ODyssey The Newsletter for Old Dauntseians Winter 2019
Dick Hargreaves (1919 - 2019) Dick Hargreaves, one of a select handful of Old Dauntseians awarded the Military Cross in the Second War, died on 10 August 2019 just six weeks short of his hundredth birthday. Richard Strachan Hargreaves was born in Malaya where his father owned a rubber plantation. The family returned in the mid 1920s and Dick went to prep school in Surrey, where one of his masters said of him: “He seems to think that his skill at camping and his charm will set him up for life.” George Olive himself may have been immune to schoolboy charm, yet Dick seemed to do well enough when he followed his brother to Dauntsey’s. The Dauntseian attests that he acquitted himself well at sport and on the stage. On leaving school he began his career in the hotel business, working for the Savoy Group. In May 1939 he joined the Territorials, but determined to see action he later volunteered to join the Parachute Regiment. May 1943 saw him in North Africa, and then not long afterwards in Italy. It was at Laterza in south east Italy that Hargreaves, at 22 a company commander in the rank of major, was sent to capture a vital bridge held by the Germans. For a hard won but ultimately successful assault on a well held position his bravery and inspirational leadership won him the Military Cross. He later saw action in both southern France and Greece. Demobilised in 1946, he was to prosper as a civilian. For 12 years he was a director of the tobacco manufacturer Gallaher before returning to the Savoy Group, this time as a director. He was also chairman of the West Country brewers J A Devenish. And amidst all this he found time to serve as Deputy Lord Mayor for Westminster, as a special constable, as Master of a livery company, and raise large sums for charity. Nor was his war service to be forgotten. In 2005 France appointed him a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur. Camping skills and charm there may have been, but there was clearly a very great deal more to Dick Hargreaves, and we are proud to honour him amongst our alumni.
Head Master The academic year is flying past and the spring term is now upon us. It has certainly been busy here at Dauntsey’s, with a record 832 pupils enjoying their education in our splendid environment. There have been many highlights, not least the success of our rugby and hockey teams. OD Rosie Wild gave a memorable address at our Remembrance Day service and I was delighted to see so many former pupils at the OD London drinks event. The examination results in August were very pleasing, with large numbers of candidates exceeding their personal targets. Maintaining a high academic standard is central to our vision for the School and we are proud to celebrate our pupils’ many fine achievements. The quality of education and positive experience we provide attracts pupils and enables us to remain competitive. Boarding is thriving – every bed is taken. In September we welcomed a new Bursar, Will Ethelston, to the Senior Management Team. We look forward to the future development of the School with confidence and ambition. With my best wishes for the New Year. Mark Lascelles
Mark Neve (Head of Foundation) It hasn’t been our best year so far in the Foundation Office. My accident on 12 September put me out of action until early December and my colleague Julie has been unwell for a significant period of time. Thankfully, normal service has now been resumed and we are getting back on track. Thank you so much for your many kind messages, particularly the flowers from a group of 2015 leavers which gave me a huge lift at a difficult time. Please continue to keep in touch and send in your news. I hope you enjoy the newsletter.
School News
Following success in last year’s Amazon Web Services Get IT programme, eight of our Year 8 girls were invited to take part in a Girls in Tech Careers mentoring event in London. Located in the heart of the City, the event took place at Amazon’s Holborn Viaduct offices and featured over 20 inspiring women who work in Tech. The girls had the chance to hear first hand about a huge variety of roles in the Tech sector from cyber security to fashion apps and investment banking.
In December a cast of 160 pupils, supported by more than 30 technical crew and band members, delighted sell-out audiences with a challenging, energetic and exciting production of In the Heights. From the writer of Hamilton and Disney's Moana, Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical tells the story of a vibrant community in New York's Washington Heights neighbourhood. The show received standing ovations from audiences totalling some 3,000 who enjoyed performances over a five night run.
Congratulations to a group of our Year 8 and Year 9 pupils who competed most successfully in the National Final of the Team Maths Challenge in London. Out of 1,712 schools that entered the competition, only 88 schools reached the final. On the day the team was asked to create a poster on the theme of geometrical construction. We were awarded third place in the UK, our best ever placing.
Good news to report from the athletics track. Congratulations to Femi Akinbobola who is the South West 400m champion. Femi also recently won the U20 200m indoor title. We are delighted to announce that the 1968 Olympic 400m hurdles gold medallist, David Hemery, is joining our coaching team.
Over one hundred parents, Old Dauntseians and friends of the School visited Dauntsey’s to participate in a Sixth Form careers speed networking event. Some 1200 interviews were conducted with our 150 Lower Sixth pupils. Pupils were able to spend time chatting to professionals about career choices as well as areas such as improvement of soft skills, university applications and employability.
As part of our adventure programme, the Climbing Club attracts pupils from all year groups. Participants trust, support and cheer on each other’s efforts in this popular activity.
The new Bursar, Will Ethelston, spent a handson day in the School kitchen learning how to feed 832 hungry pupils each day.
The School community has presented a cheque for more than £10,300 to The Jemima Layzell Trust, a charity helping young people with brain injuries set up in memory of Jemima who died from a brain aneurysm in 2012. The charity chosen for the new academic year (2019/20) is The Verunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the continent’s most biologically diverse protected area, and the local men and women risk their lives on a daily basis to safeguard the Park’s exceptional wildlife, including the last of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. Our team is busy preparing for the annual Devizes to Westminster canoe race and is raising money for this year's charity. If you would like to support the team, please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/dauntseysdw-2020.
OD Events London Drinks
Hosted by the Head Master and organised by OD Paul Seymour (74-81), some 80 ODs enjoyed a most convivial evening in London on 3 October.
Class of 1999 Reunion
ODs and their families turned out in large numbers in June to celebrate their 20 year anniversary.
OD Events OD Day
ODs from many generations gathered for the ODA AGM and afternoon of sports on 23 June. It was particularly pleasing to welcome John Beukers (43-50) from Florida. John is pictured top centre with fellow OD George Spence (59-65).
OD Golf
The OD Golf Day in early September saw keen competition for the coveted title of OD Golf Champion and the Bob Foxwell Cup team prize. North Wilts GC was at its best as drives bisected fairways and putts rolled in. Congratulations to Mike Burke who was the overall winner. Mike, Tim Church and Steve Lilley won the team event, and School Catering Manager Lloyd Childs was the top scoring guest. Julia Foxwell attended the post match dinner and presented the prizes. Many thanks to Tim Church who is handing over the reins having organised and managed the tournament so expertly for many years.
OD Tennis
ODs were out in force to challenge the School teams in the annual tennis fixture. Play was keen and competitive, with no signs of rustiness or fitness issues from the visitors. The ODs were victorious by the odd set in a close match of very enjoyable tennis.
OD News
An intrepid band of ODs, ably led by Merien Evans (10-17), enjoyed a weekend of nautical adventure competing in the Arrow Trophy 2019 sailing event. This is an annual competition between alumni of a number of independent schools. There were plenty of interesting moments in challenging conditions and it was a most thrilling experience. The crew were: Merien Evans, Ollie Barnes, David Jacobs, Fergus O’Keeffe, Harriet Steptoe, Henry Green, Jaz Boote, Jim Bruges, Myles Appleby, Natasha Whitrow and Noah Cannon.
Desmond Morris (41-45), pictured centre, has kindly sent a photo of the Air Training Corps squadron taken at Dauntsey’s in 1944.
Chris Bridgett (53-60) and Gerry Lawrence (54-59) have been exchanging nostalgic photographs from their schooldays. The picture shows Chris (right) and Gerry in a half-term entertainment show. These concert parties were terrific fun in the 1950s thanks to the inspiration of the very clever Martin Symes and Clive Heath. T a l e n t e d artist, Grace Payne-Kumar (10-17), has been awarded second place (U24 category) in the prestigious Scottish Portrait Awards. And there is even better news for Grace. Following her success, she has been given the commission to paint the official portrait of Lady Dorrian. Lady Dorrian is the Lord Justice Clerk, the second most senior judge in Scotland and the first woman in that role. The pictures show Grace with Lady Dorrian, and the painting of Niccolo that won her the portrait prize. Grace is currently studying English at Edinburgh.
Tennis coach Phil Kerley (80-87) wanted a photograph with Annabel Croft at Wimbledon, but had to settle for Judy Murray. Captain Brian Hoffman (55-61), Republic of South Africa Navy, and Captain Ted Hackett (56-60), Royal Navy, met for lunch in Bishops Waltham on 16 July 2019. They had not seen each other since 1965 in Singapore when Brian was also in the Royal Navy. They served together briefly in the minesweeper HMS Puncheston.
Spencer Arthey (95-99) sends his best wishes to his 1999 classmates as he was unable to attend June’s reunion celebration due to the birth of his first child. Spencer lives in Singapore and has managed to turn his love of Design Technology with Mr Hansen into a career. He is Global Technology Development Director for Dyson.
Congratulations to actor Dan Ings (97-04) who has been cast in the bold and bracing Sky drama I Hate Suzie. The eight-part series follows Suzie Pickles (Billie Piper) whose career is put in jeopardy when she becomes the victim of a hacking scandal that causes a compromising photo of herself to be leaked. Dan plays the part of her husband Cob.
Harry Markes (11-18) is reading Politics & Sociology at Leeds. He is running an events business with a few other ODs focusing on design-led club nights. The successful venture has won an Enterprise Scholarship from the university. Over the summer the Wax Palace team (around 10 ODs) constructed ‘The Kaleidoscope’, a 3000 square foot maze filled with sustainably-made interactive artwork, hidden dance floors and a bar made from a cut-up 2004 Citroen Saxo. Attendees spent a night exploring the maze, set to a soundtrack ranging from disco music to garage.
Jim Morris (62-66) enjoyed a trip from his home in the US to meet up with two other Class of ’66 ODs Phil Harvey (60-66) and Tony McMichael (60-66). They enjoyed a trip down memory lane reminiscing on food strikes, frozen water pipes, scrumpy cider at the Nags Head, potato fights on the school farm, very muddy rugby games, and dances with the Devizes Grammar School girls - happy days!
OD News Xavier Pye (14-16), the winner of the 2018 ODA Richard Sandbrook Award, has successfully completed his project. Totally committed to sustainability and environmental conservation, Xavier travelled to Nepal to help the Wiltshire based charity, The Nestling Trust, build a children’s home in Sarangkot. The Nestling Trust works in Nepal providing basic healthcare in isolated rural areas, as well as helping to save orphaned children from abject poverty. Xavier had an amazing experience. He is picture alongside the solar installation at the children's home.
After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Jamie Taylor (05-12) travelled to Australia and New Zealand for nearly four months. When he returned he started the laborious job hunt which included many “well we would be interested in employing you but you don’t have any experience” reasons for not offering him a post. He eventually landed a graduate energy specialist position at BULB and has since moved into their data science department.
Kath Beesley (90-97) has been in the fitness industry for 15 years. After studying Sports Studies at Staffordshire University, Kath continued to play hockey and tennis, and she has run quite a few marathons. She is a founder of Quit the Gym – a business offering a fun way to exercise outdoors in West London. She promises to put her clients through their paces with a smile on their face.
Simon Goodrich (61-65) has written his first novel, The Way She Walked, under the pseudonym Ian Tinty. A romantic thriller, the book is a tale of intrigue about a woman who tries to keep one step ahead by using her intelligence and guile in a world where she encounters people who could ruin her life forever.
Julia McCredie (02-09) is enjoying a career in the fast lane. She is the Hospitality Coordinator for Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing. Robin Cole (61-65) is happily retired with his wife Lindsay in Leicestershire. On leaving Dauntsey’s, Robin joined the electricity board as a student apprentice and studied for ONC and the Diploma. He left electrical engineering to enter the world of textiles, ending up becoming a leading supplier to some major high street chains. He married in 1974 into another textile family and has two wonderful daughters. Robin and Lindsay celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a tour of the Rockies and Alaska last summer, and in March they completed a mammoth trip to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore. Robin visited School in December 2017. Lindsay said as he walked up the steps at the end of the drive his hands were shaking. He was delighted to meet up with Jim Hodges.
Rosie Wild (03-10) was guest of honour at the Remembrance Day service in November. She delivered a most moving and memorable address to the School.
Netball player, Shona O’Dwyer (14-16), has signed for the Celtic Dragons who compete as one of the 10 UK teams in the Netball Super League. The squad features a range of international netball stars from across the globe.
Congratulations to Victoria Wilkinson (0007) on her marriage to Alex Carter on 14 September.
Three ODs joined the staff in September. David Bell (90-97) is teaching Geography, Ella Major (13-15) is this year’s GAT Drama student, and Laura Webber (84-91) is the Art Technician.
ODyssey Angus Macpherson Governor 1998-2020 Dauntsey’s is in Angus’s blood. His grandfather served as a governor from 1949 to 1972. His father was a pupil in the 1940s, and Chairman of the Old Dauntseians’ Association in the 1980s. Angus himself entered Dauntsey’s as a pupil in 1966. Highlights of his school career included being secretary of the Industrial Archaeology Society and quartermaster to the long defunct Combined Cadet Force. But he was to rise yet higher. In his final year, 1971, he was Captain of School and as such played an important role in the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh. After school Angus became actively involved in the ODA, as its secretary in the 1980s and later its chairman. In 1998 he became one of the two OD governors, serving alongside John Rendell and later Charles Lucas. Throughout he was a member of the Estates Committee, and since 2001 its chairman. He was also a stalwart of the Finance and General Purposes Committee. There has been a long tradition of the OD governors being amongst the workhorses of the governing body, and Angus proved no exception. And so we thank him for his long and loyal service to Dauntsey’s. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
In Memoriam
Obituaries
Richard ‘Dick’ Hargreaves (32-36) Hugh Buckley (37-42) Peter Belcher (41-43) Robert ‘Pat’ Broadway (42-46) Gordon Hill (43-46) John Gilmore (46-50) John Newton (51-55) John Rawlings (53-58) John Woolgar (53-58) Richard Hatherell (58-62) Alastair Shaw (65-69) Mark Foster (70-77) A R (Ray) Taylor (Staff 64-71)
Many will have fond memories of Ray Taylor, who died on 9 January aged 82. He came to Dauntsey’s in 1964 to teach Geography and cricket for seven years. From the north east, a socialist and sportsman to the core, he was held in great affection – for his direct approach, his sense of humour and his generosity of spirit. Hugh Buckley, who died on 6 January 2020, was born in Vancouver in 1924 and came to Dauntsey’s in 1937. His brother Tony tells us he was “very popular, top of his class and a very keen sportsman”. Shortly after leaving in 1940 he joined the Canadian Army, later taking part in the Normandy landings on Juno Beach and subsequent allied advance through north west Europe. Returning to Canada after the war, he worked as a civil engineer and also engaged in charitable work.
Breaking News Dauntsey’s Cycling Sportive This exciting event is taking place on 8 May 2020 – the Friday bank holiday. The sportive ride offers a choice of routes, 80, 50 and 15 miles, suitable for both individuals and club groups. It is an opportunity to enjoy a pleasant day’s cycling and a hog/veggie roast afterwards in the pleasant surroundings of our campus. The event Organiser is OD Harry Lodge (78-85). Harry competed for GB at the 1988 Seoul Olympics before he went to live in Belgium and Italy to follow a 13-year professional cycling career. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/
Contact details:
Mark Neve: m.neve@dauntseys.org
Julie Romijn: j.romijn@dauntseys.org
Dauntsey’s West Lavington Devizes Wiltshire SN10 4HE 01380 814500 info@dauntseys.org