Issue 2 Winter 2008 (6.3 MB) - Blundell's School

Edward Robert Crowe was born on 18th July 1928 andbrought up in South Nutfield near Reigate. His father DouglasCrowe was a coffee broker. His mother was Dutch - yes, Tedwas half Dutch. Ted occasionally spoke about his happychildhood with brother Bob and sister, Mary. Douglasintroduced him to cricket at South Nutfield CC and, notably, for‘The Crows’. A covenant on the cricket ground preventedSouth Nutfield from playing matches on Sundays, so Douglasformed his own team which was not subject to anyrestrictions. Ted took a starring role in The Crows andterrorised local villages with his hitting.Ted was a pupil in Francis House at Blundell’s School from1943-46. He excelled at all sports but rugby and cricket most ofall. He went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge to readmathematics but spent the ensuing three years playing a vastamount of sport, notably rugby for the XL Club and cricket forthe Crusaders. If he had been at all selfish, he would probablyhave won Blues at both sports. The friendships that Ted madeat Pembroke and Cambridge lasted all his life.A little known fact is that Ted actually took his degree ingeography. At a terrifying interview with his tutor at the start ofhis final year, Ted was told that for him rugby, cricket andmathematics were just not compatible; something had to give.To Ted’s relief, the tutor decided it would be the maths.National Service followed and included time - not recalled withaffection - in Egypt at an observation post by the Suez Canal.He was no internationalist. He did not travel abroad again until1987, when he led the Old Blundellian cricketers to Paris to reenactthe Olympic Cricket Match of 1900 where they won thegold medal. The only international non-sporting topic on which Iheard him express an opinion over the years was - bizarrely -Archbishop Desmond Tutu, of whom he strongly disapproved.Ted returned to Blundell’s in 1953 and spent the remainder ofhis teaching career there until retiring in 1989. He was thearchetypal dedicated schoolmaster, whose life was Blundell’s.He taught mathematics. In due course, he ran the rugger andcricket and instilled his passion for them in generations ofschoolboys. He was a much loved housemaster of Old Housefrom 1965-80.An outstanding second row forward on the rugby field, hehelped to develop rugby at Blundell’s to a very high level.When Ted joined the staff, Graham Parker was running the 1stXV and his great protégé was Richard Sharp (W 1952-57), whoduly became the outstanding player of his generation. Tedcoached Richard and many, many others. Amongst his manyfine teams as master in charge of rugby, Ted’s unbeaten sidein 1969 stood out, featuring the late Charles Kent (NC 1967-72),who went on to win five England caps.On the cricket field, Ted was a wicket-keeper and hard hittingbatsman. He played minor counties cricket for Devon in 1955.He was a great supporter of Devon cricket, later serving on theCommittee from 1981 until his death and as President.He played club cricket for Tiverton, Sidmouth and the OldBlundellians. He started the Old Blundellian Cricket Club’scricket week in Devon and tour to the Midlands (the lattercontinuing for more than forty years). He played for the OBs inthe Final of The Cricketer Cup in 1976; the team includedRoger and John Davis, Jeremy Lloyds and Richard Sharp.On the sports field, Ted’s ethos was that taking part andenjoyment were everything and far more important thanwinning. The amusement factor was never far away, nevermore so than if it involved an unexpected and victoriousambush of the likes of the Nondescripts, Sherborne orCoventry & North Warwick!It was the Old Blundellian Club that was Ted’s life work. Heserved as Hon. Secretary for more than fifty years, building ahuge network of friendships with OBs young and old. He sentat least 500 Christmas cards each year, all with a personalmessage - and many hand-delivered. He maintained anextraordinary correspondence with OBs worldwide. He wasimmensely proud of the Colin Beale Centre at Blundell’s, andplayed a leading role in completing that project. Does any otherformer pupils’ association enjoy such a wonderful facility inwhich to display its memorabilia welcome and entertainvisitors?Another wonderful facility is the Old Blundellian Box at theCounty Cricket Ground at Taunton. When Chris Ondaatjehelped Somerset CCC to build an indoor cricket school andstand, a term of his gift was that the superb corporate box onthe top of the building be reserved for the OBs. For the lastfifteen years of his life, Ted was the genial host in the Box,presiding daily when cricket was on, looking after countlessOBs and other visitors. He was a huge supporter of Somersetcricket.There is a wonderful portrait of Ted, commissioned by SirChristopher Ondaatje, which hangs in the Ondaatje Hall atBlundell’s. However, amongst the many pictures ofdistinguished OBs in the Colin Beale Centre, he allowed nopicture of himself until he was overruled last Autumn.A talented OB designer, Martin Surgey (M 1967-72), wasinstructed to produce a photographic montage of the principalaspects of Ted’s life - including South Nutfield, PembrokeCollege, Blundell’s, rugger, OB cricket and Somerset CCC.This was presented to Ted at a Blundell’s rugby reunion lastNovember and is now proudly displayed in the Beale Centre.Ted was quietly pleased and admitted that he enjoyed it greatly.So, this gargantuan figure is departed. Remembered with hugeaffection for his immense love of and loyalty to Blundell’s, hisunselfishness and for doing so much for so many people; Tedwill be missed but never forgotten by those of us privileged toknow him.Chad Murrin (FH 1969-73)The Memorial Service for Ted Crowe will be on Saturday 12thApril at 11.00 am at St Peter’s, Tiverton. Please contact theBeale Centre (01884-232010, email: admin@obclub.co.uk)so that we have numbers for catering. Parking will be atBlundell’s and buses will run to the church from there.There will be refreshments at Blundell’s after the Service.19