Flecker 2021

r e k c e l f OLD

DECANIAN

NEWS

WINTER 2021 ~ EDITION 7

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Contents Welcome

2

PODS 2020/21

4

International Representatives

4

News from the Decades

5

News from the Archives

29

News from the School

34

Old Decanian Events

41

Development

44

Obituaries

46

Dates for the Diary

66

Old Decanian Society Committee 2021~22 President Lord Bernard Ribeiro CBE (Tower 1962) Chairman Robin Bayliss (Tower 1983) - Trustee Treasurer Tim Lawrence (Field 1976) - Trustee OD Secretary Alex Hume (Dale 2002) - Trustee

WELCOME Secretary

September, but there are signs of normality with sports fixtures taking place again and visitors welcomed back into the School.

The Old Decanian Society has supported the School from the outset, with donations towards a COVID-19 hardship fund along with ODs giving their time to support pupils with projects such as the ‘generations’ interviews on page 41.

Bella Acland (Fawley 2016) Samantha Armstrong (Shelburne 1985) Helen Gregory (Hatherley 2012) Claire Harding (née Bayley) (Mead 1972) Rupert Lane (Gate 1962) Andrew Marquand (Field 1971) - Trustee Guy Toye (Brook Court 2016) Andrew Troughton (Field 1991) Jeremy Winter (Court 1961) Honorary Members: David Evans – Retired from DCF in September 2021 but remains on the ODS Committee.

Julie Kent – Former Staff Representative Emma Taylor – Dean Close Foundation Warden

Contact details If you would like to contact someone on the committee, please liaise with Alex Hume: ods@deanclose.org.uk 01242 258 048 Old Decanian Society, Dean Close House, 67 Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 6QD.

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Welcome to this year’s edition of the Flecker.

Another year of disruption and challenge, but, as you will go on to read, the School and Old Decanians have been as busy as ever.

The way that the School has met the challenge of COVID-19 has simply been remarkable, adapting to new ways of working and ensuring that our pupils still receive a first-class education and pastoral support. As an educational establishment, the Foundation, as you can imagine, has taken a cautious approach since returning in

One of the most exciting projects for me was to see the redevelopment of the front corridor being transformed into a state-ofthe-art Maths, Business and Economics Centre. ODs and parents were at the heart of this with donations totalling over £500,000.

You can read more about this project on page 44. I also want to take this opportunity to welcome Frankie Burgess, who has just started as Development Gift Manager.

Frankie will oversee all aspects of fundraising and I know that she is looking forward to meeting ODs at the upcoming events.

We hope that we can organise more face-toface events in 2022, which I am very much looking forward to!

Alex Hume (Dale 2002)

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Chairman As I reflect on another year as Chairman, I am very proud that we, as a Society, have been able to support the School in what has been one of the most challenging times in the School’s history. As a community, we have faced the challenges in a very safe and thoughtful way. As Bernie mentions in his welcome, the Foundation is in a strong position and, with the addition of Airthrie, now educates 1,535 pupils across all of the sites.

President As President of the Council of Members, I have seen first-hand the pressures that have faced our School community. It has been a testing time for all. The Common Room has risen to the challenge, from hosting international boarders in the school holidays to the constant review of ever-changing government guidelines, being just a couple of examples of what has been added to the everyday workload.

In spite of the added pressures, I am pleased to report that the Foundation is in a very robust place. With all the disruptions and adaptations that have taken place over the last year, you would not be wrong in thinking that the entire focus this year was dedicated to the challenges that the pandemic presented.

The Foundation was able to meet these challenges and look beyond the day to day, and continue with the overarching

long-term strategy to really strengthen their position during the last year.

Development of the School’s facilities have continued and most pleasing of all is to see the pupils continuing to thrive and results were still where they should be.

This is a credit to the staff within this organisation.

I also want to welcome Airthrie to the Foundation, a thriving prep school (3–11) just down the road from Dean Close School. A school that I know many ODs attended prior to Dean Close and one that shares the same ethos and values as we do as a community. I am excited by the strategic growth of the Foundation, which provides financial strength and contributes to educational best practice for all of our schools and nurseries.

Another area of which I am very proud to see develop is that of the Foundation Awards. The Old Decanain Society Foundationer, Evie, continues to flourish at Dean Close and now is in the Fifth Form. I am delighted to see more Foundationers starting at Dean Close and this being driven by ODs through generous donations. We have continued our support of Nyakatakura Memorial Secondary School in Uganda, a country and population that have been extremely affected during the pandemic and who do not have the tools that our pupils at Dean Close have been able to rely on during this pandemic.

Looking ahead, I am really excited for the Old Decanian Society Ball in July 2022. It is a great opportunity to get back in contact with your peers, come back to School to reminisce and enjoy one another’s company.

As Chairman, I get a sneak preview of the Flecker before it goes to print. I have really enjoyed finding out what ODs have been up to over the past year; please do continue to keep us updated with any news throughout the coming year.

Robin Bayliss (Tower 1983)

Lord Bernard Ribeiro (Tower 1962)

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

PODS 2020/21

The PODS are a key link between the OD office and the pupil body at Dean Close. Unfortunately, due to restrictions enforced on us by COVID-19, the roles of PODS were significantly reduced and selection of PODS for 2020/21 made retrospectively.

Brook Court

TBC

Dale

TBC

Fawley

TBC

Field

James Schubach

Gate

TBC

Hatherley

Olivia Moss

Mead

Pippa Salisbury

Shelburne

TBC

Tower

Isaac Barlow

Turner

TBC

International OD Representatives AUSTRALIA - Perth Stefanie Jones (née Brooking) (Shelburne 1990)

USA - Alabama Kirsten McTernan (née Spalholz) (Shelburne 1997)

CANADA - Ottawa Chuck Kennedy (Gate 1986)

USA - Los Angeles Ian Bishop (Court 1981)

CANADA - Alberta Sara Lynn Burrough (Shelburne 1976)

USA - San Diego Caroline Harwood (Shelburne 1981)

HONG KONG David Ho (Gate 1985)

USA - San Diego Charmaine Haworth (née Lamb) (Shelburne 1991)

SOUTH AFRICA - Johannesburg Rick Hogben (Gate 1965)

USA - Seattle David Richardson (Tower 1954)

UAE - Qatar John Toon (Gate 1976)

USA - Washington DC Farrokh Jahandari (Tower 1981)

If you would like to make contact with any of the representatives, please liaise with the OD Office.

Also, if you think you could become a country representative, please let us know.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

NEWS FROM THE

DECADES 2020s Zachary Talbot (DCPS, Year 7 leaver, Class of 2022) son of Rev’d Libby Talbot (Former Chaplain) and John Talbot (Former Director of Sixth Form Studies) was selected to play hockey for Scotland U17. This summer, he has played against Ulster, England and Wales. He also played for the Caledonian Cougars U17s that played at the Futures Cup in August 2021.

We were pleased to hear that we have four Old Decanians who are now involved in the U21 GB Hockey – Elite Development Programme. Congratulations to Jacob Payton (Field 2020), James Hunt (Dale 2019), Ollie Smart (Dale 2020) and Ellis Robson (Dale, Class of 2021, left in Fifth Form).

Freddie Thomas (Field 2020), who plays his club rugby with Gloucester, represented England U20s and Ulster Academy player James Humphreys (Field 2020) represented Ireland U20s.

2010s Max Thomas (Dale 2019) has just been awarded a scholarship to St John’s, Cambridge, where he is reading English in his final year.

James Hunt (Dale 2019) has also set up JH Hockey Coaching who are a specialist hockey coaching company that focuses on providing one-to-one and small group coaching. Their aim is to provide high-level coaching and drills that target both those who are looking to develop their hockey skills and overall performance, as well as those who are looking to push and progress within their hockey careers.

Dani Gibson (Hatherley, Class of 2019, left Lower Sixth) starred for the Western Storm in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, which they won, and the Women’s Regional T20.

She also played for London Spirit in The Hundred. Danielle was nominated for the CINCH PCA Woman’s Player of the Year. In her 21 appearances across the three competitions, Gibson has amassed over 250 cumulative runs, averaging 36 and with a strike rate of 180 in The Hundred, as well as 13 wickets including seven at an average of just 15.3 in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. Gibson’s all-round talents are illustrated by the fact that she has scored 37 fielding MVP points in the PCA MVP Rankings – the second most of any outfielder in the women’s domestic game.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Toby Huxtable (Tower, Class of 2019, left Fifth Form) has completed his Human Biosciences Degree at University Plymouth and is currently studying for an MSc in Finance and Management at Loughborough University School of Business and Economics.

Alex Yang (Gate 2018) has graduated from The Bartlett with a First in Architecture and is now working for Richard Rogers, the Architects behind the Millennium Dome and the Pompidou Centre.

Photo: Bombardier Murray Kerr / MOD Crown Copyright 2021

This shot of Officer Cadet Freddie Faux (Brook Court 2018) and his proud mother, Wendy, after Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst was highly commended at the British Army Film and Photographic Awards.

Will Bunker (Dale 2018) gained a Distinction in his Art Foundation and has just started at Cambridge University, studying English Literature.

Tethered Wits Theatre Company, co-founded by Gabriella Sills (Shelburne, 2018) and Amy Porter (Hatherley, 2016), successfully toured the local Gloucestershire area this summer with their production of ‘Pygmalion’ (pictured). They would like to thank the Old Decanians and community that turned out to support the company.

Following offers from several drama schools, Gabriella will be taking up a place on the Creative Producing MA at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in September 2021.

Tom Pearson (Tower 2018) has joined London Irish Senior Academy after impressive performances at Cardiff Metropolitan.

Tom made his competitive debut in October against Exeter Chiefs, where they won 21–33.

Izzy Fairthorne (Hatherley 2017) has achieved a first in Sports & Exercise Science from Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Kieren Hutt (Field 2017) is studying Musical Theatre BA (Hons) at Anglia Ruskin University and is training with Front & Centre.

A close relationship between Dean Close School and Merton College, Oxford.

(L-R) Ben Crossley (Dale, Class of 2020, left Fifth Form), who is in his first year reading English, Joe Morford (Dale 2016), who is in his second year of his DPhil in Biology and Louis Morford (Field 2018), a third year reading Music.

Dan Barrow (Brook Court 2018), as a Coldstream Guard, took part in the Queen’s Birthday Parade at Windsor Castle in June 2021. Dan is pictured here in his scarlet tunic and holding the famous bearskin cap.

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Ben Nicholas (former Choral Director at DCS and former Director of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum) who is Director of Music at Merton College, is pictured here in 2020 with three Old Decanians, who are all Choral Scholars in the Choir of Merton College, Oxford.

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Izzy Fairthorne (Hatherley 2017) has achieved a first in Sports & Exercise Science from Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Kieren Hutt (Field 2017) is studying Musical Theatre BA (Hons) at Anglia Ruskin University and is training with Front & Centre.

Rosie Abbott (Fawley 2014) married Joe Spencer in a very special wedding in the beautiful autumn sunshine in 2020; hastily brought forward to the day before lockdown 2.0 by the amazing Dean Close Venues team. Congratulations Mr & Mrs Spencer!

ODS Committee Member Guy Toye (Brook Court 2016) took part in the incredibly tough British Firefighter Challenge in October 2021 to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK. He raised over £1,000. To find out more about the challenge, visit www.britishfirefighterchallenge.co.uk

Nick Chen (Gate 2016) paid the School a visit in September 2021, before heading up to York to start a Master’s in Global Marketing at the University of York.

Charlotte Ivers (Hatherley 2013) has a weekly column in The Sunday Times and is the Political Correspondent for the recently launched ‘Times Radio’, which now has 637,000 weekly listeners.

Lydia Bolton (Mead 2012) recently had an article in Miss Vogue titled ‘7 things I learned while running my sustainable fashion brand over the last 12 months’.

Lydia runs a luxury sustainable brand that upcycles unwanted textiles into covetable womenswear.

Congratulations to Issy Bailey (Fawley 2012) on her international PB, Pistol Shooting at her second Paralympic Games. As the sole representative in pistol shooting in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics GB squad, Issy competed in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1 and mixed 25m pistol SH1.

Geraint Downing (Gate 2016) is currently studying his MA at Rose Bruford College and has already landed a role in ‘A Christmas Carol’ at The Old Vic.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

If you are in north London, it is worth popping into BookBar, an independent book shop and wine bar owned by Chrissy Ryan (Shelburne 2012). Visit www.bookbaruk.com

An incredibly rare meteorite that could 'hold important clues about our origins' was found on land owned by Lachlan Bond's (Dale 2010) family in Winchcombe in February 2021.

It is one of only 51 carbonaceous chondrite meteorites have ever been found and identified across the world. Lachlan was quoted saying to ‘Sky News’ reporters: "We actually found out by the scientists knocking on the door asking if they could look on our land. Within an hour, the experts had found a small, shiny black rock."

Go2mortgages and Move Sales & Lettings, two local businesses within the property industry in Cheltenham, have joined forces. Led by Liam Brignull (Dale 2011) and George Tatham-Losh (Dale 2007), together, they will be combining their expertise to provide a simple and slick house purchase process for potential buyers in the Cheltenham area. This collaboration ensures that clients receive a seamless buying experience from start to finish. Buyers will have access to Move Sales & Lettings’ experienced estate agency team alongside go2mortgages’ intimate knowledge of the mortgage market.

Congratulations to Ben Miller (Gate 2010) who married Arabella Wang last autumn. Ben has returned from the British Embassy Beijing on a sabbatical at Brasenose College, Oxford, to study for a Master of Public Policy at Blavatnik School of Government.

OPEN MORNINGS October, March and May Bespoke visits can be arranged for Old Decanians – please arrange your visit via Admissions.

No registration fee for Old Decanians.

Please Contact : registrar@deanclose.org.uk

CO-EDUCATIONAL

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DAY AND BOARDING

Tel: 01242 258044 www.deanclose.org.uk

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AGE 2 – 18

2000s

Matt Dowler (Dale 2008) and Tom Dowler (Dale 2009), both of whom were in the DCS golf team, decided to take on a golf marathon challenge, playing 72 holes of golf in one day, raising money for Prostate Cancer UK.

Joe Baker (DCPS, Year 8 leaver, Class of 2008) is living in Brooklyn NYC working as a full-time artist. His first solo exhibition, ‘A Different Kind of Light’, opened on 30 September. Visit joehenrybaker.com for more information.

During the COVID pandemic, Sam Tasker-Grindley (Dale 2006), set up Furlonteer. Sam describes why: “After being put on furlough at the start of the pandemic, I realised I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. Rather than watch series after series on Netflix and bake banana bread, I decided I wanted to do something impactful with my time. Rather than focus on the negatives of my new situation (loss of routine, job insecurity, etc.), I used it as an opportunity to develop new skills, grow my network and try something a bit different from my usual day to day. I quickly spotted a chance to help charities struggling to fill the reported ‘£12 billion black hole’ caused by the pandemic by mobilising a workforce of highly skilled professionals on furlough.

I brought together a diverse team of other furloughed workers from all around the UK to develop the non-profit project Furlonteer. In just a matter of months, we had paired thousands of skilled professionals with charities, helped charities not just survive the pandemic but actually thrive in it, and appeared on ‘Sky News’, ‘BBC News’ and in lots of publications along the way.

Congratulations to Issy Fateh (Mead 2007) who has become Issy Olley after marrying Jonny at St Mary’s Church in Barnes.

Henry Staelens (Dale, left Fifth Form, Class of 2006) was, in August 2021, named EFL League Two CEO of the Year. Henry has been CEO of Forest Green Rovers for three years and continues to take the club from strength to strength.

As a result of everything I learned and the people I met along the way, I’ve now left my stable job as a Chartered Accountant at RSM and have joined a FinTech start-up called Clarity. The slowdown of life that the pandemic brought us made me realise what I really wanted from my career and I take the chance with both hands.”

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Jack Losh (Dale 2006) covered last winter's war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, reporting on the escape of refugees, frontline body exchanges and other developments for The Washington Post, Vice News, The Telegraph and the BBC. His work from the conflict was later shortlisted at the Amnesty Media Awards 2021 in the Written News and Photojournalism categories. The pieces and photos can be viewed at www.jacklosh.com

On the weekend of 26 September 2020, Ed Cousins (Brook Court 2006) rode his T120 Triumph from John O'Groats to Land's End via London and Oxford, to raise awareness and donations for prostate cancer and mental healthrelated illnesses.

In all, he covered 1,000 miles in 24 hours and raised over £5,000. Usually, this would have been for The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, which is an annual event around the globe where 120k riders ride across 700 cities. Due to COVID, the organised rides were cancelled and replaced this year by solo rides.

Ed says, “It was an incredible memorable journey. Unforeseen road closures, -12°C wind chill and additional fuel stops.

Completed in 23 hours, 18 minutes.

Thank you for all the donations.”

As soon as indoor concerts were permitted, Ashok Gupta (Dale 2006) performed the complete Beethoven cello works with cellist David Powell at Cheltenham's Chapel Arts, and accompanied baritone Steve Whitford (Field 2015) at Syde Manor in a recital entitled 'A Musical Bestiary'.

Ashok has been working at The Royal Danish Opera as an assistant conductor on a contemporary opera by David Bruce called Nothing, as well as recording with tenor Alessandro Fisher, recitals with violinist Malu Lin Swayne and preparation of Tristan und Isolde at Glyndebourne.

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Whilst in Armenia, Jack was invited by WWF to join their team of trackers to search for the rare Persian leopard, which they believed was back in its old territory in the Caucasus mountains.

Jack's extraordinary week with them led to his story, photographs and interview being published online and in the Royal Geographical Society magazine (August 2021); the story has subsequently been released as a podcast read by the actor Simon Paisley Day. In October 2020, Jack was awarded third prize in the print category of the prestigious Bayeux Calvados Normandy Awards (27th edition) for war correspondents.

A fantastic achievement.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Dan Akenhead (Field 2006) is a professional strength and conditioning coach and he has recently launched a new business called The Athlete Coach.

Visit https://linktr.ee/TheAthleteCoach to find out more and for links to the website, the YouTube channel and podcast.

The platform provides: personalised nutrition plans and modifiable diet plans based on your preference with a choice of over 200 recipes with macronutrient

details; detailed explanation of over 400 exercises and training programmes to fit any goal; a weekly podcast with either a professional athlete or coach; as well as weekly YouTube videos, blog content and infographics.

The Prefects from 16 years ago – Class of 2005 – as well as Richard Taylor (Second Master), The Rev’d Tim Hastie-Smith (Headmaster) and Emma Taylor (at the time Admissions Tutor and Senior Mistress – now Warden of the Dean Close Foundation).

‘Being a Prefect’ was written by Frankie Knight (née Hildick-Smith) (Shelburne 2005) during her time at School. Frankie is now a Member of Council at the Dean Close Foundation.

Old Decanian siblings Frances Cartwright (Mead 2004), Stef Hildick-Smith (née Cartwright) (Mead 2006) and Jonny Cartwright (Dale 2009) have set up Bean Bag Brew, an online tea, coffee and hot chocolate shop and subscription business. Claim 10% off your first order when you sign up to their newsletter on their website.

Visit www.beanbagbrew.com

Pig farmer Sophie Hope (Mead 2004) has spoken out recently (October 2021) urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to relax visa restrictions for foreign workers. Sophie says that her livelihood is at a critical point and that she may be forced to incinerate hundreds of animals due to a shortage of abattoir workers. Sophie has been running her family farm in Gloucestershire since 2013.

They sell about 10,000 finished pigs a year and have about 4,500 pigs on the farm at any one time, including sows and piglets.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Who remembers getting their uniform and 1p sweets from the tuckshop in the building below (the old Walton Court / Caldecote stables now the Pre-Preparatory School)?

Dan Lane (Tower 2002) was married to his Canadian fiancée, Andrea, in the most extraordinary location, St Nicholas’ Chapel, on the headland at St Ives (maximum capacity 15). Dan’s brothers and fellow ODs George (Tower 1997) and Joe (Tower 1999) were joint Best Men.

This tuck shop was opened after the war years at 1.10pm on 22 March 1950 and transformed into the Pre-Preparatory School, which opened in 2003.

Dan and Andrea are now based in the UK. Dan has started as Head of PE at Belmont School, Mill Hill, and Andrea as Head of Communications at Haileybury.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

1990s

Paul Bence (Field 1997), Managing Director of the George Bence Group and Commercial Director of Cheltenham Town Football Club, is pictured here (on the right) after Mira Showers extended their sponsorship of the football club for another two years. The partnership between the two local organisations has spanned 12 consecutive years, with Mira first sponsoring the club’s shirt in 2008.

Thanks to Jon Scott (Brook 1999) who donated this flamboyant dress to the Dean Close costume department. His wife is pictured here modelling it. We are looking forward to seeing this being used in a future school play!

Sam Gilbert (Dale 1997) published a book in April 2020 titled Good Data: An Optimist’s Guide to Our Digital Future. The book was selected as a Financial Times business book of the month and explores data, privacy and the future of Big Tech alongside data-driven marketing.

Are you currently homeschooling but would like your days to run smoother?

Kirsten McTernan (Shelburne 1997) lives in the US and is a homeschool mum of four boys, and author of the book, Homeschooling: You CAN Do It!, which hit the #1 New Release category on Amazon and was featured on ABC, CBS and NBC. During lockdown in the UK, Kirsten kindly reduced the price of the Kindle edition of her book to 77p, so that those in the Dean Close community who were temporarily homeschooling could pick up some tips from her 10 years of experience.

1997 – Flecker Hall turned into Flecker Library

A human chain of Decanians transferred the books across the quad from the Library in the Beaufort Building to the new Flecker Library.

As well as 13,000 books, the Library now offers a range of DVDs, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources available for scholars and staff to use.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

10% discount at www.malvern-gin.co.uk As part of the Dean Close Business Directory launch in February, we highlighted some of the businesses that feature in the directory.

Malvern Gin, Gold Medal Winner at The Gin Master 2020, where Brand Owner and Director is Duncan Gilroy (Dale 1996) was one of those that were highlighted. The gin’s botanicals are inspired by the Malvern Hills, with water from the Malvern Springs. Malvern Gin has very kindly given a 10% discount to ODs that purchase through their website, you will need to visit the directory to obtain the discount code... www.deanclose.org.uk/business-directory If you would like to join the business directory to advertise your business, please contact Alex Hume at aahume@deanclose.org.uk

Simon Kenworthy (Brook 1995) has just started as Founding Master of Wellington College China’s new bilingual school in Nantong, China, which opens in August 2022. Previously, Simon was Headmaster of the Prep School at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi. If there are any adventurous teachers reading this, please get in touch with Simon, there are a number of exciting vacancies currently.

The School is committed to providing a world-class bilingual education to Chinese pupils aged 3 to 18. It has an enrolment capacity of 2,000 with boarding options for 900 pupils. It is located in Nantong, which is north west of Shanghai. The campus will cover 80,000m2, see the artist’s impression above.

Matthew Martin (Gate 1994) accompanied the Choir of King’s College Cambridge on the Organ as they sang in the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols live from their beautiful gothic, candlelit Chapel on Christmas Eve. This was played out to millions on Radio BBC4.

The 16 young choristers were joined by the 14 Choral Scholars, but were singing within separate bubbles and filmed without a congregation, to protect against coronavirus.

After leaving DCS, Wesley Chiang (Court 1994) gained two degrees from Cambridge in Natural Sciences and Advanced Course in Design, Management and Manufacturing. He then taught English in Tianjin, China, for a year followed by another seven years working in Hong Kong. He has just finished a PhD in Chinese Minority Peoples' Literature at Xinjiang University, China. Wesley is married to Ting and has two children, Charlotte (9) and Petros (7).

The Talbot Griffith Climbing Wall was officially opened at Commemoration in 1991 and named after a long-standing Governor of Dean Close School and a former Headmaster of Oakham.

At the time it was the highest climbing wall in the country, at 15m. An exciting but very daunting prospect for many pupils!

Elizabeth Hawksley (Shelburne 1992) is currently living in Melbourne, Australia, and has been working as a Heritage and Archaeological Consultant for the last 15 years. Her work has enabled her to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

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1980s In December 2020, Nadia Hardie (née Stradling) (Fawley 1989), her husband and two daughters, moved from the Cayman Islands to New Zealand, which is where her husband originates from. They are now living in the beautiful Hawkes Bay in the North Island. Her two girls started school in February at a girls’ school very reminiscent of Dean Close in look and feel, even down to the uniform! COVID made the move a little tricky, but they are starting to feel settled and enjoying seasons again after 18 years of Caribbean sun!

Nadia did manage a quick trip back to London in July 2019 and caught up with some Fawley girls – Sarah Higgs, Susannah Copley and Rebekah Fitzgerald. Nadia said, “It was great to see them and see all our children get on so well. It is wonderful how despite 30 years having passed since we left DCS, nothing had changed at all.”

Sarah Connor (née Higgs), Rebekah Dimitri (née Fitzgerald) in the front row and Nadia at the back.

Dean Close School 1st XV 1987/88 After 15 years working in Dubai for Rashid School for Boys, this September Fiona Clark (Mead 1987) takes on a new role as Head of Secondary at Al Jazeera Academy, Doha, Qatar.

Back row: Steve Ellard, Matthew Herbert, Richard Williams, John Harries and Workneh Hailegiorgis.

Middle row: Richard Akenhead, Tim Buckler, Alex Millington, John Denley, Laurence Okelo, Matthew Pickard, Toby Jarvis, Christopher Hodges and Julian Acheampong.

Seated, front row: Neil Smith, Tom Anthony, Sam McCloy, Stuart Brooks and Paul Robinson.

After founding Samson Pest Control Ltd 15 years ago, Julian Acheampong (Tower 1989) has sold the business based in Ghana to the British multinational Rentokil Initial Ltd. Julian commented: “We have been providing our customers with world-class service for over 15 years in the country and as a company we are delighted to be able to be a part of the Rentokil Initial family.

Fiona is also pictured here with Sarah Clark (Fawley 1987) and Cléa Hermann (Fawley 1987) and with the Mead Sixth Form pictured outside the Chapel in 1987.

"This new chapter will allow us to support and further protect our customers with the incredible innovations developed globally by the company.”

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Emma Sky (Shelburne 1986) was interviewed by Jim Gilmore on behalf of PBS: Frontline. It was an interview to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Emma Sky advises on conflict and reconciliation in the Middle East. She advised both US Gen. Raymond Odierno and Gen. David Petraeus in Iraq.

Sky is the author of The Unravelling: High Hopes and Missed Opportunities in Iraq and In a Time of Monsters: Travels Through a Middle East in Revolt.

Visit https://youtu.be/FuoyRIInut8 to watch the hour-long interview.

Sarah Allen (Shelburne, left Lower Sixth, Class of 1986) has recently passed her degree in Sport Rehabilitation at St. Mary's University, Twickenham. Sarah is looking to work as a Sports Therapist or Rehabilitator. It took four years, including a year studying an Access course due to not having A Levels. Previously, Sarah worked in the hotel industry and in regional government. She is still in contact with Dr Adele Carter (Mead 1985).

Congratulations to Kate Turner-Willis (née Turner) (Fawley 1985) who married Simon Willis on 14 December 2019. Kate is working as a Teaching Assistant in a Herefordshire primary school. In the summer of 2019, Kate gained her First-Class degree in Learning Support from the University of Worcester.

After 20 years in Project Management in West Sussex, Mike Slade (Brook 1983) has taken early retirement and moved back to Oxfordshire where he is spending time helping to run the family farm.

World Speed Hair-Cutting Record On Sunday, 20 May 1984, Allen Cresswell, the School barber between 1971–2004, attempted to cut 100 boys' hair in four hours.

Royal Visitors at Dean Close School on 27 March 1981.

"May I kiss the hand of my future Queen?" Nick Hardy aged 18.

It wasn't even a close shave: he beat his own estimate by doing it in 2 hours, 55 minutes. The attempt began at 1.30pm with 25 boys sitting in a large arc, no doubt contemplating what they had let themselves in for. Central Television News was on hand to record part of this event, as were certain members of the press fraternity. In his marathon hair-cutting against the clock, he only had to go back once and he rested only once. No one had any complaints about the state of his hair afterwards. Allen raised £2,000 for the Crohn's Disease in Children Research Appeal.

In Spring 2022 Chris Bown (Gate 1980) is organising a couple of fund-raising dinner parties in London (Fulham) to raise funds for the Mankind Initiative. Chris is an accomplished Chef but will be assisted by Andy Needham, a Michelin starred Chef at Zafferano, there will be top notch food and wine (a number of bottles of the exceptional Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac 1997). If you are interested to find out more contact Chris at chris@techcitylondonuk.com

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

1970s Christopher Bacon, Jill Bacon, Lucia Turner and The Rev’d Christopher Turner pictured outside Dean Close House in 1979; the year that Christopher Bacon took over as Headmaster from Christopher Turner who had been in post since 1968.

Since the opening of Dean Close School (1886), the Senior School has had 10 Headmasters. The first being The Rev’d Dr W. H. Flecker, whom the Old Decanain magazine in named after.

Andrew Jessop (Dale 1978) writes: ‘After a year's delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was returned unopposed, as an IOM Green Party candidate in the recent Isle of Man local authority elections. I am now starting my fifth term of office, which is likely to be my last as I think it's probably time someone else took on the responsibility, and my eighth year as chair of the board.

On 3 August 2021, The Rev’d Christopher and Lucia Turner celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. They are pictured in the village hall as they arrived for their celebratory lunch party with family and friends.

Rod Bunten (Dale 1978) has retired from teaching and currently resides in Government House in South Australia as his wife, Frances Adamson, is the new Governor, the 36th Governor of South Australia.

Hopefully, by the time I 'retire' our authority's COVID-delayed £4m housing project will have new tenants enjoying the benefits of our investment in building apartments to higher than current building standards. The authority has also embarked on building a £7m flagship community hub, which encompasses sport, recreation, leisure and health facilities along with a nursery and new offices for the authority. Unfortunately, it has already suffered a few COVIDrelated impacts, not least material supply and cost issues, but I am determined to keep the project on track, which has been in the planning for as long as I have been

involved with the authority, and as close as possible to budget.

Following my wife's retirement from teaching, and 25 years in our previous home, we took the plunge and moved house just before Christmas 2020. Having discussed the sensible option of downsizing and moving closer or even into one of the towns or villages on the island, we ended up in a place slightly bigger and no less rural than before!

Whilst on the subject of common sense, needless-to-say, I have continued to ignore the fact I am getting old and more prone to injury and have managed to ride my motorcycles on a fairly regular basis, including at a number of race meetings through the summer.

However, COVID travel restrictions have ruled out the planned trips to the continent to compete in the FIM, 4-hour European Endurance Legends Cup events. Maybe next year and perhaps also a return to competing on the world famous, IOM TT Mountain Course.’

WINTER 2021 I FLECKER

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Omar Shams (Tower 1977) still works for Dubai Petroleum (in the UAE) and had an understated COVID-19 60th birthday last July. All of his children are in the UK either studying or working. He has no plans for retiring just yet and is still enjoying restoring old cars and bikes. Omar visited Dean Close a few years ago and toured the now unrecognisable School grounds with Jim Ward (Tower 1969), pictured here in the Chapel. Omar had the privilege to fly to the Ukraine two years ago to watch his daughter play rugby for England U21 Girls.

Lt Col Tony Ayres (Tower 1975) has been busy this year as Chair of the 'Imjin 70 Group’, which has been both commemorating and celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Imjin River fought during the Korean War in 1951. The role played by both the ‘Glorious Glosters’ (now Rifles) and 170 (Imjin) Battery Royal Artillery probably changed the course of the war and the history of South Korea.

Peter Howard (Gate 1976) and his mother, Jennie, came to visit Dean Close in August 2021. He was over from Kenya where he resides. On the tour, Peter was reminiscing about the Natural History Room where he spent many hours of his free time, as well as the Gate house dormitories and facilities.

Peter is a conservationist, author and photographer and works on UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites. You can find out more about his work at www.naturalworldheritagesites.org

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The events have included: a small service, broadcast globally (due to COVID) to commemorate the last day of the Battle on 25 April at Gloucester Cathedral; 26 September was ‘Part 2’ of the Service, which was in the presence of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and His Excellency, The Ambassador for South Korea amongst other dignitaries and embraced many hundreds of participants. It was followed by a march through the City by between 250 and 300 Regulars, Reservists, Cadets and Veterans, not only from the Glosters, RGBW and Rifles, but also the South Korean Veterans Organisation UK.

There have also been a number of sponsored runs, lectures and even a new film about the battle premiered at the Gloucester History Festival.

But it hasn’t only been about commemoration. It has been a celebration of modern South Korea and the strong relationships between Gloucester and the City of Paju in South Korea (site of the battle) at the 'Imjin Village’ event as part of the Gloucester Goes Retro on 28 August, including live music, folk dancing, military displays as well as an Imjin 70 Flag Day alongside a Korean food stand from a famous London Chef and the Imjin Bar. All in aid of the Soldiers of Gloucester Museum and other military charities.

Tony has had a great team supporting this complex programme and he would particularly like to thank the ODs on the team, including Steve Oxlade (Court 1973), Mike Motum (Court 1973) and Guy Woodcock (Dale 1977).

Tony is pictured above at Bisley.

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Five careers so far for Martin Bailey (Field 1973): l Ran his own publishing house.

l Head of Games at Hill House School.

l Head of ICT at Stroud High School for Girls, Morna International College in Ibiza and GEMS Hampshire School in Chelsea. l Teaching and Learning Education Consultant with the UK Government.

l He then tried to retire three years ago, got bored, reskilled (InDesign) and now works as Communications and Marketing Manager for Prima Medical.

Martin is pictured here with his wife, Lizzie, and three daughters, Emily, Lucy and Gaby.

Chris Gilliam (Field 1972) writes: ‘Since January 2020, I have been semi-retired but I am still working part-time as an archivist at Oxford Town Hall cataloguing the records of Oxford City Council since the Middle Ages (the archives not the cataloguing!). I have been working as an archivist for the Oxfordshire History Centre since 1997 (having transferred from my previous career as a History teacher in the UK and Holland). If anybody is interested to know more about the archives in Oxfordshire at the Town Hall or History Centre, I am happy to be contacted.

In June this year, I celebrated 35 years living with my partner/husband, Joel, and there is an interesting backstory to our relationship. We met in Norwich in 1986 when I was teaching in Colchester and Joel (who is American) was stationed at the US Air Force base at Lakenheath. In those days there were no civil partnerships and same-sex marriages were unheard of. Indeed, there were no mechanisms by which a same-sex partner from a foreign country could obtain legal residency in the UK (in fact an open approach to the Home Office was more likely to lead to instant deportation!).

Therefore, after consulting legal advice, we had no option but to leave the country and move to The Netherlands, which had a far more liberal policy of allowing the foreign partner in unmarried same-sex couples to live together under certain conditions. About the time we arrived there this policy was extended to all EU citizens, which enabled us to remain and build a life in Holland for the next seven years. Once Joel had obtained Dutch citizenship, we decided to return to the UK in 1994 and celebrated our civil partnership in 2006, which was retrospectively converted into a marriage in 2015!

This country has progressed in leaps and bounds for the LGBTQ+ community since the 1980s and I doubt whether same-sex couples would face similar legal obstacles to their relationships (although I know there are still many hurdles – and I'm not even sure I'm using the right acronym now!).’

Alan Price (Gate 1971) claims to be GB’s oldest international sportsman. Playing 1.25d (Penny-farthing) polo.

He captained Wales vs Rest of the World at Ham Polo Club on the morning of Sunday, 20 June. Unfortunately they lost. Then in the afternoon he played for England in the Calcutta Cup vs Scotland, and won!

In other news, Alan was not too happy when he received a parking ticket on his Pennyfarthing in Wadsworth!

Michael Parry (Tower 1971) is living in Perth, Western Australia. He has been retired for many years, and is enjoying spending the time playing golf, tennis and travelling. Michael is still in contact with Steve Collins (Tower 1972) and Tim Davis (Court 1972). They have both retired, with Steve living in Hampshire while Tim is still in Nairobi, Kenya.

Tim Davis (Court 1971) still lives in Kenya, just outside Nairobi.

Tim was a film producer for over 25 years when his career was cut short in 2012 when he had a heart attack. The heart attack came out of nowhere and also happened in the middle of nowhere when he and his wife were out in the bush in Tsavo National Park and had to seek air rescue. Thankfully, Tim is well recovered and thoroughly enjoying his retirement.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Hugh pictured here with Steve Coogan and Yasmin Mwanza Hugh Quarshie (Brook 1971) recently starred in Stephen, ITV’s threepart drama which tells the story of the Lawrence family’s fight for justice after the murder of their son in an unprovoked racist attack in 1993. Hugh played the role of Stephen’s father. Hugh also played the role of Neville Lawrence back in 1999 in the TV movie The Murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Neville Lawrence appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss the new drama and spoke highly of Hugh. Neville stated: “At one stage I was looking at the screen and I thought it was me actually there. He’s done a really good job. I’m really proud of what he’s done.”

In March 2019, Joseph Hudson III (Brook 1970) embarked on a round the world sailing trip through Tokyo, Saigon, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Abu Dhabi, UK and finally to Iceland.

Richard Denner-Brown (Gate 1970) has spent the last three and half years living at Peterborough Cathedral. His wife, Sarah, is the Canon Missioner in the Cathedral. Richard retired a number of years ago, but has kept very active with his collection of vintage and classic cars.

Richard and Sarah are now moving to Hereford Cathedral, as Sarah has been appointed as the new Dean.

When they moved to Peterborough, Sarah broke tradition by being the first female senior clergy in the Cathedral’s history. Now this is being repeated and Sarah will be the first female Dean in Hereford’s 1,300-year history. Her installation was on 2 October 2021.

Richard and Sarah have two adult children: Alice, currently working as a Musical Director in Guildford, and Edward, who is a final year vet at Cambridge.

Richard is still in contact with Nicholas Morison (Court 1970) in Canada, and Mike Lawrence (Gate 1972) who lives in Richard’s old home town of Penarth.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

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Paul Morris (Tower 1966) has written another book connected to his work as a missionary to the people of Israel, Be Mature In Understanding, which is published by Wipf and Stock. It aims to assist Jewish Christians to grow in their faith through studying all the major teachings of the Bible set in a Jewish context. He shared the work with two others, both mature Jewish Christians. It was one of those unexpected positives of the recent lockdowns that he was able to get on with writing with little personal distraction. Paul has retired from active missionary service and is now Chairman of the mission’s board of trustees (International Mission to Jewish People).

In 2020, Nigel Timson (Tower 1965) was appointed President of the children’s charity of rugby, Wooden Spoon. The charity supports children with disabilities who face disadvantage.

Visit www.woodenspoon.org.uk

John Redman (Field 1965) has been living in Limoges, France, since 1976.

Now retired but busy building guitars. John recently found the School 1st XV of 1964.

Back row, left to right: Forgotten, Sharp, Evans, Tongue, Bone, Hill, Clark, Forgotten and Forgotten.

Front row, left to right: Wickham, Sutton, Redman, Lane, Hutchinson and Teale.

Pictured left to right: Giles Winter (Walton Court 1965), Tim Winter (Walton Court 1957) and Jeremy Winter (Walton Court 1961), resting for coffee halfway along Glen Lyon, Perthshire … known as ‘the longest, loveliest and loneliest glen in Scotland’.

John apologises to those whose names he has forgotten; can someone help us with the three missing names?

John is pictured here in 2017 with Jean-Claude the French mascot.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

John Cookson (Court 1963) is the Development Dean of the Three Counties Medical School, which hopes to take its first students in September 2022. It's based in the University of Worcester but, as implied by the name, they shall be sending students to all parts of the three counties: Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, for their clinical experience. For more information, visit www.worcester.ac.uk/about/academic-schools/medical-school/

Robin Brown (Court 1962) wrote:

Neil Jenkins (Tower 1963) has spent lockdown writing his autobiography. Having been an opera and concert singer for the past 55 years, he has one or two good stories to tell about performance disasters in European opera houses.

There are also chapters about his time at DCS, and the charismatic Masters who believed in him and gave him musical opportunities.

The book entitled, Ballads, Songs and Snatches – can be purchased at www.barnendpress.co.uk

‘After leaving School, I worked for Midland Bank (now HSBC) for 15 years then joined Lombard North Central at Bristol Regional Office. I worked for the Credit Management Department, was a Regional Auditor for a year and was transferred several times, ending up working for their Head Office in Redhill in a managerial position as Advances Specialist. Whilst with them, I wrote and presented a securities course for all field staff covering securities, i.e. mortgages, guarantees and indemnities. The course was extremely successful and it earned me a Chief Executive's Award.

In my personal life, I am married with two children (twins) and spent many years as a leading member of the Cheltenham Playhouse Company, an amateur repertory company. Amongst the productions, I was in ‘Tom Jones’, in which I played the title role and it was so successful that it broke the theatre box office record. The cast of the professional Oxford Playhouse Company came to see the play. I also played Tom in a one-act play called ‘White Liars’ and Tom (again) in ‘The Knack’ which I co-directed. In addition, I played Lenny in Harold Pinter's ‘The Homecoming’, which is rarely performed by amateur societies. I was lucky enough to have critical acclaim for all these productions. I was also in several Old

Time Music Halls. I followed in the footsteps of my father, who was a singer, actor and director at amateur level, and also worked for the BBC for 17 years. At the end of that period, I was offered a permanent job with the Everyman Theatre company in Cheltenham, which I declined as they were not paying enough, even though it had been a lifetime ambition.

When I retired, I then worked as a jazz pianist in upmarket hotels and restaurants in East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Kent and was on the wedding circuit. A few years ago, I moved to Torquay and have just started playing jazz again in a pub there and it is my ambition to turn the pub into a jazz venue. Being a jazz pianist was also a lifetime ambition and I have been a keen follower of Oscar Peterson; in my opinion the greatest jazz pianist of all.

I recently wrote my autobiography but have decided not to get it published. However, if anyone is interested to read it, I can be contacted at robinbrown.jazzpianist@yahoo.co.uk and I will be pleased to email a copy.

That's all. I have lost contact with most of my friends from Dean Close and would love to make contact again if anyone is interested.’

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Nigel goes on to say: ‘Pop music was of course banned throughout the School, but I had my portable radio tuned to Radio Luxembourg every night and Chris Rigby and I managed one day to secure some extra-curricular activity when we saw Tommy Steele perform at the Odeon (or Gaumont – not the one directly in town). It was a memorable afternoon but not as memorable as when I went to Stratford with the School and was mesmerised by the actor playing Shylock in the ‘Merchant of Venice’. It has gone down as one of Peter O’Toole’s greatest performances and it opened my eyes to the wonders of the poet. Back at School, the staid English teachers tended to think it was a little over the top.

I must mention my kind and thoughtful Housemaster, ‘Daddy’ Moore, who had his hands full looking after 50 boarders and three teenage daughters. He did a good job.

So did my Scottish physics teacher, Mr Haig, who was the only person in the school who read The Manchester Guardian and introduced me to its lofty and challenging thoughts. But the one constant throughout my time at the School was the food. It was cordon bleu compared to my prep school and there was always plenty of it. Never any wine though!

In conclusion, I was a very run-of-the-mill pupil and, like most, made little mark on the School.’

Nigel Griffin (Court 1961) pictured here with his Canadian wife, Marilyn, was hoping to visit the School this year for the first time in 60 years and have a drink in the pub where he used to keep his Lambretta hidden from the Prefects. He writes, “I used it to escape into the glorious Cotswolds with Chris Rigby (obit 2015) on board, probably why I failed my exams. I have lived in Canada and Australia and travelled widely in Asia and Latin America. I collected two degrees and a PGCE as a mature student and lectured in politics, heritage and tourism studies. Now I spend my time hitting a little white ball badly, throwing pots a little better and cooking.”

Nigel goes on to highlight three memorable characters from his time at Dean Close, all of whom he has the greatest respect for.

‘The first is the ex-services boxer and Headmaster, the Rev’d Douglas Graham, known as ‘Jag’ because of the kind of car he drove. He was a dynamic leader, way ahead of his time in his anti-racism attitudes. He invited, in my time, the antiapartheid Bishop of Stepney, Trevor Huddlestone, to preach from the Chapel’s pulpit and stir our complacent ways.

The second was Denys Carnill, who was head and shoulders above any other teacher who taught me. He was a modern man who was very much aware that there was a different world outside the confines of the School and he wanted us to know about it.

The third being David Lepine, who held the boys of the entire School in the palm of his hand every Saturday morning in the Chapel as he taught them to sing in tune. He was an inspirational magician whose organ playing captured even myself, who tended to prefer the more down-to-earth delights of Chuck Berry and the Everly Brothers.’

Ian Bassett-Smith (Field 1960) has been elected Borough Councillor for Prestbury Ward with the People Against Bureaucracy Party. The term of office running from May 2021 to May 2024.

Mike Floyd (Gate 1965) has been living very happily in south-west France since 2008. One day, he passed out and fractured his skull in the resulting fall. He had no memories of the first two weeks and after another three weeks in hospital was discharged.

One of his first memories was of his visiting wife telling him that they had received registered post from the French Government announcing that they had become French Nationals. He wishes that he had put more effort into French with Billy Harwood in the Junior School!

Having spent much of his working life as a photographer for the Daily Mail, he now posts one photograph every day on Facebook.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

1950s John Harding CBE (Tower 1958) kindly accepted an offer from the School to adjudicate the coveted Dean Close Senior Critical Essay.

At a splendid dinner in November 2019, the winner was announced; Beth Ellison won first prize, with Felix Nelson and Sumire Kaimori being placed second and third. All of whom are now Old Decanians. Beth’s essay was titled ‘Is the left versus right still a useful way to think of the political divide?’ and discussed contemporary politics, the left vs right polarisation within the media and the need for inclusivity and cross-party awareness.

Ewen Bird (Walton Court 1956) writes: letters with him. Again, it brought home to me the lasting influences that good teachers have on our lives and the pleasure of getting in touch after so long with someone who, perhaps unbeknown to him, had given me a lot in a relatively short time.

Ian Ireland (Brook 1957) took part in The Big Walk, walking 26 miles in July to support men in Wales with Prostate Cancer. Ian raised over £1,000.

Ewen pictured here at the Sferisterio, Macerata, Italy – before a Verdi opera.

Rock icon, Brian Jones, founding member of The Rolling Stones, pictured here c.1952 in one of the Dean Close Junior School classrooms.

‘In the 2019 summer edition of the Flecker, I wrote a piece about how the influence of three Masters at the School had affected my life. David Lepine opened the door to an appreciation of music, especially opera, which has stayed with me all my life, while John Ridler for French and Dr. Morgenthal for German set me firmly on the path of a love of languages and the buzz of being able to communicate with a swathe of people across many countries. It led me also into the most interesting and fulfilling of careers, that of teaching, and eventually inspecting, modern languages.

Several weeks after the publication of that particular Flecker, I received a letter from the OD office marked ‘please forward’ and to my great surprise and delight it was from John Ridler! The letter started “I was amazed, amused, delighted, touched by your article …” and I felt somewhat guilty and shamefaced when he said he remembered some of the anecdotes I had recounted. I learned that he was now in his nineties and living in Brighton and I was so pleased to then have a further exchange of

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Even if I am now in my eighties, I still felt slightly uneasy in addressing him in a letter as ‘John’ instead of ‘Sir’, but common sense prevailed! We did have some things in common, especially choral singing, and of course, most of all, the career of teaching.

This is a job that has many positives and can give a real sense of achievement, but a situation which can bring you quickly back down to earth will always occur.

For example, I was inspecting languages in a Swindon school (many years ago) and was sitting in a French lesson watching a group of 11-year-olds learning how to say and ask how old a person is. “Quel âge astu? – J’ai onze ans.” The teacher practised it with them and then asked the group to work in pairs. This meant I could walk around the room and listen in. One pair of boys had stopped practising, so I bent down to one of them and asked “Quel âge as-tu?” to which he replied – correctly – “J’ai onze ans.” Then, looking me in the eye with a mischievous glint, said “Quel âge as-tu?”

Impressed by his boldness, I replied, trying to be clever, “J’ai cent (100) ans!” He looked hard at me, nodded sagely and turned back to his book. About 10 minutes later, near the end of the lesson, I found myself again standing behind him. He considered me with large eyes, studying me intensely and asked “Sir, are you really a hundred years old?!”

Oh dear! How are the mighty fallen and the clever clogs get their comeuppance!

Certainly time for a make-over, I thought, going down the stairs!’

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Christopher Kendall (Brook 1956) has put together the most fascinating narrative of his time in both the Dean Close Junior and Senior School. If you are interested to read this please contact the OD office and we will pass it on. The narrative includes: arriving at boarding school aged nine, PT with Major Golder, life within Fortfield, Rickerby and Caldecote Houses, Housemaster Moke / E. S. Hoare, Brook House, Chapel, Leckhampton Hill etc.

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1. The 1949 Dean Close Junior School Speech Day Christopher Kendall, aged 11, is in the second row, the third boy from the right and Alan Culpin is in the front row, third from the right. Note the preparatory mistresses in the sixth back and in the ninth row is Beaky Langhorne.

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2. Brook House Athletic Team, 1952. At the back in the centre is R J Killick and standing on the right is Christopher Kendall.

3. Brook House Swim Team, 1954.

Back row from left: Turnbull, unknown boy, Christopher Kendall, Dennison.

Front row is a senior Renfrew, and unknown boy, Wagga Shaw, unknown boy and Blackmore.

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4. Boys exiting Brook House Common Room.

5. Kendall sitting on his bed in his Brook House dormitory cubical.

6. Kendall on his racing bike outside Brook Common Room.

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7. March by parade and inspection of the Dean Close Senior School CCF contingent at Aldershot Camp, 1955.

Cadet Kendall second rank of the squad on the outside left.

8. Dean Close School Masters, 1952.

Back row left to right: David Lepine, G. V. ‘man’ Harries, Rev’d Tidmarsh, Denys Carnill, Major Parker, D. A. Barker, Neill, Hayes and Ridler.

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Front row left to right: Bursar, Kennedy, ‘Moke’ Hoare, unknown Lady, Horsley, Gilkes (Headmaster), Tuckwell, Brian, Moore, unknown, Girling.

9. Brook House,1954. Back row: Fourth boy along is Alan Culpin, then Blackmore, three unknown boys, Collier, Turnbull, Renfrew, Bridgeman, followed by two unknown boys at the end.

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Second row: Seventh boy from left is Christopher Kendall just below Alan Culpin and Collier in back row. Just below Kendall are two Prefects Rose to left and Head of House Jones, an unknown master, then two masters Moke Hoare and Man Harries.

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An update from John Blatchford (Walton Court 1955): ‘I set out from Walton Court in 1955 on a mixed career, initially in engineering, after most influential help from Dowtys while at School. Having trained to design and make hydraulic cranes, I was obliged to move into setting up a large pre-stressed concrete works at Wells, Somerset. The Grimshaw brothers were a great help when it mattered, gaining us two important jobs in Cheltenham. We prefabricated very large slabs used in the building of new universities, schools, factories, British Rail and MoD across the mainland.

A highlight was the sale of concrete to the East Germans in 1967 at the height of the Cold War. I had to go there to work until I aroused STASI interest and had to leg it. (Of course, I did not tell them I was a very active RE officer in the TA learning how to kill the pleasant chaps I was having drinks with!).

This was in parallel with a continuation from my CCF days at Dean Close into the Territorial Army – I was fully committed firstly in REME and then in RE. During a university vacation. I had worked for the Military Engineering Experimental Establishment (MEXE) Christchurch where Sir Donald Bailey was my first boss. So it was not surprising therefore that I applied this experience to my day job where we developed in concrete a range of Light Bridges.

In one year, we supplied nearly a bridge a week; the last stock was sold to St Cuthbert’s Paper Mill only three years ago.

That tied in neatly with my hobby of amateur painting, because one only uses their papers as they are the best in the world. Currently I am working on a set of ink and wash pictures of the local places of worship. As a long-serving Sidesman in Wells Cathedral, I renewed acquaintance with Bishop Jimmy Thompson (Tubby at DCS).

When I retired 25 years ago, I decided to occupy my time in our large, disused quarries, constructing a 30-gauge light railway, as one does, mainly from ex-Royal Navy Armaments stock – not that I am a railway 'buff'! For much of this period, the place was also a very active military training and experimental area. So we were laying rails beside soldiers on field exercises. The 'claims industry' has ruined that, like most things. The grandchildren are not interested and I am becoming incapable, so I am selling a mile-long railway with seven diesel locos. The trouble is that apart from enthusiasm, one needs space, funds and a keen, good engineer.’

Michael Wood (Gate 1954) was in contact with the OD office recently. When Michael was at School, he held the Senior Mile records, which was 4 minutes and 49 seconds and he was intrigued to see what the record was currently.

The mile is no longer run but the closest race run is the 1,500m, the record of which is currently held by Richard Hildick-Smith (Brook Court 2005) in a time of 4 minutes and 12 seconds. (1 mile is 1,609.34m.)

LITTLE TREES NURSERIES

A loving, nurturing and safe environment filled with warmth and promise

Arrange your personal tour today at www.deancloselittletrees.co.uk

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Christopher Hans White (Brook 1953) writes: ‘Having survived 35 years of the Royal Navy where the hours of Latin and Greek overseen by Mr Neale were not always in daily use, I felt that something like 55 years of wedded bliss and two children (one of each) entitled me to a little peace and quiet in the countryside, so I bought a smallholding in North Cornwall and quickly learned that sheep that were lying on their back with their feet sticking straight up in the air might be dead without obvious reason. I also learned that being entirely reliant on the whims of the weather gods was a humbling experience. My daughter won a scholarship to New College Oxford, which was what Mr Gilkes had hoped I might do, and my son having a degree in chemistry now makes far more money than I ever did working in IT. Following my 80th birthday, I retired again and now live in relative peace and quiet in Tavistock.

I attended the first of the Reunion Days but was the only one of my year present, but nonetheless much enjoyed the event and marvelled at the level of capital expenditure which had been spent since my day; the era of Mr Hoare and MAG Girling, with whom I got on particularly well because of my enthusiasm for the rough and tumble of rugby – that was before

they got rid of the sodden leather ball and the companionship of the loose scrum! At the age of 84 plus, I suspect that there are few of my generation of ODs still gracing the countryside – people like Paul Cornwell and Graham Jones, both Brook, who shared Mr Neale with me. I now look forward to the day when someone comes up with a form of WD40 which can be injected into hips, shoulders and legs, and I wish someone would stop moving the floor further and further away. My wife no longer enjoys perfect health and misses charging across Dartmoor on a horse, but she can still reach the floor to recover those things which I drop when cooking or washing up.

The highlight of my visit to the School was that when we were allowed a free wander around, I went into the classroom where I spent many happy hours with the intricacies of mathematics to find it had been made into two and in one was a young lady teacher (somewhat younger than my daughter) who was preparing for a History lesson. She vouchsafed the information that they were studying the Suez debacle of 1956 – that was the moment that I discovered that I was history (I have the campaign medal to prove it).’

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

1940s After seeing the picture of the old Brook House Common Room (taken in 1924) on page 28 of last year’s Flecker, Norman Tricks (Brook 1945) wrote into the OD office: ‘Interested to see photo of Brook Common Room, as I was there in WW2. It was the old chapel and certainly spartan. The partitions were to keep different years apart. The fives courts were nearby.

Stanley “Monkey” Hoare was Housemaster.

He also ran the OTC along with Sargent Major Golding. I was in OTC and also Home Guard. Around D-Day we had to guard the railway bridge on main road, not quite sure why and we established our guard post in old cricket pavilion on Chapel Close, which was up near main road. We took turns to be on watch and sleep in pavilion. All this while taking School Certificate. We were armed with old Lee Enfield rifles. The night of D-Day was full of planes flying over. We also led the Victory parade through Cheltenham and I was acting Drum Major.’

Julie Kline celebrated her 90th birthday at the Greenway Hotel & Spa with family, friends and past colleagues. Julie was the School Librarian and Japanese Interpreter for many years.

Julie is pictured here with her daughter, June.

Former Staff DRE’s walk/cycle to Uganda from Cheltenham!

In March 2020, David Evans set off on a virtual walk and bike ride to Uganda from Dean Close School to Nyakatukura Ibanda – c. 9,800km. The purpose … 'Supporting Nyakatukura Memorial Secondary School and the Reaching Orphans for Care child sponsorship scheme by providing educational opportunities for orphaned children and digital connectivity through technology.'

This journey ended on 18 March 2021 with a final few laps of the Big Field alongside student members of The Uganda Group and finished by raising the Nyakatukura and Dean Close flags together – next to the pavilion.

To find out more about our Uganda link, visit www.deanclose.org.uk/uganda-link. You can follow The Uganda Group on Instagram @dcsugandalink

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Julie Kent MBE – It was only a matter of time before Julie Kent was recognised for her services to charity! Not only because of her incredible work with the Emily Kent Charitable Trust, that she set up with Bern, but the endless list of charities that she has supported over the years.

The lucky charities that have Julie's focus with them at the moment include:

Pied Piper Appeal – Vice Chairman Cheltenham Open Door – Chairman Goals Beyond Grass – Trustee Dean Close School – After 30 years at Dean Close School.

Find out more at www.juliekentmbe.com

Congratulations to Patricia Napier who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours. The award was for services to Zambian communities; Patricia is Chair of Baynards Zambia Trust. Visit www.bzt.org.uk for more information on the charity. Patricia, a former parent, was Chair of Trustees at Dean Close School from 2001–2014 and still remains as a Dean Close Foundation Council Member (Member since 1996).

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Paul Yates has retired after 46 years of dedicated service to Dean Close School. Paul joined Dean Close Grounds team in January 1975 and was the longestserving employee Dean Close has had to date. He will be remembered as a hardworking, committed and friendly person. Paul had his leaving do in Dean Close House Gardens at the end of June 2021.

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NEWS FROM THE

ARCHIVES Despite the disruption of the last year, there has still been plenty of things happening.

On 13 May 2021, Dean Close School celebrated its 135th Anniversary since Dean Close Memorial School was officially opened. On that day, a service took place at St Mark’s Church to mark the occasion and a special lunch was held; the School was ready for business.

Originally, the building was only capable of housing 50 boys. It was half of the frontage it occupies today, as shown by this photograph. However, it rapidly expanded in both size and number. From the original 12–14 boys that arrived during the first term, only two years later the number had increased to 130. Consequently, during those two years the main frontage was extended and the School Room, now The Flecker Library, was added to accommodate the growing community. Today, there are over 900 children on the Cheltenham site alone.

Here is one of the early photographs of some of those boys from the confirmation class in 1889. It includes:

Edgar Stanley Vickers (DCS 1886 – 1889) Vickers emigrated to Australia in 1909 and was a volunteer Private in the 25th Battalion, Australian Infantry in WW1. He was killed on 4 July 1918, when he was one of 1,062 Australian casualties from the Battle of Hamel, which lasted just 90 minutes.

Arthur Ashfield Pilson (DCS 1887 – 1892)

Robert Earl Marshall (DCS 1886 – 1889)

Francis William John Webb (DCS 1886 – 1890)

Walter Buhner Tait Abbey (DCS 1886 – 1890)

Pilson joined the church after school, gaining his MA at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. In March 1900, he travelled abroad with the Church Missionary Society to Trinity College, Kandy in Ceylon, a boys’ school, to take up the position of Vice Principal. Tragically, he was not there long before he succumbed to typhoid fever at Nuwara Eliya on 30 April 1902, aged just 29.

After studying iron work at college, Marshall joined the family firm, R.E & C Marshall, who produced many ironworks in Cheltenham including the ‘Marshall urn’ from c1810, as featured outside the Municipal Offices on the Promenade. He was an active member of the local community belonging to the General Hospital Saturday fund, the local territorial force and played for Cheltenham Rugby Football Club and East Gloucestershire Hockey Club. He died in 1913, aged just 39.

Frank was friends with Marshall whilst at School, and achieved some notoriety when, in response to a ‘defiant challenge from another boy’, he fired a catapult shot through the portrait of Francis Close, hitting him in the forehead.

Apparently, ‘Flecker was not as amused as we were’. Frank became a solicitor in Hartlepool; he was President of the local and county Law Societies and Clerk to the county justices for 26 years until he retired at 77.

Having left Dean Close, Abbey went to Sandhurst finishing first of all the candidates in his year. He was later mentioned in despatches twice and was awarded a CBE in 1920 for military services in Burma.

He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

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This year in the

Archive Department...

Recreating the Past Archives thought it would be interesting to recreate a photograph of the Gate House Prefects wearing gas masks in 1945 using COVID masks. Dean Close Services, Dean Close House staff, Fawley and the Prep School all took part and in so doing produced some new material for the collection.

Building Work At Easter, building work commenced in the Senior School. Apart from some interesting graffiti, two large wooden doors were discovered hidden behind plaster work. A little research revealed they dated back to the early years of the School.

This is the Dining Hall in 1895 when it was located where the senior management team offices used to be. There appears to be an edge of a door to the left of the opening, suggesting the double doors were either pushed back or on a sliding mechanism. In 1898, when the new Dining Hall was built (where the IT Office is now), this space became a museum which featured in the first School Prospectus of 1899 (see below). The picture shows the doors closed, separating the two spaces.

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By the early 1900s, it had become the Library. You can see shields hung in the square panels.

In 1959–60, the Library moved to the new Beaufort Block (Science labs), and then, in 1997, to the old School Room which was remodelled and renamed The Flecker Library. Since then, the old Library room has been the Seminar room and later used as offices, and now, as part of the new Quad project, has undergone another transformation.

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Lieutenant Henry Greene During the Michaelmas Term, our thoughts turn to Remembrance Day, and so it was apt when in October the family of Henry Greene came to visit the School to see his name on the WW1 Memorial.

Henry was one of three brothers who attended Dean Close; George was the eldest and John the youngest. An interesting morning was spent revisiting the places that Henry and his brothers would have known and it really brought home how immediate World War 1 remains. Henry was half-brother to Mrs O’Flynn’s mother. Indeed, she still remembered Henry’s brother, John, who fought with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, visiting her mother during the 1950s and bringing with him bottles of bubble mixture to amuse his niece.

Henry arrived at Dean Close in the Michaelmas Term of 1904, leaving in 1909 to go on to Trinity College Dublin. He was already a serving officer when war broke out having chosen to join the Indian Army. He served in Egypt with his regiment, the 6th Gurkha Rifles, as part of the force defending the Suez Canal, before he was sent to join his Brigade at Gallipoli in July 1915. He was killed in action in the Battle of Chanuk Bair, or Sari Bair, on 21 August 1915. Every British officer in his battalion bar one, the medical officer, was killed or wounded. He was just 24 years old.

Armistice Day 2020 Dean Close, as have many schools, has marked Armistice Day since its inception.

Because of the way the dates of half term fell and the requirement to socially distance meant a necessary change from the usual Sunday service held in the Dean Close Memorial Chapel, which was dedicated on 1st November 1923. It was seen as fitting to hold a shortened ‘Drumhead Service’ on the lawn outside the Chapel. Poppy wreathes were laid onto the Drumhead as names of some of the 205 pupils who were killed in conflict since the start of WW1 were read. A single shot from a cannon and ‘The last post’ saw the beginning of the act of remembrance.

A number of pupils with families currently serving in the Forces read poems, prayers and thoughts to the School who had not conducted an act of whole school worship since lockdown moved us apart back in March. “It was fantastic to see pupils and staff come together to mark the two minutes’ silence in such a respectful and solemn manner today,” noted Major DD Evans OC CCF.

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The 1913 Dean Close School Hockey XI of whom five were killed in the Great War.

Standing: B. Reed, B Wreford (killed), S. Wreford, R. Johnson. Seated: J. Warren (killed), N. Herapath (killed), F. Hoare (Captain), B. Astley-Weston, V. Willington (killed). On ground: E. Gonner (Killed), M. Willington.

In total, 135 ODs lost their lives in World War One, 1914 – 1918.

The five boys that were killed were: WREFORD, Bertram William Heyman Died 23 April 1917, aged 22.

WARREN, James Lionel Andrew East Died 2 October 1915, aged 20.

The son of Dr Heyman Wreford and Catherine Wreford of Denmark Road, Exeter. Commissioned 2/Lieutenant in November 1914. Later Captain, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, killed in action, probably during an attack at la Coulette near Lens, France, when 230 Devonshires fell, which was a late phase of the Battle of Arras. Buried at La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, Vimy. Grave ref: IV F 19. Also on the Memorial in Denmark Road, Exeter.

The son of the late Rev’d J. A. F. Warren and Mrs Kathleen Warren of Auckland Road, Norwood, London.

Captain, 3rd Bttn attached 1st Bttn Welch Regt. During the Battle of Loos, he was reported to have been killed attacking the Hohenzollen Redoubt. His name is on the Loos Memorial, panel 77 and 78.

Wreford was at the School from April 1909 to March 1913, ahead of his younger brother. He was a Librarian and also debater. He held 1st XI cricket colours 1911-12; 1st XI football colours 1912 and 1st XI hockey colours 1913 and was also a good swimmer.

He left to go up to Pembroke College, Cambridge, before entering RMC, Sandhurst. (PF128/135)

Warren was at the School from September 1907 to July 1913, the elder brother of Decanian J. E. L. Warren . J. L. E. Warren was a School Prefect, Librarian, debater, Secretary of the Field Club 1912–13; cricket colours 1913, football 1912, hockey 1912–13, a Sergeant in the OTC; he won the senior Classical, Greek Testament and General Knowledge Prizes and the Leslie Young Leaving Exhibition (all in 1913); Classical Exhibition to St John’s College, Cambridge. (PF120/136)

If you have any questions for our Archives team, would like to donate to the archives or if you want access to The Decanian Online, please contact Grace Pritchard-Woods at: pritchardwoodsg@deanclose.org.uk

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HERAPATH, Norman Finnis Died 11 April 1917, aged 22.

The son of Major and Mrs E. L. Herapath of Homebush, Burnham, Somerset. Commissioned, 1915, 2nd Lieutenant, ‘H’ Coy, 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Mortally wounded, third day of the Battle of Arras, three miles east of the town. Name on the Arras Memorial, Bay 4.

Herapath was at the School from April 1907 to July 1914.

Youngest brother of Alfred (see above) and John Herapath, who survived, though wounded. NFH won the General Knowledge Prize 1914; Prefect, Librarian; XI cricket colours 1911–14 (Captain 1914); XI football colours 1911–13 (Captain 1913); XI hockey colours 1912–14 (Captain 1914); Sergeant in OTC. He was entering Queens’ College, Cambridge to read History when the war intervened so he ‘spent the autumn with the university and publicschool battalions’. (PF54/133)

The first OD known to have died in WW1 was: George Owen BIRCH who died on 14 September 1914, aged 19.

His platoon was escorting Brig-Gen Landon, Commander 3rd Infantry Brigade. At night, advancing through the Aisne countryside, his men were almost surrounded by the enemy. During hand-tohand fighting, a shell burst overhead, killing him.

WILLINGTON, James Vernon Yates Died 10 August 1915, aged 20.

The son of James and Alice Willington of St Kieran’s, Birr, King’s Co., Ireland. 2/Lieutenant, 6th Battalion, Leinster Regiment. He landed at Anzac (Dardanelles) early in August and was almost certainly caught up in the Battle of Chunik Bair in which, after early success, many in the Allied forces in that battle were killed in an Ottoman Empire forces counter attack on 10 August. His name is recorded on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsular, Panels 184 and 185.

DID YOU KNOW? Willington was at the School from January 1909 to July 1913 at precisely the same time as his younger brother. He won School XI hockey colours in 1913 ‘... one of the best outside lefts the School has had ...’ and 2nd XI football colours in 1912.

(PF125/131)

GONNER, Edward Maurice, MC Died 23 April 1917, aged 22.

The son of the Rev’d and Mrs P. Gonner of Yew Tree Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Captain, 16th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, mortally wounded in the Battle of Arras, in an attack his battalion supported against the formidably fortified Hindenburg line in the Sensee valley. Name on Bay 7, Arras Memorial, Faubourg-d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras.

Gonner was at the School from May 1909 to July 1914.

Prefect, Librarian and Curator, he held both 1st XI football and hockey colours 1913 and 1914; gymnastics and 2nd XI cricket colours 1912, 1913 and 1914; active debater; Chapel reading prize winner, 1914. Then to Lincoln College, Oxford, to read History. Never knew he was an MC winner as the list was published posthumously. (PF43/135)

The Dean Close School Chapel The permanent Chapel, aligned north and south rather than the more usual east and west because of the railway, was significantly larger than the temporary Chapel dedicated in 1909. The latter was 69ft long and 30ft wide, whereas the new building was 100ft long, 34ft wide and 54ft high to the roof ridge. It had been hoped to build it in Cotswold stone; however, the cost proved prohibitive, so it was built in brick although stone edging is to be found around the tall window openings.

Cheltenham architect L.W. Barnard designed it.

The Vestry and Chaplain’s Room date from 1954. The additional room beyond was for Natural History in memory of the Rev’d E.V. Tanner. The balcony, with its spiral staircase in an external turret, was completed in 1964 and was paid for by the Friends of Dean Close Chapel.

The Gonner Prize at Commemoration is in his memory.

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NEWS FROM THE

SCHOOL Michaelmas Term There are a few things that are sacred in the rhythms, routines and rituals of Dean Close.

Almost all of these were subjected to change this year. Chapel services took place in year groups and without singing. The usual House structure was thrown in the air, with year group Houses replacing our traditional cross-year communities. The members of Brook Court, for example, gave up their accommodation and House staff to the boarding boys of the Lower Sixth (Year 12) and Remove (Year 10), under the name of Yew House; all of the Upper Sixth Day pupils came together in Juniper House in the accommodation that was, until the new Day Houses were created, Mead. With no matches against other schools, no performances of plays or music concerts, it was different, to say the least.

and pupils threw themselves into all manner of creative ways to keep the momentum going. Online rehearsals, exercise classes, tutorials, Bible studies and concerts supplemented the daily diet of academic lessons. In spite of the commitment shown by members of the community during this term, the physical separation took its toll on some as they missed out on the day-to-day social contact that is so vital to our flourishing.

One group that did seem to thrive were the 50 or so boarders that stayed in Gate and Shelburne House for the term. After lessons in the morning, this collection of overseas pupils and the children of key workers had the run of the School and made the most of the facilities and the relative freedom that they enjoyed.

Trinity Term

An update form the Dean Close School Headmaster, Bradley Salisbury.

In a normal year, each term has its own characteristic, which is defined by the amount of daylight, the activities, proximity to exams and the weather. This year, each term was completely different, with the pupils, teachers and parents responding and adapting to the many different seasons created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But we rediscovered some of the joys of playing sport for sport’s sake, in pupils getting to know pupils and staff that they have not normally had the chance to. We realised that after a term of lockdown there is real pleasure to be found in the small things.

From time spent in the classroom, gatherings in House, conversations over lunch and playing sport with people you haven’t trained with for years.

Throughout this year, we set out to look after pupils who were unable to return home due to quarantine and border restrictions. An incredible team of staff took time out of each and every holiday, Half Term and Exeat to look after a group of about 30 pupils. Many of the boarders were unable to return home for the entire academic year and a few had not been home since the previous year. They were an absolute joy to spend time with and coped with missing home and the various activities laid on by the staff with incredible grace.

Lent Term The Lent Term was tough. With all schools in the UK closed for the term, we returned to the online programme that we had first used in the summer of 2020. This time, the days were shorter, darker and colder but the staff

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It was great to be back together in school and with a return to normal Houses. It is probably fair to say that the number of complaints that were filed regarding the initial move to year group Houses was matched by the number who really enjoyed their time together as a year. Not everything returned to normal, but we were able to play fixtures against other schools and enjoy two superb drama productions, a wonderful end-of-year concert and a very special Speech Day. The pressure that the A Level and GCSE candidates and their teachers faced as they prepared for their assessments to be submitted to the exam boards was significant. For the pupils, there was something of a death by a thousand cuts, as each piece of work felt important. For teachers, they had to step back from their role as teacher and coach to become an unbiased judge, considering all of the evidence before them.

Looking back at the year, it is certainly not a year that I would like us to go through again.

We missed so much of what we love. But the enforced changes gave us a chance to look at ourselves with fresh eyes; to see the things that really are important, to appreciate the small things and to marvel at the strength of the entire Dean Close community.

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Students celebrated outstanding A Level results, with 95% of Leavers having already secured places on their chosen university courses.

Headmaster Bradley Salisbury pays tribute to the students: ‘I am delighted with the confirmation of our outstanding A Level results at Dean Close, reflecting the hard work of both students and staff over this globally turbulent two years. It has been a joy to see the expressions on the faces of the students when uncertainty is replaced with certainty and they realise their hard work has paid off; humbling to be reminded that school days are really not the ‘be-all-andend-all’, but the gateway to so many exciting new opportunities that lie ahead for these young people.

Dean Close welcomes leading Cheltenham Prep School into the Foundation.

From September 2021, Airthrie became part of the Dean Close Foundation, which currently consists of four schools and a family of Little Trees Nurseries. Airthrie is a prep school for children aged 3–11, and is suitable for parents seeking a small, nurturing environment for their child.

‘We are delighted to welcome Airthrie School into our diverse family of schools and nurseries. The Dean Close Foundation has one simple aim; to see every member of its community flourish. The Foundation is a growing, vibrant and diverse family of schools and nurseries, uniting around a shared vision and values,’ says Emma Taylor, Warden and CEO of the Dean Close Foundation.

This year, with the best set of GCSEs the School has seen under their belts and a host of very capable new students joining the year group, the Upper Sixth completed four terms of onsite lessons, two terms of online lessons and a set of exams, tests and assessments to build evidence for teachers to submit grades to the exam boards. This year’s results are firmly based on the evidence of skills and knowledge that have been demonstrated in a range of settings from the traditional exam hall to in-class tests and extended coursework and our students have done brilliantly.

With 83% of grades at A* to B, 64% at A* or A and 18 (out of 86) individual pupils with three A*s or better, this year group have done exceptionally well.

A significant amount of credit must go to our teachers who have had to dig very deep over the last 18 months, learn all sorts of new ways to communicate and cajole and then cap it all off with a data interrogation that resulted in a very fair set of outcomes for this year group.

These results measure academic outcomes. What they do not capture are the distinctive characters that have now left Dean Close to have an impact beyond these shores. Many acts of kindness have taken place, deep friendships have developed and moments of great courage have been endured. These and so many other qualities, combined with individual academic achievement, encapsulate how much the Class of 2021 have made of themselves in their time at Dean Close.’

Previous owner and Principal, Beth Sullivan says that it will be ‘beneficial, to one and all in the Airthrie family both now and in the years to come’.

The Foundation structure is designed to ensure that the Head of each school is able to focus on provision of the highest-quality education and that he or she knows each child and family personally. This brings the benefits of being both small and large at the same time with schools and nurseries that are small enough for every individual to count and every contribution to be valued, whilst the Foundation itself is large enough to provide financial stability, professional expertise and strategic planning.

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Music Success

Recent music success at Dean Close includes a total of five post-Grade 8 Diplomas being awarded to our talented musicians: Tom (OD, Singing), Oscar (U6, Clarinet), Ivan (Yr 10, Piano) and one for each instrument for Michael (Yr 11, Piano and Violin).

Michael has also successfully passed through two rounds of auditions for the National Youth Orchestra and has been invited to attend their Christmas training course. Around 35 violinists out of many thousands auditioning are offered full places with NYO each year; those already in the orchestra have to re-audition annually. Members include the top violinists from all the UK’s specialist music schools. Michael is also slightly underage as most students apply in the Sixth Form, when they are over 16. Within this context, it’s a huge an achievement to be asked to join the setup (although Michael is characteristically modest and downplays his success).

Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum Dean Close Preparatory School, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Abbey were delighted to announce a historic change to their chorister programme. From September 2021, chorister places in Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum will, for the first time, be open to both young girls as well as boys.

This exciting step presents an equal opportunity for young boys and girls of all ages and backgrounds to have access to the outstanding musical training that being a chorister brings, alongside a first-class education at Dean Close Preparatory School. This year, opportunities are open for girls and boys to begin as choristers in Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum in Years 4, 5 and 6 in September 2021.

In a significant first for both Tewkesbury Abbey and Dean Close Preparatory School, the change will mean that boys and girls will have the opportunity to sing alongside one another on a daily basis.

For more information on how to apply for a choristership for your daughter or son, please contact the Admissions department at Dean Close Preparatory School on 01242 258001 or email dcpsregistrar@deanclose.org.uk

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Helen’s husband, Michael, and daughter, Amy, pictured outside the Helen Porter Hall.

Helen Porter Hall After the annual Summer Concert (formerly known as ‘Common Concert’), the Headmaster was able to announce that the Trustees and Warden had supported the Music department’s request to rename the Prince Michael Hall, the Helen Porter Hall. After the concert, staff and pupils gathered outside the Helen Porter Hall to remember the muchloved Director of Music.

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The Importance of Being Earnest This was a classy, polished and appropriate farewell to pupils who have served the department well over the years

Drama Scholars decided some time ago that, COVID or no COVID, come hell or high water, they were going to put on a top-class, copper-bottomed production. And so they did. Wilde's masterpiece fitted their number and their casting beautifully, and they gave two stylish (and definitely not sincere) performances to a socially distanced crowd in the Bacon Theatre – the intended venue of the Tuckwell sadly being rained off. This was a classy, polished and appropriate farewell to pupils who have served the department well over the years – and had been cruelly deprived of showing off their skills in the last 18 months. We say farewell to Grace and Ethan (both Heads of Drama), and Matt, Lily, Tom, Beth, Sydney and Georgie. This was an absolutely top-hole cast and performance, of the kind that only experienced and talented drama scholars can give: we wish them all well and send them off with Oscar's witticisms ringing in their ears and memories.

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An update from the Director of Sport at Dean Close School, Greg Baber-Williams. he last 16 months have been challenging to say the least and when we reflect on what has been missed, it reinforces, if nothing else, the important role that sport and physical activity plays in our overall state of health and wellbeing.

T

We went from the reflective highs in March 2020 of playing fixtures against other schools and within the blink of an eye, schools shut and we were very much at a new low, where sport and physical activity was put on hold for the nation.

Pupils did not get to play in the teams that they had spent their whole year preparing for, big moments were missed and a term of sport bypassed. We missed the opportunity to see our U18 boys’ hockey and rugby teams make school history and compete in their respective national final fixtures, due to be played in the same week. These were fantastic achievements at the time and whilst we have been awarded the accolades of joint national winners in both, the experience that those pupils would have had was a significant omission amongst many other moments that meant so much to pupils at many levels.

Not knowing how long the pandemic was to last, we witnessed virtual sports days and weekly challenges for the pupils to engage with. As the term went on and as things started to open for sport once more, we saw the return of equestrian events and elite-level sport for many of our pupils. It was a credit to the pupils and the support given that they were still in a position to compete at the highest levels.

As we returned to school in September, it was still a great unknown for the world of sport, with ‘roadmaps’ and ‘protocols’ proving to be the key focus. Schools were collaborating to try to establish a common ground should fixtures resume and without doubt the greatest relief was that the Department of Education fully supported school sport and physical activity, and we certainly wanted it back.

It was a term of ‘year group bubbles’ participating in rugby, hockey, tennis, cricket and many more, with a real focus on inclusion, skill development and most importantly fun. It was great to have pupils and staff back on site and it was evident that the pupils really appreciated the opportunity to be active once more, but also to be amongst likeminded people, doing the things that they love. It was soon clear that we were not going to return to fixtures at any point soon, as cases started to rise, and the pupils were magnificent in their understanding, resilience and commitment to keep developing.

It was a challenge for us all on many levels, after all the planning and hope for the new term, that we learnt we would not be coming back to school in January and we were to have another national lockdown. With the directors of sports each leading daily live online coaching courses for each year group in all our core sports, as well as offering live exercise classes every day, pupils had access to over 50 hours of live content per week and the engagement in these sessions was superb. I must thank the directors of sports for the way that they adapted and demonstrated a huge amount of creativity to keep the online content relevant and engaging.

Many amazing triumphs have still been achieved and we should not ignore the reality that a lot of pupils have had to demonstrate a great deal of resilience and determination

England Hockey – Richard Swan, Edward Stevens, Anna Payne, Charlie Harris, Lorna Willmott

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Wales Hockey – Theo Bancroft (U21) Connie Davies (U16)

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Interschools NSEA Showjumping Competition

Gloucester Rugby Scholarship Contracts James Pollard, Bertie Taylor, Jack Park have been retained on a EAP contract.

The sun shone on the Interschools NSEA Showjumping event held at Rectory Farm on 24 June 2021. For the first time the event ran both a Grass Roots ring and the Main Arena, with National and Elite Qualifiers.

We returned to school and, after three weeks of hockey and netball, we were met with the Summer Term. Whilst the opportunity to compete in many events, such as the Bath and Otter Swimming Relay, and although all athletics fixtures were cancelled, finally, we felt able to look forward with optimism. It is with great appreciation that we are playing cricket and tennis fixtures against other schools once more, and seeing our equestrian team competing at the highest level. It has been an amazing sight and one that was maybe taken for granted, seeing the fields, courts and AstroTurfs full of pupils playing sport and challenging themselves against others once more.

The Dean Close riders, in the heat once again, produced some fabulous riding. In the 90–95cm, we jumped three teams. They all went well and there were some gusty performances from our younger riders. The team of Bella, Mimi, Alice, Year 12 and Emily Year 13 produced the only school team clear of the day and take the win and their third consecutive National qualification. Bella was individual second.

The team of Bella, on her second horse, and Katherine and Freddie (Year 9), took team fourth and

qualified for the NSEA Plate Championships, a great achievement for the young team and horses.

The 1–1.05m was a tough track with poles dropping for even our most-established combinations. It was the younger riders who kept their cool to ride great rounds to take team second and book their place to the NSEA National Finals; Oliver Year 11, Katherine and Gabriel (DCPs) and Bella.

Mimi, Alice, Bella and Emily took team fifth and their place to the NSEA Plate Championships.

It was a real delight to have Oliver back in the team and in the 1.10m horse. He showed great skill in taking individual fifth place over a tough track and booking his place at the NSEA Plate Championships.

Many amazing triumphs have still been achieved and we should not ignore the reality that a lot of pupils have had to demonstrate a great deal of resilience and determination over the year to keep motivated in many ways. We are exceptionally proud of the pupils at Dean Close and how they have adapted throughout the year, it has not been easy by any means, and we are delighted to be able to recognise (at the back of what has been a very tough year) some fantastic achievements within our pupil body.

Outside of the names mentioned in the specific sports reports, it is important to congratulate the following pupils past and present who have represented their country and achieved professional recognition in the last 18 months. A fantastic achievement given the year endured.

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Code-Cracking Competition To celebrate the exciting development of the new Maths and Business Centre all Senior School, pupils were invited to take part, in teams of four, in the Dean Close Code-Cracking competition to win £200!

Nine teams entered and tackled the difficult quiz under exam conditions. At the end of the allotted time, three teams were tied. Deputy Head, Mr Hole, sent the teams away and using whatever means necessary, those teams were then able to submit the remaining answers to him.

The most correct answers in the fastest time were the winners.

Nigel Owens, MBE gives inspirational talk

The winning team (of three as one team member was unwell) were Cherissa, Jamie and Charlie.

When asked by Mr Hole what they might spend their winnings on they responded, “the GCHQ puzzle book” to continue code cracking! Congratulations to the winners and all who took part.

Wednesday Webinars During the Trinity Term, Dean Close School was fortunate enough to virtually welcome some of the biggest names in sport, television, business and academia to our Wednesday Webinar Series.

Thanks to their friendships with Director of Cricket, Mike Powell, pupils, staff and parents were invited to enjoy chats with the accomplished Rugby Union players, Dr Jamie Roberts and Sam Warburton, actor Charles Dale, Gerard Elias CBE QC, presenter Gethin Jones and Entrepreneur Hayley Parsons OBE. The speakers gave a unique and personal insight into their journeys from school days to their immensely successful careers, the skills and attributes that have enabled them to flourish and all were very happy to answer questions from pupils and parents.

The whole School gathered to listen to a talk from Nigel Owens, MBE. For those who don’t follow the sport of rugby, Mr Owens has refereed more international rugby matches than anyone else, including the World Cup final in 2015. The story that he told pupils, however, was about his upbringing and the extreme battles he had with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and identity. As he went through his teenage years in a small village in West Wales, Mr Owens came to the realisation that he was gay. This created a huge internal conflict for him as he wrestled with finding a way to balance the views of his society and social group and how he was feeling. Eventually this led to him attempting to take his own life.

The contrast between the iconic rugby referee that we see on our screens and this image of a young man taken to his lowest point had a big impact on many of the pupils and staff listening. The lessons that Nigel shared with us centred on the importance of sharing our anxieties and fears, in being good friends to one another and in not trying to make ourselves perfect. It was one of those special talks that seems to have come at the right time for many.

Mrs McShane said, “It was a real privilege to be involved in the event and to ask Nigel such excellent questions put forward by our School community. I am sure his talk has had a hugely positive impact on both staff and pupils alike.”

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OLD DECANIAN

EVENTS

DEAN CLOSE U6 PREPARE WEEK Thank you to all those Old Decanians that supported the Upper Sixth with their transition to university, future training and life beyond Dean Close. ‘Prepare week’ was held between the 14 June and 18 June 2021. The programme included online courses, further study and live events. The ODs below led sessions in the following areas.

Property and Development George Tatham-Losh (Dale 2007)

GENERATIONS

Threat Protection and Data Security Fay Jaffar (Mead 2015)

Business and Finance

In preparation for journalism apprenticeship applications, Sixth Form pupil Sydney had been fortunate enough to interview some incredible Old Decanians. Learning more about their fascinating careers and how their schooling here prepared them for their futures. The 10–15-minute interviews were released throughout April via the Old Decanian Society’s social media.

Max Wellstead (Brook Court 2019) and Hannah Mitchell (Fawley 2014)

Politics and Participation Charlotte Ivers (Hatherley 2013)

Medicine Dr Alexandra Lowden (Shelburne 2012)

The interviewees were:

Hugh Quarshie (Brook 1971), who is best known for his appearances in Star Wars, Casualty, Holby City and his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Dom Faulkner (Field 1986) who is known for his leadership of EVERESTMAX, one of the most ambitious and successful British expeditions.

Political Advisor, Lecturer and Author Emma Sky OBE (Shelburne 1986), Emma served in Iraq as the political advisor to US General Ray Odierno and General David Petraeus during the surge in 2007.

Journalist, Photographer and Filmmaker Jack Losh (Dale 2006) where we got to find out what has inspired Jack to report on conservation, humanitarian issues and traditional cultures.

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The Old Decanians win the Edward Harris Cup by three points at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

This year's line-up for the Edward Harris Cup (first played in 1938) included Old Breconians, Old Malvernians, Old Bromsgrovians, Old Cheltonians and Old Wycliffians.

The Old Decanian team consisted of Robert Hornby (Field 1967), Ian Bevan-Jones (Tower 1972), Jon Sidebottom (Brook 1997), Alasdair Carroll (Court 1984), Ali Smith (Field 2003), Alex Hume (Dale 2002), James Ford (Dale 1980) and Jack Ford (Dale 2010). With supporters Jeremy Winter (Walton Court 1961) and Brian Wilson.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

OLD DECANIAN CRICKET REPORT 2021

by Jeremy Winter (Walton Court 1961) (ODCC Hon. Secretary)

ODCC vs The Gloucestershire Gipsies

2000 Kenya Cricket Tour Remembered The Glos. Gipsies’ match for the Doctor’s Trophy was hard fought as usual but the ODs batting had a poor pre-lunch session losing seven wickets, but fought back thanks to D Williams, 54 and B Shears, 22 to total a slightly under par total of 177 all out in the end.

Ollie Horne and Nick Anderson led the fight back with aggressive successful spells ably supported by the off spin of Ryan Hill, whose three wickets halted the Gipsies progress and at 76-6 the ODs looked favourites. However, the Gipsies lower order of Newman and Coley took advantage of some loose overs and the game at the end could have gone either way. The Gipsies needed 18 in the last over but they fell 3 short in the end and a drawer was the final result.

Those of us who experienced this adventure will never forget it, and it was the initiative of the skipper of that side, Nick Anderson, who over the last two years has been the organiser and power force behind arranging the match this year to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the School Tour to Kenya in 2000, under the Master i/c Chris Townsend, now Headmaster at Felsted School.

The event was originally planned for 2020, of course, but COVID-19 put a stop to that. The match to be between an OD side and XI of the School Kenya tourists captained by Nick Anderson. It is a tribute to him that so many of the tour party, including Chris Townsend, supported the match by attending and playing.

We also welcomed to the match George Walker’s father, Alan, who was with us throughout the tour.

Nick had Kenya Tour Reunion playing shirts for all his side.

In the 45 over a side match, the ODs batted first, totally 181 all out. Five of the six tour bowlers had successes: Chris Townsend, 3-27, Gavin Curry.

2-8, Brad Mears 2-20, Nick Anderson, 1-17 and Tim Chamberlain, 1-37. The Kenya Tour side lost Alex Hume, current OD Alumni Secretary, early but a great stand of 77 between Brad Mears, 46 and Mark Whitney, 55, put the tourists on the winning road and Nick Anderson’s 37 not out saw them home with 4 overs to spare.

The School caterers put on a superb post-match barbecue for all players, officials and spectators, and with a drink or two, all enjoyed the old tour photographs, tour memorabilia and many stories and adventures were recalled.

Earlier in the Summer Term the usual OD match against the School 1st XI Speech Day game had to be held as a T.20 match on the Sunday. Sam Norwood skippered the young OD side but lost the toss and Jason Richards and Matt Court opened the bowling for the ODs, the latter successful in his first over. Both he, Ollie Horne and Archie Benson bagged two wickets each but there were a number of useful contributions from the School side and a total of 138 was the final target for the ODs.

Once again, the School caterers prepared another superb post-match barbecue for all and Club President Rupert Lane congratulated both sides for setting up such a close finish for all to enjoy.

Those OD players taking part in the matches, commencing with the Kenya Tour side were: Chris Townsend, Nick Anderson, Alex Hume, Mark Whitney, George Walker, Gavin Curry, Joe Jenkins, Matt Shayle, Joe Lane, Tim Chamberlain, Brad Mears, George Lane, David Masson, Anthony Thompson, Ollie Horne, John Nicholson, Ryan Hill, Sam Norwood, Will Sharp, James Hunt, Matt Court, Archie Benson, Jason Richards, Ollie Smart, Nils Philip-Sorensen, Jamie Slatter-Drinkwater, Luca Cappuccini and Jacob Melville-Smith.

Left to right: Robert Reed (Brook 1962), Mike Bawden (Gate 1965), Mike Wigley (Court 1967), Jeremy Winter (Walton Court 1961) and Rupert Lane (Gate 1962).

Sam Norwood was top scorer with 28, ably supported by Will Sharp, 25 and Ollie Horne, 25 but they fell behind the required rate despite a late rally the School XI were victorious by 13 runs.

Apart from the Speech Day Sunday game, and the Kenya Tour Anniversary match, the usual two other cricket week games versus Dumbleton and Glos. Gipsies, were scheduled, but sadly the Dumbleton one had to be cancelled with both sides struggling to raise sides for a full afternoon game. In 2022, it will become an evening contest.

Mike Wigley (Court 1967) has been sorting through his shed recently. He found some of his old cricket bats, starting with the size 5 Jim Parks Gray Nicholls, which was his first bat at the Prep School and progressing to my final bat ‘The Newbery’.

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DEVELOPMENT

F U T U R E S C A M PA I G N

Our Campaigns The Development Office is responsible for driving fundraising to enable the Foundation to deliver an extra layer of benefit for all those that study and work at the School. The team comprises of Alex Hume, Head of Development and Alumni and newly appointed Development Gift Manager, Francesca Burgess.

We are pleased to report that this academic year, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, has been a great success and we are overwhelmed by the generosity displayed by the Dean Close Community.

FOUNDATION AWARD RECIPIENT COMPLETES HIS TIME Will Kennedy, the first Foundationer who was supported by the parents of the Class of 2018, has now successfully completed his time with us. During his time at the School, Will studied Maths, Chemistry and Biology at A Level and now has hopes to go on to study Veterinary Science at Cambridge, Edinburgh, Nottingham or Glasgow universities. He has taken several work placements in preparation for this, as well as having spent several holidays working on local farms; at the moment he sees himself as a vet for farm animals.

Foundation Awards The Foundation Awards are now in their third year and we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved so far. Since 2018, our community has supported us in our goal to widen access to the School and give opportunities to talented young people who can benefit from our unique style of education.

Will reflects on the time he spent at Dean close. “I just want to say a massive thank you for the opportunity that has been provided to me, I never thought studying at Dean Close would be possible; I have had such an amazing time over the past two years. The environment that Dean Close provides really enabled me to flourish in all of my subjects and extracurricular activities. This has enabled me to fulfil my potential and hopefully pursue my dreams of one day becoming a vet.”

Thank you to all those that support our Foundation Awards and who make opportunities like this possible.

Cornerstone Society If you have left, or are thinking about leaving a Legacy to Dean Close in your Will, you are eligible to join the Cornerstone Society.

For more information and to receive and invite to our Legacy event happening in the New Year hosted by the Warden, please contact Development Gift Manager, Frankie Burgess.

Telephone: 01242 267446 Email: fburgess@deanclose.org.uk

We are immensely grateful for all the support this year and move into next year with increasing confidence and ambition.

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If you would like more information on supporting the Foundation Awards or would like to pledge your support for our upcoming projects, please contact Frankie on fburgess@deanclose.org.uk or call 01242 267466.

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21 Century Campus

Giving Day for the 1886 Centre On Friday 7th May, the Development Office launched its first-ever Giving Day. The hugely successfully 24-hour online event saw several members of the Close Community come together support the redevelopment of the front corridor of the main school building, which is now home to Mathematics, Business and Economics.

Together, several donors raised over £500,000 which enabled the Foundation to deliver on this ambitious project.

The creation of this state-of-the-art teaching facility will ensure that Dean Close can encourage excitement and collaboration in these subjects; for our pupils, as well as for the pupils of our partnered schools in Cheltenham. We owe enormous thanks to the ODs, parents, former parents, staff, former staff, Council members, Trustees and friends that supported us in the creation of this inspirational learning space.

“It is an honour to have the opportunity to support the continued development of the STEM subjects at Dean Close. It is such an exciting area at all levels now and in the future, so Dean Close having the ability to teach in top class facilities is just brilliant.” Richard Hildick-Smith (Brook Court 2005)

SUPPORT FROM A LEGACY GIFT Peter Lynam’s (Gate 1946) generous Legacy gift was utilised for the redevelopment and we are pleased to be able to honor his legacy on our donor board, which will be displayed along the front corridor in perpetuity.

The completion of this redevelopment is an important milestone in our 21st Century Campus campaign; a phased programme of new building work and refurbishment to transform our teaching and learning at

the School. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event, we are looking forward to welcoming the donors back on Saturday 11th December 2021 for the official opening, as well as embarking on Phase 2 of Academic Quad Redevelopment.

If you would like to read Peter Lynam’s obituary, please contact the Development Office.

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OLD DECANIAN

OBITUARIES Roll of Remembrance 2020 -21

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Forename

Last Name

House

Class of

Peter

Anstis

Staff

1995 – 2017

John

Asquith

Court

1962

Kenneth

Broad

Gate

1935

Nigel

Dimmer

Tower

1963

Ted

Dowty

Tower

1956

Bill

Gall

Walton Court

1942

Roy

Giles

Staff

1956 – 1960

Mike

Gorton

Tower and Field

1961

Jon

Green

Walton Court

1948

Simon

Griffin

Field

1977

Laura

Hanks

Mead

2001

David

Havard

Tower

1945

James

Hill

Field

2003

Peter

Jefford

Walton Court

1946

Colin

Leigh

Walton Court

1939

Darren

McMullen

Gate

1997

Richard

Nelson

Dale

1984

Nigel

Pitt-Evans

Field

1959

Helen

Porter (née Kingcott) Staff

1987 – 2019

Ray

Richards

Tower

1945

Nigel

Robinson

Tower

1951

Bill

Spreadbury

Staff

1983 – 1988

Samuel

Thornton

Dale

1983

Christopher

Tonge

Field

1964

Geoffrey

Watt

Brook

1968

Noel

Witts

Court

1956

Anne

Whitney

Friend

N/A

Frank

Williams

Brook

1963

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Dr Peter ANSTIS (Former Common Room Staff 1995 – 2017) Died 27 July 2019, aged 76.

Peter worked at Dean Close from 1995 to 2017 and is remembered by many for his brilliant scientific knowledge and very dry sense of humour.

Joining in January 1995 as Head of Chemistry, Examinations Office and House Tutor, Peter took an active part in Dean Close life from the get-go. In 2008, Peter stepped down from the role of Head of Chemistry to concentrate on being a Chemistry Teacher and Examinations Officer. He retired from Chemistry in 2016.

Peter meant a lot to ODs in particular and this was shown by the sheer numbers that wrote in to wish PJPA all the best for his retirement. Head of Chemistry, Aaron Needs, said, “Whenever I meet any Old Decanians, the first question they always ask is ‘How is Dr. Anstis?’ An indication of the high regard the pupils have for him”.

We hope to bring you a full obituary in the next edition of the Flecker.

John Studholme ASQUITH (Court 1962) Died 14 October 2020, aged 78.

Kenneth Brian BROAD (Gate 1935)

John was in Dean Close Senior School from 1956 to 1962, following his older brother Robert (Court 1958). He was a House Prefect in Court House, the same School House Robert attended between 1954 and 1958. Whilst at School, John especially enjoyed shooting and running, ending up in his senior year as captain of both disciplines.

Ken was born in February 1918 and attended Dean Close between 1931 to 1935, boarding in Gate House following in the footsteps of his Brother Herbert Clifford Broad (Gate 1928). He gained his School Certificate and was a cadet in the OTC.

John married his first wife, Sue, in 1970 and they had three daughters.

Sadly, she died in 1985.

John retired in 2003 following a career in Quantity Surveying, which culminated as Chief Quantity Surveyor for Manchester City Architects. During his time there, he was transferred to lead a QS team handling the expansion programme at Manchester Airport and was heavily involved in the Terminal 2 and Runway 2 projects.

He married his second wife, Carol, in 2005. During retirement, they travelled widely to locations around the world, both on land and sea, and particularly enjoyed cruising.

He also enjoyed socialising with friends and his daughters, who are all married, and four grandchildren.

Died 10 December 2020, aged 102.

In WWII, he was attached to the 66th Searchlight Regiment part of the Gloucestershire Regiment.

Ken was married to Nancy and lived in and around the Bristol area. He worked in the construction industry as a Managing Director, retiring in 1983. He was an active member of the Bristol Rotary Club, joining in 1976 and, in 1988/89, served Rotary District 1100 as its District Governor. In 2012, Bristol Rotary Club made him an Honorary Member for his service to the Club and to the wider Rotary movement in general. In 2018, the Club held a special meeting to celebrate Ken’s 100th birthday alongside 60 family and friends (featured on pg. 5 of the 2019 Flecker).

Ken enjoyed his cricket and was a Committee Member of the Gloucestershire Cricket Club. He was the father of the Asheswinning opening batsman Chris and grandfather of legendary fast bowler Stuart.

His funeral was held at Weston-super-Mare Crematorium on Thursday 31st December.

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Nigel Charles Scott DIMMER (Tower 1963) Died 27 April 2021, aged 75.

Nigel was a Cheltonian, born and brought up in the town. He was first educated at Beaudesert Park and then followed his grandfather, father and uncle to Dean Close. He was very proud when his daughters also joined that school and he lived to see his grandchildren, Freddie and Harriet, join their cousins there as the fifth generation of the Dimmer family to attend.

The family frequently holidayed in Yorkshire, where Nigel played cricket against the local boys on a dirt pitch.

He enjoyed the farming life and considered becoming a farmer himself, having looked after the pigs at Dean Close. However, he was persuaded by his father to join the family business, Martin & Co. Sport was an important part of his life.

He played cricket in Cheltenham and for some time was Vice-President of Cheltenham Cricket Club. On moving to Dowdeswell, some 50 years ago, he became a leading light in the Dowdeswell Cricket Team. Horse racing was always a passion. According to the Racing Post he was a ‘Cheltenham icon’, always wearing his bowler hat to Festival meetings.

Nigel also enjoyed following the Cheltenham Town Football Club and took this interest to a new level, becoming a director and running the Social Club.

For many years, he was Chairman of the Prestbury Chamber of Commerce. He could be found at The Plough most Thursday evenings, where he was joined by many of his friends. In later years, he held a Sunday get-together at the Kilkenny Inn, named by Nigel as ‘Sunday School’, where the assembled company enjoyed a drink before Sunday lunch.

Nigel worked at Martin & Co for 45 years. He was extremely proud of the family firm and its reputation for excellence and good service. He never took his position there for granted, frequently telling people, “I have letters after my name – I.D.B., I’m in Daddy’s 48

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business.” He always felt he was privileged to be a part of the family company.

Nigel married Sally at age 37, becoming a daddy to his three girls overnight, he embraced both roles wholeheartedly.

Sally often jokingly said to him that he only married her because the girls were a part of the package. The feeling was mutual – Toria, Clare and Charlie enthusiastically telling their friends about their wonderful daddy.

Wherever he went, he was well known and if by some chance he was not, he certainly was by the time he left. He had a reputation for leading spontaneous choral singing in the UK and on the continent – his repertoire mainly including The Grand Old Duke of York (without the ups and downs!), Ten Green Bottles and Old MacDonald. He reached dizzy heights a few years ago when he did karaoke with Johnny Rotten in a Northleach pub.

Family and home life were at the very heart of Nigel. Many people enjoyed the warmth, fun and hospitality found at Hill Cottage. Nigel relished planning and hosting parties, impromptu BBQs, dinners and family occasions. He was never happier than when surrounded by his nearest and dearest, either by a winter fire or in the garden during the summer months.

Having only lived in either his parents’ house in Cheltenham or Hill Cottage, his wish was to spend his final days at home. This was only achieved through the loving and professional support of Windrush Care and Kate’s Home Nursing, something for which Sally and the girls will always be grateful. It is fitting that his final resting place will be in his beloved village overlooking the point-to-point course and enjoying the beautiful Cotswold countryside.

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Edward (Ted) George DOWTY (Tower 1956) Died 7 March 2021, aged 81.

Edward, or Ted as he was known by most, attended Dean Close through the Junior and Senior School. His time at Dean Close was well spent and he left with many stories which he would enjoy telling later in life. One of his favourites was the time he dropped an Alker Seltzer into Brian Jones’ coffee, which caused quite a stir.

Ted went on to technical college and then to an apprenticeship at the de Havilland Aircraft Company, where he learned a lot of the skills that would fuel his entrepreneurial endeavours to come.

Not being one for being told what to do, Ted made the rather unorthodox decision to start his own business offering mechanical repairs based out of an old train carriage. He specialised in hydraulics and the business quickly grew from a one-man operation to what would later become Hydraulic Equipment Supermarkets (HES) with four branches around the country. He later became Chairman of the British Fluid Power Distributors Association.

Ted would initially spend his holidays there but as time went by and his professional ambitions had been met, he began a new chapter as a Bahamian resident. He proudly wore his OD tie and jacket to dinner parties and built a reputation as an eccentric Englishman, which was firmly cemented when he shipped a British phone box and Royal Mail post box to the island and placed them at the end of the sand path that led to his house.

Ted started several other ‘sidebusinesses’, including a military surplus shop in Gloucester called MASH, which came in very handy when his children, Emma and Ben, joined Dean Close in later years and needed CCF gear.

Whilst island life was something he loved, he was not the type to sit in a deckchair with a cocktail. He became a key part of the community and was a founding member and the Captain of the Abaco table of the Brotherhood of the Coast. He was also a key contributor to the purchase and transport of a fire engine for the island. He transferred his passion for cars to boats, making the crossing from America to the Bahamas several times.

Another item from MASH that Ted made the most of was an old military ambulance, which he would use at weekends to take his family to various circuits around the country to indulge in his favourite pastime of motor racing. As a young man, Ted competed in several races himself and then later went on to run a team that competed in replica race seasons, winning the championship on more than one occasion.

Ted’s sister, Julie, was an air hostess.

During her travels, she happened upon a beautiful island in the Bahamas and mentioned to Ted that there was a small strip of land for sale at a bargain price.

There began Ted’s love with island life.

There was one phone box, no TVs, water was harvested from the rain and the only transport on the island was either boat or golf cart. Ted differentiated his golf cart by adding Ferrari badges.

In his later years, Ted was diagnosed with cancer and as his health declined, island life had to be consigned to happy memories. Ted became resident in Florida where he saw out the end of his innings alongside Barbara, his wife, who cared for him throughout his illness. He lived with cancer for several years before passing away at home surrounded by some of his closest loved ones.

His family plan to meet as soon as travel restrictions ease to celebrate his life and take his ashes to one of his favourite places – Disney World.

William (Bill) James GALL FRCS (Walton Court 1942) Died 24 May 2020, aged 95.

Bill, a retired Surgeon of Coombe Road, Saltash, peacefully passed away at home with his son, John (Brook 1974) and daughter, Diana (Mead 1973), at his side.

Bill was a House Prefect in Walton Court, gaining his Higher Certificate in 1942. He was a Sergeant in the JTC and gained School colours in both rugby and hockey, where he played in goal. He was a member of the Pioneers and also a member of the Acton Club.

After leaving Dean Close, Bill studied medicine, gaining a scholarship to Charing Cross Hospital Medical School.

He specialised in Clinical Surgery, Pathology and Gynaecology. Between 1963 and 1985, he was a Consultant Surgeon/Urologist in Plymouth.

A celebration of his life was held at St Stephen’s Church, Saltash, on Friday 14 June 2020.

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Roy Curtis GILES (Former Common Room Staff 1956 – 1960) Died 11 July 2021, aged 88.

Roy was born to Herbert Henry and Dorothy Alexandra Giles in 1932. Their other child, Roy’s sister, was Valerie. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, founded in 1573 by Robert Dudley, first Earl of Leicester.

Clearly, he was gifted academically, winning an Open Scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge. He read for a Master’s in Modern Languages specialising in German and French and immersing himself in mediaeval Latin.

His first teaching appointment in 1956 was at the prestigious Dean Close School in Cheltenham, where he was also Assistant Housemaster of Walton Court, Master i/c of Shooting and Chair of the Junior Debating Team, a post that he held until 1960. The next three years were as Lektor teaching English in the University of Hamburg. It was here Roy met Christina von Alten from an aristocratic family. In Hamburg, Germany’s prestigious inland seaport, Christina was working as a secretary in a dockyard owned by a relative.

They were married in Hannover in 1963.

In the same year, Roy and Christina moved back to UK to Eton College where he had been offered a place as Assistant Master. In 1970, appointed as Head of Modern Languages, it was a role he filled for four years until chosen as Headmaster of Highgate School. In those 11 years, strong and lasting relationships were formed with friends who themselves went on to serve in 50

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other well-known public schools. On Roy’s watch, the school developed and grew, with a Baptist chapel acquired and serving as the library. A Mathematics Block was built in 1982. The Mallison Sports Centre was added in 1989, the year of his retirement. The school provided three houses for full-time and weekly boarders, and for many of the students it was a second home. In those years, the school continued to admit only boys but has since become coeducational.

For 13 years from 1972, Roy served with The Advisory Council for the Church’s Ministry, now The Ministry Division as an Educational Selector with the Church of England’s discernment process for recommending men for ordination. Not an easy task. He shared in corporate decisions which re-directed and profoundly shaped individual lives, and the character, quality and effectiveness of the Church’s ordained ministry of deacons and priests.

Between 1983 and 1989, he was a member of the House of Bishops’ Panel for Marriage Education; as he wryly commented, darkening the doors of Church House, Westminster.

Roy gave his time and experience for 30 years as a member of the Vernon Educational Trust responsible for Danes Hill School at Oxshott. He was a Governor of The Hall School at Hampstead, a preparatory school with a Christian foundation; and Channing School, another independent girls’ school in Highgate with a Christian ethos, founded in the late nineteenth century.

Retired from full-time teaching, Roy immersed himself in the Busoga Trust.

The Trust was inspired by a sermon given by a bishop of Busoga in a Chelsea Parish Church. He told the congregation how his people were suffering under President Idi Amin and invited them in the words of Jesus to Andrew the fisherman “Come and see”. Led by a priest, Rev’d Andrew Pearson, a group of men took up the invitation and went to Busoga. As a result, since 1982, The Trust has provided finance, expertise, tools and equipment, working with Ugandans to provide sustainable access to safe water and improved hygiene and

sanitation. For 20 years, Roy was involved in organising the finances and ensuring money arrived safely.

Roy had a passionate interest in classical music shared with his children. He loved Mozart but had an eclectic taste. A favourite frequent venue was the Wigmore Hall meeting with friends and sharing an early meal before a concert.

He loved opera and theatre. He worked for London-based ‘Travel for the Arts’ providing small, escorted groups as a guide or giving lectures on opera and music in European cities and the occasional cruise on the Danube.

Roy has cherished family: daughter Caroline and sons Andrew and Tim. Roy watched their two grandchildren, Molly and Tom, grow to adulthood.

Words adapted from the address by The Rev’d John Good.

Roy’s daughter, Caroline, found a letter from a former Dean Close pupil in a collection of papers (many from former pupils) on his desk.

‘Dear Roy, I am drawing a bow at a venture in the hope that you are the Roy Giles who taught me at Dean Close School in 1958. After all these years there is no earthly reason why you should remember one of your earliest pupils, but even if you do not, I would like to say something that I should have said decades ago. I was recently clearing out dusty files from the attic when I came across some ancient school reports. I was particularly moved to come across your comments in the final report. You wrote: “I feel that I have both written and said already all that is necessary. The rest, perhaps, is silence.

He has been my most rewarding pupil and I hope that he will keep me in touch with how he fares across the water. He should and will prove an asset wherever he goes and whatever he does.” To my eternal shame, I never did keep in touch.

So let me now attempt to make amends.

To begin with, I cannot exaggerate the importance of the role you played in opening up for me the world of languages and literature, and in particular the language and literature of Germany. You instilled in me a love of language that continues to this day and for which I am eternally grateful.’

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Michael Godfrey GORTON (Tower and Field 1961) Died 21 May 2021, aged 79.

Mike was born in January 1942 in Porthcawl, from whence came his passion for Wales. Three months later, his father, a vicar, who had joined the RAF Reserve was killed in a flying accident. Mike and his elder brother, Anthony (Tower 1956), attended primary school in Cheltenham and then DCJS. With others, he was an inaugural member of Field House under Denys Carnill. He loved sport in all its forms, but hockey was his strength. He left School in July 1961, after a strong year as School Prefect and Head of Field House.

He was awarded his hockey 1st XI colours. Denys wrote in the School magazine: ‘The 1st XI has been a good side, and almost a very good side …. No school has beaten us … at wing half Noott and Gorton have been unchanged. Neither of them is a forceful player, but both are safe, good in interception and the tackle. Danger has not often come from the opponents' wings, which is a tribute to them’.

In September 1961, he took up a place in Bede College, Durham, to read for a BA in Social Studies and continued his love of hockey, both in Durham and in Cheltenham, with the Lansdown Club and a Gloucestershire County side.

After graduation, Mike joined Nielson Marketing Research in Oxford. He made his mark quickly in the Client Services Division and was offered a posting to Nielson South Africa, which led to him becoming MD. He married Lou in Johannesburg and they had two children, Bruce and Hedy.

Sadly, this marriage did not survive. In 1986, he was appointed MD of Nielson UK and, on his return, he bought a house near Oxford. Colleagues from those days recall him having great vision – “He not only knew in which direction the company should be moving but had the executive skills to achieve those goals.”

In 1996, he returned to SA for a job with the Advertising Research Foundation.

He met again a friend from his early days in Johannesburg, Correen, and later on, they were married in the UK. Nielsen returned to South Africa and Mike was

Mike made his mark quickly in the Client Services Division and was offered a posting to Nielson South Africa, which led to him becoming MD re-appointed MD. In 1999, he took on responsibility for Africa, the Middle East and Emerging Markets. This required a central location and resulted in Mike and Correen buying a house in Cyprus, but a short drive to his office in Nicosia.

Unfortunately, corporate aspirations were ill-founded, and Nielsen could not support its high-level presence in Cyprus. Mike resigned and returned to the UK. It was about this time that they bought a 1997 Moody 40, which Mike re-named Kingklipper. Initially non-sailors, Mike and Correen learned quickly and enjoyed many happy hours in Cypriot and Turkish waters.

Mike joined global market research group TNS as Head of TV Audience Measurement. A former TNS French colleague recalls that, “He was so English (although Welsh), he never complained, had great temper, a great sense of humour, and strong convictions about the Crown and the pound. He was kind and managed our

team by persuasion, more than authority.”

He retired in 2016. The following year, his brother, Anthony, died and Mike sold Kingklipper. After retirement, he enjoyed his holidays with Bruce, Hedy and the wider family in South Africa and Cyprus, not to mention buying a hideaway on the SA southern coastline. Nevertheless, his home near Oxford was always his base and he died there.

ODs from his generation may recall the former GWR rail line, which bordered the school and Mike was a train spotter.

This interest in trains stayed with him all his life and came to fruition with an amazing Gauge 3 railway track, which he built in his garden.

He was always interested in life, always involved in and passionate about the things in which he believed – and always kept in touch with his many friends around the world. A worthy Old Decanian. He will be missed by us all.

Submitted by John Bastow (Field 1960).

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Jon Michael GREEN (Walton Court 1948) Died 26 November 2020, aged 89.

Jon’s early life was spent in the Far East, in Hong Kong. His stepfather was a surgeon captain in the Royal Navy which involved postings in different parts of the world. Aged seven, they moved to Malta and Jon remembers evacuating in early 1940 just before the enemy invasion. He travelled by ship with his younger brother, Tim, and his mother back to England through dangerous waters. Jon went to several schools before his time at Dean Close, which kept a lasting memory for him.

Jon started at Dean Close in the summer of 1944 and during his time was made a School Prefect and gained both his School (’45) and Higher Certificate (’48). He achieved House colours for shooting, rugby, athletics and swimming. In other areas of School life, Jon was a pupil Librarian, Secretary of the Philatelic Society, Treasurer of the Photographic Society and Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) in the CCF. After National Service, Jon decided to take a management training course and his first step on his career ladder was with Carreras. He then moved into the food industry and was employed by the American-owned international food company Nabisco Foods. Jon chose the food production side of the operation and travelled to America, Europe and Australia. He was promoted to Director of Production Operations, eventually becoming responsible for five factories in the UK. On retirement from Nabisco Foods, he took up consultancy work, assisting various companies to improve efficiency.

Simon Michael GRIFFIN (Field, Class of 1977, left Fifth Form) Died 28 April 2020, aged 61.

Simon was born in 1959 and spent his early life travelling throughout northern Nigeria with the family, where his father was working as a civil engineer. Simon attended various local schools in Nigeria and upon returning to the UK initially returned home to Penarth, South Wales and then onto Cheltenham, arriving at Dean Close Junior School in 1968.

After moving up from the Junior School in 1972, Simon settled into Senior School life quickly and established himself on the sporting field. Hi skills were honed from his Nigeria days of open-air swimming pools and outdoor activities.

He represented the School at rugby, hockey and cricket but his real passion was in the swimming pool where he also represented the School and, later, Cheltenham Swimming Club.

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When he finally retired from all-paid employment, he decided to take up voluntary work within Welwyn village, where he spent the last 62 years of his life. His management skills and ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of people proved valuable.

Jon was responsible for initiating many projects, including the establishment of a community café, helping people with planning and environment issues, supporting and liaising with the local surgery raising funds for installation of a defibrillator, to mention but a few. He was much appreciated in Welwyn village and this was evident from the many tributes his family received when he died.

Jon married Kate in 1957. He was devoted to his family; they have two sons and daughter also three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

A change of school in 1975 took Simon to Cheltenham Grammar School and then onto Portsmouth Polytechnic to study Geology/Geography. Whilst at Polytechnic, Simon took a keen interest in computers and decided this was more to his liking. Upon returning to Cheltenham, Simon started working for Minerva computers, a local computer programming team. After several years, Simon moved on and worked in and around the Surrey area until moving to Cardiff in 1984 to work for Chemical Bank, a US banking group. Computing and banking suited Simon and he soon found himself working for the bank in Dublin, Geneva, Edinburgh and Singapore. After leaving Chemical Bank in 1997, Simon then worked as a contractor in London for several years.

Simon then worked for the South Walesbased Admiral Insurance and his final assignment was to see him move to New Delhi, India.

then decided to travel for a year returning to Cheltenham in 2014. He soon settled and attended the local cricket and other festivals that Cheltenham offered. Simon attended several Old Decanian days and enjoyed the shooting and golf club days, and was fortunate to meet up with some old School acquaintances. Simon regularly worked at the Cheltenham racecourse on race meetings, a role which he enjoyed and became enthused about. He was also keen on the outdoors and nature/wildlife.

Simon retired from the computing/banking world in 2013 and

Written by Chris Griffin (Dale, Class of 1978, left Fifth Form).

After a brief period of illness in March/April 2020, Simon passed away at home in Cheltenham. Although never married, Simon had many friends and admirers from his working life and was devoted to his immediate family. He is greatly missed by Marion and Michael (mother and father) brothers Chris and James, as well as Nicky, Elizabeth, Tom, Henry and Alex.

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Laura HANKS (Mead 2001) Died 28 August 2021, aged 38.

We are sorry to report the death of Laura Hanks. Our condolences are very much with Laura’s family and friends.

David Philip Kinsey HAVARD (Tower 1945) Died 26 April, aged 92.

Philip passed away peacefully on Monday, 26 April at Morriston Hospital. Philip of ‘Corrymore’, Victoria Gardens, Neath, husband of the late Joyce and a dear cousin, uncle, brother-in-law and friend. The funeral service was held at St. Thomas' Church, Neath followed by cremation at Margam Crematorium on Tuesday, 11 May. Philip was in Tower House during the war years and remembers being sent out in groups to the surrounding fields to help local farmers and the boys having to peel their own potatoes back in the School canteen.

Philip was related to former staff member Stephanie Thomas (Head of EFL 1999 – 2003). Philip was her husband’s uncle. Whilst at Dean Close, Stephanie arrange for Philip and his wife to travel down to the School from Wales and have a tour by the Archivist at the time, Charles Whitney.

He was very proud to be an Old Decanain and is pictured here with Stephanie Thomas on his 90th birthday wearing his Dean Close tie and School blazer!

Philip worked in the aluminium industry in production control and sales. Outside of work and in retirement, he became a real expert on the history of Neath, a longterm Trustee of the Neath Antiquarian Society, a Life Member and past Chairman. He championed the heritage of Neath.

James Aron John HILL (Field 2003) Died August 2021, aged 36.

After leaving Dean Close, James studied Spanish and French at UCL. James was living in Bristol and was working as an Acupuncturist in Clifton.

Our thoughts are very much with his mum, Karima, dad, John, and the rest of James’ family and friends.

The family are raising awareness for CALM – to donate, you can visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/JamesAJHill We hope to bring you a full obituary in the next edition of the Flecker.

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The Rev’d Peter JEFFORD (Walton Court 1946) Died 29 August 2020, aged 91.

Peter was born in Cheltenham in 1929 and grew up very near the School he would go on to attend. Apart from gaining his House colours for rugby in 1945, two other minor milestones stand out from his time at the School: on 17 March 1944, he was confirmed by the Bishop of Gloucester in the School chapel; almost exactly two years after that he learnt to fly a glider as an Air Training Corps (ATC) cadet. And without doubt the church and aviation became the twin passions of his long life, combining memorably on one occasion when he scattered cremation ashes at 300 feet from a Jet Ranger helicopter.

He trained to be a priest at King's College London and became a deacon in 1954.

He married fellow King’s alumnus Celia the following year and, post-ordination, moved to Berkeley in Gloucestershire to begin work as a curate. They moved to Hampshire in 1957 before relocating again three years later when Peter became Rector of Rollesby and a small group of parishes in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. He was also appointed pilot officer in the ATC in 1960. They stayed in Rollesby – with their sons, Andrew, Michael and Stephen – until 1971 when the family moved across the county to Watton. Here, he worked as a group parish vicar as well as an honorary chaplain to RAF Eastern Radar, situated just outside the small town.

After Norfolk came a complete change of scene: Peter retraced long-past ancestral roots to England’s south west and the family moved down to Thorverton in Devon. He would work there until his retirement in 1996.

However, and somewhat typically for a ‘clerk in holy orders’, retirement in no way stopped him from working. After moving to Oxford, Father Peter, as he had now become, stood in at various local churches, in particular St Mary Magdalen in the heart of the city centre. Appropriately enough, his funeral service was held at the church last year, and that of his beloved wife, Celia, the year before that.

Not every priest can go on to become the Archbishop of Canterbury and Peter was never cut out to be a career clergyman. His contribution was more man of the people: always approachable and available, devoid of airs and graces. Like all who work in the trade, he saw through the hatch, match and despatch of thousands, paid innumerable visits to the sick and the dying, and weathered the flak of parish council meetings as best he could. He was also an enthusiastic wordsmith, so happily rose to the creative challenge of writing weekly sermons.

As a tireless globetrotter, inasmuch as his stipend and RAF pay would allow, it would be remiss not to mention Peter’s travel exploits. He knew going away was the only failsafe way he could remove himself from the call of the parish, so took holidays whenever and wherever possible. This also provided the perfect excuse to become airborne again, ideally on a long-haul flight to the other side of the world. He may not have visited every country on God’s earth but he certainly tried.

Peter died peacefully on 29th August 2020 at Albany Care Home in Oxford, a place in which he had gone to visit others in years gone by. It says everything about him that he wanted to continue his ministry even as a wheelchair-bound resident, reading from the Bible and saying prayers when allowed. He leaves behind his twin brother, Bill, three sons and seven grandchildren, all of whom he adored. He would have wanted this obituary to end with just one word: shalom.

Thank you to his son, Mick Jefford, for this obituary.

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Colin Alfred Lea LEIGH (Walton Court 1939) Died 12 August 2020, aged 96.

Colin Leigh, the son of a successful businessman and who spent over 30 years working as an accountant in Kenya, has died aged 96.

Colin was born on 26 July 1924, the only son of Marjorie and Samuel Leigh, who resided at ‘Croftdown’ in Witney’s Corn Street. His father coowned and ran the family ironmongers and agricultural business Leigh & Sons, a Witney landmark for over 100 years, situated opposite the Buttercross. Mr Leigh’s early years were spent in the town, before attending Dean Close School in Cheltenham, and then Abingdon School.

He embarked on his accountancy career at Thornton’s in Oxford in 1941. He then joined the Royal Artillery as a radar operator in 1943, serving in port defence in England, before he was then assigned to both Egypt and Italy during the Second World War. He returned to his accountancy career at Thornton’s after the war ended, before accepting a position in Kenya, where he emigrated to in 1951. Mr Leigh met his wife, Lilian, in Nairobi, the country’s capital, and the couple married in 1952.

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Darren James McMULLEN (Gate, Class of 1997, left Fifth Form) Died 6 June 2021, aged 42.

Mr Leigh was employed by a local accountancy firm, Alexander & Ingram, and worked in the coastal city, Mombasa, before moving back to Nairobi in 1958 when he became a partner in the company.

Mr Leigh remained in Kenya after the country gained independence in 1963, and became a senior partner at Alexander & Ingram in 1975 when the firm merged with Price Waterhouse.

Mr Leigh retired in 1984 and along with his wife, returned to West Oxfordshire to live in Burford, where they spent many happy years.

After the death of his wife in 2009, Mr Leigh moved to Aberdeen to be closer to his daughter.

Mr Leigh always had a keen interest in sport, stemming from his childhood spent swimming in the River Windrush, through to playing cricket and hockey at school. He extended his love of cricket in Kenya, playing for the Wanderers at Mombasa Club. In 1958, he was selected to play in the test match against the Marylebone Cricket Club, the same year he broke the Kenyan record for the most wickets taken by a single player in a match. While in Nairobi, he played as a wicketkeeper for the prestigious Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club, one of the oldest teams in the country.

Paying tribute to him, Mr Leigh’s family said he was a hard worker and enjoyed his sport, but was also a gentle mentor, great listener, caring and generous gentleman and will be remembered with great affection. His love for his family was always very apparent and he will be much missed as father to Anthony and Vanessa, father-in-law to Martin and Eva, and grandfather of Claire and Fiona.

Mr Leigh died peacefully in Aberdeen on Wednesday, 12 August 2020.

Darren was born in Kirkaldy in Fife and was taken into care a year or so later. He was in various foster homes and then a children’s home in Crossgates. At the age of seven, he was adopted by the McMullen family in Rosyth and the family moved to Gotherington, near Cheltenham, soon after. After a spell at the village school, Darren arrived at DCJS in 1990, boarding in Fortfield and then to the Senior School in 1992, leaving before taking his GCSEs in 1995.

Whilst at School, Darren enjoyed his running, rugby and outdoor pursuits; winning the U14 boys’ 1500m race at sports day, representing the U15 rugby team and was a member of the Junior Ten Tours Team in 1994.

Darren was, by nature, a kind and caring person who always had a large number of friends. It was probably the upheavals of his first seven years that led to the tempestuous life he was to lead in school and later, despite the care and efforts given in his schools and by

various social care organisations. He had a few jobs here and there, but things never went smoothly for him, and he was frequently in trouble with the law for behaviour related to drink and drugs. However, while living in Winchcombe, he and his partner had two fine sons: one in 2002 and the other in 2010.

Eventually, he became homeless in Cheltenham, Cirencester and then Weston-Super-Mare until he was housed in a hostel in Gloucester at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a few months of deteriorating health, he died of cancer in Tewkesbury Hospital on 6 June 2021, aged 42.

Richard James Barrons NELSON (Dale 1984) Died 25 November 2020, aged 55.

Richard was born at Stroud Maternity Hospital on 6 October 1965 to James Nelson, a local veterinary surgeon, and Gillian. After attending the Abbey School in Tewkesbury, he joined Dean Close for the Senior School, following his brother, Stuart, where he was in Dale and made lifelong friends including Jonathan Simms, Marcus Haynes and Richard South.

After leaving School, Richard attended Cirencester Agricultural College becoming a Chartered Surveyor. He worked initially as a Surveyor for the Ministry of Defence before becoming the cofounder of WaND Consulting, having had the idea of helping estates and infrastructure companies to work with and better deliver for the public sector.

As Richard’s colleagues at WaND commented, “He was a unique character who could not help but leave a positive impression on everyone he met, whether through work, play or simply just having a chat.”

In his personal life, Richard enjoyed the country life of Gloucestershire, living in Bisley before moving to the Camp shortly before his death. In his spare time, Richard kept horses and sheep. He was a passionate polo player and an integral part of Edgeworth Polo Club.

At the age of 55, Richard died suddenly from a heart attack in November of 2020. His funeral was held at Bisley church and was attended by his family, Old Decanians, friends from the village and polo club together with his work colleagues. He is sadly missed by his partner, Hayley, and children Edward and Tamara.

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Helen PORTER (née Kingcott) (Member of Staff 1987 – 2019) Died 13 September 2020, aged 56.

Dr Nigel Alwyn PITT-EVANS FRCP, FRCPCH, DCH, DObst, RCOG (Field 1959) Died 25 November 2020, aged 55.

Nigel was a doctor specialising in Paediatrics for his entire career, ending up as Senior Consultant Paediatrician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Brighton, retiring in 2002.

Nigel’s funeral was held at Wealden Crematorium.

Donations in memory of Dr Nigel Evans are welcomed for 'The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital' (Rockinghorse Children’s Charity), of which he was a director for many years and the 'Hospice in the Weald'.

We hope to bring you a full obituary in the next edition of the Flecker.

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Helen (HLP) joined the Dean Close community in 1987 and was a huge part of Dean Close life as Director of Music, teacher, tutor and parent (to Hugh, Alex and Amy). In the summer of 2019, Helen was diagnosed with cancer; she passed away in September 2020.

The following is taken from the 2020 Decanain, written by Lloyd Allington and Ciara Allen.

Helen came to DCS in September 1987 as Helen Kingcott, a talented old girl from The Cheltenham Ladies’ College and a graduate fresh from Exeter University, to teach piano and some academic music and to be resident tutor in Fawley. Helen quickly established herself as a kind mentor to many pupils and musicians in the School. Soon after, she married her childhood sweetheart, Michael – they had been going out since they were 15 – and they began life at their new home and farm in Worcestershire. There, they started their family – first, twins Hugh and Alex, followed by Amy – all of them eventually to attend Dean Close.

After working in the Music department under three Directors of Music – Ian Little, Richard Knight and Andrew Cleary – Helen was appointed by Headmaster Tim Hastie-Smith to lead the department herself in 2005, and it was an inspired decision. It was exciting to break with a male-dominated tradition, now with a woman at the helm. Helen quickly set her own stamp on the department: she was a person of great personal integrity in all she did – not least in academic lessons, where she would prepare assiduously and work hard to give her pupils the very best opportunities and results. It is a complete testament to HLP that the department results over many years now have been among the highest and best in the School – star-studded is not an overstatement, given the number of A* grades littering the results sheets. In her time at Dean Close, the orchestra reached new heights – highlights include (inter alia) Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 2 with Ashok Gupta, Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue with Jason Richards, and Elgar Cello Concerto with Ed Marshall. The achievements in music in HLP’s time were stellar: there were two Choral Scholarships to King’s College, Cambridge, and many others (including Organ Scholarships) at Trinity, Clare, St John’s; and also at Oxford – Christ Church and Exeter Colleges – the list is too long to mention every college and pupil. There were places at top music schools – Laurence Kilsby at the Royal College, Stephen Whitford and Brenna Tin at the Royal Academy, Ben Powell (currently in a glittering career in music in Hollywood after Berklee, USA) and, again, many others. ODs went on to play with nationally famous orchestras – Jess Hayes as a cellist with the Halle and Ashok Gupta at Glyndebourne, ENO and the Royal Opera. Helen appointed Rob Bishop as Head of Strings – Rob was the former leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, no less. It was Helen’s brainwave to appoint a nationally reputed string quartet, the Carducci Quartet, as resident string teachers – and, over the years, string playing at DCS has gone through the roof. One example

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

might be the astonishingly polished performance of the complex Introduction and Allegro for Strings by Elgar at the now well-established annual Pittville Pump Room concert.

It was during HLP’s reign that DCS took over the choir from the Abbey School, Tewkesbury. With this professional body of choristers and men came Ben Nicholas, who headed up the choral side of music at DCS. Only an exceptionally strong Head of Department knows when to hand over to a specialist, and Helen passed these reins to Ben, who built up the Schola Cantorum to magnificent heights – and Helen was well aware of the musical riches which would endow the School through this extraordinary opportunity. When Ben left to be Director of Music at Merton College, Oxford, Helen was also instrumental in the appointment of Simon Bell, former assistant organist at Winchester Cathedral, as the new director of Schola.

Just looking at the calibre of these two men is a testament to the music in the School under HLP.

One of HLP’s demanding roles was to appoint and manage the large number of talented peripatetic music teachers and the hundreds of music lessons which happen each week: all of these teachers over the years have shown great loyalty and admiration for Helen and the department at DCS. And, of course, there are the members of Helen’s department who have worked with her for almost three decades: Ciara Allen, her Assistant Director of Music; Julie Kent MBE, who retired from DCS in June 2020; and Sylvia Klemz, Music Department Administrator – all of their support for HLP has been unstinting, especially through her illness, and it is an absolute certainty that Helen would want any tribute to her to acknowledge the personal loyalty and professional dedication of these three remarkable ladies – who, together with Helen, made a formidable team. It was the icing on the cake that ‘The Week’ voted DCS Music Department ‘The Best of the Best’ in autumn 2018, and a credit to HLP and the team.

One area which Helen hugely relished was the biennial musical for which DCS has become noted. “I was with friends on New Year’s Eve 2018 and someone said, ‘Let’s see if we can remember the three most important things that have happened to us this year’. None of my friends chose things related to their work, whereas all the things I came out with were related entirely to Dean Close, which speaks volumes about how much I love my job. And the absolute highlight for me was My Fair Lady.”

This really tells us all we need to know: to see Helen conduct the orchestra, and her dazzling smile at the curtain calls, was a wonderful thing. The musicals she directed in collaboration with LSA will be part of DC-lore for many years – ‘Cabaret’, ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ – this latter rather special with Louis Morford (Music and Choral Scholarship to Merton, Oxford) both as the fiddler and leading the pit band. An especial memory for Helen and LSA was to work with Amy, her daughter, as the lead Cathy Selden in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ in 2015.

MUSICIAN, MENTOR, MUM … and not necessarily in that order.

In the summer of 2019, Helen was diagnosed with cancer which took our beloved Director of Music away from our community. The whole thing came as the most terrible shock, and Helen’s passing in September 2020 leaves, in the words of her husband, Michael, and her daughter, Amy, a huge Helen-shaped-hole in all our lives. The sense of loss is not only deeply personal, but also professional – she will be remembered with love and affection by hundreds, if not thousands of people – pupils, colleagues, friends, musicians, ODs, parents, governors, and of course her adored family.

In the final months, Helen faced her illness with extraordinary fortitude and even humour: visitors to her home would leave uplifted by her sense of fun and eagerness to hear School news and the daily gossip she missed. Helen had a strong but much-understated Christian faith, which she needed more than ever to sustain her through this time: never once did anyone hear her complain or rail against her lot. In fact, understatement is a key word with HLP – she seemed to have no big underlying strategy, or plan, or mission – she simply was who she was. And that person was a deeply modest, unassuming, caring and gifted teacher, colleague and friend, and her qualities were lived out in her day-to-day approach and the hundreds of small decisions she took to help, nurture, nudge and enable all her pupils and friends.

Helen nurtured so many pupils during her time at Dean Close that it is impossible to give space to all the small anecdotes which sum up the acts of patience and kindness which made up her time here, both before her time as Director of Music and during it – from conducting orchestras and ensembles, to academic lessons and piano tuition. In her final year, before her illness forced her to stop work, all her pupils had scored As and A*s at A level, all GCSE candidates scored 9s and 8s, and Helen had conducted Rach 2, plus her favourite musical ‘My Fair Lady’.

Quite a year.

To know and work alongside Helen has been an inspiration: it was the rarest of privileges and joys to have been able to do so. We shall miss her so very greatly.

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Sqn Ldr Raymond (Ray) Reginald Vaughan RICHARDS (Tower 1945) Died 22 July 2020, aged 92.

Ray Richards was born in Swansea, the younger of two sons and attended Dean Close as a boarder in Tower from 1941 to 1945. He was active in several aspects of the School community including hockey, rugby and athletics, and was involved in debating and drama groups. He let it be known to younger members of his family that he had once played a female Shakespearian role at School “in a fulsome frock”. In his final year at Dean Close, Ray was made Head of House and a School Prefect.

Upon leaving Dean Close, Ray studied for a degree in Economics at Swansea University, close to his family home. This was a choice made probably in part due to him feeling the need to support his parents following the death of his brother, Donald (also an Old Decanian). Donald had been killed by sniper fire outside Belsen just as WW2 was coming to an end.

Whilst at university, Ray met Evelyn, who he later married and with whom he enjoyed 65 years of marriage, two children and four grandchildren.

Following graduation, Ray joined the RAF and held postings in Gibraltar and various stations

across the UK. He opted for the earlier retirement age of 38 (the alternative then was 55) having risen to the rank of Squadron Leader and in order to pursue a second career in Further Education.

The lifestyle of moving from one home location to another accelerated as Ray’s career progressed with some speed to his final post as Principal of Great Yarmouth College of Further Education.

Retirement was spent in Poole, where Ray and Evelyn’s two children and their spouses still live, but for the first few years Ray kept very active with almost a third career.

He had enjoyed his work on courtsmartial whilst in the RAF and so pursued this interest with part-time work as an Outdoor Clerk for local firms of solicitors. He became a familiar face, sitting behind Counsel in court.

Simultaneously, he tapped in on his educational career by serving as a Governor for Poole Grammar School.

There were cruises, holidays in France and beyond, and a fair amount of walking the South West Coast path. Ray was a lifelong supporter of Welsh Rugby – and especially enjoyed watching the international team with a pipe in his hand!

In his final year at Dean Close, Ray was made Head of House and a School Prefect.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Lt Nigel Arnet ROBINSON (Tower 1951) Died 6 August 2020, aged 86.

Lt Col William (Bill) Edward SPREADBURY MBE (Former Staff 1983 – 1988) Died 13 March 2021.

Nigel Robinson was born in West Kirby, Wirral, in 1934, and spent most of his adult life in nearby Hoylake together with his sister, Diana, and brother, Roger.

Nigel went to preparatory school at Hillstone in the Malvern Hills followed by Dean Close. National Service in the army followed, during which time Nigel was based in Egypt in the canal zone, living in a tent.

On his return home, Nigel joined Coast Lines, following in the footsteps of his father Sir Arnet Robinson, who was a director of the company at the time. Nigel spent the majority of his time with Coast Lines based in Liverpool but he also spent a few years up in Barrow where he joined the Round Table. On his return, he joined the Hoylake and West Kirby Round Table and later on joined the 41 Club. He was made an Honorary Member of both in recognition of all his fundraising work.

Nigel was a lifelong supporter of the RNLI. In 1959, at the suggestion of his father, who was then Chairman of Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboat, Nigel joined the station’s Management Committee – a position he held for over 50 years.

Throughout this time, Nigel was a stalwart member of the Fundraising Committee, which managed activities such as selling souvenirs, collecting donations and running open days. He was awarded the RNLI’s Silver Badge in 1987 and then a Gold Badge in 2005 in recognition of his dedicated service – the highest honour given to fundraising volunteers. He received a bar to his Gold Badge in 2010, by way of additional recognition.

The RNLI and Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboat Station owe Nigel a tremendous debt of gratitude for all the work he did and the money he raised over so many years. Crew from the station flew the RNLI flag at half-mast on the day of Nigel’s funeral and scattered his ashes at sea during a recent practice exercise.

Nigel’s last 10 years were spent in Westhaven Nursing Home, Hoylake, where the dedicated staff looked after him.

Nigel is very fondly remembered by surviving family: his sister, Diana, two nieces and a nephew, and by his many friends in the local and lifeboat community.

Bill joined Dean Close School as Bursar on 1 September 1983 after 30 years’ service, mainly with the Royal Corps of Transport. Whilst at Dean Close, Bill lived in Charlton Kings with his wife, Monica, and their two children, Victoria and Mark. Bill was a keen amateur musician and you could hear him playing the tuba in the Bursary at lunchtime!

During his time as Bursar, Bill oversaw development of the new dining room and language centre. It was reported that Bill had an outstanding ability of advanced planning and calmness. He required these traits when the opening of the WAM Edwards building (dining room) was due to be opened at 6pm and the builders only handed it over to the School at 5pm the same day! The fact that this was followed by a sit-down meal in the building that evening for 600 was even more outstanding!

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Samuel Thurstane Muniall THORNTON (Dale 1983) Died 4 May 2021, aged 56.

Sam was a pupil at Dean Close while his father was Headmaster of DCPS. He had fond memories of his time at Dean Close. When I bought him the Dean Close monopoly he was delighted, and then a little disappointed that there was no mention of his precious Dale House.

After school, university and then a PCGE, he started a teaching post in Bath, where he met his Australian wife; they moved to Melbourne for a time with their three children. They returned in September 2002, with their, now, four children.

Sam's parents had bought The Croft Preparatory School in Stratford-uponAvon in the ’80s and moved it from its town centre site to a 30-acre old farm and converted it into the school it is today. Sam returned there to be Head of Upper School, Head of Science and Year 5. His role became more strategic after his father died (2003). He was Director of Business and Development and finally Chairman of the Board of Directors, working with his mother and brothers – truly a family school. It was Sam who decided that the school needed a formal

Governing Body, and he asked for my support, and I have been working with him and the school ever since. All this meant he had little time for teaching but he never relinquished the Geology. The Croft is possibly the only Prep School in the country with a Geology laboratory, which Sam maintained and cherished.

Sam was definitely a family man. He was very close to his father, mother and two younger brothers, Barney and Jake; he ensured that his father’s hobbies of geology, trains and music were available to future generations – he learnt to play saxophone on his father's instrument and used it regularly in school concerts.

Then there was his own family; he nurtured and supported their individual talents. He became almost Australian and definitely so where sport was involved – particularly cricket.

Sam and I go back a long way. I taught him at school and he lived with our family during part of his O Level year.

One of the lasting consequences of that time is that I have a son who is a

Christopher James Wardle TONGE (Field 1964) Died 28 August 2020, aged 75.

Chris arrived at Field House in the Michaelmas Term of 1958. He enjoyed rugby, gaining his School colours. He was also good at sailing and was the School representative for the Young Everyman Group. Chris gained his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award alongside one of his peers W.G. Newton, the Duke of Edinburgh presented the awards/certificates to them both at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, 13th June 1963. Chris was made a House Prefect in his last year, leaving in 1964 for Sheffield University.

Interestingly, in the summer of 1986, Chris placed a Dartmoor Letterbox on the southern slopes of Dartmoor to commemorate Dean Close School’s Centenary.

The site overlooks Yalland, the home for many years of the Dean Close Summer Camps. This part of Dartmoor was host to nearly all the camps which spanned four decades (1959–1980) and were such an important part of the boys’ first year at Dean Close. The box is sited under a granite boulder approximately 70 paces north of the hunting gate in the wall at MR SX 692634.

Chris married Nicola and settled in Torquay and was an active member of the community. He enjoyed his winter sports and was a ski instructor and race coach with Torquay Alpine Ski Club.

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passionate Arsenal supporter. Sam’s sense of fun and his enthusiasm for so many things was definitely infectious.

In these latter years, working with him on the Governing Body, which I Chair, and on Board of Directors, which he Chaired, I learnt a great deal about Sam the man. He epitomised all that is good in people. He was a good listener and an imaginative thinker. He had very little ego and shunned the limelight. He retained a humility, as shown in the way he would undertake any task from moving chairs to serving drinks – one recent comment from a colleague: “If you turned a corner, there was Sam doing something.”

If there was a celebration, a fun event, or a school trip, Sam was at the heart of it, enjoying it and ensuring everyone else was, too.

A life well lived, but too short. He will be sadly missed.

Thank you to Vanessa Aris MBE for this obituary to Sam.

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Geoffrey Christopher John WATT (Brook 1968) Died 24 September 2020, aged 70.

A lifelong resident of West Kirby, Geoffrey was first elected Conservative councillor for Royden Ward in 1999.

Following boundary changes, he was elected in 2004 for the new ward of West Kirby and Thurstaston, and later reelected in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He was elected as Wirral’s 45th Mayor in 2018, and his wife, Anne, served as Mayoress.

He was also a regular supporter from the touchline at Caldy Rugby Club and a season ticket holder at Sale Sharks in Rugby Union's Premiership. His chosen charities as mayor were Wirral RNLI and Wirral’s Forester’s Horn Group of the Riding for the Disabled Association, for which he had raised thousands of pounds over the years.

Addressing his family, friends and colleagues in his debut mayoral speech, Geoffrey said he was “deeply honoured” to be elected as the Mayor of Wirral. The father-of-two was educated at Kingsmead School, Hoylake, before moving to Dean Close School in Cheltenham. The latter where Geoffrey’s father, John Ernest Frederick Watt, also attended in the early 1920s. Geoffrey was a Chapel Warden, Captain of Sailing in 1967 and winner of the Rickerby Choral Prize.

The RLNI lifeboat teams at West Kirby and Hoylake also paid tribute to Geoffrey. Speaking on behalf on West Kirby, a tweet said: ‘Geoffrey Watt was a wonderful friend to @RNLIWestKirby and @HoylakeRNLI and will be sadly missed.’ Hoylake also tweeted: ‘We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Mayor of Wirral Geoffrey Watt, who was keen sailor, stalwart member of @hoylakesc, and local councillor representing the West Kirby and Thurstaston Ward on @WirralCouncil for many years.’

After leaving School, he worked in banking and estate agency. He was a past Commodore of Hoylake Sailing Club, where he had been an active competitor from the age of nine, racing the local classic 'Opera' Class boats.

Whilst at Dean Close, he was captain of the Sailing Club and was always involved in the Old Decanian Sailing especially during the ’70s when they regularly sailed versus the School.

The successive Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Tony Smith, said: “Geoffrey was a dedicated councillor, keen sailor and an avid rugby supporter. He will be missed by the many people who loved him and I would like to publicly thank him and his wife, Anne, for their service to the borough.

My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."

Conservative group leader Ian Lewis told the Wirral Globe: “Geoffrey was one of the finest examples of public service we have ever seen in Wirral. He was totally dedicated to his role, rarely complained and always gave his full attention to the issues before him. He was assiduous in preparing for meetings and for gathering the evidence and the facts to inform his argument. He was respected by people in his community, in his political group and across the Council chamber.

Geoffrey, and Anne, were incredibly proud to be appointed Mayor and Mayoress and we were incredibly fortunate to have them.”

Councillor Jeff Green, who represented West Kirby and Thurstaston Ward with Geoffrey, said: "Geoffrey was an outstanding councillor, Mayor, sailor and man. He was totally committed to his family, Anne and their children, John and Caroline, the people of Wirral and the residents of West Kirby and Thurstaston.

Geoffrey faced his sudden illness with the strength and courage he showed throughout his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Geoffrey’s family at this very sad time."

Content taken from the Wirral Globe and Liverpool Echo.

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Professor Noel Vaughan WITTS (Walton Court 1956) Died 22 November 2020, aged 83.

At School, Noel was a School Prefect, Head of House and a Sergeant in the CCF. He was also an active member of the Acton Club and Tovey Club, and edited the Decanian. He entered in the Junior School in 1948, leaving the Senior School in 1956. At the time, his family were living in Sketty in Swansea. After leaving School, he gained entrance into St Peter’s Hall, Oxford.

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course for both under- and post-graduate courses.

Noel also taught and supervised PhD students at the University of the Arts, London, specifically Central St Martins’ MA in Performance Design and Practice, and examined PhDs at a variety of universities.

Noel contributed immensely to the world of performance and had a huge impact on the lives of generations of performance students. Below is a shortened biography of his career.

He is the co-author of The Twentieth Century Performance Reader and author of Tadeusz Kantor, both published by Routledge. He was on the panel of the Oman Film Festival and was a member of the Artistic Board of the Sibiu International Festival, Romania.

Noel was Founder/Director of Performing Arts at Leicester Polytechnic, then De Montfort University, together with three colleagues. When he left DMU in 1999, he created post-graduate degrees at Hull University’s Scarborough Campus, York St John University and Leeds Metropolitan University, where he was retained to teach the Critical Contexts

He was the founding director of Arts Interlink, London, a consortium of consultants specialising in international projects dealing with Cultural Policy and Arts Management. He was also on the board of the Richard Demarco Archive Trust, Edinburgh, Third Angel Theatre, Sheffield, and the Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth.

OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Anne WHITNEY Died 31 December 2019, aged 73.

Mrs Anne Whitney, who died from cancer on 31st December 2019, was the essential support for her husband, Charles, during his time as Second Master/Deputy Head of Dean Close Junior/Preparatory School between 1989 and 2003.

She was a very positive but not entirely uncritical supporter of the School when she felt it was required.

Born a Yorkshire woman, she came south with her father, a senior industrial chemist, and the family during the 1950s. While living in Blackheath, London, she became a committed member of the local Congregational (United Reformed) Church. On her father's appointment as General Manager of Burroughs Wellcome, now part of GlaxoSmithKline, Anne's family moved near Dartford, Kent. She remained in London reading invertebrate Zoology at Westfield College, now part of Queen Mary College, London University, where she was Secretary of the Presbyterian and Congregational Society.

On graduation, she joined Shell Chemicals, based at Waterloo, as an executive assistant. Here she met Charles, at Shell on a summer vacation job while a mature undergraduate. They bonded over a mutual enjoyment of amateur dramatics, often acting opposite each other. They married at St Martin-inthe-Fields, Trafalgar Square, in September 1970.

Anne joined Charles at Goldsmiths College, London University, for the post-graduate year teacher's course. Subsequently, she taught Science in a southLondon secondary school.

In 1973, Charles joined Dover College Junior School, then in Folkestone, Kent. Anne taught at several local schools, notably the Harvey Grammar School.

She also joined the Red Cross, becoming an Instructor/Demonstrator.

In 1977, Charles became Housemaster of a boys' boarding house of 42. Anne afterwards maintained that moving into their top-floor House flat accelerated the birth of their elder daughter, Heather, within days of moving in. Three years later, Heather was joined by Louise.

Anne's experience as a Housemaster's wife with its unspecified but very real pastoral, social and educational roles proved invaluable when Charles became Second Master/Deputy Head of Dean Close Junior/Preparatory School in 1989. She strongly supported her husband, not only helping host

match teas, sometimes behind the scenes for productions, in Chapel, on formal School occasions and on Chapel Choir tours. She also went on Sunday Argonauts walks with boarders, her husband and her daughters – who were also part of the School – to the Cotswolds or the Malverns. She brought a succession of rescue dogs with her which the pupils loved looking after, of which. 'Pandy', short for 'Pandemonium', was perhaps the favourite.

Anne very successfully moved from teaching to GCHQ in 1990. While she held several different posts at GCHQ there is photographic evidence of only one: the photo shows her demonstrating the Enigma machine to HM The Queen as part of her role curating the in-house museum. Anne thoroughly enjoyed GCHQ, especially as working hours could be adjusted, thereby permitting her to still make a significant contribution to Dean Close Preparatory School life.

In 2004, Anne and Charles moved to Bushley near Tewkesbury, an ideal village environment for Anne's retirement project – keeping and hunting with a Harris hawk. As a zoologist and environmentalist, she found the interaction between her hawk, nature and herself deeply fulfilling. She found time not only to support Charles in his retirement ministry as a non-stipendiary clergyman but also be churchwarden of Bushley parish church as well as an adoring and adored grandmother to four grandchildren. She continued to support DCS and DCPS occasions.

Anne’s breast cancer of 2009 and 2013 recurred in 2019. She died in hospital while being treated for breast cancer which had metastasised in her liver and brain.

Anne always had time for people. Many confided in her, finding her concern, straightforward commonsense and Christian love endearing. Her love of science and her concern for the welfare of others was to be mirrored in the careers of her two daughters – one a leading researcher in plant science at Bristol University, the other a trades union official. Charles planted a tree in her memory in Bushley. One day, a neighbour asked if they could put an epitaph by the tree. It read: 'Anne Whitney: a much-loved person, a good friend to many.' It seemed entirely appropriate.

Written by Charles Whitney.

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Frank Peter WILLIAMS (Brook 1963) Died 1 June 2021, aged 75.

After being born near Elgin, Scotland, Frank spent his early childhood years in Kenya before coming to Dean Close in 1959. His father, a Major in the British Army, was stationed and had the honour of being one of the messengers with the onerous task of informing the young Princess Elizabeth, staying at the Treetops Safari Resort, of the death of her father, King George VI. Frank enjoyed his time at Dean Close and particularly displayed aptitude and enthusiasm in a variety of sports. He represented the School, the armed services and reached semi-professional level with one of the top Rugby Union teams of the day, until a neck injury incurred whilst playing brought his active sporting days to a halt. Frank also liked the arts and sang in the School choir as well as later developing skills on the piano.

Frank was encouraged after school to commence a career in the armed forces and chose the RAF where he trained in electrical engineering. Through the RAF, he studied at UMIST where he developed a lifelong support for Manchester United.

Following his first term in the RAF and completing his studies to degree level, Frank pursued a career in electrical engineering and worked worldwide with such giants of the industry as DECCA and LOCKHEED. When the employment market in his particular field began to decline, coupled with a desire for a more home-based lifestyle, Frank turned his hand fairly successfully to the advertising and publishing industry, where he excelled, and was often the subject of various headhunting attempts due to his experience and competence. He was a social animal and at one point he was proudly a member of The Coal Hole (on the Strand) Gang, which auspiciously has as one of its senior members the great Irish Actor Richard Harris.

Aside working, Frank loved travelling, cooking, fine wines and dining. He holidayed as much as time allowed. In his later years, he developed a love for Madeira and returned there many times. He particularly loved the festive season there and especially the spectacular New Year fireworks.

Due to his long-term partner’s employment change, in 2010, Frank swapped the busy life of the metropolis of London for the decidedly more-genteel shores of the Fylde coast. His regular haunts in his retirement years became Lytham St Anne's, which he enjoyed, although always remembering his bustling years in London fondly.

Frank was admitted to the main hospital in January, where he suffered a variety of painful complications but characteristically fought bravely to retain his love of life.

He remained sadly in the hospital environment until his death on 1st June. He leaves behind his partner of 28 years, Dot Revington, and valued and admired daughter, Amber.

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

You are are invit ed tto o the You invited

Old Decanian

Masquerade

Ball Saturday 2nd July, 2022 Dean Close School

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Dates for the Diary For more information on these and other events, please call the office or visit our website: deanclose.org.uk/events Saturday, 5 February 2022 Arthur Blyth Memorial Service at Dean Close School HOCKEY CLUB Saturday, 5 February 2022 Charity Dinner: In Aid of Nyakatukura Memorial School Thursday, 17 February 2022 DCS Chamber Choir sing Evensong at Merton College, Oxford.

Friday, 18 February 2022 Clay Pigeon Shooting – Join us for a morning of clay pigeon shooting at Ian Coley Sporting, Cheltenham.

Friday 4 March 2022 OD meet-up at Kingsholm – Gloucester Rugby vs Northampton Saturday, 5 March 2022 Dean Close Open Morning – Open Morning for parents and prospective pupils aged 2–18 years. Please call 01242 258044 to register or for more information.

Thursday, 10 March 2022 Francis Bacon at the Royal Academy and London Social

Regardless of whether you already play, haven’t played for a long time or have never played, everyone is welcome to join the Dean Close Hockey Club.

A mixture of Old Decanians, current and past parents take part and everyone is welcome to come along and have a go.

Coffee is served in the Dining Hall after practice every Saturday morning and there are plenty of opportunities to socialise, culminating in an endof-season event.

Matches are fun and competitive, with rivals including Common Room staff, parents from other schools and even the team’s own children.

Thursday, 5 May 2022 Dean Close Foundation Service of Commemoration at Tewkesbury Abbey Saturday, 25 June 2022 Dean Close School Speech Day Saturday, 2 July 2022 The Old Decanain Society Masquerade Ball Held at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, from 6.45pm. Carriages at 1pm. Black tie, dodgems, photo booth, music from the Chip Shop Boys, dinner, cocktail bar, tuck shop and midnight snacks will all be available!

If you would like more information, please call Sarah Hick on 07815 937 755, email dcparenthockey@gmail.com or come to the Astros on a Saturday morning.

Monday, 4 July to Friday, 8 July 2022 Old Decanain Society Cricket Club, Cricket Week

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEWS FOR NEXT YEAR’S FLECKER? If you do … email ods@deanclose.org.uk

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OLD DECANIAN SOCIET Y

Editor: Alex Hume (Dale 2002) Thank you to all those ODs who contributed to the magazine this year. www.deanclosefoundation.org.uk