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Concordia
Merchant Taylors’ School
Obituaries
David Thomas (1952-1957)
I first met David over 60 years ago in
LaddieHole’sModernDivisionA. David
came via Kingsfield School andUpper
IVA. David admitted that he had an
unremarkable school career moving up into
Sandy Powell’sModernVA and then Ted
Rider’sModern Lower VIth.
In 1959, Davidwas called up for National
Service. He was selected for Officer
Training andwent toMons fromwhere he
was commissioned into the 4th Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery. David decided to
take a three year short service commission
and joined his regiment inGermany for
a year until 1961 when it was posted to
HongKong. During this time, he was sent
to Korea to command themultinational
UnitedNations contingent of the US
EighthArmy Special Troops for four
months. In recognition of his service, he
received a citation from the USArmy.
David joinedMarks & Spencer as a
management trainee in 1966 and in 1972, he
went toCanada for sixmonths to help
M& S start their business in Toronto.
That sixmonths turned out to be 18 years
becauseM& S took over a wholly owned
subsidiary company inMontreal. He rose
to become the Executive President of this
major company within theM& S group.
WhenDavid retired fromM& S, he
became aDivisional Director of the Prince’s
Trust for six years. He also became a
Magistrate and sat on the Aylesbury Bench
for 14 years.
In addition, David ran theOMTVeterans
Cricket XI for a couple of years and he
became Captain of theOMTGolfing
Society for another two years.
Under David’s direction as Dining
Representative on theOMT Society
Committee, we started going tomore
interesting venues – for instance, theHouse
of Lords, the Long Roomat Lord’s, and
theHAC. He also instigated the policy of
offering generous discounts tomembers
under 30 and this hasmeant amuch larger
and younger attendance.
Another taskDavid had taken onwas
tomake sure that a wreath is laid on
every grave of OMTs who fell in theGreat
War. Finally, David had just finished an
enormously successful year as President
of theOMT Society, attending dinners and
functions all over the country. He was ably
supported by Liz to a great number of these.
It is always said that if youwant a job
done, ask a busyman. David epitomised
that; he had a very full life, and he could
have no regrets about things he never did.
He lived his life to the full and he will be
missed by an enormous number of people,
especiallyme.
Guy Hearn
David Francis Betts (1954-1960)
David Betts will be fondly remembered
bymanyOMTs, as he spent virtually all his
adult life in theNorthwood area, andwas
a well-known and respected dentist in the
town from1968 when he set up his own
practice treatingmanyOMTs, school staff
and their families, until he retired in 2007.
He died at home in Chenies on 16th
November 2014, having been diagnosed
withMotor Neurone Disease only two
months earlier.
During his school career David was
Senior NCO in the CCF, and for two years
was a talentedmember of the shooting
team, contributing to that team’s success
in winning the Ashburton Shield.
MatthewHouston
Paul Vos (1947-1952)
Paul Vos passed away peacefully at the
Watford PeaceHospice on 31st January
2015 after losing his battle with cancer. He
was born inHampstead and lived inMoor
Park in his youth, attendingNorthwood
Prep before joining Taylors’ in 1947. From
there, he joined the Royal Veterinary
College and spent a rather longer time than
was necessary learning his veterinary trade.
Dad had numerous veterinary stories and
treated all the animals with the same care
and attention. Indeed, he was always rather
pioneering, particularly enjoying operating
on badly injured dogs and cats when other
local vets would not take on the risk.
He was very active in the running of
Durrants, becoming chairman of the
Durrants Club and administrating over
some of the tough financial years at
Durrants. He always enjoyed an OMT
Dinner and was a founder member of
the Dinosaurs.
Awonderfully giving and proud
grandfather (Grumpy) to Harry, Tom,
Charlie andMaddie, he has already been
greatly missed.
Ashley Vos
Duncan Innes (1966-1973)
I amwriting with the very sad news
of the sudden and unexpected death of
Duncan J F Innes aged 59. He had just left
when I started at MTS in 1974.
The offices for his firm –Marriott
Harrison - were for many years adjacent
tomine near Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1
and I got to know himvery well both
professionally and socially. He became
a good friend and was always excellent
company. The following obituary is
taken from the tribute written by
Marriott Harrison.
“It is with the greatest sadness that
we have to report the untimely death of
Duncan Innes. He was a partner at
Marriott Harrison for 21 years and helped
to transform the firm through the force of
his personality and his skills as a lawyer.
He was a friend, colleague andmentor
and a valued and trusted adviser.”
Duncan leaves us with a golden trail
of memories stretching back through
the years he was with us. Sadly, wemust
now be content with those. Rest in peace,
dear friend.
JulianHill
Full versions of these obituaries can be
read in theOMTNews Sheet
John Fell (1941-1946)
died on 8th
January 2015
Roger Mann (1938-1942)
died in
January 2015
John Seymour (1944-1949)
died
in 2015
Paul Smith (1948-1955)
died on 12th
December 2014