OU Magazine Issue 38 2010-2011

Xxxs The Magazine for the Old Boys and Girls of Uppingham School, Rutland Issue 38 Winter 2010/2011

Forthcoming Events

Xxxs

Contents

OUs in...

Message from the Headmaster

1

News from the Association and Foundation

2

Who? What? Where?

4

Uppingham Society

10

Focus On

12

OU Centenary Celebrations

14

Photo Call

16

Announcements

22

Obituaries

23

Walking the Amazon

28

Memory Corner

29

OUs in the Military

32

Staff Announcements

34

OUs Clubs & Societies

36

Forthcoming Events

39

Uppingham School Sports Centre

40

The London OU 100th Anniversary Dinner

42

Neighbours...

Gabriella Darlington (L 08) is swapping Essex for Erinsborough after beating more than 1,600 hopefuls to win a dream role in Neighbours.

See more on page 9

Hollywood...

Stephen Fry (F 70) and Andrew Welch (H 62) both featured in the Disney film, Alice in Wonderland.

See more on page 9

House of Lords...

OU is the magazine for the Old Boys and Girls of Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QE Tel: +44 (0) 1572 820616 Email: nmt@uppingham.co.uk

John Gardiner (H 69), who is Deputy Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, has been awarded a peerage in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours and has taken a seat on the Government benches in the House of Lords.

See more on page 6

The front cover of this issue features 2nd Lt. James Brown (SH 99) who was given the honour of being the Ensign parading the Colours of the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards at the Trooping of the Colour in June 2010 in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.

OU is the magazine for the Old Boys and Girls of Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QE Tel:+44 (0)1572 820616 Email: nmt@uppingham.co.uk

Message from the Headmaster Xxxs A new school year is always a time of great excitement and anticipation. This has never been more true than when the boys and girls arrived for the Autumn Term. When term ended in June, the Leicester pitches were still sealed off as a construction site and all that could be seen was the dusty outer shell of a new Sports Centre, the inside of which was a mystery to most.

following record A Level results with 90.3% of grades being A*, A or B. Recession or not, Uppingham continues to be full and it is a great testament to the quality of the education on offer here that despite some of the most testing economic times on record, we continue to attract bright, energetic and capable pupils in great numbers.

Thanks to the hard work of many, and to the remarkable investment in our facilities, Uppingham will emerge from this period in a very strong strategic position.

It continues to be a privilege to lead this great School and on behalf of the staff and pupils, I heartily congratulate the Uppingham Association on reaching its 100th year.

Richard Harman

Two months later and the Leicester has been transformed, the 1st XV pitch is pristine, overlooked by a beautiful new pavilion. The landscaping has been completed and the Sports Centre is open and ready for use. The facility really is something to behold and if your travels ever take you near Uppingham I would encourage you to see how we have transformed sport at the School. The Sports Centre is a thing of beauty, both inside and out, and we have received universal acclaim for the quality of the facilities we are now providing for our pupils. We will be delighted when Lord Coe officially opens the building in the New Year.

Four years ago we dreamed about transforming the Western Quad, the area of the School incorporating the Leicester, the Science block, the Leonardo and the old sports centre. Now the first stage of this vision has been significantly realised, despite the economic woes the world has experienced in the meantime. The magnificent new Sports Centre and the buildings that will follow, with Science next on the horizon, are expressions of the ideal vision of an Uppingham education. They embody the truly holistic education to which we aspire.

Whilst pausing for breath, we will continue to work towards this goal. In due course I look forward to sharing our aspirations for Science with you. It is widely acknowledged that Science is an under valued subject in many British schools and whilst our current facilities have served the School well, they are now over fifty years old. We feel it is the right time to regenerate Uppingham’s Science facilities for our pupils.

The completion of the first stage of the Western Quad has truly been a team effort and I would like to express my warmest thanks to the Trustees, the Uppingham Foundation Board and staff, the Bursar and his staff, the contractors and above all every OU and parent who has backed the vision and contributed towards our appeal. You can be justly proud of what the School has delivered with your support.

I am delighted to say that the School has started the new academic year in great heart

Richard Harman with Charles Dunstone (LH 78) on Speech Day 2010

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

1

News from the Association and Foundation Development Director’s Message As the Uppingham Association embarks on its 100th year it is timely to consider the extraordinary links that exist between the OU community and the School.This bond of mutual support has always existed and it certainly thrives today, in countless ways. From career advice to donations, as staff members and as trustees and indeed as our ambassadors and ‘customers’, OUs are intrinsically linked to the ongoing success of Uppingham.

Every year many OUs invite school-leavers into their offices so that they may gain invaluable work experience; others visit the School and share their experiences in the workplace and so help to inform the career aspirations of the current generation. OUs provide wise counsel on our board of trustees, ensuring that the best of Uppingham’s past is used to shape its future, and there are currently four OUs teaching in the School, one of whom is to become the 23rd OU Housemaster since Thring’s days.There are an amazing 97 pupils in the School whose mother or father is an OU, some 12% of the entire school, not counting those pupils who are here because their grandfathers, uncles, aunts and godparents helped to persuade their parents of the benefits of an Uppingham education.

OUs support the School in so many ways and as evidenced by the wonderful new Sports Centre, financial support can make a huge difference to the future of Uppingham. Donations and pledges towards this new facility exceeded £10m and it is no exaggeration to say that the School would not have this wonderful building without the generosity of OUs throughout the world. Every contribution helped to enable this project and the response to the mailing offering engraved pavers, benches and trees shows how willing and

Secretary’s Message

proud OUs are to support their School. We look forward to welcoming OUs back to see their names etched in the stone and wood around the Sports Centre, knowing that they will have truly left their mark on Uppingham.

A special mention should also go to those OUs who remember Uppingham in their will as these gifts can make a huge difference to our capital projects as well as to our aspirations for increased bursary funding.

Uppingham is very lucky indeed to have such a supportive community of some 7200 OUs and we in the OU Office, Richard Boston, Nicola Tyers and myself, do our best to provide a quality service in return. Our aim is to continue to enhance this service, through the many social and professional events we organise, through our improving publications, the OU website, online networking sites, our new memorial website, as well of course by providing a friendly and helpful welcome to those OUs who visit the School or who phone up seeking old acquaintances or information on previous generations. We value your feedback and so please do contact any of us if you have any comments about the services provided by the OU Office or if you too want to offer your support.

The 100th year of the Uppingham Association is a landmark worth celebrating.The centenary is proof that Uppingham really is a School for life, offering a mutually beneficial relationship which enriches the lives of OUs, shapes the future of the School and perhaps most important of all, influences the future of generations of pupils for the better. We look forward to sharing these celebrations with you in 2011.

Patrick Mulvihill

Patrick Mulvihill & Nicola Tyers

2

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

The pace of life never slackens in this busy and flourishing place. I am writing this at the start of the Autumn term with the School roll at an all time high of 790 pupils including 213 new boys and girls. The pupils are now enjoying the magnificent new Sports Centre which has opened on time and on budget.

The social activities of the Association have continued at a pace over the past year. The Over 60s lunch at the Cavalry & Guards, always a well attended and enjoyable occasion was followed by a popular Birmingham dinner prior to an excellent reunion at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh – our first venture north of the border for a few years. The now well established venue for the London Dinner at The Mandarin Oriental was a complete sell-out with the assembled company sitting down to a first class meal in a stylish setting. It was good to see a real spread across the OU age range with an increasing number of younger OUs supporting the event. The overseas visit of the year to Hong Kong had to be cancelled due to the ash cloud however the dinner went ahead without the Uppingham contingent being present. Another first was achieved as the Headmaster gave his speech live via a ‘Skype’ link from his study to a large screen erected in the venue. We are told it was well received! Speech Day saw an increased number of OUs making good use of the buffet lunch in the marquee following the drinks reception. This format seems to

Patrick Mulvihill Development Director 01572 820615 pdm@uppingham.co.uk

Richard Boston Association Secretary 01572 820679 rasb@uppingham.co.uk

suit returning OUs as it gives them a focus to operate from during the day. Early June saw the team hosting a dinner in Jersey at St Brelade’s Bay Hotel with the help of Basil Frost (M 45) who has family connections on the island. West Bank provided the venue for the formal adoption of The Hall into the West Bank OU community. When The Hall closed in 1993 Jerry Rudman our Archivist, rescued The Hall War Memorial which used to hang in the Boys’ dining room. The memorial was remounted and re-hung outside West Bank’s dining room, with an inscribed brass plaque underneath it. Douglas Farmiloe (H 28) unveiled the plaque in the presence of a well represented number of The Hall OUs at the tea provided by the current Housemaster Jonathan Lee and his wife Joanna. The group enjoyed a full day in Uppingham concluding with a dinner in the Undercroft. .

As the majority will be aware, we are about to embark on one of the busiest years in recent Association history, the celebration of our first hundred years.

The Association was formally constituted on Friday June 30th 1911 after a provisional committee had debated it for over two years.

The minutes of the meeting reads as follows:“At the breakfast given by the Headmaster (The Revd H W McKenzie) for the Old Boys on Friday June 30th 1911 being the day following Founder’s Day (commonly known as the second day of the Old Boys Match) immediately after the AGM of the School Society. The Rules of the Uppingham Association which had been drawn up by a provisional committee appointed for the purpose at a similar Old Boys meeting in 1909 were unanimously adopted.”

The first committee of the Association was duly elected and consisted of the Headmaster (ex officio) and seven members including the Treasurer of the School Society and the Secretaries of the OU football and hockey clubs, and the Rovers.

The Aims of the Association which still hold good today were listed as follows:“To unite all OUs and keep them in touch with Uppingham and with one another by:1. Maintaining a Register of all members 2. Issuing periodical leaflets to members containing news and matters of current interest at Uppingham, and in the doings of OUs.

Nicola Tyers OU Events & Membership Coordinator 01572 820616 nmt@uppingham.co.uk

3. To provide a centre at Uppingham for members who desire information.”

The first full accounts of the Association presented on 17th March 1912 indicated a healthy balance of £415–15s–5d after the deduction of expenditure of £60–13s–1d.

At the same meeting the Committee granted membership of the Association to ‘Old Uppingham in India Club’.

At the Headmaster’s breakfast meeting in the Memorial Hall (the old Gymnasium) on June 27th 1913 the issue of the OU colours was finally resolved. The Headmaster proposed the following motion which was unanimously adopted.

“That the meeting approves of such modification of the existing colours of the Association as shall clearly differentiate them from those of the Free Foresters Cricket Club”

Lisa Menzies-Gow Events & Appeals Coordinator 01572 820617 lemg@uppingham.co.uk

Centenary has put extra pressure on the OU Office, but Nicola Tyers, our remarkable OU Coordinator, has taken it all in her stride and I continue to be amazed by the way in which she copes with her workload with calm efficiency in this very full part-time work. On behalf of the Association I would like to thank her for the invaluable work she does on behalf of all of us.

I conclude as I started, the School and the Association are as strong and vibrant as they have ever been and I am confident that an exciting and prosperous year lies ahead despite the economic uncertainties. I look forward to meeting a record number of OUs over the coming year!

With very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Richard Boston (B 56)

The colours have not changed since!

During the course of the year we intend to commission a special Centenary tie and silver bracelet charm incorporating the School Crest which will be available to purchase from Uppingham Sports & Books. As you will see elsewhere in this publication we have planned a large number of events both at home and overseas to mark this unique milestone in our history. I commend all these events to you and very much hope to see you at several of them. For all these occasions do encourage your OU contemporaries to join you. In particular I would draw your attention to a special ‘one-off event’ in Uppingham on the 21st May 2011, the weekend before Speech Day, which is very much along the lines of the old Founder’s Day when the Association will entertain you and give you the chance to the see the School in action on a ‘normal’ day. School tours will be included in the programme.

I am especially grateful to the 2011 SubCommittee consisting of Mike Higgs (Fgh 69), Dawn Wilson (Fd 80), Ben Fry (F 96) and Emma Cannings (L 95) who met on several occasions during the year to formulate the programme for the Centenary.

Turning to other matters, we are still hoping to publish a supplement to the School Roll 1996-2011, but unfortunately we have had a very slow uptake to the questionnaires we sent out to those year groups involved. To date only 15% have been returned and obviously we cannot go to press without a ‘full house’. If you are one of those who has yet to return the questionnaire please do so in order that we can take the project forward.

The Association Committee is constituted as follows:The Headmaster – Chairman Richard Boston (B 56) - Secretary Members Mike Higgs (Fgh 69) Basil Towers (Hf 71) David Gavins (LH 73) Peter Doleman (C 76) Dawn Wilson (Fd 80) Fiona Bettles (Fd 86) James Hartley (B 92) Emma Cannings (L 95) Ben Fry (F 96)

The preparations and planning of the

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

3

Who? What? Where?

It is always good to hear from OUs, wherever you are. Please keep the news coming in.

Douglas Farmiloe (H 28) has just completed his memoirs called ‘A Tarnished Silver Spoon’ which covers the period 1915 – 1947. The price of the book is £9.95 plus £3.95 p&p. For each OU that purchases a copy, Douglas will donate £2.00 to the Uppingham Foundation. Orders by email to: g.d.farmiloe@btconnect.com or by post to: G D Farmiloe, Henstead Hall, Henstead, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 7LD.

John Peake (WD 42) has stood down after 20 years as a Dorset County Councillor. For the last 8 years he has been Chairman of the Dorset County Council. He is still farming in a small way and looking after the Farm Woodland Scheme he started planting 20 years ago. He has been heavily involved with the Conservative Rural Action Group for many years.

Derrick Bedwell (LH 34) has been asked to write of his ‘unique military history’ by The Bomber Command Association after 42 years in the Aircraft Industry. He is the last known person who worked on Lancaster development and flew them from the prototype and for the rest of the war. He also flew other aircraft including Whitleys, Wellingtons and Halifaxes and was also posted to 144 Canadian Airfield on Spitfire conversions and did all the ground running on the Gloucester Meteor prototype and the Meteor Mk 8. He also did the ground run and final checks on the last Hurricane, GAMAU/P2865 now with the Battle of Britain Flight. Post war he flew Viscounts,Vanguards, DC6s, DC7s, Caravelles, comets, DC8s,VC10s and 747s – some list! He is now a life member of the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust and a Life/Pioneer member of the Association of Pioneer Motorcyclists.

Ronald MacDougal (L 44) is enjoying a wellearned retirement after 23 years of teaching.

Arthur Humbert (LH 45) is now retired from a career working in the sherry industry in Jerez, Spain and trout farming in the UK.

Jim Hardy (F 40)

4

President of Ireland, Mary McAleese with Nick (C 50) and Anthony Thornely (C 48) and their families

Jeremy Cridlan (SH 48) raised over £4000 for Cancer Research during 2009 by climbing Kilimanjaro aged 73 years and 11 months.

Irish Stamp featuring Frank Thornely (C 10)

Geoffrey Bullock (LH 38) has moved to Cornwall to be with his son Timothy and daughter-in-law who have taken over the Gwinear Golf Pitch and Putt Course.

Jim Hardy (F 40) first published his book ‘The House the Hardy Brothers Built’ in 1998 and it is now in its third edition. Apart from being a true record of the development of a unique company, the book contains many fascinating snippets of angling history and folklore. Obtainable from Hardy and Greys, Willowbank, Alnwick, Northumberland.

Chloe Coyle, Winner of the All Ireland Talent Show.

Jeremy Cridlan (SH 48)

The President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese, met two OUs at her Garden Party at the President's Palace in Dublin on Thursday 8th July 2010. Anthony Thornely (C 48) and his younger brother Nick (C 50) were invited to meet the Irish President, as a painting of their father Frank Thornely MC (C 10) was used on an Irish 75c stamp in 2006 to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme The painting by James Prinsep Beadle which hangs outside the Mayor's Parlour at Belfast City Hall shows The Attack by the Ulster (36th) Division, with Lieut. Frank Thornely (C 10) of the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles leading his platoon on the first day of the Somme on 1st July 1916. Apart from formally meeting the President, the Thornely family enjoyed a full afternoon of Irish entertainment including the Dublin Male Voice Choir, Jessica Cervi and Ben Morris winners of RTE's 'Fame: The Musical', and

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Sir David Samworth (F 49) received his Knighthood from Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace on 4th December 2009. Sir David was awarded the Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for charitable services. David is President of Samworth Brothers (Holdings) Ltd, and was previously Chairman. Samworth Brothers is a family owned food manufacturing company that employs nearly 7000 people in Leicestershire and Cornwall. Sir David is the major sponsor of three academies in the East Midlands, and his family charitable trust, the Samworth Foundation, is active in education both in the UK and Africa.

Sir David Samworth (F 49)

Who? What? Where?

Professor Barry Maden (WD 49) started playing the piano when he retired and has now reached Grade 5. Some of his most treasured memories of Uppingham are singing in the concert choir, including Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Brahm’s Requiem, but he did not play any musical instruments until his retirement.

Barry continues to do some molecular biology at the University of Liverpool.

Jim Figgis (F 49) set up the Christian Resource Ministries which has been selected to receive the Mission Support Ministry of the Year Award for 2010, an Independent Award Programme recognised both locally and nationally.

Peter Johnson (Hf 50) has started a new business entitled Johnson Fine Art and is proud to have been appointed Honorary Art Advisor to the Royal Veterinary College. His book entitled ‘HEART in Art – A Life In Paintings’ records the inside story of 50 years of the London art market and describes Peter’s part in some of the most interesting deals of his generation.The book is available from Bene Factum Publishing. For more information visit www.bene-factum.co.uk, or visit Peter’s website www.johnsonfinearts.co.uk

David Silvester (SH 53) stood as Conservative Candidate for the South Oxfordshire District Council in a 2010 By-Election.

Anthony Russell (M 56) has retired as the Bishop of Ely. At his retirement service attended by Peter Johnson (Hf 50) amongst many, he gave an address in the Cathedral backed up by four choirs.

Rick Stein (WD 60) returned to Uppingham in November 2009 to reminisce over his school days for the BBC programme ‘The One Show’.

The day drew to a close with Rick visiting his old house where he met up with Nick Taylor (WD 58) whom he had not seen for 40 years.

Nicholas Watts (H 57) was awarded the title of Countryside Farmer of the Year in October 2009 at the Farmers Weekly Awards ceremony in London. This adds to a string of other awards that he has won including the Silver Lapwing award, The Purdey Game and Conservation award, the NFU Farmer of the Year award 2004 and Progressive Farmer of the Year 2006.

Nicholas was also awarded an MBE in 2006 in recognition of a lifetime’s dedication to farming and conservation.

Rick Stein (WD 60) on the Leicester Following its release in Spring 2010, Stephen Fry (F 70) and Andrew Welch (H 62) both featured in the Disney film, Alice in Wonderland. Andrew, who appeared as an extra, has kindly sent in a photograph taken during the filming.

Nicholas Watts (H 57)

John (Hf 54) and David Ashton (Hf 51) have formed a band called The ‘Tea Dance Duo’. John plays the Drums and David plays the Keyboard.

In Summer 2010 they performed at The Athenaeum in Bury St Edmunds for the launch of ‘Bury in Bloom’.

John (Hf 54) & David Ashton (Hf 51)

Steven Green (M 57) had supper with Edwina Harrop (J 99) who is currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam when he was on his way home after a 17,000km journey through Qinghai and round Xingkiang, travelling the southern and northern Silk Road in the chilly winter of 2009/10.

Richard Callingham (Fgh 58) was elected Master of the Salters’ Company from June 2009 to June 2010 following in the footsteps of William Christopher (M 60) who was Master during 2005/06 and also his father, Jim Callingham (Fgh 30) who was Master during 1967/68.

Peter Matthews (C 58) was awarded the Ron Pickering Memorial Award for services to athletics at the British Athletics Writers Association in November 2009.

Andrew Welch (H 62) Charles Howeson (Fgh 63) was asked to become the Regional Chairman of Coutts and Co private bankers in the South West in Summer 2009 and additionally assumed the appointment of Chairman of the National Health Service in the South West on 1st September 2009. He is also Chair of the Advisory Boards of First Great West Trains and the Rowe Group.

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

5

Who? What? Where?

David Kirby-Welch (WD 63) has had a book published, ‘Thomas Bush Hardy RBA (18421894)’ who was one of the most successful and prolific artists in an era when English marine painting reached its zenith. David has also completed 10 years as a JP.

John Gardiner (H 69), who is Deputy Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, has been awarded a peerage in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours and has taken a seat on the Government benches in the House of Lords.

John is married to the sculptor Olivia Musgrave and lives in London and Suffolk. He was Chairman of the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth and South Berks Hunt from 1992 to 2006. He said “I am very conscious of the great honour and responsibility following my appointment to the House of Lords and I look forward to making my contribution to public service. My commitment to rural affairs is founded on the strong belief that a vibrant and working countryside and the communities within it are essential to the well being of our nation”.

Joe Ward (Fgh 64) continues to enjoy his passion for amateur motor racing. He won the 2009 German ‘Classic Trophy’ for pre 1966 cars, driving his 6.6 litre Chevrolet Corvette.

Francis (Bruce) Pike (LH 67) has had a new book published which he describes as a short history of modern Asia since World War II. It is entitled ‘Empires at War’ and is 860 pages long.

Tim Dickson (SH 67) has joined forces with the founder of The Week magazine to launch Golf Quarterly, a new subscription magazine billed as "elegant, witty writing on the game and its characters".The first issue contains a hitherto unpublished article by the late Lord Deedes on a golf match with James Bond creator Ian Fleming at Royal St George's in the early 1960s. For more information and for details on how to subscribe please contact Tim at timothygeorgedickson@googlemail.com

6

Chris (L 70) & Sam (M 04) Sharrock

Stephen Fry (F 70) collected two awards at the National Television Awards in January 2010.

Stephen Fry: In America scooped Best Documentary, while the actor also received a Special Recognition Award. Bamber Gascoigne, who hosted University Challenge when Stephen took part while he was a student - his first appearance on television – presented him with the second award.Tributes were made to the actor, led by HRH the Prince of Wales. Stephen told the BBC: “I really am completely staggered by this, I had no idea this was going to happen. I have the highest possible belief in television at its best. I think of it as the nation's fireplace, about which we can gather together and be lit by its light and warmed by its heat. It can make us feel better about each other. And it can make us feel better about ourselves.”

John Gardiner (H 69) Simon Birdseye (Fgh 69) is continuing with development work on behalf of The Princes Trust and had a 2003 runner at Royal Ascot promoting the work of the Trust.

Tim Dickson (SH 67)

and son raised funds for the Alzheimer’s Society through the challenge.

Chris Sharrock (L 70) and his son Sam (M 04) joined two other friends in March 2010 for a 250km race across the Atacama Desert. It is part of the RacingThePlanet series of desert races (www.racingtheplanet.com) which consists of a marathon a day for the first four days, a double marathon on day 5 and a short hop to the finish on the last day. The organisers provide tented accommodation at camp each night and bottled water every 10-15kms, but apart from that the competitors are on their own. Chris and Sam had a fantastic experience and witnessed some spectacular scenery – from the slot canyons on day 2 where they wound their way down a small river and through a gorge, to the full desert conditions on days 3 and 4 and the dreaded salt flats on days 4 and 5. Father

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Stephen Fry (F 70) photo National Television Awards Adrian Shuker (Fgh 72) is currently a Sustainability Director at OCS Group Ltd. He is also doing a Masters degree in Corporate Environmental Management at the University of Surrey. He is in the England Grand Masters (over 45s) Lacrosse squad which competed in the World Lacrosse Championships in Manchester during July 2010.

David Stevens (SH 75) has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the Insurance Industry and to Charity.

Elizabeth Fisher (Fd 76) is at the University College London Institute of Neurology and has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences as well as a member of EMBO (The European Molecular Biology Organisation).

Who? What? Where?

Following the sad death of his mother in 2009, Guy Muir (L 78) led a five man team in the 25th Marathon Des Sables (MDS) raising £32,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Team ’30 JRM’ consisted of Guy, two friends and two current pupils, Hector Turner (WB L6) and James Ogilvie (LH L6) together they embarked on a gruelling 250km race which included the harshest terrain for years with the unprecedented inclusion of 20km of dunes and severe mountain climbs. With temperatures peaking at 47oC the Marathon Des Sables is described as the world's toughest footrace.

photography, light installations and film. Nick did her foundation course in Leeds at the Jacob Kramer School of Art and Design and went on to do a BA Honours degree in Fine Art and Art History at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She has been the curator at The Groucho Club for twenty years. Rob and Nick’s work has been exhibited all over the world including New York, LA, Zurich, Geneva, Milan and London. They have had special commissions by Kevin Spacey, Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John and Jude Law.

In October 2009, Benjamin Elson (WB 89) and Guy Broadley (Fgh 89) travelled to Banteay Mean Chey, a heavily land-mined corner of north west Cambodia, to visit two of six Community Centres funded entirely by The Adam Cole Foundation. The centres provide schooling and female health services to this beautiful but troubled region. For more information, visit www.adamcolefoundation.org

Michael Handford (Fgh 83) has had a book published entitled ‘The Language of Business Meetings’, which presents an in-depth study of the language used by participants in business meetings which concludes by making practical suggestions for using these findings to inprove the teaching of business English.

Andrew Reeves (L 86) completed the Cornish Coast section of the South-West Coastal path over two weeks in May 2010.The total distance was 302 miles and over twice the ascent of Everest! Over £5,000 was raised for two charities.This was good training for an assault on the Welsh 3000's (officially 15 peaks to be completed within 24 hours). Dan Philps (L 86) is also in the party.

Guy Broadley (Fgh 89) & Benjamin Elson (WB 89)

Elliott Cowan (M/L 89) starred as Macbeth in the Shakespeare’s Globe Production between April and June 2010. He also appeared in Series 2 of ITV1’s The Fixer and is due to appear in a film Heaven & Earth due for release during 2010.

Guy Muir (L 78) Duncan (B 79) and Katie (Fd 83) Kennedy (nee Hilton) spent Christmas 2009 in Sydney where they met up with Alan & Margie Marsden. Duncan worked under Alan at Knox Grammar School 25 years ago during his GAP year. Alan joined the Uppingham staff for the academic year 1982/83 after exchanging with Peter Cannings who spent the same year at Knox.

Andrew Reeves (L 86) Tim Pool (Hf 88) has been working for a firm of financial advisors in Sydney since the semifinal of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He got married to Emmi last year. He is currently looking to purchase a home in ‘the second most expensive, but most beautiful, city in the world’.

Elliott Cowan (M/L 89) photo J Kaplan

Gareth Morris (LH 89) represented Wales at shooting in the Commonwealth Games in October 2010. He recently returned from the Commonwealth Full Bore Shooting Championship in Delhi where he won the Queen’s Prize Gold.

Guy Forgaard (Hf 89) lives with his wife, Hayley, in Los Angeles. Guy works in the television industry directing commercials.

Duncan (B 79) and Katie (Fd 83) Kennedy with Alan & Margie Marsden

Patrick Smith (Fgh 89) and his wife Aimee (nee Queenborough) (Fd 92) live in Dubai.

They have two daughters, Agatha and Frances and are also expecting twins.

Rob (LH 82) and Nick (J and Fd 85) Carter (nee Whittington) have worked together for 12 years. As contemporary artists their work revolves around Light, Colour and Form in many different mediums including painting,

Alexander Haslam (L 89) is married to Emily and lives in Hong Kong where he works as a lawyer. He has recently moved from Skadden Arps to become in-house counsel.

Tim Pool (Hf 93)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

7

Who? What? Where?

Tara Corry (nee Cole) (Fd 90) is married to Martin and lives in Leicestershire. They have three children: Eve, Ned and Tess.

Mark Walters (H 92) is now a software designer for IBM and lives in Oxfordshire. He and his wife Helen have two daughters, Hannah and Bethany.

After receiving a top first in Chemistry, a PhD and then a Post Doctorate, John Bower (B 93) is now doing a second Post Doctorate with Professor Timothy Donohoe at Oxford University. John is also returning to Bristol University this Autumn to run his own research group, which will either be with the Royal Society or the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. It all started when John did a couple of lanthanide research projects during his time at Uppingham.

Oliver Crawford-Avis (C 93) is currently involved with planning a network of marine protected areas in the Scottish Offshore Waters with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Based in Aberdeen with his wife Keesje and son Billy, he aims to make the most of living on the doorstep of the Highlands.

Mark Walters (H 92) and his family Toby Barnes (F 92) has become President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Newfoundland and Labrador and joined the National Board in Canada. Although the volcano ash cloud in April delayed The Princess Royal’s visit to the Province, on St George’s Day they presented 150 Gold Awards of Achievement to the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sophie Spiers (nee Green) (Fd 93) has recently moved to Suffolk with her husband Christophe and their children Florence and Margot and has set up the website Rabbit & Co. (http://www.rabbitandco.co.uk) to promote and sell limited edition prints and personalised children’s prints.

Dan Hipkiss (Fgh 98) scored the try to secure the Leicester Tigers the Premiership Title in May. The Tigers were trailing with three minutes remaining when Dan burst through for what he described as his best moment for the club. Dan's season up to that point had been blighted with injury and he is pictured at the Welford Road stadium on March 6th whilst still on crutches in the company of William Barber (L 73), Mark Coe (Hf 74), Peter Doleman (C 76), Mike Higgs (Fgh 69) and Anthony Thornely (C 48).

Rahul Sagar (F 95) has been appointed a Professor in the department of Physics at Princeton University in the United States.

Flt Lt Charles Thompson (C 96) was in Afghanistan from January to April 2010, flying the Tornado GR4 with 1X(B) Squadron. Their job was to provide armed over-watch for troops on the ground and search for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) using onboard sensors. He is due back out there in October 2011.

8

Alex Duckett (C 97) has been appointed an associate in the agency department at the West Yorkshire office of global property consultancy, Knight Frank having spent four years at Savills in Leeds.

Emma Crawford (L 94) is living near Bath and works in brand strategy in Bristol. She has set up her own business as a wedding florist (www.emmaflower.com) which is going well. She is married and has a daughter called Holly.

In May 2010, Guy Banham (Hf 95) and four friends cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End over 13 days in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

L-R Tom McGrath, National President The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Canada, Her Royal Highness,The Princess Royal and Toby Barnes (F 92)

Parliament. He is now undertaking a Commercial Graduate Scheme for Fujitsu Services Ltd.

Robin Beer (B 97) is about to start a run in Amsterdam in ‘A Dogs Heart’, an opera using puppets. He has recently appeared in ‘1984’ at the Blind Summit Theatre having graduated from LISPA (London International School of Performing Arts) in 2009. He is engaged to Kat, a fellow physical theatre performer from Crete.

Since leaving Uppingham and Exeter University, Oliver Ward (Fgh 97) has spent time working as an Intern at the Houses of

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

In August 2010, a group of 8 amateur swimmers including James Hilditch (LH 98) participated in 'Swim for Heroes', a non-stop swim relay along the length of the non-tidal Thames. The challenge began in Kemble, situated in the Cotswold Hills and, whilst it is not possible to swim the first few kilometres, the challenge began on foot at the source of the Thames. The swimmers then took it in turns to swim for an hour at a time, day and night, until they reached the finish line over 200 kms away at Teddington Lock. This challenge was taken to raise funds for Help for Heroes. To help James raise funds please visit www.swimforheroes.co.uk Felicity Wills (nee Redman) (Fd 98) has written and starred in a one woman show ‘War Notes’ which featured at the Adelaide Fringe in February 2010 where it received a four and half star review in The Adelaide Advertiser. It is a collection of WW1 and WW2 songs with recordings of letters from soldiers who have given their lives in current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The show went to the

Who? What? Where?

Edinburgh Fringe at The Gilded Balloon. For further information visit www.lililascala.com

Cambridge University. This is awarded to the person scoring the highest mark in the Applied Maths part of the Mathematics Tripos.

Billy Campbell (M 02) has been awarded a scottish BAFTA in two categories for Best Short Film and New Talent Award 2009 for Best Fiction for the film 'Life of a Pigeon'.

Gabriella Darlington (L 08) is swapping Essex for Erinsborough after beating more than 1,600 hopefuls to win a dream role in Neighbours. Gabi will guest star as Poppy Rogers, following in the footsteps of Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Guy Pearce and Jason Donovan, whose careers all took off after landing parts in the Australian soap.

Gabi said: 'I can't believe how lucky I am. I never expected to be shortlisted, let alone get to Australia and win. 'I have had an amazing week and am really excited to start filming”. Gabi was whittled down to the final two with fellow finalist Jennifer Hall in Five's Be A Star On Neighbours competition. She will appear on UK screens from November 2010.

Felicity Wills (Fd 98)

Vilius Franckevicius (LH 99) is very excited to have started a job at the University of York after having graduated from Cambridge with 1st Class Honours in Chemistry. The job is a 50% senior Post Doctorate position and a 50% departmental teaching role.

Cathy Lamb (nee Langston) (J 99) has been appointed Lichfield Cathedral’s new Director of Music held jointly with her husband Ben. She continues in her role as Director of Music Outreach, a shared venture in which musicians from Lichfield Cathedral and the Cathedral School will continue to work together to raise the profile of music in the region’s primary schools; she will also continue to direct the prestigious Cathedral School Girl’s Choir.

In September 2010, Claire Dixey (L 00), James Peach (SH 95), Guy Burton (LH 97) and Nick Cook (Fgh 97) hosted the 'Britain in Tandem Fundraiser' where they raised funds for the Enaikishomi School in memory of Amy Elgar (L 00) who sadly took her own life after falling depressed in 2005. In August, they commenced 'Britain in Tandem' – where they cycled the length (on tandems), canoed the width and climbed the height of the British Isles...all within only 9 gruelling days!

Billy Campbell (M 02)

Michael Andrews (WD 03) has accepted a Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in September 2010.

Jo Harris (J 04) appeared on University Challenge representing Magdalene College which was screened on 21st September 2009. Unfortunately Jo’s team lost to St Hughes College, Oxford after a nail-biting tie breaker. She says she owed her appearance on the show to participating in House Challenges where she captained Johnsons’ team in her U6th year.

In March 2010, Lauren Yeomans (NH 04) and a friend hitch-hiked 1,200 miles to Morocco in order to raise money for Link Community Development (LCD). LCD is a leading organisation in the delivery of school improvement programmes in Africa.

Gabriella Darlington (L 08) photo J Kaplan

Matt Bianco (LH 00) has trained as a volleyball statistician with a view to working as a volunteer at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Thank you to all OUs that have sent in news. As we receive news during the year updates will appear on the OU website, www.olduppinghamian.co.uk so please keep visiting the site to stay upto-date with your fellow OUs.

Eleanor Mills (Fd 01) is working for the Royal Academy of Arts as Editorial Assistant for the largest art magazine in Europe, “RA”. She is writing articles on fine art and is hoping to receiving outside commissions.

Rosie Oglethorpe (Fd 01) has been awarded the Mayhew Prize for Mathematics at

Jo Harris (J 04)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

9

Uppingham Society The Uppingham Society is a branch of the Uppingham Association which is responsible for financial grants issued to OUs who are either raising money for good causes or involved with charity work. It is run by Basil Frost (M 45) and below are the causes which have been supported this year.

Keith Taylor (F 46)

British Army Benevolent Fund

£50

David Aspinall (WD 97)

S.O.S Children’s Villages, Cameroon

£200

Simon Wells-Cole (C 99)

Health Exchange & Rural Assistance, Nepal

£200

Sophie Hughes (Sa 01)

Baobob Home, Tanzania

£200

Sam Sharrock (M 04)

Alzheimer’s Society

£150

Jessica Rymer (NH 04)

Primary School, Mexico

£200

Kinvara Hubbard (NH 05)

Baas Education Trust, India

£150

Rachel Sutton (J 07)

Operation Raleigh, Borneo

£200

James Ogilvie (M)

Marathon Des Sables

£200

Hector Turner (WB

Macmillan Cancer

Chris Sharrock (C 70)

David Aspinall (WD 97) To raise money for the charities SOS Children’s Villages and Send A Cow, David Aspinall (WD 97) and Ben Stevenson planned to drive from Senegal to Cameroon in Sally, a 1934 Austin Seven Special with a 750cc engine and a top speed of 48mph. The trip kicked off on 18th December at the start of the Africa Rally 2009 at the Top Gear track in Surrey. They then shipped Sally to Senegal to begin their adventure, but faced problems when she was broken into on the ship, losing, among other things, her starter motor. Undeterred, they soldiered on in good spirits. One of the highlights of their trip was a Christmas party at an SOS Children’s Village in Bakoteh, The Gambia.

“There were 50 beaming children jumping all over our tiny Austin, testing her horn and generally causing mayhem. Their energy was infectious and, by the end of the party, we were throwing them up in the air, much to their amusement. We had been aware of SOS Children’s Villages for a while, and felt passionate about the work they do – helping children who have become orphaned in tragic circumstances. They provide them with a trained and screened ‘mother’, who brings them up in a family home with other orphaned children. They also provide schooling and vocational training throughout their childhood. Send a Cow was a charity we heard about more recently. They provide local villages with training, seeds and livestock. The introduction of efficient farming methods to local communities means food

David Aspinall (WD 97) and Ben Stevenson

10

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Basil Frost and grant recipient Rachel Sutton (J 07)

yields increase considerably, often making the difference between life and death.” Read about the adventure at www.chocksaway.co.uk

Simon Wells-Cole (C 99) “I have recently returned from my medical elective in Nepal, which was kindly supported by the Uppingham Society. I spent February in the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, working in the orthopaedics and trauma department. This was a large and busy hospital, and I saw a wide range of cases that I wouldn’t come across at home, and I was also able to gain experience in trauma.

For the second part of my elective, my intentions had always been to visit rural Nepal.

A family friend had recommended I look up a health post in Deusa, in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. I wanted to get an insight into the provision of healthcare in remote and rural regions of the country, where the medical facilities are not so developed as in Kathmandu.

I was interested in how difficult medical problems were dealt with – both by the healthcare professionals, and the patients themselves. I couldn’t imagine the stresses of being ill in a developing country, in a place 4 days walk from the nearest road.”

Uppingham Society Laura Warden (J 03) “Our first destination was Cusco, Peru where the money The Uppingham Society gave me was spent; we worked with children in the poorest area called San Blas. Here we were teaching English, doing basic arts and crafts and playing sports. We bought new equipment including footballs, basketballs, pencils, pens and stationary which they were lacking. We also made a large puppet show and painted one of the church rooms which the children loved. Not only was it great fun, but we also felt a great sense of achievement and formed great bonds with the children. They were so grateful and happy which made it very rewarding. We also taught English at an orphanage every afternoon which was equally regarding as the children were so eager to learn even though they had been at school all day. The time in Cusco went so fast and at the end we were so sad to leave. It was like leaving home. The city and all the people were amazing and we made great bonds with the locals. We then went to Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Australia, Bali and South East Asia which were incredible. My time travelling was such an amazing eye opener and the most incredible experience. Now at university it feels like a life time ago but I will hold the memories forever.”

Sam Sharrock (M 04) “I spent a week in the middle of the Atacama Desert, Chile competing in one of RacingThePlanet’s 4 Deserts events with my father Chris (C 70) where we raised money for the Alzheimer’s Society. It was a 250km plus footrace with the only aid competitors getting

being water and a tent to sleep in at the end of the day. The race itself was full of mixed emotions, at times you would be considering what on earth possessed you to enter, but other times you would be stunned at the beauty of the scenery or the sheer determination of yourself or the other competitors. At the tough times it was really great thinking about those who made the donations that helped me get through. It truly was an unforgettable experience, many friends have been made and many emotions shared. If you would like to see any pictures of the event, please visit www.4deserts.com/atacamacrossing”

Jessica Rymer (NH 04) “When I arrived at Heathrow airport at 7am on February 1st 2010, I was nervous. I was on my way to the other side of the world with a bunch of people I’d never met before to live amongst a very different culture for 5 months. However, I had nothing to worry about as we all bonded on that first plane to Amsterdam.

We were met at Mexico City airport and we spent the first two weeks in a beautiful Hacienda in Pipiol. Here we had our first taste of Mexican food, took Spanish lessons and we were told more about the history and culture of Mexico.

My house was in a town called Polvillos and I taught in Polvillos primary and secondary schools with my partner, Oli. The house was very basic but we were very lucky as our landlord had a spare fridge which was such a luxury. We hadn’t even started school and we were already teaching, the landlord’s children came the day we moved in to ask if we could teach them English in the garden.

When we started school we got a huge welcome.

All the children were lined up and threw confetti at us as we walked up to the headmistress who gave us flowers. The actual teaching was a great experience, although quite hard work. The majority of the primary school children were very willing to learn but we had to keep the balance between studying and playing.”

Rachel Sutton (J 07) Raleigh International Expedition to Borneo “I was lucky enough to work at the Borneo Sun Bear Sanctuary in Sepilock building the foundations for a bridge within the tourist area. I travelled to a very remote, sparse village to build a gravity water-feed system. It was such an experience to interact with the local people who had never even seen white people before. We had a home stay, joined in local ceremonies and even tried to learn the local language.

The final part of my expedition included a 14-day trek through primary rainforest, sleeping in hammocks and living the natural lifestyle followed by 5 days on a remote island learning to scuba dive and planting coral.

I am so grateful to The Uppingham Society for donating so generously to my fundraising target. I had the most incredible time and it is a time of my life I will never forget”.

Mango Tree milestone The Mango Tree is the official school charity, and earlier this year the pupils passed the land mark of raising over £100,000 in total for the charity!

Each Boarding House aims to raise £500 a year, and frequently that target is far exceeded such is the support and enthusiasm for this project.

The variety of fund raising ventures dreamt up by the pupils is impressive! Since its inception in 2002 under the leadership of Willie Fulton (C 57) and Bob Dowson (LH 55), The Mango Tree has developed into a very successful project. It is a community based orphan support scheme operating in villages in Tanzania and Kenya. In 2003 a party of pupils visited the Tanzanian branch and dug out the foundation for the buildings – a nutrition centre, education offices and community project offices. Since then, two further groups of pupils have been out to Tanzania, and a number of OUs taking GAP years have

website which is currently being redesigned by a company run by OUs.

undertaken placements at Mango Tree. It is not an orphanage, but a highly organised and efficient outreach programme that supports 12,500 orphans in both Kenya and Tanzania.

Many OUs are now regular donors to the Mango Tree and they recognise that it is doing amazing work in a highly cost effective manner – almost zero costs in the UK! It has been recognised by the presidents of both Tanzania and Kenya and been featured in the Times newspaper. Currently it is undergoing a complete external evaluation of its work (the cost of which is being met by a sponsor) and the report will help inform the charity about how to develop most effectively over the next 5 to 10 years. It will be made public on the

If you want to find out more, or wish to receive a regular Mango Tree newsletter, or make a donation, do contact Willie (fultonw@gmail.com) or Bob (Bob.Dowson@siteconfidence.com) or Nic Merrett, at Constables, Uppingham LE15 9SE (nsm@uppingham.co.uk)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

11

Focus On

J.F. Wolfenden 1934 - 1944 This is the second in our series in which we focus on 20th century Headmasters.

The Rev’d R.H.Owen had been only 28 years old when he was appointed Headmaster; in November 1933 the Trustees appointed a man of 27 to succeed him. Of the two men they had invited to the final round of selection they chose not the mature, highly experienced housemaster of a famous school, but a brilliant, young university don who had no first-hand experience of independent or boarding schools, and had not even taught schoolboys. He was John Frederick Wolfenden, Fellow and Tutor in philosophy at Magdalen College, Oxford; he had been educated at Wakefield Grammar School, and subsequently went to Oxford as a Hastings Scholar at Queen’s College. Like Owen he was a classicist, but unlike him he had not won a first in Honour Moderations; more significantly, however, his high intelligence and power of lucid thought had gained him a first in Literae Humaniores.

Wolfenden was also a Blue and an international at hockey, having kept goal for Oxford and England, a position where speed of thought and courage were important assets. A year before his appointment he had married the second daughter of his old Headmaster, having first met her while still at Wakefield Grammar School. When the Wolfendens first came to Uppingham, she was carrying their first child, Jeremy, who was born on the Headmaster’s 28th birthday. He was the first child to be born in School House since the far-off days of Selwyn, and he was followed by two sisters and a brother.

Wolfenden had told reporters when they interviewed him on his appointment that he did not intend to make any changes for a year. No-one could reasonably hold a man to what he said under such circumstances, but he kept to his intention and until he had seen how the place ran, altered little, except for the promotion of the new sanatorium and the removal of one or two relics of the Victorian age. He abolished, for instance, after his very first term, the custom of affixing boys with the same name the distinguishing suffix of ma, mi or min, on the logical grounds that it was easier to remember who Smith, P.F was throughout his school career than to keep pace with the metamorphoses within five years of Smith octavus to Smith major, - the same boy, but a different description.

As a housemaster it was immediately apparent that he was more approachable than Owen, and – perhaps because he was then closer in age to the boys in his care – more sympathetic. Nevertheless, he was fully capable of maintaining the proper imposing dignity of a headmaster on formal occasions.

As a teacher he stimulated the quick-thinking classes that came before him, but found scant patience to deal with the slower forms at the bottom of the School.

The boys in the School in his time were conscious that he was a man of distinction and they felt proud to have as Headmaster one who was a man of weight on the Headmasters’ Conference, and a man of national importance. Of all the Headmasters of Uppingham, Owen and Wolfenden made, in their subsequent careers, the greatest mark in public life.

Taken from Chapter 10 of By God’s Grace.... – A History of Uppingham School by Bryan Matthews

Recollections “John Wolfenden was two people – a fearless hockey goal-keeper who made you hold your breath when he dived at the ball and a seriously capable Headmaster who left the smiling to his wife. He did, of course, excellent work with the RAF recruitment in the war.

A few years after the war, Gordon Doulton’s wife organised a charity lunch in Wimbledon with Lord Wolfenden as guest speaker and invited me along. I was taken along to meet him before lunch and said “very nice to meet you again Headmaster”. He looked at me and said “you haven’t changed, Townsend-Green”. I sat next to him at lunch, but he wasn’t into small talk!”

John Townsend-Green (F 33) “In August 1939, with the Second World War

12

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

imminent, the Government requisitioned "for war work" the buildings of the small school in Birmingham which I was attending. The school decamped to farm buildings in Worcestershire where I spent a short period. My father, rightly suspecting that education there would be much disrupted, approached Rugby and Uppingham to see if either would be prepared to accept me a year early. Rugby wrote positively within a few days. Meanwhile my father had received a telegram: "Can take your boy. See you any time tomorrow. Wolfenden." This gave us our first impression of Wolfenden. A man of brilliant mind, he was also brisk, decisive and efficient in administration, qualities which were to stand him in good stead in the numerous public positions he occupied in later years. He was also personally approachable and always able to understand the personal views of others. Thus he could discuss mundane matters sympathetically with boys.

As to Headmasters, Owen was said to be feared while Wolfenden was respected. They were equally draconian about coughing in chapel or at concerts! On appointment Wolfenden made it clear that he would only stay for ten years. True to his word, in 1944 he left for Shrewsbury. He was unfortunate that in his first five years he was troubled, like many other schools, by falling numbers. Then he had to face the extreme shortages and restrictions of the war years and the problems created (but overcome with exceptional success) of sharing buildings and facilities with Kingswood School from Bath whose own buildings had been requisitioned by the Admiralty. In other times, the impact of Wolfenden's decade would surely have been greater.

Public calls on his time increased as his abilities were ever more widely recognised, including by various Governments. Notably in 1941 he was released for twelve months by the Trustees to be Director of Pre-entry Training for the RAF. Out of this the Air Training Corps was formed. His days of absence from Uppingham for various public duties became more frequent, but as boys we never felt that the school was being unduly neglected.

A telling cameo occurred in 1944 when, helped by a few others, I had the invidious task of selecting a leaving present from the boys. The only constructive suggestion I received was a railway season ticket from Shrewsbury to London. We ended up by buying him a large silver vase. In thanking me, he said that it reminded him of an altar vase. This was not my finest hour!

J Michael Prosser (F 39) J.F.Wolfenden (I think he was known as ‘Jack’ but clearly not to us boys!) had a fetish about coughing in chapel and I can remember spending what seemed like a large part of

Focus On morning and evening chapel desperately fighting an ever growing tickle in my throat lest it burst into a full blown cough. On many a Monday morning, after prayers, his address in Hall would invariably include a stern admonishment about the serious outbreak of coughing which had occurred in chapel the day before.

He also had the great skill, when addressing School in Hall, of looking down the centre of the room yet at the same time appearing to address you personally. Usually, during this somewhat unnerving address, he would be twirling the sleeves of his gown in a stern ‘nononsense’ manner.

While he often seemed rather an awe-inspiring and distant figure, we had enormous admiration for him and felt that he knew us as individuals.

A classic example of this occurred for me some forty year later, when I was one of several hundred attending a business dinner. Sir John, as he was by then, had addressed us on some theme of the day and I ventured up to the top table to congratulate him. Before I had opened my mouth he said “Griffiths. Lorne House. Your top button is undone!” Plus ca change.....!

Richard Griffiths (LH 39) ‘Jack Wolfenden – Sir John to the outside world and just ‘the Headman’ to us – was an absolutely outstanding Headmaster and to me a splendid Housemaster in School House. He was a great motivator and much respected disciplinarian – cough while he was reading a lesson in Chapel and you knew all about it at the time and afterwards! That taught a bit of self-control that I still espouse to 70 years on.

We missed him very much, in the House particularly, for the year he was away setting up The Air Training Corp in 1941 but were well looked after by Mrs Wolfenden and Bryan Matthews, our House Tutor.

As rather a shy child and a bit of a swot, I was brought right out of myself when in 1943 the Headman suddenly chose me as a joint editor of The School Magazine – there was after all something major he thought I could do outside the classroom which gave me the selfconfidence that I have never entirely lost – so far! Thank you so much, Sir! Peter Jackson (SH 40) “I went to Uppingham in September 1940 along with a number of other boys from Yorkshire who had been to Oatlands Prep School in Harrogate. We all boarded a train from Leeds City Station which stopped specially at Manton Junction so that we could catch the bus that would take us to the School.

At that time Jack Wolfenden had been the Headmaster for a few years and was well established with a good staff team and in spite of the war a full school. He was also

Housemaster in School House with the Reverend Ifor Jones as House Tutor. I found Ifor Jones somewhat eccentric because he was supposed to teach me Latin in Upper 4B but the lessons rapidly gravitated into discussing the assets and faults of Len Hutton, Walter Hammond and other such personalities of the cricket world. Not a very wise thing to do as there were so many Yorkshire boys he had a hard job in getting his views across. Hence my knowledge of Latin being reduced to amo, amas, amat as Jimmy Edwards used to say.

Jack Wolfenden was quite an austere man and ran a pretty tight ship, but he did come along to the dormitory as we went to bed and had a word with most of us, before going along to the end to talk to the praeposters. It was not long before he was called away to run the Air Training Corps in London and we did not see him during the week. However he did return at the weekend and the usual formalities proceeded, watching rugby and cricket depending on the season.

It seems now that as young boys we had no real idea as to what the rest of the world was doing and my only lasting impression was playing cricket on the Middle and watching B17s massing above us before setting off for Germany, and even then it did not seem to concern us. Very sad.

In 1943, I left Uppingham to cram for the Navy exam but was unsuccessful and volunteered for the Navy as a Hostilities Only Rating and only saw Jack Wolfenden once again when I returned to play in Marmy Elliot’s dance Band in Oakham. Marmy had taught us to play brass instruments during the war time period”.

John Tempest (SH 40) “The thing I remember about Wolfenden is coughing or sneezing in chapel. He would lean out of his cubicle (or whatever the right ecclesiastic terminology is) and glare towards the congregation – and even though he couldn’t possibly know who the offender was, if it was you, you felt like he did!

He always seemed remote to me when he was walking around – quite unlike his successor Martin Lloyd.”

John Faber (LH 42) “When I came to Uppingham, J.F Wolfenden was Headmaster. We had Kingswood School billeted on us during the war years; friendly rivalry on the whole but nothing untoward, though we envied them being allowed to put their hands in their trouser pockets! Ours were sewn up – one of the many absurd antiquated rules of the School we had to abide by and which made little sense to us.

nonetheless, as I remember passing him one day during my first term when he asked me how I was settling in. That he even knew my name surprised and impressed me.

We had to run between lessons because some of the staff taught in school houses. I remember Latin in The Lodge with A.M. Smallwood; English under P.B King in West Deyne. Kingswood had taken over some of our premises so time and space was at a premium.

I fondly remember many teachers, two of whom stand out in particular; J.R.Colville, a brilliant maths master and P.F.Saunders, a charismatic character, who smoked like a chimney and wore his trousers too long!

I have two vivid memories of J.F.Wolfenden, both to do with chapel. At the end of a service he would exit down the aisle holding this mortar board in front of him waist high. One was tempted to throw collection money into it as he passed by, or better still from the gallery above, but I don’t think anyone dared or did! Then there were the histrionics if there was any coughing during a service. I was mystified and terrified by his reaction; a prolonged and penetrating state at the captive congregation; the loud snapping shut of a book he was holding and then an embarrassing silence throughout. A real bit of ‘theatre’ if you ask me, but I think he enjoyed the limelight.

In the final analysis J.F.Wolfenden was an efficient and thoroughly competent Headmaster – one of the best – and for whom, as a young impressionable 13 year old ‘fag’, I had the greatest respect. I was in awe of him until he left us in 1944.”

Maurice Bradshaw (L 43) “The reason I went to Uppingham was that parents were on holiday in Bournemouth in 1934 staying at the Marsham Court Hotel where J.F.Wolfenden’s parents were also staying.

At that time, he had just been appointed the Headmaster of Uppingham; he was the youngest Headmaster to be appointed to an English public school. They persuaded my parents to enter me for Uppingham although I was only aged 4 at the time!

I arrived at Uppingham for the Summer term of 1944. It so happened that this was J.F.Wolfenden’s last term at Uppingham as he had recently been appointed to be Headmaster of Shrewsbury school. I therefore had only one term at Uppingham under J.F.Wolfenden who I remember to be very austere and rather a remote figure.”

K S Williams (Hf 44)

To be honest, J F Wolfenden frightened me. He was a strict disciplinarian, but approachable

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

13

Come and celebrate 100 years of the Uppingham Association

OU Centenary Celebrations Saturday 21st May 2011

• Chapel Service • New Sports Centre Tours • Lunch on the Headmaster’s Lawn • Tours of the School Details of this event will be advertised shortly but please keep the date free!

14

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

OU Book

To mark the Centenary of the Uppingham Association I was delighted to accept the task of putting together a cultural and social history of the last fifty years of the School, from the start of the Swinging Sixties right up to the present day. I would therefore be very pleased to hear from any OUs who have recollections, serious or amusing, historical or anecdotal, of staff, fellow-pupils, events triumphant or disastrous, or indeed anything that comes to remind you of your days at Uppingham.

The end result will be a look at the life of Uppingham during this era, putting the times and the fashions as a background to the events of those years, an account of what happened, and an anecdotal supplement of the amusing or remarkable events in which you had a part, in short the sort of things you might remind one another of when you meet, or which you might tell your children.

will be embarrassed, by his or her deeds being related, and I hope too that many memories of these crucial, for better or worse, years of one’s life will be stirred.

So please let us know what moments you would like to be remembered, and also please let us know whether you are happy for them to be ascribed to source, or to remain anonymous. I look forward myself to being reminded of many of those times that I have forgotten.

Putting together a book of this nature will be an enjoyable challenge which I expect will take many months to complete. As soon as we have a publication date in mind, we will be in touch to let you know how you will be able to acquire a copy.

100

In the meantime, do please send your stories, tales and memories to me, care of the OU Office.

David Gaine

This will not be a History of Uppingham in the manner of Bryan Matthews’ ‘By God’s Grace’.The past I shall be covering is too close for that. I shall ‘nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice’ as Othello in his final speech asks of those who ‘shall these unlucky deeds relate’. No one I hope

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

15

Photo Call

The Lodge 50 Year Reunion The Lodge intake of September 1959 had a very enjoyable 50 year lunchtime reunion at The Royal Thames Yacht Club on 4th November 2009. The two absentees James ‘Dinty’ DicksonLeach and John Denton were unable to make the lunch as they lived on Vancouver Island and New Zealand respectively. David Downes said “It was a tribute to the School that the bonds of friendship forged at Uppingham survived the 45-years since some of us had not seen each other.”

Back row L-R Alastair Greer, Hugh Firth, Richard Fletcher, Richard Tavener, David Douglas-Morris Front row L-R R Nigel Brown, David Downes, Peter Jennings, Anthony Goddard

Uppingham Sporting Dinner The Uppingham Sporting dinner was held in aid of the Uppingham Foundation and The Adam Cole Foundation at The Park Plaza Victoria in London on 5th November 2009. Special guests for the evening were Jonathan Agnew (L 73) and Martin Corry.

16

Jonathan Agnew (L 73) & Simon Noble (L 73)

David Jackson (Housemaster of Farleigh), Jeremy Nettleton (SH 96), Jane Marr, Alex Morrill (Fgh 96)

Martin Corry & Jonathan Agnew (L 73)

Oliver Duckett (C 95) & Amy Burton (L 98)

Benjamin Elson (WB 89), Sarah Wall (Fd 92) & Martin Corry

Alex Duckett (C 97) & Alexandra Glatman (Fd 02)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Photo Call

Scotland Dinner Despite the stormy weather a successful dinner was held in the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh in November 2009.

It was a triobute to Uppingham how far some of the guests had travelled with one OU and his wife enduring a 5-hour round trip to be there.

Robin Carlyle (LH 54) & Martin Long (Hf 59)

Jeremy & Emma Greville-Williams & David Scott (L 54)

Chris Foulkes (LH 68) & Cris Winter (WD 57)

Birmingham Dinner Keen to set up a network amongst OUs within the West Midlands, Claire Elaine Arthurs (J 97) was instrumental in helping to set up a successful dinner at The Opus Restaurant, Birmingham in November 2009. OUs enjoyed an evening of fine food and wine and a chance to meet other OUs working in and around Birmingham

Christopher Owen (C 57), Stephen Green (M 57) & Christopher Shann (SH 52)

Claire Elaine Arthurs (J 97), Nick Briggs (B 97), Rachael Wong (Nee Adnitt) (Fd 84), Christopher Lloyd (Fgh 69) & Jeremy Payne (F 73)

Nick Briggs (B 97) & Claire Elaine Arthurs (J 97)

Shenton Park Gathering, Australia

A successful picnic was held in Shenton Park, Perth in January 2010. along with OUs living in Western Australia they were joined by Tony Keene (WD 47) and his wife Carol who were in Australia on holiday.

Back row L-R Neil Baird (LH 70), Charlie Peach (B 92),Tony Keene (WD 47), John Bird (L 67) Front Row L-R Lockie Baird (LH 40), Carol Keene, Rodney Pepper (WD 49)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

17

Photo Call

The London OU Dinner Once again we welcomed a full-house for the OU London Dinner which was held at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge in February 2010. Over 200 OUs enjoyed excellent food and plenty of wine making a successful and enjoyable evening for everyone involved.

Charlie Dickins (L 99) & Alex Marshall (B 95)

Emma Cannings (L 95) & James Watson (L 88)

Casey O’Hanrahan (Current staff) & Michael Christopherson (LH 49)

John Webster (C 70) & Stephen Merton-Jones (LH 67)

Charlotte Trace (Sa 01) & Ben Redgate (LH 94)

Derek Bunting (B 45), Richard Boston (B 56), Sir Peter Cazalet (M 42) & Robert Ditcham (M 74)

18

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Photo Call

Ben Bullard (WB 96) & Andrew Prideaux (WB 96)

The Headmaster during his speech

Louise Whitlock (Fd 99) & Tess Drummond (Housemistress at Fairfield 1992-2009)

Paul Ledger (Housemaster of the Hall 1961 - 1972) and his wife Jenny Alistair Sinclair (F 86) & Simon Bray (Fgh 86)

Charlotte Fitzgerald (Fd 99), Helen Roberts (Fd 99), Harriet Molyneaux (Fd 99), Richard Boston (B 56), Fiona Slominska (Fd 99), Louise Whitlock (Fd 99) & Francesca Wiggins (Fd 99)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

19

Photo Call

Hong Kong Dinner Despite the ash cloud preventing the Uppingham staff from travelling to Hong Kong, a successful evening was held at The Hong Kong Cricket Club in April 2010. Despite his absence at the dinner, the Headmaster still gave a speech via Skype!

Joshua Law (WB 75), William Lam (F 76) & Billy Lam (F 77)

William Lam (F 76), Kai Man Fok (M 02),Yiu Chi Mak (M 92), Daniel Yeung (WB 93) and Keith Lam (LH 95)

Vancouver

Toronto

On 19th October 2010 we held a dinner in the Vancouver Club courtesy of Russell Smith (M 73) who is the current President of this prestigious club. This is the first such event on the west coast of Canada and any OUs visiting that part of the world will receive a warm welcome.

On 23rd October 2010, Michael Royce (SH 60) kindly opened his home in the Forest Hill neighbourhood to the OU ‘family’. OUs living in Ontario and Montreal were warmly welcomed to supper.

(L-R) Richard Boston (B56), Declan Foody (F 05), Paul Foody (current parent), Bruce Wilson (LH 67), Fergus Foody (current pupil), Lucy Tompkins (Fd 81), Russell Smith (M 73), Frank Denton (LH 58), Guy Pemberton (WB 67), Jan Holt (nee Bell) (ex-staff) and Charles Thackray (C 67)

Bruce Wilson (LH 67), Guy Pemberton (WB 67) and Charles Thackray (C 67)

20

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

(L-R) Francis Boston (B 46), Charles Fogden (M 71), Richard Boston (B 56), Andrew Crighton (LH 64) and Michael Royce (SH 60)

Photo Call

Channel Islands’ Dinner Our thanks to Basil Frost (M 45) and his wife Liz for helping to arrange the first Uppingham dinner on the Channel Islands which was held at St Brelaide’s Bay Hotel in Jersey in June 2010. Despite it not being the sunny weather the island had been experiencing we all enjoyed a lovely evening in convivial company.

Richard Boston (B 56), Anne & William Sugden (SH 49)

Gemma Sutton (L 04), Basil Frost (M 45) & Rachel Sutton (J 04)

The Hall Reunion Having just celebrated his 95th birthday (in Las Vegas!), Douglas Farmiloe (H 28) was keen to help arrange a reunion for The Hall OUs which took place in June 2010. During tea at The Hall’s affiliated house,West Bank, Douglas was asked to unveil the War Memorial plaque to The Hall OUs who were killed during both world wars. The plaque used to hang in The Hall dining room.

Richard Redmile (H 66) & Robin Johnson (H 67)

Anthony Myers (H 59), Ian Willan (H 59), Neil Carter (H 58)

Bill Oscroft (H 66), Richard Redmile (H 66), Paul (Housemaster of The Hall 1961-1971) & Jenny Ledger, Michael Latham (H 66) & Charles Cousins (H 66).

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

21

Announcements Births Freddie (Julian) Grounds (C 84) and his wife Lizzie have become proud parents to twin boys Angus and Sebastian born on 19th July 2010.

Jim Reddy (Hf 89) and his wife Emma have had a daughter, Charlotte born on 2nd January 2010, a sister for Annabel.

Thank you to all OUs for sending in photographs - please keep them coming

Kadelbach (J 91) and her husband Andreas Bargende welcomed a baby boy named Arthur Christian in August 2008.

Seb (C 92) and Jo (nee Calder) (J 95) Mossop have welcomed their second child, Charlie born on the 29th August 2009 a brother for Sophie.

Alistair Cook (L 89).

Tom Watson (M 90) married Cynthia Clarke at Lincolns Inn on 10th July 2010. The Best Man was James Needham (WD 90), the Master of Ceremonies Arthur Dawe (LH 90) and the Ushers were Rob Moser (WD 89) and Dave Casement (Fgh 89). Other OUs that attended the wedding were Nick Holt (M 90), Mark Lewis (LH 90), Charlie Haslam (F 90), Tim Rees (WB 90), Dan Wade (Fgh 90), Paddy Moser (WD 91), Jody Grimmer (Fgh 90), Erol Elson (WB 89), Henry Teare (C 90) and Johnny Hollett (B 90).

Bertie Arkwright (B 93) and Joanne Netscher (Fd 99) were married in Lyddington on 24th October 2009. Richard Boston is pictured with the happy couple after acting as

Charlie Mossop

Charlotte Reddy Nick Dickson (Fgh 89) and his wife, Sarah welcomed a son, Zachary Malcolm on 30th December 2009.

Caroline West (nee Milward) (Fd 89) and her husband Adrian are living in Sydney and welcomed a daughter Grace Emily on 14th July 2009.

Dr Helen Strike (nee Rowlands) (J 89) has recently had a little baby boy called Angus on 11th March 2010.

Benjamin Elson (WB 89) and his wife Becky (nee Craig) (Fd 95) have become proud parents to a daughter, Molly born on 22nd June 2010.

Guy Broadley (Fgh 89) and his wife Claire (nee Jackson) (Fd 90) became proud parents to Bella Ava born on 14th May 2010.

Viscountess Polly Ingestre (nee Blackie) (J 94) welcomed a second daughter,The Hon. Rose Constance Hester Chetwynd-Talbot on 20th February 2010, a little sister for Matilda.

Joshua Pape (SH 97) and his wife Carys, have welcomed a daughter, Eira Katharine born on the 28th January 2010.

Engagements Gareth Holwill (B 94) is pleased to announce his engagement to Samantha Greenway.

George Dickens (SH 96) and Sophie Smith (J 99) announced their engagement in October 2009.

Briony Hinson (Fd 99) got engaged to John Buckell. Briony is in her first year legal practitioner’s course at University of West of England having completed her law conversion course in 2008.

In December 2009, Tobi Menzies (C 90) and Iain Jamie (C 90) met up to discuss nappies and sleepness nights following the birth of their sons in November 2009. The new generation would potentially hit the 4th form in Uppingham during 2022 but alas not in Constables.

Jo Harris (J 04) has announced her engagement to Edward Dickson on 6th September 2009 and is due to be married in Cambridge in August 2011.

Following their marriage in August 2007, Isabel

Freddie (Nick) Grounds (WB 81) and Fiona Bettles (Fd 86) were married at St Andrew’s Church, Welham on 4th June 2010.

Bertie (B 93) & Jo (Fd 99) Arkwright with chauffeur chauffeur in his Bentley.

Mill Milward (Fd 94) married Ed Bond in May 2009 at her home in Leicestershire, surrounded by lots of OUs including Kate Gee (Fd 94) and

Marriages

Tim Clark (F 83) and Amanda Armstrong were married at St Mary’s Church, Selborne on 11th September 2010.

Tobi Menzies(C 90) & Iain Jamie(C 90)

22

Jamie May (M 89) married Robyn McDonald in 2010. OU ushers included Nick Dickson (Fgh 89), Oliver Saxby (M 89), Ian Palfreyman (H 89), David Casement (Fgh 89), Benjamin Elson (WB 89), Guy Broadley (Fgh 89), Jim Reddy (Hf 89), Piers Holden (WB/L 92) and

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Mill (Fd 94) and Ed Bond Sophie Mitchell (Fd 94).

Anna Sherwood (Fd 95) married Ryan Robinson in September 2009 and is now living in the U.S.A.

Obituaries Emma Collier-Wright (L 97) is now Mrs Beckett following her marriage in 2009.

Emma Beckett (L 97) Andrew Russell (Hf 97) married Felicite on 12th June 2010 at St Peter’s Church, Kingston Langley, Wiltshire. Many OUs were present at the wedding including Annabel Farmer (Fd 99), Freddie Wood (F 96). Chloe Cox (Fd 99), Max Rhodes (F 96), James Russell (Hf 98), George Dickens (SH 96), Sophie Smith (J 99), Fergus Chamberlain (WD 96), Ben Sealey (WD 96), Phil McCaughan (Hf 96), Charlie Thompson (C 96),Tom Pilcher (B 96), Richard Farnsworth (Hf 96) & Byron Fitzpatrick (LH 96).

Obituaries

As the Allies began their advance up the Italian mainland, an SOE advanced base was set up at Monopoli near Bari, from where operations in Italy and Yugoslavia were controlled, with Peter extending his influence over increasingly unreliable territory. He also took over the debriefing of SOE agents returning from operations in Italy and Yugoslavia, with regard to enemy efforts to penetrate and so frustrate SOE operations in both countries.

Peter Murray Lee (Hf 26)

Peter Murray Lee (Hf 26), died on February 4, 2010, aged 96.

After the fall of France, the Special Operations Executive was established in July 1940 in response to Winston Churchill’s directive to “set Europe ablaze”, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) became concerned lest the amateurs recruited to conduct subversion and sabotage might upset the delicate task of gathering intelligence in enemy-occupied territory.

The paramount importance of the secrecy of SOE operations, in both the planning stages and once agents were deployed, led to the formation of a security department into which Peter was transferred from Intelligence Corps duties in 1941. Initially conducted from SOE’s Baker Street headquarters, his work later took him first to Algeria and then to Italy.

Andrew Russell (Hf 97) pictured with Felicite and OUs Ruby Mahal (L 97) is now Dr Dhaliwal following her marriage in 2009. She and her husband are both dentists.

Felicity Redman (L 98) married comedian Sam Wills from New Zealand during 2009 having two weddings, one in each hemisphere.

Lucy Macdonald Watson (S 01) married Alex Lyell on 19th September 2009.The following OUs were present at the wedding were David Sprake (SH 69), Tim Dickson (SH 67),Annabelle Dickson (S 02), Laura Radford (S 01), Josephine Corbett (S 01), Julia Armitstead (nee WingfieldDigby) (J 01), Emily Adams (nee Wingfield-Digby) (J 98), Henry Swayne (Hf 97) and Sara LukeySmith (L 99).

After Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1942, an SOE regional headquarters codenamed Massingham was established at Le Club des Pins outside Algiers. Peter was responsible for the security there and also for operations that SOE launched and subsequently controlled in southern France, Italy and the western Mediterranean.

He became involved in SOE’s part in the armistice negotiations with Italy in August 1943, which were essentially kept secret as long as possible. Under the codename Operation Monkey, the Italian delegates to the negotiations were provided with radio sets, instructed in their use and reminded that they already had an SOE radio operator at their disposal, Lieutenant Mallaby, recently captured after he had been parachuted accidentally into a lake near Milan. The Italians quietly brought Mallaby to Rome and the radio link between General Eisenhower and Marshal Badoglio greatly facilitated the exchange of information that led to the conclusion of hostilities between the Allies and Italy.

Finally, after Rome was taken in June 1944, he worked out of the newly established British Embassy, chairing the security intelligence panel monitoring German penetration of resistance work organised by SOE and instituting countermeasures.

On leaving the Army and SOE in 1945, he was a Third Secretary in the Rome Embassy before joining Rootes Group, with which he worked in Britain and Canada. Later he was with a family firm in the UK and Scandinavia until retiring to Oxfordshire.

His first wife, Rosemary, died in 1974 and he was married to Bunting Fishburn in 1975, who also predeceased him. He is survived by a son and two daughters from his first marriage.

Bill Yates (F 32) was a Conservative MP of high principle and independent mind who holds a singular place in British history by precipitating, on a sham point of order, the fall of his party leader and Prime Minister Anthony Eden over the Suez crisis.

William Yates was MP for The Wrekin division of Shropshire for 11 years before emigrating to Australia, where he became a Liberal MP and then Administrator of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean for a year.

He was one of the younger and more progressive members of the Conservative Party when he entered the Commons in 1955 after a notable victory in that year’s general election when he wrestled The Wrekin from Labour. His majority was only 478, but his Labour opponent, Ivor Owen Thomas, had represented the division for ten years. In the Commons, William was unhappy about Conservative foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. He had fought in the Eighth Army in the war and knew Egypt and the Suez Canal Zone well and refused to remain silent while what he believed to be a wrong policy was pursued in Cyprus and Egypt.

At the Conservative Party Conference in Llandudno in October 1956 he was the only delegate who opposed the emergency resolution endorsing the Conservative Government’s policy on Suez. Amid a storm of opposition he had argued that, by her policy in the Middle East, Britain was succeeding in

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

23

Obituaries driving the spirit of pan-Arab nationalism into the arms of communism. He also said that in Cyprus – a Crown colony whose Greek majority had taken up arms against Britain in pursuit of independence – British policy had been designed to smash the spirit of all the Greek Cypriot people and had antagonised the majority of them.

The following month in the Commons William Yates caused a furore when he interrupted a debate on a so-called point of order and said: “I have come to the conclusion that Her Majesty’s Government has been involved in an international conspiracy.”

He accused Britain of conspiring with France and Israel to concoct a bogus pretext on which to invade the canal zone three months after President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the waterway, a vital conduit for oil and Britain’s most direct route to what remained of its Empire. Later that day representatives from the US and the Soviet Union joined forces at the UN and demanded a ceasefire. Anthony Eden bowed to the pressure and suspended the campaign. The following January he resigned as Prime Minister, and Britain withdrew its forces ignominiously, its standing in the world severely reduced. William’s accusation of a conspiracy proved to be true. In a secret meeting at Sèvres, near Paris, between senior representatives of Britain, France and Israel it had been agreed that Israel would invade Sinai and that Britain and France would then intervene to separate Israeli and Egyptian forces and assume control of the canal on the pretext that Egypt’s supervision was too precarious.

William served in the war in North Africa and Italy and was on staff duties in the Canal Zone.

He was one of the first troops to be given penicillin when one of his knees was blown off at El Alamein. He was a captain in the 2nd Dragoon Guards (the Queen’s Bays) in 1945 and was attached to the Shropshire Yeomanry from 1956-67.

In 1951 he was appointed legal officer by the Foreign Office administration of African territories to report on state lands in the Department of Custodian’s Office in Tripoli, Libya. An expert on Middle East affairs, he gave the Myron Taylor Lecture in International Affairs at Cornell University, New York State, in 1958 and 1966.

After losing his Wrekin seat William emigrated to Australia with his family and became an Australian citizen in 1967. For a time he was a secondary school teacher before being elected as Liberal MP for the Melbourne-based seat of Holt in 1975, thus gaining the rare distinction of sitting in both the House of Commons and the House of Representatives. Throughout his five years in the Australian lower house, he was a

24

member of the Liberal Party Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs and a member of the Committee of Privileges in the House of Representatives in 1977-80.

He was also a member of the Institute of International Affairs in Victoria. He lost his seat in the 1980 election when Malcolm Fraser’s coalition government was returned with a reduced majority. He then served as Administrator of Christmas Island in 1982-83.

kept calm control of the situation and eventually all were rescued by a passing ferry and deposited safely in Port Said.

Bill is survived by wife Jill, sons Nick (WB 72) and Dave (WB 74) and daughter Kate as well as his five grandchildren.

At the age of 82 he gained a doctorate in political science from the University of Melbourne for a thesis on British policy during the Suez crisis.

He is survived by his wife, Camilla Tennant, whom he married in 1957, their four sons, and by a daughter from his first marriage. A second daughter predeceased him.

Timothy Bateson (Fgh 40) Thompson Theatre Collection/Arena Pal

Timothy Bateson (Fgh 40), who William Ellis (WB 40)

William (Bill) Ellis(WB 40), died on 16th May at the age of 83. Bill won a scholarship to Uppingham in 1940. His education was interrupted by the war so he enlisted after the Sixth Form and was sent by the Intelligence Corps to Malaya where he investigated war crimes before taking up his place at Clare College, Cambridge to read law.

His professional life was spent in Birmingham with Evershed & Tomkinson where he built up a highly regarded probate practice.

Bill met his wife, Jill, through his Uppingham friendship with her brother John Simcox (WB 39). Outside work, Bill gave generously in his charity work. He was Chairman of both the Birmingham Dogs’ Home and the Gracewell Homes Foster Trust when each undertook extensive building projects. He was also trustee of various charitable trusts set up by the industrialist Douglas Turner and his family including Roger Turner (LH 37).

Bill enjoyed his sports, in particular sailing, despite his experiences in 1982, when he skippered an OU crew consisting of Clive Rouse (WB 39), Lindsay Stead (nee Bibby) (Fd 76) and son, Nick (WB 72) in the Mediterranean. In a sudden storm, the yacht capsized 30 miles off the Spanish coast. Bill

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

has died aged 83, grew up in the village of Preston, Rutland, and was educated at Lockers Park prep school in Hemel Hempstead followed by Uppingham where he won a scholarship to read history at Wadham College, Oxford.

He was a character actor of boundless versatility and great warmth of personality who will always be remembered for playing Lucky in the controversial British premiere of Samuel Beckett's ‘Waiting for Godot’ at the Arts Theatre, London, in 1955. He had already appeared at the Old Vic, in Stratfordon-Avon, and on tour in America with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, but Godot set him up for a busy five decades in theatre, TV and film. His last stage appearance was at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, in Jonathan Kent's 2007 revival of William Wycherley's The Country Wife, in which he played an amusingly grumpy ancient doorman to Toby Stephens's lascivious Horner, with David Haig as Pinchwife and Patricia Hodge as Lady Fidget.

More recently he popped up in Mike Leigh's All Or Nothing (2002) with Timothy Spall, Charles Dance's Ladies in Lavender (2004) with Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist (2005) and as the voice of Kreacher in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007).

He is survived by Sheila, their three children, Elizabeth, Andrew and Caroline.

Obituaries

Frank Laycock (H 44)

Frank Laycock (H 44) after a two year struggle with cancer, died on 8th January 2010, aged 78. From his early days at Uppingham he had a sense of wanting to get on with life: he saw the skills of boxing and shooting (both of which he excelled at) as being more relevant to the future he had in mind. He famously knocked his Uppingham boxing Master’s teeth out when urged to “hit me, hit me”! His father later bought the Master a box of cigars as compensation. Certainly, these are two of the skills he drew on in his exceptional two year National Service career.

He claimed he was commissioned because he was the only one of the conscripts to change into pyjamas at lights out. Whatever the truth, he joined his platoon in the Green Howards on operations in Malaya in double quick time.

His first shot in anger accounted for his first terrorist. Seven days later while leading a patrol of four other ranks through thick swamp, he was fired on at point blank range by a sentry 50 yards from a camp from which a further 11 bandits opened fire.The patrol rushed the camp under heavy light machine gun and stern fire. A running fight then took pace in the swamps before the enemy withdrew leaving one dead. For this he was later awarded the Military Cross for showing “complete disregard for his personal safety ….. and an inspiring example to his men….The determination and leadership he displayed, contributed in no small degree to the success achieved”. Frank, although naturally a modest man, once said that a subsequent action in which he was involved was probably more deserving of this decoration. He didn’t talk much about this part of his life except to say that the only terrifying part of the experience, he said, was having responsibility for the lives of his men...

On leaving the regular Army he joined 12 Para (V) at Thornbury Barracks, Pudsey and was immensely proud of his prized beret. His marriage in 1954 coincided with considerable expansion of William Laycock’s and Son. During his working life Frank enjoyed and was proud to be part of the Bradford textile scene; its business opportunities and creative work.The extensive traveling enabled him, together with his father and his brother William (H 34), to carry forward the family firm which had been founded by his grandfather in 1880. However in 1981 the collapse of the Bradford textile industry forced him to think of another career.

By a strange twist of fate on the day the Laycock’s decided to accept a bid from John Foster’s of Queensbury a letter arrived on Frank’s desk asking if he would be interested in taking over an established philatelic auctioneering house in Derbyshire. His quick answer was yes.

New opportunities he could hardly have imagined now presented themselves, finalising in a postal history specialisation that he was still putting to good use up to the last weeks of his life. He created world recognized collections from Canada, the Falklands, Jaipur and Admiral Graf Spee and his ships. His crowning glory, awarded in 2009, was to be made a Life Fellow of the Society of Postal Historians.

Frank is survived by his wife Pat, two daughters, Jane and Alex (Fd 83), son Mark (H 72), and his brother William (H 34).

become involved in the Princes Trust and was looking into mentoring young disadvantaged people to start their own businesses.

Donations to The Princes-Trust can be made online at www.jeff.leadley.muchloved.com.

In 1989 he married Rachel and in 1993 they became the proud parents of twin daughters Milly (C L6) and Pippa (NH L6). In 1996 they found their dream house in Southwell and have made it their home ever since. Jeff much enjoyed the challenges and rewards of being a husband and father. He was very proud both of his family, and his home and garden.

It was on 8th May 2010, whilst competing in the GT Cup that Jeff’s car accidentally overturned at Thruxton in Hampshire. Whilst he was rushed to hospital, he never regained consciousness and on 11th May he passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside.

On 14th August 2010 (Jeff’s 55th birthday) a memorial service was held at Southwell Minster followed by a party held at his home to celebrate his life.

Jeff Leadley (B 67)

Jeff Leadley (B 67) attended Bramcote School before Uppingham, where he threw himself into sport. He was especially proud of winning the School’s fives competition and it fostered a love of competition and winning which was very much part of his personality. He briefly trained as an accountant but gave it up in 1974 to become a trainee car salesman. He was obviously good at it because by 1978 he was promoted to Used Car Sales Manager working for Windsor’s in Mansfield.

In 1980, determined to go it alone and with the backing of his uncle, he bought a Peugeot dealership in Sutton-in–Ashfield and J. J. Leadley Ltd was born. The business grew and over the years included several franchises. Two years after selling the business in 1994, he was back in the car business, first Honda in Sheffield then Mercedes Benz East Midlands which he sold in 2004. He then got involved in the shirt business and M2c2 was born. In January 2010, he helped set up a Volvo dealership in Birmingham.

He was an all round sportsman enjoying golf, skiing, shooting, fishing and most recently he had discovered a talent and a passion for motor racing, and had many happy times with his new racing buddies. In 2009, he was delighted to win the GT cup for his class.

During his very full life he supported many different charities; he had most recently

Paul Whittome(F 68) & Stephen Fry (F 70)

Paul Whittome (F 68) who was renowned as the owner of the Hoste Arms in Burnham Market, died earlier this year after a year-long battle with cancer.The ‘About the Author’ section of his book, A Hoste of Ideas simply lists his achievements as:• Brought up on a farm near Peterborough • Awful time at Westwood House School, Peterborough • Even worse time at Glebe House School, Hunstanton • Wonderful time at Uppingham • Waste of time at Shuttleworth Agricultural College • Art and Furniture dealer aged 14 • Gangmaster at Agricultural College • Bouncer in Australia • Potato and Fruit Merchant and youngest Councillor in UK • Property Developer and Hotelier • Married to Jeanne • 2 Step-daughters, Lauren & Natasha • Live by the sea in Brancaster, Norfolk and Ballito, Zuzuland, South Africa During more than 20 years at the helm of the

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

25

Obituaries Hoste, Paul transformed it into a magnet for film stars and celebrities, but said he prized every guest who was welcomed through its doors.

Georgie Buck (nee Bealby) (Fd 85)

One of Paul’s friends said after his death, “He was not bitter at all about the illness, because he'd had an amazing life. That was true, but it is an extraordinary thing to say at the age of 55.

Without Paul, and without the Hoste, Burnham Market would be a very different place. He put North Norfolk on the map. He loved all the razzmatazz, and he loved that those people wanted to come here. He was very protective of his guests, but at the same time he loved all the interest they would generate. He was such a showman and he would often sit in the bar talking to them. He made the most valiant and enormous effort to stay alive until he just couldn't do it anymore. The campaign he made to stay alive has made his dying all the worse for us, but he will live on in his family and friends with his sheer joy and drive for life. A life cut short, but an amazing life and one for which he was very grateful.”

finally lost her four year inspirational battle with cancer aged 41 years in February 2010. Georgie showed such immense fortitude and dignity throughout her illness and remained selfless to the end while always retaining her great sense of humour.

Under his management, the 17th-century coaching inn grew into a central icon of the well-heeled Norfolk village which became dubbed “Chelsea on Sea”.

His guests have included Hollywood A-listers like Keira Knightley and Hugh Grant, while TV personalities Stephen Fry (F 70), Amanda Holden, Rory McGrath and Anneka Rice are all regular visitors and close friends of the Whittome family.

Paul - an EDP Norfolk Food Awards outstanding achievement award winner - was also well-known for sharing his expertise to help other hoteliers.

Paul was diagnosed in March 2009 with bowel cancer, a disease which later spread. In May this year, he was the first to trial a pioneering cocktail of drugs, which temporarily boosted his quality of life.

Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press on May 28, during a “Supercar Club” rally which he organised to indulge his love of fast cars, a typically-bullish Paul said: “There are some risks with this treatment, but when you are in my position you have to take risks. Of course it could be temporary, but it gives me hope.”

Georgie Buck (Fd 85)

26

Georgie, along with her younger sister Ginnie (J 86), enjoyed an idyllic childhood on the family farm in Lincolnshire supported by their wonderful parents Heather and the late Frank Bealby. Georgie learnt to ride about the same time as she mastered walking and was soon a keen member of the Cottesmore Pony Club excelling at cross country. But she was always at home in the hunting field following her father over the biggest fences on her ponies and she also became a keen member of the pony club’s tetrathlon team, loving the riding and shooting elements while enduring the running and swimming. Georgie also loved to help on the farm and this early love of the outdoors and passion for country life would remain with her throughout her life.

She moved to Uppingham in 1985 where she experienced co-educational boarding for the first time, something which gave her enormous pleasure! It was during these two years that she soared in confidence and became involved in all aspects of school life, again excelling on the sport’s field. Her love of tennis continued to shine and she became captain of first teams in tennis and netball as well as being selected for the squash and hockey teams. She also learnt to play Fives and no one was ever certain whether it was the lure of this new sport or the attraction of the courts being close to Constables boarding house where a certain boyfriend resided which made her spend quite so much time on the Fives’ courts!

It was in her second year that Georgie really excelled becoming house captain of Fairfield and a school prefect which allowed her access to the inner sanctum of the ‘pollies bar’, which at the time Georgie affectingly referred to ‘as the best place in the whole wide world’! Georgie left Uppingham with 3 A’levels and although the grades were not as good as she had hoped for, those two years were about much more than academic achievement, they were a platform that prepared her to tackle all the highs and lows that followed. She also made many dear lifelong friends including Iain Wakefield (WB 82) who gave a moving address at her funeral and Becca Greenwell (nee Vaughan) (J/Fd 85) who did a reading, as well as the ex-Housemaster of Fairfield,Tony Land and his wife Pat, with whom Georgie always kept in touch.

Georgie decided to spend her GAP year (and a bit!) travelling the world spurred on by visiting her grandfather, who lived in New Zealand.

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Georgie would write letters home overflowing with stories of her fun-filled weeks exploring all the world could offer a teenager and meeting up with many OU friends while working and funding much of the trip herself. Her journey concluded with a spell teaching at Hoosac School in Upstate New York which she loved.

Once back in the UK Georgie started a six month intensive course at Tante Marie Cookery School in Surrey.These newly acquired culinary skills enabled her to set up her own private catering company from her parent’s home allowing her to raise money to fund another overseas adventure. In 1990 she returned to New Zealand and soon secured a job managing BMW’s corporate entertaining in Auckland allowing her to drive any of the top of the range BMW cars, which she considered a real treat.

In 1992 Georgie successfully attended New Zealand residency and was accepted to study for a BA Psychology degree at Auckland University.

After three years she gained a first class degree in psychology.

Georgie was offered a job by Accenture (then Andersen Consulting) and after much heartbreaking discussions with her family whom she so desperately wanted to return to in the UK; she reluctantly accepted a job in February, 1995. After transferring to Wellington she soon got to grips with her new working life and started to excel in her new role. Following promotion Georgie secured a transfer to the Accenture London office in 1997 which allowed her to return home and be near her precious family and old friends again. She soon secured her second promotion and loved her new life back in the UK where her career now also involved training in change management.

In 2000 Georgie decided to take a ‘skiing’ sabbatical when she transferred from the consulting division of Accenture to the outsourcing unit and it was during this trip she met her future husband Stephen who she married the following year.

Georgie always derived immense pleasure from her family and she said her greatest gift in life was having her children, Rosie in 2003 and Ollie two years later just months after she had suffered the tragedy of losing her own dear father.

Georgie always said she was fortunate to have had such a happy life supported by a loving family and many dear friends. But she touched so many people’s lives in such a positive way and this was demonstrated by the hundreds of people who packed in to Bath Abbey for her funeral, which she had planned and written herself, and which was a fitting tribute to a very special Mummy and much missed friend.

Georgie is remembered in Uppingham’s new online ‘OU Book of Remembrance’ where anyone who knew her can add their own personal tribute.

Obituaries

Deaths Our condolences to the family and friends of the following OUs whose death we have been advised of since the last magazine. Those OUs marked with * have an obituary in this issue.

Francis

Fullo

(F 33)

2-October 2010

Brian

Bagnall

(WD 33)

29-May-2010

Willam

Evans

(Fgh 39)

March 2010

David

Palfreyman

(LH 40)

4-Aug-09

Bill

Ellis *

(WB 40)

16-May-10

Thomas

Stead

(H 41)

Peter

McGrigor

(WB 41)

Brian

Jolly

(B 42)

5-Aug-10

Richard

Hirst

(M 42)

15-Nov-09

David

Peters

(C 42)

15-May-10

Brian

Jolly

(B 42)

5-Aug-10

Anthony

Grainger

(Hf 43)

28-Aug-10

Frank

Laycock *

(H 44)

8-Jan-10

Timothy

Bateson *

(Fgh 44)

16-Sep-09

Michael

Thompson

(F 45)

12-Jan-10

Brian

Kemp

(M 45)

1-Aug-10

Richard

Harvey

(Hf 46)

9-Oct-09

Peter

Greenhalgh

(Hf 48)

March-2010

Robert

Hindle

(WD 50)

7-Apr-10

John

Greaves

(H 53)

3-May-10

Ian

Whitelaw

(Hf 53)

7-Jun-10

Peter

Allen

(WB 54)

5-Nov-09

John

Dulley

(SH 54)

1-Sep-10

Peter

Foxon

(C 60)

1-May-08

Jeremy

Taylor

(Fgh 63)

Mark

Johnson

(M 66)

3-May-09

Jeff

Leadley *

(B 67)

11-May-10

Paul

Whittome *

(F 68)

2-Jul-10

Georgie

Buck (nee Bealby) *

(Fd 85)

17-Feb-10

Euan

Lankester

(C 03)

5-Feb-10

11-Jan-10 2010

Online Memorial Book A sanctuary for the celebration of life....

We are pleased to announce that in connection with ‘Friends and Relations.com’ we have created an online memorial book. This is a new idea which allows OUs to be remembered by those who knew them during their lifetime.

A link to the ‘OU Book of Remembrance’ is available on the OU website, www.olduppinghamian.co.uk with instructions to how pages can be created and modified.

www.friendsandrelations.com/ partners/uppingham/html/book/book

30-Mar-10

We are grateful to all OUs who remember Uppingham in their Will

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

27

Walking the Amazon

Thousands of miles, 859 days and 50,000 mosquito bites later, Ed Stafford (WB 89) has become the first man to walk the length of the Amazon.

Ed began the walk on 2nd April 2008 and despite his companion leaving after 3 months, Ed carried on, joined briefly by Sam Dyson (WB 89) and also by locals he met on the way. In September 2008 he was joined by Peruvian forestry worker, Gadiel ‘Cho’ Sanchez Rivera, and the pair travelled together for the remainder of the expedition.

During the 859 days they encountered 18ft caimans, huge anacondas, illness, food shortages and death threats. Ed and Cho survived on beans and rice supplemented by catching and eating piranha fish.

Ed stated that the most memorable moment had to be being taken prisoner by a tribe of Asheninka Indians. “We'd been strongly warned not to pass their lands and that I would be killed if I tried to continue. We thought we'd be crafty and sneak along the sand-bank island in

28

the centre of the river. As we almost reached the end of the island Cho told me to look over my shoulder. As I did I saw several dugout canoes approaching from the far bank. The display was immediately frightening as the men and women in the small boats were all standing up and holding either shotguns, machetes, or bows and arrows. As they rushed towards us up the beach I thought we were about to be killed.

We'd known it was a gamble to push on and I was expecting to pay for that gamble with my life. The looks on the faces of the women especially left me in no doubt that had we been even remotely aggressive the tribesmen were ready to kill us. These people have lived a violent life through the terrorist years and are no strangers to shedding blood.

chief. But with time it became obvious that our lives were not in danger and we started to plea with the tribe. After much debate we were granted permission to continue if we hired the chief and his brother as guides through the Asheninka lands. We accepted this offer and incredibly Alfonso and Andreas ended up becoming loyal friends and walking with us for 47 days. They returned home to their village with broad smiles and a new outboard motor for the community bought out of their wages”.

When Ed completed his amazing expedition on 9th August 2010 he commented that all he wanted was a portion of fish and chips and a nice cold beer.

But we weren't killed. And every bit of interaction helped dispel the confusion and anger in these fiercely defensive indigenous people.

We were taken back to their village, made to show all of the contents of our packs, and subjected to a passionate lecturing from the

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School photo Keith Ducatel

Memory Corner H H Stephenson – A Cricketing Journey: Kennington Oval to Uppingham School A new biography telling the fascinating story of England cricketer and Uppingham coach, Heathfield Harman Stephenson (1833-1896) is now available. Extensively researched and beautifully illustrated it charts the colourful life of the Surrey-born cricketer and gives fresh insight into his inspirational leadership at Uppingham.

Drawing on a wealth of archive material and photographs, this new book will appeal to anyone who has an interest in the history of the school and in cricket in particular. Copies of the book, price £8.50 (inc. P & P) are available from the author, Roy Stephenson. Please send Cheques (payable Roy Stephenson) to 7, Newtown Road, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9TR

sides of a flock and drive the ball at high speed between us until a chicken was hit, rising with much squawking in a flurry of feathers. This we thought highly amusing, until one Sunday afternoon, the Headmaster appeared out of nowhere and an interrogation ensued. He then stalked off, see-all eyes glinting behind spectacles under a grey trilby pulled down fore and aft like a deer-stalker, and beatings for both us seemed assured – however none came!

1939 was the last pre-war summer in which Uppingham attended an O.T.C camp after term’s end. Camp was at Tweasledown under canvas and lasted a week. Many of the public schools attended such as Stoneyhurst and Eton, the latter setting fire to the camp latrines. Also in 1939, a German hockey term played the 1st XI. Having beaten the Leys and other eminent hockey schools, they arrived with a daunting reputation. However Uppingham won this match and in the line up of teams afterwards a presentation was made by the Germans of little Nazi flags to each Uppingham team members.

After each chapel service the Headmaster walked back down the aisle, mortar board held in front upside down and someone sitting front and centre scored a direct hit in his mortar board with a penny as the Headmaster passed below.

Uppingham in Wartime William ‘Trafford’ Allen (M 39) “I agree with John Austin (WD 39) that it is important to write things down before they get lost forever. I too arrived at Uppingham in September 1939 and so like him and our contemporaries only knew a wartime school.

John Aitken (LH 37) “I entered Uppingham from Eastbourne Prep School, St Andrew’s, by Common Entrance. My memories of Uppingham are mostly strange, comical or ridiculous and others I do not care to relate...

After Sunday chapel and lunch, there was freedom until afternoon chapel. Michael Franklin (LH 37) and I would arm ourselves with a cricket bat each and an old fives ball and walk down the Stockerston Road in our tails and straw hats, looking for chickens in open fields.

The object was to station ourselves on opposite

Meadhurst was a lively and happy House. A Gilkes was an ideal Housemaster, he demanded high standards and was not often disappointed.

Discipline was good as we knew the boundaries.

I expect that we moaned about the food, but Mrs Gilkes must have been an imaginative organiser as we enjoyed a varied diet. I doubt if anyone ever went hungry. Once there was a distribution of oranges. We were required to return the peel and in due course everyone was given a jar of marmalade.

One morning in May 1940 the Headmaster made an historic announcement. Early School (at 7.30am and before breakfast) was abolished and major alterations were made to school uniform. The speckled straw hats became obsolete through I continued to wear mine until 1943. The School Pollies retained their hats. Tail coats and stiff collars were no longer to be worn

on Sundays. Striped trousers were ‘out’ and we wore grey flannels all the year round.

One wartime innovation was ‘Public Works’ and one or two afternoons a week were devoted to gardening or similar activities. My first experience of it was picking caterpillars off the cabbages and cauliflowers in the Meadhurst kitchen garden. Later a field up the Leicester Mile became an allotment and horses were given a trip to cultivate. By the time we walked up there and returned there cannot have been much time for digging and it was hard work as it was virgin ground. After several years of digging I don’t think we got to the end of our strip. I don’t remember ever planting anything, but I believe that potatoes were grown Another innovation was the presence of Kingswood school, evacuated from Bath, who stayed for over 6 years. The sharing of facilities seemed to work. The ethos and culture of the two schools was very different and we each went our own way without friction. We did not play matches against them except occasionally at Colts level. Thus a source of antagonism was avoided. It was, I believe, the most successful of all similar arrangements.

Uppingham was in a way remote from the war and life went on more normally than in other places. There was a lot of activity from training airfields locally and troop movements. The Headmaster was absent for the whole of 1941 working for the Air Ministry and P.F.Saunders filled in for him. Life went on cushioned from many of the horrors of the war.

A number of the younger members of the staff disappeared with the forces. The quality of their replacements was varied. I have some happy memories of my form masters – P.B.King, H.B.Watson and Toby Belk, all schoolmasters in the best traditions.”

Guy Greenwood (R/F 39) “Early in September 1939, soon after my fourteenth birthday I left my home to travel to Uppingham, wearing a bowler hat and black overcoat, those being required items for Uppingham boys when travelling to and from the School. I had the advantage of the advice of an elder brother who had left at the end of the previous term. My father had also been in Constables at the turn of the century; I was destined for Redgate, which was visually forbidding, having been designed like a prison. The two storey well of the grim building had balconies on three sides giving access to studies. It was a forbidding sight, not tempered by the somewhat reserved welcome from the housemaster, A.R.Burn who seemed to have little in common with teenage boys, but (so I was instructed) must be revered as being the only member of staff who could read Sanskrit.

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

29

Memory Corner In my first year, the war had little impact. The Buttery, down the steps by the Music School, continued to serve buttered toast and jam, ice creams and other simple fare within the range of limited pocket money. Once a month I could afford sliced bananas, cream and a Cadbury flake at the shop at one corner of the Square but that soon closed down.

I had little knowledge and have few memories of the way we were fed as the quantity of food brought across the Atlantic in convoys being attached by U-boats slowly diminished.

Vegetable growing was organised on a school basis; full use was made of the boy’s enthusiasm and the previous unknown horticultural expertise of staff. In production terms, the absence of deep freeze technology at that time meant that green crops had to be consumed when ripe. Root crops were clamped in long banks of earth with regular twists of straw on the ridge which provided ventilation.

Most houses had their own patches, Fircroft majoring in tomatoes.

For some of us, a cake would arrive from home at intervals. We knew that parents had to do without their ration of a weekly egg, a few ounces of margarine and sugar. Within days of arrival cakes would grow a green mould which had to be scraped off before another slice could be enjoyed. There was no problem with obesity!

The curriculum had little relevant to life. Latin and Greek featured strongly, being a requirement for university entrance and I think, for the Colonial Service. One could not be expected to govern the natives of Africa and India without some knowledge of Thucydides and Virgil. Modern languages were written not spoken except for Russian which Mr Shuffrey undertook with some Sixth Formers using a course devised by Boyanus and Jopson using a gramophone records – very advanced! I had one science lesson a week which involved ‘experiments’. The first task was to write at the top of a clean page ‘To show that.....’ Belk meandered through the byways of English literature anecdotally repetitiously ‘I do like a beer in my bath’ class (in unison for the umpteenth time). ‘We are only allowed water in ours, Sir’. Mr Crofts, Housemaster of Fircroft, drilled maths into us with little joy or interest though exam results were good. A.J.Doulton taught Latin in the Museum above the Colonnade where horned heads of wild animals looked silently down on us. Doulton, announcing the results of a Latin test in which I had come first, told me that I would have to miss Saturday games and stay in detention because I had parsed Amavitis as a dative plural. I started to protest, ‘No’ said Doulton ‘that was a stupid and careless mistake’. Then turning to the moth eaten head of a Kudu said ‘It was, wasn’t it? There you are, Greenwood. It nodded.

30

You saw it nod, didn’t you, Robinson?’

After two years the numbers at Redgate dropped. Mr Burns left and Mr Hodginson (Honk) took over but he could not attract newcomers. So Redgate closed and we moved to Fircroft where the toilets were across the yard and the cubicles had no doors on.

Music was for me a constant source of pleasure. I strummed the popular tunes of the day on the House piano – ‘When the Deep Purple Falls’ and ‘Down Mexico Way’. At Fircroft I met Aidan Woodcock (F 38), a talented violinist who taught me how to listen. In the weeks before Sir Malcolm Sergeant came to play Elgar’s Enigma Variation with a London Orchestra (a major undertaking in war time) Woodcock and I spent time listening to a 78 rpm recording. When in the Hall, the orchestra stated to play the Nimrod Variation I wept.

The effects of the war were not too obvious to us. Some staff had been recalled from retirement. Some crammers had been engaged, drilling the subject into empty heads, not educating boys. There was less time for games and more time for digging for victory. The terror of war struck home when we were told that older friends who had left school two terms before had drowned in a warship in the Med or failed to return from a bombing raid.

J.F.Wolfenden, must have had a hard time keeping the school running. He personally persuaded me to sit for the entrance exam for St John’s Cambridge and wrote in his own hand to congratulate me when I was awarded 2 Exhibitions.

When in July 1943, I made my way home from Uppingham for the last time, I was wearing a cloth cap – times had changed!”

Ian Cumming (B 44) In July 1949, Ian Cumming (B 44) walked the 62½ miles of the Rutland boundary in 24 hours, in the course of which he only had four hours’ sleep. .

The idea of walking round Rutland in 24 hours occurred to Mr A C Body when the continued independence of the county was threatened by the Boundary Commission’s proposals. During the term he secured the interest of Ian and Paul Nicholson (B 46), who had been in the habit of taking long Sunday afternoon walks, in his project. The three of them set of from Leicester Road, striking north across country (roads were avoided as much as possible), the trio went via Cold Overton and Edmondthorpe and by midnight had reached the grounds of Clipsham Hall where a camp had been prepared for them by cyclists from the School. Here Mr Body, who had strained a

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

muscle in his leg when crossing a ditch in the dark, had to fall out but the two boys, after four hours’ sleep, set out at dawn to complete the circuit. They breakfasted at Stamford and then followed the Welland to Gretton, where Nicholson had to give up owing to very bad blisters. Left alone, Cumming continued the remainder of the journey of about nine miles, and completed it with 15 minutes to spare.

David Silvester (SH 53) “My brother Anthony and I were together in School House in 1953-55, and being partly brought up on Mildenhall RAF base in the war where our father was the Air Commodore Base Commander, we had endless fascination for aeroplanes, both model and full sized. We often visited our grandparents who owned Witham Hall before it became a prep school, and they had some friends in Stamford whose son owned a very neat little Auster Aiglet. One Sunday Exeat, having primed our friends in School House, we persuaded him to take us up, circle School House, and land straight across the Middle. We came in parallel to Highfield, near what are now tennis courts, and must have landed somewhere around the 2nd XI cricket pitch, and having taxied round for take-off, I can distinctly remember clearing the poplars at the far end of the Middle. My brother was in the co-pilot’s seat, and I was seated sideways in the rear. Whether it was this, or the excitement of the exercise I don’t know, but shortly after takeoff I was violently sick!!

In my first term, James Moore (SH 53) and I somehow contrived to get on 3rd Remove Cricket Game. At least in my case I must have lied like a trooper about my prowess as a cricketer because at prep school I did little else but play tennis. When we discovered the Middle Clap – under which a hat-trick or a 50 was rewarded by the whole field stopping play and clapping whichever hero was concerned – we decided that a phantom Middle Clap was well worth the risk of a Games Committee beating.

With the Master in Charge temporarily absent, we stopped all play and started clapping, and the entire Middle followed suit and clapped out phantom high achiever. It was a really great sensation, and the loyalty of young Uppinghamian fags was again put to the test and found not wanting!!

This same James Moore was also involved in a delightful scam involving Headmaster Martyn Lloyd in whose house we resided. Every morning there was a call over, at which he officiated. We numbered round the house from 1 to 60. A great Yorkshireman called John Emsley (SH 52) came up to me one morning and said “Hey, Swill, why don’t we jazz up the call over a bit, and add Jack, Queen, King, Ace”

Memory Corner so it was duly set up: the call over went to 1 to 10, then Jack, Queen, King, Ace. The next man was meant to come in at 15. He didn’t.

Imagine our horror when music scholar Phil Crocker (SH 53) bellowed out ‘SNAP!! However amazingly David Andrews (SH 53) the next man said 16, and the call over was completed, admittedly amidst guffaws, and after the Headmaster had enquired whether something had gone wrong and had adduced from Moore that there had been a ‘bit of a mob’ he said I’m sorry, it was too slick for me’ and left it at that. For me the story is accompanied by a modicum of shame, for having been an instigator, anxiety got the better of me and my ’king’ sounded suspiciously like ‘thirteen’ for which I was duly chastised by my colleagues for such duplicity.

Lunchtime Recitals In January 1995, Uppingham School musicains began presenting regular weekly lunchtime recitals in Uppingham Parish Church to gain some experience of performing on a public platform. These recitals have been held every Wednesday during term and feature a wide variety of gifted young musicians from the School.

On Wednesday 8th September 2010, the musicians performed the 500th ‘Lunchtime Concert’ which Tom Williams (B 91) returned to perform as Countertenor, 15 years after his performance in the first recital as part of the Chamber Orchestra.

Tom is pictured with his old Housemaster Richard Boston (Housemaster of Brookland's 1983-2000)

Roger Welch (H 56) It is difficult to imagine in this time of motorways and air travel that this was once the preferred method of returning to school after the summer vacation!

If you have photographs, magazines, programmes, books or pictures relating to the School which are surplus to family requirements, please do not thrown items away.

I am very keen to add to the School Archive collection and am always interested to receive original items or scanned copies. If you have medals, cups, old reports or any other Uppingham ephemera cluttering up the attic and you are considering what to do with it, please get in touch with Jerry Rudman the Archivist on (01572) 820777 or email jpr@uppingham.co.uk I would be very keen to hear from you.

Jerry Rudman

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

31

OUs in the Military Uppingham has a long, proud and distinguished record of Service to the Crown despite not having a tradition of being a military school like Wellington.

In fact, we were one of the later schools to form a Cadet Corps, it being founded in 1889 as the ‘Uppingham Rifle Corps’ with the principle aim of teaching boys the art of marksmanship which would help those of military inclination to join up and help defeat the Boer in the South African Campaign. A number answered the call to the Colours and became casualties of that war. The Gymnasium, now the Theatre, was the School’s Boer War memorial and in the foyer the memorial contains the names of nine OUs who fell in that distant land between 1899 and 1902 General Sir Clive Liddell (L 1897) just missed that era, but served with distinction in the Royal Leicestershire Regiment during WW1 and concluded his military career as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar 1939 – 1941.

Prior to WW1 the Uppingham Rifle Corps evolved into the O.T.C (Officer Training Corps) adopting the Royal Leicestershire Regiment‘s ‘Tiger’ cap badge incorporating the Uppingham Scroll. All the OUs who subsequently fought in the war did their initial training with the O.T.C. The cost was high and the School lost nearly a generation, 447 OUs died in the battlefield mainly as young subalterns. During the course of the War, of the 628 Victoria Crosses awarded, OUs won four of them. J S Collings-Wells (F 1895) was killed in the action that earned him the VC. Sadly A M Lascelles (M 1895), who won his VC in December 1917, was killed in action four days before the Armistice on the 7th November 1918. Both G A Maling (WB 1903) and T H B Maufe (WD 1912) survived the war, but the later was killed whilst on Home Guard Duty in 1942. They are all remembered on the impressive Victoria Cross Memorial near the Great War Memorial Chapel which records all the names of those who died, including Vera Brittain’s fiancée, Roland Leighton (L 1909).

Major General Eric Dorman-Smith (LH 1906) saw action in The Great War being wounded three times, winning a Military Cross in the war as a Major and becoming a close friend of Ernest Hemingway whom he met in Italy. He was an unorthodox soldier ending his military career as acting Chief of Staff in the field to General Sir Claude Auchinleck during the first battle of El Alamein in July 1942. Controversially both of them were removed from their posts in August of that year.

32

A further 250 Old Boys made the ultimate sacrifice in WWII including C A W SandysClarke (M 33) who was killed in the action that won him his VC, one of the 182 awarded during the conflict.

Douglas Kendrew (H 14)

Eric Dorman Smith (LH 1906) The War produced some distinguished leaders including Lt. General Sir Brian Horrocks (SH 1909) who had also seen action in the Great War. In 1924 he represented Great Britain at the Paris Olympics as a Pentathlete. As a Corps Commander in WWII he played his part in the successful second battle of El Alamein and in Tunisia. He is especially remembered as the Commander of XXX Corps for Operation Market Garden, (D Day landings and the Rhine Bridges) and the subsequent liberation of France and Belgium. After leaving the Army he became Black Rod in the House of Lords, a television presenter and author.

Brian Horrocks (SH 1901) A relatively junior officer at the beginning of the war was Major General Sir Douglas ‘Joe’ Kendrew (H 14). He played rugby for England 10 times and was Captain of the team in 1935.

During the war he rose rapidly through the ranks serving as a Brigade Commander in Italy, Greece and the Middle East. His leadership and bravery earned him the rare distinction of being awarded the DSO four times. In the 1950s, he commanded the British Brigade in Korea and was General Officer Commanding and Director of Operations in Cyprus. After various War Officer appointments he was promoted to Major General and became Governor of Western Australia from 1963 to 1974.

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Major General Sir Michael Alston-Roberts West (L 18) started his wartime career as a Brigade Major of 163 Brigade, then commanded 2nd Bn South Lancashire Regiment in Madagascar in 1942. He then moved to be the Deputy Commander of 72nd Indian Infantry Brigade before commanding the 5th Infantry Brigade in Burma in 1944. Post war various UK based appointments followed before becoming General Officer Commanding-in-Chief British Troops in Austria, and Commander of the Commonwealth Division in Korea in 1952-1953.

Squadron Leader Frank Day (SH 31) who earned the sobriquet "Fearless" for his exploits as a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War, seldom referred to the fact that he was imprisoned in the notorious Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp from 1942 to 1945, where he was brutally beaten on several occasions.The only words he uttered to the German officers were his name, rank and number. He sustained himself in the worst moments of his long ordeal by humming "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square".

One of the earliest assignments the young pilot had to undertake was to guard Rudolf Hess, the Nazi peace broker, at gunpoint at RAF Turnhouse. Hess refused to speak English, except to ask for a copy of "Herren Only" magazine and a couple of Veganin headache tablets. In 1942, Frank was sent on a photo-reconnaissance flight over Crete, during which he was attacked by a squadron of Messerschmidt 109s.The gunfire shattered his control column, severing his right thumb and wounding him in the leg. He baled out and was in the sea for 24 hours. He was rescued by Italians stationed on the island who took him to the German hospital in Heraklion.

After medical treatment he was transported to Frankfurt and eventually arrived at Stalag Luft III by cattle truck. He soon made friends in the camp with Rupert "Pud" Davies, who would later play Inspector Maigret on BBC TV, and the actor Peter Butterworth, who featured in many of the Carry On films, which were scripted by Talbot "Tolly" Rothwell, another inmate.The trio appointed Frank to be their make-up artist for the concerts they staged.

He was interviewed by the escape committee, who didn't rate his chances because of his injured leg and missing thumb and did not allow him to join the actual escape party. He was employed instead as one of 20 "penguins" who

OUs in the Military stored the earth from the tunnels in their trousers and scattered it casually in the prison grounds.These events were described in a book

by Paul Brickhill and in the movie The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen.The majority of the men who managed to dig their way to freedom were rounded up and shot.

One can only show snapshots of the service of literally hundreds of OUs who saw distinguished service during the Second World War and some had remarkable contacts with other serving OUs. One such occasion was the OU dinner held in Thailand’s Chungkai POW camp on April 18th 1944 as recorded in the photograph of the hand drawn menu card kindly sent to us by Lt. James Frere Twitchin (F 25), the other OUs present, without a great deal of option in the circumstances, were Lt. Col. John Stitt (LH 12), Maj. John McLaren (F 18), Lt. Peter Leckie (L 26), Lt. Marcus Bradford (R 18), Lt. Ernest Charles (SH 33) and Maj.Thomas Christopherson (M 26). In a curious way it illustrates the remarkable representation of OUs in the Services.

1939 saw the start of compulsory National Service which continued up to 1960. At the end of WWII many National Servicemen were to see active service during the partition of India and Pakistan, in Palestine, Korea, Malaya, Suez, Cyprus and many other parts of the world. Sadly there were casualties. Keith Taylor (F 46), the author of several books on National Service, revisited the United Nations Memorial Cemetery at Pusan, Korea, as part of a British contingent of 100 Korean War veterans to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War in 1950. After a moving commemoration service, he found the grave of Mike Cawthorn (LH 44), who was a regular officer in the Argyll and Southerland Highlanders and had only recently joined his Regiment from Scotland. Keith is pictured by his grave on which he placed a Union Jack and a poppy. We do not have a precise number of those who served between 1939 and 1960, but 489 served between 1944 and 1956, so the overall figure will be well over 500.

1947 saw the OTC replaced by the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), with the creation of sections for all three services under one command. A fourth section, one of the first in the country, that of the Royal Marines came into being in the late 1980s OUs such as Lt. General Sir Jeremy Reilly (WD 48), Major General David Pank (M 49), Air Marshal Sir John Kemball (F 52), Col. Alan Hooper RM (Hf 55), Air Commodore Andrew Griffin (F 59), Captain Andrew Welch RN (H 62), Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery RN (Hf 68), the current Second Sea Lord, Lt. Col Nick Everard (Hf 70), Major General James Everard (LH 76), currently General Officer Commanding the 3rd (UK) Mechanical Division, both brothers commanded their respective regiment during their careers. Lt Cdr Adrian Mundin (WD 75) currently naval Equerry to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Lt. Col Alex Janzen RM (B 89), Captain Emma Cannings (L 93), 2nd Lt James Brown (SH 99), all of whom would have had their first experiences of military life through the CCF. The above are just a few examples of the many hundreds of OUs who have served, or who are still serving the Crown. A significant number have seen active service in nearly every conflict since the end of the Cold War from the Falklands, the Balkans, Iraq to Afghanistan. Sadly we had to record the loss of Flt Lt Kristian Gover (M 87) who was killed in Iraq in 2004.

CCF Guard of Honour mounted for HM the Queen in November 1984

In November 1984 the CCF had the privilege of mounting a Guard of Honour for HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh during their visit to mark the School’s Quatercentenary After the parade HRH met Lt Col Richard Boston, then commanding the CCF, and asked him ‘Where did you get that lot from? referring to the Guard of Honour - A Royal compliment indeed.

Uppingham still boasts a successful CCF with strong links to its affiliated units.

The Royal Navy with H M S Iron Duke, the Royal Marines with RMR Merseyside, the Army with 9th/12th Royal Lancers (PoWs’) and the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Royal Air Force with RAF Wittering.

A steady stream of Uppinghamians continue to answer the call to the Colours, keen to serve their country following the proud traditions of those who have served before them.

James Brown (SH 99)

Keith Taylor (F 46)

Every year the Uppingham 4th Form, take part in a WWI Battlefields tour of the Ypres Salient and the Somme. On these visits uniformed members of the CCF lay a wreath at the Menin Gate ceremony to honour the memory of all those OUs who have made the ultimate sacrifice in both World Wars and subsequent conflicts. They are also honoured in St George’s Church, ‘The English Church’ in Ypres where the Uppingham Memorial, which includes our five Victoria Cross holders, is a proud and permanent reminder of the service and sacrifice of generations of OUs.

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

33

Staff Announcements Jeff Lickess Jeff Lickess retired this summer, after 21 years at Uppingham as Mathematics teacher, Head of Department and Tutor in Fircroft and Fairfield.

Mike Garrs (F 63) has published his booklet on the 5 OUs who have won the Victoria Cross entitled ‘Valiant Hearts -The Story of the Uppingham School V.C’s’.

The V.C. recipients are:J.S. COLLINGS-WELLS (F 95) A.M. LASCELLES (M 95) G.A. MALING (WB 03) T.H.B. MAUFE (WD 12) C.A.W. SANDYS-CLARKE (M 33) The booklet, with a Foreword written by Uppingham’s most senior living soldier, Lt.Gen Sir Jeremy Reilly (WD 48) K.C.B., D.S.O. contains photographs showing the V.C’s in house groups and teams during their time at Uppingham. There are also photographs of places at the School where their names are commemorated such as in their respective houses and on the two war memorials.

Anyone wanting to reserve a copy of the booklet (please indicate if you would like it signed) should write to Mike enclosing a cheque for £11.95, to include P&P, made out to Valiant Hearts (*). Mike can be contacted at 1, The Chestnuts, Nettleham, Lincoln, LN2 2NH Tel. 01522 595198. Email: mike.garrs49@ntlworld.com.

Mike will also be in the Library at Uppingham on both Saturday 21st May 2011 (OU Centenary) and Saturday 28th May 2011 (Speech Day) selling and, where requested, signing copies of ‘Valiant Hearts’. All monies from the sale of the booklet will be shared equally between the Uppingham Foundation and the Royal British Legion.

After Brunel University, where he read Mathematics and Management Science, and 17 years teaching at schools in Leicester, Jeff joined the Mathematics Department in January 1989 and, with remarkable rapidity, was elevated to Acting Head of Department

by Nick Bomford just over a year later, and to Head of Department by Stephen Winkley the following term, his abilities as mathematician and manager having been clearly evident to both Headmasters. He proved to be a most able leader, running a large, complex and successful Department for almost 20 years, in a style which endeared him to pupils and members of his Department alike - supportive, wise, humorous, perceptive and totally unflappable, with an easy authority which all responded to. Pupils were always pleased to have Jeff as their teacher (though several may well remember having had their mathematical skills compared unfavourably to those of his cat) and all knew that his advice was sound, and admired his teaching enormously. He led the way in several areas that have now become almost universally adopted - his Department was the first to teach modular syllabuses, and the first to introduce the IGCSE – and during his period in charge the numbers studying Mathematics grew significantly. Having been a Head of Department for an astonishing 30 years in total, Jeff decided to step down from that position for his final year at Uppingham. It was a cruel irony, therefore, that with the pressure off, so to speak, he should suffer a mild heart attack mid-way through the Autumn term. He was not missing for long and, by the Spring half-term, was back teaching a full timetable.

Jeff was legendary also as a tutor in Fairfield.

He appeared on the cat-walk with Mrs Reihill in the Fairfield Charity Fashion Show, and danced The Valeta with Becky Wilson (Fd 05) at the Come Dancing evening. When his tutees asked him one evening if they were to have an outing with him, he agreed this would be a good idea. They were a bit surprised when the minibus stopped outside the Higher Education Room, and they were informed that they were going to spend the evening there!

His wife Sheila supported all the house events, and she also will be much missed. As the duty man in orange jacket on the Middle, the imperturbable marshal at Speech Day or Concert Choir events, and the pragmatic,

34

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

effective and dedicated teacher, Jeff is a Common Room star who will be much missed.

Jeff Lickess

Phil Gomm When Phil Gomm started in office 15 years ago life in School House was not easy. Boys certainly didn’t expect to bump into their housemaster on the boys’ side, and the early years weren’t easy. He often found himself patrolling the corridors in the middle of the night with Edward in a baby sling, or setting his alarm for 3am and going for a cat-nap in one of the dormitories. How times have changed! With his motto of Labor ludique (which loosely translates as work and games) he has turned School House into a well-oiled machine. Boys race to beat each other to get to chapel first in the morning as the U6th look on from the bench, then go off to win countless Inter-house trophies, dominate choirs, orchestras and theatre casts before returning to HQ to duff up Lorne House in quad football after tea.

Pragmatic on the one hand and yet far more caring and sensitive on the other than many people probably realise, Phil has always seemed to strike just the right balance with his boys. Only recently he was heard to say to a parent ‘I’m simply here to look after your boy’. Firm, fair and consistent, the boys knew where they stood and respected him because of it. He will be greatly missed in School House although may be not missed so much from the marathon House supper speeches starting with readings from the book of Gommesis – ‘In the beginning there was Gomm, and the word was Gomm…’

Phil Gomm

Staff Announcements Sarah, or Mrs G as she is affectionately known deserves a special mention. Despite her demanding job at Oakham School she has always taken a huge interest in the House and the boys, racing back to help serve tea so that she could speak to each boy at least once a day, doing hot chocolate, helping them with their Chemistry, acting as Matron, or simply picking up the pieces. I know she has been a huge support to Phil over the years even if conversations have often ended with him simply saying ‘yes dear!’.

Jim Peschek

Laurie Prashad

Jim Peschek (Music Archivist and former Director of Music) married Kathleen in the School Chapel on 31st August 2010.

Many OUs will have met Laurie Prashad at various events during her three years in the OU office. Laurie has now moved on to new challenges and we wish her all the very best for the future.

Katharine Gaine After 15 years as Housemistress of The Lodge, Katharine Gaine will be leaving the House in September 2011 to be replaced by Kyi & Stephan Muller.

Laurie Prashad

David Emms (1951 – 1960)

The Headmaster has expressed his gratitude to Katharine for the exceptional dedication and care she has given to the girls in The Lodge in her time there and we join him in wishing her and David well for their final year in the House.

Congratulations to former Master David Emms and his wife Pam who celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in September 2010.

Jim and Kathleen Peschek

Charlotte Trace

Katharine Gaine pictured with David and The Lodge 2010 leavers

Charlotte Trace (Sa 01) is pictured at the new Sports Centre during her internship in the OU Office.

Jim Reddy As David Kirk comes to the end of his tenure in Fircroft, Jim Reddy (Hf 89) has been appointed to succeed him in September 2011.

Jim is the first OU to become a Housemaster since Richard Boston who was Housemaster of Brooklands from 1987 – 2000.

Richard Boston (B 56) & Jim Reddy (Hf 89)

Charlotte Trace (Sa 01)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

35

OUs Clubs & Societies OU Sailing Association The OU Sailing Association would love more OUs onto more boats next year. The Uppingham Association provides funding to subsidise and encourage younger sailors whatever their experience.

The link to the Arrow website is:www.arrowtrophy.org.uk If you would like more information on the OU Sailing Association, please contact:Adrian Dyter (WB 81) adrian.dyter@greencoremalt.com David Gavins (Hf 73) david.gavins@btinternet.com Mark Gabbertas (Hf 75) mark@gabbertas.com

The Arrow Trophy 2010 The Arrow Trophy 2010 was both challenging and successful for Uppingham.The Friday sail across to Cowes was much less calm than in previous years and the traditional “bistro” atmosphere in the galley was spoilt by a heavy swell and a powerful tide; that being so, most of the red wine was drunk and not spilled, and the chocolate pots from Gü were much easier to eat than the traditional tiramisu.

over the same course and possibly lacked a little imagination – however James Arthur’s (SH 71) skippering and John Tildesley’s (WB 72) driving meant that we came 10th, 2nd, 3rd and 2nd.

Choosing to start on the shore side of the start line was the right decision.The fifth race was a huge challenge for the whole fleet – and perhaps the race organisers had not factored in the strength of the tide vs. the strength of the wind – kedging was considered at one point! In the end only half a dozen boats finished out of twentyfive which meant, given the earlier results, Uppingham were through to the match racing.

The match racing was very tough and we came up against two very aggressive and experienced crews – and thus, overall, we came fourth and will be the proud receivers of the Radley Shaker at the forthcoming prize giving at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.There was no damage to crew or boat – which is a miracle.

A big thank you to those who turned up – James Arthur (SH 71), John Tildesley (WB 72), Stephen Johnson (SH 74), John Alderson (SH 87), Ed Bradley (SH 97) and Thomas Brennan (press ganged non-OU). The team work and team spirit was excellent especially during the Saturday night dinner where the Uppingham table set sail for foreign shores and managed to navigate right across the marquee and “T-boned” Canford – historic

The fleet racing on Saturday saw a good breeze with an overcast sky.The first four races were

(L-R) Thomas Brennan (non-ou), John Alderson (SH 87), Stephen Johnson (SH 74), David Gavins (LH 73), John Tildesley (WB 72), James Arthur (SH 71), & Ed Bradley (SH 97)

Ed Bradley (SH 97), & John Tildesley (WB 72)

David Gavins (LH 73), James Arthur (SH 71) & Ed Bradley (SH 97)

36

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Uppingham Veterans Rifle Club Unfortunately, the Uppingham Veterans Rifle Club weren’t able to get a team together for any of the other early season team matches; however despite our early season reticence, 2010 proved yet another vintage year with members of the club placing highly in individual competitions and competing for the Home Nations and Great Britain in international team matches.

The Imperial Meeting at Bisley is the main event of the shooting year, with over 1,000 shooters competing for two weeks in a number of disciplines in both team and individual formats. In individual competition, our members excelled. Despite there being over 1000 competitors, UVRC shooters won 8 individual competitions and had top 10 placings in a further 44, more than doubling last year’s total: Alex Williams (Fgh 92) kicked off the gold rush in the Century match with a fine score of 99.13 in difficult conditions; Gareth Morris (L 89) took the Allcomers, Berryman and Monday Aggregates; John Dorrington-Ward (H 73) went one better than last year by winning the Stickledown; James Watson (L 88) took home the Admiral Hutton and Volunteer Force trophies; and John Webster (C 70) carried off the Barlow.

Similarly, in the three “major” individual competitions – The St. George’s Challenge Vase, The Grand Aggregate, and Her Majesty the Queen’s Prize – our members were disproportionately represented in the top places: Chris Belk (WB 51), Gareth Morris (L 89), Antony Ringer (B 79), James Watson (L 88) and Chris Watson (M 92) all managed top 50 places in one or more of these competitions, thereby earning the highest ‘X’ class status for another three years.

In the team matches the club was not without success, although perhaps not quite as dominant as in the individuals. In the Veterans Match, a hiccup from some of our normally reliable A Team shooters resulted in the B-Team beating them by two points and winning the B Team competition to boot. In particular, Ben Bullard (WB 96) managed his usual trick of not picking up a rifle for a year and promptly scoring a perfect score of 50. A number of other shooters also managed possibles, including Simon Pattinson (WB 52), who was clapped off the firing point for his sterling effort. An Uppingham Veterans team also won the Marlingham trophy despite close competition.

OUs Clubs & Societies Continuing the long tradition of OUs representing the Home Nations and Great Britain, a number of our members were picked to shoot in international matches.

James Watson (L 88) and Antony Ringer (B 79) shot for England in the short -range National match, with James also being selected to shoot in the long-range Mackinnon. Gareth Morris (L 89) and Chris Watson (M 92) shot for Wales in both the National and Mackinnon matches. Isobel Stevenson (L 05) was again selected to shoot for the English Universities team.

With the Australian team in attendance, an Australia Match was scheduled for the final Sunday of the Imperial Meeting, normally reserved for post-Queen’s Final night hangover recovery. With this in mind, James Watson (L 88), Chris Watson (M 92) and Gareth Morris (L 89) got an early night before meeting up for breakfast in the North London Rifle Club. After a long day of shooting, Great Britain won out over Australia by 29 points. A great finish to another great year for the Uppingham Veterans Rifle Club.

Looking forward to 2011 and the World Long-Range Championships in Brisbane, John Webster (C 70) is captaining the Great Britain Rifle Team, with James Watson (L 88) his adjutant. Gareth Morris (L 89), Antony Ringer (B 79) and Chris Watson (M 92) are part of the squad competing for one of the treasured places on the team.

OU Masonic Lodge

OU Golf Society

The Lodge was formed in 1919 and comprises OUs of all ages, races and creeds and gives them the opportunity to meet regularly. It meets three times a year in London (City University Club, Cornhill) and there is a dinner afterwards. It also meets once a year in Uppingham, on a Saturday, and afterwards there is a dinner when guests may be invited and the Headmaster and other staff members often attend. This event provides a useful and enjoyable way of keeping in touch with the School and its developments.

The OUGS is celebrating after winning the Birkdale Bucket which is awarded to the school with the best 4 stableford scores. The winning team this year was David Downes (L 59) David Hopkins (WD 60), Chris Flather (M 70) and Eddie Allingham (H 81) who won this 53rd event played again at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. Other OUGS members playing were Neil Brearley (F 93), Nick Freeman (L 70), Tom Jason Wood (B 81), Mike Parker (C 60), Peter Newbould (F 66) and Derek Bunting (B 45). Over 50 competitions played in the event. They also won the annual match against the Old Westminsters played the same weekend at Hunstanton and Brancaster in Norfolk.

The OU Lodge like all other Masonic Lodges is involved in raising money for a wide range of charities; this has included giving money to the Uppingham Foundation as well as members of the Lodge contributing money to the school for the Chapel extension and the Masonic gates.

The OU Lodge is part of the Public Schools Lodges Council, which consists of thirty-two schools Lodges. There is a festival which takes place each year on a Saturday hoisted by each school in turn. The activities at the Festival include a chapel service, music performance and lunch; this provides an opportunity to have a look at other public schools and to see something of what they offer to their pupils.

Between 2002 and 2010 the OU Lodge has been successful in attracting a healthy number of new members; however it is still looking to increase the number of members, particularly younger OUs (under 25).

Therefore any OUs who are interested in considering joining the Lodge can contact: Adrian Lewthwaite: 07961014890 e-mail Adrian.Lewthwaite@btinternet.com Nick Farmer: e-mail nickfarmer2000@yahoo.co.uk

Rob Clark (F 94)

For more information on the OU Golf Society please contact the current Secretary, Martin Walker (L 67) martin.walker53@sky.com

Inaugural Match on the new Leicester On Sunday 5th September 2010, the 1st XVst 2009 captained by Declan Lamyman (B 05) played the School’s current 1st XV in the inaugural match on the new Leicester. A strong OU team was always in control but the 1st XV pushed them hard before eventually losing 29-17.

Clive Burton: 01284 828 237 e-mail grenville.clive@virgin.net

Alex Williams (Fgh 92) & James Watson (L 88)

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

37

OUs Clubs & Societies OU CROSS COUNTRY

Uppingham Rovers Results 2010 Played 6

Won 4

Lost 1

Drawn 1

‘Georgie’s Trophy’

CRICKETER CLUB 1st Round v Old Tonbridgians Old Tonbridgians 265 for 6

D Wood 2/28/A Lewin 2/60

Uppingham Rovers 239 all out

B Aspell 62

Old Tonbridgians won by 26 runs THE TOUR v Charterhouse Friars Charterhouse 296 for 4 declared Uppingham 297 for 3

S Smith 105,J Barnett 82,S Peters 51

Uppingham Rovers won by 7 wickets v Lancing Rovers Uppingham 287 for 6 Lancing 154 all out

C Bennett Baggs 140,

In memory of Georgie Buck (Bealby) (Fd 85) who sadly lost her brave battle against Cancer in February 2010

S Debenham 4/14, D Wood 2/32, W Crowder 2/34

Uppingham Rovers won by 133 runs

Mens and Ladies Race

v Old Eastbournians Uppingham 246 for 9 declared Eastbourne 204 for 6

A Lewin 50, DJ Kennedy 47 D Wood 3/33

Race or just run for fun!

Everybody Welcome!

Match Drawn v Old Eastbournians (50 over) Eastbourne 254 for 9

S Debenham 3/41, D Wood 2/55, B Aspell 2/63

Uppingham 255 for 4

S Peters 84, B Aspell 69

Mens Race – 8k Ladies Race – 5k

Uppingham Rovers won by 6 wkts v Old Malvernians 45 over match Malvern 126 all out

W Crowder 3/17,B Aspell 2/17, D Wood 2/11

Uppingham 128 for 5

Saturday 22nd January 2011 The Middle Race Start: 2.30pm

Refreshments afterwards

A Collins 63*

Uppingham Rovers won by 5 wickets

Contact: Iain Wakefield (WB 82) iwakefield@haynes.co.uk 07831 122799 Nicola Tyers – OU Coordinator nmt@uppingham.co.uk (01572) 820616

38

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

Forthcoming Events OU London Dinner

Mandarin Oriental Hotel London

Thursday 3rd February 2011

South Africa Dinner

Cape Town

Monday 21st February 2011

Middle East Dinner

Dubai

Thursday 24th February 2011

North West Dinner

The Swan Hotel Tarporley

Thursday 10th March 2010

Cornwall Dinner

St Petroc’s Bistro Padstow

Thursday 7th April 2011

Hong Kong

Tbc

Friday 15th April 2011

The Lodge ‘Peter Attenborough 1970 -1975’ Reunion

The Lodge / Kendall Room

Saturday 30th April 2011

Young OU Drinks

London

Thursday 12th May 2011

2011 Centenary Celebrations

Uppingham School

Saturday 21st May 2011

Founder’s Day / Speech Day OU Lunch

Uppingham School

Saturday 28th May 2011

Brooklands’ 150th Anniversary Celebrations

Uppingham School

Saturday 28th May 2011

Yorkshire Dinner

The Bridge Inn Walshford

Thursday 9th June 2011

East Anglia Dinner

The Hoste Arms Burnham Market

Thursday 16th June 2011

New York Dinner

Tbc

Thursday 7th July 2011

OU Classic Car Gathering

Uppingham School in conjunction with the town’s Classic Car Show

Sunday 11th September 2011

Cambridge Dinner

Tbc

Thursday 15th September 2011

Highfield ’60 year’ Reunion

Uppingham School

Saturday 17th September 2011

Johnson’s 25th Anniversary

Uppingham School

Saturday 24th September 2011

Over 60s London Lunch

Cavalry & Guards Club London

Thursday 6th October 2011

Birmingham Dinner

Tbc

Wednesday 16th November 2011

Scotland Dinner

Tbc

Wednesday 23rd November 2011

We have received enquiries about holding a dinner in the Algarve.

Please let us know if you travel to Portugal and would like to attend.

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

39

Uppingham School Sports Centre

40

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

The first phase of the Western Quad development has been realised with the opening of a brand new Sports Centre overlooking the Leicester pitches. This fantastic facility is undoubtedly one of, if not the best of its kind in the country, and it has been enthusiastically received by the pupils, parents, staff and OUs who have had the pleasure of seeing it. The building contains a

six court sports hall, a gymnasium, two dance studios, three squash courts, a 25 m six-lane swimming pool, a hospitality suite and a fitness studio with 50 work stations.

Surrounding the Sports Centre are 12 tennis courts, 9 netball courts, a new pavilion and of course the realigned and reseeded rugby pitch. The Leicester pitches are overlooked by the OU Terrace which features the names of

more than 500 OUs engraved into pavers.

We are enormously grateful to every OU and parent who has contributed to this wonderful facility. Do come along and see it for yourself, I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Patrick Mulvihill

The Magazine for the Old Boys & Girls of Uppingham School

41

The London OU Dinner • The London OU Dinner • The London OU Dinner

The London OU 100th Anniversary Dinner Thursday 3rd February 2011 The London Dinner is the biggest event in the OU calendar and as we are celebrating 100 years of the Association we want it to be even bigger and better than ever. Following last year’s success it is once again being held in the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hotel located in Knightsbridge. We are pleased to announce that our Chairman will be

John Suchet (Fgh 57).

Tickets are £67.00 per person (£45.00 for OUs aged 29 and under) and includes a pre-dinner drink and a 3-course meal with a bottle of wine.

(*) Tables can be reserved however guest names and payments must be received by 10th January 2011.

Tickets can be paid for by credit card by calling Nicola Tyers at the OU Association on 01572 820616 or by cheque (payable to The Uppingham Association).

For more details, or to let Nicola know of any special dietary requirements, please email nmt@uppingham.co.uk

CALL NOW

to reserve a table