Remembering honorary freeman Angus Critchley-Waring

It is with great sadness that we announce that honorary freeman Angus Critchley-Waring passed away on Sunday 19 July, aged 95.

Angus was a man who lived an interesting and varied life, blessed with considerable talent, ambition and a strong sense of adventure.

He was the grandson of Lord Waring and attended Charterhouse, following a family tradition, before going on to Sandhurst. His time in the Army was an important part of his early life, and his abilities extended well beyond the military. A gifted skier, Angus became a member of the British Army Ski Team, which enjoyed considerable success and won a number of trophies. He also served in Korea, experiences which undoubtedly contributed to the resilience, independence and resourcefulness that were such features of his character.

After leaving the Army, Angus set off for Canada, where he embarked on an entirely new chapter of his life. There he formed a highly successful partnership with Ned Mundell. Angus had a remarkable ability to see possibilities and opportunities, while Ned brought strong business acumen to their partnership. Together they developed Lothian Mews, an ambitious urban development which received considerable recognition, including the Vincent Massey Award for Urban Renewal Achievement, a Massey Gold Medal for Architecture, a Special Award for Beautify Toronto and a Canadian Structural Steel Award.

These were significant achievements and reflected Angus’s eye for opportunity, his imagination and his willingness to take on ambitious projects.

His adventurous spirit took him further afield, including to Hawaii, where he became involved in a substantial housing development. He assembled a consortium of investors in a remarkably short period of time and became a partner in a project involving some 140 houses in a spectacular location overlooking Pearl Harbor. The houses were quickly sold, but getting them built presented an entirely different challenge. Angus took responsibility for bringing together the contractors, unions and infrastructure providers and, through his determination and negotiating ability, succeeded in getting the project completed.

Later, Angus pursued another development opportunity in Portland, Oregon. It was another example of his willingness to take on a challenge and back his own judgement.

Throughout his life, Angus was someone who saw possibilities where others might have seen obstacles. He was adventurous, independent-minded and never afraid to try something new. His career may have taken many different turns, but what stands out is the breadth of his experiences and the opportunities he created for himself.

Away from work, there was another side to Angus which was equally important. He loved his family and valued the time he spent with those close to him. He also had a genuine appreciation of history, culture and beautiful places, enjoying visits to museums and National Trust properties.

So perhaps the best way to remember Angus is not simply by the positions he held or the projects he completed, but as a man who lived life on his own terms: adventurous, talented, independent and curious about the world around him. eventually returning to the UK.
He saw opportunities, took risks and was never afraid of a new challenge.

He married his first wife Anita and they had a daughter Nikki and a son, who did not survive into childhood.  Again this must have had a profound effect on him. 

Before moving to Canada, the family lived in a beautiful house in Esher complete with swimming pool at the bottom of the garden.  The Tinners can remember occasional visits to the house for birthday parties for Nikki and would see Angus, Anita and Nikki every Christmas at White Lodge where we would all stay for a few days accompanied by their spaniel Tootie.  ‘Uncle’ Harwood (son of Sam Steele the founder of the Canadian Mounted Police) always made a special appearance in the Japanese Room as Father Christmas.  

He and his second wife Marie-Luise lived in Santa Barbara for several years before returning to the UK.  Dominic can remember a garden with fresh lemons and grapefruits growing in the garden and stories of his playing tennis. Anna-Linda also enjoyed her time over there, remembering the wonderful style of the house 

Angus was very close to his sister Maureen and he and Marie Luise were regular visitors to her home in Findon, The White House.  A visit would not have been complete without the obligatory game of backgammon.  A tradition he continued to the very end with Helen encouraging him to get the board out whenever she called into his nursing home

Augus and Marie-Luise finally settled in Newmarket where they enjoyed regular walks around the town and regular visits to exhibitions and galleries in London. 

Reunited with his beloved sister I am sure their conversations will be full of memories of their idyllic childhood with the ever-young grandma.

Above all, Angus was a much-loved member of his family, and it is that love, together with the many memories of a remarkable and colourful life, that we will remember today.

Angus – the grandson of founder and first president of the Furniture Trades Provident and Benevolent Association, Lord Samuel Waring – was admitted as an honorary freeman of the Company in 2003, on the centenary of the charity.

A service of celebration of his life will be held at All Saints Church, Newmarket, on 17 September at 11.00am. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, may be made to The Dog Trust, Bury St Edmunds.