Bob Devonald (1944-1948)
Died on 5th January 2021 aged 89.
Robert Thomas Norman Devonald - Bob - was born on 11th November 1931, and died on 5th January 2021, in his 90th year. He had two sisters, Peggy and Pat, (who sadly are already deceased), three children, Richard, Julie, and Peter and two grandchildren, Luke, and Maya. Bob was the only son of Norman and Mildred Devonald, and lived in North London. He attended Merchant Taylors’ School and thereafter was an active member of the Old Merchant Taylors’ Society.
Robert Devonald was always obsessed by cricket. Bob’s cousins Anne, Roy, Silvia, and Michael, fondly remember their younger days together when he and his family stayed at Stuchbury Hall Farm during World War II for two years. The family recall him as a little boy running around saying “let’s play kicket!” on the old tennis court. As he got older his enthusiasm and expertise out shone everyone.
Bob’s love of cricket continued throughout his life, playing with distinction for OMTCC for whose 3rd X1 he opened the batting and captained the team. Robert’s style was always more Boycott than Botham, more Tavaré than Tendulkar. He would bat carefully and accumulate runs rather than be a dasher. His now ex-wife Rosemary and all Bob’s children remember watching their father play cricket at the weekend.
Philip Newfield (MTS 1958-63, President, OMT Society 2016) recollected that when he played with Bob in the OMTCC 3rd XI as a young OMT in the 1960s, Bob was always very kind and welcoming to him and other young OMTs. Bob is fondly remembered by OMTCC and sadly missed.
After his playing days were over, he was a keen snooker player and founded and ran the Old Merchant Taylors’ (OMT) snooker club for many years. He captained the team and was an impressive presence for the team. The club invited professionals to do exhibition matches which most memorably included Silvino Francisco and Allison Fisher. Bob remained a member of OMT Society until the end of his life.
Bob had a lifelong love of sport. Rosemary and Bob used to have bridge evenings and had a very active happy social life. She remembers going to see Watford Football Club in the 60’s and 70’s with Ian Shearman, his best friend and best man when they got married at Harrow on the Hill. Colin Branston was his other main school friend. Bob loved playing golf at some incredible courses and reached an impressive level. He continued to follow sports until the end of his life.
His youngest son, Peter, remembers going to many cricket games at Lords with him. On one occasion Viv Richards hit the cricket ball hard - and it was searing towards a very young Peter. He sat there dumbstruck, stared at it as it zoomed towards him, couldn’t move for fear. And just before the ball hit his face his Dad caught it cleanly.
Bob was fiercely intelligent and well read. Even at the very end he was doing the Telegraph cryptic crossword in bed, which speaks volumes. He read so much - a few days before his passing he even read a mighty tome on the Zulu wars.
Bob Devonald worked most of his life as a chartered surveyor and managed his own company, ‘Devonald and Co’, which stood proudly on Apex Corner in Mill Hill. He assisted OMT Society in his professional capacity. He had lived at 350 Hempstead Road since 1969 and his children have happy memories playing in the garden there, badminton, cricket and round the clock golf.
Bob was extremely generous with his money, he helped all his children at different times, supporting them in their chosen professions and helping them buy their homes. He enjoyed collecting stamps, tokens, and souvenirs; making model ships in bottles; doing jigsaws and crosswords; watching old Western movies and films. He retained to the very end a great enjoyment of games and gifts - and the family are thankful he had such a happy last Christmas.
Bob loved nothing better than watching Test cricket, snooker, or football games, applauding and supporting his teams. He would watch any form of cricket, but especially Test matches, “real cricket” as he’d call it. He loved watching all the internationals, and even enjoyed the 20/20 games to some extent, though he always would tell us wryly that when they used to play that form of cricket for OMT it was called ‘beer matches’ rather than proper cricket!
In the end Bob died in his own bed in his own home to the sound of cricket playing. His football team, Arsenal FC, had won their last three games. Australia and India were involved in the most amazing series. Bob had a wonderful Christmas and was enjoying all his presents. He was safe, warm, and comfortable, not in too much pain. His eldest son, Richard, had cared for him for the last 6 months and was there doing everything he could to make him comfortable. Richard was there by his side at the very end. Bob was happy and ready. And so he passed, with courage and dignity. He died quietly and peacefully on 5th January 2021, in his 90th year.
Peter Devonald