Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 166
OBITUARIES
He married Shirley in June 1955 and
four children followed including two who
followed him into the family business, which
was shared between two other families,
the direct descendants of co-directors of
Wallace Bunn, great grandson of founder
James Bunn of Runham Hall, who died in
1964. Under his leadership John ensured
the company ran like a large family and he
was always willing to help people advance
in their own careers and personal lives.
Away from business, John was a keen
rugby player and referee, and was one
of the main instigators of the purchase
of Lowestoft and Yarmouth Rugby club
grounds at Gunton Park in Corton and
served a long period as club chairman.
He was a past master and secretary of the
Lodge of Friendship in Great Yarmouth and
also a member of the Old Framlinghamian
Lodge in Suffolk which both supported
a wide number of community events,
initiatives and activities. He became
chairman of the Fertiliser Manufacturers’
Association and served as a member
of the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven
Commissioners, a predecessor to the
Broads Authority.
John was never happier than when
entertaining and will be fondly remembered
for his generous hosting of the Norfolk
Rugby Cup in successive years in the
1990s. He developed a wide network
of friends at home and abroad beyond
the boundary of his Hopton home, near
Yarmouth.
His funeral took place on May 3 at the
Great Yarmouth Minster. He is survived by
Shirley, children Belinda, Mark, Ian and
Matthew, 12 grandchildren and two great
grandchildren.
ROBIN VICTOR WILLIAMS (BH STAFF
THROUGHOUT THE 1980S)
Those of us either in the employ of
Framlingham College or on the receiving
end of the conveyor belt of education at
the time would have had the privilege of
knowing Robin Williams (1936–2019).
He was the life and soul of the Common
Room, an inspired Maths teacher and an
outstanding cricket coach. That there were
on the Brandeston Staff List at the time two
of us answering to the name of R Williams
made for some light-hearted confusion,
notably at Parents Evenings, although our
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THE FRAMLINGHAMIAN 2019
teaching disciplines were wholly different.
Born in Toronto, and after spending his
early years in Canada, the family moved
to the UK. Initially he worked for the Rank
Organisation, and, as with many whose
early career path had a very different slant,
he brought with that experience from the
wider world, often so useful in the school
environment. As was remarked at his wellattended Service of Thanksgiving, Robin
was not only a fine teacher and sports
coach, but a “life coach” as well. Other
moments from a memorable service, rich
both in laughter and a few tears, that struck
a chord:
“I have never met anyone so energised
by other people. He just loved a
captive audience! (Rev Nic. Stuchfield,
the family’s much admired vicar at St
John’s, Saxmundham, who, in a previous
incarnation, had apparently invented the
Footsie 100) and “I wonder if God is
managing to cope with Robin!” Rev Richard
Webb).
Robin’s early teaching experience took
him to two well-regarded Prep Schools,
Holmewood House, Tonbridge Wells, and
Aberdour, in Surrey.
Robin and his family moved to Suffolk
in 1980. He was approached by Laurie
Rimmer to teach across both the College
and the Junior School, which necessitated
a fair amount of shuttling between each
campus, before becoming established
in a sovereign role as HoD in Maths at
Brandeston.
Among many warm tributes received the
final word is perhaps best left to eminent
OF and BH colleague in the 1980s, Brian
Rosen (S40-46) –“Every Common Room
needs a Robin – but only one, or the system
would collapse!”
At Robin’s funeral on 26th June his Fram
connections were represented by Hon.
OFs Mary Lawrence, Mary and Graham
Vellacott and Bob Williams. Among the
extensive family presence were OF son,
Ben Williams (Z80-81), who, with his elder
brother, Tim, spoke so movingly about their
father, and OF step-children, Julian (Z8082), Charlotte (P80-85) and Matthew Sayer
(Z80-83).
Bob Williams
Lynne Morris, Bob Morris and Jon Ford