Relative Values The Cicale Family

We invited OM John Cicale (McClure 1980 – 1985) and his four children, Luca (McClure 20072013), Alfie (McClure 2015-2020), Lola (McClure 2016-) and Bea (McClure 2021 -) who are progressing through the Belmont and Mill Hill, to answer a few questions to try and understand the similarities and differences between their experiences

How did your experience at MHS feed into what you do now? I continued studying languages at university and that got me my first job.

What do you do now?

Post trade optimisation in the financial markets. We use technology to try to help make the Derivatives Markets safer and less expensive to execute and process trades.

John, what is your favourite memory of your school days? Any time around Park in summer, playing marbles (and conkers in the autumn) along the baked earth paths of the beautiful Belmont grounds.

Do you have any bad memories?

Swimming lessons in the old indoor pool run by an evil master known as Bog Brush, the claustrophobic environment and the all-pervading smell of chlorine.

Was there a teacher you found especially inspirational?

Can’t pick one out but Christopher Dean, Mssrs Winfield, Tony Armstrong, Tim Corbett, Chris Kelly and Paul Bickerdike stand out for me.

Did you have a favourite subject?

English and Modern Languages, I just seemed to have a flair for them and related to the teachers mentioned.

Are you still in touch with many OMs?

Yes, I am still friends with lots of people – photos show us celebrating our 30ths and our 50th’s together, school friends are the kids’ godparents, and mutual ‘best men’. One was a business partner. A bunch of us went to Japan for the RWC independently of the kids. These days there are 14 of us in a WhatsApp group. We socialise and banter all the time, and have supported each other through the ups and downs. OM events and playing OM Cricket (and golf) have also been good media to stay in touch. There are also plenty of other parents who are OMs.

Do you think your children’s experience was similar to yours?

How did they differ?

I think the boys enjoyed sport especially, as I did, and largely found their peer group through that. Alfie had the chance to play football as a major sport, which I would have loved. In my day it was hockey played on the bumpy grass of Collinson. There were only girls in the sixth form in my day (and as you’ll see from the photo) no girls at all in Belmont. Opportunities for the girls have improved massively even since 2013 when Luca started at MHS. I would say the nature of relationships with teachers has remained similar across our generations, respectful but good-humoured.

What’s it like having your kids go through the school?

It’s great to see their successes but nicer still is to have more of an opportunity to come back, keep in touch with staff and keep enjoying the surroundings.

Any advice to MHS pupils leaving the school?

It might sound like a cliché but follow your heart more than your head. If you can retain passion in your pursuits, contentment will follow, and prosperity may well, too.

Luca and Alfie, what is your favourite memory?

I think many of our most enjoyable times at school were spent on the sports field.

Did you feel you were walking in your father’s footsteps?

Bea: Only when I go to MHS seeing his name on boards and making a fuss about it!

Luca and Alfie: The emphasis on academic attainment seems to have changed since our dad was at school. Now it feels much more important to balance our time and think to the future.

Bea: I think we have more opportunities now – there is more opportunity to do trips abroad. There are lots of programmes like sports scholarships, more clubs, and development of more modern buildings and facilities.

Are you still in touch/friends with any OMs? Who and why?

Yes, we only left a couple of years ago, and with social media it will definitely be easier to stay in touch with our mates than in our dad’s day.

Did MHS play any role in your choice of career?

Luca: The school offering Psychology as an A level subject the year I moved into lower sixth has definitely impacted my academic choices. I thoroughly enjoyed taking it for A level and went on to study the subject at university – and have just graduated.

Any advice to MHS pupils leaving the school?

John: Hmm, more of a message to myself of my time at the school: I would have tried to enjoy the moment more and just being with my friends. I would try not to obsess too much over details, get stressed under pressure, or worry about unimportant results.

The moments I remember most fondly were those where I was just happy to be out on the sports fields, I had many, but I wish I’d had more of them.