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OPUS • Issue 2 • Spring 2010
Portsmouth Grammar School • www.pgs.org.uk
Forthcoming events
In memoriam In Memoriam John Upfold (1929-2010) John passed away peacefully at home on 13 March 2010. John attended PGS during World War II. He was a keen Old Portmuthian, attended many events and his reminiscences were included in the PGS publication ‘Action This Day’. A Remembrance Service to celebrate John’s life was held at Sheet on Friday 26 March. Having left PGS he went to train as an architect at Southern College of Art. He followed his course and obtained
deferment for National Service, later serving for 2 years as a Royal Engineer which was the closest he came to being an architect at that time. He was invited by the architects practice in Petersfield that he was with prior to being called up to contact them on his return. He enjoyed the work and was fortunate enough to work for some of the theatrical greats of that era such as Sir Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. He remained there retiring as sole partner.
cars and was invited by the Monte Carlo Auto club to participate in the first of the vintage Monte Carlo Rallies. This he duly did, driving a 1924 3 litre ‘Red Label’ Bentley. He came 56th out of 168 competitors. He met and married Brenda in 1952 during National Service. John also leaves two sons and three grandchildren who were a source of joy and delight to him.
John had always enjoyed vintage motor
Monday 10 – Friday 14 May 2010 PGS Scouts Archive Exhibition, David Bawtree Building
Friday 25 June 2010 Annual OP vs PGS Cricket, Netball, Rounders and Tennis Matches, Hilsea
To mark 80 years of Scouting history at PGS a special exhibition from the Archives will be on display. Viewing by appointment only. Please contact Sue Merton at s.merton@pgs.org.uk or telephone 023 9268 1385.
(Cricket 1pm, Netball 1pm, Rounders 4.30pm, Tennis 4.30pm)
Thursday 20 May 2010 PGS Guest Speaker: ‘The Long Haul’, Alex Hibbert OP, David Bawtree Building at 7.30pm
Announcements
‘It is as well the likes of Alex Hibbert stride amongst us with eyes fixed on the furthest horizons, because without them we are a spent force” Pen Hadow, Polar Explorer.
OP Engagements / Marriages / Births ALASDAIR AKASS (PGS Development Director) and EMILY-JANE TOLAND (PGS Head of Biology) were married in the West Country just before Christmas 2009 and enjoyed a white wedding in more than one way – it snowed as they left the church.
Kate Glennie (nėe Anderson; 1999 Leaver). Congratulations and best wishes to Kate on her marriage last August. She was thrilled to have so many old friends from PGS at the wedding. Kate works as a Development Manager at Birbeck College, University of London, fundraising for their major projects and lives in East Dulwich with her husband.
PAUL SICKLING (1995 Leaver) and wife Emma had a beautiful baby girl (Rebecca Louise) in February 2010. The family live in Queensland, Australia.
SARAH STRANGE (née Sealey; 1998 Leaver) and husband Alastair became the proud parents of a beautiful daughter, Emily Rose, on 29 December 2009.
EMMA RESOULY (née Hall, 1999
Tuesday 1 June 2010 Inaugural Meeting of the PGS Golf Society, Rowland’s Castle Golf Club
Leaver) and Sam Resouly (1997 Leaver) had a lovely daughter, Flora Grace, on 22 January 2010, a grand-daughter for governor and Chairman of the PGS Education Committee Susan Resouly.
All past pupils, staff and parents are welcome to attend the first outing of the newly-formed PGS Golf Society. Format: 18 hole Stableford with full handicap. A three course dinner will follow at the Clubhouse. Meet at 12.45, tee-off at 1.15pm. Cost - £30 (Golf only), £45 (Golf and Dinner). If you would like to attend please contact Alasdair Akass as soon as possible at a.akass@pgs.org.uk or telephone 023 9236 4248.
JESSICA BARKER and TOM HANCE (both 2006 Leavers) became engaged in October 2009. Jess recently returned to PGS on a Gap Year placement in the History Department.
Join us for a fascinating evening lecture from Alex Hibbert OP, extreme sportsman and global adventurer. His Trans Tiso Greenland Expedition holds the distance record for being the longest ever fully unsupported polar journey in history. Admission free but booking essential. Please contact Sue Merton at s.merton@pgs.org.uk or telephone 023 9268 1385.
For further announcements and news of Old Portmuthians, please visit www.pgs.org.uk and look at ‘OP News’ in the Development section of the PGS website. To update the school and other OPs of your news, please complete the electronic form on the ‘Contact Us’ page in the Development section of the PGS website.
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It is hoped that more OPs and their families than ever before will support the annual midsummer clash of school teams vs OPs in Hilsea’s 125th anniversary year. If you would like to represent the OPs, spectate or need further details please contact Liz Preece at l.preece@pgs.org.uk or telephone 023 9268 1392. High Tea will be provided. Wednesday 30 June 2010 MCC Cricket Match, Hilsea at 11.30am
commemorate 100 years of prefects at PGS. We shall be contacting you in due course. If you were a prefect at school and have not yet registered, there is still time to sign up! Please complete and return the detachable card at the back of Opus. Why not make up a lunch table of the prefects from your year group? We are intending to celebrate the life of Surmaster Neil Blewett at this event, who oversaw Prefect training. Cost - £15 (including lunch), £5 of which will be donated to the PGS Bursary Fund created in Neil’s memory. Please complete and return the reply card at the back of Opus or telephone 023 9236 4248 for further information. Friday 1 October 2010 PGS ‘Question of Sport’, David Bawtree Building at 7.30pm
PGS has maintained strong links with the MCC over many years and members of the PGS 1st XI enjoy the challenge of their annual fixture with the club. OPs and their families are welcome to spectate. Please contact Alasdair Akass at a.akass@pgs.org.uk or telephone 023 9236 4248 for further information. High Tea will be provided. Friday 9 July 2010 PGS Sports Day, Hilsea at 10.30am We will be staging many of the traditional athletics events this year but also bringing back to Hilsea some of the more historic events that have taken place over the last 125 years such as tug-of-war, over-the-hay bales, sack races, tripod races and the slow bicycle race. Side stalls and refreshments available. All are welcome to attend. Please contact Alasdair Akass at a.akass@pgs.org.uk or telephone 023 9236 4248 for further information. No parking is available at Hilsea Playing Fields for this event; please use the free parking facility at Hilsea Lido. (Note: In the event of inclement weather there is a reserve date of 12 July.) Saturday 11 September 2010 PGS Prefects’ Reunion, David Bawtree Building at Noon Thank you to all those who have registered their interest following notification in the last issue of Opus of a reunion in 2010 to
Former pupil Roger Black MBE and a team of professional sportsmen and women take on staff and pupils in a battle of sporting knowledge to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of PGS sport at Hilsea. Booking essential - a limited number of tickets are still available. Please complete and return reply card at the back of Opus. Ticket price £5. Friday 8 October 2010 OP Club Autumn Supper, David Bawtree Building at 7.30pm The OP Club Autumn Supper will be held on 8 October at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm in the David Bawtree Building. Music will be provided by the PGS Swing Band. Cost of Supper is £12. Booking by 5 October 2010 to gareth.perry1@ntlworld.com or telephone 023 9273 4606. Payment will be collected on the night. Saturday 11 December 2010 OP Club Annual Dinner, David Bawtree Building The Annual Dinner will be held on 11 December at 6.45pm for 7.30pm. Further details will be provided in the next issue of Opus, but for now, please put the date of this extremely popular event in your diary. Saturday 11 December 2010 Annual OP vs PGS Rugby and Hockey Matches, Hilsea from 11.30am This annual event precedes the OP Club Dinner. For further details and to represent the OPs on the pitch, please contact Liz Preece at l.preece@pgs.org.uk or telephone 023 9268 1392.
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