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

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.

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.

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)

Photographs kindly supplied by Malcolm Lightbown

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 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.

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).