ONA 97

A Case for the Defence Paul Gustard (84-94) on RGS rugby, coaching England and recent Six Nations success Also in this issue: Re‘Unions’ | Mark Akenside | ONA Now and Then | Wanted: Bright Ideas

Issue 97 | Summer 2016

ONA Magazine Issue 97 Summer 2016

Contents

ONA Magazine is the magazine for the Old Novocastrians’ Association Editor: Jane Medcalf All correspondence should be addressed to: The Development Office, Royal Grammar School, Eskdale Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4DX Telephone Development Office: 0191 212 8909 email: ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk The Editor reserves the right to edit, alter or omit all submissions to the magazine.

Copy may be carried over to the next edition. The Editor’s decision is final.

Contribute!

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We are always looking for articles and news from Old Novos to include in the magazine, so send your contributions, via email (if possible) to: ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk or to the Development Office at the school.

Please include relevant pictures if possible. They will be returned as soon as the magazine has been printed.

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The deadline for acceptance of copy for the Autumn 2016 issue is 8 August 2016.

Copy may be carried over to a future issue.

1 Special thanks to David Goldwater (5162) for his research and contributions to the ONA Magazine, particularly on his search for A History of the RGS in Its People.

The ONA Magazine is available online Please note that the magazine is circulated in hard copy and on the ONA website shortly after circulation. By submitting an article or news for inclusion the contributor is accepting that it will be available through both formats and will also be accessible beyond the Association membership through internet search engines or any member of the public viewing the ONA website. www.ona.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk Cover image: © David Rogers Please note that the ONA Magazine content does not neccessarily reflect the views of the school or the ONA and is based on personal experiences, recollections and memories of its contributors.

Design www.infinitedesign.com

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President’s Welcome News and Congratulations ONA Now and Then I Will Miss the People – and the Bacon Sandwiches!

From The Archive A Case for the Defence A History of the RGS in Its People Wanted: Bright Ideas Re‘Unions’ Mark Akenside Obituaries

Cover: Paul Gustard playing v Barbarians in 2002 at Twickenham

Welcome

Welcome to the summer edition of our magazine!

We congratulate the school on attaining an outstanding report from the inspectors. And, as Eskdale Terrace gears up for exam season, I’m sure you will also join me in wishing all students (and teachers!) the very best of luck and hope they achieve the grades they deserve.

Through the holidays, many of our ONs are heading far and wide – some on medical elective study trips for which we have a sponsorship fund that we are always pleased to allocate to deserving causes, in return for an article in the magazine! We are always on the look-out for stories, general interest pieces or even just updates from you all.

March brought with it the London ONA Dinner, another sell-out event now comfortably established at The East India Club and a great reunion was had by all. Thanks to Robert Torday (73-75) for taking the mantle of guest speaker and also to Paul Gustard (84-94), who apart from writing the cover story, took time out for us from leading England to the rugby Six Nations Grand Slam to organise a signed England rugby shirt and Saracens tickets to raise over £400 in a raffle for the Bursary Campaign. Please do note we have another shirt for the Newcastle dinner on 14 October so please bring your cheque books! Please also pop by and say, ‘Hello’ on 2 July at RGS Day. As always, we would love to see as many of you as possible! Perhaps we might even see you at one of our ever-popular Northern Counties Club Luncheons on the last Friday of each month throughout the year.

I would like to pass on my thanks to the committee involved lately with regards to events planning and work on the updated constitution.

I would also like to pass my gratitude to Stephen Davies, who is leaving the History department having also served on the ONA committee, and to Richard Metcalfe, Bursar who after 17 years of serving the school and our committee is retiring. Richard has been more than generous to our requests over the years and we wish him a happy retirement. We can only hope his successor is even half as amenable!

Sadly, and with regret, I inform you of the passing of two former ONA Presidents, Bill Weeks (35-44) and Rev Reg Harper (42-49) – whose obituaries can be found later in the magazine.

Have a great summer!

Chris Rutter (92-02) ONA President

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Summer 2016

News and Congratulations Reunions

Class of 76 – do you recognise any of the faces?

Did you leave the school after completing your A Levels in 1976?

At this year’s ONA Dinner, Friday 14 October at the school, there will be a reunion for those who left in July that year. There will be a tour of the school, the dinner itself, and the opportunity to meet some old friends together with some, perhaps, long-forgotten. If you would like to attend please email Peter Milburn at psm@evanmilburn.co.uk for further details.

By Peter Milburn (69-76)

Following on from my article in Issue 95, Boxing at RGS, the editor, Jane Medcalf has suggested that it may be an enjoyable adjunct to this year’s ONA Dinner if former members of the RGS Boxing Teams meet again. This is an excellent idea. I also assume that many of us are a lot heavier than we were at our respective weights when under the tutelage of Messrs Meakin (24-65), McLeod (61-69) and Griffiths (69-02 and 05-06). Of course, boxing is not a team sport in the sense of soccer or rugby and many of us will recollect that the toughest aspect of the sport was getting into the ring without knowing much, if anything, about the opponent that one was about to face, but we should have many shared recollections.

Boxing ended in 1975, so someone out there must have fought the last bout for RGS: please let Jane Medcalf know if it was you. If interested, please contact Jane at ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk, so that any arrangements can be made for a separate table at the dinner on Friday 14 October.

By Peter ‘Taff’ Davies (60-70)

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We are delighted to have recently heard from…

Paul McHenry (64-74) who informed us that Tony Sampson (63-73) and himself still race against each other in their National Solo Class sailing dinghies. Both are now retired. Tony lives near Manchester and is a member of the South Caenarvonshire Yacht Club. Paul lives in Nottingham and is a member of the less grand-sounding, Notts County Sailing Club.

Paul McHenry and Tony Sampson

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.

ONA Membership – Standing Orders If you still have a standing order set up to pay the ONA subscription fee, please cancel it as soon as possible.

ONA membership is FREE to all Old Novos and former members of staff.

Our congratulations go to…

Tom Langley (03-13), History student on winning University Challenge 2016.

Tom was part of the Peterhouse College, Cambridge team, beating St John’s College, Oxford to the prize.

Rev W Roy Large (48-58) who has been awarded an M Litt with Distinction by Newcastle University. Roy’s thesis was The History and Development of the Bach Choirs of the United Kingdom. At the same time Roy has contributed a chapter to a book entitled, The Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir: Celebrating a Century of Singing 1915-2015, which is to be published shortly. He is now engaged on research for a PhD on the choir culture of Newcastle from 1850-2000.

Chris Purdon (69-80) who ran for Great Britain at the World Masters Athletics Championships last August in Lyon, France. Competing in the men’s 50-54 age group half marathon, Chris finished 48th in a time of 1 hour 28 minutes. He was fourth to finish for the Great Britain team, which finished fifth in the race and narrowly missed a bronze medal by only two minutes. Chris also still runs the Great North Run, and last year was his 35th.

He is one of a small group of just over 100 runners to have completed every one.

Scarlett Milligan

Barrie Bulch

She starts her pupillage in October and received four tickets to an England v Wales will be practising a combination of public, game at Twickenham, two certificates, human rights, national security and tort law. one for the school and one for himself, a Real Rugby Hero pin badge and a Steph Burn (04-06) who has passed presentation photo. He also received VIP all of her exams to become an airline hospitality and a pitch-side presentation pilot after 10 years of utter determination of his award at Schools’ Day on 16 March and dedication. at Twickenham.

Leo Hunt (02-07), teenage fiction author, who was recently short-listed for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2016 and the 2016 Branford Boase Book Award for his debut teenage supernatural thriller, Thirteen Days of Midnight. We were delighted when Leo returned to school on 28 April to give a talk to Year 8 students. He read aloud from both his novels including his sequel, Eight Rivers of Shadow, out on 14 July.

Valete Stephen Davies

holder who was called to the Bar of England and Wales in November.

Barrie Bulch: catering manager and for many years U16 rugby coach who was honoured by the English Schools Rugby Union for services to school rugby. Barrie

This summer sees the departure of History teacher Stephen Davies, as he leaves to take up the post of vice principal and head of Sixth Form at Bede Academy. An Old Allanian, Stephen joined the school in 2006 and served on the ONA committee for two years, 10-12. The ONA thank him for his work on the committee and wish him all the very best in his new post and for the future.

Chris Purdon

Leo Hunt

Richard Metcalfe

Scarlett Milligan (09-11), former bursary

We also have to say a fond farewell to long-serving Bursar, Richard Metcalfe. Richard started in 1999, serving on the ONA committee throughout his 17 years. Richard will be a great loss to the school as a whole, as well as the ONA and the Bursary Campaign committees for whom he has served. The ONA wish Richard a long, happy and healthy retirement.

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Summer 2016

ONA Now and Then When I was appointed to the headship of the RGS (a year in advance, in 2007), a colleague back in Wolverhampton said, to my surprise, “My great-greatgrandfather was Headmaster. He was the one who built the school: look for the name Logan on the plaque”.

I did look: and I found it. So I have been fascinated in this edition to read of Samuel Logan (1883-1912) who managed 29 years as Headmaster.

It’s impossible to resist the temptation to start with the Then. How sad to read, among the obituaries of several great supporters of the school, that we have lost two former ONA Presidents, Bill Weeks (35-44) and Rev Reg Harper (42-49). Both men were prepared through their work in the ONA to give something back to their old school on a significant scale – as well as enjoying the company of their former schoolfellows through the Association’s activities.

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Centre, Brandling development and extension to the dining facilities and our spectacular new Sports Centre. But, lasting though those signs of his achievement are, neither he nor I would want us to limit appreciation to those physical symbols.

Richard has been a towering strength in the school, seeing financial management not as something simply to control, but as a mechanism for ensuring that our boys and girls receive every possible Moving into the Now, there is one opportunity. The staff who need his particular farewell I should mark. Every support have always received it – again, school says au revoir to members of staff to the benefit of the students. He really has at the end of a year, preparing to welcome been an enabling and facilitating Bursar others in September: such turnover is (which isn’t always the case in schools!) healthy, and I do not try to list all departures His genial presence, his unfailing kindness here. But I must mention my friend and and his care for everyone will not be colleague Stephen Davies who, after quickly forgotten: he has even looked after 10 years here, is leaving the History a student tutor set for Eldon House, a department to become vice principal group who I know will miss him while they and head of Sixth Form at Bede Academy wish him well – as we all do. in Blyth. He was for two years a very effective member of the ONA committee. It is always good, in the pages of this Moreover, since the bicentennial year in magazine, not simply to read of the past, 2010 he has been the school’s link with but to find news of those with bright the Collingwood Society, formed in that futures. So we congratulate Scarlett Milligan (09-11), a Sixth Form bursary year, as well as fixing our Peter Taylor Lectures: all the more generous, perhaps, holder who joined the school in 2009 and has now been called to the Bar of England because he is not an ON himself, but and Wales. She hopes to be practising a former student of Dame Allan’s. a combination of public, human rights, national security and tort law. Remembering I must mention two other people, very her well, I wouldn’t want to be on the much of our present. Legendary catering manager Barrie Bulch, for many years U16 opposing side to her: but I’d be delighted to have her fighting my corner! rugby coach, was honoured this year by the English Schools Rugby Union for It is a great thing about the RGS that it is services to school rugby: I cannot picture able to look in three directions at once. To a more worthy recipient. He remains with its revered past, to its proud present and to us, which is just as well: life without him what we are sure is a bright future. I think and his marshalling of the school’s this magazine illustrates all three aspects awesome catering forces (not least for vividly, and I hope you enjoy reading it. the annual ONA Dinner in October) is unimaginable.

Bernard Trafford Headmaster Almost as unimaginable is an RGS without Bursar Richard Metcalfe. After 17 years, however, he is finally hanging up his calculator and theodolite! Richard leaves a physical testament to his work here in the form of the magnificent Performing Arts

ONA Now and Then

A Life-Enriching Experience: And All Free!

By Norman Shiel (60-67) I had never heard of RGS until my parents told me that they were considering putting me in for the entrance exam in 1960. In humble little Blyth, where we lived, Newcastle was the distant metropolis visited only occasionally for something special such as first division football. I got a free place and free travel, so for seven years 60-67, RGS was my world and in nearly every way it was a very happy one.

I resented the hour-long bus journey each way every day and vowed never to be a commuter in adult life, nor subject my own kids to such a fate either. I also regretted the fact that RGS was then not a football school. Otherwise all memories are pretty well positive save perhaps of the one odious reptile of a physics master who saw fit to persecute me for a year.

Certain things inevitably make vivid impressions on young minds. I came to realise this when I went into teaching and based much of my whole approach on all the good experiences that I had had at RGS. More esoteric things than teaching methods also played their part. I was very taken by both my first experience of the visitation of the Lord Mayor’s party to a morning assembly and also to being presented with prizes at Speech Day by Lords. In particular the Lord Mayoral visit appealed to me and I looked forward to that annual occasion far more than just in the hope of a day’s holiday being given.

It all came back to me vividly when I became the Lord Mayor of Exeter in 2006.

I regret not having made more effort with rugby. I was big, strong and fast so could have been good at it, but simply could not see the point of that game when there was proper football that could have been played. My attitude only changed

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when my own son became a good and keen rugby player. My happy sporting memories thus all revolve around cross country which I took up in the Fifth Form in order to escape from rugby. I turned out to be reasonably good at it, so got to travel all over the place with the school team for my final three years – and came to know and admire Bill Elliot (52-88) who was in charge. Does the Miller Cup still exist, I wonder? I won it in my final year and with it embraced professionalism as there was a £5 prize which was very generous in those days!

RGS gave a pupil a real sense of involvement and belonging. There was rigour, but also some flexibility. In particular, life as a prefect could hardly have been better. Taught, as a classicist, in small groups by good teachers; able to use free time at will, whether for going on a training run on the ‘moor’ or for a walk to Dentons cake shop for a custard slice, it all made

for a time to look back on with warmth and affection. I even managed to fit in seeing ten World Cup games including the final in 1966.

Some staff were real old school eccentrics, such as Jimmy Herdman (22-66), but you looked forward to their lessons. So one, whom I never had as a teacher, made an abiding impression on me at an assembly just by talking about the night he was walking past the palace in St Petersburg at the very time Rasputin was killed. I never forgot that little anecdotal window on the historical past as told by Anatole Theakstone (25-61).

Seven years at RGS on a direct grant certainly made a great impact on the naive working class boy who had never even heard of the place before he took the exam.

It was a life-enriching experience and all free! What a time to have been born; what a school to have attended!

Ed: Yes, the Miller Cup does still exist.

In a centuries-long tradition, much loved by Norman, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle inspects cadets on the annual visit to the school, 2014

I will miss the people – and the bacon sandwiches!

We say a sad, yet fond farewell to retiring Bursar and Clerk to the Governors, Richard Metcalfe. His unabiding and genial presence, his unfailing kindness and care for everyone will be greatly missed by staff and students alike. Here is what he has to say about his time at RGS and his plans for retirement. co-educational, being incorporated as a charitable company and the starting up of the Bursary Campaign. I have also been an active member of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, as its North East regional secretary for many years and more recently at national level as a member of its executive committee.

A family affair: Richard and his wife Nicola with son Chris (01-03) and Sarah Metcalfe (née Harding) (teacher 12-15) at their wedding in July 2015

What year did you start at the RGS?

1999. I came here from Durham University – where I arrived as a student and stayed for 31 years, the last 10 as its Director of Estates and Buildings. A native of Barnsley, before that I had spent 11 very happy years at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield – a school which shares so many values, and aspects of its history, with RGS. As well as being Bursar, what else have you been involved with at the RGS?

Lots! Including: being a tutor; teaching General Studies, doing university practice interviews; nine trips to Italy with the U16 Easter Rugby Tour; the rugby 125th anniversary tour to Ulster; Italy with the Classics Trip; the Battlefields Trip (which seems to have been a rite of passage for so many RGS staff); and even a few House Assemblies. I have always believed that it is so valuable for administrators in education to have direct contact with the students and understand the core business of the institution. I have been lucky enough to find these great ways of doing that – especially through my tutor group, a great bunch whom I will miss. I am afraid that I don’t have much time at all for bursars who lock themselves away!

The years I have been here have seen some significant changes, which I am pleased to have been involved in – not least the school growing significantly, becoming

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There are just a few things I would rather not have been involved in – the three ‘one hundred year floods’ in four months in 2013 spring to mind. I had been used to dealing with the flooding from the river at Durham, but that gives you a bit of time to prepare as you see the water rising: however, several million litres of water suddenly heading down hill from the Town Moor is a rather different matter. Thunder Thursday took the school, and most other people in Newcastle, by total surprise, the consensus being that there had been nothing like it in living memory. We had no choice but to close the school the following day, but that witnessed a tremendous Dunkirk spirit with teams of teaching staff rallying to pull up ruined flooring and salvage pieces of furniture and equipment, followed by a massive clean up by the support staff, so that we were back in business the following day for RGS Day. The less spectacular floods in August and September caught people equally by surprise, but at least we were better prepared to deal with them. Now that the school has its own flood defence scheme, hopefully it shouldn’t see the likes of these problems again.

What will you miss about the RGS?

The people. Working with students helps defer the ageing process (at least, it does when viewed from my end – my own family might not entirely agree!). At Durham University, where I was also a college tutor, most students arrived with high A Level grades and left with a 2:1 degree (often the only immediately obvious value added being a far greater drinking capacity!). In contrast it has been very rewarding to observe the personal development of students and the value added to their life chances at the RGS, particularly for students coming here on a bursary: I can identify with them, having benefitted from support provided by the old direct grant system for my own education.

I have been lucky enough to work with many great colleagues – the senior leadership team, teachers and support staff – and have tried in particular to raise the profile of the support staff, who play such an important role in the success of the school. I should also mention the governors: having spent 28 years as a school and college governor myself, I recognise good governance when I see it and the RGS has been very fortunate to have strong governors, in particular the four Chairmen who have served in my time here. I would like to think that I have also done my bit to support the ONA, since it is so important to maintain links with former generations of RGS students and staff.

I have to admit that I really enjoy building things – or, rather, getting other people to build them – and I will miss the opportunity for that kind of involvement.

There has been quite a lot of building work while I have been at RGS – including Brandling House, the Performing Arts Centre, the artificial turf pitch and, most recently, the new pool and sports facilities.

We have also put a lot of effort into improving the older facilities, and I look forward to seeing in a few years’ time the major new building which will replace the old swimming pool. It is very satisfying to look back at these projects and to feel that I made some contribution to their design and construction.

And finally, if I am totally honest, I will miss the bacon sandwiches!

Do you have one particular memorable moment from your time at the RGS?

There are so many happy memories that it is hard to pick out particular highlights. Tigging Jonny Wilkinson in a Charities Week game of touch rugby between the staff and Newcastle Falcons was clearly the rather belated peak of my rugby career. Sadly, it stands in sharp contrast to my more modest success in recent staff vs students netball matches, also in Charities Week.

What are you planning to do when you retire?

No major plans – no yacht, no world cruise and no renovating a derelict farmhouse in France. So far I have been invited to become a governor of two other independent schools, I am continuing as regional secretary for the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, I have recently become a compliance inspector with the Independent Schools Inspectorate, and have offered to help other schools with major building projects – so I’ll be keeping in touch with the independent sector. I am also a judge for a national awards scheme run by my professional institution, the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM). There seems to be a general assumption that all bursars take up golf when they retire, but not this one: if I get round a nine hole pitch and putt in under 50, I think I am doing well!

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FROM THE ARCHIVE

Junior School Extension Nears Completion

In less than 12 months the new Junior School accommodation has gone from being a drawing to the finished article. The new classrooms, hall, library, junior science laboratory and teaching kitchen will be used by the music, economics and politics departments for the coming year, whilst the second phase of our building programme, the performing arts centre and modern languages suite, is completed.

The old South Block, home to the music department for the last 30 years, will be demolished during the summer holidays and work on the new performing arts centre will start at the beginning of the autumn term. Once completed the performing arts centre will rival any such development in the country, providing a 300 seat auditorium for music and drama, a recital room, dance/drama studio, a recording studio and a range of practice rooms for instrumentalists. Modern linguists will benefit from a new language laboratory and a suite of classrooms and seminar rooms. Similiarly, outdoor pursuits, a rapidly growing area of school life, will benefit hugely from the additional space provided by the new building.

The new building will be completed by August 2006 in time for the beginning of the autumn term.

Royal Grammar School Newsletter, Summer Term 2005 Above: architect’s sketch and building phase of the Junior School block Below: the completed Junior School as seen today

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y rugby journey of course didn’t start in January 2016, but 30-odd years ago as a son of a local rugby stalwart who had dreams and aspirations of playing centre forward for Newcastle United, but the talent to suggest otherwise.

I started off as an oversized wing for Gosforth minis on the Great North Road where a decent turn of pace and a man-child frame quickly propelled my interest in the game and confirmed that I was much better with my hands than my feet! As I entered my teens, with a clear love of food, my position bypassed the more favourable options and I found myself in the front row where not only did I pretty much stay there for the entirety of my school career, but I also slowly learned that it would serve me well to say, “No” to seconds and desert if I wanted to increase the shirt number on my back and provide greater opportunity to meet girls who I wanted to, rather than those who were left!

Grand Slam win: Paul with Maro Itoje, Saracens and England lock, Land Rover Discovery of the Season Award Winner

A Case for the Defence The last three months have been an incredibly exciting and invigorating journey as a national sports coach culminating in the particularly rare achievement of winning the utopian feat of a Grand Slam. The last time England won a Grand Slam was in 2003 and in our rich history of not only inventing, but also participating in the sport, this has been achieved a mere 12 times previously. We would like to think this augurs well for a more fruitful campaign in Japan 2019 than the last World Cup!

By Paul Gustard (84-94) 8

I have unbelievably fond memories of my school playing days, the friends I played with, the teachers who sacrificed so much time, energy and passion such as Paul ‘local events and sport camp entrepreneur/millionaire’ Ponton (71-09), and John ‘Jonny’ ‘Wor Ball’ Armstrong (72-03).

They were great fellas and great times.

I loved my time at RGS and to mention those two teachers alone would be a disservice to a pantheon of significant people that helped mould me as a human being. Past and present teachers like Jon Punshon (81-96), Oli Edwards, Hazel Jones-Lee (84-09), Crispin Rowe (80-92) and Mike Downie were great inspiring teachers, and of course, there was the wonderful Judith Vivian (née Davies) (87-96) who helped inspire me and multiple generations of RGS pupils to bigger dreams.

Paul playing for London Irish

I used to love playing right in front of the main school building on a Wednesday afternoon, especially in the formidable 93-94 season where the team went almost unbeaten and went to our first Daily Mail Cup final at Twickenham.

An experience I have and will never forget, and one that you are never sure may be repeated as a player. That season was the catalyst for me in terms of fuelling ambition and drive to play for England and recognise the sacrifices and dedication that dream would require.

However at that stage, rugby union was not a professional sport, so my path took me down the road to Northumbria University to study Law and play for local side Blaydon, where one of the biggest influences on my career, my dad, happened to be their coach! Not only did this coincide with a well received positional change to the back row, the game turned professional in 1995 and for me, personal representative honours followed. In my career, I managed to play for England at all levels from U19 right through to the senior national side: I captained England Sevens and played for the much heralded Barbarians. I played for Leicester Tigers, London Irish and finished my playing career at Saracens, winning in the process four league titles, a Powergen Cup and two Heineken Cups.

Without going into any detail of my own playing career, as unfortunately and fortunately (have you seen the size of Billy Vunipola?!) that has long since gone, there are too many people to thank for helping me achieve what I did. Those that did help know who they are and to those that don’t, I am sorry! I would like to think that the education and grounding I had as a schoolboy has helped me to nurture relationships, deal with adversity and have the confidence to treat people in the correct manner, which undoubtedly helped me foster and forge friendships that presented me the opportunity to coach in the first place.

I acted as a defence and forwards coach for Saracens between 2008 until January 2016 and I have been solely credited with the dawn of the wolfpack! A rare accolade and one that is undeserving, as I am very certain over the last eight years I haven’t made one tackle! However, this defensive integrity the club has repeatedly shown has manifested itself with, to date, two league titles and granite foundations for long term success for the club and provided me personally with the opportunity to coach England.

And so back to the present day. I have only been in the role for three months or so, and the support I have received from far and wide has been

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immense. The domestic goodwill that is omnipresent and forthcoming continues to grow and highlights the desire for England to be successful, and to be frank, we should be.

We have not only very good players, but we have the most players. We are the wealthiest union and we are building an infrastructure that should provide constant success and, we are confident in due course, dominance.

The final whistle in France where we finally sealed England’s 13th Grand Slam title is a moment I will forever cherish, and one that I can never forget.

We as a group did something special that means a lot, to a lot of people and for my role in that I have the RGS, my family, my parents, my best friends, my former teachers and a plethora of other wonderful people who helped along the way.

Thanks to all – Discendo Duces.

Below: Paul playing for Leicester Tigers Bottom: Grand Slam win: Eddie Jones, England’s head coach with assistant coaches Paul and Steve Borthwick

A HISTORY OF THE RGS IN ITS PEOPLE

by David Goldwater (51-62) The RGS welcomes a large number of visitors throughout the year, but just once in a while, something quite extraordinary takes place. In midMarch, Jane Medcalf, our development manager, had the pleasure of a visit from the great-grandson of Samuel Charles Logan (1883-1912), the Headmaster who not only founded the NOVO magazine (1885), but also presided over the school’s move from Rye Hill to Jesmond in September 1906.

Headmaster, Samuel Charles Logan (middle, back row) with RGS cricket team, 1907

It took over 100 years for the Logans to revisit the site their ancestor had helped to establish, when in mid-March, Richard ‘Rich’ J Logan, living in Gloversville, NY, USA, called in to school with his wife Jane and son Dustin (Samuel’s great-great grandson). Jane was not expecting them, but as all visitors, they were given a warm welcome. The Logans were thrilled to see how the school has flourished on its Jesmond site and have now returned home, after touring the UK, to pass on their enthusiasm to the rest of the family.

The school’s fortunes had reached a low ebb by the time Samuel Logan, aged 38, succeeded Brian Christopherson (1873-83). A Cambridge man, he was educated at The Perse School and St John’s College. He resigned as Headmaster of Hull Grammar School after only a few years, as the council had thwarted the school’s plans for expansion, perhaps an indication of his strength of character. When he was appointed, numbers at the RGS were small and boys rarely stayed for more than a few years.

Staff turnover had been high with a resultant lack of facilities all through, from science to physical activity. Vested interests and lack of finance initially were to stand in the way of some ambitious expansion schemes for the Rye Hill and Fenham areas. Sports fixtures were restricted by the lack of pitches.

Indeed, the building of the Fleming Memorial Hospital resulted in the loss of the school’s then rented ground.

One of the early innovations was the launch of The Novocastrian or NOVO in 1885. The editors proclaimed that, ‘Through this medium, we propose to create and maintain an esprit de corps amongst the past and present members of the school.’ (At that time, former pupils lacked the benefit of their own publication!) Despite the lack of facilities, sporting activities such as paper chases and cycling seem to have been encouraged, but it would be another two decades before more familiar sporting activities were to be adopted.

Headmaster, Samuel Charles Logan (seated front row middle) with his assistants at Rye Hill (date unknown)

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Latin was added to bookkeeping and shorthand and, despite limited space and equipment, physics and chemistry expanded. Space is always a problem in a school and determined to expand and develop, early in his career, Logan energetically identified the areas which urgently

required attention. The governors sought support from the Charity Commissioners (Bursary committee please note!), who gave some reluctant support and a new gym was opened on the site in 1891. The waning 19th Century had seen the rise of science, engineering and technology, particularly on Tyneside. By good fortune and the timely passing of legislation promoting secondary education, some proceeds of a lucrative tax on wine and spirits were diverted to the school, encouraged by William, Lord Armstrong. What was popularly referred to as the ‘Publicans’ or ‘Whisky’ Money provided an urgent solution to the school’s longstanding impoverishment, as the councils of Newcastle, Northumberland and Durham were all able to provide funds for the education of local boys.

Logan’s stubborn persistence was to pay off as he identified the many restrictions of the Rye Hill location.

Numbers were, at last, growing and by 1895 the governors were considering a move, ‘to the best site in the City’.

Negotiations with the City Council to acquire land in Eskdale Terrace, Jesmond, began in 1896, whilst a ‘Branch’ school was opened at No. 5 St. Thomas’ Place, near Leazes (subsequently at No.1 Jesmond High Terrace until 1906), in 1897, the house actually bought by Logan himself.

There was some opposition from locals on account of disturbance, even including from some governors!

However, there was general acceptance that the school was in the wrong place and, as the ‘Branch’ school became completely full, the strain of running the school on two sites must have been immense. Added to this complexity were the complex negotiations with numerous bodies over the sale of the Rye Hill buildings and the purchase of the new site.

Eventually the foundation stone was laid on 28 September 1905. The transformation was an enormous contrast from the dimness and cramped conditions at Rye Hill, and the RGS blossomed into something more familiar to ONs and today’s students. Samuel Logan was able to preside over winning ways in sport, form classrooms and new school societies, including Drama, Photography and a Debating Society. He even allowed his daughter Elsie to play Portia in one of the school’s first productions, The Merchant of Venice. Swimming was promoted, with the Novo Shield trophy, funded by the editors of NOVO, awarded each year to the best athlete (still on show in the Main Hall). 1911 saw the formation of a Junior Training Corps.

The school’s dependence on complex funding with its trying political ramifications must have weighed heavily on Logan and the school governors, very many of whom had moved on during his 29-year career, and eventually he resigned in early 1912. The tributes were generous, as was his pension. He wrote, ‘How deeply the departure from School affects me, I cannot find words to express.’ He retired to Bournemouth, where he died in January 1936 at the age of 84.

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Top: Rich Logan receives a warm welcome, with Stephanie Taylor, receptionist Bottom: Albert’s carving of his initials on the old school table in the Main Hall, 1890s

So what became of the Logan family? Samuel’s sons, Reginald(1885-97), Stanley (1891-1900) and Albert

(1891-1900) (Richard Logan’s great-grandfather) all attended the school. The 1891 Census, held just after Easter, puzzlingly shows them living with their mother Clara in a boarding house in Colwyn Bay, possibly on holiday, whilst the Newcastle entry has Samuel, his sister, niece and a boarder from Gibraltar, a cook and two maids. In 1901, they are all at home in Maple Street, next to the school – Reginald, a mining student; Stanley, an apprentice photographer and Albert, a bank clerk. By 1911, Samuel and Clara have moved to 6 Brandling Park, near the new school, with only the daughter Elsie still at home, together with a cook and housemaid.

Reginald became a mining engineer and inspector of mines.

Stanley and Albert both crossed the Atlantic, heading for Canada, where they farmed and raised their families. It’s a long and interesting story and too comprehensive for this issue of the ONA Magazine.

We have kept up contact with Rich Logan, to whom we are grateful for some of these pictures and we are trying to help him find any remaining family there may be in the UK. The first edition of The Novocastrian, with its eight pages, dated November 1885, is available on the ONA website at http://bit.ly/223OX7M

Wanted: Bright Ideas The photograph below this article shows the recently unveiled plaque celebrating the generosity of our major donors. This is an ongoing work – more names will be added from time to time and in due course the hope is that the expanded plaque will become as venerable as the scholarship boards in the Main Hall. By Nigel Paton (66-76), Chair RGS Bursaries Campaign.

Major donors and Fellows of the RGS, Brian and Christine Daglish with Dr Bernard Trafford

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The modern-style plaque is also intended as a recognition of the many smaller donors to the campaign whose names do not (yet) appear but whose contributions make such a difference.

However, the focus of this article is a group of ONs who are, understandably, mainly absent from our list of donors, and don’t appear on the plaque – young ones.

communication; all had clearly expressed views, as ONs of all ages almost always do. The upgrade of our ONA and fundraising database, amongst other things, will make communication between year groups and other networks easier and more in tune with modern life. I’m also pleased to say that we have co-opted Christian Gardner (00-07) onto our committee.

Last year we conducted two surveys aimed at helping us understand our constituency better; one of donor ONs and one of active ONs who did not donate. One of the (unsurprising) findings was that most people only consider donating in later life i.e. when the mortgage is paid off and children are grown up. More interestingly, we found that people do not actually become aware of the campaign until they are in that position. It’s filtered out as not relevant. There is, therefore, a clear challenge for the campaign to stay in touch, and resonate with younger ONs over a period of some 20 to 30 years. As a result, I’ve recently had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with a number of such folk with a view to improving our

However, I also recently met some other ONs of the 03-10 vintage in different circumstances at my son’s wedding (including one who was very insistent that I should drink a number of shots with him – you know who you are, Parky). I was struck by their dynamism and sheer busy-ness as they build careers and lives. It’s not, generally, reasonable to ask such people to donate at this stage in their lives, but we won’t forget you and we don’t want you to forget us. So, if any of you have any bright ideas as to what we could do better, do drop us a line, or drop in when you are in the North East. We’d love to hear from you. After all, we’d like to see your name on the plaque one day…

Re‘Unions’ Celebrating the marriages of ONs Michael Hayle (70-76) and Niall Ramsey (88-95)

The happy couple, Michael (left) and Caroline with Adrian Arthur

I continue to enjoy the magazine, although I realise that my cohort are increasingly appearing in relation to the recently departed, but it is always interesting to hear what everyone has been doing since school – and how “far went they forth” etc.

However, I was fortunate recently to have a more up to date story involving a couple of ONs. Whilst at school in the 70s as sixth formers and then prefects we were allowed out onto Eskdale Terrace and the surrounding streets at lunchtime.

In 1976, I was one of a group that used this opportunity to talk occasionally to the girls from the Central Newcastle High School (CNHS) over the road.

I still have the photographs of these small groups of girls from Central High out shopping for their lunch. And after almost 40 years, I recently (or perhaps finally) married one of them, having been reintroduced by Adrian Arthur (70-76), giving me her details during a visit to see him at the British Library about seven years ago while I was working on a contract in London.

and used it to bring together many of our friends and family from past employments and travels, with whom we had lost touch, and we were fortunate to have with us W Gareth Rees (70-76) and his wife Christine (née Jones, Central High Old Girl), Adrian, and also some of Caroline’s friends from CNHS. My brother Peter Hayle (75-82), was best man and his entertaining speech seemed to centre on the time I gave him 100 lines when I was his form prefect!

Caroline is a GP who has been working as a partner in a surgery on the square for 20 years. I retired a few years ago – after a career spanning a wide variety of public and private appointments – and am now passing the time studying for a PhD at the London School of Economics, looking at some of the governance challenges in large-scale public procurement.

I hadn’t realised working in academia with really enthusiastic students was such fun or I may have turned to it earlier. Now I can see what some of the staff at the RGS were on about After being together for a few years all those years ago – like Ankita Karn now, Caroline Evans (Central High Old (07-09) in your recent edition (see Girl) and I were married in the gardens Issue 94). of Fitzroy Square in London’s Fitzrovia last July. We held a great garden party By Michael Hayle (70-76)

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Summer 2016

It was the wedding of Niall Ramsey (88-95) to Godessa ‘Dess’ Callupig in the Philippines on 17 March 2016. In the picture below, from left to right, are Henry Nelless (90-95), Stuart Athey (85-95), Niall Ramsey (88-95), Daniel Laws (88-95) and Richard ‘Rick’ Astbury (90-95). Here is also a picture of the happy couple. It was a great day and, as Niall pointed out, the picture represented over a century of “Barong-clad RGS friendship”. All of us in the picture are now married, with Daniel and I living in London, Stuart still in the North East (Whitley Bay), Rick in New York and Niall in Singapore.

By Henry Nelless (90-95)

Below: Niall and ‘Dess’ on their wedding day Bottom: Class of 95: barong-clad RGS friendship

Mark Akenside Poet and Physician: A Lover of Contradiction

By Alan Castree (53-61) Many Old Novos will recall the refrain in the school song, “…

Collingwood, Armstrong, Eldon and Bourne, Akenside, Stowell and Brand…”, but perhaps not too many will know much about this exceptional character, Mark Akenside. He has an unfortunate reputation today, having engendered in Geordie folklore the “Akenside Syndrome”, symbolizing someone who moves away from the Tyne, becomes famous and disclaims his native origins. I judge this unfair but readers can decide.

Above: Mark Akenside © Royal College of Physicians Above right: Mark Akenside’s letter to Mr Edward Cave, editor of the London periodical, The Gentleman’s Magazine, sourced from the school library, dated 1738

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M

ark was born on 9 November 1721, the son of a Newcastle butcher. His family were Presbyterian Dissenters.

From an obscure background, Mark rose to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Fellow of the Royal Society and physician to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Further, he achieved wide acclaim as a leading poet of his age and as a brilliant classical scholar.

He attended RGS in the 1730s (actual dates unknown) and also received education from William Wilson at the Non-Conformist Meeting House, Hanover Square, Newcastle. Support from his church enabled him to enter Edinburgh University to read Theology in 1738. A bright and industrious scholar, he chose to switch to Medicine, in which he was to excel. He built a reputation as a fierce and able debater, displaying early signs of a disputatious manner that proved to be an irritant to many during his life.

Mark had displayed talent as a writer at an early age. Before entering university he had achieved publication of poems and tales in The Gentleman’s Magazine.

He wrote what proved to be his most successful poem in 1743, The Pleasures of the Imagination, a work of 2,000 lines. Anne Barbauld, editing his poems in 1794, considered this remarkable for such a young man, with a wry comment on its erudition: ‘Akenside will not call people from the fields and the highways to partake of his feats; he will wish none to read that are not capable of understanding him’.

Mark negotiated a healthy fee for his work, thanks to positive backing from other poets, including Alexander Pope. Success was immediate and through this achievement his name was prominent in literary circles throughout the rest of his life.

In 1744, Mark moved to Leiden University, to extend his medical qualifications, after which he tried, unsuccessfully, to build a medical practice in London, but to him, progress was too slow. Those who knew him were not surprised: the coffee house chatter was that his practice was slow to blossom because his abruptness of manner failed to accord to any prospective patients the respect that they felt they deserved. In Tom’s Coffeehouse, Devereux Court, near Temple Bar, his excitable temperament led him into lively arguments with all and sundry, night after night.

He seems to have survived these early days through his literary earnings and the unfailing generosity of Jeremiah Dyson, a barrister and later clerk to the House of Commons, whom Mark had befriended in Edinburgh and who, after Mark’s premature death, edited and published a posthumous collection of his poems in 1772.

In 1749 he devoted more time to medicine and less to his verse. He became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians in 1751, received the degree of MD by mandamus from Cambridge in 1753 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1754. He wrote authoritatively on Medicine and earned praise for the elegance of his Latin.

In 1759 he became principal physician at St. Thomas’ Hospital and in 1761 gained his royal appointment. As he had been quite open about his republican views before this, there was bitter comment among his immediate circle about the latter appointment.

Samuel Johnson saw Akenside as a lover of contradiction and no friend to anything established, and Mark often engaged in satirical attacks on well-known figures: satire was a feature of the time. Tobias Smollett took exception to his hostility towards the Scots and cast him as a didactic doctor, pompous and humourless, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle. Mark did not respond.

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He endured jibes about his lowly origins: any provincial keen to make his way in London had to survive the snobbery and contempt in society towards outsiders. He was not, however, the spiteful critic of other poets that many versifiers tended to be: he was constructive and warm in his praise.

His writing ranged from classical allusion to rural nostalgia and he was affectionate towards his native county as in The Pleasures of the Imagination: ‘…Would I again with you! O ye dales Of Tyne, and ye most ancient woodlands…’ ‘…O ye Northumbrian shades, which overlook The rocky pavement and the mossy falls Of solitary Wansbeck’s limpid stream…’

Surely this is from the hand of a lover of his north eastern heritage?

An incurable suppuration of his throat led to his early death in 1770 and he was buried at St. James’ Church, Piccadilly.

Mark Akenside was an outstanding poet, scholar and physician and deserves to be remembered as a remarkable Northumbrian who, while not proclaiming his humble origins from the rooftops, did, nevertheless, pay true homage to where his roots lay.

A more detailed version of this article can be found on the ONA website at http://bit.ly/223OX7M Akenside paying homage to his north eastern roots in The Pleasures of the Imagination, published 1744. It is thought that he got the idea for this poem after a visit to Morpeth in 1738

Obituaries William ‘Eric’ Reeve (36-45) Born 28 November 1927, died 27 January 2016, aged 88

William ‘Bill’ GR Weeks (35-44) Born 3 May 1927, died 26 January 2016,

Eric was at the RGS along with his brothers Geoff (35-42) and Brian (3848). They were all evacuated to Penrith, and Eric is pictured here with other evacuees (front, middle with pens in pocket). This spell of four years led him to his great love of the Lakes and resulted in a strong bond forged with both the school and his contemporaries. He was christened ‘Bla’ by his fellow schoolmates when he trapped his finger in a classroom door and the noise he made was said to be heard at the other end of the school!

The name stuck and inevitably his brother Brian became known as ‘Titch Bla’, eventually shortened to ‘Titch’. He often told the tale of when out cycling near Penrith he came across a full milk churn by the road. Eric (always fond of his grub) buried his head in the churn to sample the milk, lifted his head to draw breath only to find a furious farmer who chased him off with the cry of, “Bloody little evacuee!” He was thrilled to attend the reunion of fellow evacuees and catch up on old times.

After school Eric did National Service in India and was commissioned in Bangalore in 1946, thoroughly enjoying the army and the experience of India.

He returned to study at Newcastle dental school, qualifying in 1953 and

worked in London for a period before marrying Sally and returning back to the North East to raise his family. He practised locally, including a spell with Howard Gale (35-43) until setting up his own practice where he worked until his retirement in 1987.

Sally and Eric moved to Bamburgh in 1990 where they enjoyed the Northumberland coast with their many friends there. They were keen members of Bamburgh Golf Club, and Eric was a regular member of ‘Dad’s Army’, a group of fellow retirees who would turn out, rain or shine.

Rugby was the thread that ran throughout Eric’s life. It instilled in him a love of the commitment, camaraderie and the traditions that make rugby so unique at RGS. He was thrilled with the atmosphere and sense of occasion at the Falcons last season watching the RGS victory over Durham.

Eric played at school, Old Novos and for Northumberland, often with Cambridge Blue and England trialist brother Brian. He became President of Novos RFC in 1969 during their transition to an open club. He also won two County Cups with Medicals, and served on the county committee for many years.

J Colin Peacock (53-61) recalled, “I would like to acknowledge what a delightful man your Dad was, and very much part of my formative years at Novos.

We dragged him out of retirement in his forties to play for the thirds until unfortunately his rampant enthusiasm induced a career-ending hernia!”

Eric was a dedicated supporter of the school, with the ONA and other school publications read with enthusiasm, as was any mention of the RGS in local media. He often attended the annual address, and was a long-term bursary supporter.

Grandson James is still at the school and William (05-15) left last year.

By David Reeve

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aged 88

Bill Weeks made no particular mark at school, but he certainly enjoyed his time there, especially the evacuation years in Penrith, on which he looked back on as some of the happiest of his life, attending most of the ON reunions, though not the very last one.

His step-father was JR Heslop (191115), a chartered accountant. Bill subsequently became a director of the family firm, Petties Ltd, a ladies’ hairdresser in Northumberland Street, Newcastle.

On leaving school, Bill gained a BSc in Agriculture at King’s College, returning there soon afterwards as a lecturer in Agriculture and Economics and remaining there until his retirement.

It was soon realised that Bill was one of those men who possessed a booming voice, an opinion on everything, and the courage of his convictions, so he became a familiar figure in the local media, a forthright pundit on food production and farming, featuring on such productions as Farming Outlook (Tyne Tees) and Channel 4’s Good Food Show. He was much in demand for an instant quote on any subject. “Bread, beef and beer are what sustains an Englishman.”

For some years he was a member of Newcastle City Council, and later, after retiring from Jesmond to Seahouses, he continued his public life as a local councillor.

One of his great enthusiasms was the North of England Steam Traction Engine Society, which he was a founder member, and he was a pioneer of the Newcastle Summer Exhibition.

Rev Thomas Reginald ‘Reg’ Harper (42-49) Born 5 March 1931, died 7 March 2016, aged 85

In 65-67, after many years on the committee, he served as President of the ONA. His first wife, Betty, died in 1984.

They had one daughter, who I understand is now a vet. At the age of 65, he became a father, having married again. This he saw as a great personal achievement, but eventually, due to ill health, he had to give up his smallholding and his speed boat and moved to sheltered accommodation.

His extrovert personality and unfailing cheerfulness and good humour will always live in the memory of those who knew him.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”.

By Bryan Stevens (44-49)

Michael ‘Mike’ Brown (72-79) born

1960, died 25 August 2015, aged 54.

Basil Butcher (32-36) born 1920, died

3 February 2016, aged 95.

Anthony ‘Les’ Crawford (37-44) born

1927, died 27 July 2015, aged 88.

Harry Davis (39-49) born 1931, died

6 December 2015, aged 84.

John Errington (34-44) born 1927, died

16 July 2015, aged 88.

The ONA lost another former President (88-90) with the passing of TR ‘Reg’ Harper (42-49). Reg was a very popular figure, melding the serious duties of a country vicar with his widespread interests, from Rotary and the British Legion, to music, philately, sport, education and most important of all, his family. Before his health declined, he frequently attended RGS and ONA events.

At his recent funeral, the vicar of St Mary’s Windermere, the Rev David Wilmot described Reg as an immensely likeable man, always taking time to encourage values which would sustain him through his 57 years, in parishes on both sides of the Pennines.

After the RGS, he went on to Durham University, later serving as deacon, priest and curate, 58-60 at Corbridge with Halton. After two years at St Michael’s, Byker, he became vicar in Ushaw Moor from 62-67. In the eulogy for his father, Jonathan Harper (72-74) related some lighthearted tales of this period: “Dad was also assistant prison chaplain at Durham. His fondness for music prompted him to take the Ushaw Moor Church Choir to Durham Prison where they put on a choral rendition to the inmates who included, at that time, the Great Train Robbers. All was going well until one unforeseen moment – the finale of Stainer’s Crucifixion – the line “fling wide the gates” brought the house down!”

After seven years as secretary of the Church Missionary Society, his career took him over the Pennines, first to Borrowdale at the parish of Thornthwaite cum Braithwaite and Newlands from 74-90. Bellingham and Otterburn followed until his retirement in 1998. Reg was always available to help out and his last services, as his health declined, were Remembrance Day on 8 November 2015 and then at the minute’s silence on 11 November at the Market Cross in Ambleside.

Reg retained a passion for sport and rugby union in particular. He was a fine rugby player at the RGS, where he captained the first XV, and he loved his cricket at school, university and for the diocese. In 1979, at the Ambleside cricket pitch, his team, Carlisle, met the favourites, Liverpool Diocese, who showed them very little sympathy, bowling out the whole team for eight runs; Reg the top scorer with three runs! Liverpool duly took nine runs for no wicket off Reg’s first over, to take the match.

He was a storyteller, comfortable with people from all walks of life.

Jonathan, quoting a friend: ‘If you had a conversation with Reg, you always left uplifted and the better for it. Above all he was a real gentleman’.

He leaves Enid, his devoted wife of 57 years, son Jonathan, daughter Liz and his adoring grandchildren.

By David F Goldwater (51-62)

Edward Hew Nichols OBE (37-43) born

1925, died 29 January 2016, aged 91.

1979, Reg (second from right, front row) – eight runs all out!

David Thompson (78-85) born 1967,

died 13 March 2016, aged 48.

Alfred ‘Alan’ Townsin (36-43) born

1926, died 9 April 2016, aged 90.

Rae Walton MC, AFC, TD (28-32) born

1919, died 28 December 2015, aged 96.

The ONA and the school are also saddened by the news of the deaths of both Bill Haggie, former governor of the school, and Kathleen Shipley, widow of Don Shipley (52-83).

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ONA Diary dates RGS Day Saturday 2 July 2016, RGS, Newcastle upon Tyne

ONs and their families are warmly invited to join us for our annual celebration of everything that’s good about the RGS on RGS Day, Saturday 2 July (morning). The day involves a sequence of prize-giving ceremonies in the Main Hall, my ‘state of the RGS’ address at 10.30am, a variety of entertainments, exhibitions and demonstrations, and excellent refreshments in the marquee. Precise details and timings are not yet fixed: please check the school website for the detailed programme nearer the event.

Bernard Trafford

Headmaster

91st Annual ONA Dinner Friday 14 October 2016, RGS, Newcastle upon Tyne

RGS Community Choir The RGS Community Choir is looking for new members (male voices are especially needed) following on from their second successful year. The choir meets every Thursday from 6.30pm until 8.00pm in the RGS Performing Arts Centre. There is no cost involved to participate and members will receive all vocal scores free. Potential singers can join the choir in September.

For more information, please contact Zlatan Fazlić(head of performing arts and director of Music) at z.fazlic@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk

ONA Merchandise To order from our range of merchandise, please send a cheque payable to ONA, confirming your delivery address and contact details. For further details please email: ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk.

Limited Edition Prints

Scarf

480x330mm unframed £60 or 2 for £100

100% double thickness wool £35

Cufflinks

Socks

T Bar, enamel gilt plated, school crest £29

100% cotton £9

Bow Tie 100% pure silk, self-tie and ready made options available £29

Tie 100% pure silk, slip-stitched, fully lined £29 Polyester ties are also available.