Page 59 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

the RAF were able to fly with the Royal prime minister eats the gulls’ eggs raw,
Flight. Basil captained more than 650 VIP and then he washes them down with
flights for many of the world’s leaders on bottles of champagne!”
their global travels, and in 1970, he was
awarded an OBE. After leaving the RAF, Basil became a
director of the Civil Aviation Authority and OBITUARIES
Basil flew the Queen on her only ever then became the chief aviation advisor to
official tour of South America in 1968, to the government. Alongside this, he had
Brazil and Chile. In Brazil, he was lucky a keen interest in sailing, and in his latter
enough to watch a football match in years, he wrote regular columns in yachting
the famous Maracanã Stadium, and he magazines on navigational electronics. He
personally met the great Pelé, who was, always said, “I’ve never done a day’s work
then, the world’s most famous footballer. in my life – I’ve only indulged in my hobbies
The trip involved the Queen visiting Sao and interests!”
Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Santiago. He
also once flew Prime Minister Macmillan Basil was married to Molly for 62 years,
to the summit with President Kennedy in a steward came on board the aircraft and and they had two children, Martin and
Nassau in the Bahamas in 1962. This was gave Basil a shoebox. The steward said that Elizabeth. He enjoyed good health until
to conclude the Nassau Agreement, which the shoebox had to be given to the prime his last three years, and he passed away
led to the UK being supplied with Polaris minister, as it contained his breakfast. on May 10th 2020, surrounded by his
submarine-launched ballistic missiles for When asked what was inside, the steward family. He was a great man and a true
the first time. Basil received a phone call replied, “Gulls’ eggs.” Enquiries were gentleman, and his family are immensely
from Macmillan a few days beforehand, made as to how they should be served, proud of his achievements.
asking him if he could buy four bottles of but nobody had a clue. Eventually, it was
champagne for the flight. Then, when they decided to contact the Head of Catering Martin D’Oliveira
were waiting for Macmillan at Heathrow, at BOAC. He laughed and said, “Oh, the Son

ANTHONY CYPRIAN FRANCIS FEARN

JUNE 6TH 1932 – DECEMBER 12TH 2019
OLD RATCLIFFIAN 1944 – 1950

asked to do so, and they were rarely wrong. his wife that Tony was “far too honest
He was kind and thoughtful, and popular to be a good PR man”. His talent was for
with other students and teachers. Although writing, and he wrote, among many other
not a leading sportsperson, he enjoyed the things, the advice booklet given to the
cricket and rugby that were an important early winners of the National Lottery. He
part of school life, and he captained the continued this talent in his retirement,
rugby team in his last term. He was Head when he wrote a much-appreciated
Prefect in his final year, and he also fondly weekly ‘Village Voice’ column in the local
remembered playing the lead in a school paper. He also read for, and edited, the
production of The Admirable Crichton. magazine for the ‘Talking Newspapers for
Some of his contemporaries have told the Blind’. Together with his wife, Tony was
me how much they valued his company an active fundraiser for Thames Hospice
and friendship. and a supportive parishioner at St Teresa’s
Tony Fearn was born on June 6th 1932 in Church. He also appeared in many amateur
Barcelona, Spain, where his father was the Tony attended the University of Strasbourg theatre productions in Beaconsfield.
European manager for a Yorkshire firm. for six months, before going up to Gonville
His brother, Robin (52), was born two and Caius College, Cambridge, in 1951. In 1961, Tony married a young widow,
years later. In 1936, the family returned to In his first year, he shared a room with Barbara, and they had two daughters, Katie
England, and at the start of the war, they Leslie Bricusse, the composer. Tony did his and Clare. Sadly, Barbara died from cancer
moved to Yorkshire. There, Tony attended National Service in the navy, although he at the age of 44, and Tony subsequently
Heckmondwike Grammar School for two never actually went to sea! In later years, he married Trish. They would have celebrated
years, before going to Ratcliffe in 1944. regretted that he had not done his National their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in 2020,
Service before Cambridge, as he felt like a but Tony died peacefully in December
Tony enjoyed his time at Ratcliffe, despite boy among men there. While in the navy, he 2019. His funeral was attended by
the wartime restrictions and hunger. His studied Russian. over 250 people, including five of his
friend, Douglas Chamberlain (50), recalls Ratcliffe contemporaries. He leaves Trish,
that, even as a young teenager before After demob, Tony moved to London and his daughters, five grandchildren, and
the end of the war in Europe, Tony had a tried various jobs, before joining a public his sister.
remarkable knowledge and understanding relations agency. He stayed in that field
of both national and international for the rest of his career and remained Patricia Fearn
events. He would share his opinions when well employed, despite a colleague telling Wife

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