Adrian H W Sandes (B1 1935-39) was born at Naini Tal, July 1921, in the foothills of the Himalayas, India. His father, a Royal Engineer Lt Colonel, rose to Professor & Principal of Roorkee Engineering College, where Adrian spent the first 7 years of his life until 1928, his first language being mostly Urdu.
Thereafter between the wars, he had a traditional UK up bringing, going to prep school in Winchester, thence Marlborough College where ‘I learned to work a 13 pounder gun of Boer war vintage in the Savernake Forest, and then march back to college behind our appalling band’. Finally, Cambridge University where he completed his Mechanical Science Engineering degree in under 2 years due to WW2 breaking out.
After a 30 year military career spanning India & Burma in WW2, the Berlin Airlift & demolition of German war factories, Cyprus, Egypt (Commanded 30 Field Squadron Suez Canal Zone/Crisis), Germany (Cold War period), UK based nuclear & atomic research, deputy CO at the Royal School of Military Engineering at Chatham (responsible for 2,500 students), and establishment of the Corps Museum, he had a second career as a Planning Inspector for 18 years with the Dept of Environment. Adrian also qualified as a Civil Engineer (FICE) sub contracted by the army to build 30 mile M6 motorway in Cheshire.
Pastimes included extensive worldwide travel, tennis, sailing, skiing, charitable work, and a family of 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 13 great grand children having lived to 104 years. His dear wife Lorna survives him of 77 years marriage. Adrian was widely respected for his intellect, reserved but highly amusing demeanor, warmth & generosity. Hugely missed by all, but lived life to the full, passing away 1st September 2025 at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshire.
