Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 297
SOF | OBITUARIES
hospital on 11 November 2020. Much
follow included Fauré’s ‘Requiem’, ‘The
loved husband of Anne, father of Sarah,
Messiah’, ‘St. Nicolas’, ‘The Christmas
James and Sophie. A private funeral was
Oratorio’ and Haydn’s ‘Creation’. Within
held on 30 November.
days of my own appointment to the
Brandeston Hall staff, I recall being asked
by Graham to speedily fashion some thirty
DAVID JEREMY GATE (S44-49)
animal face masks (!) for what proved to
David died on 28 May 2021 after a long
be a memorable production of Noye’s
illness. We were notified of this by his
Fludde.
older brother, John Gates (S44-48).
David had a very full life having, along the
His enthusiastic endorsement of the
way, been a restaurant owner and shop
decision to robe the Chapel Choir,
keeper, lecturer in Spanish for the U3A
generously underwritten by the mother
(UK), Pilot Officer RAF and recipient of
of the 1969 -70 Head of School, Charles
the Sword of Honour at Cranwell, District
Blackmore (K65-75), was readily
Officer in Kenya (1950-52) during the Mau
apparent; an initiative that added
Mau Rebellion, and a Quantity Surveyor
considerable gravitas to the Boarders’
in West Africa. He is survived by his wife
Sunday Services. John Le Grove (K67-75)
Peggy, his daughter Karen and son,
recalls being blown away by Graham’s
Marcus and numerous grandchildren.
rendition of Bach’s ‘Dorian’ Toccata
and Fugue during an organ recital in
the College Chapel. He also holds clear
GRAHAM IRELAND
memories of Graham’s habit of practising,
Those connected with the musical world
late at night, Bach’s organ music on the
of Framlingham back in the 1960s will be
piano in the so-called Modelling Room at
saddened to learn of the death of Graham
BH, positioned as it was, directly below
Ireland. Covid-19 caught up with Graham
the boys’ first floor dormitories. He does
and he died in a care home in Reading
not posit an opinion as to whether this
in December 2020. He was appointed
actually aided or abetted the slumber of
Assistant Director of Music to Deryck Cox,
the young! John showed considerable
at Framlingham, in 1959, concurrent with
promise as a musician at a tender age and
a full-time posting to the Brandeston Hall
greatly appreciated Graham allowing
Common Room.
him carte blanche to play the organ at
All Saints, Brandeston; a unique honour.
Graham quickly made his mark in his
John was, of course, to follow in Graham’s
collaborations with Deryck. In his very
footsteps, making his own mark in the
first year, there was a blockbuster
Music Department of both the College and
performance of the Bach ‘St John Passion’
the Preparatory School.
in St. Michael’s Framlingham, the first
big joint College/Junior School choral
Colleague, John Richards, Head of
production. Notable collaborations to
English at Brandeston in the early 1970s,
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