Remembered

SUSIE GRIFFITHS (nee ROBERTS) 1966-2011

Susie (seen here as Captain of the U12A Netball team) came to Windlesham from Dumbrells at Ditchling in 1975 and early on displayed a marvellously determined streak. She was a gregarious youngster whose many friendships reflected her sporting interests certainly, but they also developed through her competitive spirit in the classroom, where she displayed considerable talents too. She enjoyed the drama, art and music equally, but her great passions were netball and tennis in which she excelled, showing huge skills of leadership. Despite a wickedly irreverent sense of humour, it was no surprise that she was as popular with the staff as she was with her peers.
In 1979 Susie left to go on to Benenden, where her career followed a very similar path and then on to Bristol to read German. Her professional life found her initially in the city as a fund manager, where her love of skiing certainly, but of especially boating provided her with much intense fun while relaxing. It was no wonder that, having bought a Beneteau, she eventually moved into marine management, all of which led to her meeting Griff. They married in March 2006, spending much of their intensely happy time together skiing, or over many summer months, sailing around the coast, across the channel and even to Spain.
The tragically early diagnosis of cancer simply brought out the fighter in Susie. She bore the disease with immense fortitude, but this was sadly one match she was not to win and she died on March 27th 2011, deeply mourned by her family and wide circle of friends.

TWO LEADING WINDLESHAM FIGURES

We are very sorry to report that there have in the last fifteen months been two sad deaths of major players in the Windlesham story, one which we were only able to report briefly in our last edition.
At the end of 2010 the death was announced of Bridget Malden, the older sister of Charles Malden, the last Malden to be Headmaster of Windlesham. She was born in 1926 and, after schooling at Windlesham and Roedean, joined the WRNS. After the Second World War, she returned to Windlesham to give invaluable help to the school through its post-war difficulties. During this time she was also involved in the life of the local community, running a Girl Guide troop. When she married David Furneaux in 1951, they provided a guard of honour for her! She and David had two children, Mark who is himself a former Windlesham pupil, and Anthea. Her husband was Managing Director of Marconi International Marine Co and died in 1987. Bridget Malden was the last surviving child of Mr Christopher Scott Malden, Windlesham Headmaster from 1927-1953.

Now this January has seen the sad death in Essex, after a long illness, of Genifer Malden. She was the wife of Roger Malden, the eldest child of ‘Mr Chris’ and who succeeded him as Head in 1953. So for the four years he was at the helm, she was ‘the Headmaster’s wife,’ a role she filled very contentedly and competently. They had emigrated to Rhodesia in 1957 to take up farming, their younger son Robert continuing to run the family farm for some years after his father’s death in 1977.
We are thinking of all members of the two close families, as well as the wider family, one of whom, Mrs Lucinda Williams, happily continues to play a major part in the life of our Windlesham community as Chairman of the Governors.

Bridget Malden at her wedding

 

 

 

 

 

NIGEL CHILVERS

(photo – Nigel with Douglas Moody-Stuart)

Nigel joined the Windlesham staff in the late 50s and quickly became an integral part of the extremely multi-faceted Common Room of that era. Those were somewhat more free-wheeling times, unconstrained by demands of the National Curriculum, and yet the originality of the teaching never lost sight of the academic rigour required. As Head of French, he introduced Windlesham to the then cutting-edge technology of the Language Lab, which so revolutionised approaches to the subject. The standards achieved are reflected in the very large percentage of the Ones who would be invited on the legendary day trips to Dieppe towards the end of the summer term, a privilege granted only to those who scored 60%+ in CE.

Outside the confines of the classroom Nigel’s talents were given full rein, He encouraged many in their pursuit of board-games, his carpentry skills helping pupils to make the games involved. He was passionate about archery and the winter would be spent making the bows that would then be used with such precision on the Front Lawn in the summer. Many children recall too how he was very fond of dissecting dead creatures and how much he taught them of anatomy through this activity.

However, despite his devotion to all these things, it may be more accurate to say that his greatest contribution to the life of the school was in the production of the annual major dramatic production, then put on in what may be viewed today as the very cramped venue of Harrow. In those pre-MFT times the school’s stage was located there, but nevertheless the ambitious plays that he directed bore witness to his immense theatrical skills. His love of acting in all its aspects shone through plays ranging from ‘The Royal Hunt of the Sun’ and ‘Becket’ to ‘Murder at the Red Barn’ and ‘The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew.’ Given his love of the Bard, it was appropriate that his final production was of ‘The Tempest.’

Nigel also managed to fit in time to be not only Housemaster of Grenfell, but joint Deputy Head as well. It is therefore not surprising that he was held in great affection by all his charges, as so many warm tributes have borne witness. The school owes him a tremendous debt and when he moved on in 1983 he was greatly missed by staff and pupils alike. We now mark his passing in March 2011 by remembering with affection his wife Brigid and their two sons, both former pupils, Fergus and Ronan.

PETER McKEAND 31.03.88 – 12.10.11
Peter McKeand’s many Windlesham friends will be devastated to hear of his tragic death in November. It was, therefore, reassuring that the school’s grapevine worked so well that there was such a large number of his contemporaries able to attend his funeral in Mortlake.
Peter endeared himself to both pupils and staff during his time at Windlesham, for not only was he a delightful companion with a wicked sense of humour, but he had a remarkable array of talents too. Intellectually he was extremely gifted, but he combined this with involvements in the creative side of the school too. Amongst the multitude of memories that have emerged, one of the principal ones is of him in an Open Day ‘take’ on Top of the Pops, when he gave an outrageously wonderful performance as Tom Jones, singing ‘Sex Bomb.’
Peter’s academic prowess saw him move on with ease to Eton in 2001, where he continued to impress all who met him. Very sadly his father died soon afterwards, but it was there that he began to take his music more seriously. He was, though, soon performing with his own band, frequently singing material he had written himself. He eventually moved on to study at Roehampton University, but it is probably fair to say he was not sure what career route to take. That such a colourfully creative life should come to so premature an end has left his many friends deeply mourning the loss of a fine young man. Our thoughts are with his mother and sister Li-Ren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Benkert (19.3.74 – 11.9.10)

Very sadly, Alice Benkert died on Saturday 11th September, 2010.  She had been unwell with Wegener’s Disease for some time and suffered it with characteristic fortitude. Her untimely death was a shock to her family and friends, but her funeral was attended by many, many people, all of whom loved her and will miss her. Alice was a pupil at Windlesham until 1987, when she left to go on to Bryanston with many of her Windlesham friends. It is a testament to how much she brought to people’s lives, that she remained friends with a great number of those in the years that followed.  Alice loved Windlesham and often spoke of her happy times at the school. Only the day before she died, we had laughed about free days and picnics and running around in the maze.

She was always the one rallying the troops for the reunions! Windlesham laid the foundation for the sports and music in which she excelled during her school years. She attended Exeter University and then progressed into a career as a  stockbroker in the city. Alice travelled widely and had a real zest for life. She found the good in everything, was a loyal and supportive friend and adored her family. Alice’s life and achievements represent everything Windlesham should be proud of – she was one of its finest products.

Max Lowry 22.04.76—24.09.10

Following the death of Max Lowry from what has transpired to be Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, two of his friends from Windlesham and subsequent times have sent us their memories of this remarkable man.

Max was my little guardian angel since the early days of Windlesham and then  subsequently Marlborough.  He was always there protecting me from the ‘lads’ and he always stood up to them despite the three year age gap between us.  The lads would    never take Max on because he managed to stand up to them with his cheeky confidence, twinkle in his eye and dimpled smile…he would only have to give them one flash of that look and they’d back down and I’d be on my way!

Like so many people, I’ve always had a soft spot for Max.  He was so very special.  After many years of not seeing him since school I invited him to my 21^st birthday party themed ‘black and white’ and of course he trumped everyone with the best outfit…white suit and blacked out skin all over.  I bumped in to him in London about five years ago and saw quite a bit of him since.  Last year Max was considering a new studio space near to mine in London Bridge but it didn’t work out as it wasn’t big enough for his new work.  His career as an artist was so exciting and it was really encouraging to see his natural raw talent being put into practice after his art school days.  I will always remember his cartoon characters and magnificent robots and monsters that he drew in the Windlesham Art/Design Centre and it always amazed me that someone so big and strong could create such tenacious and beautifully intricate drawings.  It seemed that his passion for these drawings became magnified with his large-scale 3-D works with his business partner Joe Hill (whom he met a Marlborough) – they were extraordinary.

At Marlborough we’d always be wasting time joking about in the Quad but when it came to Robin Childs’ Art School I remember the tone would instantly become focused and serious.  I found Art a real struggle but Max who would spend most of his time in there would always give me gentle support and encouragement (he often gave me a helping hand with my paintings and drawings…).  It is partly due to Max’s support and (and Robin’s excellent teaching) that I ended up pursuing my career in the art world.

Max’s enthusiasm for life was boundless.  For me he was quite simply larger than life in every way.  I don’t know anyone as charismatic who could light up a room through his lovely, pure energy.  His laugh, that smile, so beautiful, open and sensitive (and I don’t know of any girls who didn’t go weak at the knees when meeting him!).

His talent as a musician was equally astounding….matched closely by his perfect roast potatoes and roast chicken of which he was so proud! Max was wonderful in every way. To me, I will always remember him as just, Max.

Laura Biddlecombe

The programme cover that Max Lowry designed for the first-ever production in the MFT – a dramatisation of DH Lawrence’s ‘Rocking Horse”

A cheeky grin, stretching from ear to ear, that couldn’t possibly have any other effect than to make whoever was in that grin’s presence see the lighter side of life…  I think anyone fortunate enough to have met Max Lowry during his short-lived 34 years on this planet will recall his mischievous grin and infectious love of life. I first met Max at Windlesham nearly 30 years ago and if I close my eyes and think back to those warm fuzzy days I can still see that grin. It never left him and when we met up again in London some 16 years later it was still there, along with a bear-like hug from the now towering Max. I didn’t see Max in those years between London and Windlesham but during that time he grew a lot taller, refined his strong artistic skills and learnt to love life.

Whilst Max and I at the time worked for a London public relations firm, his true love was art and that skill as an artist later saw him travel the world, whether it was exhibiting his paintings in New York, creating astounding 3D chalk drawings in China or once even wrestling with bears and wolves for a photo-shoot in France. For many years he was also the global face of Sacla having been asked to paint a large mural of a jar of pesto on a farmyard wall for an advertisement. Just type in “Max Lowry” into Google and you’ll see what I mean!

Always game for a laugh, Max once helped win a big contract by dressing up as a pirate and delivering some company credentials to the bosses of Chessington World of Adventures. Making his way back to the Chessington car park he found himself followed by around 20 children all thinking he was Captain Jack Sparrow. Drawing his sword and pointing it to the sky he gave a great pirate-like “Ahhhaaa” and chased them, giggling, back to their astonished mothers.

I know there were many adventures I wasn’t party to, but I also know that I and every single one of the two hundred or so people who attended his funeral in Fulham  know how lucky we all were to have shared in the past a moment or two with the big guy and those memories, like that cheeky grin will stay with us all for a long time to come.

Tom Hedges

Polly Renton (04.03.70—28.05.10)

Polly Renton died very tragically on May 28^th in a road accident in Kenya, together with her four-year-old daughter Sita. She was an award-winning documentary film-maker. Her notable films included My Mate Charlie (2000), about cocaine use in Britain; Waiting for Sentence (2001), about the experience of prison; and Sex Bomb (2002), about sexually transmitted diseases, which won a Royal Television Society education award for best independent programme.

Polly was an intrepid adventurer and travelled widely throughout her life. After visiting Kenya for a holiday in 2000, she decided to make it her home, having fallen in love with the beauty of the country and its people – and with Toby Fenwick-Wilson, a charismatic safari guide. She married him in 2005 in Ulu, which looks across the stunning Kapiti plains towards Kilimanjaro, and they made their home there.

Having moved to Kenya, she became aware of the highly restricted nature of news and current affairs programming and the almost complete lack of home-grown television. It was setting up Medeva (Media  Development in Africa) that proved to be Polly’s greatest achievement. She single-handedly trained a new  generation of aspiring young Kenyan journalists and launched a long-running current affairs series Agenda Kenya, which had the greatest effect on the democratisation of Kenyan television.

The broadcaster David Dimbleby, a family friend, advised her how to adapt the format from the BBC’s   Question Time, and Polly somehow managed to persuade a steady stream of high-level Kenyan politicians into the studio each week, to face a live audience and answer their questions. The atmosphere was understandably edgy, and Agenda Kenya immediately gained a reputation as the first and only TV programme that had the guts to put politicians on the spot about the issues of the day. It was necessary to have an armed presence surrounding the studios, such was the incendiary atmosphere during the recording of the show, in a country simply unused to this open and politically unrestricted style of programming.

She stood down from the daily running of Medeva in 2008, but remained involved in the syndication of Agenda Kenya to Uganda and the continued training of young journalists in Tanzania and Rwanda. In 2009 she teamed up with her journalist brother Alex Renton to make films about poverty and maternal mortality for the Department for International Development, teaching herself to be a film editor.

Polly was the youngest of five children of Tim Renton, the Conservative politician, and his wife Alice, the  author. Christian, Dan and Chelsea had preceded her at Windlesham, after which Polly was educated at   Roedean School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where she read Modern Languages and, along with many other musical interests, played her violin and sang in the barbershop choir. She also rowed for her college.