Obituary: Douglas R. Sherwood (1941-1948)

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.

Update: George Eldridge (1952-1957)

George Eldridge, a pupil at the school from 1952-1957, recently discovered this site. This led him to reconnect with his school friend Jim Tarrant. George now lives in Australia, and would be very keen to speak to other Bournemouth School alumni of the same era who have also migrated to the antipodes. He has sent use the following update of his life since leaving the school.

I joined Bournemouth School in 1952 and left (very early) in 1957 to join the Metropolitan Police Cadets in London.

I was at the school in the days of the Headship of Mr. Parry and how could one not mention the man himself – Mr. Jasper J Dodds! I sat through many a history lesson from Mr. Dodds, wondering who in my form would be the most likely to be on the receiving end of a solid wooden backed blackboard duster! There was also a fair degree of personal trepidation involved in this as JJ’s aim was not always what he would have liked and the person struck was not always the intended recipient! Ah, how times have changed! If you had been struck by the duster you suffered in silence and certainly would not have reported the event to your parents thus fearing another session from either Mum or Dad – or even both!

After joining the Metropolitan Police I transferred back to the (then) Bournemouth Force that which in 1967 was amalgamated with the Dorset Force. After that, as anticipated by the locals, things changed and not necessesariy for the better. I saw the writing on the wall and rather reluctantly resigned and entered into Teacher Training as a mature aged student.

I studied PE at a now defunct college in Kent where I met my wife and we married in 1971. Four years later we obtained 2 year teaching contracts in Melbourne, Victoria at the conclusion of which we returned to the UK in very late 1977, as we both then had family members living. This was a mistake as we had enjoyed our time and the lifestyle in Australia and we found it somewhat difficult to re-settle. The Victorian Education Department had kept our teaching positions open for us and in March 1980 we returned to Melbourne and have lived in Victoria ever since.

Although my wife returned to teaching, I realised I was not cut out for it (despite the hours and holidays!!). I applied for a position with the Australian Federal Government and remained so employed until I retired in December 2004.

I turn 74 in April of this year and I am proud to say that despite residing in Australia for the larger part of my life I will always be an Englishman. That can never be taken away from me. However, let me tell you Australia is an awfully tricky place to live if you are a `Pom’ when the all blooming conquering Aussies are handing out their usual treatment during an Ashes series!!!!!!!!! More recently the One Day World Cup international defeat by Bangladesh was also the trigger for much merriment from Australian friends!!

I think often of the School and what may have happened to those I knew. I am very willing to provide my email address to anyone who may like to contact me.

We have removed George’s email from this update. However, if you would like to get in touch with George, please leave a comment here and we will forward your details on to him.

Hunting an artist

We have been contacted by a potential biographer of a Newlyn artist called Robin Arthur Davis (so named on his death certificate) who lived between 1925-1999. It appears that he attended Bournemouth Grammar School under his birth name of Arthur Charles Davis. If anyone has any information about Mr Davis, or knew him, please do get in touch and we will put you in contact with the writer.

Obituary: David Hilliam

David Hilliam arrived at Bournemouth School in the 1960’s as a teacher of English. He progressed through Head of Department to become Deputy Headmaster for many years, until his retirement.

Outside of school he and his wife were the mainstays of the campaign to save the Winter Gardens. He was also a prolific author. In this respect his subjects were varied, but included several books of a historical nature, the origins of the names of many stations on the London Underground, along with books of local history and the derivation of English words.

In 2001 he was the editor of the excellent Centenary Book for Bournemouth School, copies of which are still available and more recently he produced Tig’s Boys, edited letters between Headmaster Dr Fenwick and Old Boys of the school sent from the trenches during World War I. At the time of his death he was working on a book concerning Bournemouth School and World War I, intended to be released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great War.

David died on April 30th 2012 while attending a church meeting in Salisbury. His wife, Mary, had died in February 2011.

Our sincere condolences go to his family, particularly daughters Sandra and Alison and son Paul.

Search for two Old Members 1938-1945

The family of Peter Hull (1938-1945) is very interested in finding their father’s school friends, John F Collins and Geoffrey Turner. Sarah Hull, Peter’s daughter, writes: “Dad’s recently widowed and a bit lonely – would be great if these two ‘boys’ might still be around.” If you have any information on the whereabouts of these two Old Boys please let us know and we will pass it on to Sarah.

Harold Windebank passes away

Grahm Jones draws this notice, from a Rotary newsletter, to my attention:

Rotarian Harold Owen Windebank died on 15 October, aged 93 and had been a loyal member of our Club for 36 years. He was born in Bournemouth, educated at Bournemouth School, living in the Town Centre – Christchurch Rd, then Kinson, then Canford Cliffs and spent his last years in the Isle of Wight with his daughter & family at Brading. His brother Colin died at 24 in the Normandy D-Day landings and Harold served in the RN Reserves mostly in Cardiff dealing with Minesweepers.

He was a great sportsman to the end of his life a member of Parkstone Golf Club – with a record 3 holes in one, a member of the Constitutional Club since 1959, a onetime rugby hooker, a referee, sailor and a member of many other local associations and clubs. Harold set up his successful Bournemouth Insurance Brokers starting on a bicycle, and he was known for his integrity and kindnesses as a true gentleman. His Service of Thanksgiving was conducted by Revd Dr. Ian Terry, directed by Head & Wheble, and eulogy given by his children Carol, Bob & Richard, and grand-children gave various readings. Our thoughts go to the family especially his widow Barbara. The Service concluded with the Voluntary- “We’ll meet again”

News from an Old Boy

Syed Nasser, a.k.a. Sheedy (1994 – 2001) sends this update:

Upon leaving school Sheedy went to read law at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.  He then went on to King’s College, University of London in order to study for his Masters in Public International Law.  Once completed he went on to the Inns of Court School of Law and was called to the Bar at Lincolns Inn in 2006.  In 2007 Sheedy abandoned legal practice for a career in headhunting. He is now a Consultant with Abrahams Russell, a high end legal recruitment firm in the City.  Sheedy still uses his legal skills for charity work in various tribunals across London as well as work for international human rights and development charities.  Sheedy continues, in vain, to support the cause of his beloved Southampton FC.

News from an Old Boy

Martin Crossley (1978-85) has sent this recent update:

I am married and living in Ealing with 3 children and am a Retail Partner at King Sturge Property Consultants in London. Still playing football for Old Lyonians in the Southern Amateur League (although currently out with a broken leg) as well as some cricket and golf. In regular contact with Rob May (1978-85).

Jasper Dodds on film

Norman Martin (1942-47) has sent in this photo of his form group taken in 1946 and featuring the renowned J.J. ‘Jasper’ Dodds. Norman writes:

My only memento of my time at Bournemouth School is [this] photograph taken in 1946 showing the 5th form of that year presided over by J.J. himself and flanked by two of the veterans of that form, Messers Mudway and Hunt. Some of the members of that form had carried over from previous years and as the youngest member, aged 15, (5th from the left, back row) I recall thinking that I had joined a class of young men. Charles Gray was another member of that form but was apparently absent that day. (Charles Gray was to become a famous actor – perhaps best known as Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever?)

Jasper Dodds was indeed unlike any other member of staff at that time. He was a strict disciplinarian. He demanded (and got) everybody’s absolute attention, no one ever failed to hand in homework and his was the only class whose pupils always lined up outside the room whilst waiting for him to arrive for a lesson instead of sitting around larking about! And all this without ever having to raise his voice. Fifty years on, I have to say I count myself fortunate to have come under his wing and to have seen him in his prime.

At the time there were very few private cars on the road, Jasper drove to school in a pre-war Morris 8 registration number CEL 57. The fact that, even today, the number comes easily to mind speaks volumes. Everyone’s radar was tuned to this vehicle and it needed to be because to be spotted by J.J. walking along East Way from the bus stop in Charminster Road without wearing the school cap was practically a capital offence. The sight of CEL 57 appearing over the top of the hill as it approached the school was the signal for the bareheaded ones to make themselves scarce.

Of his own time since leaving the school, Norman says:

I left school to work for Preston & Redman the solicitors in Hinton Road. After National Service I joined the Trust Division of Lloyds Bank and managed branches in Guernsey, Ipswich and Nottingham before retiring as head of financial services in the North West region based in Liverpool.