Oo magazine issue 211

The magazine of the Old Oakhamian Club

Issue Number 112

Oakhamian The Old

REMEMBERING TERENCE TREANOR (47) OO and Oakham Teaching Legend

Oak-Cams Reminisce • Inaugural 1584 Society Dinner • T B Marson (1897) From Cavalryman to Airman

Dear Old Oakhamian In September 1968 when Hey Jude by The Beatles was Number 1 and NASA would, within 12 months, put a man on the moon, I arrived at Oakham into Form 3 in Deanscroft.

This continued my family’s long association with this great School, which had begun with my father, Peter, OO (38). I left Oakham in July 1973 and thought that was it – Oakham is now in my past. However in September 1980 I returned as a member of staff and have been here ever since. Throughout all this time, I have felt incredibly lucky to have both worked and, for many years, lived on the School campus with my wife, Kim, and children Alexandra (04), Sam (06) and Briony (13).

I have known six Headmasters and met numerous Oakhamians and Old Oakhamians, many of whom I have shared such great times. Whenever and wherever I have met Oakhamians there has been fun to be had which includes from as far west as San Francisco, playing hockey for an OO team there in 1982, to as far east as Hong Kong in recent years for OO Reunions with the Headmaster and Mrs Lashbrook. Another personal highlight, which remains so vivid in my memory, was taking the 1st XI cricket team on a three-week tour of Zimbabwe in 1995. What a trip both on and off the field of play!

Since 1994, when I took over as Hon Secretary of the Old Oakhamian Club from the wonderful Terence Treanor (47) to the present day, I have really enjoyed meeting so many OOs and the opportunity for this to happen has increased considerably in the last few years with the ever increasing number of year group reunions back here at Oakham. At the

time of writing, the class of 1968 have just been here and on Saturday, those who left Oakham in 1978 return. It is so good to see the look of joy and excitement on the faces of OOs when, for the first time since their schooldays they see one another again; simply magic and so heart-warming.

I retire from the employment of Oakham School at the end of this term, as my work as School Archivist is nearly complete, and I am delighted that the School will soon be appointing my replacement in this very important role. Until December 2019 I will remain as OO Club Chairman.

There are so many people to thank for supporting me in the many and varied roles that I have been so fortunate to hold here. It is such a long list that it would take up too much space in this magazine. However there is one person in particular I would like to mention: the person who launched my Oakham Career all those years ago and who was my inspiration and guiding light for so long: John Buchanan, Oakham Headmaster 1958–1977. If there is ever one person who I have met who tried to be all things to all people it was JDB. I leave with such fond and treasured memories and feel very privileged for my time here and I am very confident that Oakham School will continue to go from strength to strength in the years to come.

Quasi Cursores, Jon Wills (73) Old Oakhamian Club Chairman and Archivist

CONTENTS News

143

Sport

146

Events

148

Future Events

151

Feature: Oak-Cams

152

The Hub

153

From the Archives

154

Births, Engagements and Marriages

157

Death and Obituaries

158

The OO Interview

161

Foundation News

162

142

148

152

EVENTS

OAK-CAMS

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THE OO INTERVIEW LUCY PEARSON (90)

News

D of E GOLD AWARD A mix of Oakhamians past and present – from the classes of 2016–18 – travelled to Buckingham Palace in May to receive their D of E Gold Award Certificates. Among those who attended are: Sophie Brown, Haddi Conant, Archie Davidson, James Fear, Pippa Gorman, Frances Hazelton, Tuesday Healey, Edward Henley, Guy Herring, Charlotte Ibbotson, William Needham, Archie O’Boyle, Alison Patrick, Sarah Patrick, Rebecca Sale, Georgina Elizabeth Shepherd, AJ Stanton, Jocelyn Strawson, Emily Walsh

BROWN Andrew (82) wrote with the following news: ‘I recently won the Leicester Comedy Festival Stand-up Challenge. A link to the performance is here: bit.ly/2JRaRvX I am available for weddings, funerals, Bah Mitzvahs and circumcisions!’

At the same ceremony Philip Strawson (75) collected a long service certificate. He continues to help train and assess at Gold level.

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News

BULLOCK Mike (55) wrote with this update: ‘Following my retirement as a Director of Barclays Bank PLC, I have been awarded a Masters of Letters degree from the University of Birmingham for my thesis on “The British Army Signal Service 1914–18”. Thereafter, I co-authored a book entitled Missed Signals on the Western Front and in June last year published a biography of Sir Raymond Priestley Priestley’s Progress, who in a long and distinguished career, went with both Scott and Shackleton to the Antarctic; my research included two memorable visits on an expedition ship to the Antarctic.

I maintain my lifelong interest in mountaineering and have been a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society for 28 years. I also recently retired as a member of Worcester Cathedral Voluntary Choir, for which my time as a member of the Chapel Choir at Oakham when Brian Primmer was Director of Music, was an inspiration.

My wife, Frances, and I have three children and six grandchildren.’

COPELAND Lydia (12) wrote with the following news: ‘Sarah Wooding (17) and I are both playing hockey at Cambridge University this year. I was lucky enough to be selected to play for the blues team and have received a Cambridge Blue. From School I was hugely motivated to succeed and I feel I have finally fulfilled my potential as a hockey player. Playing at Oakham really pushed me as a player and I would never have been here today if it wasn't for the coaching I received at School.’

News of DUGGAN John (68): Former Leicester Tigers wing John Duggan was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Duggan made 302 appearances for Tigers between 1970–80 and his 158 tries in the Club’s colours puts him third on the all-time list behind only Percy Lawrie and Barry Evans. He also represented Leicestershire and Midland Counties, the Midlands and Irish Wolfhounds as a player.

The Dublinborn Duggan served as Tigers’ fitness and conditioning coach during the 1997– 2004 period which brought four league titles and back-toback European Cup wins.

A teacher throughout his playing career, well known for his work at Southfields College and Lancaster School in Leicester, Duggan received his BEM award for services to disability school sport.

HALL Katie (08) is currently playing Laurey in Grange Park Opera’s production of Oaklahoma!

She then starts rehearsals for Candide with The Grange Festival, in the exciting role of Cunegonde, a real showstopping role for her. For more information visit https:// thegrangefestival.co.uk/operas/candide/

HYDE Dan (02) has been appointed as the new Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge from September 2019. To read more about his appointment to this prestigious role, visit http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/danielhyde-appointed-director-of-music.html

GARCIA MARQUES Belinda (81) was appointed Mayor of Rugby for 2017/18.

JIP James (16) has just won one of just 14 places to study Classical Acting at the Bristol Old Vic. He takes up his place on this prestigious three-year degree course after having already undertaken a Foundation course at RADA. 144

News

KNOWLES Charles (86) wrote with this update: ‘I left Oakham in 1986 to study Medicine at Magdalene College, Cambridge and thence at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. I qualified as a Doctor in 1992 and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1996. I was awarded a PhD (University of London) in 2000 and became a Consultant Colorectal surgeon in 2006. Most recently, in October 2016, I was appointed Professor of Surgery at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. I treat and research bowel diseases and have contributed to over 170 peer-reviewed journal publications and several books. I am married to Annie with whom I have two children (Isabelle and Freddie). I continue to run (I was captain of Cross Country while at Oakham) and sing/ play the guitar semi-professionally in London with, amongst others, fellow OO Dr Frank Cooke (86).’

LAWRENCE Charles (Hon OO), former Head of Science at Oakham was recently featured in Rutland Living magazine in its ‘Rutland Heroes’ series regarding his work with Rutland Reminders, a group that uses singing to help people with dementia. To read the article, go to http://www.bestlocalliving.co.uk/ wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RLMay-2018_10.jpg

MARGRETT Genevieve (née Smith) (03) sent us the following update on life since leaving Oakham plus her exciting plans to bring a cinema back to Oakham’s town centre: ‘After leaving Oakham in 2003 I went to Leeds University to study English and Theatre Studies and followed this with a post-grad at City University in TV Current Affairs and Journalism. I started looking for jobs right as the 2008 recession hit so in those first few years, I found myself in quite a few varied roles: an Assistant Producer at news agency APTN, a Production Assistant at agency Somethin’ Else and then finally working on a project with the BRITs. After a quick stint in Texas I returned home and found a job at BAFTA in Marketing and Communications where I spent four very happy years followed by a couple of years in

a similar role for Harvey Nichols’ OXO Tower Restaurant. It’s these final two jobs that have inspired me to return to Oakham to build and run a two screen cinema and café. It’s the perfect way to combine my love of film and food!

I’ve been living in London for the past 10 years and all around the city I have seen some brilliant boutique cinemas popping up.

Everyman and Picturehouse are leading the charge but there are lots of smaller independent cinemas too. It’s such a fantastic way to spend an evening - rather than the usual offering of nachos, coke and a large, uninviting auditorium; people are really keen to watch a great film in a smaller, cosier cinema where they get to enjoy some delicious food and a glass of wine at the same time.

I grew up near Oakham and always wondered why the town didn’t have a cinema. I started thinking about it again a couple of years ago and have been working on the business plan ever since.

Rutland Kino will be a two screen cinema and cafe and will show everything from the latest releases and live theatre productions to art house, world cinema and classic films.

Both auditoria in Rutland Kino will have a boutique feel with larger than average seats and legroom and will be equipped with stateof-the-art projection and sound equipment.

Complementing the cinema will be a cafe serving food throughout the day from coffees and pastries in the morning to sharing platters, small plates, beers and wines in the evening.

Some food and drink will be designed to take into the screens to be enjoyed during a film.

Our company has been approved for EIS and SEIS investment and we believe we have a compelling opportunity to offer potential investors. We need to raise £1.1million to make this project a reality. Anyone who’s interested should take a look at our website www.rutlandkino.co.uk/ which has contact details of how to get in touch.’

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News/Sport

SHOULER Rick (95) and BUTTON Matt (88) have made it into the “Palma” Squad for the forthcoming World Championships of full-bore shooting in New Zealand in 2019.

(Matt is a reserve.) This is the World Cup of shooting. It comes round every four years and is hosted in different parts of the globe by the participating nations.

Selection and training is taken very seriously. After applying and getting into the initial squad there have been selection/training weekends throughout this year and to finally get on the Palma Team is a credit very few shooters achieve.

They really have made it to the top of their game.

WILLS Alexandra (04) recently took part in the Hackney Half Marathon and was delighted to finish in a time of 2 hours 11 minutes.

OLD OAKHAMIAN GOLF SOCIETY 2018 Brian Welford (Hon OO) The 82nd annual meeting took place on Sunday 20 May at Luffenham Heath Golf Club. The golfers were blessed with warm, sunny conditions and proceeded to play 12 holes in the morning and a further 18 in the afternoon.

On completion of the morning golf, lunch was taken followed by the AGM. The Honorary Secretary gave a brief outline of developments at the School. He then asked for nominations to the posts of President, Captain and Secretary and the meeting voted for the existing post holders to continue for a further year.

President Captain Honorary Secretary

The following were in attendance: David Brooks, Charles Howard, Mark Walker, Tom Duck, Peter Moyce (84), Dan McClure (84), Jim Weir (80), Jez Allman (82), Martin Old (70), Brian Welford, Matthew Boyce (03), Steve Foster (Hon OO), Ian Harris (02), Robert Bernstein (79), Jim Cooil (72), George Petrie (Form 7), Paul Chang (Form 5), William Chandler (currently in Form 4), and Teddy Crooke (currently in Form 1).

David Brooks (66) Charles Howard (88) Brian Welford (Hon OO)

The Honorary Secretary emphasised that the current post holders had been in place for several years and appealed for other members to put themselves forward for election next year.

The Grafton Morrish team comprising Charles Howard (88), Simon Scott (96), Chris Palmer (75), Tom Duck (97), Mark Walker (96) and James Walters (12) played in the qualifying round at Gog Magog Golf Club on 13 May. For the first time in many years they did not qualify for the finals, which was disappointing.

The afternoon round of 18 holes saw the addition of four current School members ranging from a First Former to a Seventh Former. Two highlights of the day were the 115-year old Jug and Driver being won by Jim Weir, a former School Trustee, who is in his 80s – an amazing achievement! Plus a round of 66 by George Petrie, a Seventh Former, playing off a handicap of twoone for the future.

SHOOTING Robert Eayrs (73)

At the British Schools Veterans Match, a .22 match shot postally during the winter, the OO team came third!

It’s a very long while since I last entered a team but decided to round up some firers for this time round.

I think we’ll have another go next year.

Rick Shouler, Matt Button and I also joined three current Oakhamians to take part in the Malvern Cup fullbore match at Bisley on 29 April. Again we came third – a great morning.

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Results Johnson Bogey Martin Old Brewill/Humphrey Stableford Brian Welford Barnes short holes Martin Old Peake medal George Petrie Doherty scratch George Petrie Scruby last nine Jim Weir Rabbits Peter Moyce Jug and driver Jim Weir

Calling All Female OO Golfers: This event is open to all OOs and it would be a real boost to have a good turnout of ladies next year.

Sport

SPORT

Brian Needham

CRICKET While England Test match cricketers did not enjoy a successful winter, losing Series to both Australia and New Zealand, at least there were a few bright spots for Stuart Broad (04) in addition to his 6-54 in the Christchurch Test. The Perth Test match was the 100th Test in which he and Jimmy Anderson were paired as England’s strike bowlers and in it they surpassed all other pace bowling partnerships in the number of wickets taken, setting a new record of 763 wickets, overtaking Ambrose and Walsh of the West Indies. By the end of the New Zealand Series that total had been raised to 795 (Anderson 424, Broad 371) and in the coming summer, injuries permitting, of seven Tests, that total will have been raised to such a level that Wisden commented that for pace bowling partnerships “the collective haul of Broad and Anderson will almost certainly never be beaten”.

HOCKEY Kathryn Lane (13), who captained the England U21 in the Junior World Cup in 2016 and who now plays for Leicester Hockey Club, was a member of the England Squad in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast of Australia. Together with her former Oakham School

RUGBY

In the First Test against New Zealand, Stuart become just the second English bowler to take 400 Test wickets (second, of course, to Anderson) with their respective totals 531 (Anderson) and 410 (Broad) at the beginning of the 2018 domestic season.

Three Old Oakhamians have been involved in the Rugby Premiership 2017–18: Matt Smith (04) with Leicester Tigers, Alex Goode (06) with Saracens and Charlie Walker (10) with Harlequins. By the end of the season Matt Smith had taken his Premiership appearances for Leicester Tigers to 144 (103 starts and 41 substitutions with 100 points), Alex Goode had 178 Premiership appearances for Saracens (174 starts and 4 substitutions with 496 points) in addition to his 21 Test caps for England) and Charlie Walker has 52 Premiership appearances for Harlequins (39 states and 13

substitutions with 125 points). There was to have been a fourth Old Oakhamian involved in Premiership rugby but sadly Tom Croft (04) was forced by injury to announce his retirement at the start of the season: his was a stellar career – 127 Premiership appearances for Leicester Tigers (101 starts and 36 substitutions scoring 95 points, 40 Test caps for England (28 starts and 17 substitutions scoring 30 points) and 5 Test caps for the British and Irish Lions (2 starts and 2 substitutions scoring 10 points). Up in Scotland, Hamish Watson (10) now has 20 Test caps for Scotland (16 starts and 4 substitutions scoring 10 points).

teacher, Ellie Watton, they helped to secure England’s 100th medal at the Commonwealth Games – Bronze – after their 6-0 victory against India.

Kathryn has been representing England for many years now. She was playing and captaining the U18 squad whilst at Oakham, and then moved on to play and captain the U21 Squad before being invited to

join the Senior Squad.

Ellie worked as a PE teacher at Oakham for four years whilst also training and playing internationally.

Ellie taught Kathryn before she left to focus full time on her hockey career and to take up her place on the GB squad, as a travelling reserve, for the Rio Olympics.

With a Bronze Commonwealth

Games medal now under her belt, Kathryn also has her eye on the Olympics. She has already been named part of the Centrally Contracted Squad in preparation for Tokyo 2020 and if she reaches her goal, she’ll be following in the footsteps of another Old Oakhamian, Crista Cullen (02), who won Team Gold at Rio.

Together with her former Oakham School teacher, Ellie Watton, they helped to secure England’s 100th medal at the Commonwealth Games – Bronze – after their 6-0 victory against India.

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Events

CLASS OF 1968 REUNION

Eileen Fisher, OO Alumni Manager It was our absolute pleasure to welcome the Class of 1968 back to the School for their 50-year reunion on the afternoon of Friday 11 May. The reunion, set in motion in 2017 by Peter Hewlett and John Buckingham, included OOs who had travelled from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand to attend (talks are already afoot of an antipodean event to take place in February 2019…) and they were joined by former teaching staff, happy to see their old scholars again after half a century!

It was wonderful to hear so many stories of schooldays and life since Oakham shared amongst this group. After a wonderful buffet lunch and some brief speeches from OO Club Chairman, Jon Wills and Headmaster, Nigel Lashbrook, the group had a tour of the School campus – much changed since their day – followed by afternoon tea and cake.

David Howlett (68), Olympic rowing coach, said, “It was a great opportunity to meet, chat and indulge in memories, and a fabulous tour from Jon. The BAFS Pavilion was a great location and the photos were amusing and useful memory joggers. The School is in amazing condition and it was good to hear from Headmaster Nigel Lashbrook, and marvellous to meet up with Malcolm Hardy and David Morgan.”

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“A trip down memory lane – it was a great occasion and an opportunity to meet old school chums, reflect on 50 years of life and of course, the 6 years of schooling prior to that!”

Other attendees commented that, “It was a superb event, one which left me ‘buzzing’ for the rest of the day. Oakham has grown well beyond my expectations, and I am most impressed with what it has now become. It has also been wonderful to catch up with many former teachers and friends who I had not seen for 50 years. Thank you.”

“A trip down memory lane – it was a great occasion and an opportunity to meet old school chums, reflect on 50 years of life and of course, the

6 years of schooling prior to that!”

Further to the reunion, Chris Rutherford managed to track down and thank his old violin teacher, Molly Dussek. Former Oakham School teacher, Dan Howison was also tracked down and thanked for his inspirational teaching and guidance.

As someone said afterwards on the OO Facebook page, it was “magical” which is exactly what a reunion should be! Thank you so much to everyone who attended.

Events

Eileen Fisher Saturday 19 May dawned with clear blue skies and beautiful sunshine, in perfect time for the Royal Wedding and the FA Cup Final, but much more importantly for the Class of 78 and their 40Year Reunion!

Instigated after a conversation from Jill Holder (née Rose) in March of 2017, the reunion gathered pace until we could welcome attendees from as far afield as Sydney (10,561 miles) and Washington (a mere 4,731 miles)! OOs also travelled from Donegal, Scotland, Devon and all other parts of the UK. The OO Flag unfurled over BAFS Pavilion (last seen in the Summer of 1978 and returned to the School in perfect condition after many years hiding in Australia) as the 78 cohort gathered together under sunny skies – and the Class of 78 blanket!

Some of this cohort were among the very first intake of day girls under TGT, and also included the first female boarders and the original five female residents of Orchard Close (now Rushebrookes).

Any classic reunion trepidation easily disappeared as the cohort enjoyed lunch and a tour of the School with OO Chairman Jon Wills.

It was an absolute pleasure to have the Class of 78 back at School and there are already plans to reconvene at Christmas Drinks in December!

Thank you all for taking the time to come back to the School!

CLASS OF 1978 REUNION

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Events

MIDSUMMER DRINKS AND CLASS OF 2013 REUNION Eileen Fisher

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the Midsummer Drinks/Class of 2013 Reunion held in BAFS Pavilion.

Cricket aside, the Pavilion has become synonymous with wonderful

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OO reunions and general good fun, as the Classes of 66, 68, 76, 77, 78, 86, 87 and 94 will all know. So it was particularly lovely to have BAF Smith (54) in attendance, and for him to see what his Pavilion means to

OOs of every age.

Special thanks to Brian Welford for all his help and to Ben Walsgrove (87) President of the OO Club, who suddenly found himself in the position of having to make a speech.

Events and Future Events

CLASS OF 1976 REUNION Pen Penny (76) In 2017, Paul Williams had the brainwave that as the majority of the class of 76 would all be reaching their 60th birthdays over the upcoming school year, we could all meet up and have a reunion to jointly celebrate our birthdays. The word went out that we should all book a room at the Breadsall Priory Hotel on 7 April 2018 and get together for some golf and a dinner party.

Accordingly 17 OOs, some with their partners, found each other on that date at the venue. A few played golf together whilst others enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub or socialised at the bar before meeting up for pre-dinner drinks in the lounge. A three-course meal was enjoyed in a dining room for our exclusive use and then Paul made a speech before Mark took a group photo of all the OOs. The point in Paul’s speech that struck me, as he reminisced about his schooldays

at Oakham, was that many of the boys had lived together for up to 8 years and were therefore like family, which is why they kept in touch and met up for reunions. I realised that, as girls were only introduced into the School in ’71 (and Roz, one of the first girls was with us) and the majority of girls in our year only joined the Sixth Form for two years, we probably didn’t have the same affinity, which would explain why there were only two of us at the celebration.

I look forward to our next reunion, maybe to celebrate becoming state pensioners in 2024 or a 50-year reunion in 2026 or a gathering before then? Who knows? It is hard work for whoever organises an event and it is much appreciated that Paul chose to get us together this year.

Back row left to right: Simon Merret, Nick Harrison, Roger Hands, Simon Brown, Mark Underwood, David McGibbon, Ross Mason, Graham Dunn, Ian Wing, Simon Symcox, Gerard Clough, Jim Symcox, Nick Balmer.

Front row left to right: Pen Penny, Paul Williams, Roz Johnson, Charlie Mason.

DATES FOR THE DIARY OO EUROPEAN EVENING, GERMANY Saturday 15 September 2018 Venue to be announced

CLASS OF 1998 REUNION Saturday 22 September 2018 BAFS

NEW YORK DRINKS Friday 19 October 2018 Venue to be announced

ANNUAL OO DINNER Saturday 24 November 2018 The Barraclough, Oakham School

CHRISTMAS DRINKS IN LONDON Monday 17 December 2018 6.00–10.00pm Venue to be announced Drop in to this ever popular FREE festive event.

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Feature

OAK-CAMS Ellie Loxton (16) reflects on how life at Oakham prepared her for Cambridge University life.

In February 2018, I attended the ‘half-way hall’ dinner at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where I am currently completing my degree in English literature.

A celebratory meal which all Cambridge colleges host for their second-year students, the dinners mark the mid-way point for most undergraduates and, as such, are inevitably an occasion for reflection. The evening made me think about my own achievements, and how I had changed and developed as an individual since leaving Oakham School’s beloved Round House in 2016. The busy, hectic, but always-happy world of Oakham has never been far from my thoughts, but two events arose almost simultaneously with my halfway dinner to truly place Oakham School at the forefront of my mind.

The first was the arrangement of a work experience placement with The Oakhamian, who were happy to help when I contacted the magazine expressing my interest in journalism and publishing, while the second was an Oakham formal held at Jesus College: a reunion dinner organised by all of the OOs currently studying at Cambridge (we like to call ourselves the ‘Oak-Cams’!). Both events, entirely different in their respective natures, rekindled the many happy memories I have of the School, and made me realise just how well Oakham prepared me for life at Cambridge, or, indeed, for further study of any sort.

As we become fully independent for the first time, transition from school to university will never be without its bumps and there were, inevitably, some surprises as I exchanged the ‘Oakham Bubble’ for one slightly southwards. My fresherself was immediately struck by just how personal a Cambridge degree is – ‘going to Cambridge’ doesn’t quite cover it. Factors such as your House 152

or your choice of A-levels or IB amount to a very personal Oakham experience, but each student at an Oxbridge university will be following their own path, much of which – and this came as another big surprise – will be entirely self-determined. Someone taking Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall will have a very different experience to their friend studying History at Pembroke College, for example.

Indeed, even the course I follow is very different from that which my fellow English undergraduates are studying at their respective Colleges. Nevertheless, there is, like at Oakham, a wonderful sense of community within the Colleges, although your Cambridge degree will always be your Cambridge degree.

Despite the shock of this new individuality and independence (pasta for breakfast anyone?), Oakham set me in very good stead for coping with the progression into a busy university environment.

Firstly, being an Oakhamian meant that I wasn’t afraid of hard work!

Long school days and Saturday lessons can be difficult, but I can see now that the demanding Oakham timetable inspired within me a desire for success and an appreciation of the effort which

Gowns at the ready: OOs at Jesus College formal From left to right: Quincy Lin (16), Arthur Leichthammer (15), Ellie Loxton (16), Julia Yan (17), Tiéphaine Thomason (16), Bob Cliffe (15), Alistair Golby (15), Joe Hills (15), Gregory Sale (15), Adrian Patengue (15).

must be invested for this to be achieved. Likewise, the wealth of extra-curricular activities at Oakham encouraged me to embrace all aspects of university life – not just the library. I am a charity representative, play on the badminton team at St Catharine’s and have written for two student newspapers, and it is thanks to Oakham’s jam-packed schedule that I can competently juggle all this at once! As well as embracing the new, Oakham instilled within me an affection for tradition.

Cambridge, like Oakham, has its unique eccentricities. Be it wearing your gown to formal hall or learning Cambridge’s charmingly idiosyncratic language (‘plodge’,

‘pidge’, ‘bumps’… I still find myself baffled by its terms!), Oakham’s four hundred years of history made me realise the importance of embracing these quirks – no matter how bizarre!

We may not realise or appreciate it at the time, but Oakham does not just help to provide us with outstanding academic results; it shapes us into individuals ready and waiting for life’s challenges. The reunion dinner at Jesus College, however, showed me that I will always remain part of a unique community as I navigate my way among these challenges, and reminded me of just how lucky I am to be able to call myself ‘an Oakhamian’.

The evening made me think about my own achievements, and how I had changed and developed as an individual since leaving Oakham School’s beloved Round House in 2016

Punting alongside King’s College

The Hub

MAKING THE HUB WORK FOR YOU

1,005 TODAY WE HAVE

MEMBERS

76

%

of members are from the UK

5

%

are from Germany

Since its launch in May 2017, over one thousand OOs have joined The Hub – Oakham’s answer to LinkedIn for its alumni network.

Eileen Fisher looks at who The Hub’s members are and how they are making The Hub work for them.

2012 Oakham Class of

JULES CANTERBURY (95) WAS THE

1,000

TH

is the largest cohort, followed by

MEMBER

518 would review your CV

The youngest members (unsurprisingly) are from the Class of

CAMBRIDGE University is where most graduates are from, followed by NOTTINGHAM and LEEDS

The oldest OO on the Hub is from the

CLASS OF 46, 2nd oldest is from the CLASS OF 56, 3rd oldest is from the

2011 and 1984

397 are willing to open doors at their workplace

2017 1 3% % 19 507 3,500 ££££ CLASS OF 58

There have been

work in Financial Services

from everywhere else

ARE WILLING TO ANSWER INDUSTRYSPECIFIC QUESTIONS

searches on the

directory

thehuboakham.com 153

From the Archives

THE FOURTH BATTLE OF YPRES: MARCH–JUNE 1918 Brian Needham continues his chronicles of the events of World War I and their impact on the lives of OOs who took part in the fighting, paying tribute to the casualties in the last two battles at the culmination of fighting in 1918.

THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE: July–August 1918

British soldiers celebrating their capture of German trenches at St. Eloi, near Ypres, Belgium.

The Fourth Battle of Ypres (or the Third Battle of Flanders) was part of the 1918 German offensive known as the Spring Offensive.

The German aim was a last gasp attempt to force the British Army back to the Channel ports and out of the War. Almost overwhelmed, the British Forces were rallied by General Haigh’s famous ‘backs to the wall’ order, French forces came to assistance, and American troops arrived on the scene before the German attack had achieved its objectives, forcing General Ludendorff to call off the offensive.

Both armies lost around 120,000 men.

Six Old Oakhamians were killed in the battle. Captain, acting Major, John Hugh Jerwood MC (Oakham 1899–1909), Rugby and Cricket Colour and Head Prefect, a graduate of Jesus College, Cambridge, and a Schoolmaster, was commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry, being twice wounded, and was killed in action on 21 March at the Battle of St Quentin, aged 28. Lieutenant Christopher Francis Atter 154

(Oakham 1910–14), Rugby Colour and younger brother of James Edward Atter, killed in action on 16 April 1916, was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Leicestershire Regiment and was killed in action on 21 March at the Battle of St Quentin, having been wounded earlier, aged 19. Major Evan Robert Hanbury (Oakham 1895– 96), a graduate of New College, Oxford, was a member of the Leicestershire Yeomanry who was called up for service at the outbreak of war. He was wounded in 1915, invalided home, and returned to France attached to the Machine Gun Corps, being mentioned in Despatches before he was wounded, missing and presumed killed in action on 24 March during the Battle of St Quentin, aged 30.

Captain Donald Francis Neilson DSO MC & Bar (Oakham 1901–02), a graduate of Keble College, Oxford, was commissioned into the Lincolnshire regiment and was killed in action on 15 April at Wytschaete near Kemmel Hill, aged 25. Major (acting Lieutenant Colonel) Harry Percy

Bright Gough MC, a member of staff 1911–15, of the Welsh Regiment died on 22 April of shell wounds suffered on 13 April during the Battle of Lys, aged 38.

Additionally, Lieutenant William Reginald Hill MC & Bar (Oakham 1911–14), a graduate of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, enlisted as a Private and was commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment, but attached to the Durham Light Infantry was captured on 27 May on the Chemin des Dames during the Third Battle of the Aisne and died on 6 November as a Prisoner of War. Atter has no known grave and is remembered on the Arras Memorial; nor has Jerwood nor Hanbury who are remembered on the Pozières Memorial; Hill originally was interred in the Berlin South Western Cemetery but was re-interred and buried in Polesworth Churchyard in Warwickshire; Gough is buried in the Arneke British Cemetery; Neilson has no grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

The German offensive launched on the British Fifth Army and the right wing of the British Third Army at the end of March 1918 as part of Operation Michael faltered after an initial break through, as fresh British and American troops were moved to Amiens to stiffen resistance and General von Ludendorff called off Operation Michael on 5 April.

Old Oakhamian Second Lieutenant Eric Cross Arnold Runnels-Moss (Oakham 1913–17) of the Royal Field Artillery was wounded and captured on 21 March and died as a Prisoner of War on 9 July at the Fortress Hospital in Mainz, aged 20.

He is buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery in Germany. Captain Douglas Alexander Hall (Oakham 1911–14), who enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment and was commissioned into the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action on 23 April, shot in the head by a machine gun bullet while leading his Company into attack at the second Battle of the Scarpe, aged 22. He is buried in the Chili Trench Cemetery in Gavrelle.

The Second Battle of the Marne was the last major part of the German Spring offensive on the Western Front, and its repulse marked the start of the relentless Allied advance of the 100 Days. Initially the attack which commenced on 15 July appeared successful, but the reinforcements of the British XX11 Corps and 85,000 fresh American troops stalled the advance on 17 July, allowing the Allied Supreme Commander Marshal Foch to commence his counteroffensive.

From the Archives

FROM CAVALRYMAN TO AIRMAN Brian Needham

In the year of the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force, we celebrate the life of Air Vice-Marshal Thomas Bertrand Marson, MBE, an Old Oakhamian who was one of its first members and who rose to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal after serving in three wars – the Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. Thomas Bertrand Marson was born on 4 April 1880, the son of T. Marson, of Higham Hall, Hinkley, Leicestershire. As soon as possible in his young life he became interested in riding and hunting, an interest he maintained throughout his life.

He wrote of his experiences in a part autobiography Scarlet and Khaki, published in 1930. He attended Oakham School from 1894–97.

He was appointed a School Prefect and won his Colours for both rugby and cricket, but his autobiography mentions not a word about lessons, other than his need to race back to School so as not to be late from his regular very early morning visit to the Cottesmore Hunt Kennels at Ashwell, where he helped with the riding out exercises. On Wednesday afternoons, in those days a half-holiday free from lessons or sport, he would seek out whatever hunt was in the area as a hunt supporter, or occasionally borrow a horse from Oakham’s veterinary surgeon, Mr Gibson, with whom he became good friends.

He later married Ellen Gertrude, and sent his son, John, to Oakham (1921–24). John became a School Prefect and a Rugby Colour before joining the RAF. He fought in the Second World War, commanded Home Stations, was appointed CB and CBE, and retired with the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.

Immediately on the outbreak of the South African War in 1899 he volunteered, along with many farming and hunting friends, for the Leicestershire Yeomanry. The type of guerrilla warfare forced upon the British troops by the tactics of the Boers was just what the mounted Yeomanry wanted, and he exalts in hard rides over the barren veldt, engaged in long-term running fights with the enemy: “This was quite good fun while it lasted”. He was involved in the capture of Senekal and the Battle of Wittebergen and was part of the manoeuvres which led to the surrender of Marthinus Prinsloo and his five thousand commandos. But the death of his father brought him back to the UK before the War’s conclusion, having been Mentioned-in-Despatches.

He took over his father’s work as a Land Agent but good times ended and, “shortly after the outbreak of war eight of us, providing our

T.B. Marson is sitting on the far left of the middle row, wearing his pads, in this photo of the 1897 Cricket XI

T.B. Marson is standing in the back row third from the right in the 1896-97 1st XV rugby photo

own horses and outfit, joined the 3rd County of London Yeomanry as troopers”. This did not last long, for soon he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Mounted Division ordered to Egypt, where they remained (playing polo) until the unit was ordered to Gallipoli, but as infantrymen, leaving their horses in Egypt. Here he was involved in the heavy fighting and in the assault of Chocolate Hill where he sustained an injury that eventually led to his right leg being amputated above the knee. Marson was Mentioned-in-Despatches. He left hospital with a year’s sick leave, was fixed up with an artificial leg (which enabled him to hunt again), and “as I got fitter my desire to re-enter the fray grew. I became increasingly impatient of idling time pleasantly away while others were earning honour and glory overseas…. The War Office, quite rightly, had no time for me. At length, after making myself a thorough nuisance to everyone I knew and a few I did not, I succeeded in getting seconded in November 1916 to the Royal Flying Corps.” So, having been a cavalry man and then an infantryman, he was to become an airman!

Thomas Marson was appointed to No 56 Squadron as their Recording Officer, basically acting as Adjutant. His book records all the operations of this famous squadron from April to December 1917. He was working with the 8th

Brigade in France, organising bombing sorties when the Royal Air Force was established as an independent fighting arm under General Sir Hugh Trenchard. On his return to the UK in 1919 he was appointed Private Secretary to General Trenchard, now Chief of the Air Staff, remaining in that post until 1927, when he retired with the rank of Captain and the appointment as MBE. What had caused him to leave Trenchard’s employment was the offer from the Earl of Ellesmere to be his Land Agent and run his estates (and hunt) in the Scottish Borders, where he remained for some years before farming independently in Gloucestershire, becoming an expert (and author) on the Scottish Shorthorn breed.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, he returned to the Colours, and with the rank of Wing Commander became President of the RAF Selection Board until 1944 when he took up the post of Deputy Commandant of the Scottish Observer Corps until his final retirement with the substantive rank of Air Vice-Marshal in 1946, having served five Sovereigns over 47 years. With his wife’s death in 1948, Thomas Marson settled in Morayshire, writing recognisably authoritative books on the importance of a healthy agricultural policy. He died on 25 February 1958.

He was involved in the capture of Senekal and the Battle of Wittebergen and was part of the manoeuvres which led to the surrender of Marthinus Prinsloo and his five thousand commandos.

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From the Archives

THE HAYWOODS SCARF Every year since 1989 when Haywoods House was opened, the Head of House has sewn his name tape to the Haywoods scarf. It seems particularly fitting to show it here worn by current outgoing Head of House, Ben, with outgoing Housemaster, David Taylor.

DMT is moving House but still within the Oakham School campus. His new destination is School House, where he will be Housemaster to our final year boys.

THE 21 CLUB AND THE DELPHIANS “It is not the bricks and mortar that constitute a School but the spirit that is within them and which animates the masters, scholars and all its members.” Talbot Griffith, Headmaster of Oakham School from 1935–1958

In response to the feature on the 21 Club (Issue 110), Martin Eayrs (66) got in touch and told us about his recollections of the 21 Club and the Delphians: “I remember the 21 Club but was not a member of it myself. It used to meet in the Barraclough Hall, upstairs on the left, opposite John Walton’s Art Room, where I took my entrance exam for Oakham in 1957.

The 21 Club brought together staff and students who would don black tie and discuss various topics. However, I got the impression that it was as much social as anything else!

I don’t believe it was especially cultural or intellectual, as that is why the Delphians started and I myself was a founder member and Secretary from inception until leaving. A group of us – CJD, Michael Field (a brilliant historian) and the fleet-footed Andrew Peak – were on a coach ride back from the Nottingham Playhouse when we decided to form the Delphians. I have no doubt the name 156

was ‘suggested’ by CJD. We were first year Sixth Form and suffered a lot of ribbing from other pupils because we were seen as the worst thing possible in Oakham at that time: intellectuals!

The Delphians was more cultural in tone than the 21 Club, although in true CJD style and predicated on what Douglas Adams called ‘the interconnectedness of everything’. I have no memory at all of where the Delphians met, although I suspect it might have been the Memorial Library. I have no idea how long the Delphians lasted, if indeed it survived the departure of its founders, but I certainly remember as Secretary writing pompous pseudo-intellectual stuff for publication.”

There is also mention of a past ‘Sour Grapes Society’ – can anyone shed more light on this surely once-popular club? Do get in touch with your own memories and email Eileen Fisher at ecf@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

THE PETER WITCHELL ARCHIVE Nigel Webb (Honorary Assistant Archivist) Peter Witchell (1945–2017) who was Director of Music at Oakham School from 1978 to 1995, and then Director of Academic Music until his retirement in 2004 (see his obituary in Issue 111), left in his will a vast collection of his compositions, as well as recordings and sheet music to his lifelong friend, the Reverend Roderick Leece, Rector of St George’s, Hanover Square.

Reverend Roderick has very kindly donated the archive of Peter’s compositions and other School memorabilia, including recordings of some of his works, to the Oakham School Archive.

If anyone would like to view the collection or would be interested in performing Peter’s works, please contact the Archives. jw@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

Births, Engagements and Marriages

BIRTHS BUNN William (06) and Frances Bunn (née Collingham) of the British Embassy, Riyadh are delighted to announce the birth of Harriet Myra Elizabeth Bunn, born 25 February 2018 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

MARRIAGES LOWETH Sophie (02) married Wesley Wilkinson in April, near their home in South Lincolnshire.

Many OOs were in attendance including: Chris Cutteridge (72), Captain of the 1st XV Rugby team in 1971, Harry Loweth (04), Jonny Godson (04), Claire Laing (née Burtt) (02), Alice Laing was bridesmaid, Anna Burtt (04), Grace Horrel (née Elliott) (02), Susanna Gordon Lennox (née Coy) (02),Verity Cox (née Kirk) (02), George Padley (06), Abi Padley (10), Toby (09), Georgia (09) and Arthur Brown (12), Archie Saul (73).

ENGAGEMENTS

ALLEN Freddie (07) wrote with news of his engagement to Rosa Whitman: ‘I got engaged whilst skiing with Dad and family in January. All very exciting.’

MANBY James (04) became engaged to Catherine Farrell on 10 February, 2018. Both are qualified architects and work for Squire and Partners in London.

TAYLOR Sebastian (02) writes: ‘On 15 November last year, whilst on holiday in Sri Lanka, I proposed to my girlfriend of four years, Emma Tanner, and she accepted! We are getting married later this year in Norfolk.’

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Deaths and Obituaries

BEEBY Norman OBE, JP (35) 7 September 1920 – 23 February 2018 Written by Peter Hewlett (68) and Norman’s son, Geoff Beeby Norman was born into the Beeby farming family in Bradmore, Notts, in 1920. His parents, Edith and Walter, had already lost two children through meningitis and so tried to be overly protective, but to no avail. Together with his brother, Ken, (39) Norman enjoyed an outdoor childhood on the farm and with horses in the surrounding countryside. He came to Oakham School as a boarder aged 9 and described himself as “academically no good”, but he excelled at cross country and rugby. He was the designated place kicker for the 1st XV and proudly carried the Big Drum for the Officer Training Corps. He left School aged 15 to join his father on the farm, riding to hounds whenever he could. In a Reserved Occupation during the Second World War he joined the Home Guard.

In 1943 he moved to Church Farm, Kingston on Soar, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. He also married his wife, Mary, in 1943 and together they had five children.

Norman had a lifetime of public duty: County Chairman of the NFU, a magistrate for 28 years and Chairman of the Shire Hall Bench, Chairman of the Parish Meeting for 24 years, twice Chairman of Rushcliffe Conservative Association, Past President and latterly a Patron.

He was instrumental in selecting Ken Clarke as candidate for the Rushcliffe parliamentary constituency in 1967 and Ken described him as his “champion” in his recent autobiography A Kind of Blue. Norman was Church Warden for St Winifred’s, Kingston on Soar, for 50 years, as was his grandfather before him. His success as a fundraiser for the Church, the Conservative Party and local causes was legendary and he raised the funds for the restoration of the Babington Monument in Kingston. Norman was awarded the OBE in 1977 for his public and political services.

Norman would happily describe himself as “old school” in his political, social and religious views and was not averse to saying so. He had a positive and “can do” attitude to life, was heart and soul of any party and used his seniority to advantage – often jovially addressing quite important men as “boy”. He was a stalwart of the Old Oakhamian Club and rarely missed the local 158

meetings in Nottingham. He was taken to see the new BAFS Pavilion only four months before he died and was proud of the School and everything that it had achieved over the many years of his long life. Both Norman and his brother, Ken, never ceased to recommend the School to others and it was as a result of that recommendation that two generations of the Hewlett family came to Oakham.

He is survived by his sons, Geoffrey, Brian and David, by his daughter, Christine and by nine grandchildren. Sadly, Mary, passed away in 2002 and his son, Tim, in 1963.

The funeral took place in Kingston Church with a packed congregation among whom were OOs Jim Hewlett (66),Tim Barrington (66), Pip Machin (67), John Moss (68), Peter Hewlett (68), and Tom Blagg (69) BURCHNALL Bob – WRB (Hon OO 68–93) 20 May 1930 – 27 November 2017 Written by Brian Needham (Hon OO)

(William) Robert (Bob) Burchnall was born on 20 May 1930 in Lincolnshire, a county which remained pre-eminent in his affections. He was educated at Stamford School, for which he played both rugby and cricket at first team level (indeed, opening the batting with M.J.K. Smith, a future England cricket captain, and playing with him, a future England international, in the same rugby XV) and matches between Oakham and Stamford in future years witnessed a distinctly divided loyalty. From Stamford he did his National Service with the RAF (in radar, not flying) and refused the offer of a short-term commission in order to read Geography (BSc) at Hatfield College, Durham University. After teaching posts in Kent and Hertfordshire he arrived as Head of Geography at Oakham in 1968, in which post he remained until shortly before his retirement from full-time teaching in 1990, adding to it (amongst others) the considerable task of Housemaster of Johnsons, the day house for Middle School boys. He remained on the establishment for a while as a part-time teacher until 1993; the Headmaster of the time, Graham

Smallbone, commented at Speech Day in 1990 that “Bob Burchnall also retires, though it seems incredible that he should be doing so. As Head of Geography, master in charge of cricket, and most of all in my experience the remarkable and authoritative Housemaster of Johnson, where the Commonsense Rule prevails victoriously, it has been perhaps the greatest mystery of Oakham life for me to discover that he has only run the House for six years. I have been privileged to have him for five of these and am even more delighted that he and Janne will still be with us, though parttime, next year and I hope for many to come.” In his book dealing with his time as Headmaster, John Buchanan commented that Bob modernised the Geography teaching by his enthusiastic geographical fieldwork and his enthusiasm for his subject was evident to all, carried over into his years in retirement through lectures to Oakham’s University for the Third Age adherents. Those retirement years also saw the emergence of Bob as a strong environmentalist and he was a volunteer at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve, guarding the osprey nests. So, a head of a major department (1968–87), Assistant Housemaster (1976–84) and then Housemaster of a large Day House (1984–90), Cricket Coach (and Master i/c 1970–77), Rugby Coach, producer of the Red Book, Hall Warden (1980–83), Bob was an allround teacher and administrator who believed that, while education centred on the classroom (or even in the field in his case), there was much more to schoolmastering than just academics (always his prime concern) and that many of the most important lessons for life were passed from teacher to student through their many interactions beyond the classroom, in which he was so fully involved. In his career he was helped immeasurably by his wife, Janne, who always referred to her husband as Robert and not as Bob. He enjoyed the sporting and career successes of his only child, Graham, an Old Oakhamian now teaching at Berkhamsted School, to which area Bob retired for the last few years of his life to enjoy the company of his family (son, daughterin-law and two grandsons, William and Oliver) after the sad loss of Janne. Bob (as he was to all of his colleagues) died on 27 November 2017, aged 87, after a long, fruitful and well-respected life. The funeral service, conducted by his former colleague the Reverend John Darrall, was held on 11 December at St Edmund’s Church in Egleton, where he and Janne used to worship and are now both buried. Former colleagues attending were JHB and MAB, JWB, ND (and Cathy), RMD (and Penny), IKH, MSH, BN, CBS (and Ceinwen), IPS, BSW (and Jennie), JW, PCW (and Marjorie), NGW (and Caroline); Old Oakhamians present were Nick Leaney, Chris and Ken Neild (with parents) and Jonathan Stevens (with mother Mary).

Deaths and Obituaries

CARSON Tina (88) (née Nicholson) November 1970 – 14 May 2018 SPEIRS Ian (87) 22 December 1968 – 20 March 2018 Alan Speirs (79) wrote with the sad news: ‘Ian passed away on 20 March 2018, peacefully, following a long battle with illness.’

TOWNSEND John Crispin (68) 20 May 1949 – 6 June 2017 With kind permisison of Elaine Carter, Mary Macintosh from BMJ 2017;358:j3526 John Crispin Townsend General practitioner Wellingborough (b 1949; q Sheffield 1980; MRCPath, MRCGP), died from bowel cancer on 6 June 2017 John Crispin Townsend (“Cris”) started work as a laboratory technician but realised his future lay in medicine. After qualifying from Sheffield University Medical School as a mature student, he trained as a chemical pathologist. He worked as a senior registrar in UK and New Zealand and as a consultant in Canberra, Australia. On returning to the UK in 1990, he retrained as a general practitioner and subsequently became a partner in Gravesend and then Wellingborough. He continued to train GP registrars even after his diagnosis, fitting in the training between chemotherapy sessions. Cris had a goonish sense of humour, and—typical of him—chose the words on his gravestone: “Here lies Dr John Crispin Townsend, survived by some of his patients.” He leaves many friends and family, who loved him dearly.

CRIS HAD A GOONISH SENSE OF HUMOUR, AND—TYPICAL OF HIM—CHOSE THE WORDS ON HIS GRAVESTONE: “HERE LIES DR JOHN CRISPIN TOWNSEND, SURVIVED BY SOME OF HIS PATIENTS.”

TREANOR Terence Gerald – TGT (47) 5 September 1929 – 11 April 2018 Written by Brian Needham (Hon OO) Terence Treanor – TGT to most readers – was one of the few who could claim the distinction of being both an Old Oakhamian and an Honorary Old Oakhamian, for he was a boy at the School during the war years of 1939–47 and on the staff of the School 1966–94, so 36 of his 88 years were directly involved with school affairs. There is no doubt that in the almost quarter-century since his retirement the progress of the School remained uppermost in his thoughts and prayers.

Terence’s elder brother Desmond Victor was born on 12 March 1928 and entered Junior House (as then was) in September 1939 bringing with him his younger brother Terence, aged just 9. Terence moved from Junior House, where he

had been Troop Leader in the Scouts, into School House where he was Head of House and Head of School (Winter Term 1947, Terence’s Oxbridge Term), captain of Rugby, captain of Boxing, captain of Shooting and Company Quarter Master Sergeant in the JTC (Junior Training Corps). He went up to St John’s, Oxford, to read Modern History and on graduating he progressed to Wycliffe Hall in Oxford to study Theology.

After ordination his first clerical posts were as Curate of Christ Church in Hornsea 1954–57, Curate of Holy Trinity in Cambridge 1957–60 and Vicar of St Mary in Doncaster 1960–66. During his National Service he had been a Sergeant in the Royal Army Education Corps, which prepared him to a certain extent for his future profession.

The Oakham School of Terence as a boy is a far cry from the Oakham School of today and Terence must have marvelled at its progress, of which he was such a strong part. In those war 159

Deaths and Obituaries

years, especially, but also in the decade following, it was a spartan place of some 250–300 boys, roughly two-thirds boarding and a third day, with an age range of 8–18, which meant that there was only a small Upper School. The headmaster was Grosvenor Talbot Griffith (Headmaster 1935–57), School House was under his direction and the only other senior (13+) houses were Wharflands (boarding) under Bertie Bowes and Johnsons (day) under Bob Duesbury; the Junior House (boarding, 8–13) was under E.K. Milliken. Terence had played in the 1946 Rugby XV (played ten, lost nine, one drawn) and his 1947 season as captain was somewhat spoiled by the dreadfully harsh weather freezing the pitches, with only five matches being played. In the pen portraits of the team Terence was described as the only forward to keep his “dash” for the whole game; very strong and fast for his size; always in the right place; a good dribbler and a fine tackle; too often had to play a lone hand; improved consistently as Captain and pack leader. In the previous season of 1946 (10 matches, nine defeats and one draw) he had been described as “a strong and aggressive wing forward who never spared himself and can really tackle; the best discovery of the season”. In the Spring Term of 1947 it is recorded that in the boxing ring Treanor (10 stone 4 pound) of School House beat Hart (9 stone 2 pound) of Johnsons in the Senior Final of that boxing weight division.

It was during a one-off visit to preach in Chapel that Terence let it slip to the Headmaster that he was considering a move into School Chaplaincy, a comment that resulted in him returning to the School in 1966 as School Chaplain and to teach Religious Education.

According to that Headmaster, John Buchanan, he brought to his task an immense tact and like Chaucer’s parson “Benign he was, and wondrous diligent, and in adversity full patient”. His influence was felt by us all immediately and one was conscious of being joined by a heartening ally in the cause of justice and peace. Indeed, that is the prevailing memory of his colleagues during Terence’s work at the School, always a pacifier and calmer of any heated emotions and one who sought ever to find a middle way through any controversies; his support for and participation in pupil and staff Bible Studies and prayer meetings were much appreciated by those involved. He was someone to whom any person in the School, pupils and staff, might unburden themselves, certain that confidentiality was assured and that some sensible advice would be forthcoming. In those days the task of promoting charitable or voluntary social work in the School was shouldered by the Chaplain and Terence led volunteers in many projects, such as refurbishing Oakham’s Red Cross centre one rainy Service Weekend by those unable to participate through 160

injury in more strenuous activities.

In 1972 the Headmaster asked Terence to run Talbots, the House formed for day girls (co-education having been adopted in 1971), a House which managed to operate effectively in some corner of the Barraclough Hall (as then was) with precious few facilities provided.

Terence was a strong supporter of the move to co-education and his eldest daughter Elizabeth (Oakham 1971–75) was one of the first intake of girls into the School in 1971, to be followed

by Ann (Oakham 1972–77) and Clare (Oakham 1972–80). All three had great success, with Elizabeth leading the orchestra and going on to be a very successful solo violinist before sadly dying in 2014 after considerable ill health, Ann taking a degree in French at Bedford College of London University and Clare a degree in German and Russian at King’s College, London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies.

The development of Jerwoods saw Terence’s move in 1974 to be the first Housemaster (along with his wife, Mary) of the junior girls boarding house, Lincoln, where they were to remain for 15 years. On their retirement from that task the then Headmaster, Graham Smallbone, gave this tribute: “When Terence and Mary Treanor moved

OAKHAM WITHOUT HIM IS HARD TO VISUALISE.

into the new Lincoln House, also in 1974, it was a question of if the lavatories can be made to flush forty-eight hours before the first girls are due, we are in business. They have been unflappable ever since and a tower of strength for new entrants.”

During much of this time he had served as School Chaplain but he was able to relinquish that post to a successor in 1978, although naturally he continued to take many services in the Chapel. Terence’s work at the School was not done, of course; he had become the first official Head of Religious Education in 1979 and held that post until his final retirement in 1994.

It was a relaxed department, and his successor remembers being handed the file of the Minutes of the Departmental Meetings held 1979–94 – it was empty. When he took final retirement in 1994, Graham Smallbone commented: “Terence Treanor retires for the second time after one hundred and nine terms at Oakham, man and boy.

Head of House, Captain of Rugby and, believe it or not, of Shooting and Boxing, he was a natural for the Church. He has been our Chaplain and Head of Religious Education, Housemaster of Talbots when the girls were first admitted and of Lincoln House for its first 15 years. Terence and Mary Treanor have guided and supported countless members of the School. Terence’s wisdom and wit have been available to us all. He will still be in evidence as President of the Old Oakhamian Club. Oakham without him is hard to visualise.”

Terence had been the Old Oakhamian Club Honorary Secretary from 1967–94 and was granted the honour of being its President in his first retirement year, 1994–95. As ever he was not content with a purely honorific role and was the Honorary (meaning unpaid, not non-working) Archivist 1994–2005. Furthermore, he continued his pastoral work by assisting the Lyddington benefice and Mary went with him on Sundays to the Seaton Church to play the organ during any service that he took until old age and illness made Terence too frail. It was poignant that his daughter Elizabeth’s funeral service was held in that church. The last decade or so of his life was a period of gentle but sad decline with Alzheimer’s and he made his last major appearance at the School on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Year of 1966, the very year that he had returned to his alma mater. Terence is survived by his wife Mary and daughters Ann and Clare. Requiescat in pace.

Terence’s Service of Remembrance will be held at 11.30am on Saturday 29 September 2018 in the School Chapel. If you would like to attend, please email Jon Wills on jw@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

The OO Interview

LUCY PEARSON (90), FORMER OO CLUB PRESIDENT (91) EX ENGLAND CRICKETER AND CURRENT HEADTEACHER OF CHEADLE HULME SCHOOL

Antonia Scott (92) Lucy Pearson arrived at Oakham School aged 11 in 1983 and spent the next seven years as a boarder, leaving in 1990. She went on to Oxford university to study English Literature and whilst there, fell in love with cricket and played at international level for nine years, leading England’s bowling attack. She remained in education and qualified as an English teacher, moving through the ranks to become Headteacher of Cheadle Hulme School for the past eight years.

The most significant person for me was, without question, Mary Grimley – Head of Girls’ PE. She was someone who I admired deeply for her quiet compassion and her skill as a coach. Without her support, I don’t believe I would have enjoyed my sport half as much as I did. There were many other teachers to whom I am also deeply grateful: Terence Treanor, John Darrall, Lizzie Marsden, Jane Matthews – I feel I was blessed to have the good fortune to be taught and influenced by such teachers.

Your favourite memories of your life at Oakham School?

The whole experience in truth.

Whether it was people, places, the learning or moments that you remember for a lifetime – I simply loved my time at Oakham. It was my life. I loved boarding, I loved my sport, I loved much of the learning, I loved the busyness of the place.

My memories are of laughter and of a community learning to live together. Boarding in particular, was all about mini adventures and escapades, and I relished it all.

What did sport mean to you at Oakham?

I loved my sport: hockey in particular and swimming. I was a begrudging Goalkeeper in netball and in the summer I would turn up to athletics and be given something to throw. Mary Grimley knew how to get the best out of me and played

to my strengths; she soon gave up trying to make me a gymnast and instead appointed me as the person who hauled others over the vault!

What changes have you noticed since leaving Oakham?

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Did you have a favourite teacher at Oakham?

I went back a few times after leaving, as I was part of the OO Committee and President for a year in 1991. I have also coached some cricket at Oakham and returned to see the new BAFS Pavilion – Oakham remains a stunning school.

Your Career highs and lows:

On the cricket pitch I have experienced failure and defeat more times than I care to mention. There were some very difficult years early on when winning anything in an England shirt seemed impossible.

But I learned that you have to keep going and believe in yourself and those around you who share your drive and desire to win. You can ultimately achieve if you have the patience, focus and willpower to push yourself.

I have absolutely loved my career in education and the schools where I have taught. It has been a privilege to work alongside some extraordinary people and to have had an impact on young people.

Anything you would have done differently?

When I first had the injury that would eventually lead to my retirement from cricket, I would have liked to have understood it better so that I could have avoided

Keep challenging yourself and whilst you might have a destination in mind, it’s the journey that really matters. it happening again and again. That said, I had a good run and am proud of my record and achievements. It would have been nice to beat the Aussies though!

What plans do you have next?

Being a Headteacher has been fabulous, but this August I will be moving to the Football Association as Head of FA Education. I am also a Director of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

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

Make the most of your opportunities: hopefully Oakham will have taught you that. You are the work of your lifetime, so keep learning, keep challenging yourself and whilst you might have a destination in mind, it’s the journey that really matters.

161

Foundation News

CAMPAIGN FOR OAKHAM HITS THE £1 MILLION MARK T he Campaign for Oakham – launched in September 2017 – aims to raise a total of £4 million. These funds will support the building of a new state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre, finance more SpringBoard Bursaries, as well as develop the School’s sports facilities and increase the number of available Sports Scholarships. I am delighted to announce that with your tremendous support we have reached the first £1 million mark in donations and pledges. This is an incredible milestone and brings us ever closer to making these visions a reality. Thank you so much.

Raising this amount also means that we

“I fully support the Campaign MVY 6HROHT HUK ZWLJPÄJHSS` KPYLJ[ my donations to bursarial fundraising, HZ 0 ^HZ [OL S\JR` ILULÄJPHY` VM [OL Jerwood Foundation’s generosity (2 scholarships and a bursary) during my time at Oakham.”

Associate Professor Ken-Soon Tan (94)

are now able to fund our first SpringBoard Bursary pupil, who will join Form 3 in September 2018.

Oakham is fully committed to encouraging social mobility and inclusivity by providing opportunities for those from less privileged backgrounds and we in the Foundation are therefore delighted to assist the School in this objective, by supporting a SpringBoard Bursary pupil through money raised.

I look forward to sharing more good news about the Campaign in the next edition of The Oakhamian.

We are now able to fund our first SpringBoard Bursary pupil, who will join Form 3 in September 2018.

2018 FOUNDATION PROJECTS Every year the Oakham School Foundation Project Fund supports smaller developments that enrich the experience of pupils both inside and outside of the classroom. These usually take less than a year to establish, and the effect is immediate for current pupils, as well as for future generations of Oakhamians. Five Foundation Projects have been awarded for 2018: Display Screen for Digital Sports photographs: Jon Wills, Archivist has asked for a display screen in the Sports Centre to display digital photographs of Oakham’s sporting greats since records began. His dedicated team of archivists will assist him in loading the thousands of images stored in College House.

Lower School Outdoor Seating & Gazebo: These two projects will benefit all 280 pupils in the Lower School and provide a covered wooden gazebo with a seating area of four wooden tables and benches for the children to enjoy.

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Virtual Reality and CGI in the Art Curriculum: The Art Department has been awarded a computer with appropriate graphics card and Virtual Reality headset to benefit the 50+ Middle and Upper School pupils studying Art. Other students will also be able to use this technology in activity groups on a termly basis. Introducing VR and CGI into the Art curriculum and learning in general at the School will open up areas which are predicted to revolutionise future learning.

Creating a ‘Branches of Learning Tree’ in the Smallbone Library: This wonderfully visual project will create an artificial but highly realistic tree rising up and branching over the recreational reading space, to create an area that is as conducive to reading as possible. All 280 Lower School students will directly benefit from this reading space as part of their weekly Reading Scheme lesson, as indeed will all Oakhamians who use the Library.

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE GRADUATE INTERNSHIP We are delighted to welcome Rebecca Maddocks who joins us for our year-long Development Assistant graduate internship. Rebecca takes over from Georgia Johnson (13) who has left to go travelling around Asia, before taking up a graduate position at Vodafone in London. Rebecca joined at one of the busiest times for the Development Office, arriving in the run-up to the return of County Cricket to Oakham: Leicestershire CCC v Lancashire CCC and School Speech Day, but she has hit the ground running!

“Although I am new to Oakham life, I am not a stranger to the history of Oakham School – my Father, David Maddocks (84), my Uncle, Nigel Maddocks (79) and my Aunty, Susan Maddocks (78) are all OOs. I am really excited to be a part of the Foundation team and look

forward to playing a part in its continued success. From a young age, I have always been extremely passionate about the Performing Arts industry, which was only enhanced during my time at The Royal Holloway University of London, where I was lucky enough to study for a degree in Drama and English. I am extremely excited to be working towards a Campaign that will enrich the quality of the Performing Arts facilities here at Oakham School.”

Foundation News

THE 1584 SOCIETY CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY! On Friday 25 May, the Foundation was delighted to welcome guests to the inaugural 1584 Society Lunch.

To celebrate a year since the Foundation launched The 1584 Society – a community of likeminded people, joining forces to achieve great things for Oakham School – we invited members to an inaugural lunch at Barnsdale Lodge.

The Headmaster thanked supporters for their continued generosity of donating £1,584 per year for a minimum of 5 years and anticipated that the Society would continue to go from strength to strength. Mr Lashbrook explained that The 1584 Society was an important development to the Foundation by showcasing the impact of collaborative giving.

President of The 1584 Society, Katherine Sharp (98), gave an inspiring speech reflecting on her time at Oakham from 1991 until 1998 and recollected that exactly 20 years ago to the day she was sitting her A-level French paper in the Oakham Sports Hall! Her fond memories of School were evident and she reminded everyone present how progressive Oakham’s outlook has always been – from celebrating just over 45 years of female pupils at the School, to each new building and development that Oakham embraces. Katherine stated that although many of Oakham’s facilities are state-of-the art, the School is definitely not resting on its laurels.

Katherine went on to explain why the key fundraising objectives of the Campaign for Oakham – SpringBoard Bursaries and Performing Arts – meant so much to her: “I received a Jerwoods Exhibition Scholarship throughout my time at Oakham. Without this assistance, it would not have been financially viable for me to attend the School, nor would I have accomplished so much in life. Secondly, I believe the plans to create a new Performing Arts Centre are extremely important as I fully support the School’s philosophy of developing wellrounded individuals with multiple strings to their

The Society is a great way of showing what can be accomplished when people come together and support a cause. bow. There are already a number of OOs who have had particular success in the Arts and we need to continue to develop that momentum.”

As a Graduate Recruitment Manager in the City, Katherine meets students who are seeking career development on an almost daily basis and the individuals who stand out to her are those

who have excelled not solely in academia. She looks for individuals with passion, determination, resilience and creativity – skills all honed with exposure to the Performing Arts.

Katherine concluded by saying how delighted she is with what The 1584 Society has already achieved and what the potential of collaborative giving could be: “The Society is a great way of showing what can be accomplished when people come together and support a cause. With further members we can do so much more.”

The 1584 Society lunch was a truly special occasion. Spending time with people who are so passionate about supporting Oakham School was a wonderful way to celebrate the Society’s first birthday, and talk about what we have already managed to achieve since the Campaign’s launch. To date The 1584 Society has raised £128,700. Just 22 members would fund a further SpringBoard Bursary pupil to

be educated at Oakham School from 13 to 18.

For more information on the Campaign for Oakham, The 1584 Society, or to offer your support to the Oakham School Foundation Projects, please do get in touch. email: aeb2@oakham.rutland.sch.uk phone: 01572 758 808

Anna Bentley, Development Director

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