NEWS & CONGRATULATIONS

LUX IN TENEBRIS, A MYSTERY SOLVED...

Simon Bradley (80-83) sheds some light on the area of darkness that surrounds the RGS architectural relief, the designs of which were those of Albert H Hodge (1875-1917). The RGS relief can be found in the 1907 volume of Academy Architecture which showed designs exhibited annually at the Royal Academy in London. A plaster model of the school’s relief was depicted likely on a smaller scale than the carved stone and can only have been made as the necessary prelude to carving the finished work. For a fuller

article from Simon Bradley, please visit www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/rgs-family/ ona-magazine.

QUEEN’S HONOUR

Congratulations to Iain Nairn MBE (88-98) (pictured above) who has been awarded an MBE for services to physical disabilities. Iain joined the England Physical Disabilities squad in 2012 and as Captain from 2014 he led the team to victory in the first global physical Disabilities Tournament the following year, lifting the trophy in the T20 World Series. Since retirement he has been a tireless ambassador for the sport. Iain’s story can be found

here www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/rgsfamily/ona-magazine.

CCF CHANGES

Caroline Hutton-Stott (17—) has been appointed as the new, and first female, RGS CCF Lead. Caroline previously served for 20 years in the RAF, retiring as Squadron Leader from her final role as flight operations information manager at Air Command, High Wycombe.

RGS CRICKET

Chris Lightfoot (59-64) remembers RGS Cricket, Cambridge Tours 1958 and 1959.

There is a house in Cambridge, They call it Castle Bray And if you’re feeling thirsty, come to Castle Bray They bring the beer in barrels, they bring it on a tray And if you’re feeling thirsty Come to Castle Bray.

Chris says, ‘These were some of the words of a song sung by a Mrs Lawrie (our landlady) as she sat at the piano in the accommodation allotted to the members of the RGS cricket team on the two Cambridge tours that I went on. There were I recall more verses, long forgotten’.

NEW ARCHIVIST

Welcome to Louise Piffero,(21–) new Archivist for RGS. Louise will be working with us Tuesday to Thursday each week, and can be contacted at archive@rgs. newcastle.sch.uk.

RUGBY NEWS

Well done to Phil Brantingham (13-20) (pictured below) on being named in England’s squad for the U20s Six Nations! Colin Chater (73-83) is the new President of Novos RFC, succeeding Graham Ward (74-81) at the AGM in December 2020. Graham has also been elected President of Northumberland Rugby Union for the 202122 season, at the County AGM, the first President of the County with an RGS connection since John Elders in 1976-7.

CLASS OF 2021 VALETE

Welcome to the Old Novocastrians’ Association, Class of 2021! Your

year group has shown amazing strength and resilience, despite having both Sixth Form years disrupted by Covid-19. You will always occupy a special place in the heart of the school.

In a full article at www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/rgs-family/ona-magazine Alistair Crinson (55-65) shares his memories with us of changing the Universities Athletic Union’s thoughts on student golf and changing the status of it. From writing the rules, to deciding that girls should be allowed to play, to establishing the first championship in October 1971, to getting a cup for the new championship Alistair certainly was an advocate for the sport.

CORRECTIONS FROM ISSUE 109

Judith Pringle (08-21) retires this summer after 13 years as

Exams Officer. Judith will be remembered by generations of

Old Novos whom she ably and calmly supported through the GCSE and A Level award processes.

Though not retiring, we couldn’t miss saying a fond farewell to two colleagues known to the whole Old Novo community; Zlatan Fazlic, Director of Music (12-21) is leaving us to take up the role of Director of the Qatar Music Academy, and Richard Chadwick (17-21), Assistant Director of Sport will become Head of Academic PE at RGS. Lancaster. Richard…fixtures!

Zlatan Fazlic and Richard Chadwick

It has been brought to our attention that:

The caption to a photograph on p.32 of the magazine is incorrect. The building under construction in 1993 is the Sports Hall, and not the PAC and Miller Theatre, which were built over a decade later.

On p.15, the top picture shows boys in the hall of the old Junior School. The Headmaster, John Jones, is not present in the picture. The older male teacher in the background is Hugh Patterson (45-68), who was the Deputy Head. The younger male teacher on his left is Alan James. The teacher in the photo below is Derek Gibson.

P.6 from Junior School Memories has photographs of the various hostels used in Penrith; the top left-hand corner photo was of Hazel Bank.

The Junior School teacher of J3A was not Mrs Bainbridge but ‘Hank’ Johnson.

The death notices should have read ‘Kenneth Mewett (46-54)’ rather than Keith.

STAY CONNECTED

Please join us by becoming a fan of the Old Novocastrians Association Facebook page and LinkedIn Group –Old Novocastrians’ Association (RGS Newcastle)

RGS TWITTER HANDLES

@RGSNewcastle @RGSOldNovos @RGSpac @RGSNewMusic @RGSEnglishNews @RGS_Library @NRGS_History