Creative Arts Drinks

The Creative Arts drinks and networking professional event was held at the Royal Court Theatre Bar, on Friday 29th November.

This bar seems to have an existence of its own – ie not just to serve the theatre – and was once again buzzing. Fortunately Tom had booked a separate area for our drinks. Tom Lincoln was our host and I was delighted to finally meet him. Tom has done a great job in getting this event going and I think it can be a significant part of the OM professional network.

Once again we were joined by several pupils from MHS lower sixth form.

I was particularly impressed that there were so many younger OMs which is very encouraging from my perspective – it is precisely what we are trying to achieve. Further, it was a pleasure to hear the enthusiasm, talent and determination of those present. This was a great advert for the school but also for the creative future of the UK as well as several examples of the ‘gig’ economy in action.

OMs present included: Tom Lincoln, Chantelle Duru, Alice Lloyd Davies, Jamie Warwick, Charlie Williams, Rupert Greaves, Abhijit Gupta, Amit Majithia, Sameer Aymukhtar, Gordon Mizner, John Helinikakis.

Social Climbing

During a curry dinner and beers, two OMs bemoaned that they had put on too much weight and were generally unfit.

Fondly, remembering trips to the school’s outward-bound centre in Dent, a plan was hatched to schedule a hike over a week-end during the Summer, giving them 2-3 months to get in shape. Two hikers became three and then six. The party was composed of Daniel Aquilar, Andrew Allerton, Nick Chronias, Paul Green, John Hellinikakis, and James Samson (all 76-81).

Alarmingly for the two original participants, the general fitness level of the new joiners was already high, which put an added pressure for them to get fitter.

There is a saying that things were simpler in the old days, under an illusion, that we would merely need to break out our old walking boots and find some appropriate clothes from our closets.

However, because any kind of weather is possible in Snowdonia in June, the list of recommended kit was exhaustive from shorts and wicking shirts to waterproof overtrousers and walking sticks as appropriate for any serious expedition.

The day of departure arrived and as appropriate for this kind of endeavour, the six of us plus equipment were piled into two Land Rovers for the trip to Wales. The next morning the weather proved that it had been it had been right to err on the side of caution as it was wet and chilly. After a hearty breakfast, we drove to the starting point and hiked up to the peak in around 3 hours. The difference in fitness was evident, but not embarrassingly so and a few minutes to catch up evened things up.

The next day before driving back, five of us went mountain biking. All, except the undersigned, who has only been on a gym bicycle in the last 30 years, which do not tend to tip over. It was by all accounts, a hard slog, with some bike pushing uphill. A good time was had by all.

John Hellinikakis (Murray 76-81)