John Crathorne: 1928 – 2025

John Crathorne died in February this year, aged 96. Born in Wiltshire, he was educated at Marlborough College (C3, 1942 – 1947). Having served his ‘National Service’ with 45 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery from 1947 to 1949 as the last intake of War Service, he won a scholarship to Trinity Hall Cambridge (1949 -1953) where he read History, Captained the Cambridge Bowmen team and was an enthusiastic member of The Asparagus Club! The majority of his career was spent as a schoolmaster, first at Cranleigh School, and then for ten years in prep schools, rising to be Headmaster of Dorset House, West Sussex. From 1966 he taught at the Royal Grammar School Guildford (RGS) for the next 30 years, starting when it was still a State-endowed grammar school. He was the Officer Commanding the School’s CCF and ran the Shooting for 20 years. Under John’s stewardship, the RGS shooting team won all the major schoolboy rifle shooting competitions. He was Chairman of the CCRS and School’s Commandant for the NRA for 10yrs during his long affiliation with Bisley Ranges, Surrey.

A man of integrity, his consistent Christian faith underpinned his career and family life throughout. With a keen intellect and informed love of music, knowledge and nature, he will be remembered for the enduring, positive impact that he had on the lives of so many people during his long and full life.