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Campbell died 17 November 2019 of heart failure following a short illness. Our father William Pulley also attended Lancing (Second’s 1919-1924), and I, his younger brother, followed Campbell there in 1956.
Campbell became a school prefect and Head of House and was also Captain of School Swimming and of Athletics. He was an excellent sprinter, holding two school records. In the National Schools’ 100 yards in 1958, there is a photo of him coming a close second to Peter Radford, who went on to become a famous international athlete.
Campbell missed National Service by 26 days because his October 1939 date of birth was just after the date of the last intake. As a result, because universities were still geared to many people doing their National Service first, he had to work in London for two years before going up to Magdalene College, Cambridge. He retained his sprinting abilities and narrowly missed getting into the Cambridge team against Oxford, but was still elected a member of the Hawk Club, whose membership was usually restricted to Blues.
His law degree served him well, working in the City in the legal department of Minets Insurance Brokers and Underwriters which was later taken over by the giant Aon. He was a member of the Saddlers’ Livery Company and had the privilege of being Master of the Saddlers in 1995, the year the Company celebrated its 600th anniversary. Another external involvement was as Governor to Alleyn’s School for ten years, becoming Deputy Chairman of the Governors. Campbell was also a member of various local associations, including his membership for 20 years of the local Probus and he had been a church warden at his local church.
Sadly, Nan, his wife, had a stroke at 44. For both Nan and Campbell life was irrevocably changed, but they handled it with dignity and courage. Campbell was Nan’s principal carer for nearly 40 years. Campbell himself remained a kind and thoughtful man and was always interested in others, as so many people commented after his death.
He is survived by his widow Nan, his daughters Nicola and Debbie and four grandchildren.
Iain Pulley (Second’s 1956-1961)