NO.120
his German. Retired Major 1947. Rather
than returning to Cambridge he visited the
USA to learn about insurance. Member of
Lloyds 1950. He returned to join Bevington
Vaizey and Foster. He became a reinsurance
broker: Chairman and Managing Director
Henry K Padfield & Co from 1969. He
ended his career as a board member of
Wigham Poland. He suffered from the
Lloyds crash but stuck it out. An excellent
golfer playing off 3, he was a member of the
Royal and Ancient Golf Club and Royal St
George’s. He served on the Rogate Parish
Council. He lived his life by the phrase ‘My
word is my bond.’ Married (1) 1950
Elizabeth Griffiths (died 1984), (2) 1985
Daphne Kyke, who survives him with two
sons from his first marriage.
Nigel William Lillingston (K, 38-42): died
2.7.2015 aged 91. Son of GGL (K, 06-10)
and brother of HAL (K, 39-43). Gold
Medal for Gymnastics. RMC OCTU (Belt
of Honour). Commissioned Royal Scots
Greys 1944, Normandy 1944 (seriously
wounded), BAOR 1945, Staff Captain
GHQ India under Field Marshal Sir Claude
Auchinleck. Demobbed 1947. Before
emigrating to Canada in 1952 he farmed
and worked for Fisons Pest Control Ltd
1950-52. From 1954-66 he ran a successful
yacht-chartering business in Nassau,
Bahamas, during which time he was
shipwrecked in the middle of a hurricane.
In 1969, whilst on holiday in New Zealand,
he suffered an aneurism, from which he
only partially recovered. But he built up and
ran a very successful waste-paper business,
which he ran on his own and was able to
make substantial donations to local schools
to enable then to send their pupils to
overseas athletics events. He is survived by
Mary, his wife of 60 years.
Michael William Drury Brace
(E, 38-43): died 8.7.2014. Son of AGB
(A, 1899-04). Head of House, Athla
Colours 1942. After a serious illness he
served in the RAFVR 1943-47 and later
with the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry 1952-58.
He attended Agricultural College before
becoming a farming student in Eversham
and then farm manager at Cosheston Home
T H E T R U S T Y S E RVA N T
Farm. In 1959 he took the tenancy of
Thomas Chapel farm and set up a dairyfarming enterprise, which he ran until his
retirement in 1994. Branch Chairman of
Narberth NFU. He was also founder
member of Narberth Grasslands Society. He
was deeply involved with the Council for
the Protection of Rural Wales, of which he
was Chairman. In 1990 he published a
definitive history of CPRW. He is survived
by Daphne, his wife of 60 years, and their
two sons and a daughter.
Ian Claude Montgomerie Beckwith (K, 3843): died 28.2.2015 aged 90. RAF 1943-47
earning his wings before the war ended. New
College 1948. Qualified as a solicitor 1951.
As a friend and adviser to all his clients he
was much loved by his partners and office
workers. His love of the Dorset hills and
coastline continued throughout his life. The
son of a priest, he was appreciated as a
sidesman and church warden. Survived by
Kay, his wife of 60 years.
Ronald (Ronnie) Patrick Thorburn (A, 3943): died 11.4.2015. Brother of AMT (A,
33-38) and proud grandfather of APR Holt,
who arrived in A House in 2012. He
developed osteomyelitis in his hip aged
seven and he underwent another operation
when he was 14, which was no more
successful. This disability meant that he
could not take part in organised sport, but it
gave him the opportunity to indulge in
what was to become a lifelong passion –
fishing. Pembroke College, Cambridge
1944, 2 Estate Management 1947. He first
worked as Assistant Factor to the Duke of
Buccleuch before becoming a self-employed
land agent and farmer. His other passion
was racing. He was not only a successful
owner and a steward at several Scottish
racecourses but also chairman of Perth
Racecourse for six years 1991-96. During
this time he oversaw a considerable
improvement not only in the standard of
racing but also in the facilities at the
racecourse. For six years he was a member of
the Perth Council. He valued his
friendships with local shepherds and
farmers. Married (1) 1964 Margaret
Mitchell (marriage dissolved) and (2) 1987
24
Rosie Leveson-Gower, who survives him
with two daughters and a son.
John Alastair Fergusson (H, 40-45): died
8.3.2015. VI, Duberley Prize. RNVR 194547. Magdalen College, Oxford, 3PPE BA
1950. He first worked for Thomas Ferguson
& Co in Northern Ireland 1950 and then
Helbert Wagg & Co