OP news

kenneth tharp CBe (1978) was appointed Director of the Africa Centre, London in May. Kenneth’s role will include overseeing a major capital development project and expansion of the centre, which supports African culture, enterprise, art, music and education in the UK. Roger harcourt (1958) has been elected as the British Shakespeare Association’s Honorary Fellow for 2018. A teacher for the whole of his life, Roger has inspired thousands of young people with his experience and insights into Shakespeare.

javid Abdelmoneim (1997) was nominated for a BAFTA in the Features category for his work on the BBC2 programme No More Boys and Girls: Can Our Kids Go Gender Free?

nick Coleman (1978) released his third book, Voices: How a Great Singer Can Change Your Life, earlier this year. The book is a study of the history of singing in the post-war period from an emotional perspective, and was inspired by the author’s reflections of the impact that others’ singing has had on him as he loses his hearing.

Toby, a film directed by Ashley Ogden (2008) won Best Indie Film at Brighton Rocks Film Festival. The film stars a number of Old Perseans and the trailer is available online at professorstamen.com. graham Wade (1959) was named the People’s Poet in the Sunday Times’s royal poem competition. Graham's poem, Royal Wedding, was published alongside that of the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.

royAl WeddinG it is a time of happiness, no doubt, not just for them – the favoured few, but also for the common herd who view As through a stained glass window Whatever comes and goes.

mounted guard, limousines, cheering crowds, the waving flags, we see it all, And in our hearts we seek a kind of certitude, A reassurance we are vibrant and alive, And through seeing visions of delight 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.

Once they are married and have sealed their fate, they move off to whatever feasts and palaces await, Only a fool would not wish them well, the very best, Fine children, long life, happiness, and all the rest.

tess howard (2017) was named Investec Junior Performance Player at the 2018 England Hockey Awards. She said “I was so surprised to win the award, but I’m ecstatic. I only play hockey because I enjoy it so much and have so much fun on the pitch. It’s made me want to take the sport more seriously now just because it’s opened up my mind to what could be in the future.” Charlotte grace (2014) won The Economist’s Open Future essay competition in the category of Open Markets, responding to the question: “What is the best way to improve competition in modern capitalism?”

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 February 2020. Lewis naughton (2018) and eesha Wahid (2018) enjoyed a visit to Buckingham Palace in May, where they were awarded their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards by Princess Beatrice of York.

(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!”

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.

The Chicago Athenaeum awarded its 2018 American Prize for Architecture to james von klemperer (1974). The prize, also known as the Louis H. S. Sullivan Award, is bestowed on “an outstanding practitioner in the United States who has emblazoned a new direction in the history of American Architecture with talent, vision, and commitment and has demonstrated consistent contributions to humanity through the built environment and through the art of architecture”. 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 to continue acting at university and this summer performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. I would not have been able to take on these amazing opportunities if it wasn’t for the confidence and passion which I gained from Perse Players productions. I look back on these experiences with such fondness from my time at The Perse and performing at the Fringe was always a goal I was eager to realise. Having now completed our 14-day run and receiving five star reviews, I am excited to see what the future has in store!”

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 August and scored 68 against the world’s No 1 ranked Test team, helping Essex clinch a draw. He said “When I was in the field, seeing the likes of Virat Kohli (India captain) come out to bat was pretty special, but once you’re playing you don’t think about it too much or get caught up in the emotions of it.” In July Ben Donnelly (2002) released a book of fun and challenging alto saxophone solos. Unexpected Items can be purchased online at bendonnelly.co.uk.