The Haileybury Society is saddened to learn of the death of David Leonard Heddle Nash (H 44) who has died on 15th February 2024, aged 94.

David was the second son of Heddle Nash, the tenor, and Violet Nash. His elder brother, John, was a baritone, so it seemed his destiny was to take up singing as a profession.

Dodging enemy torpedoes

The family lived in Petts Wood, Kent. Before war broke out the boys were at a prep boarding school near Brighton, but in 1940 were put on a ship, dodging enemy torpedoes, to sail to Australia to join their parents, his father wanting to try his luck there following centennial celebrations in New Zealand. They lived in Melbourne for a year, David learning to swim like an Aussie which subsequently stood him in good stead as captain of swimming at Haileybury College.

He secured a place at Gonville & Caius, Cambridge to study Modern Languages and rowed for the college. He was also naturally skilled at punting which in later years impressed his wife to be. He did National Service in the RAF, passing out as the best all-round recruit, much to his father’s disgust, who had no time for the services, following his own WW1 experiences.

Royal College of Music

After gaining an LRAM at the Royal College of Music and a year of small singing engagements, it was felt that this career would not be beneficial, heart-breaking though that decision was. He then secured a position with Elizabeth Arden. He always told the story that he thought he was applying for a job with Elizabeth Shaw Chocolates and was disappointed that the perfumes and pretty packaging had nothing to do with chocolate! He was with them for 30 years in charge of regulatory affairs and using his significant knowledge of European languages. A colleague remembers that he sufficiently charmed the canteen ladies to always serve him second helpings of custard!

Marriage and personal life

In 1966 he married Elizabeth Price and they have lived happily in Shoreham Village in Kent for nearly 58 years. For 26 of those years he was churchwarden.

His singing experience enabled him to enjoy being in the village church choir (where, never one to hurry himself he was known as the ‘late Mr. Nash’), singing for pleasure at friends’ weddings and performing in many Shoreham players’ productions.

High morals, standards & loving nature

David earned admiration for his high morals, kindness, and loving nature. Shoreham became his cherished haven, where his infectious sense of humour and participation in community life endeared him to all.

His favourite hobbies included carpentry, early years toiling on the allotment, pottering around in the garden and anything to do with military warfare, particularly tanks and underwater chariots.

He was invited to join the Freemasons where he eventually took his turn as Grand Master of the local Lodge. He was very pleased that he was able to enjoy the care given to him at the Prince George Duke of Kent Royal Masonic nursing home in Chislehurst which was not far from where he grew up. His legacy will live on. He was a ‘gentle’ man who enjoyed a life well-lived.