Obituaries 2026

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Obituaries 2026

Linda Skirton (Former Staff; 1967-2016)

It is with great regret that we have to announce the death, at the age of 79, of Linda Skirton, who was a much loved, inspirational swimming coach at the Prep School from 1967 to 2016, becoming one of the longest serving members of the Millfield 21 Club.  

Under her maiden name of Amos, Linda was a freestyle swimmer of international standard in the 1960s, winning both European and Commonwealth medals in 1962, and being selected for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. 

A fuller appreciation of Linda, plus details of a service to celebrate her life, will appear here as soon as they become available.

Meanwhile we send our deepest condolences to Linda's family on their most sad loss. She will be hugely missed by her many friends and admirers. 

Mandy Cosway (Former Staff; 1995-2012)

We regret to announce the death, following a long illness, of Mandy Cosway, who was Office Manager at Edgarley. She was 67.

In the words of current Head, Dan Thornburn, 'Mandy was recognised as a cornerstone of the general office, who left a lasting impression on the many colleagues she worked with. Her formidable spirit and outstanding professional skill clearly defined her tenure and legacy'. 

Mandy's Funeral Service will take place on Friday 22nd May 2:30pm, at Mendip Crematorium. 

Donations, if desired, for 'Love Musgrove' may be made online at funeral-notices.co.uk, or cheques made payable to the charity may be forwarded to Forsey and Son Funeral Directors, Willowfields, Lowerside Lane, Glastonbury, BA6 9GY.

Leonie Crow (Former Staff; 1989-2001)

We are sad to report the recent death of Leonie Crow, who was a matron at Edgarley, first at Mews, then Manor, Champion and Hillside, besides being a warm and friendly presence around school, highly thought of by staff and pupils alike. 

Before her decade of service at Edgarley, Leonie, a Cornish girl, and her late husband, David, had been pillars of the community in the village of Grampound, where they ran the scout pack for many years and where a celebration of their lives will take place later in June. 

Jonny Atkinson (MPS; 1975-81, Day; 1981-86)

Born in Somerset, 1968 Jonny Atkinson had a charmed and happy childhood as younger brother to David and Sally, and son of Headmaster CRM Atkinson and Shirley. A close and loving family originally from Yorkshire all with quick easy humour, boundless energy and sharp intellects. He made friends effortlessly and from a young age, having followed his siblings around the country at various sporting events he chose cricket as his and persuaded anyone passing to bowl at him from the age of three. Once at school and by now an extremely proficient cricketer, already known as 'Ako' he shone in all academic subjects and succeeded in any other sport he turned his hand to.

Educated at Millfield, where he got straight A’s at both O and A level, fellow students described him as god-like in looks and stature as well as academic prowess. He was selected to play cricket for Somerset just after his sixteenth birthday and selected to play for England U19 Vs Sri Lanka less than two years later.

When he arrived at Downing College Cambridge in 1987 to read economics, under the guidance of his tutor Barry Moore it wasn’t long before everyone in Downing knew Ako and had a story to share about him. He was a magnetic character. Outgoing, funny, energetic and self-deprecating. He became a huge part of college and broader University life as a triple Blue; he was in the University Hawks’ Club, a Griffin, a Patrician and an Exile (a club long since banned). He represented Downing at Cuppers level in rugby, hockey, football and squash as well as playing in the University Cricket Team every year, often captaining the team and was a key part of the Combined Universities squad that Mike Atherton captained in the 1989, B&H Cup. His focus on cricket occasionally became distracted by the demands of college life, demonstrated on one occasion, to the exasperation of Atherton when he came into bat, having not slept and decided to only hit sixes, being too tired to run between the wicket. The Fenners crowd not surprisingly, loved it.

After Downing he pursued a distinguished career in the insurance industry. In 1993 he met his future wife, Alice Blount at a supper party in London, when they quickly became and remained for life, best friends. This too was his introduction to North Norfolk, a place that became immensely important to him. Jonny and Alice married in Cley Church in 1996 and their children were all christened there in the following years. He would often leave the city and meet his father in law for a day fishing on the Wissey.

Jonny and Alice’s first son, Ollie was born three years after they married, followed by Freddie; by which time Jonny began to feel his family should have the outdoor space and adventure he had as a child. He suggested Bermuda, so with their two boarder terriers, Talula and Wicket off they went to live there for the next five years. Ako, already a devoted father soon became proud father again when Archie and Inigo were born on the island and Ako fast found new and great friends on this tiny, isolated rock, an idyllic place for his four small sons who rarely left, hardly ever needed shoes and never a coat. Jonny revelled in their unrestrained excitement of life-discovery while he and Alice easily escaped to New York or Boston for much needed, regular culture injections of art, opera or theatre, something they had both enjoyed together since meeting. Although travelling a lot with work his family became used to his fantastical off-pat stories at bed time when he was at home. Stories of great stormy seas, deathly chess games and killer swans, pirates and explorers all named Ollie, Freddie, Archie or Inigo, stories too exciting for any lethargy. By day the family spent most of their free time in sailing boats and swimming, the only two sporting activities he would say he never fully mastered and remained sensibly afraid of but always faced the challenge square on. Even on occasion invited as ballast in Royal Bermuda Yacht Club weekly J70 sailing races, equipped with red stripe beer that he called Jamaican Chardonnay – Jamacia was over a thousand miles south of Bermuda.

He brought his family back to London in late 2007, after which they regularly escaped to their beloved North Norfolk. He remained in insurance and was hugely celebrated across his career, ending as Group Chief Distribution Officer at Aspen. Amongst many other things he was also a Director of Blue Marble, a socially impactful microinsurance company, providing insurance solutions for smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities affected by climate change in Africa, Asia and South America. He occasionally played friendly cricket including for the Hurlingham Club but never stopped enjoying watching, most especially with his sons at Lords.

In 2025, after enjoying a typical busy and happy summer filled with friends and family he fell suddenly and unexpectedly ill in mid-October and was hospitalised. His brother and sister came to London to join Alice and the boys at his bedside. Jonny died of cancer on the 29th, just nine days after a terminal diagnosis.

Always kind and witty to the end, remarkably humble and undeniably a family man. He would maintain his greatest pride and joy were his four sons; Ollie, Freddie, Archie and Inigo and his fondest memories are with Alice and them all in North Norfolk, surprisingly on the boat or in the sea from Cley beach.

A public memorial service will be held at Cley church at 4pm on Saturday the 13th of June 2026, followed by a party to celebrate his wonderful life at his family home, The Old Rectory, Cley Next the Sea, Norfolk NR25 7BA.

Geoff Keating (Former Staff; 1970-86)

We regret to have to announce the death of Geoff Keating, former Head of Music at the Senior School, at the age of 88.

Geoff was a larger than life figure, who had a huge influence on the development of Music at Millfield during his time here, continuing in the same vein in his retirement in and around his beloved Gatehouse (Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland) and the town's very active Music Society.

After a private cremation, there will be a Celebration of Geoff's life on Monday 11^th May at 11.30 at Gatehouse Church.

Geoff's death and legacy have been fully reported in Galloway News.

We offer our deepest sympathy to Geoff's wife, Helen, for many years Head of Music at Edgarley, and their children Hilary and Graham, both Old Millfieldians.

Peter Fry (Former Staff; 1974-97)

We are very sad to report the sudden death of Peter, after a brief illness.

Peter was a warm and much-admired member of staff, first teaching Physics, then computer studies, becoming an innovative Head of Department in the early 1980s in what was a new subject in a new, purpose-built centre. He and his wife Barbara were also Assistant Houseparents at Kingweston for a number of years.

Peter was an unassuming but very talented man who in retirement worked tirelessly for the local community, in particular the Street Twinning Association, and the Repair Café.

Peter’s memorial service will be at the Quaker Meeting House in Street BA16 0EB on Saturday 21st March at 2pm. It will also be available to watch on Zoom via this link.

Meeting ID: 812 1873 0530 Passcode: 896642

We offer our deepest sympathy to Barbara and the family.

Mike Cole (Former staff; 1958-1995)

Although born in London Mike always considered himself a son of Herefordshire. His mother and he moved there via Pembrokeshire during the war for family reasons. From an early age he attended Lucton School which he always remembered with great affection and gratitude. No slouch academically, Mike was also a respected leader on the sports fields, captaining both rugby and cricket with significant success. His all-round ability, responsibility, and sociability was duly rewarded with the position of Head Boy in his final year.  

A degree at Cardiff followed, majoring in Geology, with ancillaries in Botany and Zoology, which he taught for a few subsequent terms at Lucton. But of more significance during his student and school holidays, was his part-time working at a local market garden business run by Molly Holloway. Between them a relationship blossomed which they joyfully shared for the rest of his life. Married in 1957 and with the hope of a family soon, they realised that married life in an agricultural caravan would be insufficient; a more formal and lucrative career pathway was required. 

Towards the end of 1957 Jack (Boss) Meyer interviewed Mike at Millfield School in Somerset. Perhaps more on his sporting enthusiasm and the delightful impression that Molly made on Boss, Mike was appointed to teach Biology.  

At the tender age of 24 he found himself among a small cohort of young teachers in an established staffroom of war-hardened veterans. After a few years he started hankering for career advancement and discussed looking elsewhere. By this time, he must have gained a reputation for academic competence alloyed with an ability to enthuse and motivate pupils beyond their expectations, a quality which Boss valued highly. “Hold on a while, Mike, something might crop up.” And within a few months the Head of Biology moved on, and Mike took his place, a Geology graduate in charge of an expanding Biology Department.  

Through the 50s and 60s Biology was a rapidly developing science: in cytology, biochemistry, DNA and medical science, there were enormous intellectual and technical developments with unanticipated applications. Mike spent many evenings in Bridgwater Public Library keeping himself fully informed, and devising innovative ways to present new ideas to pupils. Reading around the subject was important to prepare A level candidates for university, especially so for Oxford and Cambridge aspirants. Although Mike’s rigorous teaching and thorough testing was intimidating at times it brought success to innumerable pupils over the 36 years he led the department of 11 or 12 biology teachers. As the school expanded sixty or more pupils took A level biology each year, of whom most would proceed to university and several to Oxbridge colleges. He received frequent letters of appreciation from former pupils for the inspiration, confidence and success that he had given them. Furthermore, Mike was a mentor and father-figure to the staff he employed; he was a true educator to adolescents and adults alike.  

But there was more to Mike’s life than Millfield. With a daughter and two sons his time away from school was well filled working about the house and playing games, and many memorable extended family holidays in Pembrokeshire. And if there was a group of acquaintances going to a pub, or away on golf and cricket tours, he would be there. Always with self-effacing humour, Mike would lighten-up a social gathering anywhere. He was always a pleasure to be with, and many of his colleagues and friends will miss his camaraderie. 

As a final challenge during the last 13 years of his career, Mike and Molly accepted the role of Houseparents in a Millfield boarding house. Understanding, sympathising, complimenting, shepherding, cajoling, and admonishing ever changing groups of thirty girls through five years of their adolescence is no mean task. It is a role that demands immense patience and resilience, where expectations can feel high and challenges unpredictable. Yet, with an understanding of the complexities of adolescence, the commitment can lead to wonderful satisfaction.   

There is no better way to summarise Mike and Molly’s success than to quote from one of very many letters of one of ‘their’ girls, now in her 50s: “Mike meant more to me than he ever knew, and I will always remember him. He and Molly are, quite simply, the best people I have ever met.” 

Mike is survived and missed by his wife, Molly, their three children Suzanne, Ian and Philip, and seven grandchildren.  

Doc (Rob) Eagle  

Terry Dampier (Former staff; 1990-2003)

It is with great regret that we announce the recent death, after a long period of ill-health, of 21 Club member, Terry Dampier, who was a driver and very popular colleague at the Prep School.

Terry, who was a Baltonsborough man from a farming background, was given full ‘tractor honours’ from his village to the Mendip Crematorium.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.