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r e k c e l f OLD DECANIAN NEWS
2019 SUMMER ~ Edition 5
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OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY I DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL
Contents Welcome
2
News from the Decades
5
News from the Archives
30
Old Decanian Events
40
News from the School
Welcome
34
Obituaries
46
Dates for the Diary
57
Old Decanian Society Committee 2019~20
President Chairman Vice Chairman Treasurer OD Secretary
Lord Bernard Ribeiro CBE (Tower 1962) Robin Bayliss (Tower 1983) - Trustee Claire Harding (née Bayley) (Mead 1972) Tim Lawrence (Field 1976) - Trustee Alex Hume (Dale 2002) - Trustee
Bella Acland (Fawley 2016) Samantha Armstrong (Shelburne 1985) Helen Gregory (Hatherley 2012) 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 Director of External Relations Julie Kent Current Staff Representative Emma Taylor Dean Close Foundation Warden
Committee Members Retired in 2019: Louise Akenhead (Mead 2008) Richard Taylor Former Deputy Head of DCS
Contact Details: To contact anyone on the Committee please liaise with Connie Parker, Alumni & Development Assistant.
ods@deanclose.org.uk 01242 267419 Old Decanian Society, Dean Close School, Shelburne Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 6HE Front cover: The ‘Close to the Wind’ yacht competing at the Arrow Trophy, Cowes, Isle of Wight, 2018.
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Chairman My first year as Chairman has passed in a flash. We have achieved a reasonable amount in that time, but we have a lot to do as we follow our Strategic Plan which takes us through to 2023. As Alex highlights in his ‘Welcome’ we have held many events this year to keep ODs connected with each other and the School, culminating in a memorable Commemoration in May and OD Day in June.
In relation to our Committee, two Committee Members step down this year and I thank Louise Akenhead and particularly Richard Taylor for his guidance and support to the Committee. At the AGM, we elected three nominated ODs to the Committee and welcome Guy Toye (Brook Court 2016), Andrew Troughton (Field 1991) and Samantha Armstrong (Shelburne 1985).
Financially we have introduced two new initiatives. Firstly, the creation of the Old Decanian Foundation Award, which will fully support one pupil through five years at Dean Close Senior School, the first of whom starts in September 2019. Secondly, we have chosen to support the Nyakatakura Memorial Secondary School in Uganda, a School that Dean Close has supported since 2005. Our donation will support four children through their Schooling. I want to thank every member of our Committee for their continued service, particularly Alex Hume as our Secretary and my sidekick. I also want to thank the Warden, Emma Taylor, and the whole Leadership team at the Dean Close Foundation for their ongoing support of the Society. Robin Bayliss (Tower 1983)
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OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY I DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL
President
Welcome to another addition of the Flecker. The Society is now in its 128th year, after being established in 1891, it is incredible to see such a flourishing and engaged alumni. As you will go on to read within this magazine, the Society has been very active again this year and we have met Old Decanians at events from every walk of life. It is fascinating to hear the different routes that Old Decanians take once leaving the School.
Once again, we paid tribute to those ODs that fell due to conflict, in particular this year to those who fell on D-Day, as we marked the 75th anniversary earlier in the year. In the archives section of this magazine you can read the stories on Martin Bryan-Smith DFC & Bar (Gate 1928) and Peter Mercer-Wilson (Brook 1939) who both lost their lives on 6th June 1944. We also held a silence for all those ODs and Former Staff who passed away during this year, in a Chapel Service on OD Day, their memories are honoured in the obituaries section. A story that I was encouraged to see was that of the Dean Close Prep School students, under the tuition of their teacher, Head of Design & Technology, David Jones (Field 1994), building a playground 4x4 truck climbing frame and slide for one of the Dean Close Nurseries (Tree Tops in Cheltenham). The project was partially funded by the Old Decanian Society and it is fantastic to see this collaboration throughout the Foundation.
We look forward to seeing what the rest of 2019 and 2020 holds; we hope that you will be a part of it. Lord Bernard Ribeiro (Tower 1962)
Secretary
The Old Decanian Society has enjoyed another exciting year with 350+ ODs attending 38 events throughout the year. The third ever Old Decanian Day which took place in June was very much the highlight of the year; with sports fixtures versus the School, BBQ lunch, reunions, Chapel service and dinner with guest speaker Henry Staelens (Dale, Class of 2006), the world’s youngest Football Club CEO (Forest Green Rovers). Another highlight was our inaugural entry into the prestigious Arrow Trophy, an alumni sailing competition in Cowes on the Isle of Wight between independent Schools’ alumni, an article of which is included within.
We continue to support the Careers Department and were very grateful to those ODs who joined us for the lower sixth Careers Fair in June. If you would like to help us with our careers programme or would like to find out more please do get in contact. I want to once again thank the School, especially the Archive and Development departments, for all their ongoing support of the Society as it ensures that the ODS continues to thrive and develop.
Finally, thank you to those who wrote and said that the School photo (1973) on the front of last year’s Flecker was not the first whole School photo which included girls…the 1971 photo was! Apologies. Do not forget to keep us updated if you have any OD news or if your contact details change at www.deanclose.org.uk/update-your-details.
DID YOU KNOW?
W
e were lucky enough to receive this ‘foot locker’ from the 1920s into the Archives. It belonged to Old Decanain, Edward Henry Parker Gibbon. Foot lockers were associated with military personnel to hold their belongings although we think this was used as a tuck box!
Alex Hume (Dale 2002)
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OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY I DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL
PODS 2018/2019
DID YOU KNOW?
Thank you to this year’s PODS (Pupil Old Decanians). The PODS are a key link between the OD office and the pupil body at Dean Close. Brook Court
George Harris*
Dale
Charlie Street*
Fawley
Emma Davis*
Gate
Ben Avery
Field
Harry Brooks
Hatherley
Hannah Betteelley
Mead
Liv Colthart
Tower
Josh Gray
Shelburne
Emily Smith*
Turner
Izzy Turner*
*indicates they are in the L6th and will continue to be a POD for 2019/2020
They have done a fantastic job in hosting at events and have collected all the leavers’ contact information which enables us to keep in contact with our newest members of the ODS!
T
he School had a thriving Young Farmers’ Club in the late 1940s to the late 1950s. Pupils of the Club were responsible for rearing pigs on the School site. These pigs bred and had piglets which were fed on the kitchen left overs and sold on. The profit was then used to buy the pews in the Chapel.
International OD Representatives AUSTRALIA - Perth Stefanie Jones (née Brooking) (Shelburne 1990) CANADA - Ottawa Chuck Kennedy (Tower 1986) CANADA - Alberta Sara Lynn Burrough (Shelburne 1976) HONG KONG David Ho (Gate 1985) SOUTH AFRICA - Johannesburg Rick Hogben (Gate 1965)
UAE - Qatar John Toon (Gate 1976) USA - Alabama Kirsten McTernan (née Spalholz) (Shelburne 1997) USA - Los Angeles Ian Bishop (Court 1981) USA - San Diego Caroline Harwood (Shelburne 1981) USA - San Diego Charmaine Haworth (née Lamb) (Shelburne 1991)
UAE - Dubai Nick Anderson (Dale 2001)
USA - Seattle David Richardson (Tower 1954)
UAE - Oman John Keane (Tower 1993)
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. 4 FLECKER I SUMMER 2019
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News from the
1930 - 1939
1950 - 1959 We had a lovely visit from David Stanley-Smith with his wife whilst on holiday from Australia. He is the son of John Stanley-Smith (Brook 1951) who died in 2016. We gave David an insight into what John’s life would have been like at Dean Close. John certainly was very much involved in all aspects of School. He was Captain of Cricket, Hockey, Football and Rugby, CSM CCF, Treasurer of the Gramophone Club, Member of the Literacy Club and Acton Club. He had two brothers, who also attended Dean Close, Michael Stanley-Smith (Brook 1958) and Martin Stanley-Smith (Brook 1953). The brothers settled all over the world; David in Australia, Michael in Canada and Martin in South Africa….they managed to meet up from time to time!
Kenneth Broad (Gate 1935), father of Ashes-winning opening batsman Chris and grandfather of legendary England fast bowler Stuart, celebrated his century at the Railway Inn in North Somerset in February 2018. More than 60 family members and friends, including his wife Nancy, attended the celebration, which also paid tribute to his decades of service to the Rotary Club. He joined the Bristol branch of the club in 1976 before becoming president 10 years later and was awarded an honorary membership in 2012.
John was Head Boy when this photo was taken on Friday 16th March 1951. Princess Elizabeth was inspecting a School CCF guard of honour on Shelburne Road. John is pictured over her left shoulder and two further along the master in robes is E.J.B. Langhorne (Headmaster DCJS).
1940 - 1949 John Lewis (Brook 1942) is still actively farming at Copse Green Farm, Cheltenham. This photo will appear in his latest Book "Hodge", a fictional tale of country life, published in June. Mr Tuckwell taught him how to write! Development Manager, Felicity Copp and ODS Committee Member, Jeremy Winter, paid a visit to Arthur Blyth (Walton 1944) in Hampshire in July. Arthur misses his frequent trips to Dean Close, but we do our best to send him recordings of the concerts, so he does not miss out.
David Maxwell (Brook 1954) has been elected to the Executive Committee of Christian CND. Find out more about the campaign by visiting www.christiancnd.org.uk
T
DID YOU KNOW? he School Fee for a Day Boy in 1954 was £36 a term (plus £5 a term for lunch!)
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After seeing the iconic DCJS prospectus photo on page 7 of last year’s Flecker which Tony Lloyd (DCJS 1953) sent in, Ross Cole (Tower 1958) has provided a few names…
Front row from the left; Roger Grimshaw (Tower 1956), Tony Lloyd and Ted Dowty (Tower 1956). The second row; Guy Palmer (Gate 1958), Paul Edge (Gate 1957), Ross Cole, James Turnbull (Brook 1955) and William Trump (Court 1956). The back row; Jonathan Wilson (Brook 1958).
A memoire on Lepine, Ridler & Morgenthal by Ewan Bird (Walton Court 1956).
M
y memory was jogged into action when I read in the last edition of ‘Flecker’ the account of Sunday evenings spent listening to music in David Lepine’s study and it caused me to reflect on how much individuals we meet can affect our lives. There were three teachers at Dean Close when I was there who had an important influence on my life. One was David Lepine. I, too, was one of the people invited to his study on Sundays to listen to a range of music and I was happy to accept because, on first thoughts, it just seemed it might be a far better option than sitting in enforced silence for a couple of hours on a Sunday evening in a house common-room between supper and bed-time!
How wrong I was! Those evenings with their discussions awakened in me a love of music that has stayed with me ever since. They encouraged me to listen to music, learn an instrument and to sing in the Choral Society where I appreciated how good a choirmaster David Lepine was. I was then a wavering tenor (now a wavering bass!) and I remember singing in Haydn’s ‘The Creation’, which we did – an exciting first – with the Ladies’ College, which provided the sopranos and altos. In a rehearsal, when we reached the passage ‘And God said, Let there be light’ I noticed I was standing next to a light switch … well, what else was I supposed to do? I did get roundly chastised
6 FLECKER I SUMMER 2019
for my sin! Not the sort of thing you did in the Ladies’ College! I also managed to arrange an assignation behind Leckhampton Church with one of the sopranos which involved finding an excuse for missing a session of 1st XI nets – what an appalling act! And innocence and lack of experience did not help in that assignation, either! However, the positive is that I have always been grateful for the influence of David Lepine on my musical education.
The other two teachers taught French and German, neither of whom, oddly, feature in the published history of the School. Mr. Ridler – I’ve forgotten his first name, although it might have been Peter – came to us fresh from Oxford and brought with him an enthusiasm for his subject which we had not experienced previously. I do remember French lessons with Mr. Tuckwell using that well-known text-book Whitmarsh, probably still in the 1935 first edition, but he did teach me one thing I have never forgotten – ‘kick a donkey’ i.e. qui, que, dont, qui’! Mr. Ridler, though, was lively in the classroom and his ‘A’ level literature lessons a pleasure as he took on all the parts in a Molière play and managed to make even Corneille interesting! Certainly, it was his analysis of Voltaire which has left me feeling that Voltaire is the person from the past I’d most like to share a pie and a pint with. At that time, we (the French ‘A’ level group) learnt that he had a fiancée and that she often came and spent the evening with him in his study. We had news that, on one particular evening, she was there, so with the caddish behaviour of callow youth, we decided we would all make up two important questions to ask him, and that we would then go to his study in turns every ten minutes spread throughout the evening! Poor couple! Their evening ruined by knocks on the door every ten minutes over two hours. By the end, he must have wanted to throttle all of us! Many years later, I was Head of the Languages department in a large comprehensive school and had been invited to attend a major conference. I sat down, took my papers out and, lo and behold, saw Mr. Ridler sitting in front of me. I tapped him
on the shoulder to say ‘hello’ and he turned round, looked at me and exclaimed ‘Good Lord, Bird, what are you doing here?!’ I understood his reaction – I had never been the model pupil!
The third teacher was very different and taught me German. His name was Prof. Dr. Morgenthal. He had been a professor at Heidelberg University, but had been obliged to leave Germany towards the end of the 1930s because of the National Socialist policy towards Jews and had been interned on the Isle of Man during the war. He then had found his way to Cheltenham and taught part-time at Dean Close and I had the pleasure of him teaching me ‘A’ level German. He was a man of immense humility, quietly spoken, never lost his temper and somehow, we would always make sure we did his work first before tackling other teachers’ set work. I often gave in work late, but never for Herr Dr. Morgenthal. Because of him, in later years, I was able to appreciate true humility. Several years later, he went back to Germany to Heidelberg. Because of his influence, as a student, I spent time at Heidelberg University and when I was there, I went to visit him. I asked him why he had come back to Germany and his reply was simple – although he owed a lot to Britain, Heidelberg was ‘home’. I have often thought about that and realise that, even if we do move around, we all need ‘home’. I know that, although I have lived and worked abroad and around in this country, ‘home’ for me is Wiltshire. So three people, who together have had a real influence on my life. One has given me the joy of music and the other two the power of speaking two foreign languages which brings with it great advantages. My wife and I were in an oasis in the Moroccan desert once and because of a knowledge of French we were able to experience an insight into local life, impossible had we been unable to communicate. Mr Ridler and Dr. Morgenthal both gave me a love of languages and of communicating with others and led me towards a career of teaching and inspecting languages that has been incredibly fulfilling. So, thank you, all three!
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A picture of Tim Winter (Court 1957) and his brother Jeremy Winter (Court 1961), when Jeremy went up to Kinloch Rannoch this summer.
In May this year, John Harding (Tower 1958) and Hugh South (Court 1958) had a memoir / article published in the Cathedral Music magazine on David Lepine, the inspirational organist and choirmaster of DCS who later became the first choirmaster of the restored Coventry Cathedral. David died at the age of 42; he was a huge loss to the music world. His fiancée, Susan Hill, became a famous novelist. She dedicated an early novel to David called 'In the Springtime of the Year.'
John's son Luke Harding is a Guardian foreign correspondent and author of the Snowden files. Wikileaks and a very expensive Poison is having the latter book turned into a play at the Old Vic this Autumn. John’s wife, Felicity, the daughter of the founder of the Samaritans, Chad Varah has a connection with DCS. Chad co-founded the Eagle and Girl Comics with Marcus Morris, a distinguished Old Decanian. Both Marcus and Chad were at theological college together and remained very close friends throughout their
pioneering lives. Marcus went on to edit the Eagle and Girl and Chad was the back page writer / Illustrator on the Eagle for 10 years with stories on Alfred the Great, Saul of Tarsus, Marco Polo, etc. Generations of DCS and DCJS pupils enjoyed the weekly Eagle with its breathtaking inventiveness and of course Dan Dare, who inspired so many, including Stephen Hawking. Dean Close has invited John to judge the DCS Senior Critical Essay Competition in November.
Some members of the Golf Society enjoying a winter game of golf at The Berkshire last December.
L-R: Mike McMahon (Court 1958), Mike Bawden (Gate 1965), Rupert Lane (Gate 1962), Mike Wigley (Court 1967), Peter Sisson (Brook 1967), Robert Farnes (Brook 1963) and Jeremy Winter (Court 1961).
DID YOU KNOW?
A
Brian Jones, who attended the Junior School, became an international celebrity as a member of the Rolling Stones pop group before his early tragic death in 1969, aged just 27. To mark 50 years since his death, Cotswold Guides and Marketing Cheltenham held a walking tour, taking in some of the sites associated with Brian’s early life in Cheltenham.
picture of the first computer in Dean Close Preparatory School, the computer was kindly donated in the academic year 19791980 by Mr & Mrs Breese, parents of a pupil at the time. We have come a long way in 40 years!
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1960 - 1969
Barry Davies (Tower 1960) and his wife Pat from Abergavenny came to visit Dean Close whilst passing through Cheltenham in October.
Graham Milne (Tower 1960) sent this photo of the 1960 1st XI, taken just before playing Cheltenham College. Graham was captain of rugby that year. It was also an absolute pleasure to welcome Graham and his wife Leonora back to Dean Close in May this year as they passed through Cheltenham on their way to Devon from their home in Harrogate. They stayed at Sarah Kenyon’s B&B and even managed to have dinner with Brian and Val Wilson.
Graham is currently selling their villa in Kefalonia. “An elegant 4-bedroom villa with panoramic sea views, Lourdata, Kefalonia, Greek Ionian Islands. This spacious three-story property is peacefully situated in an elevated position among olive groves in a quiet no-through road overlooking Lourdas Beach and its waterfront tavernas just 15 minutes walk away.
Jeremy Winter (Court 1961) and Gill Moore, widow of the late John Moore (Tower 1956), were watching Gill’s granddaughters play tennis at Dean Close, when they realised they were sitting on John’s School rug which still had his name tag attached which would have been stitched on during the ‘50s! Jeremy also blessed the cricket field once again last summer, when the Cryptics Cricket Club could only field 10 at Eastnor Castle; Jeremy stepped up (whites etc. already in the car for emergencies!).
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Please contact us for further information and a link to the estate agents' website. We will be out there from the latter part of September to the end of October if you would like to view. Leonora and Graham Milne gmilne86@hotmail.com".
An update from Robin Wilson (Gate 1961) since leaving DCS….entered Jesus College Cambridge University (19611964): studied mechanical sciences & economics (BA 2/2 degree & MA). Elected secretary of Jesus College Boat Club, rowed at Henley, Tideway Head of the River race and Banyoles, Spain. Graduate apprenticeship at English Electric, Stafford (1964-1966), professional engineering career in machine design, application & sales: turbo-generators, air and gas compressors. Member I MechE from 1970. Founded CPI (Compressor Products International) in 1984 as Technical Director, merged CPI into EnPro Industries 2007. Technical adviser to CPI 2007-2016. Left March 2016 to start independent mechanical engineering consultancy.
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Barry Dravers (Brook 1963) comments further on John Harding’s (Tower 1958) article on David Lepine (Organist and Choir Master 195361), page 22 of last year’s Flecker.
Gerry Brackenbury (Field 1963) recently unearthed a photo of himself shouldering a young tawny owl. In the early 1960s a few of his peers started the Dean Close Falconry Club. They built a mews in the garden of the Headmaster, Douglas Graham, who kindly allowed them to put it up against a brick wall dividing his grounds from School. They acquired in a short time a tame buzzard, a kestrel with one wing and two tawny owl chicks.
Gerry said that; “Most of the time we were trying to catch the buzzard that had Houdinilike ability to escape. We fed the owls on sausages we flogged from school dinner. The club did not last long... Pinching the Head's strawberries that grew nearby probably did not help!”
There are some more public and illustrative memories of him that showcase both man and his talents, that those of our era treasure. First, consider the image of David teetering precariously on the top of the front choir stall, waving his arms, and shouting at both sides of the Chapel to sing up in choral practice. Even the groaners responded….the singing became seriously uplifting. Secondly, David liked to finesse on the organ occasionally while playing the school out from chapel. A keen ear could find nursery rhyme tunes disguised in the manner of JS Bach or Mozart, but the real treats were Bach’s Great Fugue, or Widor’s Toccata. On these occasions, although we were due to collect books for morning study, nobody moved. The whole school would sit transfixed by the drama of the music. Now familiar, the Toccata was not well known in the late fifties, until the Duchess of Kent chose it to accompany her and the Duke from their wedding in York Minster in 1961. By then, to our chagrin, but to his greater glory, David had left us for Coventry.
Andrew Lloyd Williams (Brook 1965) is retired and volunteers as an Executive Partner with the Mason School of Business, part of the William & Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia, with special responsibility for the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre.
DID YOU KNOW? Following the article on Richard St Barbe Baker (page 23 of Flecker 2018), David Rawlins (Gate 1965) wrote in; “Very interested to read the article on Richard St Barbe Baker by Mike Sedgwick (Gate 1956). I have a book by him, written in 1966 and purchased by me in 1970, entitled Sahara Conquest which is all about the attempt to halt the spread of the Sahara, and the importance of trees in preventing the development of deserts. Such book should be read by anyone hoping to retain the forests of Brazil, or indeed prevent climate change! Clearly, a great environmentalist, who must have influenced my career in Building Conservation”.
Robert FitzHerbert (Gate 1964) has just returned to Somerset after 18 years in Spain. Robert retired from a career in the construction industry in 2002, where the previous 22 years he was Managing Director of contracting and building product manufacturing businesses.
T
he first Athletic Sports Day took place in March 1887 on Chapel Close; with only 43 boys in the School, it was not as competitive as it is today! The current whole School record for the 100m is 10.70 seconds for boys (Tom Scrase in 2009) and 12.80 seconds for girls (Anna Glover in 2006). SUMMER 2019 I FLECKER 9
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Jimmy Tarbuck Sharing 50 Years of Memories Sunday 22nd September Showtime: 7:30pm
Wednesday 2nd October Showtime: 7.30pm
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Dean Close Services Ltd, Dean Close School, Shelburne Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6HE | 01242 267431 | enquiries@deanclosevenues.co.uk | www.deanclosevenues.co.uk |
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OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY I DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL
DID YOU KNOW?
Mike Wigley (Court 1967) sent in this signed menu from July 1965…
In the 1960s it was always the tradition for the 1st XIs and 1st XVs, to have a dinner at the end of the season. This was the first year that Mike was in the 1st XI, the side that was captained by Mike Bawden (Gate 1965).
Mike says; “The menu was signed by everyone present, from top left going down we have myself, Bill Mason, Douglas Graham, Mike Bawden, Pete Wickham, John Redman, Bernard Walmsley, Mike Girling, Ian Horne, Steve Powell and then going down the right side we have Chris Badger, Nigel Timson, Willie Jones, Chris Kenyon, Andy Chappell, Malcolm Bateman and Mike Foster. Russell Clarke added his name to the ‘B...russels’ sprouts in the middle and then, for some reason, Mike Foster signed it again in the middle. I think the only person missing from the ‘squad’ was Rick Sutton.”
80th Anniversary of the Kindertransport
In 1938-1939 10,000 children from occupied Europe, mostly Jews, came without their parents to Britain. Ernst Werner-Fuchs (Old Decanian) first went to Sherborne School before arriving at Dean Close in 1940. Only his sister Vera survived the war having been freed from a women's labour camp. His Grandmother, Parents and Brother were all killed in the camps.
Michael Martin (Court 1968) popped into Dean Close in September whilst he was in the UK on holiday. Michael kindly donated this photo to the archives. He is the Band Major at the front, can anyone else be identified?
Thanks to Clive Holland (Field 1967) who sent in this picture of the CCF Cadets heading off to Plasterdown Camp, Dartmoor in the Summer of 1964.
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1970 - 1979 Brian Lewis (Field 1970) was elected as a Conservative Councillor for Redmarley and Hartpury ward earlier this year. Brian moved to Staunton in 1979 and started Elmstone Nursery later to become Staunton Garden Centre. He worked for Kraft Foods working at the Cheltenham Headquarters for 14 years and then joined the European Headquarters in Bremen Germany as Logistics Development Manager for Europe.
This year Hareb Al Darmaki (Field 1970) has been awarded the very prestigious CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Award for Professional Excellence. Hareb is living in Abu Dhabi and works for the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
Joseph Hudson III (Brook 1970) came to Dean Close on the 16th January 1970 as an experimental American exchange student (English Speaking Union). Joseph lives in Virginia and is now retired from the construction industry. He very much still enjoys travelling and in the past 30 years has visited 65 countries. Some of these trips have been construction-orientated mission trips, through his church, to far corners of Eastern Europe and Central America.
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Richard Kennedy (Tower 1972) wrote in to say that his twin-brother; Charles Kennedy (Tower 1971) has just retired, after working in the property market in West Dorset. His firm was called Charles Kennedy Estate Agents in Bridport. He is married with two children and lives near Axminster. Richard became a professional artist in 1984 and you can see his work at www.richardkennedyart.com, he lives near Beaminster in Dorset.
Chris Pomfret (Field 1973) retired from gainful employment at the end of 2016, after 20 years in the RAF and a subsequent 20 years as an aerospace business development consultant in the USA. With retirement came relocation with his wife to the warmer climes of New Orleans. Now much nearer to both his children than when in Dayton Ohio, he is enjoying worldwide travel to reduce the bucket list, playing plenty of tennis and golf and pursuing volunteer work for organizations addressing “ageing”. Chris would truly love to see any ODs who find themselves in “The Big Easy”, aka New Orleans. He would also love to see a reunion for his era (1973) in 2023 or sooner. He will come over from the States for it! David Acton (Brook 1973) has been appearing in Gaslight at the Mill Theatre in Sonning, after a 6-month tour of The Woman in Black, as well as appearances with the RSC in Macbeth and The Merry Wives of Windsor in 2018. Afteer retiring to Bournemouth in 2015, Edward Essery (Gate 1974) has been actively involved in the re-opening of the old Coastguard Lookout building as on top of Hengistbury Head as one of the latest National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) stations. He has built up a team of approaching 100 volunteers who, between them, man the Station from 08:00 to dusk 364 days per year. They also raised all the money to equip the Station and keep it running. www.nci.org..uk/sttations/hhengistbury--head
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Chapman was of the highest order. For his consistent example of untiring energy and devotion to duty, for his great personal bravery, for his outstanding qualities as a leader, which, at all times, have been a source of inspiration to those whom he commands, Major Chapman richly deserves recognition.”
In May, we had a visit from Nigel Williams (Brook 1975), Lynn Burrough (Shelburne 1976), Tony Ayres (Tower 1975), and Valerie Harrison (née Miles) (Mead 1976), pictured in the Gym. The main topic of discussion was Major Ben Chapman DSO who was at Dean Close from 1960-77 and was a much loved PE & Swimming Teacher.
An OD Committee has been set up to discuss with the School how we could honour Major Chapman with a permanent reminder at the School.
Earlier David Lawson (Brook 1976) had sent in this citation found in the history of the Royal Norfolk Regiment (1851-69 Volume IV) which outlines the reason why Ben received his DSO in WWII.
“...a patrol unwittingly entered a minefield, the markings of which had been destroyed by shell and mortar fire...set off a mine which killed five men outright and wounded three others...Major Chapman immediately volunteered to take out a rescue party. On arrival at the scene...he went forward alone...located the casualties in the minefield...established a path clear of mines...called forward singly his stretcher parties and then he personally carried out the dead and wounded one by one to the waiting stretcher party. Through the operation the courage, leadership and coolness displayed by Major
Pictured: Major Benjamin Chapman DSO standing with RSM ‘Winky’ Fitt of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, with the Commemorative Medal from the City of Seoul, Korea mounted in the stainless steel cut-out of Korea, engraved with the 59th Parallel. Joseph Matalon (Gate 1977) is still living in Kingston, Jamaica. He has been the Chairman of ICD Group Holdings, an investment holding company, for 34 years now. He is also Chairman of the Office of Utilities Regulation and the RJR Communications Group both based in Jamaica. Joseph is also Vice-Chairman of the International Youth Federation based in Baltimore.
Dale Mullins (Court 1977) and Chris Billington (Tower 1973) have been playing for England Over 60’s in the European Cup hockey tournament in Antwerp this summer….they won the European Cup, winning all six matches including beating the Netherlands 3-2 in the final.
Dale is fourth in from the left on the bottom row and Chris is far right on the bottom row.
This summer Dale has also been made a Council Member of the Dean Close Foundation.
Stephen Lambert (Court 1978) is Professor of Ancient Greek History and Epigraphy at Cardiff University and founder of the website, www.atticinscriptions.com.
Luly Peri Samuels (Shelburne 1978) visited School in May of this year with her husband Maurice, whilst they were in the UK on holiday from Boston. She loved the spectacular organ in Chapel and the WWI memorial outside. She was most pleased to see the tree she used to climb outside Chapel thriving beautifully. Later that day Luly had a very loud and hilarious evening in Cheltenham with Susie Webster (née Harlock) (Shelburne 1979) proving some things never change!
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1980 - 1989 Former ODS Chairman, Nick Akerman (Gate 1980) really enjoyed his present from the Society presented by the current Chairman Robin Bayliss (Tower 1983) for his 24 years’ service on the Committee….two days in the sun at Broadway Tower learning how to build a dry stone wall. Nick completed his Stage 1 and is now hooked!
It was lovely to see Ian Vaux (Tower 1981) when he visited the School at an Open Heritage Day with his wife Lucy. To find out more about Open Heritage Days visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Andrew Arthur (Tower 1982) in April became the Lifeboat Operations Manager of the Salcombe Lifeboat Station. This also includes taking on the task of organising and overseeing all the activities surrounding the 150th Anniversary of the Station this year. Having been involved, both seagoing and more recently shore side, with the Lifeboat Station for the past 16 years, Andrew said “It was difficult to decline the voluntary role for a third time!” He continues to run his Bespoke Cabinet Making Workshop in the town.
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Dickson Leung (Brook 1982) visited Dean Close in May; he was visiting whilst on a business trip from Hong Kong. Heather Smethurst (née Clarke) (Shelburne 1982) wrote in to say that she is still working for NHS Blood and Transplant, but now as a Trial Manager. In her spare time, she is an URC Accredited Lay Preacher, as well as doing the odd commission as a qualified Fashion Designer. “The most recent big project was designing a wedding dress for my niece (my sister Frances' daughter, Beth). Beth was recently on TV, as her husband Alexei was a contestant in the Great British Sewing Bee. We were all very proud of him.” Frances (Shelburne 1981) is about to become Grandma to 2 more little ones as both her daughters are due in July.
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Caroline Gatehouse (Fawley 1982) is now in her 9th year of trading with her company, Fat White Cat Studio (www.fatwhitecatstudio.com) designing and publishing greetings cards. Besides supplying retail stockists, Caroline regularly attends local craft fairs including markets in The Promenade and Cirencester and is a regular at The Suffolks and Montpellier Street markets, where she would be delighted to catch up with her OD friends. Caroline can be contacted via her company website above.
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Designed and painted by Caroline Gatehouse (Fawley 1982)
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Euan Boddington (Tower 1983) visited the School in October 2018 whilst on a visit from Denmark.
Chris Walker (Gate 1985) came 1st in his age group and 16th overall in the Marbella Duathlon. Emma Sky (Shelburne 1986) has a new book out called ‘In a Time of Monsters: Travels through a Middle East in Revolt’.
It was a privilege to welcome back Chris Thiagarajah (Court 1983) and Lydia Thiagarajah (Shelburne 1985) along with their Father and Sister in March. The family were visiting the UK for their fathers 80th Birthday. We were joined for lunch at the Hotel Du Vin by Lindy and Tony Forbes, Sue Padfield, Charlie Montgomery (née Holloway) (Mead 1984) and Jill Bacon.
Morteza Mirghavameddin (Court 1984), his wife Simona and little daughter Bibi-Celeste have moved to Guernsey where Morteza has taken the role of Chief Executive at Trust Corporation International.
At the Cheltenham Literature Festival 2018, Dominic Faulkner (Field 1986) interviewed Kenton Cool (Climbed Everest 13 times, more than any other Brit), Ben Fogle (ascended the mountain in April 2018) and Bonita Norris (the youngest British woman to reach the peak). They talked about the fascination of the mountain, what draws people there despite the danger, why they keep going back and the impact of climbers on the region and on the mountain itself.
Dom is an acclaimed adventurer himself and is best known for his leadership of EVERESTMAX, one of the most ambitious and successful British expeditions in decades. Sir Ranulph Fiennes was quoted saying: “If you have never climbed Everest you would be hard pressed to find a better guide than Dom”.
Having worked for 25 years in the Publishing world, mostly in London, Kate Turner (née Mitchell) (Fawley 1985) decided to make the transition into Education in 2014. She has been studying for the past four years in Hereford and has recently achieved a BA with Honours in Education Studies.
Kate mentions; “Being glued to my computer into the early hours writing long and punctilious essays, I was reminded of those late nights in my Fawley bedsit scribbling out English critiques on George Eliot's Adam Bede (and the like) for Pete Cairns. Happy memories! I now work in a small, rural Primary School in Herefordshire as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, supporting pupils in their learning and emotional wellbeing. Meanwhile, I taxi my two busy sons (15 and 11) to their various sporting activities, and am very happy to announce that I will be marrying my fiancé, Simon Willis, in December 2019. Recently we had a joyous reunion in Cheltenham when we met for dinner and a catch-up with Zoe Stradling (née Foster) (Fawley, 1985) and her husband, John, who were visiting from the Cayman Islands”.
After a few years working in finance, Simon Piney (Gate 1986), decided that it was not for him so moved to Canada and qualified as a ski instructor before moving into wilderness search and rescue. He has now been living in the Canadian Rockies with his wife and two boys (aged 16 & 14) in a small mountain town called Fernie for the last 15 years. He is responsible for search and rescue in the area. In the winter, their focus is avalanche rescue, and the summers they switch to rivers, climbers, hikers etc.
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1990 - 1999 National swimmers meet up 30 years later with their swim coach and share memories of English School Finals in Bournemouth, Newcastle and many Public School swims at Crystal Palace. A great Relay Team!
Cathy Alger (Mead 1990), Jo Hopcraft (née Grimshaw) (Shelburne 1991). Michelle Marr (Shelburne 1991), Beth Alger (Mead 1991) and Marian Venn (DCS Swim Coach 1977-2000).
Gerry Hughes (Court 1987) received a Lifetime Award for his service to motorsport at the inaugural Confartigianato E-Motion Motori Awards in Rome. Gerry is currently Team Principle at NIO Formula E Team.
Emma Brain-Gabbott (Mead 1988) came back to DCS as adjudicator of the Schools Solo Singing and Song Recital Competitions. Emma is pictured here with the three pupils who competed for the Song Recital Trophy. Emma is a soprano and has worked extensively as a soloist in Britain and abroad. Simon Organ (Field 1989) and his family (wife and two daughters) left the Netherlands in the summer of 2017, after 10 years coaching in the Dutch hoofdklasse. He spent one year at Queen's College, Taunton and Exeter University (the latter gained promotion back to England Hockey National Premier League), before joining Wimbledon Hockey Club at Hockey Director in September 2018. A post previously occupied by OD Ben Marsden (who is now at Cheltenham College as Director of Sport). Simon is still playing hockey and represents England over 45s.
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Leo Whetter (Dale 1992) has worked in the music and audio industries for the past twenty years. He produced the award winning audiobook This is Going to Hurt written and read by Adam Kay. His podcast, Sex Appeal: The Writing of a Hit has just made its debut.
After leaving Dean Close, Jonathan Lai (Gate 1991) read BCom (Accounting) at the University of Birmingham. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Leach & Co in Surrey, before returning to Hong Kong in 1997. He later joined HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng (a top 6 accounting firm in Hong Kong) in 1998, was admitted as a Partner in 2002 and appointed as its Managing Partner in 2018. He practices karate with his two teenage boys. He keeps in touch with Owen Schoning and Ravi Gill.
Mark Simmons (Court 1991) is living near Ludlow and is currently CEO of an NGO, the Friends of Ibba Girls' School in South Sudan; alongside this, he leads Coventry Cathedral's reconciliation ministry, and chairs the UK and Ireland board of the Community of the Cross of Nails, also based at the Cathedral.
Rich Harrison (Dale 1992) has returned to the UK after living in Manly, Sydney, Australia. In October 2015, he had his first child, Will who is now 3. After leaving The City in 2013, he is now running a property development and lettings venture.
Caroline Wilkins (née Clews) (Shelburne 1992) moved to Hong Kong in 2017 with husband Mike and children Sophie (5) and Adam (4). Caroline is working part time for a small UK based CRO as a Recruitment Manager. Amanda Bradley (Mead 1994) after being taught History of Art by Martin Bowden at School, Amanda went on to study Art History at Cambridge and has published extensively on C16th art and Modern British art. She is now a freelance art historian specialising in C16th Italian painting, Modern British art and the history of collecting. Amanda is a consultant on Italian Paintings to the National Trust, Trustee and Exhibitions Chair of Stanley Spencer Gallery, and Trustee of the Colnaghi Foundation, which serves to promote learning and appreciation of Old Master Paintings. Last year, Amanda published her latest book on the collecting of Modern British art, Patron Saints: Collecting Stanley Spencer. This follows Stanley Spencer: Heaven in a Hell of War, which was published in 2014. As well as all of this, she has three children to look after!
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Melissa Bastin (Mead 1994) has been placed as Third Place Winner in the Assistance Dog category in this year’s Kennel Club Dog Photographer of The Year Competition. The competition attracts thousands of entries from around the world and has many prestigious former winners. The image of Canine Partner Quintus and owner Rosie Pocock, entitled “You’re safe with me” was taken in St Giles in Oxford and it shows Quintus waiting at a crossing with eyes focused on his owner. The winning images were selected by a panel of photographic experts and were judged on two main criteria: creativity and originality and technical skill. Melissa has been photographing professionally for 3 years and her work specialises in dog, polo and shooting photography.
Congratulations to Thomas Kingston (Brook 1996) who married Lady Gabriella Windsor at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 18th. His now Father-in-Law, Prince Michael of Kent, opened the Dean Close Music School in 1997. Both his sisters read in the chapel at the wedding, Joanna Conolly (Shelburne 1994) and Emma Murray (Fawley 1999) are pictured seated far left. Isabel Wright (Fawley 1997) is living in Washington DC with husband Leif Jackson and two children (Nicholas 3.5 years old and Adam 1.5 years old). Isabel has started her own interior design company in 2017 called ‘Cheltenham Interiors’. July saw the launch of Salmon Swimming, a team and leadership training company hosted by James (Brook 1997) & Laura Mears (Former Staff) with live music, fizz and nibbles from Hei Kitchen. 70 people met in the centre of Cheltenham to toast this new venture.
DATUK Kelvin Cheong (Gate 1997) has recently sold his business, Sunland Volonte, to EA Holdings. Sunland are primarily engaged in sales and distribution of packet food and beverage products. Kelvin is currently living in Malaysia. Ed Taylor (Field 1998) has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel within the Royal Artillery and became engaged to Vicky Poyntz over the Christmas holiday. They will be getting married in the Dean Close Chapel on Saturday 26th October 2019.
Dean Close Old Decanians, staff and parents in attendance included Ross Pieters, Chris Lang, Zoe Patterson, Helen Stott, Jane Howell, Lou Hunt, Brad Mears, Julie Kent, Andrew Judge, Stuart Robbie and Governors Richard Coombs and Duncan Munroe.
In the Leadership Taster Workshop, they took 68 delegates through the Five Voices 'Know Your Voice' seminar. Five Voices is a training system based on the Myers Briggs model, which seeks to identify different personalities ('voices'), in terms of what each brings to the table, how each may encounter challenges and how a team can function effectively.
Everyone speaks. Not everyone is heard. But what if everyone in your team could flourish? To find out more, go to https://salmonswimming.com
Or find out which voice you are in the free quiz: https://5voices.com/assessment
Stuart Bond (Tower 1998) has finished his service in the RAF after 16 years, where he flew and instructed on the Eurofighter Typhoon for 12 years. He held the positions of Head of the Typhoon Weapons Instructor School & Head of Training. In this time, he completed many global operations & exercises and sat on the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft on a regular basis, in defence of UK airspace. Stuart has joined Jet2.com as a First Officer and has recently completed his training on the B737-800. Stuart is pictured here with his wife Lucy Bond (née Erving) (Mead 2000) and his three children. Lucy qualified as a staff nurse and has worked in neurosurgery, intensive care and is now a practice nurse.
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2000 - 2009 Katy Hopkin (Shelburne 1998) recently went on a Battlefield Tour to Ypres, Belgium with her parents and a family friend. Her Dad, Simon Hopkin (Brook 1966), carried out the Tour. They visited St George's Memorial Church which was built to commemorate over 500,000 British and Commonwealth troops who had died in the three battles fought for the Ypres Salient, during World War I. The memorials to the fallen form an integral part of the uniqueness of this special Church. Attached is a photo showing the memorial plaque for the old boys of Dean Close.
Amy Spalholz (Shelburne, Class of 2000, left in Remove) is currently living in New York City and is a freelance makeup artist working primarily in fashion, advertising and television. Some of her clients and credits include NBC, VH1, Project Runway, Steven Colbert Show, Alex Morgan, Serena Williams, Nicole Miller, Vogue Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine and NYLON magazine. Amy recently married Thomas Gibbs at The Fox Hollow in Long Island, New York and spent their honeymoon in Bali, Thailand and the Philippines. Interesting article by Tom Johnson (Tower 2000) in the Telegraph last December, titled, ‘I played rugby for England, but now I worry about how to afford Christmas’. You can read it free at the Telegraph online. This is a snippet…
Retirement does not always run smoothly for a rugby player. It is not like you retire on the Friday and then start a nine-to-five job on the Monday. I think that brings an anxiety and an unknown in itself.
There was an impromptu Old Decanian reunion in Chesham, Buckinghamshire recently, when Louise Whitney (Mead 1998) and her father, Charles Whitney (DCS School Historian) met up with Sophie Hamilton (née Worthington) (Mead 1997) at a STEM event taking place at a local primary School attended by Louise and Sophie's eldest children. When they are not busy looking after their families, Sophie works as a Macmillan Specialist Dietitian for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and Louise works for the union UNISON.
If you're planning on visiting Dean Close / Cheltenham and need somewhere to stay in Cheltenham, brothers Ross Pieters (Brook 1999) and Max Pieters (Tower 2001) have a three bedroom townhouse near Montpellier available to rent on Airbnb. If you are interested, contact the OD office and we will put you in contact.
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There is always a bit of “is that it?” but you have to try and find acceptance. The Rugby Players’ Association was very good for me in that respect because I felt I needed to speak to somebody as I was getting very frustrated and angry turning up to work knowing I was going to have to retire. I did not sit back and enjoy it as much as I should. Stephanie Williams (née Ruck) (Shelburne 2000), pictured here with Levi one of her three sons, has recently had her first children’s books published as a writer and illustrator with the Good Book Company. A set of three books retelling bible stories with humorous illustrations for young children. The books have also been published internationally in French, Swedish and German, and have entered the US and Australian market too. Steph said she benefitted a lot from the Art department at DCS and her time there was significant in developing artistic skills and inspiring her art! Dan Lane (Tower 2002) announced his engagement to girlfriend, Andrea Carisse. Both currently work at Ridley College, St Catherines, near Toronto.
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A note from George Holdsworth (Field 2002) who has been working for a year in Peru:
“In 2013, Peru won the right to host the 2019 Pan American Games. However, they’ve never built International Olympic standard venues before. By 2017 they hadn’t started building any new venues and were in need of international assistance! So they contacted the UK as we did such a good job of the London 2012 Olympics.
As I worked on the London 2012 Olympics, I was asked by the UK Government (Department for International Trade), along with a number of other specialists, to go to Peru to project manage the construction of their new stadiums. I was given a 5,000 seat new-build stadium to design and build in less than 12 months…the time it normally takes to build a Tesco in the UK! So, I flew out in April 2018 for a year with my other half (Juliet Parker) to take on the project. To add to the already tight deadlines, I was the only English speaker on the project, so had to do the whole project in Spanish – hence I had to learn Spanish pretty swiftly! Pleased to say the Stadium was finished on time and the Games Opening Ceremony took place as planned on 28th July – Peru’s Independence Day National Holiday!
And to finish the story, my girlfriend and I even got engaged on Christmas Eve on a private beach in Northern Peru overlooking a Pacific Ocean sunset, we get married in Peckham on August 31st 2019.” Georgie Nicholas (née Hildick-Smith), (Shelburne 2003, Former Staff) is teaching English at Magdalen College School as well as directing plays there.
Joseph Moor (Gate 2003) is currently working as a political researcher at Number 10, alongside Charlotte Ivers (Hatherley 2013) – they had no idea they were at the same school until they contacted Lloyd Allington separately and he told them!
We welcomed back Old Decanian, Rosie Tatchell (Fawley 2005) to the Art Department as she held an exhibition of her paintings in the BonBernard Gallery. Rosie went on to pursue her passion for art and completed an art foundation course at Banbury College (Oxford and Cherwell Demontford University). Later, she attended the prestigious Charles H Cecil Studios in Florence for three years and it was there that she studied traditional drawing and oil painting techniques.
The focus for this exhibition are her favourite subjects, which include glass, silverware, blue and white china and fruit. Rosie's work hangs in private collections across England and Europe.
Sarah Harwood-Smith (Mead 2004) married Tom Harries in the Dean Close Chapel in 2018, our very own Charles Whitney (DCS School Historian) married the happy couple.
Since leaving Dean Close, Charlie de Rusett (Tower 2005) has been on a journey that's given him opportunities to work in a Hedge Fund, then sell two businesses, one to a fellow Old Decanian, Simon Ensor (Tower 2006) and has now started Idea Drop, a cloud based software that captures, curates and actions the best ideas from people working in enterprises. They have raised £1.4m in funding to date (and about to close a further £1m strategic round from a well-known management consultant) and their software is used by some of the world’s largest organisations in over 50 countries. www.ideadrop.co
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Su Mei Tan (Shelburne 2006) graduated with a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy this year from La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Ashok Gupta (Dale 2006) performed Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring for two pianos at Cheltenham Festivals in the Cheltenham Town Hall in July. He also joined Ben Powell (Dale 2005) and David Powell that same month in a sold out performance at Chapel Arts in Cheltenham. The programme included music by Elgar, Beethoven, Chabrier, Piazzolla, Dvorak, Kreisler and Gershwin.
Holly Lawrence (Fawley 2007) and Chris Scott (Gate 2005) are getting married in late July.
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Pete Browne (Field 2006) has been forced to retire from rugby after suffering repeat concussion and following medical advice. Pete, 30, made the last of his 34 Ulster appearances against Leinster in January. Ben Powell (Dale 2005) continues to work at the film studios in LA, USA, and he has just worked on the new film of The Lion King. When not recording, he is flying his plane, having gained his private pilot's licence, based out in Austin, Texas, where he now lives. This, in between playing golf with Clint Eastwood and playing major jazz gigs.
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Emily Williams (Fawley 2006) has recently been made a Partner of a GP practice in Midhurst, West Sussex and is due to be getting married to Gilbert Dougherty in early October 2019.
Tom Gutteridge (Brook Court 2008) performed a DJ set at Glastonbury, he said “I got to step on stage and ask the question so many musicians spend their whole lives dreaming about....Good evening Glastonbury! How are you feeling?” He was the referee for Soca vs Jungle Soundclash on The Clash Stage.
Jack Losh (Dale, 2006) produced and directed ‘The Forgotten Heroes of Empire’ for Al Jazeera English, a documentary about the army of African soldiers that Britain mobilised during World War II and subjected to systematic discrimination. Having tracked down some of the last surviving veterans, aged around 100 years old, in remote parts of Africa, the film triggered debates in Parliament and prompted senior politicians and former army chiefs to demand that the government investigate the matter and pay compensation. Following this, Jack returned to the Central African Republic to report on the aftermath of civil war there, spending over a month covering environmental and humanitarian issues for The Guardian, Foreign Policy and other UK and US outlets. He embedded with wildlife rangers, reported in rebel-held areas, interviewed former child soldiers and lived with an indigenous community on the DR Congo border. He was long-listed at the One World Media Awards in the 'Print' and 'New Voice' categories, the latter honouring young journalists who have made a substantial contribution to international journalism during the year. His work can be viewed at www.jacklosh.com. Jack is pictured here with wildlife rangers in the Central African Republic, an area controlled by the FPRC rebel group.
Congratulation to Alice Clayton (Fawley 2007), now MacInnes who got married earlier this year.
Sarah Duffin (Shelburne 2008) now Sarah Manners married Jonathan in June.
DID YOU KNOW?
The mounted stained glass in the Chapel cloister dates back to 1873, 146 years ago! DCS was gifted the glass in 1986 from the St John the Evangelist Church, Aston Magna, north of Moreton-in-Marsh (which became redundant). It depicts the Last Supper, St John as Apostle and Evangelist, and the Passion, Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus.
Emily Abbott (Fawley 2009) became Emily Lambert last year! She was joined by her three sisters who were her bridesmaids. Emily is pictured here with Fawley girls (L-R) Hannah Hassan (née McNair), Christa Mahana (née Shaw), Emily Lambert (née Abbott), Sophie Lock and Mary Conway (née Perham).
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Josh Powell (Dale 2008) is still working in USA. He left General Electric in January and is now working for US Gypsum, where he is Sales Director, Corporate Accounts. He continues to live in Chicago.
Ed Hastie-Smith (Tower 2009) asked his girlfriend Josephine to marry him last April… she said yes! The announcement was in The Times.
Andrew Newiss (Field 2009), pictured second from the left, is currently serving as an officer in 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron and is a member of 16 Air Assault Brigade. He took part in the 75th anniversary of D-Day by parachuting, alongside his troop, into the Sannerville Drop Zone. This was a drop zone used by Airborne forces as part of Operation Tonga, the British Airborne part of Operation Overlord. Andrew also got to visit Pegasus Bridge, a key objective and attend a memorial service. Andrew said, “It was an honour to pay tribute to the veterans in this way and I was inspired by the stories I heard when talking to the old boys.”
Sandra (Fawley 2009) and Sonia Muhwezi (Fawley 2010) have been working on an ecommerce platform by the name IHATO, www.shopihato.com. IHATO creates authentic jewellery and accessories made out of repurposed cow horn, paper bead and other sustainable materials. The website aims to bridge the gap between similar artisans in Uganda, offering them a global marketplace. The sisters started in February 2018 and have already been selected to be part of the Commonwealth fashion exchange programme, representing Uganda. Their piece in collaboration with Rwandese designer Haute Baso was exhibited in Buckingham Palace. They hope to officially launch this summer in London. Hannah De Giorgis (née Barraclough) (Mead 2010) has written a Sci-Fi novel called Thread in Time which was released in February.
Emily Watkins (Mead 2009) has been selected to join the cast of Mr Men and Little Miss. They have been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe at the Underbelly and in October, they head off on a UK Tour, starting at The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe on Friday 4th.
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"A thinking person’s sci-fi novel with plot twists a-plenty" - Boston Standard
"Thoughtful, clever, poignant and thoughtprovoking in equal measure" - The Scotsman
"Given its cinematic potential, it is possible – perhaps likely – that Threads in Time will follow its literary forefathers to the Big Screen" - The Yorkshire Post
After graduating with a degree in Professional Culinary Arts, Alice Robertson (née Neill) (Shelburne 2009), started to write a seasonal cookery blog called Alice Through the Year. Every week Alice would post a new recipe focused on what was in season at the time. The blog gained momentum and she was inspired to share her passion by running cookery workshops from her little kitchen. The workshops took off and this is now her full time business. The workshops are run from her cottage kitchen, in the beautiful village of Beckford near Winchcombe. The cooking is not fine dining foams and tuiles, but fresh and honest food, celebrating beautiful seasonal produce, all of which can be recreated at home.
The sessions start at 10am and finish around 2pm, finishing with a sumptuous lunch of all your creations. The sessions are relaxed but hands on, everyone will be involved in creating each dish. With a maximum of four per class, Alice tailors the workshop to suit the needs and abilities accordingly, classes range from £45-£65.
Classes include: Mid-Week Meals, Student Survival, Seasonal Suppers, Pure Veg, Back to Basics, Jellies & Jams and Pickles & Preserves. Dean Close discount 10% per booking, Ref: ODFlecker.
www.alicethroughtheyear.com
Dean Close announced a new partnership with Highnam Court Equine in 2018. The stunning new facility, run by Jasmine Head (Mead 2013), an Old Decanian and International Show Jumper, is set in 50 acres of the stunning secure grounds of Highnam Court and the equestrian facilities on offer are fantastic. www.highnamcourtequine.co.uk
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2010 - 2019 Ben Miller (Gate 2010) will take leave from the British Embassy Beijing to join a one-year fellowship programme at the Yenching Academy in China, where he will study for a Masters in Economics. This is a fully funded programme designed "to cultivate leaders who will advocate for global progress and cultural understanding".
Charlie Redman (Tower 2010) married Tilly Fateh (née Redman) (Shelburne 2011) at St Andrews Church in Kingham on September 15th 2018.
Michelle Chiu (Fawley 2010) contacted us to say she recently married Derek Ho (Tower 2008). Derek was in the same year as her brother Michael Chiu (Tower 2008), but they did not really meet until University. Michelle studied her Art graduate degree at UCL, and then returned to Hong Kong to teach. Whilst in Hong Kong she studied at the Education University in Hong Kong, focusing on Early Childhood Education.
Olivia Duffin (Shelburne 2011) is now working on the BBC production team on Doctor Who.
DID YOU KNOW? Specializing in Residential Property Lettings, Residential Property Management & Residential Property Consultancy. In addition, Support Services for Landlords & Tenants regarding Residential Property Repossessions, Evictions & Court Proceedings. 100% Confidential. GDPR Registered.
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100 years ago, the School decided they would build a permanent Chapel in the memory of those 135 Old Decanians who are known to have fallen in World War I. This picture is the first proposal of what the Chapel would look like (taken from The Decanian 1911). The Chapel was ready for use by 1924.
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Willl Merrick (Tower 201 11) has been starring in a new comedy series on E4 called Dead Pixels, wheere he played the role of Nicky.. Will also apppeared in Death of a Sallesman at Manchester’s Royyal Exchange Theatre, as Bernard.
Jak Chokesikarin (Gate 2011) was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Michaelmas 2018 Call. He along with other Callees (the name given to those called to the Bar) and their guests were welcome by the Hon. Mr Justice Foskett (in the photo) and the Masters of the Bench at the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn. Jak has joined SCL Law Group as a litigation lawyer at the Bangkok head office to focus on cross-border dispute resolution.
Dom Baillie (Dale 2011) is now teaching at the prestigious Christ Church Cathedral Prep School in Oxford.
Congratulations to ODs, Liam Brignull (Dale 2011) and Amy Hayes (Fawley 2012) who got engaged at the beginning of June.
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In January 2019, George Hunt (Tower 2011) walked for 24 hours each weekend. He was raising money for Centrepoint a youth homeless charity and raised an amazing £3,600.00. This picture was taken on the first weekend where he walked from Fulham to Cambridge (64 miles). He then walked from Fulham to Southend-on-Sea, Fulham to Brighton and finally Fulham to Oxford. Below is a snippet from his blog;
The Fourth Walk (Fulham to Oxford).
“Thank you… I couldn’t start this blog any other way. The support, kindness and generosity of everyone’s donations has been completely overwhelming.
Last weekend was the fourth and final one of my walks, from Fulham to Oxford. It was the biggest physical battle yet, with some fantastic stories that I have been really excited to write about in this blog. My alarm went off at 01:30; which was a real struggle as I had not been able to sleep until about midnight; nonetheless I managed to drag myself out of bed and get ready. I put over 15 Compeed blister plasters on my feet along with 1.5m of fabric strapping, praying that my feet would hold up. The big difference between this walk and the previous ones was that my feet had not healed this time round. I still had blisters from the previous walk, my calf muscle didn’t feel right and my left ankle was still aching.
I set off just past 02:30 and headed West through London. The first couple of miles were absolutely fine, I had my music in (I listened to a lot of Mac Miller this time round). Not too long after reaching Shepherds Bush (3.5 miles in) my feet started aching and my calf wasn’t really feeling too good either. It was when I got to Acton that I could feel it cramping. I managed to walk through Acton and up to Ealing, but unfortunately my calf had had enough. When it then completely cramped, I fell onto the floor in pain. I lay there for a
minute waiting for it to ease but it wouldn’t pass. I began stretching it out and after 15mins I had managed to get rid of it. As I started walking again, something wasn’t right. I have never really suffered with muscle injury before and I didn’t really know what would prevent it happening again.
Sure enough a few miles down the road, it cramped again and I found myself on the floor staring at the drizzle falling from the sky wishing that I could do something to stop it. After stretching it again and letting it pass I limped onwards at an incredibly slow pace. My feet were now blistered on top of the blisters from the previous week and walking was becoming increasingly difficult. With tears running down my face I started to realise that I needed to come to terms with the possibility of not reaching Oxford. I was just over 10 miles in and I felt like I did after the previous week’s 57 miles! I knew I had to get to Uxbridge which was a quarter of the walk and then I could sit down and have a think about the best decision.” Visit www.georgehunt84.wixsite.com/thefourwalks to read all the blogs from his challenge.
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Oscar Osicki (Dale 2013) is reading for a MMus in conducting at Yale University.
In June, Charlie Hunte (Dale 2012) travelled to Wettingen, Switzerland, for the European Trophy representing Cardiff & Met HC from Wales. In the group stage, Cardiff beat clubs from Austria, Ukraine and Czech Republic. Winning all three matches meant Cardiff qualified for the final against SC Stroitel Brest from Belarus. After a goalless first half Cardiff won 4-3, after six goals came in the closing 12 minutes making it an exciting finish for the neutral Swiss supporters. Cardiff & Met were crowned European Trophy winners for the second time in their history and will look to defend their title next year.
Harry Williams (2013) guest hosted a programme for BBC Radio Gloucestershire alongside Rebecca Vines and Ben Sawyer in June. They spoke about all things, music, theatre, minority representation within the arts and a little bit of LGBT+ education and politics! Harry also appeared on the reality music competition ‘All Together Now’ that was on BBC 1 in April.
Flo Edwards (Shelburne 2012) has been selected to represent England Nets at the 2019 World Indoor Netball Championships in South Africa, which took place in August (whilst this magazine was at the printers). We will let you know how she gets on!
Chrissy Ryan (Shelburne 2012) has been promoted to Communications Director at Head of Zeus, the publishing firm. Prior to the promotion Chrissy was Export Sales Manager.
Phoebe Dawson (Fawley 2012), after two years at the Ark All Saints Academy in London, is about to take up a position as Lead Practitioner at Costello School in Basingstoke, teaching Maths.
Charlotte Ivers (Hatherley 2013) started a new position in August 2018 with 10 Downing Street as their Media Operations Officer.
George Thomas (Field 2013) exhibited in a Summer Art Show in Mayfair in July, alongside fellow artists Max Denison-Pender and Duncan Jobson.
George also came back to Dean Close School in February to give a portrait masterclass to the DCPS Art Scholars.
Rob Wilks (Dale 2013) married Alice James in March 2019 surrounded by many of his OD friends!
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Rachel Scrase (Shelburne 2014) has released an album called ‘Thinking’. Download it and see what you think! Will Shelley (Dale 2013) dropped into the Product Design Technology department at School to make a number of trinket boxes to gift to his groomsmen at his wedding this year. Having studied Engineering at Bath after leaving Dean Close in the summer of 2013, he will begin employment with a famous vacuum cleaner manufacturer in Wiltshire later this year.
Mike Dawson (Dale 2013) won the 2019 YouTube Golf Day organised by Rick Shiels at Formby Hall.
Kyle Beckett (Tower, Class of 2015, left fifth form) has commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers after having completed an Engineering Degree at Loughborough University. Stephen Whitford (Field 2015) has gained a scholarship to study vocal studies at the Royal Academy of Music for 2019, having left King’s College, Cambridge in 2018.
James Silvester (Gate 2013) is working at a law firm (Macfarlane’s) as a Legal Technology and Innovation Executive. This allows him to combine two of his passions, the Law and Technology. He is living with his girlfriend, Eva, on a canal boat in London (escaping the rent trap!).
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Guy Toye (Brook Court 2016) was back at School putting up the School marquees for Commemoration. Guy has recently been elected as a Member of the Old Decanian Society Committee.
Durham University graduates Amy Porter (Hatherley, 2016) and Gabrielle Sills (Shelburne, 2018) have started a theatre company called Tethered Wits. The aim is to unite like-minded people who are passionate about theatre; a collaboration and a tying together of minds to produce art. They performed Uncle Vanya in the Tuckwell Theatre in July, a fantastic performance by both.
Amy also came back to School to treat us to a beautiful lunchtime concert in the Prince Michael Hall. She was using the performance as a practice before her final recital programme at Durham University. It must have helped as she received a first class degree! The recital included music from Macmillan, Dvǒrák, Brahms and CantelCaoube.
Joe Morford (Dale 2016) has been accepted for a DPhil at Oxford, beginning September 2019, at Merton College. In 2019, Joe came top of the year in Biology at Oxford and was awarded the Gibbs Prize.
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Svetlana Fisun (Shelburne 2016) married Aleksei Kotovrasov (Field 2016) on the 16th of September 2017 and have a baby girl called Veronica, who was born on the 1st of January 2018. Svetlana mentions, “We are very fortunate to have this little family and we are very thankful to Dean Close for bringing us together”.
Nick Chen (Gate 2016) visited the School in June and had lunch reminiscing with his favourite teachers, Mr Chapman and Mr Suckle. Nick is still studying at Bath University with one year left of the course.
Linus Holmes (Field 2017) is currently studying for a BA in Liberal Arts at Royal Holloway, London. He is going on an exchange for the academic year 2019-20 at the University of Ottawa, Canada, where he will study courses from Microeconomics to Persian History.
Congratulations to Tom Seabrook (Gate 2017) who represented England Under-20s in the U20 World Cup Championship in Argentina. Tom plays his club rugby for Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership and scored a great try in the 27-23 win over Bath in April. Salim Jaffar (Dale 2017) sang in the King’s College Choir BBC Christmas and Easter broadcasts. Dominic McClaran (Brook Court 2017) is currently studying War Studies & History (joint honours) at King’s College London. The course opens a window into the world of espionage, contemporary security threats (e.g. nuclear proliferation, international terrorism), or even the history of war. Dom has started an internship at the ‘Global Britain’ centre of the Henry Jackson Society - a think-tank situated in Westminster. This has seen him analyse and compile documents from sources such as the Select Committee for Defence. He has also been appointed as one of two King’s students to be an Apprentice at the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals 2019/20, a livery company specialising in security. This will see him take part in events, host meetings, conduct research and eventually become a Freeman of the City of London.
Laurence Kilsby (Brook Court 2017) is one of the finalist in the 2019 Wigmore Hall / Independent Opera International Song Competition, which takes place in September.
Laurence is currently an ABRSM scholar at the Royal College of Music, studying with Timothy Evans-Jones. He is the most recent recipient of the Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary for Young Singers. Recent solo concert highlights include Peter Sellars’s staging of the St John Passion conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, JS Bach’s Mass in B minor at St John’s Smith Square and Handel’s Esther at Wigmore Hall. He has recently appeared in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen at Waterperry Opera Festival, Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea at Longborough Festival Opera; and will shortly be singing Apollo, Pastore and Spirito in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo for Nederlandse Reisopera.
Kelso Gordon (Current Maths Teacher at DCS) met up with Doris Choi (Shelburne 2018), Crystal Tse (Fawley 2018) and Jessi Lau (Fawley 2018) in Hong Kong last Summer. All three studied Maths and Ms Gordon was Tutor to Crystal and Jessi. Doris is in London studying at UCL, Crystal is at the University of Hong Kong and Jessi is at the Griffiths University in Brisbane, Australia.
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Andrew Whitford (Dale 2018) is reading Classics at University of St Andrew’s, where he is also playing golf occasionally (!).
Will Cox (Brook Court, 2017) won the 2018 Reprise IT Monoposto Racing Club Tiedeman Trophy Championship, in his Van Diemen Formula Vauxhall Junior 1600 car. In 2017, he won his class (1600) and finished sixth overall in the championship, however in 2018 he managed to better that and win the championship outright.
The Tiedeman Trophy is the Monoposto Racing Club’s Autumn Championship, which starts after the main Monoposto championship has ended. It was established in 2013 after the death of the club’s founder, Frank Tiedeman, and named in his memory. Unlike the Main championship where there are cars competing for championship honours within their own class, the Tiedeman Trophy has all 8 classes competing against each other for championship glory and as you score points based on your class finishing position, (with additional points for fastest lap and the number of cars competing in your class at each event), the champion can come from any class.
Izzy Montgomery (Hatherley 2018) played in the 119th Varsity Match against Oxford in March. Unfortunately, they lost 2-1 after conceding two early goals. Izzy is studying Geography at Queens.
Guy Amos (Tower 2018) has been accepted for a three-year course to study acting at the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama.
Philipp von Siedlitz Kurzbach (Tower, Class of 2019, left in 5th form) has passed all his examinations with top grades in Hamburg and is about to attend the prestigious WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany.
Harry Brookes (Field 2019) won the Worrall Cup at Cotswold Hills Golf Club in July with a net 64 and has his handicap cut to nine.
Will had a maximum point score for the championship with Class Pole Position, Race Win and Fastest Lap in every race. The six round Championship visited Castle Combe Circuit, Brands Hatch Indy Circuit and Anglesey Circuit. Will is the youngest person to win this particular championship and the youngest Monoposto champion since the 1990s.
Will also competed in Rockingham Motor Speedway’s final event, before the circuit permanently closed at the end of 2018. This was an open single seater car race with no class structure, where cars of all different types and engine sizes were competing. Will finished third overall in this race. Of the entrants who were competing, Will’s car had the smallest engine capacity, meaning that he had less horsepower compared with the cars he was racing against, which makes his 3rd place finish a real achievement.
Western Storm all-rounder Danielle Gibson (Hatherley, Class of 2019) has been named in the England Women's Academy (EWA) squad for the second successive year. The 16-year-old from Dumbleton CC is one of eight players who will receive coaching and support in order to help them become future international cricketers.
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Georgia Kent (Shelburne, Class of 2018) launched her new business Gee’s Beauty at Malmaison, Cheltenham in November 2018.
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Former Staff
Leo Trevett, member of Common Room at DCS from 1958–1980 celebrated his 100th Birthday at Dean Close School in December 2018. Pictured: Mr & Mrs Vaus, Jackie (Leo's daughter), Miss E Hewitt, Mrs L Hewitt, Rupert Lane (Gate 1962), Mrs Padfield and Jeremy Winter (Court 1961). Front row Leo Trevett and Miss A Hewitt. Leo sadly passed away in January; please see his obituary later on in the magazine. Alastair Reid (Second Master 1995-2000) was delighted to visit DCS, with his wife Rosalyn, for Speech Day this year. Alastair has retired from Headship (and now lives in Redditch) and is General Secretary of TISCA (The Independent Schools Christian Alliance) which supports the work of Christian Heads, Chaplains, Governors and Staff. DCS hosts the senior prefect training annually and will host a regional meeting in September for TISCA. Dean Close is a Foundation member of TISCA, thus one of the core schools within the organisation - and he is grateful for the support the DCS gives. The Headmaster, Bradley Salisbury, was the keynote speaker at the recent annual conference. The DCF Warden, Emma Taylor, is also a Trustee of TISCA.
Picture of Caz Hatchell before a cycle ride to the Alps last September.
DID YOU KNOW?
D
uring WW2, bombs only fell on the School once, on the night of 11th December 1940. Fortunately, most of the boys had gone home for Christmas but 12 boys were still in School and took shelter in the basement. Pictured, is the crater left behind on Big Field, you can see Fortfield in the background.
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News from the
A h s
by Grace Pritchard-Woods - The School Archivist
OPERATION NEPTUNE: D-DAY The 75th Anniversary of D-Day in June was marked by the Archive Department with a display in DCPS featuring a set of medals on loan from the family of Peter MercerWilson and photographs of Martyn Bryan-Smith who were both killed on the 1st day of Operation Neptune.
Peter was in Brook House from 1932-1939. On the 6th June he was in command of ‘Fighting Patrol’ C-Troop, 4 Commando who landed at Sword Beach and fought their way inland eventually relieving glider troops who had successfully taken Pegasus Bridge. It was here Peter was killed and initially buried alongside two other Commandos and an Airborne soldier. He was just 23 years old and was buried at La Delivrande War Cemetery, Douvres. Martin Bryan-Smith DFC & Bar, also Mentioned-inDespatches, was a Gate House pupil 1924-1928 and Acting Squadron Leader when he was killed aged 33. His Lancaster Z-Zebra was shot down at the Pointe Du Hoc, having successfully bombed coastal targets on D-Day. He is named on the Runnymede Memorial.
Family History
Much of our research is as a result of enquiries for family history and we have been involved in a number of these projects this year. In particular, we were able to provide a photograph to the family of Alfred Lionel Lane OD 18921896. He featured in the 1895 School Football team picture (he is the one sitting on the floor at the front). Lionel, as he was known, went on to become a solicitor working in Gloucester and Lydney.
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We were also delighted to invite Jan and Bernard Andrews to School for Commemoration. Jan is the daughter of Alfred Kenneth Turner OD, who was a member of the 8th Armoured Brigade. He was killed in 1945 on active service in Germany and has a memorial tree by the brook in the Headmaster’s Garden.
WW1 ROLL OF HONOUR
This academic year marked the fruition of a long-term project; The WW1 Centenary Commemoration Roll of Honour. Produced soon after the end of the conflict, the original book had approximately 92 names and photographs of Old Decanians known to have lost their lives. It was compiled by Joyce Flecker, the Headmaster’s daughter and included Lionel Halse, former master of Dean Close and Joyce’s fiancé. The new Roll of Honour includes a further 43 names and a poem ‘A Vision of Home’ by Gerald Burghope OD. The poem was published posthumously in a pamphlet produced by Rev Felix Asher, a friend of Gerald’s, alongside other poems written by him. Many of the poems are about nature and Asher talks about Gerald’s love of the science of nature and how he wrote to him from Dean Close School about his struggle to ‘…reconcile Darwinism with a belief in the Divine ordering of life.’ Gerald was killed on the 23rd April 1917 South East of Arras. He was just 20 years old.
A Vision of Home
A spirit that I could not see, came thro’ the dim half light; His motion like the soft sea-breeze a-breathing in the night, And his speech was like heart-yearning, when the summer day declines, Or the far off green of sunset thro’ the whispering of the pines. He came; I understood his touch; my fingers felt his gown The cowslips blossomed at his feet upon the dewy down. The yellow gorse glowed round him beneath the night’s dim cloud, And then I knew and heard him, as a message whisper’d loud : --
“O, if your lonely tomb, my friend, lies far beyond the foam, Then be content, your body rots, yet you yourself come home, It is not sorrow, dank despair, that leads you o’er the wave, But love-th’undying love of home, whose power can ope the grave.” To see the painted celandines his spirit left the earth, To smell the gorse in summer and to watch the spring day’s birth He could not tread an unknown shore, but once again must hie To the kindly Weald of Sussex and the Downs that never die.
Gerald Burghope OD, Cambridge May 1916
‘AMS 6685/5 reproduced with the permission of East Sussex Record Office, copyright reserved’
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DEAN CLOSE AND OLD DECANIANS In the Lent term 1909, 110 years ago, in response to pressure from government due to growing international tensions, the school formally made an offer to the War Office, which was accepted and resulted in the formation of the Officers’ Training Corps the following term. Here is a parade in 1918 on Big Field led by H.L.O. Flecker. Note Walton Court stables to the left, which later became the School shop.
Digging for Britain which is presented by Professor Alice Roberts (BBC4) uncovered the story behind the recovery of Spitfire PR.IV AA810. The featured plane was flown by Old Decanian, William John Guy Morgan, in the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. Born in 1917, he attended Dean Close in the 1930s, he went on to fly through WW2 and post war became a famous test pilot.
Old Decanians were remembered at both Dean Close School and The Cenotaph, Whitehall on Sunday 11th November.
Richard Taylor (Former DCS Staff) and Major Ed Taylor (Field 1998) placed a wreath at the Cenotaph that read: In honour of the 135 former pupils of Dean Close School who gave their lives in World War One 1914-1918; and of the 71 who died in conflict in World War Two, 1939-1945. 'Greater love hath no man than this'. We will remember them.
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First Ever Research Degree on Dean Close School.
The MA research degree awarded by the University of Gloucestershire to Charles Whitney in October 2018 examined Dean Close School’s history, ethos and curriculum in the broadest sense between 1886 and 1914. It explored whether the School’s Evangelical Christian stance affected recruitment to the Armed Services during World War I, and compared those levels of commitment with other public schools. It also looked at the war through the eyes of The Decanian; and examined its role as a conduit of information between Old Decanians serving on the front line and the School. Copies of the Thesis may be found with the Old Decanian Society, the Archives Department and in Dean Close School Library as well as at the University.
Ernest Stanley Hoare (Old Decanian and Member of Staff 1914-68) A picture from the archives… Old Decanian (1914-1922) and Master E.S Hoare (19261968) pictured fourth from the left in the 1919 1st Xl hockey photo.
Born in 1903, the youngest of four brothers, he entered the School in January 1914 with his two middle brothers. He was better known as ‘Hoare Four’ or ‘Monkey’. He left the School in 1922 as Senior Prefect, captain of gymnastics for four years, of cricket and hockey each for three years and of football for two, he also swam for the School.
He read Mathematics and Geography at Queen’s College, Cambridge. Playing at centre-half, he won Blues for hockey (1924-26) and played for England (1926-37), winning 35 caps. He captained Cambridge University and England and was the School’s first international hockey player. In 1956 when Denys Carnill captained the Great Britain Olympic hockey team in Melbourne, Stanley was the coach and manager. He also occasionally played cricket for Gloucestershire under the great Wally Hammond’s captaincy.
He returned to the School in 1926 as an assistant master. Together with Denys Carnill and C.A.P Tuckwell among others, Stanley helped to raise the standard of games generally, and hockey especially, to new heights.
He was officer-in-charge of the CCF 1940-1946, Housemaster of Brook 1936-59 and Second Master 1959-68. He was modest, deeply devoted
to the School, a man of integrity and faith. He is said to have attended over 60 consecutive Speech Days. His work for the Old Decanian Society was prodigious: Honorary Secretary 1927-57, Honorary Treasurer 1927-63, School Secretary 1957-68 and President 1958-1966. He married Joan Edwards, sister of W.A.M. Edwards OD in 1958. He retired to grow roses in 1968.
Joan died in 1984 and Stanley died ten years later. The rose garden overlooking the artificial hockey pitches at the School is a memorial garden named after him. The sundial in the centre of it bears this inscription:
In sight of Hockey and roses, Remember Stanley Hoare, Brook was his love, Dean Close his life 1903-94
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DC
DEAN CLOSE
CHELTENHAM
SENIOR SCHOOL
News from the
Best Independent School in Gloucestershire Dean Close was thrilled to retain the title of Best Independent School in Gloucestershire at the SoGlos Gloucestershire Lifestyle Awards 2019.
Dean Close Pre-Preparatory School Headmistress, Dr Carolyn Shelley and Dean Close Preparatory School Headmaster, Paddy Moss were amongst the 280 guests, dignitaries and hopeful businesses gathered at Gloucester Cathedral for the second SoGlos Gloucestershire Lifestyle Awards. Excited to be a part of the celebrations and nominated with Cheltenham College (Runners-Up), Bredon School, Hatherop Castle School, Kitebrook Preparatory School, Hopelands Independent School and Rendcomb College.
Snow at Dean Close, February 2019.
Bye bye Hatherley
In July, it was time to say farewell to the temporary Hatherley Day House, which has been in situ since 2011. The building in the Quad has been a good home to the Hatherley pupils, but it's time for a fresh start in the brand new Day House Village.
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CAREERS FAIR 2019
A massive thank you to those ODs who joined another 25 companies for the L6th Careers Fair in June. The pupils really benefitted from honest conversations with ODs who are employed in jobs in which they feel confident, comfortable and best suited. If you would like to help us with our careers programme please make contact with ods@deanclose.org.uk.
L-R - Judy Richards (Mead 2016), Andrew Troughton (Field 1991), Jonathan Holmes (Field 1967), James Best (Tower 2002), Sophie O'Neill (née Brown) (Shelburne 2008), Alastair James (DCJS 1990), Mike Slade (Brook 1983) and Georgia Kent (Mead, Class of 2018).
Choristers walk from Dean Close to Tewkesbury Abbey
The amazing choristers gave up their Sunday to walk from Dean Close Preparatory School to Tewkesbury Abbey to raise much-needed funds for their tour to Sweden.
The night before parents were competitively comparing tray bakes to sustain the walkers the following day. On the Sunday the boys walked with their parents in beautiful sunshine, however the going was tough as the previous rainfall meant walking boots were heavily clagged in mud. The regular stops for brownies, flapjacks, chocolate fudge cake (particularly popular) staffed by the Headmaster and the Director of Studies were a great morale boast to weary heavy legs and hungry walkers. Just when the team thought they had made it to the last mile, the end of the route had been washed away causing a detour. However, spirits remained high as everyone re-routed to complete the challenge. The muddy group were rewarded by kind Abbey staff and Choral Director, Simon Bell, greeting walkers with ice creams and much-needed cups of tea. The following day, despite being exhausted from their team building adventure, the boys still managed to sing a rousing Stanford anthem at Evensong.
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Dean Close Remembers
On Sunday 16 September, the Dean Close community gathered in the Bacon Theatre to pay tribute to the fallen Old Decanians of World War I, in the form of a dramatic realisation of the lives of 12 ODs – “Dean Close Remembers”, presented by the drama department and directed by Rebecca Vines. This had initially been presented in 2014 to mark the centenary of the beginning of the Great War and it was felt that we could not allow the ending of those war years without marking the occasion. The words and music were compiled and edited by Miss Vines, with some close support and help from the Archive department with original letters and communications from ODs at the front and in the armed forces at that time.
There were two performances of this powerful commemoration; many said that the highlight for them was the spectacular re-enactment of the battle of the Somme, together with falling poppies and Last Post, as the names of all the fallen ODs were proclaimed by current pupils and rang out through the Bacon theatre. A powerful reminder of what our society, not only our School, owes to those who gave their lives for our current freedoms, perhaps not only in the Great War, but in World War II as well.
Hockey National Finals
a penalty shoot-out. After the first round of five penalties both sides had scored four, so to sudden death. Reeds scored and Dean Close missed and a very disappointed squad went into the 3rd / 4th play off the next day.
Dean Close boys U18s travelled to the National Hockey stadium at Lee Valley for the semi-finals of the National Knockout after qualifying first in the new Tier 1 League and beating Repton in the quarter finals.
The semi-final v Reeds School was a cagey affair to start with but gradually Dean Close started to dominate with Oscar Newcombe and Toby Pallister outstanding in midfield. Dean Close created two very good chances that were saved by Reeds and several short corners followed for Dean Close, but even though the routines were good, they could not score. The second half was dominated more by Reeds and some outstanding defending by Leo England and Nick Nurse and some good saves by Oli Smart, kept Reeds at bay. Jacob Melville Smith also made an excellent goal line save. With seconds remaining, Dean Close created a good chance to score but could not quite convert. The match ended 0-0 and went to
Dean Close, although still disappointed from the previous day’s experience, came out determined to make amends. They played Norwich School and started the match well and dominated possession but frustratingly could not score. Norwich, after defending well, scored a very good short corner to go 1-0 up at half time. The second half became a more open game and Dean Close played really well. After an excellent passing move between Ellis Robson and Jacob Payton, Jacob scored an excellent goal. Oscar Newcombe then scored from a short corner to make it 2-1. Ellis made it 3-1 with a great individual effort, but Norwich managed to score a goal to make it 3-2, and a tense few minutes followed until Ellis scored his second to make the final score 4-2 securing a third place overall for the boys. After starting at Cranleigh pre-season and winning the Tier 1 League and remaining unbeaten throughout the season, apart from losing on penalties, the whole squad has shown amazing commitment, skill and passion. Although third place is so disappointing for the squad it is the second best result in Dean Close history at U18s.
DID YOU KNOW?
PROFESSIONAL RUGBY CONTRACTS AT GLOUCESTER RUGBY CLUB
Dean Close has recently announced that three Upper Sixth boys have signed their first professional rugby contracts with Gloucester Rugby Club. Archie Benson (1st XV captain), Josh Gray and George Barton (vice-captain) are all looking forward to life as full time sportsmen later this year, having just completed their A levels. All three boys also represented England’s U18s in the Six Nations tournament over the Easter break.
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T
he first football match against opposition was played at Dean Close on the 3rd October 1892 versus the Old Cheltonians…we won 9-2! The write up in the Decanian on the Captain (J.P. Swettenham)... "has made the left wing the great success of the team; has improved greatly both in pace and skill; can pass accurately with either foot and over his head, and a very fair shot". In 1938 the pupils started playing rugby instead of football...this is now the 80th year that Dean Close has played rugby.
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Firework Display
The final evening of half term in November saw the return of the biennial Dean Close Community Firework Display. This year, more than just fireworks, the charity Blue Skye Thinking hosted a Firewalk, which any member of the Community (over 18yrs) could fundraise for and participate in, undergoing nearly two hours of training behind closed doors before treading the hot coals to an audience of many (who were intrigued but perhaps fearful of biting the bullet?)!
The Firewalk provided excellent entertainment in the build up to the firework display, alongside the Leiths Cookery School team from Dean Close who cooked up over 300 ‘posh hot dogs’, all sold out well in advance of the grand finale. In addition, the Dean Bean was working overtime, sweets were selling like hot cakes, regular tea & coffees keeping the throng warm and the bar, ably manned by Operations Bursar Steve Ewence, was selling local craft beer from Deya Brewing and a range of ciders and fruit juices from Bensons the Juicers.
Miraculously the rain held off and the evening proved a lovely showcase of the breadth and warmth of the Dean Close Community with over 600 in attendance. Whilst free to enter, collection buckets were strategically placed to raise much needed funds to support treatment and research into childhood brain tumours, the focus of Blue Skye Thinking. As a result of the evening, Dean Close will be able to donate over £1,200 to the charity, not including funds raised by the firewalkers – a fantastic result.
BBC Radio 4 in the School Chapel
On Sunday 12th May, the Dean Close Community welcomed BBC Radio 4 to the School Chapel to celebrate Sunday morning worship. A congregation of parents, staff and choir supporters joined Schola Cantorum for the service led by The Revd Canon Paul Williams, Vicar of Tewkesbury with the sermon given by The Right Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester.
Schola Cantorum sang music by Bernard Rose, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Sir James Macmillan faultlessly, accompanied Dr James Lancelot, former Organist of Durham Cathedral. There was also a beautiful solo by Cassian Pichler-Roca, BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year and readings by pupils Beth Ellison and Jack Coombs.
In May, Head of Design & Technology at DCPS, Mr David Jones, challenged his year 8 DT class to an apprentice style project. The class of 17 were invited to design playground toys for the Dean Close Tree Tops Nursery. In consultation with Tree Tops they chose to make a 4 x 4 Truck, climbing frame and a slide. The project, which was partly funded by the Old Decanian Society, took 20 hours to build from scratch and was constructed on site by the pupils and Mr Jones, whilst eager Treetops children waited for their first ‘drive and slide’.
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Development Progress Our plan to create environments that inspire a love of learning and support the most up to date and effective teaching.
21st Century campus Phase 1
The Day House Village The builders have put the finishing touches to the development in preparation for the start of the new academic year. In addition to providing much-improved accommodation for day pupils,the rationale for this scheme was to free up space in the Academic Quad.
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Phase 2
The Academic Quad This will include re-designed facilities for Maths, Business, Economics, Humanities and Science, as well as the creation of a central social space. With an exciting concept on the table, the school is now liaising with architects on feasibility,timings and cost.The Quad Development is set to be the subject of a major fundraising campaign due for public launch in 2020.
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Widening access From idea to reality...the Foundation Awards scheme is now underway,with four awards funded and our first Foundationers already in the school. Our progress so far
Last summer, many parents of the 2018 leavers donated their deposits towards a new Foundation Award bursary. Now,thanks to their generosity,the school has been able to award a place to a boy at Dean Close for the Sixth Form.The hope is that a year-group leavers’ gift of a Foundation Award will become a tradition. (At the time of writing, parents of the 2019 leavers are repeating this generosity.) Additionally,the OD Society has confirmed that it will support a Foundationer through the Senior School,with match funding from Dean Close. The school has now found a suitable candidate for the Old Decanian Foundation Award,who starts at the Senior School in September 2019.
The Denys Carnill Award
The Old Decanian Society Foundation Award
In the meantime,thanks to donations from ODs inspired by teaching legend, the late Denys Carnill, our Denys Carnill Foundationer has successfully finished her first year at Dean Close.
The Class of 2018 Foundation Award
We are so very grateful to all the ODs who have supported the Foundation Awards campaign,thank you.
Foundation Award funded by one very generous donor.
The power of video The Development Office has recently produced a video to promote the Foundation Awards scheme.Two young ODs, Izzy Fairthorne (Hatherley 2017) and James Best (Tower 2002) returned to Dean Close to take part in the production. Felicity Copp, Development Manager: Foundation Awards are all about changing lives.We wanted to show this through human stories. So,we are very grateful to Izzy and James for coming back here to speak in front of a camera about what their Dean Close bursary meant to them.’
Izzy summed up the scheme simply as ‘giving someone an extra opportunity in life.’ The video is narrated by OD, Lord Bernard Ribeiro (Tower 1962) who says ‘We are hoping that hundreds of donors will contribute –from a few pounds a month to a lump sum.’ You can watch the video on the Foundation Awards page on the school’s website: www.deanclose.org. uk/ foundationawards
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Old Decanian
Events October 2018
Arrow Trophy 2018
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October 2018, Isle of Wight.
For the first time, the Old Decanian Society entered a crew of nine into the Arrow Trophy, an alumni sailing competition between independent Schools’ alumni (27 yachts entered in 2018).
The event took place on the waters of the Solent with racing taking place on Saturday, finishing up in Cowes, followed by an Arrow Trophy Dinner at Cowes Yacht Haven. The crew were highly competitive, not the winners but thankfuly not last. The skipper was Richard Marquand (1967) and the crew included Bella Acland (Fawley 2016), Felicity Copp (Staff), Cy Fateh (Tower 2011), Tony Ayres (Tower 1975), Andrew Troughton (Field 1991), Ed Ayres (Gate 2002), James Lund-Lack and Oliver Parkinson Hill (Gate 1963). Land support was provided by Alex Hume (Dale 2002), Connie Parker (Alumni and Development Assistant) and Andrew Marquand (Field 1971). A great weekend was enjoyed by both the sailing crew and land support.
Visit www.deanclose.org.uk/ArrowTrophy for more photos and the results.
Dean Close Sixes
On Sunday 21st October, The Old Decanian Society hosted the Dean Close Sixes, an alumni girls' invitational hockey tournament, where teams battle it out to lift the Carnill Cup. Congratulations to this year’s winner, St Edward's (Oxford) who beat Cheltenham College on flicks in the final. For more pictures and information on next year’s tournament visit www.deanclose.org.uk/DCHockeySixes.
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March 2019
June 2019
London Drinks took place in March, hosted by Matthew Hall (Court 1987) at the Panter & Hall Gallery on Pall Mall. A fantastic evening to network and catch up with friends.
Community Clay Pigeon Shoot
Dean Close Show Jumping
The Old Decanian Society were delighted to sponsor and support the 2019 Dean Close NSEA Show Jumping competition, which saw a record number of entries, with 224 rounds of show jumping completed on the day and 42 schools in attendance. The Society sponsored the 1m individual and team event, i2i Recruitment which is run by Charlie Ogden-Metherall (née BevanDimmer) (Mead 1992) the 110cm classes, Geoffrey Lane (Gate 1964) and Jeremy Winter (Court 1961) the 70cm and Grass Roots competitions. A fantastic day, one that we hope to support next year. The School and alumni equestrianism continues to go from strength to strength. Current Parents and Old Decanians joined together for this year’s Dean Close Community Clay Pigeon Shoot at Ian Coley Shooting School on 8th March. There was some excellent shooting and some less good, as complete beginners and advanced shots competed for a prize. The overall highest score was highly contested and went to Hugo Hunton (Gate, 1991), with three others only one point behind. Everyone had a great fun day out with some friendly rivalry and delicious food provided by our catering team. If you would like to join us in 2020 please contact Connie Parker for more information on ods@deanclose.org.uk
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Old Decanian Day Saturday 22nd June 2019
The third ever OD Day was very much a success with sports fixtures versus the School, BBQ lunch, activities for children, reunions, Chapel service and dinner with guest speaker Henry Staelens (Class of 2006), Forest Green Rovers Football Club CEO. The netball match was 33-21 to Dean Close, a good game and played in great spirit.
OD hockey; the OD boys beat the School 4-1 and in another very close match the OD girls won 3-2.
For all the photos and to RSVP for next year visit www.deanclose.org.uk/odday
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Golf Report 2018/19 www.deanclose.org.uk/ODGS
President: Brian Wilson Chairman: Robert Reed Secretary: Alex Hume
If you would like to be added to the OD Golf communications, please email Alex at: ods@deanclose.org.uk
OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY I DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL
Upcoming fixtures include:
Friday 4th October Edward Harris Cup at Royal Porthcawl GC
Thursday 17th October Autumn Meeting (Hardy Trophy) at The Berkshire GC
Edward Harris Cup October 2018
The 2018 Edward Harris Cup was played at Blackwell Golf Club near Bromsgrove, as it was the turn of the Old Bromsgrovians to host the fixture. The Old Decanian Society came 3rd with 119 points losing out to Malvern and the eventual winner Wycliffe. The side was made up of Alex Hume (Dale 2002), Tony Marchand (Former Staff), Giles Barton (Field 1995), Nigel Newport-Black (Tower 1980), Alasdair Carroll (Gate 1984), Chris Dyer (Tower 1980), Julian Rowett (Gate 1969) and Robert Hornby (Field 1967). The Old Malvernians are hosting in 2019 at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, which we look forward to.
Autumn Meeting
October 2018
The Autumn Meeting was another fabulous occasion played at the magnificent Berkshire. In the morning, we played on the Blue Course for the Hardy Trophy. Jon Sidebottom (Brook 1997) taking the glory this year with a fantastic round of golf, Jon is pictured here receiving the trophy from the President, Brian Wilson.
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Spring Meeting and the Close Community Golf Day 2019
The Presidents Cup was played in conjunction with the Close Community Golf Day, the Odell Cup, this year. The competitions were held at Cotswold Hills Golf Club in March, current pupil Harry Brookes organised the golf day in aid of Nyakatura Memorial School in Uganda, which Dean Close has helped support since 2005. The day was a huge success with 56 participants raising a total of £1655.65 for Nyakatura.
Winner of the President’s Cup – Alex Hume (Dale 2002) Winner of the Odell Trophy 2019 – Andrew Brookes (Current Parent) Winning Team – Andrew Brookes (Current Parent), Mark Beaney, Johnny Rowe and Richard Lunn Closest to the Pin – Blanche Neal (Current Parent) Longest Drive (Men’s) – Alfie Henson (Current Pupil) Longest Drive (Women’s) – Tracey Legg (Past Parent) Winners of Beat the Pro – Paul Haigh, Jason Cheshire, Harry Brookes, Russell Legg, Andrew Brookes and Chris Chrichton.
Grafton Morrish Qualifier 2019
In May, the side of Jon Sidebottom (Brook 1997), Nigel Newport-Black (Tower 1980), Mike Wigley (Court 1967), Alex Carlise (Dale 2004), Ali Smith (Field 2003) and Ryan Brignull (Dale 2003) missed out on qualifying for the 2019 Finals by just 6pts. The West Qualifier was once again played at Denham GC with a competitive field of entrants.
Summer Open, July 2019
The Summer Open was played for the first time for a trophy. The first winner of the Summer Cup, with 37pts, was Tony Marchand (Former Staff), closely followed by John Sidebottom (Brook 1997) who on count back kept Julian Rowett (Gate 1969) out of 2nd place.
Old Decanians vs Old Cheltonians, The Spa Trophy, July 2019
The ODs have now held the Spa Trophy for the last twelve years, winning the last six meetings in a row. This year we won 2&1 on a lovely day at a wonderful venue, West Hill Golf Club, Woking. The OCs pushed the match to the last green, until Ali Smith sank a putt to see him and his partner Jeremey Winter go 1 up to clinch the trophy.
The team pictured here…back row L-R: Ali Smith (Field 2003), Julian Rowett (Gate 1969), Tim Lawrence (Field 1967), Derek Lewis (Brook 1962) and Giles Barton (Field 1995). Front row R-L: Jeremey Winter (Court 1961), Robert Reed (Brook 1962), Brian Wilson (Former Staff) and Alex Hume (Dale 2002).
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Cricket Report 2018/2019
OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY I DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL
ODs retain the Doctor’s Trophy but lose to the School and Dumbleton
ODs vs DCS – Saturday 25th May
The Commemoration match v the School was played as a T20 and the Schools overall batting performance won the day, with a deserved 53-run victory. The School’s Toby Pallister and Captain Ollie Horne both scored 50s and the School ended up with a final total of 206. Henry Elsey and Luca Cappuccini were the pick of the OD bowlers. Matt Court, 48, held the OD innings together ably assisted by Sam Norwood, 20, and Ollie Cahill, 26, but they never reached the required rate, finishing on 153-6. Never the less, a very enjoyable and entertaining game.
ODs vs Dumbleton – Thursday 4th July
On a glorious sunny day in Dumbleton, a repeat of last year’s win in the 35 over game was possibly being anticipated by OD skipper John Nicholson and his team, as there was a brilliant opening stand of 141 by young Nicky Schubach (such a talent with 3 more years at school) and Joel Price. However, with the fall of Nicky for a lovely stylish 67 to Dumbleton professional Mitch Hammond partners for the invaluable Joel came and went rather regularly apart from a handy 23 from Ollie Horne and the innings closed at 233 from the 35 overs.
Dumbleton in reply got away well with an opening stand from Bragg and Boorman of 93, well above the run rate required. However, Horne dismissed both and then to his delight bowled club mate Mitch Hammond for a duck! The home side however were still ahead of the run rate and a steady stand of 84 by Holland and Bailey kept them ahead of the clock. Despite containing spells from young Jack Logan and Price and a smart bit of work from Matt Nicholson to run out Timperley, Dumbleton got home with an over to spare for a 4-wicket win.
ODs vs The Gipsies – Friday 5th July
This year marked the 12th year of the match at Dean Close for the playing of The Doctor’s Trophy between the ODs and Gloucestershire Gipsies. Dr John Andrews former player, umpire and scorer for the Gipsies left in his Will an antique silver former archery cup to be played for annually as this long standing fixture was always one of his favourites.
Having won back the cup in 2018 after a few years of Gipsy wins, the ODs were keen to hold onto it although had some concern on hearing that the new opposition captain was former Gloucestershire CCC skipper Tony Wright! These misgivings were not unfounded as the visitors opening pair Smith and Lingard put on 97 in the first 11 overs although a skied catch in the first over off Luca Cappuccini unfortunately did not go to hand. First change Ollie Horne however bowled Smith for 73 although this just introduced Mitch Hammond determined to take revenge for his dismissal for 0 the day before at Dumbleton. He set about the OD bowling and had the big stand of 120 with Lingard. The latter bowled for 69 by Oscar Newcome and soon after Hammond went for 61 with score at 230 for 3. It was good to see the school’s new young leg spinner Kameel Sahabdeen bowl later in the innings, but without any luck! Tony Wright declared the Gipsies innings at a formidable looking 290 for 3.
by Wade Risdale for another valuable innings of 68. Anthony fell soon after being stumped off the same bowler for a super 64. This introduced Ollie Horne to the wicket and after a watchful start; his innings soon accelerated driving and pulling the ball to all parts. He had a very understanding partner in Rob Dent who was content to allow Ollie the Strike whenever possible. Their great stand of 125, all but got the ODs home, Ollie eventually caught in the deep off veteran Gypsy off spinner John Belfield for a stunning match winning 82 with the score at 280. Rob Dent went similarly soon after for a valuable 28. It was left to Oscar Newcome and Luca Cappucini to see the ODs home with a single over to spare to retain The Doctor’s Trophy.
This was presented during the splendid postmatch BBQ by ODCC President Rupert Lane to OD Skipper Alex Hume. Together with the Gipsies skipper Tony Wright, they jointly thanked the umpires, scorers and school caterers. Tim Lawrence’s sterling BBQ work was as valuable as ever.
However, we were then treated to a brilliant opening partnership of 140 from Joel Price and Anthony Thompson to set up an excellent base for the run chase. Joel was first to be dismissed
Thanks to all those who played in the three fixtures this year; Matt Court, Sam Norwood, Henry Elsey, Alfie Orr-Ewing, Oli Cahill, Luca Cappuccini, Jamie Slatter-Drinkwater, John Schubach, Alex Hume, Joel Price, Rob Dent, John Nicholson, Matt Nicholson, Phil Nicholson, Nicky Schubach, James Schubach, Anthony Thompson, Jack Logan, James Davies, Ollie Horne, Joe Lane, Kameel Sahabdeen, Oscar Newcombe and Orly Giannini.
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Obituaries Roll of Remembrance 2018 -19 Forename
Last Name
House
Leaving Year
Alan
Bailey
Tower
1959
Mike
Barnes
Court
1960
Gina
Bryan
John
David David
Michael
Bailey
Bradley Bryan-Brown
Brook
N/A
1949
1950
Carpenter
Field
1966
Jonathan
Cowan
Henry
Friend of DCS
1943
Brook
Calder
John
Tower
1950
Burrows
Peter John
Court
Davies Dent
Gate
Court Gate
Walton
1940
1980
1938 1949
Dick
Drown
Walton
1938
David
Fieldhouse
Walton
1943
Tim
David John Alan
Nick
Robert
Charlie
Eager
Gibson
Halford
Hardless
Henderson Jones
Le Bargy
Gate Staff
DCJS - Fortfield Gate
Gate
Brook
DCJS - Oaksey
1968 - 1986 1949 1948 1944
1965 1986
Gerald
Lefebve
Geoffrey
Marklove
Gate
1937
John
Rycroft
Brook
1944
Ronald
William John Tim Leo
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MacArtney
McConnell Sedgwick Stringer Trevett
Gate
1958
Court Tower Tower Gate Staff
1952
1950 1964
1957 1947
1956 - 1980
April 2018
Geoffrey Hendry MARKLOVE (Gate 1937) Died 24th April 2018, aged 98.
We were informed just before going to print that Geoffrey had passed away April 2018. We hope to provide an obituary in the next edition of the Flecker. July 2018
Arthur Ernest Henry DENT (Walton 1949) Died 17th July 2018, aged 86.
Henry entered the Junior School in September 1939, promoted to the Senior School in January 1945, and left with a School Certificate in 1949. Whilst at Dean Close, he was Sub-Editor of the Decanian and a cadet in the CCF. Henry sent both of his sons to Dean Close, Ben (Field 1988) and Tom (Field 1983). Attended OD Gaudies regularly. He lived most of his life in Cheltenham, but moved to Painswick a few years ago, where his wife Rosemary still lives. August 2018
John Alastair DAVIES (Gate 1938) Died 31st August 2018, aged 97.
John was born in 1921 and entered Dean Close School in 1933. His elder brother Cyril Davies was also in Gate and had left to study at the University of Wales. Then Cyril became a medical practitioner and practiced in Paraguay. Whilst at School John was in the Swimming and athletics teams. On Sports Day in 1938, John came 2nd in the long jump, 3rd in the high jump, 3rd in the 220 yards, 3rd in the 100 yards hurdle, 3rd in the 100 yards and 3rd in throwing of the cricket ball. After School, John spent five years in the RAF, studied Mechanical Engineering at London University before entering the Petroleum industry for 40 years. He lived in Shrewsbury with his wife Edna.
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September 2018
Robert (Rob) Ward JONES TD (Brook 1965) Died 17th September 2018, aged 72.
Robert (known to all as ‘Bob’) joined the School from the Junior School in 1960 and boarded in Brook House until he left in 1965 to read Law at Bristol University. Whilst at School he was a keen sportsman and was awarded School rugby colours in 1964 and he played tennis for the School. Bob was Honorary Secretary of the Geographical Society and in his last year at School was invited to become a School Prefect and subsequently Head of Brook House. As an active member of the CCF he was made a Sergeant prior to leaving School, after School he continued this passion and was in the Officer Training Corps in Bristol. He was later commissioned as a Reserve Officer into the Royal Tank Regiment. After 12 years as a reservist in the Territorial Army and reaching the rank of Major or ‘Squadron Commander’ Bob was awarded the Territorial Decoration. At Bristol University studying law, Bob continued with his sporting and hectic social life where he made a large number of friends who were to
remain close to him throughout the rest of his life in London. On passing his Law Society exams, he became an articled clerk with Clifford Turner and then moved on to Air Products as a respected inhouse lawyer. In 1989 Bob was appointed the Company Secretary and General Counsel of Rentokil. After a very busy and demanding time in this role - supporting the company making profits and acquisitions both in the UK and overseas - he decided to retire in 2006. Thereafter he was able to enjoy life further with holidays abroad, annual skiing trips, tennis, theatre and more time devoted to golf after becoming a member of the Honourable Artillery Company golfing society. Bob was also Chairman of Priory Park (Kew) Tennis Club, a member of Roehampton Club and the Cavalry and Guards Club.
Bob will be greatly missed by all his friends for infectious company and generous hospitality; by Ann his devoted wife who he met in 1970 during a skiing holiday Mayerhofen and lastly, by his beloved daughter Katherine and grandchildren Theo and Conrad. Rob died peacefully on the 17th September 2018 from Cancer.
He was honoured with both the Order of Distinction (Commander) in 1996, and the Order of Jamaica for distinguished leadership in business and the export industry in 2006. A Chartered Accountant, McConnell was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) by The University of the West Indies (UWI). McConnell served as Managing Director of Lascelles De Mercado & Co Ltd and the Wray & Nephew Group of Companies. The Jamaican Prime Minister expressed sincere condolence to McConnell's family, friends and associates, and said that “Jamaica has lost one of its important sons who championed its development and modernisation, the Government and people of Jamaica owe a debt of gratitude to Mr McConnell for his vision and dedication to the development of Jamaica and its people,”.
September 2018
William Anthony McCONNELL (Tower 1964) Died 19th September 2018, aged 71.
Business titan and Jamaica Observer board member William Anthony “Billy” McConnell lost a long battle with cancer in September 2018 plunging the Jamaican business community into mourning for a man whom Prime Minister Andrew Holness hailed as a “trailblazer, nation-builder and inspiration to a generation of industry professionals and innovators”.
McConnell joined J Wray & Nephew Limited as a Financial Accountant in 1973 and was eventually named Managing Director of the Wray & Nephew Group of Companies in 1977. He served as the Chairman of Globe Insurance Company of the West Indies, Scotia Investment Jamaica Limited and the Sugar Manufacturing Corporation of Jamaica Limited. He also served as Chairman of both the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and Petrojam Limited, as well as Chairman of Scotia Jamaica Investment Management Limited and Scotia Group Jamaica Limited until November 2007. Regarded as an excellent business leader, McConnell also served on the boards of Wray & Nephew Limited, Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited, University Hospital of the West Indies — Private Wing Limited, and Lascelles De Mercado
& Co Ltd. He also served as a non-executive director of Dolphin Cove Limited from September 2010 to February 27, 2018; and director of Carreras Limited from 1997 to September 2015. Up to 2017, he was a director of Spirits Pool Association of Jamaica, as well as the Sugar Industry Authority. He also served Edwin Charley (Jamaica) Ltd, Rum Company (Jamaica) Ltd, Newton Cane Farms Ltd, Jamaica Estate Tours Ltd, New Yarmouth Ltd, New Yarmouth Holdings Ltd, Henriques Brothers Ltd, Daniel Finzi & Co Ltd, Caribbean Molasses Ltd, Jamaica Rum & Spirits Trade Association, Federated Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and Lascelles Laboratories Ltd.
William McConnell was born in Montego Bay on February 20, 1947, to David Charles McConnell and Elizabeth Charley-McConnell. He was educated at deCarteret School and Munro College in Jamaica, and then Dean Close School in the United Kingdom. He arrived at Dean Close in 1962. He was in the 1st VI for Tennis partnering Johnson in the 2nd pair. He attended McGill University (Canada) and began his working career at PriceWaterhouse (Montreal, Canada), then went to Touche Ross Thorburn (Kingston). An Anglican by religion, McConnell's hobbies included tennis, golf and shooting. He was a member the Constant Spring Golf Club, Liguanea Club, Caymanas Golf Club, Trelawny Gun Club, and Kingston Cricket Club. Billy is survived by his wife, Patricia Dawn, son, David and daughter, Susan.
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Alistair Negus (Gate 1991), Dominic Makin (Court 1991), Andrew Troughton (Field 1991) and Mark Philip-Sorensen (Field 1991) are pictured here at the funeral with Harry Le Bargy, one of Charlie’s sons.
October 2018
Charlie LE BARGY (DCJS Oaksey 1986) Died 11th October 2018.
The memorial service was held at Michael and All Angels in Chiswick on Friday 30th November. A reception followed at one of Charley's favourite pubs, The Duke of Sussex. Below is an extract taken from the eulogy led by Mark Philip-Sorenson (Field 1991) and Al Negus (Gate 1991).
Charles to his family, Charlie to his friends, Daddy to his boys, Mr Bond to the police and Darling to me. Charles Louis Le Bargy, was a very remarkable and unique individual. He was a father to his brave boys and a husband to his amazing wife. He was the son to a single mother, grandson of a pioneering granny and he was the glue to all of us friends.
Charlie was a man of many hats, which he wore with confidence, pride and dignity; he touched all our lives in many wonderful, entertaining, insightful and sometimes frustrating ways.
He was an educated man of ‘impact’, I first met Charlie in 1980 at Dean Close Junior School, Cheltenham, I remember him as a scruffy little boy with spaghetti legs who was naughty, cheeky and had that twinkle of something special in his eye. I do not think he ever changed, apart from the spaghetti legs that is; and even through all his demons that sparkle, that cheeky lust to have fun and that desire be a great friend, husband and father never faded. Although I have spent last four decades of going through the motions of growing up, being
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a teenager, being an adult, being a father and being middle-aged man together with Charlie, I still sometimes question myself on how well I knew him. How would I describe Charlie’s true personality to a person who I had never met. After much contemplation I realised that Charlie could not be compared to anybody I knew. However, I still challenged myself to see if I could compare him to somebody. After replaying countless conversations, reminiscing from several parties, nights outs and sporting events that I had with Charlie, I soon realised that his personality was a combination, a mash up, of half a dozen of his favourite people, and I thought that if I combined their characteristic I may get a more definitive profile of the man we all know. Something I could share with somebody who never knew Charlie. So, who are these people, I will share…
• Sir Roger George Moore KBE - Sir Roger was a ladies man with a charming debonair persona, deep smooth voice, refined English accent and was always endearingly boyish and naughty.
• Jack Nicholson - In many of his films, Jack played the "eternal outsider, the sardonic drifter", someone who rebelled against the social structure. Jack is an intelligent and literate man, and these characteristics are almost impossible to act.
• Sir Michael Philip Jagger - Acknowledged as the greatest front man ever with his charismatic stage presence. Sir Mick was eternal teenager, but was lacking common self-awareness. • Roger Federer - Federer's all-court game and versatile style of play involved exceptional
footwork and shot making. Effective both as a base-liner and a volleyer, his apparent effortlessness and efficient movement on the court made him highly popular among tennis fans.
• Shane Warne - A charismatic, spectacular performer who made as many headlines off the cricket pitch as on it.
• Ari Gold - A fictional character in the comedy-drama TV series ‘Entourage’. As a Hollywood power agent Ari Gold is ruthless, relentless, and always at the top of his game – even when he is not. His clients put up with his name-dropping put-downs and tough love approach because he got results - Boom!
What result did I get to when I tried to combine all these personalities in to a single profile? You cannot choose any one of those men and agree that was Charlie was like them. However, as we all know, if we did this we would not be doing him justice. Therefore, my attempt in defining Charlie character, personality and behaviour is as follows. Charles Louis Le Bargy - An intelligent, literate and endearing gentleman, whose debonair persona created a charismatic presence in an effortless and efficient manner, in and away from the pub, the home, and the sports field. A hugely popular and versatile individual who always achieved what he wanted. Just over eight years ago, both Al Negus and I stood as best men for Charlie’s wonderful wedding to Serena in Cheltenham. In my Best Man speech, I tried to give everybody a further insight of what we, his old Dean Close School friends, thought of their friend Charlie. This
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A desire to own their own home and job progression for Pat led to the move to Cheltenham in 1969. Here Gina stoically shouldered multiple responsibilities: bringing up three growing boys, supporting Pat who quickly became a busy housemaster and later Second Master at Dean Close, and taking a number of part time jobs to supplement the family income. The most celebrated of these was her stint at GCHQ in Oakley, which involved her setting off on her bike at the crack of dawn and cycling across Cheltenham from the family home in Queen’s Road.
insight was complied from a question, which was put forward at the stag party a few weeks earlier. The question was 'What do you most like about Charlie?’. If I remember correctly, we needed several rounds of drinks, significant prompting and soul searching to find the right meaningful answers. In all we were able to compile a list of 10 likes and would like to share these answers with you all.
1. I like the sound of Charlie’s commanding and bellowing voice. You always knew he was in the room at a party.
2. I like Charlie, as he is always brutally honest & never shy to share his well-read view on a situation.
3. I like Charlie because there was no one else in the pub at the time and he was willing to share some matches with me, but even more willing to share my fags!
4. I like Charlieʼs choice of fashion especially his choice of sunglasses and red trousers.
5. I like Charlieʼs constant sense of humour and bringing together of good folk. 6. I like Charlieʼs because of his impressive male grooming skills.
7. I like Charlie because he looks like my favourite actor John Hurt - or at least used to.
8. I like Charlie because he once genuinely, and without realising, fooled our friend Charles into thinking he was an MI5 operative on a mission in Cornwall.
9. I like Charlie because of his surname, it sounds foreign and very mysterious.
10. I like Charlie because he's the poshest, most charming bloke I know with a love for James Bond and Twickenham. At the wedding, I also reminded everybody of some of Charlie’s noteworthy abilities. For example;
1. His ability to beat a Tennis pro - Charlie had always told us that he once beat Tim Henman at tennis, a story that he regularly dined out on.
2. His ability to read and take on instructions - Once Charlie came over to my house unannounced for a chat. At the same time, he kindly offered to help me with the assembling of some IKEA shelving. Unfortunately, after a few minutes I realised that, with fag in mouth, he was putting together random pieces and ignoring all written and spoken instructions. He was doing it Charlieʼs way, which was according to him the right and only way. 3. His ability in buying drinks - Charlie had this unique ability to skip his turn to buy a round of drinks in the pub, even when there's only one other person with him.
4. A few days ago, I was listening to an old desert island discs interview with comedian Jonny Vegas where he said one line that really struck me. He said; ‘my life is not best lived alone’ I felt this was so true about Charlie. He lived his life to the full, the max; and he had the ability make sure that we were all part of it.
October 2018
Georgina ‘Gina’ Shirley BRYAN Died 24th October 2018, aged 87.
Georgina was born in Eastbourne in 1931 to George, partner in a local legal practice, and Barbara Burt. She spent her formative years there apart from wartime evacuations to Herefordshire with her school and to Somerset with her mother and brother Chris. After School, she started nursing training at the Middlesex Hospital London. There she made several good friends with whom she maintained strong bonds for the rest of her life. She finished nursing training after less than a year at the time when her father became very ill and soon died.
Gina and Pat Bryan (DCJS Classics Teacher, Housemaster and Second Master, 1969 to 1989) were married in 1955. Immediately after this they left for Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) for what was his second tour in the Colonial Service. After six years, they returned to England, a family of four now, including recent additions Richard aged four and Peter one. The new job for Pat at the Royal Hospital School just outside Ipswich was only secured thanks to a crucial intervention from Gina. She did the interview with the headmaster on Pat’s behalf. He was still in Africa at the time. Gina was very happy in Suffolk and made many longstanding friends amongst the families living on the immense and magnificent school campus. The staff were fully paid up contributors to the Baby Boom generation. In 1964, a baby was born there in every month of the year. Nicholas Bryan was Mr July.
Gina had a very attuned sense of humour. There was often a gentle dig at people’s funny ways but this was never malicious. She was a good mimic and this would add to the entertainment value of the anecdotes she liked to tell, often about older relations, or occasionally members of the Common Room.
Gina loved walking. Her favourites included the Sussex Downs and coastline, the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills. Her experience would be all the happier if there was a good stiff breeze to do battle with and a decent view. As her children grew older she became a member of various rambling clubs, the Cheltenham and Cotswold Ramblers amongst them. She made many good friends in these. Gina’s support of her community was largely centred around her parish church. First to benefit in Cheltenham was St Philip & St James and then from the mid-70s, Christ Church. She was a very accomplished maker of soups and she put these skills to good effect at the Christ Church Friendship Club.
Pat and Gina celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in November 2015 with a family get-together in Eastbourne. Her health began to decline rapidly during 2017 and by early 2018 she was becoming increasingly dependent on Pat. Pat died suddenly in April 2018 (see Flecker 2018 pg. 54) and at this time she moved into Faithfull House where her brother Chris was also living. Here she maintained a very positive attitude and sense of humour. Initially she was looking forward to returning home. She enjoyed the company of other residents and was determined to make full use of the activities offered. Gina’s funeral service was held at Christ Church, Cheltenham on the 22nd November.
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October 2018
John Christopher BAILEY (Court 1950) Died 25th October 2018, aged 85.
Following in his father’s footsteps (Christopher Francis Bailey was at Dean Close from 1920-1924 under the Headmastership of Flecker), John arrived in the Michaelmas term of 1946 and left in the Trinity Term of 1950, he was in Court. John was a House Prefect, gained his School Colours for Hockey and Shooting (pictured in the 1950s first team), gained House Colours for Hockey, Cricket and Swimming, was a Sergeant in the CCF and was a School Librarian. John’s brother David Bailey (Court 1953) and grand-children, Arabella Heald (Fawley 2003 – 2005), Harry Heald (Tower 2004 – 2009) and Henrietta Heald (Fawley 2004 – 2006) also attended Dean Close. John was forced to leave school early as he suffered a brain tumour. Fortunately, he made a full recovery and went on to qualify as a Dentist at Manchester University, where he also played for the University Hockey team. John practised in the Berkshire area for 35 years, specialising as an Orthodontist and
was Honorary Secretary of the British Orthodontic Society for many years, before assuming the role of Chairman and was subsequently awarded Life Membership in
October 2018
Professor David Kenneth FIELDHOUSE (Walton 1943) Died 28th October 2018, aged 93.
David joined Dean Close in 1938. He thrived at Dean Close and was both an academic and sporty. On the pitch, he gained his Colours for Rugby, Hockey and Cricket. At Sports Day he won the senior hurdles convincingly in a time of 20 2/3 seconds. He also captained the Fives team. Off the pitch, he was Senior Prefect, Secretary of the Gramophone Club, Member of the Acton Club, played Oswold in King Lear and was CQMS of the CCF. After Dean Close David gained an MA from Queens’ College, Cambridge after receiving an open scholarship to read there. Professor Fieldhouse LittD FBA was a prominent historian of the British Empire. Between 1981 and 1992, he held the Vere Harmsworth Professorship of Imperial and Naval History at the University of Cambridge. He was best known for his book Economics and Empire 1830-1914, which argued that political and strategic factors, rather than economic impulses, drove European imperial expansion. During his career, he held academic posts at the University of Canterbury, the University of Oxford, and then the University of Cambridge. In 1990, he became President of the Old Decanian Society for one term. When he retired from Cambridge in 1992, his former students and colleagues published a collection called Managing the Business of Empire: Essays in Honour of David Fieldhouse. In retirement, Professor Fieldhouse remained an active Emeritus Fellow of Jesus College. Jason Richard’s (OD) played the organ at his memorial service, as Jason was the Organ Scholar of Jesus College Cambridge at the time, which is where David’s service was held.
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recognition of his service to Orthodontics. John continued playing Hockey for many years and was a keen tennis player well into his 80s.
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December 2018
Gordon Nicholson HENDERSON (Gate 1944) Died 23rd December 2018, aged 92.
Nick was the youngest of three brothers who attended Dean Close. He arrived in the Junior School in 1935 moving into the Senior School in 1940. He was very sporty to say the least. He gained School Colours; Swimming in 1942 and 1943 (captain), Athletics in 1942 (captain), Hockey XXII in 1944. He was also Flight Sergeant in the ATC. In his final year, he was made a Senior Prefect.
November 2018
The Revd. Richard (Dick) DROWN (Walton Court 1938) Died 9th November 2018, aged 99.
Dick started at Dean Close in 1933 and he led a very busy School life. He was Head of School, gained School Colours for Hockey, Cricket, Athletics (Captain). He Won the Senior Victor Ludorum in 1937, which is awarded to the best athlete in the School and that year won the quarter mile run in a time of 55.5 secs. He gained House Colours: Cricket (Capt. '38), Hockey, Athletics (Capt. '37), Fives (Capt. '37-'38), Cross Country, Gymnasium (Capt. '37). He was Company Sergeant Major in the Officer Training Corps. Editor of the Decanian (the School magazine) in 1938. Secretary and Vice-President of the Acton Club (History Club). Member of the Music Club. Member of the Literary Society. Acted in the theatre production of ‘King John’. He left Dean Close in 1938 with School Certificate; Certificate "A". He proceeded to Brasenose College, Oxford, as Colquitt Exhibitioner, to study Classics and afterwards attended Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, to study Theology. Wycliffe Hall in particular used to celebrate the fact that he had over 70 years’ experience as an ordained minister.
Whilst at Wycliffe the Principal seconded him to teach scripture and cricket several days a week at the Dragon School, hence his introduction to teaching. He was a curate in St Helens, Lancashire, before accepting a year’s appointment as School Chaplain at Kings College Budo in Uganda. Where he stayed for 19 years and whilst there coached the Uganda cricket team. From there he was appointed as Headmaster at St Andrews School Turi in Kenya and left there in 1973 to become Headmaster of Edinburgh House School now called Ballard. Dick retired in 1984 and joined the staff as an Assistant Priest in Brockenhurst. The last 18 months of his life was spent with his daughter in Kenya a country he loved.
Having dreamed of becoming a vet aged nine, he graduated from Glasgow Veterinary School in 1951 and was responsible for organising the trade exhibition at the first BSAVA Congress in 1958. Consisting then of 17 trestle tables, within an hour of its opening he reported to the organising committee it had broken even on its organisational costs. Nick also helped set up, and was founding Chairman of, the Pharmaceutical Marketing Club and in 1988 he founded the VMA, followed by the Association of Veterinarians in Industry. He was also president of the International Aspirin Foundation and Chairman of the UK’s first specialist health care PR agency, Henderson Group One, which he founded more than 50 years ago. Nick was on the board of the Veterinary Drug Company when he was tasked with launching a monthly news and features-led publication, Veterinary Drug, which became Veterinary Times in the 1980s. He was pivotal in helping develop veterinary associations and societies across 60 years, especially any that encouraged the profession to speak out and engage with the public. During his career, he wrote books on dogs, cats and general pet husbandry and was a broadcaster, presenting the BBC’s coverage of the National Cat Show for a number of years. He also had a regular phonein slot on the British Forces Broadcasting Service, hosted by Tommy Vance. Mr Henderson was awarded an RCVS honorary fellowship for services to the veterinary profession in July 2015, and an RCVS post on the award at the time referred to him as a “tireless campaigner for vets in a wide range of disciplines”.
VMA Chairman Jane Manning said: “As the founder member and president of our wonderful association, Nick was such an inspiration to all of those lucky enough to meet and work with him. Nick continued to support the VMA and attend our annual awards event throughout his presidency. We all have some wonderful memories, not least was his attendance and fabulous speech to the 300-plus guests at our annual awards ceremony in March 2018 at the age of 92.”
His funeral took place on Friday 25 January at St Peter and St Paul Church, West Clandon, near Guildford. Sadly, his wife Sheila predeceased him. He is survived by his son, Tarquin, and three grandchildren.
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January 2019
Gerald LEFEBVE (Gate 1951) Died January 2019, aged 83.
Gerald was born in April 1935 and entered the Junior School in 1943 and then to the Senior School in 1948; he left with a General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level in 1951. Whilst at School Gerald was Confirmed on the 26th 1950 by the Bishop of Gloucester. He always stayed in contact with frequent letters to the Old Decanian Society. Gerald was a publisher and lived in Balham, London.
Michael John BURROWS (Brook 1950) Died 14th January 2019, aged 85.
Whilst at Dean Close Michael was quite the athlete. He was in the first team and gained colours for Hockey, Rugby and Athletics. He won the 100-yard sprint on Sports Day in a time of 11 and 2/5ths seconds. He left the senior School aged 18 having been at Dean Close from September 1947 to March 1950. He was in Brook House as a boarder. This is a picture of Michael in the Gym squad photo taken in 1950.
Michael was a Chartered Accountant and retired Finance Director. He leaves behind a wife, four children and nine grandchildren. He and his wife lived in Harrogate.
Leonard ‘Leo’ Earnest TREVETT (Common Room 1958 – 1980) Died 19th January 2019, aged 100.
Leo was born on 20 December 1918, a month after The First World War Armistice. He came from Dorchester. His father had been in the Royal Navy during the War. Little is known about his education other than that he was a good athlete and was respected by his peers, who voted him in as head boy at his school. When he left, he began training as an accountant. The advent of World War II resulted in him being drafted into the Army and subsequently he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery. He was a scout for the troops in Bangalore, India, and was later moved to Ceylon, where he was injured.
In January 1942, home on leave, he married his sweetheart, Audrey, who he had first met at a local dance in January 1938 when he was nineteen and she was fifteen. Having survived the war, Leo went to St John’s College, Oxford to study Mathematics intending to enter teaching. While Leo completed his degree, Audrey and their new son, Hugh, lived in a flat at Weymouth. Then their two daughters arrived, Jackie and Nikki. The family moved to Cheltenham on Leo’s first appointment to the Mathematics department at the Grammar School in 1948. He moved to Dean Close School in 1958 as head of Department. He also master-minded the complex school time-table in a career at Dean Close School that was to last 22 years. When he wasn’t teaching, Leo was fully involved in the life of the School, acting as Adjutant to the Combined Cadet Force for nine years, running the Photographic Society for some time and helping the Running Club’s Road Relay Race on one occasion. Moreover, he was a singer, and what has been called his ‘…light but very accurate tenor line…’ could be heard to advantage in the Chapel Choir. Very occasionally, as in the Chapel Concert in the Michaelmas term 1960, he would sing solos.
Leo was much admired and respected as a teacher and head of department. Mike Girling, then Second Master wrote of him that ‘… Under his quiet but most astute guidance the Department flourished, and without any fuss or bother weathered the mathematical revolution of the ‘50s and ‘60s. I do not think I have ever, in 22 years, heard a single adverse criticism of Leo’s teaching, a thing that very few can boast…’ Leo was present when Dean Close School went co-educational in 1968. One girl later wrote to him: ‘You taught me Additional Maths…you were a brilliant, encouraging and lovely teacher…We nick-named you Hank, because you resembled Hank Marvin (the pop guitarist)…You were so kind and so calm…You were an inspiration and a true gentleman…’
Leo retired in July 1980. Three years later he appeared at an OD Gaudy but that was his only ‘official’ return until 2018. Tragically, Audrey and his time together was marred when their son, Hugh, died in middle age in the 1990s. However, Audrey and Leo’s retirement now gave them greater opportunity to travel, especially by both caravan and by coach both in England and abroad. Leo also continued to indulge his other interests in music, cricket and bridge. Sadly, Audrey died in 2007, well into her eighties. Leo found life difficult without her but his considerable charm and social abilities helped him live a good life without her. Having achieved his century – the only known former member of staff to do so thus far, which was celebrated with a tea party at Dean Close – He died on the 19th January 2019, respected, admired and ‘…an eminently successful schoolmaster…’ as Mike Girling said.
Obituary by C E Whitney (School Historian)
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Jonathan Douglas COWAN (Court 1980) Died 20th January 2019, aged 55.
Jonathan Cowan died as a result of a brain tumour earlier this year. He owned Cowan and Rutter Independent Property Agents and Chartered Surveyors in the Kings Road, London. He leaves a wife and two children. School friend, David Mason (Court 1982), attended the funeral. February 2019
John Stephen CARPENTER (Field 1966) Died 3rd February 2019, aged 70.
He leaves behind a loved and loving wife and adored daughter. He was born in the Lake District on the 6th of September 1948 and moved to Cheltenham when he was 4 years old. With business, he visited all corners of the world, and always had happy memories of Dean Close. When he left School, he joined Marcus Hazlewood, but then decided he wanted to travel. So joined HSBC in London in 1968 and enjoyed a full and rewarding life in Asia. He had 11 moves to places like New York, Hong Kong (several times), Mumbai, Djibouti, Taiwan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. He retired in 2001, with his wife and daughter and returned to his hometown Cheltenham. During his retirement, he took up golf and kept an active social life, but during his youth, he mostly played hockey, squash and tennis. A very respected and a true friend to those who knew him. John’s father, his three uncles, his brother, David and David’s two children all attended DCS.
Dr Michael Robert BARNES (Court 1960) Died 6th February 2018, aged 75.
He joined the Senior School in 1955, was a House Prefect and represented the School at cross country running and tennis. He was confirmed in the School Chapel, by the Right Reverend E.B. Henderson, Lord Bishop of Tewkesbury on the 22nd March 1958.
In his early years, Mike worked for Buro Happold, the engineering consultancy, on many interesting and varied projects. In 1978, Ted Happold, recently appointed Professor of Building Engineering at Bath University, convinced Dr Mike Barnes to join the faculty in the joint department of Architecture and Engineering and to lead the Form finding and Analysis group with Chris Williams and others within the multidisciplinary Wolfson Research Group on AirSupported Structures. When Ted Happold retired in 1995, Mike was appointed the Professor of Civil Engineering. In this post he lead the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE) at Bath to ever greater recognition. Mike was an Emeritus Professor of the University of Bath where he had worked since September 1995 as Professor of Civil Engineering and Head of the Civil Engineering group in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, a post he retained until 2005.
Mike was a world leader in computational modelling (dynamic relaxation) for the analysis and design of fabric and cable net structures. His expertise led to the design of a number of important projects, including the Aviary at
Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich and the Millennium Dome in London.
Mike was an outstanding and passionate teacher. Under Mike’s leadership the fortunes of the civil engineering programmes at the University of Bath flourished, laying foundations for the Department having continued success. He was also heavily involved in the Institution of Structural Engineers throughout his career. Following his formal retirement in 2008, Mike continued to be involved in the work of the department, especially in the final year (Basil Spence) design project. Outside of work, Mike was a skilled and experienced sailor and liked nothing more than spending holidays in the Scilly Isles enjoying time there with his wife Jan, stepson Michael, family and friends.
David Hubert Edwin BRADLEY (Tower 1943) Died 16th February 2019, aged 91. Just before going to print, the OD Society were notified of the passing of David. We hope to obtain an obituary for the next copy of the Flecker. David was born on the 24th October 1927 and attended Dean Close between 1940 to 1943, boarding in Tower House. David lived in St Ives in Cornwall.
March 2019
Dr John Alfred RYCROFT (Brook 1944) Died 7th March 2019, aged 92.
John Alfred Rycroft was born and brought up in Purley, Surrey. John joined Brook House in 1940. He became a House Prefect and enjoyed his rugby and athletics, in the 1943 School sports day, John came 3rd in the 100 yards and in 1944 gained his colours for rugby. The Lord Bishop of Tewkesbury confirmed him on 20th March 1943 in the School Chapel. John left in 1944 with his School Certificate. After medical school, he spent his two years of national service as a Medical Officer in the Royal Air Force, including a year stationed in the Suez Canal Zone. Having been demobbed, he spent eight years in general practice, before working in radiotherapy at the respective Royal Infirmaries of Sheffield, Newcastle upon Tyne and Stoke on Trent for a period of 10 years. He married Gill in 1964 and in 1972 he returned to general practice based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. He and Gill lived for more than 40 years in the nearby village of Charlton, where they were active in the local community, church, and keen supporters of Friends of Cathedral Music.
John, husband of Gill, father of Christopher and Hugh and father-in-law of Harriet, all of whom were at his side when he died peacefully at Hunters Care Centre. He will be very much missed by his grandsons Peter and Alexander, his sisters Ernestine and Helen and his wider family and friends. A service of thanksgiving was held at St John the Baptist, Charlton, Nr Malmesbury on Saturday 22nd June 2019.
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Alan Cedric HARDLESS (Gate 1948) Died 24th March 2019, aged 88.
David BRYAN-BROWN (Brook 1949) Died 29th March 2019, aged 87.
On leaving Dean Close, he trained as a Chartered Accountant in Clacton-on-Sea. He served his National Service at Aldershot in the Army and on leaving, he returned to finish his accountancy exams. Alan joined The London Hospital as Head of the Trustees Department where he worked for many years. He commuted from Clacton to London, which enabled him to carry on his love of sport acquired at Dean Close. The family still have Alan's Dean Close cricket cap. Alan played hockey and cricket for Clacton until he retired, he was treasurer of both clubs from 1951 until 1986. Although never married, Alan was a very kind and generous brother to his sisters and his brother. He will be missed by his nephews, nieces and great nephews and great nieces, Alan loved to hear of their sporting achievements.
In 1953, John gained his Higher National Certificate in Electrical Engineering, and afterwards completed his National Service in the Royal Signals, stationed at Catterick. In 1958, he joined the Engineering Department of Sperry Gyroscope Company after meeting with an OD there (M.M. Brookes 1935). He retired to Eastbourne and will be sorely missed by his wife Pauline.
Alan joined Gate House in the September of 1946 and left with a School Certificate in 1948. He very much enjoyed his hockey, playing in the 1st XI, in his final year Gate won the Senior Hockey Cup. He was also confirmed with 30 other boys in the School Chapel on Sunday 31st March by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese.
Whilst at School he lived near Elderbridge in Kent. He gained his School Certificate in 1947 and in his final year gained an “A” certificate. David was a Prefect of Brook House between 1948-1949. He was confirmed in Dean Close Chapel along 26 other pupils on March 27th 1947. In the CCF, he reached the rank of Corporal.
April 2019
Henry Stephen (Tim) STRINGER (Gate 1947) Died 5th April 2019, aged 89.
Tim was born and brought up in Southport before the family moved to Weybridge and he attended Dean Close School. Tim was Head Boy, Captain of Cricket, Rugby, Hockey and Athletics, Sergeant in the JTC, Editor of the Decanian, Senior Librarian, Chairman of the Debating Society, Vice-President of the Acton Club, Treasurer of the Gramophone Club, Hon. Secretary of the Light Music Club, Hon. Secretary of the Games Committee, Winner of the Open French Prize at Commemoration, played Malcolm in Macbeth in 1946 and even found time to organise a Variety Show instead of the usual end of term concert, in his last term at School. He went on to do National Service in the East Sussex Regiment before joining St John’s, Oxford in 1949 to read English. He made the most of his time at Oxford, making many life-long friends and playing lots of sport including hockey for the occasional university team and tennis. He was also a regular choice for College undergraduate committees.
He remained in Oxford to study his Teaching Diploma before taking his first teaching role at Wellington School in Somerset in 1953, where he became Housemaster of a boarding house. In 1958 Tim joined Mill Hill School to teach English and particularly English Literature. He loved drama and followed the London theatre scene closely and relished producing many school plays at Mill Hill, particularly the Shakespeare ones. He put on seven major school drama productions and also acted in a number of mixed staff and pupil plays, where he was well known for his impeccable comic timing. During his time at Mill Hill, Tim was a House Tutor, Housemaster and ended up as Head of English. He still enjoyed being involved with sport and was a referee for hockey. Many pupils remember him for his prowess on the hockey pitch as well as his dapper dress sense and fine taste in sports cars. After retiring from Mill Hill in 1989, he joined North London Collegiate School where he taught English to the sixth form on a part-time basis until 1995. Tim was well suited to teaching. He had a good brain, an equable temperament with an excellent though quiet sense of humour. Always cheerful, he had a consistently kindly and modest way
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with people and was well liked and respected by his peers and pupils. Many former pupils spoke of how they had felt inspired by him and for many he instilled a life-long love of literature.
Tim enjoyed an active retirement and enjoyed all that London had to offer, with regular visits to galleries, theatre, cinema and ballet. He was something of a bon viveur and thoroughly enjoyed a good meal with friends and family. He remained an avid lover of literature, moving on to audio books when his eyesight began to fail and he would love discussing what he had read. He was also a devoted family man to his wife, two daughters and three grandchildren. Despite health problems in later life, he managed to deal with difficulties as best as he could with a minimum of complaining or fuss. He remained cheerful and positive and simply enjoyed life, his watchword being ‘fun’. He touched the lives of so many people, those he taught and his many friends and family. The large numbers of past pupils stretching back decades who attended his memorial service is testament to his generosity and warmth, kindly manner and inspiring approach. Tim continued to keep in contact with the Old Decanian Society throughout his life and attended many events over the years. He will be sorely missed. Thank you to his daughter, Henrietta Hodgkiss, for this appreciation.
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John Henry Walter HALFORD (DCJS Fortfield 1949) Died 13th April 2019, aged 83.
In May 2018 John returned to Dean Close to have a tour of his old boarding house (pictured here with Mrs Gould the Fortfield Housemistress), where he boarded as a boy from 1943-1949, before joining the Cheltenham College for Senior School. John was an excellent sportsman, at the College he represented his house from the age of 16 winning two hockey pots the last cup won as captain of the college eleven. Upon leaving the College, he was seconded to the Somaliland Scouts and in 1957 joined the Colonial Police in Tanganyika, where he commanded a Police Field unit in Tanga and Mwanza. He stayed there until 1962 when he joined the Intelligence Core of the Army, where he quickly rose through the ranks until retiring in 1991. John enjoyed his retirement being with his family and extensively researching his family history whilst playing golf which he took up in the Army. John lived a very full and rewarding life all with plenty of memories and stories from his time both in Dean Close and in the College. John died at his daughter’s house in Somerset after a short illness.
Alan Richard BAILEY (Tower 1959) Died 27th June 2019.
Alan was a distinguished Old Decanian who died in the midst of his family at home in Canterbury on 27 June. In his last year at DCS, he was the Senior Prefect and Head of Tower House. He was the editor of the Decanian magazine, the CSM of the CCF, the secretary and founding member of the Mathematical Society, the secretary of the Tovey Society and the Stage Manager of the School play Seagulls over Sorrento.
He had irresistible charm, a scientific curiosity but above all a huge capacity for friendship and fun. It was a privilege to spend four years with him in Tower House and know him (like Tim Bliss) for a further 60 years as an enduring friend whose practical skills matched his effervescent personality. Years later, he had a spell in Winchester where we were both members of the same book group for nearly 7 years. Our wives were members of an all-female book group, quite improbably, as were two other spouses of distinguished ODs Dr Tony Letchworth Dr, and now, Lord Bernie Ribeiro (all of us from Tower House). The OD network extended to lunches at the Athaneum where Alan was also the livewire secretary of the film society. Like Tim Bliss, I went to see him at Canterbury ten days L-R: Alan Bailey (Tower 1959), Jimmy Walters (Brook 1959), John Harding before he died. We talked of the past while eating Rachael's salad and sipping (Tower 1958) and Tim Bliss (Gate 1958). Pictured in Canterbury in 2014. his wine. He showed me a letter from a New York banker who he knew from the Athaneum days. His friend wrote to say that Alan had a magical gift for friendship and an openness to all sorts and conditions of men and women. All true, as was his hilarious gift for reminiscence; pubbing in Islington with the comedian Barry Cryer and the sobered but brilliant Graham Chapman of Monty Python fame drinking Coca Cola rather than a stronger juice.
He has left a shadow over all our lives but the joy of his company leaves a smile on your face. (John Harding, Tower 1958)
The following are excerpts from Tim Bliss's eulogy (Gate 1958) for Alan at the service in Stephen's Church, Canterbury in July.
‘I met Alan in the mid-nineteen fifties. We were both at Dean Close. We remained close friends for over 60 years. I can only talk about the Alan I knew and loved for all those decades but Alan had a gift for friendship and all friendships extract and project different qualities – my Alan may be less recognisably yours. Beyond his many friendships lay what mattered to him above all – his family, Rachel his admired and beloved partner of nearly 56 years and their children, Jules, Clare, Anna and Simon and in turn their children.
Unlike me, Alan matured early and as a teenager, he demonstrated all the qualities of charm, wit and self-confidence that remained with him for the rest of his life. He came to stay with me during the holidays when we were 15 or 16. My father was greatly impressed, and after Alan had returned home, announced that he supposed that there must be something in me after all if I had friends like Alan. My teenage self rather agreed with him. Alan left Dean Close a year after me with a string of school prizes and offers of places to read maths at Cambridge or medicine at Barts – he chose the latter though never lost his interest in maths. Jimmy Walters, another old school friend, claims that Alan carried out a lifelong and one gathers ultimately fruitless attempt to teach him the elements of calculus. Our ways parted for a time when I left England for University in Canada. By the time I returned 1967, he had qualified and was married to Rachel who been a year his senior at Barts, Alan had a house job at the Royal Northern Hospital in Holloway and I had started work as a junior scientist at the National Institute for Medical research in Mill Hill.
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July 2019 I shared a house with the Baileys at Crouch End. He was always the most gregarious and clubbable of men. I remember a dinner party we gave for two Russian scientists who were visiting the Department at Mill Hill. Russians were exotic species in those days of the Cold War and Rachel had pulled out all the stops. A pair of roast ducks were brought hissing from oven to the dining table. Who wants to carve? Asked Rachel. Alan, untypically, demurred – surgery I think had never much appealed to him and I was given the job. I made a spectacular mess of it that Rachel fled in tears from the table, and the Cold War continued for a few more years.
There is no doubt that Alan would have reached the highest echelons of hospital medicine if it had continued in the NHS, his clinical acumen was outstanding and this was combined with genuine is sometimes muscular empathy. However, he chafed at the bureaucracy and in 1971, he took up a job as Staff Doctor at the BBC. He already knew Graham Chapman who had been a contemporary of his at Barts and at the BBC got to know several other showbiz figures, many of whom remained friends for life. After 2 years at the BBC Alan joined BUPA where he became Medical Director of the hospitals in the West Midlands and the family moved to Gloucestershire. In 1993, after 21 years, he left BUPA to set up a private occupational health practice. Among his clients were two Canadian companies running goldmine operations in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in central Asia and he made several trips to monitor health provision at both these impossibly remote and primitive sites, experiences which greatly expanded the repertoire of stories he was able to tell from the comfort of his favourite chair in the members bar at the Athaneum. Although talking was what Alan most enjoyed and did so well, he always had some great writing project on the go, usually related to medical history and featuring as often as not Barts men and women.
It seems inconceivable that it was only five or six weeks ago that he sent an email to his friends to say that the cancer could no longer be controlled and he was not going to submit to further intervention. For the four years of his illness, he’d been on the wagon, the Athaneuem laying in for him a supply of zero alcohol beer. We sat together drinking a glass of wine on the sofa in companionable silence my hand on his. I felt he was at peace. So goodbye old man my brilliant, generous life enhancing friend, loving and loved; and loved especially by everyone who has come here today in body or in spirit to remember you’.
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David GIBSON (Common Room 1968-1986) Died 2nd July 2019, aged 88.
An extract from the 1987 Decanian, valete written by Brian Wilson.
David Gibson came to Dean Close School from Sutton Valence, already a mature schoolmaster, to take over the Chaplaincy: he brought to that post much needed zest, a dynamic authority, a meticulous attention to detail and a brand of Christianity immediately and excitingly acceptable to the School who responded eagerly to his prompting. There was also — more alarming for Headmasters — a delightful uncertainty about what might be said from or done in the pulpit and it was as well to attend regularly in case one missed a memorable moment. Outside the Chapel, he offered a vast amount of energy on various games' fields — he was a good hockey player, a fine rugby referee and a powerful discus thrower. Most impressive of all his many talents however was his skill in painting and surely if he had wished, this might have been his career. He has left us many lovely portraits of the School and we owe him much for these. One other love was the motorbike — a quite lethal machine on which he would drive at alarming speed around School fields. Various, doubtless apocryphal, stories emanated about the lively times in his Divinity and General Studies lessons — mention of "goats and monkeys", of desk walking, sundry missiles and bellows, immense red herrings. No one ever accused him of boring an audience — he was a marvellous raconteur with a fund of splendid one-liners. Simultaneously he ran the CCF — the Church militant indeed — again displaying that excellent mixture of efficiency, enthusiasm and unpredictability that kept everyone on his toes. All too soon, he dropped both of these strings in order to take over the Housemastership of Court where he and Bridget made a wonderful home for 10 years of Courtiers. Maybe, in hindsight, he regretted dropping the Chaplaincy and could have managed both, but it seemed right at the time and certainly he and Bridget set the highest standards of courtesy and behaviour — no House was ever more proudly and carefully looked after. Of course, there were the same memorable moments of joyous unpredictability—I remember particularly the chase of a recalcitrant Arab round the bushes in front of the astonished inmates of the Nuffield. We shall miss him and Bridget and wish them and their children, Tim, Jenny and Marianne, every happiness in retirement — though it will be no retirement if he can develop his artistic talents still further.
David’s thanksgiving service was held in Ashington in West Sussex on Monday 15th July and was attended by ODs, staff and former staff. David moved to Ashington after living in Charlton Kings for many years. He will be sadly missed by his children and grandchildren Amalie, Tom and Eloise.
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Dates for the Diary
For more information on these and other events visit our website, www.deanclose.org.uk/Events or call the OD Office.
September 2019
Thursday 19th and Saturday 21st September HERITAGE OPEN DAYS TOURS Take a walk around the Senior School with the School Archivist and find out more about our History.
October 2019
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October ARROW TROPHY AT COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT A sailing competition between independent schools' alumni.
Saturday 12th October DEAN CLOSE SCHOOLS OPEN MORNING Open Morning for Parents and Prospective Pupils 218yrs. Please call 01242 258044 to register or for more information. Sunday 27th October DEAN CLOSE SIXES Dean Close School Astros from 10.30am The Old Decanian Society hosts the annual Alumni Societies’ Girls’ hockey tournament. Come along and support the ODs. HOCKEY CLUB If you would like to play, whether you already play, haven’t played for a long time or have never played, everyone is welcome to join the School Hockey Club. 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 end of season event. Matches are fun and competitive with rivals including Common Room staff, parents from other schools and even the teams’ own children. If you would like more information call Sarah Hick on 07815 937 755, email dcparenthockey@gmail.com or come to the Astros on a Saturday morning.
November 2019
Friday 8th November AUCTION OF PROMISES: FOUNDATION AWARDS Dean Close Dining Hall. For more information contact development@deanclose.org.uk.
Saturday 9th November SENIOR OLD DECANIAN LUNCH: FOR LEAVERS BETWEEN 1966-70 Lunch (12:30) in Dean Close House followed by tours of Dean Close and afternoon tea. Friday 15th November OD PUB LUNCH FOR THOSE WHO WERE AT SCHOOL IN THE EARLY 1970S Reunion to be held in Newbury (exact location TBC). For more details, contact the OD office.
Friday 22nd November DEAN CLOSE BUSINESS CLUB BREAKFAST – KINGSWOOD GROUP Join us at 8am in the Dean Close School Pavilion to find out about the state of the markets. Kingswood Group are a Wealth Planning and Investment Management company.
December 2019
Wednesday 11th December SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS Dean Close School Chapel, 7.30pm All are welcome to join us at this annual Service followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Dining Hall.
Dates in 2020
Friday 6th March CLOSE COMMUNITY CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING Join us for a morning of Clay Pigeon Shooting at Ian Coley Sporting, Cheltenham. Saturday 23rd May DCS COMMEMORATION Class of 2000 ’20 years on’ reunion. Saturday 20th June OLD DECANIAN DAY You are invited to join us at Dean Close School for the annual Old Decanian Day. There will be sports fixtures versus the School, BBQ lunch for all, reunions, Chapel service with an OD scratch choir and dinner. To mark 5, 10 and 25 years, there will be specific reunions for the classes of 1995, 2010, 2015.
Do you have any news for next year's Flecker? If you do... Email ods@deanclose.org.uk
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OpenMorning DC
Saturday 5th October 2019
DEAN CLOSE
SCHOOLS
Pre-Preparatory School: 9.00am Arrive for Head's Welcome Preparatory School: 8.40am Arrive for Headmaster's Address Senior School: 10.00am Arrive for Headmaster's Address
C o - e d u c at i o n a l
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Day a n d B oa r d i n g
CHELTENHAM
Tel: 01242 258044 www.deanclose.org.uk
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Ag e 2 - 1 8
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Editors: Alex Hume (Dale 2002) & Connie Parker (Development & Alumni Assistant) Supported by Andrew Marquard (Field 1971) ODS Committe Member and Trustee Thank you to all those ODs who contributed to the magazine this year.
www.deanclose.org.uk/ods