David Mitchell (OW 1957)

11 August 1939 – 30 November 2025

The Waynflete Office has been informed by of the death of David Mitchell, and send our deepest condolences David’s family and friends. We are grateful to his widow Penny for providing the obituary below. 

David attended MCS from 1949 to 1957 and thoroughly enjoyed his time there.

Born in August 1939, home was in Woodstock, Oxfordshire and he never strayed very far from this area, remaining near Wallingford until his death in November 2025.

He loved the sporting opportunities provided at the school and excelled at tennis, winning the Oxfordshire County Junior championships and for three years running the Oxford Mail and Times singles title.  He also enjoyed hockey and rugby at the school and was a bright student.

He was articled to Grant Thornton to study Chartered Accountancy  and then  progressed into the business world in Reading.  He joined Reading Garage as Finance Director in 1967 and in 1974 took over Penta Reading group as Chief Executive when his predecessor died.  He was then only 35 and the business progressed into a multi-franchise affair under his leadership.

In 1987 the business was sold and David left to pursue a different direction.

He started up a Chartered Accountancy business based in the barn at his house which grew very quickly and kept him occupied until retirement.   Gardening and golf were his great interests during this time also.

David had three children by his first wife Sue, and, some years later, after a divorce, he married Penny, acquired a step-daughter, and then had another daughter.  At the time of his death he had some 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

He often attended the OW lunches and enjoyed meeting up with old friends at these events.  He was a great supporter of the Lily Club which he felt was a very worthy cause.

David was a big character and his death leaves a big gap full of happy memories.