OBITUARIES understood the workings of pupils ’ minds ; he was firm but fair and expected them to make the most of their talents and opportunities . He was patient , compassionate , cajoling and encouraging , gaining pupils ’ respect through his empathetic nature and his love of sport and nurturing them with his unflagging advice and concern .
This concern for other people ’ s welfare marks Malcolm ’ s life to an extraordinary degree . He was the Secretary to the Old Pocklingtonian Association for more than 30 years , not just administratively but with an astonishing personal awareness and encyclopaedic knowledge of what and where his protégés had gone onto from Pocklington . He organised the annual Pixies ’ cricket tour to Sussex for 50 years from the mid-60s and in 1987 initiated the highly successful staff golf day , which continues to this day .
Malcolm ’ s lifelong love of sport , people and the school did not relent even after his retirement from teaching in 2003 . He regularly played golf , tended his allotment , helped out with school and Old Pocklingtonian events , coached and umpired cricket , was a regular on the touchline at both school and Pocklington rugby club , the list goes on ! In short , he remained a constant , loyal , appreciative supporter of both Pocklington School and the wider Pocklington community . He will be greatly missed .
Tributes for Malcolm poured in from far and wide as did those who were able to attend Malcolm ’ s funeral held on Wednesday 22 January 2020 at the East Yorkshire crematorium in Octon . Malcolm would have been so proud and humbled by the sheer number of OPs in attendance along with family , friends and colleagues at what was quite possibly the largest OP reunion since the school ’ s quincentenary dinner in London !
At the funeral , Malcolm ’ s wife Jill asked David Nuttall to read out his letter to her following Malcolm ’ s passing . The letter sums up Malcolm perfectly :
“ Dear Jill
I have found myself unable to stop wrestling with the sheer wonder of Malcolm ’ s life .
Most individuals show obvious prowess in a particular area of their personalities . It might be sport ( in cricket producing test cricketers or in music showing glimpses of genius ).
Malcolm was clearly distinguished but for a very unusual reason . Malcolm ’ s distinction was his ordinariness – he was one of us – one of the vast number of people who make up society . And wherever Malcolm went and whoever he spoke to , he naturally spread an infectious warmth of happiness .
And that instinctive warmth goes someway to explaining his brilliant guidance of the Pixies Cricket Tour and umpteen school rugby and cricket teams .
Yoly and I have rich memories of Malcolm ’ s presence in the Lyndhurst Boarding House and latterly of him knocking on the door to supply us with leeks and carrots from his allotment .
Jill you will always be in our thoughts and thank you for looking after Malcolm so devotedly .
Dave Nuttall , Former Teaching Staff ( 63-02 )”
Arthur Quarmby ( 47-51 ) passed away on 4 March 2020 aged 85 . Originally from Holmfirth in the West Riding , he came to Pocklington School as a boarder . During his time at school , he developed his love of music and singing , taking part in the Music Society and becoming a leading member of the school choir ; he was appointed Choregus in 1951 .
After Pocklington , Arthur went to study Architecture at the Leeds School of Architecture . Newly qualified he worked in the architect ’ s department of British Rail in London , where he designed plastic shell structures which were used in Antarctica and later designed an air supported dome for a Hollywood Film .
He subsequently returned to his West Yorkshire roots in 1960 to set up his own practice in his hometown of Huddersfield . The practice , originally known as the Arthur Quarmby Partnership ( AQP ) and later as ONE17AD ( the alphanumeric of A for Arthur and Q for Quarmby ) still thrives today .
During his professional career , Arthur became renowned as a true inspiration and pioneer in the field of architecture . His early work on the development of inflatables , folded structures , long span structures , and the use of plastics in buildings , inspired his book “ The Plastics Architect ” which was published in 1974 .
In addition to the traditional aspects of architectural practice , Arthur became best known for introducing earth sheltered or ‘ underground ’ architecture in Britain . Describing the technique as “ cutting a slot
in the landscape , inserting a building and drawing a blanket of earth over the top ”, Arthur ’ s own house , ‘ Underhill ’, became the first and most celebrated in the UK . He was a true innovator and visionary in the preservation of landscape and energy conservation .
Arthur remained a loyal Old Pocklingtonian and supporter of the school . He chose Pocklington for the education of his son Jonathan , who attended from 1975 to 1980 . Jonathan is a Record Producer and Song Writer working in London . Arthur kept in touch with the school and his contemporaries , attending a number of OP events in Leeds and the annual OP day . He also helped in the organisation of a 50-year reunion of his contemporaries held in December 2001 with 18 OPs returning to school for the occasion .
In 1968 , the school mounted an “ Exhibition of Folding and Easily Transportable Structures ” inspired by Arthur who had visited the school to give a talk on the subject earlier the same year . The late Nigel Billington commented at the time : “ Rarely have visits to the School been as fruitful as Mr Quarmby ’ s . He has helped to bring to his old school something of the lively inventiveness and novel approach to the problems of architecture , which he has recently been introducing to a very large audience on TV . We are very grateful to him .”
He was also the architect for the school ’ s conversion of the former railway station into a sports hall in 1974 .
Arthur sang with the Huddersfield Choral Society for 37 years and with the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir for 55 years . He and his wife , Jean , remained in their underground house until 2016 .
( Photo credit : Jean Quarmby and ONE17 Architects & Interior Designers )
Tim Slater ( 55-66 ). Pocklington ( School and town ) lost one of its biggest personalities with the passing of OP Tim Slater , aged 72 , who died peacefully at home in Wressle with his family at his bedside on Thursday 30 April 2020 .
At Pocklington School , Tim was a popular classmate and exceptional all-round rugby player , cricketer and athlete – his remarkable long jump of 21 feet , 10 ¾ inches in 1966 is the school ’ s longest standing athletics record . Active in numerous societies and events , his gregarious and convivial personality , intellect and wit , and musical talents were already
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