Andrew passed away peacefully Saturday, 23rd January. 2016.
He was a natural sportsman and played rugby, cricket and hockey.
Andy was a great sportsman at school: one of an elite band who was awarded cap and colours in Rugby, Cricket and Hockey.
He played full back in the fifteen and “his long kicks and defensive play saved the School on many occasions”.
He was Captain of Hockey in 1957, playing right back, “a tower of strength; a powerful and reliable player, who held the defence together”.
He opened the bowling for the Cricket team and could also be a mighty hitter of the ball.
He was selected to play for the young amateurs of Essex.
He also represented the School at Athletics, where he threw the Javelin a long way without any practice!
He was a Sergeant in the CCF.
He became a Monitor and Head of West House in 1957.
On leaving school he did National Service in the 33rd Parachute Light Regiment of the Royal Artillery; his C.O. rating him “conscientious, loyal and honest”.
His first job on leaving the Army was as a rep for Findus Frozen Foods, but he soon realised that qualifying as an accountant would serve him better as he had always been good at figures.
From 1961 to 1967 he played Rugby at full back for the Old Bancroftians Football Club 1st XV, where his powerful kick was often crucial.
He represented both Essex and Eastern Counties at Rugby and Essex at Hockey.
He played Tennis at Woodford Wells, where he once beat Christine Truman, later a Wimbledon Ladies finalist!
After qualifying as a management accountant, he met Wendy and they married in 1967.
A year later they left for Jamaica on a three year contract with Price Waterhouse.
Approaching the end of this contract he secured the position of Financial Director of Kingston Industrial Works, the largest industrial company in the West Indies.
He played Football for PWC ; Hockey (twice for Jamaica against teams from Mexico and Guyana) and Golf; sailed and exercised polo ponies.
Daughters Amanda and Jo were born in Jamaica, while son John was born after their return to England in 1976.
They decided to leave Jamaica after the political situation changed.
He made lifelong friendships while in the West Indies.
On holiday with one of these friends in Scotland he managed to track down the grave of Rob Roy, the famous Scottish outlaw
and found evidence that he had a manservant named Andrew Fairservice, which delighted him.
An ancestor? Although one could hardly see this Andrew as a servant.
His sporting prowess was probably in the genes.
His grandfather Bill, a talented Kent player, once bowled the great W G Grace at Lords.
Over the next 30 years he had a number of jobs including one with a property company, two more years in Jamaica, Lilywhite Frowd Sports, a period as a financial consultant,
and lastly with a well known antique dealer in Pimlico.
He retired in 2006.
During this time the family lived in Orpington and he joined Cherry Lodge Golf Club.
He was a devoted Golfer, playing every Sunday morning, leaving the house at half past seven. Occasionally he would return, fuming because his round had been cancelled due to bad weather.
Towards the end of his life his health deteriorated and he was no longer able to enjoy the social life which had once been so important in his earlier years.
Throughout his life Andrew was a quiet, proud man; a true gentleman, he held fast to “old school” values.
He was of an era and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Contributed by:Tony Long (1950-1958) and Norman Renaut (1950-1957)
Connecting Old Bancroftians with each other and Bancroft's School since 1910