OB I TU A RI ES
Neil was, first and foremost, a first-rate teacher,
exceptionally knowledgeable and of great integrity,
one who inspired the brightest but was also patient
with the weak. Neil’s time as Head of Chemistry was
one of great change in syllabuses and examinations,
as well as the move to full co-education. Cautious of
change for its own sake, he showed, once convinced
of its need, great skill and leadership in enabling
the department to accept the challenge of the new
International Baccalaureate curriculum. Indeed it is
impossible to overestimate the contribution he made
to the present academic standing of the school.
Pupils are the best judges of teachers and these are
some of their comments: ‘He was one of the best
teachers I had at school and a lovely man…he got me
through GCSE Chemistry with a mixture of humour
and a great deal of patience…he inspired me to go and
study Biochemistry…a wonderfully talented teacher
with a great sense of humour…a great teacher and a
true gentleman…he has left a legacy through all those
he has taught.’ He was also an extremely efficient
Examinations Officer and many will remember him
giving out papers in the Marley Sports Hall and
announcing in that Welsh accent, ‘You may now start
writing.’ Neil expected the best of his students and
was only intolerant of the lazy. And it was not only in
the classroom that Neil excelled: an admired rugby
coach, he was on the groundbreaking 1976 Sevenoaks
School Rugby World Tour. A humane and very
effective tutor, he dealt with teenage problems with
understanding but firmness. His years in particular as
Tutor at the International Centre from 1983 are still
warmly remembered by men now in their fifties.
Neil Morgan 1943-2018
Neil Morgan came to teach Chemistry at Sevenoaks
School in 1970. The son of a Welsh miner, he took his
degree at Cardiff, where he played rugby and cricket
for the university, and then gained his PhD – hence
‘Doc’ Morgan as he was known to students. He
became Head of Chemistry in 1974 and later led the
Science Faculty as well as serving as Senior Master
until his retirement in 2005.
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Above all Neil was a superb colleague whose
experience and humanity gave him a degree of
wisdom that made him one of the most respected
members of the Common Room. His humour, his
clear-minded intelligence and his excellent powers
of organisation set an example for all: the school is
indeed fortunate to have been served by such an
outstanding teacher.
John Guyatt, Undermaster 1990-2003
Andrew Bass 1943-2018
Andrew Gilbert Bass grew up in Chipstead with his
father Douglas, mother Eileen and sister Angela. He
won a scholarship to Sevenoaks School and was
offered a place at Dartmouth Naval College, before
finding out the day before his A-level exams that a
heart defect meant he had failed the medical.
He went on to work at Lloyds of London, eventually
becoming one of a very small group of experts in
the reinsurance market; his advice and opinion being
sought and highly valued. He was a member of the
Chartered Insurance Institute for over 50 years. He
then went on to a second career as CEO of Bromley
Mencap. He loved both careers.
Dad always loved fun and laughter. His smile, twinkle
in his eye and a playful raised eyebrow were never far
away. Whether larking about on a boat on the river
Dart with his cousin David, or going with the family
to a pantomime, Dad loved to laugh. This was never
more so than with the Ashdown Forest Morris Men,
the Morris side that he was proud to be a member
of for nearly 40 years, usually dressed as the badger,
their mascot.
described by his friends as ‘a man of great integrity,
kindness and highly respected; a true gentleman and
scholar who will be greatly missed’ and ‘a truly good
man; a chum with a marvellous sense of humour’.
Dad always spoke highly of his time at Sevenoaks
School; a place for which he held a deep affection.
It gave him a huge number of opportunities and
experiences (such as his CCF trip to the Brecon
Beacons with the master George Alcock, and
representing the school at a variety of sports). This
helped him to become the gregarious man he did,
making many friends from all walks of life and perhaps
most importantly, gave him lifelong friendships with
his great friends from his days at Sevenoaks, Ted Sayer
and Tim McCartney.
Damian Bass
Eric Darlow 1941-2018
Eric Darlow entered Sevenoaks School at the age of
14 in 1955 from Chelmsford Hall preparatory school.
He joined School House, where his housemaster was
Carol Forder.
Dad had a real joie de vivre and always strived to
make the most of every day. He loved walking; on
family holidays in the Alps during his childhood, on
top of the Ashdown Forest, or on the South Downs
with family and friends. Music was also important to
him; he loved singing with the East Grinstead Choral
Society, the Orpheus Male Voice Choir and with
Ashdown Forest Morris Men. He excelled at many
sports at school and later in life, and passed on his
love of sport to his children and grandchildren. He
was an excellent runner for Blackheath Harriers, and
although he always underplayed his own sporting
abilities, he praised and championed others. A love of cricket nurtured at his prep school under
the headmastership of Col LC Stevens ensured Eric
progressed rapidly up through the Colts at Sevenoaks,
as a batsman, and on to the 1st XI. A good athlete, he
also played rugby for the 2nd XV where his turn of
speed and formidable hand-off were especially useful.
He was a member of the CCF and gained his house
colours. His extra-curricular activities also included
a deep love of jazz. Indeed, he was an enthusiastic
founding member of the school jazz band, with great
encouragement from Brian (Fuzz) Townend. It was jazz
that in later life he was able to enjoy to the full as an
accomplished trombonist with several small groups
and friendships long continued.
Love for family and friends, and showing kindness to
many others was a key part of Dad’s life. Nothing was
too much trouble and a great many people benefited
from this facet of his character, where his deep-
seated sense of community shone through. Dad was Eric John Darlow was born on 5 August 1941, in
Pembury, Kent. In 1947, his father, Flight Lieutenant
Arthur Darlow, having survived a Lancaster crash on
his 32nd op during the Second World War, and being
captured as a POW, was tragically killed in a plane
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2017-2018
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