Old Eastbournian
Harry is survived by his parents, Ann and Harry; his younger brother, Mark (Pennell 1981–86), predeceased him in 2012.
Following the final series of Dad’s Army in 1977, Snoad and Knowles created a spinoff radio series, It Sticks Out Half a Mile , in which former members of the Home Guard bought and ran a pier. The series ran from 1983 to 1984. Harold was a member of the Dad’s Army Appreciation Society and, in 2013, after the death of Bill Pertwee, he became the society’s vice president, with Frank Williams (who played the Revd Timothy Farthing in the series) as the president. He frequently attended events with the society as a special guest and speaker. In the 1970s, Harold also wrote for the TV comedy Are You Being Served? (set in a department store), and for the comedy sketch pro- gramme, The Dick Emery Show . Another OE, actor Royce Mills (Reeves 1956–60), made an appearance in the latter. He had worked for Harold in 1969 in the comedy series Oh Brother! and again in Rings on Their Fingers and in Tears Before Bedtime . Harold directed one feature film, Not Now, Comrade , with its writer Ray Cooney in 1976. From 1983 to 1990 Harold directed the comedy series, Don’t Wait Up (winner of the Television and Radio Industries Club’s award, Sitcom of the Year in 1989) and Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–89), for which he was nominated for a BAFTA. He also received a BAFTA nomination for the comedy, Keeping Up Appearances (1990–95), starring Patricia Routledge, and for the prestigious Dutch award, the Silver Tulip. He wrote the BBC Television training manual Directing Situation Comedy (1988) and the inside story of Keeping Up Appearances , It’s Bouquet – Not Bucket! (2009). Harold returned to the theatre in 2009 when he directed the stage play Say Who You Are . He is survived by his second wife Jean and their children, Helen and Jeanette. A footnote: A year after he left the College, Harold returned for a visit and was asked to help out with the Dramatic Society, whose report in the Eastbournian stated: ‘We have lost a resourceful and irre- pressible member – H E Snoad.. He has visited us once or twice since leaving and was pressed into service when the producer of Twelfth Night issued one of his fiats (‘let it be done’): a row of lights must be raised two feet three and one-eighth inches from the ground within a few hours. With Snoad’s help this was accomplished in an afternoon.’ Laurence Duncan Symington (Pennell 1945–49) died on 27 August 2024, aged 93. Duncan attended Chelmsford Hall prep school from 1940 to 1945 before joining the College. He won his 1st XV rugby stag in 1948 and was listed in the Eastbournian under ‘Characters of the 1st XV: ‘A sound forward who won his place by solid work in the tight.’ He was also hon sec of the Meteorological Society. In later years he was a member of the Devonshire Society. He is survived by his children Henry and Victoria. His brother, Ian Thompson Symington (Pennell 1947–51) predeceased him in 2013. His father, Laurence Hugh Symington was also at the College (Gonville 1906–14) as was his uncle, Robert Eric Symington (War- grave/Home Boarder 1908–13).
Geoffrey Bernard Thomas (School 1938–42) died on 28 November 2020, aged 96.
Martin Lyle Brittan Walter (Pennell 1949– 53) died on 23 June 2024, aged 88. We are grateful to Martin’s family for their contribu- tion to the following tribute: Martin was a life-long ‘traveller’. In 1937, his family left Japan (where Martin was born, in Kobe) and returned to the ancestral home in Guernsey. With increasing concerns about the stability of Europe he, his mother and brother moved to England
and then secured passage on the last ship leaving England for the United States. Eventually settling in Santa Monica, California, they returned to England in 1945 after VE day. Martin attended an all-boys boarding prep school in Kent and then Eastbourne College. He enjoyed playing various sports and was sub editor for the Eastbournian , a corporal in the CCF RAF section and a member of the Junior Debating Society and the Cercle Français. After graduation, Martin attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, earning a BCom, and spent the summers working at The Banff Springs Hotel in the Canadian Rockies. Two years later he arrived in New York City where he earned an MBA from Columbia University in 1961. Martin then joined The Gillette Company in Montreal, trans- ferred to headquarters in Boston and then to Melbourne, where he served as managing director for Gillette Australia for three-and-a-half years. Next came a move to Gillette’s Braun division in Sweden, where Martin was charged with developing business in Scandinavia, Finland and Austria. Two years later, the family moved to Braun headquarters in Kronberg, West Germany, where Martin served as geographic manager of Northern Europe and then was promoted to head worldwide business manager for Braun. After nine years overseas, the family returned to Boston and Martin joined New Balance Athletic Shoe initially responsible for marketing and sales in the US and internationally. Eventually he was responsible for international business which meant travelling extensively to set up offices worldwide. Martin was passionate about education and mentoring the young. After retiring in 2003, his activities included English-language instruction to immigrants; consultant to the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts; chairman of AIM’s International Business Council; volunteer teacher’s
Charlotte Walters
Charlotte Megan Walters (Watt 2021–23) died on 6 June 2023, aged 18. A schoolfriend wrote this tribute: Many OEs and staff will remember Charlotte for her kind smile and caring nature, always prioritising those around her. She was often found helping her friends with their Maths homework as she was an incredibly gifted academic. She spent lots of time in house and formed a strong bond with the cleaner, Eve. At the College she completed her Gold Duke of
Henry ‘Harry’ William David Symonds (Pennell 1980–82) died on 1 May 2024, aged 57. A family friend, Chris Lee, paid tribute to Harry: ‘Young’ Harry, as he was affectionately known, was the eldest son of Ann and Harry Symonds Snr and was a director of the family business, Coastal Amusements, which owned
the Deluxe Amusements Centre on Hastings seafront. The company was sold in April [2024] and Harry Jnr had plans to retire and move to Hastings Old Town, spending some time over the coming months travelling to South East Asia. Despite being born with a heart murmur, Harry Jnr always eschewed doctors and medical advice. Educated at Eastbourne College he was exceptionally well read, able to discourse on a wide range of literature with insight. He was also a keen follower of F1 motor racing. After leaving school he joined the family business on the seafront and soon became a popular and familiar face in the business’s seafront arcades, chatting with customers with a quiet humour and engaging smile.
Edinburgh and did exceptionally well in her EPQ [Extended Project Qualification]. Charlotte enjoyed music and played the clarinet; she was a crucial member of the school orchestra. She loved to walk, regularly taking part in PAW [Pilates, Aerobics and Walks]. She is deeply missed and will be forever remembered by her friends and family.
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