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to describe its contents. He got it back
after mentioning a photo of his wife
aged two sitting in a tin bathtub in her
garden. Beverly was not only central to
his life but also to the life of the house,
supervising the kitchen or the domestic
staff with her natural courtesy and
kindness. The onset of Alzheimer’s after
their retirement was a fate neither of
them deserved. But Tony made the best
of it, and visited her daily in the home
T he T rusty S ervant
where Beverly is treated and supported.
His retirement was full. He was President
of the Bournemouth Natural Science
Society in its centenary year, as well as
Chairman of its astronomical section.
He was also a sidesman and tour guide
at Christchurch Priory where his three
children gave a touching address at his
memorial service. They concluded by
saying, ‘Those of you who knew him
well will remember that one of his stock
phrases was “I don’t want a fuss.” But we
think he deserves one.’ His colleagues
and pupils will recognize the tone of
voice of the man and echo the feelings of
his children.
This obituary is based on the Address given
by Jo, James and Amanda Ruth at Tony’s
memorial service. It has been adapted for
The Trusty Servant by his successor as
Housemaster of Hopper’s, Tommy Cookson.
The Great War Centenary Commemoration:
Péronne 2018, The Final Push
Richard Southgate (G, 75-80) records this
year’s WW1 pilgrimage:
A diverse band of OWs, wives and family
mustered at St Pancras station to board
the Eurostar to Lille on Tuesday 18 th
September: some were veterans of earlier
battlefield tours, others complete rookies.
Skilfully marshalled by the Win Coll
team of James Webster, Michael Wallis,
Alex Roe and archivist Suzanne Foster,
we headed to France.
Team at Bellicourt
Before checking into the hotel in
Péronne, we marched around the corner
to the excellent Museum of the Great
War, where galleries covered the world
before 1914 to the aftermath of 1918.
Mike Wallis and James Webster at Pozieres
Like sealed orders, booklets written by
James and Michael were distributed.
Less is probably known about this last
year of the war compared to Ypres and
the Somme, but these guides gave a
useful overview of the extent of the
German offensive of spring 1918, the
Allied counter-attack of August and
the 100 Days’ advance to victory. Then
they focused on eight very different
Wykehamists and their varied histories.
On Wednesday morning, we headed
to the Pozières Memorial, which
commemorates 14,000 missing British
and South African soldiers who fell
between March and July 1918 in the final
breakthrough, when the German Army
was strengthened by battle-hardened
veterans from the Eastern Front. Major
Charles Awdry, Lt Col Hubert Festing
and Lieutenant Richard North Hickley,
all of English county regiments caught
up in the German advance and the
desperate British rearguard actions, have
5
their names inscribed here as they have
no known graves. A wreath was laid by
Sen Man Dr John Verity.
On to the Australian Memorial at
Villers-Bretonneux, with its Lutyens
tower marking the point where the
John Verity at Pozieres