ONA 92

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Picture Perfect Will Nicholls (06-13) describes his passion for photography and his trip to Cambodia Also in this issue: Volunteering in Cape Town | RGS in Three Generations | Reality Bites

Issue 92 | Autumn 2014

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ONA Magazine Issue 92 Autumn 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 Spring 2015 issue is 8 December 2014.

Copy may be carried over to a future issue.

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 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.

Cover image: Courtesy of Will Nicholls ww.willnicholls.co.uk 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 Double Celebration Reminiscences of an Old Novo Picture Perfect A History of the RGS in Its People Volunteering in Cape Town Reality Bites RGS in Three Generations Obituaries

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Welcome

“The Finest School in the North”.

For a change, these aren’t my words, they are taken from the Sunday Times but it’s always nice to hear when someone shares your opinions! Once again, the students of the RGS have delivered a remarkable set of results at both A Level and GCSE. It is important to recognise, however, that this is also an achievement for the staff, so on behalf of the Association, I’d like to congratulate all involved for yet another tremendous year for the ‘School in the North’.

As my two year tenure as President comes to an end, it’s comforting to know that the school is as good as ever and I’d like to think the Association is too. We continue to be inundated with correspondence from our membership, including John Newlands (58-69) who provides an account of his father Jimmy Newlands (33-39), a recipient of the Arctic Star Medal for services above the Arctic Circle in World War II. We are also lucky enough to have heard from Peter Binder (46-49), perhaps the first German student of the RGS. And for the budding photographers amongst us, don’t miss pages 8 and 9 where we hear from multi-award-winning photographer, Will Nicholls (06-13).

This year’s Annual Dinner in Newcastle, to be held on 17 October, is a great opportunity to return to the alma mater, enjoy some excellent food prepared by Catering Manager Barrie Bulch and, of course, have a few drinks with a few old pals. If you need any further encouragement, then this year will be particularly special; as the nation remembers those who both risked and gave their lives during World War I, so too does the school and in conjunction with the ONA, there will be a short preview of a memorial concert, which will be held on 1 May 2015.

Before I close my final President’s Welcome, I must mention a few special thanks, particularly to Jane Medcalf, who started supporting the committee as I became President and has, amongst many other things, helped to organise two fantastic reunions. I’d also like to thank my Vice-Presidents, Chris Rutter (92-02) and Chris Wilson (97-02), and former President David Goldwater (51-62) for their time and effort over the past two years. It’s extremely beneficial having that support, particularly from former Presidents like David, so I will be sure to offer mine to those who follow me.

Enjoy the Magazine!

David Westwood (95-02) ONA President

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Autumn 2014

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News and Congratulations We are delighted to have heard recently from…

Iain Herdman (66-76) and Nigel Paton (66-76) from my own year and Paul Gibson (67-77) and Ian Severs (67-77)

from the year below. Paul, Ian and I had a ‘best men’ pact which saw us each do the honours for each other over the years, a plot hatched over a great deal of beer and a toss of the coin in a pub in Leeds in 1982.

I remain a loyal follower of NUFC despite the current shambles and a student (rather more studying than in the old days as some will recall) of the turf (currently taking a break from pouring money into a pit having previously had shares in some National Hunt horses with varying degrees of success).

If timing permits I hope to make the next London dinner as it is now very much within striking distance, hopefully to meet up with friends old and new.

From L-R: Chris Roythorne (54-64), Judy Roythorne, Gillian

Alan Castree (53-61) writes: My wife Catherine and I have

McKinlay, Mary Franks and Peter ‘Nod’ Dinely (58-64)

completed 51 happy years of marriage, have two lovely married daughters and two super grandsons. I was assistant chief constable in Greater Manchester, where I was also chairman of Sale Rugby Club, then commissioner of police in Gibraltar for five years. These were two very different locations and each had its own particular problems.

Following that I was an overseas policing adviser to both the Foreign Office and the European Union for another five years.

David McKinlay (56-64) who wrote: The 1964 Biology 6th

had a 2nd reunion at Wood Hall, Cockermouth, 16-19 May. Wood Hall is a fabulous house in a Thomas Mawson garden owned by Doug Trotter’s son and available for hire. Doug Trotter (54-64), Chris Roythorne (54-64), Peter ‘Nod’ Dinely (58-64), Mike Rennie (54-64), David Franks (54-65) and David McKinlay and partners were able to meet.

David Brown (57-65) and Ann Brown were abroad and David Tomlinson (54-64) and Betty Tomlinson were prevented from attending at the last minute by sickness.

On the Saturday night we had a ’60s themed evening (see photo) won by Doug and Carol as Ozzie Osborne and Biba. We all still get on amazingly well and future events are proposed.

Michael Ord (66-76) writes: After 33 years working as a

solicitor, mainly in Newcastle I left /retired from private practice in 2013 to take up a full time position as an employment judge in the East Anglia region, based in Huntingdon, but also sitting in Bedford, Bury St. Edmunds and Norwich, when required. Having lived and worked in the North East for pretty much all of my previous 55 years this is a rather exciting personal move. I took up my appointment in May 2013 and almost exactly a year later completed our house move (reverting to a bachelor life for 12 months was less attractive than it sounds).

Allison and I were married in 1983. Sons, Stephen Ord (95-02) and David Ord (94-04) are now respectively teaching in Newcastle and banking in Edinburgh, whilst daughter Josie is reading Geography at Edinburgh. I remain in close contact with a number of old school friends, in particular Michael Harle (66-76), Peter Milburn (69-76),

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On retirement, I enrolled at King’s College, London for three years and gained a degree in Theology. I indulge in a bit of scribbling and have the occasional success with publication, notably in natural history magazines, as well as assisting the British Trust for Ornithology. I added a qualification as a cricket umpire to my later sports involvements and umpired in the Surrey Premier League, maintaining my interest in rugby.

I am now studying for a Master’s degree in the Psychology of Religion at Heythrop College, University of London.

Alan Castree (53-61)

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ONA v RGS 1st VII Netball

By Kate Jarvis (02-04)

Our congratulations go to…

Niall Flannery (99-09) who just missed out on a medal

at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games when he competed in the Men’s 400m Hurdles final.

James Penn (99-09) who achieved a 1st Class Triple Honours in Modern Languages (French and Spanish) with International Relations from St Andrew’s University. He was also awarded a Dean’s Award for sustained academic excellence.

Ben Pearson-Stuttard (08-10) who also achieved a First

Class degree in Medicine from St Andrew’s University. He now continues his degree in Medicine at Glasgow University.

Angus Walker (08-10) who gradated this year with a 1st in

Psychology from Edinburgh University, also winning the British Psychology Society (BPS) undergraduate award for highest overall grade at his university.

Georgina Orife (née Cook) (02-04) and Ray Orife

(99-03) who were married in August. We wish them all the very best for their future together.

Harry Goodwin (11-13) Politics undergraduate at Durham

University, who has just been announced as the winner of the innovation category in the prestigious Jack Wills Young Brits competition, backed by i. Harry competed against more than 2,300 16-25 year old UK applicants in a competition in search of the brightest new talent in the arts, enterprise, endurance and innovation. Harry is the creator and editor of the website Omnipolitical (www.omnipolitical. com), using the internet and social media to engage young people in politics and debate. As winner of the innovation category, Harry’s achievements will earn him a cash reward of £5,000 and professional mentoring from one of the Judges, Olivia Solon, writer and editor specialising in technology, science, startups and digital culture.

Harry Goodwin (11-13)

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Autumn 2014

From L-R: ONA Netball team: Holly Clark (06-13), Alex Jordon (02-04), Hettie Williams (06-13), Kristen Hartley (06-13), Natalie Twaddle (07-09), Sally Squires (02-04), Amanda Williams (05-07)

Saturday 29 March 2014 saw the second annual ONA Netball match, which took place in the RGS Sports Hall – a vast improvement on the frozen, windswept hard play area of the previous year. Not only this, but there were several new faces to join the ONA team and most pleasing was the fact that they were all talented netballers in their own right.

It was clear from the beginning of the match that both teams were closely matched in terms of ability and by the end of the first quarter, the RGS 1st VII were winning by only a small margin at 6-5. Due to some excellent shooting skills from Holly Clark (06-13) (GA) and Natalie Twaddle (07-09) (GS) this quickly changed and by the end of the second quarter, the ONA team were leading with 7 goals to 6. Superb defending by Hettie Williams (06-13) (GD) maintained this lead at the end of the third quarter with 20 goals to 19 and the team were in high spirits.

Overall the match was extremely close, and it must be noted that due to a shortage of players on the RGS 1st VII some of the current RGS Games staff were drafted in throughout the match thus compromising the fairness of the team selection!

All of the ONA players showed superb skill and determination to have our first victory and the team camaraderie was also excellent. It must also be noted that having played seven-minute quarters the year before due to inclement conditions, these quarters were all 15 minutes long and of an extremely high standard. Unfortunately, several goals from the RGS 1st VII in the closing minute of the game saw them win the game with a final score of 25-24.

My thanks go out to everyone who gave up their Saturday morning to play for either team and to Miss Smith and Mrs Harvey at RGS for umpiring. Third time lucky for a victory next year…

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ONA Now and Then central part of the Performing Arts Centre in his honour: it is now The Miller Theatre.

tortured into making false confessions.

His ‘confession’, clumsily transcribed by his captors, describes an entirely fictitious history as a CIA agent. He was among I was delighted to witness one of those many thousands executed, a small rare and momentous occasions when individual tragedy that brings home to us three generations of RGS boys visited the monstrosity and evil of that regime. It school together. Walter Wood (37-44) and his son Simon (72-77) joined Walter’s has been suggested that we should create grandson, Edwin (current Upper Sixth and some kind of memorial to John Dawson Dewhirst: it’s hard to know what would be a Senior Prefect) (see page 15). ONA Committee member and former President appropriate, and we are certainly open to suggestions, particularly perhaps from David Goldwater (51-62) presented the ONs who knew him. previous issue of the ONA Magazine to Walter. Walter described being much inspired by the ‘brilliant’ Michael Roberts I’ll close with one last bit of, fortunately How good it is to see happier, history. It was marvellous to hear (24-31 and 34-41) (see issue 91): that the ONA Magazine ‘inspiring, unique and eccentric’ teacher of the now fully-restored organ (which is, of the ’30s and ’40s gave David the impetus course, a war memorial) in use in the May becoming fatter and performance of Haydn’s Little Organ Mass. and motivation to continue his search of fuller with every issue!

We hope we’ll make good use of the The History of the RGS in its People I’m grateful to the organ now it’s working again, though we series (see page 10). don’t sing hymns in assembly nowadays: ever-increasing number the instrument has been acknowledged It was my pleasure to get to know W Ray of ONs ready and willing Eden (32-37) as a friend, and my sorrow by The British Institute of Organ Studies.

A failed organist myself, I must add that it to mourn his loss at the start of the year. to contribute material. really does sound well now it’s in full Ray was another of those ONs (so many of them!) who was larger than life, full of fun working order.

My colleague Jane Medcalf heroically tries and humour, and great company. In his last And that’s just a snapshot of this to pack in as many of the offerings as she couple of years we’d formed the habit of magazine’s contents! My thanks to all can: but we hope you will be patient if it meeting up at the Cherry Tree for dinner takes a while to get them all in. It’s a nice and jazz: but I know that my wife and I were contributors and to all who continue to support their old school: and I hope problem to have, though, and we welcome just part of a huge circle of Ray’s friends it and thank you. with whom he developed various cheerful to see many of you at October’s ONA and sociable activities in order to maintain Dinner at the school, or at the London event in March.

In this issue I’ve enjoyed something of and build friendships. He was a very a dialogue with my pre-predecessor, special man whom we miss.

Bernard Trafford Alister Cox (72-94) (see opposite) (who, Headmaster incidentally, celebrated his 80th birthday Earlier this year we received news of the recently: congratulations to him!) strange and disturbing decades-old tragedy that befell one ON. The state of I’ve also been able to witness some of the Cambodia is coming to terms with its terrible history of the ’60s and ’70s under events recorded in these pages. Wildlife the regime of the infamous Pol Pot and his photographer Will Nicholls (06-13) only ‘killing fields’. Bravely facing its darker past, left the school a year ago, so I had the that nation is creating museums and pleasure of seeing him develop (and win memorials to the victims. several awards) in his specialist field: his work is outstanding.

Among them, we have discovered, was In July I was also privileged to invite my John Dawson Dewhirst (61-64), who left predecessor James Miller (94-08), back the RGS in 1964. He was one of a to the RGS so that we could rename the number of westerners captured and

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ONA Now and Then A letter from Alister Cox Headmaster 1972-1994 5th March 2014

I

read with huge interest the piece in the latest ONA Magazine by one of the original guinea-pigs of the socalled Flyers system (or should it be Fliers?) – and the accompanying remarks by Bemard Trafford, another product (so we learn) of the same accelerated promotion. I nearly said ‘victim’, but who am I to pass such judgement on one who has reached the dizzying heights of Headmastership of the RGS? I do however note that he echoes Stephen Forster’s (63-69) conclusion that the price paid by some of those chosen for such acceleration was a certain ‘immaturity’ at the next stage of their onward progress.

Stephen perhaps rightly dubs it an ‘experiment’, and adds that he doesn’t know ‘how long it lasted’.

I can claim to know the answer and hope that the following notes from the depths of France (where I have now spent 20 happy years) will be of interest to ONs and others.

It goes back to discussions I had with my new colleagues when I started at the RGS in the autumn of 1972. I was beginning to learn that change was in the air, and that I would be one of the vehicles of it, and I can quote with some precision the note I received from a colleague whose views I had quickly learned to value: ‘Now that you’ve agreed to so many timely changes could you add one other – the abandonment of the Fliers stream?’ Having no fixed views on the subject, I listened hard to all the pros and cons – the latter including a welter of ‘educational and administrative problems’, as Stephen Forster seems to have fully understood, perhaps through being himself the ‘victim’ of several of them. It was easy to conclude that the system, if it ever had merits, had run its course – and I simply implemented what

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Autumn 2014

The Flyers, 1969

show me around, and he had the grace and good-humour to tell me at once the undiluted truth. Young readers of this may be less amused than appalled by this glimpse of the past: fancy a school’s In view of the accumulated evidence of its demerits I remember asking what expected academic reputation depending on the ‘merits’ it was supposed to deliver, and the award of Oxbridge scholarships! It worried me at the time, and I did my bit in the answer came in terms of academic coming years to widen the criteria for such excellence as judged by the criterion of judgements. I knew for example that some Oxbridge entry. That was the era when bright students stayed on post-A Level for of our brightest students felt significantly un-impelled to try for them. that particular high-flying aim (note the recurring imagery!), exactly as did Stephen Stephen’s comments are so evocative of Forster himself, and I was ‘warned’ by my that period. Yes, in the Sixties life in the more cautious colleagues that our RGS Senior School had started with Form Oxbridge results might suffer in seven 2: the Fliers had to fill out what was called years’ time, which in fact they didn’t. But the disadvantages of ‘immaturity’ showed 2.1, and were next year expected to leap beyond the so-called ‘Removes’, which themselves from the very start in this race were only for ordinary mortals; others in to precocious achievement – except of Form 2 were in stratified classes below course for those who suffered the alternative disadvantage of being dropped them. The abolition of the Fliers stream back in mid-course: Stephen Forster says (as from 1973, to be precise) was immediately accompanied by other it all, and I await with him the thoughts of others who knew the system and may have reforms, which we never had reason to regret. To the lovely logic of starting with things to say on both sides of the debate. a Form 1 we added an insistence that it would consist of four un-streamed classes, There was one amusingly useful PR and we proclaimed this fact by attaching outcome of the launch of this system in to each a House alignment, daring anyone 1963. You have only to imagine its effect precisely seven years later on the Oxbridge to argue that 1C and 1E and 1H and 1S were anything other than academically results: the new generation of Flyers will equal. I remember recognising that a bonus have made their bid simultaneously with in this was the underpinning of that valued the high-flying products of the year ahead commodity known as ‘House-spirit’ of them. Not only did this deliver an (committed though it may be to the idea unprecedented score in 1969, but this of non-equality!) On this I read with came just in time to be included in a chart of the latest ‘Oxbridge results’ in the third of fascination Bernard Trafford’s comments in this same rich issue of the ONA Anthony Sampson’s studies of the Anatomy of Britain. This came out in 1971 Magazine. He’s so right to doubt that ‘50 years ago’ (but make that 40!) ‘face-paints and told the world that RGS Newcastle was currently the No. 1 winner of Oxbridge in House colours would have been encouraged’. We had not even imagined Awards! And that was nicely in time to such things in that dull old world! impress candidates for the soon-to-bevacant Headship. I commented about it to the member of staff whose job was to Alister Cox (72-94) had become the considered collective view of the staff who had lived with it for a decade.

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Double Celebration Arctic Star Medal Ceremony and 90th Birthday Party

By John Newlands (58-69)

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y father James ‘Jimmy’ Newlands (33-39) was born in 1924 and attended RGS, but left early to serve in the Second World War. As a young Hostilities Only (HO) rating he served in HMS Kent on the Russian Arctic convoys, sailing from Liverpool.

This essential war effort involved sub-zero conditions, the endless task of keeping the upper deck ice-free and, in my father’s case being ‘battened down’ in the shell room at Actions Stations.

Jimmy was then selected for seaman officer training and, as a 19-year old Midshipman, to command a landing craft during the D-Day landings in June 1944.

After the war he returned to the North East to run the family clothing and retail business, J Newlands & Sons, retiring in 1989. An avid rugby supporter and past player, both at RGS and after the war, he captained Tynedale RFC in the early ’50s and played for Northumberland as hooker on several occasions. He now lives in a nursing home in Ryton, Tyne and Wear.

This year, the UK Government decided to act at last and approve a medal for those who had served in the Russian Arctic convoys. It was with great pride and happiness therefore that a sizeable gathering of family and friends witnessed Jimmy being presented

with the Arctic Star, at a ceremony alongside HMS Mersey at North Shields on his 90th birthday on 27 June. The medal was presented by Lieutenant Commander David Gillett R.N., Commanding Officer, HMS Mersey.

It meant a great deal to my father that he was able to receive his medal in the presence not just of serving men and women from today’s Royal Navy, but of a contingent from the RGS that included the Headmaster Bernard Trafford and a small contingent of students, in uniform, from the Combined Cadet Force. My brother Andrew and his family were also able to attend, having travelled from the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our thoughts went out to Alex (66-69), our younger brother, who attended RGS, but who died in 2002 following a diabetes-related illness.

I have only recently returned to the North East myself and now live in South Gosforth. I served in the Royal Navy as a Weapon Engineer Officer, retiring in 1994. For the last 20 years I have worked in the financial sector as an analyst and am now head of investment companies research at Brewin Dolphin, dividing my time between the firm’s London and Newcastle offices.

It is wonderful to be back in the home of the RGS and of the Magpies.

Above: Jimmy with his great, great nephew Anthony Wetherell (Year 10) Left: RGS Contingent: Mansel Wetherell (80-85), Lucy Barnard (CCF), Lucy Ellerton (Year 12) (CCF), John Newlands (58-69), Jimmy Newlands (33-39), Anthony Wetherell (Year 10), Bernard Trafford (Headmaster) Far Left: Jimmy’s Arctic Star Medal

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Reminiscences of an Old Novo I believe I was the first German boy who joined the RGS after World War II in 1946, having arrived from Germany in March of that year. By Peter Binder (46-49)

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y father was half Jewish and had left Germany in 1938. He was invited by the UK Government to set up a manufacture of steel radiators based on his patents in Washington, Co. Durham.

Although mother and I prepared to join him, we were stranded in Germany for the duration of the war.

It was not until the last year of the war that the Nazi Youth hierarchy discovered that I was quarter Jewish and disowned me as non-aryan, although I had been confirmed in the Lutheran Church and mother was a protestant vicar’s daughter.

In order to avoid unpleasantness mother took rapid action by moving us to a farm in the Black Forest and not returning to Wiesbaden until sometime before Generals Patton and Omar Bradley had surrounded the area.

My school days were spent at the Humanistische Gymnasium in Wiesbaden. My subjects included Greek, Latin and English, which helped me to pass the strict

Right: School Prefects, 1949 Below: On East/West German border patrol, 1961

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Autumn 2014

interview with Dr ER Thomas. After Matriculation and Higher School Certificate I left RGS in 1949. With my father’s naturalization I became subject to the National Service Act in December 1949.

Returning to Germany in 1950 as a subaltern in the Royal Artillery may be of interest to other Old Novos of the Cold War generation (see photograph below).

If you would like to read a fuller account of my experiences, please visit the ONA website at http://ona.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/

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Picture Perfect Will Nicholls (06-13) describes his passion for photography and his trip to Cambodia.

Above: Will’s award-winning photo earning him the title Young British Wildlife Photographer, under 18 category winner: Red Squirrel, Kielder Forest, Northumberland Below: Immature Little Owl

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hen I first joined the RGS in 2007, I had just moved from Newcastle to the Northumberland countryside. The move into a more rural setting left me surrounded by the natural world, making a welcome change from the pub I used to live opposite. It is not surprising then that I quickly developed an interest in wildlife, and subsequently wildlife photography.

Having managed to buy myself a very basic camera, I began to take photos of everything I could see around me. At the time I thought my photos were fantastic, but in fact they were very poor! Luckily, I didn’t think that at the time, and continued to snap away whenever I could. Kielder Forest is not too far from where I live, and I used to make regular trips to the hide there to photograph the red squirrels. This endangered mammal is extremely popular nowadays in the UK, and I was privileged to be able to take photos of them regularly.

Once my photography had improved, I was encouraged to enter the British Wildlife Photography Awards in 2009. This was the first year the competition had run, and it is now an extremely prestigious event in the wildlife photography calendar. To my amazement, I was awarded the title of Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year! At the time, I wasn’t keen on the image that won me the award, and it was my parents that made sure I entered it.

With my confidence boosted, I knew that photography was something I should definitely stick at. It is a great hobby, as it gives you a perfect excuse to get outdoors and get fresh air.

Nowadays, my hobby has turned into a profession. I have been involved in the business side of my photography for around six years, but I would class myself as a professional for the last three or four years.

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I have known for a while that this is the field I wish to remain in for the rest of my life. My ambitions are to become a natural history documentary film-maker and presenter. Of course, this is a very competitive field, but someone has to do it! I love the natural world, and so I am studying Zoology at the University of Exeter. Gaining a scientific background to back up the observations I make in the field is ideal for getting into the television industry.

This was amazing, as it was only one kilometre from camp.

I then told my guide that I wanted to track them down, despite the dangers. He agreed, and we prepared to go tracking the next day. We followed huge footprints through the mud for over four kilometres, until suddenly there was a huge roar from around 400 metres in front of us. Adrenaline began pumping, as we knew we were close. These elephants can move very fast, and the bamboo we have to spend time hacking through with machetes is no difficulty for an elephant to trample through.

To further this ambition, I embarked on a solo expedition to Cambodia at the end of 2013 whilst I was on my gap year.

Using connections I had made whilst networking, I managed to gain access to protected scientific sites in the forest.

Cambodia has the seventh fastest rate of deforestation in the world – a shocking statistic. My aim was to create a film documenting the animals there and my efforts to see them.

We got closer, and suddenly could hear the footsteps crashing through the undergrowth in front of us. We ran silently, moving so the wind was in our favour. The guide pointed to a tree and said “rot”, which means run in Khmer.

This was where we were to go if the elephants charged.

Soon enough, trees began to fall and I caught glimpses of the huge backs of Asian Elephants moving through the trees.

I have never seen anything so amazing! After a little time, they However, my plans were soon scuppered by the severity of the situation the country’s wildlife faces. One location I visited suddenly charged, having smelt us. Thankfully, they were running away instead of at us! was a research post deep in the forest in north east Cambodia. I was based there for two weeks, with the aim of After this incredible experience, we returned to the salt lick filming langurs and other primates. Unfortunately, all I could a few days later to check the trail cameras once more. hear for the entire duration was the sound of chainsaws.

I spotted tracks just 50 metres from our hammocks, showing The charity that was supposed to be looking after the area was employing someone who was cutting down the forest at that the herd had moved right through our camp in the middle of the night without us knowing! The signs were night himself, and they were turning a blind eye to the area. looking promising for results on the cameras. To my joy, the I pointed this out to the director, who had given me access, cameras had picked up several shots of the elephant herd, but they began to panic that I had a camera and could including video footage of young elephants. expose the situation. So, I was quickly forced to leave the area and had to abandon that stretch of the expedition.

This expedition proved to me that exploration and natural Why haven’t I done anything about this since? Well, if I were history film-making is definitely what I want to be involved in.

I love adventure and jungle environments; living amongst the to somehow name and shame the organisation, they could sound of cicadas makes me feel at home, however weird that face being kicked out of the country altogether – or so they may sound! told me – which would be very bad for the wildlife. Whilst they could be doing things a lot better it seems, no charity at all would leave a huge part of the country unprotected.

Top: Film capture from a low resolution motion detector camera of young Asian Elephants

So, I moved on to a new area: the bamboo forests in central Cambodia. I accessed this area by motorbike, driving through a foot of mud or more and taking almost five hours to travel just 10 kilometres. Having never ridden a motorbike before, I am very pleased that my mum was not there to see it! Crashing the bike a few times thanks to fallen trees, rocks and steep drops left me surprisingly un-battered.

This stage of the expedition consisted of myself and a forest guide moving through the forest to try and film the incredibly amazing, but dangerous, Asian Elephants. We soon came across fresh droppings from an elephant, giving an encouraging sign for the next week to come. We lived in the forest, sleeping in hammocks between the trees and falling asleep to the sound of elephants calling through the night over many kilometres. I quickly picked up some of the Khmer language (as my guide spoke very little English), and I could converse about the distance to the elephants.

I set up motion-activated cameras at salt licks, where various animals come to benefit from the minerals in the ground, and after the first night they picked up the rear-end of an elephant!

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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine Autumn 2014

Bottom: Film still of a Silvered Langur, photographed in Cambodia

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A HISTORY OF THE RGS IN ITS PEOPLE

by David Goldwater (51-62)

In recent issues, we have concentrated on individuals who have left their mark on the school and much interest has been stimulated as ONs have recalled their own personal recollections of notable staff and pupils.

So regular have been the messages to Jane in the ON office and to myself, we thought it might be interesting at this point to recall some of this feedback. It also serves the purpose of connecting more ONs to the readership at large, numbering a surprising 5,500+. After all, what is the purpose of the ONA Magazine, if not to connect our membership to our readers?

Sydney ‘Sammy’ Middlebrook (18-58), Senior History Master and Second Master (from 1950)

David Selley (52-57), now living in Toronto enjoyed recalling Thomas Tucker Anderson (24-60), OW Mitchell (48-60) (see issue 86) and ‘Ma’ Steven (31-56) (issue 89). He remembers OWM sweeping into the classroom clutching his gown around him. David suggested an article on ‘his hero and mentor’ Sydney ‘Sammy’ Middlebrook (18-58), Senior History Master and Second Master (from 1950). Christopher Dean (45-53) recommended a piece on his father, George ‘Dixie’ Dean (24-67), who succeeded ‘Sammy’ as Second Master in 1958.

May I appeal to as many readers as possible to send in their recollections of these two fine men who exemplified the best in RGS educational standards (email ONA office: ona@rgs. newcastle.sch.uk).

Colin Young (68-75) acknowledged the piece on John Elders (57-82)(issue 87): Good to see the old school doing so well. I particularly enjoyed the piece about John Elders in the current edition.

Without doubt the most inspirational teacher I had in my time at the RGS – a great leader who always found time to encourage you to aspire to a higher level than you believed you could achieve and, who helped you get there.

Jim Reed (33-40), whose passing at 91 is sadly noted in the last issue (issue 91), remembered ‘Ma’ Jean Steven (issue 89) as ‘a formidable woman’. His son Bill, who would read the magazine to him, recalled his Dad’s friendship with Gordon Victor Smales (34-40), three of the four Tulloh brothers, Frank (34-41), Clifford (35-41) and Harold (35-41) and his time at Penrith. Keith Phillips (53-62) remembered her

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huge brass bell and described her as ‘a bit like Peggy Mount with a hairnet’.

But the most surprising contact was with ‘a near, but not quite’ Old Novo, Robin Ainsworth, daughter of the inspirational Jack Wolstenholme (48-75), (issue 88). Robin’s aunt and Jack’s cousin was Clara Teunon (57-72), who took over from ‘Ma’ Steven in the mid-’50s. She wrote that she is in occasional touch with Brian Varley (55-63), organist and chamber choir conductor at St Andrew’s, Bishop Auckland.

Since the last issue, there has been an amazing reaction from what turned out to be a very popular piece on the late Michael Roberts (25-31 and 34-41), the accuracy of which was underwritten by his sons, particularly the renowned Sir Adam Roberts, Emeritus Professor of International Relations at Balliol College, Oxford. He was born in Penrith in 1940 and lists mountaineering and cycling amongst his interests, so though not an ON, there certainly is a connection to the RGS of that time.

Brigadier Arthur Dowell (36-43), head of Eldon and captain of cricket 1943 writes of Michael Roberts: ‘in addition to taking chemistry lessons, he spent the first term of our school certificate year running an improvised Stock Exchange.

We bought and sold shares in fictitious companies with names like ‘Aluminium Aircraft’, ‘Bread and Butter Ltd.’, ‘Everyday Appliances’ etc.

I don’t think anyone made a fortune, but it was fun and his confidence in us was not misplaced: we all achieved good passes after two terms instruction, rather than three!’

Arthur also remembered Geoffrey Wheeler (45-48), whose obituary appeared in the last issue. ‘After leaving school in 1943, I spent most of the year on a wartime short course at New College, Oxford. There followed officer training in India and commissioning into the Royal Signals in July 1945. Then came the rather unexpected end to the war after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki…and there followed two idyllic years in Ceylon and six months in Burma…then, on my return to the UK in early 1948, a staff posting as a staff officer in Catterick, sharing an office with Geoff who was doing his National Service in the RAEC.’ Through his friendship with Geoff after the War at Catterick and his introduction to the Catterick Amateur Dramatic Society, Arthur met his future wife of 56 years and he and Geoff remained good friends throughout the years. Arthur also sent his good wishes to his school friends John Sinson (33-43) and Allan Wilson (36-43).

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It was a great surprise to have heard through LinkedIn from Simon Chester (57-67), a former partner with a Law firm in Toronto, Canada, now advising the Canadian Bar Association on Conflicts of Interest. In his final year at school, Simon was ‘Plender Librarian’ – one of the discoveries [he] made in that period, in locked cupboards under the main shelves, was Michael Roberts’ collections of poetry and magazines from the ’30s and ’40s’. He noted that reading the small magazines and volumes gave him a different view of the Spanish Civil War and the advance to WWll. Frank Simm (36-43) is one of those who originally suggested a piece on Michael Roberts. Frank described him as ‘inspirational…’

He also wrote of the mock Stock Exchange in almost identical terms to his contemporary Arthur Dowell. ‘Nuclear fission of heavy atoms had recently been achieved and [Roberts] explained how in accordance with Einstein’s equation E=mc2, there was the potential for a massive release of thermal energy and the possibility of an atomic bomb. Few realized this at the time.’ But the main ‘agitation’ for an article on this unique teacher has come from Walter Wood (37-44), who came in to school with his son and grandson, Simon (72-77) and Edwin (Year 13), reported on page 15 of this issue.

Please note the request for recollections of Sydney ‘Sammy’ Middlebrook and George ‘Dixie’ Dean. By post, e-mail (see above) or any other suitable method, noting the deadline for the next issue!

George Dean (24-67), Science Master and Second Master (from 1958)

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Volunteering in Cape Town

By Kirsten Clunies-Ross (07-09)

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fter graduating from Edinburgh, I decided to take a year out to travel and develop my skills before starting my career. A couple of my friends had previously taken part in the International Citizen Service (ICS) in Honduras and India and encouraged me to apply. After a simple online questionnaire and selection day, I was informed that I was successful and would be placed in Cape Town, South Africa in April for 10 weeks.

ICS is a UK Government charity that works in partnership with local charities internationally, promoting international development, cross-cultural exchange and strengthening global ties. There are a number of UK charities that work under ICS and I was chosen by Skillshare International, Coaching For Hope. This particular charity facilitates international development by using sport as a tool to teach children life skills and combat drug abuse, gangsterism and various other ‘social evils’ prevalent within their communities.

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Thirteen other UK volunteers, aged 18-23 joined me on the project. Within the first few days of arrival, we were separated into five different communities, each of us volunteering for a different local charity focusing on either sport, education or disability.

One other UK volunteer was placed with me in Mitchell’s Plain. We lived with a local family, which helped us to integrate into the community. During the apartheid, ‘whites, coloureds and blacks’ were separated into different areas and today, most of the poorer communities have remained apart. It was almost unheard of for ‘whiteys’ to be in Mitchell’s Plain and for this reason, we received a lot of local attention. I frequently took a taxi bus, the cheapest form of transport in Cape Town, a 12-seater minibus that packed up to 25 passengers and certainly would not pass its M.O.T. in England. When I asked the driver to drop me at Mitchell’s Plain, the answer was always, “Are you sure my sister?”

The local charity I worked for placed us in different primary schools during the day to teach P.E. and life orientation.

We also ran some after school sports clubs at the centre we were based in. Although we were in a coloured Afrikaans community, I worked in a black Xhosa school. These children came from one of the poorest areas in Cape Town.

The school in their neighbourhood had flooded, so they were being bussed to a school in my community everyday.

They lived in a ‘Human Settlement’; what we would call shacks. Their houses were mostly one room, built out of tin or wood, fed by an illegal electricity supply, without toilets or running water. Most of the children’s school uniforms were torn and dirty. It was rare for any of them to own trainers, so when we took them for sport, they often went barefoot.

It was a huge struggle to teach the kids at first. The biggest barrier was that they spoke Xhosa and little or no English.

This made giving instructions very difficult and I often had to visually demonstrate what I wanted the kids to do. The school was devastatingly poor, and as the South Africa Government does not finance sport within schools, we had very little equipment. In addition, the classes were overcrowded with a typical class size consisting of around 45 children. When a teacher was absent, which was almost every day, there were no substitute teachers to fill their place, so the children were divided into the remaining classes within their year. It was not uncommon, therefore, to have over 60 kids per session. With so many children and armed with only one flat ball, this was extremely daunting when I first began. You learned to think very quickly on your feet and use items around you such as empty chip packets, bricks, or bottles and implement them into your session as cones or posts.

In some of the classes there weren’t enough chairs so the smaller children had to make do with sitting on large water containers. I was shocked to see the little boys and even girls go to the toilet by the side of the concrete sport area.

I was told that as they didn’t have toilets at home, some were not familiar with using them. Despite the obvious poverty,

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Above: Kirsten on Safari, walking with lions Below: Kirsten enjoyed many braais during her 10 weeks volunteering in Cape Town

there was a lot of happiness in the school. They were always so excited to be taken out of class. Before our charity had come to the school, they had never had sports lessons as there was simply no money. It was an absolute joy to see them really enjoying themselves and learning new skills.

Aside from working Monday to Friday, we were able to relax and socialise with our new local friends, explore Cape Town and visit our other UK counterparts in their communities. In my free time I hiked up Table Mountain, took a boat trip to Robben Island to see Mandela’s cell, went on a safari where I walked with lions and rode an ostrich, took a wine tour along the Garden Route, visited the beaches and had many, many braais (BBQs).

I was very reluctant to leave. I had made some very good friends and felt welcomed by the community members and their families, so much so that I intend to go back and visit in early 2015. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to do some volunteering work abroad. This particular programme is very affordable as you have to raise £800-£1,500 and the charity pays for your flights, accommodation, food and provides you with a weekly stipend.

I learnt a great deal and enhanced many of my personal and professional skills that I will be able to apply to my graduate scheme with PwC starting later this year. In the meantime I am off travelling in South East Asia and Australia with fellow Old Novos.

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ONs IN PRINT

Reality Bites Michael Young (65-72) faces up to a life beyond dentistry and the search to finding his ‘label’.

Michael with his award-winning book: Diagram Prize for the Oddest Title of the Year 2010. Photo by kind permission of The Yorkshire Post

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I

’d been taught how to do dentistry at dental school, but I was not taught how to manage a dental practice, which if you ever come to own a practice is something you really need to know about. I therefore taught myself how to manage my practice and when I thought I knew enough wrote about it in dental journals and magazines. Then, after 25 years of being a dentist, misfortune struck: I was diagnosed with the early signs of osteoarthritis in my hands and wrists, and was losing the essential manual dexterity needed to carry out clinical work. I sold the practice and after a period of not quite knowing what to do with myself decided to write a book about practice management.

All in all it took me about four years to put together a manuscript I thought was ready to submit to a publisher.

The first (and the only) publisher to whom I submitted my manuscript offered me a contract; six months later the book was published; a year later it won the Diagram Prize for the oddest title, which is Managing a Dental Practice: The Genghis Khan Way. Now I didn’t even know there was such a prize, but each year the winner receives a great deal of international publicity, sales rise, and my book and me suddenly became the equivalent of dentistry ‘A-listers’.

A James Robson (86-93) was in the audience at one of the first talks I gave to a dental business club meeting in Oxfordshire. Because of our common interest in dental business I have also met with Alan Suggett (64-70), a Newcastle-based chartered accountant and dental business specialist.

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Buoyed up by the success of the first book, I wrote a second, entitled How to be an Effective Expert Witness, which I self-published, mainly because I was impatient to see it in print. The Academy of Experts reviewed the book and said, “This work deserves to become the vade mecum for the clinician acting as an expert witness.” With two books in print I began to think of myself as an author, which was important because when I’d had to give up dentistry one of the things I’d struggled to come to terms with was the loss of what I called my ‘label’.

A couple of years ago the publisher of Managing a Dental Practice: The Genghis Khan Way asked me if I’d like to write another book, a practical teaching resource to go alongside ‘Genghis’. I wasn’t keen, but ended up writing Developing Your Dental Team’s Management Skills: The Genghis Khan Way with my wife, whose background was much more in tune with the subject matter.

“When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” (Alexander Graham Bell) I was on the verge of putting my non-fiction writing to one side and concentrating on writing fiction, which I’d always wanted to do, when I was asked to contribute a chapter to a book about how to enjoy Dentistry (aimed at dentists, not patients!)

One of my fellow contributors is the dentist Adam Glassford (84-91). The profit from the sale of this book, Messages from Dental Masters 2, goes to the charity Bridge2Aid, which funds the training of local health workers in Tanzania and Rwanda by British dental volunteers in basic dental skills.

Then, just when I thought I could finally focus on writing fiction, a publisher asked if I’d be interested in writing a second edition of my expert book. That was at the beginning of the year, and after several months of frantic writing a new edition is in the pipeline, re-titled The Effective and Efficient Clinical Negligence Expert Witness. It should be out later this year.

I have managed to write some fiction: a short play, a short story, and one piece of flash fiction, all of which I’ve selfpublished. I have made a start on a novel and perhaps sometime in the not-too-distant-future, when I can finally find the time to finish it, it too might see the light of day. I count myself very lucky to have been able to pursue a second career as an author, something I never thought I would ever do. Having started out as a writer of articles, and then having moved on to being an author, I wonder if one day my label will say ‘novelist’?

Details of all of my books, plus information about the forthcoming expert witness book, can all be found on my Amazon Author page at amazon.com/author/ youngmichael

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David Goldwater (51-62) with the Wood family, Walter, Simon and Edwin

RGS in three generations It is a rare and momentous occasion to have three generations of RGS students in the Main Hall, so we were delighted to bring together Walter Wood (37-44), his son Simon Wood (72-77) and grandson Edwin Wood (Year 13) in a plan hatched between Jane Medcalf (development manager) and Simon, former governor and ONA President. Walter was greatly influenced by former teacher, Michael Roberts (25-31 and 34-41) and gave David Goldwater (51-62) the inspiration to write about Michael Roberts (see issue 91) in his long-running series, A History of the RGS in Its People. It gave David the greatest pleasure to meet Walter and to present the ONA Magazine in which Michael Roberts was featured.

Walter remembers his first Chemistry lesson with Michael Roberts: ‘He moved around the lab like a man possessed, reaching for bottles, mixing as if by accident and producing the most spectacular colours, fizzes and bangs. We were on the edge of our stools for the whole lesson’.

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Obituaries Kathy Stapylton (74-01) Born 1924, died 20 June 2014, aged 89

labels but the preparation of nearly 3,000 envelopes was entirely in Kathy’s hands. On ‘packing day’ her husband, Gordon, used to come in to help Kathy and me pack magazines, with inserts, into the relevant envelopes. Other packers came in from time to time and it was always a relief when the boxes were packed ready for the late Bill Innerd (60-98), the caretaker, to take to the Post Office with a list of ‘‘x’ for internal post, ‘y’ for overseas surface mail and ‘z’ for overseas air mail’. The number x+y+z always tallied with the membership number because Kathy had organised it.

After a few years Kathy had developed the skill to write letters in my style and frequently when I went up to the ONA office I would find a note saying, ‘You had a letter from ‘X’ so I have written your reply and it is waiting for your signature’. Always it was what I would have worded with my phraseology and was exactly what I would have said.

Kathy Stapylton (74-01)

When I became General Secretary of the ONA I knew very little about what the job entailed and had to work my way in, with the help of the late Don Shipley (52-83), my predecessor. Soon after that Kathy Stapylton was appointed ONA clerk to work in the office with me. Very quickly I realised that her job title of ‘ONA clerk’ should have been ‘PA to the General Secretary’ as Kathy threw herself into the job with a meticulous head for detail, and could produce facts and figures from her detailed card index filing system.

This was, of course, long before computerisation had hit the school offices and Kathy clung to her old mechanical typewriter on which she produced immaculate letters and documents for as long as possible. Eventually she succumbed to an electric typewriter but was most offended when it was suggested that she might appreciate a correcting ribbon. “Why would I want one of those?” she said. This was a very valid question as she simply did not make typographical mistakes. For many years after we both retired we exchanged letters at Christmas. Kathy’s were still beautifully typed as she freely admitted that her handwriting was abysmal, and even last December she wrote (typed) to tell me that she would be 90 this year and the family were planning a celebration but, alas, it was not to be.

As Kathy and I worked together for the ONA we gradually had the year’s timetable built into our minds. The major operation of publishing Novocastrian News happened twice a year. Geoff Swinden (69-98) provided the printed

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Kathy would often speak of her large family and, although I never met any of them, I learned quite a lot about them over the years. Never, however, did she allow family matters to interfere with her job in the office and when I retired in 1994 I was totally confident that Kathy would support my successors.

Quite simply, she was my rock and stay for nearly 10 years and the ONA membership little realise how much she did for them.

By John Douglas (56-94), Mathematics Master

Kathy Stapylton, with current Bursar, Richard Metcalfe on Kathy’s retirement day, 2001

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University Honours Old Novo The Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Newcastle has honoured the memory of the late John Walkinshaw ‘Sandy’ Osselton (36-46) who died in 2009 (see issue 76) by naming the main lecture at the North East Epilepsy Research Network annual meeting the Osselton Lecture, ‘because of the significant role he played in establishing EEG as an essential investigation in the management of epilepsy nationally and internationally’. Also a prize for the best poster presentation by a research student, the Osselton Prize. Osselton lecturers have travelled from the USA, Canada and Australia as well as the UK. The Institute have also set up the Osselton Fund, a Newcastle University charity account to support epilepsy research in Newcastle.

By J Christopher Emmerson (36-47)

Michael Ryle Memorial Lecture It was originally intended to hold a Thanksgiving Service for Michael Ryle (36-46) who died last December (see issue 91) in London following the one in Somerset shortly after his death. However the Study of Parliament Group, which Michael helped found, decided to establish a Memorial Lecture in his name, and this first one became the London celebration of his life.

The Inaugural lecture was given on 30 June 2014 by The Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons in the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, House of Commons.

This interesting and provocative lecture can be read at www.parliament.uk. The Speaker’s House is an impressive part of Westminster, tall ceilings with elaborate decoration and the walls adorned with portraits of former speakers.

The room was full of Michael’s friends and family with a large number there to pay tribute to this eminent Old Novo.

By J Christopher Emmerson (36-47)

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James ‘Jim’ Geddes Sampson (37-43) Born 13 September 1926, died 3 July 2014, aged 87

My father Jim Sampson (37-43) died in Southport, Lancashire after a long period of ill health.

As an evacuee to Penrith, he maintained his links with the school well into his 80s, and was a regular attendee at the RGS reunions in Penrith.

After school, he studied engineering at King’s College, Newcastle, played for Old Novos Rugby Club, and reached the rank of Captain in the TA. He spent most of his working life as an engineer in the steel industry, retiring early to Cumbria where he enjoyed a long retirement. He was very active in the local community in Great Corby, near Carlisle, establishing a Cumbrian branch of the ‘Friends of the Northern Sinfonia Orchestra’, raising the profile of the Orchestra west of the Pennines. In addition to his passion for music, he was a very active sailor until his late 70s, being a member of Beadnell, Tynemouth and Bassenthwaite Sailing Clubs.

He leaves a widow, son and daughter and five grandchildren, and will be much missed by them all.

By Tony Sampson (63-73)

Philip Metcalf Bolam L.V.O. (34-39) born 1923,

Duncan Dallas (55-60)

born 1940, died 11 April died 12 April 2014, aged 91. 2014, aged 73. 1959-60 Head Prefect and captain of R Alistair L Brewis (46-55) the 1st XV. born 1937, died 25 July 2014, aged 76.

Donald Gascoigne (36-46) born 1928, died 2 May Ronald CM Cooper (38-41 2014, aged 85. and 44-48) born 1931, died 2 August 2014, aged 83.

Michael Pool Hood (52-62) born 1943, died Donald Craig (44-51) born 6 April 2014, aged 70.

1934, died 6 September 2011, aged 77.

Geoffrey Simpson MBE (49-57) born 1938, died 29 July 2014, aged 75.

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ONA Diary Dates The ONA Annual Dinner Friday 17 October 2014 RGS, Newcastle upon Tyne Guest Speaker: Tony Boullemier (57-64) 6.00pm AGM – Conference Room 6.15pm Drinks reception/presentation to retiring teachers – School Hall 6.45pm WW1 Commemoration Concert Preview – School Hall 7.30pm Dinner and speeches – Dining Hall Tony Boullemier trained at the Newcastle Journal, worked in Fleet Street for 12 years, launched and ran his own newspaper group in the Midlands for 13 years and has written two books since retiring. He is married with two children.

Price: £30/£25 (£25 if you are aged 25 or younger, or aged 80 and over). The price includes the drinks reception, dinner, and a choice of wine on the table.

The ONA is working with the school in its programme to mark the centenary of the 1914-18 War. In advance of a concert which is going to be held on 1 May 2015, the Music Department will present a short preview of the programme at 6.45pm in the School Hall.

Please try to arrive in time for this.

Dress Code: Formal (Optional Black Tie/ Evening Dress). There will be no fixed table plan; however, it will be possible to reserve seats. Tables will seat eight diners, and parties of less than eight will share the table with others to complete the octet. If you would like to reserve seats please contact the Development Office.

The deadline for bookings is

Wednesday 8 October 2014.

Please note that no tickets will be issued.

Once you have reserved and paid for your place, we are unable to refund your money.

If you require confirmation of your booking, please provide an email address.

Carol Service Tuesday 9 December 2014 St. George’s Church, Jesmond Dear Old Novos, On behalf of the Music Department, I warmly invite you, your family and friends to the RGS Senior School Carol Service which is to be held at St. George’s Church, Jesmond, on Tuesday 9 December starting at 7.00pm. The service will last approximately one hour and will be followed by drinks and mince pies in the hall next to the church.

The Service has a collection of well known carols for the congregation to sing, as well as special Christmas choral pieces sung by the Blue Blazer Choir, Senior Choir and accompanied by the Brass Quintet and String Orchestra.

I do hope that you will be able to come along and join in what promises to be a joyful celebration of Christmas and an uplifting end to the term. The service is free to attend and seats will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

Yours sincerely, Zlatan Fazlić Director of Music