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Obituaries
Francis (Frank) Robert STRAPP (OW1947)
15/06/1929 – 07/05/2021
It’s impossible to tell the story of Frank’s Wesley experience without mentioning that he was part of the formidable and winning Athletics team of 1947. The Chronicle explains why his recent passing is such a loss to our community. ‘Everything depended, as so often it does in these meetings, on the last event—the Open 440 Yards, a hard race at any time, far worse when so much depends on it. F. R. Strapp came to the starting line looking very fit, and on him rested the hopes of Wesley. But he did not allow his heavy responsibility to warp his judgement, and, when some other runners were struggling for the lead around the Grandstand turn, he was content to let them tire themselves, while he went fast, but not all out. Coming up the straight on the railway line side he did not make up much leeway, but, as soon as he came to the turn, taking advantage of the inside track, he unleashed a paralysing burst, which the runners in front could not equal, and went on to win by some yards, clipping 1 sec. off his previous best of 52.9 secs. Startled officials hurried forward as Wesley boys streamed onto the ground, as there was still a relay event to be run. After this finish, Strapp was chaired off the field by a mass of cheering, purple-clad youths. Wesley had won the Combined Sports.’
In addition, Frank’s victory in the 220 Yards in 22.9 seconds marked him as one of the best sprinters Wesley has produced. But like many of the Wesley at Scotch/McNeil era boys, Frank was an all-rounder, whose daily life at school demonstrated great enthusiasm and legendary sporting skills. Receiving Colours for Athletics in 1946, by the time of his Leaving in 1947, he received colours for Football and had served on committees and in the field. He was a Prefect probationer and Form Captain and he served on the Games Committee and Sports Sub-Committees for Cricket, Athletics and Football. Frank served as Cadet Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps and was Secretary of the Cadet Club, and still had time to play tennis. Through the OWCA, Frank received the W B Watson Prize for Studies and Games and the next year proudly took out a life subscription to the OWCA. Later, his son Guy Strapp (OW1976) attended Wesley. Irving House contemporary S E K Hulme wrote at the time, “The quality of an army depends on the quality of its leaders.” The above quotation is the answer to the problem that has been troubling the most learned minds at Wesley: “How did a School team containing only two Irving boys win the Combined Sports?” G. W. Marriott and F. R. Strapp were the only Irving representatives in the Athletics Team, but the fact that they were Captain and Vice-Captain respectively sufficed.’
His wife Maree writes, ‘Some of you may remember Francis (Frank) Robert Strapp, who passed away on 7 May, 2021 at the age of 91 years. Frank started at Wesley in the Hutch at 4 or 5 years of age in about 1934. He excelled in most sports especially athletics and football. He was a member of Irving House and even some of the masters called him ‘Jock’. Frank was one of the boys who spent his schooling in 1942 and 1943 at Scotch College when Wesley was taken over for the war effort. He found this to be a great experience.’
Frank was a much loved father, grandfather and great-grandfather.