Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online | Page 99

Eventually settling at Radlett in Hertfordshire, John worked as an
industrial engineer at the Kodak factory in Harrow. He enjoyed his time at
this large red brick factory in North London, which thrived for many years
prior to the advent of digital photography. He worked there for 21 years
until 1986.
As treatment for autism sufferers was in its infancy, groups of parents
began working together to establish positive provision for their children.
Joining the newly-formed National Autistic Society, John and Anne
worked tirelessly with other parents for more than 30 years, helping set
up schools, training centres, and residential communities for autistic
people across the Home Counties of England. Ealing LEAP, Radlett Lodge
School, the QEQM Autistic School in Bricket Wood, Smug Oak House and
Dysons Wood owe their existence to John, Anne and other parents.
Anne died on 3 June 2007, and John began building a new life in the
beautiful Berkshire village of Sonning Common. John retained his love of
music, and his Christian faith (nurtured in the chapel at Scotch), and his
love of ‘adapting’ electrical and mechanical equipment, to ‘run better’.
After a short illness, John died peacefully in the Royal Berkshire
Hospital, Reading, England, on 20 March 2018.
LESLIE, Dr David Ewen (’77)
David’s family wrote:
Dr David Ewen Leslie was born on 15 July 1960
and attended Scotch College from 1972 to 1977.
He followed in a family tradition beginning with his
great-uncle William Alexander Leslie (born 16 April 1885,
SC 1899-1902, died 8 August 1976), and including his
father Bruce Alexander Leslie (born 27 March 1928, SC 1942-45, married
Josephine, died 20 November 1986), uncle Tony Martin (SC 1953-56),
brothers Andrew (SC 1978-83) and Michael (SC 1980-85) and Mellor
nephews Max (SC 2009-14) and Sam (SC 2011-16).
At Scotch David excelled in the sciences. He was awarded a 1974
Junior Government Scholarship and was dux of Biology in 1977. His
dedicated and excellent science teachers cultivated his intrigue and
passion for science. This led to him to studying medicine at Melbourne
University.
After he qualified as a medical practitioner, David undertook
pathology training, specialising in virology and microbiology, and qualified
as a Medical Microbiologist with the Royal College of Pathologists
of Australasia, at the age of 31. David was employed as a Medical
Microbiologist at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Laboratory and was a
leading authority on mycobacteria and syphilis.
David was active in committee work, serving lengthy periods on
Victorian advisory committees for tuberculosis, syphilis, sexually-
transmitted diseases and blood-borne viruses. He was an expert
reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical
Microbiology, and Clinical Infectious Diseases. He was a long-standing
examiner for the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.
David married Dr Janet Mary Towns at Melbourne on 15 January
2010. He was a naturalist, particularly interested in birds and insects,
leading to his environmentalism and passion for biodiversity. He loved
cars, reading and live music. In recent years he enjoyed spending time
with Janet at their property on French Island.
David died on 4 July 2018 after a lengthy battle with illness.
He is survived by his son Cameron, and wife Janet.
He leaves a legacy of work and research that have been of great
benefit to humanity.
PRITCHARD, Graham George (’43)
Graham’s brother, Alastair, wrote:
Graham George Pritchard was born at Croydon on
30 September 1926. He attended Scotch from 1940
to 1942, playing tennis and making camouflage nets in
Cadets for the war effort. Also at Scotch was his brother
Maurice Francis Pritchard (born 21 January 1925, SC
1939-41, died 11 September 2010).
Graham’s Leaving exams were interrupted by the illness and death on
17 December 1942 of his father, Bill Pritchard, a Gallipoli veteran who later
in the war was decorated with the Military Medal while fighting in Belgium.
The loss profoundly affected Graham, who emulated his father’s
compassionate qualities. Studying for a Diploma in Commerce at
Melbourne University part-time, Graham joined his father’s old firm, Davies
Coop and Co Pty Ltd, as an audit clerk and cost accountant.
Graham was a Youth Hostels Association secretary, and was a youth
leader and Sunday School secretary in the Deepdene Presbyterian
Frank Paton Memorial Church. He joined a work party to Alice Springs to
construct the forecourt of the John Flynn Memorial Church.
Graham married Glynn Pamela Stephens at her Hamilton Anglican
Church on 12 April 1958, beginning a union of community service as
members of the Anglican Church while raising four children in Lower
Plenty. A secondary teacher of humanities in several high schools until
retirement, Graham’s font of knowledge earned him the family nickname
‘Professor’ or ‘Pro’.
Graham’s dedication to Aboriginal wellbeing began with the Aboriginal
Advancement League, working closely with Pastor Doug Nicholls. He
volunteered as Secretary to the National Aborigines Day Observance
Committee. He and Glynn fostered two Aboriginal teenagers from Alice
Springs during their secondary years. Graham was a member and
office-bearer at St Margaret’s Anglican, Eltham, and treasurer for groups
including Love in the name of Christ and Community and Volunteers of
Eltham. As Vice President of the Nillumbik Reconciliation Group, Graham
was a representative to Reconciliation Australia.
He twice received the Australia Day Volunteers’ Award from the City
of Nillumbik and once from the State of Victoria. He was a quiet achiever
with gentlemanly humility and graciousness in a life of service. Alert to the
end, and with a great love of Scotch to his last breath, Graham died at
Willandra Lodge, Eltham, on 23 January 2018.
REYNOLDS, Peter Leslie (’61)
Peter’s brother, Adrian (SC 1960-64), wrote:
Peter was born at Melbourne on 26 February
1944. Initially educated at Ashburton State School
and Burwood High School, he commenced at Scotch
in 1958 in Remove A, following in the footsteps of his
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
99