Beyond the Barrier

CHRISTMAS 2019

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Contents

2020 dates for your diary

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New faces – Welcome from your new Chairman

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Saturday 25 January Oxbridge Dinner Somerville College, Oxford

A bit of a do – A review of recent events

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For he’s a jolly good fellow – Lougburian awarded a Fellow of the Royal Society

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A picture paints a thousand words – LHS’s Tableux approaches 100

Saturday 21 March Loughborough Dinner Burton Hall, LGS

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Three is the magic number – We welcome Loughborough Amherst School into the Loughburians

Saturday 11 July Robbie’s Rugby Festival LGS, Quorn

10 Goodbye my friend – Loughburians we’ve loved and lost

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Returning pupils – Loughburians return for Schools’ prize giving

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Hold the back pages – It’s sport, sport, sport all the way

Contact the Development Office

The LSF Development Team are always on hand should any alumni need to get in touch and would love to hear from you. Their contact details are: Andrew Ball Director of Development a.g.ball@lsf.org 01509 638922 Emma Fraser Data and Development Officer e.l.fraser@lsf.org 01509 638920 Natalie Savage Development Manager n.savage@lsf.org 01509 638921

Monday 2 March to Saturday 7 March Les Misérables Hodson Hall, LGS

Thursday 24 September 525 Thanksgiving Service LGS Saturday 14 November 525 Gala Dinner Plaisterers Hall, London

Correction

In the Summer 2019 edition of Beyond the Barrier we mentioned that Jack Nunn had released his first album, Blue Sun, with 50% of the proceeds being donated to charity.

Unfortunately, we got the name of the charity wrong. Jack is donating 50% of the proceeds to Cardiac Risk in the Young UK. Further information can be found at www.jacknunn.com.

Updated Development Privacy Notice The LSF Development Office have updated their privacy notice.

The notice tells alumni how the Development Office manages and processes your data. You can read the full privacy notice at www.lsf.org/development or alternatively you can contact the team for a copy. If at any time you wish to change how the Development office communicates with you, or to stop hearing from them altogether, please use the contact details below.

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SEASON’S GREETINGS

SEASON’S GREETINGS

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s the new Chair of the Loughburians I’m delighted to welcome you to the latest edition of Beyond the Barrier. If you’re thinking it doesn’t seem like a year since the last edition, then you’re right. We’ve decided to move publication of the magazine to December to allow us to report on a full calendar year of activity. But we didn’t want you to have to wait until the end of next year so this shorter version covers the stories we’ve gathered since Beyond the Barrier Summer 2019.

One of my first jobs as Chair was to wish Jane Harker from the Development Office a very happy retirement.

Jane retired on 1 October 2019 and we will be forever grateful to her for the work she did to further the Loughburians Alumni Association. Thank you Jane. I’m pleased to say Jane will be staying involved as we have welcomed her onto our Committee as Vice-Chair. I look forward to working with Jane in this new capacity. A warm welcome must also go to our newest Loughburians, who are receiving Beyond the Barrier for the very first time.

The classes of 2019 from Loughborough High School and Grammar school have been joined this year by their peers from Loughborough Amherst School – the newest school in the Loughborough Schools Foundation. You can read more about Amherst on page 9.

As 2019 draws to a close, we begin to look ahead to 2020 and what promises to be a very exciting year. The new year will see Loughborough Grammar School turn 525 years old. All of us that attended the Grammar School had a real sense of the history of the school and the generations of boys that went before us. So I’m delighted that Loughborough Schools Foundation will be marking this incredible milestone with a series of events, to which you’re all invited, throughout the year. You can see a small

sample of what’s in store on the back page and more detailed information will be coming out in due course. And not to be outdone, Loughborough High School will also be celebrating an important anniversary of their own at the end of next year as they mark the centenary of the Tableux.

You can read more about this and how you can submit your Tableux memories on page 8.

So with all that and more to look forward to, all that is left for me to do this year it is to wish you and your loved ones a very peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Dr Peter Cannon (Class of 1980) Loughburians Chairman

New Director of Development for Loughborough Schools Foundation

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ndrew Ball has joined Loughborough Schools Foundation as Director of Development, taking over from Jane Harker. He was previously Director of Supporter Relations for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough. Andrew said “it’s an honour to be joining such a well-respected organisation which has shaped so many lives. Under Jane’s guidance, the Development team have built and managed a strong and impressive Alumni network, which not only keeps former pupils connected to one another and the schools but also adds significantly to the experiences of pupils today”. Asked what his priorities are he said “to work with Alumni to extend participation in our schools.

As a Foundation, we want to increase attendance from children that that have the academic talent to be here but whose parents may not have the means to pay. Through bursaries, our Alumni can play a big part in helping to give to others the kind of opportunities they themselves received”. Andrew joins existing Development team members Natalie Savage and Emma Fraser.

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EVENTS

Loughborough Dinner 30 March 2019 We were delighted to welcome nearly 90 guests to the 2019 Loughborough Dinner. During drinks, guests were entertained by music from current LGS pupil Harris who played Saxophone accompanied by his father on the piano. Our guest speaker was David McClelland (Class of 1995) who spoke animatedly about his time at LGS and his career since then.

Our 2020 Loughborough Dinner will be held on Saturday 21 March and will be in celebration of the 525th Anniversary of LGS – please save the date!

2009 10-year reunion 8 June 2019 It was lovely to welcome over 100 members of the Class of 2009 back for their 10-year reunion. Guests enjoyed touring their respective Schools before convening at the tower for drinks.

Following a BBQ meal, former Head Boy Dan Holmes provided an entertaining speech about their school days.

Joseph at Kilworth House 20 June 2019 After a successful sell-out production in 2018, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat returned to Kilworth House this year, and the Loughburians were there to see it.

The weather held, and guests enjoyed pre-show canapĂŠs and fizz on the lawn before making their way to the open-air theatre for what promised to be an explosive performance. It did not disappoint. The retelling of this biblical story was colourful and energetic, truly spectacular!

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1989 30-year reunion 29 June 2019 A glorious summers day welcomed 38 members of the Class of 1989 back to Loughborough. After checking out the changes made to their respective Schools, a refreshing drink on the Quad was very much required before guests retired to the shade of Hodson Hall to enjoy a meal and peruse the archive material on display.

Rugby Reunion 31 August 2019 Earlier this year, Martin Drane (Class of 1977) enlisted the help of the Development team, LGS Head of Rugby Emyr Lewis, John Weitzel and the Loughburians to bring his school rugby friends back together. Speaking about how his love of Rugby started at LGS, Martin said “I arrived in 1971 as an ardent football player from Manchester in the days of Best and Charlton at United and Summerbee and Bell at City. LGS played rugby but not football!

I adapted and with the help of Ed and Ced, thoroughly enjoyed all the aspects of the game. The speed, the power, the skill, the values of fair play and most of all the friendship”.

There was only one place that Martin wanted to host his reunion, the school where his love for the oval ball game began.

The reunion took place in Quorn on 31 August and it was a proud day for Martin; “some great guys joined us from the School, the USA, France, Nottingham, Nuneaton, Moseley and Richmond. It was a day I will remember for the rest of my life”.

Homecoming BBQ 6 September 2019 We had a fantastic response to the annual Homecoming BBQ in September with 155 alumni from the Classes of 2016-2019 attending. It offered a chance to celebrate the end of summer with friends, burger and a drink, before heading off to University or work

1999 20-year reunion 14 September 2019 45 members of the Class of 1999 gathered in Loughborough to celebrate 20 years since they had left the Schools. Whilst plenty had changed on their tours of the Schools, very much more had remained the same. Memories were discussed over lunch and the archive table and a good time was had by all.

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Hong Kong Drinks 15 and 16 October 2019 Timed to coincide with a week of recruitment events; LGS Head Duncan Byrne hosted two evening drink receptions for Hong Kong based Loughburians. The Harbour Grand Hotel was the venue for both evenings and alumni in attendance represented a broad range of school years, from the Class of 1979 right up to the Class of 2016.

Everyone in attendance had a lovely time, as evidenced by the bar bill presented to Duncan at the end of the evening! Cheers (or should that be yum bui?!).

Loughburians tie the knot Edward Longman (Class of 2015) and Olivia Kellie (Class of 2016) were married on 27 July 2019 at Rothley Parish Church followed by a reception in Cossington. Congratulations Mr and Mrs Longman!

London Dinner 15 November 2019 Our annual trip to London to meet up with old friends and new took place at the AthenĂŚum Club on Pall Mall. Prof Lacey (Class of 1963) kindly arranged for this magnificent venue to host Loughburians for the second year running. After a sumptuous 3-course dinner, guests heard from current LGS Headmaster Duncan Byrne on a range of school matters past and present.

Next year we are delighted to be moving the Dinner to the prestigious Plaisterers’ Hall on Saturday 14 November 2020.

Save the date and join us for our biggest ever alumni event.

Retirement lunch 23 November 2019 Alumni, former and current staff gathered in the Loughborough High School Hall to wish Christine Todd and Sue Jackson a very happy retirement. With nearly 80 years of service between them, Sue and Christine both retired at the end of the Summer term 2019. Alumni and staff alike welcomed the opportunity to mark the considerable contributions both Christine and Sue have made to Loughborough High School and the pupils they have inspired throughout their careers.

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ARTICLES

Ian Tomlinson (Class of 1981) made Fellow of the Royal Society

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he news of Ian Tomlinson’s award of a Fellowship of the Royal Society, the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, came just as the Summer 2019 Beyond the Barrier copy deadline loomed. We wanted to do justice to this magnificent achievement, following in the footsteps of the greatest scientists and mathematicians to have ever lived. Fellowship of the Royal Society is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of London judges to have made a ‘substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science, and medical science’. It is for his work in the latter field that Ian Tomlinson won the award.

Ian was a pupil here from 1974 to 1981 winning both a Wallace Prize for Scholarship and the F.H.Gray Science Prize after A levels before going on to read Natural Sciences at Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge. After completing his MA he stayed to achieve a PhD in 1988 before moving across to University College, Oxford to do his BM and BCh, which he completed in 1992. His scientific career began in population genetics and evolution, before moving on to cancer genetics after his medical training. During the following years he worked and led research groups at Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, St Mark’s Hospital, Bart’s and the London Medical School. In 2005 Ian was voted the European Achiever of the Year and in 2008 he returned to Oxford as Professor of Molecular Genetics. Ian has pursued a largely research-based career, with highly focussed clinical roles. In 2013 the European Gastroenterology Society awarded him their prize for Best Researcher of the Year and the following year the Pathological Society of GB and NI awarded him the Goudie medal. In the summer of 2017 he was appointed Director of the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at Birmingham University.

Ian’s work has been based on the discovery and analysis of cancer-causing genes, especially inherited genetic variants that predispose to cancer. Using these findings, his research extends to the identification of disease mechanisms in model systems,

and to cancer evolution. Highlights of his work include the discovery of multiple Mendelian colorectal and kidney cancer predisposition genes. His work includes both mathematical models and experimental analyses and he has focussed on the importance of selection in the Darwinian process of carcinogenesis, identifying several driver mutations under selective constraints. As a result, he has identified new models of cancer. Remarkably he has 803 research works with 26,190 citations.

Just before he was awarded his Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS), Ian was awarded a £500,000 grant from Cancer Research UK to investigate whether a new blood-based screening test could detect bowel cancer earlier. And shortly following his FRS award he was awarded a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award in Science of £2 million for research into different types of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation.

In August Ian moved from Birmingham to the University of Edinburgh to continue his research as Director of their Cancer Research Centre.

As far as I can discover Ian is the sixth Old Loughburian to be made a FRS. The first was Richard Pulteney, the botanist, in 1762 followed by Sir Denys Wilkinson, the nuclear physicist, in 1956. Remarkably the next two, chemists Arthur Walsh in 1964 and George Cooke in 1969 were at School together from 1929 to 1935. At Sixth Form it was Arthur who came top, wining an open scholarship to Corpus Christi, Cambridge whilst George was second and went to University College Nottingham.

George had the last laugh, however, being awarded the CBE in 1975. Surprisingly, perhaps, you will notice that there was no mathematician until Julian Besag, a statistician, was made a Fellow in 2004.

John Weitzel

Visit the digital archives

Loughborough Grammar School’s Digital Archives are a must-visit for all Loughburians. The archives are constantly being updated with new exhibits from the tens of thousands of photos, publications and items of interest that make up the school’s archives. One of the newest additions is the film ‘Four Hundred Years Enduring’ – a remarkable look-back at school life in 1967. Search for yourself and your old school friends or simply take a trip down memory lane at www.lgs-heritage.org 7

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LHS’s Tableaux approaches 100 years old

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ecember 2020 marks an important anniversary for Loughborough High School as the Tableaux celebrates its centenary. If you have never seen Tableaux Vivants (living pictures) the LHS annual Carol Service promises a unique treat. Through artful staging, lighting, make-up and costumes, girls ‘freeze’ in carefully composed groups to recreate, in close detail, early religious paintings. It is a tradition embraced with huge enthusiasm and pride by current pupils and something

that is remembered fondly, often with bemusement, by our alumni. The High School is the only school in the country that stages a Tableaux so we can safely say it is one of the things that makes the school unique.

Each year, the Development Office opens the LHS archive to alumni attending the Carol Service and we would love to see you there to celebrate the 100th Anniversary.

Help us find Jesus…

Each year, a boy from Fairfield Prep School played the part of Jesus in the Tableaux. We would like to find as many of you as we can to include in the centenary celebrations. If you played Jesus please get in touch with the Development Office.

Photographic memory…

We would like to publish your memories of the tableaux in our ‘Tableaux at 100’ article in the next edition of Beyond the Barrier. If you would like to contribute please email alumni@lsf.org.

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ARTICLES

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We Welcome Loughborough Amherst School into the Loughburian family

ack in September 2015, the Loughborough Schools Foundation welcomed Our Lady’s Convent School (OLCS) into their family. As a neighbouring school, OLCS had always been somewhat connected with the High School, Grammar School and Fairfield and so the transition to being one (larger) family had every chance of being a success.

Two major milestones in this transition have been the name change from Our Lady’s Convent School to Loughborough Amherst School in September 2018 and welcoming the first intake of boys in September 2019 as the school changed to coed status. These changes enable the Foundation to broaden its educational and extra-curricular offering for children of all ages.

The final piece in the jigsaw was the establishment of the OLCS Alumni Association, so former pupils can keep alive the history and memories of their schooldays. But as of this summer, all new leavers now become Loughburians, and so it is we welcome the Loughborough Amherst School 2019 Leavers into the fold.

Why Loughborough Amherst?

A parting gift

When choosing a new name for the school, the Foundation looked to OLCS’s past for inspiration.

In 1841 Lady Mary Arundell opened a small girl’s school in Loughborough and persuaded Blessed Antonio Rosmini to send religious sisters from Italy to establish a Convent. Her request was answered and, mainly through the generosity of Lady Arundell and a dowry from Mary Amherst, the arriving Sister Mary Francesca Panea and Sister Mary Anastasia Somorini helped to establish Our Lady’s Convent School in 1850.

The spirit of Loughborough Amherst School today is still inspired by the philosophy of Antonio Rosmini that, ‘a pupil must be allowed to grow and develop as an integrated human person’.

Loughborough Amherst School were delighted to unveil a new reflective space in the school’s chapel, funded by donations from the OLCS Alumni Association and some of the 2018 school leavers – who were the final year of pupils to become OLCS alumni. LAS Head Dr Julian Murphy said “Although our chapel is a beautiful place of worship, many of our pupils who are not practising Christians do not feel natural about using it for quiet prayer and reflection, no matter how much we encourage them. So I am delighted that we now have this screened off and child-friendly area that anyone in our community can comfortably use for prayer, meditation or simply a few quiet moments alone with their thoughts. I am very grateful to our alumni for their donations, without which we could not have created this special area for all our present and future pupils.”

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OBITUARIES

Don and Pat Wood LGS 1950 to 1984, OLA 1984 to 2009 During the summer of 2018 Don and Pat celebrated their Platinum (70th) Wedding Anniversary. Shortly afterwards Pat suffered a stroke and on 15th October 2018 passed away peacefully. Don was never the same after her death, he missed her terribly but in typical Don fashion he was determined to continue life to the full, learning how to look after himself and taking every opportunity to be with colleagues and friends. On 1st January 2019 he celebrated his 99th birthday and he was desperate to get to his 100th but this was not to be.

For all but two of their 70 years together they were an integral part of life at LGS and with his coffin covered in a union jack; his CCF Cap on the top and a guard of honour from the CCF Don’s funeral in Emmanuel Church was a grand occasion. The following are extracts from Neville Ireland’s tribute: – Don had first appeared on the LGS scene with his wife Pat in 1950. He arrived fresh from University eager and well equipped with a degree in German. He found his work, his colleagues and the environment all to his liking and his well prepared, methodical and thorough approach to his lessons soon earned for him the confidence and respect of his pupils. Don, however, was a schoolmaster as well as a teacher and he was soon involved in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including sport, the CCF and group visits to Germany For nearly 10 years, Don and Pat also took dance classes in the autumn term for sixth formers eager to add to their social accomplishments. In 1965 Don became Housemaster of Briggs, which he ran until 1982, and in 1978 he was appointed the school Senior Master. On top of all this he

spent 25 years organising the school timetable. A thankless task which grew more intricate and involved, and consumed, many hours of work in the evenings and holidays.

Under Don's leadership the ATC developed into one of the most successful CCF contingents in the Eastern command. Don's own army experience had given him a clear idea of the values that an efficient CCF training can convey and the standards which a well-run contingent can achieve. Discipline and turn out, training exercise by night and day, lectures, courses and camps at home and abroad all helped to increase numbers and improve morale and efficiency. These earned the contingent a splendid reputation. For his services Don was awarded the long service medal with bar and he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. The bombardier had come a long way since fighting the Japanese in Burma some 40 years earlier.

In 1984 Don retired from teaching. I was arriving at LGS and the OLA was in dire need of leadership and organisation, the coffers were empty and morale was low. Don now stepped into the breach and under his leadership the OLA was given identity and purpose. Numbers flourished, activities increased and by the time he retired in 2009 the bank balance had reached 6 figures. I had asked him to give the OLA some guidance and tlc, instead he gave them 23 years of intensive care.

Michael Pearson wrote on Don's retirement in 2009 "every OLA Chairman during the past 23 years will tell you how much they depended on Don and how they were saved from folly by his wise counsel and unwavering support. The sound state of the OLA today owes more to him than anyone else".

Don Wood died on 13th April 2019.

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Anthony James Longrigg CMG LGS 1952-1962

Georgina Porter LHS 1977-1984

My brother, Anthony (Tony) died unexpectedly in his sleep on a Greek island whilst on holiday with his wife Jane, his 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Tony attended the Perse school in Cambridge before joining the prep department at LGS. He continued through the school, playing for the first tennis and hockey teams as well as playing hockey for the Midlands. He gained a place at St John's college, Cambridge where he read history and where he also first met Jane. They married in December 1967.

After Cambridge, Tony continued his studies, obtaining an MA in International Relations at LSE before starting a doctorate in Russian Science policy at Birmingham University. After a brief spell at Chatham House, the Institute for International Relations, he joined the Foreign office and during the Brezhnev era in 1975 was posted to Moscow, with Jane and two very young children in tow.

Tony had a successful career at the Foreign office, being posted back twice more to Moscow and gaining a CMG as a result of his time there under Mikhail Gorbachev. During one posting he dealt with the crisis of the sinking of a Russian submarine, which caused such distress in Russia.

In between times he was posted to Brasilia and Madrid and ended his career as Governor of Montserrat, dealing with the sensitive aftermath of horrendous volcanic eruptions.

In December 2017 Tony and Jane celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. As a lifetime supporter of Leicester City FC he lived to see them win the Premier League, much to his delight. He maintained a friendly rivalry with his Italian grandson who supported Napoli! A successful and happy life but in the opinion of his friends and family, much too short.

My brilliant, funny and kind friend Georgina Porter (George) died in September 2018. George joined LHS as a boarder in 1977. She left briefly for a stint at Wyggeston Sixth Form College but soon returned to the school she loved and where she made many enduring friendships.

George graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from Royal Holloway College, and then spent time travelling in Asia, Australia and the USA. Returning to London, she completed a PGCE and so began a very successful teaching career. George had found her vocation.

George taught at 3 primary schools in London and furthered her qualifications, becoming a specialist literacy teacher.

A colleague remembers her as: 'extremely accomplished, conscientious and much loved by the children she taught for her kindness, humour and warmth. She was respected and somewhat feared (for her sharp intellect) by our colleagues. She was a devoted, proud, creative mother.'

Home life was busy and George cherished time with her children Stanley, Phoebe and Martha. She faced chronic mental health issues towards the end of her life but never lost her quick wit and always had huge sympathy for people.

George's family chose Billy Bragg's 'The Milkman of Human Kindness' as the farewell music at her funeral, which was attended by a number of LHS friends. Elly Dady (nee Popp) organised a lunch in London in March 2019 for a larger group to remember her. Georgina's friends have set up reading stations at Tolworth Hospital in her memory.

If any London-based Loughburians have good quality books they may like to donate, please email tanya.boyd@ btinternet.com.

Written by Catherine Hyde - nĂŠe Longrigg (Class of 1965)

Written by Tanya Boyd (Class of 1984)

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Thomas Arthur Eadon ‘Tom’ Fairfield Headmaster 1988 - 2001 Anyone who knew Tom during his tenure as Headmaster of Fairfield will have very fond memories of a kind and caring man with a wonderful sense of humour. It was with great sadness that we learned of Tom’s sudden but peaceful death in April this year. St Mary’s Parish Church, Melton Mowbray was full for his memorial service with many members of the LSF community in attendance to hear a very fitting and moving tribute to his life. Tom would have enjoyed the music, the many jokes and the happy times shared about his life. Many memories were gathered from the Fairfield community including these heart-warming quotes, which are representative of many more that Tom’s wife Diane received following his untimely death.

Keith West LGS 1950-1958 Keith West was a top scientist achieving five A levels at LGS in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Botany and Zoology – in which he achieved a distinction. In 1957 Keith won the Gray Science Prize and in 1958 the Biology Prize but it was Chemistry that was his great love. He went on to read Chemistry at Sheffield University before returning to Loughborough to work at Whiffen & Sons Ltd, which by then was already part of Fisons. For the next 39 years Keith was involved in five mergers and takeovers in the growing multinational (Fisons, FBC, Schering AG, AgrEvo and Aventis) gaining experience in Research and Development, pilot plant, production plant and works management.

From 1989 Keith spent 7 years in Berlin working in global purchasing before subsequent roles in international production and logistics culminated with him being posted to Hong Kong as Head of Supply Chain Asia Pacific from 1996 to 2000. Those four years required considerable travel to some 48 countries! In 2001 he founded his own company in Hong Kong, ConsulTra International, before he retired in October 2018. Keith never forgot the School and he was the OLA’s contact in Hong Kong for the 22 years he was out there. During this time he was responsible for the first OLA Hong Kong Dinner in November 2009.

Keith died on 2 December 2018 aged 79.

“Mr Eadon was such a lovely man; his unique personality enabled Fairfield to feel like a family rather than just a school.”

“Tom was the best headmaster I worked for in my long and varied teaching career. He cared for the pupils, he trusted his staff; he was intelligent and witty, with a great sense of humour.”

“Marvellous was probably his favourite word - and everything was, under his headship. If things weren’t marvellous they were always tickety-boo!”

In addition to Tom’s love of education he had a real passion for sports including football, golf and cricket. He was an avid Aston Villa fan and was even known to divert coaches on school trips so that everyone could wave at Villa Park! Tom played golf regularly at Melton Mowbray Golf Club; keeping diaries of all of his scores and winning many trophies. The Fairfield cricket tours to Jersey were infamous and one of the highlights of the school calendar for the teams and sports staff alike.

Tom was delighted to have had the opportunity to meet both the Queen and Princess Anne during his time as Headmaster. He met the Queen in the Grammar School’s quincentenary year and Princess Anne came to open the new dining and assembly hall in November 2000. Tom returned to Fairfield in 2008 to see the assembly hall be officially named the Eadon Hall in his honour.

Tom will always be remembered with great fondness by all who had the privilege to work alongside or be taught by him.

Written by Helen Waldron (Class of 1986) and Sue Crookes (Fairfield Teaching Staff)

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ALUMNI GUEST SPEAKERS

LHS Junior Prize Giving

LGS Junior Prize Giving

Sophie Hainsworth (Class of 2009)

David Kohn (Class of 1990)

After leaving Loughborough High School, Sophie studied economics and management at Sheffield University before embarking on a Management Consultancy Graduate Program with KPMG. This gave her a broad experience, something she drew upon in 2016 when she decided to launch her own business, just 5 years after graduating. Her business, LoyalFree, is a phone app for towns and cities which began in Loughborough but is spreading throughout the UK.

On leaving Loughborough Grammar School, David Kohn went on to Jesus College, Cambridge to read architecture before becoming a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University, New York.

He set up his own practice, David Kohn Architects, in 2007 and was named ‘Young Architect of the Year’ in 2009.

David was recently described in The Observer as being ‘the British Architect with a gift for the quietly surreal’ and ‘pursuing common-sense goals with uncommon results.’ His latest work has included a new Quad for New College, Oxford, a Berlin apartment block and the Victoria and Albert Museum’s new photography galleries.

LHS Senior Prize Giving Alexi Karenowska (Class of 2003) Alexy left LHS to read Engineering at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Having graduated with first class honours, she went on to gain a DPhil in experimental condensed matter Physics. In 2013 she was awarded an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Early Career Fellowship, allowing her to develop an independent laboratory in Oxford dedicated to the study of magnetics. Alongside her research, she teaches undergraduates in Engineering sciences and Physics at Magdalen College.

In parallel to her academic work, Alexy is the Director of Technology at the Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA). This is a not-for-profit research and social action organisation that works on the development of technology-driven approaches to the preservation, restoration and celebration of items of cultural heritage. The IDA’s flagship project is the Triumphal Arch, a 20m tall Roman archway from the Palmyra archaeological site in Syria, destroyed by terrorists in 2015.

LGS Senior Prize Giving Amit Gupta (Class of 1991) Although Amit Gupta moved on to read History at Nottingham University, his real love whilst at LGS was drama. In his final year Amit starred in the Year 10 evening and then playing Oberon in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and thus it is no surprise that he has made his name in later life as a writer and film Director.

Amit has written and directed three feature films: Resistance, starring Michael Sheen and Andrea Riseborough, which was nominated for three BAFTAs; Jadoo which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival; and One Crazy Thing released theatrically in 2018.

His recent directing work includes Sky One's top rated drama comedy, ‘Delicious’. Amit was named as Leicester’s Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre’s first honorary patron in October.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

Loughburians try their best at Robbie’s Rugby Festival, Saturday 27 July 2019

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nce again the Loughburians were proud to be one of the sponsors of Robbie’s Rugby Festival, which was held at the Playing Fields in Quorn. It was great to see a number of alumni present, either rolling back the years by playing or by cheering from the damp side-lines.

Congratulations go to the overall winners Charlie’s Angels, captained by Loughburian Charles Richardson (Class of 2011), whose match report you can read below: The day started as it always does for the Charlie's Angels team: bleary-eyes, late-comers, and copious amounts of bacon - the pre-match feed of Gods - but Robbie's Rugby Festival 2019 was quite different in the finale. It was different because, at the seventh time of asking, the Angels finally won the thing. We will all retire happily, now.

The day had barely begun before the heavens opened for the beginning of the days' torrential rain. But not even a deluge could dampen our inexorable march to glory, with a narrow victory over previous champions Schweff preceding a further two pool-stage victories against Team Mayne and last year's LGS leavers.

A comfortable semi-final victory against Long Eaton RFC followed before a showdown with two-time previous winners Adey Steel Seals. We didn't fancy our chances too much, especially as most neutrals had spent the entire day telling us we didn't have a chance and, after going 7-0 down in the final, our initial outlook was vindicated.

But I don't know where we found the wherewithal to come back and win, and frankly I don't care. We scored three unanswered second-half tries, running out as 21-7 winners.

We proceeded directly to the winners' lounge with the trophy - certain members of the squad did not remove their medals for several days - for some hard-earned beers. They had never tasted sweeter. It is a fabulous day for a fabulous cause; see you there next year for the unsuccessful defence of our crown.

Owzat!

Loughburians cricket in 2019

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his year saw the Loughburians and Grammar School playing, for the first time, for the splendid and unique Sam Yaxley Trophy. A powerful Loughburian batting unit raced to 300 for 6 thanks to local premier league cricketers Anish Patel (100) and Ashish Trusz (81). They were well supported by Tom Foulds (86), whose journey down from Edinburgh for the match clearly did not hamper his batting. The School’s reply of 256 was a valiant chase with the wickets being shared between Ed Collins, Dharmist Bathia and Rishan Chopra.

Uniquely there were two pairs of brother playing on opposition sides. Sam’s family were in attendance to present the winners with the Trophy that now bears his name.

The Sam Yaxley Memorial game against Elvaston Cricket Club coincided with the ICC Cricket World Cup Final but it was no less exciting. Chasing down a score of 244 for 6, Jack Berrisford (55), Simon Bird (60) and Mark Ashcroft (60) saw the Loughburians to within 3 runs as the finish was delayed whilst both teams watched the climax from Lords.

Torrential rain one hour before the start threatened the game against Leicester Gents but sterling work by Tom Brotherhood ensured the game was played. Charlie Royle with 101* was the centrepiece of the team’s 174 for 5 but a strong batting line up saw Leicester Gents to victory.

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Loughburians show their golf in class

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LGS are no match for Loughburians at tennis

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his year’s annual tennis fixture between the Grammar School and the Loughburians was held on Saturday 22 June. With several courts out of action due to construction of the new Parkin Sports Centre, 8 old Loughburians (or more accurately 7 recent Loughburians and 1 very old Loughburian) provided stiff opposition for 8 current pupils. The pupils would be competing in the ISTA Championships at Eton College the following weekend so the match was timely practice for them.

The challenge that faced the School team was substantial as the 4 Senior and 4 Junior (U15) players would be facing recognised tennis players from years past. Thus it was no surprise that whilst the Senior players drew their matches overall, the Juniors lost most of theirs, giving victory to the Loughburians by 10 ½ to 5 ½. But most importantly, everyone had an ace time.

Loughburian results

he Quincentennial Trophy was held at Rothley Park Golf Club on Saturday 6 July with many Loughburians taking part. Doctor Ian Anderson (Class of 1973) proved the old adage true that there is life in the Old Doc yet! Ian won both the Old Quincentennial Trophy and the Old Loughburian Salver with a fantastic score of 41 points, shooting a level par round of golf off his handicap of 5. Well played Ian! Other leading Loughburians were Jonathan Carlisle (Class of 1989) and Simon Green (‘83), both with 39 points.

On Thursday 26 September 15 Loughburians descended on Rutland’s Luffenham Heath Golf Club for the Autumn Trophy meeting. The course is one of the best in the area and was made even more of a challenge by a 20mph wind, gusting to 30mph at times during the afternoon. This made scoring difficult for most of us, with the exception of Jon Soars (Class of 1980) who easily won with 38 points, which in these conditions was a great score. 4 shots behind Jon was Jonathan Carlisle who was again in second place.

The first weekend of October saw our scratch team of six head to the North Norfolk Coast to compete in the Grafton Morrish finals. The team of Nick Preedy (Captain, Class of 2005), Dave Saul (‘07), Phil Saul (‘05), Scott Hamilton (‘14), George Griffiths (‘16) and Zach Sananes (‘03) did really well in winning two rounds of knock out matches to reach the last 8 where they lost 2-1 to Seaford College. It was a great effort by the team and our long wait for a Loughburian victory in the competition may well come next year.

The season concluded with the annual match against the old boys of Nottingham High School at Hollinwell on Tuesday 15 October. The overall match score since inception in 2008 stood at 5 ½ to Nottingham and 4 ½ to Loughborough. Dave Barnett (Captain, Class of 1977) was determined that his side should level the scores and win the Trophy back from Nottingham after they had last won it outright in 2016. Dave and his partner, Pippa Stephens (‘99), brought home the first point of the day and this was followed by a point from Steve Maud (‘79) and Stephen Hilton (‘60). A further half point from Will Scrivins (‘79) and Rich Alexander(‘64) made sure the match and the trophy were won, 2 ½ matches to 1. This levelled the overall match score as we head in to 2020.

That concludes the report for 2019. If you can swing a golf club, please come along to one of our events. Email davebarnett25@hotmail.com to get your details added to the golf email list.

Won Lost Drew

Jamie Moncrieff (Class of 2016) and Seb Kay (’16)

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Tom Wood (’15) and Jamie Chan (’19)

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Nikolay Irmanov (’17) and Enzo Armellini (’18)

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James Hatfield (’12) and Steve Hatfield (’80)

3 1 -

The Grammar School was represented by pairs Jakob and Sam, Arjun and Ed, Toby and Andrei and Will and Kritveer.

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2020 is the 525th anniversary of the founding of Loughborough Grammar School and there are number of events throughout the year to celebrate this landmark. Alumni will soon receive a detailed programme for the year, but in the meantime here are a few things to whet your appetite: • The centrepiece for the celebrations will be a Thanksgiving Service in the LGS Quad on Thursday 24 September, led by Bishop Martyn the Bishop of Leicester.

• LGS Head Duncan Byrne will be hosting a year-long series of lectures by high profile guest speakers, focusing on many of the themes the school has dealt with over the years.

• The big event for Loughburians is the 525 Gala Dinner at Plaisterers’ Hall, London on Saturday 14 November 2020. This will be the biggest alumni event we have ever hosted.

Calling all LGS alumni – take part in the 525 ‘listening project’ During the year we plan to interview former LGS pupils to capture their memories for an audio archive. If you would like to take part, all you need to do is email alumni@lsf.org and let us know.

Alternatively, if you’ve got a smart phone or other digital recording device perhaps you could email us an audio recording recalling a significant memory you have from your time at the school.

The days of old have dowered us, with gifts beyond all praise…

To commemorate the special anniversary, we have developed a new range of ‘Heritage’ gifts for pupils past and present. Items include collectable pin badges based on the changing face of the school crest, a special 525 tie and the welcome return of the school scarf. Available to buy in early 2020, online at www.lsf. org/shop or in person in the school shop.

SAVE THE DATE 525 Gala Dinner,

Plaisterers’ Hall, London, Saturday 14 November 2020

The next edition of Beyond the Barrier will be produced in December 2020

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