Obituaries

Stephen Jacob S78

Remembered by OC Peter Arnett S77

Steve was already well-travelled when he arrived at Canford in 1973. Born in Cornwall he had lived in Malta and Aden before his family settled in Corfe Mullen. Although his uncle was Robin Noscoe (then Canford’s Head of Art), Steve’s strengths were in the sciences and he went on to Exeter University to read Chemistry. He became briefly a schoolteacher before finding his niche in IT with IBM in Winchester and Accenture in London. Later he set up his own IT consulting practice, which was successful in Europe. He particularly enjoyed his projects in Vienna. When Brexit curtailed these activities he turned to writing, at which he proved very talented, authoring books on his twin passions of photography and city walks. Cruelly, a misdiagnosed cancer robbed him of the chance to see these published in his lifetime. Steve died in London in November 2025.

Steve was always a team player. At Canford he was a stalwart in the 2^nd rowing VIII, where his size and fitness ensured him the number 7 seat in the “engine room”. He made friends wherever he went and many of these came together at his funeral. Steve was a constant and real friend, keeping in touch with some from his school and university days and being generous in his time and hospitality towards them. He never married, but enjoyed several long-term relationships with women who shared his outlook on life. He is survived by his elder brother and sister, a nephew and a niece, to whom he was very close and to whom we extend our condolences on their loss.