AUTUMN/WINTER 2020 NEWSLETTER FOR LATYMERIANS (ALUMNI OF LATYMER UPPER SCHOOL)
The Latymerian Council (UK) 1971 John Davidson 1973 Steve Faktor 1976 Paul Taylor 1976 James Graham 1979 Mike Cooper 1990 Harmeet Ahuja 1991 Rajesh Goyal 1994 Kunwar Ahuja 1992 Laurence Hopkins - Chair 2000 Alan Sendorek 2008 Suzanna du Plessis (neé Rennie) - Deputy Chair 2014 Connie Campbell 2016 Charlotte Collingwood The Asian Latymerian Council 1966 Victor Apps - Chair 1971 Malcolm Hanney 1990 Arif Anwar 2002 Leela Lamont (neé Pandit) 2009 Archie Preston The Australasian Latymer Council 1946 Basil Walby 1955 Clive Trotman 1956 Jim Tilley 1969 John King 1994 Eddie Gapper 1995 Thomas Correia 2004 Aleco Lazaridis The Canadian Friends of Latymer Board of Directors 1955 David Havard 1957 Trevor Jones - Chair 1957 David Stiles 1960 C. Hugh Grant 1962 Jeffrey Simons 1963 Peter Basey 1982 Jimson Bienenstock
Graduate Corner 1979 n Jeremy MAISSEL PhD, Education, University of Haifa, Israel 1995 n Rudi VAN DER HEIDE MSc, Technology Management, Open University 2009 n Sarah BURNE JAMES MSc, Distinction, Speech and Language Processing, University of Edinburgh n Hugh CARSON PhD, Aerospace Computational Engineering, MIT n Richard UMASUTHAN MBBS and BDS, Honours 2012 n Barnaby STROUD-TURP MBBS, Medicine, Newcastle University 2014 n Sayeh FOROUGHI MSc, Cancer, University College London, University of London
Ruby Danowski Deputy Director of Development rdd@latymerfoundation.org
Linn Alexander Events Manager lda@latymerfoundation.org Johanna Ingram Events Manager jci@latymerfoundation.org David Jones Database and Finance Manager dvj@latymerfoundation.org Independent Consultants (Alumni Relations): Nigel Orton nro@latymerfoundation.org Sally Markowska sjm@latymer-upper.org Chris Hammond latymerians@latymerfoundation.org
Latymer Foundation Office Latymer Upper School 237 King Street, Hammersmith W6 9LR latymerians@latymerfoundation.org www.latymerfoundation.org
2016 n Finlay DUFF MSc, 1st, Physics, University of Bath n Isabelle FANSHAWE BA, 1st, Eng Literature and History of Art, Newcastle University n Hermione OLDHAM BA, Art History, University of Leeds n Holly SOMMERS BA, 1st, International Relations, SOAS 2017 n Tom HUGHES BA, English Literature, University of Durham
In the second month, we transitioned our manufacturing process to “injection moulding” for our visor production to meet the demand. We recruited Latymerians as volunteers who helped to package the huge quantity of visors. As our production grew, so did our public profile - we have been featured on several global media outlets including CNN and Sky News. Media coverage meant that a large number of healthcare workers found out about our work and reached out for help.
The Foundation Office Team: Amanda Scott Director of Development The Latymer Foundation at Hammersmith ams@latymerfoundation.org
Natasha Nolan Bursaries Appeal Manager njn@latymerfoundation.org
2015 n James CANNINGS MSc, Cum Laude, Economic and Social Sciences, Bocconi University
Update from George DZAVARYAN (2016), Founder of Augment Bionics
The US Latymerian Council 1964 David Godfrey - Treasurer 1965 Peter Taylor 1967 David Kendall 1968 Robert Stevens 1969 Simon Kisch 1976 Maciek Brzeski 1976 Jamie Grant 1980 Mark Bullimore - Chair 1989 Tony Hynes 1992 Anton Xavier 2004 Abi Ronan 2010 Josh Henderson
Siân Davis Alumni Relations Manager sdd@latymerfoundation.org
n Naomi OLDHAM BSc, 1st, Medical Humanities, Imperial College and MBChB, Doctor of Medicine, University of Leeds
Over lockdown, George DZAVARYAN (2016, Founder of Augment Bionics) got in touch to ask if the Latymer Foundation could help fundraise for the PPE that he and fellow alumni had started manufacturing from the Latymer Design Labs. Parents, alumni and students stepped up to the challenge and raised funds to help produce 120,000 face shields for frontline healthcare staff. Dear Latymerian, This year has been exceptionally pivotal for myself and the Augment Bionics team. Through the generosity of donors from the Latymer community, we were able to raise funds to produce 120,000 shields for essential workers. Over 60,000 went to the UK and the rest were sent to Armenia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Somaliland - countries that had been struggling to secure PPE. The appreciation for the visors has been heartwarming, and we continue to hear back from hospitals and healthcare workers thanking us for the donated shields. The first month of the project was the most challenging for the team as we adjusted to these unprecedented times whilst tirelessly working to develop a material supply chain, manage an ever-changing distribution system, and fundraise. The production team clocked long shifts in the workshop seven days a week.
During the third month of our pro-bono efforts, we realised that countries around the world were struggling to secure PPE. Once the demand for visors was met in the UK - which was our initial top priority, our team and volunteer network organised for the visors to be delivered to destinations around the world. As the peak of the pandemic eased, I created a new visor design. This product offers many advantages to the conventional visor, including lowered production costs, a simplified supply chain and improved user protection. We are currently aiming to secure investment, which will help us to win contracts with local and global clients. We are incredibly thankful to the Latymer community for providing us with the vital facilities, equipment and funds for the PPE initiative. The generosity of the school community has saved the lives of patients and doctors around the world. We encountered many obstacles and setbacks along the way, some of which threatened to stop the project dead in its tracks. However, with the unwavering perseverance of the team, the volunteers and with the much-needed support of the school community, we managed to overcome these challenges successfully. We could not be prouder of this exceptional project, and to have played a role in protecting our frontline heroes during this trying time. Kind regards, George
A ROUND UP OF NEWS ON FORMER STUDENTS. We welcome contributions for future editions CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
n Dr. Hilary JONES (1971) has been awarded an MBE thanks to his services to public broadcasting and medical practice. n Chloe MANN MRICS (2000) awarded member status from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, as a chartered quantity surveyor. n After retiring from professional rugby following an injury, Sean O’CONNELL (2011) graduated university with a First Class Honours in Leadership and Management. Sean then earned a distinction at MSc level in psychology and has since set up his own performance consulting business, Perform Ltd. (www.performltd.com) working with professional athletes, businesses and
FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC n Helena NAKAMURA (2011) launched a global COVID-19 symptom tracker, TrackTogether (www.tracktogether.org).
schools. He presented to the British Psychological Society on wellbeing and its role in optimal performance over the summer. n Barry O’REILLY (2013) attends the Royal Academy of Music, taking their one year postgraduate degree in Musical Theatre Performance. n Ryan ROBINSON (2006) cofounder of AEROPOWDER, has been raising investment for his startup that creates sustainable thermal packaging from surplus feathers. n Eric SALAMA (1979) has been appointed Chairperson at Comic Relief and Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. n Lucas SHORVON (2007) has been pivoting his fashion trend forecasting and consultancy company, All Eyes, to be a remote working tool for visual creatives. He is also starting an incubator programme at Pearsons
Business School, having just completed one at London College of Fashion, UAL. n Charles SILLETT (2016) has been recognised by the Final Honour School in Physics Examiners at the University of Oxford with the best MPhys Project in Atomic and Laser Physics. n Allegra STRATTON (1998) has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s representative for Downing Street’s new daily televised press briefings. n Congratulations to Chloe YATES (2017) and Sophia LEUNER (2012), both Latymerians were shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting. Chloe said: “I owe a lot to Latymer for my love of theatre and writing, and feel very grateful for being encouraged in my creativity there.”
BOOKS n Naomi OLDHAM (2014) has been working on COVID-19 wards on the frontline. Naomi spent her interim Foundation Year working at Bradford Royal Infirmary and is now at The Whittington Hospital for her Foundation Year.
n Dave KAUDERS (1962) has published a new book ‘The Financial System Limit’, on economic behaviours.
CAREER UPDATE: NADIA WILLIAMSON (2008), BUYER FOR MAJESTIC WINE
NEWS OF LATYMERIANS
n Hugh CARSON (2009) is working at Amazon PrimeAir as a Research Scientist within the Flight Controls and Modeling group, and lives in Boston.
Nadia has what could be described by many, including herself, as a “dream job”. As a Buyer for Majestic Wine, Nadia enjoys travelling to meet producers in Italy, South Africa, Burgundy, the Loire and Beaujolais. Her current conversations with producers revolve around how climate change is affecting wine growing. Nadia discovered the wine industry during her gap year after university when she went to work on an organic vineyard in Piedmont to explore her own Italian roots. There, Nadia fell in love with the whole process of winemaking - in particular, harvesting the grapes and learning about the fermentation process. This experience inspired her future career. Successfully applying to become a graduate trainee at Majestic, Nadia went on to work at various wine companies including Bibendum, where Nadia learned about importing wines and organising suppliers, before rejoining Majestic as a Buyer. Nadia has achieved a Diploma in Wine and hopes one day to be Master of Wine.
SCHOOL VISIT n Dr. Arik KERSHENBAUM (1983) and Kyri ARGYROPOULOS (1984) visited School to give the Latymer Library a copy of Arik’s new book “The Zoologist’s guide to the Galaxy”. Arik is a Lecturer at Girton College Cambridge and Kyri is a Criminal Lawyer.
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KEEPING SPIRITS ALIVE
NEWS OF LATYMERIANS
n Graham STEWART (1982) shared this photo of five Latymerians from the class of 1982 “keeping spirits alive” over lockdown.
L-R Gavin HO FAT (2001), Iden RAHMANZADEH-ASL (2001), Oliver SHORVON (2001), Chris CARROLL (2001), Simona Suardi, Tom ELLEN (2001), Peter TODD (2001), Neil Redford, Harvey HORNER (2001)
WEDDING n Chris CAROLL (2001) got married on 16 July 2018. Chris now lives in Brussels working for the Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership and has a one year old boy with his wife, Simona Suardi. L- R top row: Jimson BIENENSTOCK (1982), Graham STEWART (1982), L - R middle row: Andy RATHBORNE (1982), Peter YENDELL (1982), bottom row: Alan DUNKLEY (1982)
n Brian SYLVESTER (1956) has been Newbury’s Town Crier for twenty years and, during lockdown, he led the ‘clap for carers’ tribute every Thursday evening. He said it had been “great fun” to tour local streets to lend encouragement to this event. Sadly Newbury’s celebrations for VE Day were postponed but Brian’s videos ‘Cry For Peace’ and ‘The Nation’s Toast’ are available to watch on Newbury Town’s website.
Newbury Town Crier Brian leads the cheer for NHS workers in Donnington Square. Photo courtesy of the Newbury Weekly News
LATYMERIANS ON SCREEN n Dr. Arjuna IMBULDENIYA (1995), leading hip and knee surgeon, stars in The Diagnosis Detectives on BBC2.
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n Ophelia LOVIBOND (2004) is set to lead in HBO Max’s new comedy pilot ‘Minx’.
VE DAY COMMEMORATIONS A number of alumni got in touch after reading commemorative booklets by Malcolm Smith, former Archivist, on the fallen Latymerians of The First and Second World Wars, and a piece by current Latymer student Santiago on fallen Latymerian brothers, Ivan and Ralph BURGER. Dr. Ivan BURGER (1964) wrote to Santiago, in response to his piece on two Latymer brothers who passed away in the Second World War: “I was very interested in your story of Ivan and Ralph Burger and your research with the War Graves Commission. Ivan and Ralph were my uncles and were killed before I was born. Their parents were also in the house when it was bombed but somehow survived. I was named in memory of Ivan. Like him I was a pupil at Latymer, joining the school in September 1958, with my brother John following seven years later. You are right about their father’s (my grandfather’s) name Gottffried having German roots. Gottfried was in fact German Swiss and came from the area around Thun.”
n Adrian KING (1946) got in touch after reading the piece on Ivan and Ralph BURGER: “The VE Day pieces brought back many memories of Latymer in wartime, firstly of being taught French by C.J.Fox and secondly of my classmate, Ralph Burger. I noted that you had no address for him, but I believe he lived in Gledstanes Road when he and Ivan were killed in a bombing raid. Later, I met his brother Dennis, also then living in Gledstanes Road, when we both taught at a school in Chelsea in the early 1950s.” n Antony WILES (1995) reminded us of the story of Thomas HALLER COOPER: “One of Latymer’s more unsavoury former pupils, Thomas Haller Cooper, from Chiswick, served in the SS and British Frei Corps on the Eastern Front during WWII. Although not to be celebrated it is in itself a fascinating story. He survived the war, was sentenced to death for treason on his return to the UK; however this was revoked and he spent the rest of his life in Japan.”
ALUMNI SHORT FILM COMPETITION Over Summer we launched our first alumni short film competition to our Latymerian community, around the theme of 2020 Vision: The Times We Live In. Judges Adam TANDY (1981, Television Producer and Director), Samir SHAH CBE (1969, Chief Executive of Jupiter TV) and Natalie ABRAHAMI (1998, Theatre, Film and Opera Director) chose the winners. WINNERS:
1. Track and Trace by Jack WALDOUCK (2007) 2. Ice-o-lation by Maisie PRESTON (2014) 3. England Shakes by Hermione OLDHAM (2016) 4. Roaring Twenties by Will JARVIS and Harrison BREWER (2014) 5. Clean by James THORPE-WOODS (2008)
6. Life in Lockdown by Rachel CANNINGS (2017) 7. Memory CD: ROSA by Eleanor BEALE (2014) 8. The Garden of Small Things by Amy ROSENBAUM (2014) 9. Vid-19 by Charlotte and Isobel COLLINGWOOD (2016, 2019) 10. Quarantea by Izi THEXTON (2017)
Global Alumni: United States THANKING A FRIEND
“Jamie Grant chaired the US Friends of Latymer from its inception until the transition to the US Latymerian Council. Jamie led from the front with his ongoing support of the US Latymerian bursary, opening his home for receptions, and all with his effortless charm.” Mark BULLIMORE (1980), current Chair - US Latymerians Council Jamie at Latymer
By Joel POZNANSKY (1976): A British American, a Harkness Fellow to the USA and Cambridge graduate. After serving in the British army, he worked for British companies before working in publishing. More recently he co-founded an American version of a British toy retailer. He is married to an American and has three grown American children. I live in Maryland and the majority of conversations I have with neighbours about our political situation run steadily along similar lines; a Trump supporter is likely to be someone who gets a frisson from being just a bit controversial. “What has Trump done that is so bad?” I was asked a few months ago by an older lawyer friend. This election campaign has shown how stark the geographical divide is in this country. Trump’s support has been high in the central heartland and rural states and very low in the coastal states. I remember hearing my history teacher at Latymer explaining how geography can unite or divide people. It is the geographic split that exposes our political division. Fox News in Florida or Wisconsin reported “riots and looting” after the death of George Floyd, while on CNN, whether you are watching in New York or Louisiana, you would have heard of “protests” and “demonstrations”.
US Friends of Latymer SoCal gathering in October 2018
US LATYMERIAN COUNCIL FOUNDER’S DAY ZOOM GATHERING On Founder’s Day, the US Latymerian Council raised a toast to our founder, Edward Latymer.
How will life be after Covid once the economic consequences are evident? A new division has emerged. My children’s generation view the issue of economic recession as more important than the political divide. But if this division is between young and old, it is also between those who think there is a deeper problem with systemic racism and those who believe there is a problem but one we cannot afford to address now.
GLOBAL LATYMERIANS
This year, Jamie GRANT (1976) stepped down as Chair of the US Friends of Latymer (USFOL), following 10 years at its helm. Under Jamie’s leadership, USFOL funded places for five bright students to attend Latymer as UFOL Scholars. Jamie has not only played an instrumental role in bringing together Latymerians in the US and driving global support, he is also a pioneering force for change as one of the founding members on Latymer’s Inspiring Minds campaign board. His colleagues in USFOL - now known as the US Latymerian Council - and David Goodhew, Head, would like to thank him for his expert steer, generosity and dedication to his role.
LETTER FROM AMERICA WRITTEN IN JULY 2020
I had a sergeant when I served in the British army whose maxim was “any fool can be uncomfortable” which means keep your eye on your main mission and don’t get distracted, even if living in a trench. The same applied to this election – voting was all important. It was not a time to be distracted by other social problems. But my children have persuaded me during this period that my sergeant would have agreed that any effort to make that trench more comfortable is not a distraction, but worth doing. In my next email to the UK, I will have to ask him. NOVEMBER UPDATE: When the election was called for Biden, many Americans breathed a sigh of relief. By the following week, the joy had been tempered. It has been no surprise that a President who declared that if he lost that election it could only be due to fraud would claim fraud when he did lose. I’m sure if Graham Bearman was teaching this, he would pay attention to the fact that 70 million citizens still voted for Trump, despite his disregard for America’s democratic institutions.
WWW.LATYMERFOUNDATION.ORG/BURSARIES/US
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A Fledgling Army THE CADET FORCES OF LATYMER 6
We are excited to share the news that a new book about the Latymer Combined Cadet Force (CCF) has been published and is available to purchase. Initiated by Malcolm Smith, former Latymer Archivist, it is the result of hard work and dedication by a group of Latymerians who named themselves the ‘Fledgling Army Run by Tom Stewart (1931) – otherwise known as the ‘FARTS’. The book tells the story of the School’s cadet forces with the recollections of some of those who took part and who still meet.
Extract of ‘A Fledgling Army, The Cadet Forces of Latymer Upper School 1916 1966’: “Tom Stewart, an old boy of the School, had been the main driving force behind the Latymer CCF (Combined Cadet Force) after World War II, in which he had fought with distinction and been seriously injured. He was decorated with the Military Cross (MC) for bravery. After his death, his ashes were interred at the school on 12th April 1997 and three former CCF members met there on that occasion, and resolved to keep in contact. The book’s title comes from the name adopted by the group as the ‘Fledgling Army Run by Tom Stewart’ (or FARTS). Former cadets were invited to ‘parade’ twice a year for lunch at a Hammersmith pub to keep the Corp’s spirit living on. When he heard about this, Latymer’s then Honorary Archivist, Malcolm Smith, set about collecting the FARTS’ memories of their time in the CCF. Their responses and photographs form the main section of the book. The final section - the FARTS’ World War II Family Histories and Memories - resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic stopping the get-together for the March 2020 lunch, and then taking away the planned nationwide celebration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day. As the majority of the FARTS had lived through World War II right up to VE Day as young children, and probably had relatives who served in the war, they were invited to tell their stories for the book. The response was immediate and wideranging, and contains many fascinating anecdotes.”
CCF annual inspection with Tom Stewart at the back centre and Ken Sutcliffe, former Headmaster, on the right
Ted WATTS (1955) and Alan BURNELL (1960) contributed the “company anthem”, sung to “The Halls of Montezuma” from about 1951: We are the CCF of Latymer And a bloody fine Corps are we. The only time you’ll ever find us Is at breakfast, dinner and tea. But when it comes to fighting We’ll shout with all our might Paulatim Ergo Certe Or blow you Jack, I’m alright. CONTRIBUTORS TO THE BOOK: Jerry ANDREWS (1962) Graham BRAVO (1955) Tony BUDD (1959) Alan BURNELL (1960) John CARROLL (1966) Raymond CONDON (1964) Fred DAMODARAN (1956) Bill FAIRNEY (1960) John FREEMAN (1953) Craig HITCHCOCK (1966) Mike JOHNSON (1958) Charles KEMP (1956) Andrew LAWRENCE Tony MEIER (1956) Con METREWELI (1961) Ian MICHELL (1962) Norman “Tank” NASH (1958) Stuart PARKER (1959) Alan PINNOCK (1945) Dick PIPE (1963) Bryan RUSSELL (1958) Peter SCATCHARD (1966) David STILES (1956) Rick STUBBING (1958) Ted WATTS (1955) Ron WILD (1955) Copies of the book are available at £6 plus P&P. Email: latymerians@latymerfoundation.org Proceeds go to our Bursaries Appeal.
Congratulations to Charlie in Year 10 who won 4th prize in his age category (13-15 years old) with his stunning performance at the 13th International Junior Music Competition in Japan this summer. Charlie has been playing the violin since he was four years old, passing his Grade 8 violin exam with distinction at the age of 10.
YEAR 9’S ‘BRIGHT IDEA’ MAKES HER A WINNER Sophie, a Year 9 student, has just been announced as a winner in Shell’s national school competition, The Bright Ideas Challenge. Students across the country were tasked with using their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills to come up with creative solutions to the energy challenges that cities will face in 2050. Sophie’s idea involved making hydropower cheaper and safer for aquatic life and mammals.
EXAM RESULTS 2020 Congratulations to the Class of 2020 and Year 11 students who celebrated excellent results over the summer. At A Level, 80% of grades were at A*/A, of which 42% are A*. At GCSE, just under half the year group (79 students) were awarded all Grades 9 or 8 (A*).
LATYMER ECOENTREPRENEUR WINS PLACE AT UK’S FIRST CARBONNEUTRAL ECO-SUMMIT Sixth Former, Lysander, won a coveted place on the panel at the Youth Against Carbon Conference (YAC Con), the UK’s first carbon-neutral ecosummit. Lysander impressed organisers with his eco-entrepreneurship and passion for reducing plastic consumption. He balances his studies with running his own business, Loving Earth’s Oceans – Leo’s Box – an eco-friendly home subscription box service which he launched last year.
LATYMERIAN’S INTERGENERATIONAL INITIATIVE TO TACKLE LONELINESS IN LOCKDOWN
SCHOOL NEWS
YEAR 10 STUDENT STRIKES RIGHT NOTE AT 13TH INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR MUSIC COMPETITION IN JAPAN
Instead of taking her cancelled GCSE exams, Nina, now in Year 12, devised a brilliant initiative to tackle isolation and loneliness during lockdown. Community Senior Letters invites children at primary schools to send letters or drawings to local care home residents while they are isolated from the outside world. To date, Nina has recruited 130+ schools and 110 care homes in 18 different boroughs in and around London, as well as in Edinburgh and Dublin. Nina’s amazing project has earned her a place on The Independent’s Happy List 2020: Heroes in a Crisis.
SCHOOL LIBRARIAN ON THE HONOUR LIST FOR SLA Terri McCargar, our School Librarian, has been included on the School Library Association’s Honour List this year for the outstanding work she does in providing an excellent service to all our students. Terri consistently champions the purpose of the library as a place for reading, studying, and learning. The SLA is planning to carry out visits to schools in the spring of 2021 and we’ll keep our fingers crossed for Terri when the winner is announced next June.
WATCH THIS SPACE! Ghaith AL NAJJAR (2020) joined the school on a full bursary in 2016 after fleeing the war in Syria with his family. When he started in Year 10 he barely spoke a word of English, but went on to achieve six A*s and a B at GCSE. He took Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Arabic A Levels and achieved a clean sweep of A*s. He has taken up a place to read Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
We’re planning an exciting rehang for the Main Hall which will celebrate our inspiring and diverse community of Latymerians. The new photographic displays will be shown on digital screens and changed regularly to suit different occasions - so next time you come to a Latymer reunion you may well see your old class photos in pride of place around the Hall! Portraits of our esteemed former Heads will be rehoused in prominent locations in the School. If you’d like to nominate a fellow Latymerian who has inspired others, for one of our displays, email: latymerians@latymerfoundation.org
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INSPIRING MINDS
Campaign update Inspiring Minds is the most ambitious fundraising campaign for bursaries in Latymer’s history; we want to be able to offer a life-changing education to children regardless of their financial background. Given the unprecedented times we are living through, it seems a good time to reflect on Inspiring Minds during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Latymer Foundation at Hammersmith, a registered charity since 1878, was established in Edward Latymer’s will of 1624 ‘to clothe and educate eight poore boyes’ in Hammersmith. Today we remain true to the vision of our founder by providing bursaries at Latymer Upper School and Latymer Prep for those who qualify for a place, but cannot afford our fees. At the start of this academic year, 237 bursary students took up their place at Latymer, a record number and an increase from the 200 students receiving bursaries in 2019/20. This is testament to the incredible generosity of our school community, who has already helped us to raise over three quarters of our £40 million target, which we aim to reach by the 400th anniversary of the Latymer Foundation in 2024. We hope to maintain the current fundraising momentum to meet our ambitious goal to be able to fund bursaries for one in four of our students by 2024. Over the past months as the global health crisis has taken hold, The Latymer Foundation has not only continued to raise funds for our Inspiring Minds campaign aims, but also focussed on immediate concerns in the local community a Community Response Fund was set up to help provide support targeting local students in digital poverty, and we provided 300 dongles to local schools. This fund also supported the Latymer Hub which, every weekday since lockdown began, has hosted vulnerable children and children of key workers from Latymer and the local community. We also launched an Emergency Bursaries Fund to help provide bursarial support for Latymer families most acutely impacted by the economic repercussions of the pandemic.
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Since the launch of the Inspiring Minds campaign in 2014, Latymer’s endowed bursary funds have increased significantly thanks to the collective generosity of our school community. This has put Latymer on a firmer financial footing than ever before, enabling us to quickly reassure all our bursary holders that their place at our School was secure, despite the uncertainties caused by the pandemic.
The times we are in are like no other in the School’s history, and have highlighted the inspirational philanthropic spirit of the Latymer community. We are so grateful to those who have continued or started to give to our Inspiring Minds campaign during these uncertain times. Thanks to you, Latymer will continue to stay true to Edward Latymer’s original vision for his Foundation, and will inspire future generations of Latymerians through the provision of a life changing education. To find out more and donate, visit www.latymerfoundation.org A Latymer education can have a long-term transformative impact on a young person’s life, as well as the lives of their family. Sabina JARDIM (2014) Sabina studied Art History at the Courtauld, and is now an art teacher. She has just completed a Foundation in Art Therapy, and is incorporating this into her teaching. Sabina is passionate about art’s power to improve mental health, and is planning to study for a Masters in Integrated Arts Psychotherapy. This will include using many art forms, such as dance and puppetry, to help people who may have suffered trauma or have mental health issues. “My bursary meant absolutely everything to me. My parents wanted the best for me, but couldn’t afford it. Latymer was an introduction to so much, and gave me the confidence I needed. Latymer opened doors to everything, and put me on the path I’m on today.”
Go, Team Latymer! In August Latymer Upper School Head, David Goodhew and Professor Sir Jim SMITH (1973), former School Governor and Director of Science at the Wellcome Trust, completed a 100 mile cycle ride in order to raise money for our Bursaries Appeal, which affords a Latymer education to bright students from all walks of life.
David and Jim outside Latymer
The pair decided to take on the challenge as part of the My RideLondon weekend, during which thousands of people cycle to raise money for their chosen charity. David and Jim set off from the King Street entrance of Latymer early in the morning of Sunday 16 August. Their route took them past Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and Runnymede before finishing back at the school gates; by the end they had completed 102 miles in a respectable 6.5 hours! David Goodhew, Head of Latymer Upper School said: “The Covid-19 crisis has widened the disadvantage gap that exists in our country, frustrating the progress made over the past decade. Jim and I know firsthand the difference a good education can make which is why we were so determined to complete this cycle and raise these much needed funds for our Bursaries Appeal. This year we saw so many of our bursary students achieve exceptional results, enabling them to go to some of the world’s most prestigious universities to undertake courses they never dreamed possible. I want to widen these opportunities to more children which is why it was so vital that we achieve our ambition to be able to fund 1 in 4 of our students on a bursary by 2024.” The pair smashed their target and raised an incredible £6,600 towards our Bursaries Appeal!
Jim SMITH (1973) Set your own challenge!
LATYMER CHALLENGE
Over summer, Latymer’s Head and a Latymerian took on a cycling challenge to raise money for our Bursaries Appeal.
David Goodhew, Head
TAKE ON YOUR OWN CHALLENGE! Whether it’s cycling, trekking, or running a marathon, we would love for you to complete a sporting challenge in aid of our Inspiring Minds campaign. Since the campaign began in 2014, eleven members of the Latymer community have undertaken sporting challenges to raise money for bursaries. If you would like to take on a fundraising challenge, please contact us: latymerians@latymerfoundation.org
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A Life Less Ordinary OUTSIDE THE BOX
In true Latymerian style, these alumni have broken the mould to choose a career outside of the ordinary. Read on to find out how Olive FAURE (2014), Sam SMITH (2014), Hannah CHAPPATTE (2015) and Charlie WILD (2006) found their vocation.
Olive FAURE (2014) – Make Waves, Documentary Producer Locked down in London, Olive FAURE (2014) didn’t let the pandemic prevent her from making her debut film. Olive had been commissioned to make a piece tracking 24 hours with families in Bengal, Calcutta and Indonesia to show how these people live at the whim of a rapidly changing and unpredictable ocean. When the whole world suddenly became unpredictable in March 2020, Olive, unable to travel, decided to direct the film from her flat in London instructing talented local crews on the ground and often chasing lockdowns in various locations across Asia. Olive worked tirelessly, communicating with previously unknown cameramen, and editing to a tight deadline via zoom and on the telephone. The resulting film is
ambitious and moving; it has been shown on Channel News Asia as the second film in a series entitled #thelongestday Olive is keen to credit her Latymer education for giving her the confidence to take on this challenge, and we wish her well for a successful film making future! @makewaves_media
Sam SMITH (2014) - POT GANG, Founder We were delighted to hear how Sam SMITH (2014) used the leadership training he acquired as Head Boy at Latymer to start his own business during lockdown. Sam’s day job is in advertising but the pandemic gave him more time and opportunity to develop an idea that had been brewing for some time. Inspired by the entrepreneurs featured in the last edition of Latymerian (Joe GROSSMANN (2004) of Patty and Bun and Ollie GOLD (2008) of Pophams), Sam started POT GANG - a grow your own fruit, veg and herb subscription service. Each month the company drops off three types of seed, along with the pots, compost and instructions for growing them. Sam realised that lockdown gave many people, including his peers, the interest and time to pursue growing their own produce, even if they only had a small garden or balcony. Using social media to expand, Sam now has many subscribers in the London area. He is ambitious
LATYMER ENTREPRENEURS 10
and wants to expand nationally and he has joined our Latymer Entrepreneurs group to tap into expertise of more experienced Latymerian business owners. “Latymer taught me to back myself as a person; it has helped me feel like I can own who I am and that I can achieve things.” @POTGANG
Sam, Charlie and Hannah are all members of Latymer Entrepreneurs, our networking group for entrepreneurs and investors in the Latymer community. If you are an entrepreneur or investor and are interested in joining, email latymerians@latymerfoundation.org to find out more.
Hannah CHAPPATTE (2015) – HYPBR, Founder
furloughed staff who wanted to keep busy and explore a different industry. She used lockdown to improve her business model, making it more robust and sustainable. Hannah advises other young entrepreneurial Latymerians to seek out all the start-up programmes that offer grants, relief funds, support and mentorships, including the Latymerian Entrepreneurs’ LinkedIn group. @hybr.uk
Charlie WILD (2006) - The Travel Project and TTP Studio, Founder Charlie WILD (2006) and his girlfriend, Jess, left their advertising jobs in 2016 and see if they could travel just using the social media platform Instagram as a guide. “We spent the next year meeting locals across the world, allowing their insight and expertise to guide our experiences. The results were incredible as people from all walks of life opened up their world, welcomed us into their homes and shared their corner of the globe with us.” Their adventures have continued and are evident in the online library of beautiful photographs on their website www.the-travelproject.com. Their aim is to “showcase a range of adventures achievable for everyone” so that they “squeeze every last drop out of their spare time.” Because of the coronavirus they realised that they needed to look closer to home for their adventures and to rethink travel to be more sustainable, encouraging young people to “realise what is on their doorstep”. Charlie canoed the whole of the Thames this summer, mostly wild camping, paddling for 8 days and now they have other suggested UK adventures on their website for example in North Wales, Norfolk, Scotland, The Cotswolds and Dartmoor. The inevitable rise of staycations this summer has meant The Travel Project’s popularity has grown. Press interest, book deals, sponsorship deals and guiding opportunities have resulted from a passion for travel. Charlie says they can also use their knowledge and experience to help brands grow their social media content, using quality video and photography. Charlie has recently launched TTP Studio, a content creation offering for lifestyle brands. To help clients keep up with the constant need for regular and relevant content, “we plug them into our travel calendar, giving them access to a wide variety of locations and backdrops”.
OUTSIDE THE BOX
At the University of Bristol, Hannah CHAPPATTE (2015) realised that renting flats with friends can turn into a nightmare; inexperienced renters can be exploited by ruthless agents. Many agents in university cities charge high prices for badly maintained properties, rent deposits are hard to get back and there is little or no customer service. Hannah decided to do something about this outdated industry and started up her own business, HYBR, which allows students direct access to trustworthy landlords. She can also connect students with potential flatmates. Starting with £200 of her own money and a grant from The Prince’s Trust, Hannah soon won the New Enterprise Award in Bristol which provided her with funds to set up her website www.hybr.co.uk. The business is now operating in Bristol, Cardiff and Gloucester. During lockdown Hannah helped students sublet their rooms and employed
Charlie’s Latymer friends have all been very impressed and just a little jealous of his new ventures; he sees them regularly and says ‘lifelong friendships’ is what the School gave him! @the.travel.project
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Memory Lane
“Give that man a coconut!” Alongside academics, Richard loved rowing, and was part of the School squad.
THINKING BACK
Favourite memories from school included Activities Week, in particular the Brecon Camp with Chris Hammond (Chemistry). Richard has some great memories of the Gild on Friday evenings, and how the girls from Godolphin would take part in some performances. He remembers, “others seemed so much more confident and assured… I went with increasing selfconsciousness!”
We caught up with the Right Reverend Richard JACKSON (1979), Bishop of Hereford, who shared his memories of Latymer. Forty years on, Richard looks back and reflects on his “positive experience” of the School, and the “valuable and formative” teaching he received. Joining Latymer as a Direct Grant boy from Uxbridge, Richard has always been grateful for the opportunities Latymer afforded him. Richard feels fortunate to have joined Latymer under the Direct Grant scheme, where grammar schools received around half their income from the State or local council. This enabled grammar schools, like Latymer until 1976, to educate bright students from all walks of life; this is an ethos that Latymer still holds to this day with the Inspiring Minds campaign. The Direct Grant scheme was abolished by the Government when Richard was in 4th Form, which meant his parents had to make a number of sacrifices for him to continue as a fee-paying student. Richard excelled in school, going on to become School Captain. However, when he recently read his school reports Richard realised he was “much less intelligent than I thought I was!” Richard remembers his teachers with fondness; his favourite teachers were Peter Cotmore (his tutor), Graham Bearman (History and Politics), and Fred Mayo (Physics), whose catchphrase was
Being in the Sixth Form was the highlight of Richard’s time at Latymer; he enjoyed the autonomy it gave him and recognises that this put him in good stead for university; Richard was the first in his family to attend. Richard came back to Latymer for his class reunion in 2020, just before lockdown, and he “hadn’t enjoyed a social occasion so much in ages! Everyone was so kind and interested.” He reconnected with friends and made new connections with some people he had not known so well at School.
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF LATYMER We would love to hear your memories of Latymer. What was it like to be a pupil? What was life like in London at this time?
Richard JACKSON (1979)
We are collecting memories of alumni who left Latymer between 1940 - 1980. If you have memories to share, please get in touch latymerians@latymerfoundation.org
CLASS OF 1979 Mike COOPER (1979), CEO of Omnicom Media and member of the UK Latymerian Council found this photo of class 2Y with their form master Mr Peryer, which he shared with us.
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Top row L to R: DRORI, JEFFRYES, WHITE, LYNESS, COOPER, KELLEHER, FREEDMAN, SWIFT, SANKEY, WATTS Middle row L to R: TAYLOR, ROBSON,BROWN, MACDONALD, EPSTEIN, MOORE, PRICE, STILES, RAY, DALTON, WILLIAMS, RASOULY Bottom row L to R: SMITH, SAUNDERS, HOOBERMAN, LANK, MR PERYER, CONFINO, BODDY, MASON, LYELL (all 1979)
Where I am Now
Do you sometimes find yourself wondering where your fellow classmates are now? What they do? Where do they live?
If you would like to share what you are up to, please email your submission to: latymerians@latymerfoundation.org
Graham SEEL (1968)
gifts of time and life experience.
THE FREEDOM OF RETIREMENT Generations of Latymerians have dreaded retirement, or at best looked to retirement as a time to relax, indulge hobbies, write a memoir, travel and spend time with family. But for many of us, retirement is so much more. For me, retirement is a radical career change, and an amazing freedom to serve with all the skills, experiences, and passions that I have accumulated over the course of a forty plus year career, without having to worry about making money. Leadership roles in technology, banking, product and risk management put me in a good position for a brief but lucrative period of consulting. This in turn set me up to be able to serve wherever my particular blend of assets can have the most impact. How is this working out? Let me count the ways… Without the demands of employment or business, I have the time and ability to do so many things. As Executive Director of my church, I can influence how we use church resources to advance its mission. As a substitute teacher, music accompanist, and childcare worker, my love of children and music combine to enrich the lives of many children in my local private school. That combination of music and children comes into play as I lead the Board of another non-profit, Cantare Con Vivo, that uses music to engender compassion, equity, valuing of all, and leadership among 2,300 students in the challenging underserved neighborhoods of Oakland, California. Making a difference – something we all crave – is possible for us all in bringing gifts and passions to real needs, but especially when we also have the
Especially exciting is the opportunity to be involved in the challenges of global poverty. Bringing my banking and technology experience to bear on community finance and the engagement of banks to serve the poorest of people has always been a desire. Now, working as a volunteer consultant for development NGO World Renew, and as a pro bono consultant through Bankers without Borders, gives me extraordinary opportunities to contribute in ways that have been impossible before. For example, I am currently leading a small team creating a business case for a panAfrican digital bank that will serve 100 million currently unbanked individuals and micro-businesses, enabling progress in many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Finding a profitable commercial model in which the unbanked receive affordable, accessible and meaningful financial services has until now been something of a holy grail – I can be a part of making it a reality on a large scale.
CATCHING UP
Over lockdown, we heard from Graham SEEL (1968), who shared what he is up to now, decades on from leaving Latymer, and enjoying the freedom of retirement.
Yes I do spend time enjoying my grandchildren, traveling, writing (working on my first book, and an ongoing antiracism blog). But most of my time I am privileged and honored to be able to contribute in small and not-so-small ways to quality of life and equity in our society and world. Not too shabby for a white-haired 70-year old! Retirement is awesome!
Dr Niranjan CASINADER (1974) “After 8 years as an Academic as Monash University, Melbourne, which followed 31 years as an Educator, Leader and Author in school and international education, I ‘retired’ in November 2020. In my retirement I plan to provide educational consultancy services on matters relating to my research and experience, and will continue my research writing. I remain attached to the Faculty of Education at Monash as Adjunct Senior Lecturer, but am looking forward to more time on the golf course and music making!”
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EVENTS ROUNDUP
Over lockdown we launched an Inspiring Minds – Virtually Speaking series of online talks and performances. You can find recordings of each online event in our Virtually Speaking video library: www.latymerfoundation.org WHAT MODERN ART WAS ALL ABOUT In July, Latymer legend Robert Orme (former Teacher of History and History of Art) started a series of online lectures on Modern Art.
GREAT PLANTS FOR SMALL GARDENS On July 29th Gay Search (Latymerian parent and TV presenter) spoke about a range of plants that really earn their keep and are easy to grow.
HOW PARLIAMENTARY TRADITION CAUSED BREXIT CHAOS On 31st July, Paul Goldsmith (Teacher of Politics and Economics) discussed why the referendum happened, what followed, and the current Brexit situation.
CHURCHILL AND THE WAR ROOMS On 5th August, Taylor DOWNING (1971, Historian and Television Producer) spoke on Churchill and the fascinating story of the Cabinet War Rooms.
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EPIPHANIES IN LITERATURE, FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT TO PHILLIP LARKIN On 14th August, Luke Maxted (Teacher of English) spoke about the history and transformation of ‘the epiphany’ in literature.
SPIES ACROSS THE ROAD On 19th August, Gay Search (Latymerian parent and TV presenter) shared the fascinating story of her family’s involvement with the notorious Portland spy case of 1960, the MI5 and the Soviet spy ring.
IS ‘HISTORICAL TRUTH’ A FANTASY? On 20th August, Jonny White (Head of History) discussed the slippery issue of what we mean by ‘objective historical truth’.
AN EVENING OF LANGUAGE AND COOKERY On 25th August, Rachel Collier (Head of Sixth Form) gave a masterclass on her two great passions: language and cookery.
ARE LIBERALS REALLY ONLY CHRISTIANS IN DENIAL? On 27th August, Jonny White (Head of History) offered a brief historical overview of liberalism’s debt to Christianity.
ALL THAT JAZZ: THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK
A HISTORY OF LATYMER IN TEN PEOPLE
On 12th August, Mark Wallace (Head of Economics and pianist) performed music by Gershwin, Porter and Duke Ellington sung by jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.
On 8th September, David Goodhew (Head) shared his ten key people who helped to shape Latymer’s history - from Edward Latymer’s bequest in 1624 to the current day as a leading coed school with 1,400 pupils.
THATCHER THE MILK SNATCHER OR SAVIOUR OF OUR NATION? On 9th September, Mark Wallace (Head of Economics) shared the complexities to consider when looking back on Margaret Thatcher’s time as Prime Minister.
On 16th September, Dr Michal Nachmany (Latymer parent and Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute) discussed how global health and climate crises are similar (and maybe even related), and explored how common frameworks and mindsets may see us through both challenges, and leave our societies healthier and more resilient.
MAGICAL ART: ART AND TRADITIONAL MAGIC On 17th September, Robert Orme (former Teacher of History and History of Art) started his new series of virtual talks on Magical Art.
FRANCE AND THE FRENCH: MY PERSONAL JOURNEY n 23rd September, O Peter Winter (former Head and Teacher of French) identified the key influences that shaped his love of France.
I’M NOT WHO I THINK I AM On 30th September, Jason Isaacs (Latymer parent and acclaimed actor) shared stories from his life and career.
On 15th October, Dr Xavier Bray (Wallace Collection Director) shared how the Wallace, one of the most enviable private collections in the 19th century, remains relevant today.
SEARCHING FOR SALVATION: THE HUNT FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE TARGET AND IMPLICATIONS On 12th November, Professor Mark POZNANSKY (1979, medical innovator), described the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine development as well as how the work at the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School is contributing to combating the Coronavirus.
LIFTING THE CURTAIN ON THE PROCESS BEHIND THE MUSIC
EVENTS ROUNDUP
GLOBAL HEALTH AND CLIMATE CRISES
THE WALLACE COLLECTION: ‘A NOBLE GIFT TO THE NATION’ PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
On 17th November, Ben KOHN and Pete KELLEHER (2001) talked through the process of writing and producing hit records, pulling back the curtain on the process behind the music.
WHEN TIME STOPPED n 8th October, Ariana O Neumann (Latymer parent and author) shared the secrets of her father’s past: spying for the allies in plain sight in war-torn Berlin, the Holocaust, and the courageous choice to build anew.
LESSONS FROM ROWING FOR THE REAL WORLD On 13th October, Richard PHELPS (1983, Olympic oarsman) reflected on some of the lessons he learnt during that journey that are applicable to the ‘real’ world of leadership, whether you’re a club captain or a CEO.
1624 LEGACY SOCIETY On 4th November, members of the 1624 Legacy Society joined David Goodhew, Head, and James GRAHAM (1976), new President of the Society, for a virtual ‘afternoon tea’. Named after Edward Latymer’s visionary bequest of 1624 which created the Latymer Foundation, the 185 members of the 1624 Legacy Society are Latymerians, Latymer staff and parents who have informed the School of their legacy intentions. Their pledges are recognised and they and their partners are invited to our annual afternoon tea (be it virtual or in-person!) every year. Since the Inspiring Minds campaign began in 2014, £2.2m has been received in bequests from the 1624 Legacy Society, helping Latymer provide bursaries for bright students from all walks of life. Please contact Ruby Danowski, rdd@latymerfoundation.org, if you are interested in becoming a member of the Society and would like an invitation to the next event.
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A TUTORIAL IN FRENCH LITERATURE WITH PETER WINTER: MADAME BOVARY BY FLAUBERT
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Tuesday 19 January 2021 from 7-8pm (Online via Zoom) Join former Head, Peter Winter, for the second in a series of three interactive evening discussions on French Literature. This evening, Peter will be exploring and leading a discussion on Gustave Flaubert’s novel, Madame Bovary.
ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE? BY JOSHUA ROZENBERG (1967)
Tuesday 26 January, 2021 from 7-8pm (Online via Zoom) Join Britain’s best known legal commentator, Joshua ROZENBURG (1967), as he discusses his latest book, Enemies of the People? How Judges Shape Society. Senior judges were shocked to see themselves condemned after a court ruling on Brexit. Joshua Rozenberg explains how judges make laws and whether they can maintain public confidence whilst making hard choices.
Thursday 25 February 2021 from 7-8pm (Online via Zoom) In this tutorial, former Head Peter Winter, will give a brief account of Molière’s life and works before considering and opening discussions on Le Misanthrope, by Molière.
ASK AN EXPERT! In December we launched Ask an Expert, our new online career series. Aimed at Latymerians looking to excel in their chosen career path, each Ask an Expert event features a panel discussion and Q&A with alumni who are already successful in their industry. Ask an Expert: Entrepreneurs Thursday 4 February, 7-8pm (via Zoom) Ask an Expert: Management Consultants – Wednesday 10 March, 7-8pm (via Zoom) Ask an Expert: Digital Giants – Tuesday 23 March, 7-8pm (via Zoom)
VIRTUALLY SPEAKING
Tuesday 2 Feb, 2021,7-8pm The Post-Pandemic World After the shocking and extraordinary experience of the past year, what will governments and other public bodies need to think about in order to deal with the aftermath, as well as to avoid any repeats in the future? The high-level, global, interdisciplinary brains-trust that Bill Emmott (1974) has co-founded - the ‘Global Commission for Post-Pandemic Policy’ - is dedicated to thinking through and making recommendations about the many aspects of this task. Bill will be joined by his former FT colleague and current Head of Bloomberg Economics, Latymer parent Stephanie Flanders to discuss such questions as; how can we prevent a future pandemic or even bio-terror threat? How can we deal with the huge public debts and economic disruptions that are the pandemic’s legacy? How can we face up to the shocking level of mistrust of science and the very nature of truth that we have seen in politics and society? What shifts might we expect as a result of this upheaval in global politics and what hope can there be for better global collaboration? Stephanie will talk to Bill about how his, and the Global Commission’s, thinking is developing on these very tough but crucial problems.
AN INTERVIEW WITH BRITISH ARTIST, JONATHAN YEO BY PETER ASPDEN (1976), FORMER ARTS EDITOR, FINANCIAL TIMES Tuesday 9 February, 2021 from 7-8pm (Online via Zoom) Further details coming soon – please check our website: www.latymerfoundation.org
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A TUTORIAL IN FRENCH LITERATURE WITH PETER WINTER: LE MISANTHROPE BY MOLIÈRE
Ask an Expert: Charitable Sector – Thursday 6 May, 7-9pm (Latymer Upper School) Ask an Expert: Medicine – Wednesday 9 June 7-9pm (Latymer Upper School)
Alongside our virtual events, we hope to be able to run in-person events from May depending on Government guidelines. 1624 SOCIETY ANNUAL RECEPTION
Thursday 20 May 2021 from 4pm (By Invitation Only) Latymer Upper School This annual event will be hosted by the President of the 1624 Society, for those who have included a legacy to the Latymer Foundation in their will.
2015 & 2019 REUNION
Tuesday 22 June 2021 – SAVE THE ‘NEW’ DATE Latymer Upper School Enjoy a drink or two as we welcome back Latymerians from Classes of 2015 & 2019. More detail to follow closer to the date.
HENLEY 2021
29 June – 4 July 2021 (Extended to 6 days in 2021) As with previous years, we hope to host an afternoon tea in the Stewards’ Enclosure at the Henley Royal Regatta and an informal evening barbecue run by our Boat Club again this year. Please keep an eye on our website where details will be confirmed closer to the date.
Obituaries n RAYMOND G DIX (1953)
n Alan PHILLIPS (1955)
n Andrew Douglas, former Head of English
We are grateful to Tracy Phillips for offering the following tribute.
We were deeply saddened to hear that Andrew Douglas, former Head of English, passed away in November. A tribute to Andrew will appear in the next edition of Latymerian.
Alan Phillips was born in October 1936 and sadly passed away on July 16, 2020 at his vacation home in Florida.
n Alfred Kenneth EDWARDS CBE (1942) n Dr John MARTIN (1953) John Martin, who passed away aged 85, was one of the first doctors in the UK to specialise in the treatment of children with cancer. n Raman Jayan MENON (1950) Raman Menon, long-time resident of North Beach, passed away on August 10, 2020 ending his long battle with cancer. Raman’s father came to London from Southern India and his mother was English. Initially coming to London for studies, his father worked on India/United Kingdom affairs until his death. Raman attended Latymer followed by two years in Egypt with the British military. He graduated from the University of London in Mechanical Engineering, the occupation in which he was engaged throughout his professional life. Raman and Maureen married in London in 1961. After living in Spain and Germany while on work assignments, they moved to San Francisco in 1972 and settled in the North Beach Community. Raman continued with his Profession as an Engineer, for a number of years with Kaiser Engineering, while at the same time volunteering for many organisations. He particularly enjoyed working to improve the landscape and gardens of City Parks. Raman was a long distance runner for his entire life, setting school records at Latymer and then participating for many years in their annual alumni run held in London. At age 50 he came in among the top 10% of finishers in the London Marathon and placed first or as a top contender for his age bracket in all of the large number of Bay Area marathons and long-distance races in which he participated over many years. He ran long distance recreationally into his 80s. In 1977 he became a charter member of the Bay Club where he excelled in swimming and squash. Raman will be greatly missed by Maureen, his sisters, his godson Ronnie in Madrid, and his many friends in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain. n Chris PACKMAN (1968) n Roger PACKMAN (1970)
Alan is survived by his wife Tracy, his three children, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Alan was born in Charing Cross hospital and attended Latymer for a number of years. He always spoke fondly of the education he received at Latymer and the people he met there, often sharing his exploits of playing football with his mates on the bomb site across from where he lived on Old Oak Road. He attended Oxford University on leaving school.
OBITUARIES
We mark the following Latymerians who have sadly passed away recently.
Alan spent many years involved in the swimming world and was a past President of the East Midlands Swimming Association. His great passions in life were swimming, family and in recent years table tennis. He swam in two of the Senior Olympics – one in Louisville, Kentucky and the other in Holland. Alan will be sorely missed. n John Poole, former Assistant Music Master, 1957 - 1964 We are grateful to Steve RICHARDS (1966), Keith BENNETT (1960) and David RICHARDSON (1959) for offering the following tribute. John Poole, who was Assistant Music Master at Latymer from 1957-1964, when Clifford Harman was Head of Music, died at the age of 86, on 18 May 2020, in hospital near his home in Bellac in central France. He is survived by his loving wife, Laura and three sons. John was an inspirational teacher with a talent for passing on the joy of music to his students, some of whom became professional musicians. He was also the organist of the University of London Church, St George’s Bloomsbury, where Latymer boys often joined the student choir for services and for concerts by the Bloomsbury Singers and Players. Leaving Latymer in 1964 to be Musical Director at University College London, he was spotted by the BBC and in 1968 was appointed conductor of the BBC Symphony Chorus. In 1972 he became Director of the BBC Singers, the Corporation’s elite professional choir, where he remained until 1989. He first performed at a Promenade Concert in 1973 and an international career followed as a conductor and champion of new music. Moving to France, he directed the Groupe Vocal de France from 1990-1995. From 20012009 he taught conducting at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, USA, where he was responsible for a series of American and world choral first performances. A man with a remarkable gift for friendship, John inspired such loyalty and affection that more than 50 years later, from 2010, former students and Latymerians joined him in alternate years for a singing holiday in France, with daily rehearsals culminating in a concert in Bellac.
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Alan PRATLEY (1951)
OBITUARIES
Fiona, and his grandchildren Quentin, Seraphine, Paloma and Sophia. His eldest daughter Christiana died in June 2014. He was a loving stepfather to Marcel and Nathalie, and a grandfather to Camilo, Enzo and Nuria. He always spoke with great pleasure of his time at Latymer and later at Cambridge and on the day of Marcel’s graduation he was happy to punt very competently down the river in a suit and a tie. n Tom PIRIE (2012) We were deeply saddened to hear of Tom’s death in July. Tom spent ten happy years at Latymer, starting in the Prep at the age of eight. In his final year he captained the First XI football team. It is a testament to how fondly Tom is remembered that his friends wish to hold a football event in the future to honour his memory. Please contact the Latymer Foundation Office if you would like to attend. n Martin Willson, former Teacher of French and German, 1968 - 1998 We are grateful to Richard SHIRLEY (1982) for offering the following tribute Martin Willson, who will be remembered by many for teaching French and German at Latymer from 1968 to 1998, has died aged 75.
n Alan PRATLEY (1951) We are grateful to Marie- Héléne Pratley for offering the following tribute. Alan Pratley was born on 25 November 1933 in London to Frederick and Hannah Pratley. His mother was a homemaker, his father was a milkman. Like many of his generation he benefited from the education reform after the Second World War and attended Latymer Upper School in London, where he studied both German and Russian. During his national service he was trained as a Russian interpreter. Alan went to Cambridge University from October 1955 to May 1958, where he studied at Sydney Sussex College and got a BA Honours Degree in German and Russian. After a brief period when he taught German in a London school he joined the UK Civil Service in September 1960. He worked at the Home Office as a Principal Administrator from 1960 to 1970 and as Head of Division from 1970 to 1973. When Britain joined the European Union in 1973 he went to work for the European Commission in Brussels, thus fulfilling his interest in politics and in Europe. Over a period of many years he occupied central posts, including deputy headship of a UK Commissioner’s cabinet, adviser to an Irish Commissioner and director of general administration. Finally, he was appointed Director General Finance Controller of the Commission of European Communities. After he retired in 1998 he worked for several years as a consultant to advise and provide technical assistance mostly to candidate countries to the European Union. He loved playing tennis, travelling, spending summers by the sea in Tuscany and entertaining friends. Mostly he loved opera and concerts, which he continued to enjoy to the end, in spite of a progressive temporal neurological disorder. He died of cardiac arrest at home in Brussels on 5 December 2018.
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Alan is survived by his third wife, Marie-Hélène, his sisters Pam and Lois, two of his daughters, Alexa and
Martin was educated at Slough Grammar School and Kings College London, where his degree included a year teaching English in the Champagne region. There he became bilingual to the extent that he could be mistaken by locals for a Frenchman. After graduation in 1967, he returned to Kings College for his teacher training, and was posted to Latymer. He must have impressed, as he was back in 1968 with a permanent job. Nigel Watson’s 1995 history of the school mentions Martin as one of a core of ten staff appointed in the 1960s and still there in the 1990s, who served the school for the best part of their teaching careers, and so helped maintain the continuity of its character. Mr Rees, writing of Martin’s retirement in the 1998 Latymerian, said ‘his greatest successes were with some of the more difficult pupils who, perhaps, did not enjoy studying languages’. That article also mentioned Martin’s participation in a huge number of school trips, in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Greece. I knew him through the after school Transport Society, to which he invited visiting speakers from organisations such as London Transport. This was of great interest to me and others who later pursued careers in that field. One evening we asked for a film to be stopped while we examined a particular image, and were aghast to see the picture melt away in the heat from the bright bulb, as our visitor fumbled at the projector controls. To us, as 4th formers, this was far more entertaining than the content of the presentation! Martin also organised days out to places of transport interest we couldn’t have reached on our own at that age, such as the boat train from London which amazingly continued through the streets of Weymouth to the quay for the Channel Islands ferry. Such idiosyncrasies were on their last legs by the 1970s, and we would have missed them had we waited for our own independence. Martin would keep the cost down by searching out two for one offers, or famously collecting Persil vouchers. At a time when you couldn’t look up everything on a device in your pocket, you had to get to know someone who knew: Martin was our 1970s version
of the railway split-ticketing app, and the source of much other information we eagerly sought.
I kept in touch with Martin through my interest in historic vehicles. If he saw my 1950s bus at an event he would come over and take a keen interest in how I was getting on. Not long ago he rode on the annual charity bus service to the lost village of Imber on Salisbury Plain, which I helped Sir Peter HENDY (1972) to organise. Martin had a strong Christian faith, and while helping look after his local churchyard in his retirement he would talk with a homeless woman, who he eventually offered the shelter of his spare room. When he knew he didn’t have long to live he changed his will to leave her his home. This perhaps tells us more about the character of the man than anything else: un-swayed by the opinions of others, with great energy and determination he pursued what he was clearly driven to do, and what he believed in. n Byron WYNN-DAVIES (1954) We are grateful to David Wynn-Davies, Bryon’s son, for offering the following tribute. My father was born in 1936. A proud Welshman he spent his formative years, during WWII, in Wales. Another proud Welshman, Nye Bevan, thought up the NHS and by 1948 the National Health Service was established. Byron always wanted to be a doctor - the Welsh link with the great Nye Bevan was likely part of the reason for his thinking! The belief in the NHS began at an early age; it was an ideology he passionately believed in and was to be his focus all his life. Two years spent in the USA as a young doctor made Byron believe that the NHS was the best way forward for a society that valued the health of all its citizens, not just those who could afford it. Byron was interested in the ethos of the NHS, and A&E in particular. Byron had humour - when I was out with him one day in Worthing, a man came up to him and said “Doc, you operated on my leg!”. Not missing a beat Byron said, “My dear chap, I am so terribly sorry!”. The man walked off laughing, “You did great, I can walk again now!”
Dementia took a lot of Bryon away from us, but he was still a doctor until the end and he loved the NHS to his dying day. He would have been so proud of the reverence shown to the NHS staff by the UK today, how the NHS staff have become heroes. Byron was one of those heroes. n Phillip YOUNG (1962) We are grateful to Mathhew Young, Phillip’s son, for offering the following tribute. Phillip was born in Southall in early 1944. He spent his early childhood in Cranford and was educated at Latymer between 1955 and 1962, where he proved to have a talent for rowing. He then moved onto Sheffield University, leaving with a degree in Chemistry, and undertook a year’s teacher training before joining Bedford School in 1966 as a Chemistry Master and Tutor to one of the boarding houses – Kirkman’s. This was where he met Margaret, the Matron. They subsequently married in 1969 and then had a son, Matthew in 1971. Margaret went on to teach piano in the school and Matthew was a pupil between 1978 and 1983.
OBITUARIES
The conversations while we were out and about were never dull. Knowing of his interest in language, we would use unusual or archaic words in as ordinary a way as possible, to see if he would notice, which he always did, adding some explanation of their origin. Martin was a linguist through and through, not just French and German, but English, Latin and Greek. Next we’d be onto the intricacies of the railway signalling system, timetables, the implements of a church sanctuary, electrical circuitry, or whether I could cycle fast enough down a hill to blow the bulb in my dynamo-powered headlight: these were the important concerns of some 1970s schoolboys. That we remember him 40 years on for these extra-curricular activities shows our gratitude, and helps demonstrate how much more there is to school than the lessons.
The NHS was Byron’s life, his passion. During the pandemic, the country has shown their total appreciation in the NHS heroes. The NHS has never been more needed in its 70 years of existence.
On retirement, Phillip and Margaret left Bedford for Whitstable in Kent. Phillip had a long association with Whitstable from being a child, he would spend his summers thereas he had family in the town. His mother moved from London to Whitstable after his father’s death and lived there until the end of her life. A part of each summer would be spent with his family and his mother where they would enjoy the beach and seaside. In Whitstable, Phillip took up his hobby of astronomy, creating an observatory out of a shed in the garden. He was an active and respected member of SEKAS (South East Kent Astronomical Society). He continued his night vigils in the observatory until it became too difficult or the temperature got too low! He was a member of the local calligraphy club and was well respected not only for his skill but for his kindness and encouragement to others. He carried on these activities while fighting his illness. In 2015, he was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer and went through three major operations and many chemotherapy sessions and was, for a while, cancer free. Sadly it returned and he stopped treatment at the end of February 2020 when it was clear that his condition was terminal. His health continued to decline with increased rapidity until his admission to the Pilgrim’s Hospice in Canterbury in the second half of June. He died on the morning of the 7th of July. Throughout his illness he maintained his dignity and humour right up to the end and bore what is a terrible disease bravely and without complaint. He is greatly missed not only by his immediate and extended family, but also by those who at some point had had the pleasure of his company, wit and wisdom.
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Enjoy a selection of recordings from our Virtually Speaking series of online events, now available on our website www.latymerfoundation.org
France and the French: My Personal Journey by Peter Winter
Lessons from Rowing for the Real World by Richard PHELPS (1983)
Churchill and the War Rooms with Taylor DOWNING (1971)
Spies Across the Road by Gay Search
Connect with Latymer online
Latymer Connects: www.latymerconnects.com Website: www.latymerfoundation.org Twitter: @edward_latymer @latymer1624 Facebook: @latymeriansnetwork Instagram: @latymerupperalumni @latymerfoundation1624 #InspiringMinds
Latymerian is printed on wellmanaged FSC paper using vegetable based inks. Printing plates are aluminium and are recycled, as are any surplus/ old inks, while printing blankets are shredded and used for rubberised play areas and footpaths.