He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and those who knew him from the School.

We are conscious that some people from the time when Reginald was at the School may not be in contact with us and we would ask if you could pass on this information to those that you know.

As is the usual practice, we would like to place an obituary for Reginald in the 2023-24 OI Journal and would be very grateful for any stories or memories you may wish to share which we could put together for the publication. Please address any contributions to me through oldipswichians@ipswich.school.

We have been asked to share details of Reginald's funeral which you can find below:

The service location: West Berkshire Crematorium: West Berkshire Crematorium, Bath Rd, Thatcham RG19 4LD. There is parking nearby, and it has disabled access.

Date: March 15th 2024

Funeral start time: 3pm

Wake: We welcome you all to join us at the wake held at The Retreat at Elcot Park: Elcot, Newbury RG20 8NJ. There is plenty of parking there and disabled access. Gluten-free and dairy-free options will be provided.  

Wake Start time: 5pm

Dress Code: Come as you are

Remote attendance: We will livestream and video record the service for anyone who is unable to attend. Please email foreverloved@shift6.org to get login details for the broadcast and/or to get a copy of the recording.

Nicholas Allen

OI Chairman

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Reginald -  universally ‘Reg’ except to his Mum - was the only child of Reg (senior) and Elsie, she perhaps the kindest ‘grown up’ I knew as a child, and I am sure, a wonderful mother. Four months age difference spanning the summer meant he and I were in different academic years, but both being scholarship boys with fervently socialist fathers, living in the same part of town, and not from privileged backgrounds meant we were friends out of school, and soon formed a bond that lasted a lifetime.  Both being a tad rebellious at school, it was maybe surprising that ‘in spite of ourselves’ (a song of one of Reg’s favourite artists, John Prine) we ended up with reasonably successful careers. Andy Gregory can take some credit for that.  In Reg’s case, his career, in IT, was not only UK based but took him to Ireland and South Africa where he and late wife Chris counted amongst their friends ministers in the first Mandela government, and Chris elected to deploy her nursing skills not in the prosperous white suburbs but in the predominantly black districts around Johannesburg.  A return to the UK was precipitated by a refusal to renew his work permit as the role was reserved for a black South African.  In the 25 years that followed I never heard one word of resentment. 

He and Chris parented two wonderful cosmopolitan daughters. Sarah and Alexandra (‘Lexi’) are testament to the fact that a liberal, unapologetically secular, and somewhat bohemian lifestyle can produce grounded, rounded, empathetic happy children. 

Our time at School did not mould us; sixty years ago, establishments of the kind were less adept at dealing with non-conformity than they are now.  Nevertheless, Reg looked back at those years warmly and life-long friendships were formed. For more than fifty years  we shared many adventures en famille.   At a gathering before Christmas 2023, Reg was his usual self with annoyingly Peter Pan looks and full flowing mane of hair. Sadly, a respiratory illness kicked in soon after and he passed, as it happens 48 years to the day after he was best man at the wedding of my wife, Lesley, and I. We will both miss him, not least because throughout he remained a mentor - in Lesley’s case on the subject of the flora in our garden, and in mine the wine in our cellar.  On both subjects he was knowledgable and enthusiastic. He also loved contemporary music and cricket, was a humanist, sometimes a contrarian, wonderful father and friend who enriched lives.

Michael Collins OI 1963-1970