Roll Call

Setting himself a Lockdown challenge of running a half marathon, Gordonian

PADDY (PATRICK) HOWELL (2017)

Sandringham reached his target then two days later completed 30 miles in less than five hours! The marathon run around the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea where he lives with his family was a shock even to him. Now studying for a History degree at Newcastle University. Paddy admits ‘the only time I have run before was to represent Sandringham House in the Inter-House Cross Country competition!’

Congratulations to SUZANNE GIBBS, former Head of Art, who has been showing her work at The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition in London. Find out more www.therp.co.uk/ suzanne.gibbs

So proud of Gordonian MAX BEKEN (2017) Sandringham – Ex Head Boy – Pursuing an acting career, he has faced rejection yet not given up. Results? A Guy Ritchie film, as well as the upcoming Netflix series ‘Bridgeton’ and a planned big screen Horror film. Well done! SEAN SLATER 6547 (1959) China. Sean was piping in his garden during the first lockdown. He says ‘On my part, living in a very rural, naturally semi isolated part of West Wales life has not changed that much. I am ‘on call’ to collect/deliver supplies/prescriptions etc. to elderly/ vulnerable persons. I am enjoying playing the pipes.’

With time to spare and a yearning to travel, former Deputy Head Boy TOBIAS JOHNSON (2020) Buckingham, who left the school in the Summer, headed to Sweden where he spent a month in the Lappland Province.

“I had previously wanted to travel to Central Asia between A Levels and starting Sandhurst, but of course due do COVID-19 this wasn’t possible. So I booked a flight to travel to the only European country with no travel restrictions, which was Sweden. I was in the country for a month and spent the entirety of my time in Sweden’s Lappland Province. Most of Lappland is within the Arctic so of course is very isolated, dark, and cold. I lived only in my little 1 man tent and hitchhiked around, completing various hikes, mountain climbs, and looking at the tiny local villages.

On one occasion, I used the kit I had borrowed from Mr Fox to climb Sweden’s highest mountain (Kebnekaise), and didn’t see another person, building, or road, for 5 days.

Towards the end of the month the temperatures dropped even further as the days shortened to only a few hours a day. Whilst this was a challenge, it is one I learned to live with and very much enjoyed – however I will not miss waking up in –10°C and having to put on frozen boots.

The Arctic is an incredible place, and I was often able to see the Northern Lights over my tent at night, or a herd of reindeer being guided by huskies when hiking near the Finnish border. I was also lucky enough to meet many kind Swedes and other travellers, including a group of Eastern European students with whom I enjoyed several nights hunting clear skies.

Overall, the trip was a great success, I fully intend to return to the Scandinavian Arctic again some time soon.”

Now safely home, he is looking forward to the next exciting chapter and starting RMA Sandhurst.