No. 139 The Trusty Servant
Nigel Duncan Francis Begbie( F, 53-57); died 17.12.2024. Son of DADB. He had a distinguished career in publishing, working for the Reader’ s Digest until his retirement in 2001 as Senior Associate Director and Editor of Reading Books. His team produced the famous Condensed Books, bringing the best writing in a shortened form to a much wider readership than it would otherwise have enjoyed. He was a particular champion of the short story and was widely respected by authors, literary agents and other publishers. His innovations included a series of condensed books by and for women that became a foundation of the‘ chick lit’ movement, and a much-admired family-friendly illustrated adaptation of the Bible. Liveryman of Skinners’ Company. He married Jenifer Mary Richardson in 1976, who died in 2023, and is survived by their 2 daughters.
Bishop Richard Nelson Williamson( Coll, 53-58); died 29.1.2025. French Reading Prize, Gymna Colours. Exhibitioner Clare College Cambridge, 2( ii) Fr and Ger pt 1 1959, 2( ii) Engl pt 2 1961. Journalist 1961-3; schoolmaster 1963, St Paul’ s School 1965-70. Society of St Pius X, ordained( very traditionalist) Catholic priest 1976. Rector, St Thomas Aquinas Seminary 1983-2003 at Ridgefield Connecticut and later in Winona, Minnesota. Consecrated bishop 1988. Excommunicated in 1988 and again in 2015 for consecrating several bishops without permission from the Holy See. Seminary of Our Lady Co- Redemptrix, La Reja, Argentina 2003-9, until he was deported. Fined in 2013 for Holocaust denial. Obituaries in The Times and Telegraph.
Philip Gavin Johnston( A, 54-59); died 16.3.2025. Son of GSJ. Running Stripe. Trinity College Dublin PPE but left after a year and moved to Australia. He had a long career in horse racing administration: Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club 1968-80; Singapore Turf Club 1980-6; RHKJC again 1980-98, leaving after the Handover. Director, Curragh Bloodstock Agency 1998-2001; Director, Mckeever Bloodstock 2002-11. He loved racing and playing golf. He married Elizabeth( Liz) Perry in 1968, who survives him together with their 2 daughters.
Professor Peter Edward Newstead( Coll, 54-59); died 27.7.2024. Duncan, Richardson and McDowall Prizes. Scholar Trinity College Cambridge 1959, Senior Scholar 1961, 1 Maths pt 2( Wrangler) 1961, Rouse Ball Mathematical Essay prize 1961, 1 Maths pt 3( distinction) 1962, Osborne Prize, BA 1962, Research Scholar, PhD 1966. University of Liverpool, Assistant Lecturer 1965-6, Lecturer 1966- 81, Senior Lecturer 1981-2001, Reader 2001-3, Professor of Algebraic Geometry 2003-6, Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Fellow 2006. He served on Liverpool University Senate from 1979 to 1985. Instructor Harvard University 1966; Visiting Professor Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay 1974. Author of 60 research articles, 4 books and numerous review articles. He left a lasting legacy through his mathematical work and through his large influence on generations of young mathematicians. He married Ann Garfield in 1982, who survives him.
John Giles Upton Daniels( A, 55-60); died 8.3.2025. Father of EJD. Lords 1959- 60, he was the first Wykehamist to score a century before lunch playing against Charterhouse. Fives team. 11 Hussars( PAO) 1961 in BAOR and Aden. Capt. Cricket: Army XI 1964-5, Combined Services XI 1965; Skiing: Army team 1965-6. He moved to a Cotswold hill farm in 1968. Company director and charity work for Playing Fields Association and a school governor with Gloucestershire County Council 1974-78. He continued to play cricket until well into his fifties. He was a hugely knowledgeable countryman, very keen on field sports and delighted in frustrating district planning officers. He married Ann Stanford in 1968, who died in 2019, and is survived by their 2 daughters and a son.
Lord Joseph Paton Maclay( D, 55-60); died 18.2.2025. Brother of DMM and AGM. Co Prae, Head of House, VI. Sorbonne University, diploma. AICS. Succeeded as 3rd Baron 1969. Managing Director Denholm Maclay Ltd 1970-83; Triport Ferries Management Ltd 1975- 83; Director Milton Shipping 1970-83; British Steamship Short Trades Association 1976-83; North of England Protection and Indemnity Association 1978-83; Marine Shipping Mutual Insurance Co 1982-3; Denholm Ship Management Holdings 1990-93; Altnamara Shipping plc 1994-2002; Director Milton Timber Services Ltd 1984-9; Chairman British Sailors Society( Scottish Branch) 1979-81; Vice-Chairman Glasgow Shipowners & Shipbrokers Benevolent Association 1982-3 and 1997-8, President 1998-9; Chairman Scottish Maritime Museum 1998-2005; Northern Lighthouse Board, Commissioner 1993-2003; Chairman Scottish Nautical Welfare Society 2002-4; Trustee Cattanach Charitable Trust 1991-2008 which helps young children to improve their well-being in difficult and deprived circumstances, Chairman 2009-11; Trustee Western Isles Fisheries Trust 2004-6. DL Renfrewshire 1986-2008. He married Elizabeth Buchanan in 1976 and is survived by 2 sons and a daughter.
Mark Robert Sorby( B, 58-62); died 19.10.2024. Athla Colours. Mons Officer Cadet School, Junior Under Officer; Household Cavalry 1965-71, Royal Horse Guards football and polo. Member, Lloyds of London 1972-82 and broker with CT Bowring. He then worked for Control Risks Ltd 1984-2007. In retirement he immersed himself in village enterprises wherever help was needed. He married Susan Davies-Scourfield in 1968, who survives him together with their son and daughter.
Mark Charles Christopher Davie( H, 56-61); died 27.1.2025. Son of PCD. Trinity College Dublin, General Studies( Hist, Econ, Russian) 1967. Metropolitan police constable and retired as a Sergeant after 30 years: he had a strong involvement as a Police Federation representative and in various aspects of community policing. He spent many years as an adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau, directly or as part of an outreach they had with a number of local charities. He was a trustee in a family charity, the Davie-Barnstaple Trust, providing grants to local charities in the Barnstaple area. He retained a great interest in ancient history and archaeology, going back to his student involvement in the Çatalhöyük excavation in Turkey. He married Mary Knock in 1971, who died
27