Obituaries

Christian Koh

9 September 1999 – 1 October 2023

On hearing of Christian’s tragically early death in September, I wrote to his Class of 2017 contemporaries thus:

Having met so many of you at last year’s five-year reunion, I was deeply saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Christian Koh. 

You will have many memories of him, I’m sure – I talked with him about music at that reunion – but perhaps this small selection of pictures may prompt a smile of fond remembrance.

I don’t feel I should offer glib words of comfort – but somehow Psalm 42:11 comes to mind:

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.

A service celebrating Chris’s short but precious life was held at New Hope Baptist Church and may be viewed here.

Judy Frankish

23 October 1944 – 17 September 2023

Also in September we heard of the passing to glory of Judy Frankish, who was our guest of honour at Founders' Day in March, when she shared memories of teaching at Donvale in the early years of the school.

Her funeral was held at Holy Trinity Church, Doncaster, where Judy had worshipped for nearly half a century. It was the most life-affirming, Jesus-centred such service that I've ever attended.

Judy had planned much of it and, as her husband told us all, she wanted it " ... to be a service which would encourage people in their life with Jesus." It certainly did that.

A recording of that service may be viewed here.

Judy's two children, Richard and Nerida, were students at Donvale in the 1980s.