The following obituary was written by Ed Goodworth (SH 91-96), Jeremy Mavor (FH 91-96), Adam Hunter (PH 91-96) and Tiffany Boldt.

Andrew Dominic Boldt
7 November 1977 – 13 February 2025

In September 1991 the 21 boys of 3B filed into Mr James’ classroom for their first lesson. Some more nervous than others. All of them expectant with intrigue as to what Tonbridge would hold in the coming years. None could have foreseen the friendships and memories that would start to be forged that morning. Boldty appeared made for Tonbridge. Intelligent, good at sport, confident and popular. He took to Tonbridge like a duck to water. His natural intelligence meant that he took academic life in his stride, and he was one of the first names on the team sheet for the A’s at all sports; he was a triple colour in rugby, hockey and cricket by the end of the lower Sixth, and played for the 1st XI at hockey and cricket in the 5th form. He went on to captain the 1st XI at cricket and was Head of House in Ferox Hall. For all his talents and achievements, Boldty had a self-assured confidence that never came across as conceited or arrogant. He was comfortable in his own skin and followed his own path in life, guided by, but not overly influenced by others. He was kind and engaging to those he encountered and perhaps it was these qualities, above all others, that allowed him to continue to see personal and professional success throughout his life.

However, it is important to be clear that Boldty was no angel. He always had a twinkle in his eye.

Evreux in October 1992 saw a mix of the first signs of Boldty’s fondness for a party and some local Calvados leading to not only a number of us incurring the wrath of Mr Austin but also sacrificing our next couple of Saturday evenings. As ever Boldty was too charming to remain in trouble for long.

Jump forward then, to the Ferox Upper 6th common room in early June 1996. The lesson-free gap between Chapel and break time was meant for revision, but perhaps not for Boldty and a few others. The fry up was cooked up, the VHS was started, and the unmistakable theme music was turned up. A sudden burst through the door interrupted proceedings: “What the hell do you think you are doing?  Why aren’t you revising?” screamed a frustrated housemaster (Bill Burn). Without hesitation, Boldty calmly replied, “because we’re watching Return of the Jedi, Sir!”. Boldty and co were swiftly despatched. He coasted to three As.   

From the outside Boldty looked like, if there is such a thing, a typical Tonbridgian. He followed a well-trodden path to Durham, and having coasted a little more to a 2:1 and made any number of friends, secured a place at Accenture on their Graduate Programme. There followed a few successful years and then a year or two at EY, but Boldty was not one to be constrained by convention and was determined to control his own destiny.  

He met his wife Tiff in 2004, they fell head over heels and married a year later in 2005, and three kids followed in quick succession, Ralph 17, Amber 14 and Molly 12. In 2008 he set up his own successful insurance broking business (Insurance Tailors) and went on to sell it 12 years later. He had no prior experience of the insurance industry (save for a few beers with the Tonbridge crowd in the Lloyds market) – but that did not deter him.

In 2011 they moved as a family from London to Hampshire where they settled just south of Andover. He started a second business, teamed with Humphrey Bowles called Guardhog (2016), and third Truvi (previously called Superhog) in 2019 which have proved to be even more successful. But it’s important to note that, despite working all hours of the day, Boldty’s biggest and most important love above all has always been his family. He always made sure he had time to give them and show them his love of life. They too have inherited his love of and aptitude for sport, with Ralph becoming captain of the 1st XV at Canford this coming September.

To enhance his business internationally Boldty moved with Tiff and Molly to Barcelona (while Ralph and Amber remained at school in the UK at Canford) in 2023. A move partly driven by his desire to grow the business, but equally his desire for adventure, penchant for a flamboyant shirt and above all to do things a little differently.  

Wherever he went, he made friends with all and his ability to connect with people transcended nationality or background, possibly a skill picked up from his slightly itinerant childhood following his (sadly deceased) father around to various postings with the Foreign Office to as far-flung places as Nigeria, Malaysia, Singapore and Barbados.

The Boldts were settled and having a ball in Barcelona when they received the diagnosis of his tragic illness. Typically, he faced it head on, with incredible courage, dignity and unwavering optimism. He and his wonderful family continued to astound all of us with their positivity and refusal to let his illness get the better of them.  

With Boldty’s passing, our lives will be poorer, but they are so much richer for having known him. Boldty’s life has reminded us of the wonderful friendships that we developed at School. His approach to life, even now continues to lead and have an influence over all of us. He certainly would have approved of the gatherings his passing has prompted, the drinks and memories that have been shared, but above all the sense of fun that underpins and dominates those gatherings no matter how tragic the circumstances.

Our thoughts are with his wife Tiff and incredible children Ralph, Amber and Molly, and also with his mother, Jan, his brother, Stuart, and Stuart’s family. Boldty was good at everything he did, but his greatest skill was with people, as a family man and a dear friend. We will miss him greatly but will endeavour to live life as he would have wanted us all to.

www.justgiving.com

(FH 91-96)