The College Record 2022

Not one to let the grass grow under him, a year later he gained a teaching certificate
in Oxford and a wife in Sheffield. This was when he got seriously lucky meeting and
marrying Diane, a theatre sister at the Royal Hospital who shared his taste for travel.
They moved to Kingston, Ontario, and in the summers took long tours of the USA
and Mexico. After three years both wanted a return to the UK, to reunite with families
and friends and to set up home and start a family. Ringstead Crescent in Crosspool
was where they started and where they stayed.
Obituaries
In his career as a teacher in South Yorkshire, John continued to play football, with
the Ecclesfield and Stocksbridge teachers’ teams and the Old Centralians. In the
summer, cycling and tennis took over. Family, friendships, and holidays continued to
enrich his life, with frequent visits to Greece helping to refresh his Lit. Hum. passions.
After retiring from his post as Head of Lower School at Stocksbridge School, he
enjoyed walking in the Peak District and was still organising Derbyshire walks with
his friends in 2021.
Despite being diagnosed with heart failure in 2013, John refused to slow down or be
beaten and would attempt to out-run the doctors for the rest of his days. To his last
day John still owned eight pairs of running shoes and was seen by his neighbours
in his running kit until a month before he passed away.
John particularly valued his links with and friends from Queen’s, organising regular
reunions at Old Members’ Dinners. At the dinner of 2002, the 1962 Cuppers Team
had a ‘40 years on’ reunion and were invited by the Provost to stand for an ovation.
I treasure my photo of him passing the Loving Cup to his neighbour with the toast in
impeccable Latin “In memorium absentium, in salutem praesentium”.
John died in December 2021. He is survived by his younger brother Ian, daughter
Bonnie, and grandchildren Ria and Felix. In his eulogy at the funeral, Ian’s closing
words were those of Catullus for his brother: “ave atque vale”, hail and farewell.
David Goodall, Chemistry (1959)
ANDREW BALL
Andrew Ball (Music, 1968), who died on 10 July 2022 aged
72 from complications of Parkinson’s, was a distinguished
pianist, teacher, and administrator who made a significant
contribution to the performance of new and 20th Century
music.
Andrew and I came up to Queen’s in 1968 as the two
Music undergraduates. I soon realised that here was no ordinary undergraduate:
College Record 2022 | The Queen’s College 105