Paul Neal Montague

3rd September 1934  - 21st February 2021

Paul attended John Lyon School from 1945 when it was known as The Lower School of John Lyon, and the Head Master was O.A. Le Beau. He was a good sportsman and played cricket and football for the School 1st XI. In 1950 he went onto study quantity surveying at Willesden Technical College with the aim of going into the building business and following in his father’s footsteps.

Above: Left, Paul as Best Man in 1974 and, right, at home for Christmas 2020.

After a number of years working for various building contractors he started his own business, Montague Contractors Ltd in Stanmore. The business undertook a range of building works from speculative housing developments to local authority estate refurbishment. The company was very successful and at one point it employed over one hundred people.

In 1966 he married Alison Brown. They subsequently had two daughters both of whom went on to hold senior positions in major organisations.

Paul was a stalwart supporter of the Old Boys, both on and off the playing fields for a period of over fifty years. He undertook building works at Pinner View as well as lending his expertise on various committees.                               

On hanging up his cricket bat Paul took a course in umpiring and regularly stood as an umpire in club matches. Living near the club allowed Paul to enjoy a regular pint with his mates at the bar especially on a Sunday lunch time. Paul was a Vice President of the club.

Above: Left, Paul "Wintering in Hout Bay" and, right, at his parents' Golden Wedding in 1981.

His success in business enabled Paul to retire at the age of fifty-five. He and Alison acquired a flat in Hout Bay near Cape Town in South Africa. They wintered there from October, coming back for Christmas and returning in January for three months. A number of Old Boys enjoyed their hospitality, either visiting or staying with them over the last twenty years.

Paul was a member of the Bushey Hall Masonic Lodge in Watford for fifty years. He managed the significant funds of the Corbett Trust, and his shrewd investments ensured that each Christmas it distributed £10,000 to both Masonic and non-Masonic institutions.

In later years he moved to a quiet spot in Staffordshire to be near his three grandchildren.  Following failing health over the last year died peacefully at home in February this year.

Roger Montague (OL, March 2021)

Martin Sexton also wrote to express his great sadness at Paul's passing.  He wrote this poem in tribute to him:

martin sexton 6th March 2021