Eulogy by Marie Stubbs: Colonel Noel Hendricks was loyal and devoted servant of The Douay Martyrs School. He took his role as governor very seriously and was a key figure in enabling the school to develop and flourish in the 1990s. Without his insight, strategic thinking and courage the school would have found it harder to seize the opportunity to grow and the chance to offer many more children a good Catholic education would have been lost. He was a committed and assiduous “critical friend” of the Head, exactly gauging the key difference between support and challenge, as a good governor should. Indeed when the message came from the school office- “The Colonel is in school” we all rather stood to attention, knowing that his sharp eye would miss little although any points of advice would be wrapped around with good humour and there would always be a twinkle in his eye, too. His tall, elegant, military, figure, beautifully turned out right down to burnished shoes, was softened by the rather rakish tilt of his hat! Noel cared deeply about education and regularly was the purveyor of articles and comment that he wished to draw to our attention. He conscientiously, and I’m sure to some detriment to Joan’s domestic arrangements, would turn out for interviews, assemblies, visits, discussions and meetings. I particularly enjoyed and benefited from his work on interview panels- although his cricketing analogies were sometimes lost on me- he used an Army rating scheme for applicants- woe betide any candidate who fell down on smart appearance obtaining a mere 1 or 2 on Noel’s scale, or who was less than fluent and scored 0. I hope that the cherubim and seraphim will pass muster when Noel meets them! They must be looking smart and singing well! Noel took his governorship very seriously and both he and Joan were regular and loyal supporters of all school events encouraging pupils and parents by their thoughtful comments. Noel also touched the lives of many children very directly -not only through his interest in work experience , Young Enterprise Awards and reading support initiatives which he drove forward, and of course all manner of sporting activities ,but through his kindness , commonsense and warm humanity when asked by me to talk with children who were experiencing difficulties. Many young people benefited from this important and thoughtfully done work. I was immensely fortunate to have such a unique supportive and sterling governor during my 13 years as Head of the school .I remember him with affection for all his professionalism and for his humorous approach which lightened the load on many a fraught occasion- Plato’s words come to mind _”Unmitigated seriousness is always out of place in human affairs”. For everything Noel, The Douay Martyrs School says “thank you”, and may you rest in peace after a long life of service to others.