The Old Johnian 2022

THE OLD JOHNIAN

The Old Johnian 2022

Dear fellow Old Johnians,

I am sitting writing this in the wake of the sad news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and I am struck, not only by the thought that it truly is the end of an era, but also by the fact that it was only a week ago that we toasted The Queen at the Old Johnian Dinner on Friday 2 September. How much the world has changed in six days.

I remember fondly the visit of HRH The Duchess of Gloucester to open the Sports Hall when I was a pupil in 1991 and thinking at the time what an incredible institution the Monarchy is. I am reminded, even more now, what a steady constant it is and that always has been a feature in our lives.

St John’s School has been a similar constant presence in my life for the past 32 years and one from which I have always drawn comfort – a place to go back to, a reminder of constancy and of solidity, and even more importantly, a place where I made lifelong friendships.

The recent news, as well as the absence of much contact with OJs during the Covid-19 pandemic, has really brought home to me the importance of our community and network which is why the dinner on 2 September was all the more special; being able to catch up with old friends and contemporaries and make new acquaintances with other OJs from different years. We were 32 in total and it made for a very special, intimate gathering in the beautifully refurbished dining hall.

At the dinner we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the move of the School from Clapton House in London to the site in Leatherhead. It was under the Headship of Rev. EC Hawkins that a plot of land was purchased in Leatherhead in 1866 for the sum of £2,500 – a total plot of 12 acres. Henry Dawes made a gift of the money before the next stage of the project started which was to finance the building of the actual property. Construction was carried out between 1870 and 1872. To all intents and purposes, the exterior of the main four buildings around the Quad remains largely unchanged and the OJs who were present at the dinner commented on how well the Dining Hall had been refurbished returning it to its former splendour. Gloucester, North and Monty Houses (or what were originally called Blocks A and B) are currently receiving the same treatment and were under scaffolding wraps on the evening.

During the evening, OJs were able to peruse the plans for the development of the Quadrangle where it is proposed to build two multi-purpose sports pitches near the new Chapel and give their feedback. A sensitive plan has been developed which will retain and enhance the original design of the Quad.

After the main dinner, OJs were treated to an engaging talk from the Senior Deputy Head, Rebecca Evans, about the School, it’s evolution and future. Rebecca talked extensively about the superb examination results of this summer and how many sporting fixtures, drama production, music events and enrichment days that pupils had taken part in and enjoyed. As the School grows and evolves, it is clear that it is going from strength to strength, and I know it will continue to do so.

Whilst we admired the campus during the evening (much improved since my days!) I was acutely aware that is not the buildings that ‘make’ St John’s, but the people. And like the School buildings, we also need to evolve as a community. We have new generations of OJs (and much larger cohorts at that) joining our ranks every year and we need to make sure we stay relevant to everyone. I am excited to be working closely with the School leadership team to ensure we engage with current pupils creating an early link to allow a seamless transition from Johnian to Old Johnian. Part of that work is to bring our two communities together though careers and networking events, more of which we will share soon.

Whatever your feelings or memories about the School and your time there, we do hope you will come back to visit soon and see how much life at ‘J School’ has evolved. Moreover, if you’d like to be more closely involved, we are always keen for new members to join the committee. And if you have an idea for a club or society for OJs we can even sponsor it and provide funding!

Looking to the future, I know that St Johns will continue to evolve, grow, and excel and it is with pride that I know the part our community plays in supporting that.

I hope to see you on the Quad sometime soon.

Mark Cooper (Ch’95), Chairman

The Old Johnian 2022

From The Head’s Desk

Asthe 2020/21 academic year ended, I quoted former headmaster Edmund Downes who, in 1914 when St John’s had risen phoenix-like following a major fire, said he was looking forward to the future when they would have ‘a great and glorious time’ and the School would ‘go forward in a way it had never gone before’ because they had ‘learnt from their experiences of the previous year to hang together and work together.’

Well, as I reflect on 2021/22, I’m happy to say that we have indeed had a ‘great and glorious time’. It has not been without its challenges. But as the sun shone on the end of Summer Term and we celebrated with all the joyous events that traditionally mark the closing of an academic year –from Sports Day to Speech Day and the Leavers’ Ball – those challenges felt a distant memory.

We returned to school in September 2021 full of positivity and hope, with an intention to rebuild what was lost, to refocus on making progress in all areas of school life, and to retain those things we had learnt during Covid-19 times that were worth holding onto. For many of our community, particularly our youngest pupils and their families, their initial experiences of school life had been one lived virtually and physically apart. In contrast, after a slightly bumpy start, this year has been filled with shared experiences in houses, on the sports field, on stage, in classrooms, in Chapel, and through countless other wonderful moments.

While most of our older pupils had evidently got their exposure to Covid-19 out of the way during the summer holidays, thanks to a social extravaganza including Boardmasters and the Reading Festival, the first half of Autumn Term 2021 saw Covid-19 cases tear through school with 270 cases in six weeks. Many of the restrictions that had been removed were swiftly reinstated with Chapel livestreamed, the House Song Competition postponed and masks reintroduced. Despite this, and the following wave of Omicron which meant many families once again didn’t have the Christmas they had hoped for, Autumn Term saw us wave goodbye to bubbles and rebuild the camaraderie of house life, which was wonderful. We also saw renewed enthusiasm for boarding and it was really special to hear laughter echoing around the Quad in the evenings and to feel the School so full of life again.

Among the many things that have brought real joy this year, the return of live performance must be high on the list. From the impressive Concerto Competition and the atmospheric

Michaelmas Concert to Songs for a New World, Black Comedy, over a hundred pupils performing The Carnival of the Animals at Cadogan Hall and Eternal Light: A Requiem, every term has been filled with creativity, talent, music, drama and incredible team work. Read about all of the wonderful performing arts moments, across an unbelievable 45 different concerts and productions, on page 16.

I’m fairly certain that the gusto with which pupils threw themselves into an incredibly busy fixtures programme wasn’t solely because of the return of St John’s match teas but they are undoubtedly popular with competitors and supporters alike. You can read more about this year’s sporting triumphs on page 25 but one of the things I am proudest of is the amazing statistic that 89% of pupils have represented St John’s across 14 sports and 209 teams. We’re passionate about giving all pupils access to the highest standards of coaching and training, and creating opportunities for pupils of all ability levels to represent our school means that everyone who wants to can enjoy the countless benefits of competitive team sport.

While I’m talking about sport, we were thrilled to (finally!) hold the official opening of our fantastic sports centre and pool in the autumn. In what became our very own version of a postponed Covid-19 wedding, it was two years and three postponements later when former-Olympian Mark Foster was able to come and open the curtains on the plaque (see page 10). The centre is an exceptional facility for our pupils to enjoy but its construction was always intended to support the local community and, in these post-Covid-19 times, we have greatly enjoyed rebuilding our relationships, including with local primary school partners who have enjoyed swimming lessons throughout the year.

As ever, house competitions have created some of the funniest and most colourful memories of the year. The House Song Competition was delayed because pupils, quite rightly, wanted to wait until it could be done ‘properly’. When it did take place, what the unison lacked in tunefulness, it made up for in heart, with every member of every house getting involved. The House Pancake Race was also delayed – as a result of bad weather rather than Covid-19 – but was contested enthusiastically. It might be fair to say that the enthusiasm went a little too far in some cases, with Reverend Moloney’s zealous umpiring resulting in most houses being disqualified, but these joyous highlights in the calendar have been sorely missed and we have loved every second of having them back.

appeared on site and interviewed nearly 100 pupils and met with around 40 staff, as well as looking at every aspect of school life. I am delighted to say that St John’s was found to be excellent in every area. While the inspection itself only takes only a few days, it is the ongoing dedication of all of our teaching and support staff, who work incredibly hard every day to make St John’s the best it can possibly be, which creates the environment in which our pupils thrive academically and personally.

The variety of St John’s life is such that we sometimes gloss over the most fundamental reason we exist: to ignite a love of learning in our pupils and create exciting educational experiences which empower them to be aspirational about what they can accomplish. One of the most reinvigorating aspects of getting back to normal has been refocusing on a more collaborative academic experience, with pupils able to work in groups and interact more naturally in the classroom. Our pupils responded marvellously and we’ve seen fantastic examples of academic success. Our Upper Fifth and Upper Sixth coped brilliantly with the first public examination season in two years, achieving results of which they should be incredibly proud. Beyond GCSEs and A levels, the breadth and depth of our pupils’ intellect was evident in a raft of ways, from the British Physics Olympiad Experimental Project and the national Biology Challenge, to the fascinating EPQ topics explored by our Lower Sixth, the incredible CanSat competition achievement (see page 13), and the continued excellence of our award-winning politics magazine, The Eagle.

As the year unfolded, our renewed focus on trips and enrichment saw pupils enjoy amazing experiences. Among many other things, over 100 pupils seized the opportunity to complete their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh when we launched it at St John’s earlier in the year (read more about all our DofE participants on page 24). The variety of trips and enrichment activities we offer are integral to what we believe is important and valuable about a St John’s education; what happens outside the classroom directly influences what happens within it, helping to broaden horizons, open minds and allow our pupils to grow as individuals in countless ways.

All of our effort and progress was captured following an early morning call in May announcing the imminent arrival of the Independent Schools Inspectorate for a scheduled, but Covid-19-delayed, inspection. Eight inspectors promptly

The end of every academic year is bittersweet as we say goodbye to some members of our community. This year’s Speech Day was particularly poignant because relatively few of the people who gathered together on the Quad had ever experienced a ‘normal’ St John’s Speech Day. As always, it was a chance to be inspired by our guest speaker (this year, the award-winning author and journalist Matthew Syed), to celebrate individual and collective achievements, and to bid farewell to our oldest pupils (read more on page 8). This year’s Upper Sixth and I arrived at St John’s together in September 2017. None of us could have predicted the unusual and disrupted journey we have shared in the five years since. One of the greatest legacies they leave St John’s is the way in which they have led the pupil body out of Covid-19, reasserting treasured traditions and characteristics of St John’s, while also leading us forward in so many different domains from diversity and inclusion to sustainability. They have been a force to be reckoned with this year in the very best of ways. I would particularly like to thank the prefect team and Amelia and Dan, our School Captains, for their leadership. They have demonstrated integrity, intellect, compassion and energy and truly represent the very best of what it means to be a St John’s pupil.

Reflecting on the goals I set out at the beginning of this year – to rebuild, to refocus and to retain – what do I now think is the most precious thing to retain into the future? It is, put simply, an appreciation of the power of being together. Every time school was physically closed to pupils, I felt a profound sense of loss. We missed the pupils being here, we missed working alongside our colleagues and we missed welcoming parents into school. Several years ago, in an attempt to define the essence of St John’s, we captured the idea in a concept we called MeWe: the idea that we as individuals are magnified and made greater by the rest of the community around us. From that came the complementary notion of MeWe, to describe the way the collective is enhanced and made more by each individual. This year has demonstrated the truth of those beliefs. Collectively – pupils, colleagues, governors, parents – we were all made more, coped with more and achieved more during Covid-19 times because of each other. But we were also diminished by being apart and some of the colour and some of the joy was lost from our lives. That is what has made this year so special: every experience has been enhanced by in person connection. I am so proud of what each and every member of St John’s School has achieved. Life really is back in technicolour!

Rowena Cole

"It is the ongoing dedication of all of our teaching and support staff, who work incredibly hard every day to make St John’s the best it can possibly be, which creates the environment in which our pupils thrive academically and personally"

FAREWELL FROM THE SCHOOL CAPTAINS

The last five years have simply flown by, and it is difficult to believe that we are parting ways with a school that we have both loved so much. Although we leave with sadness, we look to the future with excitement and optimism, knowing that we will always be able to look back on the memories we have made - within houses, during lessons and on the sports field - with real fondness.

Joining in the same year as Mrs Cole, we have seen St John’s change, progress and flourish in many ways over the last five years. What has remained constant, however, is its huge sense of community. The St John’s ethos of unity and kindness is what sets it apart from all other schools and has enormously contributed to the unforgettable experience we have both had. With all of the moments of triumph and fun, there have also been times of hardship and struggle. These, however, are the moments when we have learnt the most about ourselves and grown as individuals. We are both able to say that the support and encouragement we have received from the School during these tough times is what has shaped us into the hard-working and resilient young adults we are today.

A highlight of my time at the School must be the House Singing Competition in Upper Fifth when South won both the Unison and the Part Song. It was an incredibly special time as there was a huge sense of unity within the House between all five year groups, which was topped off by our double win!

Amelia

House competitions are a way in which the School has encouraged me to reach outside of my comfort zone, whilst also bringing a sense of unity and camaraderie that has created some of my strongest friendships. From taking part in house debating to representing Monty in the annual Pancake Race, I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of house life. It is what I will miss most when I leave.

Dan

Looking back to our very first days here, we remember being wide-eyed Fourth Formers, amazed by the Prefects who walked down the aisle of the Chapel every morning and hoped that someday that could be us. As a result, being made School Captains was an enormous privilege and we are incredibly grateful to have been entrusted with the responsibility of the role. We feel that it has not only improved our leadership and communication skills but also enabled us to interact with the entire school community, from speaking to the Lower School pupils about what to expect when joining the Senior School, to meeting OJs and hearing entertaining stories of their time at the School.

At the beginning of the academic year, neither one of us was entirely sure of what to expect from the role. Although our nerves were high, we received a huge amount of support from both staff and pupils. A huge ‘thank you’ must go out to the Prefect Team who have led the School with such enthusiasm and maturity. Their hard work and devotion to St John’s has been instrumental in the School’s smooth return to normality from lockdown.

Secondly, on behalf of all the Upper Sixth pupils, we would like to express our appreciation for the Senior Leadership Team, as well as all the teachers and the sports coaches, who have worked extraordinarily hard to make our time at St John’s so remarkable. We acknowledge that running a school through a pandemic and, at times, from behind a screen, cannot have been easy and to do it with such vigor and care is a testament to the nature of St John’s and its staff. Additionally, we must thank the groundsmen, cleaning, catering, transport, administration, and estate staff who work extremely hard every day to ensure that the St John’s runs as it should. They truly make the School what it is.

To the younger years, our advice would simply be to throw yourself into life at St John’s. There will be so many fantastic opportunities presented to you over the course of your time here. Do not hesitate to take part in as much as you possibly can. What is new and unknown can be daunting, yet we hope this is something that you will embrace; you never know where new talents or friendships may be found.

We are both extremely proud to be part of St John’s and of the young adults that it has shaped us into. Although we will deeply miss the School, we take comfort in knowing that we will forever be a part of St John’s and that we will always be welcomed back. To those parting ways this year, as well as those still with time remaining at St John’s, we wish you all the best of luck for the future.

Amelia Feltham and Daniyal Khan

The support and encouragement we have received from the School during these tough times is what has shaped us into the hard-working and resilient young adults we are today.

SPEECH DAY 2022

Theacademic year ended in spectacular fashion on Saturday 2 July. As anticipation built for the return of Speech Day (the first since 2019!), the last few days of term were packed full of celebrating everything we love about belonging to the St John’s community.

The last week of term always provides unique opportunities for enrichment, and high-spirited activities.

Pupils embarked on two fun-filled enrichment days, packed full of extra-curricular activities on Wednesday and Thursday. With activities and trips such as film making, a political history walking tour, psychology competition, fantastic

workshops, work experience, visits to Oxford University, Hampton Court, Chessington World of Adventures, Tate Britain and the overnight CCF field trip, all pupils enjoyed enthusiastically exploring new topics, adventures and challenges.

The Lower School Speech Day took to the marquee on Thursday afternoon and saw pupils and staff pupils reflect upon an incredibly fun and busy year of sport, music, drama, charitable fundraising, trips, and academic challenge. The individual

and enthusiastic approach that Lower School pupils have taken to this academic year has been incredible, and this has shone through in their brilliant and engaging Lower School Projects. Pupils spoke wonderfully as they talked about the friendships they have formed, the laughter, the sense of belonging, the teamwork and collaboration they have enjoyed, and how much they are looking forward to the next stages of their St John’s education.

The sun shone gloriously on the Quad as pupils, parents, staff, and governors joined to celebrate the year

On Friday 1 July, the whole school was transported by 15 coaches to enjoy a fantastic Sports Day at K2 Sports Centre in Crawley. In only its second year Sports Day has already become a firm favourite in the St John’s calendar. Pupils (and staff!) ran, jumped, and threw in a spectacle of athletic prowess, good natured rivalry, and house loyalty, which was all topped off with a good measure of ice-cream kindly sponsored by the SJPA.

The academic year at St John’s ended with the much-anticipated return of Speech Day on Saturday 2 July. The sun shone gloriously on the Quad as pupils, parents, staff, and governors joined to celebrate the year, present prizes, and bid a fond farewell to our departing Upper Sixth.

The Head, Rowena Cole, was able to share the outstanding news that St John's School has achieved the highest grading possible during our recent ISI Inspection, and was judged to be excellent in all areas, alongside meeting all regulatory compliance standards. The news was met by rapturous applause and shared delight across our community. We are incredibly proud of the results of the inspection, and you can find some of

the key findings of the inspection report on the School website.

Alongside awarding end of year prizes, The Head highlighted the varied array of achievements of our community over the last year, from sports, performing arts, academic and creative excellence, CCF and DofE, fundraising, and adventures - the list is vast! The academic year also focused on the reconnection and return of audiences and events, and above all rebuilding the elements we most missed from St John’s during the Covid-19 pandemic. Discussing the return to events, The Head commented: ‘every time we came together for events, the sense of connection felt more intense than we had experienced previously’.

As we bid a fond farewell to our departing Upper Sixth, The Head spoke of their legacy: ‘You and I arrived together in September 2017 and none of us expected the disrupted and unusual journey we have shared. One of your greatest legacies to St John’s will be leading us out from the difficulties of Covid-19, reasserting some of the important traditions and characteristics of St John’s while also leading us forward in so many different

domains from diversity and inclusion, to anti-bullying and sustainability. You have proved to be a force to be reckoned with this year and in the very best of ways. I would particularly like to thank the prefect team and Amelia and Dan, our school captains, for their leadership. You have demonstrated integrity, intellect, compassion and energy in your leadership and truly represent the very best of what it means to be a St John’s pupil’.

We were thrilled to have welcomed award-winning author and journalist Matthew Syed as our guest speaker, whose insightful and thoughtprovoking words resonated with many of the 1600 guests in the audience. Aided by his inspiring words, we look forward to returning in September full of optimism, and resilience to grasp, and grow through, the year ahead.

The end of term celebrations provided a unique and special moment to pause and look back on the previous few years, and the overarching resilience, strength, and spirit of the St John’s community.

Sports Centre OFFICIAL OPENING

On Wednesday 6 October 2021, we were delighted to welcome Olympian and former World Champion Mark Foster as our guest of honour to officially open the St John’s Sports Centre!

Autumn 2019 saw the completion of our exciting project to replace the old swimming pool with a new competition-standard six lane, 25m pool, as well as exceptional new sports facilities including a new conditioning suite, studio and sports changing areas.

We were thrilled to see pupils’ enthusiasm as we opened the doors to the new sports centre at the start of the 2019-20 academic year; from the stunning pool to the brilliantly equipped fitness suite, pupils began making use of everything on offer. We’d originally hoped to hold an official opening in early 2020, however the Covid-19 pandemic quashed

those hopes, resulting in the event taking place little later than intended. Nevertheless, we are tremendously excited about the Sports Centre and what it will provide to our school and the local community.

The Sports Centre is an impressive addition to the School, which has been nominated for a Royal Institute of British Architects award, and enabled us to offer opportunities to a number of local primary schools, including Leatherhead Trinity, St Peter’s, West Ashtead, Epsom Primary and West Hill, a special school for children with learning and additional needs. It has also provided a high-quality facility for

the wider community and has already been used by local swimming, netball and cricket clubs.

Whilst the delays we faced were disappointing, they pale into insignificance compared to the struggles faced with the construction of the first ever St John’s swimming pool! Following the 1913 school fire and the Great War, the swimming bath was opened in 1925 as a memorial to the Old Johnians lost in World War I, some forty years after originally desired! In 1930, our swimming team entered the Bath Cup for the first time, and began, unbeknownst to them at the time, a lasting tradition, as the Bath Cup is still a highlight of the competitive swimming calendar and, in 2018, our boys and girls won their respective Dunelm and Aldenham cups, making St John’s the first school to ever win all four cups and setting new records in the process.

Mark Foster officially opened the Sports Centre, enthusing about the phenomenal facilities available to our community; Mark spoke to parents and pupils about the importance of perseverance and shooting for the stars. As one of the UK’s most successful competitive swimmers of all time, Mark is a true inspiration to not only our young aspiring athletes, but all pupils, becoming the fastest swimmer in the country at the age of 15. Whilst displaying two of his favourite medals, he discussed the previous ’23 years of not giving up, and keeping on believing!’

During the evening, The Head Rowena Cole spoke to esteemed guests about the Sports Centre and during her speech, commented: ‘We all recognise that buildings don’t make a school. It’s people – this wonderful community of pupils, staff, parents, and friends - who define us. But buildings can represent something powerful about our values and about what we’re striving for: they can represent aspiration; they can represent the commitment to do things to the very best of our ability; and they can represent a desire to give back to the wider community.’

The Head gave her thanks to everybody who contributed to making the ambitious construction project a reality. ‘I know what a difference it will make, not only to our own pupils but also to the many others who we’ll be able to share these facilities with, for many years to come.’

Olympian and World Champion,

The Head often discusses the importance of aiming high, and that pupils should push themselves with determined effort to aim for and achieve brilliance, and this is something Mark Foster resonated with throughout his speech. Whilst Mark was encouraged and supported throughout his life by his committed family, just as our pupils are supported by their families and our school community, he stressed the effort that he invested to train, compete and win medals was something only he was responsible for. Mark summarised to pupils that ‘you get out what you put in – if you put in 1/10 effort, you will get a 1/10 results but with the right attitude and behaviour, and putting in 10/10 you can achieve anything! Whatever you do, whether it be sport or any other

endeavours – you never know what is possible if you commit to something. If you don’t try, you can’t fail, so it is always better to give it a go!’

The Head closed the speeches by thanking Mark and concluded with the hope that our pupils should be inspired to ‘Be bold. Be brave. And look beyond what you know you can achieve, to find the edges of your brilliance.’

We are tremendously excited about the Sports Centre and what it will provide to our school and the local community.

Shining Stars

Pupils who created and published our school politics magazine, The Eagle, were entered into the highly competitive Shine National School Media Awards 2022. We were delighted to see them nominated in two categories, concluding in our pupils receiving two awards at the Shine Awards ceremony in central London on Monday 27 June.

We are incredibly pleased to report that The Eagle achieved two awards – ‘Best Front Cover 2022’ and pupil editor Keir was highly commended for the ‘Best Magazine Design 2022’ category. The judges commented:

‘With an emotionally charged, stunning cover that sets the tone, news-magazine style and clear layout, The Eagle is impactful and thoughtful. A strong and serious school magazine’

‘With good reason, The Eagle felt no need to wait to declare Volodymyr Zelensky their Person of the Year. A superb cover combines a file photo over bold streaks of paint and Slava Ukraini. Our judges were unanimous in their praise of this of-the-moment, bold statement.’

Head of Politics, Julian Thomas said of their achievement: ‘I am so proud of all the writers and editors of the

Eagle, but also I am delighted that they have been rightly recognised for what is a remarkable publication.’

It is a fantastic achievement for our politics pupils, and we are very proud of their achievements and the hard work that goes into each issue.

The St John’s Politics Magazine, The Eagle has been published each term for nearly a decade, and the magazine has grown impressively over this time. The magazine is researched, written, and edited by pupils, and pupils from across every year group is welcome to write for the magazine.

Pupil editors host meetings and manage the pupil additions, as well as writing pieces themselves. Features can be written on any topic of their choosing – sport, culture, music, history, current affairs – if it has a political angle.

We are thrilled to see so many pupils taking a keen interest in politics, and key topics. Every edition of The Eagle features a diverse and impressive array of contributions, with pupils showcasing their engagement in political topics and discussions. Moreover, the research, debating and writing skills required to create their feature broadens their future horizons, not just in politics but also across their school subjects.

2022 CANSAT COMPETITION

At the beginning of May we were both proud and delighted to celebrate of the impressive achievement of a group of our Lower Sixth pupils, who became national winners of the UK CanSat Competition 2022, and will now progress to Bologna, Italy to represent the UK in the European finals in June.

The ‘Eagles’ CanSat team was formed in late September 2021. Led by teacher Aaron Mooney, a group of six Lower Sixth pupils studying a range of science and technology based A levels came together, benefitting from their broad range of skills and interests.

‘We decided to take part in this STEM challenge due to our common interests, the challenge of the sensing conditions, communicating data and teamwork and then answering a simple question. For us, this was not simply about sending a piece of hardware one kilometre up into the sky and watching it fall to earth, but to see if a serious scientific question can be answered within a short space of time accurately.’ – The Eagles CanSat Team

Initially the group challenged the science behind the question "Could a calculation be generated to show a life-index value that indicates if life was sustainable". Several weeks of heated debate ensued, as they gradually unravelled how they would sense atmospheric gases as a satellite fell to the surface of the planet. It was key to the group that the sensing, calculations and ultimately the answer was indicated on their ground station by the time the satellite hit the surface. This had multiple layers of complexity. The team’s second mission was to determine the suitability of a selected planet for supporting human life on arrival and then to calculate survival, to conclude whether it warrants further study using a range of additional sensors.

Pupils defined their own roles within the group: Jonathan – Project Manager, Alex – Hardware and Electronics, Will Sumpter – Software and Transmission of Data, Amica - Data Collection and Data Analysis, Asantewaa – Data Collection and Data Analysis, William Johnson – Community, Branding and Social Media. As part of the assessment criteria the group also needed to develop an outreach programme: social media,

website, corporate identity with logo design and of course the all-important t-shirts! Pupils were delighted to received sponsorship and support from PyroScience.

Aaron Mooney commented: ‘The team of pupils put in a huge number of hours outside lessons, after school and at weekends each week to complete the paperwork, build and code the satellite and make the maths work; it paid off. At the UK finals, (University of York) the science, maths and electronics worked, we delivered an outstanding functioning satellite and proved to a tough board of PhD Astro Physics judges that the pupils were knowledgeable, intelligent and cohesive team members. We are now on our way to the European Finals in Bologna, Italy from 20-25 June to represent the UK - a wonderful achievement.’

The UK CanSat Competition Finals took place across three days in York at the National STEM Learning Centre. On launch day the teams launched their CanSats by small rockets to approximately 400 metres in height and collected data such as air pressure and temperature as they descended back down to their ground station.

Following their achievement at the UK CanSat Competition, Ingmar Kamalagharan (Education and Outreach Manager at the UK Space Agency) addressed the St John's pupils: "Don't underestimate how important this is; today you represented your school, tomorrow you represent the UK in the European Finals. The scientific question you have set and the outstanding work you have done will prove to be an incredible foundation from which to build - winning this competition will change lives" St John's Eagles win has recently been published on the ERESO / STEM UK website, and celebrated by many outlets such as the UK Space Agency:

‘Team Eagles wanted to use their CanSat to determine the suitability of an Exoplanet for supporting human life and to calculate survival using a range of sensors. As well as air pressure and temperature they measured Oxygen, CO2, humidity, UV light and Carbon Monoxide. Their CanSat then looked at the data collected, scored the risks and decided if the Exoplanet was suitable for further research’

COMMUNITY HOLIDAY 2022

The 2022 St John’s School Community Holiday welcomed children with disabilities, aged 10-18, to participate in a residential stay at St John’s for a week jam-packed with activities and fun!

Many of the participants, both children and volunteers, have enjoyed previous community holidays at St John’s. We were delighted to welcome 21 children this year who were warmly cared for by 43 present and former pupils, together with some external staff, all of whom are volunteers.

During the week, the School community were invited to attend a visitors evening – comprising of a fashion show and sing-song. When asked what they took away from their visit, these were some of the answers that truly sum up the heart of the Community Holiday:

'A great evening, loved the show. Hands still hurt from clapping!'

'What an amazing, joyful and magical experience'

'Joy, love, friendship, trust'

'Wonderful to see the holiday makers so confident and happy'

'What a fantastic evening – full of love and happiness'

'Watching the children so proud of themselves in the fashion show. Was very special'

'An outstanding evening and programme to support disabled children. The enthusiasm, energy and fun of both helpers and the young people was totally infections. Well done, and keep it going!'

Prior to the holiday, pupils and St John’s staff completed training and fundraising. Taking place at St John’s School and making use of the School’s boarding houses, the holiday allows parents and carers a week of much-needed respite safe in the knowledge that their children are being fully cared for, supported and having a fantastic time. The St John’s community enjoy offering support in many ways, from driving minibuses to joining in the much-loved fancy dress sing-a-longs.

Together they enjoyed events that ranged from playground games, a visit from a magician, a visiting petting zoo, and a balloon-twisting workshop. The week was filled with fun and adventure from horse-riding to fairground rides at Littlehampton and bigger rides at Chessington World of Adventures.

The children’s parents appreciate the social opportunities the holiday offers, as well as the respite they gain. One parent wrote that her son ‘has the best time and keeps gazing at all the photos and the holiday journal’. Another wrote that her daughter ‘absolutely loves the people, the activities, the independence from us’.

The staff who care for the children also find the experience wholly worthwhile, with a new helper stating that it was one of the ‘best weeks of her life’ and that she hopes to return next year.

UKRAINIAN REFUGEE SUMMER LANGUAGE SCHOOL

This summer, we were delighted to welcome the Epsom and Ewell Refugee Network (EERN) to St John’s School to host their first Summer Language School. The fantastic project team at EERN set out with the objective of teaching Ukrainian refugee adults and children English over the school holidays and providing much-needed guidance.

Adult refugees were given important support with an intensive course of learning English whilst receiving childcare, which allowed them the opportunity to learn whilst their children were cared for. With delays in school places being allocated for refugee children, many children had not yet received any schooling, and a safe space for them to learn, play, meet other children and be kept safe whilst their parents studied too was incredibly well received.

The camp was made possible by an incredible team of 130 volunteers including a great number of teachers, who delivered a curriculum filled with imagination and fun! In total, volunteers provided over 2,800 hours of support from administration to building sandcastles; everybody had a huge part to play in creating a warm and caring environment. We were proud to have several St John’s staff participating and supporting the language school.

As a charitable organisation, EERN were incredibly grateful for the support given by further organisations including James’ Jar of Gifts, Yulife Insurance, Silicon Valley Bank with funding and teaching hours.

'Where would we find the premises at such short notice? Look no further than St John’s School, Leatherhead, who immediately said yes to everything we asked for. They donated a site beyond our wildest hopes, a self-contained building with classrooms, gardens and specialist spaces, safe access, and parking! The St John’s sites team were engaged and enthusiastic even though this was their busiest time of the year they would drop everything to fix a tap or repair a child’s bike! An IT team who were too available! We popped in constantly with our IT issues and they were brilliant. The SLT made sure that we had the total support of the School and its Foundation, and they truly delivered on their charitable purpose. WE thank you!'

It was incredibly moving to see the families bravely entering a new environment to begin their learning. EERN welcomed 116 children for a total of 6,400 hours, and 70 adults with Nescot College for 5,600 hours over 16 days. As the days passed, confidence grew, and friendships were made. 'Screams of joy, laughter and children playing, they made new friends and were able to relax back into their home languages amongst other children who knew only too well what they had left behind. They were happy, safe, and full of excitement.'

There wasn’t a dry eye across the School on the final day of the summer camp, which coincided with Ukrainian Independence Day (24 August). Parents loved seeing their children in National dress, singing, dancing and reciting poetry. The children showed enthusiasm throughout their time at the camp, and now head off into new adventures at school with much more confidence.

I would like to thank all the organisers, teachers, and volunteers for the wonderful four weeks of studying at the summer school. I wish you all health, wellbeing, and the fulfillment of all your dreams and wishes. Thank you for your kind heart and for the love and care you give to Ukrainians. I am extremely happy that fate brought me together with you, but it is a pity that in such a difficult situation for me. We will never forget your concern.

Thank you, great people. We feel your help and support every minute. We appreciate all what you are doing. Thanks for opening your hearts for us.

Thank you so much for your support! We are very grateful for this opportunity and for everything that you have done for us! Hope for a peace. Glory to Ukraine, Glory to UK!

Find out more about EERN via: epsomrefugeenetwork.org

EERN Summer Language School

PERFORMING

Arts

at St John’s

By Oliver White, Director of Performing Arts

PERFORMING

ARTS

The beginning of this year saw the Performing Arts Department determined to rebuild ensembles and recreate a backstage fizz after the difficulties of the previous 18 months. In many ways it has felt like building from scratch again, with cast members and ensembles being new and younger pupils not experiencing 'normality' within rehearsals and the department at large; however, the team worked hard to get us back to where we were and fortuitously the pupil appetite has been stronger than ever. By the end of the year, we have managed to exceed where we were in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

The first half of the Autumn Term was filled with highlights and hiccups. The Apollo Theatre Company from Guildford gave a fantastic masterclass in the physicality needed for characterisation involving around 25 of our budding thespians.

The work created by our pupils was extraordinary. The lunchtime recital programme had a renaissance with the return of a live audience while still being recorded and released to the School community after the event. However, Covid-19 continued to cause problems; House Singing was postponed and due to several of the Fourth Form and Lower Fifth pupils isolating there were low rehearsal numbers for our first drama production of 2021/22 and school choir rehearsals. With judicious editing of the script and music repertoire alterations we managed to keep our calendared performances alive.

The first week after half term saw the return of our Concerto Competition, adjudicated by the Precentor and Director of Music from Eton College, Mr Tim Johnson. This year we had pupils represented across the breadth of the School from the Lower Third to the Upper Sixth and while the department has embraced more genres over the last few years, it is rewarding to know that a strong classical music vein is thriving at the School. This was followed immediately by a bespoke version of Treasure Island in the PAC from our Fourth Form and Lower Fifth which enabled us to start demonstrating the capabilities of our fantastic new lighting rig. At the end of the term, we presented our first double bill in many years; a spoof Dracula and the classic one act farce Black Comedy. These were cast from the Lower Fifth up, and involved greater numbers than previous autumn productions, and following on from the riotous It Runs in the Family which played to full houses in 2019.

Ithas continued to be a year of variety and growth for the performing arts at St John's with more pupils involved, more activities and more events than ever before.

Our first music masterclass for wind players was given by a phenomenal young oboist, Richard Lines Davies, which was fully subscribed the day it was announced, and we were delighted to welcome him back to join our small professional orchestra for our Michaelmas Concert at the end of November. The centre piece of this concert was the Vivaldi Gloria sung by the School Choir, featuring performances from several of our ensembles. While we are rebuilding to the standard we had prior to Covid-19, enthusiasm has not waned and the talent moving up through the School signals a golden period ahead in the coming years. The Christmas Rock Concert was as popular as ever, and the relish found in singing carols again was palpable from the pupils as we prepared for the Carol Services. The Lower School Choir, in particular, is blossoming, and as this feeds through into the Senior School the future of choral music looks promising. We should be able to seriously consider a tour abroad and to enter ourselves for a national competition again in the coming years.

If ever a term could be chosen to represent the diversity on offer within the department, Spring Term 2022 would be the perfect example. This term's programme started with our bi-annual fringe musical, Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown staged in the PAC. This fourhander was expanded to include a pupil cast and band of 27, such was the enthusiasm and talent of the pupils who auditioned. These two performances displayed how far the department has progressed in terms of performance sophistication in this genre across all years, and that we are now a leading force for acting through song in a non-vocational institution.

Our first drama masterclass was due to be a make-up workshop, but due to Covid-19 was changed at the last minute to a workshop on 'the importance of why' which looked at backstory, motivation, and character development. This term's music masterclass was staged for our brass players. It was given by Jacob Bagby, a prolific horn player regularly playing with the likes of the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Opera House and the Philharmonia.

The first half of the Spring Term always sees us stage our annual Forbes Music Competition; yet again we had more than 100 entrants covering all standards and instruments and adjudicated by external professionals. The Winner's Recital staged just after half term displayed a breadth and depth across all facets of music making (and all year groups). The talent coming up through the School which is being nurtured and fostered by everybody within the performing arts team is extremely exciting.

These two performances displayed how far the department has progressed in terms of performance sophistication in this genre across all years, and that we are now a leading force for acting through song in a non-vocational institution.

House Film and House Singing stood alongside each other for the first time, just before half term. These competitions were adjudicated by Mr Neil Matthews of Hurstpierpoint College. The films were screened across the preceding week in a packed PAC, and it is clear this competition is gaining in momentum and popularity each year. House Singing yet again did not fail to raise the roof of the Chapel.

After the half term break, 110 pupils and 14 staff all took to Sloane Square to stage an evening of music themed around Saint Saens's The Carnival of the Animals at Cadogan Hall. This displayed a truly varied programme and the pupils rose to the occasion with aplomb and parental feedback has been excellent.

The Lower School Musical Theatre Cabaret evening, Anything Can Happen, followed. This was the first time since summer 2019 we were able to return to our format of round tables, wine, and cheese to elicit the feel of a cabaret club and 15 members of the Lower Third and Upper Third performed with energy and enthusiasm. The term culminated with two performances of Oscar Wilde's classic, The Importance of Being Earnest. Pupils from the Lower Fifth to the Upper Sixth rehearsed with diligence from January to March and it is lovely to see a staple and ever popular piece of repertoire being performed by the department.

The Summer Term saw no let-up in pace from the Performing Arts Department both with performances and in investment into the infrastructure and equipment within the PAC. The term kicked off with a very successful Musical Theatre Masterclass from the hugely prolific and respected West End star, Caroline Sheen. She worked with around 10 of our pupils from the Lower Third to the Upper Sixth and made some extraordinary changes to their performing technique as well as being extremely generous with her time.

The second week of term saw another first for us, our inaugural dance showcase with performers from the Lower Third through to the Upper Sixth displaying ensemble routines, duets, and solos; it is clear there is growing momentum and excitement about dance at St John's.

DRAMA

Following this was our Summer Concert, with the centre piece involving the reborn St John's Choral Society joining forces with our own school choir, and an orchestra of former pupils and staff in a hugely moving and effective performance of Howard Goodhall's Eternal Light; A Requiem. The whole concert went extremely well, and it really showed how we have got back on track after Covid-19 and we are improving our standard and creating an exciting pupil frisson around performing, Each ensemble excelled, in particular Schola and the Swing Band, and everybody taking part and in the audience found the evening very rewarding.

The next day we took 30 of our Performing Arts Scholars to see the brand new, and state of the art, musical Back to the Future in London. It is fabulous to be able to offer this sort of enriching experience to them once again.

The latter half of term saw our true return to a Lower School Production, with Crossing the Channel - A Comedy This was a bespoke script, conceived by five members of the Upper Sixth, and written by a team of Upper Sixth pupils, Mr Kelway and Mr White. Almost 50 pupils were involved in the evening, and it culminated with a performance from the Lower School Choir. The evening was light-hearted, in good spirits and full of enthusiasm and it felt like a real return to normality.

As the year drew to a close, we presented our annual Senior School Cabaret in the penultimate week. Hope, our title for the piece, involved 15 pupils performing an evening's entertainment with a thematic link and woven together from a variety of shows across the years.

The Junior Years' Rock Concert took place a few days later in the PAC and was the perfect opportunity to showcase the emerging talents from the Lower Third to the Lower Fifth; it is always a super compliment to the more classical concert which takes place earlier in the term.

All of these events were complemented throughout the year by our Chapel services, our lunchtime recital series that has displayed jazz, musical theatre, classical and pop from solos and ensembles totalling some 45 events from the department across the whole year. Next year will see 33 performing arts activities weekly as we strive towards offering the St John's pupils a truly diverse, varied, and exciting provision of dance, drama, and music.

The department has also continued to invest heavily in equipment within the auditorium, it now contains state of the art equipment, flying capabilities and will be almost unrecognisable from September 2023. We are moving towards having a theatrical space that can rival, if not stand above our nearby schools, and it can truly support the astonishing work being done by the departmental team and the wholehearted commitment, passion, and talent we have within our pupils. With us offering further LAMDA provisions now, every room in the PAC is in use all week, and every available member of staff is deployed across all available rehearsal slots to offer as much as we can to enhance the pupil experience. The PAC feels like it is returning to a state of being a living, breathing creature again and one that is full of vitality!

We strive towards offering the St John's pupils a truly diverse, varied, and exciting provision of dance, drama, and music.

COMBINED CADET FORCE

Summer this year brings an end to a busy, full year of activity for St John’s School CCF; a much closer ‘return to normal’ year than the previous few the Contingent has faced. The CCF has expanded to include Fourth Form pupils this year, increased its pupil numbers and seen the return of the Regimental Dinner as well as the Annual Summer Camp.

The phrase ‘Back to Normal’ is a strange one, and whilst things were indeed back to how they used to be, there were challenges faced to adapt and overcome the training missed, particularly by our senior pupils. As a CCF, we went straight into preparations for our first Annual Inspection since the pandemic. We were privileged to receive Group Captain Al Lewis, Regional Commandant for London and Southeast Region Air Training Corps. Gp Capt Lewis received a presentation and tour of the School and CCF and joined Senior NCO’s for lunch in the Old Chapel. After lunch, the Inspecting Officer witnessed an array of lessons and activity led by staff and senior cadets before the hotly contested Gun Run for which the Contingent joined together to witness.

A close affair, the Army Section walked away triumphant with the slimmest of victories. Group Capt Lewis was extremely complementary about the condition of the CCF at St John’s, remarking positively on 'attitudes, approach, outlooks and general company' of cadets, and that we were 'exceptionally well-placed to bounce back after a difficult Covid-19 year'.

A marvellous start to the year led swiftly onto the CCF Regimental Dinner, another event of which its return was greatly anticipated. Just shy of 70 cadets, staff, guests and Old Johnians all joined us for an evening of celebration and thanks to those who have supported the Contingent in the past few years. The Lord Lingfield, Honorary Colonel for Reserves and Cadet Force Music, joined us as our Guest Speaker and spoke powerfully about the benefits an organisation such as the CCF can bring to young people and their lives. The dinner also allowed current and former Upper Sixth pupils to experience a formal Mess Dinner as well as the traditional Mess Games which were ably led by AUO Tom Parry.

Following on with the theme of a ‘return to normal’; we were able to deploy cadets on a full complement of field days for all sections. In October, the RAF were able to partake in shooting and section training, together, as a whole section, for the first time in several years. The Royal Navy Section had a taste of mountain biking and a tour around the Explosion Museum in Gosport. The Army Section were able to take 130 cadets on an overnight exercise, training the cadets in campcraft, basic military skills and administration in the field. Memories of those 24 hours will be defined by the thunderous downpour which had many staff back at school preparing for a late-night rescue! Despite the torrential rain overnight, pupils (for the most part), managed to stay dry and demonstrated real resilience to remain engaged in the following days’ training.

Further field days included Range Days for our Upper Fifth Army Cadets who missed out in their first year, an overnight field exercise for the RAF and Army Sections in summer and a day afloat for the RN Section which saw cadets sail to the Isle of Wight and enjoy the delight of fish and chips at Cowes! The ‘Nuts Challenge’ assault course was something all pupils in the Lower Fifth were able to take part in. Similar to that of the Tough Mudder and Nuclear Race courses, the pupils were taken on a 5km loop full of water, mud and many obstacles which even saw some of the teachers getting involved! This has become a firm favourite of the cadets, but some may have not relished the thought of Sports Day the following morning! Pupils in the Lower and Upper Sixth Army Section had a fantastic few days down at Longmoor using the Urban Training Centre, clearing houses and learning about how to fight in built up areas; my thanks go to the Cadet Training Team for their support in delivering this fantastic opportunity.

The highlight to the year has been the return of the Summer Camp which, this year, saw 81 cadets travel to West Tofts Camp in Stanford near Thetford. An action-packed week full of paintballing, airsoft, laser tag, water sports, mountain biking and climbing proved to be a huge hit with the pupils, who were also treated to some excellent weather over the course of the week.

Deploying in three coaches on the evening of Sunday 3 July, there was much anticipation, not only of many cadets’ first annual camp, but the first in this location and set up. On arrival, cadets welcomed the 5.00pm dinner, but not news of the 7.00am breakfast! Settling into camp, cadets from both St John’s and Southborough High School prepared for the rotation of activities the week had in store. On top of adventure training, all cadets were able to take part in military training including the night ambush, the orienteering exercise and the obstacle course training which featured an 18ft cargo net, several walls to climb over and gates to vault over. The week proved to be a total success with cadets, I am sure they were looking forward to a rest after a busy final few weeks of term.

Drawing the year to a close we say goodbye to several colleagues: AUO van Diepen (moving to Sedbergh CCF), 2Lt Burns (moving to Harrow School CCF) and CI James Coote (taking on Head of Climbing but vows to be back on field days!), all of whom will be missed by us all. We also say goodbye but not hopefully not farewell to our OC Royal Navy Section, Lieutenant Commander Piers Vaughan. As Piers has been an exceptional support to me, I will miss him greatly and his infinite wisdom about all things RN! We look forward to dining Lt Cdr Vaughan out at the Regimental Dinner in November.

Looking ahead, next year’s Senior Cadets have been appointed as follows:

Head of CCF (St John’s School Senior Cadet): Zac ten Have (West)

Head of Army Section: Joe Campbell (East)

Head of RAF Section: Lucas Deverill (Surrey)

Head of RN Section: Oliver Stiles (West)

A truly fantastic year with plenty of achievements and the CCF showcasing why it is the most enriching opportunity for pupils at St John’s. A personal thank you to all of the staff and parents for their continued support.

James Hewitt Major, Contingent Commander

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

This academic year saw the launch of Bronze DofE at St John’s. Our Fourth Form now have the opportunity to join the 31% of 14 year olds nationally who start the award.

Pupils were able to use many aspects of their co-curricular participation at school for the award, such as sporting teams and music lessons, but many chose to start new challenges, signing up to cooking courses, and using out of school activities such as horse riding and touch typing. For the volunteering section I was overwhelmed to see the variety of efforts pupils made to help their local communities. Some wonderful examples include coaching younger children at sports clubs, helping manage software for a local church, working at a rescue cattery, and online campaigning for charity. At school pupils have helped organise house events and enjoyed adventures with the CCF. For the famous expedition section of the DofE we visited the beautiful Ashdown Forest at the start of the May Half Term. Blessed with (mostly) excellent weather, 109 Fourth Formers navigated as groups through the countryside, camped and cooked together, and learned to work as a team in sometimes very new circumstances. We are looking forward to awarding the first full certificates soon, as several pupils have now completed the full Bronze Award.

The Silver level of the award remains very popular at St John’s. With 81 Upper Fifth pupils working towards their award, numbers remain buoyant. With activities as diverse as cake making, playing an instrument, CCF and drama all being undertaken by the pupils, it is clear that the award is enabling pupils to expand their horizons by taking on something new as well as rewarding participants for the things they already enjoy.

October half term expeditions to the Wye Valley (Silver practice expedition) provided both valuable outdoor instruction and character-building challenges and was well-received by the majority of those who attended, despite less-than-ideal weather conditions. Fingers crossed for the summer expedition to the Peak District. With IGCSEs out of the way, this should be an easier challenge than October.

The Silver Awards Dinner in May saw 22 Lower Sixth participants awarded their certificates by Alex Kendall who is an accomplished mountaineering instructor himself. Many parents and some staff attended this event and were all immensely proud of the pupils’ achievements and enjoyed Mr Kendall’s after dinner talk on how to build resilience in the outdoors.

There are currently 27 Lower Sixth and 15 Upper Sixth pupils working towards their Gold Award. A demanding October expedition to the Lake District (Gold practice expedition) saw the Lower Sixth pupils flooded out of their campsite with another of those 'once in a hundred years' rainfall events that seem to be ever more common. Despite having to abandon the campsite and retreat to a village hall, all of the participants kept their spirts up and managed to complete some worthwhile, albeit limited, training. Hopefully, the summer qualifying expedition to Snowdonia will be drier!

Steve Chalk and Alex Kendall

The sporting year of 2021-22 saw the return of competitive schools’ rugby as well as county, national cups, and the launch of a new touring programme. Throughout the year St John’s pupils broke every participation and fixture record ever seen! Across 14 sports the School fielded 209 teams (with 89% of our pupil body representing the school) that competed across almost 2,000 competitive fixtures!

Gareth James, Director of Sport

Following two years of disruption, it was fantastic to see our teams from the U12C and the introduction of the non-contact form of the game, to our brilliant 1st XV out on the field representing the School once again.

Under the leadership of our new Director of Rugby Liam St John, many teams achieved fantastic performances and really developed as teams, as well as securing some outstanding wins. It was challenging to choose a team of the year, however with the U16s securing impressive wins over teams such as RGS Guildford, Kings College and Epsom College, as well as reaching the later stages of day two at the Rosslyn Park National 7s Tournament, the accolade goes to them. We are also very proud to have over ten boys and girls involved with the Harlequins performance pathway programmes.

HOCKEY

Our Saturday blocks continued to show the strength and outstanding competition available to our young hockey players. Over the year we have managed to get 23 girls’ teams and 10 boys’ teams, playing 280 fixtures, winning 144, drawing 23 and losing 113, scoring 737 goals.

Notable teams this year have been: U12D, U13A, U13B, U14A, U15A, U15B, U18C. They have all achieved outstanding records this season.

Hockey has had one of its most successful years to date. St John’s entered two cup competitions, England Hockey Tier 1 for both U18, U16, U14 and U13 and Independent School Hockey Cup for U13, U15 and U19. Within the England Hockey competition our 1st XI team finished sixth in a very competitive league, the U16 team missed out on a place in the last 16, our U13 team narrowly missed out on going through to the regional finals by one goal. Within the ISHC

Cup Competition the U15 girls made it to the last 16 before losing out to Gresham’s, the U19 team made it to the final of the plate competition losing to Bede’s on running penalties but played by far their best game of the season and were so unfortunate to end up second and the U13 team finished third place in the country beating Reigate Grammar.

Hockey

The hockey club’s proudest success of the year was our U14 girls’ team who successfully became England Hockey Tier 2 National Champions, beating some high-quality teams to make the finals day.

With 33 teams competing in over 280 fixtures, it was a very busy term for our new Director of Football, Joe Butler, in his first year in the role. From Lower School pupils who played their campaign competing against a variety of schools, to our 1st XI squad who performed extremely well against challenging schools such as Dulwich, Hampton, Royal Russell.

Our U12A’s finished their season with seven wins from their last seven games and our U13B’s managed 63% of their games with a positive win, great achievements from those squads. The 1st XI started the season with a very successful tour to Loughborough University, both on and off the pitch, which led to a fantastic start to the season. Competing across a very strong fixture card the boys held their own and continued to develop as a team. The Summer Term has also seen the introduction of our girl’s programme with fixtures across the Lower and Senior School. On a more individual note, congratulations to Samuel GordonPowell, Harry Dean and Jack Lee, who have represented ISFA.

NETBALL

With 24 teams hitting the courts on a weekly basis the season was incredibly busy with particularly successful blocks against Epsom College, St George's Weybridge, and Reigate Grammar School and with over 3,900 goals scored throughout the term it is clear to see why!

With a tough block fixture programme in place, it was great to see how St John's pupils performed against some of the best schools in the region. A particular mention for our U15D girls who went all season undefeated and finished with a goal difference of +68.

All age groups were entered into the annual Surrey Schools Tournament which involved a preliminary round and a finals day. Six of the seven teams entered qualified for Surrey Finals. Our U15's finished in third place, and our U18's and U13's in fifth place.

The season started with the success of the U13 girls at the Hurstpierpoint invitational tournament, where the girls were overall winners after being undefeated all day. The tournament was an excellent chance to get out multiple combinations and have a full day of court time in preparation for the upcoming term. The girls finished the season with 12/15 wins on the board.

Netball Football

CRICKET

Summer 2022 was busier than ever for the St John’s cricketers! A shorter than normal term meant that even more matches were crammed in. Thank you to all of the staff, pupils and parents that helped along the way. Some highlights of this season, were:

• 20 teams fielded for the School across all age groups

• 159 fixtures played – 101 wins, 56 loses

• U13 girls reached the Quarter Final of the County Cup

• U15B boys only lost one game all year!

• Our 1st XI ended their 20 match season with a thrilling victory over Oundle School in the Adrian Gale Festival. Other notable victories came against Reigate Grammar and the OJ XI

• U14 and U15 girls won a combined 10 matches over the course of their season

• We achieved a 60% win ratio for boys across all teams, and a 69% win ratio for girls across all teams

• St John’s were nominated again for the Top 100 Schools publication

• Our brand-new net facility was completed at Easter, and was used by every pupil who plays cricket at St John’s

Cricket

TENNIS

It has been the busiest year of tennis in the School’s history with us putting out over 20 teams for midweek and Saturday block fixtures, including a full Lower School programme. With fixtures against the likes of Epsom, Hurst, Freemans and Wellington College the pupils have continued to develop and enjoy their tennis.

The most successful team of the season were our U18As who went unbeaten across the Summer Term. We have exciting plans to continue to develop the programme, and we will be entering the AEGON Cup for the first time in the 2022/2023 academic year.

OTHER SPORTS Tennis

This academic year has once again seen us offer our pupils a vast amount of meaningful variety through the games programme. With dance, yoga, climbing, cross-country, badminton, boot camps and shooting all on offer pupils had lots of fantastic opportunities alongside our major sporting options.

This academic year has also seen the emergence of our golf programme. With fixtures and competitions held both regionally and nationally. Our golfers have had an impressive start on the school golf circuit, and I have no doubt that this will be a sport that continues to grow at St John’s.

In the swimming pool it was great to be back visiting and hosting schools’ gala events. The highlight of the season included the senior girls who made the 4x50 freestyle national finals.

CHAPEL

The past academic year has seen perhaps the most dramatic changes in Chapel life at St John’s since the move to the current Chapel almost sixty years ago.

For much of the first part of the year we were still unable to meet in large groups and Chapel was live streamed or prerecorded, except for the Lower School who were able to still attend Chapel with appropriate Covid-19 social distancing in place. Before the start of the academic year, it was decided that the main school service which happened on a Sunday would move into the school week, this year on a Monday afternoon. Pupils still attend the same number of services, and a similar cycle of services is followed it is merely the day itself which has changed. Moving our main service from a Sunday was a decision which had often been reflected on for over two years.

Whilst Sunday has been the day of observance for worship in churches for most of Christian history this has not always been the case, immediately after the death and resurrection of Jesus his first disciples continued to worship in the Temple and the synagogues, only later did Sunday become the day of communal worship. In the letter to the Colossians we read the author admonishing the early church in Colossae:

“Therefore do no let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” 2.16

In this verse the implication is that the day of worship was being debated early in Christian history and clearly caused division in the first century. The format may not have changed dramatically in the ensuing millennia and neither had the day of observance, however at St John’s we were faced with the reflection that the nature of our community had dramatically changed since its founding in the nineteenth century. Many pupils no longer board on a weekly basis, and many of those who do board, do so flexibly through the week. Sunday is no longer a day when pupils come into school. After much discussion it was concluded that Sunday was no longer the right day for us as a community to meet together in Chapel.

Sunday is the day of Christian worship because it commemorates the central act of the resurrection of Christ and this point was not lost in our discussions, however a

deeper reflection on the nature of church and community was at the forefront of my mind as Chaplain whilst we discussed the move. Ecclesiology is the study of the nature of church taken from two Greek words ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia originally meaning “gathering of the community” and λογία, logia meaning “words”. The nature of a school community is of course dramatically different to a church community, and it was reflecting upon this that lead to what was a difficult decision, but foremost in my mind as Chaplain was the aim of our gathering together in Chapel.

In the fourth Chapter of the first letter of John we read:

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

As James in his letter was also at great pains to lay out it is not just belief but also actions that mark the Christian life and this is at the heart of much of our reflections in Chapel. The nature of our community as a school focused on our gathering together in the Chapel is to reflect on the Christian foundations of the School and how this plays out in our life together. For St John in his letter the act of loving others was the central mark of a Christian community, not the day they met.

In light of the key ecclesial change in the last century, Vatican II, Karl Rahner wrote “it is not so simple to decide where the distinction is to be drawn between changeable and unchangeable factors in the Church”.1 He also highlights the fact that with any change the progressives and conservatives are always going to exist and differ in opinion over what is happening. Church is more than community, but Chapel life is not parish life, moreover though the locus of the

act is perhaps more key than any ecclesial definitions. The theologian Miroslav Volf summarises Cardinal Ratzinger2 “the essence of the church [is located] in the area between the self and the whole; it is the communion between the human ‘I’ and the divine ‘Thou’ in a universally communal ‘We’ ”.3

In seeking to unpack these ideas in a less theologically dense manner during the Summer Term we reflected on The Rule of Saint Benedict in one morning Chapel. The Rule has had a long-lasting impact not just on religion, but on the shape of Europe. In his book on the Rule, the Cambridge scholar and former archbishop Rowan Williams writes “For fifteen hundred years, the Rule of Saint Benedict has been one of the most influential texts in the culture of Western Europe.”4 This is of course a bold claim, however it is clear The Rule has had a lasting impact.

As humans we are communal in nature, and The Rule recognises the need for community and our need for order in establishing communities. This is essentially why The Rule has endured because it resonates with the very nature of us as humans. The problem Saint Benedict identified with any community, including our own school, is that it has people in it and therefore disagreements, tensions and more arise. The Rule is a practical guide (not an exhaustive set of rules) to aid the growth of a community and as such there is much that is relevant to all communities. There is guidance we can take and implement.

There are of course elements of Saint Benedict’s rule which would not apply to us as a school, the suggested attendance in the Chapel eight times a day would be too much even for me, especially the early morning service of Lauds which should be an hour before sunrise is unlikely to be of much practical use to us as a school. There are rules about behaviour in the Dining Hall and a clear procedure of sanctions for those who refuse to follow the guidance of those in authority. In this sense there is a lot that is similar not just to our school but all schools.

What is most helpful in considering the shape of a community and central to The Rule is the fivefold practice Benedict identifies, the five elements of life he outlines seems to be a response to his direct experience of what worked in creating a way for diverse groups of people to live alongside each other. This again seems very relevant to us as a community.

The five practices are: Prayer, Work, Study, Hospitality and Renewal. Again, to me it seems that these are the areas which we also value as a school. We come together in Chapel, whatever the day to reflect and grow spiritually, or as Benedict describes - prayer and renewal. Whilst the changes this year will mark out a new shape in our community, the flow from tradition whilst incorporating our needs is clear and I hope this will maintain the Christian ethos of our community for many decades to come.

Reverend Charlie Moloney Chaplain

1. Rahner (1976) pg.7; 2. Now pope Benedict XVI; 3. Volf (1998) pg.30; 4. Williams (2020) pg.3

FROM THE ARCHIVES

From Clapton House to Leatherhead

The School was founded in 1851 by the Reverend Ashby Blair Haslewood, vicar of St Mark’s, Hamilton Terrace in the St John’s Wood district of London. His aim was to offer a free education for the sons of poor clergymen and to provide a choir for his large church. Haslewood appointed his curate, the Reverend Anthony Thomson, as headmaster and the first eight ‘Foundationers’ joined the School in January 1852. Three years later, the School separated from St Mark’s and moved to Greville Mount House in Kilburn, just outside the parish boundaries. This was the first of three moves before the School moved to Leatherhead in 1872. A further move to Walthamstow took place in 1857 when the Reverend Anthony Thomson left the School and the boys were transferred to a small private school run by the Reverend Lewis Page Mercier.

In 1859 the School moved to Clapton House in East London with Mercier as headmaster. The School prospered and so, in 1861, the Committee decided to open the School on an independent footing and appointed a new headmaster, the Reverend Edwards Comerford Hawkins.

The Committee wished to expand the premises, but Clapton House was leased, and Thomas Baden Powell was unwilling to sell them the property. In 1866 the Committee started to look for land of about ten acres suitable for building a new school. A plot of 12 acres of land in Leatherhead was found at a cost of £2,500. A ten per cent deposit (£250) for the purchase of the land was paid in August 1867 and a contract signed.

Clapton House – watercolour by William Grundy

The Reverend E C Hawkins

1872

First Pupils at Leatherhead

150 years ago, the academic staff included the headmaster, the Reverend E C Hawkins, four assistant masters, a drawing master and a drill master.

The curriculum in the 1860s and 1870s was chiefly classical, comprising English, mathematics, divinity, Greek, Latin and history. Music and drawing classes were optional extras and had to be paid for by parents. Annual internal examinations were held, but boys could only move up to a higher class if they reached the required standard. Pupils had to leave before they reached the age of 16 and there was no Sixth Form provision, so the brightest pupils competed for scholarships at established public schools.

However, the Committee still had to find the balance of the purchase price and further funds to design and build the new school. Fortunately, in September 1867, one of the trustees announced that a friend of the School had offered to make a gift of the land to the School and handed over a cheque for the full £2,250 to complete the purchase.

Many years later the anonymous donor was revealed to be Henry Dawes of 6 Hyde Park Gardens, London. A building fund was set up and architects Benjamin Ferry and Joseph Henry Good were appointed to draw up plans for the new building. This comprised the H-shaped main building which fronts on to Epsom Road and was designed to provide all necessary accommodation for 100 boys, a headmaster’s house, rooms for three further assistant masters, offices and other facilities.

The new school building opened in Leatherhead on 30 August 1872, with 68 pupils. Everything took place in the main building – teaching, dining, and sleeping accommodation for both staff and pupils. The west wing of the building was the headmaster’s house.

Construction workers at St John’s c.1871

St John’s School, Leatherhead, 1872

Group of pupils at St John’s School Leatherhead, 1874

The headmaster’s son, Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, became a pupil at St John’s in 1872 and won an open scholarship to Marlborough College. From Marlborough he gained an exhibition to Balliol College, Oxford. After Oxford he trained as a barrister and was called to the bar in 1887. At the same time, he began writing stories and articles under the name of Anthony Hope. He achieved such success with his literary efforts that he gave up the law to focus on writing and soon became a household name with novels such as ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ and ‘Rupert of Hentzau’.

In 1918 he was knighted for his services to the Ministry of Information in the First World War. Anthony Hope died in 1933 at his home, Heath Farm at Walton-on-the-Hill in Surrey and is buried in the family grave at Leatherhead Parish Church.

The Reverend Thomas Layng was awarded an exhibition to Oundle, and from there a scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1884 with an Honours degree in Classics and Theology and was ordained in 1885. Thomas Layng was an assistant master at Cranleigh School from 1884 until his appointment as headmaster of Abingdon School in 1893. On retiring from Abingdon in 1913, he was appointed chaplain of Clifton College, and Rector of King’s Stanley in 1916. He died in 1930.

The Reverend William Henry Murray Ragg won an exhibition to Derby School from where he gained a scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge. He graduated with a first-class honours degree in 1884 and returned to St John’s as an assistant master until 1888 when he was appointed headmaster of Yarmouth Grammar School. He was headmaster at Hereford Cathedral School from 1897-1912 and then vicar of Tenbury from 1912-1922 and Prebendary of Hereford Cathedral from 1911. Murray Ragg died on 10 July 1944, aged 82, at Burford rectory, Tenbury.

Masters Group 1885. The Reverend WHM Ragg standing second from the left Old Johnians followed a wide variety of careers after they left school. The 68 boys who started at Leatherhead in 1872 became clergymen, lawyers, bankers, engineers, teachers, artists, architects, journalists, novelists, doctors, pharmacists and naval officers. Some joined the Indian Civil Service, while others worked in the shipping trade or as brewers’ agents and wine importers.

Illustration from Rupert of Hentzau, 1898

The Reverend Thomas Layng, headmaster of Abingdon School, 1884-1913

The First Old Johnian Bishop

The Right Reverend Edward Domett Shaw left St John’s in 1876 for Forest School. He won a scholarship to Oriel College Oxford in 1881. He played first class cricket for his university and for Middlesex. Shaw was appointed headmaster of Bishop’s Stortford College in 1887 and was ordained two years later. From 1894-1910 he was vicar of High Wycombe, Archdeacon of Buckingham in 1910 and in 1913 was appointed the first Bishop of Buckingham, becoming the first Old Johnian Bishop. He died in 1937.

A Victorian photo album

The First Old Johnian Admiral

Paymaster Rear-Admiral James Elliot Vowler Morton came to St John’s in 1872 and passed out into The Royal Navy as Clerk in 1877, being commissioned to HMS Royal Adelaide at Devonport. When war broke out in 1914, even though his seniority entitled him to remain on shore, he volunteered for sea service. He served through all the naval battles in the North Sea in HMS Tiger, was mentioned in despatches for his actions during the Battle of Jutland and received the Order of the Companionship of the Bath, Officer of the Legion of Honour, and the Russian Order of St Stanislaus. He retired from the Falmouth Coastguard in May 1920, with the rank of Paymaster Rear-Admiral and died in 1925.

In the summer of 2019, a collection of Victorian CDV (carte de visite) photo cards was acquired from eBay. Dated between 1873 and 1875, they came from an album belonging to Old Johnian Augustus Edward Crowder. Each photo is named on the back, so we were able to discover further information about these pupils from our archive records and online resources.

The Reverend Augustus Edward Crowder joined St John’s at Clapton House, east London as a Foundationer in 1870. He won a place in the 1870 elections, but the Committee soon realised that he was an ‘ineligible candidate’. His father was a Minister in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Under ‘Rule 1’ of the School constitution, only sons of the clergy from the Church of England and Wales could be elected as ‘Foundationers’ A special committee meeting was held and after much discussion it was decided that he should be allowed keep his place, but that this was not to be seen as a precedent!

Augustus Crowder played for the 1st XI cricket team and left the School in 1875. He gained a B A from London University in 1884, attended Wells Theological College and was ordained in 1885.

Charles Haslewood Shannon, Arthur Ernest Buckler, John Timothy Davies and Edward Charles Blackmore were all Foundationers who joined St John’s in 1873, aged 10. They were photographed together in 1875 by Richard Huck, a Leatherhead photographer.

Charles Shannon played cricket and rugby for the School and left in 1881 for Lambeth School of Art. He was renowned for his portraits, lithographs and engravings which were exhibited world-wide in galleries and public collections of art. Shannon became a member of the Royal Academy in 1911 and was elected Royal Academician in 1920. Whilst at art school, he met his lifelong friend and partner, Charles Ricketts. Shannon died in 1937 after a long illness.

Arthur Ernest Buckler left St John’s in 1879, trained to be a civil engineer and emigrated to the United States in March 1888. He settled in Utah where he worked for the Utah Power and Light Company. Arthur Buckler died in Salt Lake City, Utah on 24 September 1941, aged 78.

John Timothy Davies left St John’s in 1878 for Christ College, Brecon. He was awarded a scholarship to Wadham College, Oxford where he gained a first-class honours degree in 1886. Davies was ordained and taught at King William’s College, Isle of Man until his appointment as headmaster of The King’s School, Chester in 1892. He retired in 1922 and died in 1926, aged 63.

Edward Charles Blackmore, son of the Reverend M Blackmore of Finchley died in 1875, the same year that this photograph was taken. He was just twelve years old.

The Reverend Augustus Edward Crowder

L-R Charles Haslewood Shannon, Arthur Ernest Buckler, John Timothy Davies and Edward Charles Blackmore

School Productions in the 1920s

Plays and musical productions flourished at St John’s throughout the 1920s.

During the early years at Leatherhead, the Dramatic Society confined itself mainly to play readings and the occasional performance. From 1887 onwards, it was the custom for short scenes or ‘Speeches’ from Latin, Greek, French and English plays to be performed by the boys after the presentation of the prizes on Speech Day. An article on ‘School Theatricals’ in The Johnian for 1889 notes that:

‘It is now some years since any performance of a play has been attempted by any of the boys. It has been superseded, wisely we venture to think, by Speeches given at the Midsummer Prize-day.’

Scenes from plays by Aristophanes, Molière, Sheridan or Goldsmith were performed after the formal proceedings. This tradition continued until 1907 when the theatrical performances on Speech Day were replaced by an orchestral concert.

We have no record of any further public performances until 1922 when the Upper Fourth form presented a selection of scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the annual Festival Day for Old Johnians. The play was a great success, and all the performances were declared ‘excellent’.

As a result, the staging of a play became an annual feature and, in 1923, the Sixth Form presented a large-scale production of scenes from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

The photographs depicting scenes from Twelfth Night are from an album belonging to William Cogswell (St John’s School, 1921-1923) which he donated to the School Archives in 1988. A lengthy review appeared in the August 1923 edition of The Johnian, where the staging and lighting were both commended:

‘The lighting was particularly well managed, as it so seldom is in amateur performances. In fact, the sudden turning-down of the lights, plunging the stage in darkness seemed to make a better curtain - and a more Shakespearean - than the usual modern contrivance that generally ‘contrives’ to get stuck half way.’

The character of the clown came in for special praise: ‘Perhaps the most striking success of the whole performance was the Clown and his songs.’

Twelfth Night, 1923

A performance of Much Ado About Nothing followed in 1924 and The Rivals in 1925. The review in The Johnian said:

‘In many ways ‘The Rivals’ is a most suitable play for a school production; the plot is amusing, if conventional, and easy to follow, and there is no long part to strain an unaccustomed actor.’

St John’s School Operatic Society staged two performances of HMS Pinafore, assisted by a full professional orchestra, in the Dining Hall in December 1924. The production was in aid of the Boys' Clubs supported by the School Mission at Walworth.

The Operatic Society also staged a successful production of The Mikado over three nights in June 1927 at the Picture House in Leatherhead. This was also in aid of the School Mission and the review notes that:

'Only one member of the cast was drawn from outside the School. Owing to the illness of P L Richards, Miss Marjorie Parker undertook the part of Yum-Yum.'

L: The Mikado 1927: female chorus; R: The Mikado 1927, male chorus.

The Rivals, 1925

The Mikado 1927

A Letter From Sandringham

Shortly after the First World War, the plight of the clergy and their ‘starvation’ salaries was the subject of a debate in the House of Lords. In his lengthy speech on 19 February 1919, Lord Strathspey quoted from a clergyman who said:

‘On this income of £252 a year I have to educate three children, keep one servant, have a gardener occasionally, subscribe and go to all local functions, keep myself abreast with current knowledge and literature, and take the position of an educated gentleman with half the income of the village grocer. This was hardly possible in pre-war days—it is quite impossible now’

The Reverend Thomas Avery fell into just such a category. A clergyman with an income of £270 per annum and with three dependent children, he was looking for a suitable school for the education of his son Thomas and, as the vicar of Syston in Leicestershire, would have heard of St John’s through the Diocese of Peterborough.

In the 1920s, St John’s depended on charitable donations and legacies to fund the free education of its pupils. The system of ‘electing’ pupils to join the School as ‘Foundationers’ (entitled to free board and tuition up to the age of sixteen) took place twice a year, in June and November. Those who gave money to the charity were entitled to one vote for every 5 guineas donated. A category of ‘Supplementary Foundationers’, whose parents paid half fees had been introduced in 1887, and a small number non-foundationers and day boys paying full fees, were also accepted. In October 1922, there were 241 boys at St John’s, 91 Foundationers, 85 Supplementary Foundationers and 55 fee paying pupils.

Subscribers to the Foundation were canvassed for votes and this polling card shows that the Reverend Thomas Avery was appealing for votes for his eldest son, Thomas Lovell Avery. He had the support of several notable people including the Bishop of Peterborough, Colonel Sir Charles Edward Yate MP and Sir Herbert James Read, KCMG, CB who became the 22nd Governor of Mauritius from 19 February 1925 to 9 December 1929.

The letter from Sandringham, dated 14 November 1922 was written by Charlotte Knollys who was Lady-in-Waiting and the first female Private Secretary to Queen Alexandra. Both her father and brother also served in the Household of King Edward VII when Prince of Wales and later as king. She writes:

Dear Madam

A Letter from Sandringham

Princess Victoria has asked me to let you know that one of Queen Alexandra’s Votes will again be given to Thomas Lovell for St John’s School

Yrs faithfully

Charlotte Knollys

Polling Card for Thomas Lovell Avery

The dowager Queen Alexandra began donating £50 a year to the St John’s Foundation in 1918 and by 1922 was entitled to 70 votes at the annual elections. She continued to donate £50 each year until her death on 20 November 1925.

The recipient of this letter would have been delighted to hear that once again Queen Alexandra had given one of her votes to Thomas Lovell.

Thomas Lovell Avery had received insufficient votes in the half yearly election of Foundationers in December 1921 and just missed out on a place in June 1922 when the first ten boys with the highest number of votes were elected but he came top of the poll with over 3000 votes in December 1922 (first eight boys were elected) and joined East House in the summer of 1923.

This photograph of junior boys around 1922 shows the uniform and school cap that Thomas would have worn when he first entered the School.

Thomas was a member of the debating society, and later a House Prefect.

When he reached the Sixth Form, Thomas was entitled to wear a suit as shown in this photo of the Special Form (the form from which boys were prepared for university entrance examinations). He left St John’s in the summer of 1930 with a place at Exeter College, Oxford.

After Oxford, Thomas served his articles in Leicester and passed the Law Society final examinations in June 1938. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1939 and for many years practised as a solicitor in St Albans. Thomas Lovell Avery was a stalwart supporter of the School, regularly attending Old Johnian Sunday and contributing to the Foundation which had provided for his education at St John’s. Thomas died in December 2005, aged 94.

Junior form 1922

Special Form 1922

A classroom in the 1920s

1912

Percy Douglas and the North House Football Team of 1912

In June 2022, Percy’s grandson, Edwin Roberts shared with us a copy of a photograph of the 1912 North House football team which we had not seen before. He also sent copies of photos of his grandfather in uniform and in later life.

Percy Douglas joined St John’s as a Foundationer in January 1907. Our records show that he played football for North House and in 1910 was awarded his Junior House Cap. In 1912 he gained his Senior House Cap and he played for the 2nd XI football team in the 1912-13 season.

Just two years later Percy, along with many of the other boys in this photograph, enlisted when war broke out in August 1914. Fortunately, Percy survived the war but several of his North House teammates were killed in action between 1914 and 1918.

Percy Douglas joined the Liverpool Scottish Regiment as a territorial on 5 August 1914 aged 17. He was in France by November 1914 but was wounded near Ypres in May 1915.

Percy was then commissioned into the Army Service Corps in July 1915. This photograph is from Percy’s time in the Army Service Corps where he was carrying supplies to the lines with Horse Teams. Percy is standing third from the left on the back row.

Percy was wounded again in August 1916 and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in August 1917. He was a Brisfit (Bristol F.2 First World War two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft) observer with 11 Squadron and scored eight victories with his pilot, John Chick, in March 1918.

In a recording made for the Imperial War Museum, ‘Voices of the First World War’ project, Percy Douglas reflected on the positive aspects of his time with the RFC:

‘When we were flying at about 17,000 feet it gave you a wonderful feeling of exhilaration. You were sort of, I’m the King of the Castle! You were up there and you were right out of the war. I’d been in the infantry and the Army Service Corps. In the infantry we were always lousy, filthy dirty and very often hungry whereas in the Flying Corps it was a gentleman’s life. You slept in a bed, you put on pyjamas every night, you had a decent mess to come back to. You had about two and a half hours patrol, perhaps, in the morning and two and a half in the afternoon and that was the job. So altogether, it was much more pleasant.’

Percy married Edith Horbury (Edwin’s grandmother) just after the war.

This photograph of Percy in his RFC uniform with Edith was taken when they were on leave and their engagement had just been announced. Edith served in Malta as a nurse on Hospital ships during the war taking soldiers back to Malta from Gallipoli. Edwin Roberts tells us that his grandfather had a hard but good and long life. Percy died on 15 September 1986 at the age of 90.

He is also remembered on the Cheshire Roll of Honour website: www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=34208/ Lieutenant-percy-douglas

North House football team 1912 - Percy Roberts standing fourth from the left in the back row Percy Douglas

Percy Douglas aged 17

Percy Douglas and Edith Horbury

Percy Douglas with the Army Service Corps 1915-1916

Sixty Years Ago

On Friday 30 March 1962, Field Marshal Montgomery laid the foundation stone for the new Chapel:

‘At 2.30 p.m. on Friday, March 30th, in the presence of most of the School Council, the architects, the contractor, the Staff, wives, boys, all in mackintoshes and lurking, where possible, under umbrellas, the Field-Marshal performed the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Chapel. After sending a press photographer packing, the Field-Marshal spoke of the history of the new building, of his own arrival on the Council of the School, of his rapid promotion to become Chairman, of the improvements that had since taken place…

…He announced that the building would be ready by Speech Day, 1963, and that the dedication ceremony would be performed by the Diocesan Bishop of Guildford. Then, with his accustomed skill, the FieldMarshal expertly set the stone in place, declared it well and truly laid, and presented the trowel, a gift from the architects, to the School.

Fifty Years Ago

St John’s celebrated 100 years in Leatherhead with events including a cricket match, a centenary ball, open air productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the Quad and a performance of Haydn's Creation in the Chapel.

‘In May 1972, Surrey played Worcestershire in the John Player Sunday League on the School cricket pitch; the match was televised and before play began (at about 4 o'clock, thanks to the weather!) there were some interesting pictures of St. John's' dreaming spires, and indeed of its dreaming spectators.’

Valete

Lise Parker Housemistress of Gloucester/Teacher of Mathematics

Lise Parker joined St John’s for the first time in 2002 as Head of Girls’ Games, and then for a second time in 2010 as a teacher of mathematics. However, throughout her time here, she has held many titles including Head of Mathematics and Head of Initial Teacher Training. During both her tenures at St John’s, Lise has been truly committed to her teaching, the pupils and providing outstanding pastoral care: a fact which was recognised by the Senior Leadership Team when Lise was appointed as the first Housemistress of Gloucester, a girls’ boarding house, in 2013.

Lise has truly made Gloucester something special and the girls cannot comment enough on Lise’s firm but fair nature, the time she gives to every single pupil and her strong leadership over the last nine years. She has massively high expectations of the girls in her care and this has created a strong sense of cohesion; every pupil feels welcome as soon as they step into Gloucester and this is testament to the time and effort Lise has given to the House. I know that the pupils in Gloucester will dearly miss their beloved “Queen P” and Lola the dog. Lise also dedicates a huge amount of time to her teaching. She has supported numerous pupils through both mathematics GCSE and A levels, always going the extra mile to ensure they receive individual support and guidance when they need it. The department will hugely miss her attention to detail, always marking each exam paper with so much care, and her valuable pedagogical contributions to our teaching discussions. With Lise being such a stalwart in the Mathematics Department,

mentoring new teachers without a second thought, it was natural that she would step into the role of Head of Teacher Training. Over the last two years, Lise has mentored and supported over 25 teachers, whether that be as a fellow, PGCE or ECT. She puts a great deal of effort and care into the programme, running weekly sessions for the teachers to attend, and it is no surprise that ISTIP have commented on the excellent programme the School runs for new teachers.

Outside this, Lise’s offerings to the co-curricular aspects of St John’s have been phenomenal. A keen netball coach, she has coached the 1st VII and the U16As to county level success and has been a fierce umpire, often referred to as “one of the best” by opposition schools. She has also coached the 3rd XI hockey teams with Mike Bawden, run various trips (most memorably to Shamwari where she was chased by a monkey!) and is always the first to offer help at the Community Holiday. Lise’s full commitment to every aspect of school life is evident and both pupils and staff at St John’s have been fortunate to have her support, advice and guidance throughout the last 12 years.

Lise leaves St John’s for Haileybury School and I have no doubt she will make as much of an impact there as she has here. She will be very sadly missed by everyone at St John’s, but as we watch her move on, we wish her every success and happiness at her new school.

By Hannah Rowell

Stephen Blatch Teacher of Mathematics

Stephen Blatch arrived at St John’s in September 2009 as a young and relatively inexperienced teacher of mathematics. Over his 13 years here he has not only gained significant teaching experience, teaching the subject to higher levels including further mathematics, but has also been a tutor in North House, Lower School and Haslewood. He tutored for seven years in North House, during which time he was one of very few tutors who stayed with the same year group from Fourth Form to Upper Sixth.

For ten years, Stephen held the post of Examinations Officer, building a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the role. His calm demeanour helped many pupils and invigilators at demanding times. Within this role, he also trained and managed a growing team of external invigilators, implemented increased access arrangements and managed the shift from modular to linear examination seasons. He worked closely with his assistant, Sam Thompson, and greatly appreciated her support.

In the co-curricular realm, Stephen has been heavily involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. He led the Silver Award for several years, which included annual expeditions to the New Forest. During the practice expedition it was not uncommon for him to find lost souls wandering the South Downs Way on frosty mornings. For many years he also participated in and led a conservation experience visit to Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa, as well as assisting in and leading a multitude of other trips to places as far afield as Morocco and San Francisco. Perhaps one of the most telling aspects of his character is that he is that rare South African who professes no interest in or ability at sport. His commitment, kindness and friendship will be missed by the School, by those who worked with him and those who enjoyed his company, as well as the many pupils who benefitted from his teaching, tutoring and wider engagement.

We wish him well as he moves to Lady Eleanor Holles in Hampton to take up the position of second in department.

By Neil Whitmore

Hanna Hunter

Assistant Head (Admissions); Teacher of English

‘Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.’

When asked to write a piece about Hanna for The Johnian, this quotation immediately came to mind. It has been proven in her time at St John’s and is evident in her legacy. Having joined in 2011, already four years into her teaching career, Hanna’s enthusiastic ‘can do’ attitude was evident as she took on roles in both English and drama, transitioning expertly between departments before later expanding her repertoire to include classics and EPQ. In true Hanna whirlwind fashion, she quickly employed her creativity to rewrite schemes of work, introduce the IGCSE in English and share good practice by encouraging progressive teaching methods.

Unsurprisingly, it did not take long for her to be promoted to Deputy Head of English and CPD Co-ordinator. Many of our current staff members will have fond memories of the warmth and support Hanna provided in the latter role in which she led all new staff inductions and created a bespoke teacher training programme after the demise of the GTP. When asked about her fondest memories of St John’s, aside from the 3am shenanigans at the Little Shop of Horrors after party and the School’s triumphant debut at The Edinburgh Fringe, she reflected on the privilege she felt in being able to guide such talented teachers in their early career and the pride she feels in having seen them develop and progress within, and beyond, St John’s.

In 2015, having become Director of Learning and Teacher Development, Hanna enjoyed being a part of the academic leadership team as the School prepared to open its doors to Lower Third pupils for the first time. Over the years, she continued to make a significant contribution to the academic life of the School and will be particularly remembered for her efforts in the Library.

In her most recent role as Assistant Head (Admissions), Hanna has shown a flair for data, perfectly predicting numbers, and working tirelessly with her team to deliver an admission process which conveys the warmth and values of the St John’s community to prospective families. Hanna is a fantastic, selfless colleague who inspires those around her with her creativity, positivity, and grace. After eleven years, she will be sorely missed, but we wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

By Jenna Vinsen-Tell

Rui Antunes Sous Chef

Hannah Ascough Learning Resources

Oscar Barber Teacher of Classics and German

Laura Barron Catering Assistant

Nick Burns Teacher of Classics

Kate Burrett Head of Art

Jessica Callanan Part-Time Teacher of History

Steve Chalk DofE Coordinator; Teacher of Physics

Jamie Conway Teacher of Music, School Organist

Kevin Cooper Chef de Partie

Mia Van Diepen Teacher of Chemistry, Boarding Tutor

Fay Donohue Teacher of Psychology Alex Eberlin Teacher of Psychology Bob Elcome Minibus Driver

Chris Fellows Head of Biology

Joe Foster Minibus Driver

Anna Gambel Biology Technician

Katie Goble Netball Director

Christine Goble HR Manager

Hannah Graham Teacher of Mathematics

Michelle Grasty Day House Matron

Tom Howell Head of Geography

Ashleigh Jay Sports Assistant

Georgia Kennefick Gap Student

Annabelle Lamacraft Teacher of Economics and Busines

Shahed Malik Catering Porter

Marta Mussi Part time Teacher of Classics

Sarah Naughten PA to Deputy Head and Head of Sixth Form

Olga Novicka Catering Assistant

Harshil Patel Senior Sports Assistant

Ana Arroyo Perez Teacher of Spanish Emma Phillips Catering Assistant

Paul Reilly Head of Science

David Selyem Catering Porter

Linda Sharpe PA to Finance Director

Romy Sigusch Teacher of German Amy Simmonds HR Assistant - L&D

Lesley Sperrin Biology Technician

Simon Tarrant Head of D&E

Eloise Thyne Assistant Director of Performing Arts

Rob Tong Teacher of Computer Science

Charlotte Upfold Operations Manager

David Vine Head of Performance Swimming

Jacqui White Catering Assistant Gill Wills Salad Chef

IN MEMORIAM Debbie Burgess

It was with great sadness that we were informed of the death of Debbie Burgess, on 25 November 2021. Debbie was a long standing member of the St John’s community starting at the School in September 1990 until she retired in August 2020.

‘It is difficult to sum up Debbie’s outstanding contribution over many years which encompassed several roles within the School including Head of Mathematics, Assistant Head (Academic and Admissions) and latterly as the School Timetabler. She was recognised for her meticulous eye for detail, intelligent and logical mind and quiet pursuit of excellence. Debbie will be remembered not only as an outstanding teacher and tutor but also as a supportive and highly respected colleague.’ - Rowena Cole, The Head.

In staff leaving speeches, Debbie was referred to as the first Mother of the Common Room – not the most flattering of titles but, for those of us in the know, it epitomised the selfless dedication and commitment that Debbie had given to St John’s over the last 30 years.

St John’s has undergone much change during that time, from being a small all boys school with a smattering of girls in the Sixth Form to becoming the large, co-ed school that it is today. Through all of the changes, the teachings of one person remained constant.

Debbie arrived as teacher of mathematics in the Autumn Term of 1990 and, in a largely male-dominated Common Room, was able to make her mark with her sharp mathematical mind and wonderfully dry sense of humour. A trailblazer, Debbie became the first female Head of Sport, organising all things football related. Her attention to detail and total dedication to the welfare of pupils made her the natural choice as the first female Assistant Head and school timetabler. In the classroom, Debbie’s passion for the pure teaching of mathematics was recognised by all – from the brightest of those studying further mathematics to those in the lower sets who were so appreciative of her kind, calm and patient manner. Beyond the classroom, Debbie continued to be the consummate professional. Within Haslewood she guided so many girls through their teenage years and her years of knowledge were gratefully received by past housemistresses. Within house she was a teacher, a tutor, a leader, an organiser, a mother, a listening ear and a friend to both staff and girls alike.

It is deeply sad that the family time Debbie was supposed to enjoy with her son Simon and husband Roy in retirement was so short.

I am honoured to have been asked to remember Debbie’s life and share some small part of it with you in The Johnian. It had been Debbie’s wish to have her funeral at St John’s and we were so pleased that this was possible. St John’s played a huge part in Debbie’s life. Times are forever changing and the notion of staying in one career, yet alone one school, is now sometimes met with astonishment; it might be that education and teaching is a sadder place for that. Debbie’s 30 years of service to St John’s provided a constant for others. If anyone was unsure of what to teach or what usually happens at a specific point in the term, Debbie was always there to ask. Her knowledge of almost every pupil in the

School was equal to any memory game that I have seen. In passing I would mention a pupil who was on my radar and Debbie would be able to tell me which house they were in and which tutor I would have to contact. It was as if she had memorised the roll and calendar book.

She was an absolute professional, an inspiration and role model, not just to the pupils but to staff too. Debbie is probably the most successful teacher in the department in terms of results and value added and the level of respect that she commanded among pupils and parents alike was the envy of all. Debbie was simply an outstanding teacher. She quietly got on with what was important – the teaching of a subject that she was passionate about – and the pupils loved her for it. Debbie’s ability as a teacher enabled her to be as comfortable with the further mathematicians she challenged every lesson as she was with those in bottom GCSE sets.

Debbie had a mind like a steel trap which missed nothing and we all had enormous respect for her integrity. This very much defined Debbie as an individual and it was no accident that she gained more serious titles than Head of Football, Head of Department, Head of Exams and finally Assistant Head of Admissions – all requiring a level of integrity which she had in spades. Much of what she put in place in her admissions role is still being used today. Debbie was in her element and loved interviewing prospective pupils. She was amazing at putting them at ease in what can often be quite a stressful time and always found something positive about them.

Early on in her time at St John’s, Debbie tutored the Sixth Form girls in South before becoming a long-standing member of the Surrey House tutor team where she brought her trademark mix of warmth, humour and just a hint of steel to the role. The boys held her in enormous respect, not least for her detective skills when investigating mysteries such as how a slice of toast came to be Sellotaped to the 20 foot high ceiling of the Lower Fifth day room or for finding the precise mathematical formula to divide seven pizzas by 11 boys without provoking a riot. She took everything in her stride with utmost calm and professionalism. Her Housemaster at the time, Nick Johnson-Jones, was grateful for all she brought to the party – and I am sure that the boys were too. In more recent years, Debbie tutored girls in Haslewood. She had a no-nonsense approach when it came to enforcing school rules and earned a reputation for being firm but fair. However, beneath this she had an incredibly warm heart and she cared deeply for the pupils she tutored and taught. It was always fascinating to see the way that the girls who railed against authority responded to Debbie as a tutor. They had a fierce loyalty to Debbie and a respect and affection for her that meant she became their rock, seeing them through the ups and downs of their time at St John's. Many pupils and tutees kept on asking after Debbie and in our final WhatsApp exchange Debbie was still thinking as a teacher and wrote “Children always have the capacity to surprise us”.

Lise Parker

OLD JOHNIAN NEWS

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE 58 CLUB?

Whatexactly is The 58 Club? Well, 1958 had something to do with it, but no-one was ever quite sure what. Some left J-School (as we called it then) in that year, some didn’t, and some had already gone. In the end we had to conclude that 1958 was probably the one thing that no-one had in common. So ‘The 58 Club’ it was.

We were, however, all members of North House… in the days when North House was a boarding house and still had the traces of being for northerners, or, at any rate, those north of Leatherhead. Of course we all got on well together, and perhaps, because of this, managed to fill our trophy case with just about everything that was going… apart from the House Singing Cup – no-one was particularly distraught about that, though.

Our housemaster at the time was J D M Turner, known as ‘Tick’ Turner (to distinguish him from an earlier ‘Tock’ Turner). He was a quiet and reserved classics master, very capable, ultimately very likeable, but having a slight problem with humour. The headmaster was H B L Wake (the ‘H’ standing for, yes really, Hereward) – one of a kind, standing on the touch-line, pork-pie hat, shabby overcoat, hewn from granite.

Our time at the school was during a period of change. I suppose most people look back at key periods in their lives and say that. But you have to remember that when most of us started at St John’s it was The Queen’s coronation year (1953), and that wasn’t far from the end of WW2; and the austerity of food rationing was still lingering. When we left the School, the

new dawn of the 1960s (and the Beatles) was still in the future.

At the time it was a much smaller school, and only for boys. The general facilities and amenities would now be regarded as really quite primitive. The dormitories were cold – in bitter winter nights the prefect’s glass of water would freeze, and, because this was before the day of the duvet, on these occasions you went to bed wrapped in sweaters and scarves and dressing gown. There was no privacy with cubicles or screens, either in the dormitories or elsewhere… until you became a prefect, when three or four of you shared a tiny study. The public dayroom had a table-tennis table and a ‘wireless’, and (initially) any records/discs were shellac 78 rpm ones. No televisions, of course, or computers or smart phones. That was it. Entertainment and indeed sport were very basic.

Fortunately the horrific initiation ceremonies that new boys once had to endure were banned by then; but there was still a culture which involved juniors being servants to prefects for various menial tasks. The punishment of being beaten with a cane did still exist, though. Some of us, I know, felt quite sick after carrying out a House or School Prefects’ beating.

The act of physically hurting someone at the same time as mentally shaming them could be pretty disturbing. One of our number actually did put an end to it… But that’s another story.

The Club consisted of seventeen members, one of whom agreed to be president for a year, and whose sole task was to host that year’s one event. This consisted of a dinner, followed by a boozy AGM, and then a midnight walk. On the day before (or after) we were to play a game of rugby against a local team. The nearest we ever got to that (fortunately) was playing a game of mixed hockey in John Dagger’s Buxton, and that was a frightening enough experience.

Most clubs of this sort have four or five meetings, and then everything just fades into oblivion. In my memory that was what happened to the 58 Club. However, there were actually seventeen meetings – even if an early one in Bangkok, not surprisingly, was only attended by that year’s President, Richard Harley. So the final meeting was in 1975, and was given by Denny Waters, who moved family and home to South Africa the following year. Roughly at this time Roger Milner moved to New Zealand, and Mike Sutcliffe to Rhodesia (as it was then).

How do I know all this? Well, a couple of years ago I moved house and found the Minute Book under a pile of papers at the bottom of a box. I can only conclude that I had it in my possession because I was the next president, and the next dinner was on me. So I’m afraid I was what happened to the 58 Club. Mea culpa. Now you know.

But somehow the 58 Club does still exist, even if a number of us have prematurely fallen off the perch. And I’m sure John Dagger still gets asked if or when there’s going to be another meeting. John is probably the rock that has always underpinned the Club. He pops up often in texts and letters and in person – in South Africa, Suffolk, Norfolk, Shropshire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Cornwall, and so on. Certainly his family for several generations had always been stalwarts of St John’s, and particularly North House. Some time ago, at his mother’s funeral wake, John’s uncle approached me and said “Do you realise that there are four former School Captains in this room?”

A few members asked to be crossed off the list, because, in the end, they felt they were unlikely to make another meeting; but they were told that this was not an option – you were always a member, and everyone else was always there for you. I hope this is still the case.

So there were seventeen members and seventeen meetings (a nice coincidence). A proverbial half a dozen were at each meeting. This means that there weren’t many who didn’t come to at least one meeting, and those who didn’t usually sent a letter. On reflection, that’s not a bad result for such a scattered club.

And now?

Let’s face it, we’re unlikely to manage a midnight walk, let alone a game of rugby. And, quite frankly a boozy AGM is doubtful too. Technology? Maybe? However, I’m sure we’re all happy to say ‘Do drop in any time you’re passing’. It’s a shame we don’t live near each other, though. So who on earth would actually be passing by?

Well, you know, I feel John Dagger probably would be.

Clive Chapman May 2022

RECENT CONTACTS:

Laurie Ayling, Clive Chapman, John Dagger, David Hares, Chris Hewitt, Peter Peace

NO LONGER WITH US:

David Braine, David Edmunds, Mike Ellis, Mike Evans, Richard Harley, Denny Waters

NO RECENT CONTACT:

Stephen Jenkins, John Jenkins, John Lewis, Roger Milner, Mike Sutcliffe

PETER PEACE

LAURIE AYLING CLIVE CHAPMAN JOHN DAGGER

DAVID HARES STEPHEN JENKINS ROGER MILNER

M.E.C COMER MEMORIAL

In the Summer Term, we were delighted to welcome the OJ Cricket Team to play their annual fixture against the School. You can read more about the fixture on page 54.

During the fixture, we were pleased to unveil a bench in memory of Mike Comer (South, 1941-47), who sadly passed away in 2021. The bench has been placed outside the Chris Tongue Pavilion as well as a framed tribute inside. The bench is a wonderful way for us all to remember Mike, and we were proud to welcome his wife and family for the event.

CAREERS PROGRAMME

OJ NEWS REQUEST

SEND US YOUR UPDATES…

We would love to hear from Old Johnians who may wish to support and inspire pupils within our careers programme.

We know many of you have a wealth of experience in the working world and we feel your insights would be hugely valuable for our pupils.

We are keen to involve those who work in a variety of fields and to that end we are trying to collect details of those willing to participate. This could include large events such as our recent Careers Convention, or smaller talks or workshops for self-selecting pupils.

If you are interested in getting involved, please email development@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk

We are always keen to hear from OJs –share your news, update us on what you’ve been doing since you left school and share your memories about St John’s with us for our archives.

We produce our magazine, The Old Johnian, once a year which gives you some insights into current school news and features news from OJs; we would be delighted to receive submissions for inclusion at any time throughout the year.

Please email development@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk.

Heritage

OPEN DAY

We were delighted to welcome visitors to St John’s on Saturday 17 September 2022 for our Heritage Open Day events.

OJs from the 1960s and 1980s, parents of OJs, former members of staff, current parents and local residents were among those who enjoyed the opportunity to visit the School, hear a little about the origins and history of St John’s and see how far we have come since our arrival in Leatherhead 150 years ago.

Archive exhibitions on the first pupils at Leatherhead, the history of the Old Chapel, the history of rugby at St John’s (1875-1945) and the architect, Richard Rogers (Lord Rogers of Riverside) an Old Johnian, who died in December 2021, were also on display.

Richard Hughes, former head of history and author of ‘Those Things Which Are Above, the History of St John’s School’ gave an illuminating talk in the afternoon to mark the 150th anniversary of our arrival in Leatherhead. Entitled St John’s School’s Move to Leatherhead in 1872: How and Why? The talk covered the early and difficult years of the School during its various locations in London since its foundation in 1851 and why Leatherhead was chosen as a new location in 1872, where it has since grown and flourished.

OJ EVENTS

EVENTS

Following a few years of disruption owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was especially fitting that we were able to open our doors and welcome OJs again to celebrate the historic occasion of the 150th year of St John’s School in Leatherhead.

The evening was an intimate and special moment, with OJs enjoying revelling in the opportunity to catch up with old friends and contemporaries and make new acquaintances with other OJs from different years.

Amongst the beautifully refurbished Dining Hall, OJs were able to see a number of archive findings carefully curated from the important moment in the School’s history, as it moved from Clapham House in London to our wonderful home in Leatherhead that we all admire today.

After a wonderful three-course meal, the Acting Head, Rebecca Evans, spoke about the School in its current form and the plans for the future. OJs were overjoyed to hear of the many successes the recent year has afforded, from our recent ISI Inspection, academic results, and the many events and opportunities the community has enjoyed.

The Chairman of the Old Johnians, Mark Cooper also spoke to the visitors and toasted HRH Queen Elizabeth II, and following the event he remarked: ‘Whilst we admired the campus during the evening (much improved since my days!) I was acutely aware that is not the buildings that ‘make’ St John’s, but the people. And like the school buildings, we also need to evolve as a community.’

We very much look forward to warmly welcoming more OJs back to St John’s again soon.

Please make sure we have your contact details so that we can stay in touch and keep you informed about OJ events. Please send your updated details to development@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk.

We will send out details of any forthcoming OJ events, and list them here: www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk/our-community/old-johnians/oj-events/ Please do let us know if you have any suggestions or ideas for events.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO GO TO OUR EVENTS PAGE

OLD JOHNIAN CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

OLD JOHNIANS FC

Old Johnians FC have done it again! After two disrupted seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the team delivered on their aim (set out in last year's Old Johnian magazine!) and gained their fourth promotion in five full seasons and have been promoted to Division 1 of the Arthurian league, after winning Division 2 last season by some margin. A fantastic achievement for a team that only played their first game back in 2016.

Looking forward to the 2022/2023 season, the squad can expect their most competitive season yet, with the holy grail of the Premier division being another optimistic yet achievable target. Also, the promise of a return to the hallowed turf at St John's, with the support of current pupils and teachers, is another highlight of the upcoming season.

Home matches are currently played in Hampton with tea provided post-match. We would love to hear from any OJ's who want to get back into 11 a-side football and want to join a competitive, enjoyable, and sociable team. If you are keen

OJ RUGBY

A season to remember, OJRFC have been promoted!

This comes after finishing a close third in the two seasons prior, a well-deserved finish to an excellent season. The story of this season was new faces, nail biting moments and lots of tries!

The OJ’s played 16 games throughout the season, winning twelve, drawing one and losing three, finishing with 64 points and a positive points difference of +522, the equivalent to 104 tries. The season felt special from the start, with some new younger faces joining the ranks along with the old guard creating a fantastic team environment for all to enjoy.

There were some impressive score lines throughout the season, namely, the opener against Old Glyn which OJ’s won 74-7, 87-0 vs Old Sutts and 87-12 vs Egham Hollowegians.

However, the promotion battle really came down to the head to head with Ben Old Boys. In the away leg, it was a fantastic

to hear more, or you would like to get involved in the OJFC journey, please contact our Chairman Sam Thorowgood via email at oldjohnianfc@gmail.com, or via Instagram at @oldjohniansfc.

fixture ending 26-26 with a kick to win the match in the final play hitting the post, heartbreak! However, the boys looked forward to the home fixture against Bec which would surely decide who got the second promotion place, a gritty fixture was won by the OJ’s 9-5 on home soil, it was pandemonium on the pitch and the social that followed. All OJ’s had to do was win on the last day against Old Glyn - in true OJ fashion we made this a lot more exciting and harder than it had to be, taking it to the wire and winning a close fought match 27-22, promotion was ours!

We now look forward to a new challenge in the league above with more new faces joining and more memories ahead. The club keeps on growing and we are always looking for new members.

If you are interested in playing next season, please send an email to club Chairman James Duncan at oj.rfc1@gmail.com.

OJ GOLF

The OJ Golf Society played four of their six fixtures in 2022. The match reports are included below. Our OJ golfing members and contacts remain strong. If you are or know of any OJ golfers (of all standards), please get in touch as we have a very relaxed Society Golf Day at Tyrrells Wood which is a nice way to introduce yourself to the society.

We would like to thank all the match managers for their continued efforts in getting teams together.

We still work on attracting younger golfers (under 30’s) by capping the cost of a day to £40, leaving the School subsidy to cover the balance outstanding. For those members over the age of 30, the match subsidy will continue to be paid at the set rate.

Subscription

To play in our matches we continue to ask the OJ to pay an annual subscription of £20 a year or only £5 a year. for students

Our non-playing Captain, Stuart Hibbert, gathered six players in an attempt to qualify at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club. The sun shone on a perfect day for golf. Pairings on the day were James Smart and Peter Richardson (23), Mackenzie Blair and Graham Warren (19), and Jamie Sutherland and Andrew Wildey (20). We were partnered with Westminster (who qualified) in a scratch foursome stableford, always a tough format. Captain Hibbert rallied our players by meeting us at the golf club for some per-round motivation. Sadly, our pairings struggled and left many shots out there. In summary there was some excellent golf, some not so excellent golf, some fun, some laughter, some shank(s), and some points but sadly not enough for us to qualify for the finals (62 total points). However, a well-deserved pint was enjoyed on the terrace sharing our golfing weaknesses! In 2023 we will try again in hope of qualification. 75-80 points is our target to be in with a chance of qualification - if each group picked up 4/5 more points, we would have done it, but golf isn’t that straight forward. Thanks to the Captain and the players for supporting the event. We look forward to seeing more lower handicappers joining the Scratch Team to strengthen our squad. The Grafton Morrish website is soon to be updated with information/results etc for those interested in keeping an eye on which schools progressed etc.

Report by Andrew Wildey

Sunday 8 May – Grafton Qualifier (Scratch Team) at Royal Wimbledon GC (Stuart Hibbert)

L-R Graham Warren, Mackenzie Blair, Jamie Sutherland, Peter Richardson, Andrew Wildey, James Smart

Saturday 14 May v Bar GS at New Zealand GC (Richard Vosser)

In a time when the British was still a green and pleasant land took place a duel between to great foes. Saturday 14 May saw another titanic struggle between the OJs and The Bar at the New Zealand Golf Club. Full of optimism the OJs took to the first tee looking for their traditional fast start that often puts them 4-0 up at lunch. However, this year would be different. First John Martyn and Stephen Vickery came back empty handed after being up early on - losing to Sir Robert Jay and Peter Atherton. Then David Williams and Nick Keeley gave away a winning position, to leave the OJs two down as they would lose Mark Lyne and Tom Buxton. Richard Vosser and John Brown won their match vs. Peter Dean and Stephen Acton but had already agreed to forfeit the game, given John Brown was a Bar player kindly playing for the OJs. Luckily Sam Vickery and James Vickery would bring home a much-needed point for the OJs avoiding the morning whitewash and leaving the team 3:1 down at lunch.

Sunday 17 July – OJGS Society Day at Tyrrells Wood GC (Andrew Wildey)

Unfortunately, the Society Day was cancelled due to the extreme temperatures that were forecast. Those down to play felt playing in 40-degree heat was a step too far. We hope to reschedule an additional Society Day back at Tyrrells Wood GC early in the 2023 season. Many thanks to Andrew Worboys who manages Tyrrells Wood GC and maintains good relations with their General Manager.

Saturday 27 August v O Alleynians New Zealand GC (Graham Warren)

On 27 August, a six-man team from the OJs took on Old Alleynians at New Zealand Golf Club. Teeing off at 10am, we played six games of singles match play for the first time, foursomes has always been the order of play at New Zealand. It felt like Sunday at the Ryder Cup but without the crowds, we had the course to ourselves. The morning result was 3.5-2.5 to the OA’s and after a good lunch, 5 OJs and 1 OAs played again in the afternoon. As the OJs outnumbered the OAs the unofficial result for the day was 4.5 - 3.5 to the OJs.

A great day out on a hidden gem of a course was enjoyed by all!

After a controversial speech from the skipper at lunch, highlighting the OJs were likely to lose given historically the performance after lunch is usually worse than the morning; the OJs came out of lunch quite cross and determined to prove him wrong. And so they did as a clean sweep ensued, with first Sam Vickery and John Martyn triumphing over Sir Robert Jay and Mark Lyne, Richard Vosser and David Williams beating John Brown and Lewis Scott, James Vickery and Stephen Vickery winning against Richard Anelay and Peter Atherton and Nick Keeley beating Stephen Acton and Peter Dean.

This left the OJs victorious 5:3 after another great day’s golf.

Report by Richard Vosser

OJGS V The School at Effingham GC – (Dom Higgitt)

Unfortunately the annual match against the School did not occur this year. It is normally our opening event in the golfing season but due to the School’s timetable/examinations it made it difficult to find an agreeable date. Dom Higgitt is eager to ensure we get this back in as the first fixture in 2023 working with William Marshall from the School.

Committee members: David Scrivens (Chairman), Andrew Worboys (Treasurer), David Glassock, Stuart Hibbert, Andrew Wildey all continued in their roles in 2022.

L-R - Nick Keeley, Sam Vickery, Richard Vosser, David Williams, John Martyn, Stephen and James Vickery

Report by Graham Warren

L-R - John Martyn, Hugh Gibbs, Martin Parrott, Graham Warren, Andrew Wildey, Jamie Sutherland

OJ CRICKET

I had hoped this time to be writing about an expanded OJCC fixture list and a wide variety of hugely enjoyable and well attended social events. I find myself instead writing about just one, albeit hugely important and enjoyable, fixture, against the School (and that nearly didn’t happen either)!

Despite all good intentions expressed earlier in the year we arrived towards the end of April with only six players for the game at the end of June. A call to arms email rallied the troops to the extent that the cavalry came galloping over the hills in the form of Messrs Burge, Barrett, Dickenson, Masose and Vanoli-Salmon to get us up to eleven.

The game itself was a 30 over a side, reduced at somewhat short notice from a 40 over a side one. OJCC batted first and when Simon Barrett rolled back the years with a sumptuous straight drive back past the bowler in the first over, it looked as though we were on our way. That was as good as it got for a while though, until Kieran Burge fashioned himself a half century and the lower order struck some lusty blows it looked as though we were going to fall short of a setting a challenging target. As it was our final total of 188-6 represented a decent effort.

It soon became apparent that this total probably wasn’t going to present enough of challenge to the School though given the extent of the bowling talent available in the ranks of the OJCC XI to Captain Dimil Patel. The School made comfortable progress towards their victory total of 191-6 until Sam Burge produced a few mystery deliveries to provide the XI with

some minor tremors and OJCC some brief but ultimately misguided and misplaced hope.

It was a hugely enjoyable afternoon for both those on and off the field. It should also be remembered for the placing of both a fitting engraved memorial bench to Mike Comer in front of the Chris Tongue Pavilion along with a framed written appreciation of Mike’s life and work at St John’s being placed inside. Mike’s widow, Pat, and his stepdaughter Susie were able to be present to view the bench, the framed written appreciation and watched most of the game.

So, looking ahead to next year. OJCC is going to have to have more players put their hands up to play, particularly those amongst you who are more recent cricketing leavers please, if it wants to survive and grow. Please get in touch at agale@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk to let me know that you are interested. You may not get an immediate response back but you will at some point. I look forward to hearing from you.

Adrian Gale

OJ RUNNERS

Our 2021/22 season continued with the same ethos as previous years. We continue to produce large squads filled with runners of all abilities and, most importantly, ages.

2021’s Alumni race saw OJs arrive from across southern England for what might be it’s last December outing. Whilst few will miss the dark finish and cold weather, many will pine for the mud and ‘proper’ cross country conditions.

Whilst we challenged for each of the seven trophies available, we never really threatened the top teams.

WINCHESTER INVITATIONAL

2022

A strong showing of OJs made the trip down to Winchester College for this yearly invitational run against other invitees, Wellington and Eton, as well as Winchester alumni and current pupils.

It’s a very casual race run on the Winchester Senior XC course and organised by alumni and current staff.

We have always been blessed with nice weather and this year was no exception. Pre race we were treated to the ‘opening ceremony’ of the Winchester College Football final and a 5 minute explanation of the rules, which left most of us suitably bemused. Luckily the course presented no such confusion and we had some fine performances throughout the squad, finished off with a well deserved tea and presentations in the school.

Please get in touch if you want to get involved in these, or any of our other races.

See OJrunners.com for details.

2022’s alumni painted a similar picture. The move to a new September date gave us a beautiful dry day as well as some faster times but we continued to be thwarted by not being able to fill full teams for the veterans cups. The challenge for 2023 will be to find more over 50s, 60s and 65s who can jog, walk or stumble around 5 miles of Wimbledon Common. We only need a few to be able to enter those cups and win them, so no matter how slow you think you are - any finish is better than us taking a penalty score! So please do email us at ojrunners@outlook.com if you would like to join us in 2023.

OJ RIFLE CLUB

With the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, 2022 has been a normal season for the OJ Rifle Club members. We have fielded some very rusty teams in the major matches organised by the Surrey Rifle Association, and it has been so good to get back out there and doing the job.

We were joined this year by Tom Marsh (Churchill 2012-17) who has now graduated from Birmingham University and who nonchalantly walked off with the OJRC Championship the Colonel Watts Bowl this year during the NRA Schools’ Veterans shoot with a very tidy 50.8 ex 50.10 at 500 yards. Jon Tapster led the charge for the more senior years and our two teams ended up 12th and 9th in their respective Veterans matches. In the impressively hot Imperial Meeting held in the last fortnight of July, Adam Fowler, Philip Hakim and Stuart Pearson flew the flag this year for the Old Johnians. Adam was the sole representative who made it through to the Queen’s Prize final where he ended up getting a creditable 49th place in incredibly difficult wind conditions. The ranges had been on fire for the days in the runup and during the championship and the nature and character of the ranges had been radically altered by the brush fires.

Adam went on to shoot with the Great Britain Rifle Team to Canada in August. This team was originally scheduled to leave in 2020 and Jon Tapster had also been on the squad but had had to pull out due to family commitments this year. Adam was 12th in the Governor General’s final (Canada’s equivalent of HM the Queen’s Prize) collecting 12 medals along the way and shot in all of the GB International Team matches out of a squad of 20 dropping only 1 point out of 250 which is just an incredible achievement. The Canada match (Short range - team of 8) and Commonwealth match (Long range - team of 12) were both won by Great Britain. It is his first GB cap and what a debut! Incredible achievement. Onwards and upwards.

We were back in the School Range in March after two years away. Too late to enter the summer competitions, our focus has been on practise and preparation for the coming winter competition season. Numbers have been low due to summer diary commitments, but things are looking very good for the forthcoming season. Stuart Pearson took part in the NSRA 100th Meeting held at Bisley in August and represented Surrey

in the Queen Alexander team match, coming 2nd in that event. Stuart will represent the County in September in the NSRA Jubilee match in Northamptonshire.

Jon Tapster has been busy assisting the CCF with the cadet shooting programme. He has been away on field trips and the CCF Camp this year and, as a result of his liaison efforts, we are delighted to welcome Freddie Barnes (Montgomery 201722) into the ranks of the OJRC. Freddie - already an excellent marksman - and the others that follow him, will be a direct beneficiary of the generous OJ Society grant which the OJRC gratefully received last year. We have purchased two modern rifles to replace our ageing fleet, one is a Smallbore rifle, and one is a Fullbore rifle, both in left-handed actions and hard to find items. We will be making further purchases going forward of ancillary equipment such as scopes, mats, slings etc as well as additional rifles when excellent examples come onto the market. This will ensure the OJ funds will go as far as possible. This grant is a multi-generational investment which will take one of the most successful OJ Sporting clubs to the next level and keep our very talented squad at the forefront of competition. We are eternally grateful to the OJ Society for their investment in us.

Over the Summer the OJRC have met up in some nice little haunts far removed from ranges and rifles, demonstrating their other passion, namely cars and motorcycles. It transpires that our motley crew are fans of everything from Harley Davidsons to 1970s Japanese motorbikes and modern Alfa Romeo sports coupes to MG sports cars with everything in between. Since rifle shooting is an intensive detail thing, this taps into an appreciation for form and function in automotive engineering in all its forms.

OBITUARIES

We are always deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Old Johnians. To submit an obituary for inclusion in the next edition, please email development@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk.

Ian Bull South House, 1946-1951 (1932-2022)

Ian has died recently, after a sad prolonged illness.

Ian came to J school in September 1946, with a reputation from his Prep School as a fine athlete, and he did indeed fulfil that promise. Victor Ludlum in 1951 a member of the First XV for three years, he was also a fine actor and participator in many J school activities. He was always a strong supporter of the School, and in particular the Foundation, being like me, a clergy son. He and I got to know each other well when we came to know that he lived in Sudbury, Derbyshire, and I lived close to Sudbury, Suffolk. A friendship that has endured over more than 70 years.

After school came National Service, and we had hoped to go into the Infantry together, but unfortunately Ian was partially colour blind, and so ended up commissioned into the RAPC, and spent most of his time in Northampton. I went to Malaya.

We both went up to Queens’ Cambridge in 1953 - Ian’s father had been at the College. At Queens’ he played rugger for the College, and was secretary of the JCR, and elected to both the Kangaroos (Sport) and Cherubs (Arts) Clubs, which was quite unusual. He also acted, and helped organise the May Ball in 1957.

Ian was always drawn to a career of public service and duty, and so after taking his degree in history he stayed on for the Colonial Services Year and ended up as a District Commissioner in Sierra Leone. Home after his first tour, he married Fiona MacGregor, whom he had known since childhood. She returned to Sierra Leone with him for a second tour and, being rather smaller than the six foot Ian, was often referred to as “DC’s small pickin”.

Ian did not feel it was right to stay on in Sierra Leone after independence, and so returned to the UK and took up a career in teaching at Cirencester, and then later at Hymers College in Hull. He then made another career diversion into Further Education, and taught history at King Alfred’s Teacher Training College in Winchester. From there he moved to the position of Dean of Students and then Vice Principal at Hockerill Teacher Training College in Bishops Stortford, which is where we lived, and so we saw a lot of the family then - now added to with four children. Sadly David and Joanna predeceased him, but he is survived by Michael and Marion. Happy days.

When Hockerill closed, Ian embarked on a final career in the Civil Service with the Manpower Commission in Sheffield, where he rose to a senior position. He was also a Reader in the Sheffield Diocese.

Ian was always a keen walker and together we shared the Pennine Way, the Coast to Coast, the West Highland Way, Offa’s Dyke and the Cotswold Way, as well as walking in the Lake District. When he moved to was in his element and walked regularly with groups of friends, some known as the Last of the Summer Wine. They finally retired to Quorn in Leicestershire to be nearer their daughter and grandchildren.

Ian and Fiona were incredibly good at keeping up with their friends, and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Pat Bird, East 45-51

Michael Tudor Evans

North House, 1952-58 (1939-2019)

Reverend John Willard wrote to us to share the sad news of the passing of Michael Tudor Evans, a former Head Boy, in 2019.

We share below with kind agreement an excerpt from an obituary written by Colin Henderson for the Cranleigh School Magazine, where Michael worked from 1961-1996 until ill health forced his retirement.

“He was simply the most extraordinary, modest, practical, and revered schoolmaster his colleagues had ever encountered. He soon became Second Master at a time when there were few titles and individual responsibilities, and there were comparatively few ancillary staff; Michael consequently and voluntarily fulfilled many roles. He taught scholarship French, arranges the timetable, was in charge of discipline, mended fuses, unblocked drains, coached the Colts rugby team, re-started parents’ cars, moved pianos, stitched boys’ sandals, built sets for theatrical productions, took chapel services, assembled reports, assisted with school camps, was a font of knowledge on the use of English... and he had originally been offered a post teaching Spanish at Cranleigh School! The boys had huge respect for Michael and some were fortunate enough to be taken to drive ‘an old banger’ on the land surrounding his cottage. He was kind and generous with his time and he rarely needed to raise his voice.

Michael spent his early childhood in a rambling Rectory in Somerset where he particularly loved the little wood beside the house. In 1950, his father moved to a Vicarage in Oxshott. Michael became Head Boy at Danes Hill Prep School, won a scholarship to St John’s, Leatherhead, where as Head Boy he won a scholarship to read Modern Languages at Queen’s College, Cambridge. Here, he became a keen rower. In 1962, he married Ann, a talented artist and they soon moved to East Lodge, Loxhill, which Michael virtually re-built and where they have lived ever since. Both of their daughters went to St Catherine’s and later to Aberystwyth University. Jenny is married to a pilot who flies with the Mission Aviation Fellowship in Australia. Sue’s husband runs a Christian Bookshop in Newbury.

Allan Wyatt, an outstanding Prep School Headmaster (19781988) was grateful to have Michael as his Second Master. Susan Wyatt, Allan’s side, writes: “Allan owed a deep debt

of gratitude to Michael who was the backbone of the school and without his constant help and quiet unassuming advice he could not have contemplated managing the day to day running of the Prep School ship. He had an eccentric sense of humour and would often write cryptic Latin notes to Allan (written in his characteristic upper-case script) when reminding him of some event or parents’ meeting that Allan was about to attend. He was the most self-effacing of men, always the first with an offer of help but also the first to fade into the background when thanks were distributed. A schoolmaster like no other, we shall not see his like again”.

Christopher Perry, who succeeded Michael as Second Master writes: “I find it difficult to think of anyone I looked up to or respected more. He was kind, generous with his time and goods, helpful, thoughtful, immensely competent, a walking encyclopaedia.”

Michael spent much of his retirement creating wonderful castles, pirate ships, zip wire rides and other ingenious excitements for his four grandchildren. His favourite pastime was cutting logs for open fires. He was, in fact, still doing this a day or so before he died.”

Written by Colin Henderson

Martin joined East House one year after me when Tom Peacocke was housemaster. Tom was a member of The Alpine Club and arranged expeditions to climb in the Alps, this was when Martin found his lifelong love of mountaineering and later also pot-holing. He obtained a scholarship to RMA Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery with whom he was to serve for 30 years.

When my brother was in hospital a rather intense nurse said “and what was your job?” Martin replied “I was a spy!” She obviously did not believe him, but in fact when I was working in London for Shell, Martin was in MI5 based in Northumberland Avenue where I used to meet him for lunch. Prior to this he had two tours in Cyprus in the first they were chasing the terrorist group known as EOKA. They managed to capture Grivas’s second in command, who protested loudly that he was an innocent shepherd but was sitting on a Bren gun. On the second tour he was with an international force after the partition between Greece and Turkey. He said the only nationality he could rely on were the Irish, but they were often on holiday celebrating a saint’s day!

While he was in Germany, he was head hunted by Ferranti who were developing missiles, Martin was with one of a few Regiments equipped with missiles. Not long after leaving the army Martin and his wife Eve purchased Crooksbury House near Farnham the first country house built by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Martin set about its renovation using his knowledge gained from a master’s degree in engineering. There was also 12 acres of garden in which he constructed a small lake and planted roses. The deer ate the roses so he got permission to shoot the deer but said the first time he went out with his gun the deer looked at him and he looked at the deer and could only think of the story of Bambi, so the deer continued to eat the roses,

Eventually they moved to Liphook, Martin acquired a quarter acre allotment, built a garden shed and two green houses, planted a fig tree and two grape vines. He also bought a boat. He had two computers and contacted relatives all over the world, with the information gained plus visits to the national archives he wrote the history of various branches of the family. He was an outstanding author and was awarded a prize for a technical article he had written whilst in the Army.

Martin had a stroke on his 91st birthday and died on 21 April 2022.

Brian Fausset (elder brother, - East 1942-1947)

Dr John Patrick Minns

South House, 1956-60 (1943 – 2022)

Dr. John Patrick Minns (South House 1956 to 1960) was born in his grandmother’s house in Streatham on 17 January 1943 whilst his father was serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment as an Army Chaplain in Persia.

They soon moved to Tooting. It was there that the blast from a V1 flying bomb brought down his bedroom ceiling. At the end of the war, his father came home to Tooting and at the end of 1945 the family moved to Halifax where his father became Vicar of St Hilda’s, succeeding the father of OJ (South 1941-1947) and former staff member Mike Comer. John recalls the huge vicarage being freezing cold in the winter of 1947. The garden was big and full of adventures, building sheds and a tree house! They used to play cricket on the lawn.

At the age of 7 John went away to school, first to Hurworth near Darlington, there he enjoyed cricket, football, and carpentry. From there, John won a scholarship to St John’s, Leatherhead, where he did exceptionally well academically.

The family moved to Chester in 1954. John spent most of his teenage holiday time working at a farm in Capenhurst on the Wirral. In 1959, a very hot summer, he single-handedly looked after the farm for 8 weeks. During that time, he repaired a lot of worn machinery, therein was born his love of bringing home rusty iron with the aim of repairing it.

John then aged 17 gained access to King’s College Hospital, London, where he went on to train as a doctor. His ambition to become a surgeon was thwarted by a childhood accident to his left eye which caused permanent blindness.An operation to restore his sight in that eye was unfortunately unsuccessful.

It was in his student days, when he rode in his friend’s Morgan along the Embankment in London that his love of vintage cars and indeed motorcycles took hold and had remained a massive part of his life ever since. His collection included a 1927 Aero Morgan, 1934 Riley, 1928 Morgan Super Aero, (still a work in progress), 16 vintage motorcycles, his favourite being the ‘Scott’ and ‘OK Supreme’.

John was a member of the Morgan Three Wheeler Club, Scott Owners Club and the Vintage Motorcycle Club. In his last days John said, “This is the end of 63 years of motorcycling”. That was reference to his passion for

collecting, restoring, and riding some very old and very interesting two wheeled machinery and occasionally rallying and racing his prized bright yellow Morgan 3-wheeler!

Through family connections he became a freeman of Chester by joining the Innholders, Cooks and Victuallers Company.

John came to Alsager in 1970 with his young family and took on the job of a GP in The Surgery, Lawton Road, now known as ‘The Cedars’ until 1995. After a short time working in Tasmania, in 1996 he went to work part-time in Reeth, Swaledale, where he loved the hills and outdoor life and where the sheep and cows outnumber the patients!

In 1996 he met Shirley. They shared so many happy times together, travelling widely and seeking out adventures. He and Shirley married in 2004 and they had a total of 26 wonderful years together.

His three children, Rachel, Lucy and Michael, his stepsons Timothy and Matthew and his 13 grandchildren meant simply ‘the world’ to him.

John made such a positive difference to the lives of many people in so many ways. We will cherish his memory.

Captain A P MINNS MNI, South 1960-62.

Michael Del Medico Surrey House, 1987-1992 (1974-2021)

It is with great sadness that the death of Michael Del Medico is announced, from Covid-19 on 30 December 2021.

Mike, Mick, or Del Boy, as he was variously known at St Johns, was a much-loved student, as testified by the large number of old school friends who attended his funeral at the end of January. Whether it be in his love of football, guitar playing, or general jerrymandering, Mike was a force of nature who drew people to him throughout his schooldays and later life.

After his years at St Johns, Mike studied surveying at Nottingham Trent University, before a successful property career with King Sturge, CBRE, Colliers and JLL, among others, during which time he made a great many friends.

He was a strong and devoted family man, married to Karen for over 20 years, with whom he had 2 much-loved sons, James and Matthew. Mike was warm, fun, blunt, honest, and often hilarious, a truly legendary character and will be hugely missed by his family and countless friends.

He had a love of golf as well as loud golf trousers. A memorial tournament has been started and the first one was played on 5 May at Hoebridge Golf Course.

OJs Alex Shackleton (Lee), Ian Kavanagh, Andrew Turner, Nicholas Jaques, Nicholas Smith, James Anderson, Stewart MacNeill and Alasdair Anderson behind camera.

Gerald Abrahams

Colin Peace

North House, 1949-54 - MA Vet MB MRCVS (Camb ’62) (1936 – 2021)

Colin was the oldest of a proud family of six brothers, four of whom attended St John’s. He succeeded both academically and on the sports field. Rugby and athletics were his main sports at school, and he won a State Scholarship to Pembroke College, Cambridge to study Veterinary Medicine (like our father), which he took up after first doing two years of National Service in the Royal Navy. Whilst in the RN he was introduced to the sport of Modern Pentathlon (MP) and was in a successful Naval team in the National Championships in 1956. He played 35 times for the University 1st XV at rugby, but never in the Varsity Match, alas. He introduced MP to the University and helped to organise the first inter-varsity match with Oxford. He was unable to qualify for a ‘blue’ at that time, but many years later was awarded a ‘half blue’ for MP.

In 1964 he joined a prestigious equine veterinary practice in Newmarket and was tasked with developing surgical facilities, which were not widely available at that time. He married Annie in 1967, and in 1976 with their three children, attended the Montreal Olympics with Colin acting as an official of the British MP Association. He then took sabbatical leave to drive through North & South America to Tierra del Fuego, giving some talks and operative demonstrations on the way.

In 1980 he left Newmarket to join the staff at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Canada, as an Associate Professor. He then left the College in 1985 to set up his own practice at Aberfoyle to treat horses, farm, zoo, and small animals until he retired in 2019 aged 83.

He and Annie volunteered countless hours with the Canadian MP Association, the Wellington Waterloo Hunt, and the local Pony Club. He was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame for Sport and carried the torch for the PanAmerican Games in Toronto in 2015. He had a full life as an innovative and enthusiastic equine surgeon who was also passionately involved with the sport of MP in both Britain and Canada. After suffering several months of health challenges, he died in hospital on 2 October 2021 with Annie at his side. He is survived by his four children and four grandchildren.

Hubert Peace (N’55), Peter Peace (N’59)

David Geoffrey Llewelyn Morgan

Churchill House, 1948-53 (1935-2021)

David died 26 November 2021 after a long battle with cancer, much of it during Covid-19.

He was the fifth of seven brothers educated at St John’s during a period of over 20 years. After National Service“two years in a tent in Egypt” was his description of that experience - he had turned down a place at Jesus College, Oxford in favour of being articled to a local solicitor near Hockney, Essex.

Then, following law school, he was qualified and in due course became Senior Partner at Duffields Solicitors, Chelmsford, where he gained a wide reputation for particular expertise in charity law, and housing association matters. Two of his projects were being largely responsible for starting Springboard Housing Association, now part of the huge Notting Hill Genesis Group, and getting the Chapel and Almshouses of Abbess Alicia at Ilford restored, modernised, and in use. Working to ensure that those who needed it were housed and sheltered was a significant part of

Anthony (Tony) Ralph Sparshott

West House, 1953-59 (1940-2022)

Tony was born in Cartwright, Labrador, Canada, where his English father, Claude Sparshott, was part of the mission of St Thomas’ Church, St John’s, Newfoundland. His mother, Betty, was a Newfoundlander from St John’s.

In 1946 he came over to England with his mother and older brother, Peter, to join his father who, after war service as a Chaplain in the Royal Navy, had become Rector at Arborfield, near Reading. Peter and Tony attended St Neots School, Eversley, until both, in turn, moved on to St John’s School. Tony was in West House. He loved all sport, excelled in athletics and was on the school Cross Country team and, a friend said, he was ‘a veritable whizz at Fives’!

his life’s work of service to others. It was underpinned by his strong Christian faith and devotion to the Church.

Over many years, he served on various committees of the Chelmsford Diocese, and was a member of the church assembly, and later, General Synod, for 25 years. He was on the councils of several Anglo Catholic societies, was National Chairperson of the Church Union, and Warden of the Guild of All Souls.

He truly loved his family, legal and local history, his cricket, and was a staunch supporter of Welsh Rugby.

A large congregation filled Great Bardfield Parish Church for his Requiem Eucharist.

He is survived by his widow Elisabeth, three sons, two grandsons and four brothers.

Nic Morgan (Churchill, 1951-1956)

When Tony left ‘J’ School he attended Trinity College, Dublin, graduating in French and Spanish, and then went on to Teacher’s Training at Loughborough College and was very much part of the Athletics scene, competing for both in Cross Country events. He was involved with all Sports and taught French and Spanish at Stowe School, Taunton School, Markham College in Peru (teaching English), back at Stowe and then, in 1986, moved to Prep School teaching at Papplewick, Ascot, becoming Deputy Head in 1997 until his retirement and move to Sherborne, Dorset, in 2000.

He kept busy in retirement and was Secretary of Papplewick’s Old Boy Association, which included 21 years producing the annual Old Boys’ Magazine. He was also Membership Secretary of The Friends of Sherborne Abbey until 2020. He enjoyed travel and, once he retired, took holidays all over the world before, latterly, joining friends exploring a different part of Europe each year.

He kept in touch with many ‘J School’ contemporaries and attended reunions, both at St John’s and privately with friends with whom he had always stayed in contact.

He died suddenly, at home, while recovering from Covid 19.

Anthea Tinline (Sister)

Stephen Blackmore Surrey House, 1987-1992

(1974-2021)

We were recently notified of the death of Stephen Blackmore. Our sincere condolences to his family and all who knew him.

Peter James Cashmore North House, 1935-42 (1924-2021)

Duncan Cashmore advised of the death of his father Peter James Cashmore who died on 22 December 2021 after a short illness.

Peter was born in Calcutta India. He left India in October 1933 and went to St John’s School Leatherhead as a boarder. He played two seasons in the 1st XV, the second of which was unbeaten.

In February 1943, he was posted back to India to join the Indian Army at officers training camp in Mhow. Learnt URDU and after training joined the Royal Garhwal rifles in Lansdown as 2nd Lieutenant. His next posting was to Burma with the 7th Gurkhas Peter demobbed in January 1947. On return to England, he was offered a place at Corpus Christie Cambridge, but had to turn it down as it was from 1948, instead he went to Leeds University to read textiles. He played rugby for the university 1st XV and occasionally for Huddersfield 1st XV. He was a speedy and elusive winger and on one occasion against Sale 1st XV he scored a try in the corner and left his shorts in the tackler’s hands!

With a degree in hand, he was offered a job at Brinton’s Carpets Ltd and moved to Kidderminster in September 1950 as their wool buyer. In 1951 we was made captain of Kidderminster Rugby Club and also became a Rotarian, he went on to do two terms as president of Kidderminster Rotary Club. I believe that he was a Rotarian for almost 70 years. After 37 years at Brinton’s he retired.

He was also a keen golfer and played to a handicap of 11, a Governor of Franche middle school Kidderminster and a keen church goer.

He is survived by his wife Sue and his two children Duncan and Melanie, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Christopher Martin Child

West, 1953-58 (1939-2022)

I am writing to inform you of the death of Christopher Martin Child (a prep school friend of mine) attended the School from 1953-58

He died in Norwich, aged 82, having spent most of his teaching career at Kent College Canterbury.

Peter Bentall

Colin Durham East, 1968-71 (1954-2022)

We were recently notified of the death of Colin Durham. Our sincere condolences to his family and all who knew him.

T C Murat Gençkal

Churchill House, 1977-80

We were sorry to learn that T C Murat Gençkal of Churchill House passed away earlier this year. He’d been ill for a number of years after a serious skiing accident.

Alison Gosnell (1959-2021)

Wife to Nick Gosnell, School Chaplain 1993-1997

Mark Cooper let us know the sad news that Alison Gosnell passed away in early December. Nick was the school chaplain from 1993-1997 and Alison managed the book room for many years after that.

Derek Hambidge

Churchill, 1944-50 (1931-2022)

We were recently notified of the death of Derek Hambidge in March 2022, by his brother Michael. Our sincere condolences to his family and all who knew him.

Captain Albert (Bertie) Luckraft

East House, 1941-45 (1927-2022)

I very much regret to have to tell you that my husband Bertie Luckraft died on 27 July. He was very proud of his association with the School and had very happy memories of his time at the School.

Rosemary Luckraft

Major Bernard Mills CBE

South House, 1945-50 (1932-2022)

Pat Bird recently notified us of the death of Bernard Mills: Bernard was in South House and came to J school at the same time as I did, Sept 1945.

After Sandhurst he was commissioned into the Suffolk Regt (where I met him again just as I was leaving the Regiment after National Service). He had a distinguished career after leaving the army with the rank of Major, particularly helping to reorganise the Yemeni army I believe and with the UN, but you would need to check both these statements. He then went up to Queens’ Cambridge (my old College) as a mature student in 1978.

Pat Bird (1945 - 51)

Nicholas Neill West, 1959-62 (1945-2022)

Mrs Neill very sadly let us know that Nicholas Neill passed away on 31 August 2022. Our sincere condolences to his family and all who knew him.

Andrew Norris

Churchill House, 1954-59 (1941-2021)

I would like to report the death last year of my brother Andrew Norris. He died on 11 March 2021.

He left Churchill House with a scholarship to Kings College Cambridge where he read Turkish and Persian. After graduation he got a contract with UNESCO and worked in Sheraz, Iran.

This experience suited him for overseas work, and he was appointed to the British Council as representative. He worked variously in Pakistan, Borneo, Nigeria, Amsterdam and the West Indies. He retired from the BC in 1996.

For a short time, he had a small business running a matrimonial agency but in the late 90’s obtained the relevant licence and drove for London Transport on the 171 route from South London to the West End. He was driving his bus on 7/7/05 very nearby the bombing in Tavistock Square. He drove his bus for several years.

After final retirement he enjoyed reading and was a very valued member of a book club where he lived with Tina his wife.

He leaves 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren.

Stephen Norris (Brother)

Paul Pickering Staff Member, 1973-1991

We were informed of the very sad news that Paul Pickering passed away in June, after a battle with cancer.

Paul joined St John’s as a teacher of modern languages in 1973 and left in the summer of 1991. He taught Spanish and French, as well as leading any number of activities (including cross country running, gardening and art history talks).

A memorial service is planned at St John’s, in December 2022.

Ross Robertson Surrey House, 1952-54

(1938-2022)

It is with regret that I have to inform you of my cousin Ross’s sudden and unexpected demise on 2 August at home in Tain, Ross Shire.

Ross spent a good deal of his life as a tea planter in India, New Guinea and Bangladesh before returning to Scotland.

Kenneth Ross

Lord Richard Rogers K.B North and Surrey House, 1948-51

(1933-2021)

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Rogers, through several media articles and obituaries. Richard was a popular architect, known for many projects including the Millenium Dome. We have included the following extract from The Guardian obituary:

Richard Rogers, who has died aged 88, changed the face of urban Britain more than any other architect of the late 20th century.

He was sent to Kingswood House boarding school in Epsom, a place he described as “brutal and unfair”, where he was regularly beaten and bullied, an experience that prompted him to become a good boxer. He grew in confidence at St John’s school in Leatherhead, where he discovered sporting ability, but he struggled with dyslexia and left school in 1951 without A-levels.

It was during these years, Rogers later wrote, that he realised there was more strength in working as a group than being a solo high achiever, an outlook that would go on to inform his collaborative model of practice. During a major retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy to mark Rogers’s 80th birthday, the curators admitted that they struggled to find a single drawing by the man himself.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/dec/19/richardrogers-lord-rogers-obituary

James Herbert Rowsell South, 1943-49 (1931-2022)

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that my father, James Herbert Rowsell, who attended St John’s the 1940s, died in September.

Dad was, to the end, proud of his association with the School and grateful for the part it played as a springboard to his long, happy & fulfilled life. He proceeded from St John’s to Jesus College, Cambridge, and subsequently to a long and distinguished career as a teacher and, for 23 years, as a Headteacher in Cheshire until his retirement in 1991.

He was just short of 91 at his death, and, I guess therefore, amongst the oldest of St John’s alumni.

David Rowsell

OJ COMMITTEE 2022

The OJ Committee represents the interests of OJs within the School, providing advice on events and feedback to help St John’s improve links with the OJ community. The committee meets twice a year, usually in October and March. If you are interested in joining, or would like to find out more, please contact Mark Cooper: mark@cooperandlansbury.com.

Anthony Airey Surrey 1972

Ted Caplan Churchill 2011

David Birchmore East 2000

Mark Cooper Chairman Churchill 1995

Richard Francis Churchill 1957

Andy Farrant North 1982

Patrick Gardner Surrey 1959

Patrick Noble Staff 1975-2016

Olly Metcalfe Churchill 2012

Jasper Lloyd Churchill 1988

Viv Jemmett West 2005

Andy Peake West 1961

Bryony Williams South 2005

Peter Thorne Surrey 1962

Ed Sanderson East 1999