No.127
elders in disputes involving grazing
rights. He then worked for Courtaulds
1959 and Vine Fuels 1964, before the
National Trust 1967-95. He lived in
Beatrix Potter’s old home and was
chairman, Beatrix Potter Society. He
then moved to Norfolk to join the NT
team at Blickling Hall. In 1980, he was
a Foreign Office election supervisor in
Rhodesia for which he was awarded
the Rhodesia Medal. In retirement,
he was a NADFAS lecturer and a
tour leader 1997-2003. The pen was
his favourite tool and his publications
included English Rare Breeds, 1989. He
was founding member of SongBird
Survival. A ‘True English Gentleman’
who treated everyone with equal and
unfailing courtesy. He is survived by
Jennifer, his wife of 63 years, for whom
he constructed their first married
home – a mud hut in Nigeria - and
their son and three daughters.
John Ieuan Middleton (K, 42-47): died
7.12.2018 aged 90. Brother of DM (K,
40-45) and RMM (D, 49-54). Bisley
1946-47 and Captain of Fencing
1945-47. University College, Oxford,
3 Jurisprudence, BA 1952. He first
worked for HM Overseas Civil Service
in Zambia where he was a District
Officer 1953-62. He was a Magistrate
1962-64 and worked for Leeds
Permanent Building Society 1967-
89. He retired in 1989 and travelled
extensively in the Middle East and
Europe. He had a splendid collection
of slides which he showed when he
was a prison visitor. He found strong
support from his involvement with
King’s Church, Boston Spa. He is
survived by his brothers.
Richard William Longworth Wilding
(Coll, 42-47): died 29.12.2018 aged 90.
Co Prae, Latin Speech, English Essay
Prize and Editor of The Wykehamist.
National Service with the Intelligence
Corps, with whom he served in
Austria. Scholarship, New College,
Oxford, I Classics Modern 1951 and
I Lit Hum 1953. Chancellor’s Prize
for Latin Verse. He first worked in
The Trusty Servant
the Diplomatic Service, with whom
he served in Ceylon, 1953-59. He
then worked for HM Treasury 1959-
68 and the Civil Service Department
1968-81 and finally he was Head of
Arts and Libraries. He was appointed
CB in 1979 and retired in 1988. He
served as Secretary of the Fulton
Committee, which redesigned the
structure of the Civil Service: he was
a great defender of the principle of its
independence and was considered by
Lord Hennessey, the constitutional
expert, to be the incarnation of what a
Civil Servant should be. Publications:
Civil Servant – a Memoir 2005, a plea for
the restoration of some of the values
that were part of the governing norms
for most of the post-war period. After
retirement, he remained intellectually
active, publishing a new translation
of the Odyssey in 2011. Married
Rosamund de Villiers, who died in
2014 after 60 years of marriage. He is
survived by their two daughters and a
son.
Philip Waring Darwin (I, 43-47): died
4.11.2018. Great-grandson of Charles
Darwin. He was the son of WRD (B,
08-12) and brother of GED (I, 40-45).
By chance, he went to Hopper’s but
would have preferred another house
where there was always a good drop
of gin to be had! Co Prae. National
Service with 3 rd Hussars 1948-49,
serving in Germany. Trinity College,
Cambridge, 2(1) Economics and
History. BA 1952. He qualified as an
accountant with Moores Carson in
Edinburgh. CA Scotland 52-55. He first
worked for Schweppes 1955-60, during
which time he was Vice President,
Schweppes USA 1957-60. He then
became a stockbroker, working for
Laurence Keen & Gardner 1960-
81, of whom he was senior partner
1972-81. His leadership and ability to
raise morale brought them through
to recovery after the crash of 1973.
Thereafter he was director of Group
Investors. He married his first wife in
1992, 35 years after first meeting her in
New York: she died 7 months after the
27
marriage and he took on the running
of Perryhill Nurseries in her memory.
He sailed, played golf and was an
avid Backgammon player. A man of
the highest integrity and discretion
– and hugely generous. Married Sue
Gemmell in 1997.
Murray Adams McLaggan (G, 43-48):
died 11.2.2019. Brother of JGMcL (G,
48-52) and father of JHNMcL (G, 74-
78). Exhibitioner, Co Prae, English and
Latin Speech Prizes; and the Kenneth
Freeman and Reading Prizes. National
Service with the Royal Artillery, with
whom he served in Hong Kong 1949.
Scholarship, New College, 1 Classics
Modern 1952 and 1 Jur 1954. He was
called to the Bar, Lincoln’s Inn, 1955
and became a student and tutor in
law, Christ Church, Oxford 1957-66.
During this time he was required to
give a lecture each month to the whole
of the Law Faculty, which he hated
but was always excellent. He then gave
up the law and managed his family
estate at Merthyr Mawr. He worked
hard and could often be out until
10pm or later, driving the combine
harvester. He became a JP and was
a member of the Parliamentary
Boundary Commission 1980-97. He
was always busy in support of various
issues in Wales: Chairman, Regional
Defence Committee 1990-9; Chairman
Forestry Commission; Chairman,
National Trust Committee; High
Sherriff, Mid Glamorgan 1978-79; and
Lord Lieutenant, Mid Glamorgan
1990-2002. Singing provided him with
relaxation and he became a member of
Cowbridge Amateur Operatic Society,
for which he played a leading role with
a fine baritone voice in 14 productions
– roles which he played very well
despite some ‘Murray Worries’ prior
to the show. He is survived by Jenny,
his wife of 59 years, and their two
daughters and a son.
Esmond Hugh Stokes (I, 45-49): died
5.10.2018. Brother of LAFS (I, 41-46)
and TGHS (I, 50-56). National Service
with the Rifle Brigade with whom he