Dougie Cracknell Hon OF is 100 today on Friday 30 January 2026. Huge congratulations to him on reaching this milestone. To mark the occasion we are grateful to Chris Keeble (S53-59) for making a bespoke 100th birthday card from the Society.
Dougie was appointed an Honorary OF at the College on Saturday 12 October 2024. He worked in the College kitchens as a 14-year-old in 1940 and then worked as a kitchen porter after leaving school. He was called-up in 1944, aged 18 and entered France across the embattled Normandy beaches as an infantry soldier two weeks after D-Day.
After being de-mobbed in 1948 while still in Germany, he returned to Suffolk, married a local girl and raised a daughter, Jenny. He worked as a lorry driver and transport manager until he retired in his 70s and now has adult great-grandchildren.
He was awarded the Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur by the French Military Attache to the UK in the chapel at the College on 14 April 2025.
The College Chaplain Brynn Bayman has arranged at 9am for the singing of Happy Birthday in the Chapel. This will be followed in Paul’s Court by a party involving his family, 20 local people and a few words from Louise North.
We wish him a memorable day.
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