News and Events

David Powell

In the last issue we incorrectly reported the death of David Powell (59-64). We discovered this unfortunate error when David himself wrote to us:

“In the style of Mark Twain, who eventually succumbed to the passing of Halley’s Comet, I’m able to reassure you that the report of my death has been ‘greatly exaggerated’”. To convince you of this I offer the attached recent photograph of myself –apparently still alive and kicking.

“Of course, by writing this I may be tempting fate –and anything could happen after I press ‘Send’ today –but I would like to reassure your other readers that right now I’m feeling OK.”

We apologise to David for this mistake, and are very sorry for any upset it may have caused. The Editor.

In the New Year Honours List, Jon Stoddart (67-77) Chief Constable of Durham Police, has been appointed OBE for services to the police.

Richard Coughtrie (02-07) was recently named Young Player of the Year by his club, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

Max Hill QC (72-82) has been elected chairman of the Criminal Bar Association.

Annabel Breakey (05-07) I graduated from Leeds University in the summer with a 2:1 in BSc Economics and I am currently working as a Trainee Investment Manager at Brewin Dolphin in Newcastle.

Ed Blazey (96-01) is the guitarist with the acclaimed singer Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny. Their debut album Yours Truly, Cellophane Noise is due for release in February 2012 via Mute. They are also embarking on a countrywide tour –playing at the Gateshead Old Town Hall on Saturday 25 February.

Ben White (89-99) is Head of Economics and Business Studies at St Peter’s School in York.

Christopher Banerji (02-07) achieved a first in his maths finals at St Peter’s College, Oxford. Congratulations to Paul Mullis (79-86) who has been appointed Chief Executive for the County Durhambased Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA), with effect from January 2012.

The 43-year old chartered accountant, who is currently Head of Finance and Administration at DAMHA, was appointed following a formal nationwide recruitment process.

When he begins his new role he will be responsible for leading a team of 66 staff and overseeing the management of around 1,700 homes across the North East. Founded in 1898, DAMHA is the longest established provider of retirement homes in the region and is the largest Almshouse charity in the country. Paul, who is married with three children and lives in High Spen, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, says he is looking forward to his new role.

“I am inheriting a role with a housing association that has the highest resident satisfaction levels in the UK and which has brought £80 million of investment into the region,” he said. “As someone born and bred in the North East I am committed to helping the most vulnerable people. We live in an area of high deprivation but if you can offer good housing it can help to eradicate other social problems such as health, unemployment and crime.”

Greg Brown (91-96) finished his general practice training this year. He moved to New Zealand in December 2011 with his wife and three children to work as a GP on the Kapiti Coast, and intends to return to the UK in 2013.

After doing volunteer work in Ghana and Kenya, Hannah Cameron (06-08) decided to set up her own company, and is now running Volunteer Experience Africa (www.volunteerexperienceafrica.co.uk)

Congratulations to Alan Sutherland (98-06) on gaining a first class degree in MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering from Bath University. Alan did a year long placement at BAE Systems, and is currently a graduate engineer at Augusta Westland.

Richard Scothorne (62-71) after working for a variety of local authorities in England and Scotland I became Scottish Director of British Shipbuilders Enterprise Ltd in 1985 with the task of helping the 3,500 redundant workers find new jobs. After that I returned to local government as Depute Director of Planning and Head of Economic Development at Lothian Regional Council before leaving to found a series of consultancies, the last of which, Rocket Science is about to celebrate its 10th birthday. We focus on welfare to work, learning and skills, economic development and regeneration and we have offices in Edinburgh, London and (I’m delighted to say) Newcastle.

Outside work I have managed to maintain glacial geomorphology as a hobby (going nicely hand in hand with a passion for mountains and ice) and followed up university expeditions to the Lyngen Alps with others to Iceland and Svalbard –and I am just back from two weeks in the Alps. My wife is a lapsed vet, ex-research scientist and now a civil servant with the Scottish Government, my son is at university and my eight year old daughter is at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh (which is as close as you can get to the RGS here!).

Noel Rippith (51-58) writes: in the RGS Scoreboard photo (issue 83), the “not known” is myself, Noel Rippith. Since leaving school I spent three years at Kings College, Newcastle gaining a joint Honours BSc in physics and chemistry, four years at George Angus, Oilseal division as a research and development chemist, got married to Ione Hanson (Central High), taught for three years at Hexham Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. I later moved to Gateshead Greenwell Junior High/Lyndhurst Comprehensive.

I retired with ME in 1990, recovered and was elected to Gateshead Council in May 1992, and became leader of the opposition (Lib Dem) in 1994. I stood down as leader last May, but soldier on until May 2012.

Ione, (who is also a councillor) and I have three sons: Thomas, currently reader in Ocean Sciences at Bangor University, Edward (91-97), managing editor for primary education at Nelson Thorn and John (99-01) consultant researcher in pharmaceutical Biochemistry. Ione and I are looking forward to when we retire so we can spend more time with our six grandchildren.

Ewan Smith (99-06) was awarded an MSc in Cancer Chemistry with distinction from the University of Leicester in 2010. He was subsequently awarded a Wellcome Trust scholarship to read for a PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, which he started in September 2011.

Ian Grey Clayton (53-62) I am married and have a son, Miles (95-02). I’ve spent the last 34 years working for a major industrial distribution company, Brammer UK Ltd., where I had various roles culminating in the role of Industrial Drives Technical Specialist. I retired in 2010 and now spend time on my hobby of classic cars. I own a 1960 Austin Healey 3000, which I have owned for 42 years and have just put back on the road after a long restoration. I’m involved with, and support, Northern Rugby Club.

Paul Ponton

RGS’ retired director of sport, Paul Ponton, is the new chairman of English Schools’ Athletic Association (ESAA). Paul has been involved with schools’ athletics for over 40 years, and led the campaign to bring the national championships back to the North East in 2004 after an absence of 50 years.

John Hudson (61-62). I spent most of my career locating, designing, building and maintaining federal highways in Yukon and northern British Columbia. In 2007 I sailed the Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia to the Azores and on to Spain as navigator on a 39 foot sailboat. In 2008 I took my own sailboat up the west coast to Skagway and Glacier Bay National Park and many Alaskan points between. I managed to cover 2,750 nautical miles in 66 days.

Alan J Bennington (64-71) after a short career in civil engineering I married and moved to Belgium where I changed careers and became an IT specialist working for IBM and HP among others.

The London ONA Annual Dinner Friday 9 March 2012 at the RAF Club. The Invitation flyer is included in this magazine, or can be found on the ONA website.