STUART WALLACE MACGREGOR BA (Oxon) (Venning House 1948-1954)

STUART WALLACE MACGREGOR BA (Oxon)

Junior House 1947. Venning House 1948-1954

It is with much sadness that the OH Club announces that Stuart MacGregor died on Friday 22nd March 2024, aged 88 years.

Stuart was a very much respected and loyal member of the OH Club. At his time at Allhallows, he proved to be not only a scholar but also a very accomplished sportsman, gaining the distinction of being awarded his Triple Colours. He entered Exeter College, Oxford in 1954 to read Greats. Whilst there he played hockey for the Occasionals and Cricket for his college.  

His sporting life continued after leaving University, playing hockey for Devon, the OHs and Richmond Hockey Club. Golf and Cricket were probably his greatest love, and he was an active member of both the OH Golfing Society and Richmond Golf Club. The OH Cricket Week was an important date in his calendar. Stuart was asked by the legendary James Turner to take over the OH Captaincy. This he did with great efficiency for many years, longer than any other OH. He proved to be an excellent tactical leader, a stickler for punctuality, and a disciplinarian on the field of play. He went out of his way to make young OHs welcome and feel at home when they first joined the club. He was also a member of the MCC, the Free Foresters and the Devon Dumplings.

Stuart’s career path encompassed Accountancy, time in the RAF holding the rank of Squadron Leader, and as a school teacher. His last appointment was as Deputy Head of Shrewsbury House Prep School.  

In retirement, he moved to Torphins in Scotland where he was appointed Secretary of Torphins Golf Club. Later he moved to Cambridge to live near his younger daughter and family. This enabled Stuart to pursue his love of solving and compiling crosswords, always completing The Times daily crossword.

The Club has lost a very good friend and a loyal OH who was excellent company, had a wicked sense of humour and was great fun.

He will be much missed.

The Club’s sympathy and prayers go out to his daughters, Fiona and Alison, and his brother Hamish.

Gilles Blomfield

For those who would like to attend, Stuart's funeral is due to be held at Cam Valley Crematorium at 2pm on 17th April. The address is: Great Chesterford, Saffron Walden CB10 1FE

Some recollections from friends:

Brian Clark

'Very sad news indeed. Stuart was a contemporary of mine in Venning, we played together in all the sports at the school and golf, of course, in our later years.'

Richard Seymour

'Very sad news. I was not at Allhallows in Stuart’s time, and we first met at RAF Linton on Ouse in 1966, where I was a navy pilot under training, and Stuart was an Instructor officer there in the RAF. Stuart was captain of the RAF Linton Station hockey team, and a great player and captain. I recall this mixed RN/RAF team got to the RAF final under his excellent leadership!

A few years later I returned from the Far East after my first operational tour, and played cricket at Rousdon in an OH week, again under Stuart’s captaincy. It was so good to see him, great cricket, lots of beer, and I seem to recall “vingt et un” cards late at night!

Sadly our paths did not cross again, and I was so sorry that he had stopped playing golf when I eventually started playing with the OHGS. I was looking forward to seeing him.

Despite our times being very brief, I can still remember him so clearly - certainly more than most from those days long ago. 

Stuart was an absolutely delightful character, very talented, and such great company. Remembered with great affection.

My deepest condolences to Hamish and Stuart’s family.'

Charles Pipkin

'Very sorry to hear about Stuart. I remember very clearly coming to my/our first Cricket Week with a certain amount of trepidation, but he made both you and I very welcome, introducing us to all the others and generally keeping an eye on us. He was a brave man - I remember him taking a remarkable "caught and bowled" when the ball was going like a rocket. It clearly caused him considerable pain, but he nevertheless clung on to it.'

Peter Heron

'I only met Stuart a few times at OHGS events, but what a delightful chap. Great company and a lovely dry sense of humour.

So really sorry to hear this news, and my heartfelt condolences to you, Hamish, and all the family.'

Peter Brown

'Such sad news - a legend of Allhallows!'

Roger Hopkins

'What a great shame to hear about Stuart. I was fortunate to have played quite a bit of OH cricket with Stuart and, despite his outward appearance of serious grumpiness, he was the sort of person you would always like to do well for when he was captain. As Charles Pipkin says, he made us younger OH's most welcome when we first joined in and it was always a pleasure to make him smile, usually while losing money to him.

My sympathy and thoughts go to Hamish and the family.'