Churchers College OC Magazine 2025

Old Churcherians

From the Headmaster

Once upon a time you may well have been a Lord of the Rings fan, it is still very much doing the rounds amongst the children here today: Frodo, Gandalf and company have lost none of their appeal. It is remarkable how J.R.R. Tolkien somehow captured the imagination of so many and continues to do so; apparently Obama was a fan as was King Charles, Pope Francis, Megan Fox and that’s just a fraction who have admitted as such.

Of course, any good story can capture anyone’s imagination, but it was a conversation with one of the Upper Sixth leavers recently that highlighted the essence of Tolkien’s talents. This person was clearly a devotee because they borrowed Bilbo Baggins’ words and said: ‘“I think I’m quite ready for another adventure.” A sense of adventure appeals to most if not all. At the end of each academic year there is that mixed emotion of goodbyes combined with that ever-present sense of keen anticipation and excitement for what comes next. As Old Churcherians, you are ideally placed to talk about what might come next; we are, of course, masters of our own destiny but a guiding hand or advice is invaluable.

The Development Office embraces a number of strands and serves many purposes. For example, it oversees the Richard Churcher Foundation and the work that it does to support children who otherwise could not access the huge benefits of a Churcher’s

I think I’m quite ready for another adventure.

J.

R. R. Tolkien

education; we still support nine Ukrainian children. The Development Office provides the glue holding OCs and friendship together, it works tirelessly with and within the community around the school and parents to foster relationships to mutual benefit.

Our most recent development is the Futures programme. With the ever-more financial pressures on universities, we are trying to extend our careers advice to fill a growing void and support Churcherians well after they have left school and university. We want to utilise the extraordinary breadth of talents amongst the OCs and wider community in supporting Churcherians to make sure they are quite ready for another adventure.

Whether assisting children at Churcher’s now, through philanthropic support to the Foundation, or helping those leaving through Futures, I very much hope you are encouraged to help out, and maybe you can inspire your friends to do so too!

For now, I will leave you to read about the adventures of many in this magazine and to introduce you to my successor, Will Scott (pictured left), as I contemplate my next adventure in September 2026. Will is clearly “quite ready for a new adventure” as he takes over as the 21st ‘captain’ steering the Churcher’s ship since 1722. Will is presently Principal of Dame Allan’s School in Newcastle having been Deputy at St Lawrence’s in Kent, Head of Economics at Clifton College, worked in the City, having begun his working life as a Royal Navy Officer. Will comments that he is ”delighted and deeply honoured to have been appointed the next Head of Churcher’s College…. and very much looks forward to meeting everyone in the Churcher’s community.”

Simon Williams Headmaster

Front cover image

Tom Livingstone (09) and Matt Glenn climbing ‘Tengkangpoche’, a 6487-metre mountain in the Nepalese Himalaya. Over seven days, they made the first ascent of the mountain's North-East Pillar in autumn 2021.

See 'Reaching for the summit' on page 10.

OC reunions

As tradition dictates, we began the new school year welcoming back our most recent leavers, the Class of 2024 , to Heath Harrison House Drinks for their inaugural event as Old Churcherians and one final gathering before going their separate ways to begin their lives outside of Churcher’s.

Later in September, over thirty from the Class of 2014 , celebrating their tenth anniversary since leaving school, spent the evening together in Ramshill. They were joined by various members of staff including the Headmaster, Mr. Baker and Mrs. Snowball (Howe), whilst Mr. Crossman and Mr. Hoe led an entertaining ‘trip-down-memory-lane’ tour.

In January, Mike Swan (04) and his peers decided to follow up on last year, returning to Churcher’s for their annual football match. Unfortunately, it had to be relocated to Liss at short notice because of a frozen Nicholson pitch! And in February, we were delighted to host the Class of 2011 again for their annual quiz.

A reunion of the 1st XV rugby team from 2015 took place at the Turk’s Head pub in Twickenham to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Churcher’s NatWest Vase win at the home of rugby. Organised by Seb Herold (15) alongside the Development Office, it was fantastic to see so many of the group back together, along with the coaching staff of Dan Cox, Tim Herman and Ben Seal, full of positive energy as they reminisced about the game and their days at Churcher’s.

Having hosted OC Petersfield Drinks last year with great success, in June we went further afield to host alumni at a lively bar in Farringdon for OC London Drinks. Attended by a mixed generational group of Old Churcherians, alongside the Headmaster, the night proved a great success continuing until last drinks were called! Just a few days later, we welcomed over 30 former staff back to school for tea and cake enjoyed in the sunshine.

We encourage Old Churcherians from all generations to stay connected to school and to one another. Whether you would like to attend a Development Office organised event, celebrate an anniversary, get together with your peers at Churcher’s, Petersfield or further afield, please do not hesitate to contact the Development Office to help you.

We had a wonderful time celebrating our 10-year reunion at the school last Saturday. It was lovely to see so many of our year get together and catch up on the last decade since we left school. We look forward to future opportunities to catch up with everyone!

Ellie Carter-Stovold (14)

OC Reunion Lunch

On a gloriously sunny day in May, we welcomed over 70 Old Churcherians at school for the annual OC Reunion Lunch , with year groups ranging from 1955 onwards. It was a brilliant day and especially pleasing to see so many OCs celebrating their doubledigit anniversaries, with the Class of 1965 particularly well represented!

It was so much fun to spend the day with old friends, laughing about our old haunts and stories, and reliving memories from 20 years ago. Churcher’s has changed and developed so much, but it still has the brilliant spirit we all remembered.

Heather Gibbons (05)

Second Year students took part in the STEAM Olympics event in early June, participating in cross-curricular events in English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Art and Computing. The range of activities included murder mysteries, food science and rocket science, designing and programming the next Olympic torch and rings, and code breaking the Enigma machine. These challenges enhanced the critical thinking and problem-solving creativity of the students in different disciplines.

Reaching for the summit

Tom Livingstone (09)

I’m very lucky to have gone from Churcher’s in 2009, to now being a fully sponsored climber. I think one of the reasons I was able to do that was made possible by all the activities you can try at school.

In April, Churcher's College had the honour of hosting a fascinating talk by returning OC, Tom Livingstone (09), who has over a decade’s experience as a professional mountaineer. Tom, who is described by Sir Chris Bonington as “one of the finest climbers in the world”, is now based in Chamonix (France) and is an acclaimed mountaineer and outdoor writer.

In 2019, Tom was awarded the Piolet d’Or (Golden Ice Axe) Award for his ascent of Latok 1. In 2020 Tom founded the British ‘Young Alpinist Group’ who's mission is to advance the next generation of world-leading young UK alpinists. Over the course of a threeyear programme, alpinists gain knowledge, skill and experience to progress further and safely in the mountains. He also works as an outdoor instructor, holding the Mountain Leader, Single Pitch and Level 2 Rope Access technician awards.

Tom explained that his love of the outdoors started at Churcher's where he participated in all the outdoor adventure activities on offer.

“I can credit the school and the teachers with where I am now - it is thanks to them.” He completed the Devizes to Westminster race three times and both the 35-mile and 45-mile Bronze and Silver Ten Tors challenge whilst at school.

After Churcher's, he helped Marc and Cathy Eaton as an instructor with the training and preparation for future teams. It was around this time, in 2014, that his mountaineering career took over.

“I'm very lucky to have gone from Churcher's in 2009, to now being a fully sponsored climber. I think one of the reasons I was able to do that was made possible by all the activities you can try at school.” He explained that most people don't really have an idea of what they want to do aged 18. “The best thing to do is try lots and lots of things whether that is doing climbs, kayaking, maths or music you can discover what you enjoy and what you really do like.”

Now, as a professional climber, Tom spoke of his most recent ascent undertaken in 2024, which he and his climbing partner Aleš named the 'Edge of Entropy'. He and Aleš had attempted the climb in 2022 - the first ascent of Gasherbrum III's west ridge - however, due to extreme high winds the expedition had to be aborted. Having learned a few lessons from that first attempt Tom writes in his journal:

“take three pairs of gloves; stretch every evening to avoid cramps; make the lightest gear even lighter…” Undeterred, they planned a second attempt and returned to Pakistan for a 'rematch'. They understood they would only get one shot to climb the mountain. The altitude would preclude them from another try and they knew they wouldn’t have the fitness or the enthusiasm to attempt it again.

Tom and Aleš had to choose their moment carefully allowing themselves to acclimatise well, which would involve spending at least one night at 7000 metres. In an article he wrote about the ascent, Tom explains that “our base camp was on a rocky moraine at 5000 metres; physical recovery was much slower. With all that taken into account, we budgeted two months to give ourselves the best chance of success.”

Describing the ascent in detail, Tom explained that the higher they went, the harder it got to make the right decisions. Altitude affects the brain, making your very thought processes a challenge. “Slogging to the summit, finally on easy terrain, we simply breathed and tried to keep taking another step. If we’d taken turns standing on each other’s shoulders, we could have practically touched the hallowed air of 8000 metres... Like with every substantial objective, I’d had low expectations and had harboured doubts about whether this climb was even possible. Of course, luck had been on our side. We had felt relatively in control all the way up. We also felt so far away from safety, civilization or any concept of life.”

During the lecture Tom explained that coming down the mountain is often just as dangerous as the ascent and they chose to come down the east side of the Gasherbrum by quickly abseiling down as this was the line of the only two previous ascents of the mountain. “Entropy is a measure of chaos…” he explained, “both our minds were growing more and more chaotic as we climbed, and so was the quality of the rock, the route finding, everything. In physics, entropy is a measurement that can only rise. It will never decrease, at least until the summit...”

We are very grateful to Tom for his inspiring talk and for sharing with us what it takes to become a professional mountaineer, climbing around the world with all the challenges and risks that ultimately entails and for his encouragement on how making mistakes can ultimately lead to success.

OC sport

Hockey OC Women Vs 1XI Girls

Hockey

Netball

Water Polo

Cricket

OC Rugby

OC Men Vs 1XI Boys 4-7

OC Women Vs 1VII Girls 29-19

OC Men Vs 1VII Boys 9-5

OCs Vs 1XI 1st XI won by 65 runs

It was fantastic to see so many from a wide range of generations come back for our first event of the academic year, the OC Rugby Touch Tournament . Designed to bring together the Churcher’s community for an enjoyable afternoon of sport and socialising, the event is open to all, whether you played rugby at school or not. We were delighted to welcome a team from Maddy’s Mark, a charity established in memory of Maddy Lawrence (20 ) by her family to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in young women, through the sport of rugby.

After a quick warm up and briefing, the roundrobin tournament got underway. Energy levels were high from the first whistle and it was clear that teams were competitive and skilful, with plenty of diving tries to entertain the crowd. The Class of 2024 won the tournament, with the staff ‘legends’ team taking home the wooden spoon – their efforts should be commended but fitness levels could perhaps be improved! A well-deserved BBQ and drinks followed the tournament, with the rain just holding off long enough for everyone to enjoy a burger and beer.

Thank you to the school for organising this event. This is the first time I’ve returned to the school for 40 years and it’s been great to come back and see how it’s changed. I was the last Captain of Rugby to play an Old Boys team so I really enjoyed the opportunity to be part of it again, but next year I might take the role of the referee rather than play!

Stuart Griffin (84)

OC Netball

We were delighted to welcome over 30 Old Churcherians back to Churcher’s to play in the OC Hockey and Netball matches on Saturday 29 March. With the sun shining and the BBQ on the go, it is always a convivial atmosphere and fantastic to see so many OCs, family and friends returning to school, catching up with one another and staff.

Before the start of play, we even enjoyed a circular flypast at 1,000 feet from Mark Hubbard (86) in his Pilatus PC12 aircraft. Mark is a commercial pilot with three decades of experience and he entertained those who had spotted him by ‘waving’ the wings of the plane as he flew over!

The OC netball team arrived confidently and never looked back. The team looked like they had organised some pre-match training sessions as they easily moved the ball around the court, enjoying a high scoring percentage and demonstrating some great defensive play, capitalising on a number of interceptions and rebound balls. The final score was 29-19 to the OCs, the first win for the OCs since 2019!

OC Hockey

First to play were the OC women's hockey team, whose match with the pupils was competitive from the start. The OC team displayed some great passing play and individual skill, enjoying the majority of possession and creating a number of chances. The school team scored a (controversial!) goal early in the second half but the score-line could easily have gone the other way. The final score was 1-0 to the school but it was a great effort from the OC team.

With only 11 players, the OC men’s hockey team were playing against a strong school side. With the temperature warming up, the OC team put in a heroic shift to recover from going 3-0 down in the first 12 minutes, almost levelling at the start of the second half, before the pupils pulled away to win 7-4. Thank you to former staff member, Andy Cairns and Chris Parker (86) for ably coaching the team.

OC Water Polo

After the inaugural water polo match last year, this year’s OC team were desperate to get themselves even on the scoresheet and there was confident talk in the build up to play. The game was a competitive one from the start with the OCs quick out of the blocks. The game settled down but, in the end, the experience of university water polo gave the advantage to the OCs with a final score of 9-5.

OC Cricket

Suffering with a slightly depleted team, the OC cricketers took to the main pitch for the T20 fuelled by lunch. Anna Sales (10) took three wickets from three overs and Ben Kelson (17) only conceded seven runs from his three overs. Dom Porter (24) made an unbelievable catch on the boundary, juggling it three times before eventually holding it. Unfortunately, however, the batting did not go as well and the pupils ended up as runaway victors.

1st XI – 133/7 | OCs – 68/9

100 years of rugby

We were delighted to welcome over 70 Old Churcherians, former and current staff to the Churcher’s Rugby Centenary Lunch in November, to celebrate 100 years of rugby being played at the school.

Coming together in the Donald Brooks Auditorium, guests were able to look through a specially curated archive display of old photographs and memorabilia from the 1920s through to the present day. As part of this project, a new section on rugby has been created in the school’s digital archive, free for everyone to peruse.

Welcome teas and coffees soon switched to beers and cheers, as the group walked down to Memorial Field to support the 1st XV in their match against John Fisher School with the Development team running the bar!

Guests were then treated to lunch in the Assembly Hall hosted by the Headmaster, Simon Williams, where they were also each given a copy of Churcher’s Rugby 1924 to 2024 . This historical account includes excerpts from The Churcherian and anecdotes from Old Churcherians, former staff and friends of the school.

We were delighted to welcome former pupil and capped England and British Lions player, Tim Rodber (87) and very grateful for his speech over lunch. The audience delighted in hearing his stories, from his time at Churcher’s, Northampton, England and British Lions shirts. Everyone, especially the 1st XV team, to whom Tim presented rugby ties, took away some life lessons about resilience, being the best we can be, as well as often relying on a bit of luck!

The Senior School production of West Side Story, transforming Petersfield’s Festival Hall into a vibrant 1950s Upper West Side, was ambitious; the construction a scaffold set; complex choreography for the actors to master; a challenging Bernstein score for the school orchestra; from glamorous dresses to street clothes for the costume designers; constant set changes for the back stage team; an imaginative light show for the technical crew… Word on the street was that it was worthy of a professional production!

Green Team

Churcher’s current Green Team incarnation was born in 2019. joining the zeitgeist championed by Sir David Attenborough and taken up by a young Greta Thunberg who skipped school to protest outside the Swedish parliament, demanding stronger action against climate change. The tide was turning and our aim was always to have as much impact as possible, in as many different ways as possible.

Events

Various green themed events take place during the year. On Green Day, students brought in cakes covered with green icing. Proceeds from the sale were spent on a coral restoration project in French Polynesia.

Another time, we were highlighting the need for more public transport and organised a competition for Sixth Form students and staff members to pull a minibus 100 metres!

Most recently Churcher’s College hosted the eco-conference Hopeful Earth II with representatives from six local schools hearing from a range of visiting speakers and then discussing the promotion of sustainable living.

The Green Team has also communicated with the student body using traditional assemblies. Among other things we have championed is less use of pesticides and excessive fertilizers, effectively demonstrated by burying pants and vests!

Nature restoration

Following the planting of 1,800 trees and Tercentenary Wood in 2022 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Churcher’s College and The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), a nationwide tree planting initiative created to

mark Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, we have since catalogued the trees and mulched them over the years as a non-chemical weed solution.

More recently, a pupil team established a nature reserve at Merritt’s Meadow in the heart of Petersfield. The task consisted of creating a new path on the site of a new nature reserve giving the local wildlife, as well as general fauna, some much needed room to breathe.

During the summer term, the school site erupts into a kaleidoscope of colours from the thousands of wildflowers planted over the past few years. The Green Team also created a flower bed using ECO bricks made from coca cola bottles and non-reusable plastic.

Energy efficiency

As part of the plan to reduce the school’s environmental impact by 2030, along with the continued installation of eco-friendly heat pumps. the roofs of many buildings across the school site are now adorned with solar panels, with more to follow suit. Back in 2023, 10 representatives from the school Green Team were joined on the swimming pool roof by the Headmaster to announce the solar panels officially active.

Energy efficient lightbulbs are also used around the school and the lights in many classrooms now swich off automatically when students leave the room.

The above is not an exhaustive list… Thank you to all staff, especially Green Team leaders, Mr. Ostersen and Mr. Lofthouse, and all the students, OCs and community volunteers who have made this possible over the years.

Richard Churcher Foundation

Thank you

Churcher’s to set up son. You helped children, derserve the as that College.” don’t think been.”

to everyone who has supported the Richard Churcher Foundation this year.

£2.7m

In a climate where some schools have decreased their spend on bursary awards as a response to the addition of VAT on school fees, Churcher’s maintains its aim to spend 4% of its net income to support families who need it the most and enable their children to benefit from a Churcher’s education.

The value of the Foundation has doubled since September 2022

Ukrainian pupils supported

£2.7m Foundation since 2022

150+

15

Donors to the Foundation last year

Ukrainian pupils supported

“Not a day goes by when I don’t think about how lucky I have been.” Foundationer

63

“We are grateful to Richard Churcher’s vision all those centuries ago, to set up the fund for children like my son. You were truly the village that has helped raise the child.”

Parent to a Foundationer

Bursaries awarded to families of which 50 are transformational (50% fees or higher)

63

Bursaries awarded to families of which 50 are transformational (50% fees or higher)

£2.7m

The value of the Foundation has doubled since September 2022

1722 Society Summer Lunch

In June, members of the 1722 Society were invited to lunch by the Headmaster, who thanked them for their generous support to the Richard Churcher Foundation. The biennial event is attended by like-minded donors from our community who have made significant gifts or legacy pledges in support of the school’s provision of bursaries.

During the lunch, current Captain of College, Freya Wilson and Deputy Captain of College, Dom Jolliffe spoke about their personal experiences of their time at Churcher’s and the strong foundations and personal skills they have developed as they look forward to life after school. Both reaffirmed the value and impact the school has had on their lives, which lies beyond the reach of so many without the help of the Foundation.

It was a particularly poignant event for Chris Fogden (65) and his wife, Sue, who returned to the Assembly Hall for the first time since their first date in that very room on 15 December 1962 to watch the Churcher’s production of The Merchant of Venice!

Not a day goes by when I don’t think about how lucky I have been.

Foundationer

We

are grateful to Richard Churcher’s vision all those centuries ago, to set up the fund for children like my son. You were truly the village that has helped raise the child.

Parent to a Foundationer

My

wife and I believe all children, of whatever background, derserve the best possible education such as that provided by Churcher’s College.

Foundation supporter

Churcher’s Golf Day

The Churcher’s Golf Day 2025, in partnership with Analytic Building Contractors, took place in glorious May sunshine at Petersfield Golf Club, raising over £8,000 for the Richard Churcher Foundation.

A record attendance of 88 golfers ensured a full complement of teams and players, including our largest quota of Old Churcherians for many years.

The Greenish Jacket, awarded to the Captain of the winning team, changed hands yet again to proud victors, the ChipN’Fails. With blue skies, a full house, a roving fizz buggy and the full range of golfing ability on show, the day (and evening for many!) was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The Summer Party

Just as it seems to every year, the sun shone on a beautiful evening and the longest day of the year for The Summer Party, held for the first time at Churcher’s College on the Headmaster’s Lawn.

As with the Golf Day, we are delighted that our fundraising events are supported so brilliantly by the wider Churcher’s community, including alumni, Junior School and Senior School parents, staff, governors and local businesses, including Roberts York Chartered Accountants, our inaugural party sponsor.

Huge thanks to every organisation and person who gave their time and financial support to the event, all coming together to raise over £20,000 for the Richard Churcher Foundation.

Recognition for your support

If you make a cash gift of £150 or more to the Richard Churcher Foundation, you can be recognised for your support.

£150 + Seat Donald Brooks Auditorium

£300 +

£1,000 + £3,000 +

Stone* Tercentenary Path

£10,000 + Practice room Music School

* Three sizes dependent upon size of gift. Tercentenary Path is situated at the back of Old College

Make a gift

Please scan the QR code, visit the Churcher’s Community website or contact the Development Office if you would like further information about the Richard Churcher Foundation, recognition opportunities, or how to make a gift.

We are very grateful for any support you are able to give. Every penny we receive will contribute directly towards the provision of bursaries.

The future looks bright

The Development Office is teaming up with Dr Kirsty Verney to deliver a Futures Programme to Old Churcherians and support them in their early career transitions between education and the workplace.

Recognising the increasingly competitive nature of the graduate job market, we want to leverage the fantastic network within the OC and wider Churcher’s community to provide support and guidance on your journey.

We have been delighted to have several Old Churcherians return to school this year to support the Futures programme for pupils.

Futures Convention

In March, the school held its annual Futures Convention . The Sports Hall turned into an exhibition space and was packed with over 400 pupils and parents visiting stands from almost 60 companies.

The school also hosted a CV Clinic with almost 30 volunteers reviewing CVs with pupils. The clinic proved to be very popular and will now become a regular fixture at the Convention.

It was wonderful to welcome several OCs returning to school to represent the companies they now work for; Lucie West (19) Audit Manager for RSM UK, Toby Swindells (17), Chartered Surveyor of CBRE Group, Jack Stevens (16) of Cisco, Emily Langrish (19), Visitor Experience Supervisor for the Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, Will Hegan (98) Managing Director of EMEA, and Charley Cunningham (12) of Just be Maritime.

Lower Sixth Networking Evening

Over 70 volunteers gave their time in February to the event including a couple of OCs, namely Will Ismay (86) and Emily Sacco (09).

The purpose of the evening was to enable students to develop and practise their face-toface networking skills – a skill which proves hugely beneficial to our students.

University insight

We were very grateful to several Old Churcherians who came back to school to offer first-hand experience and insight into university life, as well as more specific information on the course they are studying.

Mia Passingham (24) returned to Ramshill to talk to our current Medical Programme students about making a successful application to study medicine. Mia was able to answer lots of questions and offer her insights and reflection about making an application and her experiences as a First Year medical student at Aston University.

Over the course of two Mondays in June, we were equally pleased to welcome back Jess Rendall (23), George McCreadie (22), Izzy Sharper (23), Emily Martin (23) and Amy Lloyd (24), who all spoke to pupils about the economics course they are currently studying during an informal drop-in session. Representing a wide range of universities, it was great to hear how each of their experiences have differed and how their economics A-Level prepared them for their university course.

My Futures journey

Emily Sacco (09)

Can you tell us about your career path since leaving Churcher’s…

I left school and went straight to France to learn the language, with plans to go to university at the end of the summer. University wasn’t exactly what I wanted but seemed like the obvious path to take and sounded like it could be a fun experience. An opportunity presented itself to stay for the winter and I found myself enjoying a ski season and deferring my entry to uni. During the season I unexpectedly stumbled across an empty chalet for sale and ended up buying it with my cousin.

Without even knowing it at the time, or appreciating it until years later, I had made the best decision of my life so far. I learnt a lot more than how to speak French! It is amazing how you can pick up life skills without having a clue you are doing so until you meet someone of a similar profile and see your differences.

I returned to the UK, aged 26 with only my A Levels, no ‘career’ experience that I could put on paper and absolutely no idea what I wanted or could do. I dropped into Cowdray Estate office asking for a job, and a combination of fortuitous timing found me face-to-face to the newly appointed CEO, tasked with finding a PA for Lord and Lady Cowdray. I loved this role for five years and 100% have my experience in France to thank for giving me the skills needed to do it well.

What did you enjoy most about the Lower Sixth Form networking evening and why did you want to be involved?

It was wonderful meeting the current students and hearing the plethora of different career plans, or lack of them! Whether a student knows exactly what they wanted to do or not, I enjoyed learning about them as individuals

and what makes them tick. I was interested to go back to Churcher’s and see how much the school has come on over the last 15 years and see what the students were like now. I wonder whether it would have been the same meeting my class.

What advice would you give other OCs who are thinking about supporting school career events?

Please do. You will get such a buzz out of it. Meeting people, and they are grown-ups going out into the world, is such a special and unique opportunity to have. You never know what you will learn from them and when that might come in handy.

Charley Cunningham (12)

What’s the Merchant Navy?

The Merchant Navy encompasses the entire world of commercial shipping, a non-military service that includes cargo ships carrying 95% of the UK’s goods, tankers transporting fuel globally, cruise ships, and ferries that take people on holiday.

What is your current role and what does it involve?

I currently serve as Staff Captain aboard ‘Adora Magic City’, a large cruise ship sailing around East Asia. One of my Captains says it’s a bit like being a spider in a complex web – my role touches everything from navigation and ship handling to overseeing safety, security, public health, deck maintenance, and crew welfare. Every day brings a unique challenge, but that’s what makes it exciting!

What advice would you give to OCs who are thinking about a career in your industry?

Go to an Open Day at a maritime college, you’ll get advice about the career opportunities and be able to chat to current Cadets about their experiences in training. I discovered the career through a mutual friend and then learned more from https://www.careersatsea.org.

What are your future ambitions?

For now, I’m happy to keep sailing – after all, a 10 weeks on, 10 weeks off schedule has its perks. The natural next step is Captain, but there’s no rush; it’s the kind of role where someone else usually knows when you’re ready before you do.

What did you enjoy most about being involved in the Churcher’s Futures Convention?

It was great to share a career in the Merchant Navy with pupils and highlight an alternative to university, that’s fully funded whilst studying and can allow you to travel the world.

There was fierce competition for a place in the two teams allocated to Churcher’s in the Ten Tors Challenge this year – a demanding hike across Dartmoor including an overnight camp. Following some really tough training, an all-female Lower Sixth team were selected to undertake the 45-mile route, a first for the College. In addition, six Fourth Year pupils were selected to do the 35-mile route. Both teams were successful, finishing in just under 31 hours and 28 hours respectively.

Volunteers

The Development Office is fortunate to have the support of an army of volunteers who help us deliver events and other benefits to OCs and the wider community.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us this past year or at any time in the past. We could not have done it without you!

Here’s what they had to say…

Gill Clarke Former staff

“I came to Churcher’s in 1986 with responsibility for the very few girls in the Sixth Form. I taught English throughout the school and became Head of Nelson house in 1990 and then Senior Mistress in 1993 - that title was changed to Deputy Head soon afterwards.

Jess Rendall (23) Old

Churcherian

“I always enjoy coming back for OCs events, be it the OCs hockey match, or tennis, or for more academic endeavours! This year I went back into the Churcher’s Sixth Form to talk and answer questions about my experience studying economics at university, to help the current students with their choices. It is always great to see my old teachers and catch up about what they and I am up to so I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. I also enjoyed imparting whatever insight I could to the Sixth Form, as I am loving university, and so am more than happy to help others to find their place and subject at uni too!“

Ted Hetherington (65) Old

Churcherian

“My wife, Jackie, and I have much enjoyed helping out with the Churcher’s archive over the 2024/2025 academic year. We have been sifting through files, sorting photographs, magazines and calendars into date and subject order, and commencing the very important task of cataloguing. I have particularly enjoyed coming across mentions of pupils and masters from my time at school and Jackie is always happy making lists. We both feel very much at home at Churcher’s and are looking forward to helping out again in 2025/2026.”

I retired from the teaching staff in 2005 but took on the new role of archivist and helped to write The History of Churcher’s College with former Headmaster, Don Brooks. Following my second retirement in 2020, I continued to invigilate exams and volunteered to help at the OC days when I was the archivist. It’s very good coming back and meeting the men and women I knew as young boys and girls in the 80s and 90s. I like to keep in touch with the school and see the changes over the years.”

Jean Millard Former staff

“Times have changed since I started teaching at Churcher’s in September 1987. Rick Astley was at Number 1 with ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, and if you wanted a Starbuck’s coffee, hard luck! Its first store didn’t open in the UK until a year later…

For many years I have taken part at the annual reunions. These are wonderful events that bring pleasant surprises and uplifting moments. They jog our memories and give us chance to make contact once more. The Old Churcherians have changed, as have I. They have altered in appearance and yet they retain their memorable individual characters and mannerisms!

Churchers and I? We’ve known each other... for so long. Just as Rick Astley performed at Glastonbury in June 2023, why give up? Why stop? Why leave it so long? We should all keep the link with Churcher’s!”

Justine Morris Governor and former parent

“My first experience of volunteering for Churcher’s was when my son joined the Senior School 13 years ago. I had helped at my three children’s primary schools but felt slightly daunted stepping forward in a senior school. I turned up to the PA termly meeting and soon met a group of friendly, like-minded parents who were keen to help where and when they could.

Over the years I have volunteered for an eclectic range of activities at Churcher’s from adventure training with OSCA, to serving teas at parents evenings, flower arranging for PA and Development Office social events, to being part of the Covid Testing Team – each time meeting parents and staff from across the school community. Even though my youngest has left the school this year, I hope to continue helping when I can. It has been both rewarding and fun.”

Sally Ismay Current parent

“I joined the PA not long after our daughter started at the school in 2007. I was active in helping organise the PA events. It was such

fun, slightly crazy and ad hoc, but we got the job done! I have continued to support Open Mornings and Afternoons for the Admissions Team and thoroughly enjoyed talking with prospective parents about the school and what it had to offer. I also started to volunteer for some school trips and with OSCA, supporting the students on their Rother Valley Expeditions.

Over the last four years, I have also had the privilege of volunteering to help with the Development team to help raise funds for the Richard Churcher Foundation. I was initially asked to help out at a Churcher’s Golf Day and I’m very glad I said ‘yes’! I enjoyed meeting and chatting to the OCs who were taking part, listening to their stories of school life at Churcher’s. So much so, that I’ve continued to help out most years since. My volunteering role involves registering the players as they arrive, serving drinks at the Half Way House and more recently delivering refreshments to the players on course by way of a golf buggy… great fun indeed!

It has been a lovely experience to be involved in having a part in the organising of some fabulous events that have raised a significant amount of money. I hope to continue my help.”

Jess Rendall (23) on left, joined by Izzy Sharper (23) and George McCreadie (22)

Sally Ismay driving the Churcher’s Golf Day drinks buggy

Jean Millard (second from left) and Gill Clarke (third from left) with fellow former staff volunteers, Vanessa Johnson (left) and Kathryn Shaw (right)

40 years of The Silver Sword

The story of The Silver Sword was originally penned as a novel by Ian Serraillier, an English teacher at Midhurst Grammar School, between 1951 and 1956. The gripping tale of hope and resilience during the upheaval of World War II has transcended its pages to become a powerful theatrical experience –notably through two landmark productions at Churcher’s College, forty years apart.

The novel follows a Polish family fractured by the war as Joseph, the father and a teacher, is captured and sent to a Nazi concentration camp. Upon his daring escape, he discovers his home burned down and his wife and children missing. Meanwhile, his children survive amidst the ruins of Warsaw, meeting a clever orphan boy who carries a small silver sword – not an actual weapon, but a letter opener, a symbolic object Joseph once gifted his wife. This silver sword becomes a beacon of hope

and unity, linking the children in their perilous journey across war-torn Europe to reunite with their family in Switzerland.

The 1984 production

The novel’s theatrical adaptation, was written by Stuart Henson, with the first printed edition dated 1984, the same year of the original Churcher’s production. According to the school’s 1984 programme, David Banks, an unsuspecting Maths teacher, suddenly had to take over running the new Junior School Drama Club, which then went on to produce the first Churcher’s production of the newly written play in the Assembly Hall.

“Chatting to Jane Chapman, who taught English, we felt there was little dramatic opportunity in the school for the younger students. This was, of course, long before the subject “drama” got on the school curriculum.

Together, we formed a Junior Drama Club, and were a little taken aback by the number of youngsters who wanted to do something. I was a mere maths teacher, but came from an am-dram background, so had a pretty good idea of treading the boards and play production. We thought it probably easiest to actually work on a script and selected The Silver Sword , which is aimed at the right sort of age group, and has a very large ensemble cast.

Of course, in those days, below the sixth form, Churchers was all-boys, and perhaps our most difficult job was to persuade some of the lads

that a female role was for them. It wasn’t easy keeping a large cast of 13- and 14-year-old boys together, and perhaps the most difficult thing was getting them to understand that a crowd scene relied on everyone being there and working together.

It finally came together and we received very favourable comments and reviews from our audience. I think the mind-numbing thing for me now is realising that the entire cast and crew from then are now all in their fifties!”

David Banks Former staff

“My wife, Jane, and I were both heavily committed in teaching and boarding duties (not to mention bringing up our own two small boys) while I was coaching games every afternoon. However, we started rehearsal, without proper personal planning, and had to be rescued by David Banks, who ably took over as producer, while we supported where we could, assisted by many other staff in technical and artistic roles.

David was a natural with the huge cast, always looking to have fun but capable of impressive and fierce verbal command when necessary! With its huge cast and romantic storyline, the success of The Silver Sword led him on to other production at the College, including a notable staff play; but Jane and I were forever grateful for his stepping into the breach and I would like think there are many boys from the 1984 “Silver Sword” who would have witnessed that of 2024 with awakened happy memories.”

David Chapman (67) Former staff

“My main memory of putting the play on, as well as it being good fun, is that a few of us had to step up and dress as girls. At that time, the only girls at the school were in the Sixth Form and since this was a Junior School production,

some of us had to volunteer. I was nearly 13 at the time and I’m surprised I didn’t get more stick from my peers!’”

Jon Clark (89)

Cast from The Silver Sword – 1984 Jon Clark (89) third from right

The 2024 production

Bridging the generations, The Silver Sword was performed in December 2024 on stage 40 years since it debuted at Churcher’s. Director, Ruth Northey, Teacher of Drama, explains how it felt to produce the second stage production...

“In much the same way that Stuart Henson felt honoured to meet and receive encouragement from Ian Serraillier, I too felt grateful and privileged not only to correspond with the playwright but also to meet the author’s daughter.

One of the most wonderful moments of the production came on the second night, as I stood at the back of the Assembly Hall at the end of the show and watched Helen Serraillier (Ian’s daughter) rise to her feet and give the cast a standing ovation. Her solitary figure made the moment all the more powerful. The cast were captivated by her speech at the end of the show, underlining what a profound journey this play has been – and the priviledge to bring this show to life with authenticity, talent, compassion and humour. The production brought together past and present, young and old, spanning generations. It became an experience of enormous significance, one that I

will always treasure – and I’m certain the cast will too.

The playwright, Stuart Henson adds a sombre note: “The 2024 anniversary production at Churcher’s was an indication that the concerns which motivated Ian to write The Silver Sword in 1956 are just as vital almost 70 years on.”

From the staff room

We caught up with current staff members Jamie Daniel (97) and Penny Daniel, who have racked up an impressive 28 years of teaching at Churcher’s between them, to talk about life at Churcher’s and the ever-popular extracurricular activities they support, summer holiday World Challenge expeditions and the more recently established, morning Run Club.

Penny teaches English at the school and is Assistant Head of House of Nelson, while OC, Jamie, teaches PE and Maths whilst also taking on the role as Head of Drake.

Jamie, I’m going to combine my current role with my previous job, as a journalist, and interview you.

Being interviewed by my wife? That’s not weird at all!

Well, we’re not talking about anything contentious and you don’t hold a government office, so I think we’ll be OK.

Let’s get started… tell me about your childhood. I’m just kidding, although, your experience

with World Challenge did actually begin when you were a student here at Churcher’s.

It did! I went to India with Cathy and Marc Eaton. If I remember rightly, I raised most of the money cutting grass and hedges for friends and neighbours across Petersfield. The trip was amazing. We trekked in the Zanskar Valley and then did the Golden Triangle, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It’s what gave me my love of travelling.

You told me that you were so small that Marc Eaton was worried you wouldn’t be able to carry a rucksack.

I was only wee… I basically had to go on a weight gain diet for 6 weeks!

What was memorable about that first trip? Any highs or real lows?

The literal and emotional ‘high’ was climbing to 5500m for the first time in the Himalayas. The scenery was just breathtaking, although the weather was pretty iffy in the summer and we saw a lot of cloud.

And the low-point?

How can I put this? I lost control of my bowels, shall we say, and my sleeping bag had to be deep-cleaned.

That’s so gross, and yet, so World Challenge. We’ve all got an equivalent story… My relationship with World Challenge began in 2014 when I was asked to go on the trip across Africa. That was a five-anda-half-week epic and included climbing Kilimanjaro. I felt like we were going on the Blue Peter expedition!

That was a funny one, for us, because although we were both on separate teams, we ended up climbing Kili together and have a photo on our wall of that moment.

I distinctly remember walking into the hostel in Moshi, Tanzania, and thinking, “that bloke looks just like Jamie Daniel from school”, and it was you!

Please don’t tell the story about when I lost my ‘inner monologue’ on the way down from the summit and told you how I was going to wear my red t-shirt but instead wore my blue t-shirt. I was tired and emotional.

Er… I think you just did… A classic Jamie anecdote!

Returning to Africa with our team last summer was a reminder of why we love

visiting the continent. This time it was whale sharks and humpbacks in Mozambique.

And lions and warthogs in Eswatini. It’s not often you get a jungle safari and a sea safari in the same trip.

That moment of seeing the first whale shark… I’ll never ever forget that. I had no idea it was right underneath me; I was worried I’d missed it.

They’re twenty metres long: they’re hard to miss! Alright! But what a privilege to swim alongside it for 20 minutes. I just couldn’t believe it. I think we all, including the students, had that feeling that we were the only ones alongside it. It was just incredible.

But you missed the manta ray.

Yeah, my lot didn’t see the manta. That’s the way it goes though, with wildlife.

We’ve talked a lot about animals already, but, of course, the big thing that makes us go back is the students. Any favourite memories?

Sam gave me a hug and thanked me at the top of Kilimanjaro; that made me quite tearful. Remember seeing the shooting stars in Eswitini, and how blown away by it they were?

It also sounds weird but the grit that the students show when they are not feeling well is incredible.

Like Jake in Eswatini or James on Kili. And they say kids these days have no resilience!

Visibly watching them grow in confidence and maturity is really awesome.

I always used to keep a journal. Every day I would write the best one-liner. Hands down my favourite is still from Lucy when we were camping in Botswana. We’d been sat staring into the campfire for a good hour, in silence, some of them nodding off. Suddenly she says, “does anyone else really miss carpet?”

Priceless. We’ve got so many of those little stories. The kids are great on expedition. We’ve had some real success stories with regards to confidence and independence.

Well, they’re having to cope in some really testing conditions. They have to haggle in languages with which they’re not familiar; they have to stay in some really strange places… I’m thinking of the monasteries in China now. They were incredible but I remember the chanting through the night and massive dorms. It was Caitlin who was really quite unnerved by it all.

It’s a massive chance to put yourself out of your comfort zone.

Best place or best experience?

Now you’re asking. That’s so tough. Give me five and come back to me. What about you?

They’ve all been so different. I’ve had some tremendous highs, but I like to think of the lows too and the chance to ‘grow’. Don’t vomit.

I’m just wondering where this is going…

For sheer out-of-comfort-zone moments I would have to say China. I couldn’t speak the language, had no idea what food I was ordering, let alone eating. Chengdu was one of the hottest, most humid places I had ever been. That was tough. Imagine being 15 and doing all of that.

Anyway… talking of teams, we’ve been asked to mention Run Crew. Why don’t you explain how it got started.

Nice segue! Well, it all began in COVID. In PE we were working hard to keep the kids active and you and I had gone back to running as a

way to take a break from the screens. Then we realised that a lot of the kids were doing that too.

I love how you say ‘a lot’. I think it started with a handful, right?

Ha! Yep. And then when we decided to continue it when we got back to school, we thought it would basically be the two of us and one other person!

And then something like 68 showed up at the first meeting!

The numbers have certainly fluctuated since then, but I think at our lowest we were on 30, average who were getting up and into school for 07:15 every Wednesday. I have been amazed at how they’re persevered. Currently we average about 70 every week.

You’ve forgotten our lowest turnout: we had eight the Wednesday that it snowed!

Oh yes, I had forgotten about that. That was a chilly one!

What I love so much about Run Crew is that it goes across the ages, and we’ve had some who have been running with us from the lower years, right into the Sixth Form.

They even show up when they have exams!

Some bring their mums!

Some play the saxophone in the gym as we’re arriving!

Toby is a musical genius, and a pretty nippy runner…

So that’s Run Crew. We’ve had a lot of successes from it too. We’ve taken two teams to the Cross-Country nationals, two years in a row.

I love those trips: they’re so exciting, and we get to go to Pizza Express!

You’re easily pleased… Jamie, I’ve just had a genius idea. I’m scared.

We need to combine World Challenge and Run Crew and do… Race Across the World!

I’d never keep up with you…

As part of the rugby centenary celebrations, in November, the 1st XV took on John Fisher School on Memorial Field, a patch of land which was bought by a group of Old Churcherians in 1949 to honour the fallen. The match, overseen by Level 6 referee Chris Goss (79) and watched by over 70 OCs, was closely fought in a gritty first half, but an impressive display in the second half resulted in Churcher’s taking a resounding victory, 20-3.

Stepping into the lion’s den

Tim Rodber (87)

Tim Rodber (87) joined the school in 1980, in Nelson House, as part of the first fee-paying year. Along with his younger brother Ben (90) and (in later years) nephew Zac (19), the family has contributed much to Churcher’s sport during their time at the school.

Tim loved his time at Churcher’s and got stuck in, but by his own admission, he was not very good academically. He was even backstage manager of the school play once but if you ever gave him a choice, he would play sport.

“I loved rugby, don’t get me wrong, it was something I was good at, but not exceptional. I loved cricket too, but hockey was my favourite sport. I don’t know if it was his first year of teaching, but Marc Eaton was massively influential. He was young and a brilliant hockey player, a brilliant bloke and a brilliant teacher, leading by example – everyone was playing hockey!”

Tim’s time in the CCF was also influential, teaching him the basics of teamwork and leadership. With boys from all walks of life in the years above him, there was an edge in the school and boys had to learn to look after themselves, not least when playing British Bulldog with a target on his back belonging to the first cohort of fee-paying pupils.

By his own admission, Tim was not big back then, but he was quite fast.

“There is always someone bigger than you – that’s kind of life. But it never put me off. We learned about never giving up, resilience, determination. Despite never being the biggest or the best, a good little’un is always better than an average big ’un.”

It was equally heated when playing against the opposing schools. In Tim’s 1982 write-up as captain of the U14 side, he writes of the rivalry with PGS: “traditionally our main rivals are Portsmouth Grammar School and after beating them last year we wanted to maintain our good

record against this school. An excellent, close match resulted, full of incident. The game ended 4-4 which fairly reflects the closeness of the match.” Other rivalries were Seaford College and Chichester High School, which could be quite violent encounters.

While he was in the Fifth Year, Tim was selected to play rugby for Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset and Wiltshire, collectively known as Area 8. “That’s when I came up against grown men. I was tall and thin, but not big enough.”

In the summer between the Fifth Year and the Sixth Form, Tim grew quickly and his mum had a difficult job finding him a jacket because he had grown so much. One of Tim’s team mates at Churcher’s was Matt Allchurch (87), who at a young age was already like a grown man. At half-time during a game, one of the opponents’ mothers grabbed the referee and said she’d like to complain because she thought Churcher’s had a master playing – she pointed at Matt. It’s a story that Tim’s father still enjoys telling.

On leaving Churcher’s, Tim had a place at the University of Durham, but instead ended up studying at Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes). He was an army scholar at Churcher’s and was sponsored by the Army through his degree, becoming a Captain in the Green Howards. Rugby was amateur in England until 1995 so Tim’s rugby and army career ran side by side.

Choosing Oxford Polytechnic was a fortuitous decision as it was whilst playing for them, in a heavy defeat to the Polytechnic of Wales, that Tim got his break.

As it transpired, Churcher’s teacher, Bob Broadhead, knew someone called John Ebsworth at Northampton Saints; Bob had said to him that Tim was a good player and it was because of this recommendation that Barrie Corless, the first ever professional Director of Rugby in the UK, and one of

the architects of the revival of Northampton Saints’ fortunes in the 1980s, was there that day.

“We got hammered 47-0 and I basically stood there fighting Welshmen! “Barry tapped me on the shoulder after the game and said “do you want to come and play at Northampton? The school had a connection in it all. It was surreal, really.”

The game between Oxford and Wales Polytechnics also gives an interesting insight into the period of transition from amateur to professional rugby. The Welsh RFU were finding that many of their players were moving to professional Rugby League clubs in the

north of England, so they put their best rugby players into the Polytechnic of Wales to try and keep them. The team Tim played against featured a number of players who went on to be capped by Wales.

Tim’s rise to international rugby was rapid.

Tim had left university and was going to Sandhurst for his first day, although that weekend he had been training with England and was picked to play against Scotland a fortnight later. On arrival at Sandhurst, along with other cadets he was introduced to his Colour Sergeant, a Scotsman from the Black Watch, who gave him short shrift when Tim’s forthcoming appearance for the Auld Enemy

was mentioned. The RFU phoned the Army and Tim was given leave to join up with the England squad on the Wednesday before the Saturday International. He made his debut in the 1992 Five Nations in a team captained by Will Carling.

“I played four times for Northampton and got picked for England Under 21, played for the Army against the Navy and then six months later, I was in the England squad. I was the only one not from the England school boy setup. I was more of a soldier basically.”

A one-club man, Tim went on to play 235 times for Northampton, winning the Heineken Cup in 2000 with a win against Munster. was capped 44 times by England, winning two Grand Slams, and twice for the British Lions in their memorable series win in South Africa in 1997.

He was also a member of the victorious 1993 England World Cup Sevens team that claimed the Melrose trophy with a 21-17 win over Australia. The England squad had three international caps between them (Tim had two and Andy Harriman had one) whereas the hot favourites Australia had some well-known players such as David Campese, Matt Burke, Willie Offahengaue and Michael Lynagh.

“I scored the winning try. My only claim to fame. The only one which wasn’t two yards!”

Tim on one of his visits back to Churcher’s to help celebrate 100 years of rugby

Shelf life

Peter Davis (06)

In November 2024, 15 Geography students from Churcher’s attended a lecture at the Midhurst Society, given by Peter Davis (06) of the British Antarctic Survey.

During the lecture, Peter spoke on the importance of Antarctica to global climate, the science of ice shelves and ice instability, the challenges of undertaking fieldwork in extreme isolation and cold, and the findings of his research into the water column conditions and behaviour below the Thwaites Glacier in Western Antarctica.

Recognised in the 2023 TIME100 annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world by

TIME Magazine, Peter kindly took the time to tell us a little more about his career path since leaving Churcher’s and how it led him to his work with the British Antarctic Survey...

“I left Churcher’s in 2006 with a place to study Geology at the University of Southampton, starting in 2007. I had always planned on taking a gap year to go climbing in the Nepal Himalayas, and it was during my gap year I decided to change my degree course to Oceanography. I had never heard of Oceanography before, and it was only while I was at my interview for Geology (that was being held at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton) that I came across it.

Obviously, it felt too late to be changing course at the point of the interview, but after being offered a deferred place, it was relatively easy to swap during my gap year.

I started my degree in 2007 and loved every minute of it. There are so many different aspects to Oceanography that cover all the traditional areas of science: Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. I was particularly interested in the physical aspects, including how and why the ocean moves, how do critical ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream affect climate and how does the ocean store the excess heat and carbon that humans are pumping into the atmosphere.

During the summer at the end of my second year I had the opportunity to participate in an exchange with the Institute of Ocean Sciences on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and I was exceptionally lucky to be invited on to a month-long research cruise that was heading up to the Arctic Ocean. We were studying how ‘fresh’ ocean water flows out of the Arctic through a narrow passage of water called Nares Strait between Greenland and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It was during this cruise that I become fascinated with the polar regions and their impact on climate, and I decided that this was the area of Oceanography that I wished to build a career around.

At the same time, I was lucky to meet Prof Helen Johnson from the University of Oxford who would go on to become my PhD supervisor. I started in Oxford in 2011 after graduating with a first-class four-year Oceanography Master’s degree from Southampton. My PhD focused on understanding how the Arctic Ocean is responding to climate change, and the impact the changing climate is having on the sea ice cover and the ocean circulation. Towards the end of my PhD, I had another opportunity to participate in a research expedition

to the Arctic, this time with Norwegian collaborators. They had frozen their ice breaker into the sea ice over winter, and I joined the ship via helicopter for a month in early spring.

After finishing my PhD in 2015 I moved to Cambridge to start a post-doctoral job at the British Antarctic Survey. The role was to understand how the ocean beneath Antarctica’s vast floating ice shelves melts the ice shelves from beneath. This basal melting accelerates Antarctica’s contribution to sea level rise by allowing ice that is on the land to flow into the ocean at an ever-increasing rate. During the winter of 2019/2020 (summer in Antarctica) I was on Thwaites Glacier as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (https://thwaitesglacier.org/) which is a large UK/US project to understand the fate of one of Antarctica’s most unstable ice shelves. The results from this fieldwork were eventually published in Nature, and alongside a US colleague, I was chosen as one of the world’s 100 most influential people by TIME magazine in 2023 in recognition of the work we were doing.

I have been at the British Antarctic Survey now for over nine years and have been to Antarctic on five separate occasions. I will be heading to Antarctica again this winter, hopefully to return to Thwaites Glacier. The following summer (2026) I will be returning to the Arctic for a short summer field season.

Our changing climate is one of the most urgent issues facing humanity. Many parts of the polar regions are changing faster than anywhere else on the planet and understanding why these changes are happening and how they will affect us here in the UK is critical.

This coming November, I very much look forward to returning to Churcher’s to talk about life working as an ocean scientist in Antarctica and hopefully inspire the next generation of polar scientist.”

My time at Churcher’s

Kathryn Shaw (1989 to 2024)

Thirty-five years (and one term) feels like a lifetime, whilst also a mere blink of an eye.

When I arrived for my interview in 1989, I almost drove straight out of the gates, given it was a Tuesday, and nobody had warned me that it was CCF. It was like arriving at a military academy, with boys marching around in uniforms.

I am glad I braved it as I got offered the job of my dreams.

Back in the day, Churcher’s was much smaller, very different and altogether more relaxed. The iconic footbridge over the old A3 was used by the younger boarders and the upstairs of Old College and most of Ramshill was used by the senior boarders. Teaching was just chalk and talk, before the tech began to eventually arrive; OHPs; white boards; interactive boards; and then sets of laptops for the pupils themselves. Staff meetings were held in a classroom, as we all fitted in!

Speech days were held in a marquee on the field. I loved the outdoor pool and had my own key! I especially liked swimming in the rain and early mornings with a few other teachers. New College was built in my first year, and we all had our own classrooms. N16 was mine and still feels that way to this day! I have gone from being one of the youngest members of staff to the second longest serving. I never had a reason to leave: a five-minute commute and all the opportunities I could wish for. Head of Careers, Head of Nelson House, Head of French and Head of ML Faculty – there was never a dull moment!

As a teacher of French and German, I have had the privilege to work with so many talented linguists over the years. We have supported each other as we have adapted to the everchanging beast that is language. I have fond memories of innumerable school trips to Germany and France and more Speech days, Carol services and Founders Day ceremonies than is probably healthy! But I love the pomp

and ceremony that Churcher’s does so well and enjoyed wearing my academic dress on such occasions.

I have always loved my job and have felt very lucky to have worked at such a brilliant school. I can’t even begin to guess how many students I have taught or tutored over the years, but I remember so many of them. I have also loved the rapport you can build up with students and how pivotal you can be at challenging times in their lives; therein lies the magic of our profession. My folder of thank you cards is one of my most treasured possessions.

I love helping on OC reunion days, the years just roll away and again I am reminded of the privilege of such a job, getting to work with such wonderful young people. My three children – Amber, Kaitlin and Dan – came through Churcher’s and I could see how much they benefitted from the excellent teaching, the sport, the drama and the music. They did indeed join my world, and I always felt lucky to have a window on their school day, to bump into them on the way to a lesson and to see them having fun with their friends. A little, “hello Mum” always made me smile. Not many parents can say that!

As a Sixth Form tutor for many years, I guess I now understand that mix of apprehension and excitement, as my time to leave is here. I was so proud to award my inaugural Speech Day prize, the Kathryn Shaw Palme D’Or and to receive full school colours for service to the school. You can take the girl out of Churcher’s, but Churcher’s will always be a part of me.

4pm will always resonate with me, wherever I am in the world, but I won’t miss all those bells! I will miss my amazing colleagues, many of whom have become firm friends over the years. I will miss that end of term, “we made it!” feeling in the staff room but I look forward to a long and happy connection with Churcher’s for many years to come. Thank you for having me!

I have always loved my job and have felt very lucky to have worked at such a brilliant school... I have also loved the rapport you can build up with the students and how pivotal you can be at challenging times in their lives.

It’s been so lovely to be part of such a great team of people and massive thanks to everyone I have worked with.

My time at Churcher’s

Elly Davies (2008 to 2025)

I joined Churcher’s in October 2008 after working for a global mining company for 15 years. After they moved from Guildford to Paddington, I decided the level of travelling wasn’t for me and so took the money they offered and ran. Thinking I would spend a few months just being a mum and enjoying the summer and autumn doing lots of gardening and chilling, but the world had other plans when the financial crisis hit in September 2008! I thought I had better find a job sooner rather than later and before they all disappeared! I was very surprised to be offered the first job I applied for, here at Churcher’s.

Not being quite sure what Simon meant during the interview process when he asked me if I had any convictions, and not wanting to start a discussion about my personal religious or political beliefs, I took his question to mean criminal convictions and admitted having 6 points on my driving licence for speeding, to which his quick response was: “remind me never to let you drive a minibus!” Needless to say both my cars and my driving style have slowed slightly in the intervening years.

I accepted the position of School Secretary, but secretly thinking that if I didn’t enjoy working in a school, I could always cast my net wider on a new search the following Summer! A very old friend had guffawed when I told her I was joining Churcher’s with the comment: “what, but you hate teenagers!” – a hang-up from helping my sister put on a large 18th birthday party for her daughter! However, the fab people I have worked with, the view from my office window and all the events both theatrical and musical, on offer to attend, as well as the sweet 11 year olds on the verge of tears having missed their buses home, have kept me here happily for nearly 17 years.

There have been many children, parents and staff to get to know over the years, and for many pupils and ex-pupils I have simply been known as the ‘bus lady’. This is not all I do, also working with Chris Jones for many years on the termly calendar booklet. I have also helped put together numerous years’ worth of Prizegiving programmes, have sent out thousands of emails to parents (sorry!), as well as completing many Census reports for both the Department for Education and the Independent Schools Council.

But it has not all been without incident, having once managed to lock one of our younger pupils in the Sports Hall, who had rushed in to change for basketball one Friday, when the coach realised it was set up for Exams. Quickly locking it up again after he shepherded his erstwhile Shaquille O’Neals and Magic Johnsons off to the Gymnasium, not realising one small boy was still in the changing rooms. Luckily for him a Sixth Former saw the young lad banging on the glass foyer doors to be let out! He seemed no worse for his ordeal and only missed a few minutes of the basketball lesson. He also learnt a valuable lesson on how to always look for the emergency exits in a building if your entry point is blocked!

When you have a child studying in the school you work in it can be quite nerve-wracking when a teacher heads towards your desk, you hope they just want to book a minibus but invariably there is some homework missing or yet another chewing gum detention in the offing. One incident involving my son fortunately stayed under the detention radar… Leo, a Lower Sixth Art student staying to catch-up some work in the studio, joyfully sent the Director of Sport at the time (one Dan Cox) who had come looking for Mr Saralis, into the Upper Sixth studio, knowing full well that the doors were closed and blinds down due to the life drawing lesson taking place. Mr Cox was very embarrassed and retreated at haste to Leo’s great amusement.

A few quick calculations… (should I admit to achieving only 3% in my Year 9 Maths exam? We didn’t have calculators in the mid-70s). Even though I live only 12 miles away, I have clocked up over 80,000 miles just travelling to and from Churcher’s, I have eaten approximately 5,600 marvellous school lunches (I’ll be on a soup diet from now on!) and worked on 49 termly calendars.

It’s been so lovely to be part of such a great team of people and massive thanks to everyone I have worked with and especially those who have put up with my lack of tech skills on both my phone and computer – this is when teenagers really come in handy! You see I knew all along there was a reason to accept the job!

In the sweltering heat, over 30 Third Year pupils worked hard with their shovels and wheel barrows to help create a new path through Tercentenary Wood as part of a project to connect the Serpent Trail with the River Rother Nature Reserve and Petersfield. At the end of the day the Revd. Will Hughes, Vicar of Petersfield, gracefully addressed the pupils and opened the splendid looking path.

A.H.G. Hoggarth

Headmaster (1927-1946)

Arthur Henry Graham Hoggarth was born in Kendal in 1882. After attending a local Grammar School, he attended Keble College, Oxford where he obtained a degree in modern history. Alongside his academic career, he was a keen artist: as a young man he drew cartoons for Punch. He became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists and regularly exhibited his work. Indeed, some of his paintings are on display at Churcher’s and preserved in the school’s archive.

As a historian and naturalist, Hoggarth joined Churcher’s College in 1911 as one of only four teachers and Deputy to Headmaster, Reverend Bond. Early in his career at Churcher’s he founded the Churcherian magazine in 1913, which continues to this day. He taught under three Headmasters before being appointed to the position himself, in 1927. His tenure spanned the war years until his eventual retirement in 1946.

Hoggarth was held in high esteem throughout his time at Churcher’s with pupils reflecting fondly on his leadership. Alan Horan (47) recollects Hoggarth being very sympathetic to him. Having arrived from Egypt as a boarder, Alan was put in ‘Remove’ class as the Headmaster was unsure of his education level. Hoggarth told him to report to him if he were not happy with the decision. Alan recalls: “Imagine that I had the nerve to knock on the Headmaster’s door to tell him that I thought the French teacher was no good! So I was moved to a higher class for French!”

Hoggarth ‘was fully involved in school life’. He moved into the Headmaster’s quarters in 1927 and ‘was deeply supportive of boarding, realising how vital it was for the future of the school and how much it contributed to the school’s ethos’. 1In the summer of 1935, he foresaw the need for additional premises and purchased ‘The Mount’ from Colonel Blois Johnson for boarding purposes. The house was opposite the College standing in its own grounds of three acres. It was converted into

a well-equipped boarding house and was used for boarders up to the age of 14, the name then altered to ‘Mount House’.

He ensured there was a wide variety of activities for the boys to become involved in, for both day and boarding school pupils, and he was deeply aware of the need for the school to have benefactors and endowments. As such, he also encouraged the Old Boys to support the school by sending their sons to follow in their footsteps.

Along with the increase in pupil numbers came the need to recruit additional teaching staff. From 1920 to 1930 there were seven full-time assistant masters, however in the Spring Term of 1935 the staff consisted of eleven full-time masters excluding Hoggarth as Headmaster.

The war years

Hoggarth oversaw the running of the school for the duration of the Second World War. With the declaration of World War II, many children were evacuated from London to escape the Blitz. Churcher’s was deemed to be in a rural location and received evacuees from Emanuel School, Wandsworth. A speech day delivery in 1939 made by Hoggarth shows the way in which the two schools got along. “The war brought some changes in our organisation. We are working under a shift system. We have a long morning’s work and our guests, Emanuel School have a long afternoon. Relations between Emanuel School and ourselves are excellent. We are pleased they are here, and I trust that they feel at home at Churcher’s despite inconveniences.” 2

In 1938 trenches were dug to the east of the outdoor swimming pool and staff were lectured on Air Raid precautions. During the war years, the school also offered help to local farmers. George ‘Jock’ Wheatley (49) recently told us how he remembers going around local farms to pick crops for the market on their half days as all farm labourers had been sent off to the services. In November 1941, Mr Hoggarth

He knew everyone and made Churcher’s a school to be proud of and a part of. He was Churcher’s.

Gerald Coates (41)

reported at Prize Day that 2,000 hours of assistance had been given by the pupils for planting and harvesting in one term alone! Hoggarth’s interest in nature was further evidenced when he encouraged boarders to tend plots at school - two sacks of seed potatoes were handed out for the allotments on Nicholson’s Field. Young Farmers Clubs were set up and there were many harvest camps.

Due to the war, Hoggarth’s retirement was postponed until Easter 1946 when his final address on Speech Day contained detailed references to academic and military distinctions and to sorrow that so many Old Boys would not return. In July 1949, Hoggarth returned to the school as the boys gathered in the Old Assembly Hall to reveal the College War Memorial tablet on the wall, made of oak and with gilt lettering. Reverently the former Headmaster said: “we are here this afternoon to do honour to the memory of those members of the College who gave everything to fight… So let us pray that if we can make a better world there may never be any need for another War Memorial here.” 3

The school’s survival and ongoing development at that time was undoubtedly due to Hoggarth and heartfelt tributes were made to him when he died.

“A.H.G.H. will be remembered with venerations for his qualities of integrity, loyalty and devotion to duty; and with affection for his wide range of personal sympathies, his love of art and the beauties of nature.” 4

“I remember him as a man of dignity and kindness who commanded our full respect. We were all, I believe, quite proud of him as our Headmaster. He stood well out above the rest of the staff, though not in stature. He was always known by all, affectionately, as ‘Bill’… He seemed to be involved in most things, knew everyone and made Churcher’s a school to be proud of and a part of. He was Churcher’s.” Gerald Coates (41)

1 The History of Churcher’s College (Donald Brooks & Gillian Clarke, 2005)

2 Churcherian (December, 1939)

3 The Men who Marched Away (John Symonds, 2005)

4 Obituary in the Churcherian (April, 1964)

In memoriam

Since the last issue of OC, we have been advised of the deaths of the following Old Churcherians and staff. We have included a few words and reflections which have been sent to us by family and friends.

Obituaries are also published on Churcher’s Community – In Memoriam.

Old Churcherians

Graham Brooks (48) Grenville

Kenneth Goode (49) Rodney

Eric Piper (49) Rodney

Brian Pullen (49) Rodney

David Stevenson (49) Grenville

Frederick Bleach (51) Grenville

Richard Morris (58) Nelson

Andrew Fogden (61) Rodney

Peter Bolton (63) Nelson

Nigel Blanch (66) Drake

Brian Dean (67) Grenville

Charles Illsley (68) Nelson

Chris Healey (70) Nelson

Michael Murtough (71) Grenville

John Dacam (72) Nelson

Mike Garner (72) Rodney

Paul Watson (72) Nelson

John Lucas (74) Rodney

John Warnants (82) Drake

Diccon Bewes (85) Grenville

Paul Baxter (86) Grenville

Verity Kennard (08) Nelson

Former staff

Ian Fudge (70-74) Physics

Paul Baxter was a pioneer in UK complex computer programming and had a significant career in UK national security software coding. He passed away after a long illness in January 2025.

Paul joined Churcher’s in 1979 in its first year as an Independent School, a major step for the College. A day boy from Leigh Park, Havant, his father was a Royal Marine SNCO and his Mum was a secretary. A giant of a man, his humble nature never left him all his life and he was popular for his infectious sense of fun and (often very) bad jokes.

The early eighties were the start of the age of home computers with schools like Churcher’s owning just one ‘Commodore’ computer. Paul swiftly mastered the first programming languages – hard for most but, for Paul, it was “logical and easy.” After excelling at Maths, Further Maths, Physics and the new Electronic Systems, Paul graduated in 1986 with 4As at A Level – a rare success back in those days. He famously turned down doing Oxbridge to go

instead to Bath University, “as they have the new computing software” he wanted to work on. This typified Paul’s early focus from his rare genius. Out of class, he played rugby for the 1st XV, loved football (Liverpool) and liked classic rock music.

Most of Paul’s amazing work life remains classified at national level but we do know he helped design the world leading Type 45 Destroyer Air Defence Radar and his sophisticated security software coding “was the work of a national genius that will go on saving lives for decades to come”, according to a fellow expert who attended his funeral.

Paul joined his friends in March 2016, at the Churcher’s OCC 86-ers’ 30-year reunion but soon after he tragically fell ill with a rare debilitating brain condition. Paul Baxter passed away in January 2025 leaving Vicky and a grown-up son, Brodie, who attended his funeral along with many 86-ers.

A personal tribute from Chris Parker (86).

Paul Baxter (86)

Diccon Bewes (85)

Diccon was born on 27 July 1967 and attended Churcher’s from 1978 to 1985. He excelled academically, both at school and later at the London School of Economics, where he was awarded a rare ‘starred First’ in International Relations (1988).

A post-university 18-month world trip set him up for a career in travel writing, though he took the scenic route via bookselling. After leaving Waterstones in 1994, he then spent ten years as a travel writer for Lonely Planet and then Holiday Which? Magazine, before moving to Switzerland in 2005, initially to become manager of the Stauffacher English Bookshop in Bern.

His love of writing and experience of moving to Switzerland and getting to know and understand the Swiss led directly to his first book ‘Swiss Watching: Inside the Land of Milk and Honey’ which not only won recognition as a Financial Times Book of the Year (and remains a bestseller today) but quickly became recommended reading for anyone considering travelling or moving to Switzerland. He published six further non-fiction books over the ensuing years; his eighth book will be launched in Bern in April 2025. Over the last ten years, Diccon became well-known in Switzerland as a resident expert on the UK (and particularly Brexit), appearing on the screen and print media many times.

Diccon became a Swiss national, but always retained a close link with Petersfield, where his parents still live, and with his very wide circle of UK based friends and family. In the final three weeks of his life, Diccon organised and attended a ‘goodbye’ party in Portsmouth for 90 friends and family including a few OCs. Two weeks later, he attended a similar event for his Swiss friends and colleagues. His body finally

gave up the battle to cancer just two days later on 11 March, but he died having achieved his remarkable goal of giving everyone he loved the opportunity to say goodbye and to share some very happy memories.

Diccon was a devoted son, brother, uncle, husband and friend and will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched.

Peter Bolton (63)

Peter started at Churcher’s in 1956, noting how often the weather changed as his bus from Cowplain crossed Butser. Petersfield and the backdrop of the Downs were attractively different from the suburban ribbon development where he lived.

In 1958, his father’s sudden death led to his widowed mother embarking on teacher training and to Peter becoming a boarder: an only child, close to his father and with no other relatives, he may have found Churcher’s something of a haven. He was very happy with his classmates: after a reunion he mentioned how nice they had been and how nice they had remained. And he was fascinated by the senior staff, nearly all, as it happened, on the verge of retirement, with well-established quirks – his standard nighttime remark, “time to turn on the darkness”, was a quote from his House Master. A-levels were History, Latin and French. He was not strong on science. There were other deficiencies: the music master was driven to kick the instrument one piano lesson. “Bolton, you’ve ballsed it up again!” came from the woodwork master when boring from one end of a piece of wood failed to meet the boring begun at the other end.

He moved on to read History, very happily, at University College London, and started to teach in Oswestry, but both staff and pupils were uncongenial. After a couple of years he tried a different path, taking a diploma in Art History in Edinburgh. When no job emerged in that field, he took a one-year post in a grammar school in Faversham in Kent and found he enjoyed teaching much more second time round. After eight years at Leamington College for Boys, he became Head of History at Myton School in Warwick, a mixed comprehensive with ambitions. He stayed there until an enticing offer led him and several colleagues to early retirement in 2001. The last term coincided with an Ofsted visit and he was pleased to be signing off with a complimentary report on his teaching, focused on the ready way he involved all the class in discussion.

Leaving work meant Peter could spend more time pursuing a range of interests; exploring family history; places – working through Pevsners, visiting all but one of the English counties and most of the Scottish, Welsh

and Irish ones; photographs of drain covers; destroyed buildings, which led to his publishing ‘Lost Architectural Landscapes of [South] Warwickshire’; and all the information he could gather about the very unrecorded village of Wellesbourne near Warwick, where he had settled with his family. The outcome was his book about Wellesbourne between about 1830 and 1930, for which he was very pleased to find that a newspaper headline relating to the appalling sewage system there in the 1920s provided an intriguing title: ‘The Naples of the Midlands’.

He always enjoyed keeping up with Churcher’s and following its progress. When advice was needed on the music for his funeral service, the family turned to his school contemporary, Raymond Fiander (63), with his background in organ-playing, who had done the same for Peter when he was married.

Graham Brooks (48)

Graham, who studied at Churcher’s in the 1940s, had a zest for life. He threw himself into everything at school, including playing for the cricket team. As a result of his excellent capabilities and esteem he was appointed as the school’s Drum Master. He also held the position of Captain of rugby. Graham was at school with his brother, Donald, who later became Headmaster of Churcher’s.

After Churcher’s, Graham began his career in journalism, having ruled out teaching due to a lack of local placements. He worked locally as a junior journalist in and around Petersfield, rising quickly into senior roles across the local area, resulting in a fulfilling career which spanned 44 years. Deeply respected and admired, Graham was awarded an MBE in 1993. Graham sadly died on 30 August. He was a

John Dacam (72)

The eldest of three children of a serving naval officer, John grew up in Stroud near Petersfield and attended Churcher’s from 1965 to 1972. After leaving school, he studied business at Farnborough Technical College, then moved to London to work as a commodity broker. He subsequently worked for the London Stock Exchange as a trainer of LSE personnel in the use of a new share trading system. It was during this time that John moved to East Finchley from Buckhurst Hill, where he had previously been living with his then wife, Brenda.

In 1993, John became heavily involved with a local community newspaper for East Finchley, The Archer, where he was the Sub-Editor and Advertising Manager until 2001, devoting much of his time to ensuring that the paper met the

much-loved husband to Kay, and an adored father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

highest standards. He then fulfilled a long-held ambition and enrolled to do a History degree at Hull University. The academic life suited him, and he stayed to complete a Masters and a Doctorate, before going on to work at the university. One of his colleagues at The Archer, Kevin Finn, described John as being “warm, funny and highly intelligent, someone who I was proud to call a friend.”

During his time at East Finchley, John explored new ventures. One notable one was the restaurant business he set up with Kevin Finn, under the name Fat and Finn. Despite praise for the quality of the food and positive reviews in The Guardian, John’s insistence on using only the finest ingredients didn’t leave much room for profit and the business closed after ten months.

John’s brother, Paul, and sister, Ruth, remember John’s obsessive fondness for all things historical, especially naval history – apparently, he had well over 1,000 books on the subjects!

David Cradduck (72) remembers John with great fondness: “for his fastidiousness, his love of pipe and pint, for his wicked sense of humour and admirably cynical view of the world. We remained friends over the years, even though we lived many miles apart, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend some time with him at his sister’s house near Wakefield a couple of years ago when I was en-route to Scotland.”

Mike Garner (72)

On 15 May 2025, Mike Garner passed away with his family by his side. He was involved in a cycling accident the Sunday beforehand and sadly never recovered from his injuries. Mike leaves behind wife Carla, children Alex and Dani, stepdaughter Alexa, as well as five grandchildren.

Mike was born in Stretford, Greater Manchester in 1953. His parents moved their young family to Petersfield in 1958 to run Herne Farm Dairy alongside Mike’s grandparents and aunt and uncle. Mike started at Churcher’s College in 1964, with children Alex and Dani following his lead.

During his career, Mike spent 53 years in the Petrol Retail industry with his first site, Rails Lane Garage (Jet) opening in 1972 on Hayling Island. Alongside brother Tim Garner, Mike owned up to eight petrol filling stations during the height of Garner Group Holding’s success which included the original North and Southbound sites on the A3 at Liphook. The brothers also won Forecourt Trader of the Year twice during their careers together.

Mike was also heavily involved in the Petrol Retail Association, joining the Petrol Retail Association’s Wetstock Committee in 1993 and remained part of the Technical Committee (as

it became known in 2010) until his passing. He also sat on the Jet Dealer Council from 1990 until 2008, including Chairing the Council for a number of years.

The final two businesses were sold in September 2023 and since then Mike focused his time on a house renovation project with son Alex, and a larger-scale building project with Tim, while also spending as much time as possible with his grandchildren, with whom he shared an incredibly close bond.

Physical health and fitness played a huge role in Mike’s life. He was a part of Petersfield Rugby Club since 1970, and during this time captained the 2nd XV team on numerous occasions, even playing alongside son, Alex, in a veteran’s game. Mike trained at Body Conditioning in South Harting for over 22 years and on his 70th birthday he did 70 full chin ups in one hour, totally unaided. He also regularly participated in time trial racing with local group, a3crg, and in addition to weekly social rides, cycled with the Petersfield Triathlon Club on a regular basis.

Mike’s family would like to thank everyone for their support and kind words and for the continued support of friends, family and the local community.

Charles Ilsley (68)

Charles Ilsley, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 74, was a cardiologist and a pioneer in the field of angioplasty.

We were boarders at Churcher’s from 1961 to 1968, and were both in the school 7-a-side rugby team that won the Hampshire schools competition in 1968.

After school Charles studied medicine at St Mary’s Hospital, London and started to specialise as a cardiologist in 1975. He had a spell at Harefield Hospital as a cardiology registrar, then moved to the National Heart Hospital for a period of research with Tony Rickards who, in 1980, assisted by Charles, performed the first balloon angioplasty in any London hospital.

Then followed a consultancy at Dunedin Hospital, New Zealand where the Cardiology unit started the pioneering approach of directly treating heart attacks with angioplasty. Patient outcomes were unusually good and when Charles returned to Harefield as a consultant in 1987 he did outstanding work using angioplasty.

In the 1990s, internal NHS politics sapped

much of his time, as the hospital was marked for closure. It survived (largely due to the evidence of lives saved by angioplasty): perhaps his greatest achievement. Charles became Clinical Director at Harefield in 2008 but retained a sizeable clinical workload: in that year alone, he performed 573 catheter procedures. He was a leading advocate of angioplasty as a treatment for heart attacks and, with the team at Harefield, he developed a 24-hour Primary Angioplasty service for treating heart attack patients. He demonstrated that this procedure could be as fast as thrombolysis (using clotbusting drugs) but the reason for its adoption was because of its much shorter in-patient time (three days for angioplasty versus up to 14 days for thrombolysis).

Charles married Anne Rogers, a nurse, in 1972 and they had two children, Kate and Richard. In 2013, he remarried Helen Binns, a consultant cardiologist at Northampton General Hospital and settled in Everdon, Northants. Charles is survived by Kate and Richard, by two grandchildren – Edward and Florence, by his sister, Susan, and by Helen and three of their springer spaniels.

A personal tribute from Geoff Boxhall (68 ).

Brian Pullen (49)

Brian was born at the Mint Laundry in Liss Forest, and died less than a mile away, peacefully at home. Most of his life was spent in this area, though he and his wife Jane spent some nine years in Cornwall, another two years in Dorset, and five years near Chichester, before returning to Liss 24 years ago.

Educated at Churcher’s, he became a shrewd businessman, who gained the respect of both his contemporaries and those who worked for him. A practical and resourceful man, in his formative years he owned and maintained sports cars. After his marriage to Jane, they built or renovated all the houses they owned, as well as a number of boats from dinghies to yachts.

The first part of his working life was running the Mint Laundry, founded by his father, later in partnership with his brother, Tony. His passion for motoring lead to him joining F W Kerridge in Alton for five years, before returning to the Mint, to redevelop it with Tony into a small industrial complex, which supported them into their retirement.

A consummate musician and lifelong fan of

modern jazz, he played the trumpet, as well as the piano, for most of his life. After retirement, his ability to work hard was exemplified by him teaching himself music theory. Initially, he played his favourite instrument the saxophone, but he unfortunately found that he wasn’t able to play it to a level he found satisfactory. He turned to, and mastered, the vibraphone. For some 10 years, he played in a number of local bands.

Brian had a robust constitution, with hardly a thing wrong with him physically until he fell off a ladder in his 70s. Afterwards he took life more carefully. He possessed of a profound sense of discipline and duty, and a penchant for punctuality. He was a font of general knowledge, particularly geography. A lover of nature, particularly garden birds, he took great pleasure in feeding and watching. He said that this was as close to religion as he could get. He latterly became a passionate model railway builder and was a dedicated member of Liss Model Railway Club.

Brian is laid to rest in the family grave in St Mary’s Church in Selborne, together with his wife, mother and father, and his brother Tony, as was his wish.

David Stevenson (49)

David was born in Portsmouth in 1930 to Ernest and Edith. He had two older brothers, Cyril and Ernie. During his childhood he lived for a time in London and Fishguard, as well as several years with his aunt and uncle in Rowlands Castle.

In 1941, whilst living in Rowlands Castle, he won a scholarship to attend Churcher’s College where he stayed until 1949. David joined the army cadet force, travelling daily by train and often carrying his rifle with him. He enjoyed playing in the cadet’s drum and bugle band and developed a love of military band music. He enjoyed his time at Churcher’s, was an active “old boy”, proud that his daughter, Claire, became one of the first girls to study at Churcher’s.

He voluntarily joined the Royal Engineers in 1949, the same year he met his late wife Beth, having spotted her ice skating on Petersfield Heath pond. Going on to join Sandhurst Royal Military Academy as a cadet in 1950, he passed out of Sandhurst in 1952, but no ceremony took place because George VI had died on that day –his passing out ceremony eventually took place in April 2002 (50 years later).

After Sandhurst, he went on a Young Officers course in Chatham, and later returned for a Junior Officers course, in the of spring 1957, as a young troop officer in the 25 Engineer Regiment. He was posted to Christmas Island, and while there he took part in nuclear weapons testing, for which he was awarded a medal in November 2023. During his time in the Royal Engineers, they lived in many places including Osnabruck, Famagusta and Hermitage.

David and Beth had two daughters, Diana and Claire, and in 1963 the family moved to Petersfield. It was also in 1963 that David had been given notice that he was going to the Directorate of Overseas Surveys to be seconded to the Civil Service and would be heading to East Africa, working firstly a year in Uganda and then going for a year to Kenya.

In 1966, the family moved again, this time to Nottingham. Here David was Regional Officer to the East Midlands region of the Ordnance Survey for three years and following that, in January 1970, he was posted to 14 Field Survey Squadron in Düsseldorf. In 1972, he moved back to Feltham and the following retired from the army as a Major.

After this, he joined BKS Surveys as a Survey Manager which meant he needed to be based in Washington DC. From here he then went on to work for the company in the Middle East and Africa. He left BKS in 1977 and set up his own graphics and printing business back in Petersfield, which ran until 1993 when he retired.

In his retirement, David kept busy volunteering at Uppark, as well as spending over 20 years as a guide at The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Dockyard. He was a keen photographer and a brilliant artist. He was involved for many years with both Petersfield Hi-lights and Petersfield Operatic Society, taking part in many of their performances as well as behind the scenes, contributing to the scenery displays, while also completing a degree in Heritage & Museum Studies at Portsmouth University, when he was 77 years old.

Beth passed away in 2020 and sadly, with David’s failing health, he moved into Eastfield nursing home in late 2021, passing away peacefully there on 21 January. He will be greatly missed by his daughters Diana and Claire, three granddaughters, one grandson and two great-grandsons as well as his nieces and nephews.

John Warnants (82)

John was at Churcher’s between 1975 and 1982, initially as a boarder, then as a day boy in the Sixth Form. John often recounted stories of his time at the College, including laughs with Don Berry and Paul Walker to name but two, and of long warm summer days in the playing fields. He started playing squash at Churcher’s and remained an avid player through life.

He went on to do an IT degree at Aston University and had a highly successful career in that industry, retiring as one of the senior leaders in IBM UK in 2023.

He was the loving father of Mark and Emma and devoted husband to Nicola who he met at university. John and his family moved to Petersfield before he retired, and he loved to walk their dog around Petersfield Heath and the Lake. He will be sorely missed by his family and his many friends.

A personal tribute from Mike Greatwich (82).

Paul Watson (72)

Paul was born in Harrogate on 10 September 1953. He joined Churcher’s College as a boarder in 1965. Although officially a member of the Class of 72, Paul left school in 1970, along with several of his contemporaries. Paul returned to his parents’ home in Stockton and studied for his A levels at Billingham Technical College.

In 1973, he went to what was then Leeds Polytechnic and graduated with a BA Hons. in Law in 1976. Paul was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, London in 1978 and served as a Magistrates’ Court Clerk in Sheffield between 1978 and 1980.

As a qualified barrister, Paul served in the Army Legal Corps, joining as a Captain in 1980 and retiring as a Major in 1985. His postings included time spent in Aldershot, Germany and the USA. Between 1985 and 2002, Paul was a barrister in both Sheffield and London.

In 2002, Paul took Silk and, having been appointed a Recorder in 1998, became a Circuit Judge in 2012. Prior to that, as a QC, he was Head of Paradise Chambers in Sheffield.

Thereafter, Paul was a Crown Court Judge in Sheffield, Hull and Grimsby. As a Senior Circuit Judge, Paul served as Resident Judge for Teesside Combined Court from 2020 until his retirement in February 2024.

Paul enjoyed the company of close friends established both as a student and through his highly distinguished career. He was always delighted to get together with Old Churcherians, whether at official or informal reunions.

Paul was a devoted Middlesbrough supporter and a particularly accomplished yachtsman. In his sixties, Paul took up running, again with a nod to his former school cross country days. By competing in various long-distance events, considerable sums were raised through sponsorship for charity.

Despite the diagnosis of his illness in 2020, Paul continued to devote all his energies to work, family life, dog walking, sailing, travel and a strong interest in film and music.

Paul died on December 4 2024 at St. Luke’s Hospice, Sheffield. He leaves a wife Sally, son Richard, brother Mick and family. He will be much missed by friends and family alike.

On a personal note, he was best man at my wedding and my closest friend for just short of 60 years.

A personal tribute from Johnny Marks (72).

Mike Vokes

Mike was born and bred in Winchester, where his first military experience was in the Signals Section of the Peter Symonds’ School CCF. He was very proud of his military heritage on his mother’s side, with his grandfather a World War 1 ‘Old Contemptible’ in the Rifle Brigade, and his great grandfather, the bandmaster in the same battalion.

Narrowly avoiding the call to National Service, Mike was commissioned in the Territorial Army in September 1960, joining a Signals Regiment based in Southampton. His TA service lasted for 36 years and finished as a Major and was awarded the Territorial Decoration and four bars. Highlights included regular trips to Germany and a camp in North Yorkshire in the early 1970s where he was able to combine another of his passions by locating his Troop at Goathland, which is better known as Hogwarts station in the early Harry Potter movies (as well as featuring in the TV series Heartbeat for those old enough to remember). His troop laid signal cable for the fledgling North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and he retained an affinity with it for the rest of his life.

Mikes’s final service with the TA in 1996 was to be seconded to the Regular Army for six months service at NATO HQ in Bosnia as Operational Watch Officer based just outside Sarajevo. He felt that after 30 years it would be his best and last opportunity to experience something close to real action. It was a very eye-opening and humbling experience for him to be in an area recently affected by war, although he found the military work itself ‘exceedingly boring’ with long periods of inactivity.

On completion of his TA service, Mike reached out to his contacts in the cadet world and joined the Hampshire & IoW Army Cadet Force as County Signals Officer and reacquainted

himself with Combined Cadet Forces at Churcher’s. He worked one day a week there and also with units at Portsmouth Grammar School, Pangbourne College and the Oratory School near Reading. His dedication and experience was much valued by everyone with whom he came into contact, students and staff alike. His services to the Cadets was recognised by the awarding of a MBE in 2013, presented by the Royal Signals Colonel-in-Chief, Princess Anne, at Windsor Castle.

In civilian life, Mike was an officer in HM Customs & Excise, working in Southampton, Heathrow Airport and Central London amongst other places during a 40-year career up until retirement in 2001. He had many and varied interests and hobbies. He was a volunteer at Winchester Cathedral, and a governor at Peter Symonds and subsequently a Trustee. He swam competitively for the Winchester City Penguins until he was over 80. He took a keen interest in football and cricket, being a season ticket holder at Southampton FC and Member at Hampshire CCC for many years. He collected stamps throughout his life, and over a 40-year period built a substantial model railway in the loft of his Chandlers Ford home. Mike also grew his own fruit, vegetables and a myriad of multi-coloured dahlias on a well-maintained allotment. He was a keen ornithologist and enjoyed feeding the many different types of bird that appeared from the woods at the bottom of his garden.

Whilst this might be more than enough to occupy most people, Mike’s greatest passion was undoubtedly his family. He was married to Maureen (Mo) for 52 years, with a son, daughter and six grandchildren, of which he was infinitely proud and always keen to hear about their activities and achievements.

With a present-day contingent of over 300 cadets the CCF has never been stronger. This was recognised at the Biennial Inspection in November when Old Churcherian, Lt Col Alex Rivett (00), Army Air Corps, inspected and congratulated the cadets and went one further, confirming the Ministry of Defence’s continued support.

Then and now

Head Groundsman

Then… Bob Pett (1949–1984)

Churcher’s College has always taken pride in its beautiful grounds, and few have shaped them more than Bob Pett, who served as Head Groundsman from 1949 until his death in 1984. For nearly 40 years, Bob dedicated himself to the care and enhancement of the school’s outdoor spaces. In March 2025, his legacy was brought vividly back to life through a generous donation to the school archive by his daughter, Sheila Hickman, and her husband, Maurice.

The Hickmans’ unexpected visit from Petersfield turned into a touching moment of remembrance. They arrived with a collection of historic materials that had once belonged to Sheila’s father – among them, black-andwhite school photographs, scenic postcards of the grounds, and multiple editions of the Churcherian magazine, which they donated to the school archive.

A specially commissioned ‘Survey and Report of Trees’, dated 6 March 1969, details the condition of every tree in the College grounds, with recommendations for their maintenance and future planting. The proposed improvements came with an estimated cost of £60.4s.6d, which would equate to approximately £1,270 today. Whilst the extensive list of trees and shrubs recommended for new planting, to enhance the grounds and support biodiversity, would cost £204.18s.7d, or around £4,300 today. Alongside the survey was a hand-drawn map of the school as it appeared in 1969, detailing every building and tree referenced in the survey.

Bob Pett’s presence at Churcher’s extended far beyond paperwork and planting schemes. He was deeply woven into the fabric of school life. As the Headmaster remarked in an assembly shortly after Bob’s death: “Bob Pett’s life was really this school and its grounds. He guarded them jealously and very protectively... He led his staff by example and was fiercely loyal to the school... These grounds are a memorial to a tough, chirpy, proud man.”

Bob Pett was also the Station Officer for Petersfield Fire Station

To commemorate Bob’s care of the grounds, his widow Irene was invited back to ceremonially plant a Magnolia tree and plaque in Bob’s honour in 1985. Tree and plaque had become separated over the years and so began a quest to find and re-site the plaque to its original position under the Magnolia tree.

Fast forward 40 years to May 2025 Sheila and Maurice returned to see the newly repositioned plaque reunited with the original Magnolia tree, in full blossom. It was during their second visit to the school that we were able to introduce them to current Head Groundsman, Dean Knight, whose father took over from Bob as Head Groundsman in 1985 thus handing the baton on to a new generation of groundsmen.

Head Groundsman

Now… Dean Knight (2009 to present)

“For over 16 years, I’ve had the privilege of working on the grounds of Churcher’s, a role that has been as varied and evolving as the landscapes I help maintain. My connection to Churcher’s is deeply rooted; my father began his own journey with the school back in 1985 and served faithfully until around 2016. Following in his footsteps, I’ve had the opportunity to witness and contribute to the transformation of Churcher’s environment into a thriving, sustainable, and beautiful setting for learning.

Over the years, the role of a groundsman has shifted from traditional maintenance to something far more holistic and forwardthinking. While the core of the job still involves the careful upkeep of our sports pitches, gardens, and outdoor facilities, there’s been a growing emphasis on sustainability and long-term planning.

One of the most exciting developments has been our commitment to biodiversity. We now maintain over 250 square meters of wildflower areas on the school grounds. Spaces that not only add natural beauty but support vital pollinator species. We’ve also planted numerous new hedgerows and tree copses, enhancing habitats and reinforcing Churcher’s commitment to the environment.

Environmental responsibility is no longer optional, it’s a priority. This shift not only supports soil health and biodiversity but also aligns with our long-term vision for more sustainable groundskeeping. Additionally, we’ve transitioned much of our equipment to electric alternatives. This not only reduces emissions but also helps maintain a quieter, more peaceful atmosphere around the school, something especially appreciated during lesson time.

Churcher’s is home to a wide range of sports, and each season brings new demands. Maintaining these is a science and an art, with every detail from grass length to drainage

Dean Knight with Sheila and Maurice Hickman by the Magnolia tree planted in Bob’s honour

playing a critical role. Beyond the main school site, we also manage our Junior School and Nursery and an additional site near Penns Place. This area includes two full-size rugby pitches and cricket fields, adding to the logistical and operational scope of our work.

One of the proudest moments during my time at Churcher’s came in 2022, during the school’s 300-year anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, every student and staff member took part in planting a tree sapling at our Penns Place site. Close to 1,500 trees in total were planted. It was a symbolic and tangible gesture of legacy, growth, and environmental responsibility.

None of this would be possible without the team I work with. We’re a tight-knit group made up of three groundsmen and two gardeners, all equally passionate about maintaining the high standards expected at Churcher’s. Their dedication and pride in their work are evident in every pitch prepared, flower bed tended, and hedge pruned.

Working at Churcher’s isn’t just a job, it’s a legacy I’ve inherited, nurtured, and hope to pass forward. I take immense pride in knowing that our work directly supports the educational environment, sustainability goals, and community values of this remarkable school.

Stay in touch

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