The Old CONTENTS Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 OF News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
OF weddings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Headmaster's report . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mission/OF Development . . . . . 7 Maitland’s Antarctic expedition . 8
Felsted and Olympics . . . . . . . . 12 OF Faces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 OF Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
OF profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Felstedian December 2011
OFS supports launch of the Felsted Network on LinkedIn By Joel Garner
A
joint initiative between the Old Felstedian Society, Felsted School and its parents has led to the formation of the Felsted Network, a networking group to help career development and business opportunities between OFs, parents and pupils. The Felsted Network aims to provide an informal platform to help OFs develop their careers through mentoring, work experience and networking and help current pupils make informed career choice by engaging OF participation in the School’s Work Education and Careers programme. It also hopes to create new business opportunities by developing contact between OFs and parents through events and social networking. The Felsted Network, which
Alison and Lauren RowntreeTaylor discuss the Felsted Network was launched at Brooks’ Club in London in May, formalises valuable connections between OFs, parents and the School for the benefit of the Felsted community. Headmaster Dr Mike Walker and OFS President Bill Lake (g5560) invited OFs to the inaugural event, which gave an opportunity for participants to shape the development of the Felsted Network
with workshops and feedback sessions. In November, the Felsted Network was launched on the social media career development platform LinkedIn at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in London. Felsted Development Director Richard Salmon said: “We believe that this is the most important joint initiative that the School and the Old Felstedian Society have undertaken to engage Old Felstedians, parents, pupils and teaching staff with each other.” Lake added that the OFS was extremely supportive of the Felsted Network. “It fits in well with our objectives of encouraging communications amongst OFs and between OFs and the School.”
How does it work? The Felsted Network is a closed group on LinkedIn for those who continued on page 3
Forthcoming Events for 2012 3 March Golf Spring Open Meeting, Aldeburgh GC Tim Hedin 01787 222556 timhedin@redburn.com 8 March Old Felstedian Dinner The Long Room, Lord’s Cricket Ground, NW8 6.45pm for 7.30pm OF Office 01371 822644 ofs@felsted.org 29 March – 1 April Golf Halford Hewitt, Sandwich/Deal, Kent William Doe 01206 240179 william.doe@jmfinn.com 13 May – Golf Grafton Morrish Qualifier, Leicestershire GC Stuart Mott 07742 517419 stuart.mott@ntlworld.com 18 May – Golf Extra Spring Meeting, the Warren GC Dudley Simpson 01279 726492 Dudley@coevintners.com
The Old Felstedian
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December 2011
20 May – Golf Match v the School, Gosfield Lakes Golf Club Timothy Platts 0207 3591086 timothy.platts@ubs.com 20 May Old Felstedian Society AGM/Founder’s Day service 5pm AGM at Felsted School 6pm Founder’s, Benefactors’ and Leavers’ Service, Felsted Parish Church 7pm reception at the Music School OF Office 01371 822644 ofs@felsted.org 11 June – Golf Essex Public Schools summer meeting, Chigwell GC Open to all golfers as a society day with team competition Ian Locks 0208 5023998 i.locks@btinternet.com
17 June – Cricketer Cup 1st round v Bradfield Waifs (away) Mike Rath 0203 1344114 Michael.Rath@barclayswealth.com 20 June – Golf Summer Open Meeting, West Sussex Oliver Stocken 0208 9468524 Taylor@campbell-lutyens.com 1st July – Cricketer Cup 2nd round v Sherbourne Pilgrims or Old Amplefordians (home) Mike Rath 0203 1344114 Michael.Rath@barclayswealth.com 20 September – Golf Special Autumn Meeting, The Berkshire Dudley Simpson/Barry Weatherill 01279 726492 Dudley@coevintners.com 4-7 October – Golf Grafton Morrish competition, Hunstanton and Royal West Norfolk, Brancaster Stuart Mott 07742 517419 stuart.mott@ntlworld.com
www.felsted.org
OPINION
Stability may be threatened, but 2012 can still make us smile By Joel Garner
A
s we enter 2012 the stability that for many of us has been common place over recent years seems suddenly
in flux. In the UK, we have a coalition government, an economy that is at best sluggish, at worst heading back into recession, and our nearest trading partners, the EU zone, is on the precipice of the abyss.
It is easy to be a naysayer and predict no way back, but I suspect whilst the ensuing years may be tough and uncomfortable for many, the creative spirit of the human race will find a way out of the troubles we currently are amidst. It is for good reason that OFs, and the School and its pupils, should welcome and support the joint initiative of the Society and the School in creating the Felsted Network. When times are tough, any avenue to new
OLD FELSTEDIAN SOCIETY COMMITTEE 2011-2012 Ex officio members
Office
Home
President
WJB Lake (g55-60 ) Chairman M A Jones (d58-63)
62 Pembridge Villas, London W11 3ET
bill.lake@ditton.co.uk
10 Parkhill Road, London E4 7ED
020 8524 2796 mikejones6@aol.com
Past Presidents
J L Bird (fd40-45) P T Robson (a49-54) Lt. Gen. Sir Peter Beale (b48-52) O H J Stocken (e54-60) J C Banner (fd53-59)
A M Rober ts (d55-60)
The Old Vicarage, Highwood, Chelmsford, Essex CM13QG Chantries, 3 Abbots Way, Merrow Guildford, Surrey, GU1 2XP The Bakery, Avebury, Marlborough, Wilts. SN8 1RF 25c Marr yat Road, London SW19 5BB Stone Farm, Windmill Hill Long Melford, Sudbur y Suf folk CO10 9AE 1 Archibald Close, Pocklington, York YO42 2DJ
01277 353933
020 7432 2302
Felsted School, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3LL
01371 822600 hms@felsted. org
020 7201 5280
01277 353434 01483 568899 patrick@chantries.co.uk 01672 539315 peter.beale1@virgin.net 020 8946 8524 gilly@campbell-lutyens.com 01787 882521 fax 01787 311377 gonfalon@btopenworld.com 01759 304203 murray_rober ts@msn.com
Headmaster
M J Walker (2008- ) Hon Secretary P G Nor ton (d53-55)
172 Braunston Road , Oakham, Oakham , Rutland LE15 6RU
01572 755845 paul.g.nor ton@btconnect.com
Hon Treasurer
J S P Willington (fb82-92)
Judges Court, Police Row, Ther field, Her ts. SG8 9QE
020 7212 3382
Felsted School, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3JG
01371 822620 bursar@felsted.org
01763 287763 jwillington@btinternet.com
Bursar
M McKenna (2009- ) Mission Representative
R J Hunter (d47-52)
24 Mor timer Road, Rayleigh Essex SS6 9NX
01268 784657
Hon Secretary OF Lodge
W Bennison
1 Pembroke Gardens, Holland-on-Sea, Essex, CO15 5XD
01255 815361 wilf.bennison@aol.com
Editor of Old Felstedian
J P Garner (b85-90)
Godwick Hall, Tittleshall Kings L ynn, Nor folk PE32 2RJ
07825 420319 jamespetergarner@gmail.com
Hon Dinner Secretary Hon. Sports Secretary J D G Goodwin (e88-93)
75 Stanley Grove, London, SW8 3PJ
020 7560 2477 jamesdggoodwin@yahoo.com
and by invitation: Hon Auditon
C. Maitland (82-87) Development Director R Salmon (2008- ) School Liaison Representative N S Hinde (1968- ) Elected members: 2011 P.J. Muwowo (e87-92) H.A.J.White (m80-82) 2012 H. Bohling (fa68-75)
T.Soper (b 87-92)
chris.maitland@nlpca.co.uk Felsted School, Dunmow Essex CM6 3JG
01371 822645 res@felsted.org
7 The Terrace, Chelmsford Road Felsted, Essex CM6 3ER
01371 820054 nhinde@btinternet.com
Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania Warner's Farm, Wimbish Green Saf fron Walden, Essex, CB10 2XJ
01799 599 525
muwowopatrick@yahoo.com 07815 696 662 henrietta.white@googlemail.com
11 Liskeard Gardens, Blackheath, London, SE3 0PE Flat 1, 58 Schuber t Road London SW15 2QS
hughbohling@citynetlaw.com 07860 690 393 tomsoper@mac.com
Moss’s Farmhouse, Helions Bumpstead Haverhill, Suf folk CB9 7AS Squirrels Wood, Clockhouse Lane Bramley, Surrey GU5 0AP
01440 730286 c.v.belcher@hotmail.co.uk 01483 890468 savage@tcpam.com
2013
C.V Belcher (b99-04) TJ Savage (h76-80) 2014
TJ Callan (d56-51) CP Hickson (h72-76) AJW Jackson (fd50-58) 2015 S A Rowledge (m85-87)
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tc@tcallan.demon.co.uk cypa@kirkella2002.fsnet.co.uk jackson.alastai@tiscall.co.uk 9 Queen Street, Coggeshall Essex CO6 1UF
opportunities, advice and mentoring, are clearly worth their weight in gold. The great thing about the Felsted Network is that it is self-sustaining and easy to participate in. Just a few clicks on social media career development platform LinkedIn and you could be part of this new community. You can use it in ways to give back to current pupils or seeking new business opportunities within the network itself. Make it a simple, achievable New Year’s resolution and get clicking now. There is another reason to be cheerful about 2012. It brings the Olympic Games back to Great Britain and London. With it will come the greatest celebration on earth of sporting prowess and achievement, as well as the Olympic ideals and ethos of fair play and competition. We review Felstedian’s relationship with the games and look ahead to 2012 on page 12. And if David Attenborough’s portrayal of the Frozen Planet on BBC recently inspired you, then read Henry Maitland’s wonderful journey through the Antarctic tracing the anniversary of Captain Scott’s infamous journey. Many thanks for the Felsted Development Office for helping us compile this edition of the Old Felstedian. Comments as always are welcome and please send your latest news to ofs@felsted.org. In the meantime, I’d like to wish you all a happy and fulfilling 2012. Let’s all celebrate the Olympic Games and have something to smile and feel proud about as London hosts the greatest show on earth.
01376 562000
www.felsted.org
01376 561517 SarahRowledge@ absoluteangels.freeserve.co.uk
Editor: Joel Garner email: jamespetergarner@gmail.com Contributing Editors: Nicholas Hinde, Mike Jones, Bill Lake and Alex Burton Editorial Assistant: OF Office, Felsted School, Felsted, Essex, CM6 3LL. Tel: 01371 822644 email: ofs@felsted.org Art and Design: Vivid Associates Ltd, 6 Mulgrave Chambers, 26-28 Mulgrave Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 6LE Tel: 020 8642 4999 Printer: M&B Print Solutions, M&B House, Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 1HD Tel: 01371 873921
Visit the Old Felstedian website at www.felsted.org/ofs
The Old Felstedian
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December 2011
OF NEWS
Dawkins on target to publish Alumni Felstedienses in 2012
NEWS
I N
B R I E F
OF Chris Levitt (fg79-87) took his dog Tigger, an English Springer Spaniel, on an epic 700 mile bike ride to raise money for Cardiac Risk in The Young and Maternity Worldwide. The pair’s journey began on 7 May at Tower Bridge and went past the Felsted Mission in East London, through Essex to catch the overnight ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, covering an average of 100 miles per day and arriving at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on 13 May. Chris and Tigger raised over £20,000 for the two charities.
Tom Soper (b87-92) and Chris Gibson (fh84-92) completed the Atacama Crossing, a seven-day 250km foot race through the driest desert on earth, in March this year. The pair raised over £8000 for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. It’s a gruelling challenge with only 83 finishers from 111 starters, with runners having to support their journeys by carrying back packs with food, sleeping bag and medical kit.
By Joel Garner
C
hristopher Dawkins’ sions are too tedious to publish, Alumni Felstedienses but they will be available for project is well on track download on the website. It is still to have the next ver- to be decided how many copies of sion of the Alumni available in the full tome will be published.” March 2012. With the Alumni now reaching The Alumni, which now traces 750 pages, compared with a modpupils back to William Sanderson est 400-odd in the past, the fact (1578-1580), although that the records are on the 1578 is an estimate, a database and are only “This will have being printed in small includes 14,075 records a controlled quantities will without in total. circulation. doubt save a few trees Christopher sent 44 I think the copies of the chronoand huge printing redacted logical house versions costs. versions are of the Alumni to 37 And for any OFs too tedious to worried about outhousemasters just publish” before Christmas. siders gaining access to “The first aim of this their data, Christopher is to encourage a sense of the his- explains that only redacted vertory of the School in the houses, sions will be open to public access but I hope to get a number of cor- on the archives website and that rections,” said Christopher, access to the unredacted version adding that Christmas maybe will be closely controlled. the only time many housemasters He is also keen to emphasise get the opportunity to sit down that marketing or commercial with a book. organisations will not have any Following feedback and hope- access to the list, so OFs’ privacy fully some corrections, Christo- will be safeguarded. pher then plans to publish the For more details on the Alumni 750-page alphabetical Alumni Fel- Felstedienses 2012 project constedienses 2012 in March. tact Christopher Dawkins on “This will have a controlled cir- cchd@felsted.essex.sch.uk or go culation. I think the redacted ver- to http://archives.felsted.org/. December 2011
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The Old Felstedian
OF James Doherty (g81-85) took the role of Amos Hart in the hit musical Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre in London until 27 August this summer to critical acclaim. While James was at Felsted he gained a place at the National Youth Theatre at the age of 15. He then trained at The Guildford School of Acting, renowned for providing many actors for the West End stage. James has starred in variety of roles in film, television and theatre, including Les Miserables, Eastenders and Holby City. Major General Alan Drury Macklin (c73-75) was appointed CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2011.
OFS supports launch of the Felsted Network on LinkedIn continued from page 1 are connected to Felsted, whether as past pupils, parents or members of the common room. Individuals create a personal profile on LinkedIn and simply search for The Felsted Network under Groups and request to join the group. The hope is to create a thriving community on LinkedIn that will develop around discussions, job/internships opportunities and subgroups for different interests which could include media, arts, law, medicine or OF sport societies. Lake added that he would like to see as many OFs as possible join www.felsted.org
the LinkedIn group. “This should increase the chances of OFs finding friends from the past and of forming professional sub-networks. We would like to see the Felsted Network evolve by itself initially, rather than being too prescriptive.” To help the group get underway, Jack Dougherty, based at the School, will act as network curator, ensuring content is in line with the aims of the group and helping build contacts within the community. OF Simon Walker (fd88-95) and Salmon will also help to manage the site. For more information contact Jack Dougherty email jad@felsted.org or 01371822648.
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OF NEWS
Sparkle Malawi sets up orphanage to help street children kitchen - all facilities the kids will not have had access to before. Sparkle Malawi will drastically improve the lives of 250 children who previously did not have enough food and water to keep them alive and healthy Felsted has donated t-shirts and raised £500 for the project at last year’s Leavers’ Ball. Sarah will return next June to open the orphanage. Until then she has recruited staff to oversee the progress of the project.
By Alex Burton
O
ld Felstedian Sarah Brook (n06-08) visited Malawi with a friend when she was 18 and was so shocked by the living conditions and lack of resources that she returned two years later to set up an orphanage. Sarah believed that the community was in desperate need of some kind of structure, so she set up a project to help improve the resources and services for 250 street orphans. She is currently hoping to raise £15,000 worth of donations to complete the orphanage which will be finished by the end of 2012. She has raised £10,000 so far and needs the remaining £5000 to finish off the roof. The orphanage includes two classrooms, a bathroom, office and an outdoor
Above: Building progress at the orphanage in Wanangwa Right: Sarah Brook with the children
OFs summer drinks attracts more than just the usual suspects By Nicholas Hinde As 2011 was a non-dinner year the focal point of the OF Society’s social programme was the summer drinks party held on Thursday 16 June at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London, an attractive and central venue that we were using for the second time. After a slow start the tickets (very moderately priced) sold
well and 85 OFs attended a successful and enjoyable event. The drinks’ “do” does make a pleasant contrast with the dinner. It is informal, the timings are flexible and it attracts not only “the usual suspects” (the faithful who support all Society events) but also others whom we see less frequently and whose presence adds greatly to the pleasure of the evening.
The range of the generations was also wide although it would be good to persuade the most recent leavers (did I spot any?) to dip their toes in at such an event and to get a flavour of the OFs. The writer was particularly pleased to see after some time Rory Kilmartin (e87-92), Corin Greenhow (b85-90), Robert Marven (fb79-88) and Colin Panzetta (b80-85) among many others.
Sadly no photographer was on hand on this occasion so we have no photographs to post on the website. Please make a note of the 2012 dinner, which will be held on 8 March at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. It would be wonderful to see an even greater cross-section of the membership there. Guests are asked to arrive 6.45pm for 7.30pm dinner.
Dinner returns to Lords to celebrate OF Olympians OFs eagerly anticipating the 2012 London Olympics will be pleased to know that next year’s Old Felstedian Society’s Biennial Dinner will be celebrating the Felsted Olympians. Guests of Honour will be a panel of OF Olympians who will
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take questions from assembled guests about the Olympics as well as recounting their own incredible Olympic experiences. The Biennial Dinner will be returning to the magnificent Long Room at Lords Cricket www.felsted.org
Ground in St John’s Wood, London, itself appropriately an Olympic venue for archery, on 8 March 2012. Tickets for the Black Tie event are £85 each, including pre-dinner drinks, wine and port. Recent school leavers
(post 2005) are eligible for discounted tickets costing £75 each. An order form is enclosed with this edition of the OF magazine and OFs are encouraged to apply early as places will issued on a first come basis.
The Old Felstedian
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December 2011
OF WEDDINGS
Old Felstedian weddings news OF weddings are becoming our most popular page. This year we have dedicated a whole page to OF wedding celebrations, hopefully catching up with a few announcements we had missed previously. Next year’s OF magazine will also happily celebrate new additions to OF families as well. Please send us details at ofs@felsted.org. Edited by Alex Burton 2006 Timothy Grierson Rickford (fa87-97) married Gemma Prall on 12 August 2006. Their first son, Matthew Henry, was born 24 July 2008 and their second son, Alfred William (Freddie) arrived on 2 September 2010.
rently works for Heineken UK and Polly is Director of an Art Gallery in London. Simon Jenkin (e92-97) was one of Henry's best men and William Leeder (ge9297), Anto Dudgeon (ge92-97) and James Newman (ge92-97) were all ushers.
2010 Weddings Tom Soper (b87-92) married Lizzi Williams on 10 July 2010 at Osborne House, Isle of Wight. Best man was OF Mike Martin (h87-92), with OFs Charlie Luckin (e87-92), Daniel Rowland (fb84-92), Paul Maskell (h87-92) all ushers. Rebecca Gilham (fg95-01) married Jonty Davies on 29 August 2010 at Villa Giona in Italy surrounded by family and a host of OF’s including bridesmaid Nicola Oldfield (g96-01) and maid of honour Susie Sewell (f94-01). Other OFs present included Victoria Stratton (f93-01), Ben Floyd (n96-01), James Pamplin (c96-01), Jonjo Ryder (c96-01), Alicia Mellish (g96-01) and Charlie Milne (nee Tucker fn94-01). The couple met at in the City of London where Rebecca was working in her graduate job. They honeymooned in Ravello on the Amalfi Coast and also in Capri. Henry Fairbanks (ge92-97) married Polly Bielecka on 18 September 2010 in Orford, Suffolk. The couple met through mutual friends in London and live in Westbourne Park. Henry curDecember 2011
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Two Old Felstedians Chris Burney (a99-02) and Sarah Burney Richards (above) (fb96–03) married at Spains Hall in Finchingfield on the 20 February 2010. The wedding included numerous OFs including Polly Hynd (fb9202) who was bridesmaid, William Richards (fe95-05), and Neil Burney (c87-90).
2011 Weddings Emma Burrett (fb-94-02) was married to Charles Collier at Felsted School Chapel on 6 August 2011. The day was a joyous affair
The Old Felstedian
with many OFs, current and former masters in attendance. The reception was held in a marquee on Cloisters and ushers included OFs Mark Burrett (fe 95-05) and Sam Burrett (fe 97-07). Of course Jenny Burrett, Headmistress at Felsted Preparatory School, is mother of the bride. Emma is a teacher and Charles is a social worker specialising in autism and they live in Norwich.
Corin Greenhow (b85-90) married Holly McGuire, a City based Corporate Lawyer on 16 July 2011. Corin's best man was his brother Toby Greenhow (b8790), Master of Ceremonies was Gavin McNicoll (b85-91) and Ed Sayer (b85-90) was an usher. The wedding took place at Holy Trinity Church in Long Melford, Suffolk followed by a marquee reception at nearby Belchamp Hall. Holly and Corin honeymooned in Capri, Italy and live in Battersea, South-west London. Eleanor Louise Stenhouse (n91-93) married Charles Bermudez on 27 August 2011 at Kew Gardens, London. Eleanor was a Compensation and Benefits Manager at Reed Smith LLP until 1 July 2011 and has recently started a food diploma at Leith’s Cookery School. Claire Reid (fg94-99) and Alex Hardy tied the knot at Priory Hall in Hadleigh, Suffolk in September 2011. 130 friends and family attended, including OFs Lola Ladipo (g95-99), Julianne Jackson (nee Wyndham (n97-99), Joanna Pamplin (b98-00) and maid of honour Claire Stevens (g94-97). Claire and Alex met just after she left Felsted. They are combining their honeymoon in Thailand, later this year with the wedding www.felsted.org
of Claire Stevens, with Claire returning the favour as her maid of honour. Jan Gackenholz (fa97-99) (below) married Bettina Gackenholz-von Franqué in May in Wiesbaden, Germany where they celebrated with glorious weather and wine from the local Rheingau valley. The evening reception and the formal dinner were hosted on the glorious Hofgut Mappen estate just outside Wiesbaden where they were joined a number of (German) OFs.
To submit OF weddings please email us with the following details: date and location of wedding; reception location; details of partner; what are your occupations; where you honeymooned; details of OFs attending; where you live now and a picture (required for the wedding to be published). To submit OF births please email us with the following details: date of birth; name and details of child; name of parents and siblings. Note of any other OF relations and picture.
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HEADMASTER’S REPORT
Felsted Outstanding year but will continue striving for higher standards ‘The School excels in its ability to offer a rich, life enhancing experience dedicated to the development of the whole person’ (OFSTED June 2011) By Dr Mike Walker
T
his has been a year of further impressive development for Felsted at national and international level. We can confidently claim to be a national leader in ‘holistic education’. The education of the whole person, through addressing all aspects of life, intellectual, academic, physical, emotional, social and spiritual development. The OFSTED Inspection Report of boarding and welfare of June 2011 judged the school to be Four out of 10 GCSE exams ‘outstanding’ in every category taken by Felsted pupils achieved and we had no recommendations an A* or A grade. An impressive for improvement. 18 students gained eight or more No school has a better report A* and A grades. and we are clearly a national Steph Byrne and Lucy Stuchleader in terms of care and devel- field secured Oxford and Camopment of our students. bridge places. In the UK Maths Once again, Felsted has been Challenge, two Felsted students, included in the 2012 Tatler’s Oliver Williams and Max LimSchools' Guide 2012 to burg, are within the top the top 230 Preparatory No school has 25% of the last 1,500 and Public Schools in a better report mathematicians in their the UK, where we and we are age group. were described as Gary Guo and Max clearly a 'feisty Felsted', a school Hansen were National national leader combining a traditional in terms of Finalists and winners in English village-school the Business and Entercare and ethos with an internadevelopment prise Competition and tional outlook. our own Nick Spring of our The Preparatory has been appointed students. School, under the Joint Chair of a National excellent leadership of Jenny Bur- UCAS Advisory Committee. rett, had a glowing 2011 IndeWe have sustained our numpendent Schools Inspectorate bers overall (currently 527 pupils Report, which concluded that it in the Senior School and nearly was ‘excellent’ in each of the 1,000 across Senior and Preparaseven stringent ISI standards. tory Schools combined) and are becoming significantly over-subscribed. Academic results However, we are still a relaAt A Level, we achieved an impressive 22 A* grades out of all tively small, genuine community. entries. Our IB ‘value added’ has Our pool for selection for sport is shot up into the top quartile, with only 270 boys with perhaps100 feeding our senior teams and siman average on 33 points.
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www.felsted.org
ilar figures for girls. This is a much smaller pool than many competitor schools and we can be particularly proud of ‘punching above our weight’.
An International Leader
We have also stepped out confidently onto the international stage. This is important because we need to create ‘global citizens’ of the future and lift our horizons, Sport, music and drama but also because I feel that when We have a range of top competi- we are taken out of our comfort zone, we learn the most tors at international about ourselves and level – Charlie Kingham We are others. and Rhys Hartley in We have been rugby, Kieran Norris in leading the way in the awarded the coveted the Great Britain skiing European British Council Internasquad, Loren Sherer Round Square tional School Award. representing England in with our Our students have led the Junior Hockey ‘virtual choir’ the school’s first Magic World Cup in 2010-11 project Bus community service and Clarissa Dennert project in Mumbai, riding in the German India, working with street chilThree Day Eventing Team. Our show-jumping team of dren, and this is now established Tessa Reed, Anna Stonham, as an annual event with a second Molly Stonham and Alicia Wilkin- visit in October 2011. In 2010-2011, we attended our son came 5th in the UK in 2011 and have qualified for the National first Round Square World Conference in Thailand, where a FelFinals again in 2011-2012. We reached the final of the sted student, Lucy Stuchfield, Boys Hockey Boarding Schools’ was chosen to interview King Cup and were runners-up nation- Constantine of Greece, the president of the movement. ally in 2010-2011. We are leading the way in the Our U16 Polo team were National Finalists and winners in European Round Square with division two. We also reached the our ‘virtual choir’ project which quarter-finals of the national will allow all of the European TwentyTwenty cricket and the Round Square Schools to sing girls’ national netball competition. and record together a beautiful In music, drama and the arts, choral piece written by Gus we have also enjoyed national suc- Nicholson, a Felsted student, on cess. Richard Rayner is the line. National Young Drummer of the Year 2010-2011 and has reached Looking into the future the last 10 for 2011-2012. I believe we have accomplished Julian Lloyd-Webber is to be so much by emphasising student our Music Patron and will per- voice and student leadership, form at Felsted in 2012. working closely as a whole team, The Twenty have toured in emphasising the academic and Italy, sung Evensong at South- most importantly by driving on wark Cathedral and recorded at with further development. Abbey Road Studios. I can report our great school Andrea Smith-Valls has acted is in good heart, has a dynamic for the National Youth Theatre. momentum and is really going The Corps of Drums partici- places. As Tatler put it our pated in front of 15,000 people at school not only has ‘pizzazz’, but the British Military Tournament, deserves the accolade ‘feisty and will do so again next year. Felsted’. The Old Felstedian
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December 2011
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE/MISSION
Vicar’s sad and untimely death means it is all change at the Mission By Rod Hunter
T
he Felsted School Mission and the Ascension Church which it supports in London’s Dockland have had a mixed year. After a prolonged period of ill health coupled with family problems, the Ascension’s Vicar, Reverend Chris Hanson, died suddenly in August. The Parish therefore now seeks a new Vicar for the second time since 2006 when Reverend Jonathan Brice left the Ascension to become Chaplain at Felsted. After a successful period in this role Jonathan is also now moving on to become Rector of Aspen, Colorado, USA, taking with him of course his USA born wife, Shara, who was the founder and inspiration of the Ascension Eagles – for which she was awarded an honorary MBE. Thus the key roles at both ends of the
Wade, the area Dean, and of the churchwardens and others at the Ascension, particularly centre manager, Beryl Collison and Youth Ministry Co-ordinator Phil Taylor. Part of the Youth Ministry is the Ascension Football Academy, much encouraged and supported by Martin Cearns (d58-62) former Revd. Jonathan Brice, Crichelle, Chairman of West Ham Joel and Shara United. The Mission Appeal Mission Link, namely Vicar at the Ascenwas finally launched dursion and Chaplain at Felsted School are at ing 2011 and has so far the time of writing awaiting new appointraised over £50,000 (incluments. sive of patrons’ donations). Happily the link between Felsted and Rev d. Chris We thank all those who the Ascension Eagles under their new Hans on have contributed so generleaders will continue. The Ascension’s ministr y locally has continued thanks to the ously. A contribution form accompanies this hard work and help of Reverend Dave copy of the Old Felstedian.
Closer links between OFs and the School bode well for the future By Richard Salmon Felsted continues to enjoy great support from Old Felstedians whether by attending events or through the fundraising activities of the School. The Annual Fund has raised over £50,000 since its launch in 2009, providing excellent equipment for clubs, societies, co-curricular activities and small projects. Funding has also been provided for bursaries with four Felstedians currently being fully supported and we look forward to seeing their progress through the School. In total, OFs and parents have donated over £320,000 during the last three years and Felsted is hugely grateful to all who have so generously supported the School in this way. The Lord Riche Society now boasts 291 members who have donated over £1,000 since 1995, nine benefactors with
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donations over £50,000 and two major benefactors who have donated over £250,000. The Lord Riche Society also has 276 honorary members, OFs who have sent children or grandchildren to the School. All were celebrated with an invitation to the première of the excellent school production “The Secret Garden”. We cannot emphasise enough the value of legacies to the School. We have recently been advised of two bequests that will make a significant difference to the improvement of facilities and bursarial support for Felstedians and further details will follow next year. We would ask you to please consider Felsted in your Will and if you would like further details, please contact me direct (details below). The joint initiative between the Old Felstedian Society and the School to establish the Felsted Network is creating great enthu-
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siasm amongst OFs, parents and the common room. Already, the wider Felsted community is engaging in the School’s Work Education Programme and providing mentoring, work experience and internship opportunities to OF graduates. For more information, see page 1 and 3. We have updated the School website and if you view the Old Felstedian page, you will find news and other OF information. Please send us details of any news you would like published or any comments on how we can improve the site. In recent years, OFs engagement with the School and each other has grown and we need your help to support the various events, activities and communications that are flourishing. If you are able to help with
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organising events, developing the Felsted Network or contacting OFs regarding stories that can be published in various communications, please contact us. There has been a significant change in staffing within the office during the year. Gina Evans, who made an immeasurable contribution to building relations with OFs during her five years at the School, has taken a new role nearer home and we wish her well for the future. For further information regarding events, activities or fundraising, please contact us on ofs@felsted.org or reach me directly at res@felsted.org or 01371 822649. Please also visit the OF website www.felsted.org/ofs.
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OF FEATURE
Majesty and wonder of An to honour Sc through man’ ‘A historic voyage starts today from Dunedin, New Zealand, bound for one of the most inhospitable places on earth’ The Otago Times, January 13 2011. Henry Maitland recounts his experiences on this historic trip
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his journey was one of the many events commemorating the centenary of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s last expedition to the South Pole in 1910-12. For four weeks, our ship The Spirit of Enderby, an ex-research vessel with bows strengthened for modest ice-breaking, did us proud in taking us down towards the south pole as we traced Scott’s heroic expedition. On board were 50 passengers of whom several were descendants of the original explorers from the Terra Nova, Scott’s ship. Felsted was represented by Dr Murray Roberts (d55-60), former OF Society President and MO of the British Antarctic Survey plus his wife Lesley, and myself, whose partner’s late husband was great nephew of Captain Lawrence Oates, immortalised by his valedictory words on leaving his tent in a blizzard “I am just going outside, and may be some time”.
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The climax of our journey, Scott’s Hut on Ross Island
The Route We would travel 2,500 miles twice. The cartographers among you will be intrigued to know that the route from Dunedin at 45ºS, equivalent to Lyons and Milan in the Northern Hemisphere, to the South Pole lies almost exactly along the 180º meridian – hence the 12-hour difference in telephone calls. More significant for the ship and us nervous travellers were the latitudinal temperature changes which took us some 1,500 miles into the zone of the southern ocean and through the Roaring 40s, the Furious 50s and the Screaming 60s, until then an abstract concept beloved of a geography teacher. We were, metaphorically, brought down to earth by Rodney our expedition leader, who announced early that “the seas are bigger than expected”. They were indeed, and those of us whose sea-legs had gone AWOL had a fairly uncomfortable 48 hours during which the dining room was practically deserted. www.felsted.org
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tarctic illuminates a trip ott’s heroic journey ’s last remaining frontier The Sub-Antarctic Islands Our first 500 miles led us through the Sub-Antarctic Island belt during which we were shadowed by an imposing array of seabirds; terns, petrels and the wonderful albatross with their 12ft wingspan. Even more exciting were a number of Zodiac (small inflatable craft) landings to various islands where we saw mammalian wildlife such as elephant seals and sea lions, with males showing off their fearsome yawns and females shepherding their pups out of harms way. Once past the islands, we had an uninterrupted stretch of 1000 miles of the Southern Ocean to navigate before arriving at the exotic-sounding Antarctic Convergence Zone.
The Spirit of Enderby With only the sea to look at – even the sea birds are loath to travel too far from land – the ship was becoming much more our home. Friendships were being formed from the 12 different nationalities aboard. Socialising happened in the bar/saloon and the dining room. In the former, bridge cards, reading and lap top frenzy. In the latter, gourmand appetites were sated. Those with a hearty disposition could take a turn or two around the decks. The more somnolent could snooze in their cabins and for all of us, an opportunity to meet a couple of times daily in the downstairs ‘classroom’, which was situated midships to reduce pitching or rolling (this was not always successful, as during one heavy sea two whole rows of chairs collapsed backwards). In the classroom, we listened to a series of fascinating lectures and watched films conveying many aspects of Antarctica, December 2011
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Henry and Murray enjoy a moment of humour on the journey
including its history, the explorers, ice, wildlife and, relevant to us all, the Antarctic Heritage Trust and our responsibilities which in protecting the last great wilderness on earth.
The Antarctic Convergence Zone (ACZ) Situated about 55ºS and some 30 miles wide, the ACZ represents the Oceanic climatic front around Antarctica. Here dense cold waters of the south slide under the warmer northern subtropical waters, creating a semiperpetual belt of fog and an extraordinary change in air and sea. From noisy, wet and windy conditions, we passed almost imperceptibly into a cold, dry www.felsted.org
and beautifully icy world for the next 10 days. Our first iceberg was seen three miles off the port bow, a tabular berg 30m high (taller than the Felsted clock tower) and shortly after, a crowd of Adélie penguins out for a spin passed the ship on a small ice raft.
The Antarctic Circle GPS 66° 34’S Many of you will have crossed the Equator or even the International Date Line – where you might well have been bestowed with a pair of Japanese bedroom slippers – but the Antarctic Circle is very different. To celebrate the occasion Rodney and his team organised a party on deck for all, dressed in our warmest clothes and
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We marvelled at the array of artefacts – Colman’s Mustard and Lyle’s Golden Syrup all still edible clutching welcome mugs of steaming mulled wine, we pledged to advocate to everybody the importance of the Antarctic, its wildlife and history. The ceremony ended with much hilarity when our foreheads were stamped with the Mark of the Penguin.
The Antarctic Continent Antarctica is a vast continental island (14m km²) encompassing the South Pole. It is considerably larger than either Australia or the USA and holds 90% of the world’s ice, representing 70% of the world’s fresh water. It was certainly one of the most dramatic sights most of us had ever seen as we approached Cape Adare early on 24 January through a glassy sea full of icebergs of all shapes and sizes. The Zodiacs landed at an astounding beach where we encountered thousands of the 1.4m Adélie penguins that inhabit the area. It was a joy to watch these little birds waddle along the beach in never-ending groups with their white fronts and black backs reminding us of a line of elderly gentlemen on their way to a “club dinner”.
Southwards The next 500 miles provided us with magnificent panoramic views of the coastline in all its breath-taking wonder. Mile upon mile of the formidable icecap that is hundreds of feet thick rising to thousands of feet thick inland, spawning a procession of huge glaciers separated by massive rocky cliffs and inlets. The whole area is uninhabitable except to wildlife, though we were taken to a sizeable Italian Research station with bulldozers, hovercraft, skidoos and a sophisticated communication system. Their welcoming coffee was excellent though they were reluctant to divulge what (minerals?) they were seeking.
lives and the Antarctic is no different. As elsewhere seasonal changes are all important and we were here at the height of summer when, on account of the latitude, the sun never sets. Luckily thick cabin curtains allowed us to sleep but bizarrely one morning at 12.30am we braved the deck and found we were able to read the small print on our map in full sunlight. Temperatures hovered between about 1ºC and -4ºC and we never experienced any precipitation south of the Convergence Zone, apart from one night’s snowfall. Wind, too, was not a great problem, in contrast to the experiences of early Polar Plateau explorers in winter, who suffered terrible blizzards in sub zero temperatures of -60ºC and below. For the record, the lowest global temperature ever recorded was -89.2ºC at Vostok, a Russian research base in the centre of the Antarctic continent. However, it was cold and we were glad of our outdoor gear of beanies, scarves, four layers of merino/silk and fleece clothing, long johns under two pairs of trousers, two pairs of socks and our ‘Muckboots’ which ensured that our feet never got cold or wet. I’m sure that Scott’s men would have felt we were unduly pampered.
The climax – Ross Island/Scott’s Hut Despite our 500 miles marvelling at the superb grandeur of the Antarctic coast, the best was yet to come as we finally reached the southern extremity of the Ross Sea. As we approached the northern edge of the Ross Ice Shelf – the largest area of sea ice in the world – we could barely make out what appeared to be a low line of cliffs in the far distance still 20 miles away. Appearances can be deceptive and an hour or so later we were confronting the front edge of the massive shelf – 100ft high and stretching 400 miles to the east, equivalent to the distance of London to Inverness. As luck would have it an enormous mass of ice had broken off the front of the ice-cliff only a few hours previously which offered us
Meteorology All over the world the weather affects our
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fine photos of some bold penguins who were busy staking their claim to the best rafts. As icebergs are composed of water, calved from snow-fed glaciers way back on the mainland, one bright spark in our Zodiac purloined a large piece, which we transported back to the ship to add ‘colour’ to our pre-supper gin and tonics. The ship continued south around Ross Island and early next morning, sunny and cloudless, we were greeted by the loveliest sight of our entire trip - the 12,000ft snowcapped volcano, Mount Erebus. This volcano dominates Ross Island, the starting point for much of the Antarctic exploration of the early 20th Century. It was here that we were privileged to visit Scott’s Hut, the ultimate goal for so many of our passengers. It was built in January 1911 by the Terra Nova party 12ft above sea level on the northern side of Cape Evans on Ross Island. It is 50ft long, 20ft wide and 10ft high, and is constructed of wood and quilted seaweed with extra felt and linoleum for the floor, and had a crude but efficient heating system using a coal stove and human body heat. As you walk through the hut’s door you immediately step back 100 years to a time when Scott and his men mounted their campaign for the Pole and assembled the scientific data which would help shape subsequent generations’ understanding of this frozen continent. We marvelled at the astonishing restoration work and array of artefacts – bottles on the shelves, tins of Colman’s mustard and Lyle’s golden syrup (still edible), pairs of socks drying on a line, the photographer Herbert Ponting’s darkroom, Scott’s den with stuffed penguins on the table, scientific samples, newspapers, shovels and skis. Finally, along the length of the main hut on the north side, sheltered from the bitter southerly winds, were stables for the 10 horses looked after by Captain Oates. Here we found the blubber stove and piles of frozen seal blubber which were used to heat the horses’ food and thaw out drinking water from ice. Scott wrote on 17 January 1911: “We took up our abode in the hut today and are simply overwhelmed with its comfort.” Indeed it was spacious enough to house 25 men through six months of the Antarctic winter with temperatures dropping to -60ºC, before the five chosen men of the Polar Party set out on 1 November 1911 for their gallant but tragic trip to the South Pole. It’s a story which although vivid with the courage and determination of Scott’s men, The Old Felstedian
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OF FEATURE ended with the terrible disappointment of finding the Norwegian flag at the Pole and their subsequent agonising deaths barely 10 miles from food and safety.
The day on the ice We were unable to travel further south to visit the memorial grave site of Scott and the last two survivors who died in the hut with him, because there was no room to turn our ship in the ice. To overcome this disappointment we moored to the sea ice of McMurdo sound on 29 January in beautiful sunny weather and spent a memorable day on the huge expanse of packed snow. Here we partook in solid ice walking, talking, lying in the sun, playing cricket, taking five-yard photos of tame Emperor Penguins and Crabeater Seals, going for rides in the ship’s hovercraft and cheering the chefs for providing a marvellous barbeque on the ice for lunch. Finally we were treated to the Polar Plunge, an event when 15 passengers, on the lunatic fringe, jumped individually into the 0.4 ºC water of the Antarctic. They were rope-hauled out after about five seconds and explained their experience as having 1000 espresso coffees all at once.
The last leg The next few days we steamed steadily north across the Antarctic circle, through the Convergence Zone and into the temperature region where peaceful, but frequently sunny dry cold weather gave way to a blustery, cloudy and wet warmth. During this stretch we were treated to a couple more landings including the final one at Campbell Island when, after a stiff hill walk through tussock grass, we spent an incredible hour or so in the company of hundreds of Southern Royal Albatross. We could photograph couples on their nests from 12ft and watch the amazing grace of others in flight across the mountainside. Even then we still 360 miles to travel through the Southern Ocean’s weather and the poor ship must have been feeling it by the time we came to rest on the Wharf at Bluff, our journey’s end.
Reflections I have since been asked what impact the trip has had on me. Well, two main ones. The first related to a warning Rodney gave us on our return of a storm brewing to the north where two low-pressure systems were meeting, creating high winds and huge seas.
This resulted in a split second impact when, as I was waiting at the entrance to the dining saloon (no handrails, unfortunately) the ship rolled viciously and I was hurled across the five-yard width of the saloon to crash my head, shoulders and hip against the floor and opposing cupboard. I regained consciousness in the doctor’s surgery cabin after an hour and managed to persuade those present, after trying Margaret Thatcher and Ted Heath, that David Cameron was indeed the current Prime Minister. The second, a lifetime impact, was Antarctica itself, for its size, beauty, amazing scenery, fascinating wildlife and magnetic attraction for generations of men and women. The second answer wins hands down. It was not a walk in the park, but it was undoubtedly the trip of a lifetime and I am sure the other 49 people on the ‘Spirit of Enderby’ like me, would not have missed it for anything. ■
Murray ventures out onto the sea ice
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OF FEATURE
Felsted’s Olympic history laid bare as past competitors look forward to London Felsted has a long association with the Olympics Games. Alex Burton delves into Felsted’s Olympic history as well as looking ahead to the 2012 London Games
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ohnny Douglas was once hailed in these pages as Felsted’s greatest sportsman. Certainly, his achievements are legendary, but he also kicked off Felsted’s long association with the Olympic Games. Since Douglas, 18 more OFs have gained the accolade of Olympian, while one OF has earned the title of “honorary Olympian” for his untiring coverage of Olympic Games. Neil Allen covered 14 Olympic Games, 11 Summer Games and three Winter Games, for a mixture of newspapers, including The Times. The medal count may not be high, only two OF Olympians, Douglas and Herbert Perry, have won gold medals, while four, Norman Hallows, William Craig Moore, David Jones and Robert Cattrall, have claimed bronze medals. Douglas’s achievements are well documented in the Old Felstedian 2003, but for those unfamiliar he won a gold medal for middle weight boxing in the London Games of 1908, before going on to captain England at cricket and winning the Ashes in 1911. Norman Hallows and Ivo Fairbairn-Crawford both contended in the 1500 metres in the London Olympics in 1908. Apparently, they were unlucky to miss out on gold losing out to legendary middle distance runner Mel Sheppard with Hallows achieving a place on the podium with a bronze medal. In Stockholm in 1912, William Craig Moore competed in two disciplines the 1500m and the 3000m team event, in which he gained a bronze. Felsted’s other gold medallist came in the Paris Games of 1924. Herbert Perry’s individual efforts in the shooting didn’t win him a medal, but he claimed a gold medal in the team shooting event. After 1928 there was a 20 year gap in OF representation separated in part by the Second World War. Howard Davis’s remarkable run of three
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consecutive Olympic Games representing Great Britain’s hockey team started in 1956 in Melbourne. This began quite a tradition of Felstedians representing the GB hockey team. Davis was a losing semi finalist in two games, the Melbourne Games and the Rome Games of 1960, losing to Pakistan and India respectively. He went on to captain GB hockey in Tokyo in 1964. The ensuing games in 1968 in Mexico City were extraordinary for Felsted representation with three OFs in the Great Britain hockey team; Anthony Ekins, Timothy Lawson (who went on to captain the side in 1972) and Richard Oliver.
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Four years later in the Munich games of 1972, Ekins and Oliver returned with the GB side. Felsted’s notable contribution to GB hockey was rewarded in Los Angeles in 1984 when Robert Cattrall was a member of the bronze medal winning GB side. Martyn Lucking is the only OF to represent GB in the field events reaching the shot put final in Rome in 1960 and competing again in the 1964 games in Tokyo. Sprinter David Jones made the semi-finals of the 100 metres in Rome in 1960 and was part of the bronze medal winning 4 x 100m relay team. Jones was unlucky not to make it through to the final following a photo finish with Ray Norton and Dave Sime of the USA. Jones thought that he had beaten Sime, but the photo finish apparatus malfunctioned and the Americans were given first and second places. It was only later that it turned out that Jones was correct. The last Felstedian Olympian was Chris Hunnable in the Equestrian Three-Day event riding Mr Bootsie to 10th place in Atlanta in 1996. Of course, many OFs will remember Felsted schoolmaster Alan Lerwill, who represented Great Britain in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games and was the Athletics Team Captain in Munich in 1972. Sadly, no OFs will be competing in the 2012 Olympics in London, but for OF Olympians it will still be a special occasion, even if the nature of the Olympics has changed considerably in the 104 years since it was last staged in the capital. Three-time Olympian Davis describes his Olympics as ‘amateur games’. Fellow GB The Old Felstedian
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OF FEATURE wearing the GB shirt. But past Olympians feel that the dynamics of sport at Felsted have changed quite dramatically to the detriment of its Olympic tradition. Lucking says he would not have made it to the Olympics if it weren’t for the passionate athletics coaches at Felsted in his time.
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hockey player Oliver agrees that without cash inducements everyone was simply focused on achieving a medal. Amateurism has given way to professionalism accompanied by rigorous training and nutrition regimes. In Oliver’s two Olympic Games, he says diets were “much more relaxed” with three or four different restaurants in the Olympic Village where the athletes could choose from a variety of food from Indian to European. The athletes all stayed in the village, which
made for an exciting environment where unknown competitors could rub shoulders with world-famous names. Competitors were no less dedicated, but the management team surrounding them was far smaller, usually only including a fitness coach and a team manager. Shot putter Lucking has wonderful memories and remembers the honour of competing for team Great Britain as well as the responsibility and camaraderie that came with
Looking ahead to the London Games of 2012, most OF Olympians are looking forward to it. Davis believes it will be “wonderful for the country” and says the facilities are “absolutely marvellous”. But most past competitors express some regret about the commercialism of modern Olympic Games and the fact that today’s competitors are less motivated by love and passion for their sport. Lucking’s enthusiasm for London 2012 is tempered by its hype and build-up and the billions of pounds spent to make it a success. Veteran reporter Allen says: “It’s a shame it’s costing an obscene amount of money, which is particularly sad given the current economic situation.” Despite misgivings over the cost, OF Olympians are all in agreement that London 2012 will be a tremendous event and a celebration of Great Britain. Allen adds: “The Games are here to stay as long as the tradition of the Olympics is maintained.” There is little doubt that the wonderful spectacle of the Olympic Games returning to London will inspire future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen and hopefully a few more Felstedians to carry on Felsted’s long Olympian tradition.
THE FELSTED OLYMPIANS Name J.W.H.T. Douglas Norman Hallows Ivo Fairbairn-Crawford William Craig Moore Duncan Macmillan John Matthews David Scott Herbert Perry William Burne David Macklin Howard Davis David Jones Peter Decker Martyn Lucking Anthony Ekins Timothy Lawson Richard Oliver Robert Cattrall Christopher Hunnable
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Felsted Years 1897-01 1901-05 1894-98 1904-09 1904-09 1902-06 1917-22 1907-12 1916-19 1942-47 1946-50 1954-57 1952-53 1947-56 1957-61 1954-61 1953-63 1966-75 1973-82
Olympic Games Date 1908 1908 1908 1912 1912 1912 1924 1924 1928 1952 1956, 1960, 1964 1960 1960 (Winter) 1960, 1964 1968, 1972 1968 1968, 1972 1984 1996
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Host City London London London Stockholm Stockholm Stockholm Paris Paris Amsterdam Helsinki Melbourne, Rome, Tokyo Rome Squaw Valley Rome, Tokyo Mexico City, Munich Mexico City Mexico City, Munich Los Angeles Atlanta
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Event Middle Weight Boxing (Gold) 1,500m (Bronze) 800m/1,500m 1,500m/3,000m team event (Bronze) 200m/100m Hockey Pentathlon Shooting (Gold in team event) High Diving Rowing (Eights) Hockey (Captain 1964) 4x100m Relay (Bronze) Skiing (U.S. Team) Shot Put Hockey Hockey Hockey Hockey (Bronze) Equestrian Three-Day Event
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OF FACES
OFs celebrate launch of the Felsted Network Veteran OFs and recent leavers gathered at Brooks Club in London in May this year for the launch of the Felsted Network. Discussion and workshops about the future of the Network were on the agenda as well as a few drinks
L-R Mike Walker, Robert Dolman (b59-63), Barry Weatherill (c52-56)
L-R Tom Simpson (fh94-02), Simon Williams (g79-84), Jenny Burrett
L-R Robert Dolman (b59-63), Bill Lake (g55-60), Richard Rothwell (a77-81), Nigel Menzies (fh68-77)
L-R Nigel Saunders (g75-80), Richard Higgins (c71-76), Philip Hynard (fg68-78)
L-R Tony Dunstan (fe61-69), James Goodwin (e88-93), Nicholas Hinde
L-R Mike Jones (d58-63), Alison Rowntree-Taylor, Murray Roberts (d55-60)
L-R Lauren Gibson-Green (b01-03), Henry Wilkes (fd74-83), Katie Gibson-Green (fb 98-05), Guy Wilkes (fh75-84), Tom Cooper (a84-89)
L-R Nicholas Belcher (b62-67), Charlotte Belcher (b99-04), Katie Gibson-Green (fb98-05)
L-R Patrick Foster (fh66-76), Philip Hynard (fg68-78), Gavin Morrison (h71-76)
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L-R Bob Benson (c68-73), Jeremy Horder (h75-80), Will Gill (fd 04-09)
L-R Lois McLean, Rob Slator (b85-90)
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L-R Robert Price (h88-93), Rory Kilmartin (e87-92)
L-R James Wood (g79-84), Simon Williams (g79-84), Nick Spring
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L-R James Willington (fb8292), Daniel Rowland (fb8492), Joel Garner (b 85-90)
L-R Robert Price (h88-93), Guy Wilkes (fh75-84)
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OBITUARIES
Dynamic musician, supreme organist and man of culture Watch out for Rev Last’s congregational practices – they’re dynamite.
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his was what Richard Oliver (fa53-63) told me (Roger Lawrence, Master 1970-89) when we were staff at St Edwards, Oxford before I joined Felsted in 1970. The previous year the music staff at Felsted consisted of two organists and a pianist, so to improve the balance, I was appointed Director of Instrumental Music to work alongside Harold as “the lesser of two equals”. I discovered that Harold was a magnificent organist and pianist, a first class musician and one of the most cultured men I’ve met. He came to Felsted originally as Chaplain in 1957, but within a year he was asked to take over music when George Thorne was too ill. Returning from Chapel with music under one arm and his vestments under the other, he
proclaimed “I’ve been doing my Pooh-Bah act”. Harold conducted the choir, taught ‘O’ and ‘A’ level music, piano and organ. One day, soon after I arrived, a boy appeared asking to play the clarinet. I hoped this was due to all the encouragement I had been giving him, but not so. He had caught the sharp end of Harold’s tongue because of his ignorance of Beethoven, and noticing that Harold allowed instrumental players to practice during his lessons, decided he should play the clarinet - the only instrument he knew the name of. As luck would have it, he had chosen correctly, became a fine player and also a singer. When upset about something, his mood swings were dramatic, and in 1973 (not for the first time) he offered his resignation, which
was (unexpectedly) accepted, ending abruptly his fine contribution to the School. Years later he confided: “I should have stayed and taught ‘A’ level organ and piano under your leadership, but I was too proud.” I too regretted his decision. He returned only a few times, usually to play the organ of which he was the consummate master. I remember the breathtaking effect he achieved when playing the last lines of “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.” Accompanying the words ‘Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire, O still small voice of calm’, Harold would in those few seconds, reduce the full volume of the organ to a perfect pianissimo demonstrating his amazing skill and personifying his own character at the same time. Reverend Harold Last died on 16 February 2011 aged 93. By Roger Lawrence (Master 1970-89)
A committed Christian and carpenter Philip Bicknell Ray (g31-35) was born 10 July 1917, the second son of Basil and Clare Ray. He had a younger sister, Josephine. Tragically, his elder brother John was killed in Africa in a flying accident when Phil was a teenager. Like his father, Phil was educated at Felsted, and then went on to Selwyn College Cambridge to read law. He joined the Indian Police in early 1939, and despite volunteering for the army at the outbreak of war was instructed to remain until Partition in 1947, becoming Deputy Principal of the Police Training College at Phillaur, in the Punjab. He was awarded the Indian Police Medal in 1944. Phil retained his affection for India, revisiting it in 1978, and practising December 2011
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Urdu on nurses at The Hope Nursing Home in his final days. He married Bridget Robertson in 1946 and in 1947 was recruited by the Ministry of Defence (MI5) and moved to Baghdad, where he was based with his wife and young family until 1951. Thereafter he worked in London, but with extended trips to Cyprus and Sri Lanka and shorter visits to many parts of the world. Having taken an oath of secrecy, he never spoke about his work. He was made a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George in 1969, and in this year invited to “take his stall” in the chapel of St George in St Paul’s Cathedral. Bridget died in 1969. Seven years later Phil began 35 years of
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productive and enjoyable retirement. He moved to his sister-inlaw’s farm near Andover where he helped on the tractors and cultivated his garden. He also took up wood-carving and tapestry. In 1991 he moved to Newnham, Cambs. In 2005 he published Jesus through the Spyglass, the story of Christ as seen through the eyes of the Roman “Secret Service”, which drew on his own experience and commitment as a Christian. An enlarged and revised edition of this book, entitled The Committed Carpenter, is due to be published later this year. He leaves two sons (both OFs) and a daughter, 10 grand children and six great-grandchildren. By Nicholas Ray (g60-65) www.felsted.org
Deaths We sadly report the following deaths notified to us since October 2010 ALLDIS, John Trevor a44-47 BENNETT, Gordon Michael Dent fd41-46 BHARUCHA, Kevas Jamshed c61-66 (died 24th August 2007) BIRD, Derek Arthur Linsell fd45-53 CALLINGHAM, Nicholas David Callingham fb43-51 CHOPPING, Peter Terry fb27-34 COOKE, Air Vice-Marshal John Nigel Carlyle OBE a35-40 CROSSLEY, Major General Ralph John d46-50 (obituary must appear in OF mag) CROYDON, Robert William c57-62 DENNE, Mark James g36-42 (died 2005) DUFFIELD, Hugh Anthony fd36-45 DURLING, Peter John Corder (b36-41) EDGAR, Robert Henry a50-53 (died 2006) EDGAR, William John b45-48 (died 2009) FARRER, Michael Royce g48-50 FORD, Michael John fc91-96 GIBBONS, Ronald Antony Allcroft e50-53 GOLDIE, Peter Lawrence g60-64 HERON, ‘Dick’ Edward Richard g52-57 HILL-SANDERS Robin b45-50 HINGSTON-JONES, Graham Finch OBE fc42-47 HUTT, Colin Vilette d45-49 INGLE, George Thomas David ac39-43 JAMES, John Edward Robertson b47-50 Geoffrey S JAMESON (master 1947-59) JUPE, Peter Gordon fa35-40 LAST Reverend Harold Wilfred (master 1957-73) LATHAM, David Henry e46-51 LEEMING, John Robert g46-53 MARSHALL, Frederick Thomas c43-47 METSON, Christopher John g61-65 MUNTON, Nigel Ros c57-60 NOKES, Roger Jeffrey a58-63 OVERALL, Douglas Anthony e36-40 PAINE, Robert Patrick Barton c40-43 RAY, Philip Bicknell g31-35 REDINGTON, Douglas cg26-31 REEVES, Peter Christopher g46-50 ROBSON, David William a48-51 ROGER, Morrice c51-55 (died 2005) ROTHWELL, Desmond Bor fa41-44 RUDENBERG, Herman Gunther g34-38 SANDERS, Robin Hill b45-50 SINKER Robin Francis (master 1970-81) SKELTON, (Henry) John d27-31 THOMSON, Harry Robbins d31-35 THORNE, ‘Toby’ Martin Geoffrey c36-40 VON LANDAUER, Donald Richard Lucien b37-41 (died 1997) WALTON, Simon Nicholas fh73-80 WEBSTER, Robert Charles fg56-64 WHITELAW, Jeffery William b33-35 WILKES, Nicholas David Callingham fb43-51 WILLIAMS, David Charles Steyning d38-41
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OBITUARIES
Article is courtesy of the “Gunner” magazine of the Royal Artillery
One of the Royal Artillery’s most gifted and technically knowledgeable post-war officers Major General RJ Crossley CBE CB
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orn in Sheffield in October 1933, Ralph John Crossley (d46-50) was educated at Felsted School before being called up for National Service in 1952. He found Army life agreeable, was selected for officer training and gained a regular commission into the Royal Artillery in the summer of 1952, the start of a 34-year military career spanning most the Cold War and the breakup of the British Empire. After a brief spell with 17 Trg Regt RA at Oswestry, Crossley volunteered for pilot training, spending a year at the Air OP School at Middle Wallop after which he flew with 651 Air OP Sqn in the Canal Zone and then 1910 Air OP Flight in Cyprus. The latter was an operational tour flying Auster aircraft in support of units engaged in the war against EOKA terrorists. With several years flying under his belt, Crossley next joined 58 Med Regt RA, stationed at Iserlohn, as the GPO and then as an FOO with 118 Bty RA, a posting that led to a Long Gunnery Staff Course at Larkhill.
True Gunner This course sparked an interest in the technical side of gunnery which, in turn, led him into the world of artillery development and procurement. In January 1954, while learning to fly at Middle Wallop, a young Crossley attended a dance in Salisbury where he met Marion Hilary Bacon, a trainee nurse at Salisbury District Hospital. They married at St Mark’s, Salisbury later the same year, the start of a long and happy marriage that lasted 54 years until his death. After a three-year tour as an IG at the School of Artillery (1960-63), Crossley was selected to attend 17 Technical Staff Course (1963-4) at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham which qualified him for his next appointment at the Royal Armaments
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Research and Development Establishment, Retirement Sevenoaks where he served as a technical The end of a successful army career did not staff officer. signal retirement; far from it. Based in his Here he came under the wing of Col (later family home at Redlynch, near Salisbury, Brig) Fraser Scott who recently wrote: “At Crossley spent the next four years (1986-90) RARDE I was responsible for him. I was working for the Avon Rubber Company as impressed by his competence and drive so I their Director of Defence Policy. wrote a special confidential report on him He later became a member of the Salisgrading him ‘A’. In those days if you didn’t bury Hospital Board and eventually Chairgrade good officers well early in man of the Salisbury Hospitals NHS Trust, a their careers they didn’t get on position he held until final retirement in 1997. the promotion ladder. He never In the same year he and Marion celebrated looked back…” their Ruby Wedding with an unforgettable Crossley next commanded two months travelling around the world. 46 (Talavera) Bty, a gun battery By 1998 he was back in Redlynch where equipped with M107s that he immersed himself in local organisations formed part of 32 Hy Regt RA, and charities. He became a governor of Redbased at Hildesheim, West Ger- lynch Primary School, and almost inevitably many. His tour included an Chairman of the Governors, while at the operational deployment to same time becoming president of the active Northern Ireland at the height local branch of the Royal British Legion. of the ‘Troubles’. The charities he worked for included Then, after a staff appointment with GS Inspire (a local foundation assisting those (OR) 6 at the MOD and a tour as one of the with spinal injuries); Age Concern and the Directing Staff at the RMCS as a lieutenant Hospital Savings Association. colonel, Crossley was selected to command As if all this was not enough he also 94 Loc Regt RA at Celle (1974-77). became patron of the veteran’s magazine for This proved to be a testing his old regiment, 94 Loc Regt RA appointment but one that he and and a member of the Parochial He was his wife enjoyed enormously, makCouncil of St Mary’s Church in appointed CBE Redlynch eventually becoming ing many friends in the process. After command he was imme- in 1982, CB in Church Warden, a post he held 1987 and was until his illness eventually forced diately promoted colonel to awarded the him to stand down. become Project Manager of Lefroy Gold 155mm Systems at Woolwich, Speaking at a funeral and servMedal in 1986 ice of thanksgiving held in St among other things seeing the multi-national gun, FH70, into Mary’s on 1 June, a close friend of service. the Crossley family, the Rev Len Lunn, sumOn promotion to brigadier he next became marised what many in the wider ‘Gunner’ Deputy Commandant of the RMCS (1981-83) family felt: “What we should remember is the before taking on his final army appointment man and not just his work and many achievein the MOD’s Procurement Executive as ments, because his was a fine example of not Director Guided Weapons for which he was only how to work, but also how to live.” promoted major general. Maj Gen Ralph Crossley, one of the Royal He was appointed CBE in 1982, CB in 1987 Artillery’s most gifted and technically knowland was awarded the Lefroy Gold Medal in edgeable post-war officers, died on 16 May 1986 for ‘furthering the science and applica- after a long illness borne with characteristic tion of artillery’ – as a major general he was fortitude and bravery aged 77. one of the most senior officers ever to be honHe is survived by his wife, his two children oured in such a way. Robin and Amanda and four grandchildren.
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The Old Felstedian
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December 2011
OF SPORT
Haileybury 6’s Hockey Tournament By Marcus Hoare
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he inaugural National Independent Schools Old Boys 6-a-side Hockey tournament was held at Haileybury on 9 October. With eight schools taking part, the main concern of captain Marcus Hoare (b81-86) was that his side, selected largely from players of his era, were going to be faced with sides made up of 20something-year-olds. Either that or maybe there was a chance that the matches would be played on grass to even things up a bit. John Cockett surely would have approved. And so the squad, with an average age of around 40, arrived at Haileybury to be greeted by crowds of youngsters whose ink on their ‘A’ Level papers had barely dried. Imagine Felsted’s surprise and delight therefore, when they managed to reach the main semifinal, only to lose narrowly (4-3) to Sherbourne. The first two matches were won against Aldenham (4-2) and
The squad from left to right: Julian Hunnable, Rupert Kirby, Josh Crosley, Pete Hughes, James Willington, Danny Griggs, Marcus Hoare, Oli Wright, Simon Bastin, Will Cooper and Rob Gould Haileybury (6-2) with guile and poise playing no small part – along with the fact that the team had five rolling subs. This in itself helped the veteran squad keep up with the fresher legs of their opponents, some of whom had to borrow the odd sixth-former from Haileybury. The pace up front was provided by James Willington (fb8292) and William Cooper (a87-92) with the aforementioned guile being served up by Simon Bastin (b82-87), Rob Gould (fa87-92)
and Julian Hunnable (fc77-86). The midfield was held together by Daniel Griggs (h8186), Oliver Wright (h84-88) and Rupert Kirby (a84-89) and the fort at the back was maintained by the Stocks’s pairing of Pete Hughes (a78-87) and Marcus Hoare (b81-86). A special mention however has to go to Josh Crosley (d96-00) who as the team’s goalkeeper was by far the player of the day. We lost count of the number of times (especially in our first match against Aldenham) that
the opposition were effectively through on goal, only for the fearless Crosley to find a way (any way would suffice…) to keep the ball out of the net. Felsted lost their final group game against a very strong Wellington side – it’s a shame that Wellington’s superstar, who had to leave early, was still around at this stage. This left us second in our group and Sherbourne waiting in the semi-final. At 3-2 up, Felsted should perhaps have kept their own superstars on the pitch, rather than – in true sporting spirit – ensuring all the lads had a trundle. The nature of rolling substitutions meant that almost without realising, the side found themselves with all their stronger players on the sideline, and inevitably leaked a couple of goals. Time sadly ran out and Sherbourne went on to the final where they were beaten by Canford. The whole day was a great success and collectively the squad look forward to next year.
Annual OF girls’ hockey match is a high scoring thriller By Loren Sherer (fg96-06) The annual girls’ OF hockey match at the close of 2010 provided a lively encounter. Leavers spanning the years from 2004 to 2009 gathered at the school to take on the current girls’ 1st Xl on 11 December. The match was a very open encounter with both sides ambitiously playing with attacking styles. The school took an early lead after some well worked passing through the midfield resulted in Deanne Evans dispatching a pinpoint strike from the top of the circle. It was clear that OFs were going to have a challenge to continue their victorious performance from the year before, but a comDecember 2011
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bination of open play goals and well executed short corners from Flick Doe and Libby Knifton saw the OFs side battle back and end up with a 3 – 1 lead at half time. The end to end hockey continued in the second half and the school were rewarded for their persistence when a clinical finish off a rebound clawed them back to 3 – 2. Abi Krone continued to be a threat for the OFs and her driving run through midfield was rounded off with a perfect pass to the far post for Loren Sherer to tap home the OFs fourth goal of the afternoon. The school continued to play with confidence and determina-
The Old Felstedian
tion and thoroughly deserved a third goal, taking the match into a tight finish. The school had peppered OF goalkeeper Miss Hookway all www.felsted.org
afternoon and with minutes left on the clock a rebound ended up on Bryony Males’ stick who finished with ease to conclude a thrilling match a four-all draw.
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OF SPORT
Buttleman leads Felsted Robins back to form Felsted Robins made a welcome return to form in the Cricketer Cup this year under new captain Joe Buttleman (h00-05)
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fter a disappointing exit in the first round last season, Felsted made it through the first two rounds of the 2011 Cricketer Cup, before losing to Old Merchant Taylors. Felsted won the toss and decided to bat first but lost Chris Huntington (c00-05) in the first over, when he chipped the ball straight to mid-wicket and with Cricketer Cup debutant Lloyd Paternott (fa03-10) falling soon after, Felsted were left struggling at 12 for two.
A good third wicket stand halted the rot, before Freddie Blackwell(e01-06) was caught behind off the spin of Ravi Patel. The OMT spin partnership of Ed Lamb and Patel built pressure and with the Felsted batsmen looking to score against Lamb, first Sam Weller(h03-08), Felsted’s top scorer with 47 and then Buttlemen fell leaving Felsted reeling at 105 for 5. Old Merchant Taylor’s skipper kept faith in spin, and the tactic paid off when Andy Sharland
took a wicket with his first ball, bowling Nick Phillips (h96-01). Alex Marjoribanks (e05-10) was out soon after, LBW sweeping a straight one. Robins stalwart Nigel Gadsby (h75-79) was scoring well when he pulled a muscle and required a runner, which inevitably led to the run out of his batting partner Jack Buttleman (fh99-09). Gadsby was caught at the second attempt at deep square leg off the bowling of Patel and when Thorogood was caught and bowled, the innings closed in the 50th over, all out for 170. Felsted bowled and fielded well, but with no luck and were disappointed to have several
appeals turned down. Eventually, Huntingdon got a breakthrough trapping Rasheed LBW. A second wicket followed shortly after when a fantastic bit of fielding from Felsted’s Paternott who, with a direct throw, ran out Richard Booth. When Charlie DouglasHughes (e02-04) turned one past Mehta’s bat, wicket-keeper Blackwell did the rest leaving Old Merchant Taylors at a 122 for three and seemingly nervous. However, Felsted’s bowlers couldn’t force another wicket and as light rain began to fall, the scoring pace increased with Old Merchant Taylors winning in the 46th over.
Felsted breeze through opening rounds of Cricketer Cup I
n the first round against Rugby, the Felsted Robins posted a daunting 330-6 from their 50 overs. Top scorer was Nick Phillips striking a century and Mike Rath (h94-99) posted a breezy 78 on a damp and overcast day. Alex Marjoribanks making his Cricketer Cup debut, collected three early wickets as Rugby attempted to attack to keep up with the intimidating run-rate. The bowling plaudits, however, belonged to off-spinner Charlie Douglas-Hughes (e02-04) as he wrapped the game up claiming 513 as Rugby were dismissed for 141. Round two appeared to be a tougher draw as Old Wykehamists had completed a convincing win in their first round match.
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Again, Felsted Robins batted first on a slow pitch that was offering enough to keep the bowlers interested but a quick fire 47 from Freddie Blackwell set the platform for skipper Joe Buttleman to strike a valuable 50, allowing Robins to post a competitive total of 247-8. Old Wykehamists started their chase positively and the game looked in the balance as their top order batted well to take them past 50 for the loss of only one wicket. The match then changed dramatically as Douglas-Hughes, once again, produced a fine spell of off-spin bowling as he claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many weeks. Douglas-Hughes was ably supwww.felsted.org
ported by spin partner Sam Weller who claimed three wickets
bowling out Old Wykehamists for a meagre 130.
Caption: Felsted Robins second round winners Back row (left to right): G Barker, A Marjoribanks, M Surry, P Wilkinson, Jack Buttleman, N Phillips Front Row (left to right): L Paternott, C Huntington, M Rath, N Gadsby, E Thorogood, C Douglas-Hughes. The Old Felstedian
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December 2011
OF SPORT
Mellin Plate success honours sad loss of society stalwart Heron More silverware, a new captain, golf lessons and farewell to a OFGS stalwart. Ian Locks reports
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he OF Golfing Society sadly lost one of its stalwart members in June this year when Dick Heron (g5257) passed away. Dick was a regular contributor to the OFGS for almost 50 years and a former captain of the society. He was given a fitting send off at Thorndon Park where he had also been captain and a member for many years. Sadly Dick died two days before he was due to take part in the major seniors’ event in June this year at West Hill. It was surely as he would have wished that the team decided to continue in the West Hill event and won the only OFGS silver of the year, the Mellin Plate, thanks to some skilful regrouping by team manager Tim Chetwood. Earlier in the year Tim Hedin (d75-80) led the OF team in the Halford Hewitt – the largest and most prestigious event of the public schools golfing calendar – and narrowly missed progressing beyond the first round.
Triumphantly holding the Mellin Plate from left: Justyn Bailey, Paul Markey and Stuart Mott December 2011
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Mike Rath (left) and Joe Bichard receive their reward for the best handicap score ir the Essex Public Schools Scratch Foursomes from organiser Miles Taylor. It was also the occasion for Hedin to take over as Captain from Roger Keys (fe69-78) and hand the Hewitt team captaincy to William Doe (fd77-86). Although not succeeding in retaining the Scratch Foursomes cup our team did well with younger players excelling. William Dunn (fc01-08) and Tom Copnell (fc05-10) with a combined handicap of just nine top scored, while Mike Rath (f92-99) and Joe Bichard (a9799) hit the best handicap score of the day. In the second year of the Essex Public Schools League we did a little better than last year, drawing two matches and losing two. Unusually we managed to hold Brentwood to a draw. Stuart Mott organised a strong team for the second big event of the year, the Grafton Morrish, but sadly they did not get through the first round. Vice-Captain Dave Robson led an invited squad against Royal Cinque Ports in Januar y and John Skinner introduced a new invitation-only event against Framlingham in September. Of the open events, we had a full house at Aldeburgh in the spring organised by Hedin and good support for the summer event at West Sussex organised
The Old Felstedian
by Oliver Stocken. Dudley Simpson organised the later spring and autumn meetings at Three Rivers and East Herts respectively and also the triangular match against the school and common room. A great innovation at the behest of the OF Golfing Society has been the successful introduction of golf lessons into the senior school paid for by the OFGS. The first tranche attracted between 10 and 14 pupils on Wednesday afternoons during the summer and first half of the autumn terms. The initiative will now be extended to the spring term with the aim of raising the profile of golf at Felsted.
Dick Heron proudly holds the Scratch Foursomes trophy aloft
Boat Race triumph for Plunkett OF Georgie Plunkett (b04-08) was part of the Cambridge Lightweight Women’s crew that trounced Oxford in the Henley Boat Races on 27 March, 2011. Georgie, who recently graduated from Clare College Cambridge, spent the week before the race getting to know the course and the river and analysing footage of previous years' races. Georgie said: “The morning of the race began with a paddle and then the weigh-in for the Lightweights. Then we returned to the house and ate suitable foods for racing and hydration. “The race itself went as we had hoped - we knew we had a fast start and wanted to maximise the negative effects this would have on Oxford, and by the end of our start we had gained half a length.” Cambridge started the race
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Proud light blue – Georgie with the lightweight women's crew trophy. fast at 47 strokes/minute, the fastest start that day. Over the course we kept on pushing away until we won by a decisive distance of a length and a half. “At no point did I feel Oxford would come near to us, and the race itself was relaxed and strong. It was the perfect race,” added Georgie.
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OF PROFILE
Phillips turns the lights on for Essex in 2011 Cricketer Tim Phillips was the country’s leading wicket-taker in the Twenty20 competition in 2011. He has just renewed his contract with Essex and set up his own cricket coaching business. He chats to Joel Garner about cricket, his career and his future 1. So Tim you made your first class debut for Essex in 1999, so you’re almost a veteran in the Essex side now. How’s it feel to still be playing county cricket? It’s a huge privilege to have represented my home county for over a decade. Having played for Essex since the age of 10, it’s quite easy to take it all for granted because that’s all I’ve ever known. I think it’s fair to say that over the last few years in particular it’s really hit home just how lucky I am to be able to compete at the level I do and play cricket for a living. 2. Was last season your most successful season to date? Do you feel you have cemented your place in the Essex side? The 2011 season was the best for me on a personal level. Being crowned the country’s leading wicket taker in the T20 competition was pretty special. My one day and T20 cricket has always been my strength so I’d like to think that I’m one of the first names on the team sheet when it comes to putting the side together in those competitions. As with any sport there is always competition for your place so it’s up to me to keep performing and strengthening my game. 3. I guess as a left-arm spinner, your best years are still to come? Are you hoping you can emulate Graham Swann’s late blossoming and make the England side? I certainly hope so. Swanny has had an incredible few years in the international arena. Spinners generally develop later in their career, so I am confident that my best performances are yet to come. It really is every cricketers dream to play for their country, so it’s certainly something I’m aiming for. 4. What about your injuries? You had a serious cruciate ligament problem that affected your early years as a professional. Is the body still holding up? I was pretty unfortunate with my cruciate injury,
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and it took some time to get back to fitness. Having to go through an injury like that is pretty tough mentally as well as physically but it really did teach me not to take anything for granted. I actually feel fitter and stronger now than I did at 23 so I’m sure I have plenty more to offer. 5. So what’s your nickname Pips stand for? Ha! There is no story behind it– just an abbreviation of my surname. Sorry to disappoint. I’ve been given a few nicknames over the years, most from my girlfriend! Sadly I cannot divulge them as I would never live it down. 6. Is playing county cricket for a living all what you thought it would be? Are you happy you made it your career? Absolutely! I think most people would give their job up to play professional sport! I am very lucky to have had the chance to do it. It is a relatively short career though, so keeping one eye on the future is important. I wouldn’t swap it for anything right now. 7. How do you feel about the Twenty20, limited over cricket debate? Surely something has to give in the cricket calendar? Twenty20 is very important as it has given many counties a much needed financial boost. It’s really popular with the crowds and the atmosphere and buzz you get from the crowd is pretty special.
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Tim took 26 wickets in the Twenty20 competition this season
Having said that, I do feel that it’s wrong to lose games from 40 or 50 over competitions or shorten the four-day season to fit it in. Sadly, the season cannot extend so something has to give. 8. What’s it going to take for the Felsted Robins to persuade Essex to let you play Cricketer Cup when you don’t have any fixture clashes? Ha! I hope I can play from time to time – unfortunately it is not Essex that stops me playing, just our fixtures.
9. I guess you may have already considered life after cricket? So what are your plans? What do you want to do? I have recently launched Tim Phillips Coaching (www.timphillipscoaching.com) which is something I’ve wanted to do for a while. Since launching we have been working with some great cricketers. My vision is to develop next generation Essex and England players. It is really exciting helping individuals with their game and seeing their technical improvements. It’s really important to think about a career outside of cricket too so I have been looking at avenues in the city. A lot of the skills you pick up playing professional sport are transferable to a lot of the career paths I’ve been exploring. 10. Outside your life in cricket, what are your other pursuits? What get's you out of bed on cold winter mornings? Ha! It’s normally my girlfriend dragging me out of bed in the morning. Generally, it will be gym, indoor school and fitness during the winter months. When I get a chance I do like to play golf, but only when the sun shines.
The Old Felstedian
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December 2011