Page 79 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022
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                                            could not save’. He rang them up and   his life – indeed even into his 80’s
                                            said, “I can help you”, and that was the   he was still actively involved in the
                                            start of the project.               Workers’ Educational Association
        GEOFF TINEY                                                             (WEA) – a charitable educational
                                            He went to visit the Royal Veterinary   organisation founded to provide
                                            College and that was the start of the   access to adult education for those
                                            restoration of Duncan’s Horses. This   from a working class background.
                                            was one of the highlights of his career.
                                            It was a great opportunity to work with   His childhood years were happy
                                            many talented people from the foundry   ones, punctuated by a notable wartime
                                            and other places.  The RVC was very   evacuation to Leicester whilst German
                                            dear to him and he loved working on   bombs rained down on London. At
                                            this piece particularly.            Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith
                                                                                he developed into a talented sportsman
                                            Geoff will always be remembered by   – taking cricket trophies, captaining the
                                            his friends and family for his amazing   football team and getting a scholarship
                                            talent and love of animals. He passed   which took him to Cambridge University.
                                            away peacefully at home at a great age   He was the first member of his family
                                            of 82. He has left a large gap in the   ever to have a university education.
                                            lives of many people, and he will be
                                            missed. Alongside the beautiful pieces   However, before heading to university
                                            of art he created, he has also left many   – as for all young men of his generation
                                            fond memories.                      – David had to do two years of National
                                                                                Service. He joined the Royal Corps of
        Geoff Tiney was born on 28th July 1939                                  Signals in 1954 for basic training in
        in Thrapston, Northamptonshire. He was                                  the barracks at Catterick Camp, before
        the oldest of three brothers and grew                                   being posted as a commissioned office
        up in a small village called Woodford.   DR DAVID DRAKE                 to join the British Army of the Rhine
        He later moved to Kettering when he   TYLER                             in Essen.
        was 12 years old.                                                       At Cambridge he studied Natural
        Geoff was a bright lad but never sporty                                 Sciences, gradually specialising in
        – his love was country pursuits with                                    biochemistry, which at that time was
        horses, shooting and fishing absorbing                                  a dynamic and fast changing field of
        his interests. As a young man he would                                  study. The Cambridge biochemistry
        often be found in the countryside                                       department at that time was recognised
        around his home, just enjoying the                                      for many distinguished researchers
        freedom and fresh air.                                                  - David told a story of how in 1958
                                                                                there was some confusion when, on
        He later married Ruth, in 1963, and                                     entering a laboratory cold room, they
        they began a new life together. Ruth                                    found it stacked up with crates of
        was a keen horsewoman and instructor.                                   champagne. Later that afternoon, there
        This lifestyle and love they both shared                                was a party to celebrate Frederick
        for the countryside was to become                                       Sanger’s first Nobel Prize for his work
        their future together. Geoff was in the                                 on the structure of proteins. Beyond
        construction industry working with his                                  studies at university, David played for
        own business.                                                           both the College football team, and the
        Later, the family moved to Braybrooke                                   University second team, and seems
        near Market Harborough. It was at this   Dr David Drake Tyler “DDT”     to have had various scrapes with the
        time, in the early 1970s, that he became   RVC Physiology Lecturer, 1962-2000  police, punting parties and dances with
        a professional artist, having had a lot                                 local nurses – it was no doubt another
        of amateur success with painting and   We are sorry to note the death, on   experience that served to expand his
        sculpting. He became well-known in   20 November 2021, of long-time     horizons well beyond those afforded by
        the field sports scene during this time,   RVC tutor, lecturer and hardship fund   his Heston upbringing.
        making bronzes for many different   administrator, Dr David Drake Tyler, who   On leaving Cambridge in 1959 it was
        companies and private commissions.   for over 40 years was universally known   clear that David had the academic
        Most of his work was horses and dogs.   to his RVC students as “DDT”.   bug and was accepted for a post in

        It was at this time he read an article in   David Tyler was born in 1935 in Heston.   the Medical Research Council unit at
        the Sunday Telegraph supplement. The   His passion for education in all its forms   Hammersmith Hospital – studying for
        article was entitled ‘The horses the vets   ran as a constant thread throughout   a PhD under Francis Holton. About


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