BRISTOLIENSES THE OLD BRISTOLIANS’ MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE 59

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 1

.

CONTENTS

STANDING ITEMS From the Editor 3 From the President 3 From Past President 4 From the Chair 4 To new President 4 Foundation Report 7 Secretary’s Report 8 Treasurer’s Report 9 Sport Clubs 10 EVENTS Annual Dinner 2020 Lunch Club Past Presidents’ Lunch

14 16 17

LOCKDOWN BGS in Lockdown The Big Shave Covid-19 in New Zealand Haw Pin! Nirvanal Discretionary Grant Report On the cover On the Front Line

19 20 21 22 22 23 24 25

REMINISCING His Masters’ Voice Musical Memories Golden Hill v Failand Memories Passed Down The National Youth Jazz Orchestra

26 26 27 27 28

COMMUNITY NEWS Where are they now? 29 In Memorium 34 Honorary Members of the Society 38 Past Presidents of the Society 38 OBs around the World 39 OBs’ Management Committee 39 Making the most of your network 40

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 2

.

.

FROM THE EDITOR This is the fifth Bristolienses in the now ‘not quite so new’ format. I am delighted with the increasing number of reminiscences that are being sent to me. Please keep them coming and please can I have copy from recent leavers and, indeed, leavers from 1990 onwards. Pubs, cafes and Bristol hangouts etc that were popular in your days at BGS, all make interesting articles and stimulate others to write in. Memories of teachers, extra-curricular activities and School trips are also all fascinating to read and provide a form of social history of BGS. I must express my profound gratitude to Caitlin Spencer for all the work she has put into this issue. Tony O’Callaghan has been furloughed since March and Caitlin has stepped into his Design Editor role. I think he will be back soon, as with Anne Bradley, whose support with Bristolienses’ content I have missed. This edition is out later than usual because of the restrictions we are living under and I apologise for this. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me have your comments, good or bad, and I will put them in the next edition. We will try and catch up with the next issue but it may not be until next summer that we are back on track.

Finally, this is the last edition we will be sending out in hard copy as standard. It will now be produced electronically and available to read on the website. If you would like to receive a paper copy in the future please email obs@bgs.bristol.sch.uk to let us know.

GEOFF WRIGHT (1956-1966) CHAIR

FROM THE PRESIDENT When one Saturday afternoon in 1978 aged 13 I made my debut for Old Bristolians 3rd XV on the wing at Yatton, little did I expect that 43 years later, I would firstly still be associated with the club but secondly to be President of the OBs Society! You see - at the time I was a pupil at St. Brendan’s College, and BGS boys were not to be mixed with. My only association was that my Dad, Jim, had left Keynsham RFC a few years earlier to join OBs. My association with OBs rugby continued when I returned to Bristol in 1987, having spent four years at teacher training college in Cheltenham. In 1988 I applied for a PE post at the school but was sadly unsuccessful. However, working locally I continued to play at Failand and in 1989 became captain of the club. This responsibility then meant I had my first dealings with the Society via the sports club. My membership of the sports club committee then

continued on and off up until the current day in my roles as captain of the rugby club, then chairman and as president, a role I have now held for 20 years.

I am truly honoured to be the society’s president for this year. I am determined to make the year a positive one to benefit the OBs sports club and raise the profile of the war memorial playing fields. I hope to be able to meet many of you in person, virtually or via Bristolienses.

RICH BERRY PRESIDENT

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 3

.

FROM PAST PRESIDENT... A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN POST

As it turns out my year of office was extended (although none of us knew it at the time!) through the pandemic lockdown until the new President could take over at the postponed 'virtual' Well as it turned out, the OBs’ Dinner in March was to be the last 'mass gathering' for quite a while - and what a 'blast' it was. AGM in June. So I gather I am the only President to serve for 15 months! I am succeeded by my great friends Richard Berry from It was due to have a record number of attendees, and I would the Sports Club followed on by Kate Redshaw. Kate and I were like to say thanks to all who made it including a wonderful in sixth form together more years ago than I care to remember number of my leaving year of ‘87 and quite a few Sisman OBs. and we are both current Governors of the School. The Society is But we quite understood that a number of OBs felt unable to in capable hands and I must thank the officers and committee attend due to increasing concerns around Covid. who serve us all so selflessly and give so freely of their time and It was a wonderful culmination to a most enjoyable year as your skills on our behalf. Sumus Bristolienses. President and just one of a number of highlights - including JOHN SISMAN President’s Day, a fantastic London Dinner at The Oval and as always thought provoking and moving Remembrance events at (1980-1987) PAST PRESIDENT both the Great Hall and Failand. In these unprecedented and life changing times, the strength and diversity of the OBs’ network will be even more important and in particular to our school leavers and younger OBs. Please get in touch if you are able to provide support (maybe careers advice or mentoring) however big or small.

FROM THE CHAIR We are living through an unpleasant episode of history, currently without a clear end point. Nevertheless, the business of the Society continues with virtual meetings, but with several of the team furloughed, progress in some areas is delayed. We have also had very sad news from within the team. Jack Prowting, a former President and one of our trustees, died suddenly in July. Jack was a most loyal supporter of the Society and a diligent attender. His advice on matters financial was always informed and helpful and his input to the meetings with our accountants and our solicitors with respects to the incorporation of the Sports Club was invaluable. Most of all, Jack was a gentle, good and helpful man and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and condolences are with his wife and his family. At the time of writing, we are learning of disrupted holiday plans and fears of a second wave of infection. I believe the hope is for pupils to return in September. Class size, classroom numbers and staff and pupil movements all produce enormous logistical problems if safe distancing is to be continued and observed.

‘the real thing’, and I believe teachers feel it is just not the same and lessons should be face to face and in person. Of course, a small group of pupils have been coming to School throughout, children of keyworkers etc. In addition, the design and technology (D&T) staff have been manufacturing protective face shields for the local hospitals. It will not be ‘all over by Christmas’, but to end optimistically, let us hope and pray that the interventional treatments and vaccines under test are continuing to look hopeful and are nearing clinical use. ­­

I wish you well for the coming months through this long haul.

GEOFF WRIGHT (1956-1966) CHAIR

Speaking with Jaideep on several occasions, I have learned of the huge effort made by the staff to keep things going, teaching via the internet. This has been beneficial but not

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 4

.

.

TO NEW PRESIDENT Easier to build strong children than repair broken men. It’s not necessarily because of the prowess they helped build on the pitch but because of a close and supportive relationship that helped the player build resilience in life.

I was seeing behaviours from adults as coaches and parents that didn’t support this.' 'This prompted me to adapt my school-based presentations to reflect the need for a change in how adults coach kids and how parents support their children. Shouting can evoke emotions in kids which stops them learning.'

Rich Berry sees coaches and teachers as having the potential to fulfil an essential role for young people living in a modern, challenging world. He also wants rugby clubs to take mental health first aid as seriously as they do physical health first aid. 'Untrained coaches may' says Rich 'simply reflect coaching And he knows what he’s talking about. methods they themselves endured.' Rich has been involved in rugby for 46 years. He has played for, captained, coached and is now the President of the Old Bristolians. Starting as a PE teacher, he became a PE teaching deputy head and is now head teacher in the specialist sector of social emotional mental health.

'The Quilter Kids First programme has been fantastic in growing people’s understanding of how best to coach young people. It’s no longer drill based as in the past but is developing young players through playing and making their own decisions.'

He has brought this experience to the role of club safeguarding & welfare officer, in his training to become a Play 'I have now presented at a large number of clubs to both it Safe deliverer and the Gloucestershire RFU’s Mental Health coaches and parents. I’ve supported clubs who have suffered the loss of a senior and a junior player to suicide and helped & Wellbeing Ambassador. them signpost members to local support services.' 'From my day-to-day role, my understanding of neuroscience and how the brain grows has influenced my interaction with the children I teach and coach,' he says. 'Building good social attachments with young people helps them deal with what they face on and off a rugby pitch.'

'I believe my biggest impact is in supporting coaches and parents to understand how to grow more resilience in our young people.' He has presented throughout Gloucestershire, to clubs in Devon and Somerset, as well as being invited to speak at the Cornwall coaching conference and in Derbyshire.

Rich has discussed with pre-eminent neuroscientists and doctors the vulnerability of the young; the fact that 50% of mental health issues are manifested by the age of 14, and 75% 'We need to grow resilience in our kids through our fantastic by the age of 24. game by letting them develop and learn as players, by playing He quotes Frederick Douglas’ maxim that ‘It is easier to build and having enjoyment.' strong children than repair broken men.’

'We need to remove the stigma around mental health and to be more aware that suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in this country. If we can prevent one by being mental health aware then we are making a difference.'

'We have to help clubs to focus on taking out the negative behaviours like shouting, only playing to win, or not giving young people the opportunity to play where they want to play. It will go a long way towards keeping them in the rugby family and helping them build the resilience they need for life.'

Rich believes RugbySafe is a great platform for highlighting and promoting player welfare including mental health and he recommends that coaches and clubs look into mental health first aid courses. Visit the RugbySafe Mental Health page for more information at keepyourbootson.co.uk/rugbysafe/ Currently, a Developing Player Programme coach in the Bristol mental-health-and-wellbeing Bears Academy, Rich says 'my own coaching has developed Article written for www.englandrugby.com about OB President Rich hugely as my knowledge from a professional standpoint has Berry. grown.' 'Relationships with adults are really important,' says Rich 'because young people emotionally attached to adults are better able to deal with stress and anxiety thanks to the brain enabling them to self-calm.'

'Professionally I found I was delivering talks on how to grow mentally healthy young people in schools and yet on a Sunday

RICH BERRY PRESIDENT BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 5

.

“It’s a great gift to have a really good education”

“I absolutely love BGS. I’m hugely impressed with the atmopshere and the ethos of the School. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a fantastic School and community”

“I gained so much from BGS great friends, confidence and a love “Dear BGS, of learning” thank you so much for giving me a Bursary Award. It means so much to me and my Mum”

CAN YOU HELP BUILD FUTURES BY SUPPORTING BRIGHT, YOUNG PEOPLE IN EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS BRISTOL? To find out how to give a one-off donation, a regular gift or to leave a gift in your will please contact the Old Bristolians’ Office obs@bgs.bristol.sch.uk 0117 923 7037 Old Bristolians’ Office, Bristol Grammar School, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SR BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 6

.

.

FOUNDATION REPORT For the last few months I have been working from home, teaching my lessons remotely and keeping in touch with Caitlin in her home office to make sure that we kept up with our regular communications with the OB community. We have organised some online events and hosted the OBs' Management meetings. Let’s hope that we can return to some kind of normality in September. Before the current crisis we conducted a survey amongst the OB community, and I thought I would share some of the outcomes. We were delighted with the response and I would like to thank

everyone that took part. It would appear that our

communications are generally well received with each age group preferring different platforms. This has given us the opportunity to tailor our messages to make the most of them. Facebook is still very popular, despite what some experts try to tell us, not everybody logs in quite as regularly as I do but it is still well used. Instagram is perhaps more popular with the younger OBs and

our most popular posts are pictures of the School. Twitter

is less well used, and this surprised me, perhaps it just gets too cluttered with drivel? Our LinkedIn Group keeps growing and with the survey telling us that OBs as a group want to help other OBs, it makes sense that they are looking to LinkedIn to find mentors and promote your own careers. We were pleased to see that many of them would be happy to help with careers advice and offer your experience in mentoring other OBs. This is something that we will be working on next term, whilst it has become difficult for OBs to help our sixth form students with mentoring and work experience once they have left school, we have the capacity to help them help each other. As a result of the survey we will be sending out our newsletter more regularly. In the past we would send one out each term with OB and

School news but we are now going to be sending them out quarterly. We have been busy posting stories on our OB social media channels, we hope that this has helped our OB community keep in touch with what other OBs are doing. It has been fascinating to see what people are getting up to during the lockdown and I hope that our posts have been of some interest. We try not to post too much but sometimes with so much happening it has been a challenge. The website will hopefully soon become the place that you all go to find out what’s going on at School and within the OB Community. The platform does give us the opportunity to create groups and over the next year I would like to see us make better use of this technology. We have managed to hold a few online meetings which have proved to be quite successful. The OBs’ Lunch Club has now had several virtual events. In the first one I talked to them about how the School was running remotely and how we were helping with the production of protective equipment which was being sent to health care providers; the audience included two that were signing in from Australia. In their latest meeting they were treated to a performance from OB Colette Todd who sang some songs from her VE Day Concert. We also tried holding the London Dinner in which Jaideep outlined how the School had adapted to the pandemic and answered questions from the assembled group, none from Australia this time but one from the USA. Online events may well be our future for the next few months, but it does open the opportunity to hold meetings that are truly open to all OBs wherever they might be living - in the UK or abroad.

So, what does the future hold? Well I am looking forward to devoting my time fully, well three days a week, to help provide a

conduit between the School and the Society. Everyone that went to Bristol Grammar School is an Old Bristolian, they are a group that can help each other and help the School. In the past the Society has, I think, been seen as a group that existed to meet up occasionally for Dinners in the Great Hall and at the Oxbridge Colleges. Whilst I personally really enjoy these events it should not be the only function of an alumni group. I would like to see the OBs continue the excellent work that they have done in helping our sixth form students think about career opportunities. Current child protection rules have made it very difficult for us to run the careers conferences that have been so successful over the last 20 years so I would like to see us develop a new strategy that gives the opportunity for OBs to talk to our sixth form about their career goals. But as a group they could also help each other. Do you have time to

talk to a young OB and offer them career advice? What is

it like living in London? We hope to organise career specific Networking Meetings in Bristol and possibly in London. I hope that my time away from the classroom will give me the opportunity to travel around the country and meet up with OBs who live outside Bristol and London. I recently had a message from a young OB who told me that he wasn’t interested in getting dressed up and sitting on a table with people that he didn’t know and that he wouldn’t ever attend a formal event. However, he said that he would be very keen to attend networking meetings where he could meet up with OBs to help him and them with their business ideas. It is going to be, I hope, an exciting time and very different to having to be somewhere at a specific time every day, every week!

PETER JAKOBEK (STAFF 1982 - PRESENT) BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 7

.

SECRETARY’S REPORT When sitting down to write the report for the AGM I determined to deploy my best endeavours to avoid the use of ‘unprecedented’, ‘challenging’ and many other such words and phrases that have continued to pepper the media and our everyday conversation over the past few months; however, there is little doubt that the nature of this crisis and the current challenges to every aspect of life are literally unprecedented. More importantly is how deep and longlasting some of the issues arising will be for the nation, the economy, our institutions and the physical and mental well-being of many millions of people in the UK and around the world.

I think John has really enjoyed his year and combined with his role as a school governor he has made and continues to make a huge contribution to the Society and the School. The President’s day on Saturday, October 19th, was a great success not only for the quality of the bacon sandwiches but for the crushing of our Antipodean cousins on a rugby field in far off Japan.

There was a 15 month gap between the 2019 and 2020 AGMs, the original March date being postponed as our Chair was in self isolation and very few of us had even heard of Zoom, let alone utilised it to hold meetings. So, what did that period hold for the Society and the School?

FINANCE

PRESIDENT

John Sisman was elected to the Presidency on March 5th, 2019 and was installed into that office by the retiring President, Melanie Guy, at the Annual Dinner on the 16th. The Sisman reign will undoubtedly engender a number of quiz questions in future years such as which President of the Society was actually in office for 15 months and who were the first father and son combination as President – John’s father Martin was President in 2001. John was officially in office until the delayed 2020 AGM as the President is, JOHN SISMAN according to our rules, elected at the AGM and then anointed at the Annual Dinner; so although Rich Berry was so anointed on March 14th, 2020, he wasn’t actually elected until June 16th, not that that has held him back in any way.

Rich has injected his energy into building closer relationships with the Society, the School and the Sports Club and achieving more substantive progress at Failand and we look forward to his year. Our Treasurer Nick continues to unravel the accounts and aims to have everything up to date very soon. The Society’s investment portfolio has been hit by the fall in markets around the world but our financial advisers have managed to mitigate those losses and much of the lost ground has now been recovered. Simplification of the accounts and a revamp of the subscription system should further ease the burden and improve transparency.

MEMBERSHIP

A thorough review of the membership criteria has been initiated and the advice of the Society’s solicitors is being sought in relation to this matter. Although an initial opinion has been received, the process has been somewhat delayed as the solicitor concerned was placed on furlough. The review was considered necessary due to the decision to remove any subscription element and to assist in defining membership for the future.

From a financial perspective and although income has suffered during the current hiatus, the Club has a relatively healthy position and has been successful in securing grants available to such clubs to tide them over. The development project has not been able to make any substantive progress but the Society’s new President, also President of the OBs’ Rugby Club, has set his targets on moving things forward.

SCHOOL

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school has established and is maintaining an excellent remote learning programme. The impact on the school and the logistics of organising this programme have been considerable but all concerned have risen to the occasion in an amazing way, not least the relatively new Headmaster, Jaideep, who could hardly have expected to be at the helm so early in his tenure as a pandemic swept all before it. During ‘London’ drinks the Head and the President highlighted not only the existential threats to students of their missing the normal educational process but also the potential impact on their mental health and well-being. 2020 is the 40th anniversary of BGS becoming fully co-educational but thus far this has not been able to be celebrated appropriately for obvious reasons.

Pete Jakobek remains co-chair of AROPS and the OBs were well represented at The finalising of the revised a regional meeting in Malvern earlier documentation relating to incorporation in the year and virtually by Zoom at and the lease is well in hand and at subsequent gatherings. that point the Society will seek an opinion from our solicitors with a view Caitlin Spencer joined the OBs team to this process coming to a mutually during the year after the departure of acceptable conclusion. Jan Duncan and Anna Freeman; Caitlin is proving a huge asset and her ‘no task During the lockdown period the Club too big’ attitude – as described by our has taken the opportunity to institute Chairman – has brought new vigour to wide-ranging works on site. the office.

SPORTS CLUB

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 8

.

.

BRISTOLIENSES

Four editions have now been produced in the new format which seems to go from strength to strength. The fifth edition which you are now enjoying will always benefit from further input from members so please feel free to put pen to paper to provide material for its pages.

OBITUARIES

Sadly, the Society lost four former Presidents during the year, these being Keith Robbins (1995), Richard Kingscott (2004), Ron Cockitt (2005) and Jack Prowting (1998). All three were dedicated members of the Society and all made significant contributions to the life of the School and the Society.

SOCIAL

As the threat of the coronavirus began to become a reality, there was considerable debate as to whether the annual dinner should go ahead on March 14th. It did indeed go ahead and although a number of those who had bought tickets decided not to attend,

it was nevertheless an extremely enjoyable evening and the different approach adopted for the event generally worked well. The organising team did a fantastic job as ever and we look forward to 2021 when social distancing will hopefully be a thing of the past. The 2019 event at the Oval was a great success and enjoyed by all who were able to attend. The Luncheon Club soldiers on and new ideas on how it might be revitalised have been canvassed. In the meantime, lunch by Zoom is filling the gap and may well continue in some form as it does enable those more distant to join the festivities – at the May meeting, OBs from Australia and the USA attended! Sadly, a stalwart of the club, Peter Tucker, has passed away and with John Critchard wishing to stand down, Mike Burmester has taken on the organising responsibilities.

THE COMMITTEE

During these challenging and unprecedented times – those words again! - the Committee members are doing their best to manage the difficulties presented and continue to oversee the changes to how the Society is organised, financed and how it will continue to thrive for many years to come.

IAN SOUTHCOTT (1964-1971) SECRETARY

ZOOM SOCIAL

TREASURER’S REPORT I am astonished to find that despite all the upheavals in the outside world, the financial health of the Society is improving and we are in a good position to face the new academic year. In terms of key events, firstly we have received two cheques from the estate of an anonymous donor of £15,000 each, an extremely generous bequest and secondly the way in which the Society is funded has changed as was reported in the previous Bristolienses. To remind you, we have now removed the membership fee completely. Members are encouraged to cancel their standing orders as soon as possible to keep the cost of the changeover to a minimum. The loss of income from the membership fees (between £6-7k per annum) has been more than compensated by an increase in the grant paid to the Society by the School of £10,000 per annum. The staffing arrangements have changed - Caitlin Spencer has joined the office and is assisting us with the Finances. She has proved a very

welcome addition to our resources particularly in these difficult times. Finally, a word about the management of the assets of the Society. The fund stands at £193,000, which is 10% lower that it was when the pandemic started. This movement is broadly in line with the market indices. However, the uncertainty of the outlook for differing businesses and the rapidity of social change has caused a very marked shift in the relative valuations of individual stocks. Difficult

conditions for fund management and I am pleased to report that our manager has taken a very cautious line in the construction of a well diversified portfolio for us.

NICK FITZPATRICK (1954 - 1965) TREASURER

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 9

.

SPORT CLUBS Failand closed on 17th March when Rugby and Hockey seasons were suspended and Cricket was to be delayed until July due to the pandemic. Training for all sports was able to start in July but Hockey and Rugby are not yet able to play matches. Cricket has been able to play since early July and is continuing through September.

steward, has been able to decorate and do many other odd jobs.

meaning the trees are not in prime condition and will probably all fail over in the next 20 – 25 years. At some expense we now have to monitor the trees annually.

We have agreed with Audley, our neighbours, a path and second driveway to run over their land from our car park to the gate leading to the astro pitch. Audley

Rich Berry has added new impetus to the Club House Development Project and

Failand life went on without sport and the

committee met as usual but from the comfort of home and via screens. The grass kept growing and all the usual ground work continued. Gareth, the groundsman, has used any spare time working on a list of ground improvements. With careful monitoring the financial positions of the Sports Club and the sections are generally sound. We are obviously losing income on sub lets and ground hire but expenses are down and we have received a £10k grant from the Council. The playing sections have applied to the sporting bodies for grants and it is fantastic that most members have continued to pay annual subscriptions. Income is usually lower in summer compared to winter but if all sport cannot start by October a full review will be needed. We have nearly completed the works that resulted from recent Environmental Health Inspections and the discovery of asbestos in the building. A Failand Bequest Fund committee meeting was held in February and agreed expenditure from the fund of £9k. There is a new extractor fan and improved washing facilities in the kitchen and the asbestos has been removed. With the clubhouse out of use Nick, the

THE NEW GATE

are generously paying for this work and under licence we can now walk to the astro without the dangers of traffic on Longwood Lane and have a more efficient in and out car route to the ground. Many will remember the old Nissen hut, originally used as the tractor shed until the new shed was built in 1981. The Rugby Club, having received a generous bequest from the estate of Garth Morris, is planning to build a new fitness room and in preparation the dilapidated hut has been removed.

intends to use his presidential year to spread knowledge of the War Memorial Ground across the whole of the Old Bristolians family. The last major fund raising, spearheaded by Tony Stirratt, more than 20 years ago for the Astro Pitch showed what can be achieved. Donations from Old Bristolians raised many thousands of pounds and we will need to exceed that effort several times over if we are to fully update the clubhouse. Details of the Development Project and fund raising are on the Sports Club website via a link on the Old Bristolians’ Community website. Finally the planned incorporation of the Sports Club is near to fruition and the new Club structure will be fully reported in due course.

Car parking, especially on Sunday mornings, has been under discussion for some time. We have been considering a range of options and currently the most favoured is developing the bottom boundary of the ground for some 80 extra spaces. The need to reorganise parking has been highlighted by a recent inspection of the sixteen Beech trees. Soil compaction, from car parking, has affected the roots

The last few months have been particularly busy despite the restrictions. Overall the Sports Club is in a healthy position, the clubhouse is open under strict controls and we look forward to the return of a full programme of competitive sport.

OLD BRISTOLIANS WESTBURY CRICKET CLUB CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2019

A successful season saw two of the men’s teams promoted and the ladies second in their league. We fielded four mens teams every

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 10

.

.

weekend thanks to the captains, who are all continuing next season. The first team led the B&D senior division from the start. Stuart Macarthur’s team won the league and promotion back into the WEPL pyramid losing only two games with strong batting performances from Alex Harris and Chris Phillips and bowling from Stuart and Gareth Griffiths. When the youth players became available, Ollie Meadows made his maiden 1st team century and Fin Yates, in one game, carried his bat to score 81 no. Gareth Griffiths won the league highest wicket taker award (38) and was selected with Rupert Swetman, Chris Phillips and Stuart MacArthur to represent the league against the Gloucester League. The 2nd team started the season without a regular captain, but when Dan Langan took on the role the team settled and with runs and wickets shared around, a reasonable mid table league position was achieved. The 3rd team also had a mid-season change of captain with Jon Sheeran taking the team to a mid-table finish. Highlights were the hundreds scored by Randal Leonard, 158no and James Diamond 159no and a 5 wicket haul for Bibek Khanal. Craig Strachan’s 4th team benefitted from a blend of youth and experience. Mark Beech made two hundreds, while Nathan Williams consistently scored runs and Phil Thorn had a career best 7 for 7. Promotion is a deserved success for Craig who continues to lead the side with a focus on bringing young players into senior cricket and ensuring that they are always

support in providing a job on the

involved and enjoying their cricket.

Failand ground staff that enables us to bring a young overseas player to Failand. This arrangement was started with the support of Director of School Sport Rick Sellars, who has now retired, and continues to be a valuable opportunity for the Club and the school.

The Ladies’ team had an excellent season losing only

once and winning five of seven games. Maria Fowler and Vicki Crocker won the league’s batting and bowling awards. Maria finished with a batting average of 91.5 and Vicki took a wicket every 6.09 balls with best figures of 7 for 5. Rachel Evans has been organising the ladies’ team for a couple of years and in a league where games are all too often conceded, it is to Rachel’s credit that we have only had to concede once.

The club relies on its volunteers from the committee through to helping with the jobs that need doing to have a game of cricket. Nick and Lisa Merrick, the Sports Club Stewards, have taken care of all the catering and keep Failand running. There are too many people to thank for them all to be named here but their energy and support allows our club to thrive. You don’t have to be a player to get involved with organising or umpiring youth cricket or scoring for any of the teams and new volunteers are always welcome.

THE PLAYING FIELDS IN AUGUST

ROSS DALLIMORE

The pre-season works parties saw the first use of a new wicket scarifier, purchased by the Failand Bequest Fund. Our wickets are improving thanks to groundsman Gareth Yandell, and to all those who spend countless midweek hours on the roller.

OLD BRISTOLIANS WESTBURY CRICKET CLUB CHAIRMAN

Gareth Griffiths, with help from a team of volunteers, organised a superb ECB All-Stars programme with 60 youngsters being introduced to the game. This together with the Club Golf day organised by Will Penny added to the Clubs' fundraising.

We are grateful to the school for continued

2020 is the 25th anniversary of the creation of Old Bristolians Westbury Cricket Club. There were plans for celebrations however the pandemic has put everything on hold. Please keep an eye on the Club website for news. www.obwcc.co.uk

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 11

.

THE ANNUA

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 12

.

AL DINNER

.

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 13

.

ANNUAL DINNER THE 108TH ANNUAL DINNER This year the committee had planned to make the dinner a little different by breaking from the norm of a guest speaker and instead use the dinner as a platform for reunions with old friends, as well as making new ones.

Little did we know the chaos that would ensue the week before with the outbreak of the global pandemic, and the looming prospect of social distancing and lockdown!

In the week prior to the dinner many discussions took place as to whether the dinner should even go ahead, but in light of Government advice we

decided to go for it! As a Society

we invited people who had concerns about attending a large gathering to HEAD OF SCHOOL CARA SAYS GRACE defer with a full refund of their ticket. The Society totally understands and supports those who chose to accept this offer, and we look forward to seeing you at the dinner next year. I am very glad that we went ahead because the dinner was a great success. Everyone who decided to attend seemed determined to have a great evening, perhaps attendees appreciated that this dinner was particularly special as it may be their last night out for a while with the prospect of lockdown looming.

from the Head of School, Cara Addleman, who also then said Grace. As ever the food was excellent with efficient and friendly table service from our Sixth Form students, which was amazing considering all the last minute changes to the table plans! The Loyal Toast, National Anthem, Toast to The Pious and Immortal Memory of Robert Thorne, and the toast to The Society were enjoyed by all. The School song was belted out with the gusto that it warrants, and we even sang the first verse of the School song a further time, as an encore. This was great fun, and continues a tradition that has grown out of the 'Leavers' Lunch'. The Headmaster, Jaideep Barot, gave a fantastic speech giving us all an insight into School life, highlighting some of School’s many successes, and the direction in which BGS is heading. This was all very well received, and as ever the Old Bristolians showed their gratitude and YEAR 8 STRING QUARTET support for the Headmaster. Our President John Sisman reflected on his life-long relationship and memories of the School, much to the amusement of his many friends who attended. John then reflected on his time as President before passing the Presidency on to Rich Berry.

The night began with a drinks reception, and we were lucky enough to be entertained by the remarkably talented Year 8 String Quartet. We must thank Kiki, Amber, Hana and Anna for their wonderful contribution as they set the evening off superbly.

Rich accepted the Presidency and gave us an insight into his aspirations for his Year as President of our Society. The Old Bristolians listened with interest and all wished our new President an enjoyable and successful year ahead. This completed the formalities.

After the drinks reception we ceremonially invited our guests to the evening followed by a few words

The raffle for a case of fine wine as well as a signed Bristol Bears Rugby ball was drawn, and I am

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 14

.

.

delighted to report that just short of £1,000 was raised for the Society’s Discretionary Fund and the Michael Booker Bursary Fund. Next year we hope to exceed this!

This year we tried something new and

created a ‘networking area’ at one end of the Great Hall, made up of higher bar tables and stools to encourage diners to talk to fellow Old Bristolians

exchange tales of School days

as well as catch up with old friends. To complement this informal setting we were treated to an acoustic set from Mia and JOHN SISMAN Louis, which was excellent and created a lovely atmosphere.

205 guests attending and by Friday lunchtime that had dropped to 152. The reduction in numbers was not table by table, but scattered throughout the entire table plan. Caitlin (Alumni Administrator) and Michele (Head of Catering) managed the entire process with amazing efficiency and calmness. A new table plan was drawn up reflecting menu choices and seating requests. This was an amazing amount of work, and quite frankly an impossible task, but together they achieved it, and their efforts were hugely influential to the success of the dinner. So a massive thank you to you both. As ever, Peter Jakobek worked his magic in advertising the dinner and ensuring that it was well supported, and the entire Catering and Facilities teams worked hard to ensure the success of the evening. Thank you to all who were involved.

We look forward to seeing many of you again at the Annual Dinner 2021! MARCUS CRYER (1981-1993)

The ‘networking’ idea seemed to be very well received by all, and is a concept that will be taken into account when planning next year’s event. Feedback on this is always very welcome. Every year there is a long list of people to thank for the hard work that is put in behind the scenes to ensure a well supported and successful dinner. This year was particularly tricky. As previously mentioned, in the week leading up to the dinner we were in constant discussions as to whether to go ahead. To give an example of how difficult it was, on Wednesday we had

JOHN SISMAN & MARCUS CRYER BEFORE THE DINNER

JEN BERRY AND HEADMASTER JAIDEEP BAROT

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 15

.

LUNCH CLUB January to June normally features six lunches on the first Friday of the month but 2020 has turned out to be quite a different year. Sadly, we lost Peter Tucker who became involved in 2006 with the club and was responsible for PETER TUCKER arranging the programme of guest speakers. It is a tribute to him that we were able to enjoy such a number of quality guests covering a wide range of subjects. That he was able to achieve this over the past fourteen years using landline and handwritten letters only must have made the job even harder than the norm today.

The guest speaker at January’s lunch was the headmaster, Jaideep Barot. He gave

us an amusing synopsis of his life through grammar JAIDEEP BAROT SPEAKING AT THE LUNCH CLUB school, university, postgraduate study, 'something in the City', and a series of posts at some of the country’s leading schools – each one a little bit farther west than its predecessor until finally he turned up in Bristol – where his wife grew up. Jaideep gave us an insight into his first eighteen months at our alma mater and some thoughts as to the future. We wish him and the School well.

of the International Baccalaureate – which for us A Level scholars was new territory. A lively Q&A session followed their individual presentations and we certainly left wiser than when we arrived.

L-R: JUSTIN HARFORD, SARAH, MIKE BURMESTER, SAM, BEN SCHOBER, JOHN CRITCHARD

Shortly after the above, the pandemic prevented any further meetings. In their place

we arranged four Zoom sessions on the first Friday of April, May, June and July with participants from between twelve and eighteen members. This resulted in a mix of traditional lunchers plus OBs from as far away as Melbourne (Oz). April and May Zooms were by nature of 'suck it and see' when Pete Jakobek updated us on how BGS, its staff and students were adapting to home schooling and on-line teaching – including how on-line presence does not necessarily equate to on-line active participation (!).

February’s meeting was facilitated by Bruce Perrot when he canvassed the views of those present as to how the 'lunch' might evolve in the future. A combination of Participants told us such news as they had about dwindling attendance and the inability OB friends. June was the first occasion with a of careerist OBs to spend three hours of guest presenter, OB Colette Todd who delighted the working day socialising prompted us with her musical offerings. The end of term Bruce’s initiative and combined with a marked the departure COLETTE TODD questionnaire to some seventy people who of Deputy Head, Matt have attended in the past, we are starting to formulate the Bennett, who bravely volunteered way ahead. to take part in a pre-recorded 1:1 with the undersigned to describe At the beginning of March, Justin Harford, Director of his life as a student at BGS, his Sixth form, and Ben Schober, Assistant Head visited us teaching days in the Midlands alongside two current Upper sixth students - Sam and and at BGS and his thoughts as Sarah. They took us through the content and rationale he prepares to become the first MATT BENNETT

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 16

.

.

Going forward we are thinking of a mix of Zoom and – when we are allowed – real lunches. Zoom will enable OBs who do not attend lunches

male Head of Clifton High School – where meeting staff and parents has been restricted to on-screen presence. We enjoyed his insightful analysis of himself and are confident that he will make a great success with his headship. John Crichard had been responsible for organising these lunches since 1993 and the changes set out above together with the 'march of time' has led to John standing down. The lunch club owes John and JAN SCHOLLAR AND JOHN CRITCHARD Jan a huge debt of gratitude for the hard yards that they have put in and the pleasure that they have given to many OBs and we shall miss those talents. However, they have not disappeared and we have been delighted to see them both on Zoom, enabling us to admire John’s now bewhiskered countenance. Thank you for all that you have done for us.

owing to work commitments - as well as those who live far away from the City and County - to join in. If you think you too would like to sample such a session, please let Caitlin know so that you can be added to the invitation list.

YOUNG, MATURING AND OLD ARE ALL WELCOME.

! s u oin

MIKE BURMESTER (1953 - 1964)

J

PAST PRESIDENTS’ LUNCH The fourth Past Presidents’ lunch took place at the OB pavilion in Failand – and a photograph of Past Presidents who came is within a glance of this page. Some were accompanied by their wives. We were delighted to welcome the Headmaster as our principal guest and he kindly gave us some background on the School’s progress and his thoughts after some four terms in the 'chair'. Our other guests were the then current president John Sisman, Pete Jakobek – 'the father of the staff room' and although unable to attend, big thanks were passed on to Caitlin Spencer who was heavily involved in organising the event. On a sadder note, we stood for a minute in memory of the three Past Presidents who had passed away since the 2019 gathering: Keith Robbins, Richard Kingscott and Ron Cockitt.

TOP L-R: CHARLES MARTIN, MARTIN SISMAN, TONY STIRRATT, JACK PROWTING, DAVID WATTS BOTTOM L-R: ANNE BRADLEY, DAVID PERKINS, JOHN EVANS, DON FURZE, MELANIE GUY, MIKE BURMESTER

As always Nick and Lisa served up a lunch fit for a ….. president! MIKE BURMESTER (1953 - 1964)

N.B. SINCE THIS EVENT, AND THE WRITING OF THIS ARTICLE, WE ARE SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT A FURTHER PAST PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE, JACK PROWTING, PASSED AWAY. HIS OBITUARY CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 37.

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 17

.

BGS IN LOCKDOWN OneNote. This worked remarkably well and even though not all pupils like to have their cameras on, it meant that there was visual and audio connection between teachers and pupils and learning continued apace. Teachers became adept at sharing their iPad screens and writing with their Apple Pencils, showing videos etc – just as if they were stood in front of the whiteboard in a classroom.

Who could have guessed what the coming months would be like when BGS closed its doors on 19 March 2020? Prior to that we watched every news bulletin to try to get a sense of what the Government might decide. Finally the day before the Government’s announcement of school closures, BGS had decided it was sensible to stop pupils and staff coming into school and staff had one last day when everyone got together what they might need for remote learning and teaching and headed off to begin remote learning. Never before has an INSET been so focused, so productive or so essential. At first remote learning consisted of teachers setting work lesson-by-lesson for their classes and communicating this via email. Learning progressed,

Meanwhile the Infant and Junior teachers were providing a similar provision with a combination of 'live' and recorded lessons. Every day during lockdown the children of key workers were welcomed into the Junior School for lessons which paralleled what their friends at home would be doing. It appeared that they were having a great time. Yes their parents/guardians were hard at work on the front line but at least their children had contact with their friends and seemed to love their playtime together.

THE KEY WORKERS CLUB DECORATING THE SCHOOL WINDOWS

STAFF SINGING THE SCHOOL SONG FOR AN ASSEMBLY

but did not necessarily make the best use of the iPads that all pupils in Year 6 and above have. During the Easter holidays Matt Bennett re-wrote the timetable for pupils in Years 7-9 to give them four live lessons per day. Pupils in Years 10 and Lower Sixth received at least one “live” lesson per week in every subject. Lessons were delivered using Microsoft Teams and

After the May half term, provision changed again. Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 were invited to return to School and about 80% of each year group returned to site. The largest spaces on the whole site were given over to these classes. Even with only 15 pupils, with desks spaced at 2m, they almost filled the rooms. Parents were given ten minute windows in which to arrive and pupils were immediately ushered to the nearest hand basins (but only using alternate ones) to

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 18

.

.

wash their hands – they were going to have to get used to doing that every hour! Lunch returned to the Great Hall but served only in individual boxes and with every pupil having their own table – even

videos from some of the dancers in school, the staff singing Golden Brown, an assembly from the Equality

and Diversity group celebrating Pride week,

an assembly containing contributions from many pupils and staff in response to Black Lives Matters, weekly keep fit challenges, including ones from Emily Diamond and Will Capon, are just some of the ways BGS has shown creativity at this time.

THE DANCE STUDENTS AND STAFF CREATED A COMPILATION DANCE PERFORMANCE DURING LOCKDOWN

our enormous Great Hall could only cater for 60 eating at any one time with the 2m separations throughout as well as down the stairs enforcing separation.

'Live' House assemblies returned on Teams and Year 10 and Lower Sixth were trusted with exam week using OneNote on their iPads – exams released a few minutes before the start time and locked a few minutes after the finish time. Throughout this time Form Tutors in I&J have kept in close touch with their forms and those in the Senior School have emailed weekly and had a 'live' wellbeing session every week. Early on the Government announced that there would be no written GCSE, IB or A Level examinations this summer. Suddenly the whole focus of Year 11 and Upper Sixth evaporated. Some relief. Great anxiety. BGS ensured that all students completed specifications and then put on courses under the name of “For The Love of Learning” - a very wide range of extension courses from Relativity to University cooking. Meanwhile the School had to assess the likely grade for every pupil for every exam, creating Centre Assessed Grades to be sent to the examination boards. These will now follow statistical processes to decide the grade to be awarded to each pupil in every subject.

At first, in late March, BGS seemed like an empty shell. Then

with the children of key workers there were pockets of the usual sounds of happy children. Now with three year groups back for several days each week there is more of the usual sounds of a happy school in the playtimes and the lunch times. It is still so sad to see them having to sit in classes 2m apart from their friends and never coming into contact with them.

As of September, we are delighted to announce that the students have returned to BGS and are enjoying their "new normal." It's been a great start to the term so far. PAUL ROBERTS DEPUTY HEAD

During this time creativity has flourished! Shared

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 19

.

THE BIG SHAVE The 'head shave' was planned about four weeks earlier but there was an immediate problem - a global shortage of electric or cordless hair clippers. Amazon were quoting delivery dates of end of May/early June. However my eldest son - who is a firefighter and a 'skinhead' - tracked down a source of a German-made model which I bought. Three weeks later this well-made model arrived by DHL from Berlin complete with a standard 3 pin plug. The next stage was planning the time for the action to fit in with my son's shifts. Another problem then arose. My son had volunteered to be an ambulance driver on his days off and these volunteers then moved into the Fire Training Centre at Avonmouth so they were isolated from the rest of us.

My 'hairdresser' was no longer available. Who would take up the mantle? Fingers were pointed towards my wife. 'Oh no!' was the response. "But just think of the pledges already made" said I. I had to agree to take on a degree of housework and I think I now qualify for the Boy Scout 'Hoovering badge'. A semi-willing operative was now signed up. The night before the planned operation, my wife did a 10 minute haircutting course on YouTube. Her previous experience was zero. Her working life was as a teacher finishing as Head of Sixth Form at a large South Gloucestershire Comprehensive where she got to know and

work alongside Ann Revill. Despite her advancing years (mid 70s) she still mentors Open University students and is loving every minute of it! Sunday afternoon went very smoothly, the sun shone and the birds were singing. The procedure was painless - we managed to get away with no tears nor blood shed or any bad language from me. There you have it - my aim was achieved thanks to my wife. I am not on Social Media so all approaches were made by me directly. So far many of the donors have wanted photographic evidence and if they were lucky enough to use WhatsApp they were rewarded for their pennies! Most feedback was positive, mainly along the lines of being an improvement and only a couple not so. Mr Burmester thought me a likely candidate for Dartmoor. I am a Devonian but I do not think his comment was charitable!

In total I raised around ÂŁ1200 and I am still taking donations! All money raised is going to the North Bristol Food Bank. If you would like to donate please email rjchambers45@yahoo.co.uk ROGER CHAMBERS (1957 - 1964)

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 20

.

.

COVID-19 IN NEW ZEALAND Here in NZ we responded with an early lockdown of our borders and so we have had relatively few clusters of cases with much lower infection rates than the rest of the world – that’s the good news.

Yet tricky times are ahead…. I work in the area of Sport and Recreation at a university in Auckland, so the initial direct impact was the move from face-to-face teaching to online teaching for our students. This means that I’ve been very lucky to keep at the same income level – unlike much of NZ. The finances of NZ are closely tied to tourism income, so we’ve got a massive economic downturn ahead (potentially) with the borders being closed to foreigners (this impacts my students re jobs).

The impact of covid has affected shops, bars with the lack of income and it has destroyed the livelihoods of many through businesses folding, jobs lost and families struggling to make ends meet… sometimes individuals even taking the ultimate step. The students are varied in their home environments – for many the university buildings are/were the ONLY quiet place they had to study. The internet here in NZ is not quite the consistent deliverer that it may be in the UK, so it makes interactive workshops not so interactive for some. From a teaching perspective it is just different, the research papers are still there, the text books are still there, the assessment marking grids are still

are desperately keen to get back into the University buildings as they miss the interaction and face-to-face discussion with friends and lecturers.

It is with some hope that we can rebuild the economics of

the country to help those with lost businesses and jobs. I work in the area of Sport – so seven weeks of not much or no income coming in due to no club, association, or spectator fees since lockdown. It’s highlighted by our national rugby organisatin...50% redundancies looming. That’s even after 20% paycuts for the last five weeks.

My thinking is forwards, how will the sports and leisure industry recover there….but it is all a bit ‘further from this? So many of the workforce away’ when it is via a Zoom chat is volunteer based…these volunteers or a recorded lecture as well as millions are now living in a wholly different Just before Covid-19, we had some of emails & whatsapp messages. environment to pre-lockdown. What will heavy rains in South Island which be the ‘priorities’? damaged a few of our Great Walks – this Tomorrow we enter Level 2, next week seemed bad enough in terms of $$, but children go back to school. It feels Health is #1 then covid has decimated the tramping/ as if everyone has breathed a sigh of walking/outdoors industry. Our ski relief…yet my friends are also anxious KIRSTEN SPENCER season is about to begin (end of July) of ‘what may happen next’ as we read and again Queenstown will financially be about China, Korea having new waves (1984-1987) hit by the lack of travel and limitations of cases. The University continues with on groups (yes – this summary is all Online teaching for the remainder of related to my industry!) this semester – many of my students

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 21

.

HAW PIN I have been living in the Netherlands since I came down from university in the memorable year of 1968. In 1987, after teaching at the universities of Amsterdam and Nijmegen, I settled in Maastricht in the southwestern tip of what has been called the coccyx of the country, the province of Limburg, extending as it does between Germany to the east and Belgium to the west. For those of you who have expunged it from your post-Brexit coronaviral memory, it was here that the Treaty of Maastricht was signed in 1992. At present it has the doubtful honour of being one of the main sources of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more people in the south – Limburg and North Brabant – than in the populous western and sparsely inhabited northern provinces of the country. Maastricht does, however, have another claim to fame: it is also the proud – some would say chauvinistic – guardian of an urban dialect which has properties that distinguish it from the myriad other dialects of Dutch spoken in the towns and villages of southern Limburg.

The title of this piece, Haw Pin, is dialect for Houd moed, literally ‘keep courage’ or the COVID-19 equivalent slogan ‘Stay Safe’. A better translation might be the more

military ‘stand fast’, since the phrase refers to the practice of ordering a gun crew not to use the metal pin issued for the purpose of spiking (disabling) a cannon if there was a danger of the gun falling into enemy hands: Maastricht was for centuries a fortified bulwark of the country’s defences, as D’Artagnan discovered to his cost in 1673. The metaphor relives, of course, in a juncture when everybody, so not only the old and infirm and those with ‘underlying medical conditions’, is confined to barracks and, if a trip outside the door is absolutely essential, is encouraged to indulge in ‘social distancing’ (is

that an oxymoron?), in Holland called the ‘keeping

to the one-and-a-half-metre rule’. While we are allowed considerably more freedom of movement than the French or the Italians, such constrictions are beginning to pall, and that has been particularly noticeable in the recent warm spell, with people congregating for parties or barbecues.

The Dutch police have their hands full doling out warnings and fines to malfeasants, but still our neighbours the Belgians do not think we are doing enough to combat the virus, witness the recent closure of the border (and there’s quite a lot of it around Maastricht) as the petrol price in Belgium dropped below one euro per litre, whereas – at least initially – the Belgians themselves (most of them Dutch nationals taking advantage of tax loopholes) were allowed to come and empty the shelves of Maastricht supermarkets in their hoarding frenzy. Meanwhile the

leader of the free world encourages us to inject ourselves with Dettol. A final solution if ever there was one! Today is King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. Following tradition, he and other royals visit a different Dutch town every year to take part in street celebrations. This year he was due to visit Maastricht, but circumstances have conspired to make that impossible. While this is regrettable, Maastricht will get over this dent to its amour propre: it will console itself with the expectation that the borders will soon be Living now in lock down reopened to the strains It used to be Lockleaze of André Rieu’s waltzes A diff’rent part of town delighting visitors As like as chalk to cheese sitting in close order in Maastricht’s second The days are much the same most attractive square. Some e-mails then a walk He is not for nothing When all seems rather tame Maastricht’s favourite There’s landline for a talk son.

NIRVANAL

PHIL HYAMS (1958 - 1965)

If folk I wish to see While sitting in my room I go to my PC And chat with them on Zoom One day it is over Hope that’s not a tease Then I’ll be in clover Drinking with OBs

MIKE BURMESTER (1953 - 1964) BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 22

.

.

DISCRETIONARY GRANT At King’s College London, final year medical students are afforded the opportunity to undertake a self-organised 8-week elective placement at a hospital in, or outside, the UK.

hospital was in the process of being ‘split’ into three sections: hot, warm and cold. As patients were In the first quarter of 2020 the emergence of COVID-19 wheeled in, a familiar meant that overseas travel was largely suspended. And sight became the look while it was disappointing to miss out on the chance to see of shock on the faces more of the world, the situation allowed for several exciting of PPE-less paramedics opportunities at home. as they unwittingly handed over COVID-positive patients to PPE-wearing medical staff. That look of incredulity was In those eight weeks I split my time between medical matched only by my own, when I discovered that money to education, the resuscitation department at Nottingham fund the NHS does indeed appear to grow on trees. QMC and Nottingham Forest Football Club. The owner of Nottingham Forest Football Club is Evangilos Admittedly, travelling between a noticeably damp hospital Marinakis. Mr. Marinakis made several trips to visit his basement and an unsheltered field on the outskirts of high-flying football club while I was working with the Nottingham was not the way I had envisioned spending my medical team and Mr. Marinakis was also one of the first elective placement. And yet, while Nottingham may never high profile COVID cases. Several negative swabs and one match Bali for clients or climate, I still learnt a great deal unnecessary training ground fumigation later and business and thoroughly enjoyed my time. continued as usual; lots of medical reviews for rehabilitating first team players who had conveniently developed an Teaching other students about the fundamentals of clinical ‘injury’ prior to the U23 game that they were due to play in practice seemed a daunting task at first, but I soon learnt which happened to be scheduled on a Saturday night. that respect comes easily to he who wears an NHS branded lanyard. It was most interesting to observe the differing In summary, I had a very enjoyable medical elective student demographics and emphasis placed on certain placement. The people with whom I spent time with were aspects of the medical curriculum; limited standardisation incredibly welcoming and really helped me to enjoy my means that students training at different medical schools time in Nottingham. For those who were wondering, the graduate with different skillsets. Perhaps these disparities flights to Bali have been moved to summer 2021… become less apparent as students go on to complete foundation training across the country… TOBY CANTRELL The resuscitation department was the perfect setting for me to improve my clinical skills. The senior clinicians alongside whom I was working were all experts in their field and eager to teach. During my time in Nottingham, preparations for the COVID-19 crisis were beginning in earnest and the

(2006 - 2013)

Are you at university? About to go on a placement year? Do you need help funding your placement? Every year the Old Bristolians’ Society considers applications from OBs to assist them with their placement year up to a maximum of £250 per person. TO APPLY PLEASE VISIT THE ‘SUPPORT’ SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 23

.

ON THE COVER In the Old Bristolians' office we are always interested in what the alumni community is doing and a great way to find out is via social media, which is where Peter Jakobek came across this striking image of Rosie Ladkin, OB (2006-2008). It was very much a sign of the times and we decided it was so poignant that it would be a particularly important cover image. Rosie is a midwife and blogger and posted this image along with this caption. 'Not quite my usual get up but gradually getting used to the stifling feeling of wearing a mask for the entirety of a 12.5 hour shift & working out what PPE I need to wear for different things.... It’s overwhelming, but it’s part of the job, and for me, I just really feel for the women. I can’t imagine how it must feel to be unable to see the face of the midwife looking after you at your most vulnerable but I promise to all of the women I’m caring for, I’ve got a smile on behind this mask and I’ll be there for you, regardless of what is going on

outside of that room! Stay at home this weekend people, this pandemic is affecting so many people in so many ways so for goodness sake, please do your part and stay at home!!' As a result of her post Rosie’s image was created into two pieces of artwork by the artist Atila who you can find on Instagram with the handle @atila_84 The mural can be found in East Dulwich. Rosie commented that she was ‘so humbled, honoured and moved by such a generous gesture.’

ROSIE LADKIN (2006-2008)

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 24

.

.

ON THE FRONT LINE THIS IS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO INTUBATE SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 I wrote this a while ago when I briefly decided I would become a sort of ‘war correspondent’ of Covid-19. That obviously didn’t happen (like most of my shinymagpie ideas) but maybe you’ll find it an interesting read. If nothing else, it’s a little personal time capsule of a unique moment in my medical career. I’m standing at the head of the bed. Mr. G*, the patient, is looking up at me, eyes wide. The muscles in his neck are standing out like cords as he fights for breath. His oxygen levels are dangerously low and he needs to be put on a ventilator. I’ve just passed on a message from his son, who wanted me to tell Mr. G that he loves him. His son can’t be here — there are no visitors allowed on the covid wards. I’m holding an oxygen mask tight to Mr. G’s face. I smile down at him and say, ‘nearly ready, okay? Just keep taking deep breaths.’

MY VOICE IS CALM. There are four of us in the room: Mr. G, me, Salma* (another anaesthetist), and Elena* (an anaesthetic nurse). Apart from Mr. G, we are all in full PPE: hat, visors, respirator masks, gowns, and three sets of gloves.

I’M ALREADY SWEATING. We run through our roles. I’m ‘airway’ — responsible for passing the breathing tube into Mr. G’s windpipe so we can connect him to a ventilator. Salma will give the anaesthetic drugs to put him to sleep and monitor Mr. G’s vitals. Elena will pass me the equipment

I need. There’s another nurse standing outside the room ready to fetch help or more equipment. I run through our plan and backup plans — Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D. I don’t elaborate on ‘Plan D’, which involves cutting into Mr. G’s windpipe with a scalpel. Thankfully, that’s almost never necessary.

‘IT’S NOT A GOOD VIEW,’ I SAY.

‘Happy?’ I ask the others. Strange word in this context, but it’s what we say. The others nod. I can feel the blood pounding in my temples. I take a deep breath and blink the sweat from my eyes. ‘Okay,’ I say to Mr. G, ‘we’re giving you the anaesthetic now, keep your eyes open for as long as you can. We’ll look after you, and we’ll see you when you wake up.’

IF YOU WAKE UP, IS THE UNSPOKEN CODA.

Salma gives the drugs. Within seconds, Mr. G’s eyes close and he stops breathing. From now on, it’s up to us. The only sounds are the soft clicks of the valves in my respirator and the pip-pip-pip of the monitor measuring Mr. G’s blood oxygen. You don’t think of the patient as a person, in this moment. You can’t. You don’t think of yourself either. There is only your hand, the laryngoscope, the tube. A mouth, a throat, a larynx. A task.

I can hear the pip-pip-pip of the monitor falling in pitch. Mr. G’s oxygen levels are plummeting. ‘He’s desaturating,’ says Salma. ‘Pressure,’ I say to Elena, who presses Mr. G’s throat. I put my hand over hers and move it right slightly. The glottis drops into view, a black hole framed by the off-white vocal cords. ‘Okay, tube,’ I say. I push the tube into Mr. G’s throat and Elena inflates the cuff on the end to create an airtight seal. We ventilate. I can see Mr. G’s chest rising and falling. ‘Chest rise,’ I say. ‘CO2,’ says Salma — the monitor has detected carbon dioxide in the exhaled gas: the tube is in the right place. The pip-pip-pip of Mr. G’s oxygen level begins to climb.

I’D BEEN HOLDING MY BREATH — I LET IT OUT. Elena and I secure the tube in place and I straighten up. My body aches — I’ve been holding every muscle tense. My scrubs are stuck to the inside of my gown, my palms are slick in my gloves. I wish I’d panicbought some isotonic drinks.

‘One minute,’ says Salma, watching the clock. The paralysing agent will be working now: Mr. G is ready to be intubated.

‘First one of the night’ I think.

I slide the blade of the laryngoscope into Mr. G’s mouth, pulling upward to move his tongue out of the way. My hands feel clumsy in three sets of gloves. I’m looking for the glottis, the entrance to Mr. G’s windpipe.

*all names have been changed.

BUT HOW MANY MORE TO GO? ADAM BARNETT (1997 - 2004)

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 25

.

REMINISCENCES

HIS MASTERS' VOICE

MUSICAL MEMORIES

“All nouns ending in ‘…ung into the feminine we bung.” Neville Osborne taught me German in the mid 1960s and had a well earned reputation for being somewhat strict and a formidable disciplinarian. Not renowned for his sense of humour, the oft used ‘joke’ shown above was a rare excursion for him. A founder member of the Bristol-Hanover Council, he would wax lyrical about that city, Heidelberg and the Oberammergau Passion Plays. Known as Ned for no apparent reason, he passed away in 2002 at the age of 92.

In the early 1950s I was in 6th classical Year 2, with Mr Robinson as our form master. For some years past we had all been studying Greek and Latin texts intensely, and learning much Ancient History. Inevitably there had been no time for art or music studies.

Jim Hunter always used to arrive with a flourish as his gown followed him at pace into a room or down a corridor. Such speed was unusual for the masters of my day but epitomised the energy he had much of. A budding novelist, he taught English and later published a number of studies on the works of Tom Stoppard. After BGS he became a headmaster and later an associate lecturer for the Open University. Attempting to instil a love of opera into a group of surly 15 year olds who were much more interested in Motown and Reggae was a task that Derek Lucas rashly took on. On one occasion to try and prove a point, he allowed a 45 rpm from one of Detroit’s finest to be played and proceeded to gently but firmly point out its shortcomings, not least its inability to come to a conclusion, as it simply faded out after two minutes and 45 seconds as most pop records did. For most in his audience he failed in his bid to convert and divert them from attending Top Rank and Locarno to listen to their favourite artistes! Derek was head of the blue house from 1955 to 1972 and was head of English. ‘Mick’ Bailey was a maths teacher and one on whose periods we managed to inflict the most chaos and mayhem. An amiable chap he seemed to lack any ability to control us and once a weakness is sensed…….

Then suddenly in my last year we were given a period on Saturday mornings for what would now be called ‘musical appreciation’.

We who had listened mainly to Radio Luxembourg and the Top Twenty on the radio, felt rather like reluctant Philistines as we joined other 6th formers of the same year over in the University Lecture theatre. We were to be addressed there by Mr Frank Beecroft, who in those days taught French in the Pavilion, and played the organ at Morning Prayers. As I recall, Mr Beecroft spoke to us about the great classical composers, and some of their works. He illustrated his talks on the piano, and with long playing records on an electric gramophone. I can only remember one piece he played, which I have always liked, ‘The Young Prince and Princess’ from RimskyKorsakov’s ‘Scheherazade.’

Frank Beecroft undoubtedly planted the seed of appreciating classical music in me.

Although in the immediate years after I left school, I continued with my liking for ‘pop’ music, I also found that I enjoyed the popular classics, like Handel’s ‘Largo’ and Bach’s ’Air on a G string’, which were played on ‘Family Favourites’. Gradually to my surprise I found that I was progressing from these well-known classics to enjoying whole symphonies and concertos. Visits to concert halls and opera houses followed. Although I couldn’t sing much, I found I liked to listen to opera, visiting opera houses in various parts of the world, and even getting to hear Pavarotti sing.

Harry Dunnicliffe was my form master in 4E2. A chemistry teacher, he had also taught my father in the 1930s and was probably approaching retirement. Friendly, avuncular and generally easy-going, he nevertheless ran a tight ship.

Now aged 85, I listen mainly to Classic FM and Radio 3, and make the occasional visit to the opera.

The library was ruled over by Richard Camp and his memorable moustache. Woe

for introducing me, and I hope other OBs, to the pleasure of listening to classical music. I doubt whether Frank Beecroft ever knew my name, or had any notion of the ideas he had put into my seemingly unreceptive, teenage mind during those talks. I

betide any boy who treated his sanctum with anything less than the greatest respect. Memories of the sprint into the library to view the latest edition of Amateur Photographer come to mind! He introduced me to Henrik Ibsen who I managed to believe was an Anglo Saxon called Gibson for at least the first two periods. A few thoughts on those who taught me so many years ago and who all remain fondly in my memory.

IAN SOUTHCOTT (1964-1971)

Looking back to my time at BGS, I am grateful to Mr Robinson and Mr Langford for my classical education and to Mr Beecroft

wonder if other OBs from my time at BGS remember those Saturday mornings, and

perhaps have also enjoyed listening to some of the great works of the wonderful world of classical music?

DAVID COSSAR (1944 - 1952) BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 26

.

.

GOLDEN HILL V FAILAND - THE DEBATE RAGES ON...

MEMORIES FROM DAVID THOMPSON’S DAUGHTER...

Well, for those of a certain vintage, it has to be Golden Hill, the clue's in the title… wide open acres

My dad David Thompson died over the weekend. He was at BGS 1943 to 1950. I wanted to share some things he told me before I forget....

of grass, ideal for playing rugby, cricket, hockey, and, as I recall, jumping into a large sand pit…now sadly buried under various Gondola -End promotions, as we used to call them at Safeway. Never mind, let’s go back and enjoy the 1958/59 (U12?) InterHouse rugby competition, Dehn’s House v Osborne’s House… There I was, minding my own business in the Dehn’s three quarter line, when suddenly a strong fast ball carrier came straight at me, Crikey, it's David Tyler! (David went on to play many times for Bristol Rugby) I had to tackle him! Now I’m not sure if I went off for a HIA (Head Injury Assessment) but it must have looked like that famous Jonah Lomu/Mike Catt tackle from a few years ago. However, I am fairly sure that we must have lost the game, (does anyone know the result?) as also on the opposition side was John Bickle, playing second row. A few years later, Bickle, played several times for England Schools U19 group - pictured in the above photo for a match where he scored a try against Wales at Twickenham.

NB - Clearly planting the ball firmly on the ground- no Chris Ashton swallow dive thank you…

His father was a beat policeman and his mother was disabled from polio He was evacuated to Devon to family during the war. He went to the village school and didn’t understand a word the teacher said so said 'yes' to everything. He and his twin sister were put in the higher class because he said yes when they asked him if he had done something already because he didn’t understand. We always joked that this is what got him his BGS scholarship and his twin sister the Redmaid's one. They had no money. Dad won a scholarship to BGS. He told me he had no idea how they afforded the uniform. His head

was so large that he needed the largest size cap. He would cycle to games at Golden Hill. He would come

home after cricket and his mum would say ‘how did you get on Dave?’ He would reply "I got a duck" and she would say ‘that's nice’. He was always amused to see current pupils carrying huge bags of sports kit. In his day he had no kit, no cricket bat, no pads - 'we shared all our kit.' He told me about the school sergeant who was ready with his cane if you had your hands in your pockets. Different times...

He felt that BGS gave him a leg up in life and it

was all about the connections. He remained in touch with the Graveneys for some time as their mother lived next door to his in Longwell Green in later life. He became a farm manager, managing a Duchy farm for the Prince of Wales.

He was thrilled when his grandchilden attended the school - the Chadeesinghs. The school carol service would bring him to tears. However, I was able to continue playing rugby, with one very enjoyable season with the Old Bristolians ( 66/67) finally reaching the dizzy heights of Richmond 3rd XV in the mid- 70s, and am now able to discuss the current state of English rugby by email, or in the Cross Keys, Hammersmith, most evenings!

LYNN THOMPSON DAUGHTER OF DAVID THOMPSON (1943-1950)

Next time…How I won the Lubbock shield for Dehn's six years later!

RICHARD PARSONS (1958 - 1966)

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 27

.

REMINISCENCES

NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA On Tuesday 21 January 2020, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) played in the 1532 theatre. What talent, what a band, what a night! The energy of the Artistic and Music Director, Mark Armstrong, was infectious and he so clearly had the respect and command of his young musicians, all under 25 and playing big-band jazz. Each performed superb solos at different times under Mark’s direction and although really no one should be singled out, special mention must be given to the 17 year-old vocalist from Leeds, Lucy-Anne Daniels. Her tone, range, rhythm and key changes promise a great future. Remember the name! I spoke with The BGS Musical Director, Dominic Franks, in the interval and learned that he had played with NYJO. I also had a brief word with Mark talking about the first director, Bill Ashton, whom I had seen in the 60s when Bristol musician Keith Tippet had played with them.

‘That Old Black Magic’, ‘A Night in Tunisia’, ‘Lullaby of Broadway’, the standards kept coming. Then, ‘The Mooche’, a Duke Ellington composition. The growl from the reeds and trombones made the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I was taken right back to the Colston Hall in the 60s when I had had the privilege of seeing Duke Ellington three times, two of these on the same day, when, for the early performance I was in the choirstalls within touching distance of the drummer, Rufus Jones. Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Paul Gonzales and so on. I saw them all! At other times I saw Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie, The MJQ, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Segovia, Cream and more! What days! Bristol and the Colston Hall was on the circuit, then, long before enormous venues and TV screens replaced the intimacy of a concert hall.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF BRISTOL ENTERTAINMENT OVER THE YEARS? Please write me an article for the next edition of Bristolienses.

GEOFF WRIGHT (1956 - 1966)

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTABLE MEMORIES FROM SCHOOL? RECENTLY MARRIED? HAD A BABY? STARTED A BUSINESS? WRITTEN A BOOK? RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY? LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU & YOUR ENDEAVOURS EMAIL OBS@BGS.BRISTOL.SCH.UK

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 28

.

.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

KABALA KITCHEN street food trading in May 2017, appearing at various food markets, festivals and events. Kabala Kitchen now trades regularly at Harbourside Market and Temple Quay Market, as well as catering for numerous private events such Alice left BGS in 2010 and after three years as a kitchen manager and head chef at a highly acclaimed yoga teacher training and retreat centre, she launched Kabala Kitchen in 2016 with then business partner Richard George. After a run of three successful pop-up supper clubs in the first half of 2017 (under previous business name ‘Planted’), they began

as weddings, parties and wellness retreats. Alice can regularly be found serving up some tasty vegan treats along the harbourside or at other outdoor venues. Look out for Kabala Kitchen the next time you are in the Centre or order some food online and have it delivered to your door. The Peanut Curry is delicious says Pete Jakobek!

ALICE KABALA (2003-2010) www.kabalakitchen.co.uk Instagram #kabalakitchen QUEING UP AT THE HARBOURSIDE

NIKKI LOCKYER

Finishing school was a nightmare for me. I had been at BGS since the first year of the Lower School and it was like my second home, my comfort blanket. I was terrified at having to make a choice that would map the rest of my life! I wanted to do drama at university and got accepted at Roehampton, but following my family’s rantings about how acting wasn’t a 'real' job and I really should have something to fall back on, I took what I felt was the next best step and did a degree in Music Industry Management.

I loved it! I learnt many things about the business but what I didn’t learn was how to be ruthless and selfish enough to get me an actual job that paid a salary. So, I came back to Bristol and started a series of jobs. Then I made a life changing decision to do a second degree and become a midwife. And it really was life changing. It was a privilege and I am not ashamed to admit that even at my very last delivery I cried like the baby I was bringing into the world! Sadly, between the night shifts and my deteriorating mental health it was not something I could keep doing. Once again, I took office jobs to keep me going until I found the thing that was right for me. Sixteen years after my original turmoil of what to

do with my life and my Dad’s constant nagging of 'have you thought about teaching?' I finally decided to give the classroom a go. I had been volunteering for Girlguiding and loved working with the girls. My favourite activities were when I could teach them something new. Plus, the holidays looked pretty good! I signed on for a Primary PE Apprenticeship… and I have never looked back! It’s never easy to admit your Dad is right! I took a year out to work for Disney Cruise Line, but my heart was back in the classroom. I have spent the last year working as a SEND 1:1 for two amazing children and I am now embarking on my PGCE! With an ambition of becoming a SENDCO. To say I love being in school is an understatement! The children have an ability to make everything better and as cheesy as it may sound, I really do love those 'lightbulb moments'. I work in primary, and I love their enthusiasm to learn. I also love that the children teach me new things, and they never stop surprising me. I love finding ways to make learning fun, for me and the children. I may be 37 but I have finally found the right career for me!

NIKKI LOCKYER (1990-2001) BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 29

.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

SIMON CASE (1990-1997) Many of you will have heard that OB Simon Case has recently been appointed as the youngest ever Head of the Civil Service, officially starting in his role on the 9th September 2020. Simon left BGS in 1997 to study at Trinity College, Cambridge where he studied History. He then went on to do postgraduate research in political history at Queen Mary University in East London. Simon joined the Civil Service in 2006 and held roles in the Cabinet Office, the Northern Ireland Office, GCHQ and a job overseeing the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In 2012 he became private secretary to then Prime Minister David Cameron and in 2018 worked as Prince William’s private secretary. Simon was recently featured on BBC Radio 4, which featured a snippet of the School Song as well as an interview from his former Head of House, Chris Jeffery. This is available to listen to on BBC Radio 4's website.

SOPHIE SIERADZAN WRIGHT (2008-2019)

a completely different way to how I was taught it at A Level.

This time last year, I had just been accepted onto my history course at Oxford university and the notion that I would be leaving home and living independently was becoming a reality. Now, the world looks a very different place, and I like so many others have spent more time at home in this clichéd but perhaps apt ‘new normal’.

Leaving at the end of my second term about a week before lockdown was implemented, none of us realised how the coronavirus crisis would develop. Having been at home for so long, it almost feels like we’re still on our Easter break and not a month away from the start of second year.

My first year, although not the one I imagined, has been such a stimulating and varied time. I’ve met amazing people, fallen in love with a new city and learnt to see my subject in

To go from an environment made for study to a table in your front room and a laptop and to still be expected to produce an essay a week was daunting to say the least. As a historian, the transition didn’t affect my schedule too much; I often wrote my essays curled up in an armchair in my university room with a cup of tea, now it was just a different chair, a different mug. However, the environment that university fosters can never be replicated at home. Being surrounded by other students can do so much for your motivation and

wellbeing and losing that support took a long time to adjust to. Going from living all day every day with your friends, always having a busy and noisy table at dinner, cups of coffee after a night out and generally being constantly surrounded by activity may seem like small things in the current situation, but are the little memories that make me miss being at university far more than any milestones of achievement or big events. Now, about a month away from the start of my second year, I am once again filled with apprehension. It almost feels like we are starting all over again, however this time round things will look very different with social distancing measures. Although not the year any of us could have imagined, it has been a period of self-development unlike any other, and although I don’t know what the next year will bring, I am excited to find out.

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 30

.

.

OneGlobe360 is a travel brand that I created about two months ago. I love travelling - always have and always will. So I wanted to combine my love of writing and creating online content with travelling and this led me to create OneGlobe360. One of the content platforms I have is the travel blog. I write about my travel experiences, top travelling tips, travel diary entries and general travel philosophy. I also have a podcast where I chat with/interview travel bloggers, vloggers and travel friends I’ve met whilst travelling over the last few years. Recently I got the opportunity to interview Emon, Jamiul, Dom and Jen who were all part of BBC’s travel programme Race Across The World. Moreover, I interviewed Jean and Liam who work for The Points Guy UK - a travel blog and YouTube channel with 245,000 subscribers. As well as having a podcast, I also create travel YouTube content. These videos focus on the travelling I have done over the last few years and my experiences in each country I’ve been to. I’ve also been very lucky to collaborate with other content creators on weekly giveaways on my

COVE CLOTHING Tom Sproull left BGS with a passion for Geography which led him to undertake a Master’s Degree in the subject at the University of Nottingham. In 2019 Tom decided to combine his passion for travel with sustainable fashion and created Cove Clothing whose mission statement is “a fashion brand that is pioneering the sustainable fashion industry whilst inspiring a community of adventurers”. For years, fast fashion has exploited global labour forces and our planet for profit. Supra-national organisations churn out huge quantities of products, often only to be used once or twice before being discarded. By putting the planet before profit,

ONE GLOBE 360 Instagram page and many different projects. A project I’m working on at the moment is the creation of a video which shows people's experiences with the coronavirus all around the world. Every person has had a different experience during these challenging times and we want to give people a platform to discuss this and talk about topics such as the impact on their mental health. I have aspirations to grow OneGlobe360 as much as possible and my aim is to continue creating travel content on all the platforms I’m currently working on. My message I’m aiming to connect to OneGlobe360 is all about taking yourself outside of your comfort zone. You don’t grow in your comfort zone, only outside of it. I’ve really tried to use travel as a way of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and saying yes more often to things I may previously have said no to. I hope the positivity I try to promote around OneGlobe360 encourages people to travel more and explore the world!

ELLIE WOOKEY (2011-2018)

Cove’s ambition is to set precedent for change across the industry, whilst inspiring a community of adventurers along the way. Cove is committed to planting 10 trees per sale, using 100% bio-degradable packaging, running their factories using green energy, using innovative materials and implementing a product recycling programme. We’d love any support for our sustainable start-up brand, whether it be telling someone about us, sharing a post on social media or buying a product! Our website is www.cove.clothing and we are @coveclothingofficial on all social media.

TOM SPROULL (2011-2018)

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 31

.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

GEOFFREY SAMPSON

(1952-1962) In August 2020 Geoff’s book 'Voices from Early China' came out, containing a new translation of an anthology of Chinese poems written almost three thousand years ago – one of the oldest literary monuments in any living language, and the earliest known rhyming poetry anywhere in the world. The poems, many by women authors, offer vignettes of life in a society poised between barbarism and advanced civilization. Alongside versions of the poems in unstuffy, down to earth English, the book also spells out alphabetically how they sounded in the Old Chinese of their day, restoring rhyme and alliteration that is lost in the modern language – something that has only become possible in the 21st century.

JOSEPH ELLIOTT

(1995-2002) For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an ambition to write a book and have it published, and in February this year my debut novel, The Good Hawk, was released all over the world. It’s an epic fantasy set in a mythical version of Scotland and features a heroine with Down’s syndrome. I was totally overwhelmed by the response to it, which included fantastic reviews in both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. The second book in the trilogy, The Broken Raven, will be published in January 2021.

MIKE COLE

(1957 - 1964) Professor Mike Cole PhD is a Professor in Education at The International Centre for Public Pedagogy School of Education and Communities. He has written a large number of books, the latest three of which are pictured below, and has most recently released ‘Climate Change - The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Public Pedagogies.' All are published by Routledge.

STEVEN LEONARD

(1999-2006)

Steven recently retired from Championship Rugby with Hartpury RFC and is now working with the English Institute of Sport as Senior hysiotherapist to the Great Britain Rowing Teams based at Bisham Abbey and Cavesham. He was looking forward to the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

ROBERT LACEY

(1951-1962) Historial advisor to 'The Crown' and esteemed British historian, Robert Lacey has written a new book which sheds light on the relationship between Prince William & Prince Harry leading up to and folllowing on from Megxit. Released 15 October.

DAVID MILLER

(HEAD OF CLASSICS 1976-1997) When I had no more paid teaching, a kind Professor suggested I should be the first to translate the Greek Novels of Justinian into English - and she then had to explain he wasn’t a novelist, just an Emperor keen on promulgating laws. As I knew absolutely nothing about the 6th century Greco-Roman empire, I was extremely lucky to find another Professor, who knows a great deal about it; he helped me a lot, and wrote a superb commentary. Between us it took ten years, in frequent struggles with various departments of C.U.P., and their Indian typesetters. A nine-page Review by a German, so learned that his name starts Dr.Dr.Dr., found several mistakes (though we rebuff quite a lot of those), but he did call the translation “generally quite careful', and its achievement “quite impressive'. Is his English British, so that 'quite' suggests 'not too bad', or American, meaning 'very'? Well, I can always hope.

HENRY JAMES GARRETT

(2000-2011) Henry James Garrett’s debut book, This Book Will Make You Kinder: An Empathy Handbook, will be published on 20th October and available in all good bookshops and online. As Matt Haig described it: “Interspersed with Henry’s beautifully metaphorical illustrations, this is a great and easy-reading practical exploration of what kindness means in the modern world.”

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 32

.

.

DONALD INSALL (1939-1943)

Sir Donald Insall, now aged 94, recalls the swirling academic gown of his formmaster 'Larry' Langford, as he swept in and cast an appproving glance at the blackboard carrying chalked cartoons of the 'Illustrated Virgil', daily prepared in his honour. Born in Clifton of the Bristol family of trunkmakers, who for a century were established on the then 'Tramways

Centre' and initially with the address of 'Drawbridge', Donald left Bristol for mlitary service in the Coldstream Guards. Returning, he campaigned to good effect for the retention of the City’s blitzed church towers and spires, and restored and converted St Nicholas’ Almshouse in King Street, with other projects as far afield as Picton Castle and a new house for the Cawdor family in S.Wales, afterwards setting up an architectural practice in London and specialising in the care of historic buildings. There, he served as a founder Commissioner of English Heritage, and was knighted by the Queen in 2010. His team carry international repute, and were responsible for the restoration of the London's Mansion House and for the repaving of Trafalgar Square, and

ultimately for the post-fire restoration of Windsor Castle. Recently completed tasks have included restoring the Temperate House at Kew; and now they are members of the team busily engaged at the Palace of Westminster. Today living in Kew, Sir Donald still visits his hometown, where he holds an Hon.Doctorate at Bristol University, but mainly as an Academician of the Royal West of England Academy, for whom he contributed an Exhibition of his watercolours. A second edition of his book on “Living Buildings: Architectural Conservation: Philosophy, Principles and Practice” has recently been published, and there is a first-edition copy in the School Library.

BERNARD MOULDEN (1952-1963)

Professor Bernard Moulden AM PhD was born in Bristol and attended BGS from prep school in 1952 to sixth form in 1963. when he left to study at the University of Durham, and the University of Bristol. As a Professor of Psychology at the University of Reading in Berkshire, UK, his international reputation was based upon his research into the neural mechanisms responsible for human vision. This research compared human visual capacities with the performance of computer models designed to mimic the behaviour of human retinal ganglion cells. He was for many years a director of a company specialising in the analysis of information flow, and the display of complex data, in military and other life-critical contexts. He worked on radar display designs for defence applications, particularly naval warfare, and on ways of improving air traffic control displays for Heathrow airport. Moulden migrated to Australia to take on the role of Professor of Psychology at the University of Western Australia in 1989, later becoming a citizen in 1991. He became the inaugural Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at the UWA in 1994, and served as the Vice Chancellor of James Cook University from 1997 to 2006. His career has included a multitude of accolades including a Centenary Medal from the Australian Government in 2003. He is Professor Emeritus of both JCU and the UWA.

DAVID YEANDLE OBE (1964-1971)

of people living with MS and healthcare professionals who, by working closely together, hope to improve Although I have now retired from communication in MS care and to full-time employment, I have recent- develop resources which will support ly been appointed to the ACAS Panel this. I have spoken about this work at of Arbitrators and I am now waiting a number of international conferencto hear my first case. es and I have also recently been one of the co-authors of some articles I am also continuing to act as an MS that have been published in NeurolAmbassador and Patient Advocate ogy and Therapy including 'Patient at local, national and international Power Revolution in Multiple Sclerolevel. In this latter work, I am on the sis: Navigating the New Frontier' for Steering Group of MS in the 21st which I was the first person with MS Century (www.msinthe21stcentury. to be the lead author. com) which is an international group

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 33

.

IN MEMORIUM

We regret to announce the deaths of the following members of the BGS family. We extend our condolences to everyone that knew and cared for them. PAUL ANDREW (1953-2020) BGS 1964-1971 Paul and I met when we were 11 years old and have been friends ever since. We later joined BGS Field Club as we were encouraged by the more senior boys, especially Tim Joy and the late Steve Moon, and also Pete Dolton who is still a very active birder. But the ‘star’ was Derek Lucas, ably complemented by Tony (‘Bunny’) Warren, who is still alive and well and living in Redland. We have had a few BGS Field Club reunions in recent years. Paul spent much of his life travelling, finally settling in Australia. Paul (known to his bird friends just as ‘PA’) was in a car accident in 1986 which left him in a wheelchair. He started a new life in Australia with his partner Madelon (Di), and they had a wonderful son Ben – so much like his father. His enthusiasm, intelligence, knowledge and constant and reckless birding got him a temporary post at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, where he soon progressed to a permanent post and eventually a curator. One of his proudest moments was to have a new sub-species of Cockatoo named after him, Cacatua sulphurea paulandrewi. Paul passed away with his wife and son by his side, upon returning to the UK to join his wife in her new job as the CEO of the British & Irish Zoo and Aquarium Association. Extract from a blog written by John Rossetti OB (1964-1974)

IAN ALFRED BAKER (1939-2020) BGS 1950-1958 Ian Baker passed away on 12 April this year after a long battle with dementia. Ian was one of the Britain Nepal Medical Trust’s longest serving trustees and was described by them as a 'visionary, strategic thinker and committed leader, Ian was a consistent and faithful supporter of the Trust’s work.’ He was awarded the MBE for his services to BNMT in 2007. In addition to his long service to BNMT he had an eminent role as Director of Public Health in Bristol. Whilst at BGS, Ian was Captain of Booker’s and Captain of Rugby, then Head Boy in 1958. Most recently Ian attended the rededication of the Booker Room at BGS. CHRISTOPHER ROGER BALL (1941-2020) BGS 1948-1960 Christopher Ball joined the Lower School in 1948, and the Upper School in 1952. He enjoyed cricket and Rugby and was a member of the 1st XV. He was later Head of School and Captain of Dehn’s. He left BGS with an Exhibition to read Chemistry at University College, Oxford. PETER ALDEN BUSH (1929-2020) BGS 1939-1947 After a time at the local school, Peter joined BGS in September 1939. He stayed in Bristol throughout the Second World War and when the school was destroyed by fire bombs in November 1941, he used to talk about how lessons were held in various rooms in the Headmaster’s House for two years after. Peter left BGS in March 1947 to become an articled clerk to a chartered accountant. On completing his articles and qualifying he did his two years national service in the Royal Army Pay Corps after which he joined a firm of chartered accountants in Bristol as a senior audit clerk. His real interest was to follow his father into the manufacturing industry. In 1960 he joined Joseph Sankey in Bilston as a Management Trainee and moved to Studley in 1962 to take up the position of Budget Accountant. He held a number

of management positions in what was to become GKN Sankey, until his retirement in 1991. His final position was company secretary of a joint venture GKN Sankey and Jaguar cars. After retirement, Peter became a governor of Charlton School (continuing in his role when it became a Foundation School). He retired from this post in 1999 but continued to advise on financial matters until 2003 for the School. In Bristol he was very involved with a number of churches which were over time amalgamated to become St Stephen’s Bristol City Parish. He was a member Parish Council and a server and he continued to attend this church whenever he was in Bristol. His main hobby was a model railway which he started in 1948 and over the years he had a number of layouts - two of which were the subject of articles in the Modern Railway magazines. He was a person who enjoyed life whether at work or leisure and so as far as he was concerned he said he had a good fulfilling life. He is survived by his sister Margaret and many longstanding friends Sarah Tose (god-daughter) JAN CRAWFORD (Died 17 May 2020) BGS Staff 1999-2016

Jan taught violin and viola at BGS, and was an active member of the Music Department both as an administrator for some years and for her involvement in orchestral playing. She encouraged quartet playing, and she founded both the Ceilidh band and a Baroque Group. She passed away on 17 May having suffered from the severest form of Motor Neurone Disease over the last couple of years.

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 34

.

.

JOAN DEHN (1916-2020) Joan Dehn died on 6 May 2020 aged 104. In 1951 she married Eric Dehn (Staff 1939, 1945 – 1976) (see Bristolienses no. 38). Eric was a popular, warm-hearted and entertaining teacher, house-master and colleague. His boundless energy and dedication to the school owed a huge amount to the support Joan gave him. She shared his fundamental belief that every boy, whatever his background, whether he be struggling with exams or a future Oxbridge scholar, deserved to be given every possible opportunity to succeed. She used her talents and skills to provide a home for boys, whose parents were working abroad, cook for fund-raising events and entertain English Speaking Union speakers staying over to speak to the BGS sixth form, with good meals and thought-provoking conversation. She gave unstinting help and support, where needed, to boys, staff and staff wives alike. Like many women of her generation, she was given little formal education herself, but she possessed an independence of mind and a passion for books and literature that remained undiminished over the years. She leaves a son and two daughters, six grandchildren and a great-grandson.

and route mapping together with project management and permitting on large projects for Wimpol, Fugro/Geoteam, Worldwide Ocean Surveying, and Cable and Wireless Marine. He joined Lucent Technologies working on communication networks as a programme manager and then joined Orange and France Telecom culminating in the role of Director of Security for Orange in UK. He returned to his maritime roots in 2010 and joined his brother Peter at Pelagian as Commercial Director and Head of Practice managing all aspects of subsea cable design and installation worldwide. Tony passed away without warning in Johannesburg, South Africa whilst on his way to St Helena where he was advising the Government on the construction of a cable linking that remote island with the rest of the world. Throughout his career he was one of the submarine cable industry’s leading consultants and much of the world’s internet capability owes itself to the projects he supervised. Tony maintained his links with BGS, attending careers workshops whenever possible and was always prepared to give advice and help to pupils. Tony was an active rifle shot with Chippenham Rifle and Pistol Club, avid reader, folk singer, FA qualified Club Coach coaching youth football and he shared the family passion for classic cars and motor cycles. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him but particularly by all family members.

Bristol University. Through his example I too applied to the Bristol Law Faculty. We had been in 6th Modern together, had acted together in 1956 as Montague and Capulet in the School’s production of Romeo and Juliet (designated 'the Flower Pot Men' from the hats we had to wear) and in 1957 appeared as lawyers in a student production of Beaumarchais’ Marriage of Figaro. Perhaps this had been typecasting, as Robert set off on his career locally as a solicitor. After articles, he joined Clarke, Gwynne & Press of Broad Street. In 1969 they merged with another venerable practice – Osborne, Ward, Vassall, Abbot – to create Osborne Clarke, a firm that today has a global reach. Robert was very much a driving force in the development of the practice, retiring as a senior partner in 2000. To do proper justice to Robert’s career is hardly possible in a small compass. He had a wide portfolio of loyal clients for whom he did a diverse range of work. But one instance from his early years might be instructive. He was summoned to advise the University Senate assembled in solemn conclave with the ferocious Law Faculty Dean in attendance. Hearing in due course what Robert had told them, another of our former lecturers (later himself a distinguished Professor of Law) expressed serious concern, but had on Nicola Bonnard (daughter) reflection to concede that the advice had been right all along. In addition ANTHONY JOHN to advising the Universities of Bristol FISK and Bath, Robert acted in particular (1964-2019) Anthony Fisk (father) for National Westminster Bank, United BGS 1972-1983 Bristol Hospital Trust, the Sue Ryder Tony was born BRIAN GAHERTY Foundation (of which he was a trustee in Bristol in 1964 (1928-2020) and director), the Institute of Physics and and attended BGS BGS 1942-47 the Society and College of Radiographers. Lower and Upper I regret to inform you that my brother As a former partner said, 'His clients Schools together Brian Arthur Gaherty died on April 16 loved the caring way in which he looked with his younger 2020 in Lakeridge, Bowmanville, Ontario, after them and dealt with their various brothers Peter Canada at 92 years of age. Brian was a problems'. In court, Robert’s maxim was and Jonathan. Professor of Engineering and left Bristol 'Stand up, speak up and shut up!' I always At school he was captain of swimming, in 1960. He served in the Fleet Air Arm admired his confident, well-organised Senior NCO in the Army Section of the for two years, then sailed to Canada. and practical approach. Yet law in Bristol CCF, played water polo and was an was not in itself enough of a fulfilment excellent shot in the School shooting Michael Gaherty (brother) for him. Following his time with the CCF team. He also sang for a number of years at School, Robert joined the University in the school choir. After leaving BGS JOHN FRANK HAYES OTC and thereafter served for a while he obtained his BSc in Oceanography BGS 1950locally in the Royal Naval Reserve and at Swansea University followed by a John Hayes joined the Lower School in 1P at sea aboard its minesweeper HMS Post Graduate Diploma in Hydrographic in 1950. Venturer. Much later he undertook Surveying at Plymouth. He met fellow an epic journey on the Trans-Siberian student Pippa at Swansea and they ROBERT IAN JOHNSON Railway to Hong Kong where he visited subsequently married and had three (1940-2019) another old school contemporary, who children, Vicky, Jamie and Jenny and they BGS 1948-1957 had become a High Court judge. It greatly set up home in Calne, Wiltshire. Tony Although proud of his family roots in amused him that, while they chatted in held a commission in the Royal Engineers the north east of England, Robert (Bob) Mr Justice Nicholas Barnett’s chambers, Reserve and was awarded the Territorial Johnson’s life was centred on Bristol. the celebrated QC Michael Mansfield was Decoration for his service. He started Born in the City, he joined Bristol kept waiting in the anteroom. BGS had his career in subsea cables in 1988 and Grammar School Lower School in 1948 nurtured Robert’s deep interest in the travelled extensively at sea on survey and, after A level in 1957, read law at past but his special passion was for postal

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 35

.

IN MEMORIUM

history, a field in which he made a colossal contribution. Throughout his adult life he devoted himself to displays, articles and books, editing a magazine and generously regailing his vast philatelic knowledge to others. An active member of numerous specialist societies, he was Chairman of the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain held in Bristol in 1996, was elected Honorary Fellow of the Society of Postal Historians in 2001 and was presented with several prestigious international awards, including being invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists. Over the years, Robert’s manifold activities also included work for the Samaritans, chairing Legal Aid Boards and – as well as prodigious feats of gardening and cookery – even turning his hand to making stained glass pictures. All this while – together with Ann his wife of 55 years – raising their much loved family of four children to notable professional careers. Robert loved advising, encouraging and supporting his eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. By 2015 cancer had taken hold on Robert and he and Ann moved to Derby to be nearer to family. After a characteristically brave and determined battle with the disease, he died there on 25 September 2019. Barry Atwood OB (1948-1957) ANDREW CHRISTOPHER LITTLEJONES (1943-2019) BGS 1951-1961 Andy was born in Clevedon, Somerset on 30th April 1943, educated at Bristol Grammar School and won a scholarship to Wadham College, Oxford in 1961. He studied Modern History and Political Science and Economics. He obtained a degree in Modern History and a Diploma in Political Science and Economics in 1964/5. A BA in 1965 and an MA in 1987. After University Andy returned to Bristol. In 1968 he joined IBM and became a very valued member of the sales team for 25 years, selling and organising the installation of Main Frames to large companies such as Phillips. Andy was awarded the Hundred Percent Certificate in recognition of sales achievement for many years running. In 1979

Andy had an assignment in America and the family – wife and three daughters – went too. He entered fully into the American way of life and even became the soccer coach to the middle school’s North Castle Wanderers soccer team; and made many lifetime friends. We all had three very happy years in upstate New York. Returned to Croydon, Surrey in 1982 and Andy continued to work for IBM. He later took an early retirement package and moved back to his beloved Somerset with his family and lived in the beautiful village of Blagdon where he threw himself into the village’s activities and became a stalwart member of the community. He worked for a short period with a software company but then returned to his love of history and took his Blue Badge Guide at Bath University. He guided in Bath, Bristol and Wells and wrote articles, gave talks and helped with the publication of the volumes of the History of Blagdon and became very involved in local history. Andy’s special interest was in the Carthusians on the Mendips. Andy had lots of interests – he loved sport, travelling to other countries, art and music. He was a fun loving, wonderfully caring husband, father and grandfather. He had a very full and active life which was brought to a sudden end far too soon by pancreatic cancer.

WILLIAM “BILL” MILTON (1935-2020) BGS 1942-1953

W. G. Milton is in the back row, second from left

Bill was a member of the School Cricket 1st XI and he played Cricket for the OBs in the 50s and 60s. He also played Hockey and Fives and was a School Prefect. Bill was an accountant and he lived in Westbury on Trym with his late wife June, whom he adored. In the 90s they moved to Lymington, Hampshire. June and Bill had two sons, one a farmer in North Devon and another an hotelier in Hampshire.

FRANK ROBERT PALMER (1922-2019) BGS 1932 - 1940 Frank Palmer achieved international recognition as a linguist who was instrumental in the development of the Department of Linguistic Science at the University of Reading. He was educated at BGS and New College, Oxford. In the Second World War he served in the British Army, where he attained the military rank of Lieutenant. After the end of the Susan Littlejones (wife) war, Palmer became a member of the teaching staff at the School DAVID JOHN MARTIN of Oriental and African Studies in (1939-2019) London, with a post of Lecturer BGS 1952from 1950 to 1960. Palmer became 1957 Professor of Linguistics at University David joined College, Bangor, in 1960. In 1965, he Shell A in 1952 and a number of Bangor colleagues and played moved to the University of Reading a full part in to establish the Department of school life. He Linguistic Science. Palmer was was selected appointed Professor of Linguistic for School and Science and under his headship the House teams department quickly developed an for Cricket international reputation. and Hockey and was a Leading Seaman in the TREVOR PINCOTT CCF. He was a successful insurance (1936-2020) broker and played hockey for a long BGS 1981-1965 time for Firebrands Hockey Club. Trevor died on January 13th, the David was known to many by the day of his 84th birthday. Growing nickname 'Dodge.' up in Easton, he was the first in the family to pass the 11 plus exam that took him to BGS. In study he loved his languages and he considered becoming an interpreter on leaving school but was encouraged

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 36

.

.

to take the more reliable position at the National Smelting Company in Avonmouth as a management accountant trainee. It proved a solid choice as he developed his career into management consultancy in a handful of companies, travelled the world through business and networked locally via the Robert Thorne lodge. His passion at school was sport: he was a school 100 yards champion, and as he proudly once showed his son his name on the cup then held in a cabinet in the Great Hall, he was a Boxing champion. But of course rugby was his true passion. He played full-back for the 1st XV and afterwards for the Old Bristolians, where he also rotated to outside centre. For the OBs he loved to sing rugby club songs in the Byron Pub after both training and weekend matches, until retirement in his mid-30s with injuries creeping in. In later years, and when retired from work and global travel, he was able to finally become a season ticket holder at Bristol Rugby, who were then still playing at the Memorial ground. Extracted from words spoken at the funeral by his son Chris Pincott. CLIVE PONTING (1946-2020) BGS 1957-1965 Clive kept up a BGS circle of friends all his life. He obtained a first in history from Reading University, then embarked on a PhD at University College London, but abandoned it after two years and in 1970 joined the civil service. His successful career accelerated with the arrival of Margaret Thatcher in 1979 and her recruitment from Marks & Spencer of Sir Derek Rayner to wage war on Whitehall waste. Ponting endeared himself to her with a scheme to rationalise food supply for the armed forces, saving £12m on the spot and £3m thereafter. His OBE followed in 1980, and while only in his 30s Ponting found himself head of a naval department at the defence ministry, with the grade of assistant secretary. In 1969 he had married Katherine Hannam. After their divorce, in 1973 he married Sally Fletcher, also a rising official at the MoD. They had a Georgian house in Islington, north London, and he enjoyed opera, model trains, fell-walking and cricket. The only two hints he was not of a stereotypical Whitehall species were that he was a discreet foundermember of the short-lived SDP; and that

he had a growing interest in Buddhism. He is remembered as the civil servant who became a whistleblower over the Falklands war. In 1984 he leaked documents about the sinking of the Argentinian cruiser General Belgrano and the following year was sensationally acquitted by a British jury despite his breach of the UK’s then notorious Official Secrets Act. KENNETH DAVID JACK ‘JACK’ PROWTING (1939-2020) BGS 1950-1957 Jack’s enthusiasm for BGS and life was early recognised by the School, ‘does everything with gusto’. Although ‘not skilled athlete’ and needing encouragement in games, he was a member of the House XV, and he attained the rank of Sergeant in the CCF (he also played in the band) and became a School ProPrefect. He was a ‘keen supporter of House and School’, and this support continued within the Old Bristolian Society, where he was involved to the end of his life. He will be greatly missed both for himself and as one of the Trustees. PETER HENRY STEEL (1924-2020) BGS 1935-41 I wish to let you know that my father Peter Steel sadly passed away in Silver Trees Care Home Tuesday 21st April 2020 - 10 days before his 96th Birthday! Fortunately, it was simply due to 'Frailty of Old Age' and nothing to do with coronavirus. My dad attended Bristol Grammar School (Christ Church Exhibition Scholarship) from 1935 to 1941. Dad lived a long and very varied life influencing many people who are now remembering him with affection, love and respect. We have a lot to be grateful for.

DAVID BENJAMIN JOHN THOMPSON (1932-2020) BGS DATES 1943-1949 David won a scholarship to BGS. He played Rugby and cricket for both House and School; he was in the 2nd XV and the 2nd XI and on occasion played for the 1st XV. He was also the electrician for the School Play in 1948 and was appointed a House Prefect. It is believed that he went on to do Science at University and later he went into farming; he became a farm manager, managing a Duchy farm for the Prince of Wales. He had been evacuated to Devon during the War, and perhaps that gave him an interest in the country. It gave him much pleasure that his grandchildren also attended BGS. PETER TUCKER

(1941-2020) BGS 1952-1958 Peter Tucker passed away in April of this year and will be sadly missed by all of us who knew him as an Old Bristolian. He was at the school from 1952 to 1958. Peter was highly involved in the Lunch Club, arranging the programme of speakers from 2006 onwards. He was able to organise a great deal of quality guests every month for many years covering a wide range of subjects. That he was able to achieve this in the past fourteen years using landline and handwritten letters only must have made the job even harder than the norm today. Twice a year, Pete would write up a summary of the talks for this magazine. Peter was nominated an honorary member of the Society for this work. Like many an OB, his career was with WD & HO Wills in the city. Peter worked in the accounts department. He played for the local Wills cricket team as wicketkeeper/ batsman, alongside such luminaries as Past Presidents Keith Gerrish and Don Furze. Glos CCC was one of his passions. Mike Burmester OB (1953-1964)

Philip Steel (son)

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 37

.

THE OLD BRISTOLIANS’ SOCIETY

HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY J R Avery N A Baldwin Mrs M Barrington R Berry Mrs R A Booker Mrs A V Bradley M N J Burmester J A F Burns R J Chambers N Cousins R A D Cox J J Crichard G Davies Mrs J H Duncan J C Edwards J A E Evans D Furze K T Gerrish R Gillam D K Golledge J E K Goodbody G A Hodges L R Jacobs P Z Jakobek P Key

Staff 1951-1959 Headmaster 1975-1986 1970-1980 OB Sports Club Archivist 19941953-1964 Staff 1972-2005 1957-1964 1964-1972 Staff 1973-2013 1944-1951 OB Society Auditor OB Society 2003-2018 1941-1950 1941-1952 1955-1962 1946-1957 OB Sports Club 1959-1967 Bursar 1979-1993 1953-1960 1930-1938 Staff 1982 – OB Sports Club

R D W Lacey C C Luker R I MacKinnon C E Martin D J Mascord D M Nott J R Parrott Dr A Primrose P J Revill I Rolling M Sisman R W L Smith N Stibbs A F Stirratt P M Tottle E A Warren D L J Watts G J Willmott D Yeandle OBE

1951-1962 1962-1969 Headmaster 2008-2018 Headmaster 1986-1999 Headmaster 1999-2008 Staff 1968-2005 1975-1982 Headmistress Junior School 2001-2011 Staff 1969-1998 Staff 1970-2007 1953-1959 1954-1965 1964-1972 1942-1952 1960-1968 Staff 1954-1988 1945-1955 1974-1984 1964-1971

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 BSc 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939–45 1946 1947

Herbert Ashman Bart Charles McArthur C E L Gardner Bourchier F Hawksley The Rev T W Openshaw MA Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith GCB, MA,

1948 The Right Hon Lord Gridley KBE, MIEE, MP 1949 J E Barton MA, Hon RIBA 1950 Rev Canon J M D Stancomb MBE, MA 1951 Sir W Marston Logan KBE, CMG 1952 Professor T F Hewer MD, FRCP, FLS 1953 Leslie Morris MA, BSc Professor H Lloyd Tanner DSc, FRS 1954 Sir Oliver Franks PC, GCMG, KCB, CBE, The Rev V P Wyatt MA MA Sir Hartman W Just CB, KCMG 1955 R C W Cottle Philip W Worsley JP 1956 Sir W Ivor Jennings KBE, LittD, LLD, QC W Nicol Reid 1957 H P Lucas BSc The Rev A W Oxford MA, MD 1958 The Right Rev Bishop D B Hall BA T B Silcock BSc 1959 C R Setter JP, FIOB The Rev Canon F E Brightman MA D 1960 Sir Douglas Veale CBE, MA Phil, DD, FBA 1961 Dr John Garrett MA, DLitt The Rev A B Beaven MA 1962 C H Clements Sir Holman Gregory KC 1963 E H Totterdill FCll FIArb Sir Cyril Norwood MA, D Litt 1964 K W Jones ACIS George Langford 1965 Very Reverend D E W Harrison MA Col T H Openshaw CB, CMG, MS, MB, 1966 Alderman L K Stevenson FRCS, LRCP 1967 H C H Punchard The Rev Canon G A Weekes MA 1968 Col J B Cossins MBE The Rev Canon Peter Barker MA 1969 J Angell James CBE, MD, FRCP, FRCS D S Davies MD, LLD, DPH 1970 Philip E Maggs Col T M Carter OBE 1971 Edward V Colman R C Hobbs 1972 Vivian H Ridler CBE, MA, FSIA Oscar Berry 1973 Sir Paul Osmond CB, MA, CIMgt Sir Duncan Grey LLD 1974 M E Dunscombe TD FBOA, FSMC Cyril Rootham MA, MusD 1975 Air Vice Marshal W J Maggs CB,OBE, Wilfrid E F Peake MA Sir Cyril Norwood MA, D Litt 1976 R A Dolton J Sumner Dury JP 1977 D J Mann CBE, MA T Reaveley Glover MA, LLD, DD, Litt D 1978 Dr J Mackay MA, DPhil Rear-Admiral V H T Weekes CB, CMG 1979 Professor B H Harvey, CBE, MA, MSc Charles W Stear 1980 J C Higson E W B Gill OBE, MA, BSc 1981 M L Booker MA Brigadier A L W Newth CBE, DSO, MC, 1982 The Very Rev S H Evans CBE, MA TD, DL, JP, Legion of Merit (America) 1983 J B Ackland OBE, FRIBA Col G S Castle MC, TD, DL 1984 G F Jarrett TD, MA Brigadier M Angell James VC, DSO, 1985 D W Williams OBE, TD, DL MBE, MC, DL 1986 E H Dehn BA The Right Rev Henry McGowan MA 1987 J R Cottle MA

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

P F Stirratt BSc (Econ) Major General IOJ Sprackling OBE, BSc K J Stidard AE, DMS, MIMgt T L Beagley CB, MA, FCIT, FIRTE(Hon) M B Nichols FCA J R Avery MA, FRSA A F Stirratt MA Professor Keith Robbins MA, DPhil, DLitt, FRSE E A Warren MA K G H Binning CMG, MA K D J Prowting FCA His Honour Judge PNR Clark MA R Lacey MA M Sisman LLB C E Martin MA J A E Evans MA R F Kingscott Dip Arch (RWA), ARIBA R A R Cockitt BSc Professor Sir Nicholas (‘Nick’) Wright MA, MD, PhD, DSc, FRCP, FRCS, FRCPath, FMedSci D L J Watts JP, MA, FRICS D Pople MA P J Revill MA K T Gerrish BA N A Baldwin G E Ratcliffe BDS, DDPHRCS D Furze MBCS, CITP D Yeandle OBE, MA, MCIPD, FRSA M N J Burmester BA, ACIB J D Perkins MA Anne Bradley MA (Oxon) Melanie Guy John Sisman

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 38

.

.

AROUND THE WORLD If you’re ever in their neck of the woods, the following OBs would love to talk, help arrange a social event, give you some tips or generally reminisce.

SOUTH AFRICA

USA

CHRIS TAYLOR (1952-1961) chrismal375@gmail.com TEL: +27 31 5394960 MOB: +27 84 657 6188

DR RICHARD MASON (1951-1957) TEL: 617-803-8425. thepaulmason@hotmail.com PETER WILLIAMS (1951-1958) 112 Birchside Circle, Locus Grove VA 22508-5150 TEL: 1-540-872-7117 MOB: 1-540-237-2627 anglodane@adelphia.net

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

CANADA

MARTIN DASH (1963-1970) 12146 Osprey Drive, Richmond, British Columbia, V7E 3S6, Canada. TEL: 001-604-275-4670 martincharlesdash@hotmail.com

PHIL OHMAN (1972-1979) 44 John James Loop, Macgregor, ACT 2615 MOB: +61 422 309 455 phil@missionsupport.org.au

OB MANAGEMENT COMMITEE 2020 - 2021 OFFICERS PRESIDENT Rich Berry rgb505@gmail.com PRESIDENT ELECT Kate Redshaw redshaw70@btinternet.com

ARCHIVIST Anne Bradley 07799 918906 abradley@bgs.bristol.sch.uk

CO-OPTED MEMBERS

CAREERS CO-ORDINATOR Rob Hagen robhagen@gmail.com 07545 717104

Marcus Cryer marcuscryer5@gmail.com

CHAIR & EDITOR Geoff Wright gwright@bgs.bristol.sch.uk

SPORTS CLUB REPRESENTATIVE Don Furze don.furze@btinternet.com

VICE-CHAIR & SECRETARY Ian Southcott iandjsouthcott@aol.com 01386 861061 07774 095205

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

TREASURER Nick Fitzpatrick ndfitz@gmail.com 01225 723795 SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER & AROPS REPRESENTATIVE Peter Jakobek pjakobek@bgs.bristol.sch.uk

Michael Burmester c/o OBs Office

TRUSTEES

Julian Portch Richard Smith

SPORTS CLUB REPRESENTATIVE Richard Leonard leoharrier@gmail.com IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT John Sisman john@sismanproperty.co.uk

IF YOU’RE UNSURE OF WHO TO CONTACT OR YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT CAITLIN IN THE OFFICE CSPENCER@BGS.BRISTOL.SCH.UK 0117 923 7037

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 39

.

the most your MAKING

OF

ALUMNI NETWORK

VISIT WWW.ALUMNI.BRISTOLGRAMMARSCHOOL.CO.UK

. Read th . . s l i a t e d r e latest ne u o y e t a d ws... Up

Follow us online @oldbristolians

@oldbristolians

The Old Bristolians

BUY YOUR

Old Bristolian Bristol Grammar School is a Registered Charity No. 1104425

MERCHANDISE

BRISTOLIENSES - ISSUE 59 - PAGE 40

.