CHIEF LADI ROTIMI-WILLIAMS SAN 1946-2021
Oladipupo , known as Ladi , attended Sevenoaks School from 1965 in the Sixth Form . He went on to University College London to study Law . He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1972 . In the same year he married his beloved wife Dr Henrietta Maria Williams , a fellow student and the daughter of Chief Louis Orok Edet , the first indigenous Nigerian Inspector General of Police . The marriage was blessed with four children : Rotola , Kunle , Yewande and Mary , and five grandchildren : Ayomide , Ayokunle , Ayoluwa , Thomas Eniola and Henrietta Maete Williams .
Mary Williams ( OS 1999 )
IAN MATEER 1947-2021
Ian was a student at Sevenoaks School from 1961 to 1966 . The school was especially progressive under the leadership of Kim Taylor , who listened to what pupils wanted . Ian persuaded the school to invest in an old motorbike to be taken apart and rebuilt . This earned him the nickname ‘ Motorbike Mateer ’, instilling a passion which stayed with him his whole life . Soon after leaving school he trained as a chartered accountant and joined Grindlays Bank , living and working in Paris , Geneva and London .
Ian married Sharon in 1971 , and they had two children , Sarah and Russell . In 2006 he retired to Swanage and became a valued member of the Coastwatch team and enjoyed country dancing . His main passions were travelling the world and motorcycles . He died peacefully at home on 12 October 2021 and was taken to his funeral in a motorcycle sidecar .
Sharon Mateer
ROBERT BOWYER 1947-2022
Born in Cheshire , Robert moved to Petts Wood as a baby . He was educated in Chislehurst and at Sevenoaks School where he enjoyed academic subjects and excelled at sport , in particular running and rugby . He loved mountain walking trips and forming friendships with pupils from different parts of the world .
Rob joined Latham & Co , London as a trainee accountant but realised that this wasn ’ t the right career for him . Friends persuaded him that he had the qualities to make a good teacher and suggested that he enrol at Trinity College , Carmarthen ; there he met his wife Elizabeth .
He taught Maths in Broadstairs and was later appointed to a post in a special school in the Forest of Dean . Five years on he became Head of Special Educational Needs at Milford Haven School . There he rekindled his interest in outdoor activities , leading Duke of Edinburgh ’ s Award expeditions , later becoming an assessor . He was involved with the National Association for Special Educational Needs and became Pembrokeshire ’ s SEN Adviser , facilitating the integration of pupils with learning difficulties into mainstream schools . Rob had a particular ability to empathise with pupils who presented challenging behaviour and to enthuse and encourage youngsters of all ages , finding their positive qualities and providing opportunities in which they could flourish .
Rob also served on the local council , becoming Mayor of Fishguard and Goodwick in 1993 . He was especially proud to have been involved in the twinning of the towns with Loctudy in Brittany . He worked hard to raise funds for local and national bodies , and lobbied ministers in Cardiff and Westminster on important local issues .
In retirement Rob became a Rotarian and a local supporter of the RNLI . He was an avid newspaper reader , a follower of politics and interested in history . He grew vegetables and enjoyed cooking his produce . He adored travelling and , as a proud European , was passionate about France where he frequently visited his daughter and family . He was also very keen on driving over tortuous mountain passes , eating in Michelin star restaurants and discussing rugby in the local bar wherever he stayed !
His death was a great blow to his family and friends . He cared passionately about others and lived life to the full . He was a proud father to his three children and loved being a grandfather and godfather , always cheerful , positive and greatly loved , admired and respected by all who knew him .
Liz Bowyer
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