Pericles Vavlides (HG 1974) has died at age 69

Pericles’s eulogy from his daughters Elizabeth and Marietta

Some words about our father’s life: he was born and grew up in London to Greek and Cypriot parents. When Pericles graduated from Highgate, he studied Economics and Marketing from Keele and then City University, from where he received his Master’s degree. He was part of the Officer’s Training Corp. After university, he worked in Switzerland for a few years before moving to Athens, Greece, where he ended up settling down. He was an entrepreneur and businessman. He had two daughters: my sister Elizabeth and myself, Marietta. My sister and I both grew up in Athens and attended school at the British Embassy school, as my father wanted us to have a British education like him. My sister lives in Greece, and I have lived in Highgate for the last 10 years, in large part because of his encouragement and also due to my desire to be somewhere close to where he considered home.

Our father attended and graduated from Highgate School, and always spoke about his time there fondly. Highgate School was an important part of our dad’s life. He attended from 1964 to 1974, and also boarded for a year.

Pericles Vavlides was a strong student, and a unique character: I believe he got the top score Nationally in English Language during his O Levels. He always spoke about his special experience in Highgate School; he spoke about his excellent teachers and familial friends: specifically, we remember that he mentioned a Science (Physics?) teacher, who he respected greatly and loved to learn from, even though he originally did not have a particular interest in Physics. My father was also mischievous at times: some stories about the adventures he got up to at school will continue for generations to come. A special quality about our father was his love for learning and reading, and as a result, his unique way with words, which we think the school instilled in him: those who know my dad know he was always with a book, which he would read in record time. Above all, our dad was an incredible father, and a kind and loving friend to all who knew him.

Our father’s love for continued learning and acquiring distinct knowledge was a particular quality people speak of. It was a great blessing to grow up with that unique characteristic of our dad’s, and it is something he always stressed the importance of for us. We would like to thank Highgate School for helping to foster this quality for our father, which was so important to us.

Our dad was a very proud Old Cholmelian. He read the magazine, which we so treasure and also read. When he would read about something of note, or of somebody he knew, in the magazine or online, he always informed us with great respect, or excitement. We will treasure the magazines and continue to read them; I hope we can continue to receive them, as it will help us feel connected to him.