Old Olavian

Editor’s Notes

Iwasvery surprised to realise as I sat down to write these notes that this is my twentieth year trying to cobble together the Old Olavian section. Twenty years! That’s longer than any of the students at the School have been alive. Twenty years seems such a long time while you are still at school, but everyone realises eventually that it is an all-too-short period of time.

The magazine itself has seen many changes in those twenty years: from what was a comparatively thin publication, it has blossomed into what can only be described as a magazine of high quality, a quality which reflects very well on the staff and pupils who are responsible for its content and appearance.

When I started as honorary editor of the Old Boys’ section in 1993 I could rely on a regular flow of contributions, often quite short, from old boys from all eras – from the twenties to the present day. Now, it seems, technology has changed the way we communicate with each other, and I never – well, hardly ever – receive notes from ex-pupils of any age. Just occasionally my pleas are heard by some kind soul and I am sent a longer piece to share with what seems to be a dwindling band of readers.

I am, therefore, especially grateful to Robin Dadson (1954-59) for the second part of his memories of his days at the School in the late fifties. His recall of places, deeds and personalities from those days are especially vivid, and I am sure that all old boys from that time, some fifty years ago, will read them with a mixture of pleasure and nostalgia. The editorial team at the school has so enjoyed this article that they have asked that it should be transferred to the earlier pages of the magazine. This means that readers will have to turn to the appropriate page in the school section.

Robin Dadson joined the school six years later than me, but there is much in his memoirs that rings many bells with me. I am reminded of the rehearsal in the school hall with ‘Benny’ Hill when the cast had arranged to stop whatever they were doing at 6.45pm precisely and lala-ing the signature tune to The Archers – yes, that radio programme was already well-established in the early fifties – we all enjoyed our producer’s reaction, and I think he enjoyed it too.

There must, surely, be others who could describe their days at St Olave’s, whether it be in Tooley Street or Orpington, others who would almost certainly enjoy reliving those mostly happy, comparatively carefree, days from their youth. I was an enthusiastic member of the Fives club when the school moved from the Bermondsey dockland to the much greener site in Kent and I ‘volunteered’ to visit the new site to inspect the new courts. When I arrived everywhere was locked, so I climbed a fence and, feeling somewhat guilty, was able to see the excellent new facilities and report back to the regular playing members of that time.

There must be so many of my readers who can recall incidents such as these from their all-too distant past, who only need a nudge to put them down on paper (or, better still, by email) – as you read this, please take this as that nudge – don’t put it off – do it now! Please!

As always I give thanks to Jane Wells for her help and forbearance throughout the year. This year, in particular, she has been successful in attracting a few last-minute contributions from those few OOs with a conscience!

John Brown Editor, Old Olavian

Chairman’s Report

Compared with my previous years as Chairman, this one has been relatively quiet, mainly due to my inability to attend some functions, and possibly due to getting used to the routine of it.

The school Remembrance Service, which took place in the Great Hall on 9th November 2012 was attended by Old Olavians, including Mr Michael Walter, Captain Daniel Betts, Mr Graham Milne and me. It is good to see Old Olavians attending, especially from The Old Olavians’ Lodge who are always represented at this service. This service, included the reading of an Old Olavian’s letter to home in the event of his death, which referred to friends made at school. That was particularly moving. I would encourage those local enough to attend, to try to come along in 2014. The date is announced quite early in the winter term, and it will be in the newsletters and on our Events Calendar.

The AGM was held in March, and the minutes are below. I would like to see more of the Old Olavians attend, and to have a say in what goes on.

Sadly there was no 40s Lunch this year. However, it is intended that it will take place in 2014, and Jane Wells has volunteered to arrange it. So please let her know if you are interested in attending. I know some of you already have done.

Old Olavians have been meeting up on the morning of the annual Commemoration Service to relive memories of days spent in the Tooley Street school buildings, and for many years to act as guides to lower school pupils. This year, the old school premises were not accessible, and the organised reunion and usual lunch did not take place. However, this did not mean our numbers at the service were any less. We will continue to try to gain access to the buildings, as planning restrictions mean that the Great Hall and other parts including the Governors’ room are protected.

You may recall from last year I reported that only one master from my time remained. Mr Archer decided to retire this year and an invitation to former pupils was circulated to allow them to say farewell at one of our local hostelries. Although unable to attend myself, I am told it was a wonderful, memory-laden afternoon/evening. Mr Archer, though, seems unable to let the school go, and he is still seen in and around the sports department, and is joint form tutor to 7B (or my old form, 1B, in old money).

In July we brought together a number of recent Heads of School/School Captains for a meal at the Calcutta Club in Polhill, to foster the encouragement of recent leavers to come back to the school. The aim was to get them to network with their contemporaries, who would share their experiences with current sixth formers of choosing a degree, choosing a career or attending a University Interview. As a result, the school was able to put on a programme of related activities at the beginning of the school year with the help of Old Olavians.

Also, in September it was good to see a similar attendance to two years ago at the Old Olavians’ reunion at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, although there is always room for more diners. We had Old Olavians attending who spanned nine decades of the school. From Eric Bickerdike-Hibbs, who joined the school in 1937, when the headmaster was Henry George Abel, to Kit Harris and Raphael Fischer, who both left in 2011, under the current headmaster, Aydin Önaç. Mr Önaç is also our President and only the fourth headmaster since Henry Abel. Replying this year to the Headmaster’s toast to the Old Olavians, our guest speaker was Les Padfield. He has taught at the school a number of times, having “retired” from teaching. His recollections from his interview with the then headmaster, Tony Jarvis, and the arrangements re mobile phone usage in his classes, as examples, kept our attention and kept us laughing. He was very entertaining and left the audience wanting more.

It is likely that we will return to the RAF Club in Piccadilly for the 2014 reunion in September. Please keep an eye out for the date, which will be posted in the newsletter, and on our website.

And so that brings us to the beginning of a new year.

2014 will see the world remember the outbreak of the First World War 100 years ago. Peter Leonard (1970-77) is writing a new book, which will tell the story/ies of Old Olavians’ sacrifices. The society has agreed to fund the publishing of this work, and will receive income from a share in the profits. Please look out for further details in the months to come (there is further information/recommendation a few pages further on – Ed).

The Old Olavians’ Society, and ultimately the school, are grateful to those who remember this great institution in their own wills. No matter the amount, the funds can always be put to very good use.

Last year the society donated about £15,000 to the school, including bequests, specific donations and excess funds. The uses to which these funds are put enable the school to continue to support the pupils in ways that many state schools are just not capable of doing. One only has to read the Olavian to see the breadth of student activities.

Did you know that Old Olavians is a group on LinkedIn, and that you can add a link to your LinkedIn profile, your

Twitter account and your Facebook page on your personal details page on the society’s website - www.webalumnus. com/wa/userLogon aspx?oid=40023

And finally, I would still like to know what else you would like from the Old Olavians Society, preferably with a suggestion of how it can be achieved. Write or email via our administrator at the school, Jane Wells at jwells@ saintolaves.net.

Looking forward to serving, and hearing from, you.

Chris Harris (1970-77)

_____Can be contacted via OOs Administrator jwells@saintolaves net

Annual General Meeting

OLD OLAVIANS’ SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 12th March 2013

1. Minutes of Last Meeting

2. Matters Arising

2.1. AGM later than aimed for again

The AGM has to be held within 6 months of the society ’ s financial year end (30th September). November had been the target month, however due to late account completion again, the chairman had delayed the meeting to now It is also important that a date is set that a quorum can be attained, given the low numbers expected to attend

2.2. Investment costs

The cost of holding the funds with our current broker has been set at £500 per annum This is now an execution only service, which appears to be no change to the service that the society had been receiving in recent years. The funds will be moved to Lansdowne & Hargreaves in the coming months

2.3. Benevolent Fund

I met with the Head to discuss a range of topics, including a suitable use for the Benevolent Funds, and he wished to have a set amount each year to use to top up the funds available to meet hardship requests. Whilst this seemed to meet the definition, it does mean that control passed to the school. Nothing further was heard about the proposed amount or how it would work

2.4. OORFC funds

There have been some banking hold-ups with transfer of funds to the Society from OORFC These are being addressed. The society will maintain the funds, and these will be available to assist with the setting up of a new OORFC. If that has not occurred by 2037, then the funds will be available to another OOs sports club, or to the school to support sporting activities

3. Chairman’s Report

3.1. Membership

Old Olavians on Web Database – 7188, of which 2237 have provided their email addresses 457, including 24 sponsorship members, have paid full membership of £20, entitling them to the Olavian and a discounted price for the Reunion Dinner/ Lunch.

3.2. Society Administration

This continues to be managed entirely by the school’s OO Administrator ( Jane Wells).

Audit, Magazine & Reunion – managed by the committee pro tem

3.3.

Magazine

2012 edition of Olavian distributed to 485 members and contributors – thanks again to the OO section editor, John Brown

4. Finance Report

4.1. Accounts

General Fund Income £16,612 £18,204

Expenditure £16.462 £25,523

Profit/(Loss) £ 150 £(7,319)

Balance Sheet £36,363 £36,213

Benevolent Fund Income £ 1,928 £ 2,677

Expenditure £ 0 £ 0

Profit/(Loss) £ 1,928 £ 2,677

Balance Sheet £60,447 £58,519

4.2. Notes – General Fund

Income – Subs and sponsorship were down £340, and investment income was also down by £350.

The Reunion lunch was subsidised to the extent of £600, after paying a donation £500 to the school Rugby Tour Fund, in exchange for the teams supplying the waiters for the event.

4.3. Donation to School

It was recommended and agreed that the donation to the school would be the same as the previous year, £9,618, which includes the sponsorship subscriptions of £1,808

4.4. Hidden assets

We have in stock 35 pairs of cufflinks and 95 OO ties

4.5. Notes – Benevolent Fund

There were no requests for funds acceded to during the year However, with the benevolent fund objects in mind:

“ TO ASSIST NECESSITOUS OLAVIANS, WHICH TERM SHALL INCLUDE BOTH CURRENT AND PAST PUPILS AND STAFF OF SAINT OLAVE’S AND SAINT SAVIOUR’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BY PECUNIARY GRANTS OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE DEEMED APPROPRIATE”, it was proposed and agreed that £5,000 would be given to the Headmaster This is to be used in cases of hardship, and the Society will expect a letter from the headmaster confirming that its use met with the fund ’ s objects.

5. Functions Report

5.1. Reunion

The reunion lunch was held at the school on Saturday 22nd September. It was attended by almost 80, with some attendees coming early enough to watch some Rugby The school senior prefects provided guided tours of the premises Sir Roger Sims was the guest speaker The film of Tooley Street school life was also on show in the library, and some members have expressed an interest in owning a copy. Lessons were learned by the Chairman – All drink should be purchased on sale or return, even if that means no draught beer, and future meals should be more heavily subsidised if necessary from subscriptions

This year it is anticipated that we will return to the RAF. A date has been provisionally booked Friday 20th September 2013

6. Club Reports

6.1. Cricket Club

Ian Giles apologised for missing the meeting, and asked the Chairman to give the very briefest of reports

It was hoped that everyone had seen the tour report in the 2012 Olavian. The tour was, as ever, a success

Ian Giles and Chris Swadkin attended the school cricket Awards dinner, addressing the boys and the parents They will be following up, to capitalise on the interest generated, for the July friendlies and the 2013 summer tour

The club would welcome a £500 donation to assist with tour costs The donation was approved

6.2. Rugby Club

The club continues to exist in its “hibernated ” state

7. Election Of Officers

7.1. There were no resignations, and the Committee members were re-elected to office:

Committee

Chairman

3 Ex-Officio Members

8. Other Business

Chris Harris

Paul Ouseley

Bill Prouse

Trevor Read

8.1. Promoting Old Olavians Society

Following the previous AGM the Chairman met with the headmaster The school are very grateful for the support by way of funds, and the headmaster made it clear that he would welcome assistance from OOs to provide careers advice, work experience places and in other, as yet unqualified, ways It is likely that the Chairman and the headmaster, in his position as our President, will be writing to all members for their assistance.

8.2. Tooley Street school life

It was agreed that the society should arrange for copies of the Tooley Street film, shown in the library at the reunion lunch and previously at the 450 year exhibition, to be available to members for a fee The society will have to buy the rights to copy it first.

8.3. Till all our fight be fought – The Olavian ‘Fallen’ and the Great War 1914-1918

One of our members, Peter Leonard (1970-77) previously wrote a book about the Olavians who lost their lives in WW1. Peter has proposed to the society that he rewrites a new edition, which with the advances in media will, for a small outlay, see a more professional book published It was proposed and agreed that the society pay the expected amount to get to publication For each book sold, whether through the society or the publisher, the society will receive a small royalty It will be published to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the outbreak of war.

Chris Harris (1970-77)

After the dinner I wended my way back to the Union Jack Club (a forces club at Waterloo) of which I am a member, to rejoin my wife. We stayed there until Monday morning when we entrained at Marylebone station for our home in Henley-in-Arden, West Midlands. During the weekend we visited a gentleman’s club in Mayfair called The Fox for afternoon tea, met a party of ladies staying at the Union Jack Club, who had all seen service in the WAAF for as many as twenty-five years at home and overseas, and who held a reunion on the same date every year. Recognising that I had served in the RAF during the War, photographs were taken which I may be able, some time in the future, to see in print in The Olavian.

Eric Hibbs (1937-40)

Our chairman asked Alex Allen, head boy in 2007/08 who had made up a table of eight from his year to attend the annual dinner, to provide a report on that event; he, in turn, persuaded Megan Ford who was one of that select group to produce the following contribution:

Annual Dinner

On the evening of Friday 20th September 2013 I attended the Annual Reunion Dinner of the Old Olavians’ Society at the RAF Officers’ Club in Piccadilly, London. Having attended the School in the days of Dr Abel in the mid-1930s I was not surprised that there was nobody there that I recognised. However I was soon gathered in and introduced to the Headmaster and by him to the six seniors from the pupils, among them the head boy and head girl. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement for they immediately showed me their ability to make me realise that the stature of the school, as I had known and remembered it for over seventy years, had not changed.

I was invited to sit at the top table for the dinner with the head girl next to me and it soon became very obvious how the current pupils feel about St Olave’s. The meal was served and dutifully despatched; speeches followed and the evening rounded up by the singing of Olaf to Right the Wrong which brought back memories of prayers in the main hall, of presentations by visiting speakers, orchestral performances by the school orchestra, and a play performed on the hall stage called The Bishop’s Candlesticks. I wonder if any of those who took part in the play may read this and remember.

A great evening was had by all at the Old Olavians’ Summer Dinner, held at the RAF Club in Piccadilly. With ages ranging from 89 to those of us who were experiencing our first Old Olavian dinner since leaving School five years earlier, it was a fantastic opportunity to reminisce about our school days. For the first time the full senior prefect team also joined the old boys and old girls. This meant we could both quiz them on what the school was like now and offer them advice on what life was like after St Olave’s. It was also lovely to hear from the current headmaster, Mr Onac, about the recent achievements and activities at the School.

A highlight of the evening was, of course, the guest speaker, Mr Les Padfield. Having taught as a semi-permanent supply teacher at St Olave’s on no less than six occasions, he decided to share with us some of his experiences at the School. This was hugely entertaining and very funny, especially for those of us who were lucky enough to have had him as a teacher!

It was a lovely opportunity to celebrate our school years with friends and teachers, and to meet new people with whom we have St Olave’s in common.

The Old Olavian tradition promises to expand, with year groups setting a challenge for 2014 to see who can achieve the most populous attendance! Let us see if we can make this event an annual reunion across the whole Old Olavian community. We look forward to the next dinner and our next rendition of Olaf to Right the Wrong. We’ll see you there!

Till all our fight be fought – The Olavian ‘Fallen’ and the Great War 1914-1918

the call to arms of World War 1. I have sent this book to the librarian of Eton College as they possess a very comprehensive library devoted to the study of that conflict.”

John H W Silberrad – Trustee of the St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School Foundation.

About the Book: Peter Leonard

The idea behind the book has been to interweave the biographical stories of the many boys and men who had attended the School in Tooley Street, with the dramatic story of the events of these infamous four years of war, which happened nearly a century ago, but still resonate with us, through literature, video, poetry, film and through many other cultural channels.

“I found this book a fascinating read. Having read many accounts of fallen from particular schools or professions, I found that this work had the extra edge of a passionate relay of the details, passion that is often lacking in many more prosaic accounts. I truly felt that I got to know many of the warriors so adroitly described and therefore felt the impact of the sadness when their all-too-common fate arrived. I loved the way the work was punctuated with poems and pertinent quotes which added a subtlety to the accounts. I believe there is a uniqueness to this account which allows the names of these fine, brave men to live on forever more.”

James Thurbin – Author – Their Father Lied

“In spite of the topic, I found the book neither mawkishly sentimental nor morbidly curious. I found it to be a stirring tribute to the Olavians who died in WW1, acknowledging their heroism and sacrifice. The book was obviously meticulously researched and written in a straightforward manner, concise yet not truncated. I thought the interpretations of the theatres of operation to be accurate and thoughtful. Altogether a fine literary effort.”

Father Kenneth Eade: St Barnabus Church, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

“This book forms a piece of research which brings together an important chapter in the School’s history and which will be an essential part of the archives.”

Anthony Jarvis, Headmaster – St Olave’s Grammar School

“I read this book with the greatest interest, it affords a fascinating insight to the response of a non-military school to

It seems incredible now how some of the ideas, attitudes and morals that were held by our recent ancestors have changed in the intervening period, partly as a result of our reaction to their loss. Both the amazing and terrifying technological developments of this short time period are reflected by Olavians who served and suffered in these branches of the armed forces…from submarines, dreadnoughts and Sopwith Camel bi-planes, to deep trench mining and bombing, poison gas and munition shells – all aspects of the war touched St Olave’s, Bermondsey and the schoolboys who went there.

The new book will have 23 chapters,163 pages, 22 pages with all 192 men’s portraits and nearly 30 pages of appendices and indexes. Some chapters describe the role of Olavians in the major campaigns and war theatres captured in our national imagination, names like ‘Ypres, the Somme, Gallipoli, Cambrai and Passchendaele’; other chapters attempt to show what life was like in different parts of the war effort – from the medical corps, the engineers and artillery to the navy, tank corps and air force; Some histories focus too heavily on the Western front only, whereas here are chapters on the exploits and adventures of Olavians in the Balkans, Salonika, Palestine and also on the Home front; and finally, despite being an old London-based School, many of the Olavians had links throughout the empire and fought the war as Canadians, South Africans, Anzacs and even in the French Army.

People who buy a copy of this book are actively sending a message: to support their old or current school by understanding the nature and value of its history and educational culture; to use this as a way of educating our children and young people as to the futility of war, but also to inspire them with stories about bravery, self-sacrifice, morality, hope, loss, selflessness, and helping others before ourselves; and to commemorate and remember what the annual service at the Cenotaph really means.

Let’s finish with some words from Headmaster Rushbrooke…..

Armistice Day – 11th November 1930: The School Hall – Tooley Street:

“We hear that pitiful long list of names of Old Olavians – many of them boys, going from School into the war-machine. It makes one hate the injustice of it all, those lads, mere schoolboys, radiant, full of hope, upon the threshold of the outer world, swept out of life, killed on the battlefield.

The solemn reading of their names recalls their faces as we knew them in the School, linked with some tone or glance, some incident of classroom, or the Corps, or cricket field. The name recalls the features: one by one, seen as of old, they pass before the mind, a living gallery of pictures, dearer made by pity, for the wanton sacrifice of their young lives to cruel war’s demands.

Soon, it may be, the list no longer read, will rest, a vellum roll, within a drawer, mute witness of their willing sacrifice.

But while the youthful figure, sword in hand, calls through the years, our youth to take their stand, with heart ablaze to fight against the wrong, may these forgotten names live to declare to future generations of the School, the cruel injustice, senseless sacrifice of life, the misery, the desolation, wrought by war.”

The new book is to be published in August 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the Great War.

Clubs And Societies

Old Olavians’ Lodge No. 5051

The Masonic lodge associated with our school was founded 75 years ago and is still going strong.

When asked the question, “Why does freemasonry still exist today?” my answer is “Primarily to raise money for charity.” This is something our Grand Charity does with remarkable efficiency. It is said that only the National Lottery raises more funds for such purposes in the UK. Funding for medical research, for a huge range of charitable organisations, big and small, in this country and support for appeals from organisations ranging from hospices to crumbling places of worship are all within our remit. Funding from us is sent to disaster appeals worldwide within days of the appeal’s launch. We also sponsor important prizes at St Olave’s annual awards ceremonies.

Our branch of this world-wide organisation was originally set up for former pupils, staff and governors of St Olave’s. Parents were always welcome as well. Nowadays friends of members, or people “just interested” too – so no-one gets turned away, but our old school is still vitally important to us.

We meet four times a year in Central London. We are involved in traditional Masonic ceremonial of course, but this is always followed by an excellent dinner.

Any enquiries from readers interested in freemasonry and, of course, maintaining links with St Olave’s can be addressed to me, Peter Hudson:

Secretary of OO’s Lodge

9 Downs View Close

Pratts Bottom

Orpington

Kent BR6 7SU

Old Olavian Cricket Tour -

South Devon 2013

One of the finest feelings every year on tour is rolling up around midday at a nice country pub and spying old friends that you may not have seen since the year before propping up the bar or relaxing on a bench in the sun, as well as meeting new tourists who will almost certainly become old friends very shortly. The pub this year was the Dolphin in Bovey Tracey as we were playing at that town’s very picturesque ground again after a gap of several years.

After lunch, OO captain for the day, Lance Giles, had the pleasure of tossing up with the most attractive skipper in Devon, Sophie Whitlock, who was in charge of the home team. Given Bovey’s premiership standing the tourists decided to send their big guns out first, and so Tom Parsons and Rob Williams strode to the crease aiming to get us off to a good start, with Dave Golbey primed in the silo at number three. Fours started flying immediately, but unfortunately in the third over so too did Rob’s stumps as he was faced with a rotten shooter of a delivery. Deterred neither by this nor the first of many hamstrings to be pulled during the week, Golbey joined Parsons in sending the ball around the park. The Bovey line-up included a few promising colts but it became obvious that they hadn’t selected any of their first-team bowlers, and after blasting his way to a fast ton Tom Parsons (eventually) got himself out, followed by Dave the ball after reaching his fifty. Lawrence Roots hit 24 and Peter White, an Old Olavian on his first tour, got a nice 26 during our total of 263 in 40 overs. One other notable feature was that Ray Michael and Chris Swadkin only just missed batting together, which may well have been the first such occurrence since the 1960s when they were at school together.

P White, a batsman who keeps wicket, found himself opening the bowling due to a start-of-the-week seamer shortage, and settled into a nice line and length straight away and got a wicket in his second over. Ian Giles and another new tourist, Chris Ruddle, got three wickets between them with their swing and spin, and Robbie Williams made amends for his swift batting exit with eight overs of good bustling left-arm tweakers and two more wickets. However, bowling honours went to Swaddy for the incisive figures of 3.3 overs, four wickets for six runs, including one wicket from an awesome diving one-handed catch by Parsons T. The OOs won by 110 runs and tour was off to a winning start.

We were greeted at Sidmouth by glorious sunshine the next day, and the famous ground had never looked better. Since Sidmouth had a batting order stacked with first-teamers, including the Devon skipper J Bess (many of whose family the OOs have encountered before) we generously let them have a bat first. Jay Patel took the first over and set the tone well, with good nip and a bit of bounce, and Golbey courageously braved his wailing hamstring to send down three quality overs from the other end. Batsman A Dibble unwisely tried to take a quick single behind point to fielding machine Tom Parsons, who stuck out a large mitt, pirouetted and hurled down the one stump he could see to run out Bess by a good yard for ten runs, and so making the all-important first strike. Skipper Ian Giles brought himself on, and took his customary early wicket, courtesy of an excellent running catch from Alex Dombrandt (16 years old going on 35, and on his first tour). The batsmen Dibble and L Bess then settled down and began to hit back. Pete White came on at an awkward time and held things together well, including an unlucky dropped catch. Mike Mitchell, who had sprained his wrist the day before tour playing football (can you believe it?) replaced Ian Giles and broke the partnership in his second over, as Jay raced around the boundary to pluck a certain six from the air in the most casual of fashions. N Gingell came in and started hitting fours and sixes to the short pavilion boundary while Rob Williams did his best to contain him without much luck – the ball landing in space and a couple of catches going down. Then Gingell middled another ball straight at the pavilion, where Sanjay Ranasinghe was stationed on the edge of the boundary. Our man leapt straight up in the air and took it nonchalantly with one hand. We were all far too happy to knock him much for not attempting to use his other hand as well, and anyway it might just got in the way. Ian brought himself back for one over and drew Dibble down the wicket to be stumped by Lawrence Roots; Jay returned to bowl out two batsmen and Alex got another Roots stumping before Sidmouth declared on 252 for 9 in 44 overs.

It was an imposing total, but with one short boundary and a quick outfield the OOs had every intention of going for the win. Tom Parsons certainly had no doubts and was seeing it like a beach ball. He raced to 42 off 21 balls and the chatter from the Sidmouth fielders had decreased markedly when suddenly the game was marred by a controversial incident. With the score on 47 Tom middled it into his pads, the Sidmouth fielders gave up on their appeal for LBW, and the Sidmouth umpire leaned forwards and up shot his finger in determined fashion. Tom paused in stunned surprise, before walking dejectedly back towards the pavilion. The home skipper apparently spoke to him on his way, saying, “We know you hit it, but we’re not going to call you back because the umpire’s new and it would undermine his confidence.” Suffice to say this did not go down too well with the tourists and’ fuelled by the injustice of robbing their man of a possibly match-winning knock, the OOs yet to go in to bat sat a little straighter in their seats and watched the game through narrowed eyes.

Williams was out shortly afterwards from a good ball, but then the hobbling Golbey (30) and the towering Dombrandt took the attack to Sidmouth, hitting several lovely boundaries and sixes. One of the sixes landed rather unfortunately directly in Terry Smith’s full pint glass as he sat on a bench in front of the pavilion, shattering it into a thousand pieces. He took it very philosophically. Jay Patel (31) replaced Golbey and carried on the good work before he was out. Sanjay came to the crease and held one end up well while Alex struck more imperious blows as the Olavians got ever closer to their target while also keeping the run-rate in check. Dombrandt was looking so secure that the tourists were beginning to breathe a little easier when Sidmouth brought on a quickish young bowler called Mansfield with a dozen overs left of the game. Alex hit his first ball for four, before being surprised by some extra bounce and was caught in the slips for a classy 78.

With 44 runs still to get and Mitch with his sprained wrist there was still plenty of cricket left in the game as Lance Giles took guard. Missing his first ball by quite a margin, the new batsman was surprised to hear a hysterically elongated appeal from Mansfield. Giles told him to stop being silly and get on and bowl it. Mansfield seemed to take exception to this, and followed it up with a bouncer miles over the batsman’s head and then pitched one up which Giles managed to hit through extra cover for four. This didn’t do anything for Mansfield’s humour, which aided the OOs’ cause as he subsequently sent down two leg-stump full-tosses which Sanjay despatched behind square with aplomb. The momentum had returned to the OOs, and despite losing Sanjay to a skied drive Giles was able to hit a few more fours and effectively end the game with a six past the pavilion off L Bess, who had rather bizarrely, or possibly sportingly, been brought on to bowl spin from the short boundary end.

The very satisfying win from an excellent team performance, with five and a half overs still remaining of their allowed 41, led to a very convivial atmosphere in the White Horse pub after the game.

Sandford were one man short on Tuesday, so Chris Ruddle kindly agreed to play for them. The Olavians batted first, and Rob Williams continued his run of bad luck as he was bowled first ball by an absolute stinker of a shooter that cut back. To improve Rob’s mood even more, the bowler then came off after his second ball due to a side-strain. The other bowlers were performing well, though, and the run-rate was initially cautious. Parsons joined Williams back in the hutch before Pete White and Alex Dombrandt put a good partnership together, both hitting some soaring sixes and managing to counter a very cagey spell of spin from Chris Ruddle in the process. Both then fell in quick succession to Ashplant, and Swadkin and Golbey took up the mantle, Dave in particular hitting some big shots on the way to a very important 54 runs. Jay, Sanjay and Lawrence all hit a few more quick runs toward the end of the innings and the OOs ended up on 211, which we thought was defendable but maybe slightly under par.

Mitch had obviously been chatting over the sumptuous Sandford tea with skipper Tom Parsons, as he came tearing in for a surprise first over off his long run-up in a most un-spinner-like way, with his wrist bandaged up like a white left-handed Malcolm Marshall. He beat the bat a bit too, but couldn’t find the consistency a regular pace opening slot would have given him and so stopped after four overs to save the rest of his quota for his usual spinny darts. Jay bowled tightly at the other end, but the first wicket didn’t fall until L Giles floated one up outside off which the batsman obligingly smacked into the captain’s safe hands at cover. Swadkin and Williams then combined in a long stint together that kept the run-rate down and Swaddy claimed another wicket with an absolute pearl of a caught and bowled off one that was drilled back at him. However, the OOs were finding it hard to beat the bat, aerial shots were dropping into space rather than onto fielders, and Sandford’s two overseas batsmen chipped away at the total very professionally. Jay returned for one last charge and bowled one of them out, leaving seven runs required off the last over. Patel’s first ball of the last over was sent into the sheep-field for six which took the pressure off the batsmen, and the home team won back the Stan Newell trophy with three balls remaining. It had been another in a long line of good close games with fun banter against Sandford, and you couldn’t hope to find more friendly or sporting hosts.

Torquay’s new groundsman decided to leave the covers off that night to let the grass benefit from a foretold nighttime shower. He obviously knew he wasn’t down to open the batting the next day, and I don’t think Torquay’s opening batsmen would have patted him on the back for his horticultural consideration as balls spat from a length off Jay Patel and Mike Jones at the start of play on

Wednesday, and Jay got a wicket caught in the gully off his second ball. Mike had just arrived for tour by train. He was itching to get stuck into some proper bowling and was absolutely hitting the spot in his early salvo, and so was most aggrieved when Torquay’s overseas batsman Bourke started complaining that the track was dangerous. After some discussion, and not wanting to generate any bad blood in a friendly game, the tourists relented and it was agreed that no-one could bowl pace that day. Since Mike then had to finish his over bowling off-spin, Bourke rather took advantage of the situation by hitting a full-toss for six over the short leg-side boundary and losing it in the road. Chris Ruddle and Ian ’Jonty’ Giles came on, and Jonty especially bowled well in taking two for 21 since the ball quickly became very slippy to use due to the damp outfield, and Chris took a good catch at midwicket to dismiss the other opening batsmen. Skipper Rob Williams brought himself on fourth change and proceeded to take five for 20 from six overs which kept the brakes on the Torquay batting well. Mike Jones returned to bowl more spin and got sweet revenge on Bourke by bowling him for 80, and Ruddle returned to take the last wicket. Torquay finished on 158 all out from 33 of their 35 overs in the rain-shortened game.

In the OOs reply Pete White opened the batting and hit a fine 30, but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. Dave Colloff, fresh from Singapore via Italy, was appearing for just two days on tour this year, and Mitch, crawling his way up the batting order as his wrist slowly improved, steadied the ship. Both played lovely attacking innings, which wasn’t easy given the wicket and the slow outfield. Janet and Amanda Colloff, who had just joined tour that day, observed that Dave was doing ‘much better than last year’. Sadly both batsmen perished in quick succession, and the rest of the team weren’t able to rediscover their mojo as they succumbed to the pressure of the mounting run-rate for 139 with two overs left. Rob Williams, selflessly batting at number 11, was left not out without facing a ball and probably should have batted a little earlier.

After renewing our friendships at the bar with the home team we all returned to the annual tour quiz, created and conducted masterfully once again by tour stalwart Terry Smith. I can’t remember who won but since it wasn’t our team that’s scarcely important.

Many of the team managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Starcross golf course on the Thursday morning before the game against South Devon. It was pouring with rain on the way there, but as we pulled into the car park the clouds parted and the sun appeared and stayed for the rest of the day. The long, hot summer had resulted in Starcross being drier than anyone could remember before, and several times we were able to find balls that would normally have been lost in the middle of reed-filled ponds. There were still plenty of hazards, however, and as he contemplated them Jay was heard to remark, “Actually I prefer team games. Golf is a very lonely game. I think I could get quite lonely in a bunker.” Ian Giles, full of consideration, replied, “Well we’ll send someone over for a chat next time you’re in one.”

The tour party was reinforced at Newton Abbot by the arrival of the Nayanah-Rajh family - friends and old teammates of Lance’s from Bristol. Since none of them had twanged hamstrings, unlike most of the players already on tour, Sagren and his sons, Prevan and Rashalen, were immediately put to good use and went straight into the team, and Sharon, their mother, only escaped by locking herself in her car.

The Olavians batted first and South Devon were two players short, so the tourists contributed two substitute fielders for most of their innings. Sage and Prev opened the innings and were soon propelling the ball to all parts of the boundary with regularity. Prevan liked to stroke the ball into space and Sage preferred to welly it into the adjoining football ground, but since both methods were highly effective the race was on to see who would reach their century first. Prev got there in the nineteenth over and retired out, while Sage launched one up in the air a few overs later and was caught at deep square leg for 94, stopping the pair claiming the record of being the only related tourists ever to score centuries on their debuts in the same game.

Not having been faced with walking to the crease with the score on 175 for one before, the rest of the OO batting order didn’t appear to have a clue how to handle the situation. Barring a decent knock from Mitch (29), nobody else got more than twelve (Dombrandt got his 12 from the last three balls of the innings), but we still set them 293 to get in 40 overs.

Conrad sent out his best bats first in reply, and they started well, hitting some good fours. However, Grant Ward was bowling very accurately and giving away little, and Alex didn’t do a bad job of opening the bowling from the other end with pace rather than his usual spin. He made the breakthrough by getting a wicket with the last ball of his spell, which was incidentally his worst one, being a high full-toss outside off-stump. Shortly afterwards South Devon’s overseas bat was run-out by their number three, attempting to take a quick single to short-ish extra-cover (or “barbecued by C Corby” as Jay described it in the scorebook), and from then on the result was never in doubt. The wickets were shared around the bowlers and Rash, who was only 13 years old, looked a natural behind the stumps and took a nice stumping. The home side finished on 155 all out.

Thursday night featured the regular tour dinner back at the hotel, smoothly presided over by Brian Cantle who gave his usual comprehensive run-down of the week’s cricketing achievements and handed out the awards for any particularly humorous gaffes that had occurred.

Friday dawned and was greeted by the tourists with the usual combination of relief after a tiring week and regret that it was coming to an end. Lunch at the Ship in Teignmouth preceded the trip to Kenn, where we found the ground bathed in unaccustomed sunshine and looking very attractive indeed. Prev and Alex, with a combined age of thirty-two, opened the batting and their differing styles complemented each other very well as they both reached 50 before being dismissed. The rest of the batting order didn’t fare so well apart from Sage, who hit six sixes on his way to retiring for 66 and who shared a nice partnership of forty-five with his youngest son Rash who hit a couple of nice fours of his own in his ten not out. The only thing really missing was a crowd-pleasing cameo from Stephen Parsons, who was sadly confined to umpiring duties due to breaking his hand in a fall a few weeks previously.

The tourists had reached 262 from their 40 overs and thought this was probably enough to defend, but Kenn came out all guns blazing. Apparently all the teams in the 40-over league that Kenn play in play their cricket as if it was twenty-20 cricket, which led to short but exciting innings from most of the batsmen. Jimmy Gosling blazed a quick-fire 26, P Boot smashed 37 and R Parsons struck 42 not out. All of these were very promising young batsmen which bodes well for Kenn and who I’m sure the OOs will see many times in the years to come. Vinny, the overseas player, came in at number four, and the long week was beginning to tell on the Olavians as we dropped him at least five times (honourable mention must be made to Sage here, who threw himself around the field and took two catches on his own), which proved the deciding factor in the end. Vinny finished on 106 not out and Kenn cantered to victory in 34 overs. Since they’re such nice chaps we didn’t begrudge them the win at all, and it was very pleasant to have a celebratory pint with Pete Murfin and the rest in the bar after the game.

2013 had been another vintage tour, if not particularly for results, then certainly for the style of cricket, team spirit and general camaraderie from everyone on board. It was terrific to see so many new tourists enjoying themselves, and hopefully they will all be down again next year, both the players and Rosemary, whom Ed Davey brought along for the first time and who fitted in with everyone so well. Special mention must also be made to the other ladies not featured so far - Pennie Giles, Penny Cantle, Linda Bolter, Jo Swadkin, Jackie Childe and Laura Pangbourne - for adding so much to the week beyond the boundary ropes.

Finally a big vote of thanks as ever must go to Stephen Parsons and Tom Baterip for umpiring so well and without a murmur of complaint all week and for being such good company, and thanks also to Sanjay for handling the tour finances while he was there.

If any Old Olavian is reading this and pondering whether they may enjoy a few days’ cricket in Devon in 2014, cease your pondering and just drop me an email or have a look at the Old Olavians’ Cricket Club page on facebook.

Results:

Sun 11th August v Bovey Tracey (40 over game)

WON by 108 runs

OOs 263 for 8 (T Parsons 116, D Golbey 50, P White 26)

Bovey Tracey 155 all out in 33 overs (C Swadkin 4 wkts for 6 runs)

Mon 12th Augsut v Sidmouth (timed game)

WON by 4 wickets

Sidmouth 252 for 9 in 43.2 overs (J Patel 3-31, I Giles 2-29)

OOs 253 for 6 in 35.3 overs (A Dombrandt 78, T Parsons 42, J Patel 31, D Golbey 30, L Giles 27 no)

Tues 13th August v Sandford (40 overs)

LOST by 7 wickets

OOs 211 for 8 (D Golbey 54, C Swadkin 28, P White 25)

Sandford 212 for 3 in 39.3 overs

Wed 14th August v Torquay (35 overs)

LOST by 22 runs

Torquay 161 all out in 33 overs (R Williams 4-5, I Giles 2-21)

OOs 139 all out in 33 overs (M Mitchell 31, P White 30, D Colloff 28)

Thurs 15th August v South Devon (40 overs)

WON by 134 runs

OOs 293 for 8 (P Nayanahrajh 100, S Nayanahrajh 94, M Mitchell 29)

South Devon 159 all out in 35 overs (M Jones 3-7, M Mitchell 2-10, P White 2-30)

Fri 16th August v Kenn (40 overs)

LOST by 4 wickets OOs

OOs 262 for 7 (S Nayanahrajh 66, P Nayanahrajh 57, A Dombrandt 55)

Kenn 265 for 6 in 34 overs (L Giles 2-34, I Giles 2-43)

Old Olavians’ Eton Fives Club

The Old Olavian Fives club had another very busy season. The introduction of a Saturday morning club session during term time was a real success. It enabled regular play for those who cannot make it to league matches during the week and it provided many people with the opportunity to pick up the gloves for the first time in a number of years. Most people that played throughout their schooling at St.Olave’s are very keen to continue playing as adults; it is just a matter of having the right opportunity!

A large number of recent university leavers came back to the game this year as well as a number of older players who have been absent from the game for many years.

There were many highlights in the season. The most important team event in the adult game is the Barber Cup. The Old Olavian Fives team won this again making a tally of ten wins in the past eleven years and a grand total of twelve in our proud history. The winning team on this occasion was James Toop, Howard Wiseman, Sebastian Cooley, David Mew, Matthew Wiseman and Sanjaya Ranasinghe. The final was played at Eton College where the Old Olavians defeated the old Harrovians 2-1.

Sebastian Cooley had another great year, winning the Kinnaird Cup for the Men’s National Open championships. He also won the Northern Championships, the London Tournament and the mixed Championships with his sister Charlotta Cooley, who played extremely well in partnership with her brother. Charlotta Cooley managed also to crown her Fives season by winning the ladies National Championships after a gap of some ten years since she last won this event as a schoolgirl at St. Olave’s.

The Old Olavians’ Ladies team took part in the Richard Black Cup which was held at Eton College. They reached the final where their excellent run of form ended. Also in that ladies team was Marrianne Rees who had a particularly good season. Marrianne reached the National Ladies final where she played brilliantly, helping her to achieve a 2-1 lead in the final. It did seem as though Marrianne was likely to win the ladies nationals for the first time but in the end she lost two sets to three in what was a really fantastic final.

Olavians competed as usual in the adult league in both the first division (fielding two teams) and also in the second division. Whilst we have dominated the first division in recent years, this year the league system was used as a training ground for new up-and-coming players. Chris Self, Sanjay Kundu, Will Phillips and Ross Henderson from the school were regular members of the first team who were able to partner, on a regular basis, top nationallyranked players from within the Old Olavian team. This very strong link between the Alumni and the school team was brought to its climax in the Richard Barber Cup, which is a three-pair tournament in which three old boys compete in partnership with three present school players. For the second year in a row this was won by the Olavians. So many of the school players become used to playing adult league and friendly Fives before they leave school. As a result, it is very natural for them to continue playing as adults when they leave university and again have easy access to the sport.

In a year in which young Olavians won national titles in Rugby Fives (U 14 Singles and U13 Singles and Doubles) it was great to see an Old Olavian also continuing to dominate Rugby Fives in the adult game. James Toop won the National Rugby Fives Singles Championships for the fifth year in a row. This has only been achieved once before and James’ achievements in Rugby Fives have now established him as the second most successful player in the history of the Sport.

Many Old Olavians continue to play a prominent role in the England Team - competing on the international stage through the neutral code of One-wall Handball. Peter White, Peter Cohen, Luke Stradwick, David Mew, Anita Ganguly and Marianne Rees have all represented their country in recent times and many of them took part in the World Championships in the USA.

The Old Olavian Fives club is a really wonderful set-up. Just as at the school, any player, no matter what their standard of play may be, is most welcome to take part. We have great players. We have terrible players! We all get to share this great sport together and have a lot of sociable enjoyment together. It is always the best excuse to meet up with old friends in such a busy life!! Anyone reading this who would like to play Fives again, or indeed try it for the first time, can simply e-mail the Old Olavian Fives

Secretary (Howard Wiseman) on: hwiseman@aol.com. There have also been several Old Boys who have requested to come and watch some school and Old Boys matches. Anyone will be most welcome!!!

Howard Wiseman (1980-87)

OLD OLAVIANS’ NEWS

OLAVIANS 1950-2012

Ron CORK (1962 to 1968) wrote in May 2013 to express disappointment that he had not heard from any of his contemporaries in response to his invitation in the 2012 edition for them to contact him. Perhaps some of them will make just that little extra effort this year. Ron had visited The Shard building near London Bridge, and made the ascent to the viewing area on the 74th floor. He reports that this is a fantastic place to view Tooley Street and the site of the old school.

He took a photograph of our old site – this clearly shows the building work which was going on at the time, and it reminded me of those long ago days of my youth when I used to play cricket with my form-mates against one of the dockland walls.

Ron tells us that the old building is to become The Lalit, “a boutique hotel in a beautiful Grade 11 listed building including a destination signature restaurant and fashionable bar” and it is due to open in 2014. He suggests that the OOs might arrange a visit once it has opened.

Geoffrey HALL (1949-54) – in response to a request from Jane Wells, Geoffrey submitted the following contribution entitled Blitz Boy to Barrister:

Having survived the Blitz as a non-evacuee in South London, I was admitted to STOGS, Tower Bridge in 1949. “My father went to this school and I’d like to follow,” was the dithering response in an admission interview with headmaster Dr R C Carrington! Did this family connection, perhaps, dissuade him from rejecting me outright?

In retrospect the age seems a gloomy time. Bomb sites everywhere. Rationing of food, clothes and petrol was being lifted, but not sweets. That would not come until 1953.

Arriving in the playground with other new boys a salutary warning began to circulate: “If anyone says: ‘Come into the toilets and see the school tadpoles’, Don’t go!” The reason was not provided, further increasing our anxiety.

As a result, when an assembled 1A was asked by elderly form master Mr H G Wright - who had actually taught my father – to call out their names, my own nervous mutter drew the curt response: “What d’ye say boy? Hull? Hole? Holly?” To the merriment of my fellows a nickname was bestowed: Olly.

The daily journey to school, whether sun, rain or snow, involved a mile walk to New Cross station, a 20-minute ride to London Bridge in a smoke-filled carriage packed with coughing commuters, a steep descent into Tooley Street and the rancid fumes of a greasy spoon. Then a long walk past docks, doss-houses, and dingy warehouses.

Sports day, Wednesday I think, required a bus journey to Dulwich where two changing sheds awaited us: rugby for the fit and hearty; a run round Dulwich Park for the others.

Neither there nor at the school gym were any showers available. With our ancient geyser at home operated only on Sunday evenings one joined a weekly crocodile of towel bearers, which, once it had passed the whiffy tannery off Tower Bridge Road, appreciated the watery frolics at Grange Road Baths.

Over the ensuing years, the gloom faded. The Festival of Britain in 1951 helped, but the Queen’s Coronation in 1953, my penultimate year at school, was the start of an astonishing age.

Thanks to the perseverance of my teachers, good GCE results enabled me to get a job at Lloyd’s of London. But in those days any career plans were subject to another wartime relic: National Service.

My own – as an air radar mechanic – was a godsend. Taking daily responsibility for the navigational radar of a B29 Superfortress does a lot for one’s self-confidence.

As a result, once demobilised, I began reading for the Bar being called in 1963. The following decades were hectic: legal publishing and conferences in the UK, United States and Far East, finally founding a family business in 1980 which is still carried on, via the web, with my daughter in New Zealand.

A close friend at school was David Beaman - each of us best man at the other’s wedding. Any information on David appreciated: geof.hall@ntlworld.com.

Constantinos PHANIS (1987-89) has written from Cyprus to tell us of a recent UNESCO publication which he has produced this year. Dr Phanis attended the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine University of London where he earned the following qualifications: BSc in Microbiology (1993) and PhD in Molecular Biology (1996).

From university he spent a month teaching biology at St Olave’s before becoming a biology teacher at the English School of Nicosia in 1998; after two years here he moved to work at the Cyprus Government Schools on the National Biology Curriculum, while for the last five years he has been the Biology Advisor for the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus. Amongst many other responsibilities he is the Cyprus National Coordinator for

He has also been a university lecturer and he is a regular setter of examination papers in Biology in Cyprus.

Constantinos reports that the aforementioned publication is a first collection of SEMEP good practices entitled, Bridging Culture through Science for a Sustainable Environment. He has also published an eco-biology unit for the ESTABLISH project (European Science and Technology in Action: Building Links with Industry, Schools and Home), which is a four-year (2009-13) project funded by the European Commission’s Framework 7 Programme for Science in Society. The overall objective of this project is to facilitate and implement an enquiry-based approach to science education for second level students (age 12 to 18 years) on a widespread scale across Europe by bringing together, within a collaborative environment, the specific stakeholders in science education. The aim of ESTABLISH is to create authentic learning environments for science education by bringing together and involving all the key communities in second level science education. The ESTABLISH group of over 60 partners from eleven European countries are working with these key communities including science teachers and educators, the scientific and industrial communities, the young people and their parents, the policy makers responsible for science curriculum and assessment and the science education research community.

He goes on to tell us that SEMEP is an interdisciplinary environmental education project focusing primarily on the south-eastern Mediterranean sea region. Member countries include: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Malta, Palestinian Authority, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey. The project promotes environmental education through science and intercultural dialogue in the region.

SEMEP involves students at the upper primary and secondary levels in both formal and non-formal sectors. It provides an opportunity to consider environmental issues which are of common concern to countries in the SouthEastern Mediterranean region. Within the framework of the existing school curricula, the project encourages a multitude of science and technology educational approaches in favour of sustainable development, such as problem identification and problem-solving, hands-on activities and determining decision-making parameters. SEMEP is a platform for dialogue and cooperation among students that reaches beyond the school to the community. Intercultural dialogue in the whole region has been promoted in particular through the development of student exchanges between SEMEP countries.

Every year a meeting of the national coordinators is organised, where participants can discuss country reports, best practices and future development of the project.

In Memoriam

We have recently learned of the death at the beginning of September of Barry Langley (1956-63). A fuller note about his life will appear in the next issue.

Michael John ELLIOTT (1966-73): Michael A Hunt (1964-71) wrote ‘with great regret’ in July 2013 with the sad “news of Michael Elliott’s recent death following a short and nasty battle with prostate cancer. Mike was a staunch member and supporter of the OORFC and OOCC. He was a talented fly-half and an excellent batsman and spin bowler, representing Kent in both sports whilst at school and playing for North Wales while at college in Bangor where he gained a degree in Education specialising in PE and Creative Arts. On leaving college, he embarked on a successful teaching career at several schools, including a period at one in France. At the time of his untimely death, Mike was a Year-4 teacher at St Olave’s Preparatory School in New Eltham, where he was very popular with staff, parents and children. He will be missed by many there, as well as by his fellow Old Olavians who have many fond memories of him.”

Richard Kenneth MARLOW (1951-57) died on 16 June 2013. A very full obituary appeared in the national press: there follows a summary of that which appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 1st July. We are grateful to Ron Cork for brining this to our attention. Richard Marlow was one of the few choral directors of modern times also to pursue a full academic career; he served as musical director at Trinity College, Cambridge, for almost forty years, and was a pioneer in bringing women’s voices to the fore in cloistered choirs.

As a composer and arranger, notably of settings of the psalms and descants, Marlow was a great talent; among his best-known works are Veni Creator Spiritus, a motet for Whitsun, and a popular evensong setting.

Although Trinity has a choral tradition dating back several centuries, it was not until 1982 that female voices were heard regularly there. The mixed-voice ensemble proved to be a success for Marlow, and over the next 24 years he released more than 30 discs with the Choir of Trinity College as well as taking them on many overseas tours.

His style of direction was clear and incisive, drawing a clean, beautiful and vibrato-free sound from his singers, regardless of sex, and putting paid to the belief that sacred music is the exclusive preserve of the male voice.

Richard was born in July 1939 in Banstead, Surrey, the son of an electricity board worker. He failed his 11-plus, but judicious lobbying by his father won him a place at St Olave’s. (At the age of 11, Richard went to my father’s school, Archbishop Temple’s, near Lambeth Palace, and I still remember my father’s pride when Richard was ‘promoted’ to St Olave’s, the school which I was attending at that time - Ed).

While a choirboy at Southwark Cathedral he sang for the Coronation in 1953, after which the boys were invited for tea at the Lords. Marlow recalled how he and another boy ended up at the wrong reception and, while trying to find their correct group, came across an unattended royal carriage and climbed into it.

He won an organ scholarship to Selwyn College, Cambridge, where, after taking a First in his finals, he was awarded a research fellowship.

After three years lecturing at Southampton University, Marlow was appointed to Trinity College and soon set up the Cambridge University Chamber choir. He disbanded the group in 1989 to concentrate on the mixed-voice Trinity ensemble. On several occasions he was invited by Benjamin Britten to conduct one of the Bach Passions at Aldeburgh, with Peter Peers singing the Evangelist.

Although he retired in 2006 Marlow remained a Fellow of Trinity and continued to teach there. He had a passion for steam trains, volunteering on heritage railways. His Hornby model railway, which was laid out in the loft of his home in Cambridge, ran to more than a mile of track. In later life he learnt to swim, eventually covering more than a mile a day.

Marlow is survived by his wife Annette, whom he married in 1964, and their two sons.

Brian MONKS (1947-54) died on 4th June 2013 at the age of 77. His wife, Judy wrote with the sad news. She tells us that, “after his school days, on which he looked back with much affection and gratitude, Brian went for teacher training at Chester College. There followed a successful career teaching in secondary schools in London, Berkshire and Hampshire. He was also involved in work in Christian education nationally, being for a time the chairman of the Association of Christian Teachers.

“His time at St Olave’s expanded his horizons, and gave him a love of music, a meticulous approach to all his work, and thoroughness at all times.”

Judy sent the news on a card showing a painting of the locomotive, The Cornish Riviera, and she explains that she did so “because railways were always close to his heart, his father having been a railwayman working at Kings Cross Top Shed, until very seriously injured by one of the locos on which he was working”.

THE OLD OLAVIANS HONORARY OFFICERS 2013

PRESIDENT Aydin Önaç, Headmaster

The Headmaster’s House, St Olave’s Grammar School, Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent BR6 9SH

Tel: 01689 820101

CHAIRMAN

Chris Harris, chris.r.harris@ukgateway.net

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Bill Prouse

Paul Ouseley

Trevor Read

EDITOR OF THE OLD OLAVIAN

John Brown, 60 The Lawns, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire, DE13 9DB

Tel: 01283 813976 e-mail: johnmbrown60@gmail.com

SECRETARIES OF AFFILIATED CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

CRICKET CLUB

Lance Giles, c/o 44 Harwood Avenue, Bromley, Kent, BR1 3DU

Tel: 07891 725488 e-mail: lancegiles@hotmail.com

FIVES CLUB

Howard Wiseman, 7 Genoa Road, Anerley SE20 8ES

Tel: 020 8778 0752

OLD OLAVIANS’ LODGE (No. 5758)

Peter G Hudson OBE

9 Downs View Close, Pratts Bottom

Orpington, Kent, BR6 7SU

Tel: 01689 858583 e-mail: hudsons91@btinternet com

RUGBY CLUB

Phil Grayson, 57, Byrne Road, Balham, London SW12 7JB

Tel: 07971 878750

HOLYOAK ROOM

St Olave’s School, Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SH

Tel: 01689 830744