Ray Hill (BGS 1937-1942)
It is with sadness that we report the death of Ray Hill at the end of September 2020. He died peacefully at home in Minster.
Trevor Dadson, FBA
We have learnt that Old Bordenian Trevor Dadson, 72, died in January 2020.
Lewis Chelton
We have been contacted by the son of Lewis William Leonard Chelton to inform us of the sad news of his death on 11 February 2020. Lewis attended Borden Grammar School from around 1946 to 1950.
Simon (his son) tells us that on a holiday last year to Montrichard in the Loire valley, Lewis talked fondly of a school trip there likely in 1947 or 1948.
After leaving the School, Lewis joined the Royal Navy as a 16 year old entry in January 1951.
If any Old Bordenians have further recollections of Lewis, please send to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rev. Stanley Evans
We have received the sad news that the Rev. Stanley Evans passed away in December 2019. Rev. Evans was a stalwart of the OBA and known by many Old Boys through his work with the School and Association.
Richard Harris
Richard Charles Harris (who attended the school 1955-1961) died on December 30th at his home in Essex. His funeral will be held on 10th February at 1.30pm at the South Chapel, Chelmsford Crematorium. His family, who informed us of this sad news, noted that Richard often spoke fondly of his memories of the School and enjoyed attending the Old Boys Reunions.
Tony Whibley remembered
Dennis Fowle has contacted the Association to report the recent death of Tony Whibley (1944-52). Although living in Hampshire, Tony maintained friendships with other OBs and attended Dinners as recently as 2018. Dennis has provided this obituary to the OBA.
Alun Davies (1935-2018)
It is with sadness that we have been informed of the recent passing of Alun Davies, teacher at the School from 1959 to the mid-1990s. John Gardiner (1987-92) is a friend of the family and has provided an obituary for us. Many (including this website editor) will have had Mr Davies as a teacher at some point in their time at the School. The funeral will be held on Wednesday 12th December, 2pm, at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing.
Ken Heaver
Ken Heaver (At school 1941-47) has passed away and his sister, Maureen Fox, has been in touch with the OBA to inform us of his death.
Tony Akehurst bequest - updated
Tony Akehurst (who left the School in 1955) died in February and has left a £500 bequest to the Association. Neil Hancock has provided further words on Tony's life at school and beyond.
Obituary - Roy Weller
Roy Weller, who attended the School from 1941-1948, died on May 20 in hospital at Sittingbourne aged 87.
Barry Gilbert - further information
We have been sent a couple more items to remember Barry Gilbert who died in March
Barry Gilbert
It is with deep regret that we report the death of Barry Gilbert, who passed away on 24th March. Barry joined School in September 1949 and left July 1956.
Graham Holbrook
We have recently heard that Graham Holbrook (BGS 1955-62) has passed away. Graham was admitted into the Canterbury Pilgrims Hospice on Friday 17th March and he passed away peacefully early on Monday morning 20th March 2017, with his family by his side. The date of the funeral is 4th April 2017 at 2.40pm at Barham Crematorium, Canterbury Road, Barham, Near Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6QU.
All are very welcome to join the family afterwards at Olly's old watering hole, the Anchor Public House, at the far end of Abbey Street, Faversham, ME13 7BP. Should you wish to attend a reply of numbers would be gratefully appreciated. Please email the OBA at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we shall forward the information to Graham's family.
Graham is pictured in the 1956-57 Form Photo on the OBA website below (1956-57 Form Photo). He was known as "Fish" Holbrook....as his family ran the wet fish shop in Sittingbourne High St. From school he joined the RAF and followed that up with a varied career in business and consultancy.
Freddie Cooper
We sadly heard of the death of Freddie Cooper many months after the event. He had been a regular at the Dinner for many years with a group of his contemporaries.
His son wrote to us:-
"Thank you for sending the latest edition of the Old Bordenian Website Digest. My mother forwarded the digest to me today and remarked how much Freddie enjoyed receiving and reading the various articles.
My father Freddie Cooper, d.o.b 13 February 1923, died peacefully on 7th July 2016.
Freddie was at Borden GS from 1934 to 1941 and continued to attend the annual old boys' dinner until the age of 84 years old. He always spoke with great affection for the school and appreciated the excellent education and start in life provided by Borden. Freddie joined the RAF in 1941 and gained his wings in 1942 and was fortunate enough to continue flying with the RAF until the early 1960's, retiring as a Squadron Leader in 1966."