Page 79 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022
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could not save’. He rang them up and his life – indeed even into his 80’s
said, “I can help you”, and that was the he was still actively involved in the
start of the project. Workers’ Educational Association
GEOFF TINEY (WEA) – a charitable educational
He went to visit the Royal Veterinary organisation founded to provide
College and that was the start of the access to adult education for those
restoration of Duncan’s Horses. This from a working class background.
was one of the highlights of his career.
It was a great opportunity to work with His childhood years were happy
many talented people from the foundry ones, punctuated by a notable wartime
and other places. The RVC was very evacuation to Leicester whilst German
dear to him and he loved working on bombs rained down on London. At
this piece particularly. Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith
he developed into a talented sportsman
Geoff will always be remembered by – taking cricket trophies, captaining the
his friends and family for his amazing football team and getting a scholarship
talent and love of animals. He passed which took him to Cambridge University.
away peacefully at home at a great age He was the first member of his family
of 82. He has left a large gap in the ever to have a university education.
lives of many people, and he will be
missed. Alongside the beautiful pieces However, before heading to university
of art he created, he has also left many – as for all young men of his generation
fond memories. – David had to do two years of National
Service. He joined the Royal Corps of
Geoff Tiney was born on 28th July 1939 Signals in 1954 for basic training in
in Thrapston, Northamptonshire. He was the barracks at Catterick Camp, before
the oldest of three brothers and grew being posted as a commissioned office
up in a small village called Woodford. DR DAVID DRAKE to join the British Army of the Rhine
He later moved to Kettering when he TYLER in Essen.
was 12 years old. At Cambridge he studied Natural
Geoff was a bright lad but never sporty Sciences, gradually specialising in
– his love was country pursuits with biochemistry, which at that time was
horses, shooting and fishing absorbing a dynamic and fast changing field of
his interests. As a young man he would study. The Cambridge biochemistry
often be found in the countryside department at that time was recognised
around his home, just enjoying the for many distinguished researchers
freedom and fresh air. - David told a story of how in 1958
there was some confusion when, on
He later married Ruth, in 1963, and entering a laboratory cold room, they
they began a new life together. Ruth found it stacked up with crates of
was a keen horsewoman and instructor. champagne. Later that afternoon, there
This lifestyle and love they both shared was a party to celebrate Frederick
for the countryside was to become Sanger’s first Nobel Prize for his work
their future together. Geoff was in the on the structure of proteins. Beyond
construction industry working with his studies at university, David played for
own business. both the College football team, and the
Later, the family moved to Braybrooke University second team, and seems
near Market Harborough. It was at this Dr David Drake Tyler “DDT” to have had various scrapes with the
time, in the early 1970s, that he became RVC Physiology Lecturer, 1962-2000 police, punting parties and dances with
a professional artist, having had a lot local nurses – it was no doubt another
of amateur success with painting and We are sorry to note the death, on experience that served to expand his
sculpting. He became well-known in 20 November 2021, of long-time horizons well beyond those afforded by
the field sports scene during this time, RVC tutor, lecturer and hardship fund his Heston upbringing.
making bronzes for many different administrator, Dr David Drake Tyler, who On leaving Cambridge in 1959 it was
companies and private commissions. for over 40 years was universally known clear that David had the academic
Most of his work was horses and dogs. to his RVC students as “DDT”. bug and was accepted for a post in
It was at this time he read an article in David Tyler was born in 1935 in Heston. the Medical Research Council unit at
the Sunday Telegraph supplement. The His passion for education in all its forms Hammersmith Hospital – studying for
article was entitled ‘The horses the vets ran as a constant thread throughout a PhD under Francis Holton. About
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