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Victor was born in Dublin in 1920. His father was an Army Officer in the Connaught Rangers and after 1922 in the KOSB ( King’s Own Scottish Border Regiment).
He attended prep school at Ladycross in East Sussex and persuaded his father to send him to Ampleforth (E38). After school his study for a degree in engineering was curtailed with the outbreak of war and Victor joined the Royal Engineers. He was dispatched to the foothills of the Himalayas north of Delhi and thence to Egypt. By the end of the war he found himself in Japan as part of the army of occupation.
He married Rosemary (nee Lynch) in 1947 and joined Perkins Diesels at Peterborough, living at Elton Priory. The family was eventually to include 6 children: Rosamund (Woldingham), Martin (H67) Tim (H69) Michael (H71), Patty (Woldingham / Shrewsbury) and James (Shrewsbury).
In 1957 Victor took up a new position in Montreal, Canada starting a distinquished 25 year career with Rolls-Royce Motors. In 1961 the family moved back to England when Victor was appointed Sales Director for the Rolls Royce Diesel Engine Division at Shrewsbury alongside Barney Mathias ( Downside) and later with Michael Deacon (H66) as Military Engines Sales Director.
Victor established a worldwide enterprise for RR during the difficult years of the Cold War. In the process he travelled more than a million miles particularly to the Middle East (including visits to the Shah in Persia), India and Korea. He was the first company representative to visit China and his final achievement was to gain a foothold in the highly competitive American military engine market.
With an infectious Irish sense of fun Victor was ever the one for family parties and encouraging his family to seek adventures. He enjoyed sailing at Rock in Cornwall, fishing, shooting, and later water and winter skiing at the age of 60. His technical abilities were frequently demonstrated when stripping down and repairing his children’s often ancient car engines, playing charades and chess with grandchildren (usually having completed the Times crossword long before breakfast...)
He retired from Rolls Royce in 1981 and he and Rosemary settled in Somerset forever involved with the multitudinous activities of their large family including 17 grandchildren. One grandson, Oliver Greaves is currently at Ampleforth.
The cornerstone of his long life was his Catholic faith - evident is his concern for others and in this he was very ably supported by his devoted wife. In 2004 they moved to near Wantage close to their second son Timothy and his family where Victor died on 15 March 2007.
Other Deaths 2008 - death of Rosemary Comyn early May 2008
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Deaths
