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He served with 45 Commando during
the Malayan Emergency and was
involved in an incident when he led
his men over open ground raked by
automatic fire and charged the bandits,
for which he was awarded the Military
Cross. His Commanding Officer wrote,
‘Zest, aggressiveness, determination and
perseverance – Gavin had these qualities
and rose to heights of leadership rarely
seen.’ Peterhouse College, Cambridge,
3 History Part 1 and 3 Law Part 2.
During his time at Cambridge he was
captain of Judo. He was called to the Bar
1957 and served on the South Eastern
Circuit 1957-67. In 1967 he inher ited
Craigengillan, a sheep-farming estate in
Ayrshire and retired from the Bar. He
cared for his workforce as though they
were family, buying them houses, looking
after their children and creating jobs
that left him out of pocket. When he
finally retired he enjoyed spending time
at his farmhouse at Cortona in Tuscany.
He is survived by Carol, his wife of 56
years, and their four daughters and a son.
Obituary in the Daily Telegraph.
Douglas Alexander Nigel Capel Miers
(B, 46-51): died 15.6.2017. Brother
of HDACM (B, 50-55) and father of
LDRCM (B, 76-80). VI and Soccer
XI. RMAS 1951-53, Infantry Prize.
Commissioned Queen’s Own Cameron
Highlanders 1953, with whom he served
in Austria, BAOR, and Korea. He was
ADC to GOC-in-C Scottish Command
1956-57. He was then the last Adjutant
of the Camerons and the first Adjutant
of the newly formed Queen’s Own
Highlanders 1959-61. The amalgamation
of two Highland Regiments made Brexit
seem like a picnic. He commanded the
Scottish Infantry Depot 1971-73 and
was an outstanding staff officer, with
posts as Col A/Q HQ 1 st Armoured
Division 1976-79, Deputy Commander
and Assistant Military Attaché, British
Defence Staff Washington 1980-83
and finally as Chief of Staff, Army
HQ Scotland 1983-86. He then took
a retired officer’s job on Salisbury
Plain, when he left tank regiments in
no doubt that defeating the Russians
T he T rusty S ervant
came second to the importance of not
disturbing brown trout in the River
Avon. For nearly 30 years he owned an
old farm house in Wylye, which allowed
him to divide his time between the
banks of the local chalk streams and his
desk at Army HQ at Wilton. He was
Convener of the Cameron Highlanders
Association, gathering together old
Cameron Highlanders 56 years after
amalgamation, and a dynamic chairman
of the Cameron’s Officers Dining Club.
In 2011 he suffered a major stroke
but with characteristic determination
he soldiered on attending committee
meetings and parties. He is survived by
Chen, his wife of 58 years, and their son
and three daughters.
Francis Christopher McDowell
(C, 47-52): died 11.5.2017. Father of
NFMcD (F, 71-75). Co Prae, Reading
Prize and Captain of Boxing. New
College, Oxford, where he was a
member of the Preprandials, who dined
once a year and met every evening to
drink sherry. National Service with
Royal Irish Fusiliers. In 1958 he joined
C. Brewer & Sons Ltd, the largest
supplier of decorating materials in the
United Kingdom. He was responsible
for opening up branches throughout
Hampshire and was a Director 1991-
2012. His outstanding characteristic
was his interest in other people and his
readiness to help. He is survived by Sue,
his wife of 60 years, and their son and
two daughters.
Godfrey (Garry) Garrett Campbell
(F, 47-52): died 14.2.2017. National
Service with Kings Dragoon Guards
1952-54 in BAOR. It was the senior
cavalry regiment and he was instructed
to treat officers of other regiments ‘with
sympathetic courtesy’. He first worked
with his family business, Henry Campbell
& Co, flax spinners and linen thread
manufacturers, in Northern Ireland.
After attending the Administrative Staff
College at Henley in 1967 he became
Managing Director 1969-81. During
the 70s he was Chairman of the local
Unionist Party for North Antrim and
29
received death threats from extremists
of both sides. He then moved to
the mainland and during the 80s he
established with his wife the magical
Break of Day shop in Knightsbridge,
the place to go for tasteful and unusual
gifts. He introduced CB radios, the
forerunners of Walkmans, to the UK.
During his retirement he ran charity
fundraising, including for the Foundation
for Nephrology. He was described by a
Wykehamist as ‘A good Man’. He was
survived by Margaret, his wife of 50
years, but she herself died just three
months later on 28.5.2017. He is also
survived by their son and daughter.
Richard Tracy Charles Whatmore
(K, 48-53): died 3.2.2017. Brother of
JW (K, 50-54). Princes 1953 (Captain).
National Service with the Green
Jackets 1955-57. Christchurch College,
Oxford PPE. Initially he worked for the
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
before qualifying as an accountant
with Peat, Marwick and Mitchell. He
then joined with G Mills (E, 49-54)
running Centre News, a newsagent-
and-bookshop chain. After selling the
company he moved to Jersey. There he
continued his entrepreneurial skills,
owning several diverse retail outlets –
newsagents, sock shops but principally
pound shops. At the age of 75 he was
named Entrepreneur of the Year at an
island ceremony. He also started and ran
the local radio station, 103. He directed
the 1990 Royal Film Premier True Blue.
He is survived by Ariel, his wife of 57
years, and their three daughters.
Jeremy Alexander Best (F, 48-53): died
22.2.2017. Son of AMB (F, 21-26) and
brother of AHMB (F, 46-51). Magdalene
College, Cambridge 1955-57. He first
worked as an advertising copywriter.
In 1970 he became creative director,
Davidson Pearce Berry & Spottiswoode.
In 1978 he founded Writers in Business
– a select number of writers in English
who wrote speeches, in-house magazines
and company reports. He returned to
freelance writing until he retired. He was
proud to be a sponsor and guide through