Lotte Hughes writes about her father, David, who died 3 December 2020:

My father, David Hughes, who has died aged 101, spent most of his career as a geography teacher in Shropshire. He will be fondly remembered not only by generations of schoolboys, but also as a polymath, Shakespeare expert, raconteur, amateur theologian, Christian humanist, and supporter of peace and justice.

David’s ancestry was largely Scottish and Welsh. He was born in North Berwick, East Lothian, to Mary (nee Stuart) and John Hughes. His father was an Anglican clergyman who became a Quaker after his experiences as a chaplain in the first world war. David and his siblings, Michael and Barbara, went to Quaker schools in York, where the family lived. They spent two years in America in the 1930s, when John was appointed director of the Quaker study centre Pendle Hill, in Pennsylvania – a formative experience for David.

He read geography at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, but his studies were interrupted by the second world war and he was awarded a “war degree” after two years. As conscientious objectors, David and Michael both faced military tribunals, but neither was jailed. David took the alternative of joining the Friends Relief Service, delivering relief to war-affected citizens. He spent six years with the FRS, in London and also in Holland, where he drove ambulances and lorries, and in Germany working in refugee camps.

In 1938 he volunteered at Dovercourt camp, Harwich, which took in, and found homes for, Jewish children fleeing the Nazis via the Kindertransport evacuation. David persuaded his parents to take in a young brother and sister. (His mother was already active in refugee work in York.) The boy, Harry Baum, later became very successful in the travel industry. All his life David kept on his key ring a small brass disc with his name and Dovercourt room number on it. He gave public talks about these experiences, into his 90s, and was interviewed by members of the Holocaust Education Trust.

While teaching at Ottershaw school, Surrey, the UK’s first state boarding school for boys, David met Betty Wilson, who had come from Northern Ireland to work as a cook at the school. They married in Antrim in 1951, and I was born a year later. The family emigrated in 1952 as “Ten Pound Poms” to Australia, where my father taught at a Quaker school in Hobart. My parents did not much like Tasmania, however, and returned after two years. The best part of the adventure was sailing round the world and visiting exotic lands.

The family settled in Shropshire, where David began teaching at Wellington boys’ grammar school. My sister, Tanya, was born in 1956. David retired in 1979 and he and Betty later moved to Church Stretton, where they were active in the local United Nations Association and the Lib Dems.

Sadly, Betty’s dementia and move to a care home later forced them to live separately. David moved to Bishop’s Castle at the age of 94 and enjoyed an unexpected new lease of life. In his 90s he published an anthology, The Seven Ages of William Shakespeare (2010), and a book in 2016 on the moral teachings of Jesus.

Betty died in 2019. David is survived by Tanya and me

 It is with great sadness that we record the death of Donald Bush on 14 February 2020.

Donald's brother, Roger, has written the following tribute:
 

DONALD BUSH (B. 1946-51)

My brother, Donald James Bush died on 14 February 2020. This was almost exactly 70 years after the death of our father, which occurred while we were both at Bootham. Because of the circumstances – our father took his own life in depression following flu – we both remained in York, and I can remember both Tom Green (Headmaster) and Anthony Pim (Housemaster) being most kind and supportive, our mother coming up to see us and staying with the Pims.

Donald and I both came to Bootham from Friends School Saffron Walden, the oldest Quaker School, now sadly no more. Two years behind him, I found him already well established there. He had built his own canoe, a popular occupation at that time, was known as a high jumper (Western Roll – this was well before the Fosbury Flop) and goalkeeper despite his lack of inches, as a virtuoso recorder player, singer in the Choir and in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and violinist in the School orchestra. He had composed a concerto for oboe, but his friend Richard K Brown, the orchestra’s oboeist, was still relatively new to the instrument, and the piece had to be re-arranged for clarinet so that the orchestra’s first-class clarinet player, Raymond Bond. could give its first performance under the baton of Percy Lovell.

On leaving Bootham Donald followed the well-trodden path to Clare College, Cambridge, graduating in Chemistry in 1955, and working as a research chemist at Hammersmith Hospital for his National Service. By that time I had completed my National Service (in the FAU International Service) and started my first job in London as a sub-editor on a stable of scientific journals at the infant Pergamon Press.

I was surprised and delighted to find Donald’s name as co-author of a paper for the

Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes – it was on the medical uses of tritium as far as I remember.

A year after marrying Gillian Clothier in 1957, Donald and his wife moved to Nottingham, where he joined Boots as a management chemist. He was to stay with the Company until retirement in 1992, specialising in consumer products and regulatory affairs.

He and Gillian had four daughters, born 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1965.

His interest in music continued. Having sung with the London Bach Society, he joined the Nottingham Bach Choir for an unbroken 50 years, also writing two histories of the Choir. In addition he took up playing the horn with several local orchestras from 1963 to 1992.

 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Frank Russell Braithwaite on 27 November 2020.
 
He always spoke fondly of how happy he was at Bootham and how incredible the teachers were.  Upon leaving school he studied medicine at Durham University and emigrated to Australia and practiced as a GP from 1959. He had 4 children: Jane, John, Karen and  Claire.  He spent much of his working life in regional towns and loved nature and writing poetry. A talented writer, he often felt this was his natural calling.
Pragmatic to the end, and a gentleman....his final words were...
Be kind .... a beautiful mantra to live by.

 

It is with great sadness that the Killick family announce the death of Brigadier JOSEPH EDWARD KILLICK (Ted) on 2nd December 2020 at the age of 87

Ted died peacefully at Grove Park Care Home, Leeds after contracting Covid 19.  His beloved wife Elizabeth and children Tim, Jenny, Cathy and Jeremy all saw him before he died. His grandchildren Laurie, Joe, Celia, Alfred and Martha will greatly miss their dearest Pop Pops

A private funeral will be held on 12th December

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Keith Walker (B: 1952-57).

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Noel Allan on 14 March 2020.

Noel Allan was born in Stocksfield and spent his early years kayaking waterways around Northumberland and riding his pony.  He won a scholarship from Newcastle Preparatory School, to Bootham.  He excelled at tennis and after his A Levels he gained a place at Newcastle University to read Medicine.  On graduating, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps for his National Service.  He was employed by the Falkland Islands Dependecy Service where he worked as an expedition doctor and researcher.  He lived near Hope Bay in a modest hut where his medical abilities were reported in the press when he removed a colleague's appendix, using the kitchen table to perform the operation.

Back in the UK, he became a cardiac surgeon but, after witnessing his mother's early death from breast cancer, switched to radiology and moved to Bristol with his wife and two small daughters.  He was interested in teaching, research and practice and joined Michigan University.  After emigrating to the US he continued to practice and teach medicine in Michigan, Texas, California and Washington.  His passions included spending time with his family, hiking and camping, gardening, enjoying the arts and reading.  Latterly, he worked in a veterans' hospital near Tacoma, as well as being part time assistant professor of radiology at the University of Washington.

He will be remembered for his infectious sense of humour, intellect and love of Natural History.  He is survived by his wife Claudia, his children Karine Terenzi and Noella Allan-Rosher, step children Darcy Baker and David Brown, 8 grandchildren and his sister, Margaret.

It is with great sadness we announce Nigel Laird passed away peacefully on 31 August 2020.

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Lili Sarnyai. Lili was an ultra-trail runner, living in Geneva. She was training for the Swiss Peaks Ultra when she fatally slipped and fell from a high cliff in the Valais-Aigle-Villar area. Her family and friends remember her as someone full of life who found joy in small and great things alike. She loved Switzerland and its mountains and running the trails under the endless blue skies was her life.

Her friends have set up a fundraising page to help Lili's family (who are based in the US) to arrange her funeral. The page for this can be found via facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/2744496212460718/?fundraiser_source=external_url

It is with great sadness that we note the death of John Rowntree (Bootham 1958-61) on 12 July 2020.

After leaving Bootham at the age of 17, John worked in retail for some years, at Newcastle, Southsea and London. He then had a lengthy career with the Citizens Advice Bureau. He appeared to enjoy his managerial role and advising people. In retirement John returned to Leyburn, North Yorkshire. He loved the rural surroundings of Wensleydale. He devoted his retirement to charity and voluntary work and was a member of the local Rotary Club. He will be sadly missed by his friends and the local community.  

John Seares Murray, BSc MA (Cantab ) 1931 – 2020 

Born in Birmingham on 12th April 1931 John’s parents were Albert Victor MURRAY a theologian and President of Cheshunt Theological Training College in Cambridge during and after the war. He wrote a number theological books.

John’s mother Winifred Seares (MURRAY) got a first class honours degree in Science at Manchester University, (unusual for women at the time!)

During the war the family moved to Grassington in the Dales, and it was from there he attended Bootham School as a boarder. John held a regular correspondence with his parents and many of his letters written about his time at Bootham can be found in the school archives and paint a vivid picture of life at the school in the 1940s.

John who would be the first to agree he was not an academic, preferred the more practical approach to life. He moved to Honley in Holmfirth as a young man in the early 60’s, having already begun what was to be a life-long career in the media. After national service in the RAF John went to Cambridge University from where his interest in the media began to take shape on Varsity Magazine. While at Cambridge he won a photographic competition run by the prestigious Picture Post Magazine and was recruited to their staff upon graduation. And he was off as they say. The rest of his life his love of photography continued and developed into film and video production. His work filming documentaries for Yorkshire Film Company and Leeds University Film Unit and then as an independent producer, took him all over the world including Lebanon, Libya, Syria Ghana and India , as well as local locations. His stories about his travels and adventures are legendary as many will have seen in the talks and screenings he gave to local organisations. Several of the films he made are held in the Yorkshire Film Archive and are available to view on line.

John was an avid conservationist, and a well-known figure seen cycling around his home town and beyond, using the car only when absolutely necessary. He had many and varied interests which he pursued with energy and unfailing good humour. These included Sustrans (Sustainable Transport) cycling organisation, he was a keen European and supported many conservation organisations. John was a founder member of the Honley Village Community Trust, a winner of the Queens Award for Voluntary Organisations and was still a member of the management committee at the time of his death. For many years he was the editor of the Honley Flyer, the newsletter of the Trust and only retired from that post at the age of 87 when as he put it, he kept falling asleep at the keyboard!

John left his wife Marcia, 3 children from his first marriage and 2 stepchildren.

His memory is a blessing to all who knew him.

Richard's niece wrote to tell us that Richard died on 25th March in Datchet, Bucks.   We send sympathy to his family and friends  

It is with great sadness that we read of the death of (James) Guy Hirst on 15 April 2020.  We send sympathy to his family and friends.
 

With great sadness, we announce the death of Fletcher Nicholson on 16 March 2020 after a short illness.  Dearly loved and loving husband of Sally and the late Brenda. Much loved father of Sarah and David. Proud grandpa of 7. So caring of his extended family. A service of thanksgiving will be held at a later date at St Mary’s Church, Wendover, Bucks. If desired, donations to Rennie Grove Hospice Care c/o Wright Funeral Services, 106 High Street, Great Missenden, HP16 0BE.

With great sadness, we announce the death of John Duerden on 4 May 2020 after a long battle with cancer.  John died peacefully at home and we send sympathy to his wife Fatima and family.

It is with great sadness we announce John Elliott died on 13 December 2019.

Dr John Elliott was born in Britain and moved to Singapore at the age of 4, but was educated in England. He attended Bootham School in York, leaving in 1963. He entered Clare College, Cambridge with an Exhibition in Natural Sciences and obtained a degree in Experimental Psychology in 1967. He went on to obtain a doctorate from Sheffield University in 1975, then joined the faculty at Sheffield where he was a lecturer from 1976 to 1988. He returned to Singapore, where in 1986 he was a founding member of the psychology programme at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and was instrumental in shaping that programme. He remained on the faculty until his retirement in 2018.

John was warm and enthusiastic about life and is fondly remembered as a caring educator, a dignified and kind gentleman and a fine friend with a wry sense of humour. He was married to Myra Elliott, a dental surgeon. They have two children, Fred and Clare. He died in Singapore of prostate cancer, aged 74.
Memories of John always include his pythons. He kept them in all stages of his life. In his teenage years at Bootham he charged fellow students to watch his python eating a meal (a mouse). At Clare he kept a python in his digs on Castle Street. There he also would enthusiastically seek out and share inexpensive fine sherries, play his cello, and conduct experiments on all comers with his foot-tickling machine to aid his research in this under-appreciated field of study. He kept a python at home in Singapore, which now survives him.

He became passionate about orchids. John was the President of the Orchid Society of SE Asia and Editor of the Malayan Orchid Review. He chaired the 20th World Orchid Conference in Singapore in 2011. He worked on the exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show this year despite his illness. He enjoyed classic cars and was the proud owner of a 1962 Volvo sports car.

He served part time as a Research Fellow for the Bioethics Advisory Committee at NUS. He was an Academic Advisor to the UK Open University Psychology degree programme in Singapore. He also served on Singapore's National Medical Ethics Committee and National Bioethics Advisory Committee. He served on Singapore’s Childrens' Society Executive Committee and chaired its Research Committee.

It is with sadness that we report the death of Michael Allan on 19 January 2020.

He attended Bootham where he enjoyed playing hockey and cycling around York with friends.  A highlight was his confirmation by Archbishop Michael Ramsay.

After leaving school and further studies he became articled to his father as a chartered accountant.  Once qualified he was invited to join the family business, T and G Allan, and in due course he became a director.  Unfortunately, ill health forced him to give up his directorship but he was then able to support his elderly father and raise funds for Christian Aid and the British Legion.  For many years he was a church warden for St Peter's church in Bywell.  He also pursued studies in ornithology and other interests through the U3A.

Sadly, he had a serious car accident in August 2019 which left him with poor health.

It's with great sadness that we let you know Michael Johnson died last week, his Memorial Meeting has been arranged at Woodbrook on Tuesday 17th March 2020, at 2:30 pm.

Michael was at Bootham between 1949 and 1954, but many may remember him from Old Scholars' Reunions as he was an active BOSA member and President back in 2012/14.

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It is with sad news that we announce the passing of ex Head of Biology, Barry Smith on Thursday 23 January 2020. Funeral service to be held at York Crematorium on Friday, February 21st at 11.00am, see more details here.

Barry joined from Sheffield University where he had been a full-time academic.  Barry came to Bootham looking for an open-minded, exploratory school and liked what he found.  Head of Biology throughout, he ran the Natural History (N.H.) Society, which at the time featured many much-loved and exotic live animals.  Best of all; Indie the Python, who often went on manoeuvres to comic effect around the school buildings. He edited the N.H. Journal annually, and ran N.H. expeditions, in which 50 students and a handful of staff spent a week camping near the sea, in an 'NH-rich' setting; walks, visits and learning all played a part in there.  

Barry also ran a football team, and coached athletics.  He was incredibly popular with students and staff, a genuine 'father of the staff room'.   

We are saddened to announce the death of Leslie Pumphrey, who passed away on 13 October 2019 after a long illness.
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Tom Lester died in August 2019

It is a testament to how well-loved Tom was, that his friends travelled from America, the Philippines, Hong Kong and around the UK to celebrate his life.  Tom's mother Pam, had worked at Bootham as a swimming instructor and Tom had enjoyed his time in the school.  He went on to study Computer and Entertainment Technology at Leeds, there he gained a 1st and made friends with his future employer and his family.  Tom was a talented graphics engineer.

Friends remembered his fondness for games and collectibles, and his love of receiving parcels from Amazon!  He was always there for his friends; happy to talk to Danny Chan in Hong Kong late into the night.  He had been Best Man at Danny's wedding.  He is remembered as a loyal and loving friend and is greatly missed. 

In Loving Memory of Richard Burton

It is with immense sadness that we have to share the distressing news that our colleague and friend Richard Burton passed away peacefully on July 31st after a short illness. His contribution to the life, atmosphere and success of Bootham over the 32 years he was on the staff was both generous and huge, and will have been long-lasting in the lives of many of the students for whom he cared.

Our Facebook page presents an opportunity for any member of the Bootham Community, past or present, to contribute thoughts, memories and personal appreciations of Richard. His family are looking forward very much to reading any reflections that might be offered.

John Nathaniel died peacefully on 24th June, aged 66. Devoted husband of Sussi, and much loved brother and uncle. 
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The recent death of Jeremy Heywood at the ludicrously young age of 56 received immense coverage in the national media. In an age of fractured politics it was truly remarkable to find four Prime Minister, two Labour and two Conservative, united in paying tribute to a man who had worked with them, at the centre of government, for more than twenty years. 

He will be greatly missed by his friends and by those whom he served.
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It is with great sadness that we received the news of the death of Ian Small, Headmaster of Bootham School from 1988-2004, following a short illness. The love, thoughts and prayers of our community are extended to his friends on the staff, former students and, most especially, his daughters , Catherine, Naomi and Hannah. We, along with the wider Quaker family, hold you all in the light. Ian was a remarkable man, whose generous leadership of Bootham and its progress under his diligent stewardship is remembered very fondly and with great gratitude. He continued to support the school, as a member of the BOSA committee and through his regular support of events such as Reflect30. I personally found his kindness and gentle wisdom, carefully offered, a great support as I first got to know the school and its ways. He will be greatly missed at Bootham, in York more widely, and beyond (not least for his role in the HMC Projects scholarship system that supports college students from eastern Europe each year).

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Geoffrey Taylor, who died after a short illness on 11 October 2018 aged 82, will be remembered for the care and rigour of his French teaching, his years of service as resident housemaster on Landings, his introduction of rowing and rugby football, his teaching of Russian and his school trips to Russia and France.

He died peacefully shortly after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia.  He is survived by his three children and two grand-children. 

Ray's time at Bootham was epitomised by his dazzling ventures down the right wing and his pinpoint centres which contributed massively to the unbeaten soccer season of 1957.

Ray died on 7 October 2018.  He leaves behind his wife of 50 years Ruth, children Susan and Martin, and 6 adored grandchildren.

It is with very sad news that we inform you of the death of John Sidney Moore on 12 September 2018.

John Sidney enjoyed a good health and a very full, fortuitous life.  However for the last 18 months he was a resident at Milton House in Gargrave, where the level of care he received was exemplary.

On August 16 of this year, John and his wife Sonia celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary receiving a Congratulatory card from Her Majesty the Queen - to which John Sidney commented "quite an achievement"!
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Helena 'Eli' Wike started at Bootham in 2005 as a day pupil.  Eli married Luke Randall in 2013.  She was remembered fondly by staff at Bootham who had seen her flourish during her time at Bootham.  It was a shock to hear of her sudden death, as a result of a road traffic accident, in May 2018.  She was much loved by friends and family and several Bootham staff attended her funeral.  She will be greatly missed and our sympathy goes out to her family.

Tim, who died suddenly but peacefully in Thailand where he and his husband spent the winter months, was born in 1952 in Ilkley, Yorkshire, to Charles, a solicitor, and May, a keen local historian. It was family caravanning holidays, with his younger sister, Helen, to the Lake District that instilled his love of the area – despite the fact these holidays were frequently wet, cold and required farmers’ tractors to rescue the caravan from muddy fields.
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It is with great sadness that we report the loss of a young member of our Old Scholars' community.  Jason Lawn left school in 2012 after fifteen years at Bootham Senior and Junior Schools.  He was deputy head boy at Bootham Junior School.  During his Schoolroom years he was an active member of the football and cricket teams, but in later years focused on his academic achievements.

He is remembered with great fondness by our staff as a cheerful and gentle young man who was an important part of our Bootham community.  We send our sympathy to Jason;s family and friends.

Lawrence Burton was born in Clifton Junction, Manchester on 10 February 1928.  He attended Lancaster Grammar School and Bootham where he excelled in sport and became Head Boy.

He died on 22 December 2017 and leaves wife Margarite, son Andrew, daughter in law Kate and grandchildren Joe and Tom.  A kindly, gentle man who believed in doing good for the sake of it.

Colleagues will be sorry to learn of the death, on 26 November 2017, of Emeritus Professor Michael Hillas, at the age of 85 after a short period of ill-health.

Michael was a quiet and modest man, reserved but with great personal charm.  Tributes to him have poured in from all continents including Antartica.  He is survived by his sister, two nieces and a nephew, together with four great nephews and three great nieces. 

David, one of five siblings, grew up in a Quaker family in Bristol.  When he was eleven, he and his older brother, Peter, who was at Bootham, went to an international school in St Jean de Luz, in the south of France, where a family friend was headmaster.  David went on to Bootham at the age of thirteen. 

David died peacefully in his sleep on August 8, 2017
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We have received notification from Christopher Nicholson's father that Christopher passed away on 23 May 2017.

Our sympathies are with Christopher's family and friends.

We have received notification that Anthony Elliot sadly passed away on 26 December 2015. 

John Brockbank was an accomplished horseman and master of Cumberland Foxhounds for more than half a century.  Also a renowned trainer and breeder of racehorses, he had numerous winners and placed horses on the point to point field. 

John came to Bootham in 1942 from Brookfield School in Wigton.  He married his wife, Elizabeth Allen, in 1951 and they were happily married for 66 years and had five children.  He died on 26 April 2017 and leaves wife Elizabeth and children Mark, Stephen, Ruth, Tim and Joanna as well as eight grandchildren.

We have received the sad news of Richard Robertson's passing. No further details have been given.

Chris sadly passed away on 23 March 2017. He was well loved; our sympathies are with his family and all who knew him.

We have received notification that sadly, Michael passed away in October 2016. 

Keith's son Richard, BOS 76-77, contacted us to say that Keith passed away peacefully in the HDU at Jersey Hospital on the 29th August last year after bravely battling pancreatic cancer for five and a half years.

"Dad often told us that the days he spent at Bootham we're the happiest of his life and he maintained his friendship with Richard Clark and Rick Lamb until his dying day.”

Our sympathies are with Keith's family and friends.

We have received notification that Robert sadly passed away on 15 March 2017.

We have been contacted by Hedley Quinton (B:1949-1954) to say that his brother David Quinton died on 7 June 2016. David was an Emeritus Professor of Bristol University. Our sympathies are with his family.

We have been notified that Joseph sadly passed away on 28 October last year, peacefully at home surrounded by those he loved. 

He loved Bootham and always remembered it fondly.

Alan passed away on 1 December 2016. The Yorkshire Post carried an obituary on 10 December 2016.

David passed away on 26 November 2016. The Yorkshire Post carried an obituary on 8th December 2016.

Michael passed away on the 20 October 2016. Our sympathies to his family and friends.

Professor Christopher John Holdsworth passed away on Saturday, 1 April 2017, in Yarm at the age of 86.

He is survived by his former wife, Juliet, son Robert, daughter-in-law Michele and four grandsons.

Helmut HS von der Heyde's son, Paul, wrote to let us know his father died on 11 November 2016.  Our thoughts are with Helmut's family and friends at this time.

Anne Wills, wife of Rodney Wills, died peacefully on 1 February, aged 90.  Our thoughts are with her husband, Rodney, and daughter, Barbara, at this time,
 

We have recently received notice of the death of Geoffrey Richard Harland Windas on 27 September 2016.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

We recently received notification of the death of Dr. John Dilworth Abbatt, from his surviving son, Jon. John died on 3 November 2016 at the age of 93, in Victoria, BC. Our thoughts are with his family.