Kevin Francis Donovan

(10.1.1938  -  5.12.2008) 

Kevin was born in South Wimbledon and baptised at St Winefride’s Church, he originally attended St Mary’s Primary School, before transferring to Donhead in 1945; and in due course to Wimbledon College in 1949, leaving in 1956.

Kevin joined Ralph Smith’s firm in Wimbledon, and qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. In due course he joined the S W Thames Hospital Board (HB) and worked throughout South London and Surrey on hospital, clinic and other facilities.

Kevin married Gay Staples, a Wimbledon Ursuline girl, on 11th July 1964.  They have 3 children – Simon, Daniel and Helen, and 1 grandson, Tyri.

In 1967 they moved to Backwell in the Bristol area Kevin working for the local HB.  In 1970 they moved back to Stoneleigh, and finally to Epsom.  Kevin rejoined the SWL HB, which was subsequently privatized and later taken over by Capita.  Kevin retired in 1996.

In the OWs Kevin served on the Cricket Committee for over 25 years, including as Chairman on 3 occasions. He was deeply involved with the Ground Committee for the Coombe Lane ground; and for several years has been PRO for the Rugby Club, writing informed and amusing commentaries for the weekly bulletin.

Kevin and Gay worked quietly and effectively for HCPT, TRWL and Bosnian refugees; visiting Lourdes, (and many times to Calais, marking up the pilgrim trains), Romania and Bosnia.  More recently they have supported SSMILE, an Epsom parish based charity assisting a parish and school in Kerala, India; and Action in Africa, based in Ashtead parish.

The OWs have lost one of their truly great men.  May he rest in peace.

John Donovan

Bernard Quinlan attended Donhead between 1939 and 1943, moving to the College until 1950. He excelled both academically and in all things sporting, becoming prefect and captain of More house in his final year. He moved on to read both classics and law at Oxford, took his two years of National Service in the Royal Artillery before joining Esso, and later several other major organisations, in a management and administrative capacity. In those years he added an MBA degree at Harvard to his achievements.

Bernard married local girl Judy, a marriage which produced 3 children. Sadly Judy died in 1980. He continued his life in Suffolk where he settled with his new wife Heather and her children. His activities there involved much parish work including the formation of a parish choir. Bernard joined the Sue Ryder charity and was agent for a number of their homes. He researched, wrote, and published a history of the village of Chelsworth where he lived. He became engrossed in the years when he had attended the College, the 1950s, a very important period of the school’s development to grammar status under the headship of Fr John Sinnott SJ and Bernard’s collection of personal contributions, the editorship and publication of the “ The Sinnott Years“ were masterly. Not just that, Bernard subsequently spent much time carrying around a large box or case from which he charmingly and persuasively managed to sell most of the stock. This was very typical of Bernard’s eagerness to succeed both in his tasks and in his obvious love of his friends.

Bernard’s commitment on the field of play was just as full, alongside his brothers Michael and Raymond. His rush for the no.9 shirt, well, to scrum-half position as numbers were not commonly in use, kept him fully in the thick of the action week after week during the 1950s and 60s whenever he was in the country, and a bit less frequently in OW cricket sides as wicket-keeper and ebullient middle order batsman. When settling back near home he took up both allegiances once more around 1970 and became both Old Boy rugby captain for 1973 and cricket captain and first chairman of cricket also in 1973. In subsequent years he fulfilled his sporting keenness and fitness with several years of marathon running, taking in the testing events of London, Paris and New York.

Peter Salmon

Sadly, he passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday at St Raphael's Hospice due to the big C.

My mother was snoozing in a chair next to him when he slipped away. He was in no pain whatsoever.

He had lung cancer last autumn (even though he's never smoked ......thanks a bunch!) and we were worried he wasn't going to make his golden wedding anniversary celebration this July but the old boy pulled through and we had a wonderful day, Chez Grand Drive, which he thoroughly enjoyed, as he still had his faculties at the time.

It's nice to know that he is now at the Heaven Oval, sitting in his deckchair, in his rightful place i.e next to Ted Travers, at the Pearly Gates End, looking down on proceedings, listening to Mr T moaning about 1.5 year old Lois Travers not being picked for the OWCC Colts because she's 'too young'.

May the old fella rest in peace.

It is with sadness that I write to inform you of the death of my father Peter Hull on Tuesday 19th August. I found your details on some correspondence regarding the Old Wimbledonians Association.

The funeral took place in East Grinstead at The Church of Our Lady and St Peter at noon on Thursday 28th August.

If there are other people in the association who you think may like to know please do pass this information on.

Kind regards

Clare Parkinson

Kevin died of a brain tumour on 8 June and his funeral was held on 30 June.

Kevin Crawley attended the College 1965 – 1972. He was an outstanding sportsman. At rugby he won his 1st XV colours as a result of his strong running and formidable tackling. He partnered Steve Cornwell a close friend in the centre and also in the team was another close friend Andre Groenen younger brother of Harry. Harry with John Harrison were cutting their teeth at the time as 1st XV coaches. During training “Get Harrison” used to be the centres call and they usually did.
Kevin was also a very useful batsman and represented the College cricket team throughout school under the illustrious captaincy of Charlie Travers.
On leaving the College Kevin played rugby down the  Old Boys for a few years and then he found squash another sport at which he excelled.
Kevins career was with the Bank of England from where he took early retirement about five years ago.

Kevin will be sadly missed. He leaves two teenage sons.

From Pat Rooney
Earlier this week I wrote a letter to Willy Maeckelberghe (1940-46) whom all OWs of that period will never forget, to tell him of the death of Tony Kelleher his immediate predecessor as captain of the College 1st XV. Sadly his widow has just rung me to tell me that Willy himself had died suddenly only 2 months ago. In the view of Fr, Wetz and who better to judge, Willy was the finest rugby player ever turned out by the College. It is arguable that Tony himself was the finest sprinter .Please remember them both and their widows and families in your prayers.

From Tony Driver
One of my earlist memories of college life is being shipped down to Coombe Lane whilst in Figures and Ruds, to watch and cheer on the First Fifteen. I remember Willy and "Butch" so well. Great players. I think Willy went on to Guys Hospital and captained the united hospitals 15 back in the days when they were a force to be reckoned with! Never mind the studies, get on with the rugby!!! It comes to us all, but their passing is sad. Good lives both.

Tony (nickname “Butch”) attended the College throughout the War years leaving in 1945.

A great sportsman, he won the Victor Ludorum and captained the first XV playing on the wing. He was a Prefect and Captain of More House. After leaving College, he played on the wing for London Irish. In recent years, he was heavily involved administratively with Maidstone RFC. On leaving school, Tony served in the Royal Engineers for National Service partly spent in Malaya. On demobilisation, he read Civil Engineering at Battersea Technical College (which later became Surrey University) and spent his working life with Kier & Co, Civil Engineers. He retired as MD of one of their subsidiary companies.

Tony is survived by his wife, Margaret (nee Lickman), and their 2 sons and 1 daughter. Requiem as Aylesford Friary, Kent on Monday 6th August 2007 at 12 Noon (Exit Junction 6 on M20).

Dear Friends of Tony,
Some sad news. Tony Montfort died at about 6.15 this evening(26th June, 2007.) For the last 18 hours he had been sleeping very peacefully. When I saw him this morning, there was no sign of any anxiety in him at all. It appears he suffered no pain. His family were with him.
Obviously our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
I will let you have further information about his funeral as soon as I have it.
With great sadness of heart,

Fr Tim Curtis SJ, Director, Jesuit Missions