Frank was born when George Vth was king and died five reigns later with

Charles III awaiting coronation. His life witnessed monumental changes in

science, technology, politics, social attitudes and international relations, all of

which inevitably helped shape who he was.

He was born and brought up in Sale and Bowdon (now Greater Manchester)

and attended Wadham House preparatory school along with a number of other

boys who subsequently joined Wrekin. Here

He was intelligent enough to do well academically and was accepted by St

Edmund Hall, Oxford, subject to his gaining O level Latin. However, not even

“Ken” Minty with his brilliant mnemonics (‘Ask, beg, beseech, implore…’) and

blackboard thumping managed to motivate him! He was much happier playing

‘rugger’ while representing the school at hockey, cross country and swimming,

though, interestingly, his notes add that he represented his House at Polo!

(Would love to know when, where and how this happened – Ed) However, his

real talent was leadership, abundantly evident in his roles as Head of Windsor,

Head of School and Under Officer in the C.C.F., to say nothing of being

Chairman of Debate, a Chapel Keeper and being foremost in the photographic

Society.

School days over, he did his National Service as an officer in the Cheshire

Regiment serving for some time in Germany where he took part in guarding

Spandau Prison containing the notorious Nazi war criminal Rudolph Hess.

On his demobilisation, Frank joined the family business for a few years but job

satisfaction remained low: office life was not his forte. He discovered that what

he really wanted was ‘the outdoor life’ such as forestry or farming both of

which, at different levels, he took to and, frequent hostile financial factors

notwithstanding, he mastered.

After learning the ropes at a friend’s farm, he and his wife Sylvia bought

property at Linley Green, Bromyard, Herefordshire, and established a breeding

sow herd and a skilfully managed sheep flock.

Though he found farming was truly seven days a week job, Frank made time

for his large and lovely family. He was also active beyond the farm gate being,

among other things, a highly respected chair of Brockhampton Primary School

governors, a mentor on public-speaking skills in the local Young Farmers, and a

very active member of his local churches taking on duties needing tact and

competence. His address, years before, to the entire Wrekin student body

following his holiday tour of India and his Speech Day oration as Head Boy, as

well as many other features of Wrekin life, surely contributed to his subsequent

confident and able leadership qualities.

Those who knew Frank remember him as a kind, empathetic, hospitable,

tolerant, optimistic - often engagingly quirky – gentleman. He was a first-class

brother and a person who made the world that little bit better.

Edward Hulme (Windsor House 1951-56)