Issue 5, June 2002 (Back to Contents)

Alexander John Robert Napier (1977) died in the World Trade Center, New York, on 11th September 2001.

Alex and his family (Click to enlarge)

Alex was managing director for the USA of AON Trade Credit, located in the south tower. He and his staff had begun to evacuate their offices after the first of the terrorist attacks. On the way down they were informed that the emergency was over and those who wished could return to their desks. Alex and one other member of staff did so and were caught in the second attack. At Radley he had been in the 1st XV in 1979 and 1980 and played 1st XI cricket in 1980. He forsook cricket in 1981 to close the gap between his belated aspirations to go to university and the necessary academic level and duly went to Newcastle, obtaining his LL.B in 1986. He joined Credit Insurance Association Ltd, a subsidiary of Bain Hogg, the same year. In due course they were taken over by AON and Alex accepted the offer to go to New York, initially to look after their eastern states interests. In 2000 he took over the wider interests of AON Trade Credit and was relishing his new responsibilities and building up the business when the disaster struck. He, Nicky (née Sykes) whom he had married in 1988, and their three children had become well settled in America, bought their own house in Convent Station New Jersey, loved the life and made many friends, some of whom spoke most movingly at his memorial service in Madison.

A service of thanksgiving will be held in Radley College Chapel at 2.15pm on Thursday 4th July. The Alex Napier Handicap Stakes will be run in his memory at the evening race meeting at Newbury on the same day. It would help if those intending to come to Radley could telephone Sarah Hart on 01235 543171 unless they have already replied to a private invitation.