OP News Spring/Summer 2020

SPRING SUMMER 2020

OLD PERSIAN’S NEWS

OP

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE WORKING WITH ANIMALS RESEARCH STANDARDISING ITALIAN ARCHIVIST’S ACCOUNT HISTORY OF RUGBY CAREERS WORKSHOP EMBRACING CHANGE

CONTENTS 03

From the Head

06 WORKING WITH ANIMALS

04

School News

OPs who have found fulfilling careers working with animals.

06

Working with Animals

10 Research and Response

10

14 Archivist’s Account

RESEARCH AND RESPONSE 15 Alumnet

The standardisation of modern Italian

16

OP News

19

Behrmann Lecture 2020

20 Careers Workshop

14 ARCHIVIST’S ACCOUNT

22 Obituaries

A history of rugby at The Perse old perseans

24

Upcoming Events

ON THE COVER The 2019–20 Perse Players Production took place in the Michaelmas term this year, with the cast taking on the 2010 musical production of The Addams Family.

Read more on p4.

18 CAREERS WORKSHOP Why change is good

FROM SCHOOL THENEWS HEAD

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial style allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

FFI’S NICHE IS CLEAR The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial style allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

ADAM SCOTT

FFI’S NICHE IS CLEAR

THE U14 GIRLS’ HOCKEY TEAM PRODUCED A FINE DISPLAY IN THE INVESTEC ENGLAND HOCKEY NATIONAL SCHOOLS FINALS AT LEE VALLEY HOCKEY & TENNIS CENTRE, COMING JOINT FIFTH.

From the Head

F

ew articles in OP News can ever have been

At some point there will be a welcome return to

as opposite than Rich Alderton’s piece

the site, and a ‘new normal two’ – a socially distant

on ‘Adaptability’.

Perse School. This will require more successful

On 20 March, in response to the COVID-19

adaptions with changes such as the move to

pandemic, the government ordered all UK schools

e-assemblies, non-contact sports, and virtual

to shut. The Perse closed its physical doors to all but

teamwork. And when the COVID-19 pandemic finally

the children of key workers. On 23 March our virtual

passes, we will move to a ‘new normal three’. A

doors re-opened, and so began our ‘new normal

new normal that is the old Perse but better, because

one’, a digitised Perse timetable consisting of Zoom

we will retain the successful adaptions we have

lessons, OneNote exercises, and online assessments.

made. We will relish the re-emergence of contact

Six weeks on I am pleased to report that The

sports, major events and school trips, but we will also

Perse has successfully adapted to its ‘new normal

hold onto our greatly improved IT skills

one’. Staff and pupil IT skills have greatly improved,

and our new ways of more efficient and

students have become better independent learners,

effective working.

teachers are sharing more resources, and our video-

Necessity, so often the mother

conferenced parents’ evenings have been a hit. New

of invention, will have moved us

ways of teaching and learning are flourishing –

all forward.

the part-Perse built Blutick maths learning platform has seen nearly one million

With best wishes, Ed Elliott

questions answered by pupils across the globe.

3

OLD PERSEANS

School News THE PERSE SCHOOL SINGAPORE OPENS

PERSE PRIDE 2020

The Perse School Singapore opened in January 2020

For the third year

for pupils aged six to 11.

in a row, The Perse

Pupils and staff have settled in well and are

celebrated Perse

enjoying school life. Claire Bell, Founding Principal,

Pride, this year on

has been keeping the wider Perse family in

4 March. Pupils and

Cambridge well informed of all the latest activities in

staff were invited to wear

Singapore. Claire said, “ The pupils are really happy

brightly coloured clothes to

and have thoroughly enjoyed the breadth of the

School, and there were a number of activities

curriculum and all the wonderful activities on offer

throughout the day, including a lunchtime

at the school”. The broad and innovative curriculum

discussion on LGBT life at The Perse, led by

closely follows the Cambridge Primary programme,

PrideSoc leaders Gleb and Arianne (U6), and

incorporating Singapore maths as well as Mandarin

a film screening of Love, Simon. The Perse

as a second language.

Pelican even had a makeover, with rainbow

Claire Bell was formerly Head of Tenby School,

Pelican badges on sale.

Malaysia, and the British International School in northern Iraq. The majority of staff are in now place, with Claire revealing that she is immensely proud of her dynamic team who have worked tirelessly to

ECOSCHOOLS AWARD for The Perse

ensure the school, curriculum and extra-curricular

The Perse School has been awarded a Silver

activities are built upon the Perse School strengths

Eco-Schools Award, thanks to the hard work

and values.

of the student-led Green Team. Achieving the

The four core values of The Perse – intellectual

Silver Award means environmental issues are

curiosity and scholarship, endeavour, breadth

being covered in the school curriculum, and the

and balance, and respect for one another and our

whole school is involved in Eco-Schools work.

environment form the heart of the new school’s ethos. The school strives to nurture the children’s potential, build their confidence and prepare them for the future.

The campus is at Upper Bukit Timah, a residential area in Singapore, and across from Bukit Timah nature reserve which is the highest point in Singapore and the oldest area of rainforest, approximately 8 miles from the downtown area and

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial style allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

FFI’S NICHE ISstyle CLEAR

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean FFI’S NICHE ISstyle CLEAR entrepreneurial allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean FFI’S NICHE ISstyle CLEAR entrepreneurial allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

FFI’S NICHE IS CLEAR

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial style allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

FFI’S NICHE IS CLEAR

the famous Marina Bay Sands.

PERSE PLAYERS prove frighteningly funny as The Addams Family The Addams Family was the 2019–20 Perse Players production, which the company performed to rave reviews in December. Based around the fictional family of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley and Uncle Fester, talented Perse actors, technical crew and musicians from all year groups staged four shows of the musical comedy in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre. The show was the last for Perse Theatre Director in Residence, Matthew Hawksworth, who left the School in February to take up a role leading the Youth programme of Pavilion Dance South West. We wish him all the best for the future.

4

SCHOOL NEWS

PERSE STUDENT WINS prestigious Tata Materials Prize Oliver Phillips (Upper Sixth) has won the illustrious Armourers & Brasiers Tata MateriaIs Prize with his in-depth research into spider silk. He was one of just four entrants chosen to take part in the final in London, having worked on a number of projects for the competition, including an investigation into the material properties of chocolate, with the support of Perse Head of Physics David Tricker.

In his presentation to the judging panel, Oliver explained how the production of spider silk is a hugely time-intensive process, highlighting the manufacture of a cape exhibited at London’s V&A Museum in 2012 that took eight years to make, using silk harvested from 1.2 million golden orb weaver spiders. He noted that the weightto-strength ratio of spider silk is many times that of steel, hence the scientific interest in finding ways to artificially produce the material, which could eventually be used in making items such as bulletproof clothing, bandages and artificial tendons and ligaments.

PERSE STUDENT REPRESENTS Combined Cadet Force in Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall

Robert Almqvist (Upper Sixth) had the honour of representing the Combined Cadet Force in the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. He was one of three cadets chosen to escort the CCF standard into the arena at both the matinee and evening performance, the latter being in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family and televised live on BBC One. Robert, who is lead cadet of the Perse CCF (RAF) section, was elated to be part of such a poignant occasion of remembrance, which included tributes to mark the 75th anniversary of the GB HOCKEY STAR returns to The Perse after

pivotal World War II battles of Monte

sealing Olympic qualification

Cassino, Kohima, Imphal and D Day. He

Tess Howard (2017) returned to The Perse to give the U14 girls’

said: “It was amazing to be part of such

hockey team a coaching session just after helping GB Hockey earn

a globally significant event and to be

Olympic qualification. Tess, who made her full GB debut last year,

around so many inspirational people

ran through a range of shooting drills with the U14 team and was

and hear their stories.”

struck by the eagerness of the players to develop their skills.

She said: “Because I’m Perse-bred, I’ve been there in the same kit as them, so it was really nice to work with them. I was in the U14 team coached by Mr Kirkham (Perse Director of Sport), as they are, and I remember our team ended up getting to the national finals.

They’re so coachable and that’s the mark of a good player, to have the attitude to learn. You can be as talented as you like but if you don’t believe in yourself, nothing will come from it. It was so great to see them believing in themselves and being so enthusiastic.”

The coaching session paid off for the U14 girls, as they took part in the national finals in February, narrowly missing out on the third place play-offs.

5

OLD PERSEANS

WORKING WITH ANIMALS

6

From four-legged creatures to feathered friends, hear from three OPs who have found fulfilling careers working with animals.

SCHOOL FEATURE NEWS

their own nearly identical eggs in their communal nests, and discriminate in favour of them.

Next I was appointed Curator of Mammals at London Zoo ZSL, and later also ‘given’ the Aquarium and Invertebrates. Highlights of my eight years there included: accompanying our giant panda to Washington on an abortive mating visit; reintroducing scimitar-horned oryx into the wild in Tunisia; introducing naked mole rats to the international zoo world; behavioural enrichment; and upgrading the keeper force.

Brian Bertram (1961)

I then joined the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, where I overlapped

I have been fortunate in having

noises the birds make in the

with and took over from Sir Peter

had a varied life involving animals.

wild so that we can understand

Scott as the Trust’s first Director

In 1956, aged 12, I joined The Perse

why they are such good mimics

General. In my five years there, we

3rd Form, with my zoological

in captivity”. Answer – they

put ‘and Wetlands’ into the title,

interest already established. This

copy a few near neighbouring

established new centres at Llanelli

withstood advice from a couple

mynah birds of the same sex as

and Castle Espie, and laid the

of teachers who urged me to do

themselves; but why?

groundwork for the fine London

languages (rather than science)

I then spent four years in

Wetland Centre. I also dealt with

because I was better at them

the Serengeti National Park

(a good memory, though not a

in Tanzania, studying lions

particularly good ear – now all

and leopards, establishing

consultancies overseas, then was

three poor). I think I was influenced

long-term records of known

Special Projects Coordinator at

most at The Perse by Ken Symonds

individuals in resident prides,

Bristol Zoo, responsible for new

who in his CCF Naval Section

assessing woodland lion ecology,

development projects, especially

enabled me and others to go down

discovering the adaptive basis of

those for seals and penguins,

in a submarine, to loop the loop at

infanticide in lions, and pioneering

invertebrates, nocturnal animals,

the then Marshall’s Aerodrome, to

gentle darting and radio-tracking

lawn theatre, and car park (rather

sail on the Blackwater River, and

techniques. Friends kindly

a zoological comedown).

enjoy the luxurious Dartmouth

brought a lovely young lady

Britannia Royal Naval College. I

visitor to my hovel in the bush,

been a Zoo Inspector on the

was moderately sporty, playing

and tolerant Kate is now my wife

Secretary of State’s list, in the

1st XI hockey, captaining 2nd XV

and mother of our three children.

course of which have inspected

rugby (undefeated season), and

Jumping about, I got a Senior

lots of fabulous birds.

After that I did a few short

For the past 36 years, I have

well over 100 zoos – which are

being captain of shooting (small

Research Fellow in Behavioural

bore, an expression I still dislike).

Ecology (then called Sociobiology)

I enjoyed The Perse and the friends

at King’s College, Cambridge,

much involved with various ZSL

made there.

and we studied the communal

committees, with proofreading

nesting system of ostriches in

zoological magazines (as a natural

College, Cambridge, taking

Tsavo West National Park in

pedant). I cultivate vegetables,

part in various zoological field

Kenya, finding (among other

bees and family. And I am

trips in vacations; solo night

things) that supposedly dim

pleased to hear from Perseans on

diving in Malta was, in hindsight,

female ostriches can recognise

bbertram@btopenworld.com.

I read Zoology at St John’s

improving well.

Since retirement, I have been

somewhat reckless, although clearly survivable.

I did a PhD at Cambridge based on fieldwork on the Indian hill mynah bird, and was mostly in Assam for two years. The subject was simple then: “Find out what

I GOT A SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW IN BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY (THEN CALLED SOCIOBIOLOGY) AT KING’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND WE STUDIED THE COMMUNAL NESTING SYSTEM OF OSTRICHES IN TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK IN KENYA.

7

OLD PERSEANS

Emily Morris-Lowe (1997) I truly have wonderful memories

day event that year as one of

polo ponies form Argentina

the youngest GB competitors.

for teaching new players and

During my gap year, I worked for

matches. In the early 2000s we

of my time at The Perse School

the family business teaching in the

put in an all-weather arena for

for Sixth Form. I was in the very

riding school and competing the

polo, one of the largest in the UK.

first cohort of girls to arrive at the

horses. Then I went onto The Royal

I was teaching clients, from total

School – it was an adventure, and

Agricultural College at Cirencester

beginners who had never ridden a

to an extent it felt like a bit of an

to take a degree in Equine and

horse before upwards. Cambridge

experiment. There were only 13 girls

Agricultural Business Management.

University Polo Club played out

in our year and of course, therefore,

This was excellent, it helped to give

of our grounds at Haggis Farm

the whole school. I can remember

me such an enormous overview of

and polo begun to grow hugely.

we were made incredibly welcome

the whole equestrian industry. As

Now schools and university polo is

and to be honest, thinking back,

part of an exchange programme I

proving hugely popular, with over

really quite possibly a little bit

was lucky enough to spend a term

3,000 members playing in the UK.

spoilt. At the time I was eventing

at The University of Kentucky,

Polo and riding are exhilarating

at a serious level and it was

Lexington. Here I was learning

and often at times can be a

therefore extremely important

primarily about the racing industry,

great leveller – a brilliant sport

to have as much time as possible

thoroughbred and sports horse

that really can be taken up by

to ride and train the horses. The

breeding. Kentucky has produced

anyone at any age and enjoyed

School was very understanding

some of the greatest racehorses

at all standards.

and I was able, during Upper

of all time and this was a brilliant

Sixth, to take sports afternoons

experience to spend time out there

I wanted to move to London for

to go home for coaching and

with some of the most expert

a bit of a change in direction and

riding. I was competing nearly

racehorse producers and trainers

now today, as well as still being

every weekend during the spring

in the world.

heavily involved in Cambridge

and summer months and have

By my early thirties I decided

At Cirencester, I also discovered

Polo Club, and the family business

an accidental diversification with

something which I greatly enjoy,

jumping and cross country phases

the family business. Within a few

proving all skills learnt along the

of events. I managed to qualify

years my brothers were playing

way can be hugely beneficial and

for Windsor International Three-

professionally and we imported

transferable to different industries.

8

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial style allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

between my dressage, show

FFI’S NICHE IS CLEAR

in Luxury Travel Marketing. This is

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial style allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

with an old polo pony. This led to

FFI’S NICHE IS CLEAR

I work for a small media company

in the back of the horsebox in

The consultants were able to clearly articulate FFI’s role within the wider conservation movement, and celebrated the value of our relatively modest size, stating that we appeared to combine some of the best characteristics of being a big organisation with those of being small. The report also reiterated our own internal perspectives of FFI’s unique role, which focuses on “(i) collaboration through lasting partnerships, (ii) leadership through innovative models, and (iii) a lean entrepreneurial style allowing fast and flexible engagement on critical issues.”

polo and ended up coming home

FFI’S NICHE IS CLEAR

memories of revising for exams

POLO AND RIDING ARE EXHILARATING AND OFTEN AT TIMES CAN BE A GREAT LEVELLER – A BRILLIANT SPORT THAT REALLY CAN BE TAKEN UP BY ANYONE AT ANY AGE AND ENJOYED AT ALL STANDARDS.

SCHOOL FEATURE NEWS

Cathy Fryers (2008) I joined The Perse Sixth Form in 2006 and after studying the three sciences and art for A Level, my teachers were wholly supportive of my ambition to go to Vet School.

But I realised, after a dramatic imitation of a stampeding rhino, that it was Mr Pickstone, my biology teacher, who most shared my joy in the natural world.

During my time at the School I also joined the CCF. By nature I was rather quiet, and the CCF did wonders for improving my confidence. I achieved the grades I needed and got my place at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at Nottingham University.

I adored my five years at Vet

sure it would keep me happy

School; the course was taught

until retirement. I was ready for

practically and suited me perfectly.

another challenge. I wanted to

After qualifying I started work

find a way to develop myself

at a small animal hospital in

further whilst maintaining my

Bedfordshire. My first year as a

veterinary skills. I was drawn to

practising vet was a baptism by

a Royal Army Veterinary Corp

fire. The hours were long and the

stand at a conference – Military

caseload was huge, but I was

Working Dogs, the outdoors,

well supported by those around

teamwork. I was hooked.

me and I learnt quickly. I grew in

I started doing loaded marches,

UNTIL I SAT DOWN TO WRITE THIS, I HADN’T QUITE REALISED HOW MANY OF THE THREADS IN MY LIFE LEAD BACK TO MY TIME AT THE PERSE!

people safe around the world. The dogs we use fall broadly into two

competence and confidence over

press-ups and runs in my spare

categories: those that search and

my first few years, and specialised

time to get fit for application

are trained to detect weapons,

further in cardiology.

and before long I attended

ammunition and explosives (these

the Army Officer Selection

tend to be Labradors and Spaniels)

longer felt as if I was just trying

Board at Westbury. Three days

and those that protect, which

to keep my head above water; I

of interviews, psychometric

tend to be Belgian Malinois, Dutch

had settled into the rhythm of a

testing, fitness tests, assault

Herders or German Shepherds.

busy general practice. At the time

courses and command tasks

Much to my civilian vet friends’

I hated the out of hours work,

– easily the most intense job

bemusement I can honestly

but with hindsight the stressful

interview I’ve experienced. I

say that the protection dogs

2am surgeries, worried owners

passed and attended the Royal

are significantly safer to handle

and critically ill animals not only

Military Academy Sandhurst in

than your average Chihuahua.

taught me a lot about my trade

2017. Weapon skills and drills

but also made me realise that I

came flooding back to me from

Army has delivered exactly what

loved working under pressure. I

CCF, and I took to yomping

I had hoped. On a ‘typical’ day I

really enjoyed my job, but wasn’t

around in the cold and the

could be treating strays in Cyprus,

mud like a duck to water.

leading my Troop on Exercise

After four years in practice I no

I commissioned on 25

DURING MY TIME AT THE SCHOOL I ALSO JOINED THE CCF. BY NATURE I WAS RATHER QUIET, AND THE CCF DID WONDERS FOR IMPROVING MY CONFIDENCE.

So far my time in the British

in Canada, behind my desk

November 2017, cheered on by

managing my soldiers’ careers,

my two best friends from The

getting involved in army-wide

Perse, and since then have been

organisational change or visiting

working as a Troop Commander

other NATO Forces.

in the 1st Military Working Dog

Until I sat down to write this, I

Regiment. My soldiers inspire

hadn’t quite realised how many of

me on a daily basis – committed

the threads in my life lead back to

men and women working to keep

my time at The Perse!

9

OLD PERSEANS

Research Influences on the standardisation of modern Italian: Applying the frameworks of Haugen and Joseph

in the emerging dialect’s prestige to outsiders and changes in attitudes of speakers within the speech community; (5) change or increase in influence of cultural avant-garde; (6) change in the language’s writing system and use in writing; (7) codification of the dialect’s grammar; (8) change in functional range; (9) desire to change (usually reduce) internal variation within a speech community; and (10) change in the standard’s status (Joseph, 1987).

As Romance languages, Italian dialects descend from Vulgar Latin, the heterogeneous colloquial forms of the Roman Empire’s lingua franca. Due to the vast extent of Latin’s imposition, great linguistic variation developed on regional and social levels.

The distinguishable development of Italian began in the fifth century, after the fall of the Roman Empire.

At this point, most people spoke local vernaculars evolved from Vulgar Latin, although Classical Latin, Europe’s established written language, was still used in European universities and churches (J:4,5). Of all the modern Italian dialects, Florentine is closest to Classical Latin, which already had a codified grammatical system and elaborated vocabulary (H:2,3), facilitating Florentine’s establishment as a standard language.

GEORGINA FOLLOWS

Florentine’s selection as standard was influenced

(UPPER SIXTH)

perhaps most significantly by Dante Alighieri (1265–

T

1321), arguably the early Renaissance’s most influential oday 34 native Italian dialects are spoken,

writer. Dante’s Commedia (1307–1321), unparalleled in

central to Italy’s cultural identity and reflecting

other dialects, first formalised Florentine and, thanks to its wide-reaching publication and popularity,

its history as independent states until 1861.

established this as Italy’s ‘literary’ language (J:4,5,6).

Since its unification, however, Italy has adopted Florentine as its standard language, officially since 2007.

Meanwhile, other dialects were predominantly spoken,

I explored the process of this standardisation, relating

failing to meet Joseph’s requirement for a standard

to frameworks composed by linguists John Earl Joseph

language to have an established writing system.

and Einar Haugen.

Florence was also a renowned place for learning and home to the House of Medici’s vastly influential

Joseph writes that for a ‘standard’ language to exist there must exist non-standard varieties, a normative

political and artistic dynasties (1434–1737), with

grammar, an established writing system and the ability

clients such as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Machiavelli and

to translate into another standard (Joseph, 1987).

Galileo reinforcing the prestige of Florence’s culture

Haugen identifies four stages of standardisation:

and dialect (J:4,5). Dante’s extensive writing along

(1) selection of norm (2) codification (creation of a

with Renaissance Florence’s cultural and political

model of standard usage), (3) elaboration of function

significance meant that when a universal language was

(enhancement into a ‘developed’ language), and (4)

needed Florentine would almost inevitably be selected.

With Italy’s unification in 1861 came a desire to

acceptance by community (Haugen, 1966). These

reduce the country’s internal linguistic variation

stages are not necessarily chronological or mutually exclusive, though selection generally occurs first. I

to facilitate nationwide communication and create

mainly explored Italian’s selection and acceptance,

a sense of national identity (J:1,8,9). Florentine

many influences over which correlate with Joseph’s

had already emerged as dominant, and by the

factors affecting standardisation: (1) redefinition of

19th Century had spread widely enough to be selected

a speech community; (2) emergence of a dominant

as a common language (J:2/H:1). Being an intermediary

dialect; (3) change in degree of ‘abstand’; (4) change

between Italy’s northern and southern dialects, already

10

CAMPAIGN SCHOOL FEATURE NEWS UPDATE

learn this supraregional ‘italiano popolare’. Although

DANTE’S COMMEDIA (1307–1321), UNPARALLELED IN OTHER DIALECTS, FIRST FORMALISED FLORENTINE AND, THANKS TO ITS WIDE-REACHING PUBLICATION AND POPULARITY, ESTABLISHED THIS AS ITALY’S ‘LITERARY’ LANGUAGE.

unmentioned in either of the frameworks I studied, I would therefore hypothesise that increased popular mobility plays a key role in dialectal levelling.

Arguably the most influential factor in the acceptance of standard Italian was late-20th Century advancement in mass media distribution, especially radio and television broadcasting. Television broadcasting in the standard was introduced in 1954, but it was not until Italy’s economic boom (1958–62) that programmes in the standard were broadcast to most households and the population’s exposure to and acceptance of the language drastically increased (H:4).

having an established writing system and having

I would also suggest that emigration, globalisation

gained prestige through cultural significance made

and an increase in mobility in the twentieth century

Florentine a logical choice for a standard (J:4,5,6).

encouraged the adoption of a common language to

However, it wasn’t until ubiquitous standardised

aid universal communication (J:9).

In summary, Italy’s unification in 1861, redefining the

schooling exposed a wider demographic to the standard that many abandoned their native dialects

speech community’s geo-political borders (J:1), meant

in its favour.

an unprecedented need to reduce internal linguistic variation (J:9). Florentine had already become

Haugen writes that ‘every self-respecting nation

dominant due to prestigious Renaissance culture and

needs […] a fully developed language. Anything less marks it as underdeveloped’ (Haugen, 1966).

literature and its established writing system (J:2,4,5,6),

Endeavouring to create such a nation, Mussolini’s

making it appropriate for selection (H:1). Grammatically

Fascist regime (1922–1943) sought to reduce linguistic

codified and elaborated, increasing its functional

variation (J:9), prohibiting dialects across Italy and

range, under the Fascists (H:2,3/J:7,8), the standard

formally codifying and ‘fully developing’ the imposed

was accepted most successfully in the 20th Century

standard (H:2,3/J:7). The Accademia d’Italia thus

due to popular movement and integration in the army,

composed an official standard (Florentine-based)

and later as technological advancements facilitated

vocabulary, as well as rules of pronunciation and

increased movement, communication and mass

orthography, rigidly imposed throughout the Fascist

media distribution (H:4). The standard thus gained a

era. Many foreign loanwords were ‘Italianised’ during

heightened status, becoming Italy’s official language

this period to reinforce external distinction. However,

in 2007, accepted today by the majority of Italians

by 1951 only 18% of the population had abandoned

(J:10/H:4). Additionally, I would update Joseph’s

their native dialect and in the post-Fascist era many

framework to consider influences of increasing

returned to speaking regional mother tongues.

mobility and globalisation on dialectal levelling.

The 20th Century Italian army was enormously impactful in dialectal levelling and the population’s uptake of the standard language (H:4). Mandatory military service exposed millions of soldiers to varying dialects from distant regions; linguistic diversity caused issues here, both with communication and in creating a shared national identity. To reduce variation within the speech community (J:9), the recently standardised Italian (‘italiano popolare’) was accepted (H:4) as a lingua franca, allowing communication among troops of differing origins. Many also learnt to write in the trenches – in the standard form as local dialects were only spoken – meaning that, in order to communicate, families also had to

11

OLD PERSEANS

& Response

I should begin by explaining that, although I am a linguist, my specialism is the German language. The standardisation of the language is one of the major topics in German historical linguistics and shares several points of comparison with Italian, but there are also differences. The first obvious similarity is that both Italy and Germany were unified politically at approximately the same time, in the latter part of the 19th Century, after having been comprised for many years previously of independent states. The standardisation of the language frequently goes together with the unification of a country. Linguistic standardisation will often begin before political unification and will usually be accelerated as a result of the latter. It is usually based on the language of the capital city (as in England). In the case of both Italy and Germany, there was no capital city until after political unification, so both linguistic standards emerged for different reasons.

Nina shows how there are many factors that affected the standardisation of Italian, using a theoretical framework of two sociolinguists, Einar Haugen and John Joseph. She fits data that she has gleaned for Italian into this framework, with positive results.

PROFESSOR DAVID YEANDLE,

Lingua toscana in bocca romana is a well-known

MA, PHD (CANTAB.) (1973)

Italian phrase—a maxim to indicate the ‘best’ form

T

of Italian: ‘the language of Tuscany as spoken by the his is a mature essay on a complex subject.

inhabitants of Rome’. Pronunciation is secondary,

It bodes very well for Nina’s university

but one of the most important aspects of linguistic

studies. She has not only shown herself

standardisation is geographical area. In the case of Italian, the regional language of Tuscany became

capable of producing work of which any

paramount. Nina shows how cultural and political

undergraduate would be proud, but has also

factors led to the emergence of Tuscan as

thought carefully about the topic and contributed

the basis of a national standard language.

some original ideas to the advancement of the

Florence, the capital city of Tuscany, was, of

subject. Moreover, she treats a subject

course, the hub of the Renaissance and was

– the standardisation of the Italian

therefore very significant culturally as well

language – which she has not been studying at school and which

as linguistically. The great Florentine poet

is still relevant in terms of its

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), author of one of the greatest works of world literature, The Divine

continuing development in the 21st Century. She is to

Comedy, was one of the major factors affecting

be warmly congratulated

the emergence of this form of Italian for the

on having won The Perse’s

standard. A parallel in German is Martin

Rouse Research Award.

Luther (1483–1546), whose brilliant Bible translation, based on the language of Meißen, helped establish East Central German as the basis for standard German. When Johann Christoph Gottsched came to codify German

DANTE ALIGHIERI

12

SCHOOL FEATURE NEWS

standardisation. This is certainly seen in the case of German standardisation (c. 1350), where settlers from different areas converged in East Central Germany, resulting in much dialectal levelling.

It would be well worth pursuing this aspect for Italian. The second aspect is globalisation, which Nina mentions briefly at the end of her essay. The use of Italian internationally in the media and especially in the internet is a developing phenomenon which is bound to affect standardisation. It is worth remembering that a living language is always changing. It may have been codified as a standard language at a time of linguistic convergence, but it can similarly in the 18th Century, he asserted that the standard

begin to diverge for a variety of reasons. Twitter,

language should be based on the best dialect and

Facebook, the internet generally, youth language,

the best authors. Luther was often regarded as the

the inexorable rise of global English are all factors

father of the German language, which in turn was

that are affecting, and will continue to influence,

regarded as a Protestant dialect. Clearly, with Italian,

standard Italian. The interplay between colloquial

the religious dimension was lacking, but beginning

Italian and the ‘literary’ standard will also offer

with Dante and continuing with Petrarch (1304–74) and

much scope for further (empirical) research.

Boccaccio (1313–75), the Florentine language became established as the literary language par excellence.

Likewise, Dante is often regarded as the father of

Professor David Yeandle is an Affiliated Lecturer in

Italian. Indeed, as Nina shows, his language is very

German at the University of Cambridge, and Emeritus

close to the modern standard, so that present-day

Professor and Senior Research Fellow at King’s

editions of his works do not need to be modernised.

College London, where he taught for over 30 years

Of course, there are many further factors that

and was Professor and Head of Department before

contribute to the standardisation of a language. Nina

taking early retirement in 2010. His principal teaching

investigates many of these, for example dialectal

interests are in the History of the German Language,

levelling amongst soldiers in the two world wars,

from the earliest times to the present day and German

the rise of fascism and the proscription of dialects

translation. He has published widely on linguistic and

by Mussolini. The introduction of universal primary

medieval topics, including medieval literature and

education further played a significant role, as did the

the sociolinguistics of German. In addition to journal

introduction of broadcasting in the 20th Century.

articles and essays, he is the author of three books. He

To conclude, I should like to highlight some of

has co-edited and contributed to volumes on Old High

the original aspects of this essay, where Nina has

German, lexicography and lexicology. He is currently

drawn conclusions that are not to be found in the

working on 19th-century ecclesiastical history.

literature that she consulted. The first is the impact of increased mobility of a population on linguistic

SHE HAS NOT ONLY SHOWN HERSELF CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WORK OF WHICH ANY UNDERGRADUATE WOULD BE PROUD, BUT HAS ALSO THOUGHT CAREFULLY ABOUT THE TOPIC AND CONTRIBUTED SOME ORIGINAL IDEAS TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE SUBJECT.

13

OLD PERSEANS

Archivist’s Account

Early Rugby at The Perse Rugby began at The Perse in the 1870s, stimulated by the first inter-varsity match (1871), but association football was also played, and was the more dominant game for almost three decades.

Confusion over the rules sometimes ensued when rugby and soccer matches alternated.

In late 2019, we approached the Perse rugby community to ask

I

n 1903 the Debating Society argued whether ‘Rugby Football should take the place of Association Football’. The verdict was yes, by 24 votes to 11, but not until 1908 did rugby replace soccer as the main

winter sport. Concern for public school status may have contributed to the

for memorabilia to fill in the gaps

decision: soccer began to be perceived in some circles as a working-class

in our archive and contribute to

game, and Dr Rouse wanted to recruit the sons of socially aware dons.

a display. Thank you so much to everybody who got in touch!

The change was welcomed, although enthusiasm may have been dented in the first season when, as The Pelican records, the team ‘was absolutely thrashed’ 103–0 by Elstow Grammar School. An anonymous article also poked fun, in a skilful parody of Homer’s style. Odysseus’s slaughter of the Suitors comes to mind as we read of the ‘prowling beggar’ and ‘the stranger with the goodly calves’, while players are given pseudo-Homeric names and attributes: ‘he of the wooden head’, ‘Tall Titeros, nine miles high’, or Ionios, ‘deadly foe of all men’s shins’.

Perse teams were usually smaller and lighter than their opponents, especially when enduring ‘severe beatings’ against college teams, and in the early days there were frequent references to players being ‘smashed up’, or out with broken collar bones. But performance improved, and by 1914 the school recorded as many wins as defeats. In 1921 seven Perseans played for the Combined Public Schools teams, and in 1923 the XV amassed 435 points to 150 in a season that produced 15 wins from 21 matches. In 1929 R. Jones played for Wales.

Team critiques appeared early on in The Pelican, with hints of methods of play more akin to soccer, such as ‘dribbling rushes’. The 1924 captain, presumably bespectacled off the field, was ‘apt to pass thoughtlessly, perhaps … due to his eyesight’. The 1919 full back was urged to ‘use his head more, instead of acting according to the supporters’ instructions’.

A New Zealand formation was copied in that season, and in 1931 the attacking play of the South Africans was commended.

Rugby was played in both winter terms until 1941 when Hockey became the Lent term game. However, despite the consequent reduced practice, the team of 1951 was the best for nearly 30 years, winning 10 of 11 games and scoring 164 points to 9. The 1958 team was also impressive, going six consecutive games with a clean sheet and in ten games scoring 185 points to 12.

By 1965 there was a full range of teams, junior to senior, and subsequent tougher fixtures included boarding schools such as Oakham, Culford and

FROM TOP: 1ST XV RUGBY SHIRT,

Gresham’s. In the 1980s, under the guidance of Hugh Vodden, foreign

LATE 1980S, OP XV SHIRT, EARLY

tours were taken, and thorough preparation included pre-season training

1990S, BOTH WITH THANKS TO

camps. This professional approach is now an established part of Perse

MARK PADEN (1988); 1ST XV RUGBY

rugby. The tale of outstanding individual players requires a separate article.

SHIRT, 1970S, WITH THANKS TO MICHAEL POOLES (1974)

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.

14

SCHOOL NEWS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE PERSE 1ST XV TEAMS FROM 1951, 1958, 1970 AND 1992.

Perse Alumnet: Connecting OPs online LEARN FROM OTHERS IN YOUR INDUSTRY ACCESS EVENTS, INSIGHT AND KNOWLEDGE GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY RECONNECT WITH OLD SCHOOL FRIENDS

The Perse has recently launched a new online

celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Perse Upper

platform for OPs to stay connected.

School moving to its current site. We are also using

The Perse Alumnet allows OPs to reconnect and

the platform to collate OPs experiences of the

keep in touch with each other, sign up to events and

coronavirus to hold in the School’s archive, and are

offer and receive careers mentoring.

always pleased to receive further contributions.

The platform enables alumni to create interest

If you haven’t already, join over 700 members

groups, known as circles, and OPs have already

of the OP community and sign up to The Perse

created groups for alumni in London, in the armed

Alumnet to get involved with future events,

forces, and for former boarders.

reconnect with friends, hear the latest news and

We have been using Alumnet to host virtual

much more!

events whilst we are unable to meet in person, get.alumnet.socialtheperseschool

such as screenings of Eric Mival’s (1957) film of the 1956–57 school year, and a ‘day at virtual school’ to 15

OLD PERSEANS

OP News Rachel Barlow and Sophie Meadows (both 2019) have both had artworks selected for exhibition as part of the RBA Rising Stars competition.

Developed with the Royal Society of British Artists, the RBA Rising Stars competition encourages aspiring young artists who are identified and entered by The Arts Society’s local Societies. The RBA then selects the very best pieces for exhibition in London. Rachel’s work Girl with a bucket will be exhibited at the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) and the Mall Galleries, and Sophie’s piece Portrait Drawing will be on display at the ROSL.

Hannah Parker (2010) is undertaking a huge challenge as she swims the Topun Austin (1989) featured

English Channel to raise money for

in The Golden Window, which

three charities close to her heart:

won the Arts and Humanities

the MS Society, Prostate Cancer

Research Council (AHRC)

UK, and the Karuna Trust, which she

Research in Film award. The film

chose in memory of Rajen Mahendra

followed a newborn baby who

(2010). Hannah says “I have always

had been starved of oxygen

been a swimmer, competing in galas

following complications at birth.

when I was younger and now as a way to

The ‘golden window’ refers to

keep fit. This challenge has been one I have had

the 72-hour period following

my eye on for a while, mostly encouraged by my grandad Jack

birth, where reducing the

Human, who was a big advocate of my swimming. The swim was

temperature of the baby can

planned for August, but it is too early to tell what the COVID-19

be crucial in minimising long-

pandemic will mean. A delay to later in the swim season is

term brain injury. The film was

likely, depending on how soon I can get back in the water!

made by Dr Shreepali Patel,

Many of you will know the Mahendra family and will have

from Anglia Ruskin University’s

known Rajen. I unfortunately did not have the privilege of being

StoryLab research institute,

as close to Rajen as some, but seeing the impact of his loss on

who worked with Professor

many close friends and his family – to whom we have all grown

Austin’s team at the Cambridge

closer – is deeply saddening and a true testament to him. I am

University Hospitals NHS

swimming in his memory, for those he has left behind and for a

Foundation Trust.

cause that his family have chosen in his name. The Karuna Trust exists to end caste-based discrimination, poverty and inequality in India and Nepal. I hope to make a difference with the funds raised as part of Rajen’s legacy. For more detail on the swim, the charities and the opportunity to donate, please visit https:/uk.virginmoneygiving.com/hanswimsthechan”

16

SCHOOL OP NEWS NEWS

Natasha Dell (2018) was

Jamie Carpenter (1994)

on the executive team

was appointed Queen’s

for the 2020 Durham

Counsel at a ceremony

University Charity

in Westminster Hall on

Fashion Show, which

16 March. Jamie, who

raised £171,000 for Stop

is based at Hailsham

the Traffik and Fashion

Chambers, specialises in

Revolution, charities which

Costs and Professional

tackle issues concerning workers’

Negligence. Jamie’s

rights. Natasha’s role included working

appointment makes

with corporate sponsors, marketing and

him the third OP from

social media platforms for the event, which

Hailsham to take silk,

attracted 3,000 people over its three-

following Lawrie West-

night run.

Knights (1972) and Michael Pooles (1974).

Angus Birditt (2009) has written a collection of poetry called Our Isles: Poems Celebrating the Art of Rural Trades and Traditions, published by Pavilion Books. Angus said: “This collection of Phoebe Penfold (2019) spent October–December

poetry was born out of a deep affection for

2019 working for Voluntary Service Overseas’s ICS programme in Zanzibar, in partnership with the

the rural environment, capturing its beguiling

Tanzanian Ministry for Youth and Employment.

nature, its rich heritage and traditions, and the

Phoebe said “there were 20 of us in our team, ten

remarkable lives that have a deep connection to

from the UK and ten from across Tanzania, all aged

the landscape.

After university, I moved from the flatlands of

between 18 and 25. We integrated into the local

Cambridgeshire to a very different landscape,

community by living in host homes.

the wild mountainous terrain of North Wales.

The aim of our project was to reduce youth unemployment in Zanzibar, so we planned and

There, beside undulating brooks and rushing

delivered sessions for local 12–25 year olds on

rivers, I founded a seasonal foraging food

employability skills. We covered topics such as CV

company called The Bridge Lodge. Over the last

writing, interview technique, presentation skills,

few years, the company has taken me all across

entrepreneurship, access to microfinance and more,

the British countryside, selling products and

as well as developing their English skills. During the

collaborating with other food producers. Along

weekends, we also held community action days,

my journey, I have met and been inspired by a

which raised awareness of different sustainable

breadth of extraordinary individuals, who call the

development goals. Since returning, I have been

countryside their home. This collection of poetry

researching the impacts of western volunteering

is to celebrate those rural lives, and promote the

on developing countries and delivered a workshop

artistry of their craft and knowledge.”

Angus will also have an exhibition this summer,

to Perse pupils on how to volunteer effectively, avoiding projects that are inefficient or could even

showcasing his poetry and photography at Our

do harm, such as working in orphanages, and raising

Isles: An Exhibition Celebrating the Art of Rural

awareness of ICS as an alternative.”

Life in Oriel Davies Gallery in Wales. ourisles.co.uk

17

OLD PERSEANS

A memorial project is underway for Jamie Gardiner, Perse alumnus and Head Boy (2012–13), led by OPs including Will Aitchison (2013). Will writes: “Since his tragic death in a mountaineering accident in 2017, a group of school friends and family have hatched a plan to plant a 1,500 tree woodland in the Scottish borders to celebrate Jamies life.

Jamie lived his passion for nature in countless walks, hikes, PES trips and expeditions, and the woodland will grow as testimony to his love of the natural world, providing rich habitats for wildlife and contributing to efforts to combat climate change. For more information, contact details, and opportunities to donate: https://jamieswood.carrd.co/” Ramiz Cuthbert (2019) has been working as a high-level e-sports coach and analyst for a team playing Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege. He says “like regular sports, online gamers can be categorised into different groups; from casual players and supporters to professional competitors, like myself. My role has a wide remit, from team strategy and tracking opponent statistics, to looking after player health and lifestyle.

Whilst some competitions take place online, bigger competitions are hosted in arenas with a live audience, and I’ve taken part in competitions all around Europe. The prize pools can vary massively, ranging from a thousand to millions depending on the scale of the competition.

E-sports is a fast growing industry, with viewership doubling in the last four years. Though the concept of playing a video game for a career may seem rather bizarre, it is rapidly becoming a more

In January, Chris Dodsworth (2016)

established career path with the growth of the

took on the role of Cassio in the

scene, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”

Marlowe Society’s production of Othello, directed by John Haidar.

Founded in 1907, The Marlowe Society is one of Cambridge University’s oldest drama societies, boasting illustrious alumni. Previous members include Sir Trevor Nunn, Sir Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson and The Perse’s very own Sir Peter Hall (1949).

18

BEHRMANN SCHOOL NEWS LECTURE

BEHRMANN LECTURE 2020 Standing Together The 2020 Behrmann lecture, given in memory of OP Josef Behrmann (1939) was delivered on 12 February, on the theme of ‘Standing Together’, in line with the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day. Y11 pupil Robert Rayner gives his thoughts on the lecture:

A

s the 75th anniversary of the liberation of

were among those as they were sent to an orphanage

Auschwitz-Birkenau was fresh in collective

in the city.

memory, the theme for this year’s Holocaust

Reverend Moriarty gave a thought-provoking

Memorial Day was ‘Standing Together’. The speakers,

response to this testimony. He delivered his own advice

Patrick Moriarty, ordained priest in the CofE and

towards how Christians can truly ‘Stand Together’, and

Headteacher of the Jewish School JCoSS in Barnet,

minimise the impact of anti-Semitism, stemming from

and Andrew Sawczenko, Consultant Paediatrician

the Jewish teaching that one ‘can’t forgive for others’.

and second generation survivor, delivered two very

He detailed how pervasive anti-Semitic prejudice is in

different, yet enlightening testimonies.

our institutions, notably the military industrial complex,

Delivered in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre,

and the looming threat of populism.

Dr Sawczenko told his mother’s story for the very first time. It was an evocative testimony of how his

Reverend Moriarty expanded on this with four

mother, a Polish Jew residing in the 30% Jewish

suggestions to avoid ‘unhealthy tribalism’, and further

city of Przemyśl survived the holocaust. A tale of

disaster:

endeavour and endurance, then aged six, his mother and her family escaped to the Soviet-controlled

• Respectful silence; giving space for mourning and processing of collective trauma

zone as Germany began to repress Przemyśl’s Jews, eventually forcing them into sealed ghettos before

• Embrace difference; talking about and celebrating difference between groups

taking them to extermination camps.

Dr Sawczenko explained how, even when in

• Build trust; ensuring diverse friendships and relationships, rooted in mutual trust

the USSR, they had not escaped the last of their persecution: Poles who refused to take Soviet

• Sharing; spreading our own experiences and narratives, in trust

citizenship were banished to gulags (hard labour camps). His grandparents both died of starvation in one such gulag in Siberia, leaving his mother and aunt

I found the lectures incredibly interesting.

orphaned. They then spent much of World War Two

Dr Sawczenko’s mother’s story served to further

at another camp in Kazakhstan.

extend my own understanding and knowledge of

The audience was guided through Dr Sawczenko’s

the horror of the Holocaust, and Reverend Moriarty’s

own reunion with his mother’s story, in following her

response was enlightening in its sensitive approach

footsteps as one of the small minority of Jews who

to healing from trauma and moving towards a more

decided to return to Przemyśl. His mother and aunt

equal society.

ANDREW SAWCZENKO (CENTRE LEFT) AND PATRICK MORIARTY (CENTRE RIGHT) WITH PERSE STAFF AND PUPILS AHEAD OF THE 2020 BEHRMANN LECTURE.

19

OLD PERSEANS

R EE R S W A C O RK SH O

P

Adaptability the life changing skill The modern workplace is constantly changing in response to new technologies and new challenges, and never more so than during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, Rich Alderton (1984) explains why adaptability is crucial to success.

20

SCHOOL CAREERS NEWS

CHANGE IS THE BEST CHANCE YOU WILL EVER HAVE TO ADD VALUE, TO FEEL THAT YOU BELONG, AND TO HAVE FREEDOM.

SEEING THE NEED FOR CHANGE Craig Lundberg was a sniper for the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Lancasters. In 2007, on a routine patrol in Iraq, he was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades during a roof top battle. As soon as he regained consciousness, he knew that he would be blind forever.

3. Freedom

Craig will tell you he isn’t special; that he’s just another injured war veteran. But he’s wrong. What

Change mandates the freedom to think, speak, and

makes him special is his attitude to change. In that

act differently. In other words, any organisation that

moment of realisation, Craig’s response was, ‘well,

wants to achieve results beyond its current reach

that’s it then, let’s get on with this’, and he turned

needs to let its people go beyond their existing

his loss into something positive. He’s since climbed

boundaries to seize those opportunities. In 1974,

Kilimanjaro, cycled the length of Britain on a tandem,

the SR-71 Blackbird flew from New York to London

and carried the Olympic torch into his home city of

in under two hours – a record it still holds today.

Liverpool in 2012.

Lockheed Martin’s ground-breaking design was

The challenge for us all is to become as adaptable

directly attributable to the high degree of autonomy

as Craig, because in a world that is increasingly

given to its ‘Skunkworks’ team.

complex and disruptive, our ability to see what lies ahead is fading. The good news is that becoming

MASTERING CHANGE

more adaptable doesn’t just make change easier

At best, change is usually perceived as a necessary

to cope with. It can be life-changing.

evil; something that you just need to get through in order to keep up. At worst, it is something be avoided

CHANGING HOW YOU THINK AND FEEL

or resisted at all costs. Your mission, should you

ABOUT CHANGE

choose to accept it, is this:

Our species has survived because we evolved

Develop the trust (in yourselves and your team),

to perceive change as a threat to our security.

the ambition (to move forward), and the curiosity (to

We were born to resist. Paradoxically though, the

explore the road less travelled). You will then be able

reason that people truly are an organisation’s most

to generate enough drive to overcome your primal

valuable asset is because nothing is more adaptable

knee-jerk resistance to change. It’s a journey worth

or creative than the human mind. The rewards of

taking, and here’s why:

overcoming our primal instincts and becoming

Change is the best chance you will ever have to add

more adaptable are significant:

value, to feel that you belong, and to have freedom.

These are precious experiences that will enable you to

1. V alue

enjoy rather than endure a life of change that surely

Embracing change gives us the opportunity to make

lies ahead.

a difference – to ourselves and others – in ways that the status quo can only dream of. In the wake of the Suez crisis in the 1950s, Alec Issigonis took up the challenge of designing a car that was big enough to have four seats, but small enough to be low-cost and fuel-efficient. And it had to have good handling too. The result was the Mini. To tick all those boxes at once was extraordinary, but Issigonis delivered something else as well. He turned small into cool.

2. Belonging A change challenge can bind a team more tightly than one that’s operating in maintenance mode.

People are united by the common cause of achieving something difficult that matters. It gives the individual a powerful sense of belonging. The ‘All Blacks’ are the most successful team of any

Rich Alderton (1984) is a High Performance

sport. That gives them a major challenge, given that

Change Specialist.

it’s harder to stay at number 1 than it is to get there.

They work for each other to continually improve

Check out www.highperformancechange.com

and adapt through the mantra of ‘leave the jersey in

for more information.

a better place’.

21

OLD PERSEANS

Obituaries

a glider solo, which no doubt

Royal Academy of Engineering.

fostered his life-long interest in

Approaching retirement age,

aviation.

John’s career took another turn

On leaving school, he spent a

John Hicks (1954)

when he became Secretary

year as a student apprenticeship

General of the International

with Vickers-Armstrongs (later

Institute of Welding, a job which

the British Aircraft Corporation)

took him all over the world. In

before going to Downing College

retirement John was for 12 years

to read Mechanical Sciences,

the Secretary of the Alumni

specialising in Aeronautics.

Association at Downing College

After graduation, he returned

and Editor of its annual newsletter.

to Vickers where he worked on

In recognition of his contribution

structural testing of the VC10 and

to the College he was elected

the aerodynamics of the ill-fated

an Emeritus Fellow Commoner

TSR-2. He then joined the British

in 2011.

Welding Research Association in

John was a cheerful and

Abington and became a specialist

sociable man who was modest

Peter Hicks (current staff) writes:

in welding and metal fatigue. His

about his achievements. Beyond

John joined the Perse Prep in 1945

book - Welding Joint Design, first

his professional life he played an

from Whittlesford primary school.

published in 1979 is still available

active part in the life of his village,

On entry to the Upper in 1947 he

today. In the mid-1970s he set up

being treasurer for a local charity

achieved the required standard

his own specialist consultancy

and church organist for many

for a Foundation Scholarship,

on welded construction which

years. He often returned to The

though he instead took up the

he pursued for over 30 years.

Perse for reunion dinners and

more advantageous County Free

During this time, he worked on

sang with the Friends of The Perse

Place under the Government’s

a range of high-profile projects

Choir as recently as 2015.

Direct Grant Scheme. John always

including North Sea oil platforms,

spoke fondly of his time at The

the Jubilee Line extension and

He will be greatly missed by his

Perse and how, as a cadet in the

the Thames Barrier. In 1990, he

two sons, David and Peter; and

RAF Section, he had learnt to fly

was elected to a Fellowship of the

grandson, Philip.

John Bullen (1954)

completed his qualifications at

John died on 21 October 2019.

the Winmarleigh Hall Institute of Richard Bullen writes:

Agriculture in Lancashire before

John Bullen passed away on 18

completing his National Service

October 2019, aged 83. John

with the Royal Navy between 1954

joined The Perse in 1946 as a

and 1956. In 1970, he joined the

day pupil and then became a

Ministry of Agriculture, Food &

boarder in 1950 before leaving the

Fisheries fulfilling a variety of roles,

School aged 16. In recent years he

most notably the national response

returned to the school for alumni

to live animal exports in the early

events, the last time being for

1990s and, following his retirement

the Half Century Club lunch in

in 1996, his recall to support the

2018, where he would recall many

Ministry’s response to the outbreak

fond memories of his time as a

of foot and mouth disease in

Persean: notably the kindness of

2001. John moved to Lodsworth

the staff, the visit of Field Marshal

in West Sussex in 1958, where he

Smuts, the rugby, and the School’s

married Janet in 1962. He had a

theatre productions which he

strong sense of public service,

enjoyed immensely.

becoming a parish councillor, and

village hall, which opened in 2000.

was instrumental in a number

He had active roles on the village’s

Cambridgeshire countryside,

of projects for his adopted

recreation ground, fete, allotment,

his first passion was agriculture

community such as the Oakfield

amateur dramatics, football and

and on leaving school, he

housing development and the new

village hall committees too.

Growing up in the

22

SCHOOL OBITUARIES NEWS

He was a loved husband,

In Memoriam

father, grandfather and friend who enjoyed being around people and delighted in chatting to

Robin Blake (1957)

everyone. In later life, he began

died 3 November 2019,

to travel more widely visiting

aged 80 years

most continents, not focused on the sightseeing, but being

John P Church (1948)

more fascinated in the way in

died January 2019, aged 87 years

which other people lived. He is sorely missed by his wife Janet

Barry E Clarke (1960)

after 57 years together, his three

died 2019, aged 78 years

sons Roger, Richard and Robert and their families including his

Michael T Farthing (1946)

grandchildren, James, Chesapeake

died January 2020, aged 91 years

and Summer.

Alun T Frey (1964) died 1 July 2019, aged 74 years

William “Bill” Johnson (1957)

also took the company further by undertaking chamber organ hire,

Stephen E Frost (1960)

Michael Hammond (1959) writes:

which took him and the company’s

died 29 February 2020,

William Johnson was born

work all over the country, from the

aged 78 years

on the 16 December 1938

Royal Albert Hall to the Brighton

in Addenbrooke’s Hospital,

Pavilion. The company undertook

William M Goodchild (1943)

Cambridge. He joined The Perse

work on organs at Westminster

died 2019, aged 94 years

in 1945, after attending a private

Abbey and St George’s Chapel

nursery.

Windsor, secular buildings such as the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen

Janet Oswald (Former Staff)

displaying a particular talent in

Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell

died 27 December 2019

technical drawing. He left The

Room, cathedrals at Norwich, Ely,

Perse at 16 and decided to take his

Oxford and Newcastle as well as

technical drawing further at the

at a number of Cambridge college

Ray Revell (Former Staff)

Cambridgeshire College of Arts

chapels. There were very soon

died October 2019, aged 87 years

and Technology.

over 200 organs on the company’s

Bill was extremely clever,

regular maintenance book,

John H G Saunders (1958)

music. His father was a church

including St Martin-in the Fields

died May 2019, aged 81 years

organ builder, running the family

on Trafalgar Square. The company

business of E J Johnson & Son on

would become renowned for the

Michael M Sharp (1944)

Hills Road. Bill’s grandfather had

highest standards of workmanship

died 10 October 2018, aged 92 years

made violins; his mother was an

and customer service, and Bill

accomplished violinist and pianist.

himself was tirelessly generous to

Alan J Shoote (1965)

Bill was having piano lessons at the

staff and customers alike.

died 17 June 2019, aged 72 years

Bill’s family was steeped in

age of four, and went on to receive

Bill was incredibly generous

more serious piano tutoring by

with his time and absolutely

Anthony “Michael” Sparrow (1961)

Bernard Timberlake and organ and

committed and devoted to his

died June 2019, aged 77 years

harmony training by Harold Fleet.

work. He loved nothing more than to be delving in among the

Robin H Starte (1949)

the family business, alongside his

pipes and solving problems. Music

died January 2020, aged 88 years

father, as an apprentice organ

was his life. He was relentlessly

builder. When his father retired, Bill

relaxed and at ease with life and

Claude “Basil” Wilson (1947)

took on the business at the age of

everything in it.

died 2019, aged 89 years

In 1954 he began working in

37. One of the first things he did

William had a very deep

was to move the premises from

Christian faith, together with a

This list was up-to-date when

Hills Road to a site five times larger

love of church liturgy and church

we went to print. Obituaries may

at Bar Hill, enabling more room

architecture. He died on 6 October

be read in full on our website:

to build larger instruments. He

2019, following a long illness.

perse.co.uk/obituaries

23

OLD PERSEANS

Upcoming Events Upcoming Reunion Dinners 2020/21: Classes of 2005–2010 (to be rescheduled) 2020/21: Class of 1980s 2021/22: Class of 1990s Due to the ever-changing situation regarding COVID-19 we have had to cancel/postpone a number of our events.

For the latest information about upcoming events, including our programme of virtual events, please visit perse.co.uk/alumni/events 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 @OldPerseans Old Perseans

ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WWW.PERSE.CO.UK/ALUMNI THE PERSE SCHOOL HILLS ROAD CAMBRIDGE, UK, CB2 8QF TEL: +44(0)1223 403 808 PERSEADO@PERSE.CO.UK

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