OP News A/W 2019

Autumn Winter 2019

the PERSE SCHOOL CAmbridge

OP

in this issue HISTORICALLY CURIOUS History Academics An Enduring Gift Maurice Baker (1953) Campaign Update An Enduring Gift CAREERS WORKSHOP Going international

Contents 03

From the Head

06 HISTORICALLY CURIOUS

04

School News

06

Historically Curious

OPs with an academic interest in history

10 Staff Profile

11 An Enduring Gift: Maurice’s Legacy

11 An Enduring Gift

12 Campaign Update

13

Maurice Baker (1953)

Donor Lists

16 OP News

18 Careers Workshop

12 Campaign Update

20 Obituaries

24

The latest news of An Enduring Gift campaign

Upcoming Events

On the cover Into The Glacier, Langjökull, Iceland. Taken by Ryan Jones (Y10). The Langjökull glacier is the secondlargest glacier in Iceland.

Pupils went into the 300m man-made tunnel as part of their geography trip in July. You can read more on page five.

18 CareerS Workshop The International Workplace

From school thenews Head

In October, we enjoyed catching up with many OPs and Friends in Hong Kong and Singapore. Thanks to Somerton Sio (2006), Ernest Tsui (1986) and Alan Cheung (1995) for hosting

From the Head

I

History shows The Perse has survived worse –

am delighted that history is a focus for this edition of OP News. Although a geographer by degree

from the English Civil War and bubonic plague in the

I regard myself as a ‘closet historian’, and these

seventeenth century, to near bankruptcy and Luftwaffe bombs in the twentieth century.

days my teaching is limited to a Local Studies course

Necessity is the mother of invention, and as we

where I minibus Year 7 (first form) pupils around Cambridgeshire’s historic sites, including the Roman

face uncertain times in the UK we are expanding

Road, the ‘pyramids’ at Bartlow, Devil’s Dyke, and the

overseas. Perse schools in Suzhou and Singapore will

deserted medieval village at Castle Camps.

extend our educational reach and provide benefits for children both overseas and in Cambridge. For pupils in

Children must study history because it teaches them perspective, and perspective is something that

Asia there will be the chance to access a world-class

young people lack, as it comes with life experience.

liberal education, whilst for students in Cambridge

Today’s pupils exposed to a media diet of global

there will be new exchange and cross cultural learning opportunities. And importantly when

warming, political scandal and economic uncertainty

Perse UK could be facing political and

can get anxious and depressed about their futures. The perspective of history is a very helpful antidote for

economic hardships, Perse overseas

such teenage angst. For in many cases it was worse in

will provide much needed funds to finance bursaries, outreach, capital

the past and we did survive and even thrive.

improvements, and to keep a downward

This is something I have to remind myself as

pressure on fee increases to help

politicians of all colours attack independent

preserve affordability.

schools and threaten us with anything from loss of charitable status and VAT

With best wishes, Ed Elliott

on fees, to full-scale abolition and redistribution of assets.

3

old perseans

School News

Schools’ Challenge teams complete the double

The Perse have been crowned champions in both this year’s Junior and Senior Schools’ Challenge competitions. The competition tests students in general knowledge, and is regarded as the secondary education equivalent of University Challenge.

Oliver Phillips (Lower Sixth) captained the Senior team, featuring Vikram Singh (Lower Sixth), Malachy Wallace and Sean Ridley (both Year 9), to a 990–350 victory against Magdalen College School in the final of the competition in April.

The Junior team, captained by Global Horizons

Vishrut Pisupati (Year 8) and featuring

We are pleased to announce that excellent progress is being

Freddie Doel, Harry Purvis (both Year

made with The Perse’s first two international schools which are

8) and Dhruv Radhakrishnan (Year

both due to open in 2020. These two new schools are important

7) followed in their footsteps in June.

next steps in an educational journey that began over 400 years

The boys beat George Heriot’s School

ago. The new schools will be operated under licence agreements

530–430 and Magdalen College School

with The Perse School Cambridge International and will share our

750–540 in the quarter and semi-

core values of endeavour, intellectual curiosity and scholarship,

finals respectively. The final was a tight

breadth and balance, and one another and our environment.

encounter with The Royal Grammar

The schools will be located in Singapore and Suzhou, a

School Guildford, but despite being

25-minute high speed train ride from central Shanghai. The school

neck and neck throughout, The Perse

in Singapore will be for international pupils aged six to 12, and the

edged ahead late on to secure a 630–

school in Suzhou for Chinese and international students aged 15+.

610 victory and the overall honours.

In September, Ed Elliott and Simon Armitage, Assistant Head (Educational Opportunities) went to Suzhou and Shanghai to participate in the signing ceremonies, where the opening of The Perse School Suzhou was announced. Over 250 people attended the events including Mr Richard Burn (HM Trade Commissioner for China), Dr Ker Sin Tze (Former Minister of State, Education in Singapore), other British Embassy and Consulate representatives, government officials, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The Principal of The Perse School Suzhou has been appointed.

Naomi Atkins has held senior leadership positions in British Schools in Indonesia, Malaysia and China, including in Suzhou itself. We are delighted to be working with Naomi on this exciting venture.

Students enjoy spectacular scenery on Iceland trip Over the summer holiday, 79 pupils in Years 9 and 10 enjoyed a five-day geography trip to Iceland. The packed programme saw pupils enjoying a relaxing few hours in the Blue Lagoon learning about geothermal power; hiking up a volcano; visiting Geysir, the place where all other geysers get their name; and even whale watching! However, it was the trip into a glacier that was described by Y9 pupil Edward de Ferrers Green as “once-in-a-lifetime”. Pupils fitted crampons to their shoes before heading through a large tunnel into the glacier. Once inside, they learned about the formation of glaciers and saw the black ash lines from the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull that now lies about nine metres under the ice. Anna Bevens (Y10) said “I really enjoyed the trip as it allowed me to see the things we had learnt about [in lessons], but also I was able to experience their beauty. I really appreciate all the effort put in to make the trip so memorable.”

4

school news

Largest PES Camp to date!

EXAM SUCCESS breaks records

This summer, Perse Exploration Society’s ascent group of

This year we celebrated record-

272 pupils travelled to the Isle of Wight to experience new

breaking I/GCSE results thanks to

adventures, learn new skills and build friendships. This was

the excellent performance of the

the largest camp ever for the group, which is the modern-day

School’s 176 Year 11 students who

incarnation of The Perse’s 5th Cambridge Scout Troop.

achieved stellar grades in their

Throughout the week, pupils experienced a number of activities

exams. A record total of 84% of

including orienteering, backwards cooking, archery, canoeing,

Perse entries were graded 9 or

kayaking and paddle boarding. The whole troop also took part

8 (broadly equivalent to the old

in a survival camp activity, which saw them sleeping out under

GCSE A* grade), with 94% at 9, 8

shelters they made themselves from tarps, string and canoe

or 7 (equivalent to the old GCSE

paddles. As well as having lots of fun, the pupils took part in some

A*/A). This success saw The

activities to improve the campsite, by creating a new archery

Perse placed top of The Times

shed and renovating the Richard Crabtree assault course.

league table of 193 independent

Taking so many young people camping is no mean feat, and so particular thanks go to the five members of Perse Outdoor Pursuits staff and 41 volunteers, including four OPs and 16 Sixth Formers, who ensured the smooth running of the trip!

co-ed schools’ I/GCSE results for the fourth time in recent years.

In the Upper Sixth, 179 students secured a total of 590 A level and Pre U grades with 49% of entries being graded A* and 80% A*-A (or the Pre U equivalent). Almost two-thirds of the year group achieved three or more A*-A (or equivalent) grades – congratulations to our newest OPs!

Girls’ cricket teams at Lord’s The Perse girls’ indoor cricket teams enjoyed a

National architecture award for PAC

successful time at the Lady Taverner’s national

The Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre has

schools finals at Lord’s this summer, with the U13

received a prestigious RIBA National Award.

side runners-up and U15 team finishing fourth in

Having won a RIBA East regional award in May,

their respective competitions.

the new facility, designed by architect Haworth Tompkins, achieved further recognition from the

The Perse was the only school to have representatives in both national finals, and despite

Royal Institute of British Architects. The venue,

losing out on a title, team coach John Read was

which opened in March 2018, features a 400-

very impressed with the girls’ performances. He

seat auditorium, rehearsal and teaching rooms,

said “It’s a tough competition when you get to

an exhibition space and full back-of-house

this level. Every team is a good team and the

facilities. It functions as a café for pupils and

champion of their region. To put it into perspective

staff during the school day and as a foyer for

around 800 schools entered this competition and

audiences during events in the auditorium. The

we came fourth, so it’s a very good result.”

building was described by RIBA as “beautifully conceived and masterfully executed”.

5

old perseans

Historically curious History has always

my other subjects, although I

been popular at The

really enjoyed English, especially

Perse, with many of our

I preferred history, even though

alumni pursuing the

John Tanfield, the sixth-form

subject at university

much he disliked teaching it. If he

and beyond. We hear

aimed to put us off, he failed. A

from four OPs who are

group read history at Cambridge.

with the brilliant Douglas Brown,

teacher, told us repeatedly how

significant proportion of my year Tanfield focused mainly on

spending their careers finding out what the Romans (and Egyptians, Stuarts and Europeans) have ever done for us…

early modern England and Europe

John Miller (1965)

and by the time I arrived at Jesus College this was my main area of

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Perse, from the Prep to the Upper Sixth. I “chose” my A levels largely by default. I felt I had reached my ceiling in maths, my physics was lamentably weak and my having studied only French ruled out modern languages. Of 6

interest. Interpretations of the Civil War and Republic were in a state of flux. The Marxist-influenced preoccupation with economic and social change was questioned by younger historians who placed greater emphasis on politics and religion. Post-Civil War society was

school Feature news

I should first like to record my gratitude to The Perse and its traditions.

disturbances and conflicts

Harold James (1974)

between Whigs and Tories, Anglicans and Dissenters. My shift of emphasis from high to popular politics reflected a changing understanding of “political” history in terms of power relationships within towns, villages and other communities.

My shift from political to social history owed much to time spent teaching at Queen Mary College, (now Queen Mary University of London). I had always believed iStock.com/Flory

that good teaching required an element of fun, to make students want to learn. Queen Mary’s intake

I preferred History, even though John Tanfield, the sixthform teacher, told us repeatedly how much he disliked teaching it. If he aimed to put us off, he failed.

was diverse, so I learned to tackle different topics in different ways, developing my own ideas and understanding in the process.

When I retired I drew together my ideas on British history in its widest sense, which I hope will prove useful to future generations of students, in Early-Modern Britain 1450–1750, (Cambridge 2017).

To finish on a rare negative note, among depressing recent

increasingly seen as divided not

developments in universities is

only horizontally (between classes)

the tendency of administrators to

but also vertically (along religious

value research above teaching,

and political lines). Moreover,

to define teaching in terms of

historians of the Civil War now

sterile “aims and objectives”, and

focused on Scotland and Ireland,

to assume that everything can

as much as England.

be reduced to PowerPoint. For

This rethinking of the divisions

me, teachers need sometimes to

within English and British society

surprise and to shock. I used to

took many decades. I began

finish a lecture on Oliver Cromwell

research for my PhD in 1968,

with extracts from his ferocious

working on popery (and anti-

letter to the Catholic bishops of

popery) under Charles II and

Ireland in 1650. It began “your

James II. After the PhD I became

Covenant is with death and hell”

a research fellow of Gonville and

and concluded “ere long you must

Caius, publishing a biography of

all of you have blood to drink: even

James II and later a comparison

the dregs of the cup of the fury

between the French and English

of the wrath of God which will be

monarchies. I remained interested

poured out unto you.” At which

in popular anti-popery: bonfires

point I would walk out, leaving

and processions continued to

in my wake some shaken but (I

play a significant part in urban

hoped) more thoughtful students.

7

I should first like to record my gratitude to The Perse and its traditions. In particular the charismatic figure of John Tanfield has been a lasting source of inspiration: a man of deep learning, but also of passionate views and a love of theatre that was expressed in his whole demeanour. I don’t believe I would have become a historian without his influence.

My historical research started in Cambridge University, where I was a student at Caius and then became a Fellow of Peterhouse.

Again two inspirational figures pushed me in thinking about the catastrophes of twentieth century Europe: Jonathan Steinberg and Norman Stone, whose moving funeral in Budapest I attended earlier this summer.

My PhD thesis, and my first book, dealt with the interplay between economic collapse and the destruction of democracy in interwar Germany. That book, The German Slump (1986), set up the themes that I have been engaged with ever since. When I was writing it, I was struck by the similarities between the large and unstable capital flows of the 1920s

old perseans

and the inflows into Latin America

Banque de France, Jean-Pierre

Depression – has been a revival

in the 1970s, and their reversal

Landau, produced a study that

of thinking in zero-sum terms:

in the 1982 crisis: a reversal that

looked at the problems of the

nations or regions are involved in

produced a lost decade for

Euro in terms of long-standing

a competitive struggle and what

development in Latin America. I

differences of outlook between

benefits one will hurt the others.

looked at the whole of the postwar

France and Germany. My most

It is particularly striking that the

era in International Monetary

recent enterprise is the latest

backlash against globalisation has

Cooperation Since Bretton Woods

volume in the official history of

been most politically dramatic in

(1995), and then went on to think

the Bank of England, covering the

the two countries that built the

about the conditions in which

period between the late 1970s and

successful and stable postwar

globalisation can be reversed,

the eve of the financial crisis: in

order in 1944–45 – the United

and the world of the interwar

short, the years in which the Bank

States and the United Kingdom.

Great Depression might return, in

responded to globalisation and a

Deglobalisation is facilitated by

The End of Globalization (2001).

new financial revolution.

a mode of thinking that regards

That book was translated into ten

I’ve always thought it important

general rules, of the sort required

languages, and came in for a great

to draw on history and academic

for effective international

deal of attention after the financial

analysis in thinking about current

coordination, both on a global or

crisis of 2007–8. More recently,

problems, and indeed I write

a European level, as redundant or

I wrote about the origins of the

a regular column for Project

ineffective or even harmful. But

European monetary union, and

Syndicate, which is then reprinted

the absence of such general rules

together with a German colleague

in many newspapers all over

– as the UK is discovering in the

at Princeton, the economist

the world. The aftermath of the

chaos of the Brexit debate – makes

Markus Brunnermeier, and the

Global Financial Crisis – as was

finding a way to keep society civil

former Deputy Governor of the

true after the interwar Great

ever harder.

Jerry Toner (1986)

In one joke, for example, a man bumps into his teacher in the

For some reason I’ve always found

street and says, “I’m sorry my son

the past more interesting than the

wasn’t at school today but he’s

future. At The Perse, this interest

dead.” Pretty bleak stuff. We also

naturally led me towards studying

find a world where a very different

Classics and I am now a Roman

mindset operated. A man once

historian at Churchill College in

dreamt that he had sex with one of

Cambridge. My research focuses

his slave girls and was worried that

on finding out about ordinary

it meant that his children would

Romans. What stories did they

end up as slaves. The dream-

tell? What made them laugh?

interpreter, Artemidorus, reassures

What did they worry about? How

him that it simply means he will

different were their tastes, cultural

take pleasure from his assets.

There are many methodological

preferences, even language from

problems in using this type of

those of the rich? This is not straightforward because nearly all

can offer us a glimpse of the world

evidence. These popular texts

the surviving texts in the canon of

and world-view of the ordinary

are no more transparent than any

classical literature pay little more

Roman in the street. There are

others, and some of them may

than passing attention to the non-

fables, joke books, oracles, graffiti

not be as popular as they seem.

elite, and hardly any were written

and visual representations of many

They all require literacy and it is

by those who were not part of a

kinds. Then there are sources such

very unclear how widespread this

narrow group of well-connected

as astrological handbooks and a

was. In the town of Pompeii, with

elite men. But there is nevertheless

work on dream-interpretation.

a population of about 15,000,

some material – and much more than most people imagine – which

All this evidence often reveals a grim world of high mortality.

about 13,000 pieces of graffiti survive. Some level of modest

The Classics department has always been strong and Stephen Kern and Paul McKechnie were excellent teachers and have remained supportive throughout my career.

8

school Feature news

Alex Loktionov (2011)

I hope to shed more light on what may have been a floruit of intellectual globalisation almost a millennium before Classical Greece.

I started at The Perse Prep in

Cambridge, where I’m looking at

2000 and lasted to the end of

how ancient ideas about justice

Sixth Form in 2011. For much of

circulated between Egypt, the

that time, I was generally known

Middle East and Sub-Saharan

for one of two things: my fondness

Africa in the later second

for Latin and my fascination with

millennium BCE. I’m particularly

the social structure of the great

interested in how early Semitic

apes. This somewhat unorthodox

conceptions of enforceable order

intellectual outlook made

may have permeated into Egypt

university choice rather easy:

at a time when the Mesopotamian

the only option where you could

cuneiform script was becoming a

study apes while also continuing

lingua franca in the south-eastern

work with ancient texts was the

Mediterranean basin. In the official

Archaeology & Anthropology

rhetoric of the Egyptian state,

degree at Cambridge, so that is

foreigners were generally seen as

what I did.

bad, but the day-to-day reality of

The rationale behind the

people from different backgrounds

Cambridge course was that these

settling in Egypt paints a different

two areas of research – commonly

legal and social story. By looking

seen as rather disparate and

at a range of formal legal

rarely studied together – are in

documents, stone monuments and

fact both crucial components of

private archives, I hope to shed

what makes us human. We are of

more light on what may have been

course apes ourselves, and it is

a floruit of intellectual globalisation

our sophisticated use of language

almost a millennium before

literacy must have existed quite

which has allowed us to forge our

Classical Greece.

widely. And who do we mean by

own distinct identities. While at

“ordinary” Romans? The urban

Cambridge, I learned two of the

what I treasure most is the

plebs, the peasants in the fields,

oldest languages ever recorded

School’s focus on encouraging

or the artisan class? And what

by humans – Ancient Egyptian

genuinely independent thought

about women? Almost none of the

and Akkadian, the language of

across a huge diversity of

graffiti were explicitly written by

Ancient Iraq. When the human

intermeshing disciplines. While

women. More often we have men

ape first turned to writing over

this sounds like a cliché, there

writing about women, which adds

5000 years ago, these are the

surely cannot be many places

a whole other level of difficulty.

scripts it first produced.

where you can combine seven

The Perse gave me a

During my time at university,

Looking back at The Perse,

A-levels, regular participation

tremendous basis for this work.

I became increasingly interested

in archaeological excavations,

The Classics department has

in how early complex societies

fundraising for chimpanzee

always been strong and Stephen

in Egypt and Iraq were able to

protection and developing a

Kern and Paul McKechnie were

develop forms of normative

unique form of (admittedly rather

excellent teachers and have

behaviour that eventually

clumsy) dance at the charity

remained supportive throughout

developed into bodies of law.

cabaret. Nor are there many places

my career. I recall that at the time

This research led me to some

where I would have wanted to do

they were working on an edition

interesting places – including a

all of these – and that for me is the

and translation of the so-called

remote sheep farm in Armenia

School’s biggest achievement.

Oxyrhynchus historian, a late-fifth

and the Library of Congress in

and early-fourth century BCE

Washington, DC. Eventually, I

Greek writer whose text survives on

completed a PhD on the evolution

an Egyptian papyrus, which in itself

of judicial process in Ancient

tells you something about their

Egypt, working mainly on tomb

academic prowess. They made me

inscriptions, seal impressions

realise that the narrowly focused

and papyri from archaeological

set of elite-authored texts we were

contexts dating to 2700–1600 BCE.

studying for A levels was only part

I’m now a Research Fellow in

of the story of the ancient world.

Egyptology at Christ’s College, 9

what I treasure most is the School’s focus on encouraging genuinely independent thought across a huge diversity of intermeshing disciplines.

old perseans

Staff Profile

Lilian Blaxill

I

started teaching at The Perse

in terms. Much as I love the

time with family, both here and in

in 1995; the year girls joined the

mathematical side of my job, and

Scotland, is always treasured.

School. Coincidentally there

I really do, it is as a Sixth Form

There are too many fantastic

was a large number of female staff

tutor where I hope I may have the

students and classes I have

appointed that year – probably one

biggest impact on students’ overall

encountered to name them all

for each of the seven or so girls who

wellbeing. I have been incredibly

but one of my early double Maths

were in the Sixth Form!

lucky to have tutor groups who

classes who gave me a hamster

will join in with every ridiculous

(actually a toy guinea pig) complete

Physics and GNVQ numeracy at

venture, from half marathons to

with cage, food and owner’s guide

a Further Education college in

fashion shows and lip sync battles.

(for a mouse) does stick in my

Before joining The Perse I taught

Penzance. I think it was at the point

There is no doubt in my mind

mind. So too does the student who,

when the bench caught on fire

that I have been incredibly

when the School asked us to be

during an experiment on measuring

fortunate to find a job that I

very “on message” and add the

the specific heat capacity of

genuinely love but, as with any job,

phrase “Celebrating 400 years of

paraffin that I realised perhaps a

there are aspects that are mundane

The Perse” to our email signature,

less experiment-based subject,

or tiresome. Occasionally on a wet

suggested I add “Celebrating 400

such as Maths, was best for me.

and windy November morning,

years at The Perse”. And finally, the

I question how eight years at

student who perhaps best embodies

Mathematics, following my first

university led me to be trudging

my well-meaning attempts at

degree in Maths and Astronomy

round the School grounds on duty

pastoral care: who replied as I

and a PhD in Astrophysics. I’d

with the mantra “Tuck your shirt in”

walked into form time and greeted

always been drawn to the idea of

on repeat. And marking; ah, the gift

the students with a cheery “I’m in a

lecturing but, during my PhD, I

that keeps on giving. Of course, as

good mood today” with the warning

began to realise that lecturing and

my classes remind me; I only have

“It’s a trap…”

teaching are very different things

myself to blame for that one.

In fact, my PGCE was in

and it was the interactive nature of

But for the most part, each day

teaching which really appealed. One

is interesting and, crucially, filled

Name: Dr Lilian Blaxill

of the things which makes teaching

with laughter both in lessons and

Joined The Perse: 1995

at The Perse so rewarding is the day

in the Maths office (a place as wild

Subject: Maths

to day conversations with students.

and exciting as you might imagine.)

Also known for:

Colleagues become friends and a

Running, founding the

vital support mechanism.

School's Maclaurin Society,

Over the years, the pastoral side of the job has become more and more important to me, which

Outside of school? Well running

encouraging staff to make

may come as a surprise to those

slowly trying not to fall over on flat

fun of themselves and raise

who may suggest that “Glaswegian

unimpeded ground is a great way

money in the lip sync battle.

empathy” is a contradiction

to clear the stresses of the day and 10

Campaign school news update

An Enduring Gift Maurice Baker (1953) developed and shaped training courses for young people with his lifelong friend, George Moody.

Maurice became the hub of the courses – organising, publicising, administering and delivering them. He led expeditions for Scouts to adventurous places, including Turkey, the Lofoten Islands in Norway and Kashmir. All of these trips gave young people from Hertfordshire the opportunity to explore lands they had only read about and helped them make their dreams come true.

In total, Maurice spent over 60 years in Scouting (acknowledged by the Chief Scout in a Long Service Presentation in April 2014). He gave excellent service at all levels of the movement, recognised by awards such as the Medal of Merit, the bar to the Medal of Merit, the Silver Acorn, the bar to the Silver Acorn and the Silver Wolf which is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is only awarded for service of a most exceptional nature. In addition, Maurice was awarded Maurice Baker was born on 8 December 1934

the Chief Scouts Commendation for Meritorious

and spent his early years in Cambridge with his

Conduct for his organisation and coordination of

older sister, Audrey. He won a bursary to join

the rescue of an injured Scout during the first of the

The Perse and attended the School from 1945–1953.

County Expeditions to the Lofoten Islands in 1971.

He passed away on 13 February 2018, at the age of

Throughout his life, Maurice recognised the great start in life his schooling gave him by making modest

83. Maurice had devoted much of his life to inspiring

donations to the School’s Bursary Fund as his way

young people and encouraging them to be the best

of saying thank you.

they could be. In death, he was able to continue this

W

passion, by leaving a six-figure legacy gift to The Perse hilst at The Perse, Maurice was introduced

School’s Bursary Fund. This gift will support a number

to Scouting as part of the 5th Cambridge

of young people through The Perse and will enable

Scouts, as well as to the cadets. After

them to benefit from the same great education that Maurice had, regardless of their family circumstances.

school, he joined ICI and trained to be a plastics

Maurice’s good friend, Gordon Marshall, said

research chemist. His career was interrupted by a period of National Service, when he was posted to

of Maurice at his funeral: “The Perse motto – Qui facit

India and Malaya with the Army Catering Corps and

per alium facit per se – pretty much describes the

where he discovered a lifelong talent for cooking.

way Maurice led his life. He gave young people a chance, helped to nurture and support them,

Throughout his time in the Army, Maurice continued in Scouting. He became the Scout Leader of the 19th

recognised when they were able to go off on their

Jahore Bahru Troop in Malaya for service families

own and celebrate their development whilst remaining

whilst on National Service and continued

watchful and to be there to help them when needed,

this in the Hertfordshire Scouts when he returned

whilst all the time remaining courteous and generous.

to the UK.

There are many words that could be used to describe Maurice – colleague, leader, inspiration, mentor,

Maurice had a passion for the development of young people. In the 1960s he became a part

neighbour, chef, raconteur, good counsel – but above

of Hertfordshire Scouts’ growing involvement in

all he was a great friend.”

Maurice’s gift to The Perse will enable that spirit of

developing mountaineering skills and the County

the School motto to live on.

Adventure Centre at Lochearnhead in Scotland. He

Maurice’s gift to The Perse will enable that spirit of the School motto to live on.

11

old perseans

Campaign Update 2018–19 During the 2018–19 academic year we received

In addition to financial gifts, we are also

support from 423 donors, raising over £575,000 for The

incredibly grateful to the Old Perseans

Perse. The generous support of our community enables

and Friends of the School who give

us to continue to provide opportunities for young

their time to The Perse. This year

people, both within the School gates and further afield.

over 120 members of our community got involved in a voluntary capacity; from

As well as supporting over 100 pupils at The Perse with means-tested financial assistance, this year we

delivering lunchtime lectures and careers workshops

worked with 20 local primary schools as part of our

to helping with extra-curricular activities or being a

outreach programme. Our partnerships with primary

Year Group Rep. We are especially grateful to the

schools enable the schools to suggest the support

OPs and parents who provide invaluable support

they would most benefit from, from fortnightly French

to the development office by serving on the

lessons and maths mentoring, to visits to galleries and

Development Advisory Group.

museums. This year saw OPs getting involved, with Midé Adenaike (2013) returning to The Perse to deliver an a cappella workshop to four of our primary partners.

In September

Our outreach work does not just support young people – each year a group of Upper Sixth students

2019, 11 recent

run a Digistart scheme for retired members of the local

leavers took to the

community, showing them how to get the most from

11 callers

their computers and smartphones. You can read more

phones as part of our annual

about all of our outreach and community partnerships

telephone

at www.perse.co.uk/partnerships.

campaign. We

437

are enormously

conversations

The Perse has a global

grateful to all of our donors,

network of OPs and

whose names

Friends. In the last

will be listed in

financial year, we

the donor report

Over £60,000 pledged

received gifts from four different continents!

Direction of pledges and donations

Sources of pledges and donations

for the 2019–20 financial year.

OP donors by decade 61

.01% 2%

49

20% 1%

Total

Total

£575,008

425 Gifts

38

47 42 34

77%

Bursaries (including endowed): 77% Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre: 1% U nrestricted: 20% Outreach: 2%

12

OPs: 68% Parents: 27% Other: 6%

4 ’40s ’50s ’60s ’70s ’80s ’90s ’00s ’10s

Other: .01%

12

school Donors news

Donor List 2018–19 We are deeply grateful to all who have made a donation to The Perse, both those listed in this report and those wishing to remain anonymous.

In November, we were honoured to receive a transformative legacy gift from the estate of Maurice Baker (1953). Maurice had been a loyal supporter of the School during his lifetime, and left a gift in excess of £250,000 to the bursary fund in his will. Maurice’s incredible generosity is a wonderful example of an enduring gift that will transform the lives of young people for years to come.

We are delighted that many members of our community recognise the impact a legacy gift can have – this year we were notified of six new legacy pledges.

Following on from the success of last year’s Leavers’ Appeal, the Class of 2019 parents took up the mantle and have, at the time of writing, raised in excess of £60,000 in support of The Perse’s Bursary and Hardship Fund. Special thanks go to Alison Wilkinson, Juliet Jackson, Liz Proudfoot, Ruth Lewin Smith and Amanda Parton for their help in raising awareness of the campaign.

Gifts in numbers

89 loyal donors (who have been giving for 10+ years)

179 members of the 1615 Society

69 members of the Dr Perse Society

64 new donors who made their first gift during 2018–19

Donations are listed in alphabetical order by decade at the School. *D onors who have given to the School for 10+ consecutive years

Class of 1940s Mr P T Armitstead* The late Dr B J Drake Mr J G B Hughes Major E G S Lachlan Class of 1950s Mr G Addison* The late Mr M G Baker* Mr J F Bullen* Wing Commander E B Bywater* Mr J W Charles* Dr D C H Cheng Mr A S Crawford Mr J A Elmore Mr S C Foster Mr R G Gee Mr C A Greenhill Mr J M Hammond* Dr B L Hunt* Dr P G G Jackson* Mr M D C Johnson* Mr J M Kidd* Mr R L Kidd Mr T G King Mr R A Lanham* Mr T C Laurie Mr I G Lyon Mr R R Mansfield* Ms A May* Mr P E Mills Dr P H Mynott Mr R C Norris* The Reverend Canon D W Owen* Sir Mark Potter Mr M J A Powell* Mr P J D Scarlett MBE* Mr D E Sibson* Mr T G W Sweeney Mr A H C Voaden Mr R J H Wheatley* Professor J A Zetter Class of 1960s Mr D J Alexander* Mr T Andrew Mr J S Andrews Mr M J Beloe* Mr J A Bishopp* Dr J E Bradshaw* Mr C M Byrom Dr J W Calvert Mr R A Camping Dr J Cheney Professor R C Cheng* Mr C D Chitty Professor J Clarke* Dr A E T Cook Mr W O Cook

13

Mr R A Covill* Mr D G Crawford* Dr H M Davies Mr G R Ditcham* Mr R D Eastcott Mr D I H Field* Mr R W Goddin Mr R S Gould* Dr D B Goulstine Mr J M Green* Dr N Hamson Mr M E Harper Mr C P Harrison Mr W G Hodges Mr J R Holy* Dr R Jeffery Mr L J Kimpton Mr R K Loukes Mr A R Mackness Mr P Mahaffey Dr J Marshall Dr M G Mason Professor J L Miller Dr R F Mitchell* Mr T R T Morris Mr J E Moss Dr R Murphey Mr G Palmer* Mr R F Perkins Mr S J Perrin Dr D J Robinson Mr G A M Sims The Honorable R S Smith Mr P J H Smith* Dr M A Spencer* Mr R F Squibbs Mr S J Stanley Mr R D Stearn* Dr S M Stearn Sir Quentin Thomas* Mr P E Thompson Mr R J Thomson Mr C V T Walne Mr H J Wiseman Mr A C H Wright Class of 1970s Mr J P C Bailey* Mr C S Bell* Mr A J M Brookes Professor S E Buttrey Mr R Clarke Mr A C Cook Mr A Cuthbert Mr D N Daughton Mr S V De Boo* Mr G Dench Mr A Donoghue Mr T Empson Mr D A Farndale Dr A J France Mr T C Freane Mr B C Gill Mr R P Grace Mr C P Hancock QC* Dr W G Handley* Mr P A Harlow Mr D E Hart* Mr M Hawkins Dr R Hindmarsh

Mr A Homer Mr R Hutt Mr P J Johnson* Mr B D Lanaghan Mr M H Massy Mr K A A McFarlane Mr R I Morgan* Dr A J G Nurser Mr S W Pain* Mr R D Partridge Mr W M Pattison Mr C F Rushton* Mr R D Russell* The Reverend R Smail Dr L M V Smith Mr J P Stevens In memory of Commander and Mrs K G Sumnall OBE Mr D J Thompson* Mr W D L Thompson Professor M Threadgill Mr J P Tunnicliffe* Mr G Warren Dr G D Wattles* Mr M J Whitehead Class of 1980s Mr P Ansell Mr P Bailey Mr N Brownlie Mr S Chaplin Mr J A Collins* Mr D P Dorai Raj Dr M R Echlin Mr A J Finch* Mr A G Fisher Dr A R Gande Mr S M Groom Mr I M Handley-Schachler Captain P J Haslam Mr S G Kelly Mr M J Leake* Mr S A H Lello Mr A J M Liddle Professor S J Martin Mr T R Matthews Mr M A Melford Dr F Moscuzza* Mr J L J Newman* Mr M P Newman* Mr O O Ojehomon Mr P Peglar Mr C P Ramsey Mr S C Riley Mr G W Smith Mr N A J Tait Mr M Wilkinson Mr S D Wright Class of 1990s Mr N K Amery Mr H Borno Mr P J Brotton* Mr J J Butler* Mr P C Cave-Gibbs* Mr R E Challis* Professor G Csányi Dr R J H Dunn Mr G C Dymott Mr T G A Edgar

old perseans

Mr N Elvidge Dr G A W Evans Mr A Farboud Mr A Farboud Mr D M Goodridge* Dr W K Hage* Mr M Hawkes Mr A Herriot Mr J R N Jack Dr A Kumar Dr V I Lesk Mr M R F Lynn Mr V Mahindran Mr O P J Metherell Mr A G Moir* Mr T Morfett Mr R N Oakeshott Mr J Odell* Mr N D Owers Mr M R Peachey* Mr A C M Rabarts Mr S P Rankine Mr W F Reeve Mrs K C Rodriguez Dr T Sivayokan Mr J E Stobbs Mr V Sujendran Mrs A H P Sutherland Dr M J Whitaker Mr J G Williams Mr D L Young Class of 2000s Miss R A Abulafia Mr E Aston Mrs H Beckett Mr J A Bell Miss G Brunt Mr O W Callington Mr C Carter Dr A R Chapman Mr L D Clayton Mr Q P P Croft Mr G E J Dean Mr A W R Devine-Wilmott Mr & Mrs T B Doble Mr P J H Dunn Mr E H Fray Mr B P T Freedman Mr L C Green Mr J Hale Mr A D Harris

Mr J M D Holden Mr R P Jones Mr S Keen Mr T J Latimer Miss F Liu Mr Y Liu Mr C J Lyon Dr A J Maxwell Mr D Meese Grove Mr A J Milne Miss K E Muir-Jones Mr J E Nichols Miss S E Nolasco Miss M Patel Mr N D M Paulson Mr J Pearson Miss C Pettit Mr O Pindar Mr A Pooles Mr A Porter Mr C D Rogers Dr S D Smart Mr S F G Smith Mr M Swan Mr P C Swan Dr O D N A Swift Mr B Taylor Dr R Tharakan Miss M L Wadham Class of 2010s Mr L M M Blackman Mr D Chapman Mr M H Du Mr C Kingstone Miss H Knowles Mr T Loveluck Mr P Miozzo Mr T Norris Mr A North Mr A Shore Mr D Worrall Parents and Friends of the School Mr & Mrs J Abbiss Professor D S H & Professor A S Abulafia* Mr J Barker & Dr C Hubbard Mr & Mrs S Barlow Mrs B Rhodes

Mr & Mrs N Brent Mr & Mrs D Brigstocke Mr & Mrs S Burson Dr K Buse & Dr S Hawkes Dr & Mrs W Cai Mr & Mrs R Chandraker Mr & Mrs S Chintala Professor D Chu & Ms M Lu Mr J Chung & Dr H Lee Mr & Mrs J Clarke Mr & Mrs P M C Clarke* Mr & Mrs D Cope Dr N Cox & Dr S Booth Dr N Crockett & Dr J Greenwood Mrs A Crossman Mr M Darling & Ms A Dolby Ms M Dayrell Professor F Diamond & Dr P Suntharalingam Mr & Mrs E M Downey Mr & Mrs R Dunn Mr & Mrs H N Edmundson* Mr E C & Dr S Elliott* Mrs J Ellis* Mr & Mrs S Ellis Dr & Mrs O Fawehinmi Mr & Mrs E Fernandes Mr & Mrs O Frakin Mr & Mrs T Fryers Mr & Mrs S Gaastra Mr & Mrs M Gaunt Mr & Mrs S Goddard Dr & Mrs S Goodman Mrs S Gordon Dr & Mrs A Grace* Mr & Mrs R Greensitt* Professor C & Dr H Griffiths Mrs K Halstead Mr A & Dr J Hartree Dr & Mrs T R Hesketh* Mr & Mrs S Hirtzel Mr & Mrs D Hopes Mrs R Howard Mr & Mrs E Humbert Dr C R Hunt & Dr V Stephenson Mrs S Hunter Mr & Mrs D Ison

Mr & Mrs T Jackson Ms M Jones Dr & Mrs R Jones Mr & Mrs T Joyce Mr & Mrs T Kasperkiewicz Professor R Kemp & Mrs R Rhodes-Kemp Mr S Kern Mr M & Dr K Kingstone Mr M Last & Ms J Kershaw Mr & Mrs G Lewin Smith Mr & Mrs N Ley Mr R S & Dr A Lyon Professor A MacGregor & Dr C Reavley Dr A Majeed & Dr J Majeed Mr & Mrs P Marsh Ms F Martin-Redman Dr R & Dr A Mason Mr & Mrs T J C Mawby Mr & Mrs J Mayfield Mr R Nolasco & Ms L Arthur* Mr L & Dr J Okechukwu Mr D O’Mahony & Ms C Evans Mr & Mrs R Owers Drs A Parton Dr N Peabody & Ms B Hare Mr & Mrs P Perkins Mr M Pidgeon & Mrs K Rodney Professor R Prager & Dr C O’Brien Mr & Mrs G Proudfoot Mr J Racher & Ms K Church Mrs R Rainey* Dr J Rashbass & Dr A Jenaway Mr & Mrs J Renfrew Knight Dr & Mrs B Rhind Dr & Mrs N Richardson Dr & Mrs W Ridsdill Smith Mr A Robinson & Dr J Lockie Mr & Mrs S Rodwell Mr & Mrs S N P Rosen Mr & Mrs D Rosenwold

Professor D & Dr J Rubinsztein Mr & Mrs R Senadeera Dr K Sengupta & Dr A Roy Sengupta Dr R & Dr S Sewell Mr D & Dr S Sinclair Mr & Mrs B Singh Mr & Mrs G Smith Dr P Smith & Mrs E Regan-Smith Mr & Mrs E Stanford Dr S Stewart Mr & Mrs M Sullivan Mrs L Tibbs* Mr R Tidy Dr N Toff & Dr L Allen Mr & Mrs A Turner Mr R & Dr H Tyte Ms E Waldron Mr & Mrs M West Mrs H Whiting Mr & Mrs D Wilkinson Mr J Williams Mr & Mrs I Wright Mrs K Wright Mr & Mrs R Yeoman Dr L Ying & Mrs D Ye Mr & Mrs M G Zeitlyn Dr S & Dr A Zia Mr & Mrs N J Zolman Organisations Association of Pelican Parents BP Foundation Ernst & Young Fawcett Charity Perse Parents Association Perse Prep Parents Association Sixth Form Charities Committee TTP Group and 17 anonymous donors

Dr Perse Society Members The Dr Perse Society recognises those who have made provision for The Perse in their will.

Society members are listed in alphabetical order.

Mr G Addison Mr D I Alexander Mr D J Alexander Mr P T Armitstead Mr P W Bogle Mr D Bowley Mr & Mrs T K Boyden Mr A J M Brookes Mr E J N Brookes Mr I J Burton Mr P R G Cannell Mr P C Cave-Gibbs

Mr J P Cheffins Dr J Cheney Mr D A W Clark Mr J R S Cope Mr E A Copeland Mr T T Dingle Mr G R Ditcham Mr P N Draper Mr A J Eden Mr M A Edwards Mr E C Elliott Mr R C H Genochio Mr R W Goddin Mr & Mrs S W Graves Mr M C L Herring

Mr J G Hicks Dr C R Hunt & Dr V Stephenson Dr P G G Jackson Mr M D C Johnson Mr P J Johnson Mr D J Jones Mr A Kemp The Reverend C M Kemp Mr S W Kemp Dr G S Kenyon Mr R S & Dr A Lyon Mr R R Mansfield Mr L G D Marr Dr L P Marsh

14

Dr R J Marsh Mr T J Marsh Captain P McLaren Mr O P J Metherell Professor D F Nixon Mr S W Pain Mr R D Partridge Professor D M Potts Mr W F Reeve Mr J W Roberts Professor J E Salzman Dr J A Sills Mr J L Smart Mr & Mrs A P J Smith Dr M A Spencer

Mrs S H Stobbs Mr R G Thomson Dr J C Thurman Mr D G Tomlinson Mr C V T Walne Mr D T Ward Dr A G Weeds Mr R J H Wheatley Commander D G M Wilkie (RN) Dr P M Williamson Mrs K Wright and 3 anonymous members

school Donors news

1615 Society Donors who make a gift of £1,615 or more to An Enduring Gift campaign are recognised by becoming members of the 1615 Society, having their name included in the book of benefactors and receiving a special lapel pin.

Society members are listed in alphabetical order.

Mr P Ansell Mr A C Appleyard Mr & Mrs J C Aston Mr J P C Bailey Mr M J Beloe Mr M Bennett Dr B Bhardwaj Mr J A Bishopp Mr D Braben & Mrs W Irvin-Braben Dr J E Bradshaw Mr & Mrs N Brent Mr J J C Brinsden OBE Mr M & Dr P Broadbent Mr A J M Brookes Mr E J N Brookes Dr & Mrs W Budenberg Dr K Buse & Dr S Hawkes Mr P C Cave-Gibbs Dr N S Y Chao Dr A C Y Cheng Professor R C Cheng Mr Y Chew Mr M J C Chong Mr S T M Chu Professor J Clarke Mr R H Clarke Mr S P Clemmow Mr R A Cliff The Reverend Professor A & the Reverend O Coles Mr J A Collins Mr A C Cook Mr D G Crawford Mr J D Crompton

Dr H M Davies Mr S V De Boo Mr & Mrs C Dell Mr A P Donoghue Mr P N Draper Dr M R Echlin Mr M & Dr S Fell Mr A J Finch Mr & Mrs O Frakin Dr A J France Mr & Mrs T Fryers Mr & Mrs R G Gardiner Mr & Mrs A Glinsman Mr R W Goddin Mr D M Goodridge Professor I R F Gordon Mr R S Gould Mr & Mrs A Grabowski Mr J M Green Mr S M Groom Mr C P Hancock QC Dr W G Handley Mr I M Handley-Schachler Mr P A Harlow Mr A D Harris Mr A & Dr J Hartree Captain P J Haslam Sir Michael Heller Mr A M Herriot Dr & Mrs T R Hesketh Mr & Mrs A T Hirzel Mr J R Holy Mr & Mrs N Howlett Mr & Mrs E Humbert Dr B L Hunt Dr C Hunt & Dr V Stephenson Mr R W F Hutt

Mr & Mrs D Ison Mr M D C Johnson Mr P J Johnson Mr & Mrs T Kasperkiewicz Mr S G Kelly Dr G S Kenyon Mr J M Kidd Mr R A King CBE Mr T G King Mr & Mrs F Knowles Mr & Mrs P Lai Mr B D Lanaghan Mr A Landy Mr C J Leak Mr M J Leake Dr J H Lee Mr & Mrs G Lewin Smith Dr K Lin & Ms S Hsu Mr Y Liu Mr R S & Dr A Lyon Professor A MacGregor & Dr C Reavley Mr V Mahindran Mr R R Mansfield Mr L G D Marr Dr L P Marsh Mr S J Martin Dr M G Mason Dr R & Dr A Mason Mr M H Massy Ms A May Mr & Mrs I McKernan Mr & Mrs J McNeil Professor J L Miller Mr A G Moir Mr R I Morgan Mr T R T Morris Mr H A L H Mumford

Dr & Mrs A Newlands Mr J E Nichols Mr R Nolasco & Ms L Arthur Mr R C Norris Mr O O Ojehomon Professor C J Oon Mr & Mrs R Owers Mr S W Pain Mr J G Parr Mr R D Partridge Mr M R Peachey Mr J R Pedley Mr A J Pitt Mr M P H Pooles QC Mr & Mrs M J A Powell Mr & Mrs G Proudfoot Mr & Mrs G Rainey Mr W F Reeve Mr A W M Reicher Mr & Mrs D G Richardson Dr & Mrs N P V Richardson Mr S C Riley Mr & Mrs S N P Rosen Mr C F Rushton Mr J H Sacks Mr P J D Scarlett MBE Dr K B Seamon & Dr J A Biddle Mr & Mrs J D Shave Mr P Shelley Mr D E Sibson Mr & Mrs B Singh Mr B P Smith & Mrs P Hayden-Smith Dr M A Spencer Mr & Mrs E Stanford Mr S J Stanley

Mr R D Stearn Dr S Stewart Mr V Sujendran In memory of Commander & Mrs K G Sumnall OBE Professor M D Threadgill Dr N Toff & Dr L Allen Mr J P Tunnicliffe Mr R & Dr H Tyte Dr A & Dr V Warren Dr G D Wattles Dr A G Weeds Mrs W J Whalley Mr R J H Wheatley Dr M J Whitaker Mr M A Wilkinson Mr & Mrs D Wilkinson Mr P M Wrench Sir David & Lady Wright Mr S D Wright Professor J A Zetter Mr & Mrs N J Zolman and 14 anonymous members

Major Benefactors Our major benefactors’ board recognises those who have made gifts in excess of £50,000 to The Perse.

Major benefactors are listed in order of the date their gifts were made to the School.

Dr S Perse Mr G Griffith Dr W H D Rouse Lady Frazer Mr I Hersch Mr H C Cook Mr A C Benson Sir Harold Bowden

Mr G Macfarlane-Grieve Baron Porter The Industrial Fund for the Advancement of Scientific Education in Schools Mr E Funge Sir John Gray Dr L Marsh Squadron Leader William Lodge Mr A Bottomley

Dr R Haylock The Wolfson Foundation Mr R White Mr M Fell Mr M P H Pooles QC Sir David Tang KBE Mrs G Earnshaw-Smith Mrs H Greenhalgh Mr P J Johnson Professor B W Lacey Mr R Mansfield Mr & Mrs D G Richardson

Mrs C Thomas Mr & Mrs W T Brown Mr C Kidman Mr & Mrs A Frost Mr S Bahwan Mrs M Neve Mr R A King CBE Mr J J C Brinsden OBE Mr L G D Marr Mr H A L H Mumford Dr A C Y Cheng Mr & Mrs M J A Powell

Mr S P Clemmow TTP Group Class of 2018 (parents) Mr M G Baker Class of 2019 (parents) and 3 anonymous members

Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of our donor lists. However, if any error has occurred, please accept our apologies and notify the Alumni & Development Office so that we can amend our records.

15

old perseans

OP News

Earlier this year, OPs Nick Adlam (1998), Alain Hosley (1994), Nick Saunders (1993) and Dave Potter (1998) launched the RDC Foundation. The

Hasan Cuthbert (2017) spent

foundation, set up in memory of former Perse

the summer enjoying an

geography teacher and Scout Leader, Richard

internship in Nanjing, China.

Crabtree, will enable young people to experience

Hasan, who is currently

and develop themselves through adventurous

studying Engineering at

activities. Grants of up to £1,000 are available to

Cambridge, worked with

young people and charities working with young

Yourun International where

people, in order to continue the spirit of Richard’s

he did a six-week engineering

endeavours in supporting the development of

internship. Whilst in China, Hasan

young people. You can find out more about the

also helped run a rugby summer camp

foundation at www.rdc.foundation.

with Times College, sharing the skills he has gained as a member of CURFC. In August, Claire Pallister (1997) represented Team GB at the 14th IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. Claire competed in the Mixed Premiere mini boat in 2000m, 500m and 200m races. She said “[I] was honoured to represent my country for the first time at 40 years old.

It’s still amazing to me that you can find a sport you’re really good at later in life and representing your country for the first time feels like a rather good midlife crisis!”

Will Harmer (2018) was recently commissioned to compose a piece for the BBC Singers, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in August. The piece, entitled “Voyage of the Soul” was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings. You can listen to the piece online on BBC Sounds.

Max Moncrieff (2009) became a record breaker over the August Bank Holiday weekend, when he took part in the longest ever match of fullcontact rugby, totalling 30.5 hours and raising almost £50,000 for charity. Max was playing for the School of Hard Knocks against a team from Wooden Spoon, both charities that aim to use rugby to empower people and transform their lives. At the end of the gruelling match, the School of Hard Knocks won, with the final score 2154 to 1163 – an incredible feat by both teams! Speaking after the match, Max said “I’m incredibly proud to have taken part in the event and of everyone involved. The heat and sheer length of time playing made it a gruelling experience with a lot of mentally tough moments. Being woken up at 1.50am with a red bull and jelly babies to play again at 2am was a particular low point. We managed to raise a significant amount of money for these great charities and really made a difference. Everyone came together brilliantly and the way players pushed themselves was amazing to see. I’ve made some friends for life through bonding on the pitch, the camaraderie was key to keeping each other going.”

16

school OP News news

Hector Thornton-Swan (2018), Elizabeth Stephenson (2018) and Sam Clarke (2016) took part in the Montane

Matt Leach (2011) competed for

Lakeland 50 ultra marathon in July. The route goes

Great Britain in the European

round the Lake District and features climbs, descents,

10,000m Cup at Parliament Hill

rugged terrain and tricky navigation. Despite the route

in July. Matt came 21st overall,

having a 40–50% drop out rate, all three of the OPs

with a time of 28:47.24.

completed the race. Hector completed the course in 13:24:15, Elizabeth in 19:16:19 and Sam in 15:56:51.

Guy Whitmarsh (1962) recently became the male veteran 75+ European Mountain Running champion at the championships in Janske Lazne, Czech Republic on 25 May 2019.

He said “In the almost 60 Molly Underwood (2011) won the

years since I left The Perse,

prestigious Poetry Prize at the 10th

I have graduated from

Manchester Writing Awards, which were

the flat, frozen ploughed fields on which the ‘new’

announced in February 2019. Founder of the MWAs and Poet Laureate Professor

Addenbrooke’s stands, scene of school cross countries,

Carol Ann Duffy DBE helped to judge

to mountain running. The European Mountain Running

the awards. Adam O’Riordan, chair of the

Championships entail running uphill only, this year to

poetry prize judging panel and director

the summit of Cerna Bora in the Czech Republic. The

of Manchester Writing School, said “In a

race involved a 8.6km run uphill, ascending some 650m

richly varied short list, Molly Underwood

to the summit. I fell into the oldest veteran category of

shows an undeniable musical clarity

75+. All the women and the men aged over 55 set off

in her work. As few poets can, she

together. Arriving at the finish line, after 65 minutes,

reminded the judges of the reasons we

I had no idea how I had fared, and it was only shortly

began to write ourselves.”

before the awards ceremony in the town square that I finally had my win confirmed. I was soon to be standing on the podium as European over 75 champion.”

Sophie Burrows (2015) has been awarded a Fellowship

Alan Cheung (1995) has been

at the Guildhall School of

appointed as an official doctor for the

Music and Drama, where

Wrestling Foundation of Singapore.

she has been studying

Alan, who is a consultant orthopaedic

Saxophone since

surgeon, was also the first American

leaving The Perse.

College of Sports Medicine Certified Ringside Physician in South East Asia.

17

old perseans

reers w a C o

rk sho p The International Workplace With the advent of new technologies and flexible working practices, more and more people are working internationally. In this article, Irina Astigeevich, Amazon Web Services Sales Leader for Europe, Middle East and Asia, shares her personal experiences of working across different countries and cultures.

T

he labour market has rapidly changed over

teammates and colleagues from other countries on a

the last couple of decades, adapting to global

daily basis, without seeing each other in person. Many

trends such as mobility, devices and big

jobs can now be performed by people who never go

data. Nowadays, almost every company embraces

to company offices and may not even be company

the “modern work place” concept, which suggests

employees – they may be freelancers or employed on

that employees can be effective doing their job

a part-time contract to deliver a particular project.

remotely using mobile devices and applications, if

The job opportunities on the international market

arranged right and supported through the respective

are now tremendous and richer than ever before. One

work culture. The adoption of the modern work

can now do jobs never dreamt of before, escaping

place principle is happening across many industries

the limits of geography, gender, time zone, race,

and professions – medicine, IT, art and others. The

physical capacity and others. One can only imagine

possibility of working remotely became a catalyst

how diverse working groups can now be. In my

for another phenomenon – the international work

previous role, whilst living in the UK, I was responsible

place. Millions of doctors, musicians, scientists,

for company business in 12 European countries –

artists, managers, engineers, journalists and sales

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the

people now work remotely and collaborate with their

Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and 18

school Careers news

Switzerland, whilst also collaborating closely with my

about language interpretation can give you some

colleagues in the US and Asia almost every single

indications why. Ask for feedback on your interactions

day. This mix of international cultures is so exciting

– something that does not come naturally in every

and interesting; however, the cultural differences,

culture. This might be difficult, especially for British

not to mention other diversity characteristics, can

people. Let me give you an example. Imagine yourself

create a lot of confusion, misunderstanding and,

at a restaurant. You were served overcooked pasta

sometimes, even challenges in expectations.

and the dessert was tasteless. When the waitress asks you “how was it?”, you answer “good thank

The BBC once published a funny article on the interpretation of what British people say. Brits may

you”, right? Asking and giving feedback comes more

say a proposal is “very brave” or “very interesting”,

naturally in some cultures and less so in others. You

meaning that it is absurd or ridiculous: non-British

might not always get open and direct feedback, but

people may understand that their proposal is

keep asking. Especially in the international market,

ambitious and worth exploring further.

asking for feedback is a great opportunity to get valuable insight in the vast majority of situations.

People from different backgrounds can interpret the same statement or action, or lack of one, very differently. If our working environment is

4. Be curious. Natural curiosity can build bridges.

so diverse, how can we possibly ensure great cultural

Ask people about their experiences and to share their

fit to a working group we want to be successful,

knowledge.

and how can we make sure we avoid any risks or misunderstandings? The answer is simple – we

5. Be respectful of other people’s diverse

cannot. The truth is that, while experience helps

backgrounds and habits.

and things usually improve over time, we cannot truly predict how a message might land or calculate

6. Build a network of people that you can ask

how others might react, given the diversity of

for advice. Keep these connections even if you leave

our workforce.

the company or work environment you met them at.

In order to be successful and stay true to yourself in the international market, there are a few key principles

7. Deliver – ALWAYS – on your promises.

I highly recommend:

This principle alone, and the reputation it builds for you, can help you win over a lot of difficult and

1. Don’t pretend. Some workplaces may create

uncertain situations.

pressure to act or look a certain way. While adopting particular business etiquette is indeed a requirement

8. And enjoy. In the international work place, just

of many business environments, remember – your

like everywhere, you cannot be truly successful if you

personality matters. Do not pretend to be someone

do not enjoy what you do.

you are not. Bring your authentic self, just do it respectfully. Another part of this principle is don’t pretend to know something you don’t. The culture of professional markets is rapidly moving from “know it all” to “learn it all”. It is usually OK not to know something, especially at the beginning, if you are willing to learn and demonstrate improvement over time.

2. Communicate to people what is important for you and why. Let people know if it is important for you to have an agenda before a meeting to prepare yourself, or that you want to take brief written notes of your conversations to have a chance to follow up better. Tell people that you prefer not to work at particular hours so people don’t expect a response from you at that time, or that you have an open and easy demeanour and like to make jokes

Irina Astigeevich is a current parent at The

to lighten the mood. Help people to understand

Perse. In this article she shares her personal

who you are.

recommendations based on her experience working in international markets whilst holding

3. Don’t assume – ask questions. In the

leadership positions at Amazon Web Services

sales world, there is the belief that assumption is

and Microsoft over the last decade.

the worst enemy of the seller. The example above 19

old perseans

his interest in obstetrics and

Obituaries

gynaecology, later becoming a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

He worked, among others, at

Michael Harris (1947)

Hillingdon Hospital, before becoming a GP in West London.

John Harris (1950) writes:

He married Evelyn, also a

My brother Michael died in June

gynaecologist, in 1962, and they

shortly after celebrating his 90th

raised two sons. She sadly died

birthday with his family.

young in 2001. He later had a

It was my good fortune to

partner, Rosemary White, who also

follow three years behind him at school, and also at Emmanuel

Emmanuel College straight from

died before him, in 2018. His last

College. He was able to explain

school: unusual in those days. After

years were spent in a retirement

many aspects of school life, so that

reading medicine there, he did

home near Watford.

I knew in advance what to expect,

clinic training at University College

including, for example, at Scout

London Hospital, where he won

Camps at West Runton when they

a prize for his skill at diagnosis.

resumed after the war. Yes, we had to take our ration books!

As a Sixth Former he was part of a fire-watch squad. Exciting times!

Medical students could defer national service, so he went to

Barry Mason (1949)

This most un-military man was then commissioned as a Captain

He cared deeply about family, and is survived by his two sons and four grandsons, who were very attached to him. As a grandparent I have had plenty of opportunity

in RAMC, and served in Egypt

to observe sibling rivalry between

and Cyprus which were both

youngsters. I think it is to Michael’s

having troubles in the mid 1950s.

credit that there was none of that

It was there that he developed

when we were growing up.

won the All Britain Dance Band

– Bradley on trumpet and Elliot on

competition for that year. In 1958,

Trombone. Both won scholarships

he was one of many musicians

to study at the famous Berklee

who decided to work and travel to

Jazz College in Boston

New York on the legendary Queen

Massachusetts, from where they

Mary playing in the resident bands

both graduated. Both boys are

on board. Once there, the three

now professional jazz musicians,

day turnaround allowed him to

living and working in New York,

see and hear all the famous jazz

following in the footsteps of

musicians of the day. Barry did this

the father whose tuition and

for a year, travelling back and forth

encouragement led both his sons

and hearing most of his idols in the

to a musical life.

jazz clubs of New York.

Christine Mason writes:

In 1959 he joined the Joe

Barry Mason was born on 9 April

Daniels Band at Butlins in

1932 in Cambridge, the son of

Skegness for the summer

Edna & Arthur Mason, who, with

season, and a residency at The

Nicholas Paton-Philip writes:

his brother Ernest started the

Samson & Hercules Ballroom

John was born in Cambridge, with

famous Fitzbillies cake shop in

in Norwich followed in 1960

an older brother and a twin sister.

Trumpington Street in 1920.

with the Cambridge Band of

When recalling his time at The

Ken Stevens. Barry changed

Perse, he mentioned the sports

made business to go into, he

from trumpet to trombone and

teacher writing in a report that

decided to try Music as a career,

stayed with them until 1972,

“Philip was not a very good rugger

playing trumpet. He studied

when he married their vocalist

captain but always seemed to be

with Ernest Hall – a well-known

Christine Vance. As a married

at the right place at the right time!”

and respected trumpet tutor –

couple they worked together

in London and soon found work

in Big Bands and eventually

in Agriculture from St John’s,

playing in clubs and dance halls

their own Quartet, travelling

Cambridge, but his ambition to

with various bands and musicians.

all over the UK playing jazz.

become a rugby blue was dashed

Although Barry had a ready-

In 1956, he played trumpet with the Ken Stevens Band, and they

They had two sons, Bradley and Elliot, and Barry taught them both 20

John Paton-Philip (1943)

He got a first class degree

after falling off a horse while trying to impress members of the

school Obituaries news

of the two-year course. John also

a GP in Bishop’s Castle on the

persuaded his governors to fund

Welsh borders where he stayed

the building of a chapel, which

for the rest of his life – he knew it

embedded an extra spiritual

was for him when a visit on his first

dimension.

weekend on duty involved a bumpy

John was also reacquainted

ride at night on the back of a

with rugby, as all students

tractor across a steep field to reach

were expected to play. There

a remote farmhouse.

were weekly matches and

He was a pillar of the local

John would turn out to referee

community, serving as GP for 41

the home games, much to the

years, as Town Councillor for 46

dread of the away sides, as

years, as Mayor for 11 years and

rugby team. He was advised by

many an expletive was uttered

as Deputy Mayor for a similar

the doctor who reset his fractured

about his visual capacity!

number of years, on South

wrist that rowing was the best rehab activity.

In 1980 he took early

Shropshire District Council for

retirement and moved to

seven years and on various local

south west Scotland, to fulfil

medical committees. He took a

and John was chosen to row as a

a dream to become a hill-side

particular interest in introducing

last minute replacement for CUBC

shepherd, with two working

several generations of trainee

in the 1945 boat race. The Light

border collies, which gave him

GPs into the art of rural General

Blue crew was victorious. The next

10 years of great satisfaction.

Practice and was actively involved

Every cloud has a silver lining

year he was elected President. His

John was a great encourager,

in many a local cause, including

future wife remembers watching

a humble man, who lived out his

successful campaigns to save the

that race from the bank, not

Christian beliefs. In last years of his

local community hospital and to

realising that her husband-to-be

life, John suffered from vascular

preserve the site of the old castle.

was sat in the stroke seat of the

dementia, spending the final three

trailing boat!

years in a care home. This did

family GP, dispensing advice on

not stop his interest in his large

the vicissitudes of life as much

persuaded to take up a lecturer’s

extended family, with whom he

as medicines. He maintained an

post at Chadacre Agricultural

was able to spend a memorable

interest in Cambridge and the

Institute, a small training

joint 90th birthday with Margaret

surrounding area throughout his

establishment in Suffolk, endowed

and many of their local friends. He

life, having last visited the City on

by the Iveagh family – part of the

retained his sense of humour and

Remembrance Sunday in 2018

Guinness family. This started his

his love of food right up to the end.

(which was followed by a visit to

In 1946, John was reluctantly

lifelong association with the long dark drink with a white top!

In 1949, he became estate manager for another Guinness

John died on 1 November 2018.

He was the consummate

Ickleton). He died on 19 March 2019

He is survived by Margaret, and

aged 92, having lived independently

their four children, Deborah,

at home until his final few days in

Nicholas, Jennifer and Rachel.

the same community hospital that

property in Northern Ireland.

he had helped to preserve. He is

It was during this period that

survived by his four sons (three

his father suggested that John

Gerald ‘St John’ Penney (1944)

of them qualified doctors, one a lawyer) and 10 grandchildren, his

spend Christmas with a radiology colleague in Belfast. There were

Charles Penney writes:

wife (Belinda) having predeceased

two daughters, neither of whom

My father, Gerald (known as

him in September 2017.

showed much interest in him. It

“StJohn” from University days

was not until the older sister’s

onwards), was born in Norfolk and

dog went missing in the snow on

then brought up in Ickleton Vicarage

Christmas Day, which John went

close to Cambridge. After The

out alone to find, that Margaret

Perse, where he had been a Senior

realised he was something of a

Prefect, he followed his father,

special man.

the Rev. A.E. Penney, to Queens’

In 1952 John married Margaret

College, Cambridge where he

in Belfast and in 1958 they moved

read Natural Sciences as a medical

back to Chadacre with their four

student followed by his Clinical

children, for John to take up the

studies at Guy’s Hospital in London.

post of principal. He dedicated the

Following National Service in

next 22 years to the development

the Royal Navy, in 1954 he became 21

old perseans

company – Flaxyard Ltd. The

time, Barbara Haworth, moved to

company went on to enjoy

Abbey House, a Tudor-style estate

considerable success and was

in Wiltshire.

responsible for a number of high

There, Ian and fellow gardener

profile “post-modern” buildings

Martin Roberts worked ceaselessly

including Marco Polo in Battersea,

to create a series of formal garden

and Homebase in Kensington.

spaces and a more naturalistic

Ian set out to give commercial

riverside garden. They opened to

architecture a monumental civic

the public in 1997 and have since

dimension, to make architecture

seen almost three quarters of a

“fun” and thought provoking. Ian

million visitors.

wanted to make people smile, to

Ian was an avid plant collector,

brighten up their day, and to make

an accomplished musician –

work environments exciting and

teaching himself to play the flute

stimulating places to be.

at 60 – and a prolific reader,

Ian’s own personal style

accumulating his own library

matched that of Flaxyard’s most

of over 2,000 books at Abbey

flamboyant buildings, and in 1993

House. When asked what one

Rufus Pollard writes:

he was voted one of Britain’s Best

thing he could not live without, his

Ian was born in Cambridge on

Dressed Men by Esquire magazine.

response was, “Being outside in

9 June 1945. Having forged his

He even modelled on the Paris

the fresh air”.

mother’s signature on a permission

catwalk for the designer Kansai.

Ian suffered a devastating

slip, he entered and passed the 11

Ian liked to challenge convention

stroke in March 2015, which left

plus, winning a scholarship to The

and created a unique work

him unable to walk. His eldest son

Perse. During summers he worked

environment, combining work and

Rufus, took on the responsibility

with the Cambridge University

home life in a way that wouldn’t

of caring for him & managing the

Estates Department; whilst also

become the norm until a few

gardens, which will continue to

giving tours of the colleges to

decades later.

be open for the future, in honour

Ian Pollard (1963)

guests from his grandmother’s

Sadly, however, Flaxyard was

of the legacy that Ian has left. Ian

impacted by the recession of the

is survived by his five children:

Ian then went on to qualify as a

late 1980s and the company was

Juliette, Samantha, Arushka, Rufus

chartered surveyor, before setting

forced to downsize and relocate.

and Kian; and grandchildren,

up his own property development

In 1994, Ian and his partner at that

Ashley, Kiaran, Jason.

lodging house.

Stanley then turned to writing

Stanley Price (1949)

for television. After adaptations Philip Graham (1949) writes:

of the Noël Coward plays, Star

Between the 1960s and 1990s,

Quality, What Mad Pursuit and Bon

with his wonderful talent for

Voyage (1985), he wrote Close

spotting the comic potential in

Relations (1990) which won the

almost any situation, Stanley

award for the best screenplay at

Price (1949), who died from post-

the Rheims International Screen

operative complications, aged

Festival, and Genghis Cohn which

87, was one of a small number

won the same award in 1995 as

of successful British writers for

well as a US ACE Cable TV award.

screen, stage, and television. He

This was followed by A Royal

began his writing career as a

Scandal (1996) shown on BBC1.

With astonishing versatility, he

journalist, as well as publishing four sharp satirical novels. He then

of comedies for the West End

then wrote three notable works of

turned to writing for Hollywood

stage, beginning with Horizontal

non-fiction, Somewhere to Hang

studios. Screen credits included

Hold, (1967). This was followed by

My Hat, (2002) a hilarious account

Arabesque (1966), starring

The Two of Me (1975), with David

of his Irish-Jewish childhood in

Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren,

and Clive Swift, Moving (1981)

Dublin, The Road to Apocalypse:

Gold (1974) with Roger Moore,

with Penelope Keith, and Why

The Extraordinary Journey of

and Shout at the Devil (1976).

Me? (1985), with Richard Briers,

Lewis Way (2011), written jointly

These were followed by a stream

also followed by a TV series.

with his distinguished historian

22

school Obituaries news

son, Munro Price, and James

many faithful clients, and after

Joyce and Italo Svevo The

leaving the firm at 65 carried on

Story of a Friendship (2016).

working from home until the

Stanley was born in Stamford

age of 70.

Hill, London in 1931 to Morris

Dad settled very well into

(Jim), a GP in the East End, and

Suffolk life, buying a medieval

Gertrude (née White), known as

house, and learning about its

Gyp. He first attended The Perse

history with my mother. He was an

from September 1942 until March

interesting source of knowledge

1943, boarding at Hillel House,

about Suffolk history, and worked

the Jewish boarding house. As

hard for the village of Stansfield,

revealed in his memoir, at the

acting as parish councillor and

end of that Easter holiday, he

David Winch (1948)

refused to return to school, locking

instigating fundraising to save the church tower, which became

himself in the lavatory at home in

Sally Winch writes:

a project involving many villagers

Dublin for several hours with the

Dad lived to the grand old age

and fundraising with copies of the

complete works of Conan Doyle

of 87, despite being a life-long

prints of the church by John Piper.

and resolutely refusing to come

smoker (he managed to stop a

out until his parents promised

couple of years before he died).

kinds of fundraising events,

he could attend a day school.

With longevity in the family – his

on one occasion cycling from

Eventually they agreed. However,

mother lived until 99 and a half

London to Brighton. He had a

he then returned to the School in

– he may have gone on longer if

great civic sense, and was a very

September 1947, again boarding at

he hadn’t suffered from COPD.

kind and modest man. He and

Hillel House until it closed in 1948

However, he felt he had had a

my mother always loved walking

when he went into digs.

good innings and was lucid to the

holidays, music and he was a

end, always keeping his trademark

tireless helper in the garden

the notable 1949 Perse Players

sense of humour. When asked why

my mother loved so much. For

production of Hamlet, in which

he had several razors brought to

many years he was also a keen

Peter Hall played the title role.

the care home in Suffolk where he

wine maker, his wines feared by

As well as acting, he played

spent his last year, he said “one

those who knew their potency.

rugby for the 1st XV and was

for each hair”. The mark of a good

captain of the tennis team. After

joke from dad was the volume of

leaving school in 1949, and doing

the groans from those around him.

Stanley was the Player King in

Dad was also involved in all

In Memoriam

National Service in the Army, he

Dad was born in Cambridge,

read History at Gonville & Caius

living in Hurst Park Avenue with

College, Cambridge, where he

his family of Suffolk origin. He was

Peter N Betterman (1956)

wrote sketches for the Footlights.

sent to The Perse after a surprise

died 2019, aged 79 years

Shortly after graduation he married

legacy arrived from great aunt

Judy Fenton, an Evening Standard

Lucy in Australia, and never looked

Roy A Carter (1949)

reporter, whom he had met at

back. He loved The Perse, cycling

died 3 April 2019, aged 87 years

Cambridge where she was studying

to school and learning to love

at Homerton College. In 1957, the

rugby in particular. He went on to

David A Dilley (1948)

two of them moved for three years

Gonville & Caius, where he read

died 18 May 2019, aged 87 years

to New York where he worked

Law, and only slightly regretted

as entertainment correspondent

not having to leave home.

for Life, conducting interviews

He married Marjorie Clarkson,

Robert J Milne (1949) died 12 June 2019, aged 87 years

with numerous celebrities

a teacher, and they initially lived

including Marilyn Monroe.

in Shelford, then moved to Suffolk

Raanan Sivan ‘Ronald Silver’ (1939)

for work, where dad became a

died March 2019, aged 97 years

Stanley combined being one of the funniest men of his generation

country solicitor, having to step

with great warmth of heart. A very

into the breach after the sudden

Gerald R Walker (1965)

large number of people counted

death of junior solicitor Francis

died September 2019, aged 73 years

it a tremendous privilege and

Wayman’s father at Wayman &

pleasure to have known him as a

Long. Dad’s desk was surrounded

This list was up-to-date when

life-enhancing friend.

by piles of books and he doodled

we went to print. Obituaries may

artistically on his blotting pad

be read in full on our website:

while working on cases. He had

perse.co.uk/obituaries

He is survived by Judy, Munro and his brother, Ashley.

23

old perseans

Upcoming Events Upcoming Reunion Dinners 2019/20: Classes of 2005–2010 2020/21: Classes of the 1980s 2021/22: Classes of the 1990s Community Lecture: Professor Beverley Glover, Director of Cambridge University Botanic Garden Wednesday 26 February 2020 7.30pm, The Perse. Open to all.

OP Sports Festival Saturday 21 March 2020 Timings TBC, The Perse. Open to all.

2005–2010 Reunion Dinner Saturday 25 April 2020 6.45 for 7.30pm, The Perse.

Open to the Classes of 2005–2010.

Perse Community Weekend: 60 years at Hills Road Saturday 2 – Monday 4 May 2020 Timings TBC, The Perse. Open to all.

Half Century Club Lunch Saturday 16 May 2020 12.00 for 12.30, The Perse. Open to those who left in 1970 or before.

OP Cricket Friday 19 June 2020 Play from 2pm, The Perse. Open to all.

Benefactors’ Reception Saturday 20 June 2020 12.30pm, The Perse. By invitation.

For more information Please visit perse.co.uk/alumni/events or contact the Alumni & Development Office by telephone on +44 (0)1223 403 808 or email PerseADO@perse.co.uk Alumni & Development Office www.perse.co.uk/alumni

Old Perseans and Friends @OldPerseans

The Perse School Hills Road Cambridge, UK, CB2 8QF

Old Perseans

Tel: +44(0)1223 403 808 PerseADO@perse.co.uk

The Perse School is a registered charity no. 1120654 24