OBITUARIES
“ Rosa Clebb ” the Bond villain . He had been quite a handy rugby player with both him and life-long friend Rob Fouracre mentioned in dispatches in school magazines . It is sad that only this year ( 2024 ), he had decided to attend a reunion at Pocklington and go back to the school for the first time since he left . Sadly , a stay in hospital meant he couldn ’ t attend .
Growing up on the farm , Laurence was keen to help out at a young age with one of the first jobs being to milk the cows . He started driving the farms Ferguson TE20 tractor from 8 years old and soon became very proficient in backing a trailer into the tipping pit of the dryer shed . On leaving Pocklington at 16 , he returned home to Great Newsome Farm . He enrolled on a two-year day release in Preston that was run by Bishop Burton College . When he wasn ’ t studying , he was helping his father run the farm – a mixed enterprise with chickens , a suckler herd and sheep .
Laurence met the love of his life , Doreen Blashill , in July 1968 and they were married in April 1972 . In 1970 the family bought Hall Farm in Halsham where after marriage they would make their home . They had three sons , Matthew ( 1973 ), Jonathan ( 1976 ), and Tom ( 1983 ).
Laurence ran the family farm with his father Cec until his death in 1997 . Although hardworking , Laurence always made time for the family to have a holiday which was typically in the UK . Family holidays always had to meet set criteria , there had to be a pub within walking distance , it had to serve good beer , there had to be a steam train nearby , good walks and somewhere to fish .
Laurence had many pastimes over the years , but he was particularly keen on racquet sports , regularly playing squash , badminton and tennis . Both he and Doreen played badminton at the South Holderness Badminton Club for many years .
Laurence was also a keen supporter of Hull City . Being a season ticket holder through the 1980s and ‘ 90s along with his sons , rekindled his love for the team more recently taking his grandson Harry .
As the years went by , the family farm grew and began to specialise , first with poultry , then pigs . Laurence was very hands on taking on many of the roles until both Matthew and Jonathan joined him on the farm . Laurence even took his HGV licence , at a time when this was quite unusual for a farmer .
Laurence was keen on the environment and countryside . In 1973 he took up ‘ plant a tree in 73 ’ and again in 1983 , with his tree planting continuing for many years . He oversaw the digging of various ponds and miles of hedges at a time when many farmers were filling in ponds and ripping out hedges .
When Matthew and Jonathan joined him in the farming business , Laurence was a keen supporter of their ideas and giving them responsibilities . When wheat hit a low of £ 69 per tonne the family decided to diversify the faming enterprise . They looked at many different options , but the idea of a brewery endured and in 2007 Great Newsome Brewery produced its first beer . Both Laurence and Doreen were huge sources of encouragement always first to offer their help at farmer ’ s markets , tastings and
collecting awards . When COVID hit and pubs closed on 31 March 2020 , Matthew didn ’ t know what the business was going to do having just doubled production capacity and installed a brand-new brewery with a team of 10 employees to look after . Matthew initially concerned about the virus told Laurence to stay at home so that he would keep safe . Laurence wouldn ’ t hear of it and turned up the next day to start the brewery ’ s mission to move the business online . He created a packing station and worked at it virtually every day barring hospital stays , the occasional holiday and Sundays until he passed away . When he couldn ’ t work on the farm any longer , he loved helping in the brewery , packing orders , chatting to the team , and driving the forklift . Even in early August , the day before his final hospital admission , he asked Doreen to bring him to the brewery so he could work from his wheelchair and make sure all the orders had been packed before he went in .
Far from ever looking like retiring , Laurence carried on working and would be deeply offended if retirement was ever suggested . His Eden was his garden which he and Doreen nurtured including the retreat they created for entertaining . Laurence loved entertaining at home with friends and family either around the dining table or in the summer months cooking pizzas or having a BBQ . He cherished time with family and friends , staying with son Tom in North Yorkshire , enjoying a meal out , a game of whist or dominoes . Both Laurence and Doreen loved dancing at a party , with Rocking All Over the World to Status Quo a favourite .
Laurence was a well-loved member of the local farming community , described as humorous , likeable , kind , warm , friendly , and honest . His legacy is not only in the trees and hedges he planted , and the ponds that he created , but also in the values he taught his family . Laurence is survived by his wife of 54 years Doreen , sons Matthew , Jonathan and Tom , grandchildren James , Harry , Isabelle , Lucy and Alexander .
( Matthew Hodgson )
Robert Horner ( 47-55 ) was born in 1937 in Lee Green , south-east London . He attended Merton Court School in Sidcup for his primary education before moving to Pocklington School as a boarder in 1947 .
At Pocklington , Robert embraced school life . He was appointed as a Sixth Form Prefect by the Headmaster , Robert St . John Pitts-Tucker . He had a passion for rugby and played for the first team gaining his Colours in 1954 . Beyond the rugby field , Robert was a dedicated member of the Scouts achieving the prestigious Queen ’ s Scout Award . He participated in several societies including Drama , History , and Music . He served as secretary of the Student Christian Movement and held roles as the editor of ‘ The Pocklingtonian ’ magazine , and as a librarian .
After Pocklington , Robert did National Service for two years before going to Trinity College , Cambridge , to read Economics and Law . Following university , he pursued a career in law and was admitted as a solicitor in 1963 . His main areas of expertise were commercial property , town & country planning , and licensing . In 1967 , he became a partner at London law firm Warmingtons & Hasties . The firm eventually merged with Shoosmiths & Harrison where Robert continued in his role as partner until his retirement in April 1997 .
Alongside his professional career , Robert maintained an active interest and involvement in rugby . He played for his local club , Sevenoaks , until 1967 , and subsequently served as Club President . On retirement from playing , Robert turned to rugby refereeing which he did for fifteen years , five of which were on the Rugby Football Union ’ s ( RFU ) ‘ A ’ List .
During this period , Robert became involved in the administration of rugby at representative level . After serving his county , Kent , as Honorary Secretary for nine years , he became County President for three years in 1988 . His contributions to rugby extended further when he was elected as a county representative on the RFU Committee in 1983 . He served on multiple RFU sub-committees and was appointed Chairman of the Referee sub-committee in 1991 , a position he held for nine years until 2000 . At the same time , he served on the RFU ’ s Executive Committee / Management Board . From 1996 to 2000 , he took on the role of RFU Regional Director for the Rugby World Cup 1999 , overseeing all aspects of the nine matches held in England and the Qualifying Tournament in Huddersfield in 1998 . In July 2000 , he embraced the challenging position of RFU Disciplinary Officer , which he held until July 2003 , when he was appointed RFU President . His tenure coincided with England ’ s historic Rugby World Cup victory .
As a proud Old Pocklingtonian ( OP ), Robert remained a loyal supporter of both the Association and the school . He served as OP Vice President from 1984 to 1986 , before being elected President from 1986 to 1987 . A regular attendee at the annual OP London dinner , Robert also came to significant events such as the Quincentenary dinner and the Founder ’ s Day service at York Minster in May 2014 . He was an active member of the school ’ s John Dolman Society and a founding member of the 1514 Legacy Club . His philanthropic support included generous contributions to the Tom Stoppard Theatre and the Art & Design Centre .
Despite his quiet yet ever-cheerful demeanour characterised by the twinkle in his eyes , Robert ’ s health and mobility declined in his final years . He passed away peacefully on Friday , July 5 , 2024 , aged 87 .
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