IN MEMORIAM

World War I Roll of Honour | World War II Roll of Honour
please contact the editor if you wish to add someone to this page: links will open in a new window.
useful link: Cambs. County Council CAMDEX on-line partial register of births, deaths, marriages

Ades, Michael J BMus (Nottingham) taught Music at SGS 1960-64. Daily Telegraph 7 Sep 2004: Peacefully at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, on 31st August 2004 aged 72 years: via Stephen Martin
Adkins, John R BSc (Lond) Physics 1965-67: died July 2001
Allen CW Bill (1935 entry): died 3 Feb 2007: brother of Terry 39: via Bill's daughter Dr Deidre Holes
Alsop, Brian (1952 entry): died of cancer in 2002: worked in the Middle East for many years and spent some time living in Texas: via his daughter Sharon Kent
Armitage, Mr Edward Headmaster, 1945-72
Atkinson, Mr Cecil E Music 1955-56: he became a priest and moved to Devon. He and his wife have died: via Mr Terry Jones
Audus, Peter R 'Nibbs' (1949 entry): via Peter Stonebridge

Bailey, David (1947entry): via Mike Goodchild
Bailey Francis (1937 photo): died 6 Sep 1991: for many years at CI Caravans Newmarket: via daughter Glenda Bailey
Banyard, Robert (19?? entry): We were much distressed to hear of Mr Robert Banyard's death. His affection for the School was long and loyal. We offer our warmest sympathies to Mrs Banyard and her sons, both of whom like their father were pupils of SGS. Soham Grammarian Spring 1949.
Bedford, Peter (1934 entry): died 25th Oct 2004: via Yvonne Bedford
Bridgeman, Flight Sergeant Russell J, RAF (1937 entry?) - from the Summer 1961 SG
Flight Sergeant Bridgeman was one of six RAF personnel killed in an Avro Anson which crashed in the Isle of Man in February 1961. Rusty, as he was known to his contemporaries, had joined the RAF as Boy Entrant and was engaged on work at the Technical Training Command Communications Flight at RAF Wyton.
Brown, Norman: via Donald Monk
Bull, John (1940 entry): evacuee from London's East End, Lord Mayor of Westminster 1984-85: died Dec 2007: via editor
Burton, Geoff (1950 entry): Haddenham and Cyprus, d 10 June 2005, aged 66 at home in Haddenham: via John Favell
Butler, Roger A (1959 entry): after a sometimes "chequered" school career Roger Butler ended up with a degree from Royal College of Art. He went on to become a successful architect with his own company based in Ealing, West London. Roger suddenly and unexpectedly died of a heart attack on February 14th 1988: via Tony Burton 60, Roger's brother in law

Capes, Officer Cadet Colin J, RAF (1958 entry) - from the Summer 1966 SG
Colin Capes died in a climbing accident in the Peak District, at the age of 19 - a sad end to a career of promise. He always wished to make the RAF his career and had many disappointments before he succeeded. He entered the RAF as an Officer Cadet at the RAF's own college at Cranwell, last autumn.
Always cheerful, bubbling with life and energy, he was an invigorating personality. His contemporaries will always remember his throaty chuckle, and the quips and opinions which ensured that no lesson became tedious. So much a part of our school life, he is a friend we shall feel the loss of in the adult world.
Carter, Harry (1949 entry) has died aged 69 on 28th September. His funeral took place at St Mary's Church, Burwell on 4th October 2007: via Clive Bray
Cazenave, Dave (1967 entry): via Mike Gardner
Cockerton, Alec E (1943 entry): funeral 19 May 1951: Soham Grammarian Summer 1951
Coleman, Philip B (1945 entry): killed in a road accident at Chettisham not long after the 1949 school photo was taken: via Sid Bonnett
Coulson, Donald G (1947 entry): via Peter Hunt
Covill, Bertram C BEM (1920s)
Coxhead, Henry (1940 entry) d June 2004: via his brother John Coxhead

Denley, Brian V (1947 entry): via Brian Knott
Diver, Joe (?20 entry), about 2002: via his brother Alan
Dodson, Gren J (1950 entry), March 2003: via his widow Eve
Drake, Mr Ken D, Art & Pottery 1948-54: via Russell Drake
Ken Douglas Drake known in the family as 'Dilly'. He died on 24th May 2002, leaving a wife Meg and two children Janna and Gillian. He was Russell Drake's uncle and taught him for the first two years he was at Soham. Ken was at the school for 6 years as Art & Pottery Master and must have left in August 1954, being replaced by Pete Askem. He had been a pupil at the school before the war and had painted many murals on the walls around the entrance hall, main staircase and landing, many of which were still clearly visible, although faded, when Russell was at Soham.

Everitt, Fitch Donald - from the Summer 1960 SG
Died in Leeds, keen sportsman, played for and was President of Leeds Zingari CC. Former President of Leeds Fruit Merchants Association.

Fletcher, Roderick W (1947 entry): died 1991: via Malcolm Fletcher & Brian Knott
Ford, Mr Charles John Charlie/Chas Chemistry, 1926-64
Freestone, Vernon Joseph (early 1930s): Born 13 Apr 1916, he lived in Ely, date of entry to SGS not known. Travelled to school by train. He worked for the Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell for most of his working life. He died peacefully at home in Wantage, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) 30 Nov 1998 at the age of 82: via his son Graham Freestone
Fuller, John C (1947 entry): via Brian Knott: Christine Fuller (née Bell, ex EHS) adds: "John was at SGS from 1947 to 1952 and then spent his career working in the land drainage and electricity supply industries based at Cambridge, Peterborough and Ely; latterly he was Deputy Superintendent of the Denver Sluice Complex and commissioned the new sluice at Upware in December 1990. We met whilst both working in the drawing office at Eastern Electricity and we had two children. John developed thyroid cancer in 1989 and died in March 1991 just four weeks after becoming a grandfather."

Gamble, Frank (1963 entry) d 15 Jan 2005: via Ed Reed
Gandy, Ken (entry about 1935) d Oct 2004: shot down and evaded capture in WW2, founder member of the Ely Wildfowlers' Association
Garwood, Keith (1946 entry?) d 8 Jan 2005: son of the late Harriet and John Garwood, also educated at Stamford Technical School: draughtsman with Mirlees Blackstone and Fiat Allis: via John Wilson
Gillett, Colin (1946 entry): via Brian Knott
Goad, John (1963 entry): via FriendsReunited 17 July 2003
John died in July 2003. He leaves Alison his wife and two sons, Chris and James and stepdaughter Caroline. He worked for agricultural engineers in Ely and lived at his late parents' farm in Stretham.
Grover, John C (19?? entry): It is with deep regret that we record the death of John C Grover recently, of peritonitis. He will be remembered by many for his spectacular long jumping and swerving run down the touch-line as wing three-quarter. The funeral took place at Fordham Cemetery, where the School was represented by Sargent and Gardiner, both of Fordham.: Soham Grammarian Summer 1949
Greensmith, Brian (1967entry) via Mike Gardner

Hancock, Graham R (1954 entry): died 23rd November 2006 in London; he had been working in Warsaw as a freelance teacher of English: via Wieslawa Barnas
Harmer, Terry (1944 entry): via Peter Hunt
Hart, Mr Lionel (French 1959-72) d 22 Sep 2007: Scouting and Chess: via Geoff Griggs
Hawkins, John D (1951 entry) d June 2002, aged 61, the day after his 40th wedding anniversary. He was ill for many years and spent the last 5 months of his life in the hospice in Cambridge. Charlie Phelps was his best man when he married Pepi in Cambridge. He had three sons: via Charlie Phelps
Howard, Ken (1942 entry)
John Dimmock and Cyril Eden write: Kenneth (Ken) Howard of Chettisham near Ely sadly passed away on 14th December 2002 at the age of 71. The funeral service took place on 20th December at Chettisham Parish Church, where he had been Church Warden for fifty years. He was a member of the Friends of the Princess of Wales Hospital for many years and Chairman for the last thirteen. He apparently farmed with his father at Chettisham and Ely. A larger than life character, who will be greatly missed by the people of Ely. A memorial concert featuring the Thurnscoe Male Voice Choir took place on 15th March 2003.
Howlett, Ivan (1937 entry): died 1995: via Stephen Martin

Johnson, Mr LG Jugger or Bish English, 1922-53

Lancaster, Ivan (1937 entry): d2006?: via Chris Bent
Lane, Rex (1943 entry): d 23 Apr 2007: via Brian Lane
Lawrance, Mr Albert E Punch Mathematics, 1952-64
Leonard, Edward (1880s entry): The death of Mr Edward Leonard occurred last December [1953] at his home, The Hall, Soham. He was born in Soham in 1873 and won a scholarship to the Grammar School. He was not only a fine business man, but also an active participant in Soham's local government. He was best known to us in his position af Chairman of the School Governors. Mr Leonard mad his last speech to the School on Speech Day 1952, and retired from his post on the Governing Board last year. Soham Grammarian Summer 1954.
Lowe, Miss AE Housekeeper 1946-1958

MacKenzie, Bill (1969 entry)
Bill's widow Liz writes: After Bill left Soham Grammar he went to CCAT (Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology) to take his A levels. That was where we met in 1976, we got married in 1979 and we have two daughters. Bill worked in production management. He enjoyed travelling and arranged really brilliant holidays for us. He was a very kind and thoughtful person who would always take the time to help anyone. He died suddenly in late 2002.
Makin, RJH, Science 1961-72: John Makin died aged 62 on 9th February 1986: via his son Andrew.
Mann, Tony (1942 entry): It was with great regret that we learned of the death of TWE Mann, who was drowned while on holiday at Yarmouth on July 12th [1950]. Tony was well-known for his keenness for long distance running. Both members of the School and the Old Boys' Club express their deepest sympathy for Tony's parents. (Soham Grammarian, Summer 1950)
Martin, Brian L (1949 entry)
Catherine Jay writes: My father, an Ely boy, was an only child. He joined Lloyds Bank after leaving SGS and retired in 1992 having reached the position of senior bank manager. He was married to Patricia and had three daughters. His hobbies included listening to classical music and model railways. He died on 15th July 2007, aged 69.
Martin, Dr Leslie A (1934 entry)
Died 31 Dec 2003: retired as a University Librarian at Edinburgh University: via his brother R Vincent Martin (1939)
Mitchell, William James (1936 entry?) from Summer 1964 SG
Formerly of Haddenham, he died at Ratcliffe Hospital Oxford in December 1963. He was employed at the Pressed Steel Works at Oxford.
Served with Suffolk Regiment in Burma; kept goal for Haddenham Rovers, played for Pressed Steel; SGS Cricket 1st XI (Cambridgeshire Times 3 Jan 64)
Morley, Stan (c1918) d1989: via his grandaughter Sarah
Moore, Gerry (1950 entry): via Charles Smith
Murfet, Don (1944 entry) d2000: Alan Barber writes: Don or Dumps as he was affectionately known was born on Christmas Day 1933 and lived in Sutton (in the Isle) all his life. I knew him very well as we did a lot of bellringing together. See Alan's appreciation of Don.
Munns, Richard Billy (1954 entry) d2007: via Alan Barber

Neathercoat, Ernest T (entry pre-1900): d1951: former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain: (Soham Grammarian, Summer 1951)
Norris, Richard (1963 entry), in a car accident ca 1972: via Dudley Walton
Nunn, EBA - Brian (1951 entry) d2006: via David Reader
Nunn, Desmond Harold (1944 entry)
It was with deep regret that the school learned of the death on 6th August 1951, after an operation earlier in the year, of Desmond Nunn who had been so lately one of us. For five years from 1944-49 we had known his happy smile, his gay manner, his cheerfulness under all circumstances and it is by these characteristics that we shall remember him. One of the original members of the Boarding House when it was formed in 1946, Desmond quickly made his personality felt and his contribution to the happy family spirit that was fostered there was a great one. No boy can have had more friends and no boy was his enemy. He died as he had lived - bravely, fearlessly, and without complaint - an example to us all.
(Soham Grammarian, Autumn 1951)

Page, Michael (1955 entry)
Died tragically at his home in Haddenham in December 1963. Michael (Aggie) was a student at Selwyn College Cambridge and was conducting an experiment at his home when he died of accidental cyanide poisoning.
Parrott, Mr George (Maths & Science 1957-63): d 25 Jan 1964
Peacock, Dennis G (1944 entry) died on May 5th and was cremated on May 19th: via Stan Harley from Pete Eland 44
Peel, Ken (1944 entry): via Brian Knott
Phillips, John (1961 entry) d2006: via Stephen Gilbert
Piper, George R (1949 entry): via Brian Knott & Donald Monk
Pledger, Peter (left in 1938)
Died in Chichester on 28 April 2002 aged 82.
Pullen, Dr Brian (1948 entry): died March 2007, via Beth Lane, Ian Hobbs and Brian's daughter Sue: Brian had pancreatic cancer for two and a half years.

Read, L (year?) - 10 Nov 2001: via Chris Bent
Reed, Les C (1941 entry) d 11 Jan 2003: via Ed Reed
Ridgeon, GWD (1946 entry): It was with deep regret that the School learnt of the very sudden death of GWD Ridgeon, Form IIIB, at Doddington Hospital, on 2nd February, 1947, after a short illness. The funeral was held at Ely, on 6th February, the School being represented by Mr RA Taylor (Staff), RF Watts (Captain of School) and AWJ Reed (IIIB). Wreaths were sent from the School and from IIIB. Our sympathy goes out to his parents in their sad loss. (Soham Grammarian, Spring 1947)
Riley, Mr Thomas Luke Slug French, 1929-67
Ritson, Vaughan (1963 entry), ca 1993: via Dudley Walton
Rouse, Colin (1946), d 17 May 2006: via Mike Rouse
Royston, John FW (1947) - d 2 April 2004: via Chris Bent
Ruczaj, Martin (1959 entry) - several years ago - via his cousin JP Admaski
Rush, Colin J (1949 entry) - d April 1999 in Solihull: he was Senior Assistant Registrar at Hull University 1967-82. From 1984 until he retired in 1998 he was Regional Director (West Midlands) for the Royal Institute of British Architects: via Grahame Stevens and David Hobbs, who writes: Colin and I were in the same year at SGS. I was best man at his wedding. My wife and I keep in touch with his widow, June. Leon Kitchen wrote to her when Colin died and he sends a card to her each Christmas.

Salmon, Albert Thomas (about 1927 entry) d Jan 1965: Tom, of Haddenham, died aged 49 originally worked for Dent's in London. In the war years he worked in an aircraft factory. He then decided to make teaching his career and trained at Cheltenham. He taught for a year at the Hereward School, March, and then at Cromwell School Chatteris until his death. He specialised in preparing pupils for the Horticultural Preceptors examinations and appeared with some of his pupils in a programme on Anglia TV on this subject. He also taught mathematics to an adult evening class. He took a keen interest in sport and had played in goal for Haddenham Rovers. Every season he played for the local cricket team, holding several offices. He was on the SGS PTA and secretary of the Baptist Church Sunday School. (extracts from his obituary, Ely Standard, 21 Jan 1965).
Saunders, Mr SR Sid 1947-66 - published obituary or funeral details sought
Searle, Michael Cynth (1959 entry) died after a long illness on 7 Dec 2007, funeral 20 Dec Cambridge Crematorium: in due course a memorial page will be provided: via Paul Dunham and Geoff Griggs and confirmed by Colin Searle 62.
Sharpe, Bob: via Brian Knott
Slack, William Alfred - from the Summer 1966 SG
Aged 92 years, of Soham, Mr Slack was one of the first pupils to attend Soham Grammar School.
Smith, Anthony CM (1957entry)
Smith, Colin (1941 entry): d May 2007: he left in 1946 after School Certificate and had a career in banking starting with the TSB, moving to Lincolnshire. Latterly he lived in Spalding: via John Leaney
Smith, Richard J (1951 entry), d 15 Oct 2002: via his brother Charles Smith
Smith, Joe (started 1940): via Donald Monk
Sneesby, Norman (1936 entry), died whilst on a cruise 23 March 2007: via Wilkes Walton
Spinks, Alfred CBE FRS PhD (1932 entry) Director of Research and Development ICI "whose intellect bordered on the intimidating" d1982
Staines, Barry W (started 1951): d2003?: via Neil Holmes & Chris Bent
Stimpson, Leslie R (1930s): d2006?: via Chris Bent: Wilkes Walton adds - he is on the 1937 photo so he must have been in my entry year (36) though I can't place him: he is also in the Hereward House athletes photo.

Tatham, Ian P Spud (1959 entry): died in May 2006 after a long illness. He had worked in the NHS: via his daughter Gemma
Taylor OBE Hon DEng FRAeS FRHistS AFIAA, Dr John WR (1930s) d 1999: via Mrs Doris Taylor
Taylor, Mr Ronald Arthur (RAT/Peter) History, Geography, Games: 1946, 1948-72: Head of Lower School 1967-72
Thomas, Mr RL Taffy Geography, 1928-61 - published obituary or funeral details sought
Touch DFC, Donald (19?? entry): We very much regret to hear that Flight Lieutenant Donald Touch DFC was fatally injured in an air crash at Moorgreen on March 13th. He began flying as an amateur before the war and has had a very distinguished career in the RAF. (Soham Grammarian, Summer 1948)
Thulborn, Geoffrey (1961 entry), "in car accident 20th June 1976". His grave in Haddenham carries the inscription "he lived and laughed and found it good": via Dudley Walton

Tully, Brian (1952 entry): died 1997: via his son Martin

Unwin, Doug (obituary from the Ely Standard on the Ely FC website)
Unwin, HJ (Jack): entry year ?: died 2002: via his daughter Maureen

Vince, AJ "Bill" (1932 entry): via Brian Lane, died age 83 on 2 Jan 2004 in Ely

Washtell, Johnathan AF Ginger (1959 entry) - from the Summer 1968 SG
Found in the River Cam at Cambridge, August 22nd 1967
Watts, Geoffrey D (Biology 1955-61) d Feb 27 2005, via Peter Askem
Watts, Richard F (1939 entry) - a Secretary of the OBs, d 2 Sep 2002: via Wilkes Walton
Webb, Norman (1940 entry) - d 2002: he was born in Stretham and attended SGS during the mid 40s. After leaving SGS he was conscripted into the Navy. On leaving that he joined the Civil Service in London, living at Dartford in Kent: via Richard Crofts
Wells, Gerald Arthur Tinker (1944 entry): died June 2004 aged 71, Soham: He was the father of Kevin and grandfather of Holly Wells: via David Reader
Willett, George (1957 entry): an All England shot-putter: died about 1985 of a massive heart attack: via Terry Day
Wright, Ralph (tba): killed in an aeroplane crash on Sunday February 5th 1939: prominent member of the OB Dramatic Society: SG Spring 1939

Yarrow, Tony (1947 entry): died 27 Dec 2003: via Chris Bent

The Editor would appreciate further contributions for this page on the following:
Mrs AL Smith
.. and any others - staff and boys - for which you have material.

page last updated 8 July 2008