In Memoriam
David died on 5th April 2025.
Peter died on 6th October 2025
We are saddened to share the news of the death of Dr Anthony Dachs, who passed away peacefully on 23rd October 2025 in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, aged 83.
Dr Dachs was a member of staff at Stonyhurst from 1976 to 1986, serving first as Head of History and later as Deputy Headmaster, when the roles of Deputy Head and Assistant Head were first held by lay staff in 1984.
Before joining Stonyhurst, he lectured at the University of Rhodesia, where he had gained his degree, later completing a Master’s at McMaster University, Ontario, and a PhD at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge.
He was a respected scholar who published several works on Catholicism in Africa and was deeply committed to campaigning for race equality in Rhodesia. His move to Stonyhurst followed his refusal of entry to South Africa, where he had been due to take up the Chair of Race Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
After leaving Stonyhurst, Dr Dachs went on to become the first lay Headmaster of St Benedict’s School, Ealing, London.
The funeral for Philip Armstrong will be held on Friday 14th November at 12 noon at Barham Crematorium, Canterbury Road, Canterbury CT14 6QU.
Following the service, there will be a gathering at Broome Park Hotel, Canterbury Road, Barham, Canterbury CT14 6QX, which is immediately adjacent to the crematorium.
Please note that the crematorium is not in Barham village itself, but lies just off the A2 southbound, closer to Dover than Canterbury.
Donations, if desired, may be made to Pilgrims Hospice, whose wonderfully kind team cared for Phil with great compassion and supported his family during difficult times. Contributions can be made via the tribute site below:
https://philip-armstrong2.muchloved.com/
Brendan died in June 2025
Charles died on 5th October 2025
Martin Ramon Savile De Bertando OS 56
Died 19th September 2025, aged 87
We are saddened to share the news of the death of Martin Ramon Savile De Bertando, dearly loved husband of Tessa. Martin and Tessa had recently returned from a happy holiday in his beloved Bilsdale with their four children Helena, Sylvia, Isabel, and Andrew and all ten grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at All Saints’ Church, Somerford Keynes, on Monday 20th October at 2 p.m.
We are saddened to inform the Stonyhurst community of the passing of Dr David Hallam, a former teacher, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
His family wish to thank all who have already reached out with words of love and support at this difficult time.
They invite former pupils, colleagues and friends of David’s to attend his funeral, which will take place at 10.30am on Monday 27 October at St Michael’s-on-Wyre Church, PR3 0UA.
A celebration of David’s life will follow at The Inn at Whitewell, Clitheroe
Edmund died on Monday 15th September 2025
Edmund’s funeral will be at the Sacred Heart Wimbledon at 11.30 on 7th October.
Edmund was the fourth of seven Middlehursts who went to Stonyhurst. He started at St Mary’s Hall in 1963 and left the College in 1970. A keen sportsman he was Captain of the unbeaten Third Fifteen affectionately known as the ” Turds”. Their coach was the late Fr Hilary Thomas,whose emphasis on tactics rather than fitness, resulted in an embarrassingly successful season .
Edmund graduated from Lancaster University in Economics, and joined Gregsons solicitors in Wimbledon in 1975. He qualified two years later. He remained in the firm becoming it’s Senior Partner for many years before his early retirement in 2016 following a stroke in 2015.
Edmund was a talented solicitor, covering many areas of Law, and was a popular member of the Wimbledon community. He was well liked and well respected and always full of bon ami. Even after his stroke he overcame with great courage the limitations that came as a result. An ardent Irish Rugby supporter he would regularly follow them as he did his beloved Accrington Stanley football club.
He sadly leaves his wife Robin and his sons ,Tom and Sam and gran sons Freddie, Fin and Patrick. He will be sorely missed by them and his five brothers John, Michael, Francis, James and Richard.
RIP.
Fr Bob Styles SJ died peacefully on Wednesday 6th August, at the Corpus Christi Jesuit Community in Boscombe. He was 88 years old and in the 66th year of religious life.
George Robert Styles was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, on 6th December 1936 and was educated at Bedford School. After being received into the Catholic Church, he undertook late vocation studies at Osterley before entering the Society of Jesus at Roehampton in 1959.
Following his First Vows, he studied Philosophy at Heythrop in Oxfordshire. During his Regency, he taught English at Stonyhurst, then returned to Heythrop in 1966 to study Theology. He was ordained priest at Farm Street in 1969 and returned once again to Stonyhurst to teach.
In 1976, he completed his Tertianship in St Louis, USA. That same year, he undertook a Diploma in Education at Digby Stuart College and, the following year, was appointed Deputy Head at Stonyhurst. He took his Final Vows in 1978.
From 1983, Bob served as University Chaplain at Gower Street in London, and later as chaplain in Manchester and Birmingham. In 2014, he was appointed Parish Priest in Much Hadham. After that ministry, he returned to live at Farm Street before joining the Corpus Christi Community in Boscombe in 2021.
Livestreaming of Fr Bob Styles’ Requiem, 12.30pm on Wednesday 3rd September:
https://www.youtube.com/live/1JAXVPRGh4g?si=J3Rr8l6_6sk4WEKx
The Requiem Mass will take place at Corpus Christi Church, (757 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH7 6AN), at 12.30pm on Wednesday 3rd September. The burial will follow in Boscombe/Bournemouth East Cemetery, a short distance away, and there will be a reception in the parish centre afterwards.
Mary died on 30th July 2025.
The funeral will be held at St Peter’s, Stonyhurst on Thursday 4th September at 1pm, followed by a celebration of Mary’s life at The Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green. All are welcome to attend.
We are saddened to share the news that David has passed away following a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosed in 2001, just a year after becoming the Corps RSM, David continued to serve in this role with dedication and resilience until 2010. He remained at the College in a pastoral capacity for several more years, offering care and support to many during his time here.
After leaving Stonyhurst, David moved to York to be with his wife, Karen. Despite the distance, he often returned to Hurst Green to visit his mother and brothers, especially on Remembrance Sunday a tradition that became more difficult in recent years as his condition progressed.
David will be remembered with great affection by all who knew him, particularly by the students and cadets he supported over the years.
A cremation service for David will take place on Tuesday, 5th August at 15:40 at York Crematorium. If you would like further details, please get in touch.
We are very saddened to share the news that Helen Harris passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, following a courageous fifteen-year battle with cancer.
Helen served as Head of Geography at the College for a number of years, including covering two maternity leaves, and later took on the role of Head of Girls’ Games during another maternity leave in the mid-2000s. She went on to become Director of Studies until her cancer diagnosis.
After leaving the College, Helen continued to make a significant contribution to the field of Geography. She worked as a consultant for the Geographical Association, helped develop the new A Level course for the OCR exam board, and authored several A Level textbooks. Her passion for education and her subject was clear to all who worked with her.
Helen passed away at home in Bolton-by-Bowland, surrounded by her husband Ian and son Calum. She will be fondly remembered by colleagues, students, and friends alike.
Celebration of Life – Helen Harris
Date: Friday 8th August
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Service at Bolton-by-Bowland Church, BB7 4NP
All are welcome to join Helen’s family as they celebrate the life of Helen.
Dress code: Casual attire , no black, please. Dress in a way that reflects Helen’s vibrant and warm personality.
Following the service, all are welcome to gather at:
No. 11 King Henry Mews, Bolton-by-Bowland, BB7 4NR.
Family flowers only.
Donations, if desired, are warmly welcomed in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
The funeral of Dr Richard Neville will take place at St Mary’s Parish Church, Clitheroe, on Monday 7th July.
Dr Neville served for many years as a GP in Clitheroe and was Medical Officer to the College from 1967 until his retirement. He is fondly remembered for his care and connection to the Stonyhurst community.
He was grandfather to Dylan Comyn OS 13 and Thomas Neville OS 12.
Peter died 24 February 2025
Stephen died on 23rd May 2025
Andreas died on 17th April 2025
Andrew died on 15th May 2025
Christopher died on 13th March, 2025, age 93.
Christopher served as a Trustee of the Learning to Care charity and through his company, Leyland Printing Company, printed the Jesuit Missions magazine for many years.
Fr Donald died on Thursday, 1st May 2025 in London at the age of 80 years.
Friday May 30THREQUIEM MASS : 10 AM AT NAZARETH HOUSE (169 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 8DB
Priests wishing to concelebrate, please, bring an alb and white stole.
This the link for those who wish to follow the live stream:
https://www.funeralfilming.co.uk/30th-may-25
Anthony died on 28th December 2024.
David died on 11th February 2025.
David’s funeral will be at St. Joseph’s Gerrards Cross at 11.30am on Friday 21st March.
A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10.30am, on Thursday 27th March 2025, at Holy Souls RC Church, Whalley New Road, Blackburn. BB1 9BE.
Those attending are invited to wear something bright and colourful
(No black attire)
Family flowers only please but donations are being welcomed in memory of Pat for the British Heart Foundation
and may be brought on the funeral day or sent c/o Barton & Hallworth Funeral Service, The Old Foxhill, 136-8 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DR.
For further information please contact: 01254 390542.
Louise died on 7th February 2025.
Louise’s funeral will take place on Monday 3rd March, 10:45am at Burnley Crematorium.
Alan died on 22nd February 2025.
Alan’s funeral will take place on Monday 10th March, 10.20am at Accrington Crematorium.
Following a highly successful teaching career since leaving University, including Headmaster at St Christopher’s C of E High School in Accrington, Alan joined the College as a part-time French teacher in 1993. Despite teaching part-time, Alan taught across all year groups and was a Higher Line tutor. Alan worked with Poets and Rhetoricians preparing pupils of outstanding ability for the A-level Extension Award and also ran extra clinics, particularly in oral work.
Alan retired from teaching at Stonyhurst in 2011 but remained involved with the College through the very successful Summer Language School which he helped establish in 2012. Alan was instrumental in seeing the Language School gain British Council Accreditation and at its second inspection in 2018 the Language school was awarded ‘Centre of Excellence’ status, which was a difficult accolade to achieve and full credit to Alan’s tenacity. Alan retired from Stonyhurst in 2019.
Peter died on 21st February 2025
Michael died on 14th January 2025.
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our daughter,
Lauren Stephanie Jackson (OS 03 to OS 05) on Sunday 12th January 2025, at Roxbughe House, Aberdeen.
Lauren died after a short heroic battle with a rare aggressive cancer.
She will be greatly missed by her parents, Keith and Catherine Jackson, her sister Naomi (OS11) and her partner Ed and their two sons, Tristan and Caspian. Also Lauren’s partner Nick Dorrian and their son, Quinn. And all her relatives and friends.
Lauren had worked at The National Trust of Scotland as a Regional Conservator, a job she loved & enjoyed greatly and will be greatly missed by her colleagues.
She was organising people to the end and wanted friends and relatives to support four charities in her memory, that were close to her heart.
https://lauren-s-jackson.muchloved.com
Jonathan died on 12th February 2024
Damian died on the 31st January 2025.
Damian’s funeral will be on Friday 28 February 2025 at 14.00
Location –
St Mary’s Newhouse RC Church
Station Lane
Barton
Preston
PR3 5DY
There will be a requiem mass, followed by internment in the cemetery.
If you are unable to attend Damien’s funeral in person the service is being livestreamed
Father to the late Richard Hall OS 84, Jonathan Hall OS 82, James Hall OS 1994 and grandfather to William and Marianne.
Chris, passed away on Thursday 26th December 2024, aged 62. Beloved Husband, Dad and Grandad.
There will be a celebration of his life at Cromer crematorium for those who knew him on Friday 17th January 2025, 4:00pm.
Miranda died on the 5th December 2024. She leaves 3 OS children Edmund, Saskia and Camilla.
