OP News Spring/Summer 2019

Spring Summer 2019

the PERSE SCHOOL CAmbridge

OP

in this issue FLIGHT OPs IN THE AIR CAREERS ATTRACTING AND RECRUITING TALENT RESEARCH EYE MEDICATION FOR DOGS ARCHIVE JOSEPH BEHRMANN

Contents 03

From the Head

06 OPs in the air

04

School News

06

OPs in the air

11 Research and Response

14 Archivist’s Account

The OPs taking to the skies

11 Research and Response Optimising the delivery of topical opthalmic medication in dogs

15 Behrmann Lecture 2019

16 OP News

18 Careers Workshop

20 Obituaries

23

Recent Events

24

Upcoming Events

15 Behrmann Lecture 2019 The boy in the statue Sir Erich Reich

18 CareerS Workshop How to attract and recruit the

On the cover Sunset en route to London Heathrow, courtesy of Tom Perry (2010)

best talent

From school thenews Head

Callum Baylis (Upper Sixth) modelled Liam Hodges’ latest pieces at London Fashion Week.

Photographs courtesy of Liam Hodges.

From the Head

I

n its 404 year history The Perse has seen some

costs of independent education to the point that

challenging times. The School navigated its way

many schools would be priced out of existence.

Critics of the sector should be careful what they

through the English Civil War and the Restoration,

survived bubonic plague, endured years of economic

wish for. Independent schools currently educate around

mismanagement in the eighteenth century, took some

7% of the UK’s children at no direct cost to the state

direct hits from the Luftwaffe, and coped with the

thus saving the Exchequer about £4 billion each year.

loss of government funding with the end of Direct

At The Perse our public benefit programme sees the

Grant status. In doing so The Perse has shown itself

School spending over £1 million per annum on means

to be a great survivor because it is good at what

tested bursaries to 100 plus children who could not

it does. This is self-evident from the articles in this

otherwise access a Perse education. We also fund

edition of OP News which document the value of a

outreach work with 20 local primary schools who, short

Perse education and where it has taken alumni, from

of state funding, benefit from Perse assistance in the

fashion and medical research to cold war missions

form of maths, language, computing, music and science

and award winning natural history documentaries.

teaching and the loan of equipment and facilities.

In an increasingly hostile media and political

Now in 2019 The Perse, along with other

environment, I hope that OPs will be willing to point

independent schools, faces a new wave of political

out the good that schools like The Perse

and economic threats. Politicians of all parties are

do. Inequality is a pressing issue in

turning against independent schools which are increasingly seen not as the centres of educational

Britain but its causes are many and

excellence which they are, but as engines of social

run far beyond the independent school sector. If schools like The Perse become

inequality and division in society. There is increasing talk of removing charitable status and the

a lightning rod for political anger,

tax reliefs that go with it, as well as

great damage will be done to worthy institutions for no real societal benefit.

charging VAT on school fees. This, on top of a government led 43% increase in

With best wishes, Ed Elliott

employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension scheme, would increase the 3

old perseans

School News Lambs debut for Perse rugby captain Matt Burson (Upper Sixth) made his debut for the Lambs – the England Independent Schools team – after being called up for their first game of the season in January.

The Perse 1st XV rugby captain had been nominated for Lambs selection by the School’s Head of Rugby Liam St John and was named in the squad after impressing selectors during two development and trial days. He said: “It was a great surprise to be selected. You always have that moment of shock when you see your name on the team sheet, but after that it’s just really exciting because you know you’ve got the opportunity to go and represent the Lambs and play a really exciting brand of rugby.” Since his debut, Matt has played regularly for the Lambs and was named Man of the Match in their game against the Boys Club of Wales.

Matt thanked The Perse for its part in helping him reach such a high standard in the sport, saying “It’s completely down to The Perse.

You have to be nominated by your school’s Head of Rugby and there’s no way they’re going to put you forward for the Lambs unless they think you’re ready because there are over 300 boys trialling for it. Given I’ve not played any club rugby, all my rugby experience has come from playing for The Perse.”

Sir David Wright steps down as Chair of

Perse Pride returns

Governors at the end of 2018/19

for second year

Sir David’s career has seen him as UK

From 25 February – 1 March

Ambassador to both Japan and South Korea,

The Perse celebrated

Secretary to the Prince of Wales, first Chief

its second Pride week.

Executive of British Trade International, and

The week, which aims to

Vice-chairman of Barclays Capital.

celebrate diversity and

Famed for his swiftness of response by email

inclusive attitudes, featured

or telephone no matter what time of day or night

a number of lunchtime

in whatever time zone he found himself in, he has

activities including a

generously given of his vast experience and many

classics seminar on “Achilles

skills to The Perse.

and Patroclus: Friends and Lovers?”, music talk on

His decade long leadership has been marked by

“Same DNA but born this way: gender fluidity in pop

both growth and consolidation as pupil numbers

music” and a Biology Society session on “Nature vs.

have risen, new buildings been completed and

Nurture: is there a ‘gay gene’?”. The keynote speaker

further land been acquired.

for the week was Tim Ramsay, CEO of Just Like Us

He leaves the School in a strong position and, with

Foundation, who spoke to pupils and staff about his

the Upper Music School extension underway and

own experiences before holding a workshop with

overseas development discussions well advanced,

the Student Council, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and

better placed to face the challenges that lie ahead.

Keep Smiling members to discuss ways that we can

Gratias tibi agimus, Sir David.

promote a more inclusive community.

Chariots of Fire at The Perse In March the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre became the Stade Olympique as the Perse Players put on Chariots of Fire. Based on the classic film about real-life British athletes Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams at the 1924 Olympics in Paris, the Perse Players took on the stage adaptation by Mike Bartlett, which was mounted to mark the 2012 Olympics in London.

4

school news

Perse plus maths AI = Blutick

Double success for Vikram

– maths with confidence

with digital currency project

The Perse has partnered with a

Vikram Singh (Year 11) has received a double

Cambridge-based technology

helping of success with his research into the

entrepreneur to create a new

digital currency bitcoin.

artificial intelligence platform for

He carried out an investigation into

maths learning – Blutick. Perse

whether bitcoin or other crypto (digital) forms

maths teachers have made videos

of currency could replace traditional money in the

to explain the syllabus and then

future as part of his Higher Project Qualification in Year 10. Vikram

Blutick uses AI to give line-by-line

went on to give a poster presentation of his findings at the Young

feedback on digital learning tasks. If

Scientists’ Journal Conference at Queens’ College last October. He

you would like to find out more about

has now earned a Gold CREST Award from the British Science

Blutick please visit blutick.com.

Association’s flagship scheme for young scientists for his project.

On top of that, Vikram also entered his study into the Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers competition. Vikram’s work impressed

Perse pupil in vogue

judges enough for them to invite him to present his investigation

at London Fashion Week

at the Big Bang national finals, which took place at Birmingham’s

Callum Baylis (Upper Sixth) appeared

National Exhibition Centre in March.

on the catwalk at London Fashion Week and subsequently in Vogue.

A career in couture is Callum’s dream and he was thrilled to be given the chance to take to the runway at one of the fashion world’s biggest events. He made his modelling debut in the London Fashion Week (LFW) spring/summer show of designer John Lawrence Sullivan last year and recently returned to LFW to model Liam Hodges’ latest pieces in the autumn/winter event.

Both the John Lawrence Sullivan and Liam Hodges shows appeared in Vogue and Callum was elated to see his image appear in the iconic fashion

Perse Chamber Choir in fine voice

magazine. He said: “Being one of the

for Westminster Abbey Evensong

websites I often look at in terms of

On 4 January, The Perse Chamber Choir savoured the experience of

runway collections and stories, it was

performing Evensong at Westminster Abbey. The School’s singers

a shock to see myself in Vogue.”

had the honour of leading the service in the choir of the iconic abbey, which is the traditional setting for coronations of the British monarchy and has hosted many Royal weddings.

In front of a congregation of around 400 people, including parents, donors to the School and Old Perseans, the choir sang Herbert Howells’ Westminster Service, featuring the canticles Magnificat (Song of Mary) and Nunc dimittis (Song of Simeon), and ended the service with a rendition of Charles Stanford’s work Beati quorum via.

Perse Director of Music, Michael Holiday, felt the choir’s efforts in rehearsals had paid off in making sure they were fine-tuned for the occasion. He said: “Westminster Abbey has been the setting for a lot of major national events, so to go there and lead the service was really special. The pupils understood the significance and responded really well to it. It was lovely for them to have the opportunity to sing there.

The choir had worked hard and prepared their music really well and they were on excellent form.”

5

old perseans

OPs in the air For over 100 years, Old Perseans have enjoyed taking to the skies. From national service with the RAF to flying commercially, leisure flights and aeronautical engineering, OPs have many stories of flight. Here are a few stories, spanning a century in the air.

Sir Arthur Marshall (1918) Sir Arthur Marshall started his education at a small private infants’ school near his parents’ house in Milton Road before joining the Perse Prep in Bateman Street and then The Perse Upper School in 1915.

He showed his prowess at athletics at a young age and won the 100 yards race at Fenners for which he received a silver spoon engraved with The Perse’s Pelican crest. Later, when at Jesus College, he represented the University of Cambridge at athletics and was 6

school Feature news

When I left The Perse I did research for about a year and

He was also delighted that a number of Perse pupils have been awarded Arkwright Engineering Scholarships, a scheme which Marshall has often supported.

joined the RAF in 1952 as a Cadet Pilot for my National Service.

My first solo flight was in a Tiger Moth on November 5th – what a day to do a first solo! I was then promoted to Acting Pilot Officer and sent to Gimli, and then Moose Jaw, Canada to fly Harvards. After

maintained links with The Perse,

160 hours flying I graduated and

in particular with Stanley Stubbs

had my commission confirmed.

(Head 1945–1969), and was very

Photo: Alex Toff

Little did I know it but the

supportive of the Air Training

glory days had gone. I had an ear

Corps. He was also delighted that a

infection while swimming in Moose

number of Perse pupils have been

Jaw, caught a bad cold and then

awarded Arkwright Engineering

had problems doing aerobatics due

Scholarships, a scheme which

to changes in air pressure. I was

Marshall has often supported.

then sent back to Gimli, which had

Sir Arthur passed away in 2007,

been converted to jet training. The aircraft (the T33) was being used at

at the age of 103.

the time as an advanced trainer but I found that diving (at, I seem to remember, 15,000 feet per minute) reserve for Great Britain in its

Mike Payne (1951)

Olympics in Paris.

After graduating from Jesus College with a First in Engineering, Sir Arthur joined the family business in 1926 and qualified as a pilot at the Norwich and Norfolk Flying Club. Combining his entrepreneurial flair and his engineering and flying skills along with his father’s belief that, after the First World War, there would be a sound future for aviation, he placed the company in pole position to profit from rearmament and wartime contracts in the 1930s and 1940s. Sir Arthur became Chair of Marshall of Cambridge in 1942, was appointed OBE in 1948, and knighted in 1974.

Marshall has become a major employer in Cambridge, developing its own apprentice schemes which are still in place today. Sir Arthur remained chairman of the company until 1989, when he decided to step aside and hand over the reins to his elder son, Sir Michael.

Despite leaving The Perse early to finish his education as a boarder at Tonbridge School, Sir Arthur

and an explosive decompression didn’t exactly help.

1600 yard relay team at the 1924

I attended The Perse from 1945 until 1951 and joined the school Combined Cadet Force RAF Section (previously the JTC) in the late ‘40s. The teacher in command was F/Lt V. Sederman who was my maths teacher. At the weekends I used to put on my Cadet uniform and cycle to Marshall’s Airport in Cambridge and try and scrounge a flight to anywhere. I wasn’t fussy about destinations! In those far-off days the aircraft were piston-engined, slow, reliable and always available.

After collecting a parachute and buckling it on (advice; put it on at the aircraft and don’t try and walk with it “on” or you’ll resemble a pantomime horse), the types of aircraft I flew in were Chipmunks, Ansons, Oxfords, Harvards and Dakotas.

As I grew older I was allowed to fly the aircraft under supervision and on one glorious occasion I was allowed to fly, unsupervised, a Dakota with about 15 School Air Cadets while the pilot went to talk with them (no, there was no autopilot in those days!).

7

After my time in the RAF I worked for over 40 years as a scientific photographer for Fisons, making short documentary films, aerial photography, high speed photography, electron microscopy, etc.

I also played double bass in various jazz groups with Humphrey Lyttelton, Footlights, Dudley Moore and many more.

old perseans

Alistair Corden (1964)

private pilot licences, shortly before our last term at school.

I suppose it was inevitable, my

I blew my A Levels big time.

joining the RAF. My father was in

Guidance was minimal, so for

for the duration, a Boy Entrant

me it was a stab in the dark. So,

at 16 in 1923, a senior officer

without a scholarship to Cranwell

when he retired in the late 1950s.

and degreeless, I took the offer

Among many other duties he

of a 20-year flying career at Her

flew his Westland Wapiti in the

Majesty’s Pleasure. Turns out I

Middle Eastern deserts, dropping

actually had a place at St Andrews

bombs on insurgents in Iraq and

for the asking, something I only

Afghanistan in the early 1930s;

discovered a decade later – but

some things never seem to change.

that’s another story. After advance

This peripatetic lifestyle was less

training in the Gnat I was set to be

than ideal for education, so the late

Biggles reincarnate, but it was not

1950s saw a small, confused and

to be … Bomber Command wanted

very unhappy little boy delivered

jet pilots for the V Force, and off

to the hands of Keith Barry at the

to Vulcans I went. Turned out for

Junior Boarding House. It was

the best, I flew all over the world

not the happiest time of my life;

and had more fun at taxpayers’

escapism helped, so I devoured

expense than I believed possible. A

every book I could find on WW2

new career in offshore oil and gas

fighter and bomber pilots, and

beckoned on early retirement.

every book ever written about PoW

Well, that didn’t last long … It

camps and escaping the clutches

got me to the United States which

of the enemy.

has been home ever since. The

Time wore on and I moved to

collapse of the price of oil saw me

the Upper School. As I recall, the

back in aviation for the rest of my

third form was the first year of CCF,

career, ending up in Philadelphia as

initially the Army section, then the

Director of Training for the pilots

RAF section with Mr Billinghurst.

and flight attendants of an Airbus

A two-week course in gliding at

A320 Charter Company flying

RAF Swinderby (I think), gave

happy tourists to the Caribbean

me my first experience alone in a

and Central America.

flying machine – I survived! An RAF

Early retirement saw me back

Flying Scholarship saw me, along

in general aviation – single engine

with Bruce Manning and Andy

propeller aeroplanes, flying low

Thompson, report to Marshall’s

and slow – a whole different world.

of Cambridge

It is flying at its fundamentals –

where we flew

stick, rudder and a map. My wife

Tiger Moths

(a Captain at a major US airline)

and gained our

and I have an aeroplane each – a 1946 Stinson 108 for me, and a 2004 Citabria for her. I work on them both, and can usually be found in the hangar, covered in oil and bleeding copiously, having the time of my life.

8

Colin Froude (1972) I was at The Perse (Prep and Upper School) in the ‘60s. Being an active member of the 5th Cambridge Scouts at The Perse might explain why I joined the Army section of the CCF before winning a Flying Scholarship through the Royal Navy. Both the RN and the RAF then offered me a University Cadetship – I chose the RAF on the basis I was too tall for naval bunks! There followed three years at Southampton studying biological sciences and learning to fly Chipmunk and then Bulldog aircraft with the University Air Sqn. The training system to become a front line pilot is long and tortuous which meant that I did a French language course and adventurous activities before finally going to the RAF College at Cranwell for officer training. This led straight into basic jet training on the Jet Provost followed by more delays waiting for a Hunter slot at RAF Valley. When I finally arrived for my advanced training I was given a cockpit assessment and told I was too tall.

Fortunately, there was a firemen’s strike to keep me occupied running a fire station at RAF Uxbridge.

Eventually I passed through the multi-engine course on the Jetstream to arrive at the Lockheed Hercules as my operational type.

There followed tours on 24 and LXX Sqns, including the Falklands

school Feature news

War, and then flying the air bridge

aircrew. With the announcement of

to California and Arizona for

to the islands for three years (with

a brand new two-pilot glass cockpit

high altitude parachuting. The

a couple of air-to-air refuellings

Hercules (the original version had

Andover and BAC 1-11 flying was

on the way down). There was

four crew on the flight deck), I

mostly ‘flying laboratory’ scientific

also famine relief in Ethiopia,

volunteered to join the programme

development, in particular radar

flying around quite a bit of the

at its inception with responsibility

and electronic intelligence systems.

world and air displays. I was then

for developing the new simulators.

I also flew the Open Skies Andover

selected to be a flying instructor

This required monthly commuting

as part of the UK contribution to

(QFI) on the Jet Provost which

to the USA (Florida, Utah and

Joint Arms Control Implementation.

required yet another lengthy

Atlanta) and inevitably led to

The latter meant that I had come

course before posting back to

being directly involved in the

full circle from learning about

Cranwell as a QFI. I was short

development of the aircraft which I

Cold War threats when I joined

toured to become a Jetstream QFI

flew within a few months of its first

to now flying low level over

at RAF Finningley (now Doncaster

flight. It was a natural progression

Russia to verify the status of the

Sheffield International) where I was

to Heavy Aircraft Test Sqn at

weapons that had been the threat!

a Flight Commander and display

Boscombe Down where I became

A memorable and enjoyable 39

pilot. Promotion then saw me at

a test pilot and instructor on all

years in the RAF was followed by

MoD in London working in flight

models of the Hercules as well

part time working as a professional

safety. This was followed by a

as the Andover and BAC 1-11. The

photographer and being elected

partial return to flying the Hercules

Hercules flying involved clearances

as a Salisbury City Councillor.

as OC Simulator Sqn. I then

for the new aircraft as well as

became OC Hercules Training Sqn

continuing equipment development

with responsibility for providing

to support front line operations;

recurrent training to some 400

we had regular detachments

Tom Perry (2010) & James Richardson (2007)

flying, I took part in air experience flights, and encountered the thrill of aerobatics. I also took part

Tom Perry (2010) and James

in expeditions to Iceland and

Richardson (2007) are both pilots

Ladakh, and was an enthusiastic

with British Airways.

violinist and singer. I studied

Tom: “I started at the Prep in 1999

Cambridge, and then worked as an

and had always been interested in

aerodynamicist for the Mercedes

aeronautical engineering at

flying. Though hopeless at sport,

F1 Team for three years, before

I could just about hold my own

embarking on flying training.”

rowing down the Cam! I spent

By chance, we ended up

much of my extra-curricular time

on the same course at Oxford

with PES, and was fortunate to take

Aviation Academy, starting in

part in three expeditions, eventually

September 2015. Many of our

I started at the Prep in 1999 and had always been interested in flying.

helping to lead and plan the trips.

fellow course mates joined

our training at Oxford in busy

I went on to pursue a degree in

straight from school; however,

London airspace, more challenging

Geography at Durham, followed

our own feeling is that having

weather and more sophisticated

by a Masters in Cambridge at the

higher education qualifications

aircraft. Finally, we started at BA in

Scott Polar Research Institute.

to fall back on is valuable, given

November 2017 – Tom now flies the

At university I got involved with

the strict proficiency and medical

Airbus 320 out of Heathrow, whilst

gliding, an inexpensive and

assessments that follow us

James flies out of London City on

accessible means to learn to fly.”

throughout our career.

the Embraer 170/190.

The first six months were spent entirely in the classroom – we

Luckily we don’t just have to fly the same route every day. We’re

James: “I had a passion for flying

counted 42 exams in total! After

both fortunate that our fleets

from an early age, which I pursued

that we went to the US for five

service a wide variety of European

further at The Perse with the CCF’s

months, learning basic flying and

destinations, so there’s a lot of

RAF section. As well as learning

navigation skills in the Arizona

variability. We do a mixture of

about the technical aspects of

desert. Back in the UK, we finished

day-trips, where we’re back at

9

old perseans

base each night, and longer tours,

advertised in the Year 11 enrichment

spending several nights away,

programme, I decided to take a

usually finishing in a different city

shot at doing it for real. My training

every evening. The hours we work

started with 10 hours flying the

in a week can be variable, but are

classic Cessna 172 training aircraft

heavily regulated by flight time

from Cambridge Airport alongside

limitation legislation.

a few others from my year. I was positively shocked when, 10

Much like our passengers, we don’t like turbulence! We use

minutes after climbing into the

sophisticated tools to try and

aircraft, I was behind the controls

avoid the worst, but sometimes it’s

performing what would be my first

just not possible. While it can feel

take-off; by the end of our training I had achieved ‘solo-readiness’.

unpleasant, the aircraft we fly have been designed to cope with more

Alex Toff (2018)

I ended up transferring my flight training to the historic Duxford

severe turbulence than we ever encounter, and is an entirely safe

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at

Airfield, host to the impressive

and natural part of flying.

The Perse. During my time at the

Imperial War Museum where I also

Prep, my love of programming

worked during the summer to

autopilot does most of the flying,

and design was nurtured through

fund my flying, and by the start of

but that’s not quite true. Admittedly,

study of design & technology and

Lower Sixth had flown solo. Over

gone are the days of pilots manually

computing, and by the time I came

the next two years, I flew whenever

flying the aircraft for hours on

to start at the Upper I was hooked

possible. It was difficult balancing

end – these days, the job is about

on both.

my academic commitments with

People may think that the

I took maths, physics and

flight training, having to complete

environment. We consider fuel

design & technology all the way

10 self-taught exams and progress

and weather, think ahead to the

through to A Level, and some of

my flying proficiency, all the while

what-ifs, and make countless risk

my most memorable moments and

interrupted by academic exams

assessments in real time. And the

achievements have been in design

and bad weather. Despite this, I

autopilot can only do what we tell

& technology, be it my Pet Water

completed the course by the spring

it to do…

Fountain or “Gutter Bug” Gutter

of 2017, and passed my final skills

Cleaning Robot. By no coincidence,

test in August 2018.

managing a constantly changing

Every six months we go into the

Now, a little over three years

simulator for two days of intensive

I ended up leaving The Perse with

training to learn how to deal with

an offer to study Engineering Design

from my first flight, I am qualified to

things that might go wrong. Rather

at the University of Bristol, which is

fly as captain and carry passengers,

than analysing every possible

where I currently find myself.

and I continue to fly, alongside my

Aviation is in my blood; one

dad, when I return from university.

the bigger picture: fly the aircraft,

grandfather served with the RAF

Perhaps what attracts me the most

navigate safely and communicate

and the other with the Fleet Air

about flying is seeing the world

our intentions. Only then do we

Arm during WW2, and my dad has

from a different perspective and

dive into the specifics. By doing

enjoyed a varied career which has

the freedom to explore, and I find

failure, we focus on how to manage

this, we keep the aircraft in a safe

included flying as a captain with

that doing this thing that humans

state, and avoid impulsive (and

easyJet. My own first memorable

are so inherently unsuited to gives

often incorrect) actions.

encounter with aviation was

me that opportunity.

through Microsoft Flight Simulator

Recently, I have become

as a child. It allowed me to explore a

more interested in aeronautical

world that I hadn’t really considered

engineering and the air traffic

up to that point, and for good

control side of the aviation world.

portion of my time growing up I

I am looking forward to gaining

believed it would be my career path.

some more interesting experiences

As I grew older, I began to

and insights when I spend part of

take the concept a bit more

my summer this year on placement

seriously and, after seeing flying

at Babcock.

As I grew older, I began to take the concept a bit more seriously and, after seeing flying advertised in the Year 11 enrichment programme, I decided to take a shot at doing it for real.

10

school Feature news

Research Optimising the delivery of topical ophthalmic medication in dogs ranges up to 56.4μl. The amount of

Methodology

remaining eye drop after instillation

Two drop methods were compared.

is as high as 30.3μl. This could

The standard Minim (standard

lead to systemic side effects,

tip) was modified by attaching a

such as hypotension, bradycardia,

Gilson tip to the Minim (modified

and tremors after using a local

tip). Both studies were conducted

anaesthetic. A commonly used

in a laboratory at the University

drug, Tropicamide, causes pupil

of Cambridge Veterinary School.

Stage 1: Tropicamide 1.0% in a

dilation as its main effect in order to Florence Clark (UPPER Sixth)

E

allow examination of the retina, but

standard and a modified Minim

this can last for many hours, giving

dispenser was dispensed one drop

side effects such as blurred vision,

at a time onto a weighing scales,

ye drops are commonly

meaning for example that patients

recording the weight in milligrams).

used worldwide in both

can’t drive for hours after its use.

Mean and standard deviations were

humans and animals in

Smaller drops may mean a faster

calculated for both sets of data,

healthy and diseased states.

recovery. Therefore, there is a need

and a 2-tailed Student’s t-test was

They are usually administered

to develop a suitable method of

applied to test for the significance

by the patient themselves or

delivering ophthalmic medication at

between the two means.

a carer and are a commonly

an appropriate volume.

used medication.

Stage 2: two healthy adult dogs were studied using three different

Previous studies have tried methods to reduce drop volume,

conditions, sham treatment

but these results in impractical

(n=1), then Tropicamide 1.0% was

such as glaucoma, dry eye, ocular

methods, such as the addition of a

administered by standard (n=3)

inflammation, infection and allergies

steel needle or glass capillary tube

and modified (n=5) tips into one

to name a few. As with all drugs,

to the dropper bottle.

or another eye. Pupil diameter

They deliver ophthalmic drugs for the treatment of various diseases

the dose of the active ingredient is important both for effectiveness

was recorded over 330 minutes.

The aim of my research was to develop a safe and practical

and safety of the patient. The dose

method to administer drops with a

Results

is determined through the volume

small and consistent volume. The

As part of the first stage of

and concentration of the drop, and

hypothesis was that by attaching

the research, n=28 drops were

the number of drops. There is a

a Gilson pipette tip to a Minim

weighed from the standard tip

huge variety of devices used to

dropper (a single-dose eye drop

and n=27 from the modified tip.

administer these drops. Generally,

dispenser), the drop weight (or

The mean drop weight with the

they come in multi- or single-

volume) will be significantly and

standard tip was 31.4mg and for

dose dispensers, with a variety

consistently reduced and associated

the modified tip it was 10.0mg

of different dropper tips which

with an identical Tropicamide

(see Table 1). The t-test showed

can have a substantial effect on

induced maximal pupil dilation, and

that these results were statistically

the volume and hence the dose

earlier recovery compared to a

significantly different, with a

of medication administered. It is

standard Minim dropper.

p value of less than 0.0001.

important manufacturers consider the design of the tips so that doses are administered easily, effectively

Table 1: Comparison of mean and median weights, and standard deviations of drops dispensed from modified (n=27) and standard tips (n=28) (mg weight)

and safely.

Mean (mg)

Currently the volume of eye drops dispensed is too large for the eye to hold. The average drop volume from different preparations

Standard deviation (mg)

Median (mg)

Standard tip

31.4

15.1

33.0

Modified tip

10.0

3.42

10.0

11

P value

<0.0001

old perseans

Stage 2 was an in vivo pilot study

1.0% delivered by standard and

dispenser could be consistently

to determine the effectiveness

modified tip were not significantly

achieved using a minim modified

and duration of dilation using

different. Both increased

with a Gilson D200 pipette tip.

1.0% Tropicamide dispensed

significantly more than with sham

Furthermore, both methods were

from a standard Minim dispenser

treatment, and also to the same

equally effective in achieving

compared to Minim modified with

maximum diameter as each other

maximum pupil dilation, with equal

Gilson tip.

(see Table 2) and recovered to

time to resolution to baseline,

baseline in the same amount of

meaning a similar therapeutic

time (see Figure 1).

effect was achieved using a smaller

The mean maximal pupil diameters induced by Tropicamide

The study tested the hypothesis

1.0% delivered by standard and

drop size.

modified tip were not different.

that the drop weight, and hence

Both increased more than with

volume, would be significantly and

Acknowledgements

sham treatment, and also to the

consistently reduced by attaching

I would like to thank Dr David

same maximum diameter as each

a Gilson pipette tip to a standard

Williams from the University of

other (12â&#x20AC;&#x201C;13mm) and recovered to

Minim dropper (a single-dose

Cambridge Veterinary School

baseline equally quickly (330m).

dispenser) and will be associated

for his guidance and support

with an identical Tropicamide

over many weeks, in performing

increase in pupil diameter for the

induced maximal pupil dilation,

the experiments, analyzing and

sham treatment over the first 15

and earlier recovery compared to

interpreting results. I am very

minutes, which then returned

a standard Minim dropper. It was

grateful also to my supervisor Mrs

to baseline for the remainder of

demonstrated that a drop size

Banks for support in helping me

the experiment. The mean pupil

approximately one third of the

frame the project, and Mrs Kemp

diameters induced by Tropicamide

size of that from a standard Minim

for her advice on ophthalmology.

The results showed a small

Figure 1: Graph of pupil diameter in millimeters over time (mean and standard deviation) in minutes after application of drop or sham treatment using modified and standard tips.

Pupil diameter in mm

16 12 8 4

0 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

150 180 200 210 220 240 270 300 330

Time in minutes after Tropicamide 1.0% application or sham treatment sham treatment

mean of standard tip results

mean of modified tip results

Table 2: Mean maximum pupil diameter and time to maximum for all conditions for n=2 subjects Maximum pupil diameter (mm)

Time to maximum dilation (minutes)

Time to recovery to baseline (minutes)

Sham treatment

7

5

20

Modified tip (mean)

12

60

>330

Standard tip (mean)

13

60

330

12

school Feature news

& Response

to 0.0616mls. The version I use

Sometimes changes to clinical

is actually 0.5mls but I like the

protocols can be cost sensitive

historical provenance of its name.

within veterinary practice but it

I really like this study and I

sounds like attaching a Gilson

can see the huge benefits of

pipette may not be too onerous

subsequent application. It has

both in terms of difficulty or cost.

confidently established that

It was interesting that the

the modified tip will deliver a

sham treatment appeared to

consistently reduced drop weight.

cause an increase in pupil size

This, I can see, could help both

in the first 10 mins. Presumably

animals and people.

the act of putting drops into the

Examining the Tropicamide

dogs’ eyes caused a sympathetic

data sheet in a little more detail,

nervous system response? I

the current recommendations

would be interested to know

are clear for adults but less

how the pupil diameter was

so for children. “The dose for

measured. Possibly the dog

children will be decided by the

needed a few minutes to get

doctor or eye specialist.” Could

used to the measurement

there be an application for a

process? Or their handler?

smaller drop size in paediatric

Or maybe the drops caused

ophthalmic medicine I wonder?

an unpleasant sensation?

Tropicamide can occasionally Dr. Becky Lowten

cause hypersalivation as a side

BVetMed MRCVS

effect in cats and it would be

Again, it would be interesting to see if this is repeatable.

The hypothesis of maximal

interesting to see if this could

pupil dilation with a smaller

irstly, congratulations

be reduced or eliminated with a

volume has definitely been

to Florence Clark for

smaller drop size. It would also be

achieved which gives great hope

producing an excellent

useful to find out if any other side

in terms of reducing side effects

piece of research and winning

effects of different medications

for patients. I certainly think the

the Rouse Essay prize! An

could be reduced or eliminated by

preliminary results would enable

amazing achievement and very

using the smaller drop size too. It

us to start thinking about a more

well deserved. I am slightly

would be important to establish

practical application, particularly

overwhelmed and humbled at

that efficacy could be maintained.

in our smaller patients.

F

Unfortunately the recovery

being asked to write a response.

There can be species-specific

What is a Minim? I associate

variations in terms of physiological

times, irrespective of drop size,

the term with the little plastic,

response to a particular medicine.

do still seem to be the same.

single use eye drops that live in

The dose needed to produce the

Therapeutically the standard tip

the bottom of my consulting room

desired effect could vary between

and the modified tip produce the

fridge. I have to admit I haven’t

species irrespective of eye size.

same results. Dogs will still have fuzzy vision for some time after

given them very much thought.

I would like to see the second

A quick scan through my trusty

part of this study repeated with

their test. Happily dogs rely very

Saunders veterinary dictionary

a larger sample size. This would

much on their sense of smell.

revealed, quite charmingly, that it is

give us more confidence in

They don’t need to drive cars

a unit of volume of liquids used in

implementing changes to clinical

or read the newspaper and so, I

the apothecary system equivalent

protocols in dogs.

suspect, the dogs won’t mind!

The hypothesis of maximal pupil dilation with a smaller volume has definitely been achieved which gives great hope in terms of reducing side effects for patients.

13

old perseans

Archivist’s Account David Jones

Joseph Behrmann Joseph Behrmann and the Behrmann Lecture Joseph Behrmann (1939) was a remarkable personality, never forgotten once met. His friend, actor Edward Fox, described him as a soul locked into a childhood hell.

J

oseph joined Hillel House in 1938 and returned to Riga for the summer holidays in 1939. When war broke out in September 1939, Joseph remained in the apparent safety of neutral Latvia. But in

1941 the Nazis overran the country on their march into Russia. Jews were rounded up and later sent to extermination camps. Between 1941 and 1945 Joseph passed through 14 camps, surviving them all by astonishing luck, yet remaining scarred for life by what he had seen. He had witnessed his mother shot dead for not displaying her Star of David – it was on the coat she had removed on a hot day.

After the war Joseph worked for nine years in U.S. intelligence, and was a key witness at the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals. He then followed a career in acting, appearing in over a hundred films, even playing a brutal SS officer in Carve Her Name with Pride. He was an advisor for The Odessa File and Schindler’s List. His stage name, Joscik Barbarossa, was an ironic reference to Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Eastern Europe that shattered his teenage years.

Though he had been at The Perse for just one year, it stayed in his thoughts. In July 1951 he visited the School playing fields, where War Memorial gates were to be built (our present gates), saying that to do so was like a dream and a miracle. In 1954 he wrote to the treasurer of the War Memorial Fund that these recently completed gates were an appropriate tribute to the war dead. In the camps, his mind had often gone back to the playing fields and the training in prowess and endurance that they represented.

It was fitting that he should revisit the School on a perfect summer’s day in 1995, just a few months before his death. Accompanied by Edward Fox he spoke to the Sixth Form in sight of those fields, the memory of which had meant so much to him. He knew his health was failing and he was anxious to leave some lasting testimony to his experiences. He donated his books on the Holocaust which are now housed in the Barry Room, and the annual Behrmann Lecture is now established on that same theme.

In 1984 he had argued that the 90-year-old Rudolph Hess, Hitler’s one-time deputy, should be released from prison to tell his story “for the sake of history and the generations unborn.” The Soviet Russians

From top: Joseph Behrmann as a schoolboy; Envelope addressed

by Behrmann in 1966 to West

vetoed the proposal. But the Behrmann Lecture ensures that the stories of the Holocaust, and Joseph’s own story, continue to be told to the generations who never knew him.

Germany’s Bureau for the Prosecution of National Socialist

David Jones joined The Perse in 1974 as a history teacher and was

Crimes; Behrmann with famous

House Tutor at School House until 1982. He retired from teaching in

mime artist Marcel Marceau.

2008, but has continued at the School in his role as Archivist.

14

Archivist’s school news Account

Behrmann Lecture 2019: The Boy in the Statue The 2019 Behrmann Lecture was delivered by Sir Erich Reich on the topic ‘The Boy in the Statue’, talking about his life experiences and how his photograph was used by Frank Meisler when designing the Kindertransport sculpture at Liverpool Street Station.

Upper Sixth pupils Blythe White,

Following on from his childhood, he discussed his life and how from Dorking, he was moved to London, and

Colin Tuchel and Pavan Tanna give

eventually ended up living in a Kibbutz in Israel, where he

their thoughts on the lecture:

E

volunteered for the Israeli army. Eventually, however, he came back to Britain as a result of his brother becoming

very year since 2011, the School has held

unwell and eventually dying of cancer. He succeeded

the Behrmann Lecture around Holocaust

in Britain, becoming a director of Thomas Cook and

Memorial Day, in honour of Old Persean Joseph

working with multiple charities. When he was offered a

Behrmann (1939), who survived 14 concentration camps

knighthood in 2010, Sir Erich spoke of real hesitancy in

and went on to be a key witness at the Nuremberg

accepting, but, in the end, decided that it was the right

trials. This year, the lecture was given by Sir Erich Reich

thing to do as the award wasn’t just for him, but for all

who, in 1939, at the age of four, was rescued from

those strangers who had played a vital role in his life.

This same kindness of strangers was implied near the

Austria as part of the Kindertransport scheme; he is now himself a chairman of the Association of Jewish

end of his talk when responding to a question about

Refugees’ Kindertransport group. He spoke about the

what should be taken away from the talk. Although the

importance of the kindness of strangers and, more

Kindertransport was organised, ‘there have always been

specifically, the role that it has played in his life.

refugees,’ he commented. Recently, with those coming from Syria, there is a need for a response, and especially

Beginning with detailed and harrowing context, Sir Erich told how he was deported first from Vienna

organisation, to this constant necessity, he said.

to Poland, and then escaped to Britain less than a year

Critiquing the fact that only hundreds of refugees have

after Kristallnacht. He pronounced that his family gave

been admitted to this country as a result of the Syrian

life to him twice: once at birth and once when they let

refugee crisis, he called for more to be done. Maybe,

him go. Despite the abnormality of his circumstances,

as a country, we need to display more of this ever-vital

his childhood involved the same foolish moments as

kindness of strangers that occurred throughout Sir

us all: disagreeing with our parents, injuries caused

Erich’s life, and is so needed today.

by pushing a cart too fast, and getting into trouble by not telling our parents where we are. It was because of anecdotes such as these that Sir Erich was able to both provoke laughter from the audience and inspire awe at his extraordinary life story.

Sir Erich was brought up by a German-speaking family in Dorking, Surrey. He recalled how his brother walked by him searching for his foster parents and Sir Erich did not recognise him nor did he even know that he had a brother. Although he was a self-confessed ‘difficult child’ to bring up, his foster parents looked after him, valued him, and he said that they became his parents, showing how important a role the kindness

Head Ed Elliott and Upper Sixth pupils Pavan Tanna,

of strangers played in his life.

Eve Meakin and Colin Tuchel with Sir Erich Reich.

Maybe, as a country, we need to display more of this ever-vital kindness of strangers that occurred throughout Sir Erich’s life, and is so needed today.

15

old perseans

OP NEWS Old Perseans have recently had a lot of success at university

Colin McFarlane (1970) played

level sport:

in Pinter Five as part of the

In December, Tim Harrison (2017) was selected for the Oxford Cross Country team in their varsity match against Cambridge.

Pinter at the Pinter season. Pinter at the Pinter was part of the

Both Zoe Durbin (2016) and Jasper Dix (2017) took to the turf

Pinter 10 partnership with the

at Twickenham for the varsity Rugby Matches on 6 December,

BFI, The Harold Pinter Estate

playing for the Dark Blues. Jasper also played in the U20s varsity

and Faber & Faber, which are

match in March (pictured), where he was joined by Henry Hackett

all marking the 10th anniversary

(2017) for Oxford and Hasan Cuthbert (2017) and George Laing

of Pinter’s death with a series

(2017) for Cambridge. Zoe was chosen to play in the 2nd team

of events celebrating the life of

match in March and was awarded Forward of the Match.

the playwright. Pinter Five was a

A record number of Old Perseans were selected for

triple bill including Harold Pinter’s

the Oxford and Cambridge teams in this year’s varsity

first play, The Room, as well as

hockey matches. Ellie Harrison (2017), Sofia Baldelli (2018),

the hilarious Victoria Station and

Rachael Harrison (2015), Conor Magowan (2015) and Nick

the reflective Family Voices.

Leach (2014) were awarded blues for Oxford. A further nine OPs competed in the 2nds/3rds/4ths matches – Libby Gower Isaac (2018), Tommy Goldberg (2017), Dilip Goyal (2015), Bradley Young (2016) and Will Woods (2015) for Oxford, and Fraser

Tess Howard (2017) has had

Allen (2018), Annabel Follows (2018), Anthony Kattuman (2016)

another successful hockey season.

and Ciaran Flaherty (2016) for Cambridge.

After featuring for Great Britain

We are always delighted to hear of alumni successes in

in every game during the 2018

university sport. If you have been awarded sporting colours by your

Women’s Champions Trophy,

university, please let us know by emailing perseado@perse.co.uk

and scoring against Japan, Tess was named as part of the GB team that faced New Zealand in the women’s first FIH Pro League match in February 2019.

After stepping down as Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2017, Thomas Campbell

In December, OP Humphrey Jennings (1924) was

(1980) was named as the new

the subject of BBC Radio 4’s Great Lives. If you

Director and CEO of the Fine

missed the Eden Project’s Tim Smit talking about

Arts Museum of San Francisco,

Humphrey you can catch up with BBC Sounds!

California, in October 2018.

Ash Ogden’s (2008) short film Toby is now available to stream online after an international festival run that took it to the US, Canada and Ireland. It was screened at 13 festivals (including the BAFTA-affiliated London Short Film Festival) and took home three awards: ‘Best Cult/Weird/Experimental Film’, ‘Best Low Budget’ and ‘Best Humour’. Starring Old Perseans Josh Swarbrick (2008) and Tim Japp (2009), the film is a surreal and darkly comic take on social acceptance. Ash has just finished writing his next project, which he describes as ‘violently colourful’. You can watch Toby at www.professorstamen.com.

16

school OP News news

Midé Adenaike (2013) returned to The Perse in January with his a cappella vocal group The Sons of Pitches. The group held afternoon workshops with Perse pupils in the Perse Voices choir and Acappelicans group, teaching them about harmonies, chords and beatboxing, before performing a concert in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre. Midé, who began beatboxing at 16, said it was a pleasure to return to The Perse and give a workshop with his colleagues.

He said: “I feel quite honoured to be giving something back to The Perse after what the School gave me for so many years. The new performing arts centre feels like a serious venue as well and it’s great to be able to play here.”

Alex Coles (2018) made his rugby debut with the England U20s in Miles Pattenden (2000) was

their Six Nations opener against

a guest on BBC Radio 4’s In

Ireland on 1 February. This has

Our Time with Melvyn Bragg in

been a season of firsts for Alex,

January. He writes: “Our subject

who made his Euro debut for the

was Papal Infallibility – not the

Northampton Saints in January,

kind of thing you want to be

and his Premiership Rugby debut

wrong about live on air! – and

on 16 February, where the Saints

it was very nerve-wracking, but

won 67–17 against the Sale Sharks.

highly enjoyable, experience.

As an academic, I’m always trying to find ways to reach wider audiences to share my research and ideas – I’m so glad I had the chance to do

Year Group Reps wanted!

this. We discussed how papal

We are currently looking for volunteers

authority developed, medieval

to be Year Group Reps. YGRs provide an

debates about its nature, and

indispensable service to The Perse by

how Infallibility emerged as a

helping and encouraging contact among

doctrine to constrain it. Later

alumni, as well as between the alumni

we explored the question

and the School, and providing feedback

of why Infallibility became

on the School’s programme of alumni

official Catholic teaching in the

events and communications. If you would

nineteenth century and how

like to be a YGR for your year please

modern popes have dealt with

contact Erin Charles at echarles@perse.

it. I hope the podcast proves

co.uk to find out more.

informative and entertaining for everyone who listens.”

Old Perseans John Hale (2006), Rory Munday (2012), Simon Sampson (2005) and Hugh Chatfield (2013) took part in the 2018 Thames Hare and Hounds Alumni Race in December. The team came an impressive 8th overall, despite the wet conditions on the 5 mile course. This is the second time The Perse has entered a team in the alumni race, and we are grateful to Simon Sampson for organising the event. The provisional date for the 2019 race is Saturday 14 December – do save the date and register your interest by emailing perseado@perse.co.uk

17

old perseans

ers w e r Ca o

rk sho p Attracting and Recruiting Talent The war for top talent has reached fever pitch â&#x20AC;Ś the issue, when it comes to recruiting, is that the vast majority of these potential employees are already employed. Often by your competition.

So as an employer, what can be done to not only attract these hard-to-find employees to your cause, but to keep them there? Marcus Granville (1993), Director at Heat Recruitment, has detailed his four top tips.

18

school Careers news

Be clear about what you offer

The best employees are, by definition, unable to

Being transparent is a key way to generate employee

meet for an interview at 3pm on a Tuesday – no matter

buy-in. Transparency is perhaps the most powerful tool

how well it fits in with your schedule. Instead, arrange

a business leader has in their arsenal.

for an initial discussion via Skype outside the usual 9–5

So what does it mean to be transparent?

hours. Arrange for interviews during lunch hours, or

Communication, honesty, regular feedback, respect

perhaps even after work, and most importantly, create

and admitting wrongs are key and the benefits cannot

a succinct process with momentum. Nothing kills the

be overestimated, resulting in improved employee

excitement for a potential new employee as much as

engagement where your staff feel connected to the

an elongated interview process of many stages with

organisation, problems are solved more efficiently,

1–2 week gaps between each stage. More often than

accountability becomes a shared value, and employees

not your potential new candidate has interviewed twice

are easier to manage, work with, and most importantly,

elsewhere and accepted before you have managed to

retain. However, when targeting a passive employment

book in the third interview!

market, many of whom are already happy in their roles, Be prepared to pay for it

different strategies are required.

Employers first need to look at their job descriptions.

Looking for the best deal is a part of business – no-one

Salaries described as “competitive” can, to be blunt, be

would reach the top of their field without getting the

off-putting. Many see it as synonymous with “as little

most for their investment. When it comes to hiring,

as we can get away with paying”, despite employers

however, investment talks. It doesn’t have to be strictly

actually offering a good remuneration package.

monetary – it can include training budgets, flexible

Tell candidates what it is you actually do. Share

working hours, the option to work from home and a

your company vision with them and paint a picture

host of other additions.

of how this potential candidate can be a part of

Many employers are, possibly as a remnant of

it. Ambitious candidates want to know how their

the last financial crisis, still looking for champagne

day-to-day activities will make a difference. If

candidates on a lemonade budget. If employers

you can define this in the job description, you’re

aren’t prepared to make a comparable offer for these

well on the way to a compelling offer. There’s

top tier candidates, they’re going to be at a strong

nothing worse for a top-tier employee than

disadvantage compared to the competition and

reading a job description about a “market leading”

remember, the talent-tug-of-war is increasingly tough.

company with “strong corporate culture”.

If you’ve got your eye on a particularly attractive

In today’s saturated market, it means nothing.

candidate, the chances are you’re not alone.

Employers need not only to be clear about what they offer but also to actually demonstrate it.

... top performers are built, not grown.

Create a talent pipeline Top talent has to start somewhere. If you, as a business leader, can identify top performers early in their careers, bring them on board with your company and help mentor them through the industry, then loyalty will have been truly earned.

Get in touch with your local colleges and universities – visit jobs fairs. There are a huge range of options available for the discerning employer, options that too few businesses are taking advantage of. It’s a myth that top talent falls into the jobs market fully formed – top performers are built, not grown.

Offer flexible interviews It’s no secret that we’re in the midst of a skills shortage.

Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t always mean the talent isn’t out there … in many cases it’s because the best talent is already happily working elsewhere.

With such high levels of employment in the UK and a skills shortage particularly within niche sectors,

If you would like to find out more about bringing

employers are having to become more flexible with

the right talent on board, please get in touch:

how they actually interview the people they want on

marcus.granville@heatrecruitment.co.uk

their team.

19

old perseans

Obituaries Brian Drake (1944)

Laurence Drake (1981) writes: Father won a scholarship to The Perse, thus costing his father the princely sum of £1 per term.

Academically he did well, earning school prizes with monotonous regularity every year in maths and sciences. During the war The Perse was one of the few Cambridge buildings to be bombed, and he recalled arriving one morning when the Headmaster, unaffectionately nicknamed “Gob”, told them, “No school today, boys”, whilst behind him the smoking remnants of the school hall dripped with water from the fire hoses.

Bearing in mind how few bombs fell on Cambridge, it was an extraordinary coincidence that not only was the school hit, but so also was Gob’s house on Barrow Road … so he moved to Huntingdon Road – where he was promptly bombed out again! These events inspired him in his retirement to research an article on the Bombing of Cambridge, which is now in the archives of the London Imperial War Museum.

He won a scholarship to St John’s College, Cambridge in 1944 to read Natural Sciences, thereby starting a family tradition there with his sons Laurence (1981) and Marcus (1984) reading Medicine, and grandson William (2015) studying Physics.

After national service, in 1948 he switched to Preclinical Medicine.

These students were allocated to the same body for dissection: Swallow, Swift, Swan, Drake and Pond!

At Cambridge he foolishly risked everything in night climbing over the colleges. He marvelled at the nocturnal beauty and peace of those medieval courts viewed from the roofs. He managed to jump from the College gardens and climb over the Bridge of Sighs.

He and three others, in peril from the feared University Proctor,

accessed the roof of the College’s Gatehouse tower, and hoisted a toilet to the top of the flagpole! The Cambridge Daily News published a photo and the rhyme they’d been urgently sent: “Come and see what you never did see – a WC where the flag ought to be!”

In 1951 he defected to Oxford to study Clinical Medicine at Balliol and the Radcliffe Infirmary, and at 31, he became Histon’s GP, on call day and night, until retirement in 1990. He usually visited patients by bicycle, which they loved. He was extremely popular and a kind, respected doctor.

In the appalling winter of 1963 he attempted to skate from Cambridge to Ely. At Clayhithe, the ice gave way under the bridge near a sewage outlet. A photo appeared in the Cambridge News under a heading of “A ducking for Dr Drake”.

Retirement began in 1990, with his partner Janet (he had divorced from his Danish wife in 1974).

A Histon road was named in his honour: Drake Way. He had tremendous talent in playing the piano and organ, passing the LRAM and LRCM exams. He gave recitals – even sometimes after morning surgeries to drug reps, if they were attractive enough! With a violinist friend (or son Laurence) he performed successfully in the Cambridge Competitive Music Festival.

He learnt the organ in King’s College Chapel and also St John’s, filling these wonderful buildings with fabulous music, usually Bach.

Occasionally whilst practising on 20

the Histon organ he’d leave a notice on his surgery door: ‘If you need a doctor urgently please rattle the church vestry door!’ In 1988 he gave an impressive recital on King’s Chapel organ.

He was a kind, good humoured, gentle and generous man and father.

He had considerable talent, but selfdoubt and modesty would always prevent any hint of arrogance.

At the age of 90 he was still cycling into Cambridge, having been blessed with excellent health. Over the last year, cerebrovascular disease necessitated spending his last months in a nursing home, where he showed gratitude and politeness throughout.

He passed away peacefully and before he’d lost much dignity or suffered unduly. There is a great deal to be thankful for in all that.

Benjamin Moore (1950)

John Harris (1950) writes: Ben Moore died last year aged 86, after an undiagnosed debilitating illness.

We were contemporaries throughout our school days, and in fact we must have met even before school, as our fathers were founding members of the Dunn Nutritional Laboratory, and our families firm friends.

I think it would be fair to say that already at school Ben showed that adventurous spirit that shaped his

school Obituaries news

later life. He was usually the one to suggest a new, daring escapade.

A keen sportsman (perhaps rugby above all), he became captain of most of what were then referred to as “minor sports” – tennis, fives (in that unique court at the old Gonville Place site) – and boxing too, I think. I also have to thank him for introducing me to the pleasures of rowing on the Cam with the now defunct Cambridge Scouts Boat Club. Though not an outstanding academic he won an Exhibition to Christ’s.

But before going up he did national service. During Officer training he fell 90 feet while climbing Tryfan in North Wales. In 1952 he was in Korea, where, aged 20, he was severely injured when leading a patrol in the demilitarised zone between South and North.

At Christ’s he read geology and rowed bow in the College eight.

Then after several years prospecting for oil in Canada and Brazil (which he later wrote up in Alberta to the Amazon), he surprised us all by retraining as a doctor, all paid for from his earnings in geology.

He went on to a very successful career, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Consultant in Hereford. Before that, while working in Birmingham, he helped establish the country’s first menopause clinic. This work led to the award of the Cambridge MD. Both before and after retirement from the NHS he worked extensively overseas, including Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and more.

He is survived by his wife Veronica (who I have to thank for much of the detail here), four children and five grandchildren.

It was a pleasure to meet him and a few other contemporaries several times in the last ten years or so, thanks to the initiative of another contemporary, the late Richard Dent (1950). Although physically impaired Ben’s spirit and great sense of humour were as robust as ever.

Michael George Rhodes (1953)

Peter Goodchild writes: Mick (as he was known throughout his career) was born in Wye, Kent on 6 August 1935, to Frederick and Norah (née Collier) Rhodes.

After WW2, the family settled near Cambridge. Mick joined The Perse, where he excelled in cross-country, rugby and sailing, the last of which became an enduring passion. After national service with the army in Germany and in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising, he studied Zoology at Bangor University.

He was tempted away from PhD studies in 1964, sailing to Greenland and Baffin Island on a 60-year-old pilot cutter with the explorer Bill Tilman. Mick made a film about their journey, which he used as a passport to a job in the BBC Radio science department. One of his programmes there, Mr Blake, on the treatment of schizophrenia, won a Prix Italia and, in 1968, he was offered a job on Horizon.

Over the next three years Mick produced films on everything from rheumatism to rail crashes but soon made his first natural history film, The Wood (1971), about Wytham Woods.

This led Mick to The Making of a Natural History Film (1972), about a group of scientist-filmmakers at Oxford Scientific Films. With great natural history filming and a surprisingly dramatic storyline, this modest film won not only a BAFTA and a Prix Italia, but an Emmy as well.

In autumn 1972, Mick arrived in Bristol to take over as head of the BBC’s Natural History Unit. The staff were sceptical of Mick and his limited natural history filming experience, but David Attenborough, who was just standing down from the BBC’s senior 21

management to return to programme making, thought well of him.

The two met and soon were talking about the crucial additional outside funding needed for a major series.

Attenborough had contacts at Warner Bros and Mick followed them up – successfully. Over the next three years, he negotiated the funding, staffing and planning of Life on Earth, which was broadcast in 1979, as the first of the BBC’s blockbuster natural history series fronted by Attenborough and seen all over the world.

In 1977 Mick launched Wildlife on One, which ran for 28 years, as well as Badger Watch, the first show to use infrared cameras to show how animals live in the wild. By the time Mick resigned in 1978, the Natural History Unit was well under way to becoming the internationally renowned production centre it is now.

Mick moved to the US, partly to set up a US version of Wildlife on One, and partly to be with Barbara Benedek, a New York researcher for the BBC whom he had met while she was on secondment in London, and whom he was to marry in 1986.

In 1981, Mick returned to the BBC and in 1984 took over as Head of BBC Science Features, spending five years managing Tomorrow’s World, Horizon, QED and Your Life in Their Hands. In 1989, he went back to producing programmes.

Among numerous other projects, he thoroughly enjoyed making segments for Gardeners’ World and Countryfile.

In 1996, Mick and Barbara bought a house in France, where Mick spent his time working on the property, watching birds and gardening. For the next 12 years he divided his time between France and the UK. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2008.

Mick passed away on 1 September 2018 and is survived by Barbara; and

by Nori, the daughter from his first marriage, and two grandsons.

This is an abridged version of the obituary published in The Guardian, and is reproduced here with kind permission of Peter Goodchild and Barbara Rhodes.

old perseans

as a Reserve for a further 10 years.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and only resigned in 1970 when work and family commitments prevented him fulfilling his regular training duties.

Hugh continued to play hockey and cricket regularly. A weekend hockey match took him to Oxted in Surrey where he and Patricia later settled to bring up their family. Hugh began working as a qualified chartered accountant at Allan Charlesworth & Co in 1964, just a year before Sarah, his first daughter, was born. By 1969, soon after his second daughter Anna was born, he had already made it to the ranks of Partner. Hugh remained

with the same firm, which merged to become Hays Allan, until his retirement in 1996.

Hugh had never been one for idleness, and after ‘retiring’ took on consultancy work, continuing even after a cancer diagnosis. Despite this ongoing determination to keep working Hugh continued to spend much of his spare time with his five grandchildren, for whom he was a trusted and much-loved role model.

Retirement also gave Hugh the chance to indulge his passion for cricket. He got his long-awaited Membership of the MCC in 2008 and attended matches at Lord’s with friends whenever he could.

If there was a theme to Hugh’s life it would surely be that he was liked and respected wherever he went. He had an easy friendly way about him, and a genuine interest in others. He was witty, intelligent and a good conversationalist.

Hugh sadly lost his long-fought battle with cancer on Christmas Day 2018. His ashes were scattered by his family at The Harris Memorial Garden at Lord’s cricket ground.

teaching diploma from Loughborough Teacher Training College.

Derek spent all of his working life as head of PE at Abbotsholme School where he was appointed in 1960 and remained until his retirement in 1998.

He left a very significant mark there taking on roles including Riversholme housemaster and head of Outdoor Education, leading many skiing and mountaineering trips and overseeing the design and building of Reddie Hall sports complex. He remained very much involved with Abbotsholme School after retirement, being on the school council until 2018.

Away from school, Derek had a very important role in the development of youth cricket in England. He was passionate about cricket and was instrumental in the formation and development of the England Under 19 National Cricket Team (now called the Young

Lions) in the 1970s, ’80s, and, ’90s.

He was Chairman of Selectors for England Under 19 for over 20 years (1976–1997) and chaired the National Cricket Junior and Youth Committee over the same period. He was on the County Cricket Club Committee of both Staffordshire (1973–1998) and Derbyshire (1999–2006).

Derek had a number of other interests to which he devoted much time. In particular, he loved music and was a founder member of the Abbotsholme Arts Society and was on the committee since its inception in 1968. Derek loved the great outdoors and especially loved visiting Golan in North Wales and Saas Fee – the “Pearl of the Alps”.

Derek died peacefully in Royal Stoke University Hospital on 1 November after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children and six grandchildren.

Hugh Thomas (1954)

Luke Lordon writes: Hugh was born in Salisbury in 1936 but in 1938 the family left for Africa and Hugh didn’t return ‘home’ until he started at The Perse in 1947. With his family still in Nairobi, The Perse became very much a second home for Hugh and his time there clearly made a huge impression on him. He was proud to have been a prefect, head of his boarding house, vice-captain of the hockey team and earn cricket colours. Recalling intricate details, he loved to regale his family with tales of his school days. The Perse lifestyle clearly suited his personality and made a significant contribution to his personal development and the disciplined approach he took to life long after he left school in 1954.

After The Perse Hugh undertook national service with the Navy and during a training exercise met Patricia who was serving with the WRNS. He took articles with Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants and married Patricia in September 1961, continuing his Royal Naval Service

Derek Sederman (1956)

Andy Sederman writes: Derek Sederman was a pupil at The Perse School from 1945–1956 (including four years in the Perse Preparatory School) – he particularly enjoyed mathematics, no doubt encouraged by the head of maths there – his father, Vic Sederman. After leaving The Perse he obtained his

22

school Obituaries news

Louis Carr (2018)

Sara Carr writes: “One of a kind” was how Henry Tully (2018) described Louis, speaking at his funeral.

We lost our beloved Louis on 21 November 2018. He was the funniest, most handsome and clever boy (and naughty).

Louis joined The Perse in Year 8 and soon made the most lovely, lifelong friends. He adored the School and met such amazing young people who we are all still in touch with and regale us with hilarious antics both in and out of school (some of which I’m not sure I should know!).

Louis suffered from anxiety and mental health issues but one would never pick up on this, despite how close we were. He reminds me of Robin Williams, whose friends said “He was always happy. Everyone adored him.” Anthony Bourdain’s best friend also said “He loved his life and had this extraordinary ability to just connect with people.”

Louis had such fun being part of PES even though we’d wait on a Friday night in the car park to see what injury had occurred!

A highlight of his life was the South Africa Rugby tour. I missed him so much and never saw anyone devouring bacon sandwiches the way he did when I picked him up from school! He was awarded “Bloke of the Tour” – I did remind him that this wasn’t “player of the tour”... After his death Colesy (Alex Coles, 2018), as Captain, told me that the vote was pretty much unanimous – we had a cry together, and yes, I had to climb on to a chair to give Colesy a hug!

He also loved the football tour to Porto and had a fabulous time. Louis got incredible marks in his history, classics and politics A Levels and I’m so, so proud of him. He played hard, but worked hard too.

It is a testament to The Perse that his friends are still constantly in our house, which I adore. So polite but so, so loving and funny. Louis was there for all of them 24/7 and they adored him. Some of the videos that they’ve shown me, filmed in the Sixth Form Common Room shouldn’t really be mentioned though (sorry Mr Morgan).

Paul Gething has lovingly planted a tree in the grounds, which I can’t wait to see in the spring, and I thank The Perse for their support and for the lovely tribute at the rugby match back in December.

In memory of Louis, I would like to thank you all – I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of pupils, staff and parents – and just to remind you that sometimes, the biggest lie we tell is the smile on our face.

Recent Events

Perse Players Gala Dinner: Saturday 9 February In February we held a gala dinner celebration of the performing arts at The Perse, 70 years to the day since Peter Hall took to the stage in the title role of the Perse Players’ production of Hamlet. We were joined by 100 guests, including some members of the original 1949 cast. After touring the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre, guests enjoyed an exclusive production

In Memoriam

in the auditorium, where OPs

Colin Whitworth Allen (1945)

and current pupils reprised their

died 5 February 2019, aged 89 years

roles from past Perse Players

Thomas John Bartaby Russell (1951)

died November 2018, aged 84 years

shows. Guests then enjoyed a three-course dinner in the main hall before Kenneth Tharp

John Hardman Baxter (1949)

(1978) took to the stage as guest

died 2018, aged 88 years

speaker, reminding the audience

Ralph George Birch (1958)

died October 2018, aged 78 years David Tullideph Birnie (1961)

about the wide-ranging benefits of the arts in education.

OP Sports Festival:

died 5 September 2018, aged 75 years

Saturday 30 March

John Lester Clayson (1950)

current pupils took part in

died 7 December 2018, aged 87 years Michael Peter Cliff (1986)

Over 200 Old Perseans and fixtures as part of our 2019 Old Persean Sports Festival. The sun

died 22 October 2018, aged 50 years

was shining as OPs competed in

Colin William Grommet Darkin (1964)

Run, tennis, basketball, netball,

died 8 May 2018, aged 72 years Kenneth Harwood (1957)

seven sports: the Roman Road football, hockey and touch rugby.

We were delighted to see OPs

died September 2018, aged 77 years

from the Classes of 1987–2018

This list was up-to-date when we went to print.

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

an even bigger event in 2020! For

23

competing and look forward to match reports and photos please visit perse.co.uk/recent-events.

old perseans

Upcoming Events Upcoming Reunion Dinners 2019/20: Classes of 2005–2010 2020/21: Classes of 1980s 2021/22: Classes of 1990s Benefactors’ Reception Saturday 15 June 2019 12.30pm, The Perse.

By invitation.

OP Cricket Friday 21 June 2019 Play from 2pm, The Perse.

Open to all.

Community Lecture: Bridget Kendall MBE Wednesday 25 September 2019 7.30pm, The Perse.

Open to all.

2005–2010 Reunion Dinner Saturday 25 April 2020 6.45 for 7.30pm, The Perse Open to the Classes of 2005–2010.

OP Sports Festival Saturday 21 March 2020 Timings TBC, The Perse Open to all.

Half Century Club Lunch Saturday 16 May 2020 12.00 for 12.30pm, The Perse.

Open to those who left in 1970 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.

Old Perseans and Friends

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

@OldPerseans

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

Old Perseans

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

The Perse School is a registered charity no. 1120654 24