The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

The Old Berkhamstedian ‘Innocens innocentium testimonio comprobatur’

Spring 2020 CONTENTS The 2019 Graham Greene International Festival

19

News of Old Berkhamstedians

23

6

From All Quarters

31

9

Events and Reunions

57

President’s Message

2

Principal’s Message

3

Treasurer’s Report

5

OB Accounts Membership Statistics The Old Berkhamstedians Office

10

Sport

79

The Berkhamstedian Society

11

Travel Grants

97

The Friends

11

Staff Valetes

113

The Berkhamsted School Archive

12

Obituaries

121

AROPS Conference 2019

15

OB Contacts

135

The Old Berkhamstedian Lodge

15

Future Events 2020

136

Note from the Editor This magazine is brought to you by my auxiliary editorial team – Lynne Oppenheimer (relentless pursuer of all your news and obligatory articles), Neil Lindsay (ever-ready with the snaps), Vicky Rees (clearing up after us) – and Lavenham Press, led by designer Heather Blinco, who makes it look immaculate in seconds. As ever, it’s a bittersweet issue, as we say goodbye to a Housemaster and English teacher who will be remembered fondly by so many of you, but also celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the finest achievements by any Old Berkhamstedian. Either way, I hope we pay tribute in the right way, and that you all continue to help us carry on this way. Matthew Horton (Editor, oldberkhamstedian@gmail.com)

THE OLD BERKHAMSTEDIAN Overton House n 131 High Street n Berkhamsted n Herts HP4 2DJ n Tel: 01442 358111 Email: tob@berkhamstedschool.org n www.theoldberkhamstedians.org

President’s Message My appointment as President is a very good lesson in never being late to a Committee Meeting. I had the wrong time in my diary and arrived 15 minutes late, which was embarrassing as Secretary. When I walked through the door all the Committee were smiling and looking self-satisfied. It was announced that I had been voted in as President in my absence, which was a great surprise. However after a few moments’ reflection it was gratifying to have been offered such a prestigious role and I was very pleased to accept the post for a year. The Committee has undergone a change so that individual members have taken on more responsibility. There have always been specific offices such as Treasurer and Secretary but as the organisation is growing rapidly, the job roles for members of the Committee need to change. Every member now has a specific role and is part of an informal sub-committee so that valuable discussions can take place, and actions thought through without the whole Committee being present. We now have members responsible for AROPS and Archives, Communications and Liaison with the School, Communications and Website, Events, Finance, Membership, Merchandise, OB Magazine, School Grant Allocations and Sports. We have grown to around 7,000 members and this is increasing each year. The other major change is to our website. We are transferring to a system called Toucan Tec and I am sure this will revolutionise how we communicate with our members, and how they communicate with each other. As I write this we are in the final stages of setting this up and 2 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

have been greatly helped by Clara Wilkinson, a 2019 Y13 leaver, who has done a sterling job in setting up the website. We are in the process of advertising for an assistant to Vicky Rees, our Administrator, to continue to develop the website and to help Vicky in some of her duties. The Old Berkhamstedians continue to have a close relationship with the School and the Berkhamsted Society and have organised joint events such as the London Drinks at the Crosse Keys in the City and the Charity Talent Show. The latter was organised by Richard McIlwaine, and featured current and former pupils as well as local talent, producing a fantastic evening and raising valuable funds to support CRY and Cancer Research. As this year was the 50th anniversary of Robin Knox-Johnston sailing single-handed around the world, the OB Sailing Club organised a welcome for him, as he re-enacted his return to Falmouth. I would like to thank Gavin (SH ‘97) and Vicky Rees for all the hard work they put into this, as well as all the other participants. The Travel Awards and the Knox-Johnston Awards continue to be very successful and rewarding for the participants. The OB Sports Clubs continue to thrive and grow in membership and many of the teams play in regular leagues. The Remembrance Gardens between the Chapel and the Library have been a point of discussion during the year. Our idea is to have some railings around the garden with free access through the garden. There will be wording on the railings so that students will be reminded of the sacrifice their predecessors made a century ago. Hopefully this will be completed in the near future. Finally, I would like to thank all the Committee and Vicky for their continued support and hard work in making The Old Berkhamstedians flourish. Peter Willson (Co ‘66) President, Old Berkhamstedians

Principal’s Message I am pleased to report that 2018-19 was a good year in the life of the School. I can’t point to a single event that made it so – there was no equivalent of Her Majesty the Queen’s visit in 2015-16 – but instead there was a combination of the usual good things, and some developments which were entirely new. Prize Day 2019 was unusual, both because the completion of a ‘3G’ artificial turf pitch on the field next to the Kings site meant that it was relocated to Chesham Fields, and because it took place on a Saturday. This meant that Saturday saw a double-header: Prep prizes were distributed in the morning, with guest of honour Mark Foster, former Olympian swimmer and World Record holder, and Senior School prizes were distributed in the afternoon, with guest of honour James Shone, an ex-teacher and headteacher-designate whose life has been transformed by recovery from a colossal brain tumour. James, who speaks at several schools a week, and who has been to more prize days than anyone else I know, declared it the best school prize day he’d ever been to – as it celebrated both the achievements of the School and its joy and sense of wellbeing as a community. And there was a great deal to celebrate: drama and music galore (the School play We Will Rock You was extraordinary; barely a week went by without a concert in one part of the School or another), national champions in five different sports – lacrosse (twice), football, swimming, Eton Fives (three pairs), and horse riding (at two events) – and record numbers at Duke of Edinburgh. The CCF flourishes, while pupils obtained external awards including an organ scholarship at

Cambridge, an Arkwright Scholarship and a Rank Foundation Leadership Award. Exam results have continued to be strong: pupils thrive inside and outside the classroom – OBs may have seen that we marked A-level results by reflecting that these were one more feather in the cap of a leaving cohort whose achievements in every area of school life, and whose development of character, were outstanding. As a result, an increasing number of other schools came to see us to seek advice on how they should develop. Prize Day also gave me an opportunity to thank the parent constituency for their support with the Anniversary Fund. Since its inception in 2017, more than £1.5m has been raised or pledged to assist bursaries in the School via this fund. September 2019 saw us begin a year with 14 Anniversary Fund pupils in the School. Not only have these pupils already gained hugely in accomplishment and ambition during their time at the School, they have already been vital in helping each of their peers to understand the extent of the opportunity a place at Berkhamsted affords, and of the importance of making the most of it. Not only, of course, has this been assisted by current parents, but also by Old Berkhamstedians, and I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who have contributed contacts, advice or financial help so far. I am always happy to meet up with Old Berkhamstedians who might be able to help us further, maybe by enabling these life-changing bursary pupils to access internships that our other pupils might take for granted, or more directly by helping to finance an additional pupil’s place in the School. The establishment of a 501(c)3 entity in North America (‘Berkhamsted Schools Group in America’) has been another important step. The last year has also seen the successful launch of the Berkhamsted Society – most obviously through events at which speakers as diverse as The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 3

international rugby players, female leaders of global businesses, and Nelson Mandela’s chaplain have spoken to audiences comprising current and former pupils and parents, and members of the local community. Other excellent events in the last

turn, has enabled us to move the School Shop to a better location, so that one of parents’ first experiences of the School is improved! And, at the Kings site, new netball courts have been built into the hill, and a new drop-off and

few months have included a talk by Simon Weston, the Welsh Guardsman seriously injured in the Falklands in the early 1980s, and Nigel Owens, the international rugby referee. These events remind us every time that we remain a community, and not just a school. Later this year, we will be offering the opportunity to take this community online. We will be launching a platform on which alumni can register and connect with each other, form groups, message those whom they remember from their schooldays, offer and receive mentoring, business networking and contacts, and belong to the School community in a virtual sense, wherever they are in the world. I have been visiting OB groups around the world in the last few days as I write this in Hong Kong, having met OBs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. I very much hope local organisers will become a normal part of OB activity so that there are thriving reunions even without the Principal coming to town. I have heard that there is a particularly strong group already in Sydney, Australia, where incoming OBs can tap into local knowledge and help ranging from which part of the city to look for housing to where the best gym to join is. I hope many OBs will sign up to the online community when it goes live. The physical landscape has changed during the year, too: an extension to the Dining Hall at the Prep School opened at the start of the Michaelmas Term. This involved taking all the machinery and materials along a narrow path from the amphitheatre on the Doctors Commons Road side of the site. Although logistically complex, this has been an important project for the School, allowing these pupils to eat more comfortably, in less congested space, giving better space for food preparation, and providing a better venue for children to be cared for after school. This, in

pick-up zone has been built, alongside improved coach facilities. This means that the hurried drop-off on Kings Road during the morning rush hour has been replaced by a much safer and more appropriate off-road zone where this can take place. The remaining banked area around the netball courts will also be planted with trees following an arboriculturalist’s report on the trees on our sites. There’s something appropriate about planting trees around a car and coach area. (On the environmental front, we’ve also ended our use of plastic bottles and disposable coffee cups, having issued reusable bottles and cups to all pupils, and staff too. Economies of energy use are an unseen, but important, area of our summer maintenance upgrades. Although not part of the obvious development of the School, a great deal of time, thought and considerable expense goes into reducing our carbon footprint year on year). The visual appearance of the site has also been improved by the completion of the project to re-brand and re-sign the School, which is basically complete. A new film, explaining our ethos has gone live on the School website. Look for it under the ‘About Us’ tab on the website in the ‘Overview’ section. From the start of the Michaelmas Term 2019, new pupils into Y7, 9 and 12 are issued with a Microsoft Surface Pro or Surface Go, which they use in most lessons – we issued nearly 750 such devices at three-hour workshops over the summer. We don’t, of course, only work on the buildings and technology: the staff are the most important asset of the School. In recent years, the School has recruited very strongly, and this means that staff go on to very senior jobs elsewhere. In the last year we have heard of Michael Bond’s appointment as Headmaster of Brentwood, Rosie McColl (who went to Wellington College in 2017 as Deputy Head) has been appointed Head of

4 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Brighton High School, and Debbie Isaachsen, the Head at Heatherton, will go in September 2020 to be Head of The Downs School, Bristol. Other staff leavers have included: Peter Riddick, Jane McClelland, Linzi Wesley, Penny Hatfield

School, to his pupils and to the community have been, and go on being, outstanding. Next? Two major projects are coming over the horizon. First, we expect to undertake a major refurbishment of Deans’ Hall next summer, which

Iacoponi, Russell Garner, Chris Allam, Alison Dunmall, Sue Blythe, Natascia Phillips, Rowan Brims, Jonathan Cooper, Hilary Rossington, Robin Pritchard, Jonathan Clarke, Genevieve Swart, Karine Ventham, Tom Carter and Raquel Samtome Parada. And Katie Bly moved to the Prep School to teach Art there. All have made a valuable contribution to the School during their time. Finally, in terms of staff, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the 100th term, as I write, of Graham Burchnall, whose commitment to the

will take it out of action from the end of public exams in June 2020 until Christmas. Secondly, we expect to apply for planning permission for a new building on the Castle site for our Sixth Formers. This will, when complete, give the School the chance to refurbish East and West Wing for the Boys’ School. I will write to OBs with further information about when our negotiations with the planners reach a point of certainty. Richard Backhouse Principal

Treasurer’s Report The Old Berkhamstedians Ltd I am pleased to tell you that we have had another good year and a clean report from our auditors. The accounts in the magazine are produced in our ‘traditional’ format for ease of comparison, having been converted from the much-summarised versions filed at Companies House. Under the new arrangements with the School we transferred an interim amount of £70,000 to the OB Trust Company for investment. The arrangement also provides for the further transfer of the TOB Ltd operating surplus as evidenced by the audited results which in this year will mean a further amount of £19,110 is to be transferred. We also produced a surplus on investment changes in the year of £20,907 – which has been reinvested within the TOB Ltd Portfolio. Members will be aware that the necessity to continue paying annual subscriptions was ended by the AGM in 2014 with the award of Life Membership to all Annual, Five- and 10-Year members. Some annual ‘subscriptions’ continue

to come in and, while they are gratefully received, are no longer necessary. As a result of the new arrangements there has been no new investment money for TOB Ltd and therefore the income has levelled off. Sales of Merchandise have been very disappointing for several years and the inventory is being reviewed to try and make our offering more attractive to our membership. Our operating costs continue under tight control with savings on publications and postage being maintained. This has allowed more support for our sporting subsidiaries. Provision has been included for the refurbishment of the Remembrance Garden between the Library and the Chapel and it is hoped that this will be completed shortly. The forecast cost increases attributable to running all the events that Vicky Rees so ably arranges for us, and the development of the new database and website for managing our organisation are starting to appear and will accelerate in the current year. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 5

6 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Cost Depreciation

John Rush (Treasurer)

Reserves Profit & Loss Account

Represented by:

Subscriptions in Advance falling due after more than one year

Net Current Assets (2018 Liabilities)

Less: Current Liabilities Subscriptions in advance falling due in less than one year Creditors and Accrued Charges Provision for Taxation

Current Assets Stocks of Merchandise, less provisions Debtors and Prepayments Cash at Banks

Investments at Cost Mid Market Value at 31st July 2019 £1,386,068 (2018 £1,360,550)

Fixed Assets

£ 1

1

47,660 47,660

87,677

47,660

87,677

(925,465)

(38,961) 87,677

51,874

12,866

£

1,012,085

2018

(967,950)

42,353 8,368 1,153

0 11,144 1,722

12,913

26,791

18,028 18,027

£

3,888 3,576 5,449

13,925

1,041,701

2019

2,818 4,038 19,935

18,028 18,027

£

BALANCE SHEET as at 31st JULY 2019

THE OLD BERKHAMSTEDIANS LIMITED

The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 7

THE OLD BERKHAMSTEDIANS LIMITED

1,337

Sales of Merchandise, less Cost of Sales

Sundry Receipts

Interest and Dividends, net of taxation

Periodic Subscriptions

171,052

297

10

91,129

(53)

0

45,076

46,106

125,703 45,042

175

44,544

1,387

2018 £

143

124,223

Annual Subscriptions

Leavers’ Life Subscriptions

2019 £

INCOME

1,722

19,110 20,907 40,017 47,660 87,677

Surplus (2018 Deficit) before Investment Gains Surplus on Disposal of Investments Surplus/(2018 Deficit) for the year General Fund at 1st August 2018 General Fund at 31st July 2019

151,942

Taxation of Interest and Capital Gains

670

Provision for Stock Obsolescence

6,000

157

Travel and Sundry Expenses Provision for Remembrance Garden

1,831

Deficit on Social Functions

70,000

3,329

Transfer to The OB Trust Co Ltd

3,242

Website and other Communications Costs

15,765

Presentations, including VALE

Investment Portfolio Management Fees

3,166

16,524

Support for Subsidiary Activities Audit and Professional Fees

17,486

2,643

448

8,959

2019 £

Overton Office costs

Postage and Mailing

Archive Project

The OB Magazine and other publications

EXPENDITURE

INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT for the Year Ended 31st JULY 2019

47,660

60,983

(13,323)

3,317

(16,640)

107,769

1,153

0

0

704

3,647

31,385

4,157

3,136

15,369

2,402

14,995

16,551

2,106

3,865

8,299

2018 £

THE OLD BERKHAMSTEDIANS TRUST COMPANY LIMITED DETAILED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31st JULY 2019

Income Investment income Voluntary income: donations, legacies & Ex-Club 2000 Voluntary income: Contribution from TOB Ltd Gift Aid recoveries

2019 £

2018 £

23,584 34,395 70,000 311

21,629 2,627 31,385 335

128,290

55,976

Expenditure Bursary Donations Purchase of equipment for School Travel and training grants Knox-Johnston Award

20,000 2,874 5,050 1,276

14,000 33,703 5,550 587

Total resources expended

29,200

53,840

Net (outgoing)/incoming resources before other recognised gains and losses

99,090

2,136

472

(1,609)

99,562

527

13,171

(4,532)

112,733

(4,005)

OTHER RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES Realised gain (2018 loss) on sale of investments

Unrealised gain/(loss) on investments Net movement in funds

THE OLD BERKHAMSTEDIANS TRUST COMPANY LIMITED Investment Adjustment

Investments per valuation Investments at cost Total Gain/(Loss) Declared last year Adjustment this year

8 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

2019 £

2018 £

2017 £

678,041 618,007 60,034 46,863 13,171

564,398 517,535 46,863 45,732 1,131

570,375 524,643 45,732 20,536 25,196

THE OLD BERKHAMSTEDIANS TRUST COMPANY LIMITED DETAILED BALANCE SHEET for the Year Ended 31st JULY 2019 2019 £

2018 £

£

£

FIXED ASSETS: Investments at valuation

678,041

564,398

CURRENT ASSETS: Debtors Cash at bank

1,583 4,636

1,069 6,418

6,219

7,487

240

600

CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

5,979

6,887

684,020

571,285

684,020

571,285

684,020

571,285

RESERVES: Unrestricted Funds

Membership Statistics 2019

2018

2017

2016

Life Members Honorary Members

6,733 414

6,467 399

6,352 393

6,098 379

Total Members

7,147

6,866

6,745

6,477

Of the total members, those with current mailing addresses

5,806

5,540

5,252

5,046

875 640 626

857 616 545

840 590 496

826 540 455

Social Media LinkedIn Facebook Twitter

The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 9

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Our investments continue under the care of Brewin Dolphin who manage them for us on a discretionary basis. A rather greater emphasis upon global stocks has provided some protection for our valuations and maintained our income in the face of pressures on sterling and the present confused political situation.

The Old Berkhamstedian Trust Co Ltd As promised the change in our arrangements with the School is starting to show results. £70,000 was received in the year from TOB Ltd which has been invested together with a £30,000 legacy from the estate of the late Janet Gulland (Al ‘52). Investment income rose by 9% in the year to £23,584 and will continue to rise as more investment is made under our new arrangements.

We were able to increase Bursary donations in the year to the School from £14,000 to £20,000 and maintained our purchases of sundry items for School departments. We were pleased to award two Knox-Johnston places this year. Travel awards showed a disappointing drop despite increased offers as several awards were not taken up for various reasons. Former Club 2000 donations soldier on and we are most grateful to those members who are happy to continue contributing in this way. The Trust Company is now set on its new course. The objective is to build an invested fund of at least £1.5 million before the School’s 500th anniversary in 2041 and to be able to generate the significant increase in distributable income that will come with it. The Trust Company investments are subject to the same comments as those of TOB Ltd. John Rush (Sw ‘59) Hon Treasurer

The Old Berkhamstedians Office 2019 has been a successful year as the Old Berkhamstedians grows from strength to strength. We were delighted to welcome 201 new members after Vale last summer and have already held a reunion for them, after their first term at university. We have increased the number of events again this year, hosting our regular 10- and 20-Year Reunions, Annual Dinner, Sports Day and Charity Talent Show but have also worked with the Berkhamsted Society to develop events at universities as well as London drinks receptions. If there are any other events that you would like to see take place, please just let us know.

New website We have been working hard on developing our new website, which will hopefully launch fully early in 2020. This new platform will create a proper 10 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

network for our members, allowing them to link with each other for sports, clubs, universities, industry and regions as well as an opportunity for careers networking and posting jobs. The website will also display photos from current events and reunions, profiles of Old Berkhamstedians over the years and will link to our SDS account which hosts digitised copies of all the School and Old Berkhamstedian magazines, since their creation. My thanks go to 2019 leaver Clara Wilkinson who has worked on this project for us since September. Her attention to detail and ability to bring the stories to life will mean that everyone who joins the website will have a great journey and will be sure to find out something about us that they didn’t already know! Further details on the website will be emailed out when we are ready to launch, so please keep an eye on the emails coming in from us. Vicky Rees (Hon)

The Berkhamstedian Society The Berkhamsted Society has been tying together

Carolyn Stait, Jill McDonald, Laura Hinton and

the School’s interactions with key groups including the Friends of Berkhamsted School, current and former pupils, current and former parents, the local community and, indeed, the Old Berkhamstedians. During the last academic year, Richard Thompson engaged with 40 students from three universities, namely Nottingham, Birmingham and Oxford, and has since provided feedback on structured questions which has benefited current students of the School. The university visit programme will continue throughout the course of this year. Some 780 in our local and wider communities have already benefited from an exciting and varied programme of events that the Society has run. Last year, we were delighted to welcome Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda, Reverend Colin Chambers who was Nelson Mandela’s chaplain, Simon Weston CBE, James Shone who is an educational speaker, two ultra-runners in Anna McNuff and Kerry Sutton, the Nikki Iles jazz quartet, and five women – Suki Thompson,

Sandra MacQuillan – who have become highly successful in their respective fields of work. This year we have enjoyed an audience with Nigel Owens MBE and look forward to an evening with writer and travel entrepreneur Jonny Bealby, a performance from Tenors Un Limited, and the return of ‘Women in Leadership’. The Society has established working relationships with many local groups and charities, including Berkhamsted Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, BerkoFest music festival, the Royal British Legion, Age UK, the Open Door charity and the Hospice of St Francis. The School maintains and forges new relationships with local schools including Adeyfield Academy, Denbigh High School, Wren Multi-Academy Trust and Hawridge and Cholesbury Junior School. We look forward to welcoming Old Berkhamstedians to one or more of the Society events being run this year. Richard Thompson (Hon) Assistant Vice Principal (External Relations)

The Friends With a primary objective to drive social engagement and networking for parents of Berkhamsted School, The Friends of Berkhamsted had a busy year with many key events such as the Michaelmas Fayre and the Spring Ball, as well as the many coffee mornings and socials. Further, through the hard work of the Friends community and collective generosity, a total of £35,000 was raised.

Some of the highlights of the 2018-19 academic year The year kicked off with a well attended Social at I Love Food (now Rosanna’s). In November, students, staff, parents and the local community came together for the biennial Michaelmas Fayre, with more than 1,000 people attending and together we raised a record £20,000. Also, in November, the Prep School hosted its annual fun Quiz Night. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 11

Other events included the traditional and lively Burns Night in January, the ever-popular Prep School Chocolate Disco in March, followed by the inaugural Spring Ball at the stately Ashridge House in May. In June, we held the fabulous

Cross, Harpenden and Amersham. These events are for parents with children at the School, but who live outside of Berkhamsted.

musical family event, Proms in the Quad, at Castle Campus, featuring performers from the Sixth Form, Senior and Prep Schools. In addition, the Pre-Prep organised a hugely successful Summer Fayre, which was very well attended. This was topped off with a Friends Pimm’s Stand at Prize Day, serving nearly 350 pints of Pimm’s on a hot summer’s day! Coffee mornings for new parents, which continue to run in conjunction with Induction Days, have been extremely popular, providing parents with the opportunity to form important social networks within their child’s House groups. Satellite coffee mornings continue to be well received, held in locations including Gerrards

In total, The Friends successfully raised £35,000 this year. Funds were allocated in a number of different ways. Firstly, we made the annual donation directly to the Houses. In addition, special projects included a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard at Chesham Road Fields, a granulator and sheet press for the newly refurbished Design and Technology department and an outdoor shelter and games at the Prep for play and learning. Lastly, the Music department received half of the profits generated from the successful Proms in the Quad and we donated funds to ‘The Final Fling’ – the Sixth Form leavers’ party in the summer. Farida Korallus

Funds raised

The Berkhamsted School Archive Six hundred and eighty-three, the latest numbered entry on the enquiries spreadsheet. I’ve had to look back over these, to jog my memory as to whom I’ve met and where the varied batch of enquiries have come from this past year. Many have resulted in follow-up visits and I am amazed at the distance some folk travel to visit or revisit the School. Here are just a few details from the past year. January and February brought groups of boys and girls to research their chosen OB for future House Assemblies. The Sixth Form and Bees House needed a selection of historical questions for the quizzes, and dates and facts were compiled for a Bees House timeline project. The job of reviewing Pevsner’s Buildings of England brought another visitor in March, to confirm the written details about some of the School’s oldest buildings. An Alderman of Townsville, Australia, was the subject of an article written in May. The author 12 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

was intrigued to know how the subject, who was born in Australia, had come to be educated at Berkhamsted School. The OB in question had been a boarder, in the early 1920s, whilst family were resident in London, otherwise that would have been a very long commute! A Kenyan address was my next contact for information, for a family history. The family, five brothers and two sisters, were all educated at Berkhamsted. Two of the brothers were highly regarded in the fields of entomology and ornithology, with two species of birds named for them. Enquiries connected to Graham Greene feature at least half a dozen times every year and a request to visit the School came through in June from an Associate Professor of Comparative Literature. He was researching Basil Fry, Christopher Isherwood (a cousin of Greene) and Isherwood’s unpublished novel The Forgotten. He travelled over from Canada and arrived with his research assistant on the last

Another 30 faces have been put to the names of the boys who died in the First World War and the second poster joins the first in the Exhibition Room until March 2020, when they will be relocated to the Memorial Library on permanent display. The search for the photos of the remaining boys will continue.

day of term, full of thanks for the opportunity to visit. The seemingly never-ending interest in the past world wars brought four groups of visitors to the School/Archive late in 2019. These were arranged after initial enquiries in the latter part of July. Three of the four came to see the First World War Roll of Honour, two for family members and the third for research connected with the war memorial in Witney, Oxon. The fourth visitor was a family member connected with the Rice Bowl, a prize awarded at Vale for Outstanding School Work. Staying with the First World War but on a very different theme, August brought information and a research request about OBs who had been Conscientious Objectors. This avenue of research may lead to publication, with a promise of a copy for the School. September and we welcomed the Graham Greene Festival to the School. The Exhibition Room was open and a tour of Old Hall, Chapel and grounds was well received. As keeper of the collar, the School Archive has had much interest shown in Peter the Wild Boy – he’s very nearly an OB! The latest enquiry comes from a Glaswegian writer, travelling to the School at the very end of November, to research an article on unusual cemeteries, graves and headstones. Many more of the past year’s enquiries have come from within the School community – Estates, Marketing and present staff, to name a few – and donations continually arrive, in person and by post.

Much refurbishment work was carried out in several of the School buildings over the summer and redundant items were sent to the Archive. All have been catalogued or stored or relocated around the School. I am hoping to get the ‘Cine Project’ off the ground before the end of the year and will keep you up to date with its progress. The Archive updates will be moving onto the School pages. Work was carried out over the summer to save all the past data and, with a bit of luck and a fair wind, I will be able to continue them on a new platform. As always, my heartfelt thanks for all the support from the OBs and the School community. Lesley Koulouris (Hon) The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 13

The Acacia Tree – 100 Years On This photograph of the School taken in the early 1900s shows the original acacia tree in the Gravel Quad. Because of its decaying state, a decision was taken in 1919 to replace the tree on Armistice Day and that event was reported in the December 1919 Berkhamstedian as follows: ‘In addition to the observance of Armistice Day, the occasion gave the opportunity for planting in the quad, a young acacia-tree, which it is hoped will be a worthy successor to the old tree, now decaying. The tree was planted by masters who have served at the Front, headed by Major AG Coombs, DSO.’ That tree, which is now 100 years old and showing its age, is pictured right on 11th November 2019, its 100th anniversary. On that day the School Archivist, Lesley Koulouris, placed the label which reads: ‘The acacia tree was planted here 100 years ago today by the Masters who had served at the Front’. Mike Horton (Sw ‘64) 14 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

AROPS Conference 2019 Magdalen College School, Oxford, was the venue

members, and decisions are made which are hardly

for this year’s conference where we were welcomed by the Master, Miss Helen Pike. AROPS Chairman, Peter Jakobek, introduced the principal speaker, Shaun Fenton, Headmaster of Reigate Grammar School and 2018/19 Chair of HMC. He stressed the importance of improving communication between alumni societies and the Head, senior management team and governors. In achieving the long term future of their school, alumni and school should engage with the local community. Word of mouth marketing by alumni, parents and friends is very important. His final message was that while we are all loyal to our old school badge and crest, we should support our schools’ decision to re-brand in the 21st century! A particularly popular discussion group focused on the relevance and value of surveys among members. Often AGMs are poorly attended, mainly by older

relevant to all. A well designed survey with a clear purpose and requiring at most six minutes to respond is likely to provide valuable information and data for subsequent consideration by the committee. The final session of the day was led by a panel of four who shared their perspective on the future of alumni engagement with their school over the next five years. Communication methods are changing and the young use social media and do not respond well to emails! Many of the most successful events are organised through social media by busy 30-40-year-olds who would not venture near a committee meeting. We must embrace up-to-date means of communication. A very successful conference ended with a tour of the school and college, evensong in Magdalen College Chapel and dinner in the school. Mynerva Altman (Smith) (Bu ‘56)

The Old Berkhamstedian Lodge

It is fair to comment that the Old Berkhamstedian Lodge is growing from strength to strength. Our new Master, John Parsons, took over from Keith Goddard (Ad ‘62) and was immediately involved in some planned-for changes in the Lodge. David

Innes-Lumsden (Hon), after many successful years of managing and steering the Lodge in the background as Secretary, stepped down. William Parsey took on the mantle hoping that he would, in due time, be able to serve the Lodge as well as David. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 15

16 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

The membership of the Lodge is also changing. With the influx of new members, the profile of the Lodge is even more youthful and there are further younger candidates in the pipeline for the following years. This can only be a testament to

help. A few examples are Newlife, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Berkhamsted Swan Youth Project, South Hill Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School. And the assistance the Lodge gives does not always need to be financial. To assist St Mary’s School

the vibrancy that the Old Berkhamstedian Lodge is currently enjoying. Our Master has been instrumental in organising extra meetings so that the younger members have the chance to gain a good grounding in the workings of Masonry. Sometimes this can be a little bewildering to a new joiner – there is undoubtedly much rich symbolism and depth to the work we carry out – however, these sessions have proved invaluable for both the newer members and the ‘old hands’, the latter passing on their knowledge learnt over the years. Charity is at the forefront of our minds. Our Head of Charity, Keith Goddard, has been proactive in presenting new opportunities where the Lodge can

woodworking classes, the members of the Lodge were asked for any for 9” hand drills, an 8” wood vice and small hammers and gardening tools to donate to the school. Charity comes in many forms! And it does not stop there. To name but a few of the recipients of charitable support in 2018/19, the Province of Hertfordshire helped people cover their essential daily living costs with more than £98,000 of support. More than £80,000 was used to help give access to life-saving and life-changing health support. More than £23,000 helped families with care and education costs. And then there were nine grants to local charities totalling in excess of £71,000. And the funds for all this good work were raised through Lodges such as ours.

The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 17

As several Old Boys have joined the Lodge recently, their presence has further expanded its knowledge base. One area which will see changes in the near future will be due to their understanding of social media. This will help develop not only communication but also referencing of Lodge history. Unlike many other Lodges, our Lodge welcomes new members specifically from the School, i.e. teachers or support staff, parents and partners of those connected with the School. This helps retain its strong links with Berkhamsted, even to the extent of singing the School Song – yes, the one in Latin! Our Ladies Night Festival in Old Hall was a resounding success again this year. We welcomed 18 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

back the Soprano, Kathryn Jenkin, who entertained with a variety of amusing and accomplished operatic and comedy pieces in the pauses between the five-course black tie dinner. At the raffle, there were a number of winners who enjoyed some generously donated gifts. Special thanks go to Lynne Oppenheimer (Hon) who organised, and ensured the smooth running of the event. And looking ahead? We have a new Master, Simon Chamberlain, taking over in 2020 and look forward to welcoming the new members to a thriving and happy School Lodge. William Parsey (Hon) Secretary

Masonic Donation to St Mary’s C of E Primary School Having heard that St Mary’s School, Northchurch, needed playground equipment, our Charity Steward, W Bro Keith Goddard, approached local

woodworking materials. He has since made and donated a woodworking bench together with some tools. Apart from teaching woodworking

Lodges and Chapters and, through donations and raffles, raised £885. As can be seen in the photograph, a variety of equipment including a secure storage unit has now been purchased. Keith, having well known carpentry skills, became aware that St Mary’s School lacked

skills, woodwork strengthens the muscles needed to hold a pencil and develops the concentration skills needed in learning. The School is most grateful for the support received from the local masonic community. Mike Horton (Sw ‘64)

Grand Opening of the Donation of the Playground Equipment – Mike Horton, Fred Charnock, Keith Goddard, Mrs Bates and Miss Hunt, Head Teacher.

The 2019 Graham Greene International Festival Graham Greene Film Review Prize Launched at 2019 International Festival Graham Greene is primarily known today as the novelist who penned such classics as Brighton Rock

and Our Man in Havana. Some readers may also know him as a screenwriter, most famous for the film noir classic The Third Man, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of its first release in 2019. Relatively few readers today, however, will be familiar with Greene’s substantial body of work as a film reviewer. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 19

Photo by Jo Wilson

cinematic qualities, written at a time when the movies were still considered a relatively new and popular art form. ‘When I describe a scene, I capture it with the moving eye of a camera,’ he once said.’

Reaching out to new talents

Entrance to Berkmansted Town Hall with new Graham Greene Birthplace Trust signage. Photo by Giles Clark

Lucinda Cummings-Kilmer, research assistant to Greene’s biographer Norman Sherry.

Greene was, however, one of the creators of the film noir genre. Writing in The Guardian in 2004, Adrian Wootton observed that, ‘Greene spent the first two decades of his working life writing crime and espionage thrillers, novels that were inextricably bound up with the cinema of his time. He was, at various times in his life, a movie-lover, critic and scriptwriter; film is at the heart of his work and his fiction is remarkable for its powerful 20 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Last year’s Graham Greene International Festival – a landmark 21st in the series, held in Berkhamsted from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd September – saw the launch of the Graham Greene Film Review Competition. Giles Clark, Chair of the Graham Greene Birthplace Trust, explains: ‘The Competition has been created to further enhance Greene’s reputation and widen knowledge of his work. We have chosen to make this a prize specifically for film reviewing because films are a popular medium for the younger generation, some of whom may not know Greene’s work, while among the older generation who may be familiar with his novels, Greene’s superb body of film criticism may be unknown. We hope that the competition will attract many entries from up-and-coming writers as well as more established talents.’ Organised in partnership with The Centre for New Writing at Manchester University, the Graham Greene Film Review Competition offers a cash prize of £500 for the most imaginative, original, and thought-provoking review of a film (documentary or otherwise) with a run time of at least 80 minutes. Full submission details, along with guidelines from the judging panel, are available on the website of the Graham Greene Birthplace Trust (grahamgreenebt.org).

Our Man in Havana The year 2019 was not just the 70th anniversary of the release of The Third Man: it was also the 60th anniversary of the release of Carol Reed’s film adaptation of Our Man in Havana, 60 years since Fidel Castro’s revolution in Cuba, and 500 years since the founding of the city of Havana itself. In addition, it was the 50th anniversary of the publication of Greene’s comic masterpiece, Travels with my Aunt.

Photos by Giles Clark

Miles Hyman (left) and Jean-Luc Fromental discuss The Prague Coup.

The Prague Coup Greene’s continuing appeal in the 21st century was celebrated by another Festival first this year – a talk on the recently published The Prague Coup, a graphic novel by Miles Hyman and Jean-Luc Fromental, featuring Greene as its hero. The story begins with a fictional Greene arriving in post-war Vienna to commence work on The Third Man, only to be dragged into an intricate plot to unseat the government of Czechoslovakia. This imaginatively conceived and beautifully presented work is testimony to Greene’s enduring appeal as one of the great observers of the geopolitics of the 20th century.

Politics and the novel

Sarah Rainsford, BBC correspondent in Moscow.

Our Man in Havana thus enjoyed fitting prominence in the Festival programme, with a screening of the film on the evening of 20th September and a talk entitled Our Woman in Havana: Reporting Castro’s Cuba by BBC foreign correspondent Sarah Rainsford on Saturday 21st September.

Other contributions in a packed festival included a screening of the 1940 film 21 Days, co-written by Basil Dean and Graham Greene and starring Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier; a discussion between the BBC’s Mark Lawson and Bryony Lavery and Esther Richardson on adapting Brighton Rock for the stage; and an insightful and thought-provoking talk by Sir Vince Cable, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2017-19 and former Secretary of State for Business. A novelist himself, Sir Vince shared his thoughts on the portrayal of politics in the novel and concluded with his own up-to-the-minute analysis of the state of British politics in the shadow of Brexit. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 21

Photos by Giles Clark

Sir Vince Cable speaks on politics and the novel.

Festival Director Dr Martyn Sampson.

The Film Review Prize judges – Jo Wilson, Creina Mansfield and Quentin Falk, with Jonathan Steffen (far left).

Thanks to Dr Martyn Sampson

Festival 2020

The Graham Greene Birthplace Trust would like to thank Dr Martyn Sampson for delivering another wide-ranging and well attended Festival, whose theme was Reflections on Greene, and for the extensive contribution he has made to furthering the aims of the Trust in the past three years. This year’s Festival will be directed by Mike Hill, a former Festival Director himself and also editor of the Trust’s newsletter, A Sort of Newsletter.

This year’s Graham Greene International Festival will be held in Berkhamsted from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th October 2020. Tickets, for individual sessions or the entire Festival, are available from the website of the Graham Greene Birthplace Trust (grahamgreenebt.org/tickets). People under 21 and holders of a Dacorum Card have free entry to all Festival events apart from the meals. Proof of status will be required on the door. Jonathan Steffen

22 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

NEWS OF OLD BERKHAMSTEDIANS

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News of 2010s Leavers Christopher Bird (SG ‘13) tells us, ‘I’ve just graduated from the University of Nottingham in Theology and Religious Studies and was 1st in my class, and in the top 3% of graduates in Humanities. I am now going on to do a Master’s in New Testament Theology at Clare College, Cambridge.’ England women’s golf international Alice Hewson (SG ‘15) enjoyed a huge year in 2019, kicking off in April by becoming the first British woman to qualify to play a competitive round at Augusta National in Georgia, USA. Alice followed this with a stirring victory in the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Parkstone Golf Club, Dorset, in July which ensured she booked a place in the AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn in August. Having now made the switch from amateur to professional, Alice can look forward to a bright future.

(Ch ‘11), Richard Pitkin (Sw ‘65), Susan Holland (Pitkin) (OS ‘84), Catherine Hurling (Pitkin) (OS ‘84), Isabelle Holland (Wo ‘13) Michael Atkins (Be ‘89), Fran Boyter (Na ‘13), James Copestick (Ch ‘13), Luke Trela (Gr ‘13), Jack Baker (Na ‘13), Nick Bulloch (Fr ‘13), Jamie Naidoo (As ‘13), Alistair Leighton (Ha ‘13), Louis Belson and Ted Holland (currently in Hawks). Will’s grandfather, John Pitkin (In ‘48) would have loved the day, as well as his great, great… grandfather William Pitkin (Headmaster, 1636-1643). The reception followed in the grounds of Bradley House with a lovely wedding breakfast and dancing.

Will and Georgie honeymooned in Edinburgh and on the Isle of Skye, soon to return to their jobs as a Quantity Surveyor and Chartered Accountant.

William Holland (Ha ‘13) married Georgina Ashby (Ha ‘13) on a beautiful late summer weekend in September. The location was Bradley House in Maiden Bradley, Somerset (home of the Duke of Somerset and Georgie’s childhood home). The bride and groom were both Hawks housemates and the wedding was very well represented by Berkhamsted School alumni! Will’s uncle, Reverend James Pitkin (Gr ‘80), carried out the ceremony at All Saints Church, Maiden Bradley, and Old Berkhamstedian guests were Charlotte Ashby 24 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Jonathon Nice (Na ‘11) and Katharine Miller (Ho ‘11) got married last year in the School Chapel. They met on the first day of Year 7 on the bus on the way to school and later started dating in 2010. Jonathon’s Best Man was William Mason (Gr ‘11) and Hannah Cohen (Ch ‘11) was a bridesmaid. Samuel Brabazon (SG ‘11), Tessa Holderness (SJ ‘11), George Nisbet (Ch ‘11) and Charlie Noakes (Bu ‘11) also attended the wedding.

Hamish Percy (Sp ‘15) graduated with a first class degree from Nottingham University in July 2019. He was also awarded an undergraduate dissertation prize by the British Commission for Maritime History for his thesis entitled ‘As Eminent a Savage as the Most Notorious Character among Them’: Sailors’ Lives, System of Cruelty? which investigated the ways in which sailors’ lives on board slave ships could be seen as a form of slavery.

News of 2000s Leavers Gwilym Batchelder (Re ‘01), now Head of Department (DT) at RGS Worcester, married Emily Mitchell on 24th August 2019. The photo shows Gwilym and Emily at the reception, accompanied by Thomas, Emily and Matthew, the children of Rachel Law (Batchelder) (As ‘99) and her husband Nick.

Kathryn Fothergill (Sewell) (Bu ‘00) married Luke Fothergill on Saturday 28th September 2019 at St Michael and All Angels Church, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, followed by a reception at The Dairy, supported by a number of friends and family from Berkhamsted. Among Old Berkhamstedians in attendance were brother and sister-in-law Nick Sewell (Ha ‘98) and Jenn Sewell (Champion) (Bu ‘98), classmates including Maid of Honour Mandy Stafford (Holliday) (SH ‘00), Louise Hutchins (Imeson) (Bu ‘00), Hannah Reid (Jeffryes) (Re ‘00), Tara Tuohy (Loch) (SH ‘00), Kim Bray (Orsten) (SG ‘00), Vicky Reynolds (Randles) (Ha ‘00), Sarah Hackett (Ha ‘00), Simon Osborne

(Na ‘00), Miles Kenyon (Ha ‘00) and Chris Franc (Ha ‘00), and friends from Churchill and St John’s boarding house days, Charlotte Fields (Bolton) (Na ‘01) and Lucy Dyson (SJ ‘01). Jennifer Hart (Ho ‘06) writes to say, ‘I got married on 22nd December 2018 to James Kennedy in Sydney, Australia where we live. I moved over here three years ago, a few days after my Berko 10-year reunion! I met James at the church I started attending, which is where we got married. Old Berkhamstedians present at the wedding included my brothers Tom (Re ‘00) and Nick Hart (Re ‘03) and my aunty Alison Green (Hart) (SH ‘68). I am a Chemistry teacher teaching at Queenwood, an independent girls’ school in Sydney.

James Rodwell (Ha ‘02), the England rugby sevens star, hung up his boots in 2019. A glittering career saw James become the most capped sevens player of all time and win silver with Team GB at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 25

Chris Smith (Co ‘00) has recently joined Playfair Capital, a London-based seed stage VC fund, investing in early stage technology companies. Chris is interested in hearing from any current students or alumni involved (or with aspirations

News of 1990s Leavers

to be involved) in the start-up ecosystem. You can reach him on chris@playfaircapital.com

Elizabeth Courts, born 28th July 2019, and adds that he is now ‘a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Theresa Villiers.’

Katharine Smith (Re ‘01) has gained an award as best clinician in her year at The College of Naturopathic Medicine for studies in Nutrition. Having achieved a first class honours degree in Drama at Royal Holloway and a Teaching diploma from the Central School of Speech and Drama, she has left a teaching career to pursue her interest in Nutrition. Mandy Stafford (Holliday) (SH ‘00) shares her experience of the 2019 London Marathon: ‘Doing the London Marathon has always been on my bucket list, so when a charity place came up, I thought I’d go for it. I’m not a runner at all, so training was hard and I picked up an ankle injury doing 18 miles six weeks before the day, meaning very little more running. But with the amazing support of my brother, Michael Holliday (Gr ‘96), who ran with me on the day and was my pacer, motivator and personal photographer, I ran the whole marathon far quicker than I thought I could in 5 hours 15 minutes.’

Robert Courts (Fr ‘97) announces the birth of Isabella Alexandra

Michael (Be ‘93) and Joanne Lee are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Kaia Caroline Lee, on 23rd February 2019 in New York City. Born 9lbs 1oz and 22” long, she practically walked out into the world.

Christopher (Gr ‘98) and Katherine Read are pleased to announce the arrival of Harrison William Read (born 26th August 2019). He is Christopher and Katherine’s second child, and a brother to Charlotte. 26 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

News of 1980s Leavers Sarah Boyd (Jackson) (SH ‘86) has just published her first book. The Wrong Cake and other stories is a collection of sharply told stories with a twist for adults, ranging from the humorous to the sinister. Things are not always as they first appear in these well observed tales from everyday life. A rich cast of characters includes a man incarcerated by his own rubbish, a cook with a secret, an inventor aiming high with unintended consequences, and some strong-willed ladies who don’t always play by everyone else’s rules. The Wrong Cake and other stories is available on Amazon and to order from Waterstones, paperback £8.99, eBook £3.99. Iona Benvie (17), daughter of Rachel Eames (NS ‘81), won a highly commended award from the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) for her entry in the recent Young Geographer of the Year competition in the KS5 (16-18) age group. The entrants (estimated at a total of 15,000 nationwide) were asked to write a short essay on the subject ‘Where can geography take me?’ The family were particularly proud as Iona’s uncle Richard Eames (Be ‘78) and grandfather Malcolm Eames (Staff, 1960-1991) both studied Geography at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Richard travelled from Luxembourg to attend the award ceremony held at the RGS on the morning of Tuesday 12th November, joining Rachel and Iona who came from Scotland. Michael Jary (Be ‘81) has been appointed as the Lead Non-Executive Director of HM Government, at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. Dan Mudford (Gr ‘84) draws our attention to danguideslondon. com where he offers tours of the capital and beyond. ‘I have lived in London for 30 years and it still surprises and excites me, and I look forward to sharing my expertise and enthusiasm with you when you visit. Together we can explore the incredible variety London has to offer: from the Royal majesty of The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey to the futuristic skyline of the City of London’s architecture to the funky back streets and hidden alleyways of Soho, Shoreditch and beyond… I can also make sure you stay well refreshed, be it in a traditional pub or tea room, or one of London’s more modern and exclusive bars and dining venues.’

News of 1970s Leavers Alison Baverstock (Scott) (NS ‘76) is Professor of Publishing at Kingston University. After a career in publishing, and writing several books on the industry and the writing process, she jointly established Publishing as an academic subject at Kingston University in 2006. She has been heavily involved in encouraging others to read, aware of the significant advantages in life that tend to correlate with those who read for pleasure. Having married a soldier she met at university, she and her husband moved house constantly. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 27

In 2011 she established readingforce.org.uk to help Forces families keep in touch with their wider families and each

Susannah Clark (Henderson) (Sw ‘71) got married to Karina Freyjudottir in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands

other. She also founded The Kingston University Big Read, which sees the despatch of a (customised) free book to every student about to start there and which won a Times Higher Education Award for Widening Participation/Outreach Initiative of the Year (2017). She and her husband now live in Kingston upon Thames. On their daughter Harriet’s first day at Manchester University she happened to sit next to Jessica Smith, the daughter of one of Alison’s direct contemporaries (Mary Daly Bunker (OS ‘76)) and this re-established lots of connections. She can be contacted at alison.baverstock@btopenworld.com or via Twitter @alisonbav The photograph shows Alison and her eldest two children with her first book, for which Harriet provided the deadline.

by the traditional method of Highland Handfast. Then they shared a 1936 Mortlach, passing the quaich to all present. In the evening they met up with some climbing friends, and as it was Burns Night, they enjoyed traditional music, haggis and more malt whisky. The next day it snowed and they ventured out for some winter walking in the mountains. Susannah is a registered nurse, and Karina completed a second Philosophy degree in Iceland before moving to the UK where she works in IT.

Now fully revised and updated for its sixth edition, Inside Book Publishing by Giles Clark (Be ‘72) and Angus Phillips was reissued last June. The book offers ‘authoritative coverage of all sectors of the industry, from commercial fiction and non-fiction to educational publishing and academic journals’ as well as ‘excellent overviews of the main aspects of the publishing process: commissioning authors, product development, design and production, marketing, sales and distribution. As a manual for those in the profession and a guide for the potential publishers of the future, Inside Book Publishing remains a seminal work for anyone with an interest in the industry. It will also be of interest to authors seeking an insider’s view of this exciting industry.’ 28 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

A catch-up from Simon Tutt (Co ‘78): ‘After finishing school in 1978 and university in 1982, I worked in a UK corporate until 1993, at which point I really wanted a change of pace and location and so I emigrated to the USA. That was quite different to say the least, but I really enjoyed the new environment and customs, and never looked back. I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to work and don’t like changing jobs and so I joined a computer company while in Maryland, USA in 1993 and despite its ups and downs and being acquired, I stayed the course and ended up as its President for the last 10 years. I’ve just retired from the company after 26 years and I’m in the process of selling my Maryland home. My wife retired earlier and is already living in our retirement home in Sanibel, Florida. Once I move to Florida too, we hope to engage in various pursuits such as fishing, boating, photography, yoga, drone-flying and target-shooting – how about that for a pot pourri of retirement interests!’

News of 1960s Leavers Timothy Auger (SJ ‘65) is returning to the UK after nearly a quarter of a century in Singapore. He thought he had retired in 2009 after some four decades in publishing in London and SIngapore, much of the time in senior editorial/director roles. But instead of devoting his retirement days to Netflix and copious gin-and-tonics as planned, he found himself writing five books on aspects of Singapore and its history, assisting the then President of Singapore in writing his 672-page memoirs, and managing a mammoth bicentennial publishing project for one of the largest US banks – among other things. Although January 2020 sees him back at his London base, a flat in what was formerly the Arsenal football stadium at Highbury, he will maintain his Singapore connections through consultancy work. Mark Cole (Ad ‘64): ‘I have been elected Mayor of Buckingham for 2019/20. I have been on Buckingham Town Council for five years, the chairmanship of which means that I am now Mayor. Buckingham is one of the oldest boroughs in the country, having been founded in the 900s, and holds two royal charters, one from Queen Mary Tudor in 1554, the other from King Charles II in 1684 – both permit the town to hold two weekly markets and two annual fairs. The Mace, with which I was presented by the Town Clerk, has the crown and crest of Charles II on it and dates back to 1664.

I am still commentating on motorsport for Eurosport and Motorsport.tv, and a week after being installed as Mayor I was back at Le Mans for my 37th 24 Hours, so have no intention of slowing down yet. In fact my second motorsport book for Porter Press, on the Le Mans Porsches of the 1980s, was being launched at the 2019 Good Festival of Speed in early July, and I have two more commissioned.’ John Constantine (Sw ‘67) tells us he ‘went out to Hong Kong for the sevens there (April 5th-7th 2019) and had this photo taken with James Rodwell (Ha ‘02), who had been a member of the England sevens team since 2008.’ This was just prior to James’s retirement announcement, as detailed previously. The 50th – golden – wedding anniversary of Danielle (née Wrigley) and Brian Farmbrough (Up ‘65) was celebrated in some style in June 2019. Dani and Brian now live permanently in the Perpignan region of southern France. Joining them there for the celebrations were their children Juliette and Simon (Taj) and a number of long-time friends from their Berkhamsted days. Patrick Gallagher (Lo ‘65) and his wife Lynden along with Jim Cannon (Lo ‘65) and his wife Sue flew in from their homes in Sydney, Australia, Adrian Lee-Emery (Up ‘65) and his wife Ronda came from their home in Bermuda, and John Johnston (Up ‘65) from his home in Somerset, UK. A number of dinners, a party for more than 100 of Dani and Brian’s closest friends with a couple of speeches in very mangled Franglais, a huge open-air street market, and a winery tour (with tasting) were the main events interspersed The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 29

John Johnston, Adrian Lee-Emery, Brian Farmbrough, Patrick Gallagher and Jim Cannon.

with much reminiscing late into the nights with copious glasses of great French and Spanish wines. Plans for the next 50th (Patrick and Lynden) are already being laid.

find Peter John’s article on page 49, celebrating 40 years of his own photography business.

John Westcott (Be ‘63) says, ‘I am sure other OBs will have been pleased to hear of the appointment of Martin Scicluna (Up ‘68) as Chairman of J Sainsbury. I am now blissfully retired after decades there in Buying, Marketing, Systems and Admin. I can only hope he’s got broad shoulders – he’ll certainly need them!’

Peter Crawford (Be ‘48): ‘After time in the Army (Intelligence Corps) and three years at Oxford, I spent a lifetime in the Law: Barrister (1953), QC (1976), Senior Circuit Judge (1988) and recorder of Birmingham. Now long retired and living in Culworth near Banbury. I have kept in touch with Malcolm Scott (Sw ‘47) who is godfather to one of my sons. In my 90th year, I am looking forward to as good a party as I had on my 80th from my four children and eight grandchildren.’

News of 1950s Leavers Peter John Gates (Lo ‘56) tells us he reached ‘the big 80’ in March and shares a photograph of himself taken in 1952 by Anderson, the Berkhamsted photographers. If you still have a copy of the 2017 edition of this magazine, you’ll 30 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

News of 1940s Leavers

Malcolm Scott (Sw ‘47): ‘After leaving Swifts in 1947 I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in London. Then followed two years’ National Service, which included marching behind the Queen on Coronation Day. A year later I felt the call to ministry and was ordained in 1958. Then followed 13 years in Uganda, after which I returned to England and served in Berkhamsted (Sunnyside) and Bedfordshire. Since retirement in 1995 I have lived in Little Heywood near Stafford.’

FROM ALL QUARTERS

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A South Dakota Football First A football team from South Dakota won a National Championship in America under the guidance of an Old Berkhamstedian, James Oppenheimer.

This team has a pool of 42 players, divided into an A and B team. Only the first 18 get to compete in the Presidents Cup. The B team competes in more local events. Selecting the team was extremely difficult, but over the course of the autumn season,

Here is his story: In July 2019, I was fortunate enough to make history. I coached the Dakota Alliance Soccer Club Under 14 Girls to the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup National Championship. This was the first time a team from the flyover state of South Dakota had won a US Youth Soccer National Championship. The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is the second tier of Youth Soccer in the States. Owing to population, teams from South Dakota struggle at the top level so, for the most part, they compete in this second tier. It is basically the equivalent to competing in the Europa League instead of the Champions League. Only one team from South Dakota had ever got out of their Regional Event and qualified for Nationals. That was this team one year earlier. They reached the National Final, and were disappointingly throttled by FC Nova from Boise, Idaho. At that time, the team was under the guidance of Brandon Barkus, the most respected coach in the state. When I took on the team for the 2018-2019 season, the expectation was that they go back to Nationals and win. This was something no team from South Dakota had ever done. But‌ no pressure!

and the long winter indoor season (five months’ of indoor football in South Dakota because of snow and freezing temperature), the 18 were chosen. In May, we played Black Hills Rapids from Rapid City, South Dakota, in a two-leg State Championship. The DASC Girls won 10-0 over the two legs to qualify for Regionals. In June, we went to the Presidents Cup Midwest Regionals in Kansas City. We played the representatives from Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota, beating them all to take home the Regional Championship for a second consecutive year. The closest game was the semi-final against Salvo from Minnesota. Salvo scored early and led the game for 40 minutes. We applied more pressure throughout the game, making a few adjustments to find good matchups. Eventually the pressure paid off with two quick second-half goals and we won 2-1. This Regional victory meant we qualified for the National Finals in July. The National Finals took place in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Murfreesboro was a short 14-hour bus ride away. The girls rode in style on the University of South Dakota-branded bus. The group stage included wins over teams

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from Pennsylvania, Southern California and Florida. This took us to the National Championship game. The game was a rematch of the National Tournament opener against Century V East from Pennsylvania, which we had won 2-0. The final was an extremely tense affair, finishing 0-0 in normal time. The game was streamed live and watched by a couple of hundred people in South Dakota on top of the crowd at the game. Going into extra time, I looked at the girls and they had a determined ‘we’ve got this’ look on their faces. The girls were all standing, ready to play. Looking at the opposition’s bench, the other team was sitting with towels over their heads (it was 85 degrees at game-time), looking exhausted.

I made sure to point this out to the players. We had dominated the game without creating much. I urged us to continue to be patient and look to get behind their slower right-back. In the first minute of extra-time, we played a long ball behind their right-back. Our left-winger Mia Mullenmeister got to the ball first, controlling it beautifully. She beat the player marking her, and slotted a cross back for our attacking midfielder (and tournament Golden Boot winner) Hailee Christensen who was running into the box. Hailee hammered the ball into the back of the net sparking mass chaos on the bench in celebration. This was only topped by the pitch invasion at the final whistle as the team brought home a 1-0 win. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 33

After the trophy presentation was completed, we got straight back on the bus and rode home overnight. When we arrived in Sioux Falls at 8am the following morning, there was a party of more than 100 people, plus several TV stations there

At School in Wartime

to meet us. Winning a National Title for Dakota Alliance Soccer Club and for South Dakota Soccer has been amazing, but I could not have foreseen the impact it has had on our community. The players were featured on every local television station, invited to the Mayor’s office, honoured at a local professional basketball game, publicly recognised by our South Dakota Senator, and continually stopped in town and congratulated by strangers. The team has also taken the time to speak to younger groups about what it takes to get to the level of being called National Champions. A run of 11 victories to win a National Championship was not an easy feat. This team has a lot of strong players, but the intangible that made them great was their ability to work for each other. When we went behind in games, this team battled, and knew how to get back into the game without panicking. When ahead, we were able to kill games either by continuing to attack or by slowing things down and getting behind the ball. My full-time job is as the Director of Business Operations for Dakota Alliance Soccer Club, as well as being a staff coach. We have 3,000 players who play recreational soccer in Sioux Falls, and another 600 who play competitive traveling soccer. Managing an office, a budget, seven full-time staff, 30 other paid coaches, and coaching a team myself is hugely challenging, but the opportunity to work in football every day is still a dream come true. The sport is continuing to grow in America, and specifically in the Midwest. I am hopeful that our National Championship has aided that growth. James Oppenheimer (Re ‘98)

I don’t know – learned nothing but American history for a whole year. This was part of a government-led initiative to show how friendly Britain was to America and so encourage them to enter the war and help us defeat Germany. There was one snag about this. Our teacher had to mug up on the subject before she could teach it to us and was always just one lesson ahead of us. That was fine unless we had an air raid. Then we all trooped downstairs to sit in the cloakrooms and such places ruled safer than the classrooms. (There were some trenches dug in the grounds beyond the playing fields but were never in my day used.) The rule was that we would continue the lesson which was in progress when the alarm went. If, as occasionally happened, the air raid started in a History lesson and lasted some hours, the teacher would be floored. She simply hadn’t done enough studying of the subject to teach us for that time and so we had to just revise what we had already learned. We returned to English history at the end of the year so that we could get on course for our School Certificate exams but leaving a gap which I have never quite filled – a source of some amusement to my husband, a writer whose work included a number of historical books. Speaking of air raids, I was in Loxwood where, if the siren sounded at night, we gathered in the hall, queued up and went one by one to the single loo there and then crossed the garden to the half-submerged, very solid air raid shelter in the grounds. As more than one person pointed out to the housemistress, this meant we were actually in the open air crossing the garden right in the middle of the raid. It really wasn’t very sensible, but she thought the sanitary arrangements in the shelter totally unsatisfactory and not to be used unless really necessary. The Loxwood shelter could only take half the boarders. So, even more

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With America so much in the news these days, I thought it might be of interest to learn that, in wartime, two classes in the Girls’ School – maybe more,

unsafely, the older girls trailed along the road in their nightdresses and pyjamas to the Beeches where (because of the kindergarten school run there in daytime) there was an extra shelter which, like all the others, had two tiers of two-foot-wide,

ones were rather proud of them and dismissed the later arrivals as ‘new girls’ even after they’d been there a couple of years. The boarders’ clothing list remained unchanged in wartime and proved a great trial to our mothers

six-foot-long bunks for night use. The other thing which stands out in my mind about those days, when our beds were moved out of the dormitories down to the dining and play rooms, were the blue pinafores we wore all the time except for gym and games. They were very cleverly designed so that you could still get into them as you grew, unlike the green gym slips we wore under them. The material faded with washing, so if you had been at the School for some years you found yourself wearing an almost white pinafore that only reached to just beyond your waist. The look of your pinafore was a very definite indication of how long anyone had been at the School. But alas, the particular material used wasn’t available in wartime and was replaced by a strong fadeless blue. I’m afraid that, rather cruelly, those of us who were there in time to get fading

when clothing was rationed. They had to try and muster enough coupons to provide us with the required garments upon which rather strict matrons tried to insist. (The first clothing coupons were in fact the unused margarine coupons in our food ration books.) I think I ended up as the only boarder with the required ‘24 linen handkerchiefs’. My mother worked for the Admiralty drawing 200 copies of plans by hand to show ships how radar worked. (To print them might have meant there could be security-breaking extra copies of them). She used top-grade tracing paper which was made of fine linen in those days. On the rare occasion she made a mistake, she was allowed to wash out anything she’d drawn in error and take the unmarked linen home. From this, she made my handkerchiefs for school – one of which is now in the Imperial War Museum. Jan Prebble (Reid) (Lx ‘45)

Prep School 1944-45 – Do you know the boys in the photo?

We believe we have the following: 2 – J Burn, 5 – J Pitkin, 8 – R Gates, 9 – MC Horton, 14 – PR Valentine, 19 – younger Burn. Can anyone identify any of the others? Please email your thoughts to Mike.Horton16@gmail.com

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Conquering Ironman Frankfurt

was my plan, but in reality I tentatively hobbled over the pebbly bottom as I waded up to my waist before flopping over! This was my third ever mass swim – bodies everywhere getting jostled, pushed and hit as you try to navigate to the first buoy while being squeezed from both sides by people going in different directions. What to do? Get aggressive and push your way ahead, or slow up and let them go? Well, it’s a long way, so I slowed to let them get ahead, but then immediately got caught by the person behind and swam over. A few quick strokes of breaststroke to catch my breath, re-sight the buoy and start again. After the fourth or fifth go of this tactic, it was obvious it wasn’t working! I eventually rounded the top buoy not having found a rhythm, and started out on the return leg. This was straight into the rising sun and I couldn’t see anything, despite tinted goggles. Not a problem, follow the feet in front, I thought, until you realise everyone is going wrong and you start hitting the paddle boards of the safety team on the outside

This was my second Ironman – I absolutely loved every minute of the first one in Lanzarote, with no goal except to finish and become an ‘Ironman’. It would take as long as it would take. This IM was, however, different: a much flatter bike course, another year of training under my belt – I had ambitions of getting a quick time, for me at least. Training had gone well and I was all set for a great race. But then the weather forecast started to change that view – 39 degrees in the shade! In the build-up to the race, the forecast was unchanging. Both days either side were getting cooler, but race day stayed exactly the same, with intense heat coming up from the Sahara. ‘Oh well,’ I told myself (and anyone that would listen), ‘nothing you can do about the weather so adjust your strategy and rein your ambitions in slightly.’ Race day arrived and in a self-seeded start for the 2.4 mile swim I was aiming for 1hr 10 mins. Running into the water, I waved to my wife and kids as I did a butterfly dive and sped away like a fish. Well, that 36 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

of the course. Breaststroke again to re-establish bearings, spot the buoy and then off again… The Australian exit – about a third of the way through the course – consists of a run out of the water and back in the other side with another

Into transition smoothly, clean sand off the feet; socks, bike shoes and helmet on, and off to find the bike. A steady walk out of transition was the plan, but with lots of people sprinting past I moved into a steady run. Hop on the bike and off

beautiful butterfly dive. However, again it was tentative steps on the pebbly beach followed by a quick look at my watch to check the time – I was about five minutes slower than planned – followed by a slow walk to re-enter, wading up to my waist before setting off again on the longer section. This time I set off on the outside of the pack and managed to get a rhythm and felt like I was swimming better, albeit too far away from others to get in their slipstream, but eventually the bottom began to rise towards me as I reached the exit point. My wife and the boys were there, up to their waists in the water screaming me on, high-fives all round then up the sandy bank towards transition. 1hr 13 mins on the watch – not perfect, but not too bad considering it hadn’t felt great. That would do me fine!

we go for an eight-mile ride into Frankfurt and then two loops of the extended bike course – 115 miles in the saddle. The eight miles into Frankfurt were great – smooth roads, flat or slightly downhill, hitting an effortless 25mph. I was flying! I was drinking lots in an effort to rehydrate after the swim, eating my nutrition, sticking to the plan. I knew the temperature was going to start rising, but if I stayed hydrated, stayed within my training zones, didn’t push too hard, with the breeze generated by the cycling I’d stay cool enough to function. The running in the heat was my worry, but that was several hours away – concentrate on the moment. The first lap flew by. It was getting hotter by the minute, but I was still drinking loads and I had cut back my target power output as my speed was much better than expected owing to the nature of the course – I could do a 5½-hour bike split if I did the same again on the second loop, which would have been much better than planned. Into the second lap and it started to feel very hard. My power was dropping despite working at the same relative intensity and I started to feel very, very hot. Every aid station I had a bottle of water over my head to try to cool me, as well as picking up at least one to drink. The cooling of the water over the head was great but it lasted all of five minutes, so I tried saving some of the water to cool myself again later on. However, it became like a hot shower as the water heated up so quickly. By this stage the breeze had become so hot it felt like opening an oven door – imagine breathing with a hairdryer blowing into your mouth – never have I felt so uncomfortable. Sometimes being in a sauna is great, but not necessarily when you are riding your bike. People around me were stopping, vomiting, lying on the side of the road and looking in general trouble as the heat took its toll. I was at The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 37

showers. Standing under that for what felt like five minutes was amazing! I’m sure the water must have turned to steam as it hit me! Taking on fluid, salt tabs and Shot Bloks, I started the process of cooling down and trying to pull myself together.

this point just surviving and more than once I thought, ‘What happens if I just stop here?’ But those moments passed and I was determined to get myself into T2. Eventually I had one final hill to climb at about 110 miles, then all downhill into Frankfurt and the transition. Heartbreak Hill is renowned for its Tour de France-style crowd willing you up, but second time around it was almost empty as I suspect everyone had escaped the blazing sun. I got to the top and pulled over at the aid station. The volunteers soaked me in about 20 bottles of water as I tried to cool down. Asked if I was ok, of course I said yes, but really I was unsure if I could get back in the saddle to carry on, not sure if I wanted to pass out or throw up. I was broken, but rolled through the last five miles hanging onto the bike just so I didn’t fall off, telling myself to get to transition where I could re-assess how I could continue. I made it to T2 and watched everyone else around me looking like I felt – worse than awful! I got my run bag, changed socks and shoes, grabbed my salt tabs and started out on the 26.2 miles, knowing I could walk round and still finish within the cut-off. That was now my only aim – finish in one piece. Thankfully, there was an aid station just after transition and it had the most beautiful cold 38 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

The run course was four loops up and down the river bank in central Frankfurt, with very few shaded areas. After a mile or so of walking I had cooled down and started to feel OK so started to run. I think I managed about 10km before I started to overheat again, despite the amazing aid stations with cold showers, ice and sponges to stick down your top and under your hat. But I was still overheating and I struggled to breathe. I had continued to take on salt and water, as well as nutrition, so didn’t think that was the problem. It was simply the heat – my watch recorded 106F. So I went back to walking, with all those comments before I started about staying safe ringing in my ears. I knew I would finish within the cut-off, but it would just take a very long time! The carnage on the run course was something I have never seen – the med tents were full and there were always sirens going off as ambulances moved around, with competitors sitting in the shade under bushes or lying down with spectators tending to them. The support was unbelievable, from the thousands of spectators to the volunteers at the aid stations. But the finish line was something else. Having walked what felt like forever, running up the red carpet I felt ‘fresh’ and tried to soak up the atmosphere – screaming crowds, high-fives, seeing my wife and the kids at the front of the stands, hearing, ‘Mike, you are an Ironman’ over the speaker system – it was totally amazing! From 3,500 starters, only just over 2,000 finished. This was the hardest thing I have ever done. The different emotional states throughout the day, from rock bottom to the finish-line elation, were like nothing else I have experienced, and it’s left me wanting more! Mike Holliday (Gr ‘96)

Room To Learn – an Indian School Charity

I have become very involved in, and am a trustee of, Room To Learn, a charity supporting Indian Schools. In the farthest part of north east India, in the hills of the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas of West Bengal, at a height of 4000 ft (1200 metres), lies the town of Kalimpong. It was once part of the Kingdom of Bhutan until British intervention in 1865! Today the town is a busy urbanised concrete jungle with a mixed population of people from mainland India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim State, Tibet and the Lepcha people (original tribal people of this area). The Room To Learn, Happy Days Nursery (Indian Charity UK) was set up by Ann Mills who first travelled to India as a volunteer to work in the Baptist Hospital in Bangalore. During her time in India, she developed lasting relationships with

local families. As her concern and love for these people grew, her burning desire was to help those Indians and Nepalese who were relegated to the bottom of their society by birth – known as the ‘untouchables’. The aims of the school are to meet the educational needs of the underprivileged children by providing education through the provision of suitable land, school buildings, teachers and equipment, transport and other such infrastructure as required for the education of children aged 3-5 years. The children learn through song, dance, drama, art and play. How can the children escape from the chains that bind them? On her retirement from the NHS, Ann decided that if she could provide a Nursery School, the little Dalit children could have a The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 39

‘head-start’ on the learning ladder. This would give them a fairer chance of success in their lives. Ann found a little girl named Manisha, living under a tarpaulin with her mother and a newborn baby. Manisha was the catalyst for Ann to start Room

Room To Learn received a wonderful donation specifically to enable us to buy a little bus which travels to various areas of Kalimpong and its cantonments to collect and deliver the children to and from school. This has encouraged the

To Learn in August 2015. Manisha’s attendance at school is often erratic owing to difficult family dynamics. Now aged six, she is old enough to go to main school. She is interacting more with teachers and other children, enjoys playing in the playground and, through the wonderful work of one of her teachers, has learned to write and say her numbers and ABCs through singing. Manisha will be sponsored throughout her education to 18 years old by a very generous donator. It costs £15 per month to sponsor a child. Room To Learn is now nearly at the end of its third year of classes. We have 31 boys and girls aged between 2½ and 5 years old on the school register. All the children live below the officially registered Poverty Line on less than £1.25 per day. Their education is totally supported through donations. We have Boards of Trustees in England and India. I and another Trustee, Jennifer Maxwell, along with Ann and her husband Brian, visit Kalimpong twice a year. We travel at our own expense and do not receive any financial support from Room To Learn. The Indian Trustees liaise with the teachers and visit the school regularly. Two of the local Trustees are doctors. They provide the children with a yearly medical examination, or more often if necessary. They teach the mothers the importance of hygiene. Jenny and I have travelled to the outlying villages with the doctors to talk to the local families about Room To Learn and to encourage them to bring their children to the school. At the end of each November, the school term finishes, and the monsoon returns. In March 2020, a fourth year begins. Some children come from several miles away to attend Room To Learn. In the rainy season, this does not encourage anyone to walk miles through the hillsides. Last year,

children’s daily attendance dramatically. Jennifer Maxwell and I have also helped the mothers set up a project, ‘Connect’, which will enable them to earn an income. We have started off with embroidered bags which are then sold locally and in the UK. Manju, the owner of the school property, has provided the mothers with a free room where they can work while their children are in class each day. We now need sewing machines so that the mothers can progress and increase their productivity. The mothers received 5% of the profit and the rest goes towards their children’s education with Room To Learn. Every year in the UK, Ann and Brian host an annual fundraising garden party at their home in Oxfordshire. In September 2019, the mothers in Kalimpong held a very successful fête with games, products made by the mothers and lots of food and cups of chai! We have many events booked for 2020, including a music festival on 30th May at The Windmill, Oxfordshire, 2pm till 11pm. If you are interested please see our website roomtolearnuk.org or find us at facebook/R2LUK. It is through your generous donations that your gifts keep our doors open for these keen, excited and eager to learn little ones. They love and thrive on learning through song, dance, drawing and play. They are so enthusiastic on coming to know their alphabet, numbers, rhymes, stories and so much more, in both their own language and in English. This gives each child the head start that is so deserved and needed to lift them out of the cycle of poverty, abuse and cultural limitations. Through education, they can grow into effective and fulfilled adults. Corinna Whitfield (Drake) (SH ‘68) roomtolearnuk.org facebook/R2LUK

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The giant redwoods of California I suppose that all of us have a bucket list of some sort. But as we get older perhaps we have managed to do most of the things we wanted to. I certainly have been pretty content with my life and the things I have done and seen. However, I must admit that I have always had a yearning to see the giant redwood trees of California. My elder son is married to an American girl and consequently has to make an effort to visit his American in-laws fairly frequently. ‘We are going to New York in July, Dad. Why don’t you come along with us? You and I can fly on to San Francisco and see those big trees you are always on about. Then we can fly back to New York and sit on the beach for a few days with the rest of the family before you go back to the UK.’ What a splendid idea. Insurance was going to be a problem, I was sure. No one gets to my age without a few medical conditions and they usually push up the premiums. Quotes from £1,700 through to £3,200 for two weeks in the US were prohibitive. I said that it was not cost-effective and I couldn’t afford it. However, my son arranged for his company’s insurers to give me a quote that was much more acceptable. We flew to Kennedy in late July. His family were met by his wife’s sister and driven off to the Hamptons. We moved to a hotel for the night. First thing in the morning we caught a flight to San Francisco, arriving there about lunchtime. To my surprise, my other son arrived about half an hour later, having flown in from Sydney via Los Angeles. What a pleasant surprise. That afternoon, we drove for many miles up Interstate 101 until we reached our accommodation in a little town called Trinidad. It was very dark by then. We woke in the morning to an overcast day with a heavy fog that gradually lifted as we made our way to breakfast in the bar next door. The Pacific Ocean could be clearly seen as we returned to our apartment. We climbed into our hire car once again and started out to Prairie Creek State Park. On the way we diverted to the Lady Bird

Johnson Grove as we thought it was worth a look. After three miles up a steep logging track, we parked and walked over a huge wooden bridge and into the grove. We were all overwhelmed by the sight of hundreds of massive trees. We fell in with three men from Kentucky who were touring the area on their motorbikes. We chatted and all cricked our necks looking up to see the tops of these trees. I over-balanced backwards as I struggled to take it all in. We found it difficult to take a photo that gave a true picture of the size of these giants. From this grove we drove to the Prairie Creek Park where we took a three-mile walk to see the Cathedral Trees. There were several places where one long-gone tree had spawned several others in a ring around where it had once stood. But its offspring were still huge. Eventually we came to the imaginatively named ‘Big Tree’, which was very big but, with its clearing and information notices, it did not look as impressive as those we had seen earlier. Everywhere we looked there were huge trees. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 41

It was like Jurassic Park or the Third Moon of Endor. We saw moose at the ranger station and we could have walked more but we headed back to Trinidad for supper and bed. We woke early and made our way to the eatery next door again. One final check of our rooms and we were off to Yosemite National Park back down the US 101. It was nearly 500 miles and we had allocated all day to drive there. TV stations were full of the news that fires on the floor of the Park had caused it to be closed but it was expected to open again in a couple of days. So we drove down the old US 101 through the Avenue of the Giants, which was the old road before they built the new US 101. It weaves through the old forest and curves around the trees. We stopped several times to look and wonder and quickly got behind our schedule. We were aiming for Groveland. The boys shared the driving and my younger son was at the wheel for the last 50 miles. It became pretty stressful when we had about another 42 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

30 miles to go, no sign of any town, no phone signal and getting low on fuel. We then hit the ‘Road of Death’, a very steep, very twisty, unlit road. Conversation ceased and the air conditioning had to be turned off. There was a huge sigh of relief as we drove over the crest of the hill to find a brightly lit service station. Phew! We topped the tank up and drove the last few miles to our log-cabin accommodation among the trees. I slept well but the noisy air conditioning kept the others awake apparently. In fact, one of the boys slept in the car as it was so noisy. Breakfast was pretty basic at the dining area of our log-cabin complex. Cereals and a coffee each was all that was available. We drove towards Yosemite with the smell of smoke in our nostrils and a permanent haze everywhere. We arrived at the Park gate and the ranger waved us through. It was only the valley floor that was on fire; the surrounding roads were still open but there was no charge as visibility was poor and much of the

Park was inaccessible. We spent the day driving along the Tioga Road, climbing to over 8,000 feet, and saw some huge trees as well miles and miles of burned tree trunks, not necessarily from this year’s fires but very apocalyptic. We had no lunch

and then made our way back over the Golden Gate Bridge again to see the redwood trees in Muir Woods. This, I think, was the most spectacular place to see the trees that we had been to during the whole holiday. There were few people there,

as the only eatery was not very inviting. Went for a short walk and saw some beautiful wild flowers. Drove back to the log cabin, changed our clothes and went to meet an old girlfriend of my younger son from his university days. She now worked for the UN in America. This entailed driving back down the ‘Road of Death’ to Groveland again. We met at the Old Iron Door Saloon. We had a good evening with plenty of drink, good company and good food too. Then back up that road once again and to bed. We decided to cut our losses as Yosemite was still inaccessible and drove back towards San Francisco. We discovered several advertisements to visit local wineries in the Napa Valley and decided to sample the wines of the Starmont Winery. Dan, our host, seemed to take a shine to us three Englishmen and kept us liberally supplied with various beverages for the whole afternoon. There was also a tour of the vines and the winery itself, a good alternative to Yosemite under the circumstances. Having abandoned our log cabin we had to find alternative accommodation and settled in a large hotel a couple of miles down the road. A good evening meal, but a broken night’s sleep as we were too close to a major road and the traffic did not stop all night. We all had Eggs Benedict for breakfast then jumped into the car once again towards San Francisco and Muir Woods. Things were going well until we began to see signs saying ‘Muir Woods reservations required’. Not to us tourists, we thought. Down another twisty-turny road until we reached the car park where the attendant told us we needed a parking permit unless we were prepared to come back after 7pm when the staff went off duty. Went to our hotel in the city and cleaned ourselves up. Visited the Golden Gate Park, the city’s botanical gardens for a few hours

the light was gradually fading and the trees really were cathedral-like. Strange words for me to use, I know, but it really was majestic and magical. As we drove back to our hotel, we stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge and took photos of each other with the tops of the bridge towers rising out of the mist behind us – a good end to a fine day. We took the car back to the rental company and returned to our hotel for the night. The next morning we said goodbye to my younger son as he was off back to Sydney, and then the two of us made our way to the airport for the flight back to New York. The flight was pretty uneventful, just miles and miles of grassland and forest with a few signs of civilisation dotted amongst it all. I sat next to a very old lady who had grandchildren in both New York and San Francisco and visited them all every month! She must have had more stamina than me. We arrived at Kennedy about 6pm and made our way to another car hire firm for transport to the Hamptons. After an hour and a half we arrived at my son’s sister-in-law’s house to be greeted by all the family. I then spent several days lounging about their luxurious house, swimming in their pool, relaxing in their hot tub and sunbathing on a nearby sandy beach. But eventually I had to be driven back to Kennedy airport again for the journey to the UK. It was good to be met by my younger daughter and the rest of my family when we arrived at my house. During these last couple of weeks I had flown about 15,000 miles from England to San Francisco and back. We had also driven about 1,500 miles in our hire car. But I had seen those trees that I had yearned to see for years, thanks to my sons. Was it worth it? Yes. Did I feel tired? Yes, I did. But I also felt very satisfied too. Lance Free (Lo ‘57) The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 43

HC ‘Bertie’ Owen at Dunkirk

This year will be the 80th anniversary of Operation Dynamo when 338,226 troops were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk. If it had not occurred then the British Army would have been wiped out and the invasion of Britain might have been a fact rather than a whim of Hitler. Bertie Owen (Hon) was one of those evacuated. I have been in contact with his son, Nick, who has given me a little more insight into Bertie’s ordeal and his life. A very interesting article written by Bertie and his return to the Beaches of Dunkirk on the 60th Anniversary of the evacuation can be found in the 2001 edition of the Old Berkhamstedian. The 2001 article can be accessed via the digitised magazines link, on the Old Berkhamstedians website. Bertie was evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940 and never talked about it until the late 1990s when he broke down and came out with it all over an emotional family Sunday lunch. It must have been a terrifying and horrific experience. The following are extracts from Bertie’s own story about his return to Dunkirk: 44 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

‘After a pleasant lunch in one of the town squares, our next and probably most important event on the agenda was stepping onto the beach itself. Obviously some things had changed, but the overall appearance was just the same, and that really sparked the memories: a Yorkshireman – a cook and member of my company – standing beside me in the water and exclaiming, ‘Eh my missus won’t arf be jealous of me being at the seaside afore her this year’. The constant gunfire, the flashes and explosions, the ships and boats out at sea, the strafing from above and the dead and injured. In the distance I could see the Mole – a wooden Jetty – where eventually I was able to clamber aboard HMS Sabre that took me home. It was hard to believe that this was 60 years ago. ‘The Sabre was a small destroyer with only a couple of guns. We were frequently attacked from the air as we made our way across the Channel. We all formed chains to pass up ammunition to the gun crews. We also helped to roll the occasional depth-charge in the water. On our arrival at Dover, we boarded a waiting train and started our journey through Kent. We stopped at a station of Headcorn where the Women’s Services plied us with tea and sandwiches. We had had nothing to eat or drink for a period of days. The train deposited us at Aldershot where everything was well organised and I was able to send a telegram to my parents: communication between us had not been possible for six weeks.’

Bertie and Esme Owen.

The following is information sent to me from Nick Owen: Bertie had been a second lieutenant with a troop-carrying Company of the Royal Army Service Corps. He was carrying troops of the

Ultimately, he came back to a posting in Alfreton in Derbyshire, as the war was coming to an end, where he met a young officer called

Guards Brigade to give a new line of defence to provide cover to the withdrawal to Dunkirk. After he got back from Dunkirk, he was then posted to East Africa for about five years. He told me they sailed from Glasgow out into the mid-Atlantic, zigzagging all the time to avoid subs, and then headed back east towards the tip of South Africa and then up to Durban. I know he then saw service in various countries, including Somaliland.

Esme Burton. They were engaged in three weeks and married in three months, October 1945. They set up home in Berkhamsted, where Bertie had been teaching before the war. They retired to live in Cheltenham in 1977. Bertie died in November 2008, Esme in May 2014, both well into their nineties. A film of Bertie’s return was shown on BBC television in the Midlands, a copy of which can be seen in the School Archive. Keith Goddard (Ad ‘62)

Brett Cloutman VC, MC at Pont sur Sambre, 1918

Chris Everard, his grandson, gave me a copy of the full account of Brett Cloutman’s (Be 1906) achievements. It is headed ‘for private family circulation only’, from when it was first sent to the family many years ago. ‘Major B.M. Cloutman was awarded the MC by General Byng after the Fifth Division had stormed and taken the Hindenburg Line South of Cambrai at the end of September 1917. He received the decoration on November 3rd

after having had several difficult and important jobs to carry out in this attack. First of all big battle headquarters within 20 yards of the enemy had to be built – assembly trenches dug under heavy shelling on the night of the attack. Then during the battle a number of roads had to be opened up through the maze of wires and trenches. A water supply in five villages had to be exploited and opened up during the mopping up so that transport could get through without delay. Finally a reconnaissance of the Escaut Canal at Bantaux which he carried out as far as was possible. Seeing the Boche was still on the allies’ side of the canal he galloped right through the British advancing front line and several hundred yards beyond until he was held up by enemy machine guns at close range. He saw all that he needed and galloped back with his report.’ The circumstances in which the further award of the VC was earned were as follows: The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 45

‘It was about November 3rd 1918 that the 37th division commenced an attack on the west side of the Forest of Mormal, and the 5th, with which Major Cloutman was associated, pressed closely behind to pass through and continue the attack.

under point blank range and close observation. Then he rolled very slowly across the path and finally into the water without attracting attention. He swam the stream which was about 70 feet or so wide and fairly fast and then crouched under

The weather was dreadful and the going in the forest almost impossible and for three nights they practically ceased moving only for an hour or two and they had no sleep or shelter. By the end of this time the forest was theirs and the 37th division out of the line and the 5th were holding a main road through a village called Pont sur Sambre nearly ¾ of a mile west of the canalised river Sambre. On the morning of the 6th Major Cloutman was advised that the enemy had gone a long way back, that all the bridges were probably blown and that he was to get (construct) bridges over the canal that afternoon. He therefore rode into the village with three other of his officers to make a reconnaissance of the river. They found the village was being heavily shelled and the infantry thought there were some Boches on the British side of the river and were sure there was a machine gun in the church steeple which was also on the side where the British were. He and his officers went forward into some houses overlooking the river and saw clearly that the enemy were holding the opposite bank strongly; the body of a British Corporal, who had been sniped through the head, was lying close to the house where they were. He had been killed half an hour previously. They saw, however, that the bridge there was not blown, but charges were on the girders. The enemy were quite close to it and were able to shoot at point blank range at anyone who came over the open space on the British side, to get near the bridge. ‘In the circumstances he didn’t like to tell either of the other officers to take the charges off and decided to do it himself. ‘He very cautiously made his way through some houses and gardens upstream of the bridge till he was in a field a hundred yards or so above it and screened by a hedge with a tow path beyond and then the river. Everything beyond the hedge was

the bank. The whole area being heavily shelled he crawled half in the water under the enemy bank towards the bridge and he once, evidently, attracted attention as a grenade was thrown close to him in the water. Finally he got to the bridge and crawled close under the house where the enemy were and cut one set of leads that were lying in the gutter of the road. Then he slipped back into the water, swam round the abutment, climbed a steep concrete wall to the other side of the road on the bridge and cut the leads there too. As he got back into the water and was swimming round the abutment again a machine gun fired on him from 50 yards away. He got under the water and managed to make his way back by the same route as he had come and at the last minute when returning over the tow path he was very nearly hit again. Fortunately he got clear and soaking wet as he hunted down his officers. They had got into a cellar as their house had been wiped out by heavy shelling. He arranged for more bridges to be constructed in other places. He then made his way to the General’s headquarters and told him that he could have the main bridge at any time he liked to take it. It was then at about 2pm when the General arranged for the bridge to be rushed and taken after dark at 8pm and in the meantime for an infantry party to hold it under observation and after dusk under continual bursts of fire until 8pm, this being the earliest moment when sufficient forces to hold the bridgehead could be brought up. ‘It was quite dark that evening after 4.30pm and at 7pm (as was learnt from French inhabitants on the other side) a very gallant German officer came down to the site, refixed the charges and blew up the bridge with a time fuse. Under the circumstances he was only able to cut the girders and large charges of explosive in each masonry abutment could not be set off owing to the cut leads.

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‘As a result the bridge was sufficiently repaired for infantry to cross on the same night, whereas adjacent bridges were left with girders in tangled wreckage and a crater 30 feet deep and 60 feet wider in place of each masonry abutment, the work

getting two other bridges made under continual fire and the infantry was over and had taken the opposite bank at dawn. ‘During the day the whole division heard the story and General Ponsonby (the divisional

of repairing being a very long and difficult task. ‘After that Major Cloutman spent all night of the 6th and the early hours of the 7th November

commander, brother to Keeper of the Privy Purse of the King) congratulated him personally.’ Keith Goddard (Ad ‘62)

Wolfred Cloutman – Citation from Buckingham Palace, King George V The details as to the death of Lieut. WR Cloutman, RE, as far as they can be gathered from letters from men who were on the spot, from his servant, and from the man whose life he saved, are as follows:

For some time, Lieut. Cloutman had been connected with the 174th Tunnelling Coy RE, 10th Corps, 3rd Army under Major-General BWY Capper, Chief Engineer, and later when transferred to the 178th Coy, Capt. EW Wellesley commanding. The French had just handed over to the British a section of their line in the Albert sector and close behind was an important shaft, 50 feet deep, from the foot of which were at least three galleries heading towards enemy lines. One of these the French had blown with an insufficient charge, and with an open crater not being formed, that working was full of gas from the explosives. Among the first duties of the Engineer officers, who were taking over, was that of having an

exact plan of the workings made before further excavations were commenced. For this purpose, on the evening of the 20th August 1915, Lieut. Cloutman sent Sergeant Hart and another man down at 6pm to do some measuring but warned them not to go down the particular gallery which had just been blown. As they did not return Lieut. Cloutman sent Sergeant Clarke and another man to look for Sergeant Hart, but Clarke returned saying he could not find him but that he had found a tape and note book belonging to Sergeant Hart at the bottom of the shaft. A volunteer rescue party was called for by Lieut. Cloutman and quickly formed, but before they went down Lieut. Cloutman and Sergeant

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Clarke descended to investigate. They travelled along one of the galleries that was supposed to be free of gas, Lieut. Cloutman leading, but very soon Clarke called out that gas was overcoming him. They both at once made their way back to the foot of the shaft by which time the Sergeant had collapsed. A rope ladder, 45 feet long, ran up the side of the shaft as was usual in French workings. Besides this, the only communication with the surface was by means of a small cord which was carried on a pulley block suspended over the centre. This cord was fixed to Sergeant Clarke’s left arm by his shoulder. Lieut. Cloutman got his body across his shoulders and mounted the 45 feet. At the top men were waiting to take the load. As soon as the strain was relaxed and the weight removed Lieut. Cloutman collapsed and fell to the bottom and was killed instantly. His CO said: ‘Had he not saved the NCO he could have undoubtedly got up the shaft safely. Sergeant Clarke recovered. Hart’s body was found in one of the galleries.’ Lieut. Wolfred Cloutman was buried in Norfolk Cemetery, Fricourt, near Albert, grave No. 22/16741. In 1971 the ashes of his brother Major Brett Cloutman VC, MC were interred in his brother’s grave. In connection with this narrative it should be mentioned that in August 1915 Tunnelling Coys had only been formed for a few months and were in possession of practically no appliances for supplying oxygen in poisoned workings. It is only by realising this that the gallantry of this action, by one who fully knew its dangers, can be appreciated. This Citation and the photograph of Wolfred were supplied to me by Chris Everard, and his wife Jan, great-nephew of Wolfred Cloutman and grandson of Brett Cloutman VC, MC. Keith Goddard (Ad ‘62)

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A pilgrimage to Bayreuth and Romania Although one is often tempted to say this, never has a holiday been so keenly awaited or yearned for. A term of necessary non-stop solid work followed immediately by eight weeks’ work at EMI was the reason. It was fortunate I was under pressure with a project to design, construct and test at EMI, otherwise this holiday – this glorious event which one could dream about and plan forever – would have taken over my thoughts completely. Still, lunch hours were spent in Hayes Library reading up on Austria, Hungary and Romania, and days were taken off to go to London to collect visas, answer chains of queries at tourist offices and to buy tickets and – last but not least – equipment. My ideas on this changed right to the last minute – adjustable toe clips to fit my size 12 feet were found a day before departure and my camping strategy changed dramatically when, in the YHA shop, on the spur of the moment, I decided I must have a tent and parted with £90 for an Ultimate Hobo on the spot. Other equipment included an Exmoor handlebar bag, Torridon Hollofill bag, Karrimat, Karrimor survival bag, Gaz backpacker stove, Karrimor stuffsack, citadel lock, freewheel remover, chain link remover, Allen Bradley saddlebag clamp and so on. I equipped myself zealously, ruthlessly plundering EMI wage packets – but it was worth the effort. The tent proved a necessity rather than a luxury, and diligently setting myself up with spares and tools had the effect of conferring an invisible magical veil of reliability over the Carlton for the whole trip; except for the mundane task of repairing a handful of punctures, the tools and spares were barely touched. Friday 7th August was my last day at EMI, a hectic day tying up loose ends, saying goodbye and hastily passing on all my design considerations. All this activity however needed no self-discipline. That evening and the next morning were busy, collecting

everything together, compiling innumerable, changing lists of things to take, checking camera equipment and overhauling the bike. When Martin Raynes arrived at 4pm on Saturday I was running up and down stairs continually scribbling ideas on

Festspielhaus. Eerie to arrive at this time of night. Then came the problem – where to sleep. It was dark and raining and, as I had only pitched it once before at home, we didn’t use the tent; instead we wandered on and on into the dripping forest

scraps of paper before I forgot them, plundering the larder of food containers and soups. I was ready in the nick of time to catch the 7.18pm train to Euston, bombing down Kings Road behind Dad and Martin on a bike that seemed horribly loaded. Such was the rush getting on the train, Martin and I found ourselves stuck in the luggage van until Hemel! At Euston we made our separate ways to Victoria, where I unloaded my luggage and registered (and insured) the bike, which was to get to Bayreuth separately. A train packed to the brim with young people and rucksacks took us to Felixstowe where there was a long queue for customs; it’s very tiring standing up for an hour with sleeping bag, tent, panniers, saddlebag, foodbag and handlebar bag! Martin and I sat in a buffet and chatted about our appreciation of Parsifal – an important topic – and there was more than one gaze at two small pieces of white paper safely stashed in Martin’s wallet. We slept on the Ostende train and arrived at Köln at 10.20am where we filled our four-hour stop by strolling around the cathedral precinct and satisfying a mutually latent but rarely gratified desire for ice cream. We just had to try the ‘Augustus Caesar’ that topped the menu of the Romisch Germanisch Museum café. As usual, there were END demonstrators in the plaza. We finally climbed the Domturm before catching our train onwards. At last we reached Nürnberg where we had one hour to spare. The relatively fresh air quickened a stifled appetite and so we were soon laying into a massive Speckplatte in the station foodhall. We got so carried away we had to run full-speed to catch the local Eilzug to Bayreuth, where we arrived at 10.30pm. The dark, drizzly, oppressive atmosphere could not dampen our spirits as we walked up the hill to the floodlit but deserted

and laid out survival bags. Unfortunately, it rained heavily and everything was so damp it was impossible not to get your bag and clothes soaked and covered with mud and leaves. The next morning was hell. Martin was first to gallop down to town to clean up. I followed later, dripping wet, covered in leaves and looking like an alien. Feeling like a scarecrow, I hobbled into the station. Martin approached dramatically transformed, sparkling in changed clothes and I felt I must recover such warmth, hope and self-respect. But I couldn’t get into the washroom. Spun-out agony while the station manager opened it. And what a cesspit it was. Tiny closet, a cracked toothpaste- and god knows what else-encrusted washbasin. Still, a complex one-hour operation involving delicate balancing of myself and clothes brought what I had dreamed about on my way down. Brusque and cheery, we found what turned out to be an excellent pub-restaurant-café, obviously raised to its state by impeccable management, and laid into the pride of the house, a big ‘Bayreuther Teller’ of many different meats and vegetables followed by huge ice creams and many fruit juices. We were on the edge of our seats towards the end of the meal – the end would dovetail perfectly with the slow and savoured, ceremonial and almost solemn walk up to the opera house to see Parsifal, that most deeply searching and intimate of artistic creations. I had the Minox loaded with 800 ASA-rated XP1 in my pocket and throughout the evening tried to capture some of the excited atmosphere of the place. (Author’s note: I am reproducing exactly as I recorded it at the age of 20. As you will probably gather I loved Parsifal!) The fanfare sounded, and I was so excited I hovered around the building in a kind of daze, getting to my seat just in time. The lights dimmed and I set my concentration on the experience to The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 49

follow. This work is like an immeasurably deep well that can never be exhausted. Wagner, through great craftsmanship, but above all with the deepest and most searching sincerity, explores uniquely that world so fundamental to us humans

a glorious marching inevitability that suggests a balanced nature that can stay whole through thick and thin with a faith that can move mountains. Such are just a few aspects of only one section of the work. Who can say that Wagner is long-winded

and our place in nature, and yet sadly ignored by those hypnotised by the bright colours and fast-moving action of outer appearances: the world of the inner human consciousness. What a first act! And what magic on so many levels. The primeval solemnity of the forest in sacred Montsalvat, the deeply touching warmth of the character Gurnemanz – experiencing the work solely on this level, it’s rewarding enough with its lovely old romantic mythologies and legends. But looking into that aura of magic reveals another level. Here the ‘transfiguration’ music in Act 1 is more than just a graphic portrayal of Parsifal and Gurnemanz’s rapid and effortless passage through rocky clefts and gorges from the forest to the massive hall of the Grail. It has a poignant emotional ambivalence, neither sad nor happy. Music, in its abstraction and malleability, can directly touch one’s inner consciousness. Just one chord or musical phrase, placed in a certain context by a genius can express something in an instant that a hundred words would be hard pressed to do in a minute. Wagner was guided by his powerful and imaginative intuition, that ‘exquisite unconsciousness of artistic creation’. In the hall of the Grail, Parsifal will witness a solemn religious ceremony and Amfortas’ anguish, which will leave him dumbfounded but implant a latent understanding that will later and very suddenly bring a real transformation of his character, enabling him to decide his immediate purpose in life. Parsifal’s childish obstinacy has been replaced by feelings of remorse and deep respect for Gurnemanz. The latter’s moving castigation of his swan-shooting has touched him in a way that is new and he does not yet understand, leaving him in innocently open wonderment. The music brings out Gurnemanz’s gentle but firm resolve and farsightedness. It has

when every passage yields so much? ‘Economical’ is more appropriate. The work is so long simply because it explores so much on so many levels, richly and deeply. We lashed out in the first interval, eating exquisite cake with wine in the very smart restaurant building. This place shone with immaculate service and dazzling jewellery, fine plate and silver cutlery. It was a hotbed of enthusiastic discussion and sparkling eyes. Act 2 was a revelation. I have never seen it rendered so meaningfully or effectively. Passages were lit up and revealed in a new way for me, and what so easily becomes a sweaty, sprawling mass in performance, because of its dramatic complexity and violent emotional intensity, took on a new sense and cogency. To cap it all, I have never heard Kundry sung so brilliantly – Eva Randova received a standing ovation. After two such brilliant acts we went into the third with high expectations. This act is for me – and not, I’m sure, because of some personal fancy – Wagner’s most profound and beautiful creation. It radiates the highest form of human conscious love, totally pure and unfettered by the childish, unconscious, sexual form of human love. If one believed in an anthropomorphic God, this is where man could touch God. Here man is totally at one with himself, humanity and nature. He is respecting and adoring, drawing from Mother Nature who bore him, yet valuing and nurturing his independent consciousness with no guilt or shame at his independence and the deep capacity of love it brings. Wagner describes this high, very human love in a fresh, unique way. So, this act radiates optimism in humanity and Wagner’s capacity for noble love, and it has not been lightly achieved. It has taken a lifetime for Wagner to bring such revelations out of his subconscious

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and let them be felt in that of the listener, in this, his crowning and final achievement. But after two stirring acts this was a real disappointment. From the first few bars I sensed a lack of dedication in the direction and

of productions, music through headphones), we headed for the station. Unfortunately Martin had to be back at work in two days, so he caught the 10.30am train, intending to stop off at Nürnberg and Wurzburg on the way back. We parted feeling

production, changing from an exciting to a very uninspiring reading. The opening was too fast, a real sausage-machine performance, in fact. This great act was misunderstood, or rather any meaning was just passed over. I have not yet seen this act done justice in the theatre. Am I the only person who gets much more out of this elusive but profound creation than a vague feeling of serenity? I long for the opportunity of producing/conducting Parsifal. We walked out frustrated but further convinced of the true nature of the third act waiting to be tapped. Still, it had been a wonderful, renewing, revitalising evening. Bayreuth is some experience. We walked straight to our familiar haunt by the station and chatted over Wurst and fruit juices, and were surprised when we were thrown out from the warmth of this cosy place. We had planned to kip out somewhere but – help! – the station was locked with all our stuff inside. We wandered around in a daze. We were tired, it had been a special day, we both had the same idea but didn’t believe the other would agree. At last I said, intending it to sound a joke, ‘Well, we could always stay in that hotel!’ Martin replied ‘jokingly’, ‘Yes,’ and it wasn’t long before we had found a very comfortable two-bed room with integral immaculate bathroom in an attractive hotel right in the centre. And at £12 a head at the height of the festival season it wasn’t at all bad. After a good shower we slid under our duvets grinning broadly and enjoying the unexpected stroke of indulgence. We slept very soundly after the previous night.

very happy and satisfied with the last few days. I was now alone, and a wonderful feeling of unencumbered freedom came over me. I had all I needed to live – money, bike to travel, clothes, sleeping and cooking gear, cameras, maps – for weeks, and what weeks of unknown promise lay ahead! The feeling was quite intoxicating! With the bike fully unloaded I buzzed freely about the town, looked in the shops, bought one or two spares for the bike and ate fresh fish lunch at a ‘Nordsee’. I then went to Wahnfried and spent three hours there, listening to excerpts from productions, 1900 to the present, and strolled in gardens and parks. Then I span out of town and up the hill, past the scene of the previous day’s experience to the woods beyond. I slipped the bike into first and cycled along the steep forest paths, nearly losing myself in the woods. Then on my way back I wandered around Festspielhaus for the last time, taking scenes on Minox Kodachrome. Returning to the station, I loaded up the bike, phoned home and took the slow train to Nürnberg. I arrived there about 7pm with only three minutes to cart gear across the platforms. I put my hand luggage in the front of the train then ran along with loaded bike looking out for the luggage van. At the rear end, I was told I could not take a bike on Schnellzug! Panic! Only 30 seconds until departure and these German trains are punctual. I got on my bike and actually reached top gear along the platform, rushing into the front, with ‘Vorsicht beim Abfahrt’ sounding over the loudspeaker just as I lay my hands on my hand luggage. I rushed for the door, but just too late. The pressure system held it locked. I was on an express to Munich with no stops in between, no way to get back for at least four hours, probably not even the same day, and my heavily laden gorgeous machine was standing there on the platform, a duck for the taking!

Tuesday 11th August A sumptuous breakfast, then a gentle stroll through the town. We were amazed how far DM10 went in the supermarkets. After cashing some money in a bank full of Wagneralia (photos

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Desperately I forced the door, finally applying all my might. The train was really picking up speed as it gave, and to cries of ‘Don’t do it!’ I rolled onto the platform still in one piece. An invigorating experience! What a clot at the Bayreuth ticket

again were soon swamped by the humour of the situation. At last I found a policeman who directed me to the stationmaster who with a key switch brought the gate down. I loaded my bike and cycled into the streets outside. All except the main

office! He sold me the Schnellzug ticket and bike ticket together. I waited one hour wandering around old Nürnberg and then got on a slow train via Augsburg for Munich at around 8.15pm. Due there at 10.15pm, I should’ve just been able to make a youth hostel, but these hopes were dashed as we waited on the platform in the middle of nowhere for an hour. There turned out to be a fault on the line ahead and we had to make a massive detour, eventually arriving at Munich at 12.30am. The large station was full of young people kipping for the night. After wandering around aimlessly for an hour, I realised I desperately needed sleep, so I found a spot, loaded my luggage into a locker, lay out my trail mat next to some Swedes and crawled into my survival bag (sleeping bag still sopping from two nights before), but just before I dropped off I thought I must citadel the bike to something firm. In a semi-somnambulant state, I wheeled it to a large grid structure – ‘just the thing,’ I thought, as I citadeled it to that – and then dropped off. The Swedes were laughing about something.

streets were quiet at this time of morning and I cycled here and there looking for breakfast. It was an hour before I found somewhere open, a nice little café in a small side street about two miles from the station. I took a newspaper from the rack and enjoyed boiled egg, brotchen and tea. Heading back to the station, I picked up a map in tourist information and had just decided I would go to the nearby Transalpino shop to buy my return ticket, Bucharest-Hamburg, when I thought just how much a chap walking by with a rucksack reminded me of Steve Ross. Intrigued, I investigated further, and indeed it was him. We sat at a café table and chatted for an hour. He was just coming home from a three-week walking holiday in the Stubai Alps with three Bristol friends and I was in an eager, whirly state of anticipation concerning the Alps and walking in them, and listened to his experiences with great interest. After saying goodbye and looking forward to a reunion at home, I made my way to the old restored part of the city, a pedestrian precinct. I wheeled my bike through the crowds and past street musicians enjoying the colour and life and near-carnival spirit in the Rathausplatz, so different from some of the northern cities I had seen at Easter. I had a fleischtellar and merretich in a full open-air restaurant beyond the Rathausplatz, then wandered slowly back, found a bank and then the Transalpino shop. I wanted an open ticket from Bucharest to Hamburg (to arrive for my cousin Ulrike’s wedding on 18th September) – open because I couldn’t be sure exactly the day I would come back (from Bucharest, since my aim was to get to the Black Sea). Unfortunately, Transalpino only went to Budapest, but worse still, a return ticket had to be dated. As dating the ticket was only a matter of filling it in with ink, I managed to persuade them to leave it blank for me to fill

Wednesday 12th August As I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was my bicycle slowly rising 30 feet into the air. Now I realised what the Swedes had been laughing about. I had locked my bicycle to the large grid gate that had come down to close the station at 2am and, at 6am, when the station was reopened, the electric winch had made light work of lifting the bike and gate up to early-morning commuters whose expressions reflected a whole medley of thoughts, the complete spectrum from thunderstruck incomprehension to forthright open laughter as they walked under the gate craning their necks. Feelings of concern for the bike and fears of having to wait until the station closed again tomorrow before I could get at it 52 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

in when I wanted to use it! I could just see myself forgetting to do this, so when they assured me it was vital I did not forget, I scratched it hard onto my memory. Back into the harsh sunlight outside. I had just spent £30 for a ticket from Budapest

Italian side. As I descended, the mountains in the distance looked forbidding and cold. Nearing civilisation, the sunlight made lovely dappled effects on the grassy slopes ahead. I cycled through Merano and Bolzano. The grapes on sale were

to Hamburg. No turning back now! It was 4pm. I readjusted the load on my bike, bought some fruit, changed into shorts and short-sleeved shirt since it was hot, headed back into the centre and out toward the south east. The largescale map I was using was not much use and soon I was on the wrong road to Glonn. I turned off right and eventually found my way via a maze of tiny roads through small villages to the road further south that I wanted. I cycled on gently but steadily over pleasant green hilly landscape to Feldkirchen, asked at an Apotheke and soon found our friends the Schonsees in Feldkirchen-Westerham a little further on, arriving at around 6pm. The route from Munich strangely rang no bells even though I had followed it with Alan and Alexander three years before. But the Schonsees and their home I remembered well, and there was Dad having arrived by plane at Munich a few hours before. What followed was a lovely week walking in the Austrian Alps with my father. It was great to have this time together. Alone once more, I relished the challenge of cycling all the way from Munich to Romania. For those who read my account of my America trip, two years later I did a similar thing here – deliberately chose the most challenging route, cycling over the Alps twice, the first pass north-south over the formidable Timmelsjoch rather than the much lower Reschen pass. My route took me up the Oztal, climbing all the time, via a village called Obergurgle where there was a statue of an alpiniste pointing to the mountains and from where the ascent-proper began. Needless to say I had to push the bike up such a slope and, as I ascended, the clouds and sunlight made beautiful and dramatic patterns. At the top I took a photo to prove I had made it there (c8500 feet) and then began the hair-raising descent down a road of terrible quality on the

particularly mouth-watering. Passing through the romantically named Cortina d’Ampezzo was a particular thrill. I did some serious walking in the Dolomites, taking a cable car up from Ortisei (St Ulrich) and walked through beautiful pasture land circling distinctive mountain peaks called the horse teeth (Rosszähne). At points the path went through dramatic ascents and there was some great photography to be had. One example was a gurgling stream through rocky clefts. Suddenly there was a heavenly view of the Rosszähne illuminated by the late afternoon sun and such clarity of air that the Zillertaler Alps 50 miles away were clearly visible. Then began the re-crossing of the Alps in the south-north direction. At Heiligenblut I left the bike and attempted an ascent of the Grossglockner peak, c12000 feet. What was particularly thrilling was entering the realm of the eternal snow here in summer. I was not at all equipped for this, wearing tennis shoes and a woolly jumper. The sky was a beautiful inky blue, but sadly I could not make the final ascent, which necessitated crampons. Then I had a stroke of luck: I met up with some Austrian climbers who let me rope up to them, enabling the descent down precarious snowy slopes to the famous Pasterze glacier, rather than me having to retrace my steps the way I had come. Then there was a great spirit in the party because the scenery was stupendous. We crossed this great glacier, deadly crevasses looming at every turn. I captured this wonderful experience on my Minox. I returned to the bike and set off eastwards to Salzburg and Vienna. There, in the middle of the night, I met an elderly gentleman who appeared the next day sleeping with stick in front of one of the big palaces. I took a picture, at which someone said that’s a ‘meisterfoto’, and indeed when I got home and printed it up to 16x20 inches, calling it The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 53

‘Vienna man’, it was probably the best photo I had ever taken. Onwards I pressed, crossing Hungary in a few days. I took an interesting photo of a group of musicians in a pub playing zither, violin and

it to my dream destination, Romania – at this point still behind the Iron Curtain, increasing my excitement. I entered the north of the country which, being poorer, I thought would make a more interesting contrast to the sophisticated west,

double bass. The surrounds and clothing looked 19th century! The further east I got the more privileged and excited I felt. At last I had made

my home. I had to change £5 for every day I was there (a lot for a student in those days) and there was a severe problem for me. There was nothing

Vienna man by Robert Norris.

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to be had in the shops except bottled plums! Not enough to satisfy a cyclist’s healthy appetite. People were either self-sufficient, or bartered amongst themselves or bought raw produce from markets. Luckily for me, two people really helped

night and showed me some fascinating love letters written by her grandparents in the old days of the Austro-Hungarian empire. It was a stark contrast to my journey into the city where I couldn’t find accommodation and was forced to sleep in the

me out. They made a sign circling their hands around on their tummies, at which point I said an eager ‘yes’. I was famished and as thin as a rake owing to malnutrition. The first family gave me a lovely fricassee (from their own chickens!) and put me up. I took a touching picture of them looking very proud to be photographed. The mother was a teacher and I had to communicate with her in French. The little village was called Piscolt. The second family who took me in had a house of wooden construction with a very cosy interior, lined with homemade embroidered cloth. There was a total language barrier; we communicated with sign language! One fascinating experience I had was to attend a local farmers’ market. Ox-pulled carts were the rule here. I was back in the Middle Ages and took some priceless pictures of the way of life here. Another experience was a crowd of gypsies swarming towards me, intrigued by me and my flash bicycle, originating for them from a mystical west. This was another priceless photo. Another surprise was to see steam trains still in use, and every Sunday the colourful national costumes worn by all. Yet another surprise was trying to phone home (like E.T.!) I had to do it from a telephone exchange where they hadn’t even heard of England! Every now and then I kept on pinching myself. Was I really here, at the final destination of my pilgrimage? Now it was near the end of September. I had made it to the Borsa Pass, not that far from the Black Sea. I was forced against my wishes to turn back for three reasons: my university term was starting soon, I had promised to make it to my cousin’s wedding in Hamburg, and the weather had turned rainy and cold. I took the train to Cluj, then to Budapest. Here a kind old lady put me up for the

central reservation of a dual carriageway! On my return journey to Hamburg, a disaster occurred. The bike was coming separately, but, at a stop in Austria I got off the train for a break, stupidly leaving the handlebar bag with all my camera equipment on the train. When I returned the train had gone! A station master told me a Hamburg train was leaving soon and would overtake the slow train with the handlebar bag in! I could get off at a place called Bad Schallerbach and find my bag. I did this but sadly found the bag had gone, stolen. In addition to this disaster I had got off the train for which my ticket was valid, and later trains were barred. To cap it all, I did not have a penny of money left! I walked around the station in a kind of daze – in a funny sort of way, the shock of the situation woke me up and brought me into the present. Then a miracle occurred. Just by chance I got talking to the man behind the ticket counter, explaining my plight. He treated me to a meal, took me to a local political rally and said he would solve the ticket problem. He knew the ticket collectors on the next train to Hamburg and told them my situation. My ticket (or lack of it) was not looked at once on the whole journey! I met my family in Hamburg, sadly missing the wedding by a day. The first thing my dad did was to buy me a huge fry-up. I had hardly eaten for days. I then stayed with relatives until my bike arrived, then went back to England on the Prince Hamlet. Once home, I had so many tales to tell my university friends; I couldn’t express in words how wonderful the whole experience had been. And finally, one great stroke of luck. All my films had been stored in my bike panniers, not the handlebar bag with the cameras. So they weren’t lost – the cameras were replaceable, the films were not, hence the picture shown here. Robert Norris (Gr ‘78) The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 55

Memories from 1956 to 1960 Yes, the memories are still very strong nearly 60 years on. I joined the Junior School in September 1957

the door-hinge gap. Once someone called ‘KV Spud!’ and within seconds Mr Longrigg burst in saying, ‘Who called KV Spud?’ with a twinkle in his eye. School CCF was with Major Grace and Sergeant

in Hawks under the housemastership of Basil Hilliard, who owned a gleaming AJS motorbike kept under the Lych Gate. I only knew one boy, Ian Sear, because our fathers worked together. It was daunting coming from Potten End C of E Primary School at 11 years old. Everything seemed so large. Deans’ Hall with the portraits of ex-Headmasters looking down on us. Reggie Gulland, the head of the Junior School with his distinctive voice, and Jack Edge with his stutter. Lunch in Wingrave with that lovely custard and rhubarb carried to school by Mr Edwards on his bike. Mrs Lambert who ran the tuck shop and sold fizzy drinks at 2d, or 3d if you wanted a scoop of ice cream on the top. On hard-up days we made do with just a ½d chew. I loved those wall bars and ropes that went right to the ceiling, but the changing room was so cold when the boys left the door open. Then there was that nice warm swimming pool, but first you had to go through the smelly entrance where you left your shoes. Mr Pinches, a new master – but I don’t think he lasted long, perhaps he was not permanent. Then one day I moved up to the Senior School and Swifts House with Tubby Rayfield and Mr Millar. School and House Prefects and I were all introduced to fagging. A Prefect would shout out ‘Fag!’ from the Prefects’ Study and all of us would run. The last boy to get to the Prefects’ Study would be given a job such as, ‘Fetch my bike’. Our houseroom was next to Bees at the top of the two-storey circular staircase in the gym block. It was under a sloping roof but had good views of Mill Street. My classroom was opposite in the middle of the three thatched classrooms. If you stood in the wastepaper basket behind the door, you could see anyone approaching and could keep KV (cave, Latin for beware) through

Major Lambert. Scouts was run by Mr Haslam and the Pioneer Corps by Olly Wigmore, my favourite master. He once gave me a lift in his car up to the playing fields to start my task of painting the black pavilion white (inside only). The Armoury block with the .22 rifle range was a contrast to the Newcroft science building, opened by the Queen Mother. Field days were held on Northchurch Common and I remember loading our .303 rifles with blanks and putting a pencil down the barrel. They went well but we only had five blanks each for the day. Most of my memories are to do with the masters. Cramer Hartley, who drove up a German Autobahn the wrong way. Webber Jones and his sad demise on Watford Station. Spud Longrigg and us having to push-start his car when the battery went flat. Cringe Redfern, who allowed us to blanco our Corps gaiters during Divinity. Monty Fry with his white handkerchief tucked up his jacket sleeve. Peter Gibbs. Tubby Rayfield and his black labrador in his study. David Pearce or DRAP in Incent’s, Flossy Roberts and Carrots Roberts with Reggie Fair in School House. There are lots more, including Miss Rogers and Mr Stevens in Music. Mr Oakins and Puddefoot in Carpentry and Metalwork, Mr Fisher and Mr MacDonald, Mr Wraith, Maggie Gaussen, Mr Harrison for rugby and Mr Bennett for Art. After School and way into my career I got to know the Lord Mayor of London who was an ex-School Governor, Sir Kenneth Cork. He is featured in that famous painting of the ex-Heads and Governors which still hangs in Old Hall. I was really welcomed into Kodak and my 40-year career got off to a good start thanks to my School. Thank you, Berkhamsted. Martin Adams (Sw ‘60)

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EVENTS AND REUNIONS

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Sir Robin Knox-Johnston returns At 13.45 on 14th June 1968, Old Berkhamstedian Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (SJ ‘56) left Falmouth on his 32ft yacht Suhaili to take part in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. The route would cover more than 30,000 nautical miles and take him and the other competitors through the most treacherous seas with waves of up to 25 metres high. Of the nine competitors that started the race, four retired before leaving the Atlantic Ocean, one retired after sailing past the Cape of Good Hope, one sank with only 2,000km to go, Donald Crowhurst – who in desperation, attempted to fake a round-the-world voyage to avoid financial ruin – committed suicide and Bernard Moitessier abandoned the race. Robin Knox- Johnston was the only entrant to complete the race, which took 312 days, battling against storms and huge waves to get home

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on 22nd April 1969, to become the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. He donated his £5,000 prize money to the Crowhurst family. Sir Robin donated his Golden Globe to the School, which has pride of place in the Knox-Johnston Sports Centre. To this day, only around 200 people

Fifty years after Sir Robin sailed back into Falmouth, he repeated that famous arrival, welcomed to shore by a flotilla of Old Berkhamstedian boats and other well-wishers. This is the story of a momentous Easter weekend.

have ever sailed non-stop single-handed around the globe, while more than 700 have been to the moon. Sir Robin has been an inspiration to many sailors of all ages with his courage and determination and love of the sea. He has recently had his autobiography published by Simon and Schuster and titled Running Free. It is available in all reputable book shops.

RKJ and Suhaili – 50 Years It was in June 2018, sailing back to Gosport on Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s famous yacht Suhaili, when the plan was born. I was lucky enough to have been invited to join Robin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of him starting his single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world and, as we sailed back from Les Sable D’Olonne, I asked Robin what his plans were to celebrate the anniversary of his return to Falmouth, on 22nd April at 1525hrs, some 313 days later. ‘Oh, not too much,’ he replied, modestly. ‘I shall probably sail Suhaili down to Falmouth – the OBSC would be very welcome if they wanted to be part of it?’ It was immediately clear from the initial interest from the OB community that they did want to celebrate it and that it was going to be the biggest event I had organised while running the OBSC!

I was very touched that 45 Old Berkhamstedians joined me in Falmouth to celebrate 50 years since I returned there after making the first solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world. We made a good impact with large Old Berkhamstedian flags flying from a number of the boats. I am often asked why Bill Tilman and I like going to the Polar regions. The answer is that when you have survived a boarding house in the Tring gap in the Chilterns with a mid-winter northerly wind, and the heating of the House has broken down, the Polar regions seem quite benign! Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (SJ ‘56)

Before 2018 was out, we had booked three charter yachts in Falmouth and Ceto and Becky were confirmed to be sailing down from Southampton. We also had a growing number of shore-based crew keen to enjoy the atmosphere in Falmouth – not an insignificant commitment given Falmouth is just over 300 miles each way from Berkhamsted. And so the Old Berkhamstedians were mobilised!

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With the breeze building, we made good time and entered Portland Harbour just before 2100hrs at some considerable speed, to be greeted by the local bottle-nosed dolphin! With the easterly wind forecast to build to gale force on the 15th, we were keen to take the favourable weather window around the infamous Portland Bill and across Lyme Bay and so left at 0500hrs the next morning to take the sympathetic tide around the Bill. The wind built as forecast, which made for a quick downwind blast with regular surfing down the waves at more than 10 knots! We spent the following day in Dartmouth to allow the stronger winds to pass and the crew

Becky and Suhaili.

I immediately enlisted some hardy crew (Ken Main (Ad ‘93), Andy Gillett (Gr ‘97) and Adam Baggott (Sw ‘97)) to help me sail Becky down from Southampton to Falmouth. Being somewhat smaller than Liz’s yacht Ceto, we jumped the start and set off a little earlier than her from Poole in an easterly breeze bound for Portland Harbour.

Robin’s own ale!

Falmouth Land crew. 60 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Sunrise over Portland Bill.

Recuperating in the Saucy Duck.

to explore (mainly a pub called the Saucy Duck) before heading the 33 nautical miles to Plymouth. Once tied up, we had a pleasant reminder of some of Robin’s other achievements on the honours board in the Royal Western Yacht Club, his first Round Britain Victory coming the year after his circumnavigation. With just one final hop before meeting everyone in Falmouth, it seemed silly to miss the opportunity to visit the Plymouth Gin Distillery while we were there and some excellent cocktails were enjoyed by all! With another early start planned to catch the tide, everyone was up and ready(-ish) to go at 0600hrs the following morning only to be thwarted by the discovery of a broken engine mount on Becky. Given this is one of the four mounts securing the engine, this had to be resolved and, incredibly, with some great team work, ingenuity and brute force, we were able to remove it and have a new one made and in place

by the time of the next favourable tide, and so set off for our final destination early afternoon. It was a night arrival into Falmouth, in the early hours of Thursday 18th April, and it seemed fitting that the GPS on Becky chose that moment to stop working, forcing us to use the traditional methods which Robin would have used for his circumnavigation, of chart and bearing compass. We followed the flashing Green and Red Buoys into Falmouth harbour at the end of the delivery trip but the start of an amazing weekend of celebrations. A huge thank you to Ken, Adam and Andy for their company, sailing skills and for putting up with the Skipper! They then took charge of their own charter yachts for the weekend and a real buzz grew in Falmouth as we were quickly joined by 50 Old Berkhamstedians, ashore and afloat, ready for the weekend festivities. On Saturday 19th April, the five yachts of the OBSC flotilla, dressed in Old Berkhamstedian flags, departed Falmouth harbour to welcome Robin, aboard Suhaili, and his accompanying flotilla from Clipper and the Cruising Association. Robin was delighted to see the OBSC awaiting his arrival off St Anthony Head and complimented us on our turn-out and arrowhead formation! The next couple of days, everyone enjoyed the celebrations in the glorious weather. Falmouth was alive with energy and there were a number of events in Robin’s honour – the unveiling of a brass plaque with Robin’s footprints on, his talk in

Honours Board.

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of Robin sailing Suhaili passed Bishop’s Rock at 1525hrs on 22nd April 2019, exactly 50 years after completing his first circumnavigation. Suhaili was flanked by hundreds of sailing yachts, dinghies, motor launches and even HMS Mersey, who fired

the National Maritime Museum and the party at St Mawes Sailing Club, with Robin proudly wearing his OB shirt – before we got to the main event

a salute at 1525hrs. A huge thank you to everyone who made the long journey by land or sea to join us to mark this incredible achievement and make this such a fun weekend. Everywhere we went, people commented on how many there were wearing our shirts and flying our flags. Gavin Rees (SH ‘97)

The Young Berkhamstedian Meets the Old Berkhamstedian Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s achievement has been celebrated by the School community for 50 years. The Berkhamsted pupils proudly associate their School with adventurous and high achieving Old Berkhamstedians such as Sir Robin. William Brown in Year 2 of Pre-Prep travelled with his family to Falmouth, Cornwall, to join the celebrations where Robin Knox-Johnston completed his extraordinary sail in 1969. William is the son of Catherine and Steven Brown (SG ‘01), Steven being an Old Berkhamstedian. Earlier in the year, pupils in Year 2 completed an Explorer Project. William enjoyed the opportunity to discover the geography of oceans. He learned about the challenges Sir Robin may have faced on his expedition such as huge waves, storms and mechanical issues. Like many Berkhamsted pupils, William regularly takes part in swimming lessons at the Knox-Johnston Sports Centre. He would often stop to look and admire Sir Robin’s Golden Globe Trophy placed there in recognition of the legendary Old Berkhamstedian. His mother Catherine said, ‘William really loved the Explorer Project. Having seen Sir Robin’s trophy on display, he was inspired to find out more about 62 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

his fellow Berkhamstedian. It made the whole project more tangible – having seen the trophy and knowing that Sir Robin also went to the same school. To then meet Sir Robin and to have the opportunity to ask him a question at the talk during the 50th anniversary celebrations was absolutely thrilling for him.’ Ollie Moore

The OBSC Flotilla 18th-22nd April 2019 Well, what a magnificent occasion, and, for some background, please refer to Gavin Rees’ scene-setting article in the 2019 edition of The Old Berkhamstedian, pages 80, 81, 82 and 83. Now, 2018 was the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (SJ ‘56) departing Falmouth, and Monday 22nd April 2019 was the 50th anniversary of his return. The OB turnout was quite splendid, with some 30 sailors in five yachts, and a shore-based group of 11 mainly staying at the Greenbank Hotel on the Falmouth waterfront. These were Lynne Oppenheimer (Hon), James Milne (Hon), Mike Horton (Sw ‘64), Anne-Marie Horton, Tom Horton (Ch ‘04), Jayne Willson, Peter Willson (Co ‘66), Janet Webb, Mynerva Altman (Smith) (Bu ‘56), Keith Mans (Lo ‘64), Rosalie Mans and Tasha Waggett (Altman) (Bu ‘84).

Both sailors and shore-based supporters were proudly wearing their RKJ/Suhaili OBSC dark blue shirts which made the event look very professional! The shore-based group had a magnificent view from Pendennis Point of the large number of yachts sailing in attendance with Suhaili and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Additional support was provided by the Royal Navy in the form of HMS Mersey, with its impressive and welcoming fire hoses ‘playing over the ocean’ for quite some time during the peak of the sail-in. In the evening a large reception was held at St Mawes Sailing Club, where speeches and a presentation were made to honour RKJ’s achievement, and a later second reception was held at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. To properly appreciate the record turnout and support given by the OBSC to this very special celebratory occasion, it is fitting to list and describe each of the participating yachts, starting with Suhaili.

The OBSC tied up in Falmouth. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 63

Robin joined the OBs aboard Yemaya.

Suhaili

Louise – Jeanneau 35

Skipper: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Suhaili was built in India in 1963/1964 while Sir Robin was working there as a Merchant Seaman, and she is constructed of teak and weighs around 10 tons. Since the original circumnavigation, Sir Robin has continued to sail her regularly, and in recent times a comprehensive refit has been undertaken by RKJ himself.

Skipper: Adam Baggott (Sw ‘97) Crew: David Johnson (1st Mate) (Fr ‘88), Chris Mackay (Ad ‘69), Emily Douetil (Sp ‘13), Alex Bentley (Na ‘12), David Wotherspoon (Gr ‘90), Sarah Burdett

Becky Skipper: Gavin Rees (SH ‘97) Crew: Vicky Rees (Hon), Mollie Rees (aged 9) and Bethan Rees (aged 3)

Tigger 2 – Dufour Skipper: Ken Main (Ad ‘93) Crew: Alicia Main, Lewis Main, Alex Main, Chris Broadway (1st Mate) (In ‘79), Andy Gillett (Gr ‘97) 64 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Yemaya – Bowman 50 Skipper: Cyprian Heckstall of Bowman Yacht Charters of Falmouth Crew: Chris Ralphs (Sw ‘96), Brian Ralphs, David Webb (Sw ‘62), Peter Harding (Fr ‘68) and Corinna Whitfield (Drake) (SH ‘68) Corinna Whitfield writes: ‘For someone who last sailed in the 1960s on Lake Victoria, Uganda, the anticipation of four nights on a yacht with a group of unknown people was a mixture of excitement and anxiety. On meeting my fellow sailors Brian Ralphs, Chris Ralphs, David Webb, Peter Harding and Skipper Cyprian Heckstall, any concerns were

washed away when I was asked if I needed to plug my hairdryer in as the electrics would need turning on! Not likely! ‘That’s what the wind is for.’ Relief and laughter touched everyone and we began our adventure in glorious weather, calm seas and comfy berths. Skipper Cyprian took us out of Falmouth and, with sails flying, ropes winched, Yemaya ploughed her way through the waves at a steep angle which was just thrilling and reminded me of being on the trapeze. We had to hang on tight so as not to slide right off the side! The crew took turns at the helm to steer Yemaya. It was such a thrill to feel the power of the wind, water and the beautiful yacht responding to the lightest touch. The yacht was becalmed on the second day, so the time was spent enjoying the buzz around Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who joined us and the Old Berkhamstedian crews from the other four yachts for a celebration drink and group photo on board Yemaya. ‘Fortunately, Yemaya’s crew had taken the wise precaution of investing in some suitable grog to quench the thirst – largely gin and tonics, and only the best of course, Blue Sapphire, and also

some beer for when Sir Robin ventured on board. The photo (courtesy of Gavin Rees) shows the historic occasion.

RKJ footsteps.

OBSC welcoming Suhaili in to Falmouth. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 65

Above: Ceto and Becky. Right: Rounding St Anthony Head.

‘Falmouth Town celebrated the unveiling of Sir Robin’s ‘bronze feet’ overlooking the harbour. Sir Robin was later fêted by the St Mawes Sailing Club and made an honorary member with a lifetime free mooring! Falmouth itself was packed with eager spectators for the major event on Monday 22nd April. OB members who were not sailing lined the hilltop to watch the flotilla and the attendant war ship, HMS Mersey, P283, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, celebrate with Sir Robin as he crossed the finishing line in Suhaili. Horns, sirens and cheers of congratulations wafted across the water honouring Sir Robin’s astounding achievement of sailing solo around the world 50 years ago.’

CETO – Hanse 455 Skipper: Liz Simons Crew: Gary Simons, James Westley (Sw ‘74), Lizzie Jones, Tim Westley (SG ‘04), Ed Railton (Bu ‘04), Elizabeth Whaley (Sp ‘15) 66 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Liz Simons writes: ‘We had a lovely time cruising around Falmouth even in the becalming conditions around the Easter weekend – which was untypically hot – playing with all the inflatables, kayak, stand-up paddleboard and dinghy while waiting for the tide to rise enough to get back to the Marina! We were well fed by Lizzie Jones, with evening meals all pre-prepared at home, and overwhelmed by the lemon drizzle cake, fruit cake and flapjacks galore! Fortunately, we had plenty of easterly winds going west from Southampton to Falmouth, but the trip back was eventful and full-on with F7 gusting F8 southerly from Brixham direct back to Southampton with some fast passages just ahead of Storm Hannah.’ Tim Westley writes: ‘It was a truly memorable experience sailing into port as part of the flotilla led by RKJ, and the local journalist endlessly chasing everyone for timings and information was also memorable!’ David Webb (Sw ‘62)

OB AGM and Annual Dinner Friday 29th March 2019 On a balmy evening, unseasonably warm for the time of year, and on what was destined, whatever one’s political persuasion, to be a momentous milestone in the history of the British Parliament, the day when Brexit was scheduled to happen, the Old Berkhamstedians assembled in the Quad in readiness for Chapel. There was a rather smaller group of communicants than usual, but this was not Brexit-related – we already knew that Parliament had earlier that day rejected the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan a third time. No, the more modest turnout was, more mundanely, attributable to a series of unconnected roadworks and building development projects purporting to cut Berkhamsted off from the outside world and make parking nearby nigh impossible! Those of us who managed to arrive at the service on time sang hymns which had been chosen for the memorial service of Chris Jay, former pupil and then gym, swimming and athletics master, his time at Berkhamsted spanning a period in excess of some 53 years. He had died in February at the age of 98. The same tribute, as was prepared for his memorial service by his son, Tim, was read out in Chapel which heightened our memories of yesteryear, our nostalgic associations with the School and its traditions, as well of our sense of belonging. After the service we were ushered into the room, adjacent to Old Hall, set aside for the permanent display of memorabilia involving the School,

ranging over its long history. This, the School Archive, is a fascinating place to revisit a number of times. There is plenty there to trigger the memories of times past for most of us former pupils and to be reminded of the importance of a good education; a constant in an ever-changing world. Whilst there, some of us met the grandson of the last recipient of a VC in the Great War, Brett Cloutman, an OB himself who was later accorded a knighthood. Sir Brett’s grandson, Chris Everard, with his wife, Jan, was due to attend the OB Dinner later on. The story of the recovery of his grandfather’s ceremonial sword was told in The Old Berkhamstedian 2019. To cut a long story short, Chris had come to see the sword now installed with pride of place in the School Archive and to learn more about the educational institution which helped mould the character of his illustrious ancestor. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 67

was elected Hon Sec, with Brigitta Case (Norris) (NS ‘80) being elected as Deputy President. All other existing Committee members were also duly elected as well as the following as new members: Brigitta Case, Zoe Cavell, Corinna Whitfield (Drake)

Our visit to the School Archive was followed by the AGMs of The Old Berkhamstedians Limited and The Old Berkhamstedians Trust Company Limited where the accounts were presented and concisely summarised by Hon Treasurer John Rush, all of which were adopted unanimously. The Hon Secretary, Peter Willson, and the President, Emma Jeffrey (Fanning) (Ru ‘81) then made brief reports (of which more below as they both spoke at the dinner). Emma thereupon retired as President, having served three years in that role, and Peter was elected as President, himself relinquishing the role of Hon Sec. In his place, Zoe Cavell (Mayman) (Ho ‘95) 68 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

(SH ‘68) and Richard Case (Be ‘79) and the following two new Trustees elected to join the Trust Company’s board: Brigitta Case and Zoe Cavell. Back down the stairs trodden by millions of pairs of feet over the past six centuries, we joined the reception in Old Hall prior to the dinner. As animated conversations were beginning to create a crescendo of noise, the dinner bell was sounded and some 56 of us sat down to a sumptuous dinner which one feels can best be appreciated by noting what was on the menu: Smoked Salmon on a Bed of Rocket with a Dill Dressing; Roast Rump of Lamb on a Sweet Potato Cake, Roast Sauté Green Beans, Buttered Spinach with a Rich Lamb, Rosemary and Garlic Sauce, followed by Dark Chocolate & Prune Tart with Clotted Cream & a Salted Caramel Sauce, all accompanied by delicious wines. For many of us with long memories of school dinners of indifferent quality, this menu could not fail to excite our taste buds. These OB dinners really are exceptionally good value. It was a nice touch to incorporate the names of all attendees on the Menu; particularly useful for those with faltering memories for names. Dinner was followed by a Welcome and Toast to HM the Queen by the outgoing President, Emma Jeffrey. Emma recounted her two priority aspirations published following her being appointed as President of the OBs: one, to oversee the digitisation of the School’s written archive; and two, to secure the appointment of representatives of a younger generation as Committee members and trustees. In relation to the first, she announced that all the Berkhamstedian and Old Berkhamstedian magazines had now been successfully scanned and recorded electronically, and as to the second, she announced the appointment of the new generation of OB Committee and Trust Company

members (referred to in the fourth paragraph of this report). Peter Willson, the new President, then thanked Emma Jeffrey for her excellent tenure as President and bouquets were presented to Emma and Vicky Rees in recognition and with thanks for their respective roles as President and as organiser of the dinner. A painting of the School was presented to Chris Everard as a memento of the day and tribute was paid to Chris Jay who had recently died (ibid). Richard Backhouse, the Principal, after thanking Emma Jeffrey for her work as President of the OBA, then spoke of the encouraging progress at the School over the previous year, the 34 school weeks since last year’s dinner event. With some 2,000 pupils experiencing around 360,000 schooldays in that period, it was difficult for him to capture the essence of the vibrancy and fast-paced dynamism of the institution which is the heart of Berkhamsted and which he has now served for a four-year period. He gave a few examples of the School’s sporting prowess: the 1st XV rugby team having been ranked the eighth best team in England; every single lacrosse team, across all age-ranges, having reached at least the last eight of their respective knock-out competitions, the First lacrosse team being National Champions twice over; the success of the netball teams; (U14, U16, and U19 teams reaching the National Finals day for the first time); the participation of the equestrian team at the celebrated Hickstead trials. However the Berkhamsted story was not just about sport.

The previous night Berkhamsted students had been celebrated with accolades at a music awards dinner and a recent drama production had been praised as being of London West End standard. The Principal expressed himself to be increasingly astonished at the achievements of pupils in a multiplicity of wide-ranging activities. The School’s success has been forged against a background of a national teaching shortage with the School continuing to recruit teachers of phenomenal talent. In addition, five graduates have been recruited to help with sports education and as role models. He mentioned the departure of some key personnel such as the Bursar and the Deputy Headmaster and of ‘13 new significant appointments’. The Principal also announced the arrival of six students, the previous September, from North Luton on new bursaries. It would be good also for the School’s existing fee-paying students, he said, to witness that kind of aspiration from their own positions of comparative privilege and advantage. Six more such students will join the School in September this year. The School, he announced, was establishing a new boys’ house named in recognition of one of the greatest new genre of Headmasters (considered by many as ‘the second founder of the School’ after it had lost impetus in the Victorian era): Bartram. The School has a new 3G sports pitch at Kings and is seeking planning permission for some more netball courts with a longer-term plan to establish a new Sixth Form block. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 69

the School’s pupils to aspire to: Aim High with Integrity. Be Adventurous. Serve Others. He felt that, with all the extramural activities available throughout, the School was not just about learning how to earn a living but also how

In terms of academic achievement, the Principal mentioned that all those students lucky enough to be given unconditional offers of places at university in the last academic year had not shown the least complacency, going on to achieve greater levels of success on average. All these achievements, he said, were illustrative of the new values (adopted by the School shortly after the Principal took up his appointment) for

After 50 Plus Years Reunion The 50 Plus Years group met in May at Berkhamsted Golf Club. It was a pleasant, sociable occasion, the fifth which I have organised and the 15th in total. I thank all who have attended during my sessions and hope that you will support John Hilsden (Ad ‘62),

to have a life worth living. This the pupils were certainly doing. The evening was rounded off with us all singing the Carmen at high volume to the dulcet tones of the piano played by Mary Beard (Hon). Occasions like these, when former pupils can get together, are not just universally enjoyed at their own level but they also inspire ideas for greater involvement and collegiality which have the result of successfully reaching out and generating re-engagement with our contemporaries. One only has to read about some of the year group alumni reunions to understand the huge rapport which follows from re-living one’s history. Michael Webster (Be ‘60)

who will be organising in future. The pattern which has evolved seems to suit the occasion and serves our purpose well. I hope to be at the 2020 gathering and am pleased that John is happy to keep this event going. John will be in touch with you all early in 2020. I hope to meet with everyone this coming May. E. John Williams (Be ‘54)

Back row, left to right: John Williams, Derek Jarrett, Michael Harrison, John Stevens, Anthony Flack, Derek Whitehead, John Hilsden, Jeremy Hopkinson, Brian Norris, Gordon McBride, John Linton, John Prior, John Rush. Front row, left to right: Dickie Taylor, Tony Lloyd, Tony Grace, Peter Hopes, Peter Gates, Charles Bennett, Bob Clark, Richard Bavister, Alan Scott, Jeremy Walker. 70 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

1999 Leavers’ 20-Year Reunion Although 10 years had passed since their last official reunion at the School, none of the faces had changed, everyone instantly recognisable to each other. The stories of life, careers, marriages, children and much more meant that the evening flew by, as former pupils were joined by former and current staff. OBs from around the world gathered for this event, with those from Australia booking their

tickets well in advance, the chance to catch up with each other too great to miss. Conversations flowed freely as the group discussed their time at school, what they were up to now, and what the future held. As the evening drew to a close, the party moved elsewhere, into town, as there was still so much to talk about! Thanks go to Helen Sinclair (Davis) (SH ‘99) for helping to organise the event and to Ed Whetham (Bu ‘99) for his speech at the end of dinner. Vicky Rees (Hon)

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2009 Leavers’ 10-Year Reunion On Saturday 12th October 2019, 54 former pupils gathered in Deans’ Hall for their 10-Year Reunion, joined by 14 former and current staff, for an opportunity to catch up and reminisce about their time at Berkhamsted School, how some things had changed and how some things were just the same! For many, this was their first opportunity to return to the School since leaving, and it was great to see everyone having a good time during the drinks reception and meal that followed. As the message went around for last orders, the party moved on to the Kings Arms. Vicky Rees (Hon)

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2019 Leavers’ End of First Term Reunion A new event for the diary saw us welcome leavers from 2019 to the Mad Squirrel Brewery, Berkhamsted High Street, on Monday 16th December, the first official opportunity to bring those together who left last summer. We were joined by between 30 to 40 OBs during the evening. Chat quickly turned to university life, living without parents, the courses that everyone

was studying and the best places to go out, and – for those on a gap year – life in Berkhamsted, raising funds for future adventures and a few tips on starting university next year. Those in attendance thought the reunion was a great idea, so we are hopeful it will become a regular event in our annual calendar. Our thanks to everyone who came along to support the event, including OB President Peter Willson and Deputy President Brigitta Case. Vicky Rees (Hon)

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The OB Charity Concert A packed Centenary Theatre was enthralled by the extraordinary talents and performances that

Strides, Conrad Cheng, Reeves Ensemble with India Andrews and Ollie Brown, Sarah Munro and opera star Kathryn Jenkin – were all riveting. The energy of the dancers, the soaring notes of the singers, the tinkling of the ivories and the skill with

delighted the audience throughout the evening. James Green compered the event with comedic skills and confidence. The Charity Concert was held in order to raise money for three very special charities: Cancer Research UK, Mind and CRY. We have lost too many young people in the last few years, and the £2,341.49 raised by this event will be invaluable in supporting families bereaved through sudden adult death syndrome and cancer. We especially remember Paul Beard, Izzy Docherty, Harry Faulkner, Alex Hubbard, Tessa McIlwaine and Sandeep Shetty. The performers – Anna Mackay, St David’s House Choir, Chloe Champken, Emily Noithip, Poppy and Steve Redman, Lucy-Mae Bly, Urban

which all the instruments were played made this event so enjoyable and inspiring. It takes a lot to organise a big event like this. So thanks go to the Old Berkhamstedians and Berkhamsted School, along with all the bar staff and staff at front of house, backstage and on ticket sales. The excellent technical wizardry from Andrew Abbott and George Woods made this a night to remember and hopefully one to look forward to again in 2020 and for many years to come. The biggest thank you however is reserved for Richard McIlwaine (Hon) whose energy and enthusiasm has brought this event from planning to reality and who makes sure that every year the event grows in its success, as does the amount of money raised. Corinna Whitfield (Drake) (SH ‘68)

Old Berkhamstedians in America

dinner at the Yale Club on Lexington Avenue in New York City. We were watched by portraits of several presidents of that esteemed university. It is satisfying to realise that when, in 1701, Eli Yale founded his college in Connecticut, Berkhamsted School had already been in the education business for 160 years!

17th November 2019

We weren’t a large group, about a dozen or so, but a seed was planted from which something significant could grow. I’m speaking of the first official Old Berkhamstedian gathering in the USA. On Wednesday 9th October 2019, we met for 74 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Around the table were male and female Old Berkhamstedians, several spouses, together with the Principal who, only a few hours earlier, had arrived on a flight from London! Professor Peter Rees (Up ‘58) of the University of Delaware, having

Despite being without sleep for 24 hours, the Principal was on cracking form as he told the story of where Berkhamsted is now and the exhilarating vision for where the School is going. It was hard not to be gratified by our alma mater

left the School and headed for McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in 1958, was the senior attendee. Peter is a proud member of the 1st XV in the mid-fifties that was unbeaten for two seasons. Finance and real estate seemed to be the occupations of most of those present, although cancer research was represented, another former pupil present is an academic, while I am a retired but still working priest of The Episcopal Church. The youngest OB present had just earned her MBA at Yale and is beginning her business career in the Big Apple. Once wine had been served, tongues loosened, and we learned the route to and reasons why we had ended up on the left-hand side of the Atlantic. Some of us came for a few years and that has, as in my case, stretched to decades.

and enthusiastic about the course that is being steered for the future. There was a general feeling around the table of wanting to help and support the School as it faces new challenges in a rapidly changing world. Despite our respective generations, there was a sense of shared heritage to which we all belonged. Berkhamsted School has now been incorporated in the United States as a non-profit agency, enabling the garnering of support from sea to shining sea. As one of the ringleaders of this venture, it is my hope that in 2020 we can establish an Annual Fund that will encourage commitment and participation from the nearly 200 Old Berkhamstedians living in North America. Richard Kew (In ‘64)

OB London Steak Dinner

private dining table. Stories abounded about youthful exploits of those present and some, sadly, no longer with us. Not least the wonderful bomb that dear Tony Wheeler (Ad ‘67) and Daniel Slemeck (SJ ‘66) made in Tony’s father’s garden shed, then cycled to Wilstone Reservoir where they detonated it, creating a crater over six feet deep! Without doubt some of the slightly younger ones present found the exploits of their predecessors almost beyond belief and were even more incredulous that we used to get away with it. It would be terrific to see a few more join us next year for what is always a fun-filled evening. Those attending were: Peter Willson (President), Mike Horton, Corinna Whitfield, Richard Cooper, Brigitta Case, Richard Case, Margaret Aitchison (OS ‘61), Nick Jeffrey (Co ‘85), Michael Parsey (SG ‘16) and William Parsey (Hon). Richard Cooper (Ad ‘71)

Wednesday 4th December 2019 From near and not so near, 10 Old Berkhamstedians made their way to Southampton Row for the 62nd London Steak Dinner. A common theme on greeting old friends appeared to be – ‘Well, what on earth happened to 2019?’ We were always told as schoolboys that the years go by more quickly as you get older but no one ever mentioned just how fast! These days a whole year can seem to slip by faster than one of JAD’s infamous Latin or English lessons. After making the all-important choice of our first drink the chattering started in earnest and never slowed. After a little cajoling, Peter Willson said grace in Latin and the steak and chips was as delightful as ever, followed by cheese and biscuits, all washed down with copious quantities of fine wine and port. Although there were only 10 of us, it actually made the meal seem more like being around a

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Events Attendees OB AGM and Annual Dinner Richard Backhouse (Hon) Jane Bartholomew (Brown) (NS ‘68) Dennis Beard (Hon) Mary Beard (Hon) Michael Bond (Hon) Richard Case (Be ‘79) Brigitta Case (Norris) (NS ‘80) Natasha Charlton (Prior) (NS ‘86) Fred Charnock (Hon) Richard Dennis (Be ‘74) Keith Goddard (Ad ‘62) Pat Goddard (Guest) Alison Guthrie (Connell) (Ho ‘97) Ron Hall (In ‘60) Michael Harrison (Sw ‘60) John Hilsden (Ad ‘62) Helen Hilsden (Guest) Anne-Marie Horton (Past Parent) Lisa Horton (Guest) Matthew Horton (Sw ‘90) Mike Horton (Sw ‘64) Nick Jeffrey (Co ‘85) George Jeffrey (Co ‘84) Emma Jeffrey (Fanning) (Ru ‘81) Peter King (Co ‘60) Lesley Koulouris (Hon) Nigel Lane (Ad ‘65) John Linton (Ad ‘57) Jill Meadows (Richardson) (Bu ‘66) James Milne (Hon) Robert Norris (Gr ‘78) Lynne Oppenheimer (Hon) William Parsey (Hon) Liz Pearce (Hon) Gavin Rees (SH ‘97) Vicky Rees (Hon) Liz Richardson (Hon) Yvonne Rush (Caudery) (Bu ‘61) John Rush (Sw ‘59) James Shrimpton (Lo ‘58) Richard Smellie (In ‘61) Mary-Clare Startin (Hon) Peter Such (Sw ‘60) Richard Thompson (Hon) Rachael Warburton (Shek) (OS ‘87) Michael Webster (Be ‘60) Derek Whitehead (Ad ‘49) Robin Williamson MBE (Be ‘72) Peter Willson (Co ‘66) Jayne Willson (Past Parent) Bruce Winney (Sw ‘89) Sue Wolstenholme OBE (Ho ‘58) David Young (Be ‘60) 76 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Old Girls’ Lacrosse Match Ella Brown (Ch ‘18) Tara Dempsey (Sp ‘18) Anna Doyle (Re ‘14) Kaity Eames (Bu ‘17) Felicity Gates (Bu ‘17) Hannah Lansdell (Ch ‘18) Ali Marriott (Bu ‘18) Keelin McKenna (Ch ‘18) Emma Oakley (Na ‘13) Georgie Stockwell (Na ‘18) Zoe Thursz (SH ‘14) Emma Turner (Ch ‘09) Jo Vila (Lupton) (Bu ‘02) Izzy Yates (As ‘18) Old Girls’ Tennis Match Gill Baxter (Hewitt) (Ha ‘82) Sarah Beaman (Stoddart) (Ho ‘94) Brigitta Case (Norris) (NS ‘80) Annabel Green (Kingston) (Ho ‘88) Tanya Hart (Altman) (Bu ‘81) Hilary Hartley (Parent) Tasha Hathaway (Bottrill) (Bu ‘89) Joanne Hodge (Bellamy) (OS ‘94) Penny Kent (Hon) Eleanor Keohane (King) (SH ‘90) Tracey Mackey (Overton) (NS ‘81) Gavin Rees (SH ‘97) Vicky Rees (Hon) Caroline Spooner (Kingston) (Ho ‘91) Isla Stewart (Bu ‘97) Emma Turner (Ch ‘09) Jo Vila (Lupton) (Bu ‘02) Sue Wolstenholme OBE (Ho ‘58) 1999 Leavers’ 20-Year Reunion Mark Ashby (SG ‘99) Simon Baker (Ch ‘99) Katie Beales (Edrich) (As ‘99) Alex Biles (As ‘99) Hannah Brownsey (Thipthorpe) (Na ‘99) Brigitta Case (Norris) (NS ‘80) Fred Charnock (Hon) Hannah Claughton (Ha ‘99) Steve Dight (Hon) Erin Fletcher (Na ‘99) Fiona Forster (Robinson) (Ch ‘99) Mark Glover (SG ‘99) Tim Hand (SG ‘99) Alice Harrap (Hannaway) (OS ‘99) Chris Hayward (Hon) Remy Horton (Bu ‘99) Lizzie Jackson (Hillier) (Ha ‘99) Rosie Kelly (Hewitt) (Ho ‘99)

Dom Kozlowski (Gr ‘97) Caroline Lassen (Bu ‘99) Richard McIlwaine (Hon) Francesca McPhedran (Cartmell) (SH ‘99) Bob Newport (Hon) Chris Nicholls (Hon) Sue Nicholls (Hon) David Palmer (Sw ‘99) Anna Phan (Boyd) (Na ‘99) Vicky Rees (Hon) Claire Rhodes-Evans (Brown) (SH ‘99) Peter Riddick (Hon) Julia Riddle (Kemp) (Na ‘99) Alan Scott (SH ‘99) Helen Sinclair (Davis) (SH ‘99) Geri Thompson (Slater) (Re ‘99) Laura Thornton (Brown) (Bu ‘99) Jamie Travis (Be ‘99) Maiya Vandermeersch (Kantaria) (OS ‘99) Vicky Voysey (Brewer) (Ha ‘99) Emma Walker (Ha ‘99) Ed Whetham (Boddam-Whetham) (Bu ‘99) Chris Wigmore (Na ‘99) Alasdair Wild (Na ‘99) Emma Williams (Ch ‘99) Ed Wills (Ch ‘99) Tim Willson (Bu ‘99) Alex Wright (SH ‘99) 2009 Leavers’ 10-Year Reunion Emma Bailey (As ‘09) Liv Bardy (Fawcett) (Na ‘09) Melissa Billington (Ha ‘09) Alex Briand (Re ‘09) Celia Bruce (Ch ‘09) Amy Carswell (SG ‘09) Alex Carter (Ch ‘09) Priscilla Chadwick (Hon) Rob Chambers (SH ‘09) Jess Charman (Mason) (Na ‘09) Will Clarke (SG ‘09) Jake Collins (Na ‘09) Orlagh Conway (OS ‘09) Maeve Conway (Bu ‘09) Tilly Cording (As ‘09) Olivia Davidson (As ‘09) Steph Dobbs (Ha ‘09) Joshua Dollow (Bu ‘09) Emily Drake (SG ‘09) Olivia Dryden (SH ‘09) Pippa Eaves (SH ‘09) Mike Elliott (As ‘09) Zara Fountaine (As ‘09) Catherine Gadbury (Silcock) (SG ‘09) Tom Gilbey (SG ‘09)

Caroline Godden (Purse) (Bu ‘09) Victoria Gordon (Ch ‘09) Matt Griggs (Bu ‘09) Ellie Harrison (SG ‘09) James Harrison (SH ‘09) Liza Hart (SH ‘09) Emily Hartwell (Re ‘09) Annie Hill (Ha ‘09) Joe Iddison (Na ‘09) Andrew Joyce (SG ‘09) Roza Kokuti (As ‘09) Sarah Laws (Ch ‘09) Sophie Marsden (Ch ‘09) Amy Martin (SH ‘09) Kieran McCaul (As ‘09) Richard McIlwaine (Hon) Elliott Mears (Na ‘09) Elly Mills (Ch ‘09) Bob Newport (Hon) Chris Nicholls (Hon) Milly Palfreyman (Brown) (Ch ‘09) Nikki Plummer (Re ‘09) Steve Redman (Hon) Vicky Rees (Hon) Liz Richardson (Hon) Dave Richardson (Hon) Peter Riddick (Hon) Oliver Roberts (Ha ‘09) Laura Robinson (Re ‘09) Natalie Sawyer (Ho ‘09) Lara Stephenson (Na ‘09) James Taylor (SH ‘09) Richard Thompson (Hon) Emma Turner (Ch ‘09) Rosie Twogood (Re ‘09) Becky Warde (Ru ‘09) Andrew Webb (Hon) Peter Willson (Co ‘66) Will Wise (Ha ‘09) London Drinks Peter Adediran (In ‘86) Margaret Aitchison (OS ‘61) Ben Andrews (SH ‘06) Miles Bailey (SG ‘08) Michael Butler (Sw ‘72) Nick Chiang (Ch ‘08) Karan Chopra (Be ‘02) Tom Cottrell (SG ‘08) Tim Cox (Ad ‘68) Ashley Davis (Ch ‘06) Max Dudley (As ‘08) James Harrison (SH ‘09) John Hodgson (Ad ‘78) Jack Kilgannon (Bu ‘08) The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 77

Simon Massey (SH ‘90) Sebastian McCluskey (Co ‘08) Christopher Morriss (As ‘08) Jack Organ (Ch ‘06) Jonny Peppiatt (Ch ‘09) Guy Pooley (In ‘83) Christopher Ptaszynski-Neophytou (Ch ‘14) Vicky Rees (Hon) Charlie Rider (Sp ‘13) Richard Thompson (Hon) Corinna Whitfield (Drake) (SH ‘68) Peter Willson (Co ‘66) Samuel Woodcock (Ch ‘06) Angela Woodman (NS ‘60) London Steak Dinner Margaret Aitchison (OS ‘61) Richard Case (Be ‘79) Brigitta Case (Norris) (NS ‘80) Richard Cooper (Ad ‘71) Mike Horton (Sw ‘64) Nick Jeffrey (Co ‘85) William Parsey (Hon) Michael Parsey (SG ‘16) Corinna Whitfield (Drake) (SH ‘68) Peter Willson (Co ‘66) Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Celebration Mynerva Altman (Smith) (Bu ‘56) Adam Baggott (Sw ‘97) Alex Bentley (Na ‘13) Chris Broadway (In ‘79) Emily Douetil (Sp ‘13) Andrew Gillett (Gr ‘97) Peter Harding (Fr ‘68) Tom Horton (Ch ‘04) Mike Horton (Sw ‘64) Anne-Marie Horton (Past Parent) David Johnson (Fr ‘88) Chris Mackay (Ad ‘68) Ken Main (Ad ‘93) Alicia Main (Guest) Lewis Main (Guest) Alex Main (Guest) Rosalie Mans (Guest) Keith Mans (Lo ‘64) James Milne (Hon) Lynne Oppenheimer (Hon) Ed Railton (Bu ‘04) Chris Ralphs (Sw ‘96) Vicky Rees (Hon) Gavin Rees (SH ‘97) Mollie Rees (Guest) Beth Rees (Guest) 78 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Liz Simons (Hon) Gary Simons (Guest) Natasha Waggett (Altman) (Bu ‘84) David Webb (Sw ‘62) Janet Webb (Guest) Tim Westley (SG ‘04) James Westley (Sw ‘74) Lizzie Whaley (Sp ‘15) Corinna Whitfield (Drake) (SH ‘68) Peter Willson (Co ‘66) Jayne Willson (Past Parent) David Wotherspoon (Gr ‘90) OBGS Mixed Golf Event Players Neil Aitchison (Be ‘65) Andrew Barratt (Sw ‘66) Marilyn Barratt (Guest) David Blayney (Co ‘61) Andy Briscoe (Be ‘78) Colin Buckle (Be ‘63) Marion Buckle (Guest) John Douglas (Sw ‘69) Denys Firth (Lo ‘68) Pat Goddard (Guest) Lorna Hall (Guest) Nick Hall (Ad ‘62) Ann-Christine Hoskin (Guest) Keith Hoskin (Lo ‘64) Julie Ivelaw-Chapman (Hedges) (NS ‘71) Jane Jack (Past Parent) Malcolm Keeling (Co ‘67) Michael Kent (Co ‘61) Tricia Kent (Guest) Peter King (Co ‘60) Alison May (Guest) Graham May (Up ‘66) Rowena Paxton (Fletcher) (SH ‘70) Tom Pountney (Be ‘68) Peter Rodwell (Fr ‘74) Sue Rodwell (Collins) (Ru ‘76) Bernard Smith (Sw ‘58) Madeline Smith (Guest) Other attendees Nigel Chiltern-Hunt (Be ‘64) Shirley Chiltern-Hunt (Guest) Keith Goddard (Ad ‘62) Clare Keeling (OS ‘90) Nigel Lane (Ad ‘65) Ritva Lane (Guest) Michael Polnik (Lo ‘61) Cherry Ramseyer (OS ‘70) Sue Wolstenholme OBE (Ho ‘58)

SPORT

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From the Sports Secretary October 2019

who are each responsible for tasks that help

A warm welcome to all OBs from the Sports Secretary. The magazine provides me with an opportunity to let you know that the OB Committee supports a number of sports clubs and we would love for all OBs to get involved. We have sports clubs that run activities over the year, with some providing regular competitive opportunities, and others organising a few key events. So whether you still want to run around a football pitch, miss the fives court or want to feel a rifle in your hand again please get in touch. Over the next few pages you will read about the activities that have taken place over the year and some of the impressive results the teams have been achieving. The magazine also provides me with an opportunity to thank the team of volunteers who run the sports clubs. All captains are volunteers, many of whom organise their sports club activities while working full-time, and they do a great job. They are often supported by a team of volunteers

lighten the overall load. Without the volunteers our sports clubs would not function, so, as always, we would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all who are involved in making the OB Sports Clubs such a success. If you are reading this but thinking your sport isn’t represented, then please get in touch. The OB Committee offer funding to help establish new clubs, and continued funding to support activities. As well as the positive effects sport has on health and wellbeing, it also enables OBs to network, keep in touch and have fun. We are also interested to hear from those of you who may be more inclined to the arts rather than sports. If you feel there is a need for a chess club, choral society or orchestral day, please let us know. We are happy to support but just ask for help organising events. If you would like to get involved in a sports club, or would like to set up a new club of any kind, then please let me know at alison.connell30@gmail.com Alison Guthrie (Connell) (Ho ‘97)

Old Girls Tennis

time. The system worked well and meant that we were able to chat over the now famously delicious match tea provided by the School. Thank you to the School for keeping up this tradition! Another new development was the fact that we all sported a new green team shirt in the hope we might look more of a team, with the colour harking back (though somewhat brighter!) to the bygone green of the old Girls’ School uniform. (Wicking tops though – not airtex! – remember those?) Very many thanks to the Old Berkhamstedians for providing funding for these shirts. Unfortunately, no sooner had we stripped down to the shirts for the team photo than it started to drizzle and – with the breeze – it was so chilly

Match v the School, 3rd May 2019 Huge thanks to Penny Kent for gathering our excellent team of Old Girls for this annual fixture against the School. For the first time in my memory, we had the luxury of three reserves and so were able to mix players in. Many thanks to all who took part, making for a fun afternoon of tennis up on the Kings Courts. It was agreed with the School that we would try a new format to coordinate match timings better and have more of a chance to catch up with each other. Each of the six pairs played two matches each, and this year each match was played to a set 80 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

we all had to cover them up again. But we were fortunate to be able to complete the match and enjoy the tea, for no sooner had we all dispersed than the heavens opened. Very many thanks to Jo Vila (Lupton) (Bu ‘02) who had quite a challenge to find 12 players to play for the School this year as it was a Bank Holiday weekend and came in the middle of Year 12 exams. In the end she only had 11 players, which meant we lent Emma Butcher (Ha ‘99), who is both an OB and current staff member, to play for the School. Emma quickly switched back into her School blue shirt – and we thank her for being so flexible at the last minute. The Old Girls team comprised: Jo Hodge (Bellamy) (OS ‘94) with Penny Kent (Hon) for one match, switching to play with her partner from schooldays and new member of our squad, Sarah Beaman (Stoddart) (Ho ‘94) for the second match; Tracey Mackey (Overton) (NS ‘82) and Brigitta Case (Norris) (NS ‘80); Bridget Evers (Chown) (Ru ‘84) and Isla Stewart (Bu ‘97); Annabel Green (Kingston) (Ho ‘88) and Natasha Hathaway (Bottrill) (Bu ‘89); Tanya Hart (Altman) (Bu ‘81) who played a set with Gillian Baxter (Hewitt) (NS ‘82) and one with Rona Hopkins (Westgate) (OS ‘82); Eleanor Keohane (King) (SH ‘90) and Hilary Hartley (Hon).

The School’s first pair, Emma Savage and Sofia Wise, proved too strong for the Old Girls, winning both their matches, but the relative youth of the School team (three players were in Years 7 and 8), and absence of some of their top players, gave us the advantage and the overall result was a big win for the Old Girls – retaining the Tucker Cup for another year. The rest of the School team comprised Isla Duguid, Lily Bhagrath, Heather Norris, Amelie Spooner, Maddie Keohane, Molly Light, Georgia Wise, Helena Ullyatt and Georgie Hughes. Finally, thanks to Sue Wolstenholme OBE (Ho ‘58) for supporting us all and for refereeing so wonderfully, and to Vicky Rees (Hon) for helping in the organisation of this event and for being photographer-in-chief. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 81

September Tennis Event After such an enjoyable afternoon of tennis in May we decided to try to arrange a get-together after the summer holidays. Natasha Hathaway very kindly offered not only the use of her lovely tennis court but also to provide the most delicious and overflowing refreshments for us all. It was never going to be possible to find a time to suit everybody – but those who did come along enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of tea, fizz, food and – oh yes – some tennis was played too, in glorious September sunshine! We were delighted that Sue Wolstenholme could join us and to have Mags Wood (Hon) along as our VIP guest. Special thanks go to Natasha for her wonderful hospitality and to her helper – Georgie Green (Re ‘18).

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Any tennis players reading this who would like to take part either in the match against the School or in other informal tennis get-togethers – please do contact me or Penny Kent directly or through Vicky Rees in the OB Office. We are always looking for more players and particularly if you are a tennis player and have left the School in the last 10-15 years, please do get in touch. We would love to hear from you! Brigitta Case (Norris) (NS ‘80)

Lacrosse In March 2019, the annual Old Girls lacrosse game was held on the new 3G astroturf against the 1st Team who had just been crowned

single ball. In the first half, the Old Girls used their experience to keep ahead against the current students, but as time went on in the second half, it became goal for goal. At the end of full-time, the score was a draw so

National Champions. It was a great way to celebrate the official opening of the 3G pitch and allowed spectators to get close to the game on the smaller pitch. While the small pitch helped the older Berkhamstedians, the School team was still raring from the National win and fought for every

it went to Golden Goal. The School team got the ball from the centre draw and took the Old Girls by surprise, charging through the defence to score a fantastic goal. This was one of the closest Old Girls games in a number of years and also broke the winning streak of the Old Girls. Emma Turner (Ch ‘09)

Cricket

and Andrew MacInnes-Poole (Re ‘12) all picked up the wickets for the OBs. In reply, the OBs fell just short, ending on 175/6, Harry Bartlett (SH ‘14) (46) and Max Maciver (Sp ‘14) (53) the stand-outs with the bat, with Will Halliday picking up three wickets for the School. Thanks to George Campbell (Head of Cricket), David Gibson (Director of Sport) and Vicky Rees for making the day so successful as usual. Larry Eaton (Ch ‘09)

The annual cricket fixture of OBs v the School 1st XI was once again won by the School. We were treated to another glorious summer’s day and enjoyed the usual BBQ before play started. The School batted first and posted 182/3 from their 20 overs, captain Scott Rolfe scoring 75 and Josh Barton ending up on 65 not out. Jamie Woodley (Sp ‘18), Oli Holdroyd (Re ‘16)

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Golf 11th to 14th April 2019 at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal

managed to make a single putt bogey five with their second ball to win the hole and take the match down the 18th. Fortunately the Lancing pair were unable to produce a winning par and a steady bogey was enough to give Glenn and

For the first time in eight years we were drawn out as ‘dew sweepers’, starting at 7.45am on the second morning, which meant that we would need to play two rounds in the day to reach the last 16 round. This appeared a tough proposition on paper as we were first required to dispose of Lancing, something of a bogey side that we had not beaten in three previous attempts, and then face a probable encounter with Merchiston, winners in 2014 and who had knocked us out in the third round the following year. Friday 12th April dawned bright as our team made their way to the first tee at Deal not long after sunrise with a freezing north wind at their backs but straight into the faces of our well wrapped-up supporters, Michael Butler (Sw ‘72), Robert Macdonald (In ‘74) and Matt Dennehy (Ch ‘05). As anticipated, Lancing looked to be doughty opponents and there was little to choose in any of the five games after the outward nine holes, mostly against the cold wind. The matches began to unfold as they turned for home on the 12th as, although our top pair of Glenn Barrington (Co ‘88) and Chris Mach (Bu ‘10) were two down with six holes to play and the bottom pair of Mike Atkins (Be ‘89) and Nick Bottrill (Fr ‘97) were also struggling to contain their opponents, the other three pairs – in playing order, debutant Charlie Creasy (Ha ‘11) and Matt McGrory (As ‘11), followed by Jim Northway (Ad ‘82) with Mike McGrory (Be ‘08) and Toby Morris (Bu ‘03) with Ross Anderson (Gr ‘97) – each held narrow leads. The latter two pairs quickly pressed home their advantage as Jim and Mike closed out their match on the 15th green and Toby and Ross won on the next. Meanwhile Glenn and Chris had turned their match around to find themselves two up with two to play, whereupon both pairs lost their tee shots at the 17th with low snap hooks and Lancing

Chris a one up win and the team overall victory, watched by Charlie and Matt who were one up and well placed in the middle of the fairway. They shook hands with their opponents for a half to leave the overall result 3.5 – 1.5 in our favour and so we repaired to the clubhouse for what we thought would be a quick celebration of a fine victory over solid opponents. It took some two hours to identify our next opponents as Stonyhurst produced a giant-killing performance to see off Merchiston, winning the deciding point in the final match at the 20th hole to set up a repeat of our third round match in 2017, in which we had comfortably prevailed. Their brief lunch interval seemed to have no ill effect on the top Stonyhurst pair as they stormed into an early lead against Glenn, making a record 55th appearance for Berkhamsted, and Chris. This lead was never to be relinquished, with the Stonyhurst pair closing out the game on the 14th green. Fortunately, we established commanding leads in all of the remaining games by the halfway hut and the winning points were duly collected by Charlie and Matt, Jim and Mike, and Toby and Ross on the 14th, 15th and 14th greens respectively. A very comfortable victory, as Mike Atkins and Nick Bottrill also held the upper hand in the fifth game, shaking hands for a halved game, as the overall match concluded. This set up a third round match on a bright and early, but still bitter, Saturday morning against Loretto, where a close encounter seemed to be unfolding as our pairs set forth in the same order as the previous day and completed the short 4th hole with Berkhamsted one up in the second and third games, level in the fourth and fifth games and just one down in the top match. Our Scottish opponents coped much more ably with the foul weather that then descended on the

Halford Hewitt Cup

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links. As the games approached the halfway hut in a hailstorm driven by a strong wind off the sea, the top pair found themselves five holes adrift and we were behind in three of the following games, with only Jim and Mike leading, by just one hole. Once again, Glenn and Chris were unable to recover, but Charlie and Matt put together a good string of holes from the 12th to put themselves two up with three to play, and with Toby and Ross battling back to square their match and Jim and Mike remaining all-square with five to play, the match was far from over, even though the bottom match was close to a heavy defeat. Charlie and Matt duly closed out their game to win on the 17th green and complete an unbeaten week but, sadly, the wheels finally came off for Jim and Mike whose eight-match unbeaten run over three years was brought to an end as they conceded three holes in a row to lose on the 16th green, giving Loretto the decisive third point. Toby and Ross, also unbeaten for the week, were still all-square and shook hands for a halved game on the 16th green. A disappointing ending, but yet another strong, spirited performance from a still young team which bodes well for the future. To put the results in context, Loretto went on to reach the semi-final and Lancing won the Plate for teams defeated in the first

round. One of these years we will make Sunday for the first time, as the squad has again proved that, on its day, it is a match for any side in the tournament. Michael Butler (Sw ‘72)

OBGS Spring Meeting 31st May 2019 The weather forecast was sunshine but it started off with drizzle, which eventually gave way to a dry and warm day. Fifteen intrepid golfers set off from the 10th tee to compete in three competitions. Mike Hodges (Co ‘85) romped home with a best gross of 77 to win the Captain’s Bucket on countback from Rob MacDonald. Rob however, with a higher handicap, scored 41 Stableford points to win the Headmaster’s Cup. The Keeling Cup is a closed competition restricted to those 65 or over. Two points are added for each two years over that age. John Struthers (Be ‘66), with age addition, scored 43 to win, which was justly deserved as he was runner-up last year. In the afternoon there was a nine-hole foursomes competition. Colin McBride (Ad ‘63) and Malcolm Fullard (Ad ‘64) scored 18 points to win the Baron’s Tankards. This year’s Spring Meeting will be on Friday 22nd May at Berkhamsted Golf Club. Keith Goddard (Ad ‘62)

Group photo, left to right: Malcolm Fullard, Max Fox, Steven Pither, Rob Twydle, Colin McBride, Keith Goddard, Mark Spooner, Peter King, Mike Butler, Colin Buckle, Mike Hodges, Jolyon Maclaine, Rob MacDonald, Michael Webster, Jerry Duncombe, John Struthers, Scott Donnithorne. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 85

Grafton Morrish Tournament

Berkhamsted regains the ABC

Sunday 12th May 2019

On one of the few sunny days in the middle of June, the match between Berkhamsted and Aldenham took place at Ashridge Golf Club. Finding eight players proved difficult but thanks

Sadly we were unable to follow up the Hewitt performance, as we struggled to raise a six-man team for the scratch Stableford-format qualifying round of the Grafton Morrish at Gog Magog just four weeks later. Our pairs, comprising Jim Northway with Charlie Creasy, Ross Anderson with Toby Morris and Mike Atkins with Nick Bottrill, were unable to come to grips with the course and the conditions, and their total score of 71 points fell 14 points short of the qualifying mark. Michael Butler (Sw ‘72)

OBGS Schools Putting Competition Tuesday 4th June 2019, Royal Wimbledon GC The OBGS once again entered the Public Schools Putting Competition held at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club on the evening of 4th June, represented by Michael Atkins (Team Captain), Robbie MacDonald, Matt McGrory and Nick Bottrill and finishing in a creditable fifth position out of eight schools in the qualifying round. Only the top two schools from each qualifying round make it through to the final round held at the same venue the following week, but the bottom two schools are ‘relegated’ from the Putting Competition each year for the following two years before re-admission is permitted. OBGS therefore just managed to avoid this fate, so we will be returning to the competition next year for what is always an enjoyable and sociable evening. Michael Atkins (Be ‘89)

John Struthers and Mike Hodges. 86 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

to Max Fox (SH ‘83), Gordon McBride (Ad ‘53) and Gordon MacDonald (In ‘81) coming in at the last minute we achieved a full team. Colin Buckle (Be ‘63) and Chris Smith (Up ‘64) led the way against Messrs Beavis and Wilson-Soppitt and had a very close match with never more than one hole in it all the way round. Coming down the last, Chris Smith hit a fine drive followed by an iron to the heart of the green. Two putts later and claiming a shot, Berkhamsted had their first victory. Max Fox and Peter King (Co ‘60) played Lewis and Jeens and held their own until five from home when things went awry and they went down three and two. The third match featured the McBride brothers, Gordon and Colin, who took on Melvill and Thwaites. Another close-fought match ensued with Berkhamsted reaching the turn two up and that was the way it stayed thanks to some inspired putting by Gordon until Colin hit an accurate second shot to the 16th green, which was sufficient to win the hole and the match three and two. The final pairing of Brian True-May (Ad ‘63) and Gordon MacDonald came up against the Aldenham captain, John Yule, and his partner Weatherhead. True-May had difficulty finding his game and MacDonald couldn’t keep up with the opposition and Berkhamsted were three down at the ninth. Things turned around on the back nine and eventually the victory was secured two up.

Mike Butler and Mike Hodges.

Mike Hodges and Rob MacDonald.

At the excellent lunch that followed we welcomed Robin Chaventre of Aldenham who had initiated the match eight years ago. In that time Aldenham and Berkhamsted have each won three with two matches halved. Colin McBride (Ad ‘63)

Cyril Gray Tournament 27th to 29th June, Worplesdon Golf Club The Cyril Gray Tournament is foursomes match-play off scratch for three pairs aged 50 plus. Berkhamsted beat St Pauls 2 – 1 in the first round. It was a very tough match and we produced some excellent golf to get through to Friday. Our next opponents were Wellingborough and sadly we couldn’t hole the putts and lost 2½ – ½. I believe we will soon have the squad to challenge the best and hopefully win it! The following players played: Mike Hodges, Robbie MacDonald, Gordon MacDonald, Colin McBride, Jim Northway, Nigel Smith (Co ‘89) and Andy Westlake (Ad ‘83). Rob MacDonald (In ‘74)

Cyril Gray Seniors Competition The Seniors competition at the Cyril Gray tournament is open to pairs with a combined age of 140 or more with a minimum of 65 for one player. The competition is scratch foursomes Stableford with some of the more challenging holes having their par increased by one. Berkhamsted had no problem meeting the age requirement with Colin Buckle (a previous winner) and Colin McBride easily exceeding the minimum. The play is on the last day of the tournament proper and it proved to be one of the hottest of the year. We were drawn to play with a pair from Liverpool, but another school failed to appear, which meant that we actually went off as a three ball at the back of the field. Berkhamsted started very well with Buckle holing a long-ish putt for par at the first and McBride doing likewise at the second. The front nine holes continued in a similar fashion as the

sun beat down and we all got hotter and hotter. The heat notwithstanding, a total of 16 points was accrued. Ever hopeful of repeating the score on the back nine, it soon became clear that the other two schools were suffering in the heat and play became slower and slower. This interrupted our rhythm and scoring became more difficult. Such was our frustration at having to let people through that, after two fine blows to reach the 18th, Buckle charged his putt and McBride narrowly missed the return. As always with foursomes, it was a game of ‘what might have been’ and we came a creditable fourth (out of 11). A thoroughly enjoyable day was completed with an excellent lunch and our goodbyes until the next year. Colin McBride (Ad ‘63)

OBGS Mixed Golf Event Wednesday 17th July 2019, Ashridge GC This is something of a departure from normal OB golf, with wives, partners and husbands invited for a friendly get-together over a few drinks and a delightful Ashridge lunch, followed by 18 holes of golf in a team event. We had 28 participants this year and there were some good scores. Second was the team of Peter King, Pat Goddard, David Blayney (Co ‘61) and Rowena Paxton (Fletcher) (SH ‘70) with 86 points, but the winners, much to the embarrassment of the organiser, were Keith (Lo ‘64) and Ann-Christine Hoskin and Colin and Marion Buckle with 89 points, 52 of which were scored on the last nine holes. Obviously, we shall need a different format in 2020! The date has already been booked for Wednesday 15th July. After golf we continued our socialising with a cocktail party in the clubhouse where we were joined by a further seven or eight alumni who are not golfers. In 2020, we might organise a light supper afterwards, as some OBs were travelling a considerable distance and stayed overnight in the town. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 87

There are no strict rules. If you are an Old Berkhamstedian, a partner of an Old Berkhamstedian or a former or current parent you are very welcome to join in. Please contact me if you would like any further information.

In one famous match for Berkhamsted, Nick and his partner Gordon MacDonald arrived at the Hut by the 12th at St George’s five down. He asked his opponents what they wanted to drink and they both said, ‘Orange juice’. He and Gordon had

For the list of players and other attendees, please see the Events Attendees section in Events and Reunions. Colin Buckle (Be ‘63) colin@colinbuckle.co.uk

large brandies. Nick holed a 6ft putt on the 18th to win and, after offering commiserations to the losers, turned to his partner and said, ‘That’s what happens when you drink orange juice!’ One of Nick’s favourite words to describe a great golf shot or a fine glass of wine was ‘outstanding’ and as a godfather to my son William he was certainly that. He was great with all the youngsters coming into the squad, making them feel part of the team from day one. We all wanted to partner Nick. Rob MacDonald (In ‘74)

A tribute to Nick Davies (In ‘67), 1949-2019 Nick first represented Berkhamsted in the Halford Hewitt in 1968, going on to play 54 matches and winning almost half – not bad considering Berkhamsted back in the day struggled to get past the first round or two. He and his main partner Bobby Furber (Sw ‘38) generally prepared for matches with a long lunch at Royal St George’s regardless of whether they were playing there, or at Deal. Whilst the rest of the team were out thrashing balls in the cold, Nick would arrive on the first tee without practice and blast one straight down the middle.

Nick Davies.

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OBGS v Denham, in honour of Nick Davies Saturday 20th July 2019 In a fitting tribute to Nick Davies, who sadly passed away this year, a top squad – the majority of whom played with Nick in the Halford Hewitt – gathered on a glorious Saturday in July at Denham GC. Without doubt this is one of the best fixtures we have and we are extremely fortunate for Denham to include us in their club matches. The result at lunchtime was all-square and that was how it ended. The following played for Berkhamsted: Michael Butler, Tom Butler (Gr ‘08), Glenn Barrington, Jim Carlile (Fr ‘82), Toby Morris, Matt Dennehy, Max Fox, Mike Hodges, Steven Pither (Up ‘75), Robbie MacDonald and Gordon MacDonald. Rob MacDonald (In ‘74)

Match v Old Cholmeleians Saturday 12th October 2019 A struggle to raise an eight-man team for this annual 36-hole foursome match at the ever-popular Ashridge club suggested a difficult task ahead to retain the Spooner Salver, won by OBGS in the three previous years. However, the damp morning conditions seemed to inspire our team as we went in for lunch leading by three matches to one, requiring a single point from the afternoon round to retain the Salver. The OCs had other ideas and, fortified by good food and wine, won one match comfortably and found themselves one up in each of the other games on the 17th tee. Somehow we managed to turn every one of these games into halved matches, in one case with an outrageous putt holed up the two-tier 18th green which induced their opponents to miss from only a few feet. Salver retained – just! The team as pictured, from left to right, was: Malcom Fullard, Matt Dennehy, Colin McBride, Stuart

Lyle (Bu ‘01), Michael Butler, Tom Butler, Michael Atkins. The eighth player was Jon Lewis (In ‘87) in the morning and Max Fox in the afternoon. Michael Butler (Sw ‘72)

Tudor Rose Golf Day 2019 The Tudor Rose Golf Day was played at Harleyford Golf Club on Monday 21st October 2019. Harleyford is a lovely course but was very muddy after all the recent rain and it took its toll on all the players. The scores were not good, but everyone enjoyed meeting up again and catching up with old friends. We were joined by Evelyn Pegley (Levitton) MBE (Lx ‘54), one of the founders of the Cup, who was kind enough to start the competition off. The worthy winner of the Tudor Rose Cup was Hils Humphrey-Baker (Wright) (Ch ‘76). This year will be the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Tudor Rose Cup and it is hoped to hold the competition back in Berkhamsted in October 2020. Alison Welborn (Harley) (Bu ‘76) The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 89

Football Old Berkhamstedians FC continued to break new ground in the Arthurian League. The 1st XI had

first win, beating table-topping Sherbourn 4-2 for their maiden victory. The ‘Midnight Twos’ had really arrived. The November/ December period saw an extremely tough run of games in what is the most

another solid campaign in Division 1, while we were delighted as a club to introduce a 2nd XI for the first time. This was a huge achievement for the club and a testament to the growth and appeal of playing with the self-styled ‘Midnight Blues’. After an intense pre-season, which combined hard-running sessions all around London – from Primrose Hill to Tooting Bec – and the addition of many new faces into both the 1s and 2s, both squads were ready to hit the ground running. Despite a significant number of the squad ruining all that pre-season work with ‘holidays’ towards the end of the summer, the 1st XI started the season brilliantly with wins against Radley, Repton and Lancing, before handing league favourites Old Alleynians a rare defeat and then seeing off Eastbourne in the Cup to make it six-from-six to start the season. As exciting as this was for the 1st XI, the most historic day in the club’s history actually occurred down the road from the spiritual home in Barnes Bridge, as the 2nd XI competed in their first ever fixture against Westminster. Although the result didn’t go their way, it was great to see the effort, commitment and most importantly sheer enjoyment on display. Fixtures kept coming, and Berkhamsted, unlike England in the World Cup, could not banish their penalty hoodoo in a shootout loss to the imaginatively named Spaniards FC in the LOB Cup. This was followed by an entertaining draw with Repton (a game marred by suggestions of double-agency after the revelation that a certain squad member was dating an old Reptonian – all accusations remain unproven). Meanwhile, the 2nds got their season going with a dramatic 3-3 draw with Old Wykhamists before narrowly losing 4-3 to Kingston. However, more was to come, as the 2s pulled off a stunning

competitive division of the Arthurian League, and a spate of tough draws and narrow losses saw OBFC slowly being dragged into a relegation battle by Christmas. Only four points separated the entire Division at the turn of the year however, so any team who made a run would be in with a shout of promotion. All to play for then. Fortunately, OBFC were that team and, fuelled by New Year’s resolutions and guilt about over-eating at Christmas, the team won four from five through January and were the form team heading into the run-in. However, momentum was halted during a bad-tempered away loss to Harrow which effectively ended hopes of promotion for another year. In Division 5, the 2nds continued to make serious progress, smashing Ampleford 7-3 to redress their early-season reverse, before finishing the season by avenging their opening defeat to Westminster with a 3-1 win. A real highlight of the season for the 1st XI was the game against old rivals Highgate. This was quite literally a ‘home’ game as OBFC were kindly given permission to use the beautiful new 1st XI pitch at Chesham Fields. This was an extremely generous offer and turned out to be a great occasion with many parents and supporters turning out – and they were treated to a classic game that ended 5-4. Unfortunately, it was 5-4 to Highgate. This result, amazingly, left OBFC in danger of relegation again, just weeks after potentially being promoted. However, a thumping 8-0 win against Aldenham secured 1st Division football for another year. Mission accomplished. It was once again a pleasure to play for OBFC this year, brilliantly managed by Alex Stewart (Ha ‘08) (1st XI) and Joel Wren (SG ‘08) (2nd XI). We have seen a plethora of new faces in both squads from different year groups (there is now a 10-plus-year age gap between our oldest and youngest squad

OBFC 2018/19

90 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

members) and it has been fantastic to see how quickly they have bought into the philosophy of the club. Club socials continue to be the highlight of the calendar, and the only way for this rag-tag bunch of wannabe-Cristiano-Ronaldos is surely up.

Alex Hubbard Memorial Tournament

As Steven Gerrard (LFC ‘15) would say, we go again from September (August if you think you can handle pre-season), so please do get in touch if you want to play for either of our brilliant squads. Martin Iacoponi (Ch ‘08)

he was never far from the sports field: he was

On 21st December 2014, Alex

an active member of the ‘Bath Killer Bees’,

Hubbard (Na ‘12) tragically passed

The University’s American football team. This

away from a sudden cardiac arrest.

year’s tournament saw a record 16 teams

For the last five years a group of

enter, comprising former school pupils, current

his closest friends have hosted this

staff members and the wider Hertfordshire

biennial football tournament in order to raise

community. Now a popular event in the calendar

awareness of young sudden cardiac death, the

of many, spectators and players numbered

fantastic work that Cardiac Risk in the Young

more than 300 as they watched the teams

(CRY) do to combat this and, most importantly,

battle it out to win the ‘Bear Cup’.

remember Alex. Sunday 8th September 2019 saw Kitchener’s

Congratulations went to the winners A Few Quiet Ones, a collection of ex-pupils at Chesham

Field host the third instalment of the Alex

and Berkhamsted, who beat out the competition

Hubbard Memorial tournament. Alex was a

to win the trophy. Thanks to generous donations

former pupil at Berkhamsted School, where

from Berkhamsted High Street shops, friends and

he was famous for his exploits in goal for

family, the event raised in excess of £13,000 for

the School football team, and for his stellar

CRY. This takes the total donations raised from

glove-work in cricket. Alex then went to Bath

the three tournaments to more than £30,000.

University where he studied Engineering, but

Hares Netball The Old Berkhamstedians Hares Netball Club is a friendly club with players of 18+ years.

Tom Smart (Ha ‘12)

Our training nights are every Tuesday evening at the Knox-Johnston Centre from 7.30pm to 9pm. Our match nights are Wednesday evening in various venues. You can see our results on the adnl.org.uk league table. These impressive results are due to our newest acquisition – coach Dani! Dani Wates started coaching our three teams in late 2017 and we have since seen the club go from strength to strength with knowledge, skills and court craft. We are now looking forward to the future with stable squad numbers and an impressive coaching structure. Debbie Collins OB Hares Netball Club The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 91

Derek Whitehead 2019 Finalists.

Derek Whitehead 2019 Winners.

of 18 pairs. There was representation from OBs, staff, parents and pupils. It was great to see such a big mix of age groups from Prep School to the veterans of the game!

Pool Stages

Derek Whitehead Trophy Competition 2019

The 18 pairs were split into two sets of a five-pool and a four-pool on the front and back courts with matches being played up to eight points only; the top two pairs from each pool would progress through to the quarter-final stages with the remaining pairs going into the Plate competition. There were lots of great matches throughout the groups but the top pairs in each group progressed reasonably comfortably; the second place spots to qualify were a lot more closely contested in nearly all the pools.

Sunday 8th December, Berkhamsted School Castle Courts

Quarter-Finals

Now in its fifth incarnation, the annual Derek Whitehead Tournament took place on a gorgeous sunny day in Berkhamsted. Originally commissioned by the Old Berkhamstedians in honour of OB Derek Whitehead (Ad ‘49), the tournament is designed to help create strong links between the School and the OB Fives communities by pairing pupils up with Old Berkhamstedians for a fun social tournament. This year saw our biggest entry to date and for the first time we struggled getting out more pupils than OBs! In the end we had a strong entry

After an enjoyable BBQ lunch, we then went straight into the quarter-final stages. There was a real mix of players in this stage ranging from veterans, OBs, parents and guests to the pupils themselves from Y7 to Y9. Games were to be played as a single set to 12 with no setting. Only one of the games saw a whitewash with the father and son duo of Ali (Ad ‘90) and Ben Spooner showing no mercy to the other father and son duo of Justin Baines (Parent) and Barney Baines, scoring a bagel with a 12-0 win! The other matches

Derek Whitehead 2019 Plate Winners.

Eton Fives

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Derek Whitehead 2019 Players.

were all pretty closely contested, the tightest one being that of the veteran Mark Blundell (In ‘73) with young Y8 partner Charles Crocker just losing out to Jeremy Steed (SG ‘16) and his younger partner Silas Conde in Y7 in a 12-11 nail-biter. Tom Ross & Sam Kaynama BEAT Richard Dennis & Tom Aston. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-9 n Jeremy Steed & Silas Conde BEAT Mark Blundell & Charles Crocker . . . . . . . . . . 12-11 n Ali Spooner & Ben Spooner BEAT Justin Baines & Barney Baines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-0 n Charlie Nicholls & Oli Francis BEAT Matt Dight (Ti ‘17) & Natalie Lilenthel . . . . . . . 12-5 n

Semi-Finals A short break and we were then straight in for the semi-final stages. These were again a single game to 12 with no setting. The ‘youngsters’ semi-final saw Tom Ross (Re ‘18) and Sam Kaynama up against Charlie Nicholls (Ch ‘17) and Oli Francis. There were some extremely long rallies throughout with some great gets from all the players on court. Ross and Kaynama managed to just chip away a point at a time, keeping them ahead of their opposition and allowing them to take the set 12-6. The other semi was turning into a tasty match-up with

young Steed and Conde throwing everything they had at the father and son duo of Spooner and Spooner. The game reached 5-5 when suddenly a loud ‘popping’ noise was heard and unfortunately Steed had to retire from an old shoulder injury, allowing Spooner and Spooner to progress through to the final. A real shame for what was tuning into a thrilling set of fives. Tom Ross & Sam Kaynama BEAT Charlie Nicholls & Oli Francis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-6 n Ali Spooner & Ben Spooner BEAT Jeremy Steed & Silas Conde . . . . . . 5-5 (Steed ret.) n

Final The final was to be a normal best of three match, which prompted a slight groan from senior Spooner! It is important to play at least two sets for a final as a longer match really crowns the event. Every year so far since the tournament’s creation the final has gone to three sets. There was already a bit of rivalry between young Kaynama and Spooner from last season where Kaynama had got one over his year-below counterpart in the Martin Pett Plate final and again in the annual Scholars & Rogues competition (though both had been very close match-ups). The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 93

The game kicked off with a real pace to it with all four players zipping around the court, digging balls up left, right and centre from some high-quality shots again from all players. Spooner Sr found his form on top-step where he

to 12 with no setting. Again, there were lots of close matches and there was no clear winner in either pool until right up to the last matches. In the end, we saw veteran Jon Shorrocks (Co ‘77) (who made the Plate last year and just lost out in

consistently retrieved the ball from some very good shots from young Kaynama; in the past at schoolboy level, these shots would be out-right winners so Kaynama was at a bit of a loss if he didn’t kill the ball either in the hole or found the base of the buttress. Ross did all he could to aid his young partner and thought some deep back court shots to young Spooner might win a rally or two, but young Spooner had clocked his tactic early and positioned himself deep back off court so as to get back in nearly all the shots, while giving himself enough time to play them back with interest, which either won the rally or set up his dad for the winner. It was tight all the way with both teams being in the lead at some point, but in the end Spooner and Spooner took the first set 12-9. The second set was a bit of an odd one as Ross and Kaynama didn’t seem to alter their tactics or come up with a game plan and so, in response, Spooner and Spooner were able to play the same brand of fives that allowed them to take the first set. Although there were still some good close rallies, the father and son duo ran away with it 12-4, winning the 2019 competition and for the first time in just two sets.

the final) with his young partner Jack Bailey taking on our new Grad assistant and Rugby Fives player Chris Davey, paired up with young Alex Blomley. It was great that the timings fell so that this final was taking place alongside the main final and so spectators were treated to two very good games of fives. Eventually, the experience of Shorrocks and the guidance he gave to his young partner allowed them to take the match 12-6, winning the 2019 Plate.

n

Ali Spooner & Ben Spooner BEAT Tom Ross & Sam Kaynama. . . . . . . . . . . . 12-9, 12-4

Plate Competition With the increased size of entry over the last few years, the Plate competition was introduced for those pairs who didn’t qualify from the main competition and who wanted more fives across the day. This year’s competition saw eight pairs enter who were split into two pools of four with the top pair from each pool going through to the final. The pool matches were a single game up to six and the final was set to be a single match 94 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

n

Jon Shorrocks & Jack Bailey BEAT Chris Davey & Alex Blomley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-6

It was great to see the competition all wrapped up by around 3.30pm, which left plenty of time for refreshments and the presentation ceremony in Old Hall, as well as giving time for many of the OBs to catch up with their old school chums and meet and chat with the respective parents of their partners for the day. Derek kindly said a few words before the MiC himself, Mr Pett, stepped up to congratulate and present the trophies to the deserved winners. Once again a big thank you to the Aramark staff for providing the fine catering throughout the day, to the OBs themselves for taking part in what is now becoming one of the more established tournaments in the calendar, to the many spectators who really added to the atmosphere of the day meaning the courts saw around 50 people there for the event and finally to Nigel Lane (Ad ‘63) and Richard Dennis (Be ‘74) whose enthusiasm helped create this fine tournament in the first place. Again, we hope that next year will see an even bigger entry, as the trend seems to be more and more players coming back, and as always we welcome any guests and outsiders who might be keen to play and take part in what is a fine and fun day of fives. Anthony Theodossi (Hon)

Scuba Club Red Sea Diving Trip 2019 On 13th July 2019 a group led by Paul Fitzpatrick with the assistance of Jenna Osborn, flew out to Hurghada in Egypt to explore the beautiful depths of the South Red Sea during a week-long diving trip. The other members of our group were James Sidwell (Ch ‘14), Dominic Morgan-Hobbs (Re ‘14) and Georgie Foster (Ha ‘15). An exciting element of this trip was that the duration of the six days would be spent aboard the dive vessel. Thus we were able to sail with all the kit and supplies needed for a week, allowing us to travel further afield to get to more impressive dive sites. By not having to return to shore each day we were able to achieve four dives a day!

Having flown to Hurghada, we travelled by minibus down south towards Port Galib and settled into our ‘floating hotel’ for the week. We then travelled throughout the first night heading even further into the Southern Red Sea. This enabled us to note amazing dive spots that we could explore on our return to Port Galib from where we would be departing at the end of the trip. Our boat was called Emperor Echo and held 24 passengers and 11 crew members. We were accommodated in cabins of two, complete with ensuites. The crew were absolutely amazing and always on hand to help with anything. We had two dive guides who gave us a brief on deck before each dive, as well as guiding us through the incredible underwater scenery, pointing out its inhabitants along the way. There were three chefs The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 95

on board cooking us breakfast, lunch and dinner to a restaurant standard. This included homemade biscuits needed for crucial snacking moments after our afternoon dive! In addition, there were six crew staff who dealt with everything else from cleaning the cabins, to filling up oxygen tanks in between dives, as well as helping us put on our fins just before we jumped off deck and into the water. We started each day woken by the bell around 6am, signalling that it was time for a dive brief before the morning dive. After this dive we would have breakfast and then have time to relax. This routine followed throughout the day with a brief being given first, followed by a dive and then a meal with chill-out time. We quickly learned the boat motto – eat, sleep, dive, repeat! The dives varied in environments with grasslands, soft and hard coral gardens, drop-off reefs and 30m coral walls. The dive sites were absolutely stunning, being a hidden world full of life 96 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

with numerous fish spread among multicoloured coral homes. A highlight of the trip was venturing into St John’s Caves in which hard coral pillars were untouched and had been growing for thousands of years to reach an enormous height. The group were led through the caves, following the dive guide into tiny passages which a diver with long fins and a large tank could just squeeze through! A special moment that will stay in our minds was when we snorkelled with wild dolphins at Sataya South. We were taken by the crew on a rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) out into the sea where they had spotted the dolphins. We waited patiently in the clear blue water and heard their squeaking and chattering getting louder, until suddenly they appeared and inquisitively swam right up to us to get a closer look! As a baby dolphin swam close to its mum, the rest of the pod seemed to be playing ’it’. It was amazing to share their habitat with them, something that the majority of people will never have the chance to experience. A memory for everyone to take home. The three of us were full of gratitude for being on such a wonderful and unbelievable trip, since this opportunity would not have been possible for us without the help of The Old Berkhamstedians. All of us first started diving with Paul and Jenna when we were 15 or 16 years old. The trip gave Dom and James the opportunity to complete their 100th dive! Diving is an absolutely incredible sport and has inspired the three of us to gain further qualifications to improve our knowledge and skills. We look forward to more trips in the future. James Sidwell (Ch ‘14), Dominic Morgan-Hobbs (Re ‘14) and Georgie Foster (Ha ‘15)

TRAVEL GRANTS

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morning, showering and washing my clothes with a bucket every day and walking around the village to try (with little grasp of the local dialect) to greet the local people. My host father Alfred took every care in making

Volunteering in Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana With little experience of travelling alone, I knew that a volunteering trip to Ghana would be (as an understatement) an adventure. Armed with hiking boots and numerous bottles of mosquito repellent, I boarded my flight from London to Accra, nervous, but excited for what was to come. There I was eagerly greeted by Frank, the man who had organised my trip and was dedicated to ensuring I was ready for every moment of it. After a long overnight bus journey, I arrived in the village of Fiema, home to the monkey sanctuary where I planned to volunteer. At first I felt less pushed but more catapulted out of my comfort zone and thought it would be impossible to adjust, but my worries were rapidly put to rest by the friendly faces of the locals, who were eager to invite me into their community. I was given a completely new insight into a way of life so different from mine at home, including activities such as collecting water for cooking at six in the

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sure I felt completely settled during my stay and acted as a semi-translator to the other members of the village where my attempts at ‘Twee’ (the local language) couldn’t get me past the usual formalities. The local food such as ‘fufu’ and ‘banku’ were, for me, more of a ‘try it once’ experience. However, Alfred made excellent meals, utilising rice in a vast variety of combinations. I will never forget the evenings sitting outside my room with him as the air began to cool, drinking cups of my (very British) tea and discussing the dramatic differences and surprising similarities between our cultures, using the half-speaking, half-franticallygesturing language we had formulated. And then of course was the main event, my volunteering. During my work at Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary I gave tours to visitors (who seemed a tad surprised but impressed that a British man was showing them around rather than a local), helped with any of the jobs of the other staff, talked to and assisted guests at the guesthouse and, of course, took many, many photos for the visitors. And rightly so! Out of the two fascinating species of monkey who called the sanctuary their home, the Mona were amazingly habituated to humans, happy to climb all over any willing (or unwilling) tourist, being surprisingly gentle! The Colobus meanwhile were the less amiable type, watching you menacingly from afar and only venturing near the village in the rainy season when the plants were particularly delectable for them. The monkeys were regarded as sacred, so treated with the highest respect among the locals who held a strong belief that any harm caused to a monkey would come right back to you. One of my fondest memories was walking alone down the forest trail on my first day and looking behind me to find a growing line of monkeys following me close behind, scouting out

and home brought me comfort even as an outsider. Everyone cared for each other, greeted each other warmly every morning and danced with each other in the evening. It made me appreciate the value of human connection, clearly something

the foreigner with both caution and curiosity. I was also able to help a project set up by the manager of the sanctuary to build a new school in the area, funded by parents of the students outside of government education. In addition, I conducted some research on how monkey behaviours have changed in response to tourists in the forest. This was aided by my knowledgeable guide Isaac, who seemed to know the name of every plant in the forest along with what seemed like a hundred uses for each of them. Besides work, I was also able to take a couple of trips to the local town of N’koranza and the beautiful Kentampo Falls. I was accompanied by my newly made friend, Cosmos, who never failed to laugh behind me as I desperately gestured for a ‘tro-tro’ at the taxi station. The most eye-opening experience of the trip was getting to know the locals. Everyone knew everyone in the village and the sense of community

Learning the Language Firstly, Zara and I would like to thank the Old Berkhamstedians for giving us (as well as many others) such wonderful opportunities. Collectively, we were honoured to have been awarded a Travel Grant that allowed us to explore a new city, an experience that is definitely outside of both of our comfort zones. Our aim, in the next few paragraphs is to inspire others to seek out more opportunities, try things they didn’t think they could do and believe in their independence a little more.

held in the highest regard in the village. It was at the end of the two weeks that I realised that I had barely got started with Ghana, and upon my departure I wondered when I could return to see even more of the amazing wildlife and people of the country. It was the little things that made my day to day life so excellent, from the old woman who taught me a different ‘Twee’ phrase every morning as I passed on the way to work, to the school kids who would chase me down forest paths on my way home to excitedly hug me around the legs. I would like to thank the Old Berkhamstedians for giving me the funding to participate in this trip. Without this opportunity I would never have even thought to do something so out of my comfort zone as my experience in Ghana. And I’m so glad I did. This trip has not only prepared me for my subsequent travels, but has taught me that if I ever have any reservations about my future endeavours, I should embrace new experiences with a completely open mind as they can make memories that I will treasure for many years to come. Toby Thompson

Zara and I both take A-level Spanish and thought there was no better way to improve our accents, grammar and, most importantly, confidence than going to Spain for a week in the summer holiday. The reason we chose Spain (rather than South America) or, more specifically, why we chose Valencia, is because we felt Valencia wasn’t yet a city full of English-speaking tourists or the chaos you may find in Madrid or Barcelona. We found this to be true, in a rather isolating way at first when we couldn’t find anyone but locals that didn’t speak a word of English! As I said, it was The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 99

slightly isolating and, in fact, daunting, but this feeling was quickly replaced with excitement and determination. We have both visited the cities of Madrid, Seville, Malaga and so on, but Valencia was an unknown city to us, which enabled us to further develop our independence. Additionally, Zara’s Spanish family friend from home said, ‘If you are to choose anywhere in the world to better your Spanish, choose Valencia, because of the clarity and style of the Spanish accent there.’ This immediately inspired us as our main focus was on improving our fluency and accents, hence we travelled to Valencia. After an early 6am flight, we were very excited to be arriving in 30-degree heat! Shortly after landing, we were greeted at the airport by a teacher at the school we attended who was holding signs with our names on them (we thought this was very cool). After a 25-minute drive, we made it to the city centre of Valencia, or so we thought! We pulled up on a busy road and arrived at our accommodation for the week, home to our wonderful host family. At 8am on Monday 22nd July, we arrived at Don Quijote (our school for the week). We were 100 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

immediately led to a large classroom with tables and chairs laid out like an exam room. At 8am, with the temperature already in the high-20s, we felt drained by the concept of having to do an exam, but by the end of the week we were grateful for this. By 10am that day, we had done reading, writing and speaking exams and had been placed in classes based on ability, that we would be in from 9am-1pm every day that week. Unfortunately, we got split up despite being the same level (B1) – the classes were in sizes of eight so this meant there were multiple classes to each level. The thing we both found most surprising was the complete diversity of our classes. The reason we were so surprised is still a mystery (we assume we just never really gave any thought to what the actual lessons would be like). However, in both of our classes, ages ranged from 17 (we were the youngest) to mid 50s and nationalities varied from Siberian to Italian, including Dutch, American, German and Chinese. This inspired us even more because it was like nothing we had ever done before. If we had a question, we couldn’t ask it in English because, for the majority of people there, Spanish was their second language (like

ours) but English wasn’t their first, which required us to communicate to the best of our abilities in Spanish. Lessons lasted four hours each day and focused on grammar in particular, but also specific techniques which are essential to doing well in

in the same position as ourselves, and helpful in the breaks when we would meet up to discuss challenging grammar exercises we had just completed in our separate lessons. In my class I met a German called Lucas, who was learning

various reading exercises. We then decided to participate in a conversational workshop which lasted an hour at the end of the day. In this hour we spoke purely in Spanish which was a really fun and interactive way of meeting new people. In our time away from the school, we were asked to prepare a small presentation on whatever topic we chose for the final day to present to them. We both chose a traditional festival (Guy Fawkes Night and a traditional festival held in Spain). It was fair to say, they both went down very well and the Spanish were mind-blown at the concept of all the firework displays! We both feel this experience benefited our Spanish massively and are so appreciative we had the chance to even participate in such a different but useful working environment to continue learning one of our A-level subjects over the summer holiday. Although, at first, being put in separate classes was overwhelming, it was instrumental in boosting our confidence to converse in Spanish. There was only one other English student at the school, who was based in Oxford, and it was reassuring for the both of us to have someone

Spanish purely for the love of the language, which was incredibly refreshing to see. Additionally, I made friends with a French girl called Camille, who we both met up with outside of school time and spoke Spanish together. It feels a privilege to have gone on this trip and not only gained such unusual experiences, but also to have met such a diverse group of people, who I am confident we will stay in contact with. Staying with a host family not only forced us to speak Spanish from the moment we woke to the moment we fell asleep, but also allowed us to experience true Valencian culture first hand. Whether it be the early starts and late nights, the relaxed temperament of commuters or the food, Spanish life is distinctly different. We had a home-cooked dinner every evening and our host family definitely immersed us in their traditions. Our meals ranged from gazpacho to a Valencia delicacy consisting of eels on sliced potato with a fried egg – I think it’s clear we won’t be recreating this meal at home! However, during our lunch times we found some hidden gems. Plaza De Virgen became a favourite, where there was a traditional tapas restaurant. We also went to the beach one day and decided for ease to have lunch near the sea front. It became clear that the food was commercialised, so not only did it cost much more, but it wasn’t as fresh. Not only did we solidify our Spanish speaking skills, we also gained the vital skill of being able to navigate around a foreign city. We would like to say thank you again to the Old Berkhamstedians for aiding our trip and giving us this amazing opportunity. We have created memories that will last a lifetime, friends that we will cherish and developed our independence and skills that we will take forward in every aspect of our life. Sophie Dillon and Zara Boy The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 101

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Award This summer I was lucky enough to sail around the south coast courtesy of an Old Berkhamstedian sailing award. The entire trip was stretched across six days with the aim of getting from Plymouth Harbour to Portsmouth (Gunwharf Quays) on the penultimate evening. It had been planned so that we were able to dock each night in a different harbour, meaning that every evening we got to socialise and engage with each other.

Monday 12th August – Getting to Plymouth On the first day, I arrived at Plymouth Harbour anxious about what the week held in store. It was not just being in the unknown environment of a 70-foot boat, but the fact I was going to be interacting with people I had never met before. On board we had an experienced skipper, a first mate, two watch leaders who understood the components of how to sail a boat of this size, and the 12 ‘newbie’ sailors (seven boys and five girls). However, I was lucky because I got on really well with a couple of the group fairly quickly and that helped me break the awkward tension many of the others clearly felt. The majority of the first day was spent preparing the boat and slowly breaking the ice with the rest of the crew and hoping not to forget their names too quickly. We dealt with a lot of the preparation for sailing because we were not due to leave Plymouth until the next morning when we would head to Dartmouth, a mere 40 miles away. But we still needed to get to bed early and try to sleep in very claustrophobic conditions that I admit took some time to get used to, with seven boys sharing a small space, all in hammocks.

Tuesday 13th August – Plymouth to Dartmouth Life on a boat meant an early wake-up at 7am; something I found challenging at the start of the week. On the first morning, it was my watch’s turn to prepare breakfast for the entire crew, Once this 102 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

was finished, we were tasked with arranging the maze of ropes ready for the day’s sailing that was a complicated task for experienced sailors, let alone beginners. By about 11am we were ready to leave Plymouth and head out into the sea for the first time in gleaming sunshine and what we originally thought were good winds. As we exited the port, we had our first attempt at hoisting the unbelievably heavy main sail – a challenging task – with a mixture of teamwork and skill. Although all our hard work was in earnest, as soon as we put up the sail the wind died – but this did mean we all got a chance to relax in the sun and get to know each other a little better using the motor for power the entire way to Dartmouth. Once we got to Dartmouth, my watch was in charge of dinner, which was a sausage casserole that night. Unfortunately, the team’s cooking capabilities were lacking and the small galley (kitchen) meant that it was difficult to do anything in there. In the end some of the others went to get chips ashore as a result of our poor performance. It was fair to say that it was a very relaxed first day.

Wednesday 14th August – Dartmouth to Weymouth After doing all the usual chores on the boat like preparing the boat and putting breakfast together, we were ready to set off for Weymouth. We had been warned that, unlike the previous day, there was a bad weather front coming in and the rain and strong winds were likely to continue all day. We were also told that we would be covering about

75 miles and that was likely to take all day, which filled us with doubt about what to expect. The difficult conditions soon became apparent after leaving port, when the waves were crashing over the front of the boat. The winds reached a force 7, around 35 knots, which was the entire polar opposite of the day before, and rain persisted all day. However, I still jumped at the opportunity to have a go at steering the boat, something that I had been keen to do since joining the crew. It was a very long day and, by the time we got to Weymouth, morale was low considering the battering we had encountered during the day. In the evening the group seemed to become much closer as well as we all reflected on our experience of the previous day.

Thursday 15th August – Weymouth to Poole Day four was a far less challenging day for us, and the weather was much nicer. We didn’t leave harbour until 1pm, giving us plenty of time to go ashore and socialise with the rest of the crew. The distance we needed to cover was only 35 miles, something we expected to do fairly quickly. Once we started sailing it was a lovely day to be at sea with the temperatures in the 20s throughout and the wind conditions perfect. I really enjoyed this day because as a group we spent a lot of the time talking and bonding, something I thought would have been impossible at the start of the week. In the evening, my watch cooked dinner again and were tasked with spaghetti carbonara. This time we were far more competent. Afterwards, we got

to enjoy a fireworks display in Poole Harbour from the luxury of our own boat.

Friday 16th August – Poole to Portsmouth This was the final day of sailing and was similar to the previous day. However, we left a couple of hours earlier. Once again, we started to work more as a team, and everyone started to know their jobs better than they did at the start of the week – especially the technique of pulling up the main sheet. The winds were once again much stronger, meaning we covered the distance we needed to much faster than we had previously intended. The highlight of the day was definitely going through the Solent and passing all the enormous cruise ships. As we entered the harbour, we got a great view of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth but there was also a feeling of accomplishment in knowing I had completed the trip in a totally new environment.

Saturday 16th August – Leaving The final morning was purely spent cleaning the boat after a whole week of use, meaning every single inch was left spotless. As I packed up, I definitely felt sad to be ending the experience and leaving all the new friends that I had met along the way. Overall, the whole experience was a great eye-opener on the real world and something that definitely took me out of my comfort zone. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 103

However, it also allowed me to be more confident and especially louder in a team environment where you need good communication skills. Furthermore, it has given me new friends that I am still in regular contact with following the trip, something I would

funds for this amazing experience and to be able to learn more skills. I would strongly encourage my fellow pupils to put their names forward for the trip next year – not only because sailing is a good skill to learn, but also because it taught me so much

have been a bit more pessimistic about at the beginning of the week. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Old Berkhamstedians for providing me with the

more about the real world and gave me an insight into what it’s like to engage and communicate with people from entirely different backgrounds. Miles Doe

Travelling through India I’ve had the trip of a lifetime travelling in India thanks to the generosity of the Old Berkhamstedians. On arrival we headed off on a walking tour of New Delhi. It was a great way to adjust to a very different culture full of colour and spice. To my great surprise, there were electrical cables hanging down everywhere and stray cows wandering the streets. (They even slept on the motorways while cars drove past!) But I was proud we conquered their underground, visiting temples, a tea market and a spice market, as well as seeing the best panoramic sunset of the city from the rooftop of the spice market. The next day was an early start to go to Ranthambore. There we visited Ranthambore Fort, saw gorgeous architecture enclosed by breathtaking scenery of jungle and watched monkeys scampering around us. We also enjoyed multiple tiger safaris, but to our great misfortune didn’t see any – a fresh, half-eaten carcass was the closest we got. 104 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Nevertheless, it was still great fun driving around the national park seeing other animals and more stunning landscapes in open-top jeeps, even when the monsoon rain hit and we got soaked! Once we finally got used to pigs roaming free and camels pulling carts in town, we had to leave in order to visit the Golden Triangle. Starting in Old Delhi, we saw the prestigious Parliamentary house, and the magnificent memorial India Gate that towers above you. Afterwards, we visited the Qutub Minar, a tower whose construction was begun in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak to represent the power of India, and two successors later was completed. Surrounding was a complex of buildings and pillars with intricate carvings making this place truly spectacular. Finally we saw the lotus temple, the religion Bahá’í’s house of worship. It is pure white marble carved into the shape of a lotus flower surrounded by pools of water – a building of architectural genius. The next day was the earliest start in Agra to make it to the Taj Mahal, my highlight of the entire trip. Photos do not do the mausoleum justice; they cannot capture the true beauty and essence of the ivory-white marble inlaid with precious stones shimmering in the light, enhanced by the reflections from the pools of water. It was a true spectacle for the eyes with its perfect symmetrical and elaborate design. After reluctantly leaving the Taj, we visited Agra fort, with its magnificent and strategical construction so it could withstand

a siege. My favourite designs were a moat that would have been filled with crocodiles and an entrance that echoed, so no surprise attacks could occur. Then we went to a marble workshop. It was amazing to see how they make inlaid marble masterpieces, and I was even able to have a go at shaping marble using the traditional technique. The final place in the Golden Triangle was the city of Jaipur. Inside the pink city we saw the breathtaking wind palace with its columned latticework structure letting the elements through, earning its name. The latticework was a series of screens to hide the women while they watched festival parades – it would have been too scandalous to actually see them enjoying themselves. Then on the way to the City Palace we stopped at a well which had steps covering the walls all the way down to the bottom, allowing the townspeople to retrieve water, even in drought season. The City Palace was magnificent, another building with architectural splendour. It had murals and archways, and one room decorated completely with mirror fragments after the Maharaja wanted to be able to see stars in his room. As Jaipur is known for textiles, we went to a factory and were shown bountiful tapestries, busy workers making carpets and I had a chance at traditional fabric block printing. I was overwhelmed by the variety of so many stunning and vast buildings showing the rich diversity of their culture and skills of their artisans.

After being in busy cities and visiting tourist attractions, it was glorious to be in Kerala, cruising down a labyrinth of backwaters on a houseboat, experiencing its beauty and tranquillity. Gliding over glistening waters, we saw the rustic Indian landscape with padi fields, traditional fishing nets and local villages. This scenic place was full of nature. Birds swooped and soared through the water, catching fish and flying away past the towering palm trees. Boats of 130+ men rowed perfectly in sync to the beating of deafening drums, skimming the water as they raced past. And along the banks were fresh seafood markets where we were able to pick out our dinner. Once the boat docked in the evening, we explored a nearby village, seeing true Indian culture where children used fallen palm trees as goals to play football. Then as the sun set we were surprised by the boat driver who had made us traditional fishing rods. After a few attempts we finally picked up the technique and had so much fun catching fish of different types and size. In the morning we headed to Athriappally waterfall – 80 feet tall in the middle of a forest, high in the mountains and gushing through a gorge, its mystic nature took your breath away in the wild and picturesque setting. After a steep trek down to the bottom, the roaring water crashed onto the rocks splashing as you neared; our backs were soaked after taking one photo. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 105

Having the incredible chance to be in India, we couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to go scuba diving. It was worth 30 hours of travelling, with two hours of sleep in an airport between flights and a ferry journey, to make it to the lush

chalks of the area), drawing inspiration from the colours and patterns we’d seen throughout the trip. Then it was bath time! By the end of it you couldn’t tell if we were washing Sumpa or she was washing us. Needing time to dry off, we took her

Andaman Islands. They explode with greenery, white sand and crystal clear water, and the locals were so friendly. With no sign of westernisation or pollution I felt I gained a real sense of India’s traditional roots. The diving itself was incredible, seeing squid, cuttlefish, giant puffer fish and so much more. However, the grace of a huge octopus swimming out in the open over the coral took me by surprise. As the trip drew to a close there was one more stop: Elefantastic, a sanctuary known for its ethical and sustainable elephant care. There we interacted with Sumpa, a 34-year-old Indian elephant rescued from the circus. We began our day feeding her, first preparing the food by breaking up vegetation to form bundles, then giving her a snack of corn kernels. Next we were able to participate in the Indian tradition of painting elephants (we were assured the paint was safe, being made from the natural coloured

for a walk through part of the National Park next to the sanctuary, where Sumpa usually resides. After more feeding, the day drew to an end, but I’ll never forget the way their skin feels or the purring sound of happiness that comes from these majestic creatures when you embrace them. Spending almost three weeks in India, I have to mention the food. The trip was a taste sensation! Travelling around the country meant I was able to try many of the different styles, each delicious in its own way. Luckily for me, I enjoy spicy food, but even I had to ask for only a ‘little spice’ as ‘no spice’ still meant a whole chilli in the dish. We would often ask for the restaurant’s recommendation and so tried lots of new dishes I wish Indian takeaways did. I guess I’ll just have to try making them myself. Although, one thing I can live without ever experiencing again is Indian driving. The locals would say there are no rules to driving! Isabelle Warburton

Four Trains, Two Planes and Two Taxis We left Heathrow airport early on a Sunday morning, excited for the adventure we were starting. After the short flight, we left Berlin airport and got a bus to our hotel in Kreuzberg. Once checked in, we walked down to Museum Island and visited a market. Tired from the journey, we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the streets around our hotel. The following day we caught a train to Charlottenburg in the west of Berlin where we visited the Bauhaus Archive which had been relocated for refurbishment. Following this, we caught a bus to the famous Kaufhaus Des Westens which, before the Second World War, was a Jewish-owned department store that was confiscated by the Nazis and 106 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

‘Aryanised’. We spent time going around the fabulous building and reading about its history. Tuesday began by taking a bus from near our hotel to the Berggruen Museum in Charlottenburg. The museum must be one of the best museums of modern art we have ever visited. The museum has

in excess of 200 modern masterpieces, including more than 120 Picassos and 70 Klees on display. The collector (Heinz Berggruen) sold his collection worth 750 million to Germany for a quarter of its value as a symbol of reconciliation. After spending much time there, we caught a train to the German Museum of Technology. This endless museum houses one of the models of train that transported the Nazi-looted art across Europe. After finishing looking at the extensive exhibitions we headed off for dinner. On our final full day in Berlin we went to Museum Island again and visited the Bode Museum, in which we noticed that several of the artworks had been acquired in the mid- to late-1930s. After looking at many of the classical sculptures and religious art they had on display, we headed to the Museum of German History where we saw some of the art commissioned by Hitler for the Linz Art Gallery. Finally, we headed to the Old National Gallery which housed outstanding works of art such as Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day. While going around all three of the museums we visited that day, we saw a vast number of works that were acquired shortly after the end of the Second World War. The question we were asking each other was, ‘How were the museums acquiring the works in wartime Berlin?’ On the Thursday, we took a taxi to the airport and caught our flight to Brussels. After leaving the aeroplane, we then spent longer waiting for our luggage than we had spent in the air. Once we had finally obtained our bags, we got on a train to Ghent. Because of the time spent waiting for our bags, we arrived too late in Ghent to visit any museums that day. The next day we woke up early to go and see the Ghent Altar Piece in St Bavo’s Cathedral. It is one of the most stunning works of art we have both seen. Unfortunately though, the main section of the altar piece was not present as it was away for restoration, although a fantastic high-resolution scan was in its place. What was most exciting to see was the renowned empty frame where the missing

panel should be. After seeing this seminal piece of art, we headed to Gravensteen Castle. The castle is a wonderful example of 12th century stone architecture. The audio guide was informative and very funny. Once we finished our audio guides, we left the castle and visited the Design Museum Ghent. This had a curious collection combining traditional and modernist design, but it was very enjoyable. In the evening we learned there was going to be a strike on the train lines, meaning we might have missed our train. We decided not to try and risk the trains and booked ourselves a taxi to take us to the station in Brussels. We arrived at the station on time and managed to get through security with ease. We arrived back at St Pancras a bit before midday and caught a train back to Berkhamsted with all the new memories our trip had given us. The experience is one we will remember and treasure for the rest of our lives and we cannot thank the Old Berkhamstedians enough for the opportunity they have given us. Jamie Brener and Louis Green The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 107

on the maternal role in the accommodation. She reassured me completely that everyone was in the same boat, and as the conversation went on and we sat in the courtyard, I felt my Spanish warming up and my nerves easing entirely. We cooked

Seville Language School Leaving Seville airport, I felt the warm embrace of the Andalusian air which would go on to become familiar in the week ahead. It was a typically scorching Sunday in Seville when I arrived at my accommodation: 38 degrees Celsius and not a hint of a breeze. After introducing myself to my neighbours and dropping my bags, I decided to make the most of the free afternoon and explore the city. On that Sunday afternoon, it’s fair to say that I fell in love with Seville; the tapestry of cultural history around every corner didn’t fail to enchant me as I wandered in the shade. Looming over me I noticed the Real Alcázar, the Giralda, and after an hour’s strolling I emerged into the breathtaking Plaza de España. Six hours before, I had been escaping the rain at the entrance to Gatwick airport, yet now I found myself in a different world entirely. In the park next to the Plaza de España, I heard the alluring song of the parrots and the distant rhythms of a flamenco performance. Having orientated myself and whetted my appetite, I retraced my steps back to the shared accommodation. I must admit that in the silence of my room I felt a twinge of apprehension. Would I make friends? How much would I be able to use my Spanish? Did everyone else know what they’re doing? Was I the only one that felt this way? Having unpacked I went down to the shared kitchen and it was there that I met Tatiana, an older Mexican student at the school who had taken 108 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

dinner together and spent the evening chatting about our cultures and, amusingly, her perception of the English obsession with punctuality. Lessons started the following day at nine, so true to Tatiana’s depiction I set an alarm for eight… The week’s lessons at Enforex were engaging, enriching, and remarkably entertaining. I was placed in the ‘C1’ group, alongside some charming undergraduate and mature students. Sitting next to Marcella, we covered the subjunctive, the nature of Spanish humour, and regional variations in the Spanish dialect to name but a few. Speaking Spanish consistently from 9am until 2pm every day for five days was a most rewarding environment, with the final hour being a ‘conversation class’ in which we laughed and smiled as much as we discussed. It was safe to say that my linguistic concerns on Sunday were erased; by Friday my Spanish felt more natural than ever before. In the afternoons, I kept myself suitably busy, making the most of the precious time I had to enter into a dialogue with this spectacular city. One evening, I took the school’s offer of a free walking tour, which peeled back the layers of history from the buildings in the Southern quarter near the river Guadalquivir. Another night, I attended a cultural exchange near the accommodation further north, which was one of the few times that I had to resort to speaking English throughout the whole week! One particularly memorable afternoon was spent in awe at the Real Alcázar, whose enticing walls had tempted me on Sunday. There I saw first-hand the fusion of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance influences in the oldest European royal palace still in use today. I will never forget sitting in the tranquil Jardín de los Poetas listening to a recording of García Lorca’s ‘A las cinco de la tarde’

on my audio guide and falling in love with the words and the place all at once. Sunday’s worry about friendship was soon eradicated as well; the half-hour walks to the school from the accommodation every morning gave us the opportunity to get to know each other as we strolled. Max from North Germany, Katja from Amsterdam, Ilaria from Sicily – from one week in Seville, I have friends scattered across Europe. In one particularly serendipitous exchange, I learnt that Ilaria had studied in Padua, five minutes from where I had sung with the School choir on tour a mere three weeks earlier! It strikes me that this is the wonder of travel: connecting with like-minded people from across the globe. On the last day, a group of us went for some delicious tapas together to say goodbye properly and exchanged numbers afterwards. For me this was the end of a week in Seville; for some this was the conclusion of months in the city; for all of us it was a special afternoon of laughter and expression. I therefore have the Old Berkhamstedians to thank for facilitating the trip of a lifetime. Thanks to their generosity and outward-looking ethos, I have well and truly broadened my horizons. I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity to grow in

this way. From my unforgettable week in Seville I will take away much more than a set of nuanced grammatical notes, because, thanks to this Travel Grant, I have been afforded a new way of looking at the world. James Green

and four experienced crew, we visited different destinations along the British coast.

Day 1

Tall Ships During the summer I sailed on a Challenger 1 yacht for five days. Setting off from Gunwharf Harbour, Portsmouth with 12 other students, a skipper

We arrived in the harbour around 12 noon where we were briefed and met our fellow crew members. We were told the bad news that we were not going to be sailing that day and possibly not the next. This was because there was a 30-40 km/h wind, even in the harbour and sheltered by big boats. However, it was not too bad as there was a good group of people on board and there were cards and board games to be played. We also looked around Gunwharf Quays and its shops. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 109

Day 2 We woke up in high spirits ready to set sail, but the wind was still too high at around 25 km/h. Instead we were told how to run the boat and the names of all its parts. Later in the day we went to see Spiderman: Far from Home in the cinema on the quay. These were welcome distractions as we waited for the winds to die down.

Day 3 On day three, we finally left Portsmouth and set sail. We were glad to finally to get out on the open sea and quickly got to know how to winch, among other things. We met the boats on Cowes Week around the Isle of Wight, glad like us to finally get started, and had to manoeuvre through them. While the winds were calmer they were by no means minor. After lunch many were on the low side of the boat, throwing up because of the roll of the waves. By the evening we made it to Poole where we had a great dinner of pork chops.

Day 4 We spent the morning pulling each other up to the top of the mast, about 30m high. It was hard work pulling the ropes – however, up at the top you were able to see the whole of the harbour and out to sea. Leaving Poole, the winds were much

lighter. This was a relief to those who were not enjoying the swell the day before. However, it was a bit boring for the rest of us. With the wind gone, the sun came out and the temperature increased to about 25˚C and many enjoyed relaxing on the bow of the boat.

Day 5 We were allowed a lie-in to finish off the week as we did not have far to go. Again, the seas were calm and we were all allowed to helm the boat as we sailed back towards Portsmouth. It seemed a very cheery, sunny place compared with the windy, cloud-covered harbour we had left. At midday we said farewell and went our separate ways, glad of the experience and hoping to come back again. Overall it was a very enjoyable voyage and I made some good friends. It was frustrating that the weather did not allow us to go out sailing for the first two days, but this was only because the last three were so enjoyable. I am planning next summer to try to obtain some voluntary work with the Tall Ships organisation to continue my sailing experience. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who enjoys the sea and a bit of adventure. Daniel Norris

A trip to Valencia We were delighted to receive our Travel Grant award for our trip to Valencia and are so grateful to the Old Berkhamstedians for providing this wonderful experience. Being in the same Spanish class, we are aware of the importance of immersing ourselves in the Spanish culture. The trip was a huge success and we both came back feeling very proud we had challenged ourselves and taken a step outside our comfort zones. We were both very nervous the day before, knowing we would be living with 110 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

strangers and working in situations we weren’t familiar with. However, returning home, we were so excited to tell everybody about it as we had enjoyed experiences of a lifetime.

me to work with people I had never met before. I loved it. Walking every day from the apartment to my work experience gave me such a sense of independence. Being in a classroom environment allowed

Our trip in Spain began with meeting our host family. The flat I (Bella) stayed in was beautiful, located in a prime spot in the centre of Valencia. I woke up every morning with breakfast on the balcony, hearing the bells from the nearby cathedral chime. My host family was so kind, and made me feel very welcome and comfortable. They’d leave me a plate of delicious food on the table after my shift at work and then allow me and Lucas to go and explore the city. Valencia itself was beautiful, and Lucas and I especially enjoyed exploring the city during our lunch breaks and eating the typical Spanish tapas for lunch. My flat was almost next door to Valencia’s central market. It was the most wonderful market filled with fresh and delicious food which we visited twice as we were told it was a ‘must-go’ spot! I (Lucas) stayed in a quaint flat one street away from the vibrant Plaza de La Reina with my host. I was perfectly situated a five-minute walk from Bella’s apartment and around a 10-minute walk from the bakery/café where I was working. During my stay with my host, I was introduced to the most amazing display of traditional Spanish cuisine, from homemade tortilla to chicken ‘sopa’. I couldn’t have asked for better hospitality. My work experience in the bakery/ café was unlike anything I had done before. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced

us to get to grips with understanding how the language is spoken and how to sound more confident. I (Lucas) think that the combination of school in the morning and work in the evening accelerated our learning as we were able to use the ideas we had learned in class prior to working and relay any questions we had the next day. We both found this very helpful. My (Bella) work turned out to be particularly challenging as on my first day I was expected to know how to make seven different types of coffee and an espresso martini! Once these initial difficulties had been ironed out, I had an amazing time. I worked in a café in the centre of Valencia from 4-9pm which proved to be very challenging and I was incredibly nervous, but it greatly improved my confidence and language skills. Our language class was in the morning, in a beautiful school near our favourite spot for lunch. It was lovely to work with people of different ages, and from all over the world. The lessons were fun and challenging, and we both came home with piles of new grammar tips/vocabulary that will certainly help us with our A-levels. It was a perfect trip as we both felt we were immersed in the culture and made so many friends and connections. Our biggest regret was that we weren’t there for two or three weeks, as we can see how it could be an amazing experience staying for longer. It has helped me with my ideas for studying Spanish at university and has made me really excited for my year abroad as part of my undergraduate course. We would like to thank the Old Berkhamstedians for this amazing opportunity as we loved every minute and couldn’t have dreamed of a better trip away. Lucas Avatar Barnett and Bella Streule The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 111

Studying in Montpellier Before George and I had set off, the trip was put in jeopardy as the organiser cancelled it, citing too few numbers. Fortunately, we were able to sort out a similar package that was better because, instead of spending the whole time doing a work placement, the mornings were spent at the language school LSF. On the first day, LSF provided us with a welcome breakfast followed by a walking tour of the charming city of Montpellier, conducted in French. We were able to discover the main sites and learned that it is primarily a university town and has one of the oldest medical schools in the world! I particularly enjoyed discovering a French film shop and a secondhand book shop where I could stock up on some resources. We then had an oral placement test to determine our level, so LSF could put us in an appropriate class with other international students. The lessons proved to be a great opportunity to practise speaking, review complex grammar and gain cultural insight from the topics we discussed. LSF also enabled us to meet new people of different ages from all over the world who shared a passion for French. At the end of each class, we were set some homework to complete for the next day. Thankfully, the amount was reasonable and it often involved preparing a short presentation to the class about – for 112 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

example – your favourite app, a festival or edible delicacy of your region. At the end of the week, we took a short grammar test to review what we had covered and had to complete a writing task. During the afternoons, our linguistic immersion continued as we both undertook work placements. We had submitted a questionnaire that indicated what type of placement we would like, and our hobbies. I was allocated a climbing and outdoor adventure shop, where I assisted customers and chatted with colleagues. George was at a laser tag centre, where he briefed participants and organised the activities. It was at times tricky to work out what customers wanted, particularly given the complex language used. Our work placements also allowed us to experience colloquial, spoken French which is not covered in textbooks. We stayed in language school accommodation, which was similar to what we expect to encounter at university. Aside from the work, in the evenings we spent time exploring the delights of Montpellier with the very multinational group of friends we made from our classes. We would both highly recommend language study abroad for anyone of any ability and believe we will continue to find the benefits of this trip invaluable as we progress through year 13 and on to university. We are both very grateful to the Old Berkhamstedians for this brilliant opportunity. Tommy Castellani and George Oliver

STAFF VALETES

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Chris Allam

Jan Armstrong

Chris came from teaching in South Africa to join the School in 2002, first as a Biology teacher, then taking over as Head of Biology a year later, running a successful and very stable department for 15 years.

Jan joined Berkhamsted School in November 1999 as the Girls’ School Secretary. Her calm, efficient and pragmatic approach was much appreciated by all. She helped staff to negotiate the intricacies of

His passion and enthusiasm for his subject have always been evident in the classroom; he often had pupils enthralled with his stories and always livened up the lessons with a variety of teaching styles. Lessons with Chris were fun and there was always much laughter coming from his classroom! He has certainly been inspirational to many students over his time at the School and many have gone on to study Biology, in one guise or another, in further education. As well as the more traditional field trips and extra-curricular activities that go alongside running a Biology department, Chris has organised some amazing trips to Africa; to Namibia, Tanzania and, of course, South Africa and I feel very privileged to have accompanied him on most of them. Chris’s love of Africa and its unique wildlife shone through and the experience of meeting some of the big five up close, interacting with indigenous people and the uniqueness of the areas we visited like the Sossusvlei sand dunes and the ‘lost world’ of the Ngorongoro Crater made for truly memorable trips for myself and the students. Outside the department, Chris has taken an active role in teaching rugby and coaching teams over the years and his South African roots were also often seen in the Quad when he organised a number of traditional braais to raise money for the Sandi School. He has also enjoyed participating in the School pantomimes in a variety of characters! Chris has been a fun and valued colleague, a proactive and forward-thinking Head of Department and a real asset to the School. He will be much missed by us all and we wish him and his family every success in the future as they plan to move down to Devon and start a new phase of life. Sue Jennings

iSAMS and School systems with great patience and became the ‘go-to’ person for information about the School – she always knew what was going on where, when and who was running the event! Throughout the 19 years she was in post, Jan took the numerous changes within the School in her stride. She was a super organiser and we were all grateful for her skills which made events run seamlessly. Generations of pupils will remember her with fondness owing to her approachability and kindness. We will miss Jan’s company and her keen sense of fun but know that she is looking forward to having more time to travel, see her family, continue her interests in art and literature and – jog! We wish her every happiness in the future and, as Patsy Stone (the character Jan played with great aplomb in a number of School talent shows) would say, she’s ‘been Absolutely Fabulous’. Liz Richardson

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Sue Blythe Sue joined Berkhamsted 10 years ago with a wealth of experience in helping those who find learning more challenging than their peers. She settled easily into the routine of passing from Prep to Girls to Boys and to Sixth, usually at a blisteringly fast pace, working with a multitude of students and their very individual needs. There was nothing Sue enjoyed more than a challenge and she squeezed in as many as possible even though she was only with us on a part-time basis. Although very well equipped to teach literacy skills, Sue chose to teach Maths across three Key Stages, forging close links with Mandy Casey and working alongside her in class with those who found the subject especially difficult. Booster Maths sessions followed on seamlessly and Sue used her skills to devise the Maths strand for the Learning Support groups ensuring continuity of

methodology but also ensuring a good dose of games and puzzles to boost confidence and make the learning exciting. Not content with Maths, Sue also embarked on furthering her skills with Science and supported some of the ‘dual award’ chemists in class in Key Stage 4. From time to time Sue was also called upon to help students with French – in French – and she was also invaluable if anything needed her extensive linguistic skills in English. ‘Translating’ the BLP grids to make them accessible for our students was certainly a challenge. In the Learning Support Department Sue was a valued member of the team. As Second in Department she rallied the Department Reps, number-crunched the data, devised our timetables and booked rooms. Sue organised the screening tests, liaised with the Heads of Houses, and of course she also assessed many students for access arrangements and to diagnose specific learning difficulties. What would we (students, parents and the department) have done without her? We all have much to thank her for and her impact on so many will not be forgotten. In the wider areas of school, Sue enjoyed taking part in two pantomimes. If you couldn’t recognise her behind the costumes, she was a ‘singing nun’ and then a ‘green-faced witch’. Sue joined in the extended curriculum weeks and sports days and also encouraged staff to hone their Bridge skills. We all wish Sue a long and happy retirement – we doubt that she will be twiddling her thumbs! A keen tennis player, Bridge coach and player and with a beautiful home in France, we know that she will be busy. Thank you again Sue for all of your dedicated and hard work for the Learning Support Department over so many years; your professionalism, your caring attitude to all you met and worked with and your endless energy and enthusiasm have been inspiring. You thoroughly deserve the time to enjoy your life in retirement with Nils and the family. Alison Dunmall Head of Learning Support

Michael Bond.

Michael Bond In the distant future, the archive record will show that Michael Bond came to Berkhamsted in 2012 as Head of Sixth, took up the role of Vice Principal in 2014, was acting Principal for the Michaelmas Term 2015, and left in August 2019 to take up the post of Headmaster of Brentwood School. Seven years, three roles, excellent subsequent promotion. This leaves the writer of this piece with the heavy burden of providing the additional material to turn these simple facts into an account that does justice to the remarkable impact Michael had on Berkhamsted over those seven years. Those who worked with Michael will probably first remember his extraordinary productivity. His industry, his speed of thought and his ability to sustain the purpose of every enterprise meant that a portfolio in his hands was always executed efficiently and rapidly. His extraordinary levels of The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 115

organisation meant that delayed-delivery emails socialised ideas, updated all those involved, and relentlessly pursued initiatives, developments and the routine activity that makes a school tick. Behind this lies a mind which holds detail

and faultless execution, always followed up with a review that sought any marginal gain possible. Michael introduced Building Learning Power to Berkhamsted and drove the School towards a consistent application of it, as part of his vision of

while seeing the big picture, a capacity to think imaginatively about the experience of both pupils and colleagues, and which is constantly restless for better experiences for both these groups. It would not be fair, however, to characterise Michael as merely serious or professional: he was delighted to volunteer to send himself up in the pantomime, a mine of hilarious jokes, and the first to see the funny side of the absurd, even when it manifested itself in stressful circumstances. His Christmas presents to his colleagues consisted of personal gifts, chosen as part of his commitment to treating everyone as an individual, but also selected with a giggle. His delight in humour constantly leavened the pace he set and made him excellent company in the King’s Arms – both there and in the Common Rooms, he retained a down-to-earth connection to those around him. Unsurprisingly, he was often able to call on colleagues from previous schools for favours, advice and help – testament to his loyalty to his friends. It wasn’t just staff who enjoyed their interactions with Michael: pupils enjoyed painstakingly crafted assemblies, put together by the dozen during the school holidays, and often the result of his voracious reading. (I learned early on that it was unwise to recommend a book to Michael before actually finishing it yourself, otherwise you might find yourself finishing it after him). He had the ability to inculcate the themes of books consistently and continuously into his agenda – always starting with why, always black-box-thinking. His humanity in dealing with pupils meant that they knew that he cared deeply for their outcomes, but if they let themselves down, he was candid in communicating that too. His re-engineering of Prize Day to put the pupils at the centre of it was a typical example of clear-thinking innovation

a modern and effective pedagogy which equips pupils for life beyond Berkhamsted. Indeed, he was never willing to settle for less than the best for the pupils, even when it involved sacrifice on his own part. This meant he was willing to join DofE expeditions, visited the Edinburgh Festival to see pupils there, refereed matches, stood on touchlines, watched plays and concerts while keeping the administrative side of the School going. Only he could send a 250-word email on his phone, with three attachments, typing with only two thumbs, whilst keeping up a conversation at the same time walking down the High Street. Inevitably, Michael sought the greater challenge of his own permanent headship, and Berkhamsted’s loss proved to be Brentwood’s gain. In him they have gained a Head of energy, dynamism, purpose and commitment, and a person whose determination that every child be given the best chance to succeed is daily evident. Berkhamsted owes him, as well as Suzanne, Edward and Harry, a profound debt of gratitude for the quantity and quality of his outstanding contribution and the continuing effect of his seven years in this community. Richard Backhouse Principal

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Alison Dunmall Mrs Alison Dunmall moved to Berkhamsted from West Yorkshire in 1995. Her children went through the ranks of the School and thrived. Alison and her husband Graham have always been very grateful for what the School gave them. Chris and Sarah are both Doctors of Chiropractic and Heather recently became the youngest commissioned Army Officer in the UK at the tender age of 18. Alison thanks all who helped them aspire to great things.

Now, more about the good lady herself. Alison joined the teaching staff in 2004 as a Peripatetic teacher in the Learning Support Dept at the Prep School. In 2005 a part-time contract saw Alison help at both the Prep and the Senior School, while

of house and done a bit of crowd control. She has read at the Carol Service and has always been a big supporter of the CCF. She has always enjoyed the GI days and Yates drill. She has starred in two Pantos as a ghoul and an aging hippie, and she has

in 2006 she was given a full-time contract and then became HOD in 2013. 2006 saw only two full-time and two part-time teachers and there were 13 by the end of September 2019. Now these are the figures we need to really appreciate. More than 600 students have been assessed in her time as Head of Department, which is quite staggering. She has taught approximately 450 individuals as well as group sessions. Every time you walk past her study a pupil is there either being assessed or having a heart to heart, or she is on the phone to Heads of House or more often to parents. Her dedication to helping young people is just fantastic. I asked Alison how many green sheets she has looked through and it works out at around 16,000. Thousands of hours of work, hundreds of phone calls to concerned parents (some, of course, not very easy) but the sense of satisfaction has been so rewarding for her and her team. She has worked with individuals at the Prep and then followed and helped them through the Senior and Sixth Form, which has been so rewarding for both her and of course her pupils. In the last academic year, she has come to the rescue of six Reevians, which I am so grateful for. She has run drop-in sessions and revision classes and there have been many students she has kept calm before exam sessions. I have always found this extraordinary. She has been a reader and a scribe and invigilated many hours of one-on-one exams to help those with very specific needs, often with mental health issues or autism. Her kindness has not only concentrated on the pupils that she has taught in the Learning Support Dept. She has supported many concerts, watched hours of sporting events and School plays. She has manned the bars during intervals, been front

taken part in the extra -curricular programme. One of the kindest ladies I have ever known sums up her time at Berkhamsted School like this: ‘I have worked with a fabulous group of LS teachers across the entire School and have been inspired by their dedication and endless patience. They are a very special team and I will be sorry not to work with them in September. I have had so many laughs and their humour and love for their jobs and each other has been inspirational. The Common Room has been an oasis of normality in a fast-paced and sometimes frenetic working day. There has always been a welcome cup of coffee, a friend to share a conversation with and an opinion to be aired.’ Alison thanks you all for your friendship and humour and, Alison, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you have stood for and given to this school for the past 24 years. You have given so much belief and confidence to so many of your pupils and they will always have a place for you in their hearts. They owe you so much and so do we. Now go and have a rest and you will never have to look at another Green Form again. Graham Burchnall (Hon)

Russell Garner Russell Garner came into the Art department at Berkhamsted Collegiate School in 2001. On his first visit to the department after being appointed, he was faced with having to help take down two art exhibitions on one of the hottest days of the year! No problem! Russell rolled up his sleeves and got on with it, helping to pack away 30+ students’ work in record time. It is true to say that this positive ‘can-do’ attitude and ability to get stuck into each and every task has been one of the hallmarks of his time here. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 117

both large and small, right across the School from the Prep School through to the Sixth Form and in both Senior Schools. She regularly supported the string sections in the main orchestras too, taking excellent sectional rehearsals, and was

Russell Garner.

In his early days here he was the focus of much interest as he lived on a canal boat. In the early 2000s this was a novelty – Russell was living off-grid before the grid was invented. In the classroom, countless Berkhamsted students have benefited from his skills in teaching painting, drawing and photography. In addition, the art staff too have been able to learn some of the intricacies of Adobe Photoshop under his guidance. Russell leaves us to be able to spend more time with his family up north and also to develop his professional painting career. As of September, he will be based at the Open Door gallery and studios on Berkhamsted High Street. Thank you for all your creative input during a fantastic career at Berkhamsted and we all wish you well for the future. Louise Gent

always ready to step in and conduct when needed. She was an active member of the Prep’s carousel team and probably thousands of children have benefited from having violin lessons with her over her 26 years at Berkhamsted. She also initiated and set up a Y2 String Initiative to give all the children at the Pre-Prep the opportunity to experience learning the violin and she ran a summer holiday string course for youngsters as a part of Basecamp’s early incarnation. The pupils in those ensembles will always remember her kindness, expertise and commitment as well as the tubs of chocolates she managed to produce in rehearsals, just when energy levels might have started to flag. As a dedicated Music teacher, she was appreciated by her many pupils and was known for preparing them thoroughly for exams from

Jane McClelland Jane joined the ranks of the Music Department in 1993 and taught individual violin and viola lessons across the School. She soon became Head of Strings and relished every opportunity to become entrenched in the music ensemble programme. She set up and directed ensembles, 118 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Jane McClelland.

Grade 1 through to Diploma standard. She was always open to working on different styles of music and was always willing to help: who could forget the heavy rock string group Fifth Dimension a few years ago or when Holly Brandon brought her

but our students were made fully aware of the machinations of politics today, but perhaps with a slight right-wing bias. His mastery of modern world politics is truly phenomenal – you only have to see or read his notes on those topics to see

love of folk fiddle into lessons? Jane is a first-class violinist herself and has been entrenched in the local music scene for many years both as a regular or guest leader. She balanced her teaching career with professional work as well as finding time to support charity events and good causes; something I am sure she will continue. Her two children also came through the School and, through them, Jane gained an even wider circle of friends. Indeed, her loyalty, both to the Music department and the wider community, has been hugely valued over the years. Her wicked sense of humour will be missed by all of us and we wish her well as she moves into a new and exciting phase, and hope she stays in touch. Steph Gunary

what I mean. One parent told me a few years ago that Peter did more than anyone else to prepare her son for his university education. Peter had been pioneering independent learning for years, perhaps getting frustrated at times by students not embracing it as much as he would have liked them to. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLP as well, possibly because he feels this had been going on in his lessons well before it was introduced in the School. His teaching style is unique. For those of you privileged enough to see a Riddick lesson, it is impossible to classify. Humour of a slightly unusual variety which some students get and some do not. Use of bears, Sooty, pie (that is chocolate for those of you not used to the Riddick lingo). In truth, ex-students may well forget our lessons, but they will never forget Peter’s. My son, Jacob, is still able to recite Peter’s mantras six years on, for instance. My favourite has always been Coursework Bear, who had this uncanny knack of always knowing when students were not focusing on lessons or copying material from the internet. He is responsible, however, for propagating a misunderstanding of communists. It is not just simply someone with their top button undone! Peter has been an excellent tutor. He has been in Greene’s since 2009 and before that with Andrew Webb in St George’s. He could always be found in the houseroom playing pool with the boys before house time. His love of tennis manifested itself in dedicated years of service to the School. His style of coaching was eccentric but there is no one I know with such knowledge and love for the sport. He has been Master in Charge of tennis for 31 years, with the highlight being victory in the Gilbey Cup in 1989 and county champions more recently in 2011. He has taken more than 300 tennis fixtures over that period.

Peter Riddick Peter joined Berkhamsted School back in 1988, 31 years ago. Jonty Driver was Headmaster at that time and the School was then called Berkhamsted School. He was interviewed on 3rd August 1998 and offered a job on the day with no lesson observation. Peter claimed in his own self-deprecating way he did not know what GCSE was and his knowledge of any history before 1900 was limited. ‘Bones and dust,’ apparently. Peter joined the School as a History and Politics teacher, having studied in Wales for his MA in International Relations. He worked for a number of excellent Heads of Department before I arrived, including Terry McTernan, Jane Hart and Eric Sneddon. He also served as Second in Department from 1998-2011 and he had been Head of Politics since 1994. Peter is one of the most academic and intelligent people I have worked with. He has a prodigious memory and an amazing grasp of all matters to do with politics. It is true his predictions about election results are hardly ever correct,

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Many colleagues will miss his rather unusual emails. I have done a rough calculation and I have probably read over the years around 20,000 Riddick emails worked out on an average of seven a day. I feel this makes me a world expert on the subject. I have seen many Heads of House in the morning desperately trying to decipher Riddick emails about errant boys or students not turning up to tennis or students not doing sufficient work. Peter also used nicknames. Students often get nicknames – perhaps my favourites being Downton (a girl who was especially posh even by Berko standards) and Stalin (the girl concerned weirdly quite liked the name). Finally, what can we say about his classroom? It has to be said that numerous Principals in my time have attempted to persuade Peter to have a clear-out but with no real success. It had become very much a part of school life. I do not think this brief account will give nearly enough justice to Peter’s contribution to the School. I know many of you who knew him well will miss his intellect, humour and kindness. He is a proper teacher and I leave you with his immortal ‘Good people, yo homeys – I shall see you as I go up north…’ Ted Savill Head of History

Linzi Wesley Linzi joined Berkhamsted in August 1999 as a part-time receptionist in Castle Bursary, following in the footsteps of her father, who had attended Berkhamsted School as a boy. She shared her receptionist role with Jan Hannaway and the two affectionately became known as ‘The Bursary Babes’. Linzi proved to be a natural at reception work. Her skill at multi-tasking in what was to become a very busy ‘hub’ of the School and her flair for organisation, combined with a great sense of humour and tact, was appreciated by staff, parents, visitors and pupils alike. In September 2010, Linzi transferred to Overton House to take up the position of Admissions 120 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Linzi Wesley.

Manager. She quickly became a Master with Open Days, which grew in popularity year-on-year, but never one to panic she took the growth in her stride and deployed her calm organisational skills to show the School in the best possible light. Naturally sociable, professional and kind, she helped set the tone for an efficient and friendly ‘portal’ to the rest of the School. Outside of the day-to-day school life, you could always find Linzi on the stage taking part in the various staff pantos and talent shows. Who could forget Linzi’s portrayal of Her Majesty the Queen during rehearsals in the run-up to the Queen’s visit to Berkhamsted in May 2016? Queen Elizabeth even made a guest appearance at Berkhamsted Strictly Come Dancing! Linzi will be fondly remembered by her colleagues for sprinkling her magic dust, never missing an opportunity to celebrate life’s special moments from birthdays to weddings to births. She particularly adored Christmas and shone as the Christmas Fairy at Overton, turning her office into Santa’s Grotto (sometimes before 1st December!) We thank Linzi for all she contributed in her 20 years at Berkhamsted. Nicola Murray, Pat Hayball and Jan Hannaway

OBITUARIES

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John Eric Choake (Ad ‘62) (10th March 1945 – 12th February 2019) On 4th March 2019 I attended the Service of Thanksgiving in the

in local pubs, halls and at parties meant he was always popular. He then went to work with his father who had an agri-contracting and land drainage business. John, always a great storyteller and raconteur,

parish church of the delightful Devonshire village of Shute for my great friend John, and the church was packed. John’s son Graham gave a very thoughtful and wonderfully received tribute to his father. I was also honoured to be asked to talk on my memories of John, particularly as I had known him nearly all my life. I first met John at Heath Brow (now Beechwood Park) when I was about nine years old. My early memories were of the large farm at Piccotts End where he lived. At the service, a number of the older members of the farming community particularly enjoyed my tale of the Marshall Tractor which John offered to start – not telling me that the ignition was fired up by the explosion of a blank cartridge. I jumped out of my skin! From Heath Brow we both went on to Adders with (Woodbine) Major Grace. We were both in the CCF and I told the story of our march from Perth to Carnoustie via Dundee where we were pelted with pebbles as we marched to the smell of marmalade, and John, for the first time in memory, carried the large bass drum every step of the way. After school, John went to Oaklands Agricultural College. Being a good musician, his guitar-playing

could regale us with tales of the things that could go wrong when dealing with drains, sewers and water, but there was one story he would tell that would reduce him to tears. On this particular occasion they had to remove some huge tree roots and old Fred, who somewhat inadvisably was in charge of the dynamite, duly set up and they all retreated to a supposedly safe distance. They were all blown off their feet as there was the most phenomenal explosion, the roots shot far into the sky and most of the windows of the surrounding houses were blown out! After leaving his father, John went to the West Country to escape the rat-race and work ‘on the bins’, as he called it. You can imagine the surprise when Mike Kent (Co ‘61) and Brian True-May (Ad ‘61), who were staying at a very expensive Country House Hotel, were woken early in the morning to the sound of bins being emptied, only to look out of the window and see John. John was very disappointed that his time on the bins did not last long as he was rapidly promoted to Regional Manager and given a car. Not what he had in mind, so he left. John loved his time in the West Country and, although we did not see much of each other, we always kept in touch when he visited his mother in Piccotts End and at my sister’s annual parties in Devon, last summer being the last time I saw him, putting on a very brave face and still telling amazing stories whilst struggling with cancer. Finally, I paid tribute to Angela his wife for all the love and care she gave John in the last very difficult years. John, my great friend and much loved by all, died in February and will be greatly missed. Donald Flatt (Ad ‘62)

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John Davison (Hon) (20th August 1937 – 21st September 2019) John Anthony Davison – JAD, as he was known at the school where he

House. In those much-maligned institutions, boarding schools and their component parts, the houses, become in term-time more like a well organised and busy home than the conventional notion of school. Even when he is notionally

worked almost all his professional life – was a great schoolmaster and a wonderful teacher. That is not a tautology, because those terms aren’t synonymous. There are great and characterful schoolmasters and schoolmistresses who are not particularly good teachers; and there are excellent teachers who think their job is done when the bell goes at the end of the last lesson and they can head home, albeit carrying briefcases full of books to be marked and lessons to be prepared. Schoolmasters (and may I please presume for the rest of this brief obituary that schoolmistresses are included in the description?) are those who stay on after the bell goes; they rehearse a play, coach a team, run a debating society, sing in the school choir, play the French horn in the orchestra, are instructors in the cadet corps, go on Duke of Edinburgh award expeditions into the Welsh mountains, or undertake any of the other activities which may make being at school an experience infinitely more rewarding than just studying nine or 10 GCSEs and three or four A-levels. JAD was a first-class example of the all-round schoolmaster. His father had taught for many years at Brighton College (where John himself was at school), ending his days there as Second Master, and in a sense JAD was really born a schoolmaster. He didn’t think the extras were extra; they were part of the vocation. He was for years Master-in-Charge of Athletics and Cross Country (proximity to Ashridge Common was a great advantage for those who loved long-distance running). He coached rugby. He produced plays. He set up, supervised and encouraged various societies. He was first Housemaster of the day-house, Greene’s, and then for 15 years Housemaster of School

‘off duty’, the conscientious housemaster is always responsible. Someone standing on a miserable afternoon in midwinter to watch ‘his House’ in a competition may be called ‘off duty’; but who would not rather be sitting in front of a fire with a cup of tea and a good book than shivering on a touch-line? And, if a player is injured, guess who is likely to be the person who drives him to A&E for assessment and treatment? John knew the boys in his house from the inside out; he knew their strengths and he knew their weaknesses. His end-of-term reports on them were kind, clever and funny, and his UCCA (later UCAS) references were insightful and truthful. In their turn, the boys in his House knew where they stood with him: he was strict, but he was straight – and he always did what he said he was going to do. It’s small wonder so many boys became immensely fond of him, and regularly came back to see him; the turnout of ex-pupils to JAD’s funeral was evidence. He was also a very good teacher. Early on in his career he taught Latin occasionally, but his main subject was English, and for John that meant English Literature. He had been well taught himself at school and at Oxford; he was properly proud of having been at Wadham. He loved reading and had a good memory, and he could communicate his enthusiasms: Shakespeare, the ‘metaphysical’ poets like Donne and especially George Herbert, Milton, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Hardy, Kipling, and the great English novelists, Jane Austen, George Eliot, Dickens, and the moderns too. Some teachers of Literature stop reading when they begin teaching; John never did. JAD was one of those fortunate souls whose discipline seems somehow innate. It derives in part, one supposes, from self-discipline, but there is also an assumption that pupils will do as you tell them to do ‘or else…’ and you don’t really have to The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 123

literature wasn’t part of its true purposes; so John’s class asked if he would please go on teaching them Shakespeare even though it wasn’t official; and of course he did. He was for years one of the office-holders of the Society of Schoolmasters,

spell out what ‘or else’ is. It may seem obvious, but a teacher who cannot get his class to sit down and shut up is unlikely to get much work out of them. JAD had an especial dislike of those electronic watches which make a ‘beep beep’ sound. ‘Here, take it off,’ he would say. ‘Give it to me,’ and out of the window of his classroom it would fly, usually to land safely on the lawn below. So boys soon learned to switch their noisy watches off, unless of course they wanted to be reminded that JAD had a considerable temper – which he did. He was very good with the less clever of his pupils, but he didn’t tolerate fools. After teaching at Berkhamsted School for 37 years, John returned to live permanently in Sussex. He was very much a Sussex man, having been born at Fragbarrow, Ditchling Common, in 1937, within sight of the South Downs. He sold his holiday-home in Mayfield and bought a cottage in Rackham, within sight and walking distance of those same downs, and he lived there until his death. However, really he didn’t retire from teaching, nor indeed from looking after other people. For years he worked tirelessly for the CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau), though latterly political correctness got in the way of his commitment. He was a volunteer for the Samaritans, though I never found out much about this side of his life, as it was something he couldn’t discuss with outsiders. He ran a Literature class for the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) until the local overlords of that worthy organisation decided 124 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

looking after members of the profession who had fallen on hard times. He was a regular speaker at the Winchelsea Literary Society, talking about Shakespeare, Byron, Tennyson et al; so popular there that every time he spoke on any writer he would immediately be asked if he would take on another subject the next year. (John and the writer of this obituary had been asked if we would in 2020 do a joint presentation of Kipling’s poetry, which we both happened to admire almost unreservedly; one of the sadnesses of his death is that I shall now have to try to do the reading and the talk on my own, without what would have been his considerable help.) John was a good writer too. I had known before his death that he wrote poems because every now and then he would send me one, usually a well turned sonnet; but I think there may be more to come when the family sort his papers, because at the funeral one of John’s poems was read which I had not heard of before: it’s called ‘Hope’ and could have been written only by someone who had absorbed the poems of George Herbert into his deepest understanding. If there are more like that to be discovered, it will be very exciting. I gather he was a leading light of his local Poetry Society. In the meantime, we have as published evidence of his ability John’s great endeavour of his retirement years: a brilliant history of Berkhamsted School, written with the help of Peter Williamson, sometime Chairman of Governors, and taking up to modern times the history of all the component parts of that remarkable institution. John was profoundly a Christian, not in any doctrinaire sense, but because it was part of his nature, part of his upbringing and his culture. The Book of Common Prayer, the English Hymnal,

and the KJV (King James’s version of the Bible) were ingrained in his imagination. At school he was a stalwart of Chapel, singing in the choir, reading the lessons, turning up for services. After his retirement, he became

greatest schoolmasters and finest teachers I was ever lucky enough to work with and to know. I was his boss for six years, but we became friends and allies then, and thereafter we went on being friends for 30 years. I count myself exceptionally

churchwarden of the little church in the grounds of the local ‘great house’. Invitations which interfered with his duties as a churchwarden were courteously but firmly turned down. Although he never married (he told me once, only half-joking, that he was ‘terrified of women’), he was close friends with a number of women, and was as devoted to his extended family of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins as they were to him. The big festivals were always spent en famille. John did not go in for elegance of dress. Shoes were an especial problem; he had very long, thin and bony feet, and finding shoes which fitted was never easy, especially as he thought spending money on clothing a mistake. I remember once when my wife and I asked him to stay with us, I told him he didn’t need to bring a suit, as we weren’t doing anything formal. ‘Jonty,’ he said, ‘either I wear a suit or I come in gardening clothes.’ His running clothes were especially idiosyncratic: long baggy shorts; if it was cool a very old rugby jersey, probably from his schooldays, if it was warm a t-shirt which I guessed some visiting games-player had left behind in the School House changing room, scrupulously clean, of course, but tatty. I remember once running the Berkhamsted half-marathon with him (we were roughly of the same middle-aged standard, fit but slow; I had the right kind of gear, and John was dressed as usual): we were nearing the end, coming down the road well past Ashridge College, and a small gang of boys was there to encourage us. When they saw John, two of them actually fell over laughing. As the son of a schoolmaster myself, then as a teacher and schoolmaster, latterly a headmaster of three very different schools, and then a governor, I have come across a good many schoolmasters and teachers in what has turned out to be quite a long life. John Anthony Davison was one of the

fortunate to have known him. CJ ‘Jonty’ Driver (Hon) Headmaster, 1983-1989 Richard Dinnin (Be ‘50) (21st April 1932 – 9th August 2019) Richard was born on 21st April 1932 and died on 9th August 2019. At school he was in Bees. He went to the Royal Military academy at Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. He also served in the SAS, the King’s African Rifles and the Trucial Oman Scouts. The photograph above was taken in Germany in 1957. On retirement from the army, he pursued a successful career in human resources. He retired to live in Eye in Suffolk. Richard leaves his wife Jenny, two daughters, Harriet and Jocelyn, and four grandchildren. Kevin Dinnin (Be ‘55) Brian Gentle (Be ‘59) (21st May 1942 – 25th December 2018) I met Brian on my first day at the School in September 1955. We were in Middle 4A with Reggie Fair as our Form Master. Although in Bees, whilst I was Adders, we got to know each other well, being in the same classes and travelling together on the 301 bus, to and from Boxmoor. In the eulogy at his funeral the speaker said that he was Gentle by name and gentle by nature. Not The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 125

at school he wasn’t. Brian had an imaginative mind and a mischievous nature which often got him into trouble. One prank ended up with a beating from the Headmaster and after that he realised he had to calm down and put his energies into

Anna Gibbs (Hon) (21st February 1923 – 30th October 2019) Anna (or Anne, as many knew her) Gibbs, the wife of the late Peter Gibbs (pupil, master

his studies and sport. Brian left the School after O-levels and a short period in the Sixth Form. He was articled to the Hemel Hempstead accountants Hillier Hopkins, for whom he worked for many years as a partner before branching out on his own in partnership with his wife Sally. Brian had met Sally by chance. Whilst driving one day he saw a young lady chasing after a bus she had just missed. He stopped and offered her a lift and that was it. Love at first sight. Both were too embarrassed to tell their parents about this encounter, so they said they had met at a sailing club. For several seasons Brian played rugby at Harlequins. Then he and Sally enjoyed motor sports and sailing. He organised car rallies and claims to have visited and driven on every Formula 1 circuit in Europe. Later they sold the boat and bought a caravan. In due course Brian became the Social Secretary of the Buckinghamshire Caravan Club Centre. Whatever the social activity, he got involved. In July 1979 Brian returned to the School when he was initiated into the Old Berkhamstedian Lodge and so started an illustrious career in Freemasonry. In total he belonged to some 10 lodges and was a founder member of two of them. He was Master of the Old Berkhamstedians in 1991. His services to Freemasonry resulted in his being made a Grand Officer in 2003. At masonic meetings Grand Officers are saluted, but Brian always worked on the principle that the higher the rank the greater the duties and services required of one. Brian and Sally were married for almost 50 years. They had a daughter Natasha and three grandsons. He was a good friend to many but he and I shared those special memories of our days at the School. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Peter King (Co ‘60)

and OB), has died at the age of 96. She was born on 21st February 1923 on a tea plantation in Kerala, southern India. Her father, Major Robert McMullin, was the manager of Arnakal, near Vandiperiyar, and her mother, Marjorie Napier-Ford, had been personal assistant to the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova (who became Anna’s godmother) in London before her marriage. Anna was the second of four children born at Arnakal. In 1927, she contracted malaria and so it was decided that Anna and her elder brother Robert should board at a convent school at Kodaikanal, high above the mosquito line, more than 2,000 metres above sea level. Then, in 1930, Anna was brought to Storrington School in Westcliffe-on-Sea, near Southend. From then, until her parents came in 1934 to live at Peans Farm near Robertsbridge, holidays were spent with distant relatives and friends, and she and her brother Robert missed a settled home life, especially at Christmas. On 6th June 1941, at the age of 18, following employment at Harrods where she was in charge of the secondhand book department, Anna joined the WAAF. ‘I simply love it,’ she recorded in her diary. ‘The NCOs are sweet and so are some of the girls. I love communal life and as there are 28 of us in a hut there is plenty of that.’ On Saturday, 3rd April 1943, Anna wrote, ‘I am lying in bed and I feel in another of my quiet moods… Perhaps I’m feeling like this because I’m tired after last night’s dance. I had a wonderful time but I don’t seem to have got far. I danced mostly with our new officers at the end. Eventually I paired off with the one I had wanted all the time – P/O Gibbs. I wonder if men realise that they can’t save themselves if a woman really gets to work on them…?’

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Anna and Peter were married on 30th December 1946, and they enjoyed 64 years of married life in Witney, Portsmouth, Northchurch and Berkhamsted, giving light to their three sons, Simon, Richard and Tim along the way. Anna was a wonderful wife and mother, but she was also very much a part of Peter’s professional life, at his side when meeting the Queen Mother at the opening of Newcroft, and expertly catering for the wealth of parties and dinners that helped to bring people together within the communities of Portsmouth Grammar School and, for many many years, at Berkhamsted. She was an excellent cook, and, with her tinkling laugh, a delightful hostess. During Peter’s time as Housemaster of School House, Anna was ‘Housemother’ to the boys, and managed the complex behind-the-scenes daily life of the boarding house, and many will remember her fondly from their days as boarders. After Peter’s death in 2010, Anna continued to live in Castle Mews until dementia took hold and she needed personal care. For a while she resided happily at a home in Redbourn, appropriately on the site of the Brooke Bond factory, but, as she slowly declined, she moved to Allington Court, near St Albans, where she quietly passed away. Richard Gibbs (Fr ‘68) The address given by Peter Williamson at the Memorial Service held at St Peter’s Church, Berkhamsted on Thursday 5th December 2019. I am privileged, like some others here today, to have known Anna Gibbs for more than 60 years. In 1957 my parents moved to Berkhamsted mainly to send their three sons to Berkhamsted School as day boys. They knew hardly anyone in the town but very quickly they were introduced, by mutual friends, to Peter and Anna. They remained very good friends for more than 40 years until the death of my mother in 1999, and indeed my

daughter Catherine well remembers Anna’s kindness at that time. I recall my mother helping Anna when she was learning to drive in middle age by going out in the car with her on a number of occasions – perhaps surprisingly, this did not in any way affect their friendship! When my mother, who suffered from dementia in her final years, was living in a home, Anna was one of her regular visitors. At the Memorial service for Peter who died just over nine years ago I spoke about his contribution to Berkhamsted School as a member of staff for a great many years. He was supported throughout that period by Anna. This was particularly so when Peter was Housemaster of School House. They lived in the House and Anna received from the School the allowance then paid to the wives of boarding housemasters – there were no boarding housemistresses in the Boys’ School in those days! Over the years many former pupils who were in School House during the Gibbs’ tenure have spoken very fondly of Anna’s contribution, particularly of her caring nature and kindness to them and to their parents. Indeed when Old Berkhamstedians of that period returned to Berkhamsted in later years many of them would be sure to visit Peter and Anna either in Anglefield Road or, more recently, in Castle Mews. Another example of Anna’s caring and kindness is that throughout the period of Peter’s involvement at the School she ensured that the families of new young members of staff were made to feel most welcome when they arrived in Berkhamsted. Indeed many of them remained good friends whether they stayed at the School or after they had moved on. Anna also supported Peter in his work for the Old Berkhamstedians throughout his 50-year period of service on the Committee and during the two years in which he served as President. She was a good friend to a great

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many former pupils of different generations. In short, her contribution to School life over many years was immense. I would like to end with some words from my daughter Catherine who left the School in 1997 – ‘I remember Anna as always smiling and positive. She and Peter regularly attended School events at which I was singing in the choir or playing in the orchestra, and Anna was always interested and keen to engage with pupils. As Anna (and indeed Peter) had been good friends of my grandparents, who by that time were no longer able to attend such events themselves, through Anna and Peter’s presence I felt a connection with my own grandparents.’ Anna was a caring, kind and supportive mother and grandmother and a good friend to many. She will be greatly missed and I feel very fortunate to have known her. Peter Williamson (Be ‘66)

Chris Jay (Lo ‘39) (14th January 1920 – 22nd February 2019) Generations of Old Berkhamstedians remember Chris with affection and respect as a happy and devoted family man, an exemplary schoolmaster and a popular member of local society. They would be astonished to learn from what unpromising roots this well lived life began. Born in Fiji, where his father, whose name was Monckton, was a District Commissioner, Phillip, as he had been named, was consigned by his father to an orphanage in Auckland, in the mistaken belief that his wife had had an extra-marital affair. At the age of seven he was unofficially adopted by a blind and deaf lady called Mrs Jay whose eyes and ears he became on her long voyage to England. From then on he was known as Chris Jay. She sent him to Berkhamsted School where he excelled at all sports and made many good friends. After studying Physical Education at Loughborough, where again he shone at every sport he touched, he 128 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

was called up into the Royal Navy in 1942 and served on the Malta and Arctic convoys. After receiving his commission he met and married Joan. On returning to Berkhamsted as a teacher he was ahead of his time in his attitude to his pupils; his friendliness and approachability defined his relations with them. After his own troubled start in life he had a natural sympathy for young or vulnerable people; one Old Boy remembers him as the man who enabled him to put a stop to the bullying he suffered as a young member of the School, and his sports coaching followed the age-old wisdom enshrined in the School’s motto, that encouragement does wonders. It did. Faced with a leaking swimming bath 100 years old and 20 yards in length, he produced year after year teams which ranked with the best in the country. In 1967, Berkhamsted teams finished first and second in the Public Schools Medley Relays – Berkhamsted has won recognition in many fields, but in none more spectacularly than this in which Chris was the inspiring force. One Old Boy, who went on to a distinguished career as a swimmer and a journalist covering the sport, remembers, ‘We were a close-knit bunch, swam well under Chris’s leadership and enjoyed a camaraderie which we still share… Chris had a huge influence on my life for which I shall always be grateful.’ His talent as an inspiring coach was by no means confined to swimming; he produced excellent gymnasts, who gave admired displays yearly on Founder’s Day, and coached successfully boxing, fencing, athletics and rugger. Outside his sporting commitments Chris also taught Geography and started, and for some years ran, the Naval Section of the CCF. With all this he was the humblest of men, a popular and friendly member of the Common Room, where his kindness was particularly valuable to young members of the staff. ‘I remember him as being a very nice fellow,’ wrote an old pupil after hearing of his death. He was a great deal more than that, but perhaps this tribute sums him up as well as any; it would have pleased him.

A kindly providence had led Christopher into the care of Mrs Jay, to whom he acknowledged his life-changing debt by never resuming his family name, even though it was proved beyond doubt that he was a Monckton; he did though

experience of working with young children. The following year, at Bedford College, she embarked on a three-year course of training, resulting in the award of a Teacher’s Certificate of the National Froebel Foundation. In a reference letter, Judy was

establish extremely warm relationships with the Moncktons, and had the chance finally to meet his brother and sister and the rest of the Monckton clan. His brother and he could not have looked more alike. Joan and Chris remained a devoted couple until she died in 2013. They retired to Chard in Somerset to Dove Cottage with its beautiful garden, where they spent many happy years, and where he instigated and for many years ran the OB West of England dinner. Advancing age led them to move to a flat in Wellington where Joan died, and finally, after a spell in a nursing home, Chris died on February 22nd 2019, shortly after his 99th birthday, in the words of his son Tim,’ …quite simply the very best father, grandfather and friend.’ John Davison (Hon)

described as being ‘very promising and intelligent with a lively and charming personality’. Judy’s first teaching post, in 1953, was in Tring Mixed Junior School where she was described as ‘a valued colleague’. By this time, Judy had met Harry Livingstone, a young barrister, then working for the Colonial Legal Service in Singapore, spending his leave time in Berkhamsted. This was a challenge to be sure, keeping a romance alive between England and Singapore. But they did, and eventually Harry proposed to Judy, by telephone, from Singapore to England! The Berkhamsted local press made much of it. They were married on 19th June 1954, at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted, and the reception was held at Oaken Cottage, Judy’s parents’ house in North Road. After a honeymoon in Scotland, the couple sailed to Singapore. What a different life Judy was embarking on – Singapore vs Berkhamsted? A brand new set of experiences: the people, the customs, the food and… being newly married and only 23. After five years in Singapore, Harry transferred to Nairobi to work for a further five years in the Legal Secretary’s Chambers of the East African High Commission. Judy and Harry’s family (including Charles, born 17th May 1955) were on the move again. While they were in Kenya, the family continued to grow: Charlotte was born in June 1957, then David came along in June 1960. Having experienced social unrest in both Singapore and Nairobi, Harry and Judy decided it was time, in 1961, to go home. They bought a house in Berkhamsted, just 10 minutes’ walk from Judy’s parents. After a brief period with Judy’s family’s printing firm, Harry took up the position of National Secretary of the Youth Hostels Association, equivalent to a Chief Executive’s position. Amanda was born in March 1963, during a very cold and snowy winter. The household was expanding, but

Judy Livingstone (Cooper) (Ho ‘49) (14th August 1931 – 16th August 2019) ‘The lady with the lovely smile and sparkling eyes.’ Judy was born in 1931 in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex. Her memories of the war years include sheltering from bombs under the large kitchen table, half days of school, and long periods living with relatives in the countryside. The latter years of her school education were spent at Berkhamsted School for Girls, in Holme House. By the Sixth Form, Judy’s leadership qualities had been recognised: she was a Prefect, Head of Holme and Captain of the 1st XII lacrosse team. In the Upper Sixth, she spent some of her time, in the Beeches, helping and gaining valuable

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the home could not, so in 1965 Family Livingstone, now numbering six people, moved into Cowper House, an imposing edifice just along the road. This was to become the family home for 18 years. Judy looked around for part-time teaching

On holiday in Spain 2013, Judy suffered a brain injury in a fall. Her condition required her to have 24-hour care. She moved to Coneygar Lodge in Bridport where she died peacefully on 16th August 2019, aged 88 and two days.

vacancies. Firstly she worked half a term’s cover in the Beeches for a form teacher away on sick leave, then Jack Chinneck (Head of Boys’ Prep) interviewed her for the position of Art and Craft teacher. Offered the post, Judy’s reply was along the lines of ‘I won’t consider myself the ‘Teacher of Art and Craft’, rather the ‘Taker’ of Lessons; inspiration comes from the boys’. Following an interview with John Spencer, in 1974 Judy was appointed class teacher for Prep 1. She was unfazed by all the extra organisation, planning, and marking – she simply started work after supper. She had great empathy with the boys, treating every one as an individual and helping every one to reach his potential. Judy taught at the Prep for more than a decade. When she retired, Judy was made an ‘Honorary Old Boy’ at Berkhamsted. Judy and Harry retired to Beaminster in Dorset, to a house, previously a pub, needing a great deal of renovation. They moved into Manor Cottage in 1986. Once settled in Beaminster, they joined various societies and charity groups and were soon persuaded by many to join/chair committees, such as Meals on Wheels, the WI, PCC, Mothers and Toddlers group, Church catering, allotment society, Probus… Mother was welcomed into the local WI and the membership soon recognised they had a potential President on their hands. Judy was ‘persuaded’ to join the committee, and from there she was elected President where, characteristically, she played a huge part in its activities. Easy to approach, Judy was always willing to listen to others’ ideas, and helped to solve any number of problems. Judy was quite willing to stand up and represent the local branch, indeed the whole membership. Most importantly, to some people, Judy restored the skittles team! Unsurprisingly, Judy went on to join the Dorset WI committee and was eventually elected County Chairman.

Judy was a kind, thoughtful, welcoming and generous woman, great company, much loved and respected by everyone she knew. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched, and for so many reasons. Charlotte Hyslop

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Toby Savill (Sp ‘12) (29th November 1993 – 14th April 2019) It was with a great sense of shock and sadness that the School community learned through the media that Toby Savill and his wife, Milly, had tragically lost their lives while abroad on holiday in April last year. Toby was the eldest son of Rebekah and Ted, the School’s Head of History. During his Berkhamsted School years he had been a memorable, popular and unfailingly cheerful student. I had the good fortune to be both his Housemaster in Swifts as well as his English teacher and vividly recall from his youngest years that infectious giggle, a keen intelligence and a flair for conversation. He was, quite simply, a real character. Toby distinguished himself with his passion for History, cricket (in particular, his beloved Essex County Cricket Club) and lively banter. With a confident sense of humour, he could make assertive contributions to his classes, occasionally verging on the provocative, but always with that courteous demeanour and disarming smile. Steve Dight, his antipodean Geography teacher, recalls how Toby would regularly tease him about Australia’s poor performance in an Ashes series, only to be gently reminded of England’s invariably parlous performance down under. He was also a vigorous Arsenal supporter and Graham Burchnall remembered supervising the young Toby’s teenage letter to one M. Arsene Wenger, in which he expressed his concerns both about the manager and the way the club was going.

Toby rose through the ranks at school, became a School Prefect and distinguished himself both academically and as a House Captain. He subsequently went on to Durham University, where he read History and Ancient History. It was perhaps no surprise that this love of History and gift for getting on with people should lead him into teaching like his father. At the time of his death, Toby was at the Ark Evelyn Academy in Brixton, where he was a very popular History teacher and where he built up an enthusiastic following. The Christian faith was important to both Toby and Milly. He regularly assisted at Christian summer camps, where he displayed his skills at preaching in front of large crowds of people as well as making people laugh. We know that he had plans to enter the Christian Ministry. Sadly, we shall never know what achievements Toby with his abundance of talents might have accomplished either as a teacher or a pastor; he and his wife Milly were clearly destined to make an impact on the lives of many young people. What we do know, though, is that an exceptional young man of great vivacity, talent and promise has been snatched from us at a cruelly untimely age. Our hearts go out to Ted, Rebekah and all of Toby’s siblings, Jacob, Katya and Roseanna, all of whom have passed through the School. He will forever be remembered and missed by those lucky enough to have known him. Martin Pett (Hon) Air Commodore PPW Taylor CBE AFC RAF (Ret’d) (Ad ‘55) (2nd January 1937 – 24th July 2019) Peter Taylor joined the School in 1947 and proved to be a most accomplished student and sportsman. He was a leading player on the cricket field and played for the 1st XI for three years and was Captain of Cricket for his last two years at the School. In addition, he played rugby for the 1st XV for two years. Peter was a School Prefect in Adders and a keen member of the Combined Cadet Force where he attained the top rank of Under Officer. He won the Pearkes Sword which was awarded to the outstanding cadet of the year. Peter’s father was

Group Captain AW Taylor, so it was no surprise that Peter headed for the RAF in 1955, having gained a cadetship to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. While at Cranwell he was Captain of Cricket and gained his colours at rugby. He attained the flight cadet rank of Under Officer and graduated from Cranwell as a pilot in 1958. Peter had a highly successful career in the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Air Commodore. He was a Cold War fighter pilot who saw action in Aden and served in Germany before commanding a Harrier squadron. In 1972 Peter was flying a low-level training sortie over northern Germany when he hit a formation of large birds, one of which was ingested into the Harrier’s single engine, which immediately lost power. Despite his efforts to re-light the engine, his aircraft lost height and he ejected safely at 100 feet. Then, to his astonishment, he saw the aircraft recover and climb away into cloud. The Harrier climbed to 20,000 feet and ran out of fuel to eventually crash in open ground in southern Denmark. In 1975 as squadron commander, he was ordered to prepare his squadron to go to Belize, following aggressive overtures there by the Guatemalan government. Peter led eight Harriers to Belize on a journey where the last leg needed Victor tanker aircraft for air-to-air refuelling. By Easter 1976, the Harriers had completed their task and returned to their UK base. Peter was awarded the Air Force Cross. The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 131

He spent the next three years on an exchange appointment with the USAF and returned in 1979 to command RAF Bruggen in Germany, considered to be one of the most demanding operational command appointments in the RAF. Peter’s success

(Edith) Mary Grenville Tinckler (Levason/Rayment) (OS ‘39) (24th January 1922 – 18th June 2019) Mary was born in Bridgwater, Somerset to

was recognised when he was appointed CBE at the end of his tour. He then worked at MOD and was promoted to Air Commodore, where he was responsible for the career management and appointments of RAF aircrew officers. He decided to take early retirement and left the RAF in 1987. Initially Peter worked for British Aerospace and later joined the Society of British Aerospace Constructors (SBAC) where for a number of years he was the organiser of the annual Farnborough Air Show. Peter was recognised as an outstanding pilot and leader. He played a lot of cricket, he was a very good batsman and slip fielder, but friends say that his real talent lay in the changing rooms where his everlasting jokes and japes kept others amused for hours. He was also a keen golfer and played for a number of years with the Aircrew Association.

Toby (National Provincial bank manager) and Lily (previously a singer/dancer with the Arcadians, in the West End), and was joined by a sister, Diana in 1926. Owing to the nature of Toby’s work, the family was sent to various towns in southern England, but eventually ended up in Chesham Bois, where Mary began as a day pupil at Berkhamsted School in January 1934. She enjoyed History and English (literature, language and poetry) and played lacrosse, but most famously won an award for throwing the cricket ball the farthest distance. She attended a secretarial course after school, and after the Second World War broke out, she joined the WAAF, working as a plotter, where she met her first husband, Kenneth Rayment, who was an ACE Pilot (with the DFC). They married in 1946 and had a two-day honeymoon at the Dorchester Hotel in London. They had two children: Stephen at their first home in Richmond, and then Judy in their second home in Chalfont St Giles where they lived until 1957, before moving to Adversane, Sussex to a 200-year-old house with acres of land, so that Ken could become a part-time farmer. Tragically, Ken died in March 1958 in the now well known Munich air disaster. Life changed dramatically for Mary and her two children. They moved back to Amersham for four years and then eventually settled in Maidenhead. During those years, Mary undertook a variety of jobs, including becoming a trained Beauty Counsellor, a successful marketer of Tupperware and Herbalife, working in a beautiful antique furniture shop, running her own antique stall in Eton, and finally becoming a travelling companion to a variety of older ladies.

Standing: JM Bremner, REW Oakins, JA Baker, RJ Kemp, JG Rance. Seated: PPW Taylor, J Weston, RW Bourne, JM Owens, ID Golding, K Whillock.

John Prior (Ad ‘57) was a couple of years behind Peter at school and had this to say: ‘Peter was a very fine person, an obvious leader with charm, charisma and a sense of humour. Everyone seemed to like him. The School should be proud of him and his achievements.’ Peter married Jane Craw in October 1964. She survives him with their two sons and a daughter. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Mike Horton (Sw ‘64) 132 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

Mary was a very attractive woman, around 5’7” tall. She was an extremely sociable person, a wonderful raconteur, had numerous friends, loved throwing parties, and was a member of many different organisations, including Nadfas,

methods and taking part in quarter peals, each lasting around 45 minutes of non-stop ringing. Full peals take almost three hours without a break and Priscilla successfully completed two. All this was no mean achievement, but underpinning it all was

the National Trust, the Woodland Trust etc. She loved going on driving holidays in the UK, as well as travelling in Europe and elsewhere with her daughter, and visiting her son in Dubai. She had a fantastic level of general knowledge and enjoyed nothing more than tackling the Saturday Telegraph crossword. She also loved to sing (she had a lovely voice and, with her daughter, joined a local choir in Dorking) and was a great dancer/mover, and could sit down and play the piano. She was a widow for 32 years, before marrying her second husband, Alan, in 1990, when she moved to Dorking. Alan died in 2008. In 2010 her daughter moved her into her home at Sondes Farm. For her 90th birthday, she went up in a helicopter over Dubai. She was continuing to drive and go on river and ocean cruises with her daughter up until her early 90s. Despite eventual dementia, she still managed to retain a great sense of humour. Judy Rayment

her belief that ringing church bells was first and foremost for Sunday services. This she carried out faithfully, climbing 40 steps twice on Sundays and also for weddings and Thursday practice nights. Priscilla liked being with people and enjoyed ringing’s social activities: outings to ring at other churches, parties, weekends away and a glass or two of red wine in a local pub after ringing practice. Priscilla was equally faithful to her parish church, St Peter’s, Berkhamsted – an association that began when she was a pupil at Berkhamsted School for Girls. After ringing on Sunday mornings, she slipped into the front pew as the service began, and also rarely missed the early morning Eucharist on Wednesdays. She contributed in many ways to the life of the church. No big-name roles, but practical and necessary tasks such as counting the collection every Sunday morning, Minutes Secretary to the PCC and helping in the parish office – she was good at proofreading, serving refreshments at the weekly toddler group Little Fishes, buttering scones for the coffee morning on Saturdays in the Court House and much more. In retirement, Priscilla’s contribution to the wider community increased. She organised theatre trips for U3A and looked after the finances week-by-week for the Christian bookshop, The Way Inn. She supported the activities of the Beds and Herts Historic Churches, managed their Gift Aid and enjoyed outings and study days. Priscilla was interested in her old school and one task she looked forward to each year was the ‘stuffing’ evening: filling envelopes for the Old Berkhamstedian mailing, in Old Hall with a glass of red wine by her side. Priscilla’s activities were practical ones, necessary but understated work, carried out voluntarily and with no fuss.

Priscilla Watt (Lx ‘49) (3rd March 1932 – 20th August 2019) I first met Priscilla in a very unlikely place: the tower of St Peter’s Church in the ringing chamber. Priscilla was a bell-ringer, as am I, and so began a friendship of more than 50 years, forged by our common interest in ringing church bells. At that time Priscilla was a novice, but when other experienced ringers joined the band, her ringing horizons began to widen. This motivated her, aged nearly 40, to embark on a ringing adventure, developing her skills, learning and ringing more complex

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When illness and a severe stroke robbed her of her speech and mobility, she valued visits from friends who popped into her room in Kilfillan Care Home. Such visits were not always easy, but there was a warmth and appreciation in her

Her adventures started in 1963 when she went to work in America making the most of her time there to explore the country. Later she moved on to South Africa, visiting Mogadishu in Somalia on the way, not a tourist destination of choice nowadays.

smile and a welcome touch of the hand when leaving. More than 50 years of friendship begun in a church tower, bell rope in hand, brings many memories to cherish. Margaret Burbidge (Hon)

She returned to the UK in 1966 and went to work in London for the British Industrial Measuring and Control Apparatus Manufacturers Association. Later she moved to the Teachers’ Benevolent Fund and finally to the British Dental Association where she worked for 17 years before retiring in 1997. Every year would see Priscilla exploring another part of the world. Her travels included Japan, China, Mali, Uganda, Australia, New Zealand, Bhutan, Singapore, Tasmania, Antarctica, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Israel, Jordan, Argentina and Canada. She continued travelling during her retirement and also became an indispensable theatre booking secretary for the U3A, and was ‘a whizz’ at working out the Gift Aid position for several local charities. Priscilla had no interest in material things and was never happier than when she had a glass of red wine in her hand, sharing a conversation with a group of friends. For her two nieces and one nephew, her seven great-nephews and nieces and her six great-greatnephews and nieces she was always the ‘great aunt’ we were privileged to have. Penny Wallace

Priscilla was my godmother. She and my mum and dad were all chums at St Peter’s Youth Fellowship club (The Cross Keys) in the 1950s and went on many cycling and hiking adventures together. When mum and dad announced their engagement to my grandma (my dad’s mother), the first thing grandma said was, ‘Oh – we though Richard would be marrying Priscilla!’ She worked in London, and was very well travelled, taking very many exotic holidays, all independently as she never married nor had children. She was very active with St Peter’s, and was a bell-ringer there (along with my dad). A few years ago, Pricilla had a stroke and was moved to Kilfillan nursing home. I used to visit and take her out for a push in her wheelchair – her mind was still very bright and engaged, though she was unable to speak, so frustrating for her. Mary Casserley (Hon) My Aunt Priscilla does not seem to have shone during her time at school. Her school reports state that her work was often ‘untidy’ and certainly for all her life her handwriting was atrocious! Her mathematical ability was ‘variable and inclined to be inaccurate’. This obviously improved later in life. Priscilla led a full and varied life. She travelled widely but it was always to Berkhamsted that she returned and she always lived close to the centre of her life: St Peter’s Church. 134 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

We extend our sincere condolences to the friends and families of those listed below, who have died recently: Nick Davies (In ‘67) died 13th February 2019. Brian East (Up ‘71) died 25th October 2019. Roger Emery (Sw ‘53) died 12th January 2020. Michael Green (Sw ‘46) died 20th July 2019. David Snoxall (Ad ‘42) died 11th March 2019. Mike Thomas (Sw ‘62) died 10th March 2019. Philip Wakefield (Be ‘51) died 15th September 2019.

OB Contacts Peter Willson (President until March 2020) Email: peter.willson@hopespare.com

Mrs Vicky Rees (Administrator, TOB Office) Overton House, 131 High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2DJ

Brigitta Case (President from March 2020) Email: rbrk.ca5e@live.com

Tel: 01442 358111 Email: ob@berkhamsted.com

John Rush (Treasurer) Email: rush-john1@sky.com

OB Contacts for Events and Clubs West of England Lunch Vicky Rees Email: ob@berkhamsted.com

Old Girls’ Lacrosse Match v School Vicky Rees Email: ob@berkhamsted.com

London Luncheon Club Peter Willson Email: peter.willson@hopespare.com

Cricket Larry Eaton Email: leaton@berkhamsted.com

Sports Secretary Alison Guthrie Email: alison.connell30@gmail.com

Football Toby Phillips Email: old.berkhamstedians.fc@googlemail.com

Fives Anthony Theodossi Email: atheodossi@berkhamsted.com

Hockey Larry Eaton Email: leaton@berkhamsted.com

Andrew Joyce Email: andrew.joyce2091@gmail.com The Tudor Rose Golfing Society (Ladies’ Golf) Alison Welborn Email: tudorrosegolf@yahoo.com OB Golfing Society (Men’s Golf) Steven Pither (Captain) Email: steven.pither@hrs.co.uk Matthew Dennehy Email: oldberkhamstediansgolf@gmail.com

Netball OB Hares Netball Club Debbie Buzzle Email: obhares@haresnetball.co.uk Rugby Neil Fischer Email: fiisch@me.com Sailing Gavin Rees Email: rees_gavin@hotmail.com The Old Berkhamstedian 2020 | 135

OB Contacts for Events and Clubs Scuba Paul Fitzpatrick Email: fitzy_paul@yahoo.com Mike Horton Email: mike.horton16@gmail.com Shooting Barry Tompson (Chairman) Email: tompson44@btinternet.com David Pooley (Hon Secretary) Email: david.Pooley@tallco.co.uk Tennis Penny Kent Email: penny.kent53@gmail.com

Saturday 28th March Old Girls v School Lacrosse Match Knox-Johnston Sports Centre Sunday 29th March 1973 Leavers’ Reunion Old Hall Thursday 14th May 50 Plus Meeting (left over 50 years ago) Berkhamsted Golf Club Sunday 21st June Girls’ 1970 Leavers’ 50-Year Reunion Old Dining Room Sunday 28th June OB Cricket Match v School Chesham Fields Saturday 10th October/ Saturday 28th November (TBC) 2000 Leavers’ 20-Year Reunion Old Hall

Future Events 2020

Monday 12th October Ladies’ Tudor Rose Golf Day

Saturday 21st March John Davison Memorial Castle Campus

Saturday 17th October 2010 Leavers’ 10-Year Reunion Nash-Harris Building

Saturday 21st March OB Annual Dinner and AGM Deans’ Hall

Wednesday 2nd December London Steak Dinner DoubleTree Hilton, Bloomsbury

136 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020

The Lavenham Press, 47 Water Street, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9RN

Brigitta Case Email: rbrk.ca5e@live.com

www.theoldberkhamstedians.org