The Truronian 2019/20

2019 - 2020

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

the truronian

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

THE TRURONIAN

In this Edition 2019-2020

4- 5 FRO M T HE T S A CHAIR & PRES IDEN T 6- 7 CLAS S O F 2020

Development & Alumni Relations Office Jayne Grigg Director of Admissions & Development Nicky Berridge Development Manager Amanda Forde Development & Alumni Relations Officer Jo Wood School Researcher/Archivist Telephone: 01872 246094 Email: foundation@truroschool.com tsa@truroschool.com Online: truroschool.com/oldtruronians truroschool.com/foundation LinkedIn Search for ‘Truro School Community’ 2

8- 11 T RURO S CHO O L CO N N ECT ED 12- 16 M ARIA TAYLO R C O 86 17- 19 KAT E AT T LEE CO 06 20- 22 HARRY S TAC EY C O 18 23- 27 DAV ID DUN CAN CO 61 28- 29 S PEEC H DAY 30- 31 O PIE S HIELD WIN N ERS 32- 35 ARCHIV E: REC O LLEC T IO NS FRO M DENNIS KEAM 36- 43 REUN IO N S

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4 4 -5 8 O B I T U A R IE S & T RI BU TES 5 9 -6 3 A R C HI V E : HE A DMASTERS O F T R U R O S C H OOL

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On the Cover Yesterday: The School Room in 1925 which is now used as a Finance office. Then, it was the main classroom and theatre for the School.

Today: The Burrell Theatre in 2020.

6 7 -7 0 TR U R O S C H OOL FO U N D ATIO N

A scene from The History of Henry IV

The opposite end of the room from the Yesterday image on the front cover

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

THE TRURONIAN

From the TSA Chair and President Dear Fellow Old Truronians and Friends of Truro School, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to the 2019-20 edition of Truronian Magazine, albeit a little later this year. I would like to give a special welcome to our newest alumni, the Class of 2020 – please do stay engaged with us in the Truro School Association, it is, after all, your association. We hope that you will enjoy reading The Truronian in its new e-version format; rising printing costs have caused us to review the ‘print’ copy, although some copies have been reserved for those former pupils who would be unable to access it online. We are, however, still missing contact information for many Old Truronians so please do share this publication with any friends who may not have received this email.

Nobody could have imagined, this time last year, the difficulties and worries with which we would all be confronted in 2020 and Covid has affected the School and former pupil community in a number of ways. I am immensely grateful to Nicky Berridge and her team in the Development Office who have soldiered on despite reduced staffing and, through phone calls to our older members and the wonderful Keeping Connected e-newsletter, reached out to so many of our community. This great newsletter initiative began in March as lockdown struck and I know that so many people were grateful for the emails, which began weekly and then

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continued fortnightly as restrictions began to ease. The Keeping Connected newsletter has been so well-received that it will be continuing on a monthly basis, so please do keep your news coming and let us know what you would most like to see in your newsletter.

We have missed being able to host our usual events this year and look forward to being able to come together as Old Truronians again soon. In the meantime, please stay safe and stay in touch. Esse Quam Videri.

Rachel Vaughan CO98 Chair, Truro School Association, Old Truronian & Foundation Trustee

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION With the publication of this year’s Truronian a little later than usual, I find myself writing to you from my study at Kingswood School, having moved over the summer from one fine school to another, both within our family of Methodist schools. I reflect on the wonderful ethos of Truro School and how fulfilling my time was as Headmaster. Back in January 2013 when I took the reins from Paul Smith, I joined a school community committed to offering an inclusive, unpretentious approach to excellence in all areas of school life, with an alumni body that had reaped the benefits of such an education over the years. A big thank you to your TSA committee who have worked with me on our plans each year to build up a vibrant events and communication programme for our alumni to enjoy.

There is no getting away from the fact that with the last proper day of school on 20 March before we were forced into lockdown, it was a difficult and totally unusual year.

It’s also fair to say that when the going got tough, the Truro School community responded with creativity, generosity and determination. I was never prouder of our teaching and non-teaching staff in the quality of their response; the teachers rising unequivocally to the challenge of upskilling to a remote learning model and ensuring that our pupils continued to make strong academic progress, but also enjoyed a breadth of activity that has been the hallmark of what we do. Meanwhile the very large majority of our non-teaching staff agreed to be furloughed, allowing us to pass on these savings to our parents, many of whom were facing difficulties of their own. It really was a team effort.

The Truro School Association and Truro School Foundation stepped up in such a magnificent way, each contributing £50k to our emergency bursary fund which allowed us to meet the needs of families whose livelihoods where hit by the onset of the pandemic. My heartfelt gratitude for these spontaneous acts of generosity. The tragic and untimely passing of Guy Dodd was an

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agonising blow to us all, his outstanding work as our first Foundation chairman is a small part of his great legacy to Truro School.

Under the careful management of Nicky Berridge and her team, 2019/20 was shaping up to be the high water mark of alumni engagement. The Careers Convention programme looked simply terrific, with such strong representation from our old boys and girls and it is a great pity that it had to be cancelled – no doubt though to be resurrected at a future date. Our inaugural Truro School Connected event in Bristol was a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable event, and I so enjoyed meeting many of our younger alumni who are studying in the Bristol area. The Truro School Connected vision of being a network for life, providing wonderful opportunities for our members has really taken off and my thanks must go to Jayne, Nicky and their team for moving this forward which such passion.

Over the years, I have enjoyed the privilege of leading assemblies over at our pre-prep, being enthralled by the spontaneous joy of our 3 and 4 year olds, just as much as I have reminisced over a Cornish cream tea with many of our alumni who left Truro School well before I was born, and everything else in between. Truro School is a community for life and as I move on to pastures new, I am honoured to be part of this family, an association I will cherish for the rest of my days.

Andrew Gordon-Brown Headmaster and TSA President 2013-2020

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Welcome to the Truro School Leavers Class of 2020

A huge congratulations to the new class of 2020 and welcome to the Truro School Association! In what has certainly been a year like no other, Truro School is pleased to report that 61% of all A-Level grades achieved the top-level A*/A results, with 88% graded at A*-B. The pass rate was 100%.

On his final A-Level results day as Headmaster of Truro School Andrew Gordon-Brown said: “This was not an easy or typical year for our leaving Upper Sixth, but they remained in good spirits throughout difficult times and continued to apply themselves with their customary dedication to their studies, despite not being officially examined.”

The class of 2020 now move on to pastures new – with university places awarded at Oxbridge, Imperial College London, University of St Andrews, University of Edinburgh, University of Bath, Guildhall School of Music and many others.

If you are a recent leaver and would like to be kept updated with alumni news and events contact us at tsa@truroschool.com or simply visit us online to update your details.

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Riiya Mathew Jack Andrew Izzy Barrow Charlotte Boote Henry Boyden Daisy Boyes-Hunter James Brazier Molly Browne May Cockcroft Oliver Edwards Harrison Fraser Katherine Gregory Scarlet Hassan Connie Hatcher Dan Hill Lily Holdsworth Dylan Howarth Eve Hudson Tom Leigh Bimini Love Daisy Macdonald Alex Martin Rufus Martin Joe Marwood Zoe Meads Elliot Mier Harris Mier Josh Mitchell Tabitha Moran Dougie Orr Mary Owen Gryffyn Parris Tom Purchas Ollie Reed Lachlan Ross Clemmy Scott Henry Skitt Georgia Stone Henry Tamblyn

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Rebecca Trew Maisy Vincent Abi Whell Ben Williams Ella Williams Lottie Millar Jessie Deverell Sean Heaney Bosco Yeung Thomas Agnew Ben Reed Harry Corden-Lloyd Grace Nicholls Jenna Dobson Aysha Cattran Zoe Beckly Victoria Bradshaw Hugo Cronier Keeble Owen Fegan Harry Flint James Lansdowne Helena Paish Lowenna Wearne Anthony Wong Jacob Allies Davey Ellison William Hargreaves Tung Wong Tulip Lumpikarnon Winkie Chan Chun Ho Ries Cheung Megan Griffiths Charlie Haines Jack Higginson Obum Ijere Ethan Kowalski-Hicks Evie McClelland Finley Morel Eddie Pearce

Vladimir Riazantsev James Scrimshaw Samuel Shiers Hettie Thomas Leanne Chan Codi-Lilli Brooks Kin Man Cheung Eilidh Jones Max Cherry Head Girl Georgia Stone CO20

Head Boy Alex Martin CO20

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The benefits of Truro School Connected are not just for our Sixth Form students, our alumni benefit too.

Once Truro School, always Truro School Our active alumni community holds a wealth of career knowledge and life experience.

The Development Office ensures that this knowledge base is not only accessible to our current Sixth Form but extends long after our young people leave - it extends beyond university into the world of work. The team aims to connect those alumni who can offer experience and guidance in specific fields with those just starting out.

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Offering advice, guidance, networking and opportunities for both Old Truronians and Sixth Form students • Business Lunches

Every term, we welcome alumni back to speak and share their career experiences with students. These career insights can make all the difference to students trying to identify the right career for them.

• Post-18 Option Days

Students take part in our Post-18 Option Days where they get the

opportunity to meet a range of entrepreneurs and high-profile visitors

from leading businesses and universities. With a multitude of talks and

seminars, they can dip into the sessions that interest them, gaining firsthand insight from those with experience.

• Mock Interviews

These help students practise their interview techniques and are

enormously beneficial in preparation for university or the world of work.

• CV Review

Our panel of reviewers are able to offer advice and guidance on the

best type of CV, knowing exactly what skill sets are required by specific industries or career areas. This service also gives vital tips to a young person applying for their first or second job.

• Careers Fair

Students from the 3rd Year upwards are able to attend. With a range of diverse careers represented. This is an opportunity to talk to

professionals, helping dispel the myths and promote the highlights.

Attendees also get advice on useful GCSE, A Level, degree courses and other specific skills required. This is a biennial event.

• Internships, work shadowing or small group visits

These employer experiences can provide students with a meaningful insight into what it is like to work in a particular sector, job role or company.

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Nancy Kenward, Head of Careers, talks about the invaluable resource that is the Truro School community: Old Truronians and parents who provide life-changing inspiration to our current students.

The Careers Department at Truro School is always busy with events, careers lessons and one-to-one meetings with students. Whilst we were only in school for two terms this year we managed to cram a lot in.

We held a series of fantastic business lunches for students and, as always, our Old Truronians brought with them a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and insight.

We kicked off the business lunches with a STEM related lunch led by Alex Young CO13. He spoke about his Geology degree, a subsequent career change into project management and the huge range of opportunities in this industry.

Chris Newell CO12 gave

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a brilliant talk to students interested in the arts. He completed a design course after leaving Truro School and worked for several newspapers, including The Guardian before moving to work for new media company Tortoise Media. Beth Rutter CO17 went on a gap year after leaving the Sixth Form with our partner school, St Paul’s Collegiate School in New Zealand. Several years later, she is now completing a business degree over there, whilst maintaining her role as Assistant Housemistress at St Paul’s. She emphasised how much her gap year improved her skills and confidence and described the importance of throwing yourself into situations, even if that means being out of your comfort zone.

Simon Holdsworth (TS parent) shared his insights of the finance industry at the very well attended Accounting and Finance lunch last term. This is always a popular event and I was delighted with the excellent

questions that our students were able to ask Simon after his talk.

The Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary lunch was also very popular. We were lucky enough to welcome insights from those representing physiotherapy, speech therapy, radiotherapy and nursing - brilliantly organised

by Jane Mitchell (TS parent).

As always, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the visitors and Old Truronians who attended the lunches this year. They are so very important in preparing our students for the future and giving them a flavour of different job roles.

Last year we worked hard to revamp our biennial Careers Convention, with lectures, industry related workshops, guest speakers, as well as our usual stands. Unfortunately, it was due to take place in mid-March, just before lockdown, and we had to make the difficult decision of postponing the event. We look forward to welcoming

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our speakers, delegates and students back next year.

Opportunities such as these offer networking experiences and valuable first-hand advice from industry professionals to our pupils. All of which wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our parents and Old Truronians who are willing to give up their time to attend them.

The Truro School Community page on LinkedIn is an excellent way of staying in touch with us. We update the page with local and national job opportunities, information on work experience, conference and internships which will be of interest to our former pupils. We would encourage all former pupils, no matter what age, to connect with us so that they too can access this amazing network of Truro School Old Truronians and become part of Truro School Connected.

Nancy Kenward Head of Careers

If you would like to be active participant and become part of Truro School Connected, whatever the level of help you can offer, whether it is offering job opportunities advice, guidance or work experience, or to be part of the Careers Convention.

Please get in touch with either: Nancy Kenward nk@truroschool.com Nicky Berridge tsa@truroschool.com

Search LinkedIn for ‘Truro School Community’

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THE TRURONIAN

Maria Taylor CO86

Maria left Truro School in 1986 after joining at Sixth Form as one of the earlier cohorts of girls to attend. She went on to study at the University of Bath before taking a job with the Environmental Health Department in Bristol. Maria is back in Cornwall now where she is the Head of Cookery School at Truro School which has the unique combination of being an academic and commercial cookery school.

Being in one of the early cohorts of girls at Truro School, it is fair to say it was a far different place than it is today! Us girls brought logistical challenges (toilets, changing rooms etc.) as well as practical conundrums – what sport would we do? What uniform would we wear? I distinctly remember a mixture of some of the pupils and teachers embracing the new female contingent but others being scared witless!

I have so many memories it is hard to choose... I was really involved with music and drama – lots of concerts, choirs, orchestra

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and band performances as well as school plays and musicals. I also remember being awarded some prizes at Speech Day and buying cookery books with the vouchers.

Maria initially wanted to become a dietician but at the time food related subjects were not yet on offer at Truro School, causing Maria to consider drama or chef school. Thanks to Maria, Truro School Cookery School now offers Leiths qualifications, the only Leiths Academy School in Devon and Cornwall. The Leiths Certificate of Food and Wine allows Sixth Form students to make the most of an opportunity to begin a life working in the food industry or to study it further.

I will always be indebted to the previous Head Andrew Gordon-Brown who took the decision to bring cookery to Truro School, and who appointed me to lead the way. The sense of community and enjoyment from cooking that I witness on a daily basis in the cookery school and cafes has made the hard

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION work very worthwhile!

During term-time weekdays, students are taught cookery lessons either in conjunction with a Leiths School of Food and Wine qualification for Sixth Form students, PSHE ‘Cooking for University’, or a wide range of co-curricular cookery clubs such as ‘Street Food’ and ‘Beautiful Baking.’

Enabling first class cookery lessons as part of a school curriculum is hugely important to me for a number of personal and professional reasons. To bring cookery to Truro School for the first time, and to see how quickly it has had such a positive impact on the whole school community, has made me very happy.

However, the story does not end there.

Every Friday night, each weekend and all through the holidays the Cookery School offer a huge range of cookery courses to the wider community.

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I wanted to open a cookery school that was unpretentious and accessible to all. In my opinion cookery schools can sometimes be quite elitist, and lots of people are either too nervous to go, or they simply can’t afford it. I wanted to set up a cookery school with a relaxed atmosphere with a focus on preparing and sharing a meal together. At Truro School Cookery the focus is always on learning how to cook a meal to share with others – either in the cookery school on our ‘Friday Night Is..’ series, or to take home to share with family and friends as in our Saturday ‘Feasts for Four’. I work hard to ensure the atmosphere is happy and relaxed and our customers feel treated and special – I like of think of it as a ‘Cookery Spa Day’!

Maria also runs a café as part of the Cookery School which is open to the general public six days a week during term time; a tuck shop for pupils selling a range of home cooked

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION goodies; a bar in the Burrell Theatre and most recently a café and open-plan kitchen and restaurant for Sixth Formers.

I am particularly lucky to have a magnificent team, including my inspirational ‘right hand man’ AJ, formerly the senior sous chef at Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant in Padstow.

What are your career highlights or is there anything you’re particularly proud of?

I am personally proud of my decision to re-train as a cookery teacher when I was 40 and at that time living in Cheltenham. A change of career at that age and with two young daughters was not easy, however it enabled me to set up and revitalise many cookery departments in a number of very different schools – from an inner-city academy to an independent boarding school. I had become acutely aware that our society was

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THE TRURONIAN suffering from the decision made over 30 years ago to take cookery out of the National Curriculum. I will never tire of seeing the pride and pleasure pupils gain from preparing and cooking a meal from scratch to take home and share with family, friends or carers – and the knock-on effect of those families wanting to learn how to cook and prepare fresh ingredients from scratch themselves.

Is there any advice you could offer anyone considering a similar career path?

My best advice is to believe in yourself and gain as much experience as possible from the bottom up. The year before I trained to be a cookery teacher I worked as a cookery technician in another school – this gave me the experience to know what it takes to make a department work efficiently and what sort of support a good cookery teacher

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION needs. Finally, never shy away from hard work – always be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty – especially if you are the Boss! As my Mum used to say, ‘If it were easy, everyone would be doing it!’

Did you have any siblings or other relations at Truro School?

My Father, Paul Taylor CO65, was a boarder at Truro School. He remembers his time fondly – everything except the food! He has recently been doing some family research and discovered that another relative a Richard Duncoff Thomas (Great, great, great Uncle??) was a pupil from 1889 – 1891. He has even discovered some amazing old school photographs with Richard in, as well as his copy of the school register at that time – a really interesting find!

Away from School, not only am I a Mum but

THE TRURONIAN a Granny too! My eldest daughter (now 23) lives in Cornwall with her fiancée Josh and their gorgeous little boy Rowan. She works at Truro School too, bringing her artistic and barista skills to our Cookery School café, as well as volunteering at the Prep school and Nursery. Becoming a Granny is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

And being back in Cornwall means I can be a ‘hands on’ Granny whenever possible, which I adore. My youngest daughter Libby (who is 20) lives in Bath and is training to be a Norland Nanny which also makes me hugely proud – and means I have the perfect excuse to visit Bath regularly!

Do you feel your time at School, or anything about your time here, helped you to progress in later life?

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A tough question, however on reflection I think that coming from an all-girls school into a predominantly male environment at the age of sixteen was quite moulding! Whilst Truro School handled the transition to co-education brilliantly and were very supportive of their ‘early girls’, it certainly toughened me up and taught me how to be resilient and hold my own amongst male colleagues. I am a firm believer in a co-educational learning environment and equal opportunities socially, academically and financially for women – I am sure some of this came from my time at Truro School.

What are your plans for the future?

There is still work to be done at Truro School – I would like to explore cookery playing a bigger part in the lower school curriculum as well as continuing to build the commercial school to be the best in Cornwall, if not the South West! The model we have built here at Truro School of combining an academic cookery department with a commercial cookery school is game changing, and I still have the energy and drive left in me to explore new challenges. That said, Truro School is in my blood, and now that I’m finally back home I’m not ready to fly the nest again in a hurry!

Maria would love to show Old Truronians around the new Cookery School if they are ever visiting, or even better to welcome them to join us on a cookery course at Truro School Cookery! Please visit the website truroschoolcookery.com to see what they have to offer and email Maria at cookery@truroschool.com for a unique alumni discount code to use when booking a course.

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Kate Attlee CO06 Former Masterchef contestant and Old Truronian Kate Attlee (nee Arjomandi) loves to cook up a curry for friends and family, and has freelanced for many years, but now the expert chef has begun a new venture, opening her own middle eastern inspired deli in the centre of Truro, ‘Sabzi’, a Persian word for ‘green herbs’.

The former student visited at the opening of the Cookery School in 2018. Now she has given some passionate advice to those on the Leith’s Introductory Certificate of Food and Wine: Don’t be afraid to know how you want to work in the industry, don’t be swayed by what everyone tells you, don’t be pushed into one thing or another. Have the confidence to say ‘I can’. If your desire is to work in a specific cuisine for example, don’t be afraid to have something you want to do, and go for that route. For me I wanted to build a career in food that didn’t involve loads of evenings.

But rewind and cooking wasn’t always on the table for Kate and became a career she fell in to.

Kate started her journey at Truro School where it began in the Sixth Form, and joked that her favourite “really academic” memory was the social side and loved all the balls that the school put on.

Did you enjoy your time at Truro School?

I remember it being a really friendly school when I was there and I felt really welcome. It just felt like a real community, so that is my overriding memory. I’ve got a few proper solid friends who I’ll know I’ll be friends with forever - one of them, her dad was our head of year.

Straight from a scene out of a movie, Kate met her husband Will Attlee CO06 at Truro School almost immediately on the induction day.

There’s an embarrassing photo of us in those team building activities, we had to make a human pyramid, and I was kneeling on my now husband’s back. Because it was in the school newsletter, my mum got a copy and loves to pull it out. We met and that was that.

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION In the Upper Sixth, unbeknown to her at the time, Kate had glandular fever which was only picked up later in her life in blood tests.

I was really poorly but I worked like an absolute dog to get the results I got. So the lesson is if you want something you’ve got to work really hard for it. I just had to dig in and work hard because everyone thought I’d become lazy.

During university Kate continued feeling very ill which resulted in a year off. She returned but decided that studying wasn’t what she wanted to do so didn’t finish. It was during that period of time and having her children that she really fell in love with food. Having always worked part-time in the food industry, and becoming highly trained in service at the River Café in London, Kate returned to Cornwall and after cooking for a long time in and around Truro, Sabzi came in to being.

Tell us how you created Sabzi?

I’d watched the Truro market really carefully.

I’m very aware of the food industry game so I was very careful. Consequently, it has taken me quite a long time to make this decision.

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THE TRURONIAN Once I was happy with the concept it was about finding and operating out of a really small space. In my mind the worst thing I could’ve done was to get a big venue that required lots of staff. I wanted a place that if it was really quiet it could be run by one person, or on busy days two people. I wanted to do something where I can serve and cook which is a really hard thing to juggle. In the end the building and the branding happened really fast.

We’re gradually getting to a place where I realise what food people like. One popular dish is a sweet and sour salad with a pomegranate dressing, which pulls on the Iranian theme. It’s a dressing that goes well with a really herby couscous and Iranian barberries which are similar to cranberries. It’s a really sticky dish.

People were really receptive to Iranian food down here. Cornwall is still way behind, but still behind Exeter or Bristol or wherever but it’s improving. It wasn’t hard to convince people to come and try it so that was really positive.

Sabzi is in Walsingham Place, Truro.

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Harry Stacey CO18

Harry Stacey has achieved so much in the short time since he left Truro School in 2018. He is currently the business owner and manager of Harry’s Toy Chest, located in Truro town centre. Opened in late 2019, the shop has been a success with customers queuing up in the early hours on its opening day to shop. Alongside his business, Harry is studying Business and Entrepreneurship at Falmouth University.

I am certainly very proud of starting at a young age. I started online selling at 14 years old, and started to run a market stall from 16 years old. This then led to running Harry’s Toy Chest just as I turned 20 years old. The opening day will always be the most amazing memory for me, as a wide range of my customer base attended and queued up to enter the shop in the early hours of the morning. I am also particularly proud of the

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customers I have made and grown positive relationships with from when I started. This showed me that being friendly and helpful to each and every one of my customers would create the positive outcome of supporting me when I opened.

After leaving Truro School, Harry began running flea market stalls at Cornwall Flea Market (now sadly closed) for a year before moving to Truro Pannier Market where he began developing his now wide customer base. Here he boosted his online sales and started advertising on his Facebook business page.

Do you have any special memories of your time at Truro school?

Meeting new friends will always be a memory for me, especially on the first day as I knew

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practically no one. These friends still stay strong with me today, and even visit the shop! I also used to look forward to the Christmas dinners, as they were like no other school dining experience!

Are you still in touch with anyone from your time at Truro School?

I am still in touch with several Truro School friends. We have a big meetup now and again, where ten or so of us will meet and chat about what has changed. I also see two or three friends on a weekly basis.

Is there any advice you could offer anyone considering a similar career path?

I would definitely suggest to follow your own passion, despite what anyone else says. Find out what you like and what you are good at. It’s always worth a try, and if it doesn't work, then you can try something else. To be honest, I’ve never really thought of another career that has appealed. I just wanted to follow my own interest and see where it would take me.

My current business has always been a passion for me, ever since I started primary school. I’ve always been an enthusiast for toys and games from growing up with them, as well as being an entrepreneur.

I would love to take my current business further online, distributing worldwide. This way I can create a wider target audience, and sell to different countries.

When Harry isn’t busy taking care of the shop or supplementing his stock supplies, his studies involve

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION lectures at university three times a week whilst an employee covers the shop for him.

Harry credits his family for supporting him every step of the way, offering advice and joining him on family breaks for some well deserved holidays.

How has your time at School helped you to progress in where you are now?

I feel that my time at Truro School certainly helped me to develop several skills, which have helped my business. These include teamwork building skills with other students, as well as organisation skills, completing tasks and homework. Making new friends improved my confidence

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THE TRURONIAN and my communication skills (important when talking to my customers). I am more disciplined, and aim to be positive and helpful to everyone that enters the shop. I do feel that it has assisted my day-to-day business practices, and has given me the confidence to start this new chapter of my life.

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David Duncan CO61 In the five years after leaving Truro School, David Duncan began a seemingly idyllic life working on boats and farms in his hometown on the Isles of Scilly. A decision to join the Army’s Intelligence Corps however, took David away for training in the UK, followed by a posting to Germany.

David has since returned to Scilly in his retirement with wife Jean and their cocker spaniel, Teddy.

David attended Truro School from 1954-1961 alongside several fellow Scillonians who were his contemporaries, and younger brothers Colin Duncan CO64 and Harry Duncan CO66 who were referred by teachers as “Duncan 1, 2 and 3”.

My favourite subject was foreign languages, for which I found I had an aptitude and gained good A levels in French and German.

Freddy Wilkes was an inspirational teacher of both and also the senior member of staff with regard to languages. He tried to encourage me to become a language teacher, but I said that it was a vocation and not one which appealed to me.

Finding an ease with learning foreign languages, David decided he wanted to use his skills in order to advance his career after School. He thought about a a job in HM Customs and Excise but considered a break at home before settling on a decision.

A coincidental meeting with a WW2 veteran who stayed in his family guest house led to David discovering his language capabilities could be used within the Army Intelligence Corps.

Although I had no thoughts at all of a career in the Armed Forces I did enquire about this Corps and it looked like my niche. They accepted me as a soldier recruit on the strength of my A levels and interview.

David told us some of his career highlights and the things he is most proud of: Firstly, my inclusion in the roll of honour of 22 SAS Regiment, as a result of my deployment with a team from that unit in 1970 on a secret operation, called Storm, and subsequent award of the BEM for Meritorious Service. The location was Dhofar in southern Oman where the Sultan’s Armed Forces were struggling to contain communist insurgents. A new Sultan asked the UK, as an old ally, for help and small-scale assistance was provided. My role, as part of a five-man team from my Corps was to produce additional military intelligence.

I was the ‘man in the middle’, as a sergeant with two corporals as collators and two senior soldiers who spoke Arabic. Our task was helped greatly by the new Sultan declaring an amnesty for rebels and during my six-month tour a total of 200 surrendered. They were questioned by my colleagues and willingly cooperated. We obtained a large amount of information, processed in my office in a

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Beau Geste style Omani fort and turned into exploitable intelligence through evaluation and analysis.

The operation ended successfully in 1976 with a line literally drawn in the sand against communist insurgents and with other more local allies having also contributed militarily.

The first photo shows me offshore from Dhofar, with an Arab Dhow and village in the background as part of my familiarisation with the area. For this tour I was also awarded the scarce ‘Dhofar’ clasp to a General Service Medal.

Secondly, my service in the British Commanders’-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (logo is shown). Its long title was abbreviated to Brixmis. It was a legacy of WW2 when there was a British Liaison Mission in Moscow and it was decided to maintain military diplomatic contact after the war’s end, with British, French and American missions based at Potsdam. There were reciprocal Soviet ones in the West.

Brixmis officers spoke Russian and at first had just a liaison role, but as the Iron Curtain fell across Europe they began increasingly to also have one of observation.

Liaison continued even during the height of the Cold War and provided a military communication channel. I spoke no Russian

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THE TRURONIAN but was posted in November 1976, by then as a captain, to be the Army Intelligence Officer although I wore the insignia of the Royal Corps of Transport for reasons of diplomacy and security. There was also an RAF element.

The whole of East Germany was like a vast armed camp with half a million Soviet armed forces plus their local allies, all in a fairly small country. My main role was to keep records of all Army related installations and units.

Our Headquarters were in West Berlin, with the Mission House still at Potsdam for formal functions. My office had a lengthy title on it, which our Chief described as ‘a euphemism for spying’… The walls were covered with charts with details of all Soviet and East German Army units. My team of three Intelligence Corps soldiers also maintained the large map running the whole length of a corridor with everything of military interest marked on it. Between us all we had been tasked with improving the system of files to back up this map. We achieved this with a real combined effort.

My part-time role was to command ‘tours’, socalled for reasons of discretion, into the East.

They were effectively unarmed military patrols carried out by vehicle with a three-man crew.

We crossed via the Glienicke Bridge (shown in the third photo) and which featured in the recent film ‘Bridge of Spies’, albeit used for exchanges of them and did not refer to us!

The Soviet flag can be seen on the far side, where a checkpoint controlled our entry into the East. No, it was not Checkpoint Charlie, which was within Berlin itself. I showed our special passes to the guard, who recorded all the details and we proceeded into Potsdam.

Our first stop was at the Mission House, in case of any phone messages. The House itself was bugged by the East German State Security, AKA ‘Stasi’, so we had to be very careful of our own verbal security.

It was strange but we got used to it. I was able to obtain a copy of my own Stasi file in recent years and translate it myself. It made interesting reading… Stasi surveillance teams would soon pick us up and initially tried to follow us covertly, switching to overt

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harassment when we identified them. Their aim was to prevent, or at least hinder our mission. We either outran them in our faster vehicles or went cross country where they could not follow.

When it was safe to stop, we did so in a wood and had a welcome ‘brew’. As the tour commander I was responsible for navigation and photography. A senior soldier recorded all information on a tape recorder. Much of East Germany was open to us but there were many restricted areas, some permanent and others temporary. Many ‘mission signs’ were also used around training areas and installations, even where they were not valid.

We ignored them but had to be careful.

If caught behind one it could result in the officer being declared persona non grata and thereby end his access to the East. I had several narrow escapes from that myself.

Both the Soviets and East Germans also used violence against Mission vehicles and personnel. A sergeant in my own office was seriously injured by a deliberate ramming.

That incident was premeditated but we also had to be wary of opportunistic action, especially when ‘running a column’ as we called it. Due to the sheer number of troops

THE TRURONIAN

and vehicles there we often encountered convoys of the latter simply when driving along a road. Our distinctive number plates were a real giveaway and it certainly got the adrenaline flowing when either overtaking a slow column or facing one coming towards us. The numbers could be large, and I quite literally focused on taking as many photos as possible of them but still being wary of any that might pull out and endanger our vehicle.

Our drivers were highly skilled and superb at evasion, but I was after all in overall charge.

Vehicles also touch on another aspect of our activity, that of their identification. We had to be able to do so for hundreds of vehicles, pieces of equipment and their variants. We would spend the rest of the day carrying out tasks set by the Operations Officer, often prompted by us, such as getting up-to-date photos of barracks, installations and training areas. We also watched certain railway lines used to transport heavy military items like tanks. Steam engines sparked by an interest at Truro Station were my favourite and still much in operation.

When we had finished the day’s business we would overnight by wild camping in the

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woods, after first ensuring that we were unobserved. We did this in all weathers, though in heavy rain or the severe cold of winter a barn could give welcome respite.

Tours could last for two or three days or even longer, especially if training activity was noted. We were then expected to stay with it and record as much as possible. Our office would then help to identify the units involved and report to the British HQ in West Germany. Although they had other, technical, sources of intelligence, we were their ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground.

Finally, my German language skills gave me the chance to experience the Red Army in action. I used to examine the main East German newspaper for any advance notifications published in it of river closures, which they had to give to shipping. I noted one for the River Elbe and was tasked to follow this up myself. This meant that I was in the right place at the right time to observe a major assault river crossing involving the equivalent of a British brigade, several thousand troops. They consisted of attack helicopters (HIND), transport helicopters and many vehicles, including the tracked amphibious personnel carriers called BMPs. Engineer equipment such as bridges and ferries were also deployed. My camera equipment went into overdrive until we were spotted by one of the HINDs which called in ground troops to surround our vehicle.

Time to scarper, but a BMP got in on the act and its tracks gave it a big advantage over our wheels, especially in the ploughed fields. We escaped by the skin of our teeth, thanks to the experience of our driver, who nonetheless collapsed under the strain.

We took him to the nearest East German hospital, where they carried out tests and kept him under observation for a while, while I phoned our Mission House and arranged for another vehicle to come to the rescue with a fresh driver. One of our Russian speaking officers was in charge because we had some explaining to do to the Soviet officers who came to the hospital. The way he managed this was a diplomatic success and we were

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THE TRURONIAN allowed to go, after first drinking a toast (inevitably in vodka) to ‘Drushba’ - friendship.

Is there any advice you could offer anyone considering a similar career path?

The Intelligence Corps is still thriving and, although the foreign languages in which it trains people are different from my time (mainly due to the end of the Cold War) there are still great career opportunities available.

Technology also plays a greater part.

Did your time at School help you to progress in later life?

Definitely, because the foreign languages I studied formed a firm foundation for my future career. Sport helped too. I was no gladiator and lacked the bulk and speed for rugby. I really took to cross country though and running was needed for my annual fitness tests in the Army. I still had to train but it was easier for me. Finally, when I became commissioned, the School gave me the quiet confidence and ‘polish’ to enter the Officers’ Mess with no qualms.

Have you ever revisited Truro School?

I have revisited Truro School twice since leaving in 1961. Once when visiting my sister who lives in Truro, and about five years ago on a business trip to the city. I grabbed the chance to visit and walked along the front. It brought back many memories, including of prefects watching out for boys heading into town and wearing brown shoes which, to my horror I realised I was wearing...

Tell us a little about your family life.

My wife is called Jean, who I met while serving in Northern Ireland. We have a daughter Diane, born in Cyprus, who is also here in Scilly with us and works in the old family guesthouse with her chef husband Mark. Our son named Jonny was born in Berlin and is a travel blogger based in Thailand, and who married a Pakistani lady

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called Sidra just last year. The ceremony was held here at Star Castle with a steam punk theme.

What are your plans for the future?

To continue to enjoy my hard-earned retirement and stay active for as long as possible. Also, to contribute in a small way to the local community.

Would you like to take part in an informal interview about your career and family life since leaving Truro School? Maybe you have an interesting story to share?

We would love to hear from you.

Complete the interview online here or email tsa@truroschool.com.

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THE TRURONIAN

Speech Day 2020

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the truronian

Guest Speaker Ros Atkins CO93 The Headmaster and Governors were joined by guest speaker Ros Atkins CO93, BBC Presenter, Outside Source, BBC World News & BBC World Service for this year’s Virtual Speech Day. Ros has hosted coverage of many major stories around the world for BBC News, including Brexit, numerous international summits, the Greek debt crisis, the death of Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama’s first election victory and inauguration, the football World Cups in Germany and South Africa, the Charles Taylor verdict, London’s 2012 Olympic Games and Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Ros has hosted live BBC programmes from an array of locations around the world from a bar in Soweto, to a prison in Indianapolis, to Downing Street and the European Council in Brussels.

Ros has also made a number of documentaries for the BBC. Including All That Stands in the Way which looked at gender inequality through the lives of four

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teenage girls in Iceland, UK, Lesotho and Jordan.

Ros spent most of his childhood in Cornwall, but has also lived in the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and South Africa. Ros has maintained a keen interest in Africa and the Caribbean, and has been deployed by the BBC to cover the Trinidad carnival, the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, xenophobic violence in South Africa and many other stories.

Ros is also the founder of the multi-awardwinning 50:50 Project which is a global initiative which seeks to ensure the fair representation of women in media content.

Ros lives in south east London with his wife and two daughters.

Speech Day 2020 was recorded and is available to watch at truroschool.com.

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THE TRURONIAN

Opie Shield Winners 2019/2020 1st: Smith 164.5 points

2nd: School 142 points

3rd: Wickett 141.5 points

4th: Vinter 120 points

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Congratulations to Smith House for winning After her retirement from the school Mrs this year’s Opie Shield.

Opie, a widow for 47 years, lived with her sister, Mrs Mitchell of Mingoose, St Agnes.

The Opie Memorial Shield was presented Sadly she did not have long to enjoy the to the school in memory of the long serving peace and quiet; seven weeks later, on 2 and popular matron, Mrs Emma Opie. Mrs October retiring on Sunday evening in her Opie, known as ‘Mother Opie’ retired from usual health, she complained on Monday the school on 17 August 1921, after 27 years. morning of feeling unwell. She died before At the Old Boys meeting on 16 August a medical attention could be summoned. farewell tribute was held for Mrs Opie, as well That same day news reached Mr Vinter of as for Mr H.W. Vinter, the retiring headmaster Mrs Opie’s death at Mingoose. He had seen and his sister. ‘The great reception accorded ‘her apparently in her usual health only the Mrs Opie was ample demonstration of the previous Thursday’ and was shocked by the high esteem in which she was held’. She was news. presented with an easy chair with a tapestry cover ‘and a substantial purse’ as a tangible The Opie Shield was first presented at the expression of their affection. It was hoped Past and Present cricket match in 1923, by ‘she would spend many happy hours in the Mr Vinter on behalf of the donors Mr and Mrs chair and think of them all … the school was a Charles Bawden, son-in-law and daughter of home for the boys while they were away from Mrs Opie, to the headmaster Mr Magson. The home while she was there’. shield was to be presented annually to the winning house of the inter-house competition.

Mr Magson accepted the shield with pleasure and pride. He said that he had remodelled the house system and in each house they were trying to develop sport by making every boy who was physically capable, proficient at games. In each house there were three teams in football and two in cricket. Other games which counted for the shield were chess and draughts and he hoped to add shooting to the list if a suitable place was available.

- Truro College Magazine, July 1923 The shield was presented to J.D. Couch, captain of Smith House, the first winners of the shield. The house competition was actually first competed for in 1921-1922, and won by Smith; a back-dated plaque was later added to the shield.

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Archive

Former Head of Technology Dennis Keam recalls his memories of Truro School. Words by School Archivist, Jo Wood.

Back in the misty time not long before Lockdown I met up with Dennis Keam for a chat about his work at Truro School and to see his scrapbooks of archive material.

Dennis was Head of Technology from 1962 to 1996. In the 1960s handicraft teaching posts in Cornwall were exceedingly rare, but thanks to his wife’s friends in the teaching profession he learnt of the impending vacancy at Truro School.

Dennis recalled that ‘when I first started, the workshop was situated at the side of the quad (where the Sixth Form Centre is now) and contained very old rickety benches, so I spent the summer holidays making eleven very sturdy woodworking benches.

In the first year John Dunstan CO64 and Richard Payler CO64 were my only two O Level candidates. The following year, and from there on, 22 pupils opted to learn the high skills of craftsmanship. Technical drawing soon followed and Jonathan Ball CO65, cofounder of Eden was one of the first pupils. Interestingly this subject was demanded

by Chinese students from Hong Kong. A Level Engineering Drawing and A

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Level Woodwork were also on the curriculum. O and A Levels were taught on the newly made ‘in house’ benches. Pupils, or rather the parents, paid for the materials used, which allowed a plentiful variety of materials to be stocked, wasting no precious workshop time waiting for them to arrive.

Additional workshop time was provided by after school clubs.

A big black cloud loomed over Truro School in 1973, when the Direct Grant was withdrawn by the Government. Apparently the Methodist foundation offered the school to Cornwall Council but was, fortunately, turned down. Having built his own house, Dennis bravely suggested that the School built its own workshops and

sports hall, plus two squash courts and the necessary changing facilities. With the backing of the Chairman of the Governors, the greatly respected Bedford Daniel (1922-1930), Dennis was given the go ahead to design and advance the project, now known as the Assembly Hall, Art Department and Outdoor Education Centre. Old Truronian Ray Stephens CO53 drew the plans, fulfilling the desire for spacious workshops and storage, and a regulation size sports hall with a roof high enough for badminton.

Planning permission was granted and work began on 19 August 1975. Truro School Society gave £2000 towards the project, but £1200 of that was used on the first day pouring concrete into the

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION foundations along the front because they were so deep.

At one stage there were six ready-mix lorries on site, coming from every plant in Cornwall. A small number of teaching staff formed the nucleus of the labour, made up of Peter Lang, Tony Aldwinckle, Alan Johnston, Jean-Francois Lauprêtre, Derek Collins, Dave Griffin and David Pople, aided by many pupils. Thanks to a kind winter, and without having to work in school time or on Sundays, by Easter the walls of the workshops and half of the sports hall were up to the required height to take the workshop roof.

Under the Labour Government of Harold Wilson, the Manpower Services Commission was set up. Dennis recalled that ‘the school applied for a grant for rendering; our application was studied but we were soon told that it

THE TRURONIAN had been rejected. Imagine our astonishment when Mr Stewart, the civil servant reviewing our application, reappeared and requested that the school apply for a different grant, one to pay for all the labour required to complete the project, because the Government was dissatisfied nationally with the few jobs being created by the scheme so far. The grand total of £48,000 provided for a foreman, masons, a plumber, an electrician and labourers. The crane work, to erect the sports hall framework, was donated by Macsalvors, and the crane was driven by Cameron MacQuarrie CO74, another ex-pupil, whose brother Andrew CO81 was until recently Deputy Head at the Prep School.

The official opening in 1977

by Sir Alan Dalton of English China Clays was a superb affair, with local dignitaries

attending.

Having such splendid facilities, it seemed appropriate that a project of some significance should be constructed, and a pupil, Guy Bunker C083, suggested an aeroplane. Eighteen months later the Spirit of Truro took to the skies.

The organisers of Farnborough Air Show invited the School to exhibit the plane as a static display.

The plane, sponsored by BP, was a great attraction at the show. Raymond Baxter a presenter of the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World (a programme illustrating the latest inventions in the 1970s and 1980s, air bags and super glue amongst the most memorable) sat in the cockpit, as did King Hussein of Jordan. The financing of the plane, and equipping the metalwork workshop, was made possible by the very popular school discos, with as many as 500 pupils enjoying a rowdy evening with superb singing (sadly lacking in the chapel services!!)

Another major project was

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION the Deadstop System, a tractor safety device, designed by pupils at the school. It received a national launch in the summer of 1987, funded by BP, ‘when it was hailed as a significant step forward in the campaign to improve farm safety’.

Even after 22 years of retirement, Dennis still gets messages from Old Truronians saying how important the skills they learnt at Truro School have been in their adult lives.

The dynamism of Tim Tall and the wonderful expertise of Andrew Crawford, who brought model engineering to an outstanding level, made the department one of the finest, an Ofsted Inspector stated, he had had the pleasure of inspecting.

Dennis says he was very fortunate to have taught at Truro School and hopes the Technology Department will be as inspiring to present and future pupils as it has been for the past 40 years.

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Guy Bunker CO83 recently contacted us and recalled some of his memories from that time: … I was one of the people chosen to go to Farnborough Air Show with the school plane. Working on the plane had been a good excuse to get out of *almost* anything and as I was doing woodwork for O Level it had whiled away many hours when I should have been doing other things! Anyway... in essence it was Dennis Keam, David Walton CO81 and myself who trekked up the motorway to Farnborough. It took hours... and when we got there there was a problem... you had to be 16 to be onbase outside of the public days. I was only 15. However, we ended up with the airbase commander 'in discussion' with Mr. Keam who explained where we had come from and why we were there... it was all resolved and I was able to be with the plane on the trade days as well as the public ones.

The plane created a lot of interest and media coverage... and of course it was great fun to be there.

(The aerobatics on the trade days were better than the public ones, as they did manoeuvres which couldn't be done with the public due to insurance.) We even made it onto the TV with Raymond Baxter in one of the Farnborough Air Show specials.

We went on to do a few more local air shows... but in all that time, I didn't see the

plane actually fly... well, until Mr. Keam decided to fly to Morlaix in France. Another adventure... we flew from Truro Airfield, Phil Irish took the school plane and the rest of us in a small turbo prop plane to accompany. On arrival in Morlaix we were treated to a great reception from the town, where we made the news. My sister happened to be there on a French exchange, which was also very memorable for the family she was with!

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Annual Reunion Day Saturday 7 September 2019 The day began with netball and rugby fixtures in the afternoon in the Sir Ben Ainslie Sports Centre and on the sports fields. These annual fixtures comprise of the new Truro School 1st teams playing, in the case of rugby the previous year’s outgoing team - aka our new OT teams. The OT netball team was rallied by Amelia Grigg CO14. All teams played well with the Old Truronians victorious in both matches!

During the evening of Saturday 7 September, Headmaster, Andrew Gordon-Brown, Director of Admissions, Jayne Grigg and her Development Office Team, and the TSA Committee welcomed Old Truronians, former staff, current staff and their guests to the 99th Annual Reunion Dinner at Truro School. Over 100 guests attended from across the globe, including France, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong and of course, from all over the UK. The familiar faces of former staff including our late former headmaster Guy Dodd accompanied by his wife Helen, Ann Weeks and Alan Johnston, also delighted Old Truronians.

The evening specifically honoured the decennial anniversaries for classes of 59, 69, 79, 89, 99 and 09 as well as some of the earliest female Old Truronians. Attendees gathered for pre-dinner drinks in the Heath Dining Hall with the wonderful sound of the clarinet played by Sixth Form student Romano accompanied on electric organ played by Truro School’s Peter Thomson, floating down from the gallery above. They were able to enjoy chatting and reminiscing over the beautiful archive display which once again had been put together by TS Researcher/Archivist, Jo Wood and included full school sporting photographs, old newsletter articles and more.

At 7.45 pm, as tradition would have it, the old dinner gong was sounded inviting guests to take their seats in the old Dining Hall to enjoy a 3-course dinner prepared by Chef Manager Andy Burt and his team. Reverend Aubin de Gruchy led those present in the Grace. This year we were delighted to see a large group from CO69, including some of the former TS 1969 rugby 1st team, among them Ian White all the way from Australia and Simon Nicholas from France. Some of the first ladies to graduate from TS were also present and others who had travelled from abroad included Claire Mak CO99 and Sherman Leung CO99 from Hong Kong, Wataru Hayashi CO99 from Japan. Guests began to leave at around 11:00 pm, with some continuing on into the night in Truro, but Jayne, Nicky and Amanda were still chatting with some guests until after midnight.

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Annual Reunion Sports Fixtures Saturday 7 September 2019 This was my first experience of being involved with the former pupil's match and I was extremely pleased with how the day (apart from the result!) panned out! On a lovely September day, it was great to see so many Truro School rugby boys on the 1st team pitch.

Added to that the fantastic support from parents and younger pupils, it really was a fabulous afternoon of rugby. The game itself was well contested. School seemed to be a little more organised but the former pupils were strong in the tackle and direct with the ball. School took an early lead through a penalty but then the former pupils started to gain a foothold in the game. Two tries close to half time from powerful pick and go’s left the score 14 – 3 in the former pupils favour. The second half was an attritional affair and both teams cancelled each other out. With the last play of the game, the former pupils scored a wonderful try which started with a midfield scrum on the half way line. They broke off down the right-hand side but were hauled down at the 22-yard line. Quick hands and fantastic handling moved the ball across the pitch for the try to be scored in the corner. The conversion was missed and the final score finished School 3 – Old Truronians 19.

A big thank you to all involved and especially to former Sports teacher Mark Nicholas, who coached and organised the former pupils team. I am already looking forward to next year’s game and hope to see you all there, cheering on the School!

Dan Sanderson, Director of Sport

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Truro School Connected - London Thursday 10 October 2019 This academic year’s London Reunion, organised by Truro School's Development Office, on behalf of the TSA, was another busy and enjoyable evening. Old Truronians ranging from CO48 to CO15 gathered on Thursday 10 October to share fond recollections of Truro School; an opportunity for them to find out what has been happening at school and to update us on what they are all doing now. The evening was hosted by the now-former headmaster, Andrew Gordon-Brown who was joined by fellow former headmasters Paul Smith (2001-2012) and the late Guy Dodd (1993-2001).

Nicky Berridge said: This event has gone from strength to strength over the past 4 years with attendance this year exceeding our expectations. It was a pleasure to welcome so many new faces, attending a reunion event for the first time, as well as welcoming back our regular attendees.

The gathering was held in the prestigious central

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London offices of Sarasin & Partners LLP and in the early part of the evening guests enjoyed a glass of wine on the terrace which overlooks the front steps of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Nancy Kenward, Head of Careers, attended in order to promote Truro School Connected, Truro School’s latest initiative and said: Chatting to Old Truronians, some of whom I have not met before and some who are already helping with this initiative, I am reminded of the wealth of knowledge and experience within the Truro School Community.

Endeavouring to harness this incredible force for the benefit of our current students is a very exciting prospect. It provides a unique knowledge base which offers invaluable guidance and advice, not only to our Sixth Form students but also to recent leavers, our new alumni, just beginning their career journey.

Rachel Vaughan, Chair of the TSA, represented the Committee at the event

and said: It has given me great pleasure whilst Chair of the TSA to witness the transformation of our Old Truronian events and to see how participation and attendance has increased over the last few years. The TSA Committee is very keen to encourage our members to engage with the Truro School Connected initiative and this is why we are delighted to support this event.

Jayne Grigg, Director of Admissions and Development added: I can only echo the words of Nicky, Nancy and Rachel. It was great to hear what everyone is doing now, their interesting careers, some weddings, some births.... future pupils, I hope!

I had been on a recruitment trip to Lithuania where I also met up with one of our alumni, Nini. It would seem our alumni are everywhere and, what is so wonderful for us, are all keen to maintain their link with the school and help in our many ventures, whether the Truro School Foundation or Truro School Connected or, simply, to keep in touch. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

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Truro School Connected - Bristol Wednesday 26 February 2020 The historically significant Clifton Club in Bristol was the venue (thank you Jerry Barnes CO79) for our first regional Truro School Connected meeting on Wednesday 26 February. Not many organisations can trump our School’s 140 year history, but the Clifton Club has – with over 200 years – but only by about 60 years! We enjoyed hosting almost 60 people – across many age ranges, stages in careers, industries and interests. In a sense, it was a metaphor for our School.

The goodwill towards the School, and each other, was huge, and testament to the common roots that we all share – something we should not take for granted.

We all develop and grow among various communities as we go through life, but the strongest are of those that help define us in our early years. The commonality and heritage of being ‘Old Truronians’ is something we want to build on. The depth and breadth of experience, history and heritage within the Truro School

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Community is something of which we should all be justifiably proud.

If you haven’t been to one of our events, please come – to meet old friends, perhaps reminisce, but more importantly, to make new friends and contacts. Sadly because of COVID-19 our events have been put on hold for the foreseeable future but as soon as we are able, we will once again bring our community together, so please don’t be shy – there are not many guarantees in life, but one is that you’ll enjoy yourself with us. Sincere thanks to the people that organised the Bristol event – from the Clifton Club itself to our in-house team, especially Nicky Berridge and Amanda Forde.

Oll an Gwella Graham Hooper Chair of the Truro School Foundation

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Obituaries MR JOSEPH ‘TONY’ BOWDEN (TS 1947-1955)

MR GUY DODD (FORMER HEADMASTER)

MR MICHAEL KEARNEY (TS 1948-1952)

MR WILLIAM BROWN (TS 1941-1946)

MR AMBROSE ‘TREVOR’ GREENSLADE (TS 1948-1955)

MR JOHN LANGDON (TS 1937-1945)

MS JAYNE CALLAGHAN (TS 1984-1986) MR PAUL COLLENETTE* (FORMER TEACHER) MR GERALD COLLINGE (FORMER TEACHER) MR IAN CRABBE (TS 1956-1958) MR ANDY CRAWFORD (FORMER TEACHER) PROFESSOR JOHN DANCY (FORMER GOVERNOR)

MR JOHN GRIGG (TS 1954-1961) DR MARTIN GUY (TS 1975-1985) MR OWEN ‘LYN’ HARDING (TS 1940-1947)

MR RONALD MITCHELL (TS 1924-1932) MR PATRICK TAYLOR (TS 1978-1983)

DR DEREK HOLMAN (TS 1942-1948)

MR DONALD THOMSON (TS 1935-1943)

MR ROGER HOLMES (TS1957-1964)

MR CHARLES TYACK (TS1948-1951)

MR ADAM HUGHES (TS 2010-2014)

REVEREND KEITH VIVIAN (TS 1938-1945)

MR JACK EDWARDS (TS 1946-1953)

MR TREVOR JAGGAR* (TS 1937-1943)

MRS ROSALIND EDWARDS (FORMER TEACHER)

MR DAVID JAMES (TS 1952-1960)

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MR WILLIAM ‘BILL’ LYDGATE (TS 1978-1983)

MR KENNETH WEBB (TS 1950-1955) MR PETER WILLIAMS (TS 1945-1955)

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Tributes and Memories Gerald COLLINGE (Former Teacher)

appreciated the highly professional attitude that was always present. He found Truro School a good, rewarding place to work.

Gerald’s three sons all attended the School and Simon later returned to teach alongside his father in the maths department.

Simon’s wife Claire went on to teach at Truro Prep School and now of course, his granddaughter-in-law, Ellie Collinge is following in the Collinge footsteps at Senior School.

Gerald came to teach at Truro School in April 1961. He had been teaching happily at Bournemouth Technical College (now Bournemouth University), where he enjoyed teaching degree-level maths.

When his eldest son became ill and the family was advised to move him away from Bournemouth, he was relieved to find a maths post available at Truro School. Peter Lang, a good friend and previous colleague from Newquay Grammar School for Boys, had recently moved to teach P.E. and games and recommended that he applied.

It was a move that he was always happy to have made. He found both staff and boys (no girls then) welcomed him and his family, and the job was satisfying. His Head of Department was Barry Worthington and when Barry became Deputy Head, Gerald became head of the maths department, which he ran successfully until his retirement in 1989.

There was a strong social element involved in the life of the school and Gerald and his wife Joan appreciated the friendships that were quickly and permanently forged, and the fun that was there as a result. He also

During his years as Head of Maths the School became co-educational, with the first girl students coming into the Sixth Form to study maths and science. The original tentative experiment developed into today’s fully co-educational school so Gerald witnessed and was part of, huge changes. He left a very different school and staff room from the one he joined. He thought that they were changes for the better, although he missed some of the more familial atmosphere of the past.

In retirement, Gerald took up golf with its normal enjoyments and frustrations. He also travelled widely, enjoying different cultures, climates and new experiences such as white water rafting in the Rockies, camping in the Masai Mara and snorkelling over the Great Barrier Reef, in the Indian Ocean and off Bali and Bermuda. He linked these interests by playing golf at the world’s lowest golf course in Death Valley, USA. He made good, new friends on various continents and enjoyed the extra breadth of experience that his travels afforded him. He was, however, invariably pleased to be home in Truro again.

On his travels, he started writing poetry and was surprisingly good at it for someone accustomed to expressing ideas in mathematical symbols.

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION His family has planted a copper beech tree at the School. They hope it will flourish there as he and the family have done for many years.

Truro School formed an important part of a happy life.

THE TRURONIAN

Jack EDWARDS (TS 1946-1953)

He died peacefully on December 3 2019, aged 91. “…Before all the “Nows” I never knew I knew Emerge from the past Creep back into my brain To last…

And before I fill The time of today And tomorrow With all of yesterday…

Let me just say…

“Thanks for the memory!!”

G G Collinge Tribute by Gerald’s son and former Truro School Teacher, Simon Collinge

John DANCY (Former TS Governor) John died peacefully at home in Mousehole on December 28 2019, aged 99 years.

Loving husband of Angela (deceased) and father of Jonathan, Mark and Nicola, with 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Formerly Headmaster of Lancing College, Master of Marlborough College and Principal of St. Luke's College, Exeter

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What Jack achieved in his post-school years should come as no surprise to those who were his friends at Truro School.

Always his own person, he was content to quietly stand back from sports and ideas of prefectorial promotion and concentrate on art, acting and costuming. He made many appearances in school dramas ranging from Shakespearian characters to a fine, jaunty Ratty in Wind in the Willows. In art class the interest and amusement he had in people and character resulted in many highly distinctive drawings and paintings. When the art teacher’s attention was elsewhere in the room he would regularly distract some of us from our artistic endeavours by relating stories from his own vivid imagination. Always entertaining and kind, he was, needless to say, much-liked.

After his National Service he and I reunited for a year or two in London where together we rented a bed-sitter in Bramham Gardens, Earls Court. I remember that the room featured an enormous bay window area in which stood an equally enormous grand piano. This object he soon characteristically commandeered as a clothes horse, festooning it with laundered socks and underwear in need of drying. From this room he set about starting his first job by going to work in the West End as a trainee tailor and cutter. At the same time, he continued his interest in acting by

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION joining drama activities at the City Literary Institute. The ease with which he had made many friends at Truro School, was soon repeated in London where our bed-sitter saw a constant coming and going of a new social group. I, certainly, will never forget him.

Tribute by Fraser Pakes CO55

Guy DODD (Former TS Headmaster 19932001)

THE TRURONIAN Truth be told, I always saw the TSF’s assets as Guy’s money – he initiated it, his personality was (and always will be) riven into its culture and he was its natural leader and figurehead.

When he asked me to take over as Chair, I went to meet him at home in Flushing one Saturday morning. He thought it was to discuss the transfer….. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a case of mistaken identity: I never went to Truro School and felt there must have been others far better qualified.

Over coffee and cake, his encouragement and optimism about the future reassured me – just as he must have done to many of the pupils who were fortunate enough to study under him. It felt a bit like getting me to sail solo for the first time around the Brittany coast. The ability to inspire confidence is a rare skill.

This insight helped me understand the man – always wanting to help and want the best for others, collegiate and inclusive in his dealings with people but a singular focus when necessary, fair and objective, always looking for the positive and interested in the people behind the views and opinions. Importantly, he was particularly family orientated and their summers spent together must have been idyllic. ‘A brilliant dad and grandfather’ as Helen told me.

I first met Guy around 10 years ago when I became a trustee of the Truro School Foundation (TSF) under Guy’s chairmanship.

First impressions were of a measured, selfless and relaxed man who had a passion and drive to help other people.

Physically, he was fit, energetic and loved his sailing – venturing off to France with Helen and navigating the tricky waters off the Brittany coast.

When he asked me to become Vice Chair of the TSF, I fretted about these absences – with him around, it felt like having a firm guiding hand on my shoulder. When he was away, it felt like a heavier load.

He became a friend, and as much as he was keen to let me get on with being Chair, ’your show now’ he called it, I didn’t want to lose his wise counsel.

If we can all influence only 10% of the people that Guy helped throughout his life, we’ll have done pretty well. His character and personal qualities are an example to us all.

I still treasure his funny emails and, significantly, he did possess one of the best gifts a father and grandfather can possibly have… the ability to wiggle his ears!

Tribute by Graham Hooper, Old Truronian Parent and TSF Chairman

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Guy was appointed Headmaster of Truro School in 1993, taking over the helm from Brian Jackson, the school’s Deputy Head who had steered the ship for a year following the sudden resignation of Barry Hobbs.

The Dodd era lasted until 2001 - a time of major transition for the school. “All-through” co-education had just been introduced (the Sixth Form had admitted girls for several years already) and the end of the Government Assisted Places Scheme meant that the school was now fully independent.

This meant we had to stand on our own two feet financially, and there had to be a new realism about how to operate to fulfil the aims of the school’s Methodist foundation.

Guy and the Governors of the school braced themselves for a noticeable drop in pupil numbers; there was a period of real uncertainty and the dreadful possibility of staff redundancies reared its head. Guy was a man of real integrity and his care, sensitivity and fairness meant that this period of unhappiness in the community was not nearly as bad as it might have been. As his Deputy Head at this time I saw close-up how difficult and sometimes painful was his first year or so – but he was a determined as well as a caring leader.

From then on under his leadership the school began to grow in all sorts of ways. By the time we reached 2001 the number of pupils joining the school was the highest it had been for a decade.

This was the result of his not just making the school a centre of academic excellence (a reputation that it had enjoyed, after all, for many years) with a breadth of activities, sporting and cultural, but also establishing a new “tone” in the school. He believed that a good school, with the kind of resources that Truro and other independent schools enjoy, should produce kind and decent (such a Guy Dodd word, that!) young adults who “do not assume the world owes them a living”.

He almost immediately began working on developing a Truro School Assisted Places

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THE TRURONIAN Scheme, a project to which he committed huge efforts right through to the end of his life. He believed fervently in never giving up in the struggle to “keep the doors of the school as wide open as possible”, as he would put it.

At his last Speech Day in July 2001, the Chairman of the Governors John Heath said that Guy’s time at the school was about “buildings and building – that is building relationships. We can see refurbished changing rooms, a long-awaited swimming pool roof, a fine new classroom block at the prep school, and now the building that the school community has planned and waited for, for about three decades, the Performing Arts Centre. But for a person like Guy Dodd, more importantly it has been the personal relationships built between staff, pupils and parents and all who work at the school which marked his time here.”

As we look around the school in 2020, with its more recent massive investments in marvellous buildings, it is perhaps hard to appreciate just what an achievement the building of the Burrell Theatre actually was.

Time and time again the Governors had decided that we just couldn’t afford it. Guy was determined, and by making the school a business success in his few short years, he was able to set the school in a new confident direction.

There were other innovations of course. Guy decided early on that it was important that the whole school community from 6th Form down to the 1st Form should meet regularly all together rather than just in separate group assemblies: how can you feel part of a community if you never actually see it? This idea extended to the way Speech Day was held: he insisted that we had an enormous marquee so that 1500+ pupils, teachers, parents and non-academic staff could gather on a major annual occasion in summer weather (sometimes). Cornwall doesn’t really do “big hats”, but the innovation was widely supported and met with universal approval, though Bob Oram the Bursar probably

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION blanched when he saw the quote for the marquee.

The Speech Day marquee then provided the location for the Summer Ball, the design and preparations for which preoccupied the Head of Sixth Form Colin Blake, Deputy Head Pam Harris, Head of DT Tim Tall, Head of Science Peter Allen and their extended team. The transformation into The Ball in a few hours following the speeches and prize-giving was always spectacular. This series of Speech Day Balls in the 1990’s provided vivid and happy memories for many students and teachers and parents at the time, and Guy knew that these ambitious events helped enormously in building up the confidence and contentment of the school.

THE TRURONIAN Guy always greeted people personally. This wasn’t just a party trick or something, it was a sign that he genuinely took an interest in, and cared about, everyone in the vast group of diverse people whose interests he was in charge of during those eight years. Guy knew that there is no such thing as “Human Resources”, only people.

His rosy cheeks, twinkling eyes and wise smile were widely familiar; not so many people also knew that Guy was brilliant at waggling his ears.

Tribute by: Simon Price Former Deputy Head 1990-2010

There is no one in the world I know who had such a gift for remembering names:

Pam Harris, Guy Dodd and Simon Price, 1998

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Outside the Headmaster’s study is a board which lists the names of Truro School headmasters since we were founded 140 years ago. To be among the names listed is of course a privilege. But I consider it a unique honour that my name is below that of Guy Dodd. Guy and Helen were so welcoming to Harriet and me when we arrived in Truro, and as I got to know Guy I hoped that I might twist his arm to take a lead in helping me to transform the Endowment Fund which he started, into the Truro School Foundation. As it turned out he was only too happy to become our first Chairman.

Under his leadership the Foundation is now established and is making it possible for talented all-rounders to benefit from a Truro School education. I chuckle to myself when I remember Guy insisting that I give him a nudge if ever I felt his advancing years were hindering his effectiveness as our chairman. In truth, it was I who continued to learn from him until the very end. Guy was a kind and most honourable man with a great spirit. Following his untimely death, we mourn his passing, but are full of gratitude that Truro School had the good fortune to benefit from many years of his leadership and service.

Tribute by Andrew Gordon-Brown Headmaster 2013-2020

THE TRURONIAN

John GRIGG (TS 1954-1961)

John Martin Grigg hailed from Lanner and became interested in transport during his daily travels to and from Truro School by bus and train. During the early 1960s he read architecture at the University of Aston where he became a pioneer in the bus preservation movement as part-owner of a Birmingham Corporation double-decker, restoring it to its former glory. He later practised architecture in Bristol and owned a former Royal Blue coach which he often drove to rallies in Cornwall.

He was a founder member of West Country Historic Omnibus & Transport Trust (WHOTT), becoming a trustee in 2007 and ViceChairman in 2013.

In retirement, John continued to do some consultancy, while carrying out research into transport in mid-Cornwall, driving one of his coaches and restoring another. His most extensive event was the Run to the Sun each June in which Royal Blue and associated coaches recreate the annual summer holiday getaway from London to the West Country.

Tribute by John Roberts CO62

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Owen ‘Lyn’ HARDING (TS 1937-1945)

THE TRURONIAN located in the snug of the pub at the top of the slipway. The usual quote from that story would be carrying out Sammy’s instruction to “giv’em a pair of odds” (said in the thickest of Cornish accents) when the main supply of oars had been depleted. To those not familiar with the phrase it was simply a non-matching pair – different lengths/blade thicknesses etc.

The other after school activity we enjoyed hearing about was him playing hockey with friends from School including Robert Shaw CO45 who went on to become a film actor he got eaten by a shark in ‘Jaws’ and thrown from a train by James Bond. Dad enjoyed James Bond films and anything with a good car chase in. Spy films were always preferred for some reason. When we were growing up Dad always groaned if the story line for dramas was a two-parter or more. He used to escape up to his workshop once he got wind that he had to commit to another week for a tv plot line for some unknown reason…

Dad was born in St Ives to Clarinda & Donald, spending most of his childhood years in Truro, and was older brother to Joan & Keith.

Dad attended Truro School and would find that his books were being taken home to amuse his physics master's wife. Why? Well it’s because Dad would illustrate the set problems with elaborate cartoons such as a train steaming down a hill, complete with driver smoking a pipe and the Great Western Railway livery on the engine. We loved hearing Keith’s version of this story too, as Mr Worthington was rather disappointed that Keith did not go about solving the same problems with the flair of his older brother, taking the more conventional approach of just answering the question.

At the end of the school day Dad would help Sammy Martin who hired rowing boats on the River Fal, issuing oars to the customers and mooring the boats whilst Sammy was up in the “office” which appeared to be

Dad did national service after completing his school studies – volunteering to go to many different countries on the training flights.

He then moved to Rugby as an apprentice engineer.

We take comfort from the thought that we are Dad’s afterlife. For those of you that worked with Dad or shared stories with him, we are proud that his imparted knowledge is being used as a base for continuing advancements in the semi-conductor industry and that you may remember him in less challenging times. For us as a family he lives on in us, as we see flashes of him in ourselves and his grandchildren: We will never forget him.

Tribute by Lyn’s daughter, Heather Yazgi

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Adam HUGHES (TS 2010-2014)

THE TRURONIAN

to himself (occasionally too much so for teachers’ liking). He was the living embodiment of ‘Esse Quam Videri’ during his time at the School and maintained this conviction throughout the rest of his life.

As a naturally gifted academic, Adam left the School with a strong set of GCSE results to attend The Perse School in Cambridge for his A-Level studies. He left The Perse with three A*’s and after a gap year working as a healthcare assistant in Falmouth, he went off to study medicine at the University of Liverpool in September 2017.

Adam Hughes sadly lost his life on 22 August 2019 at the age of 21.

At Liverpool Adam continued his strong academic performance, also playing water polo for the university. During his second year, Adam rediscovered his love of running and completed both the Barcelona and Paris marathons.

Adam was born in Truro on 4 February 1998 and spent the early years of his life in Falmouth until the family moved to StChinian, France in 2005. After five years of French schooling Adam returned to England a bilingual and joined the second year of Truro School as a boarder in September 2010 at the age of 12.

In July 2019, shortly before his death, Adam took part in his first IronMan in Norway, completing the race in just over 12 hours.

Adam lost his life swimming across the Danube river in Romania the following month whilst on a 1000km cycling trip across Eastern Europe. Those who knew Adam will know what a fitting metaphor this swansong was for his outgoing and adventurous spirit that could not be easily diminished.

Adam spent four happy years at Truro School between 2010-2014, and with his family still based in France, quickly became an important part of the boarding community under Housemasters Mr. Austin, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Lawrence and Housemistress Mrs. Mulready.

In a bid to recognise his zest for life and physical adversity, a group of his family and friends completed the Florence marathon in November 2019 and will be completing the Vilnius marathon in September 2021 as part of an annual act of remembrance.

Adam took an active part in the after school cross country group under Mr. Knowles, competing for the school on a number of occasions in the Cornwall County Championships. He was also twice a member of the Truro School Ten Tors team, competing the 45-mile race a year young in 2013 and the 55-mile race the following year.

Adam is laid to rest at Mawnan Smith Churchyard overlooking the mouth of the Helford river, with a headstone that simply reads ‘ADAM’. He is survived by his twin sister Tess, sister Abbie and mother Ella and is sorely missed by family and friends alike.

As a schoolboy who was incredibly true

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Tribute by Edward Laslett CO15

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Roger HOLMES (TS 1957-1964)

THE TRURONIAN office of Mayor and he also became a County Councillor. Roger was a member of Mebyon Curnow, the Cornwall National Party and had served as Leader. He was an active promoter of the Cornish language and culture, proudly wearing his Cornish kilt on numerous occasions.

Throughout his lifetime, he maintained his passion for science and was a member of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, serving as both President and Secretary.

His other interests included history and he supported PETA. Above all, he was a keen European.

Roger passed away peacefully in Liskeard Community Hospital on 22 October 2019.

He was a great character and possessed a wicked sense of humour, but at the same time could be forthright and forceful.

I vividly recall an incident in a French class at Truro. Roger's mind was, apparently, wandering. Mr. May commanded that he should "faites attention!" and with no obvious response from Roger, a blackboard duster was launched at him. Roger immediately returned fire and threw it back at the furious master. The class was suitably cowed.

Roger will be greatly missed in Liskeard, Cornwall and beyond.

Tribute by Stuart Sylvester CO64

David JAMES (TS 1952-1959)

Roger was particularly interested in science and was affectionately known as "Prof". In addition to the normal science curriculum he developed a passionate interest in Anthropology and Paleontology, which seriously challenged his geography and geology master, Mr. Penna. Both of them could often be seen poring over rock and fossil samples outside normal class routine.

I caught up with Roger about 18 months ago via Facebook and was amazed how much influence he has had over the years in Liskeard and the wider county. He served on Liskeard Town Council for over 50 years and became a Town Councillor, twice holding the

The sad death of David James in January came after a long fight against bowel cancer.

He was a man of great courage and tenacity and, once diagnosed, he was determined to squeeze every opportunity out of his

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THE TRURONIAN

remaining days, during which time he was carefully nursed by his devoted wife Helen.

rolled down to the ankles, presumably for extra protection.”

The James family has a long and eminent link to post-war Truro School. David’s father, Ken, was House Master at Epworth and a respected teacher of Religious Education.

Ken’s wife, Nicky, prior to her resuming her own teaching career, served as the de facto house mother. Their three sons, David, Gareth CO64 and Wyndham CO66 all attended the school. David was always passionate about his Welsh ancestry and his and his father’s Wickett House. Red was his colour!

Tan Lumby remembers David “As a really nice guy – and not a bad scrum half!”

He was one of the school reunion year group which was formed in 1991 and is still operative today with the members all approaching 80. As a consequence, many tributes have been received from his former classmates which are incorporated in summary form below.

Two of these, Bob Haslock and Peter Thomas, were with David at the very beginning of their schooling at the age of 4 in Mrs Willday’s pre-primary school and thereafter at Bosvigo; then, in 1952, to Truro School where David’s father was his form master. He went on to the sixth form and became a school prefect before embarking, like his parents, on a teaching profession where he taught maths, being asked to do so, after his normal retirement, at Truro School. He taught firstly at Hemel Hempstead and then for 25 years in Penryn.

John Lear recalls David as a fine rugby player in the school’s First XV and later for the Cornwall Public and Grammar Schools.

John writes, “I still have vivid recollections of David as scrum half from close quarters – I played loosehead prop. His timing of putting the ball in the scrum was perfect and we won many “against the head”. He was also adept at “working the line” as he kicked to touch with his right foot, gaining much yardage in the process. Who will ever forget David’s leg attire – two pairs of socks, the outer pair

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David was also a very good cross-country runner and captain of the first team. David Stableforth recalls, “He seemed to have such mastery of himself that, when running up at or near the front of a race, he would go back even perhaps a quarter mile to fetch the school team back-markers, give encouragement to them and sometimes bring them back up with him to the front.

Then, whenever he had done his best for the team, he had the power to run back up to the front and, in my memory, usually win, often by a considerable margin. He was also a considerable track athlete at the longer distances”.

John Speake writes that David made a major contribution to successive school plays through the design and construction of scenery and his practical skills resulted in him becoming an accomplished woodcarver, some of his work being incorporated in the restoration of churches and cathedrals.

His carvings were meticulously crafted, a reflection of the man himself who always strove for perfection.

David also loved to sing and was a member of the Helston Chamber Choir.

Since the reunion group was formed with full reunions in 1991, 2001 and 2011, there have been get-togethers between times and John Wood tells of an excellent visit and tour of the School with David in 2018. The two met up annually.

The wake at the Norway Inn, after a family cremation, was attended by nine of David’s former classmates – David Way, David Stableforth, Gerald Sturtridge, Peter Thomas, Bob Haslock, Tan Lumby, Fred Teagle, Les Rendell - all CO59 and John Matthews CO57. Only distance, with some

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abroad, prevented others from coming.

John Wood writes, “I have lost a good friend. I think we all feel David’s passing heavily” while John Lear summed up the sentiments of all of us “David, it has been a privilege to have known you – as confidant, colleague and friend. May you rest in peace.”

Tribute based on verbal and written responses from John Speake CO59, John Lear CO60, John Wood CO60, Bob Haslock CO60, Brian Thomas CO59, Colin Marsh CO59, Nigel Holman CO59, David Stableforth CO60, Tan Lumby CO59, Gerald Sturtridge CO59, Mike Keat CO59, John Biscombe CO59, Brian Richards CO57, Richard Pye CO60, John Matthews CO57, David Way CO59, Peter Thomas CO59, Fred Teagle CO59 and Les Rendell CO59.

(All were classmates of David during his time at Truro School and are still in communication with each other after more than 60 years via the reunion group.)

John LANGDON (TS 1937-1945)

THE TRURONIAN The earliest record of the Langdon family we have found was William and Martha Langdon who farmed at Illogan over 200 years ago.

Dad was added to the line at mid Devoran in October 1928. His father was a farmer and part-time Tax Collector living at mid Devoran and his Uncle Gerald lived and farmed at higher Devoran. Around 1937 his father decided it was time to hang up his farming boots. He moved to Devoran where he had built a new house called Trerose and became a full-time Tax Collector. Uncle Gerald married, took over both farms and moved into mid Devoran.

Dad was educated at Truro School, before spending two years at Seale Hayne Agricultural College where he gained College and National Diplomas in Agriculture. He returned to the farm to join his uncle in the family farming business and also taught evening classes in agriculture for Cornwall County Council in Truro, Penzance and Helston. Dad married Una Hodges in 1957 and moved into a newly refurbished higher Devoran. A year later I arrived, followed by Melanie, who sadly died soon after birth, and then Sally in 1964.

After Uncle Gerald retired, Mum and Dad continued to farm both Higher and mid Devoran with a mixture of beef, dairy, sheep, corn and market gardening, as well as a few pigs, chickens and Christmas Turkeys.

Dad followed his father and grandfather by serving on Feock Parish Council for 45 years.

He was a member of various committees and took a full part in decision-making in the local community. He was also an enthusiastic member of Carnon Downs Bowling Club.

He made many new friends and enjoyed visiting other bowling clubs and organising competitions. Dad was Chairman of the club and contributed greatly to maintaining the club house and grounds for many years.

In recent years he was given a lifetime membership award in recognition of his contribution to the club.

He felt he had been very lucky to have lived

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THE TRURONIAN

School intake made their mark in September 1978. He was handsome, full of life and a very popular, if sometimes wild pupil. He showed a knack for sport and a penchant for mischief. Bill was a natural water-boy, (in I will leave you with his own words: part thanks to his Dad who, in 1966 paddled “Please celebrate. We all have to go sooner out at the Cribbar Reef off Newquay in a big or later and ‘tis lucky for me it’s been later.” storm) and became a strong swimmer and Tribute by surfer. He was a real dude and full of high John’s son, Phil Langdon CO76. jinks. His most noticeable success was gaining access to the roof of Penrose’s Camping and Leisure at Phoenix Wharf during one lunchtime and pinching the union jack that was flying there. His classmates just couldn’t William ‘Bill’ LYDGATE believe it and he did it out of pure devilment. his life as he did. He used his warranty to the full, rarely complained and had very few regrets we were aware of.

(TS 1978-1983)

He kept the flag as a trophy when he went to the US and eventually gave it to a college roommate (who was a Who fanatic) in return for a backpack. The backpack went through many adventures and was at one point shredded by racoons in Colorado who were attracted by packets of apple butter it contained.

He completed the 35-mile Ten Tors and loved his sport. He was a fearless competitor and enforcer on the rugby pitch where from day one he was a man, amongst boys. He played for the 1st X1 at 15 and 16 and many of his peers were in awe of his achievements.

Bill Lydgate died on November 21st 2019, cut down in his prime by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 53. With his surfer’s physique, infectious enthusiasm and grin, he was a beloved figure in the north California town of Arcata.

William Edward Lydgate was born on September 2, 1966 in Cornwall, to British mother Jennifer Ruth Lydgate (née Grunberg) and American father John Everett Lydgate. Bill’s early years were shaped by travel and adventure. In 1970, the family began a 3-year journey in a VW camper van, travelling overland from Europe to India and Bill and his older brother Chris CO83 were very close.

Bill made a massive impact as the new Truro

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Fascinated by nature, the phases of the moon and changing weather, he was always outdoors. Perhaps a geography field trip to Godrevy helped! At the age of 16, he moved from Cornwall to the USA and finished his schooling at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut.

Bill earned his Bachelor of Science degree in natural resources planning at Humboldt State University. During his undergrad years, Bill became involved with HSU’s Campus Centre for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) and was a student director there during his senior year. At CCAT he acquired his lifelong fascination with recycling stuff that was otherwise destined for the landfill.

He continued his studies at HSU, entering

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION the master’s programme in watershed management. It was during his student years that he met the love of his life, Pamela Bell.

Bill pursued a career as a fluvial geomorphologist, surveying the streams and rivers of California and the Pacific Northwest, often paddling his kayak through fearsome rapids to access remote study sites.

He worked on several dam removal projects to aid in the upstream passage of imperilled salmon and steelhead. His proudest professional accomplishment was his work with long-time friend and cohort Smokey Pittman on the Elwha River in Washington.

This work culminated in the removal of two dams that released 21 million cubic meters of sediment—the biggest dam removal and the largest intentional sediment release in history.

In celebration of this environmental victory, the two friends kayaked the length of the lower Elwha all the way to the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, awestruck by towering, expansive logjams and huge gravel bars naturally formed by the liberated Elwha. Bill held this experience as most profound and it completed his connection with a river he held close to his heart.

THE TRURONIAN made his body weaker, it made his spirit stronger. Refusing to dwell on his misfortune, he focused his attention on interests including environmental advocacy and natural history studies.

Through the entire course of this devastating illness, Pam took care of him at home, surrounding him with love and support.

Thanks to her and an amazing team of carers, family, friends, and medical professionals, Bill was able to stay in their beloved home in peace and comfort.

Family and friends escorted Bill to the North Jetty one last time the day after he died to say their goodbyes and shine love onto him as he rode his final wave into Divine Oneness and a funeral ceremony was held at the ocean’s edge.

Bill retained his buoyancy, humour and sense of wonder to the very end. One of his final messages, typed out on his eye gazeactivated computer just days before he died, was this: “Share the stoke.”

Tribute by Jonathan Blake CO85

His true passion, however, was surfing.

Catching waves was more than a sport for him—it was a spiritual practice. Spending countless joyful mornings at the North Jetty, Arcata in North California, Bill earned a prominent place in Humboldt County’s closeknit surfing community and was known as “The Referee” for his distinctive surfing style of raising his arms above his head when he was feeling the stoke. He also loved to surf on Kauai Hawaii where he had deep family roots; his father, grandfather and great-grandfather all lived on the island.

In 2016, Bill noticed a peculiar loss of strength in his right arm. This was the first symptom of ALS, a neurological disorder that progressively robbed him of the ability to move or speak. Remarkably, while the disease

* Tributes and memories to follow in the December edition.

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THE TRURONIAN

Archive Truro School Headmasters George Turner Headmaster 1879 - 1887 George Turner was appointed the first headmaster of Truro College (renamed Truro School in 1930) in August 1879. Born in Southampton, he was educated at Woodhouse Grove School and Kingswood School before becoming an assistant master at Dunheved College, Launceston. At Truro he was, initially, one of two teachers and was directly involved in teaching the pupils. He was one of the main pioneers of the school; ‘during these years Mr Turner did much to lay the foundations for future success, and many of the best traditions of the school date back to his time…’ He oversaw the move of the school from Strangways Terrace, River Street and Lemon Street to newly built premises (on the present site) in 1882.

In the summer of 1887 Mr Turner left Truro with his family to return to Dunheved College as headmaster.

Among the many tributes given to Mr and Mrs Turner the ‘allusion to the motherly care of Mrs Turner elicited from the younger scholars a hearty cheer, which was the most eloquent tribute Mrs Turner could receive’ … and it was also affirmed that though the directors put up

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the building ‘…Mr Turner had made the school’ with the help of his wife.

Thomas Jackson Headmaster 1887 - 1889 Turner’s successor, Thomas Jackson, had been a student and master at Kingswood School, like several other teachers at Truro College at that time, before he came to Cornwall. He was a keen sportsman, who was enthusiastic about football and racquet sports. Although only at the school for two years he ‘did much to create a more vigorous public spirit and to establish a higher standard of education throughout the school’; exam results improved, out-dated text books were replaced, and the school saw its first university matriculation.

During this time the school’s team sport officially changed from rugby to football, although it took time to displace old practices. Mr Jackson left Truro College at Christmas 1889, to take up a position as headmaster of Wesley College in Auckland, New Zealand. He remained in contact with the school and was a patron of the Old Boys’ Association when it started in 1895.

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Herbert Vinter

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Egbert H. Magson

Headmaster 1890 - 1921

Headmaster 1921 - 1946

Herbert Vinter first came to Truro College as a teacher in 1883, straight after graduating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.

He taught science and maths, and was very keen on cricket, often taking part in matches.

He soon became Second Master, and took up the appointment of headmaster in January 1890. Mr Vinter was ‘a man of sterling character, of firm but by no means unkindly methods of discipline, and sound learning of an unassuming and perhaps old-fashioned quality… he was a good man, rather stiff, but… he was certainly understanding.’ On his retirement in July 1921, after 38 years, Mr Vinter was praised for being ‘the best friend Truro College ever had in its history’ and he had ‘held the whole of them by his winsome, tactful, gracious personality’.

Egbert Magson came to Truro College in 1921, having taught at Tiffins School, Petersham Russell School and Westminster Training College.

He specialised in chemistry and physics, and continued his academic research while teaching. In 1925 he was awarded a doctorate in Science of Psychology by the University of London after 12 years’ research work in experimental psychology and theoretical chemistry. To celebrate the occasion the school presented him with doctorate robes of scarlet and gold.

During Dr Magson’s time as headmaster the school continued to expand, with several new buildings including the chapel, a science block and boarding houses for junior pupils. The playing fields were levelled and Treliske was acquired as its preparatory school. The school’s name was changed from Truro College to Truro School in 1930 and the school gained public school status in 1934. When war broke out, Dr Magson invited Kent College to stay at the school, and he continued to lead the school through the hardships of war despite being long overdue for retirement.

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

A. Lowry Creed Headmaster 1946 – 1959

A.L. Creed was educated at Kingswood School, where he was known for his ‘courtesy, kindness and gentleness… with a distinguished track record both in the classroom, on the games field and as a head of house’, before winning a scholarship to Downing College, Cambridge. He was headmaster of Staveley Grammar School, Derbyshire before coming to Truro.

During his headmastership there were new buildings and facilities, as well as changes to the curriculum. ‘Mr Creed stressed the importance of the right balance between academic, physical, recreative and spiritual training, if a liberal education, training for leadership and good citizenship and the development of sound character were to be fostered in the school…’. He left Truro in 1959 to take up the position of headmaster at Kingswood School.

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Derek W. Burrell Headmaster 1959 - 1986 In his own words Derek Burrell was born and raised ‘halfway between Spurs and Arsenal Football Ground’, educated at Tottenham Grammar School, before teaching at Solihull School and Dollar Academy, Dunblane. When Mr Burrell came to Truro School in 1959 there were only two schools left in Cornwall that continued as Methodist establishments: Truro and the West Cornwall School for Girls in Penzance, which closed in the late 1960s. The fate of the Penzance school ‘suggested to some that Truro School might well go into the state system to secure its future in this remote area of the Realm’. Instead it became fully independent following its status as a direct grant school.

By the time Mr Burrell retired in 1986, Truro School had become co-educational in the Sixth Form and had continued to increase its size and facilities. As a headmaster he was ‘…most approachable… knowing everyone and caring especially for the strugglers and those in trouble, bringing a simple humanity into the heart of the school…’

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Barry Hobbs Headmaster 1986 -1992 There were many changes to the school during Barry Hobbs’ headship. A new library was installed in the former Tower dormitory, the sick bay was modernised, a new biology laboratory was built and the old gym was converted into a common room for the Lower Sixth. The teaching departments were reorganised to make them more compact and the preprep school at Treliske was opened. The main feature of his tenure, however, must be the introduction of co-education throughout the school. Co-education brought more modifications but connections to the past and the school’s traditions remained, tempering the radical change. There were also alterations made to the curriculum, with the introduction of GCSEs, not

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only in the standard subjects but also new subjects such as media studies and physical education.

In 1992, due to ill-health, Mr Hobbs left Truro School, and the position of headmaster was temporarily filled by Deputy Head Brian Jackson, until a permanent successor, Guy Dodd, was able to take up the position the following year.

Guy Dodd

Headmaster 1993 - 2001 Guy Dodd was known for his ‘phenomenal memory for names’. He retired from Truro School at the end of the summer term in 2001 after nine years at the school. He came to Truro after holding the post of headmaster at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire.

When Mr Dodd came to Truro in September 1993 the school was going through uncertain times once again: government assisted places were about to be phased out, pupil numbers declining and co-education making slow progress in the school, not helped by strong competition from the newly opened sixth form college in Truro. Any difficulties were highlighted, and possibly intensified, by the introduction of league tables. To overcome the

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problems and improve resources several plans were set in motion. These included an endowment appeal to provide the school’s own assisted places and the careful nurturing of essential capital projects; including new classrooms, the relocation of music facilities to Epworth, the swimming pool properly housed and roofed, reorganisation of boarding, and installation of a school-wide computer network. The culmination of the improvements was the Burrell Theatre and classrooms, finally putting an end to the lack of performance arts facilities.

THE TRURONIAN

Paul Smith Headmaster 2001 - 2012

Paul Smith was headmaster at Oswestry School, Shropshire before coming to Truro. He quickly became known for his hospitality and keen support of all school events and activities - concerts, chapel services, plays, art exhibitions, sports fixtures, cross country events, Duke of Edinburgh outings, Ten Tors – as well as refereeing on the rugby pitch. In addition, there was ‘the support to staff or pupils facing various personal crises not publicised in the common room or in public. Many… remain deeply grateful for this kindness and care’.

‘One of the ways in which he maintained his optimism was by starting the day by looking for the good’ and he became known for his ‘wonderful sense of humour’.

During his headship the school continued to develop. Among the various changes, Treliske was

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renamed Truro School Prep, the Wilkes language centre opened, the Lower Sixth common room above the Chapel was transformed into the Heseltine Gallery, the lower-quad at the heart of the school was redeveloped and the foundations of a new sports centre were laid.

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

THE TRURONIAN

Mr Andrew Gordon-Brown January 2013 - July 2020 Mr Gordon-Brown has moved to Kingswood School in Bath to continue another headship.

We welcome Mr Andy Johnson to the helm at the start of this 2020 academic year as the new Head of Truro School and President of Truro School Association.

He has written an introductory letter to Old Truronians which is available online, please click here.

We wish Mr Gordon-Brown all the very best in his new role and a farewell to his wife Harriet and their family. Thank you for presiding over the Old Truronian community during the past eight years.

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

THE TRURONIAN

Annual Reunions 2020-2021 Due to current restrictions, all events are on hold until further notice with dates to be confirmed.

All Truro School Association events are free of charge with the exception of the Annual Reunion Dinner. We welcome all Old Truronians to join any event along with guests, although some are specific to particular eras.

If you would like to receive further information about the events, please contact tsa@truroschool.com or telephone 01872 246094.

REUNION

VENUE

DETAILS

Annual Alumni Sports Reunion

Truro School

Matches between Old Truronians and current Truro School teams: rugby, hockey and netball.

Annual Alumni Reunion Dinner

Truro School

We extend a warm welcome to all Old Truronians and guests to this reunion dinner, held in the Dining Hall.

Truro School Connected London

London venue (to be confirmed)

An opportunity for Old Truronians in the London and south-east England to network and catch up with one another.

Truro School Bristol venue (to be Connected Bristol confirmed)

An opportunity for Old Truronians in the Bristol and Bath areas to network and catch up with one another.

Afternoon Tea Reunion

Truro School

For Old Truronians aged 75 and over. Join us for an afternoon of Cornish cream tea, memories from the School Archive provided

by Jo Wood, and excellent conversation with friends.

Royal Cornwall Show

Wadebridge Showground

Visit the Truro School stand for refreshments and conversation with fellow Old Truronians and current members of staff.

We hope to see you again soon!

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

THE TRURONIAN

Follow us online for regular updates about Old Truronian reunions and events plus much more. Don’t forget to update your details with us to be added to the mailing list where you can receive the monthly newletter Keeping Connected and other updates straight to your inbox .

LinkedIn.com | Search ‘Truro School Community’

TruroSchool.com | truroschool.com/oldtruronians

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THE TRURONIAN

Truro School Foundation Chairman’s Update

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives.

It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

Charles Darwin’s quote came to mind when thinking of the period we’re currently going through. The last academic year has been unprecedented. The School has witnessed many changes over its history, but the memories and impact of Covid-19 may be amongst those that live with our community for the long term, as well as the short.

Truro School’s 140th Anniversary year will not easily be forgotten.

The year began innocently enough last September with Guy Dodd at the helm as our much-loved Chairman. Deserving students continued their Truro School journey, enabled by our Foundation Bursary Awards, uniform allowances, a Sixth Form Art bursary, Maths bursary and university travel grants. Perhaps we didn’t recognise it then, but life carried on as ‘normal’.

In January 2020, Guy made the decision to step down as chairman and handed the reins to me – a privilege, honour and a weighty responsibility. Fortunately, Guy took a keen interest and was always there to offer a guiding hand and words of wisdom.

We said farewell to Verity Slater, one of the founding board members, and welcomed a number of new (but familiar) faces to the board: Paul Smith (former headmaster); Peter Stethridge CO67 (Old Truronian and

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Governor) and Rachel Vaughan CO98 (Old Truronian and Teacher).

We also co-opted a number of new board members who will formally stand for election as trustees in January 2021: Rob Cowie (Old Truronian parent & former governor); Peter Munro-Lott (Old Truronian parent) and Tim Bunting (Friend of Truro School). All of them are volunteers and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Foundation. Their input and insight has already been invaluable and I thank them all for joining our important cause.

We were also preparing for more change – significantly, new leadership at Truro School: First and foremost, a new Head, Andy Johnson, who joined us formally on 1st September but who was working long and hard for us before his official start date. We very much looked forward to welcoming him and his family to our community. They had their first pasties [as Cornish residents] on the day they moved into their house at the end of August. That also meant we would be bidding farewell to Andrew Gordon-Brown,

TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION leaving our beautiful county for pastures new in Bath. Without Andrew, the Foundation would not exist – we owe him a great debt.

We will miss him, but wish him well and he has promised to return for our reunion events in the future: Once an Old Truronian, always an Old Truronian.

Secondly, after 7 years of serving Truro School as a Governor and latterly Chair of Governors, Kim Conchie would be handing over to Richard Thomas. Happily, for the Foundation, we have kept Kim as a trustee and gained Richard as a co-opted member of the board.

Two Chair of Governors, rather than one cannot be a bad thing.

Then in March this year, the world changed: Covid-19, furlough and lockdown: words rarely, if ever, heard before, but now dominating politics, the press and media.

The School closed in the normal sense of pupil attendance but school staff had to work harder than ever, events were cancelled and many staff were furloughed. Plans for the Foundation were put on hold. In order to support the School, our Foundation agreed to donate £50,000 to the Emergency Bursary

THE TRURONIAN Fund, which was matched by the TSA, to help support pupils and parents of the School in their hour of need.

Whilst notable and necessary in itself, this has meant that, in the short term, we will not be able to help as many students within the School as we would normally hope to support.

We felt that we should do our bit to support those parents and students who were, almost uniquely, adversely affected by the crisis within the Cornish economy.

Importantly, the School staff went to extraordinary lengths to support not only the students by establishing a remote online study system, but also the wider Cornish community. Teachers had to find a new way of working, and support staff found themselves in a new challenging environment with no historical rulebook to follow.

Here are just a few of the School’s achievements: • The remote teaching system was implemented at a remarkable pace; • We supported a local charity, the Hive, which provides meals for the vulnerable within our community; • We kept our doors open for the children of key workers; • Pupils raised money for NHS charities; • School staff manufactured Personal Protective Equipment for those who needed it; • Many Old Truronians helped in all manner of ways to support others, physically and psychologically, and to ease the pressures of lockdown.

It really has been an incredible, unifying effort to get the School through the crisis, whilst contributing and helping the wider community. Part of the ethos of the School is to do all the good we can, at every opportunity, to as many people as we can (to

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TRURO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION paraphrase John Wesley). This was beyond being part of a community, and becoming part of a wider Truro School family.

Then in May came news that rocked us to our core. We learnt of Guy Dodd’s tragic and unexpected death. Our thoughts were of Helen, his wife, his family and friends. The quantity and content of heartfelt messages which filled the e-book of condolence are testament to the way he lived his life and the phenomenal number of people he helped.

Our thoughts turned to how we could honour and celebrate the life of such a great friend, leader and mentor. Our original plans for Guy’s memorial celebration on 24 October have had to be postponed until March next year when we hope we will be able to bring our community together in a fitting celebration of his life and to plant an Oak tree in the grounds of his beloved Truro School where he will be forever remembered.

And now I must say a few “Thank You’s”: Without the help and support of fellow trustees, the task of guiding the ship, that is Truro School Foundation, would be a far more onerous task and I would like to pay tribute to their dedication and thank them for devoting their valuable time and expertise to further our work. Helen Sullivan (Old Truronian parent and Governor), in particular, has given us a disproportionate amount of her time, expertise and humour.

I also need to offer huge thanks to Nicky Berridge. For those of you who don’t know Nicky, she is the person that gets things done for the Foundation! Her enthusiasm, expertise, innovations and eye for detail (as well as patience) are second to none, and she’s very much an asset to the Foundation.

She’s also passionate about helping deserving children and widening their access to Truro School: ‘Keeping Connected’, our regular newsletter was a key innovation.

Significantly, in the coming weeks, we will be launching our new fundraising campaign, to replenish our depleted bursary fund to help those who need it. With the full support

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THE TRURONIAN of Guy’s family, it seemed appropriate that we do so in his memory and so we will be launching The Guy Dodd Bursary Award Appeal. Guy was a passionate and inspirational man – an exceptional teacher and educator, and devoted much of his time to helping deserving children. His inspiration started the original Endowment Fund (now the Foundation) and his passion has already changed many lives for the better. Never has the school motto ‘Esse Quam Videri’ been more fitting for an individual.

Our aim is to honour Guy’s memory by offering more children the gift of a Truro School education in his name. We’d like to make 2020 memorable for more than Covid-19 – we want to be able to offer more bursaries to more deserving children from the community we live in.

Please help us – together we can change lives.

Graham Hooper Chairman, Truro School Foundation & Old Truronian Parent

The Guy Dodd Bursary Award Appeal will be formally launched in October but you can support the campaign, in advance, by using the donation form on the back cover of this magazine or donate online here.

Donation Form Please complete this form as follows and return to: Truro School Foundation Limited, Tower Office, Truro School, Trennick Lane, Truro, TR1 1TH

> For regular donations by Standing Order please complete section 1, 2, > For a single one-off donation please complete sections 1, 3, 4, 5 and

4, 5 and 6 6

All gifts, no matter what size, are very gratefully received.

Thank you for helping to support a child’s future.

SECTION 1

YOUR DETAILS

Title:

Forename(s) or Initial:

Surname: Address:

Postcode: Telephone:

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SECTION 2

REGULAR DONATIONS BY STANDING ORDER

I would like to make a regular donation by Standing Order: To: (name and address of your bank)

City:

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Please pay:

HSBC, Truro

For the credit of:

Truro School Foundation Limited.

Sort Code: 40-44-34 Account No: 71348825

Please make regular payments of £

IBAN Number: GB45MIDL40443471348825 Every Month:

Payments should be for a period of:

year(s) starting on:

Quarter: /

Account name: Sort Code:

_

_

Account Number:

Signature:

Truro School Foundation Limited, Tower Office, Truro School, Trennick Lane, Truro, TR1 1TH Registered Charity Number: 1070969

Date:

/

Year: 2

0

Donation Form SECTION 3

SINGLE ONE-OFF DONATION

THIS PORTION WILL BE DETACHED AND DESTROYED IMMEDIATELY AFTER USE Card details: Name as it appears on the card: Expiry date:

Card no: Valid from:

/

3 digit security number:

I would like to give a single donation of: £

Issue no. (Switch only):

I enclose a cheque made payable to The Truro School Foundation Limited Date:

Signature:

SECTION 4

/

GIFT AID DONATIONS (Please tick both boxes if you wish Gift Aid to be applied to your donation.)

GIFT AID IS IMPORTANT TO US

Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made today, in the past 4 years and in the future.

I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.

SECTION 5

DIRECTING YOUR DONATION (Please choose one box)

Please indicate if you are happy for the Foundation to decide how your gift will be used to support the needs of Truro School OR whether you would prefer a specific area or project to benefit.

I would like the Truro School Foundation to decide the best way to use my gift for the purpose of improving education at Truro School.

I wish my gift to be used for the purpose of Foundation Awards (bursaries).

SECTION 6

ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR GIFT (Please indicate by choosing one or more boxes)

Every person making a gift, or who indicates their intention to leave a legacy, to the Foundation will automatically become a member of the Esse Quam Videri Society or Wesley Society, especially created to enable the Headmaster and Board of Trustees to thank TSF supporters. Members will receive invitations to selected School events and be thanked publicly in the TSF Annual Report unless their wish is to remain anonymous.

Only your name will appear - we NEVER disclose amounts donated.

I wish my gift to be anonymous I DO NOT wish to become a member of the Esse Quam Videri Society or Wesley Society.

Please acknowledge my name as (Please print): (eg. Mr/Mrs Smith, The Smith Family)

Signature:

Truro School Foundation Limited, Tower Office, Truro School, Trennick Lane, Truro, TR1 1TH Registered Charity Number: 1070969

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