Justin Scarfe (PR 2002-07) died aged 35 on 15 January 2025, three months after receiving an advanced cancer diagnosis.

On leaving Marlborough, Justin spent much of his gap year working on the confectionery counter at Fortnum & Mason, marking the start of a career in luxury retail. 

He studied Ancient History & Archaeology at Durham University, where his gregarious nature attracted a large circle of friends. After graduating, he returned to Fortnums where he became so at home that he even featured on a biscuit tin one Christmas. 

But he progressed on to flagship stores on Oxford Street and beyond, working latterly as UK retail manager at the fragrance brand Thameen.

Justin would often be heard before he was seen, be it his unmistakable laugh cutting across the Fortnums food hall or the click of his immaculate loafers as he sauntered through Selfridges or Harrods. He possessed a keen sense of style, which shone through in the way he exquisitely did up his flat in south-east London.

Always unapologetically himself, he was blessed with a uniqueness that he owned and wore, blending his love of fashion and a good party with an appreciation for Radio 4 and the antiquities. When Covid saw him placed on furlough, Justin made the most of lockdown by teaching himself Egyptian hieroglyphics. 

The annual summer holiday to Galaxidi, Greece, was an immovable fixture in Justin’s calendar, combining family, exploration and Ancient Greece, his passion for which was ignited at Marlborough. On the final trip before his diagnosis, he took great joy in guiding his parents around the Acropolis.

Throughout his life, Justin possessed an extraordinary ability to remain cheerful and upbeat. He could charm anyone who crossed his path, right up to the nurses who cared for him in his final days. The strength, bravery and determination with which he confronted his illness set an example to all who witnessed it.