Ollie grew up in Thurlaston, Dunchurch with his brother Edward (OB). Aged four he took the righteous Pell family path to Homefield and thereafter to Bilton Grange.

Ollie excelled at school and was a key member of the 1st team in each successive year for rugby, hockey and cricket. I know OIlie had very fond memories of his time at BG, particularly during the final years when we were allowed free rein of the school grounds which included cycling in the wild gardens, games of British bulldog and adding to the already extensive range of treehouses. Ollie was also a very keen golfer and was often found practising on a few holes over lunch, which in the summer term conflicted with his time in the cricket nets.

I set out an extract of a recent letter written to Mr and Mrs Pell by the master in charge of hockey, Paul Nicholson, whilst Ollie was at BG:

I have fond memories of Oliver at BG. Particularly as vice-captain of the 1st hockey XI. I glanced back at my hockey diary from 2001 and read my account of our indoor victory at Wrekin College which states ‘this is the closest we have been pushed, eventually beating the side that beat us in the group stages with Oliver Pell cooly slotting the winning penalty stroke.’ Richard may also remember captaining the parents XI against the boys in a game that ended with a 2-1 victory for the boys, with Oliver scoring a goal and securing the bragging rights in the Pell household.

At common entrance Ollie gained a place at Rugby School where his academic and sporting prowess continued to flourish. He was quickly identified as one of the affable and mature students and in his final year was made Head of House.

Following Rugby School, he spent a year as a gap student working at St Aloysius College in Sydney where he made the most of his new freedom and enhanced his passion for travelling.

Following the jovial year in Sydney, Ollie read Geography at Hatfield College, Durham followed by a Masters degree in Real Estate at Oxford Brookes. Ollie was on the pathway for a very successful career quickly achieving a promotion working as a Chartered Surveyor at Knight Frank specialising in European Investment.

Ollie was a keen athlete and completed numerous running events, including the Marathon Des Sables, a six day ultra-marathon across the Sahara. He enthusiastically recruited friends to join him, in particular for the Royal Parks Half Marathon, and in doing so raised over £20,000 for the Royal Marsden Hospital; whilst insistent on wearing the fancy dress of his choice.

One of Ollie’s happiest moments was his marriage to Aisling, who shared his passion and enthusiasm for life. Ollie married Aisling in 2017 at a beautiful ceremony on the Greek island of Monemvasia. In the last few years Aisling and the Pell family cared and looked after Ollie is his battle against cancer and provided an incredible pillar of support.

Ollie’s memorial was at Rugby School Chapel, where we were reminded of his great achievements in such a short life. What epitomised Ollie was a quote from the Headmaster of the school in Sydney who described him as ‘a credit to his school, a credit to his country and most of all a credit to his family’.

24th August 1988 – 22nd April 2019