Page 63 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

Kong before secondment to the Sultan he chose the Anglican priesthood. His Hiney died in 2020, aged 84, after suffering
of Oman’s armed forces in 1964. Before explanation was that, after visiting a fellow a stroke. Muriel survives him, along with
long, an attack of jaundice brought about Royal Leicester officer and his family in their two sons: Thomas, who followed his
his medical evacuation. Command of a their married quarters, he wished to marry father into the Anglican priesthood, but
company with his regiment in Libya and and have a family of his own. This was borne is preparing to attend a seminary in Rome
Malta followed, before he left the army in out when he married Muriel Vowles, whom for his conversion to Catholicism; and OBITUARIES
1967, at the age of 32. he had met at a church function in 1969. Robin, who is the manager of a home for
sufferers of dementia. A daughter, Louise,
Hiney then embarked on training for the Hiney’s army chaplaincy gave him immense predeceased him.
Anglican priesthood at Ridley Hall and pleasure, and eventually, he became
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He was chaplain of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, from Adapted, with kind permission,
ordained in 1970 and served his curacy at 1991 to 2001. It is not known how many of from The Times
Edgbaston, before returning to the army the pensioners that he encountered there
as a chaplain. Friends were surprised that were aware of his colourful past.

LEO SIMMONDS KCSG

NOVEMBER 2ND 1930 – APRIL 10TH 2020
OLD RATCLIFFIAN 1944 – 1949
Leo’s late father was a Catenian. Under the second wife, Mary Clare Simmonds. Sadly,
influence of his father and his close friend, Nicholas predeceased his father. Leo was
Jack Sowerby, who was also a member of the a staunch friend, an erudite after-dinner
Challoner Club and a City of Westminster speaker, and a most agreeable companion.
Circle Catenian, he was initiated as a He was always good company, and he loved
member of that circle, when the late Sir his family and friends. From time to time,
Alan Davies, a former lord mayor of the City he enjoyed entertaining at the Garrick Club
of London, was president. In a period of in Covent Garden, of which he was a valued
over 55 years of membership, Leo served as member for many years.
president of the City of Westminster Circle Sadly, Leo contracted coronavirus,
on two separate occasions. In due course, which caused his demise. Because of
he followed the late Bernard Kirchner as the pandemic, a restricted congregation
editor of the Catena magazine, holding attended his funeral service, held at
this post for some 27 years. He was the his parish church of Our Lady Queen of
main motivator of the Catenian Bursary Peace in Richmond. He is very much in our
Fund, of which he subsequently became thoughts and prayers at this time. In due
chairman. He also served on his circle’s course, it is hoped to hold a memorial Mass
Benevolent Board. as a fitting tribute to this charming knight
and delightful human being, who was
Leo became a parish and then a borough greatly loved by his many friends. We pray
councillor in Wandsworth, and he fought for Leo and the members of his family that,
an unsuccessful election as a Conservative with God’s grace, we shall all meet merrily
candidate for the Wandsworth again in heaven one day, and how exciting
Leo was born on November 2nd 1930, and constituency. He also served a term as that will be. May he rest in peace.
he would have been 90 years of age this Ratcliffian Association President, was
year. After going to school at Ratcliffe a eucharistic minister at his local parish Published with kind permission of
College, he attended London University, church, and for many years, an active the Catena magazine
before doing his National Service in member of the Catholic Union.
the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Besides being Ratcliffian Association
Regiment, where he was commissioned Leo’s Roman Catholic faith was always President, Leo was instrumental in
as an officer. After the army, Leo joined important to him. He became a knight introducing the Old Ratcliffians to
the Sunday Express newspaper, where commander of the Holy Sepulchre of the Challoner Club and their monthly
he became general manager, before, Jerusalem, supporting impoverished meetings. He was also a founding member
in due course, joining the board of the Christians in the Holy Land. He was also of what became known as the Old
Evening Standard as a director, where he made a knight commander of the Order Ratcliffians’ London Club and the annual
remained until his retirement. of St Gregory the Great by the late Saint London Dinner. The early days of the
John Paul II, in recognition of his many London Club owe a great amount to Leo.
When Leo relocated to London, he joined years’ service to the Catholic Church and to He also turned out for the Old Rats’ rugby
the Challoner Club, a Roman Catholic Catholic associations. team at the age of 40, although he did not
establishment in Knightsbridge, where, want that fact advertised!
some years later, he was appointed to the Leo had five children: Veronica, Nicholas,
board of management, which he served for and Christopher by his first wife, Barbara Dick Cunningham (59)
many years. Simmonds, and Leonora and Patrick by his Friend

The Old Ratcliffian 2020 63