J SH 1933 - 1942
Group Captain Anthony Talbot Williams (Tony) has died on 11th August 2019 at the age of 95. Brother of R. Falcon (J H 1931 – 1938), John Bulpin (J SH 1931 – 1940), and Chris. C. U. Williams (J SH 1937 – 1944), all Old Wycliffians
The following has been written by Anthony’s son Simon and his daughter Sarah:
After a wonderfully long and busy life our father died on 11th August 2019. Born in Cumberland Terrace, London in 1924, the third of four sons of two doctors educated in the Victorian/Edwardian scientific explosion with a strong history of sporting achievement.
His father, Ernest Ulysses Williams, 1880-1962, a very early Harley Street radiologist and gifted sportsman, won the Cumberland Club Tennis Championships in 1920 and played the All England Championships at Wimbledon before and after WW1. His mother, Emily Christine nee Pillman, 1886-1952, was educated at Girton College, Cambridge. She stroked the Ladies VIII and achieved an excellent degree in 1908, although knowing little of this as degrees were only acknowledged and awarded to women in 1936.
Tony started education from the family home at 25 Harley Street where “Miss Wade” taught a handful of children. From eight Tony was sent with his brothers to Wycliffe College, where at that time his mother’s cousin WA Sibly, grandson of the founder of Queen’s Taunton, was headmaster. He told us how WA’s father GW Sibley had founded the College to pioneer “Outward Bounding” a new idea followed later by the likes of Gordonstoun. Each spring there would be a school expedition, one to Algeria, North Africa in 1938 commenced after the Williams had accommodated all 65 in their six bedded Harley Street house on the way to the “Boat Train” to Marseille! They camped in tents marked “deux chevaux ou dix hommes”. Tony talked about how pupils at Wycliffe were encouraged to behave naturally with ‘unassuming confidence’, showing generosity of spirit, respect for others and appreciation of diversity but there were also pranks galore. At 18, in 1942, Tony went up to Downing to read law, but this was short-lived, as he took the first opportunity to join the RAF and serve in WW2. He was described in an initial assessment as “keen and Intelligent – poor eye-sight”. In normal circumstances this would have ended his chances but a “blind eye” was turned and he was sent to train at Pensacola, USA. He began his RAF career flying Catalina Flying Boats in Coastal Command. His flying records show he flew 30 different aircraft and helicopters.
In 1946, he returned to Downing and, for the rest of his life, the College played a significant role for him. From the beginning he played an active part in all activities – in the college’s rugger boat (the 1948 oar still hangs at home), President of the Amal Club in 1949/50 and a member (and passionate supporter of its re-launch in 2001) of the Griffin Club. Our childhood was full of stories of post-war student and rugby playing “japes” and wild times. He shared photographs and stories of his first vacation, a Grand Tour with fellow students and Brother Chris, travelling in a decommissioned military lorry through France, across the Pyrenees into Spain, thus being one of the first vehicles to cross the border after the end of hostilities.
After university, he turned back to his love for flying, He flew and served in most parts of the world finishing his time (1971) as RAF Odiham station commander. He “retired” to the West Country with his young family to pursue his other love – property development. He continued to work with great energy and enthusiasm until he was 93. He swiftly embraced all changes in technology and relished anything digital. He built up his own companies developing many buildings across the country including Port Isaac, Rock, Bath and Hampstead, and closer to home in Somerset.
It is clear Wycliffe provided him with a great foundation where he learnt to enjoy every part of his life. However, he also never forgot how lucky he was to have survived when many classmates didn’t return, a feeling which lay at the root of his optimism and determination to live life to the full – a lesson he left for us all.
