OSAmag88

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 8
jousting within limits of decency and
enjoyed a good laugh. Ian leaves us in the
same year that Arsene Wenger leaves
Arsenal. There's something magical about
that.
I first came across Ian at Ike's Bookshop
when it was located at Overport City in
the earlv 1990s. He was making his annual
trip around the country in search of
valuable items, and on one of those visits I
happened to arrive when he was already
there. I watched in fascination and curiosity
as he carefully inspected a volume, turning
it around and viewing it quizzically from
every conceivable angle to check for defects
or searching for crucial markers of value.
At other times when the spotted something
special, it disappeared from the shelf to
join the pile under his arm in a blistering
flash.
Neither Ike nor Ian could be described as
always easy going. Both were tough and
hard-nosed when it came to the industry
they loved passionately, but they became
very good friends and Ike always looked
forward to Ian's visits. Ian invariably left
with a pile of books and an endearing,
knowing smile on his lips.
Ike Mayet passed away in 2002 at the age
of 76 and I lost a special friend, with a
great bank of knowledge about books and
about the human condition, and someone
who had a wonderful and wicked sense of
humour.
Ian Snelling's loss leaves me with exactly
the same feelings. I will miss him very
much but I take comfort in knowing that
he gave so much to the world and that he
is at last at peace.
IAN GODFREY SNELLING
28 June 1942 to 7 June 2018
OBITUARY
Ian’s many sporting achievements at school
will probably have been related fairly
completely by other 1953ers but I
remember him best as a strong athletic guy
who was good at all sport and a high speed
100 yards sprinter. I understand from his
wife, Anne, that he could still run the
hundred yards sprint in the Olympic
qualifying time at the age of 35 years.
Ant Mann, who was also in our year, sent
his condolences, from Hong Kong, which
were passed onto me and it was interesting
to note that like myself one of Ant’s
striking memories of Ian was his semi
permanent seat in the front row of Gus
Thomas’s detention class. Interestingly Ian
often referred to Gus in our recent get
togethers and I feel sure that he secretly
enjoyed his sessions in Gus’s class.
Ian married his first wife Ronni in the UK
and together they had one son and two
daughters and wanting to live up to the
exhortation from the school song - “far as
you roam” - they, like myself but totally
independently, emigrated to South Africa
in late 1964. Being involved in the
advertising and media world Ian went to
Johannesburg which is the main
commercial capital of the country.
After a number of years his first marriage
broke up and some time later he met
Anne, who was also involved in the
advertising and media world. They were
soon married and enjoyed a devoted live
together for 40 years. Together they had to
weather the tragic loss of their only son
Andrew at the age of 15 years and Anne
cared lovingly for Ian right to the end.
After leaving school and like most young
men we had all gone our separate ways and
it was only when I transferred to
Johannesburg in 1980 that I learnt that
there were five of us 1953ers, namely Ian
Snelling, Mike Jinner Johns, Chris
Seabrook, Frank Abbott and myself, living
in Johannesburg plus Charlie Cruden who
was there on a working visit. We had
several convivial get-togethers and it was
there that I met Ian again. After moving to
Durban I rather lost contact with Ian until
around five years ago whereafter we
enjoyed regular drinks sessions generally
with our wives and on one particular
occasion joined by the late editor of the
Old Stationer magazine, Geraint Pritchard,
who referred to it extensively in his article
relating his trip to South Africa. Until Ian
became less mobile we met at Ian’s cosy
local pub which was appropriately called
The Stationmasters Arms.
The majority of Ian’s working life was
devoted to the advertising and media
industry in which he was regarded by his
peers as being ahead of his time and a
leader in problem solving and strategic
thinking. References to him by various of
his media colleagues included “ being a
pace setter in the industry”, “being ahead
of his time”, “a mentor who shared his
knowledge freely”, “an oracle for an
understanding of the media industry” and
being “an oak among saplings”.
After retiring from the advertising and
media industry Ian’s long term interest in
reading developed into him becoming an
enthusiastic and knowledgeable collector
of rare books particularly centreing around
modern first editions. He went on to write
his own full length novel entitled “The
Book Collector” under the nom de plume
of Dick Phillips. It includes interesting
references to Finsbury Park, Crouch End
and other North London spots so that I
found it to be a very enjoyable read and
enlightening on the value of old rare
books.
Ian’s other hobbies and pastimes generally
centred around thinking and problem
solving games including crosswords,
dominoes, chess and most particularly
Bridge for which both his and Anne’s
name could frequently be seen amongst
the list of winners in our local newspaper.
All of these pastimes compatible with his
love of good red wine. After playing in the
school team and Stationers Old Boys club
his interest in football never faded and he
remained a lifelong supporter of Arsenal
Football Club.
I regret to say that chronic lung disease
which developed several years ago took a
heavy toll on Ian so that in his last five
years he was but a shadow of the young
Adonis of school years. His full life and the
high regard in which his family, peers and
many friends held him are attested to in
the many tributes to him which were read
at his memorial service.
Ian, old friend, may you rest in peace,
content in the knowledge that you provided
a good example of the calibre of young
men educated at our Stationers' Company’s
School who have gone out into the world
and led a successful and meaningful life.
Roy Turner
Ian Snelling
early years 1953 to 1966
I first met Ian at the School field in
September 1953 when we were selected to
play for the 1st Form team which changed
little during the years to come and David
joined us in the second year replacing
Gerry Young at left back. An outstanding
footballer and cricketer all through his
years at Stationers; a first choice on the
right wing in the school football team and
1st choice fast bowler in the cricket side.
His main attributes were his strength and
his speed respectively: difficult to knock
off the ball when tearing down the wing
and pretty fearsome over 22 yards. Ian
could be an intimidating person both on
and off the field hence the reputation that
he had a permanent seat in the front row
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