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Hugh CARLESS Obituary
52 Entries
Leonard Powell
January 24, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jan/22/hugh-carless-obituary
From left to right: Hugh's son,Ronnie;his mother,Gwen; and Hugh
Ronald Carless
January 21, 2014
Ronald Carless
January 20, 2014
As this Guest Book continues on a permanent basis; let me just say this. My father,Hugh,is a daily source of inspiration to me. I'm so humbly proud of him and his achievement. I'm so grateful that he was and is my father. He was a true English gentleman - courageous,humorous,and strongly gentle. Such people are rare on the earth! With loving tribute,from his son, Ronnie
Hugh Carless in retirement
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
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Hugh Carless with Diana, Princess of Wales, at a Hinduja Foundation reception, 1997
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh Carless with the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, at a Hinduja Foundation reception, probably late 1980s
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh Carless greeting Baroness Young, Minister of State at the FCO, at a reception in Caracas, Venezuela, 1985
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh Carless meeting Pope John Paul II in Caracas, Venezuela, 1984
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh and Rosa Maria Carless enjoying a meal together, probably Budapest, Hungary, early 1960s
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh and Rosa Maria Carless on their wedding day in Tehran, 1957
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh Carless with colleagues at the British Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, early 1950s
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh Carless as a teenager
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh Carless as a small child, with his mother, Gwen
Ian Riddoch
January 17, 2014
Hugh Carless, at reception in Budapest, Hungary whilst serving at the British Embassy 1962-1965
April 1, 2013
Hugh Carless, CMG, with wife Rosa Maria and youngest son, Roger at Buckingham Palace straight after receiving the CMG from the Queen, 1976
April 1, 2013
High Carless with Sir John Major and one of the Hindujah Brothers in London 1990's
April 1, 2013
Hugh Carless, CMG, greeted by HRH Princess Alexandra, in London during Hugh's time with the Hindujahs 1987-1997
April 1, 2013
Hugh Carless, CMG, in retirement
April 1, 2013
Hugh Carless & friends, punting on the Cam;Hugh standing on the stern using long punting pole. 1948-1950 when Hugh attended Trinity Hall, Cambridge
April 1, 2013
Captain Hugh Carless, either during WWII or soon after; probably in Germany
April 1, 2013
Hugh Carless, Cairo, Egypt 1950
April 1, 2013
Hugh Carless and wife Rosa Maria, outside the British Embassy, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1978-1980
April 1, 2013
Ambassador Hugh Carless, CMG, calling on President Luis Herrera Campins of Venezuela. 1982
April 1, 2013
Ambassador Hugh Carless, CMG calling on President Luis Herrera Campins of Venezuela, presenting credentials on arrival in Caracas 1982
Ronnie Carless
April 1, 2013
Richard Richards
April 6, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8971440/Hugh-Carless.html
Ronnie Carless
February 5, 2012
A summary of Ronnie Carless' contribution to the feature about his father, Hugh, in the Radio 4 programme 'Last Word' (27/1/12 repeated 29/1/12)
On the radio, I spoke of feeling emotionally close to my father during mountain climbing throughout my childhood and youth in different parts of the world. Just the two of us together, gave us the opportunity to be ourselves and connect in friendship, as we took responsibility for a joint venture. The views to be had in these majestic solitudes were "mind - blowing" wherever one happened to be - Angola, Italy, Argentina, Venezuela or the English lake district.
In the programme, I admitted to a certain reserve between my father and I. This is not an uncommon thing for men of my generation; and it was even more so for previous ones. What I said, was by no means a criticism, but simply a gentle acknowledgement of how I experienced things. At the same time I emphasised that there was both tremendous respect and real warmth between us.
My father, Hugh, was an outstanding servant of his country. He was a diplomat in the traditional British mould, epitomising courage, discretion and old-style courtesy - qualities we so need today.
Ronnie Carless
February 5, 2012
Given at Hugh Carless' Funeral, at St Mary's Church, Bryanston Square on 12th January 2012
My Father, Hugh
We're really missing my father, Hugh!
He was a unique English character and a true gentleman. We'll miss his old style courtesy, his kindness, humility and humour. I'm sure that in many minds is an abiding sense that he took you seriously, and did so with the utmost respect and kindness - whether you were family or friends. We, who've been privileged to know him, will go on deeply cherishing his memory.
My father was a fighter who believed in living life to the full. Most of you know so well how he doggedly preserved through countless struggles. At the end, much weakened physically, his essential personality still shone through. It was, and is, a real consolation to me to have witnessed the remarkably peaceful way he departed this life. I genuinely thank God for that; as well as for the fact that his own life had been so truly good and honourable. His legacy is, above all, his example - may we seek to emulate it. I know his care for us and his friendship will live on in our hearts. Let me just say that I'm enormously proud of him!
Please go on keeping my mother and myself in your kind thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
February 1, 2012
ON SUNDAY 29TH JANUARY THE BBC RADIO 4 PROGRAMME 'LAST WORD' HAD INTERVIEWEES WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE LATE HUGH CARLESS CMG. A PRECIS OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE PROGRAMME WITH SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF QUOTES OF SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS BY RICHARD GALUSTIAN ARE BELOW:
The British Diplomat Hugh Carless was a gifted linguist who was admired for his integrity and intellect. He was born in India where his father was working in the civil service. Hugh was posted all over the world but in 1951 he was sent to Afghanistan. His friend the adventurer and writer Benedict Allen says that’s where he achieved another claim to fame.There’s one book that has emerged and stayed with us through times, written about 50 years ago and is called “A short walk in the Hindu Kush” by Eric Newby. Eric Newby headed off with his companion and his sidekick was this extraordinary diplomat Hugh Carless.
Hugh’s Son Ronnie: From early on in my life I was very aware of my father’s passion for mountain to mountain climbing and mountain walking really. He would often want to take me out for an expedition just the two of us and that was tremendously bonding and I mean really they where the closest times when I felt so near to him emotionally. My father was a very English man and he had that traditional old style courtesy and charm and he had a lot of dignity and he was the typical diplomat so I had enormous respect for him. I mean I had to admit we weren’t always so close to each other emotionally, there was a certain reserve between us but there was tremendous respect and I knew that he always had a warm heart towards me.
Coming on to Hugh's Foreign Office career; he was a career diplomat for 35 years. He studied Farsi the school of Oriental and African Studies mainly because his mother encouraged him to do it. He had just left school; he went straight in and went straight to Tehran at the beginning of the war. He found Tehran was far to far away from the action and so he got into active service.
After the war he went to Cambridge and then he joined the foreign office in 1950 and went straight to Afghanistan and travelled around in a lorry. After that his career expanded, he travelled all over the place as a diplomat from Western Asia to South America, Africa, Angola and then of course the South America countries most famously Brazil, the Argentine and finally Venezuela where he ended up as ambassador.
During his posting in Argentina in the late 1970’s Hugh Carless was aware that trouble over the Falkland Islands was already brewing. But he recalled at least initially the then Labour Foreign Secretary Anthony Crosland didn’t seem very interested.
Hugh Carless recorded years later: "He was a fascinating foreign secretary with his powerful intellect. At first he dismayed us on the Latin American frontby refusing to take any papers on the Falkland Islands for his first 6 months in office.We compiled a dossier with him, a book with maps and statistics with every kind of information that you could want. He said, “Well you know I am beginning to see a way through. The first thing I’ll do is to make a parliamentary statement.” And he ended the statement by saying he was going to send a minister to consult the Islanders to obtain their views, I went with him on that journey."
Benedict Allen and Alexander Maitland recalled the thing that they remembered about Hugh was the fact that he was kind, he was generous, he was humane, and he was an ideal man in a crisis. In Tehran for example he went there after Brazil in the 1950’s, his job was to mingle with the people to get the undercurrents of social and political opinion give them back to the Ambassador and through the Ambassador back to London to the Foreign Office. They thought Hugh epitomized that coolness, that poise, We all know there is a stereotype of the unflappable British diplomat certainly the traditional ones. But there was more than an element of truth in Hugh Carless's case.
Charlie Galustian
January 27, 2012
Although I had too few opportunities to meet Hugh, I always came away struck by his impeccable politeness, formal charm, and careful erudition. I attended the same Cambridge college as him, Trinity Hall, which I must add he gave his kind support and thorough encouragement to my attending, and his fond nostalgia for his years spent there now echo my own feelings towards the place. The last time I saw him he presented me with a first edition copy of one of Evelyn Waugh's books. As he pressed the book into my hands I saw in his piercing clear eyes a genteelness, his warm humour peeping out from behind their diplomatic sheen. That is how I shall remember him, and I am deeply sorry that as I grow older I will not be able to benefit from his prodigious knowledge of foreign affairs and events long past, which he seemed to remember with startling acuity, regardless of his advancing age.
Sally Pretorius
January 26, 2012
The few times I met Hugh I saw what a gentleman he was, what spirit he had in his eyes. I wish his family peace during their grief, knowing what a full and adventurous life he lived. Thank you Hugh for the kindness and brightness that you emanated.
Peter Temple-Morris
January 24, 2012
A man for whom I had the greatest respect and who should have been Ambassador in Iran but for this wretched revolution.
January 24, 2012
24 January 2012
Hugh and Rosie were our neighbours for over 30 years. During all that time I can remember only one time in which we disagreed and that was over the colour of the paint for the common parts which Hugh resolved with a graceful compromise.He was a wonderful neighbour.Courteous, kind and gracious. Always the right word and always interested in our family and what we were doing.
In the last few years Lucille and I watched Hugh becoming increasingly weak and frail. Our offers of help were generally refused because he was a proud man who was determined to be independent. He continued to drive and do the household shopping well past the time he was capable of doing so. He was determined to care for Rosie even though he was physically not able to do so. He was brave, dignified and stoical in his suffering. And through everything kept his sense of humour and interest in whatever was happening in the world.
We will miss him enormously.
Richard Lewin
Rosa and Hugh 11 June 2009
Elizabeth Forrester
January 22, 2012
Art in Marylebone 11 June 2009
Elizabeth Forrester
January 22, 2012
Catherine Dempsey
January 22, 2012
I had the good fortune to meet Hugh Carless in his later years. He was the most gracious, kind and warm-hearted gentleman I have ever met, with a sparkling light in his eyes that gave away his good humour and love of life. Like all who knew him, I shall never forget this fine and upstanding man and send my heartfelt good wishes to his loved ones.
2007 HUGH CARLESS CMG AND PETER AVERY OBE IN CAMBRIDGE
January 22, 2012
January 21, 2012
Mir Samir
January 21, 2012
January 21, 2012
January 21, 2012
Natalie Galustian
January 19, 2012
Your courteous impeccable manners and high standards of honour and integrity have no equal. You will not be forgotten by anyone that knew you.
HUGH, HAIG GALUSTIAN AND LORD PETER TEMPLE-MORRIS
Lara Galustian
January 19, 2012
DAVID BROAD
January 17, 2012
THE FUNERAL ADDRESS GIVEN FOR HUGH CARLESS ON THURSDAY 12 JANUARY 2012 READ BY DAVID BROAD
ALL of us here today who have read HUGH'S obituaries, FOREMOST OF COURSE HUGH'S FAMILY ALSO HIS MANY FRIENDS - FROM the FCO , THE TRAVELLERS CLUB , FROM ROYAL MID SURREY GOLF CLUB AND FROM NEAR AND FAR, PARTICUARLY HIS NEIGHBOURS IN BRYANSTON SQUARE -WHICH HE AND ROSIE LOVED SO MUCH EVERYONE OF US US , I AM SURE , WILL SEE THE OBITUARIES AS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HUGH'S PUBLIC LIFE . SOME OF US, I MIGHT ALSO ADD , WERE NOT IN THE LEAST SURPRISED BY THEIR VERY PROMPT APPEARANCE. HUGH WAS OF COURSE A STICKLER FOR PREPARATION . AND SOME YEARS AGO HE CONFIDED TO ME THAT HE HAD ALREADY – AS HE PUT IT - OFFERED A FEW THOUGHTS TO THOSE HE HAD ENTRUSTED WITH THEIR PREPARATION .INDEED , MYRA DAVIES,HIS PA IN LATIN AMERICAN DEPARTMENT, RECALLS HUGH CALLING HER IN ONE MONDAY MORNING VERY EARLY - FOR DICTATION . WHEN SHE ASKED HIM FOR THE SUBJECT HEADING , HUGH SAID ; 'MY FATHER'S OBITUARY ' SHE RESPONDED “OH I'M SO SORRY . HAS HE JUST DIED?” AND HUGH ANSWERED “GOOD HEAVENS NO , SAID HUGH NOT AT ALL , BUT I MUST BE PREPARED”.
TYPICAL HUGH - IN THIS TRIBUTE , I SHOULD LIKE TO COMPLEMENT HUGH'S PUBLIC RECORD BY RECOLLECTING SOME OF THE MORE PRIVATE AND ENDEARING FACETS OF HIS PERSONALITY. I WILL GLOSS OVER HIS CAR DRIVING IN THE LATTER PART OF HIS LIFE - THERE WAS LITTLE ENDEARING ABOUT THAT; PARTICUALRLY HIS METHOD OF APPROACH TO AND AROUND THE HOGARTH/CHERRY BLOSSOM ROUND-ABOUT - WHEN I FORCED HIM TO SELL HIS CAR LAST YEAR . I BELIEVE I CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY NOT JUST TO HIS AND MY OWN WELFARE BUT TO THAT OF GREATER LONDON .
FOR ME ONE OF HUGH'S MOST ENDEARING FACETS WAS HIS VOICE AND DICTION AND CHOICE OF WORDS - SOFT, CLEAR, PRECISE, WARM AND LITERARY.
I FIRST HEARD IT WHEN HE TELEPHONED TO RELAY A REQUEST FROM THE HINDUJA BROTHERS (FOR A FREE GRANT OF GOVERNMENT LAND - FOR A RELIGIOUS THEME PARK I BELIEVE). IN THE FCO STYLE THAT ERIC NEWBY CAPTURED SO WELL IN HIS BOOK, HUGH CONVEYED THEN THAT - IF HIS REQUEST FAILED - IT WOULD NOT BE A CALAMITY.
IN RECENT DECADES HUGH'S STYLE AND MANNER HAVE, I SUSPECT, GONE OUT OF FASHION BUT I DELIGHTED IN THEM.
WAS THERE SOMETHING OF THE PERSIAN IN HIM? SUBTLE, PRECISE, PROFOUND AND ANCIENT . SOMETHING OF KIPLING'S AND KIM'S TIBETAN LAMA , A TASTE FOR THE GREAT GAME? HE LOVED IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN AND THE FARSI LANGUAGE AND HAD MANY DEAR FRIENDS FROM THAT REGION , HAIG AND RICHARD GALUSTIAN PARTICULARLY .
LET ME QUOTE FROM A PRIVATE LETTER HE WROTE FROM THE EMBASSY IN TEHRAN TO ERIC NEWBY ON 27 MARCH 1956 . MUCH OF THE LETTER IS ABOUT SELLING GEAR FROM THEIR EXPEDITION BUT HE THEN GOES ON TO DESCRIBE A WEEKEND CLIMBING EXPEDITION TO A NEARBY PEAK.
“I WORE MY CHITTRAL CAP ROLLED DOWN AND AT LEAST KEPT MY EARS WARM .WE WERE AT THE TOP BY 7.30 AM AND THE SUN THEN GAVE US PLENTY OF WARMTH. BELOW US THE VALLEYS WERE FILLED WITH SEAS OF WHITE CLOUD AT ABOUT 12 OOOft. WEMERAND AT 18600 FT IS AN OLD VOLCANO AND THE TOP IS STUDDED WITH WARM AND SMOKING ERUPTIONS OF SULPHUR WHICH AT MIDDAY and WITH NO BLANKET OF SNOW MUST BE OBNOXIOUS. WE CAME DOWN FAST, GLISSADING DOWN LONG PATCHES OF PERMANENT SNOW. ASGHAN , OUR GUIDE, GOING LIKE A BOMB IN HIS 'GIRAH'.“
TYPICAL HUGH.
ON RETIREMENT HUGH PASSED TO ME THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF THE HINDUJA FOUNDATION AND WHENEVER I FEARED THE HINDUJA BROTHERS WERE SAILING CLOSE TO THE WIND , HUGH WAS A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON . IT IS HARD TO THINK OF HUGH PANICKING OR GIVING A RUSHED OPINION OR BEING BOWLED OVER – LEAST OF ALL BY THE MILLENIUM DOME. HUGH WAS STEADY.
HE CARED ABOUT WHAT HE SAID AND HOW HE SAID IT AND COULD BE TIRELESS IN HAVING THE RECORD CORRECTED .
DURING THIS HIS RETIREMENT, BEFORE HIS HEALTH FAILED, HUGH AND I PLAYED GOLF TOGETHER FREQUENTLY - HE INTRODUCED ME TO HIS CLUB IN RICHMOND AND I HIM TO MINE - AT WALTON HEATH NEAR REIGATE. HE BECAME A GREAT FAVOURITE WITH MY ELDERLY MOTHER WHO LIVED NEAR THE REIGATE COURSE AND HE INTRODUCED ME TO TWO OF HIS GOOD FRIENDS AT RICHMOND -MICHAEL CHARLTON AND MAURICE CAMILLIERI ; BOTH OF WHOSE COMPANY HE ENJOYED ENORMOUSLY. AS PG WOODEHOUSE READERS KNOW , GOLF UNPEELS CHARACTER - HUGH WAS UNUSUAL TO PLAY WITH: HE DIDNT MUCH LIKE WINING – THAT IS , NOT BY ANY BUT THE VERY SMALLEST OF MARGINS. HE MADE HIS OPPONENTS FEEL AWKWARD IF THEY TOOK TOO BIG A LEAD. HE ALSO INVOKED ARGENTINIAN RULES THAT I NEVER FULLY UNDERSTOOD BUT I THINK - FOR THE GOLFERS HERE - IF YOUR BALL REACHES THE GREEN YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY AWARDED TWO PUTTS
ALONG WITH MANY OTHER OF HIS FRIENDS , WE HAD HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER AT THE TRAVELLERS CLUB , WHERE HE WAS A HUGELY POPULAR AND RESPECTED MEMBER , SERVING ON A NUMBER OF THEIR COMMITTEES. HE PARTICULARLY VALUED HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH DAVID BROADHEAD THE SECRETARY AND SHEILA MARKHAM THE LIBRARIAN . ONE FELT HE WAS IN HIS ELEMENT THERE.
EARLY IN 2011 , WHEN I WAS VISITING MORE FREQUENTLY AND HELPING WITH CORRESPONDENCE , HUGH CONVALESCED BRIEFLY IN THE RICHMOND ROYAL STAR AND GARTER HOME - HE SAID HE HAD EXPECTED TO FIND IT LIKE THE TRAVELLERS , BUT COMMENTED THAT THE OTHER RESIDENTS THERE WERE ALL TOO OLD AND DID NOT RETURN. WE WERE RELIEVED - HE WAS BETTER OFF AT HOME WITH ROSIE.
HUGH HAD A STRONG SENSE OF HONOUR AND SERVICE , AND PRIDE IN HIS FAMILY - IN HIS FATHER'S CAREER IN THE INDIAN POLICE , HIS OWN WARTIME SERVICE IN IRAN AND INDIA , AND NORTHERN EUROPE , HIS DEVOTION TO HIS UNCLE HUGH PATULO'S MEMORY , KILLED IN ACTION IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE GREAT WAR . HIS LOVE OF ADVENTURE AND WIDE OPEN SPACES AND SPORT AND CAMRADERIE AND IN HIS LOYALTY TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE.
IN RETROSPECT HIS TIME IN THE OFFICE WAS OF COURSE SHADOWED BY THE FALKLANDS ISLANDS DISPUTE WITH ARGENTINA.
HUGH'S COMMENTS ON THE DISPUTE IN MICHAEL CHARLTON'S BOOK THE SMALL PLATOON AND HIS RECORDINGS FOR CHURCHILL COLLEGE'S ORAL ARCHIVE MAKE FOR SOBERING AN INSTRUCTIVE READING - FROM HUGH'S RINGSIDE VIEW IN THE OFFICE , ANTHONY CROSLAND , SHORTLY BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH, HAD MOVED TANTALISINGLY CLOSE TOWARDS FINDING WAYS ROUND THE PROBLEM. A YEAR EARLIER CROSLAND , ALTHOUGH MP FOR GRIMSBY, HAD RESOLVED the ICELANDIC FISHERIES DISPUTE. FOR THE FALKLANDS IT WAS NOT TO BE.
MOVING TO A LIGHTER FALKLANDS NOTE ,
HUGH USED TO TELL A NICE STORY OF EDDIE SHACKLETON, THE LABOUR PEER AND MINSITER, ARRIVING IN BUENOS AIRES FOR TALKS AND BEING ADVISED THAT HIS ARGENTINE OPPOSITE NUMBER WAS RENOWNED FOR THE NEGOTIATING TRICK OF ALWAYS WAITING FOR OTHERS TO SPEAK FIRST AT A MEETING.
SHACKLETON AND HIS MISCHIEVOUS ADVISERS DECIDED TO PUT THIS TO THE TEST . SADLY , BUT ONLY AFTER A VERY LONG PERIOD OF SILENCE - WITH NEITHER SIDE BLINKING , THE PATIENCE OF THE SENIOR BRITISH ADVISER CRACKED .HE SCRAWLED A NOTE TO SHACKLETON , WHOM HE HAD KNOWN AT SCHOOL , with the WORDS 'EDDIE WHAT A S-H-* - T YOU ARE' , AT WHICH POINT EDDIE , I AM AFRAID, COLLAPSED IN HELPLESS GIGGLES , AND THE REST IS HISTORY .
ALL THAT IS GONE : HUGH EMBODIED THE CHARACTER OF BRITAIN'S FINAL GENERATION OF SERVANTS OF EMPIRE .
IN HIS SENSE OF DUTY , HIS STOICISM AND GOOD HUMOUR AND MOST OF ALL IN HIS DIGNITY IN THE FACE OF THE PAIN AND THE SADNESS OF HIS LAST YEARS .. - DEBILITATING NEURALGIA AND MANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS AND IN CONFRONTING HIS SON ROGER'S STRUGGLES, WHICH CULMINATED TWO YEARS AGO IN ROGER'S UNTIMELY DEATH - HUGH BORE ALL THESE WITH GREAT COURAGE.
HUGH'S NEPHEW AND NAMESAKE HUGH ROLO HAS MENTIONED TO ME THAT OVER THE GENERATIONS THE WIDER FAMILY HAS EXPERIENCED A PATTERN OF TRAGIC DEATHS - HUGH HAD BEEN RAISED IN A HARD SCHOOL. HIS SENSE OF HONOUR NEVER WAVERED, AND , A POIGNANT BACKDROP TO HIS OTHER SUFFERINGS , THE MOUNTING ALXHEIMERS DISEASE THAT TEN YEARS AGO BEGAN TO STRIKE ROSIE ,HIS TALENTED AND BEAUTIFUL WIFE .
AS MAURICE CAMILLERI HAS POINTED OUT , THEIRS WAS A GREAT LOVE AFFAIR. HUGH WAS DEVOTED TO ROSIE AND HE HELD ON AS HE DID - FOR HER SAKE.
I WILL END WITH TWO MEMORIES.
FIRST, HUGH'S PLEASURE IN THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF A SHORT WALK IN THE HINDU KUSH FOR WHICH HE WROTE A CHARMING AND THOUGHTFUL INTRODUCTION -
SOME HERE WILL REMEMBER HOW 15 MONTHS AGO - POSSIBLY A LAST PUBLIC OUTING - ALREADY FRAIL , HUGH TALKED TO A GROUP OF US IN RICHMOND , HESITANTLY BUT RIVETTINGLY , ABOUT THE NEW EDITION . HAPPILY BOTH ERIC'S WIDOW , WANDA NEWBY AND THEIR DAUGHTER SONIA WERE ABLE TO JOIN US FOR THE OCCASION, AND WANDA AND THEIR SON ARE HERE TODAY.
A FINAL MEMORY, A CAR JOURNEY UNDERTAKEN ON THE 11TH OF OCTOBER LAST YEAR BY RONNIE AND RICHARD LEWIN, HUGH'S NEIGHBOUR AND GOOD FRIEND, HUGH HIMSELF AND ME TO INSPECT ST AUGUSTINE'S IN HAYWARDS HEATH, A CATHOLIC HOME FOR ROSIE - TO PREPARE FOR THE TIME WHEN SHE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE BRYANSTON SQUARE – HE LIKED THE PLACE AND APPROVED OF IT FOR ROSIE BUT THE JOURNEY WAS DOGGED WITH MULTIPLE AND UNFORSEEN SETBACKS .
HUGH NONETHELESS BATTLED ON . AT THE END OF WHAT WAS A VERY LONG , AND TRYING , DAY FOR HIM - THE JOB WAS DONE.
BY THEN HUGH KNEW TIME WAS RUNNING DOWN . HE WISHED TO BE SURE , AND FROM THAT DAY COULD BE SURE , THAT ROSIE WOULD BE SAFE AND CARED FOR.
TO THE END - AND IT WAS , SADLY ,IN SOME RESPECTS A SOMEWHAT CRUEL END - HUGH CONTINUED TO PREPARE THE GROUND - GENTLY, DILIGENTLY ,INTELLIGENTLY , METICULOUSLY , AND,
ALL THE WHILE RADIATING HIS ENDEARING BLEND OF COURTLINESS AND DIGNITY AND CHARM . MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
Fiona Reid Turner
January 13, 2012
Dear Hugh, your thoughtful kindness kept me going. Although long time no see, never forgotten.
John Collis
January 9, 2012
Apologies. I forgot to sign the tribute to Hugh that I posted earlier today.
January 9, 2012
Hugh's death has brought back memories of 40 years ago, during my publishing days, when I was in regular contact with him about a book he wanted to start while he was on sabbatical at Glasgow. Sadly, the book didn't materialise as originally envisaged ? through no fault of Hugh's. Of the people I have most admired during my life, Hugh is at the top of the list. In addition to his distinguished presence, I remember his courtesy, his kindness, his humour, his thoughtfulness, his patience, and his fund of good stories. Although, as often happens, we lost touch, I have not forgotten him.
In 1973, Hugh and Rosy very kindly had me to stay with them in Bonn on my way to the Frankfurt Book Fair, and Hugh offered to drive me there. We started early in a car he had, I think, borrowed. Halfway along the autobahn it started to emit strange clunking noises and to jerk ominously. Hugh veered on to the hard shoulder and opened the bonnet; we took a few well-meaning pokes at the engine, Hugh with more resolution than I. Then we got back in and resumed our journey. The car behaved perfectly. Hugh smiled and said: `Well, John, we fixed that one between us'. My contribution had been minimal. It was Hugh who had got the car going again. I realised then that it would be impossible to meet a more unselfish man.
January 1, 2012
Hugh was the most honourable man I have known. He had an almost anachronistic sense of chivalry and honour which made him dream, as a young man, of being commissioned to the field. As a historian, he admired characters who served outstanding monarchs unreservedly,Lord Melbourne being one of them. Yet, he had his own code of honour and his own reflexes
as to what was right or wrong, and once he was convinced of the merit of a cause or person he pushed the boundaries of convention to the limit in order to be able to help, without ever thinking of the consequences for himself. This most courteous of men treated conventions much the same way as he treated his aneroid at 19,000 feet, dropping it with only one bounce into the Chamar valley in Nuristan.
"Bloody thing" said Hugh gloomily. "I don't think it was much use anyway" (cit.Short Walk in the Hindu Kush)
I am writing these words in gratitude, as I owe many favourable turns of my life to Hugh. I am most likely to be only one of many friends whose lives he influenced for the better.
Hugh Rolo
December 26, 2011
Hugh was my uncle,godfather, and with Eric Neby the role model of my youthful imagining. In later years I enjoyed his hospitality at the Travellers. He met my father Paul Rolo in Schleswig Holstein at the end of 1945 and they became firm friends. Hugh introduced my father to his sister Rosemary and my father introduced Hugh to Eric. They remained in close touch while Hugh was up at Cambridge and my father was teaching at Balliol.
During these last years I witnessed Hugh's huge courage in adversity, may he now rest in peace.
TRAVELLER'S CLUB - BOOK SIGNING 'A SHORT WALK...'
RICHARD GALUSTIAN
December 25, 2011
RICHARD GALUSTIAN
December 25, 2011
HUGH WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF BOTH MY FATHER AND I. RECENTLY, I TURNED 60 AND MY EARLIEST MEMORIES OF HUGH ARE FROM WHEN I WAS 5 OR 6 YEARS OLD. WE REMAINED GREAT FRIENDS AND IN CLOSE CONTACT. HE WAS LIKE A FATHER TO ME. NO WORDS CAN EXPRESS MY SORROW AT HIS LOSS. HUGH WAS A GREAT MAN AND EVEN HIS FINE OBITUARIES FAIL TO CAPTURE THE WHOLE TRUTH OF HIS LIFE AND WHAT A VERY SPECIAL AND EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING HE WAS. HUGH WAS A GREAT PATRIOT, AND TRUE ENGLISHMAN. HE IS IRREPLACEABLE.
Elizabeth Forrester
December 23, 2011
My deepest sympathy over the death of Hugh Carless.
Please be assured of my thoughts and prayers.
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