Past Presidents, Wynn Anderson (2008-10), Michael West (2012-14) and Miles Henry (1988-89) at a
pre-dinner planning meeting in February 2013.
OPU (London branch) Presidents – part 2 (1969-81)
1969/70 B V C Harpur, MC
Brian Harpur was born in 1918 and entered Portora 1931. He left to join Associated Newspapers as a classified advertising representative, humble beginnings to a life-long career with the Company which was interrupted only by his wartime service with the Middlesex Regiment and later the 1st Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment, during which he was awarded the Military Cross.
Brian became a director of Associated Newspapers Group in 1964. He was also a director of Harmsworth Publications and in subsequent years, executive director of the London ‘Evening News’.
He had a lively mind in matters of publicity and became chairman of Angex, the ANG exhibitions subsidiary responsible for the annual Ideal Homes exhibition and other major public events. In 1969, while serving as our President, he was responsible for the'Daily Mail’ transatlantic air race in which some three hundred aircraft raced between the Post Office Tower, London and the Empire State building in New York.
Also in that year he chaired a small unofficial committee comprising Douglas Learmond and Ian Scales – all working in Fleet Street – that wrote to members of the Whitehall and. Stormont Governments and to the Portora Board, trying to bring sense to the developing horrors of the troubles in Ulster.
In 1981 he organised 'the first national conference on human values' at the request of the Duke of Edinburgh who addressed it along with other national and international figures.
Brian formally retired from ANG in 1983 but retained a position as their cable consultant.
His name became well known to the public when he founded a club and a company to celebrate the passage of Halley's comet. When it did pass as expected in 1986, one could buy registered and patented Halley's ashtrays, T-shirts, china mugs, books, club ties, and wine and champagne to drink at the many unofficial parties to mark the occasion. All this work produced profits that went to the many charities he supported, as they will next time the comet appears.
One of Brian's wartime experiences was summarised in his book ‘The Impossible Victory’, a tongue-in-cheek account of his service as a young subaltern at the battle of the River Po, the profits from which went to his regimental charity.
Although a generous man in all things, Brian fell out with the OPU a couple of years after serving as our President over the matter of inviting wives to our annual dinner. Brian was for their inclusion, having recently married for the second time and the committee was left with the distinct feeling that his decision was not completely personal.
He died in 1990, survived by his wife Mimi, three sons and a daughter.
1970/71 Lt Cdr R Ashton Clarke
One of the many Cork boys who came to Portora during the headmastership of the Revd E G Seale, Nobby Clarke came to the school in 1923. He was a founder member of the London OPU and served as our Treasurer for many years. He was also a founder member of the Old Portora Masonic Lodge. He died in 1985.
1971/73 J F Q Switzer, MA
Many of those listed in this booklet have led a full and productive life, able in their retiring years to look back with some pride and pleasure in their achievements. It is safe to say that none has managed quite as much as Jeffery, nor is likely to leave behind him so many worthwhile monuments in their chosen career as is our President for 1971.
The writer of this monograph is proud to share with Jeffery the title of 'Old Girl' of the Collegiate School – another is the Duke of Westminster – in that our education began in the Collegiate kindergarten in Enniskillen.
Jeffery moved on to what was then Portora Preparatory School in 1934 under Lizzie Hunt, which became Gloucester House in 1936 under the headship of Barney Barnes. From the start, his ability to imbibe knowledge was evident, his reports showing him to be outstanding in all subjects together with his desire to know more. His move to Portora and Ulster under George Andrews continued the same story. Jeffery achieved a remarkable seven distinctions (with one 'possible': 400 out of 400 in Maths) in his Senior Certificate exams. He is unique in winning the Tetley Gold Medal for Science twice.
Out of the classroom, he was the first King's Scout in Portora's annals, joined the JTC (Cert A) and moved to the newly-established Air Training Corps, becoming its first Flight Sergeant. Still at school, he joined the Home Guard under age and by the time he was 17 he was teaching the Fermanagh yokels to fire Tommy guns and throw live grenades. He lived to tell the tale!.
Having grown up with the ambition to join the Royal Navy, Jeffery took the Dartmouth Special Entry exam, coming ninth out of some 300. Rated Midshipman in 1942 he was appointed to HMS Renown and then to HMS Illustrious for flying training. While serving in Northern Waters he got pleurisy, which was mis-diagnosed. He nearly died and was invalided out of the Service before his nineteenth birthday, which broke his heart. He tells me that he therefore particularly enjoyed the moment 30 years on, when he was Chairman of the Cambridge Military Education Committee, when as the Vice-Chancellor's Deputy, a visiting Admiral called him "Sir". He was able to explain that he was actually a retired Midshipman.
The Navy generously accepted that they were responsible for his being invalided and as well as giving him a pension, gave him threeyears at Cambridge. So in 1944 he was admitted to Sidney Sussex College – George Andrews' old College – where he read Estate Management.
Following graduation he worked as a town planner both in this country and abroad, was awarded the Gold Medal of the RICS and made an Honorary Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Soon, however, he was recalled to Cambridge, first as a Surveyor with the Department of Estate Management, then as a University Lecturer followed in 1957 by election as a Fellow of Sidney Sussex. In turn he became the Estates Bursar, Tutor and Vice-Master. While Bursar, he trebled the College's external revenue, thus laying the foundations of its present comfortable financial state.
He served the University over a wide range of activities, including the Financial Board and finally the Council of the Senate. Above all, it is Jeffery's work as Chairman of his Faculty Board and in establishing the new Honours Degree in Land Economy that will be his lasting testimonial.
But he also served the community beyond the University – the Board of Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the National Trust, the Governing bodies of Malvern College and the Monmouth schools; developing links between Cambridge and the Navy; lecturing as far afield as Warsaw and Ankara and planning for the Government of Malta. "This is what made my time here so very interesting and enjoyable. I am not a real academic, you know. After all, I only became a Don literally by accident!" And the high point of his career? "That is easy to answer: all in one week in June 1947, I took my degree, was made a Scholar of the College, Sheila and I went to the first post-war May Ball and we were married in the College Chapel; and have lived happily ever after. My goodness, how fortunate I have been".
On his retirement in 1992 he was elected Emeritus Fellow for his achievements over forty years of outstanding service to the College. He was also made a Vice-President of the Cambridge Society and a Freeman of the City of London for his "services to education, to the surveying and planning professions and to the Armed forces.”
As a Man of Ulster, Jeffery has made his opinions widely known through the columns of ‘The Times’ and ‘The Daily Telegraph’ over the last thirty years. He is a redoubtable supporter of the Union and continues to be confounded by the inability of Irishmen to find a way of living peaceably together. "The French and Germans can do this after three terrible wars. Why is it only the Irish who carry on the vendetta?”
1973/74 G H S Webb; MBE
George Webb entered Portora in 1922 and on leaving in 1925 joined his elder brother Arthur's (PRS 1917-23) business in Canada. George returned to Ireland in 1933 and then went to London to set up in advertising.
When the war started in 1939, he joined the Buffs and was commissioned into the Maharattas in India in 1942. From there he was posted to action in the Middle East and Italy, being awarded the MBE (Military) for his service.
After the war he joined the Civil service, working in National Savings in Hertford. He died in 1996, as did his brother Arthur who was famous for having been the first of Lizzie Hunt's 'Maggots' to become Head Boy.
1974/75 Col N W Dorrity, TD
A Dubliner by birth, Noel entered Portora 1936 and was Captain of the 1st XV the last time Portora won the Ulster Schools Cup in 1941. His military career culminated in the Colonelcy of the London Irish (TA) and he was given the outstanding honour of being Commanding Officer of the London Irish Rifles during their centenary year.
We remember him for his enthusiastic support as an indefatigable worker in support of the OPU London Branch, acting as 'host' during the years we dined at The Duke of York's Barracks (and meeting afterwards unofficially in the Sergeants' Mess there - oh, dear).
For many years he ran a hotel in the Chilterns, where the Portora VIII dined when rowing at Henley, to his and their great joy. Subsequently he was a Club Secretary in London.
Though he lived most of his life in England he was a Dubliner to the end, never losing his delightful accent as he bounced noisily through life.
Noel died in 1987.
1975/76 G N Taylor, MB, MCh, FRCS
Entered Portora 1926.
1976/77 J B Musgrave, MB, CHB, BAO
Born in Cork, Brendan entered Portora 1933, followed by Trinity where he took his medical degree, graduating in 1945. While at Trinity he earned a Leinster senior cup winner's medal for hockey.
After house jobs in Dublin and then in Ryde, he entered general practice in Hendon in 1948. His capacity for hard work became legendary and this, together with his great sense of humour and an easy Irish charm endeared him to his patients; he formed a particular affinity with his many Jewish patients. He was the inspiration for the Derwent House Old People's Day Centre in Hendon and also helped found Glebe Court Old People's Home.
Brendan became senior partner in the practice in 1966 and his wife, having brought up their family, joined him in 1967 as a partner in the business. In 1968 he was appointed medical officer to the Metropolitan Police Training Centre at Hendon, coinciding with a new 37-bed nursing home and major expansions needed to house an additional 1000 recruits. He retired from that post in 1982.
As a hobby away from doctoring, Brendan became proficient at picture framing and upholstery as well as general carpentry. He built several boats and enjoyed watching his children sailing them during holidays in Cork. He was also an accomplished fly fisherman.
He retired in 1983 and returned to the family farm in Cleggan, Co Galway but sadly illness manifested itself almost at once and he died aged sixty-five.
1977/78 T L Kelly, MB
Entered Portora 1930, where his main interests were cricket and rugby. He qualified as a GP from Trinity in 1943 and joined the RAMC, serving as a Major in Burma.
After the war he spent thirty years in general practice in Eastcote, Ruislip, becoming the senior partner in the practice.
He retired to Rustington, West Sussex and enjoyed twenty years there, before dying in 1998.
1978/79 Dr Kenneth McCrea, MB, BCh, BAO, JP
Kenneth McCrea was born in Ballygawley and went to Portora in 1931. He took his degree in Queens in 1944. Following hospital house appointments, he entered general practice in Upminster in 1949. At the relatively early age of 48, he suffered the first of three serious heart attacks but continued to bear the full burden of a busy practice until forced to retire at 56 by rapidly progressive and disabling angina. He had been an outstanding GP, continuing to update his knowledge of advances in medicine through attendance at many postgraduate seminars.
The angina was completely relieved by a heart bypass, which allowed him once more to live life with his customary energy. His interests went far beyond medicine and enabled him to talk with erudition on many subjects, his ready wit making even the most esoteric subjects interesting to the listener. In his younger days he had been a keen rally driver, but in later years it was golf that gave him his exercise until he began to fail physically. He continued to serve as a JP on the magistrates' bench and it was while so occupied that he died in July 1988.
1979/80 J W Jackson, MCh, FRCS
1980/81 R D G Creery, VRD, MD, FRCP, DCH
Desmond Creery started his school career in the Prep under Lizzie Hunt in 1931, moving up to Ulster House under Douglas George and latterly George Andrews. His family came from Omagh, though his father's position as a District Inspector in the RUC meant his postings could be anywhere in Northern Ireland.
Desmond assures us that his career at Portora was largely undistinguished, save that he won the Junior and the Senior Cross Country in successive years. In addition, he was a much-battered boxer and also obtained Colours in rugby and cricket. His academic ability was nonetheless sufficient for him to take a medical degree at Queens University, following which he joined the staff of the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Volunteering for Royal Naval duty in 1944, he was posted to a LSI (Landing Ship Infantry) and was demobbed in 1947 when he joined the Reserve as a Surgeon Lieutenant and decorated ("for fifteen years of undetected crime") with the Volunteer Reserve Decoration, retiring as a Surgeon Commander in 1963.
Following demobilisation, Desmond continued his medical work as a paediatrician, developing his skills in Belfast (Gold Medal in Paediatrics), London and Bristol until becoming a Consultant in South Shields, where he remained until taking up a senior position in Cheltenham, retiring in 1983. He was elected a Fellow of the RCP in 1971.
'Retirement' is a relative expression, because the move to Guernsey gave him five more years practice in his chosen field, this time as the Island's Community Paediatrician – "an interesting but far from arduous appointment" - before he settled into gardening and other properly recognised duties and pleasures of the truly retired, such as fly-fishing on the lake next to his house. His eldest son John Michael is another OP.
