The Salopian no. 160 - Summer 2017

90
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
David’s life perfectly.
One of many examples of his kind and compassionate nature
was his reaction after hearing of Sense International India, a
charity set up to provide education to deaf and blind children
and adults in India. He was so profoundly touched that in
2001, at the age of 62, he embarked upon a rigorous fitness
training programme in preparation for
a challenging Himalayan mountain trek
in aid of the charity. His efforts raised
over £4,000.
Last year David was diagnosed
with motor neurone disease but he
continued to work until a few weeks
before his untimely death at home in
March 2017, aged 77.
Roger Chovil (Rt 1959-64)
Roger Chovil, who died on 18th April 2016, was born
in Guatemala and came to England aged eight to attend
Eagle House, where he later became Head Boy. Arriving
at Shrewsbury in 1959, he soon made his mark as an allround
sportsman, becoming both 1st X1 goalkeeper and
1st X1 wicketkeeper. In both these positions, he displayed
enormous enthusiasm and flamboyance. He could be seen
diving to right and left to reach balls, however impossible it
might be. Whether in goal or behind the wicket, he issued a
continuous volley of instructions to team mates, who received
them with varying degrees of enthusiasm! However, his
approach was always to encourage others to make the most
of their ability. This kindly and caring characteristic was to
continue right through his life, both family and professional.
He was Captain of a number of the Ridgemount House
Teams, including Rugby, Boxing and Shooting. He was also
a highly rated History student, in his final year achieving
residence in History Upper Sixth A.
In 1963 he became Head of House in Ridgemount and went
on to become Head of School the following September. He
was also Junior Under Officer in the CCF, the most senior
position a boy could hold.
Leaving the School at the end of 1964, he sold sports goods
at Bentalls, the department store, and for a short time taught
at a school before embarking on his mainstream career as a
Chartered Accountant. After qualifying with Deloitte Haskins
and Sells, he was made a Partner in 1978, and eventually a
Senior Audit Partner. He remained with the firm as it merged
with others to finally become PWC and was responsible for
the audits of several of the largest companies in the country.
He retired in 2002. Many testimonials from his former
colleagues demonstrate that he was greatly trusted and they
also much appreciated the fact that he was able to bring a
sense of humour to even the most serious of situations. The
firm’s tribute to Roger described him as ‘’an inspirational
audit partner’’. He was also affectionately known as ‘’chirpy
Chovil’’.
Following his retirement he took up several non-executive
directorships and continued his work with the British Council.
In 1974 he married Liz and they commenced a partnership
lasting over 40 years and had three children, Lucy, Tania and
Charles, who between them produced six grandchildren who
gave him great joy. For a long time he carried on playing
cricket for Esher where he was a Life Member. Later in life,
he was a Governor of St Paul’s School in Thames Ditton,
reflecting his lifelong commitment to the Roman Catholic
Church. He also continued his association with PWC as a
member of its former Partner Committee.
Roger was unwell for some years before his death but
remained cheerful and determined to the end. The words
of Mrs Johnson, Headmistress of St Paul’s, seem to sum it
up perfectly: “Roger Chovil was a clear-thinking, precise
and immensely good man, but would no doubt like to
be remembered for the fact that he was also great fun”.
Another friend described him as ‘’a lovely, sensitive and
generous man’’.
David Christie (Staff 1967-83)
Perhaps unusually for his generation, David Christie had
several different careers. It was only after eight years as
a commodity trader in London working for Tradax that
he decided to embark on a teaching career. He arrived at
Shrewsbury School in 1967 with his wife Elizabeth and their
four children, Louise, Katharine, Alastair and Stephanie – and
so began 16 happy years at the School during a period of
extraordinary change under the leadership of Donald Wright
(Headmaster).
David was born in Shillong, India in 1935 – the first of four
children, having a brother and two sisters. His father was
secretary to the last three Viceroys of India – and what an
extraordinary time that was. Partition happened in 1947 about
the time that David was leaving his prep school, Brambletye,
and starting at Eton College.
Fast on his feet, swift in the pool and with a mean left hook,
he was an all-round athlete and became captain of many of
these sports. But it was not until he took up an oar that his life
took a very definite course. At 6’2” and over 14 stone, he was
an imposing man and a natural talent in the boat, although at
the time he perhaps did not expect such a life-long association
with the sport – an association that deepened in 1953 when
at the age of 17 he first met his future wife Elizabeth, the
vivacious, blond daughter of the Chairman at Henley Royal
Regatta. It was love at first sight, but it was another five years
before they married.
Following Eton and National Service in Malaya with the 11th
Hussars, he went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge where
he read Economics and Geography and where he continued
his passion for rowing, gaining two Blues. He rowed for CUBC
in the 1958 and 1959 Boat Races, winning the former in which
he rowed at seven with his future brother-in-law, Peter Rickett,
who rowed at six. Competing at Henley Royal Regatta for
Pembroke, he was a member of the College eight that won the
Ladies’ Challenge Plate in 1957 and the College coxless four
that won the Visitors’ Challenge Cup in 1959.
At Shrewsbury he had five years as River Master from 1968,
during which time he devoted himself with total application
to the Boat Club. He believed that sculling and training in
other small boats was the best foundation of a winning VIII.
He invented the ‘Small Boat Head’ at Shrewsbury, a unique
initiative at the time which was later much copied.
He coached the 1st VIII between 1969 and 1973 but also had
success coaching small boats, notably the winners of the Junior
Double Sculls National Rowing Championships in 1973 (Daniel
and Hanna). On standing down as River Master in 1973, he
joined the council of the Amateur Rowing Association and was
a Junior International Selector (Chairman 1980-81).
Although many students will remember him for his skill and
encouragement on the water, many more remember him for
his many contributions off the water. As a Form Master he
taught English, History and Divinity and helped champion the
relatively new curriculum of Business Studies, which he taught