Gordonian Spring 2025

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GORDONIAN Summer 2025

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GORDONIANS OUT IN FORCE WITH THE PIPES AND DRUMS TO MARK 140 YEARS Find out more about Gordon School’s 140th Anniversary celebrations on pages 4 and 5.

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CONTENTS: WORD FROM THE HEAD

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COMMUNITY REPORT

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MAD DAY

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OUR 2025 CHARITIES

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GORDON’S SCHOOL 140TH ANNIVERSARY

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENSINGTON

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GORDON’S SUPPORT CAREERS

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SCHOOL LIFE IN PICTURES.

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WHITEHALL PARADE

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GOOD LUCK ALI

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LAUREN DEEGAN (11686) 2017

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ST GEORGE’S MEMORIAL CHURCH

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PERCY RILEY (1884-1959) AND NORMAN RILEY (1888-1916):

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GORDONIAN AWARDS

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OBITUARIES

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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WORD FROM THE HEAD:

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elcome to the new edition of the Gordonian Magazine, in this the school’s 140th Year!

The anniversary year began with the Whitehall Parade in January, after which the Pipes and Drums began their anniversary tour of places and items connected to General Gordon. It was, as always, very enjoyable to see so many Gordonians coming back to Whitehall to witness this very special event in the school calendar.

At the heart of General Gordon’s legacy is helping ‘necessitous children’, which today is fulfilled through bursaries, which ensure that no child is precluded from a place at Gordon’s due to finances.

The major fundraising event in March, at Girdlers’ Hall raised over £30,000 for our bursary children thanks to generous donations from Gordonians, staff, parents and supporters of the school.

Further events are planned for the rest of the year, including recreating the walk by the first ‘necessitous boys’ from Brookwood Station to our site in West End.

of the Gordonian member of staff, is presented to the winning Houses for sport. Individual students have the chance to compete for the Peter Wynter Bee Sustainability Prize and the Headmaster’s Global Citizen Award.

We are always delighted to welcome back Gordonians whether as visitors, careers speakers or through mentorship.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in Gordon’s.

Andrew Moss Headmaster

COMMUNITY REPORT:

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s we anticipate the end of another school year, we can look back and enjoy how our community has grown, helped and welcomed new events and alumni.

The 140 th anniversary clock appeal to restore the iconic timepiece in the Parade Square looks set to be achieved for its unveiling in October.

It was lovely to see Matt Winsper 11532 (2017) who popped in to say hello and Ludlow Hewson (12598) 2026 who was visiting the sports department. Paddy Howell 11488 (2017) completed three weeks of his teacher training with us in the History Department and we had 11 Gordonians supporting our Careers Department.

Term to term, the school continues to uphold its position within the top five per cent of schools in England for academic progress, as well as proving a dominant force in sport and the arts. The InterHouse challenges have increased to provide opportunities for all to compete, whether in the arts, sport, academia or charity. New competitions have included shooting, cycling and orienteering and badminton. In the Arts Cup, there is now a category for Pipes and Drums, as well as art, drama and baking! In addition, there is now an Academic Cup with chess, maths, mastermind, creative writing and debating categories. The William Harold Charity Cup in memory of Gordonian William Harold 6573 (1958) gives Houses the chance to compete for raising the most amount of money for the school’s four charities and the Steve Monk Trophies, in memory

Every autumn term we invite Year 11 students to apply for the Gordonian Awards, where they can receive £1,000 towards their disciplines in either Sport or Creative Arts. The panel deciding the awards, is made up Deputy Head (Pastoral), Director of Sport/Creative Arts and this year, Gordonian Jonathan Bell 7918 (1980).

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A huge congratulations to students Kate Brazendale (Creative Arts) and Charlie Quinnell (Sport) who will also have their names inscribed onto the honours board.

Both impressed with their applications, references and interviews. Charlie is a keen rugby and cricket player as well as a talented rower, having represented both school and club teams. Kate excels in drama, music, dance and has worked hard to earn many leading roles in School productions.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY:

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s part of enrichment week, our students will be helping the community on Wednesday 2nd July for their Make a Difference Day. Last year, all students aged between 11 and 17 years old volunteered for the day. Examples of what they did included clearing and tending the Gordonian gravestones at West End Church; litter picking, gardening, painting benches, helping at local food banks, running quizzes at a local care home and car washing. They also made cakes and hosted an afternoon tea for the elderly in the Rec. If you know any charity or project that would benefit from help from our students, please contact Rhy Rowlands – rrowlands@gordons.school.

These awards are funded through donations. Thank you to all those who donate to ensure the longevity of these awards. If you do wish to donate, please click here or scan the QR code.

I was due to attend the annual Memorial Service in Gravesend, Kent, to commemorate General Gordon. Sadly, due to a weather warning, this event was cancelled. Instead, we held a short service, led by the Reverand Graham Wright, on what would have been General Gordon’s 192nd Birthday. Student, Amber, played the lament and I laid a wreath at the Gordon Statue.

OUR 2025 CHARITIES:

G We have also enjoyed reconnecting with Gordonians at Careers Fairs and Speed Networking Events as well as for Insight Talks.

We are indebted to all our Gordonian family who do so much to support the school.

ordon’s has one whole school charity and three further charities chosen annually by students and staff. The whole school charity is Kids for Kids, which adopts communities in Darfur, Sudan, helping them with loans of goats, donkeys, chickens and handpumps. The three year fundraising appeal is for the building of a kindergarten. In addition, West End Scout Group, Trealor’s School and College and Charlie’s Promise will benefit from the school’s charitable giving this year.

Harriet Turk Gordonian Officer

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GORDON’S SCHOOL GORDON’S SCHOOL 140TH ANNIVERSARY:

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he 140th Anniversary since General Gordon’s death and the founding of Gordon Boys’ Home started on the memorial weekend in January with the Whitehall Parade to General Gordon’s statue on the banks of the Thames at Victoria Embankment Gardens.

The Pipes and Drums began their own commemorations with a tour of all the places associated with General Gordon.

A major fundraising campaign was also launched for funds for bursaries. Bursaries enable the school to help children who need financial aid to attend the school. They continue General Gordon’s legacy of supporting the disadvantaged. The Girdlers’ Company at Girdlers’ Hall hosted a glittering fundraising evening, during which, past and present students described the opportunities their bursaries had given them. The evening raised some £34,000 for necessitous children.

Pictured with Mr Sinclair is Gordonian Gabriel Kadir 13768 (2024), who spoke movingly about the benefits his bursary had given him.

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140

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ANNIVERSARY PIPES AND DRUMS:

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s part of the 140th anniversary celebrations, the Pipes and Drums have embarked on a tour of places associated with General Gordon.

Their tour began with the Whitehall Parade, after which they headed to Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral where wreaths were laid at the monuments to the Victorian war hero and the students performed outside for appreciative crowds.

Over the year, they will also perform at Rochester Cathedral, St Alfege’s Church, Greenwich; the Royal Engineer’s Museum in Chatham; Queen’s Park, Southampton and Windsor Castle.

For information on when the Pipes and Drums will be performing as part of the tour, please go to www.gordons. school/pipes-and-drums.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENSINGTON:

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appy birthday Kensington House!

The girls’ Day Boarding House, which was opened by His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex (now HRH the Duke of Edinburgh) 25 years ago, celebrated its quarter of a century by welcoming Gordonians and current students and their families for a birthday tea and cake.

It also provided an opportunity for aztour of the House and School. Among those enjoying the celebrations were the current Head of House, Kate Connery, the original Head of House Jenny Wilson, Paralympian gold medallist Hannah Russell and her sister Alice.

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A NIGHT WITH JOE MARLER 27th June 2025

6.00pm to 11.00pm

Guest Speaker and Q&A

HOSTED BY SKY PRESENTER ALEX PAYNE

Tables and individual tickets available.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE BOX OFFICE

Tickets include 3 course meal and half a bottle of wine.

www.gordons.school/boxoffice

Contact: tmundy@gordons.school

Address: Gordon’s School, Woking, Surrey, GU24 9PT

GORDON’S SCHOOL HELP US BECOME A S T E I N W AY S C H O O L

Gordon’s School, West End, Surrey, GU24 9PT

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GORDONIANS SUPPORT CAREERS:

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n the past six months Gordon’s have held career talks, a careers fair, National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week and all of these have been hugely supported by Gordonians. We couldn’t run these events without this support and to know our alumni want to give back and help inspire and educate our current students is wonderful! Thank you to all those who have helped since our last publication: Careers Fair – Josh Deakin 12070 (2021), Zaki Soliman 10616 (2008), George Henley 10577 (2008), Sian Fletcher 11213 (2013), Sean Garrett 8659 (1988) and Millie Moreau 13027 (2024).

Careers Talks – Ellie Boatman 12016 (2015) and Zaki Soliman 10616 (2008), Lucy Reeve 10078 (2006).

Apprenticeship Talks – Oliver Styles 13815 (2024), Harrison Dodd 13523 (2023), Tamara Dlamini 12568 (2024) and Sam Bodoano 13296 (2022).

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he inaugural Bounce Week, modelled on the NHS5 and Gordon’s Bounce Don’t Break programme, saw students being active, receiving chocolate, writing notes of appreciation to staff and students and giving back by helping around the Houses.

If you’d like to be involved, please email us at gordonians@gordons.school or the Careers Lead Augusta Kennedy at akennedy@gordons.school.

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ordon’s pianists experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity when four of them took part in a Masterclass with Charles Owen, a leading British classical pianist at Steinway Hall, home of Steinway and Sons in Marylebone.

Students also toured the Hall The events were part of Gordon’s School’s intention to form a partnership with Steinway & Sons and become a Steinway School.

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amily favourite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory played to three sold out audiences in January at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre in Woking.

The production consisted of over 60 students in the cast and the technical crew and saw the production nominated in four categories at the ‘National School Theatre Awards’.

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SCHOOL LIFE IN PICTURES PIPES AND DRUMS IN NYC:

HISTORY IN THE MAKING:

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H

he Pipes and Drums flew the flag for Gordon’s in New York when they took part in the Tartan Parade during NYC Tartan Week. The Creative Arts trip to the Big Apple also saw the choir perform at the iconic Empire State Building.

istory was made in December as Gordon’s lifted the RFU ACE (Academy Colleges and Education) League trophy, the pinnacle of schoolboy rugby, for the first time. Up against 12 times champions Hartpury College in the final, the boys in green ran out 34-25 winners under the lights at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium.

The next month, in the Rosslyn Park 7s, further school rugby history was made when the girls’ team reached the quarter finals of the tournament.

DARTMOOR:

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lue skies in Dartmoor as students, hoping for a place in the Ten Tors team, set off for their practice weekend. The group has been attending early morning training three times a week since January in readiness for the event.

The six chosen will form one of 400 teams of teenagers (2,400 individuals) taking on the rough terrain of Dartmoor and will hike for 35 miles.

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WHITEHALL PARADE N

ot the usual Whitehall Parade and up until the last minute, a question mark as to whether or not it would take place due to the protests along the centre of Whitehall. However, thanks to the efforts of the Metropolitan Police, the annual Parade for the Pipes and Drums and students from Years 9 and 11, went ahead.

The students showed true resilience due to the change of schedule and protests around them and thank you to all those Gordonians who adapted and still managed to watch the Parade and attend the reunion afterwards.

During the Parade, at the Gordon statue in Victoria Embankment Gardens, a wreath was laid by Paul Ivory 7937 (1980) on behalf of The Gordonians.

Afterwards we enjoyed another bustling afternoon in the Old Shades Pub. Food, drinks and memories were shared and many comments on how well students marched. Former teacher and Head of Gravesend House, Alan Short, attended (as he always

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does!) and was of course chatting with all the old students who look forward to seeing him there!

If you haven’t joined us for this reunion before, please do next year. Bring your family and friends along and catch up with old friends and staff – Saturday 17th January 2026.

After the Parade the Pipes and Drums travelled to Westminster Abbey to start their tour of places associated with General Gordon, as part of their 140th anniversary commemorations. A wreath laying ceremony took place near the Memorial to General Gordon in the north west tower chapel of the Abbey and the band performed outside before heading to St Paul’s Cathedral to the Gordon Monument and then playing on the steps to a huge crowd. A particularly busy day for them, and as always, they performed amazingly and stayed professional the whole day. You can watch the day here. https://www.facebook.com/GordonsSch/ videos/1865802114248867

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CHARITY: GOOD LUCK ALI!

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ordonian Ali Reed 13116 (2021) is taking part in an attempt to break the world record for the longest game of rugby ever played. At the same time, he is raising funds for two charities; Looseheadz and Wooden Spoon.

Ali was a keen and successful rugby player at Gordon's and is looking forward to the challenge of attempting to break the current world record by competing in the game, which starts at 8.00am on 18th June and will finish at 6.00pm on 19th June.

Read more about his reason for taking part below and any donations, of any size, are hugely appreciated by Ali. https://gofund.me/ed8b77a1

LAUREN DEEGAN (11686) 2017

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y Current role is Policy Manager in Global Health at the Department of Health and Social Care. I lead on developing the UK’s policy positions on financing and governance matters of health-related international organisations. I represent the UK at the organisation’s governing body meetings, delivering interventions to promote and protect UK health priorities.

Rather than a science background like some of my colleagues, I come from a humanities background. I did History, English Literature and Spanish for A-Level, then went on to study Modern History and Politics at university for undergrad. I worked for a year before going back to study a Masters in Geopolitics and International Affairs. I then took some time out and went travelling for eight months - exploring all the areas that I had learnt about during my degree.

I came home knowing I wanted to do a role that I could make a difference in and also one related to international relations. I scoured the Civil Service jobs website for weeks and basically applied for anything relevant - until I was successful in my previous role, which I was in for a year before getting a promotion to my current role!

At school I was heavily involved in netball, including coaching younger years, which helped me developed valuable team-player and communications skills. I think the general busy-ness of Gordon’s life meant I developed strong time management skills and the various opportunities for networking (career fairs etc) helped me learn how to foster working relationships which have served me well.

ST GEORGE’S MEMORIAL CHURCH:

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ommemorated at St George's Memorial Church by a plaque, the 156 Gordonians who lost their lives in WW1 were remembered by members of the Pipes and Drums Band during a service led by the school Chaplain, the Reverend Graham Wright in February. The students were in Ypres, Belgium to take part in the Last Post Service at Menin Gate.

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PERCY RILEY (1884-1959) AND NORMAN RILEY (1888-1916):

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hank you to Neil Riley, who has written about his Great Great Uncles, Gordonians Percy Riley 1437 (1902) and Norman Riley 1575 (1904). Neil got in touch as he was working on his family history and through a combination of his own research and our archives, he has written the below. It’s been wonderful to read more about Percy and Norman, their story and their time at the then Gordon Boys’ Home.

Percy Riley (1884-1959) and Norman Riley (1888-1916).

Percy Riley and Norman Riley were brothers who were resident at Gordon’s School at points between 1900 and 1904. Their journey to the Home was the combination of parental neglect and what we, in the 21st century, would term a collapse in mental health.

They were the youngest two sons of Joe and Elizabeth Helen Riley of Clayton, just outside Bradford. The beginning of their lives was in relative middle-class affluence. Their paternal grandfather, John Riley, was a self-made man, an innkeeper in Halifax who later became a mill owner and Alderman of the local council. Their maternal grandfather was John Malcolm McLaren, a millionaire Scottish expat living in Bradford at the height of the rise of that town. So, Percy and Norman started lives with every advantage, except from their own parents.

The boys’ father, Joe Riley, was either unlucky or a wastrel. After inheriting a significant fortune from his own father in 1884, he bought a nice house on Bradford’s outskirts and for some years lived an ideal life, raising prize-winning goats and chickens and taking summers in fashionable Southport. By the mid1890s, the money must have run out, as Joe Riley was forced to take a job as a quantity surveyor away from the family in London. Then came his downfall, and he vanished from public record on 25th

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October 1895. The reason became apparent in a court case where the builder Joe Riley worked for was arrested for fraud in estimating how many bricks were used in construction. Joe Riley vanished but wrote a letter to the court saying it was all his fault, owing to ‘gambling and the drink’. He was never heard from again.

Elizabeth Helen Riley went to the courts to gain full custody of her children a month later. However, it appears she couldn’t care for them, as in 1900, a Police Court Missionary wrote to Gordon’s Home seeking a place for Percy. He was acting as an intermediary for the boys’ maternal grandfather, who said that Percy’s place could be supported by a financial contribution. We don’t know what directly happened to Elizabeth, but the following year in the 1901 census, she appears as a resident at the Spelthorne Asylum for inebriate women. She remained a private mental health patient for the rest of her life until her death in 1926.

The records from the archive of Gordon’s School show the correspondence between the court missionary acting as the boys’ guardian and the school in securing first Percy’s place and then Norman’s place from 1901. With a 21st century lens, it can be seen that the two boys were traumatised by their father’s disappearance and their mother’s circumstances. Against the advice of the police court missionary, Percy was discharged to his mother’s care in 1902. He went with a poor academic reference: ‘The Boy 1434 P. Riley joined the home in June 1900. Before joining he had worked Standard I in a previous school. I regret to say that during the time he has been here, he has learnt little or nothing except that he is a good worker. He can do practically no arithmetic and is only able to read very simple words.’

Norman stayed at the school until 1904, where he was discharged and became

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a band-boy in the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). He spent 12 years in the ranks until his death at the Battle of the Somme near Contalmaison. His death is commemorated on the Allied War Memorial at Thiepval and the Scottish War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle.

After he left the Home, we don’t know much of the next decade of Percy’s life.

In the 1911 census, he’s recorded as a domestic groom in Farnham, Surrey.

However, like his brothers, he joined up in WWI. His Scottish roots must have meant something, as he enlisted in the 1st Battalion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, where he was posted to the Macedonian front. He was wounded there and repatriated to the UK and received extensive treatment at University College London’s Hospital. After discharge, he was assigned to the Royal Defence Corps, a unit for military support in domestic roles, where he became a messenger for the rest of the war.

After discharge, he lived as a gardener for various estates around Farnham. He married, and he and his wife had one child, who unfortunately died under the age of one. His other occupation was spending significant time engaging with lawyers to have his father declared officially dead, seeking inheritances, also in writing to Australian Army sources to try and find out what happened to his eldest brother, William McLaren Riley, who had vanished after distinguished service in World War One. Percy Riley and Norman Riley were my great-grandfather’s brothers. I knew nothing of them until I started reading my family’s history as a pandemic project.

The Gordon’s Home would have given them some stability in the middle of a chaotic life. I’m grateful to the archives for sharing the correspondence about their time there, which provides insight into the character of the boys and their circumstances.

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GORDONIAN AWARDS: T

wo exceptional candidates are Gordonian Award recipients. Charlie Quinnell (sport) and Kate Brazendale (creative arts) were picked after interview and supporting evidence from their Heads of Houses.

The two Year 11 students will receive £1,000 over the next three years to support, develop and enhance their disciplines.

Charlie has excelled in both rugby and rowing, has enjoyed academic success in all aspects of the curriculum and has served the school through tours on open evenings and playing the Last Post during Remembrance Parades. He is also well respected by his peers and staff.

Kate Brazendale combines high academic standards with a plethora of cocurricular activities. A member of the Pipes and Drums Band, she has also played the lead in the school production of Mary Poppins and recently completed her ILM (Institute of Leaders and Management) Young Leaders’ Award for her role as a Junior Prefect.

In addition to public speaking, she has proved a valuable role model and mentor to younger students.

The Gordonian Awards are made each year through donations from the Gordonian community. There are six students in receiving them each year. For information on how to support these awards, please visit....

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OBITUARIES:

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illiam (Bill) Jupp 6642 (1959) attended Gordon Boys’ Home and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal during 1959 by Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, Guest of Honour at the Parade in 1960.

After leaving Gordon’s, he joined the Army as an Aircraft Technician in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers.

The eldest of three brothers, all of whom served in the REME/Army Air Corps, as did their father Gordon, their service is recorded at the Army Air Corps Museum at Middle Wallop, Hants as the only family to have had a father and three sons serving at the same time.

William, died in Marksville, Louisiana, USA on 13th February 2025.

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View the Gordon’s School historical photograph archive on our website at: www.gordonians.co.uk/photoboards

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Annual Parade: Saturday 5th July 2025 Arrival from 10:00am: Registration and Refreshments at the Library

11:00am: Gordonian Memorial Service (Chapel of St Edward the Confessor) 12:00: Big Blaw with Gordon’s Pipes and Drums

13:45: Take your seats ready for the Parade 14:00: Annual Parade

15:30: Last Orders at the Bar

12:00: Gordonian Marquee open for Picnic Lunches* and Drinks

16:00: Event Closes

* picnic lunches must be pre-ordered - order your picnic box online before Monday 16th June 2025 www.gordons.school/boxoffice

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025: MAY •

OCTOBER

Saturday 11th May 2025 Parade

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Friday 10th October 2025 Networking Breakfast Bookings through the Box Office www.gordons.school/boxoffice

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Sunday 13th October 2025 Parade

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Wednesday 22nd October 2025 Parade Square Clock Reveal

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Wednesday 22nd October 2025 140th Anniversary walk from Brookwood to West End

JUNE •

Saturday 7th June 2025 Patron’s Parade

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Friday 13th June 2025 Networking Breakfast Bookings through the Box Office www.gordons.school/boxoffice

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Friday 27th June 2025 140th Anniversary Sports Personality Dinner Bookings through the Box Office www.gordons.school/boxoffice

JULY •

NOVEMBER •

Saturday 29th November 2025 Christmas Fair

Saturday 5th July 2025 Annual Parade and Gordonian Memorial Service Picnics ordered through the Box Office www.gordons.school/ boxoffice

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eep in touch with us and K make sure we can with you! Log on to your profile, update your contact details and tell us what you’re up to now at www.gordonians. co.uk.

To keep up to date with events, check out the events section on our website and make sure we have your email address. www.gordonians.co.uk

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