The Old Pauline News - Spring 2019

Old Pauline News

Spring/Summer 2019

An Anthem for all

Tej P S Sood (1993-95), publisher

at Anthem PressA andZ recently S T P A U L ’ S S C H O O L A L U M Nand I MDM AG INE ‘cloathed’ as a Liveryman of The

Friendship and Craft Beer

Neil Wates and Toby Ejsmond-Frey turn an amateur brew into their own brand business

Flight Engineering

Robin Wootton describes his fascination for insect wings

Last Word

Rt Revd Richard Atkinson Bishop of Bedford

Eyes on the World

Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, is pleased to announce that this season the company is publishing several books by members of the St Paul’s School community.

Anthem Press is an international academic, reference and educational publisher, headquartered in London.

Old Paulines and St Paul’s School staff connected to Anthem Press include: David A Phillips (1960-65) – author of Development Without Aid; Justin Corfield (1980-84) – author of Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang and Historical Dictionary of Ho Chi Minh City; Mike Seigel (1964-68), and former teacher at SPS – author of Latin: A Clear Guide to Syntax; David Abulafia (196367) – author of Foreword to America Magica; Graham Seel (current teacher at SPS) – author of King John; and Suzanne Mackenzie (current teacher at SPS) and Helen Pike (former teacher at SPS) are series editors of Anthem Perspectives, a history book series.

Recently Tej launched a new sister general trade imprint (Thames River Press) and shall soon be introducing another division for authors interested in self-publishing (Waterloo Publishing House). He took part at the recent Careers Fair at SPS in March and welcomes contact from any Old Paulines at stood@wpcpress.com Tej lives in Wimbledon with his wife and two young boys. He enjoys orienteering and the beautiful game, and is a Friend of Wimbledon Bookfest.

His current favourite font is Gentium.

Mark Lobel

Reporter, presenter, former producer and business, foreign and political correspondent for the BBC Tej Sood (1993-95)

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Contents 2 Briefings Briefings

A round-up of Old A round-up of Old Pauline Pauline news, including news, including Sam Sutaria Jeremy Gordon-Smith (1990-95) who (2005-10), who has become Head of has just published a book about his Strategy and Business Development at great-great uncle’s unusual WaterBear, the first interactive video-onservice during the First World War. demand platform with an emphasis on science and natural history.

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Old Pauline News & Profiles

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Stephen Streater (1979-83) Old Pauline News is revolutionising the way in which & Profiles video will develop online.

Robin Wootton (1950-55), flight researcher and world Tom Howe (1992-96) authority on the mechanics Emmy and BAFTA-winner of insect wings. composes for Aardman.

Cover photograph by Bruce Viveash (1961-66)

Gideon Farrell (2004-09), revolutionising the construction industry

OPs of 50 years vintage or more gather at the Wathen Hall for the reception of the Earliest Vintage Luncheon

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In Conversation With Tim Gillum and Mark Taktak Interview

(bothKamdar 2008-13) discuss life back in Rohan (2003-08), named at St Paul's.

Forbes 30-Under-30 list, is driving the development of 'effie', a device that irons

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Rev Graham Sawyer (1974-79) Secularist of the Year.

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Old Pauline Club

Fundraising launch, people & events

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Old Pauline Club

your clothes with a click of a button.

People, events and reunions.

Interview

Et Cetera

Mark Lobel (1992-97), freelance Et Cetera reporter and presenter.

Henry Dyer (2010-15) makes a case for diversity at St Paul's.

Editorial How much do we take news gathering for granted, and how important is it to acknowledge the part it plays in our democratic tradition – especially at a time when news media worldwide is taking a bashing from populist leaders seeking to create their own versions of the truth? Mark Lobel (1992-97) has been at the sharp end of the BBC's reporting arm, working in hostile environments abroad as well as on revealing assignments at home. In this issue's interview, Mark describes being held at gunpoint, researching knife crime and how journalists can now broadcast globally with nothing more than a smartphone.

Engineering is a key career choice for many Paulines.

In this issue, Robin Wootton (1950-55) discusses how his study of insect wings influenced the US Air Force's development of micro air vehicles.

Current Paulines interested in engineering are turning to a more entrepreneurial approach. Benjamin Ray, Luke Andrews and Thomas Dhome-Casanova describe how they and other members of the Surelight team won last year's prestigious Junior Achievement European Company of the Year competition.

For 'Last Word', Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford, makes a plea for us to consider a future partnership with Europe grounded in friendship, scholarship and faith, similar to that forged by John Colet and Erasmus 500 years ago.

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Obituaries

Old Pauline Sports All the action from the clubs

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Past Times & Crossword

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Last Word Rt Rev Richard Atkinson (1971-76), Bishop Of Bedford

Simon Bishop (1962-65) opceditor@stpaulsschool.org.uk

Editor and designer Simon Bishop All correspondence to: The Editor c/o The Old Pauline Club, St Paul’s School, Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9JT Copy for the autumn/winter issue of the Old Pauline News, to be published in October 2019, should reach the Editor no later than 19 August 2019.

Contact: opcadmin@stpaulsschool.org.uk

Contact us Telephone: 020 8746 5390 Email: opcadmin@stpaulsschool.org.uk Web: opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk

Advertising in Old Pauline News For our current rates please contact the Editor, Simon Bishop: opceditor@stpaulsschool.org.uk

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Diary dates

@oldpaulines Old Pauline Club Old Pauline Network

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 1

Briefings

Old Pauline-related endeavours and interest

Political Playwriting Award

Sami Ibrahim (2006-11) has been announced as the inaugural winner of the UK’s first major political playwriting prize.

The Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Award was launched last year in partnership with the Young Vic in London, Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre and the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.

Ibrahim was announced as the winner for his play Two Palestinians Go Dogging, which explores the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The play will be co-produced by Theatre Uncut and the Royal Court in London as part of the venue’s next season, with further details to be announced. Ibrahim will also receive £9,500 in prize money.

The prize was judged by Theatre Uncut artistic directors Hannah Price and Emma Callender, as well as Lyric Hammersmith artistic director Rachel O’Riordan, Young Vic associate director Nadia Latif and Traverse Theatre interim director Gareth Nicholls.

Cats on the Prowl

Jason Kim (201217), a former British Mathematical Olympiad Medallist, now a sophomore at Yale University studying Economics and Global Affairs, is Assistant Musical Director of the Yale Alley Cats, a collegiate a cappella group founded at Yale University in 1943.

As part of an international tour the group recently performed in London. This past year, the ‘Cats’ have been on a 10-city tour of China as well as visits to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand.

Though originally rooted in the classics of American jazz music, the Yale Alley Cats' repertoire has expanded over the decades to include pop hits, Motown, and many other genres. This has been well received by a wide range of audiences, from students of all ages to world leaders and celebrities. In recent years, they have performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II, former Presidents Obama and Clinton and Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden. l For more information: www.yalealleycats.com

Thought For Today

Theologian, author, writer and artist Theo Hobson (1985-90) delivered Radio 4’s Thought for the Day on 23 March, in which he described taking inspiration from the poet George Herbert as he considered the challenges of teenage depression.

Available on www.bbc.co.uk/sounds

An Introduction to Western Moral Philosophy After reading PPE at Oxford, where he was a pupil of Isaiah Berlin, Michael Langford (194450) spent time as Chaplain to Queens’ College, Cambridge, and as a PhD student in Philosophy, before becoming a Professor of Philosophy in Canada. His latest book, An Introduction to Western Moral Philosophy, is based on his lectures, at first-year university level, given in both Canada and Cambridge, where, in semiretirement, he teaches part time. Michael lives with his wife, and near his two daughters, in a village near Cambridge.

Treasurer and Novelist Nick Brooks (1965-70) is better known to his peers as the Honorary Treasurer of the Old Pauline Club. But a new skill has surfaced with the recent publication of his first novel, Betrayed.

Published by Austin Macauley, Nick’s racy yarn follows the attempts of Will Slater, a London-based lawyer suspected by the police and SO15 of committing two murders and supplying arms to terrorists, to find out who has betrayed him. His urgent quest leads him to the highlands of Scotland, Mallorca and the Virgin Islands before a final showdown in London. A page-turner if ever there was one!

Nick has always been heavily involved with the OPs and the School. His son Charles (1995-2000) is now Head of Recruitment at Janus Henderson, a Global Asset Management Company based in the City of London. And Nick’s grandson, Henry, has just started in the juniors. A Vice President of the Club, Nick used to play rugby for the OPFC BXV, captaining the side for three years in the mid 1970s. He also played Sunday cricket for the 2nd OPCC XI, and was captain for three years in the mid noughties.

For more information: @austinmacauley

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The Numbers Game

Alexander Newberry (1996-98) studied Medieval History at Edinburgh before going on to read Byzantine Studies at Exeter College, Oxford. While still at university, Alexander wrote a song, Crib, which won the UK Songsearch Rock Category. This became the catalyst for 10 years of adventure, which brought him two record deals and multiple European tours, including shows supporting UB40 and Foreigner.

After leaving the LA music scene, Alexander returned to the UK and started tutoring. Developing a passion for teaching, he began formulating motivational brain-training books to improve students’ performance. He selfpublished his first Maths book in 2012; to date, he has now released 35 books with sales in the US, the UK and Australia. In 2014, he began to develop Numberella, a maths game that acts as a gateway to the subject and accelerates numeracy. After a successful data trial in early 2018, which showed 100 percent of children improving their grades through playing Numberella, it launched in October last year. Alexander’s game is now played in more than 20 US states and in several UK schools. Millfield and the Oratory Prep School, Reading, have become Numberella’s most recent purchasers.

Lunchtime Recital

Pianist John Paul Ekins (2000-05) will be giving a lunchtime recital of Brahms and Schubert with Sky Ingram (soprano) and Nicholas Lester (baritone) at St Martin-inthe-Fields, Trafalgar Square, on 2 August at 13.00.

Letters & emails Pepys, Troubridge and Other Forgotten Club Names An abridged version of an email exchange between John Dunkin (1964-69), Paul Ganjou (1960-65), Vice-chairman of the Nelson Society, and Paul Velluet (196267). Published with permission.

A Thank You from the Kayton Library for Three Additions to the Rare Books Room At the recent Feast Service, we were delighted to receive three books for our Rare Books Room from Rob Smith, OPC President. Whilst we are very proud of some of the wonderful old works we hold, it is exciting to see the collection continue to develop and to recognise the achievements of more recent OPs. We are very grateful to the OPC for their generosity. The books are: Zoological Articles contributed to the Encyclopaedia Britannica by E Ray Lankester (1857-64). The book is rather beautiful; black bound, it has a golden octopus printed on the cover. It contains numerous woodblock illustrations.

The second is Abd-Er-Rhaman in Paradise by Jules Tellier, translated by Brian Rhys with wonderful woodblock illustrations by Paul Nash (1903-06). This tells of Abd-Er-Rhaman’s journeys through Heaven and the Gardens of Delight before he realises there is more to life than pleasure.

The last is The Look and Learn Book of the Trigan Empire (1973) illustrated by Don Lawrence (1942-46), a book which may raise an eyebrow. Nick Russell (1973-77) kindly forwarded an article discussing Don’s great work, The Trigan Empire. Originally published during the 1960’s as a doublepage episode in boy’s magazine Ranger, it was so successful that the publisher brought out this hard-backed volume.

Although not yet very valuable, this is already quite rare and we were lucky to find a copy. Do any OPs remember reading it?

Hilary Cummings, St Paul's Librarian

JD: Just watched a programme on the Royal Navy hosted

by Dan Snow (199297). Very interesting (to learn) how important Samuel Pepys (1649-51) was in the Samuel Pepys (1649-51) building a modern Royal 'Father of the Royal Navy' Navy by introducing proper management, introducing examinations for officers and eradicating corruption.

PG: Pepys is one of my heroes - as well as Nelson! I am sure you know he is known as the ‘Father of the modern Royal Navy’ as well as his boring old diary about village fires and kings losing their heads etc etc.

JD: Yes, it’s rather sad that Samuel Pepys is better known for his salacious diaries and not for his role as ‘Father of the Royal Navy’.

Thumbing through a Debrett’s, I recently came across the coat of arms of Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet, the distinguished OP naval commander and one of Admiral Lord Nelson’s ‘Band of Brothers’. His Arms include a fortress and a blue cross keys flag which must have connections to the numerous battles and actions in which he was involved.

Reminds me, clubs at St Paul’s had extra titles which included Troubridge and Pepys who were connected to ‘C’ and ‘H’ Clubs, but which appears to have been airbrushed out of memory.

Finally, we must not forget Captain Sir Frederick Thesiger OP, who was an ADC (Aide-de-Camp) to Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen and related to the later Lord Chelmsford (Not an OP!) who was the commander at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879.

PV: As you may recall, I was in ‘C’ Club – otherwise but rarely known as ‘Troubridge’. I’m afraid that for most folk at the School in the Sixties – insofar as they were aware of the names of the clubs at all - I think that I was one of the few – ‘Troubridge’ was always misconstrued as ‘Troutbridge’ – the name of Her Majesty’s

frigate, HMS Troutbridge, commanded by Commander, later, Captain ‘Thunderguts’ Povey that featured in the long-running BBC Light Programme comedy The Navy Lark, episodes of which can still be heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Hilary Cummings, St Paul’s School Librarian, kindly writes: the names for School clubs were as follows: A Club – Milton; B Club – Barham; C Club – Troubridge; D Club – Montgomery; E Club – Gresham; F Club – Halley and H Club – Pepys. The names were first used for the Clubs in the autumn term of 1953 before they were abandoned after the autumn term of 1976.

First School Dance

On page 12 of the last Old Pauline News magazine, Garry Honey (1968-72) refers to ‘the first School dance’ – and implies it was a mixed SPS/SPGS dance. But he couldn’t have experienced that himself, as it took place in 1963, at SPGS, when the High Mistress was Dame Alison Munro (I attended – as did HM Munro!). I myself ran the first and possibly only iteration, in 1964, at SPS West Kensington – in the tuck shop. No doubt some of us did behave badly – from both sides of Hammersmith Road.

Professor P A Cartledge (1960-64) l Professor Cartledge will be the Apposer at this year's School Apposition.

50 Years at Barnes

Your ‘50 years at Barnes’ reminded me of my sole School award, the 1969 Ingoldsby Prize for Light Verse, which had to be in hexameters and began: Good morning delighted to meet you my name is Tom Howarth and I am the Highmaster here at St Paul’s which was founded in 1509 by John Colet his statue you saw at the rear of that vast concrete edifice no not the school the gymnasium fencing-salle sports hall and pool That? That’s the bell yes it does resound well (2nd verse – ring like hell).

Great to see the reminiscence of John Smith, with whom I waged a twoyear battle in Room 1 at Hammersmith (once presenting him with a false cane to whack me with) and who will be unsurprised to learn that I had a career in journalism not academia.

Simon Bain (1965-69)

l Simon Bain was a reporter on the North Cheshire Herald, Sheffield Star and Scotsman, founding business editor of Scotland on Sunday, and for 20 years a business and money writer on The Herald. He was honoured regularly in the British, Scottish and Regional press awards and once as Scotland’ s Journalist of the Year. Still Edinburgh-based, he now works for his (London-based and also award-winning) journalist daughter Iona.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 3

Briefings 200 Years of Bliss!

Jeremy Williams (1966-70) reports that he and four of his contemporaries have kept in touch since leaving School, mainly through the OP cricket club at Thames Ditton, where they played for many years.

Having all married quite young, they recently celebrated an accumulation of 200 years of marriage with a dinner in the historic Cube Room at Richmond Golf Club with their wives and children, where they enjoyed reminiscing over wedding and baby photos!

Jeremy Williams (younger brother of Nigel G L Williams (1962-66), Alastair Duncan (1966-70), Nigel E O Williams (1965-70) and Toby Bain (1967-71) all met at Colet Court and have powerful memories of Henry Collis the Headmaster of CC along with Messrs Langsford, ‘Chalky’ White, Chawner, Robinson, Topham, McClintock, Sutton, Hardy et al.

Their first-year classes were taught by Miss Maclaren and Miss Sworder. Steve Lewin (1966-70), who didn’t go to Colet Court, became a friend at St Paul’s.

“We were fortunate to start our SPS careers in the wonderful old School in West Kensington before becoming the guinea pigs at Barnes, following the move in 1968, when Tom Howarth was High Master and Frank Cummings was Surmaster."

L to R: Alastair and Lynn Duncan, Caroline Williams, Yvonne and Toby Bain, Jeremy Williams, Celia and Nigel Williams and Susie and Steve Lewin.

"We have seen each other’s children grow up (12 in all) – Alastair has two boys, Alex (1993-98) and Ben (19972002), both top class cricketers; Nigel E O Williams has two daughters, Louise and Charlotte; Toby has a daughter, Jessica, and two sons, Max and Luke; Steve has a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Joanna; I have a son, Matthew (1997-2002) and twin daughters, Stephanie and Eleanor.

Most of them are now married or have long term partners and there are several grandchildren."

"And that’s not all! Alastair Duncan also has a brother Giles (1962-66); Steve Lewin a brother, Michael (1962-66); Toby two brothers, Simon (1965-69) and Roly (196771, who passed away in 2016); and Nigel E O Williams also has a brother, Shamus (1970-75) – making a grand total of 14 OPs in our immediate circle. The ‘adults’ all meet fairly regularly, and always for New Year. For some years, while the children were younger, we all went away together to a youth hostel or similar and enjoyed the best of times.”

Lunching in Old School House In November, Tim Cunis (1955/60) met up for a very cheerful lunch with his old SPS 1st XV colleague, Stephen Reichwald (1954/59), in the St Paul’s Hotel at 153 Hammersmith Rd, together with Peter Graham (1960/63) who boarded in the building after it was converted from High Master’s House into School House in 1963 with Mr Philip McGuinness as Housemaster. The blue heritage wall plaque on the site recalls some of the history of the School and mentions Alfred Waterhouse, the noted architect of the SPS buildings in West Kensington.

Freeman of the City of London

On 11th October at Guildhall, Dominic Parr (2008/13) completed his apprenticeship to Guildman Nick Brooks (1965/70) and he was duly admitted as a Freeman of the City of London and Guildman of the Guild of Mercers’

Scholars. A Livery Dinner for 120, with 14 Paulines present including Renter Warden Richard Thompson OBE (1973/77), followed at Apothecaries Hall.

In the photo are: School Court Assistant Tim Cunis (1955/60), Mr & Mrs Parr, Dominic Parr, Nick Brooks, Guild Master Jessica Bethel-Jones (SPGS) and Past Master Brian Jones (1961/66).

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opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5418

50 Years at Barnes Further Reflection Carpet in the Classrooms

I

Sam Sutaria

A ‘Netflix’ for the Natural World

Sam Sutaria (2005-10) has become Head of Strategy & Business Development of the WaterBear Network, the first interactive video-on-demand platform with an emphasis on science and natural history as opposed to general entertainment. It plans to launch later this year.

Employing a revolutionary new approach to viewing content about the planet, WaterBear, working in conjunction with environmental NGOs, will link programmes with campaigns with a remit to transform inspiration into action. With a growing global network of partners, WaterBear aims to radically alter the way in which we interact with environmental and wildlifecentred content online, with a wider ambition to steer the future of scientific and environmental education and policymaking.

Sam gained an MA with distinction at the University of the West of England – the first degree course to be launched by the BBC’s Natural History Unit. He had previously studied Biology at the University of Bristol.

And in case you were wondering, the water bear (or tardigrade) is sometimes referred to as being the strongest animal on earth, despite its minute size (1mm long).

It can survive being blasted into outer space, thrust into boiling water, seared by radiation or dried out in the desert – a living metaphor for the potential resilience of nature.

For more information, contact: samsutaria@waterbear.com

t was the year of hippies, the year of Les Evénements and the soixantehuitards in France, and in England 'I’m Backing Britain', Joseph and the Amazing Timothy Hedges Technicolour Dreamcoat sung by Colet Court, anti-Vietnam demonstrations, Enoch Powell’s speech and the last steam train service. For me, it meant starting a new school in a new building which looked like a factory.

Mercy, it was a long time ago. What I most remember was music, music, music: The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, Status Quo, Otis Redding’s Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, Jimi Hendrix.

My first Pauline memory was a newspaper article ‘Carpet in the Classrooms’ outlining the cosseted life we were to lead at the new building. People could scarcely believe it. Other novelties I remember are the now ubiquitous polystyrene ceiling squares which you could lift up to hide things. Fire sprinklers were everywhere, we had never seen them before, and went off if someone burnt the

It seemed a very modern, civilised place, and still seems that way now toast. There were revolving blackboards and whiteboards, whereas I had been used to Prep school masters throwing chalk at you if you didn’t pay attention.

Philip McGuinness, housemaster and tutor, had a series of expressions he used for instruction, warning or admonishment.

Peter Fineman and I made a song out of them for the House Party. The first line was ‘On the first day of Christmas my tutor said to me, Change into your slippers after tea.’ We sang it with Francis March (falsetto) and a few others.

I was taught German by a clergyman who brought his own wooden lectern to the classroom and would shout ‘Agony of Agonies’ if you got something wrong. His name, incredibly, was the Rev P Souper.

I remember the first lesson in Religious Instruction from RLS Bennett ‘The thing to remember about religion is God is good, God is good. Well… write it down, boy!’

Field Marshall Montgomery, an old boy, was still alive and worshipped.

T E B Howarth, the High Master, had been on his staff. I remember an old man being shown the library when I was in there, and a few minutes later an irate master, Buster Reid, stormed back and shouted that it had been Monty’s brother and none of us had stood up!

Howarth asked us in our first term what we thought of the place. I said the discipline was pleasantly lax. There was no boxing, no caning, and the boys were expected to look after their surroundings.

The food was good because Louis Gluckstein, chairman of Lyons Catering, was head of the board of governors. It seemed a very modern, civilised place, and still seems that way now.

I remember Sidney Levinson, the Wakefield brothers, Roger Sewell, Charles O’Bryan Tear, Ivan Montanari, Gary Honey and many more, including poor Bob Schuck, who died. He was a nice guy.

‘On the fifth day of Christmas my tutor said to me: ‘When I was in the Navy…’.

Happy times.

Timothy Hedges (1968-72)

F

or two years my working day began with the view of Waterhouse’s High Victorian St Paul’s, its terracotta glowing, on fine mornings, in the sun. The architect of St Paul’s original buildings at Barnes once remarked that “a century ago architects were purveyors of style: today we are purveyors of utility...”

I was too junior to have more to do with the move than to arrive at a different destination, though I remember a meeting with the building contractors, whose assurances that all was well with the playing fields turned out to be very misleading.

Life at Barnes would certainly be less formal. At Hammersmith the School assembled for Latin Prayers in the Great Hall and for lunch in the Dining Hall, where the masters sat at High Table. A regular ordeal before lunch was to stand on the stairs wearing a gown and try to slow down the horde of hungry boys galloping towards their food. You also had to be careful where you sat: one senior colleague would acidly show that he did not welcome anybody uninvited near his regular place. The Barnes canteen was different. I remember too a surprisingly uproarious farewell party in the High Master’s garden at Hammersmith.

But the changes were far less significant than the continuity. The boys and staff were the same. The enormously intelligent, witty and crafty Tom Howarth, the stately Head Porter, the conservative Old Pauline Surmaster, all crossed the river.

And in September 1968, as in previous Septembers began the Oxbridge term.

Hugh Mead History teacher at St Paul’s (1966-97)

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 5

Old Pauline profiles

Friendship and Craft Beer Five years ago, Neil Wates (19992004) and an old friend from Durham University were both getting married within a month of each other. How to celebrate?

W

hat better than to revive a dormant interest in home brewing for the occasion!

Thanks to the craft beer scene in London, Neil and his friend were able to produce their own recipe for the weddings. It went down very well – both managed to secure professional commissions during the celebrations – the first step towards the founding of their own brewery, Friendship Adventure.

School friend and bar owner Robin Ejsmond-Frey (1999-2004) put Neil onto his brother Toby (2001-06) who had been working in marketing, particularly in the drinks sector, picking up valuable experience in the large New Zealand trade. “Toby came along to one of our amateur brew sessions and said he was keen to turn what had been a ‘side hustle’ into a real business.”

“Toby and I have been the leading partners in the business for about two years now. The business has been built on the supply of house beer for restaurants, but also individual clients, including the Old Pauline Ale (OPA) that has gone down really well at Colets. During the last year we have been promoting our own brands – Heist, a lager, and an IPA named Stowaway.”

Neil explains that it is very hard to brew small amounts of lager. It needs to be very carefully temperature controlled.

“It’s very hard to make the kit – rewiring a

fridge and re-programming it with a smart thermometer. I was neck-deep in technical forums showing how you do it.

The advice was ‘unless you are qualified in professional microelectronics don’t bother even trying!’ As it happened, one of my best mates, fellow OP Patrick Cullen (1999-2004), who lectures in Electronics at UCL, agreed to help. We’re a lot bigger now, but at the time we were the smallest UK brewery that included

HEIST: Friendship Adventure's signature beer – a crisp, modern lager

STOWAWAY: Friendship Adventure's session IPA – light with a citrus finish

L to r: the three founders – Neil Wates (1999-2004), Jez Scharf and Toby Ejsmond Frey (2001-2006)

I was neck-deep in technical forums showing how you do it.

Ashish Mandavia

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a lager in its portfolio. It has taken twoand-a-bit years, but the business is our main job now.” Neil previously had his own business as a property developer but says that he was always on the lookout for something more creatively entrepreneurial. Thanks to some very supportive spouses, he says, and some savings, Friendship Adventure has established itself, with four people now employed by the company. “What I really like about the business is how creative it is – the naming, the marketing, the refining of ingredients” Friendship Adventure also run regular comedy nights, ‘Comedy in a Brewery’, collaborating with other brewers to put on events at the Bermondsey Beer Mile and the Edinburgh Festival. “It has become a signature thing that we do.” Neil ran the Old Pauline Comedy night at the George IV in Chiswick for a few years, featuring Chris Martin (1999-2004), Max Dickens (2001-2006) and Hal Cruttenden (1982-87), amongst others.

Friendship Adventure is currently looking to open a taproom this year. The company is seeking additional funding for the project and would be interested in any OPs wanting to support the business. l Contact: info@friendship-adventure.com

A Fascination for Flight As a boy, Robin Wootton (195055) was inspired by watching seagulls fly over White City. He went on to a career in animal flight research, and became the world authority on the mechanics of insect wings.

A

fter St Paul’s, Robin studied Robin Wootton at School and (inset) today zoology at UCL. He got a First, and continued to a PhD on insect palaeontology. “It was a neglected subject. deform automatically in flight. With the Insects are by far the largest group of advent of highspeed photography and animals, but only a handful of people were cinematography, it became possible in the working on their fossil record, and most 1970s to see in detail how the wings were of these were in Moscow, where a group behaving in flight and with my students had been established in the 1930s. The I pioneered an engineering approach to disadvantage of being the only person in their structure, while parallel advances the field in Britain then was that there was were underway elsewhere in the highly no one here to advise me.” complex aerodynamics of flapping flight.

Having gained his PhD, Robin joined the In the 1970s, 80s and 90s we were among Zoology Department at Exeter University, the first to film insects – dragonflies, plant where he has remained throughout his career. The Royal Society and the USSR Insect wings are elegant, Academy of Sciences had recently initiated a research exchange – two Russian complicated examples of scientists for two from the UK. In 1963, microengineering Robin applied and was accepted on the scheme, working in the USSR for seven months during the Khrushchev era. bugs, flies, butterflies - in free flight, to Pamela, his wife, joined him in the summer study and model how their wings were collecting insect fossils in Kazakhstan, behaving, and to link this with their Uzbekistan and Kirgisia. They were the first aerodynamics and behaviour. Excellent westerners since the war to be allowed on work was happening on bees, dragonflies an Academy of Sciences expedition. and the Tobacco Hornworm moth in “Most early insect fossils are wings, Cambridge and on fruit flies in the US; as bodies tended to be but insect flight was still a crushed or eaten, or to comparatively small field until decompose. Nobody at that time the mid 1990s, when the US Air understood how wings worked, Force became seriously interested and palaeontologists drew in the development of Micro most of their evolutionary Air Vehicles – small flapping conclusions from wing drones, primarily for venation patterns, surveillance in urban without reference warfare. Insect flight to their functional researchers began The Tobacco Hornworm moth significance. Looking collaborating with in minute detail at both fossil wings and robotics engineers. Ironically, as I neared present-day insects I realised that a great retirement, many grants for my area of deal of information was being missed, and research were forthcoming and the subject that insect wings are elegant, complicated has really taken off in the last 20 years, examples of microengineering. They with computer modelling becoming are flexible aerofoils, rather like sails increasingly important, although the but much cleverer, with some areas complexities of flapping flight still require adapted to be rigid supports, others to experimental research.”

Now an Honorary Research Fellow at Exeter University, Robin is still writing on insect wing mechanics and evolution, and gives frequent talks on insects, flight, on folding structures from beetle hindwings to popup books, and on 19th century naturalists. He was made an Honorary Fellow and has been a Vice-president of the Royal Entomological Society, as well as President of the Amateur Entomologists Society and Chairman of the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and the Arts.

At St Paul’s, Robin was taught biology by the revered Sid Pask, and chemistry by Jack Strawson and E H Williams; and he was greatly influenced by the charismatic Philip Longland, who inspired generation of Paulines with a love of history and English literature. Longland was a strict disciplinarian: “You quaked as you entered his class!” Near contemporaries were fellow biologists Jonathan Miller (1949-54) and Robert Winston (1953-59).

Robin was a member of the fencing team that won the Public Schools championship by an unprecedented margin in 1954. Another team member, Mark Gifford-Gifford (1950-55), has also taught in Exeter University for many years.

He has maintained contact with several OPs. In recent years he and Pamela shared several short holidays with Chris Cotton (1950-55), Lawrence Webber (1949-54) and John Robin Winkworth (1950-55) and their wives. He has annual telephone conversations with Martin Rantzen (1949-55).

Robin’s son, Nicholas, trained in Stage Management at the Bristol Old Vic and is a freelance theatre technician. His daughter, Amanda, is a Reading Leader at a Plymouth primary school.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 7

Old Pauline profiles

Revolutionising the Construction Industry Gideon Farrell (2004-09) is the co-founder of Converge, a start-up working to close the $1.6 trillion productivity gap in the construction industry by building an AI fed with physical data from the thousands of wireless sensors they deploy on construction sites.

"W

e started by anticipating that most heavy industries would have serious inefficiencies. We looked at mining, manufacturing, oil and gas, agriculture, and construction, but it turned out that problems within the construction industry were especially challenging. It’s one of the biggest industries at 13 percent of global GDP and 7 percent of the world’s workforce, yet it’s also one of the least digitised industries, coming in just before agriculture. And the productivity gap is bigger than the GDP of most countries! This is both economically inefficient and environmentally unsustainable, with a lot of wastage and very carbon-heavy materials like cement.

Its impact is enormous."

"Government and industry involvement can help to a certain extent with regulation and contractual frameworks, but a lot of problems could be resolved

with digitisation, resulting in more preventing progress on-site. Our wireless efficient on-site execution, delivery, and sensor networks now monitor concrete tracking. At present, over 60% of projects strength and temperature in situ during are delivered late and over-budget. And the framing stage of construction. We can the industry has tiny margins, about provide data from these to our customers 1-3% for most contractors. That makes in real-time, allowing them to react much them very sensitive to failures, with faster and progress their projects sooner.

Laing Construction and Carillion being Before, they would have been carrying notable examples of behemoths toppled out measurements manually which was by projects going awry." slow, prone to human error, and generally "At Converge, we set out to build what inaccurate.” you could think of as the world’s biggest Converge is now deployed on over physics experiment. We wanted to build 100 sites across the UK and S E Asia, a virtual model of the construction and is opening a Hong Kong office. The industry, then feed it with physical data to company has been involved with some see what predictions major recent we could get out of constructions, I never really wanted to it. We could then including Hinckley be a research scientist. use that model to Point C, the optimise the industry Blyth Offshore I always felt I’d like to along three axes: Windfarm, the start my own business. efficiency, safety, Ipswich Tidal and sustainability.

Barrier, Cross Ultimately, we want to build a simulation Rail, and TfL. “We have come a long way engine that could also work for the since we sat down in front of the directors energy, agriculture, mining and of the UK’s largest contractors selling a manufacturing sectors. It is a big project. product that we hadn’t built yet!”

It could take 40 years to realise!"

Gideon says he felt destined for science "When we studied how the construction since he was about four years old, and industry operated we realised that nohas been programming since he was ten. one was collecting physical data in a He always enjoyed astrophysics. “Mr systematic or automated manner. As an Miller did a Cosmology option for A2 initial step we chose to develop our own at St Paul’s which I loved. I was always concrete monitoring system because very interested in space so it was nice concrete strength is often a critical factor to get that at a high level, dealing with

Pain Controller Dr Anil Visram (1974-79) is an anaesthetist working from both his NHS bases and The Spine Surgery London, and whose special interests include neuroanaesthesia and paediatric anaesthesia.

A

nil's postgraduate training was in London at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, The Royal London Hospital and The Royal Free Hospital and he conducted his research training in Hong Kong and Australia. Dr

Visram obtained his fellowship in neuroanaesthesia from the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia, before returning to London to do a fellowship in paediatric anaesthesia at Great Ormond Street.

Anil says he was drawn to anaesthetics during a particularly positive formative experience as a house doctor in Wales, where he witnessed anaesthetists looking after patients in intensive care. “I was very impressed – they were just a very nice bunch of people. It was the sort of thing you could drift into then, I really enjoyed it.”

Anil works as a paediatric anaesthetist at Bart’s Health NHS Trust. “My clinical

8 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

work consists of administering anaesthesia for kids anywhere from 500 grams up to 16-year olds. I’m based at the Royal London Hospital. Our special interests are neonatal work and trauma.

We are a regional trauma centre – one of the biggest for paediatric trauma in London. Like most consultants I have a broad range of research interests. In my case that includes fluids and blood transfusion in neonates (newborn babies).

I also teach.”

Over the twenty years Anil has been practising, he says the safety culture has improved enormously within his specialist field. “Anaesthetics have become

Gideon Farrell

relativity etc.” After St Paul’s, Gideon went to King’s College, Cambridge, to read Natural Sciences, enjoying the ‘spread’ of subjects that included Computer Science, Evolution and Behaviour, as well as Physics and Maths.

“I never really wanted to be a research scientist. I always felt I’d like to start my own business. The Cambridge careers listings are largely made up of either consultancy or finance options. I did think about a Silicon Valley internship

extraordinary safe. We can now help patients with more severe conditions with fewer problems. It’s a combination of better drugs, better training but mostly a better culture with better subspecialisation. Twenty years ago, people might have dabbled in this area, now the narrowing of specialism in this area has improved safety."

Anil was pleased to be invited onto the NFL medical team as the ‘airways person’, the resuscitator on standby, for the teams during the UK International Series games at Wembley, Twickenham and at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Dr Simon Kemp (1975-79), Head of Sports Medicine for Rugby Football Union, is also on the medical team. Simon and Anil played fives together at St Paul’s.

programme, but in the end I applied to Entrepreneur First in London with my friend (and now business partner), Raph.

At the time, EF took people who were less than three years out of university (whether that was bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate level), to encourage them to build tech companies rather than going down the consultancy or finance routes.

It has now changed the criteria to widen the intake. “Cambridge did run an annual event entitled ‘What if I don’t want to go

into the City?’, but it was the only one (and it was always oversubscribed), which tells you how big the problem is there."

Converge now has a team of 24, up from seven in 2016. The company would be interested in hearing from any OPs with an interest in business development or engineering (software or embedded systems) who would like to apply for jobs or internships. l For more information: www.converge.io

Anil Visram

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 9

Old Pauline profiles

European Champions The Old Pauline News was delighted to catch up with three members of the St Paul’s Young Enterprise team that won last year’s Junior Achievement European Company of the Year with Surelight, a smart braking system for bicycles developed from car braking light technology.

B

enjamin Ray (Managing Director), Luke Andrews (Operations Director) and Thomas DhomeCasanova (Finance Director) described how they and the other nine members of the Surelight team managed to marry DIY engineering with some sharp business practice in order to win the award. Ben: “We were all very passionate cyclists, so we wanted to take a product forward that would specifically help our interest group.

We were particularly inspired by cycling accident statistics that flagged up that a quarter of all cycling accidents occur when the front of a car hits the rear wheel of a bicycle. That’s when we got the idea of developing a proper brake light for bikes – it all followed on from that.”

Having committed to joining the School Young Enterprise Scheme, Ben, Luke and Thomas, together with fourth team member Alessandro Farace (Marketing Director) started to brainstorm ideas together back in September 2017. At St Paul’s, the team was given guidance by Business Consultant and Young Enterprise Volunteer Kester Khan and engineering

Iain Gale

expert Edd Bailey, who helped keep the boys on the right track. But the ideas, the physical engineering, the branding and marketing were very much all their own.

Thomas: “We agreed that if we couldn’t get a viable prototype done very quickly it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to take it on, given we only had a year to research, design, test and get it sold. It was ‘all hands on deck’ – let’s see how fast we can make this work! When it came to creating the prototype, we managed to 3D print out the cases in the basement of Luke’s house. We then set up a sweatshop, or as I prefer to call it, ‘volunteering work’, involving every

We were particularly inspired by cycling accident statistics member of the team, who hand soldered pre-heated components onto the boards and assembled all the cases – it was low cost manufacturing, very labour-intensive, but it got the job done!

There is a short pause in production while the boys get through their university applications, but their goal is to bring the product to market by late spring this year. “We have now registered as a limited company and will be rolling out a more refined product with enhanced functionality.”

Luke is planning to study electrical engineering. “Every male in my family is an engineer. My dad is an electrical engineer, and my grandads from both sides were aeronautical civil engineers

10 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

during WWII. It must be in the blood!”

Thomas is planning to study economics.

He was thankful his parents have no connection with engineering and glad they were blissfully unaware when batteries for Surelight were being spot welded using 200 amps of current in their 13 amp home! “The cable actually jumped and sparked. Thankfully, my wooden floor is varnished so it was safe!” Ben, meanwhile, is planning to study computer science (robotics) in the US, hopefully at MIT, Stamford or Caltech.

Asked what advice they could give the next generation of OP Young Enterprise students, Luke says there is no substitute for just getting on with it, which is not easy in a school with as busy a schedule as St Paul’s. “There were guys in our team who were truly committed to the product, that made a big difference.” Thomas adds, “Whatever you’re working on, you have to be really excited about it – it has to be what you most want to spend your time doing.”

The finale of the JA European Company of the Year competition proved to be an unforgettable experience for the team, who were deeply impressed with the range of new projects brought to the occasion – some that had made a lot of money in their first year, some with commendable social aims. They described the experience as humbling. That Surelight battled through to win against 38 other teams is testament to the boys’ vision and tenacity.

The Surelight team are now actively looking for new investors to come aboard.

Any OPs who might be interested are invited to get in touch at surelight@stpaulsschool.org.uk

Opening up the African Market Joe Falter (1999-2004) featured in the OP News four years ago as CEO of online and mobile business Hellofood, which launched in Nigeria seven years ago. Now, as Executive Vice President of Jumia, Joe was delighted to be present as the e-commerce company became the first from Africa to launch on the New York stock market, which could see other tech start-ups on the continent follow suit.

J

oe is responsible for the on-demand services side of the business which includes travel, pharmaceutical products and food, which is currently growing by 120 percent year on year.

“On the first day of trading, shares

OP LONDON

priced at $14.50 rose by 76 percent. Jumia offered 13.5 million shares for purchase and raised $196 million. The IPO book was many times over-subscribed with investors, which just shows that there is a lot of demand. There’s a scarcity element – the only way to get exposure to tech in Africa is through this stock. There is no one else like us operating across all the key online markets of Africa. In the coming months we will need to show that we can grow rapidly and that there is a clear path for profitability. The key is finding people to work with who have a vision for a business that is much bigger than it is today. Technology will be a key enabler to growth.”

Married just six months ago, Joe is looking to move to Porto, where Jumia’s tech team of 250 developers is based. Joe spends about two-thirds of his time in Africa, where over 5,000 employees are driving the business across the continent. l For more information: jumia.com

OPs are invited to share their favourite places to eat, drink or visit in the capital. Please send your suggestions to opceditor@stpaulsschool.org.uk

This selection by Geoffrey Matthews (1972-77) Where to Eat

A new discovery for me is the Jen Café in Chinatown. With its quirky corner site and its brightly lit greasy spoon interior it’s a proper slice of 1970s – or frankly, 1950s – London. It’s a perfect pre-theatre meeting place: a plate of the sublime Beijing dumplings (steamed or fried) from the open kitchen will fill you up enough to get you through to 10 pm, and you can be in and out in 20 minutes. Jen Café, 4-8 Newport Place, WC2H 7JP.

Where to Drink

Gordon’s Wine Bar off the Strand is fabulous – but it’s a dangerous place to visit, since once you’re inside its dark, poky and gloriously atmospheric interior a beaker of sherry suddenly seems the obvious thing to drink. Gordon’s, founded in 1890 and run by the same family ever since, hasn’t changed in 130 years. I love its timelessness: once inside you can easily imagine yourself a Strand flâneur in a Wodehouse novel, or a soldier on leave in 1943. Gordon’s Wine Bar, 47 Villiers Street, WC2N 6NE, just outside Embankment Tube.

Where to Visit

Joe Falter at the New York Stock Exchange bell

If you turn left out of Gordon’s and left again into Embankment Gardens, you come across the old watergate of York House, built by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, in 1626. Since Bazalgette built the Embankment the gate has been marooned over 100 yards from the river, but it was once the ceremonial river entrance to one of London’s great houses.

As you stand amongst the office workers eating their Pret sandwiches it’s easy to imagine the lapping of water and the swish of blades 250 years ago, as one of the expensive, delicate boats in a Canaletto painting of the Thames pulls up to offload its party going passengers.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 11

Old Pauline profiles

A Lasting Impression Jay Vincze (1987-92) is a Senior International Director in Christie’s Impressionist and Modern Art Department in London.

J

ay's journey began at Downing College Cambridge, where he first studied languages, taking his Part 1 in French and Italian, before deciding on a change of direction – a Part 2 in History of Art – a subject closer to his heart, but with little idea where that might lead him.

Shortly after leaving university, Jay was working on a film set. He found himself chatting to the producer to whom he expressed an interest in exploring the commercial art world. “He said, ‘Oh I play football with a guy who works at Christie’s, you should go and have a coffee with him!’ Twenty-two years later this man is still my boss! I started as an intern in the Impressionist and Modern Art Department in 1998 and was running it fifteen years later!"

"I know it is unusual these days to stay in the same company for a long time, but Christie’s is an inspiring place to work and a very hard place to leave. In addition, the art world is small and there are generally fewer opportunities for lateral movement than in many other fields. On the plus side, the company gave me a lot of freedom early on in my career and I have never felt like I have stopped learning, stopped growing, stopped seeing things that surprised me or made me re-evaluate what I thought I knew about a particular movement or artist."

"In the Impressionist and Modern Art department at Christies we cover the period from the birth of Impressionism all the way through to the Second World War – a period that covers so many diverse movements and a huge amount of aesthetic change in a relatively short time.

That makes it fascinating for me. We now have a team of some 80 people, roughly 35 based in London. The department has played a big part in spearheading a large-scale expansion into Asia and mainland China over the last few years.

A lot of new collectors in Asia gravitate towards my field. Online sales have also

Jay Vincze and (inset) playing with Doctor da Vinci and His Elephant

grown enormously and have been a gamechanger for us."

"Over my twenty years in this job I have witnessed an ebb and flow of taste as well as the evolution of the art the market itself.

20 or 30 years ago sales activity centred much more on collectors; now with the enormous amounts of money involved, as well as the diversity of financial tools available to collectors, the market is much more nuanced and complex. Our business

It is unusual these days to stay in the same company for a long time can be counter-intuitive. When the stock market is down, we often find that’s when there is more investment in art."

"While I thrive on the transactional side of the business, I also enjoy working closely with the same families, the same collectors over several decades, building an affinity with the way they collect, advising them in a long-term capacity and even seeing their kids grow up and get bitten by the same collecting bug!”

Jay enjoyed his art at St Paul’s under the watchful eyes of David Wakefield and Ian Tiley. “Art was a serious endeavour at St Paul’s and, despite there being no History of Art option available, both these guys had an enormous influence on the way I approached and looked at art”. Last year Jay hosted a group of Pauline art

12 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

students at Christie’s, giving them a tour of a pre-sale exhibition. He also recently returned to the school for a 25-year reunion and took part in this year’s Career Fair.

By way of a contrast, Jay enjoys playing drums in a David Bowie-influenced rock band, Doctor da Vinci and His Elephant, with his older brother Chris (1985-90), with Dan Fugallo (1985-90) on bass and Steve Poole (1985-90) on guitar. At the time of this interview the band’s first EP was being mixed.

Jay is now preparing for the May sales in New York and the June sales in London.

Who’s his favourite artist? “Picasso. For me, he is the consummate artist; a genius who broke ground in so many different eras, styles and media. Jay also mentions a lesser-known Finnish artist he admires – Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946), who will be the subject of a major exhibition at the Royal Academy in London starting this July, who he says had a unique minimalist aesthetic in her approach to depicting the human face. Jay considers himself lucky to work in such close proximity to the amazing quality of art that passes through Christie’s on a daily basis. “No matter how good our technology might become at reproducing works of art, there is still nothing to compare with standing in front of a great work of art, particularly for the first time. It remains an intense and visceral experience.”

a t s i r o e n Wi t h v n o C A C O N N E CT I N G O P S AC R O S S T H E C O M M U N I T Y

Photography by Bruce Viveash (1961-66)

OP News Editor Simon Bishop with Tim Gillum, Michael Taktak and jeremy Withers Green

OP News Editor Simon Bishop (1962-65) and OP Club Social Engagement Officer Jeremy Withers Green (1975-80) met Tim Gillum and Michael Taktak (both 2008-13) who are back at St Paul’s as members of staff after graduating from university three years ago.

Tim Gillum (2008-13) is a Marketing Assistant in the St Paul’s School Development and Engagement Office. He studied Geography at University of Edinburgh, where he also ran a club night. He took this enterprise on the road for a further six months before taking up his current position at St Paul’s.

Michael Taktak (2008-13) studied Politics and Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. Just before graduating he secured a job back at St Paul’s in the drama department as the School’s first Drama Graduate, which involved teaching Fourth Form classes and directing a Sixth Form play just as the new Pepys Theatre was opening. Michael then applied to and was accepted onto the one-year MA acting course at the Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick. Since then he has been doing some cover teaching and teaching assisting back at St Paul’s, most recently coaching the 4th XI football team, while he goes through professional auditioning.

Seeing both sides of life here, as student and staff, you cannot fail to appreciate what the School offers Michael Taktak where you work.

MT I have always felt an enormous sense of pride in being a Pauline and what it has meant to me. I have had three brothers who have come through with me, with a combined 44 years at the school between us. It means a lot to us. Seeing both sides of life here, as student and staff, you cannot fail to appreciate what the School offers.

JWG I’m sure Peter King would have felt as uncomfortable in the early 1970’s as you do now. When I first came to St Paul’s he was in the position you are in now.

He had just returned from Cambridge to teach. There are rhythms and cycles

Did you feel supported by the school to follow your personal interests?

MT I remember feeling that drama was only a ‘hobby’, something I enjoyed, but not a prospective career. It felt like the arts were there to be enjoyed but not immediately pursued. The emphasis was on getting your degree first, as a ‘safety net’, before branching out later. That attitude has changed since I left St Paul’s.

Perhaps the younger generation is getter braver, maybe more willing to follow their dreams, but I really believe that is down to the school encouraging them to do so. You are not throwing away your potential or misusing your intelligence if you pursue a career away from more traditional employment sectors. The best actors are intelligent actors, the best musicians are intelligent musicians.

How much contact did you have with OPs when you were still a pupil? Were you aware of the Old Pauline Club when you were still at School?

MT We were introduced to some Old Paulines; all very successful in their fields. There was a perception that they represented an expectation in us. There was little awareness of the Old Pauline Club until we were leaving, which I suppose makes sense.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 13

▲

What was it like coming back to St Paul’s?

TG With some teachers you can slot straight away into your new role.

But calling Mr King ‘Peter’ is still uncomfortable! The first two weeks were weird. Somehow everything felt very familiar yet strangely different. The buildings have changed of course, and

fifty percent of the staff have left since I left the school. But what has been very nice is that the remaining staff and security staff remember you, which makes St Paul’s feel very much like ‘home’.

I had a big brother who went through the school so my whole life has been connected to it since I was very young. It’s nice to have an attachment to the place

to this. Your time and experience here is all part of the continuity of the past 500 years. It’s not just about the buildings or the staff, it’s about the culture of the establishment.

MT There’s a definitely a sense of legacy that will felt by anyone coming here.

JWG And that legacy is always in a state of evolution rather than revolution.

A Conversation With

Jeremy Withers Green

JWG St Paul’s Connect is to be relaunched. It seems to me that that could be very useful to anyone considering a creative career for example. If it also involved Old Paulinas as well, with the whole St Paul’s Community involved, opportunities could really open up.

TG I think there should be a sense of continuity. Whether you are a seven-yearold junior or an Old Pauline in your 70s or 80s, rather than experience different ‘checkpoints’ on that journey, I think it would be better to feel part of a single community throughout your life. For that to really work I think there needs to be more interaction between current boys and former pupils.

JWG It’s all about building crossgenerational meeting points and finding ideas that can engage all age groups. That’s really the way to build a community.

Why do you think Old Pauline sports clubs struggle to get enough players?

MT Saturdays! It’s as simple as that. I have worked the majority of my Saturdays for the last two years.

TG Take rugby for instance, I enjoyed playing it at school, mainly because I was playing with my best mates. But if I was playing with people I didn’t know very

well, would it really be worth the black eyes? At my age people will think you’ve been in a scrap on a Saturday night! I think that if there was a ground and clubhouse nearer the school, so that even if you weren’t playing you could go to watch a match and have a drink with your mates, everyone would like that.

What social media do you follow?

TG I don’t have any personal social media accounts. It can be poisonous. The general effect can make people feel inadequate.

People put up snapshots of their lives that aren’t real. Facebook looks outdated

I don’t have any personal social media accounts.

It can be poisonous.

Tim Gillum now, and people understand it can be an invasion of your privacy. But I use WhatsApp to keep in touch with my best mates.

MT With the aim of turning that into a live experience later.

JWG We’re trying to work out how best to communicate with the Pauline

14 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

community. How do you think we should communicate with OPs of your generation?

MT Instagram allows guys to get updates in as bright a way as possible along with videos and photos. The pictures Tim has added to the school Instagram pages have made a difference. The shot of Big Side from the 1970s for instance – that appeals to a Pauline’s emotional connection to this place.

What are the biggest challenges facing people in their 20s?

TG In some ways life was too easy at St Paul’s, life was handed to you on a plate.

You’ll get into a good university – that’s a given really. You don’t have to work incredibly hard to do it. Then, suddenly, you are out in the real world, aged 22 or 23.

It’s a tough environment getting a job at the moment. The biggest challenge comes when you want to take a sideways step and do something different. When I tried to set up my own business, I was surprised at how hard you have to fight for it.

SB At that point, when you were trying to set up your business, did you think of reaching out to an Old Pauline for advice?

TG It didn’t occur to me then, no.

JWG The message we’re getting back from

Photography by Bruce Viveash (1961-66)

my generation is that they would like to help by mentoring young OPs, not just across the workplace, but generally across the community.

Usually people are very flattered when anyone wants to talk to them! We should also probably be having first reunions four years after leaving School rather than wait 10 years. Just out of university appears to be a crucial time for many young OPs and we could make a difference in terms of support.

The message we’re getting back from my generation is that they would like to help by mentoring young OPs Jeremy Withers Green MT I think the biggest challenge facing people in their 20s is worrying about whether they are on the right track or not. Am I making the right choices?

Am I where I want to be? We’re the first generation to really be exposed to social media, where it is all too easy to compare yourself to what other people are doing. Social media can potentially have a detrimental affect on an individual’s mental health. To counter this, my brother, George, has been developing a supportive mental health app.

Michael Taktak

Does it concern you that you might be the first generation in over a 100 years to be poorer than your parents?

TG That is not my biggest concern. What frustrates me more is that most of my contemporaries are still having to live at home, which can mean they can be more wedded to their parents’ generation.

People are working hard – but the culture has become one of saving, so they are staying at home till they are 26 or 27.

MT Because of the long hours people are working now, it does make them value their time off. Which ties in with them not necessarily wanting to travel to Thames Ditton to play sports at the weekend.

A survey was sent out to Old Paulines recently asking for feedback on the aims of the Club. Any more thoughts?

MT Of course you want to celebrate high achievement. But at St Paul’s now there is a move towards appreciating everyone for who they are, so that ‘achievement’ doesn’t only look a certain way. I think it would be good if that was also adopted into the culture of the Old Pauline Club.

Tim Gillum

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 15

Interview Mark Lobel (1992-97)

Always Room for a Good Story Mark Lobel (1992-97) is a freelance reporter and presenter, and former producer and business, foreign and political correspondent for the BBC. His groundbreaking live broadcast on the terrorist attack by London Bridge two years ago won him accolades for his ‘riveting’ reporting.

What prompted your interest in journalism?

I ran the Jewish Assembly at Colet Court and at St Paul’s and started a newsletter for attendees which was published every week. From my time at School, I always wanted to publish and write. At Cambridge I wrote for Varsity and The Cambridge Student and at LSE I wrote for the Beaver newspaper – news and current affairs has always been my passion. At Cambridge I ran an ethical investment campaign which was nominated for a Guardian students’ media award. I interviewed speakers who came to the university, Larry Flynt, for example, or others keen to appear, like Tracey Emin and was able to write up their stories. I got traction from that.

Photography by Bruce Viveash (1961-66)

What was your first job?

I started at the Western Daily Press in Bristol. It was really good to be inside a newsroom. I enjoyed seeing a newspaper laid out page by page. I later joined the Evening Standard and the Sunday Mirror, where the editor screamed at everyone down the phone! I picked up my first skills working for the press. When I joined the Guardian website at its launch, I had to develop a different feel for how information works in that space. I still believe the best way to learn the job is on a newspaper, but given the changing dynamics in the industry and the lack of job security in the sector I’m not sure how possible that still is.

the former Head of BBC Live Political Programmes, Robbie Gibb, now Theresa May’s Director of Communications. A job came up as a reporter on the Daily Politics and Sunday Politics in the run-up to the EU Referendum and then as a political correspondent during the snap election of 2017. As a freelance news reporter I covered the Grenfell Tower story and the terrorist attack on London Bridge. I turned my hand to social issues on Radio 4’s Westminster Hour. I then moved into presenting, firstly for BBC World TV’s Leading Cities, a series which looked at how urban centres are fast developing technology, art, leisure and sustainability.

Most recently, I have been presenting The Newsroom for the BBC World Service, a half-hour show that goes out live. I also occasionally host the BBC Global News podcast which has millions of subscribers around the world. I am in a happy situation, now, where I can pitch to present my own ideas for stories. Being freelance has also helped me over the last year when, after my father died, I returned to Zimbabwe

What is your current position?

Right now, I am a freelance presenter and writer. Previously, for the BBC, I went on attachment to Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan for BBC News. I worked as a producer for BBC’s Newsnight, with some reporting there, and after 15 years at the BBC I left my staff position and quickly landed a political reporting job.

I was very lucky to be offered work with

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to work on the family business, a food production company started in the 1950s.

For Westminster Hour you covered the issue of knife crime. What were your thoughts following that?

I was absolutely shocked by the random nature of an attack I learned about. A victim, Rico Finlayson, was left for dead.

He had been chased, then attacked while he was visiting an estate. When he was cornered and the gang realised it was not who they thought it was, they decided to

From my time at School, I always wanted to publish and write. stab him anyway. I met him through his father Justin, who runs a charity tackling knife-crime called United Borders.

It became clear to me how little is being done to combat knife crime, and how urgent it is that something is done. Most of the people I have spoken to, who are either victims of knife crime or know the issue well, think the police should be much more vigilant on the issue – taking knives off people who currently think the risk

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

of not having a knife outweighs the risk of being arrested for carrying one. From investigating knife crime, homelessness, suicide and children’s mental health, I saw first-hand how Brexit has had the effect of sucking the political oxygen out of our domestic social issues. One of the PM’s former aides told me recently, in stark terms, how even inside Downing Street domestic policy has run dry since the disastrous June 2017 election. Yet it’s undeniable there are growing problems that demand urgent attention.

tightened – that shut me up! They kept us for four hours, driving us around in a pick-up truck with two armed guards in the back, eventually driven by a back route to an interrogation centre and put in a blood-stained padded cell where we were questioned about what we thought of the army’s tactics two days earlier. It was clear that they were ‘sitting on the media’ that night and didn’t want us sending out reports.

Two years later I was in Qatar at the invitation of the Qatari government to look at the conditions of World Cup workers. After two days I was arrested and interrogated like a spy, spending two nights in prison before being ushered, bizarrely, back onto a NorthKorean-like tour of the country, as if nothing had happened! They trailed me until they let me leave the country a week later.

You interviewed Donald Trump in 2014.

What do you make of him now?

As a journalist, to be made to feel uncomfortable by the leader of the free world from his incendiary speeches or even from leaders of political parties here in the UK is very worrying. The way the media is being used politically, at the same time as

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 17

▲

How was your experience of the Middle East?

The Middle East is not an easy place to conduct rigorous journalism. My first experience was in Egypt, when Mohamed Morsi had been removed from power. We were on the streets two days later. His supporters had made their way to the university where Morsi was allegedly being held. We were driving in that direction after we heard live ammunition had been used by soldiers and got stuck in traffic. We’d come to the attention of a group of soldiers when we were alongside a military hospital. With no warning 12 guys surrounded our car with their guns up.

We were ordered to raise our hands and we were led out of the car into a roofless compound. As soon as they closed the gate behind us there was a deafening silence – the bustle of the streets was suddenly

gone. We were told to face the wall and I genuinely thought, for the first time in my life, that I was in real danger, especially when we could hear the clicking of the guns behind us. I started making a fuss – no one else was saying anything. When I said I was from the BBC, I had cuffs put on me and

Interview Mark Lobel (1992-97) My most memorable experience was during the terrorist attack on London Bridge

being portrayed as ‘The Enemy’ – these are serious concerns.

How has news reporting changed during your career?

It’s all about technology now. With a smart phone you can find yourself broadcasting live to the nation.

My most memorable experience was during the terrorist attack on London Bridge in 2017. It was a Saturday night and I was at home with my wife. I had made a Bolognese. Notices started to come in on Twitter that there had been an explosion involving a car – the story hadn’t hit the mainstream news yet. It was a week before the general election.

I’d had a previous experience where I was under lockdown at Millbank during the terrorist attack outside the Houses of Parliament. As a news reporter being so close to the action, but not being able to get out to find out what was happening was deeply frustrating.

This time, I jumped in the car and drove straight for London Bridge. I dived under the police tape on Borough High Street where I learned that the police had shot someone. I started to broadcast live to millions listening across the world and watching in the UK via my iPhone as the police rushed in waving batons. I was told to get out of there fast! Charging the phone battery back up to 15 percent in the car, I then went back in search of eye-

witnesses. I came across Gerard Vowls, who had chased the attackers. I had to delete everything off my phone except my wedding photos in order to leave enough memory space available to record and video an interview with him, which I immediately sent in to be broadcast. It went out on rolling news throughout the night, was broadcast all the next day and made the 10 o’clock news the following night to an audience of millions. I’m glad I trusted my instincts.

What journalists have impressed you?

The first book I read that really grabbed me was Full Disclosure by Andrew Neil.

To end up working with him on Daily Politics was a dream job. He is without doubt the hardest working journalist out there. I think Allan Little is the best writer – someone with a pronounced imposter syndrome that pushes him on! He recommends reading poetry as the secret to making scripts stand out. Lyse Doucet is the most dynamic foreign correspondent I’ve worked alongside. She never forgets a face and keeps in touch with almost everyone she meets.

What new challenges does the media face?

We are at something of a crossroads right now. Many stories on the BBC, for instance, are not what you would call hard news. Content is changing to attract a younger audience and journalists are

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expected to do more and have a wider set of skills. And there is a kaleidoscope of coverage from many other sources now, especially from podcasts. That has been a game-changer. But I believe that there will always be room for good storytelling. The future is digital, but I don’t think anyone should neglect the fundamentals. And they should continue to strive for accuracy.

Does St Paul’s still play a part in your life?

I married an Old Paulina, the author and barrister Claudia Renton and we have a young son, Jack. I keep up with several of my contemporaries (all 1992-97) – Roy Fu, Regional Head of Mobility in Asia for Chanel; Jeremy Conrad who is a brand consultant for Wilbur Smith; Deep Shah, CoPresident of Francisco Partners and Jonathan Unger, Head of Knowledge at the Global Funds Group at Baker McKenzie. I went to the 20-year reunion at the School recently and the Junior Prize Giving. I enjoyed my time at St Paul’s. I was cox of the 1st VIII that included Dan Snow and Dan Ouseley.

We went on to win eight regattas in a year despite my terrible steering!

Inspirational teachers?

Many were brilliant but in particular I remember Bernard O’Keefe, my English teacher, who always provided extraordinary amounts of analysis for the books we read. Some boys hated it, but I thrived on it. I couldn’t get enough! l

We welcome all Old Paulines to Cobblers Cove Hotel

Will Oakley, General Manager of Cobblers Cove, welcomes you to a dreamy piece of England in the sparkling Caribbean. This country house by the sea is a glorious boutique hotel with spectacular ocean views and a magical tropical garden. All OPs will receive a 10% discount and complimentary extras when booking direct.

Book your stay - reservations@cobblerscove.com or call +1 246 422 2291

www.cobblerscove.com

The Old Pauline Club

Message from the President Building a Community As you may be aware, the Executive Committee of the Old Pauline Club is in the process of conducting a review of a 5-year strategy for the Club. I have established a Strategy Review Group (SRG) to do this, all of whom have had a wide range of experience within the OP community.

Over the last couple of months, we

have been gathering views from the OPC membership via online surveys and an initial focus group. From this, we now have some meaningful feedback which we are discussing with ‘key Pauline stakeholders’ such as the Mercers, the Governors, the School, Colets and the External Relations Office (ERO). This will help inform us of how we can set the ambitions and roles of the Old Pauline Club for the foreseeable future. We will keep you posted of the progress of this vital piece of work.

It is key that the Club works symbiotically with the ERO. Working in tandem, both organisations seek to keep the link between the School and the Old Pauline Club strong throughout

every member’s lifetime. The OPC will remain focussed on helping to build the strongest possible OP community by providing sociable, relevant and stimulating events that can appeal to the interests of members and encourage friendships made at School to flourish and continue.

I am extremely proud that, on my watch, we have now been able to add the provision for a second School bursary out of Club funds, effective from the start of the next academic year in September. The Club remains passionately committed to supporting the ‘needs blind’ ethos of the School and the original vision of John Colet.

Rob Smith (1981-86)

Shaping Our Future

S

t Paul’s School is built on a history of philanthropy. John Colet founded the school with a generous endowment and in more recent years charitable support has helped to fund the move to Barnes. When Professor Mark Bailey arrived at St Paul’s in 2011, the funding of the school’s goal of ‘Needs Blind’ entry for able pupils from all backgrounds – by increasing bursaries – was obstructed by the urgent need to finance and replace most of the school’s dilapidated buildings.

Now that the senior school buildings have been largely replaced and the funding route for the junior school redevelopment has been secured, focus is turning back towards the original goal with the launch of an ambitious fundraising campaign.

The aim is to raise £20 million over the next five years to shape the future of the school. There are three areas of focus: Excellence without Exclusivity (£9.9 million), St Paul’s in Partnership (£0.5 million) and Building to Inspire (£9.6 million).

Excellence without Exclusivity – Widening Access “Being a successful Pauline should be about ability, not privilege,” says High

Master, Professor Mark Bailey. schools will be offered “Excellence, inclusivity and on site, and local young inspiration were at the heart of people and Paulines the St Paul’s philosophy when alike will be taught the school was founded in the skills of enterprise 1509. This philosophy is at the West Our responsibility under risk, because the greatest London Entrepreneurs’ barrier to entry for bright is to maintain John Partnership. pupils is now the cost of Colet’s legacy in Building to Inspire school fees. We want to order to shape Finally, the school have talented pupils from a needs to replace the full range of backgrounds the future for outdated boathouse representative of the world in generations to and senior sports which St Paul’s exists.” pavilion. The aim is The target is to fund come to create buildings 153 bursary pupils a year Professor Mark Bailey, to be proud of, with by 2023 at a cost of £3.3m High Master enhanced facilities and per annum. This figure is entertaining spaces, just over 10% of current providing opportunities for partnership pupil numbers, but also reflects Colet’s and income from external hires. original provision ‘for one hundred The challenge is significant but by and fifty three boys of all nacions and involving all sections of the St Paul’s countres indifferently to be taught free.’ community, it is achievable; your St Paul’s in Partnership individual and collective generosity will Alongside this, the school is determined make a huge difference. to increase its profile within the local “We hope that almost everyone in the community, sharing expertise with state Pauline community will feel able to give at schools in teaching the most academically a level right for them,” says Mark Bailey. able, raising awareness of the bursary “With your support we can turn our vision programme, and supporting Paulines to into a future of which we can all be proud.” undertake voluntary work. More academic l Find out more about the campaign at: stpaulsschool.org.uk/shaping_our_future and extracurricular programmes for local

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opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

The ghostly grandeur of St Paul's Cathedral after the Feast Service

Old Pauline Club Committee List 2018/19 President R J Smith Deputy President B M Jones Past Presidents D J Cakebread, B D Moss, C D L Hogbin, C J W Madge, F W Neate, Sir Alexander Graham GBE DCL, R C Cunis, Professor the Rt Hon Lord McColl of Dulwich, The Rt Hon the Lord Baker of Dorking CH, N J Carr, J M Dennis, J H M East, Sir Nigel Thompson KCMG CBE Vice Presidents P R A Baker, R S Baldock, J S Beastall CB, S C H Bishop, J R Blair CBE, Sir David Brewer CMG, CVO, N St J Brooks, R D Burton, W M A Carroll, Professor P A Cartledge, M A Colato, R K Compton, T J D Cunis, S J Dennis MBE, L M Dorfman CBE, C R Dring, C G Duckworth, A R Duncan, J A H Ellis, R A Engel, D H P Etherton, The Rt Hon Sir Terence Etherton, Sir Brian Fall GCVO KCMG, T J R Goode, D J Gordon-Smith, Lt Gen Sir Peter Graham KCB CBE, S R Harding, R J G Holman, J A Howard, B M Jones, S D Kerrigan, P J King, T G Knight, P A Leppard, B Lowe, J W S Lyons, I C MacDougall, Professor C P Mayer, R R G McIntosh, A R M McLean CLH, I C McNicol, A K Nigam, The Rt Hon George Osborne MP, T B Peters, D M Porteus, The Rt Hon the Lord Razzall CBE, The Rt Hon the Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG, B M Roberts, J E Rolfe, Sir David Rowland, M K Seigel, J C F Simpson, R J Smith, D R Snow, S S Strauss, A G Summers, R Summers, J L Thorn, R Ticciati, Sir Mark Walport FRS, Professor the Lord Winston of Hammersmith Honorary Secretary A C Day Honorary Treasurer N St J Brooks FCA Main Committee Composed of all the above and P R A Baker OP Lodge, A Riley Rugby Football Club, S C H Bishop Editor OP News; T J D Cunis (Archivist & AROPS representative), N P Troen Association Football Club, J P King Colet Boat Club, P J King Fives (OPRFC) & Membership Secretary, N H Norgren Elected; T B Peters Cricket Club, J Withers-Green Social Engagement Officer, J Morgan Golfing Society, D C Tristao Tennis Club Executive Committee R J Smith President (& Chairman of the Committee), A C Day Hon Secretary, N St J Brooks Hon Treasurer, S C H Bishop Editor, OP News, R D Burton Secretary for Affiliated Clubs & Associations;, N J Carr TDSSC Ltd Representative, J H M East (Elected), J A Howard Liaison Committee Chairman; B M Jones Deputy President, P J King Membership Secretary, J Withers-Green Social Engagement Officer

A full house at Mercers' Hall

Feast Service 2019 On a cold but clear night, 178 guests attended the Reception Dinner held at Mercers' Hall following the Feast Service at St Paul's Cathedral on 28 January.

The High Master and Master of the Mercers Company, Xenia Violet Dennen, spoke about the history that linked the School with the premier Livery company of the City of London.

Old Pauline Club President Rob

Smith presented the Kynaston Library with three new titles for its rare books collection thanks to donations from the Old Pauline Club. (See also page 3).

At the Cathedral, the choirs of St Paul's and St Paul's Juniors were conducted by St Paul's School Director of Music Mark Wildespin. Their voices had an ethereal quality that was much appreciated by those sitting beneath the Whispering Gallery.

Liaison Committee J A Howard Chairman, T B Bain, I M Benjamin, N J Carr, R J G Holman Ground Committee J M Dennis Chairman, R K Compton, G Godfrey (Groundsman), M P Kiernan, J Sherjan Accountants Kreston Reeves LLP Trustees C D L Hogbin Chairman, J S Beastall CB, C R Dring R C Cunis

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 21

Old Pauline Club events

Careers Fair 2019 Sketches made at the Careers Fair by graphic designer Jesse Brown (1988-93)

On 28 March the biennial St Paul’s Careers Fair took place. In attendance were parents and Old Paulines from a variety of industries, there to show current students the careers available to them.

The fair was visited by all students from

the Fourth Form to the Upper Eighth Form, all curious to see what was on offer.

Among the Old Paulines in attendance were illustrator Jesse Brown, entrepreneur Alex Newberry and pilot Sam Turner.

Cardiologist Ranil De Silva gained a

Oxford Dinner This year’s Oxford Dinner took place on Thursday 21 February and was held in the beautiful surroundings of the Randolph Hotel ballroom.

Over 40 Old Paulines, currently studying at Oxford University attended as well as current St Paul’s staff and former staff now teaching at Oxford.

The evening began with a drinks reception and a brief speech by OP volunteer, Anuraag Vazirani who worked on the event along with Maximilian Buckley, Theo Bakker and Quentin Gueroult. An after dinner speech was provided by the High Master and celebrations continued after dinner at the Worcester College bar.

22 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

particular crowd, with his demonstrative video of keyhole surgery.

The School is grateful to all the participants who gave up their time to talk to students and get them thinking about their future careers.

Caption ???

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Treasures of the Rare Books Room

Across the pond, the New York branch came together over the winter break to enjoy lunch at the University Club.

However, it was with a heavy heart that it saw the closure of Robin Hirsch’s Cornelia Street Café on New Year’s Day. The New York Times ran a good article about this unique eatery and performance venue, known for its ‘ethic of freewheeling invention’. We wish Robin all the best in his next endeavours.

We were delighted to welcome so many people to our sell-out evening, Treasures of the Rare Books Room back in February. The display focussed on our scientific books and reflected an astonishing 400 years of collecting; the oldest item dated from 1532. We also displayed the two earliest library catalogues. The Gale Catalogue from 1697 is only a facsimile, but this meant we could allow visitors to turn the pages.

The Charles Catalogue from 1746 showed the early donations from Samuel Pepys.

The most interest went to our two works by Isaac Newton; a second edition Principia and our first edition Opticks from 1704. Dr Weller from Physics kindly set up a prism dispersion display which matched the diagram displayed in Opticks, and lent us some current textbooks. It was lovely to see people moving between the original work and its modern presentation.

We also took the opportunity to show some of our books of scientific illustration. Gould’s Birds of Britain are large but we were able to show seven volumes. The colour and hyper-realistic detail of the paintings caused great

interest. We also showed our copy of The Herefordshire Pomona which is so beautifully illustrated – the apples look as if they can be picked up.

It was lovely to be able to display our rare books to a wider number of people.

We thoroughly enjoyed it and our visitors seemed to as well, so we will plan to do something similar in the future.

Hong Kong branch

Left to right: Tomo Togo, John Harvey, Arun Nigam, Tony Collins and Antonella Banszky Von Ambroz. Robin Zebaida and Neil Kaplan had left before the photo was taken.

Gabriella Angotti

US Branch

Robin Hirsch (centre) taking the plaudits at the end of 41 years at the helm of the Cornelia Street Café

The Old Pauline Lodge

One of the exquisite illustrations within one of the seven volumes of Gould's Birds of Britain in St Paul's rare books collection.

The Old Pauline lodge was consecrated in 1919 so we are celebrating its centenary this year with a special meeting on Wednesday October 16. This will be an open meeting for the whole Pauline community (including wives and partners) to learn about the lodge and its rather surprising history. We are planning a fascinating presentation followed of course by a reception and a splendid dinner at the School.

Meanwhile the lodge is busy, with five new members joining last year, a programme of masonic ceremonies and visits to and from other public school lodges and (needless to say) fine dining.

We welcome enquiries from Old Paulines to secretary@oldpaulinelodge.org.uk

Master Mark Teeger (1984-89) (centre) flanked by Wardens Peter Baker (1961-64) (left) and Zvi Solomons (1981-85) (right)

We had a very enjoyable Old Pauline dinner on Wednesday 3 April at the Hong Kong Club at which Neil Kaplan, Robin Zebaida, Arun Nigam, John Harvey,Tony Collins and Tomo Tomatsu from the School and Antonella Banszky von Ambroz from the girls school were present. It has been sometime since so many of us had an opportunity to meet.

Arun is looking forward to convening further gatherings during the year. He would very much welcome Old Paulines and Paulinas, whether in Hong Kong or the wider region getting in touch with him at anigam@arunnigam.com (Tel +852 9464 1052)

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 23

Old Pauline Club events

OPs gather for the pre-dinner drinks reception in Wathen Hall

Old Pauline Club Social Engagement Officer Jeremy Withers Green (1975-80) meets David Powell (1943-48)

24 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Old Pauline Club President Rob Smith (1981-86) with President Elect Brian Jones (1961-66)

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Former OPC President Basil Moss (1948-53) with Jeremy Emery (1959-64)

High Master Mark Bailey delivers his after dinner speech

EVL 2019

Paula Hamilton-Hellyar (1958-63) with David Curry (1955-60)

One hundred and sixty two Old Paulines and former staff members gathered at the School for the biennial Earliest Vintage Luncheon held on 27 April.

The High Master Professor Mark Bailey gave a speech in which he drew attention to the launch of an ambitious new fundraising campaign to support bursary provision at St Paul's (see page 20). He also outlined a future in which co-education in the Eighth form could become a reality within ten years. What had impressed him at St Paul's was the boys' ability to set their own boundaries and be selfmotivated without blowing their own trumpet. He was proud to announce that while St Paul's was now the best rowing school in the world, there was admirable diversity within the interests of Paulines that included a first fashion show and a hand-built racing car.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 25

Obituaries Name

Norman E Britnor Nicholas H Campling David J G Cruden Peter E Duffy John England John R D (Denis) Gildea David J Graham Brian J L Greene Barry Griffin-Smith Richard H Halberstadt Harold E Hamill Raymond MHart Higham R (Ronald) Hayman Derek Hunkin Robert Hutchison Raymond C (Carrick) James John H Jones-Lloyd Stephen King Richard J Lewartowski John D Llewellyn Michael (Mike) J Malley Andreas Paul Markou James G (Gordon) McKechnie David ANeish Richard B (Bryn) Owen Graham R Perry Peter D Quick Nicholas (Nick) WC Randall L Anthony (Tony) Retallack HLM/ Former staff Clive Richardson Terence J Roper Colin R Rosenstiel Sir David Rowland John E P (Peter) Simpson Sir David C Smith Derek N Southgate Sir Ninian MStephen Brigadier Maurice WSutcliffe Maurice SSwaine Simon de MWells Robert R Wheatland

(at SPS)

Norman E Britnor * (1951-57)

David J G Cruden (1952-55)

Colets, he became indispensable as acting groundsman, barman and general dogsbody! Latterly he was Hon Secretary and Vice President of the OPC. Between 1961 and 1998, Norman taught Maths at Hampton School. His roles included Form Master, Careers Advisor, Head of 5th Year, 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket coach, referee and umpire. He was the only person to serve the school as Master, Deputy Headmaster (1987-98), Headmaster (1997) and later as Governor (2001-2013), in which role he took a special interest in staff matters.

He was delighted when the Boat Club named a boat after him.

Norman married Denise, daughter of Herbert Flinn (1917-20), taking on two stepdaughters and later four grandchildren, whom he adored.

After a stroke five years ago, Norman continued to enjoy his lifelong home, beautiful garden, adored dogs, surrounded by his dedicated family. He died peacefully in his sleep after a short stay in hospital.

Norman made a difference in so many ways. His humour, support, loyalty and quiet authority set him apart. He will be sorely missed.

David was immensely proud of his Scottish heritage. He played the bagpipes, though best described as an “enthusiastic amateur”! As a rugby fan he always followed the fortunes of the Scottish national team closely.

Despite his Scottish roots, David was actually born in Balham in London in 1938, son of David Coupar Lamond Cruden (the Scottish connection) and Mary Young Cruden and younger brother to Mary. His father was in the jute business. During WWII, this work became more important in the Scottish shipyards so the family moved to Dundee.

David returned to London during his teenage years. After completing his National Service he was employed in the oil and insurance industries.

David met Marilyn at a party held near Lords Cricket Ground. They married in 1967. It was after his parents-in-law took on the Robin Hood at Rowlands Castle that David found his calling. David and Marilyn moved in to help manage the pub, and it was there that his daughters Victoria and Amanda were born. His family was hugely important to him.

In 1983, the family moved to West Meon to take on The Thomas Lord – David making the pub his own until 1994.

He loved the role of landlord, being a genial host and actually being a bit of a showman. Under David’s stewardship the pub became the centre of village life.

David remained very much part of the village at West Meon, not only though his stalwart support for the Sports Club but also by representing Council tenants through TACT (Winchester City’s Council’s Tenants and Council Together Housing Forum, earning the respect of those he worked with.

David firmly believed in living life to the full – his view was that we all only get one chance at it! He was very proud of the achievements of his daughters, Victoria and Amanda, particularly in music and languages.

1951-57 1950-54 Norman Britnor 1952-55 was the complete 1973-77 Pauline, much 1949-53 loved by all 1938-42 who knew him.

1958-62 He excelled as 1950-55 School Captain 1949-54 (1956-57) and, 1958-61 as Captain of Football, won 1942-45 1st XV Colours 1949-53 1954-56. When 1946-50 School Captain, he and others were seen 1953-57 wearing School uniform in a pub. High 1954-60 Master Gilkes, knowing who the culprits 1949-55 were, just told him to warn the guilty boys!

1949-52 Vice Captain of the OPFC 1st XV in 19581937-42 60, he played 235 games scoring 33 tries. He 1962-65 also played for the illustrious ‘B’XV. As a 1947-52 regular on Easter Rugby tours in St Ives 1959-63 his calm authority kept the over exuberant in order! He became International Ticket 1968-72 Secretary and a VP of the OPFC. 1956-60 A keen all-rounder cricketer at School, 1945-50 Norman played for 30 years for the OPCC, 1952-56 captaining the 2nd XI, and was a spin 1957-61 bowler and tactician in Doughty’s infamous 1965-69 Sunday 3rd XI. A stalwart member of 1954-58 1952-86 1956-59 1941-47 1963-67 1947-52 1955-59 1945-48 1972-77 1937-38 1936-39 1942-45 1953-58 1934-37

Tim Gillum Section editor Please contact marketing@stpaulsschool.org.uk Because of space constraints we ask that when submitting an obituary for publication, it be no more than 325 words. Longer obituaries will be edited to fit with author’s permission. * Indicates obituaries also appeared in the national broadsheet newspapers. ** Indicates longer obituaries also appearing on the OPC website: opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk/pages/obituaries

26 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Denise Britnor, widow

Chelsea Duke, Funeral Celebrant

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

John R D (Denis) Gildea ** (1938-42)

Barry Griffin-Smith (1949-54)

Richard H Halberstadt (1958-61)

Denis Gildea died in July 2018 aged 94. He played a key role in negotiating Britain’s trade treaties after WWII. Denis was born in Worthing, West Sussex, the only son of Rudolf, a rubber planter, and his wife, Rosalind (née Jepson). He attended Colet Court and then St Paul’s during wartime evacuation.

As a sergeant in the CCF, he escorted the then Major-General Montgomery as he inspected the School’s troops in 1942.

He vividly recalled his speech: “There are fighting races… and non-fighting races…”

Having won a £50 exhibition to Worcester College Oxford to read Greats, he joined the Royal Navy in the Second World War, escorting convoys across the Atlantic as a sub-lieutenant.

Demobbed, he turned his back on Classics and took a degree in the then pioneering combination of Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Worcester College, Oxford under Asa Briggs. He learned French and Spanish, as his sense of the importance of internationalism to world peace grew. In retirement he added Russian to his range of modern languages!

As a senior civil servant in the Board of Trade, he took part in negotiations to integrate Europe into the Marshall Plan through the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation. He also helped to develop the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and to construct the Efta free trade area, and worked with Edward Heath and George Brown in the 1960s to bring Britain into the European Economic Community. Later, under Margaret Thatcher’s second government, he was tasked with privatising British Airways.

In his 2002 memoirs, he wrote “I thought our generation... had done better than our fathers in creating a better world after the war… we should look back on the 30 or so years after the war as a sort of golden age.”

In his later years he suffered from Alzheimer’s but was not beyond calling Brexit “a rather silly idea”.

He is survived by five children, 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Barry was born in Kampala, Uganda in 1936, was brought up in Africa and went to school in Nairobi until he was 10. In 1946 he went with his older brother back to England to start new schools, first to Colet Court and later to St Paul’s where he took full advantage of the sporting opportunities on offer, developing an aptitude for rugby, which he continued into his early adulthood. His time at St Pauls also fostered a lifelong love of Geology, Geography, Latin, English Literature and History.

In 1954 he joined the Middlesex Regiment for his National Service which took him to Austria and Cyprus. His National Service record noted his ‘above average intelligence and education’ and his ‘competence and reliability as an NCO’ and he was commended for his honesty, sobriety and trustworthiness.

Married in Hong Kong in 1961 to Bernice before settling in Harrow they went on to have a son and daughter.

Barry worked initially for Kodak and then the Abbey National where he became involved with computing which led him to a long and rewarding career in computing as a computer systems analyst, working with some of the largest early IBM computers.

The family moved out of London and settled in Surrey, latterly to Leatherhead, which was their home for 30 years. 7 years ago, Barry and Bernice moved to Admaston in Shropshire to be closer to their children and three granddaughters.

Just under 3 years ago Barry was able to celebrate his 80th birthday with a party attended by family and neighbours. Barry had a difficult last couple of years, having been in and out of hospital and passed away on 19 February 2019.

He was a family man through and through and was extremely proud of his granddaughters and all their academic achievements. Sociable and friendly, Barry was a genuinely gentle gentleman, always happy to talk to people, with a lovely warm sense of humour.

Richard died in April 2018 aged 73, of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia, which he had been diagnosed with in 2013, but he remained energetic with many plans for the future.

He boarded throughout his time at Colet Court and St Paul’s. He was regularly the star of the annual School play, assuming the name part in both Alice in Wonderland and The Boy David. At the age of 13 he joined the Questors Theatre, an amateur group based in Ealing and remained a lifelong active member. Richard’s main sporting interest, rugby, also started at School.

His build meant that he was particularly well-suited to playing a feisty scrum-half.

He left St Paul’s to become an articled clerk and studied in the evenings to obtain his law degree. After obtaining his qualifications he began a long and successful career as a lecturer at the College of Law, covering a wide range of subjects, becoming highly proficient in finance and tax. A brilliant lecturer who challenged, encouraged and surprised those whom he taught, he was greatly admired by students and colleagues alike.

He co-authored the Professional Skills Course in the 1990s and in the early 2000’s he headed up the Financial and Business Skills Course. He published two books on accounts. He became an independent examination moderator for The Institute of Legal Finance and Management and played a key part in new qualifications that were introduced.

In December 2018, The Richard Halberstadt Award, was created by the Institute in his memory.

He had a strong personal faith and was very committed to his church community at St Mary’s, Ealing where he was a church warden for ten years.

On retirement in 2004 Richard was able to spend more time with his family at his home in the South of France.

Richard will be sadly missed by his wife, Margaret, sons Paul and James and his grandchildren, Charlie, George, Emily and Andrew.

Edward Gildea, son

The Griffin-Smith family

Margaret Halberstadt, widow

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 27

Obituaries Raymond M Hart (1949-53)

Higham R (Ronald) Hayman *** Robert Hutchison * (1946-50) (1954-60)

Born 3 December 1935, Raymond joined the School at Crowthorne and relocated to Colet House in 1945. Business took the family to Australia for a while but on return he re-joined Colet Court.

At St Paul’s, Raymond’s Eighth Form studies were History and Modern Languages under the redoubtable Whitting and Parker respectively. In the Open Scholarships at Magdalen College Oxford, he was interviewed by Prof A J P Taylor, with whom he had a serious difference of opinion over Napoleon’s legacy in Europe!

Dismissing Oxford, Raymond read Law at King’s, London and won a postgraduate place at The Hague’s Academy of International Law to train as an International Barrister. Following his father’s sudden death, Raymond joined his mother to run what was already a considerable business. The enterprise was global in scope, greatly assisted by Raymond’s French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. He brought the same qualities of analysis and decision-making to commerce as he had to law.

A member of the University Liberal Federation, he was adopted as Liberal Candidate for a West Country constituency but business intervened.

Later, for Richmond-on-Thames, he was a Liberal Democrat Councillor for Ham and Petersham for 19 years from 1978.

Napoleon remained a lifelong interest.

The only rival was Surrey CC of which he was a member for nearly 70 years.

He read widely in history and politics.

Conversation with him was intellectually exhilarating yet it never swamped his innate kindness and compassion.

Raymond’s wife Pamela supported him selflessly for more than 50 years. They had three sons, Jonathan, who died in infancy, Paul and Jason and a daughter Caroline.

He leaves two beloved grandchildren.

Raymond died on 14 December 2018.

An ardent Francophile he had, as usual, the last word: we were instructed to sing La Marseillaise at the graveside and did so lustily.

My brother, Ronald Hayman, theatre director, writer and critic, died 20 January 2019. Known as Ronnie to family and friends, he was born in Bournemouth in 1932 and, as a child, lived in East Cliff Court, the Jewish hotel founded by our grandmother. This period is described in Secrets: Boyhood in a Jewish Hotel, Ronnie’s 1985 memoir, which also contains vignettes of his time at St Paul’s. This was a golden age for the History Eighth, with the charismatic P D Whitting (‘Mr Harding’ in the book) as Head of History, and F G S Parker (‘Mr Fletcher’), teaching French and German and re-iterating his slogan of ‘Efficiency, gentlemen!’. Ronnie was editor of The Debater and started a literary society, for which he persuaded Harold Nicolson to give a talk.

Ronnie left St Paul’s in 1950 with an open scholarship to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He did National Service in the RAF, before going to Cambridge.

He then lived in Germany for a couple of years. On returning to England, he settled in London, where he remained for the rest of his life, starting in a flat in St George’s Square and progressing to a Georgian mansion in Hampstead. He acted in repertory companies, then took to directing. His 1977 production of Troilus and Cressida at the Roundhouse had men taking the female roles and vice versa, before gender reversal became common in theatre productions.

He wrote slim volumes on playwrights and the theatre. Later he wrote over 15 fat biographies, including Sartre, Proust, Nietzsche and Jung. He contributed regular articles to The Times, where a much fuller obituary was published (2 March). He took part in Radio 3’s Critics’ Forum and wrote a radio series, Such Rotten Luck. His drama Playing the Wife was performed in Chichester in 1995, with Derek Jacobi.

Ronnie is survived by his two daughters, Imogen and Sorrel, his ex-wife, Monica Lorimer and Sorrel’s mother, Sue Trenchard.

Brian Chaplin (1949-54)

Edward Hayman, brother

28 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

My husband was a man of many passions and enthusiasms.

I don’t think he excelled at school but he went on to live a remarkably rich, full and varied life in arts and politics, always wanting to learn more and push boundaries.

Born in Baghdad, he spent his early years in India, coming to England in 1946 with his parents, Terence Hutchison, his German wife, Loretta, and two sisters.

After St Paul’s, Robert studied Mental and Moral Sciences at Trinity College, Dublin, before working for the BBC, Penguin Books, Tanzania Publishing House, Arts Council, Policy Studies Institute and later becoming Chief Executive of Southern Arts Board. This work was interspersed by his interest in politics, social justice and concern for the environment; climate change in particular.

When we met in the mid-1970s he was working for the Arts Council, active in the Labour Party and determined to go to drama school. He trained at E15 Acting School and after some months at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, returned to England, wrote The Politics of the Arts Council (1982), joined the Liberal Party and became Director of the Green Alliance. He stood for Shrewsbury and Atcham in the 1987 General Election, then became a Shropshire county councillor.

Subsequently he was a Lib Dem councillor on Winchester City Council, from 2010-15.

Robert loved drama, poetry and words, was a great conversationalist and networker.

He was a leader who could enthuse people to work with him on all sorts of endeavours; he had a wicked sense of fun. Three of the organisations he established continue to thrive. In Shrewsbury he set up the Wilfred Owen Association; in Winchester, he initiated the Winchester Poetry Festival, now a successful biennial event. The threat of climate change was hugely important to him; in 2007 he founded WinACC, (Winchester Action on Climate Change) and just before he died published the pamphlet This Moment: The Emergency, The Opportunity.

He is survived by his wife, daughter Sarah and his sisters.

Lizzie Kessler, widow

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Raymond C (Carrick) James (1949-55)

Stephen King ** (1937-42)

Richard J Lewartowski * (1962-65)

Carrick James, stalwart of child and youth research and founder of Carrick James Market Research (CJMR) died on 9 January, 2018 in London. He was 81.

Born in Uxbridge in 1936, his education was founded on his scholarships, which included a Silver Fish award to St Paul’s, where he formed lifetime friendships.

He studied Economics and Natural Sciences at Christ’s College, Cambridge.

After graduating he went into Market Research. At BCR (Bureau of Commercial Research) his brilliance was quickly recognised, as was his charm, and he met many friends and colleagues with whom he would work throughout his life.

In 1970 Carrick set up his own company and fulfilled his yearning to focus on research among children and young people. For over four decades, he launched numerous research services, pioneering techniques to better understand the unique decision-making and influence of children on household spending and he helped many leading companies and brands in their decision making. Carrick and his team also worked extensively with government organisations and education and social services. He undertook many research projects for the cinema industry.

Carrick inspired great loyalty from those who worked for him. He knew play was as important as work, once closing the office and taking the whole troupe to the Greek Islands! He was a passionate advocate of International Research, becoming a Council member and great supporter of AIMRI. Among his other passions were jazz, cricket and politics. He never faltered in his hands-on support for the Liberal Democrat party, often delivering leaflets late into the evening.

Whilst having an enquiring mind, Carrick also had a youthful and accessible quality, which enabled him to understand and empathise with children and young people. The market research world has lost a remarkable man, a brilliant practitioner and a fabulous character.

Carrick is survived by his wife Lorna, two sons, Rory and Rowan and his four grandchildren.

Stephen King was born on 11 September 1923, the younger son of Ernest King, a solicitor, and his Scottish wife, Janet Struthers.

Stephen went to prep school in Chiswick where he formed a liking for Maths and playing chess. In 1933, he won the Junior Chess prize and the Junior Gym Cup. Stephen won a Junior Foundation Scholarship to St Paul’s, starting there in the autumn term 1937 in the Remove.

In 1939, the School evacuated to Easthampstead Park in Berkshire where Stephen studied Classics in the Lower VIII, despite a preference for Maths. During the school holidays, he and his brother would cycle home to London, a journey of about 25 miles, witnessing the vapour trails of the Battle Of Britain.

In December 1941, he was awarded an Open Exhibition in Classics at Magdalene College, Cambridge, but went straight from School into the Army as a private, despite his real wish to join the Air Force. After Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment.

Stephen went to Normandy shortly after D-Day before leading one of the first tank units to swim across the Rhine into Germany. He was wounded shortly afterwards and evacuated back to England.

Released from the Army in 1946, Stephen took up his place at Cambridge but changed to reading Law. A good athlete, he joined the Boat Club, stroking the Magdalene College Boat in the final of the Ladies Plate at Henley Royal Regatta.

After graduation, he became an articled clerk and then an Assistant Solicitor in a firm in Lincoln’s Inn for five years.

Stephen married Margaret (an Old Paulina) in 1955 and they moved to the Midlands where he became a partner, eventually senior partner, in Fowler Langley & Wright, Solicitors, in Wolverhampton and as Borough Coroner there for ten years.

He was a clever, unostentatious, gentleman full of warmth with a great sense of humour and fun. He died, quietly and peacefully at home on 22 September 2018.

Richard Lewartowski was, as the head of the local European Community Humanitarian Aid Office between 1998 and 2000, one of the unsung heroes who saved thousands of lives in Bosnia during his career.

Richard was born in Carshalton, south London, to Jan and Anna Lewartowksi, Jewish refugees who had fled Poland before World War II. He attended St Paul’s, and studied Modern Languages and Law at Sussex University. After graduating, he worked for the Voluntary Service Overseas, firstly in Algeria, and then in 1973, was one of the first British recruits to the European Commission.

Mostly his work involved detailed and timely administration, which he carried out with extraordinary prowess. He once chartered a fleet of Russian Antonov planes to fly in food supplies without getting the proper authority, reasoning that his own career was worth a lot less than the lives of the people he was there to protect.

Between 1973 and 1991 he mainly dealt with west and central African countries.

After 1991 his responsibilities included Iraq after the Gulf war, and the Caucasus region during first Chechen war.

Richard worked as a policy adviser for the former Yugoslavia and then as Head of Mission, based in Sarajevo 1998-2000.

He was completely committed to the European ideal and dedicated his life to making it a reality, a task that on occasion demanded both intellect and courage; he once bargained with the Taliban as a hostage negotiator! Towards the end of his career, he was involved in emergency aid, a role in which he flourished, because it brought together his instincts as a humanitarian with his talents for administration.

On retirement he travelled frequently.

Every destination reflected Richard’s international outlook, his passion at being part of a global community. To Richard, the whole world was no bigger than an airline timetable!

He is survived by his husband, Michael McPherson, whom he married in 2004.

Juliet Strachan, colleague

Judith Harding, sister-in-law

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 29

Obituaries James G (Gordon) McKechnie (1956-60)

David A Neish ** (1945-50)

Graham R Perry (1957-61)

Gordon was the son of the radio actor James McKechnie and the radio speaker/speech therapist Mary Hill McKechnie.

He was born in London in 1943 and inherited his father’s love of acting from an early age. He attended both Colet Court and St Paul’s, where he joined the newly formed German 5G class with Mr Harbord also ran the school dramatic society. Gordon was noticeably more enthusiastic about the acting than the German and he performed and directed numerous plays and reviews.

Gordon chose to leave school at 16 to take a RADA training course in stage management, followed by stage directing with William Gaskell. His first job was Assistant Stage Manager at the Garrick Theatre in 1960 when Cleo Laine was performing in ‘Cindy Ella’. He then worked for the Aldeburgh Festival 1964-66 where he stage-managed the world premières of Britten’s church operas before touring Russia. This was the start of his operatic career which led to appointments as stage manager, and later company manager, at Sadler’s Wells Opera from 1967.

He met his wife Antje here when she joined the company from Germany and they married soon after. They had a daughter, Kara, in 1968 who has maintained the family love of opera and is currently a lecturer in Theatre and Opera at Leeds University.

Gordon and Antje then decided to make a career break to Germany where he worked in the opera house in Bonn and Wuppertal before joining the Stuttgart Opera in 1979 where he rose to become Resident Director overseeing revivals and directing over thirty of his own productions in and around Stuttgart.

Gordon fought a number of illnesses after retirement which culminated in months in intensive care with sepsis. He was thankfully able to return home for a few months, before dying peacefully in hospital on 17 July 2018. Works by his beloved Benjamin Britten were played at his well-attended funeral in Stuttgart.

David’s father was London manager of a Scottish canvas-making company and after wartime evacuation from the Essex coast to Hertfordshire he later moved his family to Twickenham so that his son could more easily attend St Paul’s.

Here, David excelled at Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry but was always a practical rather than theoretical scientist. His hobby as a youngster was tinkering with a wireless and he later enjoyed the maintenance and repair of his BSA motorbike. After leaving St Paul’s, he did his National Service with the Royal Signals and then was a Scholar at Corpus Christi College Cambridge. He was awarded a first class degree in Mechanical Sciences with Part II in Electrical Engineering.

After graduating, he joined Decca Radar as a design engineer where he stayed until he retired. His Cambridge course included work with the then new semi-conductor devices and so he was well placed to introduce the use of transistors to replace valves in marine radar and airborne navigation equipment. He was particularly involved with the design of the airborne Doppler 70 which was installed in many fixed and rotary winged aircraft for both civil and military use.

These included the Buccaneer, TSR2, Lynx, Sea Harrier and Tornado. He was proud that Decca were given the Queen’s Award for both technical innovation and for outstanding export achievement. Later in his career he was appointed Quality Manager for what was now Racal Avionics, responsible for the quality assurance of all projects both in development and in production – a position well suited to his meticulous attention to detail.

In his retirement, David gave a lot of time to his hobby of model engineering, building passenger-hauling locomotives which he ran at the Guildford Model Engineering Society of which he was a long-standing and active member. He married Shirley Smith of Girton College Cambridge and they had three children and four grandchildren. They greatly enjoyed walking holidays in Switzerland, Shirley studying the flowers and David appreciating the efficiency of the Swiss transport system while both loved the wonderful scenery.

Graham was born in Ealing on 7 March 1944. His father ran a haulage business, but sadly his mother, who came from Cardiff, died when he was just 6 years old.

At the age of 8 he was sent to Colet Court and then on to St Paul’s. As he could not go home at weekends, like other boys, he threw himself into sport and excelled at rugby, where became captain of the team. In the summer he played cricket and again became team captain. He maintained his love for rugby after leaving school and in his twenties played for London Welsh’s second team.

On leaving School Graham joined George Wimpey PLC as an apprentice.

He ultimately became National Transport Manager for Wimpey Waste, where he was highly regarded, as he had risen through the ranks and had done all the jobs from the workshop upwards.

Graham married twice. Firstly in 1968 to Carol, with whom he had a son and a daughter. Following their divorce, he married Sheila in 1990. He had first met her in 1959 and she used to watch him play rugby.

After a long and varied career Graham was offered redundancy and effectively retired in 1997 at the age of 53. In 2003 they moved down to Cornwall, where days were spent walking his beloved dogs, gardening, decorating, or fishing on his little boat.

In 2007 he joined the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) and was instrumental in setting up Nare Point Watch Station on the Lizard.

He was most enthusiastic about his commitment to the organisation.

Unfortunately in 2016 Graham was diagnosed with lung cancer, which he fought with great determination.

Sadly, however, he passed away in July 2018 and his larger than life presence is greatly missed by his wife, children, stepchildren and grandchildren.

Chris Green, friend

Shirley Neish, widow

30 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Sheila Perry, widow

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

L Anthony (Tony) Retallack ** HLM/Former Staff (1952-86)

Clive Richardson ** (1956-59)

Colin R Rosenstiel (1963-67)

Tony joined the 7th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment at 18, where he saw active service in Italy and Syria. Latterly, he became the Commanding Officer of the CCF at St Paul’s.

Tony was the only child of adoring parents, his father a successful businessman in Birmingham, his mother an elegant and gentle presence. He enjoyed a remarkably liberal upbringing in Sutton Coldfield. As a schoolboy at Oundle he became an outstanding actor, playing leading Shakespearian roles, both male and female. He also became a talented water-colourist – painting would become a lifelong passion. He wanted to act and to paint, but shortly after the war, he married Pauline Kingsmill, went to Keble College, Oxford and had two children, John and Jane. He needed to earn a living; by 1952, he was teaching at St Pauls where he remained for the next 35 years.

Generations of Paulines remember Tony from his long career both at Hammersmith (1952-68) and then Barnes (1968-86). In the ‘old school’ he became Housemaster of High House in 1960 and remained there until 1975. He and Pauline ran every aspect of daily life there.

In 1964, their third child, Guy, was born. In 1967, Tony became Head of Modern Languages, introducing the first full-time female member of staff to the School in 1974.

Tony retired from St Paul’s in 1986 the same year his beloved Pauline died aged 62. He moved to Stow-on-the-Wold where he worked for local gallery owner, John Davies, accompanying him on many buying trips to auctions in Brussels and Paris. Tony’s French greatly helped negotiations.

Tony remained in Stow until his death, in February 2018, at the age of 95. He loved his garden and was devoted to his Norfolk terrier, Sally. In his later years he had many close friends, and his children, John, Jane and Guy were frequent visitors, right up until his final days. He died peacefully at home with his family at his bedside. We miss him dearly.

The youngest of three children, Clive attended the Mall school before joining St Paul’s. He left School to begin an apprenticeship in electrical engineering.

Old cars and car repair became his teenage passion.

He later worked for a city firm until his brother encouraged him to look for opportunities abroad. He met his wife Irma at a social club in Milan in 1968.

Clive studied Italian at Perugia and taught English, but became involved in quality fine art reproduction. He was later sent to Japan to explore further business opportunities. Irma joined him there before they travelled around the globe together. They married in Reno, Nevada. Back in Italy, their first baby, a son, sadly died aged just three months old. But within a year their second son was born.

In 1975, they left Italy to practise a sustainable, largely organic way of life in West Wales. The smallholding, Ffosyffin, became their home. Within three years they had another son and daughter and had built up a small Jersey herd, grew cereals and joined the Organic Movement. Later, Clive started a new small business – making small goods and livestock trailers named ‘DIY Trailers’. He ran the business for 25 years and became known for his fair dealings with customers.

Clive enjoyed dinghy sailing in Cardigan Bay. Family history also became a favourite pastime. He took a keen interest in politics, joining the local branch of the Liberal Party.

The children and I will always cherish the memory of Clive for the gentle man he was, his sense of humour and especially his smile. He was a loving husband and father and proud of his family. He was also a truly self-made man who lived firmly by his principles, which he also passed on to his children.

His death on 5 February last year aged 75 was unexpected. His final resting place is in a beautiful spot in the woodland we planted together.

Colin Rosenstiel who attended Colet Court (1957-1963) and St Paul’s died peacefully, from cancer, on 8 May 2018. The son of German refugees from Berlin, Colin and his brother Stephen spent their early years in Putney.

Colin followed a pattern of education that would be unrecognisable to today’s school students, concentrating on Maths, Greek and Latin up to GCE O Level and only starting to study Science at A Level.

He was fortunate in excelling at Maths and Science and after taking his A levels, took the Cambridge Entrance Exam in 1967 gaining a scholarship to Trinity College.

In 1968 Colin took up his place at Trinity and moved to the city that would be his home for the rest of his life. For the first two years he studied Natural Sciences and, after a period of poor health, completed his degree with a years study in Law. Colin worked for Pye Telecom and later Philips for much of his life. On moving into IT he worked for a start up company on the Science Park and latterly at the Liberal Democrat Headquarters in London.

Politics was the love of Colin’s life and he was first elected as a Liberal councillor in 1973. He served on the City Council for much of the ensuing forty years up until 2014, latterly as a Liberal Democrat; with a four-year break from 1988-1992.

It was through his involvement in the Young Liberals that he met his wife Joye, politics remaining a life long shared interest for the 43 years they were together. He kept a record of the Electoral History of Cambridge City Council, which will shortly be issued as a book. He served as the Chair of the Electoral Reform Society and for many years counted the Cambridge University Student Union elections.

Colin is survived by is wife Joye, whom he married in 1978, his daughters Katharine and Lucy, his three grandchildren Anneliese, Dylan and Irving and his brother Stephen.

John Retallack, son

Irma Richardson, widow

Joye Rosentiel, widow

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 31

Obituaries John E P (Peter) Simpson (1955-59)

Sir David C Smith * (1945-48)

Sir Ninian M Stephen *** (1937-38) KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE QC

Peter Simpson, who has died at the age of 76, was born and brought up in the South West of London. He attended Colet Court (where he was head boy) and was a scholar and prefect at St Paul’s School. He studied Medicine at Jesus and was the President of the Oxford University Medical Society, 1963-4. He completed his clinical training at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Peter trained in general surgery at St Thomas’ Hospital circuit then Northwick Park Hospital and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1972 and served as a Trustee and Council member of the British Association of Day Surgery.

His interest in the organisation of medical care developed during his time on the staff of the King’s Fund. This led to 10 years working in the Department of Health in the Hospital Policy, Regional Liaison, International and Communicable Disease Divisions.

From 1988-93, Peter was the Regional Medical Officer in Mersey. He then joined the London Implementation Group team in 1993. Throughout his career, Peter cared passionately about improving the administration of the NHS and the provision of medical care to patients. He greatly valued the impact Sir Roy Griffiths made in the mid-1980s and had the opportunity to work with him and learn from him at this time.

Peter was an ex-president of the Osler Club of London which he joined as a medical student.

Peter enjoyed sport at School including Rugby, Fives, Cricket and Golf. He founded the Golf Society at St Paul’s and was active in the Old Pauline Golf Society.

Peter married Valerie in 1964 and had two children, Jacqui and Andrew.

Peter’s first marriage was dissolved in 1987. In 1995, he met Anne whom he married in 1996. Peter is survived by his wife, children, step-children and grandchildren.

David passed away peacefully at home on 29 June 2018 aged 88.

Though born in South Wales, much of David’s early life was spent in the small settlement of Abu Zenima on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula where his father, William, was manager of a manganese mine.

He returned to Port Talbot, aged five, to live with his grandparents and aunt.

After attending the local primary school he boarded at Colston Boys School, Bristol.

His parents returned to the UK after the war, settling in London where David attended St Paul’s between 1945-48.

From a very young age, he had aspired to be a doctor but credited teacher Sidney Pask with sparking an interest in the natural world that would come to define his career. He remembered being encouraged to read books way beyond the syllabus and numerous voluntary weekend trips to the Natural History Museum, ponds on Wimbledon Common, the Cambridgeshire fens and the Isle of Cumbrae.

He was awarded the Browne Scholarship to read Botany at The Queen’s College, Oxford, where he achieved the only first class degree of his year. He continued his studies in Oxford, Sweden and California that saw him develop his main area of expertise - the biology of symbiosis, in which he became a leading authority.

In 1974 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and became involved in a number of national research councils.

He was knighted in 1986 and appointed Principal of Edinburgh University in 1987, at a time of great change in university education. He became President of Wolfson College, Oxford between 1994 until retiring in 2000. His love of science continued into retirement when he was President of the Linnaean Society, the oldest active natural history society in the world.

David is remembered by those who knew him for his modest manner and ability to bring people together and find common ground despite their differences.

Ninian Stephen attended St Paul’s before emigrating to Australia in 1940 with his Scottish mother, Barbara Stephen (nee Cruickshank) and Australian guardian, Nina Mylne.

He later went to Chillon College (Switzerland) and Scotch College (Melbourne, Australia). It was a peripatetic early life, shaped by two women with strong aspirations for his education and happiness, and also by international affairs. His parents’ WWI marriage did not survive peacetime. Ninian never met his father, and the outbreak of WWII took him to Australia. He embraced, and was formed by, that new world: as part of the Australian Infantry Force (1942-46), posted in the Australian Outback and New Guinea; by his long and loving marriage to Valery (née Sinclair); and by his career as barrister and judge (Supreme Court of Victoria 1970-72, High Court of Australia 1972-82) and as Governor-General of Australia (1982-1989).

While Governor-General, he and Valery travelled widely, welcomed distinguished visitors to Australia’s bicentenary celebrations (1988), and met regularly with Queen Elizabeth. In 1985, he effected the formal transfer of Ayers Rock (now known as Uluru) to its traditional owners.

For a further 15 years, Ninian worked across the globe on conflict resolution – as judge, diplomat, advocate and conciliator for the UN, the ILO, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Australian and British governments.

As Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment he advocated on climate change and the mining ban in Antarctica; as a founding judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, he played a leading role in drafting new rules and procedures; and as chair, he steered the 1992 power-sharing talks in Belfast between rival Catholic and Protestant officials. He also advised on South Africa’s constitution; investigated forced labour in Burma; mediated between government and opposition in Bangladesh; and helped to set up a tribunal on the Khmer Rouge atrocities.

Ninian Stephen received a knighthood in 1994. He is survived by his wife, Valery, and five daughters, Mary, Ann, Sarah, Jane and Elizabeth.

Andy Simpson, son

David’s family

32 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Sarah Steven, daughter

Et Cetera

Preserving Diversity at St Paul’s Henry Dyer (2010-15)

“There is no magic dust.” So said former High Master Martin Stephen at the very beginning of my time at St Paul’s from the stage of the now-demolished theatre. The ‘magic dust’ he insisted did not exist was that which would turn 4th formers into Oxbridge graduates with a double first and sporting colours.

S

crolling through the LinkedIn profiles of Paulines in my year and others, however, there does seem to have been some sort of alchemy. The magic dust (which has passed me by) seems to have worked, with many Paulines going on to become consultants, analysts, and business lawyers in the Big Four and other city firms. Now, before you start writing letters, that’s not to say that they’re not perfectly fine professions. Financial services contribute a huge amount to the United Kingdom. Consultants are not necessarily bean counters. Many Paulines thrive and do tremendously well in these professions, donate a portion of their earnings to charity, and contribute towards their community in varied ways.

But the range of interests and abilities in any given year group is so much greater than the identikit Russell Group educated OP consultant might suggest.

A wider sense of society is being lost. Paulines are losing the opportunity to talk to boys from diverse backgrounds.

The opportunities provided at St Paul’s to pursue those interests are significant and privileged. Yet for all this educational diversity, it doesn’t seem to matter if a boy enjoyed drama, computing, art, design & technology, or music: after graduation, they frequently end up in the same career box.

This is, to be fair, quite understandable. In general terms, Paulines are motivated individuals, confident in their abilities to succeed.

We’re trained, drilled, and instructed in how to work under pressure and promote ourselves. Clear goals are set by the School and by ambitious parents who want their children to do well, effectively

Henry Dyer

‘do their best’. At School, this means doing well in your exams, and going on to a top-flight university – and if we’re being honest, Oxbridge, ideally.

For some, new goals take hold.

Paulines who have a more specific sense of what they’d like to do set their sights: become doctors, pilots, actors, writers, musicians, join the Armed Forces or the clergy, go into the fourth sector, the list goes on. But for those who are unsure, ‘do the best’ turns from doing well in exams to doing well in socioeconomic terms. A desire to acquire capital and social status is hardly a rare thing, and private-sector consultancy offers good pay and career progression that gives Paulines something to work towards. For those with parents that expect them to earn well, or perhaps feel that those are the wishes of the parents, that box can be ticked. And as well-educated competent young men confident enough to sell themselves, they’re attractive to employers.

But many Paulines could do more.

As school fees rise and the background of boys attending St Paul’s changes to exclude more and more of the middle class, a wider sense of society is being lost. Paulines are losing the opportunity to talk to boys from diverse backgrounds and understand differences or inequalities they may feel a drive to overcome. Roles that could cause real social change when filled by a

motivated and capable Pauline are being bypassed, often ignored in favour of an apparent default to more lucrative consultancy work.

There is some hope that an effective bursary programme can reverse this trend of a narrowing social background.

Steps have been taken to present a wider image of society, but more could and should be done. Society stands to gain, and so does St Paul’s. l Henry Dyer (2010-15) is a freelance journalist and writer. He has written for The Telegraph and CityMetric. He is currently studying for an MA at the University of York.

High Master’s comment

Henry’s call for the School to preserve diversity amongst its pupils chimes closely with the next step in the School’s ambition to increase substantially the availability of bursaries and to increase public service. John Colet’s original vision to ‘educate able boys to serve society regardless of their race, creed or social background’ continues to guide the modern School. St Paul’s is committed to promoting access and diversity, so that the School is open to, and representative of, wider society. Financial barriers should not be a deterrent for bright pupils, whatever their background.

The Governing Body has determined to launch a new campaign to raise funds for bursaries, in order to create a viable and secure financial base which will widen access to the School still further over the coming years. As a sign of our commitment to this goal we have set an interim target of funding 153 bursary pupils a year by 2023. l For more information see page 23.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 33

Old Pauline Sports

OPFC

A Season of Building Momentum – On and Off the Field

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season that started with the inaugural OPFC Rugby Festival ended on a real high with a fantastic run of results for the 1st XV as well as the 2nd XV narrowly missing out on making their play-off final. This season also saw the highest influx of new players for many a year with over 30 people playing their first game for the OPFC. After a challenging start to the season for the 1st XV, with several close defeats, and a lack of consistency of selection due to availability, the team really hit their stride in the second half of the season.

This uptick in form was driven by an influx of new players which allowed the core of a side that played week in week out to form. Under the leadership of Tom Roberts, and coach Shane Rutherford, the team developed real momentum that they will be looking to carry forward into next season. The 1st XV finished the season in a solid 6th place and will be hoping to replicate their second half of the season

form for the whole of next season.

With Captain Scott Clee leading from the front the 2nd XV had a superb season only falling at the semi-final stage in their league play-off. Despite the usual raiding of players from the 1st XV a real backbone of 2nd XV players emerged that was reflected in the performances

This season saw the highest influx of new players for many a year on the field and the social scene off the field. In addition, the bond between 1st and 2nd XVs this year, and the indeed the feeling of unity across the whole club, was as strong as it has ever been. This was reflected in a real uptick in ad-hoc social activity and a healthy increase in bar take for Colets compared to last season!

Next month 32 of the OPFC are heading to Budapest for the annual tour

34 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

with local guide Tim Radcliffe ready to ensure a full cultural experience. Weekly summer touch rugby on Wednesday evenings at Thames Ditton is already underway and pre-season training will commence in July. In addition, the club is beginning to look forward to its 150th anniversary in 2021 so watch this space for further details on the club’s plans and the various ways you will be able get involved.

The club is always interested in welcoming new players so to be added to the email list please contact robertrayner@hotmail.com l The club would like to recognise the Herculean efforts of outgoing club captain John Barrett over the last few seasons. The strong foundations in place, and many of the changes that finally bore fruit this year, have been driven by Johno. All of the members of the Club are extremely grateful to Johno for everything he has done for the club.

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

OPAFC

Old Boys Vets Cup Finalists

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hey say there is no substitute for experience and this was certainly the case for the OPAFC Vets, who won a thrilling semi-final against Old Haileyburians on penalties to reach the London Old Boys Vets Cup Final.

The match had ended 3-3, before cool Old Pauline heads won the penalty shoot-out 5-4, which you can watch by clicking on Instagram.

The final was scheduled for Sunday 12 May at Colets Health Club. The magazine went to press before the result was known but you can check on Instagram @oldpaulinefootball.

Meanwhile, we’re delighted to announce that the fantastic facilities at Colets, home to OP football, rugby and cricket, have earned OPAFC the prestige of hosting the London Old Boys Senior Cup Final and the AFA Surrey/Kent Intermediate Cup Final this season.

Training at St Paul’s is being arranged for the summer, including a repeat of last year’s extremely successful 5-a-side tournament.

Back Row (L to R): Harry Gostelow, Oly Jones, Mat Evans (c), Jarek Kleiber, Jeremy Roberts, Adam Klein, Ed Owles, Henry Owles, Front Row (L to R): Roland Archdall, Scott Fairbairn, Olly Bonnavero, Del Siddle, Luke Warriner, Jehan Sherjan

The Club is also looking forward to the 2019 Tour, a return to Budapest for what will hopefully serve up another dose of thrilling football. And goulash. l The Club is actively recruiting new

players, so if you would like to get involved with OPAFC, then please email oldpaulinesafc@gmail.com for more info! You can also follow us on Instagram @oldpaulinefootball

Old Pauline Cricket Club

Entering Uncharted Territory

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his year is set to be an incredibly exciting one for the OPCC after the club achieved a double promotion back in September. Both teams will be battling it out in the Surrey Championship, with the 1st XI competing in Division 4 for the first time in their history.

After two months of high quality indoor net sessions at the School, we were greatly looking forward to shifting our focus outside, with our first preseason friendly match against SPS on 20 April which resulted in a draw: OPCC 198-5 dec and St Paul’s School 152-6 after 48 overs.

Having achieved back to back promotions, the 1st XI enter uncharted territory this year, with several unknowns competing in the division.

As always with club cricket, there will be a slight change to personnel from 2018; but, with the same strong nucleus of players and several new exciting

additions, skipper Chris Berkett sees every possibility of the team pushing on from their recent success.

George Waugh will continue to lead a 2nd XI going from strength to strength as they benefited from some stellar performances Aprés stumps at Colets by both experienced players and new members last year, (none more than the It’s a very exciting and enjoyable time captain himself), to claim 1st position to play for OPCC. If you wish to get with several games still to go. As the club involved at any level, please contact continues to attract new players, the 2nd club captain Chris Berkett on berkettc@ XI continues to thrive. gmail.com or Facebook. Alternatively, OPCC play their cricket at Colet’s as the season draws on we have revived sports ground by Thames Ditton station the @OldPaulineCC Twitter handle - 20 minutes from London. The Club for the new season. Follow us there for also offers a bar, gym, swimming pool updates from both teams on Saturdays, and squash courts as well as excellent as well as events and stories throughout sports fields. the season.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 35

Sport

Left to right: Nick Cardoza, Robbie Parker, Freddie Bastianello, Charlie Prior,(caddie), Robin Young, (caddie), Tito Bastianello, Alex Bastianello, Hugh Roberts(HH Captain), Max Rose, Robbie Lyon, Jon Morgan (OPGS Captain), Lucas Moore.

Also in the picture are Charles Miller’s dogs!

Old Pauline Golfing Society

Celebration after win against Wellington in the Halford Hewitt

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wenty members attended our half day winter meeting at West Hill last November. Nick Downing had the best score with 33 points to win both the Pat Humphreys Salver and the Kayton Cup for the best score from a player 70 years old and over. Chris Vallender had the best gross score on the day to win the Downing Salver. The golf was followed by the usual excellent lunch!

Our AGM and Dinner were held at the Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club with 27 members present, with 16 members sending in apologies. Jon Morgan was elected as Captain for 2019 with David Charman as Vice-Captain. We were joined for dinner

by Graham Seel (Master in charge of Golf), and John Richardson and Vadim Heritier (SPS golf). We also welcomed three new members, Frank Zhoong Xu, Steven Spencer and Robin Campbell. Rob Smith (OP President) was also there. Our 2018 Captain, Hugh Garnham, was in Australia and after dinner Jon Morgan reported on Hugh’s year and presented Chris Vallender with the Jubilee Salver for the

2018 OPGS Annual General Meet

best aggregate points score in our spring, summer and autumn meetings. The Cunis Claret Jug for the best aggregate points score in the spring and autumn meetings was shared by Ian Starr, Nick Downing and David Pincott. The Bewshar Bowl for the knockout competition was won by Robert Silverstone.

In our friendly matches for the rest of 2018, we won against Old Cholmeleians and halved our one-night stay match

The golf was followed by the usual excellent lunch! against Old Uppinghamians. Last year was one of our most successful years, with eight victories from the eleven matches played.

Our spring meeting this year was again played at Betchworth Park Golf Club near Dorking. Our summer meeting will be at Hayling, the autumn meeting and Captain’s Day will be played at Denham and our winter meeting will be at West Hill.

36 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

ing and Dinner

Together with our eleven matches, we again have a very active year ahead of us!

In our first match of 2019, we lost 3½ 4½ to the School at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club.

In the Halford Hewitt at Royal St George’s on Thursday 11th April, we played Wellington in the 1st round and won 3-2. In the 2nd round we lost to Repton 1½ -3½.

Our team was Hugh Roberts, Robin Young, Tito Bastianello, Freddie Bastianello, Charlie Prior, Robbie Parker, Alessandro Bastianello, Max Rose, Robbie Lyon and Lucas Moore(playing in his first Hewitt) l We would welcome new members and

details of our activities are on the OP website or can be obtained from Neil Fitch at: n.fitch@ntlworld.com

l In addition to past schoolboys, membership of the club is open to parents of current and past schoolboys and masters past and present. The annual membership fee remains at £20.

The Old Pauline Sports Club at Thames Ditton The Old Pauline Club has owned its excellent sports ground in Thames Ditton since 1929 and this is the home of the Old Pauline rugby, cricket and football clubs. The superb pitches and facilities are maintained to a very high standard and the ground is used for a number of representative games and cup finals.

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n 1977 the Club added a squash, health and fitness club called Colets after the School’s founder. Colets provides first class health club facilities which are available on discounted terms to the entire Pauline Community along with free Social membership.

Playing for the sports clubs at Thames Ditton is the best way to maintain sporting and social links with one’s School friends after leaving School Whatever level of sport was played at School, each club offers a very good standard of club sport with membership of competitive leagues, overseas tours and a lively social scene. The clubs can also act as a focal point for bringing together groups of friends from university, work and School.

The sports clubs are very keen to accept new members so please do get in touch or visit the Club to see the excellent facilities on offer. Contact details for each Club are given below.

Old Pauline Cricket Club

The Club runs two Saturday XIs and an occasional Sunday side. Both 1st and 2nd XIs play in the Surrey Championship and are looking to build on their success of last season when each gained promotion. The league season runs from 11 May until 7 September and new members wishing to join should get in touch with 1st team captain Chris Berkett on 07806 738007 or 2nd team captain George Waugh at george1702@hotmail.com

Old Pauline Football Club (Rugby)

With the School being a founder member of the Rugby Football Union, the Rugby Club is the oldest old boys club in England and is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2021. It runs two sides playing in the Surrey leagues plus a veterans side which has its own competition. The club also runs annual tours which bring together members from all the different sides with this year’s being to Budapest.

Details of next season’s fixtures will appear in the Autumn Term Events Programme but pre-season training will commence in July with details to be announced. In addition, the club runs friendly weekly touch rugby sessions in throughout the summer at Thames Ditton to which all our welcome.

New members are keenly required and if you would like to join the Club please get in touch with our Hon Secretary Rob Rayner on 07903 851125 or via email on robertrayner@hotmail.com

Old Pauline Association Football Club

The Football Club runs two sides playing in the Amateur Football Combination and a Veterans side is through to the Vets Cup Final. There will be football available during the summer at School, including a 5-a-side tournament. A summer tour is also taking place. Details to be announced. The Club has entered the LOB Spring Cup and has a side in the regional finals of the People’s FA Cup. The Club was chosen to host the LOB Senior Cup Final and the AFA Kent/Surrey Intermediate Cup Final earlier this year.

The recent OPAFC v SPS fixtures were keenly contested and we hope to see many new OPs playing for the Club. There is a new Instagram handle @oldpaulineafc for everyone to follow.

If you would like to join the Club please send an email to oldpaulinesafc@gmail.com

Past Times 10 years ago (2009)

St Paul’s Quincentenary Apposition The main event of the Quincentenary was held at the school on 23 May, 2009.

The Apposer was Lord Winston OP who responded to declamations by Alex Newton on the Peloponnesian War, Hugh Bennett on a question of symmetry, Guy Emerson examining the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, and Ben Martin putting Obama’s economic policies under the microscope. The ceremony began after Matins in Chapel at which the Choir sang Sir Charles Villiers Stanford’s setting of the Te Deum Laudamus in Bb, and part of William Boyce’s (OP) anthem Where shall wisdom be found? It was the Choir with the brass quartet who opened Apposition with the premiere performance of Peter Gritton’s ‘Song on May Morning’ with words from John Milton OP. Towards the end, William Attenborough reprised ‘To be or not to be’ from his performance as Hamlet.

20 years ago (1999)

Cookery Club Cookery Club has had another successful year under the leadership of Carl Evander and Aron Gelbard. The autumn term did not see the traditional influx of 4th formers, but a steady crowd of L8ths turned up for meals such as Dr Nicholson’s ‘Mean Green Salmon’, Mr Slay’s ‘Thai extravaganza’, and other

Crossword

meals prepared by Mr Garrick and Mr Watkins (sadly his last Cookery Club) and many others.

The end of term saw a debut appearance

by Dr Lamb to judge our Christmas party — congratulations to winning chef, Philip Bahoshy.

The Union On October 21st, a debate was held at Godolphin and Latymer School. In addition to the host school and ourselves, SPGS, St Clement Dane’s and Latymer Upper attended. The House, sad to say, voted to abolish the public schools by a massive majority. In the last debate of term, the House was marginally not “sick of the pop scene”, the motion being rejected by eleven votes to ten. The major feature of the debate was a running argument between Mr J Jones and the Vice-President ex-officio.

Near the end of term, the President mysteriously vanished. As the VicePresident was engaged on the rugger field, the Secretary called an Extraordinary Business Meeting at which, with

By Lorie Church (1992-97)

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Lorie studied Classics at Exeter. He has had various articles and puzzles published in The Times and elsewhere. Contact: lorie@journalist.com 1

Machiavellian skill, he was elected President with power to choose his own Committee.

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Awarded the MC (April 1919) Temporary-Lieutenant K Graham (1912-14) For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the morning of October 2, 1918, in front of Menin. Although nearly surrounded by enemy machine-guns he held his position and succeeded in capturing a strong concrete dug-out in a farm. He showed coolness and resource in the face of determined resistance.

Awarded the DFC (April 1919) Lieutenant K R Unger (1911-15) A gallant and skilled officer. On 30 October, separated from his patrol owing to engine trouble, he was attacked by seven Fokkers; undaunted by the odds against him he, without hesitation, engaged them, and by skilful manoeuvering shot one down to crash. He has accounted for nine enemy aeroplanes and one kite balloon.

Quincentenary of John Colet’s death ((1519-2019)) Across

Down

5 Some gypsies take a nap during the day (6) 6 Yellow member whipped by a Cable (3. 3.)

8 Roads of many Europeans lead here (4) 10 Wicked goblin before Her Majesty; her inferior (8) 11 Tan third ornament (6) 13 Unpleasant Spanish plonker in Brazilian resort before short summer months (6) 14 Friend and I, essentially dodgy, took merchandise without paying (6) 16 Kosher viands explained to curious Hassidic beginners: grouse, beef or carp (6) 18 Weakly getting two bad exam results before garden party, lively but soulless (8) 19 One in five children is sequined ignoring other offspring (4) 20 Draw lots barking “Amen” ((4-4)) 21 Demolish six wet chocolate bars (6)

1 Adult romper that is after singles ((6)) 2 Footie formation on its toes for kick-about ((4-1-4)) 3 Gag solitary cruiser ((3-5)) 4 Criminal Bonnie ordered T- bone with obviously- counterfeit currency ((4-3-4)) 5 Look surprisingly good and make a clean sweep (5, 2, 4) 7 Boozy red cherries, containing arsenic: damage casual trousers (11) 9 Low noise made by Angus (3) 12 Count every batsman getting a pair of ducks in one game ((6, 6-3)) 15 Fearless navy vessel ((11)) 16 Jazz piano style, it would bring down the house if removed ((8)) 17 Heartily mistaught character in Ancient Greek (3) 19 Antimalarial intake for horsey lacking energy at first ((7))

W T O S R A D L Ties that Bind Rt Revd Richard Atkinson (1971-76) Bishop of Bedford

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rior to the 2016 referendum one of my most depressing memories of the Brexit campaigns was chairing a public meeting in Bedford which offered the opportunity to reflect upon the issues. In a full church, a generally good-humoured gathering had the opportunity to ask their questions.

What disappointed and saddened me, was that almost all of these questions were about what the questioner or particular groups in society would gain from staying or leaving. Encouraged by the wider context of misinformation and disinformation about leaving the EU, the focus was distinctly self-centred.

Whilst there is always an element of self-focus in the political sphere there was an almost total absence of any consideration of the legacy of 46 years of partnership with the EU; of the lessons of two world wars and the need for European solidarity; of the contribution of NATO and other alliances; and of the more basic obligations of being good neighbours in a global context.

This is about how we leave. How we transition to a new relationship with Europe and the world. For I am certain that those deeper ties that are so significant beyond matters of economic and political structure, are easy to break and so much harder to recreate.

I am writing this on Easter Day with the news of the horrendous bomb explosions in Sri Lanka very much in mind. These attacks, and especially those on Christian congregations, have reminded me of the potential for evil in our world and made my preaching today of the Easter message of hope all that more passionate.

One of the signs of hope following the attacks has been several messages from civic and religious colleagues in Luton.

Among them the Sunni Council of Mosques has expressed solidarity with us their Christian brothers and sisters and expressed our shared opposition to extremist violence. Having said that it

is not a surprise because over the years bonds of friendship have been built up. It is a partnership for the common good that is a welcome contrast to the increasing hate crime, not least antiSemitism and Islamophobia that we see in our country. It is humbling and encouraging to receive this support and expression of shared humanity.

This ‘Last Word’ was originally commissioned as a reflection after we left the EU on March 29th. That date has gone, as has April 12th and the latest deadline is October 31st. We may or may not leave by then! We may or may not have left as you read this! I would be foolish to predict the outcome. But whatever the forward trajectory I urge us to value and build on those ties that bind us to our European neighbours.

At the heart of our British identity as a

At the heart of our British identity as a nation is that Christian heritage with its emphasis on generosity and welcome to the stranger nation is that Christian heritage with its emphasis on generosity and welcome to the stranger; that celebration of common humanity that builds bridges rather than walls. It was so sad to see the spike in

hatred towards those of European and wider descent when the referendum result was announced; it would be even sadder if that were repeated when we eventually leave. But the potential for that is there if we don’t do what we can to cherish our ties with Europe.

The catastrophic fire at Notre Dame is raising really important questions about French identity. It is fascinating how a place of faith can be so significant in a very secular state. However, it also touched many of the people I have talked to here in Bedfordshire who have felt saddened by the destruction and have felt an empathy for our neighbours across the channel. Despite all the history of Anglo-French relations with its conflict and competition, many have recognised that the links matter.

Five hundred years ago our school was founded by John Colet who had as one of his best friends and theological collaborators the Dutchman Erasmus. It was a European partnership grounded in friendship, scholarship and faith. Despite the very real threats of European conflict – John Colet preached to the royal court on Good Friday 1513 and condemned the push for war against France – there were interests that were wider than matters of national identity.

The question I leave with you is, what can we learn from Colet and Erasmus as we transition to a new future that I trust will be inclusive and not exclusive.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019 39

Diary Dates – Summer 2019 Old Pauline Club and School Events JUNE

Wed 5 June Cotter Cruickshank (Classics) Lecture Time: 18:30 Venue: Samuel Pepys Theatre Fri 7 June 10 Year Reunion Time: 18:30 Venue: St Paul’s School Tue 11 June Annual St Paul’s Medical Conference Time: 09:00 Venue: St Paul’s School St Paul’s Finance Network Time: 18:30 Venue: UBS , Broadgate Circus Thu 13 June Old Pauline Lodge Meeting Time: 17:00 Venue: St Paul’s School Wed 19 June Charity Concert (previously advertised as ‘Fourth and Fifth Charity Concert’) Time: 19:00 Venue: St Paul’s School (Wathen Hall)

Thu 20 June Old Pauline Club Annual Dinner Time: 19:00 Venue: Honourable Artillery Company

The Old Pauline Annual Dinner will be held at the Honorable Artillery Company

Fri 21 June 20 Year Reunion Time: 18:30 Venue: St Paul’s School Sun 23 June Van Gogh Seen Through a Painter’s Eyes Time: 18:30 Venue: Tate Britain Organised by SPARTA. For more information please email sarahmarangoni.dw@gmail.com Tue 25 June Music: OP/Leavers’ Concert Time: 19:00 Venue: St Paul’s School (Wathen Hall) Wed 26 June A Level Art Showcase Opening Night Time: 18:00 Venue: St Paul’s School Milton Gallery Sun 30 June St Paul’s School Summer Festival Time: 11:45 Venue: St Paul’s School - Big Side

Shop for OPC Merchandise Online

JULY

Mon 1 July Cricket Festival Venue: Monkton Combe Tue 2 July First and Second Years' Prize Giving Time: 17:00 Venue: St Paul’s School Wed 3 July Henley Royal Regatta

Leavers’ Ceremony Time: 16:45 Venue: St Paul’s School (Sports Hall) Sat 6 July Drinks Reception at Henley Time: 14:00 Venue: Henley Royal Regatta (St Paul’s tent) Thu 18 July OP Third Thursday Drinks Time: 18:30 Venue: Park Plaza Hotel, Primo Bar

Order your summer (top) or regular OP blazers

Choose, order and pay for your items online.

Try it now!

Go to opclub.stpaulsschool.org. uk/shop/merchandise

Merchandise

40 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

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St Paul’s School presents

Sunday 30 June 2019 Grab your picnic blanket, snap up a deckchair and enjoy OP Ale with old friends at this year’s Summer Festival!

• Live Music and Drama • Street Food & Drinks • Inflatable Obstacle Course • Football Tournament

• Battle of the Bands Winner • Hands-on Craft Tent • Spoken Word, Debates and Talks

...and introducing the St Paul’s Colour Fun Run Gates open at 11.45am Colour Fun Run starts at 12.30pm Entertainment from 1.00pm Tickets from £15 Adult / £10 Concessions To book visit: www.stpaulsschool.org.uk/summer-festival