Oscar Dodwell, at school 1937-1940, died on the 18th April with little fuss, as was his wont. Oscar’s time at the School was comparatively short but in that time we became very friendly although after his leaving it was many years before we linked up again when the main topic of conversation was my prevailing, unsuccessfully, on him to join the Association. His was an unusual character which even Father Tuohy, the feared gauleiter of the Boarders, failed to fathom, particularly the fact that Oscar, unlike the rest o the Boarders, declined to show any fear of this hard-hearted priest, either in his presence or away from it. Brother John has sent in the following tribute to Oscar:-
‘Oscar died after a short illness on 18th April 2006 . His Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Elphege’s Church, Wallington on 26th April by the Parish Priest, Fr Paul Hough, concelebrating with Fr Josef Doetsch, Parish Priest of Coulsdon, joined by a large gathering of friends, family and parishioners. He was buried in Bandon Hill, Wallington cemetery in a seam of compact Thanet sand, as I noted with approval at the time. Oscar would also have approved at being interred in such an excellent foundation stratum.
He was the oldest of the family and had rather divided ‘old boy’ loyalties, having spent some seven years with the Jesuits (for whom he retained a lifetime respect and approval) at Wimbledon College , before coming to John Fisher in 1937, leaving in 1940. As Dickie and I arrived in September 1939, we overlapped by only one term with Oscar, so I can say very little about his schooldays, although others, including Maurice would be able to fill the gap. Much to Maurice’s regret and in spite of all his entreaties he never joined the Association. But as far as I am aware he never joined the Old Wimbledonians either, so that must be some consolation, Maurice. One thing the Dodwells will remember – we were all (re)-christened Oscar by Mr Walker. I suppose we should have regarded that as a great honour in the days when the general custom was for everyone to be called by their surname, with a suitable number added when necessary. I was quite content to be Dodwell I, or Oscar, but Geoffrey smarting as Dodwell IV, alias Oscar, was none too pleased and had the cheek to say so. I will draw a discreet veil over what followed.
At home in Mitcham where we lived in a house designed by my father which had eight bedrooms I remember Oscar being a rather remote and aloof character. He was a good deal older than the rest of us and we stood in some awe of him. He was the appointed bread slicer and woe betide anyone who asked for half a piece! He was in the Boy Scouts (perhaps that was a Wimbledon college Group) and a curious pointed scout hat hung in the cloakroom – he also wore long socks with Khaki ‘tabs’ on them which seemed to be part of the uniform. (You can tell I was never in the Scouts!)
He achieved notoriety in various ways – being carted off to the Isolation Hospital on one occasion with scarlet fever. His room was subsequently fumigated by burning a special candle in it after sealing the windows and door. It was that same room we sneaked into later on to handle a .303 Lee Enfield rifle (we had similar ones in the school museum at the time!) with which he was issued as a member of the Home Guard, I’m not sure if he ever received any ammunition.
Oscar was one of those fortunate individuals (I am another) who from their earliest days knew exactly what they wanted to do after leaving school, and resisted advice on alternatives. Under family pressure he started a chemistry course at Kingston but quickly moved to study civil engineering at Battersea Polytechnic which later became Surrey University . He obtained his B.Sc ( Eng. ) as an external student of London University in 1949. He went on to be elected a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Member of the Mechanicals. He was also a Member of the institution of Engineers ( Jamaica ).
His working life was spent in Construction, generally employed by Contractors (the people who actually do the building), both in UK and abroad (in Jamaica ). Heavy civil engineering was his interest and he played a leading part in some significant projects, having been Project Manager for a major port expansion in Kingston , Jamaica and Agent in charge of the Hyde Park Corner underpass in London – one of the most complex traffic improvements which had then been attempted.
He finished his career as a Project Manager in the civil engineering department of Gleesons, who were engaged at the time on a number of dam projects in the North. His projects included Empingham Dam which impounded Rutland Water, then in the County of Lincolnshire , but later reverting to Rutland County .
Oscar married Jennifer Stewart (Michael’s sister) in 1955 and they celebrated their golden jubilee with family and friends last September 3rd. (50 years to the day) at a splendid lunch at the RHS gardens at Wisley (Jennifer is a member), taking over most of the terrace restaurant for the occasion. This was preceded by a Mass of thanksgiving at the school chapel, which they had attended for a good many years, with Jennifer regularly producing most elegant flower arrangements.
They lived in Purley for most of their married life in a house built to plans drawn up by Oscar. He extended this several times, completing the last just in time for his 80th birthday. Oscar was always very ‘hands on’ and taught himself many skills in engineering and building disciplines. He built and equipped a workshop at the end of his garden for metal and woodworking and spent many happy hours down there, particularly in retirement. He became quite an expert in antique furniture restoration and also made a number of original pieces. He was extremely generous with his time and would always be prepared to help people in trouble with household equipment failures, often turning out something on one of his machines which he had at first declared to be “impossible”. He never quite made it into the computer age but did not feel in the least disadvantaged by that.
To the outside world Oscar seemed a very quiet and private figure but he had decided views (which were generally not for discussion) and was a family man through and through, a great father and grandfather figure (nicknamed “sunshine” by his sons and known to some of the grandchildren as “Grandpa cuckoo-clock”). He spent much time supporting them all in many ways even after they had left home and married.
He will be much missed by Jennifer and his sons, William and Edward who both followed him to the school, by his daughter Katharine and by 10 grandchildren.’