OLD DERBEIAN SOCIETY
Obituary
John Reed (Derby School 1941-47)
A tribute by Keith Chettle (1938-1943)
John joined Derby School in 1941 during its wartime era at Amber Valley camp - a far cry from St Helen's House. Gone were the caps, boaters and smart silver-braided blazers which rationing made difficult to replace. We climbed trees, dammed streams, built huts in the woods and explored the local quarries and lead mines. It was a boy's paradise, long remembered by those who, like John, never missed the annual Camp Reunion organised by his contemporary and lifelong friend Elizabeth Bowden (nee Grime). Although known to most as a sophisticated city dweller this period had a profound and lasting influence on his life.
After school John spent five years at the Nottingham School of Architecture, qualifying in 1953, then after a short spell in Derby, fo11owed by National Service, he joined the Public Services Agency in London. After designing prisons he worked on a number of major projects in Scotland, the most notable being the construction of the Clyde Nuclear Submarine Base, an underground complex for the storage of nuclear warheads, and, a huge shed at Rosyth for the raising and maintenance of vessels for which he received a British Steel Award for excellence of design and construction. One of his last jobs was to manage the renovation of the Royal Courts of Justice.
In retirement John served on several committees at the R.I.B.A, enjoyed snooker, was a talented artist and a great patron of jazz, spending many happy hours at Ronnie Scott's. His greatest joy was sailing and cruising around the Western Isles in Scotland where he had many friends. He was a regular attendee at the London and Derby dinners.
In later years he suffered from ill health but rarely complained, and never burdened others with his problems. A very private person, he remained fiercely independent to the end. All who knew him will remember a kind, generous, and entertaining friend, a gentleman in the true sense of the word. He is survived by his former wife Sheila, with whom, although parted, he remained on good terms, and by his three children and eight grand children.
