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A History of the RGS in Its People Also in this issue: Find a Passion Bigger Than Yourself | ONA Dinner 2013 & 50th Reunion
Issue 90 | Spring 2014
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ONA Magazine Issue 90 Spring 2014
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 Summer 2014 issue is Monday 10 March 2014. Copy may be carried over to a future issue. Special thanks to David Goldwater (51-62) 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 now available online Please note that the magazine is now circulated both in hard copy and by email to many members of the Association. Each edition is added to 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. Design www.infinitedesign.com
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President’s Welcome News and Congratulations ONA Now and Then Find a Passion Bigger Than Yourself ONA Dinner 2013 & 50th Reunion A History of the RGS in Its People On Yer Bike Obituaries
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Welcome
Happy New Year! On behalf of the Association, I’d like to wish you all the best for the year ahead. 2014 will be a year of remembrance, marking the centennial anniversary of the start of World War I. Over the course of the year and beyond, the ONA will be partnering with the school in order to suitably commemorate the Great War through a broad programme of events. 2014 also marks 70 years since the boys that were evacuated to Penrith during World War II returned to the school in Newcastle and a reunion is planned. For details on either topic, please contact the ONA office. In this issue of the magazine, read about Phillida Strachan’s (03-05) steadfast devotion to international aid (see pages 6 and 7), David Goldwater’s (51-62) look at the people who influenced the four Houses to which Old Novos have such affinity (see pages 10 and 11) and Michael Grant’s (81-91) account of his Coast to Coast charity bicycle ride and the countryside it spans (see pages 12 and 13). The autumn term is usually a busy one for the Association and 2013 was no different. In October, the Old Novocastrians’ Dinner was very well attended as we have come to expect over recent years. Sir Brian Briscoe (56-63) gave a thoroughly entertaining and sentimental account of his time at RGS and paid particular attention to the friendships he forged at the school. Sir Brian and his contemporary, Colin Ions (56-63) have hosted many reunions over the years and to mark the 50th year since leaving the RGS organised a weekend of festivities, which included the dinner. Pages 8 and 9 contain a report of both the dinner and the reunion. In November, we were delighted to welcome the Head Boy, David Coates, and Deputy Head Girl, Melanie Coulson to the Old Novo Luncheon Club at the Northern Counties Club in Hood Street (designed by Old Novo, the late Peter Elphick MBE (29-37) (noted in his obituary on page 16). I hope they enjoyed the experience as much as the older contingent – being the last ON Luncheon before Christmas, it was an opportunity to have the first roast turkey of the year! We were also very lucky to have the Headmaster, Kate Jarvis (02-04) and Dan Maier (76-86), who spoke at the 2013 London ONA Dinner, in attendance. This year’s London ONA Dinner is to be held at the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly on 14 March, with Timothy Kirkhope MEP (53-62) confirmed as guest speaker. As well as being a Member of the European Parliament, Timothy was himself ONA President from 1981 to 1983 and a former Governor of the RGS so it’s safe to say he is an authority on the school and an ideal guest speaker for the dinner. Details of the dinner can be found on the back page along with some other dates and events for the diary. I hope to see you there. Enjoy the magazine! David Westwood (95-02) ONA President
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Spring 2014
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News and Congratulations We are delighted to have heard recently from… Simon Bradley (80-83) who is now editor at the Pevsner
Architectural Guides (Yale University Press). Michael Robson who notified the Association about the Northumbria Club attended by London-based Old Novos. He writes: Do you live or work within the London area? Do you visit London regularly? If the answer is ‘yes’, have you considered becoming a member of the ‘Northumbria Club’? Founded in 1920 as the ‘Northumberland and Durham Association’, the club is open to both men and women. It meets four times a year, for dinner and good-fellowship, at a London Club — currently either the National Liberal Club in Northumberland Avenue or the Oriental Club in Stratford Place. Dinners are frequently followed by an entertaining speaker. During the spring, the club hosts an additional evening when members are invited to bring along guests. A weekend away is usually arranged during the summer months. The club is honoured to have as its Joint President, the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. For further details please contact me at maralnwick@yahoo.co.uk or by telephone on 01303 891 884. Dr Mark Bell, RGS Biology teacher who emailed to say: On our Madrid trip at half-term we bumped into 2011 leaver Jack Taylor (04-11) (see photograph). He is in the third year of his Economics & Politics degree in Leeds, but has chosen to spend it at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He’s really enjoying it out there, and is loving the challenge of studying Economics in Spanish despite not having studied Spanish as part of his degree course. All his A Level language has come flooding back! He’s delighted as it will allow him to graduate with a European Economics & Politics title. Jack Taylor (04-11) in Madrid
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Our congratulations go to… Jonathan P Joures (75-82), director, Universal Credit
Business Transformation, Department for Work and Pensions who was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list 2013 for services to the reform of workplace pensions and voluntary service to disadvantaged children. John Hindmarch (71-76) who was awarded a Queen’s Fire
Service Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list. Richard Black (05-12), reading History at Lincoln College,
Oxford who was awarded the HWC Davies Prize, a university prize for scoring the highest average preliminary examination results for History in the entire year. In addition, he has also been awarded a Grimshaw Exhibition and a college prize. David Powell (59-64), secretary of the RGS Masonic
Lodge who has recently succeeded former secretary, Dave Taylor (58-60). Fraser Forster (96-06), Celtic goalkeeper who made his
debut for the England football team in the international friendly against Chile in November. Will Welch (98-08) who captained the Newcastle Falcons back into the Premiership last season. James Doughty (James Hall) (98-08), musical director
at the English Theatre Frankfurt (ETF) on being awarded the Broadway World UK award for Best Musical Direction for RENT at the Tabard. Currently musically directing the EFT’s production of Saturday Night Fever. Iain Nairn (88-98) cricketer, who has been selected as vice
captain of the England Physically Disabled squad to take on Pakistan in Dubai in March.
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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.
Important request regarding families of first world war combatants
The School Organ I am pleased to be able to report that work was completed on time in the summer, and that 30 years of dust (see photographs) has been removed. All leatherwork has also been restored. More importantly, the instrument has been in use, and it was heard to good effect during the Remembrance Day assemblies last term. There is also to be a concert in the school’s Main Hall in early May (see back cover), when it will again play a part. Should anyone wish to bring back memories and play the organ please get in touch with me in the first instance, m.barlow@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk, and I will pass on your details to the Head of Music. Mike Barlow (53-64)
The Association is planning a programme of events in conjunction with the school to commemorate the 1914-18 War in the most suitable and meaningful manner. As readers will be aware, the organ, inaugurated in 1923, is a registered War Memorial and records the passing of 162 pupils of the school who fell in that terrible conflict. Throughout 2014-18 there will be countless centenary events throughout the nation. In keeping with its recent goal of relating more closely to the existing students of the school, the Association is looking to remember not only those who never returned from those foreign fields, but also the very large majority that did come home to their families and resumed their lives and careers. As we approach this momentous anniversary, the ONA is appealing to all those who can provide evidence of their family’s part in this momentous story. Please send in any information you care to share, however sparse, whether it refers to survivors or those who sadly did not survive. The Association is hoping to publish the names of those recorded on the organ (newly restored) on its website, as well as the programme of events as it unfolds. Please write to Jane Medcalf at ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk or to the school’s postal address.
Photographs kindly supplied by Malcolm Lightbown David Goldwater (51-62)
ONA Committee: David Westwood (95-02) President, Chris Rutter (92-02) Vice President, Chris Wilson (97-02) Vice President, Mike Barlow (53-64), Christopher Calver (60-71), Peter Coates (56-67), Adam Goldwater (87-97), David Goldwater (51-62), Burland Jacob (44-49), Kate Jarvis (02-04), Stephen Lawson (53-64), Richard Metcalfe (Bursar), Bernard Trafford (Headmaster), Secretary: Jane Medcalf (development manager).
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Spring 2014
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ONA Now and Then
2014 shows every sign of being a good year (yet another one) for the RGS. It’s my job to look forward for the school, clarifying and articulating the vision and trying to ensure it all happens.
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It’s often said that, to know where we’re going, we need to be aware of where we’ve come from. Certainly the ONA Magazine helps us to do that. It’s fascinating to read the article opposite, for example, about the group of ‘flyers’. I think a lot of schools were accelerating their pupils in the 1960s. I remember myself going off to boarding school aged 13 and starting (as we all did) in the fourth form. Then at Christmas, depending on progress, about half of the year group was demoted to the third form. This always seemed a curious form of motivation! Like Stephen Forster (63-69), the author of the piece, I took A levels at 17. I arrived at Oxford at 18: he went to Cambridge. Like Stephen I suspect I was a bit immature and might have made better use of university a little later – but, then, my wife says she’s been waiting for me to grow up for 32 years!
singing, face-paints in the house colours are now de rigeur. I doubt that the painting of faces would have been encouraged 50 years ago: in 2014 it’s the ‘done thing’, and who am I to try to quash such powerful house spirit? As I write this the steel framework of our new building (second sports hall, swimming pool and concomitant facilities) is standing proud and clearly visible from the motorway. In another year it’ll be all but finished, and we will very consciously have an enormous sign on the back of that new building telling everyone on the motorway that the RGS is still here, proud, confident and happy to shout about it!
There’s plenty to be proud about. The high achievement, generosity of spirit, extraordinary levels of motivation and (as important as all the rest) the enormous fun enjoyed along the way happen neither by Nowadays we tend to avoid accelerating boys and girls out of their age group, for a accident nor overnight. They are achieved variety of good reasons: moreover, national by design, and grow out of a long tradition of pride in, and thirst for, excellence. It policy has now swung very much against early entry for exams. But I’m satisfied that was wonderful in October to join in with we still stimulate and challenge our students the reunion of the class of 1963 (see appropriately. There is plenty to keep even pages 8 and 9). They were entirely our brightest students (and, my goodness, recognisable as (old) RGS boys: talented, high-achieving (many of them highly they are so bright) busy, occupied and distinguished in their fields), mischievous, stimulated without giving them the diet of the year above. It’s a challenge, of course, hilarious, bursting with banter and full of affection for Newcastle and its Royal but one that we and they relish. Grammar School. Elsewhere in the magazine it’s good to Long may that continue. read David Goldwater (51-62) on the subject of Houses (see pages 10 and 11). Many day schools have over the years Bernard Trafford lost enthusiasm for house systems or, Headmaster rather, found their raison d’être weakened over time. I’m delighted that the four Houses at the RGS retain their strength and vigour. Indeed, the current team of housemasters are particularly vigorous and pushing hard. Our boys and girls alike love the house competitions: there’s great rivalry certainly, but also the slightly tongue-in-cheek enjoyment of goodnatured fanaticism. It seems that, at Sports Day or in an event like the Miller (cross-country) Cup, let alone house
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ONA Now and Then
The Flyers By Stephen Forster (63-69)
Above: John Douglas, former teacher (pictured far left) at the recent 1963 50th Reunion (see pages 8-9) Left (L-R): The late Patrick ‘Paddy’ Bennett (63-69), William ‘Bill’ Gibson (63-69) (RGS Maths teacher), Stephen Forster (63-69) and John Glass (60-69). Taken 1969
It is exactly 50 years since I first arrived at the RGS and joined form II.1 in Room 20 with John Douglas (see photographs) as our form teacher (the II’s were, of course, at that time the first year). Nothing unusual in that except that it was announced that we were the first to be involved in an experiment which was, by today’s standards, somewhat bizarre; there was certainly no consultation on the matter in those days! We were told that we were to be known as the ‘Flyers’ and would complete our O Level courses in four years instead of five, and so enter the sixth form at the age of 15 and take A Levels at 17. We missed out the ‘Remove’ (the third year or Year 9 as it is now) and went straight from the second year to the fourth year thus joining classes where at least half of the boys were a year older than us. Not surprisingly, this caused a range of social as well as educational and administrative problems: for example
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with uniform the Flyers were permitted to ditch caps as was normal in the fourth year but were not supposed to wear the black blazers that fourth formers were normally entitled to. I wondered if any other Flyers, from the 1963 cohort or later (I do not know how long the experiment lasted) have any views about how they were affected by taking examinations a year younger than normal? For my part I still obtained the expected Cambridge place to read Maths and Physics, but I arrived there at 18 when most undergraduates started their courses at 19 because Cambridge entrance examinations were usually taken after A Levels. I think, looking back, the lack of maturity meant that I did not gain as much from the Cambridge experience as I could have done. However, on the plus side I gained a year which was, of course, invaluable.
ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Spring 2014
“We were told that we were to be known as the ‘Flyers’ and would complete our O Level courses in four years instead of five, and so enter the Sixth Form at the age of 15 and take A Levels at 17.” John Douglas, former teacher
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Find a Passion Bigger Than Yourself By Phillida Strachan (03-05) The best piece of advice I remember receiving during my upper sixth year at RGS was from my History teacher Abigail Box (nee Heaton).
I started out from university as the first intern in a small, not-for-profit organisation based in Cambridge called The Humanitarian Centre. The Centre has developed rapidly since 2008, but during my time it primarily provided networking, education and capacity-building opportunities for small international development non-governmental was applying for university and debating whether to organisations (NGOs) based in and around Cambridge. I found myself becoming involved in a wide range of pursue History, which I loved, or a more tangible activities, from volunteer management to administering subject which I felt might give me more direct skills educational courses, from attending the Shelter Centre or a clear career path. Abigail encouraged me to pursue my passion, recognising that you work harder conference in Geneva to disaster relief and shelter management courses run by Engineers Without Borders. and with more enthusiasm when you love what you are This background gave me a strong foundation in the doing. With this advice in mind, I decided to study History landscape of humanitarian aid and, along with the and pursue my long-held passion to work in the field of experience I gained working in a domestic violence shelter in international development and humanitarian relief. As a result, the last eight years have taken me from Cambridge the Solomon Islands in 2007, enabled me to secure a place to the Solomon Islands, from Haiti to Zimbabwe, and from on World Vision’s international programmes graduate training scheme in 2009. South Sudan to the Syria Response.
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(Far right) Phillida Strachan visiting a child-friendly space set up by World Vision during the Haiti emergency response
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Conducting a focus group discussion with small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe
A makeshift camp for internally displaced people in Haiti
Between 2009 and 2013 I spent four years working with World Vision and the International Rescue Committee all over the world. There are two experiences during that time which particularly stand out for me in confirming and deepening my passion to work in this field. The first began on the morning of 13 January, 2010. I was trapped in a car in the snow, attempting to make the journey to work when I received a phone call from my manager, who simply said, “There’s been an earthquake in Haiti, we need you in the office now. You are going to be seconded to the humanitarian emergencies team”.
South Sudan is an incredibly diverse country, with over 60 tribes and as many languages. During my time there I was able to visit five of the 10 States, and gain a small sense of the scale of nation-building ahead for the country. The unique opportunity that South Sudan has at this juncture to shape its laws, justice systems, government institutions, and how it tells its history, is both important and exciting. Participating in even a small part of the ongoing transformation of this country was a privilege which reaffirmed my passion for this work, as well as a greater understanding of the responsibility that comes with it.
This marked the beginning of my most significant experience in international aid. The Haiti earthquake was arguably the worst rapid onset disaster of the last four decades, in which the UN estimates over 250,000 people lost their lives and more than one million were displaced. It was into this context that I arrived in early March 2010, having spent one and a half months supporting the response from the UK. I had never worked in a humanitarian response overseas, let alone one on the scale of Haiti. As a program officer I was tasked with supporting World Vision’s water, sanitation and hygiene, cash-for-work and early recovery programmes. I was exposed to the Port-au-Prince sewage and waste disposal site, saw women cleaning latrines up to their knees in mud, witnessed the effects of heavy rain on makeshift shelters covered only by sheets, and saw whole hillsides of houses that had collapsed on top of each other. The experience of being a cog in the machine of the humanitarian response was a steep and humbling learning curve, and reaffirmed my commitment to work for the right of all people to live a life with dignity and opportunity.
Last year I returned to the UK to complete an MSc in Refugees and Forced Migration Studies at the University of Oxford. I hope to deepen my knowledge of these issues and understand how I can continue to contribute effectively to the field of humanitarian relief. I have been fortunate enough to receive funding through the University’s Clarendon Fund, which hosted its inaugural annual lecture on 2 December 2013. The keynote speaker was the Oxford-based economist Paul Collier, who is best known for his extensive work on development economics in Africa, and as author of The Bottom Billion. As a remarkably successful economist, academic and author, he sought to give advice to young students starting out in their careers. His first and most important criterion for success was “find a passion bigger than yourself”. Sitting there, eight years on from Abigail’s advice, I felt my experiences had come full circle, and I was reminded of the passion, commitment and enthusiasm which the RGS seeks to encourage in all its students. A rural village in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, South Sudan
Six months after I left Haiti I moved to Zimbabwe for a year, during which time the people of South Sudan went to the polls in January 2011 and exercised their right to vote for an independent nation. I arrived in South Sudan in October 2011, three months after the official declaration of independence on 9 July. I was privileged to live in this new country for its first two years, working first with World Vision and then with the International Rescue Committee. The great sense of optimism of South Sudanese people at the dawn of their future shaped the international community’s response, with significant partnership programmes between NGOs, the UN and the State, seeking to support the government in realising the aspirations of its people.
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Spring 2014
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50th Reunion: group photo on the night at South Northumberland Cricket Club
ONA Dinner 2013 & 50th Reunion By David Westwood (95-02) and Sir Brian Briscoe (56-63) David Westwood, ONA President and Sir Brian Briscoe, guest speaker at the annual ONA Dinner reflect on the Dinner and the weekend it began for ONs who left the School in 1963.
John Douglas, former Master with John Henderson (56-63)
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T
he Old Novocastrians’ Association (ONA) annual Dinner is held in October every year following the AGM. The format of the evening is a sherry reception held within the school’s Main Hall, where guests are entertained by some members of the school band. The AGM takes place shortly after in what was once the Headmaster’s Office having been relocated from the Plender Library. Following the AGM, the President provides an update on the state of the Association before guests are ushered through to the Dining Hall, where Barrie Bulch and his team deliver an exceptional menu. Following dinner there are speeches by the Headmaster and a guest speaker, who this year was Sir Brian Briscoe. This year’s annual Dinner at school was a great success with nearly 120 ONs present, ranging from 1932 to last summer’s leavers, but it was also notable for a large attendance of ONs who left the school in 1963. Fifty years ago there were many momentous events, but none more so (for them at least) than the class of 56-63 moving on from school and for many, moving from the North East. Some of this group have met every year to refresh arguments about the relative merits of local football teams, the shifting political scene, and occasionally to demonstrate that, however eminent their sporting achievements, none of them can play snooker. These events in the past 30 years have been in London – most accessible for a group largely settled in the Home Counties.
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Two of the group, Colin Ions (56-63) and Brian Briscoe, decided over a year ago that they would try to set up a reunion weekend in Newcastle to celebrate ‘50 years on’ and see how many of the year group could be persuaded to meet over the weekend. Email addresses were obtained, an outline of the weekend transmitted to those who could be found and a programme developed. The weekend began on Friday evening with the ONA Dinner, involved a visit to the school on Saturday morning with complimentary pie and peas, an afternoon at Sutherland Park for a Novos RFC v Gosforth Cup match (and buffet), and an evening event at South Northumberland Cricket Club. On Sunday morning Lawrence Bryson (56-63) led a fascinating walking tour of historic Newcastle. It was possible to take all the programme or parts of it, and one small group was able to take in the Newcastle v Liverpool game at St James’ Park and a well fought draw despite having only 10 men for more than half the game. The Saturday evening buffet and drinks was attended by 35 of the year group, the Headmaster, Bernard Trafford, and two masters from the era – John Douglas and Bill Elliott. ONs came from South Africa, Germany and Canada, and from all parts of the UK, and Tyneside. A collection of team photographs and some iconic 60s artwork from the school Art Department, thanks to Art teacher, Kirsty Nowicki decorated the South Northumberland venue. Unrelenting pressure from Colin Ions persuaded Bernard ‘Kenny Ball’ Trafford to play a trumpet solo of a 60s classic. Those present wondered if any previous Head would have been so brave! Christine Pipes,
Bill Elliott, former Master
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Spring 2014
Technology teacher and school photographer, kindly gave up her early Saturday evening to commemorate the event and there are plans to produce a brochure to share with those attending Saturday night and some who couldn’t be there. Our thanks to Kirsty, Christine and Bernard. The weekend was deliberately informal, and any anxiety that it might be ‘uncomfortable’ was immediately dispelled. Whatever else we may be, ex-RGS people are not stuck up or precious and even Gateshead people were not treated with condescension (much), now that they have their own bridge. The humour, memories, matches we won and lost, were all rehearsed and, judging by the feedback, the event was greatly enjoyed and appreciated. We were keen to report this event to encourage others to think about similar opportunities for their year groups. Brian and Colin were greatly supported by Jane Medcalf in the ONA office (who, among many other things, collected the contributions for Saturday night’s event) and it would be right also to acknowledge the enormous help from two of the year group still based in the North East, Mike Barlow (5364)and Steve Lawson (53-64). The Headmaster did more than it was right to ask, but the wider message after the thanks have been given, is that there is now a framework for organising such reunion weekends. So why not give it a go? You will be surprised how many of your contemporaries would be pleased if you did. Photographs by Christine Pipes
Headmaster Bernard ‘Kenny Ball’ Trafford
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A HISTORY OF THE RGS IN ITS PEOPLE by David Goldwater (51-62)
School House names most familiar to younger readers at large are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but since 1930, it is to Collingwood, Eldon, Horsley and Stowell that RGS students have pledged their loyalty and galvanized their best efforts in sport, music, debating and other areas. David’s cap with the Horsley emblem
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Houses named Reds, Greens, Browns and Blues, indicated by varied colours in the cord trimmings on the school cap, were first established on the school’s move to Jesmond in 1906. In 1925, ER Thomas had presided over a ceremony marking the fourth centenary of Thomas Horsley’s will when the portraits of Lords Eldon and Stowell were unveiled in the school’s Main Hall (see photographs). In 1930, as the old crests conjoined of those of Queen Elizabeth I and the City of Newcastle were unified into a new crest granted by the College of Arms, the houses were renamed Eldon, Collingwood, Horsley and Stowell. Today, the house colours remain, adopting the symbols from the 1930 Coat of Arms, Eldon in green, symbolized by the castle, Horsley in blue, taking on the head of the horse, Stowell in red represented by the lion whilst Collingwood now bears the brighter colour of yellow, adopting the Fleur de Lys. Enthusiasts of the House system may be interested to know that last year the overall House Competition was won by…Eldon! Initially, the Houses were geographically allocated, but with sons and brothers allocated the same House, this became less consistent. The original allocation was roughly Gateshead and south of the river, the preserve of those in Stowell. Collingwood’s area was Gosforth and Ponteland. Eldon was for those in Heaton and east down to the coast and Horsley boys lived in Jesmond and Fenham. So who were these worthy men, honoured in perpetuity in the RGS House system? Chronologically and showing no bias (though a Horsley boy am I), Thomas Horsley (1462-c1545), the school’s founder was a corn merchant who lived through the reigns of Edward IV and V, Richard III, Henry VII and VIII. Outdoing London’s Whittington, he served as Mayor of Newcastle five times during the reign of Henry VIII. In 1525, he made his will, endowing money for the establishment of a free school in Newcastle on his death and that of his wife. He was a hugely powerful man and did much to establish Newcastle as the wealthy and influential town it had become by Henry’s reign. In these Renaissance times, the foundation of our school was a reflection of that influence. Later, in 1600 when Newcastle obtained its ‘Great Charter’ in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the charter included directions for the establishment of a ‘Royal’ Free Grammar School, ‘a body corporate by the name of ‘The Master and Scholars of the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth in Newcastle upon Tyne’’.
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William Scott (1745-1836), one of 13 children
(later 1st Baron Stowell), probably would have been in Stowell as he was born in Heworth in 1745. A notable maritime and international lawyer it was not until he was in his 30s that he began a serious study of law, but his rise to success was rapid. Within 12 years he received a knighthood and had become Advocate-General. Among his other achievements were his parliamentary seats at Downton(!) and Oxford University, as well as his Fellowship of the Royal Society, the Privy Council and Judge of the High Court of Admiralty. In 1821, upon the Coronation of George IV, he was raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Stowell of Stowell Park in Gloucestershire. At the age of 76, he thus took the seat in the House of Lords, but seldom participated actively in debate. He lived to the age of 90, at which time the baronetcy became extinct. Only one of his four children, Mary Anne, survived her father, two having died in infancy.
Above: William and John Scott
His younger brother, John Scott (1751-1838) born in Love Lane, Newcastle, was to become 1st Earl of Eldon. Their father, William had become a prosperous Hostman (and Freeman) within the thriving coal trade, a career which John might have entered, as did his other older brother, Henry, who also attended the school. He might also have taken holy orders, but through the intervention of his elder brother William, then a college tutor at Oxford, he progressed rapidly through his legal studies. A colourful and romantic episode is well documented with John’s elopement in 1772 with Bessie Surtees, the daughter of a wealthy Newcastle banker (see photograph of plaque). A story in itself, it all ended with both families’ reconciliation. After Scott had entered parliament in 1782, he was appointed Solicitor-General, knighted and promoted to Attorney-General. Entering the House of Lords in 1801 (the same year as his brother William) as Lord Eldon he ascended the woolsack as Lord Chancellor of England. Later in 1821, Lord Eldon had been created Viscount Encombe and Earl Eldon by George IV. He lived a long life into the reign of Queen Victoria. The Eldon and Encombe viscountcies are still in existence, John Francis Scott, the fifth Viscount succeeding in 1976.
Plaque located below the window on a Jacobean house situated in Sandhill, Newcastle upon Tyne
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Spring 2014
Cuthbert Collingwood
Cuthbert Collingwood (1748-1810). As the Headmaster wrote in one of his excellent blogs (see www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk) locals are totally biased as to who really won the Battle of Trafalgar. Collingwood, born in a house on the Side, Newcastle, completed Nelson’s work in the most altruistic and bravest manner, so that his memory is still respected in Spain. His early education was certainly at the school but, by the age of 13, he was at sea. His life is a glorious litany of naval and military valour. Unlike Nelson, he was rarely on dry land and his political, diplomatic and military judgment far outshone that of his superior commander. Raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Collingwood of Caldburne and Hethpoole in Northumberland in 1805, exhausted and in illhealth, he died, characteristically on board ship off the coast of Menorca in March 1810 at the age of 61. He is buried beside Nelson in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral. John Dobson’s 1845 monument to him welcomes all who enter the mouth of the Tyne.
In a short article, it is impossible to do justice to the four men immortalised in the school’s Houses, but their memory is suitably recorded in books, plaques, monuments, statues and portraits around the world. In particular, Collingwood is honoured throughout the nation in both school names and Houses. Royal Hospital (Naval) School at Holbrook has 11 Houses for its 700 students, so with the RGS now educating over 1,300 students, is it time to consider adding further Houses to the ‘Famous Four’? Surely, no shortage of candidates!
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On Yer Bike My Coast to Coast Charity Bike Ride By Michael Grant (81-91) Like many Old Novos, I moved away from the North East when I went to university, and never returned. However, my parents remained there, and one of the highlights of my visits to them in the summer is the ability to go on long bike rides through the Northumbrian countryside.
O
ver the course of the noughties, the rides I went on got longer and longer, culminating in a 75mile ride from Berwick to Newcastle along the Northumbrian Coastal Route, which left me happy (and sunburnt down my right-hand side) but utterly exhausted. Having worn myself out doing this, I found myself displacing for some years from the one longer ride left on my to-do list: coast to coast, Bowness-on-Solway to Tynemouth, across the Pennines. The shock of my approaching 40th birthday, however, reminded me that I might not be physically capable of such a long bike ride forever, so I decided that last summer I would force myself to do it by getting myself sponsored for charity. So doing would also make sure I finished, rather than copping out halfway and putting my bike on the train! I also cycled with a friend, Sam, for the same reason. My mother had been suffering from secondary breast cancer for a couple of years by then, so I decided that should be the focus of my fundraising. I chose in the end to split the money three ways. One third went to Macmillan Cancer Support, who did
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a sterling job supporting my mother until her death in January. The second third went to Cancer Research UK, because we don’t just need to help care for people with cancer; we need to learn how to treat and cure it too. Finally, I decided to support Alzheimer’s Research UK because, as Sir Terry Pratchett has publicised, even though one in three people over 65 will develop dementia, Alzheimer’s research receives a fraction (3% at the time Pratchett highlighted it) of the funding cancer does. I set myself a target of £1,000 sponsorship to aim for; not having done anything like this beforehand, I had no idea whether I would manage it. Despite scrutinising maps beforehand, Sam and I ended up partially working out a route on the fly. Much of this involved Hadrian’s Cycleway, which I had been dubious about should I not have the strength to climb back up to the level of Hadrian’s Wall after crossing the North Tyne. It turned out, though, that Hadrian’s Cycleway doesn’t do that, but descends into the valley of the Tyne; it’s not very well named. Our day started at 8:30am, when we left my parents’ house to catch the train to Carlisle. By 10:45am we were at Carlisle, and ready to head in the wrong direction, to get to the starting point.
Michael and friend, Sam, at Gilsland, a village which straddles the border between Cumbria and Northumberland
“My mother had been suffering from secondary breast cancer for a couple of years by then, so I decided that should be the focus of my fundraising.”
Michael at Boustead Hill, Cumbria
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“I had cycled 92½ miles, making it the longest ride I’ve ever done by a decent margin, and it had taken 13 hours (including the train journey).”
Michael at Hadrian’s Wall by Birdoswald Roman Fort – Gilsland, Cumbria
At 11:34am we came within sight of the Solway Firth, between Burgh-on-Sands and Bowness-on-Solway — though, the tide being out, it was largely mudflats we saw. (We’d passed ominous signs on crossing a stream a little earlier saying things like, ‘Water one foot deep here when road tidally flooded.’) Sam suggested going further to get within sight of open water, but I argued the ride would be long enough as it was; my intention had always been to start at the easternmost point I could plausibly claim to be on the west coast.
It was slightly unfortunate that, due to the length of the ride, I wasn’t able to do much stopping to show Sam, who hails from the deep south, interesting places along the length of the wall. One place we did stop at was the Mithraeum at Brocolita. When I first visited the Mithraeum on Hadrian’s Wall, there were two 10p coins in the hollow at the top of the central altar-stone. Are there Mithras-worshipers again here today, I wondered. This time, there was no money, but an offering of wildflowers. Sam thought Mithras was hard-done by.
Sam had no appetite for struggling up out of the valley of the North Tyne after we’d descended to cross it — particularly since he gallantly offered to carry my heavy waterbottles after my saddle bag fell apart — so we struck After retracing our route and passing south a little west of Chollerford, leaving through Carlisle again, we headed the wild upland landscape of Hadrian’s along the B6264 to Brampton. By Wall, and resumed our journey in the 2:15pm, we’d encountered our first Roman ruins — a milecastle on Hadrian’s tamer landscape alongside the Tyne. Wall, east of Banks — followed at 2:30pm by the fort and stretch of wall at It was a very pleasant country ride from Hexham to Prudhoe; beyond Prudhoe Birdoswald (see photograph). the signs for the cycleway vanished, At Gilsland we crossed the River Irthing and, except for the mile after Prudhoe, it was all built up, so we didn’t take any and entered Northumberland (see photos. It had become apparent by now photograph). From here there was a very steep climb to the watershed; both that we were not going to be able to complete the ride in time for Sam to of us had to dismount for a bit. Fortunately, our route took us through a catch the last train back to York, so reluctantly we parted company in gap in the Pennines; we didn’t have to Newcastle. go above 228m above sea-level (at which height we obviously started). On the road again by myself, I finally However, even though we didn’t have trundled, tired but happy, up to to, we chose to continue along the Military Road along the Whin Sill rather Tynemouth Priory at 9:30pm (see photograph). I had cycled 92½ miles, than descending into the valley of the making it the longest ride I’ve ever done South Tyne. Across the Solway Firth, of course, lay Scotland; I pointed out Gretna across the firth’s head. “Shall we get married?” suggested Sam.
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by a decent margin, and it had taken 13 hours (including the train journey)– by the end, I was beginning to run out of daylight. More importantly, I had raised £1,157 for three worthy charities (or £1,387 including Gift Aid). As a pleasant side-effect, I had also raised awareness of the countryside of the North East amongst my friends in London by blogging about my preparations, using photos of previous cycle rides along the eastern half of the route, and two of my friends now stated their intention of walking along Hadrian’s Wall this summer. Which only leaves now the question of how to top the achievement of cycling coast to coast. Edinburgh to Newcastle as a follow-up, perhaps? Well, not until this summer, at any rate – and I’m not going to even think about it in the meantime! Postscript: A version of this article with more pictures may be found at http://lethargic-man.dreamwidth. org/445509.html 9:30pm Michael reaches Tynemouth Priory at the coast of the North Sea after his 92½ miles bike ride!
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Obituaries
branch of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve Association; and he played senior roles within the RGS and Ponteland Masonic lodges. He acted as a magistrate for 31 years, and ascended to the office of Chairman of the North Tyneside Juvenile Bench (the poor blighters didn’t stand a chance!)
Geoffrey Thomas Orde (40-49) Born 22 May 1931, died 27 September 2013, aged 82
Geoffrey Thomas Orde was born in Gosforth in 1931, followed in his elder brother John’s (38-47) footsteps in attending RGS, and was also later joined by his younger brother Denis (40-50). Hitler was to directly impact upon Geoff’s (or ‘Peff’, as he was then known) childhood, for the school was evacuated to Penrith during the war. During this time he lodged with Miss Natrass – who owned a laundry in Penrith – and her housekeeper Marjorie; Geoff was forever indebted to them for their extraordinary generosity in providing a warm and caring environment so far from home, and he kept in touch with them for many years. His time in the ‘Lakes’ made a lasting impression upon him: a little early independence; the camaraderie of friendships which were to last him a lifetime; fell-walking; swimming in the River Eamont at the then Penrith Swimming Club, Frenchfield; and, so rumour has it, contributing to an accidental phosphorous fire in a train at Penrith Station. Geoffrey represented the school at boxing, swimming, diving, and rugby – he was by all accounts quite a robust competitor. After leaving the RGS, Geoff read Agriculture at the University of Newcastle (then linked with Durham). Following university he underwent National Service with the Royal Air Force, during which time he was awarded his ‘wings’. Flying was to become a dominant part of his life, and he went on to fly – largely with the 607 (Co of Durham) Squadron – De Havilland Vampires and Gloster Meteors from a variety of bases, including RAF Ouston, RAF Middleton St George, and RAF Cottesmore. During this period of his life he married an old acquaintance from his schooldays: Central High girl, Anne Milburn. Geoff later worked for the Newcastle Breweries, reporting directly to Colonel Porter (of Newcastle Brown Ale fame). However, he was to soon find greater satisfaction working for himself: he branched out into the hospitality industry and, amongst other businesses; he acquired the Schooner Hotel in Alnmouth and was licensee at the Ponteland Memorial Hall and Gosforth Civic Hall. As well as being a devoted family man Geoff was also active in a whole host of community activities. He played fullback for, and later became President (78-79) of, Novocastrians RFC; he rose to the rank of President of the Northumberland
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In his late 50s he rejoined the Royal Air Force, flying ‘air experience flights’ for cadets (I suspect a euphemism for ascertaining whether they could withstand high Gs without vomiting!) in Chipmunks and Bulldogs out of RAF Leeming over the North Yorkshire countryside – an opportunity which he enjoyed immensely, and which I suspect gave him a new lease of life. In his latter years he mastered the age-old Geordie art of growing vegetables, and once won the prize for Best Leek in Show at the Ponteland Memorial Hall – I am told he described this as the proudest moment in his life! After his retirement, Geoff played a variety of roles in the Riding Mill Amateur Dramatics and Choral Societies, and was a keen participant in the Newcastle Aero Club. The Church was also to become a very important and integral part of his life. Always a stalwart of the RGS way of life, he was a very keen participant in old boys’ events, and was to become president of the Old Novocastrians’ Association from 1984-1986. He was a volunteer helper at RGS school summer camps in the ’80s and early ’90s (I recall, when in my first year at school, a group of prefects congratulated me for having a father who “let them drink beer”!) He will of course be remembered by many Old Novos for being the driving force behind countless Penrith reunions – each one absolutely the very last… In his latter years, Geoff suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, but remained true to his principles until the end. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his very loving and devoted family in Hexham General Hospital on 27 September 2013. He is survived by his wife Anne, his four children, Caroline, John (76-81), Lizzie, and Matthew (78-88), and 11 grandchildren. By Matthew Orde (78-88)
The Orde brothers circa. 1940 (L-R) John (38-47), Geoff (40-49) and Denis (40-50)
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David Nicol Barclay (37-46) Born 11 February 1929, died 20 June 2013, aged 84
Architecture, and joined a general architectural practice in that city doing a large variety of work.
In the ’70s he joined the staff of RIBA, leading a study tour to David Barclay was born in visit the Munich Olympic site. He became director of practice Cambridge. He joined the Junior and was responsible for work in support of architects in School in J3 in 1937, when his father practice, relations with government, and the construction became minister of the Presbyterian industry. He retired in 1994. Church in North Shields, later becoming moderator of the He had a deep interest in music and enjoyed singing with the Presbyterian Church in England. London Bach Society including tours to Bulgaria and East Evacuated to Penrith in 1939, he Germany. Even in his final illness he found the strength to go was at one time billeted at to his much loved Covent Garden. He became a Guildsman Roundthorn, one of the houses at St Brides Church in Fleet Street, where a Memorial taken over by the school. He was always in the top form of Service was held. He was a Wandsman of St Paul’s his year. After School Certificate in 1944, he joined the Cathedral, later senior steward of the Worshipful Company Engineering sixth form and became a Senior Prefect, a of Chartered Architects, and a Freeman of the City of London. Sergeant in the JTC and Head of Collingwood House, winning the School Engineering Prize. He attended his year’s class reunions, the London ONA Dinners and was a member of the exclusive Northumbria After National Service, where he was commissioned into the Club (see page 3). Royal Artillery and served in the Suez Canal Zone, he went up to Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1949 with a large David was a charming man, immaculately dressed, a wry number of his school contemporaries, there he read sense of humour, a true gentleman of outstanding integrity. Architectural Studies, served on the May Ball Committee and He will be missed. sang in the College Chapel Choir. More importantly he met his future wife, Joan Steen, the daughter of a Mathematics By JC Emmerson (36-47) don. He completed his studies at the Birmingham School of
Dr Joseph ‘Joe’ Edward Gordon (44-49) Born 6 October 1933, died 19 June 2013, aged 79
Born into a medical family there was little doubt as to what Joe’s chosen career would be. After RGS; where Joe enjoyed all aspects of the social activities offered to the pupils; he studied medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Dublin and graduated in 1959. After graduating he came home from Ireland and completed two years of hospital appointments and one year of General Practice in Sunderland before returning to Seaton Burn to join his father’s practice. Dedicated to his profession he served on several medical committees striving for the improvement of medical care, believing in the National Health Service for the benefit of all. Living in a mining community Joe had a great admiration and understanding of the miners in this area, dealing with accidents underground and all related illnesses to the mining industry. Compassionate, kind and tolerant he took an interest in people and their lives far beyond the call of duty. Joe had a rare gift that enabled him to empathise with both young and old.
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Joe loved life and had many interests and hobbies: life was not all medical and being on call. His love of cars, from sleek sports cars and the open road to four-wheel drive. Boating and the wonderful Kielder Yacht Club where rain or shine magical times were spent on the water and travelling on holiday with lifelong friends. Joe had a great appreciation for music and was an accomplished pianist enjoying both classical music as well as jazz. He was always busy with a project in hand, an enthusiastic gardener, photographer and DIY man. Joe’s great passion was his family of which he was the heart. He was proud to have lived in The Villa, the house where he was born, all his life, a place where he found happiness and peace. He left General Practice in 1993 and enjoyed 20 wonderful years of retirement. Busy and happy years of great fulfilment with the marriages of his son and daughter and the births of his grandchildren. Joe is survived by Ann his wife of 52 years, his children Andrew and Deborah and four grandchildren, Hector McGowan (02-09), Hamish, Rosanna and Huw. Just before Joe went into hospital one evening we were together in the garden and Joe said, “I have had the most wonderful life, 80 happy years with blessings constantly showered upon us each day”. What more could one wish for? By Ann Gordon
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Obituaries Peter G Elphick MBE (29-37) Born 10 April 1920, died 23 October 2013, aged 93
Riding of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cornwall. In 1953 Peter moved back up to his native Newcastle and bought into an established firm of architects forming Mauchhlen, Weightman and Elphick. From 1959 to 1962 Peter was appointed to be the author of a Comprehensive Survey and Master Plan for the world’s first private enterprise New Town at Cramlington in Northumberland. Peter’s plan was confirmed by the then Minister of Housing and Local Government without any modification. Throughout his planning career he carried on a very successful private planning consultancy with a success rate in Public Appeals and Written Representations in excess of 75%. On one occasion he appealed an appeal decision at the High Court and won. He lectured to planning students at Newcastle University on planning appeals from the 1970s through to the end of the 1980s.
In conjunction with his successful planning services Peter developed his architecture business which continues today as MWE Architects. The firm was responsible for a wide range of projects including the relatively new concept of supermarkets for Laws Stores, shops, private and public sector housing, public and private sector schools, TA centres, pubs and hotels, sheltered housing, branches for banks and building societies and offices. His greatest passion and expertise lay in conservation and he was amongst the first post war conservation architects. In the 1950s, when it was not as fashionable as it is now, he Peter Elphick was very much a man of his time and whose fought for the retention of key historic parts of Newcastle life was underpinned by a strong belief in professional including Lovaine Place, the Royal Arcade, Victoria Square, fairness, honesty and integrity, qualities that he championed Windsor Crescent and Eldon Square that were all and exemplified throughout his private and professional life. decimated by the new Central Urban motorway. At that time Peter joined and invigorated the local amenity society, the He was educated at Akhurst and then the RGS. At the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, which was (and RGS he excelled in swimming and running and was on the remains) primarily concerned with the natural and built school cross-country running team for the 1936-37 season. environment. For many years he sat as Honorary Vice He won the Open Mile race in 1937. President of the Society for his efforts and contribution. At King’s College, Durham (based in Newcastle upon Tyne), Peter sat two parallel degrees, one in Architecture and one in the relatively young qualification of Town and Country Planning. He achieved distinctions in both degrees. His university studies were interrupted in mid-term by the War. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery and was initially stationed in London in charge of anti-aircraft guns based at Enfield, located in that area to defend the small arms factories during the 1941 Blitz.
Peter’s best conservation and restoration projects were the restoration of Cragside Mansion at Rothbury and Gibside Chapel for the National Trust, and three private houses: Cheeseburn Grange, Meldon Park, Morpeth and Beaufront Castle, Hexham. He produced a new design for the Northern Counties Club in Hood Street, Newcastle, set behind an existing façade in the pure Greek style of the Victorian architect John Dobson. This very traditionally designed project was commended in the national list of finalists for the Times/RICS Awards in 1972.
After qualifying in the late 1940s (he was one of the first jointly qualified architects and planners in the UK) Peter took up the post of senior planning officer at the Royal Burgh of Edinburgh. He then moved to be appointed to the position of chief executive at W Dobson Chapman and Partners where he prepared the Advisory Plan for the City of Dundee and acted for the East Cheshire Area of Cheshire County Council as a planning advisor to the counties of the West
In addition to his architectural and planning work Peter felt an obligation to ‘give something back’ to his profession and the business community. He represented the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) and the then Tyne and Wear Chamber of Commerce on Newcastle upon Tyne Council’s Conservation Area Advisory Committee from 1971. He sat as a member of the Council of the RIBA at Portland Place in London and was Chairman of their Professional Conduct
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Trevor Bourn (42-45) born 1931,
Committee at the very difficult time when the ‘Poulson Affair’ came to light. After ending his term dealing with conduct matters he later sat on the RIBA Performance Committee. He continued into his 70s as a professional practice advisor to the RIBA Northern Region. He helped set up and acted as an external examiner and lecturer to the Professional Practice course at the Department of Architecture at Newcastle University from the 1970s to 1989.
Peter Henry Dickinson MBE (31-39) born 1922, died 11June 2013, aged 90.
For his services to architecture he was awarded the MBE in 1993.
Raymond Dobson (27-37) born
He was appointed President of the Tyne and Wear (now North East) Chamber of Commerce from 1976 to 1978.
1919, died 7 June 2013, aged 93. At school he captained both the Cricket XI and 1st XV.
Latterly in life, Peter maintained a high level of fitness for his age and he played squash for the Northumberland County Veterans team (over 50) up to the age of 69. His recreational time was split into seasons: he rode with the Braes of Derwent hunt in winter and sailed his Lazer dinghy in his favourite tidal creeks around Burnham Overy Staithe in north Norfolk every summer. After the loss of his wife Judy, in 1993 he took up cooking by necessity but became most proficient and approached a recipe as he would expect a builder to follow his detailed specifications. Peter is survived by his daughter, Anne and his son, Richard and four grandchildren, Christopher, Peter, Clem and Rupert.
died 5 November 2013, aged 81. He played both cricket and rugby for Northumberland.
W Ray Eden (32-36) born 1921, died
20 January 2014, aged 92. Kenneth Norman Green (37-39) born 1925, died 24 July 2013, aged 88. John Stewart Green (44-50) born
1932, died 3 November 2009, aged 77. Kenneth Thompson Hall (33-38)
born 1923, died 21 May 2013, aged 90.
By Richard G Elphick Ephraim Hall Robson (38-39) born
Robert ‘Bob’ Douglas (48-56)
1926, died 3 August 2013, aged 86.
Born 30 March 1937, died 20 June 2013, aged 76
Michael Thomas Ryle (36-46)
I would like to add to Don Buchanan’s (48-56) obituary (see issue 89) since Bobby Douglas was a close friend of Phil Brantingham (51-56) and me outside school. We lived close to one another, with another circle of friends. Bobby was an outstanding example of the value of the Direct Grant Grammar School system. His parents were working class Tory, living in a council pre-fab near Four Lane Ends. He passed the RGS entrance and was able to transfer his 11+ scholarship, got his cross-country colours, became Head Boy, went up to Oxford and became an outstanding deputy head in the state system. By Gordon Hutt (46-57 )
Clifford Vernon Walters (48-55)
born 1927, died 7 December 2013, aged 86. Kenneth Turnbull Sawyers (32-43)
born 1924, died 24 November 2013, aged 89. Donald Kirkpatrick Smith (32-39) born 1920, died 30 September 2012, aged 92 (see issue 88). Bryan Stevens (44-49) writes: ‘A notable athlete at school; he was in the 1st XI, 1st XV, the Tennis VI and captain of boxing. He gained a boxing blue at Cambridge’.
Born 4 December 1936, died 29 August 2013, aged 76
It is with deep sadness that I inform you of my husband’s death. He attended the RGS 1948-1955, representing the school at boxing, cricket and rugby. He subsequently served in the Overseas Civil Service in Northern Rhodesia, studied for a degree in History and Politics at York University and was a brilliant schoolmaster, and housemaster in Woodbridge School, Suffolk, St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown, South Africa, and latterly at King William’s College on the Isle of Man. He is the adored father of our children, Catherine and Thomas, and the dearly loved grandfather to five grandsons. He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him. By Rosemary Walters
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Robert Harley Taylor (36-40) born 1928, died 9 November 2013, aged 85. Paul Lazlo Torday (54-64) born 1946,
died 18 December 2013, aged 67. Arthur Ian Tweddle Walker (44-46) born 1929, died 21 January 2013, aged 83. Geoffrey Bruce Wheeler (45-48)
born 1930, died 30 December 2013, aged 83.
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ONA Diary dates
London ONA Annual Dinner Friday 14 March 2014 Guest Speaker: Timothy Kirkhope MEP (53-62)
Netball Match ONA v RGS 1st VII Saturday 29 March, RGS at 11:00am
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural ONA v RGS Netball match, female ONs will take on the RGS 1st VII Senior Girls’ Netball team again this year. If you are interested in playing, please contact ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk. Your support would also be most welcome if you wish to come along and cheer on this year’s ONA team!
British politician, former governor of the RGS and former President of the ONA, Timothy Kirkhope MEP (53-62) will speak at the Dinner sharing insights into his political career to date. He is the Conservative MEP for Yorkshire and The Humber, Co-ordinator and Conservative Spokesman for Justice and Home Affairs, Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Organised Crime, and Member of the Culture and Education Committee in the European Parliament. He works in Europe for Yorkshire and The Humber. Timothy, a lawyer, lives in Harrogate and was formerly a partner in a Newcastle legal practice. He holds a pilot’s licence. Friday 14 March 2014 at the RAF Club. Please see details on the ONA website at http://ona.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/ news-and-events.aspx or telephone the Development Office on 0191 212 8909 for further details. Deadline for reservations is
Friday 28 February 2014. Price £50/£40 (£40 if aged 30 or younger, or 80 or over).
The Royal Grammar School Masonic Lodge Meets monthly, October to March (except January) The RGS Masonic Lodge was founded in 1956 and meets each month from October to March (exc. January) within the school’s premises. Anyone requiring information on membership should contact the Hon. Secretary David Powell (59-64), telephone: 0191 285 9292, email: davidxpowell@btinternet.com
Senior Choir & RGS Community Choir Performance Early May Following the restoration of the school organ last summer (see page 3), the Senior Choir will be performing Haydn’s Little Organ Mass (Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo/Kleine Orgelmesse) at a concert in early May. Old Novos, RGS staff, parents and friends who enjoy singing will also be participating in this concert alongside our Senior Choir in the form of an RGS Community Choir.