Obituaries & Tributes

It is with deep regret that we report the death of Barry Gilbert, who passed away on 24th March. Barry joined School in September 1949 and left July 1956.

We have recently heard that Graham Holbrook (BGS 1955-62) has passed away.  Graham was admitted into the Canterbury Pilgrims Hospice on Friday 17th March and he passed away peacefully early on Monday morning 20th March 2017, with his family by his side. The date of the funeral is 4th April 2017 at 2.40pm at Barham Crematorium, Canterbury Road, Barham, Near Canterbury, Kent,  CT4 6QU.

All are very welcome to join the family afterwards at Olly's old watering hole, the Anchor Public House, at the far end of Abbey Street, Faversham, ME13 7BP.  Should you wish to attend a reply of numbers would be gratefully  appreciated. Please email the OBA at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we shall forward the information to Graham's family. 

Graham is pictured in the 1956-57 Form Photo on the OBA website below (1956-57 Form Photo). He was known as "Fish" Holbrook....as his family ran the wet fish shop in Sittingbourne High St.  From school he joined the RAF and followed that up with a varied career in business and consultancy.

We sadly heard of the death of Freddie Cooper many months after the event.  He had been a regular at the Dinner for many years with a group of his contemporaries.

His son wrote to us:-

"Thank you for sending the latest edition of the Old Bordenian Website Digest.  My mother forwarded the digest to me today and remarked how much Freddie enjoyed receiving and reading the various articles.

My father Freddie Cooper, d.o.b 13 February 1923, died peacefully on 7th July 2016.

Freddie was at Borden GS from 1934 to 1941 and continued to attend the annual old boys' dinner until the age of 84 years old.  He always spoke with great affection for the school and appreciated the excellent education and start in life provided by Borden.  Freddie joined the RAF in 1941 and gained his wings in 1942 and was fortunate enough to continue flying with the RAF until the early 1960's, retiring as a Squadron Leader in 1966."

It is with regret that we have to pass on the news of the death of Dr Andrew Edney on Friday 3 March 2017.  Andrew's funeral will take place at 12.40pm on Monday 10th April 2017 at Worthing Crematorium, Horsham Road, Findon, Worthing, BN14 0RG, followed by a wake at Findon Manor, East, High St, Findon, Worthing BN14 0TA from 1.45pm.  Donations if desired to the Blue Cross, by way of collection on the day, care of the funeral directors HD Tribe of Storrington. If you have any personal stories or readings etc. that you would like to share on the day, or if you intend to attend the funeral or wake, could you let Andrew's solicitor, Lucy Samy, know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Doctor Andrew Edney was a veterinary surgeon for some 50 years. After attending Borden Grammar School from 1943 to 1950, he attended art school before eventually graduating from the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London. Post-graduate studies led to a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and a Masters degree in History. He worked as a freelance writer and editor and wrote a number of books relating to animals. His book “And While You’re Here – Episodes in a Vets life” covered his early life as an evacuee during World War II, to National Service in the RAF, student days, work in general practice and beyond. He was past president of the British and World Small Animal Veterinary Associations and the Central Veterinary Society from 2007-2009. He lectured throughout Europe and the US on his speciality – the portrayal of animals in art.

Andrew was a regular attendee at the Annual Dinner, and indeed attended in 2016

He never married, and leaves no children.

Denis Jarrett MBE       21 October 1922 – 13 January 2017

It is with regret that we announce the death of Denis Jarrett, MBE.  Denis left Borden Grammar School in 1941 and was an active member of the Old Bordenian Association for very many years.  Denis passed away on Friday 13 January 2017. His funeral was held at 10:00 on Monday 30th January at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, Kent and then at the Mess Deck, The Historic Dockyard Chatham. 

This article from the Kent Live site provides brief details of the life of Old Bordenian Lester Haines, who died earlier this year: Lester Haines - Kent Live.

Graham Barnes (BGS 1937-44), who died on 9 October 2016, aged ninety, was a stalwart supporter of both Borden Grammar School and Old Bordenian Association for more than 70 years.  The funeral was held on Wednesday 26 October at 12:40pm at Charing Crematorium and afterwards at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel.

Born in Sheerness, Graham received his early education at the Broadway School, where he began his lifelong friendship with Ken Sears (d. 2014) and entered Borden Grammar School in 1937. His studies were interrupted two years later by the outbreak of the War, and he was one of those pupils evacuated to Pengam in South Wales with Messrs. Highton, Higson and Snelling.

It is with a sad heart that we have to report the death of Duncan Goddard this morning.  Duncan followed his father Ken and brother Ian, to Borden and then became involved with the Old Boys, where he served the Association brilliantly as Dinner Secretary and as a Committee member for many years before moving to Devon.  He was a terrific personality and possessed his late father's wonderful sense of humour. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

The funeral took place at Ottery St Mary church on Tuesday 20^th September at 2pm.

It is with regret that we have heard of the death of Old Bordenian John Clancy, at the age of 75.  The Sittingbourne News Extra paid tribute to John in the 27 July 2016 edition.  This is reproduced below:

Marc Stewart has responded to the news of Brian Tyler's death. To see the original article and Marc's response, click here.