The Old Felstedian 2016

DECEMBER 2016

The Old Felstedian

[the leadership issue]

OLD FELSTEDIAN SOCIETY 2016-17 President Sir Marcus Setchell (c57-61) Chairman Michael Yeatts (e76-81)

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Hon Secretary Paul Norton (d53-55) Hon Treasurer James Willington (fb82-92) For full details please visit felsted.org/oldfelstediansociety1

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CONTENTS

Please send your articles and OF News to: Felstedian Liaison Manager Selina Joslin ofs@felsted.org

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[the leadership issue]

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Noted & Quoted Felsted’s Summer School News and Events Leadership is for all Leadership under the microscope Much-loved Felsted teacher retires Great leaders come to the fore From banking to preaching Helping budding entrepreneurs Faces and Places Obituaries Sport reports Playing hockey in the United States

Front cover OF Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army and Constable of the Tower of London (09-16), one of Felsted’s most decorated alumni, discusses the principles of leadership in turbulent times and how they extend to all walks of life, citing his own military career, life in farming and spiritual beliefs.

Read Joel Garner’s interview on page 16.

Printed in vegetable-based inks on paper from sustainable woodland

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FROM THE EDITOR

Contributors Andrew Htun (fc01-08) Andrew is currently working in London’s tech start-up scene. After leaving his job in investment banking last year, he joined the Makers Academy coding boot camp to learn web and app development. He is now involved in several startup projects and organises social events which regularly attract a few hundred guests.

Passionate about entrepreneurship, he is on a mission to encourage people to leave the standard nine to five job and create their own businesses. He launched the OF entrepreneur profiles for the Felsted Network and is a member of the OF Society Committee.

Katyana Rocker-Cook (gn11-13) Katyana Rocker-Cook is studying for her MA in writing at the University of Warwick, having achieved a 2:1 in English literature and creative writing, also at Warwick. Following a fourstar performance in a sketch comedy show at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe, she has continued to be an active member of Warwick Comedy and intends to return to the Fringe in 2017. She recently undertook a work placement at ‘Private Eye’ magazine, and is currently involved in the production of an original web series due to be online in the New Year.

Rob Short (fec94-08) Rob is marketing executive at Chelmsford City Racecourse. He is married to Annabel, and they have recently had a baby daughter, called Violet. They live in Dunmow, Essex.

Editor: Joel Garner email: jamespetergarner@gmail.com Contributing Editor: Selina Joslin OF Office, Felsted School, Felsted, Essex CM6 3LL Telephone: 01371 822645 email: ofs@felsted.org Design and print: Postprint, Snetterton Business Park, Snetterton, Norfolk NR16 2JZ Telephone: 01953 887536 email: studio@postprint.co.uk Visit the Old Felstedian website at felsted.org/ofs

It’s time for the great leaders of the world to stand up by Joel Garner When we think of great leaders, some names immediately spring to mind. Gandhi, Mandela, Churchill are often seen as the stand out leaders of our time. But how would they fare today in a world that has seen the established world order and liberal elite torn apart by two huge electoral shocks – our own EU referendum and the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America?

Today the forces of globalisation seem to be pitted directly against the democratic voices of those who the benefits of globalisation have overlooked. Whether it be the white working class of mid-America or those left on the scrap heap of post-industrial Britain, times are a-changing and the political elites of both countries have been asked by the common man and woman to stop the forces of worldwide expansion.

Whether this is possible amidst a technological revolution that has already made the world a far smaller place. The Internet cannot be put back in its box, multi-national corporations like Apple and Google are unlikely to stem their growth overseas, as that is how they grow their profits, and as citizens of the world do we want to curb our appetite to learn and discover from other countries and cultures? I hope not.

Now, more than ever, we need great leaders with moral purpose, understanding and a willingness to lead a world order that seems more uncertain than ever before.

Great leaders of the past have shown the way through overcoming adversity, showing great courage and moral purpose in communicating the way forward. They have had a plan and a strategy and navigated an often treacherous path to fulfilling it. Gandhi and Mandela achieved the greatest of all things for their people by setting them free and allowing them to cast aside the tyrannies of before.

It is a necessity that we find great leaders to guide us through these turbulent times, which is why it is important that schools, such as Felsted, continue to aspire to produce the leaders of tomorrow.

is a necessity that “weItfind great leaders to guide us through these turbulent times…

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In this issue, the theme of leadership runs deep.

We discuss it with the current headmaster, former headmistress of the prep school, previous headmasters, the vicar of the Felsted Mission, OF entrepreneurs and the former head of the British Army, Lord Dannatt.

…where there are challenges, there are opportunities…

My aim has been to show how important leadership is, how it can be developed in us all, how many OFs are already inspirational in their leadership and that we can learn about leadership from those who have a thorough understanding of what it is and means.

I do hope that all of us can take something away from this issue that makes us better leaders in whatever environment we are operating in. I remember Martin Johnson’s humility in being lauded as England’s greatest rugby captain when he lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2003. Instead of accepting the praise for his leadership, he shrugged his giant shoulders and deflected the praise onto his fellow team-mates, many of whom he said were leaders in their own right.

His humility served to only boost his reputation.

Perhaps it is the softer virtues of humility, compassion, integrity and a belief in something bigger than themselves that really make great leaders great. Let's hope the statesmen and stateswomen of the world are able to see this because they are going to need it.

Of course, where there are challenges there are opportunities, and a positive outlook will help us seize them. Let’s also not forget that this is the season to be jolly and celebrate with our nearest and dearest. On that upbeat note, I’d like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

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“noted – a round up of OFs in the news &quoted” British High Commissioner appointed OBE Fergus Cochrane-Dyet (a78-83) was appointed an OBE in 2015 for services to British foreign policy.

He is currently the British High Commissioner in Lusaka, Zambia and recently met with President Lungu of the Republic of Zambia.

Professor elected as Fellow of the Royal Society Prof Antony Galione (fh75-81), the University of Oxford’s chair of pharmacology, has been elected a fellow of the Royal Society, becoming the eighth OF to gain the accolade. Prof Galione’s work has helped discover new calcium signalling pathways that regulate cellular processes as diverse as Ebola, fertilisation and embryo development, and cardiac contractility.

Antony joins Prof Tony Hunter (e56-61) as one of two living OF fellows of the Royal Society.

Global Leader in Artificial Intelligence awarded top prizes Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, Toby Walsh (a77-82), has been made a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and awarded New South Wales’s Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Engineering and ICT. He is a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence and is currently guest professor at the Technical University of Berlin as well as leading a research group studying how to get computers to make intelligent decisions.

OF researcher publishes E-cigarette study University of Cambridge researcher Dr Miki Vasiljevic’s (n00-02) latest study on E-cigarettes has found that advertisements promoting candy-like flavoured E-cigarettes could prompt children to experiment more with vaping. Miki is a research associate in the Behaviour and Health Research Unit.

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Coote in Busted Musical Olivia Coote (bn12-14) performed in a new show What I Go To School For – The Busted Musical with the Youth Music Theatre in Brighton in August.

Olivia was one of 40 talented young performers chosen to premiere the musical about the group’s rise to fame. It was written by Busted guitarist James Bourne and awardwinning writer Elliot Davies. Olivia said: “Being part of the show was such an incredible experience and I absolutely loved working with an insanely talented cast and an amazing creative team. I had the best time.”

Battle of the Somme documentary features Manley bros OF Roy Manley (a11-14) and his brother Norman were two of seven people to feature in a Channel 4 documentary Last Heroes of the Somme, aired on Remembrance Sunday, to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. Roy was wounded in action on 1 February 1917, and subsequently killed in action in Flanders during the third battle of Ypres on 26 July 1917. His brother survived the conflict, going on to become the second prime minister of an independent Jamaica.

Travel writer publishes book about life in rural Wales Oliver Balch (h89-94) released his latest book, Under The Tump: Sketches of Real Life on the Welsh Borders. Having lived in London and Buenos Aires, Oliver and his family swapped their urban life for a quieter existence in rural Wales. The book follows Oliver embarking on an entertaining expedition of his new home to find out who and what makes it tick.

Young entrepreneur wins best beauty salon in UK Mimosa Beauty, founded by entrepreneur Jennie Lawson (b06-07), has been named the best small salon in the UK. The Chelmsford-based business won the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology Small Salon of the Year award for 2016 and Jennie was also a finalist for the Special Therapist of the Year. Jennie said: “I founded Mimosa Beauty with the belief that the beauty industry can provide more than just a nice outer touch up – it can be incredibly transformational physically, mentally and emotionally.”

Volunteer Uganda Reunion Baingana Sabiti (fd00-07) and Sarah Brook (gn06-08) were reunited in Kampala, Uganda, nine years after their time at Felsted and were joined by Headmaster, Chris Townsend for the special reunion. Staff and students visited Uganda during the summer to help improve the standards of dormitories and classrooms at partner schools in the country. The trip was organised by the charity Volunteer Uganda, an award-winning group of organisations dedicated to supporting communities in south-west Uganda in their efforts to rise out of poverty.

Visit to Felsted after 78 years Felsted prep school student Geoffrey Sudbury (f35-38) returned to the prep school a mere 78 years after he left. His education was sadly cut short following a serious eye injury sustained playing hockey, which resulted in him leaving the school after medical advice in 1938. Only in 1941 could he resume schooling, and was evacuated to the King’s School, Chester. In 1943 he was accepted into Christ Church, Oxford, but was enlisted in the army which sent him on an intensive Russian course at Cambridge. While there, the Foreign Office selected him to help with language problems and later he was given a permanent post and sent for a period to the Sorbonne. He became responsible for compiling two comprehensive technical dictionaries published in 1982 by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and totalling 20,000 copies. Geoffrey married his then doctor Rachel in 1960 and they have three children and seven grandchildren. After her retirement she helped Geoffrey’s research, notably by learning to touch type in Cyrillic.

During their visit they met with former Headmistress, Jenny Burrett, and enjoyed a tour of the prep school.

Malins wins U20 Rugby World Championship Max Malins (fhc02-15) helped England to glory with a 45-21 victory over Ireland to win the World Rugby U20 Championship title on 25 June. Max plays for Saracens alongside studying for a degree in Business and Finance at the University of Hertfordshire.

Simpson wins BBC Audio Drama Award Julian Simpson (fa82-90) won the BBC Audio Drama Award for ‘Best Use of Sound’ and Tinniswood Award for his audio drama script, Fugue State, in January. Julian received the award at the annual BBC Audio Drama Awards ceremony hosted by Sir Lenny Henry at Broadcasting House in London.

Star Performance in Edinburgh Lydia Carrington (fbn06-14) performed the leading role of Elle in Legally Blonde for The Bohemian Lyric Opera Company in Edinburgh. Lydia currently attends Edinburgh University and is reading English. Lydia’s former housemistress Frances Marshall, went to watch the show and said: “I can only describe Lydia’s performance as absolutely fabulous and she received rave reviews from the local press.”

Civil Engineer elected as Vice-President of Highways and Transportation Andreas Markides (b76-78) has been elected vice-president of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation. After Felsted, Andreas graduated from Salford University with an honours degree in Civil Engineering and sat a masters degree in Transport at Imperial College, London. Now a chartered civil engineer, he is also a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a founding member of the Academy of Urbanism.

Passing Out Parade at Sandhurst Chris Balfour (fec05-10) and Julian von Nehammer (fc01-06) graduated from Sandhurst to begin their military careers in the traditional Sovereign’s Parade in August. Chris has joined the Grenadier Guards and Julian the Scots Guards.

Lydia Breen graduates as Norland Nanny Lydia Breen (m07-12) has graduated as a Norland Nanny after completing two years at Norland College in Bath as well as a placement to gain the Norland Diploma. Norland Nannies are well known for their high standard of training and iconic brown uniforms.

Ben Waring is Cricketer of the Year Ben Waring (ac14-16) was named the Wisden Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in April, an honour based on his outstanding performances in school cricket in 2015. He is now playing for Mildura West CC in Victoria, Australia and recently bowled 13.5 overs, 10 of those maidens, for an incredible eight for eight to help his side to an outright win.

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FELSTED’S SUMMER SCHOOL IS PROVING A REAL HIT WITH STUDENTS AND OFs ALIKE

In just four years, Felsted’s summer school has grown from strength to strength.

Selina Joslin finds out more about it…

The Felsted International Summer School programme has been a real success since it started in 2013 and many OFs use it to gain valuable work experience each summer.

Daniel Emmerson, director of holiday programmes and events, took over the Felsted International Summer School with just 17 pupils in 2014, since then it has grown considerably with 175 children of 23 different nationalities enrolled in 2016.

“It was a real privilege to have Max return to Felsted,” said Daniel. “The Performing Arts Academy was both challenging and rewarding for everyone involved, namely that for the most part, English was the second or third language for students. I’m delighted that Max is coming back to run the academy again next year.”

Alongside Max, 15 other OFs were employed to help run the activities programme. Daniel explained: “OFs It offers an intensive programme with Lydia Carrington and Daniel provide a real benefit to the wider an action-packed timetable. This year Emmerson. team as they are incredibly theatre director OF Max Stafford-Clark responsive and instinctively promote the school to the (fe50-59) ran masterclasses for budding actors in the highest standard. They have an excellent rapport with Hunt Theatre with his esteemed production company, all the staff and engage with the students really well.”

Out of Joint.

Max Stafford-Clark in the Hunt Theatre.

SUMMER SCHOOL OFs Lydia Carrington (fbn06-14), excursions and events manager Lydia organised the off-site activities for the summer school along with airport and private transfers for the duration of the programme.

“It was great to be back at Felsted and be on the ‘other side’ in the summer. As the programme is residential I stayed in Follyfield with all the girls, so it was quite funny to be essentially the housemistress. I kept expecting to see my former housemistress, Mrs Marshall, in the corridor and it took a while to remember that I was the one in charge.

“One of the best moments for me was seeing Patricia from Malawi visit Frinton-on-Sea and look over the edge of the cliff and view the sea for the first time in her life. It was a special moment.”

Dominic Oxnam (fca07-12), sports and social manager Dominic was responsible for managing 11 activity leaders and running sports and social activities such as sunset yoga, MTV video workshops, paintballing and ice-skating.

“One of the children loved the course so much that they didn’t want to go home and asked their parents

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to pay for an extra week – which they did. It was a huge compliment for all the team.

“At 22 it’s been a great experience and given me a real insight into running a business. This is the third year in a row I have worked on the team and I keep coming back because I enjoy it so much.”

Sam Seacombe (ec09-14) “The job is not only a really good way to earn money over the summer holidays, but gives me a chance to see my friends and enjoy being back in a familiar environment.”

Dan Benson (fhc07-14) “I taught children practical science skills this year and my rat dissection went down so well that a pupil made a special request to do it again!”

Key Facts

4 week programme

Junior programme: ages 9-12 Senior programme: ages 13-17

Cost £1,200 per week. All profits are reinvested in Felsted School

Top three markets for student recruitment in 2016: Argentina, China and Italy

Fancy working for the Felsted International Summer School?

Job adverts are posted on felsted.org/ summerjobs and there’s a formal interview Or you can email summerschool@felsted.org

SCHOOL NEWS

NEW HEAD OF FELSTED PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ATLANTIC OCEAN ROWERS INSPIRE ADVENTURE

Simon James has been appointed the new head of Felsted Preparatory School.

Angus Collins (f94-98), Bella Collins (f03-06) and Charlie Pitcher (b77-78) have each rowed the ocean, collectively raising over £500k for charities.

He took up his new role in September following a rigorous appointment process to find a successor to former headmistress Jenny Burrett.

Angus rowed into history by winning the Talisker Atlantic Challenge race this year, in a world record-breaking time of 37 days. He told the audience his key survival tip was to “Eat. Sleep. Row. Repeat.” He is currently rowing it again this year.

Simon joined Felsted from Chigwell Junior School, where he was headmaster and brings a wealth of experience in a variety of different educational environments, as well as a strong connection to Felsted.

Simon’s wife, Jill, is currently a teacher at the prep school, and both his daughters attend Felsted. Simon was inspired by the opportunity to lead a school that embraces a broad education, without sacrificing excellence, and retains a genuinely global outlook.

Three OF rowers shared their phenomenal stories of rowing the Atlantic ocean with a packed audience for the Felsted School Butler Lecture.

Bella and her team Row Like a Girl finished second, just three days behind her brother, making them the fastest and youngest female team to row the Atlantic.

Their uncle, Charlie Pitcher, who has rowed the Atlantic ocean twice and holds the world record for crossing it solo, led the talk in a chat-show format that was laced with humorous anecdotes of the Pitcher-Collins family life.

SPORTY DUO RECRUITED FOR TOP POSITIONS AT FELSTED

“I am very honoured to have been appointed Headmaster of Felsted Preparatory School. It is a wonderful school and it is a great privilege to be given the opportunity to continue to lead its development, following on from the fantastic work of Jenny Burrett.

Two OFs have been recruited to high ranking roles in the development of sport at Felsted.

“As a parent of the school already, I know Felsted is a very special community and I am looking forward to being part of it. The pupils and staff impressed me greatly throughout the whole selection process and I am truly excited by the challenges ahead,” he added.

Loren is also assistant housemistress of Follyfield and has played England U21 Hockey.

TOP MATHEMATICIAN AWARDED WALLIS SCHOLARSHIP OF Anthony Hickling (fec02-16) became the first recipient of the prestigious Wallis Scholarship award at Felsted after winning bronze at the British Maths Olympiad Round One and being named the top mathematician in Essex.

The scholarship is named after OF John Wallis (1616-1703), whose exploits include creating the infinity symbol.

Anthony is now reading mathematics at the University of St Andrews and plays the organ for St Leonard’s choir.

Loren Sherer (fg96-06) was appointed director of girls’ sport at Felsted School and Hector BevittSmith (d02-06) director of sports and activities at Felsted Preparatory School in September.

FELSTED INSPIRES ARTIST This year’s Felsted Art Exhibition at Great Saling, Essex, featured works by Spanish artist and OF Elena Caicoya (b99-00).

Hector previously taught at King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon and has played BUCS rugby and East premier division hockey for Bishop’s Stortford.

Her collection took inspiration from Felsted and other areas she has visited since returning to the UK in January.

Elena is currently the Artist-inResidence at Felsted and alongside her teaching duties, she provides extra support to pupils studying art.

FELSTED ARCHIVES: WORLD WAR ONE BOOK OUT NOW An illustrated collection detailing the stories of the 259 Felstedians who fell in The Great War, Pro Patria Mori, Felsted School’s Great War Fallen is available to buy online for £10.50 (plus £2.99 p&p) via lulu.com by searching Felsted WW1.

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OF NETWORK AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE NEWS

The Felsted Network continues to inspire Felsted students with a wide range of future career options through focused activities and events.

Thanks to the support and engagement of Old Felstedians, parents and staff, the Network has expanded into a diverse range of professional networks including Creative Industries, Finance, Insurance, Law and Property. It also promotes social activities and the benefits of bringing people together.

Ping Pong Pub Night Over 20 OFs enjoyed a fun evening at this year’s OF Pub Night on 10 November. Everyone enjoyed complimentary drinks and two hours of fast-paced ping pong at Bounce in Shoreditch, London.

Cambridge Network hosts annual lunch at Jesus College

Here are some highlights:

Felstedians enjoyed lunch at the Cambridge Regional College on 26 April and in the Upper Hall at Jesus College, University of Cambridge on 11 November.

Thanks go to Edward Thackray (g60-63), Edward Dodson (h77-82) and Nicholas Ray (g60-65) for organising the events.

Higher Education and Careers Fair The annual Higher Education and Careers Fair helped inspire Year 11 pupils and Sixth Formers.

One student commented: “I found the fair to be informative, engaging and encouraging. I am particularly interested in the property sector and enjoyed speaking to OF Stephen Wolfe, from Strutt and Parker. It has inspired me to improve my work ethic.”

Health and Biomedical Sciences Network 2017 An exciting new Health and Biomedical Sciences Network event will take place at The Royal Society of Medicine in London on 9 February 2017. President of the OF Society and retired Surgeon-Gynaecologist to HM The Queen, Sir Marcus Setchell, will host the evening. The evening is open to all OFs working within the biomedical, health and science sectors and will be a fantastic opportunity to network.

Alie Lee, doctor and Old Felstedian.

Bathurst Garden official opening A new social and recreational area has been created for pupils and the rest of the Felsted School community called The Bathurst Garden. It’s named in honour of Tom Bathurst (d32-37) and Doreen Bathurst, following their recent bequest to the school and includes a Leavers’ Walkway, incorporating names of the 2016 leavers and will boast a new bandstand to be installed in spring term 2017. The project has been completed thanks to the additional generosity of The Philipps Old Felstedian Fund, staff, parents and OFs who contributed to the school’s Annual Fund. The official opening will take place on 6 May 2017.

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To keep up-to-date with the latest news throughout the year, join ‘The Felsted Network’ group on LinkedIn, a dedicated forum for the Felsted School community including OFs, parents and staff.

LinkedIn Members: 1,847 Tom Bathurst

OF Weddings and Births Charlotte Belcher (b99-04) married George Nissen on 6 August at St Andrew’s Church, Helions Bumpstead with the reception in a marquee at the orchard at her parents’ home. OFs in attendance included her father Nicholas Belcher (b62-67), brother Tom Belcher (fh92-01) and her uncles Jeremy (fb67-75) and Michael Belcher (b64-69), alongside many contemporaries from Felsted.

Alexandra Coleman (fb00-07) married Ben Griffiths on 10 June at Gosfield Hall in Essex. It was a Stocks’s reunion as OFs included bridesmaid Emma Wright (b05-07), Louise Littleton (b05-07) and Stephanie Maddever (b02-07). Alexandra is a digital marketing manager and Ben works in sales.

Dean de Haaff (c01-06) married Sepideh Dundon on 26 August in the Felsted Chapel, an intimate family ceremony presided over by the Rev’d Nigel Little. The reception took place at The Berkeley Hotel, London. OFs in attendance included Dean’s sister Ché de Haaff-Papst (n01-03) and best man Tom Redding (fh96-06).

Alie Lee (fg93-05) married Chris Adams on 5 November at Holy Cross Church, Felsted and a reception took place at Felsted School. Many OFs attended the day and included Mark Burrett (fe92-05) who was an usher and bridesmaids Anna Lawes (née Feldman) (fg92-05) and Torty Lee (fg93-06).

Theo Tibbitts (fc97-07) married Jennifer Lloyd on 23 April at Little Dunmow Priory with the reception at Leez Priory in Essex. Guests included his father Simon Tibbitts (fg63-72), mother Dawn Tibbitts, a former Felsted teacher, and his three uncles Jolyon Tibbitts (fg58-67), James Tibbitts (fg60-70) and Mark Tibbitts (fg77-86). Christopher Quill (fe97-07) was a best man and Sam Burrett (fe97-07) an usher. The couple met at a bus stop in Camden at 2 am on 10 September 2011 and embarked on a long distance relationship for three years, as Jennifer is from Arizona, USA. Tom Mason (b87-91) (left) and Katie Ellwood celebrated the birth of their daughter Grace Elizabeth Mason born on 14 March, 2016.

Luke Jones (d02-07) and Kate Jones welcomed the birth of a son, Jasper Paul Owen (right), born on 30 June 2016, a brother for Felicity Scarlet Rosie (born 24 September, 2013).

OF SCHOOL NEWS

OF EVENTS CALENDAR 2017 FEBRUARY

JUNE cont’d

1

OF Lodge Meeting, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen St, London

11 Cricketer Cup 1st Round, v Radley, at Felsted School

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Lord Riche Society Reception followed by School Performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Felsted School, 6.30pm

21 OF Golf – Summer Meeting at West Sussex GC, Pulborough.

Match Manager: Oliver Stocken gilly@campbell-lutyens.com

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Felsted Health and Biomedical Sciences Network, The Royal Society of Medicine, London, 6.30pm – 9.00pm

25 OF Golf – Spring Meeting, Aldeburgh Golf Club, Suffolk.

Match Manager: Tim Hedin tim.hedin@redburn.com

APRIL 5

OF Lodge Meeting, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen St, London

6-9 OF Golf – The Halford Hewitt, Royal Cinque Ports GC Deal and Royal St Georges GC Sandwich.

Match Manager: Jamie Stammers jamesstamers@btinternet.com 27 Felstedian Society Cambridgeshire Group Spring Lunch, The Park Brasserie, Cambridge Regional College

MAY 6

Bathurst Garden Official Opening, Felsted School

JULY 11 Felstedian Society Cambridgeshire Group Summer Drinks Party, Cambridge.

13-15 OF Golf – West Hill GC, Brookwood.

Match Manager: Tim Chetwood tim.chetwood@clm.uk.com 14 Robins 50th Anniversary Cricket Match, Headmaster’s XI v Robins CC, The Front, Felsted School, 11.30am. Followed by an evening reception.

SEPTEMBER 10 Sparkle Sevens Tournament, Felsted School OF Golf – Essex Public Schools scratch foursomes at Thorndon Park GC Match Manager: Phil Graham pjg.graham@btinternet.com

13 OF Society Committee AGM, Felsted School, 10.15am Founder’s, Benefactors’ and Leavers’ Service, Holy Cross Church, Felsted, 11.30am

26 OF Golf – Autumn Meeting at Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth.

Match Manager: Dudley Simpson d.simpson@enotria.co.uk

14 OF Golf – Grafton Morrish Qualifier at Gog Magog GC Match Manager: Phil Graham pjg.graham@btinternet.com

29-1 Oct OF Golf – Grafton Morrish at Hunstanton GC and Royal West Norfolk GC Match Manager: Phil Graham pjg.graham@btinternet.com

15 OF Golf – Extra Spring Meeting at Saffron Walden GC Match Manager: Dudley Simpson d.simpson@enotria.co.uk 20 Annual OF Lodge Meeting and Lunch, Felsted School

JUNE 10 25th Anniversary Summer Reunion for 1992 leavers, Felsted School, 11.30am–5pm

OCTOBER 18 OF Lodge Meeting, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen St, London

NOVEMBER 16 Felstedian Society Cambridgeshire Group Winter Lunch, the Upper Hall, Jesus College, University of Cambridge

Further event details and invitations will be sent out nearer to each event, but in the meantime please save the dates in your diary. Visit felsted.org/ events for more information.

OF Lodge Meetings: please contact Roger Keys rhkeys@btinternet.com

Matthew Ford (c92-97) and Rachel Ford celebrated the birth of their daughter, Olivia Mae born on 1 July 2016, a sister for Georgia Evelyn (born 4 June, 2014).

Rob Short (fec94-08) and Annabel Short celebrated the birth of their daughter Violet Philae Lillian on 22 September, 2016.

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[the leadership issue]

Leadership is for all as Felsted extends opportunities throughout the school Chris Townsend is in his second year as headmaster of Felsted School. As a leader in the Felsted community we asked him how the school is developing leadership in Felstedians. Joel Garner writes

Leadership is changing. Leadership styles are changing. The theory of leadership is changing as well. In this environment, schools like Felsted, who aspire to develop the future leaders of this country, have changed their attitudes towards leadership too.

My experience of Felsted in the mid 1980s was of an attitude in tune with the times when competition was king and those with sharp elbows could easily rise to the top. Some of our year group occupied most of the leadership positions available by being captains of the sports teams, prefects in house and school, and leaders both in the culture and community of our year group.

Since then, attitudes have softened, says the current headmaster, and nature has been replaced by nurture. “It’s an error not to give all pupils a chance to develop these skills. In a year group, some have more developed skills than others and if they are given all the leadership positions they develop their skills more and others do not take responsibility.

“I think it’s a big mistake to think of leadership as a talent that some have and others do not. If

some are never given the opportunity to lead, then they will never develop that capacity.”

The headmaster reinforces the point that it is one of Felsted’s core values to produce generations of pupils that take up leadership roles in the wider world. To this aim giving Felstedians the opportunity to develop these skills is essential and firmly embedded in the schools’ culture.

“Your best friend might become head of school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t apply and learn from that experience and that you can’t become a leader in other areas, for example in the academic arena, where you can opt to work and coach kids in the prep school. This might not be as explicit as traditional leadership roles, but the same skills are being developed.”

The school’s role Chris says that Felsted offers leadership roles across the school right down to the pre-prep.

Service and leadership is visible through organisations like the CCF, but also through the junior leadership programme that is part of

think it’s a big mistake “to Ithink of leadership as a talent that some have and others do not…

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pupils’ education in Year 9, their first year in the senior school, he adds. There are opportunities to lead in the academic environment, outside the classroom in the school community too, and the approach is more nuanced now then it ever was before.

“There’s no point making a girl who is not sporty captain of the girls’ hockey team. That’s not going to be a happy experience, but she may have other skills and attributes, such as being a good actress and in that environment she can become a leader, so it’s the school’s role to find those opportunities for every pupil.”

This is not to say that Chris feels that leadership skills can only be developed through the school’s input as there’s an important role for individuals to find their own style and values. “By learning to manage yourself and developing a clear vision of what you want to be and the values you adhere to is a good starting point for learning about your leadership style and skills.”

He adds that boarding schools encourage children to develop many life skills that are useful for leaders, such as independence, the ability to think for yourself and get on with a wide variety of people, but it doesn’t work for everyone, at least during their school days.

Some non-conformists don’t flourish in the school environment but go on to make great leaders in later life. “We must never write anyone off. Richard Branson was a former pupil at a previous school and he never made it to the end but has gone on to do the most amazing things in life.”

Chris’s recommended books Alex Ferguson’s Leading Alistair Campbell’s Winners Matthew Syed’s Black Box Thinking Chris Townsend on a recent trip to Malawi.

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INTERVIEWS

Recent leaders of the Felsted community put leadership under the microscope As part of our special leadership issue we canvassed the views of four past Felsted School headmasters about their leadership role models and how schools can play a role in developing leaders. Joel Garner edits the highlights of their responses Headmasters are the focal point of any school and leaders in their own right and therefore have some valuable thoughts on what it takes to be a great leader. I kicked off our question and answer session by asking the four most recent past headmasters who springs to mind when they think of great leaders and why?

Dr Mike Walker said: “Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela stand head and shoulders above most other leaders, in my view – their courage, humility, intellect, pacifism and moral purpose, and in particular their espousal of non-violent civil disobedience against autocratic or prejudiced regimes, are striking.

“Winston Churchill was a similarly exceptional military and political leader, for his capacity to unite people, his speed of thought and urgency, and his breadth of vision.”

Stephen Roberts also cites Nelson Mandela. “He seemingly lacked bitterness about the way he had been treated by the Afrikanerdom and built a new country based on the equality of all South Africans.”

Whereas Tony Eggleston plumped for Margaret Thatcher, who he said showed that a woman could do the job previously done only by men, without being a feminist.

Edward Gould says that apart from being appropriately knowledgeable, great leaders need to communicate effectively, build teams, establish relationships, be visible, resilient, financially aware and look to the future strategically.

“Much has been written on styles of leadership – for example ‘Hero or Host?’ and both can be successful, depending how success is defined.

But, no great leader is perfect.”

Roberts concurs that communication skills are now more important than ever before: “Moral purpose, integrity and clarity of vision – as ever was. However, communication skills, particularly oral, have become more important given the dominance of the media.”

Stephen Roberts 1993-2008

Tony Eggleston OBE 1968-1982

Walker says that today’s society is truly global, technologically advanced and dynamic, with a speed of change and possibilities never before seen in history. “You need to be positive, inspirational, committed, and approachable to the widest audience to lead at the highest level in our global society.”

Leadership needs to be authentic But once a bad leader doesn’t mean that you are always so, says Gould. “Leaders who have been ‘unsuccessful’ in one organisation or role may prove to be highly successful in a similar role in another organisation. This applies in schools too.”

When asked what leadership qualities they tried to bring to the job of headmaster at Felsted.

Roberts describes his style as servant leadership.

“Leadership which tries to help people develop and for them to take on responsibility.

Leadership needs to be authentic, and building on one’s own personality and not acting apart.”

Walker’s educational leadership philosophy believes in all young people, in their abilities, potential and talent across the widest range of activities.

“A true learning community is developed when teachers are also learners, alongside students, and the greatest gift young people can have is the capacity to keep their passion and their spirit of enquiry, and to keep learning, for life.”

Gould says he set out to provide an outstanding education so that each pupil had the opportunity to acquire excellent qualities of judgement, awareness of future possibilities and leadership attributes.

To do this involved appointing the best teachers possible, establishing an inspiring working community, an holistic curriculum, clear

Edward Gould 1983-1993

Dr Mike Walker 2008-2015

boundaries, building on the strengths of the school, seeking to improve priority areas within financial constraints and communicating effectively to the various stakeholders.

He added that headmasters had to “take into account governors’ advice and policies and appreciate that each headmaster is in turn merely a ‘passing breeze’ in the history of a longestablished school”.

Eggleston said he sought to bring a wider vision to Felsted during the 1970s and early 1980s, previously a school with only local prestige.

As well as their own leadership skills, how do you create an environment where your pupils learn to develop their abilities in leadership, an important aspect as Felsted seeks to produce the leaders of tomorrow?

Roberts says it’s more than being the captain of the first XI and is about creating an environment of strong moral foundations on which leadership can be built.

“A school needs to provide this framework and deliver constant reinforcement of fundamental behaviour. Chapel at Felsted is one of the many places this occurs. Once this is in place, then all will be able to lead though some will be more visible than others.

“The best head of school I appointed had immense moral courage but had not been a stand out leader until his final year. Read The Lighter Side of School Life by Ian Hay, published in 1914 to see that this is not a new concept.”

Walker believes that exposing pupils to a wide variety of leadership tasks from a young age is the best way to develop these skills, starting with putting others before yourself.

Other ways a school can help develop these skills are through leadership roles, specific courses on leadership, by listening to and understanding the motivation of role models in society, and through opportunities to experience leadership in the real world.

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INTERVIEWS …continued “But above all it is through inspiring young people to develop their own individual passion, their moral intent, and a cause which is the motivation for their will to serve and lead.”

Gould adds identifying young leaders is not an exact science and those that are chosen at school may not carry that through into later life.

However, pupils’ leadership skills can be developed through an holistic curriculum in which they are embedded.

He points to developing skills in these areas: effective communication; using knowledge with compassion; service to the community; solving problems creatively; solving problems collaboratively; making just choices; and facing challenges with determination.

And when it comes to the age-old debate of nurture or nature, the general consensus is that leadership can be taught, only Eggleston sides more with nature and the individual’s character as the dominant force.

Walker believes leadership can be taught and developed through experiences, but will also draw on certain dispositions within the individual which are brought out through the interaction between their genetic make-up and environment.

Roberts firmly believes that it can be taught.

“I am a strong believer in growth mindset and therefore with the right foundations in place all can lead.

“Leadership can be learnt, though it is difficult to teach it and making your mistakes at school rather than in your career is probably a huge advantage,” he adds.

Gould thinks it is rather more nurture than nature but down to the individual’s appetite for leadership. “Much will depend on an individual’s lifestyle choices but up-skilling is certainly an important component.

QUINLAN’S CHOIR TOURS EAST COAST USA The OF Society’s travel grant helped Aidan Quinlan (ac13-15) pay for a two-week tour in August of New York and Washington with the choir of Somerville College, Oxford.

Aidan explained that the aim of the tour was to broaden the choir's horizons and share their music with local communities in New York and Washington.

“It was always going to be an amazing experience being able to visit such cities,“ he said. “But being on tour made it even more special as you travel around together as a group of 20 friends and like-minded young singers. Plus you got to explore the cities from the perspective of a performer in a professional context as well as a tourist.”

The choir gave six public performances during their stay, meaning many early mornings and rehearsals.

“We were extremely lucky to be able to perform in a number of highly prestigious churches,” Aidan said. “My personal highlights included performing a lunchtime concert at Trinity Church, Wall Street, just a stone’s throw away from the site of the World Trade Center.

“This was a church which many people fled to for refuge during the attacks of 9/11, a fact which really added to the poignancy of us performing sacred choral music there.”

At the Memorial Baptist Church, the choir were lucky enough to be treated to a “cook-out” from the local community before their concert, giving them the chance to meet and share their music with them.

“This tour provided me with memories I won’t forget, and it was a privilege to be able to sing in such venues and to feel like we left our own mark on USA’s east coast by sharing with them what we love doing best,” said Aidan.

“And the balance between the two will depend on the level of leadership and aspiration sought by an individual.”

Indeed, the individual’s appetite for leadership is important and for some this desire may not manifest itself until later in adult life.

In many ways we all have to learn to be leaders in our own lives at some point and having those building blocks established in our youth stands us in good stead when we have to show up and lead later in life. Felsted is certainly an environment where those foundations are set firmly in place.

The OF Magazine would like to thank all four headmasters for their thoughts on leadership and contributing to this article.

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OF Society Travel Grants A limited number of travel grants are

available to OFs aged between 18 and 21 years to provide assistance to those in financial need and where the trip will be of significant benefit to the individual and the community that is being visited. To apply, please email ofs@felsted.org

STAFF PROFILE

Much-loved Felsted teacher retires after illustrious career Jenny Burrett has given much to Felsted during her long career at both the prep and senior schools and is a respected and popular personality in the Felsted community. Rob Short discusses her career and leadership

Jenny with former prep school head Mike Pomphrey.

Jenny Burrett has just retired as headmistress of Felsted Preparatory School, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished career. She took on a myriad of roles throughout her time at Felsted – teacher, head of department, senior mistress, Stocks’s housemistress, Follyfield’s housemistress and her final role as the head of the prep school.

In this position, she achieved a remarkable growth in pupil levels reaching more than 520 for the first time last year and garnered recognition well beyond the village boundaries.

The prep school was voted the Best Prep School and received excellent ISI and Ofsted inspection reports.

I was truly honoured to be asked to write her interview, despite never having been formally taught by Jenny, she always had an aura. Having grown older, one appreciates that this is the aura of a leader. When she spoke, people listened.

There are many different styles of leadership and Jenny’s was loud, boisterous, energetic in the

process of “finding ways to bring people with you”.

infectious sense of fun and laughter was a key pillar of her leadership.

In modern parlance, you’d call it man management. I would say it was simply that Jenny is incredibly good with people, passionate about education, inspirational – the role she played in the advent of co-education is merely one example of this – caring and being prepared to hand out praise at the right time to those who deserve it.

Arriving in our small village as Miss Earlham in 1983, the story of Jenny’s acceptance of her first teaching role demonstrates this love of humour.

Being offered the job on 1 April, Jenny immediately assumed it was an April Fool’s joke and asked that Tony Beaulah, the acting headmaster, to ring her the next day. On 2 April she accepted.

She’s certainly the type of leader I respond to and, as is clear, I am not alone in the Felsted community. She says “I remember a member of staff saying to me ‘you set such high standards because you always keep going, you always have such energy just by being you.’ And that was such a revelation for me because I never really saw myself like that.”

This love of fun is demonstrated when Jenny is asked who her role models are. She is fascinated by leaders of differing styles and one name that stands out is Dawn French. “She was hugely influential for me in terms of character.”

She also highlights Stephen Roberts, chalk and cheese in terms of style, but very effective in terms of his quiet leadership.

My sister Alice, another OF, spent the morning interviewing Jenny in late August. In previous years, this would have been an incredibly busy time for Jenny. This year, it was a relaxed morning in her kitchen. I asked my sister for her reflections on their chat. “Her tone was very jolly, but most of all she was engaging, happy and, when she spoke about Felsted, you could see how much she loved it.”

Listening to the interview, the amount of laughter during the hour was unbelievable.

Almost unbelievable, I should say, as I then remembered Alice was talking to Jenny and her

Jenny’s infectious “sense of fun and laughter was a key pillar of her leadership

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STAFF PROFILE

Jenny believes that the longer you are with an organisation, the more your leadership style needs to adapt. “I noticed towards the end of my time, I had become a lot quieter.

“It’s the cycle of leadership. You facilitate what they [the staff] can do. And so the need for you to be charismatic and loud and out-there and the ‘big force’ as it were diminishes.”

She feels that initially, to make an impact, her style was the big “make it happen” person, like a Dawn French, before she changed her motto to “work hard, play hard and stop and reflect”.

“And then you’ve got to really celebrate as you manage each of those steps and you’ve got to let people see that it was worth it or that there was a reason.”

It’s all about momentum, Jenny believes. As people begin to see the change in the school, the impossible becomes possible.

Jenny found a way to be popular and respected I asked Alice to read a quote from my hero, Sir Alex Ferguson, to Jenny during the interview. I knew it was a risk, with Jenny being from Birkenhead on the Wirral, but it garnered a fascinating response on how to achieve your goals and why Jenny was such an effective leader.

“If you take the numbers. Say we’re at 360 pupils now, but we want to grow to 500. That seems like an impossible task.

“I think you’ve got to do it in small steps. You’ve got to be persuasive, you’ve got to make it real, you’ve got to make it something that people want to do, you’ve got to make people understand what the benefits would be.

I feel passionate that “children grow up to understand what their tomorrow might look like and they can have a role in changing it. It is a key responsibility of any school leader 14

”

It is hard to imagine Jenny as anything other than popular, her charm is making people feel at ease; she is naturally loquacious. She believes, however, that the mark of a good leader is someone who understands the boundary between popularity and respect.

“You’ve got to make tough decisions. You’ve even got to say to people that they don’t belong here because they are not making the standard.”

Jenny gained respect by keeping a slight distance from her staff, but maintaining a reputation for fairness and clarity.

Judging by the messages received when she decided to retire, she managed to get it right.

One teacher writes: “I have absolutely loved working for you and consider you to be one of the best headteachers to work for.”

Another note: “Words alone can never express our gratitude for everything you have done to support us.” And my favourite: “You have been, and I really hope still will be, a wonderful friend – and a second mum!”

Reading these messages, I have little doubt that Jenny found a way to be popular and respected, which is surely one of the hardest aspects of leadership.

Part of that has to be down to her strength through adversity. It is often said that great leaders have leadership thrust upon them, that during difficulty, a true leader comes to the fore.

How does one cope with situations that were utterly unexpected? Jenny has first-hand experience at this when during her time as housemistress of Follyfield, one of the students, Camilla Hamilton, passed away.

Speaking to other staff members, it seems that Jenny assumed a headmistress-like role during this time. She had to be so many things to so many people, a friend, mother, teacher, housemistress, pillar of strength, leader and all whilst grieving herself.

“I brought great love and compassion and cried a lot with them [the children and parents]. It was their first encounter with death. We learnt so much about community living through that time.”

She becomes emotional speaking about it. I honestly believe her experience during this time shaped Jenny, not only as an outstanding leader, but as an incredible human being.

“I just loved the children. We felt together really.

I’d be crying with them one minute and we’d be shooting netballs in my office the next.”

It’s clear to me, Jenny was such a great leader for children because she was not only in charge, she was aware she was also, in the tougher times, their friend as well.

For Jenny, it all comes down to teaching. Teaching children leadership skills, of any age, is, in Jenny’s own words, “quite complex”.

She attempts to condense it into a case of empowerment. When the child is ready, you can empower them. To begin with, Jenny believes it is best for children to see what good leadership looks like.

“It starts with the self. Expecting them to take responsibility is a reasonable start.” Jenny explains an environmental programme she ran for the children.

“Understanding the wider world. It was about taking risks, stepping out of your comfort zone. It was about having your say and listening to others. It was about embracing the wider world, taking responsibility and giving back.”

STAFF PROFILE

She speaks about Round Square, an initiative introduced at the senior school by the previous headmaster Dr Mike Walker. During an inspection, it was commented to Jenny that the ethos of social responsibility was already prevalent at the prep school and indicated they would be a perfect Round Square school.

some staff believing the move to co-education was “just an economic necessity”.

As Jenny points out, today’s school is the proof that the change worked. “It’s a really wonderful school. It’s been well worth some of the challenges on the way, of which there were undoubtedly a few!”

Her outlook on social responsibility underlines her forward thinking. Although she fears that people think of ‘social responsibility’ as a “very primary school thing to have”, she believes this education is vital for the future.

Jenny acknowledges that it is important for the girls who have been at Felsted to see a woman in a position of power, though she is modest about her impact.

“I feel passionate that children grow up to understand what their tomorrow might look like and they can have a role in changing it. It is a key responsibility of any school leader.”

“I look at the changes that have occurred at Felsted and I look at the wonderful way in which we look after our staff, and children, there’s an equality there now, which is right.”

She points to Sarah Brook’s work with Sparkle Malawi, as an example of “a very young girl making a huge difference to the world”.

Jenny was at the forefront of Felsted’s move to become a full co-educational school and was the first housemistress of Stocks’s when it became the new girls’ house.

“I will always remember the first visiting evening when 150 boys came to visit six girls!”

She acknowledges the challenges she faced during this time, as there was resistance, with

It’s time for somebody else to come in…

She talks of the difficulties of being a working mum, and the pride she feels in her children. She worked Thatcher-like long hours during her career, going to bed at two before rising at six, no wonder she names the Iron Lady as amongst her influences.

It is interesting listening to her comments about leadership as its hard to see why she is stepping away from something she obviously loves and is incredibly talented at.

“It’s time for somebody else to come in.” Mark, her eldest son, commented that he was glad to have his mum back, a reminder of the service Jenny has given to the school.

The passion for teaching and helping still burns brightly as she talks about wanting to help with the refugee crisis, for example. One thing is for certain, she still has plenty to give.

One of the Felsted greats and a sign of the love and esteem that she is held in is that she is not known by her full name but simply as Jenny. She is clear on her own legacy. “I hope I played a significant role in developing the learning.”

And that’s the key. When asked what was her favourite job whilst at Felsted, Jenny is categorical. “Being a teacher. That’s what gives you contact with the pupils.”

A final piece of advice from one of Felsted’s most significant teachers of the last 30 years? “Enjoy life, that’s what it’s for.” I do not believe there could be a more fitting epitaph for Jenny’s career.

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[the leadership issue]

Great leaders come to the fore when the going gets tough, says former head of British Army Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL (f60-64) is one of Felsted’s most decorated alumni and a man with a thorough and deep understanding of leadership. He tells Joel Garner what it takes to be a great leader and how to overcome the challenges you face Leadership is for turbulent times. That’s the heading of the paper that Lord Dannatt sends me ahead of our interview and one that he has presented to conferences and boards of directors over the past few years after his retirement from the British Army.

“I think our times have been difficult and turbulent for a very long time. But I think leadership is for difficult times. When all is going fine and dandy then it’s fairly straightforward.”

He cites one of his boyhood heroes Winston Churchill as being about as good as anyone could have been when he stepped up to become Prime Minister as the country was plunged into crisis in May 1940.

“He said ‘no’ in the face of the Germans and that was a hugely courageous move. To decide to stand alone as we did until the Americans joined the war at the end of 1941 and then be prepared to have some dialogue with the Russians on the basis of my enemy’s enemy is my friend, was an incredible move. In those really difficult times, really strong leaders show their worth and stand out for doing the right thing.”

Lord Dannatt says that the principles of leadership haven’t changed that much over the last 70 years or so, since Churchill stood steadfast against Hitler.

“What has not changed is working out what is the right thing to do is and deciding to do it.

How you do it and how you communicate the doing of it has changed as communication technology is so different.”

He points to the arrival of social media in the last 10 years as a huge factor. “Everyone’s got an opinion, everyone’s informed and because you can take pictures and make movies on your iPhone everyone is a Cecil Beaton in disguise.

“It has absolutely changed beyond all recognition the environment in which leaders lead because the manner of communication is different and of course everything is speeded up.”

Lord Dannatt faced some tough times during his 40 year career in the army, but says the time when his leadership was most called into

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question was when he was at the top of the army between 2005 and 2009, when he was Commander-in-Chief and then Chief of the General Staff.

“We were still locked into Iraq at a much greater level than previous planning had indicated and anticipated, and we had just deployed to Afghanistan on what was supposed to be a reconstruction and development mission that had quickly become a very difficult war.

“For the next three years while I was army chief we were trying to handle two missions when we were only equipped for one. We got on with it, but couldn’t get the Blair/Brown government to realise we were under huge pressure and we needed the resources to do the job.”

Lord Dannatt was public in his criticism of a government that wouldn't listen to his concerns and for that he faced a barrage of criticism within Whitehall.

“Whether I went about in the right way by going over the heads of the government and talking about it publicly is a moot point. It made me incredibly unpopular with the government and very popular with the army, but that isn’t why I did it.

If Tony Blair had sacked me I wouldn’t have blamed him…

“There was a major leadership dimension to it because in mid-2006, we had had three demanding years in Iraq, and Afghanistan was very difficult.”

He explains the army was under strength and the operational tours were coming round very quickly. The army’s voluntary outflow of manpower was looking disastrously out of kilter and if it had carried on like that, manning would have fallen off a cliff and that would have plunged the army into a huge crisis.

FEATURE

“

It’s an old and arid debate about whether leaders are born or made

”

“It was the right thing to do, whether I could have done it in a different way, I don’t know. I tried to argue a case internally, but didn’t make any progress. If Prime Minister Tony Blair had sacked me I wouldn’t have blamed him but I think he quickly realised that if he did, he would have been in a worse situation than he was already.”

Or you can model yourself on leaders you like and respect. Or you can blunder your way through life getting it right and wrong and as long as you learn from your mistakes you will get better at it.”

To make yourself a better leader, it’s probably best to take something from all of these strands.

He thinks schools like Felsted that aspire to develop the leaders of tomorrow should teach leadership. “It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea, either in an extramural way or as part of the curriculum,” he adds.

“An institution like a school needs to find a way of developing the leadership potential of its charges. It’s all well and good getting three A stars in the Oxbridge examination, but there’s a need to prepare for life too.”

In the army, his stock rose and so did morale, thanks to his stand off. “The troops thought ‘the boss understands there’s a problem and is doing something about it’.

Decision-making is a key aspect of leadership…

“It was a real morale boost and I continued to chip away to make sure we got an operational allowance, pay was improved and eventually we got much better equipment and turned things around.”

He urges schools to provide appropriate opportunities for children to learn and develop their leadership skills beyond the captains of the school sport teams and into other areas, such as in the arts, hobbies, clubs and serving the community.

I wonder whether Lord Dannatt feels he learnt these skills through his 40 years of training in the army or whether they are based on instinct and character.

One of the components of becoming a better leader is to have some theoretical understanding of leadership, he says. “I’m a victim of my own experience and the process I’d been in for 40 years, but your question provokes the “old and slightly arid debate” about whether leaders are born or made.

Lord Dannatt didn’t stay at Felsted through to the senior school, instead moving across the Thames to the St Lawrence School, in Ramsgate, Kent. This wasn’t his decision, but his family thought that having been born and brought up just a few miles away from Felsted it was time to broaden young Dannatt’s horizons.

From there, after flirting with taking a law degree at Cambridge, Dannatt reinforced his desire to go in the army and was accepted at Sandhurst.

“I joined for three years and stayed for forty, although events as always dictated themselves.”

His distinguished military career, which saw him rise to the top, included several tours to Northern Ireland during the time known as ‘The Troubles’.

In one face-to-face battle he says his decisionmaking skills had to be sharp, it was a matter of life or death.

“Decision-making is a key aspect of leadership but the circumstances you find yourself in when making a decision can be different,” explains Lord Dannatt.

“In cricket, rugby, shooting whatever, there is a small proportion of people who have an extremely high level of natural ability and good luck to them. Then there’s quite a group of people that have some ability and with good instruction and practice and training can become much better, perhaps even very good.

“Then there are some people who are terrible and should never even try, and in the leadership game these are the followers.

“That’s no denigration of followers,” he explains, “but for some people leading will never be an enjoyable experience, however there are ways to improve your skills,” says Lord Dannatt.

“You can read books, take courses and put yourself through a theoretical learning process.

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FEATURE

“There’s two broad categories, one where there is no real time pressure, so you can bring those who are close around you into the decision making process.” He remarks that bosses should recognise that others in your team have good ideas too.

“It’s not making a decision by consensus but having some discussion and debate and drawing about possible courses of action. Then you make the decision as that’s what you are paid for,” he says.

There’s another set of circumstances. “When the bullets are coming down the street at you and you have to decide what to do. I’ve been there and you quickly decide what’s got to be done as you’re under a lot of pressure, and in a sense you fall back on your instinct, which has been conditioned by your training and prior preparation.”

The good leader will quickly assess the situation and make a decision that turns out to be a good course of action, he adds.

“These situations are probably more likely to happen if you are in the army, air force, navy, police and fire service than if you are in banking, but crises develop in any walk of life and you may have to make a fast decision that has farreaching consequences in any job,” he adds.

“We talk of three levels of activity in the military.

In effect people really know about two of them.

The strategic, which is the blue sky thinking, the big ideas, and the other is tactics, which is making it happen, or the shop floor.

“

In addition to the moral leadership, I think there should be a spiritual dimension to leadership that people need to believe in. It’s up to every leader to work out what it is for them

”

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“The bit in the middle is the critical bit where the leader earns his pay, taking the general idea of what you want to do and turning it into a meaningful plan that provides focus and context and direction for those doing the job.

“If you’re not giving that plan, then you are condemning the guys on the ground to mediocrity. Operational level between strategic and tactical is very important. Get the planning and the framework right and that’s universal in my view.”

Lord Dannatt says these principles of leadership can extend to all walks of life, including the owner of a small business or the head of a small charity or community group.

“It is possible for one person to to do all these things providing he or she knows that at any one moment, what level they are thinking at. What is the big objective, making a plan at the operational level, and then getting down and dirty at the tactical level. One person can do all that, but needs to have the discipline of mind to know at what level they are thinking at.”

Character and integrity also form important parts of leadership, he says. “Character is the public face that people look at and decide whether they would like to follow that person.

Integrity is important because it determines the degree of enthusiasm with which people will follow. Are you trustworthy or just out for yourself?”

The army has a set of core values, which he says are important in setting a moral baseline, but for inspirational leadership, there’s often a need for something else, something bigger than the self.

“In addition to the moral leadership, I think there should be a spiritual dimension to leadership that people need to believe in. It’s up to every leader to work out what it is for them.

“When the faces in a crisis turn to you and either say or imply ‘what do we do now?’ You may need something bigger than yourself to fall back on and get you through.”

From his own personal point of view, his Christian faith has provided that dimension, but for others it could be other religious or spiritual beliefs that give them strength.

He has been out of the army for the last seven years and now runs a family farm in Norfolk, where he applies his leadership mantra: state the intent, devise the plan, delegate and supervise appropriately.

From head of the British Army to running a farm in Norfolk, it feels as though the leadership skills of Lord Dannatt may not be quite so vital or have so much riding on them but the same principles can be applied. And with that thought there is much that most of us can learn about the principles of leadership from one of Felsted’s most decorated alumni.

Lord Dannatt’s book Boots on the Ground –

Britain and her Army since 1945, published by Profile Books, is available from bookshops and online.

MISSION

From banking to preaching for Felsted Mission’s vicar The Felsted School Mission has nurtured a link between Felsted School, the Ascension Church and the community of Custom House, for over 130 years. The Reverend Dave Chesney chats to Selina Joslin about his role It may be surprising to learn that prior to being ordained, Dave Chesney spent 20 years working in the banking industry.

“I had a very comfortable lifestyle working in finance, but it’s a tough environment where you are constantly striving to get up the ladder. I was very open about my Christian faith and God was calling me to do something different, so after years of discernment and training, I left my job in 2008 and made the leap into the priesthood.”

In recent years, the council has been forced to seek savings of over £50m and this has impacted upon the most vulnerable. The Ascension Church has joined forces with 13 other local churches to provide a night shelter for local homeless people throughout the winter months. With the continued support of Felsted School and the Mission, the church will be opening its doors again every Monday night from January to March to those in desperate need.

Dave’s vision for the Mission is that it continues to provide support for local people and offers a solid foundation and sense of stability in difficult times ahead. The church is not simply a place where congregations meet every Sunday but a home away from home that families can trust.

Despite all the challenges, it is clear Dave gets a huge amount of job satisfaction, much more than was ever possible working in the finance sector. He is thrilled to welcome families to the church for baptisms, weddings and loves working with local schools. He explains it is a privilege to see residents grow up, change their lives for the better, find a home and start a family.

“It’s easy to get impatient as you want to see transformation happen overnight. But I’ve realised that as a leader if you want to see change, you’ve got to stay put for a while. Joy is the constant knowledge that all will be well in the end.”

Having served his curacy in Chelmsford for four years, Dave got a call about the role at the Ascension Church.

He initially declined the offer and it was after speaking with his wife Sarah further, he was persuaded to visit the area. They knew right away it was the right place for them and the family moved to the East End in 2012.

He acknowledges that it was a big upheaval for Sarah and their two daughters and after living temporarily in Poplar for the first two years of ministry, they finally moved into the newly built vicarage next door to the church, after 13 years of planning.

“You’ve got to lead and serve from within your community. A huge benefit is that people are far more trusting if you’re living in the area and know what’s going on. We do get unexpected visitors knocking at the door and those who are in need and I try my best to help them. Some families are living hand to mouth and this poses huge challenges for us all.”

With the cost of housing and rents rising, Dave explains that the church is located in a transient environment where people’s roots are not easily established. It’s becoming more difficult for the church to serve the area when families don’t stay for long and residents rarely get to know their neighbours.

The Rev’d Dave Chesney with his wife Sarah.

Dave often finds himself in discussion with those holding different moral values to him and admits it is difficult. “It’s easy to have high morals when the issues do not affect you personally. As a person of faith I realise it can be difficult to maintain a certain moral compass in an area where people do whatever they can to survive.

“We must ask ourselves, what are we benchmarking our moral values against? The aspirational role model for me is Jesus Christ and I believe that honesty and truth are two of the most important characteristics shown in good leadership.”

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FEATURE

Felsted can help budding entrepreneurs find their passion and purpose Are entrepreneurs leaders? Andrew Htun examines the close links between the two and whether Felsted provides the right environment for developing today’s go-getters.

An entrepreneurial leader has become a powerful cultural symbol in today’s society. We often view entrepreneurs as leaders, who share the same characteristics of passion, problem-solving and initiative that we often equate with leaders, but how do you acquire these attributes? How do you become an entrepreneur? Can it be taught or is it something you are born with? And does Felsted provide a platform for students to develop these characteristics?

To find out more about the link between entrepreneurship and leadership, I asked three OFs who have started their own businesses three questions.

PHILIP ALBERT-CORBAN Philip Albert-Corban (d03-08) started a high quality men’s clothing brand called Pello London in 2009, to make exquisitely crafted clothing with a high degree of skill.

HOLLY WINSER Holly Winser (g03-06) (right) co-organises Inspire Your Adventure (IYA) with her co-founder Lydia Rose.

IYA encourages people to travel and do things out of their comfort zone through inspirational talks and organising unique trips abroad.

What is leadership?

In my view, leadership is simply the ability to take people with you; in a classroom, in a business, in war, or in a group of friends. The people being led must have complete trust and confidence in their leader and be happy to do anything he or she is asking of them.

In your view, what is leadership?

I see it as the character of an individual who takes the initiative to act out on what he/she knows to be true, regardless of others’ opinions. Within a team dynamic, good leaders create an environment for people to freely engage and contribute towards a cause.

So how do you feel you have demonstrated leadership in the context of what you do?

I’d like to think my passion for what I do is passed on to others in a way that allows them to consider stepping out and investing in themselves.

Do you think Felsted equipped you with entrepreneurship and leadership skills?

No. Once out of the ‘comfort bubble’ that is boarding school, things don’t come so easy. It was nice to have a wake-up call once I started university. Although, on reflection, my time at Felsted had instilled a sense of healthy competition. I suppose that was the basis for me following this entrepreneurial route.

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So how do you feel you have demonstrated leadership in the context of what you do?

Through organising and hosting consistently fun and high quality events, Lydia and I have managed to maintain our audience’s trust, as well as the trust of our volunteers, venue holders, speakers and sponsors. As a result we always have a high attendance at our events. Before each event we brief everyone and make sure they are all on the same page. It is our helpful team that enables the smooth running of the events and our relaxed nature and leadership technique that makes them want to volunteer and work hard.

Do you think Felsted equipped you with entrepreneurship and leadership skills?

I don’t believe that people are born natural leaders or entrepreneurs. I think it’s the experiences we have throughout our lives that shape us. I was only at Felsted for three years, but I still have many fond memories from my time there, many of which would have played a part in helping me become who I am today. Entrepreneurship came later on in life and I learnt it through experience and through talking to and listening to my friends. On moving to London after university, Lydia and I worked out that the majority of our peers were feeling a bit ‘trapped’ and ‘stuck in a routine’, and we put our heads together and decided to do something about it.

FEATURE

NAT BROWNING Nat Browning (e02-07) runs Browning Bros with his younger brother Archie (e03-08). The company specialises in weddings, glamping getaways and equipment hire and was born from the brothers’ joint vision to diversify their family farm business.

In your view, what is leadership?

Leadership is the ability and courage to take responsibility of a situation.

Rather than doing everything yourself, I think the most important and also perhaps most difficult aspect of leadership is the art of delegation; to encourage and inspire others to complete tasks not because they have to but because they want to.

So how do you feel you have demonstrated leadership in the context of what you do?

In the height of our wedding and glamping season, we have 27 forms of tented accommodation including a log cabin, which can mean anything up to 80-90 guests staying overnight at any one time. Good leadership is essential to deal with the inevitable high pressure and ensure all guests are happy.

Leadership is also required for a slick operation when it comes to turning these ‘rooms’ around quickly and efficiently before the next guests arrive. To be a good leader one has to react calmly and handle day-to-day crises which can be anything from a flooded site to an unhappy guest.

Do you think Felsted equipped you with entrepreneurship and leadership skills?

I’m not sure Felsted equipped me with entrepreneurship skills. In fact I think at school they encourage you to follow the ‘normal’ path and play it safe. Leadership skills were definitely improved at Felsted through great teaching, being given responsibility and constant encouragement to better oneself.

Each of the three interviewees demonstrates the three characteristics of passion, problem-solving and initiative, often shared by leaders and entrepreneurs.

Philip is driven by his passion for design and business, Holly showed her problem-solving characteristics where she identified a problem that she and her peers had and set about fixing it, and finally, Nat demonstrated great initiative to diversify their family farm and maximise the potential of the land.

Leadership is not something that can be taught in the classroom, you can’t grade someone on their leadership or entrepreneurial skills. It is something that you learn through experience.

Felsted does an amazing job in giving its students great all-round skills to better themselves as leaders, whether through extra-curricular activities, CCF, sports, music and art. This gives students the opportunity to achieve many different things and find out about the

unique talents they have, including confidence to be successful leaders.

I agree with our OF entrepreneurs that Felsted does not promote entrepreneurship when it comes to leaving the school, but rather the established route of university and finding a job.

While is it important to aim high, get good grades and build a successful career, I feel that we are a generation who want to find purpose and passion in what we do too.

If Felsted can help a student find this, then I would consider it to be the complete student experience that helps leavers become entrepreneurs as well as following the well-trodden path to university. After all, life is too short to be sitting in an office doing something you don’t care about. Instead, do something you love.

by Andrew Htun

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FACES AND PLACES

OF DINNER CELEBRATES 125 YEARS FOR GEPP’S, STOCKS’S, WINDSOR’S AND MONT’S The biennial Old Felstedian Dinner took place at The Great Hall, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London on 10 March 2016.

Over 120 people enjoyed celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Gepp’s, Stocks’s, Windsor’s and Mont’s and guests included a host of former housemasters and housemistresses.

This year’s guest of honour was Lord Ribeiro, a former president of the Royal College of Surgeons whose four children attended Felsted. The president of the Old Felstedian Society, Sir Marcus Setchell and Headmaster Chris Townsend welcomed guests to this historic venue. The evening was a great celebration of Felsted past, present and future and also of Felsted friendships. Guy Huntrods CBE (f32-36) and Tony Fasey (fb33-42) attended the dinner and they first met at Felsted Prep 83 years ago!

BURRETT HONOURED BY OF SOCIETY Jenny Burrett became an honorary life member of the Old Felstedian Society at a special farewell dinner hosted by the Society at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in London on 12 May. The award was given in recognition of her many years of dedicated service to Felsted. Jenny stepped down as headmistress of Felsted Preparatory School at the end of August 2016.

CLASS OF 2016 CELEBRATES The annual Leavers’ Ball took place on 2 July with over 400 guests enjoying a glamourous dinner in the Lord Riche Hall at Felsted. Upper Sixth students, parents, Common Room and other guests all partied into the early hours and enjoyed the fairground rides, particularly the bumper cars!

SPEECH DAY GUEST INSPIRES STUDENTS TO ‘MAKE A DIFFERENCE’ OF Sarah Brook (gn06-08) was the guest of honour at Felsted’s Speech Day on 1 July. Sarah is the founder of the Sparkle Foundation, the charity that runs Sparkle Malawi, which currently looks after more than 200 children in Malawi. In line with recent tradition, Sarah presented prizes to pupils and delivered a heartfelt speech about her time after leaving Felsted and how pupils can help make a difference to those in need.

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OF NEWS LEE’S GOODBYE SHOW

1564 LEGACY SOCIETY LUNCH

OFs and pupils gave Head of Drama and Theatre Studies, Dr Charles Lee, a surprise send-off by performing a celebratory ‘Goodbye Show’ on 26 June.

OFs and pupils acted out a selection of theatrical numbers in the Hunt Theatre and friends from around the world sent in ‘good luck’ video messages from places such as Ibiza, Vietnam and the USA. Chas retires after 23 years at Felsted School.

The inaugural 1564 Legacy Society lunch was hosted by OF Robin Broadhurst CVO CBE (d59-64) and took place at the Honourable Artillery Company in London on 26 April. The afternoon gathered together people who have pledged a legacy to Felsted School and was attended by Headmaster Chris Townsend.

Chris Megahey with the badminton team in 1987.

MATHS STALWART RETIRES Chris Megahey, mathematics teacher, has retired after an extraordinary 35 years of service at Felsted.

Chris joined the school in 1981. This year his Year 11 students took their Maths GCSE exam early in January with every pupil gaining an A*. Chris said it was “a fantastic achievement” and that he was “very proud of them.”

OF LONDON RUGBY 7’S DAY A small number of Old Felstedians got together to enjoy the HSBC London Rugby Sevens at Twickenham on 21 May. Director of Rugby Andrew Le Chevalier helped to provide everyone with some useful commentary throughout the day.

FIRST SPARKLE SEVENS RUGBY TOURNAMENT Felsted hosted its inaugural Sparkle Sevens rugby tournament on 11 September. Just shy of £10,000 was raised for the Sparkle Malawi charity. In all, 16 teams took part, including four OF teams and a Felsted staff team. The next tournament is scheduled to take place on 10 September, 2017.

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OBITUARY

OF was a countryman and conservationist to the end Joe Henson’s influential contribution to the survival of rare breeds of farm animals cannot be over estimated.

Katyana Rocker-Cook writes The passing of Old Felstedian Joe Henson in 2015 (g46-50) marked the loss of an inspirational leader to the agricultural and conservation communities.

Joe was born on 16 October, 1932 to actors Leslie and Gladys Henson. When his family moved to Northwood in north-west London, his interest in agriculture flourished, and he spent his teenage years working on farms before graduating from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester in 1954.

Three years later he married Gill, before taking over the tenancy of Bemborough Farm in the Cotswolds in 1962 with good friend OF John Neave (g45-50).

Joe’s influential conservation work began in 1969 when Bemborough became the permanent home for Lord Solly Zuckerman’s living animal ‘gene library’, a collection previously housed at Whipsnade Zoo. Bemborough Farm later evolved into the Cotswold Farm Park (CFP) in 1971, becoming the first domestic rare breeds farm to open to the public. In 1973, Joe and a select group of farmers and animal geneticists founded the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), which led to the preservation of animals such as Gloucester cattle, and the now widely-popular Gloucester Old Spot pig.

Joe’s television appearances were celebrated for his warm enthusiasm and ability to engage the public on a wide range of issues, most particularly the dangers faced by rare breeds.

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In 2010, Joe was named NFU Farming Champion at the Farmer’s Weekly Awards, recognising his pioneering agricultural and conservation work.

The following year he was awarded an MBE for his services to rare breed conservation.

Joe hoped his park would aid the publicity of the work of RBST and that the admissions charges would fund the maintenance of breeding groups at the farm. In 1999, Joe passed the running of the farm to his son, Adam, now a popular presenter on BBC’s Countryfile. In tribute to his father, Adam said that he had “a wonderful way with words and a lovely voice, a brilliant storyteller”.

The CFP is now one of the UK’s biggest tourist attractions, dedicated not only to conservation but to educating and encouraging visitors to get involved in agriculture. Many of the animals are available to be petted, held, and fed and there’s a wide range of talks and demonstrations throughout each day.

After his death, the CFP released a statement which said that the example set by Joe and the work of the RBST ensured that no breeds of farm animal have become extinct since the Trust’s foundation.

Joe’s enduring legacy is the widespread recognition of the importance of genetic diversity and the resurgence of rare and traditional breeds, a legacy which can be seen in the passion and actions of all involved with the RBST and Cotswold Farm Park.

Joe Henson (left) with John Neave.

Joe’s daughter Libby said: “My father had the great gift of bringing people together, of diffusing conflicts with a funny story and a kind word, of encouraging and empowering people to get involved, and trust that their own contribution could really make a difference.”

In a 2012 interview with My Cotswold Life, Joe was asked what he would take with him if he had to leave his beloved Cotswolds. He said he would take a lock of Cotswold wool as he would like to follow the tradition of shepherds and be buried with a lock of Cotswold wool. This was so that when they met St Peter at the gates of heaven, he would know they were shepherds and understand why they couldn’t go to church on Sundays.

His wish was honoured and respected and Joe was buried in a coffin made of British wool, holding a hank of wool from the best Cotswold ewe in his flock.

Joe Henson MBE died on 5 October, 2015 aged 82.

OF ENVIRONMENTALIST AND ECOLOGIST DIES

OBITUARIES We sadly report the following deaths notified to us in 2016

Alan Ian Boatman (c83-88) died on 9 October 2016.

Alan was born in Gibraltar on 26 May, 1970. His parents Ian and Carolyn and sisters Kelly and Dale worked and lived abroad in the Gambia and St Lucia, amongst other exotic locations, and Alan developed a sense of adventure from an early age.

Alan was schooled at Holmwood House and then Felsted. He played fives, had a stripe or two in the CCF, and enjoyed athletics and rugby with the Cromwell Club.

He excelled as Oberon in Felsted’s performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and developed a love for the theatrics under Martin Homer. He was a house prefect in Windsor’s for Tim Lawrence and was a popular lad amongst his peers as he was fair in mischief and discipline alike.

Alan loved exploring the world for work and pleasure. His travels took him to India, Afghanistan, South America, the Caribbean, Australia and finally to South-East Asia.

Alan finally settled in Laos and started his own environmental consultancy, Geo-Sys, and he worked on many projects identifying and mitigating the increasing impact of resource exploitation in this remarkable area.

Alan started a family in Laos, falling in love and marrying Mette, a wonderful Danish anthropologist he met in Vientiane. They worked and travelled together throughout the region and owned a house in Denmark which they visited most summers. They have two beautiful children, Luke and Maya, and Alan will be missed deeply by them all.

Jeremy Cripps (c83-88)

FELSTED’S LORD MAYOR OF LONDON DIES Sir Robert Finch (fa53-62) died after a short illness on 31 March.

Robert, who was Lord Mayor of the City of London in 2003-4, was the Guest of Honour at the Old Felstedian Dinner held at The Mansion House in 2004.

Robert was born in Ootacumund, India in 1944 and joined the City almost immediately after leaving Felsted in 1962.

After the news of his appointment as Lord Mayor in 2003, he told the OF magazine that having worked in the City all his life, it was time to give something back.

“This is a colossal job. The challenge is to retain the City’s services, maintain a modern transport and security system and keep the critical mass of the City together. We have to maintain London's superiority and ensure it is not degraded

by EU regulations and rules.”

During his year in office, Robert made about 600 speeches, including one to 344 OFs whom he hosted at the Mansion House for a magnificent OF Dinner.

A memorial evensong was held in his honour at St Paul’s Cathedral on 21 September. He leaves behind his wife Patricia, daughters Alexandra and Isabel, and four granddaughters.

NAVAL OFFICER WHO SAVED DESTROYER IN FALKLANDS BATTLE DIES Commander Ian Inskip (g57-62), who died aged 72, saved his ship after an Exocet attack during the Falklands War. Ian’s quick thinking on the bridge of the ‘Glamorgan’ in the early hours of 12 June, 1982 helped save his ship from a fatal blow as it came under attack, by ordering a full starboard rudder.

His judgement had little margin for error to prevent the Exocet hitting the destroyer’s hoard of missiles, which would have caused a fatal blow.

He described the moment of the missile striking the ship: “On the bridge we heard a seemingly unremarkable thud, followed almost immediately by a ‘whooomph’ as the fuelled helicopter in the hangar erupted into flame… night turned into day as 100 ft flames towered above masthead height.”

Ian’s action in turning the ship undoubtedly saved her from worse damage; nevertheless, 14 men were killed. The fight to save ‘Glamorgan’, however, had just begun, and Ian played a major part in fighting the fire which followed.

His mention in despatches recorded that Ian’s personal stamina and leadership had inspired others, in the face of extreme danger from exploding ammunition, to act with the determination and resolve which undoubtedly prevented the fire from spreading.

Ian married Marianne Petersen in 1975; she survives him with their two daughters, one of whom, inspired by her father, is an astrophysicist.

BLADES, George Newton (a36-40) BOATMAN, Alan Ian (c83-88) BROWNE, Herbert ‘John’ Charles OBE (fb34-40) CALCUTT, Robert James (fd49-56) CAMERON, Dugald Gordon (e36-41) CARTER, Nicholas William Cato (fa59-69) CHAPMAN, Christopher Frederick (a46-52) COBBOLD, James Walter (fc36-40) CRACKNELL, Martin Stoneham (e60-65) CULLEN, Dr Thomas James (e66-70) DENDY, Peter (g33-36) DIXON, Colin ‘John’ (a49-53) ELLWOOD, John Dudley (fe39-47) FARMER, Alan (e51-53) FINCH, Sir Robert Gerard DL JP FRICS (Hon) FCEM (Hon) (fa53-62) FLEMING, Michael Brandon (g52-56) HARVEY, Roger Thomas (b55-60) HATHAWAY, John Murray (fa41-49) INSKIP, Commander Ian (g57-62) JEANS, Professor William Dampier (c41-46) JONES, Bruce Edward Fayrer MBE (a41-45) LOFTS, John Duncan (d37-40) MEREDITH, Roger John (e44-47) MIDDLETON, John ‘Christopher’ (a40-44) PAWSEY, Hugh ‘Rodney’ (b44-47) PLATT, The Hon Roland Francis (fh61-69) RATCLIFF, Leonard Fitch DSO DFC AFC (fb28-36) SAMUEL, Dr Roger de Koning Graham (fg41-46) SEARS, Philip ‘Alan’ (b46-49) SISSONS, Prof Sir John Gerald ‘Patrick’ (c58-63) SMITHER, Michael John Boscoyne (fa51-58) THOMPSON, John ‘Michael’ Strutt (g45-50) TIPPETT, David Kenneth (b40-44) WIDDOWSON, John Timothy Place ‘Ian’ (a69-73) WILKES, Michael Windsor (e34-38) WILSON, Canon Alfred ‘Michael’ Sykes (e46-50) WOOD, Michael Terence (g66-71) WYATT, Robin (e34-36)

Former common room MARTIN, Rev’d Alex (Chaplain 1964-1974) THOROGOOD, Jasper (Director of Music 1993-2003)

Governors COOPER, Peter John ‘PJ’ Please visit felsted.org/obituaries for more information and to read full obituaries of some of the OFs who have died this year.

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OF SPORT

OLD BOY GOLFERS CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF ESSEX

by OFGS President Stuart Mott

The Old Felstedian Golf Society has had another fantastic year, winning the Essex Public Schools Foursomes competition at Theydon Bois.

The side, led by Tim Chetwood, knuckled down and reached the final of the Plate where we succumbed to Forest.

Felsted’s victory came by a fairly comfortable margin of 11 points. This impressive feat was underpinned by a fantastic score of 35 points by the pairing of Will Dunn and Charlie Duke – six points better than any other pair.

The society’s meetings were all well attended and provide an excellent day’s entertainment for golfers with a handicap.

It is worth noting that this trophy has been in existence for many years and was originally presented by JK Mathews, one of the founding fathers of OF Golf.

Captain Phil Graham’s team included Will Dunn, Charlie Duke, Tom Copnell, Joe Bichard, Tim Phillips, Charlie Wilcox and Henry Hichens.

In last year’s report I mentioned that Felsted are overdue a friendly draw in the major team events, such a draw is now even more overdue.

We found ourselves against a strong Rugby side in the Halford Hewitt, and only lost 3½ to 1½.

Our winning point was secured by Rob Perkins and Charlie Wilcox who played golf of an astonishing quality and were five under par when their match finished.

In the Mellin, another malodorous draw pitted us against Bradfield with a predictable outcome.

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Thanks go to Tim Hedin for organising the Aldeburgh meeting, Oliver Stocken for West Sussex and Dudley Simpson for Saffron Walden and the Berkshire. We owe a lot to Dudley who continues to do so much for the society.

The friendly matches against Deal, Bancrofts, Brentwood, Chigwell (rained off) and Framlingham were kindly organised by Messrs Robson, Houlder, Mott, Keys and Skinner.

These matches, which are played off handicap, are great fun and combine an element of competitiveness with a strong social element.

As such, they are a perfect representation of what our society is all about and we are always pleased to welcome new members.

JK Mathews Cup winners The winners of the OFGS trophies were: Aldeburgh Scratch Cup: Charlie Wilcox Handicap Cup: Phil Graham Saffron Walden Handicap Cup: Peter Burleigh West Sussex Handicap Cup: Tom Simpson Berkshire Handicap Cup: Andrew Freeman

OF SPORT

ROBINS LOOK FORWARD TO 50TH ANNIVERSARY

NATIONAL 6-A-SIDE OLD BOYS’ HOCKEY TOURNAMENT AT HAILEYBURY SCHOOL

A good Robins season, despite an early Cricketer Cup exit. Robins secretary Ed Hutley reports

Tom Soper (b87-92) took a creaking side to Haileybury with a near average age of 40. Unsurprisingly, the OFs got off to a slow start losing to a solid Bryanston team, but they did warm up and managed two draws. In the afternoon, the team lost their remaining game, but still finished a creditable sixth out of 10 sides. It would have been further down the table if it hadn’t been for the extraordinary keeping skills of the acrobatic Josh Crosley (d95-00).

Felsted Robins played Shrewsbury Saracens at home in the first round of the Cricketer Cup. Shrewsbury batted first and compiled an impressive 329-4, manoeuvring the ball around the ground excellently.

In reply the Robins were 155-6 when rain intervened.

Despite the result, the side applied itself well, coming together with great camaraderie and spirit, helped by the headmaster’s kind hospitality for both players and supporters.

Chris Huntingdon led the side in John Stephenson’s absence and made a strong contribution with the bat.

John will captain the side again next season and Chris will deputise. The first friendly fixture against Old Ampleforthians was unfortunately abandoned due to lack of player availability. After this the Robins pulled together a string of strong performances, starting against the school on Speech Day when in a 20/20 extravaganza led by Nigel Gadsby, the Robins avenged last season’s defeat.

Cricket week began with a fixture against the MCC, a side the Robins have not beaten since it was reintroduced to the calendar five years ago. Jack Stevens had done the bulk of the damage with four wickets in the morning reducing the MCC to 132-8 at lunch.

ELITE CRICKETERS TAKE PART IN FIRST OF GIRLS’ SPEECH DAY MATCH

The Robins ended up requiring 153 to win, so when Ollie Ekers was sent back to the pavilion at 11-1, it looked like the team might struggle. However, Reece Hussain had other ideas and hit a brilliant 99 not out to secure the game by eight wickets. The game against Bishop’s Stortford was abandoned due to rain, but the Robins secured excellent wins against The Gents of Essex and Lloyds. Jack Hebron top scored with 104 against The Gents and a brilliant team performance against Lloyds sealed an unbeaten cricket week.

The Robins played four Sunday games against Lindsell, Refreshers CC, The Mount and Dunmow. These games are proving increasingly popular, and this year we were lucky to see some impressive individual performances with close finishes.

The usual season finale at Maldon CC in memory of David Randall was a great success. The Robins set Maldon 185 to win, which was duly chased with a few wickets in hand.

Roger Luckin has gratefully accepted our offer to become an honorary life member of the club.

Played: 12 Won: 6 Drew: 0 Lost: 4 Abandoned: 2 As 2017 marks the Robins’ 50th anniversary, the committee will be organising a number of events to celebrate this milestone, so look out for further details from the OF office in the New Year.

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If you are interested in playing with this improving side next year, please contact Ed Hutley at ephutley@googlemail.com.

Professional cricketers Lydia Greenway, Lissy Macleod and Fi Morris took part in the inaugural OF Girls vs. Felsted Girls cricket match on the Front on Speech Day. The school team beat the OFs, building on their successful season which saw them claim the County Title and reach the last eight of the National T20 cup. Felsted is currently nominated as an Inspirational School for girls’ cricket by Essex CCC and became a MCCF (Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation) hub for girls’ cricket in November 2015.

Robins CC 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Tie £15 each plus p&p. Available from 10 January 2017. Contact: Felsted School Tailor’s Shop via tailors@felsted. org / 01371 822636.

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OF SPORT PROFILE

Middendorf gains much from playing hockey in the United States Anna Middendorf (gn11-13) has just completed three years studying at the University of Connecticut and playing hockey for the Huskies. She told Joel Garner about her unforgettable experience Anna, you moved to the University of Connecticut in August 2013 after leaving Felsted. Why did you choose to move to the States to study and play hockey?

When my Felsted hockey coach, Miss Sherer, first mentioned the possibility of going to the United States to play hockey and study in the fall of 2012, I was absolutely adamant that that was not something I would be interested in doing. The US had never struck me as as a place I wanted to study and I was in the middle of the UCAS process. However, when I shared the idea with my family in Germany and Miss Sherer told me more about how she had the time of her life playing for the Uconn Huskies, I felt that I really had nothing to lose. I suppose, my initial move to the US stemmed from curiosity and the love for the game, but it quickly became much more than that.

It’s been a pretty successful move in terms of hockey? What have been the highest accolades you have reached with the University of Connecticut Huskies so far?

My career as a Uconn Husky came to an end this past month in Virginia. Looking back, it has been one hell of a ride. Our head coach Nancy Stevens has led the programme to four Big East Regular Season Championships, four Big East Tournament Championships, four Final Four appearances and two National Championship titles, throughout the last three years that I have been part of the team.

Of course women’s hockey is riding a big wave in the UK following the Rio Olympics gold medal success. Have you dreamt of representing your country of birth Germany in the Olympics?

Playing in the Olympics was definitely a dream of mine growing up. However, when I moved to Felsted at the age of 15 I made a conscious decision that that was not something I wanted to pursue any further. Being part of a national squad requires an amount of time, dedication, will and of course talent that I simply did not have. I admire the athletes who have the right combination of all of those things, but that was never for me.

So what are you studying at Connecticut and what are your plans when you finish your degree? Will you stay in the US or head back to Europe?

At Uconn, I am majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Economics and Human Rights.

I am looking to get a masters in Human Rights in either the UK or the US. I notice that you’ve been involved in some campaigning work around environmental issues and women’s rights. What motivates you in this area and what have you been able to achieve?

I think that everyone goes to university with an idea of what they are interested in and leaves with a refined understanding of this. I was lucky enough to travel to the COP21 climate change conference in Paris last December and take an internship with a local non-profit in San Francisco this summer. The Human Rights

Institute at Uconn is one of the top five in the United States. A combination of these experiences has shown me that I really want to pursue a career in women’s and refugees’ rights.

This issue of ‘The Old Felstedian’ is all about leadership and you were team captain of the Huskies in 2016. How would you describe your leadership style and did you enjoy being the team’s leader?

I am very proud to have been able to co-captain my team through my final season at Uconn.

However, I strongly believe that leadership starts at a much more insignificant level. It is about the little things that individuals do for the greater good of a team. So, captain or not, I think leadership is about leading by example and fighting for a cause, whatever it may be.

Studying abroad can be a daunting experience, but you have done it both in the UK at Felsted and now in the US at university. What advice would you give others about taking this option and what do you feel you have gained by following the path you have?

I would be lying if I said that studying abroad, whether in Felsted, in the US or in Chile (for a semester in 2015) was easy. However, I think that these occasions, where I was (at least initially) completely out of my comfort zone, were the times that taught me the most valuable lessons. As long as you go into it with an open mind and with a determination not to fail, it will be an unforgettable experience.

The States isn’t necessarily known for its field hockey, so what is the standard like?

This was one of my concerns when moving to the United States for field hockey four years ago.

However, I have been proven wrong. Whilst, the United States might not be known for field hockey, there is definitely a paradigm shift occurring. The US women’s performance in the Olympics this summer and the way in which field hockey is taken extremely seriously at the collegiate level have really changed the way the sport is regarded. From the strength and conditioning staff, the medical personnel, the endless hours of film analysis to the incredible facilities, I would say that the standard is definitely very high and only improving.

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Thank you to all those who have contributed pictures to this edition of The Old Felstedian, in particular to Dr Charles Lee.