Obituaries & Tributes

Dick Baker - a further tribute

Dennis Fowle (at School 1945-51) contacted the OBA on seeing the obituary for Dick Baker, who he had known at School. Dennis has sent us a further tribute to Dick Baker which we publish below:

Francis (Dick) Baker

It is with great sadness we report the passing of Francis (Dick) Baker CBE in December. His daughter, Karen Page, wrote to the OBA with this obituary of one of our most distinguished OBs both through public service but also in supporting the School.

John Frederick Hearn (Teacher)

Following notification from his son, we note the death on 4th July 2023 of John Frederick Hearn, teacher at the School during the 1960s.

Mark Sayer (OBA Committee) offers this personal tribute to his old teacher:

Ronald Swan

We are sad to report the death of Ronald Swan who was at the School from 1936-41. His grandaughter Catherine contacted us to pass on the news. Ron passed away on 27th April 2023 aged 97.  

Jonny Webb - OB 1990-1995

We regret to report the passing of Jonathon (Jonny) Webb who attended the School between 1990 and 1995. His friend and fellow OB John Gardiner has provided this fulsome tribute to a life well-lived but sadly ended by cancer at the early age of 45 on 2nd April. 

Jonny attended Borden Grammar between 1990 and 1995. I knew Jonny from later in his life, but we overlapped at Borden for a while and we used to joke that I might once have given him a detention. ‘Did you become a prefect?’, I much later asked Jonny. ‘No!’, he replied, with a vigorous shake of the head and one of those amused grimaces which always signalled, for him, awareness of perhaps a little more fun enjoyed than sticklers might have condoned. Jonny once described his time at Borden to me as lively. (‘Lively’ was a very Jonny adjective.)

David Jenkins - OB and Teacher

Its with great sadness we learn of the passing of David Jenkins (1960-2022) who was both an Old Bordenian through his studies at the School (1973-1978) and teaching career which ended in 2015.  Many OBs will have known 'Dave' Jenkins as a fellow pupil during his years or studied under him in his Science classes.

Stephen Bedelle

It is with great sadness we learn of the passing of Stephen Bedelle on 15th June 2022.  Stephen attended the School 1969-1974 with his twin brother, Paul.