We are very sorry to notify you of the passing of Hugh who was at the School from 1951 until 1960.

Hugh passed away on 22nd December, aged 84 years.  

We are conscious that some people who knew Hugh during his time at the School may not be in contact with us and we would be very grateful if you could pass on this information to those that you know. 

As is usual practice, we would like to place an obituary for Hugh in the 2025-26 OI Journal. If you know of any stories or memories which you can pass on to us so we can put them together for the publication we would be most grateful. Please address any contributions to me through oldipswichians@ipswich.school

Sally Webber
OI Chair

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We will be holding a thanksgiving service for his life on Saturday 24th January at 12pm. This will take place at Christ Church Gipsy Hill, 1 Highland Road, SE19 1DP. The church entrance can be found just past the tower and there is free parking in the surrounding streets. If you are coming on public transport, the nearest station is Gipsy Hill which is a 5 minute walk away and there are many buses that come into Crystal Palace. We ask that you do not wear black, as this is a celebration rather than a funeral. Everyone is invited to stay for light refreshments after the service.  If you are unable to attend the service but would like to follow online, the service will be available on the Christ Church Facebook page from 11:50am that day.If you wish to be connected to the Christ Church Facebook page please use this address: https://www.facebook.com/christchurchgipsyhill. The stream will appear on this page during the service and will be available to watch after the service for up to four weeks.
Hugh did not wish for any flowers, but if you would like to make a donation we have set up a Just Giving page with three charities for which he felt a particular affinity – Lambeth and Croydon Foodbank, Kings College Hospital and Amyloidosis research. Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/team/hughbain-memorial?utm_medium=TE&utm_source=CL.

Juliet - Hugh's Wife

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Hugh Bain was a steadfast friend and a true gentleman. He was also a scholar, an athlete, a teacher and a gardener.
Hugh won a Queen’s (Elizabeth 1 st ) Scholarship to the upper school in 1952. He played Rugby football and was an excellent wing three-quarter, known for his tackling skills. He also competed in cross-country running.
He was a leading light in the Barclay Head Society which, under Latin master “Jimmy” Young then had an active archaeological dig at Baylham Mill, on the site of the Romano-British settlement of Combretovium. He was also active in several other Societies, including the Debating Society.
Hugh studied Maths under Patrick Mermagen, the Headmaster, Physics under “Billy Hog” Grimwade, and “Puffy” Briden, and Chemistry under Mr. Gleave and “Yok” Carter. He took ‘A’ and ‘S’ Levels in Maths and Higher Maths, Physics and Chemistry in 1960. Of the three people in this group of science students, I think he was the brightest.
In the early 1960s the competition for entry to Cambridge, especially to study the Natural Sciences, was especially intense as National Service was ending and people leaving school were competing against ex-servicemen for entry. However, Hugh and Norman Macmillan were successful and went up to Cambridge from Ipswich School in 1960.
Hugh spent his whole career teaching mathematics at Dulwich College in London. During his middle years he regularly ran the London Marathon, and spent walking holidays in many parts of Britain, but he especially enjoyed hiking along the coast of South Wales.
He was a keen gardener and allotment holder. From his allotment there is a beautiful view over the City. He was proud of his vegetables and a popular figure with his allotment holder colleagues.
Hugh introduced me to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, perhaps one of the most interesting of art museums. Because of the way the works were gathered and the way in which they are hung, one has the opportunity to study the great masters among their not-so-well-known contemporaries, and to try to discern what it is exactly that makes a work great while the one next to it is merely good.
Hugh was deeply but quietly religious, and over the years was active in several local churches.
He exemplified the idea that a church should be welcoming to all, no matter their background or their personality. One of his churches had several Iranian refugee congregants who were Muslims: they had felt so welcomed there when they arrived that they kept coming. This I found refreshing after spending the majority of my life in the USA, where churches are often stratified by class and ethnicity.
He and Juliet had two beautiful daughters. Of late years I stayed with the Bains whenever in London and will miss the long reminiscences about life at Ipswich School and the discussions we had about the state of the country, the world, and recent advances in science.
With the passing of Hugh, I have not just lost a friend, but in a sense an anchor: a friend who exemplifies what is best about Britain. The quiet, calm dignity of a gentleman and a scholar, a person steadfast in his faith, devoted to his family, and welcoming to all. A man whose life stands in opposition to the plague of materialism and chauvinism that is today engulfing so many countries.

John Berry (OI 1952-1960)