The Salopian Summer 2023

92
SALOPIAN CLUB NEWS
Andrew Soundy (Retired Senior
Partner Ashurst Morris Crisp, Solicitors);
each with his wife (respectively) Shân,
Susie and Jill (dog at end, ‘Lizzie’
Corbett). Bache’s and Corbett’s fathers
were also contemporaries at Ingram’s in
the 1920s, remaining friends thereafter.
Nicholas Barber (SH 1954-58)
Nicholas Barber has always felt the
standard translation of the school motto
Intus si recte ne labora rather dull, in
fact un-Salopian. How about something
lighter, closer to the Salopian ethos?
Kek used to favour a version related to
the state of one’s digestion.
Nicholas suggests:
‘If you’re on good form, don’t worry
about top schools’.
Other suggestions welcome. Please
send them to the editor at
rth@shrewsbury.org.uk
David Kempton (M 1955-59)
After a long and varied career, I am
now chairing a Hydrogen company and
actively running my art gallery Kynance
Fine Art www.kynancefineart.com
Any OS interested in ‘investable’ art
from established artists should email me
at dk@kemptonholdings.com.
1960-69
Patrick Balfour (SH 1955-60)
I recently completed a short biography
of my grandfather George Balfour, the
co-founder of Balfour Beatty and an MP
for 23 years.
George Balfour was not a Salopian but
sent three of his sons, Hugh Balfour
(Chance’s 1918-23) , David Balfour
(S 1923-27) Will Balfour (SH 1921-24)
to the School. They were followed by my
brother Michael Balfour (SH 1953-58)
and me and we were joined by Will’s son,
Bill Balfour (I 1954-55), on an English
Speaking Union scholarship from the USA.
law is a welcome change.
Two local residents recently made
an application for village green status
for two adjoining pieces of land in
Elmbridge, Surrey where I live. One
was owned by Elmbridge Borough
Council, the other by a developer and
both were used regularly for walking
by local residents. The applications
were opposed by both landowners and
I could see substantial legal problems
with the one relating to the land owned
by the Council.
I’m a member of the Council’s
Countryside Consultative Group and,
raising the matter at 2022 meeting,
argued for a voluntary dedication of a
village green by the Council. This was
supported at the meeting and, helped
by the area’s local councillors, we
navigated the proposal through another
two Council committees. In March this
year the Council agreed to withdraw
its opposition to the application and
dedicated the land as a village green.
Stephen Lewis (R 1954-58)
Eleven former Riggites recently
attended a lunch, held annually for
nearly 20 years, to remember their
Housemaster, Hugh Brooke (Brookie):
John Bolton, Francis Grundy, Nigel
Burton, John Ingram, Mark Moody-
Stuart, John Sellers, Michael Palin,
Stephen Lewis, John Gilbert, Mrs
Carol Boscoe, and Robin Hodgson.
All were in RHJB between 1954 and
1962 when Houses were known by
the Housemaster’s initials. We were
all delighted when Carol (Brookie’s
eldest daughter) joined these occasions.
Sadly, this year Geoffrey Saltmarsh
and Oliver Clutton Brock could not
attend. We also keep in touch with
Billy Ward, although he has never yet
been able to attend. We particularly
remembered other founding members
of the group: Geoffrey Fallows,
Francis Ravenscroft, Charles
Edwards and Christopher Cherry.
We are very sorry to have to report the
death of Stephen Lewis on 30th June
2023. An obituary can be found on
page 116, together with a photo of the
Riggite lunch he describes here.
Roger Musson (Rt 1955-60)
Pictured above is racehorse Bertie Blue,
bred by me and sold in 2021 to owners
of his trainer Emma Lavelle (daughter
of Richard Lavelle (Db 1949-54) and
niece of John Lavelle (Db 1950-56)
who on 28th April this year won a
hurdle race at Southwell Racecourse in
a field of 13, beating into second place
the favourite, White Rhino, trained by
Oliver Greenhall (Rt 2000-05).
Rodney Whittaker (SH 1961-66)
Rodney is enjoying a retirement role as
the local correspondent for the Open
Spaces Society, the leading pressure
group for the protection of Commons
and Village Greens in England and
Wales. After a legal career largely
involving international law, this area of
Stephen Wright (S 1960-64)
A recent photo of my brother David
Wright (S 1954-59) and myself. The
lady is Danica Wright, my brother’s wife.
Chris Buckley (I 1964-68)
Here I am with my son Harry on a
recent holiday to Las Vegas, photo
taken by my wife Denise.
I’m off tonight to an Anglican meeting
to try and ‘find new direction for the
church in the Halifax area’. I think this
time I’ll do more listening than talking.
I gave a talk to the men’s group in our
church recently based on the prodigal
son - my favourite parable.