and then tackling him from behind, was pretty nerve-racking, but it seldom failed.’ He was awarded his basketball colours the same year and was mentioned again in the East- bournian : ‘[his] good ball-handling made him a constant threat’. In the CCF, he achieved the rank of lance corporal.
Mileham (1962–66); Rector (1966–74); Priest in Charge with Great of Little Dunham; Rector of Ashill (1974); Priest in Charge of Saham Toney (1978–79); Rector of Ashill with Saham Toney (1979–88) and Hon Canon of Norwich Cathedral (1982–88). Queen’s College described him as: ‘a generally quiet and reserved man, with a heart for theology and prayer, for spreading the gospel and for caring for parishioners and family… True to his engineer’s mind and training… he even designed a central heating system to keep his congregation warm in their box pews.’ His wife Doreen predeceased him in 2013 as did his nephew, Anthony Mellows (Gonville 1950–55). Alan’s brothers also attended the College, William Thorp Mellows (Gonville 1924–27) and Harry Sidney Mellows (Gonville 1924–29). Harry was killed in action during the Second World War.
Tom is survived by his children, Ake, Warn and Tor and brothers, Chira Navisthrira (Pennell 1958– 62) and Patanachai Navisthrira (Pennell 1962–66). We were contacted by Jo Shubber (Pennell 1965–70) who sent us his memories of Tom: Tom and I met in 1962 in Granville House, Ascham, and became friends. He was a good athlete, friendly and peaceful until intimidated. He was well trained to protect himself, and participated in boxing amongst the other sporting activities available at the time. At the annual sports day Tom and I teamed up for the three-legged race which we won unequivocally; I ended with a triumphant dive for the finish line unfortunately injuring Tom’s ankle unnecessarily. Later at the College Tom went straight to Pennell and I spent two terms in Nugent, but we were together in the middle room until Tom left. During that time Tom showed what an athlete he was. For Pennell he and I were members of winning house teams (as juniors), rugby senior team, and the cricket junior and senior teams. He excelled in all sports and was particularly good athletically, representing the College in the athletic team, being quick on the track at 100 and 200 yards. He also was good at the javelin, high and long jumps, shot putt and discus. Tom left school early to follow a career in the army as dictated by his family and country which he did well. We were good friends and kept in touch with each other while he was at the military institute and after I moved to Baghdad for university. In the early 1970s his family hosted my parents when they went on a round-the-world trip which coincided with Tom’s father’s 60th birthday, which is a significant milestone in Thailand. Then later in the 1990s when I was in the UK, Tom came over for a couple of trips and my family and I met him and his three children on two occasions. Later in 2008 he hosted my daughter Zahra while passing through on her world tour trip. His last years were affected by his diabetes leading to an above- knee amputation, renal failure and dialysis three times a week, and lastly succumbing to Covid and passing away in 2021. Ronald Malcolm Walmsley Naylor (Ascham 1950–53; Powell 1953– 58) died on 12 November 2024, aged 85. A school prefect and head of house, he won the Brian Tunstall Imperial Studies Prize in 1958 and in the same year won his 1st fencing colours and the Bobby Foil Cup. He was hon sec of the Philatelic and Cavendish Debating Societies and was awarded the Lanyard of Honour in the CCF. In later years he was an Arnold Embellisher. We were contacted by John Maclean (Ascham 1953–58; Powell 1958–62) who told us: ‘I would like to register a tribute that no doubt will be shared by others who like me, were new boys when Ron was head prefect of Sillem House at Ascham in 1953 and Powell House at the College in 1958. I was profoundly gratified by Ron’s compassion and understanding for those of us who, at that that stage, were the ‘bottom of the food chain’ and feeling pretty vulnerable until we found our feet. We also saw how he exemplified the very best approach to exercising the authority that he had been given. Comparing his personality and competence against the numerous bosses whom I have since encountered, Ron would be outstanding – a model of trustworthiness, correctness and guidance. Few exhibited his innate high standards – including myself! Thank you Ron, for being such a profound influence on us ‘new boys’ and whose example I have always carried in my memory.’ In December 2024, a celebration of Ron’s life was held at the Eastbourne College Chapel. He is survived by his wife, Carole and children, David and Lucy.
Merry Morris died on 11 September 2024. A language graduate of Cardiff University, Merry came to the College in 1975 with her husband Culain, who joined the staff of the biology department and initially became a non-resident house tutor of Wargrave. The Eastbournian described ‘the two of them entering with enormous enthusiasm and warmth into of every aspect of life in the house’. In 1980, he was appointed housemas-
ter of Pennell and both he and Merry oversaw the major changes which took place when the old Pennell was demolished and the present Pennell opened. Many boys will remember the Morris’s reptile pets, Monty the python and Noah the boa constrictor. In 1988, the Morris family left the school for St David’s College, Lla- ndudno, where Culain took up the headmastership. Merry is survived by her husband and sons Simon and Jeremy.
John Llewellyn Moxey (Blackwater 1939–40) died on 29 February 2019, aged 94, in Wash- ington state, USA. We have only recently become aware of his death. After leaving the College, John served with the 53rd Welsh Division during the Second World War. Fol- lowing his military service he had a prolific career in the film and television industry. He began as an assistant director at Net- tlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames in 1947,
then worked as a studio manager and assistant producer for BBC TV before joining ABC Television, one of the new commercial TV stations. His directing credits included episodes of London Playhouse , The Adventures of Tugboat Annie and Coronation Street, The Saint and The Avengers . He made his feature film directorial debut with The City of the Dead in 1960. His second feature, a 1960 war film called A Foxhole in Cairo , featured Michael Caine as a German soldier in one of his first on-screen roles. Christopher Lee was the leading man in John’s 1966 film, Circus of Fea r. He moved to the USA in 1968 and was known for a number of 1970s TV movies, including The Night Stalker , Panic in Echo Park and The House That Would Not Die . His TV credits also include Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible , Miami Vice , Murder She Wrote and the pilot episode of Charlie’s Angels . John retired to Gig Harbor, Washington, in 1991, where he volunteered in local theatre productions and directed a series of pro- motional skits for KBTC public broadcasting in Tacoma, which won him a regional Emmy. He is survived by his wife, Jane, and sons Robin and Timothy. Veerapatana ‘Tom’ Navisthrira (Ascham 1961–65; Pennell 1965–68) died in August 2021, aged 70. After leaving the College, he enrolled at the New Mexico Military Institute and qualified as a military engineer. He retired from the army in 2010 and later started a building company. Tom enjoyed sport at both Ascham and the College. He played cricket at Ascham and won his College rugby stag in 1967. The East- bournian reported in 1968: ‘His habit of letting his man run past him,
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