SARAH SACKVILLE-WEST 1960-2022
Sarah Sackville-West ’ s father and mother moved into Knole House when she was one , the youngest of five daughters . She went first to Miss Grainger ’ s in Sevenoaks , and to Walthamstow Hall , then , aged 11 , soon after her mother died , she went to Bedales School , where she was well prepared for co-education . After O-levels she was one of the seven brave day girls who joined the Sixth Form at Sevenoaks School , where her father , Lord Sackville , was Chairman of Governors . Sarah was determined to go to Oxford in her father ’ s footsteps ; she was very much helped by Richard Hanson , who encouraged her to read widely in English Literature , and she much enjoyed learning to etch and paint with Bob White in the Art Room .
She went to Oxford to read English ; at St Peter ’ s College she was , again , one of the first girls – an unlikely bluestocking . After Oxford she worked briefly in the City of London and wrote a novel . She moved to publishing , reading manuscripts for the literary agent Tessa Sayle , working for Sidgwick & Jackson , and filling a doublepage spread every week as literary editor of the Catholic Herald – all at the same time . Then she discovered Andrew Edmunds and his wonderful shop and restaurant in Soho , and helped him catalogue and sell his 18th century caricatures – she became particularly knowledgeable in Hogarth and Gillray .
Through all her time in London she kept a foothold in The Old Laundry Cottage at Knole , and was very pleased to see friends from Sevenoaks School , and to watch over the next generation . She married Simon Rendall in 1992 and devoted the rest of her time to looking after him and their two boys , Freddy and Edward .
Simon Rendall
NEIL PAYTON 1973-2022
My younger brother Neil was born in Farnborough , Kent . He attended The New Beacon , where his interest in sport was nurtured . He joined Sevenoaks School in 1987 aged 13 as a member of Grote House . His love of sport flourished throughout his Sevenoaks years . In the Middle School . Neil was a member of the football , cricket and rugby 1st teams , and captain of his rugby team for three years in a row . In the Sixth Form he played for the 1st XI football team , and 1st XV rugby team for two years , becoming vice-captain in his final year . He was also part of the school ’ s rugby squad for the six-week round-the-world tour with matches in Zimbabwe , Australia and New Zealand . Outside school , he was a keen golfer and in his final year as a junior golf member at Knole Park Golf Club , he became junior captain .
After studying Economics at university , Neil based himself around London and worked in the City until 2022 . He spent as much time as he could with his two sons , Finlay and Theo , and continued playing sport . In 2016 he married Penny and with his two stepdaughters , Amy and Katie , lived in the Shepperton area where he could always be found socialising with friends and family and enjoying life to the full .
Neil died on 29 June 2022 after a very short illness , surrounded by his family , and is greatly missed by all .
Trevor Payton ( OS 1990 )
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