The Old Oundelian 2022-23

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT

Lance Ashworth (G 82) interviews Lord Richards of Camberwell JSC (StA 69)

Jonny Huntington (G 04) looks forward to his expedition to the South Pole

Jonathan Lee remembers the School’s 1975 Ecuador expedition

OFFICERS

The Old Oundelian Club PRESIDENT: Guy Beresford (B 81)

SECRETARY AND TREASURER: Nicky Yianni

ADDRESS: The Stables, Cobthorne, West Street, Oundle PE8 4EF. TEL: 01832 277 297 EMAIL: oosecretary@oundleschool.org.uk VICE PRESIDENTS Chris Piper (Sc 71) Lance Ashworth (G 82) LIFE VICE PRESIDENTS Nick Cheatle (G 63) John Crabbe (G 55) Shane Dodd (Sn 74) Robert Ellis (D 65) Sir Michael Pickard (C 51) Chris Piper (Sc 71) Chris Walliker (D 54) Harry Williamson (StA 55) FINANCE COMMITTEE Alastair Irvine (Sc 81), Chairman Richard Ellis (Sn 86) Harry Williamson (StA 55) David Meredith (Lx 78) HONORARY LEGAL ADVISER Vacant (Temp cover Lance Ashworth) REPORTING ACCOUNTANT David Meredith (Lx 78) OLD OUNDELIAN MAGAZINE EDITOR Megan Smedley (Hon OO) OO CLUB COMMITTEE Kate Harrison (Sn 13) Richard Owen (Sc 70) Mary Price (K 94) Nina Rieck (K 95) HONORARY OOs 2023 Ralph Alford Richard Andrews John Arkell Michael Aubrey Peter Barker Pat Barr Ian Bishop Michael Bloxham Bob Briggs Jenny Briggs Norman Brittain Jonathan Bromley Ian Browne Charlie Bush Mary Bush Douglas Butler Alan Butterworth Paul Clark Julia Clay

Terry Cobner Kevin Cobb Roy Collard Martin Collier Philip Couzens Tony Cowley Brian Cunningham Denise Davidson Matthew Dear Ron Dowd Michael Downes Sue Dow David Edsall Jane Fenton John Flory Andrew Forbes Stephen Forge Kathryn Francis Viv Gascoine

SPORTS SECRETARIES Hon Sec OO Badminton Masao Matsuura (St A 22) Email: oobadminton@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Clay Pigeon Shooting Henry Johnstone (C 07) Email: oocpshooting@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Cross-Country Jon Potts (C 98) Email: ooxcountry@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec Oundle Rovers CC Tim Elliott (StA 77) Email: elliotttim8@gmail.com Hon Sec OO Fives Alex Smith (N 91) Email: oofives@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Football Freddie Ashworth (G 15) and Chris Titcomb (StA 15) Email: oofootball@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Golf James Aston (StA 92) Email: oogolf@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Women’s Hockey Kate Harrison (Sn 13) Email: oowmshockey@ooclub.co.uk

Hon Sec OO Netball Bella Ellis (Sn 14) Email: oonetball@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Rifle Shooting Charles Shelley (S 18) Email: oorifle@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Rowing Vacant Email: oorowing@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Rugby Vacant Email: oorugby@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Sailing Kate Cooke-Priest (W 93) Email: oosailing@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Squash Maria Yukhnovich (K 13) Email: oosquash@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Tennis Lance Ashworth (G 82) Email: ootennis@ooclub.co.uk Hon Sec OO Waterpolo Angelo Giacco (L 20) Email: oowaterpolo@ooclub.co.uk

Hon Sec OO Men’s Hockey Stuart Morgan (Lx 91) Email: oohockey@ooclub.co.uk

Carolyn Gent John Gillings Michael Goatly Nicola Guise Ann Guy Robin Hammond Phil Hanley Roger Hanlon John Hewitson Sheila Hipple Margaret Holmström Walter Holmström Alec Hone Tony Howorth Clive Humphreys John Hunt Richard Kauffman Gerald Keeling

Simon King Janet Levet Peter Lewins James MacDonald Michael Maconochie Andrew Martens Ronnie Mather Bruce McDowell Anne Mills David Milsted Nicola Mola Kim Morrison Tim Morrison Robin Newman Vic Northwood John O’Kelly Dick Oldfield Nick Owens Alison Page

Colin Pendrill Chris Pettitt Gary Phillips Ian Potts Alan Rayden Dougie Robb Elizabeth Rooms Lindsay Rooms Robin Rowe Mavis Rowlett David Sharp Megan Smedley Cris Symes Max Taylor Keith Thomson Malcolm Thyne Carl Towler Cathy Townsend Ralph Townsend

Julian Tregoning Nick Turnbull Mark Turner Robin Veit Nancy Villette John Wake David Warnes Timothy Watson Helen Wells Mark Wells Noah Wood Kathryn Worth Ian Worthington Sue Worthington

CONTENTS

COLUMNS

The Old Oundelian

2

The Secretary

3

The President

4

The Editor

50

The Head

52

Director of Development

53

The Archive

NEWS 30

OO Network

31

The School Year

33

Laxton Junior School

34

Staff Valetes

37

Sport

55

Corresponding Members

56

News from Home

91

News from Abroad

100 Marriages 100 Births 115 Giving

CREDITS

Editor Megan Smedley (Hon OO)

Email:megansmedley2@aol.com oomagazine@ooclub.co.uk

Editorial Committee

Guy Beresford (B 81) - President Lucy McLaren (Sn 06)

Richard Matthews (D 66) Mark Moore (Sc 68)

Chris Piper (Sc 71) - Past President Harry Williamson (StA 55)

Nicky Yianni - OO Secretary

School Representatives

Elspeth Langsdale - Archivist Hannah Morgan - Marketing

Advertising Enquiries Tel: 01832 277297

Email: oosecretary@ooschool.org.uk

Cover Image

Ivan Quetglas - School Photographer

Designed, Printed and Bound in the UK The Lavenham Press lavenhampress.com

116 Reunions 120 Obituaries 138 Books 143 Opinion

FEATURES

SOCIAL MEDIA

5

Lord Richards of Camberwell JSC

Facebook and Twitter are both @OldOundelian

8

'Fortunate' - Jonny Huntington (G 04)

11

Class of 2013

101 Twenty Years On

facebook.com/oldoundelian twitter.com/OldOundelian

113 Reconnections

linkedin.com/school/oundle-school

114 Medical Research: Epidemiology

oonetwork.org.uk

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

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COLUMN

The Secretary ■ Nicky Yianni

T

he Old Oundelian Club is stronger than ever: it’s great that more and more OOs are getting involved. Working in conjunction with the Oundle Society, we have added several new events to the annual calendar. We are holding ten-, twenty- and thirty-year reunion dinners in London and Oundle. We also organise one-off dinners, like the OO Law Dinner, which brought together OOs within the field for a dinner at Lincoln’s Inn, London. This event was organised for members of the OO legal community to mark the achievements of Lord Kitchin and Lord Richards of Camberwell.

In October 2022, David Richards (StA 69) was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, where he joined David  Pen and Ink, aerial view drawing of Cambridge by Nicky Yianni.

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Kitchin (Sc 72) who had been appointed four years earlier. It is a remarkable achievement for anyone to be appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court, but for two Old Oundelians to be in office at the same time, making up one sixth of the membership of the Supreme Court bench, is quite extraordinary.

Our regular events like the Over 60s lunch and Sports lunch are as popular as usual. The OO Careers event, which was held for the second time this March, was also popular. The OO Club has a fantastic network of people working across a huge variety of areas, which benefited students as they were able to get advice about their career aspirations at a crucial time. Further opportunities to make connections can be had at the OO Club’s Drinks and Links events (you can find details about this on the OO Club website). The OO Careers event also coincided with the annual OO Multisports weekend in Oundle.

The Club also added the OO Art Exhibition to its roster. The Yarrow Gallery was proud to welcome back talented former pupils to exhibit a stunning selection of artwork, from sculptures to sketches and paintings. Yours truly even squeezed a few fine line drawings into the show. Some personal favourites of

mine were Emma Jean Kemp (W 03), whose sculptures of acrobatic work are truly amazing. I’d like to somehow convince colleagues at the Sports Centre to buy them all and scatter them around the building.

Maddy Gyselynck’s (K 11) painting of “Andrew” captivated visitors as soon as they walked into the gallery (I’m still saving up for it, or hopefully Father Christmas can help).

There were so many other talented artists in several different fields, and the exhibition proved to be a big success with the school and the local community. Several of the artists held workshops or gave talks to the current pupils, inspiring/educating the next generation. A feature article on the exhibition can be found later in the magazine.

Our aim has always been to keep in contact with you and to also help maintain your contact with each other, both for social and business reasons.

The OO Network is becoming more popular. Here, ex-pupils can add a profile (like LinkedIn but for OOs only) to assist them with building their career, seeking guidance or mentoring. We hope that this year’s leavers will take advantage of the network and the services the Club provides, all details of which can be found on the Oundle School website.

The Club is constantly evolving and trying to add new faces to its committees. So, if you feel like contributing to how the Club is run and would like to become involved, even for a small moment in time, please do get in contact. We’re always on the look out for correspondents for regions, sports and maybe even a new arts section, as well as Trustees for our charity work with the benevolent fund. You can keep track of vacant roles via the OO Club website, or feel free to contact me directly. ■

COLUMN

The President ■ Guy Beresford (B 81)

I

t has been a great privilege to be President of the OO Club for 2023. The year has flown past in a whirl of events, particularly careers networking, sporting and social three great passions of mine. The first of these has embraced a networking event for Lower Sixth pupils with 25 OOs in attendance to talk about the career choices they made and three “Drinks and Links” sector-focused gatherings: for financial services (our largest yet, with over 50 attendees), recruitment and insurance (the last of these kindly hosted by Jonathan Andrews (Sc 84) and Rupert Harris (Ldr 86) at the offices of Steamship Mutual where they are respectively CEO and Director. A major STEM event will take place at the school on 11 November, with OOs who have followed scientific careers talking to Oundle Sixth formers, as well as pupils from schools in the Oundle Imperial College Science Hub. As for the second, my ‘nearly’ sports career was neatly framed 35 years on in March at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, when I caddied for Richard Pentecost (StA 05) in the match against Forest (OOs victorious), adding this ‘bench’ experience to my fleeting appearance

on the field as 12th man in the winning Rovers Cricketer Cup team in 1988. The sporting year began with the opening in January of the fantastic new golf simulators in The Acre. Funded by OO Golfing Society members and supported by a generous grant from the OO Club, the simulators are already proving a huge hit with pupils, staff and local golfers.

This was a splendid example of one of the most active bodies of the OO Club - OOGS - co-operating with the School to bring an excellent project to fruition.

We were soundly defeated by strong school teams in the annual March Multisports weekend, put together as ever by the tireless efforts of Arthur Marment (D 77).

Our thanks and congratulations to Nick Beasant for encouraging his colleagues to field such strong teams.

A welcome addition was table tennis, hosted in Cobthorne basement by Anthony Kerr-Dineen, where Phil Streather (G 79) and next year’s President, Lance Ashworth, KC (G 82) came a fairly distant second to a strong school pair - but much fun was had by all. Poetry and an artist-in-residence added a touch of culture to a lively evening in The Ship, where we were pleased to host our friends from Oundle Town Rugby Club. There were some good OO wins, notably in men’s soccer and mixed squash, but overall we were well beaten and will need to redouble our efforts next year. Later in March, at the Halford Hewitt golf, despite my caddying, OOGS defeated strong Forest and Haileybury teams (report p44).

The annual Sports lunch at Queen’s Club was held in April, with the 90 OOs present richly entertained

by Jonny Huntington (G 04) who spoke inspirationally about his

challenges as a disabled athlete and his extraordinary plans to travel solo to the South Pole. (see page 8) In June, OOGS swept all before them at West Hill Golf Club, winning the Over 55s and Over 75s Mellin competitions and as runners up in the Over 65s - a magnificent achievement, fully documented on page 47. The Oundle Rovers cricket team, superbly led by Guy Smith (StA 07), reached the semifinal of the Cricketers Cup, losing to eventual winners Old Malvernians. (see page 42) On the social front, I was delighted - at the youthful age of 59 ½ - to attend the Over 60s lunch at the RAF Club. Gatherings are planned later in the year for the classes of 1993 (23 September) and 2003 (25 November). These will be followed by the annual London Dinner at our ‘home’ club - Grocers’ Hall, on 24 November. If you have not already signed up, please do: it should be a tremendous evening, in a wonderful venue. I enjoyed spending time at the annual Mencap holiday in August, and after the London Dinner, my final official engagement will be the Sussex Dinner, though I also hope to attend a Christmas event in Newcastle in December. Careers networking events will continue, with plans for evenings focused on Media, Entrepreneurship and Talent Management.

We are doing our best to be an active club, as I hope this column has shown, providing our members with interesting, useful and lively events.

I offer my sincere thanks to Nicky Yianni and all those working tirelessly at The Stables. I also thank the School for continuing their generous funding of our Club. Please do get in touch with me with any views or ideas you may have.

My best wishes for the remainder of 2023. ■

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COLUMN

The Editor ■ Megan Smedley

I

n this edition, we learn how to cross Antarctica, become one of the UK’s most distinguished judges and benefit from selfpublishing. Each article suggests the usefulness of such Oundelian qualities as versatility, perseverance and charm. Guy Beresford adds modesty to that list by not offering a photo of himself, so we found one we hope the Head, at least, will enjoy.

Welcome, Lucy McLaren (Tusting Sn 06, p45) and Richard Matthews (D 66) to the Editorial team. Lucy is one of the busiest people I know, but extremely generous with her time.

Richard applies his eagle- and basilisk- eyes to the tedious task of proofreading. His punctuation style conflicts entertainingly with ‘commahater’ Mark Moore’s (Sc 68): ‘A comma is an aid to sense. It’s not an aqualung, it’s not an aid to breathing.’ Thanks, Mark, for

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another heroic Index compilation.

There is plenty of lively sporting news here, much of it unsurprisingly - male, so women’s football might be high on the list of Arthur Marment’s (D 77) Multisport ‘24 requirements. If Alexa Glynn (K 00) weren’t in Australia, I bet she’d be organising it. She’s still playing socially, and enjoyed the local World Cup, which, she says ‘I don’t even need to put Women’s in front of now.’ We also include a Books section and an experimental Twenty Years On which looks forward to their November reunion. Reunions are increasingly popular, so we now have a section devoted to them.

While there’s no specific Coronation story, p65 has a picture of OO guests in borrowed clothing and, looking back a year, p88 shows Seb Tusa (S 13) standing vigil at the lying-in-state of HM Queen Elizabeth. There’s a tribute on p77, and a regal theme for the North East news. Iain Farrington (C 95) - interviewed in the 201920 Magazine - was commissioned to compose organ music and to arrange Coronation orchestral pieces. I enjoyed his brilliant Art Deco Trio concert on 23 July which coincided with the Cricketer Cup (p 42) match, news of which was WhatsApped by Guy throughout the day. I didn’t hunt down many OOs at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, but couldn’t miss the multi-talented Benji Waterhouse (Ldr 03, p103) entertaining full houses - so full, in fact, that I had to very slightly fib in order to secure seats. He has a ‘flyon-the-padded-wall’ debut book out next year, and the film and TV rights have already been snapped up.

Those OOs (Organised Oundelians, that is) who delivered copy on time are really appreciated.

When deadline-denial delayed the printing schedule, we missed Nicky Yianni’s admin and cajoling skills.

He’s probably developing further skills on his paternity leave - and talking of happy events, please do send in your pictures for the Marriages and Births pages. Also - interestingly - several of you mentioned looking around for a ... consort, so this could mean an opportunity for OO Matches to take on an alternative meaning. Profiles, please, to the Editor!

In sadder news, contributors and Hon OOs Alan Midgley, whose book review is on p 140, and Jonathan Lee, whose article on p 118 was to have been the first in a series, died just as we went to print. Their obituaries will appear next year. Those of former OO President and Laxtonian advocate Philip Sloan (LGS 71) and all-round educator Roger Freebairn (C 55) are remembered on pages 133 and 136. This is an important section for so many of you, and I’m afraid it is rather lengthy this year.

After refurbishment, the Stahl theatre opened with a charming version of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen.

Ballet! Baroque magic! A monkey dance! It was the most delightful of events. Oundle - School and Town owes a lot to Rodolphe Stahl (S 1901, p 137).

At our March meeting, the Editorial committee concluded that gathering news by year group rather than geographical location might be a good idea. It might also be worth considering publication dates. While it’s good to fit in with the Oundle year, fact-checking is tricky given that School and the Archive are closed throughout the summer. Your views on this - and anything else are always valued. ■

FEATURE

Lord Richards of Camberwell JSC ■ David Richards (StA 69) discusses drama, company law and his route to the Supreme Court with Lance Ashworth (G 82)

H

aving co-hosted a very enjoyable OO dinner in Lincoln’s Inn in April to celebrate the appointments of Lords Kitchin and Richards of Camberwell as Justices of the Supreme Court, mid-July found me off to the Supreme Court itself to talk to David Richards (StA 69). Unlike my last trip to interview David Kitchin (Sc 72), (see The Old Oundelian 2018-9) there were no protestors outside, just tourists encouraged to make their way into the Supreme Court to watch justice in action.

Lord Richards of Camberwell (“of Camberwell” to distinguish him from General Lord Richards), was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court on 3 October 2022, despite having retired from the Court of Appeal in June 2021

upon reaching the then mandatory retirement age. He became the second OO to be appointed, joining David Kitchin in the United Kingdom’s highest court. It is difficult to overstate how impressive it is for two OOs to be in the Supreme Court at the same time, the only other OO to have made it to the very top being Michael Mustill, Baron Mustill (Sc 49), who was appointed as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary to sit in the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords in 1992 (which was replaced by the Supreme Court in 2009).

Born in 1951, David grew up on the Wirral. His parents met at Liverpool University in the 1930s, where his mother was studying commerce and his father dentistry, later becoming a consultant oral

surgeon at Alder Hey hospital. He and his older brother, Chris Richards (StA 64), boarded at prep school before Oundle. Having no prior connection with the school, his parents looked at various schools before alighting on Oundle, having been influenced both by the Headmaster, Dick Knight, and by the product - how Oundle pupils turned out.

David enjoyed Oundle from the start, finding it liberating both physically - for its integration with the town - and intellectually, compared to a tightly controlled life at prep school. On the academic front, he was “mad about history” even before he arrived, and was taught by Dudley Heesom, Alan Midgley (who attended the OO Club dinner for the two Lords David, having taught both) and Andrew Milne, his Housemaster in his Oxbridge term in Old Dryden, then an overflow boarding house requiring a School prefect (David) and a House prefect.

David’s forte was theatre, and in his first term, David Edgar [Ldr 65], later one of the country’s most successful playwrights, was running the drama club. In Michaelmas 1964, David attended Edgar’s production of Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker (which had only premiered in April 1960) in the Laundimer dining room and describes himself as being transfixed by it and enthused by modern theatre. John Harrison cast David, in his first appearance, as a lead female role in Sheridan’s The Critic, which was performed in the Cobthorne garden in the summer of 1965. Thereafter, David appeared in Edgar’s production of Mother Courage

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

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FEATURE

in the Great Hall where, unusually, the stage was set under the balcony.

Among those then at the school was Anthony Holden [Lx 65], who was sharpening his pencil as a critic and provided the reviews for this and other productions (see the December 1965 Laxtonian for Holden’s review of Mother Courage). David continued to appear in plays at Oundle, including Much Ado about Nothing and The Plebians Rehearse the Uprising, a 1966 play by Günter Grass, both directed

by John Harrison. In 1967 he himself directed A Man for All Seasons in the St A dining room. It was clear that there was only one person he could cast in the role of Sir Thomas More - David Richards! In his Upper Sixth year (with no apparent concern for upcoming A-levels), he directed Oh! What A Lovely War, borrowing Edgar’s idea of staging the play under the Great Hall balcony. This required the school to erect raked seating, which it willingly did.

He took History, English and Latin at A-level, being taught by some Oundle staff legends, Milne and Midgley, Clive Jacques and Roger Freebairn (C 55), and Harrison and Dennis Ford. Despite a seeming lack of preparation, he passed them all with flying colours and returned in Michaelmas 1969 to take Oxbridge. It was in this term in Old Dryden that Andrew Milne introduced him to Cleo Laine and jazz, a genre of which he still remains a fan. He remembers fondly Nicki Milne and their then young children, Hannah and Daviona (now Daviona Watt, Deputy Head of Oundle).

Moving on to Trinity College, Cambridge in Michaelmas 1970 to read law, he was taught by some intellectual titans, including Old Oundelian Tony Jolowicz [Sn 44] as well as Gareth Jones, Eli Lauterpacht and Tony Weir. Although he did a bit of acting to begin with, he did not join the Footlights or pursue acting other than performing in college May Week reviews, which were written by, among others, John Lloyd, who went on to write Not the Nine O’Clock News, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Blackadder. When asked why he had not pursued his acting, on the

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assumption that his reply would be that he was too dedicated to the law, the only response David would give was that he had had three very enjoyable years at Cambridge - no further details forthcoming!

With his experience of acting, David had been thinking of the Bar before he went up to Cambridge.

Gareth Jones assisted him in finding a pupillage by introducing him to a number of Chancery barristers, David having decided on company law. He secured pupillage with Oliver Weaver in what was then 24 Old Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn and is now Erskine Chambers. Oliver decided that it would benefit David if he were to spend his first six months doing a commercial pupillage which started in October 1974 with Gordon Pollock at what was then 4 Essex Court.

David must have influenced him as Gordon sent his children Rufus (LS 98), who delivered this year’s Oundle Lecture, and Cressida (LS 97) to Oundle. Alternatively, this might have been the influence of Michael Mustill, then a QC in Chambers, for whom David worked on a House of Lords case.

Having completed his six months doing shipping and international trade, David was not deflected from his wish to practise in company law and started his second six months pupillage in April 1975. This seemed to go well, but he describes waiting for the tenancy decision as the most nerve wracking time. The chambers meeting had to be delayed because one of the silks was away in what was then Rhodesia advising Joshua Nkomo in the negotiations with Ian Smith. The meeting was eventually held and David was elected to tenancy. A celebration followed at Rules in Covent Garden, but with his pupil master on antibiotics, David suggested that ordering a bottle of one of their best wines might not be sensible and wondered if a half bottle might be more prudent. Oliver Weaver responded that he had never in his life ordered a half bottle and was not going to start then!

At the beginning of 1976, David started “on his feet” and recollects his first outing in court by himself.

His clerks summoned him out of a conference he was sitting in on and told him he had to go to court to obtain a consent order in front of the Vice-Chancellor, Sir John Plowman.

He nervously stood up to utter his first seven words in court “On behalf of my client, I agree”. He then cut his teeth properly in the winding up court on a Monday morning, being paid the sum of £10.00 per petition.

On a good day, he might get as many as four.

As one of the leading juniors in company law, corporate insolvency and related commercial topics, David’s practice grew rapidly. In 1982, he was instructed on behalf of the Trust House Forte Group in their litigation against the Savoy Hotel Group, whose controlling genius was another OO, Sir Hugh Wontner GBE CVO (D 26). After five years of interim battles without the matter coming to trial, the parties acknowledged a stalemate and agreed that the only resolution was for everyone to sell their shares. His highlight as a junior was being instructed on behalf of the government along with Tony Grabiner QC and Nick Bratza in the International Tin Council dispute.

This involved a mass of international law along with company issues and a multiplicity of parties. After three years, it culminated in a six week hearing in the House of Lords. Given that most hearings in the Supreme Court nowadays last no more than a day or two, this was quite extraordinary.

Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992, he was the “go to” silk in all serious company matters. He was involved in the litigation following the collapse of BCCI, representing a member of a Saudi Arabian family, which had invested heavily in the bank, and who had been appointed a non-executive director of it. The bank’s liquidators brought claims in England and in the USA alleging David’s client had breached his duties and had caused the bank losses of £10 billion. This meant not infrequent trips to the USA in order to coordinate defences in both jurisdictions, leading in the end to a satisfactory settlement.

FEATURE

After eleven years in silk and at the peak of the profession, David could see life continuing in much the same vein and decided to seek a new challenge. He was appointed to the High Court Bench in the Chancery Division in October 2003. He revelled in this new role and was soon recognised not only as an excellent judge but also a really pleasant tribunal before whom to appear.

Whether young or old, experienced or inexperienced, David treated all who appeared before him with immense courtesy and patience. In 2008 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster, and supervising Chancery Judge for the North of England, a role that he “absolutely loved”. It brought him into contact with many High Court, Circuit and District Judges whom he would not otherwise have met.

It also meant that he would go back to sit in his birthplace of Liverpool.

That role came to an end after three years, and he returned to London full time, becoming the Judge in charge of all of the litigation that followed the collapse of Lehman Brothers. That and the cases of T&N Industries (the asbestos litigation) and Re Coroin (a dispute that took him back to dealing with the Savoy Group of hotels) he views as highlights.

In 2015, David was elevated to the Court of Appeal, a long time after most in the profession felt he should have been. This was another new challenge, as he dealt with a huge variety of cases, many in areas of law in which he had no previous experience. He also had to get used to being one of a three-person tribunal rather than the sole decision maker.

Among many other cases, he was part of the Court which decided the Law Debenture v. Ukraine case, essentially a dispute between Russia and Ukraine in which Russia was seeking over US$3 billion from Ukraine. The Court of Appeal decided that Ukraine was entitled to resist payment on the ground that it had been acting under duress; the decision was upheld by the Supreme Court.

In June 2021, I had the pleasure of appearing in front of David in his last case before retirement, he having

reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. Fortunately, he delivered judgment in my client’s favour and persuaded the other two members of the Court of Appeal to agree. What a fitting way to finish an illustrious career on the bench. Or so we thought. David decided to become an arbitrator, but then the rules about mandatory retirement ages for judges were changed to 75. Surprisingly, the new rules were to apply to judges who had already retired. At the same time, two vacancies came up in the Supreme Court. David was encouraged by some friends to put his name forward, which he did (seeing this as an opportunity no one would want to pass up) and was appointed in October 2022 - leading to one sixth of the Supreme Court Justices being OOs. He has embraced this new role with customary vigour. The Supreme Court only deals with the most challenging and important of cases, with all of the Justices being intensely focussed on every case. There is a new layer of work in writing judgments after the oral submissions have been completed, with David and his fellow Justices undertaking a lot of research into the development of each area of law to ascertain where the law has got to and where it should be going. In addition, David sits in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for the UK overseas territories

S OO Lincoln’s Inn dinner for Lords Kitchin and Richards

and Crown dependencies. It also serves those Commonwealth countries that have retained the appeal to His Majesty in Council or, in the case of republics, to the Judicial Committee.

Typically, he describes this as really quite humbling. On top of all of this, he was Treasurer of Lincoln’s Inn in 2020 when Covid hit and successfully led the Inn through these difficult times. Given the disturbances caused by the pandemic, the Inn resolved to reappoint David for a second year the first time since 1684 that this has occurred.

David and Gillian married in 1979; Mark was born in 1981 and twins Sarah and Charlotte in 1985. None of them ended up at Oundle, but David insists this was not a vote against the school so much as Mark having won a scholarship to Eton and a vote in favour of Gillian’s old school for his daughters.

As I made my way back to Chambers after a very enjoyable couple of hours in his company, I pondered that in theory, David has another three years to go in the Supreme Court before he might be expected to retire properly. Given his history, I guess that there are no guarantees that he will finally slow down. I think I might beat him to it. ■ Lance Ashworth (G 82)

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FEATURE

Fortunate* ■ Jonny Huntington (G 04) talks to Megan Smedley about his expedition to the South Pole

J

onny came to Oundle with both academic and music scholarships, and made them his priority. I remember him well from 4A/5A English: thoughtful, courteous, hardworking - but quiet and reserved, and not at all sporty. Near the top of an unusual ‘A’ set, most of whom were interested in maths or music, Jonny always listened and observed. ‘I would quietly get on with doing things rather than waste time spouting hyperbole.’

This emphasis on delivering results has served him well so far, and should see him through his tough mission to complete the first unsupported polar expedition by a disabled explorer.

The transition from school to University, and then into the City, was refreshing, he felt, as he was no longer tied to academia and music and the weight of expectation was lifted. ‘Although I thought. about singing in the York Minster

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choir, this was abandoned early on after the first training session (and night out) with the Uni of York hockey club.’ He discovered a real passion for physical exercise and sport. ‘A fortunate peculiarity of the university system is you can get away with playing hockey six days a week and emerge with a degree in History and History of Art. But I had no clue what I wanted to do upon leaving.’

For lack of more original thinking, he says, he ended up recruiting actuaries into ‘jobs I didn’t understand during the worst recession in living memory.’

After three years in London and Singapore, he took time away from work to recalibrate. ‘Having had a bit of a false start, I wanted to make sure that whatever I did next was the right thing for me: something which held intrinsic interest, while also enabling me to help others.’ During this time, he started running fairly seriously, and this became a catalyst for future endeavours. ‘Ticking off my first marathon in November 2011, I came to the conclusion that running the same distance faster was not something I was interested in doing.’

He entered the ‘fairly underground scene’ of fell and trail ultramarathon

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running. Hundred-mile plus training weeks and time spent poring over ‘weirdly niche community blog pages’ enabled him to run his first 100-miler in June 2012: ‘I properly got the bug for type-2 fun.’

He decided that the military was the way forward: ‘Joining later in age meant that the glamorous world of infanteering was not an option.’ He thought he might like to have a go at Special Forces selection at some stage, so he joined the Educational and Training services branch of the Adjutant General’s Corps, and began at Sandhurst in May 2013. ‘It was basically Uni with rifles,’ he says: ‘I was encouraged to continue running on the international circuit, with the TransGranCanaria 78-miler in March 2014, a month before commissioning as a Second Lieutenant.’

Then things changed. ‘When you commission, you’ve spent a year being decivilianised, trained to lead

soldiers into battle, and generally sharpened to a point.’ Eight weeks later, in a gym in Winchester, he had a brain bleed that paralysed him from the neck down on his left-hand side.

Admitted to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital’s A&E department, he was told dispassionately - and incorrectly - by a junior doctor, that he had a brain tumour. ‘Only much later did I realise I couldn’t summon any tears at this news because I was unable to process the impact of what I’d been told.’

Being in the military had advantages, including rehabilitation facilities for those injured during service - ‘including myself, despite not actually having done any work yet’ he says - which are some of the best in the world. Nine months at Headley Court, re-learning to walk and use his left arm, saw him back in the army, though with a growing sense that any career as an officer was

dead on arrival. 21 months later, he was medically discharged, having achieved ‘absolutely nothing of what I set out to, but with the physical and mental damage of a much longer career, and as the proud owner of one fairly hefty limp and a raft of other on-going physical issues.’

‘During my recovery, I was lucky in three respects. I learned to cross country ski with the Armed Forces para-snowsport team; I went on mountaineering expeditions with Adaptive Grandslam, a charity started by an injured former Parachute Regiment officer; thirdly, I assisted disabled people, military and civilian, to get into outdoor activities.’ In addition, he began to work for the Government, which allowed him to ‘scratch some operational itches I had not been able to when in the military.’ All of those things meant he had an enjoyable, hectic and varied existence as a ‘newly-minted civvy,

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 Armed Forces para-snowsport team.

skiing in the winter and working in a variety of interesting locations in the summer.’ He represented GB in several World Cup races as a para cross-country skier, and went to the winter Paralympics in PyeongChang in 2018 as a potential Paralympian - ‘which I then rudely dissuaded people of by being quite slow at skiing.’ Dropped from the GB race team in 2019, he left his job on being offered the opportunity to read for an MSc in Sport and Health Science at Exeter University.

Around this time, Jonny began to formulate plans to go to Antarctica.

With no knowledge of Arctic survival drills, he was nonetheless a decent skier, an experienced endurance athlete, and had recently ‘spent a good chunk of a year crafting my own bedspace with a spade.’ He was also reasonably confident in his ability to pick up the skills needed to survive in the coldest, largest desert on earth. Convenient from a commercial perspective was that no disabled person had ever attempted to solo the South Pole unsupported from the continental shelf: a 911km journey which has to be undertaken completely alone - no external or mechanical assistance and no resupply drops.

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‘During the first Covid lockdown, I was fortunate that Ben Saunders one of the finest explorers ever - was bored and took a call with me. Despite the odd nature of what I hoped to do, and my relative naivety, he offered mentoring and assistance. The best advice - entirely true thus far - was that the trip itself is the easy bit. Fundraising - the £400k required to undertake the expedition itself, appropriate training and all of the media activities involved - is the hard bit. Ben said, ‘When your feet touch down on Antarctica, it’s just a long, cold walk. All the hard work has been done.’

Asked about any long-term benefits from his time at Oundle, he feels that the core values of military service resonated with the Oundle ethos. He really enjoyed being part of the Sixth Form Lecture series, and was struck by the familiarity of the place, having not revisited for nearly 20 years. ‘The faces have changed (though it was a joy to see some old ones!) but the school hasn’t. The pupils who entertained me over lunch left me pretty sure that I wasn’t as erudite or interesting when I was in their position. Oundle let me make mistakes and gave me every opportunity to explore a smorgasbord of passions.’

I was taken back to C29 and our English class (Jonny sitting next to Richard Horner, this Magazine’s USA correspondent) looking at a Guardian passage about explorers.

5A disparaged the feckless attempts of two chaps - the same age as Jonny is now - whose Antarctic adventures ended in rescue by HMS Endurance.

The class thought it all a bit of a game. This expedition is not. Jonny will be the first full-time, professional disabled Polar explorer: ‘The job title might sound fairly cool - teenage boys love it, though annoyingly, single 30-something women couldn’t care less - but the work is still on-going.

I’ve got money to raise in order to make my deadline of November 2024.’ In the current economic climate, it is difficult to convince businesses to sponsor a man with ‘an un-Instagrammable face to hobble nearly 1000km.’

The expedition is scheduled to finish in January 2025, and Jonny will tell his story to a new generation of pupils. Engaging with people about the expedition is very rewarding, he says: ‘Enabling others to grow through lessons I’ve learned the hard way, freezing my arse off for weeks in Polar Sweden.’ He will report back to us, both as the first disabled person to have soloed the South Pole and, he thinks, the first Old Oundelian to do so, too. ■ * Jonny described himself as 'fortunate' or 'lucky' at least twenty times in our conversation web: www.jonnyhuntingtonskiing.com email: jonnyhuntingtonskiing@gmail.com phone: +44 7979 550980

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Class of 2013 ■ Caitlin Place, former Head of School

I

t’s been a real joy to read everyone’s submissions, so a huge thanks to all the Heads of Houses, Tom Curzon (S) and everyone else that helped pull these together. We hope it was a good excuse to catch up and rekindle conversations a decade on. When we left Oundle, Andy Murray had just won Wimbledon for the first time and the words “emoji” and “selfie”

entered the dictionary. Needless to say a lot has changed since then.

Although real life seems to be back in full swing, your 20s are never a great time to be locked at home and I’ve loved seeing that even the pandemic hasn’t stopped travelling, job pivots, impressive sporting feats, weddings and even a few babies. The next few pages really do have it all and I hope you enjoy reminiscing as you read!

Hearing how many OOs still keep in touch is also truly heart-warming.

Having grown up in a house of sixty people without a moment of silence, it shouldn’t be a surprise that so many of us still live together, though hopefully bed times are a little less rowdy and no one runs around with a bell in the mornings. A special shout out to both Laxton and Sasha Castleman (N) who organise a Christmas dinner every year and Ali Titcomb (G) who gathered a group for an informal Ten Year reunion in

June – I was gutted not to make it but am reliably told it was a great success (see pic below).

I’d encourage everyone to keep an eye out for the OO Club emails with details of other events, notably the OO London Dinner which takes place on 24th November this year and is the last year of discounted ticket price for our year group! An additional plug that the multi-sports weekend in March is also a great way to reconnect with both peers and teachers – need I mention that a free dinner in The Ship is included! Contact Kate Harrison (Sn) if you’d like to get involved - there’s a wide range of sports for everyone.

Finally, I want to thank Lali Findlay (W 12) who kindly wrote a piece for her brother, Paddy (C 13). I know his funeral was attended by many OOs and I hope that we will all continue to give this level of support to each other as we embark on another decade. It’s never too late to check in on old friends.

S Alex Griffin (Sc), Lara Thompson (K), Holly Rice (Sn), Kate Hawkeswell (N), Harry Walker (F), Izzy Buckland (W), Charlie Davis (L), Annie Bletsoe-Brown (Sn), Omar Taleb (L), Johnnie Bland (G), Tash Stocks (W), Angus Greenlees (StA), Jamie Macrae (Sc), Kate Harrison (Sn), Lance Allen (G), Rosanna Leslie Melville (W), George Smith (StA), Ed Beazley (F), Will Monroe (G), Ali Titcomb (G), Orla Redding (L), George Taylor (StA), Archie Troughton (B), George Wells (StA), Flora Ashton (K), Peter Watson (G), Kelvin Tse (G)

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BRAMSTON Archie Troughton: Ten years since leaving Oundle has gone by in a blur; some very enjoyable years spent in Newcastle blending into the last six in London. Three nephews and a job in interdealer broking keeps me busy enough!

Jack Bates: Four years in Scotland studying classics, surfing and working part-time as a gardener. Got interested in the Arabic language so spent a post-uni gap year learning it and then working for an NGO in Lebanon. Ended up doing a masters in Arabic in London, then decided to go into law. I’ve just finished law school and (finally) starting a fulltime job.. Would love to go back to the Middle East and/or move to Scotland at some point.

Alex Ward Lilley: Jack of all trades, master of none springs to mind. Spanish and Portuguese at Manchester awaited after a gap year of skiing and being adopted by a crècheload of kids in Brazil. Managed to sneak in another year abroad studying in Barcelona and a return to South America on my way to putting those languages to really good use on a law conversion course, catering in London and driving vans for Tesco during lockdown. Now a Lt in the Royal Signals. Anyone for an invasion of Iberia?

S George Wells (StA), Orla Redding (L), Archie Troughton (B)

Tom Winterton: Having gone up to Manchester for Uni and stayed there an extra year for work, in the end I couldn’t resist the draw of London and, in a bit of a left turn, I somehow ended up working for a fine wine merchant. Still here after five years and loving every minute.

Laurence Bailey: In the past few years, my life has been a whirlwind of incredible experiences and meaningful milestones. I graduated from UCLA with a degree in Political Science.

Amidst the pandemic, I made a bold decision to move to Spain, where I fell in love with the captivating culture and lifestyle, making it my new home.

Working at NOMADA Group, a hospitality company - specialising in boat charter, restaurants, and a soon-tobe-opened hotel in Denia - has been a dream come true. Serendipitously, I met Liu, my beautiful girlfriend, and this year we welcomed our son, William DeHavilland Bailey to the world. My life is now filled with the immeasurable joy of love and fatherhood.

Henry Parker: Newcastle University was the destination after Oundle, following a year on a farm back in Norfolk. Six years later in London with the agricultural world behind me, time is now occupied in the wealth management industry and either watching or playing some form of cricket.

David Jack: Spent three enjoyable but largely unproductive years in Bristol, moved to London, trained as a chartered accountant and then moved across to corporate finance. I spent almost four years living with OOs and have since moved in with my girlfriend. Luckily, I still see a lot of the others from Bramston.

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James Renton: For three years I found myself fighting the wind to complete my degree at St Andrews, the siren call of America providing a year of respite in Virginia. An opportune meeting found me embracing my inner Indiana Jones on an archaeological site in Nigeria. After my degree I thought a more established career in the law beckoned, but my life took an unexpected detour to five years at an American Investment Bank. The pause for Covid led to some rash decision making - out with the suit and on with the jeans - switching to running financial strategy for a London fintech.

CROSBY Jonathan Cannon: After leaving Oundle, I studied Psychology and Criminology at Royal Holloway.

Though originally planning to pursue a Masters in Forensic Psychology, I quickly realised that working with criminals was a bit beyond me, and decided instead to go for the safer option of Occupational Psychology at the University of Surrey. After graduating, I worked for a while in academic research before settling

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into a commercial research role at a psychometric assessment company, with a brief stint back in Hong Kong in between.

been great running into other OOs who have braved the creative path - if only all venues had the Stahl's funding!

Henry Lee: I found Oundle quite hard, but enjoyable in parts. Uni was better, the freedom and opportunity at Oxford was a relief, and that bubble was a beautiful, exciting time. I’ve long aspired to have a career that was my individual selfexpression - and through both luck and determination, I’ve achieved that. I’ve travelled quite a bit. I’ve been partnered for four years with a woman I originally met on a spontaneous trip to Taiwan and I now spend some months there each year.

I’ve been developing an ability to help people become free of difficult emotions, returning to their natural, happy self. Facilitating this change for people is my passion and I expect it will become my main income in the near future. Life is exciting and I enjoy it. Choosing myself while helping others has yielded more than I could have imagined.

Richard Bickford-Smith: On leaving Oundle I studied Chemistry at the University of York (thanks in part to Dr. Quiddington’s stellar teaching!)

Afterwards, having not had my fill of academia quite yet and having always been interested in law, I undertook an LLB and an LLM in Intellectual Property and Information Law at King’s College London. I then decided to combine my love of science and law and am currently working as a trainee patent attorney in Cambridge. Career aside, I have kept up my love of music and still regularly play bass guitar in an Indie Rock band.

Hector Murray: My time spent in the Stahl Theatre (avoiding rugby) wasn’t for nothing as I now work as a freelance lighting designer. After three years studying at Central School of Speech and Drama, I went on tour in Europe with a dance company called Akram Khan. Ever since, work has taken me around the world from New York to Doha for the world cup, lighting musicals, dance and theatre.

I still spend lots of time with my close Oundle pals.

Rohan Perumatantri: After Oundle I studied English Literature at Durham and realised I was meant for a career somewhere behind the stage but wasn’t exactly sure where.

After trying my hand at acting and writing, I settled in London working as a producer and programmer for a Fringe theatre. Recently I’ve transitioned into production management and currently work as part of the digital media team at the National Theatre working on NT Live and other interesting camera angles.

The theatre world is small and it’s

Benjamin Berry: Swapping Oundle for Oxford, I turned to the continent and the past for academic motivation, studying German and Latin. After a year in Vienna and working at an auction house, my taste for the Teutonic led me to Berlin where I lived for a year after graduating, working in the art world. Loving all things old and gold, I currently work at Christie’s selling antique furniture.

Based in London, I live with my brother, a fellow OO, and very much enjoy seeing Oundelian friends on a regular basis.

Patrick Findlay: Known to many as Paddy, my brother was the most kind hearted, caring and genuine person.

Sadly, he passed away on 31 March 2022 but his memory will forever be cherished. Patch/Paddy will always

S Paddy Findlay (C) with his sisters Lali (W 12) and Katie

be remembered as someone who would go out of his way to make people comfortable. He would make people laugh and put anyone at ease no matter who you were. After leaving Oundle, Patch went off and travelled in Thailand, which he loved.

He taught himself guitar and found real passion in writing songs and making music. Eventually he settled back at my parents’ farm where he worked alongside my father. He loved everything about the farm and being in nature where he could make his music, be with his family and live a very happy life. He will always be missed but always be loved. Amazing friend, exceptional son and a faultless brother.

Written by Lali Findlay (W 12)

DRYDEN Vicci Bishop: After leaving Oundle, Lucia Garnett (D), Lara Thompson (K), Fiz Field (K), Annalisa Gardner (K) and I embarked on a trip to South America. I loved Argentina so much I let them continue without me and worked as a barmaid in a grubby hostel for 4 months. Post-travelling, I studied sociology at Newcastle University with many fellow OOs. Still unsure of what to do, I accepted the first job I was offered, working for a property start-up company based in Brixton, in a tiny shipping container. I was there for 3 years, and decided to pursue a career as a private PA, and now I am a private PA recruiter. In my personal life: after hard graft of 5.5 years I managed to get a rock on my finger!

Miranda Cook: In 2014 I managed to pass my psychology A level and get into Durham University to study Archaeology. After 4 years I graduated and started on a career path that was completely unrelated.

Thanks to Covid, my career in real estate recruitment didn’t last long.

My next 3 years in London saw me becoming a teaching assistant, a nanny and a recruiter, this time for a premium education provider. Finally this year I decided to take a leap of faith and leave London, returning to Northumberland to do Primary age

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teacher training. I start in September and am hoping the children are better behaved than everyone says they are.

Clemmie Cuthbertson: I won’t bore you with my terribly typical gap year and degree, as I imagine it’s the same as many OOs. A snapshot of highlights might offer a better glimpse into the past decade. I left Newcastle University, moved to Fulham and started working for a Creative agency. Later decided it would be fun (it wasn’t very…) to embark on a reality TV career so joined Made in Chelsea. Departed after a wild 18 months… Re-joined the creative industry where I’m now Communications Director for McCann Worldgroup. You could call me a cortisol junkie, hence the enthusiasm for CrossFit! Haven’t quite got a ring on my finger, but have found the man of my dreams.

Finally.

Theodora Ewer: I’ve branched out loads since leaving public school, living with 8 different Oundle friends, even some from outside Dryden.

Currently in a North-London flat where Rosanna (W) and I are going out with matching Etonian bestfriend boyfriends. After leaving Exeter university I’ve worked as a sustainability consultant for the past 6 years. Still can’t seem to give up meat or vapes, and have a carbon footprint that would make Leonardo DiCaprio blush. Hobbies outside of going to the pub include telling everyone about the marathon in Norway I just ran.

3.23 official time. Celebrated with a whale and reindeer snack.

Lucia Garnett: Post-Oundle life started with Lara (K), Annalisa (K), Vicci (D), Fiz (K) and Sasha (N) on a South American gap-year. Then, to Edinburgh university to study English Literature and Spanish.

Armed with a smattering of Spanish, I moved to Madrid for some sun, Spanglish and an aimless dive into the tech start-up world. Three years of siestas and I was ready for a sabbatical, walking the Camino de Santiago and attempting to surf in San Sebastian. I then moved to

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London to revive a Dryden boarding house with Theodora Ewer (D) and Annie Powell (D), with frequent remote-work trips back to Spain, and even following Will Orr (StA) to Ghana for a month with Rosanna L-M (W). A journey from clueless graduate to sun-seeking Spanish aficionada!

Jemima Guest: After school I took a year out before joining the rest of Oundle at Bristol, studying the vocational subject of Archaeology and Anthropology. I went on to work in an art gallery in Essex where I worked in children’s education.

Deciding that living with my parents wasn’t ideal, I moved to London to pursue my love of eating with a career in restaurant PR. The pandemic put a slight spanner in the works job-wise but eventually led to a role in restaurant marketing. Following a few hops around London, I now live with the wonderful Evie Gray (W).

Claire Joicey: Having spent the last 10 years doing a rather odd assortment of things - pulling out of an Italian and Linguistics course at Edinburgh University after 18 months, gaining a cookery qualification after 3 months study in Ireland, walking 4500 miles in National Trails including from Land’s End to John O’Groats, working as a cook and a nanny, doing an Art History course in Italy for 2 months, watching a huge number of theatre productions, reading an equally large number of books, and doing a bit of travelling - I have finally decided what I want to do with my life. This September I’ll be finally fulfilling my heart’s desire, by retraining as a midwife at Anglia Ruskin University.

Full steam ahead!

S Annalisa Gardner (K), Annie Powell (D), George Smith (StA), Vicci Bishop (D), Ed Beazley (F), Sasha Castleman (N), Lara Thompson (K), Affrica Cook (N), Pablo Giacomi (Sc), Holly Rice (Sn), Theo Ewer (D) at Sasha's House

Holly Marks: After finishing 4 happy years at the Uni of York with a year in Grenoble, I (maybe stupidly) embarked on a teacher training course to teach science. I spent three stressful years at a school in Burnham on Crouch which led to leaving and getting married in August 2022. We went off to South America for 3.5 months and came back to get into the teaching world. I am starting a new job at an all-girls school in September which I’m so excited about! And we’ve just got a cute new dog, Rosie.

Lucie Petrides: After school, I completed a psychology degree at Warwick University. I then decided to pursue children’s nursing at King’s College, playing hockey throughout both universities. I qualified in 2019 and have been working in Paediatric intensive care since, including a traumatic stint in Adult Covid ICU during the pandemic. To escape, I had the time of my life gallivanting around Australia for two years. Now back in the UK, I have got a place to study Medicine at Keele University starting in 2024. But first, I’ll be spending eight months in South East Asia. Here’s to the next ten.

Annie Powell: Since leaving university (Exeter, Biochemistry) I’ve lived in London very happily with OOs for most of my time here, currently with Theo Ewer (D) and Rosanna LM (W). Having quit my previous job at the end of 2019, my planned year of travelling/

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volunteering to figure out what I wanted professionally was sadly cut short, but luckily I found my calling in public health and joined PHE (now UKHSA) to work on the COVID-19 response. Two pretty crazy years later and I’ve switched from COVID-19 to viral hepatitis, standing by to save you all from the next pandemic watch out Chris Whitty.

Arinah Rizal: Within the last decade, I’ve pivoted through different industries and cities across the UK, to Malaysia then Australia mixing with OOs along the way. I’ve been in Melbourne for the last four years, working as an acoustician/vibration Engineer, designing better sounding environments. Out here, I’ve been in the lovely presence of Lucie Petrides (D) and met Sarah Hampton (D 95) and Charles Salem (C 79) at a Christmas dinner. I have fond memories of Viv’s gals, the Dryden S.H. (RIP), Coffee Tavern, the late Jenny Walsh, my music scholar life and more. Feel free to DM me: arinah. rizal@gmail.com - let’s take it from there. Rock’n’roll.

FISHER Alex Bishop: After Oundle, I set off for London for two semesters.

Then to Exeter for a Mandarin and Spanish degree. Dated Kanye West’s bezzie which was fun. Now fluent in Mandarin, I decided I’d become French (thanks Brexit - leaning into the French heavily). Then worked at HUAWEI. Corp lyf not 4 me. Started music again during the panorama and completed piano ATCL. Now the dream is becoming a music producer/film composer. NE1 want any music written for them LMK! Model sometimes (badly); have a lil brand with a fellow Oundelian.

Hoping to move to LA in a year for sun and beats.

Robert Pellet: After completing my undergraduate degree at Bates College, in Maine, I spent a couple of years in Nashville Tennessee and a year in France. I now live in Boston where I work for a strategy consulting firm. Outside of work, I spend most

of my time out of the city, surfing, skiing, and road/mountain biking.

Michael Lau: Time flies, and I couldn’t believe Oundle was already ten years ago. After my Masters in biomedical engineering at Imperial, I took some time to reflect on what my interests truly were. I ended up moving to California to work as a developer, providing software for pharmaceutical companies. I’m lucky enough to have a flexible work schedule, so I’ve been working from Tokyo, Hong Kong and London in recent years when I’m not in San Francisco. I’ve also been a bit of a degenerate and picked up poker as a hobby, though I have studied the game enough to make it profitable.

Ed Beazley: Having left Fisher in 2013, Mish Derrick (F) and I embarked on the not very imaginative route of South America followed by south east Asia, meeting up with what felt like half of Oundle along the way. Then on to Bristol uni, studying economics, with yet more Oundle faces. Before joining the famously exhilarating PwC grad scheme, I felt the need to disappear for another gap year, during which I completed the Marathon des Sables in 2018.

Despite the thrill of being an auditor, I subsequently left PwC in 2021 having

S Ed Beazley (F), Harry Walker (F), Izzy Buckland (W)

qualified as a chartered accountant and now work for a UK investment bank. Ten years has flown by - but the Oundle friends have been a constant throughout. I still see a lot of our year, not least Jamie MacRae (Sc) who I live with in Herne Hill.

Harry Walker: After graduating from Newcastle with a degree in History, I spent some time in Kenya finding myself and saving lions. Since then, I’ve been working as a Political Risk insurance broker in the city, most recently at Gallagher. I moved out of London during Lockdown and haven’t looked back. Generally enjoyed the Pandemic, apart from having to reschedule my wedding three times and living with my inlaws. Angus Greenlees (StA) was best man, and George Smith (StA) and Jamie MacRae (Sc) were ushers.

I settled in Wiltshire with Venetia, our spaniel, Jura, and a VW Passat.

Middle-aged life suits me well!

GRAFTON Lance Allen: I haven’t managed to escape Oundelians having lived with at least one every year since school.

Firstly with Fin Field (F) in Hong Kong straight after school where

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I thought it was a fun idea to do finance internships… should have gone to South America. Followed the masses to Exeter where I studied Politics for some reason. Branched out and lived with Hector Mason and George Taylor (both StA) before embarking on a career in finance for an asset management firm in London.

One of my better ideas was to live with three Oundle girls in Brixton for two years. Three good years later (apart from exams) I moved into the real estate private equity world.

Set up a property development business with fellow Graftoner, Ali Titcomb, unashamedly called Grafton Ventures. We are currently developing our fifth and sixth properties. Cherish the Oundle memories.

Charles Hutchinson: I exchanged Oundle for Oxford, really enjoyed the course - Chemistry - and got stuck in at church. Unfortunately, in my second year I fell ill and had to take a year out, then another due to poor mental health. After six years at Oxford I returned to Oundle as a Chemistry and Chaplaincy assistant, which I really enjoyed, and during which my health stabilised. It was great to go back and I particularly enjoyed leading confirmation classes.

After two years I headed out to start teacher training, and am now back in Oxford, living with Kelvin Tse (G).

George Matthews lives in Berlin, wants to dismantle capitalism and goes on holiday as much as possible to avoid growing up and having responsibilities.

Campbell McCallum:I went travelling in South America with the general reprobates from our year.

Then went to study Psychology at UWE in Bristol. Realised I didn’t know what to do so went travelling again to Central America. Bought myself a van: it broke down a lot.

Came home and drove forklifts in the docks for a while. Went back to uni to do a Masters in Conservation (definitely more educated than Ali, Lance, Edouard & Will). I worked for Natural England for a year counting butterflies and bats on the Somerset levels, got chartered as an Ecologist and rivalled a well known superhero.

I’ve now sold out to the Tech startup lifestyle and am a product manager at a climate Tech company, working with electric vehicles and facilitating the energy transition for the last  Johnnie Bland (G), Jamie Macrae (Sc), Lance Allen (G), Charlie Davis (L)

S Rosanna Leslie Melville (W), Tash Stocks (W), Archie Troughton (B), Will Monroe (G)

three years. I’m also a trustee of an NGO helping protect Cambodian dolphins. Think they call it a squiggly career. Still miss the good old days in Grafton.

Will Monroe: Left school and poured pints to earn some money. Then went off to South America for the usual shenanigans with some Oundle mates. I realised after a year I didn’t like uni so dropped out. After that I moved to London and got work at a restaurant while I sorted my life out. I realised the only thing I was any good at at school was selling booze so I joined a wine merchant.

I did five years before I canned it to go travelling again. I very nearly got stranded in Medellin when Covid hit.

I came back to the UK unemployed and living with my parents. Luckily I got my old job in London back and have spent the last three years selling wine to rich people. Again the time has come to mix things up. I’ve quit my job and am excited for what the future holds. The most important thing in life is to know when to quit.

Fred Shan: I am currently pursuing a PhD in art history and teaching at the university. It was at Oundle that I came to find joy in the Arts and storytelling. Yet fond memories are tainted by what the British euphemistically call ‘character

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building experiences’. Racism and chauvinism ran rampant, championed by certain staff whose abuse of racial slurs many students gleefully regurgitated. Abhorrent attacks were passed off as jokes, with the victims being told to ‘get a sense of humour’.

I hear that action has been taken and the culture is changing. May Oundle become an oasis of learning for all.

Ali Titcomb: After travelling and a seemingly rapid three years at Bristol, I headed to London where I landed my first job at a hedge fund alongside Peter Watson (G) after being pitted against each other in the final interview for what we thought was one job. We both came out on top. Having also set up a property development business with Lance Allen (G) while at uni ([un] inspiringly called Grafton Ventures), I simply haven’t been able to get away from ex-Grafton boys in my career to date. I recently moved jobs, enjoying three months of gardening leave in between, and live with my girlfriend in Notting Hill. I still have a very basic sense of humour, something I like to maintain to ensure I don’t look or feel too grown up.

Kelvin Tse: Leaving Oundle, I spent three years at the University of East Anglia studying physiotherapy in

S Lance Allen (G), Ali Titcomb (G), Ed Beazley (F), Kate Harrison (Sn), Angus Greenlees (StA), Jamie Macrae (Sc), Will Monroe (G)

order to get a different perspective of life. I then commissioned from Sandhurst into the army Reserve and, the same year, joined the Rifles regiment. Since then, I have been moving around the South East (with a few trips abroad) and am now a resident of Oxford, working for the NHS. I was mobilised and deployed to Cyprus for a UN peacekeeping tour and now my army reserve career involves regimental duties. I intend to continue to devote my life to public service until I find another calling. I keep in touch with fellow OOs from Hong Kong from time to time and am living with Charles Hutchinson (G).

Raymond Shek: I was offered an early-admission to read Law at a university in Hong Kong after completing Lower Sixth, an opportunity I credit to my time and development at Oundle. Although taking the opportunity meant good times at Oundle were cut short, I was fortunate to have met my now fiancée at law school. After getting my certificate to practise law in Hong Kong, I came back to the UK and earned a Master of Laws degree in London. Since then, I have been practising as a lawyer specialising

in dispute resolution at Silver Circle law firms in Hong Kong and London.

Currently based in Hong Kong, I continue to be in touch with Old Oundelians here including James Giles (Sc), Nadia Tai (N), and Von Tai (S).

KIRKEBY Maria Constable-Berry (Yukhnovich): After school, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Following my passion for hospitality, I pursued a degree at Oxford Brookes and completed a placement year in a London hotel, where I’ve witnessed some questionable things. I soon realised that hospitality wasn’t my true calling. In the final year of university, I met my now husband, and my career path took a new direction as I pursued a Masters in HR. Now settled in the Midlands, I work as an HR business partner in a life science industry, and we share our home with two crazy dogs. Excitingly, we are awaiting the arrival of our twin boys in August, bringing new adventures to our lives.

Flora Ashton: Left Oundle, having not said much, with no jewellery

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(thanks Mr Hammond) but learned how to sneeze silently at the back of a classroom. Went to Exeter, said a lot more. Worked in Paris, learnt how to sneeze in French. Had a brief stint in jewellery, realised I was better at wearing it than working it. Have been a chef for four years now. Am exhausted all the time and consistently talk about how exhausted I am all the time. But I make great food in some amazing London restaurants and also for clients all round the world.

Lizzie Cossor: After Oundle I went up to St Andrews to study History - a range of topics from medieval to modern. I managed to assert some of my interests and wangled my way into writing my dissertation on Test Match Special. I even had an extract read out by Phil Tufnell whilst I was in the crowd - which was surreal.

I then went on to pursue a totally related career as an accountant and am now a Chartered Accountant with a firm in Cambridge, where I live, managing a portfolio of clients and yes very typically doing the tax returns of my family and friends when they call in a panic in January!

Fiz Field: Feel painfully old/decrepit realising a decade has passed since leaving the sacred halls of Oundle...

Although it’s been a wild ride since:

• Edinburgh Uni (with not enough word count to name but countless OOs – love you all) • Video production in Shanghai spent way too much time but had heaps of fun with Orla Redding (L) • ‘Career pivot’ (read ‘existential reevaluation’) back home to Hong Kong to pursue Impact/ Sustainability, where I’ve instead found myself a corporate-sellout doing ESG consulting at EY • Recently became a cat-mum to a kitten aptly named Tiger Woods (found on a golf course) • Still hunting for better cheesy chips Marina Nicholson: Stepping out of the Oundle bubble and into reality at Leeds uni really was something.

Got a slightly useless but enjoyable degree in languages and went to London to work in finance. After Covid I started ageing backwards by society’s standards. Got ID’d more, was unemployed again, moved back in with my parents and decided to take the gap year I never had. Returning to London this year hoping to start the job of my dreams, I’m not married, don’t have kids, a dog, or my own flat and have certainly never run a marathon. But I’m happier than ever and couldn’t be more grateful for the beautiful friends I have from Oundle.

Ellie Taverner: Studied geography at Bristol University, left to get into cinematography.

Six years making coffees, cleaning mugs - nice, rejected from BBH (advertising) thrice.

In London lived in some places that were wack, became a part of a witches pack.

Saw a Facebook advertisement, job unknown, turned out to be a show about the throne.

Working in film, no I’m not a location scout, But I’ll get there one day, have no doubt.

Lying about my private education to be cool, still coming to terms with my privileges from school.

My brother-in-law and I distill rum called ‘Scratch’ Check out our instagram, sell barrels by the batch.

Sending love to all that were at school with me, all living different lives, it’s cool to see.

Hope this little poem has made one thing apparent, I’m still trying hard to be alternative, different, current.

Harriet Gillett: I went straight to Uni after Oundle and studied English at Edinburgh. Loved it. Following that, I found a job at an auction house, but after deciding the admin/office life wasn’t for me, I quit my job to be an artist. A few years living off beans, a lot of random side-hustles and an ironically large amount of admin later, I have defied my preconceptions that anything other than a doctor or lawyer is not a viable career option and work as an artist, making dreamlike paintings of the communities I experience whilst out and about. Although I have spent the past ten years trying to unlearn a fair bit of what Oundle taught me, my friendships there have long outlasted any boyfriend.

I currently live in London and can often be spotted laughing, dancing or crying a bit with my OO homies.

Meg Turner: After Oundle, I became a ski instructor in the Swiss Alps. I went on to study Psychology at the  Holly Rice (Sn), Meg Turner (K), Annie Bletsoe-Brown (Sn), Kate Harrison (Sn), Caitlin Place (W)

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S Tash Garrood (K), Livvie King (K), Lara Webster (Sn), Harriet Gillett (K), Connie McCool-Duncan (Sn)

University of Edinburgh, spending almost every day in lectures with Holly Rice (Sn). My life then shifted to London as I got a job at Macquarie Bank, thanks to Caitlin Place (W).

Macquarie has since taken me to Paris, where I provide financing to European football clubs for a living.

Overall not much has changed: my best friends are still my Oundle friends and I see them all the time but instead of being shouted at for walking on the 2-acre pitch, I now get yelled at for wandering across PSG’s training ground.

Livvy Roland (King): On leaving Oundle I was accepted to complete an art foundation year at Oxford Brookes, but after a week of work experience with a physiotherapist I realised I had a passion for healthcare.

One whirlwind gap year and three fantastic years at the University of Liverpool later, I became a qualified physiotherapist and dived headfirst into the NHS. I soon worked out that the hugely diverse and rewarding specialty of neurology was for me and, while working at UCLH NHS Trust in London, met my now husband, Bryan. We left London and now have a beautiful home in the Chiltern Hills. I really do love being a neuro-physio but working on the Covid ICU and with the current state of the NHS, it has sadly become too much of a personal sacrifice for me. However, it’s never too late to give up on old passions!

Ten years post-school, I am halfway

through a three-month stay in France with Bryan, painting, running and learning French. In September I’m due to start my Masters in Fine Art at Oxford Brookes, ahead of making a permanent move to France.

Amsterdam, a certified master of energy science, a vegetarian (cuff me), and in an uncharacteristically cis-het monogamous relationship.

Many happy memories of Oundle #eattherich.

Holly Martin: Ten years, wow that’s gone quick! I have many fond memories of my time at Oundle, from mattress surfing, bellowing out tunes in Chapel, running across Two Acre being chased by Olver, and all the culinary delights it had to offer including cornflake tarts, Bruce Boggtrotter cakes on Sundays and top hats to name a few. After attending the University of Liverpool I had a short lived two year teaching career with Teach First in delightful Darlington, before setting my sights on the City. I had a blast living with Charley Seward (K 12) and then Bella Ellis (S 14) whilst working in education recruitment and promoting careers education in schools across the country. Yorkshire pulled me back north during the pandemic and, whilst it’s always great being back in the south, I do not miss my Central line commute. I now work for Hays, combining my passion for development and recruitment as a learning and development Partner.

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Tash Garrood: Rage against the machine. Since Oundle I’ve been on a voyage of queer discovery and environmental radicalism.

Have spent the last ten years bed hopping, company hopping, course hopping. Now living in

Callum Smale: It’s somewhat scary to come to terms with the fact that it has now been a decade since Trendalls at the Cloisters and walks at ‘the road’. Since those relatively carefree days (I’m sure any teachers reading this may agree, possibly too carefree), I have taken a somewhat unconventional route. After my degree, I left the UK behind me and, after time in Greece, have settled in the French Alps. I am currently the director of Apres Ski bars in Tignes and Val D’Isere and have not looked back. Do what you love and work it out from there!

George Mennem: After dropping out of Nottingham University after my first year to pursue a start up, I discovered that I was no Mark Zuckerberg and resorted to working as a financial advisor raising money for much better companies than the one I co-founded. After spending the last seven years working in London, I was offered the chance to move to the US, last year which I eagerly agreed to after a somewhat monotonous Covid experience. I now reside in  Archie Bowlby (S), Felix Dudgeon (StA), Tessa Berridge (L), Will Page (Ldr)

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Austin, TX which is far cry from my old life in Battersea but has led me to discover various new interests, namely smoked brisket and women in white cowgirl boots.

Ivo Videnov: After Oundle I read Chemistry at the University of Bristol and graduated with a Masters.

Although offered a PhD, I decided to join the corporate world and worked at KraftHeinz for three years in commercial roles in London. As the pandemic hit, I spent more time in Bulgaria and decided it was time to return to the motherland and help continue the family business alongside my brother Boris (Ldr 10) that my parents had started. I am now happily engaged to my fiancée, Sofia, who is a doctor. As an International, Oundle was a family and like all families an imperfect one - with that racist uncle you don’t want to be associated with etc. I am always happy to meet up with fellow Oundelians, though.

Ben Legard: After taking some time out travelling India and selling some oil in Dubai. I got through three years of Oxford Brookes graduating in real estate. I’ve since qualified as a chartered surveyor, worked for a small firm of five, a large firm of thousands and am now an investment agent specialising in retail at a firm of thirty people. Oundle prepped me for every minute and I enjoyed every second.

LAXTON Jonny Wiles: The year after A-Levels was a peculiar one for me. Having taken an offer to study English literature at uni, I decided to turn it down, become a yoga instructor, and then go to drama school. After a year-long course at Guildford School of Acting, I then ended up studying Italian at Oxford, having been roundly rejected by Cambridge in Upper Sixth. Let it not be said, though, that I’m one to hold a grudge: at the end of my undergrad degree, I decided to give Cambridge a second chance, and accepted their application to teach me for a Masters in 2019.

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They performed so well, in fact, that I even saw fit to take them on as my PhD supervisors, and they’re currently in the third year of my five year course in Italian literature.

Alongside my studies, I’m working as a tutor and continuing to pursue a creative career. I have been on tour acting in Shakespeare (directed by one Fred Wienand (Ldr)), and have recently finished work on an audiobook which will be available to your ears very soon!

Ben Ellis: Having decided not to go to university, I initially took the opportunity to travel, work and more importantly ski as much as possible over those first couple of years, spending time in Australia and the French Alps. I then moved to Sheffield to work in the food industry, with a personal life highlight of travelling Europe buying cheese for a couple of years. The allure of London started to hit hard though, as various friends finished uni and flocked to the capital. I lived with Tom Weston (L) for two great years pre-Covid and have loved living with Angus Watt (L) and Jonny Wiles (L) for the last three years in Chiswick. Alongside this I was part of the team that launched Amazon Fresh into the U.K. and for the last couple of years have been working at a ski-tech startup combining my passion for skiing and travel.

Hugh Taylor: After a gap year driving around Australia with Ben Ellis (L), I studied Medicine at Edinburgh where I met my wife, Sally, and worked for a time in Glasgow. An impulsive lockdown puppy purchase set up a difficult decision to move to Australia to work in an A&E near Brisbane.

I look forward to coming back to the UK next year to enjoy sunny afternoons, various Oundle beer gardens, rounds of golf and getting told to tuck my shirt in by former teachers.

Jack Tustin: Fortunately, the stolen hours in the Gascoigne weren’t wasted and post-Oundle, I made a dash for London to study at Guildhall followed by a Masters at the Royal

Academy of Music. Upon graduating, I’ve been lucky enough to perform alongside artists such as HAIM, Kimberly Walsh and Beverly Knight playing on stages from Royal Albert Hall to Glastonbury to Ronnie Scott’s.

Recently, I’ve also enjoyed playing in Cabaret and Book of Mormon on The West End. Currently based in Shepherds Bush, I’m still making mischief/music with Ed Addo (F 12), Henry (Sc) and George Sinclair (Sc 15) and Tom Curzon (S).

Former teachers will be pleased to hear that I am no longer consistently tardy/forgetful of my possessions/ falling asleep at key moments.

Angus Watt: Eager to broaden my perspective and walk the path untrodden, Oundle was promptly followed by study at Durham, in a college described excitedly by a former Head of English as “like School House… but with no rules… and girls.” Here I studied History which, naturally, led me to a career in the sports betting industry. I currently live in leafy Chiswick, with two old Laxton friends, where free time is consumed by excessive podcast consumption, short-lived side-hustle attempts and a reluctant but overdue adoption of yoga classes.

Marcus Price: Reflecting on the last ten years brings a smile to my face.

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to the corners of the world, live in Spain, Portugal and France for brief stints and share great experiences with friends old and new. These days, you’ll find me living in London, staying active through sports and the gym before undoing all that hard work at gigs and festivals. Overall 5/5 stars. Lots of fun. Would highly recommend - Marcus_Price95 Can you tell I work at Tripadvisor?

Tessa Berridge: I had an amazing year living in New Zealand, followed by three years at Durham and a brilliant year at the RAU studying agri-business. Another gap year was essential to visit RAU friends in Zimbabwe, Peru and Uruguay; before getting a job at a rural charity based in London which takes me to some

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Exeter University studying Biological Sciences. After that, like many other graduates, I moved to London to begin ‘adulting’. Since the pandemic, I’ve managed to tick off most cliché life events; buying a house in Surrey, getting a dog and getting engaged.

I still see lots of Laxton OOs and we remain great friends. I’m looking forward to seeing many of them at my wedding next year.

S Tessa Berridge (L) & Rory Bevin (S)

weird and wonderful places across the UK. Oundle gave me great friends who I still see and last year, I visited Will Page (Ldr) in Kenya. I live in Stockwell with my boyfriend and get back home to Oundle regularly.

Milly Ward: After Oundle I went on to spend the next three years at

Alex Tonks: After Oundle I had a fantastic time studying medicine in Newcastle. I enjoyed the North East so much that I stayed and now live with my best friend in the city centre. I’ve continued training across the region with a plan to specialise in acute medicine. When I’m not at work, I’m wandering the wilds of Northumberland and sampling some of the many cocktail bars in the Toon. I’m also a licensed skydiver and am regularly found in the sky. I still occasionally see the Laxton crew when back in Oundle and have of course kept in contact with Charles Hutchinson (G) Catherine Davies: I thoroughly enjoyed studying at Newcastle University, then like many others I decided to live in London. I joined

the construction industry and now work as a chartered cost consultant for Gardiner and Theobald in the heritage sector. I am lucky enough to work on unique projects, some of which are for major London museums. My main project has been the refurbishment of the new Museum of London which I strongly encourage everyone to visit when it eventually finishes. In my spare time you will either find me on the golf course or checking out the latest places for brunch.

Farah Shair: While I would never have predicted at school that I’d end up being a stand-up comedian, I do think the best joke I’ve ever made was during Sixth Form when I applied to study Biochemistry at Imperial. However, that degree plus a career in data analytics have given me a valuable combination of amazing friends and anecdotes to recount on stage or in therapy, or both. Since leaving full-time analytics for comedy, I’ve been much happier and noticeably worse at Excel. I love that many of the Laxtoners still meet for annual Christmas Dinners - something I hope we always continue.

Alex Tonks (L)

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Harriet Haughney: After taking a gap year to travel around the world, I went on to study medicine at Sheffield.

As part of my studies, I was able to work in hospitals in both Sri Lanka and then Ecuador - definitely put my AS Spanish to the test! I graduated in 2019 and worked in Yorkshire for the next two years, often on Covid wards which was pretty tough. I moved down to London two years ago and continue to work as a doctor. I’m starting GP training in London this August, so I’ll be there for the next few years at least. I’m still close with lots of the Laxton OOs - we still organise the annual Laxton Christmas Dinner and a group of us have just been to Glastonbury together.

Emma Carr: I went on to Oxford University for a degree in Biological Sciences - where I was able, among other things, to do a dissertation on sea turtles (and therefore spend an entire summer swimming in the ocean! ) Once I graduated in 2016, I moved straight to London to start at OC&C - a boutique strategy consultancy - where I worked for around five years before making the transition in-house to join the commercial strategy team at John Lewis Partnership. They always say that moving jobs entails facing new challenges, but one thing that I had definitely not been expecting to do was to serve my former teachers in Oundle Waitrose in the week before Christmas as part of our ‘Helping Hands’ initiative. Meeting Dr Bessent’s son, in particular, was one of those ‘how time has flown’ moments, given that when I left the school he had not even been born…and now he is practically old enough to be studying there! Later this summer, after two years at John Lewis, I will be moving to Arsenal Football Club to join their commercial strategy team, whilst continuing to run my own sport swimwear business (‘Vedra Swim’ - launching soon!)  OO Hockey Team: Kate Harrison (Sn), Honor de Winton (Sn), Caitlin Place (W), Annie Bletsoe-Brown (Sn), Meg Turner (K), Olivia Hodgkinson (N), Holly Rice (Sn), Hayley Humphries (N), Maisie de Wolf (Sn), Izzie Ayton (Sn)

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with Alex Bishop (F). Outside work, I’m still a big runner, and I’ve also made the typical move into triathlon, completing the Barcelona Ironman in 2021 despite never having raced a triathlon before (in for a penny, in for a pound). I still see the Laxton girls regularly out and about in London, and every Christmas we have a Laxton dinner which is a tradition we hope to continue long into the future.

NEW HOUSE Olivia Hodgkinson: Ten years have flown by! Most recently I have bought a flat in London, got married, work at PwC and of course still benefit from those life lessons Oundle taught me.

The famous New House Pig pens and dorm raids prepare you for those cosy hostel nights travelling. Time at The Road helps you navigate the chaotic streets of Northcote Road on a Saturday evening. Headaches in Chapel after a Saturday night prepare you for those felt at the office on Friday morning after a Thirsty Thursday.

Africa Cook: No matter how much I love my life now, nothing will beat the dorm chaos. Oundle should

seriously consider hosting immersive experiences. Dogs, tech and a sexy Swede don’t quite hit the same as Sasha knocking my front teeth out Kate Hawkswell: I decided I couldn’t stay away from Oundle and returned for MENCAP the following summer, gracefully impaling myself on the gates of cloisters attempting to snag a bag of crisps from the vending machine. I then hobbled off to Paris where I split my time between au pairing at a grand chateau and flipping burgers to keep things real.

On the day of graduating from Leeds, I hopped on a train straight down to London and I’ve now been working for The Modern House for the past four years selling the most gorgeous homes to some very cool people and hoping someone remembers my kindness in their will. I’m living in London, escaping when I can, still seeing friends from Oundle, rejoining MENCAP this summer, and definitely not doing as much Art as I wish I was (Sorry, Ponti!)

Marlena Razali: Can’t believe it’s been ten years since Oundle and it’s been a journey. Needing to be back to City life, it was UCL for me and I

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 George Smith (StA), George Wells (StA), Jamie Macrae (Sc), Sasha Castleman (N), Lucia Garnet (D), Annalisa Gardner (K), Lara Thompson (K), Will Orr (StA)

NGO. I am starting a PhD on sharks in Kenya in September at Exeter so will be spending a bit more time in the UK over the next few years.

went through the finance route post graduation (…and am still here.)

Covid hit and it probably has been the greatest thing that’s happened to me – started a food blog in March 2020 (You can find me @girleatsin on Instagram – shameless plug!) and I’ve been content creating ever since. Did some amazing campaigns, ate some incredible food and met some fab people. Most recently, I got married in an intimate ceremony in London and am planning celebrations for Malaysia 2024!

Hayley Humpherys: Studying Biological Sciences at Exeter was not the same as Miss Leung’s Biology classes, dissecting live mice and feeding leeches on our arms. New House was by far the best bit of Oundle. The countless dorm raids and chucking hairbrushes at each other has set me up well for office politics. Being in the unique House inspired me to accept questionable jobs in Colombia, Niger and Kenya. I now work for an agricultural trading company and love seeing everyone.

Sasha Castleman: The most important lessons I learnt at Oundle are: • A chocolate donut will make any day better.

• Swimming in rivers is fun.

• A walk with alcohol is an excellent date.

• Exercise is great but making up

excuses to get out of it is more fun.

• Going to your friends’ houses to do nothing is the best way to hang out.

• Careers tests are useful: mine said computer game design or florist which I thought was ridiculous but now I am a digital experience designer who wants to be a gardener.

Joanna Scott: It really doesn’t feel like ten years since we left school, but maybe we are starting to get old! After leaving Oundle, I studied History and International Relations at St Andrews (thanks to Dr von Habsburg and Mr Liston’s stories from there). After graduating, I applied for any job under the sun to find a reason to move to London and started working in regulatory policy for an insurance trade association (who knew that existed?). I worked there for four years and last year moved to Swiss Re to learn more about the world of reinsurance.

Clare Thouless: I did my undergraduate degree in Zoology at Exeter University with a year abroad in Melbourne. After graduating, I ran a diving research project in Scotland and did a dive masters in Mozambique. I worked in the Seychelles for a few months, before doing a masters degree in Marine Biology in San Diego, and then moved back to Kenya where I currently work for a marine research

Francesca Glynn: I can’t believe it’s been ten years! After Oundle I went straight to Exeter Uni to study French and Spanish, and as part of this I lived in France and Spain. Working on a vineyard was definitely a highlight. I moved to London, worked in an office job and I realised that wasn’t for me, so I started working as a speech and language therapy assistant. Working in a hospital throughout Covid was pretty crazy. I’m about to finish a MSc at UCL to qualify as a Therapist. Ten years on and I’m finally nearly done with education!

Hester Seymour: After leaving Oundle I attended Kings College London to study Geography.

During my three years I did a year’s exchange to the University of California Berkeley where I gained a wealth of experience and many friends. During my time at university my parents expanded the family business of caravan parks and, as help was needed, I joined them. Now I run the business as my parents have reduced their workload and any spare time I have I compete with my horses and visit friends around the country.

I recently got engaged and plan to get married early next year.

SANDERSON Kate Harrison: Completed Oundle without a pink card to my name.

Headed to Exeter. Continued to prioritise watching fit boys play sport over studies. Spent a number of years trying to break into the TV industry.

Met my first employer whilst scaling a human pyramid at Wilderness.

He (Levison Wood) was famous for his long walks, but I never walked further than Battersea Power Station.

Dabbled in sports broadcasts, but

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 Kate Harrison & Honor de Winton (Sn)

Premier League weekends spent on the M6 and pandering to Rio Ferdinand weren’t going to cut it.

Gave up on TV and joined Yonder, the challenger credit card, pre-launch and have managed our partnerships and rewards curation ever since. Never thought I’d end up in fintech, but genuinely love it and hope to help launch Yonder in more cities across the world. When not working I’m training for Hyrox, a cross-functional fitness race I was introduced to by Angus Greenlees (StA), and turned out to be alright at (see Honor’s entry). I’m sure I have DAT to thank for my work(ing out) ethic as not being picked for the Gale Mile team left its scar. Oundle gifted me the best friends ever, with whom I’ve lived, travelled, run long distances and drunk many a spicy marg over the last decade. Onto the next.

Isabel Ayton: Headed to London ahead of schedule to do French and Spanish at UCL, mostly so I could spend a year ‘studying’ in South America with Tash Stocks (W). On my return, got on the apps and I’ve been trying to shake off that first bumble date ever since. Conveniently, his two best friends are also dating Oundelians. My first job working in development in Kenya involved bucket showers and washing my pants by hand. Although character building, I rapidly re-entered my comfort zone with an office job and a flat in West London with OOs. This year, adventure calls and I will be moving to Beijing in September for a three year posting with the Foreign Office. Already planning the OO visit - all are welcome!

Annie Bletsoe-Brown: Went to Newcastle uni for the trebles, got a politics degree. Attempted life as an estate agent, but secured more dates than houses sold. Travelled the world ‘to find myself’, settled on a career in law and now get paid to argue for a living. Spent three years living in London with Izzy Ayton (Sn), until she left me for her boyfriend.

After six months I moved in with

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her boyfriend. Despite an illustrious dating life during school, I’m now happily single, but my DMs are always open.

Connie McCool-Duncan: Went to Durham uni, graduated, moved to London, got a job in film. Spent a few months living in the west of Ireland shooting a Film4 feature as director’s assistant. Secured that sweet first IMDb credit. Dossed around in film for a few more years. Quit my job in Feb 2020 (nice one); scrabbled around for a new job during the pandemic.

Joined a film and TV talent agency, gutted it out as an assistant once again. Became an agent; signed some writers I’m completely obsessed with; got their TV series into development.

Made some friends along the way.

Picked up a hairy Welsh boyfriend.

Learnt some things, unlearnt more things. Wouldn’t have achieved any of it without my Oundle day 1s and loves of my life, Lara Webster (Sn), Tash Garrood, Livvy King and Harriet Gillett (all K) - not listed in any order of preference.

Maisie de Wolf: Since Oundle, I’ve achieved the title Doctor, a sub-4 hour marathon and a boyfriend. Debatable which of these was the most challenging. In 2016, I embarked on three years at Exeter Uni with other Oundelians, including Sanderson

girls Kate and Lottie. Somehow drawing hexagons in biochemistry gained me a 1st class degree and a ticket into KCL medical school. I qualified as Dr de Wolf in peak Covid time and am currently working in a London hospital A&E. Having spent years studying and racking up the student debts (ouch), I am very excited about the upcoming two-yeartrip with my boyfriend, working and travelling around Australia. Having completed six marathons (including London with my sister India de Wolf (Sn 16), and Holly Rice (Sn) zooming past in Paris), I am hoping to complete Melbourne. That is if “I’m still standing” after a recent trip to Glastonbury. There will be many calls home to my brother Jack de Wolf (Sc 08) who has recently become a dad to baby Finley.

Honor de Winton: My netball prowess didn’t stop at school.

Surprisingly, it led me to study Italian, a new language to me, in Manchester, a city I’d never visited.

After uni, I spent six months travelling India with a boyfriend my dad disapproved of - not of the head boy ilk he was used to. With that out of my system, I moved to London and started working in the creative industry and was drafted into the London semi-pro netball team. It didn’t take me long to realise advertising and branding wasn’t for me and I swiftly transitioned into private equity. I’ve recently retired from netball, and now spend all my money on triathlon equipment and races. My Sanderson girls are still my closest friends and we see each other weekly. I recently competed in the Hyrox World Championships with Kate Harrison (Sn) and by the time you’re reading this we’ll be living together.

Lara Webster: Went to uni and studied English and Classical Lit which, although two of my favourite subjects, didn’t do a thing to help me find a career. It did prove an opportunity to have a lot of fun and make some brilliant mates though. Spent the best part of the last decade single and changed careers

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 Alice Ritson, Lara Webster, Connie McCool-Duncan, Alice Marks, Annie BolleJones, Lottie Winnett, Maisie de Wolf (Sn)

called home for six years now. I have a job I love - in the ski and mountain bike industry - and spend my days off exploring the mountains on skis, mountain biking or hiking.

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four times in as many years. Now finally wriggled my way into the conservation space and am loving it, and living with someone I’m pretty serious about. I was lucky enough to make a core group of friends at school who have been my biggest and happiest constant for the last ten years. After another year in London and (hopefully) a stint in NZ, it’s on to pastures greener - and maybe scouting out our future commune?

Holly Rice: First five years: left school, (hardly) worked in Verbier, (hardly) studied at Edinburgh, exchange in Melbourne, moved to London. All but Aus, happily surrounded by a gaggle of OOs. Second five years: a rogue (head) start in operations for a 3D printed helmet start-up, followed by UX at BBC and now product design at Revolut. And because I wasn’t getting my Oundelian dose at work I decided to live with six of them. Ten year plan (aka mid-life crisis) to retrain as a therapist - cause we’ll probs all need it by then! In summary: Oundle peeps remain the best

♥

Alice Marks: After school, I jetted off to the far east and Australia with fellow Oundelians Hector Murray (C) and Alice Ritson (Sn).

We explored, laughed, and captured selfies in exotic locales. Then, I traded my wanderlust for books, studying psychology and playing hockey at Liverpool University. Seeking thrills,

I conquered ski slopes and roamed South America. Next, I worked in travel for two years, perfecting my poker face when faced with lost luggage. Finally, I dived into UX Design, unlocking pixelated gold.

Now, I’m working for the BBC, ensuring flawless clicks, smooth buttons, and flowing news articles.

Life’s a wild ride, and I’m strapped in, laughing all the way.

Amanda Koh: I’ve mostly been living in London since leaving Oundle. I completed my medical undergraduate degree at UCL and spent two months doing my medical elective in India. I am currently working as a junior doctor in North West London and thinking of pursuing a career in geriatrics.

Not quite as athletic as the fellow Sanderson girls, I’m trying my best to keep fit with yoga and barre classes in between on-call shifts. Plans for the near future include getting married, moving into a new home and finally getting a dog!

Lottie Winnett: I spent three years studying history at Exeter - and playing hockey. I took a year out after university and did a ski season in Verbier and another in Wanaka, New Zealand. When I came back to the UK I realised that, unlike many of my Sanderson girls, London wasn’t calling for me. I made the (slightly scary) decision not to go to London and settled in Verbier which I have

Pablo Giacomi: Ten years have allowed me to complete a medical degree in Bristol, and be a doctor for a couple of years in London. The double gap year after school was a highlight (S/O Wells and Taylor) and F1 of medical training was definitely a lowlight (claps don’t cut it). Met an amazing girl in my first week of uni, going to marry her.

Tom Rockall: Well, in the last decade I’ve been gallivanting around South America like a lost llama, searching for enlightenment but mostly finding mosquito bites. Then I thought, “Let’s go to Chicago!” Turns out, Chicago is great fun bar the gun crime. Next stop: university, where I decided to study economics because, who needs a social life when you can analyse supply and demand curves until you start questioning your existence. As a huge consumer of oil based products I decided to embark on a career in the world of black gold. Who needs fresh air when you can bask in the aroma of crude oil? My life has been a chaotic rollercoaster, highs and lows with a dash of olive oily drama. *This was written by ChatGPT Robert Edwards: After leaving picturesque Oundle, I embarked on a journey “Up North” to Sheffield, where I spent four years initially studying politics. However, due to the volatile nature of UK politics, I made the decision to pursue my true passion for sports. For the past five years, I have been living in the stunning city of Luzern, Switzerland, which rivals Oundle in terms of natural beauty and sleepiness. Here, I can be found crunching performance data for the UEFA Champions League. Most likely to still be found

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treating the “ground as my friend” in a scrum or on the golf course.

Jamie Macrae: Despite scraping my living these days editing fashion magazines in London, let’s leave words behind and focus on some numbers. It’s been 3,650 or so days since we left Oundle, of which I’ve spent approximately 1,952 with Ed Beazley (F). Coincidentally this is also what he charges me each month in rent. Bisecting the 3 stints living with Ed, I cohabited with 2 Georges (Wells and Smith, StA). There’s been 1 gap year (India), 1 degree (Bristol) and 0 girlfriends (ignoring a brief L6th fling with Alice Luxmoore Styles). I spend 2.5 months a year in Amsterdam (not for the reasons you might think) and have recently started a semi-regular padel league with Tom Rockall (Sc), Lance Allen (G) and Sam Warner (StA) So far, no losses. I’ve watched Angus Greenlees (StA) bowl countless overs, and seen 0 wickets.

I’m 6ft 3 (on Hinge), 81kg (on a good day) and 30 years old next year. My K/D on Warzone tipped 1.6 during lockdown. 15 years of great times with great people, let’s keep in touch ‘til Trump kills us all in his 14th term.

Peace and love. JMac. Ed Philips: Joined Oundle in a cloud of mystery, fresh from the rolling hills of Somerset, with a dress sense and language previously unseen or heard of in the East Midlands. To this day he remains a true original, forging a path through the overgrown thickets of life

S Jamie Macrae and Baby Philips

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with his beanie-clad head held high, where lesser men would crumble.

Job? Nailing it in the world of VC. Other half? Amazing, and almost a foot taller than him. Kids? Almost too many to keep track of: currently three, probably four by the time this is published. Music taste? Impeccable.

Clothes? Getting there…He’s a father, friend, and the best flipping bloke I know. We are all lucky to have him in our lives still, 12 years on. (Written by Jamie MacRae) Louis Wigginton: Since leaving Oundle, Wiggy has seen more of the world than most, passing through India, Nepal, New Zealand, Australia and Milton Keynes, amongst other far flung locales. He settled in Munich where he works as a carpenter and reverted to his original name - Louis.

One can only assume this is due to his new Bavarian friends struggling with the pronunciation of his nickname. Wiggy 1 (Oscar, B 09) and Wiggy 2 (Hugo, StA 11) are no doubt incredibly hurt by this betrayal. He is still ginger. (Also written by Jamie MacRae) Henry Sinclair: After a brief flirtation with an economics and IR degree from SOAS, Henry left to make his way in the world. A serial entrepreneur (unlike most, his big ideas are actually quite good) for now he works as a product manager at a very successful tech company, biding his time until Twitter seeks more level headed leadership. He’s

S Tom Rockall (Sc), Ali Titcomb (G), Meg Turner (K), Holly Rice (Sn), Kate Harrison (Sn), Lance Allen (G), Caitlin Place (W)

getting married this summer to a wonderful woman named Tara, and they are expecting their first child in December. We are all hoping that Attic ‘Til Dawn, Henry’s band whilst at Oundle, resolve their creative differences, let bygones be bygones, and re-form to play at the wedding.

Or, failing that, the christening. (You guessed it, Jamie MacRae again.

Guy’s gotta make a buck somehow)

SIDNEY Hadi Masri: After Oundle, I went to Scotland to study dentistry at Dundee University for five years. Once qualified, I went back home to Brunei to work as a general dentist. Other than that,I also worked as a swabber/ pharmacist during the early Covid waves. Recently, I’ve been doing my pre-specialty rotations in hope of becoming an Oral Surgeon specialist in the near future. Work aside, I still play badminton. Until now, I’m still waiting for Ashley Sim (StA) and Oscar Chung (S) to challenge and finally beat me, with James Bolland (S) as the witness, of course.

James Bolland: Like many, I moved to London after Oundle and studied Natural Sciences at UCL. I continued playing water polo there, highlight being a Varsity match at the London Aquatics Centre. Afterwards I entered

FEATURE

the energy sector which took me to Birmingham and Swindon for a few years (for better or worse), before moving back to London in 2020. I had the audacity to go on The Chase, but sadly learning Mandarin over French proved to be my downfall – no offence Mr Yan! I still game too much for my own good, though at least now I go bouldering twice a week.

Seb Tusa: After a year skiing and travelling, I went up to Durham to read French and History, with a choral scholarship at Durham Cathedral and a year abroad in Paris. I followed through with the schoolboy ambition to join army, commissioning from Sandhurst into the Grenadier Guards in March 2020. Highlights have been a recent deployment to Iraq, as well as the Falkland Islands, jungle training in Thailand, ski racing in Val D’Isère and I carried the colour at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh and stood vigil in Westminster Hall during the lying in state for HM The Queen.

I have incredibly fond memories of formative years at Oundle and still see lots of friends regularly.

Seb Tusa (S)

I’m excited to be finally moving to London for my next job in the army and getting back in touch with the Sidney boys and others too.

Oscar Chung: I’ve had four engaging years studying maths at university, and have since moved on to the London fintech scene, which is also quite enjoyable. I still regularly do badminton and bouldering. Might move back to Hong Kong at some point. Would be good to catch up before then.

Jonathan Lamb: Oundle and Sidney certainly made me a more entertaining dinner party guest with so many great stories to tell. Post leaving I thoroughly enjoyed Theology at Edinburgh University. Several forays into various careers have followed, including executive search, law and, latterly, property. I recently completed a Masters in real estate from Reading.

For the last ten years I have continued to be involved in Oundle Mencap Holidays along with fellow OOs including Bertie Wnek (S), which is always a summer highlight.

Tom Curzon (S)

Tom Curzon: After Oxford I trained at a clown school in France, (Fred Wienand (Ldr) also went there) and I’ve been working as a clown and actor since then. I’m also writing music for theatre and film. I pay my bills by teaching Theatre at universities and drama schools in London, including being Clowning Tutor on the MA at Arts Ed - literally a clown professor! My sisters are all well - Anna Curzon (K 05) has three children, Flora (K 07) is getting married this summer, and Lucy (K 10) lives in Berlin, working as Arts manager for the British Council. Here I am, clowning in Moldova.

Rory Bevin: I’m working as assistant to the racehorse trainer Tim Easterby based near Malton, North Yorkshire.

We have upwards of 150 horses so are very busy, though when time allows I’m a keen member of Great Habton village cricket team and an increasingly enthusiastic runner. The further the better seems to be my problem at the moment. My most recent race was 268 miles along the Pennine Way. Archie Bowlby: The previous ten years have been full of learning and adventure. Following three years of time spent at the Royal Agricultural University studying land management and spells spent in the summer on various farms including Sir James Dyson’s, I joined the commercial property graduate scheme for Savills. Deciding this wasn’t for me I returned graciously to farming at the family home in Lincolnshire where I’m currently based. I’m still playing a lot of tennis and enjoying country pursuits.

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ST ANTHONY Sam Warner: It is 100% ok to not have ‘it’ all worked out when you leave school, uni, or in your twenties - trust me. After a gap year I headed off to Exeter to read Anthropology.

On realising becoming ‘an Anthropologist’ wasn’t necessarily viable, I studied the graduate Diploma in Law in London. An… interesting year… and so I looked elsewhere for my career. What better than a year at Haileybury College, as a sports teacher and House tutor. I had discovered my love of teaching.

But - the pressures of ‘just finding a job in London’ took hold. I quickly started at MTM London, a research consultancy specialising in media, tech and sport - where I worked for three years. Last July I left and started my teacher training at Roehampton University, inspired by my year at Haileybury. It’s been an intense, and hugely satisfying, PGCE year learning to teach history at state secondary schools. I’m excited to have passed the training and start my teaching career at Greenshaw High School in September.

Ben Olivier: After Oundle I studied at Central Saint Martins, leaving with a well deserved 2.2. Following a few stints at tech startups I have somehow managed to wangle a job as a product designer at Meta. Currently living in Kings Cross with my childhood sweetheart, we often escape to

S Will Orr, George Taylor, Ben Olivier, Felix Dudgeon, Angus Greenless, Sam Warner, Hector Mason, George Smith (StA)

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Norfolk on the weekends for boating and dog walks. I like to fill my spare time playing squash and trading internet ponzis. Recently started an accessories brand www.endfield. co. In ten years find me retired with wife, children and dog in a lovely Hampstead Heath townhouse.

George Smith: I work in communications, am terrible on WhatsApp. Obsessed with Twitter, never tweet. Living in London, love the countryside. Enjoy reading, frequently don’t finish books. Adore cricket, scared of the ball. Passionate about the Ruth Strauss Foundation, connecting families losing a parent with the right professional support.

Proud to have been interviewed on Sky for this year’s RedforRuth fundraising day.

Angus Greenlees: I went skiing for a bit, worked in a bar for a bit, worked at a school for a bit, went to uni and will hopefully be a teacher for a bit.

My girlfriend is nice. I’ve played sport a lot, travelled a lot and played playstation A LOT. Whatever Jamie MacRae (Sc) and George Smith (StA) tell you isn’t true.

capitalist and Founder, and I’m surrounded by people I love.

Will Orr: I should hope that the record of my former employers is not an indication of where I will be in ten years’ time. That said, 33 jobs later, from litter picking to boxing manager to banana farming and commercial intelligence, I now find myself in Côte d’Ivoire creating sustainability projects for farmers in West Africa.

Still happily Rambling and in touch with lots of Oundle friends. You can find me in the Harris Garden, if you happen to be near Abidjan.

Felix Dudgeon: After Oundle, I went to Durham university and studied Accounting & Finance, where I made friends for life (you will be pleased to know that they are not all accountants). I then went on to the well trodden path of joining a Big4 in London. Seven years later, I am still loving London life, and am embracing my inner chav, having bought a motorcycle and a jet ski.

George Wells: Went to Manchester to live in the Tower, Then in Nairobi flogged solar power, Putney, Battersea, now St John’s Wood, Talk of moving abroad and I probably should, The OO network I surely would miss, BLT I never did kiss, Single at time of writing, Loneliness I am fighting, Student debt sizeable, Therapy advisable.

Tom Culley: After Newcastle University, I put my economics and business degree to good use and became a silver service waiter. I then embarked on a thrilling journey into the world of audit, where my role could best be described as a cure for insomnia. Five years of counting numbers and balancing spreadsheets made me appreciate the excitement of watching paint dry. I found solace in regular golf trips to Vale do Lobo.

I have since ventured into corporate reporting and trade finance in London. From a fat kid to a sugar connoisseur, the irony.

Hector Mason: I think we’re getting old. It’s been a decade since leaving Oundle and I’m not sure I like thinking about life in decade chunks.

However… I feel as young as I did back then. Maybe maturity hasn’t caught up yet. Someone wise (and old) said to me that each decade of life gets better and that’s rung true for me. I’m happily married… to my work… and I’ve travelled a lot… within the M25…But jokes aside, I’m energised by my work as a venture

Alex Mann: Several flats, flatmates, cities, countries, or two pairs of Birkenstocks later, I remain - The Ship of Theseus - the same? Lately I have settled in “poor but sexy” Berlin - mit meine Duetsche, Isabell. In part, the genesis of this lifestyle choice arose in my Oundle years with the infamous 5th form History trip. Currently I work as a freelance producer in documentary film and factual television - juggling London and Berlin. It has been a greasy, unglamorous pole yet with its

FEATURE

highlights, including: procuring a flat white for Kane Williamson in Solihull and taking Simon Hughes, the analyst, also known as Yozzer, to Trisha’s in Soho.

Personal highs include an MFA and a charity cycle from Nairobi to Cape Town. Withstanding seven countries, several stitches and a broken wrist, I raised money in memory of my father as well as my friend and neighbour Charlie Watkins. For reasons unknown, I am training for the Berlin marathon in September. Many of my closest friends remain Oundelian and ten years from now I expect it will be the same.

WYATT Izzy Buckland: After five of the happiest years at Oundle, I headed north to the Toon where I spent four years studying French and Spanish with a year abroad, consisting of 6 months in Paris and 6 months in Madrid. After uni, I abandoned my languages, concluding that I missed my friends too much to live abroad and have been working in asset management sales in the City ever since. I live in South West London with my boyfriend, and try to see as many Oundle people as I possibly can to reminisce about all the best times we had - ten years on and my Oundle friends are still some of my closest and dearest.

Tash Stocks: Following school I headed north to St Andrews where I spent three years studying Spanish and one year in Uruguay where I spent too little time putting what I had learnt into practice and too much time drinking Malbec with Izzy Ayton (Sn).

After uni I joined the Knight Frank grad scheme where, having secured the highly esteemed title of surveyor, I have spent the last five years happily working in the London office market.

I live in west London with my boyfriend and still see plenty of fellow OOs in London and Norfolk which, up there with Oundle, remains one of my favourite places. I will be forever grateful for my time at Oundle and the amazing friends I made there.

Rosanna Leslie Melville: Take me back to the days of 5p strawbs, cheesy chips from Coffee Tav, finding boyfriends in the blue book, being called ‘janky’, calling paper ‘block’, stalking ‘walks’ on top pitches and cashing in two drink tokens a weekend. Sadly these days are unbelievably ten years behind us, and since then I took a gap year, studied Psychology at Newcastle, did TeachFirst in London, moved to Australia, came home during Covid, and now am living in Kentish Town with Annie Powell (D) and Theo Ewer (D), and working in Edtech, currently at Multiverse alongside Lara Thompson (K).

Caitlin Place: Loved everything about PPE at Oxford (except its rep with politicians) and have since spent the last seven years at Macquarie; first in commodity trading then building cross-asset quant strategies, but mostly just enjoying lunch breaks with Meg Turner (K) until she moved to Paris.

Unable to bear lunch alone, I’ve just resigned to study for an MBA at INSEAD in France next year and scratch the travel-itch for a few months first - current plans involve driving a Land Rover from Cape Town to Nairobi and pretending to be a gaucha in Patagonia (any recs welcome). Have lived with a multitude of OOs and drunk many a margarita with others you just can’t shake those bonds built in Oundle and I will forever look back fondly on my time there.

Mary Whittow: Four years at Oxford reading Classics left me none the wiser as to what to do. I moved to London and worked in financial communications but soon decided this wasn’t for me. Since then, I have worked at DEFRA, lived in Kenya working on small-scale farms and I am now back in London, working in environmental consulting. I love it! I carried on rowing at university, competing in my college 1st boat for two years and became one of the few female Masters of the Oxford Beagles.

More recently, I completed my first triathlon, alongside fellow Wyatt girl, Evie Gray!

S Rosanna Leslie Melville, Izzy Buckland, Caitlin Place, Tash Stocks (W)

Tory Erskine: Writing this makes ten years feel like ten minutes ago! I left Oundle with a ticket to read biochem at Oxford, spent four years pretending I understood what I was doing, squeezed in a quick gap summer in South East Asia before joining London’s corporate bubble. Nowadays I’ve found myself in the healthcare team of an investment bank, quite sleep deprived and still pretending I understand what I am doing. Living in South London which I love almost as much as I love trying to escape whenever I can.

Emily Gladstone: After reading Economics at St Andrews I worked in London as a government economist for a few years before joining an economic consultancy. Thank you to my Oundle Economics teachers for giving me an interest that has now become a career! I got married in 2021 and we recently bought a tiny house in Kennington. (No imminent plans for babies or a dog though!) Jack Bates (Ldr) has been doing some excellent gardening/landscaping work for us in-between his law exams.

Evie Gray: After school I headed to Warwick University to study PPE, mostly spending my time with the hockey club (avoiding the part where they actually played hockey). I then went to UCL to study Public Policy, determined to find a job that would have a positive impact on the world.

After two civil service rejections I ended up joining a pharmaceutical company, where I’ve stayed ever since.

I’m now working on rolling out the malaria vaccine, so it’s sort of gone to plan. After a short stint in Belgium, I’m living in west London with the lovely Jemima Guest (D).

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Join the OO Network ■ Nicky Yianni, OO Club Secretary CONNECT

Find, connect and network with fellow Old Oundelians using a searchable directory.

Download the OO Network app to connect on the go.

GIVE BACK

Introduce, employ and offer to act as a mentor to others in the OO Community through the jobs and internships board.

EXPAND

Grow your professional and personal network of OOs and connect with others in similar industries to develop your career, or seek guidance.

COMMUNITY

A dedicated space to engage with fellow members the OO Community and keep in touch with one another in a trusted environment, as well as hearing about the latest news and developments at Oundle.

EVENTS

Keep up to date with and sign up for networking events, social events and reunions.

OO Charity Challenge

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ponsored by the OO Club, the OO Charity Challenge is an annual event which involves all 4th form pupils. Representatives from each House present their chosen charitable cause to a panel with the opportunity to win £1000 for their charity. In addition to this, the OO Club donates £5 on behalf of each 4th form pupil to their nominated charities.

The final round of presentations was held on Wednesday 29 June with the finalists including teams from Bramston, St Anthony and Laundimer. The competition this year was extremely close. The panel, which included OO Club Vice President Chris Piper (Sc 71), Deputy Director Philanthropy Neena Solanki and OO Club Secretary Nicky Yianni, felt that the pupils’ knowledge and reasons for choosing their charities were exceptional. All of the finalists’ presentations were informative and

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OO Club representatives with Henry Salvesen, Ryan Gray and Archie Macfarlane

thought provoking.

Aston and Tim (B) presented a strong case for their charity Think Malawi, dedicated to supporting educational projects in Malawi. Faisal and Jack (St A) spoke passionately about their chosen charity Marafiki Trust which aims to relieve poverty in Kenya, demonstrating outstanding presentational skills.

After a lengthy debate, the

Laundimer team were declared winners. Henry, Ryan and Archie presented well, had brilliant team work and were well versed about their charity, the Vine Trust, which enables volunteers to provide medical, home-building and care support to communities living in severe poverty in Tanzania and Peru.

A donation of £1000 from the OO Club will be made on your behalf.

NEWS

The School Year ■ Compiled by Hannah Morgan, Marketing Manager.

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he School was delighted to recognise the achievements of this year’s (I)GCSE and A level cohorts in public examinations. These pupils have experienced unprecedented disruption to their education, and we are exceptionally proud of them and their achievements.

At (I)GCSE, 27% of all grades awarded were grade 9, 54% were graded 9 or 8, and 74% were graded 9-7. Across all entries, the most common grade was a grade 9. Twentythree pupils achieved straight grade 9s and 8s, while 33 pupils achieved straight grades 9-7 (the equivalent of A*-A).

At A level, 26% of grades were at A* or equivalent, with 63% A*A and 83% A*-B. Remarkably, ten pupils achieved four A* grades, while a further twenty-one pupils achieved at least three A* grades. 40% of the cohort achieved straight A*/A grades, with A being the most common grade across all entries. A high proportion of pupils immediately secured a place at one of their chosen universities and 17 pupils took up Oxbridge offers.

Beyond the examined curriculum, the Life of Learning programme continues to engage pupils.

Colloquium aims to go beyond classroom discussion with a mix of topics ranging from the importance of Orwell in today’s political climate to Big Ideas in Mathematics. Ninety seven Lower Sixth pupils opted for one of Quadrivium’s rigorous courses, including strategy and geopolitics to chemical experimentation and cultural identities within the English Church.

Trivium expands our Third Form’s horizons by introducing ideas from protest songs, Italian cinema, Chinese architecture and the Olympic Games.

Pupil ambassadors visit lessons and run assemblies for whole year groups.

These have included topics such as mental health and toxic masculinity and forming junior and senior Pride Societies. A new initiative called SHARE (Sexual Health and Relationships Education) - a drop-in service for pupils to ask questions has been publicised. Caleb Jelf (L U6) won the Nicholson Award for impressing the Design, Engineering and Technology and the Physics Departments. For his final A Level Design Engineering project, he designed and prototyped a mechanical squash ball heater. In his ‘free time’, Caleb used the Patrick Centre to restore a 1997 Toyota Starlet and a 50cc quadbike. He is planning to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College.

Overseas trips returned, without restriction or the constant worry of cancellation. Highlights included a science trip to Silicon Valley, an art trip to Berlin, CCF skiing in the Alps, a classics trip to Sicily, and a Second Form multi-sports tour to Jersey.

Language trips have included Nice for a medley of museums, language lessons, and sporting activities; Vejer to improve Spanish, attempt surfing and visit Seville; a language and culture trip to A Coruña and the Orléans exchange trip. Debating competitions and weekly training took place fully in person. The juniors competed in the International Competition for Young Debaters regionals at the Cambridge Union, and two teams made it through to the final. The public speakers took part in the ESU Churchill competition, making it to the regional finals, and pupils also progressed to the regional finals in the prestigious ESU Mace competition. Pupils reached the final of the Nottingham Union competition, and Eva Morgan (D) and Iona Morgan (D) followed the tradition of siblings

reaching the Oxford Union finals, following in the footsteps of brothers William Caskey (L) and Thomas Caskey (L 22) last year. William Caskey (L) and Livy Jong (K) achieved some of the highest scores in the Cambridge Union competition.

Oundle’s reputation for excellence in Engineering continues. Both Henrietta Newble (N) and Monty Drewett (L) were awarded Arkwright Engineering Scholarships - an accolade to individuals, identified through a rigorous selection process as possible leaders in the field of engineering. On 23 June, the PEC, along with the Physics department, ran the inaugural Girls in Engineering day, which coincided with Women in Engineering day. Seventy girls from local schools and Oundle took part in a series of challenges related to Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechatronics and Aeronautical Engineering, with a lecture by Saminda Anand from Caterpillar UK. A major focus of Music this year has been the five-strand development of our Royal College of Music partnership. We appointed Emma Purslow as our first RCM Fellow to develop outreach with local schools and enjoyed concerts in the stunning Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, returning in March with five coachloads of musicians to present a spectacular concert for family and

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friends. We had visits over the year from professors and the Head of Strings, Mark Messenger, with many pupils from our partnership schools now playing regularly in our orchestras. Jonathan Radford, a supreme saxophonist, inspired our wind players. We have professional development opportunities for our teachers with RCM professors and will start hosting music courses outside term-time next summer.

Visitors to The Stahl have been treated to an array of work, from Russian naturalism to science fiction, and from absurdist comedy to Shakespeare. Productions have been warmly received by the School House, and professional company. We were thrilled that two of our Drama scholars successfully auditioned for The National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre. Sam Pegge (C L6) will perform in the NYMT’s “When I Grow Up” concert in London, while Kitty Charlton (K 5) will take part in a two-week intake course with the NYT this summer.

The CCF continues to thrive and expand. In addition to routine training conducted every Wednesday afternoon and delivered by the Sixth Form cadets as a practical opportunity to develop leadership skills and experience, there have been numerous opportunities away from school. The CCF Ski Trip to Siviez in Switzerland ran again in February for the first time since 2020. Two Field weekends included trips to the Peak District, North Wales, Thetford Training Area, and the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

It has been an excellent year for Sport, in terms of fixtures and results, continued high rates of participation and overall enjoyment. Girls’ hockey and Boys’ rugby were both able to start the year with successful preseasons. Hockey and Rugby each put out 22 teams across the term, playing over 120 matches and 200 matches respectively. The Lent term was an intense ten weeks of sport. Oundle hosted both the regional and national Schools England netball finals, alongside multiple regional and national Fives championships. The OO Multisports weekend was its

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biggest to date with the School wresting back the Spragg trophy from the OOs. The Purbrook Memorial match was again played to an exceptionally high level. Boys’ hockey, netball and girls’ rugby all competed strongly. Boys’ and girls’ football were particularly successful. Summer term saw cricket, tennis, athletics and rowing take centre stage. Live streaming of girls’ and boys’ cricket matches has continued. The golf squad reached the area final of the HMC competition, with the newly opened - OO financially supported golf simulators allowing accessible training. In May, the Prep Schools’ Triathlon welcomed over 900 year 3-8 pupils to Oundle. Pupil-led events included a charity hockey match, a 24 hour swim-a-thon and 24 hour row-a-thon, as well as a charity weightlifting competition. Partnership links with Northampton Saints rugby, Loughborough Lightning netball, Northants cricket and the England hockey Talent Academy all enhance our sport scholarship and dedicated athlete offerings. We continue our strong links with the OO sports community, such as the Oundle Rovers and their Cricketer Cup campaigns.

The Chapel has provided a place where the School has observed very significant national events. Firstly, it was where the whole School gathered to pray the morning after news reached us of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s death, and then, later in September, for a service of Thanksgiving in memory of her long and exceptional life. Secondly, the School gathered on 7 May to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III. Oundle pupils and staff continue to benefit from our Partnerships and Outreach with others in a diverse programme of educational enrichment opportunities. Alongside their peers from the schools of the Oundle, Peterborough and East Northants (OPEN) Learning partnership, Oundelians have participated in mathematics extension events, rocket car building, model United Nations, debating, medical interview practice, university preparation, music

masterclasses and ‘Girls in Engineering’ opportunities. Our link with Imperial College provides quality STEM opportunities and we are especially proud to see the first two graduates of the Oundle/Imperial STEM Potential programme - gained offers from Imperial and Cambridge.

Over 350 pupils continue to be involved in a rich tapestry of Community Action (CA) activities over seven days of the week, including thousands of hours of volunteering. We work with over 75 hosts across Northamptonshire and activity spans helping the elderly, working with disabled people, helping in schools, running afterschool clubs and environmental and charitable work, as well as supporting internal initiatives. Highlights this year include raising over £10,000 for St Basil’s through the Sleepout, supporting young homeless people aged 16-25. We had inspiring talks in October about fast fashion, saving lions in Tanzania, climate change and a café for young adults with disabilities to learn catering skills.

Planning for Project 24 is now progressing at pace. The Scott House extension, and the EYFS and STEAM facilities at LJS were successfully completed last summer. Our focus is now on the development of the new girls’ boarding House, works to Laxton and Sadler day Houses, improving the dining facilities at Two Acre and the Refectory, as well as refurbishment of our Houses. The ongoing Buildings programme has seen extensive refurbishment works in the Art Department and the Stahl Theatre. A raft of improvement works is planned for boarding Houses: three will receive full internal decoration, with LED lighting and replacement carpeting and flooring where necessary. Other work includes roof replacement, installation of new heating systems, bathroom refurbishment and kitchen compliance work. Sustainability continues to inform everything we do and our replacement of mechanical and electrical systems with more efficient products is helping to reduce consumption and our environmental impact. ■

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Laxton Junior School ■ Sam Robertson, Head, LJS

F

ollowing our ISI Inspection in June 2022, we began the new year with the publication of our Inspection report, which found the School to be fully compliant and ‘Excellent’ in all areas. Amongst the many positive comments in the report, we are particularly proud that it said: “Pupils of all ages and abilities demonstrate outstanding knowledge and skills across all areas of the curriculum. This confirms the school’s successful fulfilment of its aim to provide a high quality and inclusive education with children’s happiness at the heart of its approach.”

Another fantastic feature of the year has been the development of three innovative spaces within the school. We reimagined the Reception classrooms into a unique, open-plan environment that inspires learning opportunities through the magic of play. What’s more, the School enhanced its approach to STEAM education with the development of a new Scandi-themed Art and Design studio, alongside a Science and Engineering lab. Both spaces empower and facilitate outstanding STEAM opportunities and have significantly enhanced our provision across and between these subject areas.

The Studio and Lab were opened in spectacular style through our Toy Shop-inspired STEAM Extravaganza.

With children from all year groups designing and building a range of toys, from model Spitfires to pinball machines, it was a phenomenal experience, culminating in the School becoming a living, breathing Toy Shop, which families were invited to play and explore.

Another important development has been the introduction of new pupil-devices this year. iPad banks have been set up in every year group, and we have seen a significant

The LJS STEAM club get hands on experience in the new STEAM facilities.

S The STEAM fair at LJS demonstrated how brilliantly creative young minds are.

increase in the use of technology to enhance learning within our classrooms. In addition, our Year 6 children now have their own Microsoft device and it has been wonderful to see the children move to a blended learning model - with the traditional and the technological working in harmony - as they prepare for a similarly themed senior school experience.

This academic year has particular sentimental value for me as it will be my last at Oundle. It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead this

S The new EYFS space creates endless possibilities for our youngest children.

wonderful school for the last six years; indeed, I could not be more proud of the amazing experiences that the exceptional staff of LJS provide for the children we are so fortunate to work with. ■

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Staff Valetes ■ Farewell to five long-serving teachers Alec Hone Alec joined Oundle School as Head of Piano in September 2001 and has always led by example, teaching with inspiration, patience and adaptability.

Most of his pupils still play, and many have gone on to forge their own careers in the music profession.

Piano playing is a solitary existence requiring hours of practice with a non-portable instrument: it is not difficult to understand a reluctance on the part of some pupils to journey to the Music School, particularly in the pouring rain.

Alec has seen to it that all areas of the Music School and performance spaces have been equipped with high quality instruments. Equally importantly, all boarding Houses now have at least one good instrument of their own.

In the early days, all accompaniment fell onto his shoulders. Pressures such as the Hepburn, twice yearly Associated Board examinations and regular recitals were just about manageable and Alec always made everything work professionally and put even the most nervous and disorganised of pupils at ease. Nowadays, though, the Hepburn has over 20 individual classes, some running simultaneously; there are three examination periods for both Associated and Trinity Boards, Associated and Licentiate Diplomas, weekly lunchtime recitals and

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musical opportunity concerts. All require expert accompanists, and Alec always allocates the right pianist for the right job but still ends up with the lion’s share.

Head of Piano has evolved into Head of Keyboard, reflecting Alec’s proficiency across different instruments. He is equally adept at playing the harpsichord, organ, and piano. His extensive knowledge of music theory has allowed him to teach both theory and A level harmony classes.

Following a brief stint in Wyatt, Alec was allocated to Sidney as a tutor where he has remained faithfully for over twenty years.

He has tutored many of the fine musicians who have passed through the House and all of his tutees have held him with great affection and respect, and still keep in touch. His colleagues have also found him a good listener and giver of sage advice. Alec has certainly earned his retirement, and we all wish him, Sara and daughter Charlotte the very best in deepest, darkest Suffolk.

Brian Cunningham Some clergy are called to the work of a parish. Others are drawn to other kinds of ministry.

Some are called to both.

Reverend Brian Cunningham’s calling was to ministry in schools. Inspired by books and learning as well as by a personal commitment through the

beauty and power of the Eucharist, it was in the school environment that the roots of his vocation grew: a gap year placement in a prep school, outreach work in a SEN school while at York University, acting as a Governor to local schools during his two curacies in Guildford and Camberwell. He was also driven by his own philosophy of body, mind and spirit to want to develop his vocation in schools, serving two as their Chaplain for twelve years each: Pangbourne College and then, to our great good fortune, Oundle.

For Brian, being a School Chaplain is not about being pious and distant, but rather about being involved in the ebb and flow of everyday life. It is about understanding and responding to the pupils’ perspective, about caring for the individual, about building community: living the love of God. Brian has been Chaplain far beyond the walls of the Chapel and in doing so has brought the life of faith into the warp and weft of the School.

The sports pitches, the classroom, trips, Cloisters, the Greedy Piglet – wherever he was needed.

Wherever the pupils encounter Brian, his deep thoughtfulness elicits thoughtfulness in them. Much of his pastoral care of staff is conducted out of the public eye, of course, but his are the prayers which restart our professional lives each term, and his the advice many seek when things are hard.

His most obvious ministry is nonetheless to be seen in the life of the Chapel. The influence he has had on pupils’ experiences here will resonate in their memories for the rest of their lives. However grumpy they might sometimes feel, or indeed profess themselves to be,

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about having to go to Chapel, their experience there is positive because of Brian’s commitment to making it so. Worship is sharp and interesting; nothing happens for the sake of it. Addresses are models of depth, relevance and clarity. The grand occasions – the sad occasions – are marked with exquisitely crafted services, where details matter.

Brian really minds about people. He gets teenagers and really likes them, with a depth of understanding of them as individuals. His pride and pleasure in the well-read lesson, his undiluted joy at the singing of the choir, his amused appreciation of the School’s singing of their favourite hymns are always evident. Above all, he is adamant that sermons are short: ‘If you can say what you want to say in four minutes, don’t spin it out for seven’.

He is not one to court praise and knows that the spiritual life of the School is the responsibility of all of us. But the life of Chapel and School over the past twelve years has been

as it is because of who he is. For this, Brian deserves recognition, and our admiration and thanks.

Kathryn Francis Kathryn Francis, affectionately known as Kath, Kat or even ‘Purple Kath’, was a highly respected member of the Common Room for 21 years. She joined as a Drama teacher and tutor at Laxton, eventually becoming Head of Junior Years and temporarily Deputy Hsm. She was deeply involved in Laxton and has fond memories of the camaraderie among tutors. She directed plays, helped with Dance, and accompanied trips, including one to China where she directed a performance of A Midsummer Night's

Dream for local schools in Shanghai.

After Laxton, Kath became Head of PSHE, leading a dedicated team who came up with new ideas and really got PSHE off the ground here. After three years in that role, she was Head of Drama for five years. The combination of these roles, and Kath’s adeptness in the classroom, as a leader and pastorally, paved the way for her appointment as Housemistress of Dryden. The Dryden girls adored her, and they made her laugh a huge amount but occasionally also cry, especially when helping them through traumas in their lives. She had an open, honest and trusting relationship with parents. She recalls that the girls were incredibly good fun at House events and trips and appreciated everything she and the team did for them, particularly during the Covid period when the House was run like a Butlins holiday camp, with weekly entertainment put on to lift spirits.

She always had the good of her pupils, colleagues and indeed

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the School, at the heart of her endeavours. She was completely loyal to her friends and took great care of, and pride in, the girls in Dryden. She was always generous with her time to those who needed support and was a valued friend and colleague. She and her husband, Mark, have relocated to North Devon, where they now live in a picturesque cottage surrounded by natural beauty and a welcoming community. Their vibrant presence will be missed, as they have touched the lives of so many and helped others during difficult times in a kind and unassuming manner.

Lindy Kirk Lindy’s teaching career started in a state comprehensive school in Nottingham, whilst her husband Andrew completed his doctorate. Seeking a totally different challenge and a considerable change in environment, Lindy and Andrew with their young twins, Martin and Freya, moved to Botswana for two years and Lindy taught in a school where the resources were rather more limited than those we take for granted in Oundle. Her ability to improvise, to use her imagination and, as ever, deliver a high standard of teaching whatever the circumstances were developed there.

She returned to the UK in 1998 to teach here, and has devoted a quarter of a century to teaching Physics. As Deputy Hsm in Kirkeby for seven years she contributed extensively to pastoral care before becoming Housemistress of Wyatt. During Lindy’s tenure Wyatt was a happy, thriving community of self-assured young women willing to embrace all aspects of their education. She was keen to let the girls develop their personalities and identities in a positive manner. She encouraged Wyatt girls to work hard, be themselves, identify and then make the most of their talents. It is not just a

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coincidence that, during Lindy’s era, a succession of talented Wyatt pupils became highly successful Heads of School.

Enabling all pupils to develop their leadership skills was further demonstrated in her huge contribution to the CCF. Lindy has held a Volunteer Reserve commission in the Royal Air Force for the duration of her Oundle career and for 14 years was the Officer Commanding of the RAF section. In addition, she has for many years undertaken instructor duties on national Air Cadet Leadership courses. One great achievement was preparing a series of successful teams who excelled in the national ground training competitions. Contribution to the co-curricular programme was not confined to the CCF: she spent many hours in the old swimming pool and on the River Nene coaching pupils in the skills of kayaking and more recently has coached swimming and water polo.

The next phase of Lindy’s life promises to be busy and active. She is looking forward to spending more time with her family including her young grandchildren. 25 years is a long shift: Lindy departs with the best wishes of the pupils she has taught and cared for and her colleagues in the Physics Department and the CCF.

Nick Turnbull Nick arrived, via Trinity College, Cambridge and Gresham’s School, to teach Mathematics in September 1993. He took up the role of resident tutor in Wyatt the following year, a post he filled until June 1996, when he joined Laxton. There he quickly established himself as a jovial and easy-going tutor, someone with a naturally kind and caring rapport with his charges, who demonstrated an understated and self-deprecating brand of humour. He was held in great affection for his relaxed style and his

generosity with his time.

He has a sharp intellect and encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject and was keen to stretch his pupils and relay his passion by regularly breaking the bounds of the examination syllabus. Indeed, Nick’s aptitude for musical and literary pursuits went viral during the pandemic with his original rap entitled Covid n-n-n-n-nineteen.

Abetted by his Fifth Form Maths set, the baseball cap-adorned Nick stood on the verge of stardom, only for the YouTube link to mysteriously disappear! But this should not be mistaken for a lack of focus in the classroom. Nick’s charges were under no illusion that they were in the hands of an expert. He contributed to the School community by coaching hockey, badminton, and chess; he even led the Maths Department’s crown green bowls team and entertained fellow staff members with karaoke. He contributed to debating at Oundle, bringing an analytical approach as an adjudicator and providing constructive feedback. He also coached junior debaters.

His passion for taking Oundle opportunities outside school boundaries are clear in Nick’s work in Community Action. Instrumental in setting up CA, he has led Special Needs Sport with characteristic kindness, devotion and flair. His skill is in making every pupil, special needs or not, feel included and valued. He took over the Charity Venturers in 2006 and led it with aplomb for four years, supporting Lower Sixth groups with their entrepreneurial ventures. One particular highlight was Oundle Monopoly in 2008, which raised a staggering £26,000 for Volunteer Action. He also instigated the Oundle Festival of Literature in 2003 - now a key element of the town’s cultural scene - directing the first two festivals and chairing the committee until 2021. Following his retirement, he and Liz will be living in Cornwall and they intend to spend the winter months in Kenya supporting the work of the Marafiki Trust, a charity set up by Liz and Nicola Guise. We wish them well in their new lives. ■

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Multisports Weekend ■ Arthur Marment (D 77) Multisports Coordinator

T

he 2023 OO Multisports extravaganza could have gone either way right up the moment the School ran away with it 8.5 to 3.5, retrieving the Spragg trophy for the first time since 2019. OOs won squash, fives and men’s football but came up short in swim relays, water polo, women’s hockey, men’s hockey, tennis, table tennis, golf, cross country, with badminton halved. The OO rugby Vets “politely” lost to Oundle Town RFC Vets 40-41.

Naturally the OO President launched a full enquiry and the Multisports co-ordinator looked to put the blame on everyone but himself. But eventually we were forced to digest the unpalatable fact that the pupils were better than us in the majority of disciplines: either that or the new Sports Centre has had an immediate effect. A lively party was held at The Ship on the Saturday evening.

Thanks to everyone involved OOs, staff and pupils but particular thanks to the Head, Alastair Sherwin and Nick Beasant for their unflagging support, the School sports staff for giving up large chunks of their weekend, the OO Pres and his VPs plus many senior OOs who turned out to support on Saturday and OO Secretary Nicky Yianni, who did most of the heavy lifting on the admin side.

The only sad note was the injury to hockey skip Alice Rockall (W 12), who snapped her AT during the match. Thank you, school medical team and staff, for your assistance and concern. You’ll be glad that Alice’s rehab is nearly complete. Alice we love you!

It was great to see so many OOs back for the event (the oldest competitor was 81). Battle will be rejoined on 3/4 March 2024. Get it in your diary now!

We’ll be back ...

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Golf

Four members of OOGS took up the challenge of playing a match on the newly installed golf simulators against a school team. The golf simulator studio in the Acre building is already proving popular since its official opening on January 21st.

Funded largely through donations from OOGS members, with a generous contribution from the OO Club, it allows users to practise shots of any kind and to 'play' on well known golf courses.

This match was battled out over the Old Course at St Andrews in foursomes format but without handicap allowances, sadly for the higher handicap OOs who were outplayed by both pupil pairings 0-2.

OOGS: Al Gordon (captain) (C 69), Joss Cheatle (G 00), Will Connellan (Lx 18), Guy Beresford (B 81)

Football

As Mr Capell commented pre-game that “the OO’s changing room smelt akin to a brewery”, it was clear The Old Oundelian weekend began at the Ship on Saturday night.

Unsurprisingly, a slow start followed - Moses Kamau (U6, StA) put the School ahead with a tidy finish past a diving Ollie Druce (StA 15). To make matters worse, the OOs lost right back Tom Reyner (F 18) to injury removing the sibling rivalry with the School’s captain and left back Ed Reyner (U6 F).

Once the game started to settle, the OOs began keeping better possession, though the School still looked

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threatening on the counter attack with the pace of their forwards. Thankfully, one of our oldest ‘old boys’ James Symes-Thompson (F 12) equalised with a brilliant, curled finish from outside the box, leaving the match perfectly poised at 1-1.

During half time we received the wise words of Henry Winter, who was noticeably devastated to miss the second half, rushing off to Anfield for Liverpool’s 7-0 demolition of Manchester United: his loss, as the OOs were cooking up a masterclass.

Beginning in a similar vein to the end of the first half, we kept possession tidily, knocking the ball around the back four before releasing our wingers, James S-T and Will Taylor (G 15). From their creativity came a corner which Alex George (C 14) whipped in invitingly for our captain, chairman, secretary and match secretary, Chris Titcomb (StA 15) to attack and head home: 2-1.

Taylor, who missed our loss on penalties in the cup to Lancing College, calmly slotted a penalty to take the game away from the School.

Toby Winter (StA 15) compounded the result with a Maicon-esque finish from an impossible angle following what can only be described as a goalmouth scramble.

Although the final touch came from the opposition, the Dubious Goals Committee gave Winter the benefit of the doubt: 3-1.

The School had the final say. With Druce now marauding up front alongside Winter and Toby Warner

(StA 15) revitalising a frontline more used to St A paddock, backup goalie Max Howard (S 15) had donned the gloves. Despite being eight times better than younger brother Freddie Howard (S 16), Max could not prevent Oli Stanton (U6, StA) from scoring after a defence-splitting pass.

Mr Ireson’s final whistle brought an end to a hard-fought, spirited encounter with the OOs prevailing 4-2 over a well-drilled School side.

Unfortunately, it was not enough to stem the tide of School victories across the OO multisport weekend and the School retained the trophy comfortably. We look forward to returning next year to compete and we welcome any of the current U6th boys to get in touch regarding representing the OOs in the future, whether that be next March versus their former teammates or in the Arthurian League which restarts on 2 September.

Freddie Goddard (G 18) OO contact number 07285150799

Hockey

As is usual for an OO hockey squad, the gathering at 11:00 (-ish) at the astroturf pitch on Sunday 5 March bore little resemblance to the admin email of a week before.

Nevertheless our gang of 12 (vs. the previewed 19) was filled with talent and a significantly more youthful look than in seasons past. Adopting the ‘Bazball’ approach to pre-game preparation of “do whatever you feel

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comfortable with”, we started the game with confidence.

The OOs lined up with a powerful midfield where both Read (Sc 22)and Wheeler (B 90) were working strongly up and down the flanks, supporting evergreen midfield general Simon Hicks (B 01) . At the back, for the first time in years we were missing the injured rock-of-ages Tim Pollard (Sc 93), but instead we saw very solid performances by Whitaker (Sn 12) and Efford (L 19) solid by nature as well), whilst conversely Simeons (StA 20) was a more diminished figure than last year but more effective and dynamic as a result.

Epton (StA 91) and Billington (F 14) as fullbacks were chalk and cheese visually, but combined beautifully in repelling opposition attacks.

Up front there were the usual strong runs into the wide spaces by Edwards (S 96) but not the goals that once flowed from his unerring stick.

His partner in crime Esler (C 19) was more crime than striking partner but has promised to return next year with goals in the locker.

And we can’t overlook our man at the back, the imposing Ben Dodds (S 05) for whom the 300 at Thermopylae were role models, particularly when he went for his tried-and-tested goalkeeping mantra of ‘man and ball’.

The game ebbed and flowed against a School side that had talent, but also discipline and shape, which has not always been the case. And it was at the end of one such move that the School scored, overloading a stretched OO defence whose, commitment to getting back was naturally fading as the game went on. Despite a number of chances to the OOs it finished 1-0: probably a fair result in the end.

Fortified by another fantastic breakfast buffet from Arthur Marment (D 77) with Vanessa’s usual delicious chocolate brownies, Sophie Walker (L 10), Tom Lloyd (Sc 97), the Piper Twins Chris (Sc 71) and Angus (B 85), Mike Doherty (StA 80) James Chapple (L 07), Bella, Arthur and I were ready to take on the School and confident about bringing in a point for the OOs. In the first round, James and Mike on court 3 and Arthur and Chris on court 4 both won on tie breaks.

I managed to drag Sophie down and we lost our tie, while Bella and

Tom suffered a similar fate. In round 2, Sophie and Bella crushed their opposition 7-0. The reunited Piper Twins won at a canter, while Jamie and Tom were comfortable victors in their match. Unfortunately, it was Mike who was dragged down by me this time. But we were 5-3 up overall in the match.

Keeping Sophie and Bella together for the third round brought another point, but Jamie and Tom, Mike and Chris and Angus and Arthur were all beaten. The effects of The Ship were overcoming the restorative effects of the breakfast. All square going into

Tennis

The morning of Sunday 5 March saw the OO tennis squad assemble at the newly resurfaced Two Acre courts.

Some of them had clearly enjoyed the generous OO hospitality at the Ship the night before and warmed up somewhat gingerly. It was great to see Bella Rieck (K 05) back after her time in Stockholm and shortly before she got married.

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the last round.

Determined to see us through to victory, I kept our winning combination of Sophie and Bella together, only to see them stumble to a surprising loss. Mike and Tom ran out easy winners, leaving the match down to the two last pairings, Angus and Arthur and Jamie and me. Both matches went to a tie break where historically the older, wiser heads tend to prevail. The school players, however, displayed no fear on this occasion and won both tie breaks: the school sealed the match 9-7.

So we recorded OO Tennis’s first defeat since the Multisports weekend began. Fortunately, I had already announced that I would be stepping away from the captaincy at least for next year, when I take on the role of OO Club President, otherwise the mutiny that Arthur was clearly fomenting would have led to my overthrow. I have no doubt that Sophie, who has kindly agreed to take on the role, will bring a renewed vigour to OO Tennis. Next year, the point will be ours.

Squash

This year the OO team had an injection of new players in Jim Massey (B 84), Jamie Morgado (L 06) and Lizzie Kilsby (Gent) (W 97), which resulted in the OOs securing  Squash team with Carole Abbott, coach  Artistic impressions of the weekend

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a resounding win against the pupils with a score of 5:1. The games were a great showcase of skill and determination from both sides.

Dylan Martens (L 16), our key player, exhibited remarkable prowess on the court, leading the team with his superb performance. His skill and ability to control the pace of the game proved to be the deciding factor in the matches he played. Our victory held a special significance as it marked our first win in many years against a pupil team. Perseverance paid off, and the win will undoubtedly serve as a morale boost for the OOs at the 2024 sport weekend.

Special thanks to Dave Raftery and Carole Abbott for creating a wonderful environment for the players. Their support and dedication to squash at Oundle was beautifully portrayed by pupils on courts.

Throughout the afternoon, great games of squash were witnessed by equally enthusiastic OO spectators.

Table Tennis

The fact that the OOs knew that table tennis was a sporting Tiger Trap, set by the Head, didn’t prevent us falling straight into it! We actually put some big hitters out in the form of Phil Streather (G 79) who plays every week, and mercurial Lance Ashworth who is well known in the Inns of Court for his wizardry at the table. Alas the imposing nature of the Cobthorne basement maybe got to our lads (think Hogwarts meets the new Sports Centre) or maybe it was simply because the opposition were a tad better than us. Either way we were shaded and credit must go to the pupils whilst thanks goes to Anthony KD for hosting us.

Badminton

It was great to have some of the older OO badminton players represented this year, Tom Lloyd (Sc 97) and Nick Beresford (B 97), a first pair from the 90s OO vintage dusted off their rackets to prove that they still had it.

Ian Chung (StA 20) a former captain joined too and I agreed to partner him for the OOs. The match ended in an honourable draw with the school first pair Kan Payungwataseth (S 5) and Julian Kwok (C L6) winning both of their games albeit narrowly against Nick and Tom, and our new young talent Charles Ho (By 2) partnered Sea Phuchanakit (S L6) and pushed the OO pairs all the way.

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Cricket ■ Tim Elliott (StA 77)

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he Oundle Rovers had another enjoyable and successful season. The club fulfilled a variety of friendly fixtures, introduced some useful new Rovers and managed to lose to the School 1st XI again on the last Friday of term. Furthermore we reached the semi-final of the Nicholson Cricketer Cup for the third time in the last four attempts, losing by the narrowest of margins in a thriller at Malvern.

Rovers’ second round win over the St Edward’s Martyrs was its one hundredth win in the history of the competition. Oundle are only the third club to pass that milestone, and remain ahead of all of the Schools on Oundle’s traditional cricket circuit.

The full scorecards of all of Oundle’s 101 competition victories, plus the club’s complete competition records and statistics can be found in the Cricket Archive section at www. thecricketercup.com There are two new Rovers’ attractions in the JM Mills Pavilion.  Oundle Rovers CC vs Oundle School 1st XI

Firstly, a Cricketer Cup honours board recording the century (17 occasions) and five wicket (10 occasions) feats by Rovers in the Cricketer Cup since 1969. More importantly the glass cases upstairs now boast the wonderful Wisden Almanack collection left to the club

by Graham Wood, a very special Rover. We are very grateful to him.

He taught History at Oundle from 1974-89 and inspired a generation of young Oundle cricketers. He scored (beautifully, it should be noted) for the Rovers for many years and will ever be remembered for always coming in at the very bottom of the batting order and for the height of the ball at the very top of the arc of his unique leg spin.

Cricketer Cup 1st Round: Oundle Rovers 234-8 beat Radley Rangers 207 all out by 27 runs. The Rovers completed a rain interrupted 27 run victory over Radley late on a wet June evening at Oundle. Having won the toss, Oundle’s early progress was largely courtesy of an excellent

George Johansen (F 11) (51) innings.

After his departure Greg Smith (StA 07) (90) guided his side through a very difficult middle period.

Support came from the lower middle order of Tom Bishop (F 10) (19), Tommy Simeons (StA 20) (13) and James Esler (C 19) (17) and Oundle finished on a satisfactory, but by no means unbeatable, 234. As in many recent Cricketer Cup campaigns Oundle applied pressure with the ball right from the start of the opposition innings. Patrick Foster (StA 05) (3 for 34) and Will Street (Sc 10) (3 for 26) were the pick of the bowlers, strongly supported by veteran Jules McAlpine (Lx 88) (2-53), Tommy Simeons (0-44), James Esler (1-36) and Joe Austin (F 06) (0-12) The fielding was very strong, including a fine run out by Will Street, and Simon Fernandes behind the stumps kept the Radley batsmen under pressure all afternoon.

When Radley succumbed to 77 for 5 and 114 for 6 Oundle looked to be in full control, however a rain break, a wet ball and the Radley lower order shifted momentum somewhat giving

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 Far left: Greg Smith is presented with his Nicholson Player of the Match award by the Old Wellingtonian captain after the Quarter-Final victory Left: Greg Smith presents Joe Austin with his Nicholson Player of the Match award after the Cricketer Cup 2nd Round victory over St Edward's Martyrs

Radley a decent chance with around 10 overs to play. The Rovers held their nerve, Tommy Simeons took an excellent catch in the deep and Patch Foster returned to finish the Radley resistance. Greg Smith was named the Nicholson Player of the Match.

Cricketer Cup 2nd Round: St Edward’s Martyrs 185-9, Oundle Rovers 190-4. Won by 6 wickets.

Having lost the toss, the Rovers confronted the Martyrs with an array of spinners from the start, ensuring a fast over rate and placing the emphasis on the batsmen to take the initiative. While the outstanding Will Street (0-26) and Ben Graves (F 15) (2-40) were miserly, it was left arm seamer, Jules McAlpine (2-32) who did the early damage, assisted by a fine stumping of the opening batsman

by Simon Fernandes (Ldr 18).

Tommy Simeons (3-27) ripped the heart out of the middle order and it was left to Joe Austin (2-27), James Esler (0-16) and Charlie Fernandes (Ldr 17) (0-15) to tidy up the end of the innings. St Edward’s 185-9 looked below par and Oundle were very satisfied with their morning’s performance. Ben Graves (36) and Joe Austin (56) got the Rovers off to strong start and James Esler (24) provided acceleration. There was a temporary wobble as Esler, Alex Cunningham (L 19) and Austin fell in quick succession, but an immediately fluent Simon Fernandes (34*) joined his captain, Greg Smith (22*), and the pair added an unbeaten 50 partnership in quick time to secure a late afternoon victory in the hot sunshine. Joe Austin was the Nicholson Player of the Match.

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Cricketer Cup Quarter-Final: Old Wellingtonians 155. Oundle Rovers 156-6. Won by 4 wickets.

The Wellingtonians brought a very strong side for their first Cricketer Cup visit to Oundle since 2007.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, the visitors made a strong start, halted by a brilliant stumping by Simon Fernandes. Jules McAlpine (2-17) then added the scalp of the exGloucestershire and current captain of Wiltshire number 3 with carefully laid leg trap. Oundle’s spinners then got to work and Wellington struggled to a below par 155 all out. Will Street (2-25) and Ben Graves (1-27) were both miserly and Tommy Simeons (1-38) and Charlie Fernandes (1-15) both picked up a wicket. The excellent Patch Foster (2-29) returned at the end to finish the innings. Oundle got off to a fast start with James Esler (17) hitting one huge six. However the Wellington spinners were high quality and it took a patient partnership from Simon Fernandes (22) and Greg Smith (68*) to put Oundle firmly on top. The dismissals of Simon Fernandes, Tom Bishop (14) and Charlie Fernandes caused some concern, but Smith saw the side home with five overs to spare.

Cricketer Cup Semi-Final: Oundle Rovers 240-8. Old Malvernians 244-9.

Lost by 1 wicket. After a week of anxious weather-watching leading up to the game, the semi-final produced one of the most exceptional matches in the long-running rivalry with Malvern. Having been inserted on a green wicket, the Rovers made a quick start thanks to Ben Graves (16) and were indebted to Joe Austin (65) and George Johansen (31) to

get through some high quality seam bowling with limited damage. Simon Fernandes accelerated the scoring rate with a high class run-a-ball 46, then the lower middle order pair of Tom Bishop (31) and Charlie Fernandes (27) added 56 for the sixth wicket, to close on 240-8. The locals were heard muttering that it looked a bit light. The locals continued to mutter as Oundle opened the bowling with spin from both ends. At first the Malvern batters seemed to enjoy it, but soon found themselves losing wickets to the immaculate Graves (3-22), Will Street (2-46) and Tommy Simeons (1-41) including a stunning catch each from Esler and Simeons.

When James Esler (1-12) removed Malvern’s veteran ex-Gloucestershire CCC player, 90 for 5 saw the game well in Oundle’s favour. However another massive swing then took place as two 2023 school leavers added a superb 120 for the sixth wicket. Malvern seemed en route to cruise to victory when the game turned again. Three wickets fell in a hurry, the run rate dried up and Malvern entered the last over eight wickets down still needing one to win. Joe Austin then chipped in with the ninth wicket. One more and Oundle would have won a tied game on wickets lost. Alas - it was not to be, but all at Malvern’s beautiful ground agreed that they had seen a quite remarkable game of cricket. The Nicholson Player of the Match award quite rightly went to one of Malvern’s 18 year olds.

Friendly Fixtures: Bradfield Waifs 48. Oundle Rovers 49-1. Won by 9 wickets. A resounding defeat of the current Cricketer Cup holders at Bradfield. The Rovers attack was simply too strong for Bradfield. Ben Stocks (F 17) (2-13), Toby Warner (StA 15) (2-12), Toby Lawes (F 14) (2-2), Jack Howard

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 The Nicholson Cricketer Cup Merit Table highlighting The Rovers’ hundred competition victories

(Sc 21) (2-14), James Esler (1-3), Joe Austin (1-0) shared the wickets. Jack Oughtred (F 10) (28*) and Harry Lawes (S 15) (14*) saw the Rovers home.

Oundle Rovers 268. Rugby Meteors 170. Won by 98 runs. A fine Rovers performance at Rugby. Tom Bishop’s elegant 59, an aggressive 72 from Stuart Morgan and 40 from James Esler were the highlights. It took a last ever direct hit runout from the President to break the opening partnership and then Oundle’s spinners Jack Oughtred (2-34), Tommy Simeons (1-31), Jack Howard (1-48) put Oundle in control. George Davis (Ldr 22)cleaned up the Rugby tail with superb swing bowling taking 4-30.

Oundle School 1st XI 242-7. Oundle Rovers 203. Lost by 39 runs. (Lando Thain) (F 21) In the traditional game, the Rovers faced Oundle 1st XI in an exciting match. After winning the toss, Oundle Rovers opted to field first. Rovers’ bowlers troubled Oundle’s openers, reducing them to 54-5. Reyner’s (F 18) impressive spell (5 overs, 10 runs, 2 wickets) along with Cunningham’s sublime catching were the standout performances.

Hancock’s aggressive batting (64) and Stanton’s (Ldr 20) contribution (39) led Oundle towards a competitive total. Park (B 19), in at an unfamiliar number 9, played a blistering innings, proving that batting on a hangover may be key to scoring runs, and led the School to a total of 242 runs in 40 overs. Cunningham (50) and Rovers’ President Tim Elliott (StA 77) (18) opened the batting for the old boys and made a promising start, with Elliott’s crunching drive standing out as the shot of the day. At 126-3, the

Rovers seemed on track for victory.

However, some tidy bowling caused them to fall behind the required run rate despite quality batting from Stanton (61). With almost 50 runs needed off the last 3 overs, the tailenders faced a challenging task, and despite Esler and Aubrey’s (C 18) reputation as reliable batters in previous fixtures, the target proved too difficult, and the Rovers finished on 203/7. Credit to the School for playing resilient cricket - the Rovers look forward to bouncing back in 2024.

Oundle Rovers 296. Repton Pilgrims 297-2. Lost by 8 wickets.

(Stuart Morgan) (Lx 91) A rather scratch Rovers side turned up at the sunny and very picturesque Repton ground on 6 July, but with talent and experience liberally scattered throughout. Skipper-for-the-day James Esler started well by winning the toss and choosing to bat, but the initiative was immediately given back to the Pilgrims when he missed the second ball of the day.

Unfortunately, makeshift no.3 Stuart Morgan followed him to the pavilion an over later. There followed a period of consolidation from Tommy Simeons and Ben Roberts (N 96), before the former scooped a ball to midwicket and youngster Roberts swung once too often at a straight one. Seasoned pros Cameron Wake (L 04) and (Australian guest) star Ben Hutchinson (Sc 18)put on a magnificent display of batting before misguidedly retiring to let others have a go. Despite some lusty blows from former Chippendale Rory Jenkins (Ldr 97) the innings petered out, but we thought 296 a defendable total. How wrong we were. Repton cruised to their objective, with

everyone except the keeper bowling.

Esler finally winkled out the two openers, but numbers three and four put the tired Rovers attack to the sword. “Man of the Match” went to the Repton caterers, who put on a magnificent spread and provided a strong incentive for anyone who wants to put their name down for next year’s game.

Leicestershire Gents 253-9. Oundle Rovers 196. Lost by 57 runs. (Stuart Morgan) One of Rovers’ youngest teams took to the field with Simeons off to a strong start as skipper by offering a few words of advice to the Gents match manager on the way to the ground. With Rovers close to having a full team at the time of the toss, he chose to field on a scorching day. The Gents went hard from the start, making Esler pay for his very modest seam, but at the other end Simon Fernandes showcased his all-round abilities with some attractive swing bowling, sadly unsuccessfully. Monty Spencer (L 22) got into the groove with some hostile pace and picked up the important wicket of the Gents’ opener. Whilst the other opener played good cricket to reach his century, we chipped away at the rest of the order with a constant rotation of spin, with the Stanton twins combining well alongside Alex Beveridge (F 22). The Gents were out for 253 at about the half way point and again we felt in the game.

The response got off to a watchful start from openers Ned Stanton and Ralf Hayward (F 22) but we lost a clatter of wickets to a combination of good bowling and some poor shots. Fernandes and gloveman Alex Dyer (F 22) then brought the prospect of a victory back into play, but unfortunately succumbed to the Gents’ fast-bowling opener and the innings closed in rather meek circumstances. We fell 50 runs short, but it felt closer. Both sides are already champing at the bit in anticipation of next year’s fixture. ■

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Golfing Society ■ Nick Copestick (Ldr 69) OOGS President

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he OOGS Annual Weekend at Luffenham Heath took place on 7 and 8 October 2022 and for the second year under the ‘new format’ saw 34 members taking part, with a span of 63 years between the oldest and youngest! Starting on Friday afternoon with a round of foursomes, followed by the individual competitions on the Saturday morning, the new arrangement seems to have enabled a few more people to attend.

Nine pairs turned out for the Friday foursomes, playing Stableford, off handicap. In his first event as a new OOGS member, Finn Carr (S 19) partnered the Hon Sec, James Aston (StA 92) to a winning score of 33 points, closely followed by Simon Fitton (Lx 97) & Cavan Browne (C 66) on 32. Outgoing Halford Hewitt Captain Steve Carr (S 84) and the current School golf captain Sam Tyler, tied 3rd with 31 points. It was great that two members of the School team were able to take part in the

 Henry Fray collecting the Scratch Cup from David Aston

afternoon’s golf. It was also good to see a number of Under 25s playing.

Provisional dates for 2023 are 29 to 30 September - we will try to attract more university students by holding the event two weeks earlier. After the golf and a committee meeting, 25 members enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at The George. Golf on the Saturday was blessed with dry sunny weather – a big change from recent years! 24 members entered the various competitions: many congratulations to Henry Fray, (G 08) a current member of the Halford Hewitt team, for his win in the scratch event with a round of 78.

I was not able to attend this year due to illness, so my grateful thanks go to Hon Sec James for organising the weekend, the golf and the meetings, to Steve Carr and Shane Dodd (Sn 74) for help in setting up the event, and to Vice President David Aston (St A 55) for presenting the prizes - full results as follows: • The Grocers Foursomes: 1st: James Aston & Finn Carr (33 points); 2nd: Simon Fitton & Cavan Browne (32 points); 3rd equal: Steve Carr & Sam Tyler; Barry Peak (Sn 82) & Joss Cheatle (G 00) (31 points) Hughes Salvers (best scores on the Par 3s): 1st: Simon Fitton & Cavan Browne (7 points); 2nd equal: Nick Owles (N 63) & Megan Smedley (Hon); Nick Cheatle (G 63) & Alasdair Stuart (B 84) (6 pts) • Scratch Cup: 1st: Henry Fray (78); 2nd equal: Steve Carr, Duncan Smith (C 71); Peter Langsdale (L 18) (80) • Handicap Cup: 1st: Peter Langsdale (net 73); 2nd: James Aston (net 73 on countback) • The Dove Stableford Trophy: 1st: James Aston (35 points); 2nd equal:

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Nick Whalley (C 96); Duncan Smith; Will Butler (Lx 08); Jason McCaldin (D 85), Peter Langsdale (32) The Pounder Trophy (65+):1st: Peter Edwards (Sc 73) (30 points); 2nd: Michael Williams (N 69) (29 points) • The Old Boys Trophy (55+): 1st: Duncan Smith (net 74); 2nd: Peter Edwards; Michael Williams (net 77) The Boddington Trophy (Under 25s): 1st: Peter Langsdale (34 points); 2nd: Alex Swanston (G 18) (30 points) • The Copestick House Claret Jug: 1st: St. Anthony (64 points) Stevie Moore (StA 96) + James Aston; 2nd: Crosby (64 points on countback) Nick Whalley + Duncan Smith For the official opening of the golf simulator studio on 21 January, the School arranged a fabulous spread of food and drink in the new Golf Suite.

Members of OOGS, staff, pupils and parents gathered in eager anticipation of the opening drive by Steve Carr, who had been so instrumental in getting the project off the ground and had liaised between the company and School - he even provided the photos which adorn the walls of the two simulators.

OOGS President, Nick Copestick, thanked OOGS members, who had donated approximately two thirds  Steve Carr official opening drive

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of the total cost of the equipment, along with a handsome contribution from the OO Club. He also paid tribute to the Bursar’s Office who had helped develop the business plan, Matthew Dear who had coordinated the collection of funds and the Sports Centre staff and not least the Sports department for wholly embracing the challenge. In return, Nick Beasant, Director of Sports, outlined the School’s exciting plans for developing pupils’ golf skills using this magnificent addition to their facilities.

He related the enthusiasm that has been generated by pupils, teachers and local golfers. We all hope that this new installation will increase access to golf for pupils and give them more confidence on the golf course.

The OOGS Spring Meeting was held at Walton Heath GC on 1 March, expertly organised by Ed Dove (C 85) with an almost capacity turnout of 22, including several new faces. Golf was the usual format of foursomes and fourballs with lunch in between, albeit with the challenge of clubhouse renovations around us.The weather, food and company were excellent.

The golf was challenging(!), although less so for the following: • Foursomes: Winners - Ed Barker (F 02) & Barney Ward (Ldr 08); Runners up: Jason McCaldin & James Hickson (F 90) • Singles Scratch: winner - Henry Fray; runner up - Ed Dove • Singles Handicap: winner - James Hickson; runner up - Roy Nicholson (StA 65) Finally, it was with sadness and a smile that we were also able to raise a glass in memory of Tony Riley (Ldr 47), one of the Society’s most decorated ‘Southern’ members, who had passed away a week or so earlier.

For the Halford Hewitt Cup 2023, OOGS was captained for the first time by Richard (Bomber) Harris (F 91). He organised a trial at Prince’s GC on February 18 &19.

Perfect links conditions greeted 15 top OOGS golfers – blue skies and a decent wind, which was a welcome

change to the previous years of storm conditions. With the top three places over 36 holes of scratch Stableford guaranteed a place in the Hewitt team, the standard of golf was excellent. Andy Lightowler (L 97) won with 66 points; Patrick Foster (StA 05) was second with 64 points, while Richard Pentecost (StA 05) came third on 60.

A favourite OOGS fixture and another pre-Hewitt warm up, the match against Denham Golf Club on 4 March was as much fun as ever: it is extremely difficult to improve on the ever-developing golf course, fantastic company and magnificent lunch. Two new members of the society, Peter Langsdale and Rupert Monroe (G 09) were made very welcome and quickly understood why we enjoy this so much. It was good to see Stuart Rowland and Charlie Underwood (Sc 93) playing again. Morning golf went well with the score being 3-3 at lunch. Unfortunately, Oundle lived up to a reputation of over-lunching hard to resist when the food and wine is so good - and we were outplayed in the afternoon, with the final score 7 to 4. Captain Bomber Harris paid tribute to outgoing Skipper Steve Carr for his fantastic work over the last nine years and presented him with an engraved silver wine coaster from all those who had played under him - it was clearly most appreciated.

For the Halford Hewitt First Round v Forest, Royal Cinque Ports GC, on 30 March, Captain Harris had selected a very strong looking squad.

Practice on the Tuesday in heavy rain and strong winds was very tough but Wednesday’s practice conditions were drier, though still with extremely testing 40 mph winds. The standard of golf was very good and the skipper was confident of a good tournament ahead. An inspirational speech, in which he called for the team to play “Bomber Ball” (stolen from the England cricket team’s recent change in tactics), basically to play their natural game, seemed to go down well. Harris wasn’t so sure about this when the first round started and three of the five Oundle pairs lost their ball off the first tee against Forest.

On a wet and windy afternoon, the

opposition were capable golfers and much better than their record suggests.

Pair 1, Henry Fray and Tris Tusa (S 16) played great golf and won their match 2 & 1. Captain Harris, who was struggling with his back again and Angus Lang (F 09) could not find their usual standard of play against a good pairing and went down 3 & 2. Pair 3, Andy Lightowler and Richard Pentecost also went down to a redoubtable partnership 2 & 1, so our last two combinations needed to win. Fortunately, all played brilliantly: Will Kendall (S 02) with Patrick Foster in 4; Steve Carr and Tom Goodley (G 99), both running out 2 & 1 winners.

The Halford Hewitt Second Round v Haileybury, Royal Cinque Ports GC, on 31 March saw another wet and windy day that didn’t start brilliantly for us, with trap 1 of Fray and Tusa three down with four to play; trap 2 of Lang and Foster losing 6 & 5; trap 3 of Pentecost and Lightowler losing 3 & 2, it looked tough for Oundle.

However, a magnificent fight back from Fray and Tusa saw them win on the 19th. Kendall and the splendid Jack Ireson (L15), the Bomber’s super-sub, won 2 & 1, while the everdependable Carr and Goodley held on to win at the last. This was a great win, showing that this team is gaining experience and confidence with each outing.

So to the first Saturday appearance since 2017, against Charterhouse at 7:45 am in the Halford Hewitt Third Round - a very tough match in more wet and windy conditions against the school which has won the tournament more than any other. Skipper Harris again tinkered with the pairings: trap 1 of Fray and Tusa were pitched against a formidable pairing and this time lost 6 & 5; trap 2 of Pentecost and Foster played brilliantly to take another very strong pairing to the 18th, but unfortunately lost there.

Pair 3 of Lightowler and Lang were playing their best golf and were three up with four to play. However, some birdie play from the opposition pegged them back and took the match down the 19th. At this stage, pair 4 of Ireson and Kendall had just

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 Scorecards from the three rounds

won their match one up, with more great golf, and Carr & Goodley were fighting back from three down with five to play to take their match up the last, where they would level the game and potentially go into extra holes. Unfortunately, at this point the news came back that Charterhouse had won the third game after all, so winning the tightest of matches.

This was the best performance we had put in at the Hewitt for several years and the fact that the average age of the team was 36, rather than 56, which it was only a few years ago (2014), bodes well for the future.

There is plenty of competition for places and there are several more youngsters coming over the horizon.

As ever, we were very grateful for support from the regular gang, who were only slightly put off by the wind and rain!

The foursomes match, off handicap v Old Uppinghamians at Rye Golf Club on 29 March for the Copestick/ Gotla Salver took place with Oundle 6-5 up in the annual series (with 3 ties and 1 loss to Covid!) Our lineup

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was somewhat disrupted by Covid (again!) and other ailments. Official commitments prevented OO Club President, Guy Beresford (B 81), from coming down to play, but it was great to see Shane Dodd out on the course again! Peter Pentecost (StA 73) kindly took over Captain’s duties, later delegating the lunch time presentation to Nick Owles. The weather again wasn’t too kind and it was Uppingham who managed the conditions and used their strokes effectively to level up the series.

OOGS team: Nick Owles & Jeremy Monroe (G 73); Peter Pentecost & Peter Edwards; Al Gordon (C 69) & Roy Nicholson; Bob Ellis (D 65) & Robert Ringrose (StA 71); James Aston & Shane Dodd The Birkdale Bucket takes place at Woodhall Spa GC in March with the OOGS contingent being managed

by Robert Blackburn (Sc 73). An excellent three days of golf were enjoyed: 55 golfers attended the event. The OOGS team comprised six members, finishing a creditable fifth in the team event. Congratulations to

new OOGS member, Steve Royle (G 77), who won the pairs competition (albeit with a non-OO!) OOGS v Old Bedfordians at Royal Worlington and Newmarket GC on18 March: Sam Markillie (StA 66) writes: “Roy Nicholson asked me to match manage this annual fixture as he was on family duties in Singapore.

On a showery, overcast and breezy day we found ourselves one down before tee off with Richard Pentecost’s car coming second in a contest with a deer close to home! As a result our 6th morning match had Brian Bowser (Sn 71) successfully defeating the Bedford foursome. We were also expecting the top two matches to be a Halford Hewitt practice outing, especially with Bertie Stocks (F 17) representing us for the first time, but Bedford were only able to present one pairing. The morning foursomes resulted as follows: Ed Dove & Bertie Stocks lost; Nick Owles & Henry Duncombe (B 96) lost; Duncan Smith & Barry Peak won; Cavan Browne & Alasdair Stuart lost; Sam Markillie & David Hutchinson (G 79) won; Brian Bowser won. Total: Oundle 3; Bedford 3. A very sociable lunch was taken with our opponents at which the OOs presented a suitable liquid gift to James Lawson, the Bedford match manager, who was retiring from the position after 25 years. Due to the inclement weather and the fact that England were playing Ireland later in the day, it was agreed that a 9 hole match would take place: Oundle 3 ½; Bedford 1 ½ . Overall a very hospitable day’s golf and next year’s match under Roy’s managership is eagerly awaited.”

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The Public Schools Midland Meeting at Little Aston GC on 21 June was exhilaratingly organised

by Shane Dodd, who recruited a couple of new members, Steve Royle and William Rice (Sn 79) for their first taste of this event. After breakfast and the obligatory Bloody Mary, the morning foursomes saw Oundle achieving our best scores for a few years: Shane Dodd & Nigel Hetherington (F 65) 33 (5th of 44 pairs); Peter Pentecost & William Rice 32; Nick Copestick & Bob Ellis 30; Steve Royle & Duncan Smith 25.

Rugby won with a team score (best 3) of 102; Bromsgrove came 2nd with 99. After the usual splendid lunch with appropriate refreshment, the afternoon round of 15 holes saw the old Halford Hewitt partnership of yesteryear, Peter Pentecost and Nick Copestick, sweep the board with a total of 34 points (1 over par scratch).

They collected both the Malvern Salvers for the best afternoon score, and as a separate competition, the Repton/Uppingham Salvers, for a combined age of over 110. The first double winners for as long as Doddy can remember!

G.L. Mellin Salver, Peter Burles and Bunny Millard, 28-30 June, as reported by Peter Pentecost: ‘OOGS competes in these three tournaments over three days every year at West Hill Golf Club in Brookwood, Surrey.

The Mellin Salver is a 6 a side, 3 pairs, foursomes scratch knock out for the

over 55s, the Burles a 4 a side, 2 pairs, foursomes scratch knock out for the over 65s and the Bunny Millard a Stableford qualifier followed by a 2-man foursomes scratch knock out for the over 75s.

Oundle have had a lean period in the Mellin and the Burles over the last few years, but Robert Barrell (StA 61) and Nick Owles have won the Bunny Millard for the last two years.

Unsurprisingly they won the qualifier this year, and we also had a second pair in the qualifier - Patrick Fossett (B 65) and Nigel Hetherington and whilst they came 4th, so technically qualified for the semi final, the rules of the competition are that only one pair from a school can go through and, as Barrell and Owles had topped the leader board, they were selected.

Unfortunately, Robert jarred his hand during the round so had to withdraw, but Patrick stepped up and filled the vacated slot. They were drawn against Forest, whom they despatched on the Thursday afternoon, and then joined battle with Sherborne on the Friday. The Oundle v Sherborne final has been something of a fixture over the last few years and I am pleased to say that Owles & Fossett made it three years in a row.

Well done lads!

In the Burles, the pairings of Mike Beamish (Sc 75) & Peter Edwards and Nick Copestick & Duncan Smith took on Bedford. The Burles has some strange rules connected with the fact that a draw at one all is quite

a common occurrence requiring one pair to be selected as the ‘play off’ pair and the play off starting at the very next hole after a tie has occurred.

There was no such requirement for these complex manoeuvres as both pairs won in the morning and then again against Haileybury in the afternoon (somewhat more convincingly). On the following morning against Sherborne, further double success followed and so it was the mighty Shrewsbury in the final.

Pair 1 lost on the 16th, but pair 2 won at the same hole so it was Oundle pair 1 against Shrewsbury pair 2 on the 17th, where a great shot by OS Will Painter set up a birdie and the victory for Shrewsbury. A great effort Burles team – so near and yet so far!

In the meantime, the Mellin started with Oundle fielding two Mellin ‘virgins’. The pairings were Steve Carr & Nick Wilson (N 74) followed by Barry Peak & William Rice and bringing up the rear Mark Eddy (StA 74) and Peter Pentecost.

First up against Bedford, by the time the third pair were coming up the 18th all square, it was all over in Oundle’s favour (so we didn’t need the 5 foot birdie putt to win – shucks). Mirroring the Burles, we had Haileybury in the afternoon and this nearly ended in confusion.

Trap 3 were going up the last 1 up  Bunny Millard Winners, Patrick Fossett (left) & Nick Owles (right) collecting the trophy from West Hill GC Captain

 Nick Copestick (left) and Peter Pentecost with their double trophy haul.

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and with the second match won, we could not understand why trap 1 was going down the first extra hole, as we thought that 2 halves and a win would be sufficient. However, the rules are that matches are played ‘to conclusion’ so trap 3 having picked up the balls on the 18th green were relieved to learn that trap 1 had won on the 19th.

So – onto Friday morning against Sherborne - again following the pattern of the Burles. This time there was no confusion and although trap 2 lost, traps 1 and 3 sneaked home, much to Sherborne’s chagrin! And so - the mighty Shrewsbury again in the final! Trap 3 overturned an early deficit to run out winners on  Mellin Winners, left to right William Rice, Barry Peak, Steve Carr, Nick Wilson, Mark Eddy, Peter Pentecost (Captain)

the 16th and as trap 2 had lost, it was up the 18th for trap 1 with the slenderest of leads, 1 up. Oundle were never making better than 5 which Wilson duly holed for from ~5 feet.

Shrewsbury were left with 4’11” to take it down extra holes, but missed and victory went to Oundle.

We were blessed with lovely weather, an exceptional Chinese evening on the Wednesday in Esher and a lovely evening at Worplesdon on the Thursday excellently organised by Noel Stephens with the Lorettionians, saddened only by the passing of their number, Ross Graham, whose memorial was on the Friday. It was lovely to have partners join us for dinner on both evenings. Oundle supporters are many and varied, but they provide much appreciated encouragement

and we are extremely grateful to them all – Shane Dodd, David Aston, James Aston (who also caddied), Peter Fox Andrews (N 64) and the effervescent Mad Swede, Fred Domellof (F 76).

Our new boys did extremely well, Mark Eddy being undefeated and William Rice scoring 2 out of 4. The Burles team were unfortunate to meet a Shrewsbury pairing who played one hole exceptionally well. Players came from all over the country; all performed with distinction and a number were unbeaten all week.

We had a tremendous few days in deepest Surrey and my sincere thanks to you all. Next year ….one better!

Two individual achievements in non-OO events deserve notice: Tris Tusa carded a course record score of 64 gross round Royal West Norfolk GC, Brancaster on 8 July. Magnificent!

Many congratulations also to George Crawley (L 20), who gained his golf Blue in March, playing against Oxford at Royal Dornoch GC. He won his singles match and became the 14th OOGS member to be awarded a golf Blue since WW2.

OOGS welcomes new members of any age and handicap and has a full fixture list at great courses. Please contact President Nick Copestick (nick.copestick@mac.com) for details of how to join.

Fives

■ Alex Smith (Ldr 85)

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his year at the Multisports Weekend, we played the usual hard-fought match against School and Staff, with a decent number on each side. Among the OO team were the “old guard” of Alex Smith (N 91) and Bev Boag (StA 60) who were joined by youngsters Henry Dickinson (Lx 20), Louis O’Connor and Toby Smith (both L 18). Louis and Toby have been playing regularly with the “Nene Valley Poachers”, a collection of Old Oundelians, teachers and parents who play at the School, usually on

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a Thursday evening. Bev was as spritely as ever around the court, and finally won the coveted prize for the oldest competing OO (see photo). This year we turned around last year’s defeat with a narrow and hard-fought victory. The re-hydration session at The Ship afterwards was equally enjoyable.

Alex and Louis also played in the Rugby Fives Association’s “Owers” Trophy for alumni teams, back in September in London.

This year we also commemorated the life of Roger Freebairn (C 55), who

influenced and inspired generations of young players. Roger, of course, was also a superb fives player himself, winning the Public Schools Trophy while a schoolboy at Oundle and in later years the National Vintage and Veterans titles. The Old Oundelian Club has presented the Roger Freebairn Trophy in his honour, to be awarded to the victorious side at the annual OO v School and Staff match.

Please get in touch with the OO Fives Secretary if you’d like to come and play at Oundle or wish to find a fives club near you.

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Tennis

■ Lance Ashworth (G 82)

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acing a selection dilemma for the D’Abernon Cup, Dudley Moor Radford (B 85 ) suggested I ask Andre Porritt (LS 92) to play.

Both he and Ed Ibrahim (Lx 00), always a first pick for this cup, were able to make the qualifying round at St. George’s College on Saturday 15 April. Things were looking good.

Surely we would be able to progress beyond the group stage for the first time. Ed reported back that they do not consider either of them to be old men but they certainly felt it that day. No single other player there would be considered a veteran even by the most lenient of ITF criteria!

Notwithstanding this, Andre put in a great debut performance in what was a tough group. Harrow and Bradfield were no shows who may have provided confidence boosting wins - I cannot remember the last time Harrow were not no shows.

Ed and Andre lost all of the group matches against St George’s, St Paul’s (on two net cords in the deciding tie break), Westminster and Caterham (failing to take advantage of multiple game points in games which would have swung the match). Having rediscovered Andre, though, we are optimistic for the future with a fair  OO match v School and Staff

wind and a bit of luck.

On the day of the coronation, we had the now annual Staff and OOs v School match. In keeping with typical Oundle weather, it was raining, blustery and cold as we turned up at the Two Acre courts.

Because of the resurfacing, the courts were not at all slippery and once the rain stopped, the stiff wind that comes directly from the Urals dried the courts out pretty swiftly. Most of the School was on Field Weekend and the school therefore put out a boys team comprising those who had managed to wheedle their way out of abseiling off Nassington viaduct, or whatever passes nowadays for proper Field Weekend activities.

Four OOs - Arthur Marment (D 77), Chris Piper (Sc 71), Robert Johnson (N 95) and I (G 82) - were joined by Spencer Coates and Alistair Sherwin, who have played this fixture quite regularly, and two newcomers to the staff, Adam Baragwanath and Chris Gardiner.

Keen to avenge the defeat at the hands of the School at the Multisports Weekend, the pairings remained constant through the match. Some really fine tennis was played with a number of the boys hitting the ball remarkably hard. After four hard fought rounds, the School won 10-6.

In a day of ifs and maybes, the OO/ Staff team could easily have come out on 9-7 top, but we lost three tiebreakers. The interaction between boys and staff members is always interesting to observe. Chris Gardiner spent a lot of the match gently winding our opponents up, including when one of the boys hit a serve so long it did not bounce in the court, calling “just long”! After the match, Spencer told us that their star who is in the 4th form had not been able to play. The School seems to have a good stock of players coming through and with two new “finds” among the staff, things look good for the future.

In other tennis news, last year I reported on Arthur Marment’s impressive contribution in guiding Colston B team to victory in the Oxford League (Division 10). This year, I am able to report something equally or possibly more momentous: Sophie Walker (L 10) was chosen to represent England & Wales at the European Lawyers Tennis Championships in Sicily. Apparently, they had a fantastic 4-5 days on and off the court in the Sicilian sunshine, and were hosted like royals. Teams from Hungary, Croatia, Germany and Ireland, plus hosts Italy alongside England & Wales, competed on the red clay of the Circolo de Tennis Palermo. Croatians were first time entrants and turned up with strong men and women – plus lots of beer, sometimes consumed between changeovers, which seemed to improve their game.The women’s team (Sophie Walker and her partner) did brilliantly and beat all other teams.

It seems highly appropriate that Sophie should be stepping into my shoes (at least temporarily) running the OO Tennis Club. We can expect a much more rigorous regime than during my tenure, and I have no doubt that will be matched by better results on court.

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The Head ■ Sarah Kerr-Dineen

Dear Old Oundelian,

N

early seven years ago, we set our direction for the next decade. We started by establishing what really mattered to us: the answers that came back from all quarters – including from OOs

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- were remarkably consistent. We valued people – pupils and staff – and we valued doing things well; we valued richness of opportunity, and we valued our communities.

With this bedrock established, we then set ourselves objectives.

As we reached the end of this

academic year, we’ve taken stock before setting out again. There are exciting things yet to be done and much, of course, has been reported annually through The Review, but I wanted to give you a snapshot of what has been happening at your old School over the past few years.

COLUMN

Our pupils want us to protect their future, which we do gladly and in step with them.

Our first objective is to nurture global contributors. At its core this drives us to ensure that Oundelians look up and out from their life in School, not down and in. The enormous growth of our partnerships and outreach work over the past five years has opened our pupils’ eyes to the world of education beyond Oundle in exciting ways. Many of our younger OOs have been particularly interested in this aspect of the School of today and offered welcome support. Something else that I believe will chime with many of you is our commitment to a joined-up approach to reducing our carbon footprint. Our pupils are at the heart of this: they want us to protect their future, which we do gladly and in step with them.

Our second objective is to be in control of our market, which possibly sounds rather dry. Yet if we are to remain true to what we value we must make sure that market forces don’t bend us out of shape. We have identified key ratios among the pupil body, between girls and boys, day and boarding and overseas and UK families and have committed to sticking to these.

We also celebrate with great enthusiasm the joy of a full boarding ethos and keep it simple with regular fixed exeats: we are either all here or we are all not here.

Our third objective is to deliver a distinctive and outstanding education that prepares children for their adult lives. The distinctiveness is to be found in the way that we place the academic timetable within a context of other curricula and other kinds of learning in such a way that the pupils live and breathe an environment that embraces many kinds of skill and intelligence.

Life lessons, scholarship for all, the delight of sport and physical activity, the centrality of mental health, strong conduits of a powerful and intelligent pupil voice: all these things give our pupils the understanding that life is a complex of challenges, synergies, tensions which is theirs to navigate with confidence.

Our fourth objective is to be associated with the very best of 21st century boarding and day education.

This is hard to quantify, of course, but is what drives us. Ironically, some of our work here has been to reestablish fading norms where we believe them to be important, such as the intrinsic educational value of a full boarding ethos. We have also refocused on the concept of a covenant of trust between School and parents in the shared wish that their children should flourish. More progressively, we seek to be market leaders in the way we care for our staff and in the thoughtful ways we foster strong pupil leadership. One of the best things about Oundle is, of course, Oundle: our interwoven existence with such a beautiful place is what our pupils think of so fondly, as I am sure many of you still do.

Our fifth and final objective is to optimise financial performance. We are a school above all other things, but balancing the books is the surest way for us to continue to be the best school we can be. Supported by strong governance, we have responded positively to the financial pressures of Covid, returning the School to a surplus position. The Bursar engages all staff with the School’s financial performance so we feel that we are all in it together.

Meanwhile the Sports Centre has boomed, outstripping all projections.

So, there we have it. Nothing stands still and there are challenges ahead for all independent schools, but there is excitement here about what lies ahead for us. Plans are well underway for the creation of McMurray House on the site of the former primary school, for example.

This is a tribute to David McMurray, and a celebration of the coeducation he brought to Oundle. I very much look forward to sharing progress on this project with you.

For now, this comes with my very best wishes and in hope of seeing as many of you as possible over the coming year. ■

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Director of Development ■ Matthew Dear

Matthew Dear and Emma Goldberg, wedding day 15 April 2023

I

t’s amazing to think that this is the tenth such article that I’ve written for your magazine. It will also be my last, unless there’s an appetite in future for the views of Foundation Directors who have concluded their service and moved on to pastures new. I suspect you might not mind hearing from the great Richard Owen (Sc 70) or from Peter Nicholls (Lx 71), but me? I think it unlikely. But I crave your indulgence for one final time and hope that you’ll find my perhaps slightly liberated musings of interest.

A question was put to me by more than one person who attended our recent history tour to Berlin. They wondered why we put such effort into serving a relatively small group of people with a week-long guided history tour. The simple answer is that there was a demand for it. Such events also enable us to pursue our objectives by building wonderfully deep and meaningful relationships with those OOs who come along.

It hinted at a wider point, which is that, although we have a fundraising bottom line to achieve (and that process must inevitably seek efficiency), the very reason that we are seeking to achieve it is to serve people better. Every person is of the same fundamental value. A reductive approach would defy that principle.

We would never say that anyone or anything isn’t worth the effort, if it serves our community, even though

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some boundaries are inevitably set by the resources that we have available.

Oundle would be an utterly different place if everything was a numbers game, even though looking after the numbers is important, and enables everything else to happen. There is a balance to be struck; a via media, as the former theologian in me would have called it, just as there is in most things.

This led me to thinking about the shortcomings of a purely teleological view of education. Too many people seem to think that the only purpose of education is to enable you to go on to do something else. This neglects the inherent value of intellectual enquiry, and the sheer beauty, delight and value in finding out more about ourselves and the world around us.

We still struggle at times to shake off the notion that we must emerge from education as optimally useful parts of the economic machine, and if we don’t, we are deficient.

It is a sad fact that the younger generation needs to maximise its earning power if it is to succeed in meeting more modest lifestyle expectations than we have taken for granted, but there’s something rather tragic in thinking that this is the only thing that we in education are trying to ensure. Too often, the meta narrative implies that this ought to be our preoccupation. More noble and sustainable solutions might arise from allowing the next generation the space and agency to shape the world that will become theirs, rather than moulding them to fit what we have created.

There were two things that made me particularly proud to have worked for Oundle School. The first is its commitment to free-thinking. As I sat outside the Head’s study on interview day, the thing that tipped the balance for me and made me want to work for the School was an article in the pupil magazine, The Oundelian. It criticised

– thoughtfully – an element of School uniform policy. I concluded that a school which was prepared not only to tolerate, but to propagate such critical thinking was the sort of institution that would suit me down to the ground.

The second is the fact that Old Oundelians seem to go on to do such a range of marvellously interesting things. I used to be associated with a school that ultimately sent almost all its alumni into the financial services industries, in which their parents were almost inevitably employed themselves. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, and it is essential that those functions both exist and are run competently (here speaks a person halfway through an MSc in Finance), but I have loved the fact that if a younger OO wants to get into, say, ceramics, I dare say that somewhere on our database is an older OO who is established in that field, with whom we could connect them.

I should say just how brilliant our Funding Futures programme is, supporting both Bursaries, and Partnerships and Outreach. And it really is. Just as is Project 24, which seeks to make studying at Oundle the very best experience that it can be.

Some people might expect me to crow about the £16m raised since I joined the School ten years ago, but that would not only be arrogant, but misplaced. Because you did that.

You should be very proud indeed of the J M Mills Pavilion, SciTec, the Sports Centre, and that over 100 children are in the School at any one time thanks to our Bursaries programme. You should also be proud of the children in the state sector benefitting from our partnerships with their schools. And on that point, I rest my case, and I take my leave with gratitude that you have let me be a part of it. ■

COLUMN

The Archive ■ Elspeth Langsdale – Archivist

 Jay Broadhurst (G 69) with junior pupils

A

nother year has passed very quickly and I am delighted to say that more people are now discovering the location of the Archive office, which is quietly located in The Stables next door to Cobthorne. Old Oundelians, pupils and members of the community have found their way through the big black courtyard doors to come and ask us about their relatives, a period of School history or some aspect of local history.

The Archive comprises of many diverse types of records reflecting the School community and its activities and administration. Its collection of official records, photographs, society reports, publications, diaries, letters, documents, and artefacts cover all aspects of Oundelian life. The Archive is an educational and historical resource that is available for everybody in the School and wider community to use, and we are very keen to make it as user friendly as possible.

We do however have some constraints, such as the size of our office, and we are not best set up for larger groups. We can work around this by taking the Archive out “on the

road” and offer mobile workshops, pop-up displays and slideshows.

One such recent workshop held in March of this year was the Victorian morning, an event which was run as a partnership between Laxton Junior School and the Archive. We agreed to bring all available Victorian memorabilia to LJS. Artefacts, photographs, digital printouts from School magazines and a variety of other items preserved in the Archive were boxed up and carefully transported to LJS. All were arranged into distinct categories (staff, pupils, sport, Chapel, uniform, activities, letters, punishment and more) in tabletop displays that illustrated what life and school times were like during the Victorian era.

Forty pupils from Year 5 who had been learning about the Victorians in the classroom then gathered in the Hall where a parent, grandparent, or a family member joined them.

The event started with a slideshow and talk by the Deputy Head revisiting what they had covered in the classroom and introducing the Archive and the objectives of the

morning (to look, touch, explore and question). After a brief talk by the Archivist on what is an Archive, why we need Archives and what an Archivist does, the pupils and adults were able to move around the room from table to table exploring all the items on display. Pupils were curious, engaged, and excited to see primary sources that they could view and handle, ask questions about and all with the Archive team on hand to answer.

The University of Oxford is currently running a national World War Two project called Their Finest Hour that aims to collect and digitally archive the everyday stories and objects have been passed down from generation to generation. As part of this initiative the Third Form scholars had a very interactive Wednesday afternoon interviewing a group of local residents, recording their WW2 stories and photographing their personal artefacts. The data collected will now be added to the central database for the project.

Going through a large box of unsorted correspondence from Old Oundelians, we have come across some little gems of information. One such gem was a letter containing the identity of a former pupil who “flew to Oundle after joining the Royal Flying Corps and crashed through the wall of the Workhouse Chapel.”

The plane and the wall suffered damage but thankfully we now know that R. G. Wills (D 17) escaped with some minor injuries. Even with all his antics he survived the First World War, was married in 1931 and was a poultry farmer at Greater Woodley Farm, Romsey, Hampshire.

Mike Ling (Sn 71) paid us a very welcome visit to the Archive bringing with him The Whiffen Prize

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COLUMN

 Mike Ling (Sc 71) with the Archivist and Roy Sanderson's Prize books

Books that Roy Sanderson (Sc 1908) had been awarded in his last year in School by his father F. W. Sanderson.

Roy was killed in action in 1918 during the Battle of the Lys. Mike wrote in his family research paper that Roy “is my great-uncle by marriage to my great-aunt Margaret Sanderson who looked after my father Peter (B 35) after his mother died when he was a child. Roy is therefore a significant figure in our family’s history.” The books will be housed in the Cripps Library, and we very much appreciate the Ling family’s gift of these precious artefacts.

Just recently we received a substantial collection of letters from the daughters of Malcolm Brocklesby (By/C 50). From the moment he entered the Berrystead in 1945 to the day he left Crosby he regularly wrote witty accounts of life at Oundle to his mother. Along with cartoons and illustrations there are great details of his peers and his teachers “Spragg has as usual, set us another lovely prep (not).” and of social history “please can you send the coupons.” Two workshops at the end of term gave us the opportunity to introduce these letters to forty Third Formers, who then spent the morning transcribing the letters, which will make them even more accessible.

More delightful stories for the Archive came from Jay Broadhurst (G 69) who travelled from his home in America to visit Oundle again. In 1968 Jay came to Oundle to spend a year in Crosby as an exchange student and

Malcolm Brocklesby (C 50)

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has great memories from that time, many recorded on tape which he sent to his parents. His description of his first game of rugby is worth recalling, “I’ve just come in from playing my first game of rugger. It was a lot of fun.

I played a position as a running back called an outside center……Actually I did pretty well, I scored a couple of touches – three points apiece and was asked to kick one of them between the bars and I did. A number of people, I guess, were pretty amazed.”

It has also been a busy year for research enquiries and the Archive has continued to support members of the School and the wider community in their own historical research, often being able to give them small bits of information about a relative that they never knew before. The Archive has regularly supplied historical information and photographs in support of articles written for The Oundelian, The Old Oundelian, and local publications. ■

NEWS

Corresponding Members ■ News from Home BUCKS, BERKS AND OXON Charles Miller (Ldr 76) Email: bucks@ooclub.co.uk

LINCOLNSHIRE Alex Smith (N 91) Email: lincolnshire@ooclub.co.uk

THE WEALD Peter Owen (Lx 63) Email: weald@ooclub.co.uk

CHANNEL ISLANDS Jules Mountain (S 84) Email: channelisles@ooclub.co.uk

MIDLANDS Simon Sammy Stephen Email: midlands@ooclub.co.uk

WALES Peter Moore (Ldr 88) Email: swales@ooclub.co.uk

EAST ANGLIA Matt Payne (StA 82) Email: eanglia@ooclub.co.uk

NORTH EAST Charlie Hoult (Sc 85) Email: neast@ooclub.co.uk

WEST MIDLANDS Simon Stephen (Lx 97) Eamil: midlands@ooclub.co.uk

EAST MIDLANDS Chris Piper (Sc 71) Email: eastmidlands@ooclub.co.uk

NORTH WEST Peter Pentecost (StA 73) Email: nwest@ooclub.co.uk

IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND Vacant Email: ireland@ooclub.co.uk

SCOTLAND Guy Bainbridge (Sn 78) Email: scotland@ooclub.co.uk

YORKSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE AND NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Tim Waring (Ldr 76) & Chris Waring (Ldr 12) Email: syorks@ooclub.co.uk

LONDON Matthew Simmonds (StA 97) Email: london@ooclub.co.uk

SOUTH WEST Tony Parsons (S 65) Email: swest@ooclub.co.uk

ARMED SERVICES Sebastian Tusa (S 13) Email: armedservices@ooclub.co.uk OLD OUNDELIAN LODGE NO 5682 Ian Wadie (Sn 87) Email: oolodge@ooclub.co.uk

■ News from Abroad AFRICA Charles Salem (C 78) Email: africa@ooclub.co.uk

CONTINENTAL EUROPE Jim Bennett (N 77) Email: seurope@ooclub.co.uk

NEW ZEALAND Charles Salem (C 78) Email: australia@ooclub.co.uk

AUSTRALIA Charles Salem (C 78) Email: australia@ooclub.co.uk

HONG KONG Mark Reeves (C 80) Email: hongkong@ooclub.co.uk

SOUTH AMERICA Richard Horner (Sn/Ldr 04) Email: southamerica@ooclub.co.uk

CANADA James Clayton (G 68) Email: canada@ooclub.co.uk

INDONESIA AND THE PHILIPPINES Simon Reynolds (Sn 02) Email: indonesia@ooclub.co.uk CARIBBEAN Position open JAPAN AND KOREA Email: caribbean@ooclub.co.uk Vacant Email: japan@ooclub.co.uk CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE Jan Kluk OBE (LS 56) Daniel Yong (C 90) centraleurope@ooclub.co.uk Email: malaysia@ooclub.co.uk (and northeurope@ooclub.co.uk) MIDDLE EAST CHINA Ken Maw (D 77) Xi Zhu (Ldr 05) Email: mideast@ooclub.co.uk Email: china@ooclub.co.uk

THAILAND Iditorn Israsena (B 06) Email: thailand@ooclub.co.uk UNITED STATES Richard Horner (Sn/Ldr 04) Email: usa@ooclub.co.uk

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

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NEWS FROM HOME

Bucks, Berks and Oxon ■ Charles Miller (Ldr 76)

J

ay Cartwright (S 71) and Julia were very pleased to attend the double christening in October of their two grandchildren, Eleanor and Beatrix. The proud parents are Jo Draper (Cartwright W 05) and husband Tom. The ceremony took place in the picturesque parish church of Chilton, where Jo and Tom were married back in 2017. Jo is Head of Interior Design for Nina Campbell and frequently travels to the US to see clients. Amongst the guests were Kate Cranfield (Quinn D 05) husband Ed. Kate is a godmother to Ellie. Kate and Ed are now based back in London following an almost five year stint in Paris. They also have two children, William and Freddie, and Kate runs her own boutique consultancy specialising in market research and strategic analysis. Jo has recently seen Tim Swinson (Ldr 05) for lunch. He is now in management consultancy based in Scotland and he and Elly have two daughters aged 7 and 3. Jo had news of Andrew Bull (L 05) who is now a Squadron Leader, and Officer Commanding the King’s Colour Squadron which was on parade during the King’s Coronation.

Calum Stewart (S 17) has joined insurance brokers Axis as an assistant underwriter, and is enjoying his new career. In June, Jay’s brother Philip Cartwright (S 69) drove with Chunks Bowden (Sc 68) in Phil’s Porsche 993 down to Le Mans to watch the famous 24 hour race. Phil and Susie continue to live in Hampshire and entertain an ever burgeoning bunch of grandchildren - 12 at the last count!

John Chadwick (StA 71) has been celebrating his recent milestone birthday with a visit to the beautiful Champagne area ( where else would one go to celebrate ?) followed by a spectacular Champagne dinner at Orangerie in the magnificent Palace of Versailles. He has seen Malcolm Walters (D 72) who has recently moved from Canterbury to Cheltenham. Charles Ashby joined

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Aidan Nicholson (both Lx 96) for clay pigeon shooting in Wiltshire last April. He also returned to Oundle last October with Tom Johnson, Sam Cates, Alex Stanhope and Jimmy Goddard (all Lx 96) to meet ex-House tutor, Philip Pedley. Brian Trent (Sc 58) is 84 this year and still walking his dog. He currently has one great nephew and one great niece at Oundle.

Aiden Nicholson

Simon Nicholson (Lx 61) reports that Aidan Nicholson continues to live near Harpenden and to flourish as a fund manager specialising in American pension funds’ offshore US assets. These tend to take a shortterm view of asset and profit trends (against a firm dollar!) so Aidan is making fairly frequent USA visits to display his persuasive charms.

Aidan sees a bit of Alex Stanhope and Charles Ashby and their families.

David Nicholson (Lx 99) is working for a consultancy providing advice on industrial scale energy solutions for corporates. His two children, Lottie, four, and Oscar two, seem to be taking an eternity to break through this phase of their lives. He keeps in touch with Max Desoutter’s (Lx 99) family nearby. Max attended son Oscar’s christening last summer.

The main function of Simon and his wife seems to be to provide emergency babysitting cover and family holidays with all of the above.

Simon was not nearly ready to be

80 a few weeks ago. He is happy gardening and attending old lags’ City lunches, especially the Sunshine Club in the Pall Mall Club for 19581963 OOs run by Gavin Choyce (N 61).

Brian Cormack (Sn 58) reluctantly gave up golf a few years ago as his knees protested too much. He had been on the England Golf Tournament Panel of referees for about ten years, and hopes that he did not give any adverse rulings to Oundelians (past or present) while a Rules Official.

JJ Harris (Lx 91) reports that the annual Mostyns cricket tour took a step upmarket this year in Ibiza to celebrate turning 50 and included many OOs: Oliver Thain, Alex Deacon, David Ffoulkes-Jones (all Lx 90), Phil Dobson, Leckie Waterhouse (both Sn 90), Dan Anslow (S 90) and James Spragg (Sc 90). Unfortunately the cricket did not go very well against some pretty decent opposition

NEWS FROM HOME

but great fun was had by all. He has also had much fun with fellow Wargrave OOs Henry Bryers (Lx 96), Matt Perowne (B 01) and Alex Deacon (Lx 90) including them helping celebrate his 50th in sporting style. JJ is delighted to have had his first year as Halford Hewitt captain - despite (or maybe because) he was injured and could only play the first round, the team had its best run for a few years and the signs are very encouraging for the future of Oundle golf. He has also had the pleasure of seeing plenty of Vin Grantham (B 72) whose son plays in his Wargrave 3rd X1 cricket.

Andrew Kerr (Sc 73) made a couple of trips to Toronto to see his eldest son and a much longer trip to Melbourne to see his younger son. He plays a lot of golf, mainly in the UK but also in Australia, France, Canada and Ireland and still does some charity work. He sees his father, Ian Hamilton Kerr (S 45) in Winchester every few weeks. He also sees his brother, Mark Kerr (Sc 74) who lives in North Yorkshire.

Jonathan Andrew (Sc 84) is now CEO of Steamship Mutual Insurance where Rupert Harris (Ldr 86) runs the Cyprus based company. He sees many OOs, particularly at Denham Golf Club.

Jack Doolan (C 07) reports that Cypher16 released their long-awaited second album It’s A Long Way Back (From This Road) on 12 May 2023.

Jack has also started Flightcase Bars.

A recent interview into the runaway success of a spontaneous lockdown business can be viewed here, giving an insight into how the business started in the middle of the first Covid lockdown of 2020 to where it currently sits as an industry-disrupter, almost two years on from the ‘end’ of the pandemic: https://www. hotel-suppliers.com/in-conversationwith-jack-doolan-rock-god-guinnessenthusiast-and-ceo-of-flightcase-bars/ and www.flightcasebars.com Richard Valentine (D 62) spent three months flat on his back in various NHS hospitals as a result of sepsis contracted during a routine biopsy. After release he had to learn to walk again and so was unable to

grace the golf course until recently.

Country walks and gardening were also curtailed. Sons Neil (G 92) and Stuart Valentine (G 99) are both well and prospering as is brother Charles (D 54). Other OOs seen in the last year include Neil Shepherd-Smith (D 54) and Richard (Sc 62) and James Glover (D 67).

Rick Storey (G 95) attended his first OO sports reunion meal, a fantastic lunch at Queens Club. The fun tumbled on late into the evening.

He sent in a shot of three consecutive Grafton heads of House: Andrew Cadge (G 94) (left), Rick Storey (G 95) (right) and Cary Curtis (G 96) (centre). This is the first time that they been in the same room for very nearly 30 years - grey hair aside, it was as if they had never been away!

Martin Amor (D 89) enjoys running Cosmic Kids with his wife, making yoga and mindfulness videos for kids aged 3 to 9. They have collaborated with an interesting mix of people this year including Sir Paul McCartney, the European Space Agency and My Little Pony and will be live at various festivals this summer. He also enjoyed two wonderful fishing trips to Slovenia with Duff Battye (G 89) and got together in February with Duff, Bill Cartledge (G 89) and Ed Rose (S 89) to raise a glass to Simon Burdess (C 89) on the first anniversary of his death. Martin is now living in Henley on Thames and is hoping to From left, Duff Battye (G89) and Martin Amor (D 89)

see various OOs including Ed Rose and Dan Hiscocks (Sn 89) while the regatta is on.

Arthur Marment’s (D 77) daughter Angharad (D 10) and husband Tom have been grappling with their new baby Arthur and have moved to leafy Surrey, whilst son George (B 12) has moved from youthful Clapham to grown up Pimlico! George continues to graft at the coal face of London Commercial Property for Making Moves. He was pleased to be sent pictures of OO tennis star Bella Reick (K 05) on her wedding day and to join in the celebrations at The Ship at Multisports weekend for the engagement of another OO tennis legend, Sophie Walker (L 05) who got engaged to the charming Andy.

Arthur is revelling in old age: still playing tennis dismally, disapproving of things, tutting at every opportunity but still convinced Wales will win this year’s Rugby World Cup! Henry Byers (Lx 96) still sees a number of OOs in Wargrave, including Ali Green (D 96) and Phil Everington (C 95) as they have children at the same school. Mark Waller (D 58) tells us that Lord David Richards (StA 69) was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court in October. (see article p5) Mark attended the Law dinner to celebrate Oundle’s two Supreme Court Justices, the other being Lord David Kitchin (Sc 72 ), at which its organisers Lance Ashworth KC (G 82) and David Bailey KC (N 83) made speeches.

Lance was a member of his old chambers Serle Court, Lincoln’s Inn and David was his marshal during his early years as a High Court Judge.

He later joined 7 Kings Bench Walk where, incidentally, Mark’s son Richard was a member of chambers.

All these coincidences made it a very happy evening. Other OOs present included Hugh Brass (D 62) who was a contemporary of brother Irvin Waller (D 72), who is retired and lives in Ottawa, Canada where he was a Professor Of Criminology and an author of a number of books on the subject. Mark was a contemporary in Dryden of Hugh’s brother Peter Brass (D 58) who is retired and in good health living in Moulsford,

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Oxfordshire. One legal OO who, having qualified as a barrister went into banking but was not at the dinner, is Iain Schmiegelow (Ldr 1961). They play golf together occasionally and he, apart from a new knee, is in good health and still working.

Rupert Thompson’s (Ldr 76) brewery, Hogs Back Brewery, is continuing its good recovery after the tribulations of the pandemic which hit hospitality particularly badly. He is selling more beer to pubs again as people return to their locals. He saw Jonathan Taylor (LS 75), Charlie Elsey (C 76) and Martin Butt (C 75) recently for a jolly supper. Martin now in a wheelchair but still getting around and upbeat. Michael Williams (N 69) was surprised and delighted to be awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours for services to the sport of rowing. This was in respect of his past roles as treasurer and board member of both British Rowing and World Rowing. His only recent non-OOGS contact was Joslin Lewis

(Sn 68), who is a fellow liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers and recently took a party on a walk around the City of London identifying various sites where the Fletchers have existed in their 650 year history.

I bump into a number of OOs locally, including Jim Eyre (B 77) who has just built a magnificent new house and Nick Kirkbride (Lx 77) whose daughter Charlie (Sn 05) has just had a baby. His wife, Pippa, is due to be High Sherriff of Buckinghamshire in 2025. I also saw Mark Swallow (Sc 77) at the wedding of his nephew, where Charles Waddell (S 79) was also present as was Etty Hill (K 09), who has now had a baby, Nancy, and is marrying another of Mark’s nephews. My brother in law, Ralph Baines (Sc 75), had a knee replacement just before Christmas and is making a good recovery. I continue to work in the property sector as well as playing lots of bridge and chairing the governors at the Beacon School in Amersham.

Ian Lane (Ldr 77) kindly invited me to Lords with Tim Cowan (Ldr 76) and Mike Haigh (Sc 87). We had lunch with Dermot Brady (Ldr 76) and Bob Harrap (B 68). Earlier this year, my son Tom Miller (Ldr 07) and Lucy had a daughter Annabel, a sister for Jemima, and we recently attended the christening in Wandsworth. Tom continues to work in restructuring and his company has recently been taken over by AlixPartners. My daughter, Rebecca (K 07) is living a hectic life in London and is now working for Baringa, specialising in the retail sector.

Annabel's christening

East Midlands ■ Chris Piper (Sc 71)

N

ews from the East Midlands region has been a bit thin this year. Either everyone is too busy or they have nothing to report! Probably a mixture of both.

For a change I will start with my news. I have enjoyed my year as VicePresident of the Club – it made a nice change to sit and enjoy the functions knowing I did not have to stand and make a speech. I have met up with quite a few OO contemporaries over the past year, not least at enjoyable rugby matches following the fortunes of the Northampton Saints with Jonathan Jones (B 71), Robert Morton and Nigel Youngman (both Sc 71). The four of us try to meet every six months for lunch, but for one reason or another, we end up cancelling! We did make it once this year though. Following the sad death of Geoff Rhodes (Sc 70) earlier on

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in the year, Martin Jenkins (Sc 70) formed the Rhodes Memorial Lobster Society (RMLS).

Now to everyone else’s news.

Arnab Datta (L 05) is a regular contributor to the East Midlands news and his was the first I received: ‘I am still working as a Chartered Accountant at a Big Four firm in London, specialising in the audits of technology and media companies.

I have enjoyed being involved in business development activities, reviewing content for a global media outlook publication and leading a diversity and inclusion event.

As part of my role in the ICAEW Business Law Committee, I was in a working group which published the Better Regulation Project. The aim of this interesting project is to help demonstrate how the UK’s regulatory regime might be improved and to use

our insights to call for change where required.’ James Singlehurst (Sc 74) is ‘still running my commercial game hatchery. So far we have survived the ravages of bird flu. I am in weekly contact with Stephen Hall (Ldr 79) as we both started game farms at the same time. I now supply his day old chicks. One year ago, I decided to try my hand at becoming a distiller. I am pleased to say that I have received HMRC approval and distillery 99783 in the name of Revival Rum is up and running. I am afraid you will all have to wait a few years before you can

NEWS FROM HOME

sample it! I also started a small rum distillery in a disused farm building.

Once again an OO, Michael Beamish (Sc 75), has been a great help with advice. I am producing a barrel a week of molasses and demerarabased rum to be rested in oak barrels for several years. Great to see you at the Over 60s lunch. Hopefully we can all meet up again next year’ Ryck Turner writes: ‘N 86 or 87?

Can never remember! (it’s 87 Ryck!)

I have seen Bruce Galliford (StA 87), Tim MacMillan (G 87) and Martin Bailey (N 86). All on great form! I sold my pet food manufacturing business to Cranswick PLC in January 2022. Bought The Whipper-In Hotel in Oakham in August 2023 and set about breathing new life into it after thirty odd years of virtually no investment.

Great place for Oundle parents to stay if they want a change of scenery or if Oundle are away at Oakham!?

Still riding horses at three day events when I have the time. Bob McCall (Lx 68) writes: ‘For what it’s worth, my news is imminent for this year at www.r2ak.com, and last year’s tome is available at https://www.amazon. co.uk/dp/1739351002 Guy Spragg (Sc 88) continues to see ‘far too much of Old Oundelians.

I have just returned from a four day break in Wales accompanied by Alex Hendry, Chris Skelton and Matt Forde (all Sc 88). Al Hendry continues to do something in technology whilst passing on his extensive cricket knowledge coaching Chiddingfold youth in Surrey. Chris Skelton chairs a sign-making business in Nottingham but spends a lot of time touching up his tan in Portugal where he has built a home. Matt Forde, almost singlehandedly, makes the BBC licence fee worth it, by now working between Australia and the UK on a new major project, coming to our screens soon.

With two sons at Oundle he sees a lot of parents at various matches including Jules McAlpine, Tim Pasco (both Lx 88) and Paul Chatterton (S 88). Jules is working in nature conservation with a sideline in the confectionery business. Tim continues work at Velocity Trade, and regularly entertains Oundelians with corporate hospitality. Paul Chatterton is solving

the Earth’s energy crisis with his Company Adjuvo Energy, which develops renewable energy projects.

Justin Yeaman (S 88) lives in Shepherds Bush as a self proclaimed Marketing maestro whilst Tom Baldock (S 88) is a partner at PR Company Lansons in the City.

Phil Atkins (C 88) has had a very successful year with his business OfftoWork, bouncing back from the carnage created in the sector by Covid. James Spragg (Sc 90) despite getting out first ball in John Spragg’s (Lx 55) memorial match has added various non exec roles within the food & drink sector, whilst nearly halving his golf handicap. Bob Spragg (Sc 86) continues to judge in Newcastle, although he has now taken on a purely umpiring role in the annual cricket game. Unfortunately Dom Brady (Sc 87) took a rather good catch in the same match and unsurprisingly has never shut up about it. Roger Tacq (LGS 69) entered the Oundle Golf Club Seniors Open on 11 May this year with a fellow member of Ramsey Golf Club, John Bryant.They came in with 42 points and won the visitors event. Roger lived in Oundle and started playing golf at Oundle GC where his father was a member. His old Laxton Grammar School Headmaster, TA Stretton, was captain of the club.

Piers Ward (Lx 99) is really pleased to have landed a new job as deputy editor at CAR magazine, having spent the last two years as associate editor at Autocar. He was also very excited to recently say hello to his sister’s fourth child - India Bacon (Ward, K 01) had Daisy in May. David Hartridge (Sc 63) emailed: ‘ I don’t know how I’ve come to miss your reminders the last couple of years but this year I’m making an effort!

Still managing to live life to the full keeping reasonably fit and healthy.

I’ve now completed ten years as a volunteer driver two or three times a week at our local hospice which I find very rewarding. I recently led a successful campaign to prevent a mobile telephone mast being erected at the end of our Close having been told we had no chance whatsoever.

We erected signs and posters, placed

petitions in shops and did house to house canvassing, raising over 1000 objections in two weeks. Then I learnt I had been nominated for the Leicestershire Good Neighbour award and on attending the awards night at the King Power stadium I was honoured to win it! I organised a Coronation Close party with two neighbours for that glorious Sunday of the Coronation weekend with130 attending and live music provided by another neighbour. It was a great success with much merriment, dancing and a raffle from which we raised over £500 for the hospice.

It was the third coronation for one visitor! We still have our caravan and manage to visit my son and grandchildren in Majorca once or twice a year. This September we are off to visit our middle daughter in Australia for a month; we see our eldest daughter in Brighton quite often. Sadly, I don’t see so many OOs these days, and now that 60 years have passed since school days the Obituaries section now makes salutary reading. However I did recently meet up with Nick Cheatle (G 63) and Chris Broadbent (Ldr 63).

Mark Lewis (Ldr 05) is happily homed in Cambridge, putting finance skills to good use, now working in conservation finance looking at sale of carbon and other ecosystem services on behalf of a leading environmental NGO. He’s kept busy by two children and their many friends, and kept sane by running and swimming.

Other OOs in Cambridge I’m in touch with are Rachel Myers (Sn 05) and James Hems (G 05), both doing really great things - we meet occasionally for board games and wine. Dotty McLeod (L 05), of course, remains the voice of BBC radio hereabouts. Lizzie Kilsby (Gent W 92) writes: ‘I’ve started working as a special needs teaching assistant at St John’s College School in Cambridge. It’s been hugely rewarding and great to be working in such a brilliant school. Aside from that I’m playing squash and hockey again (playing squash for the OOs against the school was a highlight) and am generally busy being a mum to three children.

I was pleased to hear news from

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the Wake family via John (Honorary member): Cameron Wake (L 04) returned to UK after five years in Dubai and is now teaching Geography and is Master i/c Cricket at Repton School. Chloe Jane Wake (L 05) and husband Ben Ashman announce the birth of daughter Annie on 1 December 2022, a family addition to son Leo Sydney born in 2020. Sophie May Wake (L 08) and husband Geoff Cliff announce the birth of daughter Bonnie on 9 August 2022. John and Susan announce the marriage of daughter Dr Holly Wake (L 11) to Michael Outar (L 06) in Lincolnshire on August this year.

Marieke van de Braak (L 04) sounds to have a very glamorous job!

‘I am travelling worldwide as the chef on a 62m superyacht, currently in the south of France with plans to travel the Azores, Caribbean, Alaska and Greenland over the coming year. I’ve spent 90% of the year away from the UK since Covid, but am lucky to have seen a few Oundle friends in my brief periods at home. My sister Anna (L 16) has landed her dream job working as the photographer/content creator for British rowing and is based in Newcastle, where she is shortly to buy a house. She’s hoping to head to the Olympics in Paris with work next year.’ Eliza Burgess (L 14) must be one of our fittest Old Oundelians! I  Eliza Burgess swimming in Bolivia

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have never submitted anything to The Old Oundelian Magazine before, so apologies if my news isn’t relevant! I competed in long distance open-water swimming competition in the world’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca, in Bolivia in May. Surprisingly, I finished first in my age and gender category. The swim was 7.5km from Isla del Sol to Isla de la Luna.

Paul Clark (S 79): I have been working successfully with my own business publishing company for the past 18 years, mainly involved in the motor industry. This followed almost 25 years in various editorial roles in specialist car magazine publishing including Classic Cars, Performance Car and latterly the startup Popular Classics magazine, before moving to the Business to Business sector.

Our current venture, which I started with two publishing colleagues in 2007, has evolved more into the marketing and promotional aspects of the modern motor industry at home and overseas, and we are seeing a mighty transition with the onset of electrification. Being something of a ‘petrolhead’, I am considering early retirement as a result – more time to enjoy my own small fleet of old cars while I still can, and restoring our crumbling old house. We live very near Rutland Water, and little did I know back in the 1970s at school, when a group of us used to cycle up from Oundle and watch the reservoir

being built, that one day I would actually be living here with my family, and have done for the last 35 years. I keep in regular contact with Andrew Davidson Hogg (S 78) and David Richards (S 78), and late last year met up with David and Tim Brown (Oundle Director of Music in the 70s/early 80s) who is now back living in Oundle. We shared many fond memories of music trips and concerts, all of which now seem such a long time ago.

Philip De Voil (G 86) sends Just a snippet or two! Having left Deloitte in early 2021 after 30+ years, it has been interesting settling into life as a director at BDO. I am still focused on forensic accountancy, in particular on the resolution of M&A disputes.

The last twelve months have been relatively active on the amateur musicals stage after the enforced hiatus over the Covid period. Janette and I have been involved in two productions with Derby’s Present Company -The Desert Song (the first UK staging for 30 years) in which I played the Moroccan sheikh, Ali Ben Ali and Die Fledermaus, in which I achieved a theatrical ambition - to play Dr Falke - the ‘Fledermaus’ (or ‘Bat’) of the title. Sadly, Present Company is no more following the death of its founder in December  Left to right: Georgia Mann (Sn 10),

Jack Clancy (F 10), Leonora Forrest (D 10), Tabby Luxmoore Styles (W 10), Harriet Wildgoose (W 10) and Jack Napier (Sc 10)

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and so this year we have sung a major ‘relaunch’ concert (in which I was variously a captain in the navy, a pirate and a cowboy) We are about to start rehearsing Me & My Girl with ESNA Theatre, based in Loughborough. Amateur theatre is still really struggling to recover from the Covid shutdown, in terms of both participants and audiences, so I’d encourage anyone with any interest to go out and support their local groups - please! I continue to shoot on the rifle ranges and last summer was part of the combined Northamptonshire & Leicestershire team that placed third overall at the annual Intercounties match in June, and placed second in the County Long Range match (fired at 900 and 1000 yards) during the main Imperial Meeting in July.’

Tim Pollard (Sc 93) continues to live near Oundle, plays hockey and cricket locally, and is still writing about cars for a living. He was elected chair of the British Society of Magazine Editors and continues to fly the flag for expert, humancreated editorial in the face of the AI onslaught. Dominic Vincent (Lx 82) writes: ‘All good with me - still selling rowing boats and particularly enjoying the growth in coastal rowing, with my eldest son a policeman in Cambridge, my youngest an estate agent in Mayfair and my wife helping run a start-up bank in the City - life is full on! Mike Logsdon (Lx 82), who was a good friend in Laxton House, passed away and I have written an obituary in conjunction with his sister, Caroline.

Leonora Forrest (D 10) has ‘Some news for the OO mag this year. I got married on 15 April to Edward - and we had the most perfect spring day.

He is a brilliant chef so the food was phenomenal and kept everyone happy! There were lots of OOs in attendance, including three I was in the Berrystead with - Alice Wilson, Celia Scruby and Freddie Elborne and we got some lovely pictures: Julian Kirk (LS 93): ‘Please find a snippet of news from me. Having not set foot in Oundle since leaving in 1993, I have found himself back in the town - this time working for a PR and marketing company

Music School Cottage, West Street, Oundle For holiday lettings contact: holidayhomes@osprey-property.co.uk or oomagazine@ooclub.co.uk

producing print and online content for the School. I am part of a team that has, so far, provided a range of printed products for both Laxton Junior School and Oundle School, as well as being involved in producing some promotional videos (made slightly more difficult because of Covid restrictions). Walking around Oundle brought back some fantastic memories, and it is amazing to see the facilities the children now enjoy.

My near contemporary in School House, Andrew Sharpley (Sc 72) wrote ‘Following the death of my wife after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, I recently married Chantelle and we now live between our houses in Zimbabwe and England. Andrew Tobin (G 92) says: We continue to live near Market Harborough, and I remain a partner at Mills & Reeve in London, specialising in insurance and reinsurance. Our son James Tobin (B 22) has completed his first year at Newcastle University, and is in touch with many OOs. Our daughter Alice

is in the U6 and thoroughly enjoying her time at New House. I saw a good number of OOs at the 92 leavers reunion, Roger Freebairn’s (C 55) memorial service, and the OO legal dinner.

Chris Aslett (D 87) ‘was happy to spend a day at the School having provided support for some places on the summer outreach STEM project. Candice Sharp (School Business Development Manager) looked after us very well and the Bloodhound Education Team from Swansea University put on a really good event for Year 9,10 and 11 pupils from outside the School on this 5-day residential course allowing them access to the CAD, 3D printing and other facilities in the Patrick Centre to make rocket powered model cars, which ran spectacularly.

Thanks to all of you who contributed this year – I am hoping for more replies next time! Best wishes for the forthcoming year, and hope you all continue to thrive.

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Lincolnshire ■ Alex Smith (N 91)

A

lex Smith (N 91) has been teaching in Stamford for five years now, as Head of Classics at Stamford Schooland Stamford High. The two schools are going through profound change this year, as they merge and go fullycoeducational. Alex caught up with old housemate Angus Slater (N 91) now back from Hong Kong, and fellowsports secretary Stuart Morgan (Lx 91). He continues to be in regular contact with Rupert Cheswright, Jules Barnett and Bill Hooper (all N 91), as well as Charlie Froud (StA 91), Scott Black (Ldr 91), TomBarnes and Matt Parker (both Sc 91); they all enjoyed catching up at Tom’s 50th in London inSeptember 2022. Alex also saw Charlie Isaacs (N 90) there, and regularly chats to Nick Cartwright (N 90) whoseson Henry is now at Oundle. Nick and Alex had a beer in Stamford after Henry had a rugby fixture there.

Andrew Scoley (S 81) has written a shorter version of his eulogy for his father [attached] and writes to say hesees Matthew Lane (L 81) on a reasonably regular basis, Stephen Bedford (C 81) and Stuart Grant (S 81) alittle more irregularly these days, and he bumped into Andrew Gloag (Sn 81) at an agricultural show recently. Covid measures didn’t help of course. Andrew notes that he and his friends are now frighteningly into

a roundof 60th birthdays but they’re all still in reasonably good form!

He has quite an involvement with the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust and recently had a tour in New Zealand with Scholars from around the world, a trip delayed by three years. He also sees his god-daughter, Katharine Spurrier (W 19) quite often and she’s enjoying working in London. Andrew and Stuart Ellis (Lx 81) swap annual birthday messages every year!

Simon Grantham (B 71) recently attended Andrew Grant’s daughter Rachel’s wedding. He sees David Beamish (Sc 77), Ian Grant (C 80), Stuart Grant, James Brown (Sc 76) and Oscar Fowler (S 21) regularly during the shooting season. He also spoke to Rob Brown (Sc 77) recently. John Townend (StA 84) mentioned that he lives in Beverley, East Yorkshire, rather than Lincolnshire, but in any event informed us that he continues to run the family wine merchant, House of Townend, and is making up for lost time after being tied to base during Covid, with wine buying visits to Georgia and Slovenia as well as various wine producing regions of France, Italy and Spain, with a trip to Argentina in the diary. He sees Charles Gillett (StA 79) regularly, sharing many a good bottle of claret.

Chris Denley (LS 69) has been

London ■ Matthew Simmonds (StA 97)

Y

our correspondent Matthew Simmonds (StA 97) feels like the last 12 months have flown by, however he has enjoyed catching up with a number of old friends from Oundle. In April, the annual sports lunch at Queen’s Club was as always a fantastic afternoon and was

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a great chance to catch up with a host of 1997 leavers including Alastair Foster-Ward, Charles Holmes, James Kilner, Andrew Coulthurst, Jake Sanders, Matthew Joyce (all StA 97), Thurstan Guthrie-Brown (StA 98), Jon Curtis (G 98), John Pennington, Chris Godfrey (both N 97), Toby

retired 12 years, and is still living in Swanland (just north of the Humber Bridge) following two careers - 16 years as a Maths teacher in London, and then 21 years as an Aerospace engineer at Brough, including 2 years at Fort Worth in Texas. Chris and his wife Katrine currently run a holiday cottage (Lyndale Cottage, highly recommended!) in Robin Hood’s Bay and fitting in what travelling they can. Chris’ main pursuit is music, and thinks some from school may remember him playing blues guitar.

These days he mainly plays jazz and folk, recording at home and playing in a folk group and a jazz band, as well as a solo act in folk clubs and pubs. All just for fun, Chris says, but he has made a couple of CDs for charity. He was recently jamming with former school colleague and double bassist Tim Knight who Chris notes is probably the only person from school he’s still in touch with.

Chris occasionally passes through Oundle, usually to attend to his parents’ grave, and still sees one or two people from primary school days knocking around town.

NEWS FROM HOME

Haselwood and Tom WanboroughJones (both Sc 97), as well as long serving St A Housemaster Vic Northwood, plus Philip Pedley and Max Taylor. The Multi Sports weekend up in Oundle was again a perfect opportunity to visit old haunts and catch up with sporting contemporaries, including Karis Abas (StA 97). Your correspondent also visited Matthew Thornton (StA 97) down in Cornwall, James Holmes (Lx 97) up in Yorkshire, Tim Nicholson (StA 97) in London and joined the coaching set up at Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club under the watchful eye of Andrew Townsend (G 84).

Guy Simmonds (StA 95) thoroughly enjoyed catching up with many of his regular crowd at the sports lunch and Vets rugby game, and reports he also had the pleasure of a long lunch with Vic Northwood and Colin Pendrill re-living the glory days of StA in the 90s, a game of cricket with Jules Mascarenhas (Sc 93), a long overdue meet up with Rick LeSueur (B 95), and was looking forward to hosting Dan Hughes (Sc 95) and Chris Wilson (Lx 95) and their families for a weekend very soon. As a bonus, it turns out Max Stallard (N 97) is teaching Guy’s daughter and was around for a Pimms at Speech Day. Jerry Appleyard (N 80) penned me a brief note to let me know he is now lead Presiding Justice for London out of hours search warrants panel as well as continuing as chair of the JTAAAC (Judicial training body in short!). Sam Cone (StA 05) tells me he has recently got engaged and is looking forward to his wedding in September.

Nina Rieck (K 95) informs me that, while she doesn’t technically live in London, she does spent most of her time in the City, if not abroad with her lovely job working for the Chair and founder of Formula E (forget F1, this is the new way forward!), who also happens to have brought to life Extreme E (off road version of FE) and also E1, the new electric power boating championship which excitedly starts in Jeddah in January 2024. In short, it is a very busy but fulfilling life back in the world of motorsports that she originally started

out in way back in 1999 after leaving Newcastle University (Oundle 7th form as it is commonly known). Nina has two children currently following in both her, her brother Hamish Rieck (Lx 00) and sister Arabella Rieck’s (K 05) footsteps: Oliver RieckBoscawen who is in Bramston L6 and Storm Rieck-Boscawen who is in Sanderson. She also writes that Old Oundelians seem to still crop up everywhere, including Guy Myram (StA 00), associate Director, marketing and commercial NEOM McLaren Electric Racing, with whom Nina spent many Extreme events together but only realised the connection on a very amusing evening in Punta Del Este, Uruquay, when Guy asked her if she knew Hamish Rieck – not realising he was her brother! Nina is also in touch with Sam Cates (Lx 96) who happens to be Oliver, her son’s, godfather. Outside of her crazy but exciting work life she is on the OO committee, which she loves as they are such a fantastic group. Hamish is living in London with his wife and two young children, still working in the film and television industry. Bella is also in London, having relocated from living in Stockholm for the last two years and has recently got married.

Chloë Ashby (L 09), pictured below, writes to let me know that her second novel, Second Self, was published in July. It’s an ode to big decisions, small, tender moments, and how we choose to be. Henry Jeffreys (Sn 93) also has a book out in August called Vines in a Cold Climate: the People behind the English wine Revolution (Allen &

S Kate Mason (L 06) Eurosport anchor at the World Cycling Championships

Unwin). It’s available from all good bookshops and some bad ones!

Artist Joshua Waterhouse (S 07) met up with Melody Nairn (K 07) at the Mall Galleries to see Joshua’s painting of Mel’s father, David, at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition. The portrait of David, a retired Consultant Hand & Orthopaedic Surgeon, was commissioned to celebrate his 80th birthday, see photo below. In addition, artist Georgie Mason (W 10) writes that the final show of her Fine Art MA at City & Guilds University of the Arts London will be taking place between 2-9 September. Members of the OO community are welcome to come along.

Peter Haselden (G 85) has let me know that there is not much to report for the 1985 Grafton leavers, Dave Kunzer, Ben Cocke, Pete Newboult and Dominic Parker (all G 85), except

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a fine February round of crazy golf at a bizarre place in Oxford Circus, preceded and followed by habitual refreshments. It’d be rude of your correspondent to divulge the winner.

Apparently there is still no peep out of Angus Gray (G 85) or Andrew Housely (G 85) to make the full set.

Andrew Jay (G 83) “had better things to do”. Anne Clarke, Peter Bibby’s (Sc 67) wife, and Peter’s sister in law, Sue Clarke have kindly contacted me to let me know that Peter died peacefully at home with cancer on 20 February 2023, aged 72.

Richard Conradi (D 59) was one of many relations at Oundle: father Gordon Conradi, (D 35), uncle Eric Conradi (D 39), brother Peter Conradi, (D 63), cousins Martin Conradi (D 64) and Stephen Conradi (Sn 73). Gordon left a significant legacy in his will which funded a bursary every other year, at the Head’s discretion, entitled the “Conradi Scholarship” which resulted in there being two Conradi scholars in any year, each of whom used to write annually to his father’s widow, his step-mother, with news.

To recognise this legacy, a brass plaque still remains in the Cloisters.

In May this year, Richard took his two married children, Michael and Rachel and their partners, together with his four grandchildren, for a day trip to Oundle. Escorted by an Oundle guide, they met at the Great Hall, saw the plaque to his father, had a fascinating tour of SciTec followed by the new sports complex near where the Parade Ground

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used to be. Richard trained as an engineer, worked for what had been his family electrical wholesaling business and after retiring took on many volunteering posts. In 2017, at the age of 76, he registered at his local college and studied for an Integrative Diploma in Counselling and graduated at the age of 80, see photo below. He now volunteers as a counsellor for three local charities.

Richard’s brother, Peter, spends most of his time in his second home near Presteigne, mid Wales. In 2010 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. See http://peterjconradi.co.uk Simon Hinshelwood (StA 81) celebrated his 60th birthday in London this year with attendees including fellow StA lads: Chris Elliott, Tom Hiscocks (both StA 81) and Nigel Hinshelwood (StA 82) plus St A dad, Henry Winter. Simon and his wife Victoria left Hong Kong in December 2022 after nearly seven happy years and are now in semi retirement, spending their time between Vicki’s home country of Grand Cayman and their house in Blackheath, London. Between them they have six children and six grandchildren split between the UK, Australia and the Cayman Islands.

Guy Beresford (B 81) tells me he is thoroughly enjoying his year as OO Club President and Careers events organiser. OO business has caused him to encounter OOs too numerous to mention, though a particular highlight was seeing Mark Yarrow (Lx 81) for the first time since leaving school, when Mark was exhibiting paintings in the Yarrow Gallery during the Multisports weekend.

Guy enjoyed caddying for Richard Pentecost (StA 05) at the Halford Hewitt in Deal and continues to follow Oundle Rovers in the Cricketer Cup. Guy hopes to see as many OOs as possible at the London Dinner at Grocers Hall on Friday 24 November.

Jules Hammond (D 01) writes to report that she is living with her husband and two sons near Hitchin, working as Operations manager for a boutique Media Law/Business Affairs firm, and had a lovely time recently seeing a lot of her fellow

Dryden 2001 women for a long lunch.

Alice Young (Sn 11) reports that she and Jules Carrell (G 11) got married on 17 June 2023 in Brent Pelham.

Most of the bridesmaids and all of the groomsmen were Oundelians, supporting the common argument that non-Oundelians just don’t cut the cheddar.

Giles Holder (Lx 97) reports that he is regular contact with George Desoutter (Lx 97) on a work front as he is managing a large extension to Desoutter Medical’s head office and factory facility, but more importantly socially with their respective families.

Richard Tett (B 87) reports that it’s been another year with, truth be told, no dramatic change (which in one’s mid-50s is probably rather a good thing!). He is still lawyering away (too) hard as a solicitor at Freshfields and is approaching 30 years there.

Richard sees Tim Piper (B 57) at Tallow Chandlers events regularly, has very enjoyable lunches with Matthew Sargaison (B 87) but they missed Gavin Allen (B 87) last time as he was down a mine in China. He joins James Ginns’ (Sc 87) evening drinks when he can with Charles Hammond (Sn 87), David Cairns (Ldr 87) and others, and catches up with Edmund Fetherston-Dilke (StA 87) several times a year for lunch in Covent Garden. To seek to balance out all those meals and drinks, Richard pedals away slowly on a creaky exercise bike to avoid “increasingly filling the chair”. In

NEWS FROM HOME

addition, he continues a Jesus College Boat Club trustee and is involved at St Helen’s Church close to his workplace in the City. Lastly, naturally, Richard sees his father Peter Tett (B 58) who is still swinging a golf club. Richard is pleased to confirm that all is well with his wife Sarah and two children Isabelle (24) and James (22).

Julian Sturdy-Morton (Sn 71), see photo above, reports that the past year has been more of a roller coaster than any fairground ride. He and his wife sold their flat in Fulham and rented for a year while they found, bought and totally refurbished a new flat overlooking the river. Less than a month before moving on, however, their rental flat was completely destroyed by fire, together with most of their possessions. The shock of the loss was greatly eased a week later when he and his wife each received an invitation to Westminster Abbey for the Coronation (for which neither had a thread of clothing to wear!)

It was, he says, an ‘extraordinary privilege’ to be there, very much on behalf of others. They were interviewed extensively for TV programmes in the UK and on several European channels. He is quite relieved to be ‘back to normal and running our business again’.

Roger Doig (StA 92) recently found himself sharing a lift to a business meeting with Will Elderkin (N 92) and Patrick Bowes (G 84). Roger regularly bumps into Rob Carpmael (B 91), as their sons are at school together (and actually share the same birthday). He also frequently meets Tom Shippey (G 92). Roger enjoyed visiting Oundle over the last year for open days with his son, though sadly his wife overruled Crosby for Harrow.

Matthew Howorth (LS 91) has moved from Twickenham to Sunbury and is still teaching at Twickenham Prep. He is also currently working on the second edition of Teaching Primary History for Bloomsbury and is planning to meet up with Jon Manners (LS 92) who is living in Cape Town and visiting with his family. Matt is also in regular contact with Andre Porritt (LS 92) and they hope to play some padel and tennis together in the summer.

James Ginns (Sc 87) continues to enjoy being back in the UK with the family and his new line of work with think tank the Centre for Long-Term Resilience, advising government on risk management best practice. He’s caught up with Charlie Hammon (Sn 87), David Cairns (Ldr 87), James Hollands (N 87), Richard Tett (B 87), Doug Hill (Sc 87) and Matthew Porter (Sc 87) during the year. Jonathan Bach (Lx 75) is semi retired as an educational consultant but still a school governor in North West London and continues to lecture and mentor education degree students and trainee science teachers.

This has allowed him more time to pursue his hobbies of travelling and sport. He is looking forward to celebrating his 40th Wedding anniversary with a trip to South Africa later this summer - but only after the end of the tennis season. He continues to play competitive tennis though he has dropped down a few teams. He’s still hoping for major success in a few years when he moves into the over-70s. In the winter he can be found in Avoriaz in the Porte du Soleil, though he no longer skis down the Wall of Death.

Roger Bach (Lx 75) enjoyed reconnecting with OOs on the Berlin trip. Inspired by conversations with his former tennis partner from 1977, William Mitchell (Sn 78) and Dr Richard Allibone (S 77) he has returned to the tennis courts with the hope of recovering his form in order to show his children some court craft. He is still working full time in the foreign exchange broker business with regular trips to Dubai. Earlier in the year he enjoyed a holiday in Vietnam which he thoroughly

recommends. His blended family of seven children have added two grandchildren during the year and he is looking forward to his oldest son’s wedding in October.

He caught up with Mark Golledge (C 76) at Lord’s this summer and enjoyed reminiscing whilst watching the cricket. Stephen Bach (Lx 81) continues in his second term as Executive Dean at King’s Business School, King’s College London and is also interim Vice President for People and Culture. His role has taken him to the Far East, the Gulf and the East coast of the USA supporting College initiates to re-connect with as many alumni as possible in the post-Covid environment. He is also getting back into his tennis, but can’t replicate the achievements of his brothers in this domain.

William Robinson (G 92) writes that he is still serving with the Army working in NATO and enjoying life travelling around Europe. His family is growing up fast and his daughter is due to start secondary school this year. John Story (B 65) has had a relatively quiet year given that he has retired as a School Governor after 22 years and has also retired as a trustee of a local charity after completing two terms of four years.

There are aspects of the roles which he misses, but finds it something of a relief that he no longer has to plough through endless policy documents.

This leaves time for watching sport, playing table tennis, sessions in the gym and pool at the Hurlingham Club, visiting galleries and museums, painting and grandchildren. He has caught up with a number of OOs this year. He sees Chris Reilly (StA 65) from time to time when he is down from Edinburgh; and Michael Blackburn (Sc 74) who lives close by – he has just resumed his legal career as a freelancer (helps to fund his adventurous holidays!) He is in touch with Charlie Hiscocks (StA 80) who has embarked on a year’s living experience in Southern Ireland (his wife is Irish); and saw Hugh Brass (D 67) and Tony Parsons (S 65) at the over 60s lunch in London. He sees Christian Walton (Lx 61) at the Hurlingham Club from time to

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time and he has also kept in touch with Nick Chrimes (Sc 69). He bumped into David Dixon (StA 86) and Norman Macfarlane (S 65) at the Rosslyn Park National Schools’ Sevens tournament, and attended the same charity conference as William Hiscocks (C 78) who runs the Land Trust. He met up with John Robertson (B 65) at an Olympia Art Fair and has been in contact with Jon Holmes (B 68) and Frank Wright (B 63). He is frequently in contact with his brother, Colin Story (B 71) who lives in Western Australia and looks forward to meeting up with him when he visits the UK in September.

Colin has just completed his annual trek (with fellow enthusiasts) in the Kimberley Region of WA – his 30th expedition.

Ivan Yuen (Ldr 11) reports that he has left the world of corporate real estate law (for now) and become a legal counsel at UK Government Investments, working on corporate governance and corporate finance matters - a move that enables him to ride with the Civil Service Riding Club. If any OOs working in the public sector would like to connect, please do get in touch. He moved in with his partner in Dalston but has yet to become a hipster, possibly because he spends too much time in galleries and theatres elsewhere in London or travelling abroad. He continues to have the great privilege of being a trustee of St. Martin-inthe-Fields and a trustee placement at Sadler’s Wells Foundation.

Richard Hall (StA 86) reports that that he moved back to London in 2010 so no longer living in Sydney, Australia (despite his wife still pining for the cafes and beaches!)

Anthony Holden (Lx 65) has recently published his memoirs, Based on a True Story, now available in paperback. Sabrina Allhusen (D 15) recently became engaged to be married to fiancé Harvey Tomes in Venice. Philip Wilson (Sn 89) continues to be busy as a freelance theatre director and writer. His recent productions have included Starcrossed at Wilton’s Music Hall, A Single Man at Park Theatre London - run by fellow OO Jez Bond (Sc 94) - and

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The Oyster Problem at Jermyn Street Theatre. He is currently writing a play based on a 1940s RKO film. More details of his work can be found at https://www.philipwilsondirector. com/ Josephine Jones (K 00) returned to London from Hong Kong and was appointed head of Strategic Capital Advisory at Knight Frank where her team will advise corporate and institutional clients on debt and equity raising across the property spectrum. Josephine has also launched a nanny business in the UK www.responsiblehomecarers.com dedicated to providing affordable live-in childcare to working parents to help enable more women to return to work. Over the summer Josephine also enjoyed seeing Suzanne Korff (K 00) at Royal Ascot, and attending a City Women event hosted by Charlotte Wiseman (K 00).

Harry Moule (B 07) and Louisa welcomed their second son, Lochlan James Moule, on 03 April 2022. Kate Robinson (Cooke-Priest W 93) writes to say that they have finally bought a house after 11 tedious years of searching! She and her family - husband Paul, with children Joshua, Benji and Lily, moved to the Hampshire/Surrey border in November after five years renting near Guildford. Kate is relieved that from September all three of her children will be attending the same school for the next three years, reducing the school run by 2.5 hrs a day! Kate regularly sees Nick Atkins (C 99) at school and socially as their eldest children are great buddies at school. Unfortunately, the Arrow sailing trophy didn’t happen for OOs last year due to too many boats being out of action but she’s still looking for crew for this year’s event in October! She is also looking forward to catching up with her year group at school in September.

Dr Alexandra Smith (Jones N 05) welcomed their second daughter, Addison, in November and although still on maternity leave for the time being, she will be taking up a paediatric consultant position in the autumn. Alexandra also completed training with a specialist interest in paediatric rheumatology August 2022.

Rachel Kemp (W 07) had just picked up puppy Obi when corresponding last year. Obi is now a regular sight at Victoria College, Jersey, where Rachel teaches, or riding her paddle board whilst she teaches yoga in her spare time.

Lance Ashworth (G 82) has dropped me a note with the happy news that he got re-married in September 2022. Theo Barry (N 82) was present and made an unbidden but very amusing speech! Two of Lance’s children, Millie Ashworth (K 10) and Charlie Ashworth (G 11) got married in November 2022 and April 2023 respectively, while his youngest son, Freddie Ashworth (G 15) continues to live in Clapham, sharing with Chuck McLeod (Lx 15).

Freddie runs the OO football team with Chris Titcomb (StA 15) and now have over 50 OO “squad members”. In March of this year, Lance left London and moved to Northamptonshire. He will be taking over as OO President next year.

Ross Kemp (S 95) has contacted me with his much appreciated annual update to say that for a variety of reasons it seems to have been a quieter year for catch-ups with the Kemp family. Ross remains in electronic touch with many of his Sidney year, but has only managed a couple of beers on a few occasions with Chris Goff (S 95) and Billy Day (S 95). Ross intends to improve on this in the year to come. Much of his year has been spent knocking his home in North Finchley into shape, catching up with brother Alex Kemp (S 97) most weeks on the days Alex works in London. Given Alex is now based primarily in Sheffield, he’s written this year’s dispatch to the OO Yorkshire correspondent. The Kemp siblings all caught up with Karis Abas (StA 97) and family during their last visit up to Sheffield as he was staying with Alex for the weekend. Mark and Andy Kemp (S 99) have also had a quieter year. They’re looking forward to spending a long weekend in France later this year with George Unwin (S 99) as George guides them around some splendid southern French vineyards in between Men’s Rugby World Cup matches.

NEWS FROM HOME

North East ■ Charlie Hoult (Sc 85)

I

’ve been reading stacks of historical fiction as my new secret pleasure and as an antidote for doomscrolling my phone. I got into it after finishing Netflix’s Last Kingdom series by author Bernard Cornwell.

It was excellent viewing for the first 40 hours during Covid and the last ten hours were a bit of a reprise of Viking raids on Northumbria, dodgy anachronisms (monk in a wheelchair?), some illiterate Christians and a portion of love interest. Which is pretty much what I’m about to report is still happening in Northumberland a thousand years later! Oh, and farm animals. Bernard Cornwell gives me a sense of history with his Sharpe series, culminating in Wellington’s superb second half victory in the Battle of Waterloo, when all was flat out to Napoleon in the first half until the Germans arrived and helped us finish off the French. This year has been historic for our nation as we’ve changed the monarch for the first time in my life, so I asked my regional OO family to see if they, too, had any royal reminiscences to report. It makes a change from updates about fishing, family or farm animals. Perhaps this homework challenge put off some of my usual crop of writers.

First up, Adrian Waddell (S 77) has packed in the regular 9-5 and is trying to forge a third career as an artist. His nearest brush with royalty was when working as ADC to CinC British Army of the Rhine circa 1985, who gave him an almighty bollocking for failing to bow his head when presented to Baudouin, King of Belgium! Adie was posh OO military so expected to get presented to HMQ at some stage in his brilliant military career. He had polished his boots for the Royal Artillery Jubilee and lined up in the meet & greet, only to be stood down as ‘not on the list’.

Adrian minds an estate, built on the fortunes of Lord Armstrong’s great war munitions factories on the Tyne.

The guns that grew the acreage were from his wife’s side - big enough guns for the Emperor of Japan’s fleet to beat the Chinese navy in ‘their Trafalgar’, the Battle of Yalu, 1894, prompting what the Chinese called ‘a century of humiliation’. I think we could follow that thread down to 21st century frictions…

But creativity is breaking out on the Middleton estate, midNorthumberland. Adrian informs me, self-deprecatingly: ‘My third career as an artist is yet to bear fruit, as I’ve failed to make a single sale thus far!’ In the confines of his rural studio there is a plentiful supply of coffee (available to all callers) and chilled beer or cocktails (by appointment). Adrian caught up with Mark Swallow (Sc 77) at the Belsay International Horse Trials where his daughter Francesca was unlucky enough to be tipped off in the water jump. Jason McCaldin (StA 85) had more success with his daughter Jess winning her category on a horse reputed to be worth £200,000. His City career must’ve put them in nose-bag for that nag, which is very impressive.

I’ve reported on Adrian’s brotherin-law over the years. Charlie Bennett (N 84) has transitioned to being Northumberland’s answer to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. This is now complete as he launched his own collection of essays recently at Newcastle’s most elegant Lit&Phil Society, the largest private library outside London, founded in 1793.

Down the Rabbit Hole charts his journey to regenerative farming (“Don’t say re-wilding, Chaz! That’ll get all the OOs hopping mad.”)

Charlie served up plentiful wines and salty cracks downed by myself, Stephen Bedford (S 78), Jim Bennett (N 77) and Justin Souter (G 87). Jim is still busy in the world of organic marine products (selling hake, I think). Justin is still a leading light in the Silicon Tyne Valley. Engineer Bedford has stopped making artillery

and makes sub-sea equipment. Tweed was the dress du jour. Otters were mentioned repopulating Charlie’s farm. Adrian W reports his brother Charles Waddell (S 79) is busy extending his legal work now to include training police officers about the law. I’ll just leave that there - a statement still sinking in for me ‘…training police officers about the law…’ Hmmm.

In terms of news, Jonathan Hunter (G 02) was honoured recently by P&G with a long service presentation after 15 years. He was promoted in October to Europe Warehousing finance analyst, responsible for the accounting quality of over 55 P&G distribution centres. He’s seen a modest increase in bee hives, up from two to to three after a successful summer. The honey is handy for alleviating hay-fever and Hunter Inc has also started extracting the beeswax to make candles and balm.

On the sports side, Jonathan has delighted in the recent resurgence of Newcastle Utd with Champions League football returning to The Toon! It’s also been good to see Dave Walder (Lx 96) in charge of the Newcastle Falcons during his season as head coach, though top flight honours are scant there. Jonathan has no personal royal links to report, but reminds our readers that the name ‘Geordie’ originated in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, when the Jacobites bypassed Newcastle as the locals favoured the Hanovarian King George and had a well-stocked garrison.

Ralph Charlton (S 90) recounts how his father Robert Charlton (S 56) met the Queen in the Noughties when

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she visited Lowther Horse Trials. He was her host for the day (as a leading figure in the Fell Pony Society and Prince Philip was a big player in pony driving competitions). Bobbie was told he should stand on her left side but only having one eye, his left, meant he couldn’t see her but did not want to upset protocol. HMQ kept walking off to the right losing Bobbie who eventually broke ranks and moved to her right. "Why have you moved?" she asked. "Well, I thought I can do a better job of hosting you if I can use my only eye". "Ah quite right," Her Majesty replied, bemused.

Charlton life continues much the same. Ralph and his wife spent February and March in Florence where he worked mornings and then snoozed off many good lunches. He’s been working in the US since, supporting a Nasdaq listing for a client against the run of the markets in 2023. Always a keen eye on the Charlton shilling, Ralph reports he doesn’t understand much about what the bankers and lawyers are saying but has spotted they are making much bigger bucks. Look out Wall Street, the Charltons are coming!

Ralph had two excellent reunions in the past 12 months - one a walking weekend in Somerset with Piers Pepperel (Lx 90) (Vet), Aydon Yeaman (S 90) (Chef), Jez Paxman (D 90) (Events), Jez Dutta (G 90) (nurse in Ireland) and Dom Turnor (S 90) (surveyor). Much laughter. They went to see the 90s Mancunian band, The Cud, in a grotty pub in Bristol. OOs of my era might vaguely recall them – ‘like The Cure but never made it’.

Another reunion was in London - a more standard affair (in the pub) with the likes of Nick Cartwright (N 90) (painter and decorator), Aydon Yeaman, Kevin Bennett (Sn 90) (something to do with supply chain - still very good looking), Dan Burn (Sn 90) (commercial property), Dave Robinson (Lx 90) (physio or chiro), Stu Cranna (Sc 90) (consultant), Tom Tyler (C 90) (property) and others.

Much amusement that the academic prowess, or lack of it, shown at school had zero impact on who has been ‘successful’. Dan Burn was the case in point: he insisted he was in 3H with

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Ralph, while Ralph is convinced he was in 3E and certainly got promoted to 4.4. It’s amazing what tricks the memory plays after a few years and a few beers – but academic streaming is seared on all our hearts. Ralph’s daughter just completed her work placement from Uni at Jez Paxman’s events firm and Ralph has told me three times about how he negotiated her salary up from basic to bonanza – putting the lessons of Wall Street to good measure while Tiger-parenting for his kids!

Rupert Bradbury (Sc 89) messaged me from Copenhagen. He’s a travelling sales chief for Roland Synthesisers. It’s good to be on the road when home-base is raising your five kids. Especially as they are still in the gorgeous but demanding phase.

He reports that Bertie, almost eight, has already decided he will not have children himself because it wastes too much time and money. Bertie maintains he doesn't like working in a team either because he can do everything better by himself! I don’t think he is suited to Oundle life in a prep-room where your life is never your own.

James McFetrich (B 92) has had an exciting 12 months, leaving his job as a consultant in Emergency Medicine in Northumberland. He’s set up as a freelance medical educator at JMACeducation.com. ‘Slightly scary but enjoying the new lease of life and autonomy in running 1992 Leavers Reunion - Iain Chaney, Alexis McDonald, James McFetrich, Nick Mynott

my own business,’ he tells me. His father David McFetrich (B 55) is well and still living in Poole writing books on bridges - the latest being an Encyclopaedia of World Bridges, the sequel to the Encyclopaedia of British Bridges. Brother Sean McFetrich (B 84) lives in Southbourne and runs the craft cider business FetchTheDrinks. At the 1992 reunion, James enjoyed catching up with Charles Duncombe, Nick Mynott, Iain Chaney and Alexis McDonald (all B 92), James Aston (StA 92) and Rachel Pennington (K 92). “Everyone seemed to be well, thriving and ageing gracefully, and it was fun to be back at school, drinking legally in town!” His most frequent OO contact is with Richard Teverson (L 92) who is constantly in demand as an actor, ‘so as a complete amateur it was great for me to share the screen with him in This England on Sky Atlantic, about the politics of the pandemic. I managed nearly six whole seconds on screen - a lot less than our many turns on stage at the Stahl.’

Joe Henry (Sn 93) reports that his vet practice Black Sheep Farm Health is doing well - supported by better farm prices and subsidy system. (I whisper you: a Brexit dividend!) As a result, there is an appetite for change so BSFH is doing more consultancy - grazing plans etc. Joe believes they are the only beef and sheep exclusive vets in Europe, maybe the world.

(I love this Big Talk from an OO.

NEWS FROM HOME

Next stop, world beef veterinary domination!) His family is at the other end of home life to Rupert Bradbury: leaving home for Uni. So his farm workforce is diminishing and he and his wife are busier. He’s looking forward to downtime in Oundle for his 30-year reunion in autumn where a full Sanderson contingent is expected. Joe’s bro George Henry (Sn 99) is down in Cornwall. He’s given up vetting to be a full time market gardener.

The Henry clan reports no regal mingling. He says he leaves that to Walter Riddell at Hepple ‘up the road’. Walter’s father Sir John was Prince Charles’ private secretary and treasurer after retiring from banking.

There’s a long line of Riddell Old Etonians, but I’m pleased to report that Mowden Hall prep broke them and you’ll see Riddells soon coming into this missive as Walter’s kids finish their time in the Nene Valley.

I should plug Hepple Gin, too. It’s the first and best craft gin in the region. Walter’s distillers had form with Sipsmith and the botanics come off his moorland. It’s a rugged ‘Last Kingdom’ country. Joe Henry remembers they lit a beacon on their Iron Age fort for the late Queen’s plat jubilee - and could see six others in the surrounding 20 miles. He reflects: “It proved how effective a way it was of communicating over large distances in case the Vikings were coming…”.

Yes. I know what you are thinking.

We do all have Iron Age forts in our back gardens. Or, in my case, Hadrian’s Wall as well. I’m on Milecastle 28 and enjoyed hosting James Robertson (Lx 85) over this Easter with his son, who came North to follow Wimbledon FC against Harrogate. James is expecting another son in September 2023, proving there’s longevity in a daily portion of Robertson’s Golden Shred. I should recommend that to Phil Massey (StA 85), who has been messaging me from York where he is rearing two strapping lads and is, I believe, a schoolmaster himself.

Julian ‘Jay’ West (Sc 79) is still the region’s premier media magnate, producing the property porn and

gossip glossy, Living North, as well as LN Live for all your artisan Xmas presents. He’s a toonie, but gets to inspect all the big houses and Iron Age fort-gardens in the region. Living North now also has a healthy Yorkshire edition. Even Ralph Charlton knows there’s bigger bucks in Yorkshire than Wall Street!

As you’d expect, Jay crows that he had a ‘Royal Double’ to report. He’s the kind of guy who, if you said you’d been to Tenerife, he’d say he’d been to Elevenerife. His missive is slightly cryptic but, reading between the lines, they both took place at Alnwick Castle, the seat of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland. (He was good enough to clarify that a ‘Royal Double’ had nothing to do with Ascot). The first scalp was a lunch hosting Her Majesty, which he describes as ‘with 30 other ne’er-dowells of the region’, which I don’t understand, but I’m putting out there for you to form an opinion on. He completed his Double by meeting Prince Charles, as he was then. Westie reports: “He was a fabulous chap and I remember him discussing the size of my friend’s column, which tickled them both.” I take this as an oblique reference to Westie’s pal, the Duke of Northumberland, who has a large sandstone column topped with mascot, the Rampant Lion, on the trunk road into Alnwick. I can see His Grace and His Highness tittering in Monty Python double-entendres.

See also Google Images for Rampant Lion, Alnwick. Not only do we all have Iron Age forts up here, but coal barons built columns to rival Lord Nelson.

Weddings have been the name of the game this year for the West family. Jay reports sightings of Paul Harriman (D 79) at his daughter’s. Jerry Miller (Sc 78) was an outstanding hoot at Jay’s niece’s happy day (daughter of his twin brother Hil West (Sc 79), who says hello to you all). For the hat-trick, Jay saw David Bennett-Baggs (D 78) walk his lovely god-daughter Lucy down the aisle. He reports that Baggs is still as juvenile as his old friends will remember – and could hold his own in a discussion on columns.

In that painful clarity brought on by recalling school pecking orders, Jay reminded me he was Jeremy Firth’s first Head of House and that Roger Freebairn (C 55) taught him to hit a fives ball hard. I bade them both farewell to heaven in this column last year. I’m sad to report that we said goodbye to Robbie Hutchinson (B 78) after a short illness. RIP. His business partner of many years, John Turnbull (Lx 70) carries the torch in a very successful rural surveying business. He wistfully reports that he’s still alive, putting this down to his parents’ genes and altruistic investment in an Oundle education, which keeps him working over an age ‘when most sensible people have retired’.

Talking of retirement, Ian Gilthorpe (B 71) has thrown in the towel now his family are up and running in music careers. He’s put in several shifts building two Premier League law firms in Newcastle and a third career building South North Cricket Club into the best performing squad in the region. His fund-raising dynamism built indoor nets and kept the central Newcastle pitch from developers. I’m off there to watch Durham v Somerset this August.

Ian’s contemporary, Professor Sir John Lilleyman, (B 63) (I think that’s right – or it’s John Turnbull’s…) continues glorious retirement on the Scots border. He did the Double with HMQ, too. First as president of the Royal College of Pathologists and later at Buckingham Palace when she kindly gave him a gong. On that occasion he was instructed to have a ‘mini chat’ after the business with the sword and she asked where he worked. He said he worked at the Royal London Hospital, adding that it was “in Whitechapel”. She smiled sweetly and said, “I know”, leaving him feeling three feet smaller. Exit stage left.

To send us on our way, Chris Porter (Sc 77) reports his clan are thriving. He continues to be busy with conservation work, Princes Trust mentoring and fitted in a trip to New Zealand earlier in the year. Delays caused by the Auckland cyclone meant an unscheduled stopover in

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Sydney, a great city with similar sites to our very own Newcastle! He’s well covered for weddings and funerals with so many relatives who are good Christians, all. Last year, I made a veiled reference to Matthew Porter’s (Sc 87) role as Honorary Chaplain to the Queen, which I felt might have a short runway. It was prescient – and, on re-reading, a prompt for a theme you’ve seen threaded through today’s letter. I’m happy to report Matt retains the regal connection and has been transitioned to Honorary Chaplain to the King. After many successful years as Vicar of St Michale le Belfry in York, Matt has moved across the border to Lancs and recently took up the post of Bishop of Bolton. James Porter (Sc 92) continues to live and work in his family’s long time holiday destination of Jersey as Vicar of St Helier Parish Church.

Daniel Porter (Sc 83) )continues as Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in the Tsinghua University public health system in Beijing, actively promoting good quality post graduate education.

It’s the first time in five years that I’ve not reported on Porter fishing.

But Chris puts a spotlight on his OO pal, Andrew Bywater (Lx 75), now retired, who claims to be spending his time gardening but appears to be spending a vast amount of life on the river… It was reported he went on a casting course and ended up catching a salmon on the Wye. There’s not been space to shame the young’uns this year, save to say that I enjoyed dinner with Minty Kunzer (N 20) on her actual 21st birthday, standing in for her father Steve Kunzer (G 84) who was headhunted out of retirement to run a massive shipping fleet out of

Dubai. My son, Fred Hoult (G 20) attended her marquee-job party later in the summer with, undoubtedly, OOs aplenty from Minty’s time at Newcastle Uni. And, in positive news, I’ve not seen Simon Gray (Lx 55), Richard Mullens (Sn 53) nor John Taylor (C 53) – proper oldguard, senior citizens – because the ravages of time have not convened a funeral across that gang or our close family circles. Oundle and post-war austerity made them of stern resilience. I’m certain they, at least, will have got to this point in the prose. I wish them exceedingly good health and happiness for many years to come.

I hope to see any and all those mentioned above – and others I’ve missed – on 4 December 2023, at the Northern Counties Club, when an OO Foundation reception is planned.

game some time, Mark – I hope to catch you on the last two weeks of the cycle! Since retiring, his main activity these days is writing books - mainly adventure stories. Unfortunately, he tells me that this type of book is deeply unfashionable these days, though apparently people tell him that his books are getting better as he gets older – kind people, but Mark sees through them and from his perspective all he sees as he gets older is a loss of vocabulary. And now for the plug - if anyone wants to check out Mark’s latest book on Amazon, it is The Bewitching Minute. Please OOs – make it a best seller for him!

My other respondent is another Mark - Mark Yarrow (Lx 81).

Apparently he was able to go to the Sports Weekend in March and meet up with some old boys, including Guy Beresford (B 81), Philip Streather (G 79), Mike Reyner (Sn 80) and Chris Piper (Sc 71), plus Christiane and Claire Freebairn (LS 95), having earlier in the year been to Roger’s memorial service,

where he swapped stories with Charlie Bennett (N 84). Mark took part in Reconnections at the Yarrow Gallery (no relation apparently as far as he knows), alongside the artwork of his brother Philip Yarrow (Lx 79) see exhibition write-up, p113. He was absolutely delighted to sell a limitededition print of his black and white painting ‘Lindy Hop’. (below) He tells me that he would love to have a sabbatical for six months in Oundle to draw and paint the School’s houses and other buildings. During the Sports weekend Mark watched the rugby match where Chris Piper was supposed to be only coming on for the last 20 minutes – given that he would be the most senior player on the pitch at 70 – but the referee seemed to want to continue until the

North West ■ Peter Pentecost (StA 73)

N

ews from the North West is rather thin this year.

My tactic of giving people more time appears to have backfired as not only did it fail to galvanise much response, but one of the respondees crashed the deadline. Ah well, perhaps time for a change of correspondent.

My one ‘on time’ respondent was Mark Moore (Sc 68) who, having retired as a journalist, now spends a lot of his time playing golf; he is modest enough to indicate that given his competence form comes in waves - maybe two weeks of every six playing quite well, followed by two weeks playing not badly, but then the ineradicable bad habits kick in and the next two weeks are woeful.

It’s a rollercoaster performance of competence, followed by the inevitable decline to incompetence and then the precarious climb back to competence. I have never witnessed this in spite of Mark being a member of the same golf club in Cheshire – Delamere Forest. We must have a

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 Lindy Hop

OO side scored, so the second half lasted an hour – and Chris actually played a full half of normal time!

Mark has also recently taken part in the Careers networking event for students – and was alongside Phil Streather and in the hall with Mike Reyner – all of whom had been to Edge Grove prep before coming to Oundle. Mark reminded Phil that he

had once given him a black eye – he insists that it was entirely by accident - in a house rugby match when yanking out his arm that was caught in the scrum: Phil surprisingly had no memory of this! Ironically Mark’s most recent contract was near Oundle for RS Components in Corby to help rebrand it to the RS Group - and to run tone of voice/

copywriting workshops. Richard Sanigar (Ldr 81) works for them as a Java architect, but they never managed to meet up.

We have spent a bit of time with Mark recently – a sumptuous dinner with our wives Marie and Rachel and a couple of rounds of Rumikub; it also included a round of Peter’s homemade pitching course (the Opium course, due to the poppies around the green). Then we met up at the Open for several days where Mark and his daughter Lauren were enjoying the Hoylake sunshine (and rain). News from the Pentecost household includes the arrival of another grandchild Charlie James to Sophie and Richard Pentecost (StA 05). They are now living south of Shrewsbury. Victoria Horncastle (Pentecost N 07) is now living on the Thames in Berkshire with Ollie and they have two boys Freddie and George (the first three grandchildren have all been announced in earlier years’ magazines). Hybrid life has allowed Peter more time working from home, with fewer weeks away for work, but still about the same number of weeks away for golf!!

A plea if I may to all readers from the North West. Please could you send me your news. We are a big area of the country and it would be great to be able to share news with other OOs around the country.

capable of emailing 72 years after leaving Oundle – I wonder what they learnt about technology in the immediate post-war years.

Roger White (Sc 60) made the Edinburgh Oundle drinks and enjoyed hearing of the plans for the old primary school by the Science Block being converted to form McMurray House. Adrian Grant (N 65) has been mainly heavily engaged in his new book focusing

on the pre-history of Fife and why it was called a “kingdom”. He thought he had a good draft last November but after more research and comment

Scotland ■ Guy Bainbridge (Sn 78)

I

t seems the good weather in June this year, and maybe the post-Covid revenge tourism some of us are indulging in, may have reduced the OO postbag, so a briefish report from north of the Border. Grouping the contributions by decade: David Stevenson (N 51), our oldest contributor, says he is now partly disabled but still able to take an interest in things. He is clearly still

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it has grown by 50% and is close to going to press. He also continues his enthusiastic support for the Free Speech Union and Sex Matters and has been a frequent correspondent to the local newspaper. Apart from that he reports that, his garden is beginning to get on top of him and the grim reaper continues to cull his circle of friends. Charles Coulson (Lx 67) reports himself as reasonably well and still living in Aberdeenshire.

Mike Edge (C 68) drops by on his rounds of consultancy every now and again, so keeping him up to date on shooting matters. Charlie enjoys the Troubleshooters (OO Rifle Club) WhatsApp presence as another source of OO news and scurrilous humour.

Peter Dawson (G 74) and his wife are now settled in Forfar having moved up from Macclesfield in 2020.

He says they love Scotland and its lovely places to visit with the caravan.

They now have two grandsons who live in Essex, not a short trip from Forfar. Michael Beamish (Sc 75) reports that in January this year, out of the blue, there was a flurry of emails about Oundle 1st V squash teams of the early/mid seventies, prompted, he thinks, by Shane Dodd (Sn 74). This resulted in various pictures emerging of these

teams, which all look pretty strange nearly 50 years on - with some fairly rebellious hair styles! There was an attempt to round everyone up for the OO Sports lunch at Queens which unfortunately Michael didn’t make – a bit far for lunch from Scotland! The renewed contact did however result in a telephone call from Mark Nicholson (Sc 74) with whom it was good to catch up having lost contact since soon after leaving school and it was also great to meet up (by chance) with Ian Hodgson (Sc 78) at Denham golf club in April.

James Dracup (Sc 76) retired from full time work in February 2023. He continues to do some consultancy, non-executive Director work and is enjoying contributing to the livery company of which he is a member, the Worshipful Company of Weavers.

He plays golf at Blairgowrie. Last year his youngest daughter Henrietta married Archie Bound and they are expecting their first child imminently.

Caroline and James are already proud grandparents to grandsons Bertie and Teddy.

Chris Slater (StA 86) has only bumped into three OOs in the past 12 months - his brother Mark Slater (StA 87), his nephew James Slater (L 16) and Anthony Wright (N 77),

 The undefeated 1974 1st V squash team coached by Hon OOs Noddy Oldfield and John Lee Michael Beamish, Mark Nicholson (both Sc 75) Shane Dodd (captain, Sn 74) John Outram (G 75) John Knight (Sn 76)

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whom he sees at a few trade shows during the year. Chris reports business is very good. His wife, Diane, and he enjoyed a great trip to Lewis and Harris to visit the Harris Tweed Mill and some customers, then stayed at Uig Sands. They are planning to go to China again this October. Jessica, daughter number one, married Cédric last year at home. They had a lovely wedding and have bought a flat in Edinburgh and are doing it up. Jessica has just got her first job teaching Art, Design and Photography at secondary level. Olivia, daughter number two, continues to work for an online food retailer as their graphic designer and lives in London with her dog George.

Hugo recently chartered as a Quantity Surveyor and lives in London too.

Jemima, his youngest, just received a First in Printed Fashion Textiles from London College of Fashion. Chris and Diane continue to live in a house in East Lothian that is far too big with four dogs, five cats, a huge amount of poultry and a small flock of sheep.

Oliver (Jock) Seligman (Sc 93) is currently studying for a Masters in the Psychology of Mental Health at Edinburgh University, is happily married to a lovely Norwegian and enjoys wild swimming and writing.

This season he went to Murrayfield with Richard Hall (Sc 93) and William Walsh (Sc 93) to watch the Scotland rugby team batter Argentina, which he says was great. He is also in regular contact with James Hicks (Sc 93), who is enjoying his “playboy” lifestyle, travelling the world and having fun with friends. As some move north, Mark Thakkar (StA 99) and his family are returning to Oxfordshire after what he describes as a nine-year exile in St Andrews. He has two disabled children which has its tough moments, but, more positively, he will be fulfilling a life ambition in an unexpected way by setting Latin crosswords for The Times. Meanwhile, he was amused to learn that Ed Birkhead (StA 99) and Seb Falk (B 99) have children in the same class at a primary school in Cambridge.

Jonathan Britton (Ldr 00) is currently living in Fort William. He

NEWS FROM HOME

moved there to follow his love of the outdoors and everything it has to offer. In his spare time he is walking/ climbing/scrambling/swimming/ paddle boarding/rowing.

Patrick Russell (Ldr 12) and Kirsty Russell (Landale W 12) are happily married and living in Nairobi. Kirsty is teaching at Kenton College and Patrick working for a fintech startup.

In February they welcomed their first son, Felix James Pedro Russell - a bouncing and quite large boy!

They have regular visits from OOs to Nairobi and have also found OOs past and present who live there now.

Finally my own family. Emily Bainbridge (K 14) is still working in paediatric A&E at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. She says the NHS has massive challenges but the children are mostly delightful, the parents occasionally less so – I’m sure there are parallels there for Oundle

teachers! She successfully captained her Putney Ladies netball team this year to 1st place and promotion.

Emily regularly sees several OO friends in London, including Bella Ellis (Sn 14), for whom she is to be a bridesmaid next year, and Fleur Arkell (L 14). Emily and a group of Kirkeby friends visited Emma Morse (K 14) in Amsterdam, see photo below.

Charlie Bainbridge (StA 17) was described by my wife and I as Dick Whittington as he set off to London last September (where the streets are paved with gold, or in his prioritisation paved with friends) with nowhere to stay and no job. He has a Masters in Civil Engineering but doesn’t want to be an engineer!

Anyway, within a month he found a place to live with Joe Lai (B 17) and a job working in Berkeley Square for a private business club, and had a good season playing hockey for

the HAC. He also frequents reeling balls in London and Scotland, often in parties with Harry Stansfeld (StA 17).

My eldest son celebrates his wedding this weekend and Emily and Charlie recently enjoyed the hen and stag weekends to Lisbon and Porto respectively. Katherine and I are down south for the wedding and I have just met Gerald Elms (Sn 79) for the first time in 25 years, so there was plenty to catch up on. Gerald is living between the Commons in London, effectively retired from the music business and enjoying spending time on the Greek island of Spetsai where he has a house, and, as a contrast, he’s been to Jura a couple of times recently and met the midges! I am also due to meet David Bevin (Sn 79) later in the week. Mick Reid-Thomas (S 57) at age 82 continues to play a good game of golf in our Friday group, comfortably walks the 18 holes often several times in a week and is generally very active, which is a great example to us all. My brother James Bainbridge (Sn 82) continues as Chair of Carter Jonas, fishes, shoots and had a family holiday, including fishing of course, with his wife and three children to Kenya in February. I am enjoying “semi-retirement” with three nonexecutive roles which are taken seriously but leave time for longer holidays, spending more time with family and friends, golf, tennis and walking the dog.

South West ■ Tony Parsons (S 65)

T

hanks to you all for a great response: I have received more contributions this year than in any of my previous five years as regional correspondent.

Many respond on a regular basis, but the addition this year of several first timers and new arrivals in the region, is very welcome. For the past few years, I have formatted the report on a county basis to give a picture of who your near neighbours are. However data protection now

hides addresses making this format impossible. So, I will proceed on an “as received” basis!

David Stogdale (D 68) reports that all is well in his corner of Devon, although his ad hoc Dryden group get together at Lord’s for the Ashes Test had to be postponed this year.

Chris Stephenson (Sn 85) continues to live in Clifton, Bristol and to work mainly in Kenya and Nigeria, where he is partner in a thriving management consulting practice.

Earlier this year he and Andrew Cox (Sn 85) completed the Cotswold Way together, with Mark Dixon (Sn 85) joining them on one of the legs. Chris occasionally sees Sean Brunton (Ldr 85) for days out on the south western moors and Charlie Hoult (Sc 85)

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when ferrying children to Scottish Universities. He was very grateful to Nazir Razak (Sn 85) for generously hosting his son when his gap year took him through Kuala Lumpur.

Philip Bambury (Sc 61) reached two personal milestones. Last year he and Renate celebrated their golden wedding with a four week, 3,500 mile marathon around Europe, seeing forty two friends and relations, crossing fourteen borders and sleeping in eleven different beds!

They paused and were joined for a week by their sons Peter Bambury (LS 91) and Bernard Bambury (N 93) and their families at their honeymoon hotel in the Salzkammergut. This year Philip clocked eighty, still able to walk eighteen holes with his dog but struggling to keep his handicap below twenty. Peter is thriving in Sweden, busy with his international business consultancy, running his golf society and managing two teenagers.

He celebrated his 50th in early May and, in June, was planning a long weekend in Amsterdam with his brother (Philip’s gift). Bernie had extensive surgery last year, seeking to end the phantom pain endured by so many amputees. Unhappily this was unsuccessful, but Philip says none of this dampens Bernie’s courageous will to lead a normal life, exemplified by he and his wife taking delivery of two battery assisted mountain bikes.

Bernie is often in touch with Stuart Kidd (LS 93).

Nick Berchem (D 86) reminds us that he left the Army in June 2022 after thirty two years and joined RBSL, a BAE/Rheinmettal joint venture, as the deputy Programme Director for Challenger 3, the Army’s upgraded main battle tank.

However, he provides plentiful ammunition for the magazine and claims to be haemorrhaging cash renovating the house he bought last year near Blandford and looking at schools for his son. Nick caught up with George Griffith (Sn 86) who is renovating a fine Bristol townhouse, and they reminisced about the CCF, shooting and life at Oundle in the 80s. During the conversation, Nick was shocked to learn of the death of Nick Carrell (Sn 86) as they had

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completed their Sandhurst and Royal Armoured Corps Troop Leader training together, having both rowed in the 1986 1st Eight. Nick keeps in touch with his brother Jeremy (D 89), still a hardworking lawyer who is planning to relocate from Guernsey to Somerset, partly to support him looking after their ailing father.

Jeremy occupies his spare time gardening and with horses.

read). Ian is still working in crisis management and as a consultant with NATO, whilst daughter Sophie Orr (D 11) continues her successful career in specialist insurance in London.

William Orr (StA 13) is managing sustainable projects in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Katie Orr (D 16) continues with the Civil Service in London.

 1986 1st V111 – Nick Carrell Sn 86, 2nd right back row, Nick Berchem D 86 seated right

Rab Peck (S 54) is approaching his 88th birthday but assures us there is much life left in the old dog yet! He and his wife Cynthia still venture frequently out of Cornwall into the countryside around the north west of England and enjoy visits to Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra concerts. In early May they joined Clive Boddington (S 53) and his wife Sheena for their biannual Sidney lunch, this time in Sedburgh. Clive and Rab shared a study in Sidney and their friendship endures. Rab wishes his O.O. friends good health and long life. Jon Lisle (D 91), recently arrived in North Devon, is still teaching from home and enjoying Devonian life, including weekly skittles matches and watching Plymouth Argyle. He visited Oundle for Roger Freebairn’s memorial service and found it so lovely to be back that he vows he won’t leave it thirty five years again!

Ian Orr (StA 76) has been walking the WW1 battle sites of his paternal grandfather and chanced upon the grave of 2nd Lt Eric Yarrow (G 13) in the Essex Farm Cemetery, close to where John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields. (Correspondent’s note, I have done similar and, for those with family or School interest in this history, Colin Pendrill’s book And We Were Young is a recommended

 Grave of 2nd Lt Eric Yarrow G 13

Peter Page (Lx 62), pictured below, has been appointed a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Carmen and sits on their Education Committee.

John Drake (Sn 68) wishes to inform us he is still alive. David Kemeny (S 05) married Charlotte Kiil Kirkedal Nielsen on 20 October 2022, attended by his brother and best man Richard Kemeny (S 07), James Page (Lx 05) with his fiancée Geri, and Edward Simpson (C 05) with his fiancée Clarisse, as well as Oundle residents Annika and Paul Campbell.

Graham Solari (G 65) moved to

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 Richard and David Kemeny and father Andras

 David and Charlotte

the Forest of Dean in 2000 and reports for the first time. He is currently Worshipful Master of the OO Masonic Lodge 5682 which meets three times per year in London and every alternate year in June in Oundle. My near neighbour Nigel Engert (G 67) is involved in the launch of a new charity, Wincanton Cares, bringing together paid carers and those seeking care locally before moving on to offer the help of volunteer drivers, gardeners, dog walkers etc. Otherwise, he enjoys an active retirement, swimming and walking, as well as attending local events such as Bath Opera and impresario John Clark's (N 66) next show The Marriage of Figaro.

Andrew Waters (B 81) and his wife Maria announced the birth of their first grandchild, Luca, in October and were looking forward to seeing him, their son Sam and his wife Hannah on holiday in Anglesey in June. In April Andrew, with brothers James Waters (B 83) over from Canada, Richard Waters (B 85) and Mark Waters (B 92), fished the River Teifi in Wales for a week. Andrew hopes to get to Oundle to support rounds 2 or 3 of the Cricketer Cup, but is otherwise climbing the walls, unable to play cricket yet due to an Achilles tendon injury. He hopes to be fit for the second half of the season for Colwall CC and Herefordshire Over 50s and planned to be at Lord’s for day three

of the Ashes Test. Sorry to miss you Andrew as I was there days one and two. We both missed the exciting and controversial days.

Chris Higman (N 62) says he has little to report but continues with the Twinning Association, who elected him as Treasurer at their last AGM. They entertained guests from France in April and will be visiting their German twin town Friedberg, Bavaria, in July.

Regular correspondent Dr. Richard Keith (D 57) will be 85 on 2 October and claims to be fit and well, if a bit slow uphill, but in the last window of Oundle’s chapel walk. He is a fulltime carer to his wheelchair bound wife Sian, who also has a professional carer and benefits from two daughters living within twenty minutes. Thus, he is able to play bridge, sing in the village choir, remain an active freemason and occasionally sail with family from St Mawes. He is aware of how fortunate he is now, and has been since entering Oundle via The Tickery in 1952.

To Olivia Gross (D 03) and her husband Nick, a daughter, Matilda Fovargue, on 14 February 2023.

Gaining a very energetic labrador puppy in May has ensured a busy few months. Heidi, 6, is very much enjoying being an older sister. Olivia still lives in East Devon and is hoping to catch up with OO friends at the twenty year ball at Oundle in November. Olivia’s father Hugh Brass (D 67) caught up with OO friends at the over 60s and Sports lunches. Additionally, together with John de Lucy (D 67), he met up with Nick Clements (Havranek) (D 67) who they hadn’t seen since leaving Oundle. Nick lives near New York and has business interests around the world. Apart from the usual winter and summer holidays in Switzerland, Hugh’s holiday highlight was a trip to Barra, Benbecula and the Uists.

Rod Alexander (Sc 61) tells us that he survived three separate celebrations of his 80th in March and has been able to don the whites this summer, even venturing on his village team’s Devon tour. He admits to being more use now with the mowers, roller and marker frame than bat or ball! Oundle continues

to feature happily in his life with enjoyable gatherings at the RAF Club for the over 60s lunch and at the RAC for the OO Sunshine Club, plus visits to Oundle for the Amps Wine Festival and the Stamford Players drama season. Rod particularly enjoyed the OO May trip to Berlin. Oliver Simmonds (Lx 03) enjoys life in the South West, with children (5 and 7) keeping him busy and a new job on the horizon, still Marine Engineering but now with a more underwater focus. He continues to learn about old building techniques as renovations on the early 1800’s Victorian property are slowly getting there. Crispin Horsfield (Sn 71) informs us of the sad and unexpected death of his brother Hugo Horsfield (Sn 74).

Jonathan Massey (B 80) fulfilled a childhood dream and sailed his boat to the Caribbean last year.

With a crew of six including sister Charlotte, they sailed from Portland to the Canaries, taking eleven days and escaping unmolested from a brief encounter with the Iberian Orca pod which was attacking small boats! With a different crew, except big sister, they left the Canaries in November and arrived in St Lucia eighteen days later. Betelgeuse, a Grand Soleil 50, is now based in the Caribbean with a planned return trip in 2025. Jonathan’s brother Will Massey (B 82) is a senior partner at Farrer & Co in the City and enjoys his golf, whilst brother Jim Massey (B 84) is completing his final term as headmaster of Daneshill Prep School, and looks forward to spending more time on his boat in the Med and building canoes in his home workshop.

Daniele (Lels) Bonanno (Sc 01) moved to the Forest of Dean with his family in 2021. After ten years teaching at Oakham School, he is now at Haberdashers’ Monmouth and refereeing on rugby pitches around the South West. The Middle East continues to keep Adrian Phillips (StA 82) busy across the energy spectrum from offshore oil and gas to smaller scale solar developments. His son John Phillips (StA 17) graduated from Edinburgh University and is now working on a two year MSc

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programme in data-analytics with a London hedge fund, whilst daughter Elizabeth Phillips (W 21) started at Exeter, reading law and thoroughly enjoys OTC and life at university.

After a few years’ silence Philip Anley (N 95) reminds us how his parents despatched him from Northern Ireland to Northamptonshire, having chosen Oundle for its strengths in technology and workshop facilities.

Having only just made the grade to study Design Technology (DT), he feels that this experience enabled him to pursue the career he enjoys.

Following DT to A level, alongside two arts subjects, enabled him to enter Trinity College, Dublin, where he joined Christo Daniels (N 95), Charles Orton-Jones (S 94) and Seb Sergent (L 94), and hence into teacher training, eventually becoming a specialist leader of Education for Physical Computing. After sixteen years of teaching in Wiltshire, he has now become an independent consultant and trainer through his company Flickernet.net. Philip feels strongly that the opportunities nurtured in the Workshops, giving space to explore creativity and become immersed in project-based learning, was just the start he needed.

Simon Mennell (StA 69) is retired but still lives half the year in Ecuador exploring fruit and vegetable export opportunities to the UK. His brother Jonathan Mennell (G 72) is still in Italy and continues to be a successful art consultant. Edmund Greaves (Sc 07) married Ellyn Sargent Megicks on 27 August 2022. They are happily settled in Bideford, North Devon with their black labrador, Atlas, and are expecting a son in October.

Edmund works remotely from North Devon, but visits London regularly, and is currently working in financial journalism and communications and leads the editorial of online finance blog Mouthy Money. He is currently training to climb Kilimanjaro in February 2024 with James Hickey (S 07) in honour of his late mother Cristina, raising money for Marie Curie.

Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp (K 98) is a busy freelancer in the publishing industry. She translates fiction,

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non-fiction and children’s books mostly from German but also Arabic and Russian. Her translation of The Raven’s Children by Yulia Yakovleva was recently commended by IBBY (International Board on Books for Young people) in the 2022 Honour list for international children’s literature.

Ruth regularly sees Lucinda Leonard (K 98) who has been a great help with equestrian vocabulary and research for another of Yakovleva’s books.

Michael Whittall (Ldr 55) is alive and well in Cornwall and, in spite of mobility issues, still enjoys gardening, largely on hands and knees. He sees his brother Bill Whittall (Ldr 52), godson Howard Allen (Sn 75) and nephew Jo Whittall (StA 75).

Neil Campbell (N 71) is still enjoying playing golf to a level that occasionally surprises the opposition.

Jeremy Colson (Ldr 65) was seriously impressed by the RSC version of A Christmas Carol, adapted and written by his contemporary David Edgar (Ldr 66). In May 2023 he also joined the OO tour of Berlin. Regular contributor Quentin Hague (N 73) is still working for the Kernow Model Rail Centre and is an active member of the Helston and Falmouth Model Railway Club. He attended the London dinner in November and the over 60s lunch in March. In early June, after stopping with brother Peter Haigh (N 71), Quentin went to Bridgnorth for the Haydn festival where he particularly enjoyed hearing the Festival Orchestra perform Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony.

Mike Ellis (G 70) writes in for the first time for years to express his delight at having a visit in March from Jay Broadhurst (G 70) and his daughter Sarah. He also enjoyed catching up with Martin Jenkins (Sc 70) who had coordinated Jay’s trip across the pond. Jay carried all the letters he had sent home to his parents in USA so they were able to reminisce in great detail with much laughter and a mixed reception from Sarah and Mike’s wife Nicola.

They also compared Primary Care Physician experience in UK and USA, where Jay is still working, whilst Mike retired as Cheltenham GP five years ago but is enjoying a role as

public governor to Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust.

Mike Bird (G 84) writes in for the first time prompted by brother Andrew Bird (G 82) who has informed the East Anglia region of the death of their father Jos Bird (StA 51) on 15 May 2023. Mike is a solicitor and partner in Foot Anstey/ Enable Law, living in Truro and enjoying Cornwall life since 2010. He is also an assistant Coroner covering Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.

Before that he was a partner at Freeths in Nottingham for some 20 years.

Mike plays in an unconventional jazz/swing band Branflakes with Jerry Epton (N 84) and Bill Ward (G 84), formed at Nottingham University in the late eighties, which has played on hilltops in Ibiza, ferry terminal carparks, festivals and churches. Over the years many OOs have been seen watching and swaying on the dance floor.

Chris Walliker (D 54) has had his customary meetings with Charles Valentine (D 54) and Derek Blooman (D 53), and attended the November London Dinner where he noted he was one of only two from the Stainforth era! Sadly Ian James (G 70) tells us that his father Dick James (G 44) passed away this year at the age of 95 and relates an anecdotal story he told that in the summer term of 1944 he, and a number of senior boys from the Field Houses, were caught drinking in a local pub. They were reported to the head Bud Fisher, who said “Were these boys drunk?” The response was “No” to which Fisher responded “If, by using their initiative in this manner, saves one life during the war, then I take no further action.” A pragmatic headmaster. Meanwhile Ian enjoys sailing in St Mawes and this year their syndicate boat Evelyn came second in the Falmouth working boat World championships. Martin Dyer (Ldr 66) is still alive in Totnes, working on Dartmoor to keep it beautiful, whilst his working cocker Tinker continues to cause chaos. He gives a shout to David Mitchell (Ldr 66), David Edgar (Ldr 65) and Judge Smith (Sn 66).

Your correspondent Tony Parsons (S 65) improved his Irish history

NEWS FROM HOME

 Martin Dyer with Tinker in navigating mode

by visiting a cousin in Coleraine in October with his wife Hilary. The trip started with two days in Belfast, including a visit to the brilliant Titanic Museum, followed by a drive up the beautiful Antrim coast and a day in Londonderry with a very educational and moving walking tour of the city walls. In November he enjoyed the annual local pub lunch with John Allwood (Ldr 70), Nigel Engert (G 67) and Richard Habershon (Ldr 71) and in March attended the excellent over 60s lunch at the RAF

Club where he saw, amongst others, Chris Reilly (StA 65), John Story (B 65) and Richard Matthews (D 66). In March, he and Hilary spent a wonderful week in Brazil attending celebrations centring on the wedding of one of her godsons. Lovely to hear from two of our Honorary OOs, Margaret and Walter Holmstrom who retired from the School in 2016 and moved to Exmouth, Devon to enjoy sailing, kayaking and walking as well as being kept busy with grandchildren. Totes, their labrador, aged fourteen, enjoys regular dips in the sea, Walter is busy with Sailability and the National Coast Watch Institute and Margaret volunteers for the RNLI and takes tours of the station. As for the (not so) junior Holmstroms, Stewart Holmstrom (L 00) is married to Emily, has two children, and lives in Melbourne, Australia. Both Elizabeth (L 02)

A POL ROGER DAY TO THE STUMPERY SQUIRE The King, the King - crown the King, Crown him in the Abbey in the morning.

Fill the land with festive bling, For a Carolean age is dawning!

Speak to the flowers, speak to the trees, Tell ‘em to shout - Vivat Rex! He’ll welcome them all and give them a hug, Regardless of gender or sex!

He’ll banish carbuncles, pimples and warts: Do away with all ghastly con-crete, Paint everything green that is seen and unseen, With good taste and the best in discreet.

and Heather (L 05) are Majors in QARANC (Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps), Elizabeth married to Greg Brown with three children and Heather married to Johnny Clover with two children.

Rachel Thorne (Hawkesford W08) writes ‘Having made the notso-difficult decision to leave London, I now live in the centre of Tetbury (Gloucestershire) with my husband, Ed, and daughter Leonie, who arrived on Christmas Eve 2022. Although currently on mat. leave, I still work in financial marketing for a firm in London but am also part of the team behind Tetbury’s deli & bottle shop, Martin & Malthouse (excuse the plug!)’.

Last, but not least, Kenneth Runciman Annand (B 71) sends no news but includes his Coronation poem, a good note with which to conclude this year’s report!

Orchards will abide and bell-turrets too And duck ponds, duck houses and kennels Everyone shall have an acre to till, With herb gardens, rosemarys and fennels.

So the trees and the shrubs, the mushrooms and ferns, All praise, their new liege-lord and King: ‘All Hail!’, to their hedge-laying, Stumpery Squire And this to him, here, shall we sing Good luck and good praise to you and your Queen, Best fortune and long-life to both.

We’re pleased that you’ve made it - thrilled that you’re crowned And to both we all plight you our troth!

The Weald ■ Peter Owen (Lx 63)

J

ohn de Lucy (D 67) mentioned that most of his activity outside of 4 children and 11 grandchildren was a continuation of his research into their family’s large photographic archive of nearly 70 years living in China. Two films, made about his grandfather’s photographs of the Chinese Labour Corps, have been

launched in London and Paris. He has another exhibition in June at Erin in Northern France where the Chinese workers (grandfather was involved in bringing 100,000 labourers to France) helped the British repair their tanks in 1917/18. Their two homes in Shanghai have been renovated and turned into a museum, which John

will visit in October for the opening of an exhibition on their family history,

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and will also visit their home in Lushan, the mountain resort created by his great grandfather, Edward Selby Little, in 1895. Two books have been published on the unique collection of photographs taken by his grandfather.

Colin Loveless (S 49) is still living in Slindon after 50 years in the same house. Sadly his wife Jill died in 2001 but he has no wish to move for as long as he can cope. He doesn’t travel far these days but would like to hear from anyone who is still around and who knew him in the 1945 to 1949 era. Jon Higham (N 79) continues to teach Visual Communication degree students at the University of Hastings and was also teaching at the University of Brighton in 2022. Last autumn he had a popular exhibition of his Masters final book project A Life in Objects (delayed due to the pandemic) at Bexhill Museum and Silverhill Press republished the book to tie in with the exhibition.

Jon is also a photographer in the antique jewellery business as well as continuing his art prints - recently he took up oil painting again, (the first time since his art class days at Oundle under John Booth.) His daughter Holly has been offered a place at Trinity Cambridge to study Classics and Jon’s partner Katie continues to expand her gardening and baking skills for local clients. Richard Hill

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(StA 75) sailed to the Caribbean last November with his wife and brother Jonathan Hill (StA 72) and has been cruising the islands for the last six months. He will be back in the UK for the summer then back out next year to continue sailing the northern Caribbean islands before sailing back to the UK in May 2024.

Rollo Sheldon (B 04) reported that it has been a sad time due to the death of his father Nick Sheldon (N 69), who was probably one of the nicest people he knew.

However, he had a good death at home surrounded by family and with Mahler’s 1st Symphony playing on the radio, which he would have approved of. His memorial service at Kingston Parish Church was packed to the rafters and he was given an excellent send off with choral favourites from the many years singing in the choir there. A few OOs were in attendance apart from family OOs, including Kate Cooper Owen (Sn 04), whose father Chris – one of Rollo’s father’s best friends - gave a eulogy. Other major news was Rollo decided to leave his substantive NHS position and embrace the locum lifestyle as a locum consultant Psychiatrist in Hampshire. He is therefore avoiding the industrial action in the crumbling NHS. Hamish Donaldson (Ldr 54) has had a busy year. A year ago he was organising Haslemere’s celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (she was crowned while he was at Oundle) and this year it was the Coronation of King Charles III. Haslemere put on a Coronation concert, street parties and on the bank holiday Monday a carnival procession to the village green for a tea party, bands playing into the evening, and finishing with a laser light show. All this was followed a week later by Haslemere Festival – two weeks of concerts, talks and weekend activities (including a Gruffalo show by Julia and Malcolm Donaldson (Ldr 67)). After living in Dubai since 2005, Simon Arrol (N 68) has now returned to Lymington where he keeps a modern classic motor boat in the marina. He teaches young children to row, which reminds him of his happy time on the river at

Oundle and Tansor, of his win in the Glennie Cup, and of his outings in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd VIIIs. He continues to work internationally in his field of marina and waterfront development, albeit at the somewhat lesser pace appropriate to ‘semi-retirement’. He visited Thailand last winter and spent time with his contemporaries from New House, Sook Sanan Jotikasthira (N 68) and Sam Anulkaya (N 68).

Chris Richards (StA 64) recently spent three days in Venice, then trained it to Florence for three days there - absolutely heaving - what increase of living costs! In the meantime , he has been honoured by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB ), being a Fellow and also an Honorary Life Member. At its annual awards ceremony, he was presented with the President’s award for his significant impact on the construction industry; an article was published this year outlining his commitment over 30 years - the time has flown!

 Mike Foy, Chris Richards and host Anita Rani at the CIOB Awards

Nick Ryley (Sc 66) reported that uncharted territory, measuring 330ft by 65ft, has formed five miles into the Solent. Sailors Chris Fox and Nick Ryley were the first to make landfall at the isle and have claimed it by painting the flag of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club in Hampshire and planting it in the middle of the shingle bank (see photo). They named it Lentune Island, after the original name for Lymington 1,000 years ago.

Alastair Richardson (G 91) shares that he still lives in Haslemere and works for Wellington Management in London (17 years and counting)

NEWS FROM HOME

 Chris Fox and Nick Ryley (on the right)

where he leads the firm’s Talent Acquisition team in EMEA. His children are now 21, 20 and 15, which is sobering, to put it mildly.

He recently visited Oundle with his youngest daughter for a Sixth Form open day, which brought back an awful lot of memories! Wonderful for him but wearing for everyone who had to listen to them. It’s possible that a second generation of Richardsons may yet attend the School.

Coincidentally, Alex Smith (Sc 91) was also there. He’s head of Classics at Stamford School, and it was lovely to catch up with him after a full 32 years. Anthony Burrows organized a really excellent day. For a brief moment, it felt like Back to the Future.

Alastair regularly sees his brother, Jeremy Burrows (G 88), who’s spent the past several years helping large care home groups navigate their way through the myriad challenges of Covid and its aftermath. He also sees his brother-in-law, Mark Epton (StA 91) whose two children are both at Oundle now. He’s still living in London, peddling his wares at Morgan Stanley, and bikes around the roads of Surrey (and the mountains of France and Italy).

Alastair caught up with Stuart Morgan (Lx 91) for lunch earlier in the year, and with Harvey Flather (D 91) last summer (who happened to be house sitting for a next -door neighbour, which was convenient!)

David Jones (StA 55) noted after 18 months of building work they have moved into Barbara’s parents’ house near Dorking, Surrey. The house had not had any modernisation since bought in 1948. It now sports an air source heat pump and PV roof panels. They have sold their Rival 38

cruising boat and acquired a garden instead. Along the way they have had two daughters, four grandsons, three great grandsons, and one great grandaughter. Peter Dickinson (Ldr 59) says his only news is that he is still alive and remains grateful to the NHS. John Richardson (StA 61) “Leaving school may be a landmark in our lives, but so is passing our 80th birthdays. It is a time for reflection.

My tour leading days are coming to an end. In April and May I was tour leading with my wife Susi in the Channel Islands. Next April we will be leading our last tour on a cruise to Iceland. I am also easing myself out of various committees and as a charity trustee by bringing in deputies for a seamless transfer. Family history is becoming an increasing interest and a reason to visit places at home and abroad which were important for the family in the past. I am so grateful to Oundle for accepting me as an 11 plus failure without taking the Common Entrance and to the Dudgeon Venture award which has led me to a life of adventure and travel.” John Williams (StA 62) reported that there had been several OO Weald Walks by Bev Boag (StA 60), Roland Fairfield (StA 60), John Richardson, Martin Boag (StA 62), and others, coinciding with John’s visits from Israel. They are usually circular and start and end at a pub for a convivial lunch. No organ recitals allowed! Each walker may talk about only one organ and about only one grandchild!

David Meredith (Lx 78) ticked off a bucket list item by attending the whole of the Oval Test match in September 2022, albeit only just over two days’ play. Otherwise, he has continued running his firm of Chartered Accountants in Tenterden and has managed to fit in more golf and fishing, as well as continuing to score for various cricket matches that his sons were playing in. He has also continued to enjoy his role as Honorary Reporting Accountant to the OO Club, which has enabled him to make a couple of visits to the School and catch up with fellow OO Club members. David’s eldest son, Harry Meredith (F 11) and Megan, are kept busy bringing up Mila (aged

5¾) and Noah (aged 2½) at their home near Guildford. Mila is now enjoying primary school, but David and Kirstie, still get occasional calls to do baby-sitting duties. Harry continues to do something techie with data analysis. He has seen old roommate, Digby Morse (F 11) fairly frequently. David’s younger son, Will Meredith (F 14), continues to work as a trainee paraplanner with a firm of independent financial advisors in Maidstone and has remained at home with David and Kirstie whilst he gains experience and takes his first exams. Will has continued to play cricket for the Kent based travelling side, Band of Brothers, and appears occasionally for local sides Wrotham and Lordswood. Will and Harry also play golf reasonably frequently, normally rather better than their father. David continues to live just a mile away from his cousin, Col (Retd) William English CBE (Lx 80) who continues the transition from Army life and is currently working towards an intended brewing and distilling business in Kent. David has exchanged emails with Jeremy Sankey (Lx 78) who reports that 2022 was finally a year for a visit back to the UK after a four-year gap with various aborted attempts. Due to his schedule, it was more of a visiting family trip rather than friends. His kids are both at high school, with mixed results. Whilst younger daughter is doing well academically and in sport, if anyone has some tips on how to get a 16-year-old boy interested in studies, please let Jes know! He has been a communication strategy consultant for the last four years, which does mean that he’s still WFH and appreciates the more relaxed work/life balance. Sometimes less is more.

Richard Kemsley (C 78), recently celebrated 30 June 2023 – the date that he retired from telecoms work.

Richard will continue to look after the local agricultural charity that he administers: they let blocks of land to aspiring entrants to farming at preferential rates with rent paid in arrears. Richard also has to sort out his late father’s farm and other interests. He managed to resume

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scuba diving and ticked off his number one bucket list item, seeing a whale shark! He also enjoyed some superb night dives in the Maldives.

After his brain tumour diagnosis, he thought he would never dive again but when his consultant signed him off as fit to dive, he was overjoyed.

Richard’s daughter, Julia, gained grade 8 drumming with distinction before GCSEs. Her new school will involve more travel than for her current school, within walking distance. Daddy’s taxi to the fore!

Paul Barrett (Lx 78) continues to live in Wickhambreaux with Patsy, and continues to run the family motor business. Paul and Patsy have recently become grandparents: Florence Mary Swales was born in January this year. Paul is still regularly cycling around the county and further afield with Canterbury Velo. In June 2023 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent (DL).

David has also been in touch with Andrew Pincott (Lx 78) who is enjoying ‘semi-retirement’. He is balancing doing client satisfaction projects for law and accounting firms, with motorcycling and his involvement in three charities (Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Kreston Reeves Charitable Foundation and Two Wheels for Life) - acting as a trustee for the latter two. He is currently planning a group

motorcycle tour of Lesotho for March 2024 in aid of Two Wheels for Life.

David Allison-Beer (D 73) met with Ted Bruning (D 73), who was in the UK from his home in the USA last year to attend a family wedding.

It was an enjoyable couple of days as it was about 10 years since the last catch up. Ted was at Oundle for a year as part of the English Speaking Union school exchange programme.

David vividly remembered being delegated to collect Ted from London and introduce him to everything Oundle; their common thread was the workshops. Jock Glover (Sc 91) noted that this year was his 29th in the City and his 18th doing the commute from the edge of Salisbury Plain! When not working, he is still playing a bit of social cricket and umpired Andrew Appleby (Sn 93) at their recent fundraising 6-a-side tournament. He moved office last year and discovered that Andrew Tobin (G 92) is in the same building. Flexible working means lunch has yet to be organised!

He still sees Pippa Hudson (W 93) and her family several times a year for a godchildren catch up. His father, Richard Glover (Sc 62), had some fairly major surgery at the end of 2022 but has recovered well and looking forward to his 80th next year.

Suzanne Korff (Owen K 00) and her husband Alexander welcomed another daughter, Zara, earlier this

year. They continue to live in the New Forest and have finally finished renovating their home. Suzanne is still Marketing & Communications Director for Princess Cruises but is currently enjoying maternity leave and making the most of summer by the coast. David Owen (F 03) has just celebrated his first wedding anniversary with Roxy and they are expecting in October. He continues to fly for Etihad in Abu Dhabi and is now busy training to become a Captain. Peter Owen (Lx 63) to Marianne have enjoyed a busy year catching up on post-pandemic cruising. Certainly recommend Seabourn, which has recovered with excellent service and facilities.

A recent cruise included a day in Melbourne when he was delighted to meet former study mate Michael Preeston (Lx 64) for a catch-up lunch and tour of the city. Peter otherwise continues to visit the RAF Club, play the organ (badly!) and sing with choir Cantemus Cum Spritu choir in cathedrals when the resident choirs are on holiday, as well as at St John’s Church, Boldre when visiting family in the New Forest. He visited Oundle with Marianne in June 2023 for dinner in the fabulous new Sports Centre and attended the OO Committee meeting as a corresponding member.

Thank you to all who have submitted news this year.

face-to-face meetings has resumed, meaning that courts and arbitrations require me to dress up and travel to London or similar centres. Apart from work (in my free time?) I continue to assist at my local rugby club, Pontyclun RFC, first-aiding the youth and men’s team - a role paid for with the occasional free pint and the appreciation of the wounded.

Volunteering at the club helps them put up with my idiosyncrasy of wearing an English rugby top to the 6 Nations matches! Not a common

sight in Wales. I look forward to ongoing controversy in the World Cup this autumn. Perhaps as a sign of age I was recently asked to give a talk to postgraduate students at my old Cambridge college about my

Wales ■ Peter Moore (Ldr 88)

M

y professional life as an expert forensic metallurgist, investigating problems around the world, has very much recovered to normal after the last few years. Over the last twelve months cases in the southern hemisphere have dominated my work, with problems including collapsing stows on container ships, broken subsea pipelines, corroding petroleum processing plant and broken valves in refineries. As well as in person travel, the world of

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career, as representing those working ‘outside academia’! It was interesting to meet a diverse crowd of interesting and clever people and open their eyes (slightly) to career possibilities they had not previously considered or, indeed, perhaps heard of. I attended the Sports weekend this year for the second time and enjoyed propping up the older end of the water polo team. I also attended the after-party. I would recommend the weekend to any OO; you don’t have to be good, just be willing to have fun! Whilst back in Oundle, I attended a particularly good exhibition of OO artwork in the Yarrow gallery, including 24 prints of Intaglio drypoints by a Welsh OO, David Barron (Ldr 54). The prints were mainly upstairs in a wonderful space which, I guiltily admit, I had barely ever previously visited. David tells me that his visit there was the first time he had been in the building since his French oral exam in 1954!

In addition to the Yarrow, last year David also exhibited at the White Box Gallery, Blackheath.

 David Barron Art

Steven Thomas (G 69) tells me that he had a successful tenure as the England target rifle team captain for the “Lawrence” match against Scotland and the “National” match against the three other home countries.

Steve Fletcher (S 69) and his wife persist with their B&B in Pembrokeshire. To supplement this, they continue to participate in the NGS open garden for charity event throughout the spring and summer

and enjoyed quite a number of visitors this year. Steve considers that undertaking voluntary workshops at school in the 60s has got a lot to answer for, as he is still building unusual buildings in the garden, the current one being about the size of a double garage, T shaped and a combination of Victorian gothic and Viking!

Abi Carter’s (K 01) company, Forensic Resources Ltd, was awarded Micro company of the Year by the Federation of Small Businesses in 2022 and her team were finalists in the Wales Legal Awards in the service professionals Team of the Year category. Abi has taken on a number of mentees and for the first five months of 2023 was deployed abroad on an emergency forensic investigation – a role that she performs as a consultant in addition to running her business. She and her board colleagues of the charity Remembering Srebrenica Wales secured the First Minister of Wales to speak at the 27th anniversary commemoration of the Bosnian genocide in 2022 and this year a group of two hundred musicians will perform a Bosnian memorial song in memory of the victims to commemorate the 28th anniversary. Abi continues to sit on the South Wales Police Independent Advisory Group and is contemplating joining a law society committee as well - to keep her even more busy.

In a short update, and perhaps in humorous response to my emails begging for news, Pat Westlake (Lx 84) says he is not dead yet, though perhaps starting to creak a bit... He remains the Process Automation manager at Dow Silicones, and,

 England target rifle team, Steven Thomas (G 69), captain

away from work, continues to run the Old Penarthians Squash Club.

For moments of leisure he can be found sailing on Cardiff Bay most Wednesdays. Bob & Jenny Briggs (Hon OOs) reassure me that they are still well out west in St Davids.

Despite living in Wales, they find themselves working in the garden and wondering where the rain has gone. To fill their time, apart from seeing the family, they undertook a Hurtigruten Expedition voyage in February, from Dover to Alta in northern Norway. They really enjoyed the experience even if loose items flew around the cabin during the second night as a major storm struck in the North Sea. Jim Hindmarsh (Ldr 61) tells me that in June Sir Howard Stringer (Ldr 60) and his wife were the guests of honour at the annual dinner of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Howard kindly invited Jim as his guest and they enjoyed an evening of good company and inspiring speeches, interspersed by outstanding entertainment by students of the college. On a down to earth note, Bob Redfern (Sc 72) tells me that his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease less than a month after he retired from clinical neurosurgery in 2018. His retirement has not turned out in quite the way that they had planned. His wife has now been in a residential care home for a year, so he has some degree of independence.

He continues to sit as a magistrate, undertakes medico-legal work, and enjoys visiting family and friends.

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West Midlands ■ Simon Stephen (Lx 97)

I

’ve recently taken over the mantle of West Midlands OO correspondent from Jon Terry (G 93) and it’s been a pleasure reading the updates from the region’s OOs. Hopefully we can continue to build the Midlands network.

However, the reason I have taken over from Jon was not a positive one. His wife, Claire, updates us: ‘Jon was knocked off his bicycle on 7 October 2022 sustaining a number of severe injuries including a traumatic brain injury. Always keen to be in illustrious company, the injury is similar to those sustained

by Richard Hammond, Michael Schumacher and James Cracknell.

Things were very rocky back in the autumn and Jon was in a coma for seven weeks in Birmingham’s QE hospital. Following his stay, he spent five months in a Level 1 Neuro Rehabilitation Unit, coincidentally five minutes from the family home in Moseley, and since mid-May has been at another rehabilitation unit in Edgbaston. During rehab, Jon has had to relearn many basic skills, including walking and speaking. He has made enormous progress, but it is slow and he is often frustrated.

The road ahead is still long and uncertain. Recently he’s enjoyed trips out from the rehab unit to go to the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, to son Will’s school prize giving - and out for a curry. He was also able to celebrate (but sadly not attend) Will playing at Twickenham in March as one of only three year eleven pupils in Old Swinford Hospital’s school 1st XV. The result came down to the wire with OSH winning the U18 England Rugby National Vase. The current plan is for Jon to be discharged home in the first half of August.’ I would add that Claire has been amazing, as have their children Will and Millie, throughout an unbelievably difficult period.

Peter How (Sn 49) has kept in touch with the School with his

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annual visit to the Oundle Lecture.

He said it was also great to visit Sanderson as the pupils were interested in hearing about life in the then boys’ House during the 1940s. He reports that life at 92 now requires the use of a mobility scooter, but regular visits to CBSO and Symphony Hall are still possible and enjoyed. Martin Trentham (B 64) has unfortunately been in hospital but is on the mend. No sooner than starting to feel better in June, he managed to fall off a ladder and break his collarbone. He says all of this has – perhaps understandably - severely curtailed his attendance at vintage car events and target shooting, but he is hoping to resume both soon.

Mark Glossop (D 54) continues to meet Johnny Crabbe (G 50) regularly.

He says Johnny is delighted to be back on the golf course and he himself was astonished to be awarded a BEM at the start of 2023 for services to the community. This was triggered by his involvement in setting up a community shop in the village and backed up by other local activities including the Cathedral Ferry at Worcester, which started in 1983 and is still going - 40 years on! None of it is possible, he says, without the support of his wife Jennifer, who later confessed that she had been aware of the application for the award but, impressively, managed to keep it a complete secret until the official notice arrived. Congratulations Mark! Johnny Crabbe, in turn, says that after two years, he has returned to his own place in Pensax and still runs a small Investment club for fun and confirms he regularly meets Mark Glossop. He was delighted to see Mark with a BEM for all his work to replace the village shop and post office, which had closed.

He sees it as a great achievement for somebody in their mid-eighties.

Johnny is also occasionally in touch with Mike Hollands, a fellow golfer

and ‘Penguin’. Incidentally, ‘The Penguins’ (winners of the Public Schools Sevens at Rosslyn Park in 1955) will sadly cease their reunion luncheons in 2025, their 70th year.

Anno domini has caught up and travel has become rather arduous.

Five of the original eight players are, however, reported as ‘still vertical and breathing’.

Scott Glover (D 52) made a ‘very happy’ move to Warwick nearly four years ago, as a result of which he married Belinda Ellwood in September 2022 and finished up living next door to Anthony King (G 60), whom he meets regularly. He keeps active with walking, bridge and holidays. Recently he visited some of his old haunts in the West of Scotland to meet a small film company, who are in the process of making a TV programme they hope to sell to BBC Scotland about the Hillman Imp and the Linwood factory where it was made, a project which formed a significant part of his (long ago!) working life. Nick Pritchard (Sc 65) reports that as a Chartered Accountant, his only current charity involvement is as a trustee of the John Weston Stretton of Kidderminster Charity. This awards annual bursaries to medical students with a connection to the counties of Worcestershire and West Midlands.

He is also company secretary of OSP Engines Limited, funded via EIS, and developing the opposed step piston engine. Paul Newsome (StA 55) has seen Clive Morton (StA 56) who is unfortunately not too well but at home and well looked after. He is in contact with Charles Kilner (StA 59) and expects to see Richard Ellis in

NEWS FROM HOME

Salcombe this summer. He remains involved in the Standard Motor Club but is taking a less active part and is also in touch with Anthony Parsons (S 65).

Christopher Best (C 66) continues much the same, but his life is even more hectic! Apart from exam invigilation in two schools and a college in Warwickshire, Chris now also works as a casual cover supervisor in a third Warwickshire school and assists with rowing coaching for a fourth school.

During the local May elections in Warwickshire, he acted as Presiding Officer for one Stratford polling station. He wonders why we still use paper and pencil to vote when surely in this day and age we should be moving on to a more efficient system? Answers on a postcard…

When not exam invigilating, Chris also assists at Stratford and Warwick racecourses and enjoys the fresh air and a totally different experience to his 55 years in the hospitality sector.

He also volunteers at Stratford Hospital doing ‘meet and greet’ and Stratford upon Avon Boat club running the safety and training launches, assisting with regattas and organising outside lettings and events.

Stuart Morgan (Lx 91) is still living near Rugby, where he has been joined in the last year by Ed Reynolds (Lx 95) and they meet for the occasional beer. He also plays the odd Mums and Dads game of hockey with Rob Heygate (StA 93) and is still playing hockey for the local club, where he gets his weekly work-out and the opportunity for some post-match socialising. He is back in the airline industry and has recently changed to a weekly commute down to Heathrow, significantly more relaxing than a daily trip to Luton Airport. Like most of us, he hates the M1 with a passion as a result. However, he is having to rent a one-bed flat in Staines (-UponThames), which means he is always looking for excuses to have a beer in London at the end of the day (hint for London OOs perhaps…!)

He continues to run the OO Hockey team, where he is happy to have

started to make some progress in reducing the average age of the team to below 40. He is also trying to get more ‘friendly’ Rovers cricket games in the diary - with games organised at Repton and against the Leicester Gents at Oundle. Once a year he plays a weekend of golf in Cornwall with Mark Epton and Sam Porrit (both StA 91), occasionally joined

by Alastair Richardson (G 91) and Dominic Epton (StA 93). He also has regular lunches in some of London’s more salubrious spots with Harvey Flather (D 91), Haydn Simpson and Andy Rymer (both G 91). Sadly, earlier this year a few - Pete Southby (Lx 91), Jason Koenig (LS 91) and Mark Epton - caught up in Geneva at George Hammon’s (Sn 91) funeral, along with George’s family including Charlie Hammon (Sn 87) and Michael Hammon (Sn 56) at what was a very moving occasion. He also went to Peter Lamming’s (Lx 91) wedding last year - Pete continues to fly a very rich man around from time to time! And, finally, he also bumps into his sisters Karissa Hollis (K 92) and Catriona James (K 95), as well as seeing Tiff Drake (Hughes) (K 91) at a friend’s birthday party - they are all based in East Anglia.

Tom Hiscocks (StA 81) reports that his main news is that he has moved from the South West back to his roots in the Midlands - Much Wenlock, specifically. Welcome back to the Midlands Tom and looking forward to engaging with you over the coming years. Andrew Anderson (C 62) is still rowing at Ross-onWye (I hope it wasn’t him one of my scouts recently crashed into on a camp at Symonds Yat) and bumps into Nigel Shepherd (G 63) and Rosie at club socials. He went to Henley Regatta on the Wednesday on the Ross coach this year and met his old study mate Nick Rowell (C 63). He recalled that it’s ‘only’ 61 years since they were in the winning Crosby boat in the house races. Julian Bertrand and Toby Saul (both C 03) are looking forward to an upcoming reunion dinner. Dru Bentley (Sc 58) let us know of the sad passing of Tony Whelen (Sc 58).

Richard Matthews (D 66) met up

with Tom Matthews (B 98), Charlie Matthews (F 99) and Will (F 02) on the Saturday of the Lords Test Match vs Australia (pre-controversy day) Also there were Malcolm Watson (D 66) and Robin Veit (Hon OO), who disclosed his experience of teaching the Matthews lads French - and, on the Friday, Richard Ellis (Sn 86) and his father Roger Ellis (Sn 56), together with an entourage from Yorkshire. Chris Piper (Sc 71) and Richard Owen (Sc 70) were apparently also in the ground but somehow failed to find their way to the Mound Stand Bar! Caroline Neyra (Matthews D 04) is now a Director at Chanel in Paris.

For my part I keep in touch with Neil Trickett (L 97) regularly and also my brother Neill (Lx 95) and see my cousins, Tim, David and Danny Stephen (B91, 93 and 95) once a year or so. Back in November I moved to be a partner in a niche law firm specialising in investigation work. Happily, it’s kept me busy and given me a good excuse to be out networking. On that front I really enjoyed attending the OO Law Dinner at Lincoln’s Inn in April this year. It was great to see some old faces, make some new acquaintances, and was expertly chaired by Lance Ashworth KC (G 82) and David Bailey KC (N 83). I’ve also taken on a scout leader role for a local scout troop - since my three children are all in the ranks it seems to be a good thing to do - and we have had a really great year of active camps and various activities, which I find really rewarding. I still manage to drag my somewhat achy body onto the hockey pitch every now and then and help run my club’s veterans’ team and fixtures. Hopefully I will get to play at an OO game soon (and spoil Stuart’s plans to lower the average age no doubt). I’m also a keen cyclist and am currently training with the explorer scouts for a London to Paris ride in October. I also cycled frequently with Jon Terry and our local club. I see Claire, and visit him regularly. I also take any opportunity to look after his year old cocker spaniel Bertie, who somehow makes my three year old spaniel look pretty sedate.

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Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire ■ Tim Waring (Ldr 76)

A

fter a modest initial response resulting in a robust (and effective) reminder, thank you to the many who replied across Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. My apologies where some reports have been edited for the sake of brevity.

As someone who works in the residential property world, I was particularly pleased to learn that former OO magazine editor Simon Redfern (Sc 75), after two years renting in East Yorkshire, has returned to North Yorkshire, buying at Tollerton north of York close to his son but also allowing regular trips south via LNER to his daughter in London. Talking of North Yorkshire, and more particularly the greater Harrogate area, there is a strong local contingent of OOs who have been in touch.

After some years absence, Jeremy Horsell (Sc 70) reports with amusement that his younger brother Robin Horsell (Sc 80) is still leading the successful ‘Schoolblazer’ business that is well known to many parents at Oundle. As his elder brother, Jeremy admits telling Robin that it would never work and has been proved completely wrong. Jeremy has regular contact with Robin’s three Oundelian children Tom Horsell (L 07) Lucy Horsell (L 09) and Evie Horsell (L 12) Tom has creatively expanded the WFH concept by working from home in Ripon and from other worldwide bases such as Madagascar. Lucy is moving back to Brighton from York and cycles far too fast for her 70 year old uncle. Evie is based in London working for some very swanky eateries. Jeremy is also heavily involved with one of the larger mental health charities in Leeds as Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Jim Bennett (N 77) continues to have a hectic life with much work

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travel, hence the mantle of being this magazine’s European correspondent.

He recently attended the book launch of brother Charlie Bennett (N 84) titled Down the Rabbit Hole at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle. This swiftly followed the marriage of his daughter and Jim also attended the Roger Freebairn memorial service in May - a moving service provoking many memories for all at New House during Roger’s tenure. Indeed Jim Burton (N 84) and others have now committed to attend a 40th reunion next year at The Talbot.

Mark Mackaness (C 70) continues to enjoy life with further adventurous offroad travel, making a third 2023 visit to Africa with Jan this autumn with a return to Zambia. This is in addition to his impressive work on the Rudding Estate where the Mackaness family celebrated 50 years of involvement last year.

Simon Wyatt (Sc 70) reports now being a grandfather of five, golfing in Ireland with Robert Blackburn (Sc 70), bumping into Messrs Mackaness and Horsell around Harrogate and attending the spreading of Philip Graesser’s (Sc 69) ashes at Trearddur Bay in May. Jonathan Turner (S 84) has provided a succinct report as follows: “working hard in the energy sector with Tim Hall (S 84) and doing a lot of Corporate legal work with Robin Johnson (St 81). A move into EV (electric vehicles) and a chance encounter with Bruce Galliford (StA 87) has seen us join forces in RAW Charging developing an EV network across the UK. Recently saw Richard Ellis (Sn 86) at a charity clay shoot on good form and I see plenty of Richard Jackson (Sn 69) and fellow OOs in the Bowcliffe Drivers Club. See a lot of the world’s best retailer James Barker (Sc 84), Richard Munro (Sc 84) and Rupert Bullock (Ldr 84) often on the golf course and in bars. Bumped into

Ed Caldwell (StA 84) in Derbyshire.

Brother Paul Turner (S 86) is working hard in Harrogate and my children are all studying away - Freddie Turner (StA 18) at London College of Fashion, Harry Turner (StA 20) at Edinburgh University and Olivia Turner (D 21) at the Mackintosh School of Art.” Not mentioned by Jonathan but kindly highlighted by the effervescent Richard Jackson (Sn 69) is Jonathan’s extensive charity work, especially his recent emergency relief mission to Ukraine where he is due to return in the new year delivering more ambulances. Richard has also reacquainted with Mark Tinsley (StA 66) on the shooting field.

The West Yorkshire OO contingent remain as strong as ever. Bob Harrop (B 68) reports his annual pilgrimage to Lords with dinner at the Garrick by kind invitation of Jon Holmes (B 68) and lunch the following day with Dermot Brady, Tim Cowan, Charles Miller (all Ldr 76), Ian Lane (Ldr 77) and Mike Haigh (Sc 87), with Richard Ellis (Sn 86) on an adjoining table for reasons unexplained. Back in God’s own, Bob invited Al Gordon (C 69) and David Gunner (Sc 69) to more cricket at Headingley.

The Ellis family are as active as ever. Tom Ellis (Sn 91) also gives a succinct summary of meetings with fellow OOs: “ Family: Richard Ellis (Sn 86) (cousin), Isobel Ellis (Sn 14) (cousin’s daughter), Roger Ellis (Sn 56) (uncle), James Ellis (Sn 63) (uncle), Peter Cole (Sn 54) (father-inlaw), Anthony Cole (Sn 56) (uncle-inlaw!) Others: at the funeral of George Hammon (Sn 91) in Geneva, other

NEWS FROM HOME

attendees were Michael Hammon (Sn 56), Charles Hammon (Sn 87), Mark Epton (StA 91), Stuart Morgan, Peter Southby (both Lx 91) and Jason König (LS 91). Getting into trouble with: Ian Lane (Ldr 77), Mike Haigh (Sc 87) (and of course Richard Ellis) in and around Huddersfield, as well as at the OO Sports lunch at the Queens Club, where I also bumped into Angus Slater (N 91), Will Hunt (S 94) and James Kilner (StA 97).

Cameron Hunt (S 91) dropped in for a catch up. At Yorkshire Player events with Guy Ackernley (Sc 94).

At Oundle with Mark Epton (StA 91) and Mark Hallam (Sc 92), who both have children in my daughter’s year.” Richard Ellis adds to cousin Tom’s report that daughter Isobel Ellis is still living and working in London, and now engaged to a Tonbridge lad (really! you cry) with the wedding next April back in Yorkshire (of course). Richard remains heavily involved in the OO Club and the committees that support it – having excellent puerile weekends after the officialdom is concluded with fellow OOs such as Arthur Marment, Al Gordon and President Guy Beresford.

Many OOs seems to have an involvement in the academic and professional worlds. The award for long service must surely go to Brian Pettifer (S 54) who reports, aged 87, that he has only retired recently after 65 years in the legal profession. He was present at the OO Law Dinner at Lincoln’s Inn, where he met the two current Oundelian members of the Supreme Court (see page 5). Also recently retired from the legal world is Mike Copestake (Sc 69), who along with three others, is currently converting an 85,000 sqft former Rolls-Royce foundry and Heritage Museum into a classic vehicle centre called Great Northern Classics. They will have 17 workshops for classic vehicle specialists, office and retail space, storage for over 80 cars, event space, a cafe and a training school.

They are currently looking for Round 2 investors so anybody interested should contact him on mikec@gnc.ltd.

Robin Johnson (StA 81) continues to work internationally

with Eversheds Sutherland as an M&A lawyer particularly in the US Mid-West when not seeing Messrs Turner and Hall as aforementioned.

Robin will have spent this summer in the UK and is then heading to the Rugby World Cup where he has provisionally arranged to see James Hepworth (StA 81) after a 20 year gap. Charlie Hague (S 95) now runs the Yorkshire and NE business of Swiss private bank Julius Baer, describing it as interesting, difficult and rewarding, given the state of the world. He admits to being treasonous, with his eldest starting at Rugby School this autumn. He sees plenty of Sophia Warner (K 95) and Sam Mehew (Sc 96) for shooting and house parties. Tim Brooks (Lx 95) is also a great pal, and Charlie had a spontaneous reunion with Nick Scott (Lx 95) in the Caribbean last year.

Following an unsolicited LinkedIn request last year, Charlie now has a most diligent new team member in the form of James Foreman (C 18). He joined Julius Baer following a First in Economics from Leeds University and they are now looking at postings to London and Zurich for James.

Talking of Leeds, Martin Lamb (D 76) is still lecturing in Language Education at the University of Leeds and continues to travel a fair bit for his work. In March he met up with Nizam Razak (S 76) in Kuala Lumpur and enjoyed 18 holes at The Mines; he hopes to return for the wedding of Nizam’s son early next year. Roger Lamb (D 79) has also made an unexpected turn into academic life, passing on the wisdom distilled from a career in international business to new generations at Manchester Metropolitan University. He met up with Paul Harriman (D 79) in Newcastle before this season’s MUFC match at St James’ Park.

Leeds again, Julian Rushton (N 59) writes: ‘I’m long retired from the Professorship of Music at the University of Leeds, but still professionally active part-time, as it were. I’m writing on music and editing other people’s writings on music; unable completely to escape

committee work, while getting nervous as the oldest surviving former president of the Royal Musical Association.’

Up the A64 to York, and, after many years as “passive participant” to this publication, informative Nigel James Kirk (S 93) owns a large referral Dental Practice in York which specialises in restorative dentistry.

After qualifying from Birmingham University in 1999, he and Alice moved to York. Both achieved two Masters degrees and have been senior examiners at the Royal College of Surgeons for many years, also examined and lectured around the world. This means he has been able to catch up with Fuad Abdullah (Sn 93) in Kuala Lumpur fairly frequently over the years. Nigel sees Jim Harlow (LS 92) who is now a British Airways training captain and heavily involved with rowing (umpiring at Henley again this year).

He also sees Oliver Quarmby (Sn 93), who is seemingly rebuilding most of Derby, as he lives just down the road. Nigel also speaks to Joe Henry, who has a large veterinary practice in Northumberland as well as a working farm, James Leabeater who is a KC, Joe Goyder who works in brand strategy, Xavier McDonald a legal Counsel in Marseille, Harry Shelley who moved to Belgium a few years ago, George Jeffries, an engineer in Australia, Colin McInnes, an investment manager in Surrey and Alex Smith (all of the last eight are Sn 93), who is the CEO of Harrison’s Fund, a charity fighting Duchenne muscular dystrophy and named after his eldest son. No wonder they are all having a 30-year reunion this autumn.

Alex Kemp (S 97) has been living in Sheffield full time for the last four years, although he is regularly in London running The Eye Place, which has locations from the capital up to Hull. Over the last year Alex has met up with Tom WansboroughJones (Sc 97), Chris Godfrey (N 97), Karis Abas (StA 97) and William Day (S 97).

A number of more senior OOs have been in touch. Impressively, Philip Holmes (Sn 51) reports

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he is 90 this year, still driving his motorhome and he bought a new electric bicycle this year. He describes his general health as still quite good, with the support of the daily pills. Roger Allton (D 51) is also still cycling and just happened to do a tandem skydive from 15,000 ft in July in aid of the RAF Association. What Roger omits to mention is his longstanding work for RAFA, including wing walking for the charity in years past. A mere 80 and 82 respectively, Angus Shaw (Sc 61) and brother Alastair Shaw (Sc 59) are both still ‘pottering’, to quote Angus. Meanwhile Brian Burrows (D 61) now spends his winters in Barbados and, having retired from golf aged 80, has taken up bowls. Anthony Collinson (S 59) and Roger Marshall (StA 62) had planned a few days fishing on the Brora in June in a group of ten.

Unfortunately the water was very low and the temperature too high to fish so instead they played golf, went to the beach and had a great house party with wall to wall sunshine. They clearly timed it well, given the wet weather that caught us all in July.

Michael Oakley (Lx 62) for the first time in many years has made no visits to Oundle in the past year as his two grandchildren Guy Farrand (B 20) and Fenella Farrand (Sn 22) have departed, Guy to the RAU Cirencester and Nellie going to Durham this September. Guy, however, accompanied him to the London Dinner notwithstanding he was the youngest leaver by four years. Aspiring to join the military after University, hopefully he also appreciated the surroundings of the Cavalry and Guards Club.

Michael has also seen Iain Laird (Lx 62) on several occasions in the last year, either when on piscatorial expeditions to Scotland or when in the South West visiting family. Nick Jackson (Sc 66) having reached his first 75 years and 25 years with Jilly, opted for a superb dinner for forty souls at The Sportsmans Arms in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, well known to many in the shooting fraternity. Unfortunately Nick’s biggest and oldest friend Chris

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Helliwell (Sc 65) was unable to attend, but they meet up regularly.

Nigel Napier-Andrews (Sc 59), claimed temporary residence in South Yorkshire at Thorpe Salvin in April, to address the sale of an inherited family home. While there, David Ewing (Sc 59) visited from his new home in Rotherham and Alastair Shaw (Sc 59) dropped by on his way to his West Yorkshire home from a Norfolk holiday.

The house is now sold, subject to finding the deeds to an 800 year land lease, so Nigel has resigned from the Yorkshire contingent!

David Furnival (Ldr 67) reports that he lives in the sticks tending his vegetables. His Austin Healey 3000 has won a number of classic car events and will hopefully be on the Austin Healey stand with him at the Classic Car Restoration Show at the NEC next year. If passing, do say hello to him.

David Davidson (B 65) reports: ‘I have not figured in the annals of the OO Club for many years. I miss my involvement with Yorkshire since the passing of my father Peter Davidson (B 40). Apart from my on-going researches into neolithic Yorkshire, in which I have followed the footsteps of him and of my Australian brother Iain Davidson (B 66), I was pleased several years ago to receive a call out of the blue from Australia from my old friend and direct contemporary, Peter Reed (B 65). After a long engineering career in Aerospace, I am now retired and living in rural Leicestershire surrounded by a fair few OOs and enjoying the sporting activity.’

Michael Brook (Sn 71) advises that OOs in his part of the planet are rather scarce and vastly outnumbered by OUs. That said James Stuart-Mills (Sc 85) appears at his shoot in various guises and he has seen Brian Bowser (Sn 71) on a number of occasions. Michael’s niece, Flora Farquharson (D 06), visited in May, the day after attending the North Yorkshire wedding of Nell Theakston (D 06) in Masham, and is herself engaged and living in Kent.

Patrick White (Ldr 84) has had a difficult year but keeps in touch with

contemporaries Simon Woods, Rupert Bullock, Nick Dowdeswell (all Ldr 84) and Jeremy Pong (Ldr 83), as also Janet Levet in Oundle.

Sam Cates (Lx 96) left Yorkshire this summer to take up a new posting at the MOD. A non-military highlight has been catching up with other '96 leavers Oli and Claire Hallam (S 96 and K 96), Henry Bryers (Lx 96) - on his forays North to see fish and family - Tom Rowley (StA 96) and Roger Thorpe (Lx 94). Alex Stanhope and Aidan Nicholson (both Lx 96) have twin girls of similar ages; their families get together in spring in Yorkshire and summer in St Albans. Alex also saw Tom Johnson, Jimmy Goddard, Sam Cates and Charles Ashby (all Lx 96) in rude health together with Philip Pedley at their yearly reunion in September.

Nick Rhodes (Sc 02) describes his days as planning new product lines and looking after orders at his furniture business in Driffield. What he doesn’t mention is the rave Google reviews for his handmade Adirondack chairs, potting benches and wooden items. It’s worth looking him up. Equally modest is Morgan Powell (C 96) who lives in south east London with his partner and two daughters, adding that he owns an animation studio in Soho which has been producing TV commercials for 20 years. A quick Google search will tell you more. Also London based, Will Shelley (S 15) is multi tasking as director of a software development

NEWS FROM HOME

business, running an app called Propa to help landlords manage their admin and a golf app called Open Tee. Florence Lister (D 15) is a UX researcher in robotics at Ocado and co-chairs the Women in Tech Group.

When I managed to pin down my son and co-correspondent Christopher on his OO sightings, he rapidly ran off : Marcus Turner (Ldr 12), a corporate lawyer in the city and recently engaged, Abbas See (Ldr 12) also engaged, a surgeon based in Nottingham, Angus Irvine (Sc 12) in The Rifles and now married, Oliver Jackson (Ldr 12) a barrister at Lincoln's Inn, and Evan Bolle Jones (StA 12), a scientist in the nuclear industry, based near Bristol. James Robson (Ldr 12) is now in the GB Men's rowing squad with a firm eye on the 2024 Olympics.

Juliet Rothera (K 12) has had a year

abroad travelling and hopes to be US based in healthcare marketing. Twin brother Nick Rothera (B 12) remains in the London IT world. As for said son, Chris Waring (Ldr 12) is global advisory strategist at international creativity consultants Cannes Lions where his colleagues will no doubt be constantly reminded of all things Yorkshire including the tea.

Personally, life is good and second time around beckons following my recent engagement this summer with a 2024 wedding. Now living near Castle Howard, north of York, my longstanding involvement in the prime Yorkshire residential property market continues, with rapidly expanding property consultants GSC Grays that now has a ten office network across the North.

Finally it is appropriate to close with news from OO stalwart and

former regional correspondent Edward Waterson (S 69). He recently had an entertaining dinner with Andrew Williamson (G 87) and his former English teacher Michael Aubrey, who is cycling round Yorkshire at the age of 82.

Andrew’s nursery thrives and he says he loves every moment of it.

However, on a much sadder note, Edward reports the sad passing of his lovely wife Jill. Last October they spent time in South Africa culminating in a stay at the Knysna home of David Watson (D 69). After returning home in high spirits, Jill was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and died in February.

She was the wife, mother and aunt to OOs and a great ambassador for the school. Over 350 people came to her memorial service, including OOs too numerous to mention.

Headquarters in Lisbon. He left HMNB Clyde at the end of last year and moved with his family out to Lisbon, a posting he is enjoying greatly. STRIKFORNATO is a small HQ with the unique selling point of being prime integrator of HighEnd Maritime Strike capability into NATO. Over in NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, as Assistant Chief of Staff G5 Plans, Col William Robinson (G 92) has had a busy year travelling around Europe engaged on a variety of tasks, supporting operations and preparing for a readiness role next year.

Col Mark Mankowski (Sn 94) is currently serving in the Australian Army as the Chief of Plans in Headquarters 1st Division. In July and August 2023, they deploy on Ex Talisman Sabre, a bi-lateral Field Training Exercise with the US IndoPacific Command, as well as other regional partners and allies attending, including from the British Army.

Concurrently, they are planning

the deployment of the Divisional Headquarters to Japan at the end of the year for a tri-lateral exercise with the Japanese and US forces. Next year he will be posted back to Canberra from Brisbane, as the Chief of Staff Land Capability Division. He is in touch still with Alex Southworth (Sn 94).

It has been a busy year for Lt Col Nick Berchem (D 86), who retired from the Army in July 2022 and is now working as the Deputy Programme Director for Challenger 3, the Army’s upgraded Main Battle Tank. He has bought a house near Blandford which he is currently renovating, whilst proximity to Bristol has allowed him to catch up with George Griffith

Armed Services ■ Sebastian Tusa (S 13)

I

t has been another busy year for Old Oundelians serving in the Armed Forces. The death of the Commander in Chief, Her Late Majesty The Queen, was a landmark event in the nation’s history and the largest ceremonial event since 1953, as well as a poignant opportunity for the Armed Forces to carry out their final duty to the monarch. The Queen was steadfast in her commitment to the Armed Forces throughout her reign and it was an enormous privilege for the services to deliver a funeral fitting for the longest serving monarch in our history.

With the return of a conventional land war to Europe, we remain committed to supporting Ukraine, with many OOs taking part in Op INTERFLEX, the UK’s commitment to training Ukrainian civilians before they return to war in Eastern Europe.

Col John Dowd (L 90), Royal Marines, has been serving as the Assistant Chief of Staff to STRIKFORNATO, which has its

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 Nick Berchem (D 86) and Nick Carrell (Sn 86) – Oundle 1st VIII Rowing Team 1986

(Sn 86) and reminisce about the CCF, shooting and life at Oundle in the 80s. The very sad news of the death of Nick Carrell (Sn 86, late Life Guards and AGC) last year has been a great shock, both having completed Sandhurst and Royal Armoured Corps Troop leader training together, some years after rowing in the same 1st VIII in 1986.

Lt Col Guy Anderson (L 99) is now working in Headquarters Home Command, having handed over command of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards after a busy year supporting Op CABRIT (Estonia), Op FIRIC (Falkland Islands) and Op ORBITAL, as well as setting up the land component for the MOD’s contribution to the cross channel small boats crisis before then spending five months training Ukrainian civilians under Op INTERFLEX. He was involved in planning the Coronation in the GOLDEN ORB Joint Headquarters.

He has crossed paths with Col Sam Cates (L 96) who remains as 1st (UK) Division’s Chief of Staff based in York but moves to the MOD this summer to assume a role in the Strategy and Plans area.

In the Royal Navy, Commander Adrian Visram (S 98) has spent the latter half of 2022 deployed in the Arabian Gulf as Commander UK Mine Counter Measures Force,  Sebastian Tusa (S 13) (centre of photo) standing Vigil during the Lying in State for HM Queen Elizabeth II.

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responsible for the UK’s very high readiness Mine Warfare Force. This culminated with planning the UK’s contribution to Maritime Security Operations in support of the World Cup in Qatar. On return to the UK he has assumed the current appointment as Commander 2nd Mine Counter Measures Squadron, responsible for generating the Hunt Class Mine Counter Measures Vessels for operations, whilst also generating the Ukrainian Navy’s Mine Warfare capability, ready for future operations in the Black Sea. Lt Col Peter Perowne (G 98) has finished working in Army Headquarters and has taken over command of the King’s Royal Hussars. As Commanding Officer, he has deployed the regiment to Estonia in February 2023, with a busy year ahead dominated by exercises. A particular highlight was leading the KRH’s contingent on the Coronation parade. His sister, Julia Perowne (K 99) continues to go from strength

to strength as CEO of Perowne International and is married with a son, Freddie. Of the same vintage, Maj Harry Wallace (StA 98), is currently posted to the ARRC (Allied Rapid Reaction Corps) as the SO2 Info Ops PSYOPS. The KRH remains a bastion of Old Oundelians: Maj Will Wade (StA 07) is the current C Squadron Commander, with 2Lt Josh Allen (StA 17) as one of his Troop Commanders, having just completed his Troop Commander’s course post-Sandhurst. Also serving, James Cullinan (G 92) is currently on his Turkish language course prior to heading out to the NATO Headquarters. Whilst he has left the Army, General Sir Richard Shirreff (C 73), former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, is often called on to speak about the situation in Eastern Europe by news outlets. Capt Will Barrell (F 14) has just finished his two years as Recce Troop Leader at the KRH and is awaiting his next posting.

Capt Angus Irvine (Sc 12) has left regimental duty in The Rifles to assume his appointment as the Aide-de-Camp to GOC 3rd (UK) Division. Preceding this, highlights have included Ex WARFIGHTER and Op INTERFLEX, the UK’s ongoing commitment to training Ukrainian soldiers. He hopes to return to 5 RIFLES as Anti-Tank Platoon Commander.

Capt Sebastian Tusa (S 13) has finished his time as a Platoon Commander in Catterick, and in June returned from a 3-month tour of Iraq with the 1st Battalion Grenadier

NEWS FROM HOME

Guards as Battle Captain of the UK Mobility Company in Erbil, where they provided force protection to advisory teams assisting the Peshmerga in the lasting defeat of Daesh in the region. He has now taken over the role of Company 2IC at Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards, in London, and will be busy with State Ceremonial public duties. A particular highlight of the last year was the great privilege of standing vigil in Westminster Hall

during the Lying in State of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Also involved in the funeral of Her Late Majesty, Lt Alexander Johnsen (F 14) continues his posting on an exchange from the Irish Guards to 45 Commando, Royal Marines, as Y Company Second-in-Command based in Arbroath. He has recently passed the Commando Course and has been deployed in Arctic warfare training exercises in Norway,

mastering the tactical use of a skiddoo. On return from the Royal Marines, he hopes to take up a Support Company Platoon Command role back at the 1st Bn Irish Guards.

The Sidney House trio of Lt James Higginbotham, Lt Ashley Cuthbert and Lt Will Smith (all S 14) continue their time in Troop Command and are looking forward to their next stage as junior officers.

Old Oundelian Lodge No 5682 ■ Iain Wadie (Sn 87) Secretary

F

reemasonry is an age-old organisation that promotes fellowship, moral uprightness, and intellectual development with well-known male organisations and perhaps less well known but nonetheless vibrant organisations for women. Its virtues lie in its embodiment of timeless principles, such as truth, beneficence, and equality. The Masonic teachings advocate for personal growth, integrity, and compassion, encouraging individuals to become better versions of themselves and make meaningful contributions to society. Moreover, it fosters a rich culture of intellectual inquiry and philosophical exploration.

Freemasonry’s commitment to charity sees Masons consistently participating in philanthropic endeavours. It’s a beacon of solidarity and shared values, casting a light that guides its members towards a path of wisdom, harmony, and benevolent service. Its 1723 Book of Constitutions was quite progressive for its time in promoting religious tolerance, asserting that Masons should not be barred on grounds of their religious beliefs. It is practised in over 150 countries around the world.

This year’s Public Schools Lodges festival was held at Stowe School whose house and gardens are a walking history of the Enlightenment - perhaps an appropriate setting as

Freemasonry and the Enlightenment are intrinsically connected. During this era in the 18th century, Freemasonry provided a fertile ground for the free exchange of ideas.

Lodges served as safe havens for discussion that transcended social, political, and religious boundaries.

The fraternity’s emphasis on moral and intellectual improvement mirrored the Enlightenment’s focus on human potential and its espousal of equality, fraternity, and liberty.

Many of the Enlightenment’s most renowned figures, including Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin became Freemasons. A century later, Annie Besant and Evelina Haverfield, themselves both Freemasons and Suffragettes, brought about universal suffrage (www.owf.org.uk/newsblog/famous-women-freemasons/) On a more modest level, the Old Oundelian Lodge held our normal three meetings this year. In October 2022, we were busy proclaiming Graham Solari (G 65) the Master of the Lodge for the second year in a row and taking Nigel Harley (G 80) and Nathan de Garis through their second step in freemasonry. We followed the meeting with a lovely meal at the Trattoria Verdi in Southampton Row, with the port generously donated by one of our Old Uppinghamian guests (a lodge with which we have formed close bonds).

In February we met and practised our

ceremony for the third step in Freemasonry, such that in April we were able to honour Nigel Harley with this privilege. It is a particularly dramatic ceremony. We were pleased to dine in a private room on the first floor of The Lady Ottoline pub afterwards, where we were well looked after. I imagine it was reminiscent of the early lodges in the 17th Century attached to the inns and hostelries in London of the day (sites now occupied by Freemasons Hall and the Connaught Rooms).

Back to the finale of the season, the Public Schools Lodges Council festival hosted by Stowe Lodge, which a small posse of Old Oundelians attended in June. Stowe is well worth a visit. The school has partnered with the National Trust, so public visits are possible. Not only is the house magnificent but the gardens are adorned with over forty temples and monuments, each possessing a unique design narrative.

The Temple of Ancient Virtue, for instance, is a Greek-inspired rotunda housing statues of ancient figures like Socrates and Homer, symbolizing

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timeless virtues. In counterpoint, the nearby Temple of British Worthies is a semi-circular monument adorned with busts of significant British figures including Sir Isaac Newton, John Locke, and Alexander Pope. The gardens can be seen as a walkable history book, telling the story of the Enlightenment and its connections to classical antiquity. The landscapes and structures are testament to the era’s reverence for ancient civilizations. This theme was picked up in the morning by the headmaster of Stowe, Anthony Wallersteiner, in a very enlightening and visionary talk about the school and his philosophy.

Look him up to find his various interviews. He was joined on stage by the deputy Grand Master of the order of Freemasonry for Women, Maxine Priestly, The Provincial Grandmaster for Buckinghamshire and UGLE’s Pro Grand Master. The venue was a great setting for lunch, an afternoon of cricket between the Stowic Lodge and hangers on and the visitors. The headmaster and members of the Stowe House Preservation Trust gave tours of the house and gardens. The Masonic Fishing Charity held one of their fishing days and even caught some fish! Ice creams, coconut shies, classic cars and a hog roast in the evening added to the occasion.

We are holding an open evening at Freemasons Hall, 60 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AZ on 13 November this year from 4:30pm for anyone interested in or curious about Freemasonry. We have arranged tours of the Museum and the building, which is an excellent example of art deco architecture (completed in 1933) including the Grand Temple and a lodge room. The museum’s guides will discuss the history of Freemasonry, the history of the building and the workings of the lodge room. Drinks and canapés will be served in the café on the ground floor, where you will be able to chat with new and seasoned freemasons from across the various schools’ lodges. If you would like to come along please email me at secretary.ool5682@gmail.com. We look  A great day at the Public Schools Lodges Council Festival hosted by the Stowe Lodge.

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forward to installing Matthew Dear in the chair on 26 October at Freemasons Hall, London and would be pleased to welcome any masonic visitors. Other meetings for 2024 are on the fourth Thursdays in February and April.

We are also planning a meeting at the School in June 2024 and welcome masonic and non-masonic guests for our dinner and drinks in The Talbot please email me for further details.

In our year ending September 2022, we are pleased to have supported charities and organisations local to Oundle with donations of nearly £3,000, plus charitable disbursements through the Public Schools Lodge Council. These include the Old Oundelian Lodge bursary that supports students who, through sudden changes in family circumstances, would be unable to continue their education at Oundle without financial support. The Old Oundelian Lodge gives its members a great deal of pleasure both in terms of its Masonic fraternity and also the spirit and community that arises from the fact that we have all experienced life at Oundle in its various aspects and over many years. Our members include Nathan de Garis, Deputy

Head of Grafton House, Matthew Dear, Matthew Lim (B 11), Ross Murray (Lx 10), Sandy Rowell (C 04), Peter Seebohm (Sc 02), Rob Shaw (S 92), Chris Tovey (Sc 91), Iain Wadie (Sn 87), Philip de Voil (G 86), Dom Vincent (Lx 82), Nigel Harley (G 80), Howard Allen (Sn 75), Nigel Hewitt (B 75), Peter Hotchin (C 72), Geoffrey Woolsey-Brown (Lx 66), Graham Solari (G 65), Charles Kilner (StA 59), Michael Hammon (Sn 56), Michael Turnbull (Sc 55), Paul Newsome (StA 55), David Thorpe (Ldr 53), Bill Whittall (Ldr 52) and Kevin Chawner (B 47). http://www.oundelianfreemasons. org, facebook: Old Oundelian Lodge 5682,Twitter:@ool5682.

Further information about Women’s Freemasonry organizations can be found at The Order of Women Freemasons owf.org.uk and The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons hfaf.org. We would be pleased to make an introduction.

The Craft’s aims, objectives and achievements are available to a worldwide audience via the website of The United Grand Lodge of England (www.ugle.org.uk).

NEWS FROM ABROAD

Africa ■ Charles Salem (C 78)

C

amilla McConnell (W 07) and her husband, Richard now have a wonderful little boy called Rafferty who was born in August. “He is the sweetest, happiest little baby and we can’t believe how lucky we are to have him. We continue to live on Lolldaiga, in Laikipia, which is fantastically green after a very worrying long drought - we finally got to crack out the lawnmower for the first time since moving here a year and a half ago!

Dudley Lucas (Sc 59) is

comfortably ensconced back in Kilifi, after escaping from the UK just days before the lockdown. He maintains contact with his brothers, Simon Lucas (Sc 62) in California and Nick Lucas (Sc 65) in London, as well as the quondam members of Bio Sixth Tony Chandler, Richard Butterfield (both Ldr 59) and Richard Date (Sc 59) “the four of us now into our 80s. Apart from that I run a small band here - Wazee wa Rock’n’Roll and people are kind enough to invite us to play in bars every so often,

which is really an excuse to join up with friends for a few beers...!”

Thank you both for your contributions and I look forward to hearing from more of you: same time, same place, next year, please!

(G 77), are motorbiking in Mongolia, starting in a couple of weeks. I’ll report back for the next magazine.

The advantage of working for a global health organisation is that we have clinics and people in most parts of the world, including Mongolia, and our health needs (which we hope we don’t need) should be covered!”

Stuart Elliott (Lx 68), wrote to say that life on the north coast of New South Wales is about the same as last year; “that’s to say fabulous!”

Hedley Williams (B 63) sent me a lovely email detailing his experience – “The year has passed so very quickly and has been relatively uneventful. I

am still on the chemo plan and will be for another 12 months, but the medication seems to be doing its job.

We had our annual trip to Singapore in February which was a pleasant interlude though quite a few closed businesses and some downsizing.

In April I drove to Darwin as my daughter’s contract with the Northern Territory Department of Education had ended and she needed to bring her car and possessions back to Brisbane. The trip is approximately 3500km each way and it took three and a half days. The country had changed a lot since my last trip due to the large amount of rain and the flooding. Also, some of the roads were badly washed out. Happily, the whole trip was uneventful and after three days in Darwin we headed back. I am still practising yoga, and Pilates six days per week and have discovered aerial yoga which offers the most amazing sensations. Next year will be a bit of a red-letter year as I hit the big 80.”

Regular contributor, Rob Bramley (C 82) seems to have had an interesting year. In July, he was in Bordeaux, as a Plenary speaker at

Australia ■ Charles Salem (C 78)

W

e start with a fun fact – The Field Houses have provided the most contributions to this newsletter, with Crosby providing half of those!

Anyway, first up is Mark Parish (S 78), who reports that he and Kevin Gerald (Sc 77) trekked the Annapurna Circuit last November. “195kms, 16,500m of ascent over 16 days.

Fantastic!”

 Day 3 Dharapani to Chame

And, in the spirit of walking, Simon Corlett (G 77), has also finished 1200kms, in Spain, from Cadiz to Finisterre.

“And to keep the spirit of adventure alive, I, Kevin G and another Graftonian, Mark Boomla

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the International Terroir Congress, one of the rewards of which was catching Covid! This resulted in an extended visit to his sister and “a very expensive rescheduled journey home via San Francisco!” Much more recently, Rob celebrated his wife’s 60th birthday with a holiday in northern Italy, which was their first international trip for about 20 years that was not work-related. “We had a great time and are looking forward to something similar next year when I reach the same milestone.”

Retirement beckons, although he is hoping to do some consulting – “on my own terms for a change! - when we eventually get to that point.” In the meantime, he is looking forward to going to Mendoza in Argentina later this year, again for wine terroir work.

After two years in retirement, Malcolm Wallace (G 76), has now moved from Inner Sydney to the Northern Beaches and is enjoying the new relaxed lifestyle. He will be be spending September and October in Europe travelling round Scandinavia and Spain before taking in three weeks of the Rugby World Cup in France. “My brother Hamish Wallace (G 74) will be joining me for the semis and the final in Paris - hopefully Scotland v Australia!”

Richard Walker (B 72) spent June and July in the UK and as usual visited his old Housemaster’s wife, Amrei Harrison, in Norfolk and shared many happy memories about John Harrison, who died five years ago. Richard spent much of the year filming television shows and will soon be seen in The Newsreader, (as a royal correspondent) and Gold Diggers (as an 1850s Irish landlord). Both these shows will be seen in Australia and the UK. He is back on stage later in the year in Death of a Salesman and then returns to the Melbourne Theatre Company in Seventeen, by Matthew Whittet, in which he plays a seventeen-year-old schoolboy.

He’s dry-cleaning his old Oundle uniform in anticipation! Our other thespian, Anthony Milne-Stoughton (S 81), has taken advantage of all that Melbourne and Sydney have to offer, attending concerts, shows, operas,

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contemporary dance performances and festivals: food and wine festivals, the Melbourne comedy festival and the Adelaide Festival Fringe.

He writes, “Too many highlights to mention but what a pleasure it was to find Laurence, son of Crispin Boxhall (StA 82), playing the role of Christopher Wren in a truly joyous production of The Mousetrap at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. Laurence brought such exuberance to the role and we had a great long chat (with beer) after the show – mostly about the business, Oundle and his dad.”

He celebrated his 60th birthday in a private suite at the SCG, during the Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles game, (Australian Rules!), in June.

“A totally brilliant day with 20 close friends and colleagues and the fourth highest winning score for the Swans in professional AFL history.”

With his wife now permanently in a retirement home, Charles Allen (B 54) spends a lot of his day travelling to and from it. “Other than that, I am pretty immobile, but always happy to share a dram!”

“We have now been in Australia for 13 years,” writes Duncan Bridel (C 62) “after retiring from 40 years in South Africa where, for the previous 25 years, I had my own construction company.” He has travelled the country extensively, most recently an overland trip to the Aboriginal Arnhem land, (the Northwest corner of Australia), where he enjoyed many visits to Aboriginal “wall art” thousands of years old, as well as some great fishing experiences on both The Liverpool River and Seven Spirit Bay. Next up, the UK to visit family and a trip around Ireland and Scotland.

Anthony Bayley (S 63) is completing his last transport consultancy project and hopes to gently slip into retirement with more golf, skippering rescue boats at his local yacht club and travelling up to Queensland visiting family.

Mike Booth (C 96) is on parental leave as I type, as his wife, Lara, gave birth to a baby boy on 20 December last year. Thankfully he finished the home renovation two days before the birth, which was a bit close for

comfort. Everyone is healthy, happy, and doing well. “With a newborn there really isn’t any other news.”

Tim Gulliver (S 64) is currently on the last leg of a round-the-world holiday (lucky old Baby boomers), visiting Chile and Machu Picchu.

A possible trip to his wife’s beloved Turkey is in the offing for October.

Stewart Lamond (StA 68), continues to run a small herd of cattle at a property four hours north of Sydney: his retirement project.

“The only OO news I have of interest,” says Mike Preeston (Lx 64), “involves a walking club that Penny and I belong to. The Wallaby Club is the oldest in Australia (founded 1894). I’m the only OO member but would like to have more, if any OOs are interested. For our Christmas dinner our speaker had to pull out at the last moment, so I asked David Hollands (N 51) if he would kindly come and give us a talk on birds. He has written several books on Australian birds, all brilliantly illustrated with his own photography.

He drove five hours to Melbourne to give the lecture.” In February, he was visited by Peter Owen (Lx 63) and his wife, Marianne, who were on a cruise ship which berthed in Melbourne for the day. (Peter and Mike shared a study, in Laxton). Peter of course has been very prominent in the OO Club in England for many years. “I was able to show them around the city, and we enjoyed an excellent lunch of mussels in Hardware Lane.”

Speaking of David Hollands, the year under review has been a strange one, much of it for the wrong reasons. “In February, my family had arranged a 90th birthday party and my brother, Mike Hollands (N 54), had, at great expense, flown to Australia to be there. Unfortunately, I was so ill that I could not take part but, miraculously, my cardiac problem has now reverted to something near normal. During the year, I did also have a lot of fun watching and photographing at no fewer than four peregrine falcon eyries, all of which successfully reared young. I have also completed my autobiography, which is now at the printers. Whether or not anyone will want to read it is another matter,

NEWS FROM ABROAD

but it has kept me out of mischief for a while.”

Edward Slack (StA 70) writes, “I retired from a proper job three years ago and last year took up the role of CEO of Squash NSW. My mission, which I have chosen to accept, is to reverse the decline in squash participation, mainly by having new centres built. Grants have so far been received for two new centres so we’re on our way, but there is a long way to go. Meanwhile I travel back to London twice a year, with Juliana of course, for about four months in total, to be with our two daughters, two granddaughters and catching up with family and friends. Still playing squash, still playing tennis and generally confirming that 70 is the new 50!” Lawrence Reddaway (D 62), has finally retired as a fire safety engineer. He and Virginia (53 years married) live in an independent living community in inner Melbourne. Their five delightful granddaughters range from 15 – 20 years old. He remains active physically and mentally and socially, despite battling cancer for the second time in four years.

Dr Nigel Humphries (D 69) continues his work as a rural GP, in the Aboriginal Medical Service in Kempsey, NSW. He had a double heart valve replacement in December last year. Good news followed with his Portuguese partner, Maria, receiving her Australian citizenship in a ceremony in January. “My middle son Dave now lives nearby, in Sydney, (450Km)!” Richard Topham (Ldr 64) spent last August sweltering in England, but did take the opportunity to visit Oundle, where he was shown around by one of the OO staff members. He was suitably impressed with all the changes and improvements that had been made since his last visit 40 odd years ago.

He also went to London, where “It was very odd to walk around my old workplace - the city of London - in shorts and sandals. Wouldn’t have done in my day, but then we never had temperatures in the 30s for weeks on end.”

After some 20+ years in senior management consultancy roles in the Asia Pacific region, John Edwards (B 65) is now based back in Sydney

operating in Board and Advisory roles for early stage and high growth technology businesses. He is also Deputy Chairman of Australian Business Volunteers, a longestablished not-for-profit business partnering with Australian corporates and volunteers to deliver skilled volunteering projects to communities in the Asia Pacific region. He is justly very proud of the recovery work continuing with those Australian communities affected by the major bushfire and flood disasters of three years ago. He has had knee and hip replacements, as well as suffering “the continuing pain of being a Pom in Sydney facing an Ashes series.”

As reported in the last magazine, Tim Hamlyn (C 96), decided to reenrol at the university in Melbourne to study for a Masters in Social Policy.

He reports having a great time, during which he concluded: “I will not be returning to the UK! I am still in touch with several OOs, including Sarah Hampton (W95) and Charles Salem (C 78).

I look forward to more of your contributions - same time next year.

Defence research, but remains busy with writing. With two fellow-officers of the Royal Canadian Hussars, in 2022 he published a two-volume history of the regiment, one of the oldest in Canada. They went to London in September 2022 to present a set to Princess Anne, the Colonel-in-Chief, but were unable to do it in person, owing to the period of Royal mourning. Anthony took the opportunity to spend a very enjoyable day in Oundle with sister and brother-in-law and visited the excellent school Archive. He followed up by sending the Archivist a large package of 1960s memorabilia of the School that he and his mother had collected, with an article on life in the Naval Section of that era for her to forward to the Old Oundelian.

He is very active in the Church and community and extremely busy as a grandfather.

Twin brother, John Kellett (Sn 64), moved from Toronto to Ottawa in 2021. He is living in a retirement residence nearby. Bill Fisher (B 75) lives in Toronto and is Chair of Horizonte Resources who are building a large nickel mine in Brazil and Chair of GoldQuest Corporation which discovered a multi-million

Canada ■ James Clayton (G 68)

T

he then OO Club President, Chris Piper (Sc 71), and Director of Development, Matthew Dear, were delighted to be able to attend a convivial Toronto Dinner in early November with OOs from across five decades. Thanks are due to Tim Terceira (D 75) for recommending Oretta King West as the venue, which provided exquisite food and a cosy setting to match the fine company. Also present were Steve Arroyave (StA 87), Karen Terceira, Peter Davidson (Ldr 62), Peter Leach (StA 63), Alan Willis (C 58), Constantin Blaum (C 10), Lexi Von Hahn and Dennis Schiegelow (Ldr 53).

Anthony Kellett (Sn 64) reports that he is 15 years into retirement, in Ottawa, after a 35-year career in

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ounce gold project in the Dominican Republic. Tim Terceira (D 75) wrote that there had been lots of family milestones. His youngest daughter married and had a beautiful baby girl.

He has already visited them twice in Bermuda and they are on their way for a third time! His eldest daughter joined his most recent hotel (prior to retiring) as Director of luxury travel and he couldn’t be more proud of her.

He is doing some consulting/ advisory work and still continues to enjoy retirement. He and Karen hope to visit the UK - and Oundle - in the fall and also spend time with John and Sarah Mellor.

Peter Leach (StA 63) continues to be very active in the swimming world. He and his team broke three Canadian records last year. Not bad for old timers! In July, he plans to swim a 3 km open water race across the Ottawa river. This is both a charity event and an internationally recognised open water race. Chris de Gara (D 72) confirms that life is slower in retirement. He has downsized from a six bedroom house to a two bedroom condo on the 12th floor of a 35 floor apartment block.

Pickleball and racquetball are main sources of entertainment. He has just completed his third book (final edits to complete). OOs may want to check them out on Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/TastesEurope-Surgeons-Approach Don Mertens (G 57) has not much to report this year, but is still very active, cycling outdoors daily and doing resistance training three times a week. He enjoys spending time with family on a regular basis: his eldest grandson is doing a PhD at University of Toronto in medical imaging, and his second son who works for the federal government has just completed an MBA part time with the Royal Military College.

Alan Willis (C 58) wrote in confirming the excellent OO dinner.

He and his wife visited Nigel Napier-Andrews (Sc 59) and his wife in their new home in Niagara on the Lake in November and were treated to afternoon tea with scones and champagne. Nigel does things well! On a different topic,

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Alan reminds us that OOs resident in Canada are permitted, in fact encouraged, to make tax-deductible donations to Oundle School through The British Schools Foundation, a CRA-recognized Canadian charity established a few years ago in collaboration with four other schools.

Nigel Rudolf (S 75) is still alive and kicking in Montreal. Despite being past retirement age, he is still working until his youngest child gets through school and finishes university. His wife of 23 years and both boys (aged 21 and 17) are in fine health. Twin brother Chris Rudolf (S 76), who has lived and worked in Salt Lake City for a number of years, retired last year and is also in good health. David Hemmings (Sn 64) is still living in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Having finished his term as president of the local historical society and museum, and written and published a dozen history books, he has now successfully completed the finding of birth parents using DNA analysis for more than 25 retired adoptees over the past eight years. This service has only been possible since 2008 when such work became financially feasible. As a proud grandfather, he reports that his 13 year old grandson was selected to play on the Canadian team in an international ice hockey tournament at Bled, Slovenia in July 2023. He is also a straight A student.

Iain Smith (C 56) says his update is “almost a repeat of previous years”, with an important twist. Once again, his winter was spent skiing at Silver Star in British Columbia, where he managed to match his age by skiing on 85 days, but then had to quit in mid-March for scheduled cataract surgery, which has vastly improved

his vision. Last year he got his first hole-in-one but couldn’t see the ball actually disappear into the hole!

The golfing challenge is of course to match or better one’s age, which he managed last year. After 39 years in the same house, they have just completed a move into a smaller and more manageable one. In the process of doing so, they’ve got rid of a huge amount of “stuff” which had inevitably accumulated over the years. On a sad note, he lost his old study-mate Sir Alan Budd (C 55) early this year. They had been exchanging emails until just a few days before his sudden passing. An exceptionally talented friend.

Nigel Napier-Andrews (Sc 59) welcomed Alan Willis (StA 58) and Mary to their new home in Niagaraon-the-Lake for tea and home-made scones, the recipe for which is in Nigel’s new cookbook Simplifood: great food simply prepared now available on Amazon for those with an e-reader.

It’s his fourth cookbook. He and Diane made a brief trip to England in April and were able to connect with several old School House pals. Alastair Shaw (Sc 59) and Judy were returning from a visit to Norfolk and, since they were driving past his South Yorkshire doorstep on their way back from the wilds of West Yorks, dropped in for a cuppa and a chat. David Ewing (Sc 60) and Sheila moved to a nearby town last year and met him for a most enjoyable pub lunch. Then, while on a visit to see his daughter in Chipping Norton, prevailed on Richard Bailey (Sc 60), Mike Ross (Sc 59) and Jill to drive from their respective bases in Oxford and Bradford-upon-Avon for a long and liquid pub lunch.

Altogether a trio of outstanding

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reunions, memorialized by each one autographing a copy of the School House reunion page of last year’s OO Magazine and sending it to the School Archivist.

Peter Bubenzer (D 75) sent a note to say that he is still amongst the living, enjoying life in British Columbia. He and his wife have joined a local Rotary Club which has kept them busy, as the Club has significant fundraising activity.

After five years living here full time, they still marvel at the beauty of

Vancouver Island, and are so very thankful to be able to live here. John Foster (Sc 51) writes from Kingston, Ontario. Venturing forth after the Covid pandemic, he and his wife Millie were delighted to see family and friends in Ontario, British Columbia and England. In London, they visited his brother Robert Foster (Sc 61) who was holding a Big O birthday celebration. John continues his interest in petroleum geopolitics (China, Russia, US, Nord Stream and more), writing articles and

giving talks. Details are in his blog johnfosterwrites.com.

Your correspondent is still living in Calgary, the oil and gas capital of Canada, and enjoying the elevated oil prices and a beautiful summer. Son, Mack, works with the Ministry of Defence as a civilian. He spent nine months in Estonia but is now back in central London. Daughter, Lindsay, will be delivering a first grandchild in October, a boy. Very exciting. She still works for ExxonMobile and husband Matt works for BP, both in Calgary.

Central and Eastern Europe ■ Jan J. Kluk OBE FRSA (LS 56)

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his is the type of news that we live with on a regular basis: according to the Mariupol City Hall, there were 2600 residential buildings in the city. 1356 of them no longer exist. If we imagine that about 30-50 people were hiding in each building, then the number of dead is tens of thousands. By the end of March alone, 20,000 people had died. “It wasn’t a war, that’s not how the military should fight.

Those who came to Mariupol came with the intention of killing us all,” said Natalia, who lives there, in an interview with Anastasia Oleksiyenko, a journalist from the Polish magazine Wprost.

My wife and I spend our free time trying to help Ukrainian refugees who have no home to which they can return. Most are families that have

been split up. Wives, children and grandmothers are the most common type of group we help. The adult male members have either been recruited into the army or, if they are older, have stayed to try to salvage whatever may have been left by the invading Russian forces. “They loot, rape and torture,” said Svetlana, who owns a corner shop in a small town.

She is in Poland with her daughter and 3-year-old granddaughter. We have managed to find her a job in a factory.

We connect with nine families who need help with administrative matters, schooling, and medical issues. Very often young children are traumatized. Most of them only speak Russian and Ukrainian. “My children have nightmares, they wake up in the night screaming and

shaking with fear,” says Tatiana, a young mother.

I am sorry that I can’t bring you good news whilst we wait to see what happens with the Wagner Group in Belarus. Poland is constantly being threatened by Belarus and Russia. There are about one and a half million Ukrainian war refugees living in Poland. It is difficult to believe that this is happening in 2023.

Continental Europe ■ Jim Bennett (N 77)

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obin Apthorpe (S 59) writes to say that he enjoyed the OO Sunshine club lunch at the RAC club in December, ably organised by Gavin Choyce (N 61).

In April he came over to the UK to

fly a dual control Mk1x Spitfire at Duxford. Thence on to Lincoln where Robin and his wife were cordially entertained by John Dickson (Sc 60) and Anne on John’s large arable estate. Lastly John

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also attended the Lincoln’s Inn OO lawyers’ dinner, where he met the Head, Tim Piper (B 57), Hugh Brass (D 67), Brian Pettifer (S 54) and Giles Harrison-Hall (Sc 70).

Richard Byworth (StA 94) emails to say that his son Jack has just completed his first year in the Berrystead and has already reserved him a place in StA for his third year onwards. Jack was made captain of the rugby team in his first year, much to his father’s pleasure.

Richard moved to Switzerland after 18 years in Asia,where he has become a managing partner of Syz Capital, specialising in Crypto Hedge funds – Bitcoin is his passion. He meets fellow OOs Rick Dunn (Sn 94) and Nick Ackerman (StA 94) on regular visits to London.

Jeremy Cross (Sn 63) is in the third year of his interregnum as Chaplain of Christ Church Brittany.

He sings in a forty strong English / French choir, which his wife runs, and they both play in a hand bells ensemble. Robert Elderkin (N 94) is still working for the UN in Tanzania, prosecuting genocide crimes. They have been there for two years and probably have another year to go before the next move. He says it’s a wonderful environment in which to bring up their three boys as well as enjoy adventures themselves. His current side project is to find and restore an old Landrover of which there seems to be an abundance, all in terrible condition.

Neil Everitt (Sn 78) is still happily based in Dublin, where they welcomed their first grandchild, Oscar, in November last year. His father Edward Everitt (Sn 63) is also doing well and is very much enjoying his new found status as a great grandfather. David Griffith (B 72) stopped working as an International Health Consultant in March 2022 and has not regretted it for a moment. He and his wife have more time together: they were in Egypt for three weeks before Christmas and in India for four weeks in late winter. Their granddaughter is now 15 months old and they have the time to entertain her too!

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Florian Henn (C 07) enjoys being back in his home town of Munich, where he works as a strategy consultant. At weekends he enjoys the ‘Dolce Vita’ in what some people call Italy’s most northern city.

Jon Ingall (StA 74) has moved to mainland France after 12 incredible years living and working on the beautiful island of Corsica. It was a logistical nightmare moving all their belongings along with three cars, a motorbike, five cats and a dog to the Dordogne but they made it!

Malcolm Llewellyn (Sc 60) manages to keep up with the House group that assembled in Oundle two years ago. Of that group Painton Cowan (Sc 61) lives near Paris and David Ewing (Sc 60),the brilliant mathematician, has now returned to Liverpool from the South of France. He goes on to say that the excitement of seeing a First VIII rowing blazer at a Goodwood party was shortlived as it turned out to be borrowed. Cord Matthies (N 77) still keeps in touch with Malcolm Brown (N 80) and his brother Peter Matthies (N 81) who lives in California. Cord is working for a start up company tackling the global plastic problem by the chemical reconversion of polymers into synthetic oils that can serve as feedstock for the chemical industry.

His son went to Glenalmond in Perthshire and is now studying Architecture in Aachen.

Denis Miller (S68) is still living in Taunus which is a ten minute walk from the forest and within easy reach of Frankfurt, Mainz and Weisbaden. He joined a local philosophy discussion group and was persuaded to take over organising it, unGermanically without an official title, so no one has to address him as ‘Herr Vorsitzender’ or Herr President.

Christophe Pain (Sn 52) writes to say that spring 2023 has been a bad period for himself and his wife. In March he had a lengthy spell in hospital with dysphagia and in May his wife fell and broke her thigh. Ingram Quentin (StA 64) is now an infrequent visitor to the Cern collider site where he is now

only employed 10-12% of the time.

He went there for one day last July and managed to catch Covid. His time is spent venturing outside Switzerland now that there is no risk of getting trapped abroad in quarantine.

Nigel Sharpe (N 73) now lives in Brittany where he owns and runs his own software company. He has yet to retire. He is in regular contact his brother Julian Sharpe (N 71).

It has been a quiet year for Peter Suddards (S 52) whose wife has been suffering with back pain which they are struggling to get sorted out.

He lost two close friends last year – Neil Slingsby (N 53) and Willy John Shelton (S 50) and recently Mike Robertson (B 52) also passed away. Their son Nik has now retired from his post as the king of Bhutan’s pilot and has moved to Spain. For those who know Peter, he is still running his 1988 Volvo 745 TD with 602,000 kms on the clock. It has just passed its MOT needing only two front shock absorbers.

Giles Woodbridge (B 84) continues to run his ski business in the French Alps. They have three British/French sons. The eldest Charlie (18) is the current French Alpine ski champion, Sebastien (16) is the current French ski jumping champion and Johnny (14) is the current junior French Alpine ski champion – so busy on all fronts!

As for myself , I attended a moving memorial service for Roger Freebairn in May in the School Chapel, after which the class of N 77 gathered in The Talbot in the company of Christiane Freebairn and Tony Newman, our Tutor, to catch up and re-live our New House days. My daughter, Katie, got married last week to her Aussie, Zach Wilson, in our local church with 49 guests travelling for the occasion from Melbourne. Lastly, I recently attended the book launch of my brother Charlie Bennett’s (N 84) first book Down the Rabbit Hole at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle.

He describes it as The Misadventures of an unlikely Naturalist – well worth a read – available at www.charliebennetauthor.co.uk

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Hong Kong ■ Mark Reeves (C 80)

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ichael Kardel (N 84) retired in August 2020, and, after 22 years in Singapore, he and Eva returned to Hong Kong. From time to time he sees Richard Jones (LS 83) and also keeps in touch with Mark Petersen (G 84), who is now living in Bangkok. The other day he had an email from Jimmy Burton (N 84), who had attended the memorial service for Roger Freebairn together with Charlie Bennet (N 84). Those who are in touch from New House were all very sad to hear that Roger had passed. ‘He was a very kind and fair man and we were extremely fortunate to have him as our Housemaster.’

Christopher Riggs (S 80) still

works for the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), sharing his time between projects to help develop veterinary care of the horse in mainland China and establishing the HKJC Equine Welfare Research Foundation as a global entity.

Jeremy Bolland (D 79), who the writer Mark Reeves (C 80) sees regularly for meals, writes that he and Connie were privileged to join the excellent Berlin history tour in May 2023 led by Alan Midgley.

Jeremy Pong (Ldr 83) had a couple of rounds of golf with Tim Linton (S 63), Mark Reeves and Jeremy Bolland during the Covid lockdown. James Hui (Sc 06) treated him, James Choi (C 06) and Mark Reeves to lunch at the

Jean May restaurant, whose owner and head chef is Tiffany Lo (N 01).

Tiffany’s brother, Ramon (G 00) took part in a TV singing competition called ‘Midlife Sing & Shine.’ He was the second runner up and is now quite a famous singer in the local pop scene.

Indonesia and The Philippines ■ Simon Reynolds (Sn 02)

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ichard M Evans (Ldr 59) is still happily retired and juggles life between his house in Jakarta and his peaceful mountain villa in Puncak (Cimacan), which he acquired in 2003, on the slopes of Gunung Gede and Gunung Pangrango, which has been a welcome refuge from Jakarta’s infamous traffic and pollution over the years. Clearly enjoying his life in Indonesia, Richard has no plans to return to the UK and is currently negotiating another 5-year extension to his residential permit.

I continue my work as the Business Development Manager for our family business: Reynolds Partnership, a construction cost management and QS Consultancy.

After a quiet few years due to the pandemic, we carry on optimistically, as the local economy begins to pick up momentum, especially with hotels, tourism

and infrastructure projects. With a growing middle-class and a large proportion of the country’s 270 million population below 30 years of age, this is a very exciting time to live and work in the region.

I married in July this year and Vina and I are planning a visit to the UK in late November to catch up with friends from Oundle and university days. It will be Vina’s first visit to the UK, so we are very excited about the upcoming trip. I continue to enjoy golf, hiking and birdwatching in my leisure time.

There are several expat golf societies: JAWS, DOGS and TEESET, all painstakingly run by passionate committees in Jakarta, which allow golfers to enjoy the great golf courses here. Hiking in Indonesia really is amazing and, located on the southern edge of the ‘Ring of Fire’ from Aceh, the western tip of Indonesia to the most eastern

point in Papua, there are currently 274 Ribus, plus 132 Special Peaks across the archipelago. A ‘Ribu’ is a prominent mountain summit with at least 1,000 metre elevation drop all around. That is, a mountain with a topographic prominence of 1,000 metres or more. ‘Specials’ are of special interest, albeit less than 1,000 metres high in prominence, but are exciting because of their volcanic activity and great historical interest, like Anak Krakatau which is a mere

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157 metres high.

In December 2022 I summitted Gunung Salak in West Java and in March 2023 I summitted Gunung Moncong Lompobatang in South Sulawesi bagging, my 20th and 21st Gunungs in Indonesia. Moncong Lompobatang was my fourth hike leading a group with Java Lava.

It gives me great pleasure leading these trips. Java Lava is simply an informal group of like-minded enthusiasts who enjoy climbing mountains and Java Lava stands for the idea of bringing people together who enjoy nature, mountains and adventure. I’m looking forward to hiking Gunung Ciremai, the highest Volcano in West Java, at 3,078m in July this year. Hiking volcanoes on Java is a magical experience: Alfred Russell Wallace was on to something.

If any OOs are visiting the region and share similar interests please do not hesitate to get in touch.

New Zealand ■ Charles Salem (C 78)

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ohn Seiffert (D 54), is now 88 and “feeling it.” He had spoken to John Winder (StA 58), a few days prior to writing, who commented, “we all had a good group in previous years, but now have no contact with OOs at all. Shame, because we all liked to meet up at either at the club in Auckland (The Northern Club), or a good vineyard restaurant. John Winder says he can no longer come to Auckland, and we have both lost touch with Jon Monk (B 76) and Jack Hurst (Sn 44)” He goes on to say that, apart from the newsletter and the OO magazine, he feels a lack of connectivity with Oundle now, “it is too long ago, and I can never go back there to have a look!”

Bill Heffernan (Sn 81) writes that the year has flown by so fast that he has so far failed to make the trip to UK via Hong Kong that he threatened last year! He still lives in Lyttelton, (the port of Christchurch), and carries out

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electrical engineering research at the University of Canterbury, aided and abetted by a small team of engineers and a larger group of postgraduate students. Such spare time as is available is taken up developing his Pinetum in Canterbury’s Malvern Hills (nine years in the making so far) or playing music with the inimitable (fortunately) Transparent Skills Matrix.

John Ashworth (B 67) is looking forward to summer and hopes that it is not as smoky as last year. Neil Hollebone (D 60) underwent open heart surgery in October and promptly moved house in December! Sadly, none of the family wanted any of the 40 years of accumulated treasures. This year has been so wet that he hasn’t used the irrigation on the garden. This has meant (even more sadly) that the rivers have been unfishable for most of the year. Then in February along came Cyclone Gabrielle. And there is no improvement in his golf.

John Winder (StA 58), at 83, is showing some signs of wear and tear!

He sees Mark Collet (C 53) from time to time, when he calls in Marton to see mutual friends. He has several books on Oundle, which he will make available to any OOs who want them.

These are A School for all Seasons (2005), And we were Young (2017), A History of the Oundle Schools by Willie Walker (1956) and Portrait of Oundle (1959), Oundle and the English Public School by Raymond Flower (1989).

Thank you all for taking the trouble to write in and I look forward to hearing more news, same time next year!

NEWS FROM ABROAD

Other News from Abroad Iberia -

David Elliott-Binns (StA 75) I have now lived in South East Spain with my wife Gilly for 21 years. I run a local birdwatching group and help to run the village Foodbank, which supports about forty families in the area.

Middle East -

Dr John William (StA 62) Israel has three OOs from St Anthony.

Ernest Winocour (StA 46) still consults at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot. John Williams (StA 62) promotes his ‘Apocalypse Secrets’ book from Haifa. His son Dan Williams (StA 90) is a busy Reuters correspondent in Jerusalem.

Japan -

Ben Shearon (S 96) has now retired from formal work as of 2022 and is

trying to figure out what to do with himself every day. He still runs the Retire Japan website and community, is bad at Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wants to do some long walks in the near future.

USA -

Keith Johnson (N 49) is happy to report no changes, except getting older: ‘I left the City of London some 46 years ago and, Making The San Fernando Valley My Home as the song has it, took up residence in Studio City, a suburb of Los Angeles.

My daughter, a surgeon, and son, an electrical engineer, ensure that enquiries about my health and desktop computer problems are answered promptly. Felicity, my wife, ensures that I stick around.

I still enjoy keeping up with the changes that have taken place since

my time at school.’ Bob Hainsworth (S 59) is still battling liver cancer and very grateful for all the letters and phone calls wishing him well.

His four grandchildren give him great joy and last year he was able to see his three bothers - all OOs - at a family wedding in England.

Despite some weakening, I still enjoy working on my rental properties, as I have for 43 years, and rowing on Menifee Lake.

Caribbean -

David Hutchinson (N 55) is carrying on in Colombia. Now eighty but still fit and busy with banking, farming and crude oil production.

Rory O’Kelly-Lynch (S 10) is playing with the Bermuda 7s rugby team. We were placed 3rd in the Mexico City RAN tournament in 2022 and qualified for the 2023 CAC (Central American and Caribbean) games this year in El Salvador.

 David on the left at a Coronation breakfast in Bogota

 Rory O’Kelly-Lynch, centre, with teammates at the CAC games

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Marriages

Nicky Yianni and Naomi Elizabeth Kanava

Leonora (D 10) and Edward Forrest-Brown

· Holly Wake (L 09) and Michael Outar (L 06) were married on 5th August 2023. · Alice Weightman (W 92) married Charles Yardley on 2 July 2022 at their home in Northumberland - Glanton Pyke · Madeleine Weightman (K 91) married Charles Bankes on 24 December 2022 at Alice and Charles’s home.

Captain Angus Irvine and Dr Seun Olubodun

· Alice Young (Sn 11) married Julius Carrell (G 11) on 17th June 2023 in Brent Pelham. · Nicky Yianni and Naomi Elizabeth Kanava were married on 27 May 2023 at Oundle School Chapel.

Births

Lily Ophelia Kanava Yianni

Bonnie May Cliff with uncle Merwe Genis

Annie and Leo Ashman with their grandparents

· To Caroline Chamberlain (Holroyde, Sn 05) and Andrew, a son, Ranulph William Victor, born on 31 December 2022. A younger brother for Ferdinand. · To Imogen Rogers (Holroyde, D 08) and Jacob, a daughter, Annabel Freya, born on 3 February 2023. · To Sophie Cliff (Wake, L 07) and Geoff, a daughter, Bonnie May, born on 9 August 2022. · To Chloë Ashman (Wake, L 05) and Benjamin, a daughter, Annie Doris, born on 1 December 2022.

· To Thomas Hoyle (Sc 03) and Amy, a son, Hugo Philip, born on 8 Feb 2023. · To Charlotte Charlesworth (Cubitt, K 09) and Edward, a daughter, Flora Lucy, born on 29 September 2022, sister to Harry. · To James Cubitt (G 10) and El, a son, Wilbur Thomas Owbridge, born on 10 April 2023. · To Tom Miller (Ldr 07) and Lucy, a daughter, Annabel Isla Rose, born on 17 March 2023 · To William Crone (C 07) and his wife,

a son, Ivo, born in November 2021 · To Harry Moule (B 07) and Louisa, a son, Lochlan James, born on 3 April 2022. · To Suzanne Korff (Owen, K 00) and Alex, a daughter, Zara Heidi Merlin, on 3 February 2023. · To Richard Pentecost (StA 05) and Sophie, a son, Charlie James, born on 16 October 2022. · To Nicky Yianni (Club Secretary) and Naomi Elizabeth Kanava a daughter, Lily Ophelia Kanava Yianni, on 16 December 2022.

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FEATURE

Twenty Years On ■ Simon Adler (G) collects news from his contemporaries FISHER

GRAFTON

Matt Austin continues to dominate both European equity markets and London city pubs alike, is currently a senior equities trader at UBS and lives in South London. James Davies, part time TV celebrity, part time Private Equity director, is engaged to be married, and lives in South London. Josh Wareham lives with his wife in Berlin where he is a professional DJ and part of supergroup The Ghost. James Russell lives in Paris, where he spends his time reading Descartes, eating croissants and occasionally trading interest rate derivatives for Bank of America. Angus Allan welcomed his first child in 2020 and, when not in Bishkek eating the famed Kyrgyzstan kebabs, can be found working in supply chain management solutions in SW London. Chris Parker is a partner at Man Group, where he has worked almost uninterrupted for 15 years, and is married with two kids and a Range Rover, living in West London. James Hay runs his family agriculture business in Suffolk and is a regular at Lords during the cricket season. Dave Owen is Senior First Officer at Etihad Airways, located in the UAE but frequently at an airport hotel near you. ShingBong Chan lives in Hong Kong with his wife and child (and a second on the way). James Walter took his medical degree to sunnier climates, now living and working as a doctor in Sydney, Australia.

Nick Ryder, once a yoga instructor, now aspiring Tour de France cyclist, lives in London with his wife and child. Andrew Charlton gained a PhD from Oxford before moving into consultancy; he now lives in Richmond.

Alexander Dragonetti - I am living in London, working as a management consultant. I previously lived overseas for 7 years, working as a diplomat in Palestine, Pakistan and Nigeria on peace building and human rights, and Ireland running a royal visit. Before that, I worked as a Teach First teacher in a north London school, learning to control naughty children (if you define naughty as a full time school policeman and one of his kids attempting to mug him outside the school). I remain in close touch with Simon Adler, who tries his best to get him and others in Grafton into ‘fun’ situations (like a standoff with Israeli security forces), Ed Wickstead, who talks his way out of them, and Harry Packshaw, who likes to tell the story afterwards.

Harry Packshaw - After leaving Exeter university in 2007, I moved back to London to work in advertising at OMD, where I met my wife. We married in 2017 and have since moved to Wallington in south London with our two wonderful, yet exhausting, children Theo (3) and Chloe (1). I still manage to find time for the original love of my life,

S Harry Packshaw (G)

Fulham FC and regularly get to Craven Cottage with my brother Ed (G 05). I still meet up with fellow Graftonians, though probably not as much as we should, given how much we laugh (mostly at each other) whenever we do. I also see a string of Suffolk OOs including Henry Reid (F 04), as well as multiple Creasys and Fletchers when we are all back visiting family.

Will Helm - Still unsure whether I ever actually ‘graduated’ from Oundle, I moved back to the US in 2003 where I studied Economics at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

After graduating (properly this time!)

I worked at Vanguard for 14 years as a portfolio manager and trader. In 2018, I married Alexis in a chateau in the Dordogne and we now live in New York. I completed an MBA at Columbia Business School and worked for a short stint at Global X ETFs. More recently, I have started working at Goldman as a portfolio manager.

Please free to reach out if you’re ever in the city - drinks are on me!

Evan Cheah - After a BSc in Economics at York, I returned to Kuala Lumpur in a junior role at Citi Investment Research, before moving

S Evan Cheah (G)

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FEATURE

to Aberdeen Asset Management Malaysia. I stayed for 8 years, moving from my initial role as a Research Analyst to Investment Manager. At roughly the same time, I married my lovely wife, Jasmine, and we now hove two hyperactive boys, Adam (7) and Owen (4). In late 2019, I decided to change course and start a company of my own. Unfortunately, with the pandemic things haven’t gone quite as planned. Instead I’ve mostly been taking care of the kids along with exploring some of those old passions ignited during my time at Oundle, like singing and performing. Recently, things have changed again and we moved to Mexico City where my wife was posted. We can’t wait to start our new adventure as a family. Do look me up if you are ever in Mexico.

Chris Morris - It probably wasn’t that long after the 10 year update when I met my now wife Giorgia.

I’ve learned that ‘Italian’ and ‘lawyer’ are quite a combination when it comes to domestic decision making!

The combination of an 18 month delayed house move and then Covid delayed the big day a bit, but was worth the wait in 2021. We’re living in west London and spending time in the Cotswolds. I got into sailing, windsurfing and a little bit of kitesurfing after school - this resulted in work in Australia and the Med and then several years of offshore racing after that, with my claim to fame being an unplanned cameo in a Rolex advert. More recently, after a 15 year absence I restarted playing cricket the break has not made me any better.

Work wise, I went into the City after university and now spend most of my time investing in technology businesses in private equity.

graduated in History. I interned with antiquarian bookselling firm Maggs Bros., then in Berkeley Sq., before moving round the corner to Heywood Hill where I spent six years becoming part of the Edwardian fixtures and fittings. Started my own rare book business in 2016 - feeding customers’ reading habits, sourcing rare and out of print material and curating private libraries and collections. It is a weird and wonderful world. Kept up the cricket for a while - though this has been on the wane despite the best efforts of friends. Bought a flat in south London in 2021 after many jammy years spent in SW1. Presently unattached, though this doesn’t have to be a lonely hearts ad... or does it?! I often think of Mr. Burrows’ moustache and remember being very drunk with Mr. Pedley at the Oval in 2018 when Jimmy Anderson passed Glenn McGrath’s test record.

James Parker - I went straight to Edinburgh, graduating in 2007 and then qualifying as a lawyer with Allen & Overy. After 10 eventful years working in mergers and acquisitions, I jumped out to complete an Executive MBA at Cambridge and co-founded a transactional insurance company based in London. I married an old Uppinghamian in 2016 and Joanna and I have since moved with our three girls (Sophia (5), Jools (4) and Nina (2)) from London to Suffolk.

We still continue to see a good number of OOs largely from amongst the 02 and 03 leavers.

S Simon Adler (G) Chris Morris (G)

Ben Scott - After 7 months in South Africa teaching and travelling, I went to Lancaster University and

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Simon Adler - Am living near Petersfield with my wife Hannah and two kids - Barney (4) and Rosie (2) trying to adapt to the countryside, which frankly can never be a match

for central Norwich. Still doing plenty of sailing, although now it’s mostly taking the family across Bembridge harbour for an ice cream! Somehow Schroders continue to employ me as a fund manager, which, along with a young family I blame for my stylish, monk modelled, bald patch and increasingly grey beard. Beyond family and work, I’ve mostly added to my waistline and not improved my downward dog despite an embarrassing amount of classes. Still see a reasonable amount of Oundle people from Grafton plus various others from Norwich, Edinburgh and more recently Bembridge. Plus JP texts me every other year when he wants something!

Alex Cassels - I spent the majority of the first ten years after school studying for various degrees in archaeology at the University of Sheffield, culminating in a PhD focusing on dress and identity in medieval England. During this time I got to present at national and international conferences, whilst spending the summers playing around in the dirt at various medieval sites in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Since graduating I have been working in the commercial archaeology sector as a heritage consultant, initially with Wessex Archaeology and for the past 6 years at Ecus, a multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy. I’m currently living in Sheffield with my wife Ros and our son Luke, born last summer. We take advantage of our proximity to the Peak District as much as possible and try and get down to the Suffolk Coast at least once a year. I’m still playing cricket badly, but with just enough occasional moments of competency to justify carrying on. It’s given me the privilege of playing in various fantastic settings - notably the tea plantations of Sri Lanka. Try and get to a test match as often as I can, usually Trent Bridge or Old Trafford, and still occasionally get to a Stevenage game.

Ed Wickstead - After graduating from Exeter, I joined the Teach First

FEATURE

scheme in 2008 and have remained in teaching ever since. I initially worked in a school in Lewisham, where I survived for 7 years, before moving to Dulwich College in 2015 a much more convivial place to work.

My current role is focussed on the pastoral/behaviour side of school life, but I’m yet to bring ‘SMP’ or ‘Green Cards’ (for those who remember them) to South London. I live in East Dulwich with my wife, Amy, whom I met at university, and our two boys - Toby (4) and Raffy (2). I still play a bit of tennis and do some running, neither particularly well.

Ben Wells - After Exeter university and a year in Strasbourg, I moved to Birmingham to work with UCCF – a charity that supports Christian Union students in making the life changing message of Jesus known on their campuses. I then worked for Birmingham City University’s research department, before studying Theology at Oak Hill College.

Since then, I am delighted to have returned north as Associate Vicar at St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s in Selly Park, Birmingham. I am married to Rachel and in my free time I enjoy Parkrun, films, sourdough baking, and all things Exeter Chiefs.

John Harries - After leaving school earlier than anticipated, it was ‘fore’ the best that I gained a Business degree at Kingston University and then a Golf Management degree (basically a glorified greenkeeper) from Birmingham University. After having a ‘rough’ time of it on the course and spending a little too much time ‘par-tee’ing, there was no ‘fairway’ to heaven and my dreams of becoming a pro golfer never quite materialised. My golfing friend‘chip’ with Josh Shinner and James Browning was very much a case of ‘green’ there and done that, and I couldn’t ‘put(t)’ up with seeing them both playing better than me.

In 2013, I moved to Australia where I completed another (!) degree – an MBA in Business Administration and started working for Challenge Community Services to help provide people-focussed services to those with

a disability. I am now the co-founder of TherapyNow – a charity aiming to close the therapy gap for people with a disability – and Managing Partner at Empathia Group, where I am focussed on assisting NDIS providers to grow and thrive.

LAUNDIMER Matthew Chamberlain is married to Hayley, a teacher at Loughborough High School, and they live with their children Beatrice (5) and Ava (3) in Quorn. He works for Rolls-Royce Aerospace, bringing new technologies into the build line. Outside of work he races sports prototype cars that he designs and builds, and is mostly found at race circuits around the UK. Paul Colley lives in Aldgate with his wife, Faye, in a house they renovated together but feels like it will never quite be finished. He works in finance for a Lloyd’s syndicate and, when he’s not enduring the purgatory of watching Tottenham Hotspur, he can be found on the padel courts of East London. Peter Morton is married to Emilia, a singer and university sweetheart, and they live with their children Inigo (7) and Beatrice (3) in Malvern. He enjoys teaching English and umpiring cricket at Malvern College and spending time with his family. He still sings professionally from time to time. Christopher Orton is a consultant respiratory physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital, specialising in lung cancer and interventional bronchoscopy. Married to Natalie, he lives in Wimbledon with sons William (7) and Alexander (5). His interests include early-stage human clinical trials, robotics, and coaching under 7s rugby. Gregory Pearson was ordained a Catholic priest in 2013. After ministering in a parish in north London and then pursuing further studies in Rome, he is currently based in his Order’s priory in Cambridge, where his main responsibility is the selection and training of new Dominican friars. His interest in Slavic languages continues, and has finally found a practical use this year, helping Ukrainian refugees arriving in Cambridge. Nopananta Pradistsuwana is currently living

in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife, Chatwadee. They have been married for a little over a year. He is a member of the Executive Committee at Osotspa PCL, an FMCG company founded by his mother’s family, and has recently taken up golf as a hobby. Peter Robson has lived an adventurous life since leaving Oundle. From training as a skiing and diving instructor, to qualifying as a physiotherapist and a chartered surveyor. He lived in Hong Kong and Sydney for six years, working in property and playing competitive rugby, before returning to the UK where he settled in London as a property developer after a stint of farming in Northumberland. Pete is the current world record holder for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in a rowing boat! Felix Sloman lives in Stonely, not too far from Oundle, with his wife Laura, and their two children Magnus (6) and Mabel (5). Benji Waterhouse is a doctor specialising in psychiatry. Outside of the NHS he’s a comedian, and will be performing at the Pleasance Courtyard throughout August if anyone’s going to the Edinburgh Festival. His first book, You Don’t Have to Be Mad to Work Here, is being published by Vintage in Spring 2024 and adapted for television by BBC Studios. He lives with his partner in London.

KIRKEBY Stephanie Chaplin - Having lived in Brooklyn for ten years, I moved back to Cambridge in 2021 to be closer to family. I run a textile design studio (Caroline Z Hurley), have two kids, Frank (4.5) and Lenny (1.5) and am renovating our home so life keeps me busy. I’m also a trained lactation counsellor and have a mad idea to set up postpartum community centres for new parents needing support. It’s a work in progress. I see Alice Ream (W 04) every week for a walk and a coffee in Cambridge and Asha Burchett whenever I can make it to London.

Emily Churchill - I left Oundle a little

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FEATURE

more than 20 years ago, but that’s another story… In my 20s, I spent almost 3 years (not consecutively) in India, South East Asia, Australia, Fiji and Malta working on organic farms and sustainable building projects.

I was a little late to the party and did my undergrad at UCL studying Project Management in Construction as a mature student. I now have two companies: a construction-focused project management consultancy, and a recently founded, sustainability consultancy focused on FMCG. I am now studying for an Executive MBA. Equipped with the lessons learnt from a somewhat difficult time at school, I mentor girls aged 15-18 from disadvantaged backgrounds, giving them a greater understanding of the professional world, a strategic toolbox with which to organise, and the confidence to achieve professional goals. I live in London with my partner and our little white fluffy, all form no function pooch, Udon, in East London. I am still a keen netballer and fumbling squash player - if anyone wants a game please get in touch! I still see the truly glorious Emma Godfrey and have recently reconnected with Annabel Campbell (Greene) who has become my city break travel companion.

helping young people find a sense of fulfilment through self-actualisation.

I have a passion for improvements to the health and education systems.

Georgie Grimsdell (Parker) - How life has changed in 20 years. I’m living in the Lincolnshire Wolds with my husband and children, Poppy 4 and Freddie 18 months. I graduated from Northumbria with a First in Rural Estate Management and went to work at Savills for 10 years but left after the little ones arrived and now work part time doing farm accounts.

Life got in the way and I lost touch with everyone but would love love love to see everyone again.

Alice Maclean (Amies) - In 2014 I left the bright lights of London for a simpler life in the Scottish Highlands, and in 2015 met Ruaraidh, now my husband, and we have three lovely children (Roddy 6, Clare 3, Lando 1).

In 2022 we decided to return to the bright lights (nearly) and now live in Hampshire. I’ve pressed pause on my career in executive search to spend more time with the little ones and have recently become a governor at our local C of E primary school.

S Alice Amies (K)

S Emily Churchill (K)

Louisa Compton - I live in London, still see Alice Amies and am a subconscious healer, which is a type of therapist that deals with clearing imbalances from people’s subconscious energy field. I also work with kids and youth for various charities. I am interested in

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Jo Marland-Waterhouse - After studying Art History, I lived in London, working in the museum sector for a while before moving on to study ceramics. In 2018 I set up my own studio producing wheelthrown, functional ceramics, and, until 2021, I was largely designing and making tableware for restaurants and shops. I did a lot of teaching too. Moving to the countryside with a young family means finding a slightly different business model so that’s what I’m working on now. I met Josh (S 07) in London about 10

S Jo Marland and Tizi Dominguez (K)

years ago, and we got married in the summer of 2020 in my parents’ garden (a lockdown special with a congregation of four). Our son, Finan, is now almost 2. Josh paints portraits while I make pots, so we’ve moved out of the city in the hope of finding more space to live and work. We’re based in Buckinghamshire while we try to figure out where to move to suggestions welcome! I’m happily still in touch with quite a few OOs, most particularly Alice R and Tizi, and others I didn’t know at school through Josh.

Marina Inoue - Life beyond Oundle has taken a number of twists and turns, but in short: in my gap year I volunteered in an orphanage in Mongolia where I met my husband of 14 years, Chris, a secondary school history teacher and a keen hockey player. I still remember writing home from school to my parents saying that history and sport were my least favourite subjects, yet the universe decided that I would marry someone

S Marina Inoue (K)

FEATURE

who embodied them both! After a foundation course at Oxford Brooks, I went on to a degree in graphic design and visual communications at UAL Camberwell, but have veered into the cultural sector through working in commercial art and screen prints. I am now working in exhibitions at Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, and am settling into life with my energetic daughter Ellen Megumi, who is 6 months.

We have been living in South East London with our disgruntled but still affectionate cat, Roger (female), for over a decade, but who knows where our journey will take us to next.

Alice Ramsay - 20 years since leaving school! Wow! What am I up to now?

Much the same as what I was doing 10 years ago. I’m still a solicitor at the law firm Leigh Day, specialising in employment and discrimination law. I’m living in London with my husband, Christo, and our children, Elijah and Maya. They’re 4 and 2 now.

It’s been a rollercoaster few years but I’m thankful for everything in my life, including my friends and family.

Away from home and work, I feel lucky to be seeing lots of people from school and look forward to catching up with everyone who can go to the reunion later this year. See you there!

Dubai to work for a philanthropic investment fund. I met my husband, Ed (an ex army officer and adventurer), three months later and we now have a daughter (Elodie, 1.5 yrs) and another one on the way in August! We are still living in Dubai and loving the expat lifestyle, but planning to move back soon to be closer to family and friends. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with more old school friends once I’m back. (Photo - Currently in Sri Lanka tuk-tuking around the south coast!)

S Marina Gore Browne (K)

Lucy Sidey (Wordley) - I spent a year in China teaching English, studied Law at Cambridge and rowed in the Boat Race in 2006 and 2007. I joined Linklaters as a trainee solicitor in 2009 and have worked there since. I specialise in structured finance and real estate finance and have recently been elected as a partner of the firm.

I live in north London with my husband, Richard, (an old Rugbeian) and two boys, George (5) and Timothy (3). Most of my spare time is shaped by the favourite activities of my boys (Lego, castles, steam trains...) but I also like to get out on my bike or for a run and to escape to the sunshine in the south of France.

percussion and swimming. We aim to travel as much as possible and experience new places together. Phil Ormrod lives with his wife and three children in Colombia. Chris Morris has ‘new zeal-and home.’

Ben Boon - Since leaving Oundle I studied construction management at Nottingham Trent and met my future wife, Nicky. This led my career down to the Home Counties learning my trade as a residential site manager for the next 6 years. 2012 brought a new job, first house, marriage and starting a new life in West Yorkshire. Since then we built our house overlooking the Moors and raised our two boys, who keep us very busy.

Oliver Simmonds - I am currently living in the South West just outside Bath with my wife, Megan, and two children Pippa (7) and Alex (5). I work as an engineering consultant on a range of maritime projects, specialising in electrical power and propulsion systems. In our spare time we are working to renovate our early Victorian house, which, after 5 years, is almost complete. Tom Wythe lived in Germany for a bit, got blown up in Afghanistan, and has done lots of training all over the world. Found a very niche sport and is now the captain of the army team, Cresta. This means a good few weeks a year in St Moritz. Next job - squadron leading, commanding about 80 people. All fun and games.

LAXTON

S Alice Ramsay and kids (K)

Marina Robinson (Gore Browne) - 20 years, time has flown! I lived in London working in the arts and fashion for about ten years after university and then moved to

John Saunders - For several years now, I have been working in London as a Year 6 Lead, Science coordinator and Student Teacher mentor. My partner, Jenna, and I finally managed to tie the knot last September after several attempts during 2020/21. We have continuous, chaotic joy in the form a wonderful toddler named Hugo, who enjoys exploration,

S Tom Wythe (Lx)

Rosie Downes - After 15 or so years in London I’m now living in Frome, Somerset, with my husband Tom and daughters Cora (3) and Elodie

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(1). We’ve recently set up a creative agency, Studio Quercus. For anyone wondering, my parents (both teachers at Oundle) are also well, and enjoying their retirement by the sea in east Devon.

Katie Townsend (Edwardson) - I live in the Scottish Borders with my husband and three children. We moved up here from Oundle almost 4 years ago. I’m not working at the moment but, before we moved, I spent ten years as the manager of the local library. I’m still in touch with a few of the other Laxton girls and even managed to unexpectedly bump into Natalie Grogan last year at Legoland, which, considering we live in Scotland and she lives in Italy, was unlikely, but it was lovely to catch up. Sara Griffiths went to university to study architecture in Wales, but found that the dragons kept burning down the Welsh buildings so relocated to London where her work was more likely to survive mythical creatures. Later, she met a wonderful pirate called Milo, who shared her love for sharks, beer, old buildings and massive dogs, and they now live happily together in a house which thankfully hasn’t been burnt down by dragons.

Kate Anderson - Malaga, Mel, Barbados, Cambridge, essays, rowing, table football, more essays,

ultramarathon rowing, Sara (wine) Carcassonne, Barbados, fiancée, Stoupa, Mel, 2 pet goldfish. Barclays, wrong turn, policing, much better.

More uni, more essays. Married, Sue, Rambo, Nats, Rosie, Katie, Al, Sara (wine), Mel, Anna, George.

Edinburgh, Sardinia, Germany, Holland, Japan, Morocco. Singing, competitive foosball (who knew this was a thing?), 2 cats. Uni again, more essays. Costa Rica, Detroit, Canada, New Orleans. House in France. 1 cat (four legs). Netball, George, Cassis and kayaking, Mel. Sara... wine.

Marathon running. Gardening.

Portugal, Miami. Night school: plumbing, plastering, woodwork, bricklaying, thankfully no essays.

House move, Anna. Art collecting.

1 cat (now 3 legs). Party, Rosie, Nats, Sara... (wine).

Anna Stevens (Dawson) -After four years in St Andrews, ten in London, and six in Cambridge, I’ve made it back to Oundle, having collected a husband, a one year old son, and a spaniel along the way.

I’m working for an academic charity in Cambridge after ten years in West End theatre production and complaining to anyone who’ll listen that Trendalls’ sandwiches aren’t what they used to be.

Tim Dickinson - After Edinburgh University and a law degree I spent

S Natalie Grogan, Kate Anderson, Rosie Downes, Sara Griffiths and Katie Townsend at Rosie’s wedding (Lx)

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a few years running a news startup in London. Looking for a change of pace, Lucy and I moved to Bristol last year, I founded a digital media company, and we’ve just had our first child - Ophelia.

CROSBY Julian Bertrand - I studied Law at the University of Hertfordshire, and on graduating enrolled on the Legal Practice course at the College of Law. Rather than going straight into the legal profession, I spent time working in sales and account management at a managed hosting and cloud services provider, Firstserv in Docklands. It was around this time that I first met my partner, Robin, at a cocktail bar in Brighton through mutual friends. Realising I wanted to pursue my career in law, I secured a training contract with a traditional high-street law firm in Basingstoke, Clarke & Son LLP. I celebrated the re-start of my legal career by heading off to the Burning Man Festival via San Francisco. After qualifying as a solicitor some two years later, I found a job in Bristol working for Direct Line Group’s new offering, DLG Legal Services.

Once more, I celebrated by heading back to Burning Man, this time travelling via Las Vegas. At this point a role working in-house for Arts Council England became available.

This gave me pause for thought on my current career trajectory. This was a chance for me to contribute to something that has given me so much pleasure over the years, so I decided to pursue this opportunity: I am still thrilled to have joined Arts Council England and to have played a part in the recovery of the creative and cultural sectors following the pandemic. Robin and I have now left Bristol, and moving to Birmingham, where we have bought our first home together - a dilapidated Edwardian house, which we are slowly renovating. Nicholas Chia has raised two children (a girl and a boy), currently aged 10 and 8, while living in Hong Kong for 13 years before relocating to Singapore for the last 6 years. He started his

FEATURE

career as an investment banker with Citigroup, Standard Chartered, and CLSA, and began investing his own capital and working with asset managers to develop a portfolio of real estate assets throughout the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, he is the CFO of a medical assistance company, EMA Global (Singapore). I have realised how strong the Oundle network and brand name is across the globe, meeting people from all walks of life who have been to that school, extremely proud to call some of my friends there my life long friends, even though we don’t see each other frequently. I wish everyone much love!’ Dan Cooper currently lives in North Wales and works as a GP Partner in Llangollen.

He married Karen in 2015 and they have three kids: Florence, Arthur and Isabella. Toby Crickmar has been living and working in Nicaragua for the last 14 years - mainly in the tourism industry and in construction too. He is married with a 6 year old boy. Rob Embling has been living and working in Morzine, France for the last 7 years, doing property renovations in the area. If anyone ever happens to be there on holiday he would love to catch up.

James Fairclough - I’ve mainly been doing start ups for the last 10 years and at one point had Dr Townsend as a Director. I created an interactive app about Mozart that was in a few papers including the New York Times and won a few awards in the USA. After that I collaborated with the author John le Carre and his son to create an interactive guide to his TV series The Night Manager.

At the moment I’m developing an augmented reality classical music quarterly and I come up with TikTok campaigns for brands.

Dominic Halverson - I live in Chicago with my dog Georgia, working for an interior design firm with projects around the US, with a particular focus on Palm Beach where I spend much of my time these days. Outside work, I bake breads, tend to a balcony garden, make ceramics and research my genealogy

(discovering previously unknown OOs in the family). I visited England this past Christmas for the first time in three years and met up with Julian Bertrand.

Gabriel Safar - I have lived in Switzerland since I left Oundle, but moved 3 years ago to a smaller town called Yverdon-les-Bains, still in the French-speaking area of Switzerland.

I’ve been married to my wife, Yufei, since 2016 and have a 2 year old son called Michael. My wife is pregnant with our 2nd child now, who is due this July. Busy times are ahead for us! I’ve worked as a development engineer - both on software and hardware - for over 10 years now. We develop custom test, measurement and automated systems for companies in many industries. I have also been teaching locally and online some of the software tools that we use for this type of development work, both in academia and in industry.

Toby Saul lives in South West London with his wife Harriet and two young boys, who are 20 and 3 months old. He works in commercial property investment and asset management based in London and is still playing cricket for the Ramblers.

Poldy Van Lynden got married last year in Scotland and has been living in Brighton for the last few years.

He is still working in website design but, whenever possible, he can be found outside cycling, sea swimming, kitesurfing or enjoying the South Downs.

SCHOOL HOUSE Paul Armstrong graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA Hons in Politics in 2007 and was employed as a hotel concierge and security guard before joining the Italian defence manufacturer Leonardo in 2010 on their graduate development programme. He has worked in sales and marketing for Leonardo ever since and is currently a strategic marketing analyst within Leonardo’s Electronics division.

Living in Edinburgh for 18 of the last 20 years since Oundle, he spends as much of his free time as

possible visiting the highlands and islands of Scotland with his partner, Carla. Hobbies include reading and collecting Japanese Manga, following developments in ‘the new space race’ and maintaining a strong interest in global, regional and national politics.

Ed Clough lives in Cambridge with Emma and their two children (6 and 4). After seven years as a lawyer, he switched to join Octopus Investments where he now looks after the real estate business. His rugby boots were finally hung up about 6 years ago (far too late) so it’s now running, tennis and the odd bit of cricket. He still sees Dan Cooper regularly and Si Elborne and family have recently moved to the same village so it’s been great to reconnect. Robi Bonanno married Mouse Campbell Clause (K 02) in 2015. They have two boys - Luca (6) and Nico (4). Work is exporting flowers from Kenya all over the world. Biggest client is Morrisons so head on down to your local and support the Bonanno school fee fund!

He has been living in Nairobi since 2009. Golf, surfing, fly fishing take up most of his spare time. ‘Still an avid United fan so living in difficult times.’ Tom Hoyle married Amy in Dec 21. Hugo born 8/2/23. He works in aerospace security, having left the Army. Alex Matchett got married in Mexico last year, and lives in London providing investment and sustainability literature to the finance sector. During lockdown he founded online arts journal CulturAll.io covering everything from Lithuanian ghosts to bitcoin and whose website has been ably built and supported by tech guru Tim Dickinson (L 03). Alex Elliott is a bloodstock advisor (Elliott Bloodstock Services Ltd) based out of Newmarket but living near Hitchin, Herts. Mainly buying and selling flat horses but bought last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard. He is getting married to Sky Sports racing presenter Gina Bryce in June and they have a three-year-old daughter Esme.

SIDNEY Merrik Baggallay - ‘I loved Oundle so much I’ve done all I can to cling

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onto it. I’ve married an OO Alexandra Hill, our best man was an OO Tom Clabburn and five OOs are godparents to our three kids who could themselves be OOs subject to a sufficient school discount, please. I played OO football for a while alongside running the Duggers (featuring exactly 300 appearances from 19 different OOs over the past 17 years including T. Saul with 50 caps and 4 yellow cards). I sit next to Russell (F 03) and P.Colley (L 03) at Tottenham and still play Ramblers cricket with other fine OOs and see many more socially and working at a Central London Property Developer. Now, about that discount….’ Richard Black is a fund manager in London. Since leaving school, he’s also worked in advertising and investment banking. He regularly sees people from Sidney and the year more broadly. He lives in an old farmhouse in Kent with his wife, Julia, three young boys (one of whom just received a cancer-free diagnosis), six chickens, two lame ducks and a goldendoodle.

am now a director at a central London property developer. Weekends are usually spent in Norfolk escaping from the ‘rat race’. Many of us from Sidney stay in regular contact and we had a hilarious Sidney reunion weekend last summer.

including the 03-05 Ramblers. You can generally find him at the Arsenal or Lord’s. Still loves an Eastern Spices.

Still verbose. God Grant Grace. P.S. he agrees with Merrik - current fees price the historic Oundle demographic out, which is a shame.

Seb Goldsmith - After working as a funds lawyer at Latham & Watkins and IFM Investors, in 2020 Seb joined the family business Medigold Health (founded by Mike Goldsmith (Sn 67) and steered for the last decade by Alex (N 94)) as its first General Counsel. He is keen to stress this definitely doesn’t make him a “NepoBaby” and he is enjoying advising the business as GC at an exciting time. He took the opportunity to move back to Northamptonshire with his wife, El, and son Reuben (5), with Phoebe (2) somewhat traumatically completing the family the day they moved. He lives 20 minutes from fellow 3By-er and former flatmate Felix Sloman (Ldr 03) and his family - their sons adore each other. He caught up with fellow Sidney boys Josh, Merrik, Rich and Tom when generously hosted by Tom at his manorial pile in Norfolk (where else) last year (see pic). Seb still sees loads of other OOs from his era (see pic from City meet last year)

Chris Hailes - ‘I can’t believe it’s 20 years on. I am now the lead surgeon in a Suffolk veterinary practice, living in Ipswich with my wife and 1 year old. When time allows I still enjoy shooting, fishing and a good hill walk. I hope everybody is well and blazing a trail through life.’ Chris Hansen was hard to pin down as he always seemed to be boarding a flight. We managed to get this while he was heading to Chicago: “Not dead yet. Tried having a diving school in Portugal, but Brexit f*cked that up. Now a mechatronics engineer, working with tunneling machines based out of Regensburg, Germany.”

S Chris Hansen (S) S Richard Black (S)

James Browning - After working at Royal Guernsey Golf Club for 3 years I’m now working as a PGA golf coach at Loretto School up in Scotland.

S Seb Goldsmith (S) James Davies (F), James Russell (F) and Paul Colley (Ldr)

S James Browning (S)

Tom Clabburn - Since school and university, I have lived in London working in the property industry and

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S Seb Goldsmith (S) Toby Saul (C)

Ed Hamilton - Having enjoyed living in west London for the last 14 years or so, I’m about to make the move to Wiltshire. Married, with 2 kids, I keep in regular contact with old House mates and a number of other OO contemporaries and have very much enjoyed the odd match for the Ramblers cricket team (when there’re really desperate). I hope everyone is doing well wherever you are in the world and struggle to believe our Oundle days were 20 years ago!

Tom Jeffreys is alive and well and is an author/journalist based in Edinburgh. He didn’t ask us to but here is a plug for his latest book, The White Birch https://www.hachette. co.uk/titles/tom-jeffreys/the-whitebirch/9781472155658/ Charles Lamb

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has led a peripatetic existence, at present based in the Middle East, and uses the proceeds from his enterprises to fund a tree planting addiction that shows no signs of abating.

Rob Lundie - After a few years involving a stint as a debt collector, starting a retail business, taking up bike racing, leaving a retail business, working at half of the pubs in the West Midlands and wondering if he’d ever grow up, Rob chanced upon a job in the oil industry and hasn’t looked back. He’s now working as an engineer for Shell in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he lives with his partner, Lisa, and son, Sascha.

Tan Yi Ming - You can find me in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Married with a 2 year old boy. Working in property development and border control solutions. Outside work, I’m a diver, a gamer and I love to cook.

I’m on Facebook and Instagram.

touch after 20 years to ask. Often I find myself drifting back to those carefree school afternoons doing art vols, especially now that I’m a grown up and paying for my own materials is a thing. Hope everyone’s well.

Cheers. Unfortunately, Toby Welch and Glen Koleth didn’t respond to messages and Mike Cheah was untraceable. We hope you guys are doing well.

NEW HOUSE Davina Hutson (Dummer) - I moved to New York in 2008 before settling in New Jersey for the last two years with my husband and two boys, Preston and Teddy. I work as an artist and one day hope to split our time between the US and the UK. Alicia Iveson - I’m living in East London with my husband, 3 year old son and a whippet. I’m working in advertising (where I met my husband) and am currently a partner at a large agency.

Alicia Iveson (N) S Tan Yi Ming (S)

Josh Shinner - I now have less hair than I did at school, which I’m totally ok with. No, honestly. I take photographs for a living - mostly of people but I did once work with a badly behaved Shetland Pony called Teddy. I don’t shoot weddings though, so please don’t get back in Josh Shinner (S)

Emma Godfrey (N)

Georgina Munnik - I am living and working (as a disputes lawyer) on the tiny Middle Eastern island of Bahrain with my husband and two daughters.

When we do manage to get back to the UK we spend much of our time renovating our home in Wales.

Emma Godfrey - I live in Brooklyn, NY, working as a managing director for a branding agency. I am also currently studying for a Masters in Psychology with the ultimate plan to do a PsyD and become Dr Godfrey.

Although it’s been 20 years, three of my closest friends were made at Oundle - Caroline Oliver, Poldy Van Lynden and Emily Churchill.

Annabelle Webb (Smith) - I have

been living in Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia for the last 8 years and own a restaurant and fine food shop here.

I have been married for 11 years and have a 3yr old daughter called Ella.

BRAMSTON Nick Proffitt lived in London and Hong Kong before moving to Boston (USA) with his wife, Liz, and son, Christopher, who is excited to welcome his baby sister this autumn. Nick works in strategy consulting for BCG and previously co-founded a food brand start-up.

James Lort, Sandy Macaskill and Rob Hodgkinson were best men at his wedding. ) Bertie Heyman lives in Buckinghamshire with his fiancée, Charlotte, and their 5 year old daughter, who is very excited about the arrival of a sibling this summer.

When the weather is not good enough for golf, Bertie spends his time running his consulting business, ITVenture, and advising private equity firms on digital transformation and technology. On leaving school Sandy Macaskill had a crack at being a sports journalist for the Telegraph and New York Times, but after getting (in Oundle parlance) asked to leave, went on to co-found a fitness concept called Barry’s Bootcamp with his brother James Macaskill (B 98). He’s married to Erika and has two kids. Guille is old enough to know better but Leo still thinks his dad is pretty cool.

Matt Cutts went on to found Easy Render. The idea came straight after leaving Oundle when he understood that the only option for fulfilling

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his life long ambition of becoming a raging alcoholic was to create his own company so that he could perform vodka eyeball in the office. James Lort lives with his wife, Ginny, and three boys in the countryside near Reading.

Between looking after them and sorting house admin, he sometimes find time to do some work in the area of finance.

He loves catching up with old Oundle friends including Prof, Robbie, Sandy and Pie and, when he’s lucky, Matteo and Benji too! Robbie Hodgkinson lives in California with his wife and two daughters. When he’s not playing tennis or coaching his daughter’s “soccer” team, he works in venture capital. He’d love to see any OOs passing through the San Francisco Bay Area.

boys together (Edward and Elliott). We all live in a crumbly old cottage which dates back to the 1400’s - very much a labour of love, albeit frequently erring on the labour side of this equation.

Michael and I are looking forward to tying the knot in July this year. I work for a specialist HR & Recruitment company in Bristol, which keeps my “mum-brain” from completely taking over. My great friend and fellow OO Emma Colville (Kemp) lives nearby in Bristol with her super duper family and we meet up frequently. It will be huge fun to reconnect with others at the OO event planned for November this year.

Annabel Campbell (Greene) lives in north London with her husband, Ian, and their two daughters, Elizabeth (7) and Mary (5). She’s left the running of their restaurants to Ian and now works as a postnatal doula. However she still finds time to regularly eat there with friends.

and our 2 cats. I run FreddyMatch. org, founded in loving memory of my first son, Frederick who passed away in 2017.

Asha McLoughlin (W)

Asha McLoughlin (Burchett) - I’ve worked in museums and galleries in London since graduating, including the Royal Academy of Arts, the V&A and currently the British Museum. I live in Belsize Park with my husband and our little boy, Charlie. I still see Tom Jeffreys, Zoe Sprigings and Steph Chaplin, and Izzy Vinton when I can make it over to New York.

Annabel Campbell (W)

S Robbie Hodgkinson, Sandy Macaskill, Bertie Heyman, Nick Proffitt, James Lort (All B)

Zoe Sprigings (K)

WYATT Isabel Vinton - In my mid 20s I moved to Rwanda to join an agricultural organisation called One Acre Fund.

I stayed there for 6 years and met my husband, Jesse. Five years ago we moved to the Hudson Valley, NY to start an organic vegetable farm, Tributary Farm, that now serves 300 CSA customers. I work at a local seed company in strategy and data operations and love spending time with our two kids, Lucy, 3, and Toby, 1.5. I’m still in touch with a few people from Oundle but would love to reconnect more - feel free to contact me!

Natasha Beales - After years of gallivanting around the world, I’m settled in South Gloucestershire with my partner, Michael. We met four years ago in Bristol having employed the use of a popular dating app. Michael has a daughter (Evey) and we have two

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Emma Colville (W)

Emma Colville (Kemp) - I am a professional artist, earning my living from making sculptures of human form. I can’t quite believe I managed to realise my dreams to be an artist, though it involves a lot more business than I anticipated! I live in Bristol with my husband, Chris, who I met through Capoeira, 14 years ago. We have two little daughters, aged 3 and 1, who both delight and exhaust us. http://www.emmajeankemp.com Roxane Foulser-Piggott - Now living in Australia (recently moved from the Gold Coast to Adelaide), with husband, Gary, Samuel (4), Ellis (2)

Flora Menzies - I live in northwest London. I worked in documentary film for a year then went to Leiths School of Food & Wine in 2015.

Since 2017 I have been working as a butcher for a company called Provenance which is co-owned by Struan Robertson and in 2022 I passed my Level 2 butchery apprenticeship.

Juliette Morrison (Banks) currently lives in Suffolk with her husband and two young girls, Jessica (5) and Isabel (3). She is currently in the midst of returning to teaching after taking a break to bring up her family. She keeps bumping into OOs at her daughters’ prep school!

Sara Price (Allison) - I am now a consultant orthogeriatrician with a specialist interest in major trauma in the elderly, working at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. I live on the edge of the Peak District with

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my husband Tom and three cats. We take every opportunity to travel and see live music.

Sara Price (W)

Vicky Sutton (Graham) - I am living in North Yorkshire with my husband Phil and two sons, Archie (5) and Sam (2). I kept my job in London when we moved, and so regularly get to escape rural Yorkshire life and catch up with OO friends.

Vicky Sutton (W)

DRYDEN Katie Baggaley (Goodhart) I am living up North, in Yorkshire, with my husband Rob and our two boys, who are 4 and 2 years old. I am enjoying rural life and house renovations, between working as a GP. Alexandra Baggallay (Hill) - I am married to Merrik Baggallay. We moved to Oxfordshire a couple of years ago, after 12 years living and working in London, and are building a house for our three children and Labrador. I am a family lawyer and now work in Oxford. I have fond memories of my time at Oundle and feel lucky to have made lifelong friends there, five of whom are godparents to our children.

Annabel Denham (Palmer) - I am a mother of four and working as a comment editor at The Telegraph. I am still in regular contact with Alexandra Baggallay, James Lort, Lily PaulsonEllis, Nick Proffitt and Alice Ticehurst, who are all godparents to my children.

I also still see Olivia Gross and Pippa Rivero Bosch.

Denham. We are all godmothers to each other’s children!

Ebony Ford (Arden) - After graduating, I worked in financial research for a few years, but then re-trained as a counsellor specialising in working with children and young people. I work in several schools for a charity as well as privately. I am married to Simon who is an investment banker. We live in Chelmsford in Essex and have three children - Seth (9), Thea (7) and Elijah (1). The person I see the most from school is Hannah Astle, who is Thea’s ‘Fairy God Mummy’!

Pippa Rivero Bosch (Willison) - I recently moved to Oxfordshire after 14 years in London. I love catching up with Oundle friends whenever the opportunity arises. I worked as a gallery manager in Mayfair and now manage contemporary artists and help at the local school. In my spare time I am training our golden retriever, Monty, learning Spanish, meditation and getting involved in village life.

Olivia Gross (Brass) - I am living in East Devon with my husband Nick, daughter Heidi and new baby Matilda in our wreck of a house. My hobbies are riding in the winter and beach in the summer. I am hoping to start rowing again soon. I gave up my job in July and am thinking of becoming a gardener.

Anna Maude - I have been living in Tokyo with my family for the last 5 years. My son, Arthur, is 6 and my daughter, Flossie, is 3. We enjoy spending time in the mountains and by the sea, fishing, hiking and eating delicious food! When not trying to learn Japanese or looking after the kids I am working as a freelance writer, editor and lecturer.

Georgina McGrath (Lewis) - I live in Hertford with my two children, Darcey and Rory. Having spent 14 years working in the corporate property sector in London I have thoroughly enjoyed having some time off to spend time with the children and family who are close by. We take frequent trips back to Ireland to visit my husband’s family, who have all been briefed on my fond memories of Oundle and in particular my involvement with the school choirs and the Stahl productions of The Little Shop of Horrors and Sweeney Todd.

Lily Paulson-Ellis (Canvin) - I live in southwest London with my husband Matt, three children and two Labradors.

I run an interior design business and am regularly in touch with Alexandra Baggallay, Alice Ticehurst and Annabel

Sophie Matthews - I live in Mexico City with my family. I have a little nursery school in San Miguel Chapultepec that takes up most of my time, along with my two year old. I come back to the UK as much as possible and last summer I went back to Oundle and was reminded of all the fun times we had and what an impressive space we were fortunate enough to enjoy. My memories are largely of friends, sitting round tuck shop and laughing, Friday and Saturday club house and the silly things we got up to. There are also some teachers who had a huge impact on me, especially Mr Collier and Dr Hunt.

ST ANTHONY Tom Hood - I have recently moved from London to Hampshire with my wife Ella and our two boys, Ivo (3) and Toby (1). I work for a UK focused commercial real estate fund. I keep in touch with a handful of OOs including Ed Glass, who keeps me well fed with working lunches under the guise of ‘business development’.

Ashley Rodgers - After a few years working abroad I have now settled in west Berkshire with my wife Sarah and our son Joshua. We are being kept busy renovating our house and enjoying family life. I am working as an engineering lead for a consultant in the energy industry.

Tom Stuart - I am living in London with my wife Katie and two daughters Sienna (4) and Marnie (2). I work for Sainsbury’s on its environmental and social sustainability efforts.

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Sam Pitts-Tucker - I am very happily married to wonderful Kristina, and enjoying life. We moved out of London during Covid to north Bucks, nearer my parents, and have settled in comfortably to rural village life. I run a private wealth advisory firm, Northcap Wealth, and my wife works at an exciting US tech firm, Data Bricks.

We visited Oundle last summer and I was reminded how beautiful a place it is and how lucky we were to be there…

Lots of great memories of many people contributing here!

Dave Buttanshaw - Following many years living in London, I moved west to settle with my wife, Hels, and two boys, Charlie (5) and Freddie (3) near Bristol. I am enjoying being busy with family life and a career in marketing. I see Oli Coles and Sam PT every year, and enjoy Seb’s random messages. I also still occasionally enjoy a bottle of cheap cider behind the local bike shed. Or not.

Oli Coles - I live in Oxfordshire with my wife, Carly, two year old son, Ozzy, and my four year old spaniel, Chippy.

I’ve attempted numerous businesses in a variety of sectors spanning investment management (with Sam Pitts-Tucker), digital marketing, charity and most recently, tech-for-good, specifically in sustainability. I still see a handful of OOs and less regularly, Pedley and, The Ramblers.

Ed Glass - I live and work in London, practising as a commercial real estate lawyer and cycling too much. Typically, I am out of town at weekends, staying with siblings (all OOs themselves) and, in return, offering some very limited childcare to my various nieces and nephews while always prioritising sport on TV! Simon Elborne - 20 years on, I look back at my years at Oundle and in St Anthony with incredible fondness, and I’m lucky to still have many pals from those happy days - Nick Rowe (G), Tom McLeod (L), Ted Hodgkinson (StA), Chris Parker (F), James Parker (G), Henry MacLeod (Sch) and Ed Hamilton (S). We’ve all had children at roughly the same

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time, which has certainly drawn us closer through that adventure! I got married in 2014 to Sophie, and we now have 3 little boys (6, 4 and 2), which is wonderfully manic and noisy. We live south of Cambridge near Great Shelford, where we moved just before the 2020 Christmas lockdown. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered Ed Clough (Sch) and his family were also living there, and it’s been great to reconnect after nearly 2 decades. We’re currently in the middle of a major house renovation, led by Sophie, an immensely talented interior designer and artist. My work brings me down to London each day where I run a film production company called Outsider. We make everything from TV ads to feature documentaries, and shoot all over the world. Whatever time is left in between everything else is usually spent in the kitchen where we do a lot of cooking (and eating!) together. I’m a keen baker, so there’s always supply of fresh bread on hand - especially helpful with 3 hungry boys running around! We hope in a few years that they too can be added to the long list of Elborne Oundelians.

Charlotte Lloyd (Tan) - Since being called to the Bar in 2008, I have practised as a commercial barrister from chambers in London. I’m currently living in Parsons Green with my husband and our three daughters, Alexandra, Camilla and Emily.

SANDERSON

Prongfa (Fon) Uennatornwaranggoon - I went on to do an engineering degree at Imperial College, then worked in Cambridge and London for an Italian food company and it was the best time of my life, travelling and eating for a job. Eight years ago, my husband and I moved to Thailand.

We started and ran several businesses over the years. Recently we welcomed our first baby girl into the world! A first time mama at 38 years old and it’s quite wonderful.

Hannah Astle - I’m living in Edinburgh working as a salaried GP with two boys (3 and 5). I spent a lot of time studying here and finished my GP training a couple of years ago. I am still in touch with Ebony Ford (Arden).

Ning Chong - I’m now based in Singapore, having moved from London in 2010. I welcomed a newborn recently and have a son and daughter who are 3.5 yo and 2yo respectively. I run a private art space called The Culture Story and last year I launched a new company, Family Office For Art, to help families and HNWIs with their art wealth and art collection management.

I still keep in touch with OOs from Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok.

Wan Ijat - After med school I stumbled into anaesthesia and just recently finished my subspeciality training in London. I am currently practising in Kuala Lumpur, where I live with my husband and two sons.

Suzannah Moroney (Pepys) - Having graduated, I moved to London and became an English teacher. My husband and I moved to Brighton in 2016, just before our daughter was born. We also have a son, who is now four years old. Two years ago we moved to Baku, Azerbaijan, and since then have been enjoying expat life here and taking the opportunity to explore other countries that are now that bit closer geographically.

Alice Ticehurst (Grigson) - I have recently moved from Fulham to country living in Northamptonshire with my husband, four daughters and labrador, leaving behind my beloved teaching job of 15 years at Thomas’s, Fulham. Still in frequent contact with Alexandra Baggallay, Annabel Denham and Lily Paulson-Ellis who are all godmothers to my children.

Maria Urtseva - After graduating from Oxford, I worked as a solicitor at Norton Rose Fulbright in Aviation Finance for ten years, before making a move in-house to Rolls-Royce & Partners Finance, where I now head up a legal team working on aircraft engine leasing and financing transactions. I live in South London with my husband and two cats. I am an avid travel and wine enthusiast and have recently completed my WSET Level 3 Award in wines. ■

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Reconnections ■ OO Art Exhibition at the Yarrow Gallery, 24 February to 10 March

T

he Reconnections exhibition was the first time that the Yarrow Gallery was opened up to all OO exhibitors, not just those who are professional artists.

It was also the first organised by Lorna Davies, the Yarrow Gallery co-ordinator. Nicky Yianni, Alumni Relations Manager and Old Oundelian Club Secretary, and she ensured that it received the right level of publicity on social media and by email to OOs. The exhibition presented a variety of mediums – pencil and pen drawings, watercolours, acrylics and oil painting, plus sculpture – all displayed with expertise by Shaun Templeton, who was the consummate professional technician.

Patient, helpful and friendly, he knew exactly how to collate the artwork to capture the best light and create the greatest impact.

On walking into the gallery, you could see acrylic and copper sculptures by Tom Hiscocks (StA 81). Facing you were Nicky Yianni’s pen and ink architectural skyline drawings. His artwork can take hundreds of hours to complete, so he was pleased to finish this drawing –  Below Left: Pen and ink drawing by Nicky Yianni (Club Secretary) Below middle: Sculptor by Tom Hiscocks (StA 81) Below right: Sculptor by Emma Jean Kemp (W 03)

an aerial view of the corner of West Street and North Street – just in time.

Another first was the weird coincidence of Yarrow and Yarrow being at the Yarrow Gallery. Philip Yarrow’s (Lx 79) acrylic paintings showed variations of the signature interlocking patterns that he had created for his Art ‘O’ level – and to prove it, he’d displayed new pieces alongside his original coursework from 1998.

Philip’s brother, Mark Yarrow (Lx 81) was delighted to sell a limitededition print of Lindy Hop, a dramatic black and white photo-realism painting of two Americans, airborne as they dance.

Elsewhere were heavily textured paintings from Alexander Inchbald

 OO Artists display their work at the Yarrow Gallery.

(G 92), sculpture by Emma Jean Kemp (W 03)and Lucy Page (W 14), paintings by Louisa Risch (Sn 08) and Maddy Gyselynck (K 11), as well as drawings, paintings and prints by David Barron (Ldr 54).

Participants in the Multisports weekend were keen to gain a little non-sporting culture by viewing the show, whose success has already led to it being repeated next year, again overlapping with the Multisports weekend on 2 and 3 March 2024.

We invite submissions of work and look forward to another exciting exhibition. ■ Mark Yarrow (Lx 81)

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Medical Research: Epidemiology ■ Lucy is a new member of the Editorial team. We asked about her work

I

’ve always been interested in human biology and the natural world but it wasn’t until I studied Natural Sciences at Durham University that I discovered the field of epidemiology. Climbing onto a chair and pouring a bucket of water onto the ground, a charismatic professor declared that this was the volume of water lost from the human body during twenty-four hours of a cholera infection. I found it fascinating.

Epidemiology is the science of understanding and controlling the patterns of disease in human and animal populations. I’m particularly interested in how our way of life and interaction with the environment has changed over the millennia and how this has manifested in different patterns of disease and survival.

Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis were major killers in the West in past centuries. But now we are grappling with a huge burden of chronic illness

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 Mosquito net distribution in The Gambia

like heart disease and cancer.

I gained a Masters in the control of infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Then I travelled to The Gambia where the UK’s Medical Research Council has operated since 1947. There, I worked on a large study across 70 remote villages, testing different methods of preventing malaria in young children. This experience showed me how simple tools, such as mosquito nets, can greatly reduce deadly childhood infections. But it also demonstrated the importance of complementing scientific tools with reducing poverty and improving housing, nutrition and education.

After deciding to follow a path into research, I gained a PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), investigating how patterns of agriculture affect malaria transmission in Uganda. I’ve since worked in Dar es

Salaam, Tanzania, as a scientist with Ifakara Health Insitute, with Oxford University, based at the Big Data Institute, and, more recently, back at LSHTM. Most of this work involves large, population-based health studies.

I also advise the World Health Organization, helping to turn scientific evidence into public health policy that is then implemented around the world.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my work has been teaching and mentoring others. It was inspiring to meet some current Sixth Formers at this year’s careers fair. I’m always happy to hear from anyone interested in following a similar career path or from colleagues in the medical world who would simply like to connect. ■ Lucy McLaren (Tusting Sn 06)

CHARITY

Old Oundelian Benevolent Fund ■ Established by deed in 1936, the Fund was set up to assist OOs or their children in cases of financial hardship. Charity no. 309920

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he Old Oundelian Benevolent Fund (the Fund) was set up with the aim of providing financial assistance to Old Oundelians and their dependants. It is administered by a board of six trustees, three of whom are appointed at the AGM of the Old Oundelian Club. The other three trustees are ‘ex officio’, comprising the incumbent OO Club President, Secretary and Club Finance Committee Chair.

The Fund is required by law

to apply its trust fund moneys in accordance with the terms of the trust deed that established the fund and, in particular, with the objects as provided in the trust deed and reproduced below. In recent years the Fund has supported a range of causes, including: • Contributing towards the support of children of OOs within the Oundle School bursary programme • Assisting an OO in financial hardship by paying university fees

• Providing prize funds for the Oundle School OO Club Charity Challenge • Giving financial and practical support to the School’s annual Mencap holiday All donations will be applied by the trustees at their absolute discretion in accordance with the objects of the Fund set out below (amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Trust deed) and the law as it applies to charities.

If you wish to make a donation to the Fund, please email the OO Club Secretary at oosecretary@oundleschool.org.uk

Objects of the Fund The sole purposes or objects to or for all or any of which trust fund moneys are to be applied are as follows: • To give financial assistance to any Old Oundelian in the education of his or her child or children at Oundle School or at some preparatory school or at some recognised place of higher education • To fund scholarships or exhibitions available for Old Oundelians or their children • To give financial assistance by either loan or gift to any Old Oundelian or his or her dependents in need or distress • To give financial assistance to any Old Oundelian or his or her dependents for education or training for any business or profession if considered by the trustees to be necessary or advisable on the grounds of financial necessity • To contribute towards any other charitable object for the benefit of Old Oundelians or their dependents provided that such contribution has been previously sanctioned by the committee of the Old Oundelian Club • To contribute towards projects or other appeals for the further development of Oundle School.

Note: the expression Old Oundelian for the purpose of the above means any person educated at Oundle School or Laxton School

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REUNIONS

Crosby Senior Cricket Team

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ot wishing to appear in unseemly haste, the 1966 Crosby Senior Cricket X1 waited fifty seven years to have a reunion to celebrate their unlikely triumph in the final against a starstudded Dryden team. Due to a number of the seniors at the time not

knowing the difference between a tree stump and a cricket stum, half the team were juniors. Fortunately we were a talented bunch so we just squeaked through. If memory serves us well Crosby juniors also won that year and the seniors again in 1968. We gathered in The George in Wardour

 Alastair Gordon (69). William King (66), Charles Bailey (69), Patrick Vaulkhard (67), Cavan Browne (66), Roddy Wood (71), John Poore (68)

Street and lunched nearby.

Sadly Donald Komrower (1966 team) and Charles Gubbins (1968 team) are no longer with us and Dennis Slaney (70) and Simon Wilkinson (66) live abroad - but the prize for the most commendable reason for not turning up goes to Robert Eastwood (1968 team). He was playing cricket on the day of the lunch! Underarm anybody?

Lunch has already been fixed for 8 May next year and we hope a few more will come to join us. ■ Contact cavanbrowne46@gmail.com  Back Left to Right Robert Willis (69), Simon Wilkinson (66), Roger Metcalf (67), Philip Mardall (68), Alastair Gordon (69), Graham Spanton (66) Front Left to Right Patrick Vaulkhard (67), John Poore (68), Cavan Browne (66), William King (66), Donald Komrower (66)

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REUNIONS

The Rhodes Memorial Lobster Society

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e are a group of OO friends, saddened by the loss of our kind, generous and mischievous old friend, Geoffrey Rhodes (Sc 70). We became aware that his health was failing in the past few years and made a special effort to visit him at his home near Bridlington, Yorkshire. There we were met by a joyous Geoffrey, who was as delighted to see us as we were to see him. He displayed exceptional generosity and a feast of local lobster

followed - hence the lobster in our name RMLS. Whilst at Oundle, Geoffrey was renowned as a constant prankster, the most notable being the nocturnal movement of ‘Peter’ the horse skeleton from The Yarrow to the Chapel. The whole school found that Peter had joined them for Sunday morning service. This happened twice on consecutive Sundays and although greeted with much amusement and hilarity by the boys was not met with the same enthusiasm by Headmaster Dick Knight, who had a ‘sense of humour failure’! But Geoffrey survived to tell the tale.

Fellow perpetrators have never been found but a few from our group seem exceptionally well informed of how this shenanigan had been achieved.

We are Jay Broadhurst (G 70), Colin

Campbell, Jeremy Horsell, Martin Jenkins, Adrian March, Richard Owen (all Sc 70) Maurice Monk (Sc 69), Peter Nicholls (Lx 71), Chris Piper (Sc 71). Absent from the photo were Jay and Maurice.

We all have our own special memories of Geoffrey but, in essence, we remember him as a very kind, generous and warm person, together with being an honest, straightforward sensible Yorkshireman. We also recall his prowess at sport at Oundle most notably at rowing, where he stroked the First Eight, and as a fearless wing forward on the rugby field.

The establishment of the RMLS is of course a perfect excuse to meet up annually to overindulge in a lobster lunch and fine wine, enjoying each other’s company whilst remembering a dear old friend. ■

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REUNIONS

1975 Ecuador Expedition

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his year, at my home in Scarborough, I organised the first ever reunion of the 1975 Ecuador expedition and, with the exception of Andrew Senior (StA), who sadly died five years ago, all the other seven OOs on the trip were present. Spread over two nights and with the help of the many photographs we took during the trip, we had immense fun reflecting on this eventful expedition.

Having taught at Oundle for four years and having led several trips to climb in Scotland during this time, I received a letter from the Head, Barry Trapnell, suggesting that I might like

to consider leading a school expedition overseas. The idea immediately appealed, so I discussed it with Tim Harlow (StA 75), Andrew Senior and Simon Shepherd (G 75) all of whom had been on my mountaineering trips. In those days, few schools organised expeditions and all of these tended to head north either to Iceland or Norway. We became determined to break new ground, eventually deciding our expedition would visit Ecuador, a small country with high mountains (which are not technically difficult to climb), tropical jungle and a culture very different from Europe.

With a flight to Trinidad on the last day of the summer term, we set off on our adventure. From Trinidad we took a short flight to Caracas and then started on a series of bus journeys, which, on steep, narrow and poorly maintained roads, took us 2,000 km through the Andes in Colombia and on to Quito. Here we met our first serious problem. The kit and food for the expedition, shipped out well in advance, had arrived but had not been released from the docks - it took two weeks for the necessary bureaucracy to be completed.

Unable to climb mountains without equipment, not only did we explore Quito and the surrounding area, but also made a four-day visit to the Oriente, which is the jungle to the east of Ecuador. Immediately the kit arrived in Quito, we headed off to try and climb the peak of Antisana (18,875 ft). Establishing a base camp at 12,000 ft, we allowed ourselves a week to acclimatise. Our group of seven was accompanied by a British climber called Peter Ingrams, whom I knew and who was in Ecuador at the time of our visit. Feeling the effects of the altitude, our progress was not as fast as I wanted, so I made the decision to descend even though we were only 600 ft below the summit.

At this point Ingrams un-roped himself and, without making any comment, started to ascend the steep slope leading to the summit. He soon disappeared behind a wall of snow and so we simply had to wait for him.

He never did return. Consequently, we had to leave him to manage his own descent knowing he was unlikely to survive the low overnight temperatures. It took us two days to get back to Quito to raise the alarm and, when the rescue team searched

 Simon Mennell, Adam Farnsworth, Simon Shepherd, Tim Harlow, Dave Elliott-Binns, Julian Hooton, Peter Ryley, Jonathan Lee, Bill Fisher

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REUNIONS

the mountain, they could find no trace of Peter. Although it seemed strange, our expedition, dividing into two groups, continued as planned.

One group made a much longer visit to the Oriente to carry out various projects they had been asked to undertake by a university professor.

The mountaineers continued to try and climb some of the volcanoes that are in the centre of Ecuador but bad weather frustrated both attempts they made to climb Cotopaxi (19,347 ft).

However, they were delighted to reach the summit of Illiniza (17,208 ft).

Saying farewell to the many people, in particular Simon Mennell (St A), a resident of Ecuador who had helped us during our eventful seven week stay, we prepared for the return journey. A rather violent coup d’etat delayed us, however, and we missed our flight from Caracas to Trinidad.

With the help of the British Embassy, we managed to arrive safely back in Oundle on the first day of the Michaelmas Term.

I gave a lecture on this expedition to each year group of the school, which greatly increased pupil

enthusiasm for Adventure Training and attending the various camps I ran in Scotland. It also led me to organise further ambitious expeditions: Afghanistan (1977), Ladakh in North India (1980), China (1982) and the Hindu Kush (1984). ■ Jonathan Lee (Hon OO) This was to be the first in a series of articles on expeditions from Jonathan.

He died suddenly on 8 September 2023. His obituary will appear in next year’s Magazine.

Old Laxtonians

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he annual Old Laxtonian reunion took place as usual in Oundle on 12 November organised by our loyal and longstanding President, Ian Goldsmith (Lx 77). We are very proud to call ourselves Old Laxtonians. Most of those in the photograph arrived at what was

then Laxton Grammar School in 1967 with Mr Tom Stretton as Headmaster. Mr Bob Whitby took over for the next six years and we ended our time at what became Laxton School under the headship of Mr George Simpson. The 2023 reunion will be on Saturday 18 November and we warmly welcome

anyone who attended Laxton Grammar School, Laxton School or Laxton as it is now. As you are all aware, Laxton is now an Oundle School House, but don’t forget that the ‘Free Grammar School of Sir William Laxton’ was founded upon his death in 1556 - and is thus the senior partner. ■

 L to R: Andrew Crawshaw (75), Andy Clamping (75), Stephen Hall (75), Paul Johnson (72), Kim Morrison (History and English teacher), Simon Boon (76), John Gent (75), Ian Lawson (76), Richard Withers (75), Jonathan Taylor (75), Ralph Alford (French teacher)

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Obituaries 1935 John Cecil Stretton (L) died on 3 January 2023

Daughter Claire Stretton writes …

John was born at 1 New Street, Oundle and started at Laxton Grammar School in 1930.

In 1933 he was introduced to film projection when a travelling cinema came to Oundle and he later became the ‘permanent’ projectionist.

1934 was also the year when John saw a plane do an emergency landing and it struck him that he’d like to be a pilot.

He qualified as a Pilot Officer in the RAF on 27 April 1941 and trained to be a flying instructor. He taught young pilots to fly in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), returning to England and ending the war as Squadron Leader.

After the war, John became a commercial airline pilot and moved to St Peter Port, Guernsey to fly boat planes between the Channel Islands. He also played saxophone and clarinet in the RAFAR Quintet at the Royal Hotel where he met Jean Vinall-Smith, whom he married in 1949.

After a short period in Toronto, Canada, John returned to flying with Hunting Clan, later British United Airways and they moved to Cookham, where

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Anne and Claire were born.

In 1964 he invented a dishwasher, the “Dishomat”. He started flying the Vickers VC10 in 1965 and flew all over the world, bringing back strange fruits, like avocado pears!

Ater retiring from flying, he joined Jean’s business Stretton Office Services, opening a printing company from home.

Heavily involved in village life, he recorded (and printed the cover!) for two Christmas Music records of Cookham Church Choir. In 2007 John was elected as Cookham’s Borough Councillor. In 2018, Jean passed away.

1938 Edwin Rideout (St A) died on 29 March 2019

1940 David Squire (Sc) died on 23 January 2023

1941 Gavin H Caldwell-Smith (G) died on 26 October 2022

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1942 J Derek Simon (D) died on 23 October 2021

1943 Anthony Wood (Sc) died on 16 February 2022

From the Telegraph …

Anthony Wood, FSHA, FSSI was a British heraldic artist and a master of heraldry.

Wood was born in the Edgbaston district of Birmingham on 5 October 1925. In 1943, Wood graduated from Oundle.

From 1943 to 1945 he continued his education at the Birmingham College of Art. After graduation he trained as a professional calligrapher, illuminator, and heraldic artist. For some years he painted heraldry for various Officers at the College of Arms.

From 1965 to 1986 Wood taught the subjects at Ealing Art College and Wimbledon Schools of Art. In 1968, he founded a full-time three-year Diploma course in calligraphy, heraldry, and

manuscript illumination at the Reigate School of Art and Design, for many years the only course of its type in the world. In August 1996, he attended the 22nd International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, as an artist delegate by invitation of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Congress, for the first time held outside Europe, was considered to be a “historic meeting” for scientists and artists pursuing heraldry.

He was invited to attend the 23rd International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in Turin, in 1998, where he gave a paper on Heraldic Art and Design. He committed to teach his students a wide variety of techniques ranging from medieval to modern styles of calligraphy and illumination done mainly on calf and goatskin vellum, in gouache colours and precious metals and continued to work over the past half century to private commissions for clients from all over the world.

His armorial art produced for the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the Craft and Merchant Guilds of the city of London, commissioned by local authorities, schools, universities, and private collectors is recognisable for its complexity of composition, rich detail, and almost 3-D visual effect.

Wood died on 16 February 2022, at the age of 96.

OBITUARIES

1944 Richard “Dick” James (G) died on 25 January 2023

by his son Ian (G 70), and daughter Valerie.

1945 John Hinchliffe (N) died 30 November 2022

1947 John Clifford (N) died November 2022 Ian James (G 70) writes …

Richard Bryan James, known to his friends as “Dick”, passed away on 25 January 2023 at the age of 95. He left Oundle in the summer of 1944 and joined the British Army, Royal Armoured Corps.

He trained on Cromwell tanks and was posted to Italy on the Morgan line at the border with Yugoslavia. Postings to Egypt and Palestine saw him with the Parachute Regiment, dealing with the terrorist Stern Gang that was determined to see the British Army leave Palestine. In 1948 he joined the family business of Banks & James wholesale tobacco sales. During the 1950’s he was active in the Coventry & Warwickshire Motor Club, driving a TR3 to four outright wins on the London Rally. He later became RAC hill climb champion racing a MK 9 Cooper 500. Dick and Peter Nichols were the first to drive 1,000 miles in Great Britain in 24 hours also driving a Triumph Roadster. The family business sold, he moved to Dorset and bought Seatown caravan park, and enjoyed a healthier lifestyle. He eventually moved to Bransgore in the New Forest where he took up motorcycling and trips to France. He passed away peacefully and is survived

John Nock (S) died May 2023

Basil Payne (N) died 16 March 2023 Anthony Riley (Ldr) died 26 February 2023

His daughter Clare Turner writes …

Anthony William Riley was known in the family as Ant but more widely as Tony.

He was born in Ilkley, Yorkshire on 26th July 1929 and he wondered recently whether he would achieve life in eleven decades. He had the most idyllic childhood in rural Yorkshire with every pursuit available and a classic professional education: preparatory school, Oundle School, national service and Gonville and Caius College Cambridge. His engineering degree was

adequate but he did get a Blue. A career in engineering followed postgraduate pupillage, then rising to the position of managing director,of a company concerned with the conversion of about 10% of Britain to the use of natural gas. This work was completed in the late 70s and, aged 50, he went with what he called total indulgence to become Secretary of Woking Golf Club.

In 1960 he married Jean Donaldson, a nurse trained at St Thomas’ Hospital London, as had been his father, sister Gill and eventually their daughter Clare – he considered himself the black sheep in the succession! Jean and he had a wonderful partnership and their two children Clare and Michael, with their spouses Ben and Corinna, have given them 7 grandchildren and so far 8 great grandchildren.

The golf period had started well before 1979.

Membership of Ilkley, a Cambridge Blue and several successive clubs around the country, as work kept him on the move, culminated at Roehampton where he was captain in 1972. It was the world provided by secretaryship of Woking Golf Club that drove his later life and the friends and fun the work provided made for the happiest of times. After this final retirement he was asked to join the committee of the Senior Golfers’ Society and later to be its captain in 2002 when he played some 70 matches around Britain from March to October.

Moving to Witney to be near their daughter in

2015, the bowls club and Probus provided continuing interest and his carpenter’s workshop, transferred to his daughter’s garage, allowed modest woodwork to continue.

In his 90th year he wrote a 10,000 word book on his time at Woking Golf Club, which was well received by its members.

David Scott (S) died on 2 November 2021

1948 John Maddocks (D) died on 4 December 2021

His son Alex Maddocks (D 78) writes …

John Maddocks was born in Sutton Coldfield in 1931.

He was an only child and went to a local boarding school before moving to the Berrystead and then Dryden House. I always heard him speak very fondly of his time at the school and indeed I was to follow him through Dryden in the 1970s.

He left at 17 to start a five year apprenticeship at Morris Motors before doing National Service in the Royal Navy. Some serendipitous intervention helped him get into officer training as he said he “wanted to drive ships.”

After a short service commission where he met his first wife, Gina Sinclair, at an on board party, he left the navy to join the family business making steel tubes at The Phoenix

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OBITUARIES

Steel Tube Company in West Bromwich. He managed the business after his father’s death before moving to another family business in Aston, The Connaught Engineering and Precision Handling Co. Sadly neither of these businesses survive today but are testament to the tough times manufacturers went through in the 80s with many changes in industrial practice. Current owners, Liberty Steel, who had continued running the original Phoenix, sold the site for redevelopment this year.

His real passion in life was sailing and he bought his first sloop in the early 60s with many others to follow, sailing on the south coast and Brittany, basing himself in Poole and then Lymington and enjoyed many cruises in many parts of the world.

He really enjoyed yacht club life and served as a flag officer for many years with the Royal Thames Yacht Club and was involved with the Americas Cup. He was married a second time to Shirley WinningtonIngram. He leaves children, Alexander and Louise and five grandchildren.

Poznan Sorgo (N) died on 6 December 2022 Frank Summers (Sn) died on 6 March 2022

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1949 Douglas Bell (D) died 4 October 2022

Michael Humphrey (G) died 21 July 2022 Peter Richards (Sc) died November 2022

1950 David Boddington (StA) died June 2023 David Hollands (N 51) writes …

David Boddington was my greatest friend for many years; at Oundle, at medical school and through the years beyond.

He was the grandson and great grandson of two giants of the surgical world, Leonard Gamgee, his grandfather and Sampson Gamgee, the generation before that.

I first came to know him personally through Bernard Coulson’s Biology Remove and Sixth forms but the whole School was well aware of him long before, from his electrifying treble voice singing Mendelsohn’s ‘Oh for the Wings of a Dove’ in Chapel. When his voice

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broke, he became an excellent tenor, singing with the Birmingham Bach Choir and then on throughout his life.

Oundle in the 1940s did not encourage boys to mix between houses, so it was not until Birmingham Medical School that we began to know each other well. Being in the same year brought us into frequent contact and we made our first tiny expedition together to Peter Scott’s (also an OO) wildfowl collection at Slimbridge and then on to walk the hills of Exmoor.

There followed a number of birding expeditions to remote islands together; to Fair Isle between the Orkneys and Shetlands and twice to the little island of Skokholm, off the tip of Pembroke.

After qualifying, David became houseman to Dr John Malins at the General Hospital, Birmingham before being called up for his compulsory two years National Service in the army. With a love of island life already well established, he went one better than before, serving his time as medical officer to a small army unit on the uninhabited island of St Kilda, far out in the Atlantic to the west of the Hebrides.

After the army, he joined the medical practice in Bromyard, Herefordshire, where he met and married Marianne and they stayed there together for the rest of his life. During this time, we made many birding trips together; to Cley next the Sea in Norfolk, studying waders and to the Welsh Hills, in search

of the near extinct Red Kite. With Marianne, he also made several visits to Australia, where I was able to take him to some of my favourite wader haunts.

He was always an enthusiastic bird ringer and instigated a comprehensive programme of banding Pied Flycatchers, which nest in the woods of Herefordshire, mostly in nest boxes. When he finally retired from this, around two years ago, his was the longest unbroken series of ringing records through the whole of Britain.

David was always a devout Christian and his belief in the natural way of the world and its environment was such that I used to tease him that his garden had become a herbaceous wilderness.

Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Caroline, and a son, Euan.

I shall miss him hugely.

John Shelton (S) died 27 December 2022.

1951 Jos Bird (StA) died 15 May 2023

OBITUARIES

His son Andrew Bird KC writes: J.A. Bird (StA 51), always known as “Jos”, died on 15th May 2023, aged 90.

He came to Oundle as a scholar from Winchester House School and entered St Anthony under Frank Spragg.

He enjoyed all that Oundle had to offer and continued his love of cricket, tennis and other racquet sports. He was also an accomplished athlete and cross-country runner.

On leaving, he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a National Serviceman and served in Korea.

He always maintained his military links, later spending ten very happy years in the Suffolk Yeomanry, and was Chairman of his local branch of the Royal Artillery Association from 1998 to 2021. He went up to Downing College Cambridge in 1954, graduated in law, and, after articles in Norwich, joined the family firm of Bankes Ashton in Bury St Edmunds, where he spent the whole of his working life. He was also a nonexecutive director of West Suffolk Newspapers and EMAP plc.

He and Susan were married in 1963, and their sons Andrew (G 83) and Mike (G 85) came to Oundle, while daughters, Sarah and Rachel, went to Oakham. Upon retirement in 1996 he remained active chairing mental health review tribunals, and playing golf at Flempton, where he had been Honorary Secretary in the 1960s. He greatly enjoyed holidays to Cornwall and

France, and in retirement there were many longerhaul trips with Susan, in particular to Costa Rica and to other far-flung places such as Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia, where they just might encounter an England test match. He did The Times crossword most days, went on several battlefield tours and was an avid collector of books on military history. He was born and lived all his life in Bury St Edmunds and served as chair and on the committees of many local institutions, doing his best to preserve the character of its historic centre. In later years he was often to be seen around the town, keen to engage people for a chat. He had a fall in January but was able to celebrate his 90th birthday at home, and then, in March, his and Susan’s 60th wedding anniversary.

He remained at home and died peacefully. Some 200 people attended a service of thanksgiving for his life in St Mary’s Church.

Bryan Cooper (StA) died 7 November 2022

His wife, Gillian Cooper writes …

Bryan loved his time at Oundle where he made lifelong friends.

After school he was drafted into the army for National Service serving at Luneburg in Northern Germany and then joined the TA on his return to the UK. Bryan met his wife,

Gill, on New Year’s Eve in 1957 and they married in 1964. His working life was spent in various engineering companies and involved worldwide travel before finishing his career with Ransome Sims and Jeffries in Suffolk.

A family man to the core, Bryan was justly proud of his two children, Anna and James and his three grandchildren and their academic and sporting prowess.

William Dayne Markham (S) died 18 July 2022

His daughter, Sarah Waddington, writes: William Dayne Markham died in July 2022, aged 90 years. He was a lifelong, knowledgeable aviation enthusiast, and flew for BOAC, British Airways and Singapore Airlines.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Dayne attended Oundle School between 1946 and 1951, where he rowed in the first VIII and became Head of Sidney, leaving with the first Flying scholarship to the RAF. He treasured his years at Oundle and retained contact with the School, maintaining lifelong friendships with his Housemaster, ‘Tub’ Shaw, his Headmaster, Graham Stainforth and his maths teacher, Donald Venning. Hours in the Oundle workshops taught him to think ‘outside the box’ and he was proficient in problem solving.

He always believed that Oundle excelled at finding and nurturing an individual’s talent and passion.

All he ever wanted to do was fly and he was involved in aviation throughout his life. He joined BOAC in 1953 and stayed with British Airways until 1982. He flew Yorks, Lockheed Constellations, Bristol Britannias, de Havilland Comet 4s, Vickers VC10s and finally the Boeing 747.

He accumulated almost 24,000 flying hours, 14,000 of them as a 747 captain.

Long before the need for sustainability was understood, he would trim the aircraft and fly at a height that saved several tonnes of fuel on each transatlantic flight. He was amongst the first longhaul commercial pilots of the jet age and travelled throughout the world at a time when mass air travel was in its infancy. During the 1970s Dayne visited OOs across the world, raising many thousands of pounds for the School.

In 1982 he and Patsy moved to Singapore where Dayne flew for Singapore Airlines. He retired from flying and returned from Singapore in 1992 at the age of 60.

He was a committee member and, eventually, Chair of the Association of British Airways Pensioners, fighting tirelessly for the pension rights of thousands of BOAC and BA pensioners and their dependents.

Inspired by his projects in the Oundle workshops, he rebuilt several cars; he also designed his swimming pool with two shallow ends and a deep

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OBITUARIES

middle! He calculated everything using his Molesworth book of tables.

Dayne lived his life to the full. His mind remained alert and his memory long. He always strove to be the best he could be and to play his part in making the world a better place - values instilled in him at Oundle.

When asked one evening what his best memory of Oundle was, Dayne surprised everyone by responding that it was taking part in wholeschool singing in The Great Hall: “When all those voices sang together, and you were part of it, it felt as though anything was possible.”

Paul Stevens (C) died May 2023

1952 Michael Garnett (G) died 19 October 2022 His daughter Nicola Mercer writes …

After attending Moorlands school in Yorkshire, Michael went on to Oundle and later to Leeds University where he gained a BSc Hons for Textiles before joining the family’s woollen and worsted textile business, George Garnett & Sons Ltd where he achieved the Queen’s Award to Industry in 1967. In 1956, he was called up for National Service and served in the

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Royal Artillery Corps in Cyprus and Jordan.

He married a New Zealander, Joan, in 1962 and had three daughters.

The family lived in Harrogate with the family dog, an old English sheepdog that he showed to “champion” status.

From her groomings, he produced a 100% dog hair sports jacket, resulting in international publicity and several television appearances. Whilst at Oundle, he became interested in ornithology, a hobby which quickly became a passion that resulted in much research and the publication by the British Trust of Ornithology of his paper on the moorland breeding of Canada Geese.

An elder of the United Reformed Church for over 60 years, in the late 1970s he became a magistrate and then Chair of the Harrogate Magistrates Court. Around this time, he sat on the Leeds Industrial Tribunal, presiding on employment law, and the Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation and was a trustee of the Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust. Just a few weeks before his death, he celebrated his diamond wedding anniversary with his wife, daughters and their families.

Lord Nick Hemingford (Herbert) (B) died 17 December 2022

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His daughter Cally Herbert writes …

My father, Nick Herbert, Lord Hemingford, who has died aged 88, enjoyed an illustrious career as a journalist and editor.

He first worked on the sports and US diplomatic desks at Reuters before becoming assistant Washington correspondent for The Times in 1960.

In that role he was on the airport tarmac in Washington when Jackie Kennedy landed with JFK’s blood still on her dress. He also attended the first Beatles concert in the US, interviewed Martin Luther King Jr and covered the Cuban missile crisis. Afterwards he moved to Beirut as Middle East correspondent for The Times, covering the six-day war and the British withdrawal from Aden, and was then The Times’s deputy features editor until 1970, when he took over as editor of the Cambridge Evening News.

In 1974 he joined the Westminster Press newspaper group as editorial director, appointing and supporting its editors and helping to modernise its 120 titles, introducing new technology and setting up an editorial training centre. From 1992 until his retirement in 1995 he was the company’s deputy chief executive.

Born in Watford to Elizabeth (nee Clark) and Dennis Herbert, Nick spent a number of his early years in Uganda, where his father was headteacher at King’s College in Budo.

At the age of five he travelled with his family through France as it fell to Germany, taking a

boat from Marseille to Mombasa and dodging the U-boats.

When they eventually returned from Uganda to the UK, Nick attended Oundle and then studied English at Cambridge University before setting off on his journalistic career with Reuters.

In retirement he was influential in the creation of the Society of Editors and served on the executive committee of the National Trust.

He was also the Trust’s regional chair in East Anglia, overseeing the revival of Houghton Mill near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.

Nick’s other interests included genealogy, about which he wrote a book, Successive Journeys (2008), spilling the beans on his ancestors. In 1982 he had succeeded his father, a hereditary peer, to the Hemingford title.

Nick met Jenny Bailey at a New Year’s Eve party.

They married in 1958 and had four children. Jenny died in 2018 and Nick married the novelist Jill Paton Walsh in 2020. Jill died three weeks later.

Nick then lived independently with help from family, friends and carers. He is survived by me, my sisters Libby and Alice, brother Chris, and 12 grandchildren.

Michael Leney (Sn) died June 2023

OBITUARIES

Lawrence Peter Morris (C) died 7 November 2022

His wife Monica Morris writes …

1952 was a particularly memorable year in the UK. The King had died, and the crown was passed to Queen Elizabeth II. That winter, London suffered terrible smog; a murky gloom descended, and vile, acrid pollution seeped into people’s homes. After about a week it had lifted and London started to live again! On 22 November, across a crowded room at a party, I met Lawrence for the first time. He had just left Oundle and was attending a furniture-making course at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I was still at school around the corner, so we used to meet frequently at a coffee bar near South Kensington station.

Once he had completed the V&A course, Lawrence went on to Shoreditch Technical College and continued to learn about furniture. He really would have liked to go to university, but his father wanted him to work in the family furniture business.

We got engaged in December 1955 and were married in July 1956, choosing Some Enchanted

Evening to open with as the first dance. Lawrence now had his own furniture shops but eventually sold them to go into property development in the early 1970s.

His lifelong love of sport clearly stemmed from his time at Oundle where he was equally accomplished in both the boxing ring and on the cricket pitch. Later in life he avidly watched the Six Nations, the Ashes and Wimbledon. We enjoyed many wonderful holidays together and Lawrence always managed to charm his way onto closed cricket grounds in Sydney, tennis courts in Melbourne and the football pitch where Pele played in Santos, Brazil. Outside of sport, he learnt speeches from Shakespeare by heart and wrote marvellously witty poems to mark family events and holidays.

Lawrence was kind, genuine and gentle. He was a reliable, down-toearth man with a fine sense of humour, at all times considerate, honest and trustworthy. He was so very proud of the achievements of our son Michael Morris (Ldr 76), our twin daughters and our five delightful grandchildren. He had always wanted to sing and to write a book himself but never managed to do either. I had the great honour to be Lawrence’s wife for 66 years.

He died peacefully at home, his hand in mine as always. He is deeply missed by us all.

Alan Oates (StA) died September 2022.

Anthony Palmer (Sc) died November 2022

Michael Petch (C) died 1 October 2022

Nick Swallow (D) died 30 June 2023

1953 John H Cockcroft (StA) died 25 April 2023

The Times writes ….

Of John Cockcroft’s three main professions MP, economics editor of The Daily Telegraph and City stockbroker, he found journalism the most

personally rewarding and politics the least. Friends thought that there was always something of a frustrated scholar about him as he was constantly reading and writing. After university he had passed the entrance exam for the civil service but rejected the offer of a posting in favour of journalism because “it would enable me to develop my writing skills and give more flexibility”. In 1959 he started as a features writer at the Financial Times, where his editor was Nigel Lawson, later Margaret Thatcher’s Chancellor of the Exchequer. He found working with Lawson “stimulating but stressful.

He never listened to a word I said.” In 1962, he moved to the economics department of the engineering firm Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds (GKN). In 1967 he became economics editor of The Daily Telegraph, remaining with the paper until 1974, when he was elected as an MP. In the 1980s he joined The Sunday Telegraph to write leaders on economics.

His journalism furthered his interest in politics and the Conservative Party, though his initial applications to be adopted as a candidate were unsuccessful in a number of seats. He suspected that his proEuropean views did not help in interviews but it was also whispered that he struck some as too intellectual, and too relaxed about a political career. However, when Edward Heath at short notice called the “who governs?” general election of February 1974, a few

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local parties had not adopted candidates. One was Nantwich in Cheshire, and Cockcroft was selected over the future cabinet ministers John Wakeham and Peter Brooke. He was successful in the February and October 1974 general elections, but never entirely comfortable with the Nantwich local party, which was dominated by what he called “the county set”. He soon realised that he had not thought through the financial consequences of being an MP and later described this part of his career as “accidental”.

In the Commons, however, he was an active member of the select committee on the nationalised industries and was seen to have a promising future, not least by the Soviet Union. An unsuspecting Cockcroft was taken for lunch and questioned by a KGB agent in 1976; only later did he learn that his meeting was recorded by an MI5 agent lunching at the next table.

He announced his intention to resign as an MP, aged only 45. He deplored the working conditions for MPs, grew tired of the latenight sittings and told the whips he had no ministerial ambitions.

With a young family to support, Cockcroft looked beyond politics for a more secure career and started as a stockbroker with Duff Stoop and then with Laurence Post, working on mergers and acquisitions in the City.

John Hoyle Cockcroft was born in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, in 1935, the eldest son of Jenny (née Hoyle) and Lionel

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Cockcroft, whose father, John Arthur Cockcroft, was a millowner. His uncle — one of Lionel’s three brothers — was Sir John Cockcroft, who, with Ernest Walton, split the atom and the two shared the Nobel prize for physics in 1951.

John attended Oundle School and won a scholarship in 1953 to read history and economics at St John’s College, Cambridge. He completed his National Service before going to university and was a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery.

Having eschewed the civil service and embarked on a career in journalism, Cockcroft found himself on a winter cruise in 1961 during which he was befriended by Evelyn Waugh. He enjoyed Waugh’s gossip but found him “a terrible snob”. On the final night Waugh asked what his parents did. When Cockcroft replied that on both sides they were involved in the cotton trade, the author said “how frightful”.

Cockcroft rejoined: “But I went to Oundle and you only went to Lancing.”

Cockcroft married Tessa Shepley in 1971. They first met at a lunch attended by some Telegraph journalists and John Biffen, the Conservative MP. Biffen had eyes for Tessa but, as Cockcroft jokingly recalled, “she chose pro-European me over Eurosceptic Biffen”. She survives him with their three daughters: Lucia Cockcroft, a journalist and yoga and meditation teacher; Gemma, who works in education; and Eloise, who is a social worker. Tessa worked as a

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psychodynamic counsellor.

In retirement in Chelmsford, Essex, he continued to write and read, despite failing eyesight. He listened to classical music, maintained contact with scores of his “telephonic friends” and selfpublished his memoirs, titled: Titans Encountered: Snapshots from the Foothills.

John died after a period of ill health on April 25, 2023, aged 88.

Richard Hallwood (StA) died 29 January 2022

1954 Christopher Alexander (L) died November 2022

Alan Boddington (S) died 16 August 2022

Ruth Boddington writes …

He was always very proud of his association with the School as it held many happy memories for him, especially of being in various plays and productions, such as The Mikado of which we have a cherished photograph.

Michael Crowther (B) died on 6 March 2023

His sons Joe & Toby Hallwood write…

Richard was born in Bredbury, Cheshire in 1936. Along with big sister, Angela, he moved down to a farm in Goring on Sea shortly after, where Richard remembered witnessing preparations for the Normandy landings of 1944.

After school, Richard did his national service in Germany, following in his father’s footsteps by joining the Royal Engineers. He returned to England in 1957 and joined a management training scheme at Osbourne Steelworks in Sheffield, while studying at night school for a degree in metallurgy. He also found the time to play for Sheffield Rugby club until he broke his ankle.

Now working as a sales manager for Osbournes, he and his friend moved down to Wandsworth Common in London where he was introduced to Jan

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Morris and they were married in 1963 by Jan’s father in Fleet Street.

Richard was a great music lover, particularly of opera and he and Jan used to queue overnight at Covent Garden Opera House to see the likes of Maria Callas. They moved to Oxford in 1979 and for the next 14 years they lived on the banks of the River Thames.

By this time, he had changed careers and was now working for Audits of Great Britain, the foremost television and media research company at that time. This required extensive travel and Richard lived for a number of years in Rio, New York, Hong Kong and Sydney.

After their children left home, Richard and Jan moved to Le Renouard in France. Richard had grown weary of travel and vowed never to get on a plane again. He also had a keen interest in the history of the area and would take unsuspecting visitors on local tours, whether they wanted to or not, pointing out this battlefield and that castle along the way.

Indeed, Richard and Jan entertained a group of Old Oundelians as part of their Normandy Battlefields Tour in September 2017.

Peter Luton (G) died 23 July 2023 Richard Wakefield Morris (L) died 23 May 2023

Michael Scoley (S) died 7 December 2022 His son, Andrew Scoley (S 81) writes: Dad was born in Metheringham near Lincoln on 6 August 1937.

The family farmed on Martin Moor but, following the construction of Metheringham Airfield, they moved out in late 1943 and became tenants of the Church of England at Bracebridge Heath where we still farm today.

In 1950 he joined his brother Peter in Sidney House. I still have some of the school fee notices, one of which is Summer Term 1952, £88.

A number of Dad’s teachers also taught me and, if I look in his Blue Book, many names of the boys in Sidney mirrored those in Sidney with me 25 years later.

Following Oundle, Dad went to Harper Adams Agricultural College before joining the family farm. He married Jill Rusforth in 1961, my elder sister, Meryl, was born in 1962, I followed in ’63 and my younger sister, Rachael, in '68. Michael was still playing rugby in the 60s for the Lincoln club.

Dad and Peter were involved in setting up the Branston produce cooperative, which included a farmer’s buying group and agronomy services. I joined Dad on the farm in 1985 straight out of university before taking the opportunity to run the pea vining operation and then manage a neighbouring farm before returning full time in 1997.

Dad was still helping out with harvest until about 2003 when he started to

take more of a back seat.

He and mother moved from the family home in 2004 into a converted barn nearby and celebrated their silver wedding in 2011 - by retracing their honeymoon trip around Scotland - and their golden wedding in 2021.

Diagnosed with COPD in February ’22, Dad had to be on oxygen, part-time initially but all the time later in the year.

He died on 7 December and a service of Thanksgiving was held on 12 January. I was particularly proud to give his eulogy.

Cecil “Anthony” Shephard (G) died 7 October 2022

From Legacy.com …

Tony was educated at Oundle and Queens’ College, Cambridge, achieving a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

While still at Oundle and continuing during his time at Cambridge, Tony was a keen oarsman, successfully competing in many events throughout his years at school and university. He was most proud of his crew’s win at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1955 and of his membership of the Leander Club. The Henley trophy,

a 12-foot-long decorated oar, accompanied the family around the globe throughout his career. He continued his interest in rowing during his years in Calgary, co-founding the Calgary Rowing Club, whose members represented Canada in the Olympics. He also coached young people who wanted to learn how to row competitively. He often said “Nothing teaches you to be a team player like rowing in an eight.”

Tony began his career as a petroleum engineer with Mobil Oil Canada in 1957 and was involved in the development of Canada’s young oil industry almost from its outset in Alberta.

He invented a process for oil extraction known as “Miscible Flooding” that was patented in 1974.

Eventually his career in the oil industry took him away from Canada to the United States and Great Britain. After retiring from Columbia Gas in 1996, Tony fully enjoyed his retirement in Dublin, Ohio. Golf, travel and grandchildren filled his days with fun and contentment. We will all miss his many creative skills and easy-going ways.

He is survived by Sara (née Nelson), his wife of 60 years; sister MaryAnne Dolnack; daughters Susan Pepper, Caryn Francis, Gillian Parker, and Carolyn Kelley; grandchildren Natasha and Lilian Mitrev, Ethan, Sydney, Harrison and Kristen Francis, Allison Parker, Katherine and Joseph Kelley; and many nieces and nephews.

Christopher Weeks (Ldr) died 3 July 2022

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1955 Sir Alan Budd (C) died 13 January 2023

From The Times …

Alan Peter Budd was born in Kent in 1937, a son to Ernest, who worked in advertising, and Elsie, a stenographer. He attended Oundle as a Grocers’ Company scholar and, having departed with no immediate plans to continue his education and briefly suffering unemployment, he finally enrolled to study economics, initially as an evening student, at the London School of Economics.

Upon graduating, Budd completed a doctorate in economics at Churchill College, Cambridge. After that he held a post for three years as lecturer at Southampton University, before spending a year in North America as a visiting professor at the Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh.

In 1970 he joined the Treasury, where he later recalled his introduction to

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a place exuding an “open, democratic spirit” where he “would be listened to courteously by the chief economic adviser, and, if necessary, politely corrected”. In 1974 he returned to academic life, through his new base, the London Business School (LBS). In 1978 he published a book, The Politics of Economic Planning, a sometimes piercing critique of stateadministered dirigisme.

From 1979 with Margaret Thatcher’s economic team, notably Nigel Lawson, seeking brains for their counterinflationary strategy, Budd would be given partial credit for a policy centrepiece: the mediumterm financial strategy.

With inflation nearing 20 per cent, the government needed to prove exceptional resolution in maintaining its antiinflation strategy, and in the strategy it did so by mapping out explicit and declining target ranges for monetary growth for the remainder of the parliament, thus pledging sustained disciplinary zeal.

In 1988 he ceased his full-time attachment to the LBS, and, together with a short stint at the Securities and Investments Board, became group economic adviser to Barclays Bank.

During this period he now appeared increasingly as a financial commentator. Yet Whitehall again beckoned, and, when in 1991 Burns replaced Sir Peter Middleton as permanent secretary at the Treasury, the now vacant post of chief economic adviser passed to Budd.

In 1999 Budd became provost of the Queen’s

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College, Oxford, where he remained until 2008.

Alongside many other “great and the good” public roles during this time, he sat on the Burns panel that examined options for BBC charter renewal, and in 2006 he conducted his own review of the corporation’s business coverage.

Fond of music and gardening, Budd could seem reticent, but he had his quirks. Notably, in the early 1990s he told documentary-makers that he wondered whether some of those for whom he had helped draft policies in the early Thatcher period might not have enthused about them simply for being “the correct way to bring down inflation”. Instead, perhaps, the monetary squeeze represented “a very, very good way to raise unemployment” and thereby reduce workingclass muscle.

During his time at London School of Economics he met Susan Millott at a “scholars’ tea party” and they married in 1964. She survives him along with their three sons.

Walter Timperley (B) died 26 June 2021.

His wife Christine writes: Chris was born on 3 August 1937 in Beckenham, Kent. He came to Oundle in the summer term of 1951 and was at Grafton House. He loved sport and played rugby, tennis, cricket and was a strong swimmer.

He also did a lot of cross country running during his time there.

His father James Robertson (B 60) and his son James Robertson (Lx 85) were both at Oundle. He did his national service in Cyprus with the Queens Own Royal West Kent regiment, serving as 2nd lieutenant.

He went up to Christs College Cambridge in 1959 reading law and economics and played rugby for his college. He joined Robertson Foods in 1961 and in 1971 became Chairman. He married Christine in June 1962 at The Queens Chapel of the Savoy in London. He had three children and two grandchildren, Charlie and Emily, of whom he was very proud and loved dearly.

He died suddenly at home in Surrey on 19 June 2020 aged 82 just short of his 83rd birthday. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word and is missed greatly by his family and friends.

1956

1958

Christopher Robertson (L) died 19 June 2020

Tim Barter (D) died 23 March 2022

OBITUARIES

Anthony “Tony” Whelen (Sc) died 3 July 2021.

Dru Bentley (Sc 58) writes Tony followed his father, JHL Whelen (Sc 27) into School House in 1954 and was there until he left in 1958. He was born in Devon but the family moved around the UK as his father was an agent for the Ford Motor Company.

When I first met Tony, the family lived in Longforgan near Dundee and Tony was sent to Ardvreck prep school in Crieff. The family moved to Heswall in the Wirral when his father was transferred to the Ford agency in Liverpool, and Tony remained in that area for the rest of his life. As we moved through the school, Tony and I often shared the same studies and were in the same classes. I found Tony to be friendly but reserved.

Neither of us were sporty, but we always turned out for games, athletics and so on. I also remember him as an Air Cadet in the CCF. Tony left Oundle the term before me in 1958 and was soon asked by a local family friend to help with odd jobs, house maintenance and so on. He seemed to enjoy the practical work and began to acquire quite a following over the years as someone who was always willing to help others and

who was always reliable.

He went on to marry Pat, a teacher from nearby Irby, and had a daughter and a son, both of whom now have their own families.

Tony was very much a family man, and loved children. He was in his element organising parties and games for family and friends, especially at Christmas.

In later years Tony developed Parkinson's disease and, when I visited him a number of years ago, he was mobile but not very well, but we always kept in touch. Before Christmas 2019 Tony had a bad fall. At the time, nobody in the Wirral was suitably qualified to help him so he was put into a nursing home and stayed there until he died. Whilst he was there Covid arrived, so it was extremely difficult for the family to visit. Tony will be sorely missed; a good and kind man.

Keith Wilson (S) died 28 July 2022

Joslin Lewis (Sn 68) writes Keith was Head of Sidney and Head Boy. He left in 1958. Subsequently he was a great supporter of the Oundle Rovers, and he played (I think) in the Penguins.

1960 Richard Haynes (Sc) died 3 February 2023

Anthony King (G 60) writes Richard Haynes died on Friday 3 February 2023 after a long period of ill health. He and I were exact contemporaries at Oundle where he gained school colours for rugby and rowing as well as being a school Prefect and Head of House. He was also academically bright. I then went off to university in South Africa and Richard to Jesus College Cambridge where he read law.

Our paths did not cross again for some 25 years until my wife and I emigrated from South Africa and settled in Warwick. Richard and his wife ‘Flick ‘ were very kind and hospitable to us and included us in some of their wonderful parties at their lovely home Beach Lawn in Berkswell. Richard was an enthusiastic extrovert and grand organiser with trips to a local point to point, the annual Oxford and Cambridge rugby match at Twickenham, Livery Company dinners in London and the splendid weekend parties at Beach Lawn.

The trips to the Varsity match were attended by 15 to 20 of his friends.

We’d travel down by coach during which time our appetites were teased

with exotic canapes and a glass of something bubbly.

The coach finally parked up at All Hallows Church within a stone’s throw of the Twickenham ground.

The most wonderful picnic ensued – all arranged

by Richard and Flick.

Needless to say Richard knew one of the lady warden’s of this church, who allowed a number of coaches to park up for the match and charged them so to do.

Towards the end of a successful career in PR and Marketing, Richard ran his own consultancy business until he was ready to sell it on.

He was very proud of his children, Milly, Ben and Matt, and that they had successfully gone on to build their own lives, families and careers. Sadly, Richard and Flick were forced to sell Beach Lawn – their lovely home with its garden and lake – to make way for HS2. A bit of them died when they left Beach Lawn.

Richard found life very difficult after losing Flick three years ago. He had nursed her diligently and caringly during her battle with cancer. His own health deteriorated after his loss. The last 18 months of his life were spent in a local nursing home where he was very well cared for. All his friends will remember Richard as a great enthusiast, a very generous host and a kind and thoughtful friend.

Peter Wilsdon (N) died 6 October 2022

1961 John W Ellerton (S) died October 2022

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Anthony Lewin (N) died 11 January 2023

Robert P Thian (Sn) died 4 September 2022

1962 Peter Sechiari (D) died 3 October 2022

John Thompson (Sn) died 29 December 2022

From The Guardian …

The urban planner and architect John Thompson, who has died aged 78 after a long illness, was a leading proponent of “community architecture” and the founding chairman of the Academy of Urbanism. One of his best known ventures,

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which would have a lasting effect on the design of estates in Britain, was for Hackney council, at Lea View House in east London in 1983.

Born in Leamington Spa, the son of John Thompson, a sales executive, and Edna (née Hawkes), John spent much of his childhood in Henley-in-Arden, where his maternal grandfather had a butcher’s shop.

Later in life he would refer to his happy childhood experience of smalltown life as an example of what planners and architects should aspire to and his belief that to feel embedded in a community was an essential part of life. After attending Arden House and Oundle, he studied architecture at Magdalene College, Cambridge, graduating in 1969.

In 1986 he became a founder trustee of the Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture (now the Prince’s Foundation).

Eight years later he launched a new practice, John Thompson and Partners (JTP), which he chaired until his retirement in 2017.

John’s skill in establishing links between local communities and architects led to many international commissions, including projects in Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Iceland, Sweden and Ireland. Towards the end of his career, he was involved in two major assignments in China, in Hangzhou and Zhoushan, both of which attracted a perhaps surprising level of community involvement.

A charismatic and genial figure, he was

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never short of work. In 1998, the JTP practice took part in the Caterham Barracks community planning weekend, attended by around a thousand people, as it began its work with a local developer on what became the regeneration of the 100-year-old former military facility.

The work won a series of building and planning awards. Between 2001 and 2011 he was a member of Yorkshire Forward’s urban renaissance panel.

In 2003, John was asked by the president of RIBA, to chair their planning group, which eventually led to the establishment of the Academy of Urbanism (AoU), an independent, cross-sector organisation that aims to “bring together both the current and next generation of urban leaders, thinkers and practitioners”.

A book of his work, entitled John Thompson: Creating Great Places, was assembled by colleagues and published in 2019. He is survived by Nova and by his two children, Wally and Grace, from his first marriage to Rosie Light; by three stepchildren, Jessica, Tom and Tibbs, his grandchildren, Elliot, Scarlett, Phoenix, Mattie and Jack, and his brother, Peter Thompson (Sn 57).

1963 Jeremy Fieldhouse (Sc) died 1 March 2023

1964 David C Ruckwood (G) died 7 November 2022

1967 Jonathan Begg (B) died 30 September 2022

Dominic Begg (B 66) and Jon Holmes (B 68) write Jonathan, always known as J., entered Bramston as the Grocers’ Company Scholar, from Rottingdean School where he had been Head Boy and had excelled academically.

This should have been a high point in his life, but, transplanted to distant Northamptonshire and resented by his peers as a scholar with no interest in sport, he never settled.

Before sitting his ‘A’ levels, he was offered a place at Edinburgh University, but decided he’d had enough of academia.

Aged 17, excited at the prospect of adventures, such as those described in thrillers like Beau Geste and Beau Sabreur, J. applied to join the Spanish Foreign Legion. Our father, L.G.Begg (B 38), promptly over-ruled him, suggesting that he should follow his

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father and grandfather into a Scottish regiment, in their case the Seaforth Highlanders, ending the World Wars as Major and Captain respectively. J. complied but enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a private.

Predictably he took a lot of flak from his fellowsquaddies, recruited from the roughest parts of Glasgow; likewise, from the officers, who couldn’t figure him out. Anyway, he showed them all that he could cut the mustard during campaigns in Cyprus and the Yemen, where he served under Lt. Colonel Colin Mitchell, “Mad Mitch”.

In the late 60s, demobbed, he found work in Edinburgh, reporting on society events for the Scottish edition of the ‘Tatler’. This involved attending a succession of glamorous parties, before wandering back to his digs in the Grassmarket, then a sordid slum, where he’d write his copy.

Eventually J. headed back south, to the first of several rented flats in pre-gentrified Notting Hill.

He had some success in London at an established advertising agency before leaving to go freelance as a copywriter, short-story and travel writer. He wrote several clever stories for a woman’s magazine and briefly took up the role of agony aunt, styling himself Jenny McGeorge. His pieces in the late 80s and early 90s for newspapers and upmarket travel magazines represent some of his best work, featuring Lapland, Tunisia, Slovakia, Namibia, etc., destinations new to most tourists at the time. All he needed was

the company of a guide from the local tourist office and he was away. Later, back in London, he’d look through his notes before producing long lively articles.

It’s fair to say money was always tight, but J.’s story has a happy ending.

In the late 90s J. was invited to a grand dinner in London by Turkish Airlines, having written an article about his trip to Cappadocia. Arriving late, he took the last unoccupied chair and got talking to the charming, good-looking woman next to him. That woman was Anna, who became his beloved partner for over 20 years, right up to his untimely death.

Christopher Del Mar (Sc) died 2022

Hugh Brass (D 67) writes Chris came to Oundle in 1963, leaving in the Summer of 1967. He won, jointly, the Biology Prize, gave a Sixth Form talk on The Physiology of the Brain, rowed, and acted in The Study Mate (showing himself to be “an able little comedian with a masochistic grin”), The Fire Raisers , A Penny for a Song, Much Ado about Nothing and others.

After a First in Botany and Biological Chemistry at Salford, an MA in Medical Sciences and MB B Chir at Cambridge and junior posts in London,

he moved to Australia.

After eight years as a GP he turned to teaching and research, gained his MD at Queensland University and became Professor of General Practice there. In 2004 he became inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Health, Sciences and Medicine and Pro Vice Chancellor Research at Bond University, establishing its medical programme, and from 2010 – 2020 was Professor of Public Health at Bond’s Institute for EvidenceBased Healthcare.

He edited the research section of The Australian Family Physician for 20 years volunteered as the Co-ordinating Editor of the international Cochrane Collaboration’s Acute Respiratory Infection Group, received the Royal Australian College of GP’s highest award, the Rose-Hunt Medal, for his outstanding commitment to general practice research, was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and was awarded the Order of Australia for his significant service to tertiary education, health and medical research and professional bodies (on many of which he served).

He was the author of five books, 22 book chapters and more than 550 peerreviewed journal articles.

Chris was an original thinker, unafraid to challenge the evidence behind conventional beliefs and practices; he championed the incorporation of research evidence into clinical practice and had an international reputation in antibiotic overprescribing in

acute respiratory infections, general practice research, systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials. His decades of research influenced practice and policy in Australia and around the world.

In 2019 he sustained a catastrophic injury while surfing but after a year in hospital was able to continue some work, demonstrating exceptional courage and determination despite quadriplegia.

Tributes include “A giant of general practice”; “absolute icon”, “such a generous and funny and kind person, who was always inclusive of everybody, never put anyone down and was always curious about what other people were doing and encouraging young researchers”; “a remarkable inspiration to his colleagues as a valued contributor to both research and teaching. His professionalism, attention to detail, mentoring of junior colleagues, and ever-inquisitive passion to search for answers to global health challenges are hallmarks, together with his sense of humour and infectious esprit de corps”; “disarmingly approachable”; “he had so many interests and skills, was curious about nearly everything and had an insatiable desire to do good”.

Kevin Gurney Blair Sloan (LGS) died on 5 May 2022

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His daughter, Jennifer Sloan, writes: My father was born in the family home on Cotterstock Road in Oundle on 22 March 1950, the eldest of three brothers, to Lorna and Jim Sloan. He attended Laxton Grammar School before achieving a scholarship to read engineering at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was captain of the Cambridge Stymies golf team: he loved golf, and at one point played off a handicap of 6. Upon starting a PhD – and hating it – and then meeting and marrying my mother, Anne, Dad was P.A. to Sir John Howard of Howard Engineering Contractors before being sent out on site to get practical civil engineering experience. When the economy took a turn for the worse and Civil engineering contracts were thin on the ground, he went to Libya to work on the construction of the harbour in Misurata. He originally went for six months but stayed for three years. He was brought back to UK so that he could gain his MICE qualification and then moved to Kuwait from 1983-88 to work as consultant engineer on the construction of the Waterfront Project. He returned to work on the new A14.

After the first Gulf war, he went back to Kuwait to assess the damage caused by the war and was there from 1993 - 96 working on the Emiri Diwan project.

With the same firm for more than 35 years, his jobs included the Clapham Bypass, and, finally, the

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A14/M1/M6 junction at Catthorpe – a job filled with bridges and life saving changes to the junction.

Dad was highly respected in both his work and home life – a ‘gentle giant’ as some called him.

He loved being with his family – me, Mum (to whom he was extremely happily married for 49 years), my husband, James, his cats, and his twin grandchildren, Toby and Isla. Life as a Papa brought him immense joy. After all his travels in earlier life, he loved spending time at home and in Norfolk, as a member of the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club.

He died in Northampton General Hospital, with his wife and daughter by his side and holding his hands.

John Watson (S) died 29 October 2022

1969 Philip Graesser (Sc) died 13 March 2023

Nick Sheldon (N 69) died 19 January 2023

Rollo Sheldon (B 04) writes: Nicholas Hanson Sheldon (“Nick”) was born to Dennis (G 39) and Nadine

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Sheldon in Derby City Hospital. His father (a third generation doctor) was GP for Repton School.

When young, Nick showed promise at school.

St Wystan’s, Repton, was followed by Stancliffe Hall, where he became the renowned anchor in tugof-war, and then Oundle.

At Oundle Nick rowed for the 2nd VIII, sang in the Chapel Choir, and played the french horn in the School orchestra, wind band and in a quartet. Dan Harvey, Head of Wind, made a big impression on Nick as he taught him the horn and encouraged his love of music. He made some very good friends, including Peter LeaCox, who later wrote the Penhalt serenade for the family quartet, comprising flute, horn, cello and violin, with Dennis on the piano.

Having always determined to be a doctor, Nick volunteered at Derby City Hospital. He followed his father and went up to Cambridge in 1970 with a choral exhibition to Magdalene College to read Medicine. His interview was trial by tea with the Master and his wife, where his impeccable manners saw him through. Nick enjoyed all that Cambridge had to offer, as oarsman, singer, and musician. In his third year he read History of Art. St Thomas’ Hospital followed. In 1973 Nick was already a distinctive young man, described as having a huge cultural repertoire, keen intellect and impeccable values - attributes considered unusual among medical students! He was a master of the English trait of

understatement and a man of remarkably few words, who would be happy to be silent for hours. St Thomas’s friends described Nick as always steadfastly “there”: behind the scenes, organising, attending to details to ensure that things were done properly. He was a softly spoken man whom nobody would suspect of pulling strings or having the influence he did - like a spymaster.

Having originally considered general medicine, he opted for general practice. He took a run-down, postwar NHS GP practice and brought it into the 21st century the three storey, purpose built surgery in New Malden. He brought the best out of staff with his collaborative approach.

He had a sensitive bedside manner and was described as the “doctor’s doctor” since many local consultants and GPs chose him as their doctor. He also had a keen interest in occupational health, was on the local ethics committee and was the primary care trust’s mental health lead.

Leisure time was initially relaxing or shooting in Dorset but, later, cycling on long distance tours, raising over £25 000 for charities.

Musical interests continued well into later years, and he sang with Kingston Parish Church Choir for a decade and played in his wind quintet for over 30 years.

Sadly, he had to leave general practice in 2010 after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, but remained stoical and gentle well

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into his illness, and was a frequent participant in clinical studies. Over 200 attended his memorial service, including former patients.

He leaves his wife, Leonore; children (Rollo (B 04) and Emerald); four grandchildren (Dexter, Beatrice, Isla, and Florence); his sister, Anne; and his brothers, Jonathan (Sc 68) and Stephen (Sc 72)

1970 Mike Healey (G 70) died 29 June 2019 His brother, Tony Healey (G 68) sends this extract from Mike’s US Senate Tribute I rise today in tribute to Lieutenant (“Lefftennant”) Colonel Michael Healey of the British Royal Artillery Regiment – a great Gunner, an officer of the highest quality, a British patriot, and a beloved friend of Oklahoma and America.

Just as in life, he faced his last fight with cancer with courage and vigor, without complaint, and with that famous British stiff upper lip. Mike was taken from us too soon, but his memory will be with us always.

He made it through the instructor “murder boards” in record time, and did a fantastic job as an instructor. He served in the Falklands War with British forces in 1984, and in Iraq alongside American units in 1991. In addition to his combat credentials, he coordinated joint/ combined Cold War exercises and security procedures. Mike commanded the Queen’s Guard at Edinburgh Castle in 1983. He had a BA in Economics from Manchester University,

was a graduate of Sandhurst, the Royal Field Artillery School at Larkhill, and earned a Masters at Shrivenham.

His greatest satisfaction and proudest moment, by his own admission, was when he authored, staffed and presented a new Ministry of Defence Command policy to the House of Commons on ensuring military members were not forgotten once they left the military and that their sacrifices were acknowledged in the civilian world. He and Mo were consummate hosts at official functions. Mike Healey loved America, Oklahoma and the U.S Amy Field Artillery; he thought so much of this great land that he requested Old Glory be draped across his casket next to the Union Jack at his military funeral in Thirsk, England. I am requesting that an American flag be flown over the Capitol in his honor. The flag will then be transported to England for the burial. We are all better off for knowing Mike and we will never forget all he has done for the U.S Army, the State of Oklahoma and the United States of America.’ Senator Jim Inhofe Geoffrey Rhodes (Sc) died 17 January 2023

David N Yarrow (D) died April 2023.

1971 Philip Sloan (LGS 71) died 12 December 2022

His son, Henry Sloan (LS 12), writes: Philip de Chastelain Sloan, born in Oundle in 1953, sadly passed away in the early hours of 12 December at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn following a two year battle with cancer.

One of James and Lorna Sloan's three sons, Philip was born in Pembroke House on Cotterstock Road, spending most of his childhood and early adult years in Oundle.

Educated at Laxton Grammar School, he became Head of School.

From there he followed his older brother, Kevin, to Pembroke College, Cambridge, to read Law, and he in turn was followed by his younger brother, Robin Sloan (LGS 74). Philip went on to practise law, specialising in Intellectual Property, in a career that would take him all over the world, most notably to the US. Philip and Fiona (née Wood) were married in

London in 1985. They enjoyed 37 years of marriage and their children, Henry and Jasmine Sloan (W 13), were educated at Oundle School.

Philip's interests were eclectic, extending far beyond the law. A passionate amateur historian, he wedded his interest in history with his fondness for Oundle on many occasions, particularly in writing for the Old Oundelian about the history of Laxton Grammar School, and how it laid the foundations for the fine school Oundle is today. Philip’s engagement with Oundle did not end there. He was generous with his time, playing an active role in the OO Club, as its honorary Legal adviser and, in 2017, its first Laxtonian President.

Outside Oundle, he would immerse himself in the history of the First and Second World Wars, visiting the Somme and Ypres on many occasions, as well as reading at length about Burma, where his father, James, had served as an officer in the South-East Asian campaign.

When it came to sport, cricket and golf enthused him most. Philip was a proud MCC member for 51 years and an even more proud Royal West Norfolk member for 61 years. Both would play host to some of his happiest memories, but none more so than winning the Winter Foursomes knockout tournament with his son, Henry, particularly after being 3 down through 8 holes!

None of these interests came close to his love for his family. A loving

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husband and a devoted father, Philip’s life revolved around his nearest and dearest.

Cricket and golf would have been but simple pastimes, holidays mere points on a map, and history just that, had he not been able to spend time laughing, learning and enjoying himself in the company of his family.

He is loved, cherished, remembered and, ultimately, survived by his adoring wife, Fiona, and his children.

His funeral was a beautiful service attended by over 200 people in a packed All Saints’ Church in Stamford. Spontaneous applause broke out as his coffin was carried out by his pall bearers. This was a tribute to a kind and loving father, husband, brother and friend - and for a life lived very well indeed.

1974 Hugo M Horsfield (S) died 22 May 2023

1976 Robert J Hunter (B) died May 2023

1982 Stephen Johnston (Hon OO) died 11 December 2021 Stephen Forge (Hon OO) writes:

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Stephen Johnston arrived in Oundle with his wife Maryam and their two children in September 1982 to teach German in the days when the Language Department was accommodated in West Street. He made an impression through his enthusiasm for his subject, his willingness to brave the elements as a rugby coach and a dodgy moustache that quickly earned him the nickname ‘Stalin’.

A keen musician and fine tenor, Stephen was fortunate to be affiliated to Dryden, a house proud of its musical tradition. He started Schola Cantorum, whose members assisted at Chapel liturgies as well as performing independently. Whilst Maryam never quite forgave him for giving up his city career to immure himself in the provinces as an underpaid ‘chalky’, Stephen’s experience in business proved useful when he became industrial liaison officer in the Careers Department.

He and Ian Potts also started Oundle Edutech, run by pupils, to make and sell robotics control boards. Stephen became Housemaster of Crosby in 1990 and stayed for three years before becoming Head of German. For the next ten years, he promoted German against competition from the romance languages.

Under his tutelage, all ten Oxbridge applicants offering German in their entrance papers gained places. He set up the first formal exchange between an English and an East German school. His German Society featured

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visiting speakers as well as wine-tastings, German lieder recitals and talks on German painters.

From 1988 to 2004, he ran a series of annual study trips to East Germany and Berlin, including several memorable visits to Thuringia where members of the Stasi, jokingly rumoured to have files on Stephen, featured significantly. Owing to severe and persistent back problems, Stephen relinquished his post as Head of German in 2003, but continued to give impetus to German study.

He spent many years as a tutor in Bramston and Sanderson. He will be remembered as a caring and generous friend and host with a stroppy intolerance of pompous authority. His sense of the ridiculous, and his ability to appreciate as much the humour of the Goons as the satires of Carl Sternheim, rock and roll as much as the compositions of Thomas Tallis, endeared him to generations of Oundelians. He retired in 2010, subsequently publishing a biography of the tenor, Wilfred Brown, an early mentor.

His mobility severely restricted by muscular dystrophy, Stephen died suddenly in December 2021 and his funeral, with wonderful music from his fellow singers, was held in Crowland Abbey.

Michael Logsdon (Lx) died 20 May 2022

Dominic Vincent (Lx 82) writes Mike was full of energy, enthusiasm and fun in all he did at Oundle and beyond. He was in the same House as his elder brother, Pete Logsdon (Lx 80). Captain of cricket and a 1st XV player, he was also a member of the school’s mountaineering expedition to China’s Karakoram range in 1982.

Following his law degree at the University of Southampton, he was called to the Bar in 1988.

From his colleagues at 2 Hare Court Chambers: ‘ ‘Mike joined Chambers as a pupil in 1988. He soon became a part of a formidable team of junior tenants, sharing a room for many years at 1, Hare Court with Sallie BennettJenkins and Mike Holland.

In addition to being a wonderful advocate whether defending or prosecuting, Mike was cherished for his energy, his piercing wit, and his love of life both within and outwith the Bar. Mike’s typical modesty extended to his significant sporting prowess, without which the fate of the Chambers’ cricket team during the 1990s would undoubtedly have been very different.

He battled valiantly but discreetly when struck by serious illness, which ultimately led to his premature retirement from practice. Mike was a true friend to us all and will be remembered with immense fondness.’

Following his early retirement, he moved in with his sister, Caroline, in Harrow-on-the-Hill and after a year or so of R&R he took on a new career in horticulture. He studied at

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Capel Manor and was taken under the wing of Tim & Angela Howells at Appleby Landscapes and Gardens Ltd based in St Albans. He also worked for a couple of years with the National Trust at Cliveden, but returned to Appleby where he was happiest. Mike entertained everyone with his dry wit and will be remembered by all with fond wry smiles. Mike had an amazing zest for life and coped with his long illness by following the mantra ‘I’m gonna live’ and so he did fully, to the very end.

1984 Jeremy M Robinson (S) died May 2023

1985 Christopher Rees (B) died December 2022

Charles Jefferson (Ldr 88) writes Ming joined Oundle from Malsis Prep School. He was modestly successful in all he did! He secured a law degree at LSE, passed his Bar Exams and completed his Pupillage at Quadrant Chambers before starting a long career in the City with numerous prestigious firms including SG Warburg (UBS), CSFB, Nomura, GAM before moving to UBP. He was an optimist and preferred to look at the positives in people and situations. A very private person with a tight circle of friends, he preferred one-on-one catch-ups over boisterous gatherings. He passed away suddenly in February 2022. He was much loved and missed by close friends. Ming did not marry but is survived by his mother, Sau King, who he was devoted to and supported right up to the evening before his passing.

Dr Michael Dyer (B) died 8 December 2022.

1991 George Hammon (S) died 18 February 2023

1988 Ming Chung (Ldr) died 9 February 2022 His friend, Stuart Morgan (Lx 91) writes: George was born in Royal Leamington Spa, the youngest of four, and grew up in rural Warwickshire, with a strong family link to

the city of Coventry, from where he inherited the burden of being a longsuffering Coventry City supporter.

George started his formal schooling at Bilton Grange, where he excelled at many things, including being one of the country’s leading table-tennis players. From there he (twice) won a scholarship to Oundle, following brother, Charlie (Sn 87), and father, Michael (Sn 56).

Despite being in a tough year-group in Sanderson, he rose to become Head of House and a School prefect, earning respect for his academic achievement, success at cross-country (in the absence of any table tennis) and as a stalwart 2nd XI opening batsman.

His next step took him to Christ Church, Oxford, to read Classics, where he spent four years building a strong friendship group of similarly talented and high-achieving companions. He took up table tennis again, playing alongside Matthew Syed for the University. He also took to the water, narrowly missing out on a lightweight rowing blue but being sufficiently competent to feature as a rower in the film True Blue, a Hollywood retelling of the 1986 boat race mutiny.

George developed a taste for adventure at Oundle when he twice used Dudgeon Awards to accompany friends on bicycles through the Loire valley and on the Camino de Santiago. After university he indulged this further by heading off on the Silk Road through the lawless tribal lands of northern Pakistan and then

through the vast deserts of western China. He came through this significantly lighter, but with his sense of adventure firmly reinforced.

Paris was his next step as he embarked on his working career, initially as a management consultant.

He immersed himself in French life with an apartment in the lively Marais district and again developed a group of glamorous and chic French friends. George quickly became a fluent French speaker, although he never lost his very English accent. He also developed a fine collection of wines, whose whereabouts is now known only to a Parisian burglar.

Having done an MBA at INSEAD, George did what every graduate thereof did, which was to change to a more exciting career.

He moved to Geneva to immerse himself in wealth management, using his dedication and eye for detail to ensure that his clients remained clients for as long as he looked after them.

It was in Geneva that George met the most talented person in his life, his wife, Catherine, – opera singer, psychiatrist and subsequently mother to their two daughters.

George was diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2019, just before Covid, never having smoked.

Despite the attentions of some of the world’s finest doctors and cuttingedge treatment, he left us in February. He will be remembered by all as the most generous, humorous, mischievous and loyal son/ brother/friend/husband and father one could find.

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A Great Schoolmaster: R.G. Freebairn (C 55)

R

oger died on 18 October 2022.

His Memorial in the Chapel on 13 May this year was a much appreciated opportunity for the many Old Oundelians, former colleagues, friends and family to share the regard he is held in. It was a moving and joyous celebration, continuing afterwards in the Great Hall with amusing recollections and memories being exchanged: a great tribute, illuminating his impact on so many lives.

Born in Chislehurst, Kent on 6 October 1936, Roger was an only child.

Raised in a strict and not particularly joyful household, his young life was pretty solitary. After Bickley Prep School, his parents decided to send him to Oundle. As a pupil and later School prefect, he balanced intellectual curiosity with outstanding sportsmanship, as swimming captain and captain of fives, winning both National Schoolboys singles and doubles. Few could have guessed that he would return as English teacher and and Laundimer tutor before being appointed Housemaster in 1970.

After National Service in the army from 1955 to 1957, Roger read English at Corpus Christi, Oxford and felt fortunate to have had Freddie Bateson as his tutor. Although invited to return to teach at Oundle, he chose to accept an invitation to teach at St. Andrews

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College in Grahamstown, South Africa, where he embraced a very different lifestyle and culture. He was warmly welcomed into the families of many of his pupils and the school was delighted to have such a gifted teacher and sportsman. He used the holidays to explore as much of the country as he could and loved every moment of his time there. His pupils encouraged his interest in birdwatching, which continued for the rest of his life. While teaching there, Roger discovered the work of Roy Campbell. As in everything he undertook, Roger was thorough and detailed - researching, curious, and absorbed in his subject.

He delved deeply into Campbell's life and collected all of his first editions. So immersed in Campbell's story was Roger that, later, he went by motorbike to Lisbon to meet the poet’s widow and visit his grave.

After five years in South Africa, the lure of Oundle proved irresistible, and Roger returned. Having first met Christiane in School House in 1963, they kept in touch by letter after their paths diverged. Their long distance courtship prospered and they married in 1971: Mark was born in 1973 and Claire in 1977. Despite its name, New House was the oldest boarding house and in dire need of refurbishment.

Hidalgo Moya, architect and OO, was put in charge of the project and had the option of designing an entirely new House on what is now the Oundle Town cricket ground, or adapt and modernise New House. The redevelopment took nearly seven years - while life in the House continued.

Roger’s commitment, care, organisation and good humour carried the boys through it all and those who experienced it recall it as an exciting time: the boys all felt involved.

There are some who, chameleonlike, display a different persona in different circumstances. Roger was one

of those people. Naturally very shy, he avoided the limelight at all costs and was never comfortable with crowds or in social situations. But in the classroom or the lecture hall he was totally at ease, in complete control of his subject, effortlessly commanding the respect, admiration and even reverence of those he taught. Peter Roberts, a former Head of English, observed, ‘Roger’s passion for English was an experience in which his pupils shared, and from which they emerged as though from some extraordinary adventure in the company of an excitable Aladdin, who exercised his ‘Open Sesame’ of anecdote or analysis to transport them into a world of wonder in which literature illuminated life and life illuminated literature.’

Roger was as devoted to his pupils as they were to him, and, just as he demanded the best from them, so he gave of his best in return. Apart from running New House and teaching, he coached fives, refereed rugby matches every Saturday, coached the successful Oundelian cross-Channel swimming team and became Fives National Vintage singles champion and Veterans' doubles champion. He also sat as a JP on the Corby bench for many years and published two poetry books.

He combined his passion for motorbikes with birdwatching, visiting the French Pyrenees, Spain and

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Portugal on motorcycle holidays, sometimes with Mark riding pillion.

This was in pursuit of the elusive Lammergeier, a bird he had become fascinated by in South Africa. Peter Roberts termed it ‘the headlong impetuosity with which Roger hurls himself at life.’

In 1986 the School asked him to take over the Appeal and act as unpaid fundraiser. Continuing with all of his responsibilities, he nevertheless succeeded in raising a total of £1,250,000, enabling the building of the Sports Hall and the Needham Building, as well as the conversion of the Old Gym into the Cripps Library.

His influence on the English department, where he was Head for a period, was considerable - especially with regard to creative writing and poetry. He revitalised the Clare Society and engaged poets in residence.

Another innovation was celebrating Poetry Day by each member of staff taking time at the end of a lesson to recite a poem they liked and say what it meant to them. The pupils reacted with amazed surprise at the realisation that scientists and mathematicians have interests outside their subjects!

For all his other skills, Roger will best be remembered as a ‘genius teacher’: an educator, whose passion infused those he taught with a lifelong love of the written word.

The messages of condolence his family received are a lasting testament to his influence, each one acknowledging the part Roger played in encouraging young people. Many captains of industry, CEOs, authors, teachers and surgeons attribute their success directly to his teaching. One story shows the affection in which he was held. Knowing he loved cycling, one of Roger’s Fifth forms wanted to mark the end of their time with him by presenting him with a new bike. They collected enough money to give it to him at the end of their last lesson - an extraordinary gesture which spoke volumes about how well-loved he was.

He used that bike, very happily, for many years.

In 2001, to commemorate his last teaching lesson after forty years and their thirtieth wedding anniversary, Roger and Christiane were accepted by SCOPE to walk the Old Inca Trail to Machu Picchu to raise money for the charity. This is a strenuous five day trek over 65 miles at an average height of 4000 metres. This wonderful experience raised well over £3000 - and was the first opportunity to be abroad in term time! Travels in Europe, Canada, America, China, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand were enjoyed over the following years.

When U3A opened an Oundle branch Roger, who had found

Oundle Blue Plaques

On Thursday 21 September the Stahl re-opened after a major refurbishment with a charming production of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. In happy contrast, the following week offered us Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

Rodolphe Stahl (S 1901), pictured left, was a pupil here for only one year, but the bequest he made shortly before his death in 1975 enabled the School to acquire West Street’s 1852 Congregational Church and convert it into the theatre which bears his name. An American citizen, Stahl returned home, and after service in the US Navy during WWI, he became a partner in the Maxwell Briscoe motor company, designing and manufacturing the Maxwell car. He was

retirement from teaching difficult, started a poetry group which met twice a month for well over ten years and enabled him to get back to doing what he loved most. The group's appreciation took him back to his teaching years. Four decades of correcting and improving essays meant it took a while to get out of the automatic habit of ‘marking’, but when Covid prevented U3A meetings, Roger was able to read his many books for sheer pleasure.

He also kept his interest in sport going, albeit via TV: rugby, cricket (he was a loyal Kent supporter all his life) and, of course, his keen interest in the fortunes of Tranmere Rovers. When he taught for two years in Liverpool after Oundle School retired him, he enjoyed going to Prenton Park and discussing their progress with other fervent fans.

After word spread about Roger's death his family received well over a hundred long emails and letters, filled with sadness but also with tributes and detailed memories to share just what a lasting presence he was in their lives - a cornucopia of heartfelt appreciation.

He was, they say: ‘inspiring’; ‘a man of utter integrity’; ‘a huge influence’; ‘a man with a delightfully wry sense of humour’; ‘a great schoolmaster’; ‘remarkable’; ‘a champion of a man’. ■ God Grant Grace

mainly interested in science at Oundle, though he did play the piano: The Laxtonian of 1901 was rather unkind about the ‘unfortunate nervousness’ of his playing in the Midsummer concert. His bequest shows great affection for Oundle.

The government announced recently that people will soon be able to celebrate local historical figures under an expansion of the official blue plaques scheme, confined to London until now. There are currently several local schemes, but this proposal would create one cohesive system. Nominations are not yet open, but anyone researching a figure in their area is encouraged to consult English Heritage’s selection criteria: https://www.englishheritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/ propose-a-plaque/.

The Archivist, Elspeth Langsdale, invites OOs to suggest nominees for an Oundle equivalent. Details of who, when and why, please, can be sent to: el@oundleschool.org.uk. ■ Megan Smedley

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The Bewitching Minute ■ Mark Moore (Sc 68) has just published his seventh book The Bewitching Minute and talks about self-publishing.

Mark Moore in the typewriter days

OO Mag. What is The Bewitching Minute about?

MM. It’s a complicated thriller. I used to call it a “sub-Jack Reacher Euro-thriller” which while accurate probably doesn’t do it justice. The Jack Reacher books are essentially cowboy stories. The lone wolf with expert fighting skills drifts into town and helps the locals sort out a problem with the local bigshot baddie that they couldn’t sort out themselves. And so with my book it’s set in France and Spain. Like all my books it’s an adventure story.

That’s what I most like to read, and when I started writing I naturally gravitated to writing the kind of

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books I like best. It’s the second book in a series with the same main character, Camo Lylly, who first appears in my book 33 1/3 - a treasure hunt story. I then put him through three years as a mercenary soldier in the Spanish Legion. So he comes out with the necessary military and fighting skills to beat the bad guys and help sort out other people’s problems.

OO Mag. When and why did you start writing books?

MM. I’d always wanted to write books. I’d been a journalist since leaving university and knew I was a good writer. I enjoyed finding the

Then I hit 60 and realised if I didn’t start writing I never would.

best words and putting them in the best order. But something always seemed to get in the way when it came to writing books. I think you’ll hear that excuse quite often, but in my case while being true it also probably disguised a lack of confidence in my ability to write books that were any good. Fear of failure, in other words. But then I hit 60 and had a kind of overdue

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epiphany: I realised that if I didn’t start I never would. So my 60th birthday seemed to flick the necessary switch in my mind and that same day I started writing my first book. Thirty days later I’d finished it. This is Mayday Grey. It’s a story of kidnap and rescue with talking animals. It’s not really a kids’ book, it just has talking animals as the main characters.

OO Mag. Did you self-publish it?

MM. No I didn’t. I didn’t know anything about self-publishing at that stage. I went the traditional route and tried to find an agent.

I bought The Writers & Artists Yearbook and contacted the agents listed, one by one - such a dispiriting and long drawn out process. I tried 59 agents, most of whom didn’t reply, before I gave up. The ones that did sent the same message: “Your book/novel/story doesn’t suit our portfolio.” As a writer there are only two possible responses to that. Either you think your book is no good, so you may as well give up. Or you get angry - especially when you see how much rubbish does get published.

I got angry. Then I realised they weren’t saying my book was no good - they were just saying they couldn’t see how they could sell it. But in a way that’s just as bad, because it implies you’re writing books no one wants to read. So I stayed angry. And that was good because it meant I kept writing.

Around that time I learnt about self-publishing. I was in email correspondence with an Archaeology professor at Harvard, and we were talking about Hannibal’s route over the Alps. Back in 1982 I’d gone on a thousand mile walk following Hannibal’s route from southern Spain to northern Italy – essentially to recover from getting divorced.

I wrote a hiking-and-history book about it when I finished the walk, but couldn’t get it published. I tried 42 agents with that one. But doing the walk gave me ideas about which route Hannibal took to cross the Alps. And the American professor told me to get my ideas out there in

the public domain. When I told him I’d tried, but no one would publish it, he said: “Publish it yourself.” He told me about Amazon and Kindle Direct Publishing. I researched it and very soon published both my nonfiction Hannibal story The Hannibal Walk and my first fiction book Mayday Grey on Amazon.

OO Mag. How easy was it to selfpublish?

MM. There are two aspects to it: the e-book and the print book. Publishing an e-book is straightforward. You upload the manuscript and a cover to Amazon’s KDP site (Kindle Direct Publishing) as two separate files. If you design the cover yourself, as I did with The Hannibal Walk, there are no costs

When you publish your books yourself there’s no one telling you what to write.

involved at all. With Mayday Grey I commissioned an artist to design a cover to my brief. That was the only cost. You decide how much the book will sell for. In my case I charged £2.

The book is then available to buy on Amazon and you read it on Kindle devices or use the Kindle app on iPads and other e-readers.

OO Mag. But print books are not so easy?

MM. No they’re not. The main difference is that you have to make a “print-ready pdf”, which is an exact image and replica of your printed book. There are various ways of doing that, but still the best and most accurate is to use a layout program. The main layout program for newspapers, magazines and books these days is Indesign, and as a journalist I was familiar with it and could lay out my books myself.

By that I mean I chose the font, the character size, the line length, the

leading, the number of lines to a page, the size of the book and its margins, the trim size – everything.

You lay this all out page by page in Indesign and then export the whole document as a print-ready PDF. When I have the print-ready PDF of the book and the PDF of the cover, I upload them. Unlike with e-books, Amazon will decide a minimum price. You can add your own top up price, but with print books there will be a necessary minimum to cover printing costs. I probably enjoy laying out the book almost as much as writing it. But if you haven’t got Indesign skills, you’re going to have to pay someone to do it for you.

OO Mag. So now you self publish all your books, do you think you will ever look to the traditional publishing route again?

MM. No. I’m happy staying with self-publishing. One of the obvious advantages is that your decisions about what to write stay only with you. There’s no one else telling you what to write or what the market wants. Before I started writing a series of books with the same main character I was genre hopping, and I probably couldn’t do that if I was being published traditionally.

After Mayday Grey, I wrote a Second World War thriller set in the Egyptian desert, called Pillar Eight.

This focuses on the little-known story of the successful Polish efforts to break the Enigma machine. Then I wrote a science-fiction story called 2112, set 90 years from now when women are running the world. After that I wrote a fictionalised memoir of my time in Fleet Street, Stepping Over Bodies, and then the treasure hunt story 33 1/3 - that’s the speed at which a vinyl LP rotates.

Only after that was published did I decide to write a sequel, The Bewitching Minute, with the same main character. I’m writing the third Camo Lylly story now.

Depending how I feel after that one I’ll either write another Lylly story, or something different. Only selfpublishing can give you that kind of freedom. ■

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Dreams, Nightmares and Reality ■ Alan Midgley (Hon OO) reminds us of a remarkable scientist

S

hould Oundle ever create a Hall of Fame for its scientists, a prominent place must be reserved for Dr Josef Hatvany (B 44).

By the time of his death, aged 60, he had published over 170 scientific papers and established a worldwide reputation as a pioneer of robotics, computer-assisted learning and the early stages of AI. Born in 1926 to a wealthy Hungarian family of Jewish origin, Josef spent his childhood not in the family palace in Budapest but in a ‘beautiful villa in the Buda hills with a huge private garden and a staff of seven.’ Post-war Hungary was politically unstable. Having lost almost two-thirds of its territory in the peace treaties of 1919-20, by the late 1930s, with increasing antisemitic legislation on the statute book (the first law emulating the Nazi Nuremburg Laws was introduced in May 1938), Josef was removed to the safety of England. In 1938, two weeks short of his twelfth birthday, he found himself in Bramston under the care of Dudley and Betty Heesom.

The change from life in Budapest to a Bramston dormitory must have been interesting.

Why Oundle? Josef had already shown an aptitude for scientific study and Oundle’s reputation for science and engineering was well established. It was a happy choice.

His daughter Helga, in this loving tribute, writes of his Oundle years: ‘When my father spoke of those workshops his eyes would light up with pride and enthusiasm. Bramston might have been more liberal than other Houses, its Housemaster trying to curtail bullying, but it is likely that Joseph Eric Stephen Hatvany, as he

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was known at Oundle, had a rough time in the beginning.’ In addition to his aptitude for the sciences, Josef loved debating and excelled at foreign languages. In 1944 he went on to Trinity College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences, where a new phase of his life began. There, he became a committed communist and remained so for the rest of his life.

Having been occupied by the Nazis in 1944 and ‘liberated’ by the Soviet Army in 1945, Hungary was by 1947 firmly ensconced behind the Iron Curtain. Determined to play his part in creating a communist Hungary, Josef left Cambridge without taking a degree, and his contact with Oundle was not to resume for over 20 years.

Hungary’s Stalinist regime, like those in all communist countries, was suspicious of anyone with links with the West. With his English education and aristocratic background, Josef served several prison sentences as a suspected spy before being released during the anti-Soviet Revolution of 1956. Despite this, his commitment to communism was unwavering, and he welcomed the return of a pro-Soviet government after the uprising failed.

In 1969, his renown growing, he was invited to attend a scientific conference in London. At the height of the Cold War this required a special visa, and to support his application he wrote to Dudley Heesom for a reference, which was duly supplied.

He then expressed a desire to re-visit Oundle. Recently retired, Dudley asked me, as his successor in the History Department, to organise an informal meeting between Josef and a group of sixth-formers. At the end of the meeting, Josef invited anyone

S Helga Hatvany and Joseph Hatvany (B 44), Tony Withers, Terry Collis (both LS 71), Anthony Hotson (Lx 72), Alan Midgley

interested to visit Hungary as his guest. So in August 1971, accompanied by three Oundelians, I drove my VW beetle across Europe to Budapest.

We camped in his garden and he entertained us royally. By then, the ‘ghoulash Communism’ era under Janos Kadar had begun. Two more visits ensued, and links with Oundle resumed. We met again in Hungary in 1983, but shortly after that we received the sad news that Josef was terminally ill with leukaemia. He died in 1987 before the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989.

In concentrating on Hatvany’s Oundle experiences, I have omitted his family life, which might politely be described as ‘colourful’ and some of which came as a surprise to his daughter during her research for this book. I was always aware of being in the presence of a great man – eminent scientist, loyal Hungarian, committed Communist - and immensely proud Old Oundelian. ■ We are grateful to Alan for writing this while in ill health. He died on 16 September.

BOOKS

Boutiques The Mainstone Press ■ Megan Smedley on the most beautiful book of the year

T

his is the loveliest book I've read this year, as well as the most charming. Boutiques is the first in a trilogy - The Fairground and Literary Shops are the others - celebrating Parisian boutiques of the 1920s, their enchanting shopfronts depicted with colourful proprietors.

Tim Mainstone (Sn 84) has 'always loved shopfronts', and research led him to Eric Ravilious's High Street, and then to publish The Story of High Street in 2008.

As does this updated edition, Lucien Boucher's exquisite 1925 book begins - of course! - with the boucherie whose window is dressed 'like a theatre set with mutton curtains and piglet festoons. The proscenium has bowls of blood for footlights' and 'a flashing cleaver hovers ready to strike, as swift and decisive as the guillotine.' Andrew Stewart's poetic descriptions enliven the historical context. The original Seheur publication sold out immediately and is recognised as an art deco classic.

Tim Mainstone's book reproduces Boucher's vibrant lithographs of 37 shops - and they are as amusing now as they were a hundred years ago.

Just look at that skinny dog eyeing the offal in the tripe shop!

The art historian James Russell (StA 84) explores Boucher's world and gives us the wonderful A Surrealist's Guide to Paris and commentary on the avant garde poems of Pierre Mac Orlan, which appear in a new translation. In common with other Mainstone Press books, including those on Edward Bawden and John Piper, there is much previously unseen material. The charm of the pages is enhanced by the printing sumptuous 150gsm paper from Italy and cloth binding.

The High Street, as we knew it, is dead: the supermarché and Amazon prevail. 'This celebratory edition shares a delight in the everyday'James Russell. Perhaps we all need to

reminisce about a more delightful and delicate alternative. ■ Boutiques is published as a limited edition of 500 by themainstonepress.com

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BOOKS

Four Oundelian Authors

Joe Thomas (S 96) draws on archive material, testimonies and newspaper reports from an ugly period of British history surrounding the unsolved killings of two men of colour. White Riot unfolds as a compelling crime novel through the stories of Altab Ali, stabbed to death in Whitechapel, and Colin Roach, who allegedly shot himself in Stoke Newington police station.

Thomas captures community anger, interracial tensions and the foreboding atmosphere around anti-fascist marches that led to violent clashes with NF skinheads and thuggish Special Patrol Group police with their 'thump of bats on slabs of meat, the crunch of deadened limb, of nose and cheek, and broken glass... ' The title is taken from The Clash's first single - a call to resist the ruling establishment and over-policing.

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When Cathy and Noah first got together neither saw children in their future. Eight years later, they’re happily married – and Cathy isn’t so sure.

Escaping into her work in the conservation studios of the National Gallery, she chips away at the layers of overpaint on a canvas from the collection and discovers an unexpected truth.

Chloe Ashby's (L 09) Second Self is a novel about confronting expectations, and learning to cope with the nagging, complex questions that shape a life.

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

“It’s not that I ever thought I could, I just stopped believing that I couldn’t”.

The Race to Alaska the ‘America’s Cup for dirtbags’ - is a 750-mile epic following the Inside Passage up the Canadian west coast from Port Townsend to Ketchikan, and is home to humpback, orca, cougar, and plenty of bears There are only two race rules: No engines, and no organised support. Zen: A Dog's Tale is the story of Bob McCall's (Lx 88) attempt as the littlest participant in the 2022 race, paddling solo in a kayak.

It’s a far cry from learning to paddle with Jim Crooks on the River Nene in the eighties.

Spoiler alert, it’s a DNF, but it is a tale of epic endeavour, the kindness of strangers and, as an event, one of sport’s best kept racing secrets.

Violet Naylor-Leyland (L 01) has profiled her friends and family - from society figures, titled aristocracy, and fashion and creative folk to a few wonderful ‘unknowns’ - gathering together a mixed demographic with an emphasis on unique and inimitable style, represented not only by fashion but by interiors, possessions, and in some cases examples of the work of those featured.

OPINION

A Seventy Year Legacy

I

was fortunate to come to Oundle and still recognise its benefits seventy years later. My family were WWII refugees, and like so many others, their goal was a good education for their children. My sister and I went to boarding schools in Yorkshire - mine was particularly tough - a cold bath every morning or a lap of the outdoor pool. Beating by the Head for any ‘sin’ was the norm.

In my last year, he informed me that he had beaten me on 36 different occasions and made me head boy.

Arriving at Laundimer, I was told I had to be a ‘fag,’ but was fortunate that my prefect was a gentle chap, Hugh Wood (Ldr 50), who shared my love of music. The Hsm was a dour man by the name of Upcott - we called him ‘Rooty’ - who embarrassed me by speaking to my parents in German.

After my first year, we had a new Hsm, Peter Ling, because Rooty had committed suicide during the summer.

My first Exeat was with Lindsay Williamson’s (Ldr 54) family. His parents arrived in a fancy car and we were driven to Sunningdale Golf Club for lunch - champagne, caviar and pate de foie gras. This was in 1949, when there was still rationing.

After O levels, as I’d found history

Labels

I

t’s becoming a problem. Leaving aside the complexity of multiple genders (not because I don’t believe in them, simply because we’ve got 300 words not 300 pages) with male OOs it’s dead easy: ‘men’ suffices in most situations in the OO world. ‘Lads’ or ‘boys’ is accepted - and flattering in a distorted Christopher Nolan type way. ‘Gentlemen’ is well understood and to be frank, pretending to be anything else is simply hypocritical!

Our parents coughed up the modern

boring since it was all about English royalty, I was allowed to study music theory, and I also learned to conduct.

I played the piano and the organ, taught myself the timpani and only had one lesson before playing in the School’s annual B Minor Mass in Peterborough Cathedral alongside the first timpanist of the LSO. I’ve always regretted I couldn’t afford to buy a copy of the recording.

One year, I was Queen Gertrude in Hamlet, alongside David Campbell (B 53), the star. I was keen on rugger and had developed a rugby player’s gait. Striding onto the stage, I heard titters from the audience. To my horror, I noted that my parents in the front row were tittering along with the rest. It was a challenge to compose myself.

My father was appalled at my choice of Cambridge University and subject: ‘If you want to study languages, go to Europe during your holidays,’ he said, and signed me up for Leeds university to study textile design in preparation for joining his Lancashire weaving business.

My Hsm sneered at this decision.

In those days, the only ‘acceptable’ universities were Oxford, Cambridge and London. I was glad I went to Leeds, though, since there were few

public school students and my mind was opened to a different world. I became an ardent socialist and nearly joined the communist party - to the consternation of my parents. Always forward-looking, they learned of a qualification not yet available in the U.K., the M.B.A., and I moved to London, Ontario.

I never returned to live in the UK, but never forgot Oundle and have enjoyed many reunions. Some years ago, I took two of my grandsons for a visit, and the Head invited us to Cobthorne and asked if they might like to come to Oundle. The older one lost interest when he found out that cricket, not baseball, was played.

Back to my Exeat with the Williamsons, sadly Lindsay’s father died not long after my visit. He had been a stockbroker but he died penniless. Oundle provided a full scholarship for him and his brother Ian. We remained lifelong friends and met when I was in England.

Lindsay died last year and I have given a small legacy to be used for a scholarship in memory of him.

This concept is new to Oundle, but I recommend it - providing legacies in the name of Old Oundelian friends. ■ John Seidler (Ldr 53)

equivalent of £100k a year to make us deliberately different from everyone else, and please don’t try and deny it!

For females it’s tough going.

‘Ladies’ sounds a tad prissy and elderly - I’m thinking Miss Marple, tweed skirts, disapproving tutting etc.

‘Girls’ can be viewed as patronising and infantilising by women, although when you pass 50 anything that even hints at youth is to be seized with both hands, even if the grip is feeble!

‘Women’ sounds a touch down market: ok that’s the term used in BBC modern sports parlance thus I rest my case, it’s down market! I decided to take a deeply unusual route and actually

asked younger female OOs what they wanted to be called. Granted, it was a sample of two (my social circle is narrow) but they both seemed happy with ‘ladies’. The OO Mag editor highly literate, well educated, and a modernist - favours ‘women’. I don’t want to fall out with her because I admire her work and because if she stopped no one else would do it and everyone would blame me! We agreed to differ - the male way of saying I’m right and she’s wrong!

So - ladies and gentlemen, men and women, lads and ladettes of the OO firmament, what you you think? ■ Marten Tharrum OO

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INDEX

INDEX. OOs by Year NOTES: Not indexed are: Obituaries, Class of 2013, Twenty years On. 1901 Rodolphe Stahl (S) 137, 1908 Roy Sanderson (Sc) 54, 1913 Eric Yarrow (G) 74, 1917 RG Wills (D) 53, 1926 Hugh Wontner (D) 6, 1935 Gordon Conradi (D) 64, Peter Ling (B) 54, 1939 Eric Conradi (D) 64, 1940 Peter Davidson (B) 86, 1944 Josef Hatvany (B) 140, Jack Hurst (Sn) 98, Dick James (G) 76, Tony Jolowicz (Sn) 6, 1945 Ian Hamilton Kerr (S) 57, 1946 Ernest Winocour (StA) 98, 1947 Kevin Chawner (B) 90, Tony Riley (Ldr) 45, 1949 Peter How (Sn) 82, Keith Johnson (N) 99, Colin Loveless (S) 78, Michael Mustill (Sc) 5, 1950 Malcolm Brocklesby (C) 54, Johnny Crabbe (G) 82, Willy John Shelton (S) 96,

Hugh Wood (Ldr), 143, 1951 Roger Allton (D) 86, Jos Bird (StA) 76, John Foster (Sc) 95, David Hollands (N) 92, Philip Holmes (Sn) 86, David Stevenson (N) 71, 1952 Scott Glover (D) 4, 82, Christophe Pain (Sn) 96, Mike Robertson (B) 96, Peter Suddards (S) 96, Bill Whittall (Ldr) 76, 90, 1953 Derek Blooman (D) 76, Clive Boddington (S) 74, David Campbell (B) 143, Mark Collet (C) 98, Richard Mullens (Sn) 70, Dennis Schmiegelow (Ldr) 93, Neil Slingsby (N) 96, John Taylor (C) 70, David Thorpe (Ldr) 90, 1954 Charles Allen (B) 92, David Barron (Ldr) 81, 113, Peter Cole (Sn) 84, Hamish Donaldson (Ldr) 78, Mark Glossop (D) 82, Mike Hollands (N) 92, Rab Peck (S) 74, Brian Pettifer (S) 85, 96, John Seiffert (D), 98, Charles Valentine (D) 57, 76, Chris Walliker (D) 76, Lindsay Williamson (Ldr) 143, 1955 David Aston (StA) 44, Alan Budd (C) 94, Roger Freebairn (C) 6, 48, 61, 69, 74, 84, 96, 97, 136, 137, Simon Gray (Lx) 70, David Hutchinson (N) 99, David Jones (StA) 79, David McFetrich (B) 68, Paul Newsome (StA) 82, 90, John Spragg (Lx) 59,

Michael Turnbull (Sc) 90, Michael Whittall (Ldr) 76, 1956 Robert Charlton (S) 67, Anthony Cole (Sn) 84, Roger Ellis (Sn) 83, 84, Michael Hammon (Sn) 83, 84. 90, Jan Kluk (LS) 55, 95, Clive Morton (StA) 82, Iain Smith (C) 94, 1957 Richard Keith (D) 75, Don Mertens (G) 94, Tim Piper (B) 64, 96, Mick Reid-Thomas (S) 73, 1958 Dru Bentley (Sc) 83, Peter Brass (D) 57, Brian Cormack (Sn) 56, Peter Tett (B) 65, Brian Trent (Sc) 56, Mark Waller (D) 57, Tony Whelen (Sc) 83, Alan Willis (C) 93, 94, John Winder (StA), 98, 1959 Robin Apthorpe (S) 95, Richard Butterfield (Ldr) 91, Tony Chandler (Ldr) 91, Anthony Collinson (S) 86, Richard Conradi (D) 64, Peter Dickinson (Ldr) 79, Richard M Evans (Ldr) 97, Bob Hainsworth (S) 99, Charles Kilner (StA) 82, 90, Dudley Lucas (Sc) 91, Nigel Napier-Andrews (Sc) 86, 94, Mike Ross (Sc) 94, Julian Rushton (N) 85, Alastair Shaw (Sc) 86, 94, 1960 Richard Bailey (Sc) 94, Bev Boag (StA) 48, 79, John Dickson (Sc) 95, David Ewing (Sc) 86, 94, 96, Neil Hollebone (D) 98, Roland Fairfield (StA) 79,

Anthony King (G) 82, Malcolm Llewellyn (Sc) 96, Howard Stringer (Ldr) 81, Roger White (Sc) 71, 1961 Rod Alexander (Sc) 75, Philip Bambury (Sc) 74, Robert Barrell (StA) 47, Brian Burrows (D) 86, Gavin Choyce (N) 56, 95, Painton Cowan (Sc) 96, Robert Foster (Sc) 95, Jim Hindmarsh (Ldr) 81, Simon Nicholson (Lx) 56, John Richardson (StA) 79, Iain Schmiegelow (Ldr) 58, Angus Shaw (Sc) 86, Christian Walton (Lx) 65,

Frank Wright (B) 66, 1964 Martin Conradi (D) 64, Peter Fox Andrews (N) 48, David Hemmings (Sn) 94, Anthony Kellett (Sn) 93, John Kellett (Sn) 93, Michael Preeston (Lx) 80, 92, Ingram Quentin (StA) 96, Chris Richards (StA) 5, 78, Richard Topham (Ldr) 93, Martin Trentham (B) 82,

1962 Andrew Anderson (C) 83, Martin Boag (StA) 79, Duncan Bridel (C) 92, Peter Davidson (Ldr) 93, Richard Glover (Sc) 57, 80, Chris Higman (N) 75, Iain Laird (Lx) 86, Simon Lucas (Sc) 91, Roger Marshall (StA) 86, Michael Oakley (Lx) 86, Peter Page (Lx) 74, Lawrence Reddaway (D) 93, Ned Stanton (Lx) 43, Richard Valentine (D) 57, John Williams (StA) 79, 98,

1965 Jeremy Colson (Ldr) 76, David Davidson (B) 86, David Edgar (Ldr) 5, 76, John Edwards (B) 93.

Bob Ellis (D) 46, Patrick Fossett (B) 47, Adrian Grant (N) 71, Chris Helliwell (Sc) 86 Nigel Hetherington (F) 47, Anthony Holden (Lx) 6,66, Nick Lucas (Sc) 91, Norman Macfarlane (S) 66, Roy Nicholson (StA) 45,46, Tony Parsons (S) 55, 65, 73, 76, 83, Nick Pritchard (Sc) 82, Peter Reed (B) 86, Chris Reilly (StA) 65, 77, John Robertson (B) 66, Graham Solari (G) 74, 89, 90, John Story (B) 65, 77,

1963 Anthony Bayley (S) 92, Chris Broadbent (Ldr) 59, Nick Cheatle (G) 44, 59, Peter Conradi (D) 64, Jeremy Cross (Sn) 96, James Ellis (Sn) 84, David Hartridge (Sc) 59, Peter Leach (StA) 93, 94, John Lilleyman (B) 69, Tim Linton (S) 97, Peter Owen (Lx) 55, 77, 80, 92, Nick Owles (N) 44,47, Nick Rowell (C) 83, Nigel Shepherd (G) 83, Hedley Williams (B) 91,

1966 Christopher Best (C) 83, Cavan Browne (C) 44, 116, John Clark (N) 75, Iain Davidson (B) 86, Martin Dyer (Ldr) 76, William King (C) 116, Nick Jackson (Sc) 86, Donald Komrower (C) 116, Sam Markillie (StA) 46, Richard Matthews (D) 77, 83, David Mitchell (Ldr) 76, Nick Ryley (Sc) 78, Judge Smith (Sn) 76, Graham Spanton (C) 116, Malcolm Watson (D) 83,

Simon Wilkinson (C) 116, Geoffrey Woolsey-Brown (Lx) 90, 1967 John Ashworth (B) 98, Peter Bibby (Sc) 64, Hugh Brass (D) 57, 65, 75, 96, Charles Coulson (Lx) 71, John de Lucy (D) 75, 77, Malcolm Donaldson (Ldr) 78, Nigel Engert (G) 75, 77, David Furnival (Ldr) 86, James Glover (D) 57, Nick Havranek (D) 75, Roger Metcalf (C) 116, Mark Tinsley (StA) 84, Patrick Vaulkhard (C) 116, 1968 Sam Anulkaya (N) 78, Simon Arrol (N) 78, Ian Bowden (Sc) 56, James Clayton (G) 55, 93, 95, John Drake (Sn) 74, Robert Eastwood (C) 116, Mike Edge (C) 72, Stuart Elliott (Lx) 91, Charles Gubbins (C) 116, Bob Harrap (B) 58, 84, Tony Healey (G)137, Jon Holmes (B) 66, 84, Sook Sanan Jotikasthira (N) 78, Stewart Lamond (StA) 92, Joslin Lewis (Sn) 58, Philip Mardall (C) 116, Bob McCall (Lx) 59, Denis Miller (S) 96, Mark Moore (Sc) 1, 4, 70, 138, John Poore (C) 116, David Stogdale (D) 73, 1969 Charles Bailey (C) 116, Jay Broadhurst (C) 54, Philip Cartwright (S) 56, Nick Chrimes (Sc) 66, Mike Copestake (Sc) 85, Nick Copestick (Ldr) 44, Chris Denley (LS) 62, Steve Fletcher (S) 81, Al Gordon (C) 38, 46, 84, 85, 116,

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INDEX

Philip Graesser (Sc) 84, David Gunner (Sc) 84, Nigel Humphries (D) 93, Richard Jackson (Sn) 84, Simon Mennell (StA) 76, 118, Maurice Monk (Sc) 117, David Richards (StA) 3, 5, 6, 7, 57, Nick Sheldon (N) 78, Roger Tacq (LS) 59, Steven Thomas (G) 81, Edward Waterson (S) 87, David Watson (D) 87, Michael Williams (N) 44, 58, Robert Willis (C) 116, 1970 John Allwood (Ldr) 77, Jay Broadhurst (G) 76, 117, Colin Campbell (Sc) 117, Mike Ellis (G) 76, Giles Harrison-Hall (Sc) 96, Mike Healey (G)137, Jeremy Horsell (Sc) 84, 117, Ian James (G) 76, Martin Jenkins (Sc) 58, 76, 117, Mark Mackaness (C) 84, Adrian March (Sc) 117, Richard Owen (Sc) 83, 117, Geoffrey Rhodes (Sc) 58, 116, Edward Slack (StA) 93, Dennis Slaney (C) 116, John Turnbull (Lx) 69, Simon Wyatt (Sc) 84, 1971 Brian Bowser (Sn) 46, 86, Michael Brook (Sn) 86, Neil Campbell (N) 76, Jay Cartwright (S) 56, John Chadwick (StA) 56, Terry Collis (LS), 140, Ian Gilthorpe (B) 69, Simon Grantham (B) 62, Richard Habershon (Ldr) 77, Peter Haigh (N), 76, Crispin Horsfield (Sn) 75, Jonathan Jones (B), 58, Mike Ling (Sn) 53, Robert Morton (Sc) 58, Peter Nicholls (Lx) 117, Chris Piper (Sc) 30, 39, 49,

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55, 58, 70, 83, 93, 117, Robert Ringrose (StA) 46, Kenneth Runciman Annand (B) 77, Julian Sharpe (N) 96, Philip Sloan (LS) 4, Duncan Smith (C) 44, Colin Story (B) 66, Julian Sturdy-Morton (Sn) 65, Tony Withers (LS) 140, Roddy Wood (C) 116, Nigel Youngman (Sc) 58, 1972 Chris de Gara (D) 94, Vin Grantham (B) 57, David Griffith (B) 96, Jonathan Hill (StA) 78, Peter Hotchin (C) 90, Anthony Hotson (Lx) 140, Paul Johnson (LS) 119, David Kitchin (Sc) 3, 5, 57, Jonathan Mennell (G) 76, Bob Redfern (Sc) 81, Andrew Sharpley (Sc) 61, Richard Walker (B) 92, Irvin Waller (D) 57, Malcolm Walters (D) 56, 1973 David Allison-Beer (D) 80, Robert Blackburn (Sc) 46, 84, Ted Bruning (D) 80, Stephen Conradi (Sn) 64, Peter Edwards (Sc) 44, Quentin Hague (N) 76, Andrew Kerr (Sc) 57, Jeremy Monroe (G) 46, Peter Pentecost (StA) 46, 55, 70, Nigel Sharpe (N) 96, Richard Shirreff (C) 88, 1974 Michael Blackburn (Sc) 65, Peter Dawson (G) 72, Shane Dodd (Sn) 44, 46, 72, Mark Eddy (StA) 47, Hugo Horsfield (Sn) 75, Jon Ingall (StA) 96, Mark Kerr (Sc) 57, Mark Nicholson (Sc) 72, James Singlehurst (Sc) 58,

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

Hamish Wallace (G) 92, Nick Wilson (N) 47, 1975 Howard Allen (Sn) 55, 76, 90, Jonathan Bach (Lx) 65, Roger Bach (Lx) 65, Ralph Baines (Sc) 58, Mike Beamish (Sc) 47, 59, 72, Julian Bond (Lx) 66, Peter Bubenzer (D) 95, Martin Butt (C) 58, Andrew Bywater (Lx) 70, Andy Clamping (LS) 119, Andrew Crawshaw (LS) 119 David Elliott-Binns (StA) 98, 118 Adam Farnsworth (B) 118, Bill Fisher (B) 93, 118, John Gent (LS) 119, Stephen Hall (LS) 119, Tim Harlow (StA) 118, Nigel Hewitt (B) 90, Richard Hill (StA) 78, Julian Hooton (StA) 118, Simon Redfern (Sc) 84, Nigel Rudolf (S) 94, Andrew Senior (StA) 118, Simon Shepherd (G) 118, Jonathan Taylor (LS) 58, 119, Tim Terceira (D) 93, 94, Jo Whittall (StA) 76, Richard Withers (LS) 119, 1976 Simon Boon (LS) 119, Dermot Brady (Ldr) 58, 84, James Brown (Sc) 62, Tim Cowan (Ldr) 58, 84 Fred Domellof (F) 48, James Dracup (Sc) 72, Charlie Elsey (C) 58, Mark Golledge (C) 65, Martin Lamb (D) 85, Ian Lawson (LS) 119, Charles Miller (Ldr) 55, 56, 84, Jon Monk (B) 98, Ian Orr (StA) 74, Chris Rudolf (S) 94 Peter Ryley (Sc) 118, Rupert Thompson (Ldr) 58, Malcolm Wallace (G) 92, Tim Waring (Ldr) 55, 84,

1977 Richard Allibone (S) 65, David Beamish (Sc) 62, Jim Bennett (N) 55, 67, 84, 95, 96, Mark Boomla (G) 91, Rob Brown (Sc) 62, Simon Corlett (G) 91, Tim Elliott (StA) 41, 43, Jim Eyre (B) 58, Kevin Gerald (Sc) 91, Ian Goldsmith (Lx) 119, Nick Kirkbride (Lx) 58, Ian Lane (Ldr) 58, 84, 85, Arthur Marment (D) 2, 37, 39, 49, 57, 85, Cord Matthies (N) 96, Ken Maw (D) 55, Chris Porter (Sc) 69, Mark Swallow (Sc) 58, 67, Adrian Waddell (S) 67, Anthony Wright (N) 72, 1978 Guy Bainbridge (Sn) 55, 71, Paul Barrett (Lx) 80, Stephen Bedford (S) 67, David Bennett-Baggs (D) 69, Andrew Davidson Hogg (S) 60, Neil Everitt (Sn) 96, William Hiscocks (C) 66, Ian Hodgson (Sc) 72, Robbie Hutchinson (B) 69, Richard Kemsley (C) 79, David Meredith (Lx) 79, Jerry Miller (Sc) 69, William Mitchell (Sn) 65, Mark Parish (S) 91, David Richards (S) 60, Charles Salem (C) 55, 91, 93, 98, Jeremy Sankey (Lx) 79, 1979 David Bevin (Sn) 73, Jeremy Bolland (D) 97, Paul Clark (S) 60, Gerald Elms (Sn) 73, Charles Gillett (StA) 62, Stephen Hall (Ldr) 58, Paul Harriman (D) 69, 85, Jon Higham (N) 78, David Hutchinson (G) 46,

Roger Lamb (D) 85, William Rice (Sn) 47, Steve Royle (Sn) 47, Phil Streather (G) 2, 40, 70, 71, Charles Waddell (S) 58, 67, Hil West (Sc) 69, Julian West (Sc) 69, Philip Yarrow (Lx) 70, 113, 1980 Jerry Appleyard (N) 63, Malcolm Brown (N) 96, Mike Doherty (StA) 39, William English (Lx) 79, Ian Grant (C) 62, Nigel Harley (G) 89, 90, Charlie Hiscocks (StA) 65, Tom Hiscocks (StA) 83, Robin Horsell (Sc) 84, Jonathan Massey (B) 75, Mark Reeves (C) 55, 97, Mike Reyner (Sn) 70, 71, Christopher Riggs (S) 97, 1981 Stephen Bach (Lx) 65, Stephen Bedford (C) 62, Guy Beresford (B) 2, 38, 46, 64, 70, 85, Chris Elliott (StA) 64, Stuart Ellis (Lx) 62, Andrew Gloag (Sn) 62, Stuart Grant (S) 62, Bill Heffernan (Sn) 98, James Hepworth (StA) 85, Simon Hinshelwood (StA) 64, Tom Hiscocks (StA) 64, 113, Robin Johnson (StA) 84, 85, Matthew Lane (L) 62, Peter Matthies (N) 96, Anthony Milne-Stoughton (S) 92, Richard Sanigar (Ldr) 71, Andrew Scoley (S) 62, Andrew Waters (B) 75, Mark Yarrow (Lx) 64, 70, 113, 1982 Lance Ashworth (G) 2, 6, 40, 49, 57, 66, 83, James Bainbridge (Sn) 73, Theo Barry (N) 66,

Andrew Bird (G) 76, Crispin Boxhall (StA) 92, Rob Bramley (C) 91, Nigel Hinshelwood (StA) 64, Mike Logsdon (Lx) 61, Will Massey (B) 75, Matt Payne (StA) 55, Barry Peak (Sn) 44, Adrian Phillips (StA) 75, Dominic Vincent (Lx) 60, 90, 1983 David Bailey (N) 57, 83, Andrew Jay (G) 64, Richard Jones (LS) 97, Jeremy Pong (Ldr) 86, 97, Daniel Porter (Sc) 70, James Waters (B) 75, 1984 Jonathan Andrews (Sc) 2, 57, James Barker (Sc) 84, Charlie Bennett (N) 67, 70, 84, 96, 97, Mike Bird (G) 76, Patrick Bowes (G) 65, Rupert Bullock (Ldr) 84, Jim Burton (N) 84, 97, Ed Caldwell (StA) 84, Steve Carr (S) 44, Nick Dowdeswell (Ldr) 86, Jerry Epton (N) 76, Michael Kardel (N) 97, Steve Kunzer (G) 70, Tim Mainstone (Sn) 141, Jim Massey (B) 40, 75, Sean McFetrich (B) 68, Jules Mountain (S) 55, Richard Munro (Sc) 84, Mark Petersen (G) 97, James Russell (StA) 141, Alasdair Stuart (B) 44, John Townend (StA) 62, Andrew Townsend (G) 63, Jonathan Turner (S) 84, Bill Ward (G) 76, Pat Westlake (Lx) 81, Patrick White (Ldr) 86, Giles Woodbridge (B) 96, Simon Woods (Ldr) 86, 1985 Sean Brunton (Ldr) 73,

INDEX

Ben Cocke (G) 63, Andrew Cox (Sn) 73, Mark Dixon (Sn) 73, Ed Dove (C) 45, Guy Eames (LS) 55, Angus Gray (G) 64, Peter Haselden (G) 63, Charlie Hoult (Sc) 55, 66, 73, Andrew Housely (G) 64, Dave Kunzer (G) 63, Phil Massey (StA) 69, Jason McCaldin (D) 44, 67, Dudley Moor Radford (B) 49, Pete Newboult (G) 63, Dominic Parker (G) 63, Angus Piper (B) 39, Nazir Razak (Sn) 74, James Robertson (Lx) 69, Ben Shepherd-Smith (D) 57, Alex Smith (Ldr) 48, Chris Stephenson (Sn) 73, James Stuart-Mills (Sc) 86, Richard Waters (B) 75, 1986 Martin Bailey (N) 59, Nick Berchem (D) 74, 87, Nick Carrell (Sn) 74, 88, Philip De Voil (G) 60, 90, David Dixon (StA) 66, Richard Ellis (Sn) 82, 83, 84, 85, George Griffith (Sn) 74, 87, Richard Hall (StA) 66, Charles Hammon (Sn) 85, Rupert Harris (Ldr) 2, 57, Chris Slater (StA) 72, Bob Spragg (Sc) 59, Paul Turner (S) 84, 1987 Gavin Allen (B) 64, Steve Arroyave (StA) 93, Chris Aslett (D) 61, Dom Brady (Sc) 59, David Cairns (Ldr) 64, 65, Edmund Fetherston-Dilke (StA) 64, Bruce Galliford (StA) 59, 84, James Ginns (Sc) 64,65, Mike Haigh (Sc) 58, 84, 85, Charles Hammond (Sn) 64, 65, 83, Doug Hill (Sc) 65,

James Hollands (N) 65, Tim MacMillan (G) 59, Matthew Porter (Sc) 65, 70, Matthew Sargaison (B) 64, Mark Slater (StA) 72, Justin Souter (G) 67, Richard Tett (B) 64,65, Ryck Turner (N) 59, Iain Wadie (Sn) 89, 90, Andrew Williamson (G) 87, 1988 Phil Atkins (C) 59, Tom Baldock (S) 59, Jeremy Burrows (G) 79, Paul Chatterton (S) 59, Matt Forde (Sc) 59, Alex Hendry (Sc) 59, Bob McCall (Lx) 142, Jules McAlpine (Lx) 41, 42, 59, Peter Moore (Ldr) 55, 80, Tim Pasco (Lx) 59, Chris Skelton (Sc) 59, Guy Spragg (Sc) 59, Justin Yeaman (S) 59, 1989 Martin Amor (D) 57, Duff Battye (G) 57, Jeremy Berchem (D) 74, Rupert Bradbury (Sc) 68, 69, Simon Burdess (C) 57, Bill Cartledge (G) 57, Dan Hiscocks (Sn) 57, Ed Rose (S) 57, Philip Wilson (Sn) 66, 1990 Dan Anslow (S) 56, Kevin Bennett (Sn) 68, Dan Burn (Sn) 68, Nick Cartwright (N) 62, 68, Ralph Charlton (S) 67, Stu Cranna (Sc) 68, Alex Deacon (Lx) 56, 57, Phil Dobson (Sn) 56, John Dowd (L) 87, Jez Dutta (G) 68, David ffoulkes-Jones (Lx) 56, James Hickson (F) 45, Charlie Isaacs (N) 62, Jason McCaldin (F) 45, Jez Paxman (D) 68,

Piers Pepperel (Lx) 68, Dave Robinson (Lx) 68, James Spragg (Sc) 56, 59, Oliver Thain (Lx) 56, Dom Turnor (S) 68, Tom Tyler (C) 68, Leckie Waterhouse (Sn) 56, GAP Wheeler (B) 39, Dan Williams (StA) 98, Aydon Yeaman (S) 68, Daniel Yong (C) 55, 1991 Peter Bambury (LS) 74, Tom Barnes (Sc) 62, Jules Barnett (N) 62, Scott Black (Ldr) 62, Rob Carpmael (B) 65, Rupert Cheswright (N) 62, Tom Ellis (Sn) 84, Mark Epton (StA) 39, 79, 83, 85, Harvey Flather (D) 79, 83, Charlie Froud (StA) 62, Jock Glover (Sc) 80, George Hammon (Sn) 83, 84, JJ Harris (Lx) 56, Richard Harris (F) 45, Bill Hooper (N) 62, Matthew Howorth (LS) 65, Tiff Hughes (Drake) (K) 83, Cameron Hunt (S) 85, Jason Koenig (LS) 83, 85, Peter Lamming (Lx) 83, Jon Lisle (D) 74, Stuart Morgan (Lx) 43, 62, 79, 83, 85, Matt Parker (Sc) 62, Sam Porrit (StA) 83, Alastair Richardson (G) 78, 83, Andy Rymer (G) 83, Haydn Simpson (G) 83, Angus Slater (N) 62, 85, Alex Smith (N) 55, 62, 79, Pete Southby (Lx) 83, 85, Tim Stephen (B) 83, Chris Tovey (Sc) 90, 1992 James Aston (StA) 44, 68, Iain Chaney (B) 68, James Cullinan (G) 88, Roger Doig (StA) 65,

Charles Duncombe (B) 68, Will Elderkin (N) 65, Mark Hallam (Sc) 85, Jim Harlow (LS) 85, Alexander Inchbald (G) 113, Karissa Lamming (Hollis) (K) 83, Jon Manners (LS) 65, Alexis McDonald (B) 68, James McFetrich (B) 68, Nick Mynott (B) 68, Rachel Pennington (K) 68, Andre Porritt (LS) 49, 65, James Porter (Sc) 70, William Robinson (G) 65, 87, Rob Shaw (S) 90, Tom Shippey (G) 65, Richard Teverson (L) 68, Andrew Tobin (G) 61, 80, Neil Valentine (G) 57, Mark Waters (B) 75, 1993 Fuad Abdullah (Sn) 85, Andrew Appleby (Sn) 80, Bernard Bambury (N) 74, Kate Cooke-Priest (W) 66, Dominic Epton (StA) 83, Joe Goyder (Sn) 85, Richard Hall (Sc) 72, Joe Henry (Sn) 68, 85, Rob Heygate (StA) 83, James Hicks (Sc) 72, Pippa Hudson (W) 80, George Jeffreys (Sn) 85, Henry Jeffreys (Sn) 63, Stuart Kidd (LS) 74, Julian Kirk (LS) 61, Nigel Kirk (S) 85, Jaymes Leabeater (Sn) 85, Jules Mascarenhas (Sc) 63, Xavier McDonald (Sn) 85, Colin McInnes (Sn) 85, Tim Pollard (Sc) 39, 61, Oliver Quarmby (Sn) 85, Stuart Rowland (Sc) 45, Oliver Seligman (Sc) 72, Harry Shelley (Sn) 85, Alex Smith (Sn) 85, David Stephen (B) 83, Jon Terry (G) 82, 83 Charlie Underwood (Sc) 45, William Walsh (Sc) 72,

1994 Nick Ackerman (StA) 96, Guy Ackernley (Sc) 85, Richard Byworth (StA) 96, Andrew Cadge (G) 57, Rick Dunn (Sn) 96, Robert Elderkin (N) 96, Will Hunt (S) 85, Mark Mankowski (Sn) 87, Charles Orton-Jones (S) 76, Seb Sergent (L) 76, Alex Southworth (Sn) 87, Sammy Stephen (S) 82, 83, Roger Thorpe (Lx) 86, 1995 Philip Anley (N) 76, Tim Brooks (Lx) 85, Christo Daniels (N) 76, Billy Day (S) 66, Phil Everington (C) 57, Claire Freebairn (LS) 70, Chris Goff (S) 66, Charlie Hague (S) 85, Sarah Hampton (W) 93, Dan Hughes (Sc) 63, Robert Johnson (N) 49, Ross Kemp (S) 66, Catriona Lamming (James) (K) 83, Rick LeSueur (B) 63, Nina Rieck (K) 63, Nick Scott (Lx) 85, Ed Reynolds (Lx) 83, Guy Simmonds (StA) 63, Danny Stephen (B) 83, Neill Stephen (Lx) 83, Rick Storey (G) 57, Chris Wilson (Lx) 63, 1996 Charles Ashby (Lx) 56, 86, Mike Booth (C) 92, Henry Bryers (Lx) 57, 86, Sam Cates (Lx) 56, 63, 86, 88, Cary Curtis (G) 57, Henry Duncombe (B) 46, NH Edwards (S) 39, Jimmy Goddard (Lx) 56, 86, Ali Green (D) 57, Claire Hallam (K) 86, Oli Hallam (S) 86, Tim Hamlyn (C) 93,

Tom Johnson (Lx) 56, 86, Stevie Moore (StA) 44, Aidan Nicholson (Lx) 56, 86, Morgan Powell (C) 86, Ben Roberts (N) 43, Tom Rowley (StA) 86, Ben Shearon (S) 98, Alex Stanhope (Lx) 56, 86, Joe Thomas (S) 142, Dave Walder (Lx) 67, Nick Whalley (C) 44, 1997 Karis Abas (StA) 63, 66, 85, Nick Beresford (B) 40, Andrew Coulthurst (StA) 62, William Day (S) 85, George Desoutter (Lx) 64, Simon Fitton (Lx) 44, Alastair Foster-Ward (StA) 62, Lizzie Gent (Kilsby) (W) 40, 59, Chris Godfrey (N) 62, 85, Toby Haselwood (Sc) 63, Giles Holder (Lx) 64, Charles Holmes (StA) 62, James Holmes (Lx) 63, Rory Jenkins (Ldr) 43, Matthew Joyce (StA) 62, Alex Kemp (S) 66, 85, James Kilner (StA) 62, 85, Andy Lightowler (L) 45, Tom Lloyd (Sc) 39, 40, Tim Nicholson (StA) 63, John Pennington (N) 62, Cressida Pollock (LS) 6, Jake Sanders (StA) 62, Matthew Simmonds (StA) 55, 62, Max Stallard (N) 63, Simon Stephen (Lx) 55, Matthew Thornton (StA) 63, Neil Trickett (L) 83, Tom Wansbrough-Jones (Sc) 63, 85, 1998 Ruth Ahmedzai (Kemp) (K) 76, Jon Curtis (G) 62, Thurstan Guthrie-Brown (StA) 62, Lucinda Leonard (K) 76, Tom Matthews (B) 83, Peter Perowne (G) 88,

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

147

INDEX

Rufus Pollock (LS) 6, Adrian Visram (S) 88, Harry Wallace (StA) 88, 1999 Guy Anderson (L) 88, Nick Atkins (C) 66, Ed Birkhead (StA) 72, Max Desoutter (Lx) 56, Seb Falk (B) 72, Tom Goodley (G) 45, George Henry (Sn) 69, Andy Kemp (S) 66, Mark Kemp (S) 66, Charlie Matthews (F) 83, David Nicholson (Lx) 56, Julia Perowne (K) 88, Mark Thakkar (StA) 72, George Unwin (S) 66, Stuart Valentine (G) 57, Piers Ward (Lx) 59, 2000 Jonathan Britton (Ldr) 72, Joss Cheatle (G) 38, 44, Alexa Glynn (K) 4, Stewart Holmstrom (L) 77, Ed Ibrahim (Lx) 49, Josephine Jones (K) 66, Ramon Lo (G) 97, Suzanne Owen (K) 66, 80, Guy Myram (StA) 63, Hamish Rieck (Lx) 63, Charlotte Wiseman (K) 66, 2001 Daniele Bonanno (Sc) 75, Abi Carter (K) 81, Jules Hammond (D) 64, Simon Hicks (B) 39, Tiffany Lo (N) 97, Violet Naylor-Leyland (L) 142, Matt Perowne (B) 57, India Ward (K) 59, 2002 Ed Barker (F) 45, Elizabeth Holmstrom (L) 77, Jonathan Hunter (G) 67, Will Kendall (S) 45, Will Matthews (F) 83, Simon Reynolds (Sn) 55, 97, Nick Rhodes (Sc) 86, Peter Seebohm (Sc) 90, 148

2003 Julian Bertrand (C) 83, Olivia Brass (D) 75, Emma Jean Kemp (W) 3, 113, David Owen (F) 80, Toby Saul (C) 83, Oliver Simmonds (Lx) 75, 2004 Kate Cooper (Owen) (Sn) 78, Richard Horner (Ldr) 10, 55, Jonny Huntington (G) 2, 8, Caroline Matthews (D) 83, Sandy Rowell (C) 90, Rollo Sheldon (B) 78, Marieke van de Braak (L) 60, Cameron Wake (L) 43, 60, 2005 Andrew Bull (L) 56, Jo Cartwright (W) 56, Sam Cone (StA) 63, Arnab Datta (L) 58, Ben Dodds (S) 39, Patrick Foster (StA) 4, 41, 42, 45, James Hems (G) 59, Heather Holmstrom (L) 77, Alexandra Jones (N) 66, David Kemeny (S) 74, Charlie Kirkbride (Sn) 58, Mark Lewis (Ldr) 59, Dotty McLeod (L) 59, Rachel Myers (Sn) 59, James Page (Lx) 74, Richard Pentecost (StA) 2, 45, 64, 71, Kate Quinn (D) 56, Bella Rieck (K) 39, 57, 63, Edward Simpson (C) 74, Tim Swinson (Ldr) 56, Chloe Jane Wake (L) 60, Xi Zhu (Ldr) 55, 2006 James Choi (C) 97, Flora Farquharson (D) 86, James Hui (Sc) 97, Iditorn Israsena (B) 55, Kate Mason (L) 63, Jamie Morgado (L) 40, Nell Theakston (D) 86, Lucy McLaren (Tusting) (Sn) 114,

THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2022-2023

2007 Joe Austin (F) 41, 42, 43, James Chapple (L) 39, Jack Doolan (C) 57, Edmund Greaves (Sc) 76, Florian Henn (C) 96, James Hickey (S) 76, Tom Horsell (Lx) 84 Richard Kemeny (S) 74, Rachel Kemp (W) 66, Camilla McConnell (W) 91 Tom Miller (Ldr) 58, Rebecca Miller (K) 58, Harry Moule (B) 66, Melody Nairn (K) 63, Michael Outar (L) 60, Victoria Pentecost (N) 71, Greg Smith (StA) 2, 41, 42, Will Wade (StA) 88, Joshua Waterhouse (S) 63,

Jack Oughtred (F) 43, Celia Scruby (D) 61, Abi Smith (Sn) 61, Will Street (Sc) 41, 42, Sophie Walker (L) 39, 49, 57, Harriet Wildgoose (W) 61, Alice Wilson (N) 61,

2008 Will Butler (Lx) 44, Henry Fray (G) 44, Rachel Hawkesford (W) 77, Sophie May (Wake) (L) 60, Louisa Risch (Sn) 113, Barney Ward (Ldr) 45,

2012 Evan Bolle Jones (StA) 87, Evie Horsell (L) 84, Angus Irvine (Sc) 87, 88, Oliver Jackson (Ldr) 87, Kirsty Landale (Russell) (W) 73, George Marment (B) 57, James Robson (Ldr) 87, Alice Rockall (W) 37, Juliette Rothera (K) 87, Nick Rothera (B) 87, Patrick Russell (Ldr) 73, Abbas See (Ldr) 87, James Symes-Thompson (F) 38, Marcus Turner (Ldr) 87, Chris Waring (Ldr) 55, 87

2009 Chloë Ashby (L) 63, 142, Etty Hill (K) 58, Lucy Horsell (L) 84, Angus Lang (F) 45, Peter Langsdale (G) 45, Rupert Monroe (G) 45, 2010 Millie Ashworth (K) 66, Tom Bishop (F) 41, 43, Constantin Blaum (C) 93, Jack Clancy (F) 61, Fran Denny (D) 61, Freddie Elborne (StA) 61, Leonora Forrest (D) 61, Emma Greenlees (D) 61, Tabby Luxmoore (Styles) (W) 61, Georgia Mann (Sn) 61, Angharad Marment (D) 57, Georgie Mason (W) 63, Ross Murray (L) 90 Jack Napier (Sc) 61, Rory O’Kelly-Lynch (S) 99,

2011 Charlie Ashworth (G) 66, Jules Carrell (G) 64, Maddy Gyselynck (K) 3, 113, George Johansen (F) 41, 42 Matthew Lim (B) 90, Harry Meredith (F) 79, Digby Morse (F) 79, Sophie Orr (D) 74, Holly Wake (L) 60, Alice Young (Sn) 64, Ivan Yuen (Ldr) 66,

2013 William Orr (StA) 74, Sebastian Tusa (S) 55, 87, 88, 2014 Fleur Arkell (L) 73, Emily Bainbridge (K) 73, Will Barrell (F) 88, SR Billington (F) 39, Eliza Burgess (L) 60, Ashley Cuthbert (S) 89, Bella Ellis (Sn) 73, 84, 85, Alex George (C ) 38, James Higginbotham (S) 89, Alexander Johnsen (F) 89,

Toby Lawes (F) 42, Will Meredith (F) 79, Emma Morse (K) 73, Lucy Page (W) 113, Will Smith (S) 89, TR Whitaker (Sc) 39,

2019 Finn Carr (S) 44, Alex Cunningham (L) 42, Will Efford (L) 39, James Esler (C) 39, 41, 42, 43, Katharine Spurrier (W) 62,

2015 Sabrina Allhusen (D) 66, Freddie Ashworth (G) 66, Ollie Druce (StA) 38, Ben Graves (F) 42, Max Howard (S) 38, Jack Ireson (L) 45, Harry Lawes (S) 43, Florence Lister (D) 87, Charlie McLoed Lx) 66 Will Shelley (S) 86, Will Taylor (G) 38, Chris Titcomb (StA) 38, 66, Toby Warner (StA) 38, 42, Toby Winter (StA) 38,

2020 Ian Chung (StA) 40, George Crawley (L) 48, Henry Dickinson (Lx) 48, Guy Farrand (B) 86, Fred Hoult (G) 70, Minty Kunzer (N) 70, Tommy Simeons (StA) 39, 41, 42, 43, Harry Turner (StA) 84,

2016 Freddie Howard (S) 38, Dylan Martens (L) 40, Katie Orr (D) 74, James Slater (L) 72, Tris Tusa (S) 45, Anna van de Braak (L) 60, 2017 Josh Allen (StA) 88, Charlie Bainbridge (StA) 73, Charlie Fernandes (Ldr) 42, Joe Lai (B) 73, John Phillips (StA) 75, Harry Stansfeld (StA) 73, Calum Stewart (S) 56, Ben Stocks (F) 42, Bertie Stocks (F) 46, 2018 Will Connellan (Lx ) 38, Simon Fernandes (Ldr) 41, 42, 43, Freddie Goddard (G) 38, Ben Hutchinson (Sc) 43, Peter Langsdale (L) 44, Louis O’Connor (L) 48, Tom Reyner (F) 38, Toby Smith (L) 48, Alex Swanston (G) 44, Freddie Turner (StA) 84,

2021 Oscar Fowler (S) 62, Jack Howard (Sc) 42, Elizabeth Phillips (W) 76 Lando Thain (F) 43, Olivia Turner (D) 84, 2022 Alex Beveridge (F) 43, Thomas Caskey (L) 31, Alex Dyer (F) 43, Fenella Farrand (Sn) 86, Ralf Hayward (F) 43, JEF Read (Sc) 39, Monty Spencer (L) 43, James Tobin (B) 61,