Alleyn Club Newsletter 2014

Obituaries

regretted giving up his fledgling banking career but was staunchly opposed to all war, only once visiting the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, where he stared sadly at the names of lost comrades, some of whom he remembered chucking the Sunderland round the sky like a fighter plane’. This obituary was contributed by David and Kathleen’s son, Robert. Jeremy Gotch (College Governor, 1994-2004) 06.06.1934 – 28.08.2013 The son of a banker with China but the International Settlement, with its British neighbourhood modelled on Surrey’s stockbroker belt, remained untouched even after Shanghai itself fell in 1937. After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour, the International Settlement was occupied and its British and American residents were interned in a nearby school at Lunghwa. Among the other young internees was Jim Ballard, who, as J G Ballard, would recall their experiences four decades later in his novel, Empire of the Sun . After Shanghai was liberated in 1945, Jeremy became a boarder at Berkhamsted School, where he was in the cricket 1st XI and was captain of boxing. He returned to Asia to do National Service in the Royal Army Service Corps in Malaya. After reading Modern Languages at Jesus College, Cambridge, he joined Shell in 1957 and was sent to Chile. Two years later he began his career in international freight with a move to Traffic Services London, becoming its Managing Director in 1968 and Chairman ten years later. From 1986 to 1991 he was Managing Director of Caib UK’s rail division, specialising in heavy bulk freight using its own wagons. He pioneered the use of tank containers for the transport of chemicals, grain, and china clay between Britain and Continental Europe. He also chaired a group that produced best practice guidelines for the transport and storage of anhydrous ammonia, and lectured extensively on such technical matters in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He became a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, its Vice President from 1990 to 1993, and he chaired the Association of Private Wagon Owners from 1980 to 1991. After retiring, he immersed himself in charitable work in the City of London and in Dulwich, his home for 54 years, and became a highly effective charity fundraiser. In 1995-96, he chaired the Lord Mayor’s Appeal for St John Ambulance which raised £1.2m. At home, he was secretary of the Dulwich Sports Club from 1964 to 1973; a trustee of the Dulwich Estate for 24 years, and Chairman from 1984 to 1986; a Governor of Dulwich HSBC, Jeremy Gotch was born in Shanghai, China, on 6 June 1934. At that time, the Japanese were already advancing across

College for ten years; and Chairman of the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery for three years. He was also warden of the St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Foundation from 2001 to 2003. Unlike Jim Ballard, he did not write a book about his two-and-a-half years in captivity (he was only 12 when the war ended and he was liberated), but the period left a deep impression. He later gave talks to schools about growing up in such adverse conditions and dealing with privation at an early age. Jeremy Gotch is survived by his wife, Janet, whom he married in 1957, and by two daughters, an OA son, Christopher (79-88), and five grandchildren. An obituary was published in The Telegraph, on which this account is based.

Dr Alan Keith Hancock (1935-40) 12.08.1924 - 10.09.2011

Alan Hancock came to Dulwich from The Hall Preparatory School, Beckenham, and was in Spenser. He left the College in 1940 during the Blitz bombing of British cities and completed his education at Pocklington School, near York. After leaving school,

he joined the RAF and became a Flight Lieutenant. After the war ended, he returned to London and went to Guy’s Hospital Medical School, graduating with MRCS and LRCP qualifications in 1949. Later that year, he married Brenda Mary Evans. His first appointment was as a house surgeon at Tunbridge Wells District Hospital at Pembury in Kent. Alan and Brenda emigrated to Canada in 1951, with Alan initially working at the Crease Clinic of Psychiatric Medicine in Essondale, British Columbia. They soon moved to Vancouver Island and settled in Campbell River in 1954, where their four sons grew up and Alan began a GP practice with Dr Richard Murphy. Together with Dr Murphy and Dr John Ross, he founded the Alder Medical Centre in 1965. After 41 years of service to the people of Campbell River, he retired in 1995 at the age of 71. Alan missed work and contact with patients and soon resumed medicine in smaller communities on Vancouver Island, such as Gold River and Tahsis. In 1999 he was recognised with an award from the Canadian Medical Association for his long years of service in medicine. Alan loved classical music, often playing his favourite pieces on the family piano, and frequently travelling to Victoria for classical music concerts or opera performances. He was also a keen gardener, growing everything from vegetables to fine roses in the family garden. He loved fly-fishing with friends, especially in the nearby Upper Quinsam Lake area, but also liked to travel further afield. Along with regular return visits to Britain, he also toured Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Australia

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