Noticeboard

NIGEL PHILIP SIMPER (R53-60) died on 11^th June 2024, aged 81 years. He passed away peacefully, after a short illness, at home with his family. Devoted husband, caring father and loving grandfather. A celebration of his life took place on Monday 1st July, 2024, at Seven Hill Crematorium, Ipswich.

DAVID MITCHELL (R50-57) died on 28^th July 2024 at the age of 84.  He was a great servant of the Society and in particular the OF Golf Society, of which he was a Past Captain.

The picture was taken in 2014 when he was part of the SOF’s “Three Heroes” tour of France/Belgium. Itwas taken on the final night in Ypres at the Menin Gate ceremony, still held every evening at 8pm to commemorate the fallen.

David was born on the 29th January 1940 and died aged 84, at St Francis, Berkhampsted on the 28th July 2024. He went to Brandeston at the age of 10 from Keble House Bays Prep School in Winchmore Hill before moving on to Framlingham. It seems that his favourite subject in those pre-technology days was “Woodwork”, learnt under the affable eye of  the legendary “Doodie” Day.

He left school at 17 and joined his father as a Textile Manufacturing Agent. He worked in Harrods for a year, and this was followed by a year in Belfast working with the Irish Linen Company. The Family firm was now set up as FG Mitchell and Sons, with David and his father, together with brother, Andrew operating in the City of London, and specialising in the Linen trade.David joined Brookmans Park Golf Club in 1970. He served on the General and Greens Committee for several years.  He also became a proud member of the MCC and the MCC Golfing Society. He spent many a test match at Lords with friends from Framlingham and Brookmans Park.David met Sue in 1959 and they married in 1964. They had two children, Paul and Louise, plus four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

David’s Funeral Service was held at St Mary’s Church, Essendon, Herts, on Friday 23rd August, with a gathering afterwards at Brickendon Golf Club, Pembridge Lane, SG13 8PD.

Rachel died on Sunday 14 July 2024 of a heart attach while having a blood transfusion in hospital.  She was only 40 and was Secretary of Framlingham Tennis Club.

Private family cremation followed by a service at St Michael’s Church, Framlingham at 1pm on Friday August 16th 2024.

‘Jon’ (R80-87) died at home on June 23rd, at the age of 55. His wife, Sally, was at his side and he was surrounded by his family, including his newly arrived grandson, William Jonathan Easey.

He was father to Benjamin (R 03-12), Thomas (R 03-16) and Harry (R 04-18) as well as brother of Chris Easey (R 80-88) and brother-in-law to Jane Easey (V 87-89), former SOF Liaison Officer at the College.

Jon, who started his career in the wine and brewing industry, successfully built the UK’s largest independent pig breeding and finishing business together with his father and brother. Jon and Chris eventually sold the business to Danish Crown in 2017. Since then, Jon split his time between the family farm in Suffolk and his home in Antigua, maintaining his business interests but able to spend more time with his family.

Jon was also a keen and accomplished shot.

Nearly 13 years ago Jon was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Rather than being defined by his diagnosis, Jon shaped his life around regular visits to the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital in London together with his wife Sally, loving and enjoying life to the full. A composite bon viveur, Jon’s amazing resilience, appetite for fun and good company will be enormously missed by his family and many friends.

CHRISTOPHER DAVID WEBSTER (K 50-53) died on 20 February 2024 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was 87. He leaves behind his (second) wife, Dianne Macfarlane; his sons, Tim and Paul; daughter-in-law, Margaret (Tim); grandson, Michael; and granddaughter, Rosa. He was tragically predeceased by his grandson, Thomas Webster, in April 2023.

Brian was born in Ipswich in 1944 and spent all his early years in Framlingham. He went to Brandeston Hall and then to Framlingham College where he developed his love of languages, particularly German. He took French and German at ‘A’ level although he would have liked to have taken a science subject as well, this was not available at the time. He obtained a degree in French and German at King’s College London and then studied for the Kew Diploma at Kew Gardens. After successfully completing the course, he joined the Gardens on a permanent basis as a taxonomic botanist working in the Herbarium. He met his wife to be Oona while living in Kew and they were married in November 1975.

His work at Kew involved many trips around the world. He worked in herbaria in Russia, Australia, New York, Cameroon and Brazil. His work also involved field trips to collect, identify and catalogue plant specimens. Initially his work took him to Malaysia and Africa. On one trip to Kenya the group accidentally strayed across the border into Uganda and were intercepted by troops from Idi Amin’s army. On another to Cameroon he was taken to a local restaurant by one of the local botanists. He did not know what he was eating but was, at the end of the meal, startled to hear his host declare that it was the best armadillo he had ever eaten. After Africa he then made several trips to South America, in particular Brazil, becoming fluent in Portuguese whilst there. Again, these trips were not without incident. One of his first trips was to Venezuela just after the Falkland’s War. Oona had arranged to fly to Caracas to have a holiday with him at the conclusion of the expedition. Oona had not heard from him for several months but that was no surprise considering the location of the trip and the lack of available communication systems at that time. She was, however, surprised to be met by staff from the British Embassy in Caracas who told her they had expected Brian to have already been back but communication was proving difficult. They admitted that they were concerned for his safety. A short while later a car arrived from the Embassy and she was told to pack up and go to the embassy. They had received word that Brian and others were presumed dead and they needed to break the news to her. As she was getting in the car an emaciated dishevelled man appeared from the street – Brian. It turned out that the expedition was a cover for nefarious activities by one of the organisers. He had appropriated the helicopter used to ferry the scientists into the jungle and had abandoned them on the top of a mountain without any food or many supplies. They had to eat monkey and anything that they could forage as they made their slow and perilous way down the mountain and back to civilisation.

In addition to his travels Brian was scientific coordinator on the development and building of a new wing for Kew’s herbarium. He was also involved in the writing of a number of scientific papers, his most significant work was probably much of the writing, editing and bringing to publication a book on the Flora of the Pico Das Almas, Brazil.

In addition to his work at Kew he loved to travel, including making frequent visits back to Suffolk, going to the theatre, sport – he was a hockey blue at King’s, and dining out, and being with family and friends.

For the last twelve years of his life he coped valiantly with Parkinson’s disease refusing to be defined by it, continuing to travel and enjoy a good social life.

Brian passed away 27^th November 2022.

CLIVE CARRINGTON SIMPSON (K49-53) passed away peacefully on 15^th January 2024, aged 85 years.  Clive was part of a long line of ‘Simpsons’ who have attended Framlingham College from 1865 onwards.  He followed his father Frank, and brother Guy to the College and always spoke very fondly of his time spent there.

Clive built a career as an Agricultural Engineer, initially with Eastern County Farmers in Ipswich, and latterly, for many years, with Carriers in Braintree.  He gained a considerable reputation in his field of designing and building grain driers and material elevators used in both agriculture and manufacturing.  He became an expert advisor to Essex University and assisted in setting up a degree course in Agricultural Engineering. He went on to lecture there and at Writtle College.

Clive enjoyed a long and happy marriage to Judy.  He is survived by his children, Jayne, and Richard, and grandchildren, Guy and Kate.

We have been advised by solicitors that he died in Zimbabwe on 27 October 2023.  He was buried at The Old Cemetery Ipswich on 4th December 2023. No other details know.