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OS NEWS
OS NEWS Fighting COVID
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Head of DT at Marlborough College, Malaysia successfully manufactured a range of face shields for front line doctors and nurses at local hospitals.
Andrew Mason (OS, 2005)
Lead Scientist helped in the Covid fight
As news of potential vaccines for Covid-19 hit the media, we were proud to have one of our own playing a huge part in making this happen. The making of the vaccine announced by Pfizer has been heavily assisted by Croda Europe.
Old Savilian, Andy Sellars (OS 2006), Lead Development Scientist at Croda was the lead scientist in the scale up process of the ingredients used in the vaccine. The way it was made at lab scale had to be completely redesigned in order to make it scalable and safe for production and without Andy’s input this wouldn't have been achieved.
Supporting the NHS
At the very beginning of the pandemic, the Naylor Group, changed their manufacturing product to support the NHS.
Rather than manufacturing their usual products of clay and plastic pipes for "below ground" use on construction projects, Naylor's Wombwell site began to manufacture ventilation duct for emergency medical facilities, including the Nightingale hospital in London's Docklands.
Additionally, Naylor's extruded cable filler was used as part of cabling works on the same site as well as other schemes such as the temporary hospital in Milan.
Edward Naylor (OS, 1982), CEO The Naylor Group
Estates Manager at J & E Dickinson Longley Farm
After leaving QEGS in 2000, I studied law at Newcastle University, before joining KPMG as a trainee accountant. I quickly discovered this wasn’t for me, so changed to Chartered Surveying, valuing commercial property across the UK for the next decade, latterly in central London.
In 2004 I joined J & E Dickinson, a dairy and farming business in Holmfirth, as their Estates Manager. Mainly based at their estate in Barnsley, Tyers Hall Farm, my work is varied, from land tenancy agreements, HR matters, restoration of walled gardens, ecology and sustainability. Tyers Hall is a stunning farm, with historic stone buildings, rolling fields and woodlands with much potential for diversification.
D&T was my favourite subject at school, inspired by Messrs Preston and Benn, so I’m lucky to have some creative freedom in my current role. Whether benches for public footpaths, animal feed troughs or full buildings, there is always something to sketch and build. Whilst designing a new livestock building with colleagues, I developed a passion for animal and farmer welfare, for which I was fortunate to be awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship. This has involved various periods of travel to the USA, Canada and Europe, studying the impact of building design on the psychology and mental health of farmers. I’ve loved the adventure and made some life-long friends.
Farming is changing. Now we have left the EU, subsidies are being removed and future government payments are being linked to environmental outcomes. Farmers will be rewarded for managing land in a way which restores biodiversity, sequesters carbon to fight climate change, improves water quality and alleviates flooding. I’m passionate about nature and the environment, so it’s an exciting time.
The next project is to convert a large steel framed barn into an education hub, where we can welcome the public to learn about farming, food and nature. We hope it will be a beautiful space, where people can stand inside and feel connected to the farm around them, where we can host discussions, debates, events and celebrations. In my work today, and over the last twenty years, I feel fortunate to have enjoyed an excellent educational start in life at QEGS and am pleased to continue this association with the school by welcoming it to our farm.
Chris Harrap (OS, 2000)
OS NEWS In Memory of Minha
Hi, my name is Faiq and I had the pleasure of joining QEGS in the Upper 6th years. Living in Bradford, I can certainly say the early morning trains to Westgate were worth it! I was fortunate enough to enjoy 1st XV rugby, Mr Mason's ‘interesting’ but well thought out analogies when explaining A level Chemistry to us, but most importantly, I have made some friends for life along the way. It truly is an honour to be a part of such an esteemed community.
As I venture onto start Medical School at the University of Liverpool, I have the pleasure of recalling some great camaraderie between the QEGS and WGHS boys and girls in what was already tough times due to the pandemic. Last year on the 16th of April, my family suffered a tragedy in the loss of my cousin, to cancer at the tender age of 18. Minha was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer two years ago and despite many challenges during her journey, she faced them with optimism, fearlessness and most importantly, always smiling. She was ready to tackle her university years despite her deteriorating health. A moment that stands out for me is finding her looking for portable oxygen cylinders to aid her breathing. She never thought she wouldn’t make it to September. After her death, the impact she left on me was immeasurable. I decided it was only right if I honoured her life. Macmillan Cancer Support were integral in her palliative care at home. Especially during a pandemic, they were essential in providing Minha's medication, her oxygen support, and answering any queries her Mum Sadia had when she was worried for her health. Their presence was emphasised during the national lockdown.
I decided running would be a fantastic method of honouring her life and raising money for Macmillan. There had been a social media trend during the national lockdown to run 5km and donate £5 to a charity of your choice. I decided to take a little twist on that and make a challenge for me and a couple of friends. Minha's battle with Cancer lasted 734 days to be exact. It was then I posed the idea to 5 close friends to run 5km every day for a whole month in hopes of raising money for Macmillan. After the news spread, I was overwhelmed with support, and many friends wanted to also participate and take part. Before I knew it, I had 57 runners/walkers/ cyclers doing 5km a day for a whole month. This included friends, family and teachers also! I remember on day 3, having my body riddled with aches and pains, but remembering the importance of driving through, just as Minha did. With an initial target of raising £750, this was achieved within 2 hours of the challenge starting, and it eventually picked up regional attention on the news, making it to the BBC! After a long, gruelling, but rewarding 30 days, we ended up raising £12,067, and running over 8000km! It was truly a humbling experience.
A year on from her death, I am still reminded of how important resilience is, and how far positivity can take you. It also made me realise how important the QEGS community is. Without it, this amazing feat we have achieved would not have been possible. I don’t think words will suffice how grateful I am to the help I had from all the teachers, boys and girls who ran and helped in raising an amazing amount for such an amazing organisation! Minha's legacy has become a focal point in Macmillan’s Cash Appeal sent out at the start of this year, in hopes more money will be raised to go towards bettering the lives of people who suffer with this terrible disease. Once again, I thank this amazing community, and look forward to seeing it flourish even further in the future.
From left to right Aminah (Minha’s cousin), Minha, Faiq with Ryan, (Minha’s brother Ahad), Faiq’s brother holding Amaan, (Minha’s brother)
Faiq Aziz (OS, 2020)
THE RUNNERS
Boys from QEGS who ran - all are from the Class of 2020
Adam Priest
(Head Boy) Patrick Maher Amai Ganjam Oliver Appleyard Ed Booth Luke Smith Harry Duke Harry Longworth Jack Cherry Ryan Taylor Tom Noble Will Gatus Ibrahim Shamchiyev
(left in year 11) Stevan Balac Max Wotton Tobi Irelewuyi Will Joyce
(left in year 11)
Girls from WGHS who ran - are all from the Class of 2020
Abbey Brooke Ella Riding Lola Allison Rebecca Coe Alex Middleton Eilidh Lee Lucy Morrell Olivia Shuter Sophia Walker
Teachers
Mr Rees Mr Pesterfield Mr Higgins Mr Barker Dr Clark Mr Fraser Mrs Palin Mrs Armson Mrs Eggleston Mrs Fitzsimons Mr Stiff Mrs Allen Dr Brunt Mr Becker Mr Head
How did I end up building a palm tree shaped island in the persian Gulf?
After completing my A-Level’s at QEGS, I attended the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne where I studied Civil Engineering. Upon graduating in 1996, I began my career designing water pipelines in North Yorkshire. However, a passion for marine-related infrastructure and a thirst for more project variety would lead me on an unexpected path.
I joined Van Oord, a Dutch dredging and marine construction company, in early 1997. Here I spent the next four years constructing rock defences from imported Norwegian rocks (that were each the size of an average saloon car) along the coastlines of England, Wales and Scotland.
After four years the rocks of Norway had to be left to the responsibility of others.
I had been requested to fly to Dubai, it was October 2001. The project was to build Palm Jumeirah – the most ambitious project of all time. A palm tree-shaped island 5km long and located off the coast of Dubai.
My responsibility was to operationally manage several of the vessels that would dredge the seabed and re-locate the sand material to form the island. These Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers could suck material from 30 metres deep, store the sand in the hull of the vessel, transport to the planned delivery location and discharge the material by squirting it over the bow through nozzles (a technique known as rainbowing). These giant vessels had the capability of delivering over eight thousand tonnes of sand every three to four hours, twenty-four hours per day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. If one unusual offshore structure was not enough to build in one lifetime I followed Palm Jumeriah by working on The World Project, also in Dubai. This project involved the construction of an archipelago of more than three hundred artificial islands in the shape of a map of the world. Of course, this required similar vessels to deliver the sand, but this time larger, much larger. Each of the mega vessels had the capability of delivering over thirty-eight thousand tonnes of sand every three to four hours, twenty-four hours per day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year.
Before leaving the Middle East I just had time to squeeze in one more project. The expansion of the port of Ras Laffan in Qatar.
Once completed, this expansion would make the port the largest artificial harbour in the world and contain the world’s largest Liquified Natural Gas export facility. Here I was tasked with overseeing the engineering for the rock deliveries to construct two six mile long breakwaters, each approximately twenty metres high.
I now live in Australia. Still working on marine engineering projects for Van Oord, although now I tend to try to stay in the air conditioning more.
Andrew May (OS 1993)
100km walk to remember Luca
On Saturday 24th I took on the challenge to walk 100km over 24 hours…
As a young dad to 1 year old Ned I had been massively affected by the tragic news that my good friends Paul and Philippa shared just over a year back when their little boy Luca suddenly passed away at just 7 weeks old.
The last 12 months have been testing enough but their situation has been beyond difficult.
Allanah (my partner) and I have always been on the other end of the phone when they needed to talk about what has happened. After Christmas Paul suggested doing the walk as a way to raise money for the charities that had supported them and I said I would take on a Yorkshire based 100km to support.
Anyone who has attempted this distance knows the level of training and commitment required is vast, 9 hour training walks etc. Having a 1 year old meant I was somewhat unable to commit this level of time and took a more naive ‘mind over matter’ approach! With the support of various groups of friends I managed to walk 67 km around Leeds before my left knee gave way, it turns out training is key!
It’s safe to say it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted but I feel privileged to have been part of remembering Luca. Paul completed the 100km challenge and Phillipa a 24hr bake-a-thon on Sunday, they are nothing short of heroes. I hope this undertaking helps them move forward with life whilst always keeping Luca in their memories.
George Vann (OS, 2008)
Recognised in Queen’s New Year’s Honours 2021
Stuart Lamb, Old Savilian and Chairman of the William Lamb Group, was awarded an MBE, in the annual Queen’s 2021 New Year’s Honours, for services to business, skills and the community of Yorkshire.
Stuart said: “The honour was most unexpected. In the current environment my contribution seems small compared to people who put themselves in harm’s way to take care of us all. I was shocked to be told I was considered. It means a lot to the business to recognise the tremendously committed and creative team all over the world.”
The Wakefield-founded company is still based in the city. Stuart said: “Everything we sell is designed and developed in our Wakefield office.”
He is a supporter of the Wakefield Community Awareness Project and Christians Against Poverty. The firm is also involved with the Pattenmakers Charitable Foundation, which creates shoes for people with walking abnormalities or foot injuries, including soldiers who have been injured in combat.
