OP News Autumn/Winter 2018

Autumn Winter 2018

the PERSE SCHOOL CAmbridge

OP

in this issue CREATIVES Artistic OPs CAREERS Making Work Experience Work CAMPAIGN 2017–18 Donor Report ARCHIVE War Memorials

Contents 03

From the Head

06 The Creative Life

04

School News

06

The Creative Life

10

Campaign Update

11

Donor Lists

14 Archivist’s Account

OPs using their creative talents to make a difference

10 Campaign Update The latest news of An Enduring Gift campaign

15

OP News

18 Career Workshop

20

Obituaries

23

Recent Events

14 Archivist’s Account: Lest we Forget?

A look at the war memorials of The Perse

24

Upcoming Events

On the cover This hat was created by Georgie Howling (2009) in collaboration with fellow London College of Fashion students Sarah Buchanan

18

and Claire Kelly. Their

Career Workshop

collection was exhibited

The benefits of work experience

at the BA13 Runway show in Shoreditch and won the Graduate Showcase award for Successful Collaboration.

From school thenews Head

The Perse Summit 12 team in Ladakh.

From the Head

I

I am delighted that this edition of OP News has

am always struck by the length of the queue at platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross railway station. Even at

a focus on creativity. In a world which is becoming

the peak of the commuter rush hour, more people

increasingly digitised, and where artificial intelligence

can be queuing for their Hogwarts Express photo

will change the job market forever, creativity

opportunity than for the 17.44 to Cambridge. This is

is an important source of employment, wealth,

evidence, if it were needed, of the socio-economic

entertainment and human understanding. The skills

influence of the creative industries and the power of

of communication and improvisation learned in

human imagination. The government estimates that

drama, the creativity and originality produced in

the creative industries are worth £84.1 billion per year

art, the musicality and entertainment provided by

to the UK economy, and have a growth rate twice

bands and orchestras, the flair of creative writing

that of the economy as a whole. In 2016 British films,

in English and the imaginative programming that

music, video games, fashion, arts, crafts, creative

creates games in computer science are all an

writing and publishing generated £9.6 million per hour.

essential part of a creative education at The Perse.

With the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre

The wealth created supports hundreds of thousands

and Pelican Gallery now fully open, the

of jobs, and is an important source of philanthropy.

creative subjects have a flagship

The biggest benefactor to medical research at the

building worthy of their central role

University of Edinburgh is one Harry Potter.

in education, the economy, and

Schools are vulnerable to urban myths, and on the Cambridge dinner party circuit The Perse is

human development. I hope to see

often said to be ‘the maths and science school’.

you at a school play, concert, or art

I am proud of The Perse’s strong record in

exhibition so you can sample and

maths and science (not many schools have

enjoy Perse creativity in action.

two Nobel Prize winners for science)

With best wishes, Ed Elliott

but I am equally proud of our excellent record in languages, the humanities, and of course creative subjects.

3

old perseans

School News Stellar exam results lead to success in

Perse quiz team crowned Junior Schools’

independent school league tables

Challenge champions

The Perse has ranked

Young Perse quizzers showed off their general

very highly in the

knowledge skills to clinch the Junior Schools’

independent school

Challenge crown in June. The Perse A team,

league tables produced

which included captain Malachy Wallace, Shaaon

by The Times and Daily

Bhattacharya, Yonas Atabani (all Year 8) and Vishrut

Telegraph. In the overall

Pisupati (Year 7), was in great form in the finals, held

table of A Level, Pre

at home in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre.

U and IB results for all

After beating St Olave’s School (1,140–350) and

schools and colleges, The

The Dragon School (670–470), Perse A met George

Perse was ranked sixth

Heriot’s School in the final and saw off their Scottish

nationally by the Daily

opponents 880–390 to take the title.

Telegraph, and was the top performing school in the

The national finals also featured a Perse B team,

East, with 83% of exam entries being graded A*–A.

drafted in at only a few days’ notice after one of the

At I/GCSE, The Perse was the top performing co-ed

schools due to attend could not take part. The team,

school in the country in The Times league tables, and

skippered by Andrew Girgis (Year 8) and featuring

eighth overall. The Perse achieved the best I/GCSE

Benya Atabani (Year 8), Harry Purvis and Freddie

results of any school in the East, with 94% of entries

Doel (both Year 7), put in a terrific performance to

being graded A*–A or 9–7.

come joint third.

Switched-on students win Making Business Happen Award

George Palozzi and Hal Bartlett (both Lower Sixth) won the Making Business Happen national final for business and enterprise, sponsored

by NatWest and run by the University of South Wales.

George and Hal had to present their business plan to a panel of five industry experts.

OP News wins award!

Their design, the Chispa Switch, is a universal

OP News was named Best College Magazine at

switch that can convert an existing device or

The Cambridge Building Society’s Community

appliance into a smart device without the cost of

Magazine Awards in July. Judges praised the

upgrading. Professor Jonathan Deacon, of USW’s

“excellent design and print” and said the magazine

Faculty of Business and Society, said: “George and

was “extremely professional in content, design and

Hal are a shining example of entrepreneurial spirit.

production”. Thank you to all of our Old Perseans

The judges were impressed with their business

and friends who contribute to the magazine – we

planning detail and clear vision to adapt old and new

couldn’t do it without you!

technology to the end user.”

Summit 12 Expedition to Ladakh During the summer holidays, the Perse Summit 12 team of 40 students travelled to Ladakh, India, for an 18-day expedition. Students visited a number of local cultural sites before embarking on a 10-day trek. The trek included ascents of the ShangLa pass (4,940m), Matho La (4,965m), Yarlas (4,980m) and the Galap glacier (5,160m). Expedition leader Tom Slader said: “The whole experience was a cultural journey, developing a greater understanding of a different way of life for the people in Ladakh. I will always remember how rewarding it felt seeing all our young people deal so well with the challenges they faced and ultimately coming down the mountain happy and fulfilled having achieved so much.”

4

school news

Perse golfer goes international

Olympiad success for Hari

Golfer Oliver Brunt (Year 9) was

Hari Prasad (Year 11) won a bronze

selected for the England Schools’

medal at the 2018 International

team in their annual international with

Linguistics Olympiad, which took

Wales in August. The England team

place in Prague. As well as his

ran out 13–5 winners in the match at

individual success, Hari was part of

Llanern, with the 14-year-old Perse

the UK team which also received

pupil being the youngest member of

a bronze award, coming just 0.35

the side.

points off first place.

Selection for the international came in a season which saw him play for the

As part of the competition, hosted by Charles University and Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, students had to decipher

England Independent Schools team

puzzles compiled in a range of languages. This year’s questions

in a victory against Scotland, top the

centred on the Greek stress placement system; the Hakhun syntax

Independent Schools Golf Association

and auxiliary prefix/suffix hierarchy; the sound laws involved between

junior rankings following success in

Terêna’s first person singular and second person singular genitive

the ISGA Radley Putter and Junior

case (and the effect of Portuguese loanwords on that); the varying

League competitions, and clinch the

hybrid base system of Mountain Arapesh for counting objects, and the

Cambridgeshire Schools U18 title.

Iroquois kinship system of Akan.

Oliver, who began playing golf

As well as learning French, German and Latin, Hari’s language skills

seven years ago and is a member

extend to Chinese, Irish Gaelic and Sanskrit – an ability he believes

of both Gog Magog and Bishop’s

helps with solving linguistics problems. Hari said: “It was especially

Stortford Golf Clubs, aims to break

enjoyable meeting people from all over the world and getting to know

into the England Golf U16 Thames

about their cultures and languages. I really hope it will be possible to

Valley regional training squad.

get into the team next year!”

Bronze for Lotti at World Championships!

Lotti Knights (Year 10) claimed a brilliant bronze in sprint duathlon at the ITU Multisport World Champions in Fyn, Denmark in July. Representing Great Britain in the female U20 category following her success in a qualifying event at Bedford Autodrome in March, Lotti finished third in the discipline in a time of 1hr 11min 1sec. She completed the opening 5km run in 22.05 and followed it up with a time of 35.00 on the 20km bike leg before posting 10.12 for the final 2.5km run. Lotti has already earned her place at next year’s world championships in Spain and we can’t wait to see how she progresses!

Christel House International: making a difference in Bangalore The Perse has been working with Christel House since 2011 and raises money throughout the year to provide resources to support teachers and students. In July, three teachers and four pupils travelled from The Perse to Christel House School in Bangalore to help cement the bonds between the schools. Jessica Summers and Ben Wingfield worked on a singing project, mixing English folksong and popular Carnatic music, whilst Carl Cerny worked with teachers and pupils in the English department.

Perse pupils were given free rein to explore what the school offers. Nancy Wang (Year 11) and Jacqueline Chesher (Year 9) spent time with the art department, while Camillo Padulli and Neil Sardesai (both Year 10) helped out in computing and English.

Neil also used his coding expertise to create a platform in which the music staff could demonstrate different recorder fingerings. The group had an enjoyable, yet humbling, experience and forged friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

5

old perseans

OPs using their creative talents to make a difference

Georgie Howling (2009) Between 2006 and 2009, when The Perse was still primarily a boys’ school, our all-female A Level art class proved to be a bit of a retreat.

We used it to create art, chat and hide away. I remember a lunch time dressed as characters from famous

Many Old Perseans have pursued a career in the creative industries.

Here four of them tell us about their work in the visual arts and media.

portraits in order to try and get into the mindset of the artist and understand the muse. Everyone enjoyed themselves and the school provided a great creative platform. I began experiments with different materials, such as orange peel, burning canvas, soapstone, painting, leather, as well as beginning my learning with silver. I was lucky enough to make it onto the first school enrichment jewellery group and it was here that I developed a real interest in the processes involved and sculpture for the human form.

I went on to study Fashion Jewellery at London College of Fashion after a year at Cambridge Regional College and really enjoyed the combination of experimentation 6

school Feature news

Elena D’Eon (1998)

I was interested in combining my practice as an artist along with teaching and I am now very grateful to The Perse for providing me with the platform to share those skills with students.

and technical understanding. I

It was during my MA that I

focused on working with paper and

began to explore teaching, sharing

used both hand cutting and laser

my understanding of materials

cutting in order to develop a set of

with students and artists. I was

necklaces that the customer put

interested in combining my

together themselves. I was very

practice as an artist along with

interested in the relationship we

teaching and I am now very

have with our jewellery and this

grateful to The Perse for providing

formed the focus of my studies.

me with the platform to share

LCF provided me with a platform to work with others and

those skills with students.

Everywhere I have studied

I combined my new cutting skills

has given me new direction

with the talents of both a fashion

and enabled me to explore

student and a print student, in

how jewellery can range in size,

order to create an entire collection

material, style and durability. I am

of dresses and large hats for the

now lucky enough to work with

final year runway show. It was a

a range of clients: they either

fantastic experience and I still

commission me to design and

remember the hype of the show.

I continued to develop my skills with different materials when I

produce jewellery pieces for them, which is my perfect balance of designing, problem solving and

took a place at the Royal College

most importantly making, or I help

of Art studying Jewellery and

them make the work themselves,

Metal. I explored hand crafted

taking them through the process

design and began to make leather

to make a wedding band or similar.

and metal pieces that were made

I love combing this creative side

using weaving, focusing on the

with teaching, where I get to share

material characteristics, such as the

knowledge and encourage others

flexibility of the leather and natural

to explore their own creativity.

spring of coiled steel.

7

Going to The Perse for sixth form was serendipitous. We were driving past the School and noticed an open evening: as my mother knew the School’s great reputation for the arts she suggested we stop for a peek. A few months later I was in at the deep end, spending every spare moment in the art studio and making friendships that I have kept for life.

I started my career as a graphic designer working in advertising in Bahrain. With a client list of oil companies and banks, I found the work unfulfilling and decided to use my skills in ways that directly help people. This led me to freelance for a variety of non-profits around the world, from global giant Oxfam, to a local outreach programme for Aboriginal children. After travelling extensively, I chose to raise my family in New Zealand, where I live just a few minutes’ walk from one of my closest friends from The Perse.

The power of graphic design is often undervalued, but it can literally change lives. For example, I redesigned a series of hospital

old perseans

patient charts with the aim of highlighting early signs of health deterioration. It was a massive undertaking with 18 months of

The Perse gave me a wonderful opportunity to look beyond limitations that I had previously imposed upon myself.

trials, but it was an incredible The Perse gave me a wonderful

feeling when data showed that the

water to 16,000 people; partnered

charts helped reduce in-patient

with FIFA to build a community

opportunity to look beyond

cardiac arrests by 30%. The charts

centre offering education, health,

limitations that I had previously

are now used by hospitals across

and sports programmes to 7,000

imposed upon myself. It taught

the USA, UK and NZ.

youths and adults; and our greatest

me that we all have power as

achievement – a world-class school,

individuals, and anything is

been on the Communications

that currently gives 310 girls a free,

possible if you put your mind to

Committee at Malaika, a nonprofit

accredited, holistic education. It

it. I have carried this philosophy

grassroots organisation run by

is incredibly rewarding to build

with me, and it has led to some

a team of 20 core volunteers,

relationships with each of the

very interesting places. I am

that empowers Congolese girls

girls, and watch them grow up

honoured to instill this same sense

and their communities through

to become happy, healthy and

of excitement and hope for the

education and health programmes.

confident in their abilities.

future in the girls at Malaika.

For nearly a decade, I have

When I joined, Malaika operated

The effectiveness of Malaika’s

“Malaika has changed the way I

on a very small scale, supporting

work has led us to international

dream – I used to have small ideas

16 girls in orphanages, but I

acclaim. We have been invited

of what my life could be like, but

implemented strategic brand

to share our story with the UN

now I want to travel the world

development, which dramatically

and the British Parliament’s

and experience everything.” Rose

increased our fundraising

International Development

Muswamba, Malaika School, Grade 7.

capabilities. Since then we have

Committee, as well as being

built nine wells supplying fresh

featured on CNN and the BBC.

malaika.org / elenadeon.com

completely breaking your self-

appeared to sell photo packages

worth and building it back up

that let you fake a perfect life

again. That gets you ready for real

on Instagram. However, when

ad agencies, where your ideas are

visitors tried to buy the photos,

binned every day.

they instead found the site was

I’m now working for AMV BBDO, an ad agency in London.

io). Feeling inadequate on

have been ‘The Homeless Period’

social media seems like a small

(thehomelessperiod.com) and

problem, but its scale is huge.

‘The Homeless Period’ is a project which gets people thinking

I had a good time at The Perse.

I took the sciences as well as philosophy, which I went on to study at UCL. Philosophy’s a great subject for when you’re interested in a bit of everything and don’t want to limit yourself by committing to just one thing.

After my degree I did the Watford Advertising Course. What the course is really good at is

health startup Sanctus (sanctus.

Some of my favourite projects

‘lifefaker’ (lifefaker.com).

Oli Frost (2010)

part of a campaign by mental

Outside my advertising work I’m also a professional recorder player, covering mostly the 00s hip-hop

about the problems homeless

genre (youtube.com/recordaboi).

women face at that time of the

As ‘Recorda Boi’ I’ve appeared

month. When we started nobody

on Britain’s Got Talent, where I

was really talking about the

received four no’s from the judges.

issue, but once the site was out

Since then I’ve decided to make my

there, it all grew very quickly. It

own way into the music industry.

was raised in Parliament, and

If I could give my Perse self

today it’s run by supporters all

one piece of advice, I’d say: “Do

around the world. The lengths

your own thing. Don’t listen to the

those supporters have gone to

bullies. Even if that means playing

is far beyond what we did – but

a children’s instrument into your

we’re proud to have started it all.

adult life. If the recorder is you,

‘Lifefaker’ was a very different

then you do you.”

kind of project. We created a startup, Lifefaker.com, which 8

olifro.st

school Feature news

An entrepreneur called Richard

Paul Draper (1965) I am very appreciative of the education I received at The Perse. My time at the Upper was particularly happy because of the encouragement I received from Cecil Crouch. His Art Room was a quiet haven where I could indulge in what I liked doing best – drawing. Cecil also did something for which I shall always be grateful: he persuaded my parents that an artistic career was a viable option and that I had enough talent.

At the Northern Polytechnic in London I studied interior design for four years. There, with the help of inspiring tutors, I learned all the skills necessary to become a designer, including the ability to draw perspectives – important for illustrating the designs I was creating.

Thus I discovered there was a market for drawing perspectives for architects, which took me into the architectural world. In 1975 I was asked to go to Iran for three months to help prepare an outline design for a city on the Caspian Sea. Back in London I was commissioned by the Sunday Times Magazine, first to imagine how Sir Christopher Wren’s plan for the rebuilding of the City of London after the Great Fire might have looked had it been built, and then to draw a view of the long lost Nonsuch Palace, Henry VIII’s hunting lodge in Surrey. Subsequently I was asked by Sir Howard Colvin, the eminent architectural historian, to draw illustrations for his book Unbuilt Oxford, an inspiring collaboration for me.

In 1999 I became chairman of

Wrigley and I worked on projects

Bisque Radiators and developed

to design brewery-restaurants in

the brand of innovative designer

New York, Boston, New Orleans,

radiators until the company was

San Francisco and Seattle. Richard

sold in 2007.

took on the management of the

I live with my civil partner,

Wollman Ice Rink in Central Park,

sculptor and painter Emanuele

New York, which we redesigned.

Gori in Covent Garden and we

My office there had a beautiful

work from a studio in South

view over the ice rink towards mid-

London. I spent a year building

town Manhattan. At this time I also

an etching workshop with my

designed a $4million mansion on

own hands, but it was only when

Long Island and a golf resort in the

I finished it and started work

South of France.

that I realised I didn’t remember

I illustrated how the rebuilding

how to do etchings. As a result

of Windsor Castle would look after

I am still learning! The intention

the fire there, and made drawings

is to make etchings of the many

of the proposed new Jewel House

drawings I have made over the

at the Tower of London. I invented

years of buildings that were either

my own perspective technique and

designed but never built or built

could draw up an interior in pencil

but subsequently demolished.

in four hours. As a director of two

Reflecting on my life, I have been

architectural firms I conceived and

so very fortunate to have spent

designed the details of Vintry House

my life doing a job that I loved,

on the River Thames and designed

and I thank The Perse for having

an apartment block called St. John

equipped me so well for that role.

in Westminster with 190 apartments.

My time at the Upper was particularly happy because of the encouragement I received from Cecil Crouch … he persuaded my parents that an artistic career was a viable option and that I had enough talent.

Prints of 'The City that Wren never saw' are available for purchase for £26 (+P&P), with profits going to The Perse's Bursary Fund. If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact PerseADO@perse.co.uk.

9

old perseans

Campaign Update In September 2018 a team of 10 recent leavers took part in our annual telephone campaign and raised over £100,000 – our second largest total in a telephone campaign to date. The campaign was particularly successful thanks to the generosity of an Old Persean from the Class of 2005, who matched new gifts to the campaign. We are enormously grateful to all our alumni and friends who took part in the campaign, in particular our donors, During the 2017–18 academic

who will be listed in the donor report for the 2018–19 financial year.

year we raised over £385,000 in gifts and pledges for our An

This academic year saw the

Enduring Gift campaign, bringing

opening of the Peter Hall

the campaign total to over £2m.

Performing Arts Centre – the largest change to the Upper School since the move

We are incredibly grateful for every gift that is given to The Perse.

410 donors supported the School in the 2017–18 financial year, with 72 donating to the campaign for the first time.

410

individual donors

1 in 10 Perse students receive financial assistance.

to Hills Road in 1960. We were delighted to welcome so many of the donors to the Centre at the naming ceremony in March.

Our outreach programme continues to grow. Each fortnight Perse staff and students can be found working with teachers and pupils in one of 19 local primary schools with which we have a partnership. Each primary school specifies the kind of support they would like – from one-to-one maths sessions to stretch their brightest young mathematicians, to helping children for whom English is a second language, teaching French or running a Latin club. Thanks to the generous support of an Old Persean we are able to now offer coding workshops to two local primary schools in this academic year, preparing children for life in the digital world.

Approximately £150,000 every year is provided in emergency funding.

This year we launched a 2018 Leavers’ Appeal, with the help of U6 parents Alison Wilkinson, Jean Newlands, Liz Proudfoot and Rebecca Howard. The appeal raised over

Total

£385,350

£75,000 in support of The Perse’s Bursary and Hardship Fund.

The Fund provides means-tested fee support and emergency funding for families facing unexpected hardship. 1 in 10 Perse students receive financial assistance; of those more than half receive support of 50% and above of the annual fees, and more than a quarter between 90% and 100%. Approximately £150,000 every year is provided in emergency funding. You can hear from former pupils and parents whose lives have been changed for the better thanks to the generosity of our donors at perse.co.uk/bursary-stories.

10

Funds raised by project Bursaries (including endowed): £216,010 Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre: £18,000

Unrestricted: £143,000 Outreach: £7,000 Other: £1,340

school Donors news

Donor List 2017–18 We are deeply grateful to all who have made a donation to The Perse, both those listed in this report and those wishing to remain anonymous.

Donations are listed in alphabetical order by decade at the School. *D onors who have given to the School for 10+ consecutive years

Class of 1940s Mr P T Armitstead* Mr R A King CBE* Major E G S Lachlan The late Mr N Musry Class of 1950s Mr G Addison* The late Mr M G Baker* Mr J F Bullen* Wing Commander E B Bywater* Mr J W Charles* Dr D C H Cheng The late Mr M J S Collins Mr A S Crawford Mr R C E Duke* Mr J A Elmore Mr S C Foster Mr R G Gee Mr C A Greenhill Mr J M Hammond* Dr B L Hunt* Mr G C B Iafrate Dr P G G Jackson* Mr M D C Johnson* Mr J M Kidd* Mr R L Kidd Mr T G King Mr R A Lanham* Mr T C Laurie Mr I G Lyon Mr R R Mansfield* Ms A May* Mr P E Mills Mr M M Mizen The Reverend G J Murray* Mr B Norman Mr R C Norris* Mr L C O'Toole The Reverend Canon D W Owen* Mr T S Palmer Sir Mark Potter Mr M J A Powell* The late Brigadier B Sanderson OBE Mr P J D Scarlett MBE* Mr D E Sibson* Mr J C Sutcliffe Braithwaite Mr T G W Sweeney Mr R J H Wheatley* Professor J A Zetter Class of 1960s Mr D J Alexander* Mr T Andrew

Mr J S Andrews Mr M J Beloe* Mr J A Bishopp* Dr J E Bradshaw* Mr J J C Brinsden OBE* Mr C M Byrom Dr J W Calvert Mr R A Camping Professor R C Cheng* Mr C D Chitty Professor J Clarke* Dr A E T Cook Mr W O Cook Mr R A Covill* Mr D G Crawford* Dr H M Davies Mr G R Ditcham* Mr R D Eastcott Mr A J Eden Mr D I H Field* Mr D M Gant Mr D A Gomez-Ibanez Mr R S Gould* Mr J M Green* Dr N Hamson Mr C P Harrison Mr W G Hodges Mr J R Holy* Dr R Jeffery Dr G Kenyon Mr R K Loukes Mr P Mahaffey Dr J Marshall Dr M G Mason Dr R F Mitchell* Mr T R T Morris Mr H A L H Mumford* Mr G Palmer* Mr R F Perkins Mr S J Perrin Mr J H Sacks Mr T Sanderson Mr G A M Sims Mr P J H Smith* Dr M A Spencer* Mr R F Squibbs Mr S J Stanley Mr R D Stearn* Sir Quentin Thomas* Mr P E Thompson Mr R J Thomson Mr C V T Walne Mr H J Wiseman Mr A C H Wright Class of 1970s Mr J P C Bailey* Mr C S Bell* Dr A Bentley Mr B Berkowitz Mr A J M Brookes Mr R Clarke Mr A C Cook Mr A Cuthbert Mr S V De Boo* Mr G Dench Mr A Donoghue

Mr T Empson Mr D A Farndale Dr A J France Mr J Gibson Mr R P Grace Mr C P Hancock QC* Dr W G Handley* Mr D E Hart* Mr M Hawkins Dr R Hindmarsh Mr A Homer Mr R Hutt Mr P J Johnson* Mr B D Lanaghan Dr J H Lee Mr M H Massy Mr K A A McFarlane Mr R I Morgan* Mr H Orlin Mr S W Pain* Captain T Parmenter (USN retired) Mr R D Partridge Mr W M Pattison Mr J N Porter Goff Mr C F Rushton* Mr R D Russell* Mr F Sharpe The Reverend R Smail Mr A Smart Mr J P Stevens In memory of Commander and Mrs K G Sumnall OBE Mr D J Thompson* Mr W D L Thompson Professor M Threadgill Mr J P Tunnicliffe* Mr G Warren Dr G D Wattles* Class of 1980s Mr P Ansell Mr P Bailey Mr N Brownlie Mr S Chaplin Mr Y Chew Mr J A Collins* Mr D P Dorai Raj Dr M R Echlin Mr A J Finch* Mr R G Gardiner Mr S M Groom Mr I M Handley-Schachler Captain P J Haslam Mr S G Kelly Mr M J Leake* Mr S J Martin Mr T R Matthews Mr M A Melford Dr F Moscuzza* Mr J L J Newman* Mr M P Newman* Mr G Parr Mr P Peglar Mr S C Riley Mr G W Smith

11

Mr N A J Tait Mr M Wilkinson Mr S D Wright Class of 1990s Mr N K Amery Mr P J Brotton* Mr J J Butler* Mr P C Cave-Gibbs* Mr R E Challis* Mr J Cieslik-Bridgen Dr R J H Dunn Mr G C Dymott Mr T G A Edgar Mr N Elvidge Dr G A W Evans Mr A Farboud Mr A Farboud Mr D M Goodridge* Dr W K Hage* Ms C E I Harwood Mr M Hawkes Mr A Herriot Mr J R N Jack Dr A Kumar Dr V I Lesk Mr M R F Lynn Mr V Mahindran Mr O P J Metherell Mr A G Moir* Mr T Morfett Mr R N Oakeshott Mr J Odell* Mr M R Peachey* Mr A C M Rabarts Mr S P Rankine Mr W F Reeve Mrs K C Rodriguez Dr T Sivayokan* Mr J E Stobbs Mr V Sujendran Mrs A H P Sutherland Dr M J Whitaker Mr J G Williams Mr D L Young Class of 2000s Miss R A Abulafia Ms R Armes Mith Mr E Aston Mrs H Beckett Mr J A Bell Miss G Brunt Mr O W Callington Mr C Carter Miss E Chapman Mr J Chen Mr L D Clayton Mr Q P P Croft Mr G E J Dean Mr M Dearn Mr & Mrs T B Doble Mr P J H Dunn Mrs C Evans Mr B P T Freedman Mr B J Gamble Miss J Green

Mr J Hale Mr A D Harris Mr C L Harris Mr R P Jones Mr S Keen Mr T J Latimer Mr Y Liu Mr M Lowdon Mr C J Lyon Mr D Meese Grove Mr A J Milne Miss K E Muir-Jones Mr A S Nathan Mr J E Nichols Miss S E Nolasco Mr N D M Paulson Mr J Pearson Miss C Pettit Mr O Pindar Mr A Pooles Mr A Porter Mr D Smith Mr S F G Smith Mr M Swan Mr B Taylor Dr R Tharakan Miss M L Wadham Mr S A Walmsley Mr T E Wass Mrs V Windmill Class of 2010s Miss C Adamson Mr L Blackman Mr M H Du Miss R Hague Miss N Jobanputra Mr C Kingstone Mr T Loveluck Mr D Marrow Mr T Norris Parents and Friends of the School Professor D S H & Professor A S Abulafia* Dr M Amatt Mr & Mrs N Anderson Mr J Barker & Dr C Hubbard Mr & Mrs C Barraclough Miss M P Bedford* Mr & Mrs B Bhamra Dr E Biagini & Dr A Hintz Mr D Braben & Mrs W Irvin-Braben Mr & Mrs N Brent Mr M & Dr P Broadbent Dr & Mrs W Budenberg Dr K Buse & Dr S Hawkes Mr & Mrs R Chandraker Professor G Chen & Dr M Hu Mr & Mrs S Chintala Mr & Mrs R Clark Mr & Mrs P M C Clarke* Mr & Mrs S Coates

oldDonors perseans

The Reverend Professor A & the Reverend O Coles Dr N Cox & Dr S Booth Dr N Crockett & Dr J Greenwood Professor J Crawford & Dr J Gomula-Crawford Mr & Mrs E M Downey Mr & Mrs G Earles Mr & Mrs H N Edmundson* Mr E C & Dr S Elliott* Mrs J Ellis Mr & Mrs O Frakin Mr & Mrs T Fryers Mr & Mrs R G Gardiner Mr & Mrs M Gaunt Mr & Mrs A Glinsman Mr & Mrs S Goddard Mr & Mrs T Goldberg Dr M Gilchrist & Dr K Schmitt Mrs S Gordon Dr & Mrs A Grace* Mr & Mrs J Graham

Mr & Mrs R Greensitt* Mr L Halligan & Ms L Ward Mr W Harrison & Dr M Moody Mr A & Dr J Hartree Dr & Mrs T R Hesketh* Mr & Mrs S Hirtzel Mrs R Howard Mr & Mrs E Humbert Dr C R Hunt & Dr V Stephenson Mrs S Hunter Mr & Mrs P Iyengar Mr & Mrs F Jennings Ms M Jones Mr & Mrs T Joyce Mr S Kern Mr M & Dr K Kingstone Mr & Mrs N Knight Mr & Mrs P Lai Mr M Last & Ms J Kershaw Mr & Mrs J Leigh Dr I Lewis & Mrs M Forster-Lewis

Mr & Mrs N Ley Dr K Lin & Ms S Hsu Dr X & Dr H Liu Dr & Mrs J Love Mr R S & Dr A Lyon Professor A MacGregor & Dr C Reavley Professor J Marrow & Dr E Rose Ms F Martin-Redman Mr & Mrs T J C Mawby Mr & Mrs I McKernan Dr & Mrs A Newlands Mr R Nolasco & Ms L Arthur* The late Mrs H Pake Dr N Peabody & Ms B Hare Mr & Mrs P Perkins Mr M Pidgeon & Mrs K Rodney Mr & Mrs G Proudfoot Mr J Racher & Ms K Church Mrs R Rainey*

Mr & Mrs J Renfrew Knight Dr & Mrs W Ridsdill Smith Mr A Robinson & Dr J Lockie Mr & Mrs S N P Rosen Mr & Mrs D Rosenwold Dr R & Dr S Sewell Mr & Mrs J D Shave Dr D & Dr M Shrimpton Mr D & Dr S Sinclair Mr & Mrs B Singh Mr B Smith Mr & Mrs G Smith Dr P Smith & Mrs E Regan-Smith Dr S Stewart Dr & Mrs J Stowell Mr & Mrs M Sullivan Professor C Swan & Mrs C Thornton-Swan Mr & Mrs S Thompson Mrs L Tibbs* Dr N Toff and Dr L Allen Mr C & Dr K Townsend Mr & Mrs A Turner

Ms E Waldron Mr & Mrs M West Mrs H Whiting Mr & Mrs D Wilkinson Mr & Mrs I Wright Mrs K Wright Mr & Mrs R Yeoman Mr & Mrs M G Zeitlyn Mr & Mrs Z Zhang Dr & Mrs J Zhou Mr & Mrs N J Zolman Organisations BP Foundation Nuffield Health Perse Parents Association Sixth Form Charities Committee TTP Group and 16 anonymous donors

1615 Society Donors who make a gift of £1,615 or more to An Enduring Gift campaign are recognised by becoming members of the 1615 Society, having their name included in the book of benefactors and receiving a special lapel pin.

Society members are listed in alphabetical order.

Mr P Ansell Mr A C Appleyard Mr & Mrs J C Aston Mr J P C Bailey Mr M J Beloe Mr M Bennett Mr J A Bishopp Mr D Braben & Mrs W Irvin-Braben Dr J E Bradshaw Mr & Mrs N Brent Mr J J C Brinsden OBE Mr M & Dr P Broadbent Mr A J M Brookes Mr E J N Brookes Dr & Mrs W Budenberg Mr P C Cave-Gibbs Dr N S Y Chao Dr A C Y Cheng Professor R C Cheng Mr Y Chew Mr M J C Chong Mr S T M Chu Professor J Clarke Mr R H Clarke Mr S P Clemmow Mr R A Cliff The Reverend Professor A & the Reverend O Coles Mr J A Collins

Mr A C Cook Mr D G Crawford Mr J D Crompton Dr H M Davies Mr S V De Boo Mr & Mrs C Dell Mr A P Donoghue Mr P N Draper Dr M R Echlin Mr M & Dr S Fell Mr A J Finch Mr & Mrs O Frakin Dr A J France Mr & Mrs T Fryers Mr & Mrs R G Gardiner Mr & Mrs A Glinsman Mr R W Goddin Mr D M Goodridge Professor I R F Gordon Mr R S Gould Mr & Mrs A Grabowski Dr & Mrs A Grace Mr J M Green Mr S M Groom Mr C P Hancock QC Dr W G Handley Mr I M Handley-Schachler Mr P A Harlow Mr A D Harris Mr A & Dr J Hartree Captain P J Haslam Sir Michael Heller Mr A M Herriot Dr & Mrs T R Hesketh

Mr & Mrs A T Hirzel Mr J R Holy Mr & Mrs N Howlett Mr & Mrs E Humbert Dr B L Hunt Dr C Hunt & Dr V Stephenson Mr R W F Hutt Mr M D C Johnson Mr P J Johnson Mr S G Kelly Dr G S Kenyon Mr J M Kidd Mr R A King CBE Mr T G King Mr & Mrs F Knowles Mr & Mrs P Lai Mr B D Lanaghan Mr A Landy Mr C J Leak Mr M J Leake Dr J H Lee Mr & Mrs G W Lewin Smith Dr K Lin & Ms S Hsu Mr Y Liu Mr R S & Dr A Lyon Mr V Mahindran Mr R R Mansfield Mr L G D Marr Dr L P Marsh Mr S J Martin Dr M G Mason Dr R & Dr A Mason

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Mr M H Massy Ms A May Mr & Mrs I McKernan Mr & Mrs J McNeil Mr A G Moir Mr R I Morgan Mr T R T Morris Mr H A L H Mumford Dr & Mrs A Newlands Mr J E Nichols Professor C J Oon Mr S W Pain Mr J G Parr Mr R D Partridge Mr M R Peachey Mr J R Pedley Mr A J Pitt Mr M P H Pooles QC Mr & Mrs M J A Powell Mr & Mrs G Proudfoot Mrs R Rainey Mr W F Reeve Mr A W M Reicher Mr & Mrs D G Richardson Dr & Mrs N P V Richardson Mr S C Riley Mr & Mrs S N P Rosen Mr C F Rushton Mr J H Sacks Mr P J D Scarlett MBE Dr K B Seamon & Dr J A Biddle Mr & Mrs J D Shave

Mr P Shelley Mr D E Sibson Mr & Mrs B Singh Mr B P Smith & Mrs P Hayden-Smith Mr G W Smith Dr M A Spencer Mr R D Stearn Dr S Stewart Mr V Sujendran In memory of Commander & Mrs K G Sumnall OBE Professor M D Threadgill Mr J P Tunnicliffe Dr A & Dr V Warren Dr G D Wattles Dr A G Weeds Mrs W J Whalley Mr R J H Wheatley Dr M J Whitaker Mr M A Wilkinson Mr & Mrs D Wilkinson Mr P M Wrench Sir David and Lady Wright Mr S D Wright Professor J A Zetter and 16 anonymous members

school Donors news

Dr Perse Society Members The Dr Perse Society recognises those who have made provision for The Perse in their will.

Society members are listed in alphabetical order.

Mr G Addison Mr D I Alexander Mr D J Alexander Mr P T Armitstead Mr D Bowley Mr & Mrs T K Boyden Mr A J M Brookes Mr E J N Brookes Mr I J Burton Mr P R G Cannell Mr P C Cave-Gibbs Mr J P Cheffins Mr D A W Clark Mr J R S Cope Mr E A Copeland Dr B J Drake Mr P N Draper Mr A J Eden Mr M A Edwards Mr E C Elliott

Mr R C H Genochio Mr R W Goddin Mr & Mrs S W Graves Mr M C L Herring Mr J G Hicks Dr P G G Jackson Mr M D C Johnson Mr P J Johnson Mr D J Jones Mr A Kemp The Reverend C M Kemp Mr S W Kemp Dr G S Kenyon Mr R S & Dr A Lyon Mr R R Mansfield Mr L G D Marr Dr L P Marsh Dr R J Marsh Mr T J Marsh Sir Michael Marshall Captain P McLaren Mr O P J Metherell Professor D F Nixon

Mr S W Pain Mr R D Partridge Professor D M Potts Mr W F Reeve Mr J W Roberts Professor J E Salzman Dr J A Sills Mr J L Smart Mr & Mrs A P J Smith Dr M A Spencer Mrs S H Stobbs Mr R G Thomson Dr J C Thurman Mr D G Tomlinson Mr C V T Walne Mr D T Ward Dr A G Weeds Mr R J H Wheatley Commander D G M Wilkie (RN) Dr P M Williamson Mrs K Wright and 3 anonymous members

Partnership with The Cambridge Building Society Earlier this year we reached a sponsorship agreement with The Cambridge Building Society in support of our Community Lecture series.

This partnership is important as it gives both sides an opportunity to work with institutions deeply rooted in the local community.

In addition, it enables us to reach deeper into local networks as we grow engagement opportunities for the local community.

We are always interested in deepening such links and would be delighted to hear

Major Benefactors Our major benefactors’ board recognises those who have made gifts in excess of £50,000 to The Perse.

Major benefactors are listed in order of the date their gifts were made to the School.

Dr S Perse Mr G Griffith Dr W H D Rouse Lady Frazer Mr I Hersch Mr H C Cook Mr A C Benson Sir Harold Bowden Mr G Macfarlane-Grieve Baron Porter The Industrial Fund for the Advancement of Scientific Education in Schools

Mr E Funge Sir John Gray Dr L Marsh Squadron Leader William Lodge Mr A Bottomley Dr R Haylock The Wolfson Foundation Mr R White Mr M Fell Mr M P H Pooles QC Sir David Tang KBE Mrs G Earnshaw-Smith Mrs H Greenhalgh Mr P J Johnson Professor B W Lacey Mr R R Mansfield Mr & Mrs D G Richardson

Mrs C Thomas Mr & Mrs W T Brown Mr C Kidman Mr & Mrs A Frost Mr S Bahwan Mrs M Neve Mr R A King CBE Mr J J C Brinsden OBE Mr L G D Marr Mr H A L H Mumford Dr A C Y Cheng Mr & Mrs M J A Powell Mr S P Clemmow TTP Group Class of 2018 (parents) and 3 anonymous members

Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of our donor lists.

However, if any error has occurred, please accept our apologies and notify the Alumni & Development Office so that we can amend our records.

13

from local companies and businesses that may be interested in supporting our work. If you would like more information please contact Dr Maša Amatt, Director of Development at mamatt@perse.co.uk or +44(0)1223 403835.

old perseans

Archivist’s Account David Jones

Lest we Forget?: The Perse War Memorials If Old Perseans were asked how many war memorials there are in the School, most would probably say two – the wooden memorial boards to two World Wars. These currently hang on the stairs to the Hall Gallery, but OPs may remember them on the back wall of the former gym, and before that in the Hall at Gonville Place.

I

n fact there are seven. Those who remember the old Upper Library might recall the brass plate beside the left-hand door to the gallery. That records the deaths of two Old Perseans in the Boer War, one of whom had the misfortune to be

killed after the armistice, news travelling slowly over the wide field of combat.

The pavilion of 1931 was originally known as the Macfarlane-Grieve pavilion,

for it commemorates Alwyn Macfarlane-Grieve, killed in the First World War. It was paid for by his family and now houses the School’s medical centre.

The fifth memorial is the School’s main entrance gates. These were completed in 1953 as a further memorial to the dead of World War Two, the War Memorial Fund having raised so much money.

In 2015, the School acquired 88 poppies from the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red exhibition at the Tower of London, through a generous donation from a parent.

These commemorate Old Perseans who died in World War One and are on display in the North Building.

And the seventh? That was long forgotten, and unknown even to this writer until recently.

A chance discovery in the archive revealed that the field purchased in 1923, the one that lies towards Luard Close and Sedley Taylor Road, was also intended as a memorial to the fallen of the First World War. As explained in an earlier article (OP News, Spring 2016), it was once known as the Bowden Field in recognition of the funds supplied by Sir Harold Bowden of Raleigh Bikes. Incidentally, his link to the School has also been recently discovered: he was a friend of Lord Crewe, who in turn was a supporter of The Perse.

The First World War memorial board, carved by Old Persean Cyrus Johnson, was unveiled in the Hall at Gonville Place by General Lord Horne, on 21 May 1921. Next time you happen to be on the school field, you might like to glance past the First XI square towards Sedley Taylor Road and contrast the peacefulness of the scene with the nightmare fields of the Western Front.

That field honours the Perseans who never came home from that war, one hundred years ago this November.

David Jones joined The Perse in 1974 as a history teacher and was House Tutor at School House until 1982. He retired from teaching in 2008, but has continued at the School in his role as Archivist.

school OP News news

OP NEWS Kenneth Tharp CBE (1978) was appointed Director of the Africa Centre, London in May.

Roger Harcourt (1958) has been elected

Kenneth’s role will include overseeing a major

as the British Shakespeare Association’s

capital development project and expansion of the

Honorary Fellow for 2018. A teacher for the

centre, which supports African culture, enterprise,

whole of his life, Roger has inspired thousands

art, music and education in the UK.

of young people with his experience and insights into Shakespeare.

Javid Abdelmoneim (1997) was nominated for a BAFTA

Graham Wade (1959) was named the

in the Features category

People’s Poet in the Sunday Times’s royal

for his work on the BBC2

poem competition. Graham's poem, Royal

programme No More Boys

Wedding, was published alongside that

and Girls: Can Our Kids Go

of the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.

Gender Free?

Royal Wedding It is a time of happiness, no doubt, Nick Coleman (1978) released

Not just for them – the favoured few,

his third book, Voices: How a

But also for the common herd who view

Great Singer Can Change Your

As through a stained glass window

Life, earlier this year. The book is

Whatever comes and goes.

a study of the history of singing in the post-war period from

Mounted guard, limousines, cheering crowds,

an emotional perspective, and

The waving flags, we see it all,

was inspired by the author’s

And in our hearts we seek a kind of certitude,

reflections of the impact that

A reassurance we are vibrant and alive,

others’ singing has had on him

And through seeing visions of delight

as he loses his hearing.

We rejoice within the human hive.

The day has come for us to savour secret dreams, Images of wish-fulfilment and desire, We watch the triple union of birth, wealth, and fame, And see the kindling of love’s sacred fire.

We wish we could move closer to the flame, And yet the old illusions hold, In some strange way we feel we know the pair, And on this day their lives we share In a personal way, as if we all were there.

We watch the screen intently as the play unfolds, The flickering emotions on her lovely face, The bridegroom’s arm slipped round her slender waist, How sweet, how normal, how sensitive they are, Reminding us of other weddings, and the way we were.

Toby, a film directed by Ashley Ogden

Once they are married and have sealed their fate,

(2008) won Best Indie Film at Brighton

They move off to whatever feasts and palaces await,

Rocks Film Festival. The film stars a

Only a fool would not wish them well, the very best,

number of Old Perseans and the trailer is

Fine children, long life, happiness, and all the rest.

available online at professorstamen.com.

15

old perseans

OP NEWS continued Charlotte Grace (2014) won The Economist’s Open Tess Howard (2017) was named

Future essay competition

Investec Junior Performance Player

in the category of Open

at the 2018 England Hockey Awards.

Markets, responding to

She said “I was so surprised to win

the question: “What

the award, but I’m ecstatic. I only

is the best way

play hockey because I enjoy it so

to improve

much and have so much fun on the

competition

pitch. It’s made me want to take

in modern

the sport more seriously now just

capitalism?”

because it’s opened up my mind to what could be in the future.”

Holly Race (2003) has recently signed a book deal for a young adult trilogy. City of Nightmares (working title) moves between the real London and its dream version, Annwn, a place infused with Arthurian legend.

The first book in the series is due to be published in

Lewis Naughton (2018) and Eesha Wahid

February 2020.

(2018) enjoyed a visit to Buckingham Palace in May, where they were awarded their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards by Princess Beatrice of York.

Abigail Bertelsen (2012) and Sophie Rawe (2012) spent a summer hiking the John Muir Trail. Abigail writes: “The trail took us over 258 miles of the Californian Sierra Nevada mountain range.

In total, we spent 23 days in the wilderness.

We passed through four different national parks, encountered bears and rattlesnakes, and summited Mt Whitney (4,421 m) at sunrise. The whole experience involved us having to use bear cans, acclimatising to high altitude, and washing in ice cold mountain lakes. This was our first long-distance hiking experience and we loved every minute of it.

We are currently about to set out to complete the West Highland Way in Scotland!”

16

school OP News news

Simon Akam (2003) launched a new writing podcast, Always Take Notes, which he co-hosts with Kassia St Clair. The podcast sees journalists, publishers, screenwriters, novelists and agents talk candidly about their work and career paths. You can find out more at alwaystakenotes.com.

Ian Doggett (1959) has been elected Chairman of Torbay Council and was inaugurated on May 14 at the Riviera Conference Centre.

Emma Broadhurst (2015) performed in Crave by Sarah Kane at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

She said: “Whilst at The Perse I was fortunate enough to experience a plethora of extra-curricular activities including many productions, especially with the Perse Players and I then expanded this interest by joining an acting company called ‘The Craft Ensemble’. It is a combination of these experiences which led me The Chicago Athenaeum awarded its

to continue acting at university and this summer

2018 American Prize for Architecture to

performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. I would not

James von Klemperer (1974). The prize,

have been able to take on these amazing opportunities

also known as the Louis H. S. Sullivan

if it wasn’t for the confidence and passion which I gained

Award, is bestowed on “an outstanding

from Perse Players productions. I look back on these

practitioner in the United States who

experiences with such fondness from my time at The

has emblazoned a new direction in the

Perse and performing at the Fringe was always a goal I

history of American Architecture with

was eager to realise. Having now completed our 14-day

talent, vision, and commitment and has

run and receiving five star reviews, I am excited to see

demonstrated consistent contributions to

what the future has in store!”

humanity through the built environment and through the art of architecture”.

Michael Pepper (2016) made his firstclass debut for Essex County Cricket Club in their June draw with Somerset.

He followed this with his Twenty20 debut for Essex in their match against India in

In July Ben Donnelly

August and scored 68 against the world’s

(2002) released a book

No 1 ranked Test team, helping Essex

of fun and challenging

clinch a draw. He said “When I was in the

alto saxophone solos.

field, seeing the likes of Virat Kohli (India

Unexpected Items can

captain) come out to bat was pretty

be purchased online at

special, but once you’re playing you don’t

bendonnelly.co.uk.

think about it too much or get caught up in the emotions of it.”

17

old perseans

reer w a C o rk sh o

p Each year, thousands of young people apply for work experience placements to help them learn about the world of work and gain an idea about what they might like to do as a future career. In this article, James Pattinson (1998) explains how offering work experience placements can provide benefits to businesses, based on his experience as Ordnance Officer and co-founder of Reluctantly Brave.

18

school Careers news

I

n a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous

We find imaginative insights and solutions to

world where businesses are increasingly confronted

problems by harnessing the dynamics of difference.

by “wicked problems” – intractable, messy and

Diversity is proven to deliver superior business results.

often contradictory challenges, imagination needs

We build teams, large and small, at speed. Our teams

to be at the centre of strategy. At Reluctantly Brave,

are made up of real diversity of thought: all-age, multi-

we use “Business Imagineering” as a methodology to

ethnic, multi-talented, worldwide. Our constellation of

simultaneously solve problems and build capacity on

experts ranges from 16-year-old schoolkids to Nobel

every project we take on.

Prize winners.

Work experience makes businesses better

Getting work experience right for you

Our (Young) Braves are at the core of Reluctantly

If managed properly, work experience should deliver a

Brave. They are 16–24 year olds who work with our

real benefit to your business:

interdisciplinary team, learning to be strategists by 1. See yourselves through fresh eyes. Young people

doing. Students securing work experience is a key part of our approach. Doing/offering work experience

have an uncanny knack for seeing through bull s***!

therefore benefits everyone – young people, us and

This is keeps us on our toes.

our clients.

2. Gain rich insight and ideas for present and future

Young people get to incubate their skills and receive mentoring from our Partners. Their work experience

recruitment, retention and market needs. Young

may even transition to paid work as we build a pool of

people are the future after all.

different thinkers to give strategic insight for the likes 3. Be inspired by energy and enthusiasm. Give young

of Kellogg’s, Boots Opticians and Jagex. For this unique approach, last year our (Young) Braves programme

people meaningful opportunities and set them up

won us a National Diversity Award (the only business

for success – you’ll be pleasantly surprised and your

to do so).

business will be more vibrant for it.

We ensure that each group of (Young) Braves is made up from a range of backgrounds, be it gender, socio-economic, religion or others.

Expanding everyone’s horizons I founded Reluctantly Brave with Dawood Gustave and my brother Jonathan (OP, 2000) in 2012. Dawood and I met at Oxford University and came from opposite backgrounds but were united on our shared values.

Enthused by our heightened creative outputs when working together we sought to set up a programme that encompassed this fusing of perspectives.

(Young) Braves has done just that, mixing people from our local state schools and Oxford University, people who left school at 16 with Masters students.

We ensure that each group of (Young) Braves is made up from a range of backgrounds, be it gender, socioeconomic, religion or others. Their diversity brings us new, exciting ideas and ensures everybody has a voice and is heard. This summer we’ve had a total of eight Perseans working with other 16-year-olds from local schools in Hackney and University students from Bristol, UCL and Texas on a variety of projects.

If you’d like to find out more how work

We’re Reluctantly Brave, experts in

experience can work for you, or how our

“Business Imagineering” – the way to create

‘Business Imagineering’ methodology can help

strategies that solve challenges in a volatile world.

solve your pressing business challenge, please

Our award winning (Young) Braves programme

drop me a line: james@reluctantlybrave.com

is central to how we do this for our clients.

19

old perseans

Obituaries Barry Joseph Sanderson (1956)

Graham Sanderson (1961) writes: Barry entered The Prep in Bateman Street in 1943. He was enthusiastic in all aspects of the School, became captain of the football team, vicecaptain of cricket, and a ‘sixer’ in the School’s Cub pack.

Moving into the Upper School in Gonville Place he progressed to being a demon fast bowler in the 1st XI cricket team, a fearsome flanker in the rugby 1st XV and a successful middle distance runner in the athletics team.

A very keen Scout, he was Patrol Leader of the Owl patrol, attending the annual camps at West Runton. He attained the rank of Sergeant in the CCF; a grounding for his successful military career.

In the Perse Players production of Julius Caesar he was particularly noted for his appearance as the ghost of Caesar, despite wearing a luminous wristwatch. On leaving School, Barry went into the army as a National Serviceman, originally in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and then transferring to a regular commission in the Royal Engineers.

He completed several tours of duty in Germany, during which he took the opportunity to indulge his passion for sailing, mostly in the Baltic.

He also served twice in the Far East, firstly with the Royal Malaysian Engineers and secondly with the Royal Brunei Regiment, where he was highly honoured by the Sultan.

His Regimental Command was a TA Regiment with its headquarters in Belfast: he also commanded a regiment in the Falklands, repairing the damage left after the conflict.

Louis Tan Jiew Cheng (1967)

Ranjan Ramasamy (1967) writes: Louis was born on 23 October 1948 and joined The Perse in September 1965 as a Boarder at the Senior Boarding House in Glebe Road, following on from his father who was an Old Persean. The Tan family had plantation and business interests in Malaysia but later moved to Singapore where Louis attended a Chinese school at first. He was brought up as a Catholic and went every week to the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs on Hills Road before returning for the traditional Sunday lunch at the 20

He was awarded an OBE and, attaining the rank of Brigadier, he became an Aide de Camp to The Queen. As Brigadier he undertook the annual MOD Inspection of the Perse CCF, arriving by helicopter which landed on the School playing fields.

This was a particularly proud family moment as my son, Matthew, was the Senior Cadet leading the parade, and I attended as a member of the School Board of Governors.

Barry married Gillian in 1965 with whom he had two children, Rupert and Johanna, who survive him with six grandchildren.

Retiring from the army in 1992, he settled in Yorkshire and undertook a second career as a management consultant and was awarded a Fellowship of the British Institute of Management.

Barry always acknowledged the benefit of his Perse education and was pleased to make a number of return visits to the School. During the 1990s he enjoyed participating in mock interviews with students.

Barry died unexpectedly on 2 February 2018 and is greatly missed by all his family.

Senior Boarding House with Keith and Beryl Barry. Louis was a brilliant artist who brought great flair to Cecil Crouch’s art classes at The Perse.

His programme cover for the Perse Players’ production of Marlowe’s Dr Faustus was an acclaimed masterpiece of cultural fusion. On leaving school in 1967, Louis studied architecture in London and then went on to practise in Singapore. He retained a love for England and lived for a part of each year in Knightsbridge, London.

Louis passed away in Singapore from a sudden heart attack on 30 March 2018 and is survived by his close friend Gordon, brothers and sisters.

school Obituaries news

William ‘Gordon’ Reeves (1957)

Olly Reeves writes: Professor Gordon Reeves was educated at The Perse School and Guy’s Hospital Medical School, graduating in 1964. After completing House and Registrar appointments at Guy’s, University College Hospital and other London hospitals he undertook Lecturer posts at Guy’s and the Royal Postgraduate Medical School. He was appointed Consultant Immunologist and Senior Lecturer at Nottingham University in 1973, becoming Professor of Immunology in 1985. He published many articles and research papers; contributed to, wrote and edited a number of books including Immunolog y in Medicine: a Comprehensive Guide to Clinical Immunolog y and the student text Lecture Notes on Immunolog y as well as serving on the editorial boards of several journals.

In 1989, he became a full-time medical editor: first at the helm of The Lancet – where he had the brief to update its editorial processes and enhance its standing as an independent and international peer-reviewed medical journal – followed by a period as Medical Editor and Consultant to the Public Health Laboratory Service where he developed new journals for the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.

In 1993, he was invited to join the new medical school at Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman where he headed up the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and played a key role in the development of the College of Medicine’s postgraduate training programmes.

In retirement, he devoted most of his energy to researching medieval history and was able to publish his work in the peer-reviewed Transactions of the Devonshire Association. He also found time to return to the piano and landscape painting, and the considerable enjoyment of four grandchildren. He and his wife, Liffy, returned to the East Anglia of their youth in 2007: first at Bury St Edmunds but later to a rural domicile at Hunston, also in West Suffolk, in 2015.

He died in early November 2017 having suffered from a cerebral tumour. He was lovingly cared for at home until his last four days. As well as his wife he leaves a daughter, Sophie, a son, Olly and four grandchildren – Marley, Agnes, Dexter and Clara.

Maurice Gordon Baker (1953)

Gordon Marshall writes: Maurice was born on 8 December 1934 and spent his early years in Cambridge with his older sister, Audrey. He won a bursary to attend The Perse and attended the School from 1945–1953. Throughout his life, Maurice recognised the great start in life his schooling gave him by making donations back into The Perse bursary fund to help repay their investment into his life.

Maurice was introduced to Scouting at School and also joined the Army Cadets there. On leaving School, Maurice joined ICI and trained to become a plastics research chemist – a career that eventually saw him rewarded with 25 years’ 21

service. His career was interrupted by a period of National Service that saw him rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to India and Malaya with the Army Catering Corps.

This experience gave him a lifelong talent for cooking.

Maurice continued in Scouting during his time in the Army as the Scout Leader of the 19th Jahore Bahru Troop in Malaya for service families.

This involvement continued when he returned from service life and he held a number of posts in the Hertfordshire District. In the 1960s, Maurice became a part of Hertfordshire Scouts’ growing involvement in developing mountaineering skills and the County Adventure Centre at Lochearnhead, Scotland. He developed and shaped training courses for young people with his lifelong friend, George Moody. Maurice became the hub of the courses – organising, publicising, administering and delivering them.

He was sometimes Chief Instructor, sometimes Station Master, and sometimes (possibly his favourite role) Caterer. Nothing pleased Maurice more than to feed 80 or so hungry mouths with filling meals supplemented by his legendary soups or the fabled Lochearnhead bread pudding. The Leaders especially appreciated his wonderful curries that he learned to cook on his travels in National Service.

During the 1970s, Maurice led expeditions for older Scouts to more adventurous places. He was instrumental in two expeditions to the Lofoten Islands in Norway and, inspired by connections made through his working contacts at ICI, Maurice led a County Scout Expedition to Kashmir. A further Expedition went to Turkey. All of these gave young people from Hertfordshire the opportunity to explore lands they had only read about and helped them make their dreams come true. Work then took him to Teesside, but he continued his link with the Scouts and Lochearnhead. He trained a number of leaders to take over from him and purchased a bungalow in the village as a retirement property – his own Highland Headquarters.

old perseans

In total, Maurice spent over 60 years in Scouting, acknowledged by the Chief Scout in a Long Service Presentation in April 2014. He gave excellent service at all levels of the movement, recognised by awards such as the Medal of Merit, the bar to the Medal of Merit, the Silver Acorn, the bar to the Silver Acorn and the Silver Wolf, which is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is only awarded for service of a most exceptional nature.

In addition, Maurice was awarded the Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct for his

Rajen Mahendra (2010)

Ravi Mahendra writes: Rajen attended St John’s College School between 1996 and 2005.

During his time at St John’s he will be remembered for being one of the friendliest of individuals who always made time for those around him. The kind and nurturing environment of the school allowed Rajen to flourish both in and out of the classroom and provided him with a fantastic platform for his future years.

He went on to The Perse School (2005–2010) where he continued his close friendship with many of his friends from St John’s. Rajen became a very popular member of his year group and one of his strongest traits was to bring together friends from different friendship groups.

Sport played a huge part in Rajen’s life. Amongst others, he represented St John’s College School, The Perse School, Newcastle University and Cambridge Nomads Hockey Club,

organisation and coordination of the rescue of an injured Scout during the first of the County Expeditions to the Lofoten Islands in 1971.

Although many of us recall Maurice as a fit and strong mountaineer, he suffered with his health in his final years. A minor stroke was followed by other health issues, and unfortunately the cancer that appeared late last year proved to be too strong even for his resolute personality. Despite this, he remained as a friendly welcoming presence around the village and on the Station.

The Perse motto – Qui facit per alium facit per se – pretty much describes the way Maurice led his life. He gave young people a chance, helped to nurture and support them, recognised when they were able to go off on their own and celebrated their development whilst remaining watchful and to help them when needed, whilst all the time remaining courteous and generous.

There are many words that could be used to describe Maurice – colleague, leader, inspiration, mentor, neighbour, chef, raconteur, good counsel – but above all he was a great friend.

St Giles Cricket Club and Cambridge Touch over the past 26 years. Some of Rajen’s most memorable moments came on the sports field where he spent endless summer evenings playing colt’s cricket for St Giles CC along with many of his friends from school. Rajen was also part of the “golden hockey era” at The Perse where his indoor hockey team won three back to back National hockey titles. Whilst Rajen found lots of success on the sports field, it wasn’t the success which drove him to continue playing; it was the camaraderie and friendship which he valued far more.

Rajen’s sense of adventure shone throughout his life. After graduating from Newcastle University, he went travelling on his own to India for three months. Rajen also had a passionate love for skiing and in his gap year after University he worked as a ski rep for Wasteland ski. Last year he visited Zimbabwe where he fulfilled one of his life ambitions of doing a bungee jump over the Zambezi River and fishing with a beer in hand.

After university, Rajen completed an internship at Essex County Cricket Club, where he worked closely with their media and marketing team.

This helped him secure his job as an account manager working for digital advertising company, Media Brands.

We have spoken to friends and family who have come and shared their stories and memories of Rajen: kind, loving, generous and magnetic

are some of the words which have been used to describe his personality.

However, we will remember him as the perfect gentleman, with a splash of colour and a vibrant personality.

Rajen’s ability to bring people together and make people laugh and cry is something we will forever remember.

We have been overwhelmed by the love and support which has been shown to our family. The sheer number of people who have contacted and visited us has been very moving and is a testimony to how many people Rajen reached out to over the last 26 years. We cannot thank you enough.

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In Memoriam Christine McRitchie Pratt (Former Staff) died 23 May 2018, aged 69 years Michael G R Mitcham (1950)

died December 2017, aged 86 years Martha Mitchell (Former Staff)

died 21 March 2018, aged 97 years Nissim Musry (1945)

died 25 March 2018, aged 90 years George A Priechenfried (1951)

died in 2016, aged 83 years Roger J Taylor (1950)

died 28 February 2018, aged 85 years Clifford Tebbit (1942)

died 16 June 2018, aged 93 years This list was up-to-date when we went to print.

Obituaries may be read in full on our website: perse.co.uk/obituaries

recent schoolevents news

Recent Events

1994–1998 Reunion: Saturday 21 April In April we welcomed back the classes of 1994–1998

Half Century Club Lunch: Saturday 19 May

for their reunion dinner. This was the first visit back

Our second Half Century Club Lunch took place

to The Perse since leaving for many of the attendees,

in May for Old Perseans who left The Perse 50 or

who thoroughly enjoyed catching up with each other

more years ago. Over 70 guests attended the lunch,

and seeing some of their former teachers. After

with Old Perseans from the Classes of 1947–1968

touring the ‘new school’, guests sat down to dinner in

in attendance. Following the meal in the school

the Barry Room – much changed from the changing

hall, guests enjoyed afternoon tea in the Peter Hall

room they remembered from their school days!

Performing Arts Centre and a chance to reminisce with photographs of the old school. We are already looking forward to next year’s lunch on Saturday 18 May 2019.

Design and production: H2 Associates, Cambridge

2008 Reunion: Saturday 5 May Our inaugural 10 year reunion dinner took place in

OP Cricket: Friday 22 June

May for the Class of 2008. Old Perseans and their

The weather was kind to us for this year’s Old

guests had fun looking at old photographs and

Persean v 1st XI cricket match. A relatively young

drinking champagne in the court before the black

Old Persean side stepped up to the crease and

tie dinner. A number of teachers, including Adrian

posted 244–3 from 30 overs. Sacha Abbasi (2017)

Roberts, David Jones, Rich Morgan and Simon Ball,

scored 100* and Chris Pepper (2015) 82. The 1st

also took the opportunity to catch up with their

XI scored a 150 in reply, with David Shaw (Lower

former students. Special thanks go to 2008 Year

Sixth) achieving an unbeaten 40. The match

Group Rep, Nick McLellan, for his help in organising

was followed with a barbecue and beers for the

the event.

players and spectators.

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old perseans

Upcoming Events Upcoming Reunion Dinners 2019/20: Classes of 2005–2010 2020/21: Class of 1980s 2021/22: Class of 1990s Perse Players Dinner A dinner celebrating Perse drama and 70 years since Peter Hall’s Hamlet.

Saturday 9 February 2019 Drinks from 18.00, The Perse.

Open to all.

1970s Reunion Dinner Saturday 16 March 2019 18.45 for 19.30, The Perse.

Open to the Classes of 1970–1979.

OP Sports Day Saturday 30 March 2019 Timings TBC, The Perse.

Open to all.

OP Golf Sunday 31 March 2019 13.00, Girton Golf Club.

Open to all.

2009 Reunion Dinner Saturday 6 April 2019 18.45 for 19.30, The Perse.

Open to the Class of 2009.

Half Century Club Lunch Saturday 18 May 2019 12.00 for 12.30, The Perse.

Open to those who left in 1969 or before.

For more information Please visit perse.co.uk/alumni/events or contact the Alumni & Development Office by telephone on +44 (0)1223 403 808 or email PerseADO@perse.co.uk.

Alumni & Development Office www.perse.co.uk/alumni

Old Perseans and Friends

The Perse School Hills Road Cambridge, UK, CB2 8QF

@OldPerseans Old Perseans

Tel: +44(0)1223 403 808 PerseADO@perse.co.uk

The Perse School is a registered charity no. 1120654 24