OG News

KEITH BROWNING OG 1970 has published a new book titled ‘Frome Fables’, a true story of the lives of ordinary people who moved from the Somerset countryside to the city during the social migration of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Fables are seen through the eyes of four families who lived at a time when social class would determine your life chances. There is a strong element of ‘upstairs-downstairs’ but mostly ordinary people, several of whom lived the most extraordinary lives. What started as a one-page family history project has evolved over 20 years into a social history of the time. Available direct from the author £14.99 (including postage). kbrow5121@aol.com

RICHARD TILBROOK OG 1979 was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the New Year’s Honours List 2022. JONATHAN BRUNDAN OG 1988 and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oregon, USA was elected as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in January 2021. He was selected for his contributions to Lie theory and representation theory. The Fellowship recognises excellence in a mathematician’ s research and a significant contribution to the mathematics community both in the US and internationally. Much of Jon’s early research was a joint effort with colleague Alexander Kleshchev, a 2016 AMS Fellow. Together they made progress on studying representations of general linear and symmetric groups using combinatorial structures known as crystals. “Mathematics in the United States is both deep and broad, and the AMS represents a huge community across the country and beyond,” he said. “It is very hard to stand out amongst so many strong researchers. Perhaps it is the combinatorial, diagrammatic nature of my research that has made it accessible and given it quite a wide appeal.”

SIMON FLATAU OG 1993 is a Triathlete and Fitness Instructor and qualified as a Coach for both British Triathlon and British Cycling. He took part into the cross-country club when at the RGS and represented the school and the County. He left school at 16 to work for the family business, Abinger Organ Hire. They work mostly with churches, large orchestras and undertake some work for the Royal households too. The business also provides organs for festivals across the world and even for the D-Day Celebrations in France. Simon continues to combine both strands – the unique world of organ hire with his passion for Triathlons both as a coach and athlete. ADRIAN MACKINDER OG 1996 is a writer and comedian, now living in Copenhagen. He has written a book Stan Lee: How Marvel Changed the World which he discussed at the Breakfast Club Talk in May 2021. The book is a journey through twentieth century American history, seen through the life of a man who personified the American Dream, and shows how Stan Lee’s life reflects the evolution of American entertainment, society and popular culture throughout the 1900s and beyond. Available in bookshops and online.

DAVID FARR OG 1988 published his first novel in October 2021. ‘The Book of Stolen Dreams’ is the first in a series of fantasy thrillers for children by David, who also wrote the screenplay for BBC’s The Night Manager, adapted from John le Carré’s novel.

MAXIM MCDONALD OG 2001 was married on 10th October 2020 to Maria Belen Fourmantin. The photo shows them in Regent St, London, making the walk from the Warwick St Church in Soho to the RAC club at Pall Mall for the reception. Also in the left background is old classmate EGBERT PLUGGE OG 2001. OGs (all from Year of 2001) KENNETH PORTER, DANIEL RANDOLPH, SHAHAB ROBATI and MARK YOUNG were also in attendance. The plan was to hold the party and their first dance in Argentina in 2021 where both Maxim and Maria have the majority of their family.

MISHA VERKERK OG 2006 (above right) was recently awarded the Gold Medal for the Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) exam. This means he achieved the top mark in the country in his exit exam for ENT Surgeons, the final exam for Misha to achieve Consultant status. HENRY MAXFIELD OG 2007 and now a UC Santa Barbara postdoctoral researcher won the Breakthrough Foundation’s 2021 prestigious New Horizons Prize in Fundamental Physics. Regarded as the Oscars of the science world, Henry and a team of other researchers received the award “for calculating the quantum information content of a black hole and its radiation.” NICK KERSHAW OG 2004 is the founder and CEO of Impact Marathon Series, which was born from a dream that they could use the simple power of running to uplift communities and empower runners all over the world. In 2015, they turned that dream into a reality, taking Impact Marathon to Nepal. Living in a Nepali village, they built a 5km water pipeline to the community, before lacing up their shoes and running their own race. Over the last five years, they have created 13 entirely unique events, which have taken them deep into the culture of some incredible countries. Over 400 runners have united over a shared passion to explore new trails and a hunger to make a difference to the lives of others. Since then, their races have raised $1.2m for grassroots organisations, tackling the global goals in their community, with more to come in the years ahead. And finally, Nick met Liza Ponce working at the partner charity in Guatemala and they are now engaged - obviously, he did run to the top of a mountain to surprise her with the ring halfway through her walk!

BRUNO BOWDEN OG 1999 took his software development and leadership experience in building Google Earth to head up a volunteer team and develop a Covid App which launched in Nigeria in 2020.

TALHA SAMI OG 2007 published a book about his experience as a GP and A&E Registrar during the Covid Pandemic. He found that journaling, prayer and exercise helped enormously with the mental health challenges and stress which he faced. Take A Deep Breath: Diary of a Junior Doctor in the NHS During The Covid Pandemic is the result. It chronicles the highs, lows, romance, failure, mental health, life and death working as a junior doctor through the pandemic and addresses wider issues such as mental health in ethnic communities. Available to purchase via Amazon.

ROBERT EVANS OG 2008 is the Chaplain and Director of Studies in Theology at Christ’s College, Cambridge. His research focuses on ideas about history in western Europe in the early Middle Ages. He has been awarded the President’s Prize for Early Career Research by the Ecclesiastical History Society. He also teaches for the Faculties of Divinity and History and the Cambridge Theological Federation. In January 2021 he gave an alumni lecture entitled ‘How to survive a Viking invasion: 10 tips from continental Europe in the ninth century’ .

EMMANUEL BACH OG 2011 and professional violinist recorded a new CD, Lennox in Paris, focused on the music of Lennox Berkeley and his near- contemporaries Lili Boulanger and Francis Poulenc. It pays homage to the rich cultural environment of Paris, between 1900 and the 1940s, in which all three composers worked, lived and developed. JOE MORWOOD OG 2009 and RICHARD OLLINGTON OG 2012 raced the London Marathon in October 2021. In the mass start they finished 8th (2:22) and 16th (2:24) respectively, an outstanding result from both OGs.

Richard Ollington, centre and Joe Morwood, right

JOSH RICHARDS OG 2012 and former RGS BIOLOGY TEACHER and GRACE CLEMENTS, RGS GEOGRAPHY TEACHER were married in July 2021.

DAN INNES OG 2014 was involved in creating Moss Matters via the Serpentine Gallery – an audio walk along Regents Canal exploring moss and the connection between ecology and the city. It explores the urban ecology of London’s moss species, revealing what these resilient organisms can teach us about the life of the city. It was devised by students of the Royal College of Art’s School of Architecture. Take a walk here

Photo by: Jono Hine

SEB CHAUMETON OG 2015 had a new exhibition at the Maddox Gallery, London in May 2021. Entitled ‘Context Plz’, his new collection combined Greek Mythology with TV and meme culture to create an amalgamation of past and present. As a contemporary reinterpretation of The Twelve Labours of Hercules, the collection explores the consequences of internet culture through multi-media and provides a humorous yet evocative look at the world we live in. Seb’s first international solo exhibition was held in Taiwan (Taipei) with Whitestone Gallery in August 2021. It was called “Little Movements” and was a re skinning of the recognisable Mr Men series as well-known art movements through the ages. Looking at the conversations between the movements, anthropomorphising them to reflect on how they are always alive and present in the past and future of creative thinking. Seb is working towards another solo show in central London with Maddox for September 2022.

DYLAN BARDOE (MORRIS) OG 2016 at the launch of his art exhibition at the Bermondsey Project Space, London in August 2021. ALEX DENNY OG 2016 was President of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge May Ball Committee and when covid struck, he oversaw a programme to turn ticket money in charitable donations. A total of £12,237.75 was raised to support four charities that resonated with the students: Jimmy’s Cambridge, which supports people experiencing homelessness; Sahabat Anak, which brings education to marginalised children in Indonesia; Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, supporting innovation in patient care across Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; and The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, an interdisciplinary research centre within the University of Cambridge dedicated to the study and mitigation of risks that could lead to human extinction or civilisational collapse. Alex said “The Committee is absolutely delighted to be able to support four charities that are especially important at the moment…we cannot thank our ticket holders enough for their kindness.”

HARRY ATKINS OG 2018 was named in the Cambridge Hockey Squad for the Varsity match on 16 May 2021 along with vice-captain HANTIAN WANG, also OG 2018. Cambridge went on to win.

EDDIE WAY OG 2016 was selected for the GB Hockey Elite Development Programme in April 2021.

JONATHAN ANDREWS OG 2018 and JONATHAN GATHERCOLE OG 2020 played in the Cambridge University LX Club side that won the 2nd XV Varsity rugby match against the Oxford University Greyhounds in June 2021. It is the first time the LX Club has won against the Greyhounds since 2014. It was a close game and a big win for Cambridge, having been 12-0 down at half time. Jonny Andrews captained the team in his last run out for Cambridge before graduating.

Jonathan Andrews, front row middle holding cup; Jonathan Gathercole, front row third from right

MICHAEL KIELSTRA OG 2018 visiting the RGS with friend Elizabeth.

ARCHIE HOSKING OG 2018 was in the squad for Exeter Chiefs cup game against Bristol Bears in November 2021. Exeter University rugby player Archie plays in the back row and came off the bench in the 66th minute. BEN HAWKEN OG 2018 and FREDDIE LONIE OG 2020 have been listed in the University of St Andrews Men’s 1st XI Hockey squad. Ben takes up the position of Goalkeeper and Freddie steps in as Defender in this team which has become a dominant force in Scottish University Hockey.

JAMES MILLER OG 2020 won the Humanities Category at the Pearson World Changer Awards 2020. Since the age of 13 James has been raising awareness about climate change and the threats facing Britain’s wildlife via activities including filmmaking, political campaigning and public speaking.

Thousands of people have seen him talk at events or through his videos, and the State of Nature report, which he helped to launch, had the highest public engagement and media attention of any of the three reports released so far. As an ambassador for the Surrey Wildlife Trust and member of the RSPB Youth Council, he has collaborated on a multitude of campaigns and projects to help protect nature. Over lockdown he organised a virtual Concert for Conservation on World Biodiversity Day, bringing together thousands of young people from across the world to celebrate the planet’s biodiversity and his generation’s fight to protect it. Together with Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, the concert raised $1000 and inspired a second event a month later. James went on work with a team of scientists, artists and activists to create the Glasgow Climate Change Clock campaign ahead of the COP 26 in November 2021. See his podcast for more thought-provoking talks and ideas:

Stan on keyboards, Henry on saxophone

HENRY FORREST and STAN LAWRENCE OGs 2021 are jazz musicians who have played at our events to great acclaim, and have recently released their first single – Tortoise Café. Search for Wah5 to listen online. Enjoy.

ALEX THOW OG 2021 was selected for the GB team which took part in the International Chemistry Olympiad, an academic competition, in July 2021. He sat a very challenging five-hour exam and scored 84%, earning him a gold medal and the kudos of being the top British chemist in the competition.

FORMER RGS HEAD OF ART, ANDREW CURTIS has become involved with GU Art, a new Guildford-based gallery. Facilitated by the charity Axis Web, this is an artist-run exhibition space and Andrew exhibits his work (abstract landscapes in oil and watercolours) alongside that of other professional artists working in a range of media from photography and ceramics to portraits and acrylics. Although not a commercial gallery, work can be purchased or commissioned directly from the artist. HANTIAN WANG OG 2018 played for Cambridge in the Varsity Hockey Match on Sunday 6 March 2022, his 4th blue!

THE RGS QUIZ TEAM 1971. From the Surrey Advertiser and County Times, March 26 ,1971 – 50 years ago. The team from the Royal Grammar School Guildford won a Top of the Form contest between four Surrey schools at Christ Church Hall, Woking on Thursday last week. The boys, TOM ARTHUR, ANDREW MURDIN, STEPHEN MILLAR and PETER HAYNES, were accompanied by two teachers, Mr V Buxton and Mr KBH Stevens. The team’s prize was a flight from Fairoaks Aerodrome, Chobham along the South Coast. (The runners up were St William Perkins School and the team members received a 37p voucher each). The teams were asked questions on general knowledge and current affairs by the question master, Paddy Feeny. The contest, which was watched by over 100 pupils and teachers from schools in the district, was organised by Woking Friends of Ockenden Venture to raise money towards keeping the 12-year-old daughter of Polish refugees at the Ockenden Venture home in Haslemere. The Friends aim to raise £350 each year. LUKE WYLLIE OG 2021 was selected for Oxford Rugby 1st XV at the Varsity Match on 2 April 2022 at Twickenham. The ex RGS Rugby Captain will be playing on the wing at no14. WILL HEYLEN OG 2017 and BRYAN XUAN OG 2018 were also selected for the Oxford University Rugby Football Club squad. In January 2022 Luke was also selected for the Oxford Men’s Blues squad, on his debut against England U20’s.

RGS STUDENTS AND OGs were involved in the 125 Board simul on Guildford High Street, given by some of the top Chess players in England and staged by Chess Guildford in celebration of their 125th anniversary in September 2021.

HARRY GRIEVE OG 2019 and OMEET ATARA OG 2021 both took part in the British Online Chess Championship in early 2021. Omeet was still in U6 and won the U18 British Blitz Championship against some much higher FIDE ranked players. In the same tournament, Harry Grieve won the Open Rapidplay section and in the main Championship section he came 5th equal out of 34, and in the process got draws against two grandmasters. Overall, a very successful tournament for RGS and OG chess!

TIAN FANG OG 2020 is studying Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial and continues to pursue his passion for Rockets and Space. As a member of the university’s satellite society, his group won 4th place in the 2021 UK University CanSat Competition. THE OPENSHAW PRIZE IN MATHEMATICS at Queens’ College Cambridge was endowed in 1973 by Tom Openshaw’s family, in memory of Tom, a talented mathematician at Queens’ who tragically died in an accident at the end of his third year. There are four OGs in the distinguished list of recipients:

1978 PETER HAYNES OG 1976

1985 DAVID MOORE OG 1982

1993 PAUL COLLINS OG 1990

1999 MARK SHINWELL OG 1997

ALI BULMAN OG 2019 represented Canada in Rugby at U20 level, playing in the back row at number 8 in 2021. ALLEN HOUSE c1962 from JOHN CORDINGLEY, RGS MATHS TEACHER 1960-63. ‘Robbie’ Robinson’s classroom and some 1st years!