David M W Bolton, former Fargate Housemaster, dies aged 86

BOLTON (Common Room Sept. 1963-July 1972). On January 2, 2023, David M W Bolton, aged 86.

He had read English at St. Edmunds Hall and came to the school after a short period as English Master at Alleyns School.; the family lived in a master’s flat at 11a Bishopswood Road; Bill Field (Common Room 1930-69) and his wife lived below them. He was a natural schoolmaster, respected by colleagues and pupils alike, was a methodical and organised teacher, and became Housemaster of Fargate 1969-72. Apart from being a steady and loyal lieutenant of Head of English, Cyril Hartley, he not only lent gravitas and good practice to the curriculum, but also staged a memorable production of Ben Jonson's Volpone.

However, his finest contribution was considered to be his leadership of the Highgate School Literary Society. David brought major figures in the world of literature to the school, who were privileged to meet and listen to presentations by literary giants of the time such as Iris Murdoch, John Betjeman, Arnold Wesker and, most strikingly perhaps, the greatest poet of modern times, Ted Hughes. Do OCs look back on their time at the school in the sixties and think how fortunate they were to have encountered and shared the thoughts of some of the finest creative minds of our generation?

David also played a major role in the Common Room, and developed a reputation for being a sound and respected negotiator with Senior Management about matters relating to staff morale and well-being. He had a positive relationship with senior colleagues, and headmaster Alfred Doulton often asked David for his views and opinions on matters relating to developments within the school community.

In sport, his skilled and aggressive football was invaluable to the Common Room in their annual combats with the School; he had charge of several school Club teams. He bought his sport qualities to his teaching – devotion to the subject and concern for the individual boy’s taste, talent and pace. He embedded the Scribbler’s Clun in school life, and acted and produced on the school’s stages. He also had charge of the Roman Catholic Circle – and no lapses escaped his eye! He left in 1972 to become Deputy Head at Chancellor's School, Brookman's Park, Herts. His funeral is to be held in Aylesbury, details of this can be found at the foot of this page.

(written by his son James Adam Bolton (NG 1979), with help from notes by David’s friend and colleague John Griffin, Common Room 1963-72, and from his valete in the Cholmeleian for Nov. 1972 by colleague Cyril Hartley, Common Room 1962-86)

David M W Bolton’s Funeral Arrangements

David's funeral will take place at 11am on Thursday 26 January at St Mary's Church, Church End, Haddenham, Aylesbury HP17 8AH.

It will be a Roman Catholic Funeral Mass, conducted David's good friend Father Leszek Wisniewski.

You are welcome to attend the burial and committal which will follow at Aylesbury Vale Natural Burial Meadow, Stockwell Lane, Aylesbury (near Ford), HP17 9UG where David will be laid to rest next to his late wife, Jan. (Please be aware that the meadow may be wet and muddy.)

You are also welcome to join the family after the committal for refreshments at The Seven Stars, Stars Lane, Dinton, Aylesbury, HP17 8UL.

Family flowers only, please. You may choose to make a donation (in lieu of flowers) to Alzheimer’s Society via the funeral directors Surman & Horwood.