THE GORDONIAN ADVISORY PANEL MEETING:

F ollowing our meeting in January there was overall agreement to increase the size of the panel from three to six members and to ensure that new members would span approximately a decade each, with the aim of raising the Gordonian profile through all age groups. We are so pleased to have welcomed Bryan Allman 6943 (1964), Nigel Parnell 7495 (1972) and Josh Buckland 10751 (2009).

The Panel meets twice a year in person and stay in communication throughout the year as discussions and decisions occur. An important function is to oversee the funds of the Gordonians and the allocation of the provision of the Gordonian Awards. Meet our current Gordonian Advisory Panel:

Paul Ivory 7937 (1980)

I was at Gordons back in the days when it was The Gordon Boys’ School in ’75 – ’80 and was in China House. I was an NCO in the Army Cadets as well as Band Sergeant as we had a marching band as well as the pipe band back then.

After leaving, I did visit the school a few times but then, as it often does, “life” got in the way.

After a good few years, a number of us who were in touch via Facebook all decided to visit the old place for Annual and reconnected with the school.

I was approached, back in 2017 and asked if I would consider becoming Treasurer for the Old Gordonians Association, a role I undertook up until it was dissolved in 2019. I was then asked to become one of the Advisory Panel members which I was more than happy to do.

The school itself may be somewhat different in make-up to those of us who are older, but the heart of the school is still as it was.

The ‘Mission and Purpose’ (if you like) of the Gordonians is to, in a sense, facilitate a connection for life. This is demonstrated in the age range of people currently in contact with the school through it and something I personally would like to see – hence my invitations in Facebook discussions to those who have lost touch to get in touch with Harriet and those in the Development Office. If you’ve read this far and you aren’t in touch with the school, I would encourage you to do so and at the very least get on their contact list because you will then know of the various events and ways that you can reconnect with Gordon’s School Alumni.

Jonathan Bell 7918 (1980)

I joined the Gordon Boys’ School in 1975 in China House, aged 11. I can still remember arriving on my first day - bugle calls, queuing for uniforms, QM stores, cookhouse, bed-spaces and ‘dugouts’yes, it really was a daunting experience!

This would be home for the next five years.

I got involved in most things at school, but rifle shooting was my main sport - so many long days spent on Bisley Ranges. I also enjoyed the CCF. I ended my time as ‘House Corporal’ for China House and was the Company Sergeant Major in the Cadets.

Boarding from the age of 11 in that sort of environment teaches you to be selfreliant but also taught me the value of good friends - I made some great friends and several from that first day all those years ago.

After I left school I eventually joined the Army and much of what I learnt at the age of 11 set me in good stead for a career in the Infantry. Unfortunately, I was medically discharged after sustaining a serious injury - so I went back to college, took my A Levels and went to university as a mature student. It was during my time at York University that I became involved in student journalism. This led me to a second career as a journalist at the BBC where I had an exciting time working for many years at Newsnight.

I’m now enjoying semi-retirement and being a family man in Weybridge. I still keep busy, I like to keep fit, cycling is my sport (hand-cycling if you’re familiar with it) and I’m also an Ambassador for BLESMA The Limbless Veterans where we work to help veterans lead fulfilling lives after injury.

Finally, for a long time I had little contact with the school and only visited once briefly in more than 30 years! It was only when I moved from West London to the leafy suburbs of Surrey I realised how close I was to the school that I decided to attended an Annual Parade. From there I was invited to join the Gordonians Committee and more recently the Advisory Panel. I have really enjoyed being a part of the panel for the Gordonian Awards - that’s when you get to glimpse the extraordinary talent that seems to fill this school.

I’m glad I decided to reconnect!

Jess Kruger 11840 (2016)

I joined Gordon’s later in my school years, at the beginning of Year 10, and immediately embraced all that the school had to offer. I threw myself into CCF, marching and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and went on to become the 2015 Head Girl, an experience for which I am truly grateful.

In the years following, I remained linked to the school by working in the Development Office in the summers and speaking with students about university and life after Gordon’s.

My work history spans the education and charity sectors with six years of working in a primary school across a variety of roles, and most recently as a CSR executive at a health tech appbuilding strategic partnerships, creating tailored charity campaigns and driving the company’s CSR vision.

In January 2023 I had the incredible honour of being appointed as a Trustee of The Gordon Foundation, as well as becoming a new member of the Gordonian Advisory Panel. I am looking forward to bringing my personal and professional experience to both roles.

Bryan Allman 6943 (1964)

I attended The Gordon Boys’ School as it was then known, between 1960-1964. I had spent much of the time before that in various countries around the world; my parents being in the Army and constantly on the move.

The school band quickly became the centre of activity for me. At that time the band had many engagements in local towns and villages at fetes and openings and my role as solo cornet player added to that in terms of performing fanfares at other venues. The school in those days ran to a timetable signalled by the bugle –from Reveille to Last Post each day. That meant very early rising on most days but a welcome bacon sandwich in the cookhouse before anyone else was up!

My other great passion was engineering and that led to my first real job after leaving the school – working on the design of four and six wheel drive systems for Ford, Massey Ferguson etc. That love also directed me into the early days of computers and a career in IT.

After 15 years at Canon where I became Head of International Business, based in Amsterdam. I left to set up a business consultancy providing advice and the development of go-to market strategies for many of the large organisations within the IT arena.

Needing a break from the corporate world, I looked to my third great love and developed a business as a fashion photographer working with many of the large fashion houses across the world; eventually retiring in 2020 and moving to Italy where I now enjoy ‘la dolce vita’.

The time spent at the Gordon Boys’ School gave much in terms of encouragement and opportunity, along with ambition coupled with a great sense of being able to do whatever interested you.

Nigel Parnell 7495 (1972)

I was a Gordon Boy from January 1969 through to July 1972, during my time at school I played cornet in the school band, and in my penultimate year was ‘Best All Round Cadet’.

In my final year I received the Prize for Best Boy in Academics along with the Maths, Chemistry and Geography prizes. I gained my school colours in cricket and shooting and also represented the school in football, rugby and swimming. After leaving Gordon’s I attended Thorne Grammar School for my A Levels, however instead of going to university, opted to join Cable & Wireless to train in telecommunications. This was the beginning of an exciting and global career. Initially trained as an Engineer, I left as an Executive and Board member and graduated from Harvard Business School in 1994 in Business Management and Development.

My career took me globally from Australia to Canada, Europe to India and the Far East with periods living and working in Bahrain, Mauritius, Yemen, Maldives, Bermuda, Antigua, Japan and Trinidad and Tobago. After leaving C&W I joined Nortel and continued with a global role. This was followed by jobs with Alcatel Lucent, Nokia and my final ‘corporate role’ was with T-Systems. Post this in 2013 I formed my own consultancy company specialising in ‘Complex Operational Management’.

I have four children, two from his first marriage, two daughters and two stepchildren from my second marriage, a boy and a girl.

My sporting interest includes being a private pilot with single, multi engine and aerobatics ratings, qualified rugby coach and referee. These days, now semiretired, I continue to shoot both clay and target, returning to Bisley regularly to re-live the glory days.

Living in rural Oxfordshire I enjoy the country life, walking with the three dogs, fishing and managing a large garden.

I am involved in the local community as Chair of both the Village Hall and Parish Council. I offer coaching and mentoring to young adults as well as interview practice for those needing informal support and advice.

Josh Buckland 10751 (2009)

I was at Gordon’s from 2005 to 2009 and was a boarder in Sandringham House, plus the Headmaster’s Annex for Sixth Form.

Arriving at Gordon’s was a slight shock to the system as our family had come back from Hong Kong the summer before. Giving up 30C heat for brisk early morning training and rugby practice in the dark was hard at first, but I came to enjoy life at the school as much as my school mates did.

My years at the school were filled with a mixture of sport (mostly cricket), CCF and what felt like endless evening prep sessions. Life as a boarder was a brilliant and at times challenging experience, but I made lifelong friends, through not just university but beyond.

Following school I fell into politics, working as a civil servant and latterly as an advisor to various government Ministers. This gave me the slightly odd privilege of visiting various schools right across the country, not just carrying politicians’ bags, but chatting to staff and pupils on the impact that good education and skills development has on people of all ages.

Having left school nearly 15 years ago now (how time flies…) this experience has made me realise just how unique an institution Gordon’s is. The determination to build well-rounded young people is the key differentiator for me. A focus on ensuring students understand the importance of tradition through the formal aspects of school life, combined with a forward-thinking and open culture of discovery through learning. Safe to say I have not seen this combination done so well elsewhere.

It’s a pleasure to serve on the Gordonian Advisory Panel and I would encourage all those with a connection to the school to get involved in some way. Even if it’s simply attending Annual, or reconnecting with an old year group, it’s a great way of playing a part in building the next stage of the school’s legacy.