Barry Lendon – BaA 44-51

Submitted  by David Arnold

Barry Lendon spent seven years at Christ’s Hospital, in Barnes A, from 1944, a few months before the end of the Second World War, until 1951, and in his last year was a Grecian (possibly that unusual thing, an Engineering Grecian), House Captain, Drum Major with the band, stand-off half in the 1st XV, a leading member of the 1st XI, and the National Amateur Heavyweight Boxing Champion.  He was a remarkable person, who inspired both affection and admiration.  He died in October 2022 at the age of eighty-nine.

One of his contemporaries, David Arnold, who was with him throughout those seven years, fought with him in the ring (and inevitably lost), and went sailing with him on the Norfolk Broads, remained a friend throughout their lives.  After leaving school they were divided by distance, families and work, but always kept in touch at Christmas and met occasionally throughout the next seventy years.  When our father died (I write as his daughter, Zara Rayson and on behalf of his son Roger), David suggested that I should write something about my father for the Old Blue, so that such of his contemporaries who survive may know something of his life after leaving school.  This is the outcome.

Even as a teen-ager my father was determined to be an engineer. He spent his younger years in the RAF but most of his life he worked in the civil engineering industry for various companies, retiring at 58.

He married our mother Doris and they were together for 65 years, until she died of a short illness in August 2020. They both came to live next door to me in Stroud in 2014 so we had a few interesting years living as neighbours ! .

He remained something of an athlete throughout his life, and as an old man still regularly walked his dog Otto and was always seen chatting to the locals.

At the end of his life he sadly succumbed to Alzheimer’s and went in to a care home in Feb 2022. His carers always commented on what a kind, polite and gentle man he was. He is missed by all of the family.