Old Lawrentian News 2010/11

JOHNSON BEHARRY VISIT
On 24th February 1957,
Cecil William Buckley
became the first
recipient of the Victoria Cross,
which was awarded for his
gallantry in the Crimean War in
1855.
He retired to Madeira and died
there in December 1872 and
was buried at the English
Church.
Johnson Beharry was
awarded the Victoria Cross for
his astonishing bravery whilst
serving in Iraq.
In February 2007 he was
invited to Madeira to unveil a
plaque at the English Church on
the Island to commemorate the
150th anniversary of the
Victoria Cross and to honour
Cecil William Buckley.
Whilst on the island he spent
an hour with David Vallat at his
home and gave him a signed
copy of his autobiography.
Since leaving the College in
1968, David has been an active
Old Lawrentian and sent his
children Alexander and
Georgina to the College.
Sadly, David developed
cancer in 2005 and in 2007 it
left him in a wheelchair, so the
• Johnson Beharry and David Vallat
visit from the Victoria Cross
holder was a delightful moraleboosting
experience.
Fortunately, the cancer has
since stopped attacking him.
Although he still needs to use a
wheelchair, he is now in much
better health than he was in
2007.
Bob Gray
JACK DIXON’S DOWDING & CHURCHILL
Last year was the 40th
anniversary of the death of
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh
Dowding (later Lord Dowding)
who master-minded the RAF’s
victory in the battle of Britain.
Jack Dixon’s (Newlands 1939)
fascinating book assesses the
achievements and treatment of
one of the greatest Britons of
the 20th century, revealing a
conspiracy by fellow officers,
clashes of personalities and
Dowding’s fight to develop
Fighter Command in the way
that he wanted. Even Churchill
comes in for criticism as he
appears to have been taken in
by Dowding’s detractors.
Born in Broadstairs, Jack
Dixon was sent to St Edward’s,
prep school. It closed in 1935
and he transferred to Newlands
House, St Lawrence College.
Jack describes the College as
“a staunchly Low Church C of E
school whose headmasters
were ordained ministers”.
He said: “In 1935 the head
was one Brackenbury, whose
nickname was Creeping Jesus.
At the time it was the school’s
• Author Jack Dixon
Christian duty to indulge in the
caning of boys (by both masters
and prefects) for trivial offences
such as shooting at another
boy’s pigeon or exploring the
foundations of a new building.
It is a better school today,
although perhaps getting too
democratic.”
Jack remained at the College
until 1939, leaving just before
his 16th birthday.
Dowding and Churchill, The
Dark Side of the Battle of Britain
is available to buy on Amazon.
Tom Moulton
You can find Tom Moulton’s full review at www.olsociety.co.uk
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