Deceased 01/07/2016

Francis Alexander Noble, or Frank as he much preferred to be called, was born on July 7^th 1916 at the beginning of the Battle of The Somme.  His parents lived in Formby and he retained his links to this neighbourhood all his life. He attended Formby College and then Crosby Preparatory School entering Merchant Taylors’ School in September 1925.  He won his form prize in 1929, rose to the rank of Sargent in the Cadet Corps and obtained the Oxford and Cambridge School Certificate before leaving school in 1932.

From 1934-39 Frank worked for the Inland Revenue and became a Senior Tax Officer. With the onset of World War 2, during 1939-40 he was recruited to be a driver with the West Lancs RASC, a TA regiment.  In 1940 he was commissioned in the King’s Regiment where he served till 1946 rising to the rank of Captain.  In 1942-43 he was on the staff of the Isle of Man Garrison as Adjutant and was billeted at The Bowling Green Hotel in Douglas.  This is where he met his first wife: her mother ran the hotel.

His son, George, was born before the end of the war and Frank returned to the hotel in 1946 after he was demobbed.  For two years he helped to manage the hotel then he returned to his roots in Formby.  His wife and son joined him but the marriage did not work out.

Back in Formby, Frank went to work as a Tax Consultant at a Liverpool Firm of Chartered Accountants and started his exams both as a Chartered Secretary and a Chartered Accountant.  He became a Partner and was one of the leading Tax Experts in Liverpool, retiring in 1981.

He enjoyed playing tennis and was a member of Formby Lawn Tennis Club for a good part of his life.  He was Treasurer from 1954 to 1976 and Captain for 4 years.  Later they made him Life President.  He was credited with “moulding the Formby Lawn Tennis Club into the successful club you see today”.

Since before the war, Frank had known Jean Mary Scott, a good golfer. They married in 1959.  They enjoyed spending time in the Lake District and shared a love of Scotland through which Frank was able to pursue his interest in railways.  Frank loved good food accompanied by a glass of red wine and it was sad that health difficulties, including an inability to swallow, eventually deprived him of the pleasure of eating out.

Frank passed away on Friday, July 1^st 2016 just 6 days before his 100^th birthday and the small party that his son had arranged for him.  He had, however, a good long life with many years to enjoy his retirement, a loving wife, good friends and some wonderful neighbours.

With thanks to George Noble, Franks’ son, and Trevor Hildrey, the Boys’ School archivist, for their contributions towards this tribute.

Deceased 21^st June 2016

Lists of names on the Honours’ Boards are a focal point for visitors to the Boys’ School as this helps to refresh memories of team and class mates.  On the Heads of School Board is the name of Donald Peter Iddon, who preferred to be called Peter.  During his time as a pupil, both his personal qualities for potential leadership and sporting prowess were identified.  In addition to being voted Head of School he was also Head of House.

To describe him as ‘a good all-rounder’ perhaps does not do him justice.  His talents and contribution to school life are better appreciated by sharing some of his achievements: 1^st XV Colours, 1^st XI Colours, Athletics Half Colours, the Fay Challenge Cup (Open 200m), Holmes Cup (shared) for best all-rounder, the Dawburn Prize for Integrity, the Alty Cup (for greatest contribution to rugby, cricket and athletics) and a Mellor Essay commendation.  He was also a Sergeant in the Army Section of the CCF and Chairman of the Sixth Form Union.  The illustrations show Peter with his rugby and cricket team mates as they appear in The Crosbeian magazine and the word ‘excellent’ is used with regularity in descriptions of his bowling and rugby talent.

Peter gained a degree in Physical Education and Sports Sciences from Loughborough Colleges.  His sporting credentials extended beyond school.  He played rugby for Waterloo, Loughborough Colleges and Worcester Rugby Club and cricket for English Universities and 2^nd X1 for Lancashire.  He represented the UAU in both sports.

Peter’s career was spent undertaking a variety of roles at The King’s School Worcester.  As you would expect, he was very involved in sport here, as Master in Charge of Cricket and Coach of various rugby XVs, as well as for a time, the U14 Basketball Team.  Over the years he had various responsibilities including 4th Form Tutor, Head of Boys’ Games, Housemaster of Hostel House, Special Needs coordinator ….. he was an enormously influential figure at The King’s School.  He has been described, by a colleague, as a true ‘Schoolmaster’.  He wasn’t one for the latest fad or piece of technology preferring ‘to fulfil his duties in the classroom with a commitment and application that never faltered’.  He spent countless hours at the playing fields where he was possibly at his happiest.  He was also an inspirational teacher of English, very much a traditionalist, believing that language should be cherished and respected.

Peter, with his much loved wife, Anita, and children Kate and Harry, ran Hostel House at The King’s School for eight years and Choir House in the last year of boarding.  He did this with firmness, fairness and emotional intelligence which made these Boarding Houses happy places to be.  His great organisational skills were put to use in arranging sporting and cultural activities for both the sports teams and the boarders.

A friend and colleague described him as ‘a true gentlemen’.  ‘He was a man of complete integrity who believed that there were proper ways to behave and it was important to instill those values in our pupils’.  He was witty, kind and had a great sense of loyalty.

‘Pete was simply one of the nicest people that you could ever hope to meet’.

He passed away peacefully on 21^st June 2016.

With thanks to Peter’s colleagues at The King’s School, Worcester, whose words and detail of Peter’s adult life have contributed to this article.