Richard Newton (OW 1979)

(13 August 1961 – 14 August 2022)

We have been informed by his wife Jane of the death of Richard Newton.

Jane writes;

It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that Richard died on Sunday 14th August. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in April 2021. Although time was short, we were able to squeeze in many wonderful things and tick a few items off his bucket list. He was also able to put his affairs in order, this included writing his obituary for The Bridge which is attached.

Richard’s self-penned obituary follows:

Life passes quickly and over the forty years since I left MCS in 1979 I have had very little direct contact with the school but have always followed OW news with interest. In December 2019 I thought that should change and enjoyed attending the VOW Christmas Lunch at school’s splendid new dining room, although there were only seven of the ’79 leavers there. It was great to catch up with the group and particularly to see Aidan Robson with whom I rowed in the School 1st IV throughout the 6th form and whom I hadn’t seen since leaving. Proof of what a small world it is was provided when we discovered my software business had been a client of his law firm who managed our patent applications and yet neither of us had made the connection. What a shock to read earlier this year of Aidan’s sudden death on his bike and a stark reminder that we are no longer young men. Then in April of 2021 I discovered that I too was on borrowed time having been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour and given a few months to live, which are passing rapidly. However unusually and fortuitously my situation provides the opportunity to write part of my own In Memoriam for the Bridge and fellow OWs.

So now is the time and the opportunity to say a few words about MCS. Over a long, happy, and blessed life I consider attending the school to be one of my greatest pieces of good fortune. How different things were then to the competitive, marketing-led industry that education has become and which I have witnessed firsthand with my own sons. My recollections are of a very liberal regime that above all naturally fostered an interest in learning and inquisitiveness, where high achievement was simply expected. Of course, youth is often wasted on the young and I didn’t make the most of the opportunity I was given at the time. We all grow up at a different pace. But what MCS did give me was an inner self-confidence that has stayed with me for life and once I had matured the love of learning and inquisitiveness has never left me and made my life all the richer for it. Even as I approach 61 barely a week will pass without some apposite recollection of my schooldays. Who can ask more from an education than that? So, thank you MCS for the start that you gave me and in a very modest way I have made provision in my will, so you may help other young people benefit in the same way via the bursary scheme.

To my fellow ’79 leavers I wish you all well. For those that I have had occasional contact with over the years, I’m sorry not to have had a chance to say goodbye in person, but you know who you are. Carpe Diem my friends, none of us know what is around the corner, so make the most of this wonderful life whilst you can.

RWJ Newton 8 July 2022.

Richard is survived by his wife Jane, and their two sons, Will and George.