The Rather Tubby Dinosaur

I promise that this is definitely going to be the last of my LWC reminiscences for the time being, but I really have to write a bit more about Mr. R.T. Davies, my Latin teacher. Yes, you may have already read my eulogy for R.T.D., the one that I never got round to giving at the memorial service. The Rather Tubby Dinosaur was also supposed to be in charge of the College Press, the printing shop that became my sanctuary from the compulsory games that I hated. Well, here is Peter Booth’s “write-up” for the R.T.D.’s memorial service that appeared in The Sower.

 

                        YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE

                            Memorial Service for R.T.D.

Roger Davies certainly got the send-off he deserved. The affection in which he was held and the impact he made on so many lives was evident in the beautiful and moving celebration of a great servant of Lord Wandsworth College. Some 150 Sternians, friends, colleagues and pupils joined together in a tribute to the range of Roger’s passions, gathered in the Gavin Hall, some travelling from as far afield as California and Bulgaria, as well as from all parts of the UK.

We began by singing the school hymn and ended with “You’ll never walk alone”. Many of us struggled to sing this emotional song, with its Liverpool associations that Roger loved so well. In between, we saw a short clip of Roger showing his comic acting skills and clearly enjoying it. We listened to Latin readings from Simon Hill, Mark Bliss (O’Gorman) and John Hazel, who was at school with Roger. Further examples of verse for the non-classicists but equally appropriate were numerous limericks. Some were read in their entirety, but in some cases a sense of decorum prevailed and the final lines were left unspoken! Bernard Newman on the piano and his very talented daughter, Beatrice, on cello treated us to some Saint-Saens and Rachmaninov, while “Britain’s got talent” star, Sternian Ronan Busfield, sang several wonderful pieces suited to Roger’s taste and which should have got Simon Cowell’s vote. Eulogies that were often powerful but also full of nostalgia, anecdotes and laughter were delivered by Rev. Robin Craig, Rev. Tara Hellings, Mark Bliss, John Hazell, Peter Booth and of course John O’Gorman who had done so much to enable Roger to enjoy life in recent years.

John and Mark had assembled a wonderful collection of photos, albums and programmes from the many productions at LWC in which Roger featured or which he had produced. This enabled us all to enjoy the generous hospitality of the College and informally to exchange our own favourite stories of a great friend to us all.

                                                 PETER BOOTH        

It is a pity that P.Y.B.’s piece does not include some of my favourite R.T.D. jokes.

When G.A. Dodds, Mash’s successor, asked for suggestions for the name for the new school library, R.T.D. proposed, “How about the Doddleian?”

Lady Prideaux, wife of the chairman of trustees, told R.T.D. that she could not have an appointment with her dentist because she was pregnant. “Oh, the wrong hole got filled”, quipped R.T.D. 

As well as having an amusing nickname, R.T.D. was the teacher at the London Water Closet who did the most in helping me get into Oxford. He even took the time and the trouble to drive me to the city of dreaming spires for the day. After wandering around the colleges and having tea at the Randolph Hotel, we met the wife of a don, Mrs. Mayr-Harting, who regaled us with stories of bottom pinchers in Rome. (Ladies should avoid the bus-stop outside the Coliseum.)

After my day-trip to Oxford, I knew what I wanted to do after leaving LWC. The city of dreaming spires became my city of perspiring dreams. So why did I apply to Exeter College? Mrs. Mayr-Harting’s husband knew the Classics don there. I did not know one college from another, so it seemed like a good idea. Such are the thin threads from which our futures are woven.