John Bell (FN 55-60).

David Boucher (SH 54-59), assisted by John Routledge (FN 54-60) and
David Lord (SH 60-65), has kindly provided the following:

“John first arrived at St Bees in January 1955 into Eaglesfield from where he went on to Foundation North.
He was an avid sportsman playing rugby, cricket and fives, representing the school at both junior and senior levels. He was a member of the successful 1959-60 school 1st XV, playing in the second row. That team only lost one match, to Giggleswick away. Apparently they stayed in a hotel the night before and kept the bar open until 1.30am!! That same team also drew 6 – 6 with Sedbergh on the crease, which was huge result. He then went on to play for Cumberland under 18s.

John’s other passion was music and throughout his whole time at St Bees he was a member of the school choir under the directorship of Donald Leggat.

John stayed on an extra year at St Bees, which was the so-called scholarship year, during which he was a school prefect and cadet under-officer in the CCF.

During his time at St Bees his home was in Lamplugh, which became a popular stopping off point on three quarter days.

Afterwards John attended the University of Edinburgh to read Physics. It was during his first week there that he met his future wife Olive. They married in 1965 and subsequently had four children – all boys. Unfortunately he developed diabetes just fourteen days before his wedding. This, however, didn’t seem to bother him too much and he continued to take life as it came, refereeing rugby instead of playing it.

On graduating, John joined United Steel in Sheffield and after a few years there, he joined British Aluminium and moved to Fort William, then to Tain, even further north in Scotland.

From there he was transferred to what we all knew as High Duty Alloys in Distington and as a result decided to live in St Bees.
After he retired in 1999 John turned his attention back to St Bees School.

He was Secretary and Treasurer of The St Beghian Society from 2000 to 2006.
He was Clerk to the Govenors from 2000 to 2003.
He was President of The St Beghian Society from 2004 to 2006.
He also assisted Fred Lord (Bursar at that time) with Health and Safety issues.

In 2003 John and Olive moved to Berwickshire;  he always had a hankering for Scotland. There he continued his love of music and sang in three local choirs. Sadly his diabetes began to take its toll and he died in August 2013.

He will be sadly missed.”

 

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St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

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