The Old Oakhamian - Issue 115

The magazine of the Old Oakhamian Club

Issue Number 115

Oakhamian The Old

FRIENDS REUNITED Class of 2009 reunion

OO President’s Dinner with new Headmaster Henry Price • 40 Years of Haywoods and Stevens

Dear Old Oakhamian Firstly I would like to thank Eileen Fisher, former Alumni Manager, for her kindness, her outstanding organisational skills, and her unwavering commitment to the Old Oakhamian Club. It has been a credit to Eileen’s hard work and dedication to receive so many kind words from those that came into contact with her, particularly the words of fondness on the OO Facebook page (which now sits at close to 2500 members). Eileen, your kind heart and fantastic sense of humour will always be remembered in College House.

I certainly have some big shoes to fill!

As my first time at the helm of the Old Oakhamian Magazine, I feel incredibly lucky to introduce myself as your new Alumni Manager. It has been a wonderful first Winter Term in position, with exciting plans taking place, as well as a new database and our recently updated OO Hub. The OO Hub is the best platform to explore all the networking opportunities the Oakham community has to offer. If you would like to sign up to the OO Hub, or if you would like further information, you can find this on page 119, or contact me directly: ooclub@oakham.rutland.sch. uk. Never underestimate the impact that

advice and guidance can have on those who are at the beginning of their Old Oakhamian journey.

The Old Oakhamian Cub has also launched its very own Instagram page: oldoakhamianclub, which already has 150 followers. This is a great opportunity to share photographs, both old and new.

If you have photographs that you would like to be featured, please send them to: ooclub@oakham.rutland.sch.uk.

I recently hosted, together with Brian Welford (Bluffer), the OO Club Treasurer, my first reunion in the Barraclough at Oakham School. I was met with the warmth and spirit of the Class of 2009; a joyous cohort who I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to meet. You can read more about the evening on page 118. With more reunions coming up in the summer, I am already looking forward to welcoming many of you back to the School.

The Annual Old Oakhamian President’s Dinner took place on Saturday 23 November 2019, in the Barraclough at Oakham School. It was a joyous occasion, with memories being shared across the cohorts of 1953–2014. You can read more about the occasion on pages 116–117. For those to whom were unable to make it, I trust an opportunity to meet you will arise in the near future. The Old Oakhamian Christmas Drinks will be at Camino King’s Cross on Monday 16 December; I hope to see you there.

I would like to once again thank Katharina Klohe (07) for her time as the Old Oakhamian President and welcome

David Gilman (89) who will be taking over the reins from Katharina. I hope to welcome many of you to the next Old Oakhamian President’s Dinner in 2020; David and I have a lot of planning to do.

In the Foundation, we welcome back Asha Hickin as Development Manager, who is joined by Joe Roberts, Development Assistant, and Bobby Youngwood, who has recently been appointed the Head of Development.

You can read more about the recent developments in the Foundation on pages 130–131.

It is such a privilege to be a part of the continuing success of the Oakham community, as our outreach broadens, and the engagement within the OO Club develops from strength to strength. I received an inspiring email recently, from an Old Oakhamian who left in 2016, who updated the OO Club with his movements since leaving Oakham. He concluded his message by saying: “Oakham teaches you to juggle so much and it’s only since leaving that I realised how valuable a skill that is!”

I am always delighted to hear from Old Oakhamians, whether it be to share the memories you have of your time at the ‘old place’, or to discuss the journeys life has taken you on since. Please do get in touch, or come along to visit your old School – the doors of College House are always open.

Quasi Cursores, Becca Maddocks Alumni Manager

CONTENTS

News 111 Sport 112 Feature: Matthews Society

113

Informal Reunions

114

125

Events 115 Future Events

119

From the Archives

120

Feature: Peter Witchell Trio

124

Births, Engagements and Marriages

125

Deaths and Obituaries

126

Foundation News

130

110

124

FEATURE: PETER WITCHELL TRIO

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BIRTHS, ENGAGEMENTS AND MARRIAGES

NEWS

News Founder and Managing Director of Bambino Mio, Guy SCHANSCHIEFF (84), was crowned the 2019 Great British Entrepreneur of the Year and Entrepreneur for Good at The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Congratulations to Jess ANAND (10) who has qualified as a Captain for British Airways.

Martin KERR (00) performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear Theatre in Edmonton Canada in November.

Charlie MASON (76) was interviewed in the November issue of Active magazine about his work as Chairman of Uppingham’s Fatstock Show.

Louise DOUGHTY (81) has just published her new novel: Platform Seven.

The work of Dr Holly COLEHAWKINS (00) in the field of surgical cosmetic and anti-ageing treatments. at the Waterhouse Young Clinic in London, recently featured in the Saturday Times Luxx supplement.

Stephen JEFFES (96) performed with the BBC Singers at The Last Night of the Proms.

Following his successful one-man comedy show, The Life I Lead, about the life of David Tomlinson and appearance on Have I got News for You, Miles JUPP (98) is set to make his Royal Shakespeare Company debut in 2020 playing Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratfordupon-Avon.

Neil Mullinger, former Director of Sport at Oakham and Hon OO wrote with the following news about his daughter, Kate MULLINGER (12): ‘Kate’s school, Meadow View Farm School In Barwell, has not only won the Special Needs School of the Year, in the TES Annual Awards, but also it is, for 2018/19, the overall UK School of the Year!

I am so grateful for the guidance of my Oakham colleagues in Kate’s last three years at Oakham. Please pass on my thanks to the staff who encouraged her on her journey.’

Charlie READING (95) recently completed an Ironman Challenge in Italy. See the November issue of Active magazine for more information.

Rebecca STOTT (07) writes: ‘Following on from 10 successful years in residential property sales, I have gone on to launch FoundIt, the only independent property finder in London that specialises in helping first-time buyers, getting them on the property ladder the right way and with confidence.

After Oakham, I headed to Reading University where I graduated with a degree in Real Estate and Management, specialising in residential property. This enabled me to start my career in the residential property market at the notorious Foxtons. From here, I moved on to a boutique start up agency: Haus, which I reframed as a challenger brand to the infamous bigger firms.

I have set up FoundIt London to help purchasers save time, money and stress. Our service offers two

TAPP Sarah (91) writes: ‘I was ordained Deacon at Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 30 June to the parish of St Mary of Bethany, Woking in the Guildford Diocese.

Alejandra Sarmiento, Tamara Church and Sarah Samedizadeh are in the picture. All of us left Oakham in 1991.’

Lucy ROBERTS (15) has won the Student of the Year in Chemistry and duly a First from Manchester University.

Kwamé RYAN (89) made his BBC Proms conducting debut in September, leading the Chineke!

Orchestra in: ‘CBeebies: A Musical Trip to the Moon.’

packages – ‘Full Service’ and ‘Advisory’. The former includes property sourcing, accompanied viewings, area research, advice, comparable evidence, due diligence and managing the purchase from beginning to end – charged at a fraction of the cost of a traditional buying agency.

Meanwhile buyers are given a bespoke report and findings under the ‘Advisory’ package where I shortlist the best properties for my client, listing the pros and cons for each, and provide comparable evidence for similar flats that have sold close by, whilst highlighting area information and intelligence regarding lease, council tax, service charge and so on.

Working with Nick HENBURY (04), who provides financial advice to all parties, it has been an amazing start to this new venture I am embarking on.’

Alex WILLS (04) ran the Berlin Marathon on Sunday 29 September and raised £1000 for Save the Children in the process.

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News

SCULPTURE IN MEMORY OF FORMER TEACHER JOHN CHEVERTON Staff past and present came together in October to celebrate the life of former Head of Biology, Dr John Cheverton, at a ceremony to unveil a wall sculpture created in his honour by his friend and former colleague, Ian Prendergrast.

John joined Oakham in 1989 and was well known and loved for his passion for Biology and enthusiastic teaching of the subject.

The ceremony was well attended by current and former Oakham School staff, along with John’s widow, Sian, who cut the ribbon to officially unveil the sculpture.

The sculpture is a triptych basrelief made out of high-density plaster and the trio of images reflect John’s interests in Biology: As Ian explained: “Bees are at the centre of the sculpture as they were a central

CRICKET

The sculpture is a triptych bas-relief made out of highdensity plaster and the trio of images reflect John’s interests in Biology

Brian Needham

After playing in one Test Match against Sri Lanka and two Test Matches against West Indies (taking four wickets during which he became the 7th most successful bowler in Test Match history), Stuart Broad (04) played several early season Championship matches for Nottinghamshire but then concentrated on six Test Matches, one against Ireland and five against Australia. In the one-off Test Match against Ireland at Lord’s, he scored 3 and 21* and had bowling analyses of 19/5/3-60 and 8/3/4-19 in an England victory. Against Australia, a series drawn 2-2, he was England’s most successful bowler with 23 wickets (and 59 runs). To date he has scored 3,149 Test Match runs, taken 467 Test Match wickets and held 42 Test Match catches; in ODIs his record stands at 529 runs, 178 wickets and 27 catches. In Twenty20 matches for England he has scored 118 runs, taken 65 wickets and held 21 catches; his First Class record is 5,119 runs, 759 wickets and 78 catches. In List 112

part of John’s doctorate. Monty the python was a famous ‘member’ of the Biology Department, and the third image of the Hawaiian state fish represents John’s extracurricular interest in diving; one of the highlights of John’s career was leading a D of E Exploration trip to Hawaii in 2005.”

Ian continued: “John was a great friend and colleague and I was very much inspired by everything he did and this is reflected in this sculpture.”

In addition to current members of staff, we were delighted to welcome several of John’s former colleagues to the unveiling ceremony. In addition to Ian Prendergrast, Chris Gillies, Sally Wragg, Liz Holland, and Val Harvey returned to School to commemorate John’s life and work.

A matches he has 620 runs, 216 wickets and 32 catches and in Twenty20 he has scored 152 runs, taken 100 wickets and held 26 catches. He was selected for England’s tour to New Zealand in autumn 2019.

Josh Cobb (08) continued his First Class with Northamptonshire, mainly playing in the shorter versions of the game. His First Class record now stands at 5,155 runs, 87 wickets and 53 catches. In List A Matches he has 3,339 runs, 35 wickets and 29 catches, and in Twenty20 he has 3,165 runs, 56 wickets and 65 catches. Tom Fell (12) continued to play for Worcestershire; his First Class record is 3,808 runs and 61 catches. In List A matches he has scored 1,369 runs and held 16 catches, and his Twenty20 record is 62 runs and 2 catches. Lyndon James (17) and Donald Butchart (17) have both now played in one List A match each for Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire respectively; 1 run and 1 catch for James in 2019 and 12 runs for Butchart in 2019.

RUGBY As the winter rugby season opened, Oakham’s only representative in the World Cup in Japan was Hamish Watson (10), but his tournament was ruined by an injury in the first half of Scotland’s first match that forced him out of the tournament. OOs who are playing in Premiership squads include: old hand Alex Goode (06) for Saracens RFC and newcomers Sam Wolstenholme (18) for Wasps, Sam Costelow (19), Jack van Poortvliet (19) and Cameron Jordan (19) for Leicester Tigers and Tyrese JohnsonFisher (18) for Bristol Bears.

Feature

THE MATTHEWS SOCIETY Natasha Feroze (14) remembers the Matthews Society, a school society that she and other Form 7 girls in her year established.

The Matthews Society was created as a platform for discussion about women’s rights. It was established by the Form 7 girls in 2014, although it was open to all Seventh Formers who wanted to learn more gender inequality. At the time, this was a topic that we were completely in the dark about. Gender issues were not something that we had been particularly exposed to and we didn’t even feel comfortable referring to ourselves as ‘feminists’.

We held a number of events over the year. In the first meeting, we talked about the late Jane Matthews, a hugely influential figure at Oakham School. Her husband, Andy (56) joined us for the event and spoke of her role at the School, encouraging the girls to take part in sport, and becoming the first female head of department.

One of our most memorable Matthews Society meetings was a talk given by two Journalists, Holly Baxter and Rhiannon Lucy Cosslet from the Vagenda Magazine. It was inspiring to speak to women who were so well educated in this field of work. They were eager to question why we found it difficult to call ourselves ‘feminists’. We learnt that by definition, the word ‘Feminism’ means the belief in equal rights between men and women. It then became clear to us that this was the movement we were a part of and we should be proud to call ourselves Feminists.

The Matthews Society was a really important space for its members. There was always an energy in the room and a profound sense of pride in a cause that we could all relate to. I am really grateful to Mrs Fairley, Mrs Gomm and Mrs Durston for all of their help in establishing and continuing the Matthews Society, as, without them it would not have been able to carry on for the last 5 years.

The Matthews Society made a difference to my life in a number ways after I left Oakham.

I applied conversations we had had into my academia and took up feminism modules in my Politics degree. It surprised me how well informed so many people were already about gender issues and I was grateful that I had already been exposed to the topic at School. I also joined the feminist society at Bristol University.

This was a fascinating experience for me as I got to know a vast array of feminists from more diverse backgrounds. It made me realise the variety of opinions people had, whilst still

We regularly discuss topics on the Facebook page and have added other individuals who have taken an interest in our cause.

Then...In 2014

And now... In 2019

The Matthews Society was a really important space for its members.

There was always an energy in the room and a profound sense of pride in a cause that we could all relate to. believing in the core principle of equality for men and women.

In my social life, the Matthews Society also gave me a better understanding about the challenges I may face as a young woman outside of the Oakham sphere. On countless occasions, I have resorted back to some of the memorable discussions we had during the Matthews meetings as I confronted some of the challenges

in my own life. Something particularly special has been the efforts taken by members, to remain in touch and to share our experiences after Oakham.

We regularly discuss topics on the Facebook page and have added other individuals who have taken an interest in our cause. Whenever I meet up with former Matthews members, we regularly discuss gender issues and talk fondly of our days in the Matthews Society.

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Events

INFORMAL REUNIONS In addition to the ‘official’ reunions and OO events that we host each year, it is great to hear from OOs who have been holding their own ‘informal’ school reunions. Here we feature three such recent events that demonstrate the depth of friendships formed at School.

THE GRAPES SOCIETY Christopher COTTAM (60), John Lawson (60), Michael Chamberlain (60) and Harvey Hermann (56) meet every year as the Grapes Society. They originally started as the Sour Grapes Society, the OOs meet every year in Oakham to have dinner and reminisce about life at Oakham and catch up on news.

CLASS OF 61 AND 62 John DILLON (62) recently met up with two fellow OOs for their annual reunion in Oakham: ‘It has become something of a tradition now for three former Day Boys (Johnsons) to meet for one night a year in Oakham, take a walk around parts of the School and end up for a ‘pie and a pint’ in the Lord Nelson. In late October 2019, Les COOKE (61), Peter SMITH (62) and I paid our third visit.

The three of us were friends at School, Les lived in Manton while John and Peter were at RAF North Luffenham. After one year in the Sixth Form, Les decided not to complete his A-levels, enlisting in the Army in 1962. After basic training he joined the Coldstream Guards and in 1964/65 served 12 months in Aden. On his return he did a weapons instructors course and as a result qualified for transfer to the Small Arms School Corps, in 1967. He then served as a training advisor in various training units, at home

and abroad, until his discharge in 1999.

Peter and I both left in 1962.

Peter went into engineering with the A.V. Roe aircraft company (who built the Vulcan bomber) and spent 42 years in engineering procurement and management before moving into adult education. His engineering skills are now channelled into restoring vintage motorcycles. Les and I subsequently completed degrees with the OU. I joined the RAF in 1962 and after some years flying as a navigator on Vulcan bombers, I spent 25 years in mainframe computers. Early retirement was an opportunity to go to Reading University as a mature student and after taking a History PhD, I now write military history – my third book should be out this Christmas.

The school was very different in our day; no girls and discipline that was more in the style of Flashman and Tom Brown’s Schooldays. But we have fond memories.’

CLASS OF 1999 Jon Wills 20 years after leaving Oakham, nearly sixty members of the Class of 1999 met at Caminos Tapas bar, in London in November. A great venue and an even better night. Huge thanks must go to Olivia White, who was instrumental in organising for so many of this year to attend. Anna Mugglestone flew in espeically from Hong Kong, where she now lives, for this event. What a great effort by her.

Numerous stories and tales were shared of the fun times that they had at Oakham and it is clear that they continue to feel such warmth toward their old school. Towards the end of the evening, the group received an unexpected visitor: none other than the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. There are already plans for this group to meet again on a more regular basis.

If you are having a reunion with fellow OOs, do get in touch! We’d love to hear from you and feature your OO reunion in the next magazine.

Please contact Becca Maddocks, Alumni Manager, at rim@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

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Events

OO FOOTBALL MATCH Jamie Kendall (07) A wet autumnal day in Southwest London saw the OO Football club take on a well set-up LSE team at the Fulham FC Academy ground.

After quickly going down 2-0, the OOs began to control possession with some neat link-up play from holding midfielders Nick Davies and Henry Bridgwood, who orchestrated forward balls to Julian Adeniran, Tarhan Sadhra and Ivan Vlasenko.

As the first half wore on, the OOs’ strong interchanging defensive group of Richard Grundy, Alex Healey, Tim Bradley and Ben Lewin kept LSE at bay, and allowed for the likes of Charlie Faye, Dylan Cleverdon and Jonny Darke to bring the ball forward to give chances for Jamie Kendall and Jamie Thorpe, who saw a superb effort tipped onto the bar by the keeper!

In the incessant rain the OOs entered the second half still 2-0 down but were now controlling long passages of play. It was not long before they were on the score sheet thanks to a 30-yard screamer courtesy of Jonny Darke.

Now at 2-1 with 15 minutes left and balls raining into the box from the long throw of Nick

Davies, the OOs created something of a goal line scramble and Jamie Kendall, using his experience to distract the keeper, allowed Richard Grundy to poke the ball through last ditch attempts from defenders into the net: 2-2!!

The last 10 minutes of the game called for the OOs to dig deep, led by a couple of great saves from Keeper Gareth Peters to keep it at 2-2.

All of a sudden with five minutes left, Jamie Thorpe found himself cutting in from the edge of the box to beat two defenders to slot home the winner!!

A superb 3-2 win for the OOs with special mentions to recent OOs and newer members of the squad Ivan Vlasenko, Ben Lewin and Dylan Cleverdon, who worked tirelessly up and down the field to keep some old timers in the game!

The Man of the Match award was shared by the ever vocal rock in defence Richard Grundy and Nick Davies, who was the engine room in

midfield and peppered the opposition box with his long throw ins.

A nail-biting game was followed by a couple of social beers, where it was great to see OOs from as far back as 2007 and more recently 2018 socialising together and regaling stories of not just their time at Oakham but some slightly inflated footballing prowess…

Thanks to all those who took part and if you are interested in getting involved in the Christmas social/next game, get in touch with Jamie Thorpe at jamie.thorpe@thorpes-joinery.com

CLASS OF 1979 REUNION Jon Wills

In June, over sixty of the class of 1979 had a reunion lunch in BAFS Cricket Pavilion. A number of the group had not returned to Oakham since they left and were clearly delighted to see the increase in the number of new buildings and facilities that have been constructed since they left the School 40 years ago.

It was particularly pleasing that Oakham’s next Headmaster, Henry Price, (the 31st) was able to be present to welcome everyone and to emphasise the huge importance of the Old Oakhamian Club to the School, in the past, the present and the future.

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Events

OO PRESIDENT’S DINNER 2019 On Saturday 23 November, Old Oakhamians gathered from across the UK to attend the annual Old Oakhamian President’s Dinner, which this year took place in the Barraclough Dining Hall at the School.

There were Oakhamians present who had attended the School between the years of 1953 to 2014, who joined together to welcome the new Headmaster, Henry Price.

The evening began with a Champagne drinks reception in the Staff Common Room, where guests were able to reminisce over photographs provided by the Archives Department. As we made our way into the dining hall, we were welcomed by the delicious smell of a Carvery buffet, beautifully put together by the School’s Catering Department.

As main courses were finished, rousing speeches were given by the outgoing OO President Katharina Klohe (07), and by Headmaster Henry Price. The Old Oakhamian Club Chairman, Jon Wills, also said a few touching words.

Katharina spoke of the values which Oakham had instilled in her, and how much she appreciated the many opportunities that she was afforded during her time at the School: “I encourage the School to continue raising students who are open to otherness and I encourage us OOs to value the international network that is available to us in order to 116

appreciate the diverse paths we all take in our lives. I am excited to see where the School is heading and what shape it will take under its new leadership.”

Subsequently, the Headmaster’s address focused on the importance of sharing those opportunities with others: “Pupils are encouraged to take part and play their part so that they become committed and fulfilled members of their communities hereafter.”

Jon Wills, Chairman of the Old Oakhamian Club, thanked both Henry and Mary Price, and extended an invitation for them both to become Honorary Old Oakhamians. Huge thanks were given to BAF and Jill Smith for their massive contribution to the School over many years, and to Mary Stevens for her longstanding dedication to Oakham. Jono also thanked Katharina for her outstanding year as Old Oakhamian President, and introduced David Gilman (89), who will be taking over

the reins from Katharina. Finally, Jono gave thanks to Kim, his wife, for her continued support in his role as Chairman over the last 25 years.

At my first OO Dinner as Alumni Manager, I would like to thank all of the attendees for giving me such a warm welcome. It was a wonderful evening filled with reminiscing, laughter and cheer.

We hope all that attended enjoyed the evening and you were able to catch up with old friends.

For those of you who were unable to attend, I trust an opportunity will arise in the near future. The Old Oakhamian Christmas Drinks will be at Camino King’s Cross on Monday 16 December; I hope to see you there.

Becca Maddocks

Events

At my first OO Dinner as Alumni Manager, I would like to thank all of the attendees for giving me such a warm welcome. It was a wonderful evening filled with reminiscing, laughter and cheer.

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Events

CLASS OF 2009 REUNION Becca Maddocks

On Saturday 2 November, Brian Welford, OO Club Treasurer, and I welcomed the Class of 2009 back to Oakham School. As my first reunion, I was so grateful to be greeted with such warmth.

The Small Dining Room of the Barraclough was filled with laughter and conversation, as the cohort enjoyed catching up and reminiscing with old friends.

For some the evening began at the Admiral Hornblower, before they made their way to the Barraclough, with the night finishing at The Lord Nelson. A good effort.

A special mention to Lars Kahl, who flew in especially from New York, after moving there only six weeks prior to the reunion.

On the Sunday morning, I gave a tour of the School to six of the cohort, who shared their fond memories of Oakham with me. I would like to personally thank them for the opportunity to view Oakham through their eyes, an experience for which I am truly grateful. Although I do apologise for successfully setting off the Smallbone Library’s security alarm…

This was a wonderful first reunion for me and it has only made me look forward to the next one even more. I hope the Class of 2009 continue to keep in touch, both with each other, and with the Oakham School community.

I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THEM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW OAKHAM THROUGH THEIR EYES, AN EXPERIENCE FOR WHICH I AM TRULY GRATEFUL.

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Events and Future Events

CLASS OF 90 INFORMAL REUNION Dolores Sanders

A class reunion can be a scary thing, and as Ffion Jones reached out to the class of 90 to start the idea of getting everyone together again to celebrate 30 years, it was clear that we all had our own story about whether we could, should, would go along. We decided to hold a pre-reunion get together, as many of us hadn’t seen each other since we left... What happened was a truly magical weekend. Over the two days – and Friday and Saturday night – 15 of us came together; what was clear from the start is we all very much left any baggage at the door, like the discarded files on the steps of the Chapel. We laughed, shared stories, did a little networking, begged a little forgiveness, and mostly just talked; so loudly at some times we were asked to move on... until we deployed a useful noise management system.

What wasn’t present was judgement, oneupmanship, expectations or concerns. What’s clear is we’ve all had an incredible 29 years since leaving School, full of all the ups and downs life delivers, and we were all reminded in a glorious

way of the foundation of friendship, respect, and alcohol resilience our school days gave us, when all else is stripped away. So next year we are doing it again, and would love to have the whole year there to raise a glass to everyone.

...and we were all reminded in a glorious way of the foundation of friendship, respect, and alcohol resilience our school days gave us, when all else is stripped away.

JOIN US FOR OUR 30-YEAR REUNION Please contact Ffion Jones and Dolores Sanders for details, and if one of the boys would like to join us to organise the reunion, we would love to hear from you.

Date Saturday 5 September 2020 Venue BAFS Please contact in the first instance Becca Maddocks, rim@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

DATES FOR THE DIARY DON’T FORGET! Christmas Drinks in London Monday 16 December 2019 6.00pm – 10.00pm Drop in to this ever popular FREE festive event.

Class of 1974 Reunion Saturday 6 June 2020 BAFS Midsummer Drinks Saturday 20 June 2020 BAFS Class of 2015 5-year Reunion TBC Class of 1990 30-year Reunion Saturday 5 September 2020 BAFS 119

From the Archives

30 YEARS OF HAYWOODS AND STEVENS Charlotte McCrory, Archivist

September 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of two of our Boarding Houses: Haywoods and Stevens. To celebrate, we thought that we would take a look at the building and opening of both of these Houses.

Both Houses were born out of the dissolution of Deanscroft – a previous boys Boarding House.

Deanscroft had opened in January 1948 but by the 1980s, the School was continuing to expand in pupil numbers, especially after the introduction of girls and co-education in 1971.1 Stevens

As such, a decision was made to convert Deanscroft into a new Middle School Boarding House for the girls, to be named Stevens.2 This would be the fourth such Boarding House for girls after College House, Buchanans and Rushebrookes. The Headmaster of the time, Graham Smallbone, wanted to balance out the boy to girl ratio at 50:50 and, being easier to recruit girls as boarders, it was decided that girls should move into Deanscroft.3 Yet this left a dilemma: where would the existing boys of Deanscroft go? Because the last few large building projects had been focused upon girls boarding, the lagging quality of the boy’s facilities was becoming apparent. So, it was decided that a brand new House, Haywoods, would be built on Kilburn Road.

Haywoods

1Brian Needham, (Unpublished), p.169.

Deanscroft House

Haywoods being built

Both new Houses opened simultaneously in the September of 1989 with a new cohort of 50 girls in Stevens and 81 boys in Haywoods.4 Stevens was opened

by Mr Michael and Mrs Mary Stevens. Michael Stevens, the namesake of the House, had been an Assistant Master, Second Master, Housemaster, Registrar and even acting Head of Oakham School throughout his career.5 It was Michael and Mary who had been ‘responsible for inaugurating the first Senior Girls’ House’ in what is now Buchanans and so lending their name to a new girls Boarding House was the perfect fit.6 The first Housemistress of Stevens was Mrs Mary Hoyle and the first ever Head of House was Rebecca Robinson.7 2Ibid. p.305. 3Ibid. 4Oakhamian Magazine, (Winter 1989), p.2. 5Ibid. 6Oakham Update, (Winter 1989), p.1. 7Oakhamian Magazine, (Winter 1989), p.2.

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From the Archives

The opening of Stevens House by Michael and Mary Stevens

Similarly, Haywoods was opened by its namesake, Colonel Thomas Haywood – former Chairman of Oakham School Trustees and Lord Lieutenant of Rutland.8 Haywood’s first Housemaster was Mr Tim Gunn while its first Head of House was Matthew Astill.9 8Oakham Update, (Winter 1989), p.1.

9Oakhamian Magazine, (Winter 1989), p.2.

The opening of Haywoods House by Colonel Thomas Haywood

Since then, both Houses have continued to grow and develop.

Below is a list of all of the Housemasters and Housemistresses of each House until the present day.

We would love to hear your memories of these Houses opening or just your time as a Stevens or Haywoods pupil. You can share your memories or any photos with the Archives at archivesuser@oakham.rutland.sch.uk or on Twitter (@OakhamArchives) and hopefully, if we get enough, we will publish them as a collection in the next edition!

Housemistresses of Stevens (Middle School Boarding / Flexible Boarding Girls)

Housemasters of Haywoods (Middle School Boarding Boys)

1989-2000 2000-08 2008-18 2018-present

1989-96 1997 1997-2001 2001-07 2007-18 2018-present

Mary (M.V.) Hoyle Steve (S.J.) and Jan (J.) Burrows Annette (A.M.) Lear Emma (E.G.) Roe

Tim (T.C.) Gunn Brian (B.S.) Welford Jon (J.) Wills Simon (S.C.) Northcott David (D.M.) Taylor Glenn (G.) Gelderbloom

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Can you help us to pinpoint the school year of this Stevens photo? You can get in touch by emailing archivesuser@oakham. rutland.sch.uk or on Twitter (@OakhamArchives).

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NOTORIOUS OLD OAKHAMIANS Oakham School’s Honorary Historian, Brian Needham, looks at the story of Ronald Vivian Light (at Oakham from 1899–1902) and the Green Bicycle Case.

Ronald Vivian Light was born in 1885 and grew up the only child of a successful inventor of plumbing devices, George Henry Light of London. He attended Oakham from 1899-1902, and according to a prosecution brief from his murder trial in 1920, he was expelled at the age of 17. It must be stressed at this point that there is no confirmation in the School records that he was expelled for any reason, but Story’s Register shows that he was at the School 1899–1902 and that in 1916 he was a Captain in the Royal Engineers; however, it claims also that he was deceased by 1920. His British Army WW1 Medal Index Card (in the name of Ronald Light, not Ronald Vivian Light) confirms that he was commissioned from 27 February 1915 to 1 August 1916 in the Royal Engineers and that he re-enlisted as a Gunner in the Honorable Artillery Company, but it does not indicate the award of any war medals.

The Green Bicycle Case involved the death of a young woman in Little Stretton, near Leicester, on 5 July 1919.

Annie Bella Wright was the eldest of seven children of an agricultural labourer and his wife and lived in a thatched cottage in Stoughton, four miles outside Leicester. She worked as a domestic servant before taking a factory job in Bates’ Rubber Mill, about five miles from home. Wright may have met Light prior to the night of the murder, for she had told her mother of an officer who had fallen in love with her who may well have been Light, although he denied it in court. Wright was killed by a bullet wound to the head.

Earlier that evening she had been seen with a man on a green bicycle. By all accounts, Wright and Light met on a road on 5 July 1919 around 6.45 pm when she asked him if he had a spanner to help with the loose freewheel on her bicycle. He did not have one but offered to accompany her

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to her uncle George Measure’s cottage in Gaulby and waited for her outside. They rode away together at about 8.50pm and Wright’s dead body was found on the Via Devana by a farmer, around 9.20pm Police Constable Alfred Hall, who came to the scene, initially found “smears of blood on the top bar of the field gate” but no footprints on either side of the gate. A doctor made a cursory onceover by candlelight and decided that Wright had died in a simple bicycle accident. Not accepting this explanation, PC Hall returned at 6.00am and found a .455-calibre bullet seventeen feet from Wright’s body, which had not yet been removed from the scene. He washed the face of the corpse and found the entry wound. The prosecution’s reconstruction was that a mile west of Gaulby, Bella Wright had fled from Light, panicked, and headed south on an inferior road that was a possible route home, but not the shortest one. Light took an alternate route to get in front of her and lay in wait at a cattle gate, where he shot her and fled.

For five months after Wright’s death, Light hid his bike in a cupboard. He later claimed he had failed to come forward to avoid worrying his ailing mother. He eventually took the bike to the Upperton Road Bridge in Leicester, dismantled the bicycle, and threw it piece by piece into the River Soar, an act witnessed by Samuel Holland, a labourer. On 23 February 1920, Enoch Whitehouse was guiding a horse-drawn boat full of coal on the River Soar when the tow-rope snagged the frame of a green bicycle. Police were called to investigate and saw that the serial number had been filed off both the frame and the seat lug and the brand name (BSA) had been filed off the fork. However, a faint serial number on the fork proved sufficient to link the bike to Light. He was arrested on 4

From the Archives

PC Hall returned at 6.00am and found a .455-calibre bullet seventeen feet from Wright’s body, which had not yet been removed from the scene. He washed the face of the corpse and found the entry wound.

March 1920 at Dean Close School in Cheltenham, where he had just begun teaching Mathematics. On 19 March an additional piece of evidence was found: an Army pistol holster and a dozen live .455-calibre bullets were dredged from the canal. Light was tried at Leicester Castle and on the advice of his barrister, Sir Edward Marshall-Hall, he admitted essentially everything but the killing, trusting to the hope that the jury would accept his version of events as an ex-Army officer and now schoolmaster.

He admitted that the holster was his and that he had owned a revolver but stated that he had parted from Wright without her having come to any harm.

In the prosecution brief, two girls, aged 12 and 14, testified at his trial that the very day of Bella Wright’s death, Light had chased them as they rode their bicycles through the countryside. There seemed to be no evidence to support these accusations.

Marshall-Hall restricted his cross-examination largely to technical matters, questioning the prosecution ballistics expert, Henry Clarke, who had to admit that the bullet could as easily have come from a rifle as a revolver, which allowed Marshall-Hall to make the case that the fatal shot could have been an accidental shot from a distance and that this alternative scenario was likely because a shot at close range would probably have done more damage to the victim’s face.

This theory and Light’s demeanour and social standing were apparently enough to convince the jury to acquit.

After his trial, Ronald Light all but vanished. By 1928 he lived in Leysdown-on-Sea on the east side of the Isle of Sheppey. For at least a time, he assumed the name Leonard Estelle. In 1934 he married an older woman – Lilian Gertrude Lester née Bower. He died in 1975 at the age of 89.

The author of The Green Bicycle Murder (1993), C. Wendy East, concluded that Light did murder Bella Wright but in an earlier book, The Green Bicycle Case (1930), author H.R. Wakefield came to the opposite conclusion.

ARCHIVES QUIZ Can you match the sports photographs with the years? If you think you have matched them all correctly, get in touch by emailing archivesuser@oakham.rutland.sch.uk or on Twitter (@OakhamArchives), and your name could be in the next Old Oakhamian Magazine!

1 Hockey XI 1999 • 2 Hockey XI 1989 3 Hockey XI 2009 • 4 Hockey XI 1979

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Feature

THE WITCHELL TRIO

Peter Coates (91)

“Are you playing at the Wigmore Hall?”

The question came from a middle-aged man (a retired performer, it turned out) who a few minutes earlier had been enthusiastically demanding an encore as the members of the Witchell Trio left the stage. Now he stood with them as they relaxed in the wings, showing no signs of the jest that the question might have evoked in the three Old Oakhamians had they allowed it. It was June 2019, and the Trio had just given their first performance outside Rutland, their fifth public appearance in the less than two years of their existence. It was a wet Thursday afternoon in Ashbourne, but the church of St Oswald’s was ringing with enthusiasm for the fledgling ensemble and the performance they had just given of Rachaminov’s First Trio élégiaque and Dvořák’s Dumky Trio. The billing for the event had described them as ‘WorldClass Performers’, an epithet that had raised an eyebrow or three as the performers prepared for the event. Now it seemed rather less out of place.

And then the emails starting coming in . . . . . . Your recital today was nothing short of brilliant! . . . . . . Wonderful recital today! Just fabulous . . . . . . Just to say again how brilliant that was. I was in heaven, especially in the intensely quiet sections. Stunningly good, well done to you all, and thank you! . . .

So just who are the Witchell Trio, and what brought this unlikely group together? Well, the three OOs in question are Jennifer Kelsey (92) on violin, Peter Coates (91) on cello and Fraser Graham (99) at the piano. All three were music scholars in their day, and those with a long memory might remember concerto performances of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Romance in F from Jenny, Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto from Peter, and Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto from Fraser. Also of note are the concerti that Peter and Jenny premiered in 1998 and 1999 respectively, written for them by the then Director of Music, Peter Witchell (PJW), and the string quartet featuring Jenny and Peter that won the Chamber Music for Schools competition in 1991 with its memorable performance of Shostakovich’s 8th Quartet, which they also performed at the School. While still in the Sixth Form, Fraser received honours in his Guildhall recital diploma, a rare achievement for a school pupil. More recently, he again 124

excelled himself, becoming a finalist in the Liszt Society Piano Prize in 2012. Although the older pair were school contemporaries, friends and chamber music partners, Fraser, who arrived at the School the year Peter left, does have distant memories of Jenny, who was in her final year when Fraser was in his first. The three were not to meet until September 2017, when their muchloved former teacher, Peter Witchell, who had continued to support so many OOs over the years, sadly died, and they were approached to provide the music for his memorial service held at All Saints’ Church in Oakham. Despite the sad and somewhat stressed circumstances of this first meeting, the three found an immediate musical rapport with each other, and decided to meet again, which resulted in their first concert performance, again in All Saints’, in March 2018, in which they played Rachmaninov’s little known but deeply moving First Trio élégiaque in Peter Witchell’s memory. It was after the success of this concert that they decided, in view of the circumstances that brought them together and their desire to keep PJW’s memory alive, to take Peter Witchell’s name, and the Witchell Trio was born. They followed their performance of the first Rachmaninov Trio élégiaque with the even more demanding second, which they performed twice in October 2018.

The trio’s links to Oakham School are rooted as much in the present as the past: Fraser is a current member of staff, teaching piano at the School since 2004, and Jenny’s three sons are also pupils at the School. In 2019 the trio has started to spread its wings, with performances in

Ashbourne, Newark and Manchester Cathedral, in addition to returning to All Saints’ in Oakham, where they have become something of a feature.

Although Jenny and Fraser are hardly next-door neighbours, the 60 odd miles between Derbyshire and Oakham are nothing compared with the journey from Scotland that Peter has to make to meet for rehearsal and concerts. Undaunted by the logistical challenges, the trio is constantly planning and learning new repertoire and looking to further expand its concert itinerary.

Peter Witchell, as well as being Director of Music at Oakham School for many years, was a prolific and gifted composer, writing much of his music for his pupils and ex-pupils, including some rather unusual instrumental combinations (quartet for flute, clarinet, cello and piano, anyone?). Several of his works featured large in his memorial service, helping to make it a truly unique and memorable occasion. Although there is no music written expressly for the conventional piano trio ensemble, the members of the Witchell Trio have already performed some of the music for flute, cello and piano to great acclaim, simply swapping the flute for Jenny’s violin. There are also works that they hope to perform in the future. Since PJW’s death, Oakham School has set up an archive of his work to enable access for those wishing to perform it.

Enquiries/bookings for the Witchell Trio to jenny@medi-kelsey.com Enquiries about the PJW archive to Nigel Webb: nandcwebb@gmail.com

Births, Engagements and Marriages

BIRTH

MARRIAGES

Dr Emilie Couchman (05) (née GREEN) gave birth to Bobby Hayden Remy Couchman on 9 August 2019.

Caroline ALLSOPP (83) of La Rippe, Switzerland, married Erwin Leitner in Vandoeuvres, Geneva. The civil ceremony was followed by a church ceremony at the Anglican church in Gingins, Vaud, Switzerland on 21 September.

Among the guests was Samantha Roost (83) (née Rhys-Williams).

ENGAGEMENTS

Hannah MITCHELL (12) and Fabian TAYLOR (08) got engaged on 28 September at Burnham Overy-Staithe.

From left to right: Harry Loweth, (Will who is not an OO) James Padley, Susie Padley (née Manby), Rosie Manby, George Padley, Jack Measom, Henry James.

Two OOs, Susie MANBY (08) and James PADLEY (07), got married on 1 June 2019.

Susie writes: ‘We had the most fabulous day. We were married at Rauceby Church in Lincolnshire and had Ivan Linford playing the organ for us; we asked him as we had both attended many 'Chapels' and Congo practices with his music. This was followed by a marquee reception in our garden at our new house in Ruskington (where James proposed just under a year earlier). I had my sister Rosie Manby (13) as my Maid of Honour and James (07) had his brother George Padley (06) as his best man. Three more of his ushers were also OOs: Henry James (07), Jack Measom (07) and Harry Loweth (04), as well as lots of the guests!

Anna V SKUSE (04) & Major James M Walters R ANGLIAN got engaged on 1 June 2019 at Hambleton, Rutland Water. Their marriage will take place at the School Chapel on 30 August 30 2020.

Major Christian WRAGG (01) has got engaged to Juana de Diaz. A summer wedding is planned.

Sarah PATRICK (12) got married on Saturday 22 June 2019 to Craig Attmere.

She writes: ‘Craig and I met in Suffolk, where we both live, the summer before I came to Oakham for Sixth Form, and we have been together ever since! It will be 9 years this October. I now work for a travel company, and Craig proposed whilst we were travelling in Borneo at the top of Mount Kinabalu.

We got married in our local church (close to where we both grew up) in Parham, Suffolk, and then had the reception in a marquee at my parents’ house with a live band to continue the celebration into the early hours.

Both my parents, John Patrick (80) and Louise Patrick (81) (née Davies) met at Oakham, and my sister Alison Patrick (10) studied at Oakham for Sixth Form a few years before me, and she was my maid of honour at our wedding.’

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Deaths and Obituaries

Peter BANKS (54) 23 July 1936 – 2 March 2019 Written by Peter’s friend and colleague Andy Brown Peter Banks was a distinguished consultant maxillofacial surgeon, who was recognised as a leading figure in the specialty dedicated to treating problems affecting the face, jaws and mouth.

He made major contributions to the management of maxillofacial injuries and facial deformity in particular.

However, his clinical interests ranged widely and he was highly admired as an innovative surgeon and stimulating teacher.

Peter spent his early years in Hinckley. He started at Oakham School in 1945 as a junior boarder before progressing to senior school where he was a prefect in Deanscroft House. He was a keen sportsman enjoying rugby and cricket in particular. He was also a member of the shooting team having been introduced to field sports by a much loved grandfather who was a farmer in Market Bosworth. Peter had an impressive academic record during his time at Oakham with the high probability of an ‘Oxbridge’ scholarship. Nevertheless he decided to study dentistry instead, which required the late addition of science A-levels to the arts subjects he was already studying.

Peter left Oakham in 1954 to enter Guy’s Hospital Dental School with an Open Entrance Scholarship. His academic success continued with the award of several prizes before graduating with an honours degree in 1959. After a brief experience in general dental practice, he realised that his interest lay in hospital practice and the developing specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery. His appetite was further whetted by a period as senior house surgeon at the renowned Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead.

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Recognising the need for broader medical education, Peter returned to Guy’s to study for a medical degree, qualifying in 1964. Following the usual round of ‘junior’ hospital posts, and the obtaining of a Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons, he returned to East Grinstead in 1966 to complete his training before being appointed as a consultant at Peterborough District Hospital. Less than two years later, he was invited to come back to East Grinstead where he remained until his retirement from the NHS in 1999.

During his time as consultant surgeon at the Queen Victoria Hospital Peter influenced and enthused generations of trainees from at home and abroad, many of whom subsequently became leaders in the specialty. He had an iconoclastic attitude to much received wisdom and his enquiring mind and innovative approach meant he was a stimulating clinical teacher, much in demand as a lecturer and postgraduate examiner.

He was an extrovert and gregarious man, who was in many ways a larger than life “character”. From time to time he openly vented his frustration at the irritations of life in the NHS but any such outbursts were short lived with no malice behind them. All who worked with him or for him held him in high regard and genuine affection.

He had many friends in maxillofacial surgery around the world who sought out his company whenever the opportunity arose.

Peter Banks’ stature and eminence in his chosen surgical specialty was recognised by his election as President of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and subsequently as President of the International Association. He died aged 82 on 2 March 2019 leaving his wife Diana, a nurse in the department who he met on his first day at the Queen Victoria Hospital, plus three children and eight grandchildren.

Roger Marshall BATES (52) 10 January 1935 – 12 October 2019 An obituary will be published in the next edition of the Old Oakhamian magazine.

Timothy Richard CULLEN (65) 11 September 1947 – 10 July 2019 Richard Cullen writes: ‘It is with sadness that I inform you of the death on 10 July 2019 of my father Tim Cullen (Timothy Richard Cullen).

Dad worked as a solicitor at the Nottingham law firm Eking Manning (later Geldards LLP) for his entire career, where he was Senior Partner.’

Michael John HINMAN (68) 24 September 1949 to 21 August 2019 Written by Richard Horsman (68) Michael Hinman died at his flat in Oakham shortly before his 70th birthday.

An only child, born in Oakham, Michael was a serious, studious boy who eschewed sport but served in the Signals section of the CCF. He was in Johnsons 1961– 67 and, in our last year (1967-68), he and I shared a room in College House.

Michael read Modern History at Exeter College, Oxford, where he appreciated the academic environment and the social life of the College Chapel and the Christian Union. He trained to teach in Leeds, and taught for two years at Bembridge School on the Isle of Wight but, realising that wasn’t his vocation, trained in Liverpool to be an Archivist.

In 1976 he joined Coventry City Council’s Record Office, where he worked until his retirement 38 years later. One of his colleagues said of him; “he pretty much matched the public stereotype of an archivist: strict moral and professional ethic, everything done by the rules. He had a capacious memory and considerable scholarship. Other archivists came visiting to admire and learn.”

In Coventry Michael worshipped at Holy Trinity Church, where he served as a Lay Reader, led Bible Study Groups and made many friends. His leisure time was spent walking, often 10 to 15 miles or more, both around Coventry and when he came home on leave to Rutland. His mother, Nora, looked forward to his visits but often saw little of him because he arrived with a programme of walks planned.

After Nora died in 2010, Michael bought a flat opposite All Saints’ Parish Church, perfect for his retirement. In 2014 he brought back to Oakham from Coventry his enormous collection of Vinyl LPs of classical music, photographs and documents, all catalogued and stored in numerous boxes. He quickly involved himself in church life, taking services in the villages where his ancestors had lived and farmed, and participating in meditation and home bible study groups. He had a long involvement with the Rutland Local History and Record Society and the Rutland County Museum. At his death he was due to play a leading role in writing a new History of Rutland.

He was also President of the Rutland County Probus Club, and a key member of the steering group for the Oakham Neighbourhood Plan.

In 2018 Michael joined a church pilgrimage to the Holy Land; and he planned to go to the Oberammergau Passion Play in 2020.

Michael was a dedicated letter writer. I wasn’t his only correspondent, but he wrote to me every fortnight for 51 years!

What will I remember about him?

His atrocious handwriting; his incredibly long sentences; his fondness for cats; his devotion to his mother; his amazingly fast walking over daunting distances; and the extraordinary Old Testament beard he grew in recent years: frankly, he looked better with a mere moustache.

Some 200 people came to Michael’s funeral in Oakham Parish Church, including nine priests, a retired Bishop and a half-dozen OOs.

Deaths and Obituaries Stuart kept horses and had a great love of all animals but his greatest pleasure was his dogs.

William JOHNSON (99) 24 September 1981 – 16 February 2017 William’s parents, Andrew and Susan Johnson, wrote with information about a memorial to their son, William, who died suddenly while jogging in Holland Park of a sudden aneurysm of the thoracic aorta.

‘The Holland Park authorities were extremely kind and allowed us not only to place a bench but also to plant a tree close to where he died.

Both can be found in the south-west segment of the park, most easily access off Abbotsbury Road on High Street Kensington, close to the Belvedere Restaurant and the main offices in the stable yard. The bench is close to the chess playground, while the tree (Chinese Mahogany) should grow well in a superb location between the rose gardens and the tennis courts next to the Belvedere.’

B. Stuart LAMBERT (71) 29 September 1952 – 3 August 2019 Written by Charles Tassell (71) Stuart was born on 29 September 1952, the oldest son of Olive and Derick Lambert. He was brought up in Oadby and went to Stoneygate Prep School.

At the age of 13 he passed his Common Entrance and became a boarder at Oakham School in what was then School House. The Housemaster in those days was Ronnie Henton. Stuart at 13 was as tall as he was as an adult, and so towered over us all. Because of this he became known as ‘bean pole’ later shortened to ‘beany’; a nickname that stayed with him all his life.

At School Stuart was a good sportsman; he excelled at athletics and rugby. He was awarded his 1st XV colours for rugby.

On leaving Oakham, Stuart went to what was then known as the Leicester Polytechnic, where he did a course on Business Management.

On completing this, he joined the family firm and ran the carpet department there.

When the firm had to close, Stuart set up a carpet wholesale business, trading first in Wigston and then moving to Freemans Common in Leicester. Times proved hard in the business and Stuart closed this down and started to operate from home, providing rugs and carpets direct to the general public. This was still trading until very recently.

Stuart had many interests and

hobbies in life. He was never happier than walking in the countryside and finishing the day off with a pint of beer in a local pub.

During his life, Stuart kept horses and had a great love of all animals but his greatest pleasure was his dogs. He was never happier than in their company.

He had a lifetime interest in Leicester City and would love to go and watch them.

In later life, Stuart became a Freemason and joined the Old School Lodge. He very much enjoyed the Lodge and made a lot of friends there, especially Chris Miller whom he enjoyed helping with the organisation of the meals.

A very modest man, who will be missed by many. He lived respected and died regretted.

1970 1st XI. Stuart is standing second from the right in the second row from the top in the photograph.

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Deaths and Obituaries

David Joseph MATTHEWS 17 April 1937 – 19 June 2019 Written by Brian Needham Born at Red House in Barrow in Rutland on 17 April 1937, David entered Oakham School in the Winter Term of 1948 as a Day Boy (as then they were termed), to be followed by his brother Andy (1953–56). In due course he was appointed a House Prefect and then a School Prefect, was a Sergeant in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). He gained his Cross-Country Colours and his Rugby Colours, playing for the XV in the four seasons of 1951-54, captaining the side in that final season of 1954. The Master-in-Charge of Rugby, Geoffrey Liebert, wrote of David at the end of the 1954 season: “his sense of position, his safe hands and amazing control of the dribble make him the best forward of my experience here and he could go far. As captain he is a shrewd judge of character and at times a hard critic; he has done much to keep up the general standard by interesting himself in the lower Lots [junior squads] and we are greatly in his debt.”

The 1953 1st XV, captained by B.A.F. (Brian) Smith, had a playing record of 13 matches of which 12 were won and 1 drawn with no defeats, scoring 204 points to just 22 conceded. On finishing School, aged 17 in 1954, he returned to Red House Farm but combined farming with continuing his rugby career; he played as flanker for Oakham RFC (from age 14); for Stoneygate RFC; for Leicester Tigers RFC

(1955–74 and captain 1965–68) in a record 502 matches with 119 tries; for Leicestershire (with a record number of County Caps and as captain), for the East Midlands (notably against both Australia and South Africa) and for the Barbarians RFC. He had three England Trials 1965–67.

After his playing career he was team coach (1988–91), became a director until 2007 and was President (2001–03) when Tigers won backto-back European Cups with Old Oakhamian Lewis Moody (96) playing in the team. He was awarded with Life Membership in 2005.

In 1960 he married Sylvia Chambers, with whom he had a daughter, Ruth Helen, in 1966. In 1982 he married Anita Davis with whom he had a son, Mark (02) and who played in the 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket teams.

Over many years David was a keen supporter of the School 1st XV and his input when the 1st XV won the Daily Mail Cup in 2002 and 2003 was invaluable.

After a long illness, David died on 19 June 2019, aged 82, and the eulogy at his memorial service in Rutland was given by Dean Richards.

His service to Leicester Tigers was recognised by a minute’s applause before the kick-off in the European Challenge Cup match against Calvisano on Saturday 7 December and his record number of appearances was commemorated by the opening of a new 502 Lounge in the Mattioli Woods Stand and the Players’ Player of the Year Award was re-named the David Matthews Award.

1954 1st XV. Standing: G.R. Liebert (Master i/c), B. Newman, J.G. Clarke, P.C. Woodward, A.J.G. Pollard, I.J.J. Knott, I.E. Saxby. J.C. Clegg, D.J. Stocks Sitting: D.G.J. Gibson, P.I.D. James, D.J. Matthews (captain), J.E. Strickland, R.J. Peberdy.

In Front: I.S. Hurst, A.P. Marrion

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Brigadier Alan Cedric Scott ROSS (45) 28 October 1928 – 1 December 2018 Written by Brian Needham Alan Cedric Scott Ross was born on 28 October 1928, the son of J. Ross of the Cape Colony, South Africa (who fought in the Boer War, being awarded both the Queen Victoria and the King Edward V11 campaign medals, and in the First World War he was commissioned into the Canadian infantry and won the DSO at Vimy Ridge). Alan grew up in London and was schooled at Latymer Upper in Hammersmith, but on the outbreak of the Second World War, he was evacuated to his godmother in Oakham and attended Oakham 1941–45, becoming a member of Junior House and then School House. He won his Athletics Colours and was a Corporal with Certificate A in the OTC / JMC. Gaining his School Certificate at a level that won him a place at the London School of Architecture, he embarked on a five-year course only for it to be interrupted after two years by being called-up for National Service in the Royal Engineers; he so enjoyed his time that he applied for and gained entry into RMA Sandhurst, from where he was commissioned as an officer.

The passing-out parade was taken

by HRH Princess Elizabeth on her first official royal engagement. He volunteered for service with the 9th Independent Airborne Squadron Royal Engineers, the combat engineer element of the airborne forces. After a tour of two years of parachuting in the UK, Cyprus, and Egypt, he went to the Royal School of Military Engineering for a further year of training, from which he emerged with the Fowke Memorial Medal.

Posted to Malaya, he spent three years of road and airstrip building during the conflict with the Chinese terrorist groups and was in command of a seventystrong group of Malay Chinese and Tamil Sappers; he was Mentioned in Despatches for his performance during that tour. Back from Malaya he was appointed Adjutant of the

Royal Monmouth Royal Engineers (Militia) – the “Double Royals” and the senior regiment (founded 1539) of the Reserve Army. From there he attended the Army Staff College at Camberley, following which he worked at the Ministry of Defence for several years.

Next he was appointed to be the British Liaison Instructor with the French Army Engineers (Le Genie), studying for two years the French Army’s range of amphibious bridging rigs – road vehicles that could swim with a superstructure that could link to others to form ferries or a bridge. From France he was sent to Germany to take over a cadre of around 100 Sappers to form the Army’s only Amphibious Engineering squadron and expanded 23 Amphibious Engineering Squadron to a unit of 340 soldiers while at the same time commanding the Army Diving School at Kiel.

After a short time with the operations branch at NATO’s Northern Army Group, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took over command of 21 Engineer Regiment, the senior field regiment of the Sappers. Then followed two years of all-arms training and Iron Curtain patrols before having his force increased by two extra squadrons and being posted to Northern Ireland in 1971.

There his 880 men were split in some six locations through County Down and County Armagh, serving in Crossmaglen and Newry and along the border, while at time reinforcing infantry units in Belfast and Londonderry.

Alan in 1971

Deaths and Obituaries

As a result, Alan was promoted to Colonel and Chief of Staff of the 3rd Division with its 25 regiments and battalions spread from Windsor through Catterick and Salisbury Plain to Colchester. This was a period of a very busy desk job, while juggling with the conflicting problems of the commitment to maintaining peace in Northern Ireland, giving support to NATO activities, training on the battlefield ranges of Canada and being involved with joint operations with the RAF and other foreign armed forces in exercises in Turkey, the Balkans, and Kenya.

Finally came promotion to Brigadier and command for three years of 12 Engineer Brigade which comprised virtually all the Royal Engineer front line or field units spread across the UK – three engineer regiments, a survey regiment, the Military Works Force under a Colonel and two Lieutenant Colonels, and specialist teams in well drilling, electrical and mechanical engineering, bulk fuel handling for the Harrier aircraft, and a heavy plant squadron.

Sport played a role in his life

after Oakham, where he had won his Cross-Country Colours; he ran crosscountry for Polytechnic Harriers, representing them in several County Championships, played rugby for the Army Staff College XV (The Owls), and stayed fit enough to descend into the Grand Canyon and return to the rim in time for lunch!

At age 49 and after almost 30 years of army service, Alan took voluntary redundancy and a job in Wincanton with the engineering and transport division of Unigate, refusing a tempting offer to return to the Ministry of Defence.

In 1985 he took final retirement and moved to Andalucia (Spain), designing his own house, moving, designing a new house, moving again and designing a third house, living there other than summer months spent in the Isle of Wight.

He married and has three daughters and six grandchildren. He died on 1 December 2018, aged 90.

Simon SCHANSCHIEFF (57) 22 October 1938 – 15 November 2019 An obituary will be published in the next edition of the Old Oakhamian magazine.

Alan was promoted to Colonel and Chief of Staff of the 3rd Division with its 25 regiments and battalions spread from Windsor through Catterick and Salisbury Plain to Colchester.

Visiting his men in the Yemen in 1977

Rod SMITH (Hon OO) 8 June 1938 – 15 August 2019 Written by Dermot Gilvary Rod Smith was educated at Woodhouse Grove School (Yorkshire) and Jesus College, Cambridge. He taught for seven years at Merchiston Castle School (Edinburgh), before John Buchanan (Headmaster, 1958-77) appointed him to Oakham School as Head of English and Drama (1968-78), and then as Housemaster of Chapmans (1976-1990). A former national serviceman with flying and gliding experience, he was a member of the RAF section of the CCF from 1972 to 1998, and became commanding officer. As Warden of College House from 1990 until his retirement in 1998, he looked after the Upper School scholars. In retirement he pursued many active interests in time which was divided between Yorkshire, Arran and Mull.

In his youth, he captained his School’s 1st XI cricket, and had a trial with Yorkshire CCC. He was a champion middle-distance runner, a climber and a fell walker, a rugby footballer and golfer. To the delight of Day Boys in the Direct Grant era, he introduced soccer to Oakham.

As Head of Drama, he transformed School theatre with his introduction of the House Drama Festival, and he was visionary in his call for Old School to be transformed in 1969 into a living theatre, the Shakespeare Centre, where his outstanding production of Hamlet starred three boys who would become successful professional actors: Adrian King (Hamlet), Greg Hicks (Laertes) and Richard Hope (Gravedigger).

Fiercely intelligent and phenomenally well-read, as a teacher in and beyond the classroom, he inspired generations to love English literature. His measurement of success was not the great number

of boys and girls whom he encouraged to reach the most selective universities, but the reading and theatre-going of Oakhamians beyond the age of thirty. As always, he saw readily to the heart of the matter. John Buchanan wrote an impressive tribute to Rod in 1998, when he noted that Rod was a poet, lyricist, playwright, pianist, organist and composer who worked at the greatest speed. He added approvingly that (thirty years after his appointment) Rod “still carries with him the harum-scarum appearance of an undergraduate”, and stressed that “concern and compassion for the under-privileged lies at the heart of Rod’s character” and that “his primal sympathies [were] for the boy who was lonely, the misfit, or the temporary failure still to discover his goal in life”.

Nigel Webb (a long-term contemporary of Rod; sometime Head of Mathematics, Housemaster of School House and Second Master) recalls: “Where he excelled as a Housemaster was in his determination to find the potential strengths of each boy and to encourage his development. Always quick to forgive the peccadillos of youth, often to the frustration of other Housemasters, he rightly saw teenage reaction to authority primarily as a symptom of lack of self-confidence. Those leaving Chapmans for School House arrived, believing in themselves, knowing their strengths and accompanied by the strongest recommendations from Rod, detailing all their virtues and potential virtues and minimising their faults and weaknesses.”

Old Oakhamians posted many moving tributes to Rod on the OO Club’s Facebook page.

Rod Smith died on 15 August 2019, aged 81. He is survived by his wife Andrea, their five children, Tracy, Nigel, Simon, Jamie and Angus (all OOs) and his grandchildren.

Where he excelled as a Housemaster was in his determination to find the potential strengths of each boy and to encourage his development.

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Foundation News

I am delighted to write this introduction, having picked up the reins of the Foundation and Alumni Office alongside the Marketing and Communications role I have been proud to hold here at Oakham School for the past six years. My association with Oakham School began in September 2011, when my daughter joined Lincoln House as a boarder in Form 1.

Oakham School was everything we hoped it would be, and when an opening to join the Oakham community arose in 2013, it was an opportunity not to be missed!

Bobby Youngwood, Asha Hickin and Joe Roberts

My connection to Oakham School runs deeper than it simply being a great place to work; it was the school I entrusted my daughter to, and the school that

PROFILE OF BOBBY YOUNGWOOD, HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT Joe Roberts, Development Assistant Originally from Buckinghamshire, Bobby Youngwood has been a Leicestershire lad for the last 13 years and currently lives locally with his wife and two daughters. As a teenager, Bobby attended the Douai School in Berkshire. A graduate of the University of Leicester, Bobby has worked in charitable fundraising for 12 years, most recently at University of Leicester, and before that at Methodist Homes, De Montfort University and Home-Start UK

Why Oakham?

Having lived in Leicestershire for the last few years, I was familiar with Oakham and it has a fantastic reputation, for academic as well as sporting and artistic excellence. The School has strong local connections and feels part of Oakham life.

The Foundation’s focus on bursaries is a project I really believe in – providing to a range 130

of backgrounds to make sure an Oakham education is available to as many people as possible.

How is it different from your previous job?

There is a much smaller donor pool to fundraise from which means that building relationships is key. But that does mean that building those relationships makes you feel part of a family.

First Impressions?

My colleagues have been fantastic – friendly, approachable and welcoming. Everyone is working to 100% to deliver for the School, which makes it easy to invest yourself in the community.

Best part of the job?

Meeting donors, inspiring them to support the School. People give to people, so it’s all about building the relationships. I look forward to helping reengage OOs with their School and ensuring Oakham’s future success.

she and her friends are proud to say they attended. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Oakham continues to be a great school, giving pupils, no

matter what their background, an opportunity to benefit from all we have to offer, and to continue to provide high-quality facilities for Oakhamians and our community now and in the future.

I am delighted that Bobby Youngwood joined the team in October as Head of Development. I would like to offer a warm welcome back to Asha, on her return from maternity leave, wish Becca every success in her new role as Alumni Manager and welcome Joe on his 12-month internship.

We are all looking forward to working with you and welcoming you to College House over the coming years.

Samantha Rowntree, Director of External Relations

UPDATE ON FOUNDATION SOCIETIES Asha Hickin, Development Manager Since the start of 2019, we are delighted to welcome four new members to the 1584 Society. We currently have a total of £125,664 committed through 1584 Society donations.

I have really enjoyed reconnecting with all 1584 Society members since returning from maternity leave and am looking forward to seeing as many members as possible next year.

We have started to plan our next 1584 Society Annual Lunch, which we will hold here at Oakham School.

More details to follow!

1584 Society members receive complimentary invitations to a number of events throughout the school year. Any OOs who may be interested in joining the 1584 Society are invited to attend the Brandenburg Festival Concert, which will take place on 30 January 2020. This is a great opportunity to

see our talented musicians perform in Central London and informally meet the Foundation Team over a drink after the concert. Please do get in touch if this would be of interest to you: foundation@oakham.rutland.sch.uk In April 2018 The Foundation introduced the Robert Johnson Legacy Society.

Next year we are very much looking forward to hosting our very first Robert Johnson Society Legacy Dinner, to thank all of those with existing bequests.

If you would like to leave a legacy to Oakham School, or need to inform us of a bequest within your will, please contact Asha Hickin, Development Manager either via email: ah@oakham.rutland.sch.uk or telephone: 01572 758 699.

Foundation News

2019 TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN This summer saw 12 recent OOs return to the School to participate in the 2019 Telephone Campaign, sharing experiences of life at and beyond Oakham and raising money for the School’s Bursary programme. Ellie Loxton (16) describes her experience as one of this year’s calling team.

Between 12 and 26 August, I joined 11 recent leavers who had successfully applied to participate in Oakham School’s 2019 Telephone Campaign. We arrived early on the Monday morning for our first training day, smiling shyly at half-remembered faces. Within a couple of hours, however, we were chatting together and sharing school memories like old friends, reliving everything from Barraclough desserts to the buzz of Big Band.

Following two days of intense, biscuitfuelled training, it was time to make the first call. Team leader Izzy emphasised the positive aspirations underpinning the Campaign: rather than simply securing donations, we were aiming to reconnect with fellow OOs and engage with them in conversation. And, Oakham alumni, you did not disappoint! The Campaign calling team enjoyed a wealth of fascinating discussions and thought-provoking conversations. I had the privilege of speaking to a fantastic variety of OOs, from artists to arable farmers (we appreciate that the Campaign took place in the height of harvest – thank you for taking the time to speak to us!). The conversations were enlightening and unexpectedly diverse – in one shift alone I learnt about beekeeping, computer coding and farriery!

It was, moreover, heartening to listen to the many warm memories treasured by past students. Recalling not only school day sports and inspiring staff, OOs spoke in praise of the reunions they have attended since leaving Oakham. Hosted at locations worldwide, OOs of all ages wished to thank the OO Club for providing them with the opportunity to return to the School – Eileen Fisher’s organisational skills also received particular applause!

Thanks to the generosity of Oakham’s alumni, the Campaign raised a phenomenal

I had the privilege of speaking to a fantastic variety of OOs, from artists to arable farmers... – in one shift alone I learnt about beekeeping, computer coding and farriery!

£61,539, a figure which continues to increase as pledges are followed up. Participating in the event was a wonderful and rewarding experience; not only did we make new friends and enjoy

Samantha Rowntree’s much-appreciated supply of home baking, we were reminded that Oakham will always remain a genuinely supportive, global community.

Help us to continue to develop the right facilities, which genuinely facilitate the care, learning and experiences of our boys and girls and the wider community of which we are a part.

To get involved, contact foundation@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OAKHAM’S ALUMNI, THE CAMPAIGN RAISED A PHENOMENAL £61,539 131