BRIGHTEST STARS BEREAVEMENT

In February for a mufti day students swapped their green blazers for their own clothes in support of Brightest Stars Bereavement, a charity set up by Gordonian and former Head Girl, Helen Rowell 10117 (2006). Helen tragically lost her husband Mike in March 2022 in a ski accident. Helen was surprised to find that although there were support groups for her and her four year old son, there was very little local to them. Helen and Mike married and had their son Christened in the School Chapel. The vision of Brightest Stars is to create a safe space for bereaved children and their families to meet one another, share experiences and build friendships in Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.

Students and staff raised an amazing £843.19 which will go direct to the charity. If you can support Brightest Stars or feel you need support from the charity please visit their website https://www.brighteststars.co.uk

The parents of Gordonian, Harry Smith 11178, are taking on a cycle challenge to raise awareness of young people’s mental health, after losing Harry on 15 th August 2013. Here they share with us why they’re doing it and what the challenge involves.

‘By August 2023, it will have been ten years since, totally out of the blue, we lost our eldest son Harry to suicide. He was 17. Not a day goes by when we don’t think about him. Time has now helped to make us strong enough to do something positive in his memory.

We found we were not alone having suicide in our lives; mental health difficulties affect young people, their families, and friends, wherever they may live. Only after losing Harry did we become more aware that there were many others in this unfortunate club, many other ‘Mr and Mrs Smiths’ in the country, all with different stories and experiences. We believe that the rather ordinary fact of being Mr and Mrs Smith illustrates just how this can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time.

To the challenge. Both of us are overweight, unfit, old (if you accept 59 and 60 are old) and inexperienced cyclists. With that, we plan over the course of 19 days to cycle to 17 different destinations around the UK. We want to raise awareness about young people’s mental health, as well as raising money for charity, and doing something that will take us well outside our comfort zones. Inspired also by 3 Dads Walking, we, as an older couple, thought a cycling challenge would tick the right boxes, given that we both don’t really cycle. To illustrate the point, Karen’s bike was bought in 1990, carefully stored seeing little use - it still has those little rubber spikes on the tyres. Paul’s bike was rather elderly, and prior to the purchase of a new one, had been condemned –an attempt to get it roadworthy failed as parts were no longer available, given it was almost a museum piece.

We’ll start our journey on the 15 th of August 2023, ten years to the day since we lost him, the next decade of our life without Harry. The route will be a cycle challenge around England, with a bit of Wales included, starting from Harry’s school with a very vocal send off from Brian Blessed, and finishing near our home in Surrey on the 2nd of September. Please do join us from 9.30am, ready for our send off at 10am. The intended route will be shaped as best as we can as a heart. This will out of necessity be a wonky route which won’t be a perfect heart shape, hence the tag ‘Wonky Heart’ which sort of speaks for itself. Here’s a map of intended stops, the precise location of those in pink to be confirmed.

Whether we blog, vlog or podcast throughout the journey, there will be an uplifting side, a positive story that has come out of such pain (not necessarily the pain of the challenge, but that will certainly be a factor). When our website is up and running, the intention is to have a tracking app so those who wish to, can follow our progress. Joining us in person on bikes is certainly encouraged! Training has now started. A few practice rides have bought home our dire lack of fitness and cycling ineptitude. Challenges with mapping technology (old man playing with technical stuff) led to an early test when we went spectacularly off course, doubling the time we anticipated and taking us on stupidly hilly and fast roads. You learn from things like that. We’re getting there, slowly, and have been generously assisted by our local bike shop, Spokes of Bagshot (www.spokesonline.com) with help in purchasing our new bikes and loads of advice. The next bit is down to us.

As an introduction to Starter For 10, we ran a fundraising quiz and curry night, hosted by ITV’s The Chase star Shaun Wallace in October 2022, ten months to the day before our challenge started and raised just under £8,000 for a suicide charity, Suicide & Co. (www.suicideandco.org).

Our aim for the Wonky Heart Cycle Challenge is to raise funds for Papyrus (www.papyrus-uk.org), a national charity working towards the prevention of young suicide.

A hundred days before the challenge starts on Sunday 7th May 2023 we launched our JustGiving page which can be found here: www.wonkyheartchallenge.co.uk

OLD GORDONIANS FC ‘THE CAMELS’

New players wanted!! If you are interested in joining our football team please email gordonians@gordons.school. All home games are played at Gordon’s on the 3G pitch and The Camels are sponsored by Boz’s Fruit and Veg in Woking. The Camels have sent us this update:

‘I think a fair assessment that the back end of our season would be best described as turbulent.

As our league position changed, so did our results. One week we’re beating a team near the top and we could back it up with a loss to a team struggling to stay in the league! Some would say that’s the joy of Sunday league football.

As a team we had a successful run in the County Cup managing to reach the quarter finals and just fell short of progressing to the next round having lost 2-0. It was a great shame as without all of our injuries, it could have been our year to lift the trophy!

As it stands, we’re currently sitting in Third place with only two league games left. As a team this is a good building block for next season as we continue our quest for our first bit of silverware!

We must say special thanks to Gordon’s School for letting us use their amazing facilities on a weekly basis, Sarah and Harriet for always booking the pitches and helping us in anyway possible. Finally, thank you to Boz Fruit & Veg for the continued support! Without all of this help, none of this would be possible! So from all the Camels, thank you very much and we look forward to flying the Gordon’s flag high next season!’

If you are interested in joining our football team please email gordonians@gordons.school as the team are looking for more players. All home games are played at Gordon’s on the 3G pitch and The Camels are sponsored by Boz’s Fruit and Veg in Woking.

Gordonian Runners

Patron Paula Fudge gives a summary of the Endure 24 hour races here together with her completion of her 500 th Parkrun!

‘In June last year I took part in the Endure 24 Hour Race near Reading. I was in a team of six and we did five miles in a relay over country. It was a great experience for me as in my younger days races like this weren’t around. I didn’t run through the night like the rest of the team as felt it would be too dangerous for me. I completed three laps while the rest did five laps. It wasn’t about winning for us but having an enjoyable competition with friends.

I also completed 500 Parkruns, distance 5k last year. I always enjoy Parkrun as I have made many friends and like to volunteer as it gives something back to Parkrun.’

Emma Plimmer 9641 (1998) has been a member of Gordonian Runners for four years. Due to health issues, she has been off sport for the last year so has continued to focus her time on volunteering within sport. Emma has told us what she’s been up to over the last year.

‘Already a Level 2 tennis coach and Level 3 personal trainer, in the last year I qualified as a Level 1 official Field Judge, and have taken on the responsibility of team manager for a local composite team. My team comprises of under 13’s and under 15’s and we travel to different venues to compete in the UK Youth Development league lower age group. Last season we secured promotion to the Premier Division and I am so proud of all the athletes who give up their time to dedicate to our team.

My local club in Dorset awarded me a trophy at their awards evening for all my volunteer work for them and the county and I also won the South West Regional Newcomer to Volunteering. I was honoured to have been awarded these and to have met Jo Pavey, a five time Olympian (pictured with me).

I look forward to volunteering this year in athletics and tennis, and also to get back to running with my fellow Gordonians. If anybody is looking to get into volunteering in sport or wants some advice, I’m happy to be contacted.’

Steve Davis 7930 (1980) sadly passed away on 6th April 2023. Steve was Founder and Club Secretary of the Gordonian Runners and in the last edition wrote about the amazing running challenges he’d set himself. Thank you, Steve, for everything you’ve done for the community and in particular the Gordonian Runners where he was, and always will be, a valued member.

Malcolm Wood 6294 (1953)

We were sad to hear of the news that Malcolm passed away on 20 th November 2022. He was a very popular Gordon boy and played clarinet in the school military band and later as a member of the Royal Engineers staff band.

Gregory Gillham 7274 (1970)

Gregory sadly passed away in November 2022. After leaving Gordon’s Gregory joined the Metropolitan Police and served for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2011. He was based at Buckingham Palace for many years and in the 2008 New Year’s Honours, was awarded the Royal Victoria Medal for Services to Royalty Protection. He has many fond memories and often recounted stories from his time at school.

John Bradley 5545 (1946)

We are sad to hear that John passed away on 28 th May 2022. His widow Margaret shared happy memories of them visiting on Old Boys Day and how John enjoyed playing in the band.

Michael Roberts 5975 (1950)

We were saddened to hear that Michael passed away on 6 th January 2023. He often spoke about the benefits of being at Gordon Boys’ School and went on to be a Press Photographer. Mrs Roberts told us how he loved birds and being outside and on his school report there was a reference to bird watching.

Steve Davis 7930 (1980)

Steve Davis sadly passed away on 6th April 2023. Steve was a much valued member of the Gordonian Runners in particular and will be very much missed by all. Semper Fidelis.