01 Mr. David Lewis Owen (1961)

OBITUARY: Mr DAVID LEWIS OWEN

MR. OWEN, who joined the staff in September, 1960 as Senior Master and Head of the Mathematics Department, was a graduate of University College, London, and had taught for eight years at St. Clement Danes Grammar School, London. A leading figure in the Covenanter Movement, he was latterly Secretary of the Readers' Board for the Diocese of London.

His enthusiasm, drive and gifts of leadership were at once apparent, but before the end of his first term here he had to undergo an operation. Though he was soon back on duty and valiantly and cheerfully kept going until May, it was obvious that he was suffering considerably. He died on 10th July, 1961, in Hammersmith Hospital.

The large congregation at the funeral service at St. Matthew's Church, Fulham, of which he was Churchwarden, bore witness both to the scope of his work for young people, and to the affection in which he was held. The following words are taken from the address given on that occasion by the Right Revd. F. E. Lunt, M.A., Bishop of Stepney:

Addressing a congregation of friends, colleagues and pupils who have known David Owen for a longer period and more intimately than I can claim to have done, I count myself privileged to be allowed to speak in the name of us all a word of sincere gratitude to God for what he was and what he did for the Church and for all of us who were his friends and fellow workers.

Ever since I first met him I have been impressed by the many bright facets of his character and by the notable contributions he has made to every department of life into which he entered. In choosing my text I have endeavoured to find one which would exactly convey what he meant to us who knew him, and I have selected some words from II Corinthians 9, "sow bountifully and you will reap bountifully... God loves a cheerful giver.” That passage, to me, seems to sum up what he taught me and what I saw in his own life and ministry, so fruitful, though so short, as measured in years. It was with unbounded joy that he shared his Master and his Master's secrets with those with whom he worked, and the enthusiasm with which he entered into his professional work, his music and his intercourse with his pupils endeared him to a wide circle of young people.

We thank God for this faithful labourer in His vineyard and pray that, cheered by his example and inspired by his infectious enthusiasm, we may ourselves labour for the same Lord with the same generous and cheerful spirit.

IN MEMORIAM
RODNEY FRANCIS BURNHAM, 1955-60, died 28th December. 1960, aged 17 years.
ROBERT JOHN SEYMOUR. 1957-61, died 17th April, 1961, aged 17 years.