David Roberts

David Roberts

1940 - 2011

Norwich Tutor and House Master 1981 – 1992

David Roberts was born in the Black Country in December 1940, the son of a manager in a local engineering company. He was educated at the George Dixon Grammar School in Edgbaston, Birmingham, the school named after a prominent 19th Century MP and Mayor of Birmingham who was a major proponent of "education for all". (The school also gave its name to one of television's most famous policemen – Dixon of Dock Green).

Mr & Mrs Common

Mr & Mrs Common - Greenwich House Parents 1971 - 1979

Mr T. Charles Common and Mrs Eleanor Common came to Kingham Hill School in 1971 to take up the House Master and House Mistress posts for Greenwich House, along with their four children. Charles Common taught Physics and Maths and had previously taught at Oxford School for Boys.

Sylvia Wells

Sylvia Wells, Plymouth House Parent 1986 –1990 and Norwich House Parent 1992-1998.

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Sylvia Wells, wife of Tony, mother of Alex, Abbie Greg and Rebecca. She died on 11th August 2010 after a fairly short illness, during which she faced her death with great courage and dignity.

Peter Johansen

Peter Johansen Esq.

Peter Johansen died in April 2010

A huge loss to Kingham Hill. At the school from 1962 - 1969 (Plymouth and Clyde)

John Silverthorne

John Frederick Silverthorne Esq. 1955 - 1963

John Frederick Silverthorne was at KHS from 1955 to 1963, first in Plymouth and then Sheffield. Sadly we recently learn he died just before Christmas in 1988.

Anthony Fitzsimmons

Anthony Fitzsimmons Esq. 1946 - 2010

Tony to his friends, the tuck-shop man to three generations of pupils at school. Tony joined the staff in November 1980 an ex-service man having served in Her Majesty’s armed services the Army; appointed as head chef in the school kitchens, the first position that he held for 10 years.

Anthony John Marfleet

Lieutenant Commander Anthony John Marfleet RN. (Retired) died in October 2009 after a long and debilitating illness. Tony, who was in Plymouth and Norwich Houses, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy followed by a second career managing a book shop specialising in religious publications. He was much loved by all who knew him. We have an extended obituary and biography with tributes delivered at the service to celebrate his life

Bob Vass

Bob Vass, who was in Bradford 1938 to 1944, died on 13 October 2009 in Minehead. His funeral was in Taunton on 2 November. His Warden was Canon Douglas Horsefield, and he was taught by Messrs Durrant and Ball. He is  survived by his five children, of which his two sons were at Kingham  Hill: Chris (Durham 1968 - 1973) and Adrian (Durham 1967 - 1974).

Cyril Gillies

Bill Gillies reported to us the sad news about his younger brother, Cyril  Gillies, who passed away on 22 January 2009  at the age of 78 years. Cyril had a heart complaint and blood platelet problems for last few years. Cyril was the youngest of the three Gillies brothers. Cyril was on the Hill in Clyde  from 1938 - 42.  (Bill 1932 - 40 & Ron 1933 - 41).

Gladys Lillian Knight

1911-2008

We are sad to report that  Gladys Lillian Knight  passed away at 7.45 am on Saturday 6 September 2008 at Castle View Old People's Home in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, aged 96 years. Mrs.Knight joined the staff as a house parent in Plymouth house in 1957 and became a second mother to a few hundred  junior boys  in the 15 year period she dedicated herself as a house mother.

David Gooding

1923-2008

A well respected mathematics and science teacher at Kingham Hill School in the 1940s and 50s, David progressed to become House Master of Sheffield House.

Read more about David Gooding's life.

Bill "Willie" Strupp

Bradford 1939 - 1945

Bill "Willie" Strupp died at his home in Toronto on May 13th 2008 at the age of eighty.  Bill arrived at KHS in 1939, the second of seven refugees to join us from pre-war Germany. 

He was a Bradford boy who showed academic promise. He left The Hill in 1944 and, after looking into several possibilities, settled for life as a pilot in the RAF.

John Essame

1926 - 2008

It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of Mr. John Guthrie Essame who passed away in the early hours of this morning Monday 5 May 2008 at The Horton Hospital, Banbury, Oxfordshire following a period of illness. Flora his wife  (Nee  Flora Crosland -Taylor dedicated school nursing sister) was by his side at the end. John joined the teaching staff in September 1959 and remained until retiring in August 1982 after some 23 dedicated years teaching.   Read the Eulogy to John Essame.

Ron Gray

Ron Gray, who lived in Oxfordshire, was a member of Bradford House 1959 - 1962.

A short peice by Ken Wingfield in the April edition of the Over the Hill magazine says a little more about Ron Gray.

Over the Hill page 7 - will be available soon

Tom Smart

1915 - 2008

Tom joined the hill with his brother in 1924. They had been brought in to the school by the founder, Baring Young. He loved the founder and the foundation which became the school and he spent his life supporting it in any way he could.

Read more about Tom Smart's life in the January 2008 copy of Over the Hill. - available soon

Ian Whittern

Plymouth & Bradford (1962-1966)

Ian, known to his contemporaries at school, of whom there are a number on the committee, as 'Midge' died in February 2007. He attended the majority of KHA events over the last few years. Ian was in his 50s and suffered from a weak heart.

Major Leo Stanton

1966 - 2007

Leo arrived at Kingham Hill School in 1978 and went into Plymouth House. In 1979 he moved to Clyde, his senior house. He went on to become Head Boy and Head of the CCF in 1984 - his A level year.

Doris Brownhill

1900 - 2006

Doris was a former staff member and Housematron of Clyde when it was the junior house, from 1935 until September 1937, when she moved down to the old Plymouth. She left the Hill in 1945. Doris died last September (2006) aged 106 at a Home in Sale, Cheshire, reports Geoff Ball, who had been in contact with her niece Audrey from time to time and is in frequent contact with Barbara Hargreaves who worked with Doris in both Clyde and Plymouth.