DialOGue 2024

FROM THE EDITOR

Philippa Green Editor

It has been a busy time with OGs at the RGS over the last two years and great to see ever-increasing numbers of OGs visiting the school, for many different occasions. We are hugely grateful to all those of you who support our careers programme, sharing your expertise and insights through seminars, webinars and the careers conventions as well as RGS Connect, our digital network for OGs. You are amazing role models for our pupils, inspiring and informing them about life and work.

Reunions and events continue to play a major part in the Alumni calendar and it has been wonderful to welcome so many of you back here, finding old friends and teachers, reconnecting with the school and renewing interests. Some new events also – the London Drinks is back, and we have inaugurated reunions in the USA and further afield. Do let us know about any events and activities you’d like, and we’ll do our best to arrange them!

January 2025 saw the Independent Schools Inspectors arrive, and we were thrilled by the high praise and rare accolade in their report. Dr Cox, RGS Headmaster, wrote: “We are just one of a small handful of schools in the whole country to receive two Significant Strengths. I am delighted the Inspectors recognised that, firstly, inclusion and mutual respect, and secondly, breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm for scholarship as well as academic curiosity and ambition are embedded and celebrated in absolutely everything we do at the RGS.” You can read the full report on the website www.rgsg.co.uk

We have launched our new Bursary Campaign, The Road to 2035, an ambitious project to raise £13m by 2035. This initiative will allow the RGS, within a single generation, to educate any bright deserving boy irrespective of their financial circumstances. Click on the QR code below to find out more.

The RGS is in excellent shape, dealing calmly and collaboratively with challenges such as VAT, business rate relief and NI. It is not an easy time for independent schools but yours is in robust, positive form with clever, inquisitive and thoughtful boys and dedicated, inspirational staff working together to enrich lives. You are always welcome to come and see us or get in touch to share news and ideas as it is very much your place too. Thank you for your support in so many different ways and for your excellent company!

Editorial Team and Acknowledgements

Editor Philippa Green

Communications should be addressed to the Editor: og@rgsg.co.uk or RGS Guildford, High Street, Guildford GU1 3BB.

Acknowledgements

With sincere thanks to all those who contributed to this edition of the OG magazine or helped with its production. We would particularly like to thank those not credited elsewhere:

Mary Buylla

Helen Dixon

Peter Dunscombe

Phill Griffith

Nina McCoy

Monica Popa

Jimmy Pressley

Michelle Searle

Lucy Shires

Kathryn Sweet

Many thanks to all those staff and families who share OG news with us and support us at our events.

Our grateful thanks as always to the Catering Team, the Estates Team and the IT department who give us such wonderful support throughout the year at our events – we couldn’t host them without your fabulous food, friendly service, hard work and attention to detail.

Huge thanks for fabulous photography throughout the year to Jimmy Pressley, Kathryn Sweet and Phill Griffith.

This magazine was designed by Haime & Butler and printed by L&S Printing. It is produced annually by the Development & Alumni Relations Office, Royal Grammar School, Guildford.

WELCOME TO THE CLASSES OF 2023 AND 2024

We are so impressed by the way our Class of 2023 conducted themselves. Sitting high-stakes A Level examinations, after the significant succession of disruptions caused by the pandemic and having never experienced formal public examinations before, placed real demands on our students.

Our Class of 2024 conducted themselves wonderfully too. Not only were they excellent leaders and role models, they also fully immersed themselves in the broader life of the school and proved to be a thoroughly decent, humble and inspirational year group.

Both cohorts have secured places on the most competitive courses at the leading universities in the country. Well done to each and every one of you! Welcome to the OG Community –over 5,000 OGs worldwide who share news, support each other and enjoy keeping in touch and meeting up wherever they may be.

CLASS OF 2023

CLASS OF 2024

41.5% 38%

of all grades were gold-star standard A*

of all grades were gold standard A*

CLASS OF... BURSARIES

CLASS OF 2023 BURSARY

32 families raised 23% of a full 7-year bursary.

CLASS OF 2024 BURSARY

21 families raised 22% of a full 7-year bursary.

A huge thank you everyone who is supporting the Class of... Bursaries. We are very grateful for your generosity in holding open the door to another RGS boy, enabling him to take up his place.

HARDY CUP RESULTS 2023 AND 2024

of all grades were awarded at A* or A

students achieved three or more A*s

75.4% 75% 36 86 106 123

students went to their first-choice institutions

of all grades were awarded at A* or A

students achieved a clean sweep of grades at A or A*

The Hardy Cup is awarded to the House which wins the most points throughout the year from an eclectic range of activities celebrating participation across the year groups. Nettles won in 2023 and Beckingham in 2024.

students went to their first-choice institutions

Victorious Nettles House team 2023 (L–R): Duncan Chapman Deputy Housemaster, Alex Jackson, Karim Tayar Housemaster and OG 1996 and Will Munroe

TOP 12 UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS

An abridged version of

The Headmaster’s Address

Senior Prizegiving

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Chair of Governors, Group Captain Cripps, Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for accommodating the earlier start to this ceremony. We thought that bringing the event forward by an hour would enable more people to watch England’s match against Slovenia. But having sat through that abject performance against Denmark, some have suggested that it would have been kinder to us all to have started it an hour later so that none of us would have to go through that agony again. But we are England supporters – we live in hope! Thank you for your flexibility.

The annual budget of this school when it was founded was just £4 13s 6d per year; it is significantly more than that in the twenty-first century. The Royal Grammar School has always faced challenges. It has, throughout its 515-year history, been assailed by numerous tests and trials and has responded to such set-backs to become the institution today of which we are all proud. But it has often been a very difficult journey.

Let me take you back to our founding by Robert Beckingham in 1509. Beckingham left money in his will to create a chantry chapel so

that prayers could be said to aid the passage of his and his wife’s souls into Heaven. Luckily for us he also added a codicil to his will to the effect that should his chantry chapel not happen within two years, the money should be used to create a free school for boys in Guildford. Tudor ecclesiastical bureaucracy being what it was, the Free School for Boys in Guildford came into existence. The annual allowance from Beckingham’s estate was £4 13s 6d per year. Within a few years, however, the School had grown to the extent that its budget was £6. Beckingham’s gift simply did not cover the expense, and his endowment was running low.

The Mayor and Free Men of Guildford who were the first Governing Body, petitioned the king, Edward VIth, for support and he granted the school land which brought in rents of over £20 per year. The decision to charge fees soon after, coupled with the generous beneficence of the Austen family, meant that the School was able to move from its original site near Guildford castle to its current location on what was the boundary of the town, and a magnificent Tudor school was constructed which is, to all intents and purposes, unchanged today.

For most of its 500-year history, the School has just about kept itself afloat, with the support of many, including those who are recognised in the names of our Houses. But by the end of the 19th century, however, with the fabric of the School in a parlous state and with a school roll of just 44 pupils, the RGS had to accept the support of our Local Education Authority in order to survive and it was a sensible decision. Another sensible decision was to appoint Arthur Green as Headmaster in 1919, for it was Green who first verbalised what made an education special at the RGS. The Education Acts of the 1940s gave the RGS a stark choice, to become an independent school, which at that time was unaffordable, or to come under the control of the Surrey Education Board as a state grammar school. The latter option was adopted and the RGS remained a very successful state grammar school for the next thirty years.

But the direction of the RGS was irrevocably changed by the Labour government of the 1970s. Their political alignment with comprehensive education was to have a drastic effect on so many state grammar schools in the country, many of which faced

I am proud that the values inherent in the work of the School in the 21st century continue to be a constant in a changing world.

closure, and the RGS was no exception. The School was faced with the prospect of a forced merger with County School, the girls’ grammar school in Guildford, to create a large comprehensive school. Such a course of action would have seen the name of the RGS erased from the roll of British schools, its assets redistributed, and its history deleted. Many avenues for survival were explored at this time, including the possibility of a merger with one of our local independent girls’ schools, but this plan was not realised. And, eventually, the Chairman of Governors, John Brown, petitioned the Secretary of State for Education to be permitted to become an independent school once again. Much to the surprise of many, this request was granted; the assets of the School were purchased and the RGS, once again, became a fee-paying independent school.

As I reflect on the RGS of 2024, I look back with a degree of nostalgia at the, seemingly, much simpler times of just a decade ago. A few weeks ago, I opened my Prizegiving speech of 2014 on my laptop and two things struck me. Firstly, it was far too long (it went on for pages!), and secondly, it was so upbeat and joyful with not a cloud on the horizon, full of lovely memories for me of a halcyon time when we weren’t assailed with a barrage of challenges. Ten years later and the challenges of the past few years have tested all schools not just in this country but around the world. The Covid pandemic, and the lockdowns which were the country’s response to it, made education very difficult. We came through that time with flying colours and the education we provide today reflects, very positively, the steps we were forced to take because, basically, we had no alternative. The way we teach and the way we learn is all the better for the experience of the pandemic, although, like every school in the country, we are still dealing with the emotional and well-being issues which have arisen because of the enforced isolation of the lockdowns four years ago.

When one reviews the history of the RGS from its founding to the present day there is a recurring story which demonstrates, time and time again, the School’s ability to cope with

extreme difficulties and to reinvent itself in the light of the lessons and experiences learnt from such times. We can be proud of the fact that in our distant past and in more recent times, we have coped, and coped impressively, with everything which has been thrown at us. And so it will be in the future. I mentioned earlier that the direction of the RGS was changed by the Labour government of the 1970s. And here we are, 50 years later, faced with a similar scenario. The General Election of 2019 was a concern to me because of the stated intention of Jeremy Corbyn not just to tax independent schools but, ultimately, to abolish them in this country. The result of the 2019 election provided less professional concern for me as Headmaster of the RGS, but it quickly became apparent that the Labour party’s policies around independent education were going to be an important part of future manifestos. And here we are, facing a General Election in just nine days’ time, with every likelihood that Labour will win, that they will win handsomely and that they will be in power for some time. We, like all independent schools, are facing another very real challenge to our existence, and one which calls for considerable change.

Headmaster Arthur Green’s vision for the RGS in the early part of the twentieth century was based on his absolute faith in the value of education for its own sake. He believed that education was for life not just for a career and he, unusually for his time, fought constantly against the popular idea that education should be judged solely by examination results. He worked hard throughout his tenure as Headmaster to ensure that RGS pupils were equipped with those qualities which mattered in life: the readiness to accept responsibility, the spirit of willing service to the community, the determination to increase efficiency in whatever branch of life they were called, and the courage to face adversity.

Green’s values and the current values of the RGS are so very closely aligned. I am proud that the values inherent in the work of the School in the 21st century continue to be a constant in a changing world. ➧

And the world is changing so incredibly quickly, from a technological point of view, from a social point of view, from a national and international point of view. Things are moving so rapidly that it can be extremely daunting to consider the future. If someone had asked me to define artificial intelligence ten years ago I would probably have answered that it was ‘the pomposity of an individual trying to demonstrate that they knew more that they actually did’. Today AI is everywhere and will be a crucial and indispensable part of education during the next decade. But this dynamic future is what we are charged with preparing our students for and that is what we will continue to do to the very best of our ability during the inevitable changes that are facing us all during the next few years.

Those values which were first described by Green are what makes our School stand out. Inclusivity – we are an inclusive and diverse school, although there is more to do in this respect in the future. Scholarship – not always being the best but being the best that you can be. Integrity – following one’s own personal moral code, doing the right thing, which someone defined as doing the right thing when no one is looking. Respect – accepting people for who they are, treating others with kindness and forming lasting friendships. Courage –having the fortitude to challenge oneself, to take risks and to learn from those times when things didn’t go to plan. Collaboration –working together to make a difference and to have a positive impact. Such values are not unique to the RGS, there are many schools and organisations which say similar, but as I walk through the School, as I see the activities of yesterday’s Field Day, as I enjoy music and drama, and sport at Bradstone Brook, I see such values being played out time and time again to the extent that I know that the members of this School have embraced our vision and values and, together, have created a very special community.

There are many highlights of the School year which I could mention in this address, but I am sure that

you do not want this speech to match the marathon of 2014. So, I will pick one highlight for each of our values.

Inclusivity – we are now responsible for teaching over 3,000 international students in our schools in Qatar, Dubai, Nanjing and Oman. Members of staff at the RGS have visited these schools for quality assurance purposes and have, universally, returned with glowing reports. I visited RGS Dubai a couple of weeks ago and it is a wonderful school, full of all the values and learning habits that make the RGS special, and which we are keen to share and export around the world. That excellence was recognised recently by it becoming the very first school in Dubai to receive the accolade of a rating of Very Good in its first official inspection. It has also been listed by the educational consulting company, Carfax, as one of the top centres of learning to watch out for in the world, which is very impressive.

Scholarship – following success in the British Astrophysics and Astronomy Olympiad, Freddie Weir in the Upper Sixth was selected for the Great Britain team for the International Olympiad held in Poland. He, alongside the other four members of the GB team, won a Gold Medal in the competition, and the Great Britain team beat all other countries to win the title: a fantastic example of scholarship for its own sake.

Integrity – a number of Upper Sixth formers led by Ben Tabberner, organised and participated in a 66 km long-distance walk called the Shipwright’s Way to raise money for the Max Windle Memorial trust, which was set up following the very sad death of Max in January 2021 when he was in the Lower Sixth. They did it because they felt it was the right thing to do. I am very pleased to see Max’s father here this evening and I know that he and Max’s mother have been very touched by the efforts of our Sixth Formers, and the money that they and others like them are raising for such an important cause.

Respect – the respect and charisma demonstrated by School Captain, Stuart Brown, and his Senior Prefect

team this year, and the manner in which they led the student body of the RGS is worthy of recognition. They have been one of the best Senior Prefect teams I can remember, and the final day of lessons for the Upper Sixth, a day which, in the past, has been a cause for concern, was a wonderful example of our students getting things right and enjoying that momentous day for all the right reasons.

Courage – a life saved by our front-office lead, Jess HodsonWalker, who gave one of our electrical contractors CPR following a massive heart attack and restarted his heart using a defibrillator in time to hand him over, alive, to the ambulance team. Such a selfless act of courage brings great credit to Jess and to the RGS – to see that young man back in school with his mum and grandmother to offer their thanks was very moving.

And finally, Collaboration – a current School Priority is to provide greater co-educational opportunities and links for our students socially and academically. There have been excellent examples of this during the school year; the multi-sports morning with Tormead, cricket fixtures against Sutton High and GHS, the big band trip to the Italian lakes with GHS and the forthcoming choir and orchestral trip to Spain, the trip to Vietnam with Tormead, and numerous academic seminars with both GHS and Tormead, including the newly inaugurated Feminism Society, to name just a few.

There is a lot to celebrate this past year and we are looking forward to the next. To return to the General Election, however. In many respects, I am pleased and relieved that an issue which has been hanging over independent schools for so long will be resolved soon. The unsettling thing is that we don’t yet know how it will be resolved and over what time-frame, which makes it very difficult to plan for and to share how we are going to mitigate such a large financial challenge. Labour have stated explicitly in their manifesto that the improvements to education, many of which are long overdue and which you cannot

We can be proud of the fact that in our distant past and in more recent times, we have coped, and coped impressively, with everything which has been thrown at us. And so it will be in the future.

argue against, will be funded by the application of VAT on school fees and the removal of business rate relief from independent schools. I am pleased to report that the Governors and the School Leadership team have been working on plans to mitigate the effects of Labour’s policies for many months, but it is very hard to do so when there is so much uncertainty. But we have been planning for the worst.

The Chair of Governors has already informed our parents by letter that we will share the burden of Labour’s education policy with them. The School will make savings and put into place such mitigations as are possible so that the full 20% of VAT is not passed on. The Chair has also advised parents that any increase in fees will be phased over a number of years. More than that, it is difficult to say at this stage, because, until we know how and when Labour are going to introduce their policy, we cannot address it with any certainty. But I was pleased to hear that Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor, has now stated that, against expectations and contrary to earlier statements, the imposition of VAT on fees will not be an instant focus for the Labour Party if they win the general election and that we may have a little more time on our hands than previously thought.

What I can state is that we will do all we can to ensure that those things that we hold dear at the RGS, those immutable values, remain at the core of everything we do. The words of Arthur Green, his vision for education, which can be read on the display board as you enter the School, were far-sighted, talking as he did about the value of education for its own sake. And that will continue to be our goal as we move forward. The next few years are going to tough for all independent schools and the RGS is no exception. But I am confident that I have the people around me who will help me steer the School through these choppy waters.

A few weeks ago my daughter, not unsurprisingly, was slightly overwhelmed by the prospect of sitting her A Level exams. Like all parents, we reassured her that she would get through it and that the

sunshine would return and now, having finished her A Levels, she is enjoying life once again. The sunshine will return for the RGS. It might take a couple of years, but as our history has shown, we are too good a school at coping with challenges to let such things come between us and what is our ultimate aim, to provide our young people with the exceptional education they need to set them up for a successful life ahead.

And to confirm that statement with some positive news, I am pleased to report that the annual Global Schools Ranking 2024 by HSBC and Hurun Education has just been released. This is a ranking of the World’s Top Schools, not just in terms of exam results, but ranked according to leavers’ university destinations, co-curricular activities, ethos and reputation, and I am very proud of the fact that the RGS is 20th overall, and is ranked the fourth top boys’ school in the world in this list. Well done to everyone who has worked so hard to make such recognition a reality.

I shall close this address by thanking the many people, students, staff, Governors and friends who have contributed to the success of the RGS over the past year and particularly the staff who, by their inspirational ideas and careful management, will also ensure the success and continuity of the School over the next few years. I am, because of the wonderful people I have alongside me, as confident as I can possibly be, that this school will continue to offer the very best in education. Indeed, in ten years’ time, in 2034, my successor will hopefully look back on this speech and reflect that we didn’t just survive this challenge, but we became an even better school as a result. We are ready for the challenges ahead and eager to address them head on.

Thank you.

Dr JM Cox Headmaster

DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI NEWS

ROAD TO 2035 BURSARY CAMPAIGN

It feels truly rewarding to reflect on the journey since our last update and a year that has marked the beginning of a transformative chapter for the RGS. Over the past year, thanks to your unwavering support and generosity, we have made significant strides along “The Road to 2035” Bursary – our ambitious vision to become a fully merit-based school by 2035.

I am delighted to share that the bursary provision has grown steadily, with 68 boys currently benefitting from financial assistance and 37 of them receiving full transformational support, with fee remissions of 80%. This progress is a testament not only to the commitment of the Development and Alumni team but, most importantly, to the passion, support and dedication of our extended community without whom none of these achievements would be possible – our OGs, parents, staff, governors and friends.

Our alumni magazine, Dialogue, remains a vital space for conversation and connection. It continues to be a platform for sharing your stories and achievements, celebrating the remarkable impact of an RGS education in the lives of our OGs, and fostering a collective commitment to shaping the future of the school. As ever, I am grateful to my team especially Philippa as the editor of these pages but also to Helen, Lucy and Michelle for their tireless work in bringing the Headmaster’s vision to life.

The journey ahead is exciting and filled with promise, and we invite you to stay engaged and to consider joining our growing network of supporters. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal of fully endowing bursaries for every deserving boy, ensuring that financial constraints will not hinder talent and ambition.

I am particularly grateful to our first King’s Benefactors, Ian El-Mokadem OG 1986 and Kate who have supported our first King’s bursary student through to graduation in September. You will find their reunion story on pp 14-15 of DialOGue

have built a strong and growing community of 540 families who are committed to making a difference and who are heading the example set by the School’s leadership, in particular that of the Headmaster, Dr Cox, for building a community based not only on excellence but also on values of kindness, generosity and support.

We want to thank all of you who are part of this supportive community. We look forward to seeing you in the coming year, hearing your stories, and celebrating our shared commitment to the RGS community.

Monica Popa Development Director mpo@rgsg.co.uk

JOIN THE JOURNEY ROAD TO 2035

Kate and Ian were the first King’s Benefactors to the RGS Bursary Programme, and their generosity set a wonderful precedent that has inspired our community. Today we

Speaking to an OG at the 2024 OG London Reception

Invest in Potential: Supporting the “Road To 2035” Bursary Campaign

As we approach our 525th anniversary in 2035, we reflect on a legacy rooted in providing exceptional education to talented students, regardless of their financial circumstances. The Road to 2035 Campaign aims to raise £13 million to establish an Enduring Bursary Fund, ensuring that one in seven students can access the transformative RGS educational experience.

Ways to Give:

Making a Lasting Impact

Your support can take various forms, each contributing significantly to the bursary programme:

 Payroll Giving: Donate directly from your salary or pension before tax deductions. For instance, a £100 donation could cost you only £80 if you’re a basic-rate taxpayer. Many employers offer matched giving, potentially doubling your contribution. Check that your employer is enrolled in the Give As You Earn scheme.

Join Our Giving Societies –Welcome to our 1509 Young Circle Members

We recognise and celebrate the generosity of our supporters through our various giving societies, from King’s Benefactors, Patrons, 1509 Circle Members and Friends to our Beckingham Society members with events throughout the year.

This year we have been particularly proud to introduce our 1509 Young Circle Membership and to already count our first founding members.

1509 Young Circle

1509 Young Circle Membership is open to supporters under 35 who commit to a monthly gift of £15.09 and enjoy the same benefits as our 1509 members who can commit to an annual donation of £1,509 or more.

“They believed in me, before they even knew me, and for that I am incredibly grateful.” 2024

Bursary OG

Please join us on our transformative journey on the “Road to 2035”. You can also find all the stories of our bursary progress online rgsroadto2035.co.uk

 Gift Aid: By completing a Gift Aid declaration, we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you donate. Higherrate taxpayers can also reclaim the difference between their rate and the basic rate through their tax return. Please notify us by completing the Gift Aid declaration when you make your gift.

 Legacy Giving: Including the school in your will is a profound way to support future generations. Gifts left to charity are exempt from inheritance tax, and if you leave more than 10% of your estate to charity, the inheritance tax rate on the remainder reduces from 40% to 36%.

Membership in these societies includes recognition in our Supporters’ Review and invitations to exclusive events, fostering a deeper connection with the RGS community.

Your Contribution Matters

Every donation, regardless of size, plays a vital role in transforming lives. By supporting the Bursary Programme, you help maintain the school’s commitment to inclusivity and excellence. Together, we can ensure that financial barriers do not hinder access to the outstanding education RGS offers.

To join any of our societies and contribute to the Bursary Fund please contact us og@rgsg.co.uk or visit our Road to 2035 website: rgsroadto2035.co.uk

Giving Day Campaign 2025

15–17 October

Looking ahead to our next initiative in support of the ‘Road to 2035’ Campaign, we are delighted to share with you the dates for our RGS Giving Day from 15–17 October 2025.

This is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together and showcase the strength of collective philanthropy and demonstrate our commitment to keeping the school accessible to boys who are intellectually curious and who come from an array of backgrounds. The Bursary Fund is currently supporting 68 boys, but we want to widen this support further. Planning for the future we want to continue to bring together boys whose perspectives and experiences will offer a challenging and creative environment where

Bursary Support

During 2023/24 we spent £1,158,000 on means-tested bursaries and a further £55,000 was invested in our Enduring Bursary Fund to provide future bursaries in perpetuity.

More than half of our funding comes from regular giving, showing the collective impact of many. Our major donors (King’s Benefactors, Patrons, 1509 Circle members) demonstrate a deep commitment, while legacies through the Beckingham Society membership ensure future support.

Every gift, no matter its size, plays a crucial role in changing lives.

they can share with their peers their skills and knowledge to ultimately make a real difference to their lives.

During our Giving Day Campaign, over two days, our students will tackle exciting academic and sports challenges. Every challenge completed will release matchfunded donations, boosting our Bursary Fund and helping us reach more boys from all walks of life.

We need you to be part of this journey by becoming an Ambassador or Supporter and help to spread the word to friends and family, and sharing our campaign on social media.

Interested in sponsoring a matched giving challenge? We’d love to hear from you! Please

email the Development and Alumni Relations team on rgsfoundation@rgsg.co.uk to get involved.

Let’s come together and reach our goal of supporting one in seven RGS boys by 2035. We can’t wait to celebrate Giving Day with you this October!

2024 RGS Telephone Campaign

Our 2024 Telephone Campaign showcased the strength of the RGS community and raised £111,649 for the Bursary Programme. Our twelve young OGs reconnected with over 550 RGS families, sharing stories, advice, and experiences that meant a huge amount to both sides.

The RGS Bursary Programme is something our Headmaster, Dr. Jon Cox, Governors, staff and our students are deeply passionate about. A diverse student body enriches the school and the wider society, and as one supporter put it, “It would be a tragedy to let talent and potential go to waste, just because of financial barriers.”

Your donations support ambitious boys with the drive to succeed but not the means to access an RGS education.

Bursary recipients go on to become leaders and changemakers in medicine, government, law, education … many choose careers that give back, understanding first-hand the power of opportunity.

One OG told us, “My life is a whole measure different” because of your support. Bursary students are securing places at top UK universities, including Oxbridge, and are excelling in competitive, specialist courses, determined to stand out and be their best.

Thank you to our fantastic OG team who championed the campaign: Ben, Ed, Freddie, George, Hamish, Jack, Mattia, Milo, Parus, Rohan, Stan and Yazan.

“It would be a tragedy to let talent and potential go to waste, just because of financial barriers.”

554

29%

We spoke to members of our community made a donation

Kate and Ian El-Mokadem OG 1986

Our first RGS King’s Benefactors

Ian and Kate El-Mokadem are an inspiring example of how impactful giving back can be. Their support of a young RGS boy through his 7-year RGS education has shaped their own perspective on success and given an understanding of the impact a great education can have on society.

Sachein and Ian

Ian is a seasoned Chief Executive with experience in international business transformation and leadership across various sectors. He currently serves as a NonExecutive Director for Serco Group and in January this year, he joined the board of Diploma as a Non-Executive Director, bringing his expertise in B2B industrial and services sectors. He is also slated to become a Non-Executive Director of United Utilities this June.

Kate is a Governor at the London Academy of Excellence, Stratford (LAE), a Sixth Form School for students of all backgrounds, cultures and experiences, with particular success helping students from less-advantaged backgrounds win places at the best universities in the UK and around the world. The LAE is now one of the highest-performing academic sixth forms, and is a former recipient of Sixth Form College of the Year, Top 10 Schools for A Level Results, Highest Performing State Sixth Form (The Times), and top 3 finalist in the World’s Best School for supporting Healthy Lives.

Kate,

Reflecting on his time at the RGS, Ian recalls a strong sense of community. Having moved around the world due to his father’s work, Ian had attended a variety of schools, ranging from state institutions in the North of England to an American school in Baghdad, and a Montessori school in the States. The RGS, in comparison, offered a welcome sense of stability. More importantly, it provided an environment where kindness, respect and high academic expectations went hand-in-hand … a balance that makes the RGS unique.

“The RGS was different,” Ian shares. “The high expectations for academic performance were clear, but there was also a genuine culture of kindness and respect. I felt part of the community immediately. It wasn’t just about excelling; it was about excelling with integrity, supporting each other, and respecting those around you.” It’s a sentiment that Ian feels strongly about today, especially as he’s worked in large organisations throughout his career, where guiding principles and values are key to success.

Though not a natural athlete, Ian found his place in extracurricular activities, particularly chess, drama and public speaking. His participation in the school’s production of The Merchant of Venice, set in the Courtyard of the Old Building, and various public speaking competitions helped him develop confidence and communication skills, qualities that would serve him throughout his professional life. Ian credits his success in public speaking to the guidance of teachers such as Mr Fogg, who helped him hone the skill that would later prove invaluable throughout his career. “Being able to stand up in front of an audience and speak confidently, that’s a skill I still use every day,” he reflects.

Throughout his time at the school, Ian forged lasting friendships, including with Chris Chapman and Hugh Yendole, who remain some of his closest friends to this day, Chris was even Best Man at Ian and Kate’s wedding. “Even though we don’t see each other as often as we’d like,

those bonds are solid, and the experiences we shared have stayed with us.”

It was after Ian enjoyed a Class Reunion in Big School, that Ian and Kate began to think about ways in which they could give back, and they decided to become our first King’s Benefactors in support of the RGS Bursary Programme.

The couple’s sponsorship of one RGS student – Sachein – through his entire 7-year education became a very notable period for them, and for the School, and exemplifies their belief in the power of education to change lives. Though initially unaware of his identity, they followed his progress through reports that detailed not only his academic achievements but also his character and personal growth. When they finally met Sachein, he was exactly the kind of young man they had envisioned … hardworking, kind and engaging.

“For us, the most important thing is that Sachein is forging his own future.

We’re proud to be a part of his journey, but he’s the one making it happen.”

Ian and Kate’s generosity set an inspiring precedent that has energised our community. Their support has inspired others to follow in their footsteps, helping to build a strong and growing network of 536 families who are committed to making a difference.

Their involvement in the Bursary Programme has deepened their appreciation for the work that RGS is doing to make education more accessible to promising young people, regardless of their financial background. Ian is particularly impressed by the leadership from Headmaster, Dr Cox, and the wider RGS team, who have demonstrated a clear commitment to making a difference. “The investment from the school’s leadership has been

instrumental,” he says. “They’ve taken the vision and put the structure in place to make it happen, and we can see the impact of that. It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch the programme grow and evolve.”

Kate’s work as a Governor at the London Academy of Excellence (LAE) has provided her with a unique perspective on the challenges that students face in accessing higher education. Like the RGS Bursary Programme, the LAE focuses on providing talented students with the support they need to overcome financial and social barriers and succeed in top-tier universities.

For Ian and Kate, their support of the RGS Bursary Programme is part of a longer-term commitment to enabling young people to gain access to a great education. “If you reflect on everything you’ve done in your career, this is the thing that has the longest-lasting impact,” Ian says. “You can have business successes, acquisitions, and all sorts of other achievements, but the ability to make a real difference in a young person’s life, that’s what matters.”

Looking to the future, Ian and Kate encourage other alumni to get involved in the Bursary Programme, even if they can’t make a major financial contribution. “You can structure your support in ways that make it accessible to you,” Ian suggests. “The more alumni who come forward, the more students we can help. It’s about giving them the confidence to seize the opportunities that come their way.”

In the end, it’s clear that Ian and Kate’s journey with RGS is far from over. Their belief in the power of education to change lives is something that will continue to resonate with the RGS community for years to come.

By Helen Dixon, Marketing

Meeting with an Old Master

John Simpson, former Biology and Chemistry Teacher and Director of Studies, has seen the RGS through many lenses since joining in 1977, and as he is something of a legend with OGs, Philippa sat down to capture some of his memories for you all to enjoy.

Fondly known by many as Jasper (from his initials JAS), John was in fact the first teacher appointed after the school became independent in 1977 and found his way into education, having started work as an analytical chemist. He had discovered that training and educating other chemists appealed more than the routine work of analysis. Knowing that he wanted to go into teaching he undertook a Bachelor of Education degree at Durham University where he furthered his studies of science, particularly biology and a move

into teaching Biology at the RGS followed quickly. Whilst at the RGS he undertook a M.Sc. degree at Surrey University and as a result of his interest in matters of the curriculum the Governors of the RGS generously awarded him a paid sabbatical year to study for a Master of Philosophy degree at Cambridge University. On his return to the RGS he was appointed its first Director of Studies in 1985. He stepped down from that role in 2009 and became Senior Master, retiring in 2011 after an outstanding 34 years’ service to the school.

What does he miss most?

“Banter with the boys and school lunches”.

Advice to new 1st formers and departing 6th formers: “Make the most of it”.

John Simpson Speech Day 2010

Professional highlights included being appointed as Head of General Studies in 1979 and he was instrumental in liaising with Guildford High School and Tormead to ensure that Sixth Form students could be taught in a coeducational environment. On his return from Cambridge he was involved in trialling the then new National Curriculum at RGS, a development that resulted in a visit to the school by Kenneth Baker who was Education Secretary at the time. It was also during this time he reorganised and rationalised the distribution of departments around the school buildings and established departmental bases. He was also instrumental in removing the system of the Express Form as well as reorganising and modernising the curriculum of the whole school. As Director of Studies he has been at the heart of RGS educational, staff and extracurricular life, managing countless changes and initiatives. Not forgetting the daily responsibilities in the classroom for bringing a love of his subject to generations of boys, many of whom he can still recall with an anecdote or story. His is a name that comes up constantly when we ask OGs who they want to meet back at their year group reunions, and they are always thrilled to see him.

School trips provided many moments of laughter and enjoyment. Way back, in the late 1970s, one of his first RGS trips abroad was with the Modern Languages Department to Paris: it promised to be exciting and new, and John was one of the staff on board. However, the hotel turned out to be complicated as the floor above theirs was a brothel, and the passing trade proved somewhat distracting for the older boys, a hitherto unanticipated challenge!

An early Ski trip delivered another lasting impression: skiing down the slopes with the boys, John somehow ended up dangling upside down, suspended from a tree! We are still trying to find the photo which reportedly exists…

John has worked with three Headmasters (John Daniel, Tim Young and current Headmaster

“RGS pupils often become friends for life and best men at weddings, more so than university connections, which is unusual for a school, so treasure it”.

Dr Jon Cox) and has seen many changes throughout this time. However, for him the aspirations of the place remain the same and are captured in a lovely stained-glass window in the Old Building Courtyard which he commissioned to mark the quincentenary of the RGS and which he gave to the school as a leaving gift.

Education has been a vocation for John and has continued into retirement. He is still Governor of two local schools and serves on the RGSG International Governing Body as well, drawing on experience many years ago when he was involved in setting up the first independent school in Qatar. He organises regular lunches for staff who retired from the RGS and which are great fun!

Music and travel have been life-long passions, and he has been making the most of both since retiring. A regular at school concerts for many years, he is also a loyal supporter of local music and will go a distance if Mahler is on the programme! Likewise, an annual trip to Barcelona to check progress on the Sagrada familia – still incomplete…but which is still well worth a visit.

The new Biology Lab, named in John’s honour, as is the tradition for staff who’ve served over 100 terms at RGS – incredible

The glass window that John commissioned and gifted to the school

OGs BACK AT SCHOOL

It’s always great to welcome OGs back to the school, and we’re hugely grateful to them for sharing their time, experiences and insights for the benefit of the next generation. Thank you!

If you would like to get involved in the Careers Programme at the RGS, please email og@rgsg.co.uk and we would be delighted to hear from you. Our pupils benefit hugely from your knowledge and experience, and it is great to find out where your careers are taking you.

2015 OGs Will Cowie, Jack Bell and Calvin Ngwena with Peter Dunscombe, Director of Careers and Higher

and

 Angus Groom OG 2010 and double Olympian gave a fantastic address at Senior Prize Giving 2023, speaking passionately about the importance of teamwork, his experiences at the RGS and valuing every single individual, irrespective of their strengths.

 James Sunderland OG 1988 former Lt Col and Conservative MP for Bracknell gave the address at Commemoration in September 2023. He spoke about potential, talent and performance, drawing on his own experiences and gave inspirational “takeaway thoughts” for students and staff alike.

 James Miller OG 2020 and environmentalist gave a powerful talk about his extraordinary work in raising awareness of environmental issues, and how students, however young, can have a voice and can make a tangible difference.



Education gave a riveting talk about life, work

study in the world of Politics.

 John Mackney OG 1943 back at the RGS with Alex, his great-nephew.

Zach Moulder OG 2017 and medical student at UCL gave a brilliant talk to the RGS Medics Society. He presented medical cases from his work in the NHS and talked about the process from arrival at hospital, to diagnosis, to treatment.

 Andrew Chai OG 2015 and final year PhD student at Edinburgh University talked to the RGS Medical Society about recent scientific insights into Parkinson’s disease. Andrew is researching dementia and inspiring the next generation of much-needed scientists.

 Steve Wardlaw OG 1987 gave a very thoughtful and inspiring assembly as part of LGBTQ+ History Month in February 2024. He wove his life, career and school story into a compelling talk about finding and cherishing difference with kindness and generosity.

 Paul Kerensa OG 1997 hosted our Stand-Up Comedy evening with fellow comedians Jo Enright and Lovdev Barpaga, raising over £2,000 for our schoolnominated charities.

 John Chaplin OG 1972, pictured with Headmaster Dr Jon Cox, laid a wreath on behalf of those Old Guildfordians lost during the Wars at the School Remembrance Service in November 2023.

Boldi Paladi-Kovacs OG 2023 was a special guest speaker at the RGS MUN in December 2023

 Tim Kettyle OG 2016 gave a great talk entitled Day in the Life of a Veterinary Surgeon, focusing on detailed care and attention required in veterinary diagnosis and treatment.

A great team of OGs supported the

November

 Previous RGS Musician of the Year Winners OGs Andrew Tyler 2009, Emmanuel Bach 2011, Ed Ball 2017 and Tom Hansell 2005 were welcomed back to celebrate the 25th Musician of the Year Competition in Big School. Wonderful that music is still a major part of their lives.



RGS MUN conference in

2024: Joshua Inglesfield 2024, Joe Colton 2023, Mattie Sutton 2022, Esa Mitchell 2024, Boldi Paladi-Kovacs 2023 and Gabriel Meadowcroft 2024

OGs BACK AT SCHOOL

 Group Captain Edward Cripps MPhil RAF & OG 1990 gave a fantastic speech at Senior Prizegiving in July 2024. Following a gap year playing rugby in Australia, a first degree in Sports Science and a thoroughly enjoyable spell playing rugby at the start of the professional era, he joined the Royal Air Force on a short-service commission. He graduated with the Sword of Merit from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and the Royal Air Force Regiment Junior Regiment Officers’ Course and represented the Royal Air Force at rugby union. He has served in operational, training, defence diplomacy and staff appointments. He has deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas multiple times, in a variety of roles. He has served in the Ministry of Defence in a strategic planning role. A graduate of the UK Advanced Command and Staff Course, and a Chief of the Air Staff’s Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, he is currently a Member of the Royal College of Defence Studies.

 Dr Dan Sutton OG 2015 and Research Fellow at Peterhouse, Cambridge University led the RGS Hume Society in a fascinating and engaging discussion on the use of dialogue in classical philosophy.

 OGs Matt Sargent 2018 and Elliot Bealey 2017 gave a fabulous talk to RGS Senior Classics Society. The Elegies of Propertius: Performing tortoises and celebrities from the Trans-Caucasus explored transcription of Propertius’ text across centuries and its impact on poetry and thought to the modern day.

 Great to see Ollie Shorthose OG 2014 returning to referee a rugby match at Bradstone Brook in November 2023.

 David Green OG 2001 flew RGS RAF cadets at RAF Benson for their Air Experience Flying.

 Jack Gamble OG 2021 joined the RGS staff in September 2024, teaching RS and Philosophy. Wonderful to have you back here.

 OGs Lucas Savage 2020, Joe Waugh 2014, Will Harrison 2014 and parent Jess Wright were panelists at our Careers in Engineering Seminar in February 2024. Hosted by Peter Dunscombe, they gave honest, thoughtful and wonderfully informative answers to everything you’d like to know about this popular field of work – from degree apprenticeships, the enormous variety of specialisms, routes in and their own projects.

 Nathan Janmohamed OG 2019 and Maths Teacher came to learn best practices from his former mentors, Craig George and Dr Linia Kurian, to share with the next generation

 OGs Chris Bealey 2017, Alex Denny 2016, Oliver Stentiford 2019 and current parent Daphne Robertson provided great insights into the many choices at our Careers in Law Seminar in January 2025. Chaired by Peter Dunscombe, the conversation ranged widely about the routes in, daily life, setting up your own practice, apprenticeships, being a barrister v a corporate lawyer and much more.

In November 2023 we held a Careers in Finance Seminar; always a popular topic and a packed auditorium with 300 RGS pupils, parents and students from local schools. Peter Dunscombe hosted a Q&A with OGs Ryan Harding 2014, Sam Green 2018, Ross Groom 2011 and Tom Barratt 2013 which unlocked fascinating insights and top tips about internships, mentoring, training, study/exams and work/life balance as well as the nuts and bolts of what their jobs entail.

 Calvin Ngwena OG 2015 and former School Captain laid a wreath on behalf of the Old Guildfordians at the School Remembrance Service on 11 November 2024. Their names liveth forever …

 RGS Scholarship Conference took place February 2024 with the theme ‘Breaking Boundaries.’

A distinguished panel of experts included Henny Tarasewicz, RGS Geography Teacher and Head of Scholarship and Dr Elodie Hudson, former Head of RGS Biology who left teaching to become Lead Data Scientist at AssesTech Analytics. Also, James Miller OG 2020, an environmental activist, podcaster, filmmaker and public speaker who is currently a researcher for ClimateImpact, and a presenter of a podcast series on the climate and biodiversity crises.

Nathan with Linia

Calvin with Dr Cox

Henny (centre), Elodie (2nd from right) and James (far right)

OGs BACK AT SCHOOL

 Omeet Atara OG 2021 spoke at the RGS Scholarship Conference 2023 on the theme of ‘Revolution’.

 Ollie Taylor OG 2020 returned as Guest Judge for the 2023 House Drama competition.

 Charlie Hubbard OG 2019 gave a riveting assembly about his Project Extreme Balls: 2 ultra challenges in the Arctic Circle and the Marathon de Sables, raising money and awareness for the Army Benevolent Fund and Oddballs Foundation for testicular cancer. Powerful message about pushing yourself beyond any comfort zone.

 Jack Doyle OG 2022 gave an insightful talk full of great advice about applying to medical school and his own studies at Sheffield University.

 Gabriel Meadowcroft OG 2024 returned to give a great talk to RGS Pride Society.

 Sam Jones OG 2019 and Chris Harvey OG 2011 came back to share their insights with current students about career opportunities at PwC. They provided valuable perspectives on the growing popularity of ‘School Leaver Degree Apprenticeships’ as an alternative to traditional university routes.

 Dr Nick Wilson-Jones OG 1990 gave a fascinating and informative talk to RGS Medical Society about paediatric plastic surgery.

 Harry Grieve OG 2019 and chess supremo coached RGS Chess Club, taking on 9 players simultaneously and winning!

 Thank you to the many OGs at the annual Careers Convention in April 2024 who shared expertise, advice and insights about so many different fields of work. Including Alex Osborne 2016, Alex Pound 2014, Andrew Rothwell 2007, Ant Drake 2007, Calvin Ngwena 2015, Cameron Brookhouse 2009, Charlie Hubbard 2019, Daniel Cheetham 2018, Ed Ball 2017, Josh Munz 2018, Max Male 2018, Oli Stentiford 2019, Rob Lillie 2017, Sam Jones 2019, Tom Campbell 2014 and Yousuf Mirza 2018.

OG EVENTS

 OG Reunion In Singapore 25 May 2023

 Summer Supporters’ Reception 8 June 2023

 Unveiling of Clock and Plaque in Memory of Peter Hamshere OG 1946 18 May 2023

 Classes of 1973 & ’74 Reunion 14 June 2023

Dr Jon Cox with Peter Hamshere’s children John, Sarah and Nigel

Guest Speaker Dan Hatton OG 2011 with Dr Jon Cox and Monica Popa

 Classes of 1993 & ’94 Reunion 10 June 2023

 OG Undergrad & Staff Drinks at Guildford Tup 20 June 2023

OG EVENTS

 OG Reunion in New York City, USA

13 July 2023

 Classes of 2000, ’01 & ’02 Reunion 18 November 2023

31 January 2024

15

A school tour afterwards for some

 1960s OG Reunion Lunch at Harbour Hotel, Guildford

 OG Undergrad & Staff Drinks at the Three Pigeons

April 2024

OG EVENTS

 Summer Supporters’ Reception

6 June 2024

 Classes of 2003 & ’04 Reunion

8 June 2024

 Classes of 1971 & ’72 Reunion 22 June 2024

 OG Reunion at Union League Club, New York, USA 11 July 2024

 OG West Coast Reunion, Palo Alto, USA. Hosted by Christian Bailey OG 1994 15 July

OG EVENTS

 Class of 1994 Reunion

28 September 2024

 OG London Drinks at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall

10 October 2024

 Classes of 2009–13 Reunion

12 October 2024

RGS Dubai Reunion for OGs, Staff and Parents

13 January 2025



OG EVENTS

 1960s OG Reunion Lunch at Harbour Hotel, Guildford 27 January 2025

 Oxbridge OG Student & Staff Social at Cambridge Brewhouse 1 March 2025

OG NEWS

Catch up with OGs from across the generations and around the world.

 Tony Bevis OG 1967 has been elected Chairman of Horsham District Council for the 2025-26 Municipal Year. He has been a Liberal Democrat Councillor since 2019 having previously been a Councillor from 1998-2003.

 Dr James Nickells OG 1985 and an anaesthetist at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital is also a portrait artist and is painting 193 environmentalists from around the world, with the first 50 portraits already on display. The Global Portrait Project… “It’s a hopeful message,” he said. “It shows how we are all on this planet together, and there are people in every country passionate about the environment.” He has been creating the portraits alphabetically by country, using ink on paper, and his subjects range from grassroots activists to individuals making national impacts.

 Paul Kerensa (Young) OG 1997, comedian and writer toured the UK throughout 2024 with his new “stand-up history” show, An Evening of (Very) Old Radio: The First Firsts of British Broadcasting. He featured it on BBC1’s Sunday Morning Live in January 2024. Written and performed by Paul, about the origins of the BBC, you can find all his news at paulkerensa.com

 James Mcgregor (Clarke) OG 2003 starred in a new play, ‘Did You Mean To Fall Like That’, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2024. This new comedy, which explores contemporary masculinity and male bisexuality, is written by Stephanie Martin and directed by Scott Le Crass.

Maxim McDonald OG 2001 and Managing Director of Gerald McDonald & Co accepted an award for the prestigious Best Ingredient of the Year (Gold) at the British Frozen Food Awards 2024 – for Yuzu Juice, a premium citrus product sourced by the Gerald McDonald Group in Japan. Yuzu Juice is supplied globally, featuring in drinks, sauces, desserts and seafood dishes, and was recognised for its versatility and excellence by top chefs and consumers alike.

 Anthony Richardson OG 2003, awardwinning comedian, writer, presenter and voiceover artist,

in autumn

toured the UK

2024 in “Colin from Portsmouth”

OG NEWS

 Oli Russell OG 2003 and pilot gave RGS pupils a really fun flight back from the school ski trip from Geneva to Gatwick. As captain, he welcomed them aboard over the Tannoy as “Valiant Pilgrims from RGS Guildford”, peppered his welcome with quotes from the School Hymn and came back to speak with the boys. He was even wearing his OG tie with his captain’s uniform.

“Thank you for all boarding very quickly without any hobgoblins nor foul fiends”

“It’s time for fancies to fly away” “My first avowed intent is to get you back to Gatwick as quickly as possible”

 David De Winter OG 2006 is one of the country’s foremost early music tenors and has collaborated with leading Baroque musicians, the Brook Street Band, to produce a new album, Heinrich Schütz – A German in Venice, which spans music from between the end of the Renaissance to High Baroque. Available to buy now from First Hand Records.

 Jack Matthias 0G 2007 is a media composer who has been writing to picture for over ten years. He writes extensively for TV, Film, Commercials, Video Games along with other commissions, which encompasses composition, sound design, audio editing and repair. One recent project was composing the music to BBC’s new series Ten Pound Poms, a drama that sheds new light on the reality of swapping post war Britain for sunnier promises. Find out more at jackmatthias.com

 Tom Woffenden OG 2011. His play Cockfosters, a comedy set on the London Underground, came to Southwark Playhouse, London in May 2025. It has had four previous sold out runs and has been described as “screamingly funny” with multiple five-star reviews!

Alex McCallion OG 2012 and Jonathan Tan set up Greater Change, a charity to help the homeless by tailoring donations to individuals’ needs. Greater Change takes an unusually personalised approach: it crowdfunds donations for someone’s specific needs, whether it is rent deposits, mental health treatment, skills courses and equipment – anything which can help people break out of the cycle of homelessness. Donors are then kept up to date with people’s personal journeys, challenging the misconception that homeless people will just spend handouts on drugs. If the person needs something extra, the donor can be approached, or they are given the opportunity to contribute to a wider pot for all the charity’s clients. An incredible 86% of the more than 200 people it has helped were in stable housing a year later. Greater Change estimates it costs about £1,300 on average to change a person’s life, but that this generates savings averaging £35,000 for each person annually. The charity hopes to help another 1,000 people in the next two years, and to scale up to 40,000 by 2033.

Oli Russell and Ian Wilkes, RGS Head of First Form

Oli Russell on board with ski trip pupils and staff

 RGS Sailing OGs From 2014 to 2024 met up over Christmas 2024 to share memories and stories.

 Jack Bardoe (Morris) OG 2014 starred in a UK tour of John Mortimer’s A Voyage Round My Father in 2023, playing the role of young John Mortimer – the Son – growing up under the tyrannical rule of his father, played by Rupert Everett. His performance received excellent reviews, as he captured the aging of the Son beautifully throughout the play. Jack brought a gentle humour, intelligence and wit to the performance and was superb in capturing the aging of the Son onstage throughout the play.

Jack was also in Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon RSC Stratford in April/May 2024, playing Don Armado in Emily Burns’ playful and contemporary take on Shakespeare’s comedy

 Dylan Bardoe (Morris) OG 2016 has been named by Saatchi Art as an up-and-coming collectable artist. Dylan uses mixed media and a combination of imagemaking and writing, and draws inspiration from music, film, illustrators, and comic book artists. saatchiart.com/stories/ rising-stars-2023

 OGs Charlie Dorkins 2019, Patrick Croghan 2017, Matt Shaw 2015 and Cameron Gardner 2020 represented their Universities at the BUCS Sailing Team Racing Championship Finals in April 2023. Well done to Matt and Exeter on their 3rd place!

 Harry Grieve OG 2019. In May 2023 Harry achieved his second Grandmaster (GM) norm from his high performance in the ‘Four Nations Chess League’ throughout the 2022-23 season. Harry achieved his first GM norm by winning the British Chess Championship in 2022, beating out numerous grandmasters and winning his last game with four queens on the board! He now needs to achieve one more GM norm and a FIDE rating of 2500 (nearly there) to achieve his GM title. To that end, he is playing in numerous tournaments throughout Europe. In the British Championships last year, he came a very respectable joint third, beating several international players and Grandmasters along the way.

Jack Bardoe, left, with Rupert Everett

OG NEWS

 Sam Hodges OG 2019 took part in the popular quiz programme Pointless with his mother, Nikki, in January 2025 and reached the final, not only winning the coveted pointless trophy but also the jackpot with three pointless answers!

 James Miller OG 2020 and environmentalist has teamed up with fellow young climate activist, Bella Lack, to produce a 10-part podcast series on tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. Here’s the Plan interviews top changemakers: activists, lawyers, politicians and more, to put together a blueprint to save our future. The high-profile lineup of speakers includes the ex-Environment Minister of Costa Rica explaining how he doubled tree cover in the country, a lawyer taking 32 countries to the European Court of Human Rights over climate inaction and the Ja German climate activist Luisa Neubauer discussing how to turn off the fossil fuel tap. For those who don’t know James, he began making wildlife films and campaigning on environmental issues when he was in the Third Form at RGS.

Fast-forward to 2024 and he’s won a national nature presenting competition, organised an Instagram Live concert for conservation, was interviewed by Jon Snow on Channel 4 News discussing the State of Nature report 2019, spoken at numerous events, launched a podcast and completed a degree at Cambridge University.

 Anith Sathananthan OG 2020 studied Engineering at Durham and was Team Principal for the University’s Solar Car Project, leading a team to the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia in their new solar powered electric car, DUSC 2023. The race started in Darwin on 22 October and finished in Adelaide on 29 October covering over 3,000 kilometres in just 50 hours through the terrain, landmarks and surroundings of Australia. The limited solar panel size means that they did this using only about 1000 Watts (about half the power of a hair dryer), driving innovation to develop vehicles that consume less energy.

The three-wheeled car was built and developed by the team led by Anith. It boasts a 4m2 high efficiency silicon solar array capable of generating enough energy to allow the car to cruise at over 75 kmph in the Australian outback using only the power of the sun. It weighs approximately 170 kilograms and is primarily made of lightweight carbon fibre and Kevlar to ensure optimal strength and safety. The car makes use of a single in-wheel motor to drive the car through the outback. The use of an in-wheel motor omits the need for a gearbox or other mechanical powertrain components, further improving efficiency.

Durham University Solar Car is a student-led society based in the Department of Engineering. Over 50 students from various backgrounds, led by Anith, spent two years and over a hundred thousand hours designing and building their new car in their spare time as an extra-curricular activity.

 Will Barnicoat OG 2021 won the men’s U23 European Cross-Country Championships 7000m race in Brussels in December 2023. In a tight race, Will edged ahead of his French rival Valentin Bresc to win in the final few metres with a time of 23:42. This follows his gold medal in the U20 race the previous year.

“To be honest I didn’t know what to expect today, because I didn’t run that well in the trials [in Liverpool two weeks ago]. The course here suited me perfectly because I like the mud. In the end it was a tight finish. I just waited to attack in the last downhill and I was able to keep off the French athlete in the end,” reflected Will.

Impressively, Will retained his Gold Medal in the U23 European XC Championships in December 2024, running 18:27 in the 6k course in Antalya.

 Theo Lakin OG 2021 has taken part in a series of half and full Ironman races since leaving the RGS. He was placed 3rd in Ironman Serbia in September 2024 and qualifies for the world championships in Marbella 2025. Despite heavy rain and adverse conditions, he clocked an impressive time of 4:31:34 for a 1.2 mile (1.9km) swim, 56 mile (90km) bike and 13.1 mile (21.1km) run.

RUGBY VARSITY NEWS

The Blues Varsity Rugby Matches took place at Saracens StoneX Stadium in North London on Saturday 8th March, steeped in tradition and rivalry. This year OGs went head-to-head with Luke Wyllie 2021 the first OG to captain Oxford and Aidan Beaumont 2023 at lock for Cambridge. Cambridge battled back to win 35-28 late on.

 Stuart Brown OG 2024 and Mattia Brown OG 2023 after the Varsity Men’s 2’s Match on Saturday 1 March. Oxford Greyhounds narrowly beat Cambridge LX Club 32-27. Great OG representation with three other OGs in Cambridge 3s!

 Ieuan Phillip and Alex Brook OGs 2023 played for RUMS Rugby (UCL medics team,) lifting the UH Cup (United Hospitals) having beaten St Barts 27-0 in the final in March 2025. The UH Cup is the oldest rugby cup in the world, 150 years old this year, and predating the Calcutta Cup by 4 years. It is played between the London hospitals medical schools and hotly contested. Thurston Ford OG 2022 was unfortunately injured for the final.

Luke Wyllie, Oxford University Rugby Captain for 2024/25 season

Aidan Beaumont, Cambridge University Rugby Team

 OGs from 2022 Seb Dye, Jacques Pressley and Alejandro Scholfield Perez met the Duke of Edinburgh to receive their DofE Gold Awards in May 2023.

 Alex Taylor OG 2022 also received his DofE Gold Award from the Duke of Edinburgh in May 2023.

 Seb Stuart-Reckling OG 2023 has signed a rookie contract with Surrey Cricket Club for the 2025 season. After a strong 2024 campaign with the Surrey 2nd XI, his impressive left-arm seam bowling has earned him a place in the first team

Ollie George OG 2024 and former RGS Golf Captain has been awarded a prestigious Golf Scholarship to St Andrews University. In October 2024 he competed in the St Andrews Links Collegiate Tournament, which brings together the best international college golf teams and was featured on Sky Sports.

 Peter Jansen OG 2024 played his first league game in September 2024 for Cambridge University Blues Hockey.

 Arvid Lindblad OG 2025 Having been promoted to F3 after just one year in F4, and still part of Red Bull’s junior programme, Arvid won the first event of the year in March 2024 – the sprint race in Bahrain. An amazing result considering the significant jump from F4, and the fact that he was racing other drivers with several years’ experience in F3. At just 16 Arvid is the youngest driver in F3’s history to take a race win. The the only other driver to have been at F3 level at aged 16 is Max Verstappen....

Arvid finished the season 4th for PREMA Racing, taking four race victories – including a clean sweep at Silverstone in July 2024 to become the first driver in Championship history to achieve this feat. He enjoyed an impressive rookie year in F3 and is currently placed 3rd in his highly successful debut season in F2, winning two races. Breaking News: Arvid has just been awarded an F1 super licence, enabling him, aged just 17, to race in F1.

 John and Hilary Steynor, parents to three OGs and donors of the annual Steynor Musician of the Year Prize, at the 25th celebrations of RGS Musician of the Year in Big School.

 Catherine Moorehead, RGS English Teacher 2001-2014 and also Ran the Rumdoodle (Mountaineering) Society

“In April, my biography of the mountaineer, Doug Scott, ‘Mountain Guru’, was awarded the Himalayan Club’s Kekoo Naoroji Award for mountaineering literature relating to the Himalayas. It is one of three annual global awards for such literature, the other two to be judged in the Autumn. (Kejoo Naoroji was a distinguished member of the Indian Himalayan Club in the mid-twentieth century. He married into the family of Nadir Godrej, a multi-billionaire and the fourth-richest man in India, whom I met at the Award ceremony on April 21.) The Award amounted to an all-expenses-paid trip to Mumbai and 100,000 Indian rupees, regrettably only £1000 at present exchange rates! While in Mumbai, I was able to take a trip into the nearby hills, the Western Ghats, to enjoy a tour of India’s finest winery.”

Catherine Moorehead receiving the Kekoo Naoroji Award from Mrs Pheroza Godrej, sister-in-law of Award sponsor, Mumbai billionaire Mr Nadir Godrej

 OGs and Rifle Club Members Paul Barrows 1982, Archie Whicher 1984, Derek Lowe 1991, Ralph Crathorne 1976, Jon Underwood 1988, David Crawforth 1984, Mark Crathorne 1975, David Armstrong 1986 and Tom Higgins 1984 gathered at the funeral of John Crathorne on 6 March 2025, to acknowledge and celebrate a wonderful teacher, father and friend. Their presence is testament to how highly he was regarded; John left a lasting impact on the lives of so many people, a real legacy to his many achievements in the classroom, with the RGS CCF and shooting, which he headed up for 30 years, starting in 1966, and beyond, and was a true gentleman. A full obituary for John can be found on p50.

Catherine in the Western Ghats near Mumbai. In background is volcanic hill, Harihar Fort, site of notable climb by Doug Scott

OG NEWS

 RETIRED RGS STAFF AT THE JOLLY FARMER, BRAMLEY. Organised by John Simpson, retired staff gathered for a social lunch – so many legends in the room...

Julie Beattie, Ted Badham, John Simpson, Peter Hosier, Alan Evans, Alan Thorn, Tony Dubois, Shirley Perrett, Debbie Whitehead, Sally Lingard, Dave Turner, Mary Booth, Ian Watson, George Ardrey, Pam Palmer, Fiona Wimblett, Dai Jones, Jenny Rothwell, David Woolcott, Amanda Thomas, Louise Gordon, Max Knight, Anne Usher And Tony Morden

 Former Staff Sam HermanWilson (centre) and David Holliday (right) with Sam Maiden (left, RGS Chief Strategy Officer) returned to judge the 2024 ILA awards

 Dr Alex Calverley, Former Physics Teacher was a speaker at the RGS Scholarship Conference 2023.

 Dr Elodie Hudson, Former Head of Biology, is a passionate and competitive road cyclist, most notably representing Great Britain in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Trento, Italy in 2022. She was also a speaker at the RGS Scholarship Conference 2024

 And finally, a trip down memory lane as Ian Stuart OG 1978 and Peers leave the RGS, with David Jones, Music Teacher.

OGs AND PHILANTHROPY

 Alex Jones OG 2023 and his friend Cameron cycled an amazing 1691km/1050 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats in July 2023, raising over £1000 for Activity Alliance, a charity that supports people with disabilities to get involved in sport and activity. They met at the British School of Paris, and since then, sport has allowed them to stay in contact with friends as well as create new ones and have a chance to be independent. “Having moved back to Scotland and England respectively, we felt we should challenge ourselves and have chosen to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats in support of Activity Alliance to help make sport more accessible to everyone.” activityalliance.org.uk

 Barney Doyle OG 2022 and his friend Luke undertook an epic endeavour in summer 2023, cycling an incredible, challenging 1400 miles from Paris to Edinburgh, Dublin, Cardiff and London, connecting all these Five Nations rugby stadia. Averaging 100 miles a day, they raised over £14,000 in aid of the Max Windle Memorial Trust, a mental health charity set up in memory of Max, a school friend of Barney’s and keen rugby enthusiast whom many of you knew. Barney was determined not to let Max’s legacy be defined by his death but inspired by his life, saying “I learned that you’ve got to ask twice because first time you get a“yeah, fine” but the second time you might get more into the core of someone.” Throughout their ride, support from the stadia, RFUS, bike shops, friends and people was amazing. mwmt.org

Barney and Luke with friends at Twickenham

OGS AND PHILANTHROPY

 Charlie Hubbard OG 2019 launched “Project Extreme Balls” in Spring 2024 to take on the two self-proclaimed toughest ultra marathon events on the planet – Arctic 6633 and Marathon Des Sables. He successfully completed both extraordinary challenges to raise funds for The Oddballs Foundation and his army unit’s benevolent fund. The idea is it takes extreme “balls” to beat cancer, so he undertook extreme events to support this notion.

Arctic 6633 is a 400km self-sufficient 7-day non-stop foot race across the Arctic circle and is labelled “the race to the top of the world” – Charlie came 2nd at the 200km race. Marathon Des Sables is a 250km stage race across the desert and, much like the Arctic event, it is a self-sufficient race with food and a sleeping system etc being carried. justgiving.com/team/Project-Extreme-Balls

 Oliver Panchaud OG 2014 participated in the 2025 TCS London Marathon; he ran for Anaphylaxis UK, which is the only UK-based charity committed to supporting the growing number of people, including himself, at risk of serious and life-threatening allergic reactions. Olly has had a severe peanut allergy since an early age and is acutely aware of the difficulties this poses in general life, including socialising and travelling, and the anxiety this causes in individuals. 2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/olly-panchaud

 20 OGs entered the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April 2025 as part of the Max Windle Memorial Trust team, 13 of whom were from Max’s year and 6 from the Class of 2020. The overall team, which also included Max’s sisters and other friends, raised over £30,000 from this event which will be invaluable in supporting the charity’s work in providing hope and funding life-saving treatment to those in mental health crisis justgiving.com/team/llhmteam2025

The Max Windle Memorial Trust (MWMT) has been working with James’ Place for over a year now. James’ Place is a charity which provides free, life-saving therapy to adult men (over 18) experiencing suicidal crisis across London, Liverpool and Newcastle. Due to correlation in the two charities’ values and goals, MWMT funded James’ Place to expand their treatment to 16- and 17-year-old boys in Liverpool, in a pilot called “The Max Windle Project”. Over the first year of the project, James’ Place in Liverpool has helped 10 young men experiencing suicidal crisis. The outcomes have been positive, with the young men reporting significantly reduced psychological distress. Not only have ten lives been potentially saved, but ten families, groups of loved ones and friends have not had to live with the heartache of losing someone to suicide. Further funding from MWMT has extended the pilot for a further six months at which point a review of the project’s processes and efficiency will take place to ensure that as many young lives are being saved as possible. Fundraising for the MWMT will continue to support this project and other live-saving work. mwmt.org

Class of 2020 OG runners: Josh Edwicker, Peter Heylen, Marcus Hinton, George Osborne, Sam Perryman, Lucas Savage and Laurence Zahn

Class of 2022 OG runners: Will Craven, Jack Doyle, John Gray, Austin Humphrey, Zion Kim, Matt Lovell, Callum Mattison, George McGrath, Ishan Nathan, Toby Perryman, Matt Slominski, Alex Taylor and Kiran Wright

OG SPORT

CRICKET

Great to see five OGs spanning 18 years representing the MCC on 18 April 2024 in a match against the RGS 1st XI, who won by one wicket. From left to right: Nick Cooper OG 2010, Alex Sweet OG 2016, Abhay Gonella OG 2019, Ed Jones OG 2001 and Charlie Homewood OG 2008

On 18 June 2023 recent OGs took on the Headmaster’s XI at the annual OG Cricket Match. Played in sunshine and excellent sporting spirit with friends, OGs and families in support, the OGs, captained by Alex Sweet OG 2016, won by 11 runs, scoring 168-6 off 20 overs. Umpires were Alan Thorn and Mattie Sutton OG 2022. The OG team comprised Alex Sweet (captain), Alex Tiplady, Eddie Milton-Seal, Jonny French, Max James, Ben Shaw, Jonny Andrews, Duncan Ashworth, Benji Thomas, George Eves and Sam Jelley.

An OG 2016 Summer Invitational Cricket T22 organised by Alex Goodchild OG 2016 also took place on 18 June 2023 at Bradstone Brook. 19 OGs from 2016 played a hugely enjoyable Reunion match; they had a great day of cricket, laughter and reminiscing and caught up with friends and staff at the Headmaster’s OG match too! Afterwards they all made a collective donation to the Bursary Fund by way of thanks and “because it’s a great cause and one we all really believe in”. Amazing thoughtfulness and generosity from our young OGs, thank you one and all.

2016 players: Alex Goodchild (captain), Will Sampson (captain), Ollie Van Nederveen, Harry Osborne, Ollie Duckworth, Ollie Harris, Jerome EspatalierNoel, David Vaughan, Ross Smyth, Harry Maude, Rory Macnair, Alex Osborne, Fraser Mills, Joe Flanagan, Henry Biddlecome, Rob Weedon, Robbie Davies, James Maloney, Charlie Newman and Miles McGibbon (didn’t play but very kindly donated). Will Sampson’s team won by 1 wicket.

June 2024 saw the popular annual Headmaster’s XI v OGs cricket match take place, again closely contested and culminating in a win for the staff, their first (we think!) since 2008. A day for batsmen with boundaries galore from both teams. Led by Alex Sweet (captain), the OG team featured Jonny Andrews, Aman Ashfaque, Duncan Ashworth, Ayush Bose, Rohan Gupta, Max James, Sam Jelley, Will Perceval, Ben Shaw, Benji Thomas and Alex Tiplady.

If you would like to play in for the OGs in this fixture in the future and haven’t taken part so far, please email og@rgsg.co.uk

BASKETBALL

The first RGS U18 vs OGs basketball match took place in the Sports Hall in July 2023 with the OGs emerging as 62-59 winners.

FOOTBALL

2023 saw the 1st XI Football team welcome back a strong, and in disappointingly good shape (!), OG XI. Led by Matt Dodds and James McDougall, it was great to see so many ex-RGS Football players returning....and playing some very good football. An enjoyable match and fluctuating scoreline culminated in RGS winning a huge 8-7 penalty shoot-out!

SHOOTING

Six OGs represented Great Britain Rifle Team at the 2024 World Long Range Championships in South Africa in March 2024. The touring teams from GB included the Under 21, Under 25 and Veterans (65+) age group World Championship competitions. OGs competing for GB were David Armstrong 1996, Matthew Ensor 1997, Derek Lowe 1991, Jon Underwood 1988, Luca O’Flynn 2019 and Miles HortonBaker 2019.

Jon Underwood won Bronze in the 2024 World Long Range Individual with a top gun score in the final with a nearly flawless score of 75.

Luca O’Flynn and Miles HortonBaker won Gold with the GB Under 25s, with Miles coaching the team to victory. They displayed incredible prowess and a spectacular display of wind-reading at 900m despite strong winds.

OG v RGS New Year Shoot 6 January 2024

A total of thirty firers went through the range for the OG match, making for a fun if frantic competition. 15 OGs competed against a team of 15 from the RGS (made up of eleven pupils and four members of staff). The competition was a version of the Country Life. Each firer had to do a grouping, a rapid (10 shots fired in 60 seconds) and a snap. However, the snap targets were a bit different than normal. Countries had been printed off and outlined so they could be seen from 25 yards with their capital cities circled. The aim was to shoot as close to the capital as possible while the target snaps up and down at randomly timed intervals. The highest possible score of 100 included 5 points for being able to identify the country and another 5 for naming the capital, no scopes were allowed for this. It was obvious very quickly that some revision of their Geography education was needed for the OG team. Top score medals went to OG Ensor for his score of 91 and to James Bowater for his excellent score of 94. OG Wilkinson was in second place for the OG team with 89 and Mr Black was second for the RGS with 93. Thank you to Mr Black and Mr Whicher for running the range and to OGs Oli Russell and Liam Cheek for helping things to run smoothly on the day. Final results were: OG 1179 and RGS 1164. So a win for the OGs which coincidentally keeps the alternating win/loss pattern going for another year. Congratulations and we look forward to seeing them next year when I have a feeling the RGS team might just have the upper hand.

Liz McEwan, Head of Shooting

OG v RGS Christmas Shoot

11 January 2025

A team of 13 from the RGS faced 12 OGs in the range on a very cold morning. The course of fire was a Grouping and Rapid followed by a Snap target with a difference. The Snap this year consisted of a Christmas tree with five baubles placed on it; 6 points were available for hitting the centre of the bauble, 5 for hitting the bauble anywhere and 0 for missing. With seven details to get through time was of the essence and has the morning progressed it was proving to be a close competition. The Grouping and Rapid produced similar scores for both teams, but it was the Snap component which was the biggest discriminator. OGs bemoaned the loss of their eyesight with age, the lack of their own equipment, being unfamiliar with the rifles etc. With excuses mounting after each detail

it did not change the fact that the younger RGS team had the edge. With a possible score of 95 for each firer congratulations went to OG Will Livesey for getting the top score of 80 for his team and within the RGS the accolade went to James Nicholas for a score of 89. Overall,

with no deductions needed or penalties on either side, the win went to the RGS with an unassailable 929 vs 871. The OGs shouldn’t worry though, a shoot with much larger targets will be in place for next year and they might just get the win… Liz McEwan, Head of Shooting

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU

The RGS is incredibly fortunate to have staff who give unstintingly of their time, expertise, imagination and hard work, sometimes for many years or an entire career.

We say a special thank you and heartfelt appreciation to three members of staff who have shaped the lives of countless pupils and been great colleagues and friends to RGS staff over the years. We wish them the very best for happy, enjoyable and fulfilling times in their retirement.

Judith Bodmer retired from the RGS in October 2024 after 24 years dedication and hard work on behalf of pupils, staff and students alike. She joined as a Chemistry teacher and was also Head of Exams from 2012 till her retirement. She was an inspiring teacher and an invaluable Exams Officer, a hugely responsible position within the school.

Dr Dax Patel joined the RGS in 2007 as a Physics teacher and retired July 2023 after 16 years loyal service to the school. In addition to teaching, she was an enthusiastic champion of the Scouts and organised many science and venture trips. She also worked tirelessly to co-ordinate the Christmas Fair, raising valuable funds for the school’s chosen charities each year.

Sally Townsend Smith joined the RGS in 2007 as a Chemistry Lab Technician and also retired in 2023. She gave tremendous support to the chemistry department and pupils alike, facilitating the smoothrunning of countless experiments across the years.

Judith Bodmer with Dr Jon Cox

OBITUARIES

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Staff, Governors and Old Guildfordians. We rely on information coming to us from across 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.

RGS Staff and Governors

Robert Strick, OG 1949 and Governor OG 1941-49 Hamonde. School Captain 1948-49. House Captain. School Prefect. Service Prize. CCF: CQMS, Cert “A”, Class Signaller, Empire 1st Class Shot, Marksman. 2nd Cl Scout. School Colours: Rugby (capt); Cross-Country; Boxing (capt). House Colours: Rugby (capt); Football; Boxing. Committees: General Games; Debating; Dramatic. House PT Team and Instructor.

Robert enjoyed an enormously varied and fascinating career driven by his endless curiosity and determination to make a difference. He believed profoundly in the impact of education on peoples’ chance to change lives and supported this through both the RGS and the Drapers’ Company, of which he was Clerk for many years. At his memorial service he was described by his family and grandchildren as generous, kind, funny, always full of stories, utterly supportive and proud of them, and a wonderful Grandpapa. Robert was a commissioned officer in the Royal Artillery during his national service and read law at Cambridge after talking his way in! In 1955 he joined the Colonial Service for 16 years, working in the South Pacific, Fiji and Tonga. His career there was outstanding by any standards, and he made a lasting connection with the people and place of Fiji. In 1959 as Secretary to the Burns Commission of Enquiry into Natural Resources and

Population Trends of Fiji, he drafted the report which paved the way to independence and laid the foundations for Fiji’s policies on economic development. At the age of 31, he became Secretary to the Government of Tonga and thus head of that Kingdom’s civil service. After two years on loan to Tonga, he returned to Fiji, becoming the youngest Divisional Commissioner Grade I in the Colony’s history and finally Secretary for Natural Resources. Following independence, he returned to the United Kingdom as Under-Secretary of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Assistant Secretary General of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He was largely responsible for the formation of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors, the first of the new generation of City livery companies, whose first Clerk he became. In 1980 he became Clerk to The Drapers’ Company, one of the city’s twelve great livery companies, and was later appointed Fellow of Queen Mary’s College, University of London. His talent for leadership and innovation shone through in both institutions and he served on numerous Boards throughout his career.

He was a regular guest at OG events, Carol and Remembrance Services for many years. John Rule, ex-chairman of Governors and a pupil when Robert was School Captain, was thrilled that Robert reconnected with the school as a Governor from 1994–2004 and

served the school with distinction during this time. In 2019 Robert visited St George’s Church, Ypres with a group of RGS staff and U6 pupils to unveil a plaque he donated to commemorate the Old Guildfordians who died in the Ypres Salient.

Robert was a loyal, principled and very generous supporter of the school throughout his life, and we miss his wisdom and excellent company. His wonderful smile somehow defined him. ● Died 12 June 2023

OBITUARIES

John Crathorne, Latin, French, History and RE 1966–1995 CCF Commanding Officer and Master in Charge of Shooting.

John Crathorne, a dedicated member of the RGS staff for 30 years (1966 to 1995) died on 12 February 2025, aged 96. John taught Latin, French, History, and RE, the latter which, quote, “were the most fulfilling years of my teaching career”. He was also the Officer Commanding the RGS CCF (1988–1995) and ran the Shooting at RGS for 20 years. He carried on supporting the RGS full-bore teams and the OG’s Rifle Club at Bisley for a further 20 years up until 2006. He also assisted in coaching rugby at the start of his career at the RGS. Born in Wiltshire and educated at Marlborough College and Trinity Hall Cambridge, where he read History, John first felt the calling to be a teacher during a ‘long-vacation’ internship at a prep school in Gloucestershire in 1953. He then stayed on for a fourth year at Cambridge for his Teacher Training and after four years teaching at Cranleigh School, he spent the next ten years of his career in prep schools, rising to be the headmaster of Dorset House, Sussex, which is still going strong. He joined the staff of the RGS in 1966, when it was still a State-endowed grammar school, under the headmaster Mr Michael Hallowes. As a precursor to running the RGS CCF, he had been in the Army from 1947 to 1949 during his ‘National Service’, when he was part of the last intake of War Service. Commissioned from Mons OCTU training centre, he served for two years with 45 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, which went on to gain fame in the Korean War (1950 to 1953). He also served on the Surrey Yeomanry in the TA. As a quintessential touch, he wore the same officers’ peaked cap that he had been issued in his ‘20s until the end of his time as the Officer Commanding the RGS CCF. This was commented on during an inspection of the School’s Cadet Force by a visiting General, who quizzically enquired why he was so attired? John replied, “Once a

always a Gunner, Sir”, to which the General tartly retorted, “I’m afraid so”!

Under John’s stewardship, the RGS shooting team won all the major shooting competitions: The County Life (small-bore), the Ashburton and the Public School Veterans (full-bore). One of his proudest moments was when OG Jon Underwood (’88) won the coveted ‘Queen’s Prize’ at Bisley in 2006 (the equivalent of winning Wimbledon singles for full-bore shooting). His connection with shooting extended beyond the RGS, serving as a member of several committees of the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting, including being the Chair of Overseas Matches Committee and the Liaison Officer for the Royal Canadian Army Cadet National Rifle Teams on their annual visits to Bisley for 24 years. A dozen OGs and OG Rifle Club members were present at John’s funeral in early March, which was a fitting tribute to a highly respected teacher, coach and friend.

John left a lasting impact on the lives of so many people during

his total 40 years association with the RGS. All of his teaching was informed by his deeply held Christian faith. He will be remembered for his dedication to his students, his support for the Christian Union, and the flourishing of the Shooting Teams and the CCF under his leadership. ●

From his son Mark OG 1975

Peter attended Cardinal Vaughan School before going up to Cambridge to study Classics. He then taught Classics (and gave Crystal Palace updates!) at the RGS for 32 years from 1973-2005 and then returned to teach for varying periods to cover absences. He always enjoyed following the progress of his students and their successes. He promoted football at the school and organised fixtures, took cricket teams to matches or umpired matches and ran a quiz team. He was also a member of the Scout group. He was a regular guest at OG reunions and events for many years, and it was always a real pleasure to see him. Peter married his wife Jan in 2000 and had 3 stepchildren; he is sadly missed by his family and many friends. He passed away on 11 August 2023 at home, after a long illness which he coped with stoically. ●

From Jan Clark, Peter’s wife

Peter Clark, Classics 1973–2005

Gunner,

Dr Peter Hicks, OG 1950 and Master in Charge of Shooting 1986–2002

OG 1944-50, House Captain of Austen and Prefect. Gained a County Major Scholarship and the “Magnus” Chemistry Prize. CCF Sg/t, Captain of the School Shooting VIII, winning the King’s Silver Medal, the Country Life, Honeybourne and Swain Cups, and the Surrey Advertiser Medal. Empire 1st Class Shot and Marksman. School Colours: Rugby, Athletics and Shooting. House Colours: Athletics, Cross-Country, Rugby, Football and Gymnastics. Member of the following committees: Science, Photography and General Games.

Peter’s interest in shooting began when he was at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford in 1947/8. From school he did his National Service in the RAF, after which he completed a BSc at Kings College and achieved full colours for shooting. Shell then sponsored him to do a PhD in Geology, whilst based in Leeds, which took him only two years to complete.

In October 1957, Peter married Paddy and they spent the next nine years travelling the world to Guatemala, New Zealand, Nigeria and Venezuela and finally coming back to the UK in 1966, to work for the Civil Service until 1986. He started shooting again in 1976 joining the Guildford Rifle Club, the Surrey Rifle Association, and the National Rifle Association. He was asked to become Secretary of the Surrey Small Bore Association in 1977, a job he did for about 20 years.

When John Crathorne became Contingent Commander of the CCF in 1984, he asked if Peter would take over coaching the RGS Shooting Team. Peter coached the team, who won the Ashburton in 1986, until he turned 70 (2002). Around the same time, he started to take photos at Bisley of teams and general ones for the Journal, which he was asked to edit in 1994 and continued to do so for seven years until 2001.

Unfortunately, Peter had to give up shooting in 2015 due to deterioration of his general health. He and his wife, Paddy, moved to Lee on the Solent in 2021, where he died peacefully at home on 10th February 2024.

From Paddy Hicks, Peter’s wife

John Crathorne recalls “Peter had kept his skills at both Small Bore and Full Bore since schooldays and led the Old Guildfordians to their first victory in the Public Schools’ Veterans annual match in 1979 at Bisley. In the very first year of his tenure, he shaped the school team that won the prestigious ‘Ashburton’, the competition for the best school VIII in the country.” ●

Frank Brown, OG 1960 and Art Teacher 1966– 1987

Frank Brown joined the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, as a first-former in 1953 – a country boy travelling into Guildford on the bus from Ripley. He was soon notable as a talented sportsman. He was a good all-round cricketer and a fearsome bowler, and his size and weight were an asset to the School’s rugby pack. His sixth form subjects were Art, Geography and History. But it was in Art that his greatest talent lay. These were the early days of Art as an examination subject at the RGS and Frank was one of the first two boys to ‘matriculate’ with Art as a subject and was one of the first A Level candidates. ➧

OG team which won the Public Schools’ Veterans Full Bore Rifle Trophy in 1979. Peter is seated far right, front row.

Photographed at home on Bute, December 2023

OBITUARIES

In 1960 he won a scholarship to the Slade School of Art and as an art student worked under Professor Patrick George. He was an eminent student and won the Slade Prize in 1964 with a major painting on ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’. There followed a period of painting and part-time teaching which included an exhibition at the Grafton Galleries. In 1966 he was appointed as a part-time art teacher at the RGS to work with Mr Ronald Smoothey MBE, who was his former art teacher. It was with sixth formers that Frank was most adept and successful as a teacher of painting. He never countenanced the remotest possibility of a disciple problem, but the occasional severity was always counterbalanced by the laughter characteristic of his very personal sense of humour. His multiplicity of interests and his informal style of teaching found a very positive response from innumerable sixth form art students. He had no single approved style or technique; styles ranged from realism to cubism, to surrealism, the composite or the expressionistic, as a response to the needs and interests of his individual students.

A former teaching colleague of Frank’s described him thus: “The multifarious, compendious and composite quality of mind characterises Frank’s own painting. He has an accurate hand and eye, a sensitive handling of form and colour and he generates tremendous enthusiasm for his subjects which are predominantly humanist. In portraiture he can catch character and likeness. His major painting style is the composite with numerous images relating to a theme jigsawed and fused into a new unity. His mind fixes on big themes which he researches in factual detail and passionate emotional identification. He has painted the triumphs of great racehorses like Hyperion and Mill Reef, as well as human heroes such as Nelson, Neil Armstrong and Daley Thompson. Other pictures celebrate his love of his native countryside and his cats.”

For many years Frank played cricket for Ripley. His youthful friendship with Eric Clapton

continued with a life-long enthusiasm for Clapton’s music. Frank retired from the RGS in 1987 and moved to the Isle of Bute where he painted until his sad death on Sunday, 28th July 2024. An exhibition of some of Frank’s work was held in the Ripley Museum from February until May 2024 which brought much pleasure to Frank in his last days. He is survived by his wife Jean. ●

From JA Simpson

Pam Palmer, Head of Economics 1977–1985

Mrs Pam Palmer joined the staff of the RGS in September 1977 to reintroduce the teaching of A-Level Economics. To begin with she had virtually no equipment, no teaching base or store room, but it is no small tribute to her success that, even as a part-time teacher, the subject, almost overnight, became a backbone of the Sixth Form curriculum. As a result of her single-handed efforts both the quantity (growing number of students) and quality (growing number of Oxbridge successes) of the subject increased. Pam also organised many Economics trips to the City and maintained her connections with Dons in various universities for the benefit of her students. Pam left the RGS in 1985 when she decided to accept a job with the Community Health Council, a subject she was also passionate about. She died on 16 January 2024. ●

From JA Simpson

Valerie Lynch, Economics Teacher 1979–1986

Valerie was born on 28th August 1927 and 52 years later joined Pam Palmer, in the recently established (and all-female) Economics Department in 1979. “Apart from contributing to the success of this department, she enriched the RGS in a number of ways. Her intellectual acuity was directed not only towards her own subject but to an unusual range of other areas: psychology, group dynamics, alternative medicine, with which she was able to enliven, enlighten and enthuse successions of General Studies sets. Valerie left to pursue a free-lance career as a Psychotherapist, for which she had been training, part-time, for some years.” ● Died 10 April 2023 aged 95 Martin Blocksidge’s valete

Alex Wilson, Classics 1992–1998

Alex taught Classics at the RGS and was also Housemaster of Hamonde from 1995 – 1996. He went on to be a senior teacher at St Paul’s. ● Died February 2024

George Sutton, Governor 2005–2011

George was appointed as RGS Nominative Governor representing University of London in 2005 and was also on the governing Academic Committee. ● Died 2 March 2024

John Fairley, Parent and Governor 2011–2024

John’s first involvement with the RGS was as a parent when his sons James OG 2015 and Adam OG 2018 joined the RGS. A keen supporter of all their activities at the school from sport to music and more, he was initially appointed as Parents Association Nominated Governor in December 2011 and went on to serve as an RGS Governor and chair of the Finance & General Purposes Committee until June 2024. He was totally committed to the well-being of the School, which he held in the highest possible regard, and was remembered as a wonderful colleague by his fellow governors who spoke with great affection and admiration for his wisdom, expertise, friendly support, kindness and excellent judgement on the whole range of governance issues. He was also a real friend and source of advice and support to many RGS staff over the years.

John’s early work was as a District Tax Inspector, then in 1984 he joined EY and rose to become Head of International Tax. A talented, clever and engaging man, he enjoyed a highly successful career around the globe. Colleagues spoke of his absolute integrity and belief in doing right by his clients. After a full career with EY, he left to join Baker McKenzie before setting off into a wonderful retirement, full of travel, family, friends, sport, trips and adventures.

John had a real love of life; laughter was ever-present, and he exuded warmth, kindness and fun. Everyone was met with friendship and genuine interest, and he lit up a

room. Very much a family man, John adored his wife Penny, his children Caroline, James and Adam, and was very proud of them all. A wonderful friend to so many people, as a packed Holy Trinity Church for his funeral showed, John gave of his time and enthusiasm to many causes. He was especially proud when their beloved dog, Monty, became a Pet Therapy animal, and would take him in to help people. He was a lifelong passionate and vocal Manchester United fan and was thrilled when they won the treble in 1999. Music also featured throughout his life – a near-miss in joining a rock band, a cellist at university and talented pianist, he loved singing bass in RGS/GHS Parents Choir and music at Christmas was a highlight. John was a true and generous supporter of the RGS throughout his time with the school, a welcoming presence at our events, and we treasured his great company and friendship; very much missed by all who knew and loved him. ●

Died 10 January 2025

Old Guildfordians

Edward Brown OG 1940 1935-40 Austen. School Colours: Chess (champion 1938). House Colours: Chess.

He was a generous supporter of Music as the school. ● Died aged 99 in 2023

Neville Taylor OG 1943

He loved the school all his life and was very proud to be an OG. ● Died 4 March 2023

Norman White Smith OG 1944

1939-44 Nettles. School Prefect. Cert “A”. JTC Sgt. Empire 1st Class Shot, Empire Marksman. School Colours: Athletics. House Colours: Football, Rugby, Athletics, Boxing, Gymnastics, Member House PT team.

He had a long and happy life and always valued his good education at the RGS. ● Died 22 August 2024

Eric Clayden OG 1945

1938-1945 Beckingham. Cert “A”. JTC L/Cpl. Signals Crossed Flags. Empire 1st Class Shot; Empire Marksman. House Colours: Football, Rugby, Cricket. Member House PT Team.

“Eric believed that education was very important, and he was very proud of attending the Royal Grammar School. He always tried to do his best and worked hard at everything he did. He was a very positive person, young at heart and he possessed a wicked sense of humour. Such a well-mannered gentleman, he was never one to complain about anything: he just got on with things.

Eric enjoyed his school years and

made many lifelong friends there. He especially enjoyed the sports at school, playing cricket for the school team and was a keen watcher of cricket and rugby at every opportunity.

When he finished school, he completed a course as a Draughtsman at the School of Military Engineering Draughtsmen, and this set Eric onto his career path as a Structural Engineer. Eric was conscripted to Burma where he spent two years working for the Royal Engineer Corp.

On his return to England, he specialised in the design and construction of wide span portal type factories and warehouse buildings. Eric became a member of the Institute of Structural Engineers in 1956. He was a Director of a very successful Structural Engineering Company who were government approved and worked on major projects around the country... It seems Eric was an important part of a highly successful and vital business that did a lot to help rebuild Britain after the War.

After his retirement Eric kept active with long walks in the countryside and enjoyed boat trips on the Thames. He loved travelling around the UK and Europe especially Italy and meeting up with family and friends whenever possible. He was an active Director for his Residents Association until his late 80s.

He would always rather be out and about enjoying life than at home, so the Covid Pandemic lockdown was very difficult for him, but he wouldn’t want you to feel sorry for him. He had a wonderful life.” ● Died 31 August 2023

From Rachel Hine, family friend

Harold Back OG 1946

1939-46 Beckingham. Cert “A”, JTC Cpl. Empire 1st Class Shot, Empire Marksman. School Colours: Cricket; Gymnastics. House Colours: Football; Rugby; Cricket Capt 1946; Fives. Member General Games Committee.

“Harold lived his whole life in Guildford and surrounding areas. He married Grietje Heijl in 1956 and became a father to three daughters: Giselle, Jacqueline and Caroline, grandfather to Gabrielle, Wystan and Scarlet, great grandfather to Leo and Archie.

Harold was an avid cricket supporter and rugby fan throughout his life. He also maintained a love of Latin, a hangover, possibly, from his schooldays. He continued to attend classes well into his nineties. Above all this he was a great reader and over his lifetime amassed an impressive library of literary works. He particularly liked to read about the lives of his favourite writers. Perhaps, because of this, he became an accomplished storyteller and raconteur. Many of his tales came directly from his schooldays at RGS and from his lifelong and enduring friendship with John Lester, an alliance firmly forged in those classrooms and corridors that he so fondly recalled all of his life. He will be best remembered for his wit, wisdom and wry humour and will continue to be missed by all those who knew him well.” ●

Died 20 April 2023

From Caroline Back

Denis Shore OG 1946

1938-1946 Hamonde. School Prefect. Cert “A”, JTC L/Sgt. Empire Marksman. Empire 1st Class Shot. Scout Second, Member “Gordon Whale” Cup PT Team. School Colours: Football, Rugby, Athletics, Gymnastics, Boxing, Swimming. House Colours: Football, Rugby, Cricket, Boxing (Capt), Athletics (Capt) – Lower School Champion 1939/40/41, Junior Champion 1942, Middles Champion 1944; Swimming, Gymnastics. House PT Team.

A proud Old Guildfordian who won the junior athletics cup consecutively in 1939, 40, 41, which he got to keep for his success and his family still have. We understand his family presented the Shore cup as a replacement for this achievement. ● Died 25 April 2025

Gordon Longmore

OG 1947

1942-47 Austen. Cert “A”, JTC L/Sgt 19, Empire 1st Class Shot, Empire Marksman. School Colours: Chess. House Colours: Rugby. Member House PT Team. ● Died in 2023

Michael Stickler OG 1947

1938-47 Beckingham. House Captain 1947. Prefect 1946-47. Cert “A”, JTC CQMS, School Shooting VIII. Member “Country Life” Team. King’s Silver Medal, Imperial Challenge Shield Competition. Empire 1st Class Shot, Empire Marksman. Silver Medal “Surrey Advertiser” Competition 1946. School Colours: Shooting. House Colours: Rugby. Member General Games Committee and House PT Team. ● Died June 2024

Roger Trubshaw

OG 1948

1946-48 Beckingham. Cert “A”, JTC L/Cpl, Empire 1st Class Shot. House Colours: Swimming. Member House PT Team.

He enjoyed his schooldays greatly and always appreciated reliving them through DialOGue ● Died 9 December 2023

Robin Warren

OG 1948

1940-48 Hamonde. Cert “A”. JTC L/Cpl. Empire 1st Class Shot, 2nd Class Shot. Scout Patrol Leader. Member House PT Team.

In 1949 he was called up into the Royal Engineers, spending much of his time in Austria. After that he remained ‘on reserve’ and was recalled in 1956 at the time of the Suez Crisis, serving in Cyprus and Port Said as a sergeant. Robin initially worked for the AA, then the National Provincial Bank, finally moving to local government in 1964, eventually joining Newent RDC where he remained until the local government reorganisation led him to the Forest of Dean DC. Throughout his life he had many interests including folk dancing, photography, church warden and treasurer, Probus and writing. Robin had joined the Scouts at School and his interest in the movement lasted for nearly 30 years and saw him awarded the Medal of Merit “In recognition of Outstanding Service”. Robin also qualified as a Heart of England Green Badge Guide for the Forest of Dean and became a part-time reporter for the Forester. He became involved with the Forge Project (later Forest Sensory Services), setting up a resource centre for visually impaired people. Once retired he served the community as a Liberal Democrat town and district councillor and was Mayor of Lydney for 1994-95. ● Died September 2024

Derek Roff OG 1951 1945-51 Beckingham. School Captain and rugby Captain 195051. “Nettles” Leaving Exhibition and State Scholarship. School Colours: Athletics and Swimming; semi-finalist in the School Boxing competition. Chairman of the Literary and Debating Society.

A life-long supporter for which we are most grateful. ● Died 31 July 2023

Rev John Stedman OG 1952 1944-52 Austen. School Prefect.

“John was born in Cranleigh in 1933. He earned a place at RGS, which he always spoke about very fondly. He preached his first sermon in Cranleigh Methodist Church at the age of 14. After National Service he went to Richmond Theological College where he was in the rugby, football, hockey and tennis teams! In 1958, he travelled by boat to the newly independent Ghana to complete his ministerial probation. After his ordination he returned to Ghana where he met another Methodist missionary, a teacher called Jill Humphrey. They married in 1966 in Bristol and, after a year working for the Methodist Missionary Society in London, were both stationed to Northern Ghana, where John was appointed Superintendent Minister for the Northern Ghana Mission, an area the size of Wales. ➧

OBITUARIES

Rev. Stedman was responsible for the care of the Methodist Churches in Tamale, Bolgatanga, Tumu, Lawra, Bole, Wa, Mangu, Vieri and several other villages. He supervised the Methodist schools and was also responsible for the Methodist clinic at Lawra and the Agricultural Project in Wa. During his time in Wa, he oversaw the building of the first Wa Methodist Church and the transfer of the School for the Blind from its temporary small buildings to a newly built site. In 1983, John was asked to move to Kumasi in the Ashanti region and then, two years later, to relocate to The Gambia. The Stedmans spent 10 years working here with John being appointed Chairman of The Gambia Methodist Church for the last 5 of those years.

After 37 years in West Africa, they moved back to Neath in South Wales where Dad was the circuit minister for several years before retiring to Weston-super-Mare. However, he continued to work as a chaplain and supernumerary minister into his early 80s. He was a truly good and gentle man, a lovely father and a wonderful Grandad to his four grandchildren. The strength of his faith was inspirational. ● Died 28 February 2025

From David Stedman, his son

Roger Nicholas OG 1953

Born on 23 December 1935, Roger was the fourth son of Ewart and Wilhelmina Nicholas. Educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, from the age of 11 or 12 Roger spent his holidays working on local farms. He cycled miles, worked late and used farm machinery that would never pass health and safety rules these days. Roger’s father died suddenly when he was just 17, leaving his sister Hilary, himself and mother at home. His brothers, Maurice, Paul and Ian, had already left home. With the help and encouragement from a family friend, and a couple of bursaries to help support his mother and sister, Roger was able to study for a degree in the Sciences at the County Technical College.

Roger was working at the old Royal Surrey County Hospital as a painter when his degree result was delivered by letter. Much to his astonishment, he finally found his name under the firsts. Roger had been the first in his family to gain a degree, from London University, and succeeded in the face of adversity.

Roger met his wife of almost sixty years, Jennifer, through mutual friends at a concert in the Royal Festival Hall in which she was singing. They married, at St Nicolas’ Church in Guildford, in May 1964 and six weeks later he received a commission in the Royal Navy.

Roger served in the Royal Navy for 25 years, spending two years at sea in his early days. This was followed by two happy years in Kenya, with the family, attached to the Kenyan Navy. Back in the UK, he went on to become a land-based “schooley” teaching, followed by a secondment with the Royal Marines at Eastney, and time as Commander In Chief Home in Portsmouth Dockyard. Having been promoted to Commander in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year, his final post was on the recruitment side of the Admiralty Interview Board. He travelled the length and breadth of the UK, interviewing university students who wished to become officers in the Navy.

Before his commission ended, Roger took on the additional voluntary role of Royal Naval Officers Association liaison, visiting retired service people, and families, who needed some advice or financial assistance from the Royal Navy. On retirement from the Navy, Roger took up a post fundraising for Missions to Seafarers in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties.

Roger returned, with Jennifer, to his Guildford roots, in 1994. His final employment for two and a half years was as an administrator at the Guildford Institute in North Street. After his retirement, he continued as a volunteer working on the Institute’s historic collection.

“Retirement” was incredibly busy, giving tours around the town and cemetery with the Guildford Town Guides, volunteering with the Royal Navy Officers Association, and becoming the local fundraising co-ordinator for the Royal British Legion’s annual poppy appeal for 10 years, helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds.

With his vast local knowledge Roger wrote and edited two books specific to Guildford. The first, published in 2004, titled “... And the Lord taketh away” details how Mount Cemetery came into being and contains short biographies of a number of its “residents”, including Lewis Carroll. For the second book Roger became the editor of The Diaries of Henry Peak, who for forty years during the nineteenth century, was involved in a range of developments in and around Guildford as a Surveyor, Councillor and Mayor.

With his knowledge and enthusiasm for local history, Roger conducted numerous talks to various groups and societies around Surrey, payment for which he accepted donations to various charities.

Following the sudden loss of Jennifer in February 2024, Roger remained fiercely independent, determined to spend as much time as possible with his two children, and remain living at home. With the support of some truly wonderful friends and neighbours, he was able to stay at home until his hospital admission in early February. To his

family, it feels like the end of an era, with Roger being the last of his Nicholas clan in Guildford. The family, however, is comforted to know that he has contributed so much to his beloved hometown since his return almost 31 years ago.” ● From Clare Wyatt, Roger’s daughter.

John Finch OG 1954 1948-1954.

“His contemporaries might remember him as the boy who played the hymn at School Assembly”, wrote his sister Patricia. John was a generous, life-long supporter of the school and very impressed with what has been achieved over the years. We are very grateful to him. ● Died 31 October 2023

Paul Koh OG 1954

1947-54. Entrance to Architectural Association. School of Architecture. Powell Prize for English Literature, Magnus Prize for French. CCF: L/Sgt, CS, ASI, Empire Marksman. Bell Prize. Nicklin Cup. School Colours: Shooting (vice capt), Gymnastics. House Colours: Gymnastics (vice capt). ● Died in 2022

Brian Fountain OG 1956

Died in 2022

Robert Dray OG 1958

1953-58 Beckingham. CCF: Cert “A”, Classified Signaller, Travelling Wing, Signals. School Colours: Swimming (Guildford Schools’ representative). House Colours: Swimming; Rugby. Member of School Swimming Team. RLSS Bronze Medallion. ● Died 23 December 2023

Derek Bradbury OG 1956

After leaving school Derek worked in the War Office and was fortunate to have a three-year posting to Hong Kong. He was then granted a Civil Service bursary to study at LSE, after which he worked as a government statistician in various ministries. He and his wife retired to Budleigh Salterton where they had 31 happy years. ● Died January 2025

Roger Bull OG 1958

1951-58. School Prefect. CCF: CSM, Plt, Commander Cert “A”, Classified Signaller, Asst Instructor Signalling; Royal Engineers’ Course. School Colours: Cross Country. House Colours: Cross Country (capt).

Roger was one of three brothers who attended the school. After he left, he obtained a part time degree in Electrical Engineering from what is now City St George’s, University of London. For most of his working life he was employed at the Electrical Research Association in Leatherhead. He was hooker for the Old Guildfordians Rugby Club for a number of years. For forty years he was tower captain of Holy Trinity and St Mary’s bellringers and in this role arranged for RGS students to try campanology at Holy Trinity Church. ● Died November 2024

Malcolm Lawrence OG 1959

1953-59 Hamonde. CCF: Cert ”A”, Classified Signaller, 1st Class Shot, Naval Aviation Course. House Colours: Athletics. ● Died 28 November 2024

Derek far right in blazer as scorer for the RGS cricket team c1954

OBITUARIES

Keith Walker

OG 1959

1953-59 Nettles. Boy Scouts. House Colours: Rugby, Swimming. School Half Colours: Rugby.

“Upon leaving the RGS, he became an articled clerk for five years with nearby Chartered Accountants Leach Bright & Co during the day whilst studying accountancy by correspondence course for five years in the evenings. Upon passing all the appropriate examinations, he joined the audit team at Touche Ross (since taken over by Deloitte). In 1969 he then joined Mobil Oil (now ExxonMobil) supervising at various times: daily calculation and payment of taxes due to HMRC for petroleum products removed from Mobil refineries the previous day; managing all premises and all staff at Mobil’s Essex refinery excepting the actual physical refinery and its associated technical staff. Retired from Mobil in 2007. He was very involved with the Old Guildfordians RFC: Fixture Secretary, Match Secretary, A Team Captain and Club Treasurer. Keith was also Honorary Auditor for the West Clandon British Legion.” ●

Died September 2024

From his brother Colin Walker OG 1964 Keith was a regular loyal guest at OG events across the years

Richard Hubbard

OG 1961

1959-1961 Hamonde. RLSS Bronze Medallion. Rare Earth Research and Computer Group. Christian Union. ●

Died after a long illness in January 2024

Peter Witting

OG 1961

Died April 2024

Andrew Faraday

OG 1962

1958-62 Hamonde. Prefect. State Scholarship. Mellersh Prize for Applied Mathematics, RO Griffiths Memorial Prize. CCF: Asst Instructor, L/Cpl. Member of School Chess Team. House Colours: Chess. Scorer for 1st and 2nd XI.

Dr Faraday went up to Cambridge and became a Chemical Engineer, working for ICI. ●

Died April 2023

Ian Maxwell

OG 1962

1958-62 Nettles. Prefect, Deputy House Captain. CCF: CQMS, Empire 1st Class Shot. School Half Colours: Rugby. Junior School Tennis Captain. 1st and 2nd XV Rugby Captain. Surrey Junior Colts. House Colours: Rugby, Swimming, Gymnastics. Entrance to King’s College, Durham University. ● Died 17 December 2024

Simon Wade

OG 1962

1954-62 Austen. Prefect. A Level and S Level. CCF Cert “A”, 1st Class Shot. Full Colours: Chess (capt). Half-Colours: Cricket. House Colours, Chess (capt); Cricket. General Games Committee. Music Society and member of School Choir. Entrance to Bristol University 1962. ● Died 7 June 2024

Malcolm Colmer

OG 1963

1956-63 Nettles. School Prefect. Senior Scouts. Rugby 1st and 2nd XV 1962-63. Hon Treasurer Science Society. 6th Form Society. Youth Orchestra. Surrey Organists’ Association. Chertsey and District Bellringers’ Association. Leader of Church Youth Club.

Malcolm studied at the University of Sussex after which he was a Scientific Officer at RAE Bedford. He studied for the priesthood at St John’s College Nottingham and was ordained in 1974. After curacies in Egham and Chadwell, he held incumbencies at Lewes. He was Area Dean of Islington from 1990 to 1995; Archdeacon of Middlesex from 1996 to 2005 and Archdeacon of Hereford from 2005 until his retirement in 2010. ● Died March 2024

John “Graham” Long OG 1963

1956-63 Austen. School Prefect 1962-63. Boy Scouts. Senior Scout. School Tennis Team. Old Guildfordians Football XI. Treasurer of History Society. Chairman of Railway Society.

The seeds sown by the school flourished as Graham went on to be a Chartered Accountant, firstly at Thurlow Boyce & Co, then as Company Secretary/Finance Director from 1970 at Graham Brown & Co Ltd; he finally worked part-time with Alliott Graham Brown until he was 75. He was also Treasurer of several organisations including The Spike Heritage Centre and the Insurance Institute of Guildford. Graham’s sporting interest at school meant he, for over 20 years, joined close friend Brian Smith as a season ticket holder at Brighton and Hove Albion FC. His interest in railways also continued throughout his life. He loved walking, doing many of the long walks in the country and organising monthly walks for U3A in Guildford. His principal hobby was his music: he studied Piano from the age of six, spent many years at the Guildford

School of Music, and played for many Amateur Dramatic productions in Surrey. He learned to play the Organ in the 1980s and for the last few years of Guildford Methodist Church was their Organist, and then Organist at Merrow Methodist Church. He and wife Gloria even had a piano long before they had a house while saving to get married in 1969.The organ arrived in the 1980s, alongside the piano. He and Gloria were welcome guests at OG Garden Parties, reunions and more, and he was a generous supporter of the school. Much loved and missed by his family and wide circle of friends. ●

Died 15 March 2023

Dr Geoffrey Ricketts OG 1965

On leaving RGS he went to Sussex University, then in 1968 moved to Exeter to do a PhD. A few years ago, Geoff wrote “I then went to work for a branch of the Civil Service in Cheltenham. In those days, they wouldn’t tell you anything about what they did until you arrived, and even then, you weren’t allowed to know what the people in the next-door office did! GCHQ is a little more open now, but old habits of secrecy die hard. There I stayed till retirement at 60, when I at last had time to enjoy my garden, until we downsized and moved to be near our children and grandchildren”. ● Died 21 March 2023

Martin Willey OG 1967

Martin was a chartered planner from 1973, a former public sector chief planner and president of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2009. He was a powerful advocate for the planning profession, a committed supporter of planning education and driven by an enormous sense of civic responsibility. He remained an active director, trustee, mentor and RTPI ambassador throughout his retirement. His interests in education, health and society’s relationship with the built environment were reflected in a wide range of directorships, trusteeships and chair positions at organisations as varied as London NHS Urban Development Unit, City and Bannerman Road Academies in Bristol, St. John’s Trust Winchester, the Community Self Build Association, South West Housing Initiative, and Children of Chernobyl Wells. Martin was a great supporter of planning education, occupying positions on the planning school partnership boards at Cardiff, Sheffield Hallam, London South Bank, Brighton, Plymouth and Glasgow Universities, as well as the Chinese University Hong Kong. He was an external examiner for LSBU and Liverpool University. As Austen House Captain he followed their success throughout the years and was a loyal supporter and guest at OG and School events. His school friends recall: “Being among the tallest boys and heaviest boys in his year, Martin ended up in the second row through his rugby career at the RGS. He was in the Scouts and later the Sea Scouts whilst at School. He was instrumental in assembling a small group of contemporaries from the RGS to go up to visit an old school friend who has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Martin himself was ill for some time with various conditions, which he bore with great fortitude, and seemed to have overcome them all. He finally succumbed to a brain haemorrhage on 29 March 2025.” ●

Robert (Rob) Kellow OG 1968 1961-68 Beckingham. Full Prefect 1967-8.

“Robert Kellow was the elder of two brothers who were amongst a number of boys from the West Byfleet County Primary School who travelled to Guildford on the train along the Waterloo Line in the last days of steam engines, though sadly not for the commuter service used. Changing to the fast train at Woking did occasionally provide the opportunity to add a bacon sandwich to his journey.

Rob was a selfless, generous and loving man who dedicated much of his life to caring for and supporting others. During the 1980s he was a Principal Social Worker and ran Enderley House Childrens’ Home in Amberley, where he met his wife of 40 years. Together they went on to open the very first childrens day nursery offering care for babies in Hampshire. Play Away Day Nurseries successfully grew, looking after thousands of young children and their families across more than three decades. In his spare time, Rob was a family man with four children and seven grand-children and he was an avid birdwatcher and nature enthusiast who adored his wild-life friendly garden and living in the Stroud Valleys.

He was passionate about music, a keen rock and blues fan, a frequenter of the Gin Mill Club in Godalming, and a dedicated football supporter of Woking, Fulham and Forest Green Rovers. The funeral service to celebrate Rob’s life was held in the Oak Chapel, Cheltenham Crematorium with a private family burial in Brimscombe overlooking a typical Stroud valley scene which was close to his heart. Rob died on 2nd July 2024 in Cheltenham surrounded by close family and with recent visits from school friends.” ●

From Don Kellow, OG and Rob’s brother

OBITUARIES

Edward (Eddie) White

OG 1968

“Many of you and especially those few who took art to A Level, at the Royal Grammar School Guildford, under Ron Smoothey from ’66 to ’68 will be saddened to hear of the passing of Ed White – known to us then as Eddie. After RGS Ed studied at the London School of Photography finishing with distinction. He established his own studio and rapidly became one of, if not the most, sought after still life photographer in Europe. At one time three of his meticulous and creative images featured on enormous advertising hoardings in Waterloo Station. One of his more humorous photographs of a gnome using a nasal spray is rumoured to still be in Charing Cross Station. Misfortunes including a studio fire and property crash seemed to dog his life. Ed had to deal with some deep personal struggles but even so, he gave great and lively support to others. Ed never lost his zest for inventive design and that ‘can do’ attitude to make them happen. Stories of his schemes and projects were shared by family and friends at a celebration in November 2024. Eric Clapton, a longterm friend, played and sang two songs in tribute to Ed’s extraordinary, creative and eventful life” ●

Died October 2024

From Rog Matthews and Bob Milton

On the memorial of Eddie White

Hello again after all these years

From the stock room to Jacobian mansion

Through the highs and lows of great art

To the depths of loss and despair

Three lovely children full of memories

The rustling of the leaves at Newlands Corner

Falling to cover the ashes of your life

You were the Swan, paddling upstream

No one could see the anguish below

Nobody knows you when you are down and out

The Fellowship gathered in support

With the fading song of the soaring lark

Your great artistry fading in the setting sun

Yet still there for everyone to see

Sausages on vans; Charing Cross station; Stanley prize winner

Glass shards collapsing

Great tree table wrestled back to Whitmoor

Your boat smashed at sea

We all owe you a debt

By Bob Milton OG 1968

November 2024

Tony Benest OG 1969

For many decades, Tony was the much treasured and valued anchor of Brixton Wholefoods, a gem of a shop in the local community. Also a talented rugby player, he played rugby as a centre for Surrey Under 15s. He played a season for the RGS 1st XV as a 5th former and again in the L6 before leaving a year early. ●

Died December 2023

David Tillson OG 1969 1962-69 Hamonde.

His friends write: “As well as being a first-class scholar, David was keen on many sports, though it was tennis (a minority sport at the RGS in those days) at which he excelled. Upon leaving school he gained admission to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics and statistics, and later passed the necessary professional exams to become an actuary. He spent most of his working life as one of the three original directors of Claybrook Computing Ltd, which specialised in computer systems for large scale users such as banks and the Civil Service. He was a keen (and very good) golfer and bridge player, and later became a regular attender of big concerts, especially the annual Eric Clapton concerts at the Albert Hall.

David died on 3rd April 2025, aged 74. He will be sadly missed by his wife, his family and friends.” ●

Died 3 April 2025

Chris Willey OG

1969

Chris will be remembered for being as good a batsman as Alan Taylor, also recently deceased, who were both as good as Bob Willis was a bowler. ● Died April 2023

From his brother Martin, OG.

Richard Burgess OG 1971

“After leaving RGS Richard took Botany at Manchester University. He sang in the choir at St John’s church in Cobham and met his beloved Sue there. They married but sadly Sue died at a young age. Richard had a great love of wine, and he made his career in the wine industry which included visiting chateaux to taste the latest vintage. His interests were based upon nature and the environment. He was a member of the Surrey Wildlife Trust Riversearch team, testing the quality of water in the River Wey tributaries. He walked butterfly transects on Farnham Common recording butterfly species and he was also a keen and knowledgeable birdwatcher.

He regularly crewed a narrowboat on the Basingstoke Canal used for disabled and other charity groups. Richard was a keen gardener raising flowers and vegetables in his own and a neighbour’s garden and an excellent cook, baking his own bread. He enjoyed socialising and would attend local classical music concerts. He travelled extensively around the globe to many exotic locations.

Richard attended an RGS reunion in 2012 with 18 boys who left in 1971 and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the school, bringing back old memories. Richard was a kind and generous friend who will be greatly missed.” ●

Died 5 September 2023

From Ivan Gale OG 1971

Keith Howieson OG 1972

Born 25 January 1953, died 21 December 2023

“I have known Keith for over fifty years, firstly at the RGS in Guildford, then playing rugby at Effingham RFC, then a few holidays whilst students, and finally the social catch ups. At school, Keith was a good rugby player and we both played in the school first team.

After school he went to work in a local surveyors’ firm, working as a quantity surveyor for nearly 40 years at Mouchel (including working in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, St Lucia and Newcastle and in the later years he was seconded to Shell). We then played rugby together at Effingham RFC where Keith was a robust forward and I was one of the “girls” in the backs. He was club captain in the late seventies and led the team well in the Home Counties areas.

We had holidays together with other lads, sleeping on Greek beaches and partying in Spain. My wife and I visited Keith when he was working in Hong Kong and he came out to see us in Papua New Guinea, which was a few fun days of BBQs and gummying (going down the river on a tyre inner tube with a beer!). Recently I have not seen that much of Keith apart from the Old Boy reunion in 2022.

I was so sad to hear of Keith’s parting, through his sister Anne in January. It was a great shock to his family and to all at Effingham Rugby and Leatherhead Cricket Clubs for whom he did so much and is very sadly missed. My memories are of a very kind man, with a great sense of northern humour and a splendid friend, with whom to share a glass ….. or two.” ●

From Graeme Forbes OG 1972

David Jacombs OG 1973

“David sadly passed away from heart failure on 28 October 2023. He was on the way to watch his beloved Leicester City who were playing at his adopted second team QPR.

One of life’s great characters Dave will be fondly remembered by his many friends as always finding the humour in any situation, not least in the number of detentions he used to rack up!

Not known for his academic ability, Dave was more a hands-on person and forged a very successful career in Mechanical Engineering at home and overseas in India, Germany and the Middle East. Dave is survived by his wife Sharon and his two sons, Tom and George.” ● From Tony Knights, OG

Kevin Learoyd OG 1979

His wife passed away in 2014 from cancer and Kevin was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022.

Tragically, he died on 21 November 2023, leaving their three children. ● Died 21 November 2023

Edward ‘Hamish’ Millar OG 1984

Remembered as an excellent rugby 1st XV player and cricketer. ● Died 27 October 2024

Adrian Rathmell OG 1984

A talented linguist and cricket enthusiast who played for Peper Harow. ● Died 11 April 2024

OBITUARIES

Paul Macey OG 1987

Died 8 June 2022

Philip Giokas OG 2000

Very sadly Philip died suddenly and unexpectedly in November 2021 from a heart attack caused by a thrombosis in a coronary artery. He had not been ill, so it was a tremendous shock to his family. Much loved and missed. ● Died 18 November 2021

Karam Saridar OG 2004

Karim was tragically murdered in an Iranian strike on Iraqi Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee’s residence in Erbil, Iraq in January 2024. Well-known for his entrepreneurial energy and vision, Karam founded the electronics e-commerce site Elryan.com in 2014, which has become one of the most popular websites in Iraq for buying electronics. He worked successfully in the world of innovation and was on the Board of Directors of Five One Labs, which supports talented entrepreneurs in Iraq. As a pupil at the RGS Karam found a very close group of friends who have stayed together ever since. He went on to study Economics at Bath University. He leaves behind his wife and baby daughter and is missed more than words can say by his family and friends. ● Died 15 January 2024

Barney Wong OG 2007

“Barney died on 8 May 2023. His infectious smile, sharp wit, and fierce intellect will never be forgotten. Barney enjoyed his time at the RGS, making lifelong friends and nurturing his love of art, classics, and the sciences, which led to a distinguished career in Medicine. Despite featuring on the front cover of the school magazine when in the first form, he may not have always been the model pupil. He was, however, much loved by pupils and staff alike and remembered for his thoughtfulness, kindness, and positive energy. He was always willing to support and encourage others who had an interest in Medicine. At a couple of RGS careers seminars he delivered entertaining, honest and balanced accounts of his student and junior doctor experiences as well as helpful advice.

Barney was clinically excellent, he loved Medicine. What set him apart was the care and consideration he always showed to his patients, their families and his colleagues. He was thoughtful and considered in his approach and many of the junior doctors he trained saw him as a role model; many would pause to ask themselves “what would Barney do?”. Barney studied at University College London, graduating with a BSc Medical Sciences with Neuroscience in 2010, and MBBS with Distinction in Clinical Science and Clinical Practice in 2013. He gained Membership of the Royal College of Physicians in 2017 and MRCP Geriatric Specialty in 2020. He worked across several London

hospitals, where he made a lasting impact. Notable positions include leading the St. Pancras Rehabilitation Unit as Registrar during the COVID-19 pandemic; Registrar undertaking a Specialist Stroke Fellowship at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neuroscience, Queen’s Square and as the Royal College of Physicians Chief Registrar at the Homerton Hospital. His legacy is felt deeply at these hospitals, particularly at Homerton Hospital where his digital improvements have driven an innovative change to patient management and where significant money has been raised in his name to support the staff at the hospital. Barney will always be remembered for his passion for medicine and the way he approached it with humour, grace and wisdom.

Barney was a brilliant friend; utterly hilarious, great fun, and there for the those he loved. Many will miss his heady enthusiasm for cycling and skiing as well as his passion for cooking, hosting and sharing delicious Chinese and Malaysian delicacies.

To know Barney was to love Barney. Our enduring memory will always be his beaming smile that lit up the world around him and made it a happier place. He is missed enormously by his family, friends, and colleagues.” ● From his mother, Nicky

David Cater OG 2013

Died in late 2024

Development & Alumni Relations Team

We help alumni stay connected with the school and each other. With over 5,000 OGs in over 40 countries, we are your first point of call for alumni reunions, enquiries and ideas. Through our close relationship with the RGS community we work to raise funds for our bursary programme, supporting the next generation of RGS boys. We arrange reunions, events and support the careers programme. We also manage the Tudor Collection – the range of RGS merchandise available at rgsg.co.uk/our-community/rgs-merchandise

Monica Popa Development Director

If you would like to support the development of future RGS boys (either financial or intellectual) please call Monica.

mpo@rgsg.co.uk

+44 (0)1483 887144

Lucy Shires Data Manager

Responsible for all our data, Lucy manages and governs how we communicate with our alumni and steer our fundraising channels.

les@rgsg.co.uk

+44 (0)1483 880665

Helen Dixon Marketing Manager

Helen is responsible for all our communications and manages the online community site, rgsconnect.com

hsd@rgsg.co.uk

+44 (0)1483 887361

Michelle Searle Development Officer

Michelle supports Monica, fundraising for The Road to 2035 campaign through various projects.

mse@rgsg.co.uk

+44 (0)1483 887143

Development & Alumni Office RGS Guildford High Street Guildford Surrey GU1 3BB

rgsg.co.uk

A former parent, Philippa is responsible for our relationship with you beyond your RGS years, organising many reunions and events.

pmg@rgsg.co.uk

+44 (0)1483 887144

If you would like to find out more about our fundraising campaign for bursaries, The Road to 2035, or to make a donation, please click on the QR code. Thank you.

og@rgsg.co.uk

+44 (0)1483 880665

@rgsgog

Philippa Green Alumni Manager

Events 2025

We host a range of events for recent school leavers to long-standing members of the OG community. So whether you’re an Old Guildfordian, former or current staff or parent, do join us. Most events are free to turn up to, but please email og@rgsg.co.uk or call us on 01483 880665 if you have any questions. There are further school events at which guests are very welcome, so please see the school calendar online or our regular news Digest for more information about these.

TRINITY TERM

Market Day Concert

Tuesday 1 July 1.15pm Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

RGS Rock

Tuesday 1 July 6.30pm

The Boileroom, Guildford

Symphony Orchestra Concert

Wednesday 2 July 7.30pm Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

Class of 2024 & Staff Ultimate Frisbee

Saturday 5 July 11am–2.00pm

Bradstone Brook

Classes of 1983, 1984 & 1985 Reunion

Saturday 5 July 5.00pm Big School, RGS

MICHAELMAS TERM

Thames Hare & Hounds Alumni Race

Saturday 13 September

Wimbledon Common

Email og@rgsg.co.uk to participate

Market Day Concert

Tuesday 7 October 1.15pm Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

Beckingham Society Lunch

Wednesday 8 October 12.30pm Big School, RGS

Development & Alumni Office

RGS Guildford

High Street

Guildford Surrey GU1 3BB

rgsg.co.uk

MICHAELMAS TERM CONTINUED

Classes of 1980, 1981 & 1982 Reunion

Saturday 11 October 12.30pm Big School, RGS

Chamber Choir sing Choral Evensong

Saturday 15 November 4.30pm Queen’s College, Cambridge

RGS Christmas Fair

Saturday 29 November 1.00 – 4.00pm

OG Rifle Club Christmas Shoot

Email og@rgsg.co.uk for more information

Advent Carol Service

Wednesday 19 November 7.00pm Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

Symphony Orchestra Concert

Wednesday 26 November 7.30pm Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

New York City Reunion

Monday 14 July 7pm

New York

Palo Alto Reunion

Thursday 17 July 7pm

Hosted by Christian Bailey OG 1994

og@rgsg.co.uk

+44 (0)1483 880665 @rgsgog