David Lawrence Wraight

OH (1958)

David Lawrence Wraight OH (1958) was born 23 February 1940 in the suburb of Southall, near London, only a few months before Great Britain declared war on Germany. At the age of 4, he was bundled off to Cornwall with his brother Robert and his mother to escape the German air raids over London. Growing up, he made strong friendship bonds in the Boy Scouts, and after enrolling in Hampton Grammar School became a fierce contender in both boxing and rugby. Excelling in physics and maths, he studied civil engineering at Bristol University, fitting in rugby with the university’s second team whenever possible.

His life trajectory was changed by a trip to New York and Ontario after the second year of university in the summer of 1960. Although after graduation he joined a British engineering firm and worked on the M4 freeway and other construction projects, he had been enamoured by travel through the American West and the comparatively better work prospects in Canada. David accepted a position in Vancouver with an engineering firm that hired him on the spot and had him on site three weeks later. Stints in San Francisco and Chicago followed before a ski trip to Squaw Valley, California, led him to meet Susan Senour in 1969. Six months later they were married and living back in Chicago.

David’s work with International Harvester took the couple overseas to El Salvador, Singapore, Iran and England, before they moved back to the US. In Singapore, their daughter Kelly was born in 1975, and then twin sons Alex and Ian in 1977. A transfer to Iran just before the revolution erupted, threw the young family’s lives in to disarray, and they were forced to evacuate without most of their belongings and without a home to return to. David eventually found a home in a quiet suburb west of London after which Susan and children joined him.

In 1984, the family moved back to the US, where they settled in Libertyville, a Chicago suburb. By now, David’s work was focused on construction equipment sales with Dresser (later Komatsu), and his career took him all over the country many weeks of the year. After retiring, a long desired move to San Diego was fulfilled in 2003, where David became a regular walker/hiker, participated actively in his church community and embraced an all-around healthy lifestyle.

His improved energy served him well in caring for his dear Susan who battled Parkinson’s disease as well as enjoying the arrival of grandchildren Abby and Adrian in 2005, Kendra in 2006, Brandon in 2007, and Daniel in 2018. He became a grandfather for the sixth time only a few weeks ago with the birth of Peter.

In early 2020, David was diagnosed with ALS, explaining a number of physical mobility issues he had been battling, and he fought the disease bravely until passing away on 28 September 2022.

David is survived by his three children, Kelly, Alex and Ian, and their spouses, Antonio Aguilar, Stephanie Wraight and Luan Mong Thi, and his grandchildren, Adrian, Kendra, Abigail, Brandon, Daniel and Peter; as well as brother Robert Wraight of Oxfordshire, England.

By David’s daughter Kelly Wraight

Andrew Pepper

OH (1961)

I first met Andrew Pepper OH (1961) around 1974. He had joined the Government Statistical Service not long before, and he was meeting a fellow GSS colleague with whom he had worked in the steel industry in Wales.

Our interest in sport and statistics began a friendship which lasted nearly 50 years.

In 1976, he organised a trip for around a dozen to the Olympic Games in Montreal, and later he arranged visits to cricket (his main sport – a Middlesex supporter), rugby (a Leicester Tigers supporter), athletics and golf. His statistical work was with the Department of Transport.

For a while he lived in Berkhamsted and St Albans, before moving to Brampton, near Huntingdon. He holidayed well in Cornwall, and later we two had regular holidays in the West Country, Wales or the Lake District.

In retirement, he did much work for charities, particularly Age Concern. In later years, hip problems (despite replacement surgery) greatly limited his mobility, a situation he bore with much fortitude.

Ken Mansell

Long-time friend of Andrew.

Brian ‘BD’ Smith

OH (1960)

Brian Smith OH (1960) was known at School as ‘BD’. He was an enthusiastic sportsman, a member of the School boxing team, a rugby player and guitar-playing musician. Brian was a member of probably the School’s earliest rock ‘n’ roll band in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, along with Jim McCarty OH (1961), Paddy Kerwin OH (1961), Paul Samwell-Smith OH (1961), Sean Newcombe OH (1961) and John ‘Bun’ Richards OH (1961).

The Band was known first as the ‘Strollers’ and then the ‘Country Gentlemen.’ The second name was chosen when Brian swapped his Fender Stratocaster guitar – the sixth to arrive in the UK – for a Gretsch Country Gentleman. These names sound so corny today!

The band – with Brian on lead guitar – played at local Saturday night hops in village halls, at the School’s end of year dance, and eventually spent a day recording at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in the summer of 1961, a year or two before the Beatles recorded there. Eventually the band’s members went their different ways; Paul and Jim became members of The Yardbirds, whilst Brian, Sean and Bun can be seen in the photograph of The Avanti Quartet.

On leaving School, Brian joined HM Customs and Excise at Heathrow airport. After a few years, his love for music overcame his wish for a stable job. He went back to playing in a band and set-up a recording studio in the West Country.

Brian contacted me about ten years ago. We both lived in Devon and took to reminiscing from time-to-time at lunch meetings in Exeter. Brian had taken up golf and enjoyed teaching young players at the local club in Chumleigh, whilst organising local music festivals and concerts at which – of course – he played guitar.

Brian is survived by his wife Alison, son, Charlie and daughter, Olivia.

Paddy Kerwin OH (1961)

Graham Dutton

OH (1957)

Graham Dutton OH (1957) was born in Worthing in December 1940 where his family, including sisters Eileen and Marion, had moved to escape the Blitz. The family soon moved back to their home in Belgrade Road and Graham remained living in Hampton his entire life.

He attended Hampton Grammar School from 1951 to 1957, with his sisters next door at LEH.  Although he may not have been the most academic pupil, he certainly enjoyed the many sporting opportunities that the school provided.  While cricket was always his chief passion, he would often regale us with other stories such as his boxing exploits which I think mostly came from his considerable reach from being taller than most of his combatants.

In reality Graham was a gentle giant of a man, who always shared his love and affection with his many friends and family, including wife Maureen of 59 years, son Trevor, daughter-in-law Julie and grandchildren Romily and Thom.

On leaving school, Graham joined the Sneller family Estate Agents where he remained for his entire working life – an example of his loyalty and commitment which he brought to every aspect of his life.  I am sure that many in the Hampton area will recall him from when they bought a house with his assistance – we still meet people who fondly recall how they bought their homes from him.

As mentioned, it was cricket that truly delighted Graham.  He played from school days into his fifties, mostly for Hampton CC based at Carlisle Park, where he was a very effective bowler and lower order batter, twirling his SS Jumbo with occasional great effect.  He was fixture secretary for many years, seeking out some of the loveliest grounds in Surrey for us all to best enjoy our weekends, going on to be Club Chairman.  After his playing days ended, Graham qualified as an umpire (with the highest score in the year – who said he was no academic?) and stood in the Middlesex League including an end of season final at Lord’s – a huge highlight for him.

But perhaps his most challenging moment as an umpire came in a Pro Am event at Teddington CC when Aussie superstar and main attraction Steve Waugh came out to bat – and was absolutely plumb LBW first ball to the amateur bowler’s utter delight – but Graham is thinking “How can I give Steve Waugh out first ball, everyone has come to see him?”; his finger remained hesitantly un-lifted, so in the end Waugh had to help him out, saying “I think that’s out ump”!

Graham also played cricket for the Old Hamptonians but his main OH involvement was through golf; he was a member at Fulwell GC and regularly enjoyed taking part in OH Golf Society events.

Graham passed peacefully on 23 October 2022 in Kingston Hospital with Maureen at his side.

Trevor Dutton OH (1982)