GILES CLIFFORD THOMAS 1971-2020

It is with deep regret that the Club announces the recent tragic death of Giles Clifford Thomas (S.85-90) on the harshly arid Brukkaros Mountain in Namibia on 15th March, 2020.

 

Giles had just sailed from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town via Tristan da Cunha with friends and with some of those friends was spending the last few days of a great adventure exploring South and South West Africa. On the mountain Giles briefly (it was only planned to be brief for he had little water and they held the reserve) separated from his companions but then, in intensifying heat and for several critical hours, he was unable to rejoin them due to being cut off, surrounded probably, by a troop of baboons. Only when the baboons returned to their own water source in the evening was Giles able to get away.  Overnight he walked to within 100 metres of the main track leading to Berseba and to within 300 metres of where the party had camped on 13/14th March, but it was too late and he died of dehydration and heat exhaustion.

 

Small of stature but fit, agile and with a big heart, Giles left Allhallows as a School Prefect, Head of Shallow and Captain of the 2nd XV. His career involved project management with Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole Councils but essentially his interests were outdoor activity. Known as "Gentleman Giles" to work colleagues, he founded and ran a club for those who enjoyed challenging pursuits. His sailing for Allhallows led on to him qualifying as a Yachtmaster Offshore and to his subsequent crossing of the South Atlantic.

 

Above all, Giles was a thoroughly decent, kind and considerate man. Numerous letters bear witness to these characteristics and mention his readiness to help others. His devotion to his two children, Lucy (20) and Andrew (18) was total. He leaves a grieving family and is a great loss to the Club. The Club extends its sincerest condolences to Giles family and friends at this time.