Grahame Fry (56-60) died of a heart attack on 5th March 2023 aged 80 as the Society was
informed by his cousin Colin Staines (62-65). The funeral was held in Wedmore, Somerset on 24th March.

At the Nautical College Grahame was in Hesperus Division and compiled an outstanding
record as a cross-country runner, being in the team for four years 1957-60 and winning the
Berkshire school boys cross country championship. 

Grahame, part of the Fry chocolate family, had hoped to get into BRNC Dartmouth and the Royal Navy but failed to achieve the necessary qualification in Maths. So he opted for what was then termed “civil life.” At the NCP he had been friendly with Jeremy Sanders (56-60), who did get into the RN. Jeremy writes“Grahame and I were good chums at school so it’s very sad to hear of his death. After leaving school, and along with Chris Johns (54-59) and  Adrian Robinson (56-61), we went in Chris's old Riley to Rome to attend the 1960 Olympic Games. My Father had got us tickets through World Sport for the Athletics, Boxing and Swimming. We saw Herb Elliot win 1500 metres and Cassius Clay win Heavyweight gold plus a lot more. We camped in Rome and Grahame was joined by two cousins. Then I joined the Navy and we lost touch. 

Grahame turned up at a Falklands service in the chapel in 2016 (I was not there) and Angela Perry (Secretary to the Chapel Trustees) put us in touch. Later that year I met Grahame at a pub northwest of Taunton for lunch, not far from where he lived in the Somerset Levels. He had had a tough time since the NCP, both professionally and relationship-wise. As I recall he had two sons, one a Royal Marine Colour Sergeant and the other a gourmet chef.”

A year later Grahame made a surprise last-minute appearance at the 2017 West Country centenary reunion lunch held at the Berry Head Hotel owned by OP Edward Bence (66-70) in Brixham.