- Les Needham – Obituaryby Barry MellishThe following appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 10 November 2024. Leslie Needham, who has died aged 102, was one of the last surviving members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) set up by Churchill with a mission to “set Europe ablaze” by supporting resistance networks in occupied Europe. Needham …
- ROGER PAWLEY – the Askean connectionby Barry MellishRoger was at Haberdasher Aske’s school in Hatcham from 1949 to 1954. I had commenced two years before that so we did not have close association at School – rather like the Clease/Corbett sketch I looked down on them, I looked up to the Prefects. Roger was not keen on …
- Obituary for Past President Barry Ash written by his son Lindsayby Barry MellishBarry was born in Chislehurst in 1935 to Ted and Nellie ,his Dad worked in the family business at Creek Rd Deptford which dealt in Tarpaulins and Timber . His formative years like many of the generation were framed by the Second World War where his Dad was away in …
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- Past President Barry Ash 9/08/1935 – 03/01 2024by Barry MellishBarry was the president of the Association in 2010, prior to that he had served as Secretary and Social Secretary as well as holding office in the Old Askean Sports Club. A full obituary will appear shortly.
- Mike Nicholls 1943 -2023by Barry MellishTaken from the Old Askean Magazine in his presidential year of 2017:Mike was born in South East London in 1943 and joined Aske’s in 1954. He tells me his mother was interviewed by Ned Goddard whilst he was interviewed by Charlie Prince; his dad was working as a lorry driver …
- George Martin RIPby Barry MellishIt was a moving funeral ceremony with emotional tributes from his son Kim and grandson David, both celebrating the 92 years that George had graced the playing fields at Kidbrooke. George played in every team for Askeans and in his later years, was captain of the most successful side – …
- Brian Burgess – Obituary by his son Stuartby Barry MellishMany thanks Mark and hello everybody. There are many faces here I know, but there are also many that I don’t, so for those of you I don’t know, I am Stuart, Brian’s son. And the fact that I don’t know you all is enormously gratifying as it means that …
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- Brian Burgess – Obituary by his Grandchildrenby Barry MellishFor me, it was the rst me that I took the London Underground aer grandpa died was when grief rst hit me properly. For those of you who don’t know, when I was younger, Grandpa and I would spend a designated day on a ‘tube run’. This would involve me …
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- Obituary of Brian Burgess by his work colleague and friend Philby Barry MellishI first met Brian in 1979 when he and Terry Ball interviewed me for a job at RTZ’s Rossing in Namibia or South West Africa as it was at the time. I had known Terry Ball before but not this rather fierce Africa Corps chap. Thankfully we seemed to hit …
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- Some memories of Pete Collisonby Barry MellishSome of us were at school with Pete from 1959 – 1966, to say that we stunned by his untimely death is to put it mildly. His widow Lindy is trying to gather as much information as she can about Pete during his early years. There are some Youtube Video …
- Tony Harding Funeral Eulogy – by his son Lawrenceby Barry MellishReflections from a Son on his dear Father, Antony John Harding (9th Jan 1933- 27th Dec 2021) “ Tony” or “AJH” I could of course speak the whole day, and more, about him. There is so much to talk about. What’d I like to do however is to talk about the wonder …
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- Tony Harding – a memoryby Barry MellishTony Harding, Old Askean and former English teacher at the school died peacefully on 27th December. His son Lawrence was with him. He was such a great support to so many both at school and afterwards. One of his former pupils writes: I just heard that one of the stalwarts …
- Funeral Eulogy for Michael Sidgwickby Barry MellishMy name is Peter Sidgwick, Michael’s younger brother and I’m here to talk about him and his life and to express the thoughts and feelings of his daughter Lucy and his son Nicholas Michael was born on 21st May 1941 in Farnborough Hospital which made him a very proud Kentish Man. …
- Malcolm Burt RIP 24/09/1935. – 19/08/2019 ( School Yrs 1948 -53)by Barry MellishSteve, We are writing with immense sadness to inform you of Malcolm’s death on the 19th of August, after a brief illness with cancer. We want to let you know how proud he was to be an old collegian of the school. He read the magazine cover to cover each addition with such pride. Your …
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- Obituary – Keith Frederic Spurgeon 11 June 1932 – 3rd March 2019by Barry MellishI am grateful to son Paul for this eulogy read at Keith’s funeral held on 25th March at St Lawrence Church Bidborough. The small church was overfull; the congregation reflected Keith’s wide interests, and included three O.A.’s, suitable attired in striped blazers. Intro Dad was always fond of talking about his past, his childhood and his roots. Whether telling Caroline and …
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- Obituary – Neville Charles Hodgson 7 February 1935 – 8 January 2019by Barry MellishThe funeral for Neville was at St Martin’s Church Ashurst on 29 January 2019. There were no tributes at the service but I want to put some of my own thoughts on record concerning his passing. I was pleased to read the Old Askean Grace at the conclusion of the Service. It was with great sadness that I learned …
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- Chris Comber RIPby Barry MellishIt was with much sadness that earlier today I heard from Rita Comber that Chris had passed away last Saturday, the 2nd February. I understand from his Son, Matt, that his health had deteriorated over the past year. I last saw Chris at the OA’s Advent lunch in November when …
- Funeral of Dave Kingstonby Barry MellishSome 150 plus people crowded in to the North Chapel at Eltham Crematorium on Thursday 6th September 2018 for the funeral of Old Askean Dave Kingston. There were many Old Askean in the congregation who had come to say farewell to a good friend. The service was conducted by fellow …
- Eulogy given to Richard Lawrence CBE at his funeralby Barry MellishIt was characteristic of Dick that he should have had firm ideas about his funeral arrangements. He wanted the cremation, which took place earlier this morning, to be a private matter, confined to his immediate family. He wanted this Memorial Service, which he devised himself, to be for his friends. He …
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