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ANDREW HAMBLING Obituary

ANDREW HAMBLING OBITUARY: (Staff 1956-1994, Archivist 1999-2006)

Andrew Hambling, one of the longest-serving members of staff in Haileybury’s history, passed away peacefully on 16^th August 2014, aged 84, after a short but debilitating illness. His funeral service, which he arranged himself together with his family and Reverend Chris Briggs, was held in Chapel on 28^th August 2014 and was well-attended, testament to the esteem in which he was held by so many within the Haileybury and wider communities. His eulogy, a sincere tribute beautifully written and read by his grandson William Worthington is available in full on the Society’s website www.hailsoc.net. This describes Andrew’s early life as a child in WW2, a chorister at Worcester Cathedral School, a choral scholar at St John’s Cambridge, and as a commissioned Instructor Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, before coming to teach at Haileybury in 1956, aged 26.

For nearly four decades Andrew was a well-loved and much-respected History teacher and Head of Department, HM of Thomason for fifteen years, and Second Master for five years; he coached, umpired and refereed various sports, produced “Pastimes”, was OC of the Royal Navy Section of the CCF, directed The 125^th Haileybury Appeal and was very involved in School music, having himself been a Choral Scholar at St John’s, Cambridge. He married Helen, then a nursing sister in the San, and had two children Rory and Pippa, who grew up at Haileybury. Andrew was a great lover of cricket, and as a very good cricketer himself led the “Nonedescripts” for thirty years. He was also a tireless and lifelong fundraiser for the Home Farm Trust and the Hoddesdon Rotary Club. When Andrew retired in 1994, David Hunt (staff 1974-), wrote in his Valete “Andrew ……… has established himself as one who knows and loves Haileybury and who cares deeply about standards and discipline and the enduring values. His own personal qualities, his dedication to the Haileybury cause, his warmth and openness, his genial capacity for getting on well with virtually everyone – these we shall long remember”.

Andrew was back at Haileybury in 1999, this time for seven years as Honorary Archivist, where he held regular exhibitions and expanded its use as a valuable resource within the College and beyond. He wrote three books about Haileybury in the World Wars and the East India College at Haileybury. His beloved Helen died in 2008 but in William’s words, Andrew, “got on purposefully with life, never flagging in his kindness and generosity of spirit”. Andrew continued to be a regular visitor to Haileybury, and attended many College and Society events. He continued to engage with the many OHs who hold him in high regard and with great affection and to whom he has left a great legacy of dedication and service.

Jane Everard

Oct 14

 

Originally Written: 03-Dec-2014 11:13, Last Updated: 03-Dec-2014 11:31