The Notes Winter 2023 - Official Journal of the Dunstonian Assocation

Winter 2023

The Notes The official journal of The Dunstonian Association

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

The

NOTES

CONTENTS Page 3

Committee 2023-24:

Welcome from the Chair

Richard Fagg (Chair) '85 dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk

Dunstonian News & Scrapbook

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Dunstonian Recollections

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Dunstonians returning to their Alma Mater

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Sophie New '01

WWII - Stanford Tuck

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Zoe Moran '19

Dunstonian's Books - Part 2

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Yanoulla Kakoulli '01

Spotlight on

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David Edwards '83 Dunstonian Officer

Meet our new Dunstonian Officer

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Sport Round up

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The Archives Corner

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Announcements

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Giving Back

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Dawn of a new era - New House System

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SDC News

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Upcoming Events

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Online Shop

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Julian Platford '88 Michael Barling '96

Isabelle Blake-James Director of Development and Alumni Relations at SDC 020 8516 7308 iblakejames@stdunstans.og.uk Alex Brewer SDC Head of Sixth Form Rebecca Redding Director of Futures Richard Risebro Director of Sport Danny Gower SDC Assistant Head (Co-curricular)

Dunstonian Office & Archives: dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

Welcome from the Chair

Summer is well and truly over and so a very warm welcome to the Winter 2023 edition of The Notes. With its contents taking a look back into our past, your stories, changes to the House system as well as a look forward to future events across the Association, I hope you find something of interest.

The summer ended for me visiting the College, when it was truly a pleasure to formally welcome the 2023 Year 13 cohort to the Association after they collected their results on the morning of Thursday 17 August. In some respects I felt such an intruder on such a private, emotional and proud moment for these young Dunstonians and their families.

But recognizing so many faces and having witnessed so many of their achievements over the past few years, it was an emotional experience to feel part of.

It is fantastic to see so many of you sharing your photos of your own reunion events. Please continue to do so and reach out to the Dunstonian Office for help in promotion if needed.

My congratulations to all and should your plans involve continued study, travel, or reflection in the coming months, we wish you every success and enjoyment. But as I have stated before “we remind you that just as the College has helped you to date, the Association is here for your post school years. For connections, social events and sports enjoyment, but also for your continued growth and development beyond your school years and into working life and professional careers, our network awaits your engagement. So do please reach out, at any point, stay connected and seek support if needed.”

On a personal note, I wanted to make mention of the recent sad loss of Robin Austin. He joined the College’s teaching staff back in the 1980s, and was one of those young ‘Masters’ that just changed things up. I remember attending parties at his house in Greenwich and him being a force of nature. Later, he taught our own sons at the College and remember him so fondly. Rest in peace Robin.

As you will read, it has been a very busy year to date, with a number of familiar events such as Commemoration Day at Southwark Cathedral, but also new events such as The John Grundy Trophy golf competition and the inaugural Dunstonians vs The College golf competition. I hope this gains in interest and popularity in future years.

Also my thanks to all Dunstonians who supported the recent Careers event at the College.

My continued special thanks to our Committee Members for their support and contribution and particularly to Peter Brown, Tom Coling and Aimee Montague who step down. Thanks also for the efforts of our SDC Connect Office team, who do so much to drive these events and other initiatives forward that help us all connect.

Finally on behalf of the Committee, I wish you all a warm Winter and look forward to seeing you soon.

Richard Fagg ('85) Chair of The Dunstonian Association

The Dunstonian Association wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

NEWS DUNSTONIAN

& Scrapbook

A Life Fulfilled Roy Payton ('55)

"Writing poetry has been an important part of my life in recent years and I have found it fulfilling and very therapeutic.

My life’s journey has been full of colour fun and challenge. The road has sometimes been bumpy and quite daunting, but very rewarding.

It has been said that success in life is experiencing, a series of failures without losing enthusiasm - just as it is with writing poetry that many attempts get thrown away but with enthusiasm the finished article eventually appears with great pride and a feeling of profound satisfaction.

Memories from Ian Tibbett ('66) "I went to St Dunstans in 1953 or 54 and at that time was the youngest boy in the school. I can remember Mr Early pulling me out in front of the class to announce this (I was born in Dec '47).

I was eventually requested to leave, having added forgery to my long list of crimes in 1962/63 - having amassed 12 hours of masters’ detention and 24 hours of prefects’ detention! Hence the reference to a black sheep.

Whilst I was overjoyed to leave school at the age of 15 and start work in the

I hope you enjoy reading A Life Fulfilled as much as I have composing it and please remember, "every poem tells a story” - capturing some of the highs and lows that are part of all our lives as we climb our Mountain of Life and the immense value I have found of being a Dunstonian especially during my rugby playing days.

I strongly urge you to try writing your own poetry. If you don’t try you will never know if you have it in you! I wish you all a long and joyous life and please remember: 'The best thing to hold onto in life is each other!"

Roy Payton Eastbourne 2023

City as an insurance broker, I realise now how much I learnt at St Dunstan’s and how much I owe the college. I was not the best pupil, did no favours to Johnson House but without the College I wouldn’t have made the career I did.

Anyway, back to the point as I have many memories of my days: some good and some less so (I noticed that Peter Jackson refers to chalk board rubbers being thrown - if you were lucky, the soft chalky side hit you!)

But I do look back fondly overall.

Happy days."

Erratum On page 39 of the Winter Edition 2022, we mentioned that the Prep Block opened its doors in 1973, whereas it was in fact during the 1968/69 academic year. Thank you to all the Dunstonians who rightly spotted the error.

A Life Fulfilled Life is like the sands of time slipping through a finger Mostly it is safe and kind and bad times never linger But sometimes storm clouds gather and suddenly show their might Turning some days into a very fearful plight But then the sun might suddenly show it’s face Making that actual moment a very beautiful place Life itself can be viewed this way Where death can be the night following a beautiful day Why should we regard death as the end and not the beginning?

And after a well lived life say “Sadly passed away” After a life which was very fulfilling I have two families I must admit One down on earth, the other in Heaven Where my son and daughter with my Wife proudly sit The influence my daughter has had on my life down on earth You would never believe – Because of her I have been inspired– motivated and how I have achieved!

Although she was Heaven sent more than fifty years ago Hers was certainly not a “Goodbye Daddy” but a very positive “Hello” So to all who have lost loved ones who have passed away Why not Say “Hello” - allow the sun to show it’s face And you too can turn your life into a very positive place.

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Mark Batchelor ('01) "I left SDC in 2001 and went to the University of Birmingham to study Geography and Planning and while there I further realised my passion centred on the urban environment, development and regeneration. At the end of my second year, thanks to Tom and Peter Coling putting me in touch with him, Fred Robinson (a fellow OD) gave me 2 week’s work experience at his consultancy, Robinson Escott Planning. At the end of that I returned to university further enthused and clear in my own mind that I wanted to have a career in planning consultancy. I was lucky enough for Fred to then offer me a Graduate position and I had 10 very happy years working with him before relocating to Windsor and consultancy in central London.

Mark Pronger ('84) & CJT Pronger ('58)

Thank you to Mark for sending in a vintage CCF picture from 1956 in which his father CJT Pronger (’58) features on the second row, second from the left.

John Malone ('53)

Sarah Moore and her husband Christopher visited from the USA in the Autumn to walk down memory lane and find Sarah’s father’s Cricket Board as he was a captain in the 1950s. We also found his school card as well as a cricket score log book with the mention of John.

David Jefferys ('70)

My time with Fred inspired me to set up my own consultancy, which I achieved in 2022, founding 4TY Planning Ltd. Where did the name come from? Well, town planning is all about developing an in depth understanding of a site, its context and the wider opportunities and benefits which can be delivered from development. My journey into planning began at St Dunstan’s and I wanted the business name to reference the College.

The suffix of a postcode captures the idea of the wider impacts of a development and the College’s postcode is SE6 4TY. I advise clients on a wide range of projects across London and the South East, including housing, care, commercial/ industrial, education and sport and leisure My projects range from householder and small housing schemes to major redevelopment proposals, including tall building projects in London, film studio expansion, leisure and wellness resort development and pioneering commercial and agricultural proposals."

David came back to the College at the start of the academic year for a powerful talk to our aspiring medical students. David is a great supporter of the College and is also on our Development Board.

After training as a Physician at Guy's Hospital, David followed a career in clinical and academic medicine and then worked in senior positions at the Department of Health and its agencies, in charge of medicines evaluation, safety and medical technology.

Rupert Evenett ('81)

Congratulations to Rupert Evenett (‘81), who was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year’s honours list for services to education and to the community. In his own words “the MBE was chiefly as Chair of Christ the King Sixth Forms which we have grown to three sites and some 2000 students in neighbouring Lewisham, Brockley and Sidcup - three ambitious and inclusive sixth forms with strong A Level and Vocational (BTec and T Level) offers. I have also been a board member of Goldsmiths, University of London and was Treasurer of the Old Royal Naval College. So contributing to education and heritage & culture in south east London as a born and bred south east Londoner.”

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

John White ('55) recalls his friendship with Stephen Chaplin ('52)

Donation by Mike Rogers ('69) Thank you to Mike for donating the items belonging to Maurice Feltham (’47), an enthusiastic member of the Association and long-term member, player, president, treasurer and auditor of the ODRFC.

"Having received The Notes, I see what I have been missing! Your visit to Stephen Chaplin was of great interest to me. Did he tell you of me? If not, then we have known each other since I was about 5!

He lived almost opposite us in Lancing Road, Orpington, he at 43 and we at 44, although the houses were not opposite each other due to a bend in the road!

My father and his were great friends, my parents being from Brockley and Stephen’s Blackheath (both via Bromley), both Surrey supporters and both Air Raid Wardens! We went to the same prep school - Montclair House - as did a number of ODs, but Stephen being 3 years older than me was then not a personal friend, although we knew each other well.

My friends were of my age, added to which he was a non-games player due to (I think) rheumatic fever. Did he tell you his father, Ivor, was also an OD? His father - who worked for Brown Shipley, a merchant bank - was badly affected

John Witcombe ('57) writes...

"It is strange for me as my attendance at the College was so brief and at a time of events that eclipsed a child going to school.

Since then I have spent much of my life on what I call adventures.

The significance for me is the fantastic development and quality of educational involvement the school has encompassed.

Education in my life has had to be either a part of who I am (the arts, in a classical

Thank you to James Fiske ('96) "Wow. Just wow! Thank you so much for your time today and the work you did through the archives for my name. I really appreciated it.

Thank you to all three of you for your time and the tour around the school. I am awash with a range of emotions now as I travel back home to Plymouth. So many memories came flooding back. 99% of them positive memories of my time at the school. It was a trip down memory lane that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was apprehensive this morning about what I would find at the college but I am thrilled to see such a vibrant setting for the pupils and the progress made since I left but also more recently."

Ian Smith ('69) Ian was delighted to be awarded on 3 June 2023 at Ely Cathedral, an honorary degree of Master of the University from the Open University for his exceptional contribution to education and culture. The nomination was for “the outstanding influence" you have had on the musical, artistic and cultural life of Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire, enriching the lives of those with whom you have worked.

by being blown across the lower end of Lancing Road when a V2 landed behind the cinema in the High Street. I was in the hall of our house; the front door came in and the blast made some tiles come off, and broke our loo! After we left school and Orpington we lost contact, until a very old Montclair friend - much later Head of History and a deputy head of Sevenoaks - rang me and said “you must go and see an exhibition in Orpington of Stephen Chaplin’s paintings of his wartime memories”. My wife and I went along.

Picture 17 was of two men in profile sitting in armchairs round a fire. One was my father and his profile was quite accurate, despite Stephen not seeing him for very many years!

As you might guess, Stephen and I got in touch and have remained so ever since; he says I am the person who has known him longest …. and he's probably right. Stephen has also painted murals (I think they were) for Orpington and, if I remember correctly, for hospitals, Bromley being one."

way) and importantly of a practical nature. ( You can't live and travel on a yacht in tropical waters for 15 years without learning all about survival in every sense.)

What the school has shown is an education that is not based on one outcome for a student, but offers many alternatives, A rare thing in modern education.

I like the selection of house names so if a thumbs up sign helps please add mine."

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Lord Michael Grade ('60)

Mohammad Chowdhury ('85) and Paul Slade ('84)

We were delighted to welcome Lord Michael Grade ('60), Chair of OFCOM, back to the College for a tour with our Head Boy Rio, as well as a lunch with the Head and a superb lecture and Q&A in a packed theatre about the function of the House of Lords what Freedom of Speech means for our country.

Two good friends grabbing a coffee in Brighton, Melbourne, Australia. Mohammad has carved out a wonderful career in digital and telecoms consultancy around the world advising governments and CEOs, and more recently is the author of a book - Border Crossings - launched multinationally, plus he is a star of TV and radio in Australia. Mohammad also kindly agreed to take part in our first Xmas Literary Lectures this year! This is Paul’s second time in Melbourne after a career in medicine and the pharmaceutical industry which has taken him to Melbourne via Brussels, Paris, and Princeton NJ.

South-West Lunch reunion - October 2023

On 7 October 2023, a dozen Dunstonians gathered in Exeter for an annual luncheon reunion. Thank you very much to Mike Foster ('68) for coordinating the reunion in memory of Anthony Jolliffe ('55) and John Simpson ('56) who both passed away since October 2022 but who had been the previous organisers over many years.

Attendees included: Stephen Baker ('68), Michael Foster ('68), Peter Kemble ('64), Sam Lewis ('76), Andrew Mew ('66), Paul Miller ('68), Noel Rayner ('65), Trevor Smith ('75), Stewart Wilson ('75) and David Young ('51).

Dunstonian Day 2023 Thank you to all the Dunstonians from the 1950s onwards who came for a tour of the College before gathering on a sweltering Saturday at the cricket pavilion (now turned Wellness Centre) opposite the top field of the College.

Our Dunstonian chef for the day, Richard Fagg ('85) above, cooked the most wonderful BBQ with the help of his wife Emma.

Recollections

by Jeremy Moss ('53) Jeremy Moss (‘53) was delighted to reconnect with some fellow Dunstonians thanks to the Dunstonian Office in November 2023. He recalls starting in Junior School at SDC some years after WWII in a class of 34. He developed an interest in languages which he persued through the school up to O’ and A’ Levels.

Stephen Dyer (’80) writes "We managed to arrange a get together recently, we first met at the Fountain and Ink, Stamford Street near Southbank for a couple of refreshments and then moved onto The Founders Arms on the river near the Tate Modern for a couple more refreshments and some fine food.

The photo is in The Founder’s Arms, left to right as follows: Russ Harrison, Iain Blazey, Don Lindsay, David James, Clive Archer, Stephen Dyer, Bob Pitman, Russ Hackwood and Paul Sibun.

It was especially good to have Don back as we hadn't seen him for a while and David James joined us for the very first time, it was as pupils at SDC that some of us last met. So, it's been a while! A thoroughly enjoyable evening and we look forward to the next time."

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

Tim Newton ('69) "I thought I'd let you know about the eventual fulfilment earlier this year of a boyhood ambition to become a sporting international. My youthful fantasy was about playing at Twickenham, but I took up running at the tail end of my rugby career and ran the first two London marathons in '81 and '82. Family and career commitments paused my competitive racing for the next 30 years, but I resumed on retiring from full-time local education authority work twelve years ago, and have been successful at club (Ipswich Jaffa), county (Suffolk) and national level. In the last couple of years I qualified three times for the England Masters MV70 road running team at half and full marathon distances, but frustratingly was prevented from wearing the England vest through injury or a clash with travel plans.

However in March I was finally able to wear the vest, lining up with other English and Welsh masters runners on the start line of the Chester 10k. I'd been trying to manage a knee injury over the previous months and sadly I only managed to run 2k before having to pull out to prevent further damage to a painful torn meniscus. The knee has now greatly improved and I'm back in training and hopeful of qualifying again for England Masters next year at the Manchester marathon.

I recall that there was a successful school cross-country running team during the 60's under the direction of Ralph Brown and Bill Wade, himself a top club runner with Blackheath Harriers. Given that running is the most popular participatory sport in the UK, and there must be many hundreds of Dunstonians who now run on a regular basis, I wondered how many of us enjoy going out on the roads and trails, running the local parkrun, and what racing successes have been achieved. So, just for fun, I've set up an Old Dunstonian Runners group on the free Strava running app. I'm the only member at the moment, and would be delighted to be joined by Dunstonians of any level or age-group to share our activities and progress (www.strava.com/clubs/1186463)."

George’s for doing what they did, I owe them my life.”

David’s last memory is being halfway up Ditchling Beacon and overtaking his cycling partner. His partner then recalls him being flat on the ground in front of him. The team from St George’s was directly behind him and in less than ten seconds were ‘all over him like a rash’ performing CPR.

David Graney ('76)

David was driven to the top of Ditchling Beacon by an on-site paramedic, he was

David recently got in touch, having taken part in this year's London to Brighton cycle ride to raise money for Child Bereavement UK. The journey proved to be somewhat more eventful than he might have wished. A press release from St George's Hospital tells the story: "If cycling 55 miles from London to Brighton was not a noble enough feat for a team of 30 paediatric health care specialists, then saving a man's life on-route certainly was.

On Sunday, while raising funds for St George’s Hospital Charity’s Time for a Change Appeal, halfway up Ditchling Beacon, the team came across a man who was collapsed, with no pulse, and whose chest was not moving normally.

The team sprang into action, immediately putting their healthcare expertise hats on. Dr Nick Prince, Consultant Paediatric Intensivist, and Dr Thomas Breen, Consultant Anaesthetist, supported the man's airways and gave him life-saving CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

63 year old David Graney, whose life the team saved, said: “Stunningly brilliant. I am eternally grateful to the team from St

airlifted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. There he had an angiogram, and it was found that he had restricted flow to his heart, which is what caused it to stop.

The very next morning the team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital fitted him with a stent to open the blood flow to his heart".

We are very pleased to report that David is recovering well and, when he wrote to us, was looking forward to returning to work.

David’s son passed away 25 years ago at the age of 10 years old, and the impact on his family was profound. He has since made it his mission to support families going through a similar experience by supporting Child Bereavement UK.

Sir Stephen Laws KC ('68) Thank you to Sir Stephen Laws KC ('68) who came to the College in November 2023 to deliver a lecture to our Year 10 and above students studying History and/or Politics or interested in a career in the law.

About 40 students gathered in the Great Hall to listen to his talk on "Law versus Politics and the relationships between them (how laws are made)". It was refreshing to hear from a former First Parliamentary Counsel that politicians across the board do work together behind the scenes in order for laws to be passed and amended, and that it is only occasionally that they disagree on key issues.

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Ed Main ('76) and his Dunstonian crew in Birmingham "A group of school leavers from 1975 have continued to try and meet up over the last few years, almost always organised by Mark Pooley. We often meet up for a meal in London in the Autumn, but also try to hold a summer meeting over a weekend.

This year we all met in Diss, Norfolk.

I've listed the leavers in the photo above. 1975 was well before any girls were pupils. The majority of the group were all keen members of the Signals section of the CCF, although I had many memorable and enjoyable years in the Naval Section.For interest, I did manage to meet up with Chris Taylor

in Bristol in November 2022. Chris was on the teaching staff in the later years of my time at School and although I was never was taught by him, he looked after all the Duke of Edinburgh training and expeditions which I undertook.

As such we've stayed in contact since 1975. Those D of E trips were my introduction to a lifetime interest in Mountaineering."

Faces in the photo above are: School leavers from 1975; Left to right. Simon Wood, Mike Chandler, Mark Pooley, Geoff Scotchbrook, Chris Huntley, Neil Fowler, David Murray, Frank Mace, Malcolm Tibbits.

A small ‘band of brothers’ gathered in ‘Brum’ 30/31 Oct courtesy of some testing organisation, planning and corralling by Mark Newton. In the Wellington pub for a post-lunch and pre-dinner pint are from L to R: Mark Newton, Paul Floyd, Mark Goodyear, Sam Lewis, David Trew, Colin Callaghan, Ed Main and Brian Taylor. The mix of Head Boys, House Captains, CCF REME, Signals or Naval cadets, and quite varied paths of A Level studies provided for a very broad ‘memory lane’ - with particular thanks to those with such a vivid and detailed recall of events and activities! A lively and thoroughly entertaining reunion that concluded with an early thought to a ‘50 year’ event in 2026.

1983 Christmas Dinner Thank you to Sean Malone ('83) for organising another superb annual Christmas dinner in London, for the 1983 cohort.

Class of 1977 Covent Garden Reunion - 7 October 2023

From left: Stephen Dutton, Richard Lipson, Peter Kirby, Richard Jessup, Nick Jay, Nigel Kees, Desmond Thompson, Jeremy East, Brian Freeman, Kim Stephenson

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

NEWS INSTA

From Recent Alumni Aimee Montague ('19) in Chicago

“

It turns out that three contemporaries when at the College, have ended up working at St Dunstan’s, namely Lesley Gordinski ('19), Jack Hall ('19) and Zoe Moran ('19) :

Returning to St Dunstan's for my teacher training feels like stepping into a familiar embrace.

Despite the new facilities, which are great, the essence of the College remains unchanged a timeless core of shared memories and unwavering spirit.

Lesley Gordinski ('19) During my time as a student I loved creating productions as an actor and coming back to continue making theatrical magic as a technician is nothing short of an absolute blast.

Aside from being thrilled that I can give callbacks rather than be given, it is such a pleasure to continue to develop already wonderful relationships with my old staff members and create new relationships with the newer members of staff and I look forward to see what else is round the corner!

Jack Hall ('19) Teaching here I've been able to access a warm, welcoming and familiar sense of community that's hard to find as a freelancer. It's good to be back.

Zoe Moran ('19)

Maxwell Blumschein ('23)

Congratulations to Maxwell Blumschein for becoming a member of the Oriental Club. All alumni under 25 can join the Private Club off Oxford Street under the OC7 scheme at a nominal price.

Please contact the Dunstonian office for more details at: dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk

We wish Aimee Montague best of luck in her master in Chicago (USA) in Religion, Literature and Visual Culture.

A message from Jessica Kesse ('22)

“

I wanted to share some exciting updates regarding my academic journey. After taking a productive gap year, I am currently enrolled at Queen Mary University, pursuing a BA degree in Politics and Sociology. While my initial plan was to study Law, I have decided to undertake a Law conversion course upon completing my three-year BA program.

I want to express my gratitude for the support and guidance I received during my time at St Dunstan’s. The experiences and knowledge I gained while studying there have been invaluable in shaping my educational path, and I am confident that they will continue to serve me well at my new university.

“

Young Alumni Reunited

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The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

Nehemiah Ephrem ('19) Ernst & Young Congratulations to Nehemiah Ephrem ('19) who started a Graduate scheme at Ernst & Yong in their Canary Wharf offices in Spring 2023 after graduating from the London School of Economics.

"Since leaving SDC in 2019, I have graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) after reading Geography and Economics, yet I have continued my local community support throughout my undergraduate years by providing free weekly tutoring to secondary school students through the education charity IntoUniversity.

Tyrone Ziwa ('22) Tough Mudder Challenge July 2023 Tyrone and a group of Dunstonian friends entered Europe’s Toughtest Mudder aka ETM which he described as “Tough Mudder on steroids” to fundraise for several charities that meant a lot to them.

Each participant must run as many 10km obstacle filled laps as they can in 12 hours, starting at 8pm and ending at 8am (yes through the night!). Any participant

that completes 60km in the 12 hour period qualifies for the World's toughest mudder next year, so of course that's our goal!

“Alongside our personal ties to the 4 charities, we are doing this because we are very blessed to be able-bodied, young, in-good-health individuals and therefore we believe that it's only right that we use these gifts to provide aid to those who need it the most.”

They raised nearly £1000 and the College supported them in their endeavours.

More recently, I have begun a new role with Ernst and Young (EY) on their graduate scheme in their Personal Advisory Services (PAS) Tax team. Despite the challenges of this role, I have been keen to maintain my support to various groups of society through other volunteering opportunities, supporting refugees in my local borough in English language, Maths, and other key subjects as of late.

Such education, work and volunteering opportunities may not have ever been grasped without the education I received at SDC. I am forever grateful to the college."

“

Dariel Canaj ('19) Medical Student I am now a Fourth Year Medical Student at the University of Southampton so I have not started postgraduate life just yet. The first couple of years were quite challenging with COVID as most of the content was online and this made it difficult to settle in; however, since third year it has been a lot more fun and interesting as COVID restrictions have eased off over time and starting placement in healthcare settings in third year has been a lot more enjoyable than just doing online lectures.

Generally, my days consist of hospital work from the morning till late afternoon, with further revision or assignments in the evening. Being on placement is unlike any other teaching opportunity; whilst it was daunting when I first started, I now thoroughly enjoy it and is the best part of the course. It allowed me to finally put the theory I’ve learnt in the first two years into practice (such as performing a range of clinical skills and clerking patients) and the knowledge I have gained from the fellow doctors and consultants has been invaluable for my education. It also provided me with early exposure to a wide variety of settings such as observing procedures in theatre which is always intriguing.

Other than my uni work, I have tried my best to maintain a good work/life balance; I joined the MedSoc football society and played for a few years whilst also joining many other societies especially in the first few years. I have also started working as a healthcare assistant whenever I am able to do part time work. This also provides me with extra learning opportunities as well as a source of income as I study.

Congratulations to Anna Lloyd ('01) Congratulation to Anna Lloyd ('01) and her charity Street Child for being chosen as the international charity to be supported by The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal this year, alongside two domestic charities.

An incredible achievement for the charity! All funds donated to the appeal will support Street Child’s work globally to help the most marginalised children around the world.

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

DUNSTONIAN

RECOLLECTIONS Life after St Dunstan's, recalled by three Dunstonians...

"I was born on 31 July 1930 in Eltham, South East London.

My father was a professional soldier who joined the Army straight from school and spent most of his life attached to the Royal Horse Artillery Regiment reaching rank of Warrant Officer Class 1.

When I was six months old the Regiment was posted to India and we spent the next seven years travelling all over the country with the Army.

I cannot remember much about my schooling during this period, but I do remember being taught NOT to play with any snakes, giant spiders or scorpions that I might come into contact with.

Making friends with the monkeys who used to visit us occasionally out of their nearby jungle was also considered unwise.

We returned to the UK shortly before the start of WW2 and again moved to Eltham to live with my Grandparents for a while before finding a house of our own. We did not see very much of my farther during the war as his Regiment was engaged in most of the major campaigns including Dunkirk, The North African Campaign and the D Day landings to liberate Europe. Like many soldiers Dad never, ever, mentioned his experiences during this time.

During the early part of the War I was

awarded a scholarship and chose SDC as my preferred school. Unfortunately, the college was evacuated at the time and like many others I had to attend emergency school at Brockley County Grammar, then Colfe's Grammar (before it was bombed) followed by Askes Haberdashers at New Cross. Eventually joining SDC when it returned to Catford.

In view of my somewhat unconventional education, it was not surprising that my academic achievements were not brilliant. My sporting memories include paying House Rugby for Bennett, as I had not played Rugby before, my training consisted of running up and down the touchline 10 minutes before each match, having Rugby balls thrown at me by regular members of the team. The Captain decided my best position would be in the middle of the scrum where I could cause the least confusion and still enjoy the game.

I was later invited to play cricket for the Old Boys versus the School on old boys' day. I was not really a cricketer but am proud of my top score of seventeen not outs and taking 2 wickets in the same match.

One my other memories consisted of a journey to London Bridge Station with the Combined Cadet Force in my Army uniform and being allowed to march through the City to the ruins of St Dunstan in the East. This was a church which was almost destroyed by German bombs during the War. The damage was so severe that it ws considered beyond repair and was abandoned with nature taking over what was left (there are wonderful pictures of this online). Our visit was to attend a memorial service for those lost in the War. I understand it is now a park which is often visited by

overseas tourists.

Being a regular soldier who had spent his whole life in the Army, my father was one of the last to be demobilised when the War ended. He found it difficult to settle in civvy street and eventually became a civilian clerk attached to his old Regiment.

I sadly had to leave SDC prematurely to help with the family finances.

In his younger days my father was a fine athlete and all-round sportsman but in 1960 at the age of 56 he passed away after a sudden heart attack. In view of his general fitness, we were all convinced his experiences in the War were a major factor in his early death. My mother continued to be the head of the family until she died at the age of 91.

During the war, ballroom dancing became very popular and my two sisters persuaded me to join them at our local Dance Studio. It was there that I met my one and only girlfriend Pamela. We became regular dance partners and we competed in the Kent County Armature Championships a few times. When our two children were born, we ceased competing and I became a part-time dance teacher. Pam and I continued dancing socially into our late 70s and enjoyed every minute of it.

Pam and I were married in 1951 (I was 20 and Pam was 19) and enjoyed a very happy married life for 65 years until she sadly passed away 5 years ago at the age of 85.

After completing my National Service in the RAF, I joined the United Friendly Insurance Company (now part of the Royal London Group) which was founded and ran by the Balding Family and I was

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

By this time, I had become interested in Golf and have been a member of Sundridge Park Golf Club for over 40 years although I no longer play. I was also a long-time member of the OD Golfing Society, which I was privileged to Captain the early 1980s.

I retired from work at the age of 61 and spent most of my time playing golf and spending time with my newly born grandchildren.

My general health is quite good, thanks to being well looked after and cared for

by Jane and my granddaughter Kathryn, both of whom live locally and visit me almost every day.

A life story hardly a suitable subject for a blockbuster Hollywood movie but one I have enjoyed immensely.

Well I think that is quite enough of my rambling, but the other thing I would say is that I am a very lucky chap! I have been part of a very closeknit family, and was blessed with 2 loving parents with 2 brothers and 2 sisters, a very loving wife Pamela, 2 children of my own (Martin 72 & Jane 67), 4 grandchildren and 6 greatgrandchildren."

A.E.Hole ('46) Known as E.A. Hole in school, but Ted to my family and friends.

“

Professor Bernard Pearn-Rowe ('67)

I spent a lot of my early teens in Croydon where my mother was a head of department at Shirley Secondary school. I spent many evenings attending meetings of the British Astronomical Association at 24 Blake Road, Croydon.

It's a lifetime ago, but I think the years I spent at St Dunstan's were 1959 to 1967. I was lucky enough to be awarded full colours for cross-country running and I was the resident ‘miler’ in the school athletics team. Maybe I was, but I don't remember ever being beaten. I was Ross House Captain, Head Sub-Prefect, and cadet Under Officer in the CCF. There can never have been a Dunstonian who was more proud of his school. Even while attending school, I marvelled at the opportunities I was being given.

With many others, I went to Buckingham Palace to receive my Duke of Edinburgh's Gold award. With many others, I trained in scuba diving and achieved a qualification recognised by the Royal Navy! A small group of us trained in rugged outdoor survival with the SAS Regiment in North Wales! And as a result of the training and experience I received in drama at St Dunstan's, I was tentatively offered a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) which I declined in favour of a place at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School.

Back in the 60s, no other kid was blessed with the opportunities that I was given at St Dunstan's – and I knew it.

After completing my mandatory hospital training, I decided to emigrate to Australia. It was one of the best decisions I ever made, although I was saddened even then that it broke my link with the Old Dunstonians.

“

surprised to find that two sons of the founder Richard & Noel, who were both senior executives, were both ODs! It was there that I also met Ken Parkerson (another OD) who later became president of the OD Assiciation. On his retirement I succeeded him as Head of the Company's Mortgage Operations.

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“

Graham Morris ('58)

I have not been very good at keeping you up to date with my movements since I left St Dunstans in 1958. This letter should put this right: First, my family: I married my wonderful wife Sue in 1962, and we lived together, all over England, and a spell in Nigeria, until she died in 2022 (we missed our 60th Anniversary by 4 months).

We have two daughters, Sally and Claire. Sadly, Sue was a victim of dementia and had to go to a care home in 2020, where she died in 2022. The last few years have not been easy for me, and they do not seem to be getting any better.

I went to London University and took up rowing at my College where I spent three superb years in one boat or another, and ended up a Junior/Senior Grade oarsman, won four cups, and became the President of the Boat Club.

I also managed to get a degree in Chemical Engineering. I continued my rowing, having lived in Chester and Maidenhead. After that, I had to make do with sailing, having done this at Eastbourne, Nigeria (Lagos), Datchet and Broxbourne.

My career path divided itself into two

phases, separated by two years in Nigeria.

Swaziland (as it was then), Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

I call the first my 'Detergent Phase'.

I worked for Unilever, LB&A, R&C and PZ. These jobs involved R&D, Consultancy and Project Management, all with some soap, oils or detergent content. This phase ended after two years in Nigeria, where I was General Manager for a huge Detergent Factory (25 tons per hour) in Ikorodu, just outside Lagos. That was a never to be forgotten experience, especially the Lagos Yacht Club. It may be of interest, but I developed one of the versions of Persil Soap Powder (where has that product gone!).

I finally stopped the last of my jobs in 2019. Sue’s dementia made it impossible, but I had a good innings, I was 80 then.

When we returned from Nigeria, my career took a huge ‘tack’. I entered education and was, at first, a teacher of Business Studies and Economics (you will note I did not study these at St Dunstan’s) at Bishops Stortford College. There, I was made Head of Careers. In the end, I was Lecturing in Statistics and Accounting for Managers.

That was not all. Right from the start of this phase, when I was doing a PGCE in London, I marked A Level Exam Papers. Just before retiring from BSC, I started working for UCLES (Cambridge) on Marker Training, Teacher Training and Examination Paper Drafting for their IGCSE Business Studies Papers. This took me (and Sue) many times, to Namibia,

What now? Well, my daughter's asked me to write down everything I remembered, before it was too late!

So far, my 'Life Notes' run to about 600 sides of A4. It is a fascinating exercise. What else do I do? I ring one of the bells at the church (superb exercise, especially as you are standing up.)

Memories of St Dunstans? Well it has to be marching over London Bridge, with rifles if I remember correctly, behind the CCF Band, and then Speech Day when Montgomery was the Guest of Honour. I was in the Guard of Honour, the drill Squad who did a display without any orders (we had been trained by a little Drill Sergeant for the Green Howards at the Tower of London) and was No 1 on the Artillery Display with a 25lb gun (we fired blanks!)

One last point. In the hope that there may by one or two of the Year of '58 left, When I left St Dunstan's, I had a head of dark hair – it is now white! I think this may fill a few gaps. I must come back to the College. I think I will recognise the front, but after that, well, it is all change it seems.

“

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The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

DUNSTONIANS

RETURNING to their alma mater

The College’s doors remain wide open at all times to welcome you back for a tour and a lunch and a chat with our students. We have recently enjoyed welcoming back the following Dunstonians: •

Lord Michael Grade ('60)

•

David Jefferys ('70)

•

Tim Bertioli ('88)

•

Mike Rogers ('69)

•

Doug Sinclair ('87)

•

Sir Stephen Laws ('68)

•

James Fiske ('95)

•

Alun Evans ('74)

•

Oliver Weiss ('98)

•

Des Thompson ('77)

David Jefferys('70)

Lord Michael Grade ('60)

Tim Bertioli ('88)

James Fiske ('95)

Mike Rogers ('69)

Alun Evans ('74)

Doug Sinclair ('87)

Des Thompson ('77) & Alan Thompson ('74)

Sir Stephen Laws ('68)

& Alan Thompson ('74) •

Stan Holt ('53)

•

Amanda Dance - Pictured below.

Daughter of Headmaster - She came back for the first time to the College and was particularly interested in seeing the transformed Headmaster’s House, where she lived as a child.

She also donated many precious artefacts to the Archives.

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Remembrance Day 2023 World War II hero and Dunstonian Robert Stanford-Tuck On 10 November 2023, we hosted our annual Remembrance Day at the College. Our Archives Department set up an exhibition on war hero and Dunstonian Robert Stanford-Tuck who attended the College before becoming one of the most successful Royal Air Force fighter pilots of WWII. We spoke to Tuck’s sons, Simon and Michael, as well as invited Tuck’s most recent biographer, Professor Helen Doe. Robert Roland Stanford Tuck was born at Catford, London on 1st July 1916.

His father Stanley was successively a clerk, finance manager and company

secretary. He served in the Army, including the Sussex Yeomanry, in the First World War. He remained in the UK in administrative roles and reached the rank of Captain, a rank he continued to

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

use in civilian life. His wife's name was Ethel. The family lived in Ravensbourne Crescent, Catford.

shared and on 2nd June a Me109 and a He111 destroyed and two Me109s damaged.

Tuck was educated at St. Dunstans Preparatory School and College, after leaving in 1932 he went to sea as a cadet with Lamport and Holt. He made one return voyage - on the SS Marconi, under charter to the Union Castle Line, sailing to Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, South Africa to pick up fruit. He then worked as a clerk for the Crittall company, particularly known for producing windows. He was also a clerk in a firm of stockbrokers.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 11th June 1940) which he received from the King at a ceremony at Hornchurch on 28th June.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in September 1935. Tuck was posted to 3 FTS Grantham on 28th September and with his training completed joined 65 Squadron at Hornchurch on 5th August 1936.

On 17th January 1938 Tuck was taking part in formation flying practice when, near Uckfield in Sussex, his Gladiator collided with the aircraft flown by Sgt. GE Gaskell, who was killed. Tuck baled out and was admitted to hospital with a large head wound and suffering from shock.

He was left with a large scar. Gaskell was buried in St Luke's churchyard, Whyteleafe, Surrey, close to RAF Kenley.

The accident was attributed to a mistake he had made.

In April 1938 Tuck collided with F/O LC Bicknell whilst they were doing aerobatics. Bicknell baled out safely. In late 1938 Tuck was chosen to represent 65 Squadron at the service initiation of the Spitfire.

On 1st May 1940 he was posted to 92 Squadron at Croydon and he joined on the 4th, as ‘B’ Flight Commander, with the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant.

Over Dunkirk on 23rd May he claimed a Me109 and a Me110 destroyed and probably another Me109, on the 24th two Do17s destroyed, on the 25th a Do17

Tuck shared in the destruction of a Do17 on 8th July, damaged a Ju88 on the 25th, shared a Ju88 on 13th August, destroyed two more on the 14th and on the 18th destroyed a Ju88 and probably another.

On this day Tuck was shot down by return fire from a Ju88. He baled out over Horsmonden and was slightly injured in a heavy landing. His Spitfire, N3040, crashed at buildings at Park Farm, subsequently christened Tuck’s Cottages.

Tuck was taken to the nearby home of Lord Cornwallis, where he was given a bath, spent some time in bed and then had tea with the family.

On 25th August Tuck destroyed a Do17.

His Spitfire, N3268, was severely damaged in the engagement off St. Gowan’s Head. He glided 15 miles to the coast on a dead engine and made a forced-landing, writing off the aircraft.

On 11th September Tuck joined 257 Squadron at Martlesham Heath. He took command of the squadron on the 12th and was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader on the 13th. He quickly transformed a squadron suffering from very low morale.

On the 15th he claimed a Me110 destroyed and a probable Me109, on the 23rd he destroyed another Me109, on 4th October a Ju88, on the 12th a Me109, on the 25th another Me109 destroyed and two others damaged and on the 28th two more Me109s probably destroyed.

Tuck was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 25th October 1940).

On 9th December he destroyed a Do17 and on the 12th he destroyed a Me109.

Tuck was officially on leave when he shot

down this aircraft and he was flying an operational sortie with 92 Squadron from Biggin Hill. He was back with 257 on the 29th, when he destroyed a Do17.

He was awarded the DSO (gazetted 7th January 1941). On 2nd and 19th March 1941 Tuck claimed Do17s destroyed, during the night of 9th/10th April he shot down a Ju88, on 27th April he damaged a Ju88 and during the night of 11th/12th May he destroyed a Ju88 and probably another.

He was awarded a second Bar to the DFC (gazetted 11th April 1941). After shooting down two Me109s and damaging another on 21st June Tuck was himself shot down into the Channel. He was picked up after two hours in his dinghy, by a coal barge from Gravesend. In early July 1941 he was appointed Wing Leader at Duxford.

On the 8th he claimed a Me109 destroyed and on 7th August he destroyed another and probably a second.

Tuck was sent to the USA on a liaison trip in October, with five other pilots, including Malan and Broadhurst. Back in the UK, he became Wing Leader at Biggin Hill. On 28th January 1942 he was shot down by flak, whilst on a low-level strafe just outside Boulogne. He was captured.

The German ace, Adolf Galland, by this time, Inspector of Fighters, was in the vicinity and entertained Tuck in a German mess.

Tuck was in various PoW camps, including Stalag Ludt III at Sagan in Lower Silesia, Germany, now Zagan, Poland. Here he shared a room with Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, known as X, in charge of escape activities. Bushell had been shot down over Dunkirk and captured in 1940 when he was CO of 601 Squadron.

Tuck served on the escape committee, with responsibility for supplies. In a letter to his parents Bushell wrote of Tuck, "He is a charming fellow and we have a lot of laughs." Several hundred prisoners were involved in escape activities under X and

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there were numerous plans and, major efforts were directed at creating three tunnels, known as Tom, Dick and Harry.

Other escapes continued. In December 1943 three prisoners, including Tuck and F/Lt. Z Kustrzyriski hid in a refuse cart.

They had to give up before the cart left the camp because they were in danger of suffocation from the amount of refuse placed on top of them.

The tunnel codenamed Tom was discovered by the Germans and Dick became used for storage. Work continued on Harry.. Without knowing the details, the Germans realised that escape activity was continuing. To disrupt it, in March 1944, a number of prisoners, including Tuck and other escape leaders, were moved to a camp at Belaria about 5 km from Sagan.

On 28th January 1945, with Russian forces approaching the area , the Germans began to march about 1300 prisoners westwards from Belaria. The temperature was well below zero as they set off, each prisoner having been given one Red Cross parcel. It is believed that about 15 prisoners escaped at some point in the march.

At an overnight stop in a barn other prisoners covered Tuck and Kustrzynski and they wer left behind in the morning.

Their subsequent journey was aided by local people. At one point they mingled with French PoWs, also on the march, in view of German guards. On 21st February they were hiding in an attic when a German soldier climbed in and saw Tuck.

Kustrzynski attacked the German and killed him.

Shortly afterwards they gave themselves up to a Russian Lieutenant with Kustrzynski claiming to be American, assuming that he would be shot if it was realised that he was Polish. After much interrogation and journeying the two, now joined by other PoWs, arrived in Odessa. Two days later they boarded the

SS Duchess of Richmond (a Canadian Pacific liner used as a troopship).

Tuck disembarked at Naples on 3rd April and was interviewed by a British intelligence officer. He was then flown to the UK. Tuck was awarded the DFC (US) (gazetted 14th June 1946). He retired from the RAF on 13th May 1949 as a Wing Commander. After a month of leave and a refamiliarisation course on RAF aircraft Tuck was posted to the tactics branch of the Central Fighter Establishment at Tangmere. He spent a considerable amount of time being interviewed on his experiences as a PoW

by MI9 whose main wartime role was providing assistance to prisoners and evaders.

Tuck became OC Coltishall and then was briefly in Singapore before he resigned his commission and left the RAF on 13th May 1949 as a Wing Commander.

He worked for English Electric as services liaison officer based at Warton, Lancashire. In 1955 Tuck resigned from the company and moved, with his family, to Eastry, near Sandwich, Kent, where he took up mushroom farming.

Tuck's elder brother, John, served in the Army and was captured in France in 1940 when serving in the Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry (Queen Mary's). The brothers met at least twice as PoWs. In 1956 Tuck was the subject of an early British edition of the TV programme This is Your Life. Guests on the programme included Kustrzynski and W/Cdr. RE Havercroft. In 1956 a biography of Stanford-Tuck was published - 'Fly for your Life' by Larry Forrester and this is still widely available.

Tuck died on 5th May 1987 of pneumonia. His ashes were interred at St Clement's church, Sandwich. .

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

My Father, Alan Bryett ('38) "Alan Bryett left St Dunstan's in 1938 and went to work for Barclays Bank in Central London, living in Deptford he saw the 1940 Blitz most nights as the Nazis bombed London and the docks.

In 1942, as soon as he was old enough, he volunteered to join RAF Bomber Command where he trained as a Bomb Aimer. He was crewed with an Australian Pilot, the rest of the crew being Australian or British flying in Halifax bombers from an airfield near Bridlington in Yorkshire. Posted to 158 Squadron he took part in the raids over Hamburg, Peenemunde (where the V1 and V2 rockets were being developed) and Berlin.

On 23rd August 1943 the crew set off with Berlin as the target, they released their bomb load and as they turned for home a German night fighter attacked, killing the two gunners and damaging the plane, the pilot ordered the crew to get out of the plane as rapidly as they could. Unfortunately, my father was stuck as the forward escape hatch had been damaged, giving up his own chance of escape the pilot got my father out.

The plane then spiralled into the ground and the pilot was killed.

My Father landed in a wood but was quickly captured and taken to Gestapo headquarters for interrogation which was followed by a long walk to the Prisoner of War Camp called Stalag Luft 3.

He arrived tired, hungry and exhausted; his only possession was his RAF Uniform.

On arrival the first person he met was Stanford Tuck. Learning that my father was an OD he arrived to greet him with some clean clothes, a razor and a cup of tea (tea was like gold in the camp). My Father immediately had a friend to guide him in the ways of surviving as a PoW. Stalag Luft Three is known around the world as the site of 'The Great Escape'.

My Father was involved in this as a hut Security Officer and a penguin distributing the sand from the tunnel around the camp. However, before he could be trusted they had to ensure that he was not a spy from the NAZIs, here again St Dunstans was key. A well-trusted officer who had been to the same school challenged the candidate with detailed questions about school life. This would include questions about the staff, other boys and the geography of the school such as “how do you get from the dining room to the cricket pavilion”. Easy questions if you had attended the school but impossible to learn it all if you were a spy. Stanford Tuck interviewed my father

– and my father passed.

On the night of the escape my father was lined up to escape when the tunnel was found, a period of solitary confinement followed. As the war progressed, he was taken on the Long March, moving eastwards as the Russians approached, if you could not walk you were shot at the roadside.

He was liberated by the Russians and he returned home.

158 Squadron alone lost 851 crew members during the period 1942 to 1945, whilst 55,573 serving in Bomber Command were killed in the Second World War out of 125,000 who served, giving a death rate of 44%.

He returned to Barclays Bank where he was progressively promoted until he was “District Inspector for Fraud” for the whole Bank, he retired at 65 and died aged 99 and a half!

One final element – the pilot who saved his life was called Kevin Hornibrook. I am named Kevin after him and I attended St Dunstan's from 1963 to 1971."

Kevin Bryett ('71) October 2023

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DUNSTONIANS'

BOOKS

part 2

The inclusion in the Summer Notes of a section on “Dunstonians’ Books” proved to be popular, so we include here a further selection of literary and academic works written by SDC alumni.

A DAY OF UNUSUAL MEASURE JAMES JULIAN MALPAS ('76), edited by Stephen Romer James Julian Malpas (1958 – 2015) was born and raised in Lewisham. After attending SDC he went up to Magdalene College, Cambridge. He was a polymath whose intellectual range and artistic curiosity marked him out early among his contemporaries. By profession an art historian, lecturer and broadcaster, he was also a poet, a draughtsman, a ceramicist, a printer and a gardener. A student of Zen Buddhism, he was an adept of the martial arts, and a part-time soldier. He was also a copious diarist, which he kept up daily, and equally a prodigious letter writer and poet. Drawing on these resources, Stephen Romer, a lifelong friend, has provided a memoir, and a selction from the poetry, the diary and the letters, to attempt a portrait of this remarkable and engaging man.

YOUTH AT WAR MIKE OSBORNE ('64) Dr Mike Osborne’s interest in fortifications began with childhood visits to castles. It has developed over the years to include all aspects of the topic from Iron Age forts to Cold War bunkers. He was a volunteer coordinator for the Defence of Britan Project, recording twentieth-century military structures. After a 30 year career in education, he took early retirement to write, producing over 20 books to date.

His latest work 'Youth at War' attempts to provide an overview of the circumstances under which youngsters grew up between 1939 and 1945 on the Home Front. The front cover features a remarkable photo from the St Dunstan’s College archives. Taken in 1938, the photo shows members of SDC’s Officers’ Training Corps on exercise.

www.stdunstans.org.uk/dunstonian-association

BORDER CROSSINGS MOHAMMAD CHOWDHURY ('85) Whether negotiating the mind-games of the Israeli intelligence services or performing ablutions in a London bathroom, Mohammad Chowdhury s life as a British Muslim travelling the world brings daily challenges.

Border Crossings is the story of Chowdhury s journey, gripping in some parts and shame-inducing in others, as he describes a lifelong struggle to reconcile the British, Asian and Muslim sides of his identity, constantly dealing with the mistrust of Westerners alongside the hypocrisies of his own community and their misunderstanding of Islam.

Chowdhury's story echoes the experience of thousands of Western Muslims who since 9/11 have been subjected to a constant barrage of questions that cast doubt over the very goodness of their faith. It is the story of a man who cries when England win the Ashes, yet still finds himself screaming in the face of racism and religious bigotry. This timely book powerfully rejects the poisonous narrative that Muslims can no longer be trusted as honest citizens of the West.

VERSE AND A SHORT STORY RICHARD SHEPHERD ('67) Richard sent us a copy of his 'Verse and a Short Story' in 2022. The Author’s Note states that “I am grateful for the pleasure which reading gives me. Like many people who write I have a compulsion to write. I also have a compulsion to seek readers”

THANK YOU...

SEX, SPIES AND SCANDAL THE JOHN VASSALL AFFAIR

by ALEX GRANT ('92) Coming out January 2024 This is the story of John Vassall, a civil servant who was unmasked as a Soviet spy in 1962. Having been photographed in compromising positions while working at the British embassy in Moscow in 1954, Vassall was blackmailed into handing over secrets from the British Admiralty to his Soviet handlers, both in Moscow and in London, for more than seven years.

Thank you also very much to Dr Edward Weech ('02), John Davis ('74), Sir Geoffrey Nice ('64) and Mohammad Chowdhury ('85) for taking part in our first Xmas Lectures Series in December 2023. We attracted over 100 viewers on four different nights with diverse and captivating lectures.

Dunstonian Christmas

Literary Lectures 4-7 December 2023 6pm-7pm GMT - Online Monday 4 December Dr Edward Weech (’02) author of Chinese Dreams in Romantic England: ‘The Life and Times of Thomas Manning’

Tuesday 5 December John Davis (’74) author of ‘Waterloo Sunrise’

Wednesday 6 December Sir Geoffrey Nice (’64) author of ‘Justice for All’

Thursday 7 December Mohammad Chowdhury (’85) author of ‘Border Crossings’

To find out more about each lecture and receive a link please register HERE by 31 November

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Dunstonian Association

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Spotlight on...

Sean Ming ('96) Usherwood House

well Robin, the bunch of reprobates are all grateful as I know many others are too.

What are your first memories of SDC? Brian Dance the old headmaster used to teach Latin and taught me in my first year at the school. I hated Latin passionately, although I appreciate it now, it helps me with my pigeon abilities in language, and is also very useful in science, as much as I hate to admit it.

But Brian Dance teaching us what ‘Albam Exorna’ meant and why it mattered.

What are the most important lesson(s) that you learned during your time at SDC? For me, it is the fact that life has no limitations as with my ability.

Who were your most inspiring teachers, and why?

Robin Austin somehow was ever present, Maths, Form Tutor or Rugby he was always there! He was my first form tutor in 1A and upon giving me an instruction, I made the mistake of asking why, seemed reasonable at the time.

He left me in no doubt that he wasn’t to be questioned, the entire school heard it I think! Once I realised this he was as good as gold, reasonable, firm but fair. He knew when to tighten the reigns and when to let them out and I needed that type of influence, he became a friend. Sleep

Kerry Grigg, I may have had a teenage crush on Kerry but that is not why she made it on this short-list. Another teacher who somehow was ever-present, Biology, House Mistress and Athletics, we crossed paths in the most positive ways. I truly cannot remember her reprimanding me but know she did, such was her approach she made you better by making you actually better. I worked in healthcare for industry for over 20 years, am active, fit and as healthy as I feel is reasonable, I’m not a monk!

This all started with her passion for Biology. I still remember how excitable she was when discussing the miracle of sexual reproduction at the cellular level, and cell division, it was contagious. And without going into any detail, she was the one who noticed when I started sinking and pulled me up, just when I needed it. I have said it to her personally, I’ll say it again, Thank You. Richard Roleynce Deveraux Bodenham I think it is, call him Bods, he’ll love me for that! A genuine legend among men, I was asked if I would do this interview, my first question? Have you interviewed Rick Bodenham, you must interview Rick (Bods), Isabelle's response was, you’re not the first person to suggest that. This man’s reputation certainly preceeds him and with good reason. Rugby and PE were where our paths crossed and maybe geography in the lower school. But Bods commanded respect with his mere presence and as such rarely needed more.

He had a reliable titanium re-inforced index finger for poking if necessary. Just one poke into your sternum got your attention, but he didn’t need it. He gained your respect by being respectful and setting clear boundaries that were easy and reasonable to follow.

As opposed to a 500-word essay on the sex-life of a ping-pong ball - yes I did get tha - he would talk to you. He acted as my last defence, and as the gateway to rugby, my passion, as such he held the keys to keeping me level-headed and focused on

the field but far more importantly in life. He never abused that power or walked away, it seemed the entire school deferred to Rick to deal with me, and Bods stood up for me, when I wasn’t able to for myself, he fought my corner. I gave him a few fights to fight for me, and some were more significant than others, he won them all. In return I gave him, and still do to this very day, my utmost respect, I have told him this and thanked him, and this should not be understated, both Rick and Kerrys’ influences saved my life in a manner of speaking, this is not hyperbole, its realistic gratitude.

Cheers Bods!

Tell us about what you’ve been up to since leaving SDC? I spent just over 20 years working for pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, upskilling all levels of Healthcare Professionals and supporting/advising surgeons through live operations.

I decided to venture away from this earlier this year and am in the process of establishing a business.

What advice would you give to SDC’s current Year 13 students?

At some stage in life, you will come to the end of your education and move into the real world, as its termed. I strongly advise you to realise that this new beginning comes with a whole new set of teachings. Most people stop learning as soon as they get into the real-world, or they continue to learn what is required in their professional capacity. I’d advise you never stop learning, realise that the new stage of life is a new stage of learning.

Most importantly I’d advise they work on themselves more than they work on anything else in life, success and happiness demand it.

Peter Brown ('61) is standing down as a member of the Dunstonian Association Committee, after many years of service. Thank you, Peter.

Below, Peter reflects on his involvement with the Association over the past 60 years: I first got involved with the ODA after I came down from university – my main recollection prior to that was going to the annual dinner which was held in those days at the Connaught Rooms and was a very grand affair.

As an enthusiastic but not very talented rugby player and cricketer I enjoyed the lower reaches of both sports at Park Langley, and the social life around these sports. Rather surprisingly I found myself elected to the committee of the ODA – I suspect that then, as now, there was a desire to see younger members taking part in the management of the Association. I served for a few years on the committee without, I suspect, making very much of a contribution.

Fast forward after a busy family and work life, I started to come back to supporting the ODRC, enjoying the annual tours to Cornwall.

After one Association AGM I was elected a committee member and in 2013 I was appointed one of the Association nominees to the Board of OD Sports Club Ltd. I had the honour of being proposed as Vice-President in the year when my school contemporary Barry Stickings was President, and was then elected President in 2016/17. This was a time of change in the management of the Association, and following the adoption of a new Constitution and committee structure in November 2018, I continued to serve as one of the four elected members of the committee.

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Peter Brown ('61) Goosey House

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MEET OUR NEW DUNSTONIAN OFFICER David Edwards ('83) Wilson House

DAVID EDWARDS ('83) We are so delighted to welcome David to the College. You can email him directly at: dunstonians@ stdunstans.org.uk.

genuine feeling. Peter Thompson for showing that history was not dead and introducing us to the academic debates of the age, well before the introduction of “sources” found its way into the curriculum. John Gaskell for his sheer enthusiasm and energy. Simon Thorogood for his empathy and ability to get the best out of everyone.

When did you leave St Dunstan's College and what did you end up doing as a career?

How do you think the College has changed since you left?

I left St Dunstan’s in December 1983 after ten happy years. After “maturing” at university and failing (rightly so) to become a venture capitalist I followed my career adviser’s suggestion and trained as a chartered accountant. To do so, I joined a small firm in the West End of London and stayed there for over 35 years, 30 as a partner.

What is your fondest memory of St Dunstan's College?

Beating Donhead at rugby in the Under 13s in the final minute 26-24 after several years of losing to them. Also, finding out we had pizza followed by jaffa sponge for lunch (that didn’t happen very often either).

Who was your most inspiring teacher and why?

I will be greedy and name four:Bob “ROD” Hughes for preparing each history lesson with extraordinary detail and delivering it with David meets all the prefects on his 2nd day as Dunstonian Officer!

I have had the good fortune to return to the College several times over the last few years. It was always a happy place but it feels even more so now. As a parent myself, I have seen the pressures that the combination of exams and social media can bring to today’s youngsters, and the success of the College’s pastoral efforts is evident.

What would be your word of advice to our Year 13 students?

Stay in touch with your mates. Friendships formed at school stand the test of time and you will never get bored with sharing the same old stories over and over again.

What are you looking forward to most being our new Dunstonian Officer?

I hope I can carry on Iain Macdowall’s amazing work of the last few years and working with a top class team to bring the College and its alumni even closer together.

Thank you to Iain Macdowall After three years at the College, Iain Macdowall ('81) has decided to devote more time to his consultancy work in the City.

We cannot thank him enough for his dedication to getting the comms going with the alumni, helping break the 1000th registration on SDConnect and being a key editor of the alumni magazine (as well as record a few Hidden Treasure Videos about the College).

www.stdunstans.org.uk/dunstonian-association

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e will be celebrating the College’s 30th Anniversary of going co-ed throughout 2024 and we hope you will join us at the many events which we will unveil in the New Year. The highlight for Dunstonians will be a special reunion on 28 September 2024 when we will aim to recreate the now famous picture of all the original girls joining the College.

You made your mark and blazed trails for future generations of girls and young women – you were pioneers and we need you to reconnect with the College!

Contact us at dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk and/ or register onto our Alumni Platform SDConnect at: www.dunstonians.org.uk.

SAVE THE DATE 28 September 2024 1130-1500 Come and celebrate 30 years of St Dunstan’s going co-ed in 1994 Tour - Lunch - Group Photo

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

Sport

ROUND UP CRICKET OD CUACO CRICKET CLUB OD CUACO CC experienced a challenging 2023, as the 1st X1 struggled in the 2nd tier of the Kent League Championship. The 2nd X1 were again standout performers ending an impressive 3rd place managing 11 wins from 15 games. The 3rd X1 finished 7th under a new captain but the 4ths were sadly relegated, suffering most from a summer of inconsistent availability.

Despite these challenges the club is still growing with a strong pool of talent coming through the colt’s section. All teams should be competitive in their respective leagues next year.

The Sunday development X1, containing many promising u15-u21 players, won division 2 gaining immediate promotion back to division 1. Sunday friendly cricket continued to fulfil a varied fixture list including September fixtures around the Kent villages. We also ran a very successful tour to Norwich, many thanks to all those involved in the organisation.

The colt’s section continues to develop in size and success and remains a core asset to the club. Our thanks go to Steve Wright following his retirement as head coach. The management team has succession plans in place.

We again ran 2 indoor league teams, the 1st X1 reaching the Kent finals again.

The committee is still working hard to find a more local 2nd pitch, at the moment the 3s and 4s will continue to play their home games at the Jubilee ground and Hartley country club.

Social events were supported well, particularly the pre-season awards dinner.

The clubhouse has had further upgrades and decorating, and the Sports Club has ongoing plans for improving the toilets and changing rooms.

The club remains in good shape, financially and both on and off the field. I

would like to thank our raft of volunteers, without you, our club would not run.

Our success and continued optimism are largely due to you all helping out and embracing the values of our wonderful club.

The photo above shows Club president, David Edwards ('83), Club Executive Chairman, Andy Rouse ('83) and Club 1st team captain, Nick Worsley displaying Kent League 2nd div Cup at the ODCUACO presentation annual dinner

Andy Rouse Chairman, OD CUACO Cricket Club

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

John Broadfoot (’66) in the news again!

We were delighted to hear that John received the prestigious World Rugby “Rugby For All “ award from World Rugby(the world governing body of rugby) at a 2023 Rugby World Cup Award winning ceremony, held after the final of the Rugby World Cup in Paris on Sunday the 29th Oct. Congratulations!

RUGBY

John and colleague Andy Thompson (on the far left) pictured receiving the award on stage in Paris and being interviewed about the work of SOS by British Lion, Ugo Monye.

ODRFC Report 2023 Season 1st XV Appearances 2022-23 (Max 24) Ajiboye J, Ubee M (21); Mann J (20); Booth A (17); Jebb L (16); Lake A*1, McCulloch A, Palmer R (15); Condon G*1, Edwards B*4, Pecorella J*1, Scott T*1 (12); Wren A*3 (11); Bozier R, Heath J*1 (10); Evans O (9); Brown M*2, Fisher S*1, McClennan C, Nagel J*1 (8); Alexander K*3, Burgess S*4, Greenfield J, Lockwood J, Smith CG*1 (7); Ajiboye A*1, Connolly M, Deane R (6); Aylmer D*1, Brentnall W, Burrows F*1, Gobir J, Raleigh A*1, Sawyer B*4 (4); Mills J-P*1, Newell R*1 (3); Harding D +, Hirst H*1+, Laker P*2, Miller O*1+, North J, Skyrne C*2 (2); Antonio L, Banks T, Bawden R+, Brown C, Burgess M, Carter D, Dennis M*1+, Goldring J*1+, Govan M+, Harding D+, Hellyer C+, Hughes A+, Jefferys P, Johnston R, Norcliffe A*1, Payne M*1, Peck A, Salisbury J+, Shonubi Y, Smith S, Tay J, Upton T, Weston B+, Williams D (1).

Scorers 2022-23 Tries (79) Bozier R (10); Ajiboye J (9); Jebb L (8); Evans O (6); Connolly M (5); McCulloch A, Palmer R, Ubee M (4); Gobir J, Nagel J (3); Condon G, Edwards B, Greenfield J, Harding D, Heath J, Lockwood J (2);

Burrows F, Deane R, Fisher S, Govan M, Hellyer C, Johnston R, McClennan C, Mills J-P, Sawyer B, Weston B, Wren A (1).

Penalties (8)Ubee M (8).

Conversions (49)Ubee M (49).

Drop Goals (0) ODRFC Colts 2022-23 15-a-side Matches P4 W2 D1

L1

PF 70

7-a-side Matches P6 W5 D0

L1

PF 197 PA 39

PA 58

1st XV Results 2022-23 10.9 17.9 24.3 1.10 8.10 15.10 22.10 29.10 5.11 12.11 26.11 3.12 10.12 7.1 14.1 28.1 11.2 18.2 25.2 4.3 11.3 7.4 8.4

Gillingham Anchorians Hastings & Bexhill Westcombe Park 2 Sevenoaks 2 Dover Sidcup 2 Canterbury 2 Park House Maidstone Vigo Southwark Lancers Gillingham Anchorians Hastings & Bexhill Sevenoaks 2 Sidcup 2 Park House Maidstone Vigo Westcombe Park 2 Southwark Lancers Dover Penryn Falmouth

Away Home Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Away Away Home Away Away Away

P 24

W8

PF 524

D1

L 15

Won Won Lost Lost Lost Lost Home Won Won Lost Won Lost Won Lost Lost Lost Won Lost Lost Won Lost Lost Draw PA 577

36 – 28 24 – 3 27 – 33 13 – 26 34 – 40 0 – 48 w/o 34 – 24 22 – 7 22 – 25 61 – 5 21 – 36 26 – 25 8 – 26 21 – 29 15 – 36 24 – 8 14 – 27 17 – 22 12 – 15 5 – 38 21 – 49 27 – 27

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

GOLF

Dunstonian Golf Society

ODGS Lamberhurst Golf Club – 24 May 2023 Despite a few late withdrawals, the Summer Meeting was well attended with 17 players teeing off in good playing conditions, including Lamberhurst Golf Club Chairman Ian Rutland who was joining us again after his debut last year at Cuddington. We also welcomed Martin Murtagh and Phil Cunningham, guests of Jonny Aucamp, playing for the first time, as well as Paul King’s guest Julian Webb who has played with us on a couple of occasions. It was also particularly good to see Dunstonian Kaan Ors play for the first time and Neil Kerr join us again after a long absence.

The weather was set fair, the parkland course, which offers some fantastic views over the Kent and Sussex countryside, was in an excellent condition and received many compliments from the players on the day. The ball was running on the fairways with little rain of late and the greens were fast but true.

Expectation was therefore high that the scoring would be good.

Most players scored better on the back nine as they started to get to grips with the greens, none more so than Mark Pearce who scored 22 points including a birdie on the difficult 16th hole, which probably has the trickiest sloping green on the course. The greens, which are notoriously difficult with many subtle slopes, proved to be the undoing of many promising rounds with the conversation over lunch dominated by discussions on how difficult it was to stop the ball and a general inability to read the greens.

Nearest the Pin was won by Sean Malone who managed to get it very close to the hole, but unfortunately not managing to sink the birdie putt (those greens again). The longest drive was won by Harvey Raybould, much to Ian Pressney’s consternation as he apparently hit a monster down 13! Harvey also claimed the Nearest in Two prize on the drivable par 4 18th, successfully finishing his round with a birdie.

Mark Pearce was a worthy winner, playing to his handicap and recording a very creditable 36 points, winning on count back from the Captain who was denied a prize as he was playing on his home course and therefore had an unfair advantage. 8 of the 17 players came in with scores of over 30 points, guest Martin Murtagh took 2nd place with 34 points, ahead of Sean Malone in 3rd on count back.

money and to Trevor Smith for once again travelling up from Devon to join us.

Hopefully his wallet and glasses, which were left behind at Lamberhurst, have now been reunited with their owner in Devon.

Sean Malone, following another solid performance, retains the halfway lead in the Race to Knole Park to crown our Champion Golfer of the year, but it is still early days as any of the 21 golfers who have so far played this year can still be in with a shout as it is the three best scores over the four events which count.

After a lunch enjoyed sitting in the sun on the clubhouse patio, 7 players ventured out for another 18 holes and the scoring was very respectable given the tiredness setting in. Nigel Keess emerged victorious with 35 points, pipping Keith Norman and Paul King (still not getting the ball to stop on the greens) on 34 points.

There are big plans for the Autumn Meeting on Wednesday 20th September at Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club. We are competing in the morning as usual for the singles trophy but following a lunch to be held in honour of John Grundy, we are working with the College and the Dunstonian Association to resurrect a match against the College/Staff/Parents.

As always, Dunstonians and Guests are welcome and further updates will be provided soon. Please support this event, playing in the morning and/or afternoon and also please note that non players are very welcome to attend the lunch which we hope will be a special occasion.

A big thank you to everyone who ventured to the Kent/Sussex borders and to the Lamberhurst Golf Club staff who made us very welcome. A couple of special mentions, to Ian Rutland for negotiating a very attractive green fee rate making the day excellent value for

Lamberhurst attendees: Clive Carpenter (Captain), Jonny Aucamp, Richard Cosgrove, Phil Cunningham, Nigel Keess, Neil Kerr, Paul King, Sean Malone, Martin Murtagh, Keith Norman, Kaan Ors, Mark Pearce, Ian Pressney, Havey Raybould, Ian Rutland, Trevor Smith and Julian Webb.

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

ODGS Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club - 20 September 2023 After a summer of very little rainfall the weather forecast did not look promising for the Autumn Meeting which incorporated the inaugural competition for the new Grundy Trophy, followed by a luncheon to celebrate and remember John Grundy and an afternoon match against the College.

Eleven Dunstonians assembled for breakfast in the Dulwich & Sydenham Hill clubhouse offering fantastic views across the course towards London. Anticipation was high as we congregated on the first tee to compete in a singles competition for The Grundy Trophy with no sign of the forecast rain. However, a 200 plus yard Par 3 to start, heading towards Margaret Thatcher’s retirement residence behind the green, and a strengthening wind would make the course, whilst not long, a challenging test for all players.

Nearest the Pin for the second meeting in a row was won by Ian Pressney, whilst Harvey Raybould also claimed the Nearest in Two prize again (following his success at Lamberhurst) on the short par 4 18th, successfully finishing his round with a birdie.

Serial ODGS winner Jonny Aucamp was crowned winner of The Grundy Trophy with 31 points (only 17 holes played due to course maintenance).

Paul King pipped Harvey Raybould for 2nd place on countback with both players scoring a very creditable 30 points. Scoring overall was lower than at this year’s earlier meetings leaving the

Champion Golfer of the year very much in the balance heading to Knole Park in December. Following his win at Dulwich & Sydenham Hill and a solid performance at Lamberhurst Jonny Aucamp is handily placed (again!), although several other players are very much still in with a shout.

We were delighted to be joined for a marvellous lunch by John Grundy’s sister, Barb and her Dunstonian husband Colin Stokes, and one of John’s daughters, Liz. John’s long-time friend and golf partner, Stewart Robertson, kindly said a few words before The John Grundy Trophy was presented by Barb to Jonny Aucamp.

We were reminded on several occasions throughout the day that John was a committed Dunstonian with both golf and rugby amongst his passions. We were also very pleased to welcome several non-playing Dunstonians to the lunch including Mike Rogers and Sam Lewis.

Also, importantly we were joined by students and staff from St Dunstan’s for the lunch before taking to the course for a match in the afternoon, playing for the repurposed Reardon Trophy.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast was ultimately correct with heavy rain starting whilst we were still enjoying lunch, and this continued for the rest of the afternoon. However, this did not dampen the spirits of those brave enough to venture out and the ODGS emerged victorious (just) before returning to the clubhouse to conduct a postmortem into what might have been if only a few putts

had dropped. For the students, it was hopefully an afternoon to remember and it was good to see them enjoying and interacting with Dunstonians over lunch and after the match.

The day was a fantastic success, a fitting tribute to John, and everybody agreed that a match between the College and the ODGS will hopefully become a regular fixture on the calendar.

There are many people to thank for making the day possible but special mentions must go to ODGS Secretary, Ian Pressney, Chair of the Dunstonian Association, Richard Fagg and his wife Emma, and to Danny Gower for coordinating from the College side and arranging the College team. Thanks must also go to everyone at Dulwich & Sydenham Hill Golf Club for looking after us so well throughout the day.

D&SH playing attendees: Clive Carpenter (Captain), Jonny Aucamp, Paul Bennett, Rob Brophy, Nigel Keess, Paul King, Stephen Laws, Ian Pressney, Havey Raybould, Jeremy Scott and Stewart Wilson.

Clive Carpenter Honorary ODGS Captain 2023

Date for the Diary Wednesday 13 December Xmas Fayre at Knole Park

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The Archives Corner We are delighted to introduce our new Archivist at the College, Shea Hollis (nee Luke, '01) who joined us just before the summer. In the space of a few weeks, she has been instrumental in keeping the archives tidy as well as alive on social media

What are your first memories of SDC? My brother was a pupil six years ahead of me and he joined in the Centenary year. One of my first memories is of the big fair and family fun day- I remember being really intrigued (as a six year old) by all these teachers in Victorian clothes; I don't think I was entirely sure that it was all fancy dress, I thought maybe everyone dressed like that here- it fitted so well with the grandeur and beauty of the building!

What was it like being one of the first girls to attend SDC? I was definitely aware we were part of something special and that it was a huge moment in the history of the college- all the posing for photos and newspaper cuttings were evidence!

At the start it did very much feel like a 'boys' school that we were invited into. Some of the longer-standing male staff certainly found it slightly harder to get their classroom methods right. For example, the tradition of calling pupils by their surname was dropped when the school went co-ed, but some teachers struggled with this, only calling the girls by our first names and sticking with surnames for the boys!

But we were a strong, go-getting group and quickly made our mark and looking back I think it's remarkable how the college adapted so quickly with facilities, opportunities and teaching practices.

What are the most important lesson(s) that you learned during your time at SDC? That the friends made during your secondary school days are likely to be the best ones you'll ever have. SDC also gave me an ability to talk to and work with people easily from all backgrounds and this is a skill that has helped me throughout my life.

Who were your most inspiring teachers, and why?

I think most of the 1994 intake girls would say Elizabeth Emes. She was our champion and guide, not afraid to give us much needed hard truths but also full of love and care. She was personally instrumental in getting me through my GCSEs despite some difficult spells of illness which resulted in some hospitalisation and a great deal of absence. Mrs Emes saw a steeliness in me that I had yet recognised myself; in a report she wrote "If Shea could find just her voice and develop her confidence, she will go far". Well, I found it not long after and haven't been quiet since!

Tell us about what you’ve been up to since leaving SDC? I knew since childhood that I wanted to teach so went straight from St Dunstan's to Homerton College, Cambridge in 2001 where I studied English Literature and Education

Studies BA and moved to Darwin, Cambridge for my PGCE year. I became a primary school teacher in 2005 and have taught in SE London schools in Stockwell, Peckham, Forest Hill and Hither Green.

Illness meant I stepped away from the classroom in 2016 although I do still do some private tuition and I am part of the Senior Marker Team for the KS2 SATs cycle. However I also added in a new, complementary career as a home based Consultant for organic skincare and aromatherapy company Neal's Yard Remedies. I run workshops, shopping events, workplace wellbeing sessions and mentor other small businesses. I also manage the social media for my church as well as being a Governor for my children's school.

In amongst all of that, when the opportunity arose to add SDC Archivist to the mix, I jumped at it- it's the most fascinating job which allows me to combine my skills in education, working with people and my SDC past and connections.

I have a fabulous, supportive husband who I have been married to for 13 years and two very funny children, 8 and 11 and we have ended up living back in Catford!

What advice would you give to SDC’s current Year 13 students?

Recognise that a school like St Dunstan's is an extremely rare thing and a place that allows you to be yourself while giving

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

PREFECTS 1907-1995

such wonderful opportunities is very special, so really make the most of it.

Get involved, try everything (truly live out that Albam Exorna motto before you leave) but don't take it all too seriously as it's the downtime that gives you the best memories.

What plans do you have for the College's archives over the next year?

Lots! After a big sort and tidy, a large focus is the 30th Anniversary of CoEd at the college in 2024 (yes, 30 years - makes me feel old!) We are planning celebratory events and much more for current pupils and families as well as, of course, for Dunstonians and former staff. Look out for all the news on this. Plus, with my teaching background, I am passionate about getting more pupils using our Archive and supporting teachers making links to the curriculum with the wealth of resources we have.

There is the exciting possibility of an Archive Club in the pupils extra-curricular Forder time. Finally, alongside the enquiries and requests from Alumni, working in the Chronicle and Notes, I am also taking on more of the Dunstonians Social Media pages to increase engagement - it's me behind those Thursday Throwback posts!

Some of the highlights of the Thursday Throwback images are featured on the next double spread.

These two pictures are sited opposite one another, just inside the main entrance of the College.

They depict the College Prefects in 1907 (above) subsequently re-created in the summer of 1995 by the then prefects - the first year of girls entering Year 13.

Back row: Zoe Emerson, Lauren George, Andrew Coling, Sarah Merritt, Luke Speed, Mike Bartlett Middle row: Jonathan Dale, Hannah Saxty, Felix Harrison, Dionne Wood, Paul Campbell Front row: Victoria Alldread, James Fiske

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Thursday Throwback Facebook@DunstonianAssociation instagram@dunstonians Many of you have been reminiscing with our #ThursdayThrowback feature on the Dunstonian Facebook and Instagram pages- here are some of the images from the archives shared as part of this. If you haven’t yet, do have a look and get involved!

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

Year 2 visits the Archives Room In October 2023, Shea had the visit of the College’s entire Year 2 cohort who are studying what a timeline is. We had just what was needed for them with both a historical timeline of the College from 1465 till the present day as well as many artefacts pupils could handle carefully wearing white gloves.

The Museum Forder Club visit It is wonderful when students use the Archives and we recently had a visit from the new Museum Forder Club, run by History teacher Joseph Yu. The aim of this group is to learn the skills of curating a museum and so a visit to see the precious and interesting artefacts we store in the Dunstonian Archive was a must!

The students donned the obligatory white gloves to carefully explore documents from the origins of the college. The were particularly fascinated by our original pupil roll books from the 1880s and the deeds of the land detailing the move of the school from St Dunstan in the East to the then fields of Catford!

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Announcements Births

John Chapman ('44)

seek out and interview possible Nazis.

4 July 1926 to 23 August 2022

It was in Olpe where John met a local girl, Anna, and in 1949 she left Germany and married John. They celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary in 2019.

John Chapman was born and lived in Downham and at age 11 won a scholarship to St Dunstans where he enjoyed studying languages and was a good sportsman having a particular love of rugby and cricket.

Tom Coling ('01) In August, my partner Shonali gave birth to our first child, whom we named Oakenshaw.

For those of you with memory of my late brother, Andrew (“Porky”) Coling ('95), that is his son, Oliver, pictured holding Oakenshaw. Like his dad, Oliver loves rugby and he was already featuring in his school’s 1st XV at the age of 15. In a sign of just how small our world is, Oliver’s mum, Rachel, has found herself teaching one of Sarah Bodenham’s ('03) children. It was Sarah’s father, Rick Bodenham, who inspired Porky to become a PE teacher, which is a job he absolutely adored.

Obituaries

1940s Rev Ronald Philip Casebow ('40) Passed away on 1 October 2023.

At the start of WW2 John was evacuated with the school to Reigate and boarded with the Woodcock family in Redhill.

During this period he metriculated and

then went on to achieve his Higher School Certificate. His qualifications would have earned him a place at university but in 1944 he was called up. After training, including at the famous Wentworth Woodhouse, near Rotherham, John's excellent German and Russian skills took him to Germany.

He was based in 1946 in the village of Olpe, Westphalia and Cologne. John rarely spoke about his war work but we assumed he was involved in helping to

John spent his entire career in the Civil Service and most of it at the Customs and Excise.

John passed away aged 96, after a short illness, and is survived by his wife Anna and daughter Susan.

John Nettleton ('47) Long before he achieved national fame in Yes Minister, John Nettleton’s talent as an actor was plain to see during his time at St Dunstan’s. A 1947 Chronicle includes the following critique of his performance as Macbeth: “The Macbeth of J. S. Nettleton was undoubtedly the performance of the evening, as indeed it must be. Here is a part of unsurpassed greatness, ranging from the brooding soliloquising of the early scenes to the magnificent bravado of the final climax.

It is a part of cumulative force: that is its test for the actor. Nettleton lost nothing. His delivery of the blank verse line was finely sensitive, and we are unlikely to forget the famous “ To-morrow and to-morrow” speech.

Naturally more comfortable in the quieter moments, he infused into his movement and voice in the half-hysteria of his encounters with the supernatural (in particular a supremely played dagger scene) a power which was both real and intensely moving”.

After leaving St Dunstan’s John trained at RADA and, during the 1950s, 60s

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

and 70s, was primarily a stage actor, including time with the Royal Shakespeare Company under Sir Peter Hall and the National Theatre company. He gained his greatest recognition on the TV screen, however, particularly in his role as the cold, calculating Sir Arnold Robinson in the TV sitcom Yes Minister (1980-84). Other TV appearances included The Flame Trees of Thika, Brideshead Revisited, The New Statesman, The Happy Apple, Brass and A Fairly Secret Army.

Nettleton and his wife Deirdre teamed up to take Raymond Briggs’s stage version of his anti-nuclear story When the Wind Blows on tour in 1984. Both CND members themselves, they played the elderly couple Jim and Hilda Bloggs, based on the writer’s own parents, who trust in “the authorities” in the aftermath of a nuclear attack.

He is survived by his wife and their three daughters, Sarah, Joanna and Jessica.

1950s JA (John) Burrell ('51) John Burrell died peacefully at home on 12th June 2023 at the age of 91.

He started at St Dunstan’s in the “third form” in September 1945 – his arrival having been delayed by the ongoing hostilities. (The school had been evacuated and he was temporarily living in Berkshire, so he attended Newbury Grammar School for two years.) He was placed in what was called, in those days, Griffiths House. Suffering from severe bouts of asthma he was “non-games” but played his part in school life in other ways.

Much later, he recalled that St Dunstan’s put on a Shakespeare play annually in the council owned “Lewisham Theatre” in Catford. For one of these productions, he combined the role of prompter with control of the lighting and the powered front curtain. He was the school librarian for two years, having previously served as an assistant, and achieved the dizzy heights of lance-corporal in the cadet force - not through any military prowess but for being the clerk in the orderly room. In the “upper sixth” he received the school prize for Latin which he attributed to there being very few contenders and

an unspoken rule that no pupil should receive a prize for more than one subject.

He stayed into a third year in the sixth form to apply to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, but was unsuccessful. (He later obtained an external LLB from the University of London, studying by correspondence – probably the equivalent of the Open University today.)

John’s brother, Laurie (53), remembers that John was a very keen student of history and as such was able to win so-called “balloon debates”, where historical figures were imagined to be in a balloon in severe difficulties and had to be thrown out one-by-one depending on their advocates’ defence. Much research went into these debates without the use of the internet!

This experience of presentation of facts and conclusions must have come in very useful in his later career.

On leaving St Dunstan’s in 1951, John trained as a solicitor – being admitted to the roll in 1956. He married Valerie (also known as Mickey) Fitch in 1957.

She was the younger sister of John Fitch (also OD - 42). They initially set up home in Birmingham as he had accepted a post in the Town Clerk’s department at West Bromwich council and moved to Hagley six years later. In 1969, he became Solicitor and Secretary to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive where he supported the operation of public transport across this conurbation for 20 years. After being retired early from this organisation, he worked for a firm of solicitors in Tenbury Wells, the City of Worcester Council, and then as clerk to the governors of a couple of schools. In retirement, he continued to use his legal training, including informally advising various inland waterways groups.

Building on his early experience at St Dunstan’s, John’s main hobby for many years was stage lighting – mainly, but not exclusively, at the Swan Theatre in Worcester. He was a member of the OD Dramatic Society before leaving London and was producer for one of their productions. Having an extensive crew, including his children and various friends of theirs, enabled him to take on some of the more complex productions. He enjoyed canal holidays in England and Wales, again using the family as his crew.

Later, he and Valerie explored various European waterways on organised trips.

John was a family man who delighted in the successes of his four children and eight grandchildren. He was also a besotted great-grandfather of three. Valerie’s death in 2015 was a great loss to him but he was both content with his own company and willing to throw himself into family and local activities. He was fortunate to retain his mental faculties and sufficient physical health to be able to remain in the family home, with some support from family and carers, as he had very much wanted to do.

Anthony Jolliffe ('54) John White ('55) writes: I was very sorry to learn of Anthony’s death. At St Dunstan’s he was a year ahead of me, in a different House and we were acquainted, but later we became good friends when, one afternoon in 1977, a personnel executive of the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) rang me and said “I have someone here who went to your school, remembers you and thinks he would like to join us. It would be a good if you could have a chat to him as well”. Thus, we met again. The first thing I said was “and now there will be four of us!”

Tony’s first posting was to Savannah Sugar in Northern Nigeria as Head of Irrigation and Drainage. CDC’s other ODs were John Ringshall (1943/4?), an experienced senior executive and Laurie England (late 1940s?), the Head Office Accountant. I was then involved in monitoring CDCs extensive investment portfolio; later I became Chief Accountant. John’s work took him to CDC’s overseas offices and projects in the Far East, Africa and Caribbean; Laurie and I had experience in East and West Africa. Tony worked for CDC for about thirteen years in the period 1977 to 1992, in retirement becoming a CDC engineering consultant, but only once did the four of us lunch together due to the mobility of our activities!

In retirement Tony (aided by Elizabeth) was a valued Area Secretary for CDC’s Pensioners Association. I last saw Tony at the 2019 Commemoration Service.

CDC, a UK Statutory Corporation, was founded in 1948 as the Colonial Development Corporation. Over time the name has changed in line with the territories covered and it has now become British International Investment, however the basic aim of economic development

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has remained unchanged, although the method of delivery to, and economic requirements of, developing countries have changed considerably.

John Kiefer ('57) John Kiefer ('57) started his L.C.C. scholarship at St Dunstan’s in 1949.

He was encouraged by Mr Matthews, his Maths master, to accept a scholarship to University of Wales,

Bangor, where he gained his first class honours Maths degree in 1960. John straight away joined the burgeoning computer industry, starting with IBM at their new Data Centre in London.

He advanced his career with various Computer companies finally retiring as a General manager of Information Systems.

John played cricket for the OD's from the summer of '57 and every vacation till we left London in 1964. He had fond memories of regularly playing with John Smither's A team, along with Peter Setchell-Smith and Michael Mote.

John had a lifelong interest in Jazz and good food after his Sixth Form Remove were introduced to Soho by Mr Matthews in 1957. He treasured the signed menu from La Coquille restaurant.

Locomotives were John's main hobby. He became a Director of the 1264 Preservation Trust and spent many weekends working towards the eventual Main Line working. On his retirement he volunteered as a signalman at the Forest of Dean Railway.

John's final years were blighted by Parkinson's, but he died suddenly from Pancreatic Cancer in 2019. He is survived by his wife Jean, whom he married in1962, and two children,

Geraldine and Glyn. John is second from left, front row in this photo of the OD 1st XI from 1961.

Peter Oliver OBE ('57) Though I met Peter Oliver a number of times through our shared interest in birds, it wasn’t until after his death that I discovered he was an Old Dunstonian.

Peter was born at Forest Hill in July 1939, so St Dunstan’s was close to home. After leaving the college he trained to be a chartered accountant, and went on to enjoy a successful career in the City where his financial and administrative skills were highly valued.

An early enthusiasm for birds led to numerous trips to the the North Kent marshes (described by his sister as his birdwatching home), and this eventually led to him writing and self-publishing his book Bird Watching on the North Kent Marshes in 1991, a detailed study of the birds of the area, and how three decades of change had affected the numbers and variety of breeding and wintering birds.

His ability with figures was much appreciated by a number of wildlife charities. He became a council member of the RSPB in 1983, going on to be become the honorary treasurer of the Society from 1986 to 1991. He was a trustee of the Woodland Trust from 1996 to 2005, becoming chair of the board in 1998. At the same time he was also deeply involved with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, where he was trustee and treasurer from 1996 to 1999. In addition, he was an active member of both the Kent Ornithological Society and the London Natural History Society. Fittingly, he was awarded an OBE in 2005 for his services to wildlife conservation. A modest and kind man, his other interests ranged from music to bell ringing. He lived at Limpsfield Chart with his wife Mary, who survives him.

by David Tomlinson ('68)

1960s Quentin Buckingham ('61) From the Order of Service Quentin started his schooling at St Dunstan’s College, Catford, South London where he stayed until he was 18 years

old. He then went on to work in the City of London for Barclays Bank for 40 years, ending his career as a Corporate Bank Manager in the Maidstone District.

He met Nicky in 1965 through Scouting, and their common love of outdoors. Both of them went on “outward bound” courses in North Wales and then “Quent” went on to join the T.A. Parachute Regiment in Dulwich for 3 years. Training was mainly based out of Aldershot at weekends and he was justly proud of the 10+ Airbourne Jumps he made and his time serving with the Battalion in Belgium. Nicky’s engagement ring was bought was with his Parachute “bounty” a year before they married, and moved to Five Oak Green in Tonbridge in 1967.

Seven years later, Justin was born, and the family spent many summer holidays walking and caravanning in the UK and abroad and winter holidays were spent skiing all over Europe. Their love of travelling never stopped even in retirement. Nicky and Quent, spent their retirement travelling in their 60’s backpacking on their own throughout Central and South America with wonderful memories.

He loved watching England playing rugby at Twickenham after playing as a schoolboy himself and every Saturday watching Justin from the sidelines. He rarely missed watching an England game, even up to the final Rugby World CUP Matches, on Television in the Hospice. He was a great supporter of Charity work, and between them, Quentin and Nicky, spent 15 years raising money for the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London through the “Cooking 4 Charity” venture selling Nicky’s Jams and Chutney. His legacy will continue as Cooking 4 Charity is now donating all their Fundraising to The Hospice in the Weald.

Ian White ('62) writes:QB and I used to live near Horniman Museum and we travelled daily to SDC together on the bus and conflicted with each other in a friendly way as we were in opposite Scout troops. I lost touch with QB after SDC as our careers took us in different directions. Fortunately about 20 years ago when the Class of '62 annual lunch was established, we rekindled our friendship. He was a faithful OD and we will miss his dry sense of humour.

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

Stephen Last ('67) We recently learned that Stephen Last (‘67) passed away in 2018. No further information is available at this time.

Simon Reed ('67) We recently learned that Simon Reed (‘67) passed away in 2020. No further information is available at this time.

Nigel V Smith ('68)

of financial leaders within major listed companies. A significant equity partner of Whitehead Mann, and then Senior Partner/Chair in The Miles Partnership, Nigel was an inspiration and wise counsel to many of us.

And Nigel loved CFC. ‘Come on you Blues’.

Nigel will be so missed by Wendy, his four wonderful children – Andrew, Chris, Cassie and Zara, and his beloved brother Peter – all whom he adored and was so very proud.

1970s William Andrew Lee Murdock ('71) Bill Bishop ('71) relayed the passing away of William on 12 August 2023.

Nigel Hammond ('74)

(by Peter Jackson '68) Following his very courageous four-year battle with cancer, Nigel sadly passed on the 8th June 2023 – in the place of his choosing – surrounded by his large and loving family.

Like many of us, Nige found his ‘mojo’ after leaving SDC. Selected for C and then G class streaming, and without much interest in authority nor group activities, Nige was fun, funny and popular in school where he developed great friendships (many nurtured and sustained throughout his life).

In common with many others, during his years at SDC, Nigel learned to believe in himself. Nigel’s A levels were good enough to attend the City of London College where he enlisted as a trainee-chartered accountant, and for the next few years worked hard as an articled clerk and passed his various examinations to qualify as an ACA. Nigel chose not to practice accountancy directly, and instead became interested in the new US import of, and growing UK demand for, Executive Search (aka Headhunting). Nige was hard working, brilliant, and soon became the ‘go-to’ search consultant for the UK retail market – whist specialising in the recruitment

We have learned that Nigel Hammond ('74) passed away on 23rd September 2023. No further information is available at this time.

Jeremy Brand ('76) We recently learned that Jeremy Brand ('76) passed away in 2022. An obituary is available at www.thecaterer.com/ news/jerry-brand-entrepreneur-contractcatering-obituary

James Malpas ('76) (Obituary by Dr Tim Malpas, his brother) Born 27 May 1958, died 16 May 2015

James Malpas, polymath, art historian, lecturer, poet, motorcyclist and diarist, died of a cerebral haemorrhage aged 56.

James had an extensive knowledge of western art, literature, history, music, eastern arts and spirituality, interests all stemming from his time at St Dunstan’s College. He taught postgraduate studies at Sotheby’s Institute and latterly Christies.

At St Dunstan’s, he was a member of the First XV rugby team, the CCF, was a keen actor, and one of a lively, mildly anarchic cadre, excited by the arts and music from Roxy Music to Wagner.

He won an Exhibition to Magdalene College, Cambridge and proceeded to an MPhil at the Warburg Institute before joining Sotheby’s. James was a virtuoso lecturer at Galleries including the Tate and on Radio 3 and 4. He used his formidable memory to lecture without notes, with no hesitation, repetition but plenty of deviation. His published works ranged over the Renaissance, German Expressionism, Pop Art and Samurai Armour.

James was a member of the Territorial Army, serving in the Parachute Regiment during the First Iraq War as a weapons instructor. At one point he owned a Ferret armoured car, which used to terrify other drivers on forays round the Elephant and Castle.

He had friends everywhere, sustained through epic letter writing. He made daily drole diary entries. A collection of his poems and diary entries have been published as ‘A Day of Unusual Measure’ (Little Creatures Press 2021).

During a weekend with the TA on Salisbury Plain he was summoned to the CO’s tent. The radio was on-a Radio 4 broadcast in which James was attempting to make sense of Edward Munch’s The Scream.

“Is that you, Malpas?”

“Yes, sir”.

‘Crickey. Well done! At ease.”

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Robin Austin It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Robin Austin on 18 October 2023, at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham.

As you know he had been battling cancer for many months and he passed away in the company of his family by his side. His funeral was a private family affair.

Ian Davenport ('76) (Eulogy read at Ian’s funeral) “Hello. I’m Ian. But people sometimes call me Guy. Do you want a cup of tea?”

"It is September 1978. Ian, I and nine other second-year undergraduates are about to have our first go at looking after ourselves in a rented house in Southampton. A nervous rite of passage for three disparate groups of students merging into a single household. Or, rather, it should have been nervous. But not once we’d met Ian. For, as you all know, there was a calmness and a camaraderie wherever Ian was.

“Yes, please, Ian, er Guy” I replied diffidently. “My name actually IS Guy.” And thus, the – to use an appropriate word – the ‘genesis’ of a friendship. Who could have guessed then that we would still be friends 45 years later. Just as so many of you have been friends with Ian for a very long time, in some cases for more than a mere 45 years.

That longevity of friendships speaks volumes about Ian. For why would Ian want to retain such friendships and why would so many of us want to continue being friends with Ian? There are many reasons; many more reasons than I can summarise now or even understand. Canon Boswell has just suggested one reason. No doubt, this afternoon we will have the time to share and discuss our various reasons. But a few come to mind for now.

Firstly, Ian was a kind man. From that simple offer of a cup of tea through to his work as a Governor at St Dunstan’s College, his life is littered with acts of kindness.

Secondly, and born out of that kindness,

The College is organising a memorial service for Robin at the College towards the end of January and a date will be announced asap.

he was always interested in you. That was evident in the way that he could recall details about friends’ lives.

Thirdly, therefore, Ian was not egotistical; life was not all about him. And, therein, lay a fourth reason. He was modest, modest beyond justification. One only has to think of Ian’s career in the City, to recognise just how modest. At the Industrial Bank of Japan he was the only non-Japanese member of the senior management team – a very rare occurrence in those days.

And he was a currency trader into his 40’s, long after most of his contemporaries had wilted and faded away from that exhausting environment.

That modesty extended to his family, in that he wasn’t a pushy parent or boastful dad. However, in private, he would convey how proud he was of his children. Whether it was: • Edward playing for Cambridge University’s American Football team; • Jemima successfully getting through her Masters degree despite the Covid pandemic • Lucinda’s recent profiling on the BBC about her work as a forensic scientist.

And, of course, his Kim. Not so much his other half, but his one half. His soul-mate and HIS best friend.

Quite simply, Ian loved his family. And, as we have just movingly heard through the words voiced by Canon Boswell, his family loved him.

Ian’s company was enjoyable not least because he was an optimist. That optimism perhaps came from being a lifelong fan of

Spurs, a football team whose best times always seem to be just around the corner.

A sense of humour always makes for a good friend. Ian could be astutely funny on topical issues and his was often a selfdeprecating sense of humour. On holiday in Spain with Kim in the early 1980s, he sent a postcard: “Writing this sitting out on our veranda sipping a cool drink - yes, the tea’s gone cold again.” In the summer of 2020, when the country was under the Covid national lockdown rules, Ian emailed about the ever-lengthening work on their house: “The builders have been with us so long that they are firmly embedded in our family bubble”.

That was classic Ian. In a situation where most of us would have been complaining, he passed it off lightly. It was also a good example of one final quality to highlight.

Ian was one of the most phlegmatic characters that I – and surely you – have ever met. I say “one of the most” because the other person is Kim. No wonder Ian & Kim were so quickly drawn to each other in their first term at university. For more than 45 years it has been Ian & Kim. Kim, all our hearts ache for you - and for Edward, for Lucinda, for Jemima, and for Jon and for the rest of the family. But, IF a life can be measured by its quality rather than its quantity, then we, your friends, would say that you & Ian have been blessed, just as we have been blessed to know the wonderful man who was - who remains for us all - Ian Charles Davenport.

Thank you, Ian. For the fun, the pub banter, the rugby-playing, the prog rock concerts, the sage advice - and the cups of tea.

Goodbye, best of friends."

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE

HELP US SHAPE YOUNG LIVES OUR LEGACY FUND

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or many, the years spent at school are some of the most significant and life-changing of times.

This is particularly true at St Dunstan’s College whose vibrant community of past students, parents and teachers remain connected to the school, and are passionate about its continued success.

family and other responsibilities. Gifts that are free from restrictions are particularly helpful, allowing the College to invest wherever our need is greatest. Or you may wish your gift to support our bursaries programme to give opportunities to those would otherwise be unable to benefit from a St Dunstan’s education.

By giving a legacy gift to St Dunstan’s in your Will, you will be helping us to continue to give the best education to future students, and you will continue to be part of the St Dunstan’s story.

Whatever you choose, your Will is an important and personal document and we recommend you contact your solicitor, either to draft your will or a codicil to your existing Will.

There are different types of gifts you can make in your Will, including giving a specified amount or the remaining part of your estate after providing for your

Please download a Legacy Pledge Form from the College's website at: www.stdunstans.org.uk/development

THANK YOU TO GEORGE BIRD

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hank you to George Bird, who attended the College in the 1930s and left a legacy of over £500,000. His wish was to support one deserving boy and one deserving girl from the Lewisham area, on a transformational bursary of 120% throughout their time in the Senior School. Our two Bird Bursary recipients started their journey at the College in Year 7 in September 2023. We are very grateful to George for his generous gift.

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

GIVING BACK...

Education transforms lives.

Expanding the funds we have for bursaries has been a top priority for St Dunstan’s in recent years, as bursaries at the College give academically able children from lower income families the chance of an excellent and often life changing education. Widening access through bursaries is also a key vehicle for improving social mobility and a route towards a more inclusive society.

It takes just over £20,000 per annum to support a bursary student in the senior school.

Since the launch of our fundraising efforts in 2020, the College has raised at the time of going to print over £750K for bursaries thanks to the generosity of Dunstonians and parents alike.

Total raised: £711,270 LEGACIES £538,862 DUNSTONIANS £70,675

Our donors

OTHER £70,000 PARENTS £31,732

BURSARY £623,810 UNRESTRICTED £51,398 Areas supported

COMMUNITY £35,000 PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE £625 SPORT £438

St Dunstan’s TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN 2023 St Dunstan’s was delighted to run its first ever fundraising Telephone Campaign during the last two weeks of August 2023.

The response was tremendous from all Dunstonians and current parents alike and we were able to raise a phenomenal £100K! Thank you also to our young Dunstonian alumni who did a most amazing job as our callers: Amber, Cameron, Ciaran, Daniel, Freya, Finley, Galya, Joshua, Joe, Karina, Lucas, Paola and Sammy!

2

week campaign

6

Dunstonian match donors totalling

£6,500

142 NEW DONORS IN TOTAL

650

CONVERSATIONS

13

Young Dunstonian callers

£100K

raised for our Bursary Fund

1 BIG THANK YOU! 63

current parents donating

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

“

Cameron ('23) For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of becoming a doctor and I am extremely proud to say I have achieved a place at Liverpool Medical School.

Whilst at St Dunstan’s, I was a recipient of an Academic, Music and Sports scholarship alongside a Bursary award, and this huge financial help gave me an entrance to an environment where I could succeed,and which otherwise would not have been available.

“

The Bursary Fund has been a catalyst for the increasingly diverse student population at the College, allowing bright students from all social groups to experience an environment supporting them to reach whatever aspiration they set their mind to.

St Dunstan’s pledge to provide financial support to any student who reaches the required academic attainment level, shows clearly that the school is committed to the local community and diversity in education. It fills me with pride to know that other children like myself have an institution committed to them, from the day they start, to the day they graduate.

For the first time in the history of the College, we have been able to offer bursaries to all deserving applicants on a “needs blind” basis for entry into Year 7 in September 2023. Also for the first time, we are now able to offer transformational bursaries of 110% and above for those most in need.

“

I have been offered a place at Corpus Christi College Oxford to read Experimental Psychology.

The bursary granted me the opportunity to access the help I needed. I was the cook of the successful dish, yet the recipe and ingredients were given to me. The outcome is very sweet and has given sustenance to my life. For that I cannot thank enough all the generous donors.

Stanislav ('23)

“

Sean Ming ('96)

“

I genuinely cannot think of a more impactful way that somebody could show their benevolence, than by transforming a life through the help of a bursary.

“

“

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

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CO US N Cof he introduction House O RaDnew ALEM IA V system will seldom be straightforward or uncontentious. SDC recognised some time ago that the four House system that has been in place since 1989 was no longer suitable, given the increasing numbers on the school roll, and a formal review was carried out during the 2022/23 academic year. Serious consideration was given to the reintroduction of the eight House system that was in place from 1919 to 1989, but ultimately the College opted for a six House system, adopting the names of Cities and places that figured prominently in the life of the College’s namesake, St Dunstan: Glastonbury, Worcester, Canterbury, Stepney, Ghent, Mendip and Worcester.

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The House System at St D CA N TE R

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P R O GRED E R E

Dunstan grew up in Glastonbury, and subsequently became Abbott of Glastonbury Abbey. Legend has it that King Edmund experienced a divine intervention while in the Mendip Forest which prompted him to reinstate Dunstan as Abbott of Glastonbury. He was Bishop of Worcester from 957 and Archbishop of Canterbury from 960. He was briefly exiled in Ghent during the 950s and is also the patron saint of Stepney.

The colours and mottos assigned to the new Houses provide a degree of continuity with the past:

1914 to 1919 1919 to 1989 1989 to 2023 From 2023 Motto

Lewisham Goosey (Blue)

Stuart (Blue) Canterbury (Blue) Concordia Valemus Hither Green Wilson (Pale Blue)

Bellingham Thomas (Red)

Forder (Red) Ghent (Red) Virtutem Quaere Catford Bennett (Pink) Glastonbury (Pink) Non Sibi, Sed Aliis

Sydenham Lane (Black)

Usherwood (Yellow) Stepney (Yellow) Progredere Forest Hill Ross (Yellow)

Ladywell Griffiths (Green)

Hecker (Green) Mendip (Green) Meliora Sequor Brockley Johnson (Purple) Worcester (Purple) Semper Audete

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

ER

Brief history of the House System at SDC...

R in M itsEfirst Catford L I Oyear, RA S E Q U Ohouse managed to lose all of its seven rugby matches, conceding 597 points in the process).

In 1919 the system was revised to give each house a better chance of success.

The eight houses were allotted equal numbers and, no longer having any geographical basis, were renamed after eight of the 233 Old Dunstonians who had lost their lives during the First World War - M Lane, F.H. Johnson VC, W.U. Ross, W.H. Griffiths, A.L. Thomas, G.R. Goosey, D. Wilson and R.C.R. Bennett.

In 1989 it was decided to reduce the number of houses from eight to four.

S Enew E The after the M Phouses D E Tnamed E R A Uwere first four Headmasters of the College: Stuart, Forder, Usherwood and Hecker.

To ensure a degree of continuity with the past, the previous houses were amalgamated rather than broken up (Goosey and Wilson became Stuart, etc). Continuity was maintained by each new house generally adopting the symbol from one old house and the motto from the other and, to the extent possible, a merging of the two previous house colours. The latest renaming of the Houses maintains this element of continuity.

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NO S N Ssystem A house was at L I Iestablished IBI, SE D Anot St Dunstan’s until 1914 (the college’s Trustees had originally rejected a house system, noting the “invidious distinctions and favouritism” it could potentially create). When a house system was finally implemented, house names initially reflected the geographic provenance of each pupil (Lewisham, Hither Green, Bellingham, Catford, Sydenham, Forest Hill, Ladywell and Brockley). Those from further afield were attached to their nearest district. One of the main problems of this system was the imbalance of numbers and the corresponding disparity in talent amongst the houses (for example,

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Dunstan's College

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

SDC NEWS From the Head

of their education at a wide range of destinations, including Oxbridge, the Russell Group, conservatoires and art colleges, studying on courses that are recognised to be amongst the best in the world.

A

s the days shorten and Christmas beckons, it has been a delight to read through this edition of The Notes and to see just how much activity has been taking place within the alumni community in the past six months. I do hope you enjoy catching up with news and updates from Dunstonians near and far.

The summer drew to a close with excellent public examination results.

Our A Level results placed us within the top 60 independent schools in the United Kingdom and were the best on record since before the Covid pandemic. We were especially delighted that students at St Dunstan’s achieved the grades required to progress to the next stage

Other highlights this term have included the Michaelmas Concert at St John’s Smith Square with an outstanding performance of Handel’s Messiah.

The quality of music making in this challenging work, from over 250 pupils, really was exceptional.

Our annual service of Remembrance was as moving an occasion as always, and it was a particular pleasure to welcome back many Dunstonians for the ceremony, as well as for the special exhibition about the World Wars set up by the Archives Department, focusing on war hero and Dunstonian Robert Stanford-Tuck, one of the most successful Royal Air Force Captains of the Second World War. I would also like to thank those of you who gave up your time to support our Careers Convention in November, which is a really important source of inspiration for our students as they consider life after St Dunstan’s.

I would like to thank you all for participating so generously in our first

ever telephone fundraising campaign conducted by recent leavers over one weekend in the summer, and which raised an impressive £31,000. The funds raised will go towards widening access to St Dunstan’s education through our bursary programme. I am so grateful for your support in this incredibly important area of our work.

On that note, I could not let this reflection finish without mentioning that St Dunstan’s College won the Outstanding Fundraising Achievement at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2023 – a muchdeserved accolade for the work of the Development Office under Isabelle’s expert leadership, as well as testament to the generosity of our alumni community. This sits alongside other accolades accumulated in recent years, and I hope it makes you proud to see St Dunstan’s awarded coeducational school of the year (2020), senior school of the year (2022) and most progressive school in London (2023).

I take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support of the College, and to wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Nick Hewlett Head

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

CCF Royal Naval Section Trafalgar Night Dinner

Year 13 Symposium

The CCF Royal Naval Section Trafalgar Night dinner this year took place on Friday 6 October in the Jubilee Ground Pavilion main hall.

On 16 November 2023, the College’s SixthForms students held their annual Symposium with Head of Sixth Form Alex Brewer. The premise is simple: students write a 2000 word dissertation on the topic of their choice entirely and produce a 3d tryptic that goes on display for the night.

Parents are invited to come and look at all the project and this year, Dunstonian Katie Hulland (Morell) (’98) was our external judge.

As marked across the Royal Naval Fleet every year, the diners gathered to celebrate Lord Nelson’s victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

Open to the senior RN cadets in Years 11, 12 and 13, along with CCF staff, and this year the Year 13 cadets from the Army Section as well, attendees enjoyed the traditional fare of roast beef as part of a 3-course dinner cooked and served up in excellent style by the Holroyd Howe team.

With the Naval cadets assisting Cdr Main with the toasts, graces and speeches, and Coxswain Inaya Rouse-Farooq toasting ‘The Immortal Memory’, it was an excellent evening that was rounded off with some hearty singing of favourite sea shanties (and for the first time, The Wellerman) lead by LCadet Marco Ong.

We received submissions and Katie’s was harder than ever before to determine the winner and the two runners up.

She picked three projects, which for her represented the challenges of tomorrow’s world, and the overall winner was Eleanor with her project “The Gentrification of Dr Martens” and how companies will have to balance profit versus ethical choices for their brand and their customers.

St Dunstan’s Celebrates best A Level Results on record St Dunstan’s College was delighted to announce in August that Year 13 students had achieved the best A Level results on record for the school, when compared to non-covid/non-inflationary outcomes prior to 2020: 86% of all grades achieved were A*-B, 56% were A*- A and 22% were A*.

Reflecting on the Sixth Formers achievements, St Dunstan’s Head, Nick Hewlett, said: ‘These are exceptional results for our students, and the school’s best ever on record when compared with previous comparable public examinations for the College. This is a tremendous achievement, especially as these are the first set of public examinations this cohort have taken.

‘This year group have maintained their focus throughout their Sixth Form studies, working closely with our exceptional A Level teachers,

and I am delighted to see their efforts rewarded with these recordbreaking outcomes. I congratulate all our departing Dunstonians and wish them the very best for the future.’

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

ISOTY award – it’s gold!

The College was delighted to win the Independent School of the Year Award 2023 in the category of Outstanding Fundraising Achievement. Isabelle Blake-James and her team received the award at the Law Society on 10 October. The competition was strong with other finalists including Dulwich College, Hurst College or City of London School. St Dunstan’s won for “achieving so much in such little time” and for launching its Development Board Bursary subsidised by all the members of the College’s Development Board.

Michaelmas Concert at St John's Smith Square On 9 November 2023, the College held its first Parent Donors’ Drinks reception as a thank you for the huge engagement received during the summer Telephone Campaign. The Drinks were followed by a rendition of Handel's Messiah by the College’s Choir with various solos by students and staff – including Mr Hewlett himself! It was a triumphant evening in the most beautiful setting.

Dunstonian around the City We are very excited to report that we are hoping to have installed a replica plaque identical to the one that can be seen in the gardens of St Dunstan-in-the-East in the City, at the College. We have recently got in touch with the original stone carver, Mr Kindersley who has agreed to do a smaller replica which will fit nicely at the front of the College.

In June 2023, John Woolman ('76) kindly guided a dozen Dunstonian around the City from London Bridge to All Hallows, as a qualified Blue Badge Guide. We stopped at St Dunstan in the East of course….

The project will cost £10K and we are looking for a generous Dunstonian who would like their name associated with a piece of history at the College. Please contact Isabelle Blake-James, Director of Development at: development@ stdunstans.org.uk if you are interested in supporting the project in full or in part.

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

Careers and Higher Education Convention evening On 6 November 2023, nearly 500 students from St Dunstan’s College and local Secondary State Schools attended our annual Careers and Higher Education Convention.

As always, many Dunstonians exhibited or volunteered to be speakers and our thanks go to everyone who contributed to the event.

Remembrance Day On 10 November 2023, the College held its annual Remembrance Service. We had the pleasure of welcoming back to the College many Dunstonians and Dunstonians' descendants alike including Frederick Hambrook's daughter and granddaughter as well as Bruce Cresswell-Jones' daughters.

All gathered for a coffee before the service in the Great Hall in order to have a look at this year's exhibition focusing on Dunstonian and WWII hero Robert Stanford-Tuck:. We had live footage of Tuck as well as a recounting of his meeting with other Dunstonian and prisoner of war Alan Bryett. A life long friendship was struck by the two men on which Alan Bryett reflected : “During the summer of 1943 I was shot down over Berlin during a RAF Bomber Command raid and was made a Prisoner of War. There followed an unpleasant and gruelling time in various prisons, and eventually I was deposited unceremoniously by the Luftwaffe at Stalag Luft 111. It was late one afternoon and I was mentally and physically exhausted. The camp had a wonderful jungle telegraph and within an hour Bob Tuck was round to see me as he had heard that an Old Dunstonian had just arrived. He brought food, spare clothing, chocolate and razor blades, all gold dust in a prisoner’s sparse possessions, and generously gave me all he could spare. I have never been so pleased to meet a fellow OD, and although it is now 44 years ago I have never forgotten his kindness at a time when it was so particularly appreciated.”

The service in the Great Hall was beautifully conducted by Canon Boswell and Dunstonian John Woolman ('76) read "Anthem for doomed youth" by Wilfred Owen. All guests then filed outside onto the D where the last post was played before several wreaths were laid on behalf of the College and of the Dunstonian Association by John Woolman ('76) and Iain Macdowall ('81).

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS 23 February 2024 Quiz Night (College) 9 May 2024 Beating of the Bounds (All Hallows) 25 May 2024 Commemoration Day (Southwark Cathedral) 22 June 2024 CCF Contingent Dinner (College)

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8 October 2024 South West Reunion Lunch (Exeter)

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28 September 2024 30th Anniversary of going co-ed - a Dunstonian Celebration (College)

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23 June - 4 July 2024 St Dunstan's Festival (Jubilee Ground)

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19 November 2024 AGM (Park Langley) December 2024 Dunstonian Christmas Lectures (Online)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

4-2024

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

ST DUNSTAN’S

FESTIVAL 2024

ST DUNSTAN’S FESTIVAL 23 JUNE - 4 JULY 2023

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

Please contact Isabelle Blake-James at iblakejames@stdunstans.org.uk should you be interested in becoming a sponsor.

Bronze £100 •

Small coloured logo in the Festival brochure

Silver £300 • • •

¼ page advert Logo inserted on all flyers, festival website page and holding screen in the Big Top VIP tickets x 5 at opening night concert

Gold £1,000 As Silver + • Logo in medium size • VIP tickets x7 at last night concert • ½ page advert in Festival brochure • Link to sponsor’s website

Platinum £2,500 As Gold + • Logo in large size • VIP tickets x10 at the last night concert • Full page advert in Festival brochure • Logo on event t-shirts • Option to sponsor one particular event • Small video recording of the Sponsor • Branded material in Big Top entrance • Banner on display in Big Top

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THE NOTES I WINTER 2022

New Online Shop Thank you to everybody who has already ordered a print, some cufflinks or a tote bag from The Dunstonian Association’s online shop. The range will grow in accordance to demand and we are more than happy to add items to the range when needed. All profits are reinvested into The Dunstonian Association’s so that it can run a growing list of events.

To sample the range and treat yourself and go online to:

dunstonians.org.uk/shop

VENUE HIRE Enterprises

Weddings Birthday Parties Corporate Away Days Venue Hire Sports Facilities 20% discount for Dunstonians

The official journal of the Dunstonian Association

Editorial & Design Team: Isabelle Blake-James Iain Macdowall David Edwards Jo Langthorne Thank you to all Dunstonians who have generously contributed to the Winter 2023 edition. If you would like to contribute to the Summer edition of The Notes 2024, please send your story or announcement to: dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk by 1 March 2024.

We are particularly interested in receiving items for the scrapbook as well as announcements of engagements, weddings or births – even going back a few years.

HOT POTATO! The Notes comes in 100% compostable starch wrap. You can compost it in your garden, use it to line your food bin, or if your council permits, dispose of it in your garden waste.

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NOTES dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk SDConnect www.dunstonians.org.uk