Dialogue 2016

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine Issue #1 2016

Jack clifford From RGS to England

richard Pawson The early days of computers

EvElyn lintott From football to the front line

adrian MackindEr Writing for Marvel comics

PLUS OG News and Events School News Headmaster’s Address The Games Room

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

from the editor

Philippa Green Editor

“With the development of the Internet... we are in the middle of the most transforming technological event since the capture of fire” John Perry Barlow

The internet has changed the way we live, work and socialise.

For the inhabitants of school and university alumni offices across the globe, the shift online has had a profound effect, calling our purpose into question.

Social networking sites like Friends Reunited, Facebook and now Instagram, Snapchat and Whatsapp allow us to manage our friendships, stay in touch with those in different time zones and find lost school friends. So, do OGs really need an alumni office just to help them stay in touch and provide opportunities for them to meet?

Editorial Team Georgie Grant Haworth Philippa Green Helen Mack

The evidence suggests not. Conversely, that trend makes this the most exciting of times. It is our opportunity to look at what we can do that is meaningful and useful for OGs and our School. We will always connect OGs with old school friends, but the internet empowers us to do so much more.

Acknowledgements With sincere thanks to all those who contributed to this edition of the OG magazine and helped in its production.

We would particularly like to thank those not credited elsewhere:

opportunity. We have over 5000 OGs in 40 countries globally. We are in touch with nearly the same number of parents of OGs. That is a powerful network. With the right digital technology, the skills and experience of that entire network can and will be at your fingertips in the coming year.

Pride. We know that OGs are proud of their School. We know from our consultations and your feedback that you want to know more, that you are proud and happy to see RGS flourishing and eager to contribute to its ongoing success. community. There is something special that unites RGS boys, across generations and geography. Whether it is reuniting with School friends of fifty years ago, changing lives through support of the RGS Bursary Programme or sharing life and work skills with current students through the Careers Programme, you are #alwaysapartofRGS. We hope you enjoy this new magazine and that this will be the beginning of a dialogue across the OG community to help us shape the future. We look forward to hearing from you and we can’t wait to see where the conversation goes.

Communications should be addressed to the Editor: og@rgsg.co.uk / Royal Grammar School Guildford, High Street, Guildford GU1 3BB.

Paul Bridges Nick Edwards Tamsin Farthing Denise Walsh Rajan Ghimire Phill Griffith AJ Moore Jimmy Pressley Jenny Rothwell Chris Sandbach Ash Shakeri John Simpson Liv Timberlake This magazine was designed by Haime & Butler and printed by Lavenham Press. It is produced annually by the Development & Alumni Relations Office, Royal Grammar School, Guildford.

Registered Charity Number: 312028. © Royal Grammar School, Guildford 2016.

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Contents

22

OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

28

THE OG INTERVIEW: JACK CLIFFORD

40

ADRIAN MACKINDER: A MARVEL-LOUS JOB

62

PHILANTHROPY AND OGs

06 School News Welcome to 2016 Leavers

06

Academic Achievements

07

RGS Boys: Where Next

08

Headmaster’s Prizegiving Address

10

A year in the life of…

16

Investing in the Future of RGS

18

RGS Guildford in Qatar

20

Our International Partnerships

22

Sport at RGS

24

RGS Learning Habits

27

The OG Interview: Jack Clifford

28

32 OG Community OG Events

32

Back to School

34

RGS Staff Past and Present

36

Catherine Moorehead: Sucks to John Stuart Mill

38

Adrian Mackinder: A Marvel-lous Job

40

Richard Pawson: Faltering Steps

42

44 OG News Forthcoming Events

55

OG Sports Report

56

Consulting OGs

60

Philanthropy and OGs

62

The OG Community goes Digital

65

Focus on Bursaries

66

Friends of the RGS

68

Evelyn Lintott Remembered

70

Remembrance Day

73

Obituaries

74

From the Archives

82

The Games Room

84

The Development and Alumni Relations Office

87

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

THE VIEW FROM HERE

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

SchoolNews

To the Class of 2016 On behalf of OGs everywhere, congratulations on your results and all the best for the next chapter of your lives. Welcome to the community.

To find out where these and other recent RGS leavers went to University and what they studied, see overleaf‌

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2016 A LEVEL RESULTS

% 100

36.5% Grade A* 42.4% Grade A

16.1% Grade B 3.9% Grade C

PASS RATE

10 boys had 4 A* grades and a further 17 achieved 3 A* grades

54%

of all boys applying to Oxford or Cambridge were made an offer

Mark Thornton achieved 600/600 in both Mathematics and Biology; Vincent Lim did the same in Mathematics and Physics, and Ben Barnwell achieved 400/400 in Art

( 127 boys in the year group )

600 600

Beyond the Classroom 2015/16

1.1% Grade D

88%

of all boys accepting university offers are going to a Russell Group University

The RGS was ranked third all-boys school in both the Daily Telegraph and The Times

73 boys achieved A/A* grades

3rd

73

Cock House Cup Winners

Academic development is much broader than grades and percentages in public examinations. RGS boys have nurtured and pursued their interests in a number of ways, including participating independently in a number of national and international competitions and events with notable success over the last twelve months.

RGS boys enjoyed a record-breaking year in the prestigious national science Olympiads, achieving 19 golds in total. Mark Thornton OG 2016 then came 38th in the world and first out of the UK team at the International Biology Olympiad in Vietnam.

Peter Robinson OG 2016 was awarded the Best Sixth Form Chemist (Thames and Kennet) Award by the Society of Chemical Industries for his CREST Gold project.

Rufus Frew OG 2016 came second in the National Science and Engineering Competition Finals at The Big Bang Fair 2016.

The Cock House Cup is awarded to the RGS School House which has won the most House competitions throughout the year. These include everything from drama to chess, reading to rugby, and dragon boat racing to debating.

2010 Hamonde

An RGS team won this year’s national Student Robotics competition.

2011 Hamonde

James Miller (Fourth Form) won the national Cairngorms Young Nature Presenter Competition with his film about badgers.

2013 Hamonde

Our four Young Enterprise businesses entered a number of competitions throughout the year with notable successes including first and second prizes in the e-advertising competition.

2012 Powell 2014 Nettles 2015 Beckingham 2016 Beckingham

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RGS Boys: Where Next The RGS was delighted to be ranked as the top independent school in the country in the influential Sunday Times Parent Power league table of university destinations

TOP20

2010-16 RGS Leavers Top 20 University Destinations*

Edinburgh 9

Durham 79

York 14 Leeds 18 Manchester 7 Sheffield 16

Nottingham 47 Loughborough 5 Birmingham 30 Warwick 31

Bristol 41 Bath 63

Cambridge 99

Oxford 91 Imperial 33 / UCL 24 / LSE 5 Southampton 14

Exeter 62

*10 boys have also gone on to study at prestigious international universities including Columbia and Yale in the USA. A small number also chose to travel, explore personal interests, gain professional experience or set out on their chosen career path.

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Ben Tyson

Matt Innes

Guy Stevenson

Education: Greenfield School, Woking / RGS Guildford 2002 to 2009 – Maths, English Literature, History, Geography / Exeter University 2009 to 2012, BA History First-class Honours

Education: RGS Guildford 2007 to 2012 / Pembroke College, University of Cambridge 2012 to 2015, BA History Double First / Pembroke College, University of Cambridge 2015 to 2016, MPhil Political Thought and Intellectual History with Distinction

Education: RGS Guildford 2005 to 2010 – Maths, Further Maths, French, Spanish / University of Warwick 2011 to 2014, BSc Philosophy, Politics and Economics First-class Honours

Career: Press Office Internship at Mind / Telethon Fundraiser, University of Exeter / Journalism Internship, Incisive Media / Sports Editor, X-media online / Head of Media & Operations, Unisportonline / Co-founder, Out the Blocks / Head of Strategy, Born Social Currently: Joint Managing Director, Born Social (social media management agency for challenger brands)

Career: Foundation Scholarship, Pembroke College, Cambridge / Howard Raingold Prize, Pembroke College, Cambridge / Hadley History Prize, Pembroke College, Cambridge / Oxford-Anderson Studentship, University College, Oxford Currently: University of Oxford, DPhil, History

Career: Internship at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP / International Intership at Assessment and Development Consultants Inc (A&DC) / Internship at Just Costs Solicitors / Summer Internship at Nomura International plc / Ones to Watch 2014 at Freshminds Talent Currently: Investment Banking Analyst, Nomura International plc

2010-16 UNIVERSITY SUBJECTS STUDIED: TOP 20* Economics Engineering Mathematics Modern Languages Medicine Natural Sciences English Biology and Biomedical Sciences Geography Physics

72 47 41 40 38 37 32 27 25 23

History Business, Management, Accounts and Finance Mechanical Engineering Politics Philosophy Law Classics International Relations Chemistry Music

*Data based upon subject grouping under broader disciplines.

Top Offers

344

boys have received Oxbridge offers in the last ten years

215

boys have received offers from Durham over the last five years

23 23 17 15 14 13 13 12 11 10

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The Headmaster’s Address on the occasion of Senior Prizegiving, Thursday 29 September 2016, at Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

Mrs Milton, Mr Mayor, Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for celebrating Prizegiving with us and particular thanks to our esteemed MP who is a wonderful supporter of the RGS and of all education in the Guildford area. It is, as always, a great pleasure to stand before you to say a few words about the School of which I am so proud. Great schools such as the RGS are about people working together to do extraordinary things. As Aristotle said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.

about the day ahead. Three weeks ago, at the first whole school assembly of the term, I mentioned to the new boys who were joining the School that they were probably feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement. I remembered feeling the same when I started at the RGS ten years ago.

I hoped that for them, as for me, that nervousness would quickly fade, but that the excitement would continue throughout their school careers.

Well, at most of our assemblies, the singing of the boys makes me want to cry, but not necessarily for the same reason. But when we talk of achievement or success or just coming together in the way that we always sing our School Hymn with such passion, we remember that the greatest things come through collective effort.

Some of those extraordinary things I will talk about in my address this evening and some you can read about in The Review.

But many you won’t read about – the peer mentoring system at RGS when older pupils guide younger boys through difficult times, or the unheralded conversations in a corridor showing empathy and understanding – those little things that unite us as a community. I use the word community a lot. Because great schools aren’t necessarily about great academic results, important though they are, they are about sharing and cooperation, about humour and humility, about support and encouragement.

of very few schools in the country to be given that designation. All schools develop and evolve and such a lot has happened over the past year that, were we to be inspected now, I believe that the inspectors would have to find an even greater superlative because the RGS has forged ahead in so many ways.

Dear Headmaster,

It has been an extraordinary year for the RGS in so many ways, some expected, some unexpected. We are always ‘there or there abouts’ in the national league tables but who would have predicted that we would be the number one school in the country in The Times Parent Power survey, who would have predicted that we would have opened our first international school, that Old Guildfordians would make a debut for the England rugby team, row in Rio or win the Turner Prize, who would have predicted the success of our Development and Alumni Relations Office raising money for bursaries in the last 12 months so that we can now change the lives of even more young men, who would have predicted eight members of staff would have babies this year, that we would be able to field an Under 12J hockey team, that we would be the first school choir to be invited to sing evensong at Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, that we would become an active partner of our local Multi-Academy Trust? It is so exciting to be able to look back at the achievements of the year and to know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter in the School’s venerable history.

My passion and pride in the RGS comes from sharing the successes, the endeavour and, occasionally the trials and tribulations of the boys and staff. The buzz of energy and excitement which perfuses all aspects of the RGS is what gives me the satisfaction and desire to be a headmaster; it is why I get in my car every morning with a sense of excitement and anticipation

I was passing the RGS yesterday and was overwhelmed to hear the boys singing the hymn ‘To Be A Pilgrim’. I, along with a number of other pedestrians, stopped to listen and I will be honest when I say that the sound of your young men singing so joyously was quite overwhelming. I will admit, there was a tear in my eye.

Thank you.

Some things at the RGS are more constant though. The wonderful achievements of the boys are presented to you throughout the year in our Bulletins and through our magazine, The Register. And many of the highlights are recorded in this year’s copy of The Review and I would like to thank Mr Pressley and Mrs Sweet who have worked so hard to create such an

I am still unbelievably proud that at our last inspection, the inspection team deemed the RGS to be ‘exceptional’ – one

Great schools such as the RGS are about people working together to do extraordinary things

I kept a letter which I received at the end of the summer term from a lady who happened to be walking past the School at the end of our final assembly before the summer holidays.

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Number one school in the country in The Times Parent Power survey impressive record. But it would be remiss of me not to report on a few of the highlights of the year.

When prospective parents come to see me, one of the first questions they ask is not about the academic standards of the School – our reputation in that respect is as strong as it has ever been. They want to know what else we do to educate our boys, to prepare them for life after the RGS. At the RGS we aim to provide boys with the life experiences and skills that prepare them for university and the world of work – it is not just about A*s. I was meeting a parent of one of our new First Formers last year.

He entered his son for the RGS entrance exam because he had worked with a number of Old Guildfordians all of whom, he said, were exceptional. Polite, bright, engaged, able to think for themselves, able to work as part of a team or take the lead when needed, resourceful and great company – these are the attributes which are indispensible for the future.

Many of these skills are developed outside of the classroom. Our co-curricular and extra-curricular programmes are extensive – in fact, they were described as an ’extraordinary provision’ in our inspection report. And they are an integral part of the education we provide. As a musician myself, our music department continues to surprise and delight me year on year. The very fact that music is a majority activity at the RGS means that we have ensembles to suit all standards, so that every boy who wants to play music with others, and to acquire those skills of cooperation, listening and performing

together, can do so. At the same time, our most able musicians have the opportunity to perform concertos with Guildford’s professional orchestra, the Southern Pro Musica. The highlight of the musical year for me was the opportunity to sing in Verdi’s Requiem at G Live. This was a joint production with Guildford High School and the Parents’ Choir, and was one of those musical occasions which will live long in my memory. One had to pinch oneself on occasions as a reminder that this was a combined school orchestra and choir. The orchestra, consisting almost entirely of RGS and GHS pupils, was magnificent. I know that many of you here this evening were there – I am sure that you will agree that it was a wonderful spectacle. Our musical partnership with the High School is extremely important to us and the joint Chamber Choir is a great example of this partnership. An evensong service at Trinity College, Cambridge, must be one of the most beautiful musical and spiritual experiences in the world, and for

the Joint Chamber Choir to be invited as the first school choir to provide the singing for this service is a testament to the quality of music which our young people are able to produce.

The highlights of the drama year were the Senior School production of Pity in History, set during the English Civil War, and the Junior School production of Something Wicked, a double bill of abridged versions of Macbeth and Richard III. Both fantastic productions. That drama crosses over into many other spheres of school life is demonstrated by the Modern Languages Department’s performance of Le Petit Prince in June. To act in front of an audience takes courage but to perform that play in another language, and to do so in such an endearing way is extraordinary. It was an uplifting experience.

The adjective ‘uplifting’ can also be used to describe the Illustroetry exhibition which I had the privilege of attending last week. ´

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

Old Guildfordians… Polite, bright, engaged, able to think for themselves, able to work as part of a team or take the lead when needed, resourceful and great company – these are the attributes which are indispensible for the future.

This is the third year of pairing poems and illustrations but the project has evolved The RGS was invited to exhibit in a professional exhibition in Cambridge called ‘Art Language Location’ during which RGS boys shared their work with primary school pupils, inspiring the younger pupils to create their own poems and illustrations. The result was thought provoking, evocative, emotional and, in one poem, quite disturbing. Congratulations to all who contributed.

Sport is not necessarily about winning or losing – it is about those other skills which it promotes: teamwork, support, winning with humility, losing with good grace, facing disappointment, being tenacious in one’s response and above all, enjoying oneself. I was pleased to watch the U15s and U16s rugby matches this weekend. The score was irrelevant, although we did do quite well. What I enjoyed was the sense of camaraderie and commitment on display. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of staff who take sports teams for instilling the correct values in the boys when it comes to playing sport. It is a disappointment to me that public school sport can sometimes bring out the worst in participants and spectators, I have seen some pretty unpleasant incidents on the touchline in my time but I am proud that RGS boys, and their parents who are such an important contributor to the atmosphere of fixtures on a Saturday, can be relied upon to play and support with respect and integrity.

In the main, we pride ourselves on playing sport in the right way. We play to win, of course, but above all, we play to enjoy. The Harlequins prop forward, Old Guildfordian, Mark Lambert, was one of a number of elite sportsmen who came back this year to give a King’s Lecture. He said that playing professional rugby was very similar to representing the RGS at Bradstone Brook, surrounded by his mates and enjoying himself. But, he added, ‘professional sport just hurts a lot more’.

Old Guildfordian, Jack Clifford, can attest to that. After a scintillating season for Harlequins and a debut for England he now has to face recuperation following surgery on his ankle. I remember the pride I felt when Jack won his first England cap back in February. We wish him all the best. Similarly, it was wonderful to watch Angus Groom fulfil his rowing dreams by competing for Great Britain in the Rio Olympics. Who knows, some of our current RGS sportsmen may follow in their footsteps.

School sport is about teamwork and there were a number of outstanding team performances this year. The U15 hockey team were crowned Surrey Champions and the U14s went one better reaching the National Finals as one of the top eight school teams in the country. The Hockey 3rd XI and the U15C rugby team were two of a number of teams who were unbeaten throughout their respective seasons – no mean feat when one considers the strength of the opposition we face. And congratulations to the RGS shooting team

who are the current holders of the three major public school shooting trophies, – a hat-trick of titles which is very rarely achieved by one school. But perhaps my personal highlight of the sporting year was our ‘Super Tuesday’ hockey fixture against Portsmouth Grammar School when every boy in the First Form had the opportunity to play for the School. To be able to field an U12J team was a great achievement by the PE Department. I hope that we can continue to be innovative in the way we arrange our fixtures so that as many boys as possible can enjoy the thrill of being part of a sports team.

The wealth of wonderful extra-curricular activities on offer at the RGS is a complement to the work we do in the classroom. The successes of our boys, not just in public exams, but also in wider academic achievement and university entrance, gives me the greatest of pleasure.

We try to do everything well, but perhaps the thing we do the best is to enrich the boys from an academic point of view. Our public exams results were excellent this year. The detailed figures and highlights are presented in The Review but to be the third placed boys school in the country for A Level and the top all-boys school in the country for GCSEs is a fantastic achievement. Our Fifth Form boys did us proud this summer. With just under 80% of all GCSEs taken passed with an A* grade this is, by a considerable margin, a record for the School. While we delight in these results, it is worth reminding ourselves that what is important is the consequences of such great results. Our Upper Sixth boys get to their chosen universities, our Lower Sixth AS results mean that boys have an excellent foundation for their final year at the RGS and for university applications, and the success of our Fifth Form means that they can enter our Sixth Form with confidence, studying the A Levels of their choice.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

League Tables can only report on the academic excellence of a school. They will never be able to represent the many other things we do so well and, in truth, I get much less exercised about them these days.

The one table which I do take note of is The Times Parent Power ranking, because it includes every independent school. I am pleased to report that the RGS was ranked third boys school in the country for exam results but was the top school in the country in last November’s publication for the proportion of pupils achieving places at the country’s most sought after universities. I know that pupils and parents are very grateful for the careers and university advice provided at the RGS and I would like to thank Mr Dunscombe for his exemplary work in this respect. That RGS boys are much sought-after by universities says a lot about the skills we are trying to inculcate in every individual.

The learning habits (see page 27) which we have been promoting at the RGS, those fundamentally important skills which we hope every boy will have acquired by the time they leave us, are not just honed in the classroom but in other academic pursuits. The Independent Learning Assignments, external essay prizes, Olympiads, Crest scientific research awards, the student robotics challenge, are all there to encourage boys to research, to be innovative, to be resourceful and to challenge ideas. There have been some tremendous academic achievements this year outside of the classroom and the exam hall. But perhaps our 13 Crest Gold Awards for scientific research is the most impressive. The Crest Awards involve extraordinary commitment from the boys.

Jack Langan, achieved his award spending the summer working for Natural Biosciences in Switzerland, but they bring great rewards and distinction to the boys and to the School as you will read in The Review. I must also congratulate Mark

Thornton who won a Top Gold award in the Biology Olympiad. After attending an intense selection camp, he was chosen to represent Great Britain in the International Biology Olympiad in Vietnam and was the top scoring British competitor in the competition.

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is particularly true of our local partnerships.

At a time when independent schools are facing new demands from central government to engage more with the state sector with a veiled threat that

The U15 hockey team were crowned Surrey Champions and the U14s went one better reaching the National Finals as one of the top eight school teams in the country.

Back in March I was able to announce my vision for the RGS for medium and long term and I would like to thank you for the many letters and e-mails of support. That vision is all about partnership. Schools like the RGS will only exist in 50 years’ time if they have reached out to work with other educational partners – partnership on a local, national and international scale.

This time last year we were considering the possibility of opening an international school in the Middle East. It has been a difficult journey which has opened our eyes to the challenges of transporting the ethos and values of this school to another country, but I am pleased to report that RGS, Guildford in Qatar opened last Sunday. I am very grateful to my team here in Guildford and to Mr Bridges and his team in Doha who have worked tirelessly through some major obstacles to ensure that we have fulfilled our promise to make the education that we offer at the RGS more available to others. Why is this important? Because we believe in the excellence of our educational provision and we want to share that good practice so that others can benefit from our expertise.

We are not an ‘ivory tower’; we are not inward looking in our viewpoint – we are always looking outwards to share what we do well with others. And we are proud to have been doing that for many years. This

independent schools which do not engage may lose their charitable status, I believe that the work that the RGS is doing with the state sector in our local area is a paradigm that others may wish to follow.

To give some examples of the work we do: The Primary Schools Tudor Experience Day was introduced in 2008. Every Monday throughout the School year a different primary school class with 30 plus pupils attends the RGS to develop a greater understanding of life in Tudor times through six different project-based activities. Each year about 700 pupils learn with us.

Children from 32 different primary schools attend our Masterclasses for gifted and talented boys and girls on four consecutive Saturdays in November.

Stimulation, discovery and enjoyment are the emphasis in sessions on Design Technology, Drama, Maths, Science and European and Middle Eastern languages.

The RGS Summer School is, similarly, an opportunity for about 50 bright primary school pupils from a host of local schools to experience a week of stretch and challenge as they are introduced to topics way off of the syllabus. ´

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

Our innovative Strings Scheme, which has already attracted a visit from Michael Gove when he was Secretary of State for Education, has expanded from a single school, St Thomas of Canterbury, at its inception six years ago, to include a second school, our nearest neighbour, Sandfield.

Every Year 4 pupil at these two schools, upwards of 100 children, receive a weekly lesson on the violin or cello. People worry when children play violent video games or spend every minute of their spare time looking at a smart phone or tablet. We can be less worried if part of their spare time is taken up with playing music. Music can change the world because it can change people – and if our musical support has changed the lives of some young people, even in a very small way, we can be delighted.

The Strings Scheme is one of numerous outreach projects – we provide Latin lessons at Boxgrove School, Maths and Latin lessons at Holy Trinity School, French lessons at Sandfield and Spanish lessons at St Thomas of Canterbury. Many of these outreach projects involve not only our staff but the assistance of Fifth and Sixth Form boys; our Period 8 Community Service option, for example, sees boys helping with after-school clubs at Holy Trinity School.

As a partner school in GEP, the Guildford Education Partnership, our local multiacademy trust, the RGS is providing invaluable educational support to a number of state schools, both primary and secondary, in the region. By sharing facilities and educational expertise, the educational provision of all schools in the partnership can be enhanced.

This year, for instance, I was delighted to be able to support George Abbot School who were facing the prospect of having to cancel their Latin GCSE set due to

We believe in the excellence of our educational provision and we want to share that good practice so that others can benefit from our expertise.

financial constraints. I am pleased that the RGS was able to help out – our Head of Classics now teaches at George Abbot so that the children there can complete their GCSE. Partnerships are all about reciprocity, and we are benefitting from the fact that George Abbot is a Teaching School, training new teachers, including some of our own staff. By our willingness to engage with our local state schools the RGS has already made a significant impact on the educational direction of so many young people and I am pleased that the RGS should be leading the way in this field.

Where our partnership leads in the future is for discussion but those discussions are likely to lead to some very exciting collaborative work, perhaps, even, where a need has been identified, the creation of new free schools, under a RGS / GEP banner, to mirror our Middle Eastern venture.

The RGS has, for many years, proudly engaged with our local state schools.

We do it because, as a former state grammar school and as Guildford’s nationally renowned independent school, we believe firmly in serving our community and in sharing our expertise.

I am happy to be a voice for such positive independent–state partnerships and, through our guest this evening, would like to invite the Secretary of State for Education, Mrs Greening, or even the Prime Minister, herself, to visit the RGS to talk about ways in which independent schools can support education in this country more widely, and to see an

exemplar of good partnership. I am sure that independent schools are more likely to respond positively to examples of good practice from fellow independent schools than to threats to their charitable status.

The RGS is also changing from a physical point of view. Trevone House has now been replaced by a wonderful learning space offering purpose-built Design Technology workshops, a History, Politics and Economics faculty on the first floor and a new Classics Department on the top floor. I am pleased to announce that our new facility will be named The John Brown Building, after one of the most important and influential figures in the history of the modern RGS. John Brown joined the RGS as a pupil in 1921. He was closely associated with the School for the rest of his life, initially as an active member of the OGA, as a Governor from 1947, as Chairman of Governors from 1967 until 1988, and as Governor Emeritus from 1988 until his death at the age of 96 in 2008. It is no exaggeration to say that the modern RGS owes its very existence to the courage and vision of John Brown. As Chairman of Governors, when faced with a forced merger with Guildford County School and the prospect of the name of the Royal Grammar School vanishing for ever, he campaigned and petitioned for the School to break away from state control, to be reborn as an independent school.

Against all the odds, he was successful.

At all times, John epitomised the RGS philosophy. With absolute honesty and modesty and with unfailing courtesy

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

combined with quiet determination, he altered the course of RGS history and it is entirely appropriate that a building which provides such an inspiring learning environment should bear his name.

I started my address by describing the passion with which RGS boys sing the school hymn. We heard that passion again this afternoon at our Commemoration Service. Despite dating back to the 1600s, the sentiments underpinning the words of this great hymn still feel particularly apt. The successes and achievements of the boys would not be possible without the perseverance, dedication and endeavour which John Bunyan champions – his ‘labour night and day’. Setbacks and obstacles will always provide challenge ‘come wind, come weather’ and yet, as long as there is an innate desire – ‘his first avowed intent’ – each setback will only strengthen a pupil’s resolve and not ‘daunt his spirit’. Our challenge as a School is all there in Bunyan’s words.

This is a time of change at the RGS. All great institutions must evolve and adapt to make the most of the future. We are evolving from a position of real strength.

Demand for the School has never been higher, our academic reputation as one of the finest schools in the country continues to rise, and our innovation in the way we share our expertise with others is an example of the very best practice. But we can only evolve as a school with the support of you all.

I would like to thank my staff for their support, dedication and, above all, for their desire to do all they can to give our boys the best educational experiences inside and outside the classroom. Three long serving members of staff retired this year, Mr Grace, Mr Knight, and Mrs Handley – I thank them for their combined total of 88 years of service at the RGS. Thank you

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Demand for the School has never been higher, our academic reputation as one of the finest schools in the country continues to rise, and our innovation in the way we share our expertise with others is an example of the very best practice. to the Governing Body, your careful stewardship of this great institution has enabled it to develop, but to do so in a way which protects the all-important values and atmosphere of the School. Thank you to the parents, without your sacrifice, both financially and emotionally, your sons could not develop into such exceptional young men.

And my final thanks is to the RGS boys themselves. I received a letter last week which sums things up very well.

willingness to work hard and to get involved in so much is the reason why this school is great. And it is the reason why I drive in every morning with such excitement.

Thank you to you all for listening this evening, and thank you for making my commute every morning such a great pleasure.  Dr JM Cox Headmaster (Reproduced in full)

Dear Headmaster, As a Guildford resident of many years I wanted to write to tell you that your boys are an absolute credit to you. Courtesy, civility and humility are unfashionable traits to some youngsters these days, but are ever present in the young men I see walking around the town.

I just thought that you should know.

I do know. I know because I see it every day at the RGS. Your behaviour, your support for the School and for each other, your kindness and empathy, your

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

A Year in the life of‌

Over 70 school clubs and societies

Just under a half of all boys doing Period 8 activities are involved in the Combined Cadet Force, Outdoor Pursuits and Explorer Scouts.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

44 Bronze, 20 Silver and 19 Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards have been received by RGS boys in the last twelve months

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Investing in the Future of RGS & Lanesborough

Following the successful redevelopment of the RGS Art School, Music School and new Sixth Form Centre, a nine-stage building development plan for RGS and Lanesborough is now in place.

Phased over a 15-20 year period, the investment programme will create over 2740m2 of much needed additional floor space across both sites. Focused on consolidating and rationalising existing buildings, the programme will include the creation of a modern library at the heart of the RGS, a dining extension, bespoke performance space and the redevelopment of the East and West Atriums. Taking account of inflation, this carefully planned project will cost approximately £40 million and be funded from annual surpluses, reserves and borrowing.

Phases 1 & 2 of the building plan are nearing completion, they include: Undercroft Conversion Now fully operational & adding much needed exam space.

The John Brown Building Trevone House has now been replaced by a wonderful learning space offering purpose-built Design Technology workshops, History, Politics and Economics facilities on the first floor, and a new Classics Department on the top floor. To open November 2016.

Lanesborough Sports Hall Opened by Lanesborough alumnus and Olympic gold medallist, George Nash, and Lanesborough and RGS alumnus, Angus Groom, in September 2016.

Phase 3, on the central spine of the RGS New Building, is due to start in 2017 and will include: – The creation of Modern Foreign Language classrooms on a new second floor – Refurbished classrooms – A new Seminar and study space – New and refitted science laboratories Phase 4 is planned to start in 2020 and will include the roof and redevelopment of the East Atrium.

To find out more about the capital development of RGS and Lanesborough, please contact Development Director, Georgie Grant Haworth: ggh@rgsg.co.uk

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

1 North Building and Exam Hall 2 The John Brown Building 3 Spine

4 East Atrium 5 Library and Entrance 6 Mallison Library Refit

7 West Atrium 8 Dining Extension 9 Drama

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Royal Grammar School Guildford in Qatar

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We are justly proud of our reputation for providing academic excellence and the children who attend the Royal Grammar School Guildford in Qatar will be part of a family of schools delivering a British education of the highest quality.

Paul Bridges, Principal RGSGQ

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n Sunday 25 September, RGS Guildford in Qatar opened its doors to its very first pupils – just nine months after the signing of an international co-operation agreement.

Part of Qatar’s outstanding schools programme, RGSGQ is based in the Umm Salal area of North Doha, Qatar, and caters for boys and girls aged 3 to 18.

Pupils follow a British curriculum, delivered in English, and entry is selective.

As an international school, languages are taught from Reception class onwards with the study of Arabic encouraged and the Islamic, Arabic and Qatari curriculums fully supported. A comprehensive extra-curricular programme of music, sport, and the creative arts is also offered.

Just like their UK counterparts, RGSGQ pupils enjoy a competitive House system, engage with the 16 RGS Learning Habits and take part in Charity Day and World Book Day, amongst other international events and activities.

Alistair Downs, BSc (Hons) PGCE, QTS, is the Headteacher of the mixed Prep and Pre-Prep Schools. He joined RGSGQ from St Andrews International School, Dusit, Bangkok, and is a highly regarded early years educationalist and international schools leader. He works with Principal of the Schools, Paul Bridges FRSA. BSc (Hons) PGCE. QTS. who was previously Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning)

at RGS Guildford and pioneered the RGS Learning Habits. Together they lead a staff of British qualified teachers.

Following the opening of the RGSGQ Pre-Prep in September 2016, the Prep School will open from September 2017 and the senior school thereafter.

On the original signing of the international co-op agreement, Headmaster, Dr Jon Cox commented: “This is an exciting time in education: the way we teach, the manner in which our students learn and the world of employment are all changing rapidly.

The School’s vision is focused upon the RGS remaining one of the finest schools in the country but to do so we will need to innovate, to share our expertise and, of particular importance at a time of change, to stay true to our values…

This venture… will enable the School to further develop its educational provision and facilities, will provide the opportunities for partnership with the Arab world which go far beyond our current provision of Arabic language tuition, and will provide significant support of our goal for… merit-based open access in the future. This is an exciting venture for the School which has the potential to transform the education of our pupils in Guildford and further afield.”

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THE RGS: Our International Partnerships The RGS currently has two international educational partnerships, one in Cambodia facilitated by United World Schools (UWS) and the second, with two schools in Nepal that came about through Alex Ewart OG 2003. These relationships were kick-started with a charitable impulse, but both have evolved into genuine reciprocal partnerships. Here we offer a brief overview of the genesis and history of both projects.

Cambodia In 2007, the first UWS project was held in Tiem Kram, Cambodia.

There was no school and no opportunity for local children to receive education. In the shade of houses and trees, teachers from Portsmouth Grammar and RGS Guildford taught basic lessons.

Exceeding all expectations, RGS boys went on to raise all of the considerable funds needed to build the community a school.

This forged a partnership which exists to this day. RGS continues to provide Tiem Kram’s annual running costs and, over the years, RGS boys have raised funds for solar panels, water wells, toilet blocks, a teacher house and a library.

After an initial month-long expedition involving 18 boys and two members of staff in 2010, RGS has sent biennial expeditions of staff and boys, providing inspirational experiences for all those who take part. 2017 will see 36 boys and six members of staff visiting Tiem Kram. Overseen by Mr Chan, the village Chief, and an enthusiastic husband and wife teaching team, our Cambodian partner school is thriving. RGS is now working with UWS to develop an ongoing professional development programme for

Tiem Kram teachers and a pilot scheme of basic literacy and numeracy assessments to monitor pupil progress.

Nepal Alex Ewart, OG ’03 worked in Besisahar, Lamjung Province in Nepal during his gap year in 2004, before tragically losing his life in a white-water-rafting accident. Established by the Ewart family, The Alex Ewart Fund was set up to support the educational needs of children in Nepal. Since 2004, the Fund has raised over £190,000 for two local schools in Besisahar where the literacy rate is below the national average and one third of the population are living on less than $1 per day.

Following several years of fundraising support and teacher exchanges, RGS and Lanesborough signed an official partnership agreement with both schools in 2010. Designed to facilitate the learning and development of teachers and pupils in Nepal and the UK, it was officially recognised with a British Council International School Award (ISA) in 2013. Teacher exchanges take place annually, with teachers staying in the homes of their international counterparts.

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A visit to the UK is a life-changing trip for Nepali teachers. Most have rarely left Besisahar and none have ever travelled to the West. Observing lessons and seeing how the RGS runs enables them to return to Nepal and their own classrooms with a completely new perspective on teaching and the wider world.

The RGS teachers who have visited Nepal to provide INSET training for the Nepali staff are similarly enriched, as is their teaching and classroom and world perspective. On our most recent exchange to Nepal, three RGS staff members held a Saturday INSET training day which was attended by 63 teachers from 10 different schools in Besisahar, showing the importance of the partnership not only for the two schools involved but also for the wider educational community.

For the students, the RGS & Lanesborough Nepal Day is a prominent annual feature in the school calendar. Staff or Old Guildfordians who have recently returned from teaching there, speak to the boys about their experiences and reflect on some of the themes of the partnership. Classes have a Nepalese theme and Nepali food is served at lunchtime. After its successful

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introduction a few years ago, House Kabaddi is often the highlight of the day.

Throughout the year, students from First to Fifth Form take part in joint projects in their PSHME (Personal, Social, Health and Moral Education) lessons on topics such as arranged marriages, water sustainability and life choices. Students in Nepal complete the same activities. The results are then shared between the two schools and students can see how their answers differ to those from students in the other country. The partnership also offers teaching opportunities for RGS boys on gap years, a particularly rewarding and fulfilling experience after their involvement with the partnership during their time at school. 

For more information about both charities please visit: unitedworldschools.org and alexewartfund.org

‘‘

We are so pleased that the RGS and its staff have developed such a strong and effective partnership with the schools in Besisahar where Alex was a volunteer teacher. The partnership demonstrates what a huge difference sharing cultures can make to education - in the UK and in Nepal. Alex would have been amazed, so proud of his school and absolutely delighted for his friends in Nepal.

Ian and Wendy Ewart, Alex’s parents

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Sport remains an integral part of RGS life, with an emphasis on offering diversity so that each boy has the opportunity to find a sport they can continue with throughout their lives.

Rugby, hockey and cricket continue to be the major sports, with the School regularly fielding over twenty teams for competitive Saturday fixtures. Football is also offered to the L6 and U6 and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs play regularly.

SPORT AT RGS

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

1st Teams Sports Results 2015/2016 Sport Rugby Hockey Cricket Football

Matches 10 5 8 17

Won 2 2 3 6

Lost 8 2 4 6

Drawn 1 1 5

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SPORT AT RGS

RGS boys have also established an enviable reputation in a host of other sports including fencing, judo, sailing, shooting, rowing, athletics, swimming, weightlifting, cross-country, skiing, canoeing, golf and badminton, to mention just a few.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

RGS Learning Habits In 2015, the RGS launched 16 indispensable learning habits which every pupil should have acquired by the time they leave the school. Developed by the entire teaching body, following an independent review, they are designed to help students take greater responsibility for their learning, ensuring they are prepared not only for the challenges of examinations but also the demands of life at university and in the work-place. Grades undoubtedly open doors but the habits and attitudes nurtured at school are going to be fundamental in allowing the boys to continue to flourish once they leave the RGS. Engagement with Learning Love of Learning: I enjoy learning for its own sake Tenacity: I am able to respond positively to challenges and persist when I have setbacks and disappointments Precision: I take care to understand tasks and complete them to a high standard Creativity: I am able to be imaginative, creative and/or original when I am learning

Thinking Summarising: I am able to look back at what I have done, picking out key points, summarising, distilling and memorising Reasoning: I am able to adopt a rational approach and can draw conclusions from accepted truths or evidence Linking: I am able to apply my skills and knowledge across subjects and in unfamiliar situations Criticality: I am willing and able to test claims of ‘truth’

Learning with Others Teamwork: I am able to collaborate as part of a team with others Engagement: I am an active participant in learning, asking and answering questions and listening to others Imitation: I am good at noticing and able to learn from what others do well Perspective: I am aware and take responsibility for my well-being and that of others

Taking Responsibility Reflection: I seek out feedback on my work and use it to evaluate and improve my learning Organising: I am able to manage my time and resources effectively Independence: I am an active learner, able to take the initiative and plan my learning; I am self-motivated and take pride in, and responsibility for, my work Practice: I practise to improve my learning

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The OG interview

JACK CLIFFORD RGS/ HARLEQUINS/ ENGLAND. Jack was at RGS from 2004-2011. Having captained the winning England U20 team at the Six Nations in 2013, he got his first cap for England in 2016. Philippa Green, OG magazine Editor and Alumni Relations Officer, caught up with Jack after a recent training session to chat about his experience as a professional rugby player and his time at RGS.

What memories do you have of sport at RGS? The majority of my time was spent playing rugby. I had played at Cranleigh Rugby Club for a couple of years before coming to RGS. We had a very strong first year team at School – our opening game was against Trinity and we’d won by half time as they always stopped matches after 40 or 50 points were scored. A few guys I played with then are still my best mates now and our team were unbeaten for the first three years at RGS. We eventually lost to KCS – I still remember it as the whole team were absolutely distraught! I loved rugby at School and played all the time, probably to the detriment of some of my lessons. At one parents’ evening my French teacher said I couldn’t miss lessons to go to rugby as I was so far behind, but I played anyway. The teachers were fantastic and I especially remember Mr Jenkins, my Nettles Housemaster and junior rugby coach, Mr Wilkes, Mr Torri, who was our rugby coach in the sixth form, and Mr O’Brien. Even now, we still call all the staff “Sir” when we meet them. More recently, I saw Mr Schofield in the crowd when I was playing England v Wales and he gave me a wave – which was a bit of a surprise.

I was in the B team for hockey which we played very much like rugby. All the rugby forwards were in the team and there wasn’t much finesse, as we ran through rather than round people. I also did shot put and discus to county level.

When did you first realise that rugby was becoming a real career option?

I didn’t think I could play rugby as a job until two years ago.

Before leaving School I had a chat with my parents and Mr Dunscombe, Head of Careers and Higher Education, who said it was a great opportunity which I wouldn’t get again. Lots of other pupils were taking gap years so it seemed too good a chance to miss. He also helped me with university applications, enabling me to defer a place at Loughborough (which I might still have!). The first two years of rugby went well with just a couple of minor injuries. In my third year of playing we won the Junior World Cup, which was when I realised that I could make a career out of rugby.

What were your highlights when you captained the England U20 team?

We won the Six Nations in my first year as a player; there were a few injuries in the team so I got to play the whole Six Nations.

Next came the World Cup where we didn’t do so well.

Looking at that team and the international set up now, we should have won as there were so many players there who are now in the England team. The year after, we won the Six Nations again and went to the World Cup with a new approach. We won which was definitely one of my highlights as captain of the winning team. ´

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You have to want to give that time, and be prepared to give lots up to be able to achieve. Once you get there, you’ve got to keep going too or you’ll stagnate!

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What came next?

I went to Tokyo and Hong Kong with the full England Sevens team, getting my cap, and it was a fantastic experience. Every year kept building up a level, and the following year in 2015 I played for England against the Barbarians which we won 75-10. Then we had 2016 with the Six Nations Grand Slam and three victories against Australia over there.

Highlights of the Australia 2016 tour Winning! It was my first tour with England, and I remember sitting with Dylan Hartley by the Sydney Opera House the day after it was all over, reflecting on what an amazing year it had been – winning the Grand Slam and then beating Australia 3-0 in the Tour series. When we won the Grand Slam, it was extraordinary being with the guys who had come so close before, seeing them finally win it. It really hit home – my contribution was probably about one game’s worth in total on the pitch but the result was a massive achievement and it meant so much to them – a really big deal.

Going on tour and to Australia was great as it all went to plan and was a fantastic experience. It was the toughest training I’d ever done and I was the fittest I’d ever been but so drained afterwards.

It was also the first time I’d been back to Brisbane since being born there, so it was great to see where I could have lived.

20 degrees in the middle of winter, and a beautiful place! We got very involved in what was going on with other sports over there too, watching lots of different matches.

What is the support like from the England set up?

It’s fantastic. At national level there are mentors, leadership advisors to help me out, coaching staff who I can call any time of day so it’s excellent. The club also looks after medical issues and they have a fantastic support team too.

Are England investing more time in bringing through young talent?

Absolutely. The three year groups covering those above, below and in my age group have developed really good guys like Henry Slade, Anthony Watson, Maro Itoje, George Ford, Jack Nowell and Billy Vunipola. We’ve all come up together and it’s working very well. It’s so important to build strength and depth in the squad as rugby is such an attritional sport. Last season (2015-2016) was the first one I got through without having a major injury. Unfortunately, I injured my ankle at the start of the 2016-17 season and am out of action for ten weeks. It has come at a bad time, especially looking at the other back

row players who’re also out with injury. You feel so bad for someone like Sam Jones who is playing so well and would have probably come into the team, and is now out for five months.

How do you go about dealing with injury?

Physically it’s fine, I can deal with that. It’s the boredom, sitting down, watching your mates play – it’s a struggle, but you do find other things to occupy your mind. It’s mentally draining to do nothing. We have a great guy at Quins who gets us out in the world and I often sit down with him. We talk about career options, analysing me as a person and things I’d like to do. We’ve been looking at internships and work placements which is perfect while I’m injured. I’ve managed to do lots of short pieces of work, gaining experience in finance, the City, and coaching.

When you return to playing after injury does that have an effect on your game?

Well, you only get sent back in when you’re ready. I’ve been treated by the top surgeons in the northern hemisphere so I trust them to fix it. When you first run on it, you think “does it hurt?” The ankle is easy to manage as it’s a physical injury; head injuries are much harder to assess. “Do you feel in a fog?” or “Are you sleepy?” – at 7am most people are!

What qualities do you need to lead well in rugby?

Assertive, but in the right manner. I was captain once at RGS and didn’t know how to give a team talk and my mates still rib me about that. I’ve learned how to lead now; when to listen, when to let other people talk. How not to take it all on yourself but delegate. You learn a lot on the job, and it’s about what kind of person you are. I’m more of a “lead by example” type, I think. The decision-making on the pitch is down to me as Captain, but I’ll have other influential players around me on the pitch who will influence that, maybe no 9, no 10 or full back, about kicking or particular moves, but then I make the call.

You also learn to lead off the field as with a squad of 55 there are guys who are older, younger, not selected, playing, coming through at different levels. Some will look up to you, some won’t and you have to adapt. With the younger guys, you try to pass on advice and talk to them. I had fabulous mentors in Nick Easter and Chris Robshaw and was incredibly lucky to be able to learn from them. I really couldn’t have asked for anyone better.

The Back Row I’ll play anywhere across the back row; I quite like no 8 but I’d play no 2 if they asked me. As for the debate over the no 7 jersey for England, it became quite a talking point for a while, but less so since we won in Australia.

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You never want to lose the buzz of running out at Twickenham.

Have rugby players evolved over the last 20 years?

Yes, players have got bigger, faster, leaner. Everyone has the same core skills as they have to do so much on the pitch nowadays. I know props who can slot drop goals from 50 metres and fullbacks who happily get over the ball and steal it. Players in every position have become multi-skilled.

What makes a good rugby player?

I think you need an X factor. Quick, big, skilful, good awareness.

You’ve got to want it, and you’ve got to enjoy it too. When kids ask me what they should do, I always ask “Do you enjoy rugby?” “Would you give up something to do it?” You do whatever it takes to be the best – it’s the 10,000 hours principle. You have to want to give that time, and be prepared to give lots up to be able to achieve. Once you get there, you’ve got to keep going too or you’ll stagnate!

You never want to lose the buzz of running out at Twickenham.

When I got injured, the thought of not being in the Elite Player Squad was killing me so I worked out what I needed to do to get back.

Describe a normal week for a professional rugby player It is a full week of commitments, just like any other job.

Monday – yoga, weights, swim. Meetings/debriefs, physio and training.

Tuesday – weights then forwards’ session for an hour.

Whole team afternoon training session.

Wednesday – off.

Thursday – quicker weights and team sessions bringing it all together.

Friday – half hour captain’s run.

Saturday – game.

Sunday – off.

Tell us about your involvement with CRY Sadly, a good friend of mine at Cobham Rugby Club, Matthew Cragg, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack when he was 21 and I wanted to do something to help as it’s so close to home. It has such a massive impact on so many people, and it is preventable. I am now a patron of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and I try to support by giving shirts for fundraisers, attending events and raising awareness of the work the charity does in screening young people involved in sport for unknown heart conditions. We have been screened at Quins and when we were with the England U20s. By chance I met Tatheer Abbas Zaidi, another OG, at an U18s camp and he is a doctor who has done great work on the CRY programme as a Clinical Research Fellow. CRY are a great charity that I have a personal connection with and am proud to support.

Do you look at life beyond rugby?

Yes, that’s why I am doing internships. I don’t know what I want to do in the long run, so I’m ruling things out as well as in. I’m very lucky that I can go into different sectors and companies while working in my rugby job. Surprisingly, people are happy to take you on without qualifications – if you’ve been playing rugby they know you work hard, have got team ethos and leadership skills, and that you are very diligent. If you can get to this level of rugby, or any sport, it shows that you’ve got the work ethic that most employers want. Do I want to do an Open University degree? Well, at School I got where I did with people supporting me, and I work well under structure.

The people I’ve spoken to seem happy to put me through the training and qualifications I would need to do a certain job, and internships seem the way to go. I also meet lots of business people at the post-match drinks in the boxes so that may lead to something in the future.

And outside rugby…

It’s important and I try to keep this as rugby is very intense and it’s a tight-knit fraternity. A lot of the RGS guys are still really good friends and a group of us get together every month as we’re all still so close. All of them are doing great things and there’s huge affection for what the RGS did for us, and for me personally. It gave me the push I needed and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. We look back at it now as some of the best times.

Vital Stats: Plays for Harlequins FC and England as a back row forward Played at under 20 Level for England in two Six Nations Championships, one as captain.

Played in two Junior World Cup Championships, captaining England to victory in France in 2013.

In 2014 played for England Sevens in the World Series in Tokyo and Hong Kong.

In 2015 joined the full England Team and played against the Barbarians, scoring a try.

In 2016 was part of the Six Nations Grand Slam winning team and went on to play for England against Australia in the victorious 3-0 tour.

Has now been capped for England 8 times.

Has been awarded: Adidas Supporters’ Player of the Season; IG Player of the Season; Nick Duncombe Young Player of the Season

Follow Jack

 @jackclifford93

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OG EVENTS

OGCommunity

OG events since 2010 have been numerous and varied.

Here is a snapshot...

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Back TO School We want to say a special thank you to all those OGs (too numerous to name) who have come back to the RGS in the past six years to take part in a variety of activities ranging from King’s Lectures to careers seminars, Field Days to subject talks. Thank you.

Angus Groom OG 2010

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

Tom Lingard OG 1995 and James Granshaw OG 2003

Ed Coats OG 1998

Laurie Weeden OG 1938

David Benest OG 1972

Richard Mylles OG 2005 and Martin Davidson OG 1975

Bruno Bowden OG 1996

Jonny Hay OG 2010; Jack Clifford OG 2011; Mark Lambert OG 2003; and Angus Groom OG 2010

Barney Wong OG 2007 and Maroof Ahmed OG 2011

Nick Hargrave OG 2006

Martin Tyler OG 1964

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Parties for retiring staff, 2011 + 2014

20 years+ at the RGS RGS has 15 staff who have been teaching at the School for 20 years or more, an extraordinary length of service from so many teachers.

Mary Booth Maths Dai Cowx Geography, Powell Housemaster Andrew Curtis Head of Art Tony Dubois Biology, Austen Housemaster Laurence Holland Physics and Electronics Pete Hosier Modern Languages, Valpy Housemaster Mike Jenkins Maths, Nettles Housemaster Mick Jennings Maths Roger Meadowcroft Head of Religious Studies Dick Seymour Geography Alan Thorn Maths Steve Thornhill Physics Peter White Director of Music Jeremy Whittaker English David Woolcott Classics

A further 13 former staff with over 20 years’ service to the School have retired since 2010 and we wish them a happy retirement, with our grateful thanks.

Ted Badham Head of Biology Trevor Bradley Grounds Manager Maggie Goodman Religious Studies, Beckingham Housemaster Cliff Grace Modern Languages Kath Handley Maths Pat Joliffe Laboratory Technician Max Knight Head of Modern Languages Oscar Lawson Head of Information Technology Sally Lingard Chemistry Eleanor McIntyre Modern Languages Greg Schofield History Steve Shore English and PE John Simpson Biology, Director of Studies, Senior Master

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RETIREd STAFF NEWS

Frank Bell (Head of Biology, 1976-98) Frank was Head of Biology, then Integrated Science; Captain in the CCF leading adventurous training; and also Head of Hamonde House for about 10 years. He managed to promote hockey as a sport contrary to the School’s then obsession with rugby. Extra-curricular activities Frank was involved in were often related to radio and space science. An amateur radio station was established with several contacts to the MIR space station and NASA’s space shuttles, and a live weather satellite receiving station ran most of the time in the ‘Radio Room’.

Frank retired relatively early in life (58) to progress interests in world travel, currently about 100 countries visited and counting.

He still lives close to Guildford and is a regular visitor to school events, particularly OG reunions. A recent high profile event was the BBC’s The One Show programme about the RGS contact with Helen Sharman on the MIR space station during Frank’s time at the School. Space science and technology still keeps him very busy particularly in his role as director of the international ‘Group for Earth Observation’; see their website geo-web.org.uk to assess his activities.

Martin Blocksidge (Head of English, 1979-90) After spending 11 years at the RGS I then spent 11 years at St Dunstan’s College, where I became Director of Studies.

Although there was much to enjoy in this job, the call of idleness was too strong to resist and I took an early retirement in 2001. Since then, apart from keeping one or two fingers in the educational pie (I chaired various committees dealing with English teaching matters), I have embraced the literary life and now write biographies of literary figures. Although this is not a big earner, it’s the most enjoyable work I’ve ever done. (Further details of publications available on request (and on Amazon)). I’m always happy to hear from OGs – the Development Office can give you my email address.

RGS Retired Staff trip on the Watercress Line.

Left to right: Alan Evans, John Simpson, Julie Beattie, Pam Hemment, Frank Bell, Pam Palmer, Sally Lingard, Louise Gordon, Peter Clark, John Crathorne, Brian Whitworth, George Ardrey, Alan Thorn and Dave Turner

RGS Retired Staff Lunch Club The RGS Retired Staff Lunch Club was originally suggested by Maggie Goodman.

The club welcomes all staff retiring from RGS. Currently with 43 members, the club are looking forward to welcoming another two recent retirees, Ted Badham and Mary Booth.

RGS Retired Staff Lunch Club, October 2015, Left to right: Elisabeth Ficshbach, Pam Brown, Ted Badham, Frank Bell and Dai Jones

For the fourth outing of the RGS Retired Staff Lunch Club, a trip on the Watercress Line was arranged. A heritage railway line in Hampshire, the Watercress Line allows passengers to travel by steam train and get off and explore the four period stations located along the ten-mile route.

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Sucks to John Stuart Mill Catherine Moorehead English teacher at the RGS, 2001-2014. The school’s first Mistress of Scholars, Catherine was also heavily involved in extra-curricular activities and is an active member of the OG community. Her recent publications include: Spirit of Adventure: An Anthology of Mountain and Wilderness Tales, co-edited with OG Professor David Dunmur; and The K2 Man (and His Molluscs), a biography of Haversham Godwin-Austen. After retiring in 2014, Catherine now spends her free time walking and writing.

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f all the rants which took up valuable teaching time during my fifteen years at the RGS, the one which would wind me up above almost all others was our current obsession with Mr Gradgrind.

(For those of you who never got the chance to endure Dickens’s Hard Times in my classroom, Gradgrind was the education-board inspector twerp who would insist on the primacy of facts. Only what was useful would do. Shameful, and wrong).

For the modern origins of a utilitarian (i.e. factually useful) approach to education we need to go back to the mid-1980s and Mrs Thatcher, with her somewhat unbalanced Education Minister, Sir Keith (‘the Mad Monk’) Joseph. They were right to introduce a National Curriculum, because at the time many schools were getting away with teaching vacuous nonsense such as ‘Peace Studies’, which benefited neither pupil nor country.

But because Mrs Thatcher in particular lacked imagination and empathy, and evinced a somewhat provincial mentality when it came to getting on with the neighbours, education moved away not just from a disinterested (i.e. unbiased) enjoyment of learning for its own sake but lurched instead towards learning that was economically useful.

One of the first casualties of such reductivism in areas I claim to have some knowledge of was Modern Languages. In ‘A’ Level French (1970), I studied seven texts, three of them Classics from the seventeenth-century (with its attendant language difficulties). By the early noughties, the study of Literature had largely disappeared from the ‘A’ Level syllabus, because, as we all know, Literature isn’t useful, is it?

No, it’s much better than that. You study Literature to learn what other people think about themselves and what they think about you. And you do it in a much more realistically complex way than just looking at daily newspapers or magazines. There is, moreover, a pleasure in speaking to someone else in their own language: try it – it really doesn’t matter if you make mistakes.

Literature, furthermore, refines the sensibilities, helps us to think in more nuanced ways instead of just blurting out our first unreflective thoughts without regard to the effect on the listener or reader. Literature, finally, contains beauties of its own, whether in plays, poems or stories or other forms of prose, a wonderful leisure activity which trains the mind to be enquiring and discriminating while broadening your understanding of humanity without your even having to try. Reading a new book is like visiting a country you’ve never visited before.

And even the ‘language’ element of Modern Languages was reduced to Gradgrindian dullness. Booking a businessman’s week-end in Calais seemed to be about the limit of GCSE excitement. Or you could write a letter to your pen-pal composed of such a string of clichés, to tell him or (in the case of most RGS boys’ fantasies) her that you were delighted with your recent visit, with the effect of the unhappy recipient no longer wishing to be seen alive in your presence while probably concluding that the epistle had been generated by a somewhat mechanically defective machine.

It’s not just a matter of some local criticism of Modern Languages, of course. By the time I retired, what I think of as good English teaching was about as far removed from what the National Curriculum required as a Botticelli is from a painting by numbers set. National Curriculum English has so many criteria attached to it that the pleasures of literature and language are about as much fun as assembling a piece of meccano.

With the spreading of the utilitarian fetish came the rise in the iniquitous belief that all educational attainment could be measured.

Well, it can’t. You can’t put numbers against quality of imagination (except in certain areas of Art exams with specific conditions attached), or strength of will-power or passion for a subject. (Instead, we have to bow before that imaginationcrusher, ‘skills’). You can describe these unquantifiable qualities in words, because you have the capacity for nuance of expression and shades of understanding, but you can’t describe them in numbers from 1 to 100 without either confusing the reader, or rendering the assessment hopelessly crude or doing an injustice to the assessed. Think about that when you come back to look at your old report cards (if you haven’t already jettisoned them – but beware: my School reports from the late 1960s turned up in a forgotten corner just the other day; your reports may yet come back to haunt you!).

The result of this dullness-drive has been the creation of a nationwide lack of intellectual adventure. I often see letters in newspapers which claim that we ‘needn’t’ learn French, because most French people speak English, or German because most German scientific papers are now written in (American) English.

But ‘reason not the need’, as King Lear said: we learn these wonderful languages for the reasons I’ve given above – something which transcends usefulness and is a pleasure in its own right. (These are grimly Puritan times: you can tell by the boys’ haircuts). If we are to combine the utilitarian

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with the literary pleasures and advantages I’ve mentioned, then we ought, for example, to be teaching Chinese much more widely. Chinese is not an easy language, but the characters which the Chinese use to write ‘China’, meaning the ‘middle kingdom’ and illustrating their Sinocentric view of the world, show how much they value us going to them and doing a bit of traditional kow-towing, to land all those big business deals ahead of our competitors once the present market uncertainties are past. Just as important, however, and a good deal more durable, is China’s fabulous literature, scandalously little known in the West.

A further consequence of this wallow in dullness has, moreover, seen us painting ourselves into a utilitarian money-corner in our universities. These now have too many relatively unacademic students, or academic students not academically well-prepared, resulting in personal unhappiness and depression about prospects for future freedom from debt.

There is also too much stretching of good teachers through the imposition of a quite prodigious bureaucratic overload thanks to an emphasis on universities as economic powerhouses instead of as institutes of learning. (My rant about the loss of free speech in universities will have, mercifully, to wait for another day). We should, rather, be accommodating those intent on steering a more utilitarian path in an extension of the apprenticeship system, one of the vital components of Germany’s post-war Wirtschaftswunder (for the uncurious among you, ‘economic miracle’).

Literature and language without the mechanics is the answer. Let’s throw out the sad National Curriculum attempts to square a circle by mechanising literature and language teaching. Instead, teaching by those who know their subject really well, and consequently teach with unstinting enthusiasm is what should replace it. The piety of ‘usefulness’ should be left behind for the sake of greater enjoyment. As Shakespeare put it – and it’s my favourite quotation from everyone’s 452 year-old friend who is still, globally, outperforming all other competitors combined,

‘ Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?’

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Writing: A Marvel-lous Job Adrian Mackinder OG 1996; BA, University of Bristol (1999); MA, Birkbeck, University of London (2014); Self-employed Freelance Writer and performer. Credits include: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, MTV, Discovery, National Geographic, Marvel, Disney. Five years as Head Writer, Comedy Central in the UK. Adrian is married with one son and lives in Copenhagen. You can find out more about what he’s up to at adrianmackinder.co.uk

T

hey don’t tell you about my job at school. It’s curious. Academia is dependent on writing as a medium, yet rarely are you encouraged to pursue a living as a writer. And yet, here I am. My job is also my hobby.

So what happened? Like most of my peers at the time, I went to university. Back then, of course, it was free. As it should be.

Still, I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living, but I knew the subjects I was good at, so I studied Theology at Bristol. During my final year, a lot of my friends were sucked into the ‘Milk Round’: corporations trawling universities to find graduate recruitments to train as accountants, lawyers or management consultants.

None of these inspired me. It all sounded very boring. Why should your career be a chore? That was my reasoning back then, but it is a mantra I still live by. Your profession should never be something that just ‘pays the bills’. Your day-to-day should not be distinguishable from what makes you truly happy. Follow your passion. Life is short and it can be tough. Why make things even harder for yourself? What’s the point?

After graduating (and fumbling for a couple of months in retail to find my feet), I got my first junior writing gig for a small events company. The pay was terrible, but I had two inspirational bosses who imbued me with a sense of purpose. After a year or so cutting my teeth, I found myself writing for TV, specifically comedy. I couldn’t believe it. Here was an opportunity to make a living by laughing and (hopefully) making others laugh as well.

By then I’d had the taste. I got it. This was for me.

Almost twenty years later, writing is my career. I am selfemployed, without the security of a ‘nine to five’, but, thankfully, I am rarely out of work. Do I earn a fortune? Course not. If I was

in it for the money, I wouldn’t be doing this. But I earn a decent living. I can support my family. I get to work from home. Or a café.

Or the pub. Above all, my job doesn’t feel like work. I am happy.

One of my clients is Marvel Comics. During my first year at the RGS, me and my friends would run down to the (now long-gone) comic shop near the Friary after school and pour over amazing, vivid stories. Now I am involved in creating these stories.

I often wish I could tell the eleven-year-old me that I am writing the very adventures that filled me with wonder all those years ago, but I’ll settle for the fact that I can tell my own son when he’s older. Let’s hope he likes comics.

I’ll never forget the teachers who encouraged me to think for myself, to pursue my passion, to never compromise. There weren’t many, but there were enough. Education during those teenage years is essential to shaping who you are and, while most tried to funnel me towards a safe, secure, predictable career path, I am forever thankful to those few who ignited the spark to follow my heart. It hasn’t been easy, but ultimately it has been worth it. After all, why be the partner in a law firm when you can be Spider-Man? 

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Faltering steps Computing at RGS before the first PCs

By Richard Pawson PhD, OG 1976

 Mechanical card punch of the type used by RGS students in the mid-1970s

I

had two interesting lunches this week, with two men named Alan, both of whom had had a significant impact on my career in computing. The first was Alan Kay, widely cited as ‘the father of the personal computer’. The second was Alan Thorn, who was my Maths teacher at RGS; I was astonished and delighted to discover that he was still teaching at RGS (part-time now) 40 years later.

When I joined RGS in 1970, the state of the art in school computing technology was the slide rule; the first electronic calculator appeared in the school in 1973, having just four mathematical functions: plus, minus, times and divide. The first dedicated calculator shop in the country actually opened in Guildford, very close to the school, and I was fortunate to get a Saturday job there; this would also prove significant for my eventual career.

Alan Thorn joined the school in 1972, straight from Cambridge University and

then teacher training, but he brought with him a knowledge of programming, gained initially from a gap year spent at the National Physical Laboratory. He negotiated with the Guildford Technical College, to allow RGS students to run programs on its ICL 1900 mainframe computer, and he then set about teaching us the rudiments of Fortran.

This was the programming cycle: we would write our programs in pencil on squared paper and attempt to ‘test’ them in our heads. Then we had to transcribe the code onto punched cards using a mechanical hand-punch machine. I can still recall, for example, that the openbrackets character required punching the 0, 3, and 7 keys simultaneously. There was no visual feedback. Mr Thorn would take our stacks of punched cards down to the ‘tech’, and the following day would retrieve the printed output. This printout seldom contained the results of running

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Richard Pawson PhD, OG 1976. After gaining a First in Engineering Science, Richard returned to Commodore as European Software Manager.

His career has since spanned journalism, toy design, management consulting, and software development. His publications include several technical books and a more personal book called Reflections, describing his encounters with some ‘extraordinary people, places and ideas’ over the last 40 years.

our program: typically it contained long lists of ‘syntax errors’ from where we had punched the wrong combination of keys.

I think it took me a month to get my first ten-line Fortran program to run.

I left RGS in December 1976, having (unsuccessfully) sat Cambridge entrance, and used my knowledge of calculators to get a gap-year job at Commodore – then the leading calculator manufacturer – in Teesside. A month later, Commodore announced the world’s first production personal computer – the ‘PET’ – stating that it would first be shown to the public at the Hannover Messe (trade fair) in Germany, that April. I didn’t understand the full significance of this invention – nor did anyone else – but somehow, as a precocious 17-year-old working in the calculator service department, I persuaded my bosses that they should fly me to Hannover to see it. There I met the engineer delivering the first working prototype (it had flown across the Atlantic on the seat next to him), and watched, rapt, as he re-assembled it, ready to demonstrate to the public the following day. When he’d finished he gave me a personal demo and let me have a play. I managed to write a ten-line program in BASIC (very similar to Fortran at that level) and run it immediately. I can therefore legitimately claim to have been the very first person in Europe to have used a personal computer.

Alan Kay did not invent the Commodore PET – his contributions to the field did not become widely evident until the advent of the Apple Mac in 1984.

He and his team, working at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), had designed many of the key ideas in the Mac: the bit-mapped display, the graphical user interface, the Ethernet, the laser printer, object-oriented programming, and so on. His detailed vision of ‘the Dynabook’ – a handheld touch-sensitive tablet computer connected by radio to

a vast network and knowledge base – reads uncannily like a description of the iPad, launched in 2010. Yet all of his team’s work had been completed in the early 1970s, long before Commodore, Apple, or anyone else had built a personal computer.

He is one of the most esteemed computer scientists in the field, yet his expertise also extends to microbiology, music, history, philosophy, and pedagogy – a genuine ‘renaissance man’. I was fortunate to meet him in 1991, and throughout the 1990s he acted as an informal mentor to me. I was eventually able to make a modest original contribution to the field, in the form of my PhD thesis (‘Naked Objects’, which is now the name of my company). But I was able to do that only by standing on the shoulders of giants like Alan Kay. Back at RGS Alan Thorn would, I am sure, make no claims to greatness in the field of Computer Science, and yet his own work has also borne much fruit – in a different way. Over lunch I was astonished that he could remember so many of the names from our class of 1976.

One is now Head of Computer Science at a British university; one designed the video compression algorithms that are used across the Internet; several gained PhDs in Mathematics, Computing or related disciplines.

I wasn’t one of his star pupils – too lazy and talkative. Recently, my parents cleared out their home and found all my old RGS reports. Alan had written on one: “always a loquacious member of the class“. I might have felt suitably chastised had I known what the word meant – English wasn’t exactly my strong suit at that time.

But I was glad of the opportunity – with both the Alans – simply to say a belated ‘thank you’. Something stuck. 

…I managed to write a ten-line program in BASIC (very similar to Fortran at that level) and ran it immediately.

I can therefore legitimately claim to have been the very first person in Europe to have used a personal computer.

*Editor’s Note: Inspired, in part, by the two lunches mentioned in the article, Richard has since decided to become a teacher, starting at Stowe School in January, teaching A-level Computer Science.

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OGNews

Catch up with OGs from Massachusetts, New England, to the New Forest, via Kilimanjaro and Kerala.

Alan Wood OG 1942 “I joined the British Army in January 1943 and was stationed in York. I graduated from Dehra Dun Military Academy in India and was then sent to Singapore and Malaya. When the war was over I joined the Borneo Company in 1947 and retired from the company as Deputy Chairman in Malaysia in 1975. From 1979 to 1982 I worked in India for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and from 1982 to 1993 marketed the Ports of Philadelphia.

I received a Commander of the British Empire from Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace in 1971, and I received the Panglimaa Setia Mahkota from the King of Malaysia in 1972, bestowed to only 250 people. Upon retirement we moved to South Carolina where we live in the delightful retirement community of Rolling Green Village in Greenville. I have been legally blind for 19 and a half years.”

Trevor Simmons OG 1948 “Next Easter I will have lived in Australia for 50 years as we emigrated to Tasmania in 1967 (both aged 34, and with children of 7, 5, and 3). We lived and worked in Melbourne during the 1980s, and again briefly in the late 90s – returning to Tasmania in the intervening periods. From 2000-15 we resided in Longford, a small colonial country town near Launceston.

We then spent nine months in Penrith, New South Wales, after deciding to live with our younger daughter and family. However, earlier this year we all returned “home” to live in Launceston: I landed in hospital with bowel cancer and was successfully operated upon on the day the removalists arrived from interstate – therefore avoiding the unpacking!”

Michael Edwards OG 1951 Initially spending his national service in the RAF in Canada, Michael’s career would take him across several continents. A number of engineering and construction jobs meant Michael spent time in Nigeria, West Africa, Canada and Jamaica. Settling on a career in the mining industry, most time was spent in Canada and USA. Michael’s personal career high was being sent to the Gulags in Russia during his involvement in the opening of a gold mine in Far Eastern Siberia, fortunately in 1995-6 after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Finally deciding to return to Canada to settle with his wife, close to his children and grandchildren, Michael has chosen to live in a part of Ontario which is as close to the rural British countryside scenically as you can get in Canada. He is also in touch with Ernie Roberts OG 1953 who lives across the border in Upper New York State.

John Shakesheff OG 1957 happily settled in Spain since 1986.

Terry Jones OG 1961 was honoured by BAFTA Cymru with an award for his outstanding contribution to television and film, just days after it was announced that he is suffering from primary progressive aphasia - a form of dementia which affects his ability to communicate.

He received the award to a standing ovation, in recognition of almost 50 years of work with both the Monty Python team, and as a film director and documentary presenter. He is also renowned as an author of children’s books.

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Sir John Allison OG 1961 is retired Head of Strike Command and 2nd I/C RAF with a distinguished military career. Whilst at RGS he was CSM of the CCF, and it was during this time that he made a lasting impression on fellow RGS student Bill Mould OG 1963.

Two years younger than Sir John, Bill fondly remembers being a young fifteenyear-old aviation enthusiast who was taken on a flight from Biggin Hill in an Auster J1 by a recently qualified John.

The boys of 1965, 50 years on... In June 2015, 50 years after departing the Upper Sixth at RGS Guildford - having cemented their friendships through rugby, cricket and general delinquency - six OGs and their glamorous wives, all in rude health, gathered for two nights at a beautiful stone manor house in the Dorset countryside.

The reunion afforded the chance to reminisce about days gone by, to partake of good food and drink, and to enjoy each other’s company.

Having re-connected through an OG event, Sir John offered Bill the opportunity to fly together 55 years after their school days. In what Bill described as the “the father of all “Red Letter” days”, Sir John flew them in a restored 1950s Auster 5 and a Beechcraft Bonanza, breaking up the day with a visit to the Shuttleworth Collection, of which Sir John is President.

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Jim Mansell, Dave Sedgwick, Chris Ayerst, Dick Keat, Allan Johnson, Leon Doré, all OGs 1965

Jim Gore OG 1961 Initially becoming an articled pupil at Mann & Co Chartered Surveyors after leaving RGS, Jim then went on to become Assistant General Manager of the Army & Navy Store in Guildford (now House of Fraser). He then transferred back to Mann & Co where he became a Director.

In January 1992, Jim decided to set up his own firm in Ripley which he named

Prefects 1964-1965: See if you recognise them – Jim (front row, 2nd from left), Chris (front row, 3rd from left), Dick (front row, 5th from right), Dave (front row, 4th from right), Leon (2nd row, far left), Allan (3rd row, far right)

Seymours after Jane Seymour, mother of Edward VI who was responsible for moving the school to its current site in 1552.

Seymours Estate Agents now has 18 offices across West Surrey. Jim has also had three books published, two children’s books and most recently a definitive analysis on estate agency, based partly on his own experience of the industry.

Richard Cuddington OG 1963 has now completed an Easy Reading Verse Series of the complete works of Shakespeare, as well as The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, works

by Dickens and also The Wind in the Willows.

These books are now available on Amazon.

Sir John Holman OG 1964 is now President of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He will hold the post until July 2018.

Mark Betteridge OG 1966 After twenty years as CEO of Discovery Parks in Vancouver, Mark is now investing further in start-up technology firms and a couple of real estate projects. The tech firms include big data (Phemi), intelligent building systems (Optigo Networks), a fully compostable replacement for the Keurig coffee container (G-Pak), real time measurement of glycogen in muscles (MuscleSound), alternatives to dairy and soya based foods (Daiya), real human antibodies (X-Biotech), interstitial cystisis (Aquinox) and others. The real estate projects include being a partner in a couple of small multi-family projects in Kelowna and Squamish, British Columbia.

Mark has also created a concept now called The Lilypad (in short hand - ‘the pub meets the lab’) which will be a building located where early stage tech firms need labs,

offices and a pub to share ideas, ideally in a city centre. Mark is a Board member of the British Columbia Business Council and maintains a Linkedin profile. (Mark started at RGS in 1964, leaving Michaelmas Term of his third year to return to New York City, USA. Had he stayed he would have graduated in the class of 1971).

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“Old Boys in the New World”: Bryan Wall OG 1966, Michael Lucy OG 1966 and Peter Parke OG 1966

Michael Lucy OG 1966 Now lives in Wenham, Massachusetts, USA. Son of an English mother and an American GI father, Michael extended a UK visit in 1963 to stay on and take his A-levels at RGS. It was a formative experience – “life-changing in so many ways” and Michael has strong memories of many teachers, including John Mallinson and historian Dan Sturley, who helped him to “think on his feet”. After school Michael returned to the US and attended a liberal arts college. He served as a Foreign Service Officer in the US State Department where he met his wife, Patricia, who was working in the State Department Press Office. After ten years in the Foreign Service he moved into the private sector, working in energy project development.

Michael Lucy OG 1966 and his wife, Patricia, with the Headmaster

He ran several companies during this period and retired in 2015. Michael and Patricia have two daughters and their first granddaughter was born this summer.

Michael returned to visit the RGS in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, he presented “Thought for the Day” in Assembly, reflecting on his time at the School and what it meant to him.

Michael also became a 1509 Circle supporter of the RGS Bursary Campaign, speaking with pleasure about how special his experience at RGS was and how important it is to “pay it forward” when good things happen to you. Following his visit to the School, Michael, his brother Ian and their wives returned home to the USA on the Queen Mary II from Southampton to New York, recreating a journey the two brothers had done as children on the original Cunarders – RMS Queen Elizabeth and RMS Queen Mary.

Bryan Wall OG 1966 and Peter Parke OG 1966 joined old school friend Michael Lucy OG 1966 in Michael’s home town Wenham, USA, and Boston, for a great “mini-reunion” of the “Old Boys in the New World”, in August 2015. They are hoping to make it a regular reunion and see the numbers grow! Michael reconnected with Peter and Bryan following contact made through the Development & Alumni Relations Office.

Ian Naish OG 1966 lives in Canada and came to the London Dinner for OGs at Langans in June 2016.

Jeremy Butterfield OG 1968 is the editor of the fourth edition of Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage regarded by some as “the bible of English usage guides”. His dedication says: “To my beloved parents, who gave me my first Fowler when I was at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford.”

Other books he has written include Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare and, most recently, an opinion piece in The Guardian on 4 March 2016 for National Grammar Day entitled ‘Think you’s good at grammar? Try my seven golden rules’.

Jeremy is interested in the idea that different people interpret words in contradictory and conflicting ways and, a few years ago, he asked RGS sixth-formers to complete an online survey for him about their preferred word for something really good – their choice was “sick”. Some teachers or pupils may find his blog of interest (www.jeremybutterfield.wordpress.com), since it deals mainly with the history and use of English words and phrases.

Ian Naish OG 1966

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The Flying Scotsman seen at Ludlow in June 2016 by Bob Milton OG 1968

Andrew Hamilton OG 1971. Formerly Provost of Yale and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, Andrew was appointed 16th President of New York University in March 2015.

John Chaplin OG 1972 graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College in 1975 and received a Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College in 1978. His career began with Core Laboratories working as a Hydrocarbon Well Logger on assignments around the world. He then joined Mobil and held many positions across the globe, including the United Kingdom, New York, Norway, New Orleans, Indonesia, Houston and Nigeria. His career spanned assignments in engineering, operations, project development and senior management. His last assignment was back in the UK, overseeing ExxonMobil’s European and Caspian oil and gas businesses.

In February this year he stepped down and is planning to finally complete a Vans RV7 kit aeroplane he is building in his garage, and turn his attention to other interests.

Bob Milton OG 1968, father of Christopher OG 2010, has opened a new studio and art gallery and has recently taken part in the Surrey Artists Open Studio Event. His paintings have been very well received, and an example is The Flying Scotsman seen at Ludlow in June 2016. More information about Bob’s work can be found at www. abbeyartists.net Greg Reeve OG 1968, who played rugby and cricket for the OGs in the 1970s and 1980s before becoming a rugby referee for the London Society for 13 years, has now moved to the New Forest.

He still maintains contact with the OGs through the Old Guildfordians’ Golf Society which meets regularly throughout the year.

Greg is now happily playing amongst the deer at Brockenhurst Manor Golf Club.

The School at Leisure: The Guildfordian, Volume 13. No. 1, May, 1968, Brendan Chaplin OG 1970 and Stuart Davies OG 1968

Brendan Chaplin OG 1970, brother of John OG 1972, completed a kite surf from Mozambique, along the coast of Tanzania, to Zanzibar. This amazing feat was not dissimilar to a tale from Brendan’s RGS days when during the third form he and Stuart Davies OG 1968 decided to “do something different” during their summer holidays and sailed for three days around the Isle of Wight in a Heron dingy called “Therocane”.

Here is a brief exert from The Guildfordian, May 1968, written by Brendan and Stuart, summarising the spirit of their adventure: “On reflection, I am still amazed that so much had happened within those three days. The adventure had been dangerous, very much so, but it had proved that with caution and awareness one could take calculated risks in safety.”

Before his ‘retirement’ from ExxonMobil, John led a ‘Leadership & Learning’ seminar for the RGS Prefect team and organised for an RGS Scholars visit with the ExxonMobil Exploration Team at their UK HQ. John’s father, great uncle and brothers are all Old Guildfordians.

Christopher Mabley OG 1977 is the current Musical Director of Northampton Philharmonic Orchestra, and has recently published a textbook on an A-level music topic entitled Bach’s Authentic Chorale Harmony: A Progressive Guide to his Principles and Practices, an area that Christopher believes has not had the specialist focus it deserves.

For more information on the topic visit: www.authentic-chorales.com James Purnell OG 1988. Director of Strategy & Digital at the BBC, James was also appointed the BBC’s Director of Radio in September 2016.

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

Les Starkie and Pete Hibbs OG 1995 with Frank Bell on the BBC’s The One Show

Andy Muckle OG 1988 left RGS for Bristol University and embarked on a 21-year career as a veterinary surgeon. During those years he was a partner in two practices in Middlesex and Wiltshire and gained an MSc and a postgraduate diploma as well as becoming the youngest President of the Central Veterinary Society. God however, was calling him to other things and in 2014 he hung up his stethoscope and embarked on ordination training in the Church of England. He studied at a theological college attached to a Benedictine Monastic order in West Yorkshire and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Theology from Sheffield University in 2016. On 26 June, he was ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England and is serving his curacy in Gillingham in Dorset.

Jon Underwood OG 1988, David Armstrong OG 1986 and Matt Ensor OG 1997 In the 2015 Long Range World Championships in the USA, a senior GB Rifle team triumphed with a record winning score in the Palma Match. The OGs mentioned featured highly in this team and Jon came eighth overall out of 360 competitors.

Jonathan Brundan OG 1989 is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oregon, USA. Peter Smith OG 1989 is still living in Woking, married to Helen and has two boys, James and Jacob, both of whom are at Ripley Court School. Woking & Horsell Cricket Club is very much his second home these days; he is into his fifth year as Club Chairman, twenty seventh year as a player and also helps coach the youngsters. Workwise he has been an Interim Finance Director for the past five years, with recent stints at British Gas, Balfour Beatty and the Post Office. He is currently working for the OCS (Outsourced Client Solutions) group.

Paul Groden OG 1994 Writing under the name Paul Darroch, his first book Jersey: The Hidden Histories has been published by Seaflower, and reached number one in the Waterstones/Jersey Evening Post Island Book Chart. Available on Amazon, it has been described as “a spellbinding journey into the life and times of the Island of Jersey, seen through the eyes of those who witnessed it, from Charlie Chaplin to Queen Victoria, Sir Walter Rayleigh to Karl Marx and many more.”

Tom Lingard OG 1995 Participants from the class of 1995, and two current RGS students, ran the school cross country course on Boxing Day 2015 for the eleventh year in a row. If you want to join Tom this year for the twelfth annual Boxing Day run, they will meet at 10.30am at the entrance to Pewley Down (where the school crosscountry starts).

Pete Hibbs OG 1995 and Les Starkie OG 1995 The BBC’s The One Show spent two days filming at the RGS over February 2016 half term. Capitalising on the media coverage of British Astronaut Tim Peake, they ran a feature based upon the School’s involvement in the 1991 Juno space mission when RGS were the first school to make radio contact with Dr Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut on the Mir space station. The One Show staged a reconstruction using Frank Bell’s (RGS Head of Biology 1976-99) original equipment and four Fourth Form RGS boys. They then interviewed Frank Bell and two members of the original RGS radio club, Pete Hibbs and Les Starkie, before linking up live with Dr Sharman.

Alex Scott Fairley OG 1996 After leaving the RGS Alex received a First in English at Jesus College, Oxford, and has been working as a stage actor ever since. He is currently touring the UK with The Shakespeare Revue, but has previously worked both in the West End, and locally for the Guildford Shakespeare Company.

He has appeared in several plays in Vienna, both in English and German, and has also worked as a puppeteer in the USA and Malaysia, as well as helping to devise the children’s stage show Room On The Broom, and translating the stage version of The Gruffalo into German.

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Paul Young OG 1997

Tatheer Abbas Zaidi OG 1996 studied medicine at Imperial College and went on to become a CRY (Cardiac Research in the Young) Clinical Research Fellow from 2010-13 at St George’s Hospital, London. He has screened over 5,000 young individuals and athletes for latent cardiac disorders. He is experienced in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of sudden death syndromes in young people and cardiac diseases in athletes. He has conducted research into the athlete’s heart, and was awarded an MD degree in 2014.

Abbas has lectured and published research on cardiovascular medicine and is a member of the Research and Audit Committee of the British Society of Echocardiography. He was a finalist in the Young Investigator Awards at the British Society of Echocardiography (2010) and EuroPrevent (2011), winner of the BHF/BCS Prize for Congenital Heart Disease (2012), winner of the Peter Hinchliffe Award for the most outstanding CRY research fellow (2012), and winner of the Ian Williams Prize at the Welsh Cardiovascular Society (2013). He is currently working as a Cardiologist in Cardiff.

Sam Godsland OG 1997 got an OG team together to take part in the Matt Kendall Foundation five-a-side football tournament in April 2016 at Feltonfleet school. They did not come home with any silverware but they did not totally disgrace themselves (or the RGS) either! For more information on the Matt Kendall Foundation see page 64.

Matt Kendall Foundation OG Team L-R, B-F: Andrew Findlay, Chris Houghton, Sam Godsland, Jon McGraw, Michael Robinson, Simon Till, Anthony McGraw, all OGs 1997 (apart from Jon)

Paul Young OG 1997 (stagename Paul Kerensa) is a stand-up comic and script writer, who has been busy writing for the new Top Gear, an exciting opportunity to work alongside Friends actor Matt le Blanc.

He is also co-writing a new series of BBC1’s Not Going Out, starring Lee Mack. Paul is a regular on Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 Pause for Thought and worked on the recent return of Channel 4’s TFI Friday. He also wrote scripts for the award-winning BBC series Miranda, in which he had a brief cameo. He has penned lines for household names from actor Brian Blessed to actress Joanna Lumley and musician Gary Barlow.

While still touring stand up on both the comedy circuit and solo shows, Paul now spends more time writing. He has a few Sky comedy pilots, a fourth book, children’s stories and possibly a musical in the pipeline!

Jon McIntosh OG 1998 set up Reach Academy, a Free School in Feltham, with two teacher friends in September 2012.

It was the first all-through free school to be judged “outstanding” by Ofsted.

Reach Academy has featured in a range of national media and was the place where David Cameron made his final visit as Prime Minister in July 2016.

Jonathan Oates OG 1999 has been awarded an MBE. Now a Major in the Royal Artillery Regiment and currently on an open-ended posting to Afghanistan, he was previously at Joint Services HQ.

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Senior First Officer Suneil Banerjee OG 2002 and First Officer Andy Rice OG 2003 beside a BA Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Umesh Trikha OG 2000 works for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in New York and was voted 14th in On Wall Street’s “Top 40 Advisors Under 40”. On Wall Street annually ranks the industry’s top young producers with nominations from advisors and firms who recognize outstanding client service and performance. He was also listed in the Financial Times’ 2016 “FT 400 Top Financial Advisors” in the USA.

Suneil Banerjee OG 2002 and Andy Rice OG 2003 are both British Airways pilots flying the flag for the RGS. Michael Mullin OG 2003 married Marie in Luxor in January 2015.

Tom Arthey OG 2003 climbed Kilimanjaro in January 2016 alongside his father, Chris, an above-knee amputee. To celebrate Chris’ sixtieth birthday the pair took on the six-day Machame Route, reaching the 5,895 metre summit by 8:00am on the fifth day of their trek.

Richard Sears OG 2003 RGS R.E. teacher (2007-10), married Maya in Salamanca, Spain, in August 2015.

Matthew Stevens OG 2005 has built a successful career with Sky. Elliot Bateman OG 2006 Having read Optometry at Cardiff University, Elliot went on to work for a couple of independent opticians in Chester and Cardiff. 18 months ago he opened his own practice in Blackwood, on the outskirts of Cardiff where he has not only settled but, last September, married a Cardiff girl, Lisa, who is an art teacher.

Angus Goodwin OG 2006 is part of Assemble, the art, architecture and design collective which won the Turner Prize in 2015. Assemble are a London-based collective who work across the fields of art, design and architecture to create projects in tandem with the communities who use and inhabit them. Their architectural spaces and environments promote direct action and embrace a DIY sensibility.

The collective was awarded the prize for their collaboration with local residents in their ‘Granby Four Streets’ project, which revolved around the refurbishment of a group of houses in a community in Toxeth, Liverpool, which had fallen into disrepair.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

Adam Tyler OG 2006 is making short films on current affairs and topical issues for Religious Education, PSHE (Personal Social Health Education) and citizenship lessons in schools. You can find two of his films, 7/7 and Katie on Truetube.

Jon Carter OG 2007 Having gone to University in Nottingham and embarking on a career in management consulting, Jon is now beginning training for his ordination in the Church of England. For Jon, his school days at the RGS were an incredibly important time in his life and have influenced him in his decision to join the Church.

Jack Matthias OG 2007 Now a composer, Jack has a hugely varied portfolio of work.

Jack has worked on advert music for global brands including Samsung, Sony Xperia, Audi and Schick (Schick’s advert was played during the Super Bowl 2016). He was part of the composing team on scores for a number of film and television productions, including Channel 4’s Glue, and has worked on the music for a number of award winning video games. Jack has also produced the music for two Cavalli fashion shows, a live projection of Swan Lake at Neuschwanstein Castle, and has recorded orchestras at Abbey Road. He currently has a feature length live electronic project in the works.

Nick Stylianou OG 2008 is now working on Sky News at Five which was named the Royal Television Society’s “Daily News Programme of the Year” at the RTS Television Journalism Awards in February 2016.

James Thompson OG 2008 celebrated a four-day traditional wedding in Kerala, India, in 2016, with 15 OG friends from the class of 2008 in attendance. The wedding also appeared in a number of local newspapers with headlines such as ‘English man travels seven seas to marry Kerala girl’ and ‘Thalayolaparambu (Maria’s home town) inherits English son in law’!

OGs from the class of 2008 at James Thompson’s wedding: top row (left to right): Michael Jefferies, Robert Nelson, Adam Marshall, Jack Whatton, Josh Farrell, Karl Outen, Matthew Trounce, Matthew Smith, Jonathan Stephens, Jack Burrows, Bertie Allan, Oliver Waterhouse. Bottom row (left to right): Chris Grant, James Thompson, Maria Thompson (nee Varghese), Kyle Sethi

Tom Griffiths OG 2009 passed out from Sandhurst in December 2015 and was awarded the Sword of Honour as the top Junior Officer of the intake. He has now joined The Parachute Regiment. Tom graduated from the University of Bath and before joining the Army he took a year’s work experience teaching Physical Education. A former RGS 1st XI hockey captain, Tom also played hockey for Wales as part of the team that won the European Championships in Lisbon in 2015.

Angus Groom OG 2010 represented Great Britain in rowing at the Rio Olympics in 2016 as a member of the men’s quadruple sculls team, who came fifth in the final.

Angus said: “My experience out in Rio was extraordinary. The city is a very special place to be and rowing under Christ the Redeemer was surreal. Our racing experience was particularly turbulent having to change a member of our crew four days before the start of the competition due to illness. We were going up against established crews in the quadruple sculls event who had rowed together for four years or more. The standard of the event was such that anyone from the field could

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have won gold. We are very proud of how we handled ourselves as athletes, as this was not easy to deal with mentally. We were very proud with our fifth place, but at the same time disappointed as there will always be the feeling of “what if” had we been our full strength crew. Only 5000 people in history are able to call themselves Team GB Olympians, and so to be one of these is something that I am very proud of. My experience in Rio now gives me strength, drive and motivation to try to win a medal at Tokyo 2020.”

Angus took up rowing in the fourth form and won his first major competition a year later. He went on to represent GB in the Junior World Championships and the Under 23 World Championships, as well as being a member of the GB senior team. He was part of the four-man team which won the Queen Mother Challenge Cup at Royal Henley Regatta in 2015. He was also a member of the Coxless Fours team which won a gold medal at the 2015 World Rowing Cup in Italy. He visited the RGS in September 2016 to give an Assembly to the boys about his Rio experience, and was also present for the opening of Lanesborough’s new sports hall.

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Jonny Hay OG 2010 first represented GB in 2009 in the World Cross-Country Championships as a junior. Since then he has run for GB every year in some form of event, from 1500m on the track to cross-county. He was the bronze medalist in the 5000m at the 2011 European Athletics Junior Championships, a threetime participant at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and has won age category team medals at the European Cross Country Championships. Most recently Jonny captained the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team in the 2016 World Cross-Country Championships in Guiyang, China.

Andrew Martin OG 2010 is now Creative Lead for Legoland in Japan having worked at Legoland in the UK as a ride designer.

Christopher Milton OG 2010 and Liam Cheek OG 2012 represented Great Britain in the U25 Rifle Team at the 2015 U25 Long Range World Championships in the USA. The two GB teams swept the board, finishing in Gold and Silver positions out of 11 competing teams - the first time that the US team has been beaten on its home ground. Chris captained the Silver winning team, finishing only ten points behind the gold medal winners.

Chris is currently training with the GB Development Squad and has been picked for GB U25 Team to compete in South Africa in 2017. He got his first full England cap with the England senior team against Wales in 2016. When not representing Team GB Chris works as a qualified Polo Club Instructor at Rugby Polo Club.

Christopher Milton OG 2010

Greg Tonks OG 2010 passed out from Sandhurst 10 April 2015 and joined the Royal Signals.

Maroof Ahmed OG 2011 is studying Medicine. With a few colleagues at Imperial College he has developed a mobile game to stop smoking. “Quit Genius” is the world’s first evidence based mobile game to deliver behavioural support to smokers wanting to quit. They have been working on this project for 16 months and Maroof presented the smoking app at the British Thoracic Society conference at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London. The research and the app received great interest from the worldwide media, and the story has since been covered in over 80 papers worldwide including the Daily Mail, Yahoo news, Metro, AOL news and BT news. You can find more information at www.quitgenius.com and www.facebook.com/quitgenius Joe Butler OG 2011 went on to study cello at the Royal Academy of Music and has been awarded second place at the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition in Vienna. The competition attracts entrants from all over the world in many categories and Joe’s recording of cello music, accompanied by Jan Newman, Head of Keyboards at the RGS, received high praise.

He went to Vienna in September 2016 to play at the Metallener Saal Musikverien concert hall.

James Charteris-Black OG 2011 a former RGS golf captain, was awarded a Blue representing Oxford in the 126th Varsity match against Cambridge at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake. Oxford won for the sixth time in a row.

Ben Gratton OG 2011 After finishing his Masters degree in Mathematics at Oxford with a First, Ben and his brother Tim OG 2013 spent the summer of 2015 as part of the team of nine sailors selected to complete in the British Universities Sailing Association (BUSA) USA Tour. The biennial transatlantic Tour, which alternates between the USA and the UK, sees the US Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) and BUSA compete across the sailing disciplines. Held in the USA in 2015, the British team managed to defeat their hosts and were crowned champions.

The British team on the BUSA USA Tour 2015: Ben Gratton OG 2011 (back row far left) and Tim Gratton OG 2013 (front row far left)

Peter Baumann OG 2012 provided the soundtrack for a documentary about Madagascar and the impact of the destruction of the rainforest on local wildlife. Peter became involved in the project whilst studying music at York and was so inspired that it grew from the initial five-minute brief into a 45-minute soundtrack. The soundtrack also became Peter’s dissertation and made York University Music Department history by being awarded 100 per cent for a solo project. The film premiered in April 2016 and was shown at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in New York in October 2016. Peter is now studying for an MA in Music Production at York.

Dominic Bull OG 2012 After winning a concerto competition earlier in the year, Dominic performed Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin at the Warwick Arts Centre in June 2016 with Warwick University Symphony Orchestra. He performed it again in August in Holy Trinity Church with Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra, which is run and conducted by Eric Foster OG 2013.

Matthew Goodbourn OG 2012

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Matthew Goodbourn OG 2012 At the recent Team Durham Palatinate Sports Dinner Matthew was awarded a Half Palatinate award for his outstanding contribution to Team Durham, along with a trophy recognising his work as Vice President of University Sport. Durham University Palatinate Awards are notoriously difficult to achieve and it is particularly impressive given that Matthew was given the award a year before he graduates. Previously Captain of Sailing at RGS, Matthew has presided over a successful year in Durham University’s Sailing Club’s history with the Club gaining two podium positions at the recent British University & College Sports finals.

Ollie Sugg OG 2012 captained Oxford University’s Hockey Team at the Varsity game in March 2015.

Oliver Tully OG 2012 After graduating in Maths and Philosophy from Warwick, Oliver trained as a ski instructor in France and is currently working in Japan. He plans to follow the snow to New Zealand.

Harry Eaton OG 2013 From a young age Harry has loved films and wanted to create his own. When he took a year out after RGS, he decided to work so he could purchase his own semi-professional camera, sound and lighting equipment. Harry went on to study Literature and Film Studies at Warwick, and graduated in 2016. He was heavily involved in extra-curricular activities at Warwick, and was elected project manager and then Co-President of the filmmaking society. Having taken every opportunity to share his work with people involved in the film industry, he was given the opportunity to work as a lock off production assistant on Stars Wars Rogue One after his finals. He is currently enjoying a six-month internship at a visual effects and animation studio based in London.

Giles Hutchings OG 2013 Following his success as Countdown Champion in June 2013, Giles took part in Channel 4’s Countdown Champion of Champions series in January 2016, reaching the semi-finals.

True to form, he worked out the Countdown Conundrum in less than two seconds!

Most recently he has appeared on BBC’s University Challenge for the Warwick University Team.

Laurence Peplow OG 2013 In November 2015 Laurence came fifth at the London International Open (The 79th MillerHallett Cup), representing Cambridge University. This is the UK’s most prestigious international epée fencing competition; there is no age restriction and professional fencers worldwide can take part. Laurence is currently Cambridge University’s Fencing Captain and is ninth in the GBR senior men’s epée ranking.

Alex Waghorn OG 2013, Jonathan French OG 2015 and Sam Jelley OG 2015 have been selected for the Cambridge University cricket team. Alex played for Cambridge in the Varsity Cricket Match.

Esmond Cordingley-Poole OG 2014 produced and performed in an acclaimed production of L’Orfeo, a late-Renaissance opera by Monteverdi, at St Mary’s Church in Guildford. Esmond was artistic director of the entire production and musical director for the singers, also singing the bass role of Caronte with “great maturity”.

Eric Foster OG 2013 directed the orchestra, which included many talented young singers and instrumentalists from leading European and British conservatoires.

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Gus Cockle OG 2015 has won the Great Britain U20 3000m title for 2016.

We’d like to take this opportunity to salute the outgoing OGA committee members – Brian Marshall (Treasurer), Tim Adams (Secretary), Tom Lingard (Website), Mervyn Granshaw (Magazine Editor) and especially Roger Nicklin (Chairman). On behalf of Old Guildfordians, the Headmaster, the School and all of us in the Development & Alumni Relations Office, we thank you for your loyal service over so many years and your ongoing support and friendship.

Tom Phipps OG 2015 has had a successful first year studying law at Southampton University. He came fifth out of 92 students in the University of Southampton Mooting Society’s First Year Speed Mooting Competition. (A moot court competition simulates a court hearing against an opposing counsel and before a judge.) He was also voted President of the University’s Magic Society, and was short listed for the University’s TakeOff competition which has a funding pool of £50,000 to be distributed to student enterprise initiatives.

Joe Collins OG 2016 has been accepted on a Year in Industry gap year with Chemring Countermeasures, based in Salisbury. This is the most prestigious gap year scheme for those looking at careers in the Engineering sector.

Roger Nicklin, former Chairman of the OGA, and Dr Jon Cox, Headmaster

Jonathan Gonsalves Martin OG 2016 secured a scholarship from Temple University, Philadelphia USA, and started there in August 2016.

Robert Phipps OG 2016 After being crowned UK Champion in the Microsoft Office Competition 2012, Robert progressed to the World Wide Finals held in Las Vegas later that year, competing against an international field of competitors up to 21 years of age. In a competition which attracted more than 285,000 candidates from 53 countries, Robert achieved an extraordinary third place finish in the World Wide Finals. Robert also recently designed a website for a national treasure hunt called the Golden Lion Quest devised by former teacher Catherine Moorehead.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted news. We rely on OGs (and their families) to keep us up to date with news and stories.

Please send submissions to: og@rgsg.co.uk

The photographs and information in OG news are submitted by OGs or their families. Every possible effort is made to ensure accuracy.

Keep up to date with all forthcoming events on the OG Events page at: rgs-guildford.co.uk

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Forthcoming events OG events

School events

OG Golfing Society Christmas Breakfast Meeting 9.00am, Friday 16 December 2016 at Guildford Golf Club.

Contact Peter Langford OG 1964 for more details: langfordp53@gmail.com

King’s Lecture Sgt Johnson Beharry VC 7.00pm, Wednesday 23 November 2016 at RGS.

OG Christmas Shoot 10.00am, Saturday 17 December 2016 at RGS Rifle Range.

If you’ve not been before and would like to come along, please contact the Alumni Office.

Boxing Day Run 10.30am, Monday 26 December. This informal run round the School’s Cross Country Course has become an annual tradition, now in its 12th year. Friends and family are welcome.

Meet at the entrance to Pewley Down or for details contact: Tom.Lingard@stevens-bolton.com Undergraduate Drinks 6.00pm, Wednesday 4 January 2017 at The Albany Pub. All current RGS undergraduates and staff are very welcome.

OGs v RGS Football Match 2.00pm, Saturday 9 January 2017 at Bradstone Brook. Two fixtures between RGS and Old Guildfordians Football Club.

Class of 1997 Reunion 6.00pm, Saturday 4 March 2017. A tour of the School followed by drinks and dinner at RGS. A great opportunity to meet classmates and former staff, and see the School again.

OGs v RGS 1st XI Hockey Match 4.30pm, Monday 20 March 2017 at Broadwater School.

2016 Leavers v RGS 1st XI Football Match 12.00pm, Saturday 25 March 2017 at Bradstone Brook.

Supporters Summer Reception 6.30pm, Tuesday 6 June 2017. An evening to thank RGS supporters.

Summer Garden Party Saturday, 10 June 2017. An afternoon for OGs who left over 50 years ago with a chance to catch up with friends and enjoy the lovely surroundings of the School.

School Orchestral Concert 7.30pm, Wednesday 7 December 2016 at RGS. The programme will include The Barber of Seville Overture

by Rossini and Peer Gynt Suite no 1 by Grieg.

RGS Musician of the Year 7.30pm, Wednesday 1 February 2017. The final of the eagerly anticipated music competition and a showcase for the finest RGS musicians.

Lent Term King’s Lecture Date and speaker to be confirmed.

Arts Festival The RGS Arts Festival takes place in late June and includes the Art Private View (a wonderful display of A level, AS level and GCSE work), various concerts, literary and drama productions.

Headmaster’s XI v OG XI Cricket Match Trinity term 2017 at Bradstone Brook. Date to be confirmed.

Bring a picnic.

RGS Cricket Festival 3 to 7 July 2017. The annual Cricket Festival of the six English Royal Grammar Schools will be hosted this year

by RGS Guildford at Bradstone Brook.

Heritage Day 9.30am to 4.00pm, Saturday 9 September 2017. As part of the nationwide Heritage Day, local places of historic, architectural and cultural interest are open to the public.

The Chained Library and Big School at RGS will be open to visitors, with half hourly guided tours of the Chained Library throughout the day.

Open Day 10.00am to 12.30pm, Saturday 7 October 2017. This is for prospective parents and pupils to view the School and meet staff and pupils.

Beckingham Legacy Lunch 12.30pm, Thursday 15 June at RGS. The Beckingham Legacy Society meets for lunch with the Headmaster for a review of the year and a look at future plans.

OG London Dinner 6.00pm, Wednesday 21 June 2017 at Langan’s Brasserie.

Following the 2016 sell-out dinner, the London Dinner for OGs will be held once more at Langan’s Brasserie. Further details to follow and early booking is recommended.

Class of 2017 Year Book collection 6.00pm, Friday 8 September 2017 at RGS. A new tradition for recent leavers. Collect your Year Book and catch up with friends and staff over a beer.

Class of 1987 Reunion Autumn 2017 at RGS. Date to be confirmed.

For more information or if you would like to attend any of the events listed here, please contact Philippa Green on +44 (0)1483 880665 / og@rgsg.co.uk

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OG SPORTS REP RT OG Cricket Headmaster’s Cricket Match v OGs 21 May 2016 The Headmaster’s X1 batted first and scored 203 in their 35 overs. Alex Sweet scored 49 and everyone else chipped in with 30’s etc. The Old Boys were then bowled out for 150 with Rupert Shipperley taking three wickets early on.

Both Jon Cox and Chris Sandbach took two wickets. There were also great catches by Matt Baggs and Tom Hartley.

Full OG team: Ant Drake OG 2007 Rob McLellan OG 2011 Charlie Homewood OG 2008 Nick Cooper OG 2010 Richard Bowles OG 2007 Tim Drake (Father) Jonathan French OG 2015 Sam Jelley OG 2015 Andrew Goodchild OG 2015 Neville Marsh OG 2008

Headmaster’s Cricket Match 2016

Bramley Cricket Club is looking for more Old Guildfordians to play Saturdays or Sundays next season. If you fancy dusting off your whites and playing for a friendly but competitive village team based in the idyllic setting of Gosden Common in Bramley, please contact Jon Vocking OG 1992 on 07970 981474 or email him at vocking2@gmail.com for more information about next season.

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Old Guildfordians Golfing Society Records show that old boys from the School have been playing golf as a society since the early 1900s – the solid silver Hart Cup awarded to the winner of our Spring Meeting dates back to the 1920s with many famous names etched on its base – but regrettably none of the founder members are still playing!

We have four major meetings a year, playing good quality local courses; the venues over the years have been wide and varied, but most recently we have been holding our Spring Meeting at Betchworth Park near Dorking, Captain’s Day at West Byfleet, the Autumn Meeting at North Hants in Fleet and the Christmas “Bash” at Guildford GC in Merrow. Casual ‘Seniors’ meetings are held periodically, and we have matches against a few of the local clubs. We have also been pleased to enter a team in the annual Surrey Schools Old Boys Tournament over the last few years.

As a Society we welcome anyone with common interests and a like mind, but of course there is a particular welcome to Old Guildfordians, and our Captain and Committee have always come exclusively from that group. This year’s Captain, Brian Marshall OG 1974, and the rest of the Society will be very pleased to see any Old Guildfordians at these meetings.

Typical numbers for our major events are between 20 and 40 with about 50% being old boys of the school.

The standard of golf is variable, but the quality of friendship, wit and hospitality is extremely high!

We would of course be delighted to add to the number of people enjoying these events, so if you and your friends are interested please contact Peter Langford OG 1964 for more details: langfordp53@gmail.com Peter Langford Old Guildfordians Golfing Society

OG Rugby A great turnout for the reunion lunch of the early 1960s Old Guildfordians RFC 1st XV team, held in November 2015. Left to right: Keith Hayes OG 1953 (captain), Richard Collard OG 1959, Mike Perry OG 1956, Roger Lewin OG 1958, John Oliver OG 1961, Simon Oxley OG 1960, Francis (Spud) Tait OG 1954, Peter Drummond OG 1959 and Keith Walker OG 1959.

OG Football 2015-16 proved to be one of the most successful seasons for the Old Guildfordians Football Club in recent memory. Having had to reduce the number of teams at the club a few seasons back, new recruits meant that we once again fielded three sides. In terms of silver wear, last season has not been matched for many a year.

Under Matt Gilbert’s leadership the newly formed 3rd XI weathered some early storms in the first half of the year but persevered at their task and picked up some excellent victories after Christmas, constructing firm foundations on which to build next year. Matt was voted ‘Clubman of the Year’ for all his efforts, while Jim Saunderson was ‘Most Improved’ and Luke Petipher was ‘Player of the Season’.

But for a slump in form between Halloween and February, the 2nd XI would have had an even stronger campaign. However, as it was they still secured a very commendable mid-table finish. While all played their role, particular mention must go to Mike Goodchild OG 2010 and Tom Prestwich who shared ‘Most Improved Player’ and to Ed Poulton OG 2002 who was player of the season.

While the performance of both the above teams were excellent, in terms of silverware the 1st XI had the most successful season of the three teams this year, and indeed for many seasons.

Topping the league after the first game,

the 1s never looked back, dropping just eight points all year and finishing 12 points in front of the second placed team. An epic 13-12 loss on penalties in the London Old Boys’ Cup quarter final was made up for by overall victory in the ‘Spring Cup’ competition. These successes when added to the club winning the famous ‘Tour Vase’ against Axmouth in Exeter last August gave the OGs an unprecedented three trophies for 2015-16. Matt ‘Academy’ Burch OG 2011 picked up the ‘Most Improved Player’ award while goalkeeper James Ashton was ‘Player of the Season’.

Old Guildfordinians is a vibrant and sociable football club which is always keen to welcome new players whatever their level of expertise, experience and commitment. We hope to continue to form an important link with old boys of the school, but this is not a prerequisite to joining. If you are interested, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

Alan Dodd OG 1999 acd@rgsg.co.uk

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Old Guildfordians Rifle Club

A Quarter Century of Achievements

W

hilst many of us have been shooting as ‘old boys’ of the School for many years, it was 25 years ago that the Old Guildfordians Rifle Club was officially recognized by the Home Office.

Over the past couple of years, the club has gone from strength to strength and has seen many achievements, both as a club and individually. Importantly, we have had loads of fun doing this!

As a club we mainly shoot full-bore target rifle (300-1000 yards, 7.62mm) in a series of Surrey League matches, and other additional one-off matches such as Surrey School Veterans, Edmund Ellis and Westcott Cup, amongst others.

However, this is not the only discipline we do, with some members also shooting small bore (.22 indoors) and match rifle (1,000–1,200 yards – that’s almost three quarters of a mile!) at competitive level.

Team Strength 2015 saw the OGs win all their matches and hence reach the heady heights of “Surrey Club Champions”, a feat which we hope to repeat in 2016. We also nabbed the trophy for the best combined UK Public School Veterans

Shooting is the only sport at School to boast not just two regular OG coaches, but also two that have represented England and GB...

teams in 2016, a real sign of the depth of talent we have in the club (20+ OGs turned up to shoot in this match, and the C team won their group convincingly!). In the Imperial Meeting we entered a number of mixed teams and had success in the Steward competition, gaining another nice trophy. The only real disappointment was missing out in the UK clubs championship by just one point, coming second overall.

Membership and Interaction with RGS We are always keen to receive new members from RGS, so if you would like to take up shooting again (or even try it out for the first time!) and were either a pupil or staff member of the School then ask the Development Office to pass on your details. It doesn’t matter how old you are!

The more astute reader may spot that not all the names listed in this article attended RGS. The reason for this is that we have a clause allowing partners and children of OGs to join the club as well, making it a truly diverse and welcoming group.

What is great to report is the wide range of age groups already active

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within the club, all partaking in the same activity together, and after a barren period we are now seeing a lot of new young members joining once they leave school.

Part of this has to be down to the close association we have between the OGRC and the School shooters, sharing the facilities of the OG clubhouse at Bisley (universally known as ‘Jabba the Hut’). As a result, there is a lot of interaction between OGRC members and the boys during training days and during the Bisley Imperial Meeting.

Recently we have also started including some school boys in our match teams to help further their experience.

Shooting is also the only sport at School to boast not just two regular OG coaches, but also two that have represented England and GB, and in the case of Jon Underwood GM GC2 SC2 CSC, someone who has won some of the most prestigious competitions around the world, a couple more than once (which are represented by the fancy official letters after his name!).

Given that we have seen the School win both the Country Life and Staniforth Cups in the last couple of years and end Wellington’s tremendous eight-year unbeaten run in the very skilled 10 bull discipline, it seems this association is worthwhile. The School even managed a 10 bull win against Cambridge University where RGS shooting team fired against OGs Max Traynor 2012, Michael Boucher 2012 and Will Johnson 2015. RGS also fired against Imperial College containing OGs James Badman 2012, Will Ledsham 2012 and Elliot Thomas 2015.

Whilst the School has enjoyed success in small-bore matches, they have not yet reached their potential in full-bore.

However, an early season win in the Clayton Challenge this year shows signs of their promising potential in this discipline.

Individual Excellence Individual achievements have been truly impressive, and indeed too many to mention in full, so apologies to those who I might have missed!

Some highlights: No fewer than 11 individuals have represented Great Britain in the last couple of years, namely: David Armstrong OG 1986, Matthew Charlton OG 1989,

Liam Cheek OG 2012, Matthew Ensor OG 1997, Chloe Evans, Ellie Joseph, Derek Lowe OG 1991, Chris Milton OG 2010, Jon Underwood OG 1988, Paul Wheeler OG 1998, Archie Whicher OG 1984.

Special mention should go to David Armstrong, Matthew Ensor, Derek Lowe and Jon Underwood who were part of the record winning GB team at the World Championship Long Range “Palma” match held in the USA in 2015.

Chloe Evans, Chris Milton and Liam Cheek were part of the GB Team who were also victorious in the under 25 version of the same match.

In addition to the above, nationally, we have some members who have rediscovered their granny/grandpa was a Scottish Laird, Irish King, or Welsh dragon tamer and, to some amusement (and ribbing) from others, have chosen to shoot for a home nation other than England. Special mention should be made of Wales this year, where Chloe Evans and Oliver Russell OG 2003 were part of the Welsh team that won the National Match this year for the first time in its entire 150+ year history, with schoolboy Alex Jones as one of the reserves.

The 2016 Imperial saw a number of significant individual successes with David Armstrong, Jon Underwood, and Paul Wheeler all picking up pots with excellent shooting.

Outside of the main meeting, Paul Wheeler won the Hampshire Open meeting outright and Jon Underwood emulated his success in the Surrey Open meeting, both significant feats. David

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Armstrong made a big impact in the Jersey Summer meeting, winning several competitions and coming 2nd overall, matching the position Archie Whicher achieved the previous year. Martin and Paul kept the Old Guildfordians’ name alive in Jersey by winning the pairs competition.

On the Match Rifle front, Derek Lowe was part of the winning GB Match Rifle team which toured Australia and also helped coach England to a record winning Elcho score. Michael Boucher set a new record individual score in the Cambridge vs Oxford Humphry match.

Touring With so many of our members tied up with national and GB commitments, the last OGRC tour was to South Africa in 2009 where, some may remember, we achieved our goal of beating everyone else (including the United States of America!).

We were planning a tour to the West Indies in 2017 but this now looks unlikely and instead we have decided on a location much closer to home in the hope of attracting the maximum number of club members whilst still getting the right level of challenging competition.

Therefore, we will be heading off to Jersey at the end of May 2017 to once again do battle with our old rivals at the Jersey Rifle Association.

Archie Whicher OG 1984 Captain Old Guildfordians Rifle Club

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Consulting Guildford’s Grammar School Boys RGS was part of the state-maintained sector for thirty years (1946-77). The Development & Alumni Relations Office were keen to explore the views of OGs from this influential chapter in RGS history in order to better understand our grammar school heritage and to help develop aspects of the OG programme for the future.

Summary Analysis the Consultation On 17 June 2015, 75 OGs joined professional facilitator, Ian Moore OG 1975, in Big School. The day explored the past, present and future experiences of OGs. Working in groups of 8-10 with an independent ‘scribe’ taking notes, every OG was given time to contribute their views.

What the RGS did for me The Past

The Present

The Future

OGs identified four key things gained from an RGS education: quality education, rounded/all-round education, ‘soft skills’ and friendship. These chime very closely with the School’s current four main aims: academic excellence, extra-curricular opportunity, personal development and service. OGs felt that better careers and professional advice, better facilities and a broader curriculum with more room for independent thought would have improved their experience at RGS.

Most OGs felt that the RGS was still their School, although the change to independence and fee-paying has created a distance for some.

OGs concluded that the purpose of the OGs should be threefold – to offer opportunity to meet, socialise and reminisce, to offer careers and professional advice to RGS pupils and other OGs and to support bursaries in order to maximise access. OGs would like to see better communications including more information about the School today, and increased digital provision and an opportunity to share year group data / access an online OG database.

OGs were asked to submit their top 3-5 ideas to the room. All OGs were then asked to vote on the most popular and, in order, these were:

‘‘

Made to work effectively and without pretensiousness Great attitude instilled in us as boys

‘‘

Still my School, not so very different

1. I ncreasing opportunity through the provision of Bursaries. OGs felt strongly that more bursaries should be offered, as long as standards were maintained.

2. B uild OG engagement, offering more opportunity for interaction and involving OGs more in the life of the School.

3. Development of careers support and networking.

4. O Gs believe that RGS should educate for life not just academia, engage the whole RGS community for the benefit of all and make better links with the local Guildford community.

There was also a very small showing in favour of the introduction of girls – but we suspect that was all from one OG!

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

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Developing the OG Programme for the Future Following the survey of OGs in March 2015 (30% response rate) and the pre-1977 consultation in June 2015 we compiled a priority action list based on the views and requests of those who took part. We also consulted with a small informal group of OGs who represent OGs of all ages.

18 months on, here is an update on our progress.

Bursary Programme / Campaign

On-line OG database

OG events

All RGS fundraising is now focused on the RGS Bursary Programme, providing exceptional education for bright boys from all sections of our local community. RGS Friends and supporters provide seven of the 63 means-tested bursaries currently awarded. All seven are transformational 100% bursaries. In 2017, we will launch a campaign for £1 million to grow from seven to 20 bursary places by 2020. To find out more about becoming a Friend of the RGS or supporting our campaign in other ways see page 68.

RGS Connect will bring together everything for OGs in one digital space.

It will also offer a directory of all registered OG users, allowing OGs to find and reach out to long-lost friends and share content. There will also be an online forum, allowing us to canvass opinion on the development of the OG programme quickly, easily and cost-efficiently & providing a space for open debate and interaction.

We are currently trialling a number of new events including the Any Questions style EU Referendum event in May 2016 which proved incredibly popular, with over 200 signed up. This year’s OG Dinner in London saw a 100% increase in attendance with over 80 sitting down to dinner at Langan’s Brasserie in Mayfair. We will also be introducing a new format for the 1980s and 1990s reunions that take place each year. We particularly look forward to welcoming the Classes of 1987 and 1997 in 2017.

Careers Support & Networking

Increased / Better Communications

Sharing the School Vision

Following an exploration of the latest technologies on the market, we have signed a contract with Graduway – the leading provider of alumni networking platforms. In 2017, we will launch RGS Connect, a digital platform for OGs and the RGS community. RGS Connect uses the connectivity of social networks to facilitate the sharing of professional skills and knowledge between alumni and with current students and the wider RGS community. See page 65 for more information.

All OGs now receive the School’s termly newsletter The Register and as a result of popular demand, the OG magazine is back!

Our aim is to continue to provide the OG magazine in print each year and encourage the move to digital wherever possible for all other communications. This could save over £10,000 per year – funds which could provide a substantial bursary place.

If you are not yet receiving digital communications, PLEASE switch today by letting the Development Office know.

2017 will also see the development of a new and improved space within the School website, which is where you will find RGS Connect.

In March 2016, we shared the Headmaster’s Vision for the School which was wellreceived across the RGS community.

This magazine includes the Headmaster’s Prizegiving speech from 29 September 2016. We aim for this to become a regular feature of the OG magazine.

Visit the Old Guildfordian pages at rgs-guildford.co.uk to keep up to date with the latest School and OG news and forthcoming events.

If you have ideas about the development of the OG programme or would like to get more involved, contact Philippa Green, Alumni Relations Officer on: +44 (0)1483 880665 / pmg@rgsg.co.uk

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Philanthropy and OGs Christian Thunhurst Golf Day – OGs left to right: James Meakin, Steve Harris, Gavin Werrett and on the far right Nicholas Wilson Jones (OGs 1990). Jon Thunhurst and Chris’s son, Dominic Thunhurst, are also pictured.

Christian Thunhurst OG 1990 sadly died in 2007 due to a cardiac problem. His father Jon has been instrumental in setting up echocardiogram screening of RGS boys by fundraising for CRY (Cardiac Resarch in the Young). Fellow OGs and friends of Christian hold an annual golf day to help raise funds. All those involved wear pink polo shirts – Chris’s favourite attire – and raise money for this important cause via ‘fines’.

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Nick Kershaw OG 2004

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

Nick Kershaw OG 2004, founder of Uganda’s first ever international marathon, pioneered the concept of using running to build communities, challenge social ills and change the lives of all who run together. Nick has left his career in finance to follow the dream that together we will make a real impact on the world through the simple power of running. He is now CEO of Impact Marathon Series. The Impact Marathon Series had its curtain-raiser in Nepal in November 2016 where athletes spent a week camping in the mountains and helping to rebuild two schools in the local community – before running the marathon! The series will now move on to work in post-conflict Colombia, then to the banks of Lake Malawi, before shouting about climate change in Guatemala. For more marathons visit: impactmarathonseries.co.uk

David Benest OG 1972 has raised £3,224 for The Ulysses Trust through his daily local paper round, combining his earnings of around £2,000 with donations from Manningford residents near Pewsey. The Ulysses Trust engages and supports young cadets and reservists from the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force in adventurous global challenges and expeditions.

Retiring as a Colonel from the British Army in 2009, having commanded the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, David enjoyed a 37-year career in the army, including tours in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, six years in the MoD as technical sponsor for Counter Terrorism and Special Forces and time as a counter-insurgency advisor in Afghanistan. He earned a GOC’s commendation, an MBE and an OBE during his service. David gave the RGS King’s Lecture in November 2012, where a retiring collection was made to Help for Heroes, at David’s request.

Jules Colborne-Baber OG 1995 ran seven marathons in seven days in 2015 to raise money for The Royal Marsden Charity following his daughter’s leukaemia diagnosis. He ran the first six marathons around Richmond Park and completed his challenge with the London Marathon, crossing the line of his final run in 3 hours 51 minutes. In November 2013, Jules’ daughter Steffi was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Jules explained: “She was one month short of her second birthday. Steffi responded brilliantly to treatment and has proved to be a tough little cookie. Since her diagnosis and during a lot of time spent in hospital at Great Ormond Street and the Royal Marsden, my wife Clare and I have realised that while Steffi’s chances of a cure are good, there are many children we have met whose chances are still fairly slim. The Royal Marsden is one of the world’s leading cancer hospitals and conducts much research into treatment. For that reason, and in recognition of the fantastic treatment it provided Steffi, I want to raise as much as I can for the Royal Marsden, to enable it to continue its ground-breaking work.”

Jules’ brother Steven OG 1991, cycled most of the way with him on the first six days, and other friends and colleagues ran with him so that he was never alone. Together they raised almost £46,000 – an amazing total. Anyone wanting to donate can give to the Royal Marsden or sponsor Jules in Ride London 2017 at: justgiving.com/fundraising/Julian-Colborne-Baber

Jules Colborne-Baber OG 1995 with Steffi

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Philanthropy and OGs Since the summer of 2015, Sam Hall OG 2013 has been working with the Jinja Rugby Academy, a charity run by three students promoting the sport in Jinja, Uganda. They were grateful to receive a donation of kit from the RGS in 2015, which was distributed throughout their six partner schools in the area.

Each summer, volunteers work closely with local contacts to provide training to coaches and students for six to eight week periods. The culmination of this hard work is to introduce many students to their first taste of competitive rugby with an eight team tournament in which over one hundred students take part.

On top of all of this, volunteers are twinned with a senior rugby side during the Ugandan Sevens series. As a result, volunteers have played against some of the top Ugandan and Kenyan sevens sides, frequently finding themselves running out in front of crowds into the thousands. Everyone at the Jinja Rugby Academy is hugely grateful to the RGS for their generous donation, and to Andy White OG 2014 for volunteering to work with the project. For more information on the project, including details of how to volunteer, please visit the Jinja Rugby Academy Facebook page.

The Matt Kendall Foundation is a charity that is continuing the work of Matt Kendall OG 1997, who died of cancer in May 2015 aged just 35. It provides small financial grants for disadvantaged 16 to 25 year olds from Birmingham to support them into work, training or education. A local youth and community development worker for 15 years, Matt believed passionately in the potential and enthusiasm of young people, and spent his life inspiring those from more disadvantaged backgrounds to overcome the barriers they face in achieving their potential. Community and sporting initiatives which he created are flourishing, including the football league he set up for refugees which has been renamed in his honour. At his funeral were a vast range of people who had had their lives changed for the better as a result of Matt’s humanity, intelligence and determination, as well as his love of sport. He was an outstanding Old Guildfordian. Sam Godsland OG 1997, a school friend of Matt’s, was moved to do something to help and ran the Birmingham Great Run 10k race in May 2016. To find out more about the Matt Kendall Foundation or get involved, go to: themattkendallfoundation.org

James Richardson OG 2006 is Managing Director of an NGO called Las Manos de Christine based in Guatemala. Las Manos de Christine is a non-profit organization that broadens opportunities for local children in the impoverished village of El Hato, Guatemala, by providing health and educational resources to the school and support for locally-led community development efforts. Las Manos de Christine’s vision was to support the school without taking away the government’s responsibilities. It helps by providing an English Programme, a Nutrition Programme, a Special Needs and Scholarship Programme, and a Literacy Programme. Each programme is run by a member of staff employed by Las Manos de Christine, and all of them are local Guatemalans except, currently, for their English teachers who are from the United States and Canada.

The organisation helps 459 students, ranging from 3 to 19 years of age, and provides scholarships to 9 children in particular who have no means of attending school. It is also looking to provide a scholarship for graduates of the school who want to attend university. So far they have one applicant who wants to study Law, and are hoping she gets accepted for next year. James started worked in Guatemala in 2011 for another NGO and has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience in the country.

After a year working for a business in Central America during 2014, he returned to his true passion of working in the non-profit field in Guatemala. lasmanosdc.org gives more information for anyone interested in fundraising or volunteering. They are also seeking a corporate sponsor for the NGO, preferably in England or the United States – it is a registered 501(c)(3) in the States.

Las Manos de Christine believes in the power of knowledge and education to fight against poverty. There’s lots to do!

Ben Williams was an RGS pupil who very sadly died of a congenital heart condition during a lesson at the School in 2006.

His family have used his death in a positive way to raise money for research and support for young people with heart defects.

This is one of the reasons why the RGS also support the charity CRY (Cardiac Research in the Young). Ben would have been 25 years old in 2016 and to mark the occasion the Williams family walked 25 miles along the South Downs Way from Steyning to Cocking. So far their walk has raised over £8,000 for the Ben Williams Trust. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at: justgiving.com/bens25th

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

The OG Community goes digital 2017 Increasingly, OGs are digital citizens – three quarters of respondents to our March 2015 OG survey are on social media – and with over 5000 OGs based in over 40 countries, providing a digital space for the OG community has never been more important.

2017 will see the launch of RGS Connect (working title), a dedicated digital platform for OGs and the wider RGS community.

Powered by leading alumni network specialists Graduway, and sponsored

by Mark Betteridge & Associates (MBA), RGS Connect will offer OGs: - Professional development and networking opportunities - Jobs / internships / work experience information - Tailored search functions - An opportunity to assist current students and recent leavers - An online forum and OG database - Photo and archive galleries for reminiscing and posting content - All School / OG news & social media feeds in one location - Forthcoming OG events & registration - Free Financial Times news widget OGs can use their existing LinkedIn or Facebook profiles to access the platform and, unlike LinkedIn, OGs will be able to search for other members of the community by location, profession or year group and see what help those OGs are prepared to offer before they reach out.

Our aim is to build a more engaged online OG community, offering a space to interact, benefit from each other’s skills and experience, and share School and OG news, exactly as OGs asked for.

We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Mark Betteridge OG 1966 for making this initiative possible.

For more information on RGS Connect or to volunteer as an early adopter, please contact Communications Officer, Helen Mack: hma@rgsg.co.uk

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

FOCUS ON BURSARIES

Holding open the Door Georgie Grant Haworth, Development Director

In January 2014, newly in post as Development Director, I talked to the Headmaster about his long term ambitions for the School. When asked for his vision if money was ‘no object’, his reply was instantaneous and unequivocal, “...I would like us to be needs-blind”, he replied.

Even with the energy and passion of a fundraiser weeks into a new job, the idea of full merit-based open access – when every RGS place could be offered on merit alone – seemed ambitious.

We went out to talk to Old Guildfordians, to parents past and present, to existing supporters and those who might be. The response was unanimous. Growing the RGS Bursary Programme, investing in this vision was what the RGS community wanted too. Their sense was that bursaries were really about partnership, about using what we have to ensure that the very brightest boys in our community are able to fulfil their potential, for the benefit of all.

I was curious as to why OGs in particular had such a strong connection to the idea. Was there something about RGS that helped to inspire that response?

As a state-maintained grammar school from 1945 to 1977, we have an entire generation of OGs who received their education on the basis of merit alone. For them, the expansion of the Bursary Programme appears to be – as OG Michael Lucy calls it – “a way to pay forward” the good fortune so many OGs feel at having been offered that opportunity. Supporting bursaries at RGS feels like their chance to open that door for another.

In both a literal and metaphorical sense, opening the door for others is a very ‘RGS thing’. We were founded as a “free schole”

by Robert Beckingham, as every OG is taught. Since his time, a series of benefactors have made the ongoing existence of our School possible – Austen, Hamonde, Nettles, Powell, Valpy.

Sitting under the beams of Big School, in the new boys’ commemoration service in September, the force of this struck me as never before. As Housemaster of Beckingham Alan

Dodd said, there were many times when RGS could or should have gone under, but at each juncture in history one of those men stepped up. It is these men, above all others, who we choose to recognise in our House names.

For current students and OGs of all ages, RGS remains a place that inspires generosity of spirit, a sense of service, the feeling that one is part of something. It is hard to pin down or put into words, but whatever it is, this intangible alchemy is passed down from one generation of boys and staff to the next and somehow it endures. Nothing seems to illustrate this more eloquently than a story told to me by retired RGS teacher, Oscar Lawson: ‘During one of my first assemblies, Geoffrey Davies gave a retirement speech. He had been appointed in his twenties, but had subsequently been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given weeks to live. The Headmaster went to see him.

“Sorry, Headmaster, but it is with regret that I will not be able to take up my post,” said Geoffrey. “Mr Davies,” came the reply, “that is not the way we do things at the Royal Grammar School. Your post will be here for you for as long as you want it.” Forty-odd years later, a very well respected, eloquent English teacher was keeping us hanging on his every word; not a dry eye in the house. That Head was right. We do things differently here.’

As we prepare to launch a £1million campaign for bursaries, I feel comforted by this. Our journey will be a hard one – fundraising always is, even for the best of causes. But our aspiration is the right one. It is ‘very RGS’. And I feel sure that those who can will step forward to hold open the door, as they have always done.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

If you received a bursary whilst at RGS or benefitted from the government’s assisted places scheme (1980 to 1997), we would love to hear from you.

Sharing your story is the key to opening the door for other RGS boys in the future.

Please contact Georgie Grant Haworth: +44 (0)1483 887143 / ggh@rgsg.co.uk RGS Guildford, High Street, Guildford GU1 3BB

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Friends of the RGS your place in our vision

We were founded in 1509 as a ‘free schole’ for the benefit of bright local boys without means. We are still educating bright local boys, but we are only able to offer bursary support to 7% of the student body. My ambition for our school is full merit-based open access: that every bright boy who earns his place can take it up, irrespective of his financial circumstances. It will take time and the support of the whole RGS community, but this is now an aspiration I believe we can realise in a generation. Our first step will be to create 20 new and sustainable bursary places with our forthcoming £1 million bursary campaign.

The support of our regular supporters, now called ‘Friends’, is more vital than ever.

Dr Jon Cox Headmaster

OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS…

We have trebled bursary investment and increased the number of transformational bursaries (over 50%) to two thirds of our assisted places.

197 boys have received lifechanging bursaries.

We have increased the number of boys on bursaries to 7% of the school population.

‘‘

The Bursary Programme has enabled our son to be a part of this thriving school community, to be inspired by the ethos and enthusiasm of the teachers, to achieve outstanding academic success, but more importantly to mature into a sensible young adult, confident and ready to pursue the next stage of his life.

Parent of current student

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

Making a Difference James’ story

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‘‘

I am an immensely grateful past recipient of an RGS bursary, which I held for a number of years.

Whilst at RGS, I was driven by the success of my peers around me in every field. I was constantly reminded of my own potential by others, whose intelligence and ambition helped inspire me to be the best I could be. I went on to study for a degree in PPE at Oxford, and now plan to study for a further degree in Medicine. RGS opened my eyes to opportunities I otherwise would not have thought possible. I hope many more can be afforded the same privilege. Bursary students enrich the life of the whole school, whether your child is in receipt of support or not. Only together can we build strong foundations for the future.

James Altunkaya OG 2012 Bursary Champion

BECOME A FRIEND

Our Friends offer support to the RGS where it is needed most. Our current priority is the RGS Bursary Programme and 100% of every donation increases opportunity for bright local boys.

The support of our Friends ranges from £5 to £1509 per annum. Made as monthly or annual gifts, this regular giving is particularly important for Bursaries, allowing us to plan ahead and maximise income. In addition to offering life-changing opportunity to RGS boys each year, Friends receive:   

recognition in our new Supporters Review an invitation for you and a guest to the RGS Supporters Summer Reception termly updates and the School’s newsletter, The Register.

Our Friends are at the heart of the RGS, sharing success and helping to open the door to a new generation of the brightest RGS boys.

FIND OUT MORE

To make a donation, become a Friend or find out more, see Support RGS at rgs-guildford.co.uk or contact Jenny Rothwell, Development Executive: +44 (0)1483 880665 / jrr@rgsg.co.uk

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Evelyn Lintott – Old Guildfordian/ England Footballer/ Soldier.

Ian Nicholson OG 1974

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

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On Saturday 30 April 2016 a plaque was unveiled at Woking FC in memory of Evelyn Lintott OG, England footballer, teacher and soldier. In the approach to the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, the commemoration was organised by Club Chaplain Ian Nicholson OG 1974, and guests included members of the Army, RGS and the current Woking 1st X1 – representing the various aspects of Evelyn’s short life. The plaque honours Lintott, who perished at the Somme, and all those associated with the club who made the supreme sacrifice in both World Wars and other conflicts.

Early years and Woking Evelyn Henry Lintott was born at Busbridge near Godalming, on 2 November 1883. The son of a local sheep dealer and one of eight children his family moved to Woking and eventually settled at The Grove, Horsell – about 100 yards from the site of the Cardinals’ first ground on Wheatsheaf Common. Evelyn was a pupil at the Royal Grammar School in Guildford and, upon graduation, became a physical training teacher at Maybury School in Walton Road, Woking. It was at the RGS and Woking FC that he served a football apprenticeship that would ultimately lead to him becoming an England international.

Evelyn made his Woking debut just two months after his 16th birthday. Starting as a forward, he was prolific in front of goal and is currently still ranked 20th in the all-time list of Woking goal scorers, bagging 66 goals in only 108 appearances.

In 1903 he transferred to become a centre-half and soon showed skilful, robust football, exercising fine judgment in his tackling and distribution. Evelyn soon became the captain of the Woking team and played alongside four of his brothers – Stacey, Cuthbert, Morris and Keith. Lintott’s amateur career at Woking saw him win the Surrey Charity Shield twice, the East & West Surrey League and the West Surrey League. He also went on to represent Surrey on ten occasions between 1903 and 1905.

Unfortunately for Woking, in 1905, Evelyn Lintott went to Teacher Training College in Exeter and could then only play for the Cardinals on limited occasions. He played some games for Plymouth Argyle, captained Devon and then, on starting to teach in London, signed for Queens Park Rangers. This was not the end of Evelyn’s Woking career as he still turned out on two further occasions. By this time he had already made two England Amateur International appearances: a 6-1 win over Ireland at White Hart Lane and a 12-2 win over Holland at Darlington.

After nine seasons of association with Woking FC Evelyn’s last appearance saw him playing alongside his brother Stacey Lintott in a 1-0 win over Farncombe at a frozen Pembroke Road on 4 January 1908. This was just a week before Woking’s epic encounter with the mighty Bolton Wanderers in the first round of the FA Cup. Unfortunately Evelyn Lintott didn’t make an

appearance for Woking the following Saturday at Burnden Park and the Cremators (as Woking were nicknamed at the time) were beaten – but not disgraced – 5-0 on the icy Lancashire turf by their Division One professional opponents.

National sporting hero and the PFA Lintott made 35 appearances for Queens Park Rangers and helped them to the Southern League Championship and played in the replay of the first FA Charity Shield match. As a half back he became QPR’s first England international, winning five amateur and three full caps. Rangers had to wait over 60 years for their next England international, Rodney Marsh, in 1972.

Evelyn converted to professional to help out QPR’s finances so he could be sold to Bradford City, a club just promoted to what would be today’s Premier League, for over £1,000, which would be £1 million pounds in today’s terms. Lintott returned to teaching whilst playing. In all, he made 61 appearances and won a further four full England caps.

At this time the former Cardinal became heavily involved with the emerging Players’ Union, known today as the PFA. In 1910 he became the chairman of the organisation, whilst his eldest brother, Stacey, was the editor of the Union’s “Football Player Magazine”. As the mouthpiece for the PFA, Evelyn Lintott was forthright in his opinions and particularly upset about a newfangled introduction called the “Offside rule”. He recalled his Royal Grammar School and Woking amateur football roots when he argued that these tactics were contrary to the spirit of the game in forcing an opponent into a breach of the rules.

Evelyn was also well known and respected by the biggest star of Edwardian football, Billy Meredith. Lintott’s only appearance against Wales in 1908 lingered in Meredith’s memory as he recalled “I had a liking for Lintott both as a man when he was chairman of the Players’ Union, and as a player.”

In this International Lintott was told not to give Meredith a yard of room and he carried out his orders so loyally that, late in the game, Meredith turned to his tormentor and said; “For God’s sake, go away. England have got seven goals. How many more do you want?”

´

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

Woking FC 1903. Evelyn Lintott back row, third from left

Lintott moved on to a new club Leeds City in June 1912 and made 45 appearances at Elland Road as war clouds began to gather over Europe.

had decreased to such an extent that after three months of sun, sand, and a few minor skirmishes, the Battalion gathered up their equipment and stores and began their fateful journey to France.

The Leeds Pals and the Great War At the outbreak of war in 1914 Lintott enlisted with the 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own) – the “Leeds Pals”. Interviewed by the Yorkshire Evening Post, he said that he believed he was the only professional footballer so far who had decided to join up. He added that “there had been a great deal of talk about players not enlisting, but I am of the opinion that, with some encouragement from clubs, about half-a-dozen players from each club would enlist”.

The Surrey man joined the Pals as a Private, but was soon promoted to Sergeant because of his experience with the training corps whilst at college. Most people thought that the War would be “over by Christmas” and the general idea of a Pals Battalion was that the volunteers would serve with friends, relatives, workmates and colleagues, giving a feeling of comradeship that had never been seen before. The recruiting in Leeds had been particularly vigorous and on one occasion the recruiting team took a trip to Elland Road where Lintott’s Leeds City were playing Fulham; in half an hour 200 young men had signed up to fight. The final number of “Leeds Pals” eventually rose to approximately 2,000.

Sergeant Lintott set off in an advance party of 105 men on 23 September 1914 while, two days later, over 20,000 citizens of Leeds gave the rest of the battalion a rousing send-off from Leeds station en route to Masham and training in the Dales.

Evelyn Lintott’s sporting and leadership skills were soon spotted, and a commission in the Sportsmen’s Battalion was planned.

However, his superiors persuaded him to stay with the Leeds Pals and on 18 December 1914 it was announced that Evelyn was to become a Lieutenant – the first professional footballer to gain a commission.

Lintott’s battalion departed Liverpool for Port Said on the Empress of Britain to reinforce the British defences on the Suez Canal. By late February 1916 the threat of invasion along Suez

The Somme and Lintott’s death A letter to the Yorkshire Post describes the final moments of 32-year-old Lt. Evelyn Henry Lintott and Yorkshire County cricketer Lt. Major Booth:

“Lt. Lintott’s end was particularly gallant.

Tragically, he was killed on the assault on Serre at the Battle of the Somme on July 1 1916, leading his platoon, the 15th West Yorkshire Regiment, the Leeds Pals, over the top.

He led his men with great dash and when hit the first time declined to take the count. Instead, he drew his revolver and called for further effort. Again he was hit but struggled on, a third shot finally bowled him over. Lt. Booth too, though in sore agony from a shell fragment which penetrated the shoulder and must have touched the heart, tried his utmost to go forward, but pitched forward helplessly after a few yards.

They went out to almost certain death with the cry “Now Leeds” on their lips.”

Evelyn Henry Lintott’s name can be found inscribed on the Thiepval monument in France alongside 73,356 other men killed at the Battle of the Somme whose bodies have never been found or identified. His name is also on the memorial in Big School, above his brother Keith who also perished in that conflict.

We will never forget. 

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

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Remembrance Day Always a poignant occasion, the School holds a Service of Remembrance to remember former pupils and staff who fought and died in the two World Wars and more recent conflicts. A wreath is laid at the service on behalf of the Old Guildfordians and for 60 years, Vernon Goodeve OG 1930 fulfilled this duty. Sadly, Vernon died in 2012 and we have been honoured that three notable OGs have continued this tradition since then: Ken Joyner OG 1941 (one of the first to arrive at Hiroshima after the bomb); Laurie Weeden OG 1938 (landed a glider at Pegasus Bridge during the D-Day landings) and Sir John Allison OG 1961 (commanded RAF Strike Command 1997-99).

A poppy from the Tower of London’s Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation, generously given by Vernon’s family, is on permanent display in Big School, next to the Roll of Honour.

Remembrance Day 2015 from left to right: Headmaster Dr Jon Cox, Ken Joyner OG 1941, Sir John Allison OG 1961, John Downham OG 1943, Roger Nicholas OG 1953, Ian Nicholas OG 1947.

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OGObituaries It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of so many OGs across the generations over the last six years, since the publication of the last OG magazine. We rely on information coming to us from the OG and RGS community and every possible endeavour is made to ensure accuracy. Wherever possible, we have included valete information from our School records.

Hugh Gillingham OG 1927. OTC L/Cpl 1927.

Scout Patrol Leader 1923-24. House Colours: Football 1926-27; Athletics 1926; Swimming 1926.

House PT Team 1926. Died on 12 December 2011, aged 101.

Harry H Langford OG 1927. Died on 13 March 2010.

Vernon Goodeve OG 1930. Austen 1925-30.

School Junior Swimming Colours 1927. Senior Swimming Colours 1929. During the Second World War, Vernon served in Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria and always acknowledged how lucky he was to make it back when so many others did not. For over 65 years he laid a wreath at the annual RGS Remembrance service, in memory of OGs lost in action. The Goodeve family ran the tobacconists and confectioners shop in the High Street, which was frequented by many RGS boys over the years, as the unofficial School tuck shop. Vernon was awarded the King’s Tie for services to the School. He died on 14 December 2012, aged 98.

Leonard Bridger OG 1932. Nettles 1926-32.

Matriculation 1931. Junior Powell Prize for English Literature 1931. Stedman History Prize 1931. Cert “A” 1932. OTC Lance-Corporal 1932.

Empire Marksman 1929. Empire 1st Class Shot 1930-31. 2nd Class Scout 1927. School Colours: Rugby 1932; Athletics 1931. House Colours: Cricket 1931; Football 1930-31; Boxing 1927, Runner-up Featherweights 1927; Gym 1930-31; PT Team 1929-31. Died on 7 September 2011.

Lionel Sparrow OG 1932. Hamonde 1931-32. We were informed of Lionel’s death in May 2012.

Henry C Budden OG 1934. Hamonde House 1931-34. School Prefect, 1933-34. Senior General Scholarship, 1932. Higher School Certificate, 1933. Open Postmastership for History, Merton College, Oxford, 1934. County Major Scholarship, 1934. School Chess Colours, 1933-34. House Chess Captain, 1933-34. Member Magazine committee, 1932. Hon. Secretary, 1933-34. Junior President Music Society, 1934. Died in 2004.

Henry Crawford OG 1934. Hamonde 1927-34.

School Captain 1933-34. Captain Hamonde House and School Prefect 1932-34. Matriculation 1932.

Senior General Scholarship 1932. Higher School Certificate 1934. Stedman-Methuen Scholarship 1934. Waechter Leaving Exhibition 1934.

Stedman History Prize 1932. Junior Powell Prize 1932. Senior Powell Prize 1934. Cert “A” 1932.

OTC Company Sgt.Major 1934. Empire 1st Class

Shot 1930-32. Empire Marksman 1931-33-34.

School Colours: Shooting 1934; Rugby 1933-34; Cricket 1934; Chess 1934; Boxing 1933-34. House Colours: Football 1932-33; Rugby 1932; Cricket 1932-33; Athletics 1933; Captain 1933; Chess 1933; Boxing 1931-32, Winner Class D 1931; Fives 1933-34, Captain 1934. Member of following Committees: General Games 1932-34; Secretary 1933-34, Football 1934, Hon Secretary 1933-34; Rugby 1934, Hon Secretary 1932-34; Boxing 1933-34. Fives 1933-34; Chess 1933-34. Chairman Literary and Debating Society 1933-34. Dramatic Society Committee 1932; Junior Hon Treasurer 1933; Secretary 1934. Magazine Committee 1932-34; Junior Hon Treasurer 1933-34. School Librarian 1932-33. House PT Team 1931-34; Instructor 1934. Died on 6 April 2011.

Keith Gay OG 1934. Hamonde 1928-34. School Prefect 1934. General School Certificate 1933.

Cert “A” 1932. OTC L/Cpl 1932. Empire Marksman 1931. Empire 1st Class Shot 1932. School Colours: Football 1932-33; Rugby Colours 1933-34; Boxing Colours 1933. House Colours: Football 1931; Rugby 1932; Cricket 1932-33; Boxing 1930-32, Lightweight Champion 1930; Athletics 1929.

House PT Team 1931-33. He was very proud to be associated with the School, feeling especially honoured to be invited to perform the tree planting as part of the 500th anniversary celebrations in 2009. Died on 13 April 2013, aged 97.

Walter H Magnay OG 1935. Walter was one of the last of the great rifle shooters who emerged just before the war and one of the distinctive characters among the Bisley-based “tigers” who topped the prize lists from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was one of the finest shots ever to represent England and Great Britain, and toured the world in shooting competitions. He won the Lt Governor’s Prize in Montreal in 1950 followed by the New Zealand Queen’s Prize and Ballinger Belt in 1974, and the Queen’s Prize at Bisley in 1976. He won 51 caps for England and 17 for Great Britain from 1947-1995 and a host of individual honours. In 1938, he joined 318 Royal Engineers and spent most of the war in Africa, being promoted to Major in 1945. After the war, he worked in the family business until 1986 when he retired to the Isle of Man which he represented at smallbore and fullbore shooting from 1986-92, winning its fullbore championship in 1989 and captaining their team to victory at Bisley in 1992. Walter returned with his family to Hampshire in 2006 and died on 26 March 2013, aged 93.

Noel H J Weeden OG 1935. Austen 1928-35.

Matriculation 1934. Magnus German Prize 1935.

OTC Lance-Corporal 1935. Empire 1st Class Shot 1934-35. House Colours: Football 1934-35, Rugby 1933-34, Cricket 1935, Athletics 1935. Member Magazine Committee 1934-35. Member House PT Team 1934-35. Died on 2 June 2015.

Denzil W Bowyer OG 1936. Austen 1929-36.

Died on 26 January 2012.

Peter J Byworth OG 1936. Austen 1929-36.

Matriculation, 1935. 2nd Class Scout 1932. Scout Patrol Leader, 1934. House Colours: Football 1934-35, Athletics 1932-33-34-35. Died on 3 April 2014.

Geoffrey Ede OG 1936. Beckingham 1931-36.

House colours: Boxing 1934. Died in January 2014.

Alfred H Faggetter OG 1936. Hamonde 1930-36.

Matriculation 1936. Cert “A” 1935. OTC Sgt 1936.

School Colours: Football 1936; Fives 1935. House Colours: Football 1934-35; Rugby 1935-36; Cricket 1934-35-36; Athletics 1935-36; Fives 1934-3536; Gym 1935-36. Member General Games Committee 1935-36. Member House PT Team 1934-35-36. Died on 23 May 2015.

Ronald Batchelor OG 1937. Nettles 1931-37.

House Colours: Cricket 1937; Fives 1936. Member House PT Team 1937. Died on 22 August 2015.

Leonard Gill OG 1937. Hamonde 1933-1937. Gen School Cert 1937. Scout Second 1936. 2nd Class Scout 1936. School Colours: Chess 1937. Member House PT team 1937. We were informed of Leonard’s death in August 2015.

Peter B Lucas OG 1937. Died in January 2016, aged 95.

Edward L Mills OG 1937. Hamonde 1931-37. Ted initially went to work with the family firm, Mills and Sons Printers Ltd, in Castle Street, moving to work in Esher with the Esher Newspaper Group and finally back to Guildford with the Surrey Advertiser. Ted was also cousin to Peter (‘Popeye’) Mills, OG 1942. Died in August 2013, aged 92.

Terence J O’Kelly OG 1937. Beckingham 1932-37.

Certificate “A” 1936. Empire Marksman, 1935.

Empire 1st Class Shot, 1936. OTC Lance-Corporal, 1937. Died on 6 December 2013.

T P Pallot OG 1937. Nettles 1930-37. Died in December 2012.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

Denys Saunders OG 1937. Austen 1930-37.

Matriculation 1937. Scout Patrol Leader 1936.

King’s Scout 1936. Died on 20 February 2013.

Frederick Wicker OG 1937. Austen 1935-37.

Empire 1st Class Shot 1935-36. Died in January 2015.

John Chardin OG 1938. Nettles 1931-38. Member Music Society Committee, 1938. Died on 29 March 2013.

Eric Davis OG 1938. Beckingham 1932-38.

Matriculation 1937. 2nd Class Scout 1936, Scout Patrol Leader 1938. Died on 1 August 2013.

Norman Day OG 1938. Austen 1931-38. 1st Class Scout 1936. King’s Scout 1936. Green All-round Cords 1936. Red All-round Cords 1937. Scout Patrol Leader 1937. Scout Troop Leader 1938. Died 18 May 2013, aged 92.

Brian Desmond OG 1939. Beckingham 1933-39.

Matriculation 1938. Cert “A” 1937. OTC Sergeant 1938. School Colours: Football 1938; Boxing 1936; Chess 1937-38. House Colours: Football 1936-37; Rugby 1939; Cricket 1937-38; Swimming 1938; Chess 1936; Boxing 1935-36-37-38; Winner Class “F” 1936, Class “E” 1936. Member Chess Committee 1937-38. Member House PT Team 1938. Died on 1 February 2014.

George Ledger OG 1939. Attended RGS 1932-39.

Died in 2015.

Kenneth Luff OG 1939. Attended RGS 1932-39.

Died on 19 May 2016.

Charles Oliver OG 1939. Hamonde 1933-39.

General School Certificate 1938. Cert “A” 1938.

OTC L/Cpl 1939. House Colours: Rugby Football 1938. Died on 11 July 2016.

Ronald J Townsend OG 1939. Nettles 1933-39.

Matriculation 1939. School Certificate 1938.

Cert “A” 1939. OTC Lance-Corporal 1939.

Empire Marksman 1938-1939. House Colours: Gymnastics 1939. Member Magazine Committee 1938-39. Member House PT Team 1938-39. Died on 15 August 2013.

John F Turner OG 1939. Hamonde 1937-39.

Matriculation 1939. School Colours: Cricket 1939. House Colours: Football 1938; Cricket 1938; Member House PT Team 1939. Died in March 2015.

Honour, Imperial Challenge Shield Competition 1939. Empire 1st Class Shot 1938. Scout Patrol Leader 1937. School Colours: Rugby 1940; Swimming 1938-39, Captain 1940; School Diving Champion 1940. House Colours: Rugby 1938-39; Swimming 1935-37; Chess 1937; Gymnastics 1940. Member of following Committees: General Games 1940; Magazine 1939-40. House PT Team 1938-39. John read medicine at KCL, then specialised in forensic pathology which led to a distinguished career in the field. He was a founder member of the Royal College of Pathologists. He married these professional skills with his passion for motor racing, serving as a medical marshal at meetings such as Silverstone, Goodwood and Brands Hatch and as a collector of sports cars. John died on 7 July 2012.

Peter Gardiner OG 1940. Austen 1931-40.

General School Certificate 1938. Cert “A” 1940.

2nd Class Scout 1933. Scout Second 1936. Scout Patrol Leader 1938. Assistant Librarian 1939-40.

Died in February 2012.

John R Hunt OG 1940. Attended RGS 1939-40.

His education at the RGS was cut short by wartime evacuation to North Wales. John died on 15 October 2015.

William B McAlister OG 1940. Nettles 1936-40.

School Colours: Cricket 1940. House Colours: Football 1940. Died in November 2013.

Roland J Woods OG 1940. Hamonde 1936-40.

House Colours: Football 1939; Cricket 1940; Fives 1940. Died on 11 January 2015.

Ian Puttock OG 1941. Beckingham 1935-41.

School Prefect 1940-41. House Captain 1940-41.

General School Certificate 1941. Cert “A” 1940.

JTC Sgt 1940-41. School Colours: Football 1940; Rugby 1940-41. House Colours: Football 1938-39, Captain 1940; Football 1939-40, Captain 1941; Cricket 1939-40; Athletics 1939-40; Swimming 1938-40; Gymnastics 1939-40; Fives 1939-40; House PT Team 1938-39. Member General Games Committee 1940-41. Died on 13 February 2012.

Ronald Albert Shettle OG 1941. Austen 1937-41.

Empire Marksman 1939-40-41. King’s Silver Medal of Honour, Imperial Shield Competition 1940. Died on 28 May 2015.

Cyril Wadey OG 1939. Attended RGS 1933-39.

Died on 28 October 2015.

Peter Tomlin OG 1941. Hamonde 1937-41.

General Schools Certificate 1940. House Colours: Football 1939-40; Rugby 1940; Cricket 1940.

Early member of the OG Rugby Club. Died on 23 March 2016.

Donald Alloway OG 1940. Hamonde 1939-40.

Died on 21 March 2015.

Dennis Weeden OG 1941. Nettles 1935-41.

Died on 20 February 2011.

John Enticknap OG 1940. Austen 1932-40. School Prefect 1939-40. Higher School Certificate 1940.

Matriculation 1938. King’s School Scholarship 1938. Surrey County Major Scholarship 1940.

Open Scholarship to Charing Cross Hospital 1940. Nettles Exhibition 1940. Mellersh Science Prize 1940. Merriman Bronze Medal for Mathematics 1939. Massey Chemistry Prize 1938.

OTC Cpl 1940. Cert “A” 1939. Bronze Medal of

Peter Weir-Rhodes OG 1941. Beckingham 1934-41. House Colours: Football 1940. We were informed of Peter’s death in March 2013.

Richard Wilson OG 1941. Hamonde 1939-41.

King’s Scholar 1941. Dick Wilson observed and commented on Chinese affairs for over forty years. A journalist and lecturer, his first published work was a series on Japan in an

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Indian newspaper in 1953. As well as working for the Financial Times, Far Eastern Economic Review and the China Quarterly, he contributed to The Times, the Guardian, International Herald Tribune and The Times Literary Supplement, and lectured frequently to academic and civic audiences around the world. His many acclaimed books include A Quarter of Mankind (1966) and Mao, The People’s Emperor (1979). China, The Big Tiger (1996) was Dick Wilson’s final and definitive book on Chinese life. He died in January 2011.

Donald Buchan OG 1942. Austen 1935-42.

Died on 22 July 2016.

Brian F Harms OG 1942. Beckingham 1937-42.

President of Wonersh Cricket Club. Died in October 2013.

Peter Mills OG 1942. Hamonde 1935-42. Cert “A” 1942. House Colours: Football 1941; Cricket 1942; Fives 1941. Members House PT Team 1941-42.

Affectionately known at School as Popeye, Peter died in February 2015.

Emil Muller OG 1942. Nettles 1935-42. King’s Scout 1939. Green All Round Cords 1939. Scout Second 1939. Member Gordon Whale Cup PT Team 1939. Cert “A” 1941. JTC L/Cpl 1941. Member Shooting VIII 1942. Member Country Life Team 1942. School Colours: Cricket 1942; Athletics 1941.

House Colours: Football 1941; Rugby 1940-41; Cricket 1941; Athletics 1940; Swimming 193941. House PT Team 1941-42. Emil was a proud supporter of the RGS and the Old Guildfordians, and served on the OGA Committee as a Co-opted Member. He was particularly active during the 1970s in supporting the transition of the School to its current independent status. He was the first of three generations of the family to attend the School. Emil died on 8 June 2012.

John K Page OG 1942. Austen 1936-42.

Died on 15 July 2011.

Kenneth E Parker OG 1942. Governor 1987-97.

Nettles 1935-42. Matriculation 1941. “Magnus” Drawing Prize 1941. Intermediate Secondary Award 1941. Cert “A” Pt1 1942. Empire Marksman 1941. School Colours: Cricket 1942. House Colours: Football 1941; Cricket 1941; Gymnastics 1942; Boxing 1941. House PT Team 1941-42. Died in July 2011.

David Weir-Rhodes OG 1942. Beckingham 1934-42. House Captain 1941-42. School Prefect 1941-42. School Certificate 1940. Matriculation 1941. Cert “A” 1940. JTC Sgt 1941. House Colours: Rugby 1939-40-41; Cricket 1941; Athletics 1940, Capt 1941-42; Gymnastics 1941. Member General Games Committee 1941-42. Member House PT Team 1939-39-42, Instructor 1941. Died 17 February 2015.

Geoffrey Bloomer OG 1943. Hamonde 1935-43.

Gen School Cert 1942. Cert “A” 1943. JTC L/Cpl 1943. Member School Shooting VIII 1943. Empire Marksman, 1943. King’s Silver Medal of Honour, Imperial Challenge Shield Competition, 1943.

Winner “Nicklin” Cup 1943. Died in December 2014.

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Maurice G Carter OG 1943. Hamonde 1938-43.

Matriculation 1942. Cert “A” 1942. Empire 1st Class Shot 1942. We were informed of Maurice’s death in May 2012.

Laurence Jeffery OG 1943. Hamonde 1937-43.

General School Certificate 1942-43. Cert “A” 1942. JTC Cpl 1943. House Colours: Rugby 1943; Athletics 1940-42. House PT Team 1941-43. Died on 8 February 2012.

Owen J Williams OG 1943. Hamonde 1933-43.

House Captain, 1942-43. School Prefect, 1941-4243. Gen. School Cert., 1941. Matric 1942. King’s Scholarship, 1938. Empire 1st Class Shot, 1941-42.

Cert. “A,” 1941. JTC Sgt 1942-43. Scout Patrol Leader, 1939. School Colours: Football 1941-42; Rugby 1941-42-43; Cricket 1942; Athletics 194041. Capt., 1942 (Middles Champion, 1940); Boxing 1941-42, Capt. 1942 (Winner Class “A,” 1942); Gymnastics 1942. House Colours: Football 193940, Capt. 1942; Rugby 1940, Capt. 1943; Cricket 1940-41; Athletics 1936-37-38-39, Capt. 1940-4142; Boxing Capt. 1940-41-42; Swimming Capt.

1942; Gymnastics 1940-41, Capt. 1943; Fives Capt.

1941; Chess 1940-41-42. Member of the following Committees: General Games 1941-42-43; Boxing 1940-41-42; Chess 1943. Member House PT Team 1938-39-41; Instructor, 1942. Died in March 2014.

Leo Desmond OG 1944. Beckingham 1937-40, 1942-44. Matriculation 1943. Joint Winner Powell Junior English Literature Prize 1943.

Cert “A” Pt1 1943. House Colours: Football 1943. Worked in the Civil Service. Died on 12 March 2013.

John Gaff OG 1944. Lieutenant-Colonel John Gaff was in overall command of all bomb disposal units in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and was awarded a George Medal. His citation read “for the outstanding personal courage and devotion to duty which he demonstrated throughout his tour of Northern Ireland in an extremely hazardous and highly technical field of operations”. Over one 15-hour operation, he personally defused a booby trapped bomb with 70lb of explosive charge. In 1946, he joined the Parachute Regiment and also trained as a frogman, helping Royal Navy divers sweep the bottom of vessels for mines. Having become interested in explosives, he was appointed weapons training officer and was almost killed in a bomb attack in Palestine. He was then posted to the Demonstration & Experimental Company at Netheravon, where one of the tasks was to carry out over 300 jump trials on new aircraft.

After qualifying as an Ammunitions Officer he served in Singapore, Berlin and various UK based roles. In 1974, he was sent to Northern Ireland countering IRA car bomb attacks and hostage taking. After 31 years, Gaff resigned from the army and set up a consultancy offering training and equipment for bomb disposal.

His work involved extensive travel to Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. In 1998, he sold the business and became secretary and treasurer, and later president, of the Gallantry Medallists’ League. He was also treasurer of the local branch of the MS Society and worked for SSAFA Forces Help. As a young man he enjoyed

sport, especially rugby and gymnastics. A love of cycling developed into an enthusiasm for motorbikes. He qualified as a glider pilot and also dived regularly, notably among the first to dive on the wreck of the Mary Rose. He died on 28 November 2013. (Abridged from The Daily Telegraph obituary, 30 December 2013).

Geoffrey Hodgson OG 1944. Hamonde 1937-44.

Cert “A” 1944. JTC L/Cpl 1944. Empire Marksman 1943. Empire 1st Class Shot 1944. Assistant School Librarian 1941-44. House PT Team 1943.

Died on 23 October 2012.

Geoffrey Kelly OG 1944. Geoff was the second of three brothers who attended RGS during the 1930s and 1940s. His education was interrupted by a fair amount of time spent in the air raid shelters in Allen House, but more significantly by an over active pituitary gland which caused an increase in height by more than one foot in less than a year. On leaving school he worked for Southern Railway, interrupted by 18 months National Service, mostly in Austria.

On returning to ‘Civvy Street’ he was more politically active and became a full time union official with the then Railway Clerks Association which became Transport Salaried Staff Association. The “poacher became gamekeeper” when in 1965 he crossed the negotiating table, moving to the Local Authorities Conditions of Service Advisory Board (LACSAB) who represented the local authorities in national pay negotiations with the large public sector unions in the heyday of collective bargaining in the 1960s and 1970s. He inhabited the bleak no-man’s land between political rhetoric and reality, and the Labour activist of the 1950s transmogrified into a committed floating voter. His other great love was football and he was a Football Combination referee for many years. Anxious not to stagnate in retirement he wrote a history of LACSAB and served on industrial tribunals, specialising in race relations, until he was 70.

A committed Christian, he was a member of St Peter’s Church, Harold Wood for nearly 50 years and his faith gave him the moral courage, at the peak of his career, to grapple with problems of national significance. At the age of 84, his final whistle blew on 24 May 2012.

John M Hare OG 1944. Austen 1938-44. Empire Marksman 1942-44. Winner “Nicklin” Cup 1942.

King’s Bronze Medal, Imperial Challenge Shield Competition 1944. Member School Shooting VIII 1944. 2nd Class Scout 1941. Scout Second, 1941. School Colours: Chess 1944. House Colours: Football 1942; Cricket 1944; Chess 1944. Assistant Librarian 1944. Member House PT Team 1942.

Died on 5 September 2014.

Patrick W Saunders OG 1944. Beckingham 1937-44. House Captain 1943-44. School Prefect 1943-44. Matriculation 1942. Senior Powell English Prize 1943. JTC Sgt 1944. Cert “A” 1943. Empire 1st Class Shot 1943-44. Signals Classification: Crossed Flags. Scout Troop Leader 1942. Green All-round Cords 1941. King’s Scout 1941. Member Gordon Whale Cup PT Team, 1940.

School Colours: Athletics 1942-43, Captain 1944, Victor Ludorum 1943-44. House Colours: Football

1941; Rugby 1944; Cricket 1942-43; Athletics 1941, Captain 1943-44. Assistant School Librarian 1943-44. Member of following Committees: General Games 1943-44; Magazine 1942-44; Debating Society Hon Sec 1943-44. House PT Team 1939-43. Died in 2010.

Peter W Smith OG 1944. Austen 1937-44. School Prefect 1944. General School Cert 1943. JTC Sgt 1943-44. Cert “A” 1942. School Colours: Athletics 1943. House Colours: Rugby 1943-44; Athletics 1941-42; Gymnastics 1943-44. Member of following Committees: General Games 1944; Nat Science Society 1944. Member House PT Team 1941-42-43. Died in December 2014.

David Spooner OG 1944. Austen 1936-44.

Matriculation 1944. King’s Scholarship 1941. Cert “A” 1944. JTC A/Sgt 1944. Empire Marksman 1943. Empire 1st Class Shot 1944. House Colours: Boxing 1942, Captain 1944. House PT Team 1942-44. On leaving school, David worked at the Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Research Laboratories prior to being called for National Service. He obtained his PhD, then joined Boots Research in the 1950s and moved to Radcliffeon-Trent where he was active in his local Probus Club. Died on 2 August 2011.

Philip Mayle OG 1945. Beckingham 1939-45.

School Prefect 1944-45. Matric 1944. Cert “A” 1943. JTC Sgt 1944-45. Empire Marksman 1944.

School Colours: Football 1942-43, Capt 1944; Rugby 1943-44; Cricket 1943-44; Athletics 1944 (Junior Champion 1941; Middles Champion 1943); Boxing 1940-42. House Colours: Football 1940-41, Capt 1943-44; Rugby 1940-42, Capt 1943-44; Cricket 1940-42, Capt 1944; Athletics 1941-43; Boxing 1942-43-44; Fives 1943-44. Member General Games Committee 1943-44-45.

Member House PT Team 1941-44. Died on 7 February 2014.

Ronald A Bishop OG 1946. Nettles 1940-46.

Matriculation 1946. Cert “A” 1946. JTC L/Cpl 1946.

Empire 1st Class Shot 1944, Empire Marksman 1945-46. House Colours: Gymnastics 1946.

Member House PT Team 1945. Died in April 2013.

Ronald V Carter OG 1946. Hamonde 1939-46.

School Prefect 1945. Matriculation 1944. JTC Cpl 1945. Cert “A” 1944. Empire 1st Class Shot 1944.

House Colours: Rugby 1945. Assistant School Librarian 1943-46. House PT Team 1944-45. Died in February 2012.

Gordon Hibbert OG 1946. Beckingham 193946. School Prefect 1945-46. Higher School Cert 1946. Matric 1945. “Bailey” Maths Prize 1944.

“Magnus” Advanced Maths Prize 1945. JTC, CSM 1946. Cert “A” 1944. Member School Shooting VIII 1942-46. Empire Marksman 1941-46.

King’s Silver Medal, Imperial Challenge Shield Competition 1942-43-45-46. Member “Country Life” Cup Team 1943-46. SMRC Silver Medals, Public Schools Championship 1943-44. Winner “Hawkins” Cup 1945-46. Winner “Honeybourne” Cup 1944-46. Winner “Clemson” Cup 194546. School Colours: Football 1945; Rugby 1946; Athletics 1945-46; Shooting 1943-44, Capt 194546. House Colours: Football, 1944; Rugby 1945;

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

Chess 1945-46; Gymnastics 1946. Member of following Committees: General Games 1945-46; Debating Society 1945-46. Member House PT Team 1943-45. Gordon began National Service with the Royal Artillery. He gained a Maths Degree from Kings College, London and started teaching Maths at Godalming Grammar School in 1952, retiring in 1988. He married Jean in 1949 and they had one daughter, Jane, in 1950. Sadly, Jean died from polio in 1952 and Gordon married Elizabeth in 1955. They had three more children (Catherine, John and Stephen) and were married for 58 years. He enjoyed numerous outdoor activities – walking, cycling and gardening as well as DIY, music and theatre. Gordon died on 16 January 2014.

Philip Lintott OG 1946. Hamonde 1941-46. Gen School Cert 1946. Cert “A” Pt 1945. Empire 1st Class Shot 1945. House Colours: Swimming 1946.

Died in 2013.

Thomas F Marsh OG 1946. Died on 18 July 2015.

Robert Mells OG 1946. Died in December 2013.

Neville B Ede OG 1947. Hamonde 1941-47. Gen School Cert 1946. Scout Patrol Leader 1944. 1st Class Scout 1946. School Colours: Swimming 1946. House Colours: Football 1945-46; Rugby 1945-46; Swimming 1943-45-46; Lower School Champion 1942. Member House PT Team 1946.

Neville moved to Canada in 1953, working as a mechanical engineer. He took on several senior positions in a large international corporation before retiring in 1991. He leaves seven children, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Neville died in October 2015.

Peter Guyot OG 1947. Died in December 2013.

David H Jarvis OG 1947. Nettles 1941-47. Scout Patrol Leader 1945. Died on 15 October 2013.

Bryan Jones OG 1947. Austen 1941-47. School Prefect 1947. Matriculation 1945. Imperial College of Science Open Scholarship 1947. King’s Scholarship 1943. Magnus Prizes for Physics, Chemistry and Mechanics 1945; for Advanced Maths 1946. Cert “A” 1945. JTC Sgt 1946. Empire 1st Class Shot 1944. Empire Marksman 1945-47.

JTC Classified Signaller 1946. School Colours: Rugby 1946-47. House Colours: Football 1947; Swimming 1943-45-47; Chess 1947. Member General Games Committee 1947. House PT Team 1945-47. Bryan graduated with first class honours in 1950 and joined Schlumberger who provided well-logging services to oil companies world-wide. So began a life-time of work and adventures in about thirty countries covering five continents. He and Pam were married in December 1952, in Burma, and had five children.

The family returned to the UK in 1962 and, since North Sea Oil had not yet started, Bryan joined a mining company in the Isle of Purbeck as a geologist and assistant to the MD. In 1979, he joined a seismic company in Swanley, Kent and was then headhunted by Murphy Oil Company where he became Chief Geologist. He retired in 1992 and became involved in consulting work in Iraq between the wars, as well as working

in Turkmenistan. In 2000, Bryan and Pam returned to Dorset where he continued his interest in geology and exploration. Sadly, he died four weeks before their Diamond Wedding Anniversary, on 26 November 2012.

John E H Spencer OG 1947. Austen 1942-47.

Gen School Cert 1947. Cert “A” 1947. Empire Marksman 1946-47. House Colours: Cricket 1946; Athletics 1946. Member House PT Team 1946.

Died on 30 November 2015.

Ronald Gerald Mills OG 1948. Nettles 1939-48.

House Captain 1948. School Prefect 1946-47.

Higher School Cert 1948. Open Exhibition to Jesus College, Cambridge 1948. State Scholarship 1948. Surrey County Major Scholarship 1948.

Mechanical Sciences Qualifying Exam 1948.

Nettles Exhibition 1948. Matriculation 1946.

Prizes: Mellersh – Maths and Science 1948; Magnus – Pure Maths, Applied Maths and Chemistry 1948; Senior Powell - English 1948; RO Griffiths Memorial 1948; Bailey – Maths 1946; Headmaster’s for Cricket 1948. Cert “A” 1946.

JTC Sgt 1948. Asst Signals Instructor 1947.

Empire Marksman 1945-48. School Colours: Football 1948; Cricket 1947, Vice-Captain 1948; Chess Captain 1946-48 (Individual Champion 1947 and Colours 1948); Gymnastics 1947; Fives Champion and Captain 1948. House Colours: Football 1945-46, Captain 1948; Rugby 1946-48; Cricket 1945-46, Captain 1947-48; Gymnastics 1946-47, Captain 1948; Chess 1943-45, Captain 1946-48; Fives 1944, Captain 1948; Athletics 1947. Member of following Committees: General Games 1948; Chess (Hon Sec) 1946-48. House PT Team 1945-46. Died on 14 November 2011.

Michael Sex OG 1948. Hamonde 1940-48. Matric 1948. Cert “A” 1947. JTC L/Cpl 1947. Empire 1st Class Shot 1945-48. 2nd Class Scout 1943. Scout Second 1945. School Colours: Rugby 1947-48; Cricket 1948. House Colours: Football 1945-48; Rugby 1945-46; Cricket 1945-46-47; Gymnastics 1947; Boxing 1947. Died on 24 April 2015.

John M Shrives OG 1948. Nettles 1942-48.

Known at Johnnie. School Prefect 1948. Matric.

1947. Cert ‘A’ 1947. JTC CQMS 1948. Classified Signaller 1947. Empire 1st Class Shot 1945-46, Empire Marksman 1947-48. Leader ‘Country Life’ Cup Team 1948. School Colours: Rugby 1947; Cross-country Running 1948. House Colours: Swimming 1944-46-47, Captain 1948; Athletics 1946-48; Gymnastics 1947-48; Cross-Country Running Captain 1948; Boxing Captain 1948.

Member House PT Team 1945-46-47, Instructor 1948. Died on 29 January 2016.

David G Tribe OG 1948. Austen 1941-48. Gen School Cert 1948. Cert “A” Pt 1 1947. 2nd Class Scout 1945. Scout Second 1945. Died on 18 December 2014.

Keith Wintle OG 1948. Beckingham 1940-48.

School Prefect 1947. Matriculation 1947. Navy, Army and Air Force Entrance Examination 1948.

“Magnus” Latin Prize 1947. Cert “A” 1946. JTC Sgt 1948. Empire Marksman 1946-48. RA Gun-Drill Courses 1947-48. House Colours: Cross Country 1948. House PT Team 1948. After passing out

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from Sandhurst in 1950, he joined the Royal Artillery and served with them for over 35 years, rising to the position of Colonel. He had a rewarding military career in Germany, Malaysia and the UK and during that time received the MBE, OBE and CBE for service in the Army. Died on 26 October 2011.

Philip George Baker OG 1949. Beckingham 1942-49. School Prefect, 1947-49. House Captain 1949. Matric. 1947. “Magnus” Prize for Chemistry 1947. Cert. “A” 1947. CCF Sgt 1949. Empire 1st Class Shot, 1945-1946-1948. Empire Marksman, 1947-48. Member of following Committees: General Games, 1949; Natural Science Secretary, 1949. Died on 10 July 2014.

John Martin OG 1949, Governor 1990-2005.

Hamonde 1942-1949. Matric 1948. Cert “A” 1948.

JTC L/Cpl 1948. Empire 1st Class Shot 1947-48.

House Colours: Chess 1948. Father to three Old Guildfordians, Adam, Benjamin and Paul. Died on 11 January 2016.

Geoffrey Murrell OG 1949. Nettles 1946-49.

Died on 28 January 2014.

Michael Elstone OG 1950. Nettles 1943-50. School Prefect 1949-1950. Higher Cert. 1949. County Major Scholar 1949. Matric. 1947. “Bailey” Maths Prize 1947. “Batterson” English Prize 1947. King’s Scholar 1944. CCF Sgt 1950. Cert “A” 1948. Class Sig. 1949. Asst Instructor 1949.

Marksman 1948-50. 2nd Cl Scout 1945. Scout Second 1945. House Colours: Chess 1948-50.

Died on 2 July 2016.

David Maynard OG 1950. Hamonde 1945-50.

House Colours: Swimming 1949-50. General School Certificate 1950. We were informed of David’s death in September 2013.

Ian Stemp OG 1950. Died in February 2014.

Stewart J Adey OG 1951. We were informed of Stewart’s death in October 2014.

Bernard Boucher OG 1951. Nettles 1948-51.

Died in 2012.

David Brighton OG 1951. Beckingham 1943-51.

Affectionately known as “Digger”, he died on 22 March 2015.

John Rule OG 1951. Governor 1977-10, Chair of Governors 1988-96. Nettles 1949-51. On leaving the RGS John had a distinguished career in The City with the accountancy firm Arthur Andersen. He was a Governor of the School during the major changes after it became independent and played an active role as Honorary Colonel of the CCF Contingent 19972012, attending many field days and supporting both staff and boys in their various activities.

He died on 26 December 2012.

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

Peter J Laker OG 1952. Beckingham 1944-52.

General School Cert 1950. Entrance RMA Sandhurst 1952. CCF: L/Cpl 1951; 1st Class Shot 1952. 1st Class Scout 1949. Scout Troop Leader 1949. House Colours: Football 1948-52; Rugby 1952; Cricket 1949-52; Fives 1949-51, Captain 1952; Athletics 1952, Gym 1952. Secretary Models Society 1951. House PT Team 1948-52. Died in December 2011.

Terence E Scrase OG 1952. Hamonde 1947-52.

Cert “A” 1951. 1st Class Shot 1950-52. School Colours: Gym 1952. House Colours: Gym 1950-51.

Member House PT team 1950-52. Died in 2012.

Michael J Sims OG 1952. Beckingham 1947-52.

Cert “A” 1950. Marksman 1949-51. House Colours: Rugby 1951; Gym 1952. Member House PT Team 1949-52. Died on 6 August 2016.

Leslie Charman OG 1953. Austin 1951-53.

Died in 2015.

Edward Horsman OG 1953. Hamonde 1946-53.

GCE 1952. Scouts P/L 1951, Second Class 1951.

House Chess Colours 1952-53. Died in 2013.

Michael V Rees OG 1953. Nettles 1948-53. GCE 1953. Cert “A” 1952. Marksman and Member of VIII 1951-53. Died on 18 July 2013.

David Cooper OG 1954. Died in 2012.

Brian Mosdell OG 1954. Attended RGS from 1949-54. Died on 25 June 2013.

Charles Hicks OG 1955. Nettles 1952-55. GCE O Level 1952. A Level 1954-55. Scouts: Rover Squire 1954. School Colours: Cross-Country 1953; Gymnastics 1955. House Colours: Gymnastics 1952-55, Captain 1954-55; Cross-Country 1954-55, Captain 1954; Athletics 1953-55; Rugby 1953; Boxing 1953-54. Committees: Models and Hobbies 1953. Died on 30 July 2012.

Michael Bassford OG 1956. Died on 21 January 2013.

Eric George Woodbridge OG 1957. Died on 4 August 2011.

Kenneth Newman OG 1958. Hamonde 1952-58.

GCE O Level 1957. CCF L/Sgt Empire Marksman.

School Colours: Rugby 1956-57. School HalfColours: Cross Country 1958. House Colours: Rugby 1956-57; Soccer 1956-58; Athletics 1954-58; Cross Country 1954-58; Swimming 1956; Chess 1957-58. Died in June 2010.

David W Clement OG 1959. Nettles 1953-59.

School Prefect 1958-59. GCE O Level 1957. A Level 1959. Magnus Prize for Economics 1958. Cert A 1956; CCF Corporal 1958-59; Empire Marksman 1956-59. School Half-Colours: Cricket 1958; Soccer 1958; Badminton 1959. Colours: Rugby 1959.

General Games Committee 1959. Entrance to Bristol University 1959. Died in January 2016.

Darrell Hinds OG 1959. Hamonde 1953-59. GCE O level 1958. CCF; Cert “A” part 1. School HalfColours: Badminton. House Colours: Cricket.

Assistant Librarian. Died in 2012.

Jeremy Salter OG 1959. Took part in Rugby, Football, Cricket, Gymnastics and member of the Chess Society. Died on 25 May 2015.

John Walker OG 1959. Played rugby and cricket for the OGs for many years. Died unexpectedly on 1 June 2012.

Paul Finigan OG 1964. Nettles 1956-64. School Prefect 1962-64. House Captain 1963-64. CCF Signals Instructor 1963. 1st XV 1961-63. Entrance to Charing Cross Hospital Medical School. Died on 17 September 2013.

David Jones OG 1965. Attended RGS 1959-65.

Died in January 2016.

Brian P Attridge OG 1966. We were informed of Brian’s death in April 2016.

Peter Legg OG 1966. Died in 2013.

David Farncombe OG 1960. Hamonde 1954-60.

GCE O Level 1959. Magnus Prize for Geography 1959. First Class Scout 1957. Boy Scout Patrol Leader 1958. Senior Scout 1959-60. House Colours: Cross-Country 1959; Rugby 1960.

Entrance to Southampton University School of Navigation 1960. Died on 10 May 2015.

Frank Moyes OG 1960. Joined the school in the sixth form and left in 1960 to study Mechanical Engineering at Manchester University. He played rugby both for the School and the Old Guildfordians and continued to take an active part in OG events and reunions throughout his life. Died on 13 January 2016.

Roger Woods OG 1966. Attended RGS 1960-66.

Died on 31 May 2016.

Christopher Annetts OG 1967. Attended RGS 1962-67. Died in September 2015.

Henry J Bullock OG 1967. Chess Captain, winning the Vera Hodge Individual Chess Cup and member of 1st XI Cricket Team. Died on 18 June 2012.

Richard A Collins OG 1967. Headmaster at Whyteleafe School. Died on 17 July 2011.

Tim Nicholson OG 1967. Died on 1 March 2016.

John Lindsay Scott OG 1960. Died in 2012.

Errol “Lew” Newman OG 1961. Died on 27 August 2016.

Peter Robins OG 1961. Beckingham 1955-61.

GCE O Level 1960. CCF; 1st Class Shot 1958, Empire Marksman 1959-61. House Colours: Cross Country 1956-60; Boxing 1956-60; Athletics 1957-59; Chess 1961; Rugby 1960. U16 Cross Country Team 1955-60; School Chess Team 1960.

Brighton-Guildford Pebble Run Team 1958-9.

Died on 19 February 2011.

David M Beagarie OG 1962. Nettles 1954-62.

School Vice Captain 1962; House Captain 1961-62; Prefect 1960-62. O Level 1959, A Level 1961. Senior Scout 1957-59; Patrol Leader 1959.

Full School Colours: Rugby 1959-62; Cricket 1962 (Vice Captain 1962). House Colours: Rugby 1959-62 (Captain 1961-62); Cricket 1959-62 (Captain 1962); Athletics 1958-62 (Captain 1960-62); Cross Country 1959-62; Boxing 1956; Football 1958. Debating Society. David lived in Chicago for the last 15 years of his life. Died on 30 December 2015.

Graham Cobbe OG 1963. Beckingham 1960-63.

School Vice-Captain 1963. House Captain 1962-63.

Prefect 1961-63. Senior Sea Scouts 1960-63, P/L 1962-63, T/L 1963. School Colours: Rugby 1962-63; Swimming 1960-63 (School Swimming Captain 1962-63, Vice-Captain 1961-62, Senior Champion 1962, 1963, Lalor Cup 1962, Bronze Medallion 1962); Cricket (2nd XI 1961-62, Vice-Captain 1962, 1st XI 1963). House Colours: Rugby; Cricket 1961-63; Athletics 1963, Senior Cup for Shot 1963. Badminton Club. Gym Club. Senior Science Society. Guildford Swimming Club. Committee IVth Form Society. General Games Committee.

Died on 8 February 2015.

Peter Thomas OG 1967. Died on 24 September 2011.

Christopher Karney OG 1968. We were informed of Christopher’s death in May 2012.

Alaric H Pullan OG 1968. Died on 28 November 2010.

Stephen Pinn OG 1969. Died on 11 January 2014.

Anthony Wilson OG 1971. We were informed of Anthony’s death in August 2015.

Richard M Elliott OG 1972. Beckingham 1965-72.

Richard was one of the UK’s most eminent virologists and a world expert in emerging viruses. He dedicated most of his career to the study of bunyaviruses and was among the first to recognise this as an emerging threat for both human and animal health, highlighting their importance to the scientific community.

He pioneered molecular studies in the field and, alongside Anne Bridgen, published a seminal study which paved the way for similar approaches with influenza virus and the development of safe and efficient vaccine candidates.

Richard was committed to promoting virological research, sitting on various scientific advisory boards and he received numerous recognitions for his work. He was a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.

On leaving RGS, he studied Microbiology at the University of Surrey before taking a PhD at University of Oxford on the replication of viruses

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

of invertebrates. In 1979, he moved to New York to work on the molecular biology of influenza viruses at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre. He returned to the University of Glasgow, becoming Professor of Molecular Virology in 1995 and joint Head of Division of Virology in 1998. Within seven years, he was Professor of Virology at the University of St Andrews and in 2013, he returned to Glasgow to join the newly established MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research where he was the Bill Jarrett Professor of Infectious Diseases.

Richard was an inspiration and mentor to many people who benefited from his scientific knowledge and experience. He always said to members of his laboratory, and continued to emphasize during his illness, that the best they could do for him was “to work hard and get results!”

Richard loved his family and his science.

As a keen angler and hillwalker, he completed his fiftieth Munro in Scotland shortly before his diagnosis and was the proud recipient of five fishing cups. He died of mesothelemia, aged 61, on 5 June 2015.

David D Branch OG 1973. Died in 2011.

Geoffrey Tickner OG 1973. Died on 8 September 2012.

Graham Jackson OG 1984. Hamonde 1979-84.

After leaving the RGS, Graham won an organ scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge where he read Mathematics & Music, before studying Conducting with Timothy Reynish at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

In 1992, he joined Welsh National Opera, conducting the company on several tours of south-west England and directing its’ chorus on Charlotte Church’s recording of Panis Angelicus.

He also worked with other regional British opera companies, including Glyndebourne Festival and Opera Northern Ireland. His appointment as Principal Conductor at Bremen Opera in 2000 launched him into the world of German opera. In 2003, he became music director at the Krefeld/Mönchengladbach company, with whom he conducted the premiere of The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz by Stefan Heucke in 2006. He was keen to develop younger audiences and took music out to schools, carnivals and summer-evening concerts at Schloss Rheydt.

Graham proved very popular with German critics and audiences and in 2010-11 he was voted Conductor of the Year by critics in North Rhine Westphalia. He was also guest conductor in many German concert halls and theatres, as well as at the Bastille Opera in Paris and the Vienna Volksoper. He died of cancer aged 45, on 23 July 2012.

his life Matt always acknowledged the privileged start he had in life through his time at the RGS and it is testament to his character that he chose to devote so much of his life to helping young people who enjoyed far fewer opportunities.

Matt has been one of my very best friends since school. He has forever been my social conscience and my reminder not to stress about the small things in life. Through his early death, Matt’s final lesson is that life and health are precious, finite and to be enjoyed to the full. Knowing Matt as I did – he would be very pleased if that final lesson touched all of those who knew him from school.”

Tribute from Simon Till OG 1997.

To make a donation or find out more about the Matt Kendall Foundation, see page 64 for more information.

Alan George OG 2002. Nettles. Died on 12 November 2012.

Kunal Moorthy OG 2003. Valpy 1998-2003.

Died in a swimming accident in Ghana in August 2011.

Philip Lingard OG 1985. Powell 1978-83.

Died in 2013.

David Griffiths OG 2006. Beckingham 2001-06.

Involved in DofE, CCF and member of School 1st Tennis Team. Passed away suddenly on 25 February 2013.

Simon Michaelis OG 1985. Died in November 2012.

Edmund Smith OG 2012. Austen 2007-12.

Died on 12 July 2012.

Paul Croston OG 1975. Died in January 2015.

Alexander Douglas OG 1975. Died in November 2014.

John Annear OG 1987. Died Christmas 2008.

Chris Field OG 1975. Attended RGS 1968 to 1975.

Chris went on to read Law at Magdalen College, Oxford. Thereafter, he pursued a career in the law, became a Partner at Clifford Chance and, more recently, owned and ran an hotel and famed restaurant in the north west of Scotland with his wife, Cathryn. Chris died in late November 2015, aged 58.

John A Ross OG 1976. Attended RGS 1971-76.

Died in 2007.

Michael P Hill OG 1977. Died on 15 June 2013.

Timothy Sansom OG 1977. Died in April 2012.

John Newson OG 1980. We were informed of John’s death in September 2012.

Robert Millar OG 1981. We were informed of Robert’s death in April 2016.

John S Hicklenton OG 1983. Hamonde 1978-83.

John was a cult British comics artist, best known for his work on 2000 AD and Judge Dredd. He died aged 42, after suffering from primary progressive multiple sclerosis for 10 years. An award-winning film documenting his art and life, entitled Here’s Johnny was shown on More4 in 2008. 100 Months was Hicklenton’s last complete work, which he worked on right up until his death at Dignitas in Zurich, on 19 March 2010.

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Matt Kendall OG 1997. “I’m sad to report that Matt Kendall died on the 18th May 2015, following a two and a half year battle with oesophageal cancer. He was aged just 35 and is survived by his wife Pamela, his eight-year-old daughter Sofia, twenty-year-old step-son Andre and parents David and Linda.

Contemporaries of Matt’s from school will remember a young man who loved sport and messing around with his friends. His charm, laid-back nature and quick mind made him a popular member of his year. After RGS he went on to study Psychology and Sports Science at Birmingham University, and it was in Birmingham that he chose to stay for the rest of his adult life. There he forged a remarkable career in youth and community development, and through 15 years of dedicated service ran numerous projects alongside organisations including Barnardos and the Football Association.

His good work continues through the Matt Kendall Foundation – a charitable organisation friends and relatives launched on his behalf in the last few days of his life. It’s purpose is to help 16 to 25 year olds in Birmingham find work and reach their potential. Positive and selfless to the end, Matt was hugely excited about the role the Foundation will play after his death. Throughout

RETRACTION - Rodney Swan OG 1985 has not passed away, as mistakenly reported in the 2010 OG magazine. We were delighted to see him at the 1985 reunion in June 2015.

We offer unreserved apologies for having inaccurately posted news of his demise and for any distress caused.

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STAFFObituaries Fred Bailey, Industrial Fellow at RGS 1988-93.

Fred Bailey was appointed as the first RGS Industrial Fellow in 1988, initially for one year, as part of the RGS response to the ‘Industry Year’ initiative. He worked for Unilever and was seconded by them to work at the RGS. His role was to develop links between the RGS and Industry in general and to work closely with both the Science & Technology and Careers Departments. In fact, Fred enjoyed his year so much and was such a success, that the secondment was extended until 1993. He was very much a pioneer as, at that time, there were very few Industrial Fellows in schools.

Fred was very keen on cross-curricular links and wanted as many departments as possible to be involved with the industry initiative. He devised a project for Third Year pupils on the building of the Channel Tunnel being built at the time and organised a number of site visits for whole year groups to see the work in progress. Geography, Technology, Science and Modern Languages departments were all involved. Alongside Stuart Nuttall and John Simpson, Fred also encouraged trips to the north of England to see, first hand, big industrial plants in action. The work done by the pupils was featured in an Industry-School link evening that Fred helped to organise, which the then Minister of Education, Kenneth Baker, attended during his visit to the RGS. Fred passed away in May 2010 in a hospice close to his home in Devon.

Michael Benson, Classics Teacher at RGS 1975-78.

Went on to become Headmaster of Lanesborough School. Michael died on 10 April 2012.

Patricia Mary Harris, Classics Mistress at RGS 1974-89. Born and raised in Swansea, Pat was convent-educated and a graduate of that city’s university in Latin and English. The latter fact is one which the former Head of English, Martin Blocksidge, only discovered fairly recently.

Pat, so to speak, chose the hard end of things.

Teaching Latin is a very different kind of business from teaching English, but the fact that Latin has been traditionally seen as the scourge of the average schoolboy probably added to its attraction in Pat’s eyes.

Pat’s baptism of fire as a teacher came early enough. Her arrival as a student teacher at Port Talbot Grammar School, she discovered, coincided with her head of department’s disappearance to have major surgery, so she was left to fend for herself in a distinguished school whose alumni, she was always proud to note, included Anthony Hopkins, Tom Jones and Richard Burton. Whether she actually taught all of them she never revealed. Nevertheless, one marked feature of Pat’s professional career

was already apparent. She was easily at home in institutions that contained rather a high level of testosterone.

Pat arrived at the RGS in September 1974, when the school was still a state-maintained grammar school, and the School considered itself fortunate in acquiring a teacher of exceptional skill and a ‘larger than life’ personality. Classics mistress she may have been, but she was certainly the only one in the history of the subject who insisted on being called ‘Sir’ by her pupils.

Whilst she could appear to be awfully fierce, (walking round the corridors of the RGS she loomed very large indeed) many of her former pupils felt privileged to have been taught by her, even though her standards could be extremely challenging. As Pat was so demanding and insisted on perfection, it was by no means unusual to hear small boys begin their sentences with ‘but Mrs Harris says…’ And, of course, what she said went. Yet, despite her high standards Pat, as everyone knew, was also great fun and was certainly no upholder of political correctness. Martin Blocksidge reminded me of the opinion of John Daniel, former Headmaster of the RGS, who once said that he thought ‘the best teachers are the ones that break all the rules’ and Pat certainly broke a great many.

Pat never encountered anything remotely approaching a discipline problem and when I first started at the RGS (in 1977) there was a difficult, disruptive boy in the Fifth Form. When I spoke to Pat about him she said, “If he starts up again just say you’ll send him to me and I’ll sit him on my knee”. Needless to say that when I relayed this to the boy in question, he turned to jelly and from that time on was as ‘good as gold’.

On another occasion Martin Blocksidge’s ‘A’ level English class stood in line to wish her, one by one, a happy birthday, in front of an absolutely astonished group of younger boys.

Pat subsequently retired from the RGS and teaching in July 1989.

To many of us, however, Pat was much more than a colleague: she was a very good friend.

Bearing in mind the influence of her convent education she was, at root, an extremely serious person but she knew how to enjoy life and was immensely sociable. The most endearing aspect of Pat’s sociability was its’ wonderful habit of catching you unawares. Pat loved doing things on the spur of the moment and often at times when most other people would never dream of doing them. Martin and I have vivid memories of the Harris cocktail cabinet being flung open to all-comers in what to anybody else would have been the middle of the night.

It’s therefore very fitting that, barely a month before she died, the last time I saw Pat was at the RGS, and at my retirement party. She was on excellent form and when I said goodbye to her that afternoon, of course, I didn’t know how significant the parting was to be, but I’m very glad we all had the opportunity to say it. She died on 29 July 2011.

John Simpson (With gratitude to Martin Blocksidge for the use of much of the eulogy which he gave at Pat’s funeral in Guildford on 12 August 2011.)

Brian Hicks, School Caretaker, retired 2005.

Died on 12 March 2010.

Francis Hughes, Maintenance Staff 1987-94. Died in January 2013.

Ian Jameson, Geography teacher at RGS 2002-08.

Ian had a distinguished teaching career as Head of Geography at Rutlish School then as Deputy Head at Christ College in Guildford, from where he had retired for two years before being appointed as part-time Geography master at the RGS in 2002.

Ian was a very professional and knowledgeable Geography teacher who would happily teach the subject to the First Form through to students in the Upper Sixth. He had very high expectations and his pupils responded positively to his style of teaching. When dealing with GCSE topics such as deindustrialization in the North-East of England he would bring his guitar into lessons and sing the Lindisfarne song ‘Fog on the Tyne’.

One of his favourite possessions was an altimeter from a Vulcan Bomber that his father, who was an air crash investigator, gave him. He used this instrument when teaching aspects of the meteorology course to the second year since it showed how atmospheric pressure changes with elevation. Ian acknowledged the need for fieldwork and he actively became involved in the Geography Department’s Lower Sixth field course in Dorset, where he was able to explain the lithological variations in Lulworth Cove and Stair Hole. Ian supported the Geographical Association lectures and, on one occasion, when a lecturer gave six hours’ warning that he was not able to speak to the group, Ian came to the rescue and, with others from the department, delivered an informative, illustrated talk on the origin of Karst scenery.

Before he retired he visited Antarctica and was one of the only passengers who enjoyed the very rough sea journey across the Drake Passage from Tierra del Fuego to the Antarctic Peninsula. He retired in 2008 and kept in regular contact with the department by sending postcards of places

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

he visited. These included Fair Isle, North Cape, Orkney, New Zealand, Spitsbergen, Benbecula, Cape Town and finally Australia. His last postcard from ‘Down Under’ which compared Australia with other parts of the world read as follows – “Hi Guys! Could not resist this one – spatial awareness and a sense of place – they make Geographers a very special breed.”

There is no doubt that Ian was a very special teacher who inspired many generations of students and he will be sadly missed. He was closely involved in the RumDoodle Society at RGS and was a climber of Himalayan capabilities; he accomplished some remarkable treks and climbs, often of a highly technical nature, particularly in the Everest area. He endured a serious illness with characteristic resolute cheerfulness and died on 27 July 2013.

Dick Seymour (as published in the School magazine 2013 with additional copy from Catherine Moorehead).

Ray Stark, Design & Technology Teacher at RGS 2004-11. The following is part of the address which colleague and fellow RGS teacher, Justin Kelly, gave at Ray’s memorial service. Ray had sadly and suddenly passed away on 18 November 2011 from a heart attack brought on while out running.

“In the days immediately following the shocking news of Mr Stark’s sudden death, I had to stand in front of many of you, but I didn’t know what to say… many of you I couldn’t look in the eye. So this is what I couldn’t say then.

Things you probably didn’t know about Mr Stark: • He was heavily involved in writing the National Curriculum for Technology in South Africa.

• He was a musician and had been a band leader for a military band.

• He once saved his own life and that of a headmaster who was about to give him a lift when his technologically inquisitive mind spotted a wire under the car he was about to enter. Mr Stark investigated and established that it was a live car bomb.

• He had been a head of department, an examiner, a teacher-trainer and a subject advisor in Biology.

• He didn’t like to mention this much, but he had been a lieutenant in the South African Army.

His job had been to lead a night-time patrol in the townships of Soweto during the time of Apartheid. We can’t really even begin to imagine the things he saw.

I suspect his experiences moulded him and made him fearless. He didn’t suffer fools gladly and wasn’t afraid to tell members of staff, his

students or even parents what he really thought.

But while he wouldn’t pull his punches (where it was necessary), he also had a wonderful way of praising people. You wouldn’t have noticed this the way I did, but he wrote the most amazing reports.

You only ever saw one, but I read hundreds of them at a time. They were close to pure poetry to me. The reason they were so good was that he knew every student, their strengths and weaknesses. He knew exactly what to say because he really understood the boys he taught and all his comments were individual and relevant.

David J Wingrove, Technology Technician at RGS 1996-07. Died on 1 July 2013.

You might be thinking that if his reports were so good then why was I checking them? Well, just for grammatical errors. You may not know it but for Mr Stark, English wasn’t even his second language, it was his third, after Afrikaans and Zulu. To watch him on the phone to his relatives in South Africa was a sight to behold.

One way of telling if a teacher is well regarded is by his or her nickname. What you want as a teacher is a nickname which at the least does not put you down. Mr Stark was one of the few teachers to have a nickname that was actually cool: The Starkinator, which I always thought was a clever name, evocative as it was of a tall, calculating superhuman, relentless in his pursuit of at least making you do your homework.

He lived for Design Technology. He could see a technological solution in everything, but he was of course interested in many things. He was easily the most versatile teacher I have ever known. I have mentioned his teaching Music and Biology, but in previous schools he also taught Maths, Afrikaans and Science. At the RGS he also taught IT, Games and Art, art he particularly loved.

He was a unique individual, a good friend and colleague, a legend, a father-figure to many and an inspiration to us all. Don’t you ever forget him or the things he taught you!”

Ken G Stephens, RGS Governor 1977-04 & Chairman of RGS Governors 1996-04.

Ken was born in the Midlands and educated at Bablake School, Coventry and at Birmingham University. He became Reader in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Surrey, specialising in Ion Implantation into Semiconductors. He was married with one son and one daughter. His hobbies included sport (he played football for Birmingham University and was Captain of Blackheath Cricket Club), reading and music. He was Chairman of RGS Governors for eight years and also sat on the RGS Foundation Board at its outset in 2001.

The School is very grateful for all his support during his time as a Governor and beyond.

He died on 26 June 2013.

To submit an obituary or notice of death, please contact Philippa Green on: +44 (0)1483 880665 / pmg@rgsg.co.uk

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From the Archives

Graffiti a dividing presence in today’s society.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

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W

hether you see modern graffiti as an art form or as an anti-social act, there is a growing archaeological interest in historic graffiti. Many historians believe that graffiti was used to make important public statements, commemorate events or provide reminders, and therefore can provide a unique insight into popular culture of the time.

While RGS has many notable alumni who have made their name in the world, other OGs clearly wanted to make their mark on the school in a more literal way. These pages show RGS’s own collection of historic graffiti documenting the initials, names, dates and drawings of some of those who passed through the school. 

“Graffiti: From the Italian graffito meaning a scratch. Writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place” Oxford Dictionary

“Graffiti: An ordinary person’s desire to record their presence, at that location, at that moment in time” historicengland.org

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THE GAMEs ROOM Chess Problems with thanks to Alan Thorn The two positions opposite are from games played in the British Championships 2015 by our current School Chess Club captain Harry Grieve (Fifth Form), who represented England at the World Youth Chess Championships in 2015. In both games Harry is playing white. In the first diagram can you see how Harry was able to force checkmate? In the second diagram can you see how he was able to win material?

Answers overleaf

Maths Conundrum: Home from Home by Mash 1

2

3

4

5

10

7

8

9

13 17

Letters of the alphabet represent distinct primes in the range 2 – 101 inclusive.

The five unclued across entries all have single-word clues to be deduced.

11

12 16

6

14

15

18

19

Where it is possible to create the entry from a concatenation of two or more consecutive primes, that sequence has also been given in brackets. All such instances are given.

Apart from these brackets, normal rules of algebra apply.

Solvers must write a final clue-word below the grid.

20 24

21 25

22

23 26

29 32

27

28 30

33

34

36

Final clue-word:

Answers overleaf

35

There are no leading zeros and entries are distinct.

31

Across 10 DIKED 11 FEDS 16 EDOKU 18 DUES 24 RET 26 MICY 32 JOI 35 DONE

Down 1 EYED (JE) 2 REC 3 REESE 4 ITO 5 DIED 6 GUIDED 7 CEDE 8 EKE 9 ACE

13 SAM 14 PED 15 H 16 DECK 17 DDM 19 VI 21 SO 22 BEADED 23 ES

25 EN 27 WIDE 28 ODDS 29 LID 30 CND 31 NO (VD) 33 BEE 34 DEED 35 DO (IC)

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

Crossword by Jeremy Whittaker Across 8 Manage dome (4) 9 Wine is to be had in Olympic venue: yes, in Berlin (5) 10 Reserve something in 5, 17 (4) 11 Apes found in opera about simians primarily (6) 12 Short, entertaining piece of music sweet! (8) 13 Burn town - dreadful, dark colour (8) 15 As time goes by, perhaps, stoicism is lacking, sadly (6) 17 Where Emma and Kim may be found (7) 19 Free tea in Ulster consumed by peacemakers (7) 22 My sets are unruly: organisation is called for (6) 24 Monarch could be taken to hospital with minor fracture (8) 26 Capital H is like N distorted (8) 28 Teacher may be found after 8 in stream, cavorting about (6) 30 Scout’s friend may be a fishy companion (4) 31 A man such as James Bond? (5) 32 Chap excels, holding highest position (4)

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18 Ancient legal system may produce alarm now (5,3) 20 Conductor, macho type, limps oddly inside (8) 21 Constrained by 17 to find place for 8, 28 (7) 23 Rough-and-tumble lets us run riot (6) 25 At home, end of game for resident (6) 27 Queen travels around motorway to get ruler (4) 29 Cool uniform (4)

Answers overleaf

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Down 1 Still, I could make a fantastic snowman!

(4) 2 Impromptu speaker gives notice to politician (British) about Europe (2-6) 3 Cool Italian produces mural (6) 4 RGS teacher from the country? (7) 5 By 17, vital RGS resource everyone is found in one day (8) 6 Player is too bored to start with to turn round (6) 7 Lonely Star Wars character (4) 14 Merge university with vacant faculty (5) 16 Stellar gathering for legendary hunter (5)

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DIALOGUE Issue #1 2016

The new OG tie Gifted to all OGs as they leave school and available to OGs across the community, a new OG tie will shortly go on sale. Further to consultation with OGs of all ages, the new tie fits in to the family of RGS ties and will be available in polyvore or silk.

THE GAMEs ROOM Chess answers 1) 1. Rh7+, Kg8 2. Qxg6+, Kf8 3. Qf7mate or 1. Rh7+, Kxh7 2. Qe7+, Kg8/Kh8 3. Qg7mate 2) 1. Bxc5, xc5 2. Ne5, Bf7 3. Qf3, Bg8 4. Ng6 wins material or 2…..Bh7 3. Qxh5+, g6 4. Nxg6 again wins material.

Maths conundrum answers The first 26 primes are allocated to letters of the alphabet in the order: 59, 23, 7, 3, 2, 43, 13, 83, 5, 73, 17, 31, 11, 47, 19, 53, 71, 37, 29, 67, 41, 89, 101, 79, 61, 97. (with Q, X and Z interchangeable as they don’t appear in the puzzle).

The five unclued across entries in order are: NETTLES, HAMONDE, POWELL, AUSTEN, VALPY, leaving BECKINGHAM to be written below the grid.

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Look out for further information in your inbox or through your letterbox soon.

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BECKINGHAM

Celebrate your legacy, join the Beckingham Society If you have left, or are thinking of leaving, a legacy to RGS Guildford in your will, you are eligible to join the Beckingham Society. For more information and to receive your invitation to the annual Beckingham Society Luncheon with the Headmaster, please get in touch with Jenny Rothwell in the Development Office.

Email RGSFoundation@rgsg.co.uk Telephone +44 (0)1483 880665 Development & Alumni Relations Office Royal Grammar School High Street Guildford Surrey GU1 3BB

Logical solution path DEED < 100: D/E = 2/3 CEDE and DIED both < 100: I/C = 5/7, but DECK can’t end 0, so I = 5, C = 7, hence from 5d, E = 2, D = 3.

17d under 100: M = 11 35d gives O = 19 1d must end 2 from concatenation, so Y is from 31, 61, 71. The last fails concatenation, and the first gives 11395 at MICY, but ES must be even, so Y = 61, and hence J = 73 and 32a is 6935.

Then BEE gives B = 23, and LID means L = 31.

27d starts 3 so W = 101.

35a starts 53, so N = 47 and hence from 31d, V = 89, giving 19d.

28d starts 4, so S = 29 From 18a, U must be 53 or less and end 1, forcing U = 41.

8d means K is either 13 or 17, but only the latter fits at 16a.

24a now forces R and T to be 37 and 67 in either order, then 3d makes R = 37, so T = 67.

F now has to be 43 from 11a, G 13 from 4d and P 53 from 14d.

H has to end 3, leaving only 83. and finally A can only be 59.

Factorising the unclued across entries results in anagrams of five houses, leaving Beckingham to go under the grid.

Crossword answers Across: 8 Head, 9 Rioja, 10 Book, 11 Mimics, 12 Lollipop, 13 Nutbrown, 15 Sitcom, 17 Library, 19 Unchain, 22 System, 24 Hairline, 26 Helsinki, 28 Master, 30 Dill, 31 Agent, 32 Apex.

Down: 1 Yeti, 2 Ad-libber, 3 Fresco, 4 Holland, 5 Mallison, 6 Oboist, 7 Solo, 14 Unify, 16 Orion, 18 Roman law, 20 Helmsman, 21 Chained, 23 Tussle, 25 Inmate, 27 Emir, 29 Even.

The RGS Old Guildfordian Magazine

87

thE dEvEloPMEnt and alUMni rElations officE

Georgie Grant Haworth Development Director

Philippa Green Alumni Relations Officer

Helen Mack Communications Officer

Jenny Rothwell Development Executive and Governor’s Secretary

 ggh@rgsg.co.uk

 pmg@rgsg.co.uk

 hma@rgsg.co.uk

 jrr@rgsg.co.uk

 +44 (0)1483 887143

 +44 (0)1483 887144

 +44 (0)1483 880665

 +44 (0)1483 880665

With over 5000 OGs in over 40 countries, the OG community is a strong and growing international network. Keep in touch to receive the latest OG and School news and events updates.

Development & Alumni Relations Office Royal Grammar School High Street Guildford Surrey GU1 3BB  +44 (0)1483 880665  og@rgsg.co.uk  @RGSGuildford  rgs.guildford #AlwayspartofRGS

rgs-guildford.co.uk

Catch the new RGS promotional film #alwaysPartofrGs at rgs-guildford.co.uk



You’re alwaYs Part of the rGs, and the rGs will alwaYs be a Part of You.

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exCellent video. made me verY Proud to have attended the sChool.

John Bullock OG 1995

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it has somethinG for everYone, even remindinG this 73-Year-old that he is still Part of the rGs. John Allison OG 1961

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verY imPressive – bit late for me to start aGain!

Gil Carter OG 1963