Omnia

Blazing a Trail with OC Rosie Clarke

Photograph Š Olly Charlie Stabler Carter

An OC Beginner’s Guide to Medicine Meeting the Band A Legal Journey Seeds, Stones and Sparkle

The magazine for The Caterham School Society Issue 03. 2018

OMNIA

Issue 03 Winter/Spring 2018

FROM THE EDITOR, ELOISE VÄISÄNEN What does the day-to-day of an elite athlete look like? How did four OCs go from recording music on a shoestring to being signed by a label in the USA? From running tracks to music tracks, this edition of Omnia has something for everyone.

It is thanks to the hard work and willingness of its contributors that Omnia consistently offers invaluable advice and fascinating insights into such a wide variety of different professional industries.

Thank you to all those who have done interviews, and submitted news and stories, for this, the third edition of Omnia.

If you would like to make a contribution to a future edition of Omnia, please do not hesitate to contact me.

With best wishes, Eloise Väisänen eloise.vaisanen@caterhamschool.co.uk tel: 01883 335091

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CONTRIBUTORS Hayden Allan (OC 1991 – 1999) Claire Boomla (OC 2014 – 2016) Eleanor Budge (OC 1996 – 2011) William Broadhead (OC 1953 – 1960) Edvin Dubrovskis (OC 2014 – 2016) Bobby Chan (OC 2014 – 2016) Rob Clarke (Current staff) Rosie Clarke (OC 2003 – 2010) Roger Connick (OC 1999 – 2006) Stuart Connick (OC 1999 – 2008) Charlie Ferriday (OC 2003 – 2008) Ernie Ferriday (Former parent) Kristina Flexman (OC 2011 – 2016) Kelly Gibson (OC 2014 – 2016) David Higham (OC 1986 – 1994) Edona Kurti (OC 2014 – 2016) Jacqui Larsson (Current parent) Graeme Mew (OC 1968 – 1977) Peter Osborn (OC 1947 – 1953) Vivien Parsons (OE 1964 – 1978) Edd Simpson (OC 2001 – 2008) Georgie Waterman (OC 2001 – 2016) Myles Waud (OC 2000 – 2007) Jennifer Zhang (OC 2014 – 2016)

Eot hen School, 1991. Sketch, tinted

© Vanessa Innes-Wagstaff (OE 1982 – 1988) There will be a reunion for all Eothen alumnae on Saturday 12 May 2018 at Caterham School.

For more information, please contact Eloise Väisänen, Alumni Officer (eloise.vaisanen@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091).

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

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The Caterham School Society

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CONTENTS

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45 03

Welcome From the Headmaster, Ceri Jones, and President of the OCA, Stephen May.

Introduction to the 04 An Caterham School Society

By Rob Davey, President of the CSS.

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An OC Beginner’s Guide to Medicine Eleanor Budge (OC 1996 – 2011) gives us an insight in to medicine at home and abroad.

a Trail: The Life of 09 Blazing International Steeplechase Athlete, Rosie Clarke Rosie tells the editor what it takes to be an international athlete, what inspires her, and how even athletes enjoy a good steak from time to time!

A showcase of past OCA events, from Cambridge dinners and London networking drinks to golf days and a Hong Kong reunion.

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OCs: In Their Own Words

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OC News

Forthcoming Events Sports fixtures, reunions, and a banquet on the HMS Belfast – find out more about the exciting events in store for you!

OCA Events

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Find out from OCs themselves what they have been up to since leaving the School.

We congratulate OCs on their professional and academic achievements, and recent weddings.

Partnerships Find out more about the unique partnership between Caterham School and Lerang’wa School, Tanzania.

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Meeting the Band

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The School Down the Road

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A Legal Journey

The editor meets Narrow Plains, the four-OC-strong band taking the US by storm.

Vivien Parsons (OE 1964 – 1978) shares some of her memories of her time at Eothen School.

Graeme Mew (OC 1968 – 1977) shares his experiences practicing Law in many international courts, both on and off sports pitches.

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Caterham Currently

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Seeds, Stones and Sparkle

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Why Study...

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In the Archives

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Obituaries

Catch up on all the latest news from the School.

Current parent, Jacqui Larsson, tells us about some misconceptions of the diamond industry.

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

A look in to the history of Hill Fields.

The Pinnacle of politics OC Hayden Allen, former communications director to the chancellor of the exchequer, tells the editor about how he still loves politics, meeting world leaders, and how you don’t have to be an extrovert to be in communications.

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

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WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER

WELCOME FROM THE OCA PRESIDENT

W

I

elcome to another fantastic edition of Omnia. I am truly grateful to all the Old Cats, both recent and those of a more distinguished vintage, who have contributed to the creation of this magazine.

The energy, creativity, and diversity of experience on display in this edition reflects very much the current School. It is exciting to be involved in Caterham at the moment – there is a real sense of momentum and purpose to what the School is doing – all of it supported by amazing teachers, fantastic pupils, and a very loyal and supportive alumni. Our current pupils benefit massively from your input, whether that be interview practice, careers talks, university advice, or work experience.

I have, in recent weeks, been made to feel very old by meeting incredibly successful OCs whom I used to teach, or who were in my house when I was first at Caterham. Hayden Allan, who features in this current edition, was in my A Level history class back in the late 1990s, and has gone on to an amazing career in communications; it was wonderful to see him back at the School after meeting up at one of the OCs drinks reunions in London. Similarly, Luke Bashford, who was in Underwood House when I was Housemaster, came all the way from CalTech in the States to talk to the Moncrieff Jones Society in late September. What links both careers is that their passion for politics and for science was fired at Caterham by inspirational teaching.

This really is what education should be about – creating lifelong passions and interests.

believe the human race is comprised of two basic types of people; optimists who look and hope for the best, and pessimists who cower and fear for the worst.

Our School has evolved into an amazingly dynamic and vibrant environment maximising the optimistic traits in its pupils and preparing them to excel in their endeavours. Current pupils can look forward to lives enriched not just by their time at school and the relationships with class and housemates, but by the cross-generational community of the wider alumni, parents, and teachers.

To nurture and develop this sense of community the School has championed a new initiative; the Caterham School Society, the largest component by membership being the Old Caterhamians.

Old Caterhamians now have a new spiritual home at Hill Fields. We have regular reunions, networking events, sports fixtures, and golf days. Our new website provides access to what events are currently on offer, and is already producing a wealth of new initiatives as visitors’ imaginations are inspired.

Omnia gives our entire school community an opportunity to share experiences and celebrate achievements. Read Omnia from cover to cover, visit the website, and celebrate where we are and imagine where we can go (and remember my often-stated request; attend at least one event each year and invite one lost Old Cat!) Your President, Stephen May

Ceri Jones Headmaster

If you attended Caterham School you are an Old Cat and are a member of an exclusive group of people who can benefit a great deal from your association, august institution, and from your fellow alumni.

If you have 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 our Alumni Officer, Eloise Väisänen (eloise.vaisanen@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091) or visit oldcaterhamians.com

oldcaterhamians.com

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CATERHAM SCHOOL SOCIETY

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was delighted and honoured to accept Ceri Jones’s invitation to become President of the Caterham School Society (CSS) from September 2017.

One of my greatest regrets when I was Headmaster was not finding a way of effectively maintaining the links of friendship and contacts made at School, not only between pupils both from the UK and overseas, but also between parents whose children had left and could no longer meet on touchlines or at other school events, and for all those staff and friends who had been associated with Caterham.

The CSS is up and running, but we need to reconnect with many of you; our top priority is to extend our connections so as to let the whole Caterham School community know about the exciting events and opportunities we have to offer, and to learn what you want and what you can contribute.

We all left Caterham with the special “good bye” service on the next stage of our journey. Now is the time to spread the word and to meet again.

We need to get involved, to make things happen, to be stepping stones, as in the Robert Lee Sharpe poem Makers of Eternity: Isn’t it strange that princes and kings And clowns that caper in sawdust rings, And common people like you and me Are builders for eternity.

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Forthcoming events Friday 16 March

OCA Annual Dinner 2018 From 6.00pm, HMS Belfast The OCA is delighted to confirm that their 2018 annual dinner will be held on HMS Belfast. This unique and stunning venue offers breathtaking views of the Tower of London and London Bridge.

The evening offers the opportunity to explore the museum and delve in to the history of the ship, whilst sharing memories with fellow Caterhamians.

More information on Eventbrite: https://goo.gl/93EHnC Sunday 18 March

OCA Spring Sports Afternoon From 1.00pm, Caterham School The Old Caterhamians and School sports teams go head to head in football, hockey, and netball on OCA Sports Afternoon. Come along and cheer on the teams!

More information on Eventbrite: https://goo.gl/HTM1L4 Saturday 12 May

Eothen Reunion From 12.00noon, Caterham School Caterham School is delighted to welcome former Eothen pupils and staff to a reunion lunch on Saturday 12 May 2018. Enjoy a delicious lunch whilst reminiscing with fellow alumnae about the “school down the road”!

More information on Eventbrite: https://goo.gl/2r7TYr Friday 22 June

Each is given a bag of tools, A shapeless mass and a book of rules, And each must fashion ere life has flown A stumbling block or a stepping stone.

Step one – send us your contacts and your ideas.

OCA Golf Day From 10.00am, Woldingham Golf Club Join fellow Caterhamians for an enjoyable day of golf in the beautiful leafy surroundings of Woldingham Golf Club.

More information on Eventbrite: https://goo.gl/94jSTP

Rob Davey President of the Caterham School Society Sunday 24 June

OC Day “All the Eights Reunion” From 12.00noon, Caterham School The School welcomes back the class of 1948, 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, and 2008 to celebrate their respective 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 year reunions since leaving the School.

More information on Eventbrite: https://goo.gl/huktwn

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Issue 03 Winter/Spring 2018

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leanor has just graduated from a degree in medicine from University College, Oxford, and is now working as a junior doctor at the Royal Free Hospital in London. In this article, Eleanor gives us an insight into medicine at home, and abroad, and tells how, above all, humility, resilience, and compassion are the most important parts of being a successful doctor.

AN OC BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO

MEDICINE WITH ELEANOR BUDGE (OC 1996 – 2011)

Why did you decide to study medicine?

I can’t claim to have had a eureka moment as such, but I suppose I always liked the sciences and was always interested in knowing ‘why’ and ‘how’. Pursuing the more traditional sciences was never an option for me as a result of my poor mathematics skills. After a bit of work experience and some research here and there in the run-up to my GCSEs, I settled on the idea of studying medicine. Medicine was new to my family, but I was fortunate enough to have inspiring teachers at Caterham who encouraged me.

What was studying medicine like at Oxford University?

It is a six-year course but it comes and goes in a flash! The course is very traditional; you work towards a degree in medical sciences in the first two years, often sharing lectures with students on other undergraduate courses.

In your third year you specialise in a subject of your choice; I chose neuroscience. Then, as you move into the Fourth Year everything changes, and you are based in hospitals for the next three years. You attend lecture courses, clinical placements, take a lot of exams, and have final exams in the Sixth Year.

I loved my time at Oxford; the city has a huge number of learning resources, be it modern work spaces, beautiful libraries, laboratories, and a cohort of tutors and fellows for whom the bubble of the city and its traditions is their everyday reality. There is both an energy of change and a sense of timeless calm that allows you to self-indulge in academia for a few years until the real world comes back with a punch!

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I would like to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology because students are trained both as a surgeon and as a physician

In which field of medicine would you like to specialise?

I would like to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology because students are trained both as a surgeon and as a physician, and there is the opportunity to sub-specialise further down the line. However, I am just at the beginning of my training and students often change their minds a few times during the early years! Specialties all come with different lifestyles and it’s difficult to predict in your early twenties what you want to be doing in another twenty years!

How have you adjusted to working life at the Royal Free Hospital?

It has been a bit of a baptism of fire, but everyone has been very supportive and I am trying to remind myself that everyone, even the most eminent professor clinicians, were once in my position. I am really enjoying having my own patients to care for, and feel enthused about the next two years of my training at the Trust.

What advice would you give to aspiring medics?

My advice to anyone thinking about medicine now would be to listen to their gut; there is so much negative press around medicine, the NHS and its employees, and there is no doubt, that in this political climate, there is a level of uncertainty and insecurity that wasn’t

there before. It is expensive, it is hard, it is fiercely competitive, and I would challenge anyone who has trained to deny that they haven’t thought about leaving at least once!

But, medicine is a fantastic vocation; there is never a boring day, as the work is stimulating, and there will always be a patient that catches you out and makes you think. A career in medicine also provides ample opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, which encourages you to retain perspective on the world and what goes on around you.

How did your time at Caterham School influence your decision to go to medical school?

My love of sciences undoubtedly came from the team at Caterham. Mr Quinton was my form tutor from the Third Form upwards and taught me biology – I remember his lessons fondly. I also studied classics at A Level and, as a result, spent a large amount of time with Mr Waite, whose enthusiasm and commitment to his pupils was legendary. I really valued having something different on my timetable; reading classics gives one an insight into linguistics, literature, history, politics, economics and, of course, reading a comedy written 2000 years ago that still makes you giggle now is quite appealing. After medicine I have promised myself I will go back to it! 

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As part of your studies at university, you spent some time abroad in Uganda. What did you do there?

I was volunteering at the Kitovu Missionary Hospital, working on the medical, surgical, maternity, and paediatric nutrition wards. The medical ward was mostly full of patients suffering from malaria, schistosomiasis (an infectious disease caused by a local fresh water parasite) or from complications of HIV or TB. Severe malaria can result in life-threatening anaemia and I witnessed several people pass away just because there was no blood in the blood bank. My colleagues and I did our bit to top up the bank.

Patients on the surgical ward had often acquired traumatic injuries; broken bones, open wounds, burns and infections of the bone.

The paediatric ward and nutrition unit was a separate building dedicated to managing children who were severely malnourished, often appearing years younger than their true age. The centre ran a daily programme delivering nine meals per day. A few of the threeand four-year-olds I met there had been found abandoned in the local town, having become “unmanageable expenses” as another mouth to feed. I spent the majority of my time assisting in the maternity theatre with caesarian sections and sterilisation procedures. Working in a resource-poor setting left me with a real insight into the daily challenges posed when tasked with looking after a patient with an extremely limited remit of investigations, drugs and staff. I returned home appreciative of the immediacy and comprehensive nature of care delivered under the NHS. Would you recommend all medical students conduct a medical elective abroad?

Yes. Not just because it’s a great opportunity to see how different healthcare systems operate, but also because after five to six years of studying you feel like you deserve a bit of time out and an opportunity to see more of the world! We are very fortunate in that respect.

What skills, in your opinion, are essential to becoming a successful doctor?

Humility, resilience, and compassion. Humility, because I think it’s important to remember how intimate and personal a role you play in people’s lives; every working day is a succession of extremely significant moments for the patients and relatives that you meet, and what you say is remembered. To take on that challenge, recognising the responsibility you have in that situation whilst remaining modest and always eager to learn how to do it better, is a skill and something I hope I can continue to improve upon as I move through my career.

Resilience, because there is no doubt that you see and hear sad stories every day. Over time, you learn to maintain some resemblance of a barrier. Although the high turnover and sheer number of patients limits the time you can spend developing a personal involvement with every patient you see, I think this is probably a good thing; it would be too hard to meet people and feel the personal loss every time. However, there are some situations that seem too cruel, and you can’t help but feel moved by what you see. I have been involved in some cases where the only thing you can do is cry with the relatives and acknowledge their loss. I think it is so important to have a coping mechanism in this situation, be it colleagues, friends, or family.

Finally, compassion, because you’ve got to care; you’ve got to see past an attitude, and life choices you may not approve of, and actions you may resent. Sometimes that is only possible by de-personalising and focusing on the medical task at hand. 

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Humility, resilience, and compassion are essential in becoming a successful doctor...

OMNIA

Issue 03 Autumn/Winter 2017

caterhamschool.co.uk

Photograph © Olly Stabler

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Rosie Clarke (OC 2003 – 2010) is a young athlete racing round tracks all over the world, from California and New York to Paris and Prague. Rosie has gained international attention over the past few years for her successes in the steeplechase, most recently being selected for Team Great Britain at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in London in summer 2017. In this article, Rosie tells the editor what it takes to be an international athlete, what inspires her, and how even athletes enjoy a good steak from time to time!

BLAZING A TRAIL...

The Life of International Steeplechase Athlete, Rosie Clarke

Why did you choose the steeplechase?

I began competing in the 3000m steeplechase in 2016, and represented Great Britain at the European Championships that same summer. Prior to that, I had represented Great Britain internationally at the 1500m. I am determined to make an international career out of the steeplechase. The steeplechase is unlike any other endurance event in that you are battling the barriers as well as your own fatigue.

At Caterham, I grew up enjoying every sport I tried, and it was the technical element of hurdling that sparked my initial interest in the event. I began working with my coach (David Harmer) in 2015, and he broached the subject of me transitioning to the steeplechase. I relished the idea of a new challenge within my sport, and the belief David had in my potential really helped motivate me and spur me on. ďƒ‚

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The steeplechase is unlike any other endurance event in that you are battling the barriers as well as your own fatigue

What is the hardest thing for you about taking part in competitions?

I love every moment of competing; it is the reason for churning out all of the gruelling training sessions, and why I spend half of my life away from friends and family at high-altitude training camps. I have been fortunate to progress in athletics at a rapid rate, and, as such, the calibre of athletes I compete against has increased exponentially in the last 12 months. Learning that I belong on the start line next to the world champion, or alongside the world record holder took a little time, but now I view it for what it really is – a huge opportunity! Competing is the fun part, and most athletes enjoy it for what it is.

to finish off the day. I’m usually back home by 5:30pm, and go to bed early as this routine is pretty exhausting to maintain!

How can an aspiring athlete take their career to the next level?

Local athletics clubs are always excited to take on new members. Clubs are a great way to meet other young people that are interested in athletics, and can provide you with lots of opportunities to compete if you want to. Local to Caterham are several great clubs, and I can personally recommend Epsom and Ewell Harriers or South London Harriers to anyone who is interested in taking their athletics beyond school.

What does a normal day look like for you?

My mornings start at 7:30am with a large bowl of porridge and coffee to get the day rolling.

I arrive at the Loughborough High Performance Athletics Centre (HiPAC) at 9:30am to begin my training for the day. A track session will take until at least midday, including all the necessary warm-up and cool-down. I then have some free time to recover until about 2:00pm, then it’s time to head back to HiPAC for strength and conditioning. My gym session will take roughly two hours, and then it’s a four-mile recovery run

Do you have to follow a strict diet regime?

I work with a nutritionist throughout the year, and, naturally, my diet comprises mainly of fresh and healthy foods. However, I believe that following a heavily structured diet year-round is somewhat demotivating; I take the approach of being mindful of what I eat, but also continuing to enjoy my food; I absolutely love a good juicy steak, especially when recovering from heavy training and racing, but I’m also a huge fan of really fresh salads packed full of flavour.

oldcaterhamians.com

What has been your greatest athletic achievement to date?

Representing Great Britain at the World Championships in London this summer was my greatest sporting achievement to date. Standing on the start line at a home championships competition was incredible – I still get goose bumps when I think about the support from that crowd! At the IAAF in London this summer, I fell twice during my race which was far from ideal, and eliminated any hope of me qualifying for the steeplechase final. However, the atmosphere created in that stadium was electric, and unlike anywhere else I have competed.

How do you deal with setbacks in your training, or when competing?

Elite sport is a high-pressure, high-risk career path. Setbacks are inevitable, but the manner in which you deal with them is the most important factor.

In June this year I was dealt a major blow when I suffered a bone stress which meant I had to sit out several weeks in the middle of the 2017 season. However, my focus remained the World Championships in London in August. It was a tight timeframe, but with the work of my team I toed the line in London fit, injury-free, and as determined to succeed as ever. I fell badly at that competition, and for many athletes that would have been the end of the road for them. But, I flatly refused to end my summer campaign on a negative note; having avoided any severe injuries from the falls, I threw myself back into competition, and am proud to have gone on to achieve personal bests in multiple distances when others may well have given up.

Who is your sporting hero, and why?

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What is your ultimate career goal?

I have always envisaged having a career in sport following my professional retirement. I love working with people, so working for a sports agency or in event management appeals to me.

Nevertheless, I’d like to keep my options open.

How has Caterham influenced your career path?

At school, I was always encouraged to be the best version of myself, and I was provided with a fantastic education, confidence, and with a level of independence that enabled me to take my journey into my own hands. Caterham was the first place where I learned to pursue my dreams, and it has taken me on a fantastic journey so far.

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

Being a professional sportswoman is just like any other career path that contains great uncertainty, whether that be an entrepreneur, or somebody opting to work overseas; in each of these cases you have to be willing to work incredibly hard. The deck is well and truly stacked against you, and you have to work to improve your odds of success. Listening to those around you is essential; it may be me that runs on the track in front of thousands, but it is my team that prepares me, and I would be nowhere without them.

Most importantly, you should maintain your passion and drive; pursuing a career like mine is daunting, but if you are truly motivated by your goals you can work to succeed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, and enjoy the journey even if it is a bit of a rollercoaster at times! 

Paula Radcliffe has inspired me greatly.

She has always demonstrated such tenacity and determination when competing, and refuses to be curtailed by the limitations of others.

Rosie visits current pupils at Caterham School

Elite sport is a high pressure, high-risk career path. Setbacks are inevitable, but the manner in which you deal with them is the most important factor.

The OCA is delighted to announce that Rosie will be the keynote speaker for the OCA Annual Dinner on Friday 16 March 2018. For tickets and more information, please visit Eventbrite (https://goo.gl/93EHnC) or contact Eloise Väisänen, Alumni Officer (eloise.vaisanen@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091).

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CAMBRIDGE REUNION, THURSDAY 15 JUNE A number of alumni and current staff met for dinner at the Headmaster’s, Ceri Jones, former Cambridge college, Fitzwilliam, for an evening spent reminiscing about old school days, exchanging new experiences had at university, and sharing news of the exciting changes that have taken place at the School over recent months and years.

OCA EVENTS

We look forward to the possibility of more regional reunions in the future.

OCA GOLF DAY, THURSDAY 22 JUNE The ever-popular annual OCA Golf Day took place at the beautiful Woldingham Golf Club, with 20 members of the Caterham community taking part and enjoying a super day of friendly competition in the sunshine.

Many congratulations to all those who won on the day: Team winners: Patrick May, Will Ireland and Sean Tanner Individual Gentleman winner: Dan Gabriele To find out about forthcoming OCA events contact Eloise Väisänen, Alumni Officer (eloise.vaisanen@ caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091), or visit the OCA social media channels and website.

 OldCats  @oldcaterhamians

 Old Cats  oldcaterhamians.com

Individual Lady winner: Maggie Jones Longest Drive: Will Ireland Nearest the Pin: Patrick May

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OC DAY “ALL THE SEVENS” REUNION, SUNDAY 25 JUNE

LONDON BEACH RUGBY, SATURDAY 5 AUGUST

60, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 year anniversaries since leaving the School were celebrated over lunch with alumni, current and former staff members. It was wonderful to see the number of old photographs brought in by alumni, and to hear all the memories and experiences had by guests during their time at the School.

London Beach Rugby took place under the shadow of Tower Bridge at Potters Fields Park, raising funds for London’s Air Ambulance. The Old Caterhamians Association entered a team of Old Cats to take part in the 5-aside touch rugby on the man-made beach. Past and present Caterhamians flocked to the event to support the team captained superbly by Harvey New (OC 2007 – 2012), it proved a fantastic social get together for all involved.

Team players: Paddy Armour (OC – 2013) Max Bennington (OC 2006 – 2012) Rory Carter (2007 – 2014) Edd Chatfield (OC – 2014) Ryan Greenhalgh (OC – 2013) Deji Iboue (OC 2006 – 2013) Henry Mundell (OC 2006 – 2013) Harvey New (OC 2007 – 2012) George Robinson (OC 2011 – 2016)

By Myles Waud (OC 2000 – 2007)

OCA LONDON NETWORKING DRINKS, THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER Alumni working across a number of industries, from education and finance, to law and media, met at the Phoenix pub in London to exchange tips and tricks on how to get ahead in their industry.

It was fantastic to see many familiar and new faces, and to hear about the continued professional success of so many of our alumni.

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BATH REUNION, THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER Bath was the location of our reunion on Thursday 12 October, which saw a number of local alumni join together with Surrey-based alumni to share their memories and news from the School over an interesting cocktail-making masterclass.

WEST COUNTRY REUNION LUNCH, FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER Alumni and friends of the School from all over the West Country met for lunch in Exeter. Fortunately, the weather stayed fine so that it was possible to have drink outside enjoying the stunning views of the River Exe before heading inside for lunch. Thank you to all who came along, and we hope to see you in Caterham in the not-toodistant future!

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YOUNG OCS EXETER DRINKS, FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER A number of our younger alumni joined us in a Scandinavian cafĂŠ in central Exeter. Mrs Clare Brown, Head of Careers, was delighted to hear about the success of OCs whom she knew during their time at the School, all of whom were buzzing with excitement about their new courses at university.

Thank you to all who attended, and keep up the good work at university!

HONG KONG DRINKS RECEPTION, FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER Alumni and current parents met with members of Caterham School to share news, experiences, and laughter over drinks at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, Hong Kong. It was wonderful to see so many Caterhamians brought together nearly 6000 miles from Caterham, and we hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did!

OMNIA

OCs: IN THEIR OWN WORDS

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Issue 03 Winter/Spring 2018

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DMITRY LEYKO (OC 2011 – 2016) Global Grand Challenges Summit The engineering community today has grown to unimaginable proportions, with research being conducted in all sorts of fields, from jet engine design to software engineering.

However, the focus of many engineers has increasingly been maximising profit, rather than tackling engineering problems faced by the general population every day.

This problem is the reason why the UN has created 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) with a target year of 2030 to achieve aims, such as gender equality, and the creation of affordable and clean energy sources. Some of these goals can be solved by teams of engineers, and this is where the Global Grand Challenges Summit (GGCS) comes in.

GGCS is a combined effort of the US National Academy of Engineering, Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the UK Royal Academy of Engineering. This year, engineers from around the world met between 17 and 22 July to discuss their work in achieving the SDGs. More importantly, the organisers provided a platform for young engineers in education, like myself, to participate in the summit. At the conference, leading engineers in their fields held talks on how to advance goals set by UN, and what young engineers can do to progress in those fields and, one day, help the world exist using sustainable energy sources.

To get a place on the summit, a competition, Engineering a Better World, was held.

Students had to create a project over five months that offered a solution to one or more of the SDGs and present it in a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges.

When brainstorming some ideas with a couple of friends from my engineering course at UCL, we realised that we all had a common interest in preserving the environment; we decided to focus on trying to solve the problem of climate action. After hours of developing the idea, two rounds of competitions, and workshops run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, it was time to showcase the project at the judging panel.

Whilst we, unfortunately, didn’t make it through to the main competition, we did win a parallel-competition to progress to the summit in an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C., where we had the honour of representing UCL. Our proposal, Combating climate change by carbon capture with autonomous tree planting mechanism, gained a lot of attention from undergraduates and graduates alike, and what surprised us even more was that we were the only all-first-year-undergraduates from any university from all over the world that attended.

The summit gave us a great insight into sustainable engineering and an opportunity to socialise with other student engineers.

I highly recommend all current and future engineers to focus on human development, not money.

oldcaterhamians.com

The Caterham School Society

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ELLIOT HALL (OC 2015 – 2016) England Squad We are delighted, and very proud, to announce that OC Elliot Hall has been named in the England Students Rugby League squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Australia. This is an incredible achievement for Elliot, who becomes the school’s first international representative in Rugby League, following in the footsteps of our director of sport, Mr Rob Clarke, who represented Great Britain Students in Australia whilst he was a student at Loughborough, which coincidentally is also where Elliot has chosen to study.

Elliot had a huge impact on the rugby pitch in his time at Caterham, most noticeably on the sevens pitch. Elliot was a key player in a very successful side in the 2015 season that reached the second day of the HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens, making the last 32 in the country, for only the second time in the School’s history. Elliot played a vital role in helping to develop a performance culture within the rugby club at School, a culture that has seen the School make the last 16 of the NatWest Plate in the last two years and in 2017 make the last 16 of HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens.

We wish Elliot the very best on his adventure in Australia and look forward to hearing of more success in the future.

DR JOHN I. EVANS (OC 1956 – 1965)

JOHN HODGKINS (OC 1947 – 1957)

I left school for the Welsh National School of Medicine, Cardiff, qualifying in 1971. Whilst there, I was awarded my colours for rugby and was elected president of the Medical and Dental Students’ Club in my final year.

After graduation and marriage to Michèle, I spent four years as a junior hospital doctor in the United Cardiff hospitals, and University Hospital of Wales before obtaining a bursary to spend a year as interne resident étranger at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris in the department of cardiology. One year became two, and I am still in France 42 years later!

I specialised in cardiology with a special field of interest in echocardiology.

My wife and I have three children and seven grandchildren. We live just outside of Paris and have a second home in Burgundy which is fast becoming our principal residence since retirement. We enjoy good food and wine and play a little golf with no pretensions to excellence! We also enjoy travelling, which is just as well because our son emigrated to New Zealand two years ago!

Looking back at what I have written, I feel that I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Tucker and Mr Jenkins, my French masters whilst at Caterham. I’m sure they had no inkling of my destiny in their field of interest. I also recognise the hand of Mr Skues who ingrained some of the physics which we apply in ultrasonics and who was a most comprehending house master of Viney.

I was very well taught at London University and, upon graduating, drifted in to the world of second-hand and antiquarian books, where I have remained. I built an international business specialising in the books and subjects I had enjoyed and studied during my time at London University.

I wrote two books, which I published and sold, both on aspects of church history. If I am able, I will complete my doctorate studies on the life and times of Andrew Mearns, General Secretary of the London Congregational Union.

The OCA would love to hear news from Caterhamians.

Please do contact Eloise Väisänen, Alumni Officer (eloise.vaisanen@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091) to share your news and memories of your time at the School.

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OMNIA

Issue 03 Winter/Spring 2018

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KARL DUERDEN (OC 1983 – 1991)

REVEREND CANON PETER BURCH (OC 1946 – 1952), FCA

Upon leaving Caterham in 1991, I went to Exeter University and read law, graduating with an LLB Hons. degree I then moved into the retail sector working for a major supermarket chain before joining Amoco UK Ltd. where I met my future wife, Anja, whom I married in Belgium in September 2000.

We spent some years living in London before moving to Caterham, where we spent 10 years. In January 2015 we moved to Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire.

Currently, I am studying for an LLM degree in international law at the University of Lincoln, playing golf locally as an academy member, and am still actively involved in the East India Club in St James’ Square where I have enjoyed spending much time over the last 25 years.

When I left Caterham School at the end of 1952 I was glad to go to London and to become a clerk with a firm of chartered accountants. It was interesting work helping with various audits, plus doing my studies of various aspects of accountancy. When I qualified as a chartered accountant I had to go about national service, but was excluded as it was in the process of being stopped.

Instead, I was fortunate to go with the Church Mission Society (CMS) to Nigeria as a diocesan accountant, which was a super experience. After nearly two years, I returned home and went to Ripon Hall Theology College, Oxford, for a further two years. In addition to my studies I was most fortunate to meet my wife-to-be, Penny. We were married by my college principal in Chelsea.

After ordination, we went to a UK parish church for my curacy, where I did a lot of youth work. I then had an unexpected request to go with the CMS to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to be chaplain for the Hill Station Church, and accountant for the diocese. After four very interesting years, we returned to the UK with our two sons.

After being at numerous parishes over 26 years, and visits to parts of west Africa, with an unexpected appointment as a canon in Bauchi diocese in Nigeria, I retired in 2002 and am still keeping active.

I encourage link visits with schools in Africa.

MAX CARRACHER (OC 1999 – 2006) I attended Caterham from the Prep School to the Upper Sixth. I went on to study at Oxford Brookes University, graduating in 2010 with a degree in business and marketing management.

Whilst at university, I was a special police constable, and, after graduating, moved to Her Majesty’s prison service (HMP) as an officer in a maximum security prison in Kent.

After leaving HMP, I became an enforcement agent and progressed through the ranks. In July 2016, I was a high court enforcement agent and was given a chance to appear on television on Channel Five’s Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Anyway from season five onwards.

I owe a lot to Caterham School, as I feel it is thanks to the support and guidance I received there, that I have become the man I am today.

WILLIAM ARNOLD (OC 1934 – 1943) In 2009, I moved to a retirement village Lane Cove, Australia, an inner-city suburb of Sydney. My wife died in 2006. I exercise with lawn bowls and swimming, and try to keep fit playing bridge. I have four sons and ten grandchildren, all living in Australia. I turned 92 years old in October.

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The Caterham School Society

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SARAH SLATER (OC 2005 – 2015) I am currently playing for the Loughborough 1st XII Lacrosse team, competing in the BUCS Premiership division. Playing in this team has given me some of my most exciting, and fondest memories at Loughborough so far.

To be able to compete against the best universities we do have to commit to a rigorous weekly training schedule.

My average week consists of three pitch sessions, a game on Wednesday, and two or three gym sessions which vary between conditioning and weights. Although this is quite a lot to balance with other aspects of university life, perhaps one of my favourite things about playing at Loughborough is the endless motivation provided here is in the form of coaches, strength and conditioning support, exceptionally talented team mates, as well as rubbing shoulders with some of the best sporting talents in the world – occasionally lifting weights next to Olympic champion Adam Peaty is certainly something that inspires me to push myself to the limit!

Playing in various teams over the years has provided me with friends for life, and memories to match. I am so grateful to Caterham School, where I first picked up a lacrosse stick and to the exceptional coaches who helped nurture my enthusiasm, allowing me to go on and compete for Scotland at the U19 World Championships – one of my greatest achievements to date.

TONY JAMES (OC 1939 – 1944) I was married in February 1956 to Madge Bentley, a Nottingham resident, and three and a half years younger.

The marriage lasted 53 years until my wife died in 2009, just approaching 79 years of age. We had two sons, Richard in 1957, and Mark in 1961.

I was on the 1st XV rugby team at Caterham.

My school certificate exam was far from good enough, particularly in reading, spelling, English, and French and German (dyslexia was not recognised in those days).

However, my marks in maths, geography, and the science subjects were all “fair” to “good”, or “very good”.

The war was still in progress when I left school, and so I served for three years in the Royal Navy as a seaman for the war in Japan on Royal Navy air stations in Sri Lanka.

I applied for, and received, a government grant to study for a degree, and thus went to London University from 1948 to 1952.

My first job, from 1952 to 1955, was in Basra, Iraq, as a company geologist with the Turkish Petroleum Company which had licenses for all the underpopulated desert

lands of the old Ottoman Empire. From 1956 to 1961 I worked in the International Oil Consortium in Iran, following the “booting out” by Iran of the old AngloIranian Oil Company.

I travelled extensively on surveys in the Zagros foothills mountain belt with the usual horse and mule caravans of those days. Later, I worked for BP in Libya, Abu Dhabi, Trinidad (offshore) and the Netherlands North Sea until I was transferred to coal.

I worked in Australia and South Africa from 1971 to 1976, the latter in the apartheid years when I was officially credited to Botswana to spend some overseas government development money on coal reserves.

From 1977 to 1979, I worked very unsuccessfully in government. From 1979 to 1986, I worked for Ameradaltess, a US company.

I did community work in the south east of the UK on retirement until 1996 when we moved to Lancashire.

I have two granddaughters, both who work in Manchester.

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Issue 03 Winter/Spring 2018

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NIKITA KOMAROV (OC 2011 – 2016) In May 2017, Nikita was offered a funded fellowship at the world famous Francis Crick Institute in London. Nikita was one of just 24 successful applicants, from a total pool of 800, and is also the only first year undergraduate to be successful in the past five years. His project involves modifying model organisms to mimic mammalian mitotic processes which could, in the future, have massive implications in regenerative treatment, and allow safe, ethical testing of certain factors on pathological disease, such as oncology or degeneration.

While Nikita’s project is only at the start of the journey, it is still invaluable knowledge and experience that will hopefully lead to the betterment of understanding of cellular processes in model organisms.

MICHAEL GIBBINS (OC 2001 – 2015) Congratulations to Michael who came first in the Formula Ford Festival and Sports 2000 Duratec race held at Brands Hatch, Kent on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October.

OC NEWS

SAM TALBOT (OC 2013 – 2017) In April, GB athlete Sam Talbot competed in his first Under 20 decathlon. Sam smashed all expectations, apart from maybe his own very high standards, in an incredible performance. Overall Sam set an astounding eight new personal bests in the 100m, 110m hurdles, shot putt, high jump, 1500m, 400m, discus and javelin to record a phenomenal score of 7377 points.

Sam simply left the rest of the field trailing in his wake with his nearest competitor over 1000 points back on 6267. Sam’s huge total score gave him comfortable qualification for the upcoming European Junior Championships and also established a world-leading score for Under 20 decathlon this year.

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Graduations

The Caterham School Society

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Miranda Bakti-Braun

We were delighted to hear from the following Old Cats who graduated this year: Miranda Bakti-Braun (OC 2007 – 2014) who graduated with a first in English from the University of York.

Connie Shaw (OC 2007 – 2014) who graduated with a first in English literature from the University of York.

Dominic Turner (OC 2009 – 2014) who graduated with a first in philosophy and theology from the University of Durham.

If you’ve recently graduated we’d love to hear about it! Please contact Eloise Väisänen, Alumni Officer (eloise.vaisanen@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091).

Weddings Congratulations to...

Akshal Patel (OC 1994 – 1999) who married Ashley Gilbert on Tuesday 15 August at Seattle Art Museum.

Rosie May (OC 2000 – 2007) who married Alex Craine on Saturday 12 August at St John’s Church, Old Coulsdon.

Tak Leung Hung (OC 1995 – 2001) who married Stephen Fitzgerald in London on Saturday 20 August.

Charlotte Ingham (OC 2003 – 2010) who married Max Bacon at Girton College, Cambridge on Saturday 15 July.

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OMNIA

Issue 03 Winter/Spring 2018

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PARTNERSHIPS CATERHAM SCHOOL AND LERANG’WA SCHOOL, TANZANIA

Caterham School and Lerang’wa School have had a formal partnership for over a decade with ten annual expeditions by our Lower Sixth pupils from 2007 to 2016. These visits involve Caterham pupils delivering a week of lessons and activities at Lerang’wa, with input from Caterham teachers, to as high a professional standard as they can. Our pupils have learnt so much in the process, not least about themselves.

Rob Davey and John Grimshaw (OC 1978 – 1985) visit Lerang’wa and meet with the school and village committees.

The second party of Caterham pupils consolidate the relationship between Caterham School and Lerang’wa School. The teacher accommodation, funded by Caterham School charity fundraising, is opened. Solar panels make Lerang’wa the first solar powered school in north Tanzania.

The group takes geometry sets to the school. Caterham funds improve the infrastructure of the school with the construction of toilets, kitchen, and store.

2006

2008

2010

2007

2009

2011

The first party of Caterham pupils visit the school and teach lessons.

Work commences on the teacher accommodation.

The expedition takes bags for the pupils of Lerang’wa, each with a bowl and cup for breakfast and lunch.

After two years of drought, food in the village had run short, despite WFP support at the school. Caterham School funded food aid at this critical time.

Lerang’wa village redirect and improve the water supply, Caterham fund the parts. The village create a seating area, and kit out the kitchen with pots to cook for 450. The chimney is improved, and new bags are given to pupils with a design from the finalist of a Caterham Prep School competition.

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The Caterham School Society

Funds raised at Caterham School have all gone to help the children of Lerang’wa. Improvements have been made to the school infrastructure; toilets, washing, cooking – along with ‘Lerang’wa Lunches’ – daily meals for each pupil funded by money raised at Caterham School, to replace the WFP aid that stopped in 2011. These measures have improved health and attendance at the school, and, so, directly impacted educational outcomes at Lerang’wa.

The ten-year partnership shows commitment, with endless hospitality

The villagers build a handwash station. Caterham donates textbooks and sports equipment. Our Second Year pupils give friendship bracelets to each pupil and pencil cases designed in our Prep School.

The Sixth Form pupils organise Lerang’wa’s first full sports day.

Sixth Form pupils continue to teach lessons to and run a sports day for Lerang’wa pupils.

and excitement around the visits on both sides. The Headmistress of Lerang’wa, Mary Laizer, so important in our unique partnership, was our guest at Caterham for two weeks in 2015.

It is rare for partnerships like this to last so long. This is testament to the individuals that have made it work, and the mutual benefit to the schools involved. The project has allowed scores of young people on both sides to see beyond their own horizons, learn to trust, enjoy and form bonds that will influence their world view forever. 

‘Lerang’wa Lunches’ continue, impacting attendance and educational outcomes. Caterham gives new bags and bowls to each pupil.

2012

2014

2016

2013

2015

2017

‘Lerang’wa Lunches’ begins with food provided by Caterham School. Murals are provided for the classrooms and exam kits are given to pupils.

‘Lerang’wa Lunches’ successfully continues alongside sports days and teaching art, music, sport, maths, and English.

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The partnership continues to allow scores of young people both from Caterham School and Lerang’wa School to see beyond their own horizons, learn to trust, enjoy and form bonds that will influence their world view forever.

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OMNIA

Issue 03 Autumn/Winter 2017

MEETING THE BAND

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oldcaterhamians.com

The Caterham School Society

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N

arrow Plains is a band formed of four OCs, Charlie Ferriday (OC 2003 – 2008) on guitar and vocals, Roger Connick (OC 1999 – 2006) on bass and backing vocals, Stuart Connick (OC 1999 – 2008) on drums and backing vocals, and Edd Simpson (OC 2001 – 2008) on guitar and keys, and is managed by Caterham parent, Ernie Ferriday.

Charlie, Roger, and Stuart, what inspired you to form Narrow Plains in 2012?

Did you play in a band, or sing in choir together when you were at school?

(Charlie) Stuart and I started playing gigs together as an acoustic duo, playing both originals and covers, and we were getting a strong positive reception from audiences. Wanting to take things a bit further, we got Roger involved to add some more depth to the sound and started to record. The three of us trekked off to Stuart’s and Roger’s gran’s house in Dorset in late 2011 to find some peace and quiet in which to record, despite not having much in the way of recording equipment (it’s amazing what you can do with a cheap microphone and a laptop these days!).

As the songs were originally written for a two-piece, it took about a week or so of rehearsing and rearranging to get them into a band format and then record them. This produced five songs we really liked, so these were released as an EP, Somewhere In Between, in early 2012. Having received some encouraging feedback through social media, we start playing at open mic nights and at every gig we could – there’s no better way to improve as a band than by performing together as often as possible.

(Charlie) Live performing is something we have all always loved, inspired by the Monsters of Rock series organised by Dan Quinton.

We were all in various bands at Caterham, which varied from indie and folk, to heavy metal and poppunk, original, covers and, for a time, even comedy rock not too dissimilar from a Flight of the Conchords style.

Roger and Stuart both played in Roger’s band Huxter together, but they decided they would each prefer to play with musicians in their own year groups at the time, so Stuart left that band after a few months when Roger found a new drummer in his year. Huxter went on to play at Minions of Rock in 2004 and Legacy of Rock, the tsunami relief concert.

In 2003, I arrived at Caterham and, after discovering musical similarities with Stuart, we eventually formed our own band, Empty Search, and have pretty much been part of the same musical entity since. Edd was in a number of bands throughout his time at Caterham, probably the most notable being the Angry Moustaches who played at the charity gig Amped that he and Stuart organised.

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How did the creation of Narrow Plains come about? Where did the name come from?

(Charlie) The band all came together when Roger joined Stuart and me to record our debut EP. Roger had fallen out of a musical rhythm and hadn’t played in a band for a few years but was missing the thrill of live performance. After recording the EP, we were looking for a new name, having performed previously under the moniker Orpheus (drawn from having initially recorded a handful of demos at the Orpheus Centre in Godstone) as it transpired that it actually belonged to a 1970’s band.

We settled on Narrow Plains, a result of merging together two names (The Narrows and The Plains) that we had been considering but that were also already taken.

When did Edd join the band?

Edd – what made you want to join Narrow Plains?

(Charlie) After signing to Smart Indie and recording our debut album in a studio in Brighton, we realised our songs had progressed to a point where they were too complex and layered to perform to a standard we were happy with as a three-piece, so we asked Edd to join us to play them live. After our first gig together in January 2016, we knew immediately that it just worked,

Left to right: Roger Connick, Charlie Ferriday, Edd Simpson, and Stuart Connick

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Having known each other for so long means we can be honest with each other without the worry that someone may be offended. the songs sounded more complete and fuller, so we brought him in as a full-time member. Since then, we have started to write again, incorporating styles and sounds we never would have been able to as a trio.

(Edd) I’ve always attested to the fact that playing music with good friends produces good music (and a more enjoyable experience). I’d always really enjoyed Charlie’s, Rogers’, and Stuart’s music and a previous musical endeavour had gone a bit stale. So, on a night out, I offered myself as a session musician, originally on an acoustic guitar, but moving over to electric once we realised how much nicer it sounded and how better everything gelled together. I was thrilled after the O2 album launch to be offered a position in the band and, since then, the band has gone from strength to strength.

As well as having performed at some incredible places, from the O2 Academy Islington, to the Cavern Club, Liverpool, you’ve also won the Hard Rock Rising award in 2015, and were one of five final nominees for the best country/folk category for the Unsigned Music Awards in 2016. What’s your secret to success?

(Edd) I wish there was a secret but as with most things, it just takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. You’ve got to put in at least as much as you want to get out, more often than not with diminishing returns. Every now and then you’ll strike lucky and the right person in the right place will listen to you and like what they hear.

We have just signed with the Spectra Music Group, the largest independent record group in the USA, for a single and an album release globally in 2018.

The A and R guy, Alex, heard one of our songs on a compilation CD and liked it, so he contacted us and we took it from there. You sometimes need a break like – if you don’t even try you’ll never know.

How has growing up together at Caterham helped you as a band?

(Edd) Having known each other for so long means we can be honest with each other without the worry that someone may be offended. Back when

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we used to hang around the music department at lunchtimes, it may have cost a friendship to voice any negativity. We’ve all grown since then and we wouldn’t be who we are today without the moulding formative years of growing up at Caterham. I won’t go as far as quoting the school motto, but honesty goes a long way when you’re cooped up with the same people for weeks on tour!

You’ve done a number of concerts in the USA and Canada. How does performing in the UK differ from performing abroad?

(Charlie) Our experience of playing live in the USA is still fairly limited, but we were fortunate enough to play some gigs over there a couple of years ago when we were chosen by a panel of music experts in the Bands4Good online talent contest; we won the opportunity to fly out to North Carolina for a recording session with John Davenport at his state-of-the-art studio near Raleigh, NC. John is a real legend in the music business and has engineered major albums for artists such as Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones. We recorded a live version of one of our songs Choices with him.

We also got to play some shows locally and we were really amazed that the American audiences knew some of our songs and were really appreciative of our sound. Of course, playing in the UK to an audience that really knows you well is a different experience as there is more of a party atmosphere, with everyone singing along.

How did you go about self-recording your first tracks?

(Stuart) On a shoe string! You don’t need mega-studios to record these days, depending on what you’re trying to achieve you could probably get away with using a microphone and some basic free arranging software. We got away with a single £80 microphone, a laptop, and the free time needed to figure out how to use it all. While it was a steep learning curve, the basics are obvious – press record, and play something you like the sound of! However, this can be easier said than done, hence the required free time. Managing to avoid the temptation of adding layers

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upon layers and unnecessary effects, we kept it as stripped back as we could, and laid a final version of the songs down in one take so as to replicate as close as possible to a live sound. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the technical knowledge to master the tracks ourselves (the black magic of the recording industry, the final stage between recording a track and having something which actually sounds good), so we had to send them off to a professional.

Do any of you have other jobs?

How do you fit them around working with the band?

(Charlie) We all have full-time jobs outside of the band. I’m a documentary producer, Roger is an environmental consultant, Stuart is a civil servant, and Edd is a web developer.

We try to devote most of our free time to the band. With gigging, writing, and recording with the band over evenings and weekends, there isn’t a huge amount of time left over.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in terms of the success and progress of the band?

(Roger) Success isn’t instant or easy.

It’s a long, time-consuming process and a careful balancing act. You can’t go out and gig non-stop, but you can’t lock yourself in and write all day.

Managing your time and making sure you still make time for friends and family can be tough; it’s so easy to slip one way or the other.

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Ernie Ferriday, manager of Narrow Plains, tells the editor about his role in their success…

Within a couple of years of releasing their debut EP, the band had already acquired quite an impressive following on social media and were becoming more popular as a live band. This led to them receiving a number of approaches and opportunities for gigs and festivals, music competitions, radio airplay, music websites, media interviews, and recording and publishing contracts, among other things. At the same time, their nonmusical careers were also becoming more demanding.

I am Charlie’s dad, a long-time fan of the band, have a business background, and was available, so the band asked me if I could help out. I was really keen to get involved and I gradually began to act as their manager, becoming the first contact for anyone wanting to deal with the band. This gave me the chance to screen any opportunities, organise gigs, deal with media requests, their record label and publishers, and pass on any generic information about the band to fans and followers. Together with my wife, who is a chartered accountant, we also set about organising their financial and fiscal affairs, keeping proper records and registering them as songwriters and composers and suchlike so that they could just concentrate on their music.

What advice would you give to other Caterhamians wanting to form their own band?

(Charlie) As long as you are feeling passionate about what you are doing, never stop! There are a lot of brilliant, talented people trying to make a career in music. Sadly, not everyone can become a star. We measure success by each new person that listens to our music and enjoys it. Ultimately, the most important thing for us is that we are making music we are proud of and which we enjoy. 

Follow Narrow Plains:  @NarrowPlains  Narrow Plains narrowplains.com

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OMNIA

Issue 03 Winter/Spring 2018

caterhamschool.co.uk

THE SCHOOL DOWN THE ROAD

BY OE VIVIEN PARSONS

Secret parties with Caterham School boys, dreaded swimming pool lessons, and the fascinating Dr Elisabeth Stephens – Vivien Parsons (OE 1964 – 1978, Eothen Old Girls Association Secretary) tells all about her memories of Eothen School.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Eothen School?

I was at Eothen for 14 years from 1964 to 1978, so it is very difficult to pick out a particular favourite moment!

However, my favourite years were definitely those in the Sixth Form; we had our own building up the road from the main school building, with no staff rooms or any semblance of authority with us! We were a very small Sixth Form with only 12 in the year by then (perhaps one of the reasons Eothen eventually had to merge with Caterham!) and we all got to know each other very well.

Close bonds were formed and many of us are still in touch from those years in particular.

Why are Eothen reunions particularly important to you?

Because the school itself has ceased to exist as a separate entity, it has become very important to those of us who were there to keep its memory alive. When I took over editing the newsletter in 2011, it had become very much just a list of news of old girls and obituary notices. I decided to change this, and ask for memories and photos from all Eothen Old Girls Association (EOGA) members.

Over the years, it has become apparent that, despite the difference in eras, many of the memories of alumnae are very similar. This is lovely, as it means former pupils from all year groups can bond over similar experiences.

Who was your favourite teacher at Eothen School, and why?

We had many teachers at Eothen whom I remember with great fondness. There was Mary Robinson, who was deputy head and taught English; I will never forget the groans when she would announced that “today would be grammar”, and the fierce competition over who would walk her dog, Dogga, each lunchtime. However, the most

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There was the notorious after-show party after the final performance of Dido and Aeneas in 1977, organised by the Caterham boys

interesting teacher has to have been Dr Elisabeth Stevens, an Austrian who had escaped from Austria during the war. She could be distracted very easily, and many a European history lesson was spent listening to her talking about a huge variety of things, including about her having been an active member of the resistance during the war, and how she had been on a Nazi wanted list! Being teenagers, our prime aim at that time was to distract her from any actual teaching, but I so wish I could remember more of what she talked about because it was all so interesting.

Did you have any joint lessons with Caterham School boys?

No, but we would link up for either community service visits to entertain the patients at St Lawrence’s Hospital, or for joint drama productions, such as Dido and Aeneas, Noyes Fludde and Venis and Adonis. I met a lot of the Caterham boys once I joined the Sixth Form, but these were friendships forged mostly outside of school.

Whilst we didn’t have lessons together, we as Eothen girls would use the swimming pool at Caterham School.

I will always remember trudging up Harestone Valley Road every summer, come rain or shine. The freezing cold building with the even colder water was certainly not a favourite haunt! I am still a reluctant swimmer and only enter the sea on holiday when I need to cool down!

Did you ever have parties or socials with Caterham School boys?

There was the notorious after-show party after the final performance of Dido and Aeneas in 1977, organised by the Caterham boys in a place called “the Bunker”, which was a storeroom behind the swimming pool. How they thought it would remain secret, I don’t know, since

it was in the heart of the campus. Sure enough, after only ten minutes or so, in marched the teachers! Most of the boys disappeared out of a handy back window that they knew about, but which we didn’t; we were left to face the wrath of Mr Smith and his colleagues! On Monday morning, we were summoned to Miss Raine’s office and ordered to go up to Caterham School to apologise. We lined up in Mr Smith’s office where he gave us the clear impression that it was his view that we had organised the whole thing and had led his boys astray. Quite how he thought we had organised something in a school we didn’t attend and in a room we didn’t know existed, I am not quite sure! I also don’t think the infectious giggling that started halfway through his harangue helped the situation! I still find it hard sitting in the Bonarjee Room for OCA meetings with his face staring down at me! 

There will be a reunion for all Eothen alumnae on Saturday 12 May 2018 at Caterham School. For more information contact Eloise Väisänen, Alumni Officer (eloise.vaisanen@caterhamschool.co.uk / tel: 01883 335091).

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Graeme Mew (OC 1968 – 1977) (or, more formally, the Honourable Mr Justice Graeme Mew), is a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the senior trial court in Canada’s largest province. After training as a lawyer in the UK his studies took him 3,500 miles across the North Atlantic Ocean, to Toronto, Canada, where he lived for over 30 years.

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raeme is based in Kingston, Ontario where he lives with his Scottish-born wife, Dr Ruth MacSween, a dermatologist. Over the course of his career, Graeme has developed a niche practice resolving sports disputes, and was an arbitrator at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the 2012 London Olympics. In this article, Graeme shares his experiences practicing the law in many international courts, both on and off sports pitches.

A LEGAL JOURNEY WITH OC GRAEME MEW

Why did you decide to study law?

Law wasn’t my first choice; I really wanted to study history. But, both my father and the careers advice I got at school suggested that I would be better-suited to a more vocational degree. It was mostly my father who favoured this track; he didn’t do any post-secondary education himself, choosing instead to pursue a career in insurance. He did very well and thought I should follow a similar path. Law seemed a good option because a law degree has so many applications.

It’s a tough profession to get into (tougher now, I think, than when I did it), and many lawyers work long hours and only the very top make the sort of money you read about in the headlines. Although a lot of lawyers I know say they wouldn’t recommend the profession to their own children, I don’t feel that way.

Why did you choose to study at Kingston University, London?

I managed to get conditional offers to read law from a number of Russell Group universities, but did poorly in my A Levels.

Back then, the polytechnics were not part of what is now the UCAS system and I had applied to Kingston as an insurance policy.

I just about managed to meet their requirements, so off I went. Even then, Kingston had a diverse student body, and there were some excellent law teachers there at the time. It turned out to be a very positive experience.

I also got involved in student politics, which built on my debating experience from Caterham, all of which pushed me in the direction of advocacy and becoming a barrister. 

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Do you travel much with your work?

I used to travel a lot within Canada and internationally. For several years, I was running a case in Vancouver and flying five hours back and forth from home in Toronto just to make court appearances there. My sports disputes work has taken me all around the world. Now I’m a judge, apart from the odd conference and seminar (and, of course trips back to the UK), most of my travel is around eastern Ontario.

What took you to Canada?

That really wasn’t part of the plan, but in 1983 I did a ten-month work experience stint with a Canadian law firm who were keen to have me join them permanently, and I was keen on a Canadian lady I’d met. So, I went back to Canada in September 1984 and embarked on quite a lengthy re-qualification process. I got married, re-qualified and started practising law in Toronto.

The inevitable mortgage followed, and my daughter Olivia (OC 2003 – 2005) was born in 1988 and my son Calum came along in 1990.

How does one become a judge?

Well, in my case, I applied and was eventually accepted. But, it took a while and, in Canada at least, there are more well-qualified applicants than there are positions available! You need good references, an unblemished record as a lawyer with a minimum of 10 years’ experience, a positive response from the lawyers, judges and members of the public who are asked to comment on your suitability for appointment and, inevitably, a bit of luck. I applied because I was ready for a change and thought I would enjoy the challenges of making and explaining decisions, as well as the public service aspect of being a judge. Fortunately, I was right. It’s a great job.

What traits does a judge need to have?

The obvious ones are an ability to listen, to absorb and process a lot of information, to be patient, open-minded, polite and, of course, fair.

You also need to be able to make decisions and explain your reasons for doing so. In my court, we are encouraged to be generalists and to be able to take on all types of work, so you need an ability and willingness to learn new things and occasionally work outside your comfort zone.

A good dash of humanity also comes in handy.

How did you end up deciding sport disputes?

Pure luck! Despite being a fairly unimpressive rugby player at school, I started playing for the Toronto Nomads when I came to Canada. The club was a wonderful blend of characters; about half of them Canadian-born and the other half from

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every corner of the rugby-playing world. I made many friends for life and ended up doing stints as treasurer, secretary and president of the club.

Coincidentally, I’d taken a course in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) while I was re-qualifying at the University of Windsor. A few years later, I took the exams to become a fellow of the UK-based Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and also took some mediation courses. I saw a notice in a legal journal looking for people with sports and ADR experience to arbitrate and mediate sports disputes, and decided to go for it. One thing led to another after that; I got involved with the International Rugby Board’s anti-doping programme. Then, I was asked if I could hear on-field and off-field discipline cases. In 2004, I was appointed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and I also ended up on the National Anti-Doping Panel in the UK and did some work for the Football Association. Between rugby, the CAS, and the other sports panels I’ve been on, I’ve heard cases all over the world, from Australia and New Zealand, to Namibia and India and, of course, the UK and Canada.

Can you give me an example of a sports dispute you have been involved in mediating?

I’ll give you a few: at the last Rugby World Cup I sat on the panel that heard the appeals of the Scottish players Ross Ford and Jonny Gray against suspensions that would have prevented them from playing in the quarter-final against Australia. I also dealt with the dressing room ban imposed on England coaches Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree. In Canada back in 1998, I heard an application for re-instatement from a lifetime doping ban by the athlete Ben Johnson.

At the Court of Arbitration for Sport I chaired the panel that heard the appeals of the Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif over bans handed down for spot-fixing.

You mentioned that, in your court, you need to take on all types of work. What kind of cases do you typically handle?

I handle a wide range of cases; indictable criminal offences, civil cases of all shapes and sizes, family law cases, and hearing appeals from lower courts. I mostly sit as a judge alone, but sometimes work with juries. There’s a lot of reading, a lot of writing and a lot of listening, and you learn a great deal about the human condition. As a litigator most of my cases were, ultimately, about money. But, now, some of the decisions I make affect individuals’ liberty, custody of and access to children; to say it’s a very responsible job would be an understatement!

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There’s a lot of reading, a lot of writing and a lot of listening, and you learn a great deal about the human condition.

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How do you spend your free time?

Perhaps sadly, a fair bit of my time off is spent doing things related to the law; I’ve written a legal textbook and edit a couple of reference sources for lawyers, and I’m also still involved in some rugby-related activities in Canada and internationally, and sit on World Rugby’s AntiDoping advisory committee. When I met Ruth eight years ago, she told me that if I wanted to go out with her I had to take up golf and skiing (I was already 50). The skiing has gone better than the golf! I get to a few rugby internationals every year and to some Toronto F.C. games (Major League Soccer). I also have a new granddaughter, Hanna, who lives three hours up the road in Montréal.

What advice would you give to those hoping to pursue a career in the law?

A legal qualification opens many doors, not just private practice as a barrister or solicitor; be prepared to end up somewhere quite different from where you thought you would. However, you should know that, particularly now, many people who start down the law path branch off into something else, either because work as a practising lawyer isn’t available, or because other opportunities present themselves. 

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CATERHAM CURRENTLY

Sport at the Heart of Caterham School – and Beyond Every OC that I have met over the years has spoken of the strong community that has always existed at the School and how sport has been an integral part of creating it and strengthening it. Many of you reading this will be of the Pat Lavery, Anne Collins, and Richard Smith era – all absolute legends of Caterham School. All three are still in touch with the School, and monitor our progress with a watchful eye, such is their passion for the School.

I am pleased to report that their love of sport and expertise in coaching it lives on through the current sports staff. During my eight years at the School, we have recruited some outstanding new members of the sports department and this feature in Omnia will give you an insight into the depth of coaching talent to which Caterham pupils now have access.

This article also pays tribute to some of the sporting achievements of the current Caterham cohort, as well as recent leavers. I hope that you agree that Caterham School sport is in rude health. If you haven’t been back for a while, we would love to see you on the touchline at one of the OC days or, even better, maybe even out on the playing field representing an OC team!

Rob Clarke, Director of Sport at Caterham School

LACROSSE JEN SIMPSON (CATERHAM SPORTS STAFF) Many of you will know Miss Simpson in her role as acting Head of Lacrosse at Caterham.

She is known for her outstanding knowledge of the game, and her passionate and committed approach as a coach. After completing her degree in Kinesiology at the University of New Hampshire in 2013, Miss Simpson moved to England to help grow the game of lacrosse.

During her first year here, she was selected for the South East senior regional team, as well as being drafted by Northern Storm in the newly-formed lacrosse Super League.

After some outstanding performances in these leagues, the opportunity to trial for England lacrosse, and play on the international stage, presented itself to Miss Simpson in September 2015. Despite being an American passport holder, Miss Simpson – luckily for us – was able to represent England through the FIL non-national criteria, and England went on to win the overall event, beating both Scotland and Wales. Later that year, Miss Simpson went to Australia with England lacrosse, where her team experienced a convincing win over New Zealand.

Lacrosse really has taken Miss Simpson all over the world; in October 2016, she returned to her homeland to take on the USA, Canada, and Australia in the prestigious US Fall Classic.

England lacrosse managed to beat Canada by just one goal, and put up a fantastic performance against the USA. Most recently, Miss Simpson played for England in the 2017 Women’s Lacrosse World Cup over the summer. Miss Simpson had an excellent World Cup with six assists and eight goals scored under intense pressure. We are very proud of her, and she has inspired our next generations of players in the School.

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HOCKEY PETER FRIEND (CATERHAM SPORTS STAFF)

HOCKEY ROB MUGRIDGE (CATERHAM SPORTS STAFF)

Having played for Brooklands Hockey Club in Manchester for seven years, I now represent current English champions Wimbledon Hockey Club in the English National League premier division. My playing career has allowed me to play hockey in countries such as Holland and Belgium, as well as giving me the opportunity to play for six months in Melbourne for Doncaster hockey club, reaching the State League grand final in the process.

Having coached children, adults, and teams from beginner to National League standard over the last few years, as well as coaching in other countries such as Holland and Australia, my coaching career has really taken off since joining Caterham School in September 2016.

In January 2017, I was appointed as Head Coach of the England Hockey North Downs girls’ performance centre.

This is one of only seventeen performance centres across the country which provide high-level coaching for our country’s most promising players at U15 and U17 level.

We have created a hockey academy at the School aiming to develop a hockey hub which will provide a high level of hockey coaching for the local community and inspire players, young and old, to play our fantastic sport.

In addition to his day job teaching geography at Caterham, Rob Mugridge has also proven his talents on the hockey pitch and, this year, represented his country in an international against the USA. After qualifying for Wales, Mr Mugridge has represented his country through the age groups (18s and 21s) and progressed to senior level in 2014 as part of the training squad for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland later that year. After winning his debut in May versus Ireland, Mr Mugridge sadly missed out on a place in the squad through injury.

Caterham’s multi-talented geography teacher says,

“Since regaining fitness in 2015, I have proudly represented Wales a further 17 times, the last of these appearances being in the first round of the World League in Scotland in September 2016.”

CRICKET ROSS POWELL (OC 2007 – 2015)

Ross Powell (right) with Ben Fullard from Marylebone Cricket Club

I have represented many different teams in my cricket career, ranging from Surrey Academy to Caterham’s first XI. Currently, I am playing for the first team at Exeter University and also for the Oxted and Limpsfield first XI, which is an up-and-coming club focusing a lot of their attention of the junior section.

My proudest moments are when I represented Caterham as the first XI captain, along with my first appearance for the university team. University sport is tough but very rewarding; in the cricket team we have three two-hour training sessions a week, two gym sessions a week, and one sprint session a week. These are flexible around each individual’s timetable, so if you cannot make a session due to a lecture, there are other times you can drop in to train.

I plan to continue to enjoy my cricket for the university and Oxted, and hope to travel to Australia to play and coach after my three years at Exeter.

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SWIMMING AMY DAVIES (CURRENT CATERHAM PUPIL) I am 15 years old and am a national swimmer. My life is extremely busy with training seven times a week with a total of 13 hours, plus 45 mins of land training. I get Sundays off unless I have a gala, which means that I don’t have a lot of time for socialising. I love to swim because it gives me a sense of freedom.

My biggest achievement was when I qualified for the British Winter Championships for the 100m freestyle back in October 2016. This is a senior meet where olympians such as Ben Proud and Molly Renshaw competed. This was my first senior gala and I hope that many more follow.

My next big aspiration is to try and make the British Championships, which is the qualifying meet for the World Championships.

ENGLAND TRIAL FOR CATERHAM RUGBY STAR, CHE After a quite simply stunning Sevens season, in which he averaged 15 tries per tournament, Caterham student Che Ochugboju has been catching the attention of a variety of coaches. After a dazzling display at Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens in May, in which Che helped the Caterham side to a top 16 finish in the Cup competition, Che was invited to trial for the England 7s Academy. This trial sees the 25 top sevens performers from across the country invited to train with the current England sevens squad to try and impress the coaches with the aim of gaining a full-time professional contract.

This is well deserved recognition for Che who has worked very hard at developing every aspect of his game during his time at Caterham.

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EASTER LACROSSE SUCCESSES In April, Chloe Wyner (OC 2005 – 2017) represented and led the U19A England team to an undefeated weekend and victory at the Home Internationals tournament held in Cardiff, Wales. She scored five goals, had seven assists and was a consistent threat on the attack. She will continue training with the U19 Academy in the build up to the World Cup Festival in July. Chloe has also been put forward by her academy coach for the senior development squad in December. A huge congratulations to her on regaining the home internationals title and her recent nomination for the Senior England program!

Over the holidays, a number of U14 and U13 pupils were nominated for a trial into the England Regional Lacrosse Academy during the first week of the holidays.

The academy is part of the England Lacrosse Talent Pathway. This is a fantastic achievement for the girls as well as Caterham lacrosse.

Finally, eight pupils took part in the Regional Lacrosse Academy tournament held at Nottingham Trent University. Following the tournament, certain players may be identified to progress into the U17 and U19 England National squads training group. Another massive congratulations to all pupils who participated!

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HOCKEY ACADEMY TRAINING CAMP HALF TERM FUN May half term Caterham School Hockey Academy delivered another very successful camp over the May half term. The one-day camp was designed to work intensively on players’ individual skills, passing and receiving techniques, as well as provide a specialist goalkeeping session for budding shot-stoppers.

There were some silky skills on show and players were given a special treat as the coaches (current and former Internationals and National Premier League

OLIVIA FOR ENGLAND WOMEN’S SE RUGBY TRAINING SQUAD Congratulations to Olivia who has been selected for the England Women’s SE rugby training squad. This achievement is even more impressive considering that Olivia only started playing the sport in January this year! She was spotted at the Rosslyn Park National sevens tournament by an England scout who happened to be watching when she scored a sensational try against St John’s, Leatherhead. It was a fine example of the natural speed and power with which she is gifted.

players) gave a spectacular goal scoring demonstration.

The level of play impressed all of the coaches and Hockey Academy Manager Peter Friend was especially pleased with some of the play in the games that concluded the day. Congratulations to our prize winners Zac, Caitlin and Will (pictured) who stood out in what was a very talented field of players.

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ARTSHOUSE PRODUCTION: MACBETH Thursday 4 May The second ArtsHouse production (the School’s initiative to bring the best of national festival touring productions to Caterham) brought an intelligent, exhilarating sprint through revered Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth on Thursday 4 May. Visiting company Six Foot Stories led a workshop for pupils before a stunning performance in front of a packed audience in the Deayton Theatre.

Three gnarly fortune tellers live apart from decent society, amongst the rats in an old junk yard. Eager to teach the selfish world of man a lesson, they prepare a fortune reading that will destroy the throne and

everything around it. The witches go about plotting the fall of Macbeth, rehearsing what they hope will be the bloody and catastrophic aftermath of their prophecy. The three actors brilliantly played the keys roles with humour and violence where appropriate.

The music interludes lightened the play momentarily, whilst instantly bringing the audience back to the reality of the storyline of Macbeth. The immersive set was made entirely of recycled objects, and deranged cast played Macbeth, and his wife, and all the other major characters, swapping roles like a gory game of pass the parcel.

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ARTSHOUSE: PERFORMANCE OF SCORCHED On Tuesday 23 May Caterham ArtsHouse hosted one of its most moving and creative productions to date.

Scorched presented the true story of a WW2 veteran, following his mind sinking into the sands of time.

The production used physical theatre, incredible projections of animated tattoos and puppetry to tell Jack’s story of the Battle of Tobruk, from the armchair of his rest home. Robin Berry’s performance of the older Jack was sensitive and convincing, gripping audience members as he transformed into his younger self. We are delighted that Caterham ArtsHouse has been able to bring such innovative and visually striking theatre to Caterham!

PARENTS V DAUGHTERS ROUNDERS MATCH On Saturday 20 May, over 100 people participated in the parents v daughters rounders match. Some excellent fielding and batting was on display from the girls as well as their parents. A huge thank you to everyone who came out and participated in or supported the event. It was a huge success and we are already looking forward to next year!

FILM FESTIVAL On Thursday 25 May, the School’s first Film Festival took place, following the success of the School’s previous two Oscar Nights. The evening showcased the premieres of an exciting array of film projects which included the Year Five Partnership Programme, Year Six Film Club, English, BBC School Report and a variety of other films displaying the wealth of activities that happen at Caterham School. The evening also included a dance by Josie Branson and Jay Tuyenbayev in addition to a talk from Joshua Howgego, Feature Editor at New Scientist.

The evening kicked off with mini interactive workshops for the audience which included green screen, animation, podcast, editing, and robotics.

The evening ended with awards being presented by Charles Fearn, Picture Publicist at Channel 4, Rachel Bashford (OC 2008 – 2015, and former member of Film Club), and Kate York, freelance producer and director.

Well done to all pupils who have been involved and worked incredibly hard.

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CCF PASSING OUT PARADE 2017 The curtain fell on the CCF’s training year on Home Field on Wednesday 28 June. In front of a very large audience of parents, friends, staff and ex-cadets, over 100 junior cadets and their NCOs marched onto parade to pass out of their respective phases of training. Third Year recruits passed out of basic training and became cadets, while Fourth Year cadets marked the completion of their advanced infantry and aviation cadres. There were also promotions for several Lower Sixth NCOs and the eagerly anticipated presentation of the Glancy Shield to the best platoon or flight: this year, Gibraltar Platoon under Sgt Ben Deans.

As ever, a recent ex-cadet serving in the forces came to inspect the parade and address them. This year, Lt Nick Doney (RN), who left Caterham and the CCF in 2005, told the parade about what life as a cadet meant to him and to his career as a submariner. He, the commanding officer, and the Headmaster commended the cadets on their commitment throughout another very busy year and, as the Union Flag and RAF Ensign were lowered as the sun set, all Caterham’s cadets could feel very proud of themselves for all they have achieved over the past three terms.

UNIVERSITIES FAYRE On Tuesday 4 July the school welcomed 35 of the UK’s top universities to the first ever Caterham School Universities Fayre. From Glasgow and St. Andrews, the London School of Economics, Manchester, Sheffield to Exeter, Swansea and even New South Wales, Australia, they travelled and what an event it was! One visitor even said it was the best event they had ever seen at Caterham!

Our students were able to ask about courses and accommodation as well as listen to talks on Getting into Medicine, Applying to Competitive Universities and Winning Personal Statements, to name but a few. This was a fabulous opportunity for our students to engage with university representatives and glean vital information for the next stage in their career journey.

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MARYLEBONE CRICKET CLUB MATCH REPORT On Wednesday 28 June, after a five year absence, the School was delighted to welcome back the MCC to take on the 1st XI Cricket team.

The MCC brought a very strong side for the match, which included several Old Caterhamians including Richard Turner (OC 1983 – 1991), Ross Powell (OC 2007 – 2015), and Ben Fullard (OC 2007 – 2015). On winning the toss, the MCC elected to bat first.

The 1st XI produced their best combined bowling and fielding display in the morning session, and had reduced the MCC to 119-6 straight after lunch. All of the bowlers made valuable contributions, but Antony McGowan was the pick of them with three wickets. Matthew Terry, Ian Haywood and Jude Williams were all miserly in restricting the run rate, while Sam Thorpe wheeled away with 14 beautiful overs of left arm spin. The MCC, however, rallied and declared on 200-7 leaving plenty of time for the 1st XI to chase the runs.

A very tight and hostile opening spell of bowling from the MCC put the Caterham batsmen under pressure, and there were a couple of early setbacks as we lost Louis Brown for 0 and Matthew Terry for 2. Captain Joe Foggin (OC 2007 – 2015) and Jude Williams looked comfortable in building a 58 run partnership. Foggin with his trademark back foot cuts and punches, and Williams, getting in behind the ball and driving majestically down the ground.

However, once their partnership was broken, a familiar sight ensued as Caterham collapsed to 84 all out, to lose by 116 runs. Ben Fullard and Ross Powell both bagged two wickets to add to their 13 and 32 runs respectively.

The match was played in a wonderful spirit, and the Caterham pupils will have learned much from the MCC players both on the pitch and during their conversations over lunch. We very much look forward to making this an annual fixture.

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ELLIE GB FENCING CADET CHAMPION

GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARDS

Ellie took the title in the British Fencing GB Cadet (U17) Championships at Nottingham University on Saturday 1 July. This was following not only exams (when she didn’t miss any training), but also after a physical week doing work experience with a garden designer.

Ellie fenced in a huge group of 63 fencers and competed in 11 fights, working to the final to win 15-12.

Her coach said that she was incredibly calm throughout the day and that it was a well-deserved win. This result will significantly contribute towards national rankings and international squad selection.

Ten Old Caterhamians, accompanied by Mr Ogilvie and Mr Wilkinson, attended a special ceremony at St James’s Palace for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award presentations. The pupils met HRH the Duke of Edinburgh on one of his last public engagements and were presented with their awards in the prestigious Throne Room. Our pupils spanned several years for the School and we were proud to discuss their achievements with Prince Philip and the actor Jim Carter who was the guest speaker for the day.

DofE is going from strength to strength at Caterham School with a 94% completion rate last year, and we are seeing even more pupils moving onto and completing their Gold Awards. Well done to everyone involved in such a successful year.

TEEN TECH WINNERS Congratulations to Caterham’s young engineers who had a brilliant showing in this year’s Teen Tech awards.

Sixth Form pupil Olivia Dowle’s ingenious prototype for a necklace which enables people with hearing impairments to ‘feel’ music caught the eye of the Teen Tech judges and saw her gain a top 20 placing out of 4,000 entries.

Following the accolade given by Teen Tech, Olivia hopes to move her invention towards production.

This year’s success followed the Caterham team’s national winning entry in 2016 for SensoSafe, a safety warning system for bicyclists.

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A LEVEL RESULTS 2017 Caterham’s Sixth Form pupils have achieved a superb set of A Level results this year – even better than last year.

In this year’s A Level results, a quarter of all grades achieved at Caterham are the top A* grade and two thirds are graded A*-A. An outstanding 90 per cent are graded A* to B. These results place Caterham, once again, amongst the top performing co-educational independent schools in the UK. Mr Ceri Jones, Headmaster, said, “This is a remarkable achievement for our pupils. The recent reforms to A Level have increased the challenge of assessment for pupils and mean it is harder than ever to achieve top grades, so these excellent results are testament to the hard work of our pupils and the outstanding talents of their teachers. It also endorses our approach to education – inspiring and encouraging pupils to think for themselves and not just to regurgitate.

“Caterham is about so much more than just academic results. Pupils in this year group have exemplified this superbly: they have performed at this year’s Edinburgh Festival, on the sports fields, in our concert halls, and in so many other extra-curricular pursuits. I am so proud of them.

“I have always believed that our pupils can be successful in an environment which is caring, optimistic and encouraging. Our results are testament to the uniquely supportive environment that is Caterham’s hallmark.

“I am also delighted to see the variety and range of university destinations and courses that our pupils are moving on to; this year, they include a prestigious apprenticeship with KPMG and our first pupil to enrol on a degree in cancer biology and immunology.

“As ever, there are some stunning individual performances in these results and from an academic point of view I am particularly pleased that our excellent record of success with Oxbridge application continues. This year, several pupils have won places on some of Oxford and Cambridge’s most selective degree courses – including classics, engineering, biochemistry, medicine, and economics. These pupils will be joining the 62 Caterhamians that we have sent to Oxford and Cambridge over the past four years.”

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CATERHAM CODING CHAMPIONS Congratulations to Michael Land (best overall entry), Mulang Su (best entry Fourth Year to Upper Sixth Form) and Nathan Summers (best entry First to Third Year) who all won top spots in our first ‘Summer of Code’ competition. To enter, pupils had to come up with games, apps or websites around this year’s theme, the planet Earth. Each of our winners chose to design a game, and we were incredibly impressed with the quality of these entries. Overall winner Michael, came up with a game, Cosmos, which is inspired by some of the arcade classics of the past. He not only wrote the game, but also the score that runs through the game. The game is currently listed on Kickstarter.

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MONCRIEFF JONES SOCIETY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION On Friday 22 September, a packed Humphreys Theatre audience listened to Dr Luke Bashford (OC 2001 – 2008) as he gave a lecture to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Moncrieff Jones Society, the School’s science society. Old Caterhamians, current pupils, parents, and friends of the School gathered to hear about Luke’s cutting-edge work with brain machine interfaces. The evening also saw the launch of Quantum Ultimatum, the pupil-written annual journal of the Moncrieff Jones Society.

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C

urrent parent, Jacqui Larsson, is an award-winning gemmologist and diamond grader and the founder of bespoke jewellery brand Carob & Co. In this article, Jacqui tells us about some misconceptions of the diamond industry, the appeal of the watermelon tourmaline, and of the importance of the humble carob seed.

Read on, and be dazzled‌

Left ring: Bespoke platinum channel-set eternity ring featuring round brilliant gem quality diamonds.

Right ring: Bespoke eternity ring with gem-quality diamonds and tsavorite garnets set in 18 carat white gold

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Carob & Co. carobandco.com  @carob_co

What inspired your interest in diamonds and precious stones?

I have always loved jewellery. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t obsessed by it. It is not just my job – I live and breathe it.

I originally trained as a chartered accountant and had never seriously considered a profession in jewellery.

After having a couple of young children, the long hours of my former occupation meant that it wasn’t viable to return, so I began to explore other options to keep my brain engaged. I discovered that it was possible to train in, and become properly accredited with, diamonds and gemstones.

The prospect of studying purely for pleasure was really appealing, and I embarked on several years of study to become a Fellow of the Gemmological Association (FGA) and a Gem Diamond member of the Gemmological

Association (DGA). In 2008, I was also privileged to be awarded the Deeks Diamond Prize for excellence and outstanding knowledge of diamonds.

A rare placement at the Diamond Trading Company (the sales and marketing arm of De Beers) allowed me to study the diamond supply channel and grade rough and polished diamonds, and gave me truly unique insights into a rather secretive industry.

My business organically emerged from my studies.

What’s behind the name Carob & Co.?

Gemstones are sold according to weight, and, prior to the advent of modern scales, gemstone traders used the dried seeds from the Mediterranean carob tree as a counter measure when weighing precious stones, as they consistently and reliably weighed 

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0.2g. The term carat, the unit of measurement for the weight of a stone, is derived from the word carob.

Consequently, a one carat stone weighs 0.2g (it is a common misconception that the term carat denotes the size of a stone). The humble carob seeds are, therefore, inextricably linked to gemstones, and a part of the heritage of gemstone trading.

What is the item of jewellery most often bought from Carob & Co.?

I have sold just about everything, but rings are probably the most sought after item. As I sell a range of pieces (both bespoke and customisable ready-to-wear), I offer a very wide range of price points which means that there is something for everyone.

In the past few months, I have had a commission for an eclectic brooch for a couple in their late eighties, an engagement ring for a couple in their late twenties, silver charms for teenagers, and several pendants and rings for clients aged somewhere in between.

What, in your experience, is the most frequent reason for buying jewellery?

Jewellery is almost always a gift of love, and usually purchased to celebrate a special occasion. However, as women have become increasingly financially independent, jewellery has become more democratised, and women are often buying pieces for themselves simply for the pleasure of wearing them – no special occasion required!

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Prior to the advent of modern scales, gemstone traders used the dried seeds from the Mediterranean carob tree as a counter measure when weighing precious stones.

a 10x loupe, which is used for diamond grading. It gives the session a completely different perspective when people see their jewellery through more informed eyes.

What is your favourite style of jewellery?

I have lots of style influences, but the common theme is outstanding craftsmanship, covetable design and well-cut, interesting stones. I typically favour simplicity – streamlined jewellery focusing on the quality of the setting and stones. I favour low-key chic, but am not opposed to wearing the occasional piece of bling!

What aspects of bespoke jewellery creation do you cover in the workshops you run?

Very little – the focus of the workshops is on appreciating and understanding the characteristics and attributes of diamonds. I explore quite a few topics in a workshop, so the material is diverse and varied. The emphasis is on the sessions being fun, informative and interactive, but most of all, practical. I always finish by giving a quick overview on how to use a jeweller’s magnification glass,

Bespoke sapphire and diamond ring set in 18 carat white gold

You mentioned that people often think that carat is size, rather than weight. What are some other common misconceptions about diamonds and the jewellery industry?

Many people think that diamonds are indestructible. This is certainly not the case; if they take a hard knock in the wrong direction it is possible for them to chip, and fancy diamond cuts with sharp points, such as a pear, can chip when being set.

Diamonds can also cleave, which means a clean break along welldefined atomic planes. Historically, diamond cutters could take advantage of cleavage planes to split diamonds with little or no loss of weight. A rough diamond crystal was cemented to a wooden rod about 20cm long, which had a tapered end secured in the cleaver’s box to provide stability and support. A kerf (or small ridge) was ground into the face of the crystal (often by laser) and a steel blade was inserted into the kerf and given a sharp tap with an iron bar causing the diamond to split along the cleavage plane. This is much less common today.

However, whilst diamonds may not be indestructible, they certainly do deserve their reputation as being a hard stone. At a recent industry event I learnt about some De Beerssponsored research whereby diamonds were shot out of guns at varying speeds into cement walls to measure their durability. Interestingly, the majority of the stones remained completely unscathed.

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Jacqui has been awarded the Deeks Diamond Prize for excellence and outstanding knowledge of diamonds.

What is it about diamonds and precious stones that you find so endearing?

Diamonds are a gift of nature and form at extreme temperatures and pressures in the mantle of the earth.

The only reason that we have natural diamonds at all is due to lava from volcanic eruptions sweeping up pockets of diamonds which were happily nestling about 120km below the earth’s crust. They need to rise to the surface fast enough so that, as the temperature and pressure diminish,

they don’t change state from diamond to graphite. So, if you think about it, you’re wearing something rather extraordinary when you have a piece of diamond jewellery.

Coloured stones can also have a magical appeal, and there is a huge variety of gemstones that are perhaps not quite as well-known, for example, a padparadscha sapphire is quite beguiling, and has a pinkish/orange hue. My favourite value-for-money stone is tourmaline which comes in every colour of the rainbow, with

sometimes more than one colour in a single stone, such as the green and pink watermelon tourmaline.

I consider jewellery a particularly niche luxury item. It is emotive and evocative – we know this because if we lose a piece of jewellery, the sense of loss can be palpable. Almost every piece of jewellery has a story linked to it which often continue to evolve over time. It is uniquely personal and the sense of anticipation when presented with a gift in an unopened box is exhilarating. 

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What is your advice for buying an investment piece with diamonds?

Whilst diamonds are luxury items, unless you are buying a truly exceptional or unusual stone, it is somewhat misleading to refer to them as an investment in the traditional sense of the word. Unless you understand how they are priced (and the pricing of diamonds is certainly complex) as an investor you wouldn’t be in a position to obtain detailed pricing information, nor have ready access to the market. More importantly, diamonds are not bought and sold on an open market like other tradeable commodities, and investor access is restricted. As a member of the London Diamond Bourse, I have access to every diamond traded on the London floor, and to every diamond traded on a floor that is a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

Diamonds are always priced in US dollars, so you will get more bling for your buck if you buy when the dollar is weak. Round brilliants are the most favoured and expensive cut.

A prospective diamond-buyer should also know that there are specific weights at which the price per carat jumps significantly – usually in quarter- or half-carat increments, but particularly at whole carat intervals.

Bespoke Asscher cut diamond bracelet set in platinum

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So, if you wanted to buy a 1 carat diamond, you would get more value for money with a 95 point diamond as it would look broadly the same size, but would be comparatively cheaper.

Beware any stone that weighs exactly a multiple of a carat, as the quality of cut will almost certainly have been compromised to reach the magic carat mark.

What is the most interesting part of your work?

No two days are the same; I regularly see and manufacture beautiful things, and love the fact that pieces that I produce mark an important time in someone’s life.

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

I am a firm believer that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. But, practically speaking you need to have an excellent eye for detail, an encyclopaedic knowledge of stones and designs, an unwavering demand for excellence and patience to explore lots of options for clients. It is a collaborative process which should be rewarding for everyone involved.

It is really hard work, but there is nothing that I’d rather do. 

My favourite value-formoney stone is tourmaline which comes in every colour of the rainbow, with sometimes more than one colour in a single stone, such as the green and pink watermelon tourmaline

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

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CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM

By Kristina Flexman (OC 2011 – 2016), second year undergraduate at the University of Durham WHAT? I chose chemistry because it was my favourite subject at school; I find the scientific concepts explored fascinating, and it involves areas of maths which I enjoy. It is also a well-respected degree with good job prospects. I enjoy labs the most because they involve putting what you’ve learnt into practice, and the techniques and equipment are much more advanced than at school, and the investigations more complex. Labs are also a more social part of the course.

WHERE? I chose Durham because I liked the city and the college when I came up to visit, and also because the chemistry department has a good reputation. Durham is a very sweet, condensed city; the river, cathedral, castle, and cobbled streets are very picturesque, and there are so many places to go to eat.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I play badminton for the college because it’s much more of a social thing than a competitive serious commitment.

YOUR ADVICE? Read the course descriptions on the university website, go to the open days, and make sure you actually like the area and the university.

WHAT’S NEXT? At the moment the plan is to go into forensic science, but I’m sure I’ll change my mind again before I need to make a decision! 

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GEOGRAPHY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

By Kelly Gibson (OC 2014 – 2016), second year undergraduate at University College London

WHAT? I really enjoyed studying geography at school, and it’s a really diverse subject; my main area of interest is the environment, but it’s great to be able to learn about everything from migration to volcanoes. Also, I find geography teaches you so many skills; my essay writing, data collection and analysis, and research techniques have all been improved so much by studying the subject.

WHERE? For me, the main reason why I chose UCL was the course; the modules available sounded really interesting, and the field trip to Barcelona was definitely a bonus! Also, living in London was a big attraction; everything is very accessible, and this made UCL an obvious choice, coupled with the fact that I didn’t really want to be somewhere far from home.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I’m a member of the Geography Society, and the Conservation Society, which organises talks from various experts (including Chris Packham) for the Christmas lecture. I’m also part of the Lacrosse Society because I wanted to meet people outside of my course; this has been a great way to make friends from all different years, and also gives a nice break from studying.

YOUR ADVICE? Go with a course that you actually want to study; if you’re not interested in what you’re studying, you won’t be motivated to do your work, and probably won’t enjoy being at university. Also, take your time to look at a variety of courses; there are so many subjects I’d never even heard of before going to uni. Although I believe the course should be the key factor, location is also important; I couldn’t imagine studying anywhere other than London, but some people prefer going somewhere new and further from home..

WHAT’S NEXT? I’ve been asked this question so many times and still don’t have a clear answer for it! I would definitely love to go into something related to climate change research or sustainability, but conservation or even teaching are possibilities too. The great thing about a geography degree is that there’s so much you can do with it, so I’m definitely keeping my options open. 

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LAW AT CITY UNIVERSITY

By Edona Kurti (OC 2014 – 2016), second year undergraduate at City University

WHAT? Throughout my two years at Caterham I enjoyed debating, English literature, politics and French. Law combines three of these subjects (debating, English literature and politics) in one!

WHERE? I visited City University twice and loved it because of the emphasis the university places on providing career mentoring (the university has a reputation for helping students find jobs within six months of graduating), and also because of the academic support given.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I am a member of the Law Society, Pro Bono Society and the Debating Society. The first two help me to find networking events and increase my chances of finding work experience and work schemes. I chose to be a part of the Debating Society as I have always loved debating, so naturally thought I would carry on debating at university.

YOUR ADVICE? Research! Research! Research! Make sure to read what the course entails, which modules you will study, and the form of assessment; will you have primarily exams or will your degree be assessed solely on coursework?

Are certain modules optional?

Also, do not choose a university based solely on the league tables, or whether they are a Russell Group University. For example, City University has been offered Russell Group membership a few times in the past few years, but has declined every single time. Therefore, it is not a Russell Group university but is in the top 20 universities in the UK for law.

Don’t forget, you decide how you make your university experience, if you study and are committed, then you will succeed, whichever university you decide to attend.

WHAT’S NEXT? I am still undecided, as there are so many different routes that I can take with a law degree. I am planning on specialising in corporate and commercial law, eventually working as a solicitor in a Magic Circle law firm, or possibly becoming a barrister. 

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LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

By Jennifer Zhang (OC 2014 – 2016), second year undergraduate at the University of Birmingham

WHAT? My original thought was to study physics or sociology, but it seemed absurd to have to make a choice between one or the other. Liberal Arts and Sciences gives much more freedom for study than any other courses; I can take a combination of core physics, introductory modules to philosophy, world films, and twentieth century history – it’s great!

WHERE? Birmingham is one of the leading universities that recently introduced Liberal Arts and Sciences as one of the courses it offers. The department values students’ feedback greatly and constantly endeavours to improve the course.

Birmingham is a city that is easy for me travel around, whether to other cities or flying home. I enjoy walking by the canal that runs along local train tracks, and the city centre is seven-minute train journey from the campus.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? In my first year, I spent most of my free time doing ballroom and Latin dancing. Like many other societies, it is under the Guild of Students, which is our dynamic student union. In my second year, I decided to do fewer extracurricular activities, so that I always have time to tidy my room, cook and eat well, and concentrate on studying well!

YOUR ADVICE? Start by doing research on courses, be open to taking modules you might not originally have considered, and pick the ones you think you would enjoy the most. For me now, my plan is being realised – I am majoring in physics, but can be flexible about the modules I take.

Ultimately, you should choose a university and course based on where and what you think will make you happy.

WHAT’S NEXT? After my degree, I hope to do a master’s degree that links well with the unique set of skills I will have developed by that point. Next year, however, I will be abroad in another country (perhaps Italy, Japan, or Vietnam) studying; it is a compulsory part of the degree, and as a LANS student, I am supposed to constantly open myself to new experiences, whether discipline- or culture-wise.

This coming year is holds a great deal of significance for my future path. 

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MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

By Claire Boomla (OC 2014 – 2016), second year undergraduate at the University of Manchester

WHAT? I chose medicine because it offers an exciting and versatile career as a doctor. Each week I work quite hard to stay on top of the workload, however it is fairly manageable, and, as cases we are assigned to are opened and closed within the week, I have the weekends free!

WHERE? Manchester medical school appealed to me because of the problem-based learning style of course, and the emphasis they place upon communication as a key skill of a doctor. I also chose Manchester because of the fantastic sports facilities and programmes they run here; Manchester is the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme accredited centre of the North of England, and I really benefit from the support they provide for my sport, canoe sprint, especially through my strength and conditioning programme that they help me with.

Manchester is a fantastic city to live in. In terms of the night life there is something for everyone, and the list of clubs and weekly events seems endless, of which I have only experienced a fraction! The university has a very good student support system in place, and ensures anybody who needs disability support has it, and offers a counselling service providing focus groups and one to one sessions. Transport around the city is easy and convenient, with the magic bus (!) and newly built cycle lanes. I don’t know much about the term time jobs and internship opportunities that the university offers because of the nature of my course.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I’m a member of the university’s water polo team, as I knew that I wanted to play water polo again, after giving it up just before Sixth form. It was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made since coming here – the whole team has been very welcoming, and, as well as playing water polo in the competitive BUCS league, the team organises great social and charity events, including an open water swim in Salford Quays in December! I am also on the medic’s basketball team, which I joined to meet more medics in different years, and the wilderness medicine society which organises hikes throughout the year that focus on emergency medicine in the wilderness, although I have yet to go on a trip with them yet!

YOUR ADVICE? Don’t be afraid to choose a university that none of your friends have even looked at. It is really nice to be at a place where people differ from you and your school friends, in terms of upbringing, culture and education.

There is life north of the Watford Gap! WHAT’S NEXT? I think it is too early for me to say what branch of medicine I want to go into, as there are so many different options!

However, at the moment I can see myself working as a GP, and taking advantage of the opportunities to go on expeditions as a medic. 

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NATURAL SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

By Bobby Chan (OC 2014 – 2016), second year undergraduate at the University of Cambridge

WHAT? Originally, I wanted to study physics. I chose natural sciences because, although I like physics, I wanted to study a broader subject – natural sciences allowed me to study all three sciences in my first year, and narrow it down in future years.

WHERE? I chose Cambridge because it is one of the best universities in the world, and undoubtedly better than “the other one”!

I really enjoy the vibe of Cambridge, and how, even though everyone who is here is here because they’re all really clever, the majority of people are humble about it.

I have to be honest, that’s not how I expected studying at Cambridge would be!

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I am a member of the King’s College Boat Club, which is college rowing; rowing is fun, and being part of team is a good way to make friends. I’ve only joined the Boat Club because rowing takes up a lot of time and energy, so I haven’t got time for any other clubs!

YOUR ADVICE? Go for the university that suits you the best because different universities have a really different vibe. For your course, only pick the course you like the most; university is going to be tough, so you need to do something that you enjoy.

WHAT’S NEXT? I don’t have any plans for my career yet because I think it’s too early to fix my career – I haven’t even picked my main subject in the natural science course yet. 

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PHYSIOTHERAPY AT MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

By Georgie Waterman (OC 2001 – 2016), second year undergraduate at Manchester Metropolitan University

WHAT? I chose physiotherapy mainly because I tore a muscle in my knee at the end of the Fifth Form, and had to have two operations. I then had 12 months of physiotherapy which I found fascinating as I learnt so much about how the body worked. I decided to do work experience in the Lower Sixth and organized five different placements which gave me a good breadth of knowledge about what physiotherapists actually do. I love that I can learn something that I have a passion for, as it makes it easier to study.

WHERE? When I first started looking at universities via UCAS, I was limited on the universities could chose as I didn’t study biology. However, when I went to MMU for my interview I immediately fell in love with the uni; the interesting course modules, the beautiful buildings, and the friendliness of the lecturers and student ambassadors just sold it for me.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I play lacrosse and netball at university; I got a sports scholarship to MMU and as a part of that I have to represent MMU for lacrosse. I am so glad I did, as I have met some lovely people and it is great fun. I play netball socially as I wanted to start playing it when I got to university which is very enjoyable.

YOUR ADVICE? My advice to current pupils would be to make sure that you are doing the right course, as I know a couple of people who were struggling and dropped out because they didn’t know what the course involved. Also, make sure you visit the uni before you go there; you may think you like it from reading about it, but you don’t really know until you go and visit.

WHAT’S NEXT? At the moment my thoughts are that my ideal job would be to go and work with international sports athletes, as I have always had a passion for sports, so I feel that doing something that I enjoy for a living mixed with my passion would make the ideal job. If I don’t go down this route, I would be interested in working with amputees, either who have been in the army, or just in a hospital, as I have done work experience in this unit before and found it fascinating and it was amazing to see the help that physiotherapists gave to these people and how they improved their lives. 

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PSYCHOLOGY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

By Edvin Dubrovskis (OC 2014 – 2016), second year undergraduate at University College London

WHAT? Originally I wanted to do a degree in economics, so I took economics at A Level, together with psychology just because I enjoyed it. Then, I realised that I enjoy psychology much more than economics, so decided to study that at university instead!

WHERE? I chose UCL because it’s a top-rated university, and, of course, because it’s based in London, where there’s always a lot to do, and a lot of opportunities for study, and leisure.

ANY CLUBS/SOCIETIES? I’m a member of the UCL Film Society, which I enjoy the most because I get the chance to participate in short film shootings. I’m also a member of the Psychology Society, Mixology Society, Poker Society, and the Water Polo Team.

YOUR ADVICE? When choosing a university, you should really think about the details – where you’ll live, how much it’ll cost, and so on. London has a crazy nightlife and countless job opportunities, but everything is very expensive and that is something that A Level pupils should take in to consideration when choosing a university, particularly one in London.

WHAT’S NEXT? It’s too early for me to say, at the moment!



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IN THE ARCHIVES

A History of Hill Fields

By William Broadhead (OC 1953 – 1960)

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n the 1950s, the Old Caterhamians RFC played next to St Mary’s Church on the Dene Field where there was a small shed with a crude boiler and a shower.

Refreshments were taken in the Caterham Country Club in Stafford Road on a site now occupied by flats.

Sites for a permanent base were considered, and negotiations with the Board resulted in a lease for land adjacent to the Hill Field (note the use of the singular!).

Constructing a pitch on the adjoining piece of scrub land (part of a former golf course) for which the School had no plans was also discussed. Prodigious effort by members resulted in the first clubhouse being constructed in 1958, followed in 1960 by the clearing of the scrub and felling of trees. After filling of enormous hollows, Roger Hamberg and his farm implements cleared stones, dug drains, then smoothed and seeded – hence the ’Hamberg’ pitch.

In 1965, the acquisition of an army hut to serve as a bar and clubhouse (noted in the following account by Peter Osbourn, OC overleaf), enabled the contiguous original building to be redeveloped to provide updated changing rooms and showers. The hut suffered severe damage in the hurricanes of 1987 and 1990, and spurred the construction of the replacement clubroom and bar in 1991. This was followed in subsequent years by the construction of new changing rooms, forming the clubhouse as we knew it until its demolition in May 2017, and the advent of today’s magnificent pavilion.

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Old Hill Fields Pavilion re-opening in 2000 with new changing rooms

Old Hill Fields Pavilion pavilion after the hurricane

Construction in 1965

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Far left: Reg Morgan (with pipe) Second from left: Martin Briggs Second from right: Lepard (facing camera)

The new pavilion, 2017

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IN THE ARCHIVES

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n 1965, the Old Cats Rugby Club joined together with the Whiteoaks Cricket Club (which had many OC players) as they, like us, had no club house. The arrangement was simple: they looked after the place in the summer months, and we looked after it in the winter months. When we changed over, we would play each other at the others’ sport; I can remember once, whilst taking my dog for a walk, being called in to strengthen the rugby team as the seventeenth man in!

A History of Hill Fields continued

The clubhouse itself came from the army barracks in nearby Aldershot. We took various trips down to Aldershot to dismantle a Nissen hut which was transported to Park Avenue, courtesy of a club member.

Armed with cement, nails, and hammers, we started to assemble what, at the time, seemed a massive building for what we had in mind. The metal cross girders, too large for one person to handle, were moved into place by a three-ton crane and driver, who did a wonderful job helping us to construct the skeleton of our new club house in time for the forthcoming season.

Having now got a clubhouse, our next priority (aside from building a bar!), was to create a stone-free pitch, which meant spending many hours on our hands and knees removing stones by hand. To see what it is now in the place of the old building is unbelievable – well done to all those involved! 

By Peter J Osborn (OC 1947 – 1953)

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THE PINNACLE OF POLITICS WITH

Hayden Allan Hayden visiting the Royal Marines in Norway

After 15 years in British and European politics, including seven years in government, three general elections, and numerous air miles, Hayden Allan (OC 1991 – 1999) is moving away from a high-powered career as communications director to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In this article, he tells the editor how, despite the move, he still loves politics, about meeting world leaders, and how you don’t have to be an extrovert to be in communications.

Hayden on an official visit with the Foreign Secretary to the Middle East

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Why did you decide that you wanted to go in to communications after leaving school?

I was fortunate to be among the first set of pupils to take an A Level in politics at Caterham. I gradually became immersed in politics with the encouragement of teachers like David Clark and knew by my time in the Sixth Form, and as the result of various internships in Westminster, that I wanted to go in to politics in some shape or form. It wasn’t until I had spent time working in a political press office in Brussels, as part of an internship whilst at university, that I decided I wanted a career in political communications.

What skills would you say one must have to be successful in political communications?

You need to be able to take policy measures and translate them into language that is understandable to voters. Too often in politics and government, jargon and ‘officialese’ gets in the way of explaining how a new policy will change people’s lives.

You also need to be all over your brief; the media in this country is known for being forensic, and journalists don’t just narrate and explain political priorities and policies, but will also challenge you, and can cause mischief, so you have to be capable and ready to deal with any question thrown at you. Primarily, you need to be able to shape the media’s stories by explaining how the policy will improve everyday lifestyles and people’s prospects.

You became a senior communications advisor only two years after leaving university – what advice would you give to other grads hoping for similar career advancement?

Not just for jobs in politics, but for most careers, I believe it’s important to get work experience, and to undertake internships. While at Caterham, I secured a two-week internship with my local MP. Then, when John Bercow was a backbench MP, but before he became speaker of the House of Commons, I had an internship in his office. Subsequently, in the Sixth Form I interned for two months in William Hague’s office, when he was leader of the opposition. During university, I moved to Brussels for the summer and interned in the European Parliament. This range of experience opened my eyes to a number of opportunities by sitting in on policy discussions, media interviews, attending external visits, assisting with speech preparation, media enquiries, and

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observing legislative committee business. Only after such wide exposure to politics, did I feel I could then take a view on which area I most wanted to become involved in.

Do you have to be an extrovert to be successful in communications?

No, and most people who know me wouldn’t describe me as an extrovert! As a communications adviser in politics you’re dealing with many high-profile individuals, so you need to be able to keep calm under pressure, be able to handle different high-intensity situations, be confident in your advice, challenge your principal, when required, and be mild-mannered.

Do you have to speak multiple languages to get a position in the European Parliament?

It’s not necessary to speak multiple languages to work in any of the European Union institutions, as all of the proceedings and official papers are translated into a number of languages. But this a moot point given the UK’s decision to leave the EU! What kind of issues would you advise on when you were special advisor to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond?

Working for a Cabinet Minister for seven years, you naturally develop a strong working relationship so I, unsurprisingly, advised on all areas of Philip Hammond’s political activities, from communications and policy options, to which speeches he would to give and the nature and format of his domestic and international visits.

I had the privilege to be involved in decisions on our combat operations in Afghanistan, and the drawdown of our troops there, the reopening of the British Embassy in Tehran, Britain’s leading role in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Ebola crisis, and the communications around the two annual fiscal statements given by the Chancellor.

Did you get much opportunity to travel in your advisory positions over the years?

The nature of roles in internationally-facing departments meant I travelled extensively as part of my work, for example, to international meetings such as the G20, G7, IMF and the UN. I would often be traveling twice a week to places all over the globe such as Washington D.C., New York, and Brussels, to places such as Tehran, Riyadh, Nairobi and Abuja, along with the major 

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You need to be able to keep calm under pressure, be able to handle different high-intensity situations, be confident in your advice, challenge your principles when required, and be mild-mannered.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s team, No.11 Downing Street April 2017 (Hayden: third from left)

warzones of Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Libya. The 24/7 nature of the job could mean that you’re told at ten o’clock at night that you’re needed on a flight at nine o’clock the next morning. Whilst it sounds glamorous on the surface, there is only so long you should do it, for your own health! One of my most memorable highlights was accompanying the Foreign Secretary to Cuba to meet President Castro – the first such visit since the revolution!

Were there common traits among your colleagues in similar positions?

We’re all similar in the sense that we all worked for the same political party and Prime Minister. Whichever department you work for – be it the Department of Health, Education, HM Treasury, you, ultimately, report to the Prime Minister, so have a certain loyalty to that person.

How did a degree in politics help you in your career?

A degree in politics is not a pre-requisite for this kind of work, but it can help you to understand political history, political theory, and political systems. The majority of my colleagues arrived in politics via a degree in law, or PPE. Ultimately, though, I think you need to have a passion for politics, as you have to throw yourself into working in politics, as it certainly isn’t a nine to five job.

Why did you decide to step down as special advisor to Philip Hammond?

After seven years, three Great Offices of State, and three election campaigns I felt I had achieved all that I wished to. I left in May this year, just as the election campaign began. Having risen up through the MoD, FCO and finally HM Treasury and No 11 Downing Street, it was time for me to find a new challenge. The job of a senior adviser is full-on – seven days a week, 24 hours a day, there is only so long you should do it for your own health!

I also wanted to close that chapter in my career and embark on a new one in the private sector.

How do you think Caterham influenced you and your career path?

School definitely influenced my career path, if it wasn’t for the opportunity to take an A Level in politics and David Clark’s vibrant, and engaging teaching of the course, I doubt I’d have ended up where I did. We would take trips to the House of Commons to listen to politicians and ask questions at events – one of the most memorable had been in my Upper Sixth year, when the class went to join the audience of BBC Question Time, and I asked a question of a cabinet minister on the panel. Little did I know then that, years later, I would find myself briefing and preparing cabinet ministers appearing on the same TV show!

What is your favourite memory of your time at Caterham?

Meeting my future wife at school! Lucie (née Hansen, OC 1996 – 1998) was in the year above, and we knew of each other, but it wasn’t until I returned from my first job overseas that our paths crossed again.

What do you hope will be your next career steps?

I plan to transfer the skills and experience I have gained working in politics and government to the private sector; being a special advisor to a cabinet minister can be like dealing with the CEO of a large corporation, in that you’re helping shape their profile, delivering on their priorities and providing strategic advice. I’ve just embarked on a global corporate affairs position within the financial services sector, working in cyber security in the banking sector, international financial sanctions, and the tracking of terrorist finances.

What has been the most surprising thing to you about a career in politics?

Perhaps it’s testimony to the calibre of Caterham’s teaching, but I can’t say anything has surprised me. 

oldcaterhamians.com

The Caterham School Society

66

OBITUARIES

TOMMY DAWKINS (OC 1937 – 1943) My friend Tommy was born on 10 October 1925 in Horsham, West Sussex whilst his parents were visiting the UK from Tanganyika, South Africa. He lived in Tanganyika, and in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town. The family moved to Caterham in 1937, where I met him in the Prep School; we became very good friends at school and socially.

Tommy’s father was a fine golfer and became captain of Caterham Golf Club in Burntwood Lane, which was good for us as it meant we could toboggan down the club’s steep slopes during the very cold winter of 1940.

In August 1943, Tom joined the Fleet Air Arm and trained as a pilot in Canada. However, at the end of the war there were no permanent appointments being offered, so he left. For a while, he worked with our mutual friend Steve Villers (OC) on the family poultry farm behind and beside Mottrams. However, later he was able to obtain a position in the RAF as a fighter pilot – his first love!

He did extraordinarily well and, after a time, was in line to become a squadron leader. However, he first had the enjoyable task of helping ferry the new Hawker Hunters from England to north Germany. After one flight, he had a job to get out of the plane, but passed it off as a touch of flu. However, on the next flight he

could not raise himself from the cockpit at all and had to be lifted out; it was then they discovered he had contracted polio. He was invalided out of the RAF in 1957.

He spent some time visiting Headley Court, then an RAF convalescent home, before moving to BAC in Bristol, where he found a house, and worked helping invalid ex-RAF personnel find work. While in Bristol, he offered a lift to an ex-Fleet Air Arm pilot whose family ran a company making hydraulic presses for industry. Tom was offered a job by its owners, and later became their sales director, staying until he retired in 1986.

He had a love of fast cars. Both my son Laurence (OC 1960 – 1967) and I remember his beautiful Schneider car; it was a two-seater in green with a mahogany planked tapered back and two vents on the bonnet.

On his retirement, the family moved to Thurlestone in Devon where he continued his interest in cars. He frequently drove the family down to the south of France for holidays. He had three sons; Neil, Ian, and Martin.

He was very proud of them, and often told me of their latest, considerable achievements. His son Neil has reminded me of his distinctive voice, which was often recognised, even on one occasion in Hong Kong from across a restaurant!

Tom came to our golden wedding celebration at the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club in Richmond on 27 March 1998, having driven up from Devon.

I contacted Tommy from time to time and he would join my wife, Jane, and I for dinner during our holidays in Devon. He regularly received my SCU-Newsletters about Bletchley Park and my work in MI6 (Section VIII).

Tommy had a stroke in May 2016 and then lived in a care home in Clevedon until he died. He has often been described as a gentleman and I thoroughly agree.

Written by Geoffrey Pidgeon (OC 1936 – 1940), with help from Tommy’s son, Neil

IN MEMORIAM Mary Hill (OE 1936 – 1940) Derek Boult (OC 1941 – 1950) Nicholas Sharples (OC 1969 – 1976) John Wood (OC 1931 – 1938) Walter Sondhelm (OC 1935 – 1936)

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