I was very sorry to hear the sad news from form mate Chris Schofield in Australia that fellow form mate Mark Jennings passed away last month. 

Mark was an immense man who towered above us lowly backs from his lofty position in the second row. Even whilst still in the Upper Vths he dominated the field and this can be demonstrated by the 1962 Team Photo where Mark is on the back row, 4th from the right. Amazingly he and I were the same age when this photo was taken-15! (I was the tiny chap, back row, far left). His parents had the good sense to christen him Mark Anthony, so he was always referred to as Jennings M.A. and didn't need to spend 4 years at University to obtain that distinction. As Chris Schofield stated, his happiest times at School were playing rugby under the guidance of his hero, JED Ferley. In the Upper 3rds when JED introduced us to the delights of Latin, we were all given a Latin equivalent to our names. With his christian names, Mark Anthony, JED needed to look no further.

After leaving school, I only returned to one Old Boys Dinner, (before last year), that was in 1977. I met up with Mark then.  By the age of 30 he had become a very succesful high ranking international businessman. I have not seen him since, but remember him as the classic “Gentle Giant” and highly respected by his school friends and masters.

- Thanks to David Pearse for sharing this information with our community. Please see here to read a note from Chris Schofield.

Our thoughts are with Mark's family and friends at this sad time.