Marion Minhall
We have just sadly heard that Marion Minhall, a former teacher at the school, has passed away after a short illness. Our sympathy and condolences are with her family.
We have just sadly heard that Marion Minhall, a former teacher at the school, has passed away after a short illness. Our sympathy and condolences are with her family.
Sadly, Alan Jacobs – “Jake” to most of his friends and many of his pupils – died on 9th March, aged 89. He was one of a now-diminishing band of Old Boys whose formative years at Borden were spent under the headship of W.A.C. Claydon.
We are sorry to announce the untimely death of Christian Smith, who was at Borden from 1991 to 1993, following an accident while he was taking part in a charitable cycle ride. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing away of our former President and school headmaster, Harold Vafeas, on 25th January 2014, after a long struggle against cancer. The funeral took place on Friday 7th February 2014 at 3pm at Holy Trinity Church, Margate and was attended by many OBA Committee members, Governors, Teaching staff past and present , as well as several boys from Year 13.
A Memorial Service was held in Holy Trinity Church, Sittingbourne, on Tuesday 1 April 2014 to celebrate Harold's life. Graham Barnes gave a tribute from the Old Bordenian Association.
Comment received from Nicholas Vincent, re "Frank Nicholls - Obituary". To see full article and comment, click here.
A comment has been received from Tony Young, re John Ford's obituary. To see full article and comments, click here.
It is with regret that we have to report that Christopher Neil (Chris) Willson passed away suddenly at home on May 10 2013, aged 56. Chris left Borden in 1975 after taking his 'A' levels and went on to study at Oxford University.
Comment received from Martyn Calder re "John Ford - Obituary". To see full article and comment click here
We are sad to report the passing away of John Ford on April 22nd, peacefully at Medway Hospital, after a long illness.
Comment received from Frank Hales re "Don Prichard - Obituary". To see full article and comment click here.
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Jonathan Brownridge on 22nd October 2012 at the age of just 56. Jon was at the School from 1967 until 1974 before going on to study Physics at Imperial College having been inspired to do so by John Macrae, and their shared passion for physics ensured that they remained firm friends.
Jon was an enthusiastic member of the OBA and attended many of the Dinners up until 2011. He kept in touch with a group of his contemporaries and many of those were among the almost 200 strong congregation at his funeral which was held on 1st November 2012.
E.G. "Geoff" Beynon (4 October 1926 - 21 October 2012)
Sadly we have to record the death on 21st October of Ernest Geoffrey Beynon at the age of 86. He was at the School from 1937 until 1944, and was one of the Sheppey Bordenians who was evacuated to S. Wales in 1940 for two years. He was accompanied there by his younger brother, George, who has supplied the following information about Geoff's career. Graham Barnes, his contemporary at School, has amalgamated this with an appreciation delivered by the Minister at his funeral service.
H F E Nicholls 1917 - 2012
Borden Grammar School 1946 to 1980
The psalm which was recited at Frank Nicholls’ funeral speaks of the years of our life as ‘three score and ten’, going on to speak of those who manage ‘four score’ as having to endure ‘labour and sorrow’. What then can we say of one who managed not three score and ten, nor yet four score, but four score and fifteen?
Recently we have been informed, sadly, of the death on 9th September 2011 of Dr. Don Prichard, aged 79. He was a lifelong Member of the Association and played hockey for the Old Bordenians occasionally when he left School in 1949. Subsequently, he enjoyed a remarkable career - which is evident from the following Obituary written by Graham Allatt, reproduced with his kind permission and that of the Friends of the British Library Newsletter in which it originally appeared.