News and Congratulations

We are delighted to have heard recently from…

Philip Leach playing King John

Philip Leach (67-74) who writes: ‘I retired as senior partner of Saunders Roberts Solicitors, Evesham, in 2015 after 32 years with the firm to pursue my long-standing involvement with drama. Having acted professionally with Worcester Repertory Company in a number of productions in recent years, including performing at the International Shakespeare Festival in Romania in May 2016, I have just finished playing the title role in King John with the Rep at Worcester Cathedral. Our first night was on the 800th anniversary of his death and the run of eight performances was in front of the high altar with King John’s actual tomb part of the staging, so he was literally in the audience.’

Jim Lawrence (60-94), retired chemistry master, who returned to school with a few staff photos, causing some heightened interest amongst the current staff! Jim enjoyed a tour around the school, bumping into some familiar faces and was particularly impressed by the new sports facilities; envying the new swimming pool, vastly improved from the Sutherland Swimming Bath, the one he remembers from his teaching days. Jim still swims regularly!

Sunday league football

The Old Novocastrians FC came into existence in 2013. Having taken part in the Old Novos games, John Gregson (95-02) and I could see there was a core group of ONs still in Newcastle keen to play, so we approached the school who granted us the use of the name.

Our first season was played in the North East Sunday League. In the second season we won the

Annsley Merelle Ward (01-02), one of the first girls to join the RGS, who writes: ‘After several years in the IP litigation team at Magic Circle firm, Allen & Overy LLP, I recently joined Bristows LLP. Bristows is the leading IP litigation practice in the UK and Europe, acting for clients such as Google, Samsung, Novartis, Cadbury and L’Oreal. My practice area focuses on patent litigation in relation to cutting edge technology, particularly in the life sciences and technology, media and telecommunications fields. Coincidently, the joint head of our patent litigation team is an Old Novo –Brian Cordery (80-90) who was Head Boy in 89-90. Thought it was a nice coincidence!’ She notes that Sportsmanship Trophy. After two years we joined the Cramlington and District Sunday Football League, where we finished top of the Fair Play League!

This year we are making progress, from a social team to an actual football team.

By Jamie Hansell (92-02)

Brian boasts he can still recite The School Song!

Two ONs recently returned to school to delight the Lower Sixth with their take on two thought-provoking topics, The Year That Changed the World… and Conflict and Disaster in the Modern World. Colonel Bibek Banerjee QVRM (78-85), cardiovascular surgeon and Army Reserve Officer, and Tom Rowley (01-08), journalist and special correspondent at The Telegraph gave lectures to the Lower Sixth as part of a series of Lower Sixth Enrichment Lectures. We look forward to Nick Bell (95-01), VicePresident of Content at Snapchat, who is next up in the spotlight.

Join us on Facebook and LinkedIn There are plenty of Old Novos social media groups around, but we have our own groups. Join us by becoming a fan of the Old Novocastrians Association pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Spotted recently…

Dr Simon Barker, head of English, recently spotted three Old Novos in various performances, including Ben Rowarth (00-10), composer and director of the vocal ensemble Renaissance, at Hexham Abbey Festival of Music and the Arts; Will Featherstone (94-04) in Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, and also playing the central character, Dan, in Emlyn Williams’ Night Must Fall; and Niek Versteeg (06-11) at Northern Stage in The Season Ticket from the novel by Jonathan Tulloch, adapted for the stage by Lee Mattinson.

Miss Sarah Davison, English teacher recently spotted Faye Castelow (02-04) in Aphra Benn’s The Rover at The Swan Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

Aoife Kennan (11-13) in episode 1 of the ITV series, Victoria, playing the character of Abigail Owen.

Our congratulations go to…

Dakis Hagen (87-97) who has been appointed as Queen’s Counsel.

John Camm, physics teacher and Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Officer 26 years of service, 23 of those at the RGS. Former Chair of Governors, John Fenwick CBE, who was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the

recently retired from the CCF after North East Entrepreneurial Awards run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

Timothy Kirkhope (53-62) who joined the House of Lords as Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate on 7 October 2016.

Final camp, John Camm at Wathgill Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate and his wife at the Ceremony of Introduction, House of Lords

Appeal for ON email addresses Where appropriate, we would like to stay in contact with you by email. Please email ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk with a current email address where we can contact you.

Cricket news

I am writing to seek support from all in my role as the Chair of Newcastle Cricket Club CIC (www.newcastle.co.uk). Many of you would know it as Northumberland County Cricket Club. I have been involved in the Club since 2012 and was elected as its Chair in 2014. The Club became a Community Interest Company and a one hundred percent owned limited company, the former being the main driver of generating income to support our adult’s, junior’s, women’s and girls’ cricket. Both companies are on the Company House register.

Our 1st XI plays in the North East Premium League (came second in the season gone). In addition, the club provides an excellent venue to different community projects such as the Jesmond Elders, the Rock Project (run by an Old Novo) and the Jesmond Parish Hockey Club.

The school is a regular user of the club during its cricket season. We are looking for non-executive directors with skills in marketing, finance and business/commercial. If you are interested, please contact me on either 0793 2687 869 or chair@newcastlecc.org.uk.

Finally, if your company/organisation has any surplus laptops, flat screen computers or tablets, please get in touch.

By NS Ahmad (72-75)

P.S. All my school friends and 1st XI members would know me as Nad.