Old Haberdashers’ Association Founded 1888
www.oldhabs.com
e-Newsletter Issue 5 – September 2012 Please REGISTER on the OHA Website to ensure you hear about news and events – www.oldhabs.com If you are in the United States then please read the entry from Manish Thakur on Page 7 who is keen to set up an Old Habs community for you. Contents: Page 1 OHA Dinner & OHRFC Stockholm 10s Page 2 Recent & Forthcoming Events Page 4 Where Are They Now? Page 5 Personal News & Memories Page 8 Sports Club Updates Page 9 School & Staff News Page 10 Obituaries Page 11 The Headmasters Page 13 Lodge News Page 14 Advertising Page 15 AGM notice
Pictures from the OHA Annual Dinner – Haberdashers’ Hall 17th May 2012
President Jon Corrall and Guest Speakers: former teacher Frank Hanbidge and journalist Rob Nothman (1986)
Read a report on the dinner on Page 2
Old Haberdashers’ RFC triumph at the Stockholm 10’s! Having wrapped up the 2011-12 season in April as champions of London North West Division 2, securing their fourth successive promotion in the bargain, Old Habs RFC continued their resurgence during the off-season at the annual Stockholm 10s rugby tournament on 28 and 29 July. The Old Habs “Panthers” (suitably branded for the quicker, abbreviated form of the game) put in an outstanding performance on (and off) the pitch and returned with yet more silverware for the Croxdale Road cabinet. The tournament, celebrating its twentieth year, saw twenty teams from as far afield as the Middle East and the USA join sides from the Swedish top division, Norway, Latvia, France and the UK to compete for honours across two days of ten-a-side rugby football in balmy conditions under the Scandinavian midsummer sun. OH triumphed in five of their six matches over the weekend, losing only to a strong side from Swedish fifteen-a-side national champions Enkopping in the final game of Saturday’s pool stages, and went on to sweep the Plate competition during Sunday’s knock-out finals. In the land of Vikings it was two of Old Habs’ more diminutive players, perhaps shorter in stature but nonetheless massive of heart, whose tour and tournament performances stood out in a very strong Panthers squad. Rick Wright proved he can finish more than just his homework to end as Habs’ top scorer with six tries, and in defence Danny Thompson was industry personified as time and again he took down and turned over all-comers for the Mighty Magentas.
Old Habs “Panthers” (L-R): Back: Warner, O’Kill, Archer, Fox, Booth, Weightman, Miller, Chatterton, Kaufman, Odundo-Mendez, Burns Front: Butterwick, Leon, Thompson, Mogg, Taylor (c), Wright, Forrest
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
Recent Events Retired Members Lunch – June 2012 by Peter Vacher The latest in our series of lunches for OH and retired members of the school staff took place at the OHA clubhouse in June. It was especially gratifying to welcome the return of Alan Taylor, the former Director of Music at the school, after a period of serious illness and to hear of John Wigley’s research into the connection between the school and the Olympics movement, especially pertinent in this, the year of the London games. John had established that a party of boys from the school together with their teacher had attended the 1908 Games, the first to have been held in London, and was busily amassing memories from more recent participants and onlookers. Doubtless he would like to hear from anyone who could offer their own personal recollections, say, of the 1948 London Games or any others where an OH connection might exist. As ever, Pauline’s team produced an excellent lunch for us and we look forward to reconvening on September 11. If you would like to join us, please contact Peter Vacher at petervacher@onetel.com.
Ladies Lunch – June 2012 by Patricia Vacher The Ladies lunch held in June marked the tenth anniversary of our first gathering which took place at the Clubhouse in May 2002. There was a record attendance of 27, more than half of whom had been at the inaugural meal. However we have been delighted to welcome a number of new faces over the years. We are very lucky to have an excellent meal provided by the Pauline/Kelly/Natalie house-team, a glass of wine, convivial company and all for £10. We are looking forward to our twentieth anniversary in 2022. If you are interested in coming to the next Ladies Lunch then send an email to Patricia via peter.vacher@onetel.com.
OHA Annual Dinner – 17th May 2012, Haberdashers' Hall by John Wigley
School Captain Luke Ilott The one hundred and fourteenth annual dinner of the Old Haberdashers' Association was held at Haberdashers' Hall on Thursday 17th May. As always OH regulars met in a nearby pub, then joined scores of old friends to reminisce over sparkling white wine in the Hall's spacious ante-rooms before sitting down to a fine meal in the sumptuous dining room, hung with oil paintings of the Company's many benefactors and worthies, including one of Robert Aske, the school's founder. Our guests included Mike Jeans (Past Master of the Company, a good friend of the OHA), Mark Powell (Chairman of the Elstree Governors), Danny Hochberg OH (Chairman of the Boys' School Committee), and Peter Hamilton (Headmaster). This year Keith Dawson (Headmaster 1987-96) had also been able to accept our
Page 2
invitation, after last year making a much-appreciated 'video speech' from his home in Devon. Of course, the speakers were also our guests, and they certainly earned their place on the top table, flanking our President Jon Corrall (for many years a master at the school) who has lately given much of his abundant ability and energy to the OHA. David Heasman (Past President) opened the dinner by saying grace, but the quantity and quality of the wine still prevents me from remembering whether he or Tony Alexander (of whom more anon) was toastmaster. No matter. [It was Tony! Ed.] The impromptu toasts were impeccably proposed. The Loyal Toast elicited an appropriately vigorous response in HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee year. Frank Hanbidge toasted the Company, the Governors and School, with deftly woven stories of social mores in Oxford and St. Albans Abbey, word pictures that I cannot reproduce here. The School Captain, Luke Ilott, responded with his usual subtle intelligence, but fortunately eschewed the humour in which it is rumoured he proved so adept at the School First XV's dinner. Rob Nothman (OH), a highly successful sports journalist, entertained us with his detailed knowledge of many sports personalities, some of whom he kindly and wisely left anonymous. Jon responded on a serious note by reminding us that one function of the school is to give opportunities to clever boys from all backgrounds, so asked us to support the Bursary Fund.
Seb Taylor and Jon Corrall Jon had the pleasure of presenting a well-earned Rugby trophy to Seb Taylor, OHRFC Captain, to mark the OH rugby club's exceptionally successful season. It was good to see a group of OHA rugby and cricket players. Good, too, to see such a wide cross-section of Haberdashers: Jerrold Goodman had left school in 1946; Jordan Dias in 2003. The dinner showed many of the OHA's values and qualities, including community and fellowship. Afterwards a goodly number returned to the nearby pub, where I heard that many pounds sterling passed across the bar, and I have seen the photograph that shows Tony Alexander leading the fray in singing. That the dinner went so well is a tribute to Andrew Tarpey who organised it. To see more photos taken at the dinner, follow this link. To see all the speeches on video, follow this link.
Forthcoming Events For the latest information please check www.oldhabs.com Retired Members Luncheons The latest in the regular and very popular lunches organised by Peter Vacher took place on 11th September; if you haven’t already booked your place for the next lunch please email petervacher@onetel.com.
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
OHA Ladies Luncheon Organised by Patricia Vacher and enjoyed by a number of ladies with links to the OHA, including Margaret Taylor and Pat McGowan. To book your place, please email petervacher@onetel.com.
1948 Joiners Reunion – Thursday 4th October The Plough, Crews Hill, Hertfordshire This is the first of the reminders to put Oct 4th in your diary for the next 1948 joiners reunion. The event continues to foster much comradeship and the more attendees the better. The superb 2011 meal at the Plough, Crews Hill, Herts, will be the repeated next year following the rave reviews. The price will not rise much above the 2011 price of £10. For more information contact Brian Willcocks on jb.rookery@virgin.net.
Page 3
on the day. Hidden behind him is GG Lloyd, the 1957/58 HOBC President, behind whom is Gwen Blessley. The rest of the gathering (including the cricketers) were spread around behind and to the right of the photographer. Others in the photo have been identified as Pop Oliver and the School Chaplain Rev “Spike” Redfearn. Earlier, the HOBC had presented a Book of Honour to the School, which was kept at the back of the assembly hall at Westbere Road. The intention was that the School Captain would turn a page of it on each day of a School term. This was dedicated by Tom Taylor on 20th October 1948. A little later the renovated 1914-18 memorial was moved to a space alongside. Both are now in the old chapel, Aldenham House. The OHRFC War Memorial was unveiled by Dr Taylor, on 20th September 1952, the occasion of the official opening of the Club’s ground extension, which allowed for the 1st XV pitch to be laid and for the OHCC to commence their labours towards preparing a square on the unused space between the two old pitches and the new one. This was first used in the early summer of 1954.
Lunch and “In Conversation with...” – Sunday 14th October OHA Clubhouse, Croxdale Road Following on from the popular “Conversation with Kelvin Pike”, a second event is planned and our guest will be Frank Hanbidge, fresh from his success at the Annual Dinner! If you are interested in attending please contact Rodney Jakeman on rodney.jakeman@tiscali.co.uk.
Remembrance Day Service and Parade – Friday 9 November, The School
th
Annual Remembrance Day Service, Parade and Wreath Laying at the OHA War Memorial. All are welcome. Old Haberdashers’ War Memorials The HOBC War Memorial appeal was finally closed on 31st March 1950, somewhat short of its original target which had envisaged, for instance, the construction of an open air swimming pool at Chase Lodge, surrounded by a Garden of Remembrance. In fact, the funds were used to provide two hard tennis courts and the Garden of Remembrance. The tennis courts were completed in 1951 and were in constant use by OH and their ladies on Saturday afternoons during that summer and for several years thereafter.
The Memorial Stone The HOBC War Memorials were moved to the new Garden of Remembrance at Aldenham House as part of the general move to the new site. The Prayer used for the Wreath Laying on each Remembrance Day is: “Almighty God, we remember before thee at this time with humility those Old Haberdashers who gave their lives for us in two World Wars and in the Falklands Conflict. Give us wisdom and grace to ensure their supreme sacrifice was not made in vain. May we be inspired by this moment of remembrance and thanksgiving to apply with the spirit and character of all Haberdashers the blessings you place before us and may we, who have been nurtured in harmony, continue to live in harmony and impart that way of life to all others. Amen.”
th
Quiz Night and Supper – Friday 9 November OHA Clubhouse, Croxdale Road Unveiling of the War Memorial But it was not until Old Boys Day on 12th July 1958, that the memorials (to the eighty-six OH who died in the two world wars) were officially unveiled at Chase Lodge by the Headmaster, Dr Tom W Taylor. From Jerry Nodes’ photograph (reproduced in Skylark No. 133) the following are recognisable – Arthur Kerswell (extreme left), Kenneth Blessley (two to his left) & Tom Taylor holding the flag. Next to the Headmaster is Bill Crossman, who read out the names
Another in the very popular series of Quiz nights at the Old Habs, all are very welcome to come along to enjoy an evening of light hearted quizzing in the company of friends and family with supper included. For more information contact Rodney Jakeman on rodney.jakeman@tiscali.co.uk.
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
Where are they now? We invited a number of OH to let us know what they have been doing since leaving school. You can see that there is no such thing as a typical Haberdasher! Please send your own personal biography to the Editor via martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com for future publication.
Magnus Djaba (1992) CEO Saatchi & Saatchi London
Page 4
Shaun has very kindly offered to host an informal Surrey OH event (drinks and canapés) at Reigate Grammar School on the evening of 30th November. If you would like to attend, contact Martin Baker for details (martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com). Any prospective parents are particularly welcome at the event and this would offer a wonderful opportunity to meet the Headmaster and be shown the School.
Simon Gresswell (1986) Vice President, IMG
Magnus graduated from Oxford University with a degree in History and went straight to work at IMP, a direct marketing agency, working on Masterfoods and National Australia Group Banks. In 1997 he moved to Ogilvy & Mather to work on the global Impulse fragrance business and, later, Kodak, the COI, Physio Sport, Lucozade and The Coca-Cola Company business across Europe. He was later made New Business Director before leaving to join Fallon London in 2003. At Fallon Magnus ran business for BT, Bacardi UK, Budweiser, Orange, BBC, Eurostar, Unilever, The Coca Cola Company, Cadbury and Grazia (having helped launch the UK’s weekly fashion bible). He became a Partner and Director of Development in 2006 overseeing Fallon’s operations online, in design, branded content and experiential events. In 2010 he was promoted to Managing Director. Magnus joined Saatchi & Saatchi London in November 2011.
I spent a year out before studying Indian Cuisine & French in Manchester, in various jobs such as Relocation Executive, Mortar Transport Executive, Tent Erection Executive and got the taste for lofty titles, so am currently Vice President, Europe, IMG Worldwide Licensing and Consumer Products, managing brand licensing for some diverse, global brands in sports, cars and confectionery. In between, worked for big companies and for myself, lived and worked in France and Holland and ironically, fell in love with an OH girl I didn’t know at school and produced a now teenage, tall, blond, thin daughter (made in Holland). Now, full-time guardian of an attack spaniel and a squishy moggy. I get out on grass as often as possible, as an occasional Vets rugby player and a social tennis type. Always worked internationally, can’t stand being behind a desk too long or being told what to do, so according to current President of OHRFC, I’m am a true Haberdasher.
Shaun Fenton (1988) Headmaster, Reigate Grammar School
Kay Francis – Habs Prep School 1983 – 2008
What to say about yourself that doesn’t sound cheesy and might be even a tad interesting? Hmmm. After HABS… Oxford then Accountancy… it seemed like I was following the path most travelled for people leaving school ‘back then’. Finance, dentistry, medicine and law seeming like the only other options for a HABS boy? But then I realised both that Accountancy exams were really hard and that, having been the epitome of selfish teenager whilst at school – I wanted to grow up! I went back and spoke to Rev Lindsay and soon realised that teaching was where I could make the biggest difference. I have worked in good schools and badly failing schools, for the Local Authority, and been Head of an Academy. Now, via Headship of Sir John Lawes (a Harpenden Comprehensive) and then Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham (a state Grammar), I am on my third headship – Headmaster of Reigate Grammar in Surrey – a coed, selective, HMC school. Along the way I managed to trick Anna into becoming my wife and we have two smashing boys, Noah (9) and Joe (6). Bruce McGowan and Keith Dawson were the Heads whom I can now look to as genuine role models but for me Mr Wilkins, Rev Lindsay, Keith Talbot, Mr Lotherington… in fact the list is a long one of teachers who helped to form me. Good times and great memories (especially if I blot out the bad bits). Seriously, as the first of my family ever to stay at school beyond the age of 15 – HABS changed my life.
After 25 years as a teacher at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School I left the Prep School in 2008 to begin a new life in Dorset. My career at the school had been rewarding, challenging and full of variety but my husband, Alan, and I had decided that the time was right to move on to pastures new. We managed to sell our house in St Albans just as the economic crisis was taking hold and moved into our new home with our black Labrador the day after the Summer Term ended. Many people have asked us how we chose to settle in the village of Motcombe just outside Shaftesbury as we didn’t know anyone or much about the area before we arrived. We did know that it is a truly beautiful part of the country and that we could still travel to Hertfordshire fairly easily if we needed to. Indeed, Alan continues to be a Governor at Parmiter’s and we still have family living in St Albans. For 18 months after I left I worked as a Supply Teacher both in the Prep and Pre-Prep Schools and stayed in a lovely Bed and Breakfast in Letchmore Heath. In February 2010 the residents of Motcombe bought our village shop with a view to running it as a Community Shop. I was appointed to become the Sub-Postmaster and underwent a week’s training in Bristol in June. Little did I know where all this was leading to! This in itself proved to be a very steep learning curve but after three weeks of the shop being open, the Shop Manager left and I found myself being persuaded to take on the job of Shop Manager as well. The shop has a Committee made up of volunteers with
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
various responsibilities, three other part-time staff and a team of about fifty volunteers who work in the shop serving customers. Alan is the Honorary Treasurer and has learnt how to do Sage 50 accounting, amongst other things. Last year we won The Taste of Dorset Award for Best Independent Food Shop and this year we gained the Blackmore Vale Small Business Award. The shop stocks a range of local products and is definitely the hub of the community bringing together many people in a positive and worthwhile venture. In the meantime, I continue to enjoy the company of lovely friends, making silver jewellery for a hobby, visits to the stunning countryside and mostly good health. The hundreds of boys that I taught at Habs and staff with whom I worked will always have a special place in my heart so if any of you are ever near this corner of North Dorset do call into the Motcombe Community Shop for a coffee and a chat. Follow this link to the Motcombe Shop website which gives directions and a lot of information about Kay’s shop.
Abhishek Sachdev (1999) MD, Vedanta Hedging Abhishek graduated summa cum laude with the highest First Class Honours in Economics from Durham. After working at HM Treasury, he was head-hunted by Lloyds TSB as a future Executive Leader. Abhishek then founded Vedanta Hedging, to help SMEs obtain impartial advice & fairer pricing on their hedging. Vedanta has advised dozens of Large Corporates and the Saudi Royal Family, and has led the issue of Interest Rate Swap MisSelling nationally, being interviewed on BBC TV by Robert Peston, Sky News TV, Reuters, BBC Radio 4, the Telegraph and The Hindu newspaper. Abhishek has advised the FSA, Government Ministers (including Ed Miliband, Chuku Umunna, Dr Vince Cable & Oliver Letwin) and acted as an Expert Witness in High Court Trials with British Banks. Abhishek has also been nominated as a finalist for Professional of the Year (the youngest ever to do so) for the Asian Achievers Award in London.
Personal News and Memories
Page 5
Ken Pearce and Jeffrey Warren and intermittently with Alan Woolford. I would welcome communication from anyone from those years, 1941-1950 or thereabouts (especially if they can remember me). My own life continues to be very busy. I am Emeritus Prof. (of Chemistry) at Ottawa University, where I continue to teach a course each year and am still (just) active in research. I travel as much as possible and still hike in the Lake District. My chief recreations have been in sailing (one-design racing, cruising all over [Transatlantic in 2004] and an International judge for a dozen years). I read a lot (history, scifi, science). Eleven grandchildren means a lot of dates to recall. I visit the UK several times a year, including the annual Chemistry Lab dinner at University College London, where I did my PhD. Enough already! But before I close perhaps this is an appropriate opportunity to ask if any reader knows of the fate or whereabouts of some friends from the 40's, namely, John Philip Marson (possibly an engineer), Leslie Ian Reoch Abbot, Graham Buckland Jones (National Service in Korea, School master, Devon?), Peter Carey (worked at Midland Tar Distillers, somewhere in the Midlands), The Pangalos brothers (Stam and Demi), Michael W. M. Chism. Perhaps someone may get in touch?
Rodney Newham (1960-1962) Rodney has an extensive memoir on his personal website, read the first part below and follow the link at the end to read the complete story about his time at the School in Hampstead and then at the new site at Elstree. The change in size of school introduced me to a few new facts. In the smaller setting, I was known by everyone and it would have been almost impossible for me just to coast along or to be uninvolved. In a sense, there was nowhere to hide and I was answerable for almost all my actions that were observed. The new, larger site gave me anonymity and placed very few constrains, restrictions or responsibilities on me. Those that did not know me, the large majority, could not have cared anything about me or what became of me. Early attempts to continue a community-like attitude and wider interest in my surroundings were largely unsuccessful and so quickly abandoned. In my last term, as a sub-prefect, I did try some similar ideas again in the house setting, but with little direct evidence of success, beyond being awarded my House Tie.
A large number of people responded to the request for Personal News and Information and here is what we received – in order of the date of leaving the School (oldest first). If any of you would like to contact any of our contributors please email me and I will pass your email on.
John Holmes (1949) I am an 80 year old remnant of HAHS from the 1940’s, one of a declining few that can recall their schooldays with pleasure, alarm, dismay and delight. You can find out what the old place in Hampstead was like in those years, from my story on the Old Habs website. [Follow this link to get to John's memories.] That article has brought many surprises, including emails from Pop Oliver’s grandson (“you got my granddad to a tee”) and ditto for John Dudderidge’s grandson. I also have had emails from Klimowski (Texas), Greenwood (Kuala Lumpur) and am in regular contact with
I'm not sure how my subjects were arrived at for Haberdashers' but I guess I must have agreed to them. My grades were good enough for a scholarship place but my new Headmaster
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
must have had a limited view of my prospects, because of where I had been before. I think now I was placed into a convenient class that had room to spare, a lower stream doing unusual subjects, mixing Geography, Economics, British Constitution and Maths. I say streamed because other boys around us were always saying how much brighter they were and staff seemed not to contradict their claims. It was seen as unlikely that we would enhance the reputations of any of their top staff. A later change and free lesson allowed me to take Russian for a while, studying the alphabet and grammar and starting to pick up some words and sayings that came in use not too many years after. Being younger and only 5'8" I think these lower expectations were initially also extended to sporting matters. I had to take up rugby, as football was not offered. On my first sports afternoon, I was placed into a 'duffers' game, but then I made 'the tackle'. A beefy, athletic senior, who seemed equally out-of-place, was running straight through all the other players without being touched. I stood in his path and tackled him head-on, maybe not too wise a choice for a novice, but taking him down after having received a hefty uppercut from his right knee, direct to my jaw, as he attempted to plough right over me. I was dazed for a while but the referee or games teacher noticed the play and both he and I were moved the next week into a serious level game, where I stayed the rest of my time. I played sufficiently well enough to continue travelling to other schools for away games in the 2nd XV, even being awarded my team rugby colours later. I played for the senior house team as well each year. I quickly learned to take a wing position, as my weight was rather pointless in any scrum, after initially playing as a prop forward or general runabout. To read the rest of Rodney’s story please follow this link.
Peter Mitchell (1956 leaver) (HAZY) MEMORIES OF THE SSU In my day (1950-56) the SSU (Special Service Unit) was an alternative to the Friday afternoon cadet corps from form 4 upwards. It was a motley crew of intellectuals, pacifists and skivers, plus I think some Jewish boys for whom cadets would interfere with the opening of Shabbat in winter. Presiding over this mixed multitude was veteran PE master John Dudderidge. I don’t recall a great deal of our week to week activities. There was some limited gardening around the school and I also have memories of series of lectures on citizenship and on first aid. I did learn two good things from the SSU. On field days when most of the upper school were away shooting each other, we went on long cross country walks, sometimes spiced with a spot of underage drinking! I recall one where we were simply given map references to visit, finishing up on the top of West Wycombe hill. Looking back, these days kindled in me a love for the countryside and exploring it. One term there were big plans to arrange a camp but they all fell through. Instead we were told to go to London and visit the Royal Academy Summer exhibition. I remember thinking what a drag, but being most surprised to find I actually enjoyed it! I still don’t know anything about art but like going round art galleries. Are anyone else’s memories more complete than mine?
Some Entomological Memories and Roger Deakin by Barry Goater Working through some old entomological records from the 1950’s, I came across the name of Roger Deakin, who had brought me some
Page 6
Lepidoptera from Spain. Roger was one of many talented and enthusiastic VI formers who attended our field courses at Beaulieu Road, in the New Forest. We camped among the hummocks made when the cutting for the London-Weymouth railway was dug out. The local hotel arranged for delivery of bread and milk, but all our other supplies and equipment we brought down ourselves from London. This went on for several years during which we built up a comprehensive dossier of our fieldwork, but alas this came to an end when the Forestry Commission forbade camping away from the official sites, and the hotel went all chromium-plated and catered for the nouveaux riches of Southampton, in their smart cars, and no longer welcomed groups of dishevelled (though immaculately wellbehaved) urchins who went in for a quick beer and a game of darts before going out on nocturnal forays after moths.
A picture of Barry Goater from the Archives. As so often happens, I lost touch with Roger shortly after he left School, and it was not until the summer of 2003 that I received a parcel containing his book, Waterlog, together with a note asking whether I remembered him. Of course I did, and promptly wrote inviting him to come and stay with us, and to visit old haunts in the Forest. Waterlog is a record of Roger’s passion for swimming in unlikely places – rivers, remote tarns, wild estuaries and the like – together with acute observations on the bird, plants and other wildlife he encountered, and illuminating conversations with villagers he met in the local hostelry after his swims. In September of that year, Jane and I took Roger back to Beaulieu Road, where we recalled the work we had done years ago, in an area that looked much as it had done in the past. However, there were significant changes, all detrimental. A massive ditch-digger had ploughed its way the length of Bishop’s Dyke, and the clear pools through which there had been a gentle seepage through a filter of Sphagnum moss disappeared. The Forestry Commission, self-styled “Guardians of the New Forest” subsequently realised their mistake and tried to restore the situation by damming it up, producing stagnation. Local specialities like ten-spined sticklebacks and a rare bladderwort had gone. Much of the heathland had been invaded by young pines, and instead of rotational burning, which would have controlled the pines and prevented the heather from getting too “leggy”, the “Guardians” cut down the most of the parent trees, including the only Pinaster, which had stood as a landmark out on the heath and was doing no-one any harm. The pines had been a resting place, in May, for one of the Forest’s local moths, and were the foodplant of three local tortricid species. The pony corrals, opposite Beaulieu Road Station, once supported a flourishing colony of Mousetail, Myosurus minimus, located originally by another Haberdasher, Stephen Waters. This plant is an annual, flowering in spring, setting seed and then dying. Later in the year, numerous vigorous competitors grew up in its stead. However, three times in autumn the pony sales took place, and the plants in the corrals were trampled to bits and the Myosurus seeds trodden into the mud, to thrive again next season. After our time, a thick layer of gravel was strewn in the corrals. The
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
pony sales still happen, but the cycle was broken and Myosurus had gone. When he went home, Roger took with him the Beaulieu Tomes, in which our field work was recorded in detail. Shortly after that, we visited him at his home in Suffolk and he took us to some favourite sites in the vicinity, looking for plants, but we had to wait until a second visit, in early April 2005, to see the local speciality, the extremely rare and local lungwort, Pulmonaria obscura. It turned out that Roger had an ulterior motive in borrowing the Beaulieu Tomes, because their contents were to feature in one of the chapters in his next book, Wildwood (like Dick Francis, Roger favoured succinct titles for his books). In other chapters, he ventured much further afield, to Kazakhstan to look for the ancestor of the domestic apple, to Kirghisia to admire extensive walnut forests, and to Australia, always making friends with the local people and recounting their lore. By now, Roger was making a name for himself as a writer on unusual aspects of natural history, and I was delighted to reestablish a friendship from the past. Then, tragedy: Roger’s life was cut short by a brain tumour and he died in August 2006, a mere 62 years of age. There followed a Celebration of his life in his grounds at Mellis in Suffolk, attended by many, including Old Haberdashers whom I was pleased to meet again. Tributes were made, poetry was recited, and there really was a celebration of the contribution Roger had made to our lives, but nevertheless, an abiding sadness at a life cut short in its prime. Further information about Roger Deakin (1961 leaver) Reading this prompted the OHA Secretary to research further into Roger Deakin’s life and achievements and as a result, his obituary from the Daily Telegraph, his Wikipedia entry and a review of his book Wildwood – written by Will Self and published in the New Statesman on 12th July 2007 – have been added to the OHA website. Follow this link to see these on the website, filed under 1961.
Eddie Hsu and Peter Parham (1968) The last time we met was 3 years ago in San Francisco. Then on a bright June late morning on the East side of Baker Street, Pete headed North and Eddie headed South and our paths crossed! We were both stunned by the co-incidence.
Michael Wareing (1982) Michael, now a Consultant ENT surgeon at St Bartholomews, reports that he and Justin Watts are cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats from 1st to 8th September. They are doing this for charity as well as a rather stiff personal challenge. Their Charity webpages which contain quite a lot of the info are: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/LEJoGSMART http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Lejogdocs
Matt Goodchild (1987) I thought I would update you with what I have been doing in recent years apart from weeping at the enormous and ongoing success of everyone else from my year group and following the march of OHs in the world of international comedy. Having completed my degree in History at Nottingham University way back in 1990 I entered the RAF where I enjoyed sixteen years of ups and downs as a student pilot (not successful) then an air traffic control officer (more successful) before becoming a flight operations officer (very successful). I enjoyed my last three years in the RAF as a flight commander at the RAF Recruit Training
Page 7
Squadron based at Halton. It was in Buckinghamshire that I met and married Janet. The march of time really hit me this year when my son, Richard took his GCSE's. The military training role whetted my appetite to teach and on completion of my PGCE at Reading University in 2007 I was able to get a job as History teacher at Aylesbury Grammar School where I have worked ever since and always have a weather eye open to the AGS v HABS sporting fixtures. I am now teaching History, Politics and Ancient History but the role I really love is that of Head of House. I always look back on the great Mr Hayler who was to my mind a fantastic inspiration in terms of pastoral care. When not working I enjoy reading, eating out with my wife and instructing in the Sea Cadet Corps; odd for an RAF veteran but I like it! In 2005 I visited Habs for a day on a pre-teacher training school visit where I found myself excellently hosted by Dr Sloan who had also been one of my A-level teachers eighteen years earlier. The physical changes to the school were incredible but the old atmosphere was still the same. As a teacher who has trained and taught in a variety of schools, I can confidently say that Habs boys are incredibly privileged to be part of what is still one of the best schools in the country. They might not realise it now but they certainly will in years to come. Best wishes to all OHs.
Manish Thakur (1985) Manish lives in New York so it’s not easy to meet fellow OH, though he would love to start some type of Old Habs set up Stateside if there are interested people. If you are in the States or know of people who are please email mail@oldhabs.com and I will put you in touch with Manish. Manish is Managing Partner of Hudson Fairfax Group, a New York-based private equity & business development boutique that provides growth capital to next-generation security companies focused on cyber, intelligence, defence and homeland security.
Jeremy Michaels (1993) Successful merger with Yamazaki Corporation (also known as Ayako) of Tokyo in Summer 2012. Enjoying married life; reporting to Japanese Head Office. Specialist Consultant at Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates, advising on strategic issues related to the film and online video sectors predominantly. Still hopelessly devoted to LFC.
Jaimin Patel (2001) Jaimin reports that he got married to Roma Bungsraz on 11th August in London; fellow OH Edward Sinclair attended the wedding. They will have a religious ceremony in his wife’s home country of Mauritius in November.
Gavin Gowlett (2002) In February this year, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest freestanding mountain in Africa as part of a group of 18. In April 2012 I followed this up by running the Brighton Marathon, finishing in a time of 4:56:03. In July, I completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks and in September I will finish my year of challenges by climbing Ben Nevis. The reason I've been doing this is to fundraise for Alzheimer's Society - the UK's leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. If you would like to support Gavin you can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/GavinGowlett.
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
Dr Nishant Bedi (2002) I was selected as a Field of Play medic for the Olympics. Attending football, badminton and gymnastics. It was great fun, and something I will continue with in the future.
James Grant (2002) I left HABS in 2002, read Mechanical Engineering at Bristol University and have since joined the Army. Last winter I deployed to Afghanistan with the Royal Engineers as part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Task Force, having completed the tour and my post-tour leave I was posted to Germany and almost immediately returned to the UK for the Olympics. I was Second in Command of a 100 man Squadron that was providing the security for the Athletes' Village.
Udayan Tripathi (Hendersons 2008) Udayan reports that he graduated in May of this year from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, USA. He is a Bachelor of Science, specialising in International Law and Politics.
Sam Rabinowitz (2009) Sam reports that he graduated from Balliol College, Oxford with a First in History, coming joint 6th in a year group of 243. He was awarded the Kirk-Greene Prize for the best thesis on Modern African History, the thesis was on the extent to which football challenged apartheid in 1970s South Africa.
Sports Club Updates OH Rugby Football Club End of Season Report 2011-2012 by Nick Jones Off the back of the 2010-11 season’s promotion, the 1st XV, led again by Seb Taylor, found themselves entering the London 2 North West league in 2011-12. It was understood by all involved that this would be a big challenge as another step up in quality of opposition was expected. Also, a principal aim of the season was to develop the fledgling 2nd XV that had come into existence the year before and, with Si Wallis at the helm, had been granted a place at the top table of 2nd XV rugby – Herts/Middlesex Merit Table 1. All in all, another ground breaking season for OHRFC was in store. Things started brightly for the 1st XV, with league wins against Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and old foes Tabard. A slight dip on the day of England’s Rugby World Cup exit saw Habs lose away to St Albans, but it was the manner of their comeback from this defeat that defined the season. With several close fought wins before and after Christmas, Habs started to cement their position at the top of the league and when the team broke into their stride in the second half of the year with back-to-back victories against the other three teams competing for the top of the table, Habs put some daylight between themselves and the rest. At no point did this gap look like being closed and Habs found themselves staring down the barrel of a fourth promotion in four seasons with two league games remaining. A quite phenomenal year with standout performances from old and new players, notably Brian Butterwick scoring a club record of 254 points, Scott Chatterton for scoring the
Page 8
most tries, Bobby Forrest for picking up the players’ player of the season award for his continual ground breaking runs throughout the season and Si Miller who was voted the best newcomer. On the way the team equalled or bettered club records for points scored and the most victories in one season. All in all, a tremendous season and superb results against very well established opposition left all of the players feeling that another step up in 2012-13, this time to London 1 North (one level below the national leagues), was well within their capabilities and an eagerly awaited challenge. The 2nd XV also had a fantastic season. Challenging at the top of the Merit League in their first season, and with a very long fixture list which was a massive proportional increase from the season before, Habs competed extremely well against all comers to finish fourth in the league, at times proving they were capable of being the best team with home and away victories over Hampstead who ended the season at the top of the table. Playing so many extra games was a challenge but a core of old and new players responded with dedication to achieving this aim. Just reward came in the form of the Herts/Middlesex Merit Table Plate where Habs dispatched long term rivals Fullerians to pick up another piece of silverware for the increasingly undersized OHRFC trophy cabinet. A fantastic sight was also the reappearance of an OHRFC 3rd XV, with Lee Rossney organising a Vets team to play (and win with some style) several fixtures during the season. The old boys were keen to show the young ones how to play, and they did a great job. Another positive from 2011-12 that the club hope to build on in the coming season. As ever the ethos of the club that has been nurtured over the last few seasons remains central to its success. There are many players who have contributed to this, but none more so than Ian Sanderson who during the season achieved his 100th appearance for OHRFC. There are a few players not far behind Ian and it is these players who will look to develop newcomers and maintain the backbone of the teams over the coming season. Events such as a thirty-man strong tour to Valencia, Captain’s Carnival, Annual Club Dinner and End of Season Dinner will only serve to improve the strong bond that exists throughout the club during 2012-13.
OH Cricket Club The 2012 cricket season has been severely impacted by the terrible weather in the early / mid-season which has meant that six League matches have been cancelled – representing nearly a third of the fixtures. Continuity has therefore been difficult to achieve, but the side has been working hard and there is good team spirit. The annual tour to Devon is taking place in August and is always enjoyed, with the chance to play some scenic village grounds. Unfortunately, due to some people moving away from the area, it has not been able to maintain a 2nd XI League team this year, but the OHCC will be looking to re-establish a league or friendly 2nd XI side in future years. The OHCC have a number of recent School leavers playing who enjoy the fixtures and club atmosphere and we continue to encourage more - we are always looking for new players to get involved, so if you are interested please contact Robert Clarke on robertc.clarke@btopenworld.com. Follow this link to the OHCC News section on the OHA website and to the OHCC Spring 2012 newsletter.
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
OH Golf Society Autumn Meeting – Friday 5th October, Gerrards Cross Golf Club For more information follow this link to open a copy of the invitation letter. To book your place for the meeting please email psmackie@tiscali.co.uk.
Page 9
secured via a third place in the Junior Work and Conduct and second place in the Senior Work and Conduct to ensure Meadows retained the overall Dunton Shield for the fifth year in succession. Mr Bagguley and Mr Garvey would like to thank both House Staff and boys for their continued support throughout this year.
School CCF News John Wigley, pp. Major Nick Saddington
The Old Haberdashers’ Golfing Society welcomes golfers of all standards, whether members of a golf club with an official handicap or occasional social players. Currently we have fifty members with handicaps ranging from 3 to 36 and we are keen to increase this substantially over the next twelve months. If you are interested in joining please follow this link to the OHGS Section and Fixture List 2012 on the OHA website.
School News The School has launched a New HabsOnline webpage – follow this link to take a look and register.
Meadows success in Inter-House competitions
The Habs CCF contingent has had another very successful Summer Term. On Friday 11th May Col. Peacock, a member of the MoD Careers Team, a regular visitor to the school, lunched with the Army Section's officers in the Old Refectory, and between 3.00 and 5.30 the CCF held a very successful Open Afternoon for parents of Upper Sixth Leavers. Highlights were the assault course and raft competitions held near the North Drive, section attacks on the Croquet Lawn, and a parade and prize giving followed by tea outside Aldenham House. On Sunday June 3rd, some forty Cadets and six Officers took part in the River Pageant to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, guarding Southwark Bridge. Low temperatures, high winds and torrential rain, eerily reminiscent of Coronation Day in June 1953, caused fewer problems than that of deciding which of the vessels sailing down river was actually the Queen's Barge - the only one that had to be saluted. Bad weather followed the Army and RAF Sections to Field Day at Bramley on Thursday 21st June. The shortest night of the year was so wet and overcast and dark that several Cadets and Officers got lost in dense woodland, but eventually found their way back to camp and on Friday morning took a full part in exercises (cam and concealment, Cas-evac, section attacks, stalking) organised by the Fusiliers' Training Team from Tidworth. On Friday 29th June the Year 10 Army Cadets went to the Tower of London and were welcomed to the Fusiliers' HQ by Col. Easton who entertained them to a buffet lunch in the Officers' Mess and presented them with hackles. In the evening the Contingent's Annual Reunion Dinner was held at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, as ever a very enjoyable occasion to which all former members of the CCF are welcome. The highlight of the term was the annual Summer Camp, this year held at Gareloch Head, not far from Loch Lomond. The midges were kind, the weather was mild, the Fusiliers' Training Team was good, and Sgt. Steve Macpherson's organisation was outstanding. Thus the Cadets and Officers had an excellent time - a holiday, a taste of military life, and some very enjoyable adventure training. Next year we hope to return to Cyprus. We offer our thanks and good wishes to Sub Lt. Mike Cucknell, 2Lt. Gordon Stead and Flt. Lt. Peter Thackrey who are leaving Habs. Their enthusiasm, expertise and professionalism have contributed a great deal to the CCF. They will be very difficult to replace.
Staff News Alan Bagguley and fellow Meadows Meadows House had another hugely successful year in many ways, not the least was securing three out of the five trophies. The Michael Cook Middle School Work and Conduct shield was retained (for the fourth successive year) with a share of the Crossman shield (with Russells) for the fifth year running. Enough points were
Doug Whittaker’s Travels around the World I thought that you might like to hear what former teachers are up to in retirement. Having put all my maths teaching, sailing instruction and CCF training to the test, I have been globetrotting to most parts of the world. You name the place, and I’ve probably been there. And that includes the Falklands, South Georgia, the North West Passage
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
and many other faraway places. However, I’ve just written a short account of my visit to the Himalayan region in 2011.
Doug avoids drawing attention to himself by adopting a nonchalant gait through Customs I flew from Delhi to the small Himalayan country of Bhutan. This place was an unknown world until quite recently. Indeed it could almost be James Hilton’s Shangri La. It’s still difficult to go there. The plane has to make a zig-zag approach down several valleys, below the mountain peaks, making sharp turns with the wings appearing to slice the mountain sides, until finally landing on a short runway in the town of Paro. Judging by the number of temples, it became quite clear to me that I was in a Buddhist state. Nothing is known about the place before the 6th century AD. There might have been warring tribes for all we know. However Buddhism arrived with missionaries from Tibet in 1616, and the population was fooled into accepting the faith. I went on, by bus, on the perilous journey to the capital of the nation – called Thimpu. Now that is quite a pub quiz question. Not to be undaunted, I actually took the trouble to walk some distance up the slopes to take a downward look at the capital and I saw that everything in this nation, even the parliament buildings, were of Buddhist influence. Part of this means that education must be made available to every child, but that there is no compulsion for him to attend. This would be a freedom charter in the west, but out there – well they all appreciate the offer – and they desperately want to take it up. I freely wandered into some classrooms of a school, and gosh – it was in their faces – they enjoyed being there. You didn’t have to be good at any particular skill – everybody, no matter how inept, was encouraged and motivated. I then went off on the perilous mountain road journey towards India. You can’t imagine how bad the roads were, as they circuited along narrow precipices in the fantastic mountain scenery. It took ten hours for the bus to travel just a hundred miles from Thimpu to the border with India. It really was an almost impassable narrow Himalayan mountain road, reduced to a cart track in parts. It was festooned with pot holes and boulders, and we saw several Land Rovers that had toppled over the side. Finally we came to a blockage caused by an enormous boulder having fallen on to the road. An earth moving vehicle had arrived to move it, but that had broken down. So we had a long wait before it was all sorted out. Indeed I thought I was going to have to spend the night in the mountains. After waiting for an enormous boulder to be moved from the road soon we hit another snag. A huge traffic queue loomed ahead
Page 10
of us. Thousands of people had come, from miles around, to the mountain village of Jambay Lhakhang. It was a four day event to celebrate the arrival of a demoness that once came to spread Buddhism throughout the land, and at midnight the participants would all dance in the nude on the surrounding hillsides. Eventually the police cleared a way through for us, although we did have to manoeuvre another bus off the road. Finally we arrived at the bustling wealthy border town of Phutsholing, ready to walk across into India. I was now in the Indian state of West Bengal, which has a freely elected communist government. That may be a good thing because otherwise the Islamic fundamentalists there could well have won the day, resulting in West Bengal breaking away from India. The civil disruptions and ethnic difference keep West Bengal as one of India’s poorest states. However their roads are a considerable improvement over those in Bhutan. However the potholes still abounded. Now riding in an Indian bus, we passed through gorgeous mountain scenery until suddenly I was overjoyed to see a vast plain below me. Two vast rivers came into view. They were the young Ganges and Brahmaputra, snaking their way off the Himalayas to flow towards the sea. We crossed the plains with mists covering the distant air, and then I caught a narrow gauge train. This was the hill railway to Darjeeling. The train puffed round bends and loops, trying to gain as much height as possible as it slowly wended its way round the mountain sides. We passed the home of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who reached the summit of Everest, along with Edmund Hillary in 1953. Although he was Nepalese, he was actually born in Darjeeling, which is why he carried an Indian flag with him up to the summit. Finally we were among the tea plantations, and I was able to check into my hotel. As I looked out of my bedroom window, I was met by the spectacle of Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world. I could see the peak clearly, with the sun glistening on its snow, and this was the meeting point of India, Tibet and Nepal. I wandered through the bustling markets in Darjeeling, and found some book shops with prices about half those in the UK. There is a splendid mall, with mountain views, where once British ladies used to promenade, but is now frequented by Indians taking a stroll with their families. I went on to travel by train across many other parts of India, a federation of countries which I dearly love. And I really liked the hospitality offered, especially on long rail journeys when families shared their food with me.
Obituaries Sadly there are a number of deaths of distinguished Old Haberdashers to report, with regret.
Ken Blessley (1932) – died 10th April 2012
Ken Blessley at his desk in County Hall, 1976 Follow this link to read Ken’s full obituary prepared for the Times. To get to the obituary click on the year Ken left school (1932).
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
John Sydney Hawkes (1943) I am sad to report the death on 18th June 2012 of John S Hawkes at the age of 86 years. He joined the School in January 1936 and left in June 1943. He then went on to Faraday House College to study electrical engineering, gaining his Diploma in 1945. The war was in its final year and he was sent to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough where he worked in the laboratory on radar and bomb aiming equipment. After the war he joined Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. where he studied for his degree whilst learning in their factory. He returned to their offices designing circuits and signalling schemes and eventually became Chief Railway Signal Engineer (Overseas). He was very well travelled and enjoyed his work. After taking retirement, he enjoyed many years of his favourite hobbies – astronomy, bird-watching, model and main line railways and steam locomotives. He leaves a wife, son and daughter.
Page 11
The Headmasters The third in a series of articles by John Wigley, first published in the OHA Magazine, 1998.
Dr TOM W. TAYLOR Headmaster 1946–73
Stanley Crossick (1953) We've just been informed of the sad death of Stanley Crossick who died on 20th November 2011. A copy of his obituary has been posted to the OHA Obituary section – follow this link to get to the section and the Obituaries are listed by year of leaving school.
Matthew Hall (1986) by Michael Hall It is with great sadness, but also with great pride, that I write this tribute to my brother and fellow Old Haberdasher Matthew Hall, who died peacefully after a stroke brought on by cancer, on 23 December 2011. Matthew had many fond memories of his time at HABS, having joined the Prep school at the age of 7 in 1975. Whilst he left as House Captain of Hendersons and he was a keen sportsman it was his prowess on the stage that I and many others remember his school days most for with lead roles in Captain Stirrick, Albert's Bridge and The Pirates of Penzance to name a few. After Nottingham University, Matthew started a very successful career in the city, which culminated in him heading up Deutsche Bank's International Sales Group from London. Whilst he had an unbridled enthusiasm and love of work, Matthew managed to strike a superb balance. His family and friends never played second fiddle. Indeed when the severity of his cancer became clear his concern was more for how it impacted those closest to him than him himself. For Matthew, his wife Lizzy, son Jack and daughter Josie were always his greatest achievement. For me the greatest tribute to Matthew was the hundreds, including many school friends, who came to his funeral and later on a thanksgiving for his life. He achieved more in 43 years than most achieve in a lifetime. He is sorely missed, but leaves memories of a man of great love, caring, enthusiasm and happiness.
If you are aware of any other recent deaths please inform the OHA Secretary, Martin Baker, via martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com so that the information can be communicated to fellow Old Haberdashers.
Many headmasters have been legends in their own time and become mythical figures to later generations. Dr Arnold is the classic case. Headmaster of Rugby School for barely fourteen years (182842) he was so effectively immortalised by Dean Stanley's Life and Correspondence of Dr Arnold (1844) and Thomas Hughes' Tom Brown's School Days (1857), that even Lytton Stracey's brilliant Eminent Victorians (1918) was unable to destroy his reputation. Legends obscure and myths illuminate our understanding of Dr. Taylor and his achievement. Schoolboy legend held that “Spud” Taylor knew so few boys by name that he wrote “Persevere” on reports at random, but gave a half holiday to celebrate the birth of his sixth child. Staff myth holds that Tom revived the School after the War, accomplished its move from Hampstead to Elstree, and sat disconsolate in his study in Aldenham House unable to face retirement. Dr. Taylor was a very able man. He had gone up to Christ's College, Cambridge, on an open scholarship in Classics, graduated with a first, won the Burney prize for Philosophy, and been awarded a PhD. He had spent a year at Frankfurt University, and in his spare time took a Bachelor of Divinity degree from London University. He was widely experienced. He had taught Classics to the Sixth Form at Bradford Grammar School and Worksop College, and had spent six years as the Headmaster of the City of Bath School. He was energetic, enthusiastic and innovative. He took over as Headmaster of Haberdashers' at the start of the summer term in 1946, and within weeks had promoted school music, organised a sixth form dance, and made himself readily accessible to pupils and staff alike.
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
It soon became clear that his aims were to further raise the School's academic and cultural standing, and to use its metropolitan base to establish a national reputation. At first the War cast a shadow. In July 1947 Fusilier P.J. Stevenson recorded in Skylark that the Intelligence Section of the British Army of the Rhine was identifying material “which might be used in a German rising”. Reconstruction of the bomb-damaged buildings at Hampstead did not begin until the summer term of 1948, and continued rationing ensured that the ninth Harvest Camp was held during the summer holiday. In October the Old Boys presented the Book of Remembrance to the School. The shadow was soon shortened. In September 1946 Dr. Taylor had begun Subsidiary and General Studies courses, and appointed a Director of Music. During 1947, he had taken on a fulltime Chaplain, transferred the carol service to St. Martin-in-theFields, and inaugurated Commendation Day at the Guildhall, besides again widening the curriculum. School activities multiplied. In 1947 five boys had visited France. In 1948 a large group went on a ski trip to Switzerland, in 1949 Mr. Dudderidge and A.J. Woolford appeared on television; in 1954 an exchange party left for Emden, in 1955 the 1st. VIII competed in the Heidleburg Regatta, and in 1956 Dr. Taylor took the School's production of Julius Caesar on tour to Western Germany. Haberdashers' had Direct Grant Status under the terms of the 1944 Education Act, receiving financial support direct from the Ministry of Education in return for admitting scholarship boys. Consequently numbers were growing rapidly and in 1947 Dr. Taylor moved the Preparatory Department to Chase Lodge (and in 1953 to Flower Lane) to gain space at Hampstead. As the 600 boys of 1948 approached 1 000, a programme of new building endeavoured to keep pace and during Commendation Day in 1958 Sir Edward Boyle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education, recognised the result by calling Haberdashers' “one of the first flight of Direct Grant Schools”. The Governors sold the Hampstead site to the London County Council, which turned the buildings into a comprehensive school, and the thousand-odd Haberdashers left in July 1961. The new buildings at Elstree were officially opened by the Lord Mayor of London on the 11th of October, when closed-circuit television was used to transmit the ceremony from the hall to marquees in the grounds. Preparations had been well-made. During 1959 Dr. Taylor had bought a famous Willis organ from Hove Town Council. In 1960 he had announced that in future all boys would receive an even sounder education by entering the sixth form after five rather than four years. When Mr. Oliver (“Pop” to the boys) retired Dr. Taylor split his duties between a Second and a Senior Master; the former to discipline the boys, the latter to manage the masters. Mr. Cheyney was appointed as the School’s first full time Librarian, and Mr. Irving-Smith given the task of organizing General Studies. Without Mr. Rolfe’s work as Transport Officer most boys would not have reached Elstree at all. The new school was organised on a House basis, each House being regarded as a forum for activities and haven for pastoral care. Each House had its own double room for meetings and lunches, some had their own and some shared cloak-rooms, and each encouraged its members to join its teams and accept positions of responsibility. A Boarding House was set up in Aldenham House itself. The Preparatory Department rejoined the main school, but was given a building of its own; usually called the prep. block, but sometimes known as the B.B.C. Block, a reference to its construction and use by the B.B.C. during the War.
Page 12
Changes were legion. The annual Gilbert & Sullivan opera withered in the rural air, but school music and drama luxuriated in their new facilities and grew ever more polished. Rowing, fostered by Dr. Taylor in 1946, was ultimately a casualty of the move, but most sports, freed from the tiresome journey between Hampstead and Chase Lodge, benefited enormously. Not all the many new initiatives endured: extensive archaeological excavations led by Professor Swinnerton (Dr. Taylor's father-in-law) were eventually abandoned, bee-keeping was ultimately deemed too dangerous, and the School Press did not long survive the departure of its mentor, Mr. Broderick. The new buildings were themselves soon supplemented. In July 1967 a mammoth fête opened a building appeal so successful that the foundation stone of a new library was laid in September 1968. During May 1969 Princess Margaret (an Honorary Freeman of the Haberdashers' Company) toured the School and the library was opened in September. Building continued and in September 1971 Mrs Thatcher (then Secretary of State for Education) opened what is still prosaically called Phase III. (The original Library became the Sixth Form Common Room, and the "new" Library is now the Modern Languages Centre, having been replaced by the Bourne Library.) The 1960's saw important changes amongst the masters. Encouraged by the 1963 Robbins Report, which recommended the rapid expansion of higher education, Dr. Taylor made a point of appointing teachers who could specialise in Sixth Form work and coach the growing number of Oxbridge candidates. When Mr. Crossman and Mr. Pask retired in 1964, Mr. Lewin and Mr. Barling became Second and Senior Master respectively. When Mr. Lewin died suddenly in 1968 Mr Barling (“Taffy” to the boys, “Dai” to the staff) became Second Master, a post which he held until his retirement in 1982. The sixth form was influenced by the political and social changes of the 1960's. The campaign for Nuclear Disarmament attracted the support of many boys, and at Commendation Day in 1962 a group of sixth formers heckled Air Chief Marshal Sir Theodore McEvoy, an Old Boy who had returned to remind them of the Soviet threat. Towards the end of the decade many of the sixth form grew more and more hirsute and demanded the relaxation of the dress regulation. Some boys were said to pull on short haired wigs as they approached the School and others held a lunch-time demonstration in the Quad. Dr. Taylor, who kept resolutely to the “short back and sides” fashionable in his youth, responded by setting up three Advisory Councils which voted to support traditional styles of appearance, a vote soon honoured more in the breach than the observance. In the early 1970's it was even rumoured that an Old Boy was a member of the self-styled Angry Brigade which bombed the Home Secretary's house in nearby Hadley Wood. When Dr. Taylor retired and he and his wife Margaret left the School in July 1973, it was after a series of tributes and presentations which had begun in March with a gala concert at the Royal Festival Hall, and which marked the atmosphere of mutual respect and goodwill in which he completed his twenty-seven years as Headmaster. It was a fitting tribute that in November the School gained its best Oxbridge results to that date, twenty-six Scholarships and Exhibitions compared with the ten of 1960. Mr. McGowan, who had taken over as Headmaster in September, told the boys that Dr. Taylor might properly be regarded as the School’s second founder, and announced that he would be commemorated by the T.W. Taylor Music School, construction of which was to begin in 1974. Like all Headmasters, Dr. Taylor had not been free from criticism. In the late 1940's some older staff wondered why a
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
German-speaker had apparently done no war-work; in the 1950's, some grumbled that he was reluctant to discipline the boys, and in the 1960's considered that he devoted too much time to his many out-of-school commitments. The majority, particularly the younger staff whom he had appointed and encouraged (and often inspired), appreciated his individuality and verve. They look back to a more relaxed time when Tom seemed capable of bearing almost any burden and solving almost any problem; when a quick and rhetorical “All well?” from him might be followed by a welcome promotion or salary increase. Perhaps Old Boys remember him best opening his letters at the table on the stage before Morning Assembly began, smiling alertly and enigmatically as they sang Jerusalem and To Be a Pilgrim in excited and stifling end-of-term assemblies, or shaking hands with Sixth Form leavers. Dr. Taylor was a shy but gregarious man with a quick-silver mind, detached but humane, fully-known only to a few intimates, but with a wide circle of friends and admirers who gave him their confidence and to whom he gave wise advice and counsel. He was an academic administrator of the greatest distinction. He believed that civilised behaviour followed from the pursuit of academic and cultural excellence. He benefited from the opportunities offered by the 1944 Education Act and the 1963 Robbins Report. He could not have moved the School from Hampstead to Elstree without the support of the Haberdashers' Company and the loyalty of his staff, but that great achievement was the turning-point of his life's work, for it so accelerated Haberdashers' development that it enabled the School to challenge and soon to overtake the long established and nationally-known public schools. Haberdashers' as it is today – with its magnificent grounds, superb facilities, and high standards – remains recognisably Dr. Taylor's creation. It was not necessary for Dr. Taylor to be immortalised in words as Dr. Arnold had been, since the School itself is Dr. Taylor's living memorial.
Page 13
The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Lodge No.3362 The Haberdashers’ Aske’s School and Freemasonry have enjoyed a long and distinguished association over many years. The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Lodge is now in its 104th year. The Lodge has a very special, friendly, Haberdashers’ feel with the significant majority of the Brethren of the Lodge being Old Boys spanning the 1930 to the 2000s with our current Master, Clive Waterman bridging the generations. We meet four times a year on a Saturday at the prestigious Freemasons' Hall in London and enjoy friendship and goodwill in a delightfully relaxed 'Habs' style. Our charitable activities continue and this year we have donated £1000 to Alzheimer Research UK and £1000 to the Metropolitan Masonic Cyberknife Appeal for St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Our Ladies’ Luncheon is usually held during the summer in Aldenham House when family and friends join members of the Lodge to enjoy good food and company, with an informal tour of the grounds thrown in for good measure! We would welcome enquiries from any Old Boys over the age of 18 years. The Lodge secretary is Paul Youngman who can be contacted on 07768 255283 or via email on paul.youngman@harleyd.co.uk. The Lodge website is at www.haberdashersaskeslodge.com where further details of our activities including background, dates and further contact details can be found.
Christopher Drew remembers: I read with interest the appreciation of Tom Taylor [above]. I first met him at entrance exam interview – and found him somewhat frightening. The sense of nervousness he induced did not reduce much over my years at school. Yes indeed John Barker of the Angry Brigade was an Old Haberdasher. I recall he was sentenced to ten years (or maybe more). He defended himself and was commended by the judge for the quality of his defence. My recollection of the Air Chief Marshal prizegiving is slightly different. There had been rumours of possible intended disruption – the actual event went quite smoothly. A stunned silence is the most apt description – with very muted applause. Several masters commented the next day (to my form and sets at least) that they were surprised by the lack of response – but impressed by the school's good manners.
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
OHA e-Newsletter Issue 5
September 2012
Page 14
Advertising in the Annual OHA Magazine The Annual OHA Magazine, sent out to all members in the Autumn, contains a wide range of articles, reviews and information about the Old Haberdashers’ Association and its various component parts. We welcome advertising from a cross section of companies and if you are interested in your advert being seen by over 3,000 Old Haberdashers and their families please contact the OHA Secretary on martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com. Full, half or quarter page advertising space is available at a very reasonable price with an appropriate discount for Old Haberdashers.
Compiled and published by Martin Baker, OHA Secretary – martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
Old Haberdashers’ Association Notice of the Annual General Meeting to be held at the Club House, Croxdale Road, Borehamwood WD6 4PY on Thursday 18th October 2012 at 8.15pm
AGENDA 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16.
Apologies for Absence Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 18th October 2011 Matters Arising Executive Committee Report by President Treasurer’s Report including Presentation of Accounts for the year ended 30th April 2012 Management Committee Report Ground Representative’s Report Associated Clubs Report Benevolent Fund Report Election of Officers: President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Election of three Executive Committee Members Appointment of Editor of the OHA Magazine Appointment of Independent Examiner Election of Members of the Management Committee Election of Benevolent Fund Officers: Honorary Secretary and Treasurer Honorary Auditors Committee Member and Trustees Any Other Business Light Refreshments will be served beforehand in the Club House
Nominations for any post other than that of the President should be sent to the Secretary (martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com). Nominations should include the names of the proposer and seconder together with the consent of the nominee. Any Member desirous of moving any resolution at the Annual General Meeting is required to give notice in writing to the Secretary (martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com) not less than twenty-one days prior to the date of the meeting.