No.128
The Trusty Servant
1943. He served in the British Channel
and the East Indies during the war.
First prize for Navigation 1947; Ronald
Megar Sword for the highest aggregate
score on the Sub Lieutenant’s Course;
Long Gunnery Course, HMS Excellent
1951. Acting Captain of HMS Triumph,
the last aircraft carrier to serve in the
Far East. He was training commander,
Sea Cadets, from 1973. OBE 1976. On
retirement he was General Secretary, the
Sea Cadets Association 1979-91 and first
Deputy Chief Scout. He became heavily
involved in local activities including
running the Long Crendon Royal
British Poppy Appeal. He had retired
to Buckinghamshire, as far from the sea
as one can get, so he pursued a new life
boating on Britain’s canals. He bought a
narrow-boat hull and fitted it up entirely
himself. He retired from boating life aged
90 as President, Aylesbury Vale Canal
Society. He introduced marmalade-
making to Poland, Romania and Greece.
He had strength of purpose, eternal
optimism and immense loyalty. In 1951
he married Penelope Stapleton, who died
after 62 years of marriage. He is survived
by their two daughters. Cambridge University Relay Team
1949-51, Half Blue for Athletics 1951.
Westcott House 1955. Ordained 1957.
He first became Curate, St Michael’s
Flixton followed by Chaplain, St
Mary’s Woolwich and Vicar of St John,
Hurst. He then took a break from
the priesthood and became Head of
Cambridge House, Camberwell 1969-
76 where he oversaw the expansion of
Legal Aid, set up youth clubs and led
a very hard-working team to improve
social justice in inner London. He then
became Rector of St Peter and St Paul,
Shepton Mallet, where he took open
air services from a double decker bus at
a small festival called Glastonbury! He
was then Conduct and Senior Chaplain
at Eton College 1982-87, where his legacy
of pastoral care remains. And finally in
1987 he was Rector of the Hambledon
Valley of churches where he fought
tooth and nail for the development of
a holiday centre for inner-city children.
From there he retired to north Norfolk,
where he spent many happy hours on
the golf course. He is survived by Janette,
his wife of 58 years, and their three
daughters and a son.
Nigel Bingham Egerton Helme (F, 39-43):
died 13.9.2017. Brother of DCEH (F,
34-39). He went to South Africa in 1940
but returned to Winchester in 1942. He
won Senior Plunge and Senior Sprint
in 1942; captain of Boxing in 1943; Co
Prae. He read a paper on the wildlife
of South Africa to the Natural History
Society in 1943. He served with the
Coldstream Guards 1944-47, retiring as a
captain. Christ Church, Oxford 1947, 2
Modern Languages (Russian), BA 1950.
He first worked as a Civil Assistant in
the War Office 1950-59. He then returned
to South Africa and worked for Rand
Mines from 1959, and was New Projects
Analyst, South Africa Mining House.
He is survived by Evelyn, his wife of 56
years. George Derek Lawrence Moulds
(K, 42-42): died in 3.2.2019. He was a day
boy and he left early. He later studied
science at Southampton and London.
Paul Benington Bibby (A, 40-45): died
25.2.2019. Brother of JAB (A, 37-42).
Co Prae, Princes and Athlā Colours.
National Service with the Merchant
Navy 1945-47. Magdalene College,
Cambridge, 2 History BA 1951.
John David Frederick Michael Thornton
(D, 43-48): died 27.6.2019. Father of
RMT (H, 71-76). Co Prae, Paget Bat 1945,
Lords 1946-47, VI 1946-47, Soccer XI
1948, Captain of of Princes and Fives
1947. Winner of Public Schools Rackets
Pairs at Queen’s 1947. Duberley Prize
1948. National Service with Coldstream
Guards serving in Malaya 1948-50.
When on patrol he shot a local village’s
prize pig, mistaking it for an insurgent;
unsurprisingly there was a hostile
reaction. Mentioned in Despatches.
He then worked with Tanks & Drums
Industries Ltd, Bradford 1959-96, for
whom he became Chairman and
Managing Director. OBE. Played cricket
for Yorkshire Gentlemen; supporter of
Leeds United; travelled widely and had
a propensity to collect objects: caddy
spoons, grouse-butt markers, Leeds
26
creamware and a wonderful collection
of silver. Generous supporter of
educational and arts charities. Married
(1) Rosemary 1955; (2) 1997 Ninette
Hewitt, who survives him with his son,
daughter, stepson and stepdaughter.
John James Hiam Wilson (A, 44-48):
died 30.5.2019. Brother of PGHW (A,
47-52) and grandfather of HAHW
who came to Winchester in 2016. Co
Prae; Natural History Prize. National
Service with 4/7 Royal Dragoon
Guards, with whom he served in Tripoli,
Libya. St John’s College, Cambridge,
3 Agriculture. Cambridge University
Squash team. He pursued a career in
farming, starting in Pembrokshire to
gain practical experience before joining
the family farming business, Frederick
Hiam Ltd. He continued his interest
in ornithology and was on the RSPB
National Reserves Committee. Served
on Middle Fen and Burnt Fen drainage
boards in the Ely group; on the Great
Ouse Flood Defence Committee; the
cereals and game birds project of the
Game Conservancy Trust; and Suffolk
Farming and Wildlife Group. Appointed
OBE in 1988 for his work in wildlife
conservation. Survived by Jane, his wife
of 55 years, and their son.
Robin Miller Mangles (G, 44-49):
died 18.6.2019. Son of CGM (G, 1899-
1904), brother of JSM (G, 41-45) and
father of CLM (G, 74-79) and RMLM
(G, 78-83). VI and Bisley. RMAS 1949.
He was commissioned into the Royal En-
gineers 1950. He went to St John’s Col-
lege, Cambridge to study Engineering.
He served with the Royal Engineers in
Kenya, Malaya, Hong Kong, Borneo and
Singapore. He joined the Ordnance Sur-
vey 1962 and was an instructor at Royal
School of Military Survey at Hermitage,
Newbury. He retired as a Major 1966.
He bought a farm in Somerset, farming
beef cattle and pigs. Following a fire, he
switched to cider apples. He retired 1995.
An artist from boyhood, painting in oils
and watercolours. He learnt to sail as a
boy and continued throughout his life.
Married 1959 Mary Hodgson who died
2013 after 54 years of marriage. He is
survived by their four sons.