Stuart Marchand

Stuart P Marchand arrived at the City of London School in 1962. He progressed through the academic stream (O2A, 3A, 4A, 5A) to the Mathematical Sixth Form.

At school, he pursued his interests quietly side-stepping the hubbub of student activism of the Sixth Form Central Committee. He was a linguist, speaking French and Russian, and as a scholar he also studied Latin. He was sporty, a member of the School’s Swimming Team; and he was creative, a star member of the Saturday Woodworking Club. Flight/Sergeant Marchand was an instructor in the RAF Section of the Combined Cadet Force. He was a founding member and joint honorary secretary of the CLS Mathematical Society; above all Stuart was kindly, supportive, and friendly with many of his peers and those junior to him. His brother P. K. (Kevin) Marchand followed him as a pupil at CLS.

In December of 1969, Stuart was accepted as an Exhibitioner to Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he gained a Double First in the Engineering Tripos (Part I – June 1972; Part II – June 1973).

Stuart left University to pursue a career as a civil engineer, working in Iran, in the UK and other international projects. He was on the design team for the Thames Barrage Project, through the period of construction between 1972 to 1982 and its first use in 1983. For seven years between 1991 and 1998, Stuart was the Chief Engineer for the international firm, Costain Construction.

For twenty-three years from 1999 to 2021, Stuart was the Managing Director of The Wentworth House Partnership, an engineering design consultancy specialising in the safe, effective, and imaginative design of Temporary works, Geotechnics and Permanent works. Under Stuart’s leadership, his company successfully delivered some of the most technically advanced and innovative design ideas for many leading construction projects in London and throughout the UK. Stuart retired from a full-time role in 2021, continuing as a mentor and consultant, to his colleagues.

During the last 30 years of his life, he suffered from chronic rheumatoid arthritis, yet he still managed to achieve so much, not least in his happy marriage to Pat. Stuart died on 12 December 2023, a quiet, modest, inspiring man.

To Pat, to Stuart’s sons, Bevan, and Aidan, and his brother, Kevin we offer our sincere condolences. We wish them to know that from his schooldays, with quiet competence, with friendliness and compassion, Stuart influenced many people, whose lives he lifted up by his words and by his actions.

P. Kevin Marchand (Class of 1970)

With thanks to P. Kevin Marchand (Class of 1970), Shahpur Patell (Class of 1970) and Mark Davies (Class of 1970).