Skip Navigation Links

Fr. Francis RIP 1917-2009

It is with sadness that I have to announce to you all the death, at 9.00 this morning, Friday 20th November in Sunbury Nursing Home, at the age of 92, of Fr. Francis.

Up to his death Fr. Francis had been for some years the oldest living Josephite.

He was Headmaster of Woburn Hill School (as the Junior School used to be called) from 1964 to 1985.

Fr. Francis came to SGC as a pupil in 1930 and was a very successful sportsman. He joined the Josephites in 1935 and was ordained in 1946. He was Master i/c Boxing 1940-1942 and 1944-1945; White House Housemaster 1938-1941, 1946-1947, 1963-1964; Red House Housemaster 1941-1942, 1947-1950; Bursar at SGC 1953-1955 and at Barrow Hills 1955-1958.

From his ordination in 1946 until a couple of years ago, with a few brief breaks, he was Secretary of the Old Georgians' Association.

Br. Michael

Brief Autobiography

I attended St George's from 1925 until 1935 when I joined the Novitiate. I undertook a PE course and taught at St George's with Fr. Kemble. I was also a Lieutenant in the East Surrey Regiment Army Cadet Corps until 1946 when I was ordained at Wonersh. I have been Bursar at St. George's and Housemaster, Games Master and teacher of English, Maths and Latin at Barrow Hills. I was also Bursar at Barrow Hills from 1956 to 1963. Over that period of time I was also chaplain to St Dominic's School in Hambledon and up until 1989 I regularly celebrated Sunday Masses at Chiddingfold. After a stint at Barrow Hills as Assistant and Deputy, I became Headmaster at Woburn Hill School whilst also being Chaplain to Coldingley Prison. I retired as HM at Woburn Hill in 1995. I have recently retired after 50 years (at the age of 90 years old) as General Secretary to Old Georgians' Association which is the Past Pupils' Association of St. George's College.