News and Events

Newsand Events

A Stroke of Luck? ONA football team beat RGS XI on penalties

Wednesday 24 March saw the return of the once annual ONA v RGS football match. The Old Novocastrians fielded a strong starting RGS XI but, due to a few late drop outs, were without any support in the form of substitutes – it was going to be a long afternoon. It took some time for the ONA team to settle down as despite the wealth of experience, most of the team hadn’t played together for years. Consequently, RGS dominated from the outset lead by a strong performance from Martin Bagnall and were only prevented from scoring by the athleticism of goalkeeper Ollie Currie (95-02). Eventually, one flowing move from the right wing left Adam Heardman free and he coolly capitalised. 1-0 to RGS. The ONA consolidated and finished the first half with only a couple of attempts on goal from Sam Moore (9702) and Jamie Hansell (95-02).

After changing the team around at half thanks to a Collins Triangle conquering the midfield. It wasn’t long before the ONA were rewarded with a corner, which recently-concussed right wing Hugh Morgan (94-04) headed home from distance, almost immediately forgetting he had done so! The game finished 1-1 with notable performances from RGS Captain Jamie McKale and ONA’s Neil Reekie (95-02) and Michael Brett (95-00).

Penalties! Iain Fraser (95-02) stepped up first only to punch the ball off the post.

Patand Christian Collins (93-01 and

97-07) both scored comfortably and Jamie Hansell (95-02) maintained his 100% record. Sam Moore (97-02) scored to make it 4-3 and an emphatic RGS penalty miss let the visitors away with victory! The game was played in great spirit from start to finish and the ONs wish RGS all the best in the remainder of The County Cup. time, the ONA came out guns blazing

See you next year!

David Westwood (95-02)

The RGS (in red) and ONA (in yellow) teams.

Anyone for Cricket?

Old Novos are playing against RGS 1st XI on Monday 21 June at 1pm at the county cricket ground, Osborne Avenue, Jesmond. If you would like to play, email Alex Brown (master i/c of cricket): a.brown@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk or pop along on the day to give the Old Novos a bit of support.

The RGS Cricket fixture for 20010 is available on the school website: www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/ students-andparents/newsletter

ONA Membership –Standing Orders

If you still have a standing order set up to pay the ONA a subscription fee, please cancel it as soon as possible. ONA membership is FREE to all Old Novos and former members of staff.

Old Novo Contacts

Western Canada: Jim DeLaHunt (75-78) is our coordinator on the Western seaboard. He’d be delighted to hear from everyone who lives or works in that area. You can email him on: ona-bc@jdlh.com or via his mailing address and mobile number: 157-2906 West Broadway, Vancouver BC V6K 2G8, Canada. Mobile +1-604-376-8953

Detroit: get in touch with Colin Wilkinson (34-42) on: colinw349@comcast.net

Coventry: Brian Rich (54-64) would be delighted if any ONs living in the area would get in touch. Email him on: brian@therichs.force9.co.uk

ONA Monthly Lunch

Old Novos meet last Friday in the month in the Northern Counties Club in Newcastle, at 12.45 for 1.00pm to eat. If you want to come, ring 0191488 7459 and ask to be put on the mailing list for the Old Novocastrians’ Luncheon.

Richard Harpin Shares His Business Secrets

Old Novo and award winning entrepreneur

Richard Harpin

(76-83) is the subject of a new book, A Mind for Business, which reveals the secrets of his business success. A serial entrepreneur who had set up five businesses by the age of 20, Richard founded HomeServe –now the world’s largest home emergency service –in 1993 and has been at the helm ever since, leading the firm into the FTSE 250. The book tells his business story and has been written to help inspire the next generation of budding entrepreneurs.

It’s a story that is already familiar to RGS pupils, as Richard visited the school in October 2009 to present his story to students, and answer their questions.

The RGS has played an important role in Richard’s career, providing him with an excellent education, and giving him his first business opportunities: running a tuck shop from his locker and selling conkers to classmates. Richard also set up his first national business while at RGS, selling fly tying materials to fishermen via mail order. This soon developed into a new business, feather earrings, after the fishermens girlfriends took a liking to the flies at a trade fair.

Richard went on to York University to study economics. He then worked for Procter & Gamble as a brand manager and for Deloitte as a management consultant, before setting up his own consultancy business with a partner. His first assignment was advising South Staffordshire Water on setting up a plumbing business, persuading them to let him run it as a joint venture with a £100k investment. The HomeServe business had begun and, 17 years later, is a top 200 UK publicly listed business worth £1 billion. After winning the prestigious Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the Year award 2008/09, Richard wanted to find a way to share what he has learnt with the next generation of entrepreneurs and encourage them to set up their own businesses.

This is the objective of his new book, which charts his career and the 10 key lessons that he has learnt along the way. All proceeds from the book go to The Enterprise Trust, the charity Richard set up to support entrepreneurs. A copy of the book is being sent to UK secondary schools, along with online teaching resources, to support the enterprise curriculum.

A Mind for Business is available now on Amazon.

Join us on Facebook

There are plenty of Old Novos facebook groups around, but we have our own (official) group where we’ll post news, photos and information about events on a regular basis. Join us by becoming a fan of the Old Novocastrians Association page on Facebook.

RGS Day

Saturday 3 July marks a great new day in the school calendar. In the morning there will be a series of Prizegivings Ceremonies in the Main Hall covering every year-group from Year 7 (age 11) to the Upper Sixth Leavers. In the intervals there will be refreshments in a marquee on the hallowed turf of the 1st XV pitch, and a number of presentations, exhibitions and performances. Final details are yet to be decided, but at 12.30 the Headmaster will give his ‘state of the nation’ (or at least of the RGS) address before the Leavers’ Prizegiving. ONs are very welcome to join us at any time on the day: perhaps 12.30 would be a good time, after which you could escape to the marquee.

In the afternoon the school will make its contribution to the Collingwood 2010 Festival: (probably) at 3pm biographer Max Adams will give the Collingwood Lecture in the Main Hall, under the great man’s portrait. This will be followed, we hope, by a performance by RGS students of a short play about Collingwood written by local author (and RGS English teacher) Chris Goulding.

Old Novo Visits

This term Old Novos Chris Ridley-Smith (9606), online marketing coordinator at Total Butler, spoke to sixth formers about careers in the oil industry and careers;Andrew Finlay (82-89), barrister at law gave a talk to intending lawyers about becoming a barrister and, writer and BBC producer Paul Bajoria (73-83) (above) spent a day with the Year 8 students, reading from his books and holding question and answer sessions on how to become a writer.