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COLIN HUGH RIGBY (R43-45) passed away on 27^th 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.

Olivia Pitcher, née Castle (M06-11) and William Pitcher (R10-11) welcomed the arrival of their baby daughter Elodie Jemima Pitcher on the 30th of October 2022. Her Christening was held in the College Chapel on the 11^th of June 2023 and was officiated by William’s father Rev Canon Simon Pitcher (Z76-82). A number of Old Framlinghamians were present for the service, including Elodie’s Great Grandpa Rev Canon David Pitcher (R44-51).

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 books – More 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

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.

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.

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.

KEITH CHARLES OAKLEY (K1945-50) died aged 89, on 9th September 2023 in St. Elizabeth Hospice, Ipswich.  He was husband to Pamela and father of Philip, Elizabeth, Roger and Jennifer.

This news was originally passed on by his daughter, Elizabeth, who had many happy memories of growing up on Lime Tree Farm, Badingham. The funeral was held on Thursday 5th October at St Peters Church Henley. Sadly Elizabeth, too, passed away in February 2024. The obituary is contributed by Keith’s son, Philip.

Keith attended Framlingham College between 1945 – 1950, doing General Studies.  After leaving the College he worked on a local farm before doing a farming apprenticeship near Boscastle in Cornwall.  He did his National Service in Germany with the Royal Army Service Corps between 1953-56.  He married Pamela Lay in 1961, having met her whilst in the Ipswich YMCA Amateur Operatic Society. They had four children. Always a hands-on, independent and practical man, he built his first home, a bungalow, in Ufford.   He later bought a farm in Badingham, breeding pigs. He also ran a caravan site. He involved himself with village life, from serving on the parish council to helping organise village events.  In 1978 he sold the farm and moved his family to Henley. He then worked for John Grose until retirement in 1999.  He loved the outdoors and being active: from gardening to caravan holidays across Europe, which often involved walking in the hills and mountains.

During retirement he enjoyed travel and visited many counties around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, India and Canada. In his later years he suffered kidney problems, but this did not stop him travelling, armed with his portable dialysis machine.  After catching Covid in 2021 his health and independence deteriorated until his kidneys finally failed him. His family will miss him.

Philip also sent us two pictures from those distant years, which may be of historical interest, particularly the picture of the Junior House, with DD Kittermaster, shortly before the move to Brandeston Hall.

David Edwin Hkio (R58-63) died on 10 August 2023 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridgeshire.  We were notified by his wife Elizabeth.

Guy Stillingfleet Brooke-Smith (S41-44) – he passed away on 28 June 2023 aged 94 years, sourrounded by his 2 daughters and his daughter-in-law.  His death happened very suddenly but he had been battling for 2 months to get fit again after a chest infection and a bladder infection.

His youngest daughter Joanne Brooke-Smith sent the following “Dad was very proud to have been a scholar at Framlingham College, from 1941 to 1944. He was the only child out of 8 to be able to attend such a wonderful school. He left to attend the Mercantile Marine Service association School ship “Conway”  from 1944 to 1946 following his Father Louis and then brothers John and Francis foot step.  Then from 1946-1949 he was at sea service working for as a midshipman doing various duties for Ellerman and Bucknall Steam ship then also served 6 months as midshipman R.N.R in Malta in fleet Auxilliary and deputising as sub Lieutenant.

Then in 1949 in London he applied and was recruited as a trooper (Mounted policeman) with the British South African Police and was sent to Salisbury, Rhodesia where he was trained and was stationed at various district stations to carry out normal Police work. He left the police force in 1956 but still remained a Police reservist from 1956 to 1980 when he left the country.

After he left the force in 1956 he worked in the agriculture industry selling Agri equipment until 1980 where he immigrated to Canada with his family. Arriving in Toronto Canada working as a technical consultant for just under a year before finding another job on Vancouver Island BC Canada and moving the family across Canada where we lived on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, Errington and Parksville. Due to tough economic conditions they decided to immigrate to South Africa in 1982 and in Johannesburg he retrained as a financial advisor for SA Perm Bank where he had an outstanding service record with his clients. He retired in 1990 and did an Realty Estate course and some other private work from home before they moved to their home in Hoekwil, Wilderness Western Cape 15km from George where they spent many happy years in retirement.

Margaret his wife in 2009 was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and the eldest son offered them the cottage on his farm as life was becoming difficult for him looking after and running the property so in March 2013 they moved up to Limpopo to live on Andrew’s farm but in the meantime Andrew had been offered a job in the Philippine’s farming pineapples which he accepted. Guys wife past in 2016 and he survived her for 7 years, keeping himself very busy on the property cutting grass and maintenance. He had all his children visiting him from time to time and I the youngest Joanne was working on game reserves so I returned every 6 weeks for 2 week break before giving up work at the end of February 2022 to come and help clean, cook, garden and eventually when he required help himself but it was only in the last few weeks he required the most help.

My father was a good father and man and had a full and varied life and I feel privileged to have had this extra time with him and he will be sorely missed.”