Alleyn Club Yearbook 2017

1993 to become a house husband and devoted father to their one- year old daughter Isabelle, to allow Julia to return to her legal work as a barrister. The music computer programme, Sibelius 7, had just been launched and Stuart taught himself to be proficient in it and worked from home as a freelance music typesetter, producing the music for some premieres by modern composers such as Thomas Ades and Oliver Knudssen. Both children are following in their father’s footsteps, Isabelle playing the Oboe, and James came to Dulwich with a music scholarship and now, as a recent OA, is one of Britain’s best young organists and currently the Organ Scholar at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall. Stuart always had a keen interest in current affairs and was an extremely shrewd political observer. He enjoyed good food and wine and was a fine cook himself. He also had a penetrating wit and a wonderful ability with words. Notwithstanding his diagnosis of terminal cancer in June 2014, he kept his unique sense of humour to the very end, to the extent that many of his friends who spoke to him on the telephone simply did not realise how ill he really was. He died peacefully on 30 October 2015 with his family at his bedside. He is survived by Julia and by children Isabelle and James. Julia contributed significantly to this obituary. Peter Leslie Owen [1937-41] 26.04.1924 – 01.03.2016

London. He came to Dulwich from Bec Grammar School in Tooting Bec with a scholarship and was in Spenser. He greatly enjoyed and appreciated his years at the College, often relating happy memories. Unfortunately he lost contact with his school friends, which he regretted. Rather than further his education, his father encouraged Peter to go into business when he was sixteen, concerned about the uncertainties created by the Second World War. London. He was determined to be involved with the war effort, and he was retained by Bowring when he left to join the Fleet Air Arm. His training took him around the globe and reinforced his life-long love of aeroplanes. By sheer good luck, the war ended before he was required for active service; for which he was eternally grateful. Initially, Peter dreaded returning to office life, which he felt morally obliged to do, but he soon changed this view, amazed at how varied and enjoyable his job was, and continued to be. He willingly spent his entire working life in insurance until retirement in 1989, almost entirely based at an office overlooking Tower Bridge, a landmark that remained close to his heart. He became a director of North American insurance and was involved in high profile cases such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He was asked to relocate to the United States, but although he enjoyed the business trips, he firmly declined the offer. He married Diana and they had two daughters, Amanda and Lucy. He was a gifted artist and art lover, but essentially a private person who was devoted to his family. Many happy holidays were spent with friends and He started work at CT Bowring (Insurance) Ltd, for Lloyds of

relatives, including his three beloved grandchildren, in their treasured holiday home in the Algarve, Portugal. Peter endured widowhood since 2010, within a few months of celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, with enormous strength and dignity. He lived independently in his own home until the end. He will be remembered with love and respect by all who knew him as a true gentleman. His two daughters contributed significantly to the text and supplied the photograph for this obituary. Veere Gilbert William Palmer [1944-48] 05.06.1931 – 03.05.2015 Veere Palmer’s family home was in Wallington, Surrey and he came to the College from the Prep. While at the College, he was in Spenser, boarded in Ivyholme and was awarded House Colours for rugby. After leaving Dulwich, he did National Service, partly in Egypt, and partly closer to home at the Tower of London. Finance and Insurance in the City for Union Insurance Society of Canton Ltd, with further studies at the City of London College. At this time he played rugby for the OAFC in seven different teams from the C team to the 1st XV and also for the Nomads. He then transferred with Union Insurance to Mombasa, Kenya, soon becoming Assistant Manager for British East Africa. He then moved across the African continent to become the manager in Freetown, Sierra Leone, also visiting Ghana and Gambia. In 1963 he moved to Eagle Star Insurance, and had postings in Nigeria, Ghana and other countries After being released from National Service, he worked in Shipping

Peter Owen was born in Brighton but grew up in the Streatham Hill area of South

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