Malcolm Bake: –2012 [Heath 1947–1949]

Malcolm Bake left Heath at 15 to work as an apprentice fitter at John Stirks. He had a distinguished career of public service in Halifax, including a year as Deputy Mayor, and as a councillor and magistrate. Our sympathy goes to his family and friends.

Dr Malcolm Bamforth: – [Heath 1941–1951]

Malcolm, ‘Bammie’ to those who knew him at Heath Grammar School, died on 1st November 2003. His death arrived all too quickly and unexpectedly and it is typical of the man that he had paid for a ticket and expected to attend the Old Boys Annual Dinner in October. Sadly he was too ill to attend on the day.

Had he been in the club house at Heath RUFC on that evening he would have been standing on a floor he helped to construct when the first stage of the building was in hand. He played rugby for the Old Boys and was a lifelong supporter and committee member of HOBA, who could be relied upon cheerfully to fulfill a task and lend support in any way.

Whilst at Heath he was a prominent athlete who could sprint quite rapidly and in those early days before he left for Aberdeen University to study medicine he was prominent in All Saints Youth Club where he showed his entrepreneurial talents by arranging, with others, a variety of concerts where he himself played the piano and sang in a fine tenor voice.

His musical talent also led him to play the organ at Stainland Church and St Thomas’s, Claremount.

Following graduation he began general practice in Boothtown but in 1966 moved to Esher where he took up a variety of posts in the world of pharmaceuticals and medicine. However, the siren call of Halifax was strong and he returned to general practice in Clare Road in 1972. Characteristically he immersed himself in the Round Table, Halifax Rotary Club, Victory Lodge of Freemasons and Stafford Bowling Club.

After his retirement in 1992, he and his wife Rita enjoyed motor caravanning in France where they regularly disappeared into France profonde.

Malcolm, with his good humour, cheerful smile, ‘can do’ attitude and meritable quiff is much missed by all who knew him.

Russell Smith