Remembering RP family members
The school is very sad to learn of the death of Anne Perrin, matron of Costain in the 1970s and 80s.
Although there are few current members of staff who will remember Anne, many alumni will have vivid recollections of her. Her funeral was held at St Paul’s church in Colwyn Bay on Wednesday, September 11th.
Mark Sherrington, Head of Art at school and former boarder offers these words of tribute:
Pupils at Rydal will remember Miss Perrin as a force of nature. For perhaps three decades she cared for boys and girls in the Prep School as a matron. But of course like many support staff of the ’70s, ’80s and 90’s she was far more than just a matron. Boys from the ’70s and ’80s will remember “Ma Pez” with her bright red lipstick, immaculate hair and infectious smile with enormous affection. She was like a second mother to us, hundreds of miles from home, with no contact other than letters from our parents for months at a time. It was a time when there was only one phone in the Prep school, in Mr Underwood’s flat (the Headmaster), which we could use on our birthday only. Miss Perrin was firm but fair. “Encouraging” us to do our hair, polish our shoes for chapel on a Sunday and fold the laundry. This was usually rewarded with a round of toast in her tiny kitchen, just outside her immaculate flat where she would make us feel special, listening to our worries and laughing at our jokes. On a summer’s evening, she would often be seen playing tennis with the same “joie de vivre” next to the outdoor swimming pool. Her partnership with Mr Arthur Pitman, the housemaster of Costain House was legendary and together they ran a tight ship where humour was never far from the surface. It was clear that even though she ran the packing and unpacking of school trucks and the day to day running of the House with regimental efficiency (the relentless onslaught of laundry and button sewing), nevertheless she absolutely relished the company of young people. Her positivity, enthusiasm and empathy ran through everything she did and through every encounter she had with the boys and girls. Even as an adult and long after her retirement one might run into Miss Perrin walking along the prom in Rhos (she walked everywhere and stayed fit long into her retirement) and she seemed not to have changed a jot. Her interest in you was genuine and her memory incredible. I am sure I speak on behalf of many old boys and girls when I say we feel lucky and grateful to have fallen under her care. Her infectious humour, interest and understanding made all our time at school fun. RIP Ma Pez.
Martin Alan Robertson (Rydal 1979 – 1984)
Martin was born in Liverpool in 1966, the second of three brothers – Paul Robertson (Rydal 1980-1981) and James, to parents John Robertson (Rydal 1942-1953) and Lisa. His early childhood was spent in Heswell, on the Wirral, and in 1977 he moved with his family to Singapore for his father’s work, before returning to the UK in 1982 and settling in Suffolk.
Whilst at Rydal, Martin boarded in School House, was a competent sportsman and had an uncanny ability, through his avid reading, to use the English language and communicate with humour and wit, developing relationships with people across the school community, no matter what year they were in.
Headmaster Peter Watkinson once said: “If I needed something to be done of real importance, I would choose Martin, because I could absolutely rely on him."
He enjoyed playing rugby in the Colts XV and the 3rd XV, with occasional run-outs with the 2nd XV He was also a very competent swimmer becoming Secretary and then achieving Captaincy of the school team. He made many friends at school, all who viewed him as someone with great values, strength of character and fun to be with. He valued these friendships from Rydal, maintaining some of them throughout his life.
When he first left school, Martin was a regular at the Rydalian Stratford Upon Avon dinner. Normally hosted by his good friend Diana Pheysey (nee Wilkinson - Rydal 1982-1984), a regular Rydalian group from the ’80s frequented Shakespeare’s home town, to recount the endless stories from school and share time together. Martin enjoyed these events attending his last visit to Rydal in June 2013 when there was a reunion organised for the alumni from the 1980s.
After leaving Rydal, Martin secured his first job with Norwich Union in Ipswich and continued to play rugby, with Sudbury Rugby Club. In 1984 – through the rugby club and mutual friends, Martin met Sam, who later become his wife in May 1992.
In the mid-1980s Martin joined the family business, John Robertson Ltd, which supplied UK and mainland European customers with sawn timber from Ghana and Indonesia. It saw him travel extensively to Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana, Vietnam and other countries. Martin worked in Germany and Indonesia for months at a time learning about the wood trade.
The business moved with the times and became a Suffolk based business that specialised in supplying some of the biggest pubs and hotels groups in the country with garden furniture and Bahama Jumbrella parasols. Martin and his brother James were co-directors of the business.
Martin married Sam in May 1992, and in the summer of 1996 their son Nick was born, with daughter Rebecca following in early 1998. After initially living in Long Melford, the family moved to a small village near Lavenham in 2004.
Martin had many interests and hobbies over the years. Rugby was a passion at school and beyond. He had a long- term involvement with Sudbury Rugby club. He was chairman of the committee responsible for their move from Great Cornard to new grounds.
He enjoyed swimming, sailing, skiing and canoeing. Martin was also involved with Friends of the Church of Preston St Mary, Sudbury Storms swimming club and the dog training group Norfolk and Suffolk HPR (Hunt, Point, Retrieve) Field Trial Club.
As Martin’s father says, “the remarkable attribute he had in life was to make friends. He was absolutely brilliant at it”, and it served him well, personally and professionally, to forge lasting relationships.
Martin was diagnosed with myelofibrosis – a rare type of cancer that disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells in 2007. With regular checks, Martin spent 12 years living as normally as he could. By summer 2018, he needed a stem cell transplant, which he had at Addenbrooks Hospital in October 2018.
He was taken into hospital, very ill, on Mothering Sunday and died in hospital on the 28th May 2019, aged 52, leaving his wife, Sam, and their two children, Nick and Rebecca.
E. A. 'Whittle' Butterworth, RS 1945 - 1954.
He was one of 3 brothers, all of whom had the tag 'Whittle' following our father and his brothers in the previous generation, all of whom also were Rydalians.
Michael Silcock (OR) 1949 – 2020
It is of course with great sadness that I write about such a good chum and someone I knew throughout his time as a fellow boarder at Rydal (1957 – 1968). It is also with a lot of pride that I tell you of the legacy of his achievements and that his funeral was attended or remembered by 22 OR contemporaries. With their partners and all the Silcock family, over 120 attended his farewell.
His wish was to be remembered in St John’s Church in Colwyn Bay and to have the service conducted by the school Chaplain, the Rev. Nick Sissons. He duly conducted a very moving service on Monday 20th of January for which all were grateful.
Mike’s son Michael returned from Australia to deliver a very moving eulogy and daughter Daisy followed. They could not praise their father highly enough.
Many of you would not have known Mike, as you are too young, but you might have heard of him or have seen his name carved into many team and award plaques in the Pavilion. The following eulogy delivered on the day was made by George (David) Bishop OR (1962-1967), a 1st XV Captain, who played alongside Mike.
“It’s a privilege for me today to say a few words about Mike on behalf of the Old Rydalians who knew him.
Mike spent eleven years at Rydal starting at the Prep School and leaving the Senior School as Joint Head Prefect in 1968.
My prominent memories of Mike revolve around rugby, and it was on the rugby field that our friendship was forged; as fourteen and fifteen-year-olds, we were both part of a strong and sturdy pack of forwards. However, as we progressed through the age groups most of us, for some reason, seemed to stop growing, with the exception of Mike. I recall he returned from the summer holidays, at the age of sixteen, and he was transformed physically! Not only was he taller and bulkier but he was faster, so fast, that he later won the Diamond Cup 100 yards sprint at the school sports day.
At seventeen stone on the hoof, Mike was a fearsome sight on the rugby pitch. I quote from the report of the 1st XV game against a North Wales Schools XV “The final try was a beauty. Silcock received the ball on the run just in front of the pavilion. Two defenders were brushed aside and the full-back disappeared like a Vietcong in his dugout.”
In particular, there are three 1st XV games that stick in the memory. The away game against Llandovery College, coached by Carwyn James who later coached the victorious British & Irish Lions in New Zealand, was a hard-fought draw on an emotional day following the Aberfan mining disaster.
Ellesmere College, who had never beaten Rydal before, came to Colwyn Bay with a strong team, and a much-vaunted pack of forwards. However, that day we dominated them upfront and Mike had an outstanding game, comprehensively outplaying his opposite number, who was the current England Schools second row.
Mike also excelled in the Sevens team. I recall a gallant performance in the Rosslyn Park Schools Sevens against the eventual winners, Millfield, who were led by the great Gareth Edwards. Reporting for the Daily Telegraph on our victory in the North Wales Sevens, Wilf Wooller, O.R and former Wales international, wrote, “outstanding for Rydal was M J Silcock, a forward with a future”. How right he was, as Mike, who moved to prop in senior rugby, went on to play for Wilmslow RUFC and represented Cheshire in the County Championship.
One hears rugby commentators these days waxing lyrical about mobile props as if they are a new phenomenon. Mike was way ahead of his time. But for serious injuries, which put him out of the game for some time, surely more representative honours would have come his way.
Mike’s connection with Rydal Penrhos continued beyond his school years. Many of his extended family attended the school and he was active in various alumni societies. He was President of the Rydal Penrhos Society in 2008-09 and was a driving force in organising reunions for those in our year in both 2009 and 2019. Mike had a real talent for bringing people together. He was a great supporter of the Old Rydalian Golf Society over the years, encouraging old and new players to participate in the various competitions. In 1997 he donated the Silcock Salver, a trophy which is contested annually by Old Rydalians at Maesdu and Conwy.
Mike and I did not see much of each other over the years that I was an expat. However, I shall always be thankful that we renewed our friendship a few years ago when I returned to the UK.
Mike’s fortitude and stoicism during his long battle with cancer has been humbling to observe. Throughout he maintained his positive attitude, warmth and humour in the face of adversity. He was a big man in so many ways, a great character, a proud Old Rydalian and we shall all miss him. “
As a final comment, I would say that Mike would have loved to attend the Rydal Vikings dinner on Saturday 25th of January but, happily, his association with Rydal Penrhos continues through his children and grandchildren.
A privilege to have known him.
Julian Barnes OR (1957 -1967) Chair of Governors
Pamela (Matterson) Wilcox
Pamela (Matterson) Wilcox passed away on Sunday 18th February 2018 after a long illness called PSP which is similar to Motor Neurone Disease, she was in a nursing home in Macclesfield and attended Penrhos from 1960 -68 and we were in Yorke House at Westfield.
Pamela's brother John Matterson attended Rydal School from 1959 -1968, and Christine Matterson was at Penrhos Junior from 1957 until 1964 the three siblings attended the school for 25 years between them.
They attended the reunion for the l960's in April 2017 and caught up with friends from Rydal and Penrhos. She always liked to visit Penrhos and have happy memories of our time spent there. Pamela used to swim at Rhos Pool and played Lacross on the beach! Pamela and her sister went to Chatsworth at the invitation from the Duchess of Devonshire and met Old Penrhosians who were at Chatsworth in the war.
Pam became an Air Stewardess with BOAC now British Airways and married Robert Wilcox whose sisters Elizabeth, Edwina and Eleanor attended Penrhos and had two daughters, Lucy and Natalie. She then worked for many years at Manchester Airport and latterly John Lewis, Cheadle, Cheshire.
Paul Donald Stewart Slater (1959 – 2019)
Paul Donald Stewart Slater passed away on 22 February 2019 aged 59, after a battle with cancer.
Paul’s father, George, was also a solicitor, the senior partner of a law firm in the Potteries. Paul was educated at Rydal School and then studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Christ Church College, Oxford. He was articled to Hand Morgan & Owen in 1982 and became a partner in the firm in 1989.
Amongst posts that he held were those of governor of Rydal School and St Dominic’s School in Stone. He was a member of the Board of Stafford Prison, a Rotarian, Chairman of Wilford House Residential Care Home and Clerk to the Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s Church, Stafford. At the date of his passing he had been Under Sheriff of Staffordshire since 2008 and remained an active member of St Mary’s Choir.
Paul’s partner at Hand Morgan & Owen, John James, said: “Paul was a gentle and kind man and an extraordinarily good lawyer who was much appreciated by his clients. He will be sadly missed.” Paul leaves a wife, Clare, and daughter, Geraldine.
Colin Atkinson.
Colin was Head of Music at Penrhos College from 1977 - 1981. Under the Headship of Mr Nigel Peacock, he succeeded Miss Kay Arthur and was succeeded by Mr Christopher Deakin.
He passed away very peacefully at home on the morning of 20th April, following complications of a congenital heart condition which had been diagnosed a few years previously.
Josephine (Mellon) Jones (known as José) PC 1934 - 41
Died on 29th November 2019 aged 96. She was one of the girls who was evacuated to Chatsworth House during the war and spent two years there.
Notification has been received of the following deaths since January 2019.
