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Francis Alexander (Frank) Noble (1925-1932)

Deceased 01/07/2016

Francis Alexander Noble, or Frank as he much preferred to be called, was born on July 7th 1916 at the beginning of the Battle of The Somme.  His parents lived in Formby and he retained his links to this neighbourhood all his life. He attended Formby College and then Crosby Preparatory School entering Merchant Taylors’ School in September 1925.  He won his form prize in 1929, rose to the rank of Sargent in the Cadet Corps and obtained the Oxford and Cambridge School Certificate before leaving school in 1932.

From 1934-39 Frank worked for the Inland Revenue and became a Senior Tax Officer. With the onset of World War 2, during 1939-40 he was recruited to be a driver with the West Lancs RASC, a TA regiment.  In 1940 he was commissioned in the King’s Regiment where he served till 1946 rising to the rank of Captain.  In 1942-43 he was on the staff of the Isle of Man Garrison as Adjutant and was billeted at The Bowling Green Hotel in Douglas.  This is where he met his first wife: her mother ran the hotel.

His son, George, was born before the end of the war and Frank returned to the hotel in 1946 after he was demobbed.  For two years he helped to manage the hotel then he returned to his roots in Formby.  His wife and son joined him but the marriage did not work out.

Back in Formby, Frank went to work as a Tax Consultant at a Liverpool Firm of Chartered Accountants and started his exams both as a Chartered Secretary and a Chartered Accountant.  He became a Partner and was one of the leading Tax Experts in Liverpool, retiring in 1981.

He enjoyed playing tennis and was a member of Formby Lawn Tennis Club for a good part of his life.  He was Treasurer from 1954 to 1976 and Captain for 4 years.  Later they made him Life President.  He was credited with “moulding the Formby Lawn Tennis Club into the successful club you see today”.

Since before the war, Frank had known Jean Mary Scott, a good golfer. They married in 1959.  They enjoyed spending time in the Lake District and shared a love of Scotland through which Frank was able to pursue his interest in railways.  Frank loved good food accompanied by a glass of red wine and it was sad that health difficulties, including an inability to swallow, eventually deprived him of the pleasure of eating out.

Frank passed away on Friday, July 1st 2016 just 6 days before his 100th birthday and the small party that his son had arranged for him.  He had, however, a good long life with many years to enjoy his retirement, a loving wife, good friends and some wonderful neighbours.

With thanks to George Noble, Franks’ son, and Trevor Hildrey, the Boys’ School archivist, for their contributions towards this tribute.

 

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Stanfield is 80! 🥳🎉 We celebrated in true S Stanfield is 80! 🥳🎉

We celebrated in true Stanfield style today, with a joyful assembly, plenty of laughter, and cupcakes topped with special ‘80’ stickers. The ‘80’ glasses were out in full force and the birthday spirit was everywhere. 

Here’s to 80 brilliant years, and many more to come! 🎉
Congratulations to Claudia, David, Jude and Ruby w Congratulations to Claudia, David, Jude and Ruby who had the privilege of attending the annual wellbeing conference at the @merchant_taylors Hall in London, where this year’s theme centred around safe spaces and belonging.

As part of the event, they were invited to present to delegates on how our TENDO programme helps foster a strong sense of belonging and creates safe, supportive spaces within our School community.

Their presentation was met with great enthusiasm, earning praise for its thoughtfulness, clarity, and confidence.
Train like a pro this May Half Term! ⚽ Our Foot Train like a pro this May Half Term! ⚽

Our Football Camp is led by Marine FC Manager and UEFA licensed coach Bobby Grant, giving young players the chance to sharpen their skills, grow in confidence and enjoy a brilliant day of football.

Places are limited - book now via the link in our bio! ⤴️
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The boys thoroughly enjoyed the session, which focused on developing changing voices and building stage presence. 

It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from a professional singer of such high calibre, and we’re very grateful to Roland for sharing his expertise and enthusiasm.
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Pupils from Years 7 to 10 delivered outstanding pe Pupils from Years 7 to 10 delivered outstanding performances at the recent Alderley Edge Festival, earning multiple 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes across a range of drama categories including Acting Through Song, Shakespearean Text, and Duologues.

A highlight of the weekend was being awarded the prestigious William Roache Cup for Outstanding Drama Performance, recognising the school’s exceptional contribution to the festival.

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On Thursday, the Year 5 Drama Club enjoyed a speci On Thursday, the Year 5 Drama Club enjoyed a special visit from Dr John Gill, former Head of Drama at Merchant Taylors’. Dr Gill kindly returned to support the pupils as they prepare for their upcoming performance next week.

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