THE NE WSLET TER FOR HA MPTON SCHOOL ALUMNI
HAMPTONIAN
THE
NOVEMBER 2020
Inside this issue: • Alumni News
• Feature: Rock ‘n’ Roll Island • First Day at Hampton
• Inspiring Hamptonians • OH Section News
Hampton Together
During these uncertain times, the distinctive togetherness that is so characteristic of Hamptonians, has been on full display. Thank you to all alumni for your kind messages and goodwill. From offers of support, connecting virtually and sharing your stories, Hampton has remained together.
02 I T HE H A M P TONI A N
ALUMNI OFFICE CONTACT DETAILS
JOIN OUR ONLINE ALUMNI COMMUNITY
Frank Keenan OH (2004) Director of Alumni Relations & The Fitzwygram Foundation 020 8783 4406 f.keenan@hamptonschool.org.uk Carol Griffin Alumni Events & Communications Officer 020 8783 4406 c.griffin@hamptonschool.org.uk Alison Parkin Alumni Relations Officer 020 8783 4406 a.parkin@hamptonschool.org.uk Alexandra Esmond School Archivist 020 8783 4406 a.esmond@hamptonschool.org.uk Twitter Follow @Hampton_Alumni for alumni news Linkedin Add Hampton School to your Linkedin profile
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Alumni website
Visit the alumni page of the School website: www.hamptonschool.org.uk/alumni
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ni, with our alum keep in touch to of en s ke ie s or ay ays, st .We’re alw your school d of s ie or ail em em m e leas whether it’s or reunions. P es at d up er re es updat . your travels, ca .uk with your rg l.o o o h sc n pto alumni@ham
Update your contact details Keeping in touch with us could not be easier. Remember, we are only able to contact you about Hampton news, events and updates if we hold up-to-date contact details for you. Please ensure that we have your current contact details. .If your details have changed, contact us at alumni@hamptonschool.org.uk. It’s also important for us to know what we can contact you about. You can let us know your preferences online at www.hamptonschool.org.uk/alumni/preferences.
T HE H A M P TONI A N I 0 3
Welcome We are living in extraordinary times and for the first time in our School’s long and distinguished 463-year history, a term took place with the gates closed. Boys and members of the Common Room instead remained connected using digital technology during our summer term ‘e-Hampton’ programme of guided home learning. However, for all the impressive ingenuity, creativity and flexibility shown by our community during the 24-week period of Government-required site closure, it has been uplifting to see (and hear!) our boys in classrooms, corridors and on the playing fields since September. The vibrancy, energy and joyfulness engendered by reunited pupils and colleagues have been palpable. Hamptonians’ characteristic togetherness, generosity of spirit and good-humoured resilience remained undiminished during lockdown. It has been inspiring to read of alumni supporting the NHS and key workers in response to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is also heart-warming that so many alumni volunteered to provide virtual talks in support of current Hamptonians’ summer term online learning. Thank you to everyone involved. As we navigate the uncharted waters of a global pandemic, the importance of community-mindedness and supporting those around us with kindness have never been clearer. In this regard, we have been delighted to welcome 44 boys and girls from eight local primary schools to the first sessions of Lion Learning. This year-round provision is free of charge and has been designed in collaboration with headteachers from our partner schools. The programme is offered to local children from disadvantaged backgrounds and allows them to explore English, Maths, Philosophy and Science with subject-
specialist teachers from Hampton, supported by Sixth Form mentors. The full impact of the March‒July 2020 closure of schools remains unknown, but there is a mounting body of evidence nationally that many young people struggled to make academic progress during lockdown. In an effort to help Year 10 pupils from local schools cover missed curriculum content before the start of their crucial GCSE year, teachers from Hampton and neighbouring LEH offered 10 days lessons in August for boys and girls from Twickenham School, Reach Academy, The Hollyfield School, Orleans Park School and Tolworth Girls’ School. A total of 70 youngsters attended these summer catch-up classes in English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and History. Hampton remains fully committed to playing an active role within our local community and our partnerships with nearby schools provide enhanced educational opportunities for everyone involved. With social mobility similarly in mind, we are also delighted to confirm that an additional four Fitzwygram Scholars joined our First Year in September 2020. They join five Fitzwygram Scholars already thriving in the Second and Third Years at Hampton, alongside 60 boys on free places funded by the School. As readers of The Hamptonian will recall from previous editions, the
Fitzwygram Foundation has one simple but transformative aim: to increase the number of Free Places available at the School, to boys whose families are unable to afford any fees. In 2025, it will be 50 years since the School became independent and our aim is to award a further 50 Free Place scholarships by then. There are many ways in which you can support the charity: a single donation, a regular gift via the Foundation’s 1557 Club, or via a legacy. By way of example, 90 former pupils pledging £15.57 a month would enable us to give one more boy a free place at Hampton. You can find out more about the Fitzwygram Foundation and donate at www.fitzwygram.org Whatever the coming months might send our way, an intrinsic (and happy) element of Hampton life is that it never stands still and no two terms are ever the same. It is already evident that 2020-21 is going to be another remarkable year for our School in every sense of the word! With kind regards and best wishes
Kevin Knibbs Headmaster
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Alumni News Simon Amor OH (1997)
Congratulations to Simon Amor OH (1997) who was appointed by England Men’s Head Coach Eddie Jones, as the national team’s Attack Coach.
Sam Rowley OH (2013)
Former England Sevens Head Coach, Simon has enjoyed an illustrious playing career with London Irish, Gloucester, London Wasps and London Scottish and also successfully coached Team GB to a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Congratulations to Sam, who’s amazing photo ‘Station Squabble’, of two mice fighting over a morsel of food dropped by commuters on the underground, won him the Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People’s Choice Award.
Simon also recently supported our e-Talk! programme during lockdown. Go to page nine to read how Simon and other Hamptonians supported the School’s activities during this time.
The image took a week to capture. It was worth the wait, resulting in a stunning shot which attracted over 28,000 votes from the public.
Gwilym Br adley OH (2019)
What a season it’s been for Gwilym! As well as signing a contract with Cardiff Blues, he also represented Wales in this year’s Six Nations, as part of the U20s squad. We wish Gwilym all the best for an exciting future ahead!
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Matt Hamilton OH (2018)
Congratulations to Matt, who stroked the winning Oxford University boat, at the 46th Men’s Lightweight Boat Race, held for the second time on the championship course on the Tideway. Oxford’s 3.5-length victory was their second consecutive win over traditional rivals Cambridge. This is the fifth consecutive year that Hamptonians have been in the winning crew of the Men’s Lightweight Boat Race – Ben Mackworth OH (2014) in 2016-2018, Doug Chesterton OH (2018) in 2019 and Matt in 2020.
Alex Hern OH (2008)
Alex, UK technology editor for the Guardian, was crowned Technology Reporter of the Year at the 2020 Press Awards. His work in revealing privacy issues during the use of Apple’s Siri voice assistant, forced the company to change its processes. Congratulations Alex!
Doug and Matt are pictured above.
Prof Neil Mortensen Michael Timbs OH (2010)
Freelance sports presenter and journalist Michael, made his debut on the BBC’s Match of the DayX earlier in March. As if his current work with the BBC and Sky Sports hasn’t kept him busy enough, Michael also completed seven marathons in seven days to raise money and awareness for the civil-rights organisation, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He raised over £14,000 – well done Michael!
OH (1968)
In July, Neil took office as the new President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Neil takes up the role at an extraordinary moment in British medical history and during a landmark time for the NHS and the College. Congratulations Neil!
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Alumni News Phil Kightley OH (1991) AND
Simon Bastow OH (1991)
It was great to welcome back Phil, Captain of Rugby in 1990, and Simon for the Hampton Founder’s Day Sevens. Phil, visiting from Australia, kindly presented the trophy to the winners, Hampton who beat Cranleigh 31-12 in the final.
Patrick Aryee OH (2004)
During lockdown Patrick, biologist and wildlife TV presenter, ran a series of live streams called Wild and Live. Covering awesome apes and glow worms, to conversations about expeditions to Antarctica to study penguins, Patrick’s live streams are still available to watch on his YouTube channel, Patrick Goes Wild.
Dan Wells OH (1995)
It was lovely to see Dan and some of his old school chums from the Class of 1995, supporting key workers at the Royal London Hospital, by delivering food parcels during the peak of the pandemic. Much needed and most welcome!
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Voices of Lions Go Vir al Nick Dibb-Fuller OH (2019), Jacob Abel OH (2019), Felix Elliott OH (2019), Jasper Newbold OH (2019), Tom Morrison OH (2019) and Matt Markham OH (2019) were part of the 44 members of Hampton’s Voices of
Lions choir, raising spirits during lockdown with a virtual performance of He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother. Special thanks go to Tom Morrison OH (2019), who helped with the organisation and liaison of the recent leavers.
Blake Cullen OH (2020)
Louis Lynagh OH (2019)
Congratulations to Louis, who recently made his premiership rugby debut for Harlequins. Hampton’s former Captain of Rugby and England U18 player acquitted himself well in a 26-32 win over Leicester Tigers.
Congratulations to Blake who made his first-class debut for Middlesex against Sussex in the Bob Willis Trophy. Having represented England U19s at the World Cup in South Africa earlier this year, Blake has settled in well at Middlesex and even took the wicket of Alistair Cook when they played Essex. Good luck for the future Blake!
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Alumni join fight against covid-19 Andrew Orr OH (2015) Andrew is just one Hamptonian at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19.
Alex Brown OH (2013) Alex has also been involved in vital projects in the nation’s efforts to tackle COVID-19. Alex, who works for McLaren Automotive Ltd as a Design Engineer in the Concept Design Team, is normally involved in creating innovative and creative engineering solutions. However, his role shifted from high performance supercars to helping to produce medical ventilators for the NHS. A team from the McLaren Group was assembled to help increase the supply of ventilators as part of the VentilatorChallengeUK Consortium.
Andrew, who is studying for a PhD in engineering at the University of Oxford, has been involved with a project called Oxvent. The project, to produce rapidly deployable ventilators for the NHS during the COVID-19 crisis, is a collaboration between Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science, Oxford University Hospitals, King’s College London, and the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences. Andrew was involved in the design and development of the prototype electronics of the ventilator, which is based on a simple circuit board called an Arduino, a piece of computing equipment that Hamptonians use in their everyday Computer Science lessons. As more ventilators are needed worldwide the simplified but effective Oxvent ventilator can be produced in its thousands per week. Talking about the project, Andrew said “What is remarkable is the speed with which this team has come together and the sheer outpouring of goodwill towards the project”. A video explaining more about Andrew’s work can be found in the News section of the Hampton School website.
Alex’s work as a designer has been focused on the Smiths Ventilator (a portable ventilator used by first response crews). The production process for the ventilators is highly complex and involves the use of 18 unique test boxes to validate components within the device during assembly by the Supercar Prototype Build Team at the McLaren Technology Centre. Alex’s engineering expertise has been essential in helping to replicate and expand the ventilator design process.
T HE H A M P TONI A N I 0 9
Hampton School
As Hampton moved to an e-Learning programme during the School closure, we were delighted that many alumni supported our series of e-Talk! In our inaugural virtual talk, Rugby Captain Theo caught up with Louis Lynagh OH (2019) and Gwilym Bradley OH (2019), to find out how their first season as professional players had gone. Louis plays for Twickenham based Harlequins and Gwilym for Cardiff Blues.
Gwilym Bradley OH (2019) and Louis Lynagh OH (2019)
Sam Rowley OH (2013) shot to fame with his iconic image of two mice squabbling on the London Underground and in his e-Talk! spoke about how it felt to win the Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People’s Choice Award, and the impact this success has had on his career.
Sam Rowley OH (2013)
Our senior rugby boys also had the opportunity to pose their questions to Simon Amor OH (1997), the current England Rugby Men’s Attack Coach and former England Rugby Sevens Head Coach. It was a wonderful insight for current Hamptonians to learn from someone at the top of elite sport. Chief Executive of The Children’s Trust, Dalton Leong OH (1981) had a 21-year career in financial services and banking, before volunteering and working within the charitable sector. During his e-Talk! Dalton spoke about joining Hampton Grammar School in 1974, a year before it went Independent and how much he enjoyed his time at the School.
Simon Amor OH (1997)
Dalton talked about his journey from banking to the charitable sector, how he became a founding Trustee of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and then, as their Chief Executive, oversaw the construction of the charity’s Hampton hospice, located not far from the School.
Dalton Leong OH (1981)
Thank you to all those who supported Hampton’s virtual programme during the national lockdown.
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First day at hampton
As the School site reopened for the new autumn term, we asked you for your memories of your first day at Hampton. We were overwhelmed by the response, so thank you to all those who contributed. We’ve included extracts of some accounts and hope they bring back fond memories for you too!
Ian White
Paul Walker
OH (1991)
When I started at Hampton in the Autumn of 1984 this is what I knew: My older brother Neil OH (1988) was just entering the Fourth Year at Hampton, and I vaguely knew a couple of his friends. Phil Kightley OH (1991) and Andrew Leitch OH (1991), who I played club rugby with, were also entering the First Year with me, and a classmate from my junior school told me that friends of her family had a son joining called Neil Walker OH (1991). Later that morning I found myself in Room 10 on the first floor, sitting alphabetically by surname. I was in 1P and my form tutor who also taught me history was Mr. Cook. By the very circumstance of the alphabetical seating plan, I was very close to Chris Watts OH (1991) and the aforementioned Neil Walker, who were soon to become and remain to this day, my very close friends.
OH (1975) My memories of my early days at Hampton include playing fives against the wall before school in the area between the North and South gyms, and wondering why your ‘lives’ counted down from five to one and then, instead of zero it was ‘dogs’. I remember quickly learning that blazer buttons were never to be done up as this was a giveaway to newness of pupil, and I remember learning to walk efficiently on the polished wooden floors without your feet slipping. I remember the volume of the organ in assemblies (especially if you were in the balcony!), and I remember learning that ‘Caecilius was in the garden’, just as he was for thousands of pupils before me new to Latin and still is today for the current boys! I’m sure that new boys are already forming memories and friendships in their first days and weeks at Hampton, that will last them their lives to come.
It was Hampton Grammar School then and living in Sunbury-on Thames, I had to pass the 11+ to be allocated a place. I was just over three miles away from the School and caught the 216 bus to Hampton Station and then walked from there, holding tightly my satchel with house shoes inside numbered 7911 – my School number. I was allocated to Form 1J – our class teacher was Mr JP Dalton who was new to the School too. Thirty-two of us dutifully followed him out of assembly but he turned right (not left) and we ended up walking all around the school as JPD searched in vain for our classroom. Classroom duly located, ‘Latin for Today’ was distributed by Mr Dalton who also taught Latin; “Discipuli picturam spectate” was our first sentence and we were off for the first day of seven, blissfully happy years for me at Hampton GS.
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Peter and Colin celeb rating Colin’s 60 th bir thday
Colin Ross OH (1962)
I remember well my first day. When I started in 1955, the First Forms were 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, under Form Tutor Mr Cook, better known as ‘Bouncer Cook’ due to his sprightly walking style. On my first morning we all went in to the hall for assembly. The Headmaster, George Whitfield (that was before he was a Reverend) took the proceedings. At the end of the assembly he said “you may now all turn to the person next to you and have a quiet chat”. I glanced to my left and this boy looked to me and said “not much to talk about, is there?”. That boy was Peter Carpenter OH (1962) who’s twin John also started on the same day, and his elder brother was already in Year Two. From that moment forward we became the very best of friends. We travelled to school and back on the same bus (a trolley bus route 667). We enjoyed going fishing, camping as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and playing snooker in our mis-spent time!! From that moment, Peter became my lifelong best friend; best man at my wedding and godfather to my son James. Sadly, Pete passed away some years ago and is sadly missed but never forgotten. Thanks Hampton School for many happy years and for giving me my best and closest friend.
Colin Ross OH (1962) and Peter Carpenter OH (1962)
Geoffrey Bourne-Taylor OH (1959)
Many pupils had attended Denmead (preparatory) School, which was founded by W D James, who taught English at Hampton. ‘Jimmy’ James was frightfully posh and took the First Year for Elocution lessons once a week. H W (Thurston) Jago, who taught French, was another who left his mark. We were issued with a freshly printed edition of A French course for today, in which various tales were illustrated. There was a picture of the Marie Célèste, upon which I carefully superimposed, in Indian ink, a gaping hole in its deck! Hampton has been the bedrock of everything that I have achieved since that late summer of 1952, when I arrived to take my place in Form 1A. The education was first class and provided untold opportunities. Those five years discreetly opened my eyes and fed knowledge into my subconscious that has nurtured my outlook in so many ways; through two full careers, latterly supporting with ease nearly twenty years in the milieu of an Oxford Senior Common Room; giving me the quiet confidence that only a good Classical education can bring; grammar school was the great social leveller of the age. More than that, Hampton’s 400 years of heritage, quietly insinuated into all who were clever enough to be there, a further distinctive and protective edge. Nowadays, I am almost arrogant in the pride I take from those privileged years.
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Rock ‘n’ roll island: where legends were born Hampton School has produced some of the world’s most famous rock ‘n’ roll musicians and many of them appeared in a recent 60-minute BBC documentary, Rock ‘n’ Roll Island: Where Legends Were Born. The film celebrated the incredible musical history of Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, the epicentre of rhythm and blues in South West London in the 1960s. Cheryl Robson’s award-winning documentary including interviews and performances from a range of musicians and interviewees, including many Hampton alumni such as Jim McCarty OH (1961) and Paul SamwellSmith OH (1961) who were founding members of the Yardbirds in 1963. Paul Stewart OH (1964) and Pete Hammerton OH (1964) also featured, who along with Bob Freeman OH (1965), John Standley OH (1965), Nigel Baldwin OH (1965) and Ian McLintock OH (1965) formed The Others while they were still pupils at Hampton.
The film also detailed the rise to stardom of Brian May OH (1965), perhaps the School’s most famous music legend. At Hampton, Brian formed his first band, named 1984 (after George Orwell’s novel of the same name) with Tim Staffell OH (1966), John Garnham OH (1964) and Dave Dilloway OH (1965). In 1968, May and Staffell formed the band Smile with Roger Taylor, which continued performing until 1970, when Queen was formed. As Paul Stewart OH (1964) comments in the documentary; “A lot of good music came out of Hampton Grammar School. A very, very straight and formal school, it had rules, for example, about keeping our hair a certain length. The free spirits wanted to rebel against that. And I think that was in common with people at Hampton who were the musicians – and there were a lot of them. I played the harmonica and became a singer
in The Others. Brian May, he was the year below us in school, we used to play with him in the back room, you know, trading licks. Two of the Yardbirds came from Hampton School and were one of the first groups to tour America extensively”. Paul’s fellow bandmate Pete Hammerton OH (1964) referenced the fondly-remembered music teacher Mr ‘goathead’ Smith; “When I was at Hampton School we had a lovely music master called Mr Smith. ‘Goathead’ Smith because he used to say ‘go to head, go to head’. We used to crawl out on our hands and knees – oh it was rebellious!”.
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After the documentary aired in March, Hamptonians shared their memories of the Island and of the School at that time. John Gardiner MBE OH (1965) remembers that time well;
Geoffrey Bourne-Taylor OH (1959) said;
“Imagine my excitement to learn that all my friends at school who formed the Yardbirds, The Others (John Stanley learned to play on my guitar, and ‘Nige’ Baldwin and I played cross-
“I was a regular attender, crossing the rickety bridge, paying my sixpence to the crone who stamped one’s wrist in what was then a novel ‘re-entry pass’.
“I should like to acknowledge the role that the Music Master Mr Smith had in creating music at that time at Hampton Grammar School. He did have some problems with teenage discipline, as commented in the programme, but he was most influential in leading many of us into lifelong pleasure and performance of music. He developed two choirs. By having a 4-part choir for each morning assembly he developed our sight reading ability. He helped produce the Scout (Second Hampton School Troop) Gang Shows, he formed a senior male voice choir and arrangements for us to sing... I have the set of Prize Day Programmes 1951-58 and his choirs performed at these.
rhythms in our desks at the back of class) and of course my dear friend Brian May (we sang in choir together, competed in public speaking, hung out in each other’s homes and went to Imperial College together) featured in a documentary about Eel Pie Island! Having the use of my mother’s car, I ‘roadied’ for The Others and for both 1984 and Smile - so many great stories there!”.
It was the tail end of Teddy Boys by then and we were transmogrifying into hippies (or Beatnicks as they were called). We heard Ken Colyer, Dutch Swing College Band and many others that were to become famous”. Ian Gordon OH (1958) also remembered the music master with fondness;
He also created the ghost tunnel each fete day with Sixth Form volunteers in one of the old air raid shelters by the main school drive. I had the pleasure of being involved in all of these”. Many thanks to those who shared their memories with us. Special thanks go to Peter Edmonds OH (1965), who also featured in the documentary with his wife Wendy, for his help with this article.
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School News
A-Level and GCSE Results A Level/Pre-U Results Day 2020 will certainly be one to remember. Despite the unprecedented hurdles presented by the cancellation of summer exams, Hamptonians achieved exceptional A Level and Pre-U grades. Our 2020 Leavers will now read for degrees at many of the world’s
leading academic institutions, including many heading to one of the global top-10 universities. 24 Hamptonians secured their places at Oxford or Cambridge colleges, including two Hamptonians who were also awarded prestigious Roentgenium Awards in the Chemistry Olympiad earlier this year.
Summer Catch-up Session for our Partner Schools During the summer, 70 pupils from local state schools attended a fortnight of free lessons at Hampton. Developed for Year 10 pupils who have been particularly impacted by school site closures, the two-week summer school helped youngsters from local partner schools catch up on key parts of the curriculum, before they started their final year of GCSE study. Teachers from Hampton and neighbouring Lady Eleanor Holles School delivered daily lessons for boys and girls from Twickenham School, Reach Academy, The Hollyfield School, Orleans Park School and Tolworth Girls’ School. The pupils benefited from specialist taught lessons in English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, and History.
Hampton’s GCSE results were equally impressive with over half of the grades awarded being 9s and 78% of grades at 9-8 (A*). A remarkable total of 83 boys achieved straight 9-8 (A*) grades, over a third of whom gained ten or more grade 9s.
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Year Five pupils from our primary partner schools returned to Hampton for the 2020-21 Lion Learning programme. Designed in close collaboration with headteachers from several of our local partner primary schools, the 12-month programme is free of charge and allows children to explore English, Maths, Philosophy and Science through a range of activities and lessons. Amongst this terms’ activities, the Lion Learners will be discussing what makes someone a good person in philosophy, investigating lab safety in Science and browsing the new Lion Learners Library.
The Hampton Focus magazine
Royal Academy Success
A team of Lower Sixth pupils have created The Hampton Focus, a current affairs magazine looking at events and issues relating to Economics and Politics.
Fifth Year Artist Jacob Costen has been selected for the Royal Academy Young Artists’ Summer Show 2020.
Supported and guided throughout by Mr Paraskos (Head of Economics) and Miss Field (Head of Politics), the team devised, organised and wrote the publication entirely during the lockdown period.
Taking inspiration from the Royal Academy annual Summer Exhibition, the Young Artists’ Summer Show is an opportunity for young artists to exhibit their work online and on-site at the Royal Academy. This year’s judging panel received over 17,000 submissions and Jacob’s drawing is one of 392 works selected.
At such a remarkable and unique time, articles in the publication have been able to investigate topics as wideranging as the recent oil crash, the impact of Covid-19 on the stock market, lessons from Winston Churchill’s wartime leadership and the politics of rock music. To view a copy of the magazine, go to www. hamptonschool.org.uk/whats-on/school-magazines
Jacob’s piece, LEAK, was inspired by watching the natural history series Blue Planet II, which explores the marine environment of the world’s oceans, in addition to his interest in the global climate crisis.
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Inspiring hamptonians At the start of the year, we were delighted to welcome back many Hamptonians to the School for career talks and lunches. A big thank you to all who have supported our programme of events.
Sam Ellis OH (2000)
Sam gave a thought-provoking career talk to the Third Year. Co-Founder of a start-up company researching the impact of automotivebased mobility, Sam spoke about his career path after leaving Hampton and of how he was unsure of the direction he wanted to take. After studying at Southampton University, he went on to become a trainee accountant and analyst. Speaking openly to the pupils, he talked about this not being the area he wanted to develop his career in and how, after several different job roles, he moved into business development working with Land Rover and Jaguar to name but a few. He then spent over five years at M&C Saatchi as Head of Innovation before studying for an Executive MBA at Imperial College.
Life After Hampton
Eight Hamptonians from the Class of 2010 returned for the Life After Hampton event. Speaking about their lives since leaving Hampton, they encouraged the Lower Sixth to take up every opportunity, look after their mental health and find something they are passionate about. Thanks to Adil Manji OH (2010), Chris Madoc-Jones OH (2010), Jamie Clark OH (2010), Leo Wyatt OH (2010), Miles Horn OH (2010), Angus Fisk OH (2010), Barney Blackhurst OH (2010), Cem Dewilde OH (2010) for supporting the event.
Michael Timbs OH (2010)
Michael, freelance sports presenter and journalist, returned to Hampton to support the School’s Modern Languages Week. Giving a fascinating Talk! and assembly, Michael spoke of how studying languages at Hampton not only gave him a great springboard into continued learning at university but also aided him in his career. Michael’s current work includes presenting for Match of the DayX and Sky Sports.
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Dr Nick Barratt
Andrew McHutchon
Joseph Terry
Many thanks to Dr Nick Barrett who returned to Hampton to talk to pupils about his love of History and the relevance in modern society.
Fifteen years after leaving Hampton, Andrew returned and gave a unique insight into his career with McLaren Racing as a Senior Data Scientist.
“Languages will broaden your horizons and opportunities”.
After leaving Hampton, Nick was awarded a Doctorate in Medieval History at King’s College London.
After presenting in assembly, he was interviewed by Hampton Radio and took part in a Careers Lunch with pupils interested in an engineering career.
OH (1988)
OH (2005)
Careers Convention 2020 Twenty-six alumni volunteered their time and expertise to support this year’s Careers Convention, held jointly with LEH. Over 300 pupils across both schools talked to industry representatives about training, expectations and prospects. Many thanks to Dr Samir Alvi OH (1985), Dr Chris Watts OH (1992), Professor Daniel Osorio OH (1978), Tim Closs OH (1989), John Taylor OH (1961), Ben Lowe OH (1995), Matthew Nolan OH (2014), Chris Heritage OH (2006), Dipam Patel OH (2009), Luke Uzoziri OH (2009), Adam Spence OH (2000), Edward Boyns OH (2002), Chetan Ladwa OH (2001), Sam Ellis OH (2000), James Gibson OH (2000), David Merkle OH (1966), Curran Dye OH (2011), Daniel Clifford OH (2011), Paul Lucas OH (1985), Cameron Sutherland OH (2014), Michael Shennan OH (2014), Adrian Ede OH (1977), Han-Ley Tang OH (2006), Trevor Dutton OH (1982), Matt Oxborrow OH (2014) and Lt Adam Swann OH (1999). Next year’s Convention will be hosted virtually. If you would like to contribute, please email alumni@hamptonschool.org.uk.
OH (2009)
Thank you to Joseph, who returned to Hampton to talk to current pupils about his career as a freelance translator and interpreter, as part of Modern Languages Week. Working primarily in football, some of Joseph’s clients include UEFA, FIFA and several top Italian football clubs.
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Hampton’s greatest sporting moment “It’s impossible to rank Hampton’s greatest sporting moments”. So said former Headmaster, Barry Martin to the Hampton Sports Chronicle (HSC) in 2013. So, during the summer term, HSC pupil editor Josh Bartholomew and English teacher Mr Smith, decided to see if they could find Hampton’s greatest sporting success.
Thirty-two iconic sporting moments were presented to the Hampton community and after nine weeks of voting on Twitter, the long-list was reduced to four semi-finalists: Semi-final One: First VIII’s win Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley vs First XI’s ESFA Cup win 2019 Semi-final Two: First VIII 1986 Triple vs First VIII 1988 Triple.
With hundreds of votes cast, and with only one percentage point between them, the First VIII’s ‘Triple’ in 1988 took the top slot. Congratulations to the team – here they are in 2018 celebrating the 30th anniversary of their achievement!
The competition ended in a tense vote off between the First XI’s ESFA Cup win in 2019, and the Boat Club’s 1988 ‘Triple’ in which Hampton’s oarsmen clinched victory in the Schools’ Head of the River Race, The National Schools’ Regatta and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta.
Hampton’s Dream Teams During lockdown we asked staff to pick their ‘Team of the Decade’. From football to cricket, rugby, chess and rowing, this task was a real challenge for those involved. Here are their final teams - who would you select for your dream team?
Mr Knibbs’ First XI Team of the Decade (2010-2020)
George Roberts OH (2015) Ben Lewis-Clare OH (2013) Matt Wisdom OH (2016) George Maxwell OH (2019) (C) Toby Godfray OH (2016) Tom Hudson (2020) Louis Instrall (2020) Will Davis OH (2018) Tom Phillipson OH (2015) Mark Parsons OH (2013) Shaun-Chris Joash OH (2019) Substitutes Fred Woodward-Gentle OH (2012) James Dolman OH (2013) Harry Fuller OH (2017) Connor Selwood OH (2016) Will Legg OH (2012)
Mr Mills’ First XI Football Team of the Decade (2000-2010)
Nick Jupp OH (2007) Dominic Michel OH (2009) Alex Lightman OH (2007) Akil Phakey OH (2007) Ian Prowse OH (2009) Jack Parker OH (2011)* Richard Sexton OH (2002) Chris Heritage OH (2006) Richard Allen OH (2007) Max Kretzschmar OH (2010) Frank Paxton OH (2006) Substitutes Jonathan Meld Ram OH (2009) Hamzah Butt OH (2008) Patrick Timbs OH (2008) Neal Prowse OH (2011)* Tom Page OH (2010) Nick Baker OH (2003) Tristan Michel OH (2011)* Greg Hayhurst OH (2007) Rob Walker OH (2006) *Played For First XI in 2010
TH E H A M PTONI AN I 1 9
Mr Slater’s Rugby Team of the Decade (2000-2010) 1 Tim Mullinar OH (2004) 2 Ben Brickell OH (2006) 3 Tom Stephens OH (2006) 4 Peter Marsland OH (2003) 5 Fraser Wem OH (2010) 6 Charlie Lewis OH (2003) 7 Callum Burke OH (2010) 8 Morgan Browne OH (2009) 9 Zafaransari OH (2010) 10 Seb Jewell OH (2006) 11 Mark Jones OH (2000) 12 Richard Coskie OH (2008) 13 Brook Driver OH (2009) 14 Will Browne OH (2007) 15 Frank Keenan OH (2004)
Mr Thomson’s Rugby Sevens Team of the Decade (2010-2020) Will Attfield OH (2016) Niall Barry OH (2013) Shane Barry OH (2018) Aidan Barry (2020) Joe Battle OH (2013) Rory Carroll OH (2018) Jacob Goss OH (2015) Rowan Grundy OH (2017) Louis Lynagh OH (2019) Alex Lundberg OH (2013) George Tsitsis OH (2018) Will Verdan OH (2017) Michael Woollatt OH (2016)
Mr Double’s First VIII Team of the Decade (2010-2020) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Jack Walker OH (2011) Alastair Douglass OH (2013) Dom Jackson OH (2016) Henry Swarbrick OH (2012) Robert Wickstead OH (2013) Alexander Lloyd OH (2013) Matthew Benstead OH (2013) Tom Worthington OH (2017) Ed Henshaw OH (2013)
Mr Banerjee’s First XI Cricket Team of the Decade (2010-2020) Zafar Ansari OH (2010) Cole Campbell OH (2018) Charlie O’brien OH (2013) Guy Harper OH (2014) Todd Ryan OH (2017) Neal Prowse OH (2011) Blake Cullen (2020) Denil Manuel (2020) Bilal Chohan OH (2010) Chris Searle OH (2017) Rob Bentley OH (2015) 12th Man: Greg King OH (2013)
Subs: Jason Newbery OH (2002) Chris Edwards OH (2006) Oliver Saddler OH (2001) Nick Davies OH (2000) Matt Powell OH (2009) Ross Lang OH (2003) Patrick Oswell OH (2008)
Mr Slater’s All-Star Rugby Second XV 1 Noah Russell OH (2016) 2 Josh Nagle OH (2016) 3 Henry Depel OH (2016) 4 Will Kelleher OH (2010) 5 Olly Tomlins OH (2008) 6 Joe Andrew OH (2016) 7 Dan Morgan OH (2015) 8 Jake Goodwill OH (2014) 9 Barney Gilbert OH (2009) 10 Joel Hartikainen OH (2016) 11 George Clelland OH (2013) 12 Sam Flaxman OH (2010) 13 Sam Gilbert OH (2013) 14 Harry Littler OH (2015) 15 oel Sandilands OH (2016) Subs: Tom Tyler OH (2013) Sam Evans OH (2012) Alex Kemp OH (2002) Angus Shennan OH (2017) Ben Ward OH (2002) Hugo Green OH (2014) Laurence Dunn OH (2014) Ollie Lyth OH (2009) Joe Snape OH (2009)
Mr Thomson’s Rugby Team of the Decade (2010-2020) 1 Alex Lundberg OH (2013) (c) 2 Alex Bidwell OH (2016) 3 Alex Wood OH (2012) 4 Jacob Goss OH (2015) 5 Tom Keith OH (2012) 6 Gwilym Bradley OH (2019) 7 Billy Harding OH (2011) 8 Will Verdan OH (2017) 9 Akira Takenaka OH (2014) 10 Rowan Grundy OH (2017) 11 Josh Amadi OH (2015) 12 Alex Tavener OH (2013) 13 Roman Malin-Hiscock OH (2016) 14 Louis Lynagh OH (2019) 15 Will Attfield OH (2016) Bench 16 Ryan Baitz OH (2012) 17 Sam Curran OH (2015) 18 Adam Szczotka OH (2013) 19 Conor Gilligan OH (2016) 20 Nick Van Der Merwe OH (2018) 21 Zack Santos OH (2016) 22 Ludi Hopkinson OH (2012) 23 Dan Barley OH (2015)
Mr Boulton’s First VIII Team of the Decade (2000-2010) Richard Boulton OH (1985) In 1985, Richard Coxed the Hampton Eight which won The Schools’ Head, The National Schools’ Regatta and The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta (The “Triple”). He returned to Hampton in 1993 and coached the 1st VIII from 1997-2004. Bow: Tim Chalk OH (2005) 2 Francis Highton OH (2009) 3 Karl Hudspith OH (2006) 4 Will Loughborough OH (2003) 5 Tom Zajdler OH (2001) 6 David Livingston OH (2001) 7 Ben Smith OH (2001) Str: Sam Minors OH (2001) Cox: Deane Mccloy OH (2004)
Mr Mcbay’s Chess Dream Team Koby Kalavannan (2020) Murugan Thiruchelvam OH (2007) Nick Kingston-Smith OH (2002) Ross Mooring OH (2002) Jake Liang OH (2019) Theo Dias OH (2017) Max Wood-Robinson OH (2015)
2 0 I T HE H A M P TONI A N
Fond Farewells
Hampton said goodbye to 16 members of staff at the end of the last academic year. Among those departing are five long-standing teachers, who between them have chalked up 103 years of dedicated service at Hampton. John Slater joined the Economics department 23 years ago in 1997. He was a Sixth Form Head of Year for 12 years and ran the Young Enterprise scheme and various business and entrepreneurship courses. A keen sportsman, John coached the Second XV for 18 highly successful years and accompanied many rugby tours and School trips.
English teacher, Peter Smith, also retired. Peter arrived at Hampton School in 2002 after teaching in Zimbabwe and in various London comprehensives. Alongside his academic duties, Peter is a passionate sports lover and has coached cricket and football teams over the years. His erudition and skill with the pen have enhanced many an edition
of News from Hampton and he also founded the Hampton Sports Chronicle, nurturing many budding journalists who have now gone on to successful careers in the sports and mainstream media. Alice Jacobs, who is taking up a post at South Hampstead High School, joined Hampton in 2005, leading the Classics department for four years between 2007-11.
She accompanied boys on trips from Italy to Syria and, a keen vocalist, has been a stalwart member of the School choir. Head of PE, Billy Bolton is also heading to pastures new and will be taking up the post of Head of Exercise and Athletics at Highgate School. Billy joined Hampton in 2010 and remembers turning up on his first day to find the doors shut due to bad weather and heavy snow. He has nurtured many specialist sports during his time at Hampton and, in particular has progressed Hampton Athletics to new heights.
Finally we bid a fond farewell to Elizabeth Watson who joined Hampton 37 years ago and has had a rich and varied career at the School. Remarkably, Elizabeth taught English, RS, French, Portuguese and German before settling in Modern Languages to teach French and German. She went on to fulfil a number of important roles with distinction: Head of Second Year, Head of Lower School and Assistant Head. Elizabeth stepped down from the senior leadership team in August 2016 and has since then assisted our Admissions team on part-time basis.
We wish them all the best for the future.
T HE H A M P TONI A N I 21
Hamptonians remember To commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, we asked Hamptonians to share their memories of living through the Second World War and what it was like during that extraordinary time. We’ve included a selection below. A big thank you to all those who shared their stories.
Gerald Holmes
Meet David Merkel’s
Alan Stevens
A siren. The War’s begun.
My late father was a deputy commander of a Prisoner of War camp at Featherstone in Northumberland during the Second World War. He and two other senior officers at the camp were a part of a programme of re-educating senior Nazi officers in their charge. A couple of years ago, my family and I became aware of the extent and importance of the programme. The Imperial War Museum now have the care of my father’s papers, including letters written after the War from former inmates acknowledging the effect of Dad’s, and his colleague’s, efforts.
War was declared just weeks before my fifth birthday. It was on a nice summer’s day and I was playing with a friend in the garden. My mother insisted that the friend went home to be with his parents. Neither of us had any idea what was going on. School continued as normal.
The letter was addressed to ‘Captain W Merkel, Featherstone Park Camp, Northumberland’ and dated 14 October 1946.
Once the Blitz stopped, my mother and I returned to our home. While we had been away, a bomb had landed close by and blown out all our front windows. Had we been living there at the time the shards of glass could have caused some serious injuries.
OH (1953)
1939-40 changed my life radically. I was four years old. I attended Windmill Road Primary School, where air raid shelters replaced the playground. During raids, we fled to them and were taught to crochet which offered a distraction from explosions, bomb shrieks and shudders.
Later on in the war we would use street shelters, then the Morrison sheet of steel to sleep under. They offered protection against falling masonry but not from gas and fire. I remember sojourns in West Wales. We travelled by steam train: there was no electricity nor running water, we cooked on the fire and there was no toilet paper. My job: to cut up newspapers, hung on the outhouse nail. Back in London, during my time at Hampton Grammar School, I remember living through buzz bombs, butterfly bombs, shrapnel and V3 rockets to victory.
OH (1967) Father
Featherstone Park was a Prisoner of War Camp. The letter’s author, Kurt Schilling, was a former Nazi officer who had just been released from the camp and returned to Germany. ‘I cannot but thank you for all the kindness and humane understanding you showed, not only to myself, but also to the other PoWs in ‘C’ compound…I myself am grateful to you and those officers like you who made my unpleasant duty much easier by their excellent understanding of the mentality of prisoners of war.’ What made it different from any other camp was that its key officers were all Jewish.
OH (1953)
When the Blitz began, it did not affect our area too much. At first, there were daylight raids on London and then night raids. I could look from my back door over towards London and see a red glow over the sky. My mother evacuated us to relatives in Reading. My father stayed behind and joined the AFS – Auxiliary Fire Service – based at Twickenham Rugby Ground.
My father was called up in 1942, and joined the RASC – Royal Army Service Corps. He became a Lance Corporal and a qualified Driver Mechanic. In 1944, the raids by the German V weapons began. I remember well the first V1 ‘Doodlebug’. It came over the top of our house going north over the rugby ground; the engine cut out and it plunged to the ground followed by a plume of smoke. War had entered a new phase. One day, one cut out over our house. My mother and I huddled in the Morrison table shelter. I heard it coming down and then silence. It had landed in Whitton.
2 2 I T HE H A M P TONI A N
OH Section News Football
Football is back at Dean Road after a six-month enforced hiatus. The season ended back in March on a damp squib as the clubs voted to void the season (and pretend that it never happened). The summer was a long one without any football. Once we had the green light that grassroots football could restart again, we’ve worked to get us to the point where we can now safely play competitive games. It has been great to be able to reconnect with teammates and friends and to pull
Cricket
A season which promised little in April resulted in a UK government U-turn and an incredible 11 weeks of cricket, which befitted a club on the rise. As well as five Saturday XIs playing in the Surrey Championship and Fullers Cup, we competed in the Surrey Trust League and the Surrey Slam, as well as a multitude of different friendlies. The influx of players from School continues as we embed further ties year on year. It was fitting that Max Cooper OH (2019) and Tim Wallace OH (2019) were key
on the famous yellow and black strip together again. The enthusiasm from all our members to get back onto the pitch has been fantastic. We have been filling our squads every week, which is certainly a luxury in player-led amateur sport! There is a general feeling of positivity and a hope that this could be another successful season for the club.
players across the First and Second XI as well as impacts in the Surrey Slam and U21 Trust XI. The Third and Fourth XI’s were able to win their respective localised Saturday groups, which is great encouragement for next year and the Slam XI reached Finals Day for the first time, only to lose to the eventual winners in the Semi-Final. President’s Day and Brian Gray Memorial 6s continue to flourish with many Hamptonians playing their cricket closer to home. We are desperate to develop the younger cricketers within Hampton’s ranks in the U21 Trust League and know
Rugby
The Old Hamptonians’ Rugby Club managed half of the 2019/2020 season before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the remaining games of the season cancelled, the club finished in third place in Surrey 4. Notable wins came at home over league winners Croydon and two wins over Reigate, including a last-minute game winning try from Greg King OH (2013) away in the mud.
The 70-12 victory at home against Reigate was a remarkable performance, in particular as all three Jones brothers – Mark OH (2000), Andy OH (1997) and Chris OH (1995) – played in the game. The club finished the season with seven wins and a draw out of 11 and will aim for promotion this year.
As ever, we would love to hear from any Old Hamptonians who might be interested in getting involved. We have three open-aged Saturday teams and a veteran’s team, who play on Sundays. If you want to learn more, please get in touch with Club Chairman Will Legg OH (2012), email: williamjhlegg@gmail.com
we will be able to offer those cricketers a great opportunity to develop their game and friendships into the future. A club on the rise and a playing standard for anyone. If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch with Club Chairman Rich Brown OH (2005), email: ohacricket@ gmail.com, call: 07832 105 393, or First XI Captain Toby Godfray OH (2016) on 07896 552 338 and checkout @ohacricket on Twitter.
Hopefully there will be rugby this season and the motley crew of Old Hamptonian rugby players will be ready. We will keep you updated as to when our fixtures are able to start and we hope, at least, to see many of you at the Chris Mapletoft Festival of Rugby, which we hope to host in March 2021. As always, new players are always welcome. If you would like to join, please contact Club Captain Nick Powell OH (2017), email: nick@powells.uk.com or call 07716 940 218.
Mailbag Our Director of Rugby, Sean Thomson brought in some old letters and school reports that a family friend had discovered when having a sort out. The documents about Douglas C Matcham OH (1930), really give an insight into the admission process and what it was like to be at Hampton Grammar School during the 20s.
The estate of Bernard Wigginton OH (1963), who sadly passed away in 2018, recently donated some old books written about Hampton Grammar School (HGS) and the local area.
Bernard was Secretary of the Old Hamptonians Amateur Dramatics Society, in which he had been active for more than six decades, as an Old Hamptonian and from his time at HGS. Many of the books were written by Bernard Garside, a Senior History Master at HGS.
If you have any old School reports or photos of the School, we’d love to see them. Simply email alumni@hamptonschool.org.uk.
2 4 I T HE H A M P TONI A N
Four Fitzwygram Scholars began their time at Hampton in September. They join five such scholars already flourishing with us and a total of 70 boys who attend on free places. The Fitzwygram Foundation has one simple but transformative aim: to increase the number of completely free places available for boys whose families could not otherwise afford a Hampton education.
Our ambition is to award an additional 50 Free Place Scholarships by 2025 to mark half a century since our School’s transition to independent status. You can support the Fitzwygram Foundation this year by taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020.
Starting on Giving Tuesday, Tuesday 1 December and running until Tuesday 8 December, the Big Give Christmas Challenge gives you the opportunity to double the value of your donation to the Foundation. We will keep you up to date, as we approach the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020. Please keep a note of the date and if you have any questions please contact fitzwygram@hamptonschool.org.uk.
Hamptonian Merchandise Item
Calling all quiz lovers! On Saturday 28 November, Hampton School will be running The Big Hampton Quiz with the support of the Hampton School Parents’ Association. Open to all, the virtual quiz will take place from 7.30pm. From ‘homework’ to the classic ‘picture’ round, it will be a night to stay in and test your skills and knowledge against fellow members of the Hampton community, as we come together to raise money for the Fitzwygram Foundation. So put the date in your diary and brush up on your trivia, for what’s sure to be a fun evening! Full details will be shared in early November.
alumni@hamptonschool.org.uk • 020 8783 4406
Price (Including postage)
Tie (Polyester)................................................................. £15 Tie (Silk)............................................................................. £25 Bow Tie (Polyester)....................................................... £15 Cufflinks............................................................................. £10 Socks.............................................................................. £7.50
To order please contact the Alumni office alumni@hamptonschool.org.uk or call 020 8783 4406