IN MEMORIAM: RICHARD CLOWES 1953(G)

Richard John Allen Clowes was born in Amersham, England on 2 March 1937.  His early childhood memories from wartime Britain were some 300 bombs dropped in their area, time spent in an air-raid shelter and the celebrations on V-E Day.

His Mother died of cancer in March 1946 when Richard was nine.  He and his father emigrated to South Africa later that year and from a second marriage a few years later Richard’s half-brother, Jeremy, was born.

Richard attended the Western Province Preparatory School and Diocesan College where he matriculated at age 16. The family lived at Glen Ashdale in Woodlands Road, Rondebosch abutting the Bishops Avenue so his walk to school was a short one.  His extracurricular interests were hiking, mountain climbing and playing rugby.

Unsure at age 16 what career he wanted to pursue his two godfathers, who were senior executives at the Bank of England, encouraged him to work for a bank while making that career decision. Taking that advice Richard joined the Standard Bank in Pretoria where its then Head Office was located. It was recognised very early Richard had an aptitude for banking, and this would become not only his future career, but he would work in excess of fifty years for the financial services industry. Standard Bank realized they had a rising star and seconded him initially to their offices in London and Hamburg before he was returned to their main branch in Commissioner Street, Johannesburg. Richard subsequently joined the Hill Samuel Group where he was Deputy Managing Director. Later he filled senior positions at the Gerber Goldschmidt Group, The Trust Bank, The Discount House of South Africa, The Board of Executors before finally retiring from Nedbank in November 2007.

Richard married Jennifer Ruth Stansbie of Lancashire and the mother of Simon at St Columba’s Church on 3 June 1967.  Together they had three more children David, Nicholas and Elizabeth.  Sadly, Elizabeth died tragically in 1986 at the age of 14.

Richard’s interests, with his strong belief in God, lay in service to the community and included:

Being a member for nearly sixty years of St. Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Parkview, Johannesburg where he was ordained as an Elder on 6 June 1973.  He served on the Board of Management of St Columba’s from 14 June 1971 and was instrumental in introducing the Pledge form of giving which he ran for 35 years thereby stabilising its finances.

Being a governor for 24 years of his sons’ prep school, Pridwin, eleven of which he served as Board Chairman

Being a member of Rotary for the last 18 years earning several Paul Harris awards for his work in the community.

When he was younger Richard was involved in competitive dinghy sailing and later, he developed a keen interest in fly-fishing. He had an intense interest in the Arts, in particular classical music and ballet being a benefactor of the Johannesburg Ballet Company and The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. He was secretary of the ODU (Northern Provinces) in the early 1970s and played an important role in fundraising for the 125th Bishops Appeal in 1974.  

When his busy working and community life allowed, he enjoyed foreign travel visiting more than 30 countries.

Richard was driven by a deep desire to help everyone and anyone he could, which he did quietly without telling anyone and without expecting anything in return.  If people wanted his help he gave it in abundance and gave both of his time and financially.  He was one of the top contributors to the St Columba’s Annual Stewardship Appeal. 

Richard died on 16 July 2026 and is survived by Jennifer, his stepson Simon Grose (1977 F), sons David and Nicholas (1988 S) their wives, six grandchildren and his brother Jeremy.  He will be remembered with love, gratitude and admiration for his life.

The ODU and the Bishops communities send their deepest sympathies to the Clowes and Grose families.

May His Dear Soul Rest in Peace.

Requiescat in Pace.