H.P ‘SAM’ SARGENT (1956-60)

H.P. Sargent (1956-60), always known as Sam, died peacefully in his sleep on July 26th, 2026. He was 83 and had been living in a hospice in Southend, Essex. He left a wife Vivien, twin daughters Lucy and Joss, a granddaughter, grandson and great granddaughter. Sam’s funeral service will be held on 20th August at 12 Noon and afterwards at the Thorpe Bay Golf Club.

 Sam arrived at the Nautical College from Alleyn Court Prep School in Westcliff-on-Sea in the Winter term 1956. The son of a Marine Superintendent for P&O shipping line, he hoped to follow his father into a career at sea, but this was ruled out when it was discovered while he was at Pangbourne that he was colour blind. At the NCP he was a member of Hesperus Division and Form VI. On the sports field he captained the Tennis team in 1960 and won his colours in the successful hockey 1st XI in Lent term 1960. According to a report in The Log, “he certainly (had) the right mentality for a centre forward – very goal-minded…he gave goalkeepers no peace.”

With a career at sea ruled out, Sam flirted with accountancy before moving into the brewing industry for a short time in Luton. Then he found his niche in the travel insurance business, based in Southend and specialising in insurance for backpackers and gap year students. The business flourished from the 1980s onwards until he sold it about 15 years ago.

Sam never left the Southend area having been brought up in a house in Leigh-on-Sea overlooking the Thames estuary and eventually living in Thorpe Bay. At weekends he kept up with tennis and latterly dabbled at golf until failing health limited such activities. Along with his brother Rob (1962-65), a senior RAF officer, he proved to be a loyal Old Pangbournian who attended many OP functions. Ever friendly and always good for a glass and a catch-up, in Rob’s words “there was never a dull moment when Sam was around!”

Sam Sargent (R) with brother Rob and Mark Dumas (L)