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Deaths

Deaths

Rt Revd George Edward David Pytches (K44-48)

The Rt Revd GEORGE EDWARD DAVID PYTCHES died on 21 November 2023, aged 92. David Pytches, founder of the New Wine network, was one of the Church of England’s leading pioneers of Charismatic renewal and church-planting.

Born in Suffolk in 1931, the ninth of ten children, Pytches was part of a clerical dynasty. His father was an Evangelical clergyman, his mother was the daughter of a clergyman, and two of his brothers were later ordained. His great-uncle was the former Bishop of Calcutta and Dean of Durham James Welldon. After Framlingham College and National Service in the army, Pytches trained at Tyndale Hall, Bristol, and was ordained deacon in 1955 to a curacy at St Ebbe’s, Oxford, a conservative Evangelical parish.

In 1959, Pytches and his wife, Mary, sailed for Chile with the South American Missionary Society (SAMS) to pioneer Anglican church-planting in Valparaíso. There, he made two discoveries that profoundly shaped his future ministry. First, he embraced missional flexibility even when it disrupted traditional Anglican ecclesiology.

Next, he embraced the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as miraculous healings, which Pytches previously believed to have died out with the apostles, but which were common among South American Pentecostals in the 1960s. Mary began to pray in tongues, after seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Her husband was initially alarmed, but was soon persuaded to follow suit. In his autobiography, Living at the Edge (2002), he recalled: “It’s quite a shock to suddenly wake up in bed with a Charismatic! I had been so opposed to all this for so long, and a loyal Bible-loving, card-carrying evangelical all my life.”

In 1970, aged just 39, Pytches was consecrated bishop for the suffragan see of Valparaíso. Three years later, Archbishop Michael Ramsey, as Metropolitan of the Southern Cone, promoted Pytches to be Bishop of Chile, Bolivia and Peru, a vast diocese covering 1.2 million square miles, 24 times the size of England.

It was a period of rapid church growth but deep political crisis, as Chile descended into paramilitary violence and civil unrest. During this time, the Pytches family feared for their lives. The Marxist government of Salvador Allende was toppled in September 1973 in a coup by General Augusto Pinochet, placing the churches in an invidious position. The politics were difficult to navigate, and Pytches found himself criticised on all sides.

In 1977, Pytches swapped the poverty of Chile for the leafy lanes of Hertfordshire, as Vicar of St Andrew’s, Chorleywood. There, he sought to embed lessons from South American Anglicanism into the Church of England. One of Pytches’s friends and fellow Chilean church-planters, Eddie Gibbs, introduced him to John Wimber, the Vineyard evangelist and former rock musician. Wimber’s first visit to Chorleywood resulted in “holy chaos” and was transformative for the congregation. Pytches became one of Wimbers’s chief promoters in England. His book Come, Holy Spirit: Learning how to minister in power (1985) repackaged Wimber’s teaching for a wider audience. It was translated into Spanish, German, Swedish, Finnish, Arabic, Chinese, and Korean.

Next, Wimber introduced Pytches in 1988 to the so-called “Kansas City Prophets”, a group who claimed dramatic encounters with God and special prophetic knowledge. Pytches visited them in Missouri, prior to their bursting upon the scene in England, and wrote up the story as Some Said It Thundered (1990). Wimber also encouraged Pytches to expand his teaching ministry and contributed £3000 to the Kingdom Power Trust, which distributed Charismatic cassette tapes. In 1989, it launched New Wine, a Charismatic jamboree which soon grew into a massive annual event and gave birth to a vibrant renewal network. New Wine was pioneered by Pytches until 2001 and continues to attract thousands of people each year across numerous denominations.

Another of Pytches’s lifelong passions was church-planting. He advocated the formation of Charismatic congregations across parish boundaries, linking congregations outside parish structures, to the chagrin of Archbishop George Carey. It was a forerunner of fresh expressions of English Anglicanism.

Pytches retired from St Andrew’s, Chorleywood, in 1996, but continued his worldwide peripatetic ministry. He was unafraid of controversy and, in 2000, participated in the consecration in Singapore of two bishops for the Anglican Mission in America, a conservative breakaway from the US Episcopal Church.

He is survived by Mary, to whom he was married for 65 years, their four daughters, and their families.

Deaths

Dr John Graham Rankin (K47-56)

  • When
    8 December 2023
  • Where
    Essex
  • Age
    86

Dr JOHN GRAHAM RANKIN (K47-56) John was taken ill on Thursday 7th December 2023, and passed away the following day. Despite having had Covid in early September, and a fall which resulted in a broken wrist, he had been in seemingly good health. He will be hugely missed, not only by his OF friends, but by the whole local community in Dovercourt, where John had been a doctor for most of his professional life.

It is not easy to write the Obituary of someone whose friendship had been enjoyed and valued for some 75 years. Our years in Kerrison were soon followed by a fortnight spent together in Paris, learning a bit about the world beyond Framlingham. The roots of that long friendship run deep. So this is an obituary not easy to write, but a privilege nevertheless, to try to sum up a life of so many parts, with Framlingham so often at the heart of them. John had been one of the very first boys to attend Brandeston in 1948. He was upset not to be able to attend the 75th birthday celebrations.

To take the Framlingham perspective first: John was a loyal supporter of the Society. He organised the Essex Supper for several years, calling on both his love of cricket and his links with Essex County Cricket Club to organise some of those Suppers at the County Cricket Ground in Chelmsford. John, together with his much missed, late wife, Angela, also attended many other OF occasions. John’s loyalty to the Society led to his being elected Vice President.

His OF activities were rooted in his time at the College, where he is remembered as excelling at cricket and table-tennis in particular. Of particular note is the fact that he and his great friend, Norman Mayhew, played in the same cricket team during all eight of their years at the College. John went on to become a member of the MCC, and President of Dovercourt and Harwich Cricket Club. A yearly visit to Lords with John to see a Test Match had been, for me, a highlight of many a recent year. John was still playing table tennis, and still capable of beating all-comers. Another anecdote worth mentioning comes from On an Eminence, and another great friend, Chris Sneath:

Chris Sneath and Dr John Rankin (Kerrison 1947-56) remember an incident, when the firing of a Verey pistol on a CCF Corps day mysteriously led to a fire in a haystack. After fire engines had dealt with this a local police constable entered the dining hall (unannounced and in instant silence) demanding to know who the culprits were. However, the resourceful Sneath and Rankin were able to persuade him that the stack fire must have been caused by internal combustion!”

John would be the first to admit that academics did not come easily to him. He had to work hard to achieve the qualifications needed to go on to study Medicine at St Georges Hospital, London. That aspiration was not one readily endorsed by his teachers. But John persevered, showing that human qualities and empathy are perhaps even more important than formal qualifications as criteria for assessing the success of a career dedicated to medicine, and General Practice in particular.

John was born in Colchester, close to Layer Road, the old football ground, and that explains his lifelong support of “the U’s”. His father was away fighting in North Africa in the early years of infancy. After Brandeston, Framlingham, and medical training, he enlisted with the RAMC, became Captain Rankin, and spent time with the troops in Borneo.

On return home, he met his wife-to-be, Angela, while playing mixed hockey, and their marriage was blessed with two children, Marcus and Abi(gail), both of whom went on to give John those grandchildren who came to mean so much to him in later life.

John’s funeral was held on Friday 12th January at All Saints Church, Dovercourt. A packed church heard tributes from his son, Marcus, son-in-law Gary (Squires) and grandson, Harry. Around a dozen OFs were present, alongside former colleagues, and what seemed like half of the population of Dovercourt. John represented those old-fashioned values which put a doctor at the heart of a community, living in their midst, knowing them as friends as well as patients. In recent times he had come to know Gwen, the elder sister of another OF, Roy Farman (K47-55), who died in New Zealand a year ago. Margaret and Andrew Wright had suggested to John that singing was a good way of filling a post-bereavement void. So John joined the local choir, Harwich Sing, and met Gwen, and their latter-day friendship came to light up the lives of them both. John – whether or not he was good singer – must have made an immediate impact. Some 50/60 members of that choir came along to the funeral to give John a rousing send-off. The final musical accolade, provided by a community that loved him well.

That community perspective is summed up by a lady we sat next to at the funeral, Ann Duggan, whose tribute included: “a brilliant GP who spent more than 40 years caring for his many patients.” “I met Dr Rankin in 1972 when he moved to Dovercourt.  As his patient and later good friend, I saw first-hand how caring he was to his patients and the staff working with him.” “John was patient-centred, good-humoured, consistent in his manner, generous with his time and always approachable.  He always treated his patients with kindness, compassion and integrity.  It is not an understatement to say he was loved by everyone.” “He was a brilliant father and husband.” He was involved in our community, with, to name just a few: PTA, U3A, Sports clubs – and waswell known by everyone.””A life well lived by a gentle and lovely man.”

In an age when one hears so much sneering about the privileges and advantages of attending independent schools, John was the epitome of kind and gentle service to others, and an example of the very best selfless values that our independent schools can inculcate.

Contributed by Norman Porter.

Deaths

Barry Lorkin (S54-57)

  • When
    4 December 2023
  • Where
    Dorking, Surrey
  • Age
    83

BARRY LORKIN (S54-57) died on 4th December 2023.  He was a great servant of OFGS and was for around 20 years OFGS Secretary. He was also a past President of the Society from 1995-97.

His good friend and fellow golfer, Robin Anderton writes:

Barry Lorkin was a late entry to the 1954 intake, arriving in January 1955. He was a year older but soon became one of us. He was a keen rugby player and good golfer, playing off 8 whilst still at school. He continued those two games after leaving, and from one look at his shins you could tell he was a hooker! We both worked in London, and we used to meet up at lunchtime in Simpsons in Cornhill, fairly often. He was in the Discount market, so was handily placed, and it was over a pint that he persuaded me to join the OF Golf society in the early 1980’s. He was heavily involved in the OF society as well as the golf. Section. He took over as OF Golf secretary from Michael Powesland and then seemed to be running it for ever. Barry played in nearly all the subsequent meetings, as well as representing Framlingham in the Halford Hewitt and later in the Cyril Grey, for which you had to be over 50! He was a steady player,  always consistent, though he never mastered the shortest club.

Barry is survived by Wendy, his wife of over 50 years and his two sons , Simon who lives in France with his family, and Nicholas  He was a great mate!

Deaths

Bruce E Micklewright (S55-59)

  • When
    8 December 2023
  • Where
    Wimborne, Dorset
  • Age
    89

His brother Colin (S55-59) said “We have just returned from Wimborne in Dorset where, sadly, Bruce died on Friday evening 8th December aged 89.  He had been suffering poor health ever since he caught Covid in January 2020 in Mougins near Nice where he had been living for a number of years.  Bruce’s wife, Harriett is still going strong.  They came back to England about eighteen months ago to be close to two of the children.”

Some years ago Bruce had a chance meeting with distinguished OF Bill Goldfinch (26-32) at Old Sarum Flying Club. Bruce had spent many years as a Cathay Pacific pilot after being in the Royal Canadian Air Force and when he retired he restored a Tiger Moth and finished it in the Framlingham colours of chocolate and blue. This was spotted by Bill at the airfield and the pair became firm friends in the seven years before Bill died.

Bruce went on to say “I spent my career in aviation and on my retirement restored a Tiger Moth and finished it with light blue wings, chocolate brown fuselage with white registration lettering. I considered registering it as G-FRAM and flying it over the school on the Millennium, however, I missed the date to complete the restoration and I subsequently registered it as G-EMSY, my daughter’s pet name.  Shortly after the completion of the rebuild, I moved the aircraft to Old Sarum near Salisbury and one day this elderly gentleman approached me in the hangar and said “I believe you own this lovely aeroplane and I am intrigued whether you had any particular reason for choosing chocolate and light blue as a colour scheme?” When I told him they were my old school colours he replied “Not by any chance, Framlingham?” On confirming that they were, he replied “How wonderful, I also went to Framlingham”.  We spent many hours reminiscing about Framlingham, our service careers, aviation and of course Colditz. His attitude to the time that he spent in Colditz was one of privileged confinement! He loved the castle and said his fellow prisoners were the most marvellous collection of intelligent and inspiring men from throughout the Commonwealth and the USA. He was also quite fair to his captors. Bill was a charming, unassuming, delightful man. He died in his sleep, fit and well to the last.”

 

Deaths

Colin Hugh Rigby (R43-45)

  • When
    27 March 2021
  • Where
    Nottingham
  • Age
    91
  • Story

COLIN HUGH RIGBY (R43-45) passed away on 27th March 2021 after a short period of ill health. The news was passed on to us by his daughter.

Colin was born in Norwich in 1929 and had a relatively normal childhood with his family until his early teenage years when he lost his dad to meningitis. As he put it himself, he graduated early as a teenager and was sent to Framlingham to ‘put him through the mill’. It worked, as he left with 6 credits. He tried some chemistry, mixing elements and bomb debris to make fireworks, which didn’t work; but success came with discoveries at the local munition store which resulted in an excellent rocket. He was inspired by electricity and took an apprenticeship at Laurence, Scott & Electromotors (LS&E) and qualified as an electrical engineer. Weekends were filled with frequenting local dance halls and riding pre-war motorcycles. He went on to spend 5 years in the merchant navy working on Elder Dempster Lines and Canadian Pacific Empress Liners; seeing the world before returning to Norwich to LS& E and meeting Diana, whom he married in 1960.

He briefly moved to Commercial Union, and when he was overlooked for promotion, he switched to Lloyds Register of Shipping, which he always said was the best move in his life! The family grew to 4 children and having undertaken an intense language course, they were sent to Italy where he worked in the Milan office, first living in an apartment in Milan, then moving to the countryside to a rambling old house. With a caravan as a holiday home the family spent weeks away at the Italian lakes or touring the major cities, and even up to the Alps in the caravan for skiing.

The cycle was broken when Lloyds needed a surveyor to start with immediate effect in Iran, working, amongst other things on the gas pipeline running from the Caspian Sea, through Iran. This was a temporary move for the family, and they were soon back in Italy but for a short time as he was sent to South Korea where he oversaw the building of 11 ships for the Nigerian National Shipping line in what was the biggest shipyard in the world in Ulsan.

Colin was moved back to the UK when Diana was found to have a malignant melanoma. It was back to East Anglia, where Colin worked in the Lowestoft office, and Diana received treatment successful treatment for her cancer. The work was varied and amongst his list of jobs was offshore work on North Sea Gas platforms.

As a man of faith it was no surprise to the family when he decided to take early retirement and go abroad with Diana to help others. Their first venture was on a boat to help Vietnamese boat people, however the boat never got further than the Mediterranean! But it was all good experience, Diana had been a nurse and she took a course in Tropical Medicine at Liverpool University, which was a must for their next venture. They worked for 5 years in a small mission caring for orphans in Mozambique. The mission had endless work for an electrical surveyor who could turn his hand to anything, and Diana busied herself running clinics. Word moves fast when there is health professional in town. They moved to Uganda and attempted to set up clinics, but they were fraught with bureaucracy. There was another stint back in the UK due to ill health, and they were then off to Tanzania. After 3 years there they retired and moved to be halfway between 2 of their children. They spent time travelling, visiting family, one of whom lived in the Alps. Colin always insisted in fitting in  a ski trip in but the family got increasingly concerned and he gave up at the age of 84! They moved to West Bridgford in Nottingham about 8 years ago, to be near one of his sons, and found an assisted living apartment, beside the river Trent. Always the fixer, he set about modifying furniture and working out how to make the most of cheaper off-peak electricity to heat the apartment. He advised all the other residents and produced instructions on how this could be done. Even just a few days after having a pacemaker fitted at age 91, he was down in the laundry room doing the weekly wash and using the time to discuss plans for the next residents meeting!

Since he died during the restrictions of the pandemic there were only 30 people at the cremation and the celebration of his life at St Giles church in West Bridgford. However as his son in law was adept at streaming services from his church, he set about doing a live stream on Facebook for those who were not allowed to attend.

Deaths

Ian Sanderson Foster (K46-53)

IAN SANDERSON FOSTER (K 46-53) died peacefully aged 88 on 18 November 2023, in Majorca, Spain, his home for many years.  The funeral took place in Majorca, but a special celebration of his life was held at the Famers Club in London, with a number of OFs present.

Ian was born on 2 March 1935 in London.  His father ran a well-known City shipbroking company and his mother was a schoolteacher.  At 11 years of age he followed his older brother Howard to Framlingham, where he boarded for 5 years.  A natural sportsman, he excelled at rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and squash.

He went straight from the College in September 1953 to Aldershot for National Service. Having passed the War Office selection board and completed officer cadet training, he wanted to see action abroad.  He transferred to the Dorset Regiment as a Second Lieutenant and was shipped out to Korea for two years, where he found himself leading a seven-man section every day on patrol through minefields.  On one such exercise he ran straight into a North Korean patrol.  Thinking quickly, he saluted, a gesture which was returned by the Korean patrol leader and, holding their breath, Ian and his men went on their way.  His 32-man platoon were later to win the highly competitive Commonwealth Division competition, which involved a 10-mile run, carrying three Bren guns, which they then shot at targets.  The Australian General in charge of the Commonwealth Division then arranged a Test Match between England (for whom Ian played) and Australia on a cleared jungle area the size of the Oval, with empty ammunition boxes providing seating for 50,000 spectators.  Australia were the winners.

OF Dudley Holland, a friend of Ian’s, was pleased to see the mention of the cricket match in Korea. Dudley was there too. The game was played in early October 1954, before the snow came. Dudley points out that he was watching, not playing, (they were in different Regiments) but, also playing in Ian’s team was Chris Ford, making it 3 OFs who had been playing together in the school 1st X1 only 2 years earlier.

Post-war Ian played sport at every opportunity and at a high level, playing cricket for Purley and the Mogador Wanderers and hockey for Tulse Hill and Kent. He declined an invitation from the UK Olympic Committee to train for the 1964 Tokyo hockey Olympics, not wishing to prejudice his developing business career.  He always took time to play for the Old Framlinghamians in the various Public Schools old pupils sports fixtures; the D’Abernon Cup for tennis and the Londonderry Cup for squash – in which the OFs were strong with Norman Borrett, Humphrey Truman and Ian all playing.

Upon his return from Korea, Ian began work in the City, following his father’s shipping footsteps, earning £5 per week at shipbroker Galbraith’s working on the Far East desk. He remained with Galbraith’s from 1955 until 1980, a period which saw him play a major part in the company’s merger with insurance Matthews Wrightson, undertake the burden of huge international travel, particularly after the oil crisis in 1972 when he was asked to burnish the company’s profile in the Middle East, and in developing business in China, where he caught hepatitis C, which led to him being hospitalised and kept from the office for 10 months.  He left the firm to start up a shipping department for ED&F Man, from which he retired after a successful five years to move to Menorca, where he started up a small yachting business selling moorings. Ian was a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

For the last 30 years of his life living happily with his third wife Tessa in Majorca Ian enjoyed a quieter life, still socially very active but so different from the giddy decades of ferocious business and social involvement. He was a Vice President of the SOF and made frequent visits back to London for OF occasions. He was the author of 2 booksMore By Luck Than Judgement (2020) and The Silver Spoon (2022).

He is survived by Tessa, and by his three children, Simon, and the twins Louise and James (the latter was at Framlingham College in the 1980s).

Contributed by Richard Sayer  and NHP

Deaths

James Victor Waugh (K52-57)

  • When
    13 September 2023
  • Where
    West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds

James Victor Waugh (K52-57) died on 13 September 2023, in the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, following a prolonged illness bravely borne.  He was the husband of Sue, father of Andy and Will and grandfather to Oliver, Hattie, Charlie and Harry. He was cremated followed by a memorial service at St Peter’s Church, Fordham on Thursday 5th October 2023.

Deaths

Brian Smallcombe (Hon OF)

  • When
    8 October 2023
  • Where
    Worlingworth, Suffolk

Brian Smallcombe (Hon OF) died on Sunday 8 October 2023. He had been suffering from liver cancer.

He was a Senior Master, Housemaster of Stradbroke/Ziegele House and Head of English. Brian was instrumental in attracting overseas students to Framlingham College and housing them in his family home.  He will be dearly missed by all that knew him.  He was father of Hannah (P81-93) and to Giles (Z80-90)

His memorial service took place on 2 November 2023 at Worlingworth Church at 2pm and afterwards at Worlingworth Community centre. A private family and close friends cremation took place first earlier in the day.  Family flowers only and Donations to be made to St Elizabeth Hospice Ipswich and British Heart Foundation.

Deaths

Peter Reginald Clayton (R67-61)

  • When
    18 august 2023
  • Age
    79

PETER REGINALD CLAYTON (R67 -61) died on 18th August 2023. He always enjoyed keeping up with all the news about his old school.

Peter was married to Lynette Clayton for 53 years. They had three children, Joanne, Clare and Ruth, and two Grandsons, Flynn and Brennan. His brother,  Roger Clayton also attended Framlingham.

After leaving school Peter tried a number of jobs,and finished up working for Shell for some time. Eventually, having unfortunately being made redundant, he decided he would like to run a pub. Peter and Lynette were lucky enough to be given the tenancy of the beautiful Shepherd-Neame Plough Inn, in Brabourne Lees, and moved in in 1979.

Peter was heavily involved in village life. He was on the Parish Council for 35 years and Chairman for 9.  He had been a member of the Village Hall Committee, the Playing Field Association and the Village Fete Committee.  He operated the PA for the village fete for many years.  He organised a number of quizzes which were a lot of fun and raised sizeable amounts of money for lots of local causes. He also operated the sound system for the village pantos and The Pilgrims Hospice events.

He was a lifelong supporter and member of the RNLI and the Royal British Legion and really loved the Poppy Day collections. He was always so friendly and readily persuaded  people to part with their money.

In recent years Peter and a great friend of his put together a number of talks, set to music from various eras. These were very successful. The received bookings up to a year in advance for these talks which brought together interesting facts and music, alongside their sense of humour and fun. Peter loved doing these and spent hours going through his music collections to find the perfect music accompaniment to the words.

Peter loved his family enormously and liked nothing more than to be surrounded by members of that family.

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