Please find on these pages obituaries of Old Paulines who left the school between 2010-19
Rahoul Biswas-Hawkes (2010-15), 1996 – 2016
At St Paul’s School Rahoul excelled academically in both the arts and sciences, developing a particular love of the Classics, which he went on to study at University College, London.
Simon May observed that “When Rahoul came to join St. Paul’s School as a John Colet Scholar in 2010 we gained a rare prize indeed: a young man of great intellectual ability, much curiosity about the world in which he found himself, and, I don’t know whether as a new boy he would have realised this, someone who would have found favour with the great ancient Athenian Pericles who said that public involvement was everything. A man who just sat there minding his own business had in fact no business there at all.” (Head of Classics valedictory address)
Rahoul was an immensely kind, considerate and sensitive person with an innate sense of fairness and concern for others, reflected in the numerous voluntary services he undertook. These included serving hot meals to the homeless on London’s Embankment and volunteering on a project in Romania seeking to break down prejudice against the Roma people.
Rahoul enjoyed participating in the wider life of the school including playing violin, piano, choir and writing for school publications. As President of the Magic Society he mesmerised many with his card magic.
Academic success and social participation carried over into Rahoul’s university life. The radio show he curated and presented reflected his eclectic musical tastes and encyclopedic knowledge.
Rahoul was loved by many, including his extended family, his school and university friends. Rahoul was the most wonderful son and brother that we could ever wish for. We were blessed to have shared his short but beautiful life.
Written by: Jonathan Hawkes, Deepa Biswas-Hawkes and Debjani Biswas-Hawkes