Tribute to Brian Belle In the Spring 2007 edition of the <strong>Old</strong> <strong><strong>Orwell</strong>ian</strong> <strong>News</strong>, we were sad to report the death of Brian Belle, joint Headmaster of <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong> until 1969 and sole Headmaster until his retirement in 1979. Until his death, Brian remained an integral part of the <strong>School</strong> and, on these two pages, we pay homage, through what was said at his funeral and memorial service, to him and his wife, Sylvia, after whom the <strong>School</strong>’s Legacy Society, The Sylvia Belle Society, is named. Pamela Thomas (1960-1964), Brian’s elder daughter, said at his funeral that she found it impossible to condense her father’s life into a few paragraphs. “However– husband, father, grandfather, sportsman, teacher – he excelled at them all. As children, all his sporting achievements washed over my sister and me, though we can remember many long hours spent beside a cricket pitch or sitting outside the golf club, being regaled with cricketing triumphs and golfing successes and disasters. It wasn’t until later that we truly understood what a magnificent sportsman he had been. It wasn’t just that he was a great sportsman but he instilled a love of games, especially cricket and football, in the many hours he spent coaching youngsters. And his work with the National Playing Fields Association was not only recognised by the Duke of Edinburgh, but helped to ensure that children throughout Suffolk would have the same opportunities to play and enjoy sport as he had done. To generations of schoolboys, and girls, he was known as “Dingers”, firm but fair, and remembered with great affection by many of his former pupils. It was due to his love and care that the cricket pitch, known to everyone as “The Holy Ground”, was regarded as the best school pitch in Suffolk. We remember the look on his face at a Fathers’ Match when a fashionable mother set off across the hallowed turf in stiletto heels, turning him quite pale! When Mum and Dad retired to the Buck House, the home where they had spent most of their married life, Dad still took a keen interest in the school and all its doings, advising the groundsmen and watching the matches. He also did some private maths coaching with some older pupils – “50 years of teaching maths,” he said to me once, “and they still forget where to put the decimal point!” I can’t let his love of music go unmentioned. He had a glorious voice and dearly loved to sing, even in the last year of his life. He also had a fund of ‘parlour songs’, and ditties less respectable. Many old boys will cherish his ‘Bahunkas’, as his golfing friends will remember his renditions of a certain rugby song! Above all, Dad loved his family, he was always supportive of all our plans, whether he thought they were a good idea or not! He delighted in his grandchildren and they all spent many a happy hour in his company.” The oldest and the youngest <strong>Old</strong> <strong><strong>Orwell</strong>ian</strong>s attending the <strong>Old</strong> <strong><strong>Orwell</strong>ian</strong> Day: Lt Col William F Nesbitt (1930–1936) and Philip J O Donald (1997–2002), who is currently a gap year student at <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong>. Nigel Belle (1950–1955). Ian Angus (Former Headmaster 1979–1993). Daughters Vicki Hunt (1961-1965), Pamela Thomas (1960-1964) and Chairman of Governors, David C Wake-Walker (1956-1960) with the Sweet Chestnut tree (Castanea Sativa). Nigel Belle (1950-1955), Brian’s nephew, spoke at the memorial service. “My first real memory of Brian is from 1950 when I was eight and started at <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>School</strong> as a nervous school boy. I remember my first day, having left my mother blubbing at Liverpool Street station, and here I was playing French cricket on the hallowed turf in front of the Headmaster’s study. Although over half a century ago, I still get flashes of <strong>Orwell</strong> and Brian so often but a very vivid memory was of being caught smoking at the bottom of the observatory tower by – yes, you’ve guessed it, my Uncle Brian! Certainly no preferential treatment for me – I was dragged straight up to his room, shorts down and given the dreaded slipper – was it twice, four times, ten times? – I don’t remember – I was bawling my head off! That taught me some very important lessons, about right and wrong, punishment and a new dimension to Brian and authority – that of “respect”. That day taught me a lot, not least of which was to smoke in a safer place in future! Brian was a true gentleman, a proud and wonderful family man – he did so love his Sylvia, their children Pam and Pen and their grandchildren. My wife, Jane, and I have been so privileged to have known him.” Ian Angus, Headmaster from 1979 to 1993, had this to say at Brian’s memorial service: “Brian and Sylvia were born into teaching: Sylvia through her father and grandfather at Aldeburgh Lodge, while Brian’s mother was a teacher in Essex. The traditional Aldeburgh Lodge <strong>School</strong> may have been their inheritance, but the modern <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>School</strong> is their legacy. When Brian came for an interview at Aldeburgh Lodge <strong>School</strong>, he already had a strong reputation as an outstanding games player. A double Oxford Blue, the previous summer Brian had been a pivotal part of the Essex cricket team that had inflicted a humiliating inning’s defeat on the all-conquering Yorkshire side. He and Sylvia were married on 20 December 1950 in Nacton Church. This was the same year that he won the first of his two County squash titles. Having played 35 first-class cricket matches before the war, he then enjoyed Leave A Will Month – October <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>School</strong> launched the Sylvia Belle Legacy Society two years ago. To date we have received three firm pledges which is wonderful and we thank those people very much. I am sure that many of you may not have considered leaving a gift to <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong> in your Will, but October is officially “Leave A Will Month”. By doing so, you will help future generations of children to follow in your footsteps, and enjoy such an influential time in their lives. Children leave <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong> having made life-long friends in wonderful surroundings equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in senior school and beyond. You can download the leaflet from our website www.orwellpark.co.uk. At the bottom of the homepage click on <strong>Old</strong> <strong><strong>Orwell</strong>ian</strong>s then Downloads. Alternatively contact Lucy Pembroke on 01473 653222, any enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence. 18 distinguished seasons of Suffolk Minor County cricket and to this day has records to his name, having scored over 4,500 runs. He was captain of the County between 1949 and 1953, during which time the team won the Minor County Championships, and he played against seven international touring sides. Later he became President of the Suffolk County Cricket Association. Brian did the same in golf as he had done at cricket, playing for the County on many occasions and he became President of the Suffolk Golf Union in 1977. Brian, slightly reserved and formal, even aloof, would contemplate each problem and apply his principles, while Sylvia, with her preferred route of ever-polite conciliation, was the smiling diffuser of difficulties; giving of herself, reassuring all concerned that a satisfactory solution could be found. Brian was nothing flamboyant, but always dignified, the focused application of prodigious talent to produce consummate skill, followed by a humble smile of satisfaction and a job well done. Brian and Sylvia were a joy to one another. They were the centre of a close family unit. They were hugely respected and admired. The memories they leave behind live on in generations of <strong><strong>Orwell</strong>ian</strong>s and in the traditions of the school they served so successfully, so faithfully. In all senses it was the love of a lifetime.” Please do consider <strong>Orwell</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>School</strong>. Your gift really can make a difference. Following the memorial service, a tree (Castanea Sativa), appropriately overlooking the cricket pitch and the [9th] green, was dedicated to Brian and Sylvia. At the ceremony, David Wake-Walker (1956-1960), addressing a group of current pupils in the school, remembered above all Brian’s application and personal standards: “What did he teach us? And I am not talking about the maths. He taught us self-discipline and personal integrity and both by example. We used to watch him with his tube of golf balls hitting stroke after stroke on summer evenings on the other side of the ha-ha. It created a deep impression that so talented a sportsman should practise so long and hard.” He read from the poem by Grantland Rice : “For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes – not that you won or lost – but how you played the Game.” Brian Belle will have scored highly on how he played the game. He taught us that it mattered a lot who won or lost but not at the expense of personal integrity.” Brian’s two daughters, Pamela Thomas and Vicki Hunt (1961-1965) (aka Penelope) were then invited to unveil the plaque which will be placed in the ground beside the tree dedicated to their parents. P4 <strong>Old</strong> <strong><strong>Orwell</strong>ian</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong><strong>Orwell</strong>ian</strong> <strong>News</strong> P5