PGSA Obituary: Henry (Harry) Sunderland

[DAVID BILLINGTON]

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.