Why I support RGS Bursaries Having read Alastair Leithead’s (80-90) and Nigel Paton’s (66-76) articles in support of the RGS Bursary scheme, I find myself compelled to offer my own thoughts on the value of the scheme that I too enthusiastically support. By Major Stephen H E Richardson (81-88)
I was one of the many boys who benefited from the state Assisted Places Scheme that is very sadly now defunct. The son of a Maths Teacher and a Vicar we were never hugely welloff, and when my father died his wish to send me and my brothers to RGS seemed unlikely at best. However, the Assisted Places Scheme stepped in with full bursaries and we were all lucky enough to be educated in the way my father would have wished (well, my brothers both went to Dame Allan’s – nothing’s perfect!).
Most importantly, Sue Rogers gave me the finest instruction in land navigation known to man through NRGS Orienteering and O-level Geography. In my 25 years of varied military life I have never been completely lost (yes – really!) and literally hundreds of soldiers in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Kenya, Canada and Afghanistan owe their lives to Sue’s exhortations to “look into the map” in the rain in Chopwell Wood.
I have already mentioned the demise of the excellent Assisted Places Scheme, which in my view is a tragedy Now a fairly vintage Army Officer I have for the principles of social mobility and progression on merit championed by had numerous reasons to be grateful our school for the last 500 years. But to RGS and the education that has I am not the Education Secretary, and quite literally saved my life on until we have an Old Novo in the post numerous occasions. I was not (am the best we can do is to fund our own not) a massively academic sort, as scheme. In the best traditions of our M R Barlow (53-64) and others can school it is up to us Old Novos to testify from bitter experience. But RGS was and is much more than raw ‘tread where our fathers trod’ and make our country a better place. I cannot exam results. It provided me with: a think of a finer cause for Old Novos’ practical education in intelligent and charitable cash – the education of analytical argument; my best mate future generations of intelligent, fit, Mark Korolkiewicz (78-88); and compassionate and conscientious reinforced my enthusiasm for public ‘movers and shakers’ to make our service in the Armed Forces through fine country a great place to live. the CCF. Incidentally, I can still hear And, who knows, maybe the odd Army Lt Col Griffiths crying “bash on” at Officer or two! difficult moments.
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Spring 2013
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I cannot think of a finer cause for Old Novos’ charitable cash – the education of future generations of intelligent, fit, compassionate and conscientious ‘movers and shakers’ to make our fine country a great place to live.
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