Vale Mark Geoffrey Gilbert (ON 1975) Old Newingtonian Mark Gilbert passed away VALETE on 10 March 2022. Allan Hatcher(ON 1957) Since the last edition of News Mark commenced at Newington in Wyvern we have been advised of the Warwick Hoare(ON 1954) House (Year 6) in 1969. Mark participated in passing of the following Old Boys: John Jones(ON 1939) cricket, rowing and rugby. In his early years David Leckie(ON 1968) in the Senior school Mark was a keen cadet Philip Abbott(ON 1952) and member of the Choir, but he excelled in Antony Adrian(ON 2008) William McDonald(ON 1954) debating. By 1972 he was active in form and John McGregor(ON 1988) House debating and a member of the 4th Ian Barker QC(ON 1952) Debating team. In 1974 he was a member Hubert (Harry) Bell(ON 1942) Howard Meyer(ON 1955) of the 2nd Debating Team. In his final year, Athol Bensley(ON 1947) Warren Miles(ON 1944) he was selected for the 1sts and appointed John Newton(ON 1951) Captain of Debating. The team was reported Brian Buckingamh (ON 1955) as having a good season in the GPS debating Barry Carr(ON 1954) Edward Oakes(ON 1954) competition. Mark was chosen for the GPS Graham Ogden(ON 1957) team to debate the Combined High Schools William Cleaves(ON 1952) and represented the College in the Lawrence John Cull (ON 1969) Naveen Patney(ON 1999) Campbell Oratory Competition. At the end Ian Denovan(ON 1962) Nathan Renwick(ON 1999) of the year, he was awarded the Richard Peter Roberts(ON 1961) Thompson Memorial Prize for Debating. Henry Dodd(ON 1960) Stuart Dreves(ON 1991) James (Jim) Service AO(ON 1949) For his final year at Newington, Mark was Howard Slee(ON 1975) appointed Deputy Senior Prefect, serving as Robert Edwards(ON 1969) a leader for the body of Prefects and for the Peter Englert(ON 1945) Geoffrey Solomons(ON 1961) school as a whole. He also took an active (ON 1951) Geoffrey Swane(ON 1952) part in the Students’ Representative Council Robert Finnie that had been formed a few years earlier. He Gregory Fox(ON 1972) Adam Thurgar(ON 1979) was elected first in 1973, continued to serve Peter Garlick(ON 1977) Cameron Walker(ON 1979) in 1974 and chaired the Council in his final Reginald Walker(ON 1955) year as part of his Deputy Senior Prefect role. Gregory Geary(ON 1973) Mark Gilbert (ON 1975) Warwick Walpole(ON 1970) After leaving Newington College, Mark built a distinguished career as a solicitor and barrister. He remained in contact with his former schoolmates through the Old Newingtonians’ Union and was its Honours. He was admitted to the Bar in Harry died in Bowral on 31 July 2021. He is President from 2005 to 2007. He served the 1952 and appointed a District Court Judge survived by his wife Kathie, his daughters Newington community as Chairman of the in 1974. Following retirement in 1997, he Fiona and Lucinda, and grandchildren Ella, Newington Foundation in 2009 and 2010. acted as a District Court judge for a further Eleanor and Max. three years and served two six-month terms Newington College is proud of Mark’s as an acting Judge of the Supreme Court. achievements as a student and in his subsequent life and is grateful for the ways Throughout his post school life of nearly 80 in which he has served our community. years, Harry maintained a close relationship with the College, staying connected with Mark is survived by his wife Kate and alumni, supporting events, and contributing children Jennie, Doug and Tony. significantly to the College archives. He is a May he rest in peace. founding member of the 70 Club, which he served as Vice President. He was awarded the Newington Medal in 2013. John Roberts Jones’ Flying Cross citation. Vale Harry Bell (ON 1943) Harry was a man of many parts – scholar, Born in 1925, Hubert (Harry) Bell started at poet, author, debater, boxer, soldier, lawyer, Newington as a 12-year-old boarder from Wee judge, husband, father and grandfather. Waa in 1938. Son of an Old Boy, Hubert Bell He was a man that can well serve as a role (ON 1888), he participated in all aspects of model for all Newingtonians. school life but excelled in academic subjects. In the 1943 Leaving Certificate, Harry gained His obituary, published in The Sydney second place in the state for English. Morning Herald, written by Malcolm Brown (ON 1964), included the following: Upon leaving school, Harry enlisted for World War II and served with the 2/9 Commando The NSW Bar Association said last week Squadron of the 2/6 Cavalry Regiment in that Bell was ‘‘very fondly remembered as a New Guinea for a total of 19 months. Harry true gentleman by his colleagues’’. A cousin, later wrote of his time at Newington and his Chris Maxwell, QC, told the Herald: ‘‘Some subsequent war service in a book entitled years ago, a defence counsel [now a judge] Wee Waa to Wewak. visiting his client in the cells at Darlinghurst complex looked at the wall and saw these Upon discharge in 1947, Harry commenced words scrawled in a rough hand ... ‘Judge Images clockwise from left: John Cull (ON 1969); law at Sydney University and graduated with Bell is a gentleman James Service (ON 1949); Harry Bell (ON 1943); ’.’’ Mark Gilbert (ON 1975).