Category Archives: Obituaries

Obituary: Gordon Prosser (1932-2023)

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The funeral will take place of Old Bournemouthian Gordon Prosser at Woking Crematorium,
Surrey, on Tuesday, 27 June, at 1200. All are welcome to attend.

Gordon, of Send, Surrey, died aged 91 on Saturday, May 27.

Born in Bournemouth, Gordon attended Bournemouth School from the age of eleven to
nineteen, completing an extra year because his mother had been initially too ill to give
permission for him to stay on in sixth form. During that time, he became Head Prefect.

After completing Royal Marine training during National Service, Gordon pursued a career in
banking. He was a great supporter of the school and attended the annual Old
Bournemouthians’ dinner well into his late 80s.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Margaret (Peggy) and son, Neil. A daughter, Claire,
predeceased him.

Obituary: Douglas R. Sherwood (1941-1948)

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We received the following, from John Demont:

Douglas (“Dougie”) Sherwood, the last of four Old Bournemouthian brothers, died peacefully in December 2022. He was at the school during the war (1941 – 1948) and was one of four Old Boys who went to Sandhurst in 1948. Douglas distinguished himself by becoming a Junior Under Officer. The other three Old Boys were Tom Farmer, Johnny English, and Tony Baxter – probably a  record School entry!

Dougie was a popular character. He played cricket and football for the School at all levels. He was also a very good table tennis player. He retired early from the Army as a Major to further other activities including valuable charity work with his wife Ann.

David Coleman

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We have received the following email from Wayne Lines, an Old Bournemouthian:

A former student of Bournemouth School and close friend of mine (David Coleman) died in Poland on Feb 1st. Dave arranged a reunion about 9 years ago including a tour of the school where about 25 of us from the ‘class of 1972’  were made very welcome.

We have arranged a celebration of his life. Sadly, I’m only in contact with a handful of former classmates but anyone who knew Dave would be most welcome to join us. The details are below.  (The RSVP is to his sister).

Obituary: Ken Maxted

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Mike Webb writes:

I have just had the sad news that Ken Maxted has passed away. Ken taught for many years at the school and was an Assistant Head, Master in charge of the Sixth Form, Head of Romsey House and a member of the Geography Department.

He was a founder member of the staff cricket team and he played for them with distinction for many years. Ken also organised the staff five-a-side for a time. He was a thorough teacher of geography and helped to build the subject into one of the most heavily subscribed in the school at one time.

As an Old Boy of Taunton’s School, Ken must have had divided loyalties when the two schools met of the sports field but Bournemouth School usually won out in his affections. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues at the monthly ‘Chips’ gatherings.

Obituary: Douglas Deedman

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Jill Deedman has got in touch with the sad news that, on 22nd September 2022, her husband Douglas Deedman passed away peacefully aged 73 years at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Douglas was a pupil at the school 1959-1966, later working at the school as a laboratory technician until going on to train as a teacher.

He taught Physics and Computer Science at the school and was also IT Co-ordinator from approximately 1990 until 2022.

The service is to be held at Bournemouth Crematorium on Thursday 6th October, 2.30pm. No flowers by request please, if desired donations to be made payable to Dementia UK C/O George Scott funeral services, 1537 Wimborne Road, Kinson, BH10 7BD, tel. 01202 578079.

Obituary: Anthony Eric Baxter

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John Demont has sent this obitary of Tony Baxter, 1st December 1930 – 24th December 2021.

Brigadier (ret) Tony Baxter died peacefully in a Nursing home at Burleyon, 24th December 2021. Tony was at School 1941 – 48 and was one of four OBs who went straight from school to go to RMA Sandhurst (which must have been some sort of record!). The others being Johnny English, Tom Farmer and Dougie Sherwood. He was a School Prefect and Sergeant in the OTC, as it was then called.

Tony also was selected to go to Trinity College, Cambridge, where as a Commissioned Officer he got an Engineering degree before joining REME. This was a period he really enjoyed.

Tony was a good all-round sportsman and a member of the famous 1948 1st XI Cricket Team, which at one time provided nine of the Hampshire Schoolboys’ Eleven, when the outstanding Chris Eales was captain. As a medium fast bowler and excellent fielder, Tony often played for the OBs when his military duties permitted. He always enjoyed his cricket and was a lifetime member of the Arundel CC.

He enjoyed an active retirement in Worthing with his late wife Pat, using his talented engineering skills when volunteering with local projects.

Tony Baxter was a distinguished, well-liked OB and a real gentleman in every sense of the word – and a good friend. A real credit to Bournemouth School.

Obituary: Peter Harvey, Geography Teacher

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Mike Webb has got in touch with the sad news that Peter Harvey passed away on 26th March. He was Head of Geography at the school and he ran the First Eleven soccer for a number of years. He was a very fine classroom teacher who got the best out of his students – especially if they drew Liverpool football badges for homework!

He was 93 but still played golf on his own golf course several times a week. In retirement he gained two further degrees and worked for Citizen’s Advice for a number of years.

Jim Green

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We have received the sad news that Life Vice-President Jim Green died on 7 July following a second stroke. Jim was instrumental in the success of the Old Boys 1st XI football team for many years, as well as editing and publishing our twice-yearly newsletter. He was also a school governor for a time and served the school and the Old Bournemouthians for many years.

Should anyone wish to attend, the funeral will be held at 11am on Thursday 27 July at Bournemouth East Cemetery, Gloucester Road. Please note the location is not the Bournemouth Crematorium & Cemetery.