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| 1 Apr 2020 | |
| Deaths & Obituaries |
| MALTBY, Alan Vivian Died on 19 January 2019, aged 76, following a long battle with cancer. The following obituary was written by his friend, James Stewart (FH 56-61): I first met Alan Maltby, soon after my arrival in Michaelmas 1951 at Yardley Court Preparatory School, which Alan had entered in the year before me. We were both boarders and with an intake of only around 10 new boarders per year, we came to know each other quite well. Alan was a good all-round sportsman. The Yardley Courtier of June 1955 records that on 23rd October 1954, “Maltby shot a fine goal from a long way out” in a 1st XI football match versus Bickley Hall. The same issue records Alan’s selection in the school’s rugby 1st XV. In Alan’s last term at Yardley Court in Summer 1955, I had the pleasure of playing alongside him in the school’s 2nd XI cricket. In this context, the November 1955 Yardley Courtier wrote “A special word of praise for Maltby A, who was far too good for a normal 2nd XI wicketkeeper, but unfortunately he lost his batting and that was what the 1st XI really needed.” The boy who took that 1st XI wicket-keeping place was another Old Tonbridgian, Edward Moore JH 55-60. Alan entered Tonbridge School in the Lent Term of 1956. We came together in representing the school swimming team in Alan’s last term in summer 1960, when he was awarded his school colours, having turned himself into a highly competitive breaststroker, winning the A Class (Senior) 100 yards breaststroke in the finals of the school’s swimming sports. Alan finished up in the school’s History VIa and went on to forge a successful career in the world of property. After leaving school, our paths diverged, just meeting at OT reunions where Alan was a regular attender. Our paths came together again earlier in the current decade, when the House Foundation Committees were still active in their charitable fundraising on behalf of the school and we met at regular meetings of House Committee Chairmen, when Alan represented Parkside. We last met on the day of the 2018 OT Winter Lunch, when I saw Alan walking with a stick on the upper floor of the Smythe Library and I jokingly remarked “Alan, you are much too young to be using a stick’ at which he replied “I’m afraid it’s really a bit serious” and I was left with the strong impression that he was paying his last visit to the school. So it proved, with his January death reported in OT News in February 2019. These humble words are an attempt to give a little more background on a man who was so unfailingly cheerful and good company at earlier reunions and whose involvement in the Parkside Foundation Committee demonstrated his enduring commitment to the school. Alan was a loyal Tonbridgian to the end and I shall miss him at future reunions, while his presence in my photograph of the 1960 school swimming team, will be a continuing reminder of some happy days. (PS 56-60) |
