Omnia

Encountering Your Idols... the Oxford Union with OC Megan Bennett

Photograph: PaulaDeegan.co.uk

Shooting the Stars with current parent, Paul Clarke The Maths Behind Motorsport Imperial Intelligence

The magazine for The Caterham School Society Issue 04. 2018

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OMNIA

Issue 04 Summer 2018

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FROM THE EDITOR, ELOISE VÄISÄNEN

It has been a pleasure to edit Omnia since its launch nearly two years ago, as it has been to work with the School and the OCA. In that time, I have had the honour of getting to know a large number of Old Cats, and have been delighted that you have shared the news of your successes since leaving the School, and your memories of your time here.

I will enjoy watching as the School and the OCA go from strength to strength, and wish you all the best.

With best wishes, Eloise Väisänen

CONTRIBUTORS Philippa Baliman (OC 2014 – 2016) Megan Bennett (OC 2014 – 2016) Emma Biddiscombe (OC 2011 – 2016) Lucy Brymer (OC 1994 – 2009) Dr Paul Craven (current parent) Paul Clarke (current parent) Molly Daniels (OC 2001 – 2016) Henry Fok (OC 1990 – 1996)

David Higham (OC 1986 – 1994) Douglas Ipperciel (OC 2000 – 2007) Nikita Komarov (OC 2011 – 2016) Jeremy May (OC 2001 – 2003) Che Ochugboju (OC 2015 – 2017) Jonny Sampson (OC 1999 – 2013) Nigel Sandiford (OC 1962 – 1969) Richard Webb (OC 2009 – 2016)

Designed and produced by Haime & Butler haime-butler.com

Artwork by Olivia Dowle, Upper Sixth

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CONTENTS

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Welcomes

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Forthcoming Events

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An OC Beginner’s Guide to Hacking

From the Headmaster, Ceri Jones, President of the OCA, Clive Furness and President of the CSS, Rob Davey.

Exciting forthcoming events for the whole Caterham School community.

Douglas Ipperciel (OC 2000 – 2007) provides insight into what it’s like to work in security and how to beat hackers at their own game.

for Thought with Jeremy 09 Food May (OC 2001 – 2003)

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Shooting the Stars

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Encountering Your Idols

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Investing in Your Career David Higham (OC 1986 – 1994) shows us the human side of financial investment and explains just how important Bring Your Daughter to Work Day is.

OCA Events A showcase of recent OCA events.

OCs: In Their Own Words Find out from OCs themselves what they’ve been up to since leaving the School.

Megan Bennett (OC 2014 – 2016) tells us about meeting her idols through her role as head of publicity and press relations at the Oxford Union.

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Caterham Currently

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Behind Every Brand There’s a Creative Mind

Catch up on all the latest news from the School.

Lucy Brymer (OC 1994 – 2009) reveals what it takes to work in the fast-paced industry of magazines such as Marie Claire, Woman & Home and Look.

Jeremy tells all about the skills needed to be a successful freelancer in the food retail business.

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Current parent and freelance photographer, Paul Clarke, divulges insider photography secrets.

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An Interview with Sportsman Che Ochugboju

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The Maths Behind Motorsport

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Why Study

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In the Archives

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Insight From Imperial

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Playing Hard with Nigel Sandiford (OC 1963 – 1969)

Che talks about his bursary place at Caterham and his passion for rugby.

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Charity Work

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An International Interview with Henry Fok (OC 1990 – 1996)

Updates from pupils on fundraising and partnership projects.

Read what Henry believes boarding in Caterham has taught him, and why you should always follow your dreams.

Jonny Sampson (OC 1999 – 2013) gives us an insight into how he broke into F1, and the all-important maths that is behind the wins of major motorsports moguls.

Read about a variety of university courses from OCs who are currently studying.

A visual trip down memory lane from all areas of the School, from dance and drama, to science and sports.

Current parent Dr Paul Craven explains why he believes the most significant breakthrough in medicine is the humble antibiotic.

Nigel tells us about his experience being a part of the very early beginnings of the video game industry, and explains why working abroad is vital for today’s young professionals.

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Support Us

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Obits 66

Help us to continue to build a bright future for our pupils.

Giving thanks for the lives of members of the Caterham School Society.

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OMNIA

Issue 04 Summer 2018

WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER

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Forthcoming events

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his edition of Omnia is the first to be published since the School became fully independent again in January 2018, having successfully bought back the freehold of the School from United Learning.

It is an exciting time to be a part of the Caterham School community as we are once again in full control of our own destiny and able to invest all of our resources and energies into this fantastic school and developing an exciting vision for the future.

Our most important resource remains all of those who are part of the Caterham community – pupils, staff, parents, former parents, alumni and anyone who has an interest in seeing this school flourish. That, of course, is what the Caterham School Society is designed to give form and substance to under the leadership of Rob Davey.

I hope that over the coming months I am able to share with you through these pages and in person my plans for the next phase of the development of Caterham School, plans which retain at their heart the ethos and values that have served this school so well for so long, but which also set a course to make Caterham School and the Caterham School community a leader of 21st century education and a school that we can all be enormously proud to be associated with.

If you have not been actively involved in the life of the School since you left now really is the time to get involved again and come back. I would be delighted to meet and talk to any of you who would like to know more about the journey the School is on.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Omnia.

Ceri Jones Headmaster

Saturday 10 November

CSS Fireworks Night Caterham School, Home Field An awe-inspiring evening of whistles, pops and bangs! Always a popular event, last year’s CSS fireworks night saw over 1,000 people join us on Caterham’s Home Field to watch the annual fireworks display whilst also enjoying delicious autumn fare. We hope you will be able to join us again this year for what promises to be a fantastic event for the whole family.

Sunday 11 November

OC Day / Remembrance Sunday Caterham School Come back to Caterham to watch and cheer as the OC play against the School in lacrosse and rugby, and take part in the annual commemorations for OCs who died in the First and Second World wars. There will also be a two-course lunch in the Refectory for all Caterhamians booking in advance. For more information please contact us: events@caterhamschool.co.uk For an updated list of forthcoming events for all Caterhamians, please visit the OCA website: oldcaterhamians.com

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WELCOME...

FROM THE OCA PRESIDENT

FROM THE CATERHAM SCHOOL SOCIETY

FROM THE PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION CHAIR

I have always known that one of Caterham’s strengths is its diversity.

Never has this been more apparent to me than looking at the incredible content in this edition of Omnia. The sheer breadth of talent and obvious innovation is breathtaking. This is, however, just a fraction of the talent we know the OCA is home to and the OCA is determined to ensure that the creativity, innovation, skills, success and determination of our members are more widely known.

If you have a story to tell of your post-Caterham journey please let the alumni office know as who knows what connections might come of it: oldcats@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091.

As President of the Caterham School Society (CSS) I am delighted to share with you the progress we have made since last September.

Caterham School has long had the objective of providing education for life. The CSS wants to pool its knowledge and experience to provide each pupil with support to make the most of opportunities in life.

To make this happen our most important objective is to connect and reconnect with as many people as possible who have – or have had – links with the School as Caterhamians (current or former pupils, parents, staff, trustees, foundation members or friends).

The real gem in the pack will be a new online platform for all Caterhamians powered by Graduway. This new platform – set to be launched this September – is a real opportunity to take things to a new level. Those of you who connect to the School via this platform will not only be in contact with the wealth of professional connections at Caterham and say what you would like from the CSS, but also be able to offer yourself as a mentor, or offer work experience, support for transformational bursaries and more.

As the Chair of the Parents’ Association (PA), I’m delighted to introduce you to this edition of Omnia – the flagship publication for all things Caterham School.

Clive Furness OCA President

Rob Davey President of the Caterham School Society

Omnia contains a wealth of tips and tricks for our children, whether they’re still at School or already Old Caterhamians. This edition in particular features insider interviews with OCs working in a number of different industries, from social media management at the Oxford Union, to clinical research at Imperial College London.

The PA is delighted to be a part of this publication, helping to shape our children’s future, borne from the community connections we’ve made across the Caterham School campus today.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have.

Kelly Bennett Chair of the Caterham School Parents’ Association

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Issue 04 Summer 2018

AN OC BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HACKING

FINDING the FLAWS WITH DOUGLAS IPPERCIEL (OC 2000 – 2007)

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ith the increasingly large part tech plays in modern life, the work of hackers is becoming more and more commonplace.

Doug’s job is to find flaws in IT security systems and beat the hackers at their own game. Read on to find out more…

Photograph © Channel 4

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What inspired you to study computer science, particularly at the University of Manchester?

I’ve always been fascinated by all things tech, and by computers in particular. Computer science is a broad course that covers a large spectrum, such as hardware design, software development and mathematical theorems. I also studied modules on the technology behind mobile communications such as Wi-Fi and 4G and basic security principles such as encryption.

Manchester University has a long history with technology, including being the post-war university of Alan Turing, whom many believe to be the father of modern computing and artificial intelligence. The first stored-program computer, Baby, was built at Manchester University, and one of my professors, Dr Steve Furber, worked

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as a hardware designer on the BBC Acorn and at ARM – the company that now produces the processor at the heart of (nearly) every Android and iPhone device in the world. That practical history focus of Manchester was one of the main reasons I chose to study there.

What do you wish people knew about computer security system testing?

Most people believe that computer security is something that someone else does. Computer threats come in a number of guises, from a fellow employee collecting personal details of clients and customers to sell, to external hackers stealing a company’s manufacturing designs or information on unreleased films or television series. 

Doug (far right) and the team of investigators on the popular Channel 4 show Hunted

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While technical measures exist to help detect and block these attacks, everyone can help by being aware of the information they share with people over the phone, reporting any suspicious behaviour of their colleagues, and being wary of clicking on links in unsolicited emails.

What does your day-to-day work involve?

There is no typical day for me at work. Computer security has grown into an incredibly large discipline, even since I started work in the industry eight years ago; mobile apps are now a part of our daily lives, cars now include mobile data capabilities and you can watch your home CCTV camera anywhere in the world. All of these systems need testing so my daily work is very varied!

That being said, usually I’m part of a team that travels to a client’s site to probe their tech for vulnerable software and systems from an attacker’s perspective.

Recently, however, I’ve discovered I have an aptitude for a technique called open source intelligence gathering (or OSINT).

This involves using the public internet to gather intelligence (anyone who has used Facebook or LinkedIn to learn about a person they don’t know will have done a small part of this), which is then used to expose a company’s (usually inadvertent) security breaches. It’s eye-opening the number of people who post pictures of themselves at work without locking down their security, and reveal the manufacturer of their laptops, the design of their work passes, or include sensitive information on their unlocked screens.

How did Caterham influence you on your professional career path?

Caterham always encouraged independent learning and critical thinking. With so much going on in the computer security industry every day, learning effectively in my own time is a key part of my position. Thinking critically, particularly with regards to researching new attack methods and identifying those who may be spreading bad information, whether accidentally or deliberately, is a key attribute that I began to develop during my time at Caterham School. 

All images © Channel 4

Your skills must really come in handy on Hunted. Can you tell me more about this popular Channel Four show?

The premise of Hunted is that a group of “fugitives” (the contestants on the show) have to outsmart the “hunters” (a team of investigators drawn from a number of disciplines) for 28 days in order to win.

The cyber team’s primary task is to gather data that can be used to capture the fugitives, such as through hacking social media accounts of the fugitives and their friends and family, performing forensic analysis on mobile phones to recover deleted messages, and running misinformation campaigns in order to encourage a participant to act rashly or make a mistake.

This raw data is passed to the analysts who use it to find new contacts the fugitives might reach out to, identify places of interest, and gain an insight into their thinking by liaising with the team’s investigative psychologist.

Whether or not Hunted continues, I’d like to further develop my investigative ability, as this is a growing area with great potential for research and the discovery of innovative computer security techniques beyond our current capabilities.

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“ I’d like to further develop my investigative ability, as this is a growing area with great potential for research...”

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT WITH

Jeremy May What does your day-to-day work as a business consultant involve?

I work on an ongoing basis for three brands; Dalston’s, a craft soda business, Pip & Nut, who make peanut and almond butters and a range of almond milks, and We Are Tea, an independent ethical whole-leaf tea business. I’ve also helped The Protein Ball Co, Pack’d, Smith & Sinclair and What a Melon. Essentially, I help these businesses build and execute a strategy to expand their brand to different countries. This can mean anything from finding and hiring local distribution partners, to fine-tuning how and which products are marketed.

Do you travel much with your work?

Last year I took around a flight a week, mostly to places in Europe, such as Amsterdam, Paris, Cologne, and Dublin, but did also take the occasional trip to the US and the Middle East. For short-haul work trips, I try and do them in a day as much as possible to keep the cost down and avoid spending my life staying in hotels!

How does speaking a foreign language help in conducting business abroad?

I don’t find myself using my Spanish and Portuguese much, but I do believe it’s hugely beneficial to be able to speak another language, even if you don’t use it often; you’re more aware of the pitfalls of speaking to people in a language that’s not their native tongue, and of potential cultural barriers. Armed with this knowledge, conducting business goes much smoother!

Apart from language and cultural barriers, what is, in your opinion, a common problem companies experience when trying to expand into foreign markets?

I see lots of brands who try and spread themselves too thin across too many markets, so they end up not being able to put as much care into the new markets and can neglect their customers.

You started your freelance career off the back of working with Propercorn. What did your time at this popular start-up teach you?

I learnt so much in my three years at Propercorn, but there are a few things that stand out, not least of which being that you have to be willing to walk away from a deal if it doesn’t make commercial sense; there’s a pretty common saying “revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, and cash is king” and it’s something that anyone in business should keep at the front of their mind. It’s important to make sure that you don’t chase revenue for the sake of it, and it’s also important that you work with customers who are credible and credit-worthy.

What steps do you take to get a feel for a new company you’re consulting for?

Because of how well-connected the food and drink industry is, I often have a good sense of how well a company is doing before I show up on their doorstep as a consultant. I also think it’s really important to do your homework, so I’ll scour UK supermarkets to

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see where the company has products, as this can be a good indicator of a company’s values and ambitions.

What has been your biggest success to date?

In my new world as a consultant, my biggest success to date is winning a 900 store listing in Holland for Pip & Nut that should deliver about £500,000 of revenue in the first 6 months. This also stands them in really good stead to win more listings across Europe.

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What advice would you give to others hoping to become a business consultant?

Make sure that the skills and experience you have to offer genuinely have a value to potential clients. For me, this was demonstrating that I had the network to call upon, really strong commercial knowledge, a good operational and logistics understanding and good local market knowledge, especially in Europe. Before I handed my notice to Propercorn, I spent a few months meeting with business owners and others who had gone freelance – this gave me a lot of confidence and made me realise there was a lot of opportunity out there. 

Jeremy May (OC 2001 – 2003) is a freelance business consultant whose career has seen him working for a number of UK-based food and drink brands, including popular snack company Propercorn. In this article, Jeremy tells us about the skills you need to be a successful freelancer, and the importance of doing your homework.

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INVESTING IN YOUR CAREER DAVID HIGHAM (OC 1986 – 1994)

David Higham is a senior investment manager at JM Finn and has worked in the investment industry for many years. In this article, David shows us the human side of financial investment, and explains just how important Bring Your Daughter to Work Day is.

You have worked as an investment manager for over 15 years – what is it about this job that you enjoy so much?

Being an investment manager puts one at the heart of people’s lives and the trust people place in you and your experience is very humbling.

I absolutely love what I do, as I see my job as helping people to realise their financial dreams.

There are also many opportunities to continue learning, as you’re exposed to a wide market.

It’s this breadth of exposure combined with the people aspect of the job that really appeals to me.

Ah, so it’s not all Wolf of Wall Street?

No, of course not! We are looking to build long-term, trusted relationships with our clients – not something that the characters in Wolf of Wall Street would have ever considered!

What traits do you think are important for an investment manager to have?

To be successful in this industry, it helps to have an interest in business and global financial markets, but it is vital to be a people person.

The people-focused side of the job is clearly important to you, and it seems you’re not alone, as JM Finn are involved in many corporate responsibility projects. Would you tell us a little more about these projects?

We are currently supporting two charities – Dogs for Good, a national charity that provides assistance dogs for a wide range of people, from

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Bring Your Daughter to Work Day gives 15to 18-year-old girls the chance to learn more about investing and the investment banking industry in general.

children with autism to adults with dementia, and Tower Hamlets Foodbank, which does vital work in our local community to support those who need it by providing much-needed emergency food supplies.

We are also supporters of the arts and have just donated a second bursary to help support a student through a three-year postgraduate course at the Royal Academy.

JM Finn also runs its own education initiative in the form of Bring Your Daughter to Work Day. Would you tell us more about what happens on this day?

Bring Your Daughter to Work Day gives 15- to 18-year-old girls the chance to learn more about investing and the investment banking industry in general.

One of the most interesting aspects of the day was that the majority of participants didn’t opt for A Levels in economics, business or maths (good training grounds for a career in finance) as they felt the courses would be too maledominated. Changing these perceptions would be for the better as a balanced workforce can help contribute to a successful company.

How has Caterham School influenced your career?

I decided that I wanted to work in the investment industry whilst I was still at school. This interest began as I enjoyed following my father’s investments and discussing the rationales with him.

Studying business studies at A Level not only helped me build on this knowledge, but also confirmed my decision that a career in investments was the direction that I wanted to head in.

Caterham also helped to build a level of confidence and develop social skills that I rely on daily.

What advice would you give others hoping to follow the same career path as you?

Read as much as you can about investing.

I recommend Roger Lowenstein’s Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist or Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor, as they give a great insight into the industry, and demonstrate that, to succeed, you need to have passion. 

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HILL FIELDS PAVILION DRINKS RECEPTION, FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2017

OCA EVENTS

The new Hill Fields pavilion was buzzing with laughter on the evening of the drinks reception hosted by the Old Caterhamians Association.

Not only were the Old Cats treated to this preview of the new School sports facilities ahead of their official opening, but they were also treated to a delicious cake made especially for the occasion

by Nicola Shiplee (OC 1995 – 2009), founder of The Wild Blackberry, an artisan celebration cake business. To see more of Nicola’s beautiful creations visit wildblackberry.co.uk

To find out about forthcoming OCA events contact the alumni office (events@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091), or visit the OCA social media channels and website.

 OldCats  @oldcaterhamians

 Old Cats  oldcaterhamians.com

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OC DAY, SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2017 CATERHAM SCHOOL A great day for sports and catching up with old friends and teachers at the School. Old Cats’ teams were victorious in all three sports matches with the final scores being: Lacrosse OCs 11 v School 7 Rugby OCs 7 v School 0 Rugby OCs 32 v Presidents XV 23 Well done, Old Cats!

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OCA ANNUAL DINNER, FRIDAY 16 MARCH, HMS BELFAST Team GB athlete and Old Caterhamian Rosie Clarke (OC 2003 – 2010) was the guest speaker for the OCA Annual Dinner on Friday 16 March. The sell-out event was held on HMS Belfast and was attended by Old Cats from across the generations. Rosie spoke about how she became a steeplechase runner for Team GB and how her time at Caterham inspired her. Following the event Rosie jetted off to Australia to compete in the recent Commonwealth Games, and came in fourth in this highly competitive competition on 11 April.

We are really proud of Rosie, and delighted that so many people came along to hear her speak at the dinner.

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OC BOARDERS’ REUNION, SATURDAY 24 MARCH, BLOOMSBURY, LONDON The OCA was delighted to host its third annual OC Boarders’ Reunion in Bloomsbury, London. Current boarding staff shared a drink with former pupils of all ages – one of whom who boarded at the School over 50 years ago!

Thank you to all who joined us – we hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!

EOTHEN REUNION, SATURDAY 12 MAY, 75 Eothen ladies from classes ranging from 1938 to 1990 joined current staff members to reminisce about their school days over a delicious lunch at Caterham School.

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OCs: IN THEIR OWN WORDS

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EMILY MARCOVECCHIO (OC 2009 – 2016) Since leaving School in 2016, I’ve taken an art foundation course at Ravensbourne and am now studying press and editorial photography at Falmouth University.

Art is everywhere, and that’s why it’s so important; who designed the publication you’re reading right now?

An artist. Who designed the seat you’re sitting on? An artist. Who designed the cup you’re drinking your tea from? An artist. The art department at Caterham School gave me the confidence to become the artist that I am today and I owe that to my wonderful teachers, particularly Charlotte Bell and Amelia Wallace.

Since starting my studies at Falmouth I have become much more confident in portraiture and have also begun documenting the stories of different women in the music industry through video and still imagery.

If you’re interested in seeing more of Emily’s work, her website can be found at emilyanna.net

EMMA FULLER (OC 2002 – 2007) When I left Caterham School, I went to the University of Oxford to read physiological sciences. I gained a first class degree, as well as valuable experience as vice captain for the university netball squad.

Upon graduating university, I tried my hand in a few different industries and travelled many continents of the world, including volunteering with local communities in Swaziland, Africa.

In 2011 I joined the gourmet yoghurt brand The Collective.

A start-up at the time, I joined as the fourth employee. Six years later I am one of a team of 25 and am currently a senior brand manager.

I remain good friends with a large number of Old Caterhamians and even got married to one…becoming Mrs Gooden in December 2017!

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SAM BALY (OC 2003 – 2009)

Greg Dunne (right)

GREG DUNNE (OC 2000 – 2005) Since leaving Caterham I have obtained an undergraduate degree in law from Canterbury Christ Church University, as well as a Masters in masters in international law and international relations from the University of Kent.

While studying as an undergrad I represented the university in both national negotiation and mediation competitions and went back to coach competitive negotiation whilst studying for my master’s degree.

After finishing university, I moved back to Surrey and now live and work in Caterham.

For the last three years, I have been working for a start-up company in the business telecoms sector, taking on a variety of roles in the business as it has grown.

I started attending the Old Cat’s events around 18 months ago when I went to a careers networking event in London. Since then, I’ve been to many OC events both at the School and in London. Attending these events has been a great way to reconnect with former classmates and meet many new Old Cats. Recently, I became a member of the OCA committee in order to be part of helping these events continue and thrive.

I left Caterham in 2009 and went straight to the University of West of England to study sports business management.

After two years, I felt that the course wasn’t for me and decided to leave, achieving a certificate of higher education. Shortly after leaving, I decided to study police law and community at Brooklands College which I passed, but again felt that the police wasn’t for me.

During my police course, I was working at Coral and stayed there for a year in order to save up enough money to go travelling. I then travelled for five months around Australia and New Zealand and returned to England looking for work.

I secured work experience at SHW in June 2014 and I have stayed there ever since. I have topped up my degree through long-distance learning at work, and I have recently completed (and passed) my final dissertation for a BSc degree in real estate management.

Having passed the dissertation stage of my degree, I now have one year left of my Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), which would make me an RICS chartered surveyor.

Since leaving Caterham I have had little interaction with my former classmates and teachers but feel strongly that the OCA network is one worth keeping in touch with.

I joined the OCA committee in March this year, as I feel that it is the perfect way to give back to a school that gave me so much, and help grow this important network.

HASAN MOOSA (OC 2004 – 2016) Since leaving Caterham School in 2016, I have been studying Baly (right) law andSam politics at university.

However, whilst I’m enjoying my studies, the more I study the more I realise that I don’t think being a lawyer is for me and I would prefer to go into teaching instead.

I’m a really keen footballer, but at the minute I’m just playing recreationally and recently took my level one FA coaching badge as I coach an U9 Saturday league team as well as helping out with the Caterham School first XI. I am also a keen traveller and have travelled quite a lot. My family is from South Africa so I go back there about twice a year and really love it there.

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ANDREI GREBELSKI (OC 1997 – 2003) After leaving Caterham School, I studied marketing management at Oxford Brookes University. Whilst it was fun in the first few years, I had to make up for it by working very hard in my final year!

My first job after graduating was with the Londonbased gambling company, Betbrokers PLC where I was hired to help with their business development in Russia.

Sadly for my career, the Russian government enforced a surprise ban on all gambling. However, on the bright side, this has saved hundreds of thousands of gambling addicts and their families from misery.

So, just about a year into my new job, I was left unemployed, but with some fantastic contacts. For a brief period, I continued to pursue the marketing career for which I studied.

After a while, I wanted a new challenge, and so founded The Young Ladies and Gentlemen’s Club – a modern day finishing school for children of international UHNWIs. It was incredibly quirky and great fun. As our client base grew, I spotted another opportunity – recruiting well-rounded English tutors and governesses into the households of affluent international families, and my current business, Mentor and Sons, was born. Mentor and Sons is a boutique educational consultancy which

provides a complete range of educational services, working with leading private HMC schools, and recruiting talented teachers for private households in Russia, UAE, Kazakhstan, China, and the UK/Europe.

Whilst I’m busy with family and work commitments, I nevertheless recently joined the OCA committee to contribute to the place which played such a huge role in my growing up, and also to my “not growing up” (thank you boarding house). It is also an opportunity to share my professional experiences with whoever may wish to take a similar entrepreneurial path and to learn from others.

social mobility work. In this period, I have worked on several election campaigns, run for local council and was a campaign manager in the EU referendum.

I have enjoyed serving on the OCA committee for the past year and since leaving Caterham, I have been fortunate to attend numerous events, speak to A Level politics students and participate in a careers convention.

I hope to do much more in the next 12 months on the committee – be it getting more people to events, putting together a strong programme for the year, helping to organise my year group’s ten year reunion and supporting Old Cats interested in my field of work.

Caterham gave me lifelong friendships and got me to where I am today. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

SAMIR DWESAR (OC 2001 – 2008) After leaving Caterham in 2008, I went to the University of Bristol where I read politics and French and then spent two fantastic years in the Champagne region of France teaching English.

On my return to the UK, I decided to pursue a career in politics and public affairs. I worked in Parliament for two and a half years as a parliamentary assistant to an MP and government minister, and am now working as a public affairs associate for KPMG, focusing on the firm’s

The OCA would love to hear news from Caterhamians.

Please do contact the alumni office (oldcats@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091) to share your news and memories of your time at the School.

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Graduations We were delighted to hear from the following Old Cats who graduated in July 2017: Antonia Millington (OC 2009 – 2014) who graduated with a BSc Honours in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Newcastle Joshua Rawson (OC 1999 – 2014) who graduated with a BSc Honours in Agricultural Business Management from the University of Newcastle If you’ve recently graduated we’d love to hear about it! Please contact the alumni office (oldcats@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091).

Weddings Congratulations to...

Joshua Rawson

Births Congratulations to Greg Dunne (OC 2000 – 2005) and his long-term partner Rebecca Murrell, who welcomed a baby boy, Zachary Theo Dunne, on Friday 23 February 2018.

Zachary was born at St Helier’s Hospital in Sutton and weighed a healthy 8lb 2oz.

p Joanna Munnery (OC 1997 – 2004) who married Dirk Atkinson on Friday 22 December 2017 at St Mary’s Church in Caterham on the Hill. The reception was held at the Royal Automobile Club in Epsom. Joanna and Dirk met at Bath University whilst they were both studying. Joanna now works as a primary school teacher teaching Year 3 at New College Prep in Oxford.

u Emma Fuller (OC 2002 – 2007) and James Gooden (OC 1996 – 2007) who married on Saturday 16 December 2017.

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Shooting The Princess Royal © Paul Clarke

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C

urrent parent Paul Clarke is a freelance photographer whose varied portfolio includes famous faces, from the royal family to leading politicians, as well as city architecture, popular events and even a zombie wedding! Multi-award-winning Paul is the winning photographer in a number of categories of the annual Event Photography Awards in 2014, and again in 2016.

In this article, Paul divulges insider photography secrets, and explains why your character can be even more important than your camera‌

Your career path, which has seen you working for companies such as KPMG, Deloitte and Directgov, is rather unusual for a photographer. What inspired you to pick up a camera?

Reaching forty can be a natural break-point, I think, for people in their careers. I had helped many organisations develop their businesses, and started thinking about what I could do if I had my own.

Photography found me, rather than me finding it; I bought my first camera in the summer of 2008, with no particular wish to take photos for a living. As time went on, I found that the quality of the photos I was taking was improving, so I decided to share some of the best ones online. These got spotted and liked by people, who then approached me asking how much I charged. ďƒ‚

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What advice would you give others hoping to become a successful photographer?

If you can’t get on with people, you’re probably going to struggle to create anything, be that a picture or a business, so you need to be able to build trust with people to represent their brand or their face, and for them to believe you can do the job properly.

I do a lot of portrait photography and getting a good photograph is 90% about being good with people, and 10% about knowing how the camera works.

That’s not what I thought it would be when I started; I thought it would all be very technical, and that I’d always be thinking about lighting! Of course, the tech and lighting are important, but to get the best shots you need to work with someone’s personality, which may mean spending some time with the camera down talking about who they are, what they like, and how they think about themselves.

Some people can be so terrified of having their photo taken that you might not even pick up a camera for an hour, and spend it chatting instead while they get comfortable.

With a portrait session I think there’s an optimum length of time – if you take too long people get bored or worried, but if you’re too quick you don’t develop the trust you need to get a great picture. Around an hour usually works well, but if it’s someone who has a busy diary I may have to do what I can in two minutes!

Are the people you photograph sometimes quite surprised by the finished result?

They can be. I was approached recently at an event by the head of one of the organisations I work with, who told me the photograph I’d taken of her was the first time she’d really seen herself looking as she felt she really was. That’s a great privilege and a very special feeling.

This industry can be really moving – I’ve had people become very emotional during a portrait shoot, because of how personal the idea of their image can be to them – and often you get surprising insights into people’s personalities and lives.

What’s the most difficult thing about photoshoots?

To be honest, there are no easy shoots – just ones that haven’t got complicated yet!

You should never go to a job thinking it’s going to be easy, as you might end up having to shoot in a terrible, poorly-lit venue, have less time than you expected or the client might burst into tears. However, I think the harder you have to work, the better the pictures, as you’ve then got to rely a lot on your creativity. 

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I do a lot of portrait photography and getting a good photograph is 90% about being good with people, and 10% about knowing how the camera works.

Sadiq Khan Š Paul Clarke

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Apart from having to shoot in terrible venues, what are some problems photographers might come across in their work?

Not just photographers, but a lot of enthusiastic creatives – particularly those new to the industry – tend to fall into the trap of agreeing to do the job for free out of love for their craft.

Many clients have spotted this trend, sadly, and exploit this enthusiasm. My advice is to charge, even if only for expenses if you’re just starting out, and you’ll present yourself as a valuable commodity and not as someone to be taken advantage of.

What event has been your most enjoyable to shoot?

The zombie wedding... I love shooting weddings, big PR events and really unusual occasions, and this was all three!

The event was organised by a video game company; in exchange for covering all the costs, they turned the real-life wedding of two of their fans into a promo for a new game.

The wedding was held in a former church with makeup artists and designers on hand to turn everyone into zombies – including the vicar! Capturing real feelings, and details like the wedding cake that looked like a brain, made the event really fun to shoot.

The New QC © Paul Clarke

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What one event – past or present – would you love to shoot or have shot?

I used to want to shoot the 2016 Olympics opening ceremony in Rio, and had even thought out a way to make this happen.

I realised, however, that I wouldn’t be able to connect with people, and would probably end up with the same shots that the world’s press were getting, so I had a re-think.

I think I’d actually really love to have been in the pit at Eurovision in Lisbon recently and do the behind-the-scenes shots – that sort of festival of raw emotion and theatre seems like it must be really fantastic to photograph.

What do you most enjoy about working in photography?

It has to be the incredible variety of the job. “No two days are the same” can be a bit of a cliché, but for a photographer the range can be pretty extreme. Recently, I spent a day with Bill Gates and the Prince of Wales and the next day I was on a hotel staircase improvising a studio to take portraits of conference guests. 

To see more of Paul’s work visit paulclarke.com

Zombie Wedding Š Paul Clarke

Zombie Bridesmaid Š Paul Clarke

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Oxford University philosophy and theology student Megan not only studies full-time, but also works as the head of publicity and press relations at the Oxford Union (OU), organising some of the most controversial debates with some of the most famous – and infamous – characters. In this article, Megan tells us all about meeting her idols and explains how, if you love what you do, you’re already on the path to success.

ENCOUNTERING your

IDOLS...

THE OXFORD UNION WITH OC MEGAN BENNETT

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What is the Oxford Union?

The Oxford Union (OU) is a speaking, debating, and socialising society that was established in 1823 as a bastion of free speech at a time in British history where that right was being challenged. The OU has a pedigree of inviting often controversial figures to speak on contentious topics.

The OU is principally a place of storytelling where speakers and debaters from all walks of life share their experience with members.

How did you start working at the OU? I started off as the press officer at the OU, and was in charge of making events news announcements on the social media channels. Now, however, I am the head of publicity and press relations. This involves inviting famous – and often infamous – characters to events at the OU, and advertising these events in local, national and sometimes even international press.

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$100m (around £70m) from essentially betting against the US economy. The motion was, obviously, very contentious and tempers were running high, but I believe that’s the spirit of the OU. Have there ever been any infamous characters who have given talks at the OU? There have been many such characters! Some of the most notable include O. J. Simpson who appeared at the OU in 1996 in his first public appearance since his acquittal for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. In 2015, Marine Le Pen, leader of the alt-right French party Front National, made an appearance which resulted in a 400-person protest!

It’s important to note, however, that whilst the OU hosts these people, that doesn’t mean it condones their views; if a society is going to defend free speech its speakers cannot just be of one kind.

People say you should never meet your idols. What’s your take on this?

Whilst I agree that your idols may not live up to your expectations, I do think it can be inspiring to meet them; you get a unique opportunity to see them in real life and realise just how normal and like you your idols are!

What advice would you give to others hoping to organise high-profile events such as the ones at the OU? I highly recommend joining any student clubs or societies that have ties to the media and/or advertising industry; this can help you to make connections that could prove useful later on. Everyone currently working in the press industry will have started out in a similar position to the one you’re in right now, and you’ll often find they’re very keen to help newbies in the industry.

I also suggest that, if you haven’t already done so, make yourself a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a really useful tool to formalise contacts you make and to find a job, internship or work experience.

Finally, I’ve done everything I have based on what I love. I think if you do what you love, you’re more likely to succeed.

What’s been your favourite debate at the OU so far?

My favourite debate is definitely the one discussing the motion “this house regrets blaming Wall Street for the global financial crisis”. One of the speakers was businessman and investor Steve Eisman, who made

What would you like to do in the future?

I hope to have a career dealing with East-West relations and in particular, ways of conflict resolution that involve an in-depth appreciation and understanding of Asian culture and religion. 

It’s fascinating work and has brought me into contact with a number of really interesting people, from the likes of the President of France Emmanuel Macron to music artist Justin Timberlake. I’ve even met activist and fashion designer Monica Lewinsky (whom I helped fix her stiletto heels!) and Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, who’s studying at Lady Margaret Hall. It’s such a unique opportunity to be able to meet your idols in person, and in such a beautiful, historic place.

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CATERHAM CURRENTLY

CATERHAM SCHOOL SOCIETY FIREWORKS NIGHT It was wonderful to see so many people enjoy the annual Caterham Fireworks on Saturday 11 November 2017, supported by the Parents’ Association.

Once again the Firepit Company, by Andy Gage, kindly provided one of their stunning sculptural firepits for us to use during our firework display.

Well over 1,000 people attended and watched the space-themed fireworks in awe! A huge thank you to all of the Parents’ Association volunteers who manned the stalls, to John Dodwell and his team, and all who made this event possible.

WORLD CUP STAR MATT DAWSON OPENS CATERHAM SCHOOL’S SPORTS PAVILION World-Cup-winning England Rugby star and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Matt Dawson MBE spent the day at Caterham School on Monday 27 November 2017 to officially open the School’s new sports pavilion.

The BBC Question of Sport captain met all Year 9 and 10 pupils with a special assembly during which Matt reviewed the highs and lows of his international career. He offered invaluable advice on combining study and training, plus how to cope with tough times and success.

Caterham School’s Sixth Form sportsmen and women enjoyed a dedicated session with Matt focusing on nutrition and maintaining peak performance.

Caterham School’s new facility is based at the School’s Hill Fields site and also provides a base for local sports clubs including the Old Caterhamians Rugby Club and Caterham Cricket Club.

On opening the new pavilion Matt said: “I have been incredibly impressed with the pupils I’ve met today and the fantastic facilities

I’ve seen at Caterham. More than that, this new pavilion represents a unique link between the School and the local community, between school sport and club sport, which is fantastic and is to be encouraged.”

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TES AWARD WINNER

APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL

Caterham School proudly accepted the award for ‘Best Use of Technology’ Award at the TES Independent School Awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London on Thursday 8 February.

This award recognises “measureable excellence in the use of education technology by a school”. In September 2016, Caterham opened a new Innovation Centre that includes a robotics centre, a virtual-reality room, a green screen/editing room, animation pods, a video conferencing room and the base for a drone that films in high definition.

Of the Innovation Centre, the TES Independent School Awards judges said: “Caterham’s innovation centre has done that, bringing together technology and opportunity, and allowing pupils to thrive as a result.”

Caterham School has once again been recognised as a leading school for its application of technology in teaching and learning with the extension of the School’s Apple Distinguished status.

The School is one of only a handful of UK schools be formally accredited as an Apple Distinguished School.

The extension of Caterham’s Apple status follows the execution of a best practice programme to integrate the use of iPads alongside traditional teaching methods. Since the full roll-out of the programme in September 2015, students have used iPads in a range of innovative ways, including receiving instructive and interactive verbal marking and feedback on homework via their iPads.

GREEN AWARENESS WEEK Green awareness week in February was a great success.

The launch of Caterham School’s initiative to become free from disposable plastic bottles from September 2018 went down very well and is now very poignant after the government’s decision to introduce a deposit system on plastic drinks bottles and cans.

Pupils were informed via assemblies of the need to become more aware of their environment. One topic raised was the need to reduce our meat consumption and, in response to this, a vegetarian lunch was delivered to all pupils across the school site on Thursday 22 March.

A green committee will be launched in the summer term giving pupils and staff a forum from which to develop new green initiatives.

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CHOIR TOUR TO BELGIUM

WORLD BOOK DAY THURSDAY 8 MARCH

Two of our choirs, the Eric Thiman Singers (ETS) and the Chamber Choir, performed three magnificent concerts in Belgium over the February half term.

The first concert, at St. George’s Memorial Church in Ypres, a small parish church, perfectly suited the repertoire themed around peace. Bob Chilcott’s Peace Mass and other anthems such as In Flander’s Fields had particular significance in this church that commemorated pupils of British schools who died in the Great War. The choirs then performed underneath the Menin Gate singing two beautiful acapella pieces chosen for their powerful words. The audience were visibly moved to tears as the voices soared in the acoustics of this historical monument to the fallen. The final performance, in Ghent Cathedral, showcased beautifully the high standards of the ETS and the Chamber Choir in a recital that spanned choral music from Purcell to Goodall.

All singers should be congratulated on their professionalism and musicality throughout this tour. Many parents attended the concerts and it was wonderful to have shared some special musical moments with them in Belgium.

We refused to be thwarted by the snow and re-ran World Book Day this March.

Hundreds of children Dropped Everything And Read at 11.15 and staff from across the school dressed up in a variety of different costumes: Elphaba, the Woman in Black, the Boy with Two Heads, the White Witch, an Oompa Loompa, Stevens the butler and Daisy Buchanan, to name but a few! Students competed to spot all the characters, and staff from the English department delivered assemblies to all the different houses.

In the Prep and Pre-Prep everyone came dressed as a character from a book, following a whole week of bookish activities (creating book nooks, reading in unlikely places, scavenging words and researching their favourite authors). Perhaps the highlight of the day was when our U6 English literature pupils went down to the Nursery to read their favourite childhood books to the youngest members of our school community.

MONCRIEFF JONES SOCIETY ANNUAL LECTURE On Monday 26 February, the Moncrieff Jones Society held the second lecture of their jubilee year, this time on the topic of coral reefs.

The speaker, a marine ecologist, lecturer and guide for a recent expedition of Caterham pupils to Honduras, Max Bodmer, gave a fascinating insight into his field of expertise. Max spoke captivatingly about what corals actually are and the fascinating organisms that live in such ecosystems, and outlined the threat faced by coral reefs from modern-day human activity and measures that can be taken by humans to conserve the reefs.

We are grateful to Max for braving the wintry weather to come to Caterham to share his considerable expertise on coral reefs.

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RORY SELECTED AS YOUTH MP Congratulations to Sixth Form pupil Rory who has been elected youth MP for Surrey, one of only 300 young people to hold the role across the UK. Rory’s election to youth MP followed on from his selection as a youth councillor of Tandridge in the Surrey youth cabinet. The role will see him meet with MPs and cabinet ministers, in addition to attending meetings in the House of Commons, whilst representing young people from across the area.

In addition to his selection as youth MP, Rory is also the youth cabinet minister for education, covering the impact of education policy on young people.

ROCKET CAR CHALLENGE Rocket-powered cars were seen travelling at incredible speeds across the netball courts on Thursday 8 March.

Inspired by the efforts of the Bloodhound SSC team in their attempt to build the world’s first 1000-mph car, pupils in the First Year have been working in their computing, science, 3D and maths lessons to design and create their own cars powered by a solid rocket motor.

Pupils were provided with a rectangular block of Styrofoam and some wheels. From this they were challenged to design what they thought would be the

fastest car to travel along a 35-metre race track. They could not control the thrust provided by the solid rocket motor, but they could use their knowledge of forces, weight and aerodynamics from their science lessons to design a car to travel as fast possible. They then sculpted their designs in 3D lessons, with many also giving up their lunchtimes to do so. The cars were also fitted with microbit technology, which pupils learned to program in their computing lessons, to enable them to record forces such as acceleration as well as being used for the timing gates.

Pupils were provided with a rectangular block of Styrofoam and some wheels.

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CONCERT AT ST. JAMES’S PICCADILLY Caterham’s musicians and singers once again performed a magnificent concert in the beautiful venue of St James’s Piccadilly on Friday 9 March.

The theme this year was music by British and American composers. The concert opened with an epic performance of Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna – a modern, powerful work by one of America’s most prominent choral composers. This was performed by both the Eric Thiman Singers (ETS) and the Chamber Choir, and left the audience spellbound with their emotive rendition.

Joined by a professional string ensemble, the choirs, that included pupils from the Prep School, sang this demanding piece superbly well and demonstrated great

musicality and professionalism. Other choral items included Elgar’s Ave Verum Corpus by ETS and Purcell’s moving Dido’s Lament by the Chamber Choir. Special mention must go to Alyssa (Fourth Year) for her outstanding solo.

Chamber music was provided by the Clarinet Quartet and Brass Ensemble who performed complex and demanding works. Vivaldi String Orchestra left the audience in awe as they performed to perfection, Barber’s Adagio. This incredibly powerful work has been used in countless films as a soundtrack that depicts immense tragedy and misery, captured expertly by our own musicians in this concert.

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DRONE SQUADRON READY FOR TAKE OFF! Pupils in the Third Year have been learning to fly drones in their computer science lessons.

However, it’s far too easy to fly a drone with a traditional controller so we teach our pupils to program their drones instead!

After an introduction to yaw, pitch, roll and gaz pupils learned how to write lines of programming code on their iPads in the language Swift to control the drones. They soon had them taking off, hovering and landing.

Challenges to fly their drones in controlled horizontal and vertical square formations were quickly completed, all the time controlling the drones speed and distance.

As soon as the basics were mastered more complicated manoeuvres were introduced, the most popular of which was flipping the drone mid-flight. Drones were seen flying across the Wilberforce Hall, flipping and returning to their owners. The most complex programming of the day required pupils to make their drones ascend and descend in a spiral formation. This took a great deal of thought and some very precise programming, but its success brought great adulation.

LONDON STAGE FOR ZOE Zoe is following in the footsteps of Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran and Grammy Award nominee Sam Smith.

Zoe was selected by Youth Music Theatre UK (YMT), the leading music theatre company for young people, and performed on the musical stage in London’s West End this Easter in a new musical adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles, from 5 – 14 April at The Other Palace Theatre.

Youth Music Theatre UK has helped shape the careers of many, including Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran and Grammy Award nominee Sam Smith. For Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Gerry Flanagan directs a comic and heart-rending adaptation which deftly combines spellbinding songs by Pippa Cleary (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 ), with vibrant storytelling and physical comedy to amazing effect.

FRENCH SOCIETY ESSAY PRIZE On Tuesday 20 March, we were delighted to welcome the Caterham Rotary Club who came to award the prizes for the annual Prix de la Paix essay competition.

Our winner was Upper Sixth pupil Anastasia. Many congratulations as well to the two Lower Sixth runners-up, Isabel and Flavia. We also had the pleasure to welcome OC Megan, currently in her first year at Durham University, who gave a fascinating and most interesting talk about studying languages at university, en français, bien sûr! A great way to end the term.

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MADLIVE On Friday 23 March, the sixth annual MADlive was finally able to take place, having been postponed following the ‘beast from the East’.

Cast and crew rallied and put together a magnificent evening of entertainment, showcasing our wonderful musicians and dancers from across the year groups.

Notable highlights included the Soul Band, who kicked off the evening with their own set of soul classics, our newly-formed dance crews performing to Charlie Puth’s How Long and Bruno Mars’ Runaway Baby, and a performance by Morgan and Nathan showcasing their own music.

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TALK FROM HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR RUDI OPPENHEIMER We were delighted to welcome back Holocaust survivor Rudi Oppenheimer to talk to the Third Year about his experiences.

Rudi was kind enough to stay for the afternoon of Wednesday 21 March where he told pupils of his experiences moving from Germany to Amsterdam and then his time in several concentration camps. Our pupils asked a range of interesting and thoughtful questions and remained enraptured during the talk.

We are enormously lucky that we can still have this experience, and it was a talk that will remain with our pupils for a very long time indeed.

PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATING COMPETITION FINAL The final of the house public speaking and debating competition has become one of the highlights of the annual calendar and this year was no exception.

We were enormously impressed by the range of prose, verses and topics chosen by the junior competitors, which ranged from Funeral Blues by W. H. Auden to E. B. White’s classic Charlotte’s Web. All of our junior competitors competed with confidence and flair, no mean feat when asked to stand up and deliver in front of a room full of people. Particular congratulations goes to the winners the Underwood team comprising of Isabel, Thomas and Sophia. As usual, our inters competitors (Third to Fifth Year) took part in an English Speaking Union-style debate, with topics including gender inequality and mental illness, unequal pay in sport and corruption within politics.

Once again it was Underwood – comprising of Nell (speaker), Matthew (questioner) and Ben (chair) – who emerged victorious. We were particularly impressed by the standard across all three roles of their team. Our senior debate was on the motion ‘this House believes that UK democracy is in crisis’. The judges were enormously impressed by the performance of both the proposition (Ridgefield) and their opponents Lewisham.

Congratulations to Lewisham’s team comprising of Rory, Anna and Neil for winning a very tough debate indeed. The night was a wonderful display of the myriad of interests our pupils have and an enjoyable and stimulating time was had by all.

CCF CADETS’ ASSESSMENT A platoon of Fourth Year cadets from the Army Section, under the leadership of their Sixth Form NCOs, deployed to Pippingford Park Training Areas in East Sussex on Friday 23 March for a demanding exercise in fieldcraft and tactics.

The morning saw the cadets trained, practised and assessed in section battle drills; each section completed four increasingly-slick attacks on enemy positions as cadets began to appreciate their roles in their sections and fire-teams and their NCOs mastered command and control.

In the afternoon, the cadets made their way over a perilous river crossing to their second phase – ambushes.

Lt Tyldesley and Capt Wilkinson rehearsed the sections before the corporals led them in a daring river-bank ambush on some hapless foes. Both phases of the day were assessed as part of the cadets’ army proficiency certificate from special to arm infantry. All cadets passed the test.

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PA JAZZ NIGHT Over 100 parents and friends of the School enjoyed a wonderful musical evening on Thursday 10 May as they heard the award-winning jazz quartet Mr and Mrs.

OVER 60S LONDON LUNCH Our termly Over 60s London Lunches continued on Friday 11 May as OCs from School leaving years ranging from 1940 to 1968. Thank you to all who came along!

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BEHIND EVERY

BRAND CREATIVE MIND...

THERE’S A

L

ucy Brymer (OC 1994 – 2009) is one of the creative minds behind the adverts of a wide range of popular brands across magazines such as Marie Claire, Woman & Home and Look. In this article, Lucy reveals what it takes to work in such a fast-paced industry, and her secret to enjoying Mondays. 

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What does your day-to-day work as Senior Project Manager at Time Inc. involve?

My role is incredibly varied and no two days are the same which is why I enjoy my job so much. I work in the advertising department at Time Inc. (UK) and work across all of the titles including Marie Claire, Look, Woman & Home and Ideal Home running print, social, digital and event campaigns.

The clients we work with are varied, from large brands such as TRESemme, Tesco and River Island, to smaller niche brands on our specialist titles, such as Horse & Hound, Rugby Monthly and Cycling Weekly.

One week I may be organising the cover shoot for Look magazine, to managing sponsors at a large-scale event such as the NME Awards, to running online digital and social campaigns.

What has been the most exciting project you’ve worked on at Time Inc. and why?

There have been so many! The first project I took on when I joined was monthly photoshoots for Sainsbury’s to promote their seasonal homeware launches which was really exciting as I had to learn very quickly the ins and outs of how print photoshoots work and source location houses, studios, equipment and crews.

I had no idea so much went on behind the scenes just for one image people flick through in a magazine.

I’m currently working on a great campaign for NIVEA launching their Micellar water with Look magazine. This has been really full-on but great fun nevertheless, as the client and agency we work alongside are lovely.

I’m about to set off on my biggest campaign yet with Neff in conjunction with Woman & Home magazine. For this, we are converting a vintage Citroen truck into a Neff kitchen and travelling across the UK to find regional food suppliers where we will cook up amazing, local recipes with a well known chef.

Look out for the Food Odyssey on Woman & Home in August!

What traits do you have to have to be successful in advertising?

You need to be creative, persistent, organised and resilient 100% of the time.

What do you hope to do in the future?

I’d love to stay in magazine publishing. With print in decline, it’s an ever-changing and fast-paced industry as we try to find exciting and creative ways to maintain readership.

Ultimately, I’d love to freelance around the major publishing houses to expand my experience across a large portfolio of print and digital titles.

What advice would you give others hoping to follow a similar career path?

Talk to people, use your networks and take whatever opportunities you can. Advertising can be difficult to break into, but all of the work experience and internships will pay off in the end. I also truly believe you should spend the time looking for jobs that you’ll enjoy – when you are interested in the clients, campaigns and magazine titles, it makes Mondays a lot easier! 

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TEAM CATERHAM

An interview with sportsman

CHE

OCHUGBOJU (OC 2015 – 2017)

Caterham School was delighted to offer you a bursary to join the Sixth Form in 2015. You came to our attention because of our connection with Harlequins Rugby Club – how did you get involved with the Harlequins and what first drew you to playing rugby?

It was actually by chance that I started playing rugby.

My school in south London didn’t have a big sport curriculum but, luckily for me, employed a PE teacher who wanted to teach rugby. I had always been good at athletics and the idea of playing in a team was new to me, but I liked the companionship of the game and its physicality. As we began to play against more established rugby-playing schools, I realised I could compete against other players which fuelled my desire to play rugby even more. During a game against another school I was spotted

by Old Ruts Club who asked me to play and train with them. It was around that time I started to consider rugby as my sport and as an identity for me.

A year later I was invited to join the Harlequins Developing Player Programme (DPP) and that’s when I started to take the game seriously. Being a part of the DPP exposed me to a higher level of coaching and playing which gave me the confidence that I could play at the top level. It was fantastic to meet the 1st XV players and witness how they train and look at the game – all of this made me want to be a better player.

environment that would keep me grounded and focused on sport and study.

I remember looking at the Caterham School website and thinking I didn’t know schools could be like that; woodland and acres of green fields were not everyday sights growing up in south London! I was keen to grab this opportunity and I was hungry to learn and grow as a person.

How did you first hear about Caterham School, and what inspired you to apply to study here?

I first heard about Caterham School from my Old Ruts and Harlequins coaches. Both Harlequins and my coach at Old Ruts thought it would be good for me to move to an

What is your favourite memory of your time at Caterham School, and why?

There are far too many good memories to pick just one! But, my favourite sport memory is the first day of the HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens Tournament,

You boarded in Viney House. What surprised you about life as a boarder and what were your first impressions of the School?

I had seen boarding schools in films but didn’t know what it would be like in real life. The biggest surprise was the amount of rules; I hadn’t realised I wouldn’t be able to walk into town when I wanted – and made that mistake once or twice!

Caterham itself felt quiet, spacious and green. It was very different to the hustle and bustle I had come from.

At first I felt quite lost, as moving to Caterham was a big adjustment, but I quickly found my feet. I liked that I had the opportunity to meet new people from different places – in some ways it was like being in central London where you never know who you are going to meet. The level of study was much more than I was used to, but the teachers really helped me – without them I would have fallen behind.

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a competition for the best rugby-playing schools in the country. We were up against some tough competition – Queen Ethelburga’s, Newport Dragons Academy, Exeter Chiefs Academy and local rivals Hurstpierpoint. Having won the first three games, we had to beat Exeter Chiefs Academy in order to get through to the final 16. We were on a narrow pitch and it was fiercely competitive but we won. I even managed to score the decisive try. We achieved something really special as a group that day. It was the best feeling on the field!

Outside of rugby, rugby sevens, athletics and getting my grades I didn’t have much downtime, but I made a lot of friends. Before starting my school studies I was incredibly lucky to go on the School’s rugby tour to Argentina.

This was a great experience, and provided me with an opportunity to dive straight in and make friendships.

You have just finished your first year of a degree in business at Leeds Beckett University. Why did you choose to study business and how are you finding life as a university student?

Studying business seemed like a natural choice for me – I enjoyed my A Level business classes at Caterham School and enjoy studying a subject with so many real life applications. Living in Leeds is allowing me to experience life in a city with a strong rugby culture and opportunities for playing, alongside a lively social scene. Leeds Beckett itself is one of a small number of universities that are part of the British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS), a super rugby programme. Classes are much bigger than anything at school and you don’t get as much support when it comes to study. You have to motivate yourself and get on with less help!

How has your rugby developed since you moved to Leeds?

At the end of last year I joined the Yorkshire Carnegie Rugby Academy and am currently being loaned out to Otley Rugby Club who play in National Two South (the fourth tier of rugby). This is a learning experience as I’m playing and training with senior adult players who have a wealth of experience that I can benefit from. Playing national league rugby is a great opportunity, as it exposes me to the physicality and speed of adult rugby playing with lots of guys who have played at a high level. I’m really enjoying being in this environment, and hope to progress through the leagues in the coming seasons.

I’m not playing university rugby at the moment, as I’ve been picked up by the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy and think that’s better for me. I plan to stay with the academy and progress as far as I can – right now I’m 19 and the academy is for players aged up to 24.

Looking ahead to life after university, what are your hopes for the future?

I would like to keep playing rugby at the highest level I can. Ultimately I hope to become a full time player and

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compete on the larger stage. The Yorkshire Carnegie Academy is a good stepping stone for this, as it helps me to keep fit and stay healthy. A lot of what I do at the Academy involves working hard to adapt to different teams as I have found that, once I do, I play my best.

This summer I am going to play in some Rugby Sevens competitions, and will keep working hard and remaining positive for the future. Whatever happens, rugby is always going to be a big part of my life and I will always see myself as an athlete. I have other parts of my life that are important to me, but being an athlete is at the core of everything I do and am. If I hadn’t had that passion I would not have been able to go to Caterham School and be doing what I’m doing now.

Offering bursaries that allow talented young people like you to benefit from a Caterham School education is very important to the School, and we would love to be able to offer more. Now that you have left Caterham School, how would you describe your experience here?

What do you think your time at Caterham has enabled you to achieve now or in the future?

Coming to Caterham School was life-changing and character-building. It helped open my eyes to the world, and prepared me for after I left. The School put a good head on my shoulders and gave me the confidence to feel capable in my own abilities. I didn’t know how things would work out when I first arrived, but good things came from it. Hard work pays off and being at Caterham School many doors for me.

What advice would you give to future pupils who join Caterham School through Harlequins Rugby Club or who have the chance to join similar schemes?

I have three pieces of advice; firstly, listen to your coach. Secondly, do what you love and do it with passion.

Lastly, don’t get frustrated when things don’t go your way – keep your head up and believe in yourself. 

Caterham’s Bursary Fund If you would like to support or hear more about Caterham School’s bursary fund please contact Emma Collings, Development Manager: development@caterhamschool.co.uk tel: 01883 335111

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CHARITY WORK

Free to Be

By Emma Biddiscombe (OC 2011 – 2016)

F

ree to Be is a volunteer-led charity that supports children and young people to help create lasting change for their emotional health.

Thrive Outside is the therapeutic residential programme organised by Free to Be that provides respite breaks to 8–13 year olds from challenging home circumstances and offers them horizon-widening opportunities, chances to feel brave, adventurous and a sense of belonging. The adult volunteers help the children develop social skills and confidence by modelling ways of overcoming challenges and adversity, reflecting children’s successes back to them and providing warm, positive attention throughout the programme.

I spent a week volunteering as a group leader on Thrive Outside, and was paired with another volunteer to lead ‘the Pixies’, a group of four girls between the ages of 9 and 11.

A typical day on this programme might involve a trip to a farm in the morning to meet the animals, a picnic in a park and then an afternoon spent at a swimming pool.

Throughout the day it was important to make sure everyone was having fun, and points would be handed out to the children for trying something new or doing something well.

It was great to see so many girls in my group becoming more confident and enjoying being children.

After a busy day, we would come back to our basecamp for a short break, and, due to the presence of a bouncy castle and lots of face paints, I would usually end up out of breath and various colours of the rainbow!

In the evening, there would always be an activity before dinner, and occasionally we would camp outside and have a barbecue. Bedtime always involved hot chocolate and a bedtime story. This was when I discovered that – luckily – children find it quite hard to pretend to be asleep without actually falling asleep!

I had so much fun on this project, and it was great to see the girls in my group becoming more confident and enjoying being children. A highlight was our trip to the beach as, for a couple of the children, this was their first time seeing the sea.

How to get involved: It is so easy to get involved, as Free to Be provide a training day for all new volunteers so you just need to bring your enthusiasm! To find out more you can visit the website freetobekids.org.uk/volunteer or email: recruitment@freetobekids.org.uk Please also feel free to contact me (via the School’s alumni office: oldcats@caterhamschool.co.uk) if you have any questions about this project.

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Beechhanger Boarders Fundraise for Altevette School

On Monday 19 March pupils in Beechhanger house were pleased to donate the £400 they had raised to sponsor a pupil of Altevette School, a school providing accommodation and education for girls from impoverished families in the remote Mustang Highlands of Nepal. £350 will pay for the living costs and accommodation of a pupil for one year. The school provides the only education for girls in the region, providing opportunities for the pupils, without which their choices are very limited by poverty. The rest of the money raised will contribute towards repairs to the infrastructure of the school or teaching costs. Co-founder of the school, Linda Ambrose, came to Beechanger to tell the girls some more about the school, and accept the money on behalf of Altevette School. A new partnership begins…

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Lerang’wa Lunches Award

Caterham School’s ‘Lerang’wa Lunches’ has been given an award by the Longido District government.

Our fundraising to support the infrastructure and diet of the vulnerable Masai children at our partner school in Tanzania continues to have a direct, positive impact. Whilst debate about the role of aid rages, our long standing mutual relationship and commitment with Lerang’wa School is seen as an example of how true partnership can work for the good of all.

Tanzania Pupil Sponsorship

Second Year Super Fundraiser Since Christmas, Second Year pupil, Ryo, has raised over £800 for World Bicycle Relief, an international, non-profit organization that specializes in large-scale, comprehensive bicycle distribution programs to aid poverty relief in developing countries around the world.

Ryo started doing this as part of his Second Year Challenge award which all Second Years complete over the year, earning a bronze, silver or gold award at the end. The Second Year Challenge recognises pupils’ extra-curricular commitments in school and their community fundraising outside of school.

Ryo has taken this very seriously and is well on his way to raising an incredible amount of money for his chosen charity.

Mrs Roberts’s Second Year tutor group have been sponsoring Lutha, a pupil their own age, through school in Tanzania for over a year.

The tutor group raises £30 a month to fulfil this commitment and pay for his schooling. Lutha writes to the group regularly with news from rural Tanzania, much of it based on his role on the small family farm after school. A fantastic project – initiated by the pupils themselves!

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AN INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEW WITH

HENRY FOK (OC 1990 – 1996)

A

t eight years old, Henry moved from Hong Kong to board at Caterham, filled with a spirit of adventure. Now, Henry is still living an adventure and has his own photography business henry-f.com and captures some of the most special moments in people’s lives.

Read on to find out more about what Henry believes boarding in Caterham has taught him, and why you should always follow your dreams… 

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How did you feel about coming all the way from Hong Kong to boarding school in the UK?

I was really excited to come to Caterham in 1990! The furthest away from home I had been at that point was on holiday with my parents in Thailand, so going to the UK felt like a real adventure! I remember the day I said goodbye to my parents at the airport in Hong Kong – they were in tears, but I had this big beaming smile on my face!

What were the challenges you faced adjusting to life at Caterham School?

Language was definitely the most difficult challenge for me. Going from a country where I didn’t need a word of English, to having to speak it from the moment I got up to the moment I went to sleep was tough. However, I got a lot of support from my teachers at Caterham, which definitely made me feel more comfortable in those early years being so far away from home.

What advice would you give Caterham boarders feeling homesick?

There was no such thing as the Internet or Facebook when I first went to Caterham, so I had a diary in which I’d write down my thoughts. Being able to put these thoughts and feelings into words helped me to process them, so I highly recommend doing that, if that’s your sort of thing. I also wrote letters to my family and friends every week to feel connected to them even though they were nearly 6,000 miles away!

What skills do you think boarding at Caterham has helped you to develop?

In today’s connected world, I think it’s really important to be able to get on with many different people. I was lucky that, when boarding at Caterham, I was building relationships with people from all over the globe from a very early age. The experiences I had whilst at Caterham helped prepare me mentally for all the ups and downs of real life, and I became a more well-rounded person whilst making a lot of great friends along the way!

What career path have you taken?

I studied civil engineering at the University of British Columbia, but then, when I graduated, I got a job with Adidas managing their factories all over the world. This was a great job, and I got a lot of experience, but after about five years the stress of the workload and long hours on the job began to get to me.

By that point, I had been shooting weddings for a number of years, and this photography business was starting to pick up. I was also inspired by the photographer who shot my own wedding back in 2007, as he was on his own when he started out, but, over the four years since my wedding, his business had grown because of his drive to succeed. This gave me the much-needed confidence to just go for it and open my own business. 

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I truly believe you should follow your dreams – fulfilling my dream of working full-time on my own photography business was the best decision I ever made, and I haven’t looked back since.

Visit Henry’s website at: henry-f.com

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The

MATHS behind

MOTORSPORT WITH JONNY SAMPSON (OC 1999 – 2013)

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J

onny Sampson is an astrophysics graduate with a passion for all things F1. Here, he gives us an insight into how he broke into F1, and the all-important maths that is behind the wins of major motorsports moguls.

You have an unusual career for someone who studied astrophysics – how did you end up working for F1 Management?

Anyone who knew me growing up knew that I was always big on F1.

Initially, I was looking for work during the long university holidays, and eventually found a summer job working as an archivist with F1.

This mostly involved logging the raw camera footage that comes back from a race. This footage is eventually used to make videos for television and social media.

After I graduated I worked part-time on the F1 social media team producing images and graphics to be posted on Twitter and Facebook during races. Occasionally, I also worked on the live broadcast team playing clips from the race team radio. I then applied for, and got, a full-time job as an analyst, which I

started at the beginning of this year.

There is a fantastic sense of camaraderie in my current team, and we have a lot of fun joking around in the office and at the track. However, when a session starts there is an intense focus as everyone concentrates on their own tasks.

What does a typical day as an F1 data analyst look like?

Usually, I’m working on analysing both timing data and telemetry from cars during races, as this helps determine the performance of each car on a given track.

Among other things, I’m also responsible for writing race summary reports for broadcasters like Sky and ESPN. These reports are full of insights into car fuel consumption, overtakes and other stories from a race that F1 enthusiasts love to hear about. 

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Have you ever met any famous F1 drivers?

Weirdly, I’ve not yet met any drivers through my job. However, I did meet Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher in the paddock at a race I was watching as a fan back in 2005.

Jenson Button in particular was very friendly and welcoming, and I was surprised how much time he could spare for a 10 year old on a race day, even if it was just for a quick chat. I also met his late father, John, that day and had a very long conversation with him about F1 in general and about Jenson. It was fantastic.

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We work with a lot of bespoke software that was built in-house as what we do is pretty unique.

What’s your favourite F1 team?

I don’t really have a favourite team as I prefer to see exciting racing, with lots of overtaking and drama, rather than supporting a particular team.

However, if I had to choose a favourite driver it would be Daniel Ricciardo; he is very laid-back, but also a fierce competitor and one of the quickest racers on the track.

What skills do you think an F1 data analyst needs to have?

A data analyst’s job is very maths-based, so good arithmetic skills are vital. A good grounding in IT has also helped me immensely, as we work with a lot of bespoke software that was built in-house as what we do is pretty unique.

During your time at university, you briefly worked as a graduate research officer. What skills did this help develop, and would you recommend working whilst studying?

I highly recommend working whilst studying if you can. From a personal point of view, my physics degree helped me get very good at analysing numbers. But, working as a research officer, a very peopleorientated role, meant I developed my interpersonal skills, which are really useful later on in life.

How did Caterham influence your career path?

I wouldn’t be in this job if it weren’t for Caterham; there aren’t many situations in life where one needs to analyse the telemetry from a racing car, but it never phased me because I was confident in my core maths skills and presenting data in an understandable way. I’m particularly grateful to Mr Anderson who helped me with the latter!

Caterham also fostered my love of sport (I played on the 1st XV rugby team during the Sixth Form). There are many aspects of my job which are oddly similar to a rugby team, such as doing well under pressure, and working well in a team. I think it was the team-vibe in particular that drew me to this current job.

What advice would you give to other Caterhamians hoping to follow a similar career path to yours?

I think work experience is invaluable when trying to get in to any industry, not least because this helps you to make contacts that might be useful later on.

Above all, if you find something you enjoy, throw yourself in to it wholeheartedly. I am extremely lucky that I can combine my love for F1 with my love for maths, and I believe it is this enthusiasm that helped me land the job. 

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Read about a variety of university courses from OCs who are currently studying

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PHYSICS AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

By Philippa Baliman (OC 2014 – 2016), second year undergraduate at UCL

WHAT? Students of physics get the opportunity to study a variety of modules, from classical mechanics to astrophysics and thermodynamics. My favourite module is definitely thermodynamics because of its wide-ranging real-life application, but I’ve also been enjoying studying computer programming!

I love the intensity of the course I’m on; I was thrown in at the deep end to start with, having been given some very complicated mathematics to study, combined with a lot of lectures, but I’ve made a lot of friendships with fellow students because of this.

WHERE? UCL was in fact my insurance choice; I narrowly missed out on the opportunity to study natural sciences at Cambridge. However, I think it’s extremely important to dispel the myth that not getting into Oxbridge results in a lifetime of misery. I think everything happens for a reason and the amazing people I’ve met and the lifestyle I enjoy at UCL assures me that this is where I’m meant to be.

Living in London is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and there’s so much to do; I particularly enjoy going to galleries, as well as dance and theatre shows.

WHY? I always found the sciences particularly interesting because they offer logical and analytical explanations of the world around us. In particular, I chose physics because I believe it to be one of the most progressive sciences.

I’m also one for subverting stereotypes, so the added benefit of studying a typically male-dominated discipline is extremely gratifying.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? Although I have a pretty heavy study timetable, I am a member of the philosophy society. Joining this society was a decision I made to get myself out of my comfort zone. I believe that joining a club or society is a great way to explore interests you wouldn’t normally be able to explore, and connect with a wide range of different people.

YOUR ADVICE? Study something you’re interested in; finance law might make you a lot of money later on, but that’s irrelevant if you aren’t motivated enough to study it all day every day for three years – or longer!

My experience has shown that you should also carefully consider your backup choice of university – you need an insurance choice, and it needs to be a good fit for you, because you might end up having to go with it.

WHAT’S NEXT? I think my dream job would be at NASA or with the European Space Agency, but, more important than where I work is finding a job I find exciting. I would also like to spend some time abroad, and perhaps even do a PhD. 

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INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT AT OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY

By Molly Daniels (OC 2001 – 2016), second year undergraduate at Oxford Brookes

WHAT? International hospitality management is all about gaining the knowledge and skills to be a great hospitality manager, wherever you may be working.

There are a variety of modules to choose from at Oxford Brookes, from organisation behaviour to communications technology. I picked a variety of study modules so that I could explore different areas of the industry and which would stand me in good stead for a career in the future.

Oxford Brookes takes a very practical approach to learning, and offers a lot of exciting opportunities for students to get real-life work experience whilst also studying. For example, every student of international hospitality management works two terms at the on-site restaurant at Brookes, and divides this time between the front of house and the kitchen. I have also just finished the compulsory two-week placement, which I have been working on at the Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge.

WHERE? Oxford Brookes is a modern university that focuses on non-traditional subjects. This focus, as well as the fact that Brookes isn’t too far from home (but not too near either!) is why I chose to study here.

The university is only a short bus or cycle ride from Oxford high street where there are lots of shops, restaurants and bars. With two popular universities in the same city the town is extremely busy in term-time!

WHY? I love meeting and talking to new people, as well as hosting events and parties. When I was little I went through a stage of wanting to be a chef, but soon realised this meant very little interaction with customers. After I did some work experience at a hotel in Suffolk, I realised that front of house hotel management was something I really enjoyed, hence why I chose this degree.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I’m a member of the Bacchus society, which plans events for students of the hospitality school and hosts guest lectures from big names in the hospitality industry. I really enjoy it, and the society is free for all students (some university societies can be very expensive!)

YOUR ADVICE? Choose a course that you’re going to love – there’s no point studying something you don’t enjoy in a place you don’t like. However, I also think it’s important to be open-minded about your choice of course and university; Mrs Brown really opened my eyes to the possibilities out there, and I ended up completely changing my choice of university – for the better!

WHAT’S NEXT? I hope one day to manage my own hotel. I’ve recently realised that central London isn’t for me, so I think I may end up outside a major city, but, nevertheless, doing what I love! 

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BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE AT KING’S COLLEGE LONDON

By Nikita Komarov (OC 2011 – 2016), second year undergraduate at KCL Nikita Komarov (right)

WHAT? Biomedical science encompasses a wide range of disciplines relating to biological, chemical and, to a lesser extent, physical understanding of human health, function, and disease. A good metaphor is that natural scientists (physicists, chemists and mathematicians) provide the raw knowledge and biomedical science turns this knowledge into comprehensive clinical tools for use by doctors.

WHERE? KCL is a very highly-regarded university and is particularly well-known for its scientific discoveries. Apart from being able to claim an incredible alumni (I have practical lectures in the same labs where Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins worked on the structure of DNA) KCL has fantastic facilities and opportunities for students.

As for the location of my choice of university, you can’t go wrong in London – there’s a lot to do, and it’s very easy to find a part-time job in a restaurant, shop or bar (I work 20 hours a week at a local pub). You can also find internships and fellowships with relative ease, and I recommend discussing this with your professors as you never know what kind of contacts they have that they’d be willing to share with you.

WHY? Biomedical science was actually my second choice of degree course after medicine. Although I was initially very disappointed not to have been accepted to study medicine, I met dozens of other students who, like myself, hope to go on to study graduate medicine.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I joined the technical theatre, music and photography clubs, as I enjoyed these whilst I was at Caterham. I’m currently the president of the bioscience students’ association and one of the core members of musical theatre at KCL, and also a member of the journalism and foreign culture clubs (to take myself out of my comfort zone a little!)

My extra-curricular activities take up a lot of my time, but it’s really worth it as I get to meet a wide range of really interesting people.

YOUR ADVICE? It’s incredibly important to aim high and work hard – you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve if you do so.

WHAT’S NEXT? Graduate medicine!



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CIVIL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SWANSEA

By Richard Webb (OC 2009 – 2016), second year undergraduate at the University of Swansea

WHAT? Civil engineering is quite a broad course – we study all sorts of things from the mechanics of trusses to the study of sustainable engineering – but it’s possible to specialise later on.

My workload is fairly heavy, as I have on average 18 hours of lectures and 7 hours of labs a week, but I certainly feel like I’m getting my money’s worth!

WHERE? Swansea wasn’t my first or even second choice of university, but I can honestly say it’s fantastic, and the brand-new, purpose-built study facilities are a real bonus as a student. Although Swansea isn’t a big city, it has everything you could ever want from bars and restaurants, to clubs and music venues. It’s a friendly place, and I really enjoy being here.

WHY? I’ve always been interested in architecture, but I didn’t want to become an architect. I enjoyed maths at school, and so engineering seemed like the perfect mix of the two.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? Currently I am a member of the rugby club as rugby was very important to me at school. As you can imagine, rugby at university in Wales is extremely competitive, but there are six teams in total to try out for, so the options are open.

YOUR ADVICE? Find a course that interests you because you will spend three to four years of your life – if not more – dedicated to it.

WHAT’S NEXT? I’d like to join the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst and become an officer in the Royal Engineers. 

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IN THE ARCHIVES

W

e hope you enjoy this picture throwback – a visual trip down memory lane from all areas of the School, from dance and drama, to science and sports. We would be delighted if you would like to submit photos to our archive. Please send photos with your name and a caption to the alumni office (oldcats@caterhamschool.co.uk) or upload them to the OCA Facebook page ‘Old Caterhamians Association’. 

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INSIGHT FROM

IMPERIAL

Current parent Dr Paul Craven is the head of clinical research operations at Imperial College London and oversees a number of projects with ground-breaking health applications, from the treatment of breast cancer to the early detection of bloodborne diseases. In this article, Dr Craven tells us about the importance of the work of his team, and how nothing is more significant in medicine than the humble antibiotic‌ ďƒ‚

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Recently, Imperial has developed a revolutionary instrument for the treatment of breast cancer.

The iKnife is a surgical tool which can help surgeons distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissue during operations to remove tumours.

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You have a BSc in physics and astrophysics and a PhD in radiation physics. Why didn’t you pursue a career in science?

To pursue science as a full-time job you need to be 100% dedicated and certain of your cause. Funding for research projects can also prove difficult, and often you’re working multiple three-year employment contracts, which can be very stressful. I decided that sort of uncertainty was not for me, and instead followed jobs related to science but which offered more security.

My first job was with a scientific publishing company in Bristol, followed by two research management roles first at the Institute of Cancer Research and then at St George’s, University of London. Both roles were interesting, and I improved upon a number of important skills, such as how to manage people and budgets, as well as learning how scientific research progresses and what motivates the academic community.

Most recently, in 2012, I was fortunate enough to be offered my current role as the head of clinical research operations in the faculty of medicine at Imperial College London.

What does your day-to-day work as the head of clinical research operations involve?

I manage a team of around 60 people in the joint research office, a partnership office between the University and the NHS. My team and I work closely with medical doctors who have developed successful patient-based research programmes. This close proximity with top clinical academics means the projects for which we apply for funding will be useful to the patient population, and have a good chance of success.

How does clinical research translate into real-world drugs?

The clinical research my office supports and manages reflects a pathway from early-stage experimental medicine – where the University pursues more innovative, hypothesis-based projects with a few patients or healthy volunteers – to later phase large-scale clinical trials which are usually heavily supported by the pharma- or medical technology industries, with big names such as GSK, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

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Translating new scientific ideas and advances into real-world drugs, devices and diagnostics for patients requires the creative thinking at universities, combined with the clinical expertise and patient experience of NHS professionals, and large-scale investments provided by commercial organisations to get products to market. It’s a long process, but so worth it when a ground-breaking discovery is made that can help people.

This makes the current concerns about growing resistance to antibiotics one of the biggest global challenges of our time…

What skills does one have to have to be successful working in clinical research?

Clinical research requires a whole set of different skills – among others, how to build a high-functioning research support team, how to apply for (and win) grant funding, how and where to publish and how best to identify, protect and exploit any discoveries.

It’s vital to be able to communicate research ideas and their potential impact to various different people, from grant funders to patients. Having a strategy or a vision of where you would like to take your work is essential.

What item of medical technology do you think has had the biggest impact on medicine today?

Recently, Imperial has developed a revolutionary instrument for the treatment of breast cancer. The iKnife is a surgical tool which can help surgeons distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissue during operations to remove tumours. The iKnife is based on electrosurgical tools which use an electrical current to rapidly heat tissue, cutting through it while minimising blood loss. In doing so, tissue is vaporised creating smoke that is normally sucked away by extraction systems. With the iKnife this smoke is instead passed into a mass spectrometer which can detect the

George Osborne (ex-Chancellor) visits Imperial College London

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difference between healthy tissue and tumour in real-time, helping the surgeon to remove the full margins of the tumour, whilst minimising non-cancerous tissue loss.

Whilst this is certainly a revolutionary piece of medical tech, in terms of impact on wider medicine, I would make the case for antibiotics, the first of which (penicillin) was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 at St Mary’s Hospital, one of the current Imperial College medical school campuses. Antibiotics revolutionised medicine in the 20th century, and it’s estimated that penicillin has saved at least 200 million lives since its first use as a medicine in 1942. This makes the current concerns about growing resistance to antibiotics one of the biggest global challenges of our time…

What medical breakthrough do you believe is possible in the next ten years?

The genomic revolution is still to be exploited to its full potential. We can read the genetic code within our DNA

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but we are still in the process of understanding what it means and what the implications are of changing it. This is likely to have an impact first and foremost on rare and inherited genetic disorders, where a very specific part of the genome has been altered. Although individually rare, there are many such diseases, and together they make up a significant percentage of the population.

I believe the greatest revolution for healthcare over the next 10 years will probably come through artificial intelligence. For example, it may not be long before computers can read and interpret x-rays and MRI scans.

What advice would you give to others hoping to work in the field of clinical research?

Go for it! This is a hugely challenging, yet extremely rewarding profession. 

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Issue 04 Summer 2018

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PLAYING HARD WITH

Nigel Sandiford

When Nigel Sandiford (OC 1963 – 1969) left his twenty-year career in the music industry in 1992, he never expected this change would send him across the globe to Australia working with some of the biggest names in video games. In this interview, Nigel tells us about his experience being a part of the very early beginnings of his industry, and explains why working abroad is vital for today’s young professionals…

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How did you get in to the video games industry?

It was actually a happy coincidence! I spent twenty years in the music industry working mostly with PolyGram, (now Universal Music Group), a company that’s produced music from ABBA, Def Leppard and Rammstein, among others. I decided that it was time to move on and find a new challenge so, without knowing what was next, I left my career in London and moved to Australia with my wife.

When I got to Australia, I got a phone call from of my greatest mentors in the music industry who said he’d just joined the board of a small Silicon Valley games company called Electronic Arts (EA). EA had just opened in the UK and Australia and was struggling in both markets. I took on the Australian business and, over the next 13 or so years, was part of the team growing EA across Asia-Pacific and helping them become the biggest and most successful games company in the world. It was a fun ride!

What traits do you need to have to get ahead in the games industry?

The video games industry is based on risk – games are usually launched two or three years after they’re given the green light, so it’s a bet as to whether or not the game will be relevant after all that time. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but it can be enormous fun, with tremendous rewards, both financial and personal.

Why did you decide to leave EA in 2010, and what have you done since?

I’ve always been a bit of a corporate rebel and decided again in 2010 that I’d like a new challenge. Since leaving EA, I’ve worked with some great start-ups across Asia, Europe and North America. It’s been huge fun as the teams are small, the risks are high, the odds impossible and the results always unexpected.

I also spend a lot of time mentoring talent in many parts of the world, and have enjoyed mentoring many people to some incredible global and regional roles. I have to give Caterham School some credit for this; I had teachers who went out of their way to give me advice, even if I didn’t really heed it at the time. Years later, I realise the importance of this advice, and wanted to pay forward the guidance and generosity I experienced at Caterham.

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What’s your favourite video game and why?

At EA we created some incredible titles but the most satisfying is FIFA Football.

I was there from the game’s inception and have remained a close personal friend of the creative head at EA who designed the original game. FIFA is now the biggest selling console game in the world – quite a journey from the original low-budget version of the game we first released back in 1993!

Tech has become an integral part of many people’s daily lives and an increasingly important part of children’s education. Do you think this is a good thing?

Many years ago children were sometimes called bookworms for spending too much time reading books and, throughout history, there are instances of book burning or printing press destruction, often driven by ignorance or paranoia. Screens are the new books and new tech methods of learning and interaction need to be embraced.

Children and young people using screens to access the internet is just another step in the emancipation of information!

What advice would you give to others hoping to pursue a career in the games industry?

The video games industry is multi-faceted, with all sorts of career opportunities from software design to marketing. It’s also bigger than the music and film industries, so there are a myriad of options if you’re looking to break into video games. 

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Issue 04 Summer 2018

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SUPPORT US Caterham School was born out of a belief that when the transformative power of community is harnessed positively and effectively the achievements of all improve.

To this day Caterham School is fortunate to have a strong community of alumni, parents and friends who recognise the value of a Caterham School education and care passionately about building a bright future for our pupils.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Making a gift to Caterham School helps us to continue to provide a first class education in an environment where all pupils can achieve their very best. The School’s development and alumni office works with alumni, parents and friends to raise funds to support three key areas:

Our new Caterham School Society platform offers networking and careers opportunities, event invitations, school news and much more for everyone in the Caterham School community. Registering is quick and easy and we would love to hear from you.

The bursary fund, which provides access to Caterham School for young people who would be unable to take up their place here without financial assistance.

The Old Caterhamians Association (OCA) is an internationally-based network which crosses multiple professions and provides a wealth of fantastic opportunities, from building your professional portfolio and keeping fit playing the sports you love, to getting involved with School drama, music and more.

Special projects, which provide school departments with additional resources that can make a real and immediate benefit to school life.

Capital developments, which include a number of building projects on the school site.

All donations to the School make a significant difference, no matter how large or small. If you would like to find out how you can be involved please phone Emma Collings, Development Manager, on 01883 335111 or email: development@caterhamschool.co.uk

Take a moment to reconnect with old friends and Caterham School by registering at caterhamschoolsociety.co.uk

If you have already registered with the Old Cats Association you will already enjoy what is on offer to you. If you know someone who would like to register please encourage them to contact the Caterham School alumni office on 01883 335091, email: oldcats@caterhamschool.co.uk or visit the website: oldcaterhamians.com Caterham School Limited. Company registered in England No. 5410420.

Registered Charity No. 1109508

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OBITUARIES

THOMAS KITE

(OC 1981 – 1986) Tom, together with his elder brother, James, joined Caterham School in 1981 when he was 11. He completed his Sixth Form education at Trinity School, Croydon. When he left School at 18 in 1988, he went to St John’s College, Oxford to read physics.

After finishing his BSc at Oxford, Tom decided to study for a PhD in electrical engineering – his first love – at the University of Texas in Austin.

He studied for 7 years until the end of 1998, and graduated with an MSEE and a PhD, having had a wonderful time. He made many friends who remained close to him throughout the rest of his life and he immersed himself in American life and culture with enthusiasm.

Following his study in Texas, Tom spent the rest of his life in Portland, Oregon, which is about as far removed geographically and culturally from Austin as possible.

He applied for a job as a DSP engineer at Audio Precision (AP), a specialist company which makes top-quality audio test equipment used worldwide. Tom could not have been happier or more fulfilled in his career than he was at AP. He worked there until almost the end of his life, becoming vice president of engineering.

The lifestyle in Portland was perfect for Tom; environmentallyconscious, liberally orientated, has a good public transport system, encourages the use of bicycles, supports the arts and lies within easy reach of the coast and the ski

slopes. Tom was fully integrated into the local community, was a committed Democrat, helped high school students weekly with their school work at the local library, lectured at the community college and made lots of friends.

In 2011 he married Banu and became an instant father to Gabriel and Stella.

Tom was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and fought a long, courageous battle against it for six years. He died in September 2015.

From a very early age Tom had an enthusiasm for life, an enormous sense of fun and laughter, a curiosity about everything and a passion to learn.

When announcing Tom’s death to the AP employees, one of the directors posted this tribute: “Every APx that an engineer uses to design and manufacture a new audio product has Tom’s intellect, creativity, and passion thoroughly embedded in it. But beyond the engineering and the products, Tom leaves the indelible imprint of a wonderful human being with his friends and colleagues around the globe”.

JOHN M HALSTEAD

(OC 1933 – 1939) The second son of Yorkshire parents, John was the oldest living Caterhamian until his death in 2018.

On leaving school in 1938, John joined the Mullard company in Mitcham, within easy cycling distance of Norbury.

John joined the RAF, and with his knowledge of airborne radar was selected to work on this new technology. At the end of the war, John was demobbed and joined the BBC, where his knowledge of electronics was put to use in the maintenance of radio transmitters. It was during this time that John met Enid, and they were married in 1949, a happy marriage that lasted over fifty years until Enid’s untimely death in 1999.

In 1961, John left the BBC to become a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent agents, and stayed with the firm until the age of 65, rising to become senior partner. He then started his own one man firm, and continued to register European patents for a further seven years.

John recently moved in St Helier’s care home, where he remained until his death from pneumonia.

IN MEMORIAM Barrie Clark (OC 1950 – 1955) Adrian Crosswell (OC 1978 – 1983) John Miles Halstead (OC 1933 – 1939) Susan Herbert (Teacher at Eothen 1984 – 2004) Thomas Kite (OC 1981 – 1986) Stuart Latham OBE (OC 1945 – 1954) Janice Mossman (Teacher at Eothen) Nicholas Miller (OC 1954 – 964)

Margaret Rignall (Friend of the School) Don Seldon (Teacher at Caterham 1962 – 1997) Andrew Sherlock (OC 1942 – 1946) David Spooner (OC 1941 – 1950) Timothy Staples (OC 1959 – 1965) Eric Turton (OC 1939 – 1946) Daniel Williams (OC 1993 – 1996) Gillian Woods (OE 1960 – 1967)

Caterham School Harestone Valley Road Caterham Surrey CR3 6YA caterhamschool.co.uk oldcaterhamians.com