Sir Humphrey Prideaux OBE MA DL
I was saddened to read the news of the death of Sir Humphrey Prideaux on 7th May.
Sir Humphrey was an inspiring man and a someone who was ‘always there’ at Lord Wandsworth College, Long Sutton, near Odiham – an independent school for 11-18s where I lived when first married to Bernard who was director of music there.
I set up the commercial arm of the College and had the unique privilege of attending quarterly board meetings for LWC Enterprises Ltd with Sir Humphrey, Chairman, the Headmaster and Bursar. He was visionary and enormously astute and I learned a lot from him.
He was kind enough to write the following when I moved down to Bath:
“During the last five and a half years, Debbie Newman has been employed in a part time capacity as hirings manager for Lord Wandsworth College Enterprises Ltd. During that time she has established the company as a growing concern and has thus made a significant contribution to the financial strength of the College. Her previous professional experience brought inside knowledge of many potential clients which was particularly useful in the start-up phase, but the success of the company has been mainly due to her organising ability and her happy touch with clients. She has a shrewd financial instinct, a good knowledge of accounting procedures and manages her budgets very tightly.
Her warm and friendly personality is ideal for work in this field where human relationships are all important and her professional skill has been proved beyond all doubt. I can thoroughly recommend her”.
Sir Humphrey Prideaux, August 1992
“During the last five and a half years, Debbie Newman has been employed in a part time capacity as hirings manager for Lord Wandsworth College Enterprises Ltd. During that time she has established the company as a growing concern and has thus made a significant contribution to the financial strength of the College. Her previous professional experience brought inside knowledge of many potential clients which was particularly useful in the start-up phase, but the success of the company has been mainly due to her organising ability and her happy touch with clients. She has a shrewd financial instinct, a good knowledge of accounting procedures and manages her budgets very tightly.
Her warm and friendly personality is ideal for work in this field where human relationships are all important and her professional skill has been proved beyond all doubt. I can thoroughly recommend her”.
Sir Humphrey Prideaux, August 1992
Here’s the report from the Basingstoke Gazette and with thanks for the use of the photograph