OP news

hasan Cuthbert (2017) spent the summer enjoying an internship in Nanjing, China. Hasan, who is currently studying Engineering at Cambridge, worked with Yourun International where he did a six-week engineering internship. Whilst in China, Hasan also helped run a rugby summer camp with Times College, sharing the skills he has gained as a member of CURFC.

Will harmer (2018) was recently commissioned to compose a piece for the BBC Singers, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in August. The piece, entitled “Voyage of the Soul” was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings. You can listen to the piece online on BBC Sounds. Earlier this year, OPs nick Adlam (1998), Alain hosley (1994), nick Saunders (1993) and Dave Potter (1998) launched the RDC Foundation. The foundation, set up in memory of former Perse geography teacher and Scout Leader, Richard Crabtree, will enable young people to experience and develop themselves through adventurous activities. Grants of up to £1,000 are available to young people and charities working with young people, in order to continue the spirit of Richard’s endeavours in supporting the development of young people. You can find out more about the foundation at www.rdc.foundation.

In August, Claire Pallister (1997) represented Team GB at the 14th IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. Claire competed in the Mixed Premiere mini boat in 2000m, 500m and 200m races. She said “[I] was honoured to represent my country for the first time at 40 years old. It’s still amazing to me that you can find a sport you’re really good at later in life and representing your country for the first time feels like a rather good midlife crisis!”

Max Moncrieff (2009) became a record breaker over the August Bank

Holiday weekend, when he took part in the longest ever match of fullcontact rugby, totalling 30.5 hours and raising almost £50,000 for charity. Max was playing for the School of Hard Knocks against a team from Wooden Spoon, both charities that aim to use rugby to empower people and transform their lives. At the end of the gruelling match, the School of Hard Knocks won, with the final score 2154 to 1163 – an incredible feat by both teams! Speaking after the match, Max said “I’m incredibly proud to have taken part in the event and of everyone involved. The heat and sheer length of time playing made it a gruelling experience with a lot of mentally tough moments. Being woken up at 1.50am with a red bull and jelly babies to play again at 2am was a particular low point. We managed to raise a significant amount of money for these great charities and really made a difference. Everyone came together brilliantly and the way players pushed themselves was amazing to see. I’ve made some friends for life through bonding on the pitch, the camaraderie was key to keeping each other going.”

hector thornton-Swan (2018), elizabeth Stephenson (2018) and Sam Clarke (2016) took part in the Montane Lakeland 50 ultra marathon in July. The route goes round the Lake District and features climbs, descents, rugged terrain and tricky navigation. Despite the route having a 40–50% drop out rate, all three of the OPs completed the race. Hector completed the course in 13:24:15, Elizabeth in 19:16:19 and Sam in 15:56:51. Matt Leach (2011) competed for Great Britain in the European 10,000m Cup at Parliament Hill in July. Matt came 21st overall, with a time of 28:47.24.

Molly underwood (2011) won the prestigious Poetry Prize at the 10th Manchester Writing Awards, which were announced in February 2019. Founder of the MWAs and Poet Laureate Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE helped to judge the awards. Adam O’Riordan, chair of the poetry prize judging panel and director of Manchester Writing School, said “In a richly varied short list, Molly Underwood shows an undeniable musical clarity in her work. As few poets can, she reminded the judges of the reasons we began to write ourselves.” Guy Whitmarsh (1962) recently became the male veteran 75+ European Mountain Running champion at the championships in Janske Lazne, Czech Republic on 25 May 2019. He said “In the almost 60 years since I left The Perse, I have graduated from the flat, frozen ploughed fields on which the ‘new’ Addenbrooke’s stands, scene of school cross countries, to mountain running. The European Mountain Running Championships entail running uphill only, this year to the summit of Cerna Bora in the Czech Republic. The race involved a 8.6km run uphill, ascending some 650m to the summit. I fell into the oldest veteran category of 75+. All the women and the men aged over 55 set off together. Arriving at the finish line, after 65 minutes, I had no idea how I had fared, and it was only shortly before the awards ceremony in the town square that I finally had my win confirmed. I was soon to be standing on the podium as European over 75 champion.”

Sophie burrows (2015) has been awarded a fellowship at the guildhall school of music and drama, where she has been studying saxophone since leaving the Perse. Alan Cheung (1995) has been appointed as an official doctor for the Wrestling Foundation of Singapore. Alan, who is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, was also the first American College of Sports Medicine Certified Ringside Physician in South East Asia.