OBITUARY: HENRY (HARRY)
SUNDERLAND
David Roulston has brought it to the
Association's notice that Henry (Harry) Sunderland passed away on Friday 29th
November 2013, aged 86, following a long illness. The Funeral Service
and Committal were held at Rose Hill Crematorium, Doncaster, on Wednesday 11th
December 2013.
Harry, younger brother of the late Richard (PGS
1935-40), attended Preston Grammar School from 1938 to 1945, and like Richard
was in Goodair House. He followed a career in Medicine and was a retired
Surgeon at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Alan (ARW) Jones MBE JP was an exact contemporary
of Harry, and describes him as "simply the most outstanding pupil of PGS in my
time." In particular he was outstanding at "everything connected with
sport", and won the prestigious "Victor Ludorum" for his all-round
abilities. He was a top-class footballer, and precocious with it,
captaining the School First XI from the Upper 4th Form onwards! Later,
whilst at Cambridge University, he won a coveted Blue for Soccer. It is
not thought that he played for the Old Boys, on account of his studies and
commitments, and the fact that he did not return to Preston on a permanent
basis.
In his second year in the Science VIth, Harry was
appointed School Captain. In addition to displaying prodigious academic
abilities, he was also a musician of some talent. He shared the
organ-playing duties with Alan Jones, being a pupil titular organist from 1941
to 1945 (as outlined in the Guild Newsletter), and also played 'cello in the
School Orchestra. He went on to study Medicine at Cambridge University
and became an Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Whilst Harry might not have played Soccer with
the Old Boys, he was a Life Member of the Association and stayed in touch both
through his brother Richard, who was President in 1984, and through his
regular attendance at Annual Dinners. His illness prevented any recent
contact, but he will be sorely missed, and the thoughts of the Association go
out to his family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.
Charlie Billington.