We have been informed, by his good friend of over 70 years, Chris Coulson that Harland has sadly passed away. He was at Scarborough College from 1955 to 1964 He was born 16/11/1943 and died on 24/11/2025. At the College he was Head of School and Pegg House, played for the 1st XV and 1st XI and played the lead role in Dr Faustus.
The funeral is on Thursday December 18th, 11.30 Lympstone Parish Church EX8 5JT
A further gathering is to be arranged in Scarborough sometime in the Spring for friends and family in
the North East.
Harland is pictured seated third from the left of the photograph of the 1st XV.
Chris writes:
It is with some regret that I find myself writing this short piece to the OSA to report the death of Harland Walshaw (aka Wally 1943-2025), Harland was a school school friend for some 70 years. He and I were born within a few days of each other, him in York and me in Hull, both towards the end of WW2. Meeting in the mid 1950s in the same form at Scarborough College we remained friends for 70 years although we followed very different paths in our lives.
At the College we were both placed in the same form though Harland as a day boy went home at night, while I as I as a ‘boarder’ remained at the College. This situation eventually led to a supernatural experience as when we shared a study much later and he arrived wet from his journey to school. It turned out he wasn’t there though I still remember what we talked about together! My earliest recollection of him was in the old Geography Room next to the ‘Tip’ as a hard working conscientious lad. A couple of years later when our classroom was on the stage, separated from the hall by large fibre boards which were removed each morning for the daily service and some times an haranguing by H E Pegg, the then Head Master.
I also remember when Harland and I were in Year 1, Pegg presented him with the ‘Straight Bat’ award. His time at Lisvane counted towards this. Pegg played a joke by giving Harland a miniature bat and, judging by the colour of Harland’s cheeks, he was visibly upset by this rather unkind joke. Pegg then substituted it for the full sized Cricket Bat.
Except for Harland, the majority of us in form 3 were no good at French and the then French teacher (Froggy Arnold) in desperation hit the fibre separation panels with his fist shouting ‘Great Ball of Fire’ at some inane answer. The panels dropped into the next class room below. Mr ‘Cring’ Crabtree (also taught French) said Harland spoke French like a native of Marseilles! Of which Harland was rightly proud. Peter Burton took three us from the 36th Scarborough Scout Troop down to Newquay in Cornwall for the first Scout Camp, this in his old 4 cylinder car! Harland caught a lobster in a rock pool but Peter Burton and Jos Preen ate it!
Harland, played rugby (scrum half) for his house and school and was school cricket captain. Peter Burton (English master)’ besides instilling in him with acting talents did much to train him for his entrance exam to Cambridge, Emmanuel. He remained friends with Peter Burton all their lives through their love of photography and they published many books together, mostly guides to the buildings of Britain but one called ‘Six inches of Bathwater’ was a history of Scarborough College. Harland spent most of his working life in the arts becoming the Director of the Beaford Arts Centre in the 1980s
I remember Harland and I drinking a lot of Peter Burton’s whisky one night and breaking his chair by mistake. D K Crews (now deceased but ex head) happened by in the morning and helped us mend the chair.
Harland was well known in Lympstone (Devon) for his production of plays and contribution to village life in general. And so it goes – there are so many stories and I for one will miss our conversations on the phone.
I’m sure the condolences of the OSA will be noted by Liz and Hester -his daughter.
Chris Coulson
December 2025