Philip Emerton (1952) Philip Emerton passed away aged 87 in December 2022, after a short illness. He was born in Abingdon, where his grandfather had been one of the leading coachmakers in the county. He enjoyed school and shared many memories with his family, including a few stories of run-ins with the headmaster at the time. Philip was a strong rugby player and he also rowed for the school, albeit his sporting activities were somewhat curtailed when he contracted polio in his final year. He supported the school financially, including providing the initial funding for the short-lived student bar, the ‘Griff Inn’, in School House, and with his presence for the rest of his life. He was proud when his two sons, Richard (1979) and Mark (1982), both went to Abingdon, Mark being appointed Head Boy, rekindling his support of the school on riverbanks and rugby pitches throughout their time at the school. A Leander member and regular at Henley Royal Regatta, he could be seen in his Abingdon blazer or tie supporting the school for many years. After leaving school, Philip started working for a small manufacturing company in Reading, before completing his National Service with the Royal Artillery. He then joined a firm of local accountants, Haines Watts, where he remained until he retired as a senior partner in 1995 – by which time he was proud to see Haines Watts as one of the top 20 firms of accountants and business advisers in the country. For much of the last 40 years, Philip split his time between the family home on the River Thames in Berkshire and a villa in the South of France. Here, he was able to indulge in his favourite hobbies; entertaining good friends and collecting and drinking French wine. Philip is survived by his second wife, Kate, sons Richard and Mark, and six grandchildren. His first wife died in 2008. Colin Wiggins (1953) Colin Wiggins died on 23 September 2023 at his home in Port Washington, New York, from Parkinson’s Disease. Colin was one of a long line of Wiggins boys who attended Abingdon School over the last 100 years. As a member of the Naval section of the Combined Cadet Force and an excellent shot, he represented the school at Bisley. Colin was also a member of the Boat Club and continued his rowing activities as an Abingdon Scholar at Pembroke College, Oxford. Here, he was President of the Oxford University Scientific Club, graduating with a degree in Physics. He then began his research at Birmingham University and was awarded a PhD in 1959. After a postgraduate year at the University of British Columbia, he moved to a research post in New York. Later, Colin worked on Wall Street as a Portfolio Manager with US, Japanese, and multinational corporations. In retirement, he much enjoyed exploring off the beaten path with his wife, Jennifer, browsing old book shops, and 3D photography. He always remembered his hometown and the school he attended, visiting often and contributing to the archive. Besides his wife, Colin is survived by his sons James and Christopher, and four grandchildren. Another son, Graham, predeceased him. Jenny Wiggins Robert Beere (1951) Born in 1935 in Ruislip, Bob passed his 11+ and went to Abingdon School where he developed his lifelong passions for rugby, swimming, cycling, gardening, history and politics, and canals. Bob used to regularly cycle from Ruislip to Abingdon School and thereafter toured the United Kingdom on his bicycle. He was a talented rugby player, playing for Abingdon and then for the county rugby team. Bob lived in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, for his last 43 years, married twice, had three children and four grandchildren. He was well known in the community, renowned for his love of his two corgis and for his regular contribution to the maintenance and mowing of the village grass. From predicting the results of Brexit and the Scottish Independence Referendum, to reciting the history of Churchill and Attlee; Bob consistently demonstrated his impressive knowledge and passion for history and politics all the way up to his 87th birthday. Bob took a last epic cruise in June 2022 on his narrowboat ‘Iron’ at the age of 87. He undertook a threeweek journey to the Russell Newbery Rally at Audlem on the Shropshire Union Canal. He single handedly crewed the boat and was still able to climb on and off the boat’s roof to manage the locks by himself. On his return from the rally, Bob became unwell, suffered a short illness and sadly died in December 2022. Obituaries If you wish to report a death or write a tribute to a fellow OA for the next issue of the Griffen, please contact the OA Club. GRIFFEN 2024 | 32
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