Versa: Issue Ten

16 17
Announcements
OBITUARIES
Regrettably, we only have space for shortened versions of each obituary in this printed copy but we encourage readers to
visit www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk/oas and click on the Versa link to read the full write ups for each individual.
Michael James
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2022
Written by Judge John S.
Merrick, Retired (OA 1958)
I am sad to report that my old
friend and colleague, Michael
James, passed away in February
2022 after a long illness. Michael
and I were both boarders in
School House and upon leaving
School, we both went on to become solicitors.
Michael read Law at University College London, graduating
with an LLB and then an LLM. He served his articles in
New Square, London and went on to become a partner at an
established firm of solicitors in Great Queen Street.
Michael was an adept property dealer and after several years of
selling and buying properties, working in London and living
nearby in Tunbridge Wells, he moved to Wales with his wife
and children. Michael set up his own practice in Haverford
West and beyond his own belief, attracted a lot of business.
Michael eventually took early retirement and moved to
Devon. Sadly, he had been unwell for several years and
spent the last few years of his life in a residential care home
near Exeter. He is survived by his son, daughter and four
grandchildren.
John Newby
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2021
Written by Archie McDonald &
John Beaumont (OAs 1958)
John Newby was born in 1940. Sadly,
he passed away in July 2021 after a
long fight with cancer. John started at
St Albans School in September 1951.
He was very bright and studied the
Sciences after passing his O levels.
Mathematics was his main subject. He was one of the group of
pupils who called themselves “The Berts”. They specialised in
making explosives!
John was keen on sport and was captain of the 1st XV rugby
team (pictured). He was also a prefect and a Queen’s Scout.
He left school with three good A levels and went on to
University. After graduating he went to Brunel University
where he lectured in Mathematics. John was once involved in
the design of stealth aircrafts which were able to avoid radar
detection. He will be sadly missed.
Alan Bridgman
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2022
Written by his son, James
Bridgman
Sadly, we would like to
announce that Alan Bridgman
died on 18 March 2022, aged
81. He kept in regular contact
with the School, often visiting with other Old Albanians and
friends. He was part of ‘The Secret Society of Berts’, together
with John Newby, and previously wrote about their activities
in Versa, largely specialising in blowing things up!
He went to Cambridge University and then worked for IBM
for many years. If you would like to contact the family, please
email his son James at jbridgman@gmail.com.
Robin Alcock
(OA 1964)
1946 – 2022
Written by his daughter Karen
Alcock-Gore
It is with a sad heart that I report
the death of my father Robin
Alcock, a pupil between 1957 and
1964.
He was always proud of his St Albans roots despite moving
away for Cardiff University. He lived in many places
(Fareham, London, Guildford and finally Orpington) but
I think a part of him always felt St Albans to be his home.
He worked in personnel for most of his career and retired
gradually, filling his time afterwards with becoming the Chair
of Governors at the Harris Academies.
He was a keen cyclist in his youth and this was again a passion
of his after retirement. He was fortunate to experience mostly
good health and passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in
his sleep after watching the rugby which I know he will have
enjoyed. I am sure he will be remembered by any who knew
him as I remember him, as a very funny and kind person with
a mischievous smile and quick mind.
Professor William
(Bill) Hill, OBE
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2021
Written by his wife
Rosemary Hill
Bill was born in
Hertfordshire in 1940
and had a younger sister,
Nancy, who survives him.
He read agriculture at
Wye College, University
of London, where his interests broadened into mathematics,
statistics and genetics. After completing his master’s degree
at the University of California, Bill was drawn to Alan
Robertson’s work at the University of Edinburgh, where his
PhD was in population genetics. He stayed at Edinburgh as
a lecturer, reader and professor, eventually becoming head
of the genetics department. Through mutual friends Hill
met Rosemary Austin. They were married in 1971 and she
survives him with their children: Alastair, an entrepreneur;
Louise, a paramedic; and Rachel, an events organiser.
In 1966 Hill and Robertson identified a phenomenon that is
today known as the Hill-Robertson effect. It explains many
properties of the genetic variation in populations revealed
by DNA sequencing, as well as providing one of the major
evolutionary explanations for the prevalence of sexual
reproduction in nature.
In later years Bill took on senior administrative roles at the
University, eventually becoming head of the division of
biological sciences in 1993 and Dean of the faculty of science
and engineering in 1999.
Hill took early retirement in 2003 to devote himself to
research and related activities. He increasingly found time to
play bridge and enjoy a glass of whisky. In November 2019 he
was able to enjoy the Genetics Society meeting to celebrate
100 years of genetics in Edinburgh, where he was presented
with the Mendel medal, the society’s highest award.
David Pepper, FRICS
(School Governor
1990 – 2009)
1938 – 2021
Written by Robert
Sharpe (OA 1953,
former Chair of
Governors)
David was born in
Hatfield in 1938. Educated
at Stowe, he was articled
to a firm of surveyors in
Bedford and Qualified as
a Chartered Surveyor. He
married Alison in 1964
and they had three children, the eldest of whom, Michael,
was Head of School in 1984. David became a Partner in the
prestigious City firm of Edward Erdman & Co and in 1989
with another set up his own firm, Morgan Pepper.
In 1990, David was appointed a Governor when both the
School and OAs had been seeking alternative playing fields.
It was David who spotted in a trade magazine that Cheapside
Farm was for sale; on the fringe of St Albans it could provide
the playing field that the School desired. After careful
negotiation led by David, the St Albans School Woollam Trust
purchased the entire farm in 1991. The School benefitted
from the benefaction of Charles Woollam in the 19th century
through the provision of Belmont Field and it was decided
to call the new playing fields Woollams to recognise his
contribution.
No sooner had Woollams been achieved and, with early plans
for what was to be the new Sports Hall afoot, the opportunity
arose to purchase the former Crusader Bookshop on
Romeland Hill. David led the tortuous negotiations to obtain
what is now New Place.
After this acquisition, David retired to devote time to his
family and his other interests, although he remained a useful
source of information for his successors. Unfortunately,
he was diagnosed with a terminal disease some two years
ago which he bore with great fortitude until his death last
November.
John Bennett
(OA 1941)
1925 – 2022
Written by his brother,
Norman Bennett (OA
1951)
My brother has died at
the age of 96. My older
brothers, Jim (OA 1937)
and Tom (OA 1939),
died in 1988 and 2004,
respectively.
John joined Barclays
Bank when he left School,
but soon after, took up
arms and joined the
Duke of Wellington’s
Regiment. After a posting
in Dehradun, John was impaled through the shoulder with a
pitchfork by Indian independence agitators and demobilised
as a Major in 1946. John returned to banking and retired as a
manager in Aylesbury. He played rugby for a few years for the
OAs B XV and enjoyed golf at Redbourn Golf Club. His wife,
whom he met at Barclays, died last year. They had no children.