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Old Churcherians ISSUE 12 | 2026

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From the Headmaster Given it is the point in our lives when we grow exponentially, not least in respect to our physical size and our emotional, social and academic intelligence, it is little surprise they call school-days ‘formative’. For most, that developmental stage lasts some fourteen years, but for me it has lasted just a tad longer. After my 14-year initial quota and then 42 years of teaching, 22 of them at this brilliant place called Churcher’s College, you might suggest I am fully cooked, if not burnt to a crisp, but I am still learning new things and on a daily basis. That is the joy and challenge of working in a school full of the most energetic, enthusiastic and entertaining souls…they don’t allow you to stagnate, even for a moment. Some wonder whether I was ticking off the days to the end of this academic year, and my retirement, with either a sense of glee or apprehension, simply winding down, but the answer is neither and both. There were, I admit, a growing number of lasts: the last time refereeing a rugby match; the last time wandering through and admiring the

stunning art being produced in the art exams; the last time feeling enormous pride by close association with those performing on stage, or in the concert hall, or in DW on the River Thames, or on the moors with Ten Tors; and the last time to be able to directly share in the celebrations when yet another set of stunning and fully deserved exam results are published.

I am soon to be inducted into that amazing group of friends, shared loyalties and mutual support called the Old Churcherians. Simon Williams

Despite all these lasts there is, however, a first on the horizon which I am very much looking forward to; a very special first. I am soon to be inducted into that amazing group of friends, shared loyalties and mutual support called the Old Churcherians.

Front and back cover image The Grand Summer Celebration of Music brought the Churcher’s community together in their thousands for a night to remember (see page 20).

Two recent events have highlighted quite how special a fellowship the OCs are. The recent, very buoyant in both number and spirit, gathering of those from the classes of ‘sixes decades’ at the OC Reunion Lunch, evidenced just how special the connections are. Nowadays, a year group at Churcher’s numbers some 150. Back in ’86, it would have been in double figures not triple, so that a third of the year group reconvened for the reunion says much about the ‘team spirit’ that has persisted since the metamorphosis from Churcherian to Old Churcherian.

From the Headmaster

OC Reunion Lunch

Nature to nurture Tiffany Francis-Baker (10)

A friendly rivalry Emanuel School

Futures Convention

Next Steps

Grand Summer Celebration

And spirit of another type was evident at the Churcher’s Golf Day which saw the husband of an OC being awarded the Augusta-style ‘Greenish Jacket’. With special edition ‘Credita Caelo’ and ‘Greenish Jacket’ brews from a Petersfield microbrewery, AlgeBrew, the day was a glorious success, albeit, for some, only when they reached the 19th hole. I will leave you to read further in this magazine about those celebrations, but also the more sombre story of a Churcher’s and golf connection involving William Morris Hunter, a 15-yearold who, in March 1925, was the first recorded boarder to tragically die at Churcher’s.

Petersfield Community Fair

OC sport

Churcher’s Golf Day

Futures spotlight Lucy Dixon (04)

Futures spotlight Ben Hines (93)

Ten Tors Will Duke (20)

From the staff room Carly Smith (06) and Connie Batt (21)

Transporting the past to the present Model Club

OC news

His time at Churcher’s Simon Williams (2004 to 2026)

From the archive Tom Bennett (12)

Ancestor hunt William Morris Hunter (1925)

In memoriam

Then and now Ramshill

Though my school days might be coming to a close… some forty-plus years later than everyone else’s, I have such, such fond memories and not least of the last twenty-two at “www.churcherscollege.com”. There is so much that will sustain me well into retirement along with the OC connections. Alison, Dominic (15), Pippa (16), Ben (20) and myself, have so much to be grateful for and so many OCs to be grateful to. Thank you for making my / our school days so special!

Simon Williams Headmaster

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Unique to Churcher’s College, OSCA (Outdoor Survival Challenge and Adventure) is our fun and exciting pioneering club open to Second Years and serves as a practical introduction to our Adventurous Activities programme. Pupils are taught vital survival and camp craft skills, with thorough instruction on the use of tools and the exciting opportunity to learn how to deal with real-life survival situations in a safe and controlled environment. They meet weekly for training sessions building up to the Rother Valley expedition – an orienteering and camping experience, which gives them the chance to use their new skills.

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OC Reunion Lunch Over 110 alumni came back to Petersfield to attend the annual OC Reunion Lunch in May...

It may be thirty years since our school days ended, but it felt as though no time had passed at all. It was fantastic to return to our old school, to see how it has developed and catch up with old friends and classmates. Seeing so many familiar faces, just a little older and wiser, made for a truly special day…full of laughter, memories and nostalgia. Class of 1996

Many thanks for a great day, weather, food, and welcome all excellent. My 1966 ‘Use of English’ Certificate has been framed and mounted with great pride! Mick McErlain (66)

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It was great to see so many friendly faces and the largest turnout yet of a year group apparently, so shoutout to Harry Rawlings for getting everyone from the class of 2016 to show up. Joe Blackmore (16)

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Nature to nurture Launched in May 2025, the OC Library is now host to over 50 books by Old Churcherian authors and illustrators. Tiffany Francis-Baker (10), one of our published OC authors, tells us about her passion for nature writing... Once I discovered that nature writing was a ‘thing’, it all clicked into place. Having blogged consistently since my teens, one day I wrote a blog post for a youth nature website all about foraging wild food, and the following week I received an email from my future publishers Bloomsbury, asking if I would like to expand the idea into a book (I still have the screenshot of that email!). Since then, I have had 11 non-fiction books published and translated, including The Bridleway: How Horses Shaped the British Landscape, which won the British Horse Society’s equine writing award in 2023. My latest book Ebb and Flow: A Guide to Seasonal Living, is my first fully-illustrated book. Art is also something I have always loved, although I didn’t paint or draw much between finishing Sixth Form and finishing university. When I did start exploring art again, it fitted so organically with my writing that it often now feels incomplete to do one without the other.

“During my time at Churcher’s, there were two teachers - Dr Cave and Mrs. Herrington who fueled my passion for English Literature, inspiring me to study the subject for both my BA at UWE Bristol and then my MA at UCL. Whilst studying for my undergraduate degree, I was Editor of our English Society magazine and Assistant Editor of our student newspaper. Although I had always wanted to be a professional writer, it wasn’t until my Masters that I finally worked out what I wanted to write about. One of the modules was themed around literature and the Anthropocene, and it was through this module that I discovered nature writing, a genre that would allow me to combine the two great loves of my life - writing and the natural world.

Over the last decade, my work has given me a huge range of opportunities, from being writer-in-residence for Forestry England, to sharing a stage with John Lewis-Stempell at a literary festival in the Hague. I’ve written for The Guardian and BBC Radio 4, reviewed books for the Times Literary Supplement, delivered a Google Talk, contributed to anthologies and hosted writing workshops. A personal highlight was being commissioned by Gilbert White’s House to write a poem for their Eco Light Festival in 2024. I chose to write a villanelle about swifts, a poetry form with a tight rhythm and rhyme structure to celebrate the cyclical nature of the swifts’ migration. Having moved back to Petersfield after finishing university, I feel deeply rooted in the South Downs landscape, and take every chance to celebrate this beautiful part of the world through my work.

I now have two young children who also love creativity and wildlife, and the nature of motherhood is taking me in a slightly different direction. Putting non-fiction aside for a while, I am now in the process of writing my first novel and a collection of kids’ picture books, both of which are so new to me that I feel like a complete beginner again! And I think that is one of the most valuable things I gained from my time at Churcher’s: the opportunities and quality of learning were fantastic, but it was the idea instilled in us all that we really could do anything we wanted, if we had enough determination. Becoming a published writer has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and it is because of the encouragement I received at Churcher’s that it never felt like a question of ‘if’ I could do it, but ‘when’. “ Swifts A cloud of sparks erupts, embarks alone, And screams against the sable night, To find a paradise all of their own, On desert peaks by salted tempests blown, Following the southern stars, offshore light, The sparks erupt and vanish alone. But what remains behind when they have flown? Flames fade to embers, glowing copper bright, Revealing a paradise of their own. Gentle treasures bloom on bare winter’s bone, Spindle pink, apple gold, mistletoe white, Jewels in the clouded earth, sparkling alone. How tender the new leaves of old seeds sown, Bursting from the earth in verdant delight To grow a paradise all of their own. The spring sun returns to a world regrown, Pursued by dizzy screams in feathered flight, A cloud of sparks erupts, alighting alone, To find paradise had been waiting at home.

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A friendly rivalry

The connection between Churcher’s College and Emanuel School dates to the outbreak of World War II, when, in 1939, Emanuel was evacuated from Wandsworth to Petersfield. During those war years, many hard-fought rugby matches were played between the two schools on Churcher’s pitches fostering a friendly on-pitch rivalry forging links that would last for generations. Sport was a vital part of daily life during the war years and the conduit through which Emanuel and Churcher’s friendship grew. For almost six years, the schools adopted a competitive but friendly rivalry across a range of activities including rugby, cricket, athletics, cross country, joint sports days, fives, tennis, shooting, fencing, table tennis and even ice hockey. ‘Churcher’s vs Emanuel’ became the most regular encounter with matches even taking part in local fields when space was limited. The relationship extended beyond sport into other areas of school life including film clubs, drama, debating and Christian Union meetings – all of which helped support pupils through a difficult chapter in history. It was, therefore, especially poignant that Churcher’s received an invitation from Emanuel School to take part in a commemorative rugby fixture on 14 November 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In a thrilling conclusion, Emanuel secured a 17-15 victory, scoring in the final moments of the match.

To commemorate the shared past, the winners were playing for the Gurling McMichael Memorial Cup, named after rugby Captains from both schools who played in the original wartime matches. John S McMichael (41) was both Captain of College and Captain of Rugby at Churcher’s. An outstanding allround sportsman, he was sent to Australia by his parents after leaving Churcher’s and then joined the Indian Army, reaching the rank of Captain. After the war he returned to the UK for a short period before working within the government in Zambia and was awarded an MBE in 1975. Men of the match was celebrated with the introduction of the Robert Fielder and the Bernard Lister Awards, named after two soldiers, one from each school, who lost their lives in the Second World War. Bernard N. P. Lister (39), also Captain of College and Captain of Rugby, was commissioned into the Hampshire Regiment in 1940, and in November 1942, sailed to Algiers as part of the Operation Torch invasion force. Lister was killed gallantly attacking positions on high ground. The Emanuel vs Churcher’s Commemorative Rugby Match is set to become a regular annual fixture in both school calendars with Churcher’s hosting the next match in November 2026. This will provide Emanuel with the opportunity of playing on Churcher’s soil for the first time since the end of the war.

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Every October, the Royal Naval Section of our CCF holds its annual Trafalgar Dinner, recognising the service of our Sixth Form Naval Cadet Officers whilst celebrating with all its traditions. Following grace, approximately 100 guests – including CCF staff, local dignitaries, parent volunteers, Cadet Training Team representatives, former staff and OCs – enjoy a roast beef meal before speeches, toasts, the parading of two chocolate galleons (filled with Maltesers!) and the singing of sea shanties.

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Futures Convention Thank you to all the Old Churcherians who supported the Futures Convention in March, which gave pupils the opportunity to find out more about career path options from over 60 exhibitors...

I’m really impressed with the students’ curiosity and thoughtfulness and how they are considering their futures. Ben Hines (93), Moving Performances

Come and see - free cake and tea! For employers, this is a good opportunity to access the next generation. The people we recruit now are so different to when I was looking. Kat Mann (06), J.P. Morgan

I would encourage other OCs to take part. I love to give back. Lucy Dixon (04), House of Lemon

The Futures evening is great! I love seeing the variety of businesses represented here and meeting other people. Poppy Foster (21), Strutt & Parker

My favourite part of the Futures evening has been meeting aspiring students and offering advice. Rosie Botham (19), Stripe Communications

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Next Steps On a very hot June day, we were delighted to welcome back more than 70 recent leavers for our Next Steps event. With OCs aged 19 to 25 returning to share their experiences of their post-Churcher's journey, the evening was filled with conversation, advice and also catching up. OCs spoke openly with Lower Sixth pupils about university life, apprenticeships, gap years, years in industry and first jobs, reassuring current students that there is no single “correct” path after school.

The formal part of the evening was followed by pizza and drinks for OCs under a marquee on Headmaster's Lawn, offering a chance to catch up with one another and staff – a relaxed and fun way to conclude the evening! The event is a new initiative within the Futures programme to equip pupils with the confidence, insight and resilience they need as they take their next steps beyond Churcher’s. The willingness of so many OCs to give up their time so generously speaks volumes about their connection to the school and their desire to support the next generation.

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Grand Summer Celebration The Grand Summer Celebration of Music took place on Saturday 4 July in the grounds of Churcher’s College, with the biggest trailer stage in Europe enabling 500 performers the chance to entertain an audience of well over 2,000 people. The Choir of 350 included members from the breadth of our community including pupils from both the Junior and Senior Schools, staff, OCs and parents. They performed a range of pieces from the energetic selection of traditional African songs from Alexander L’Estrange’s Zimbe! to the epic ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana. Not to be outdone by the singers, the instrumentalists excelled themselves. Whilst the Jazz Band performed entertaining versions of ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ by Guns N’ Roses and the ‘Blues Brothers Revue’, the College Orchestra played everything from the famous ‘March’ from Carmen to the John Williams classic ‘Adventures on Earth’ from ‘E.T.’. The evening rounded off in epic style with the grand finale, the ‘1812 Overture’ by Tchaikovsky, complete with cannon and fireworks. A truly memorable evening for performers and audience, set against the beautiful backdrop of the South Downs.

The whole evening was beyond expectation, Choirs and musicians gave diverse and wonderful performances of music and song that were entertaining and a joy to listen to. A spectacular evening and so much credit goes to performers, musical directors and organisers alike that just lifted our spirits. Roger Dickey (70)

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Petersfield Community Fair The very next day after the Grand Summer Celebration of Music, Churcher's played host to the Petersfield Community Fair, opening its gates to local residents, 60 local community groups and over 300 performers. The event perfectly showcased the strong community spirit that exists in Petersfield and the surrounding area. Charities raised awareness for their causes, local artisan businesses sold their wares under pop-up gazebos, whilst local schools and performing arts groups took to the stage to keep everyone entertained. Even Peppa Pig and a Ninja Turtle turned up to help create a great family, fun day out.

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In January, the Geography Department hosted an exciting and immersive ‘H.E.R.O.’ day (Hazard Emergency Response Organisation), simulating the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the fast-paced decision-making required in the aftermath of a major natural disaster. Students tackled disaster response, mapping the zone, and directing relief efforts like the UN. This hands-on experience bridged theory and reality, preparing them for advanced geographical discussions and an insight into the challenges faced by international organisations.

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OC sport We are hugely grateful to our Old Churcherians who came back to play in this year’s OC sport matches, or came to cheer on your peers. You bring a great energy and a lot of fun, and we love to have the opportunity to catch up with you. Thank you! Rugby

Community tournament

Class of 2024

Hockey

OC Women Vs 1XI Girls

4-4

Hockey

OC Men Vs 1XI Boys

2-3

Netball

OC Women Vs 1VII Girls

19-23

Water Polo

OC Men Vs Senior Boys

9-7

Tennis

OCs Vs Seniors

12-6

Cricket

OC Women Vs 1XI Girls

OCs won by 4 wickets

Cricket

OCs Vs 1XI

OCs won by 2 wickets

OC Rugby We welcomed six teams to the OC Touch Rugby Tournament in September 2025. It was fantastic to have representation from a mix of our community – including Old Churcherians, current staff and local charity Maddy's Mark. Playing in a round robin format, the matches were fast-paced and fun with great team work and plenty of individual skill on show. With the sun making an appearance and the temperature warming up, energy levels inevitably started to dwindle in the latter stages, but it was great to see everyone's competitive spirit remain until the final whistle. A well-deserved BBQ and beers were thoroughly enjoyed by all at the conclusion of the event. Congratulations to the returning victors, the Class of 2024, and a huge thank you to the team captains for supporting the event and organising teams - Joss Hall (21), Rory Hodges (24), Archie Rushin (25).

OC Hockey In March, the OC Women’s Hockey match debuted the new Old Churcherians’ sports kit! It was clear from the first whistle that the OC team were in a competitive mood, looking to claim their first win against the school side since 2019. Despite a strong defensive line up, the current pupils went 0-2 up early on in the first half. Not to be deterred, the OCs battled strongly and found their rhythm to draw level and then go ahead. The score was levelled shortly after and with another goal apiece, the game finished with a hard-earned draw: 4-4. Next up was the OC Men’s Hockey match, which was equally as competitive with neither side able to pull ahead by more than a single goal. The match was great to watch and a fantastic conclusion to the school teams’ competitive season, with many playing their last match in school colours. With only a few minutes to go, the school team managed to score the winning goal to take the spoils: 2-3.

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OC sport OC Netball The March events concluded with a lively netball match, with some of the female OCs bringing their hockey skills onto the netball court. Up against a very strong school side, the OCs were under pressure from the start, with current pupils displaying quick passes and relentless pace. Not prepared to go down without a fight, and cheered on by the enthusiastic crowd, the OC team kept the score line close, to finish 19-23.

OC Tennis Across a series of closely fought doubles matches, it was fantastic to see OCs from across the generations taking part, managing to come out on top 12-6. It was noted that the Pimm’s 'hydration' station was particularly enjoyed!

I can’t believe it has been eight years since I left Churcher’s! The moment I stepped on the pitch it felt like only yesterday. It was so lovely to see so many familiar faces – it felt like returning to family. Hannah Matson (18)

OC Water Polo Keen to follow up on last year’s victory, the OC Water Polo team seemed fired up from the start. It was a high-level, competitive encounter with the OC side ultimately edging ahead to take the win: 9-7.

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OC sport

OC Women’s Cricket We were delighted to host the first ever OC Women's Cricket fixture against the Churcher's Girls 1st XI with the Old Churcherians managing to secure victory by four wickets, chasing down the target in 14.2 overs. The match was played in excellent spirits and highlighted the continued progress of girls' cricket at Churcher's. We are looking forward to seeing it grow in strength over the coming years.

OC Cricket The Open Cricket match provided an entertaining finale to the day's sporting action and ensured a summer clean sweep for the OCs. Batting first, the pupils posted an impressive 165 for 4, but the Old Churcherians successfully chased down the target with only a few balls to spare. Seb Royds (22) had the final say, finishing the match in style by striking a six to secure a two-wicket victory for the Old Churcherians.

Thank you so much for helping to organise such a fantastic day. The match was great and very nice to get the win, but the most important thing is we got together a really great group of people who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the day. We already can’t wait for next year! Seb Head (15)

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Churcher’s Golf Day Somehow, the 2026 Churcher’s Golf Day, in partnership with Analytic Building Contractors, managed to go up another gear this year, with a maximum capacity of 100 golfers raising over £12,000 for the Richard Churcher Foundation. The sold-out event welcomed 25 four ball teams from the Churcher's community, including Old Churcherians, parents, staff, local businesses and friends. Braving the elements, our intrepid golfers were well catered for by the 'Bolly Trolleys' zipping around the course, the specially commissioned 'Credita Caelo' lager and 'Greenish Jacket' pale ale, and an array of snacks and drinks at the (two!) Halfway Houses. Before prize-giving and the award of the Greenish Jacket to the winning Captain of The Page Boys, the Headmaster introduced

VIP guest, Sheila Walker, the great-greatgranddaughter of 'Old Tom' Morris, one of the founding fathers of golf. Sheila spoke of her family ties, not only to Old Tom but also to her uncle, a Churcher's College boarder called William Morris Hunter. We were honoured to host Sheila, who had travelled from her family home overlooking the 18th green at St Andrew's, and created a new award for the event – The Morris Cup – in memory of her uncle and the family ties to golf. Thank you to all our sponsors – Analytic Building Contractors, Independents by Sodexo, Robison & Co., Alitex, Bishops Printers, KILROY travel and AlgeBrew – to our hosts, Petersfield Golf Club, our team of volunteers, and to all OCs and members of the Churcher’s community who participated to make the event such a roaring success.

What a great day and a fabulous turnout for the brilliantly organised and managed Churcher’s Golf Day. Although we had a few spells of rain this didn’t dampen the enjoyment. The course was in fabulous condition, with the greens nicely tricky, and the Bolly Trolley and delicious on-course goodies made for a very special day. Although only my second year participating, it certainly won’t be my last. This is one of the hot tickets in charity golf days and I would certainly encourage any OC like me to come along…but you’ll have to be quick, as this comp fills up the same day it’s announced. Huge thanks to all involved. Roger Meadows (67)

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Futures spotlight Lucy Dixon (04) – Founder, House of Lemon What do you do for work?

What is your proudest achievement?

I’m the Founder and Director of House of Lemon, a music and events agency that curates live music and experiences for private and corporate clients across the UK and Europe. Alongside this, I lecture within the School of Management, Marketing and Experience Industries at the University of Westminster and speak and write about the Experience Economy, exploring how meaningful experiences shape connection, culture and business.

Building House of Lemon from the ground up and seeing it grow into a business trusted by incredible clients across the UK and Europe is something I’m very proud of. But beyond any individual event or project, I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built and the opportunity to be part of so many meaningful moments in people’s lives.

What does a typical day look like?

No two days are ever the same, which is one of the things I love most. A typical day might involve speaking with clients, developing creative ideas, supporting musicians, travelling to venues or researching and writing about experiences and culture. Some days are spent behind a laptop, others are spent backstage or on-site making sure everything runs smoothly. What or who inspired you to choose your career?

Music and bringing people together have always been at the centre of my life. Even at school, I somehow turned a Young Enterprise project into a party-planning business. I was fascinated by live music and spent my early career programming venues and festival stages in London, working with emerging artists including Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini before they became household names. Over time, I realised I was just as passionate about creating memorable experiences as I was about the music itself.

How did your experience at school help you?

Churcher’s gave me the confidence to be curious, the bravery to pursue opportunities and the belief that it was okay to carve out my own path. It taught me the importance of hard work, resilience and getting involved. Many of the skills I use today, including communicating with people, organising projects and thinking creatively, started to develop during my time at school. More than anything, it gave me the confidence to put myself forward, take risks and say yes to opportunities, even when I didn't have everything figured out. What one piece of advice would you give to pupils or OCs as they embark on their career?

Don’t worry too much about having your whole life mapped out. Careers rarely follow a straight line. Be curious, say yes to opportunities, work hard and build genuine relationships with people. Reputation, kindness and consistency matter far more than trying to have the perfect plan. You never know which conversation or experience might shape the next chapter of your life. www.houseoflemon.co.uk

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In March, Nelson house undertook a 12-hour trolley marathon in support of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Taking place from 8.00am to 8.00pm on the netball courts by the bag racks, the event saw teams take turns pushing a trolley non-stop around a marked course in a fun endurance challenge. It was a great effort by the entire Nelson community; with pupils, parents and staff all working together to raise £3,500 for the charity.

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Futures spotlight Ben Hines (93) – Director, Moving Performance

What do you do for work?

I’m the founder of Moving Performance, a company that uses music as a metaphor and experiential learning approach to help business leaders and teams develop leadership and high performing team cultures. In practice, this means working with business leaders and executives, at conferences and leadership programmes, where they learn about listening, trust and performing under pressure in a way no PowerPoint ever could, by working with and observing world-class musicians. This might include sitting inside a world-class orchestra, composing music or even writing songs with rock bands. We’ve worked with organisations

across Europe, the US, Asia, the Middle East and South America, often in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and other top musicians and ensembles. What does a typical day look like?

It varies hugely. One day I might be coaching a senior executive one-to-one; the next, facilitating a leadership programme with an orchestra, or keynoting at a corporate conference somewhere in the world. There’s also the less glamorous but essential side of actually running the business, alongside designing new ideas and experiences for clients. A lot of the work is about listening

carefully to organisations and understanding the human dynamics underneath the surface, including communication, trust, alignment, pressure and relationships. There’s also a lot of creativity involved, and even now, dreaming up new ideas is still the part that excites me most. What or who inspired you to choose your career?

Music was always a huge part of my life growing up, but I was also fascinated by business, leadership and how teams work together. Looking back, I think I was always drawn to creating things. My first ‘business venture’, aged 18, was recording and selling a cassette tape of my horn playing to raise money for my Gap year teaching in Africa. This included negotiating discounted recording rates, designing the cover artwork and selling tapes at concerts. After my music degree, and sitting in orchestral concerts and rehearsals, I remember thinking: why do I have the best team experiences of my life here, and not at work? What was actually going on in an orchestra that created such extraordinary levels of performance, in a way I never saw in the office? I started wondering what would happen if I brought my colleagues into an orchestra with me so we could actually analyse how an orchestra does it and the difference leadership makes, and take those ideas back into the workplace. That question became the seed of everything I do now. What is your proudest achievement?

Probably that some of the most prestigious and demanding corporations in the world have trusted me and my ideas enough to roll them out to literally tens of thousands of their leaders globally. And that the musicians and world-class orchestras we work with trust me, and want to be part of our programmes. It is also quite a buzz when I rock up at the venue like the Royal Albert Hall, see the Royal Philharmonic branded truck parked outside, and think a client is actually paying me to make this happen!

How did your experience at school help you?

Churcher’s was key to all of this, especially in my formation as a musician. When I joined at 11, the late David Groves suggested I learn the French horn. I didn’t even know what a French horn was at the time! His encouragement throughout my time at school was pivotal in building my confidence. Within a few years I was playing with the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, and enjoyed travelling on month long orchestral concert tours to the USA and New Zealand. During my time at school, my mum died, which was obviously a very difficult period in my life. School gave me a sense of stability and an environment in which I could still build confidence and the early seeds of leadership, even while dealing with something so hard. The late David Pook, who taught me Theology A-Level, was a confidant and helped me walk that path of grief. Looking back, all of it, the music, the performing, and the many teachers who believed in me and helped me through the harder moments too, really shaped who I became, and Churcher’s was a consistent space in all of it. What one piece of advice would you give to pupils or OCs as they embark on their career?

Don’t worry too much if your path isn’t obvious straight away, yet keep moving forward. Many of the most interesting careers aren’t linear. Focus on your strengths, and dream about what you would love to do before worrying too much about how to do it. Learn to work well with people: technical ability matters, but communication, listening, trust and relationships matter more and more as your career goes on. And stay curious; it opens far more doors than trying to have everything figured out too early. www.movingperformance.com

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Ten Tors Starting in 1960, Ten Tors is an annual weekend challenge in early May, on Dartmoor in southwest England. Organised by the British Army, it brings together 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six young people, hiking to checkpoints on ten specified tors. The teams navigate routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (depending on age), visiting the tor check points in under two days. Participants start at 07.00 on the Saturday and aim to finish before 17.00 on the Sunday, no matter how long the course is. Teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely. Training

and team selection is competitive, with each student being scored against a series of values; commitment; endeavour; teamwork; preparation; and attitude. Churcher's College has been participating in the event for nearly 30 years and has managed to maintain it ever since: it is principally aimed at youth organisations in the South West counties. Churcher's no longer has the opportunity to enter multiple teams as it once did, but will continue to have a place for one 35-mile team going forward.

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The army goes all out for the main event, Okehampton army camp becomes a festival with an added army twist of Merlin helicopters flying overhead. On Friday the route is finalised, and all the teams relax around the campsite and explore the event village where the army shows off all their kit. In the evening, we walked up to the start line to see where we would be going in the morning. At 5am, ‘Chariots of Fire’ started playing over the camp’s speakers to get everyone up. Nix had cooked up a breakfast of bacon baps with cereal on the side for us to quickly stuff in before heading up to the start line at 6am. My team for the 45-mile event were Josh, Oli K, Will H, Oli M, and Kyne.

Will Duke (20) recounts his experience of the 2019 challenge… “I decided to sign up to Ten Tors because I’d always loved hiking, and it felt like the natural next challenge. I had already taken part in OSCA and DofE, so the event immediately appealed to me. I was a reserve for the 35mile challenge in 2017 and two years later I returned, determined to take on the 45 mile route, partly to prove to myself that I could have completed the 35 after all. The trainings for the event take place on the South Downs and the New Forest, with the final two training sessions on Dartmoor itself, one in February/March and one closer to the event in April. My February/March Dartmoor training for the 35 mile year happened to fall during a named storm, and I woke up after the first night to a river running through our tent while the wind tried to tear it down, a very real introduction to how harsh Dartmoor can be. During my 45-mile February/March training the fog sat so low and thick that visibility dropped to four or five metres. The trainings in April were usually much better weather and were the times when you’d realise that Dartmoor isn’t so bad.

Our team was labelled ON(B) by the event organisers, going via High Willhays, Cosdon, Hound Tor, Kes Tor, Fernworthy, Postbridge, Higher Wight Tor, Peat Cot, Middle Staple Tor, White Barrow, Standon Farm, Chat Tor, Ockment Hill, and finally Oke Tor. While that is more than 10 checkpoints, some are classed as ‘vias’ to make sure the route is 45 miles as the crow flies. At the start line, and I say this in the nicest way possible, you’re grouped into a corral with the other 2000 odd teenagers taking part and made to sit and listen to a VIP give a talk that is meant to be encouraging… the reality is that the speaker system never works and you can't hear a thing they’re saying… and all of a sudden, the field gun goes off and everyone starts walking. A few groups invariably start running with the aim of getting ahead of the masses, but every year there’s a few people who have to drop out 100m into the challenge due to injuries or just losing their group because they’ve run off.

After the start line crush, lines of teams start forming as everyone starts heading off to their first checkpoint. Each route has around 10 teams doing that route but with up to 400 teams taking part it’s not worth the risk to follow the team in front of you and assume they’re headed to the same tor as you. At the start they may be, but after the first tor, they’re likely headed in a different direction. Over the first day we slowly ticked off our tors, making it to just before our 8th checkpoint (Standon Farm) before setting up camp and having dinner. In my head that was around 8pm but looking back our time card had us aiming to be there at 9:30pm, so that may be wrong. The second day is a bit of a blur for me, whether that was because of cycling paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours, or because it was seven years ago is up for debate, but either way we made it to Oke Tor and started the final stretch back to Anthony’s Stile.

At the finish line, all the staff and families of the teams line up along the track to cheer the teams back in. In our case we also had Adam who was meant to have been on the team, but due to medical issues had to drop out. Once we were spotted by the staff, they ran the school flag and banner up to us so we could walk across the finish line with them. We were shepherded into an area to be given our medals where our parents could take photos, and the staff could pretend that they had dust in their eyes. Once that was all over, you were free to collect your pasty and take your boots off, ready for the long drive back home in a stinking minibus full of teenagers who hadn’t showered for a few days!

Ten Tors had a fairly substantial effect on me. It showed me what I was capable of if I set my mind to it and worked hard to achieve it. After Ten Tors I went on to do Gold DofE and at university and join the committee of the University of Exeter Expedition Society (ExSoc), for which participation in Ten Tors was part of my pitch to be on the Committee, and work my way up to becoming President of the Society in my final year. Post Covid, seeing as Exeter isn’t far from Dartmoor, I would go watch the start of Ten Tors, and in my final year I popped in to say “hi!” to the Churcher’s staff, where Simon Kelson swiftly introduced me to the parents as a new member of the team. The following year, when I was back in Hampshire having finished University, I started helping out training the students for Ten Tors and found a whole new side to the event to enjoy. Now I’m one of the volunteers who pretends to have gravel in their eyes when the students finish.”

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From the staff room Carly Smith (06) and Connie Batt (21)

We caught up with Carly Smith (06) and Connie Batt (21) to talk about life in the Development Office at Churcher’s... Carly & Connie, you are both OCs – when did you leave Churcher’s College? (Carly) I left in 2006 at the end of A levels. Mr Simon Williams started in 2004 so he was the new Headmaster for my Sixth form and as Vice Captains we used to go to his house – Heath Harrison House - for tea regularly. I also used to babysit his kids when they were quite little! (Connie) I left in 2021 at the end of my A levels, although it was all during Covid! I stayed connected to the school as my sister was still there for two years after I left, so I came back for events and concerts. I also kept in touch with some of my teachers, especially the Psychology department to get their advice with my degree work. Tell me about your career path since leaving Churcher’s… (Carly) I left Churcher’s and went to Loughborough to study Maths. I met my, now, husband there (silver lining) but Maths got incredibly hard and abstract for me at uni! I left and spent a few years floating around London as an office receptionist and a salesperson for Gordon Ramsay restaurants before I finally decided to retrain as an Anaesthetic Nurse. I did a two-year diploma and then qualified to work alongside an Anaesthetist. It was the best job; I absolutely loved it and in my 20s I had a ball living in London doing shift work in operating theatres. Once I had my kids we moved to Petersfield and I wanted to do something that would fit around my kiddies and their school life; Churcher’s couldn’t be a better fit because its term time and local. (Connie) After leaving Churcher’s, I deferred my place at uni and took a gap year. I worked in hospitality as a supervisor at a

cafe/restaurant/pub, managing a team of around 30 people. Alongside this, I did some private tutoring for GCSE Maths and A level Psychology, which was a great experience of early teaching. That funded my solo travelling, where I went to Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico. I then went to study Psychology at the University of Exeter, which I really enjoyed. While I was writing my dissertation, my former Psychology teacher at Churcher's got in touch to let me know about a teaching opportunity at the school. It felt like a very full-circle moment, and something I hadn't necessarily planned but was really excited by. I applied, went through the interview process and was fortunate enough to be offered the role I am in now. How does it feel to be back at school? (Carly) I never really left… My mum and dad stayed involved with the school long after I left so I always felt connected and in the loop. I used to pop back if there was a good production, or to have a nosey at Open Day. To start with it was weird being back in the dining hall on the same benches but with a very different menu. The staff room feels strange because it used to be the English department and the facilities have improved beyond recognition in some areas! (Connie) Coming back to Churcher’s and being involved in so many aspects of the school has been a really rewarding step, and it’s been lovely to return to a place that had such a positive impact on me as a student. It feels amazing to be giving back to the community that helped me so much during my time here. Being on the opposite side of the classroom has definitely given me a new perspective, and I've gained a lot of respect and appreciation for how much time and effort goes into teaching.

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Tell me more about your role in the Development Office… (Carly) I have been in the Development Office for three years and my main role is keeping our data system up to date. It’s a bit geeky but if your data is not clean you can’t use it properly for anything else. For example, without knowing who did hockey at school, and how to contact them, you can’t organise an OC hockey match. I help where I can in the lead up to an event and also get to be hands-on at the event – it’s so lovely to meet the people you’ve been tracking behind the scenes. I love being part of a team – I couldn’t work from home, I would be too lonely. It’s great to come into a friendly, welcoming office and mix with different people. (Connie) I've been working part-time in the Development Office since October and it’s such a welcoming and supportive team. Everyone is so friendly and our chattiness definitely helps when connecting with alumni at our events. My main role is managing and creating content for our social media channels, particularly for the Old Churcherians

community. I really enjoy showcasing alumni stories, celebrating achievements, highlighting our events and helping to keep OCs connected with the school. It allows me to be creative while also helping to strengthen the connection between past and present pupils. I also support with event promotion and coverage. I often attend the events myself, partly to help the Development team run the event smoothly, but also to enjoy it as an OC myself. I particularly enjoyed the OC hockey; it was really fun to play against my own students and also to catch up with so many OC friends. Do you enjoy connecting with other OCs? (Carly) I like hearing about all the OCs but especially the ones I remember from my time as a student. Some of the OCs we have are so impressive and I’ve had the odd moment of real delight when I’ve discovered someone I knew as a kid has had a fascinating career, or a new baby or a new adventure. I also love discovering old photos of us as youngsters in the archives. Although I have lots of memories of my time here, it is really fun to go around the school with others who went through the

same things I did but had different memories and anecdotes I’d forgotten. There is such a community through the years of OCs who all stay in touch and overlap. It’s been lovely building a wider picture of the years and all the amazing things that have been achieved through the school and its community. (Connie) I really enjoy connecting with other OCs, both in person at events and through social media. Events are always a highlight, as it’s lovely to meet people from different year groups and hear about the wide range of paths they’ve taken since leaving Churcher’s. There’s a real sense of shared identity, which makes conversations feel very natural and easy. Through social media, it’s a different but equally rewarding way of staying connected. It’s also really rewarding to see how engaged people are with posts, whether that’s through views, likes, comments, messages, or simply following along with updates. It shows that there’s still a strong connection to the school, and it’s nice to feel part of maintaining that link between past and present Churcherians.

(Connie) I think the most important aim is to build and maintain a strong sense of community that extends beyond a student's time at school. Staying connected with OCs is so valuable, not just for nostalgia, but for creating a network of people with a shared experience. A big part of that is engagement, making sure OCs feel involved, recognised and updated on what's happening at the school, while also celebrating everything they go on to achieve. Ultimately, it’s about keeping that connection alive in a meaningful way – making sure that even after leaving Churcher’s, people still feel like they are part of the community.

Do you have any tips for OCs on their career journeys?

What do you think is the most important aim of the Development Office? (Carly) It’s all about community, I’d like to think everyone feels welcome to come back or stay involved in the school that shaped their education. We have a fantastic community that we can take advantage of to benefit and support each other, OCs supporting current students, networking, exciting opportunities with sports, to education, to entertainment and enjoyment as well as a shared understanding of the privilege we’ve been given.

(Carly) I would say try not to have your heart set on one career idea (I was going to be an investment banker when left Churcher’s!) and definitely don’t worry if you have no idea, you never really have to work it out. Try and think more about what your natural skills are and be open to opportunities because every job you do, you learn more about who you are and what will make you happy and fulfilled. (Connie) Do what makes you happy, that's the most important thing. Aside from that, stay open-minded and say ‘yes’ to opportunities when they come up. Building connections and staying in touch with people is so important - you never know where a conversation or opportunity might lead. Don’t feel pressured to have everything figured out straight away. It's very easy to compare yourself to others and think they have it all figured out, but in reality, they don't! My own path back to Churcher's came quite unexpectedly, but it has been one of the most rewarding decisions I've made.

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In February, our First, Second and Third Year pupils got hands clapping and feet tapping with their dazzling Lower School production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Following the much-loved 1968 film, the story followed Caractacus Potts, an eccentric inventor and devoted father who rescues a battered old car and restores it into a beautiful vehicle with a mind of its

own - one that can float and fly - which his children name Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The production boasted an impressive cast of around 70 pupils, including a superb orchestra, back stage and tech crew, not forgetting the striking replica of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car itself, complete with classic details and spectacular wings, at the heart of the show.

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Transporting the past to the present The tenure of Geoffrey Buttle, Headmaster from 1988 until 2004, was an era which saw incredible transformation and growth; the school becoming fully co-educational; the opening of New College, the Science Block and the Sports Hall; the acquisition of Moreton House with the Junior School ultimately relocating to Liphook in 2004. Throughout this period of change, Geoffrey remained deeply committed to the well-being of students, a champion of extra-curricular activities. According to his wife, Jeanette, “Geoffrey established the Model Club to provide an activity for those pupils who were not naturally inclined to sport, music and drama. He hoped the Model Club would provide a creative activity which promoted practical skills and teamwork.” More than 20 years on, a new Model Club has been relaunched by current History teacher, Chris Akhurst, following the surprise level of interest at the school Open Day in June 2025 when the History department adopted a theme of ‘200 years since the birth of the railways’. Chris brought in his OO and N scale railway layouts for students to see and run. Several students at the event asked whether a club could be formed, and in September, the club was launched, adopting the name, the Geoffrey Buttle Model Club, in recognition of its original founder. Thanks to a donation from the Parents’ Association at Churcher’s College, the necessary equipment was purchased to re-establish the Model Club, with one of the Fourth Year students designing the club logo.

Mr Akhurst elaborates: “The new club meets once a week at lunchtime but also holds a longer session after school once a term to run locomotives or work on the scenery. The club does not have a permanent space but does have a cupboard. The aim is to build modular sections that can easily be stored and set up. We hope to build at least one section each academic year. This year, we have built a section which has a viaduct and a canal running side by side. The long-term aim is to design a Victorian era railway which has a moving canal section, a coal mine and a town section with a station. Longer term, we would like to display the railway at Open Days, model exhibitions, events within the local community possibly with an exhibition at Petersfield Museum. We have our first Victorian era locomotive and carriages, chosen for their blue livery in line with the school colours. We intend to name the locomotive Churcherian with a number on its tender 1722. In the future, we also intend to purchase a second locomotive and name it Geoffrey Buttle!” Students from the Geoffrey Buttle Model Club visited the Watercress Line Spring Gala in April. Blessed with beautiful sunshine, they saw six working steam locomotives and visited Alton model centre. This visit has given the team members inspiration for their own design and layout. They were impressed to discover that one of the locomotives they saw was 160 years old!

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OC news Archie Moffat (18)

Derek French (58)

Congratulations go to Archie, who won the British Equine Veterinary Association’s new ‘One to Watch’ award at the BEVA Congress, celebrating early-career equine veterinary professionals for their clinical skills and passion for equine welfare and for their leadership in the field. Archie works as a vet at Stable Close Equine Practice in Winchester and was presented with the award by HRH Princess Anne, Patron of The British Equine Veterinary Association.

Thanks to Derek, ‘Cash Access UK’ has been set up to oversee the one-stop banking revolution. A former executive of NatWest, he spent 26 years of tireless campaigning for community-style branches (multi-banks within one retail space). Following the closure of so many high street banks, 150 banking hubs are now up and running with 80 more in the pipeline, and hopefully more to come. If there is a banking hub near you, it is due to Derek’s vision, determination and government lobbying.

Ian Osborne (63) meets Hari Kang (18)…in Turkey! Ian contacted the Development Office to explain his delight at meeting another OC by chance whilst in Kalkan, in the Southern Turkish Province of Antalya in September 2025. “I was talking to fellow guests in a hotel in Kalkan, Turkey, about Hampshire and schools and I said I went to Churcher's College, at which point another guest said, “I went there too!” – Hari Kang, recently cast in the West End play ‘A Man for All Seasons’. “As an encounter it was all too short, but it was most enjoyable - it made my holiday.”

Joel Ireland (24)

Ben Hegan (25)

Joel has enjoyed gymnastics success this year, captaining his University of Cambridge team to one of the largest Varsity wins on record. He won all six apparatus titles, the all-around competition and was awarded two Half Blues for representing Cambridge. We were also delighted to hear that Joel has kept up with his baking, receiving support from his college to set-up a Baking Society!

Ben has recently been selected for the GB Hockey Elite Development Programme, which feeds into the Senior GB Hockey International Squad. In March, Ben also won the BUCS Men's Hockey Cup with Exeter, beating Loughborough 4-2, with Ben scoring the second goal.

If you have any news you would like to share through Churcher’s Community or OC magazine, please write to the Development Office.

Class of 2011 Quiz In February, a group of OCs from the Class of 2011 reunited back to Churcher’s from across the country and even overseas to compete in their annual Purple Tie Quiz. Jake Chambers and Bert Green organised the quiz, which saw four teams competing for the much sought after purple ties…and bragging rights.

After meeting in Petersfield's at 'Spoons', the teams set off across Petersfield to find points-winning prizes in a scavenger-type hunt, before heading up to Churcher's for the quiz in Ramshill. The winning team included Toby Mason, Matt Pocock, Morty Wale, and a very special guest appearance from George Wilkinson.

We are so grateful to Churcher's for hosting our reunion this year - it's always a brilliant day, but having Ramshill as our quiz venue felt like a real homecoming moment for the group, very special! Jake Chambers (11)

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Class of 65 - Celebrate their 100th Bulletin! In May, the Class of 65 celebrated their 100th news Bulletin, published (at least!) quarterly since 2007 to keep people from their year group in touch with each other. David Newns (65) told us how it all came about… “We had our first reunion in 2005, the first year the school actively hosted reunions. One of our number, the late Martin Hughes, who was living in California, had been in touch with the school to suggest that the school consider reunions. This culminated in 19 attending what was then an exclusive event. Those invited had been in the school records, people who had signed up for OC news. At that time around 30 of us from a year group of 78. That meant that 48 were unaccounted for. As you’d expect, a lot of the chat was along the lines of “I wonder what happened to…”. So, it was then a challenge to find them! In the end, we accounted for 75. Initially thanks to the website ‘Friends Reunited’, then using phone books – easier if a surname was accompanied by two initials (and maybe not so practical now with GDPR data protection). Then of course as social media evolved beyond Friends Reunited, we trawled for more through every system available – plus of course many of the original 30 on the school records had each kept in touch with one or two former colleagues. The key was how to keep people interested and in touch with each other. That gave birth to the Bulletin, covering a whole range of topics over the years; personal updates; old school photos; biographies; changes at the school; upcoming reunion events at school; get-togethers in Hampshire, UK and abroad. The Bulletin lives only by contributions from colleagues. It has, together with the reunions, recreated many lost friendships with people meeting up when travelling to Vancouver, Hong Kong, Sydney, Todmorden and all over the UK. It even turned out that two of us had attended the same Trade Show at the NEC for years without realizing that the other was in the next hall! Every meet-up is followed by photos and an article in the Bulletin. School friendships can last for life, but often life gets in the way and people drift apart as they follow careers, relationships, families etc. The reunions and the Bulletin have rekindled so may friendships and added to the lives of so many of us.”

OCs at the London Marathon Huge congratulations to all the OCs (including those we don’t know about!) who completed the 2026 London Marathon, raising money for a range of worthy causes...

Charlie Morris (21)

Adam Tutt (18) Jack Titley (18)

Jemima Billsberry-Grass (24)

Josiah Wilson (22)

Amelia Barratt (17)

Rory Hodges (24)

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His time at Churcher’s Simon Williams (2004 to 2026) When Simon Williams joined Churcher’s as Headmaster in 2004, few people imagined that it would be 22 years before we would wish him farewell. It is a testament both to Simon and to the extraordinary impact he has had on Churcher's College that there are so many defining features of his remarkable tenure that it is difficult to know where to begin. Was it the fact that he would never ask anyone to do something he would not do himself, whether supervising the lunch queue or running the Butser Hill Challenge? Was it the individual handwritten notes he somehow found time to write to pupils, staff and parents alike, whether to offer congratulations or condolences? Was it the way he led from the front during the Covid pandemic, balancing the need to protect pupils and staff while maintaining educational standards and safeguarding wellbeing? Perhaps it is all of those things. Perhaps the defining characteristic of Simon’s leadership has been balance — not balance in the sense of compromise or trade-offs, but an ability to apply the same energy, commitment and attention to every aspect of school life. Throughout his headship, he has consistently

demonstrated that growth and quality, ambition and kindness, strategic vision and personal care need not be competing priorities. When Simon arrived at Churcher’s in 2004, he inherited what was already a successful and respected institution. What he leaves behind more than two decades later, however, is not only something larger, stronger, broader and more ambitious, but somehow also more personal, more grounded and more deeply connected to its community. That balance — of growth and quality — is perhaps the defining feature of Simon’s long and distinguished leadership. During his tenure, pupil numbers have more than doubled. The Senior School has grown from around 620 pupils to more than 1,050, while the Junior School and Nursery have expanded from fewer than 180 children to nearly 300. Yet Simon’s achievement has never been growth for growth’s sake. What is striking is that, as the school has expanded, the experience of individual pupils has improved rather than diminished. Smaller teaching groups, greater individual attention and an ever-expanding range of opportunities beyond the classroom have become hallmarks of a Churcher’s education. Academic standards

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have risen to exceptional levels as a result. The school’s value-added performance now places Churcher’s comfortably within the top ten per cent nationally for the progress pupils make from their starting points.

Churcher’s. That continuity has allowed him to shape not merely a successful school, but a distinctive one: a school defined by care, diligence, ambition, teamwork and a genuine belief in developing the whole person.

Yet academic success has never come at the expense of breadth.

Simon led not through hierarchy but through collaboration. Colleagues valued his willingness to listen, his open-door approach and the patience and empathy he consistently showed to staff across every part of the organisation. Whether teacher, administrator, groundsman or member of the catering team, people felt that their contribution mattered. He understood that a successful school depends on far more than what happens in the classroom and took particular care to recognise those whose work often goes unseen. In doing so, he created an environment in which people felt both supported and challenged to do their best, and fostered a culture of mutual respect that became one of the defining characteristics of Churcher’s.

Under Simon’s leadership, the wider life of the school has flourished. Sporting fixtures have multiplied dramatically. Participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme has increased fivefold. Music, drama, adventurous activities and co-curricular opportunities of every kind have expanded in both scale and ambition.

This is not simply a larger school than the one Simon inherited. It is a richer and fuller one. Financially too, Simon has transformed the institution. Net fee income has increased more than fivefold during his time as Headmaster, while fees have remained within the lowest quartile among local competitors. The Richard Churcher Foundation, launched under his leadership, has grown into a substantial charitable fund supporting bursaries and widening access to a Churcher’s education. Perhaps most impressive of all has been the culture Simon has built. During his 22 years as Headmaster, he has appointed more than 95 per cent of the staff who now teach at

As a scientist by training, Simon also brought a methodical and rigorous approach to leadership. Governors became accustomed to reports that were not only comprehensive and insightful but also reflected his determination to understand both the strategic and operational detail of the school. Allied to a strong grasp of finance and long-term planning, this thoroughness provided much of the stability and discipline that underpinned the school’s success. Few headmasters combine educational vision with such a practical understanding of the complexities of running a large and thriving organisation. Simon's qualities were particularly evident during the Covid pandemic. At a time of uncertainty for schools everywhere, Simon became a source of calm and reassurance for pupils, parents and colleagues alike. He combined decisiveness with compassion, helping families facing genuine hardship while ensuring that the school remained financially secure. Throughout that period, and indeed throughout his headship, he demonstrated an ability to balance humanity with practical judgement — a characteristic that earned him enormous respect across the school community.

But Simon’s influence extends well beyond the school gates.

Alison’s contribution to the Churcher’s community has been immense.

Churcher’s has become woven into the life of Petersfield itself: through concerts in St Peter’s Church, the CCF’s participation in the town’s Remembrance Day commemorations, the Butser Hill Challenge and countless other partnerships, performances and community activities. Under Simon’s leadership, the school has not merely existed within the town; it has contributed meaningfully to it.

She has also been Simon’s trusted adviser and sounding board throughout his headship, helping to shape not only countless decisions but also the strong relationships between the school and the wider Petersfield community. Together they have hosted generations of pupils, staff and guests, creating a sense of welcome and belonging that has become part of the fabric of Churcher’s life.

And that too is part of his legacy.

Together, Simon and Alison have given extraordinary service to Churcher’s College. Thousands of young people have benefited from the education, opportunities and culture they helped create. Generations of pupils, parents, colleagues and governors will remember Simon not only for the scale of his achievements, but for the calmness, humility and humanity with which he achieved them. Many staff will also remember the personal touches that characterised his leadership: the handwritten notes of thanks, the quiet words of encouragement at difficult moments, and the genuine interest he took in the lives and wellbeing of those around him. Long after examination results have been surpassed and buildings have been replaced or extended, many will still remember those small acts of kindness, encouragement and humanity that characterised Simon’s leadership. They helped create a school with a strong sense of purpose, a culture of mutual respect, and a community whose members care deeply about one another and about the institution they serve. That culture will endure long after his retirement, and may prove to be his most enduring legacy of all.

Yet Simon would be the first to acknowledge that no headship is ever a solo endeavour. None of this could have been achieved without Alison, whose warmth, generosity and enthusiasm have made her an integral part of the life of the school for more than two decades. Whether on touchlines, at concerts, in theatres or welcoming pupils and families,

On behalf of everyone connected with Churcher’s, we thank Simon and Alison for the immense contribution they have made to the school and wish them every happiness in the exciting new chapter that lies ahead. Charles Strick (Chair of Governors)

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Girls’ cricket at Churcher’s continues to grow, with fixtures and training across all age groups; over 30 U12 girls represented the school, many experiencing hardball cricket for the first time; the U15 girls recorded a brilliant win against the Hampshire County Girls; and we were delighted to host our first-ever MCC Women's match, mirroring the established fixture for the 1st XI boys.

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From the archive Tom Bennett (12)

On 12 March, we caught up with Tom Bennett (12) to celebrate School Archives Day. Tom recently worked as a School Archivist at George Watson’s College and is now Sector Development Manager at the Scottish Council on Archives in Edinburgh. We asked him about his career since leaving Churcher’s and his work as a full-time Archivist…

community space for refugees. Tom explains: "People would come to Trampoline House, they would cook together, learn languages, share knowledge, play instruments, have movie nights, and CAMP was sort of the art space." Contemporary artists would give lectures whilst Tom ran a programme of refugee-led tours of the exhibition.

Tom credits his love of history to his time at Churcher's College, following which he obtained an MA in History at the University of Glasgow where he specialised in colonialism and post-colonialism. He found he was drawn to public and cultural spaces and decided to study further, choosing a two-year distance learning MA in Museum Studies whilst living in Copenhagen.

In 2019, Tom returned to Scotland, choosing Edinburgh where lots of his friends lived and where he could enjoy the city’s cultural hub, its museums, galleries and cultural spaces. Tom managed to find work as an intern in the Archive at the National Galleries of Scotland and St Cecilia’s Hall at the University of Edinburgh. In November 2019, Tom secured an internship at George Watson’s College, as an Archives Assistant – however, a week before he began, the Archivist left. "I ended up coming into it pretty green and I didn’t have a huge amount of guidance. I had a lot of support from other school archivists, especially from Hutchesons’ Grammar School." Tom felt this support helped launch his career and eventually put him on the path to his current job.

Whilst studying and living in Copenhagen, Tom interned as a Curatorial Assistant at the Centre of Art on Migration Politics (CAMP). His varied role included planning, setting up, and helping to run the successful ‘Decolonising Appearance’ exhibition, with talks held in partnership with Trampoline House, a partner organisation committed to providing a

"Being an Archivist is a very varied role. However, working for a school archive can be a little tricky as the primary focus is on education rather than the preservation of the cultural heritage." At George Watson’s College, Tom oversaw an archive collection of circa 20,000 manuscripts, printed materials, photographs, rare books, fine art, decorative art and furniture. The collection spanned 2,500 years of global history: "it was a big, complex and wide-reaching collection." His day would entail some cataloguing, engagement with pupils and alumni. Tom planned displays and exhibitions, deciding which items could be used for certain anniversaries and events throughout the course of the school year. "It's a little bit of everything – you’re wearing a lot of hats! You are an archivist, collections manager, curator, registrar, education engagement officer, etc. I was also working in the Development Office, so Alumni Relations was also very important." One of Tom’s highlights at George Watson's was his final project - taking 26 items to Hong Kong from one of the school’s collections, now on display at the 'Museum of History'. For this multi-million-pound exhibition Tom had to travel through customs, condition checking the

items, overseeing the installation within the gallery and chatting to the curators, making sure everything was up to standard. "It’s just great to see that these archival items that are so often forgotten about are actually really important historical and cultural documents, and they get their moment in the spotlight." Tom is now the Sector Development Manager for the Scottish Council on Archives which he explains is more focused on sector advocacy and leadership - looking at the more structural issues in the archives and records sector. For example, facilitating connectivity, leadership, advocacy and communication. "I don’t have a collection to look after anymore, but I am working on trying to establish a national strategy for the Scottish Archives. One of the things I am looking into currently is disaster response preparedness." Tom has undoubtedly forged a unique and interesting career path as an Archivist since leaving Churcher’s College. He describes his role as being "like detective work. You must follow every lead. Hours of work can lead to nowhere, but then you can find something immensely rewarding!"

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Ancestor hunt Family ties to golf Indeed, Morris’s lineage is deeply connected to the history of golf through his greatgrandfather, known affectionately as 'Old Tom' (1821-1908), a pioneering figure in the sport, credited as one of the founding fathers of golf and considered the first true golf course architect. Tom designed almost 70 courses and won the Open Championship a remarkable four times! Old Tom’s legacy is one that resonates within golf communities worldwide – he competed until he was 75 and remains the oldest to win the Open Championship, aged 46. His son, also named Tom, became the youngest Major Champion at just 17 years old, a record which also stands to this day. Young Tom is also the only person to have won the Open Championship over four consecutive years. William Morris Hunter’s lineage is through Old Tom’s only daughter, Elizabeth.

William Morris Hunter (1925) was a muchloved boarder at Churcher’s for two years. He tragically passed away at the tender age of 15 on March 10, 1925, after battling double pneumonia and pleurisy. Last year marked the centenary of his untimely death. According to an article in The Churcherian magazine of May 1925, “he was affectionately known as “Uncle”, and there are many who will remember his gentle and rather wistful smile… In School he worked with a will and on the Rugger field he distinguished himself in many a forward rush... Coming as he did from the Mecca of Golf, St. Andrews, he was naturally a Golfer too, and showed great promise in that game”. In May 2025, a century later, the Development Office was approached by a distant relative, Tracy Davis, requesting information about ‘Morris’, as he was also known, and the location of his final resting place. Tracy was leading a restoration project for the Hunter family grave and memorial, to commemorate Morris and his parents on the centenary of his passing, ensuring their memory is preserved. Following Tracy’s contact, the school connection to golfing folklore was restored.

Morris’ only sister Doreen survived her brother and parents giving birth to one daughter, Sheila Walker, who lives in Scotland to this day. Sheila is a direct descendant of Old Tom and proudly carries the title of great-great-granddaughter. To this day, Sheila resides in a house that originally belonged to Old Tom, with a stunning view of the 18th green at the home of golf, St Andrews. Whilst a photo of Morris adorns the wall in Sheila’s house, she only became aware of his final resting place when Tracy, whom she had never met before, appeared at her front door one day, having tracked her down.

A legacy of support Several months and many conversations later, to commemorate the life of William Morris Hunter and his connections to golf, we were honoured to host both Sheila Walker, and Tracy and Brent Davis at the annual Churcher’s Golf Day, in support of the Richard Churcher Foundation. Sheila delivered a speech informing our guests about Morris and his family's connections to the game of golf, much to the surprise of everyone in the room. In recognition of Sheila’s support to the Foundation and the family legacy, an engraved stone in memory of William Morris Hunter will be laid on Tercentenary Path at the back of Old College. It is fitting to note that she follows in the footsteps of her grandfather, Bruce Hunter, who donated the very generous sum of £100 (the equivalent of almost £8,000 today) in 1926 to the Bond Memorial Fund (named after Headmaster of the day) to raise money for new buildings. No doubt this gift was in memory of his young son, who tragically passed away just the year before.

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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 words and reflections which have been sent to us by family and friends.

Old Churcherians

Dick Bizzey (45) Nelson Chris Jacobs (53) Nelson Adrian Fray (56) Nelson Richard Long (56) Nelson Gerald Hackemer (57) Drake Tony Preedy (62) Drake Roland Bedford (63) Grenville Edward Copsey (64) Drake Brendan Lillis (65) Drake Ronald Dee (68) Drake Rod Sharp (71) Nelson Colin Crane (72) Nelson Anthony Williams (86) Nelson Andrew Rowbotham (90) Nelson

Former staff

David Porter (Mathematics)

Adrian Fray (56) In his time at Churcher’s College, Adrian made friends that lasted a lifetime. He enjoyed everything from cross country runs to performing in operetta. Adrian went on to have a long career as a research scientist for the Government, working on a wide range of projects from liquid crystals, green laser and antennae to guidance systems and sensors. He was a member of the Hereford Caving Club and played table tennis competently for over 40 years. He trekked to Everest base camp, through part of Alaska and around several South American countries including the Galapogos Islands. He was a published author of a historical novel based on years of academic research and was a keen family historian. Though Adrian didn’t sing after leaving college, he continued to play the violin into his last few weeks. Churcher’s had obviously prepared Adrian well for life to enable him to follow such diverse interests.

Certificate. Dick always spoke very fondly of his time at Churcher’s. After leaving school, Dick joined the Merchant Navy, as an apprentice, working his way to successfully gaining his Master Mariners Certificate, ultimately becoming Second Officer, on the Umtali, a cargo ship that also took a few passengers. It was on one such trip to South Africa that he met and fell in love with his wife of 71 years, Libby.

Dick Bizzey (45) Richard John Bizzey, known as ‘Dick’, has died peacefully in Jerez, Spain. Dick was born in Barcelona, but spent his childhood in Malaga, where his father managed a shipping company. When Dick was 11, he went with his mother and sister to spend term times in Gibraltar for schooling, where he attended the Christian Brother’s School, returning to the family home in Malaga during the holidays. With the Second World War looming, the family returned to the UK, undertaking a slightly perilous drive from Malaga to Bilbao, at the height of the Spanish Civil War. It was then that Dick arrived at Churcher’s College to continue his education. He enjoyed happy years at the College and was able to pursue his studies in the difficult wartime years when many of the teachers/masters had gone to war. Dick enjoyed forming good friendships, which previously hadn’t been possible due to living in Spain. He developed a love of rugby, and achieved an excellent result in his School

Having always lived abroad, Dick was pleased to settle down and create a family life in England with Libby. He retrained in Sales and Marketing, living and working in Hertfordshire, travelling to the US and through Europe for work. During this time, Dick and Libby had their daughter Katie. A real family man, he loved spending time with his wife and daughter. They took up dingy sailing, later moving on to enjoying Cabin Cruisers in Aldeburgh. To be nearer the coast, and the sailing they so much enjoyed, they moved to the Suffolk coast, with Dick employed in a job in Ipswich. It was with this job that Dick was invited to head the UK’s first trade delegation to Cuba, which led him to meet Fidel Castro. Retiring at 63, Dick spent his time cruising extensively with Libby in their boat, often with Katie and his beloved granddaughter, Laura. He played golf, was a member of the Lifeboat Committee, Commodore then Vice President of Aldeburgh Yacht Club and a valued member of the Aldeburgh community. His wife Libby passed away in October 2025, and Dick immediately moved to Spain to join his daughter, Katie and granddaughter, Laura. Sadly, poor health only gave him six months with his family back in his beloved Spain.

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everything from furniture to fabric, paintings to porcelain and glass. While also managing a drag-hunting pack of Bassett hounds, Edward and Meena established an interior design consultancy, ending up with clients right down the eastern seaboard. Sadly, this idyllic chapter came to an end as a result of a serious row with a neighbouring farmer over their respective property boundaries.

Edward Copsey (64) The family of Edward Copsey – Nick (97), Katherine (97) and Jo (02) informed us of his sudden death in May. Below is a personal tribute from his friend, Nick Palmer (65). Edward Copsey became familiar to the Class of 1965 when he stayed down in the Fifth Form in an effort improve his “O” Level tally. An excellent rugby player, Edward would be the first to agree he was not overly academic. He commuted to school from his family home on Hayling Island on his Lambretta scooter, flying in through the front gates with his scarf streaming behind him. And of course, no helmet! Edward and I struck up what was to remain a lifelong friendship. On leaving Churcher’s, Edward landed a job as a Trainee Manager at Harrod’s, and wooed and wed Meg, a U.S. Admiral’s daughter who was living in London at the time. In short order, she whisked him off to the States and they settled in Philadelphia. Within a couple of years their relationship floundered, as did his patience with a career in retail sales. After their split, he became a house-framing carpenter in Maryland. He met a cousin of Meg’s, Amelia (Meena) Rogers, and together they built a lovely little house on pretty, wooded property blessed by a babbling brook named Pheasants’ Run. Meena was a fieldappraiser for Sotheby’s — knowledgeable about

So disenchanted were they that they sold up and undertook travel of true Robert Louis Stevenson style — which is to say, long on imagination and romance and somewhat short on practicality! They could barely have gone further, ending up at Dunedin, near the south end of New Zealand’s South Island. They bought a cottage on the Otago Peninsula, with a view of the placid waters of Otago Harbour from the front, and the churning depths of the Southern Ocean from the back. They had a dock and a rowboat in the harbour. The idea was to rekindle their interior design consultancy. But perhaps they had not paid sufficient attention to the fine print, for after a year of wrangling with New Zealand’s immigration authorities, they were unsuccessful in getting work permits. They sold up and resumed their roaming, this time with an eye on Europe. The place they found most welcoming was Portugal. They bought a house in a little town inland from Lisbon, and, in the company of a Portuguese Water Dog, kicked back and soaked up the Mediterranean sunshine, the port and the olives. It took around two years for the siren call of their beloved Maryland to finally reassert itself and take them full circle. After listing their property and signing papers with a lawyer friend, they headed back to the States. Eager to get reacquainted with tidewater, they bought a small waterfront property with a cottage in the lower reaches of the mighty Chesapeake Bay. The village — blink and you’ll miss it — is called Fishing Creek, and amid a superabundance of oysters, clams and crabs, and peace, and contentment, Edward’s life with Meena came to a close. Our constant contact is something I greatly miss.

with a rifle over their shoulders and live ammunition in their pockets! Chris played the bugle in the CCF band and recalled several processional marches down Ramshill to parades in Petersfield Square. There was always an ‘eyes left’ as they turned into the High Street and passed the Girls High School! During WW2, Chris’s family took in an evacuee from the Emanuel School in London and Chris subsequently remained in contact with him for many years. Indeed, Chris made lifelong friends at Churcher’s and his connection continues to this day, with his youngest daughter having become a member of support staff and his youngest grandson currently a pupil in the Sixth Form. Chris Jacobs (53) Chris was born and bred in Petersfield and was very proud to have been a pupil at Churcher’s College. He often spoke fondly of his school days and how he had joined his brother, Colin, as they both followed in the footsteps of their father Harry. Chris started in ‘Prep’ and his memories included moving equipment across the road to Broadlands in one of the school holidays when the school moved from Heath Harrison House. He talked about his school meals being either “wet stodge or dry stodge”, which sounds awful; but he actually quite enjoyed them!

When Chris left Churcher’s, he joined the family firm Jacobs & Hunt and qualified as a chartered surveyor and auctioneer. His grandfather had founded the business in 1895. Following the deaths of both his father and brother, Chris went on to manage the business himself, building up all aspects of the firm including estate agency, lettings and auction rooms. The latter of which was his main interest and he spent much of his time valuing fine art and antiques. He was extremely proud of his business and was delighted when it celebrated its centenary year in 1995. In 2001 he brought the hammer down one final time, after nearly 50 years with Jacobs & Hunt.

Chris took part in many of the school’s activities. He was a keen sportsman and represented the school teams in hockey, cricket and tennis, continuing to play for local teams after leaving school. He was a member of the Combined Cadet Force and was a keen marksman, winning many badges for shooting at the indoor range.

In retirement, Chris became a trustee of Petersfield Museum. He stepped down after 16 years, but continued to be a very valued volunteer. He thoroughly enjoyed this role and loved the history of the town; because his family had been connected to Petersfield for over 100 years, he had a font of knowledge which he could share with visitors.

He kept an old penny which had a concave centre where he had hit a near perfect bullseye, and would tell the story of how he and his friends used to cycle to Langrish chalk pit

Chris died on the 25th of December 2025, aged 89. He was a well-known and successful Petersfield businessman and will be greatly missed by his wife, daughters and grandsons.

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Then and now Ramshill – Head of Sixth Form Then… Roy Bowden (1989-1993) Situated adjacent to the main school site, Ramshill House was purchased in 1959 with the intention of housing Churcher’s boarders. Thirty years later, with the educational landscape shifting, the governing body made the bold decision to remove boarding from Ramshill and refurbish it as a dedicated space for the Sixth Form. When Ramshill first opened its doors as the Sixth Form Centre, Roy Bowden, then an Economics and History teacher, became the inaugural Head of Sixth Form. Before this, the Sixth Form had no central identity; each year group simply had a year teacher. Roy’s appointment marked the beginning of a more cohesive, ambitious vision as he took on the role of year teacher in charge of the Sixth Form and the prefect body. During Roy’s tenure, he described Ramshill as “developing into something the school could be proud of. There were difficult years because it was during this time when the ‘fashion’ was to leave school at the end of Year 11 and transfer to Sixth Form Colleges; however, I think the early development of Ramshill allowed us to begin to win the battle gradually.” At the time, the Sixth Form was much smaller than it is today, with only around 60 to 70 students per year, and girls had only just begun to join the school with fewer than ten in the Sixth Form; however, this would soon increase. In terms of Sixth Form life, much like today, students were encouraged to wear formal clothing, but there was no designated uniform

for Sixth Formers. Roy recalls that “break-time and lunch-time catering developed gradually. The ancillary staff were initially known as ‘Domestics’ or ‘Domestic Cleaners’.” However, Roy changed their name to ‘Housekeepers’, recognising their essential role in Ramshill House. He remembers one Housekeeper in particular, the late Sue Cross, who “did a marvellous job in keeping the kitchen and common rooms in good order.” Private study was still a supervised process and based in classrooms. “The opening year in Ramshill saw only a ring of hard chairs around the main Common Room, but then finance was obtained to buy armchairs, a pool table and things took off from there. It became a very homely venue for the Sixth Form and has expanded physically from what it was in the early years. There was no conservatory for example.” In 2003, Roy left his teaching and Head of Sixth Form roles to become Churcher’s first Academic Registrar. Looking back, he says, “When I first arrived at Churcher’s, I used to be told of teachers who had served 30 to 40 years. I never thought that I would surpass this and end up doing 42 years. It was the periodic changes of role that I think caused me to stay, and then, as now, it was a very happy place to be.”

Ramshill – Head of Sixth Form Now… Bill Baker (2014 to present) Ramshill is now almost unrecognisable from its early incarnation, as Bill Baker, describes: “The Sixth Form has grown much bigger, from 210 students when I became head of Sixth Form in 2014, to 295 students today, with a post-COVID peak of 324 in 2023-4! We’ve got more space too, and a MUGA on the lawn, so the pupils can play games at break and lunch time all year round and not get covered in mud and grass! The Housekeepers were happy with this development!” Today’s Sixth Form can help themselves to an unending supply of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash, water, fruit and toast and jam! Bill explains his job is “a mixture of academic, pastoral and marketing. I am keen to foster a sense of community and like to see Ramshill as a sanctuary for the Sixth Form pupils. I try to create a nice environment and atmosphere, whilst also making sure that there’s some work going on!” Bill delights in the daily buzz of his work in Ramshill: “I really like the interactions I have with the pupils and enjoy the fun and laughter that permeates Ramshill. I love seeing the ambition of the pupils and enjoying their successes whether that’s academically or in the wide variety of extra-curricular activities they engage in. It’s nice to feel that you are helping pupils as they prepare to move onto the next stage of their lives. Students respond well to their responsibilities as senior pupils, setting an example for younger pupils. Sixth Formers enjoy a rich blend of independence, community

and creativity. Of course, some push the boundaries, but they are teenagers, so it's inevitable, and it’s all done with good humour.” Bill explains that there are places for students to relax, however: “the pool table has long gone, partly because of the frequent breakage of cues, but also to make way for more seating. Pupils enjoy the MUGA, ‘Ed’s Garden’ and all the social areas in Ramshill.” ‘ Ed’s Garden’ was built in memory of Ed Vergette, who sadly died at the start of his Upper Sixth year in 2013. The garden was designed and built in the summer of 2014 with the help of Ed’s year group after they finished their A Levels. In Ramshill, there is also a music studio downstairs where students can rehearse or practice and even play some of Bill’s late 90s drum and bass records and have a go at mixing! “We’re developing a gallery in one of the back rooms in Ramshill featuring art from students, teachers, parents and other people associated with the school or town – that’s a nice place to hang out. The Garden Room is also very pleasant.” From its modest beginnings with hard chairs and supervised study to today's bustling, creative and inclusive hub, Ramshill House has become far more than a building. It is a community shaped by the people who have passed through and is continually renewed as each new cohort of Sixth Formers arrives. Yet, it remains what it has quietly been through the decades: a place where young adults can find their feet and step into their future with confidence.

Stay in touch... Stay connected and keep up to date at Churcher’s Community community.churcherscollege.com @churchersalumni www.linkedin.com/company/oldchurcherians Contact the Development Office if you have any questions community@churcherscollege.com / 01730 236 833

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