Old Eastbournian
interested in some long-distance professional coaching or review but if there is, please have them get in touch with me’. David very much appreciated his time at the College, commenting in 1978: ‘There are many times when I think back to my days at Eastbourne, always with an affection difficult to describe. It is to those five years, the quality of education standards and above all the encouragement – and at times sheer patience and determination – of the staff that I write today. To the College I owe much more than simply my educa- tion. Today I realise that my career, and abilities were discovered, moulded and developed in Eastbourne.’ He added that through his involvement with producing and printing programmes, posters etc on the printing press (kept under the Big School stage), ‘I discovered what would become a career passion in marketing, communications, copywriting, graphic arts, design, print production and eventually the desktop publishing revolution.’ He was awarded his 2nd rowing colours and won the Senior Scull- ing Cup in 1969. A year later, David, as part of the College hockey team, travelled to Holland where five matches were played. The East- bournian reported: ‘Gould was the most experienced and, at times, played very well’. As a member of the College choir, he met the Duke of Edinburgh during the Queen’s visit in 1967 and his photo was later published in the Eastbournian . He appeared as ‘Cynthia’ in the 1969 College revue and was hon sec of the Lighting Department. He remembered: ‘one night I dangled above the stage hanging onto a scaffold bar mid performance to change a light bulb’. He is survived by his wife, Wilma, his two children and sisters Janet and Christine.
Challenge expedition to Borneo. After leaving the College, he gained a degree in geology at Univer- sity College London, followed by a master’s degree in photogrammetry and remote sensing, part of which was completed at the University of Hannover, Lower Saxony. In 2003 Jon emigrated to Germany, first to Braunschweig and sub - sequently to Hannover, becoming a fluent German speaker. He always maintained a strong emotional attachment with Eastbourne and became one of the College’s overseas representatives in Germany, a role of which he was very proud Throughout his adult life Jon remained a keen sportsman, completing triathlons in London and Cheshire on visits back to the UK and competing regularly in half-marathons, both in Germany and London. During his 21 years in Germany, he held senior marketing roles in a number of German companies, including Veolia Water Technology and LPKF Laser & Electronics. Jon was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015 but recovered well following surgery, living a fulfilling life for a further eight years. Sadly, an aggressive reoccurrence in October 2023 proved impossible for him, despite his courage and determination, and he died in the Uhlhorn Hospice in Hannover. Jon embraced life and loved his friends and family with all his heart. He was a friend to everyone and had the ability to make people feel special. He is survived by his parents, sister, widow and three children. Paul Jordan adds: The 1997 Eastbournian commended Jon on his skill as captain of the 2nd XI soccer team: ‘Perhaps just one player deserves special mention – Jon Haig, the captain, who gave his all in every game. I am greatly indebted to him for his leadership on the field of play and his ability to maintain a posi - tive and cheerful attitude when lady luck was refusing to smile upon us, as so often she did.’ In 1993 he played the part of a cowboy in Death of a Cowboy: ‘Jonathan Haig played the pathetic cowboy who was obsessed with gambling to the point that he was willing to lose his last dollar on a card game. So involved in the play was Jonathan that he could be heard to recite his lines while asleep in the dormitory during the week of the performances.’ Jon won the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in 1997. The East- bournian wrote: ‘For the first time in 32 years and after much hard work and individual effort the College can now boast seven Gold Awards… Antoine Atkinson, Mark Fellows (OE), Adrian Frost, Jon Haig, Duncan Little (OE), Will Stevens and Ben Thursfield were presented with their gold medals at the annual East Sussex Gold Presentation by the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex this autumn. HRH Prince Edward, in the pres- ence of HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, will present them with their certificates at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in the New Year. Those who were present at our annual Bronze and Silver pres- entation in March in the Town Hall were moved by Jon Haig’s address during the ceremony, which showed clearly that he had understood the philosophy behind the scheme.’ Alan Leslie Hall (School 1942–45) died on 13 December 2023, aged 94. He gained his Royal Aero Club Aviation Certificate in 1948, flying a Tiger Moth at the London Aero Club. During his career he worked in the drawing office of De Havilland Propellers, Hatfield and for FG Miles, Shoreham Airport. James Nigel Hamilton (Gonville 1936–41) died on 26 August 2011, aged 88, in Toronto, Canada. We have only recently been made aware of his death. Following his time at the College, James worked in the personnel department of the United African Company Ltd, Calabar, Nigeria. In 1969 the Old Eastbournian reported that D H Piper and J N Hamilton ‘flew a new single-engined Beagle Pup aircraft from Britain to Nairobi via Corsica, Tripoli, Cairo, Port Sudan, Khartoum and Entebbe. Hamilton, who is a personnel management consultant with the Management Training and Advisory Centre in Nairobi, has 3,000 flying hours experience, but Piper had only received his pilot’s licence two days before they set out on the 5,000 miles flight. Despite the forebodings of the pundits, they arrived safely at their destination only two minutes behind schedule – a remarkable achievement’.
Michael Ian Gourlay (School 1963– 68) died in September 2024, aged 74. He studied French and German at Nottingham University and went on to become a commercial insur- ance director for Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance’s Asia Pacific Division based in Singapore. He excelled in sports at the College, winning both his rugby stag and 1st XI cricket colours in 1967 and in the following year, his hockey colours. The Eastbournian reported on his hockey skills:
Mike Gourlay in the 1968 School House senior hockey team
‘Gourlay at right half seemed to improve with every game. His natural games sense enabled him to be one step ahead of most of his opponents and for that matter most of his own team and conse- quently he always seemed to be in the right position.’ Mike was secretary of both Le Cercle Français and the Film Society and performed in T S Elliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. He won a number of prizes and cups: the Mackenzie German and Russian Prizes, and the Junior Doubles, Proficiency (CCF), Fielding and All Rounders cups. He was also head of house. His father was an OE, General Sir Ian Gourlay (School 1934–39) as was his uncle, Nigel Gourlay (School 1937–41) and his sister Ann Gourlay (Nugent 1970–72). His cousins also came to the College: Richard Gourlay (School 1970–75), Alison Gourlay (Nugent 1970– 72) and Alastair Graham (School 1954–59). Mike is survived by his wife Elaine.
Jonathan Anthony Haig (School 1992–97) died on 15 February 2024, aged 45, follow- ing surgery for a brain tumour. Our thanks to Jonathan’s father who has sent us this tribute:
Whilst at Eastbourne College, Jon par- ticipated enthusiastically in a wide range of activities, including sports (soccer and rugby), backstage at the theatre and in the Combined Cadet Force. In 1996 he took part in the College’s World
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