KGS Friends, September 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015, ISSUE 15

www.kgs.org.uk/community/alumni

KGS Friends

Albert Perry’s Letters to David Starkey . Continued on Page 6

...INCORPORATING THE OLD KINGSTONIAN ASSOCIATION

City Networking

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Pre-1970 Reunion

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Don Wilson

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Forthcoming Events Pre-1970 Reunion Saturday 10th October Were you at KGS before 1970? Following the success in recent years of the Golden and Diamond Reunions the next in our annual series of decade reunions will combine the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s for a large scale celebration.

All KGS pupils and staff who were here then are very warmly invited back to KGS to share memories with old friends over lunch, drinks, tours of the School and tea on Saturday 10th October from 12.30 pm.

Book your place here - http://tiny.cc/Pre70sReunion or call Katie Raymond on 020 8939 8859

KGS Freinds Quiz Night Saturday 14th November The ever-popular KGS Friends Quiz Night returns at a slightly later date this year – Saturday 14th November.

This is a hugely enjoyable event very much along the lines of the PSA quiz evenings, with dinner, some wine and prizes included in the ticket price of £15 per head or £100 for a team of eight.

Top questions by a leading professional setter, surprise guest question-masters/mistresses, Jerry’s curry, a well-stocked bar and sparking prizes all promise a fun-packed evening not to be missed, so please save the date and start putting your crack teams together.

Visit DawBell PR Company Managing Director of DawBell PR Ltd. Richard Dawes (OK 1993) has invited KGS pupils and alumni to visit his company and learn about how this award-winning independent PR company has gained success over the last four years. A perfect event for those interested in a career in media or PR. Thursday 19th November, 6.30pm Address - Dawbell Ltd, First Floor, 1-11 Carteret Street, London, SW1H 9DJ If you would like to attend please email friends@kgs.org.uk

Capital of Uzbekistan, anyone?

City and Professional Networking Tuesday 3rd November, 5.30-8.30pm The next KGS Friends City and Professional Networking Event is taking place on Tuesday 3rd November and is open to alumni, parents and past parents who work in, or have an interest in the City or professional services. It’s a great chance to build your network of contacts and meet fellow professionals.

Join us at The Tokenhouse in Moorgate between 6.00 and 8.30pm and enjoy some nibbles and drinks courtesy of KGS Friends. Please do let us know for catering purposes if you plan to drop in.

Book you place online here - http://www.trybooking.co.uk/IB 2

Forthcoming Events One Term On Parents’ Reunion Monday 21st December save the date!

Following the success of our first event last year the One Term On Parents’ reunion will be held again this December. Join us for drinks and nibbles courtesy of KGS Friends at Harts Boatyard from 7.30pm. A lovely chance to catch up after a whole term away from KGS and get the festive season underway.

Harts Boatyard address: Portsmouth Rd, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 4HL

Class of 2015 One Term On Reunion Monday 21st December Missing KGS already? There will be a One Term On Reunion for the class of 2015 in December.

Join us from 8pm at Rubi London, for drinks and canapes courtesy of KGS Friends. The perfect chance to catch up after leaving KGS. 97 Maple Road, Surbiton, KT6 4AW The list of attendees will be regularly updated on the website at: www.kgs.org.uk/Alumni-Events

Class of 1995 reunion Saturday 21st November Year representative Joanne Munro is working with KGS Friends to organise a reunion for the Class of 1995.

Join us at the School for a tour at 6.30pm or meet us at The Canbury Arms for food and drinks from 7.30pm. We are asking for a £5 contribution so that we can cater the entire evening.

Canbury Arms address: 49 Canbury Park Road, Kingston Surrey, KT2 6LQ Book your place at the event here - http://www. trybooking.co.uk/HV

A Charity Night of Comedy Friday 16th Ocotber In support of children’s charity, the shine centre hosted by Dominic Holland and supported by Bob Mills & Ian Stone The evening will be held in the School hall (with bar) Please email for tickets

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Alumni News Berwick Coates

Simon May

Berwick Coates (OK 1951) has released ‘The Last Viking’, the second book in his 1066 trilogy: “With the death of Edward the Confessor, the future of England is hanging in the balance.

Harold has been crowned king but the country he inherits is divided. In the north, Tostig has been expelled by a rebellion and plots revenge. To the south there are rumours of William of Normandy massing a force to attack.

And in Norway, Harald Hardrada sees an opportunity. Harold will not let his country go without a fight. And so, the bloodiest battle yet fought on English soil is about to begin…”

Berwick has also released ‘National Service 50 Years On’. This profuselyillustrated book takes us behind the scenes of the ‘system’ which created National Service, and analyses the effects it had on two and a half million young men who were given no choice about giving up two years of their lives to the Armed Forces.

All of Berwick’s books are available on Amazon and ‘Starkeye and Co.’ through the School.

We were delighted to hear that former staff member Simon May (1966-1974), has released an autobiographical CD collection and an autobiography named ‘Doof Doof’, which contains many memories of his time teaching at KGS. An extract from the book reads: “…Writing Smike was such fun.

History teacher Clive Barnett and I spent a week during the holidays adapting the dialogue from the Dotheboys Hall sequence of Nicholas Nickleby and interpolating it into our script. Roger helped me with the arrangements of the music. I am sure, however, that they would be gracious enough to agree that the show was my “baby” and my baptism of fire. My future best man and great friend Steve Elson played guitar in the performances at Surbiton Assembly Roo the very successful tribute band ‘The Counterfeit Stones’. I have to thank him, production team who contributed to the show’s success, including dear Lorrain The Autobiography Collection is a 3 CD box set containing 50 of Simon’s all-tim accompanied by an abridged mini autobiography. You can listen to a 10 minute tracks by visiting Simon’s new website at: www.simonmay.co.uk They are both now available to order on Amazon.

Don Wilson (OK 1

Don Wilson recently passed away while on holi war years, and used to speak of narrowly missi Britain, as well as for the OKs.

He kept up his links with the School, and was v

Don was a very good golfer, who continued to made Captain at the world famous Wentworth

He was a complete gentleman at all times, frie

He was a very active President of the Kingston advocate of opening the Society not only to fo

He was instrumental in founding in 1997 the an condolence from other schools, such as Tiffin,

In creating that contest, Don gave a shield whi Kathy, and the family, as a memory of him.

John Elvidge (OK 1964)

Becky Merchant’s Hundredth Cap Congratulations to Becky Merchant, who won her hundredth cap for Scotland in their final group game against Italy in the European Women’s Hockey Championships this summer.

The team celebrated the occasion by winning 3-1, and Becky put the cherry on the day by scoring one of the goals. It was a busy time for the centurion, with her birthday a few days later and then straight into the new term teaching Sports Studies at Fettes College, Edinburgh.

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t ms. Steve is now lead singer of , all the musicians and the whole ne Clarke my choreographer.” me favourite hit themes and songs, e montage of some of the key

Alumni News Tony Stacey

Derek Allen

We were sad to hear that Tony Stacey (OK 1953) and former Treasurer of the Old Kingstonian Association passed away in July last year. KGS is very grateful for all the support Tony gave the School throughout the years.

Derek Allen (OK 1945) has sadly passed away. Recently Derek shared some memories of his time at KGS; “fine masters, good friends and Fridays after school at Army CCF in the Cage, where I also learned stick work, which enabled me to enjoy hockey all my life.”

After leaving school Derek joined Barclays Bank National Service East Surrey Regiment 1945-1948. Later in life he ran his own finance and insurance brokerage, before retiring in 1988.

Henry K ay John Makin (OK 1955) has informed us of the death of Henry Kay (OK 1948).

He writes; “Many will remember playing hockey and enjoying a pint or three with Henry back in the sixties and though he never really took to golf he has in recent times joined the Golf Society on a number of occasions for a buggy ride around the course at Seaford. He was a particularly close friend of Tony Adams, Don Wilson, David Starkey and myself and was at the centre of a whole lot of happy roistering in days gone by. Our lives are the poorer without him.”

Robin Lahiri It is with regret and great sadness that the family of Robin Dean Lahiri (OK 1978) would like to inform any of his friends and colleagues that he passed away in a tragic accident while on holiday with his family. Funeral and donation arrangements can be viewed on www. facebook.com/rdlfuneral. Please let us know if you wish to contact the family.

1951)

iday, surrounded by his family. He was in his early eighties. He was at KGS during the ing being killed by a German air raid. He survived to play hockey for Scotland and Great

very pleased and proud when his grandson, Tom, decided to go there.

have a handicap of 14 well into his seventies. He had the considerable honour of being h Golf Club, where he was highly respected.

endly and easy to talk to, but was a doughty and steely competitor who never gave up.

n Grammar School Golf Society for many years, where he is greatly missed. He was a keen ormer pupils but to present pupils and their parents, as well as former parents and staff.

nnual Surrey Schools Old Boys golf contest, and there have been many expressions of Surbiton, and KCS.

ich went each year to the winning team. The shield has now been presented to his wife,

Chris Bolton Congratulations to Chris Bolton (OK 1998), pictured above, who married this summer. OKs Andrew Webber and Alex Barlow shared the Best Man’s duties.

Andrew’s writing career continues to grow. His latest work can be downloaded from Amazon, or visit his website www.andrewwebber.net

Azr a Jennings Azra Jennings (OK 2005), pictured left, also married this summer with many KGS school friends in attendance. From L to R: Madeline Coxwell Matthewman, Rory Horgan (School Captain), Lucy Mills, Victoria Heptonstall, Simon Lee (groom not KGS!), Azra Jennings, Lindsey Kelly, Giles Ritchie, Becky Merchant, Jessica Wood (née Reed) and Hannah Elsy. We wish both couples very long and happy lives together.

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From the Archive

“Don’t you think that was r ather a liberty young man?”

You will remember Albert ‘Techy’ Perry from February’s Document of the Month. He was one of our more colourful former masters, and one much mentioned by OKs. His photograph and a related article were published in the April KGS Friends newsletter, and I have been delighted with the interest they generated.

Several OKs wrote to me about an unfortunate incident in a Kingston pub one lunchtime, when someone crept up behind Mr Perry and cut off his trademark quiff!! Upon returning to School, the boys asked him what he had said to the perpetrator. Mr Perry replied “I turned to the young man and said - ‘Don’t you think that was rather a liberty young man?’”

The real highlight of the responses I received came from OK David Starkey (1943-52). David has kindly provided copies of these wonderful letters and humorous sketches sent to him

by Mr Perry in the late 40s and early 50s.

In 1947 David missed a great deal of school time through rheumatic fever, and his family were very impressed by the concern shown by Mr Perry through visiting and sending letters. Encouraged by his art master, David went to Kingston School of Art, qualified as a sculptor and eventually became an art teacher himself.

The letters demonstrate that Mr Perry clearly had a real chip on his shoulder about being overlooked as an artist! They also hilariously depict the frugal fare enjoyed at Christmas in the years which followed World War II. “What’s wrong with a good old English sausage togged up with a spot of holly and mistletoe?”

Joanne Halford, Archivist archives@kgs.org.uk 020 8865 0111 6

School News KGS Students Celebr ate Exceptional Exam Results Despite the ongoing concerns of examinations being made harder to pass at the top level and stories of deliberate ‘grade deflation’, KGS students and staff celebrated an exceptional set of A level and GCSE results this year.

The Upper Sixth maintained the School’s wonderful record at A level with very nearly 90% A*-B grades, with 58% of all results at A* or A and 40% of the students gaining three A*/A grades or better. This enabled the majority to go onto their university of choice including a 100% success rate for the students who were holding offers for places at Oxford or Cambridge.

Not to be outdone, KGS’s GCSE students achieved wonderfully well across the board, with 44% of all exams graded A* and 78% at A*/A. The average grade for each of the nearly 1,300 GCSE examinations taken by the cohort was well above an A grade, with students accumulating an average of over 10 A grades per student! Over a third of the year group achieved straight A*/A grades in 10 or more subjects.

The Head Master was exceptionally proud of the results, saying that they reflected very well on the students and the hard work put in by all of them, as well as the staff who have taught and supported them. He added, “What is so great about all of these students is that as well as being very gifted and working hard to achieve such excellent results, they also have many other strings to their bows, being superb sportsmen and women, actors, musicians, debaters and much more. Most especially, we know that they all contribute in many ways to their School and their community.”

KGS at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

This summer saw a first [we think – corrections welcome, ed!] for KGS Drama with a school production at the Edinburgh Fringe.

‘Female Transport’, by Steve Gooch, was a powerful, visceral depiction of a group of women chained up aboard a convict ship en route for the penal colony of Australia. There were towering performances from all the cast and the large audiences were visibly moved by the spectacle. It was a superb production and a wonderful experience for all concerned, and will be, we hope, the first of a long tradition of KGS shows at the Fringe.

No sooner had your correspondent alighted from the train at Waverley Station and staggered onto Princes Street than he ran smack into Phil Loweth (OK 2007), who was there as part of his burgeoning career in stand-up comedy. Phil was taking part in a show called The Comedy Manifesto, a panel game based around the day’s news, like an even-more-up-to-the-minute (and even-funnier) take on ‘Have I got News For You?’, playing to packed houses (standing room only when your correspondent looked in). Phil was one of the team captains, meaning he was ‘on’ every day, and we look forward to following his career with great interest.

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Speakers include: - Juliet Gardiner, social historian - David Grindley, award-winning Journey’s End revival director - Robert Gore-Langton, theatre and arts writer - David Cottis, director and lecturer - Michael Lucas, military historian A new play by Roland Wales about Sherriff’s - Roland Wales, the new Sherriff biographer time in the trenches and the writting of - Zoe Karens, Sherriff project archivist ‘Journey’s End’ and its unfinished sequel will be performed at the School on Wednesday 23rd and Friday 25th September at 7.30pm. Tickets Online booking and full programme timings can be found at: are free and can be booked at the following link http://tiny.cc/RCSherriffStudyDay http://www.kgs.org.uk/events/sherriff-play

‘How Like it all is’

Kingston Rowing Club Returned from university or having a gap year and want to row? Or do you just want to get back into rowing?

KRC is looking for ambitious oarsmen to join their men’s squad, dedicated to winning at Henley Royal Regatta. KRC currently has attracted 5 KGS alumni into their senior squads, 3 raced at HRR this year.

The 2014/15 season posted strong results: 2nd in Senior 4- at the Fours Head 3rd in Elite 8s at Wallingford Top 3 finishes in Senior 4+ at the Met and Marlow.

Coach: Andy Medcalf medcalf.andrew@gmail.com twitter @kingstonrc www.kingstonrc.co.uk

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