Neil Whiteman (Ha 42) died peacefully on 24th April at the age of 95. He was one of those increasingly rare OHs; one who had been at School during the Second World War.
On leaving Haileybury, Neil completed his National Service, serving in the Malayan Emergency, before joining the United Africa Co Ltd, a trading company that operated in Nigeria and Ghana. Neil remained in West Africa for most of his working life.
Whilst on leave in the UK in the mid-1950s, Neil met his future wife, Enid. After only a couple of weeks he returned to Nigeria and did not see her again for about 6 months when she arrived in Lagos so that they could get married! Very sadly, Neil died just a few weeks before their 70th wedding anniversary.
Being in West Africa during the instability of the Biafran War and subsequent struggles for independence, Neil had a wealth of entertaining tales of his often hair-raising experiences. Many involved frightening roadblocks that normally ended up with all-round hilarity and a glass or 2 of dubious alcohol when the rebel soldiers learned what Neil’s surname was.
On retirement, Neil and Enid finally returned to the UK and settled in Newton Ferrers In South Devon.
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