Jonathan Haigh (FS 54-58) writes:
“Kit and I both joined Foundation South in September 1954 from the same waiting house, Eaglesfield. Our mutual love of nature, fishing and mountains, all amply available within a Sunday’s bike ride from St Bees, formed the basis of a lifelong friendship.
On leaving school in 1957, Kit joined the family firm of R. J. Stokes & Co, paint manufacturers of Sheffield, meanwhile attending a technical college part-time to study paint technology. He married Veronica (“Vonny”) Talbot in 1965, and they had two sons, James and Simon, whom they brought up at the farmhouse they had refurbished near Hathersage in Derbyshire.
In due course Kit succeeded his father as MD of the paint factory. At work he was always the greatly-respected boss ‘C-J’), but away from the factory he showed an outstanding gift for friendship with people from all walks of life.There were good relationships with the local farmers and fellow bee-and poultry-keepers, and he would strike up a conversation with someone met casually on the river bank when out fishing the local River Derwent, or one further afield, or with a fellow watcher encountered in a bird-hide, and another friend for life would be made. His and Vonny’s interests in fishing and bird-watching were pursued not only locally but on regular holidays in Scotland and even as far afield as the eastern USA, Canada, Alaska and the Falklands.
When his son James was ready to take up the paint manufacturing baton Kit gradually withdrew from active involvement with the company. Retirement gave him more time to pursue his hobbies and preside over some of the Associations connected with them, but increasingly frequent problems with his heart and lungs began to take their toll on his health. He died in hospital on 3rd December 2012, survived by Vonny, James and Simon (both married), his sister Faith and three grandchildren.
His funeral was held on 14th December 2012 in Sheffield.”
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The St Beghian Society, St Bees School,
St Bees, Cumbria, CA27 0DS.
Tel: (01946) 828093 Email: osb@st-bees-school.co.uk
Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk