Chris Blencowe was a boy at Shebbear from 1961 to 1968 and a member of Thorne House. His younger brother Nick was also a pupil. Chris’s son William was to follow.

After studying history and politics at Reading University, he joined the Royal Air Force, specialising in logistics.

It was a 33 year-long career that would take him from the rank of Pilot Officer to Air Commodore.

Along the way he was to serve as Station Commander of RAF Stafford, study for an MA at King’s College, London, serve in Bosnia, and have three tours of duty in France, latterly as Defence Attaché at the British Embassy in Paris.

Retirement? No such thing. On returning to the United Kingdom, he was appointed as Treasurer and Bursar at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, where he is also a Fellow.