Old Oakhamian Magazine Issue 113

Issue Number 113

The magazine of the Old Oakhamian Club

Oakhamian The Old

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE How Oakham’s war memorials changed the face of the School The Robert Johnson Legacy Society • Drinks in Munich and New York • Back to School Black Tie Dinner

Dear Old Oakhamian Firstly, I want to thank Jon Wills, Chairman of the OO Club, for his unfailing help, support and good humour over the last few years! It is a pleasure working with you, Sir, and feels very odd to be writing this in your stead! I am glad that this is not yet goodbye, as you will remain as Chairman until December 2019.

The OO Club continues to go from strength to strength, and the number of you coming back to the School for reunions and to see how the ‘old place’ has changed, continues apace.

Many have travelled across continents to visit, so this term we thought we could return the favour, and packed our bags to meet OOs living and working in Europe and the US. These events brought together a mix of all ages and it was interesting to hear how much younger OOs appreciate the help of older generations when it comes to the careers advice and support they can give.

I know many of you are exceedingly busy with work but don’t underestimate the impact a bit of advice or an introduction can be for OOs just starting out; it is always very much appreciated and perfectly illustrates our motto, ‘and like runners they pass on the torch of life.’ If you think you can help, or indeed would like to ask for a bit of advice, please join The Hub by visiting thehuboakham.com. The platform is currently being redesigned to make it easier to both help and ask for advice and this new look will be ready to use early in the New Year.

We have not neglected Rutland in this programme of events! We have had two reunions at the School this term and OO President, Ben Walsgrove, hosted a splendid Back to School Black Tie Dinner in the Barraclough (looking like it never has before!) which brought together many Old Oakhamians – from up round these parts! Read about the evening on pages 116–117.

I am now delighted to announce that Katharina Klohe (07) has accepted the OO Presidency for next year.

Back at Oakham, it is proving to be a time of beginnings

and endings: I am delighted to welcome Charlotte McCrory to College House as the new Head of Archives. You can read about Charlotte and her work on page 120. In the Foundation, Paul Hassall has joined the Development team while Asha Hickin is on maternity leave with her new addition, Sofia.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to say farewell and thank you to Anna Bentley for her fantastic work as Development Director. Anna is leaving to become Head of Sales and Projects at Charis. We wish her every success in her new role.

By the time you are reading this, we will have been joined by many OOs for Christmas Drinks and at least three reunions and Oakham Midsummer Drinks are already in the Calendar for 2019.

Behind everything we do in the Old Oakhamian Club – from reuniting old friends at our reunions to the Hub’s hope of helping future Oakhamians – is the knowledge that our present was built on the sacrifices made by those who fought in two World Wars. In the words of John Maxwell Edmunds, “For your Tomorrow we gave our Today”. On Wednesday 21 November, OO Club Chairman, Jon Wills, lit 70 candles in the Chapel to mark 100 years to the day when the last OO casualty of the Great War died. It was a moving ceremony and hopefully a fitting way to conclude this season of Remembrance. As we commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1, read about the War Memorials on pages 121–123.

Quasi Cursores, Eileen Fisher Alumni Manager

CONTENTS News

113

Events

115

Future Events

119

From the Archives

120

Sport

124

Births, Engagements and Marriages

125

Deaths and Obituaries

126

OO Interview

129

Foundation News

130

112

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

125

CLASS OF 1998 REUNION

MARRIAGES

News

BELTON Patrick (84) recently met up with OO Chairman, Jon Wills and former Headmaster, Joe Spence (2002–2009) at his deli Romeo Jones in Dulwich Village for a leisurely lunch and catch up.

BALMFORD Andy (80) organised a friendly Oakham staff hockey match against their longstanding counterparts, Uppingham School staff. Also representing Oakham were Andrew Jarvis (12) and Harry Johnson (14) in a wellfought game. As Andy said, “Great to be still firing the old rivalries.”

Result: Oakham Staff 5 -Uppingham Staff 2.

BEARDMORE-GRAY Lucy (12) graduated from RADA’s BA (Hons) in Acting this summer and has won one of the two annual Spotlight Prizes.

Lucy, whose stage name is Lucie Sword, won Best Stage Performance and £2,000, after being selected as one of 20 finalists drawn from drama schools across the UK and Ireland. She performed in front of an expert industry panel (including RADA graduates Imelda Staunton and Pippa Bennett-Warner) in a special showcase, comprising both live performances and recorded monologues to camera.

Lucy first starred in Arabian Nights at Oakham when she was just 11 years old. Playing Shahrazad, she wowed audiences. Another highlight of her acting career at

BROAD Stuart (04) and business partners, (England cricketer Harry Gurney, and pub manager, Dan Cramp) have recently opened up The Tap and Run pub in Upper Broughton, Leicestershire, the second venue in the Cat and Wickets Pub Company portfolio. The new pub restaurant sources its ingredients from the surrounding area and has plans for an exchange programme where locals bring in their home-grown produce in exchange for beer tokens!

Oakham was her role in the Scholars’ production of Scaramouche.

This was particularly notable as she had been invited to join the cast on the basis of her exceptional talent even though she was not a Drama Scholar.

After leaving Oakham, Lucy went to university before recognising that Acting was the future she wanted to pursue.

Lucy won one of just 28 muchcoveted places at RADA and during her time there she performed Karolina in 3 Winters, Martirio in The House of Bernarda Alba, Caliban in The Tempest and Lotte in short film Stag, written by Lily Bevan, as well as a number of radio plays.

BURGESS William (87) sent this photo of his recent 50th birthday celebrations. 87 leavers left to right: Mark Astbury, William Burgess, Nick Hall, Nick Grice.

COOK Gwyneth (17) wrote with this news: ‘I am just writing to let you know of my news that my results for my first year studying English Literature and Philosophy at the University of St Andrews have meant that I have received the ‘1st Level Comparative Literature Book Prize’ as well as a place on the Deans’ List. The Comparative Literature prize is awarded to the ‘best student in First Year Comparative Literature’. Oakham has played a huge role in shaping my academic career and enabling me to achieve such results.’

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News

NAGEL Emily (12) writes about her experience of taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race:

CORNES Jack (16) and SMITH Harry (16) Since winning the F Factor in 2017, Jack and Harry have progressed their initial engineering design of a painting and decorating robot into a business called Hausbots and are launching commercial trials shortly.

GUY Isabel (14) was awarded First Class Honours for her intercalated Clinical Anatomy BSc degree by the University of Birmingham.

Dr Jaafar EL-MURAD (68) wrote in with the following news: ‘I’m planning to spend the week of 24 December helping out at a refugee camp in East Sudan, where Charity Right are supporting people that the world - and the large aid agencies - seem to have forgotten. Charity Right’s work in Sudan started in 2013; at that time they were the only UK-based organisation working regularly within the country.

Over half of the schools we support are United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) sponsored schools.

This partnership allows us to provide life-changing help to as many refugee children as possible.

Additionally, we provide over 500 families with 3 meals a day. The harsh conditions of the refugee camp, along with drought and high costs of living, have plunged these families into poverty. Without help, they’d have no food at all.

I am an unpaid volunteer trustee of Charity Right and will be funding my own trip, but I am hoping to raise money to help to feed more children and families.

To donate and find out more about my work with Charity Right go to https:// charityright.org.uk/ cr-star-campaign/937/ the-forgottenrefugees-of-eastsudan/ On behalf of Charity Right and the people in Kassala refugee camp, thank you, very, very much.’

‘This past year I have been taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race which is a 45,000 Nm race around the world.

The race is often described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world. It crosses every major ocean, rounding both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn at the bottom of South America. This race puts sailors up to the ultimate challenge both physically and mentally.

As part of team AkzoNobel I sailed with the team for all but two of the legs.

One of only two females onboard I was the youngest female in the race and had a lot to learn about ocean racing not just the physical aspect but the challenge of dealing with a small group of people in a small place for up to 3 weeks at time. As a team we learnt to test the limits, pushing ourselves to stay focused and keep racing through the highs and lows in some of the toughest conditions I have ever seen. While we only came 4th overall we did have 6 podium finishes over the 11 legs and set a world record as the first monohull under 100ft to sail over 600 nm in 24 hours.’

News of SCHANSCHIEFF Guy (84) whose reusable nappy business, Bambino Mio was recently featured in the Small Business Connect section of the Daily Telegraph.

The feature mentions how he launched the business in 1997 with his wife Jo, after a trip to India and from bedroom-based beginnings, the company now employs 50 staff and has an online presence in 9 countries and an annual turnover of £3.4million. Products include reusable swim nappies and training pants, washing powders, bags and other accessories.

VOSSIUS Issy (08) returned to Oakham for October’s 2008 10year Reunion and took the opportunity to visit her former Matron, Hazel Johnson, in Rushebrookes. Issy lives in Munich, where she works as a lawyer for BMW. She very recently married Phillip, who also works for BMW.

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Events

CLASS OF 1998 TWENTY YEAR REUNION Eileen Fisher, Alumni Manager On one of the first evenings of autumn, the Class of 98 gathered together to celebrate their 20 year reunion. Meeting in front of the Chapel before the main event, they had a tour of the school led

by Jon Wills, Chairman of the Old Oakhamain Club, looking at old haunts and seeing for the first time many of the new buildings that have opened since their time at School. It was at one of these, BAF Smith’s cricket pavilion that the evening began in earnest. After a champagne reception, a delicious meal was provided by the School catering team. The pavilion looked like it never has before, with a blue starlit sky, courtesy of the DJ who provided the music throughout the evening. The night ended with OOs laughing and chattering into the distance and completely reliving their schooldays by discovering they had been locked into Wharflands car park!

Particular thanks must go to the driving force behind the event; Katherine Sharp, Jonathan Watts and Anna Hefford.

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Events

BACK TO SCHOOL BLACK TIE OO DINNER IN THE BARRACLOUGH Jon Wills – OO Chairman Current Old Oakhamian President, Ben Walsgrove (87) and OO Chairman, Jon Wills hosted a magnificent Black Tie Dinner for over fifty guests with a Back to School theme on Saturday 24 November. OOs spanning 70 years, from 1943 to 2013, gathered under the starlit roof of an Oakham coloured marquee, placed magnificently inside the Barraclough.

Simon Camamile (73) said Grace before Dinner and Ben Walsgrove read a letter out from HM The Queen who wished ‘The President and Members of the Old Oakhamian Club warm good wishes for a most memorable evening.’

The OO President spoke about the strength of relationships that are built from attending Oakham – and how life-long friendships are forged - he now works alongside 4 OOs as a part of his business. “Oakham is what made me the man I am today!”

As his last OO Dinner as Headmaster, Nigel Lashbrook said that Oakham is by far the best School he has worked in throughout the forty years of his career. The Old Oakhamian community is a strong and far-reaching network and the number of pupils now attending Oakham whose relative is an OO, now sits at 20% - which shows how the values and ethos of Oakham is being passed down through generations.

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Events

OOs spanning 70 years, from 1943 to 2013, gathered under the starlit roof of an Oakham coloured marquee, placed magniďŹ cently inside the Barraclough.

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Events

OO MUNICH DRINKS: HOTEL BAYERISCHER HOF, MUNICH Eileen Fisher, Alumni Manager

On a beautiful September evening in Munich, over forty OOs gathered at the roof top bar and terrace of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof for drinks and canapes. Cohorts from the 1980s to 2015 were represented and guests also included OOs from the UK who had flown over to Germany especially for the event! The Oakham Team consisted of the Headmaster Nigel Lashbrook and his wife, together with the Head of Upper School and Director of IB, Simone Lorenz-Weir, the Chairman of the OO Club, Jon Wills, the Development Director, Anna Bentley and Alumni Manager, Eileen Fisher.

The Headmaster said, “I found it very beneficial to step outside from the day-to-day running of the School and spend time speaking to those Old Oakhamians present. Many are now involved in, or are beginning careers in cuttingedge areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. Considering that most of them only spent two years here in the Upper School, it was fantastic to hear them say that Oakham had such a profound effect on their lives and careers.”

The Munich drinks came about after the Class of 2007 held their 10 year reunion back at School in October 2017: it was attended by a large group of OOs from Germany who offered to help us host an event in Europe. Katharina Klohe (07), who helped organise the event said of the visit, “It was lovely to see so many familiar faces from Oakham and those of us living outside the UK really appreciated members of staff crossing the Channel and organising an OO Event in Germany. It is this European outlook that makes Oakham a unique learning environment, both academically as well as for 118

OVERALL, IT WAS A WONDERFUL NIGHT, THAT FINISHED FAR LATER THAN WE ORIGINALLY INTENDED!

everyone’s personal development. It is therefore the School’s hopes and aspirations to grow its Old Oakhamian network across borders and facilitate the exchange amongst OOs far beyond Chapel Close.”

Katharina and her family provided a ‘Klohe Prize’ to the School – to honour international female students taking the IB and to recognise students who excel both academically and also integrate themselves into other areas of School life. Marcus Commandeur (07), who instigated a similar ‘Commandeur Prize’ for male IB students

said that he “hoped the evening could be a positive starting point for a more regular event.”

Another OO said, “It is great how Oakham School keeps in touch with all its Old Oakhamians.”

Overall, it was a wonderful night, that finished far later than we originally intended!

Many thanks to all the OOs who attended the event, particularly to Katharina and Marcus who helped with arrangements. Thanks are also due to the touring Class of 2012 who also made it out from the UK to drinks in Munich!

Events and Future Events

OO DRINKS IN NEW YORK In an elegant room at the top of some winding stairs, in a tall old speak-easy in mid-town New York, Old Oakhamians gathered on the evening of Friday 19 October.

Eileen Fisher Cohorts from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s up to 2015 were represented. They reminisced about their time at Oakham, many recalling travelling from the cosmopolitan excitement of New York City to the very different atmosphere of Oakham in rural Rutland. Despite this, they credited Oakham with their success and said it was their formative experiences at School that “made them what they are today.”

Younger OOs discussed how pivotal Old Oakhamians continue to be in their careers, how great a resource The Hub could be and how they valued hearing back from older OOs, happy to share their experience and contacts.

“Having the Oakham network is an invaluable asset to all of us.” We were delighted to put younger and older OOs in touch after the event.

The Headmaster, on his last trip to New York as Head of Oakham School, explained how the IB

Middle Years Programme is being introduced so we can make sure Oakhamians are ready for their future careers.

He also spoke about the importance of the School remaining in contact with international OOs and how

CLASS OF 2008 REUNION An enthusiastic cohort of 2008 Leavers gathered for drinks in the Common Room above the Small Barraclough, happy to be reunited – some for the first time since leaving Oakham 10 years ago. Jon Wills, OO Chairman, gave his customary tour of the School and showed the Old Oakhamians some of the major developments that had taken place since they last saw the campus. The impressive Wilson Auditorium

Eileen Fisher

was certainly the wow factor, with many saying that the School’s facilities were more impressive than their university lecture theatres. Lunch in the Barraclough followed the tour and drinks continued throughout the evening. One 2008 leaver emailed in to say, “I had a great time - so much fun catching up with lots of people I had lost touch with and swimming in nostalgia for an evening! Still not sure where 10 years went!!”

important they are to the School; our Campaign has raised over £1 million in donations and pledges, the largest of which was from a US donor. Part of this gift has been used to fully fund a pupil at Oakham from Form 3 to Form 7.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

Christmas Drinks in London Monday 17 December 2018 6.00pm – 10.00pm Drop in to this ever popular FREE festive event.

Class of 1989 Reunion Saturday 11 May 2019 BAFS Midsummer Drinks Saturday 8 June 2019 BAFS Class of 1979 Reunion Saturday 15 June 2019 BAFS 119

From the Archives

CHARLOTTE McCRORY OAKHAM SCHOOL’S NEW ARCHIVIST

I am thrilled to be the new Archivist at Oakham School and am looking forward to continuing the excellent work of my predecessor Jon Wills.

My main role is to catalogue, store and preserve the documents and objects that highlight the history of the School so that they may be preserved for future pupils, staff and researchers to enjoy for years to come.

My aim is to make the collections here at Oakham School as accessible as possible; I want everybody to be able to enjoy these documents whether it be in person here at the Archives in College

House, online, in educational resources or even exhibitions.

Oakham School is lucky to have a community that stretches across the world and I want to ensure that everyone can access and remember the School no matter where they are.

I am a firm believer of the phrase ‘what’s the point in collecting and keeping an archive if no one can benefit from them?’ Archives exist to collect information on the history of humanity and its world. This is so that we may research and illuminate ourselves on the past and how our world has developed. Therefore, archives at their very core exist to serve people.

I hope during my tenure here, to be involved in many projects that will exhibit the wealth of material that the Oakham Archives has. I want to explore new technologies and involve the students and staff in the development and working of the Archives – whether this is through volunteering or classroom materials. Most importantly, I desire to make the Archives and the history of the School engaging and inspiring to the Oakham School and wider community. I strive to make the Archives an accredited service, upholding outstanding archival

standards as well as being a credit to the School.

You can keep up to date with the work we are doing in the Archives by reading our new Archives Blog or contact me at cvm@oakham.rutland.sch.uk (01572) 758608.

HEALTH AND SAFETY 1930s STYLE One of the things I love most about archives is encapsulated within this image: you can compare the differences with today and put yourself in the shoes of the past.

This image shows a boy being lowered out of the window on a rope during a fire drill in 1936. The boy in question – none other than Club Chairman Jon Wills’ father! It was very surprising to come across an image which captured what many would consider to be a mundane event. However, I often find that rare images like these do more to expose a previous generation’s world than account books, as they show everyday normality, which can sometimes be overlooked by big events in a school’s history. I love the two boys peering over the window ledge with an expression of what is debatably fear or eagerness

at what awaits them. I would like to think that they are helping to guide their fellow pupil to the ground.

The picture highlights the contradiction between our modern values, where the emphasis would be on safety and order, to what was considered the best code of practice in the past. I really enjoyed thinking about how both adults and pupils would react to this picture and the conversations that it might spark between families and friends.

I WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN ACCESS AND REMEMBER THE SCHOOL NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. THE PETER WITCHELL ARCHIVE

Nigel Webb, Hon. Assistant Archivist

Peter believed strongly in ‘music for all’ and strove to ensure that a very high proportion of children in the School had some experience of performing musically.

Peter Witchell (1945-2017) was Director of Music at Oakham School from 1978 to 1995, and then Director of Academic Music until his retirement in 2004.

Particularly memorable among the major orchestral works are Rutlandia (1997, commissioned to celebrate Rutland’s independence and also performed at the Millennium celebrations at Burley-on-the Hill in 2000). His compositions included scores for major choral works: Missa Misterio (2001) and Nero (performed in 1990 at Oakham and at the

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe and in 2000 at Oakham. For Daniel Hyde, OO (02) – who is now Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge – he wrote the testing organ piece Over the Top (2001).

Peter believed strongly in ‘music for all’ and strove to ensure that a very high proportion of children in the School had some experience of performing musically. Oakham now possesses an archive covering almost all of Peter Witchell’s compositions as well as copyright, enabling the School and others interested to perform his works in the future.

From the Archives

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE In his final article on OOs in World War I, Brian Needham looks at the last days of the war and the war memorials that were built in the School to honour the OO Fallen.

The building of the Chapel in 1924

THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE From August to November 1918, this was the final offensive of the war, commencing with the Battle of Amiens which forced the German Army to retreat beyond the Hindenburg Line, followed by the Armistice of 11 November.

THE FINAL OO CASUALTIES The final OO casualties of the War were William Reginald Hill MC & Bar (Oakham 1911–14) who died as a Prisoner of War on 6 November, aged 22 and John Henry Heathcote Bradley (Oakham 1913–17) who died of pneumonia on 21 November, aged 19.

For many years it was believed that 71 OOs died in World War 1 until a recent discovery by OO Michael Allbrook (61), confirmed by the School Historian, showed that Oakham lost another OO who does not appear on the Chapel Memorial.

William Forster Cowlishaw (Oakham 1912) probably was at Oakham for only one year or perhaps only one term, in 1912; he served from 21 May 1918 as a

Private with 1st Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment, up until his death in France on 1 November 1918 from wounds received in action the day previously, aged 20.

Independently the School Historian discovered a further OO casualty, Allan Gabriel (Oakham 1886–91), a Lieutenant in the Notts and Derby Regiment, who entered the Western Front on 1 February 1916 and died on 23 August 1916 of wounds suffered in action, aged 30. Three other OOs deserve mention, since they died some years after the end of the war from injuries and illness contracted while serving: Albert Alexander Pargiter Humfrey (Oakham 1897–98) in 1920, George Noel Gordon (Oakham 1909–10) in 1919 and Wilfred Curtis (Oakham 1885–86) in 1923. To offset these additions it is now established that William Henry Barratt (Oakham 1895–99), named on the memorials, survived the war and died in 1972. This brings the total of Old Oakhamian casualties in WW1 to 75.

THE WAR MEMORIALS No fewer than 314 Old Oakhamians and eight members of staff served in the Armed Forces during WW1, of whom some 20 were awarded the MC and five the DSO, two were appointed OBE, and many more were Mentioned-in-Despatches. As early as his speech on Prize Day 1916, the Headmaster Tom Sargant commented that ‘the School had in the last year to mourn the loss of many stout hearts who had given their lives to their country and that it was borne on him more and more as time went on how the homes and schools of England were being sanctified by the devotion of their sons; it was a devotion that would not be forgotten in this generation, nor the next, for the record of it would be passed on from father and mother to son, and then would not be forgotten in the pages of history’.

Indeed they are not, as each year

the Head Boy and Head Girl read the names of all those lost in both World Wars in the War Memorial Chapel on Remembrance Sunday and their names are inscribed in that Chapel.

It was in November 1918 that the War Memorial Appeal was launched with the immediate aim to build a Chapel, sadly lacking in the School at the time. Sargant realised that it would be some years before such an edifice could be afforded from appeal and so he commissioned his brother, the artist F.W. Sargant, to design oak screens on which were engraved the names of those OOs, boys and staff, who had fallen on active service during the war. These screens were placed in position during the Christmas holidays of 1921 at the School’s then main entrance, the door from Market Street into School House, and

No fewer than 314 Old Oakhamians and eight members of staff served in the Armed Forces during WW1, of whom some 20 were awarded the MC and five the DSO, two were appointed OBE, and many more were Mentioned-in-Despatches.

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From the Archives

through which all boys went several times a day. In his history of the School, John Barber wrote: It was all done quietly, we suspect at Tom’s own expense, and there was no opening ceremony. However, on the first day of the new term, the boys spontaneously decided to remove their caps as they passed through the entrance, as a mark of respect. In those days they all wore black caps which bore the school crest above the peak and thin red piping dividing the large expanse of black into segments, except that there were no red lines on the caps of the Prefects and Colours. The Market Street entrance into School House is now hardly ever used, so these screens are unknown to most present pupils and staff.

By 1924 sufficient funds had been raised to begin work on the proposed Memorial Chapel.

The foundation stone was laid

by Dr Theodore Woods, Bishop of Winchester, in 1924 and some 15 months later in 1925 Dr Cyril Bardsley, the Bishop of Peterborough and School Trustee, dedicated the Chapel, with the sermon preached by OO J.G.F. Day (Oakham 1885–93), the Bishop of Ossory. The original planning proposal had been for a brick building, but this was refused by the local authorities and the plans approved by them only if much more expensive stone was used. Fortunately, the Headmaster learned that suitable stone was available from modifications being made to Cold Overton Hall and the necessary loan for immediate purchase of the stone was provided by OO and School Trustee G.C.G. Gee (Oakham 1886–94), a Leicester businessman; a few months later Gee made it clear that the loan was never to be repaid.

The sculptures on the front of the Chapel, representing the common sacrifice of the nation and recording the names of all the OO (boys and staff) Fallen, were carved by Sargant’s brother, F.W. Sargant. Mothers, wives, sisters, and sweethearts donated jewellery in memory of their loved ones and these jewels were inserted 122

The oak screens on which were engraved the names of those OOs, boys and staff who had died in active service during World War 1, can still be seen in the Market Street entrance into School House.

By 1924 sufficient funds had been raised to begin work on the proposed Memorial Chapel. The foundation stone was laid

by Dr Theodore Woods... into the specially commissioned silver cross. This was not the end of donations, for both then and in later years there were many such: the Old Oakhamian Club paid for an organ in memory of Tom Sargant which lasted until 1969; in 1934 Mrs Hodge, the widow of

From the Archives

Edward Vere Hodge (Headmaster 1879–1902), donated the pulpit; in 1936 a group of Hodge’s OOs presented the lectern; the stalls at the rear of the Chapel were given in memory of J.C. Clark (staff 1892–1924) and Margaret Harrison (School House Matron 1900–39); the Bishop’s chair was given in honour of OO J.N. PickeringClarke (1907–11), killed in the war; two chairs and lecterns were donated by P.J. Hodges (1947–54); the pewter alms dish was given

by Harry Anderson (staff 1919–39) and later engraved by his wife and children in his memory; two altar vases were presented by the widow of the Hereditary Trustee Captain W.D. Johnson; and a new chalice given in memory of the Reverend F.H. Jerwood (Oakham 1902–05, staff 1919–38).

Mothers, wives, sisters, and sweethearts donated jewellery in memory of their loved ones and these jewels were inserted into the specially commissioned silver cross.

The sculptures carved on the front of the Chapel were carved by Sargant’s brother F.W. Sargant.

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Sport

SPORT

Brian Needham

HOCKEY

Kathryn Lane (13) represented England in the Commonwealth Games, securing a Bronze Medal, and then in the World Cup held in London, where the team faced the eventual champions, the Netherlands, in the quarter-finals. Kathryn now has won 11 England caps and is a member of the Great Britain squad. Lydia Copeland (12) won a Cambridge Blue but lost to Oxford 1-2 in the Varsity Match. Matthew Ramshaw (18) was selected to represent the Great Britain Elite Development Squad (GB EDP) in a Six Nations Hockey Tournament held in Belgium in July, with matches against Belgium, India, Netherlands, Ireland and Malaysia.

CRICKET

Oakham’s senior representative, Stuart Broad (04) played several early season Championship matches for Nottinghamshire but then had to content himself with two Tests against Pakistan (2 runs and 7 wickets) in a 1-1 drawn series followed by a 4-1 series victory against world number one, India (87 runs and 16 wickets).

During that India series he moved himself up to number 8 in the all-time wicket-taking list of Test Match bowlers and will expect to overtake Kapil Dev in taking his first two wickets against Sri Lanka before Christmas, after which he will expect to tour West Indies. To date he has scored 3,063 Test Match runs, taken 433 Test Match wickets and held 39 Test Match catches, becoming just the third person to score over 3,000 Test Match runs and take over 400 Test Match wickets. His First Class record is 4,909 runs, 706 wickets and 70 catches, in List A matches he has 620 runs, 216 wickets and 32 catches and in T20 he has scored 152 runs, taken 100 wickets and held 26 catches. He has been awarded a Nottinghamshire Testimonial for the 2019 season. Josh Cobb (08) continued his First Class with Northamptonshire, mainly playing in the shorter versions of the game. Against Warwickshire (playing as Birmingham) in the Vitality Blast he hit a career best 103 off 62 balls.

His First Class record now stands at 4,702 runs, 17 wickets and 50 catches, in List A Matches he has 2,908 runs, 32 wickets and 26 catches, and in T20 he has 2,911 runs, 54 wickets and 64 catches.

At Worcestershire, Tom Fell (12) moved from batting at four (or three when Ali was playing for England) to fill an opening vacancy at First Team level. A notable achievement in the season was his batting at three in the victorious Worcestershire side in both the semi-final and final of the Vitality Blast T20 competition; he

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To date Stuart Broad has scored 3,063 Test Match runs, taken 433 Test Match wickets and held 39 Test Match catches, becoming just the third person to score over 3,000 Test Match runs and take over 400 Test Match wickets. scored 22 in the semi-final and 1 in the final, taking two fine catches. He was chosen for these matches on the basis of his performance at Second Team level against Yorkshire, on the same day scoring 65 off 37 balls and 120* off 58 balls (a Worcestershire record in two T20 matches on the same day. To date, then, his First Class record is 3,672 runs and 56 catches, in List A matches he has scored 1,149 runs and held 11 catches, and his T20 record is 24 runs and 2 catches. Early in the season he came up against Broad bowling for Nottinghamshire who took his wicket and at the end of the season he was adjudged LBW to Oakham’s latest First Class player, also bowling for Nottinghamshire but at Second XI level. That player was Oakham’s 2016 and 2017 captain (and part of 2015) Lyndon James (17) who towards the end of the season played for the Championship side, reversing his accustomed Oakham role by being played for his bowling and batting in the lower order; in his one First Class match he scored 24 runs and took 3 wickets, but has not played in any List A nor T20 matches. He played 8 Second XI Championship matches, scoring 439 runs, taking 13 wickets and holding 6 catches; in the Second XI Trophy he played 5 matches, scoring 5 runs

and holding 2 catches; in the Second XI T20 competition he played in 12 matches, scoring 236 runs (including 98* v Lancashire), took 6 wickets, and held 3 catches. His Oakham contemporary Donald Butchart (17) played for Leicestershire CCC; in the Second XI Championship he appeared in 3 matches, scored 49 runs (for once out), took 1 wicket and held 1 catch; in the Trophy competition he played in just one match but did not bowl or bat; in the T20 competition he played in 4 matches, scored 22 runs and took 2 wickets. In Minor Counties cricket, Oakham had two representatives: Joe Kendall (15) played for 7 matches for Lincolnshire, opening the batting and scoring 142 against Cambridgeshire, 230* against Buckinghamshire and 100 against Suffolk, totalling 557 runs @ 60.64; he also played for MCC Loughborough Universities through the season, but not in a First Class match. Alex Wyatt (08) played for Shropshire in 2018; he appeared 5 times in the Championship, scoring 43 runs and taking 20 wickets; he played on 1 Trophy match, taking 1 catch. Meanwhile, onetime Oakham coach David Steele has produced a new anecdotal autobiography entitled A Bank Clerk Who Went to War, which includes a fond chapter on his time at Oakham.

Births, Engagements and Marriages

BIRTHS

MARRIAGES

COOIL Kim (08) and Christian Pearson are happy to announce the birth of Ella Grace Pearson, born on 27 August 2018.

BARR Zoe (03) married James Meikle, a famer, in Northampton on 14 July 2018. Pictured from left to right: Charlie Bromwich, Sophie Ribet (née Little), James Meikle, Zoe Meikle, Miriam McCullloch (née Farley), Will Ash and Simon Collier.

MEADOWS Lucy (06) (née Eayrs) and her husband Chris are pleased to announce the birth of their first son, Oliver Charles Meadows, who was born on 11 October 2018, weighing 6lb 12oz.

ENGAGEMENTS

HEALEY Sarah (09) and THORPE Jamie (08) were married on 22 September 2018 at the bride’s parents’ house in Edith Weston, Rutland.

There were several OOs in the wedding party as Bridesmaids and Ushers: Alex Healey, Lizzie

Healey (Joint Maid of Honour), Jessie Thorpe, Gemma Feare, Richard Whitmore (Joint Best Man), Elpie Kendall (Maid of Honour), Jenny Thorpe, Alicia Buchanan, Ben Bowman and Grace Tonner.

LOWETH Harry (04) got married on 29 September at Holy Rood Church, Market Rasen. The reception was held at the bride’s family farm Fonaby Top, Caistor.

MANBY Susie (08) and PADLEY James (07) are thrilled to announce their engagement. After being together for four years James asked Susie at their home in Lincolnshire. “We are both very happy and excited for the future.”

MALHOTRA Anusha (01) In September, in colourful civil and Hindu ceremonies followed by elaborate receptions on the beach of the Intercontinental Hotel in the beautiful island of Mauritius, Anusha Malhotra (Lincoln and Stevens, 1998-2001) was married to Kritarth Saurabh, a long-term friend and work colleague in the City of London. Anusha was given away by her father, Dr Krishan Malhotra (78) and her Maid of Honour was her sister, Divya

who was married in similar ceremonies the following weekend. Between these events there was a Mehendi & Sangeet evening at the home of Anusha’s Mauritian grandparents – elaborate henna designs for the ladies; dancing and feasting – and a beach barbecue.

Among the many guests, drawn from all over the world, were Nigel Webb (Common Room 1967-99) who had been Krishan’s Housemaster, and his wife Caroline (Hon. OO) 125

Deaths and Obituaries

TERENCE TREANOR MEMORIAL SERVICE Many OOs travelled to Oakham Chapel to attend the Memorial Service celebrating the life of OO and former Chaplain, Terence Treanor, on Saturday 29 September. Readings were given by Richard Horsman (68), Head Chapel Warden 1966–67; Graham Smallbone, former Headmaster (1985–1996); and Rev John Darrall, School Chaplain (1984–1999). Prayers were led by Simon Camamile (73), Head Chapel Warden 1972–73, and Max Heron (74) read John Donne’s Prayer.

Sadly, Terence’s widow Mary died recently. An obituary will be published in the next Old Oakhamian.

BROOKS David (66) 18 January 1948 - 13 July 2018 Written by Wendy Brooks, David’s wife David greatly enjoyed his time at Oakham from 1958 until 1966.

Following on from School, David decided to pursue the fast track to becoming qualified as a Chartered Accountant, which he duly achieved at the age of 21 and following articles with Thomas May in Leicester, he went on to become the youngest ever Partner of Thornton Baker (later Grant Thornton) at

the age of 25 – a record which still stands today. From there, his career reads as a number of ‘youngest and first’ achievements. He was the youngest member of the firm to serve on the Executive Board and the first Partner to lead the marketing strategy as Thornton Baker became Grant Thornton. His work shaped the market positioning of Grant Thornton, right through to today. In his role as Managing Partner of the Milton Keynes office, he led it to become one of the largest and most profitable offices outside of London and the latter part of his career was spent building the National Lead Advisory practice and eventually, heading up M&A for the firm. He completed an astonishing total of 100 deals. On his retirement from Grant Thornton in 2010, he was still active in the corporate finance field, first as a partner for Wyvern Partners and then with Bishopsgate Corporate Finance. He was a non-executive director on a number of boards, who appreciated his strategic and creative insights, alongside

commercial discipline.

David’s sporting talent and prowess, which continued throughout his life, was evident during his time at Oakham, when he was captain of hockey and cricket, as well as being a talented rugby player. He was interested in everything to do with sport – hockey, rugby, golf, cricket and eventually, he had to make decisions about where to focus his efforts. He had a distinguished career in hockey, playing 115 times for Leicestershire and is in the top 5 all-time appearances list. He effectively played 3 international matches against full England and GB sides. He also played early European hockey for a Leicestershire select XI. David served his beloved Leicester Westleigh Hockey Club and his County, Leicestershire well, both on and off the field. He played well into veteran age and was always there to give advice to both young players and umpires.

Golf was his other major sport. He was a member of the

Leicestershire Golf Club for over 50 years and his name appears on a number of trophies. It was an especial pleasure for him to win the Winter League in the year of his captaincy, the 125 year for the club. He was the lifetime President of the Old Oakhamian Golf Society, an active member of the Grant Thornton Golf Society and participated in numerous charity events associated with golf.

Amidst a full professional and sporting life, David nevertheless was deeply committed to helping others. He raised funds for DEBRA (for people whose skin does not work) and for The Bridge (homeless to hope). Typical of David was his facilitating a grant for The Bridge through his work as a trustee of the Shipman Trust, but he also got up at 5am in the morning to see, at first hand, just how the charity was helping the homeless of the city of Leicester.

Facts and achievements do not really capture David. Most of all, he is remembered for his high standards of integrity, his generosity and kindness to so many people in so many different walks of life and his big personality, which radiated energy and fun. His multicoloured ties and socks were just a small indication of his colourful and unforgettable personality!

Competitive and ambitious as he was, both professionally and as a sportsman, he always had time for others, was compassionate and helped many people in need. He was a loyal friend and was modest about his achievements and private about his charitable work. It says much that the service to celebrate his life, held at Leicester Cathedral on 5 October, was attended by nearly 400 people. The tributes to him were full of respect and genuine affection.

David died suddenly, after a short illness on 13 July. He leaves a big hole in the lives of so many, not least in the life of his wife Wendy, who describes him, quite simply, as the love of her life.

Facts and achievements do not really capture David. Most of all, he is remembered for his high standards of integrity, his generosity and kindness to so many people in so many different walks of life and his big personality, which radiated energy and fun.

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Deaths and Obituaries

BURALL Katie (90) (née Priest)

was just 46 years old when she died, ultimately of pneumonia. Drawing the short straw with MS, in typical fashion she threw herself into life no matter what it pitched at her. Typical of her attitude was her sponsored parachute jump in 2009 [https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=b3rXFe9aqnQ] which raised over £8,000 for the MS Trust. In recent years, even as her health deteriorated, Katie was full of the smiles and laughter so well remembered by her School contemporaries (and, indeed, teachers).

Katie married Mark Priest in 2004, before the onset of MS, and their son, Sam, was born in 2006 and flourishes; a gregarious young lad with Katie’s well-remembered unruly hair. Husband and son survive Katie, as does her brother Simon, (88) married and with three children and her parents, David and Susie. Old Oakhamian Sara Griffiths (90) (née MacDonald) was amongst those who spoke at Katie’s funeral, which was attended also by schoolfriends, Old Oakhamians Kirstie White (90) (née Riley) and Samantha Baker (90) (née Bell).

2 February 1972 – 14 March 2018 Written by Brian Needham Katie joined the School in September 1983, in Form 1 (joining her older brother Simon just as he was leaving Peterborough House and going into Wharflands) and progressed through Lincoln, Buchanans (where she was a Prefect) and Round House, leaving for university in 1990.

She joined the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and gained all three awards (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and participated in the Exploration Society’s expedition to Peru in the summer of 1989. All those who knew her at School will witness to her vivacity, her total involvement and her gift for friendship.

After Oakham Katie gained a Degree in Geography from Southampton University and a Masters Degree in Medical Sociology from Royal Holloway, London.

Katie started her career as an audit clerk with Bromley Health Authority. She worked with Professor Mike Richards’ team at St Thomas’s Hospital on the Cancer Collaborative Initiative, finally becoming a Commissioning Manager with Hammersmith and Fulham Primary Care Trust.

In 1998 Katie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis but continued working until she was forced to retire through ill health in 2005. Katie

All those who knew her at School will witness to her vivacity, her total involvement and her gift for friendship.

The photograph is on Tony’s 91st Birthday at his favourite restaurant, Nando’s, where he enjoyed many happy birthdays!

FRISBY Anthony Allan Everard Frisby (Tony) (44) 25 April 1927 – 18 June 2018 Written by his daughter, Jane Frisby and granddaughter, Eva Kelly Tony was born in Leicester in 1927 to parents Walter and Ruby Frisby and had one older sister, Margaret. He attended Oakham as a border from the age of 13 and his favourite lessons were Art and Geometry and he loved playing rugby and cricket. He always kept in touch with his two best Oakham buddies, Malcolm Dilks and Brian (Bertie) Franks and returned to Leicester to visit them regularly from London. He was always known by these close friends as ‘Frizz’.

When leaving Oakham in 1944 he spent time in the Navy, mostly on the Isle of Man and then followed his father Walter into the textile trade and had his own very successful textile firm, ‘Anthony Frisby Ltd’. During this time, he married Yvonne and had two children, Richard (1955) and Jane (1959). In 1979, after his wife

died, he moved with his daughter Jane to London and happily lived there for the rest of his life, supporting Jane and working as her ‘Assistant’ from the beginning of her career as a freelance Casting Director – until only a few months before his passing. Tony hugely enjoyed cricket matches at Lord’s and the Oval, rugby at Twickenham and tennis at Wimbledon, which he attended with Jane. He has one Granddaughter, Eva Kelly (97), who he adored and they went on regular trips to London Art Galleries and journeys down the Thames both on boats and walking trips. One of his favourite trips with Eva was to visit the Mary Rose in Portsmouth and he had many models of this famous ship in his bedroom. Jane and her daughter Eva held a beautiful Memorial Service for Tony in his beloved garden on 28 July 2018.

Tony was an avid gardener, and loved planting begonias, sweet peas, roses, tomatoes and strawberries, and now Jane is often in the garden doing the same. The Memorial was attended by many of Tony’s close friends in London including Actors, Theatrical Agents and Casting Directors, whilst his favourite music was played – including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Following an extremely happy, fun-filled and adventurous life, Tony passed away after a short battle with an aggressive cancer, with Jane and Eva by his side. He is survived by his daughter, Jane, son, Richard and granddaughter, Eva. 127

Deaths and Obituaries

THOMPSON Andrew (74) 14 February 1956 – 12 August 2018 Written by brothers, Keith Thompson (75) and Mike Thompson (77) Andy was the oldest of the three brothers that attended Oakham. He joined Chapmans in 1970, followed by Keith and Mike in later years.

Andy was a superb athlete and represented the School at cricket, rugby, athletics, tennis and badminton. Bob Burchnall recognised his particular talent at cricket and selected him for the 1st XI whilst still in Form 3. After leaving Oakham, he played cricket for Warwickshire U23. He may have lacked the motivation to progress to full-county and maybe national level, but few could doubt that he had the requisite skill. Many teachers only knew us as “Andy Thompson’s brother”, and with that came the unrealistic expectation that we’d be able to bowl, bat, run, throw, etc. as well as he did. But he was a great role model to follow, so we were quite happy to be called his brother. Andy was a real gentleman and would do anything for anyone. He was strong, modest and quietly confident; someone who

Andy was a real gentleman and would do anything for anyone. He was strong, modest and quietlyconfident; someone who quietly stood out from those around him

WADDY Richard (52) 12 January 1936 10 November 2018 Richard Waddy passed away on Saturday 10 November, at home with his family. His heart condition, which he had managed so well for the last 10 years, had substantially worsened in the last eight weeks.

A Thanksgiving Memorial Service to celebrate his life was held on Friday 23 November at Saint Lawrence’s Church, Long Buckby.

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quietly stood out from those around him; and as honest and decent a man as you could ever wish to meet. He was positive about life, even when faced with oesophageal cancer, and the recurrence of the disease some five years after his initial treatment. Andy is survived by his

WRIGHT Kevin (75) 4 February 1957 – 19 September 2018 Written by Claire McIntyre (73) My beloved brother, Kevin, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Australia after a long battle against cancer. A service in celebration of his life was held on 13 October at Bisbrooke, where our family lived when we attended Oakham School.

The service was attended by over 70 of Kev’s family and friends. Kevin loved football, playing for the School team, and his music, playing guitar in a band with like-minded school friends. He is greatly missed by his wife, Jude, his daughters, Aimee and Sophie and all his family.

wife, Maggie, and daughters, Kate, Jenny and Harriet. In Maggie, he found a soulmate with whom he could share mutual love and respect.

Kate, Jenny and Harriet also helped him become the best version of himself that he could be. Go well big brother. You will be sorely missed.

The OO Interview

‘SID, THE SAILING COACH TO THE STARS’ DAVID HOWLETT (68) Antonia Scott (92) David Howlett, an accomplished sailor himself, competing in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and Barcelona 1992, went on to coach amongst others, GB’s most successful Olympic sailor yet, Sir Ben Ainslie. Down-to-earth, approachable and inordinately modest, David (or Sid after his love of punk rock music!) has spent a life-time on the sea including eight years in the Royal Navy and his experience and expertise has proved a winning combination time after time.

Rewinding the clock back to his formative school days, David tells me what he remembers about his time at Oakham.

Did you have a favourite teacher at Oakham?

I can’t pick out a favourite, but my lasting memory is that all the teachers at Oakham were incredibly professional - seemingly all from Oxbridge and so dedicated, being ‘on duty’ from 7am – 10pm. They were all so giving of their time, not just in the classroom but also for sporting events and during the weekends and half-term holidays for extra-curricular activities such as CCF and various camping trips.

What did sport mean to you at Oakham?

I remember that there were so many sporting activities on offer for the boys so you had a chance to try anything from all the traditional school sports such as rugby, cricket, athletics, to the more unusual Fives or Shooting, so there was always plenty of choice. I was a late developer

Credit: Jesus Renado

Your favourite memories of life at Oakham?

Looking back I fondly remember the teaching staff embracing the Oakham way of life wholeheartedly which was infectious to pupils. We were encouraged to grasp every opportunity and try as many new things as possible to see where our strengths and enjoyments may lie.

In the 1960s, of course, Oakham was solely boys – 450 of us and I distinctly remember the joy I felt when we all got together and sung enthusiastically for Congregational practice on a Saturday and again for Morning and Evening Song on a Sunday and this experience is now repeated at the Emirates Stadium cheering on Arsenal. We were always kept busy and were occupied from the moment we woke, to when we returned to our House each night – no doubt the best way to exhaust a large cohort of boys!

David in his 1964 rugby team

David coaching Sir Ben Ainslie

physically and having arrived at Oakham into Hodge Wing at just 10 years old, a year earlier than most, and then left School a year early – so was only 16 when I departed Oakham in 1968.

This meant I was small in comparison to my contemporaries, but I was happy and did well at Oakham – was Head Boy at Hodge Wing under Mike Rees, the Housemaster, before moving to Wharflands with John Barber as my Housemaster.

What changes have you noticed when returning to Oakham?

Oakham School is now almost unrecognisable from my day – firstly there are girls! And an equal number of them – making up an impressive School of over 1,000 pupils. The beautiful old buildings I remember like School House and the Chapel remain, alongside some

truly high-spec, modern facilities on the campus.

It’s clear the School is constantly evolving to move with the times and provide that much talked about all-round education.

Have you attended many OO Events since leaving School?

I came back to a 50-year reunion this year that my contemporary Peter Hewlett helped to organise. It was marvellous to meet up with my fellow peer group and see what amazing condition the School is in. I was particularly impressed with BAFS Pavilion which overlooks both the cricket wickets and rugby pitches and was ideal for the reunion.

Any advice you would give an Oakhamian on leaving the familiarity of Oakham School?

Work hard, stick at it whilst enjoying the whole experience and you will be better equipped to deal with life on leaving School and facing the big wide world.

Advice you might now have given yourself at Oakham?

Carpe Diem! Try everything on offer - and to have perhaps worked harder!

My lasting memory is that all the teachers at Oakham were incredibly professional- seemingly all from Oxbridge and so dedicated, being ‘on duty’ from 7am – 10pm. They were all so giving of their time, not just in the classroom but also for sporting events and during the weekends and half-term holidays for extracurricular activities such as CCF and various camping trips.

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Foundation News

RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST A LIFETIME A t the Lower School parents’ drinks reception that we held at the start of term in September, it was great to meet so many parents whose children were starting their Oakham journey. Many of those present had already benefited first-hand from all the opportunities that an Oakham education has to offer, being either OOs themselves or parents or friends of existing Oakhamians. For everyone there was a sense of excitement and anticipation of what the future would hold for their children as they join the Oakham School community, a relationship that will last a lifetime.

It has been a great privilege over the past four years to have met so many people whose affection for Oakham School has inspired them to support us as we continue the School’s great legacy. Time and again I have been struck by the love that donors have for the School as they generously give their time and money to support our plans.

It is now my turn to ‘pass on the torch’, as my career takes me in a new direction. However, with so many exciting plans in place to develop the School further, I leave Oakham safe in the knowledge that the Development Office will continue to fulfil its purpose to support the strategic vision of Oakham School.

I couldn’t possibly conclude my last ever Oakhamian article without mentioning my wonderful colleagues in the Development Office: Asha, Becca, Tooty, Eileen, Jono and Paul – thank

you for all your hard work. And finally, to every donor who has generously supported the School during my time here (in whatever way and at whatever level) I say a heartfelt thank you – your kindness really does help to make Oakham School a very special place.

Anna Bentley, Development Director

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE TEAM! Asha Hickin – Development Manager – who is currently on maternity leave, gave birth to her second child, Sofia Eliza on 18 October 2018, weighing a healthy 6lb 13oz – a sister for Amelia.

Asha and Alex are over the moon with her safe arrival and the Development team enjoyed long cuddles with her when she visited us recently.

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I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Paul Hassall, who is covering for Asha while she is on maternity leave.

Paul has a sales and marketing background, working across a number of industry sectors, most recently in the world of mapping with Ordnance Survey. He is bringing his wealth of experience to work on some of the Foundation’s key projects and is your point of contact for any queries relating to The 1584 Society, the Robert Johnson Legacy Society and this year’s Foundation Projects.

Foundation News

ROOTS IN LEARNING I am delighted to say that one of the Foundation Projects that we have supported in 2018 has now ‘taken root’ in the Smallbone Library. This stunning new centrepiece was installed in time for the start of the new academic year and is already being enjoyed by the hundreds of pupils who use the library each week.

Emerging from the recreational reading section in the Lower Library, leafy branches wreathe over the ground floor towards the informational reading area to mirror the readers’ own learning journey and the way they grow as learners.

Head Librarian Darryl Toerien said, “This exciting installation draws on the science and style of Biophilic Design, which aims to bring elements of the natural world into educational spaces. It provides a working/ study environment that is more natural and positive, thereby helping students to be more productive.”

It was particularly timely that Alan Grieve, Chairman of the Jerwood Foundation,

which was a major contributor to the library’s development, was on a visit to Oakham School just a few weeks after the tree had been installed.

Together with his wife, Karen, and Executive

Directors Philippa Hogan-Hern and Lara Wardle, Alan was able to witness first-hand the impact that their support of the School has had on our pupils’ learning environment.

ROBERT JOHNSON LEGACY SOCIETY Named in honour of our Founder, we have launched the Robert Johnson Legacy Society to enable Old Oakhamians and supporters of Oakham School to leave a legacy in the knowledge that it will be used to benefit future generations.

In recognition of their generous support, members will receive invitations to special

legacy events held at Oakham School with a chance to visit the Legacy Garden at key times of the year.

If you would like to find out more about the Robert Johnson Legacy Society, please contact Paul Hassall either by phone on (01572) 758699 or by email ph2@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

CALLING ALL PARENTS! We’re looking for current parents to join the Campaign Board. If you would like to support the campaign and get involved with fundraising, we would love to hear from you.

Contact the Development Office on (01572) 758699 to find out more.

The Campaign Board exists to support the work of the Foundation, reaching out to likeminded people and the wider School community. Members meet once a term to catch up and agree on specific action points to fit in with their busy schedules.

Hans Haefeli, Campaign Board Member

I joined the Campaign Board, because as a parent and now Trustee of Oakham, I have a very close connection with the School, and am a passionate advocate for the education, experiences and opportunities it provides. It is a real pleasure to have the chance to speak to people who we think would be interested in supporting the Foundation about our latest plans and developments.

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