fostered three girls and were in business together until Jane sadly died in 2007. Richard was an active member of the Conservative Party and served as a Lancashire County Councillor for one term, famously, at his own expense, suing the County Council in the High Court before Lord Denning because it would not give him sight of a particular report. He lived a life of principal and service, working tirelessly for charities as a member of Round Table and Rotary. He was a prolific writer of letters to newspapers and could often be read in The Telegraph. David Heaney John Horrex (Common Room 1951-1964) John passed away on 18 March 2013. He began life in 1930 in Godmanchester, one of a family of five and with a twin brother