David Small (1969)

David Charles Small

Year of admission: 1969

David was brought up in Leicestershire, the second of four brothers. His father, also from Queens’, was the local GP. David was educated at Loughborough Grammar School where he was responsible for founding the school archaeological society and participated in a summer trip with the British Schools Exploration Society in the summer of 1967 to Norway and Sweden above the Arctic circle.

He came up to Queens’ to read law in 1969. During his times as a student he was a member of the Queens’ Bench Law Society and Bats. He took a lead part in an amateur black and white Chaplin-esque film modelled on a Victorian melodrama, where he played the villain, which was produced by Neil Rae.

As well as Neil, he met several contemporaries at Queens’ who were to become lifelong friends, including Mike Hilton, Phil Davies, Andy Wilkes, and William Bingley.

He qualified as a solicitor in 1975 and eventually settled in Stamford, Lincolnshire where he was a partner in a local law firm. He continued an active interest in the theatre and appeared in many productions of the open air theatre Stamford Shakespeare Company to much acclaim. He was an enthusiastic hill walker and, with members of his family, completed many long distance trails including Offa’s Dyke Path and Glyndwr’s Way. He also retained a love of classical architecture, visiting many places in the UK and abroad over the years, and was an aficionado of classical music and devoted to opera, particularly Wagner. He attended Bayreuth for the annual festival on several occasions. His interest in the arts encompassed film as well as music, and he particularly loved the works of film director Stanley Kubrick.

He returned to the village of his childhood in Groby, Leicestershire after his health deteriorated, and died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family, including brothers, daughter and son, in July 2025. He is also survived by his three grandchildren. His wife of his third marriage predeceased him, as did his eldest brother.

He will be remembered as a gregarious person with a great sense of humour and was the life and soul of many social gatherings. He will be remembered with love and gratitude by all who knew him.