E.S. (Stan) Holmes (SH 45-50) Richard Holmes (SH 85-88) writes:
“Stan died on Saturday, 31st March 2018 after admission to hospital for leukaemia just a week before. He had been involved in St. Bees in many ways over the years, having been a long-serving Governor of the school and President of the St Beghian Society from 1996-1998.
Stan was brought up in North Shields and, like many pupils during and just after the Second World War, travelled to St. Bees by train.  St. Bees was where, along with some great lifelong friendships, Stan developed two passions that were to stay with him throughout his life, fell-walking and rugby. He would ride to Ennerdale at the weekend and explore the Western Fells of the Lake District, often climbing Pillar, Great Gable and Scafell, sometimes all in the same weekend. He fondly remembered his school climbing exploits and would recount stories of carrying heavy bicycles, climbing in hobnailed boots and using hessian rope in the time before harnesses. He would even recount occasions when he took shelter in the Mountain Recue stretcher boxes when bad weather set in. He met his wife-to-be, Rosemary at college in Durham and, in her, found a fabulous walking partner. Whether climbing Helvellyn in the Lakes or on more adventurous expeditions like Kilimanjaro and Annapurna Circuit, walking was a major part of both their and their children’s lives.
Rugby was also a major part of Stan’s life. He had a real passion for the competitive nature of the game and could describe details of matches, with Sedbergh and other schools, in remarkable detail throughout his life. After playing at school he captained Durham College and Percy Park, as well as playing for Northumberland in the late 1950s.
Stan went on to spend his working career with Esso where, over a 30-year period, he held a wide variety of jobs, primarily in sales and marketing. Later in his career he was fortunate enough get some overseas positions, finally finishing with a stint in Bahrain, running Esso’s business in the Middle East and Africa.   In ‘retirement’, Stan joined the South Lakes Community and Mental Health Trust as Chairman and spent a number of years helping transform them, which included a move to a new centre at Furness. After he stepped down due to illness in 2001, he continued to chair mental health appeals, having to use his judgement and compassion in coming to balanced decisions. Stan used to say that he always enjoyed the many varied things he had done in his life, whether at work or in his personal life. It is for his positive outlook and the way he embraced life that provided inspiration to his friends and family, and for which he will be fondly remembered.”

 

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