Neil Hall (SU 1961-63)was born in Durban, South Africa, in 1947, while his father was teaching at Maritzburg College. Four years in Plön, Germany followed at King Alfred’s British Forces School, overseen by the amazing Freddie Spencer Chapman. The positive atmosphere of the school garnered by Chapman’s ethos had a very osmosis-like influence German-speaking children like Neil, aged 2 to 5.
Then two happy Prep schools, Ashfold and Fonthill, probably also influenced by new upbeat educational views. Finally, Marlborough College. Quite religious for a time, Neil benefitted greatly from the College in his beloved Wiltshire countryside. Tony Smith-Masters, Deputy Music Head and Scientist, influenced Neil and other boys in various Eastern philosophers, like Gurdjieff and Idries Shah under the guise of The Jung Society. Never losing his reverence for Christianity, Neil later became a lasting member of the Institute for Cultural Research and The Idries Shah Foundation.
After Marlborough, Neil broke ranks and chose an entrepreneurial route, starting his own successful London Interior Design businesses with a Jewish Swedish pal. Neil says in his Baby Boomer autobiography that ‘there was no one he met from whom he did not learn something’. Over the decades, 1000s of people, some quite remarkable, crossed his path, providing him with much rich and colourful life experience. His two sons, the detective writer and journalist, Tarquin Hall and film son, Alexander, both profited immensely from Neil’s meaty knowledge.
A successful Financial Services career followed, largely with St James’s Place. Piano and organ, sailing, drawing/painting, photography, a love of Bach and travelling continued. Writing skills were honed in his two published books. Neil was known locally as a serious fund raiser for the NGO Afghanaid. Local groups, ARK, The Wilton Windmill, St Peter’s Trust, Change ringing in Ramsbury gained as well from his lifelong energetic drive. The best of the English, he achieved 58 years of action packed marriage to his American wife, Lucinda.
