MARTLET 70 - Winter 2023

MARTLET THE MAGAZINE FOR OLD MILLHILLIAN CLUB MEMBERS

MOVING WITH THE TIMES MHS embraces its founding ethos of non-conformism COLLINSON HOUSE Evolution of a boarding house DRESS CODES School uniform through the ages MIDDLESEX BOYS Education for all GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS Reflections from the first generation INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW HEAD DAVID BENSON

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CONTENTS

04: PRESIDENT’S YEAR 2022-23

88: FOUNDATION

18: EVENTS

95: OLD MILLHILLIANS CLUB

40: CAREERS & NETWORKING

100: OBITUARIES

46: MOVING WITH THE TIMES

106: PRO BONO

Globe-trotting Club President Chris Kelly shares stories from his travels; attends the Past Presidents’ lunch and nominates the President’s Awards

UK Reunions: Annual Dinner; OM’s Day; Class Reunions; YOMs 2013 Reunion.

Regional Reunions: East Anglia; North West and OMRFC Biennial Dinner

Get paid to graduate: degree apprenticeships explained; Careers website relaunch. Career networking events: Financial Services; Creative Arts; Medical Professionals; Engineers; Entrepreneurs; Creative and Media; Property

Page 48: MHS Non-conformist foundations explored; Page 48: MHS timeline of change; Page 51: Cover story: school uniform through the ages; Page 55: The evolution of Collinson House; Page 62: First Girls; Page 67: The impact of the Middlesex boys; Page 74: Expanding horizons with Overseas Partnerships; Page 78: in conversation with the New Headmaster

80: SPORTS

Introduction: OMC sports ambassador’s report. 2022-23 Seasons’ reports: Golf OMGS; Cricket OMCC; Hockey OMHC; Rugby OMRFC; Football OMFC

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Jane Sanchez shares her passion for Mill Hill; Development: bursaries and new buildings; CEO’s report: future proofing MHS

Chair’s Report: Peter Wakeham gives an overview of Club developments after 20 years of service. Honorary OMs; New Young OMs: 2023 Leavers

Andy Mortimer (Burton Bank 1957-61); Alan Toulson (Weymouth 1955-60); Ronnie Samuels (Winterstoke 1943-48); Richard Pollock (Ridgeway1948-53)

McClure Memorial Trust Concert; Alford House; OMC Liveryman Association; OMC Lodge

113: NEW PRESIDENT’S WELCOME Stephanie Miller (Priestley 1990-92) the OMC’s first female President reminisces about her school days

115: IN MEMORIAM

CHAIR’S LETTER

I am always embarrassed when Clare Lewis (Ridgeway 1977-79) asks me to write the Editor’s letter. Martlet has grown from strength to strength over the past few years thanks to Clare’s and Laura’s skills, hard work and commitment and if anyone should lay claim to the role of Editor it is Clare.

Nevertheless, I am taking advantage of the opportunity I have been given by drawing your attention to Natalia Webster’s article on page 65 and using this platform to share with you my thoughts about the role and value of cocurricular activities such as sport, music and drama.

Sport has obviously had a massive impact on Natalia’s life. Her words tell part of her story: “if I wasn’t playing sport, I was probably getting in trouble”. The bigger picture is that sport has played a major part in shaping her as a person, and her career direction as a personal trainer and development coach, culminating in her selection to represent England in the 2022 Australian Football League (AFL) Eurocup.

What really excites me is the emphasis Natalia places on the qualities she learned from playing sport: dedication, sportsmanship, inclusion, discipline, recognition of merit, support, community, passion, confidence, and resilience.

I am guessing, but I would not be surprised if professionals such as conductor Ben Glassberg (McClure 2007-12), Ellen Baumring-Gledhill (Murray 2015-20), Benedict Kearns (Weymouth 2008-13), Nancy Wallinger (McClure 2002-07) and Harry Melling (McClure 2003-07) – and many more of our talented music and drama focussed OMs were to express similar thoughts and beliefs. Let’s face it, music and drama are as team centric and rehearsal/training dependent as sport.

Indeed, even amateur musicians and dramatists will typically have multiple transferrable skills that make them attractive to employers and valuable colleagues: planning and multi-tasking, communicating, team spirit, patience, flexibility, creativity and resilience.

The word “co-curricular” really undersells the benefits of these activities. Mill Hill promotes it much better than many schools by referring to “a focused programme designed to help prepare our pupils for 21st century life”. That seems to fit well with Natalia’s feelings. I personally would make an even bolder statement.

Sport, music, drama and the majority of co-curricular activities are all about teaching pupils “Basic Life Skills”: having goals, not letting your fellow players down, turning up on time, respecting the need for rules and, above all, recognizing the importance of repetition and practice if you want to perform better.

For Mill Hill pupils, these life skills are about transitioning into adulthood, as they were for Natalia. But for some youngsters, they can be transformational. Most young people growing up in Young Offenders Institutes have lived complicated and chaotic lives. They represent some of the most socially excluded, vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in England.

Saracens Sport Foundation has worked with Feltham Young Offenders Institute for over a decade, engaging over 400

young offenders in rugby, supported by a powerful curriculum of life lessons.

The re-offending rate among participants has fallen from 64% to 15% - greatly improving the attitudes, behaviour and prospects of people serving a prison sentence before and after their release.

Music too is considered to have therapeutic powers. Just listening to music activates more brain regions simultaneously than any other human activity. As far back as 1737, King Philip V of Spain engaged an Italian castrato, Farinelli, to sing to him to relieve him of his bouts of manic depression. Today, a growing body of research attests that music therapy can improve medical outcomes and quality of life in a variety of ways such as improving invasive procedures, restoring lost speech, reducing side effects of cancer therapy, aiding pain relief and improving the quality of life for dementia patients.

Sport was a big part of my life at Mill Hill, and I took up amateur dramatics as a (semi-relevant to business) hobby while at Business School. Without my time playing rugby and cricket for the Old Millhillians, I doubt I would have ended up as committed as I am to the of attractions of the OM community and the benefits of the Old Millhillians Club.

So, thank you Natalia for your stimulating words; thank you Mill Hill and my OM friends for your impact on my “development of Basic Life Skills” – far more valuable than merely taking part in “co-curricular activities”!!

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‘It has been a privilege to meet so many OMs from around the world and to support such an impressive range of Club activity’

Club President Chris Kelly stands proud at the 2022 Armistice Day at the start of his year of office

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PRESIDENT’S YEAR 2022-23

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President’s Year 2022-23 UK Reunions

Annual General Meeting: Treasurer Asif Ahmed

On Armistice Day Chris Kelly chose to read the late David Smith’s incredibly moving address, which he had delivered on Remeberance Sunday in 1976

Tom Kelly joined his father at the OMRFC dinner at Merchant Taylors’ Hall

I have enjoyed both a busy and memorable year as President of the Old Millhillians Club.

It has been a privilege to meet so many OMs from around the world and to support such an impressive range of OM activity. I was a guest at reunions in five continents and around the UK which ran the gamut from the AGM in London, an oyster breakfast in France to dinner on a terrace overlooking Los Angeles. I was also lucky enough to attend a number of particularly memorable and significant occasions.

I was most impressed by an exceptionally moving Armistice Day service, where I chose to read the late David Smith’s incredibly moving address, which he delivered on Remembrance Sunday in 1976. I had the pleasure of applauding pupils’ achievements and listening to Nigel Wray’s (Ridgeway 1961-66) wise words at Foundation Day. The McClure Concert held at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square, was of a remarkably high standard, testament to Kevin Kyles’ great work as Director of Music. He richly deserves the OMC Honoary membership award received in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the School’s music in over 20 years of service. Particular thanks to

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Lord Glendonbrook (Weymouth 1955-57) for his generous sponsoring of the event and also for his hospitality during my visit to Australia.

pleasure to see caps being awarded, not only to our successful current players, but also to our British Lions’ relatives by former England fly-half Rob Andrew.

The annual professionals’ dinners were not only enjoyable in themselves, but excellent opportunities for sixth formers to meet OMs, who have been successful in their careers. It was great to see the youngsters chatting to experienced engineers, City professionals and property experts at their respective dinners. I was delighted to report on my year in office at my first Past Presidents’ and the Liverymen’s lunches.

It was sad, but an honour to celebrate the lives of three OMC Past Presidents, Andy Mortimer, Ronnie Samuels and Alan Toulson, who did so much for the Club and will be much missed as leading OM personalities (Obituaries, page 100).

Not surprisingly, a highlight for me was the OMRFC Dinner. It was such a

I would also like to thank Club Chair Peter Wakeham and OMC offficer Laura Turner for all their support and help throughout the year. And of course, all the OMs who rallied to organise and attend the plethora of exceptional events I had the pleasure to participate in.

President’s Year 2022-23

The Liverymens’ lunch was hosted at Guildhall in the City of London where Chris joined Stuart Hibberdine and Ted Ivens among others

Chris joined the regular Oakers luncheon at The Boot, Sarratt

Flanked by Master Adrian Williams and Mike Peskin at the Liverymens’ lunch

Club Chairman Peter Wakeham and Club President at the City and finance event

Chris catches up with activities at Alford House

OMs Day with Graham Chase

At the Engineer’s Dinner

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President’s Year 2022-23 Overseas Reunions Canada: Toronto 15 -16 October 2022 USA: New York City 12 October 2022 We hit the ground running in New York with cocktails at Patricia Perez and her partner Adam Harrington’s spectacular apartment in the trendy Lower East Side.

Andrew Froomberg (McClure 1978-83), who was a team member on the 1983 MHS Australia rugby tour, was much appreciated for having organised the evening, especially given he’d just had a hip replacement.

A fun and interesting bunch of OMs from all over the States joined us: Georgia Doyle (McClure 2017-22); who had recently hot-footed it across the pond to enrol at NYC’s Fordham University having just finished her A-levels; James Beck (McClure 1986-91) and his brother Philip (McClure 1972-78); Edward Newmark (Scrutton 1963-66) who, having made a full recovery from breaking his neck training on the parallel bars in the School gymnasium before the days of health and safety, is still going strong. Chair Peter Wakeham (Burton Bank 1960-65) and his wife Anita were in town too but unfortunately former OMC President, David Brown (Burton Bank 1955-61) and his wife Karen had to cancel.

The after party moved to Pylos a Greek restaurant a couple of blocks away, for an excellent meal and plenty of wine. Buggsi Patel (Ridgeway 1975-80) who had flown up specially from Oregon where he runs a chain of hotels, was among the group and pretty much picked up the bill; an extremely generous and much appreciated gesture.

I flew up to Toronto from New York to attend the Canadian Reunion where following the usual tradition, our overseas representative John Oldroyd (Scrutton 1958-63) had organised two events for us. We commenced with an informal gathering at the Artful Dodger Pub on the Friday evening where myself, John and his wife Esther convened over a light supper with Stephen Phillips (Collinson 1956-59) and his wife Ped as well as Peter and Anita Wakeham, who had also flown up from NYC. The formal reunion dinner took place the following evening in the private dining room at the Adega, a Portuguese restaurant specialising in seafood from all round the globe.

The dinner proved a thoroughly entertaining evening: John Henley (Weymouth 1953-57), one of the most loyal and enthusiastic OMs I have come across, regaled us with some great stories about MHS from the Fifties as well as sharing an array of fascinating memorabilia he had brought along.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed John’s company and was most interested to learn that his main career was as a magician!

Other revelations that evening included learning that our host had been living in Buenos Aires during his time at MHS and that Stephen Philips had only recently settled in Toronto after a career in hotel management in the Far East. We heard further reminiscences, this time from the Sixties, from Tim Fanstone (Wintersoke 1960-64). Rafaan Seraj (Ridgeway 2001-03) brought the average age down considerably. After the speeches we continued to enjoy a convivial evening chatting about the School, past and present, the current state of the Club and how we might attract more attendees to future reunions.

President of the Club in a jovial mood at the Canadian reunion in Toronto

The US gathering was held in a splendid apartment on NYCs with, from left to right Buggsi Patel, Shogo Senda, Peter and Anita Wakeham, Johnathan Bertulis-Fernandes, OMC President Chris Kelly, Henri Taylor, Charlotte Creager, James Beck, Macaire Montini, Andy Froomberg, Philip Beck, Nancy Beck, Edward Newmark and Georgia Doyle Anita Wakeham and Stephen Phillips

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Rafaan and Nicole Seraj

President’s Year 2022-23

New Zealand: Auckland 18 December 2022

USA: Los Angeles 7 December 2022 Soho house in West Hollywood provided a suitably starry backdrop to our LA get together kindly organised

by Misha Crosby (Weymouth 2000-05).

A former MHS Helmore Music scholar who, after a successful stint as an actor, is now a producer / director. Look out for Unsinkable, starring Brian Cox and John Malkovich, his latest project.

We really couldn’t have had a more fabulous evening dining on the terrace with its stunning views across Hollywood and Beverly Hills in the company of OMs who had travelled from all directions to join the party.

Gary Lane (School House 198185), flew from Arizona; Nicki Avery (Winterstoke 1960-65) drove over from Orange County and shared some fascinating memories from his School days including about his contemporaries the well-known OMC figures Peter Wakeham, Bob Marshall Andrews and Andy Mortimer.

Jamie Hartman (McClure 1984-89) who is enjoying a stellar career as songwriter to the stars, dashed back home to Santa Monica from Nashville, Tennessee to join the party. As well as being a Grammy and EMMY nominee Jamie won a prestigious Ivor Novello award (See Marlet Issue 69). Unfortunately, Bugssi Patel didn’t make this gathering as his 90-year-old mother had a fall so he dutifully stayed in Oregon to look after her. Those of us able to make it enjoyed a memorable evening: there is something so special about OMs from different eras getting together: we seem to gel immediately and get on famously regardless of age. There is no doubt that the Mill Hill experience creates a natural camaraderie amongst past pupils.

Chris embraces, from left to right: Nicky Avery, Misha Crosby, Jamie Hartman and Gary Lane

Nick Howe-Smith (McClure 1978-83) with his partner Jill, hosted a most delightful afternoon in his beautiful home on Stanley Point in Auckland. The weather was kind, and we were able to spend the whole afternoon and early evening in the garden.

Nick had smoked a whole salmon for us as well as cooking an enormous fillet of beef so we had a feast which we washed down with some delicious NZ wine.

We were joined by: Peter Mensah (Ridgeway 1980-85) and his wife Emma, Brian Jones (Collinson 1983-88) and his wife Caroline and John Sleath (Ridgeway 196772) with his wife Sandra who flew up from Christchurch where they were staying with their son for a couple of months. We missed out on seeing a few of the NZ crew for various (good) reasons: stalwart attendee John Sievers (Winterstoke 1942-46) who is one of the few surviving St Bees OMs and Bob Barton (Burton Bank 1952-57) both of whom had to cancel at the last minute due to ill health; David Greenhough (Burton Bank 1985-90) ironically had flown back to London to see his family; Peter Halstead (Burton Bank 1972-77) and David Stephens (Scrutton 1966-71) both sent apologies. Coincidently, I learned from John Sleath that his 96-year-old father, who lives in London, was also at St Bees!

I found it a particularly enjoyable afternoon as all the OMs are all good friends mainly through rugby: Peter and Nick having been in the School’s First XV I coached as well as being part of the 1983 Australia rugby tour party. Peter also joined me on the 1985 Canada tour as team captain. Nick’s parents, Ann and Tony, who were in NZ for a three month stay with the family, were great supporters and workers for the MHS Rugby Social Club and even accompanied us on the 1983 and 1985 tours. John Sleath played for the OMRFC for many years, only hanging up his boots in his fifties, and remains a great supporter most recently attending the OMRFC dinner I hosted in London (UK Reunions page 38). I was intrigued to learn Brian Jones, who played for the Second XV at school, was brought up in South Africa but amazingly his parents now live a couple of miles away from me in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire! It really was a wonderful reunion.

Chris taking centre stage in New Zealand with, from left to right, Peter and Emma Mensah, Brian and Caroline Jones, Sandra Sleath, John Sleath, Ann and Tony Smith, Nick Howe-Smith at Stanley Point in Auckland

A stunning Auckland sunset as captured by Chris

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President’s Year 2022-23 Overseas Reunions

Australia: Sydney 5 January 2023 Guy Pollock (McClure 1980-83) and his wife Annette organised a splendid lunch for us overlooking the water at the Drummoyne Sailing Club. Disappointingly, given the location, it was a cloudy, cool day albeit a more hospitable climate for all the eating, drinking and chatting we engaged in.

An interesting collection of OMs attended. The most senior being Grahame Elliott (Weymouth 1952-57) who was staying in Sydney with his son whilst also spending plenty of time with his old friend, Michael Bishop (Weymouth 1955-57) who regularly spends the UK winter months at his flat at Darling Point. Michael’s connection with Australia goes back a long way: his father lived in Glendonbrook, a small village in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. He volunteered for the First World War, was badly wounded on the Western front, and ended up in England for the rest of his life. Reflecting on his family connection and great affection for the country it is not such a surprise, when offered a peerage, Michael took the title Lord Glendonbrook. Whilst we were in town, Michael kindly hosted Grahame and myself to supper at his local yacht club which overlooks Double Bay which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Another of the more senior attendees, Alan Mills (Winterstoke 1959-64) who was accompanied by his wife Dawn, was in very good form. The younger generation started with Angus Kingon (Winterstoke 1965-70) who shared a particularly good memory with us of being taught maths by Christopher Dean, whom I was delighted to inform him is still in good health and not only teaching maths but also umpiring cricket in his 85th year! Ross Stephens (McClure 1992-97) was there with his partner, Lauren, and his contemporary Alex Zak (Collinson 1993-98) who I remember watching play OMs rugby until he emigrated. The youngest OM present was Nick Gainsley (McClure 1997-2002).

Two former MHS gap students from Sydney’s prestigious Newington College also came along: Marcus Clinton (MHS 1983-84) and Mark Arthur (MHS 1987-88). Mark famously played three matches on the Saturday of the 1988 OMRFC tour, playing for the veterans, colts and the first fifteen!

Chris spent an afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground watching Australia v South Africa

We had a good time together sharing stories before the party broke up in the late afternoon. The younger ones and I carried on before returning to my base around midnight. Now that’s what I call a good lunch!

The Sydney Harbour bridge: one of many photographs taken by Chris on his OMC Overseas Reunion tour

Left to right in Australia with Grahame Elliott, Marcus Clinton, Alex Zak, Michael Bishop, Me, Nick Gainsley, Ross Stevens, his partner Lauren, Annette Smith, Guy Pollock, Alan Mills, Dawn Mills, Justin Wernham, Mark Arthur

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President’s Year 2022-23

Australia: Melbourne 10 January 2023

Australia: Brisbane 15 January 2023

Our host Justin Wernham (Collinson 1978-82) along with his wife Emma arranged dinner at Melbourne’s Sandringham Club where Justin was currently President. Founded in 1913 it is a prestigious and historic club long associated with famous Australian sportsmen. Not least, Don Bradman ‘the best batsman of all time’, as was cricketer Arthur Mailey, who was a member of the club in the 1920s and ‘30s, and was also a writer and talented cartoonist. A number of his cartoons were on display including one of the aforementioned Don Bradman.

James Shekleton (Burton Bank 1978-83), who has lived in Brisbane for the last 30 years, organised lunch at a Bistro in Howard Smith Wharves which afforded stunning views across Brisbane’s old docks.

We were also joined by Joanna Smith (Priestley 1981-83) and her sister, Sally Kincaid, the daughters of former Collinson Housemaster and teacher David Franklin (MHS 1961-90) who after retiring become OMC President. After dinner we Facetime(d) him at his home in Ellesmere; I am glad to report although 93-years-old, he is in very good form. Other guests included: Gary Yorke (Ridgeway 1972-78) with his wife Julie; Randy Marshall (Murray 1971-75, Wintersoke 1975-76) who, as his names suggests, is in fact an American who joined MHS when his father came to work in the UK. Randy, who came to the reunion with his wife Kerryn, works as a journalist and emigrated to Australia some years ago. Lord Glendonbrook (Weymouth 1955-57), a great supporter of the Australian Ballet, was in Melbourne for a meeting so he came too; we greatly appreciated his support in attending both the lunch in Sydney and the dinner in Melbourne.

The star of the evening was Robin Tillyard (Scrutton 1948-52), who had driven up with his wife Judy from Flinders, whom I first met when he hosted the 1983 MHS tour party at Sydney’s Union Club. Since then he has been involved in hosting every reunion visit and was for many years the secretary of the Australian OMs Club. Robin, whose son Stuart was an MHS gap student for the 1990-91 academic year, was in excellent form and clearly delighted to catch up with fellow OMs and hear the School news.

My connection with James goes back to the first MHS Australian rugby tour where he played against Brisbane Boys College where, having emigrated, he later sent his two sons!

Most of the other OMs who attended I also know through rugby: Nick Vaclavik (School House 1977-83), who was the First XV captain and came on the 1983 Australian tour as captain.. He too emigrated and has lived for many years on the Gold Coast in a flat overlooking the beach. Mark Phillips (Ridgeway 1985-90) who captained the MHS Second XV and played for the OMs, was in very good form having just returned from a trip to see his family in the UK. Remarkably his nephew and my son Tom are best friends having been at Merchant Taylors together and recently shared a house in London. Mark now runs a successful recruitment business in the city where he has lived for the past 25 years.

The other three who joined us were all former MHS masters: Burton Bank Housemaster Harry Barnes (MHS 1988-2014) who came down from near Noosa where he is staying with his son, who emigrated some years ago; Mike Raybould (MHS 1985-87) who left to teach at The Southport School in Queensland and is about to retire from his post as a University professor of economics; Robert Waters (MHS 1985-89) emigrated to Queensland in 2000 and is currently teaching at a school near Byron Bay. We enjoyed a long afternoon of good food and drink in a beautiful location overlooking the Brisbane River. Not surprisingly, we went on a bit of a pub crawl and eventually enjoyed a Chinese meal before breaking up at 10 pm!

Another very successful day!

We enjoyed an excellent meal with some fine wines, the conversation flowed with many great reminiscences enjoyed by all.

From left to right: Sally Kincaid, Joanna Smith, Kerryn Marshall, Julie Yorke, Michael Bishop, Judy Tillyard, Emma Wernham Front row Gary Yorke, Randy Marshall, Chris, Robin Tillyard and Justin Wernham

From left to right In Australia with Mike Raybould, Mark Phillips, Robert Waters, James Shekleton, Harry Barnes, Nick Vaclavik at the River Bistro

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President’s Year 2022-23 Overseas Reunions

Hong Kong: Kowloon 26 January 2023 Steven Chan (Collinson 1995-99) kindly organised our Hong Kong reunion dinner at the Prince Restaurant in Kowloon. Unfortunately, a number of OMs had to cancel at the last minute. Art Tse (School 1992-97) was among them when he realised the date clashed with his wedding anniversary! Anish Lalvani (Murray 1978-83), who was in my economics set when I first arrived at MHS, was another casualty but we managed to connect over breakfast at the Hong Kong Club where we reminisced about an FA cup final we attended along with her father decades ago.

Flora Lei (Cedars 1997-2001) also had to pull out, so we had supper on the eve of the dinner at the Jockey Club along with Mathew Tsang (Burton Bank 1997-2001). Flora is now Deputy head of HK’s leading schools having read natural sciences at Cambridge university. She fondly recalled three trips to Nicaragua with Trevor Chilton whilst at MHS. It was a great shame that stalwart Hong Kong OM Graham Harris (Wintersoke 1965-70) was unable to attend but he kindly took me to lunch the day before and it was good to catch up after the last time he hosted me there. Despite his ill health, he was in good form happily reminiscing about his time at MHS and as Head of St John’s prep school, where I later became head for twenty years. Graham has remained good friends with his contemporaries Gordorn Mizner (Murray 1965-69) and Graeme Roberts (Winterstoke 1965-70), who was captain of the First XV during the 1969 Centenary season, and was Graham’s best man at his wedding.

Unfortunately, my visit clashed with Chinese New Year, which undoubtably affected the availability of OMs to join us at the dinner. Despite organising the event, Steven Chan had a clash and was unable to eat with us so Matthew Tsang kindly took over the role of host. The other OM’s present were Kim Longley (Scrutton 1960-65), who, having enjoyed a successful legal career culminating in being a judge, is now retired and living on Lantau Island. Sadhu Arumugam (McClure 1983-86) who was also able to join us, is someone I remember being a very talented cricketer but unfortunately moved to Haberdashers for the sixth form. Another person I remembered well, was Nick Tandy (Priestley 1987-92) who was senior monitor and a particularly talented musician at School. We enjoyed an excellent meal and once again sharing memories and reminiscences with OMs from across the generations.

A cityscape of Hong Kong one of the many snaps taken by Chris on his travels

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In Hong Kong at the Jockey Club with Flora Lei and Matthew Tsang

Hong Kong lights up at night

Chris at the Hong Kong reunion with, from left to right: Sudhu Arumugam, Nick Tandy, Kim Longley and Matthew Tsang at Prince restaurant in Kowloon

President’s Year 2022-23

Singapore 28 January 2023 Borg-Tsien Tham (Priestley 1989-94) organised an excellent reunion dinner at the stupendous Peach Garden restaurant in central Singapore. A great feat given he lives in Jakarta and was literally only able to fly in for the evening! The date was auspicious as it’s the day in the Chinese New Year when everybody celebrates their birthday.

This celebration demands certain traditions. At dinner, guests use their chopsticks to throw a concoction of ingredients high into air so it lands deliciously mixed together and ready to devour. I am glad to be able to report, we achieved this with great aplomb!

Some of us met for a pre-dinner beer (or three) at an English pub, The Penny Black. Felix Chan (Priestley 1988-93), a good friend of Borg’s, was among the group and talked about how the legendary Singaporean based OM, Joe Grimbeg (Weymouth 1946-51), had kept an eye out for them both when they first arrived here. Joe, a distinguished judge who played for the OMRFC prior to emigrating, generously hosted a reception for the all the players, staff and supporters of the 1983 MHS Australian rugby tour at the distinguished Tanglin Club where he had been President in the 1970s.

Star Ferry terminal at night

Borg, Felix and I were joined at the dinner, by Carolina Carlstadt (School House 1999-2001) a lawyer originally from Sweden who recently moved to Singapore after a number of years in Hong Kong. Joel Lim (Weymouth 2007-10) joined us but his sister Ariane Lim (Weymouth 2008-13) was unwell and had to cancel. Patrick Kinghorn (Ridgeway 1985-90) also tried hard to join us, but got delayed in Manila; he is now a well-known sports broadcaster but my memories of him are still as a First XV school rugby player. Minal Fofaria (Murray 1996-2001) also came having emigrated to Singapore just six months ago. Another lawyer, Avnish Shah (Murray 1996-2001) who has been working in Singapore for the past seven years also joined us. Last but not least, former teacher Shoaib Ail Reza (MHS 2007-14) was a welcome lastminute addition to the party. Shoaib taught Business Studies and Economics, was Head of PSHE and introduced soccer to Mill Hill. He currently teaches at Singapore’s Dover Court International School.

The 31st floor restaurant at the OCBC Centre in central Singapore afforded glorious views over the city and a quite delicious meal. This was by far the youngest OM gathering of the tour and it was truly fascinating to hear their more recent memories of the School. Shoaib and I were able share how MHS continues to change.

A caricature of Joe Grimberg hangs on the walls on the Tanglian Club along with other former club presidents’ cartoons

At the Singapore OMC overseas reunion Chris was joined, from left to right, by: Borg, Avnish, Carolina, Joel, Shoaib and Felix at The Peach Garden Restaurant

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President’s Year 2022-23 Overseas Reunions

South Africa: Knysna 4 February 2023

France: Bayonne 24-26 March 2023

Stuart Hibberdine (Scrutton 1950-55) and his wife Christine hosted a delightful lunch at their lovely home in Knysna. John Parrott (Scrutton 1950-55) flew over from Johannesburg for a long weekend and Nick Edwards (Ridgeway 1978-83) drove over from Cape Town. Nick was on the 1983 MHS Australian rugby tour; and is the sixth member of the team that I have met on this trip. He was accompanied by a great friend, Josie, who remarkably turned out to have been at Queenswood with Stuart and Christine‘s daughters, small world!

When it was suggested there should be a Presidential visit to Europe, Windsor Roberts (Collinson 1979-85) offered to host a reunion in Bayonne and Biarritz. The Old Millhillians RFC first toured Southwest France in 1974 and thereafter followed a series of tours to the area which were a great success both on and off the pitch. A number of the tourists acquired such an affection for Bayonne they returned annually to enjoy the culinary delights.

We had a lot to drink and a very good lunch before adjourning to the local pub to watch the England versus Scotland game live from Twickenham. It was an exciting but disappointing match. After England threw the game away, I only just managed to recover my spirits enough to enjoy some post game victuals.

It was very unfortunate that four other OMs, who had planned to be with us, were forced to cry off at quite short notice: Chris Davies (Murray 1967-72) who was due to fly out from England; Tim Sobey (Winterstoke 1953-58); Paul Weavers (McClure 1970-75) and Mark Andrews.

I had the pleasure of staying with Stuart and Christine with whom I enjoyed a few days drinking delightful wines, eating delicious food and taking in some memorable sights around Knysna before heading off to Cape Town. Where I spent an evening with Ashley Dickson (St Bees 1988-90), her father Bruce Dickson, a South African, taught physics and computing at the school from 1979-2004. A number of OMs I met on my Tour remembered him with great affection for his teaching. Ashley‘s mother, Gillie, was my secretary when I became Director of Admissions at MHS in 1990, and then joined me as my PA and School secretary at St John’s, Northwood for virtually all of my twenty years as Headmaster there. It was therefore a particular pleasure to spend the evening with Ashley and her three daughters, as I have known her and her family for forty years.

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David Lloyd (Burton Bank 1963-69) and Clive Sutton (Burton Bank196974) had already returned to Bayonne to scatter Richard‘s ashes on the river in November 2022. They were joined, by another veteran tourist from the seventies, Clive Parker (Murray 1967-68, McClure 1968-72).

The reunion party assembled at lunchtime having arrived at a number of different airports in the area.

We started with some oysters and Basque wine in the market and later visited Richard’s favourite bar where the owner gave us a particularly warm welcome. After raising a good number of glasses, we moved on for dinner at the Ciderie where we devoured remarkable amounts of rare beef, accompanied with local cider. On Saturday morning, we breakfasted outside a different bar in the sunshine: five dozen oysters, and local Basque wine made for an

Long Beach boasts a glorious stretch of golden sand around a natural lagoon

Hout Bay is a popular seaside suburb of Cape Town

Richard Horton (Burton Bank 196570) was a leading member of this group, spending a considerable amount of his time in Bayonne over the years. This year’s reunion was held in his honour as he sadly passed away in 2022 after a long battle with prostate cancer. It was very moving to find so many locals remembering him with pleasure and wanting to pay tribute to him. The hospitality we received therefore was exceptional.

Left to right: John Parrott, Stuart Hibberdine, Chis, Nick Edwards, Christine Hibberdine

President’s Year 2022-23

UAE: Dubai 22-24 April 2023 unusual start to the day!

That evening, we travelled to Biarritz to enjoy the reunion dinner at the legendary Chez Albert, a well-known seafood restaurant in the harbour.

For Sunday lunch we also had outstanding meal at at Cheval Blanc, another old favourite. The Patron and Head chef greeted us most warmly, and served us the most delicious plates of food which we relished in the comfort of a private room. That afternoon Windsor kindly took us on a tour of the coast visiting Biarritz and Bidart, where another veteran of the ruby tours, Nigel Wray (Ridgeway 1961-66), has a beautiful cliff-top house with stunning views over Biarritz and Guethary. We stopped off in St Jean de Luz briefly before returning to Bayonne where we enjoyed one final boisterous evening in a local bar before going home on the Monday morning, just a little tired and emotional.

Oysters washed down with Basque wine for breakfast (!) with Clive Parker and Nick Mann

As a member of the Arts Club in Dubai Dinesh Paganini (Priestley 2002-07) was kind enough to host our reunion in one of their a beautifully decorated private dining rooms. Its terrace overlooked the extraordinary Dubai skyline where we enjoyed our pre and post dinner drinks.

Raj Achan (Ridgeway 1986-91) and Emmanuel Ajayi (Winterstoke 1980-85) organised the event with some extra help from former MHS master Jamie Monaghan (MHS 1994-2011) who is currently the head of North London Collegiate School in Dubai.

There were thirteen of us in all including: Tim Corbett (MHS 1971-2013) former Winterstoke Housemaster and Club Past President; Roger Macduff (Belmont 1985-92) currently chief executive of four huge schools in Abu Dhabi; Sudhu Arumugham (McClure 1983–86) attending his second reunion dinner on the tour. Sudhi entertained us with some amusing anecdotes from the 1985 Netherlands cricket tour which Tim Corbett accompanied.

I must give special thanks to Manny and his partner Barbara who entertained both myself and Tim Corbett throughout our stay in Dubai taking us to amazing locations for quite memorable meals. At one of which Nathan Clapton (Murray 1980-85), who by coincidence was in town, came to join us and contributed to our chatter about the tour and school memories. I also managed to catch dinner with another OM Mike Footit (Murray 1968-73) who was passing through just before I caught my overnight flight back to the UK. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Dubai: it’s the most extraordinary place and I am particularly indebted to Manny who hosted me so generously.

Manny was the eighth member of the 22 players on the 1983 MHS Australia tour to entertain me on my travels this year. It has been wonderful to see them all thriving overseass, forty years on!

On the roof of yet another beautiful hotel in Dubai with Emmanuel Ajayi and Tim Corbett

At the Dubaii reunion, from left to right: Raj Achan, Kevin Doherty and Chris at the bar

Pre-dinner G&T on the terrace at the Arts Club

From left to right: Asif Sabri (Collinson 198387), Emmanuael Ajayi (Winterstoke 1980-85), Raj Achan (Ridgeway 1986-91), James Davy (Ridgeway 2001-06), Dinesh Pagarani (Priestley 2002-07), Barbara (Manny’s partner), Crispin Rowell (Ridgeway 1971-77), Me, Roger McDuff (Master Belmont 1985-92), Tim Corbett (Master 1971-2013), James Monaghan (Master 19942011), Kevin Doherty (McClure1983-88), Sudhu Arumagham (McClure 1983-86)

Bayonne Cathedral

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President’s Year 2022-23 Past Presidents’ Lunch The Athenaeum, London Wednesday 26 April 2023

President’s Awards 2022-2023

In the absence of John Gallager who was recovering from heart surgary, Stuart Hibererdine took the chair at the annual Past Presidents’ lunch at The Anthenaeum Club.

The assembled company started the proceedings by standing for a for a minute’s silence in memory of Past Presidents and friends Andy Mortimer, Alan Toulson and Barbara, the late wife of Ronny Cohn.

Apologies were received from Messrs Bewsher, Franklin, Harley and Samuels, who all now find it too difficult to travel, David Brown is in America and Ronnie Boon was away on holiday.

Chris Kelly, the current President, received a warm welcome and gave an amusing account of his year to date. The subsequent discussion centred around the restoration of The OMs Room at The School, which The President promised to pursue.

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Grahame Elliott (Weymouth 1952-57)

The other Presidents included Messers. Ronny Cohn, David Short, Mike Corby ,Christopher Maunder Taylor, Peter Wakeham, Russ Cowan, Tim Corbett, Richard Llewellyn and Gordon Mizner.

Grahame has continued the Elliott family tradition of organising superb NorthWest OMC Reunion Dinners at the St James’s Club in Manchester. Many generations of families in the North of England have been pupils at Mill Hill and hence attendees at this popular event.

Unsurprisingly, many friends also travel from London to be part of the occasion. The North-West Dinner is an annual event and has enabled OMs who attend to catch up on Mill Hill news amongst familiar faces and with excellent food. An intimate and much enjoyed event.

The past presidents’ lunch was held in the Athenaeum Club’s North Library

President’s Award

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President’s Year 2022-23

In his role as Club President, Chris Kelly has had the privilege of recommending to the Nominations Committee five exceptional contributors to the Old Millhillians Club and associated societies for this prestigious award.

Roger Gardner

David Paddison

Robert Priestley

Roger Streeten

Roger served the Club and the Foundation in a variety of influential roles for over 20 years. He was Treasurer of the Old Millhillians Club 1989-2005, the McClure Memorial Trust 1992- 2003 and Life Guardians 1997-2003 and also Secretary to the latter two. Roger also fulfilled Trustee roles with the McClure Memorial Trust and Clubland Investment Trust Limited. He was an active Vice President of OMRFC and passionately involved in helping run the Old Millhillians Yacht Club, as Secretary from 1989 and Vice Commodore from 1997.

Significantly, he was one of very few Old Millhillians to be elected as an Honorary Member of the Club. We owe Roger and enormous debt of gratitude for his commitment over such an extensive period.

David has been a great supporter of the Club, not least in the role he has played in organising the venue for the Welsh OMs dinners. As a long-standing and respected member of the prestigious Cardiff and County Club, David has made it possible to hold the reunion dinners in the in the Welsh capital city for well over 30 years.

Robert left Mill Hill in 1972 after three enjoyable years in School House. He followed a strong family tradition in that his father, uncle, grandfather, great uncle and other distant cousins were all pupils there.

Robert’s original family connection goes all the way back to Thomas Priestley, headmaster from 1834 to 1852.

David has also been Club Captain of Radyr Golf Club as well as being a member of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club where he has, with other Welsh OMs, organised the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club to play visiting OM Golf teams

In 2010 Robert took over the responsibility for organising reunions in the South-West.

Distanced from London and living in Devon he felt it was important to support the Old Millhillians Club and that this was a fitting way to do so. To date, Robert has organised and hosted some wonderful events at Taunton Cricket Club and The Deer Park Country Hotel in Honiton, Devon.

Roger joined the Old Millhillians Club Management Committee in 2001 and provided exciting design and content insights for the Club’s website, Martlet and Newsletters. He worked extensively for close to 20 years with Club luminaries such as Ronnie Aye Maung, Ray Hubbard, Tim Corbett, Andy Mortimer, Shalaka Karlekar, More recently he worked closely with Laura Turner and was heavily involved in providing the support and inspiration that has seen Martlet evolve from being a simple Newsletter to the serious publication the Club now publishes.

(Scrutton 1952-56)

(Burton Bank 1957-62)

David has been further heavily involved with the Wooden Spoon Charity (Wales) which as many will know has raised large sums of money for charity.

(School 1970-72)

(Winterstoke 1965-70)

Currently Roger runs a very busy design agency and divides his time between London and the South Coast where he lives with his wife and three children. He is a familiar face at many OM events and an enthusiastic supporter of the unique ethos of both the School and the Club.

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‘OMs in general are a friendly and inclusive bunch and many people, who have arrived at an event alone, have thoroughly enjoyed themselves’

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EVENTS

2022-23 EVENTS

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UK Reunions: Annual Dinner Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London Friday 6 October 2023

Alexy Rooney, Jane Sanchez and David Roe

The Annual Dinner in The Great Hall begins

Laura Turner and Gerry Westoby

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George Beckman, Otto, Ben and Ed Holland

School Prefects

Luca and Alfie Cicale

Mike Solomons and John Cicale

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EVENTS

Emmanuel Ajayi, Alex Burtt and Roger Streeten

Chris Holt, Peter Wakeham, Lord Glendonbrook, Chris Kelly and Grahame Elliott

Stephanie and Nick Miller

Clive Sutton and Lizzie Williams

Top row, Jeremy Akhavi, Ed Goode, Micah Lazarus, Maxim Asher, Fraser Kitching Bottom row, Gabby Timanti, Helen Scales, Yasemin Nihat, Tacita Shah

Dai Rees, Chis Kelly and Graeme Turner at the end of a long evening

Many of the School Prefects sat with Young Old Millhillians

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UK Reunions: Annual Dinner Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London Friday 6 October 2023

East Anglia reunion hosts, David Short and Russ Cowan

Johnathan Huddleston, Robert Priestley, Dagmar von Behr, Adrian Jordan, Julie James, Stephanie and Nick Miller, Lucia Hull and Wendy Barrett

Clive Weber and Ronald Pole

Stewart and Gina Wernham with guests, Shailen Wasani, Stephen and Penny Burns, Paul Rothwell, Richard and Maria Tray and Peter Wakefield

Stephanie pins on Chris Kelly’s Past President badge after a wonderful year

Noyan Nihat with guests, Dave Kelly, Lucy and Ivan Sladojevic, Goran and Vukica Tancic, Mike Peskin, Kelly Nash and Frances Gulmohamed

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Charlotte Dickin, Gordon and Angela Mizner and Jim Dickin

EVENTS

Roger Streeten, Tony Armstrong and Alex Burtt

Paul Bickerdike, Richard Corbett, Graeme Turner, Tony Armstrong, Peter Lawson, Tim Corbett, Dai Rees, Trevor Chilton, David Wilson, Tim Dingle, David Woodrow and Emmanuel Ajayi

Graham Chase and Gerry Westoby

Nigel Wray, Jim Kent, Charlie Kent, Bob Rudd, Linda Rudd, Graham Chase, Clive Sutton, Graham Drake and John Martin

From left to right: Nick Mann, Eddie Pratt, Gary Lane, Nick Keller, Nick Vaclavik, Mike Peskin, Jon Rosswick, Bill Stephens. Charlie Miller

Phillip Keller, Nigel Wray and Graeme Turner

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UK Reunions: Annual Dinner Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London Friday 6 October 2023

Richard and Maria Tray

Guests stand for Grace

Russ Cowan and Gerry Westoby

Linda Rudd and Anita Wakeham

Tom Kelly, Chris Kelly, Eddie Pratt and Antony Spencer

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Julie James and Dagmar von Behr

EVENTS

UK Reunions: Summer Cocktail Party Gatehouse Chambers, Gray’s Inn, London Wednesday 7 June 2023

Tim Corbett and Mike Solomons

The last few standing…

Left to right: Mike Solomons, Philip Keller

Joanna Potter and Graham Chase

Nick Priestnall, Francesca Forte and John Hellinikakis

Graeme Turner and Nick Priestnall

Francesca Forte, Jane Sanchez and Lucia Hull

Graeme Turner and Philip Keller

Club Secretary Adrian Jordan

Adrian Williams

Drinks on the terrace at Gatehouse Chambers

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UK Reunions: Old Millhillians Day Park, Mill Hill School Saturday 24 June 2023 Head Maurice Leonard Jacks (1922 -37) sits in-between MHS pupils and OMs on Old Millhillians Day in the 1930s. Maurice Jacks sits second row from the front, eighth from the left

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EVENTS

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UK Reunions: Old Millhillians Day Park, Mill Hill School Saturday 24 June 2023

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Nick Hodgson and Nick Priestnall

Tim Corbett

Mitesh Bhimjiyani and John Pablo

Chris Kelly and Graham Chase

John Borgars and Barbara Cheadle joined us after the reunions lunch

Andy Halstead and Tony Weavers

Romesh Virasinghe, Imran Salehjee and Richard Amunugama

Trevor Chilton and Claire Erskine-Murray

Nick Hodgson and Jane Sanchez

Gordon Mizner and Gerry Westoby

OMs and sisters Anjali and Aruna

OMHC players talking tactics

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EVENTS

The OMCC team played cricket against the MHS XI on Park

Cliff Rose, Gerry Westoby and Paul Reik

A few of the OMs who enjoyed the lunch and match on Park, Peter Wakeham and Noyan Nihat

Jo and Steph Twomey

Brothers Stuart and Justin Wernham

Peter Wakeham and Graham Chase

Touch Rugby on Top Field

A few of the OMFC boys post-match

Howzat: OMCC played MHS First XI

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UK Reunions: Old Millhillians Day Park, Mill Hill School Saturday 24 June 2023

The OMCC team sneaked in a win by 5 runs after a close run match against the Mill Hill first XI

The OMRFC’s team won the Touch Rugby Tournament which they played against MHS staff and pupils on Top Field

The OMHC drew their match against the MHS staff and pupils on the AstroTurf pitch

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The OMFC boys put the Mill Hill Staff and pupils through their paces

Old Millhillians, Left, Hugh Cannell (Burton Bank 1949-54) and John Parkhouse (Scrutton 1948-53) catch up sixty years on after leaving school.

EVENTS

Class Reunions Mill Hill School Saturday 24 June 2023

1953/54 1963/64 1973/74 1983/84

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Class Reunions Mill Hill School Saturday 24 June 2023

Class 1953/1954 John Parkhouse (Scrutton 1948 – 53) Hugh Cannell (Burton Bank 1949 – 54) Class 1963/1964 Robert Anthony (Collinson 1959 – 63) John Borgars (Scrutton 1959 – 63) Michael M Cheadle (1958 – 63) Russell Cowan (Weymouth 1958 – 63 Michael Clough (Collinson 1959 – 64) J Michael-Phillips (Winterstoke 1959 – 64) Class 1973/1974 Viken Gudenian (School House 1968 – 73) Tony Weavers (McClure 1969 – 74) Class of 1983/1984 David Glazer (Murray 1978 – 81) Douglas Grays (Priestley 1978 – 81) Noyan Nihat (Collinson 1980 – 82) Justin Wernham (Collinson 1978 – 82) Gary Morris (Priestley 1978 – 83) Rohit Patni (Murray 1981 – 83) Ian Smith (Priestley 1977 – 83) Michael Wong (McClure 1976 – 83) David Hawley (Priestley 1979 – 84) Nigel Moran (School House 1982 – 84) Simon Orloff (McClure 1979 – 84) Marco Paganuzzi (McClure 1979 – 84) Mike Peskin (Burton Bank 1980 – 84) Nicholas Rabin (McClure 1979 – 84 Jonathan Rawlinson (Burton Bank 1979 – 84) David Ruthven-Murray (Murray 1979 – 84) Michael Sanson (Priestley 1979 – 84) Michael Solomons (Murray 1979 – 84) Paul Sutton (Collinson 1979 – 84) Andrew Veal (McClure 1980 – 84)

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EVENTS

1953/54 1963/64 1973/74 1983/84

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Class Reunions Mill Hill School Saturday 24 June 2023

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EVENTS

1953/54 1963/64 1973/74 1983/84

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Class Reunions: YOMS 2013 Leavers’ Reunion The Crick Room, Mill Hill School Friday 21 April 2023

Jane Sanchez and the Class of 2013 Leavers

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George Steer and James Kilbourn

Sagar Mahboobani and Sophie-Lynne Jory

Libby Williams and Amy Welch

Matthew Farleigh, Reishin Watabe and Shradha Zakharia

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Jack Clayton and Ben Kelvin

EVENTS

UK Reunion: East Anglia Trinity College, Cambridge Saturday 13 May 2023

Duncan Blackburn, Evelyn Taylor, Russell Cowan, Lucia Hull and Renat Samur at The Eagle

There is probably little else that Old Millhillians with their friends and partners like more than gathering in an iconic place with a drink in their hands and the opportunity to meet new people, renew old friendships and chat. Such was the situation in The Eagle, Cambridge’s oldest coaching inn, where almost 40 of us squeezed into the RAF Bar adjacent to the bar where Francis Crick and James Watson regularly lunched and discussed the structure of DNA in the early 1950s. We engaged with American tourists who were there to pay homage to the contribution made by their fellow countryman, just as we were for our illustrious Nobel laureate. Thirsts quenched and appetites whetted, we adjourned to the elegant comfort of Trinity College for an excellent buffet lunch during which conversation was barely interrupted before we were treated to comprehensive reports from our President, the indefatigable Chris Kelly, and from Lucia Hull, the Foundation’s Director of Development who we were pleased to welcome to her first Old Millhillian event. The range of the generations of those attending was heartwarming, especially in the form of three Cambridge undergraduates (a fourth was indisposed on the day) and a reassuring handful of OMs in their 30s and 40s.

Long may this event reflect the vitality of the Club and its community.

Chris Bishop, Russell Cowan and Jonathan Craymer

David Short and Stuart Hibberdine

Renat Samur, Evelyn Taylor and Russell Cowan

Samantha Davis, Jonathan Booth and Marc Montague

Stewart Wernham, Marc Montague and Matthew Frise

UK Reunion: North West St James’s Club, Manchester Friday 26 April 2023

Clockwise from front left: John Farmer, John Hellinikakis, Peter Wakeham, Panos Yianni, Grahame Elliott, David Wrottesley, Jane Walker, James Walker, Anita Wakeham, Chris Kelly, Chris Holt, Richard Llewellyn, Peter Belshaw

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UK Reunions: OMRFC Biennial Dinner Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London Wednesday 23 November 2022

Ann Bunyard and Grabame Chase

Charlie Miller, Nick Mann, Mike Peskin and Simon Englander

The OMRFC Biennial Dinner, hosted by Chris Kelly in his year as Club President, was an enjoyably lavish evening with over one hundred and forty OMs and guests attending.

The guest of honour was British Lion and English International fly-half Rob Andrew MBE who Chris knows through his time as President of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Rob regaled the attendees with colourful stories of his rugby journey to the top. In particular, he recalled how he was introduced to the game whilst at Barnard Castle School by Robert Clark, who later became a master MHS, along with his contemporary England star, Rory Underwood. He recalled that at his first ever rugby practice Rob made him dive head first into a cold, muddy puddle. Despite Rob (Andrews’) and Rory’s love of soccer at the time, the two boys were converted into two of England’s greatest players.

Rob gained 71 caps and made five test appearances for the British Lions.

Rather incredibly the OMRFC boasts three British Lions of its own: Wilf Sobey (Priestley 1924) who played scrum-half, Roger Spong (Scrutton 1924) who was a fly-half and Jonny Williams (Burton Bank 1949) who was also a scrum-half. Sobey and Spong were contemporaries at Mill Hill who went on to play as half-back partners for the OMRFC, England and the British Lions.

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Chris Kelly with his son Tom and David Woodrow

Austin Vince and Sean Robinson

The British Lions made the decision some time ago to award all Lions, past and present, with a special commemorative cap. The Dinner was the perfect opportunity to award our own Lion’s Caps which we presented to family members that were able to attend the dinner. Among them were: Wilf Sobey’s son, Tim (Winterstoke 1953-58) and Roger Spong’s grandson, Nick (Winterstoke 1979-82). Sadly, Jonny Williams’ son, James Williams, was unable to attend at the last minute.

Graeme Turner and Peter Tafler

Aaron Liffchak and Julian Pollock

Anita and Peter Wakeham

Max Isadore, Luke Mathers and Aaron Liffchak

Jane Sanchez and Tom Vercoe

Jay Rosenkranz and Nick Schild

John Barron and Greg Walsh

John Barron and Nick Pope

Jon and Aston Lester

Martyn Thomas and Peter Wakeham

James Stephens, Windsor Roberts, Graham Chase, Chris Kelly, Dave Kelly and Eddie Pratt

MHS First XV Captain and Vice Captain Noah Edwards and George Woodings

Mike Leon, Clive Mence, Stuart Hibberdine and Tim Sobey

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Nick Cockburn and James Carson

OMRFC commemorative ties were awarded by Ben Nash to the following for their exceptional service to the First XV and the Club

Mike Leon (Winterstoke 1953-57) Nigel Wray (Ridgeway 1961-66) Graham Chase (Burton Bank 1966-72) Chris Kelly (MHS Master, Director in charge of rugby 1981-93) Noyan Nihat (Collinson 1982-88) Marc Eden (Burton Bank 1989-92)

Joe Wray (School 2007-12) Oliver Avent (Weymouth 2008-13) Nick Schild (Murray 2008-13) Nick Cockburn (Priestley 1985-90) George Fenton Will Samler Fraser Donovan Wood

EVENTS

Mike Solomons, Mark Mortimer and Nathan Clapton

OMRFC commemorative caps were awarded by Rob Andrews to the following as an expression of gratitude for their generous support of the club

Ollie Frankel, Saydam Salaheddin and Pete Korniczky

Paul Bickerdike, Rupert Long and Nick Cockburn

Rob Andrew and Chris Kelly

Rob Andrew, Graham Chase and OMRFC Chair Ben Nash

Phil Hadji and Fraser Donovan Wood

Rob Andrew and Noyan Nihat Rob Andrew and Mark Eden

Rob Andrew and Mike Leon

Rob Andrew and Joe Wray

Rob Andrew and Will Samler

Rob Andrew and Nick Schild

Rob Andrew and Nick Cockburn

Rob Andrew and OMRFC Captain Oliver Avent

Rob Andrew and Fraser Donovan Wood

Russ Cowan, Graham Fear, Gerry Westoby and Ronny Cohn

Sean Robinson and Mark Dixon

Tim Corbett, Nick Spong, Dai Rees and Trevor Chilton

Past Masters Tim Corbett, Trevor Chilton and Dai Rees

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‘

To help young OMs in Higher Education and in work, the Club organises career networking events.

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’

CAREERS & NETWORKING

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Get Paid to Graduate Richard Lidwell (Murray 1959-64) former Oxford University Careers adviser tells us how to study and earn with a degree apprenticeship When I was working as a Careers Advisor during the late nineteen Sixties and throughout the Seventies in schools, secondary modern, grammar and comprehensive, much of my time was spent talking to students about the opportunities for craft Apprenticeships and technical education. Taken mainly after the age of sixteen, the training was rigorous to obtain the necessary qualifications; it usually took up to five years to qualify. National pay rates were laid down, and employers paid for Industrial Training Boards which ran residential colleges to supplement on-the-job training.

This route along with OND and HND level qualifications studied at Technical Colleges or Colleges of Advanced Technology (now stand-alone universities; eg Bath, Aston et al.) maintained a ‘healthy’ number of individuals to work at different levels in those industries for many years. But “In UK culture, an engineering, applied science and technological education tended to be looked down upon socially. The connection to polytechnics did not help their cause in terms of achieving status in the public eye. This attitude led to an expansion of subjects in the “creative” industries, such as fashion, arts and design, media studies, journalism, film studies, and sports management” (Wikipedia). The Government’s economic policy promoting Finance, City and Service sectors contributed to this trend; interestingly both this and the creative sector are now internationally recognised and contribute substantially to the UK’s GNP. A new National initiative was launched in 1993 providing Modern Apprenticeships in a wider range of occupations which unlike traditional apprenticeships were not time specific and led to an NVG 3 (A level). Apprenticeship levies were re-introduced encouraging employers to provide more opportunities for work and training at a variety of levels; from supermarket checkout to a full professional qualification. This was followed in 2004

by Advanced Modern Apprenticeships. However, this initiative was undermined by strong encouragement to enter University with Tony Blair’s famous aim to reach an unprecedented 50% level of participation. Coupled with negative social attitudes and economic focus, this further helped reduce the number of young people taking ‘technical’ on-and -off the-job qualifications By 2010 the increasing pressure of course fees and accommodation costs of a University education and the ongoing burden of student loans precipitated the introduction of Higher Apprenticeship. Then again in 2015 Degree Level

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Apprenticeships were launched: entailing apprenticeships working in a specific job/profession by being in a ‘real job’, paid a wage with holiday leave, but studying for at least 20% of the time to achieve a nationally recognised qualification. Opportunities exist in many sectors including Agriculture, Architecture, Engineering and Manufacturing, the Law, Construction, Digital and many more.

‘Degree apprenticeships are primarily targeted at 18 to 19-year-old school leavers as an alternative route to gaining a degree, however, they’re also suitable for mature students.’ explains Daniel Higginbotham, Editor, Prospects. ‘As well as degree apprenticeships set at Bachelors-level, for professions that typically require additional qualifications such as accounting or engineering - you may wish to pursue a postgraduate apprenticeship and study towards a Masters’ degree. While Masters apprenticeships typically require a longer period of study, as they typically start after A-levels, these Level 7 apprenticeships often provide opportunities to gain accreditation from a professional body.’

According to the latest GOV.UK apprenticeship figures for the first quarter of 2022/23 (August to October 2022), there were 22,060 Level 6 (Bachelors) and 7 (Masters) degree apprenticeship starts - a 14% increase on the previous year (19,360), accounting for nearly a fifth (18%) of all apprenticeship starts. Should you be a parent or know of young or older people who know what type of work and professional qualification they want to enter, and would value this way of achieving their aims, spread the word.

Degree Apprenticeships Websites sucessschool.org

(run by OM Mitesh Bhimjiyani (School House 1993-98)

apprenticeshops.gov.uk ucas.com prospects.ac.uk

CAREERS AND NETWORKING

Career Networking: Financial Services Lansdowne Event Thursday 4 May 2023 Speaker: Dipankar Shewaram, Partner & Head of Investment Solutions, at Capital Generation Partners (CapGen)

MHS Sixth formers were also welcomed to the event hosted by John Hellinikakis

From left to right: Matt Mahoney, Daire Matiluko, Zack Lester and Luis Schmitt

Career Networking: Creative Arts Viewing Lounge, One Blackfriars Thursday 24 November 2022 Speaker: Amanda Stavri (McClure 1990-92) ITV commissioning editor talked about reality TV

Speaker Amanda Stavri with MHS pupils at the event organised by Tom Lincoln

Manuela Jaramillo and Natasha Warren

Peter Wakeham and Antonia Jaramillo

Alex Burtt and Abhijit Gupta

Amanda Stavri and and incoming 2023-2024 Club President Stephanie Miller

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OMC Careers New Website Members may be aware that much work has been going on behind the scenes to update and refresh the Club’s website which was re-launched in June. Part of this endeavour has been to create a dedicated careers website aimed at helping OMs and MHS Foundation pupils to take well-informed career decisions

Career Networking: Medical Lansdowne Club Wednesday 15 March 2023 Speaker: Dr Salvatore Giovanni Viscom on the potential of stem cell therapeutics to treat disease

What You Will Find On The Website •

Calendar of networking events: accountancy, city and finance, engineers, entrepreneurs, creative arts, legal, journalism, medicine and property.

•

Careers Resources: a one-stop shop on general career and job search guidance.

•

Career Choices: links to sites and videos that provide guidance for specific career paths and professional networking events organised by the Club

•

Mentoring: look here to find or to volunteer as a mentor and discover work experience opportunities and job roles

•

Networking: how to join one or several networking groups to engage with other OMs with similar ambitions, build links and find networking groups.

•

Entrepreneurs Centre: OMs entrepreneurs promote the businesses they have founded

•

Contacts: a list of OMs Careers Committee members and their roles We hope the development of this dedicated careers website might encourage OMs whatever stage of their career to join a career group to meet like-minded individuals and network to develop, or even change career path. We are also hoping OMs will volunteer as a mentor or create a video about choosing their career, the skills they have developed and what they enjoy about their chosen profession.

Host Dr Russell Cowan, Dr Kate Damberg and Dr Ted Macdonald

Jane Sanchez and Speaker Salvatore Giovanni Viscomi, with pupils from MHS, Saracens Academy and Copthall School

Elliot and Kate Lipton

Chris Holt with guests Patrick and Diana Scott

Noyan and Fern Nihat

Joanna Potter and Dr Melanie Powell

Jane Sanchez and Femi Olufola, Saracens Academy staff member

Dr Salvatore Giovanni Viscomi is a former member of Harvard Medical School’s faculty

In these days of portfolio careers, our ever-changing world often impacting, positively or negatively, on an individual’s work experience and career plans creating a need to ‘explore’ new paths. Sometimes too, especially after leaving full time education, it is difficult to know where to find careers information and help.

The website aims to be a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ site, not only giving contacts from within but also outside the OMs network. We hope you will find the site useful so that it will be well used. We look forward to hearing feedback about your experiences, and suggestions for improvement.

omcareers.co.uk

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CAREERS AND NETWORKING

Career Networking: Engineers Bleeding Heart Restaurant Friday 12 May 2023 Speaker: Professor Gautam Kalghatgian on the practicalities of ‘Net Zero’

Career Networking: Entrepreneurs The Ten Cases Friday 14 June 2023

Career Networking: Business of Creativity Glasshouse Chambers Friday 2 November 2022

Speakers: Andrew and Susie Howard (Ridgeway 1982-84) founders of Beechdean shared their experience of start-ups

Speaker: Sir John Hegarty on the business of creativity

Kayra Leventoglu, Nida Katiliute, Adri Ratkoceri, Arsalan Abedini Abkhare, Peter Wakeham, Abhijit Gupta and Joanna Potter

Sir John Hegarty co-founder of Bartle Bogle Hegarty

Round the table discussing start ups with ice cream innovators Andrew and Susie Howard

Sir John Hegarty spoke of the importance of innovation in business in the event hosted by Peter Wakeham

Nicole Harvey and Ellie List

Career Networking: Property Cavalry and Guards Club Wednesday 29 March 2023

Amit Mjaithia at the Cavalry and Guards Club

The evening was co-hosted by Graham Chase, Mike Peskin and Stuart Hibberdine

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Foundation Day, far right MHS Head Maurice Leonard Jacks (1922-37)

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MOVING WITH THE TIMES

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AHEAD OF THE TIMES Mill Hill and its evolving non-conformism William Winfield (Modern Languages Teacher 1970-2007, Headmaster 1995-2007)

In 1806 a group of Protestant dissenters, City lawyers and merchants, first resolved to establish a school which would offer their sons “a sure foundation for moral and religious character”. The burgeoning success of the Protestant Dissenters Grammar School was symbolised by the building in 1826 of School House with its magnificent classical portico, unashamedly proclaiming both its self-importance and that of the Dissenters’ project. This dramatic breakaway from a dominant and coercive state religion inspired a return to the free-thinking philosophical and religious ideals of the English Enlightenment. Others soon followed Mill Hill’s example.

MOVING WITH THE TIMES 1806 1800s

A grammar school was opened by a group of dissenters, City lawyers and merchants

1900s

From the beginning, however, the terminology underpinning Mill Hill’s non-conformism was imprecise.

Everyone recognised the difference between the Established and the Nonconformist schools. The curriculum of each differed little, but it was enough to attract to Mill Hill large numbers of boys from non-conformist strongholds throughout England and Wales. The ambiguity in defining non-conformism proved to be a critical asset in the future.

Each generation fashioned its own interpretation.

Mill Hill’s early confidence sadly gave way to a stuttering period of decline and then collapse when, in 1869, financial liability

1900 The Tuck Shop opens 1903 Collinson the first ‘out’

house opened Murray Scriptorium moved to the Quad

1826 School House with its

magnificent classical portico was unveiled

1905 Gymnasium No 2 opens

1873 First fives courts 1898 The Large

1874

Swimming baths First gymnasium

The Large used for assemblies Heating for new buildings Marnham Block housing 15 classrooms opens

Tuck Shop

1879 First Old Millhillians Club Annual Dinner

1907 Prime Minister Sir Henry

Campbell Bannerman is guest of honour at centenary Foundation Day Winterstoke library and Scrutton House opened

1890 St Bees built for the

headmaster Sir John McClure

1894 School becomes centre for St Bees was purpose-built for the Headmaster and his family in the 1890s

Oxbridge examinations

1895 Mill Hill Chapel devotional Services Book published

1903: Collinson House opened accommodating 40 new boarders

1896 Orchestra founded

Chapel foundation stone laid

houses founded

1911

1898 The Old Chapel becomes Chapel

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purchased and opened Two new fives courts built

1909 Priestley and Weymouth

1897 Cricket pavilion opened The Large and is used for teaching Top Field was levelled

1908 Mussons the school shop

Old gynnasium

Officers Training Corps formed Fishing net purchased

Mill Hill’s evacuation to St Bees in 1939 allowed the school to ride out the dangers of the Second World War, but as early as 1943, Governors were discussing how best to offer Mill Hill’s quality and style of education to a wider representation of 13-year-old boys. The Fleming report and the 1944

1912

The Sanatorium

Education Act moved against privilege and isolationism. Out of this was born the Middlesex scheme which was to change fundamentally the nature of the School population. Now a significant number of boys were selected for their academic ability and not on the basis of their parents’ religious belief or wealth.

As the then Headmaster, Dr Whale (1944-51), remarked: It would have been a mistake to have stressed the historic Dissent which was Mill Hill’s raison d’être in 1807….times change.”

Change indeed! The Middlesex scheme brought fresh blood to the School’s social make-up. The new type of boy was talented, energised and local, quite different from the pre-war mix of boys from provincial and professional backgrounds. Whale was the last theologian/headmaster. Thereafter, religious affiliation was considered but was no longer a prime factor in the appointment of headmasters; the lantern of non-conformism was now carried valiantly by the Chaplains.

Headmasters gave sermons in Chapel, but increasingly these would be better described as “talks” on moral, social, behavioural issues.

Boarding 1960s

McClure Houses opened

1972 Dent field studies centre opens

1925 Cricket Pavilion opened on Park Study 1970s

1935 Burton Bank opened

admitted Priestley reopened as day house

admitted

1981 Government Assisted Place

1939 Evacuation to St Bees

Scheme Boarding and day pupils admitted

1943 Middlesex bursary scheme founded

1976 First Sixth Form day girls

1977 First Sixth Form boarding girls

1937 Buckland Pool Opened

1945 Middlesex boys scheme starts

1969 Language Laboratory opened 1970 Sixth Form Centre, Murray and

HRH The Prince of Wales Winterstoke House opened

1924 The new science school opened

Michael Hart (1967-74) arrived at a time when Britain was caught in a whirlwind of change, of an intense national questioning of moral, cultural and religious values.

Hart’s vision of education matched his world view. He was a reformist, an internationalist and fundamentally concerned with the welfare of the individual. His relatively brief tenure was marked by policies which laid foundations underpinning the School’s ethos for the next thirty years. The evolving definition of non-conformism began to take on what might be described as a kind of liberal humanism, perhaps summed up in E M Forster’s resonant phrase “Only connect”. Mill Hill began to look outwards.

An increasing number of pupils came from abroad: sons of families who had arrived from Japan, Nigeria, India, the United States; political refugees from Eastern Europe, Chile, East Africa and Iran. There was also a growing influx of

First overseas exchange visit (Rouen partnership)

1924 Science Block opened by

1933 Murray House opened

Roy Moore (1951-67) revived and consolidated; the School celebrated its 150th anniversary with pride and a royal visit. It remained known as a school with a non-conformist tradition but what that meant in the changing world of the 1960s became ever harder to define.

1968 European exchanges begin

Belmont MHS junior school; Music School and Sanatorium Buckland Pool opened

1920 Gate of honour inaugurated

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

and falling pupil numbers led to the School’s closure for nine months. A body of supporters, led by Thomas Scrutton, found the money and will to set up the New Foundation. Crucially, however, this was accompanied by an acceptance that henceforth the School “shall be open to the sons of parents professing other religious tenets”. The relaxation of this early, strict non-conformist principle encouraged pupil numbers to climb, while a succession of dedicated, untiring headmasters, all devout and experienced non-conformists (Weymouth, McClure, Jacks), sustained a long period in which the vital thread of dissenting belief was maintained and which not even the hecatomb of the First World War could interrupt. By the 1930s Mill Hill was a strong academic rival to many traditional public schools whilst retaining its more free-thinking tradition.

First Girls 1976

1945 The School returns to Mill Hill

1986 St Bees house opens; Visit of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

after wartime evacuation First Middlesex Scheme boys join the School

1993 Weymouth re-opens as a day house

1957 HM The Queen visits Art block opened

HM Queen

MHS magazine editors meet Margaret Thatcher in 1986

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AHEAD OF THE TIMES day boys from the multi-cultural and multi-faith communities of modern North-West London. Jewish numbers rose significantly, joined later by Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. In the 1980s the Assisted Places scheme admitted new cohorts of pupils, this time on the basis of social and financial need. In 1976, the admission of Sixth Form girls (followed by the introduction of full co-education twenty years later) was a further reform bringing School life into the real world!

A major task of three succeeding headmasters was to mould this diverse, cosmopolitan population into a coherent society of aspiring young men and women who contributed to and shared the same values.

And what of non-conformism in the most recent years? Mill Hill retains its historic link with the United Reformed church in the Broadway as well as being a respectful neighbour of St Paul’s on the Ridgeway.

We celebrated our Bicentenary at St Paul’s Cathedral and the sermon was delivered by an OM Anglican bishop.

Three of the recent School Chaplains have been Anglicans. To respect the needs of non-Christians, separate monthly Assemblies are arranged for Jewish, Muslim and Hindu pupils.

Otherwise the principle of attendance for all at Chapel has been maintained and services are sensitively conceived to bring together pupils of all religions, or indeed none. Adapting the principles of non-conformism for today’s diverse School community poses problems, but I believe ways have been learned of bringing together everyone in some form of sensitive communal worship, a compromise which nevertheless informs, educates. Hardly what our Founders would have recognised, but over more than 200 years Mill Hill has been richly informed by its non-conformist origins.

Successive generations have re-

interpreted the Founders’ fundamental tenets in order to meet the challenges of evolving modern life. Dissent and tolerance – noble concepts that have, perhaps unexpectedly, survived as signposts of the Millhillian way of life.

When I addressed the congregation of Sixth Formers and OMs at the last Armistice Day service of the 20th century, I tried to express the privilege of what that evolving process had brought.

“We have become an international community in which country and class, race and religion are all intertwined in a way no other generation has known…

We live as one society of precious humans.”

I hope that our Protestant Dissenter Founders would have felt that this was a worthy, if still provisional, destination for the long journey upon which they had set out with such faith and determination.

MOVING WITH THE TIMES 1995 Winterstoke closed; Grimsdell

2004 Angela Rumbold Pool and new

pre-prep opens; Girls are admitted at Grimsdell and Belmont

Winterstoke House

1997 Lower School girls are admitted

Fives Courts opened Atkinson House opened

Fives

at Mill Hill Cedars House for boarding girls opened in former Sanatorium Patrick Troughton Theatre opened Mill Hill receives European initiative Award

1998 Mill Hill School incorporated

as the Mill Hill School Foundation Ltd Fishing net is laid with AstroTurf

2000s

a service in St Paul’s Cathedral and opening of Favell Building

by HRH The Countess of Wessex

2012 Saturday School is discontinued 2018 Pupils set off on an overseas partnership trip

2000 Millennium extensions to

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School opened First female Head appointed (Mrs Frances King)

2019 Winfield House opened 2022 Centenary of death of

Sir John McClure (HM 1891-1922) marked

2002 Piper Library opened

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2015 The Mount Mill Hill International

2017 McGregor House opened

Art/DT Block and Music School Millennium international partnerships launched (Ethiopia, India, Nicaragua)

Dent sold

2007 Bicentennial celebrations with

McClure supplement

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

DRESS CODES As a new uniform has been unveiled, school archivist Francesca Forte (Atkinson 2012-2017) finds that uniform at Mill Hill hasn’t always been, well, uniform.

1932

From left Troughton, Terry and Goodman in the sporting the school summer uniform of tweed sports jacket and summer dubs - or wide loose trousers

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DRESS CODES 1800s

Before an official school uniform was introduced a list of approved clothes included: a black jacket and matching trousers, round collars were tied with coloured ribbons or silk handkerchiefs

When MHS opened in 1807 there was no set uniform. Under the first Headmaster, Reverend John Atkinson, there was an approved list of general clothes to be worn during term, including “black or blue suit jackets”. Boys were expected to wear accompanying black trousers, except in summer when they wore white ducks, a looser type of trouser. Collars were attached to the shirt, round which they tied either coloured ribbons or silk handkerchiefs. This style of school dress remained for almost 100 years, before the first School blazer was formerly introduced under Headmaster John McClure. These first blazers were a dark navy blue, embroidered with a bright red monogram of MHS on the breast pocket; you can see one on display today. McClure also oversaw the introduction of sporting Colours. These Colours were awarded to players of specific teams, and could come in the form of squares, scarves or even shoelaces. However, they had to be re-awarded every year, so the privilege could be short lived if players didn’t make the mark.

By 1933 blazers were replaced with grey tweed Sports Jackets.

These jackets were fondly dubbed ‘bog-jackets’ due to their strong stench when wet. This lapse in regulation didn’t last long, as school blazers made a comeback, just before the outbreak of World War 2, in 1939. These blazers differed from their predecessors. Whilst the dark navy of the old blazers was kept, the new official School crest, first granted in 1935, was embroidered on the top pocket in place of the old monogram.

With Mill Hill’s wartime evacuation to St Bees that year, and wartime clothing rations, the decision was taken to return to plain suits and Sports Jackets like the year before. Although boys who had already purchased the official school blazers were allowed to bring and wear them. Awarding of Colours was also suspended due to material shortages.

It wasn’t until after Mill Hill’s return home, that the pre-war crested blazers were brought back into circulation.

‘the new official School crest, first granted in 1935, was embroidered on the top pocket’ 52

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They remained part of the uniform for the next 20 years, until around the mid-1960s, when a decision was taken to switch back to Sports Team jackets and suits were either cream with brown highlights or brown with cream highlights. Available in a variety of colours, they were either cream with brown highlights (worn by Cricket players), or brown with cream highlights (worn

by Hockey teams). They were also occasionally embroidered with the sports team and dates. Older pupils who still had their school blazers were allowed to wear them. The Sports Suit was far less comfortable... boys resorting to wearing their pyjama bottoms underneath to alieviate the roughness. Grey suit trousers were to be worn during the week, whilst matching tweed trousers were to be worn on Sundays, or on special occasions. The tweed trousers were equally, if not more uncomfortable, with the poor boys resorting to wearing their pyjama bottoms underneath to alleviate the roughness. School ties were also made of a similar material.

House ties had been introduced by this time as well, enabling pupils to represent their House with pride. As Old Millhillians are wont to comment, “House trumps School!”. Although over the years, with various Houses ceasing to exist, the colours of these different ties have changed over the years.

‘the Sports Suit was far less comfortable, being made from an itchy dark green tweed’ Upon the introduction of Sixth Form co-education to Mill Hill in 1975, the new female pupils were allowed to wear open collar shirts and neckerchiefs, accompanied by a plain skirt and suit jacket. By the mid-1990s, Sports Jackets were still very much all the range – unfortunately still quite pungent when wet! These Jackets were for day-to-day use, and a darker, crested blazer was reserved for Sunday best – both jackets were mandatory for day and boarders alike. Sixth Formers during this time would drop the Jacket and just wear the crested blazer, although

1935

The introduction of school ties enabled pupils to represent their House with pride

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

1977

Golf Team: Monitors and Prefects had the privilege of wearing suits and shirts of their own choosing

Monitors and Prefects had the privilege of wearing suits and shirts of their own choosing. It wasn’t until 1996, that School blazers were permanently reintroduced for the last time. These blazers were given an updated School crest on their breast pockets and a slightly greener shade of navy. However, it was the following year that most radically changed the uniform of Mill Hill since McClure’s first blazer all those years ago.

1997 was a momentous year for the School, as the Mill Hill Foundation went fully co-educational; Whilst plain skirts were appropriate for Sixth Form uniform, the School needed to create a lower school uniform for their new female pupils. Deputy Head Judith Herbertson, created kilts with distinct their green and navy checkered pattern they added much needed colour and individuality to the uniform.

‘under Headmaster John Priestley, pupils caught lying were forced to wear their jackets inside out as a mark of their shame’ Similarly, with the expansion of the School over the last few decades, new houses, new councils, new scholarships have been introduced; Mill Hill has sought to recognise these through additions to its uniform. For instance, the creation of MacGregor (named after Mary MacGregor, founder of the former Mount School) and Winfield (named after former Headmaster William Winfield) Houses over the last five years has produced two new, beautiful ties for its pupils to wear with pride – purple, white, and green, and blue and white respectively. New councils have been formed over the years, for pupils to have their say in School life, with each council member awarded a tie in recognition of their new responsibility. Pupil accomplishments are also now reflected in their uniform; those who attain scholarships can wear their freshly awarded ties. From the blue and white ties of Sports Scholars, to the blue and gold of the Music Scholars’ ties or the deep purple of the Scholars’ ties. In addition to these, there are also a wide variety of other ties pupils can now collect, such as individual Sport’s ties (such as Eton Fives), or the golden Chapel Choir ties. I still have my collection of ties from my time at Mill Hill, including my Choir and Monitor’s tie, that I continue to cherish to this day!

The most surprising information I uncovered, was that uniforms at Mill Hill have never been viewed as simple items of clothing.

Across the centuries, they have frequently been imbued with alternative values. For example, under Headmaster John Priestley, pupils caught lying were forced to wear their jackets inside out as a mark of their shame. Similarly, uniforms were also utilised as part of the delicate social hierarchy at school.

For example, how a boy wore his blazer was used to denote which year he was in. First years wore their blazers done up by the middle button only, second years were allowed to place their hands in their pockets (which was much appreciated during Winter), third years could walk around with all their blazer buttons undone or done all the way up and fourth years could walk around with their collars turned up.

Similarly, how one wore their tie was also often viewed as reflecting the status of the pupils. In a cartoon from the 1920s, it depicts the four stages of a pupil’s tie during his time at Mill Hill; at first, the tie is askew, his breast pocket filled with rubbish, a year later though, his tie has been straightened and his pocket less chaotic. Next, a Prefect is shown with his tie done up, underneath his jumper, with a handkerchief neatly placed in his breast pocket, and finally, a Monitor is shown with a colourful shirt beneath his tidy, straight tie, his Monitor’s badge proudly displayed on his lapel. As part of their appointment as Prefects or Monitors, these selected pupils were given relative creative freedom with their uniforms. These pillars of the School could wear coloured shirts and socks, have anything they wanted in their breast pockets (such as their Sports colours), wore specific caps and could even have coloured pullovers – although a white tie was obligatory for Sunday Chapel services, creating the nickname ‘the White Tie Club’. The maroon Monitors tie we still use to this day, wasn’t introduced until the 1980s. This continues today, with pupils proudly wearing their House colours and the ties they have received in recognition of their achievements and contributions.

Clearly the history of Mill Hill School’s uniform is as colourful as it is long. Whilst some may view this new uniform as change, I view it as returning to our roots, our history. It’s a way for us to connect to all those generations who have gone before us, wearing our uniforms with pride just like they did all those centuries ago.

2021

Burton Bank boarders

2023

Pupils in the new school uniform

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1939

Collinson House photo: blazers made a comeback, the school crest was embroidered on the top pocket

1950

Collinson house photo: On return from St Bees, pre-war crested blazers were brought back into circulation. They remained part of the uniform for the next 20 years

1969

Collinson House photograph: The green tweed sports suit was worn with matching trousers on Sundays

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MOVING WITH THE TIMES

COLLINSON HOUSE

Through the eyes of three former housemasters we follow the evolution of the house and how it reflects the School’s development from traditional boarding school to a modern co-educational Foundation

Collinson House in the 1950s

In 1934 Collinson House typified the traditional ‘rural’ boarding school

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2005-20 COLLINSON HOUSE: PETER LAWSON

Peter Lawson (MHS 19892020) reflects on the healthy evolution of a boarding house By the time of my departure in 2020, just as Covid was biting, I had been but the tenth Housemaster in Collinson’s 117-year journey. A particularity of boarding at Mill Hill has, indeed, been the cocktail of healthy evolution on the one hand, and stable continuity on the other. On my assumption of the role in 2005 I was warned by friends occupying similar positions in other schools that while I would enjoy it, ten years of it would wipe me out. But those words never chimed with my experience, and I ascribe this to the underpinning principles, not only

of tolerance and respect – for which all boarding schools strive – but also of the rare and unspoken liberalism that recognised and understood that teenagers don’t always view the world through a grown-up lens. There are House rules, of course, but they do not stifle or supersede the paramountcy of pupils’ development. On my arrival at Mill Hill in 1989, I was struck by the uniqueness of the heartbeat of this School in London whose rhythms played out according to a rural boarding model, even though by then almost half the boys no longer lived in. For MHS’s first 125 years, a day constituency would have been unthinkable, and as the millennium approached, a boarding ethos still prevailed. Rather than abandon boarding – which is what

other suburban independent schools were countenancing – the Headmaster and Governors, understanding the richness that would derive from its retention, made adjustments. Until well into the 1990s there was boarders’ Chapel every Sunday. The whole school followed routines – such as weekend parents’ meetings – only extant in boarding schools. Winter Timetable continued into the current century; thereby twice a week between October and February, everyone piled out onto the games field or the like at 2.15pm, thence back into class until nigh-on six o’clock. It is difficult to defend this on all-important academic grounds, and more than one pupil fell asleep during my twilight classes, but it was certainly bonding.

2000-04 COLLINSON HOUSE: ANDREW PHILLIPS ‘Without doubt the greatest change was still to come though. For in September 2001, a year later than was expected, Collinson became the last remaining boarding house at Mill Hill to take girls’ When former pupil Andrew Phillips (Collinson 1968-73) returned to Collinson in September 2000 in his new capacity as Housemaster he found little to contradict his memories from his schoolboy days in the late Sixties and early Seventies. When looking round and seeing the ground floor study bedrooms and the three dormitories were just as they always had been he felt “it was as though I’m coming around from concussion

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on the rugby field”. A tour of inspection did however reveal a few changes: the first floor JCR had been turned into a well-appointed study area where supervised preps could happen and the second floors baths had given way to four new showers. That was the tip of the iceberg: there was a good deal more changes afoot in the next three years prior to Collinson’s centenary.

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

‘of course, the configuration and organisation of mixed Houses must receive extra consideration; but that having been accomplished, the benefits have vindicated the imagination behind the thinking’ Saturday School – another emblem of boarding – had always seemed too sacred for the abattoir but it was unexpectedly discontinued in 2012.

The decision was wholly justified by the changing constituency of the School and did make the pace of the week more businesslike, but I had actually appreciated the idiosyncrasy, and the mutual availability of pupils and staff alike that it connoted and delivered.

Inevitably the wider canvas of a school evolved. The decision to turn Winterstoke into Grimsdell was an inspired one. I nevertheless watched boys weep in early 1995 as scaffolding went up and their diaspora was scattered to other Houses.

While the tears of our young are always hard to bear and to dry, those boys’ attachment to their House, and to Tim Corbett, their Housemaster, was moving and edifying: an emblem of the esprit de corps that characterises boarding here.

By the time I arrived at MHS, boarders were no longer coming from the North of England; East Anglia was more or less our furthest-flung nursery. Weekly boarding was already thirty years ago gaining popularity, and most pupils lived in the environs of London, sometimes choosing boarding for family lifestyle reasons. Then in 2015 came a radical change. [The Mount] Mill Hill International opened its doors. Initially Collinson was selected as the House for all its pupils until a year later when rising numbers necessitated integration across other Houses. 201516 goes down as the most exciting and interesting of my career. My feelings in this respect are attributable to the vibrancy and opportunity to learn from other people that multi-culturalism offers. We retained our Upper Sixth to mentor the new House.

I believe that starting the newcomers together, Collinson being synonymous with Mill Hill International, bequeathed a togetherness that nobody there will forget.

In terms of the acquisition of girls into boarding, our changing profile has been unusual. Sixth Form girls arrived at School in 1976. Since then, and since 2006 for junior girls, there has been the option of coeducational boarding. The rationale has been reflective of the general model.

Learning and personal development are not solely classroom-based: if we believe in co-education, it is congruent to offer that possibility within boarding. Of course, the configuration and organisation of mixed Houses must receive extra consideration; but that having been accomplished, the benefits have vindicated the imagination behind the thinking.

Flexi-boarding has become a monetiser in many schools in the context of turning empty beds into hotel wings. Clearly benefits accrue but there has been an understanding at Mill Hill that to legitimise a tourist mentality risks damaging the hardearned and elemental spirit that embodies each House.

Until the 1960s there had sometimes been a scent of bullying in boarding everywhere, including Mill Hill, as attested by alumni.

The pyramids of authority that existed were probably causal. The Housemaster was by design more absent than is now the case, allowing putative leadership acumen to develop among potential officer classes in the pupil body. The Houses were to an extent hierarchical and there were perhaps insufficient checks and balances to ensure proper value being placed on the wellbeing of everyone, and not just of alpha males able to “look after themselves”. I

In 2000 a new team of resident tutors had been engaged: Graeme Turner, a chemist, rugby specialist and all-round athlete took up lodgings in the flat halfway up the stairs to t he first floor; Mike Newman, a chemist from Blundells became the Senior resident tutor and the landlord of St Bees which was incorporated into Collinson. Clearly, the annexing of St Bees was a major development providing as it did a further seven rooms for pupil accommodation on the first and second floors (which had most recently been used by Belmont boarders) and a ground floor common room equipped to complement Collinson’s Quiet Room so that pupils in both residences would trouble to visit back and forth: the concern being a division arising in the House. Fortunately, this never proved to be the case. A further significant change was the addition of eleven day-boys into the boarding house: Philips

feel that such an anthropology is neither permissible nor appropriate. Fagging was seen as orthodox and character-building until Michael Hart (Headmaster 1967 – 74) forbade it as antiquated.

The world of the telephone is revelatory, by the way, and one whose modernised usage I do not favour. When we contact an organisation now, it is almost inconceivable that an operator immediately answers and deals with our call. I felt call-screening to be anathema to what I was doing.

The telephone was with me or my duty colleague day and night and would be answered directly. The holy grail is that parents and pupils know that we are as mindful of their lives as they are, and that we always answer.

Our boarding has travelled far. The dormies are gone but the premises and their resonance are deeply recognisable to those from yesteryear sometimes wistfully revisiting their formative pasts. In keeping with the world, Mill Hill’s boarding iteration is now cosmopolitan rather than parochial and, I think, more outward-looking.

That agility to progress, and the evident intuitions about which furniture, as it were, to retain and which to replace represent a commitment and an intelligence that are the catalysts of the success of what is still seen as a cornerstone of the Foundation.

Long may it continue. I will be fascinated – albeit, perhaps, over limited decades to come – to witness how boarding develops further in what I will always see as my School.

‘Mill Hill’s boarding iteration is now cosmopolitan rather than parochial and, I think, more outward-looking’

was relived to note ‘the relationship between day-boys and boarders was distinctly more amicable than “in his day”, It wasn’t until September 2001 – a year later than planned – that the greatest change occurred when Collinson became the last remaining boarding house to take girls. The first four of these (all sixth formers) were installed on the top floor in St Bees and then with the arrival in 2002 of the first group of fourth form girls they occupied St Bees entirely. The combination of girls was, without reserve, judged a great success. In the spring of 2002 a team of four Collinson girls won the Senior Girls Cross Country and in 2003 for the first time a girl, Chem Vanderpuije, became Head of House, Some quipped, that the pink strip of the Collinson tie had always predicted such developments.

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1985-2000 COLLINSON HOUSE: TREVOR CHILTON Trevor Chilton (Collinson 1985-2000) shares some of the challenges and changes that took place whilst he was holding the reigns Boarding houses evolve as the values and expectations of society change around them. Exeats and Sunday evening chapel were already anachronistic institutions in 1985. It would be incomprehensible to a parent in 2003 that permission should be sought of the Housemaster (and could be refused) for their son to join the family for supper on a Saturday and stay overnight at home on a non-exeat weekend. Even more bizarre is the image of a largely overseas, non-Christian community sitting through a half-hour sermon on Sunday evening and making sense of a Wesleyan hymn. Thinking back on those Sunday chapels, I can’t quite understand why I still sort of miss them. Flexiboarding and weekday chapels were part of the natural evolution for all boarding schools in the nineteen eighties. Anyone who fails to understand this is destined to remain in a state of negative nostalgia, locked in a time warp built on such artificial constructs as the number of buttons a boy is allowed to leave undone on his jacket, terribly important in the microcosm of Mill Hill society but only within a short historical context.

My first target for improvement had been the top floor bathroom with its two open plan, free standing baths and zinc-lined shower, the row of ancient washbasins and cockroach-ridden flooring. Bath rotas and communal ablutions disappeared with the floor-to-ceiling tiled shower cubicles

‘Those visiting the House for the 2003 centenary would have noted the important physical changes wrought in Collinson: ‘To begin with the three dormitories have been “opened up” into larger units and the access to the House is less gloomy than in days of old’ recounts Philips.

“The main assembly room is still nevertheless the “Quiet Room”, still the place of business in the House, and still not “quiet”. It is here that you most feel that the atmosphere of Collinson has never substantially changed. It is the friendliest of societies for all its pupils and all Collinsonians are proud of the place and its traditions.’

Former housemasters at the 2003 Centenary. Back Row left to right Trevor Chilton (1985-2000), Andrew Phillips (2000-04), David Franklin (1974-85).

Front row, left to right Tony Turnbull (1960-74), Donald Hall (1945-60) and Katherine Whitehorn, daughter of A. Whitehorn (1929-45)

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MOVING WITH THE TIMES

1985 Collinson House : ‘in the nineteen eighties most of the UK based boarders travelled on a short distance to school: they were able visit home easily’

COLLINSON HOUSE : Cihem Vanderpuije

Trevor Chilton

and new WCs. This is not to say that life became dull.

Instead of throwing bars of soap at each other from one tub to another, the new game was to throw a mug of icy water over the top of a shower cubicle at its unsuspecting occupant. There is no doubt that the quality of life for Collinson boarders generally improved with these changes. House nomenclature never really caught up however. Despite new room numbers on all the studies, we still only referred to the rooms above the private side as the ‘annex’ and ‘Colditz’. I once asked former Housemaster David Franklin why Colditz was so named.

“Because it’s the coldest room in the house,” he replied, “at least until the central heating was put in. Now it’s the hottest.”

Terms like ‘bog run’ referring to late night dare devil bounds breaking, and ‘donger’ only had meaning for those who had served their apprenticeship in the fourth form. The donger, for those who languish in ignorance, was the piece of metal with which the large bell was rung to register the phases of our daily repetitive lives.

Normally kept on top of the post box, it occasionally went missing, a very serious matter to the residents of the House, not least to me because I too relied on the fourth form duty boy getting up before everybody else to wake us with that familiar prescribed pattern of strokes. Burton Bank was usually blamed for donger misappropriation.

It was unthinkable that one of our number could be so treacherous as to remove it. The bell emphasised the monkish monotony of boarding routines.

Head girl hanging out on Top Field

Cihem Vanderpuije (Collinson 2001- 03) joined MHS in the lower sixth and became the first female Head of House I was one of the first girls, along with Marlene Bonstrup, Hye-Seon Kim and Jenny Jiang, to join Collinson and live at St. Bees alongside 40+ boys. Although there were so few of us, it did not feel strange: I found Collinson to be very inclusive and very welcoming, it was like a big family and my overriding feeling was a sense of “belonging” and “inclusivity”. There was always someone to talk to, watch a film with, share a joke (or tuck box snacks) with, help with that difficult piece of homework, or even just get up to mischief with. Overall I think we brought a good balance to the house our House Master, Mr Philips, dubbed us the “Golden Girls” and one of the boys actually stated that we added “complexity and most of all beauty”.

Being the first ever female Head of House at Collinson is one of my greatest accomplishments: I felt so thrilled, so honoured, and proud for being selected to lead Collinson, a house with so much history. It was just an absolute privilege.

However, being a female Head of House of a predominantly boys boarding house also came with its own challenges. In the early days of my leadership, I became aware that a small group of the boys were not comfortable with having a female Head of House and hence did not have confidence in my leadership. I therefore made it my priority to gain their trust.

Luckily, I believe I did win them over in the end!

Collinson house boards

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1985-2000 COLLINSON HOUSE: TREVOR CHILTON As the diversity of cultural backgrounds became a significant feature of boarding life, it enriched the experience in many ways.

Whilst it might be more difficult to field a hockey or cricket side for House competitions, the shared existence in such a close community of young people from wildly different parts of the world could only result in broader horizons and increased tolerance and understanding for other cultures. Such things last for life, long after success on the games field is forgotten. When I started out in 1985, records and letters were all handwritten, the Berlin Wall still held firm. James Bond took on the KGB, East was East and West was West. Now e-mails are exchanged daily between Collinsonians from as far apart as Japan and Kazakhstan, Siberia and Canada, Serbia and South Korea. World affairs and disputes between nations take on a different meaning when the countries involved are home to a friend.

Events in the world outside rarely intruded except for sporting events such as the World Cup and international conflict. Only then did we become aware that there were important differences in our backgrounds and culture. The artificiality of boarding life with its protective, insular routines and social norms became exposed as warfare in Lebanon, Iraq and Yugoslavia put friendship and loyalty to the test. The most remarkable thing is that throughout these periods of stress, there was never an incident of racial or religious intolerance in the boarding house: Arabs and Israelis, Muslims and Jews, even Serbs and Croatians remained primarily Collinsonians, the lines of division remained as they were, based on personality and domestic habits and not redrawn according to nationality or religion. During the crisis in Lebanon, there were two boys from Beirut in the House, one from East, the other from West Beirut, one Christian, the other, Muslim. Both would watch the nightly

news with horror and concern for their families. The Gulf war and the Balkan Crisis presented even more acute testing points in that British forces were operational yet life continued as it ever was.

Muslim, Jewish, Serb, Russian, Croatian, Chinese and Japanese Collinsonians put on the same CCF uniform every Friday to parade on the Quad. Only football could elicit raw, uninhibited bigotry.

Jonathan Messias, (Head of House 93-4) was fond of quoting the late Bill Shankly on the subject, “Football is not a matter of life and death, it’s more important than that!” and so it seemed in the Quiet Room as Arsenal played Tottenham, or England took on Greece.

Between 1985 and 2000, many friendships were forged and many barriers were broken down as young people learned to live with each other and to respect each other in Collinson House. It was my good fortune to share in this process.

‘Mill Hill School and Collison House are epitomised by House drama and Newcastle competitions, events which lock the entire House into a communal frenzy and cement lasting bonds of loyalty’ Trevor Chilton

The word ‘Masher’ was inscribed just inside the loft opening, as if to remind me each time I explored the further extremities of the house, that I was on probation and that it would take at least ten years before I might be considered a worthy custodian of Collinson House. This insecurity was in no way lessened by my discovery of cigarette packets on the roof. How naive I must have been in those first few weeks to believe that boys would never have smoked on the roof when ‘Masher’ was at the helm. Later, in my attempts to seal off this dangerous recreational area, I came across a little den in the far recesses of the attic which was littered by cigarette ends and packets, some dating back to the first world war. Nothing much, it seemed, had changed for 80 years.

It was all rather reassuring.’

Trevor Chilton 1946 Boys escaped to the roof to smoke cigarettes. From left David Macgregor, Derek Reid, Peter Gray and Davies

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Padding up for hockey

1953 Clean laundry arrived on Thursdays: boys were expected to make their own beds

Newcastle notes

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

1953 Collinson boys preparing for Newcastle competition

1953 Pocket money was handed out by Mr Hall the Housemaster

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1976 FIRST GIRLS Peter Lawson (MHS 1989-2000) shares his thoughts on the pros and cons of the introduction of girls to Mill Hill Mill Hill School was, I think, something of a paradox in 1976: an old-fashioned (nothing wrong with that) country boarding school in London with day pupils constituting almost 50% of the total; a proudly male bastion that decided to accept girls into its Sixth Form; an establishment which – in spite of its cornerstone of all-round education – placed increasing emphasis on academic results.

The girls’ entry does not seem to have been attended by the sort of preparation that one might expect now. They were placed in boys’ houses – day and boarding – and were expected to assume that bolted-on identity. Little infrastructural

day-to-day accommodation of their arrival was apparent. But this was the deal and there were few complaints. They knew what they were coming to. I believe it fair to say that in the main the girls appreciated the experience of being educated in a boys’ school. The paucity of female teachers furthered the air of masculinity.

The first significant symptom of recognition of the girls’ needs was embodied in the 1986 conversion of St Bees into girls’ boarding. David Woodrow (a particularly intelligent appointment by Alastair Graham) was a fine Housemaster and advocate, responsible for a meaningful uplift in the profile of girls eleven years before full coeducation was instituted.

William Winfield as Headmaster and Judith Herbertson as Deputy were adroit as a leadership team in this regard and ensured that the Common Room and the premises were properly prepared for 1997. Self-evidently, single-sex sports such as boys’ rugby have been affected by the smaller selection pool that has derived from the ineligibility of some of the pupil body; but in adjacent areas, such as cricket, the policy has been a triumph, as evinced by Sophia Dunkley’s journey via our (mixed) First XI to the full England

women’s team, red ball and white.

The fillip provided by coeducation for endeavours such as drama and music are so obvious as to need no explanation.

The cosmopolitan nature of our pupil body – a sure bulwark against bullying – has been made yet more diverse by the presence of girls. Some people posit “conventional wisdom” that pupils do better academically without the distractions of the opposite sex, but the effects of the normalisation of the school environment, in reflection of that of society as a whole, outweigh counter-criteria in my view. Our own two daughters were educated at MHS, a decision taken by us with full inside knowledge. I believe that their transition into university was made less complex by the coeducational experience.

One cannot deny that the lack nationally of 13+ girls’ feeder schools posed a problem to the gender equity of our intake.

I am sure that thought was given to our becoming 11+. Equally, though, Belmont has been a highly successful feeder school whose integrity has been seen to warrant lack of interference in its operation. The solution to the question of how to achieve good Fourth Form girl numbers has been provided by an augmentation to Belmont’s roll in Years 7 and 8.

Mill Hill International, with whom there is much interface, was always going to be a coeducational undertaking, rendering all the more prescient the decision taken some 30 years ago to take in girls.

While checks, balances and fine-tuning will always be the order of the day, I cannot imagine that many people think this fundamental move to have been ill-advised.

‘...the policy has been a triumph, as evinced by Sophia Dunkley’s journey via our (mixed) First XI to the full England women’s team...’

MHS magazine editors meet Margaret Thatcher editors in 1986

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MOVING WITH THE TIMES

1977 drama production of Our Town directed by Mr Stringer

Our Town cast from left: Tanya Woolf and Corinne Mellor

1977 Ridgeway House

Winter 1977 MHS school magazine Ridgeway House Report welcomes the first girl boarders

Corine Cassidy (nee Mellor) (Ridgeway 1977-79) gives a glimpse of life as part of the first cohort of boarders in 1977

wafted gently in the evening breeze, suspended from the chapel spire. This visit by the MHSPJS loudly and proudly declared the school’s non-conformist status.

Mill Hill Grammar school for boys founded in 1807 expanded its intake in 1977 by welcoming five girl boarders. I’m not sure what we expected when we joined Ridgeway House but I am absolutely sure that our House Master Mr. Hodgson did not know what he was letting himself in for. Within a few hours of arriving, I had been shown the smoking den at the back of House by our then Head of House - still a friend today - and fallen foul of the nicknaming convention by asking for Mr. Masher when I took my new friends Clare Lewis (Ridgeway 1977-79) and Tanya Woolf (Ridgeway 1977-1979) to visit Collinson House.

Nicknames were just part of the school language. My parents were both amused and bemused when I returned home for my first exeat fluent in Mill Hill speak. My father was fascinated when I first said “seven” as a sarcastic rejoinder to my younger brother.

Indeed, this newly discovered language quickly embedded itself into my parent’s vocabulary, so much so that when Mrs Hugunin (matron) said “hello” to my mother in Mill Hill Broadway one Saturday afternoon, my mother could only remember Mrs Hugunin’s nickname, which she clearly couldn’t use. After an uncomfortable silence she stammered “Hello Corinne’s Matron”.

Nestling in the leafy London suburbs, Mill Hill was a far cry from the prissy day school which Clare, and I had previously attended.

Mill Hill’s proud liberal heritage extended to the classrooms.

The masters expertly dealt with their pupils’ misdemeanours and pranks. An empty briefcase balanced on the top of the English classroom door elicited merely a resigned “Children” when it was spotted by our teacher. These were also the days of the infamous MHSPJS – the practical joke society whose membership was a closely guarded secret (it was rumoured that the Head Boy was a member). Whenever they played a joke, they left calling cards printed The MHSPJS was here. As my parents and I walked to the chapel for my first Carol service we glanced up and high in the sky, illuminated by the stars, a rhinoceros skull

We girls quickly enjoyed everything that boarding school life had to offer, including nocturnal trips to “Calamities” an all-night burger bar in Hampstead. Possession of a car was strictly forbidden to boarders. Our Saturday night fun was supposed to be confined to drinking warm beer at the “Puke” – our sixth form centre. One brave member of Ridgeway hid his car a few streets away and every so often a group of us would sneak out of house in the dark, cram into his orange Honda Civic and escape to enjoy the delights of the best burgers Hampstead had to offer. However, the rarity of girls amongst the boys could also be a hindrance to rule breaking as we were to find out. One Saturday a rumour circulated that someone was having a party in Mill Hill Broadway. Plans were quickly hatched – a group of us would sign out of house and go to the “puke”. Once signing in at the sixth form centre, ensuring that Mr Masher, on sixth form duty had spotted us, we would all sneak out through McClure and into the awaiting Honda Civic. Sadly, for us, a girl with long blonde hair was spotted climbing into the forbidden car with a group of friends. I was easily identified as by association were the others who had signed out of Ridgeway House with me. We were all gated.

The two years at Mill Hill passed all too quickly for us girls, but perhaps not for Mr Hodgson who had during this time exercised extreme patience in dealing with his exotic new charges. His jaw had visibly dropped when we tottered through the grass dressed in high heels, brown and white striped rugby shirts and miniskirts to support Ridgeway in the inter-house rugby tournament. Our hair in bunches, enthusiastically waving pompoms we shouted, “Two four six eight who do we appreciate – Ridgeway!!” This certainly was not what Mr Hodgson had intended when he had encouraged everyone in the House to cheer the players on. Later that first term he looked on in horror as we performed a dance to Rod Stewart’s “Do ya think I’m sexy” at our first House Hog. However, I think he was impressed when he caught me coming out of the smoking den on my last day at school. Ever the master of understatement – he simply said, “Well you kept that one quiet Mellor!”

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1979 Priestley: Melanie Powell, front row, fourth from left, Susannah Williams, on her right is a still a good friend

Melanie Powell (Priestley 1978-80) highlights some ups and down of being one of a small cohort of girls and how her experience gave her a sense of self-worth and confidence I joined the sixth form at Mill Hill, at a time of change for the school. It was only the second year that there had been a ‘full’ intake of girls, and Mill Hill still had the atmosphere of a traditional but friendly boys’ boarding school. I had come from an all-girls school, arriving at Mill Hill because it offered the A-Level courses I needed for my ambition to read medicine. Of course, I was nervous, but I expect the boys felt the same way, too.

The house system helped develop a real sense of community.

I remember one half term all of us in the lower six in Priestley came into school and re-decorated our shared study. Looking back on it, it was a rather garish yellow and orange. But we loved it and I think it stayed that colour for years to come! I specially

1980s Netball was one of the first girl specific sports to be played MHS Girls sports offer had expan ded to included netball

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recall a biology field trip to the school’s house in Dent, high up in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Although we were there to work, it was fun and a chance to get to know each other out of the school environment and was a truly magical week.

In those days as well as Saturday school there was something called, ‘winter timetable’, which meant on 3 days a week we stopped lessons at lunchtime so the boys could do sports practise in daylight with lessons resuming in the late afternoon.

There was little in the way of team sport organised for the girls so cookery lessons were hastily arranged to occupy us on one of those days. It was where I learnt how to make choux pastry!

Although the boys may not have agreed, being a girl was not always an advantage. There were so few of us that everyone knew who we were, so there could be no misbehaving! But on the plus side we had some of the best parts in school plays, I had a role as the awful wife in the school production of Moliere’s Le Malade Imaginaire. Above all my two years in the Mill Hill sixth form endowed me with a sense of self-worth and confidence that helped shape my future. I also made wonderful friends who I still see to this day.

1979 Sports day

Dr Melanie Powell

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

‘But on the plus side we had some of the best parts in school plays, I had a role as the awful wife in the school production of Moliere’s Le Malade Imaginaire’

Sports scholar Natalie Webster (School 1988-2002), who now plays for England in the Australian Rules Football team, cultivated a strong sense of sportsmanship at school which has set her up for life Sport holds a special significance in the lives of all Mill Hill pupils and everyone took to the field, pitch or pool with enthusiasm. I mostly took part in netball, hockey, rounders and cross country and found sports in general to be teeming with engaging training sessions, eagerly anticipated matches and spirited house competitions. We were never short of an opportunity to challenge ourselves: I was even entered into the Barnet and Middlesex Athletics Championships where I won a silver medal in the hurdles. As a sports scholar I was on the pitch(es) more than most; a very lucky situation given if I wasn’t playing sport I was probably getting into trouble. My Dad, Martin (House 197579) tells me it was the same for him when he was at School. I guess the apple doesn’t fall that far from the tree.

1979 school production of Moliere’s Le Malade imaginaire as reported in the School magazine: Melanie Powell ‘gave a confident and mature performance as Argan’s sef-interetted “clever “ while; Suzanne Kamasa ‘sustained her role well. She and Jeremy Culverhouse provided some of the best entertainment of the evening with their musical offering. Louise, Argan’s younger daughter, was played by Alison Rabin who succeeded in getting across just the right mixture of naivete and guise’. Susie Williams (righthand side of the stage) was also in the play

My schedule was jam packed: in upper Sixth I captained the Netball team, and played 1st XI Hockey in School and played for the Middlesex county teams for both sports, alongside some of my peers. The guidance I received from the experienced and dedicated team of coaches at Mill Hill made a huge difference to my relationship with sport, teamwork, and leadership. In particular Stuart Henly our extremely talented, (and I seem to remember, patient!) hockey coach, Janice Campbell our no-nonsense and sincere netball coach and Adam Morton the constantly supportive head of PE. I have always been an instinctual player, bolstered by natural athleticism (thanks Mum and Dad for the genetics) but natural ability will only ever get you so far. The teachers and coaches at Mill Hill shared their talents and wisdom with us. They taught us about dedication, sportsmanship, inclusion, resilience, discipline, and recognition of merit. These qualities, instilled during my formative years, now serve as guiding principles that shape my approach to sports in my adult life.

After leaving School I played a bit of hockey at university then in what seemed a blink of any eye I was 25 years old and hadn’t played team sports in years. I had a business as a personal trainer and development coach, I’d taken up cycling and was keeping fit enough but I found myself asking the question: do I even need team sports anymore? Serendipitously, on group cycle ride, a friend said to me in thick Aussie twang ‘Tals, you’re a gun! You should come to training’. The time I spent at school cultivated within me that signature Millhillian confidence that prompted me to say, ‘Sure, why not?’.

Girls mainly got involved in the minor sports: badminton proved popular partly because there was already had a mixed doubles team with girls from The Mount School so we were able to play competitively. I recall being beaten in the singles finals a Barnet county match against a Mount girl.

In the summer we joined in athletics – including the shot put - tennis and swimming but there was no sense that you were limited in any way. I had a go at shooting, played squash, fives and learnt trampolining. Mr Turnbull tried to get me into golf but I just couldn’t connect the club with the ball so I gave up but carried on going to tea at his house; his wife served delicious shortbread biscuits. School teams weren’t really a thing until my second year when enough girls had joined the school to create a netball team.

It was, however, possible to to represent the house: being a athletic girl meant you were probably a better bet than the least sporty boy, so you had a chance of being picked for the team. I seem to remember playing house hockey and being the only girl on the pitch which was a bit terrifying.

Unfortunately, there were no concessions when it came to the obligatory cross-country runs. Clare Lewis (Ridgeway 1977-79)

Natalia plays for the Sussex Swans who made it to the final of the 2021 Australian Football League. AFL Women’s is Australia’s national semiprofessional Australian rules football league for female players

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Natalie played for the England team when they took 3rd Place at the AFL Eurocup in Kiel, Germany, July 2023

‘The time I spent at school cultivated within me that signature Millhillian confidence that prompted me to say, ‘Sure, why not?’’

Before I’d even figured out what ‘a gun’ was I had picked up the sport of Australian Rules Football (AFL).

AFL is a fast paced, high intensity, full contact sport with a long list of seemingly bonkers rules. Beyond the sheer athleticism required to play, it was the culture of inclusion, community, fairness, and camaraderie that really drew me in.

The Sussex Swans, the club I joined, are particularly known for all these qualities and were immediately evident to me in the way newbies were welcomed into the ‘family’. Furthermore, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it meant a lot to me that this club took the time to publicly and proudly demonstrate their dedication to inclusion and the celebration of diversity.

The club felt like a safe, comfortable place to try something completely new.

The Sussex Swans women’s team entered the AFL London League for the first time the season that I joined and we made AFL history by winning the league without conceding a single point.

I was very proud to be awarded ‘Best Newbie’ out of several strong contenders, and was subsequently invited to trial for the England squad. Being selected to represent England in the 2022 AFL Eurocup was a huge surprise and certainly not what I thought I’d be doing in the latter half of my twenties. In June 2022 we went to Edinburgh to play the annual 9-a-side tournament to contest for the title of champions of Europe. We made it to finals, but sadly lost out to Ireland. I’m

not sure how many goals I scored over the duration of that tournament, but I was England’s Top Goal Scorer. I got a medal and everything. To me, this unexpected sporting encore is a real testament to the value of support, community, passion, confidence, and resilience.

This year the English Vixens – as the England Team is known - travelled to Kiel, Germany, to compete in the 2023 AFL Europcup. As is unfortunately too often the case in lesser known sports, there is extremely limited funding for international AFL athletes. The Old Millhillians Club have made a generous donation, as part of the Club’s investment in sport

programme, to cover the cost of travel, accommodation, and insurance.

In supporting me, the Club has allowed me to focus my energy and attention on representing the English Vixens to the best of my abilities. I am extremely grateful for the support from the OMC and in particular Club officer, Laura Turner and OMC Sports Ambassador David Kelly (Ridgeway 197X-1980) who have made this happen. The support of the Club, my incredible Sussex Swans, and my number one fans, Mum and Dad, the English Vixens were able to give the Irish Banshees a run for their money!

‘In supporting me, the Club has allowed me to focus my energy and attention on representing the English Vixens to the best of my abilities’

Natalia, holding the ball, captained the 2013 MHS netball team playing alongside Yoda Chrisostomou, Amy Green, Georgia Green

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MOVING WITH THE TIMES

THE MIDDLESEX SCHEME In 1945 Middlesex county council introduced a bursary scheme offering boys the opportunity to attend a top public boarding school; an idea whole heartedly embraced by MHS. Over the next 20 years nearly 600 boys enjoyed the benefits of an MHS education.

‘Middlesex boy’ Gerry Westoby (Ridgeway 1956-61) describes the impact the scheme had on shaping the school, the boys and and their lives beyond The start of the scheme in 1945 caused concern amongst the staff and OMs, suggesting that the school might lose something general and educationally, by admitting so many boys from the state sector. Boy oh boy, did they get that wrong. The contribution to the school and the OMs from the Middlesex Scheme scholars has been enormous. From 1945 to 1965, nearly 600 boys benefited from the scheme and, at any given time after 1949, there were at least 100 boys at the school, which was about 25%. Figures state that between 1951 and 1962, 135 Middlesex Scholars went to Universities. Results on the other side of school life were equally encouraging. Many boys became Monitors, School Prefects and even Head boys. A large number represented the school’s 1st teams in Rugby, Hockey and Cricket.

Looking back, my interview was a bit of a blur. I answered some Maths and French questions, but the panel seemed to be more interested in one of my references, who was the Rt. Hon. Iain Macleod MP Minister of Labour in the Tory Government. His son was a great friend of mine. I got in.

Following the obligatory visit to Blenheim Steps to order my school uniform, my mother and I wandered down Wills Grove and passed Collinson, where a boy was leaning out of the window picking his nose. Not impressed!

My previous experience of being away at prep school helped a great deal, but my first term was a steep learning curve, which included fagging and the colours tests. The fact that I was a Middlesex boy never really bothered me. It wasn’t an issue. It is said that one’s schooldays are the best days of your life. In my case, they came very close. It was on the games field rather than the classroom where I excelled. I was in the Hockey and Cricket 1st elevens for three years and in the Rugby 1st XV for two. I believe the time I spent playing games was detrimental to my academic results:

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Many of the Middlesex boys excelled at MHS and became monitors. Circled, from left to right: Robert Hudgell, Peter Huston and Peter Armitage

7 O Levels! C’est la vie. I was a school prefect, had a headline in the Daily Telegraph when I scored 87 against St. Paul’s, went on two cricket tours to Holland and scored a century against The Hague.

In my last term, I had an interview at The Bank of England. The director, who interviewed me knew Willie Gallagher and I had a reference from Iain Macleod. So I got that job. I started playing Rugby for the OMs 1st XV. Although the Bank had a marvellous drama society, I became bored with Bank life. So I applied for a job with Lipton’s Tea Company. I was interviewed by a director called Wilmshurst. I asked him whether he had a son who played rugby for Esher, as I had played against a Wilmshurst a few weeks before.

That and the Macleod reference, I got that job. After 18 months, I was to be sent to Calcutta for two and a half years, but on advice of my Godfather, I didn’t. I applied for a job in the City. The director, who interviewed me, was very keen on Rugby and wanted to know whether I was the Westoby, who appeared regularly in the Rugby Old Boys column in the Telegraph. So with the Macleod reference, I got that job. I stayed there for the next 27 years. Looking back, I am extremely grateful that the School and the OMs Club have opened doors for me. I doubt that I would have had those opportunities had I remained in the state sector. Who knows!

The Middlesex Scheme was regarded as a success from every point of view. The Court of Governors regarded, as a retrograde

Gerry Westoby among other Middlesex boys played for the First XV

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step, the disappearance of the Scheme, which was one of the results of the Greater London Plan. The County of Middlesex disappeared in 1965. Nevertheless, some former Middlesex boroughs continued with an assisted places scheme, which benefited quite a few boys who went to the school.

There was an 80th anniversary lunch at Eton last year to celebrate that in 1942, Lord Fleming was asked to produce a report about the relation of independent schools and the state sector. That is why we are called ‘The Fleming Boys and Girls.’ The scheme was not just for schools in Middlesex. Schools represented at the lunch, although we were by far the largest contingent, were Harrow, Eton, Winchester, Marlborough, Wellington and others including Wickham Abbey and Westonbirt School for the girls.

‘ It was not difficult to work out who were Middlesex boys. However, it simply did not matter. We were quickly absorbed into the arcane world of fagging and colours tests. As time went by, it became clear that we were more than pulling our weight. A high proportion of Middlesex boys became Monitors, School Prefects, House Prefects and took leading roles in the life of the school’ Keith Armistead (Scrutton 1950-56)

Gerry Westoby in the back row second from the right. Middlesex boys represented the school in many sports and for the OMs after leaving school

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

THE MIDDLESEX SCHEME: STORIES Bob Hudgell (Winterstoke 1954-59)

Bob with his mother on the day the Queen came to visit in 1957 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Schools foundation

I went to Mill Hill public school, following in my brother David’s footsteps. We both secured Middlesex County Council grants, for which I shall be forever grateful as life at Mill Hill was a happy time. I became Head of my house, Winterstoke and then Head of School.

I played tennis at Mill Hill and was a member of the team who in 1958 won the Youll Cup: a Senior Competition open to all Public Schools of which 64 were in the first round. The first pair was Tim Phillips and Mike Corby and I was paired with Peter Worrall. We played, not on the hallowed grass of Wimbledon, but on the clay courts at the far extremity of the grounds. We retained the Cup in 1959.

I was also Captain of boxing and Hon. Sec. of the Ist XV rugby and 1st XI cricket teams, enjoyed squash and fives but had trouble with hockey because I was a left-handed batsman. My most vivid recollections are of playing rugby for the 1st XV on Top Field in local ‘derby’ matches against the likes of Harrow, St Paul’s and Merchant Taylors. Playing cricket on Parks was a privilege as it is one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in England with a pavilion to match. Our cricket master was O.J. Wait - he was the ex-Captain of Oxford University cricket XI. The cricket team toured Holland in the summer of 1958. We played on coconut matting - as all of Holland did in 1959 and had matches in Amsterdam, Hilversum, Harlem, Deventer and The Hague. We stayed in the homes of the Dutch opposition. Happy memories and probably the inspiration for my return visits to Holland in later years.

I achieved 8 ‘0’ levels and 3 ‘A’ levels in Physics, Chemistry and Maths for science, which was the requirement to get into University: in September 1959 I went to study civil engineering at Nottingham. We were all involved in the University rugby XV, but, perhaps regretfully in retrospect, I maintained my allegiance to the Old Millhillians and travelled down to London every Saturday morning to play for the Ist XV at Headstone Lane. In the 1960s the OMs had a strong fixture list and I was playing against the lst XVs of teams like Bedford, Wasps, Rosslyn Park, Northampton and London Irish. In particular, in 1959/1960, I was in demand to play scrum half in place of the great Johnny Williams who was off playing for England or Middlesex or other representative games. This was also the era of Jim Roberts and I played alongside him many times. During this time my fly-half was Chris Spong, whose father Roger was one half of the legendary duo of OM England Internationals Sobey and Spong in the 1930s.

Bob, sitting second from left, played for the cricket team: ‘playing on Parks was a privilege as it is one of the most beautiful crickets rounds in England with a pavillion to match’

Winning the Yo

ull Cup at Wim

bledon 1958

Bob was part of the 1959 First XV team along with Arthur Ferryman

b On parade: Bo

was an active

member of th

e CCF

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JIM ROBERTS (COLLINSON 1945-50) When the Middlesex Scheme was announced in 1945, I was told firmly by my parents that they thought I would have a much greater opportunity in life by going to board at a Public School. I was horrified as I was very happy at Drayton Manor Grammar School in Hanwell. was very keen on soccer and didn’t want to play rugby. I had an interview with Dr J.S. Whale, which was terrifying, but a few days later I was informed I had got a place.

In early September 1945, I arrived at Collinson House. Donald Hall was the housemaster.

There were 15 new boys coming from a wide variety of schools and I found out later that 5 were Middlesex boys. Despite our varied backgrounds, we all became friendly in the new Jim Rober ts surroundings. Discipline was severe, fagging and the year system were very strong, and you disobeyed your seniors at your peril.

Being a soccer fanatic, I had brought a ball with me and I took it on Collinson Field and kicked it about. The Head of House told me that Mill Hill played rugby and soccer balls were not allowed. A few days later, I did the same thing, the Head of House reminded me of what he had said and I received three ‘whacks’ with a slipper. It was the first of many. Years later, my younger son found an old Punishment Book which I appeared in regularly. It said ‘Typical Robertian attitude to all forms of authority – 6’.

When I look back at the time I spent at Mill Hill, I am quite certain that using the Middlesex Scheme was one of the best decisions my parents ever made. I believe that it was very rewarding for them, as it was so instrumental in helping me to succeed academically, in developing my sporting abilities, enabling me to get into Cambridge, a commission in the Army and to have a reasonably successful business career.

Another huge benefit was joining the Old Millhillians Club. The club enabled me to continue the friendships I made at school. The number of OM dinners I have attended around England and around the world is an indication of the enthusiasm and loyalty ex-pupils have for the club. However, I am very grateful to my parents for the sacrifices they made, and I remain hugely thankful to both Mill Hill and the Middlesex Education for the pleasure my parents gained from what Mill Hill did for me and my brother.

Jim went on to play for England at Rugby from 1960–64 (18 caps), Cambridge University (3 Blues 1952/53/54), The Old Millhillians, Middlesex, and Sale.

1st XI Cricket 1948

Jim Roberts wo

1st XI Hockey

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1948

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England ying rugby for n 18 caps pla

Jim had a n u mb e r o f England the final tr trails. Ane ial at Twic cdotally, in kenham, Ji 1960, hav consider g m’s wife su ing played iving up o ggested th n his dream at it was tim 28. In orde of playing r to chang e to for Englan e the conve only to he d, as he w rsation, Ji ar that he a s now m switched had b e e n against W on the rad selected fo ales at Tw io , r h is d ic ebut Intern kenham; a which he ational mat game that scored tw ch England w o tries. on 14-6 an d in

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MOVING WITH THE TIMES

MICHAeL CORBY (Winterstoke 1953-58) During his time at Mill Hill Mike was a top-class sportsman, winning the Drysdale cup for squash, the junior Wimbledon cup for tennis as well as playing schoolboy hockey for England.

He went on to become an athlete and competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1872 Summer Olympics in playing field hockey. He represented England at the 1987, 1969 and the 1971 World Team Squash Championships and he was England number one for eight or nine years. Mike went from being an athlete to found The Fitness Exchange, now the most successful chain of its fitness clubs in Britain.

Mike Corby competed in the 1964 and 1972 Summer Olympics

In a recent an article in the Guardian Mike expressed the view he led a charmed life. After school he took a job as an insurance broker at Lloyds Bank, but it wasn’t this career that became the main feature of his life. He was asked to play hockey by the premier team in London and part of his prize for winning the Drysdale cup was a year’s membership of the RAC. “The RAC also asked me to play squash for them,” he re calls. “So, from playing for them and playing hockey with Hounslow, I got into the England squash and hockey teams.” His break into the world of fitness clubs came in the early 70s when playing a game of squash with an engineer called Robin Anderson, who was rebuilding London Bridge. “I’d played squash in the world championships in 1967 and 1971 and I’d seen the growth of squash clubs in Australia in Sydney. It got me interested in the idea. “At the time I was the British number one and it seemed a way to expand upon a passion of mine. So, I asked Robin if they had any area to build some squash courts. He said ‘no, but we have a bloody big hole on the north side that’s certainly big enough.’”

Three years later he opened the first squash club in the City of London area. The feeling was that he wouldn’t get any membership, since nobody would have time during a lunch break to play a game of squash. “I knew how the City worked at that time,” he remembers. “It wasn’t really a strict regime of nine-to five; people could have two-hour lunches. “I didn’t really have a business plan per se, other than one on the back of an envelope.”

Potential disaster struck, however, when one of his backers pulled out. I went to see the banks but nearly all of them said they knew me as a sportsman, thought it was a good idea but asked me to come back when I was going to open the second one. In the end a man who worked for NatWest said that for every 50 memberships I sold he would give me £10,000. The next day a man came asking about membership and thought we must be full.

I told him I was looking for memberships and he said he could get me 10. The day after that he gave me a cheque for 50 memberships, so I got my backing.”

Mike Corby squash pla was also an internat ional yer

After the success of the first venture he was offered a site in Spitalfields by the City of London.

“It was the old fruit and wool exchange. I took the lease and built four squash courts.” After building another five clubs around London, Corby realised he needed a brand to cover them all, which is how The Fitness Exchange was born.

Graham Drake (Ridgeway 1957-62) Going to a private boarding school from a two bedroom flat in Wembley and lacking the trappings of the majority of pupils was very different. I never knew how many in my year were there because of the Middlesex Scheme. In fact, the first time I became aware was when I organised a 50-year Reunion as a result of searching for contact details. I think about 40% of my year in Ridgeway were Scholarship pupils.

The aspect that made my years at Mill Hill was sport: I played for the School in about seven different sports. My academic results were just about passable. What I gained from my School years

was an incredible lifetime of ex-Mill Hill friends. I was also lucky in the Schools’ proximity to London as it made keeping in in touch possible over the long term with those I knew who worked there.

I look around and see what other pupils from different Schools have done and how their long-term friendships have endured. Mill Hill has definitely “punched” above its weight. I would say and the “Scholarship boys “ in percentage terms have achieved beyond anyone’s best anticipation! A testimony to a Better Chance the Scheme offered.

Graham Drake went on to become Chairman of the RFU, Chairman of the LTA and is currently Managing Director at Thurleigh Estates.

‘As a seven-year-old boy I lost 60 % of my hearing capacity; fortunately, as my surname began with A, I was always put at the front of the class so it was not obvious to some masters, but I was often teased, so the school regime became a tough environment in which to strengthen character and confidence. I was a House Prefect, played rugby for the school and enjoyed the triumphs and the camaraderie. I acquired the ease of communicating with people at all levels. Most important of all, I gained good friends for life.

Having been a fair rugby player, I joined the OMRFC, where I experienced goodwill, generosity and encouragement. To my surprise, I was asked to be President of the Club, becoming the fifth member of the ’45 entry and the third with a Middlesex Bursary.”

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DONALD KNIGHT (BURTON BANK 1954-59) At the age of 13, the prospect of an interview for Mill Hill loomed like a dark cloud as I felt I had to live up to my older brother Derek’s reputation (Derek was at Burton Bank 194550). In the event, the headmaster, Roy Moore, and other staff were very kind to me as we sat around a large desk in his study. Thankfully Mr McAllister, who had taught my brother, was present, and understanding my nervousness said “Let’s go and do some maths”, which we did as an aside on a corner of the desk while my father spoke to the others. We talked about quadratic equations and what maths I had been doing. Later on, in another room, tests on English, general knowledge, French, maybe even Latin, and more maths followed. I remember sitting on a long bench in this room with a couple of other entrants, writing furiously. An acceptance letter came a week or two later, much to my father’s joy and to my surprise and, I have to say, consternation. I would be living away from home, in a strange school, having to make new friends and even becoming a ‘fag’. My brother had told me several ‘dark’ stories of the many awful things they had done to new entrants in his day, stories related with relish and with all the trimmings! What was I getting into I wondered?

1950s Newcastle cas

‘Fagging’, so called, was still very much part of your first-year experience then. On arrival in 1954 at the age of 13, for some reason, I was selected by the then Head of House at BB. I had to polish his shoes every day, clean his study, press his clothes, iron his CCF uniform with numerous creases to within a mm of their ‘correct’ length and to the right pattern, cook on Sundays or evenings (typically baked beans, sausages and eggs on toast, preferably not burnt, otherwise you had to start all over again) and carry out numerous trivial other duties for him and other prefects.

To summon us at any time of the day, the senior boys in BB would shout “Fag” and we had to drop whatever we were doing, run as fast as we could and line up outside the door from whichever study we thought the voice had emanated from. The last in the queue was then picked for whatever task was to be performed. If the prefect spotted that you were frequently last, you got an extra penalty duty. It was tough in those days, with beatings by cane or slipper administered by the Head of House or Housemaster, the details of which had to be recorded in the House ‘Punishment book’. By the time I became Head of House, 5 years later, the system had moderated a little, but I had to pretend to beat as hard as the housemaster on occasions when a whole dorm had misbehaved and both of us were administering due punishment, starting at opposite ends of a particular row of beds.

It was my form and Latin master, the Reverend Figgis, who succeeded in starting me off on a path of enjoyment in learning and of aiming high. I was in form 4B, a B stream class, not having shone much at Harrow, but the classes were small in size and we got a lot of attention from all the staff. They were remarkable individuals, not just with numerous prizes from Oxbridge, but were great personalities as well. One day I came top in a Latin homework test, at which point Mr Figgis produced an apple and duly plonked it down in front of me with a ‘well done’ type of comment. I thought this was great and I tried even harder to please him. At the end of the year I won the form prize for all subjects, and was promoted to the top set. In my second year. I won a prize there too and never looked back. Unlike Adam & Eve, the apple was a portent of good things to come.

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tle parade

Being at boarding school meant that there was no possible way of escaping school discipline, and the style suited me down to the ground. I sat 8 ‘O’ levels, then did technical drawing as an extra, making 9 in all. I sadly had to drop Biology, Geography and History, as 8 or 9 were the maximum we were allowed to sit in those days. I excelled at maths, winning prizes in both the lower and upper sixth forms as the best candidate, and still have the books with Roy Moore’s signature in them. I sat two ‘A’ levels in the lower sixth (Maths and Further Maths) one year early, possibly just to save the teachers the trouble of setting their own exam paper! I passed them both. In the upper sixth, I sat them again with ‘S’ level (Scholarship level) papers in Maths, Further Maths & Physics, again happily passing them all. I also studied Biology, Latin (up to ‘A’ level) and Poetry, together with Greek philosophy in the sixth form as subsidiary subjects, although I took no exams in them. It was good just to enjoy them without any pressure. In 1957 I remember the science block burning down one Saturday night, and was out of use for 6 months while they rebuilt the roof.

It was thought someone had left a Bunsen-burner on – not me I hasten to add!

‘Even being in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) was fun, undertaking military training once a week – square bashing, learning new skills and leadership’ Sporting activities and opportunities at Mill Hill were excellent and I remember playing rugby a lot, cricket as little as possible, squash endlessly, as well as being in the house gymnastics team and making use of both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Not to be forgotten were the weekly cross-country runs, often organised at a house level. I played regularly for the 2nd and 3rd XV rugby teams (hooker), beating Harrow, I remember, with considerable pride. Mill Hill was a good environment to grow up in and although not previously regarding myself as athletic, I prospered from all the sporting opportunities.

Even being in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) was fun, undertaking military training once a week – square bashing, learning new skills and leadership. We had a superb brass band and marched out on important occasions and paraded on every remembrance Sunday. The drum-major was Arthur Ferryman, another Middlesex scholar at BB (1954-59). I eventually came to be in charge of the Engineers’ section, and learnt about building Bailey bridges, learning every part by heart, as well as the assembly order. We even had a model version to practise on. I learnt a lot about knots and lashings, especially for making cranes and lifting devices from just long poles and plenty of rope. We also had to train in firearms, using the .22 rifle range we had at school. I got my marksmanship badge fairly early on and kept it for the duration of my time at school, being tested every term. We even fired 303 Bren guns on army ranges on days out.

One summer we went away for a whole fortnight to join the Royal Engineers at their army camp in Thetford, Norfolk. What an experience that was – building pontoons, boats out of oil drums to cross lakes, booby-trapping houses and learning all about nasty tricks to fool the enemy. We had two teams and we set to work boobytrapping our house, using tricks like placing pressure sensitive devices under carpets and floorboards, on stairs, on a single wire attached to a door handle so that when you opened the door it went off and, in a similar manner, when you raised the lid of the toilet seat (or sat on it!), pulled the chain, or even took one lump of coal out of the coal bunker, etc. We then swopped houses and had to defuse what the other team had prepared for us. Great fun, and quite frightening when you were caught out, as the explosives were very much louder than bangers! The regular soldiers were very good to us, but told us awful stories and tried to overawe us – in which they succeeded. Handling plastic explosives, with a primer and a detonator all wired up was terrific and even better when one soldier blew up two old railway lines for us as a demonstration! Back at school, full of enthusiasm, I got permission to construct

‘I was showing a very small boy around School House with his father, when after the tour he turned to me and said that he was a window cleaner and had never seen such an amazing building and couldn’t believe that his son was going to be pupil at the school.

This has stuck in my memory, and I have found out that the boy, although not an active OM, has done very well in the City.’ Head of House Ronny Cohn (Weymouth 1959-63) (not a Middlesex boy)

In my first year I joined the chapel choir and sang treble until my voice broke. We had a 78 rpm record made of us all singing an anthem in chapel one day, and it is still in my attic at home, sadly with nothing to play it on! On a different tack, when in the 6th form, I remember going to a West End theatre from school one evening to see ‘West Side Story’ with our form master.

It was ear splittingly loud and absolutely fantastic, as I never had the opportunity to go to musicals that much. Our form master was disgusted with the plot, violence and sexual innuendo, and lectured us afterwards that this sort of thing should not really be on the stage at all. So why did he take us, I wondered?

‘There was a vast range of activities and societies: belonging to the School Choir was a special experience, Hans Berge, Director of Music, was truly inspirational.

Above all, the Middlesex Scheme instilled a measure of confidence and a wider range of interests than would otherwise have been possible. I am sure it smoothed my way to Cambridge and was invaluable in developing a successful career in Human Resources, a key aspect of which is enabling people to realise their full potential. This is at the core of what the Middlesex Scheme provided for us all those many years ago’ Keith Armistead (Scrutton 1950-56)

Looking back, I owe a great debt to the Middlesex scheme that made all this possible, and I have much to thank Mill Hill school for, and especially the Revd Figgis.

Never underestimate the influence of a good teacher.

Donald Knight was Professor at University of Birmingham and is Emeritus Professor of Water Engineering

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

‘Fagging’, so called, was still very much part of your first-year experience’

an assault course on some derelict land in woods at the back of BB. We built a wall, logs to scramble over and a deep-water jump. I made the left-hand side of the pool much deeper than the right hand side, but since the water was so muddy, you couldn’t tell the difference just by looking at it. As two people tried to jump over it (you couldn’t actually leap over it at one go, as it was deliberately too wide), they got a big surprise as when they fell in, one went in up to his knees while the other went in up to his waist! That taught them a lesson or two.

‘I believe unequivocally that the opportunity offered by the Middlesex Scheme for an education, and a full exposure to all that comes with public school life, has given me confidence, self-belief and social opportunities that would have been difficult to come by had I continued along the grammar school rather than to take on the challenge and excitement of the Mill Hill experience’.

Anon ‘Mill Hill totally changed my life.

Never wanted to admit it.’

Tony Fitzjohn

Donald Knight was Head of House in 1959

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EXPANDING HORIZONS 2005-23

Tag Rugby training in process

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2019 MHS pupils on the ground at Linda Primary School in Lusaka, Zambia

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

2023 Zimbabwe: Burton Bank Housemaster Graeme Turner established the overseas partnership with the Tag Rugby Trust in 2008

Burton Bank Housemaster Graeme Turner reignited the School’s overseas partnerships programme with the Tag Rugby Trust, a charity whose aim is to initiate positive and lasting change for individuals and communities, using the universal power and simplicity of team sport. An ambition which nicely dovetails with the School’s ambition for its pupils. All you need to take part in one of the annual trips to Africa is enthusiasm and curiosity the rest takes care of itself

In 2008, on my first Tag Rugby Trust (TRT) trip to Jinja, the adventure capital of Uganda, East Africa, following on from months of UK-based training and fundraising, we had finished another long day in the piercing heat coaching tag rugby to pupils from local schools. It was the night before the final tournament and exhausted but full of hope, we reclined around a roaring campfire watching a breath-taking sunset and listening to the distinctive sounds of the African bush as we shared our favourite moments of the trip. One-by-one the pupils began to recount their experience of being in Africa and slowly but surely the tears flowed. It was in that moment, I realised this wasn’t just ‘another’ school trip: it was a long-term project, a commitment by the school and pupils, to work in partnership with the charity not just on the ground but throughout the year.

“Over the last 15 years, Mill Hill staff and pupils have coached tag rugby to 4760 African children, run 18 tournaments that have bought communities together, painted 12 classrooms, refurbished an old people’s home and supplied so much school uniform and sports kit it’s hard to keep count…”

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I’d been teaching at Mill Hill since 2000 and had been keen to drive a new Overseas Partnership with the school. A Google search revealed the TRT charity, which combined two of my favourite things, Africa and rugby: I had previously spent an informative three years teaching Chemistry in Botswana before my move to North London. When I stared out I had no idea that it would also strike such a chord across the MHS community in the way that it has.

In 2019, prior to Covid, the popularity of the trip was impressive with over 80 pupils applying for 40 places. As I write this, on our first trip since the pandemic, I am accompanying 20 pupils and three members of staff heading to the Sizinda Camp, a new area of focus for the charity, on the outskirts of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. On the plane with me is former staff member David Woodrow (MHS 1981-2017) on his fifth trip and former pupil, Bardia Gougani (Burton Bank 2016-20) on his second trip, which serves as a reminder of the lasting impact working with the charity has had.

One of the reasons this partnership has sustained is down to the fact no specific qualifications are required and participants don’t need to fit a ‘type’: we’ve had girls, boys, outgoing, shy, sporty, not so sporty etc. Tag rugby is a non-contact sport, and immersing yourself in the lives of the children is a skill everyone can learn and experience. Since the partnerships’ inception, now over 15 years ago, Mill Hill staff and pupils have coached tag rugby to 4760 African children, brought communities together

through the 18 tag rugby tournaments they’ve run, painted 12 classrooms, refurbished an old people’s home and supplied so much school uniform and sports kit it’s hard to keep count.

Beyond these tangible things, the school has supported the TRT year-round social outreach programmes as well as continuing to fundraise.

Returning to Zimbabwe in 2023 and reconnecting with local volunteers has been a heart-warming experience. The prospects for young Zimbabweans are bleak but the yearround programme offers life changing potential through selfimprovement, confidence building, training support and work experience for its volunteers as well as the communities they serve. I am constantly inspired by their stories from their social outreach programme encompassing female empowerment; special needs inclusion; support for street children; food security; human and wildlife conflict as well as their extensive young leadership programme.

What is also heart-warming is how the potential for personal growth is mirrored in the MHS pupils whether they are on the ground painting a building, working at the Jafuta reserve with the EleCrew elephant conservation programme or back at school fundraising to build a chicken run for an old people’s home in Chinotimba.

Tag Rugby Trust fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/trt

Campfires Zimbabwe.

The Cinotimba old people’s home before it was revamped in 2019

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The Mill HIll team including Georgia

The Chinotimba home looking splendid after refurbishment

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

Amelia on the field

“After collecting our cases through ‘hole in the wall’ manual baggage reclaim system in Zambia airport we drove to the boarding school and immediately got started with a football game with the local students.

Mindful of the four days of coaching we were expected to deliver we had an early night. Along with three others I worked with Grade 5’s (12 years old) students at two schools, one in morning, one in afternoon: in total we taught 160 kids each day.

The smiles, waves and greetings of ‘Mula Shani’ (hello!) which accompanied our walks to and from the school were unforgettable along with the swarms of children would run up to us on arrival wanting to hold our hands and give us the biggest hugs!

Although we could only pick 20 players to play for Tournament Day - giving rise to tears and smiles on decision day – it didn’t stop it being an amazing experience. By this time the students were playing Tag Rugby like professionals; myself and the other Mill Hill pupils were the referees. Saying goodbye to the 20 kids was heart breaking, they were crying, we were crying, it was all very emotional.

We then travelled by a 30-seater propeller plane to the Chobe National Park in Botswana for a safari. We got up at dawn saw a leopard, elephants, and giraffes.. Next stop was Zimbabwe where each morning we worked on an Old People’s Home - sanding and painting one of the buildings, constructing a driveway and a garden before teaching Tag Rugby In the afternoons; this time to Grade 3 and 4’s (7 and 8 year olds). This was much harder as their English was limited nonetheless we still enjoyed the coaching and tournament day, as did the kids. Our grade 3 captain, Kunashe knew he could not really play tag rugby very well but he would tell everyone what to do and was not scared to raise his voice at his teammates! I will forever cherish the memories of the amazing students I coached and the enthusiasm and laughter of everyone in Africa which made for such an incredible experience.”

Amelia Barzilay (2015-20) 2019 Tag Rugby Trip, Zimbabwe

David Woodrow

“The coaching is genuinely taxing, both physically and emotionally: the excitement of the young Africans is both rewarding as well as infectious and stimulating. It is a real pleasure to watch Millhillians grow over the course of the tour and to hear them reflecting both on their experiences and the contrasting way of life they have found in Africa. My belief and confidence in the Tag Rugby programme is such that I now volunteer and have accompanied several tours since I retired teaching at Mill Hill.”

David Woodrow, School Housemaster and Geography teacher (MHS 1981-2017)

Upper sixth form MHS pupil Bo Fraiman (Priestley 2019) designed the tour kit logo which was then painted on the wall of the Chinotimba old peoples home. On return from the Tag Rugby trip to Zimbabwe he wrote a moving letter to Grahame Turner.

ere the one cause you w ks to you be an th ally from S U rs O ed me pe on of ENORM d also embrac rite a letter an w en to pp d te ha an ip Iw lifetime tr is once-in-a that made th else the get-go. that everyone and I am sure e ell lif w y m as h of uc st two weeks I learnt so m t be e bu n th d fu as h w s n bonfire an have so muc “It genuinely equent and fu ot only did I N fr . r ay ou w e ng m vi e. to ha ies to nam feels the sa urnaments, many memor the special to are truly too e er th from hosting e, m ho , e old people’s open person to visiting th e, happy and tiv ia ec to pr e ap more n they com elf as I am a en more whe ng ange in mys acing them ev br k you for givi em d an I can see a ch an th a person, so opportunities s g as ie tin or ow ea em gr cr m e e m and am rget as th ally did help will never fo babwe trip re two weeks I is me. The Zim It it. me forever. on ith w rtunity to go nt will stick ar le e I’v at me the oppo ons th e and the less iation for that I’ve mad Their apprec excitement. d an n io ss s. Their pa e. the kid’s face ial experienc The smiles on a truly spec as w It e. lif of ve us. Their lo

rn Dear Mr Tu

er,

Bo Fraiman in the kit he designed with the Staff from the Old People’s Home

Bo, Grace and Adri lean against the wall designed by Bo

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TALKING HEAD Tim Corbett in conversation with David Benson the new Head of Mill Hill School David Benson has been appointed to succeed Jane Sanchez as Head of Mill Hill and took over when she retired from the post at half term this year. But why has David chosen to come to Mill Hill?

When I spoke to him, he described how he had initially benefitted from a world class education at St Paul’s School before he moved on to Cambridge, which he loved (and achieved a First class degree). He then entered the world of Management Consultancy, but here found the limited day-to-day interaction with other people frustrating and lacking stimulation.

Teaching, however, seemed to offer the fulfilment he desired with its emphasis on those important values of public and community service. Fast-tracked by Teach First, he entered the world of education and has spent the last 20 years teaching in several very tough Inner London state and academy schools, an experience he has found most rewarding. His last 10 years have been dedicated to setting up the very successful Kensington Aldridge Academy in south-west London.

And so why to Mill Hill? Speaking to David, I gained the impression that this was not for him a significant change of direction, a huge leap from one sector of education to another, but essentially a progression, not only in his personal career (“the best heads are always learning”) but a reflection of what he sees as the important mutual links between state and independent education. From the outset he sensed that Mill Hill, a school steeped in history and with magnificent grounds, had a very special atmosphere “You just feel it; you feel it in the way the pupils speak to teachers; and you feel it in the sense of the pride they have for their school.” He was struck by the happy mood of everyone at Belmont when he visited on Parents’ Day. For him Mill Hill, with its non-conformist, non-elitist liberal heritage, has an ethos which is unashamedly academic but not at the cost of the wider curriculum. David believes that increasingly parents no longer

want merely an academic ‘hot house’ but an environment where academic ambition is balanced with a more holistic vision: where pastoral care, social integration, mental well-being and the development of wider interests such as sport, music and drama sit comfortably alongside a pupil’s classroom learning. For him Mill Hill, with its inspirational setting, happy culture and supportive parents, has untapped potential in this respect.

David described how he loved teaching with its “thousand daily interactions with pupils”. In his academy days when promotion beckoned, he had initially been reluctant to leave the coalface of the classroom but realised only as a head could he “change the system and have the opportunity to promote ideas and to have a wider influence.” However, he does not intend to be remote from the classroom; for instance, an invaluable use of his time each week will be to observe a whole lesson, look at pupils’ work, and then to follow up with critical feedback and discussion.

“That way I can take the temperature.”

He will also spend a lot of time talking to Heads of Department and spend a lot of time recruiting. “Good teachers can turn a school around; one teacher can make all the difference”. Recruitment of quality staff is essential, and he believes that Mill Hill, with its attractive suburban location, is a good place to attract teachers and to build a cohesive and inspirational team. But he added that as Head accountability and responsibility lies with him to do so.

David at school, back row, third from the right

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New Head of Mill Hill School David Benson who succeeded Jane Sanchez this autumn

MOVING WITH THE TIMES

St Pauls School rugby team

St Johns College Cambridge

David Benson took over as as Principal Designate at the Kensington Aldridge Academy in September 2013

From teaching we turned to pupils and the issues that confront them daily, issues ranging from mental health to social media to the transgender debate to the use of Al. “There is always something around the corner,” but David believes in the resilience of youth and that the young will always adapt to our fast-changing world. “But there should always be proportionality in debate.” For instance, mental health should not become “a self-fulfilling prophecy” where anxiety and stress should be accepted as a part of everyday life and should not be mistaken for more serious underlying health issues. As for AI, he feels it will be transcended by the skills that pupils learn.

Most importantly, he sees the School as responsible for ensuring that pupils have the necessary tools to handle these various challenges: they should be taught to be self-reliant, to think independently and to take tough decisions; they should learn to persuade and communicate, skills which will serve them well in later life and in the workplace

stretching back to the time when former pupils were instrumental in putting John McClure in place as headmaster at the end of the 19th century; it was John McClure, a renaissance man of extraordinary vision who has always been credited with saving the School when it faced extinction. Of course, over time the Old Millhillians have become less influential in their governance of the School, though they still make up a proportion of the governing body and the Life Guardians still have a role to play. David said that he was “very respectful of the Club” and was delighted to learn that it is very active on many fronts and will shortly have its first female President, and that should be a trigger for greater female involvement. A positive relationship between Club and School is essential (a relationship which has in recent years been cemented by the work of Peter Wakeham, Chair of the Old Millhillian Club, and Jane Sanchez). David is very conscious of the depth of goodwill and support that can be harnessed from the Club whose motto is appropriately “Non nobis sed scholae” – translated as “not ourselves but the School”.

unpretentious, is open”. David also added how much he is looking forward and excited to working with the other Heads in the Mill Hill Foundation.

Over the last 50 years Mill Hill has changed from being a boys’ boarding school to a co-educational school with a boarding element, but at the heart of its traditionally strong ethos has been the house system. David sees a house system, though “it may evolve and change”, as being fundamental, enabling smaller communities of staff and pupils to thrive. It enables pupils to identify, to belong, and to enjoy a healthy sense of competition. Pupils take pride in their houses and the vertical structure allows them to assume leadership roles. And in a school which is predominantly day, a boarding house can offer a positive alternative in parental choice; “being a teenager is everything in a life which is very fast paced – a 60 second Instagram – and boarding means you don’t have to rush around”. Boarding gives pupils time and space: both boarding and flexiboarding have much to offer.

Many Old Millhillians carry vivid and nostalgic memories of their houses, memories which often underpin an abiding affection for the School.

David was very conscious of the part played by Old Millhillians and the Old Millhillian Club in the School’s history

Of course, the Old Millhillians are instrumental in funding the McClure scholarship which, along with initiatives such as the School’s ‘A Better Chance’ bursaries, enables disadvantaged pupils to enter the School. Mill Hill with its non-elitist ethos has always enjoyed an inclusive tradition. For instance, many older and active former alumni owed their Mill Hill education to state funded bursaries provide by the Middlesex scheme in the 1950 and 60s. David sees it as important not only to provide for the less advantaged pupils but also to forge links with the wider community including Copthall School and Saracens. He believes a partnership with a state academy such as Copthall as being mutually beneficial; drawing on his own wide experience of such links between the independent and state sectors, he believes that, unlike some such partnerships where the independent school can be both patronising and arrogant, Mill Hill’s approach will be much more fundamental: “the spirit of Mill is

We discussed the School motto.

At Kensington Aldridge Academy he had been instrumental in choosing its School motto: ‘Intrepidus’. With its emphasis on ‘courage and bravery,’ it proved particularly pertinent at the time of the Grenville Tower fire: as well as the human tragedy, the School’s proximity to the tower meant that the School had to be immediately relocated with all the upheaval that entailed. Mill Hill’s motto is “Et virtutate and musas”: though variously interpreted, it essentially emphasises the importance of both character and learning. David recalled the less literal translation of ‘instilling values and inspiring minds’, but he said that however free the interpretation he liked the emphasis first on character and then learning, qualities essential to “the young people we want to develop.”

I asked David if there was anything he would like to say in conclusion and he emphasised how he couldn’t wait to get started. He said that he had gained the impression that “Mill Hill was a very wellled and well-functioning school” and initially “there will be a period of listening and getting to know people.” But he is tremendously excited by the huge potential that he believes Mill Hill offers, and by the challenge of leading it into a new era. He said that Elliot Lipton, the Chair of Governors, described Mill Hill as ‘a sleeping giant’ and David believes that, by any measure, Mill Hill has many advantages over other schools in the north London area, with its magnificent grounds, its special culture and legacy, its focus on pastoral care, its mix of day and boarding, and everything coeducation brings. David Benson gave the impression of a Headmaster who will be approachable and believes in the importance of team building, but also of someone who will have clear expectations of his staff and pupils.

Most importantly he gave the impression of understanding the spirit and ethos that is Mill Hill and to be ambitious for its future. We wish him every success.

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SPORTS

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Sport Clubs 2022-23 Reports

INTRODUCTION

Old Millhillians Sports Ambassador Dave Kelly played for the First XV

The Old Millhillians sports clubs have enjoyed a good year on their fields of play.

The nascent Ladies Hockey Club have established themselves as a formidable force in their league this season, finishing second, and have confirmation of promotion to the league above. Increasing membership, improved organisational structure and a leading coach have all contributed to this success.

Their social buddies, the long-established Rugby Club, have also had another outstanding season, winning their league for the second successive season, and gaining promotion back to Herts/Middx 2, which will be their highest level for many years, and will re-introduce some familiar and favourite fixtures from the distant past (Barnet, Hendon, Tabard etc).

The newly formed Football Club is also acquitting itself admirably in a new league this season. After a difficult start, we won

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8 out of 10 games, rising to fourth in the table. A key reason for our success is squad harmony and the introduction of a number of former pupils who have recently left the school, which has brought much needed youth and talent to the team.

The new season for Totteridge Old Millhillians Cricket Club is filled with promise, with a range of training and matches across all age groups, and the return to the club of John Emburey, ex England cricket captain, to help coach our senior and junior teams and enhance their enjoyment of the game. We welcome visitors to the club throughout the summer weeks and weekends to enjoy the ambience, whilst having a cool tipple at the bar.

The OM Golf Society is also in good health. Membership is currently around 140 OMs with a growing number of younger members, playing a good selection of tournaments and matches

throughout the year, although focus remains on increasing the representation of female golfers in the Society.

The OM Fives Club has a team in division 1 of the national league.

Members regularly also compete in other tournaments and competitions across the country. When not on the fives court, a strong social side to the club is key, with the annual club dinner a particular highlight of the calendar and regular trips to The Three Hammers in Mill Hill.

If you or your friends fancy improving your health and your social lives by getting involved with any of our sports clubs, please contact the relevant club members on the Club website. All support is much appreciated, either on the touchline, helping behind the scenes, or in action on the field of play. Everyone is welcome.

Dave Kelly (Ridgeway 1974-81) Old Millhillians Sports Ambassador

SPORTS

Old Millhillians Golfing Society (OMGS)

It has already been a busy season to date! Jeremy Bohn put together the strongest (and one of the youngest) squads the OMs have probably ever had for this year’s Halford Hewitt, the competitive amateur competition contested by 64 of Britain’s public schools each year in Sandwich and Deal. The squad had great depth, camaraderie and team spirit and although Mill Hill were knocked out early in the main competition, made it to the last sixteen of the Plate. The future looks promising… …That trajectory continued in May when OMs made it to the finals (for the first time in many years) of another amateur public schools’ competition, the Grafton Morrish, which took place in October. In May, 26 members of the OMGS went up to sample the golfing delights of Northumbria for 3-4 days as part of the biennial Captain’s Tour. A good time was had by all and highlights in particular included our day at Goswick Golf Club and an evening tour and a fantastic dinner at the spectacular Bamburgh Castle (the Castle is owned by the Armstrong family of whom the current incumbent, Frances Watson-Armstrong is an OM (Murray 1979-83). We had a great mix of OMs on tour, both young and old and everyone enjoyed the OMGS’s first visit to that beautiful part of the English coastline.

OMGS tour to Northumberland: May 2023 on an evening tour of Bamburgh Castle.

Closer to home, OMGS matches against the old boys of other schools continue throughout the season and these matches take place at some fine golf clubs around the South East, including the New Zealand Club and Moor Park GC. These matches are great fun, with some competitive golf, a few drinks and lots of laughs. At the time of writing we still had the September Autumn Meeting to look forward to at one of England’s top courses, Royal Cinque Ports in Deal. This is an annual weekend of golf and is a firm favourite in the OMGS calendar.

The Society currently has around 160 members and in the recent past we have a had a good intake of younger OMs. We’d like this to continue, and we are also hoping to increase the number of female members so do get in touch!

The qualifying team for the 2023 Grafton Morrish finals from left to right Jonathan Bourn Ed Amery Jeremy Bohn Peter Stern Derren Hamilton Chris Alexander

Alan Figgis (Murray 1951-57) (1938-2023) Some of you will have already read with sadness that Alan Figgis has passed away. Alan was a long-standing member of OMGS, a regular attender at the autumn meeting and support of the Halford Hewitt team. He was always a popular opponent in the foursome knock out both for his wonderful good humour and it has to be said for the opportunity to pay his superb home course, Royal St Georges. His father was School Chaplain and he became a School Monitor at the same time as the 150th anniversary visit by HM Queen Elizabeth II. His sense of humour will be remembered by those who attended a Society AGM some 20 years ago, at which there

Colin Nunn (Burton Bank 1976-81) Society Secretary Email: colinvnunn@hotmail.co.uk was prolonged discussion about a bonus issue of shares. The Society had become entitled to those by virtue of a share issue by the bank where our account was held. The problem was one of registration since the Society is not a legal entity. One kind member volunteered to acquire the shares and make a payment to the Society, solving the problem. There followed a full 10 minutes of discussion as to how this generous offer was to be achieved. Eventually everything was agreed and the Captain was on the point of moving the meeting on when Alan tentatively raised his hand. With brilliant comedic timing he stood up and asked whether any member present would be interested in buying a soft fruit farm in Kent?

Apart from his golf his chief interest was in modern art about which he was very knowledgeable. He also ran the Herne Bay Umbrella Centre for a number of years, a charity which provides services to local people with disabilities.

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Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club (TMCC)

Joe Wray and Abhay Hirani

Old Millhillians Totteridge Cricket Club

Will Munford and Captain of the XI Joe Wray

Following a very wet early spring, TMCC started the season with the ground in splendid condition, the clubhouse having had a spring clean and a lick of paint hoping for a good summer.

The club fielded three Saturday teams and two Sunday teams. The Saturday 3rd XI played their home matches at Belmont School for which they were extremely grateful after their nomadic 2022 season. The 1st XI finished third in the top league, the 2nd XI were hoping for promotion but couldn’t quite manage it and the 3rd XI finished mid table. Former England cricket captain John Emburey joined again this season helping all players to improve their game.

holiday camps which proved popular and hosted students from the Saracens High School which proved so successful we will repeat the experience again next season. TMCC are always keen to encourage any MHS Foundation schools’ budding cricketers to join us as the Club has so much to offer.

The Junior Section (U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17s), under the leadership of Shaun O’Brien and his team of coaches, had a busy season of training and matches. We held Easter and summer

The social scene wasn’t neglected either: the end of season rodeo themed summer party was great fun followed the next day by a tribute cricket match for the late David English: Bunbury CC playing a team from Saracens Rugby Club.

Ann Bunyard Club President annbunyard@icloud.com

Old Millhillians Hockey Club (OMHC) The Old Millhillians Hockey Club has made impressive strides, ascending two leagues and securing a spot in London Women’s Division 4 North West with a massive win on their last game of the season!

This achievement is a testament to the dedication of longstanding players: Layken Senior, Jo and Steph Twomey, Nicole St Hill, Yoda Chrisostomou and Charlotte Bascombe. Nicole Harvey has led the club as the team Captain alongside Olivia Brown, who co-founded the club in 2021 but currently managing it from the side lines due to injury but hoping to be back in the new year!

The team benefits from the guidance

The OMHC field a winning team

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of experienced coach Nick Harrington, recruited from Hendon and Mill Hill’s Men’s XI. Moreover, vice-captain, Charlotte Bascombe brings her wealth of experience and advanced skills to the forefront, infusing the team with her dynamic energy. As the club continues to make strides on the field there are plenty of off the field events too including the fireworks night.

The team prides itself on its welcoming atmosphere and would love to hear from anyone thinking about getting back into Hockey. For those interested in joining, training sessions are held every Tuesday from 19:30 to 20:30 on the MHS Astroturf but also, please reach out

OMHC ready for awards night

for more information to Nicole Harvey.

We love some healthy competition, but what we really enjoy is having a good old run around with some new people and discovering a fresh way to make the most of our Saturdays.

Training is held every Tuesday from 19:30 – 20:30 on the MHS Astroturf.

Matches are scheduled on Saturdays with home matches played at MHS. Teas and socials usually follow.

Nicole Harvey (Cedars 2012-16) OMHC XI Captain omlhc01@gmail.com @omhockey

Nicole Harvey and Kimberly Balcombe

SPORTS

Old Millhillians Rugby Football Club (OMRFC)

The Old Millhillians Rugby Club is one of the oldest in the country having been founded in 1878 (the School is celebrating its 150th year of rugby this year). The ability for a club to have lasted this long and experience extreme peaks of success throughout this time is something which can only be applauded.

Recognition should be shared amongst not only the players of the past and present but also to those who have volunteered behind the scenes to keep this magnificent club going.

Headstone Lane, the club’s actual and spiritual home, has been their residence for 99 years. It is a home ground that never fails to bring a smile to one’s face.

Whether it be the first time you come across it or are returning to it after a brief spell away, it’s unique position down the long lane, standing secluded but proud overlooking the two pitches, is a slice of rugby heaven.

From the clubhouse sitting on the touchline of the first team pitch, with balconies overlooking, to the cosy bar upstairs with the team photos of years gone by including The Great War all the way through to the current day. It is a place that brings nostalgia and a sense of heritage that is unrivalled to those who know it so dear, while it also carries a welcoming warmth to those who have visited as an opposition or a spectator.

To be able to have donned the famous chocolate or choccy and white kit, is a privilege that perhaps does not always hit home until you have hung up your boots and looked back on those moments of joy and unforgettable memories that were made with the club. Those who read this and have played for the club no doubt will be recounting countless stories, some that have will have been shared time and time, again, others perhaps just amongst a select few. It is these memories and friendships that have created a bond amongst those who have experienced

OMRFC 1913-14

the club; spanning across all age ranges, all types of people creating a unifying connection that lasts an eternity.

It’s fair to say other clubs can provide this sort of commradery because that’s what the sport of rugby does for you and it’s part of why we play it. But for an OM the OMRFC allows you to do something you never thought possible; roll back the years. For me school rugby created some of my fondest memories with some of my lifelong friends. From rugby tours in Argentina and Chile to those Top Field heroics beating Harrow with the last play of the game all done with teammates you loved playing with and will never forget.

What OMRFC has offered me after the joy of young adolescence and navigating university is the ability to step out onto a rugby pitch with the same group of boys I played alongside as a school boy and in some cases with people I hadn’t seen for years. And that for me is priceless, there is no greater joy.

The current crop of players has experienced some great success in recent years, winning the league in back-to-back years 2021/22 & 2022/23 as well as two league cups along the way. The energy

and drive behind the club combined with the quality of players at their disposal is sure to restore the ‘choccy’ and whites back to a position they deserve.

It is wonderful to see so many former schoolboys playing for the club, yet even better to have several non-school players who have bought into the atmosphere and unity that this small club eminates. It is always great to know that anyone from the ‘outside’ feels the same way towards a club that they formerly had no connection with, and I think that is a true reflection of the inclusivity that this club offers.

As you might have gleaned by now the OMRFC is a special place to and one that I will always hold close to my heart; it has given me - and many others - some of the best friendships, moments and enjoyment in our lives. So, please do come along and discover it for yourself; let me find you amongst the crowd on the side lines, having a beer in the clubhouse or coming down to the Stone X Stadium (home of the Saracens) in Barnet for training to etch your name into the long list of OMRFC folklore.

Oliver Avent (Weymouth 2008-13) OM XV Team Captain

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2022-23 OMRFC Season Report An incredible season capped off with a league title that was thoroughly deserved for the club. With a mission over recent years to bring the Club back from what was the brink of collapse in 2015/16, it was delightful to see OMRFC finally promoted back into Counties 2.

Highlights from the season saw OMRFC play: 17 matches of which they won 16 as they swept aside most opposition with an expansive attacking style that was so determined it was almost clinical. With an introduction of James Love, a former rugby player for London Scottish and Plymouth amongst others taking over the reins as coach, helped realise the Club’s ambition to develop their game and reach their potential. The OM’s have made Headstone Lane their fortress with no home losses against their name, and it was great to see a large number of supporters throughout the season cheer on the ‘choccy’ and whites.

2022/23 Season Honours There were some stand out performances throughout including Ben Calder (McClure 2008-2011), Silas Jeffrey (McClure 2010-2015), Aston Lester (School 2010-15), Josh Webb (School 2008-14), Oliver Avent (Weymouth 200813), Alex Nylander*, Sam Rosenkranz (McClure 2005-10) and Nicholas Schild (Murray 2008-13).

Player’s Player of the Season Josh Webb (School 2008-14)

OMRFC are looking forward to the 2023/2024 season and testing their ability against teams in higher league.

As always, the team is keen to hear from anyone interested in joining. Our legacy will only continue with your support and new additions to the Club. You don’t need to have played for the First XV to join us, we welcome all OMs regardless of your skill level. Please do come and see what it’s all about and join us for a post-match beer in our very own bar.

Clubman of the Year Luke Mathers*

Oliver Avent (Weymouth 2008-13) OMRFC Captain

Top Try Scorer of the Season Alex Nylander*

Player of the Year Oliver Avent (Weymouth 2008-13) Try of the Season Silas Jeffrey v Kilburn (McClure 2010-15) *non-Old Millhillian club member

To mark a phenomenal season, OMRFC held their end of season dinner in Primrose Hill, with the entire squad attending an evening which saw a number of honours handed out to those who played a large part in the club’s success this year

Old Millhillians Football Club (OMFC) The football club have picked up where we left off last season with a strong start to the league campaign. We now sit 4th in the table in the Junior North Division 1 in the SAL and are currently unbeaten in five games. The squad has benefited from the introduction on the team of a few recent school leavers.

We are keen to encourage footballers from the Foundation to come join us. The Club have also been boosted by an exciting new partnership with Furocity the energy drink endorsed by the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world Tyson Fury.

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George Ghaffari (McClure 2006-10) Captain georgeghaffari@gmail.com Richard Whelan (Cedars 2005-10) Club Manager wheelstravels@gmail.com Instagram @old_millhillians_fc

SPORTS

OMRFC First XV v UCS 2023 at StoneX Stadium

Alex Nylander leads the boys off for halftime

Joe Wray in the lineout

Reece Tanner lines up the conversion

Greg Walsh makes a break

Captain George Ghaffari in the new kit

Nick Schild with another big challenge

The OMFC at Old Millhillians Day

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THE FOUNDATION

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Jane Sanchez Head of Mill Hill School (2003-23)

Forty years in education, half of those at Mill Hill, with the last five years as Head. When I look back at my career, it’s been quite a journey!

My Road to Mill Hill In every school I’ve worked, my goal has been to embed myself in the fabric of a school, to invest in the community, to live in the moment and to make the most of the experiences gained along the way. I never had a planned career path.

the then Headmaster. I was attracted to the warmth of the community, the feel of the school, its history and traditions, the quirky names for buildings, places, events, and year groups; they were bizarre, but I loved them!

From the early days of a large community school in Sheffield, via an elite independent girls’ school in Buenos Aires, an equally prestigious girls’ school in Hampstead Garden Suburb and a school facing extra challenging circumstances in Barnet, my teaching journey culminated at Mill Hill school in 2003 when I landed the role of Deputy Head Pastoral under William Winfield,

William was an experienced leader, a gifted teacher, and a wise man. Calm and thoughtful in everything he did. He stepped into the top job in 1995, in circumstances not dissimilar to my own.

I always valued his counsel, and in the early years of my own tenure, I would often muse ‘What would William have done?’, as I sought to navigate the latest challenge before me.

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2013 Charity Committee Trip to Capital FM

2013 GSCEs

2016 Enterprise Education Group

2017 Coat Drop

Copthall Partnership 2018

Copthall Signing

2019 Foundation Day

2019 Foundation Day with Leanne Armitage

2019 GSCE results

William retired in 2007, at the end of a year of celebrations for the school’s bicentenary, which saw us celebrate in St Paul’s Cathedral, put on a wonderful musical extravaganza, and open a new building; The Favell. One cannot underestimate William’s contribution to the rich history of Mill Hill, and in my opinion, he must go down as one of the school’s most successful Headmasters.

and boarding school, nothing was sacrificed in the change, which resulted in the restructured week, more aligned with that of a day school, becoming a little more frenetic! Over the years we settled into new routines and eleven years on, the school is thriving, with any notion by some that the loss of Saturday School would rip the heart out of Mill Hill has proved unfounded.

Mill Hill is as vibrant, dynamic and diverse a community as I have seen in my time here, with the current cohort of pupils engaged, ambitious and passionate about their education and their Mill Hill experience.

Under the following Head, Dominic Luckett, the School continued to flourish for the next eight years, growing in academic standing, at the same time preserving the holistic nature of a Mill Hill education. Under Dominic, a one term stint as Acting Head during his sabbatical led to me adopting up a broader role across the Foundation as Principal Deputy Head, giving me invaluable experience of the executive function of the school and of governance.

In 2012, Dominic made a significant change to school life: Saturday School. Unlike other traditions such as daily Chapel services, long-since replaced by mandatory weekly attendance, Saturday School was still going strong upon my arrival at Mill Hill in 2003. Saturdays were like any normal day, with registration at 8.20am followed by five lessons and sports fixtures in the afternoon. Much-loved by many, hated by some, yet valued by all, the six-day week continued until in 2012, following several years of shifting attitudes. Over 80% of parents expressed a strong desire for it to be discontinued to allow greater flexibility in organising family life around the weekends. And so it was that in the Autumn Term of 2012, Mill Hill shifted to a markedly different rhythm of life. Not wishing to lose those precious elements of life in an independent day

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In 2014, the Foundation ventured into its first school merger with The Mount School, the girls’ school on Milespit Hill, familiar to many Millhillians and those of us with a long history in the Borough. Dominic worked tirelessly with governors to drive the merger forwards and I was pleased to be part of this exciting development in the two schools’ history. Now in its ninth year, Mill Hill International enjoys an outstanding reputation on the global stage and a burgeoning reputation in the local day market.

Little did we know that this merger was just the start of Mill Hill becoming a growing foundation which now comprises seven schools.

When Dominic moved on to take up the position of Head at Sherborne School in January 2016, the appointment of Frances King marked a change in direction for the school. Despite the significant challenges of this period, Frances oversaw the successful refurbishment of key areas of the school, notably the Sixth Form Centre and the Day House spaces, igniting a period of ongoing redevelopment and refurbishment which continues to this day.

As only the third Head to have been promoted from within, the last being William Winfield, I had huge boots to fill but I was up for the challenge. One significant change influencing my belief in my ability to take on the role, was the Governors’ decision to split the role of CEO of the Mill Hill School Foundation from the Head of Mill Hill School, recognising as they did the scale of each role in the modern educational world. This suited me perfectly, as I was keen to focus more directly on the education of the pupils of Mill Hill school, working with their families and supporting the staff to provide the best possible opportunities for the young people in our care.

Working within the new Executive structure, I have benefitted hugely from the wealth of experience and support of my fellow Executives and have been privileged to work with incredibly supportive and proactive governors. In the early days, collaboration with the Heads of the other Foundation schools was essential as we steered the ship until the arrival of Antony Spencer, the first stand-alone CEO in the Foundation’s history, in January 2020. Antony’s induction to the Foundation was something of a baptism of fire as his first task, three weeks into his tenure, was to guide Mill Hill through the 2020 ISI inspection, given that its Head was out of the country on a recruitment visit at the time! Since then, he has worked tirelessly to develop a Foundation of schools to be proud of; one that delivers excellence at every stage for its current pupils, maximises the resources available to provide an optimum learning environment, and one that future generations of children will have the opportunity to enjoy.

FOUNDATION

A call from the Chair of Governors at the time, Dr Amanda Craig, in August 2018, signalled the end of my plans to take semiretirement from January 2019. Instead, I found myself taking on the role of acting, interim, and ultimately, substantive Head of Mill Hill School in December 2018. The opportunity to lead the school I love was not to be missed, despite any sense I may have had that I was unprepared for, and unaware of, the enormity of the challenges that lay ahead.

Taking up the Reins The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in December 2018 will always stay in my mind as the moment I fully understood the enormity of the task and the weight of responsibility upon me to successfully lead this great school. Three days earlier, I had secured the substantive Headship. Walking into Chapel that evening, I was moved to tears by the warmth of reception I received and as I looked around the congregation comprising pupils, staff, parents, governors, OMs and members of the wider community, I knew I would receive the full support of the Mill Hill community as I embarked upon the greatest challenge of my career.

The next two years would, indeed, be challenging, as I sought to rebuild the school community, with pupils, parents and staff, and, further afield, as we forged ever stronger relationships and links with the Old Millhillians. And there was the not so insignificant matter of an inspection to prepare for! We had our work cut out, but we set to it with gusto and determination, laying firm foundations for growth and development and building strong, positive relationships.

The Covid Years Little did I imagine on returning to the UK after visiting OMs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, in January 2020, that within just two months the world would change so dramatically. I did not anticipate finding myself leading a school from a distance as we entered a completely different reality in March 2020.

Just days before lockdown, I had received a detailed review of Mill Hill School by the Good Schools Guide which captured our ethos well, suggesting that preparation for life, which is every school’s mission, is one of our great strengths, describing us as ‘A vibrant, buzzing school, with a solid academic underpinning and an outstanding extra-curricular programme producing confident, articulate, mature young people, who start adult life

2021 Foundation Day

2021 Validiction Day in Chapel

2022 infamous five and ten Mile cup award ceremony

2022 Platinum Jubilee Tree Planting

2022 Valedictory Day

Jane with the Head of Belmont, Leon Roberts

Jane with pupils at the Medical Professionals event

2023 William Winfield Award Ceremony

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2022 Annual Dinner with Roger Streeten at the Honourable Artillery Company

2022 OMC Annual dinner with Peter Wakeham

2022 UK OMC East Angalia regional reunion in Cambridge

2023 at the McClure Memorial Concert

2023 Annual Cocktail Party at Gatehouse Chambers

2023 OMC annual cocktail party

2022 OMRFC Biennial Dinner with Tom Vercoe at Merchant Taylors’ Hall

2023 OMs Day with John Parkhouse

Jane at the Annual Dinner in Merchant Taylors’ Hall

solidly grounded, positive and well informed. A very happy place to be’. Characteristics and qualities that would stand us in good stead for the turbulent times to come.

The teaching and support staff and the Senior Leadership Team worked tirelessly to keep the wheels turning, as we accustomed ourselves to video conferencing, working from home, ‘own clothes’ and increasingly natural-looking hair styles! The school and our magnificent grounds had an eerie feel. The evacuation to St Bees School has been cited as the closest analogy, with remoteness taking the form of Google Classroom rather than West Cumbria. We were entering uncharted waters.

Whilst the practical challenges thrown up by the physical closure of the School, required of us by law for the latter part of the Spring Term and the majority of the Summer Term, tested the resilience and resourcefulness of all involved, they also brought us even more closely together as a community and sparked new ideas and approaches which may well inform our educational delivery in the more familiar Mill Hill School.

What was particularly striking was the sense in which pupils, parents, teachers, support staff and school managers were united in their learning – to master this new world of the virtual classroom and the wider aspects of co-curricular and pastoral provision during lockdown.

Looking ahead to the Autumn Term in 2020, we were ready to ‘embrace normality’ but also prepared for whichever scenario would face us as September approached, including for Foundation Day. The prospect of an online appearance from our Guest of Honour Usha Raman, Head of Sri Jayendra School in Tamil Nadu, India. Usha’s contribution was particularly special as 2020 marked the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Mill Hill’s Overseas Partnership with Sri Jayendra in India.

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Celebrating Sir John McClure’s Legacy The opportunity to commemorate the centenary of Sir John David McClure’s death in 2021 provided a launchpad for further development as we set the school on track for the next one hundred years. McClure’s legacy can be seen all around us in the shape of the numerous buildings he commissioned during his tenure, and all have stood the test of time. To mark McClure’s legacy what better tribute than for me to support the most ambitious building programme seen at Mill Hill since the Favell Building in 2007. Much refurbishment has been undertaken since then, but the best is yet to come in the shape of the tenyear Campus Masterplan, currently under consideration by the Governors and the Foundation Executives.

A Return to Normality The 2022/23 academic year marked a return to the Mill Hill of old, with a plethora of activity within and beyond the classroom, including school trips which returned in quantity and quality. When considering my message to the school for the final assembly of that Autumn Term, I turned to Maurice Jacks for inspiration whose words are as fitting today as they were in 1957. He writes that “schools have more and more become places not only where lessons are learnt, but where a life is lived, and in this movement of enlightenment and enlargement Mill Hill has always been to the fore”.

Jacks also speaks of the Millhillian spirit of independence, constantly expressed throughout our history, and so important to the DNA of a Mill Hill pupil. Over the course of my tenure, I have seen so many examples of this spirit of independence in our pupils, coupled with a determination to take advantage of the many opportunities available in multiple spheres; Millhillians each finding their own niche and making sure they live their school life to the full, just as Maurice Jacks saw in the boys over whom he presided during his time as Headmaster.

Enduring Traditions As the school has grown, we have held on to the core elements and traditions that every Old Millhillian would recognise. We continue to mark important milestones in our own history as well as the sacrifices, achievements and events played out on the national stage. Fundamental to who we are, such occasions speak volumes of our ethos, values and community, so beautifully set out in the school motto ‘et virtutem, et musas’‘instilling values, inspiring minds’, bringing together as it does the twin virtues of intellectual aspiration and the development of character which, in combination, ensure that Mill Hill pupils are fully enabled to make their own, unique impact on the world beyond school.

What has driven me on all these years, and I suspect many other Heads before me, has been a profound love for this remarkable school which generations have done so much to develop, and whose legacy I am determined to continue in my new role in the Development Office. Sir John McClure would have been the first to insist that what we refer to now as his legacy depended upon the support, efforts and inspiration of those around him. I too, have been the beneficiary of such support throughout my time at the school and it is now my time to give back, as I seek to raise much needed funds for bursaries and buildings with the goal of benefiting current and future generations of Millhillians.

Et Virtutem Et Musas!

FOUNDATION

Mill Hill has always looked beyond its gates, and four events over the course of the 2022/23 academic year demonstrated Mill Hill’s ongoing commitment to working closely as part of a wider community: The magnificent McClure Memorial Concert, which raised much-needed bursary funds for the McClure Scholarship; The Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit, co-hosted by Mill Hill School and our local maintained partner, Copthall School; The inaugural London Schools Film Competition gala dinner and awards ceremony, which saw London-wide schools compete for film awards at Mill Hill’s own Oscars-style event. Finally, I was delighted that in my final year, the Saracens Group and The Mill Hill School Foundation announced their official partnership which will provide a clear pathway to develop talented young rugby players within the School, with aspirations to play for the Saracens Men’s team, but which will then progress to maximising opportunities for pathways for female athletes who can progress into the Saracens Women’s rugby setup and Saracens Mavericks netball squads. Exciting times!

DEVELOPMENT

Development manager Lucia Hull (far right) works alongside Head Jane Sanchez and the School’s archivest Francesca Forte the new Foundation Archivist

Since joining the Foundation in January 2023, I have had the pleasure of meeting dozens of current and former Mill Hill bursary recipients. Without exception, they have spoken about the incredible support they have received from their teachers, broad opportunities that were open to them, brilliant friendships made, and heightened aspirations as a result of their time here.

To date, 504 individuals have supported bursaries at Mill Hill; there is no doubt that you have transformed lives.

Mill Hill’s current vision is to double the number of bursary pupils in the school harking back to the days when the Middlesex Scheme (see page OOO) benefitted 20 new pupils each year and when Millhillians counted itself amongst the 75,000 young people who who benefited from the 1967 Governments’ Assisted Places Scheme funding free school places in independent schools. When in 1978 this latter scheme was brought an end a group of OMs – some of whom had attended the school on the Middlesex Scheme themselves – deciding something needed to be done, dreamt up ‘A Better Chance Bursaries’ to make sure MHS would always be accessible to people of all backgrounds.

The current economic climate means that bursary places are more than ever, a crucial source of support for the families of children who have the potential to thrive at the School.

In addition to expanding the provision for bursaries, the School must also focus on its long-term sustainability to maintain its standing as one of the finest independent school in London.

There are several areas of the MHS that demand our attention, specifically sport, dining and science which are being tackled in a characteristically ambitious development strategy - you may well have seen the draft plans that were published in the 2022 edition of Martlet – which will be developed in three stages offering an impressive series of improvements to the School’s infrastructure: • a five-court sports hall, adjacent to the existing sports hall to provide facilities for girls and boys sport at the highest levels; • a dining hall with double the capacity to accommodate the 860 pupils who now attend the school; • a state-of-the-art science block designed to suit the demands of teaching science and technology in the 21stCentury.

It is a privilege to work in such a vibrant, forward-thinking school with an equal appreciation of its history and the enormous contribution made by Old Millhillians to the everyday workings and future of the school. I very much look forward to meeting you in the future, and if you would like to meet up or visit the school, it would be wonderful to hear from you.

Lucia Hull Director of Development lucia.hull@mhsfoundation.uk

Jane in her her gown

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An often-used line by teachers with pupils nearing external exams is “Failure to plan is planning to fail” and it applies equally to schools as a whole. Whilst being unquestionably in the “now” of educating young people, we also have to plan for an uncertain future, so we can continue to do what the Foundation has been doing so well since 1807. Thankfully, the values and ethos that underpinned the creation of Mill Hill School continue to be of great significance in meeting those future challenges.

We can be excited or troubled by the potential for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to transform education and the modern workplace, but an emphasis on both instilling values and inspiring minds resonates even louder in such a world. A deep appreciation of the richness of humanity and the value of human relationships will matter even more when robotics and AI have supplanted many areas of human activity.

If that seems rather nebulous, there are challenges more immediately on the horizon that we need to prepare for. At the time of writing, a Labour Party riding high in the opinion polls has a clear agenda towards independent schools. It is unlikely that it will try to remove our charitable status, but very likely it will create legislation to remove our charitable benefits. These include an exemption from charging VAT on school fees, requiring fees to rise by up to 20%, but would also remove a number of very significant benefits in areas like rates relief and stamp duty exemption. All these charitable benefits are to support our charitable work, which is extensive and includes the significant level of support for children to attend our schools via meanstested bursaries.

So, our challenge in planning is to work out how we can continue to be charitable, and thrive, if we are so negatively affected by the loss of these financial benefits.

The solution cannot be to simply pass on the whole 20% to parents through higher fees. Independent education is already facing affordability issues and this will just price out even more families, and not just the “squeezed middle”; the irony of the Labour Party policy is that in accusing the sector of being “elitist”, their policies will make it even more socio-economically exclusive. In practice, many smaller independent schools

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FOUNDATION

Planning for the Future Mill Hill School Foundation

that barely break-even currently would close through the VAT policy. Remaining schools will coalesce into groups like the Foundation, seeking the efficiencies that can be secured through scale. In this, our strategy has partially anticipated these future challenges.

But one of the saddest potential consequences of removing charitable benefits will come from schools trying to save costs.

Schools may consider various options, from increasing class sizes, dropping non-core subjects and cutting co-curricular activities. But there will also be pressure to reduce the bursary provision that many schools fund out of their current income; most schools don’t have the large endowments of a lucky few.

As a Foundation we have to take action now to prevent this ever being a temptation, because opening up the transformational benefits of an education at our schools to young people otherwise excluded has been part of our DNA from the very beginning.

We have therefore created a separate charitable vehicle - a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) - to consolidate our existing bursary trusts into one “pot”, held separate from the main Foundation, so we can build up a suitably endowed fund that in time could make entry to the Foundation schools, needsblind. We are about to relaunch the ABC bursary programme to contribute to this, and are looking for people willing to match-fund contributions by the Foundation into this CIO. From September 2024, new scholarships will be entirely honorary, allowing the funds to be put instead into bursaries.

In celebrating all that has been achieved for just over two hundred years, it’s vital that we take steps now that will enable the Foundation to thrive for the next two hundred, and beyond, and thrive in a way that protects and promotes the very values that led to its creation in 1807. Every individual gift helps; please do contact our Development Office if you can help us with this plan for the future.

Antony Spencer Chief Executive Officer The Mill Hill School Foundation

OLD MILLHILLIANS CLUB

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Old Millhillians Club Chair’s Report 2022-23

At the September 2023 reception held for newly joining Mill Hill pupils, Jane Sanchez made a big point about the positive role OMs play in the life of the school in her introductory speech. To quote her words exactly “the Old Millhillians Club is the most extensive and proactive former pupils’ association I am aware of”. Jane also emphasised our input into careers support for both MHS pupils and OMs as well as career networking opportunities.

The Management Committee is proud to receive such recognition.

As you may or may not know, I am stepping down as Chair of the Club at the June 2024 AGM. I will have been Chair for seven years, involved with the Committee for twelve years and involved with OM and School matters since 1993 when I helped set up the corporate sponsorship programme for OMRFC. It is time to hand over the reins to a new leadership team.

In 2011, the Club’s income from member subscriptions was £43,057 plus a £5,000 management fee from Clubland (Headstone Lane) and virtually no income from events. In 2023, the Club’s income will be about £155,000 comprising the Deed of Grant received from the Foundation, annual member subscriptions and income from events and merchandise.

Importantly, the surplus from Headstone Lane is now deployed to help subsidise new OM sports, event organisers no longer have the burden of managing event finances and Mill Hill pupils attend professional networking events at the Club’s expense.

Automatic life membership for Mill Hill leavers has been the game changer.

Initially parents directly funded life membership. Funding is now indirectly via tuition fees and directly by the Deed of Grant. It is tough to be “extensive and proactive” without the funds to invest in programmes. Members should appreciate the support we received for this initiative in 2013-2014 from the Foundation through Roger Chapman and Dominic Luckett and more recently from Elliot Lipton and Antony Spencer – as

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Peter at the Annual Dinner

well as the time given by OMs and Life Guardians the late Andy Mortimer and the late Alan Toulson in helping formulate the policy in the early days.

Crips, such that Club activities are kept operationally and financially separate from its real estate and financial assets.

Automatic life membership also takes the pressure off member recruitment. It enables the Management Committee to focus exclusively on engaging the OM community in the Club’s programmes.

Underpinning this strategy has been a gradual process of outsourcing all Club administration so that Club officer, Laura Turner’s time can be member centric.

Governance of the all-important tasks of hybrid AGMs and electronic proxy voting, IT support, merchandise fulfilment, monthly accounting routines and statutory accounting compliance, Direct Debit collection of annual membership and life membership instalment subscriptions, and asset management of Club reserves are now undertaken by external professionals.

This outsourcing process is now complete.

Being proactive requires OMs to make time commitments. Most of us are time poor so the workload needs to be spread.

The Club’s sub-committee structure has been put in place for that purpose. The Investment Committee oversees the Club’s relationship with Walker Crips; the Nominations and Governance Committee proposes updates to Club Rules, staff remuneration policy, Honorary OMs, President Awardees and future Presidents; the Careers Committee has a wideranging remit to create programmes and website content that help OMs and Mill Hill pupils take well informed career decisions; and the OM Relations Committee is responsible for event calendar management, support to event organisers, communications (including Martlet) and merchandise range development.

Control of Club assets and finances are essential pillars of our relationship with our members and the Foundation. In 2020, we took steps to future proof the Club’s legal structure. The Club became a company limited by guarantee (as is the Foundation) instead of a voluntary organisation.

This gave the Club a legal persona and sheltered Management Committee members from responsibility for Club liabilities, which was not the case before.

Old Millhillians Club Land and Investments Limited (OMCLI) became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Old Millhillians Club Limited (OMCL). OMCLI owns Headstone Lane and the Club investment portfolio, managed by its asset manager, Walker

All the above initiatives make it possible for the Management Committee to deliver programmes to members that hopefully deserve the Club’s accolade of being the most extensive and proactive former pupils’ association the Head is aware of. Our work is primarily substantive, but with the occasional sprinkling of perceptual subtleties!

Emails, letters, membership cards, AGM documentation and more recently our three new websites now benefit from templated brand identity consistency across all Club communications while ensuring differentiation between career support and social activities and individual event distinctiveness.

I am keen in my final Martlet communication to say thank you to and recognise the support and hard work I personally and the Club have received over these several years from the army of volunteers, Club Office and Foundation staff, which has culminated in the School’s Head confidently singing our praises. I list their names below and beg forgiveness if I have omitted anyone.

Past Presidents 2007-08 Ronny Cohn 2008-09 Alan Toulson 2009-10 David Short 2010-11 Mike Corby 2011-12 Chris Maunder-Taylor 2012-13 Andy Mortimer 2014-15 Dr Russell Cowan 2015-16 Tim Corbett 2016-17 Ronnie Boon 2017-18 David Brown 2018-19 Richard Llewellyn 2019-21 Gordon Mizner 2021-22 John Gallagher 2022-23 Chris Kelly President’s Awards Nigel Baker Roddy Braithwaite Grahame Elliott Roger Gardener Donald Haigh Gordon Hawes John Henley Roger Holliday

Peter Huston John King Michael Leon Richard Lidwell William MaunderTaylor Colin Nunn John Oldroyd Tom Oxenham David Paddison Rober Priestley Patrick Russell David Stannard Roger Streeten John Watkiss Clive Weber Dr David Webster Stewart Wernham Gerry Westoby OMCLI Board Asif Ahmed Graham Chase Graham Drake Clare Erskine-Murray Charlie Green Dave Kelly Ben Nash Julian Pollock Scott Rowland OMCL Board Asif Ahmed Graham Chase Clare Erskine-Murray Nicole Harvey John Hellinikakis Adrian Jordan Chris Kelly

Now to the substance. Martlet is undoubtedly the standout upgrade.

Laura turned it from a newsletter into a real magazine and with Clare Lewis subsequently bringing her professional editorial skills to the document, we really do have a Club publication to be proud of.

The page-turning e-version is a powerful addition. Similarly, our legacy tributes to Sir John McClure and Mill Hill at St Bees are Martlet supplements to be treasured.

In 2014, Russ Cowan (Weymouth 195863) pioneered the introduction of the President’s Award to show the Club’s appreciation of OMs who have given considerable time to the Club over several years. In 2016 we merged with the Old Belmontians Association. In 2019 we formed the Young Old Millhillians (YOMs) Ambassadors to organise pub meets for OMs at universities as well as five, ten and fifteen year reunions. In 2021 we launched an equivalent of the original Van Moppes Travel Award to Mill Hill Sixth Formers and commenced funding two OM sports club start-ups: Ladies Hockey and Men’s Football. Throughout this time our events programme has gone from strength to strength thanks to event organisers,

Clare Lewis Ted MacDonald Stephanie Miller Gordon Mizner Julian Pollock Nick Priestnall Oliver Rolfe Sounding Boards Ronnie Cohn Lord Glendonbrook Stuart Hibberdine Martin Jourdan Andy Mortimer Julian Pollock John Watkiss Nigel Wray Sub-Committees Mitesh Bhimjiyani Alex Burtt Camilla Collins Tom Lincoln Joanna Potter Ciera Radia Solon Satanas Professional Networking Archie Galloway Andrew Millett Mike Peskin Karen Prichard Mike Solomons Adrian Williams Michael Wong

McClure Supplement John Hellinikakis Edward Holland Kevin Kyle Clare Lewis Jane Sanchez Richard Warden William Winfield Club Office Ann Bunyard Sam Chadwick Mukka Fitzjohn Shalaka Karlekar Evelina Miller Katie Peters Laura Turner Overseas Raj Achan Manny Ajahi Steven Chan Tim Fanstone Andrew Froomberg Nick Howe-Smith John Parrot Borg Tsien Tham Justin Wernham St Bees Supplement John Bolton David Marks Nathaniel Micklem Peter Phillips Elyot Rowlands Ronnie Samuels Jim Selway Peter Woodroffe

John Hellinikakis (Murray 1976-81) and Club Presidents. Our calendar is full, and we have enhanced the content of professional networking events by increasingly drawing on interesting speakers.

Turning to the future, my priority for the balance of my tenure is to ensure a smooth handover to my successor as Chair and his Committee members. This process has already commenced. Gordon Mizner (Murray 1965-69) faces opportunities and challenges. Regarding the latter, Martlet printing and distribution cost is going to be an increasingly environmental and financial burden. We do not want to sacrifice content, so I encourage Club members to consider opting to receive only the electronic version. I am conscious too that the loss of National Liberal Club (NLC) access is a downer for many OM Club members. I genuinely cannot see equivalent alternatives to our NLC relationship, but I do reassure members that we continue to keep our eyes and minds open to something close or at least better than zero.

Making engagement in the Club programme more gender balanced is a key priority

Foundation Tony Armstrong Roger Axworthy John Barron Wendy Barrett Sarah Belotti Roger Chapman Kathryn Damberg Francesca Forte Bruce Fraser Adele Greaves Lucia Hull Elliott Lipton Dominic Luckett Nicky Marlow Peter McDonough Leon Roberts Sean Ryan Jane Sanchez Maxine Seltser Kate Simon Antony Spencer Lisa Symes Graeme Turner Marese Walmsley Julia Warbey Karen Willetts William Winfield External Resources IT Support: James Carson Market Research: Allisyn James Accounting: Harrison Louca Merchandise Fulfilment: Ian Lowden

Sir John McClure: Kathleen Ousey Branding & Design: David Palmer Accounts Examination: Phil Ridout St Bees Supplement: Christopher Turrall AGM Administration: Simon Thomson Not Forgotten Elliot Baum Mike Berwin Joe Coakley Nick Davis Dev Dhokia Arthur Ferryman Andrew Fisher Michael Henderson Caroline Hepker Ray Hubbard Nic Leon Alistair Marsella Noyan Nihat Sive Ozer Colin Patteson Christopher Phillips Jim Roberts Windsor Roberts Paula Sanchez Anthony Ward Andrew Welch

for the coming years. In early 2023 we held independently moderated focus groups among female OMs to better understand their needs and on the back of that research, we have created the permanent Committee position of Female OMs Ambassador. Nicole Harvey (Cedars 2012-16) is the inaugural filler of this role. She has a license to go fishing across the Club activities and will sit on the Nominations & Governance Committee, Careers Committee and OM Relations Committee.

In 2023-24 her work will be closely focussed on formulating programmes with the Club’s first female President, Stephanie Miller (Priestley 1990-92).

It is unhealthy for any organisation if a Chair hangs around for too long. I have always seen my role as one of custodian of the Club for the benefit of future generations of OMs, hopefully handing over to Gordon a Club in better shape than when Andy handed the chair role over to me. I am confident Gordon will do the same for his successor when the time comes.

Peter Wakeham Chair, Old Millhillians Club (2017-24)

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Honorary Old Millhillians 2023

The premise behind awarding membership to the Old Millhillans Club is to reward a person who has rendered exceptional service to the Club, the Foundation or Alford House but is not eligible for full membership.

As Club President, Chris Kelly has had the pleasure of putting forward and officially welcoming to the Club three individuals who have diligently served the Foundation loyally for many years.

Tim Dingle

Kevin Kyle

Jane Sanchez

Tim was a teacher at MHS for close to 20 years as Head of Biology, McClure Housemaster (1989-94) ultimately becoming deputy Head in 1994. During his time at School he was also master in charge of rugby, the First XV coach and took over running the rugby football social club from Chris Kelly whom he accompanied on the 1983 and 1985 tours.

He was also involved in two further rugby tours in the 90s.

Kevin joined MHS as Teacher of Singing in September 2002 under Richard Allain who Kevin praises as “the best music director l’ve ever known. So many of the good things that I do come from him, and I am so glad I was able to work with him”.

Kevin became Head of Vocal Studies in March 2009 and has been Director of Musical Performance since September 2014 with his performances building to the spectacular McClure Concert in March 2023 at the Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square which he single-handedly organised. Not only did this concert raise close to £50,000 for the McClure Memorial Trust which sponsors a sixth form scholarship at Mill Hill but it brilliantly captured all that Kevin has done for music at Mill Hill - staff, pupils, parents and OMs singing and performing in unison, in joy, supported by soloist Ellen BaumringGledhill (Murray 2015-18), all alongside members of the Glyndebourne touring orchestra conducted by Ben Glassberg (McClure 2007-12). What a swansong!

Midway through the Autumn Term 2023, Jane stepped down as Head of Mill Hill School after an illustrious 20 years with the Foundation. She joined Mill Hill as Pastoral Deputy Head in September 2003, became Principal Deputy Head and ultimately Head in December 2018. Jane’s achievements in this role are exemplary.

She took over at a sensitive time, to say the least, and quickly reassured parents, pupils, staff, Governors and OMs that she knew what needed fixing and was the one that knew how to fix it. Which she did.

(MHS 1981-97)

Tim has always been a strong supporter of OMs and rugby in particular. He played for OMRFC and accompanied many OMRFC Easter tours to Taunton and Torquay. He has maintained strong links with the OM community for several vears and was scheduled to join the recent Dubai reunion only to have to cancel at the last minute due to a family illness.

(MHS 2009-23)

Kevin’s legacy to Mill Hill is four orchestras, four bands, four choirs, and all manner of small ensembles. There are about 250 musical performances a year, including every week in Chapel and a couple of informal concerts a week in break times. His successor will inherit a great foundation to build on.

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(MHS 2003-23)

The school is full and the waiting list of prospective parents long and eager.

Closer to home, she has rebuilt the relations between the school and the Club, such that they have never been stronger. It is tradition to propose a former Head as an Honorary OM at the AGM following their departure. We are recommending a break with tradition.

Jane is not leaving the Foundation - a role with the Development team awaits. It is fitting that she be elected now. There is no greater friend to the Club; no greater supporter of our role and contribution.

And we want to see the smile on her face when she learns of her election!

OLD MILLHILLIANS CLUB

New Young Old Millhillians (YOMs) Leavers 2023

Burton Bank

Cedars

Collinson

Macgregor

McClure

Sevan Albay amuel Barker Josie Broomhead Leni Corfield Frederik De Mol Van Otterloo Yoel Gal Emily Gold Achayla-Xar Kothari Eden Lahyani Tom Malbon Anton Miarka Mark Nuttall Arabella Owide Sam Perry William Proctor Savion Sawdy Noah Tackaberry Lauren Viner

Tim Avilov Cleo Cheng Sarina Sarmad Alireza Shabaniverki Hirad Vaselashkari Connie Wang Sisi Wu Nick Zhao

AIvy He Maya Zloof

Zack Coffer Raphael Dadic Georgia Graff Ella Hearth Ben Jenner Jay Miller Mohammed Mohammed Max Moir Joshua Perkins Abbie Poon Ayman Raja Kyle Richards Katy Skelly Thomas Vanhegan Jake Warren Matty Whitworth

Murray

Priestley

Ridgeway

School

Weymouth

Winfield

James Allen Yuval Covo Alexander Cucchiara Dominic De Marco Chloe Dickin Lauren Dickin Grace Freeland Noah Humayun Jacob Jackson Charlie Moor Roman Nicolaou Jack Osler Ollie Pelham James Phillips Maya Rosen Manav Sharma Anastasia Terleckyj Meghan Thompson

Yassin Abou Zraa Isabelle Browne Talia Clements Josh Cohen Alfie Di Popolo Ajani Downie Lois Ellington Elliot Forrest Olivia Forrest Georgie Frank Jake Johnson Roman Kroupeev Gillies Macdonald Rhia McDermott Edward O’Keefe Adam Rohald Manish Thapa

Aisha Aliyu Matvei Dobrovolskii Pharell Johnson Kate Koblova Emma Lin Trevor Luk Shayaan Shah Willow Soltanizadeh Elvis Wang

Ali Akram Imisi Bada Isaac Barashi Hector Blyth James Crossley Luca Inzani Ben Kramer Isabella Miles Leo Mixides Charles Parkman Sofia Safin Ethan Schwartz Shania Shahipassand Alexander Subramaniamz

Archie Bick Matthew Bradbery Stas Forte James Graff Georgia Ilaridou-Glynou Joseph Jones Lily Jones Noah Lancet Zayyan Mohamed Ryan Murray Benjamin O’Driscoll Jack Olsen Rocco Soning Katya Yushkina

Harry Brand James Cruse El Hoyek Lucinda Cruse El Hoyek Noah Edwards Louie Fecher Victor Kimani Amir Miller Arjun Paul Archie Ryan Attila Soltani Hosseini Noe Topalian Ismail Uzair Elowen Woad

Atkinson Maeve Allen Josephine Atkins Kabir Aujla Billy Briggs Tobias Carroll Robert Ebner-Statt Isabella Evans Sebastian Fernandez Katie Garrill Emilie Grays William Orme Thomas Powell Federico Singh Kemka Solarin Sebastian Sydenham George Taylor-Yeates George Wooding

Nika Abkhou Denys Bardus Aurora Chen Ivan Eremenko Oscar Guo Saee Joshi Berat Kahraman Ludovica Larotonda Hani Nourzad Michael Quinlan Lev Ryzhenkov Danelle Li Ern Tan Alexis Wang

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OBITUARIES

Andy Mortimer (Burton Bank 1956-61) 1943-2023

Andy’s wake was hosted by Nigel Wray at StoneX Satdium, over a hundred OMs from their 20s to their 80s came to celebrate his life

Andy with OM Martyn Thomas

1st XV Rugby December 1960

Andy always remembered his time at Mill Hill School (and Burton Bank in particular!) with humour, fondness and an unshakable sense of belonging to a community. The life long friends he made both at school and, subsequently, through OMRFC and the Old Millhillians Club generally are testament to the central role that the school and rugby played in his life.

Andy was nevertheless a very great deal more than his associations with Mill Hill School.

That is not to say that school life was always plain sailing - there are many stories of the mischief that Andy got up to. Martin Jourdan tells of the time that he and Andy had their first pint together when at Mill Hill. Having borrowed his Mother’s car, which he kept in one of the roads off Milespit Hill, Martin drove Andy and Gerry Westoby to a pub in Aldenham for a lunch time pint. As we were sitting outside in the glorious sunshine a man strolled by and said “well, I did not know you Aldenham boys were allowed into pubs”. They quickly replied it was a new Sixth Form privilege but rapidly drank up and were back in school in half an hour. That is a lovely tale but points to the healthy disregard for authority that Andy sometimes displayed!

He was a giant, formidable man both on the rugby field and off it. His rugby playing days are what he is known for (and more on that in a moment) but he was also a very successful athlete and held several field records for a number of years after he left.

As to rugby, he was Number 8 for OMRF and Wasps RFC, a Middlesex RFU Committee member, Chair of OMRFC, a Trustee, and a former President and Chair of the Old Millhillians Club. He was passionate about the Old Millhillians Club and about rugby generally. He was a regular fixture at Headstone Lane. All these things are well known but are still worthy of note here.

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He and Georgina (Georgie to most OMs) met when they were still teenagers, courtesy of the introduction from Gerry Westoby and they lived a life full of adventure. Their honeymoon was a Middlesex rugby tour of East Africa – which included Jim Kent and three other OM’s. Whilst Andy’s fare was paid by Middlesex, Georgie had to sell her car to fund her fare.

Later on, and within months of the birth of their twins Amy and Max (who arrived only 16 months after their first child, Sophie), Andy’s job with SH Lock & Co. took them to Australia. Andy loved the lifestyle offered by living in Sydney and he made sure his family did too. From hosting his client’s fashion shows with models cat-walking up and down the family home, to weekends on the boat (aptly named Brew), to Easter mornings fishing and BBQing on the beach whilst anchored on the most shark-infested waters in the area. The family had the time of their lives. Sydney was Andy and Georgie’s home for nearly 10 years and they made many friends and visited regularly when Amy moved there and had her family. Their return to the UK was followed by their fourth child, Rosie.

For a time Andy was what would now be called a stay at-home dad. He did the school run, taking the playground by storm.

Rosie recalls him being particularly popular amongst the other parents, most of whom were mums, probably because of his ability to fit in anywhere and bring some light banter where much needed.

OLD MILLHILLIANS CLUB

Andy Mortimer, Alan Toulson and the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust (GAWPT)

Andy with daughter OM Sophie on Old Millhillians Day in 2019

Valete

Ultimately, Andy and Georgie ended up running their own consulting style business from their North London home. Life remained very full for them both and although living and working together could no doubt sometimes be challenging, they approached it with humour and joy - a mark of the strength of their partnership.

Alongside his rugby interests, Andy became very heavily and happily involved with GAWPT - together with Bob MarshallAndrews and Tony Fitzjohn, and also with ABCD (a charity aiming to improve the lives of children with disabilities across Palestine regardless of faith, race or gender) - alongside Val and Martin Jourdan. Their involvement with these charities took him and Georgie to Mkomazi and Palestine respectively and their love of travel and adventure stayed with them throughout their lives.

From the inception of GAWPT, round a kitchen table in 1989, Alan and Andy - along with 5 others - became dedicated Trustees. The hopeful aim: to support the work of Tony Fitzjohn (Weymouth 1959-63) (Obit Martlet no 69) who was working with the legendary George Adamson in the Kora Game Park, Kenya. When, at the invitation of the Tanzanian government, the restoration and restitution of the Mkomazi Game reserve became a focus, Alan and Andy were among the five Trustees who committed £1,000 each towards the purchase of a tractor. By 2021 - nearly thirty years later - Mkomazi had been restored from destitution to its full grandeur, had become a National Park, supporting abundant wildlife and was the home to endangered species programmes including the largest rhino sanctuary in Tanzania.

Essentially of course, this was achieved by the eccentric genius of its field director and Fitzjohn, but the Trust which could be turbulent, difficult and challenging was kept on track by its Trustees. Alan’s calm wisdom, sound (sometimes legal) advice and strategic perspective was key: in many ways he was the antidote to Fitz who regarded Alan with a mixture of respect, affection and awe perhaps going back to his rugby captaincy and Alan’s extrication of the young Fitz from the Bow Street Magistrates Court as a free man.

In early 2020 it became clear that he was not well. Against all expectations, he recovered from the worst of it and spent a further 12 months enjoying life with his family and friends before he became ill again. Throughout this time he was cheerful and practicable and absolutely determined to do what he could for as long as he could.

He had an indomitable spirit and he is sorely missed.

If Alan was the strategic brain, Andy was its backbone.

Treasurer from the start, as the Trust grew and prospered hundreds of thousands of pounds eventually passed through the office at Fortis Green all directly donated to the varied and eclectic needs of the project: aircraft; electronics; communications; vehicles; fuel; JCB’s, building materials; miles of fencing poles and education equipment for the schools and colleges which became our outreach programmes. Andy was responsible for the meticulous sourcing, shipping, analysing and recording of it all. It was an impeccable example of stewardship and administration which provided the solid reputation on which the Trust based its success. Over and above their specific responsibilities Alan and Andy formed a bond with Fitzjohn and with Africa which endured until the end. The miracle of Mkomazi could never have succeeded without them: it is a remarkable legacy in which MHS played no small part.

Martin Jourdan (Ridgeway 1954-59)

Bob Marshall-Andrews (Winterstoke 1957-62)

As a father and grandfather, Andy was open minded, liberal and non-judgmental. He had a generosity of spirit and a capacity to provide sound advice coupled with a sharp wit and an ability not to take himself - or anything else - too seriously. He could occasionally be blunt (!) but he was unfailingly kind and generous with his time.

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OBITUARIES

Alan Toulson

(Weymouth 1955-60) 27 August 1942-16 December 2022 In September 1959 Alan was beginning his final year as I started at MHS. He was a School Prefect, later a Monitor, and a rugby player on the fringes of a talented 1st XV but was to remain a stalwart of the 2nd XV for a second year. Given the year system which then prevailed it was beyond my contemplation that he and our respective future wives would become the best of friends for well over 50 years, nor that he and I would become the closest of professional partners for close to 35 years.

Alan was bright academically. He won the Upper Sixth History Prize and his excellent A Level results gained him a place at King’s College, London to read law. After graduation from law school he was articled to a London firm of solicitors, then known as Reynolds Porter, later to become known as “RPC”. As a result of his sharp intellect, work ethic, “processional value” and leadership qualities he was made a partner shortly after qualification in 1966, an elevation of unprecedented rapidity

Alan at Foundation Day 2019

At a meeting over a beer in 1967 Alan learnt that I had begun interviews for my own articles to begin late in the following year.

He suggested that I should “try” RPC. So, it was that at the start of my articles I was duly assigned a desk in Alan’s room. By then he had been secretary of the OMRFC for some years but had just assumed the captaincy. It soon became apparent to me that a large part of RPC’s practice was to act as the operating subsidiary of the OMRFC. Much time was spent by Alan’s secretary in typing club correspondence and team sheets.

When Alan retired as captain the partners could not immediately understand why the firm’s telephone bill showed a significant reduction at a time of firm expansion.

There can never have been a more loyal member of the OMRFC than Alan. He was a robust and physically dominant lock-forward and an inspirational captain, leading by personal example. The scar tissue around his eyes, testament to the way he played the game, tended regularly to split. He therefore adopted the habit of leaving in the stitches from one match to the next. The spidery black adornments around his eyes caused initial consternation and then amusement especially to his many, especially Swedish, clients.

In 1969 Alan married Sarah, who survives him, youngest daughter of Stanley Farrow Collinson (1927-30), himself an OM. Alan was the first to acknowledge that it was the solid foundation of his partnership with Sarah and her unfailing support during its 53 years that was the basis for his success in all aspects of his life. This was never more exemplified than by the events of 26th January 1973 when OMRFC were due to play Glamorgan Wanderers near Cardiff in the morning. Alan was in the team and I went as spectator. We both had tickets for the afternoon match scheduled between the Barbarians and the All Blacks at the Arms Park. In the bar at lunchtime a call home by Alan elicited that Sarah, who was in advanced pregnancy with their second child, had just driven herself to the maternity wing of University College Hospital, London. Alan confessed that there had been some warning signs in the morning which had not inhibited his departure for Cardiff. I said I would immediately drive Alan back to London and, where time was of the essence, we made the error of holding up our tickets offering them free to the first takers. It took

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Alan Toulson was a robust and physically dominant lock-forward

us ten minutes to extricate ourselves from the rolling maul which immediately formed. It was thus that we missed what has become acknowledged as one of the greatest matches ever played and the best try ever scored. Worse, Alan, who was punctilious about being on time for all appointments, missed this most important one, the birth of his first son, Sam. After playing his last game in his thirties, always a one-eyed England supporter, Alan became a debenture holder at Twickenham. Live spectatorship was insufficient to satisfy his meticulous nature and on return home he would immediately watch the television recording of the match. Given Alan’s personal style of play it was no surprise that his hero was later to become Martin Johnson, commonly known as “the enforcer”, formidable lock-forward and England captain of the World Cup winning

OLD MILLHILLIANS CLUB

he drafted the governing documents but incorporating provisions that the role of the Life Governors would be preserved, now to be called Life Guardians, but including a provision against any attempt to abolish them in the future. In gratitude for this and in recognition of his many years of service upon his retirement at the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Life Guardians a silver cup was presented engraved as the “Toulson Cup for Enterprise and Innovation” to be awarded annually to the most deserving pupil.

Alan Toulson was a formidable and inspiring captain of the OMRFC

team in late November 2003. It was clear that, modestly, Alan recognised some shared characteristics.

It is a tribute to Alan’s energy and social conscience that, despite his full commitment to Sarah and their four children and busy professional life at RPC, he made time to undertake charitable work. He was chairman of governors at St. Clement Danes School, Chorleywood during a period of major building contracts.

His immense contribution and that of Andy Mortimer as trustees of Tony Fitzjohn’s George Adamson Wild Life Trust is dealt with

by Bob Marshall Andrews elsewhere in this issue. In retirement Alan volunteered and was selected to become a member of the Monitoring Board of the Mount Prison where on one occasion he noticed the name “Toulson” on the list of inmates. The warder merely commented “every family’s got one”. There was in fact no familial connection.

Two happy events occurred as Alan approached his retirement from RPC. First, the partners held a dinner at Claridge’s in Sarah and his honour. After the dinner and speeches, I discovered by chance that in a separate dining room there had been a benefit dinner for Jason Leonard, England’s most capped prop and member of the World Cup team. In a fortuitous encounter with one of his colleagues, Neil Back, after explanation that Alan was celebrating his retirement and had been captain of OMRFC, he offered to “find Jonno” and they both agreed to congratulate Alan and shake his hand. The expression on Alan’s face as he turned to meet his new guests and recognised his hero was memorable.

Uncharacteristically he lapsed into garrulousness and proceeded to educate them on the history of OMRFC, its 1960’s first class fixture list and the leading players against whom he had played.

Both Johnson and Back were kind enough to look impressed.

Second, at an impressive ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel the Swedish Ambassador presented Alan with the Order of the Polar (North) Star for his work for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and the advancement of the commercial interests and reputation of Sweden internationally. Afterwards our own late Queen granted Alan the privilege of wearing his insignia on those occasions when medals and awards were permitted.

The Swedes had it right. The Pole Star is of course the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere. It is entirely appropriate and justified, as all of us who had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Alan were already aware, that he should have been formally recognised in this way as the brightest of stars.

Paul Nicholas (Burton Bank 1959-63)

Alan was a top-class commercial lawyer. RPC were solicitors to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Alan did much work for Swedish companies. They appreciated his clear advice and paramount document drafting skill. He eschewed over-lengthy “boiler-plate” precedents but produced bespoke “Savile Row” contracts, elegantly expressed and to the point. He became senior partner in May 1991, held in great respect throughout the firm. He was affectionately known as “Action Man” in recognition of his imposing physical presence and perpetual motion. He was always in a hurry unless anybody in the firm needed advice and support. Perhaps not a natural orator, his meticulous preparation enabled him to make beautifully crafted, inspiring and amusing addresses to the troops. The best evidence of the effectiveness of his 13 years as senior partner is that during this period the number of partners trebled, with a commensurate increase in the size of the establishment overall, and the fee income quadrupled.

Alan was a loyal member of the OMC and President in 1997. It was generally accepted that the Mill Hill Foundation established in 1869 required radical modernisation. The Court of Governors received advice from other solicitors which contemplated the abolition of the Life Governors. Alan was instructed as likely to be more sympathetic to the history and ethos of the Foundation. His solution was to form a company with charitable status for which

The Order of the North Star is a Swedish Order of chivalry founded by King Frederick 1 on 23 February 1748 was awarded to Alan Toulson in 2004 for services he performed for The Swedish Chamber of Commerce

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OBITUARIES

Ronnie Samuels (Winterstoke 1943-48) 11 May 1930-7 May 2023

1948 1st XI Cricket: Ronnie was a huge success in sports

Ronnie Samuels in the 1945 Winterstoke House photograph

1st XI Hockey 1948

Born 11 May 1930 Cheetham Hill, Manchester to Yetta and Philip Samuels – who shortly thereafter divorced, Ronnie spent much of his childhood with his grandparents and his cousins Sefton and June. It was through this connection he met his longstanding friend Jack Leon. While in his mid-50s Ronnie discovered that he had two half-siblings, Sara-Lee and Julian from his father’s second marriage to whom he became close. Ronnie was always a Manchester man and a great supporter of Man United despite the whole family supporting Manchester City.

Village. He left Aquascutum in 1972 to set up a fashion agency selling imported clothes from Europe and the USA. At the same time, Diana’s father, Gordon introduced Ronnie to golf, and although he considered it an old man’s game, he joined the Finchley Golf Club. When in 1978 the family moved to Radlett, Ronnie took membership at Porters Park Golf Club where he became captain.

Ronnie started at MHS in 1943 when the School had been evacuated to St Bees in Cumbria before returning to London in 1945. Ronnie was a huge success in sports, excelling in rugby, cricket, hockey and tennis and played boys’ doubles at junior Wimbledon where he reached the quarter finals. Post school he continued playing rugby with the OMRFC. Ronnie also loved music passing his Grade 8 piano: later in life, when sharing a flat with Jack in Hampstead, he would hold soirees where the pair would air-conduct to records for the assembled crowd.

Having left MHS, Ronnie started studying for an accounting degree at Leeds University but changed to Economics. He was then called up for National Service and was posted to Berlin where, in spite of being the most junior officer there, he was tasked with overseeing the Spandau prison. On leaving the army Ronnie entered the world of fashion and textiles: his stepfather (his mother had remarried when he was 18), Harry Gee, had a connection at Aquascutum and Ronnie started working there in Regent Street in the mid 1950’s.

In 1957 after joining the fashion house Worth, Ronnie met Diana who was modelling there and once Ronnie had returned to Aquascutum they started going out. It was not a swift courtship!

It lasted 5 years before they finally married on the 21st of July 1963. Ronnie and Diana moved to Village Road in Finchley in the spring of 1964, in November of that year their son David was born and four years later daughter Sarah in February 1969.

Ronnie and Diana made lifelong friends with many families in

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A big part of Ronnie’s life was the OMC: he was a Life Governor, President of the Club and as well as being a regular attendee of the Oakers luncheon club. In the early 1990s Ronnie and Diana purchased a villa in Portugal, 98 Luz Bay Club, where for the next 25 years or so they enjoyed spending time entertaining family and friends and playing golf. In 1994 Ronnie invited seven others to join him for a week of golf, friendship and fun: the group was made up of one member of Combe Hill Golf Club and seven members of Porters Park Golf Club making the acronym CHAPPs. It has been running ever since with various friends making up the 8 each year.

Great memories of various golf clubs Palmares, Boa Vista, Ingrina, Madame Ze and Carlos to name a few…

From 1992 the grandchildren started to make an appearance.

First Barney, Rosa and Matilda, then Annabelle, Elsie, Emma and finally Rachel. No grandfather could have doted on his grandchildren more than Ronnie. Always up for cuddles and ready to indulge them. In 2001 Ronnie and Diana downsized to Shenley: Ronnie never enjoyed moving and complained bitterly but quickly grew to love the house and enjoyed village life.

After a serious brush with septicaemia in early 2000s, Ronnie embarked on regular sessions of dialysis at Watford General Hospital and was a fixture at the Renal Unit for a record 12 years.

It was not always easy, but Ronnie kept going despite the odds.

When it came to the end, Ronnie was at home surrounded by the family, just as he had wanted.

Sarah Muscat, nee Samuels (Ridgeway 1985-87)

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Richard Pollock (Ridgeway 1948-53) 7 May 1935–1 October 2022

The year 1969 marked the beginning of Professor Richard Pollock’s services as a specialist adviser and interpreter to the British government. His expertise was his grasp and deep understanding of the Russian language coupled with his fluency and diplomacy which helped to forge the extraordinary relationship between Mrs Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev. In an interview in 1970 Mrs Thatcher said of Richard’s exceptional translating skills: “Richard Pollock, who used to come with me on all tours to Russia, listen very carefully not only to what I was saying, but to the intonation of my voice, and so he would follow in his interpretation the precise intonation which I had used. That was marvellous! Mr Gorbachev would get not only the meaning of the words but the emphasis which I placed upon them.” In 1989 when Thatcher welcomed Mikhail Gorbachev to Number 10 Richard’s role was crucial in the talks which culminated seven months later, on November, 9, in the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

Richard William Wakefield Pollock was born in 1935 in West Bridgford, Nottingham to Jean and Frederick Pollock, a Baptist minister. He grew up in Swansea, which he considered his childhood home. Shortly before the end of World War II, the family moved again to Bristol due to his father’s ministry commitments. Educated at Bristol Grammar School and MHS where he excelled in rugby and cricket as well as academically: he entered sixth-form at the age of 14 and in 1953 went up to Cambridge University to read Classics at Peterhouse College.

After graduating in 1956, he joined the Royal Navy. In 1958 he studied for a Diploma in Education at Merton College, Oxford. A year later, he began teaching at Marlborough College where his family say his interest in the Russian language was enhanced by the Marlborough College caretaker, Peter - a displaced person from Crimea who had been brought over to England at the end of World War II – who remained his Russian language mentor from there on.

In December 1959, Richard was among a delegation of teachers to take part in a six-week trip to Leningrad and Moscow. The

Professor Richard Pollock at one of several meetings between Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev which paved the way for Russia to come in from the cold

journey meant a long train ride across Europe and en route, in a scene worthy of a John Le Carre Cold War spy novel, Richard offered an attractive fellow teacher a cigarette from his silver case. The woman was Catherine Janette Miller, a graduate teacher from Scotland. Intrigued by her new acquaintance she followed him around Berlin during a stopover. By the time they had reached Leningrad, a friendship had bloomed which would become a romance in Moscow. As the trip ended at London Victoria Station, Richard was faced with a dilemma: go home alone or accompany Miss Miller to Scotland. He decided on the toss of a coin: heads – return to the new family home in Fulbourn, Cambridge; tails – accompany Miss Miller to meet her mother up in Kirkmuirhill, Lanarkshire. The coin landed tails up.

They were married in August 1961.

In 1964, he faced another dilemma: to continue school teaching or begin university lecturing in Russian. Later that year, a colleague from the Navy and lecturer in Russian and Polish at Salford University, presented him with an answer: there was a vacant lecturer post in Russian at Salford University. After gaining a Master of Science in 1969 at Manchester University, in 1972 he took up a senior lecturer post in Russian at Bradford University. He was responsible for the set up and development of modern languages in interpreting, with a major focus on the importance of spoken language skills. In 1988 Professor John West, Bradford University Vice Chancellor, informed him of two available professor posts at the universities of Bath and Manchester.

Without hesitation, he accepted the Chair at Manchester.

Richard remained as Professor of Russian and East European Studies at Manchester until he took early retirement in 1992. He continued as Russian interpreter, assisting the Atomic Energy Authority and British Nuclear Fuels.

His wife Janette, who had developed the Russian department at Manchester High School for Girls, predeceased him in 2011. Richard is survived by his son, Alasdair, three daughters, Sheena, Catherine, and Eleanor, all of whom have followed careers in education in the UK and abroad. Eleanor, speaking on behalf of all Richard’s children, said of her father aside from being an exemplary father figure: “He was self-effacing when it came to his extraordinary intellect and linguistic talent. He referred to his work with the Prime Minister as one of life’s greatest privileges. Total discretion was the name of the game and we were always forbidden from speaking to journalists when they would ring the house. Always ready to offer a linguistic slant on everything - be it a Russian proverb or the opportunity to start and keep up a quick-fire punning competition at any time, particularly across the Christmas dinner table.”

Poignantly the arrival of Richard’s cortege at the church was accompanied by The Russian Kontakion of the Departed (Kiev Melody) sung by the choir of Clare College, Cambridge.

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MHS music director Kevin Kyle conducts the choirs and orchestra

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McClure Memorial Concert Holy Holy Trinity Trinity,Church, SloaneSloane Square, Square London Thursday 16 March 2023

The Mill Hill School Foundation chapel choir and the Choral Society musicians of the Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra performed at the concert

OM and tenor Justin Jacobs performed a solo

If you were lucky enough to be able to join us for the McClure Memorial Concert in March, you will know that the occasion was a definitive mark of Mill Hill’s musical excellence, the strength of community among pupils, parents and Old Millhillians, and our commitment to broadening access to the school through bursaries and scholarships.

encourage them to appreciate the rich tapestry of experiences which music could offer. In doing so, McClure created the basis for Mill Hill’s musical programme which endures to this day.

When I Awake, I am Still With Thee was based on a hymn written

by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 which was itself was based on Psalm 139:17-19.

To open the concert at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, Ethan Lieber (McClure 2016-21) composed a stunning fanfare, performed by musicians from the Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra. Ethan is a classical composer, commercial songwriter and a scholar at the Royal College of Music.

Multi award-winning cellist and student at the Royal Academy of Music, Ellen Baumring-Gledhill (Murray 2015-20) moved the entire audience with her performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor Op. 85 before Justin Jacobs (Atkinson 2015-18), a tenor based at the Birmingham Conservatoire took to the stage as a soloist for Handel’s Messiah.

The concert was conducted with incredible flair by Ben Glassberg (McClure 2007-12) who is fast making his mark on the global operatic and symphonic platform. After completing his Music degree at Cambridge, he went on to win the Grand Prix at the 55th Besançon Young Conductors Competition 2017 at the age of 23. He is currently Music Director of Opera de Rouen Normandie.

The choir performed a composition by Sir John McClure himself; When I Awake, I am Still With Thee. McClure (MHS 1891-1922) was an avid musician and knew the power that music could have in transforming the culture of a school. His compositional work was done at night after taking prayers; he would retreat to his study and write counterpoint until midnight. McClure’s desire to create a musical culture at Mill Hill was borne out of this joy.

By passing his curiosity and passion to pupils, he was able to

It was an emotional ending as Director of Musical Performance, Kevin Kyle, conducted ‘I Was Glad’ by Sir Hubert Parry. After being at the school for 20 years, Kevin has now moved on to a new post as Director of Aberdeen City Music School. As a school and community we will miss his incredible talent that has inspired so many of his pupils; we wish him the very best and are grateful to him for putting together such a wonderful evening of music. We are also extremely grateful to Lord Glendonbrook (School 1955-57), whose generosity made it possible for us to host this concert, and to all those who have since supported the McClure Memorial Trust as we look to increase the support on offer for future McClure Scholars.

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‘I feel incredibly lucky to have been given a McClure Scholarship.

I probably wouldn’t be where I am today without the opportunities given to me at school’ Dr Ted Macdonald (Priestley 2011-16)

Conductor OM Ben Glassberg

Chair of the Life Guardians Julian Pollock addresses the guests

OM cellist Ellen Baumring-Gledhill

Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, London

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MHS music director Kevin Kyle mastermined the concert programme

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Alford House September 2023

Time – that most precious commodity which, once used, is gone for ever.

Time – that commodity which OMs have given so generously to Alford House over the years: 100 years and still going strong! It was during the academic year 1923-24 that the link between MHS, Old Millhillians and Alford House began and in 2024 we shall be inviting OMs to Alford House to see just what a difference their contributions in so many ways has made.

This tradition is still incredibly strong. Rosie Walsh (Weymouth 2005-10) joined the Board of Trustees early in 2023 and immediately embarked on the four major Three Peak challenges to raise money for Alford House! Her brilliant efforts have been supported by many MHS friends and an anonymous OM donor has generously offered to match fund what OMs donate. (See her page on Give as you Live.)

Development There has been ample other evidence of time put in by OMs over the last year especially in the incalculable hours the Development Committee has continued to give to Alford House. This was mentioned a year ago but deserves further recognition here as the development path over the last few months has been tricky to say the least. The group led by William Maunder Taylor comprises Nigel Baker, Chris Lloyd, Joss Rosswick and now also Andrew Halstead. Andrew’s wisdom and experience has been invaluable over the last few months as we have finalised the building refurbishment plans and put them out to tender. By the time you read this, all being well, the first phase of the building work will be under way.

The Alford@70 campaign to fund this work was so-called because 2021, when it was launched, marked 70 years in the Club’s Aveline Street buildings. Alford@70 originally aimed to raise £2m of which £1.75m will be spent on the refurbishment of the Club buildings and £0.25m on delivering an enhanced programme of activity.

New board member Rose Walsh embarked on the three Peak Challenge to raise funds for Alford House

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Alford House September 2023 ‘I often look back on my memories of Alford House with such fondness. I am proud to have spent my younger years in a safe space surrounded by my peers and the fantastic team of staff whose impact on my life is evident and unapparelled. Now as a trustee of the club I am honoured to give something back and continue to support it. Alford House is – and always has been – home’ Blake Carter-White (AH Member 1999-2007) Global Technology Leader Thanks to the successful sale for development of unused land next to the Club and the generosity of a number of charities and individuals (Including numerous OMs), the £2m target has been reached!

However, construction inflation over the last few years has been extraordinary. It means that we need to raise an additional £600,000 so we can still achieve our objectives. In practical terms it also means that we have to phase the work in order: •

To start the first phase without needing to raise the whole sum;

•

To be able to maintain club activities for members throughout the process.

Once the refurbishment is complete, Alford House will be able: •

•

•

To reach more young people and provide a wider range of activities and resources for them at a time when these are needed perhaps more than ever; To provide spaces and an environment where youth services and income generation can co-exist and members can feel safe; To secure sustainable income to futureproof against the reduction in current levels of public funding.

Alford House, a south London youth club, was founded in 1884 by Frank Briant who defined its objectives as “to promote the mental, moral, physical and spiritual well-being of the young people of Lambeth.” The Governors and Management of Alford House are committed to the same objectives. The delivery may have changed over 139 years but the objectives and the need to achieve them haven’t. The need for such resources for the young people of the area is as acute now as it has ever been, perhaps more so. The young people of the area grow up in an environment with gangs and knife crime.

When asked what they find appealing about Alford House, a word which comes up again and again is “safe”: it is a safe place to meet friends and have fun. Public funding resources are stretched and limited and are constantly under threat. It is crucial that Alford House continues and indeed expands what it does and its reach.

‘As a young adult, my exposure to sport, travel and the arts was greatly enhanced by my time at the club and continues to shape my life. The club also provided myself and my peers with inspirational adult role models. Their impact remains with me to this day and certainly influenced my career choice’ Steven Donegan (AH Member 1980-87) Headteacher

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The Old Millhillian Liveryman’s Association (OMLA)

Guildhall, City of London Wednesday 10 May 2023

The Alford House strategy day was hosted in the Crick Room at MHS

David Roe, David Short and Lucia Hull

Adrian Williams, Chris Kelly and Mike Peskin

Alford House Trustees at the strategy day

Based on these objectives, the Club seeks to provide a range of challenging and supportive activities for personal and social development. These are designed to support a curriculum that is educative, promotes equality of opportunity and community cohesion, and is empowering and participative.

Do we think that we are achieving this?

Alford House is regularly evaluated.

Every time we put in a grant application the funders interrogate the Club to find out if it is doing what it says; they wouldn’t make their grants if they didn’t think we do. Recently Eastside Primetimers completed an evaluation which showed some very positive results. But for me, the strongest proof of the impact is in the words of the former Club members, Steven and Blake, quoted on the previous page.

And the Trustees don’t sit still either!

In parallel with the efforts to design and manage the refurbishment of the buildings, the Trustee body has

embarked on a lot of thinking to ensure that it is best-placed and suitably equipped to lead and support the Management and Staff of Alford House.

There was a recent strategy day actually held in The Crick Room at School which was exciting and challenging but perhaps the most worthwhile element of it was the fact it comprised ten Trustees and ten staff. This gave a chance for Trustees to get to know the staff who actually work with the young people and learn first hand of some of the challenges and think about how best to help.

As always, if any OM is interested in becoming involved with Alford House in any way at all, please do not hesitate get in touch.

Adrian Padfield and Adrian Williams

David Short and Christopher Maunder Taylor

Nick Priestnall Chair of Trustees Nick@alfordhouse.org.uk 07850 484488 Alfordhouse.org.uk Jane Sanchez addresses the Liverymen

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Old Millhillians Lodge (OML)

Ravi Dadlani, centre, is the current Master of the Old Millhillians Lodge

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Mike Maunder Taylor (Ridgeway 2001-06), Asif Chatoo (Burton Bank 1982-87), Paul Weinreich (McClure 1994-99), Ravi Dadlani (School House 1993-98) & Ross Maunder Taylor (Ridgeway 2002-07)

Five Lodge members climbed Snowdonia raising £10,000 for a Prostate Cancer research charity

The Old Millhillians Masonic Lodge 2023 meeting at Freeman’s Hall, London

Old Millhillian Lodge members

The Old Millhillian Masonic Lodge (OML) was established by a group of OMs in 1938 and I am very proud to be the current Master. I have always been interested in Freemasonry as my father is one (but not an OM) and first came across the OML in an article in Martlet inviting OMs to an open evening at the Adam and Eve. Prior to that evening I hadn’t known much detail about the Freemason organisation as a whole but since becoming a member in 2015 I have come to understand how much it has to offer and the OML in particular.

associations with the Foundation, such as teachers and other long-term employees.

The Lodge has recently joined the Public Schools Lodges` Council which comprises around 35 of the leading public schools in the UK, one of which is selected annually to hold a festival in their school grounds. I had the pleasure of attending the one at Stowe in May this year. It was a magnificently sunny day and Stowe had arranged an amazing range of activities including an exhibition of classic cars and motorbikes, tours of the house and grounds, cricket and tennis matches with food and drink served throughout the day to more than 500 attendees.

One of the main benefits of the Lodge, which meets four times a year, is providing the opportunity to enjoy the company of around thirty OMs and their guests, ranging in ages from early 20s to mid-80s. I have established a number of new relationships both from the OML community as well as from other masonic Lodges.

and philanthropy, embodying the timeless ideals of brotherly love, relief, and truth.

Brotherly love is easy to grasp as we are all part of the OM family. Truth is a prized virtue of freemasonry and a value we were all taught during our time at MHS. Relief or charity is the organisation’s main preoccupation raising significant sums for a wide variety of causes from aiding earthquake-stricken regions in Turkey and Northern Syria to procuring air ambulances and long ladder fire engines for London emergency services. OML specifically supports charities like Alford House youth club as well as providing funding for MHS pupils through the Alan Phimister Scholarship. In June a team of five of our members climbed Snowdonia and raised ten thousand pounds for a Prostate Cancer research charity in memory of one of our members, Richard Horton (Winterstoke 1965-70), who sadly passed away last year.

Imbued with medieval traditions of stonemasons, Freemasonry remains an enduring beacon of social benevolence

The OML is what’s known as a ‘closed’ Lodge as it is only open for membership to OMs or those with very close

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While Freemasonry has traditionally been a male domain, the good news is that nowadays there are a number of female-only lodges. I hope that in the future female Old Millhillians will be able to establish an Old Millhillian female lodge rather like our predecessors did for the boys in 1938.

Ravi Dadlani (School House 1993-98)

New President Welcome

2023-24 Club President Stephanie Miller (nee Jones) (Priestley 1990-92)

2022 Lower School Prize day with MHS Head Jane Sanchez and Kate Simon, Head of Grimsdell Head

Stephanie Miller was inaugurated as President 2023-24

In September 1992, a shy, reserved girl wearing immaculately presented uniform walked down the steps to the ‘dungeon’ (Priestley) with huge trepidation. As she walked into the Lower Sixth room, thirty pairs of male eyes looked up and the room fell silent… …time stood still and so did the girl. For me, it was a defining moment.

My first day at MHS stands out in memory as a major event and one that would continue to shape my life thirty-one years later as I sit and write this article today. Having been at The Mount, the girl’s school down the road, for nine years prior, it was rather a culture shock to find myself in a male dominated environment, but having to learn to stand my own ground against the boys gave me very useful life skills that continue to serve me well today.

It goes without saying that I loved and cherished every day of the two years I spent at MHS. I took full advantage of all that the School had to offer. Sports was a particular highlight, representing the school in tennis, netball and hockey. There was disappointment at not being allowed to create a girls’ rugby team and I remember being told quite distinctly that “girls should not sweat – they should perspire”. There was a fun girls’ hockey tour to France although from memory I don’t think we actually played any hockey! Other trips included a Ski Trip and a French Exchange where I was fortunate to find myself living with a French family up the road from the coolest night club in town - we must have been underage and I have no idea how we all got in but it was great fun nonetheless.

Other stand out memories include: Mr Prosser-Harries throwing rocks at us in geography; the tuck shop; Sixth Form discos; Mr Rainey re-enacting a scene from the film ‘Dead Poets Society’ by teaching us English whilst we all stood on our desks (this would certainly be a Health & Safety hazard today); sneaking into School House at night to visit friends (sorry Mr Woodrow); supporting the First XV on a Saturday afternoon; playing flute in the orchestra; Kangaroo Court; having Polo mints tied into my hair by the boys sitting behind me in current affairs lessons and tap dancing on the stage in ‘The Large’ with my best friend in a musical production of ‘South Pacific’.

Priestley was of course the best house(!) and Mr Bickerdike is long etched in the memories of all those who passed through the House doors, including mine. A huge supporter of his Priestley pupils, I remember him fondly as being strict but fair and I was honoured to become ‘school staff’ (a prefect) in the Upper Sixth and still to this day treasure the tie that was awarded.

Another honour was becoming the editor of the 1991 school magazine and staying late on countless evenings putting the publication together. In my editorial I wrote ‘Mill Hill School

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At the AGM with former President Gordon Mizner

1990 Stephanie was in the chorus in Amadeus

1991 Stephanie (second in on the left, second row) in the school production of South Pacific

1990-1991 Priestley House photograph

continues to set standards of academic achievement of which we are all proud. However important they may be for further education they aren’t the only set of criteria by which to judge the success of a school. The ability of the pupils to meet the demands of a future career and of adult life are equally important.’

It is strange looking back at those words today and realising that whilst the school has of course evolved and changed, the words still ring very true.

a few challenging moments, I have thoroughly enjoyed playing even a small part in the continued success of Mill Hill and the wider Foundation.

Exams came and went but I was having far too much fun to study. Before I knew it, my time at MHS was up and those final summer days spent sitting on Top Terrace (school staff privilege) soon gave way to the serious business of going to Manchester University where I studied Russian and Soviet History and Politics. I certainly missed school in the following few years but enjoyed going to a number of Old Millhillian events including some in Leeds and London.

A gap year travelling, starting a career, meeting my husband and having my son all meant that MHS became a distant memory for a number of years although I would pass it often and enjoy brief moments of nostalgia. Then nine years ago, a phone call from Roger Chapman (the then Chair of Governors) would once again bring a defining moment in my Mill Hill journey with the offer of a seat on the Court of Governors.

Walking back into the Octagon as an adult was a strange sensation, seeing so many girls around took some getting used to and sitting in the Head’s office to this day remains unnerving but the school soon became ‘home’ once again and despite

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1991 Stephanie played for the MHS Hockey A Team

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This year marks a new chapter in my Mill Hill story with two major milestones: Becoming President of the Old Millhillians Club, the first female to do so, is a huge privilege. I hope that I am able to do the Club proud in this role and look forward to meeting many, many OMs as I navigate a full programme of events both here and abroad. The second honour will be watching my son wear the Mill Hill uniform and make his way through the doors as a pupil from September. He will have a seamless transition having spent four very happy years at Belmont and whilst he is very much looking forward to joining the senior school I think I am probably more excited to have the opportunity to relive my Mill Hill days vicariously through him.

Thirty-one years after my first day at MHS, I may no longer be the shy, reserved girl with immaculate uniform but my love and admiration for the school and how it has shaped my life continues.

Whilst it would have been impossible for me to predict that my older self would one day have the opportunity to become President of such an illustrious alumni institution my 16-year-old self is certainly jumping for joy!

Et Virtutem et Musas!

Stephanie Miller is Vice Chair of the Court of Governors of the Mill Hill School Foundations and is Head of External Relations for Arnold House School

IN MEMORIAM Bonner

Alan

RIdgeway 1951-55

Samuels

Ronnie

Winterstoke 1943-48

Attarzadeh

Barry

Winterstoke 1965-69 (Old Belmontian) 1969-74 (Old Millhillian)

Becks

Simon

Scrutton 1960-65

Buckley

Roger

Burton Bank 1952-57

Mortimer

Andrew

Burton Bank 1957-61

Taylor

Brian

Collinson 1955-60

Worthington Charles

McClure 1971-77

Toulson

Alan

Weymouth 1955-60

Petrie

David

Burton Bank 1942-46

Figgis

Alan

Murray 1947-53 (Old Belmontian) 1953-57 (Old Millhillian)

Fischer

Fred

Murray 1954-56

Behrman

Victor

Burton Bank 1956-50

FETERIS

Victor

RIDGEWAY 1945-1947

SCADDING

CLIVE

RIDGEWAY 1957-61

MAILE

DAVID

COLLINSON 1940-43

KENDELL

DAVID

WINTERSTOKE 1951-56

ROSSINGTON

RICHARD

BURTON BANK 1952-57

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