The Old
Pocklingtonian
Obituaries
to air vice-marshal two years later, to become the
Assistant Chief of Defence of Staff (Operations) in
March 2001.
During Walker’s tenure in this demanding
appointment, British naval, ground and air forces
were based in the Gulf region, where the RAF was
engaged in policing the airspace over Iraq. Another
challenging task confronted him and his staff after the
attack on the World Trade Centre in New York in
September 2001. In response to the threat posed by
Al-Qaeda forces, and based on political requirements
and guidance, Operation Enduring Freedom was
launched, resulting in the deployment of additional air
assets to support the build-up of British naval forces
in the Gulf region and of ground forces in Afghanistan.
In 2002 Walker was appointed Assistant Chief of
Staff (Policy and Requirements) at NATO’s Supreme
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) at
Mons in Belgium. In this key post he was responsible
for developing and implementing NATO structures
and force requirements at a time of significant change
in the military capabilities of member states. He was
appointed CB in 2005.
His final post was as director of NATO’s Joint Warfare
Centre in Norway, responsible for training NATO
Headquarters staff for deployment to theatres
overseas.
In 2006 he returned to Pocklington School to conduct
the biennial CCF inspection. He retired from the RAF
in 2007 and spent the next few years involved with
local issues in north Devon and doing voluntary work
for RAF and civilian charities before taking up his
appointment in Guernsey.
Personalia
Arthur Gerald Isles (Gerry) Wood (39-49), aged 84,
passed away following a brief illness on Sunday 30
August 2015 in Hull Royal Infirmary. Born in Leeds on
14 September 1930, he attended Pocklington School
between 1939 and 1949. He was an outstanding and
prolific sportsman, captaining virtually every school
team including rugby, cricket and fives. In addition he
held the record for the England Junior Shot Put and
still to this day holds the school record for throwing
the cricket ball an astonishing 98.98 metres (108 yards
and 9 inches). He is described by his contemporaries
as being a fine person: good-natured, cheerful and
fun to be with. His parents had a small cinema in
their house in Leeds and when sports teams were
playing in that area, for example at Leeds Grammar
or Wakefield, they often took the team in on the way
home and treated them to food and drinks and a
short film – a welcome change from school food in
the days of post-war rationing!
Gerry’s sporting talent continued beyond school. He
was a former Captain of Headingley and Harrogate
Rugby Club, representing Yorkshire, Combined
Services and North of England, and playing against
the All Blacks in 1954. Gerry played for and was a
passionate supporter of Pocklington Rugby Club. He
also played cricket for Pocklington Town, Pocklington
Pixies and Woodhouse Grange.
He was a much-loved husband to Margaret who
preceded him in 2009, brother to David and Liz,
father to Julie, David, Rachael and Ruth, Grandpa to
Marcus, Victoria, Joshua, Ben, Charlie, Lewis, Lizzie,
Nick and Rebecca and Great-grandpa to Eva-Mae.
Peter Walker was president of the Aircrew
Association and Life Vice-President of the Royal Air
Force Association, European area. Relaxed and good
company, he was equally at ease with both older and
younger generations. He was a keen fly fisherman and
sailor.
He married his wife Lynda in April 1978; she survives
him with their daughter and two sons.
Air Marshal Peter Walker, born 9 September 1949,
died 6 September 2015.
Arthur Gerald Isles (Gerry) Wood (39-49)
Pre-1970
John Barton (46-51) has fond memories of his time at
Pocklington. He regularly played Fives and took part
in House competitions. He lives in York and earlier
this year he celebrated his 80th birthday.
Malcolm Binns (59-67) following his retirement as an
orthopaedic surgeon, Malcolm is spending time doing
voluntary work in Blantyre, Malawi, something he has
always felt he wanted to do when he retired.
Michael Briggs (51-54) joined Cable & Wireless after
Pocklington and trained as a Telecoms Technician. He
spent 10 years working at various locations in South
America for the company before moving back to the
UK. He then got into early computers and moved
around the UK working in the computer industry
before ending up doing the embedded software and
hardware for an industrial Laser marker. He says that
“Pocklington did two good thing for me; I learned
how to learn and eventually how to think (I think!),
and I found out how to deal with ‘strong personalities’
while doing what I liked best – making things work.”
Stuart Crossland (51-56) is two years into a threeyear assignment on the presidency of the London
Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints (Mormons).
R. Andrew Dunning (40-43), John Dunning (35-38)
and Peter Blacker (40-46) have funded a new plaque
to go next to the Dawn Redwood tree planted by
the School cricket pavilion in memory of former
Chemistry teacher and House