The Old clayesmorian MMXVII

MMXVII

Contents

EDITOR: Louise Smith

Committee Members

1

COMPILED BY: Liisa Steele

Editorial

2

This publication has been printed

From the Chair

3

on paper stocks from sustainable

From the Head

4

made through a low chemistry

Society Office Report

5

School Prizewinners

6

The Old Clayesmorian is published

Events 2017

8

Clayesmorian Society.

Leavers’ Destinations

18

Staff News

21

Features & Contributions

28

OC News

47

From the Archives

53

Letters

61

The Spinney Memorial Trust

69

OC Sport

82

Where Are They Now?

88

In Memoriam

98

AGM Minutes 2017

105

Notice of 2018 AGM

109

Annual Accounts

112

OC Shop

114

Keeping In Touch

116

Member Offers

118

Diary Dates 2018

119

Visiting Clayesmore

126

sources. The printing plates are and gum system.

annually for members of The Old

Contributions for the 2018 issue should be sent to the Editor by 30 September 2018.

COVER ARTWORK: Martha Dean (2013 - 2017)

The OC Committee

Robert Mash PRESIDENT (1952 – 1958) Louise Salmond Smith (Thompson) CHAIR (1989 – 1994) Paul Smith SECRETARY (1989 – 1994) Mark Farrand TREASURER (1978 – 1981) Matt Swarbrick SPORTS SECRETARY (1990 – 1995) Louise Smith (Ross-Kellaway) EDITOR (1994 – 1998) SarahJane Newland (Kennard) (1979 – 1984) Andrew Beaton (1964 – 1969) Alastair Deighton (1989 – 1994)

(1967 – 1971) John Dukes (1948 – 1953) Adam Hornblow (1990 – 1993) Piers Sabine (1956 – 1960)

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Roderick Douglas

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Editorial

D

ear Old Clayesmorians Once again it’s time to welcome you all

to this year’s edition of The Old Clayesmorian. It’s been another busy year for OCs and the Society and I’d like to record my enormous thanks to Liisa Steele for all her work compiling this edition of the magazine from your stories, news and reports.

I hope to see many of you at the AGM & Dinner in January. This year’s event returns to Dorset and you can be sure of an excellent meal provided by the School’s in-house catering team, led by new catering manager, Nick Church. Please do book your tickets as soon as possible, and encourage your friends to do the same.

Lastly, please can I encourage you to keep us up to date with any changes to your contact details, either online at www.ocsociety.co.uk, or by mail to The OC Society Office, Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 8LL. Best wishes for 2018,

LOUISE SMITH (ROSS-KELLAWAY)

(1994-1998) Editor

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From the Chair

A

nother year has passed, another year of Clayesmore life, which is ever evolving and growing. The

relationship between the school and the Old Clayesmorian Society continues to be very strong and mutually supportive. Clayesmore has two strong characteristics: the pursuit of excellence for each and every pupil; and the willingness to develop and move forward in search of that. As the pages of this, once again excellent magazine attest, the School is brimful of positive energy in its staff, pupils and, of course, support from those of us who have been fortunate enough to have received

room being at the top of a rickety set of steps

the privilege of a Clayesmore education in

where the Business School now stands - a far

the past.

cry from today’s wireless technology, clouds and apps. Mindful of this, you will already

As we have welcomed Jo Thomson through

be aware that the Society is trying to do its

her first year of Headship at Clayesmore, I

bit for the environment and waste as little

think we can safely say she is no longer the

paper as possible by offering this magazine

‘new’ Head. The School has continued to

as a digital download. Over the coming years,

flourish under her leadership and we are

we are hoping to print fewer and fewer hard

most grateful for all that she does.

copies. If you wish to continue receiving a printed copy you will be able to, but the

I hope that many of you will have the

digital version is now the ‘default’ unless you

opportunity to attend the 2018 AGM and

specify otherwise.

Dinner at the School, our annual celebration As ever, we are grateful for the hours spent

always most enjoyable to return to Iwerne

on the monumental task of putting together

Minster to see friends old and new. This is

this issue of The Old Clayesmorian and I am

not, of course, the only opportunity to visit

sure you will agree that Louise Smith and

the School, and the wide variety of events on

Liisa Steele have done an excellent job! Many

offer continues to impress.

thanks to you both for all you have done in putting together such a splendid reflection of

These days, it’s difficult to think of any part

a busy school.

of our lives that isn’t utterly intertwined with technology or the digital domain. When I

May I wish all OCs, and your families, a lovely

was at Clayesmore, I remember the computer

Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

LOUISE SALMOND SMITH (THOMPSON)

(1989-1994) Chair

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

of all things OC. Always a jolly event, it is

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From the Head

T

his time last year, I was writing to you as a newcomer to Clayesmore. Now, as we’re about to wave goodbye to 2017, I feel a lot more as if I’ve got my feet both on the ground and under the desk. see more and more OCs over the course of the Spring and Summer terms.

The last academic year has been, as always, rigorous, culminating in yet another outstanding set of GSCE results for our Year 11s (fifth formers in old money). Similar success was seen in August’s A-level results, which enabled a vast majority of our Upper Sixth to be offered places at their first choice of university or college.

But it’s not just about the academic side of things: as many of you know, art, music, drama and sport are all areas in which Clayesmorians shine. Those of you who attend any of our events during the course of the year will see evidence of this and, as OCs, I do hope it makes you feel proud of the School and that its best traditions are being, not only preserved, but used as a foundation for a constant striving for progress and improvement in all fields.

All the time, we are demonstrating that Clayesmore is a force to be reckoned with but I like to think we do it with characteristic compassion, good humour and a healthy dose of humility.

I met quite a few of you at the beginning of 2017 when we gathered at Browns Courtrooms in London for our Lunch. This was a lovely affair and one, as I’m quickly learning, that is typically Clayesmorian. Warm, welcoming and usually fuelled by wine! I just wish there had been a few more of you with us…

In addition, various occasions such as cricket matches, Choral Day, the sponsored walk and the Guernsey reunion all served as a great way to

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Next year, in January, we will have what will be my first OC Dinner at the School. I’ve heard these evenings are very popular and I know that Liisa in the Society Office is angling to get as many of you to it as possible. Old Clayesmorians of all vintages are very welcome indeed and I hope the lure of coming back to Clayesmore itself encourages lots of you to dress up and join us.

Thanks are forthcoming to the OC Society for its generous donations to the School this year.

Superb fireworks at the Late Summer Party were paid for, as was the new Portland stone plinth for the Field Mortar, which at the time of writing has just been installed. Your donations to the Spinney Memorial Trust have also enabled a select group of Clayesmorians to branch out into their chosen fields and gain valuable experience in numerous ways: be it DT, sound recording or full immersion in German.

And also thanks to those of you who write to me, often with the most extraordinary memories of your time here and sometimes accompanied by mesmerising photographs of Iwerne in days gone by. It never ceases to amaze me how some things change and some stay the same; something many of you who visit comment on, too.

Please stay in touch, whatever you’re up to, and I hope to see you in January.

With my warmest wishes

JO THOMSON

Head

Society Office Report

D

ear Old Clayesmorians

Well, I’ve done a year and the Society hasn’t imploded yet so I’m glad to report things are shambling along quite nicely in the office!

It’s been busy, and challenging, as I’ve tried to get my head around the wonderful ways of the OC Society, but I think I’m slowly relaxing more into the role. Interspersed as it is with my other responsibilities, I’ve been prone to confusion at times but I’m getting there. Thank you to those who are patient and full of advice and are generous in refilling my glass at every function (you know who you are)…

Many of you have now met Jo Thomson, who sits at the helm of the School, epitomising its characteristic warmth and inclusivity; if you haven’t, do consider coming along to an event soon so you can meet her.

No matter which one you were, it is your memories and (hopefully) affection for

Keep abreast of what’s going on via the (your!) website: www.ocsociety.co.uk. You can book for events on there but don’t forget there are also Clayesmore Society things you can go to, which are bookable on the brand new School site at: www.clayesmore.com.

This year, back in January, we held the biannual lunch in London, and as always at these things, the atmosphere was wonderful: so warm, lots of laughter and genuine conviviality. Typically Clayesmore. This time around, we’re back to having the OC Dinner at the School this coming January and I know it will have that same feeling. I look forward to seeing you there.

With my best wishes to you all

LIISA STEELE

Clayesmore Society Officer

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Indeed, please come and meet me, too. There are rather a lot of you and it’s always nice to put names to faces whether it’s you doing it or me.

I really love hearing your school stories and it’s a particularly good day when I’m with a few OCs, all reflecting on Clayesmore life together: it’s funny how, no matter the ages of those present, they all end up basking in the glow of fond memories, usually interspersed with plentiful ribbing and laughter. People all seem to revert to school type, too: the loud one, the boffin, the chancer, the sensible one…

Clayesmore which give the Society its meaning, so my main aim is to get more of you to engage with it and its events. If you have any inclination to join in, whether as a participant or a driving force, please let me know. And if you have any ideas about ways in which you feel the Society can grow or develop, do say.

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OLD CLAYESMORIAN PRIZES

School Prizewinners Oliver Betts Ollie was worthy of an OC award because

The Hughes Business Studies Prize Louise Murmann

he represented the School at First Team level in Football, Hockey and Cricket. In addition, he is another Clayesmore success story in terms of his progress over his time

The Walser Efficiency Cup Guy Welch

at the School: he worked hard to secure results that he was proud of and he was also a Prefect.

Jack Davies Jack joined us in Year 13, whilst undergoing his final eight months of treatment for Leukaemia, which meant he essentially had to do two years’ study in one. We decided to make an award to him for embracing the Clayesmore Spirit and talking about the

The Young Award Jamie Holland The Scadding Prize Grace Piddington-Donald The Luboff Prize Laura Chaplin Theo Fraser

School during his regular visits to Dorchester Hospital and for making the best of the situation in which he found himself.

Ashley Parker Ashley did some very good work with the NCS (National Citizen Service), taking the

The Miller Prize Roger Elletson The Cheung All-Round Contribution Cup Edward de Boehmler

good name of Clayesmore to its National Council for the NCS, to which he was elected Chair for a period. He also ran at national level in cross country.

Anna Watson Anna took the name of Clayesmore to

The Gawain Towler Shield Arthur Carpenter The Alexander Gunn English Prize Harry Rodger

a wide audience as she was part of a traditional Chinese dance group and played numerous concerts around Dorset, singing and playing her guitar. She also had lots of paid acting and modelling work.

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The Roy McIsaac Choir Cup Benjamin Chick

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Grace Piddington-Donald The Scadding Prizewinner 2017

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OC AGM AND LUNCH JANUARY 2017

Events

O

n a rather drab Saturday last January, a hearty bunch of erstwhile school

chums met in central London for the Annual General Meeting of the Old Clayesmorian Society, held at Browns Courtrooms in St Martin’s Lane.

After the business of the day was over, more joined them for a tasty lunch where wine and conversation flowed as old friends caught up on news and shared memories of their school days in Iwerne. There were some people in that room who have known each other for over sixty years‌ Pretty splendid, we reckon.

The OCs were joined for the first time by new Head, Jo Thomson, who said a few words of greeting, and her husband, Frank. And Heads of School, Xavier Jones and Polina Vdovina, had travelled from Dorset to uphold the tradition of saying Grace. They proved perfect ambassadors for Clayesmore and many of the assembly company commented on their brightness, politeness and poise.

The food was good and the atmosphere as warm as one could wish it. Thanks to all who came; it was super to see you!

For minutes of the meeting please see page 105

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Attendees 2017

Events Andrew Beaton (1964 – 1969) Adam Hornblow (1990 – 1993)

Maggy Douglas (guest of Roderick Douglas)

Andrew Nurcombe (1951 – 1954)

Mark Farrand (1978 – 1981)

Bill Chennells (1952 – 1956)

Matt Swarbrick (1991 – 1995)

Clive Cohen (1944 – 1947)

Michael Beacham (1957 – 1961)

David Fangen (1961 – 1966)

Michael Selfe (1944 – 1946)

Frank Thomson – Head of PSHE (husband of Mrs Thomson)

Neill Pitcher (1957 – 1962)

Gus Shield (1978 – 1983) Henry Dryden (1959 – 1962) Hugh Thompson (1960 – 1964) James Hole (1958 – 1962) Jo Thomson – Head John Field (1973 – 1976) Liisa Steele – Clayesmore Society Officer Louise Salmond Smith (1989 – 1994)

Paul Smith (1989 – 1994) Piers Sabine (1956 – 1960) Polina Vdovina (2012 – 2017) Robert Mash (1952 – 1958) Roderick Douglas (1967 – 1971) Rodney Spokes (1957 – 1962) Steven Hare (1958 – 1962) William Parker (1963 – 1968) Xavier Jones (2010 – 2017)

Louise Smith (1994 – 1998)

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SPRING TERM OC DAY AND 1990s REUNION MARCH 2017

T

his year’s Spring Term OC Day

Meanwhile, a sturdy band of OC

was small but perfectly formed.

brothers took to the astro to do battle

As always, it was a warm and

with current pupils in the annual

relaxed affair, full of curiosity, laughter

hockey match. It was a madly ferocious

and just a little bit of nostalgia.

game, and superb fun to watch, ending in a defeat of the School by

This was all heightened by the

the Old Clayesmorians who, victorious

presence of former Headmaster, David

with their 3-2 win, sauntered into lunch

Beeby, and his wife, Anne, after a long

with a certain swagger…

absence from the School. We were so delighted they came up from their

Our ever-splendid catering

home in Lymington to see us and the

department served up a delicious roast

OCs and staff from their tenure were

beef with all the trimmings, followed

similarly honoured. There were many

by crumble, then it was upstairs

memories and stories being bandied

to delve into the 1990s archives: all

around and lots of giggling at past

“curtains” hair and shiny suits.

antics.

After that, it was tea and cake, hugs The Old Boys and Girls went on tours about the grounds, seeing the changes

To all OCs out there of all vintages: you

that have taken place here over the

should come to our reunions. Nobody

years, and seemed suitably amazed at

ever leaves without a warm glow

the transformation. They seemed quite

about them! And a sated appetite…

overwhelmed by the sheer scale of some of the work that has been done on site.

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and farewells.

of their old Houses and wandered

Events Sponsored Walk May 2017:

T

he Sponsored Walk was resurrected this year and proved both wellsupported and rather sunny.

We had 137 walkers over three local routes and the unsurpassable Dorset countryside around Clayesmore could not have looked more beautiful as they all set off, fuelled by delicious bacon and egg baps, juice and coffee.

Those eager participants who had planned their day were joined by enthusiastic(!) boarders, dragged into the fray by House Parents and the lure of tea and cakes upon their return.

Well done, all!

B

ack in May, we held the annual Wine Tasting Evening in the de Selincourt Room: an occasion designed to introduce the Upper Sixth to the work of the Old Clayesmorian Society and to encourage them to stay in touch while, er, sampling a selection of wines from around the globe.

The effects of said wines were tempered by the arrival of about a thousand pizzas‌ Nice to know we’re doing our bit for the local fast food economy!

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SIXTH FORM OC WINE TASTING & INDUCTION

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CHORAL DAY MAY 2017

Events

O

ur annual Choral Day was held early in May and proved the usual fabulous mixture of music, song and conviviality.

After a morning of rehearsals, the voluntary choir, consisting of OCs, parents, staff and other friends of the School, were joined by current Clayesmore pupils to practise for the evening’s performance.

Director of Music, Ralph Kerr, had chosen a varied programme, including Mass in G by Schubert and anthems by Mozart and Fauré, but it was the Beatus Vir by Monteverdi that proved, as predicted, the most challenging piece of the day.

However, after just a few hours of rehearsals together, they pulled it off and kept an enraptured audience entertained for an hour in the Chapel that evening. Accompanied by teachers and visiting musicians on strings and the organ, the sound was magnificent and filled the space with passion and glorious voice.

The finale, now a tradition, was a joint effort between performers and audience with a rousing “Jerusalem”: always guaranteed to get everyone going.

Well done to all involved: staff, voluntary singers, visitors, pupils, Mr Musson and Mr Kerr. It is always a superb occasion and this year proved as good as any.

Afterwards, some stayed on for a delightful supper party in the de Selincourt, where the catering department lived up to its stellar reputation by providing a delicious three course meal for the hungry throng.

If you’ve never been to Choral Day, make sure you come next year, to sing or to listen, you will not be disappointed.

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CITY LUNCH JUNE 2017

Events

T

he small matter of a General Election taking place that day was never going to stand in the way of a group of Old Clayesmorians and a good lunch. Hence, a hearty crowd of wine-quaffing folk gathered at usual haunt, Le Beaujolais in the West End, for steak frites, beaucoup de fromage and more than a soupçon of bonhomie.

Numbers were slightly up, with Gawain Towler, Emma Morris and Chris Johnston there and a first visit from the School’s Liisa Steele. Also present were Stephen Dover, Johan Van Dijk, Rory WhiteAndrews, Simon Swaby, David Fangen, Hamish Dow, Andrew Beaton, Piers Sabine and Hugh Thompson.

In 1936, he went to RAF College Cranwell and, as a bomber pilot, he flew over sixty missions and completed three tours of duty. He was awarded an AFC, DFC and DSO. The citation for the latter in the London Gazette (June 1945), when referring to his bringing a wounded plane home, stated: “this officer set a splendid example of skill, courage and tenacity.”

He was duly toasted in copious amounts of French vino and word has it that a hardy few stayed for some hours after the coffee had become cold and the Epoisses was crawling off the cheeseboard…

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Hugh, who organises this annual shindig, stood up to say some words in memory of OC, Squadron Leader Peter Livingstone Chilton (1918-75), who

was at the Prep School from 1925 to 1932. On leaving for Uppingham, it was said of him in The Clayesmorian: “he has been an outstanding example of cheeriness and loyalty.”

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T

he Clayesmore Society “Bright Young Things” Summer Ball was held in June and boy, did it go with a swing.

The weather could not have been kinder as flappers and fops, Gatsbys and gangsters, mobsters and molls gathered on the North Lawn to sip gin cocktails and drop sequins on the grass.

Dinner was served in the marquee, spectacularly

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decorated with flowers, feathers, scenic canvases and a magnificent gin bar. Each table was named after a character of the era with “Gussie FinkNottle”, “Cecil Beaton” and “Lord Sebastian Flyte” et al groaning under the weight of immaculate glasswear and elegant arrangements of anthuriums.

House Cake, adorned with colourful blooms, tasting every bit as wonderful as it looked.

A delicious meal was brought out and devoured, finished off with a real show-stopper of a pudding: English Summer

It was an absolute scorcher of a party; the Bright Young Things would have been proud…

Dancing to “Pocket Cat”, fronted by OC, Bryony Purdue, followed and the sweet sounds of jazz drifted into the night until carriages came at 1am to collect the revellers, speeding them to their beds.

Sequins & Spats: THE CLAYESMORE SOCIETY SUMMER BALL JUNE 2017

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It was an absolute scorcher of a party; the Bright Young Things would have been proud…

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She established “Back to the Future Day”, an event that involved asking some young Old Clayesmorians to return to Iwerne Minster to talk about their early experiences in the world at large after leaving school. Effectively, they were asked to speak about what advice they would give their 17-year-old selves, given what they know now, as young adults.

It was a brilliant plan and the young OCs were fantastic: bright, personable, witty and full of lots and lots of really useful

CHANNEL ISLANDS REUNION JUNE 2017

BACK TO THE FUTURE DAY JUNE 2017

I

n a splendid moment of inspiration, Head of Careers, Catherine Jacks, came up with a very good way to help steer her Lower Sixth students in the right direction, post-Clayesmore.

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advice for the Year 12s. For their part, the Lower Sixth were fully engaged and asked all sorts of questions on subjects prompted by the OCs’ individual experiences: decision-making, applying for, and life at, university, going straight into the world of work, what apprenticeships are like, gap years etc.

O

n a cloudy June weekend, Old Clayesmorian, Stuart Henley (1960 - 1963) and his wife, Bridget, very kindly opened the doors of their house in St Peter Port, Guernsey, to a gaggle of OCs, former parents and current staff.

They popped open numerous bottles of champagne and laid on some spectacular nibbles as friends old and new chatted and laughed. It was a great opportunity for Head, Jo Thomson, to make some connections with OCs who had attended Clayesmore before her tenure, so ensuring they would

know the door is still very much open to them now that she will prove a familiar face on the other side of it. At least to those who managed not to fall foul of The Macallan that was being passed around towards the end of the evening, who may struggle to remember who anybody was…

It was great fun and a typically Clayesmorian feeling of joy and goodwill prevailed, as it always does, with Stuart’s enthusiasm in remembering his alma mater extending to the hoisting of a School flag on the drive outside his house. Here’s to next year!

LATE SUMMER PARTY SEPT 2017

Events

C

layesmore always likes to start the academic year with a bang, and OCs, along with other members of the Clayesmore Society, enjoyed a fantastic party with fizz and canapĂŠs before an eyewatering fireworks display in September.

Despite some rather grim weather, the evening was a delight and Clayesmorians old and new took the chance to mingle as the grey clouds scudded overhead. It’s always a really relaxed and happy event and with excellent catering staff pouring out the prosecco, aided by some of Sixth Form Hospitality students circulating with delicious nibbles, it was a lovely do. Head, Mrs Thomson, said a few words of welcome, as did Chair of the Clayesmore Society, Fran Deeming, before the fireworks shot into the sky, echoing off the hill. A super start to the new year.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

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Leavers’ Destinations Morgan Andrews

Business Management, Bournemouth & Poole College

Grace Ashman

Business Management, Reading

Oliver Betts

Automotive Sales

Lisa Birkett

Childhood & Youth, Portsmouth

Ella Boreham-Wilson

Marketing, Oxford Brookes

Jack Brown

Sports Science, St Mary’s, Twickenham

Laura Chaplin

Theatre & Performance, Plymouth

Ben Chick

Agriculture, Harper Adams

Thomas Cowley

Chemical Engineering, Sheffield

Ross Crabbe

Mechanical Engineering, University of the West of England

Jack Davies

Computer Science, University of the West of England

Edward de Boehmler Real Estate, Reading

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Martha Dean

Fine Art, Bath Spa

Cameron Duncan Lyon

Medical Engineering, Swansea

Oliver Dustan

Geography/Geology, Plymouth

Roger Elletson Royal Marines

Verity Ellis

Paramedic Science, Surrey

Daria Ermolenko

English, Buckingham

Madelaine Fawcett Chinese, SOAS

Rory Ferguson

Catering course in Belfast

Alicia Fitzgerald

Modern Languages, Bristol

Isabelle Flute

Criminology, Roehampton

Luke Gardener

Games Technology, University of the West of England

Isabelle Gent

Events Management, Plymouth

Toby George

Acting Foundation, Glasgow School of Art

Leavers’ Destinations Daniel Gray

Music, Royal Holloway

Nicole Hall

Rufus Langton-Gilks

Modern Foreign Languages & Business Management, Northampton

Outward Bound Instructor Course, then NZ

Maxim Leonenko

Emilia Hancock

Jemima Lewin-Brandt

William Hehir

Alexander Lower

Economics & Politics, Edinburgh International Hospitality Management, Oxford Brookes

Ethan Hillyard

Biomedical Science, Nottingham Trent

Aimee Hockham

Festival & Event Management, Solent

Anna Hoehn

International Business, Oxford Brookes

Jamie Holland

Computer Science, Sussex

Toby Huthwaite

Electrical Engineering, Sheffield Art Foundation, Loughborough History, Manchester

Max Lyde NZ gap

Aiden May

Automotive Design, Coventry

Grace McCarthy

TV Production, Ravenbourne

Matthew Meredith

Accountancy & Finance, Cardiff

Henry Moore

Foundation Built Environment, Oxford Brookes

Xavier Jones

Sarah Morris

Olivia Judd

Jack Mostert

Aeronautical Engineering, Surrey Speech & Language Sciences, St Mark & St John

Ned Kellie-Smith Ski gap

Christian Lambert

Industrial Design, Loughborough

Retail Management, Bournemouth Creative Computing, Bath Spa

Emily Newitt

Art Foundation, Arts University, Bournemouth

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

History, Andover College

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Leavers’ Destinations Holly Nichols

Rachel Swan

Lola Ogunnaike

Arran Tattersall

Ashley Parker

Rose Teesdale

Art Foundation, Arts University, Bournemouth Biomedical Science, ARU Forensic Biology, Bournemouth

Grace Piddington-Donald Art Foundation, Camberwell

Imogen Pitts

Law, King’s College, London

Oliver Potter

Foundation Built Environment, Oxford Brookes

Ilya Rabinovich

Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Roehampton Biomedical Sciences, Reading International Hospitality Management, Cardiff Metropolitan

Benjamin Thompson Yacht crew course

Max Tipping

Business Management, London Metropolitan

India Treadway

Working/travelling/photography

Mechancial Engineering, Loughborough

Benjamin Varney

William Roxby

Polina Vdovina

Jack Spencer

Anna Watson

Molly Stephens

Pia Widman

Computer Networks, Bournemouth Apprenticeship International Hospitality and Management, Oxford Brookes

Eleanor Stevens

Criminology & Justice, Kent

Politics & International Studies, Warwick

International Relations, Edinburgh Drama, Exeter

Internship at Ernst & Young

Georgina Williams

Politics & International Relations, Kent

Egor Zvyagin

Events Management, BIMM

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Staff News

Pamela Vincent

P

am Vincent retired from the Prep School domestic staff this summer after 40 years, almost the entire life of the Seddon Building. In most workplaces, it

is not often that standards of cleaning are complimented, but visitors frequently observe that ours is the cleanest and tidiest school they have ever seen. That is down to the high standards established by Pam and all our domestic team.

We wish her well in retirement.

Will Dunlop Head of Clayesmore Prep

Debbie Geary

I

n July, we said farewell to someone whose dedication to the School spans almost the Prep’s entire time in Iwerne Minster.

Debbie Geary joined the Prep School in 1975, soon after it de-camped from Charlton Marshall, and remained with us as an outstanding teacher and pastoral leader until 2007. She was much loved and respected by her pupils, several of whom are now Clayesmore parents.

Soon after her retirement, she joined the Council of Governors and chaired the Prep wise advice based on long experience and a deep knowledge and love of Clayesmore. She was also the founding Chair of the Clayesmore Society. She left both posts at the end of the summer term, bringing to an end a remarkable 42 years of near-continuous involvement with the school. We are sure she will remain a great friend for many years to come.

Will Dunlop Head of Clayesmore Prep

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School Committee for two years, providing

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Andy Croft

T

his summer, the School bid farewell to catering manager, Andy Croft who, for the past 23 years, played a

key role in ensuring we were thoroughly fed and watered on a daily (and nightly) basis.

Andy joined the Clayesmore team as head chef in 1994, later becoming assistant catering manager, before taking over the reins as manager in 2011. During this time, he also somehow found time to teach part of the School’s BTEC Hospitality qualification, taking students into the school kitchen

whole School, right from the very youngest

to discover more about cooking on a

of pupils, sees a huge variety of food options

“Clayesmore” scale.

daily.

It is frequently commented that Clayesmore

Andy will be remembered fondly by any

is “never knowingly underfed”, and few,

number of Old Clayesmorians, not only from

if any, of the School’s countless visitors

their school days, when he tried to learn

realise the extent of the catering operation:

every pupil’s name, but from the numerous

anything from 100 packed lunches for a

functions he put on for the Society and the

field trip, canapés and drinks for an evening

fantastic OC Annual Dinners he has overseen

reception, match teas for 400 every Saturday

at Clayesmore.

afternoon, to just the day to day of feeding pupils and staff three cooked meals a day

Now Andy has hung up his apron and has

(that’s 1000 lunches alone).

plans to become a gentleman farmer, along with his partner, Ian. We wish them all the

As manager, Andy’s aim was to provide a

best and hope they’ll keep us updated with

mix of homely favourites with an eclectic

their news.

menu of international dishes, his belief that by giving the children choice they will choose a healthy diet for themselves. The

22

Louise Smith Head of Marketing

Staff News Moe Mitchell: Honorary Old Clayesmorian

M

oe left us last Christmas after a whopping 29 years of devoted service to Clayesmore. All those moons ago, she started off as a cleaner

at Devine and went on to become a much-loved Head of Household, overseeing operations with warmth, efficiency and killer nailpolish, and providing great creative support and imagination to all the Schools many events.

We’ve since heard she’s currently enjoying her retirement in Blandford, loving spending time with her grandchildren and not missing the early starts and staff rotas one bit!

Louise Smith

Head of Marketing

Rosalind Hunter Honorary Old Clayesmorian

R

os Hunter spent 43 years in the

A tribute to Ros’s time at Clayesmore

teaching profession arriving at

would not be complete without

Clayesmore to join the Learning

mentioning her other roles within the

Support team in 1998. Her teaching

School. She was a tutor attached to

career took her from her first job in

Wolverton, part of the duty team, an

Norfolk to schools around London,

‘honorary geographer’, but above all, a

Sussex, Berkshire and for a year to St

member of the staff rock band!

Lucia, before finally coming to Dorset. described her career at Clayesmore.

special place: stunningly beautiful with

She relished a challenge and with calm

happy pupils, a committed staff and a

determination worked for and with

terrific teaching facility. She spent many

her students to ensure they reached

happy years working as a specialist

their full potential. She was a highly

teacher, both full and part time, and

valued member of the Learning Support

her depth of knowledge of specific

Centre and the Clayesmore community.

learning difficulties and her dedication to teaching to the very highest standard have benefitted many pupils who have gone onto be very successful in life.

Anne Cowley Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Interesting and varied is how Ros Ros has always felt Clayesmore to be a

23

Julie Jackson Honorary Old Clayesmorian

J

ulie joined the Clayesmore family

Julie threw herself into all aspects

in 2000 when she was appointed,

of life at Clayesmore. She was part

by Martin Cooke, as the Head of

of the boarding house; living in and

Nursery. Having made her mark on the

working to look after boarders during

School’s youngest members, she was

the evening and at bedtime, which

the obvious choice to become Head

included getting the keen swimmers

of Pre-Prep when the position became

up at 6am for morning swim training!

available in 2004, and for the following

Her sporting contribution didn’t stop

thirteen years, led the team until she

there: her love of hockey meant that

retired at the end of the summer term.

she was keen to be involved with both

Julie was also a member of the Prep

the training of pupils and playing on

School Senior Leadership Team, where

any staff teams.

her contribution and insights into wider school matters were valued.

Julie is not planning to retire completely; in fact, nobody who knows

The building of the new Pre-Prep in

Julie would ever think she was ready for

2007 was one of the developments

retirement. No, her raison d’etre is to be

Julie helped to steer, alongside changes

footloose and fancy free: to pick and

in the curriculum, the development of

choose when, where and for how long

the co-curricular programme and the

she wants to spend working each year,

expansion of the after school provision.

if at all; to travel when it is cheap; and

No mean feat whilst nurturing a class

to be able to spend more of her week

of littlies! To make learning fun was at

keeping fit, meeting with friends and

the centre of all Julie’s decision making,

generally having a great time!

with an emphasis on developing

24

every part of a child’s life, not just their reading, writing and arithmetic.

Anne Cowley Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning)

Staff News

Tony Waller

T

he School’s Chilli & Cubana evening last January was long-serving staff member, Tony Waller’s, swan song at Clayesmore.

Tony joined the Prep staff in October 1990 as a brass teacher and shortly became head of instrumental studies there. He soon began teaching Senior school pupils as well, founding the Clayesmore Concert Band in April 1991. Under Tony’s baton, pupils toured Germany, Spain, Italy and Austria and in recent years he founded the Jazz Orchestra.

Many hundreds of Clayesmorians will have fond memories of music with Mr Waller and the subject with his retirement gifts, Director of Music, Ralph Kerr, said: “I was bowled over when I first heard the Jazz Orchestra. They are as good as it gets in a school and this is down to Tony. We are enormously grateful to him, and sorry to bid him farewell, but wish him the very best of luck in the future.”

Liisa Steele Clayesmore Society Officer

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received a huge boost under his lead. Presenting him

25

Staff News Marie Parsons

I

n July of this year, all at Manor House bade a fond farewell to Marie Parsons, who left us after more than 30 years of outstanding

service to Clayesmore.

Marie was always more than simply a cleaner within Manor. She was a term-time mother for “her boys”, a warm and caring colleague, a keen pastoral eye around House and an enthusiastic singer as she went about her daily tasks (!). Marie will be hugely missed by all who had the pleasure to work with her.

A presentation in the Chapel on a hot and sunny July morning saw her serenaded with a song from The Wizard of Oz by a Manor barber shop quartet as she left. We all hope that she will enjoy life Somewhere Over the (Retirement) Rainbow - and that she will remain a frequent visitor to Manor in the years ahead.

Michael McKeown Housemaster of Manor

Mrs Nan Dennett

I

s this lady Clayemore’s oldest ex employee?

Mrs Nan Dennett who worked as a member of the Prep School housekeeping team at both Charlton Marshall and Iwerne Minster is pictured here at her 104th birthday party with ex Prep member of staff, and Honorary OC, Mike Geary.

26

Mike Dyer

A

s the nights grow longer and colder, you may find it hard to recall the summer, but you shouldn’t find it

hard to recall the very tall and well-dressed individual (although he did have a rather dubious taste in ties that never quite seemed to reach down to his belt buckle, as required

by Debrett’s) known as Mike Dyer, known to most as, simply, “The Bursar”.

Mike succumbed to a seven year itch and retired in July, leaving behind a Clayesmore

oil (or woodchips, now we have Biomass)

that is greatly improved for his having been

and would often be seen in the office at

here. During his tenure, Mike oversaw the

weekends as well.

building of a new Design and Technology Mike’s love for Clayesmore was exemplified

the Biomass heating system, to name just

by his love for the Wednesday roast lunch,

three. However, his legacy is far wider than

particularly if pork was on the menu (extra

that, with many considerable improvements

crackling please) and it is rumoured that he

to the facilities across the campus that have

is well on his way to losing the “Clayesmore

added huge benefits and value to both pupils

Stone’” that he would warn all new staff

and staff.

members about.

Mike was a man of great character and

Mike has now literally sailed off into the

integrity who could always be relied upon

sunset as he has bought himself a retirement

for an honest word and who would treat

gift of a new luxury yacht that would make

everyone with equal dignity and respect. Of

Sir Phillip Green look across the bay in envy.

course, as an old “war horse” he had many

Everyone at Clayesmore will want to wish

a tale to tell of his time in the army, and for

him (and Annie) a very long and happy

those of us lucky enough to work with him

retirement and look forward to meeting up

on a daily basis we heard them frequently,

with him to hear some new and interesting

although unfortunately it was often the same

sailing stories!

story. Mike’s dedication to Clayesmore was absolute and he would often be the last one out in the evening after burning the midnight

Alan Povey Assistant Bursar

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Extension, the Business School and of course

27

BEING ALIVE IS SUCH GOOD FUN

Hugh Thompson (1960 – 1964) looks at the life of the School’s most famous author, Julian Rathbone

Features & Contributions

28

T

oday, few Clayesmorians leave the Sixth Form without the required A-Levels for university. That was not always the case so the fact that Julian Rathbone (1948 - 1953), a scholarship boy, left Iwerne with only English A-Level was not totally surprising. Though the fact that he went onto Cambridge, got a good degree and became a best-selling author, twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize, shows that the times then were rather different.

Although the Rathbone name has been famous for several hundred years for its business, philanthropic and artistic achievements, Julian’s side of the family was very much a junior and discredited branch. His uncle was the famous actor, Basil Rathbone, and distant cousins today run the synonymous financial house. But Julian’s father, although Oxford educated, was something of an Evelyn Waugh anti-hero. He ran a prep school into the ground, had a bad marriage which did not end in divorce, had a traumatic war, came back and lived on family charity and had a succession of seedy businesses.

As his first marriage did not end in divorce he could not marry Julian’s mother and this status meant he was cut off from the main Rathbone inheritance.

It is often said that those who can barely afford to send their children to fee paying schools do their children a disservice. Not for them the nice holidays and the fashionable clothes, the pocket money and the half term treats. The Rathbones were so pinched that they could not afford a car until Julian had left Clayesmore. To make ends meet, the

family silver was, literally, sold. In fact, Julian only attended Clayesmore because it offered the best scholarship. He had a place at Winchester and a minor scholarship at Lancing but Clayesmore outbid them with £200 a year. But the £150 a year his father had to find was half his wages. As an only child, not only was Rathbone spoilt but fiercely loyal.

“Dad was far better person than I ever was, he fought bad luck with real stoicism. Constantly made sacrifices beyond, to use a favourite phrase of his, the call of duty. It was not my fault, I did not ask to go to boarding school”.

Having lost the hearing in one ear and suffered from TB at prep school, Rathbone was always going to be an arty rather than a hearty. He won prizes in maths, history and poetry. He was active in the heraldry, debating, music and drama societies. He tells of dirty jokes and of cheating to get the all-important Latin qualification which his father said was essential for Oxbridge and becoming a gentleman.

Spinney’s history of Clayesmore writes extensively of Rathbone’s role in the very involved canoe/naval battles that took place on the lake. He became a Junior Prefect.

Rathbone would write: “my minor public school was jolly and untaught me everything I knew. I was the top scholar.” In the 1970s, he and former master Appleby lunched together, “something that meant a lot to both of them”. Rathbone died in 2008. His widow, Alayne Pullen, says: “I only heard

fond (almost idyllic) memories of his time at Clayesmore. I believe he felt truly fortunate to have been there and thought it offered him a more liberal education than elsewhere; one that gave him a certain amount of freedom to explore where his talents and interests lay.”

In 2002 he gave the speech at the OC Dinner at Simpsons when he mentioned that the all-important scene in his best-selling, Saxon saga, The Last English King, of a bonfire on Hambledon, was based on the Coronation celebrations when he was at school. He admits that it was Appleby who turned him onto Wellington, who became something of a lifetime obsession. Three of his thirty-nine books were based on the Peninsular war.

“It was a strange school in that it divided very sharply between arties and hearties. There was a lot of, on the whole, good natured rivalry between the two factions and that stimulated my writing poetry and stories.

Appleby’s interest was a big boost. I won prizes for writing.”

One last word from Clayesmore, of his performance in the school production of Pygmalion a reviewer would write: “Displayed aggravating calm, a keen social sense and shrewd insight.”

At certain points he considered following in the family footsteps and becoming either a painter or an actor. A crucial role at Cambridge went to David Jacobi and he made 30 guineas for a piece for Punch. His father broke the bank and doubled that fee.

“The writing was almost but not exactly an accident. My parents were very literaryminded; they really valued writers. I was encouraged to read.“ After Cambridge he went to Turkey to teach English. His three years in what was a very third world country confirmed his left wing tendencies. His father died in a drunken motor accident and the loyal son came home to look after his mother. School teaching followed and he became head of English in a major comprehensive in Bognor, where she lived. By the end of the l960s, three novels based on his Turkish experiences had been published.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

He failed to get into his father’s Oxford college, Wadham, but with a bit of coaching went onto read English at Magdalene College, Cambridge. There, Rathbone was taught by the legendary F R Leavis and fellow students included Bamber Gascoigne and Sylvia Plath. He later said: “English was a dolly; all you had to do was read a few books and comment on them sensibly and that was enough for a 2:1.” At the time, that class of degree was restricted to 15% of graduates.

It was typical of his varied, colourful character that although his left wing tendencies despised the privilege, arrogance and smugness of Oxbridge, he loved his time there and wanted his daughter to go. She went to Warwick and is now a high-flying

human rights lawyer. His son is a successful musician. Both went to state schools. His son is called Arthur out of his respect for the Iron Duke and his wife’s regard for the trade union leader Scargill.

29

character is a rogue, English and Italian by birth, but the hero who makes occasional stirring appearances is Arthur Wellesley: Wellington.”

No picture of Rathbone is complete without him in a large hat, a cloak and many rings. I asked his widow if these were for dramatic or creative effect or from a desire to be different and mysterious. She said: “All these things.

Julian liked to be noticed. He liked to be the centre of attention. He had unswerving self-belief and enjoyed playing the writer. It was a persona he positively cultivated and his appearance was an important part.”

“ At a school reunion when he was 38 he met up with Alayne Pullen, a 20-year-old exstudent, then at Southampton University.

He gave up teaching, they travelled, lived in various countries, books poured off his type writer, they had two children, her career as a translator took off. He wrote thrillers, historical novels, autobiographical fiction.

His refusal to be pigeon-holed as an author maybe a reason he never made the very front rank. His distaste for the bullshit and hype of publishing marketing didn’t help.

His two Booker shortlisted titles were in 1974, King Fisher Lives, “which contained incest, oral sex and cannibalism. If Lady (Harold) Wilson had not been on the committee it might have won. She made it clear to the other judges that a book as filthy as KFL should not, could not, be a winner.” As it happens Rathbone wrote about sex often and very well. A period in Spain followed, which gave the backdrop for several books including Joseph, which was shortlisted in 1979.

30

“Joseph is a historical picaresque set in Spain during the Peninsular War. The central

I only heard fond (almost idyllic) memories of his time at Clayesmore.

”

As he said in his pomp: “I am a fun loving, frivolous hedonist, occasionally irresponsible, sometimes rude, always out for a good time.

Some of the jolliest moments have been spent in bars chatting up ladies of a similar outlook on life.” All well and dandy but when it came to keeping the family together, as daughter, Nina, said: “It was mum who was the glue.”

Julian Rathbone was cruelly struck down after a long battle with cancer in 2008, aged 73. When he was diagnosed as terminal, he quipped: “Well at least I won’t be getting dementia” (like his mother). It was doubly tragic as after a dull period when his books didn’t sell well, there followed The Last English King in 1997, inspired by seeing the film “Braveheart”. This is still in print, other good sellers followed and he became “hot”.

He was moving from being a jobbing writer to something of a star and then came the cancer. As his wife said: “No one can say he peaked too early.”

Features & Contributions Some last words: “Two things a writer, no matter how good he or she is, needs are luck and vanity. Talent? Well look around; not many as talented as me.

Forget talent. I’ve been as lucky as I wanted or needed to be.”

“Art is not serious, it is frivolous. It is subversive. It is ludic, it’s a Kubrik train set. It’s the best thing we have on this squidgy planet. I can get very angry at people who take themselves too seriously.”

“He had an incredibly varied career, it was a privilege to have known him.”

His widow, Alayne, who has been such a great help in putting this article together, says: “He was good at anything he enjoyed but reluctant to engage in anything he didn’t. He did love life. We put his words on his gravestone: “Being alive is such good fun.”

What’s the least important part of a sentence? The full stop of course.

Hugh Thompson (1960 – 1964)

B

ack in August, we were visited by Robert Muir, who is on a quest to discover as much as possible about his great uncle, Desmond Coke.

Coke was, of course, formerly a master at Clayesmore in its Northwood Park days and was, it is said, earmarked to become Head after Lex, but his ill health prevented this.

He was, by all accounts, very highly-respected and, in turn, he clearly loved the School. He showed this not just by serving it but also by donating very large sums of money both during his life and in his will.

Robert continued in the family tradition by giving us a collection of Coke’s books, which we look forward to putting into the Burney Library which itself is named after Coke’s nephew, Gilbert, who attended Clayesmore and was killed in action in WWI. There’s something definitely full circle about that.

Thank you, Dr Muir.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

DESCENDANT OF COKE BRINGS US BOOKS!

His friend and fellow Wellington scholar-author, Bernard Cornwall, interviewed him (it’s online) and said:

31

MEMORABILIA

Features & Contributions

32

A

As you will see from the enclosed, I was one of the most recently appointed members of the Clayesmore School staff in 1955. I am now 87 and going through some old boxes, I found this booklet and its enclosures.

Rather than throw it all away, I wondered if the school might like to have it.

Richard Snailham (Staff from 1955 – 1958)

A BRAVE CLAYESMORIAN!

I

am part of the diaspora of OCs living in far-flung parts of the world, namely Las Vegas for the last 32 years.

I never throw anything away on the premise that it might just be useful one day, so I have my report cards, pictures and magazines from school that might be of interest.

Ken Partridge (I “did time” at Clayesmore Prep 1959 – 1963 and Senior 1963 – 1967) (Ken sent us a huge amount of memorabilia from his time here including, very bravely, his old school reports! - Ed)

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33

“So you’re going to see the Northern Lights, eh?” someone commented. “Well, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Blackpool!” It was no use trying to explain, they had

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

no idea where Norway was!

34

O

ur Cruise & Maritime ship for this twoweek voyage into the Arctic Circle was the Astoria, launched nearly 70 years ago in Sweden as MS Stockholm. It has the longest history and is the smallest of any existing cruise liner and “Astoria” is its tenth name. It was totally refurbished in the early 1990s and now carries 550 passengers in 260 cabins, each with an en suite bathroom. The advantages that CMV’s small ships have are that much smaller ports can be visited, you get to know other passengers more readily, there is a more personal touch to the service and one can find all the facilities easily!

We discovered the main disadvantage on the second and third night out when the North Sea got a bit rough and we were tossed about rather vigorously!

But that was after a calm crossing from Tilbury, Essex, to Amsterdam, where we took a bus tour and did some souvenir shopping.

I managed to get lost and

we had to catch a “tuk-tuk” back to the coach park!

That was quite a hair-raising experience as there is nothing between you and the traffic in front and to the side! If you look carefully, you can see the thousands of bicycles parked down the centre and to the right of the avenue in the centre of town.

We arrived in Bergen rather storm-tossed and were grateful we had not booked an excursion, having been into the town on a previous cruise to the fjords and found it rather uninspiring.

Fortunately, there are

Amsterdam

activities such as quizzes, lectures, games, cards and crafts on board during the day, even in port. There is also a casino, spa and fitness centre, photo shop and duty-free and two films run throughout the day on the TV. On days at sea we also rehearsed the “Astoria Pop Choir” to sing at the end of the voyage. There are regular performances of easy-listening music by duos in the bars throughout the day and the Show Team and Orchestra perform in the Show Lounge each evening.

There is also a late evening film in the Auditorium and a disco in the Night Club.

Features & Contributions From Bergen we cruised overnight to Andalsnes, a small town at the mouth of the river Rauma. We took the excursion coach up the Romsdal Valley to the ski centre at Bjorli and returned on the Rauma Railway.

The scenery is some of the finest in Norway and the line passes spectacular peaks and rock faces such as the Trollveggen (Troll Wall), which crosses the stunning 260ft-high Kylling Bridge and does an 180° turn inside a mountain. It is sad that the chief engineer was so ridden with doubt that the two bores would meet that he committed suicide a week before the breakthrough was made only an inch out. The area has attracted tourists since 1883 with its good salmon fishing and awesome rock climbing and now with its skiing, kayaking, hiking and cycling.

Our next port of call was Honningsvaag, which claims to be the northernmost city Aurora Borealis

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

We were not looking forward to the following night/day/night which was to be spent at sea. However, the captain had the foresight to get permission from the company to take on board a pilot to guide us through the channels between the mainland and the islands that abound off the coast of Norway nearly to Tromso, our next port of call. Thus we were sheltered from the worst of the storms and arrived ready for our next adventure: a half-hour sled-ride drawn by eight huskies!

Tromso is the second largest city after Murmansk north of the Arctic Circle and lies 217 miles into the Arctic region. Although the city is warmer than most at the same latitude due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream (only a few degrees below freezing) we were glad to have invested in some thermal clothes before we left the UK! The activities centre has about 300 dogs in outdoor kennels and five puppies which they carefully counted before we left the site! The puppies are not trained but are observed during their first nine months to see what characteristics they exhibit, so they can be placed in the best position in the pack drawing the sled – e.g. “leader”, “follower”, “excitable”. The ride-on reindeer skins on a wooden base was a bit bone-shattering at times but we would not have missed it for the world. We were treated to hot drinks and chocolate cake before returning to our ship. Joyce only told me afterwards how she had lain awake worrying about the whole thing for weeks beforehand!

35

Features & Contributions

in the world. It is the largest fishing port in Norway and has a high concentration of processing works. The city, like many others, was razed to the ground by the retreating German army in 1944, with only the church remaining standing. At this latitude, the sun shines continuously from 15 May to 31 July and does not rise from 21 November to 23 January, so the length of day we had was similar to that in the UK.

36

Back on the western coast and far inland at the head of the fjord at Alta, the next day promised to give us the best chance of seeing the Aurora as there are several choices of viewpoint and the local excursion organisers are expert in selecting the one most suited to the weather conditions. But before we went on the evening excursion, we caught the shuttle bus into town and continued our souvenir shopping in the recently-opened mall. Norway is generally an expensive country in which to shop, but the northern towns seem more reasonable, perhaps because they rely to a much greater

extent nowadays on tourism. Our excursion “in search of the Aurora Borealis” departed from Alta mid-evening with a semi-overcast sky but with the news that a 70km journey should take us to an activities centre on the coast where the sky was clear. And so it turned out! We were provided with hot drinks, seated on reindeer-skin-covered benches round camp fires, under a brilliant star-filled sky which made you feel you could reach out and pluck one from the heavens.

Soon we were treated to the spectacle for which we had journeyed all that way: the Aurora Borealis. What a thrill it was to see this extraordinary phenomenon. After half an hour or so the display faded.

On our return to the ship around midnight we were delighted to find that a buffet supper had been laid on for us and we took some refreshment before retiring for the night, content that we had achieved what we set out to do some twelve months earlier when we booked the cruise!

The next 60 hours were spent at sea as we voyaged down the coast to Alesund. Once again, the North Sea showed its rough streak and the magician couple had to be replaced by one of the male show singers in cabaret.

When he passed our seats on the way back to the sound booth, I congratulated him on a great performance and mentioned he had sung one of our favourite solos: Elvis’s “Can’t help falling in love”. He suggested that I might like to duet with him if we came to the second show later that evening, so we went although I really thought he was joking.

When he came to sing the song, he told the

audience that he was “going to join his friend Anthony” and came and handed me the microphone! I was a bit stunned but managed to make a fairly good job of the song and was thrilled when several people around the ship said “well done” the next morning.

The town of Alesund is unusual in that its architecture is consistently Art Nouveau as it was rebuilt between 1904 and 1907 following a devastating fire, the worst of those experienced by many Norwegian towns which were built largely of wood. Being at the mouth of a fjord, it played a significant part in providing communication flights to England and Scotland for the Norwegian resistance during WW2.

Our last day in Norway was spent in and around Stavanger, the country’s third largest city, which was founded on the completion of its cathedral in 1125! However, there are traces of human settlement in the area from the ice age 10,000 years ago. The cathedral was built under Bishop Reinald, thought to be Bishop Reginald of Winchester, who was said to have persuaded the local “king” to make atonement for divorcing his queen by financing the project. The city developed around the cathedral and recently saw a rapid expansion when it became the Norwegian centre for oil exploration in the North Sea.

The excursion we joined took us out of town to an area of outstanding natural beauty and to the largest rock-fall in Europe where some of the rocks are as big as a two-storey house. Refreshments, which included thick “doughy” pancakes with strawberry jam and sour cream, were taken in a huge natural cave which had been turned into an hospitality centre attached to a massive craft and tourist souvenir shop (no doubt the cost of “free” refreshments was covered by the profit from our purchases!)

It is only fair to record that goods in these shops are of excellent quality and in our opinion represent good value for money.

The final leg of our cruise was the return south across the North Sea to Tilbury which meant another day at sea. We were fortunate in that the storms had abated and the crossing was smooth because it was on that day that the 21 members of the “Astoria Pop Choir” had their final rehearsal and gave a short concert in the Show Lounge to an appreciative audience of some 60 passengers.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Thus ended a memorable and most enjoyable cruise.

Beats Blackpool every time!

Anthony Prewett (1942 - 1953)

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A FAMILY HISTORY OF IWERNE HOUSE

M

y grandmother, Elsie Curtis, worked at Clayesmore at the age of 14, which would have been 1917/18. She was a housemaid with her sister Nell. My grandmother told me her first job every morning was to scrub the stone steps leading to the turret and she got one day off a week, when she would walk back to the family in Shapwick. Her father would set off from there on a pushbike and give her a twos-up back to their home, returning her to Clayesmore for work the next morning.

In 1980, Elsie gave me an aspidistra which I still have.

Through the years I have divided and gifted it to family and I gave one to Wolverton around 2008 and last time I checked they still had it.

Wendy Trim is my grandmother’s youngest child. Her husband, John, worked throughout the School as a contractor doing decorating and carpentry for Anne Seddon and Mr Crowley in the late 1970s to early 1980s. He decorated the Ismay room for the BBC for the filming of “Only Fools & Horses”.

38

My father, Roy Lucas, my grandmother’s youngest boy, helped John with some of this work. One job was the decoration of Manor Housemasters’ accommodation between Mr Macdonald leaving and Mike Jones’ arrival.

Steve Lucas by OC Ella Pickford

John was asked to join the maintenance team, but declined. My dad was asked and accepted a full time position as decorator in the early 1980s. My father was the last person to paint/maintain Wolverton windows off a ladder!

The most frustrating job he had to do was paint the Chapel ceiling three times in succession as Mrs Beeby kept changing her mind on the colour.

The proudest job was the decorating of the drawing rooms and highlighting of the mouldings in there. I will always be grateful to Martin and Eleanor Cooke for allowing me to bring my

father back to those rooms for a cup of tea when he was very ill, so he could reconnect with that part of his life. My father retired in about 1997, when he was 65, and he had made it very clear to us during his work for Clayesmore how happy he had been. He died in 2011.

I was, coincidentally, planting bulbs around the campus at the time. At my father’s funeral I said to family and friends that, with the School’s permission, I would place in each planting hole a personal item of his. This would then be a memorial to him when the bulbs were in flower.

Features & Contributions As some of the items were watches I did not tell many people, and the other items included sport medals, glass cases, nail clippers, wallets, combs etc. I ran out of items before I reached the end and was going to get some more but, before doing so, I counted up how many holes had had items placed in them and there were 80. As dad was in his 80th year I decided this was apt and left it at that.

Kevin Noyce is my grandmother’s great grandson

I worked at Fontmell Parva house as Head Gardener from 1998 to 2004. The history of that house is that it started as a hunting lodge for the Clayesmore estate. There is a dry moat around it with a raised up entrance as they used to keep the animals underneath as underfloor heating. Either side of the main entrance, carved into the stone, are two talbot hunting dogs. The name of the pub in Iwerne Minster is the Talbot.

Back in 1978/79, I lived in Iwerne Minster with Caroline, who was to become my wife, and we used to come to the lake during the holidays and swim.

There was a wooden jetty on the west side we could dive off!

I started work at Clayesmore in February 2005 as Head Gardener and I now work on a part time basis for the Gardens and Grounds team.

Steven Lucas (Clayesmore Staff since 2005)

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Wendy started work in 1985 in the original tuck shop, which was then where the Sports Centre car park is now. They were moved to portacabins in the shrubbery in 1987/88 whilst the Social Centre was being built for 1989. In 1991/92 the clothing and tuck shops were combined. In 1999 Wendy took over as manageress of both shops until her retirement in 2007. Wendy enjoyed her time at Clayesmore and still enjoys reading The Old Clayesmorian to keep track of people and students she knew. Wendy’s children, Paula, Susan and Peter worked at the Prep School and in the kitchens at weekends and evenings.

from her third child, Betty.

Kevin runs the clay pigeon shooting at Clayesmore, having taken it over from my uncle, his grandfather, Jock (Albert) Cochrane.

Background photo is of Caroline, later Steve’s wife, on the frozen 39 lake in the 1970s.

BRUCE (VBH) VENOUR

Features & Contributions

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ruce (VBH) Venour is now 93 and recently diagnosed with cancer. He was at Clayesmore in the 1930s and wrote this poem about one sunny, early autumn day in 1940, when he was in the Sixth Form and the Battle of Britain was raging. His name is on the Prefects’ Board and he played for the First XV. Bruce stayed on in the Army after the war and served in Burma, Palestine, Malaya and Korea. He married his German wife, Vera, in 1953 and had four children: me, my brothers Malcolm and Anthony (who were both Clayesmorians) and Tom. Anthony died of an asthma attack whilst still at Clayesmore, aged 17, and a very moving memorial service was held for him in the School Chapel, to the strains of Fauré’s Requiem.

Bruce emigrated to Germany with Vera rather late in life, aged 82, and now has both British and German citizenship.

He speaks very fondly of his time at Clayesmore and is thrilled that I have just moved into Iwerne Minster, into “The Old Co-op” on Tower Hill, which he and his friends would frequent for bread, biscuits and sweets!

I know that his poem was printed in The Old Clayesmorian a few years ago, which pleased him immensely; I wonder if you might be able to use it for your Service of Remembrance this November?

Saskia Darrell

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(Indeed, we did use it, Saskia attended the service with her daughter, Georgia, and we love it so much we’ve printed it again. Thanks from us all at Clayesmore! - Ed)

Remembrance of a Day Let that gold autumn in my memory stand As held in amber on a Baltic strand.

The sun that shone upon those Dorset hills The vapour trails, the count of kills My friends and I were young.

No work to do that day, we thought we will Go where the mushrooms grow on Iwerne hill And gather, cook and eat them then and there And that we did and laughed all unaware My friends and I, what web was spun.

Within two years one died beneath the sea, Drowned for his country, leaving Craig and me; And in another year he too had died In flames above the German countryside.

Now I am old and they are young.

Bruce Venour (1937 - 1941)

H

ere are some photographs, all believed to be from 1956, lent to us by Clayesmore employee, Liz Wilson, whose grandfather, Herbert Henry Adlem, was a stonemason who worked on the building of the School Chapel.

He is second from right in the photo taken in front of the stained glass window.

Herbert lived in Marnhull, very close to where Liz lives now. She’s not sure if he was an employee of the School “but he was given a gold watch when he left!”

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STONE ME!

Features & Contributions

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MR BENN GOES WALKING (WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM AN OC)

Features & Contributions

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1980s BBC cartoon character has got a real Putney pathway named after him.

The much-loved Mr Benn lived at 52 Festive Road, which was based on riverside Festing Road in Putney, south west London, where his creator, the cartoonist David McKee, lived in the l970s. “I changed the name to Festive,” says McKee, “as I felt the real name sounded to much like festering!”

In the last ten years, the residents of Festing Road, led by Hugh Thompson (1960 - 1964), an OC, who lives at McKee’s old house, number 54, have done a lot to keep this piece of national culture alive. In 2009, they clubbed together to have a commemorative Festive Road paving stone put down and Mr McKee came over from his home in France while Councillor (now Wandsworth’s Mayor) Jim Maddon did the honours. Since then, there have been several street parties where Mr Benn and his various characters (pirate, chef, caveman, knight etc) have been the fancy dress theme.

Now, in this year of Mr Benn’s 50th anniversary, the street is going one better and after a petition and getting planning approval, the pathway between Festing and Ashlone Roads has been named Festive Walk in his honour and the signs went up in August.

David McKee said: “Of all the places I have lived, Festing Road is perhaps the best.

Friendly, quiet and humane in proportions, it was natural to place Mr Benn next door to myself and use some of the residents in street scenes. To have Festive Walk so named is an honour for Mr Benn and myself, we are both very flattered! We wish the residents of the road as much happiness in living there as we had.”

Retired journalist, Hugh Thompson, says: “It’s a wonderful excuse for communal action and identity. Most in the road love the idea that they are part of such an upbeat and positive character as Mr Benn. Some have talked of trying to get the name of the road changed, which would be very complicated and probably impossible, but this is fun and affordable.

“There are one or two newcomers in the road who say they have never heard of Mr Benn. They have now... ”

He brought with him a very special gift, painted by another OC and gifted artist, John Eveleigh (1940 - 1944), who recently died (see In Memoriam).

We were absolutely delighted to see Frank and his wife, Maud, and to receive this spectacular landscape that will be positioned somewhere it can be appreciated by staff, pupils and visitors alike. Do have a look for it when you’re next in.

Meanwhile, here’s a picture of a very grateful Head with honoured guest, Frank. Thank you so much from all of us at Clayesmore, past, present and, we’ve no doubt, future.

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ere’s an image some of you may recognise. It’s Barber’s Cottage in Iwerne Minster, looking a lot more serene back in what we think is 1907, judging by the faded postmark on the back of the card. Former owner of Iwerne House, James Ismay, is said to have been instrumental in arranging for a certain Charlie Brooks, who lost a leg in the Battle of the Somme, training as a barber in London so he could return and work in the village. This is where Charlie plied his trade for the rest of his life, hence the name. Of course, it remains a lovely house; it’s just the passing juggernauts that spoil it, somewhat…

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A LOOK BACK IN TIME

CLAYESMORE’S ARTISTIC TRADITION CONTINUES...

W

e were visited back in March by Frank Hirshfield (formerly Kaufmann, 1950 - 1952), Old Clayesmorian and renowned sculptor.

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FOSTERING IN THE EIGHTIES

O

h, no, not the 1980s, but for those, like me, born before 1936. And that was some years (you may not ask!) before my lovely wife…

At the time we met in 1989, we had both lost our partners. Joyce had two daughters and two sons aged between 27 and 16 and I had a daughter of 30 and a son of 5.

Joyce worked at a project for homeless 16 to 21 year-olds in Rotherham and I was a trade association executive living in London.

We met when I employed Joyce’s younger daughter as live-in nanny to my son. For three and a half years after we married in 1991, I lodged in London during the week and retired at 60 in 1994. It was then that we saw an advertisement for an open day on fostering, which interested Joyce as her children had left the nest and she saw the opportunity as an extension of her wide experience of caring for children throughout her adult life. I saw it as an opportunity to give back to the town and its disadvantaged children something of the privileged existence I had led, the love and care my son had received and the support of this new, large family that we had brought together which I had never experienced before.

Joyce was still employed when we went through the selection and training programme early in 1995 and took our first

placement towards the end of the summer term that year. Disaster! The seemingly placid and compliant 9-year-old lad had school phobia and a violent temper and we had no experience (nor wanted any) of restraint or defending ourselves and he was returned to the residential home after 6 weeks.

Our confidence somewhat shaken, the authority was very supportive and our next placement in November was of a 6-yearold boy who was programmed to return to his mother over the next couple of months.

Sadly, the mother took progressively more care of her addict boyfriend and failed to come to contact or parenting classes, so he stayed with us, later on a Residence Order and then as our “adopted” son. During his early teens, he followed my son into the game of American football and played for several years in Europe as a member of the GB Lions under-13 and under-15 teams, of which I was manager. Twenty years on, the “lad” is now a fine young man, a committed partner and the father of our youngest grandson.

As the years have passed we have taken some 180 placements, many of them the same children returning on respite, a few of them in emergency (most of which turned into task-centered*) and some task-centered placements that became de facto longterm. Most of the task-centered placements have been teenage boys although we had our great nephew and niece for nearly two years until they were successfully reunited

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Features & Contributions with their mother. Among the other children was youngster of 5 with global developmental delay who acted as though he was 18 months old. After nearly two years with us he had a limited vocabulary and much improved behaviour. It is a joy that now in his mid-20s he still recognizes us and calls out cheerfully when he sees us in the local shops.

We hear of several other children who have made a success of their lives and were astounded a couple of years ago when a smartly-dressed young man came into our garden one summer’s day and suggested that we would not remember him.

Oh yes! Joyce recognized him immediately as the “disaster”! He had succeeded as a qualified joiner and roofer with a lawyer for a partner. He explained that he told the social workers in the car leaving our home in 1995 that he knew he had “blown it” and that he had later been placed with a family for whose disabled son he had taken responsibility at school and turned his life around.

Currently we have two young men in the Supported Lodgings scheme, both of whom have “stayed put” on turning 18, and we remain on the register for respite and emergencies. One of the lads came as an unaccompanied asylum seeker from Eritrea, who we have successfully guided through his asylum claim and appeal process; I have written and presented to other carers and social workers a paper on fostering these children who present some unusual needs.

Anthony Prewett (1942 - 1953) *A task-centred placement is a shorter term placement whereby the child is expected one day to return to his/her family or be adopted/fostered long term.

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It’s great to have the health and vitality to keep up this work a couple of years into my ninth decade.

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Features & Contributions

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OC News Summit in Africa

And the Academy Award goes to… … An OC! Yes, here is a photo of Old Clayesmorian, Nina Williams (2000 – 2009), holding the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, won this year by the company she works for, (MPC), for its work on The Jungle Book.

We think this is a first for an OC and we were thrilled to hear of it.

Well done, Nina!

The Great Lakes Trade Summit is a gathering of politicians, businesses and pro-market advocates from Europe, East Africa, and beyond and explores the vast opportunities for greater trade and investment with the region, while making the ethical case for free trade as a means of poverty alleviation, conflict resolution and social justice.

Swann the scribe We notice that OC, Andy Swann (1993 - 1996), previously of Devine, has written a book! It’s called “The Human Workplace: PeopleCentred Organizational Development and you can find it on Amazon.

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After leaving Clayesmore, Nina read Computer Science and Maths at Oxford Brookes and then went on to do a Masters in Advanced Computing with Creative Technology at Bristol.

She has since been working as a software developer for MPC (The Moving Picture Company) in London, and has been involved in various projects, including Ghostbusters and the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film, as well as the Oscar-winning remake of the famous Rudyard Kipling story.

The Great Lakes Trade Summit took place in Kampala in July and an OC secured some crucial work at the event. Before it all began, Verity Magnay (2010 - 2013), who graduated in Creative Events Management from Falmouth this summer, said: “I’m really looking forward to working with an international organisation on a high-profile event. I think it will be a fantastic, challenging experience and will give me a great industry insight. I have lots of different event experience but had not considered working as an event organiser for conferences and business meetings, so I will see where this takes me.”

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OC News Louise breaks the mould at Chichester Louise Salmond-Smith (née Thompson, 1989 - 1994) has long been impressing us with her inspiration and energy as current Chairman of the OC Society, as well as in her (now former) role of Head of Tormead Junior School in Guildford, Surrey.

However, she has gone a step further towards OC world domination, shattering a 900-year-old tradition by becoming the new Head of The Prebendal School in Chichester: the first woman to do so.

With a long-term passion (and talent) for music, as well as teaching, a “delighted” Louise is a perfect choice for this ancient institution which, amongst regular pupils, educates the choristers of nearby Chichester Cathedral.

The Very Reverend Stephen Waine, who is Dean of the Cathedral and chair of governors at the school, said: “Mrs Salmond Smith comes to us with a proven record of successful teaching, and thoughtful and inspirational leadership.

John Craxton (1937 - 1937)

The famous artist and OC had work featured at the Tate’s mammoth “Queer British Art 1861 – 1967” exhibition this year.

Here’s his “Pastoral for PW, 1948”, a print of which hangs in the Main House at School.

“She has the vision and passion to enable our students to enjoy an outstanding education of the highest quality.”

Louise took up her new post in September. A superb achievement and another OC to be proud of.

Spotted on the telly!

Philip Raphael (1947 – 1948) was spotted on the Antiques Roadshow on BBC1 earlier this year, when the programme was broadcast from Ightham Mote. He took along his old (circa 1800) blunderbuss for investigation by gunsmith, Robert Tilney.

Engraved on the rim of the barrel, the immortal line: “It’s my delight the French to fight”!

We couldn’t possibly comment…

© Tate, London 2017 Pastoral for P.W., 1948, Craxton, John 1922-2009

© BBC

The science of winning Earlier this year, Richard Cross (2005 - 2010) won the Young Scientist Award from SETAC (Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry), a global, not-for-profit organisation which publishes journals and is the main association for ecotoxicology (the study of contaminants in the environment).

“My work looks at the potential risks that engineered nanoparticles pose to the environment,” he explained. “Specifically, I’m looking at the route to uptake of these nanoparticles into aquatic wildlife and how we might be able to ‘design’ nanoparticles to limit their potential impacts on the environment.”

After Clayesmore, Richard studied Environmental Science at the University of York before commencing his PhD at the University of Exeter. His advice for younger Clayesmorians? “… to take every opportunity that comes your way and never feel like you are constrained

to one thing or another. With every move, every job and every change in field (for me from conservation and energy policy to environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology), it’s always important to remember that everyone starts from the same position of having no background whatsoever. What sets you apart is just being willing to learn, ask questions of people who know more than you and never think that you are stuck in the same field or doing the same thing.”

Hear, hear.

News from the ocean wave…

“I will be navigating the 165ft Hyperion.

Originally the largest sloop in the world, it is now one of the smaller yachts in the race but, despite that, we always seem to have at least 40 people on the crew.

“I will be hoping to see a number of OCs in Bermuda, including Shannon Falcone (1994

– 1999 and former Head Boy), who will be racing on Hanuman. Always at the top and always getting the best rides is Shannon!

“Immediately afterwards, many of us are then ‘high tailing’ it straight to Mallorca for the Palma Superyacht Cup. I will be helming a beautiful, 150ft modern classic schooner: unlike Hyperion, this is more akin to racing antique furniture. Life on the ocean wave is never dull!”

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Guaranteed to make even the most dyed-inthe-wool landlubber green with envy, John Burnie (1965 – 1970) continues swanning about the globe on huge yachts and was in touch back in May with news of his antics: “The big yacht racing season is well underway, with a special regatta coming up in Bermuda in June: The America’s Cup Superyacht Regatta. The event has attracted some of the biggest yachts in the world with the racing taking place in the middle of the main America’s Cup Event.

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Who needs Sinatra?

Proud father, Mark Hewett, told us of his son, George (2007 – 2014), performing with the Royal Northern College of Music Session Orchestra.

“It certainly gave me goosebumps,” he said. And, of course, we were delighted when he went on: “I just wanted to thank you all for everything Clayesmore did for George.”

OCs receiving their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards The mother of recent OC, Eleanor James, sent in this picture of her daughter at Buckingham Palace with some other Clayesmorians who were at the DofE awards ceremony last spring.

“We had a great day,” she says. “The Duke of Edinburgh was there for the last time, although we didn’t get to speak to him. It was sweltering, so St John’s Ambulance was dealing with a lot of fainting teenagers and parents; not us though!

And we enjoyed celebrity spotting… ”

Head of DofE at Clayesmore, Jamie Reach, explained: “Seventeen Clayesmorians were invited to the presentation on 26 May and it was great to see the School so strongly represented.

Within the South West, our completion rate is one of the highest.

“It is wonderful that recipients have the opportunity to go to the Palace: it’s a super experience for them as well as just reward for the effort they will have put in to achieve their Gold Award.”

The Forgotten Feast … And the Covenant of Grace is a book published earlier this year by a former Chaplain, Michael Arnold.

Old Clayesmorian in West End debut

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Having moved into musical theatre, he recently made his West End debut as the latest Bill Kenwright production of Evita hit the stage at the Phoenix Theatre. Playing the pivotal role of Peron (Evita’s husband), Kevin was delighted to be part of the hugely successful production and sent us this photograph of him looking suitably furious.

Kevin Jones

OCs of a 1980s vintage may remember their erstwhile classmate, Kevin Jones (1981 – 1986), a music scholar, who went on to enjoy a career in opera.

OC News Royal Albert Hall awash with OCs Charlotte…

Gifted soprano, Charlotte Hewett (2006 - 2008), continued her rise to stardom with a delightful-sounding afternoon held at the Royal Albert Hall in July. Tea and cakes were served as she delivered a mixed repertoire of pieces by composers including Rossini, Bizet, Mozart and Strauss.

Charlotte

The RAH website described Charlotte as “one of the UK’s most promising soprano talents”. And they should know…

Lauren… and Molly & Heather Then we have Lauren Morgan (2000 - 2016), who took part in a BBC Prom at the RAH with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain earlier this year.

Lauren

Even more recently, she gained a scholarship with the London Youth Choir and sang there again at the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance.

She told us: “We performed in the presence of Her © BBC Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal Family.

It was impossible for me to keep emotions in check as the poppy petals fell and the evening was made more poignant by seeing OC and friend, Molly Stephens (2012 - 2017), lead the procession of bereaved families with her sister, Heather, also an OC, (2012 - 2013).

“It was truly an honour to be able to sing for her and her family, making the occasion even more special for me and one I will never forget.”

And Robbie, too!

Also there was another OC, Robbie Bowering (2005 - 2009), who took centre stage with his euphonium just after the Queen had taken her seat.

We’re very proud of them all.

Friends in high places

Renowned OC snapper, Jon Enoch (1993 – 1998), is still keeping very busy.

Look whose photo he took a short while ago…

© BBC

OC News SPOTTED IN THE DAILY MAIL: PART 1

Royal role for OC

We received news of Edward Mills (2002 – 2009), an Old Clayesmorian and graduate of Plymouth University who is now commissioned into the Scots Guards.

His mother, Anne, told us: “He loves his role and tells me he has many wayward young soldiers in his platoon who keep occupied; no doubt his own previous experiences (at school) help him!”

Furthermore, Ed took the role of Ensign at the Scots Guards’ parade at Buckingham Palace earlier this year, taking the colours from the Queen and presenting them to the regiment. You can see him on the right of the picture.

Speaking to the Guards, the Queen, their Colonel-in-Chief, said: “In whatever role you serve, each one as vital as the other, I entrust to you these new colours in the sure knowledge that they will inspire you to achieve excellence in whatever you do and wherever you are, which your forebears in the Scots Guards have done for the past 375 years”.

SPOTTED IN THE DAILY MAIL: PART 3 SPOTTED IN THE DAILY MAIL: PART 2

Royal connections

Gareth Griffiths (1990 - 1992) has friends in high places. Look who he’s hanging out with at this year’s Edinburgh Tattoo!

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Countess Bathurst Fresh from her year as High Sherriff of Gloucestershire, The Countess Bathurst (formerly Sara Chapman, 1976 - 1980) has been in the news again. She opened her bathroom curtains one morning recently to discover a basketful of hot air balloonists sailing perilously close to the Imperial Leather. Needless to say, she was not best pleased and we can see why.

Photo courtesy of The Countess Bathurst

From the Archives 100 years ago

1917

Left: School Photograph 1917, Northwood Park

Middle Right: The School House, Northwood Park, Winchester Bottom Right: The Clayesmorian 1917

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Top Right: A dormitory at Northwood Park, Winchester

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From the Archives 75 years ago

1942

Above: Cadets parade at the Main House 1942 Left: The Rugby team 1942 Below: Horse riding, Main Gate

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From the Archives

Top right: Speech Day during the war; Douglas Hillier taking the boys in gymnastics Top left: Speech Day during the war THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Left: Public meeting notice regarding possible invasion

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From the Archives 50 years ago

1967

Top: The Lily Pond Above: The Hockey team Right: Sports Day Winners list

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From the Archives

Above: Article on ‘Harold’ in the 1967 Clayesmorian THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Left: Backstage at a school drama production

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From the Archives 25 years ago

1992

Top: Tony Hart visits Clayesmore Above: 1992 Clayesmorian Front Cover Middle Right: Drama Production ‘Cyrano’ Right: Our Chair in ‘Look Look’ 1992

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From the Archives

Top Right: Winning Party manifesto

Right: 1992 Clayesmore Election results

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Top Left: Intrusion; Gareth, Lee, Nicky and James.

Cause without a rebel?

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From the Archives 10 years ago

2007

Right: More News cover winter 2007 - with opening of new Pre-Prep Below: The Merchant of Venice Production programme and cast list

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Letters Small world My husband and I were on a cruise to the Norwegian fiords last week and went to have afternoon tea one afternoon. We ended up sharing a table with a couple from Kent. His name was Peter Cole and it turned out that he was an OC having been at Clayesmore between 1952 - 1955! One of his contemporaries was Robert Mash.

You might have heard of Paul because he and his wife still attend some OC events. I told him that I would let you know about our meeting.

I don’t know what the odds are that we should meet up like that but it’s certainly a small world.

Barbara Barnes (Former Head of History, Clayesmore Prep)

Reuniting old friends I remember Chris (Christopher Morgan-Gray 1942 - 1948) well.

We sang in the School Choir and he went on to sing with the D’oyle Carte Operatic Company, which l remember watching when at Agricultural College in Glasgow; 1949 time! They were performing Ruddigore and Chris, l remember, had a part where he was a life-

It is easier to remember the past, than the present sometimes. War years were tough for everyone, but also one memorable time for those who lived through them. Thank you Clayesmore.

Michael Gill (1943 - 1947)

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sized oil painting that came to life (whilst singing in tune, naturally!).

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Letters

Thanks!

Many thanks for organising a most enjoyable walk over Hambledon.

Photo above shows from L to R: me, David Lowcock (1963 – 1967) and Stephen Levinson (1962 – 1967) (who all left Clayesmore 50 years ago) at the start of the walk, and on the summit of Hambledon. I was sporting my school socks that are probably 55 years old!

It was a most enjoyable event: a visit to the School, a chance to walk over glorious countryside while catching-up with friends, and all in a good cause. We did the same six mile walk four years ago. This year, though, we went an extra mile “off piste” to enjoy a serious pub lunch en route, and to avoid coming in at the front of the field!

John Symons (1962- 1967)

Thanks again!

Just a quick thank you email for organising the 1990s reunion.

Good to catch up with people and see how much the school has modernised, which is a good thing. It’s funny how some environments send you back to how it was in the old days. Nadia, Jo and I reverted right back to school days form, sticking together.

Please also say thank you to Asia and the Head Girl, Polina, for showing us around and giving up their Sunday morning.

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Serena Bower

Letters (1991 - 1994)

And again!

I just wanted to send an email to thank you once again for hosting me and my family earlier this month at the 1990s OC day (here’s a photo). We (particularly me!) loved visiting the School and seeing Mr Rimmer and Mr Middle etc. Please also could I ask you to say thanks to Mrs Francis, who we sat with at lunch and who filled us in on lots of news!

Luke Hampson (1994 – 1997)

The Old Clayesmorian MMXVI earth found the photograph of the 1966 cross country team 60 years ago? Let alone the rowdy rabble! Thanks for making me a Squire… * Any whereabouts of, John Baraclough, Rob Williams, Russell Harding, Martin Quecket, 62-66?

I live in Cape Town with my wife Nancy and two sons. We have a B&B in Roesbank.

Thanks and cheers…

John-Clive Dawson-SquiBB (1964 - 1967) *(sorry about that – Ed)

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A superb production, so well laid out and that beautiful cover: well done. Who on

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Letters

Place your bets Here is a photo of our foal, born in April to my wife, Bridget’s, mare called Burgundy Betty. She is in foal again, this time we hope with a colt who will be named “The Old Clayesmorian.”

The sire is Kayf Tara, so he might make it to The National one day!

Hope to visit the School one day soon.

Stuart Henley (1960 - 1963)

Wood works Recently, the Blackmore Vale Magazine carried an interesting article celebrating the founding of Parnham College, drawing attention to a number of famous alumni.

However, they made an omission. One of the founders was Ian Heseltine, who has become one of this country’s pre-eminent cabinet makers and has been the winner of many awards, both national and international. And he was educated at Clayesmore!

Mike Jones (Clayesmore Staff 1973-2003)

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Letters London chums If it’s of any interest to the Society, in London I regularly meet up with (all or some of) Messrs: Paul Collman (1980 - 1985), James Linden (1983 - 1985), Nick Parsons (1980 - 1983) and David Spence (1983 - 1988).

In fact we met last week for lunch in Holborn. I first met Paul Collman at the Prep School in 1975 when I was 8 years young, some 42 years ago!

Simon Tilden (1980 - 1985) (Who do you keep in touch with from Clayesmore?

Let us know. And send us photographs! - Ed)

Rule of three One particular OC was with me at the Junior School, where we were taught “The rule of three”, ie: if seven apples cost one shilling and two pence, what would one pay for 15 apples?

The teacher selected my friend who, as usual, was looking out of the window, to give the answer and when he hesitated, she said, with two days ago.” To which he retorted: “Please Miss, last time we only did oranges!”

Michael D K Turner (1942 - 1946)

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some asperity: “Come come, now; we did this at some length just

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Letters Birthday Congratulations Please find attached a photo of David Anderson (1941 – 1945) with his family, taken at his recent 90th birthday celebrations.

David is the son of the founder of the OC Society and was himself President for many years.

Mark Farrand (1978 - 1981) (Happy Birthday, David! from all of us here – Ed)

L–R: Will Black (youngest grandson), Graham Black (son-in-law), Rosie (Rosanagh) Black (daughter), David, Mary Anderson (wife), Gilly Anderson (daughter-in-law) and Nigel Anderson (son). David’s elder grandson, Glen, was jetting off to South Africa for work, so missed the family pic.

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Letters Bits and pieces Over the years since I retired, it has regularly be recorded in the “Where are they now” section of the magazine that Joyce and I became foster carers fairly late in our lives. I was moved by an article in our magazine, Fostering Network, to write a short article about a few of our experiences. I attach copy for you to use if you feel it might be of interest as well as encouraging some of your younger readers to take on a very vital role in the care of our disadvantaged children and youth.

It was good to see the photograph of Brian Henson provided by Johnny Dukes (The Old Clayesmorian MMXVI). I remember the incident well as I was “President?” of the Natural History Society in my final year at Clayesmore and a keen bird-watcher with Michael Chapman (1950 – 1954).

It was also pleasant to see the photograph of the choir on the 2016 Choral Day – I had not realised how large it has grown over the years – no wonder it makes such a good sound!

I noted from the “In Memoriam” section the passing of William “Bill” Beesley and suggest he was a dentist rather than a doctor. I feel sure that he treated me at his London practice in the early 1970s.

Anthony Prewett (1942 – 1953) NB: you can read Anthony’s article in the Features & Contributions section on page 44

This is a little Edward Ardizzone lithograph I recently discovered and bought. It is of a portly gentleman enjoying a Christmas tipple, so kind of autobiographical really. (Edward is one of our most distinguished OC artists.)

Andrew Curtis (1973 – 1978)

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Arty Ardizzone

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Letters Never say never!

Reading all the news on the website brings it all back to me and I must try to get down to School once more. I certainly had five wonderful years there and it was a shock, leaving to go out into the big, wide world which, in my case, was National Service for two years.

I went to school as a 13 year old new boy with my sister’s hockey stick. I was football mad from my prep school and was determined not to play rugby. A few weeks later, I was fly half and captain of the Under 14 rugby team and ended up Captain of Rugby in my last year in 1953!

Brian Hanney (1948 - 1953)

One gentleman of Verona I’m in Verona and I would like to know about any OCs who are radio amateurs. My callsign is G8SHE. We don’t have to worry about all this stuff and nonsense about data protection, we just talk. To OCs on the high seas, it’s usually the best way of communicating.

Also there are plenty of places OCs could meet here and in the winter, our low season, if people want to meet up for an evening meal and stay overnight, I can negotiate hotel rates which will be little more than pennies.

Richard “Henry” Shears (1970 - 1974) PS: By the way, most OCs know me by my school nickname ‘Henry’. Richard Shears might produce a bit of a blank response!

Golden wedding anniversary We had a splendid day with 35 relatives and friends to the luncheon party. Happily the bridesmaids of 1967 had all survived! Ages ranged from our nine year old grandsons to my sister in law and brother in law, who will be 89 this year.

I was chatting to a younger couple on the bus recently, who were approaching their silver anniversary. They said, and it’s true, that many marriages don’t reach that far.

I feel we have been so lucky.

Andrew Nurcombe

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(1951 – 1951)

News From

the Spinney Memorial Trust

T

he Spinney Memorial Trust,

Clayesmorians who have received grants

a registered charity, was

over the past ten or twelve years. Sadly,

established in 1990 by The Old

the response was very small with the

Clayesmorian Society. The Trust seeks

result we learned very little.

to support individual pupils in a way that enables them to do the things that,

It is important that we hear from

without the Trust’s financial support, they

Clayesmorians who have had grants

may not be able to do.

because we would like to know how best to support future applicants,

Today’s Clayesmorians continue to

particularly as a proposal is now under

demonstrate a keen interest in the Trust’s

consideration which it is hoped will

grants programme. At the Trustees’

boost funding for the grants programme.

meeting in May this year, there were eleven applications for consideration

This proposal involves a change in

from which we agreed five grants

the role of the Trust with a view to

totalling £2885 and undertook to

combining its fund raising activities with

give two more applications further

those of the school. The Trustees will be

consideration. Subsequently, one

considering this proposal with the OC

application was withdrawn.

Society once the details are agreed.

The Trustees are endeavouring to assess

It would be very helpful in this context

the value of the grants programme to

if we could hear from previous

those Clayesmorians who have been

beneficiaries as to the worth of the

beneficiaries. We would like to know to

grants received in aiding their academic

what extent, if at all, the support given

and career ambitions.

to Clayesmorians in this way has aided There follow reports from some of

whether they feel they might support

the Clayesmorians who have recently

the programme for the benefit of future

received grants from the Trust.

applicants.

Bill Chennells As part of this endeavour, last summer over one hundred letters went out to

Spinney Trust Chairman (1952 – 1956)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

their academic or career ambitions and

69

News From

MUSIC SOFTWARE

the Spinney Memorial Trust

I

was very grateful to the Spinney Trust for the funding I received at the end of the Summer term

to buy the compositional software needed to write music for the screen.

Since buying the software I have been working on several projects and a few of which I have included in my portfolio, which I will need for my university applications. I have been able to download scenes from films and compose my own music to support the image. A scene from Star Wars Episode VII has been my most recent composition, writing for wind, brass and strings.

Ben H-D

GLIDING COURSE

(2006 – present)

70

I

write to extend my heartfelt

only managed three days of flying;

thanks for the financial assistance

nonetheless it’s safe to say we made

that allowed me to undertake

most of the time we had in the air.

the 5-day intensive gliding course

Had there been more flyable weather,

at Lasham Gliding Society. It was

Mike indicated that I would have

an invaluable and very memorable

undoubtedly gone solo.

experience.

Over the course I was able to learn The quality of tuition at Lasham is

how to fly 2 new glider types; The

phenomenal. My very experienced

older K13 and the more modern

instructor Mike Birch was simply

aerobatic glider, the K21. It was great

brilliant. Unfortunately, we were

to be able to apply my skills and

unlucky with the weather and

knowledge to new aircraft and expand

my experience. The variety of stalls, spins, spiral dives, circuits, launch failures and many other manoeuvres that I practiced during the week were fantastic. I’m now in a very strong position, and it’s only a matter ‘fine tuning’ my flying before I’ll be up in the skies alone! I hope to go ‘solo’ in the Puchacz glider at our local Bath, Wilts and North Dorset Gliding Club (BWND) in the coming months, and I’ll be sure to

I aim to process the video footage that I

keep The Trust updated with my progress.

have of my flying as soon as possible, and hope to make a video as a little memento

This opportunity and the people I’ve met

of the experience, which you’ll be sure to

has inspired me to apply for National

receive on completion.

Scholarships in 2018, which offer gliding, powered flying, and some very generous

I hope you enjoy looking at the enclosed

financial assistance towards a PPL (Private

photographs. I really cannot thank you all

Pilot’s Licence). My aspiration to become

enough for your generosity.

a commercial pilot continues to be strong, and I hope to train after studying a 4 year BA in Spanish and Italian at University.

Andrew C (2013 – present)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

71

SCHOOL SCULPTURE

D

uring my second year of A-Levels

Once I had narrowed down my ideas, I then

I had few if not any ideas of

presented them to the School, to ask them

what I wanted to make for DT. I

which design they preferred and discuss any

was not particularly picky but I did want

changes they wanted. Following this, I then

to make something special and unique

went back to the drawing table to make the

that would leave my signature on the

necessary alterations and when that was all

grounds of Clayesmore School. Shortly

complete I had the green light to go ahead

after receiving the themes for our projects, I

and start with the manufacture.

was approached by the school to consider making a sculpture for them. The only

Using the DT departments CAD software’s

specifications in the brief were that the

tools, such as V2 2D Design and 123D

sculpture must link to the school in some

design, I was able to produce accurate

way. I was drawn to the school’s logo of

orthographic drawings. These were essential

two leaves and had the idea of making the

for communicating with the department’s

sculpture in a naturalistic form. I considered

CNC router, laser cutter and also an external

several designs but I was particularly inspired

manufacturer who provided commercially

by the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics that

cut parts that were beyond my ability and

had just occurred with their splendid kinetic

could not be produced in school.

cauldron sculpture made by Anthony

72

Howe. His sculpture was mesmerising and

Although I had a general plan of how I

I definitely wanted to incorporate both

wanted to tackle my project I did encounter

kinetic and naturalistic aspects into my piece.

some problems along the way. One being

I produced a large variety of ideas in both

with the construction of the sculpture that

sketch form and design models that resulted

became apparent when assembling it.

in my final piece.

Stability was an issue and as it was destined

News From

the Spinney Memorial Trust

for a position in the school grounds, safety was paramount. I went back to the drawing board to determine how best to add strength and stability without compromising on the aesthetic look. Finally, this was achieved with additional cross struts, cotter pins, which expand once in position and special adhesive substances to prevent the loosing of nuts and bolts.

Once the design had proved itself to be functional, stable and safe, the next part of my project was to put it in place. I was provided with a hollow, cuboid plinth intended for a sculpture. As a kinetic sculpture, designed to respond to wind, the foundations had to be firm and that required concrete.

Chris Lambert (left) and Ed de Boehmer collect their awards from the Head

Due to the weight of it, I needed the help of my fellow design students and groundsmen of

The completed sculpture

Clayesmore, to move my sculpture into place. Once there, I was able to ensure it was securely planted in the concrete using additional threaded metal bars to improve alignment and increase wind resistance to sheer forces.

Without the financial assistance of the Spinney not have been possible, due to the high cost of materials. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given to firstly, put forward my proposal to the Trust for consideration and secondly for the grant that they awarded me to complete this sculpture.

I am delighted that my piece has been given such a prominent place within the school and for the wonderful teaching that I received whilst making it.

Chris Lambert (2015 – 2017)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Trust grant, this particular piece of work would

73

News From AUSTRALIAN LEARNING CURVE

the Spinney Memorial Trust

I

n our final year at Medical School at

changes that occur in critical illness. It

the University of Bristol we are given

also allowed me to observe a different

two months by the university to gain

healthcare system and to immerse myself

extra experience in a field of medicine

into a different way of life which itself

anywhere in the world. For many this

was incredibly valuable for my personal

means an extended summer holiday!

development.

Whilst the latter was very temping having just finished six years of hard work, I chose

The NHS is at a tipping point. Many of

to travel to Sydney to spend two months

doctors I have encountered throughout my

in the intensive care department at the

undergraduate training have advised me

Prince of Wales Hospital, a large general

to leave medicine. The new Junior Doctors

hospital on the outskirts of the city with

Contract imposed by the department

specialist neurosurgical and cardiothoracic

of health has compounded this issue.

departments.

Many of the medical students a few years ahead of me have indeed quit medicine in

For me this meant the chance to learn from

pursuit of other careers or moved abroad.

another health system with one of the

Entering the NHS in the current climate of

best intensive care systems in the world.

decreased resources, increased workload

As a medical student, a high dependency

and decreased staff satisfaction is a daunting

environment such as intensive care can be

prospect.

an overwhelming and one in which we receive little exposure. Eight weeks in the

Australia made me reconsider my views.

intensive care environment allowed me to

Whilst the grass really is greener on the other

begin to learn some of the skills needed for

side, the healthcare provision was second

managing critical placement. In comparison

to that provided by the NHS. Walking away

to other areas of the hospital, intensive care

from Australia made me proud of the NHS,

has a high ratio of senior staff to patient

the principle of equality is exceptional in

ratio in order to meet the complex needs

an unequal world. The NHS is a beacon of

of patients. This also meant high quality

excellence, and whilst it is far from perfect

teaching for students allowing me to

it stands for something greater than just

develop new and existing skills.

healthcare and it far more valuable than the sum of its parts.

Over the duration of the placement I

74

developed my procedural skill, practical

I am now two months into work at a very

working knowledge of the intensive care

busy General District Hospital in North West

environment and complex physiological

London and I have experienced first-hand

“

Walking away from Australia made me proud of the NHS, the principle of equality is exceptional in an unequal world.

”

quite how stretched the system is. Bad days

dreaming about how much greener the

really are bad, but on my commute home I have

grass is. I learnt far more than clinical skills and

reflected on my experience in Australia. I am

knowledge and would not have been able to do

fortunate to not have think about the cost of the

this without your financial support.

treatment we provide for our patients, fortunate that we treat all patients equally regardless of

I have spoken to SarahJane Newland, Assistant

their background. This helps to get me through

Head (Sixth Form) about sharing my experiences

the challenges I have thus far faced. I am sure

of medical school and knowledge of the

in the future I will spend some time practicing

application process with prospective students.

medicine in Australia but I believe that the moral

Despite the negative press and the tough days I

principles of the NHS will always ensure I come

would still advise medicine as a career. The days

home to the NHS.

are hard but I cannot imagine another career with such high job satisfaction.

Without the financial support of the Spinney Memorial Trust I would never have learnt this lesson and instead would spend my commutes

Sam Maese (2006 – 2010)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

75

VILLAGE BENCH DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

I

am extremely grateful that you granted me £485 for bench I designed and made for the lwerne Minster Parish Council.

The money enabled me to use the materials which desired without having to settle for lower quality of timber and cement for the planter section of the bench.

I dedicated many hours towards the It consists of two concrete planters with

project and created a number of working

turquoise and green glass cast into the

models and full size cut outs to test its

surface. The concrete was then polished

ergonomic feasibility. I was also active

so the glass was flush with the surface and

with my clients; presenting my idea to the

gave it a slight sheen.

Parish Council at one of their meetings earlier this year.

The timber I used was Iroko, a tropical hardwood often used as a teak substitute,

I took a lot of time trying to get the bench

which is supported by a powder-coated

right and ensure I made it of the best

mild steel frame that has the thickness of

quality I could.

5mm to provide structural rigidity.

I’m also pleased to inform you that My hope is the bench will reinforce the

your money has not gone to waste as I

relationship between the village and the

achieved 100% in my coursework unit for

School and will be a symbol of this for

my A2 Design Technology. By supporting

many decades into the future. The grant

my project you also helped me towards

enabled me to use materials which are

gaining an A/A* grade in August greatly

suited to outdoor conditions as opposed

increased my prospects of getting in to my

to cheaper alternatives that degrade in a

first choice university.

matter of years..

I would like to offer my most sincere thanks to you.

Ed de Boehmler

76

(2010 – 2017)

News From

W

hile in Year 11, I applied to the Spinney Trust at Clayesmore School to see if they might help finance a three week course in Germany. I have really enjoyed my German at Clayesmore, where it is taught in an excellent

department, but was keen to study the language in Germany. Understandably, the costs of such courses are high - about ÂŁ2500 including travel. Very generously the Spinney Trust gave me a grant of ÂŁ500 towards the course.

What follows is a short report on the Goethe Institute course I attended at Bamberg, in Franken, northern Bavaria. I would be delighted to talk to any other pupils who might be interested in undertaking such a course: it was immensely valuable.

Der Kurs - The Course My parents dropped me on Sunday the 6 of August, at the Aufseesianum in Bamberg, and I was looking forward, as any typical 16 year old might, to spending three weeks improving my German! The Aufseesianum is an ancient German boarding school in the centre of a beautiful medieval city. During term time, it has about 250 boarders but for the next three weeks it was going to be home to me and the other 74 students from all over the world who had come to learn German (and a few Russians who were less keen on the language study!).

Little did I know that on the 26th, only 20 days later, I would be tearfully leaving with a whole host of new friends and connections from all over the world, the memory of an unforgettable experience, and vastly improved German language skills.

Arthur collects his award from Spinney Trust trustee, David Fangen (1961-1966)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

LEARNING GERMAN IN BAMBURG, BAVARIA: SUMMER 2017

the Spinney Memorial Trust

77

News From

the Spinney Memorial Trust

Der Ort - The Location Bamberg is a beautiful medieval town in northern Bavaria about an hour north of Nurnberg.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the town certainly deserves this status: there are many grand buildings, including the famous althaus built in the middle of the river.

The cathedral in particular was stunning; it was a real treat to visit a true example of Romanesque architecture, surviving from the 13th Century.

The Aufseesianum (the school where the course was based) was in a very good, central location and had all the facilities we could need: sports field, music room, social area and even a tuck shop.

78

Die Stunden - The Lessons Aside from admiring the local area, there were over 22 hours of lessons per week. In three weeks, this amounts to about 6 months of lessons we would have at GCSE at school.

Before leaving home we had all taken a practice test online and, using this and a piece of writing we submitted at the end of the first day, the teachers were able to streamline us into different groups based on our fluency level.

We then had 4.5 hours of lessons per day, Monday to Friday. These were made entertaining and interesting through a variety of games and activities: I remember a particular favourite of my group was the Sofabesprechung (or ‘sofa discussion’). We covered many topics such as youth culture, prepositions and the subjunctive and even modern German songs!

We often worked in pairs, or small groups of 4, and the teacher continually changed these groups, so we wouldn’t always work with the same people.

Der Project-Unterricht The Project Twice each week, we had a different sort of lesson: a project group. I was in Jugendsprache und Dialekt (‘youth language and dialect’), and at the end of the course we presented a video, filmed and edited by us, of us asking people in the town questions about their dialect and the

I found this very interesting, especially the way that people from neighbouring villages may often speak very different dialects. But as well as the different subject material, this lesson was a great chance to meet people in the other classes, who I might not otherwise have come across. It also helped that the people with better German skills seemed to have chosen the same group!

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

German language.

79

Die Aktivitäten - The Activities After the lessons were over for the day,

supper. Of course, different people chose

we had free time from 16:00 until supper

to spend this time differently: some just

at 18:30, and then again afterwards, until

went clothes shopping, while others were

around 21:00. So, there were two activity

discovering the enormous fun of exchange

slots and there were normally three or four

rates! But I and a group of friends tried to

different options in each slot.

see as much of the town as possible: we visited a couple of cafes and explored the

I became very involved with the band that

town centre.

was formed, and we performed twice over the three weeks - both to an exceptional

As if all this wasn’t enough to keep us busy,

standard! These practices, and indeed all

there was an excursion on both Sundays:

of the activities (such as volleyball, baking,

the first week to Nuremberg and then the

tie-dye T-shirts, Werewolf, capture the flag,

next to Wurzburg. In Nuremberg, we visited

and even Quidditch), allowed us to meet

the Nazi Party museum, which was very

other people who we perhaps wouldn’t

interesting, documenting the rise of Hitler,

otherwise have spoken to and also to speak

and then we were allowed a bit of free

some German in a more informal setting.

time in the city centre. When we went to Wurzburg, we visited the Residence, the

From the start of the second week, we

bishop’s palace, which is another UNESCO

were also allowed to go into town before

World Heritage Site.

80

News From

the Spinney Memorial Trust Die Leute - The People There was a total of 76 students

1. UK

8. Russia

15. Turkey

2. USA

9. Ukraine

16. Bahrain

were also able to speak English, or

3. France

10. Lithuania

17. Egypt

another foreign language, as well as

4. Spain

11. Hungary

18. Pakistan

5. Switzerland

12. Serbia

19. Uzbekistan

6. Italy

13. Croatia

20. China

7. Belarus

14. Romania

21. Taiwan

on the course and they came from all 21 of these countries. Most

learning German. But regardless of nationality, or mother tongue, we all had similarities and in three short weeks we bonded and formed strong friendships.

There are many on the course I

I am very grateful to the trustees of the Spinney Trust

hope to remain in contact with:

for supporting my application to study in Germany

people from Spain, from the US,

and to take Clayesmore’s name abroad. I gained a

and from Russia; from Ukraine and

great deal educationally, and socially of course, and am

Romania; from Turkey and from

keen to try to repay this somehow in the coming terms

Hungary. Who knows, hopefully

and years.

one day we will all meet up again!

Today is the start of the new school year at Clayesmore I am particularly interested in

and, among other things, I am going to make a

keeping in touch with a boy called

particular effort to welcome our new German students

Guillermo, from Spain, who plays

and hope to be able to communicate with them now

a big part in running his school’s

in their own language.

Model United Nations. Model Throughout the next two years I shall be taking

Clayesmore students have greatly

A-Level German and although my university plans are

enjoyed over recent years and I am

not fixed yet I am certain that this opportunity will take

hoping we might be able to try to

me back to Germany in due course. At a time of such

pursue a shared meeting with his

great political change and with the impact of BREXIT

school in Valencia.

only beginning to be felt, I feel very privileged to be able to have the opportunity to demonstrate the UK’s

There is also a group of girls: two

readiness to be seen in Europe!

from Hungary, one from Belarus, and one from the US, whom I am

Thank you!

hoping I may be able to speak with from time to time - in German of course!

Arthur C (2011 – present)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

United Nations is something that

81

OC Sport The Stour Cup In July 2016, the OC cricket team, the

The Stour Cup fixture has become a fantastic

Clayesmore Cormorants, beat off some

curtain raiser to Cricket Week, with the

stiff competition to win the much-coveted

Schools’ old boys then playing each other

Twenty20 Stour Cup for the first time.

in ‘head to head’ traditional all-day fixtures over the following days. So it’s always a great

The tournament for the Cup was founded in

chance for some early bragging rights and

2007 as a quadrangular competition between

some silverware!

the four Dorset ‘old boys’ teams who play each other each July: Sherborne, Canford, Bryanston

And here is a picture of the Cormorants’

and Clayesmore.

Captain, Greg Swaby (2000 – 2005), handing said silverware to Mrs Thomson for display in

The contest works on a ‘semi-finals’ basis,

the Drawing Room at School. Let’s hope our

so a team has to win its first match of the

OCs can retain it this year!

day to get to the ‘final’ and if it wins that second match, the trophy is theirs. In the past, Clayesmore has generally come third, losing the opening fixture but winning the second, having only ever reached the final once before.

Unfortunately, that match was curtailed by rain and Clayesmore lost in a bowl off.

Last year, with a relatively young team, many of whose members were making their Cormorants Cricket Week debut, the OCs picked up the Trophy for the very first time after putting in two really strong performances with both bat and ball.

82

(They didn’t, alas, despite giving it a jolly good try; see page 84 – Ed)

Gents OC Hockey vs the School Paul Randall, Head of Hockey at Clayesmore, looks back at the spring term match with awe barely-dimmed by the intervening period: “The OCs (a mix of former students and current staff) won 3 - 2 against the 1st XI; we were amazed that we did it!”

Cormorants vs First XI We were delighted that a rainy night had given way to a sun-filled morning as the Clayesmore Cormorants gathered to prepare for their annual attempt at giving the School’s First XI a good thrashing.

And, as it transpired, the OC team did indeed begin its 2017 season with a victory! With as Old Boys, playing against brothers still at the School, a hotly-contested match was ensured, played with great spirit.

Batting first, the OC team set a target of 148 to win. Will Hendy top-scored on 59 with Ben T taking 4 wickets for the School. In reply, the School reached 111, with Max hitting 45 and Cormorants veteran, Andy Dike, taking six wickets for 35 runs (including a spell of 6-16 off 31 balls).

It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon: huge thanks go to all players and our steadfast duo of expert scorers: Louise Smith and Sarah Jane Rhead.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

several recent leavers, in their first match

83

Clayesmore Cormorants Cricket Week JULY 2017

Stour Cup - Twenty20 Competition, Sunday 9 July Clayesmore Cormorants v Canford Cygnets Clayesmore batted first and posted 188-9 off their 20 overs. Top scorers were Lewis McManus with 69 and 34 each for Adam Woodruff and Bob Lack. In reply Canford chased down an impressive total in 18.3 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Clayesmore Cormorants v Sherborne Pilgrims Again the Cormorants opted to bat first and again posted an impressive score, however they did not use all their overs, with top scorer Zak Tunda falling for 138 with 5 balls remaining of the innings.

Sherborne were to try to chase 185 to win, which they did inside 16 overs, in part due to some impressive batting from Fergus Taylor, hitting 96 not out.

Both games were played on a pitch at Bryanston that all three teams agreed was a bit of a postage stamp.

Canford Cygnets v Clayesmore Cormorants, Monday 10 July (TIME MATCH) Canford won the toss on beautiful sunny morning and opted to bat first.

Using 52 overs to post 262-8. Wickets were shared around, however Harry Beardsley did pick up 4-46 from his nine overs. It should be noted that Canford’s highest score of 50 came from OC Will Morgan, who had been loaned to the opposition.

In reply the ‘Rants made their way to 214-8 from 48 overs before play closed for the day, with the home side having, possibly, batted too long to force a result and what seemed like an extended tea break occurring. An honourable draw and a top score of 52 for Perry Pearce.

Clayesmore Cormorants v Bryanston Butterflies, Tuesday 11 July (TIME MATCH)

84

This fixture was rained off, unfortunately.

Clayesmore Cormorants v Arkadin CC, Wednesday 12 July

Sherborne Pilgrims v Clayesmore Cormorants Thursday 13 July

(TIME MATCH)

(50 OVER MATCH)

Our, now regular, fixture against a wandering

Clayesmore won the toss and opted to

side founded by fellow OC, Julien Allen.

bat first, following a disciplined bowling display from the hosts, who scored 206-9

ACC won the toss and stuck the Cormorants

from their allotted overs.

in the field. The ‘Rants picked up wickets at regular intervals to see the guests declare for

In reply Sherborne, sadly, romped to

184-7. Highlights were Olly Morgan bowling

victory inside 25 overs! Skipper Fergus

18 overs (from a total of 55!) straight through,

Taylor striking a (very) rapid 130 not out.

to finish with figures of 18-4-46-2 and three cracking catches for the skipper on the day,

Not an ideal way to finish a week’s

Perry Pearce.

cricket (where we had lost a fixture to the weather), however two thrilling, high-

In reply, the Cormorants batted their way

scoring T20 matches and two hard-fought

to 178-8 off 48 overs, only to see time, and

draws were some consolation for this

overs, run out agonisingly close to a win. Runs

year’s tourists.

were shared throughout the batting line up, however Perry Pearce secured his second

Thanks to the School for hosting and

half-ton of the week top scoring with 63.

feeding us (SUPERBLY!) and all the OCs who played this year.

Another honourable draw was notched up.

Awards and Honours Cormorants Cup Winner

PERRY PEARCE Young Cormorant

OLLY MORGAN

The Cormorants will return again in 2018 for our 58th annual cricket week!

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Photo of Perry Pearce with the Cormorants Cup along side OC, Adrian Drapkin (1957 - 1961) who came all the way from Alabama for the week!

85

Drummond Cup Football The annual shebang saw a strong OC team defending the Society’s honour, rather helped by the inclusion of some powerful players who have only just left the Sixth Form.

Hence, a closely-fought match prevailed on the Lake Pitch on a grey September afternoon and the result was 4 – 2 to the Old Clayesmorians!

Head, Jo Thomson, was on hand to present the trophy to the victors before they all trooped towards the Main House for a well-earned tea.

Well done, chaps!

Ladies Hockey: OCs vs the School It’s a tradition that the morning after the

speed, lots of skill, on both sides, made for

Late Summer Party, a group of eager Old

a hugely entertaining game, resulting in

Clayesmorians meets the School’s First XI

a 5 – 0 win for the School, although that

for a fierce stand off on the Astro.

result doesn’t do justice to the OCs’ effort and drive.

This year, a peaceful Sunday morning

86

saw this annual clash take place and,

Well done, ladies; thank you so much for

as always, it was a joy to watch. Lots of

playing and see you next year.

OC Sport Golfing Greats: the OC Society/ Clayesmore Society Golf Day The Old Clayesmorian/Clayesmore Society

When all were safely home, it was time for

Golf Day was held this year at Remedy Oak, a

drinks and lunch, all scrumptious and served

qualifying course for The Open, tucked away

by the delightful staff. The homemade

in beautiful and ancient woodlands with a

sausage rolls were a particular show-stopper.

super clubhouse and facilities.

Numerous prizes were handed out by OC Our golfers gathered for coffee and bacon

Golf Secretary, Julian Bailey (1964-1969) with

baps (declared delicious) before heading out

Andrew Weatherley (1971-1974) winning the

for some supervised practice on the driving

Iwerne Cup and newcomer, Rob Atkins,

range. It was clear from the outset there was

claiming the Dorset Trophy. None was more

some significant talent in the group and the

delighted, however, than OC stalwart, David

professional instructor from the club seemed

Fangen (1961-1966), who won the prize for

pretty impressed.

lowest score‌ What a sport!

After that, it was time for the first hole and

A brilliant day, clearly enjoyed by all: well done

they were off.

everyone and big thanks to Remedy Oak for having us.

Some hours later, all emerged from the folded greens and wooded glades on to the stunning 18th hole, which demands players fire their balls over the lake directly in front of the bar and restaurant area. No pressure then! (Alas, we suspect some carp may have been injured during this exercise.)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Julian and Adrian

87

1940s

Where are they now?

David St K Anderson

James Morley

(1941 - 1945)

(1952 – 1956)

Retired sales director, chairman of

Spent over 30 years working in

Parish Council for ten years; chairman

agriculture and forestry before retiring

of Edenbridge Twinning Association;

in 1996. In retirement I have fulfilled an

steward/guide at Squerryes Court,

ambition to write and I now have ten

Westerham; volunteer reader with

novels in print with a cast of characters

Talking Newspapers at Heathfield in

who I regard as family. Most of the

Sussex. Former president and chairman of

novels are mystery thrillers with a strong

the OC Society.

theme of sailing. This also applies to the forthcoming book, “A Summer of Law

Peter Bradley

and Love“, which has a strong romantic

(1940 - 1945)

theme and one of the characters is an

Worked with his brother (also an OC) as

OC.

a dentist in Canterbury. Married to Sally, father of three, grandfather of 14, great-

John Cawthron Evans

grandfather to 15!

(1955 – 1958) Retired company director (road

1950s

construction manufacturing). Been living

Philip P Smith

in Malaga, Spain for twenty years with

(1943 - 1953)

wife, Linda.

Living in Barcelona. Been in Spain since 1957. Taught English 1958-1965.

Sunder Mirchandani

Assistant secretary British Chamber of

(1953 – 1958)

Commerce in Barcelona 1961-65.

Living and working in the USA, in

Freelance journalist for British press 1961-

Greenwich, Connecticut.

Founded the first cricket club in Spain in Madrid in 1975 and the second, in Barcelona in 1982. Founder-member British Society of Catalunya 1981.

1960s

65. Joined Price Waterhouse 1965.

Anthony Plowman (CPS – 1960) Retired English Language tutor and civil servant (RAF department in London).

Honorary treasurer Foreign Colonies

Interests include steam railways, music

Hospital 1987-2002. Member of British

and local history.

Olympic Committee in Barcelona 1990-

Living in Enfield, Middlesex.

1992. MBE 1995. Co-founder Barcelona Rugby Sevens Tournament 2001.

David Caddy (1958 – 1961) Retired and living in Sutton, Surrey.

88

Where are they now?

Peter Hodgson

Peter Mills

(1956 – 1961)

(1953 – 1962)

Head of Marketing at Midsummer Opera,

Farmer, living near Alresford in Hampshire.

living in Greenwich.

Michael Poynor* (1956 - 1961)

Ian Smith (1958 – 1962) A retired director of a national paper merchant, living near Woking in Surrey.

I have a French wife, Isabelle, and we have a family villa at Cavalèire in the south of France which OCs are welcome to rent. Maturing bon vivant; I enjoy golf etc...

Stuart Henley (1960 – 1963) Chartered surveyor, living in St Peter Port, Guernsey.

I occasionally bump in to Mike Beacham (1957 – 1961), who also lives on Guernsey, and we are thinking of forming a local OC branch at the local hostelry.

Frank Willcox* (1953 – 1963) I was recently elected President of the Association of Drama Adjudicators and the President of GODA (Guild of Drama Adjudicators): the first, historic, meeting of the two presidents! I continue as Artistic Director of the Ulster Theatre Company. I live in County Londonderry.

David Johnstone (1957 – 1962) Retired, living in Presteigne, Powys.

Africa.

Dave Bullen (1961 – 1964) Company president, living in Houston, Texas. Are there any OCs living nearby who fancy getting in touch? Contact details are on the OC site members’ area.

Chris Pickering (1961 – 1964) I recently moved to the South of France where we have owned a house for six years.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

here’s a pic of me (on the right) with

Entrepreneur living in Cape Town, South

89

Where are they now?

Gary Rees

Ken Partridge

(1959 – 1964)

(1963 – 1967)

A retired college professor of geography

Living in Las Vegas, enjoying wonderful

and geology. Living in Santa Barbara,

food and 320+ days per year of sunny

California.

weather!

The widespread diaspora of former

Jonathan Kemp

Iwernians all over the world is always

(1960 – 1965)

a source of amazement to me - even

Retired MoD civil servant.

though this includes me!

From Dorset, moved to Birmingham Rep Theatre followed by Exeter Northcott

If anyone is planning on a trip to Las

Theatre as a Stage Manager. Moved

Vegas, I may be able to help or advise,

on to supermarket management in

having retired from the travel tourism

Devon. Then joined MoD Civil Service,

industry after 30 years.

working in Exeter, Cheltenham, London

John Symons

and Hampshire. On retirement, moved from Winchester (after 28 years) to the

(1962 - 1967)

Marches in Shropshire. A Church of

Charity director, living in Cirencester.

England Reader since 1998. (Are there

Andrew Thorman

any other OC Readers?) Elected to local Parish Council May 2013.

(1963 - 1967) Retired BBC journalist: executive editor

Stephen E Levinson

on Countryfile. Now trustee of various

(1962 – 1967)

charities. Living in Hereford with wife,

Joined fabulous Keystone Law in 2013

Sarah. They have four children.

and am continuing to specialise in years. Let me know if you have a problem or know of someone who does!

Moved home base from London to Shaftesbury in December 2016 so the

1970s

employment law: yes still at that after 40

Bryan Fagerlund (1969 – 1971) Self employed and living in Brisbane, Australia.

Dorset influence rules.

Faramarz Ostovar (1969 – 1971) Works in farming, growing pistachios in San Diego, California.

90

Where are they now?

Clive Lacey

Andrew Shaw

(1970 – 1973)

(1969 – 1974)

Director running the family firm: a

Living in Surrey and married to Catherine,

Victorian building in west London

two children. Retired from teaching but

providing a home to creative industries

still a tutor. Just starting a Licensed Lay

(eg: recording studios, photographers,

Minister’s course, which lasts for three

artists, interior designers etc). Moved to

years, with the Church of England. Still

Brighton after my degree and never left.

enjoys choral singing and mountain walking.

Massoud (Mike) Shahabi* (1969 – 1973)

Francis John Kirk

After Clayesmore, I attended UCL for a

(1971 – 1976)

degree in Chemical Engineering then

First class BSc (Hons) graduate 1981

Imperial for a Masters in Advanced

at London Metropolitan University

Chemical Engineering.

(then North London Polytechnic) after

I look forward to helping any and all OCs who might be wanting to travel to the Los Angeles/Southern California area.

studying for three years for the degree in Architecture under the turorship of the internationaly renowned German architect, Florian Beigel.

Greg McGuirk

Diploma in Architecture 1984 won with

(1971 – 1974)

the De Vere Urban Design prize at the

I attended Clayesmore Prep School, just

Westminster University (then Central

before it moved from Charlton Marshall.

London Polytechnic) after studying two

I live in Westfield, Indiana, USA and work

years for the diploma in Architecture

as a composer/audio engineer. I would

under the internationaly renowned

love to reconnect with some old school

architecture practitioner and professor,

mates!

Dimitri Porphyrios.

(1972 – 1974) Sister of Greg. Also living in America, she runs a hotel in Colorado.

Author of various large and medium scale urban design and building projects executed since emigration to southern Spain in 1991. These include the “Spanish Village“ at the prestigious Hacienda del Álamo golf course in Murcia and other high quality projects for the local authorities here in Murcia and also for British citizens resident in the region.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Kerry Moe (McGuirk)

91

Where are they now?

Roland Teoh

and the Scottish Executive, amongst

(1975 - 1976)

others. He is a Visiting Professorial Fellow

Company president, living in Houston,

at the University of Sussex and a Visiting

Texas.

Fellow at the University of Birmingham, and has held visiting fellowships at the

Malcolm Williams

University of California San Diego, the

(1970 – 1976)

Australian National University, and the

A retired police officer, living in Maidstone

University of Sydney.

in Kent.

In a previous life, Charlie was a professional musician in West Berlin and

Michael E Farrell

played in a number of bands - some

(1974 – 1978)

more successful/embarrassing than

Colonel NL MoD and lecturer in

others.

international arms legislation, living in the

Steve Furness (1973 – 1978) Manages and operates cruise ships; lives in Miami, Florida.

Charles Lees (1974 – 1979) Charlie Lees is married to Kirsten Barnes and they live in Bath with their two

Musa G Badat (1976 – 1980) Certified public accountant, living in Hyde Park, New York, USA.

Helen Dominey (Phillips) (1974 – 1980) Assitant Head at Knighton House School, Durweston; living in Blandford.

children, Naomi and Rafe.

Nicholas Theodorou

Charlie is professor of Politics at the

(1975 – 1980)

University of Bath. He joined the

A consultant, living in Suffolk.

Department in 2011 from the University of Sheffield. He is an expert in comparative

David Toone

party systems, coalition government,

(1976 – 1980)

environmental politics and policy, and

A piano tuner and violinist, living in

has contributed to debates in the US

Sturminster Newton, Dorset.

on the methodology of single-country

92

1980s

Netherlands.

studies. He has published extensively and

Mike Evans

has provided commentary, research and

(1978 – 1983)

advice for the BBC, Sky News, Centre for

Chief operations officer in financial

American Progress, Australian Labor Party,

services. Living in Hong Kong (since 1995),

Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand,

married with two children.

Where are they now?

Mike Gumm

Kevin Jones

(1979 – 1983)

(1981 – 1986)

Lives in Ryde on the Isle of Wight

My first experience of drama was Guys

and working in marketing and

and Dolls at the School, in 1984, and I

communications.

carried on in amateur theatre but didn’t go back to the idea until I was in my

Imran Rahmani*

twenties. At 33, I packed my job in as a

(1983 – 1985)

mortgage broker and went to college

I have been living and working in

for the first time (went straight to work

America since 1985. I am married with

after Clayesmore) and studied opera. I

four children and have lived in Nashville,

did that for about eight years and then

Tennessee since I moved to the US. I have

about five years ago, decided I wanted to

been employed in the Electronic Security

try my luck in musical theatre, being very

Industry for 30 years and am currently

lucky to land a UK tour of Dirty Rotten

serving as a business development

Scoundrels in 2014 covering Gary Wilmot

manager for a German technology

and Michael Praed, and then getting the

company. In my professional capacity,

part of Old Deuteronomy in CATS in 2016.

I have had the pleasure of travelling all

I have just come to the end of my run

over the world and every state in the

with EVITA (as Juan Peron) in London’s

USA. If you have any questions about

West End.

visiting, working or living in the US, please don’t hesitate to contact me as I have been to virtually every major city in the country and have an extensive personal and professional network that covers virtually every State in the Union.

Jason Corbett Tattooist, living in Edinburgh.

in shows, some who I haven’t seen since school, which has been lovely. I recently met up with James Menzies (1981 - 1986) from my year, who I have not seen since I left in 1985. He was one of a few OC marriage stories as he married Georgie (Payne, 1984 – 1986), also from our year.

Incidentally I started the OCs group on Facebook a few years ago and we now have over 400 members!

Haliru B Fodio (1986 – 1988) A civil servant/politician in Sokoto, Nigeria.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

(1983 – 1986)

Over twenty OCs have come to see me

93

Where are they now?

Wendy Wrangham

Michelle Amey (Redcliffe)

(1983 – 1988)

(1993 – 1995)

Content creator and product developer.

Working as an HR manager and living in

Still working but moved to Devon now

Christchurch, Dorset.

(from London).

Christine Akehurst (Kohlhaas)

Mark L Clarke

(1997 – 1999)

(1985 – 1989)

After several years as a biomedical

Working as a regional manager and living

research associate at the University of

in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Glasgow, Christine moved to Germany in 2014. She and her husband, David, have

James Menzies

two children: Daniel (born February 2014)

(1981 – 1989)

and Rebecca (born September 2017).

A company secretary living in Bedford.

Sara Connolly

1990s

(1996 – 1999)

Heidi Banks

Living at Tidworth in Hampshire and

(1989 – 1991)

working as deputy manager of one of

Working as a college and school

her family’s stores.

counsellor, living in East Grinstead, West

Melanie Lafferty (1990 – 1993) A civil servant, living in Portchester, Hampshire.

2000s

Sussex.

Emma Carne (Luckock) (1999 - 2001) Now living in Bristol.

Graham Young (1994 – 2002)

Robert J F Soper*

Formerly a science teacher, now a trainee

(1990 – 1994)

vicar, living in Durham.

Currently living on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, working as a

Lizzie Bingham (Abnett)

Sergeant, Senior Police Prosecutor, in the

(1998 - 2003)

Queensland Police.

Married Jonathan in October 2016 and

Married to Jenny Soper, I have two children, Cameron (5), and Chloe (3), who keep us busy.

94

now works for Blind Veterans UK.

Ben Stocken (1998 – 2003)

Would love to catch up with any OCs

CEO of recruitment company, living in

who happen to find themselves in the

Ferndown, Dorset.

area.

Where are they now?

Jennifer Pollock

Claudia Legg

(1999 – 2005)

(1998 – 2008)

A maths tutor, living in Oakham, Rutland

A legal secretary, living in Pimperne.

and I coach regularly for Rutland Hockey Club.

Emily Walker (George) (2003 – 2008)

Stefanie Briggs (Blomquist)

Married Oliver in July last year; due to

(1999 – 2006)

qualify as a solicitor any time now, having

Married to David Briggs (OC, 2001 –

read Law at Reading University. Living in

2006) with two boys, Harry and Charlie.

Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

Living in Essex where David is a Captain with Ryanair, flying out of Stansted

Fiona Baillie

Airport. I teach at a small junior school,

(1998 – 2009)

part time.

A bid writer (and keen hockey player), living in Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Ed Goates (2003 – 2008)

Peter Merrell

Now Lieutenant EJF Goates of the Royal

(2000 – 2009)

Military Police. Ed recently took his

Left Plymouth University in 2012, now

troops to the Menin Gate and took this

working as an IT service desk leader,

photograph of the grave of another OC,

living in Saffron Walden, Essex.

Charlies Geoffrey Boothby, who was killed in action in April 1916, aged 21.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

95

2010s

Where are they now?

Ollie Fairchild

Lauren Mellows

(2005 – 2010)

(2007 - 2012)

He got a 2:1 in Business at Winchester

In July, I graduated from Oxford

and is now working at Goadsby Estate

University with an MSc in African Studies

Agents in Wareham.

with distinction. Having completed my degree at Bristol University last year (with

Tom Hudson

a first in Politics and Sociology), I have

(2005 – 2010)

thoroughly enjoyed spending the last

Currently studying for his PhD in Earth

nine months in Oxford, completing my

Sciences at Cambridge. This follows from

Masters. Now to find a job!

him gaining his MPhys from Durham in 2015.

Imogen Sandiford (2010 - 2012)

Jack Hayter

Graduated this summer from the

(2007 – 2012)

University of Aberdeen with degrees in

Graduated in 2015 with a First Class

Medicine and Surgery.

degree in Film Production and Creative Media from Bristol UWE. Now working in

Lucinda Sandon-Allum

his chosen field and loving it.

(2010 – 2012) Former President of Imperial College Union; graduate of Imperial College, London with a BSc (Hons) ARCS in Biology. Now working as a junior associate (health communications) at Weber Shandwick.

Mikaela Belcher (2003 - 2013) Was President of the Law Society at Trinity College, Cambridge 2016 – 2017 and as Cambridge University Fencing Club Press and Sponsorship Officer.

Harry Kimberley (2009 – 2013) General manager of Koh Thai restaurant, living in Bournemouth.

96

Where are they now?

Hannah Patton

Zoe Threadgold

(2009 – 2013)

(2008 – 2013)

Graduated in July with a 2:1 in Educations

I graduated from Bristol UWE with a 2:1 in

Studies from Anglia Ruskin University.

Economics this summer. I thought you’d

Below: Hannah’s Graduation

like to know my years at Clayesmore weren’t completely wasted!

Verity Magnay (2010 – 2014) Graduated from Falmouth University this summer with a degree in Creative Events Management. Living in Bath.

Gregor Sandiford (2010 – 2015) Just finished second year reading Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdenn. Living in Warminster, Wiltshire.

Charlie Abbott (2010 – 2016) Currently studying Business Management and Spanish at Surrey University.

James Somper

Edward Godden

My MA in Journalism is going pretty well.

(2011 - 2016)

I was at The Sun and causing mischief a

Studying Business and Management at

while ago, and I wrote a piece on Brexit

Portsmouth.

negotiations some time ago and had to source a quote from Gawain Towler

* denotes a Clayesmore International

(1981 - 1986). Maybe this was the first

Ambassador; see page 117 for details

time two OCs have co-operated over the production of an article for a tabloid?

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

(2008 - 2013)

97

In Memoriam 1940s

We regret to report the following deaths of Old Clayesmorians and former members of the Clayesmore Staff.

George Millington

George Millington

(1937 - 1940) I write with the sad news that George Millington, aged 93, passed away peacefully at home on 22 October 2016.

He always spoke with very fond memories of his time at Clayesmore School. He arrived there as a young boy from Alexandria and I understand that due to the war he was unable to return home for holidays, however he spoke very highly of all those who invited him to their homes at holiday time and particularly the kindness he received from the Headmaster and his wife.

George was a founding member of the London Branch of Samaritans and also worked for the charity Relate.

Sadly his wife, Prue died in 2002, they had no children but both of them were wonderful godparents to my children who adored them. We all feel it was a great privilege to have known such a warm hearted, kind and modest gentleman.

John Eveleigh (1940 - 1944) John died last November at nearly 90 years old. OC, Frank Hirshfield (formerly

Judith Turner

Kaufmann, 1950 - 1952) kindly donated a painting by John to the School in his memory. (See Features & Contributions on page 43) “I aspire to his level of artistic and aesthetic competence but have yet to achieve that,” said Frank. “He was in my view, and that of many artists I know, one of the finest British painters post war. No

98

stuffed cows or sharks for him but ‘art as it should be spoke!’”

In Memoriam Michael Falby

Francis Henry Stephenson Scriven

(1941 - 1944)

(1944 - 1946)

Michael E Falby passed away on August 25

His son, Richard, informed us that his

2017 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

father died on 20 April 2017, aged 86.

Mike attended Clayesmore during WWII and upon graduation in 1945 he did

John Squiers

his military service in the Royal Artillery.

(1946 - 1948)

From there, he joined the Anglo-Iranian

His widow, Brenda, wrote to tell us of

Oil Company and worked in the Persian

John’s death, of liver cancer, on 18 June

Gulf until nationalisation by Iran. In early

2017, aged 85. “He spent some very

1952, he emigrated to Canada and shortly

happy years at Clayesmore School at the

thereafter joined Shell Oil in the newly

end of the 1940s,” she said. “He enjoyed

discovered Alberta oilfields, where he

the drama side of the school a great deal.”

worked promoting and cultivating worker

He was a founding member and first Captain of the Edmonton Pirates RFC, he loved squash and was challenged his entire life by the game of golf, which he enjoyed.

1950s

safety until his retirement.

Berkeley Bevan (1946 - 1950) Mr Bevan died last year, aged 84.

Patrick Fry (1948 - 1954)

He is survived by his stepson Doug Warren,

Known as ‘Tiny’ while at school, Patrick

his daughter Elizabeth Moland and their

was a retired vet.

families, which include four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Doug Warren (stepson)

Henry Teed A number of people got in touch to tell us of the death of Henry Teed in September.

Peter Bradley (1941 - 1946) wrote: “he was at Clayesmore a year or two before me and was a special friend of my brother, Alan. I visited him in January and he was very ill then; he was being looked after by his son.” Henry was, for many years, secretary of the OC Society and a long time committee member.

(1953 - 1956) His widow, Dorothy, let us know of Anthony’s death. “He was very, very happy at Clayesmore,” she told us.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

(1942 - 1945)

Anthony Ingram

99

Fereydoyun Malekpour (1953 - 1956) His brother, Fariborz Malekpour, also an OC (1954 - 1957), wrote to us earlier this

1960s

In Memoriam John Hardie (1956 - 1960) Brother of Stephen, John died this year, in September, aged 74.

year: “I am sad to inform you of the untimely passing of my beloved brother on 26 February. He was at Clayesmore from 1953 - 1956 and was domiciled in France since 1959, where he attended university

Andrew Guthrie (1959 - 1961) Nigel Bill (1959 - 1961) informed us of Andrew’s death, from cancer, at the beginning of the year.

and practiced as a psychiatrist. He leaves

“It brings to an end our little gang of four

behind his widow, Marie-Paule, and

(Andrew Shepherd, Graham Fry, Andrew

children Alice, Louis and Paul.

Guthrie) always in trouble at school with regular beatings; we did have fun!”

Stephen Hardie (1954 - 1957)

Richard Gamper

His widow, Lynn, rang to tell us of her

(1956 - 1962)

husband’s death last December at the

Nick Gamper wrote to tell us of the death

age of 76.

of his brother, Richard.

Alan Furneaux (1954 – 1958) We were recently informed, by Philip Hammond (1954 - 1958), that Alan died on 14 July this year.

Fred Greavett (1955 - 1959) Fred died at Christmas time 2016; we were informed by his widow, Jackie, in August.

“Sadly, he died on May 8 this year. He was at Clayesmore between 1956 - 1962, followed by myself and our younger brother Stephen.”

Peter Heygate Knowles (1960 to 1964) Peter died in November last year.

Unfortunately, we have no further information.

Douglas Reed (1962 - 1965) Gervais Sawyer (1959 - 1964) was amongst those keen to support a musical send off for Douglas who, only last year, wrote a wonderful piece for The Old Clayesmorian on his “Melodic Existence”.

Here is the notice of his aptly musical

100

send-off, held last May.

DOUGLAS REED (RIP) Memorial Service Tuesday 30 May 2017 at 4pm All Saints Church, Weston, Chestnut Ave, Esher KT10 8JL As many of you will know, Douglas died on 10 May 2017.

Following a private cremation earlier in the afternoon, a service celebrating his life and devotion to choral music will be held on Tuesday 30 May 2017 at All Saints Church, Weston at 4pm. It will comprise a number of choral and organ works that he particularly loved.

The sung music Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah) HANDEL Ave verum corpus MOZART In Paradisum (from Requiem) FAURÉ (sung by the All Saints Chamber Choir) I was glad PARRY The hymns have yet to be chosen, save for the last one which will be Jerusalem.

There will also be organ pieces and a trumpet voluntary.

Veronica is adamant that the large pieces should be big and bold, just as Douglas would have liked them. Hence, we have arranged for two trumpeters (Robert Vanryne and Eloise Yates) and a timpanist (Nick Handel) to accompany the Handel, Parry and Jerusalem.

I was glad PARRY This will be a ‘come and sing’ rendition for anyone who would like to join in (without prior rehearsal). The All Saints Chamber Choir will sing ‘O pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ and the ‘Vivats’ will be redacted. A marked-up copy of it should accompany this message (for you to look at in advance, if you wish). Please bring a printed copy with you to sing from.

If you would like to sing in the choir for the service, which we would warmly encourage, please email Bee Cassidy at gbpcassidy@gmail.com with the following information: your name; your voice part; and

b.

whether you can attend a rehearsal at: 4-6pm on Monday 29 May at All Saints Church and/or from 3pm to 3.30pm on 30 May 2017.

If you are unable to make the rehearsal on the Monday, and you feel able to, please come and sing in the choir anyway. We will run through the main pieces at the rehearsal on the day at 3pm. Nobody should feel excluded.

We do hope you will be able to join us, and the rest of the Parish, for this celebration and commemoration, which will be followed by a drinks reception at Marney’s Village Inn opposite the church.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

a.

101

1970s

In Memoriam Douglas Sinclair Sturrock

working in Bristol, while Hugh joined the

(1970 - 1973)

army, being commissioned in the infantry

It is with great sadness that I have to tell

(understood to be the 7th Battalion, Ox &

you that Douglas unexpectedly died on 1

Bucks Light Infantry).

August.

In due course, he took part in the Salerno He always remembered his time at

landings where, in the confused and

Clayesmore with great fondness.

bitter fighting, he and his men were

Nik OakleyÂ

isolated and taken prisoner. Two years as a POW followed. Upon his return to the

Staff

UK in 1945, his path and that of Margaret

Margaret Glazebrook

crossed yet again.

(Former Staff)Â There will doubtless be numerous OCs

This time, with both of them much

who were at the Prep School at Charlton

changed by their wartime experiences,

Marshall between 1947 and 1961, who will

the outcome was positive; in the event,

be saddened upon learning of the death

life-changing.

of Margaret Glazebrook at the age of 97.

Margaret was born in Oldham, the major

In 1946, Hugh secured a position teaching

cotton-spinning centre somewhat to the

at the Charlton Marshall Prep School and

north of Manchester. While growing up,

made a significant impact almost from

she also spent a certain amount of time

the start.

with close relatives who lived in Bridport, a town that, in due course, would hold a

We had to wait another term before

special place in her affections.

Margaret’s arrival as the new Matron. The

It was probably while she was in her late teens that a young man of a similar age crossed her path while in Bridport. He too was staying with relations; his name was Hugh Glazebrook and he possessed a striking appearance.

impact she made was equally significant.

Gone was the traditional Matron figure; in its place we had a vivacious young woman with an obvious sense of humour and keen sense of the ridiculous, the latter of which we boys were able to provide in copious amounts. She was also

Seemingly, this did not have any

authoritative yet fair with her discipline

particular effect upon Margaret at the

which, equally, won our respect.

time. However, all this coincided with

102

the gathering war clouds over Europe,

It was therefore no great surprise, some

hostilities breaking out in September 1939

terms later, to learn that Margaret and

with the German invasion of Poland.

Hugh were to marry and approval was

Both of them went their separate ways:

universal.

Margaret entered the nursing profession,

In Memoriam The time at Charlton Marshall was interrupted

Millbrook continued to flourish for the better

by a three year gap spent by the couple at

part of three decades until Hugh’s untimely

St Andrew’s, where Hugh read for a History

death in 1991, which struck Margaret hard.

degree, courtesy of the Government’s scheme

The measure of her loss and the immense

for ex-servicemen which was available at that

respect in which he was held far and wide

time.

was evidenced by the sheer numbers that filled Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, for his

They duly returned to Charlton Marshall upon

memorial service.

completion of the course, happily remaining there until 1963, when the opportunity of

Thereafter, Hugh and Margaret’s son, Simon,

acquiring and running their own school

and daughter-in-law, Helen, took over the

suddenly arose. This was Millbrook House at

running of the school, allowing Margaret to

Milton, near Abingdon.

take a well-earned retirement while continuing to live at Millbrook.

Once again the partnership was brought into action, with Margaret assuming responsibility

She maintained a keen interest in the lives of

not only for the duties of Matron but also for

the OCs who had come under her charge at

the “commissariat” as a whole.

Charlton Marshall, being delighted to hear of their successes and, in due course, she

The school flourished during this period, one

celebrated her 90th birthday, an extremely

of the interesting by-products of its success

well-attended affair which included a number

being an informal “consultancy service”

of OCs who were well known to her.

whereby parents, concerned about their sons’ educational future, took the path to Millbrook

However, in the following years she suffered

for advice. Included in this number were

a number of accidents, sustaining injury

certain members of the Royal family.

that would have been fatal to others. She recovered, to be cared for in as independent a manner as possible by Simon and Helen, who

maintained on a regular basis with Charlton

deserve the utmost praise for their dedication

Marshall, Iwerne Minster and numerous OCs

but, ultimately, one fall too many hastened her

as well, either through the Cormorants’ cricket

end.

tours or individual visits to Millbrook, where there was invariably the warmest welcome.

Her well-attended funeral took place in Milton Parish Church in late July with a number of

The school also expanded to accommodate

OCs in attendance.

rising numbers. It was around this time that Margaret allowed herself the indulgence of a Scimitar GT, in which she could be seen driving in a suitably spirited fashion around the neighbourhood.

Anthony Watts (1942 – 1954)

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Throughout these years contact was still

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In Memoriam Winston “Win” Walmsley (Former Staff & Honorary OC) Win died on 15 May this year, peacefully and at home, after a period of ill health.

He retired from the Estates Department almost three years ago, having worked at Clayesmore for over 34 years, mainly in the estates department, but also as a minibus driver and cricket umpire. He also went on some of the school’s overseas expeditions, including one to Machu Picchu in 2002.

He was hugely amusing when recounting anecdotes and yarns about things that happened at Clayesmore that would never have made it into a newsletter or official records!

A large contingent from the School Staff attended his funeral in Shroton.​​ Valerie McKinley Buildings and Estates Secretary

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Minutes of the 2017 AGM Minutes of the AGM of the Old Clayesmorian Society held on 28 January 2017 at 12:00 at Brown’s Courtrooms, London.

1. Welcome and Introduction

and drinks and live music in the common

There was a short welcome from the Chair,

room which was hopefully enjoyed by all.

and then each member of the committee identified themselves and the office held, if

OC reunions have taken place in the United

any.

States and the Channel Islands. There was a reunion for 70s and 80s leavers at the Spring

In attendance from the Committee were:

OC Day, which the OC magazine tells us was

Piers Sabine (President)

attended by a “splendid rabble” of OCs. If

Louise Salmond Smith (Chair);

ever there was an apt description for OCs it

Paul Smith (Secretary);

must surely be “splendid rabble”.

Mark Farrand (Treasurer); Matt Swarbrick (Sports Secretary);

This year was obviously punctuated by the

Andrew Beaton;

departure of Martin and Eleanor Cooke.

Roderick Douglas;

The Society presented a painting by Luke

John Dukes;

Martineau. Martin was an enthusiastic

Louise Smith;

supporter of the Society and under him

Adam Hornblow.

the School and the Society have enjoyed a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship

2. Apologies for absence Sarah Jane Newland (OC Magazine

which I have no doubt will continue under the school’s new head, Jo Thomson.

Editor) Alastair Deighton

During the summer, OCs participated in

Clair Miller

a choral weekend with staff and pupils and rehearsed and performed a number of pieces in the chapel including Zadok

and Matters Arising

the Priest, and I Was Glad, as part of a

No points were raised about the previous

programme celebrating the Queen’s 90th

minutes.

birthday.

4. Report from the Secretary

The OC magazine has again been produced

The Society has again been active

to the usual high standard.

throughout the past year.

The Committee has met 3 times since the This time last year we were enjoying another

last AGM, and Jo Thomson and Liisa Steele

smashing dinner at the school, with typically

attend those meetings in their ex-officio

good quality catering from the school team,

capacity.

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

3. Minutes of Last Meeting

105

Minutes of the 2017 AGM 5. Report from the Treasurer

that there have been some changes in job

The balance held by the Society is £38,638.37.

roles at the school and the rules need to be

The Society asked for donations towards the

amended to ensure a presence from the

gift for Martin and Eleanor Cooke, and the

development officer at Committee meetings.

Society received £1176 in contributions from

The proposal was proposed, seconded and

members.

passed on a vote of the meeting.

The gift had a cost of £1650, and so the

8. Election of the President

Society paid £473.88.

The Society has been very fortunate to have Piers Sabine as President but he has decided

The School gave its usual agreed subsidy of

to step down. The Chair recognised the time

£5000.

and energy Piers had brought to the role over the years, and he was thanked by the

The Society made donations to the school

Committee and the members present.

of £1000 for fireworks at the Late Summer Dinner.

Robert Mash had agreed to stand as President. Alternative candidates were

The Society bought new merchandise

invited from the floor, but no other

including ties, badges etc.

candidates were forthcoming. Robert Mash was proposed, seconded, and elected on a

The Society has made a profit on

vote of the meeting.

merchandise of £24.

9. Election of the Chair The Accounts were available for inspection.

Louise Salmond Smith has been in office for 3 years and under the rules of the Society

6. Resolution A

was required to stand for re-election. She

Resolution A was put to the meeting, so as to

was proposed, seconded and voted in by the

change the wording of Rule 8 be amended

members present.

to change the word “Headmaster” to “Head”, the rationale being that the School now has

10. Election of the Secretary

a female head. The resolution was proposed,

Paul Smith has been in office for 3 years and

seconded and passed on a vote of the

under the rules of the Society was required

meeting.

to stand for re-election. He was proposed, seconded and voted in by the members

7. Resolution B

present.

Resolution B was put to the meeting, to

106

amend rule 8 to refer to the development

11. Election of the Committee

officer or “any other officer of the school

All ordinary committee members are

performing such duties”, the rationale being

required to be re-elected every year. The

current ordinary members were proposed

Britain. There was a grant of £500 to the cost

and seconded en bloc.

of a sculpture in the Prep School grounds.

Grants in 2016 brought the 10 year total to

Also, Louise Smith, who was co-opted to

£40,219. First grants were made under the

the committee in 2016, was proposed and

scheme in 2007 and so have average of £4k

seconded.

per annum for grants. The report then turned to the trustees. Martin Cooke and Ed Lukins

All ordinary members were re-elected on a

retired. Catrin Abrahams had volunteered as

vote by the members.

a trustee, and the committee was looking forward to working with Jo Thomson. Over

12. Election of the Editor of the OC

the past 10 years OCs have donated £38,330

Magazine

over the current programme. There has

SarahJane Newland has edited it for some

been one admin charge to pay for donation

years, and wishes to step down as she

leaflets in the sum of £529. The entirety

has other commitments. She has done a

of remaining OC donations have gone to

splendid job. The quality of the magazine

the grants. There has been a total of 89

is superb. Louise Smith has agreed to stand

individual grants made with a total value of

as editor. She was proposed, seconded and

£40,219. These grants have funded a wide

voted into office by the members present.

range of extra-curricular activities including sports programmes, music, drama, cookery,

13. Report from the Spinney Trust

leadership conferences, English literature

(provided by Bill Chennells)

studies, foreign languages, fashion, TEFL,

The report was given for the year ending

volunteer programmes to overseas schools

31 March 2016. There has been a drop in

and hospitals, wildlife preservation schemes

income but this is not surprising given the

and one course for a prospective national

income received the year before. Income

hunt jockey.

for the year ending 31 March 2016 was A question was asked from the floor as to

in accounts. Turning to expenditure, the

whether there is evidence people would

grants agreed at the Trustees Meeting in May

not go on these trips if we had not made

2015 were, in value, the most ever agreed

the donations? The answer was that a lot

at £6470. Pursuant to a decision made in

of students do not pay the full fees, and

May 2014 the number of grants reduced but

some of these schemes and trips had a high

the value increased. 8 were agreed, with a

cost - certain grants had been for £1000. A

distinctly musical flavour: 4 for instruments

number of grants were given to children of

and 1 for a piano course; but also sport

single parents who were struggling to meet

with grants for 2 athletes - Hugo Scott and

fees on their own, and so grants enabled

Charlie Weatherburn; and a trip to a wildlife

these children to have opportunities they

support park in Thailand. In 2016, 6 grants

might otherwise not have. It was not the

were agreed with a value of £6423, which

case that contributions went to the well

supported a London College of Fashion

heeled. Although grant applications were

course, a TEFL course, an 8 week medical

not means tested there is a conversation

placement in Sydney, attendance at a UN

with the school. Without doubt, some of the

global leaders conference, attendance and

recipients would not have gone without the

a contribution to Lauren Morgan’s China

help of the Spinney Trust.

tour with the National Youth Choir of Great

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

£1,943. The Trust has approximately £9500

107

Minutes of the 2017 AGM Questions From The Floor 1.

It was recalled that some time ago an assessment was done of the wildlife at the school grounds, and it was asked whether it was possible to do such a thing again. a.

It was pointed out that the Committee cannot dictate to the school what it does at the grounds, but it is something which we can bring up with the School as a suggestion.

Louise Smith noted there is a project in the early planning stages which would involve something at the Lake which might have a connection to this. It is something to go on to the agenda for the May Committee meeting.

2.

It was suggested at the Clayesmore Society meeting that there are 4 or 5 different committees doing things at the school, and that perhaps the Clayesmore Society Committee could be expanded to include someone from the OC Society. a.

It was noted that there used to be, and the original structure was to include an OC committee member on the Clayesmore Society committee. It was proposed that this connection be considered again, so that there is more joined up communication.

3.

It was noted that the gun which normally sits next to the flag at the entrance was being restored, and there was some suggestion of it being re-situated next to the Chapel. A new plinth has been considered, and it was suggested that this might be something for the Society to support. There was some discussion about the merits of moving the gun at all. a.

The positioning of the gun is something for the school.

If a new plinth is required, and if the school asks for the Society to contribute, then this is something which can be considered at the appropriate time.

4.

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Meeting closed 12:45pm.

2018 AGM

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2018 Annual General Meeting of the Old Clayesmorian Society will be held at Clayesmore School on Saturday 27th January 2018 at 6:30pm.

AGENDA 1. Welcome and Introduction 2. Apologies for absence 3. Minutes of previous AGM 4. Secretary’s Report 5. Treasurer’s Report 6. Resolution A 7. Election of Committee

9. Report from the Spinney Memorial Trust 10. Any other business

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

8. Election of Honorary OCs

109

2018 AGM Proposed Resolution A: Resolution A: “That Rule 7 be amended to remove the time limit on duration of service for officers of the Committee so that it reads: The officers of the Society shall consist of a President; a Chairman; a Secretary; a Treasurer; an Editor of the O.C. Newsletter; and a Sports Secretary. Each officer shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for three years (unless resigning from office) and shall be eligible for re-election. A casual vacancy in any office, other than in the office of President, may be filled by the Committee until the next Annual General Meeting.

And “That Rule 8 be amended to remove the time limit on duration of service for members of the Committee, so that it reads: The Committee shall consist of all the officers of the Society together with one elected member who shall be a member of the Council of the School, and shall hold office for three years (unless resigning from office), and up to a maximum of 12 other elected members who shall hold office for one year. The Head of the School and any persons holding the offices of Development Director and Development Office Assistant at the School shall be non-voting members of the Committee ex officio. The elected members of the Committee shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election. Any casual vacancy among the elected members of the Committee may be filled by the Committee until the next Annual General Meeting.

The Committee, at its discretion, may co-opt any member of the Society.”

Rationale - The limit on the duration of service was instituted at a time when such limits were deemed necessary. However, those concerns are in the past, and the Society runs the risk of having no officers to fulfil crucial roles and for the Committee to run short of members. Other options, such as extending the maximum period of service, have been considered but rejected as simply postponing a problem.

110

Annual Accounts The Old Clayesmorian Society Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 30 November 2016

2016 2015 £

£

Income Donations Profit on sale of merchandise Bank deposit interest School subsidy OC donations to Cookes’ gift

1,952 2,035 24

66

273

236

5,000

5,000

1,176 8,425

7,337

Expenditure Social & sports events (net cost)

1,564

903

Cookes’ leaving gift

1,650

-

Donations & sponsorship

1,050

8,049

OC prizes awarded

300

200

Sundry expenses

288

1,274

Accountancy

204

204

112

5,056 10,630

NET PROFIT/(LOSS)

3,369

(3,293)

Annual Accounts The Old Clayesmorian Society Balance Sheet 30 November 2016

2016 2015

£

£

CURRENT ASSETS Stock of merchandise (at cost)

5,008

2,358

1,065

1,065

38,638

38,005

44,711

41,428

NET ASSETS

44,711

41,428

39,596

42,889

Sports kit (at cost) Cash at bank

FINANCED BY INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT Brought forward Add Net profit

3,369

42,965 42,889

Less Net loss

3,293

42,965 39,596

Brought forward Add Interest received

1,832

1,920

14

12

1,846 1,932

Less Scadding Fund Prize

100

100

1,746

1,832

44,711

41,428

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

SCADDING FUND

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The OC Shop The range of good quality merchandise available for Old Clayesmorians, their friends and family to buy either online or via the School:

To purchase any of these items, visit www.ocsociety.co.uk or contact Liisa Steele, the Clayesmore Society Officer, tel: 01747 813160 or society@clayesmore.com All prices include UK postage, packaging and VAT (extra postage may be charged for international deliveries)

Clayesmore – A Celebration Published in July 2012, a lavishly illustrated portrait of Clayesmore past and present

£25

“Clayesmore” by Keith Scott Signed, fine art giclée prints, options available are: Signed and mounted (61cm x 56cm) ready to frame

£60

Signed and unmounted (50cm x 43cm) in a postal tube

£50

Clayesmore Roll of Honour

Cufflinks

Written by Tony Chew and produced by the Clayesmore Society to commemorate the OCs who gave their lives for King and country in the First World War

Featuring the School crest and supplied in a velvet presentation box

£15

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£12

£12

Bow Tie

Polyester self tie (bear not included)

Rugby Shirt

£30

Short sleeved, quartered rugby shirt with embroidered crest, available in sizes M, L, XL

OC Tie Pure silk and custom made for the OC Society

by T M Lewin

£20

Umbrella

OC Scarf “Links” style friendship bracelet

£10

Supplied in a velvet presentation box

Traditional scarf, wool and fleece, 160cm, in OC colours

£25

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Large brolly with the School crest emblazoned on the side

£16

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Keeping in touch There are many ways of staying in touch with the School and keeping up with old friends…

The main source of all things “OC”. It’s where you can find news, events information and booking, photos and a bit of history, too: www.ocsociety.co.uk.

You can also register in the secure area of the website which is a great way to keep your details up to date and get in touch with other members.

You can also keep up with us via facebook.

Either search for Clayesmore School or use the following address: www.facebook.com/clayesmoreschool

There is a Clayesmore Alumni Group on LinkedIn to help promote and develop business and career opportunities amongst Old Clayesmorians. To join, please search for “Clayesmore Alumni” on: www.linkedin.com

You can follow the OC Society on Twitter:

@Lex_Devine_1896

And do keep up with current events at the School. We’ve just launched a brand new website which we’d love you to see and the Clayesmore Society (of which all OCs are automatically members) has its own section. www.clayesmore.com Have a look!

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International Ambassadors

We are looking for individuals interested in helping OCs and other members of the Clayesmore community to keep in touch around the world. Would you be interested in acting as a point of contact for members who are looking to network, considering moving to your area or just visiting your country?

A list of OCs who have already volunteered is below. If you would like to add your name to the list, please contact us at society@clayesmore.com.

Contact information for these ambassadors can be found in the members’ area of the OC website at www.ocsociety.co.uk.

AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AFRICA

Joe Ball (1987 - 1991), Western Australia

Frank Willcox (1959 – 1963), Cape Town

Robert Soper (1990 - 1994), Queensland USA CANADA

Ken Partridge (1959 - 1967), Las Vegas, Nevada

Greg Bryant (1998 – 2002), Manitoba

Imran Rahmani (1983 - 1985), Mount Juliet, Tennessee

NORTHERN IRELAND

Mike Shahabi (1969 - 1973), Orange County,

Michael Poynor (1956 - 1961), County

California

Londonderry

Register of OCs and data protection

Each year, we receive several requests from members seeking address and contact information for other OCs. Because of the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, and the frequency with which a printed record would go out of date, it is not possible to publish a formal “Register”. We are very keen that OCs are able to get in touch with each other and realise that there remain members of the Society who do not have internet access. That is why, contained within this magazine is an Alumni Update Sheet, a part of which requests permission to give out contact information to other Old Clayesmorians, and we would like to ask all OCs to consider giving this

Are you moving? (We won’t know unless you tell us!)

Please get in touch if you are moving house so we can update our records and ensure you receive items the School and Society send out.

Please take a moment to log in to the OC website at www.ocsociety.co.uk and ensure the information we have for you is accurate. Alternatively, complete and return the enclosed Alumni Update Sheet.

Many thanks!

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

permission. Thank you.

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Clayesmore Society Members Offers Launched in the spring of 2015, the Clayesmore Society Membership Benefits Scheme seeks to encourage a feeling of community by offering members a range of benefits when they use their membership cards. These schemes vary from time to time but currently include a discount of wine, on meals out, in various stores and on holiday getaways.

Visit the Clayesmore Society website at:

www.clayesmore.com/clayesmore-society for details of the current deals available.

And don’t forget the other activites of the Society, contained in your Season Booklet.

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Diary Dates 2018

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

119

Diary Dates 2018 The Clayesmore Lecture: Lord Winston Thursday 25 January In the Sports Centre, 7pm He is so well-known and highly-regarded in his field that we are over the moon that Lord Winston is coming to Clayesmore to give his talk: “Improve Your Learning”. Not just as students but throughout life. Tickets for this are already selling fast! Get yours now before they all go.

Cost: £12.50 to Society members (£15 to non-members) to include drinks and nibbles afterwards

Booking: online at www.clayesmore.com Enquiries: louise@clayesmore.com or 01747 813240

Organ Recital by David Briggs Thursday 8 March In the Chapel, 7.30pm We are delighted to have secured this date with the internationally renowned David Briggs: “one of the world’s finest organists.”

In what promises to be a thrilling evening of music, performed at the highest level, David will also give an insight into his work.

Cost: £10

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Booking: online at www.clayesmore.com

Diary Dates 2018 Back to the Future Day Saturday 17 March

After the success of last year’s event, the School is hosting another Back to the Future Day, where recent OCs are invited along to tell current Year 11s (Lower Sixth Formers) what they would tell their 17 year old selves, given the opportunity.

It’s about helping the current students see a clearer path through the myriad opportunities available to them by giving them guidance borne of experience.

Time to be confirmed but it is a morning event.

Spring Term OC Day 2000s Decade Reunion & OC Hockey & Netball Sunday 18 March Main House from 10am Did you come to Clayesmore at the beginning of the new millennium? Ever miss the Old School? Wonder what happened to your classmates?

Oh, and if you fancy donning your old sports kit, please feel free to volunteer for either the hockey or netball matches vs the School.

Cost: free

Booking: online at www.ocsociety.com Enquiries: society@clayesmore.com or 01747 813160

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

Come and spend a relaxed day with us and look through our extensive archive of those years. Coffee, lunch, tea, cakes, it’s all here.

We want as many of you as possible to come for a catch up and we’ll even try and drag some of your erstwhile teachers back to say hello.

The Cookes are coming! Spread the word.

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Diary Dates 2018 Clayesmore Society Summer Weekend Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 May Saturday is Choral Day, starting off in The Chapel at 10am Come and sing your heart out for a day with our splendid choir and other like-minded souls. Under the expert guidance of our Director of Music, Ralph Kerr, you will rehearse chosen pieces and perform them at a concert in the evening (6pm). The day is topped off with the delightful, three-course Summer Supper, with wine and coffee, in the de Selincourt Room.

Full day to include morning refreshments, lunch, tea and Summer Supper: £35 To come and watch the concert and enjoy the Summer Supper afterwards: £20 If you would just like to come to the concert, there is no charge.

Booking: online at www.clayesmore.com

Then on the Sunday it’s the Clayesmore Cormorants vs the School 1st XI Always a wonderful day of cricket, all are welcome to come and watch the Old Boys vs the current, starting at 11am on the Senior Fields.

Lunch and tea provided to all comers or bring a picnic! It’s free to attend but do contact Liisa to let her know you’re coming.

122

Enquiries: society@clayesmore.com or 01747 813160

Diary Dates 2018 City Lunch Thursday 21 June Le Beaujolais, Litchfield Street, London, 12.30pm As if they needed another excuse, a group of OCs gathers here every year for a bit of classic French cuisine and character, punctuated with lots of wine and plenty of Clayesmorian memories. Why not join them? The cheeseboard is worth a visit on its own.

Cost: depends on your appetite

Booking: contact Liisa to let her know you’re coming Enquiries: society@clayesmore.com or 01747 813160

Guernsey Reunion Saturday 23 June St Peter Port, 7pm

Cost: free

Booking: contact Liisa to let her know you’re coming Enquiries: society@clayesmore.com or 01747 813160

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

We are delighted to be welcomed back to the Channel Islands home of OC, Stuart Henley, and his wife, Bridget. They lay on a lavish spread of fabulous canapés and numerous bottles of fizz with which to wash them down. Open to all OCs, Society members and Friends.

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Diary Dates 2018 Hampers & Champers Wednesday 4 July South Lawn, 7pm A wonderful finale just before the end of term: Clayesmore’s musicians gather under what we hope will be a warm evening sun and play all manner of numbers in all manner of styles. Bring your picnic, bring your friends. It’s blissful.

Cost: free

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Booking: not required Enquiries: rhona@clayesmore.com or 01747 813111

Diary Dates 2018 Clayesmore Cormorants’ Cricket Week Sunday 8 – Thursday 12 July Determined to win back the Stour Cup after last year’s defeat, our OC cricket squad will descend on Devine and spend a few days doing battle with Bryanston, Sherborne, Canford and Arkadin.

Come along and give them your support!

Further details on the OC site nearer the time.

Cost: free

Booking: not required Enquiries: society@clayesmore.com or 01747 813160

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

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Visiting Clayesmore Current students and staff love it when OCs return to Clayesmore and let them know what they’ve been up to.

As well as OC Days each term, and various reunions, OCs and their families are always most welcome to visit the School.

If you’re able to let the School know you’re coming, in advance, they would be very grateful. Please telephone Liisa Steele, the Clayesmore Society Officer, on 01747 813160 or email lsteele@clayesmore.com. That way, we can ensure there is someone to greet you and show you around.

Unless you are visiting for a public occasion, such as a match or concert, please report on arrival to Reception (located in the Main House) to sign in.

For child protection and safety reasons, it is important that the School is always as aware as possible of everyone who is on site, as we are sure you will understand. Please note that in school holiday time it is likely that there will be visiting groups using the school and we cannot, therefore, guarantee that you will be able to gain access to every building. In addition, it is not possible to visit boarding houses without a guide.

They hope to see you soon.

Local Taxi Companies Bakers Car Hire

Premier Cars

07795 575231

01258 820117

bakerscarhire@aol.com

07850 002208 ajnj@premiercarswessex.co.uk

Riverside 01258 453553

Gillingham & Mere Taxis

riversidetaxis@mail.com

01747 850385 office@gnmtaxis.co.uk

Country Cars 01747 850950

Sunrise Taxis

info@countrycarsshaftesbury.co.uk

01258 268528 sunrisetaxis@hotmail.co.uk

Ken’s Kabs 01258 456136 admin@kenskabs.co.uk

126

Visiting Clayesmore Local Accommodation The Talbot, Iwerne Minster

The Museum Inn, Farnham

Tel: 01747 811269

Tel: 01725 516261

www.talbot-iwerne.co.uk

www.museuminn.co.uk

NB: Clayesmore Society members can receive a 10% discount on rooms on

The Coppleridge Inn, Motcombe

production of their card

Tel: 01747 851980 www.coppleridge.com

The Fontmell, Fontmell Magna Tel: 01747 811441

Castleman Hotel, Chettle

www.thefontmell.co.uk

Tel: 01258 830096 www.castlemanhotel.co.uk

The Royal Chase, Shaftesbury Tel: 01747 853355

10 Castle Street, Cranborne

www.theroyalchasehotel.co.uk

Tel: 01725 551133 www.10castlestreet.com NB: Clayesmore Society members can

Tel: 01258 456626

receive a 15% discount on rooms on

www.crownhotelblandford.co.uk

production of their card

The Grosvenor Arms, Shaftesbury

Fontmell Magna Bed & Breakfast

Tel: 01747 850580

Tel: 01747 811276

www.thegrosvenorarms.co.uk

www.fontmell-magna.co.uk

The Saxon Inn, Child Okeford

The Old Rectory B&B, Pimperne

Tel: 01258 860310

Tel: 01258 451555

www.saxoninn.co.uk

www.the-old-rectory-dorset.uk

The King John Inn, Tollard Royal

The Old Forge, Compton Abbas

Tel: 01725 516207

Tel: 01747 811881

www.kingjohninn.co.uk

www.theoldforgedorset.co.uk

The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton

Whispering Chimneys B&B,

Tel: 01258 830225

Iwerne Minster

www.thelangtonarms.co.uk

Tel: 01747 812412 www.whisperingchimneys.co.uk

THE OLD CLAYESMORIAN | MMXVII

The Crown, Blandford Forum

127