An obituary in a newspaper in Victoria, British Columbia, tells of the “incredible spirit” of an old boy who entered Shebbear more than 50 years ago. A friend was quoted as saying: “Any time you spent with him, you came away feeling a better person.”

Born in Tintagel and brought up in Launceston, Roger Colwill was to spend five years at Shebbear from 1954-59. On leaving he trained as a chartered surveyor with a large surveying company in Plymouth.

He emigrated to Canada in 1968 where he had a successful and lucrative career in commercial real estate in Vancouver, becoming Associate Vice-President of Royal LePage. He retired at the age of 47 and devoted the rest of his life to environmental issues.

He suffered a severe stroke 10 years ago and spent more than three months in hospital. He was left with impairment to the left side of his body and had to learn to walk again. He fought back, accompanying his former tennis partner on jogs on an electric bike. Naturally left-handed and a keen artist in watercolours, he soon learnt to paint with his right hand. The results were “good”.

From the moment of retirement, he “devoured” environmental literature. His “green activism” began with taking part in a project to remove an evasive species of the broom plant that was threatening wild flowers at a local beauty spot.
He also introduced “Green drinks”, informal monthly gatherings at a Victoria pub for those concerned with the environment.

Roger died, aged 65, in September 2007 while having a cup of tea with his wife Barbara. He also leaves a son Mike, 27, and a daughter Sarah, 25.

An Exeter boy, David “Rat” Roberts followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and entered Shebbear in 1941. He was to stay until the late ’40s. He was a member of the 1st XV, became Assistant Scout Master of Troop 2 and was a prefect. Later he qualified as an engineer, specialising in water projects and land drainage. After marriage to Jean, they went to Nigeria for a number of years where he worked for the Government before the country became independent.

When Milton Keynes was still only in the planning stages, David was deputy engineer for land drainage and spoke of the “limitless funds” made available.
He and Jean returned to Exeter when his parents needed their help. In recent years he had been involved in work on the restoration of the Tiverton Canal.

He died on May 18, 2007. He and Jean had no children.

Among Old Shebbearians who attended his funeral at Exeter Crematorium were David Marshall, Ted Lott and Michael Hohl.

Arthur Buse, highly respected as a North Devon businessman and for his service to the community, died on March 12, 2007, at the age of 79. Born in the village he attended Shebbear College from 1938-44 under Leslie Johnson and later Jack Morris.

For most of his life he worked for Thomas Oke & Son, agricultural and builders’ merchants of Holsworthy and its successor, serving firstly as assistant to John Oke, the owner and managing director, and later as managing director, when the company was bought by BOCM.

A Shebbear resident for many years before moving to Bude, Arthur was a long-serving member of the parish council and was later elected chairman.

As a young man he was very involved in the project to build a new village hall.

He was founding member of Holsworthy Rotary Club and later its Treasurer. He was also a member and Treasurer of Mid-Torridge Branch of the Royal British Legion.

He is survived by his wife Mary and son Nigel.

Phil Day, a popular teacher at Shebbear in the 1950s and known throughout the school as ”Skip” for his leadership of the Senior Scout Troop, has died.

He was one of a group of young masters recruited by Jack Morris and taught French and English and later Physical Education.

He was a graduate of the University of Wales and also spent three years with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

He was married firstly to the sister of a Shebbearian.

Moving to Canada, he graduated again from the University of Toronto, before teaching at Appleby College. In 1989 joined the faculty of St Andrew’s College “with boundless energy, resolve and commitment”.

A short obituary on the St Andrew’s website said that he retired from teaching in 1994 and “will be remembered for his love of languages, rugby, travel and music.”

He died in January 2005, aged 76, after a long illness, and is survived by his second wife Sheryl, son Nigel and daughter Nicola and their children.

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.

More than 100 Old Shebbearians were at the annual reunion dinner to take part in a piece of OSA history – the unanimous election of the first female Treasurer.

It was entirely appropriate. There was only one table on which old girls were not represented. Out of 104 old boys and girls present at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, on January 20, plus nine guests, many were of the fairer sex and some three-quarters of everyone attending were at Shebbear from 1993 onwards.

The event also saw Bill Lyddon, who left in 1941, attend his 53rd reunion and Tony Barnfather, who left in 1964 his first, but then he does live in Calgary, Canada.

Headmaster Bob Barnes, attending his seventh dinner, applauded the “positive and youthful” attendance and with tongue firmly in cheek contrasted the “attractiveness of the ladies and the ugliness of the men”.

Emily Trace became the first female officer of the Association 99 years after its foundation. Like her Old Shebbearian father and sister, she went on to Cambridge University. Afterwards, she qualified as a forensic accountant and now practises in London.

Outlining his year in office and proposing the toast to the school, barrister Simon Birks, President, said that on a visit to Shebbear, he had actually managed to learn something.

This, however, concerned the anatomy and habits of a wombat and your reporter hesitates about using the details here.

But he did set a quiz, including the questions: name two teachers who had helped you? three friends who had helped during a difficult time and five people with whom you enjoyed spending time?

Finally: why did you take an interest in the OSA?

The answers to all led back to the school, “so that is why I ask you to stand and drink a toast to Shebbear College.”

Responding, Mr Barnes said this was the sixth occasion he had attended the reunion as headmaster – and it still gave him “phenomenal amount of pleasure” to be among friends. “Each year is a privilege.”

He contrasted the struggles and uncertainties of the 1990s with the thriving nature of the school now. “These are good times at Shebbear.”

“This is the first year that I have not had to worry about numbers, when I have not had to look over my shoulder in fear of financial gloom. Financially we are as strong as we have ever been.”

This had enabled a huge of money to be spent over the past year, including the provision of a new sixth form centre, a new library and a “sumptuous” new staff room.

Pollard House had been refurbished with new bedroom furniture and bathrooms throughout. .

Approval had been given for a new Astro turf sports’ facility. The Sports’ Hall would have a new roof fitted during the Easter holidays.

This year’s GCSE results had been the best for 20 years with 90 percent of pupils achieving five A Star passes.

“In the League Tables of Independent Schools – and we are not selective, I refuse to be – this put us level with West Buckland School, which is extremely selective.

“That gave us enormous pride. They are selective, we are not – yet we still achieved the same academic results.”

In September 2005, Shebbear had started the academic year with 272 pupils.

“This September, we started with 319. This is an indication that we must be doing something right in that we are meeting pupils’ and parents’ needs, not just in the local community but from far and wide, because the number of our boarders has now grown to one hundred.

“But does all this mean that we are successful? Every year I come here to tell that we try to foster the values and ethos that has been in existence since the school began. That recognises and respects differences and tolerates differences and instils in pupils a willingness to learn and be inquisitive.”

He said Shebbear was devising another five-year plan to take the school forward. Questionnaires had gone out to parents “and I would love to be able to send questionnaires out to you, to see what was good and what was bad from your memory and thereby eradicate the bad and improve the good.”

“At Shebbear we endeavour to continually look at ourselves and re-evaluate to make sure we offer the best in education, not just educationally, but socially, in sports, in drama and in every area and facet of school life.”

The toast to the school was as now is the custom presented in a charming duet by Claire Ashworth, Head Girl, and Josef Schmmalfuss, Head Boy. Was there a mention of the new sixth form centre, of some alcohol and the occasional sweepstake? Your reporter closed his ears to such heresy!

But what would Geoffrey Wrayford say in reply?

It was that his affection for the school  had been influenced by his headmaster Jack Morris who, even when he was dying, sent small mementoes to his former pupils.

Morris in turn had been influenced by Thor Coade, Headmaster of Bryanston, founded in the1928, where he had been a Housemaster for 15 years.

Coade’s theorem was that education existed to introduce children to a wider and deeper experience. Jack had done just that.

It was left to Mike Johns to propose Chris Blencowe as President for 2007 and Norman Venner as vice-President. Charles Verney seconded.

Harry Aspey, proposed Emily Trace as the OSA’s first female Treasurer, after first thanking Michael Buckingham for his years of service which had left the association with reserves equalling those of a “small banana republic”.
Emily, he said, would bring not just a well-trained mind but, more importantly, youth to the OSA Committee.

The formal part of the evening ended, but the party went on in the long-suffering RAF Club bar. Next year is the 100th reunion/dinner. We look forward to it.

A fine sportsman, Dennis Guy was a pupil at Shebbear from 1936-39 and was awarded his colours for both rugby and cricket. In his last term he was runner-up for the Victor Ludorum sports trophy. There are some who say he was the best fast bowler the 1st X1 ever had. He also had a fine bass voice, was a leading member of the choir and was much in demand for solo performances in choral works at Christmas and Easter.

He served in the army during the Second World War before returning to manage a successful family bakery business in Exbourne.

He kept up his sporting and other interests long after leaving Shebbear, playing cricket and football for Okehampton and Exbourne.

A widower, he is survived by a son Jonathan and a daughter Rosemary. He died in hospital at Honiton on November 9, 2006, aged 85.

The OSA has learned of the death of Paddy Hipperson who with Trevor Ward enjoyed iconic sporting status in the early 1950s.

He was at Shebbear from 1942-54 after which he entered Cranwell.

In a 20-year career with the RAF, he flew fighter aircraft, trained as a flying instructor and then transferred to RAF Transport Command.

Later he flew civilian aircraft. He was a Boeing 747 Captain with Virgin Atlantic when he retired in 1995.

He died following a heart attack in May 2004, aged 69. A full obituary will appear in the Shebbearian.

Teacher and journalist John Wilkins died from a sudden heart attack at his home in Exeter in May 2006. He was aged 60 and unmarried.

His brother Peter writes: “John was at Shebbear from 1956-62 and left to attend Avery Hill College of Education in London where he was successful in obtaining a B.Ed degree.

“He taught in various primary schools in London and Devon before leaving for Queensland, Australia, to take up a teaching post there.

“Through part-time study he took a degree in journalism at the University of Queensland and went on to work for the Publications’ Department of the Queensland Department of Education, a post in which he felt very happy and fulfilled.

“He returned to England in 1986 and worked briefly for Reuters news agency before going on to accept a post as a writer for an Exeter firm producing medical manuals for use in hospitals.

“John remained a committed socialist and Christian to the end of his life and regularly attended St Leonard’s Church in Exeter.

“He was very proud of being an Old Shebbearian and to the end of his life often mused about his old friends and their likely careers. He possessed very fond memories of the school.”

Dr Alan Hall, who spent his working life as a General Practitioner in Sleaford, Lincs, has died at the age of 85.

He was at Shebbear from 1930 with his younger brother Keith and then entered St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, as a medical student.

Keith, two years younger, writes: “We were both very happy at Shebbear. Alan was quickly spotted as a high flier. He matriculated at fourteen, then spent three years in the sixth form before he was able to get entrance to St Mary’s Medical School.
“Alan was a very good all-rounder. He was opening bat for the 1st X1 when Don Farley was captain. Her also got his rugger colours as a centre three-quarter.

“He finally went into general practice as Assistant GP in Sleaford where he was to spend the remainder of his medical career.

“He lived a very full and active life and read the Daily Telegraph every day. He wrote his first letter to the Telegraph from the sixth form at Shebbear. If I recall correctly it was about the New Prayer Book.

“He continued to write to the Telegraph all his life, usually about politics, about which he was very passionate.”

Dr Hall died in Lincoln County Hospital on April 2. He leaves a widow and two daughters.