News and Congratulations

President’s Welcome

We are delighted to have recently heard from…

Maurice Robinson (seated left) Rene Robinson and Laurence Pallister

Jamie Robson (01-11) who was in the news recently when receiving the Queen’s Medal from HRH Prince Charles for highest results in his year at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He’s now been commissioned in to the Parachute Regiment. Jamie spent five years in the CCF under the watchful eye of John Camm. During his final assembly as Head Boy in 2011 he said, “This school will be more than just memories. It has shaped what I have done, who I have become, and what I will do in the future. When I leave, I will not just take memories away, but something much more. The spirit of this school is something that will remain with (53-63) who recently returned to school for a tour in November. Rene is former head of English and NOVO editor,

Maurice GuyRobinson’s (34-72) widow. She wrote to say that it was,

‘Quite moving to be in the old school again!’ She and Laurence reminisced about the NOVO and Mr Robinson’s

English room, Room 3. Chris Marshall (03-08) Abu Dhabi Harlequins’ winger who gained international honours for UAE in the Asia Sevens Series Bowl. Paul Gustard (84-94) on his appointment as England rugby defence team coach. Aidan Robertson QC (73-80) who has been appointed Visiting Professor in the Law Faculty of the University of Oxford, where he teaches the postgraduate Competition Law course. He continues in full-time practice at the Bar as a silk at Brick Court Chambers, London, specialising in EU and Competition Law. Geoff Marsh (38-39 and 44-48) who wrote to say he, ‘has given up showing his ‘old roses’ (RNRS former national champion!) and now specializes in clematis’. He wrote further to say, ‘Everything vertical in his modest bungalow garden (except his trouser leg!) has a clematis growing up it!’ Geoff is

Our congratulations go to…

me until the day I die”. (See issue 83).

also writing poetry.

Jamie Robson receiving the Queen’s Medal from HRH Prince Charles at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Sarah McDonald (06-11) who was selected to represent England in the 1,500 metres in Bratislava and received her first senior England vest.

ONs, Kate Jarvis (02-04) head of PSHE and John Hammill (83-93) on their recent marriage in December. The ONA sends congratulations and would like to wish them both a long and happy life together. Bernard Trafford, Headmaster, said: “It’s good to see two ONs display in their choice of partner for life the high standards and exquisite taste that they developed at school! We are delighted that John will be there to cherish and support a colleague we value highly”.

Kate and John on their wedding day

Meeting after 51 years: far left meets top right

In the spring of 2014 I read an article in the ONA Magazine(see Issue 92)about a reunion of the medical Sixth Form of 196364. About seven of the 13 boys in that class had managed to make contact. I got in touch with the school office who forwarded my note to David McKinlay (56-64), who was on the phone to me within hours and by the end of the week many of us exchanged emails about where we were currently; that made eight of us connected up again.

My wife, Miriam and I had just completed the Coast to Coast walk, from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay and informed the group we were planning to walk Hadrian’s Wall in 2015. Doug Trotter (54-64) is a regular walker too and over the winter and spring we discussed how we would get together on some of the walk. Doug lives conveniently in Cockermouth which made it easy for him to meet with us, who were holidaying up north from Hove in Sussex. Bow Tie 100% pure silk, self-tie and ready made options available £29 Tie 100% pure silk, slip-stitched, fully lined £29

Polyester ties are also available. Miriam and I set off from Segedunum at the east end of the wall and headed west. Night stops were at Heddon, Chesters, Housesteads and Lanercost.

On the morning we left Lanercost, Doug left Carlisle along the trail heading east. There was a lot of excitement and expectation in both converging individuals. After a couple of hours we saw a lone figure in the distance at about the appointed time… Doug saw the two of us approaching… and after 51 years we met up again in the middle of nowhere like Stanley and Livingstone. In fact our rendezvous was actually on the wall. It was quite remarkable to meet up like this and a bit emotional.

We had been at primary school too, at Akhurst, a name which will resonate with older ONs. (It was a feeder school into the RGS for eight-year-olds. Mrs Akhurst ran the prep school and her husband Limited Edition Prints Cufflinks T Bar, enamel gilt plated, school crest £29

L-R: Tony Book and Doug Trotter

E‘Dickie’ Akhurst (19-57) taught French at the RGS.) The walk for the rest of the day was full of reminiscing about days of yore and personal life histories.

Doug and partner Liz, accompanied us on the last day from Carlisle to the end of the path at Bowness.

Later that evening, David McKinlay and his wife, who had come up from Lancashire, met up with us for further nostalgic tales of the past.

By Tony Book (54-64) and Doug Trotter