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UPCOMING OW EVENTS

04 WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER

06 OW SUMMER EVENTS IN PHOTOS

08 SCHOOL NEWS

20 OWS IN THE NEWS

32 SPORTING NEWS

42 FROM THE ARCHIVES

45 OBITUARIES - IN MEMORIAM

CONTENTS

EVENTS FOR

MICHAELMAS TERM 2026 TEA & TOUR (click to RSVP) Friday 9 October Whitgift

OW ANNUAL DINNER Friday 16 October Whitgift

OW HONG KONG DRINKS (click to RSVP) Friday 16 October Dot Cod Restaurant and Bar

OW DUBAI DRINKS Thursday 12 November Venue TBC

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE & 1596 SOCIETY AFTERNOON TEA By invitation Saturday 14 November Whitgift

TEA & TOUR (click to RSVP) Friday 20 November Whitgift

RUGBY 1st XV FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (More details to follow) Friday 20 November Whitgift

WINTER FAIR (More details to follow) Sunday 29 November Whitgift

RECENT LEAVERS’ CHRISTMAS DRINKS FOR CLASSES OF ‘23, ’24, ’25, ’26 Thursday 17 December Whitgift 3

HEADMASTER’S WELCOME Dear OWs, I am writing this at the start of my second year at Whitgift, and I can confidently say that I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment here. This School continues to be an energetic and dynamic place, and there is a huge sense of community and pride among the boys which replicates the feeling of belonging that many OWs feel throughout their lives; Whitgift is a very special place. Over recent months, our leadership team, alongside colleagues across the School, have spent time developing our vision and strategy for the next few years. Whitgift remains unashamedly boys only, and at the heart of our vision is for every member of our community to become more than they previously imagined, along with our clearly defined identity for the Whitgift experience: A diverse and grounded community where every person belongs - to a circle of friends, a team, a pursuit and a shared purpose. Here, pupils are known, nurtured and challenged. Through exceptional teaching, unrivalled opportunities and deep personal support, they become more: ready to step forward with confidence into their future. This vision is underpinned by our five core values: Courage, Ambition, Respect, Curiosity and Belonging. The next stages of Whitgift’s development will include strategic planning at all levels to ensure that we are able to fulfil our vision, and a critical build programme to ensure that we are maximising the opportunities for the boys within the Haling Park grounds. While we have done considerable work on maintaining and upgrading facilities so that they remain at an exceptional level (and my goodness the School does look great!) we have a fabulous opportunity over the coming years to deliver a critical build plan that will seek to materially enhance the site. Before we launch into any building, we need to consider the long-term implications of any construction locations to ensure careful future proofing. We won’t simply be building Padel courts on the first bit of flat ground we can find, for example, as suggested by many!

Padel is an interesting example of something which would be hugely popular among students and could generate income for the school in evenings and weekends but takes up

“Here, pupils are known, nurtured and challenged.” a significant amount of space for the number of students who can benefit from it at any one time. The question for any new building will be whether the investment is worth it based on the benefit to the boys. The one notable thing we have done so far is upgrade our golf facility which has been neglected for many years. This is an exciting development reflecting the commitment to bringing our golfing provision at Whitgift in line with the top golf schools. Watch this space for further plans. In another significant strategic development, Whitgift’s first international school opened in July 2026 in Hyderabad, India. Sagebrook International is operating in partnership with Whitgift (more info on page 13) and we are actively exploring other international expansion opportunities. The reason for this is fourfold: 1. To generate a significant and sustainable non-fee income revenue stream, profits from which will enhance the Whitgift For All bursary endowment fund to increase the number of bursaries available for boys in Croydon. 2. To build international brand recognition for Whitgift which will enhance applications to international boarding and summer school programmes, supporting existing revenue streams.

online conversations, sports tours, etc. I am delighted to let you know that 2025-26 was a very successful year in terms of fundraising for Whitgift For All. Thank you to all the OWs who contribute towards building a fund for future generations of deserving boys to attend Whitgift. We have raised almost £350,000 in 2025-26 and over £1.5 million in total for Whitgift For All. If your experience at Whitgift was positive, please do consider making a small donation in future. It would be much appreciated. If you have any questions about how to do so, please contact Andy Marlow, who oversees both this and our international projects. Lastly, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet OWs at various events. See pages 6 and 7 for highlights from 2025-26 and please do come to an event in 2026-27. We are looking forward to the OW Dinner in Big School in October, a 1st XV Friday evening match under the floodlights on Big Side in November, and our annual Winter Fair (organised by the Parents’ Association) towards the end of term. More details to follow in the next monthly newsletter. Thank you to Nigel Platts and Dom Edwards in particular for their contributions to this edition, and Emma Helbert for pulling it all together. Nigel has been a stalwart of Old Whitgiftian news over the years and perhaps knows more about current Old Whitgiftians and what they have got up to in their careers than anyone else. Dom is about to enter his 100th term as a Whitgiftian, as a student (OW1988-96) and member of staff (and current parent too). Both have been amazingly generous with their time to provide content for our publications over the years. With warmest wishes,

Toby Seth Headmaster

3. To help offer outstanding education to international students in their home countries, grounded in Whitgift’s values. 4. To create opportunities for Whitgift students and staff to engage internationally, through visits, exchanges,

U30s Drinks

2025 / 2026

ALUMNI EVENTS

OW Dubai Drinks

OW Lord Freud interviewing OW Tim Davie

OW Tony Percy delivering a talk on ‘The Cambridge 5 and the Whitgift Connection’

An Evening of Cricket at the Kia Oval OW Tony Percy with guests

U30s Drinks

OW Annual Dinner at the RAF Club

An Evening of Cricket at the Kia Oval

OW Annual Dinner at the RAF Club

An Evening of Cricket at the Kia Oval

6s Reunion Lunch for OWs

Founder’s Circle and 1596 Afternoon Tea

RECORD BREAKING

TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN

Callers from left to right: Milo, Yad, Mikey, Reyan, Lachlann, Josh, Zach, Niki, Max, Reuben, Andrew

Thank you everyone who took the time to speak with one of the student callers as part of the Whitgift For All Telephone Campaign in July. 11 callers - a mixture of recent leavers and current alumni at university had the opportunity to develop valuable life skills by speaking with people of all ages and learning how to communicate effectively over the phone, something many young people have limited experience of today. It was a fantastic opportunity to build their confidence, conversational abilities, and interpersonal skills, which will serve them well as they move on to the next stage of their

lives and begin their careers. More than 1,700 alumni and parents spoke to our callers and shared their experiences, reflected on their time at Whitgift, and offered invaluable career advice to our students. Additionally, many people chose to make a donation to the Whitgift For All Bursary Fund raising an incredible £119,000, enough to enable three talented students to join the Sixth Form on a bursary from September 2027.

T H E R E S U LT S

1,700+ alumni and parents

£119,000 raised

2025-26

NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL DOMINIC EDWARDS (OW 1988-96) TEACHER AND HOUSEMASTER (MASON’S) This year saw me complete a quarter of a century as a teacher at Whitgift. Put that with the eight years I enjoyed here as a boy and that adds up to ninetynine terms. During that time, I’ve seen the school roll almost double in size, witnessed the glorious transformation of the site itself (including the construction of the magnificent sports and conference centre, the evolution of Puntabout into the all-weather sports field and havenlike water gardens, and the arrival of Founder’s House, something which has changed the very fabric of the school to make it into the multi-national boarding environment it is today), and had the pleasure of seeing five different Headmasters put their stamp on Whitgift. So, what would Mr Toby Seth, the School’s thirtieth Headmaster, have thought about Whitgift after his first three terms here? When he first addressed us as a body of staff last September, he alluded to his earliest memories of the School: as a local boy himself, he had first encountered Whitgift in a sporting context and he didn’t mind sharing the fact that he had enjoyed some epic battles with us on cricket and hockey pitches which had led to a great deal of respect on his behalf.

Throughout his first year here, Toby has fully immersed himself in Whitgift life to see the rest of what the School has to offer, and I know from speaking to him how much his respect has grown. Be it outstanding public exam results, stirring dramatic and musical performances, the skill and precision on display in the CCF Annual General Inspection, or finally, just the charitable nature and good-will of the boys in their day-to-day interactions with each other and staff, in addition to their endeavours to give back to local communities, Toby has been thoroughly impressed by the entire Whitgift community: I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship! This year’s IB results were the second highest in Whitgift’s history, with an average score of 40.2 (out of a possible 45) prior to any remarks. Of the forty-one Sixth Formers who took the qualification, four students scored a perfect 45 (something achieved by fewer than 1% of students across the world) - a new Whitgift record. Every grade awarded was between 5-7 (broadly equivalent to A*-B at A Level) - another Whitgift record - and significantly over half the cohort scored

40 points or more. Next to get their results this summer were the A-Level students. This year’s cohort achieved an outstanding set of results that reflect both their academic excellence and their wider contribution to Whitgift life. Around one in four A Level grades were awarded at the highest grade of A*, while just under 60% of all grades were A*/A, double the national average. Individual achievements were equally impressive, with nearly 40% of students achieving at least one A* grade and 22% achieving at least two A* grades. When you combine the IB and A-Level results, the achievements of the full Upper Sixth cohort of 209 boys are equally impressive. This year’s leavers achieved 28.8% of all grades at A* or its IB Higher Level equivalent, exceeding last year’s figure, with more than 62% of grades at A*/A equivalent and 88% at A*-B equivalent. Finally, congratulations should go to all our Year 11 students who received their GCSE results in the penultimate week of the holidays. They achieved an excellent set of outcomes that reflect the hard work, determination and ability of an exceptionally strong cohort. This year, 42% of all grades were awarded at the highest grade of 9, while

2025-26

NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL 69% of grades were awarded at grades 8 or 9. In total, more than 1,500 grades were awarded at 8 or 9, with 88% of all grades achieved at grade 7 or above. These results represent an improvement on last year’s strong performance and are a testament to the commitment, resilience and ambition shown by our students throughout their GCSE studies. Of course, for the large majority of Whitgift students, their public exam results are only a stepping stone on their learning journey, with bigger things to come in tertiary education. To that end, the School is pleased to recognise the outstanding success of 10 of its students who have received offers from the prestigious universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Something that is different for this year, though, is the amount of Whitgift students who applied to study abroad. Indeed, more than 40 offers have been received from leading international universities. This includes 14 students with offers from institutions in the United States, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and Princeton University, three of whom have secured scholarships, with two receiving multiple awards. Beyond the UK and US, 15 students applied to a range of international destinations. Six pupils submitted a total of 18 applications to universities in Hong Kong, including the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), resulting so far in eight offers to three students. A further five students hold offers from leading institutions in Europe, Australia and Canada, including McGill University. Of course, academia is not just restricted to exam preparation at Whitgift: the quest for knowledge is encouraged in a number of different ways. Each year, more than 200,000 students across the UK take part in the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge. From this exceptionally large field, around 1,800 students qualify for the prestigious Cayley, Hamilton and

Maclaurin Mathematical Olympiads. Only the top 20 scorers nationwide in each Olympiad are awarded gold medals, making this one of the highest individual honours available at intermediate level mathematics. This year, Ethan (Third Former) achieved a gold medal in the Cayley Olympiad, and Sasha (Fifth Former) achieved a gold medal in the Maclaurin Olympiad. Whitgift also celebrated British Science Week, which this year was themed ‘Curiosity: what’s your question?’ The week offers pupils a series of optional enrichment activities designed to encourage independent exploration and scientific inquiry. Students from all years took part engaging in a variety of activities ranging from an introductory genetics activity for the Junior years, which modelled genes using sweets, to a visit to the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxford to observe current research for Lower Sixth physicists. And let’s not forget the Arts. As part of our World Book Day celebrations, the School welcomed acclaimed author Ken Preston, whose visit inspired students to deepen their love of reading and storytelling. Mrs Boon, Head of English, reflected positively on the day: “It was a delight to watch the pupils engage with Ken’s story-creation activities and have the chance to receive feedback and advice from a published author.” Like much of the population, I went to the cinema this summer to see Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. To whet my appetite for this epic encounter, I read Christopher Tryhorn’s (OW 198896) excellent modern adaptation of the classic tale (available to buy on Amazon). Naturally, I thought that would be the end of the Whitgift associations. I was, therefore, more than pleasantly surprised in the cinema itself when one of the trailers was for upcoming feelgood film, Sunny Dancer, written, produced and directed by another Old Whitgiftian, George Jaques (OW 2011-18). How fantastic that someone who cultivated an interest in acting and script writing in House Drama is now vying with Spielberg, Nolan and co for summer box office success! Talking of House Drama,

this year’s vintage was right up there with the best and Brodie’s winning piece, Alice in Wonderland, was the first of many theatrical successes in what was to be another stellar year for the Drama department. Indeed, Jekyll & Hyde The Musical, Second Form Shakespeare, A Monster Calls, Richard III: Live in Las Vegas and Peter Pan were just some of the dramatic spectacles you would have witnessed had you frequented the hallowed boards of the Big School and Performing Arts Centre stages this year. Finally, hoping to follow in George Jaques’ footsteps, Lower Sixth Former, Marcos Byrne, wrote and starred in his semi-autobiographical play, Hello, My Name Is… which premiered in April at the Peckham Fringe preview to great acclaim. Bravo! The Music Department also enjoyed a spectacular year putting on more performances than ever before in an increasingly impressive range of venues. The Chamber Choir have become regulars at the Croydon Minster and last November they returned to delight the congregation with a serene rendition of Brahms’ Requiem. In April they were lucky enough to sing in Windsor Castle, performing the Evensong in St George’s Chapel. There was also a lot of singing to go around in this year’s House Music competition with the 2026 champions, the mighty Mason’s, bringing down the house (pardon the pun!) with a showstopping performance of Raye’s Where Is My Husband - Big School did not know what had hit it! Big School also hosted the Autumn Concert, this year entitled Power Up! Video Games In Concert, as well as a bit of smooth jazz to usher in summertime with May’s After Hours Jazz Concert. The Spring Concert this year, entitled Masquerade, packed out the Fairfield Halls Concert Hall with performances from all of the School’s leading ensembles and culminated with the rousing vocals of the entire First Form. And last but not least, our own beloved Concert Hall. In addition to hosting a number of lunchtime recitals throughout the year, the venue was also the setting of the Chamber Orchestra’s Great Orchestral Classics Concert in

throughout the year, the venue was also the setting of the Chamber Orchestra’s Great Orchestral Classics Concert in May, featuring the music of Mozart, Elgar and Rachmaninov – great indeed! The CCF also had a highly productive year. In addition to the weekly activities and yearly camps, the cadets also hosted a solemn reflection for Whitgift’s annual remembrance service in November as well as putting on a superb AGI in April. This year’s inspector was Air Commodore Edward Cole MBE, and he was certainly impressed with what he saw. The formal inspection commenced with the Guard of Honour and Corps of Drums preparing for inspection and the entire CCF formed up to observe. Earlier in the day, cadets participated in a comprehensive programme of activities, including a flight simulator, obstacle course and first aid training. The event concluded with the highly anticipated Platoon Attack followed by a Corps of Drums beating retreat. Commending the cadets, Air Commodore Cole remarked, “You get out what you put into anything like the Cadet Force, and it’s been great to see your enthusiasm.” The Officers’

and SNCOs’ Annual Dinner took place in the evening, during which trophies were awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement, and departing Upper Sixth students were formally thanked for their commitment and contribution to the CCF. And finally, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the Whitgift grounds team. Every time visitors come to the School to attend one of the many above-mentioned events, they are always taken aback by the impeccably tailored splendour of the site. It is easy to take this for granted when you work here full-time and so when the team responsible for creating this educational Eden were named Independent School Grounds Team of the Year at the Grounds Management Association (GMA) Industry Awards 2026 in March, it was a timely reminder to us all to take a break from our hectic day-to-day lives and look up… at the magnificent sporting arenas that are Big Side, North Field, Edridge; at the flamingos striding across the glimmering grandeur that is the Water Gardens; at the exotic opulence of the Japanese Water Garden in the Andrew

Richard III: Live in Las Vegas

Quadrangle. These are just some of the green spaces around Whitgift that were recognised by the judges who decide upon this prestigious award. Mr Ratling (Grounds and Estate Manager) expressed: “We are all really pleased to have won the Independent School Grounds Team of the Year Award at the GMA industry awards. Winning this award for a third time in 11 years is testament to the team’s continual hard work and enthusiasm.” This remarkable achievement highlights Whitgift’s ongoing commitment to deliver exceptional grounds that support pupils’ academic and sporting pursuits.

The cast of Peter Pan

Whitgift choir at St George’s Chapel, Windsor

Masquerade concert at Fairfield Halls

CCF Annual General Inspection

2025-26

COMMUNITY SUMMER SCHOOL LAURA JONES, COURSE DIREC TOR This Summer I was delighted to be the Course Director for our Community Summer School, now in its seventh year, which ran from 27 – 31 July. Whitgift welcomed 168 Year 5 students from local primary schools for an exciting week of enriching academic lessons and fun co-curricular activities. We had twentythree staff members involved, seven of whom were fantastic pastoral tutors, as well as eleven sixth form volunteers who spent each day getting to know the children and providing extra help during lessons. The children who attended were selected by their headteachers and had a vast array of abilities and need - some

were facing difficult home life situations, some of them were currently in foster care, most were pupil premium or were young carers. The week provided them with unique opportunities, a chance to try things never experienced before, as well as some respite from their everyday lives and a chance to form new friendships. I saw first-hand how their confidence grew throughout the week and by the morning of day three, we had a storm of 10-year-olds eagerly running along The Terrace towards their pastoral tutors with the biggest smiles I think I have ever seen! As part of the week, the students experienced lessons

in Maths, English, Science, History, Economics, Japanese and Computer Science. In the afternoons they enjoyed Fencing, Table Tennis, Cricket, Drama, Dance and Crafting. We also partnered with Palace for Life - Crystal Palace FC’s official charity, who attended each afternoon to provide sports coaching, with ten coaches running a carousel of football skills/practice and team building activities. The week was more rewarding than I could have ever imagined and an experience these children will never forget, take a look at the video for some of their highlights.

HYDERABAD, INDIA

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL UPDATE JOHN CHISHOLM, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Sagebrook International School, which is located in Hyderabad, India, was officially inaugurated on February 6 2026, by Toby Seth and John Chisholm. It marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between Whitgift School and Sagebrook International, who are looking to redefine international education in southern India. The partnership sees Whitgift provide support in the development and operation of Sagebrook International School and ensure it is a sector leading institution that will provide an outstanding academic and pastoral pathway for students in Hyderabad.

Speaking as part of a panel discussion at the inauguration, Mr Seth said “This campus reflects a deep commitment to learning with purpose. The clarity of vision and the investment in valuesbased education makes this partnership deeply meaningful. Sagebrook is creating an environment where children are genuinely prepared for the future”. Designed to international standards, the main focus of Sagebrook’s campus is on sustainability, wellbeing and being future ready. The infrastructure features modular open-plan learning zones, recycled materials, energy efficient lighting and neurodiverse friendly

layouts. It is safe, inclusive and an adaptable learning environment. Sagebrook International is the first phase of a broader project, welcoming 100 students in the first academic year and has a capacity of 500 students. The second phase will see the build of a secondary school, which will have capacity for 2,500 students and is due to open in the coming years.

Headmaster Toby Seth and Director of International Education John Chisholm with the staff of Sagebrook.

A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR THE

£100 ENTERPRISE CLUB The £100 Enterprise Club is open to all students from Lower First to Upper Sixth Form, with the majority of members coming from Lower First to Fourth Form. Meeting weekly in the DTE Department, students are challenged to develop their own product ideas, taking them through every stage of the entrepreneurial journey – from concept and design to production, marketing and sales. Products are sold to the school community through pre-orders, lunchtime pop-up shops and the annual WSPA Winter Fair, giving students

valuable hands-on experience of bringing an idea to market. It is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to develop creativity, business acumen and teamwork skills in a real-world setting. This year has been the Club’s most successful to date, showcasing an impressive level of innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit. Through the design and sale of a range of commercially focused products, students have demonstrated remarkable dedication and enthusiasm, achieving outstanding results.

The year concluded on a high note with a further donation of £650 to Whitgift For All, bringing the Club’s total contribution for the year to an impressive £1,154. This achievement reflects not only the students’ hard work and commitment to product development, but also the strength of their teamwork across year groups and their shared desire to make a positive impact on the wider community. Congratulations to all members of the £100 Enterprise Club on an exceptional year and a truly inspiring collective achievement.

Queston’s design of Whitgift-themed playing cards – with total sales so far of over 250 packs! If you are looking for Christmas stocking fillers, students will be selling these at this year’s Winter Fair along with any other products created in the Michaelmas term.

OWs AT THE FRINGE Congratulations to debut writer and director Louis Maingay (OW 2013-21) for taking his show, You Just Missed It, to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. Described as a funny and mind-bending coming of age story, the production featured Otto Monge (OW 2019-26) who recently starred in the School’s production of Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical. We wish the very talented Louis and Otto every success for the future.

Louis and cast members rehearsing in the PAC.

COMING FULL CIRCLE

ADAM SOPP & MARTIN JARVIS Thank you to Adam Sopp (OW 1997– 2004) for getting in touch to tell us about a recent BBC Radio 4 production, B&B, in which he appeared.

Whitgiftians, only a few places away from a photograph of himself starring as the title character in his first school production, Oliver!

An outstanding drama student during his time at Whitgift, Adam earned a place at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Several longserving members of staff told him that he was the first Whitgift pupil to go directly to drama school since Martin Jarvis. Adam recalls seeing Martin’s photograph in the Headmaster’s Corridor among the School’s distinguished Old

When Adam was offered a role in B&B and discovered that the director was none other than Martin Jarvis, he felt the experience had come full circle. Between scenes, Adam and Martin shared memories of their time at Whitgift and reflected on their mutual appreciation of the Drama Department, which played such an important role in launching their successful careers. Adam Sopp and Martin Jarvis

STAR-STUDDED CAST IN THE

LATEST OW BOX OFFICE HIT 26-year-old film director and writer George Jaques (OW 2011-18) released his latest film, Sunny Dancer, in London on 14th August. The film had its world premiere as the opening night film of the Generation 14plus section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 13 February 2026, where it was nominated for the Crystal Bear. The film received positive reviews from critics and featured in British Vogue heralding Sunny Dancer ‘this summer’s indie breakout’. This follows his highly acclaimed first feature length film Black Dog in 2023.

Sunny Dancer is a heartfelt, uplifting coming-of-age story about resilience, friendship and discovering how to live life to the fullest. After 17-year-old Ivy beats cancer, she can’t think of anything worse than becoming a Make-A-Wish kid. But when her parents send her to a summer camp for young people affected by cancer, Ivy struggles to fit in and rebels against the camp’s rules and expectations. Written and directed by George Jaques, Sunny Dancer features an outstanding ensemble cast including Bella Ramsey

(The Last of Us, Game of Thrones), Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton, Lockwood & Co.), Earl Cave (The End We Start From), Conrad Khan (Peaky Blinders), Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), James Norton (Happy Valley, Playing Nice) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Gone Girl). With its fresh perspective, vibrant young cast, and universal themes of belonging and resilience, Sunny Dancer is an inspiring crowd-pleaser that will resonate with audiences of all ages and a must see.

Director George Jaques (OW 2011-18)

HONOURING A

DEDICATED DRUM MAJOR Since 1941, the School’s Corps of Drums has been led by 75 Cadet Drum Majors including one of the Corps’ most dedicated supporters, Richard Bateman (Drum Major 1973-74). Richard has been a tireless champion of the Corps for decades. He played a key role in helping to establish the Old Whitgiftians Corps of Drums 30 years ago and, since then, has rarely missed an event. His unwavering commitment, enthusiasm and support have made him a much-valued member of the Corps family. Richard turned 70 this summer and to mark both his milestone birthday and his outstanding service, Richard was presented with a Corps of Drums Colours Blazer,

REMEMBERING

DON GILLARD

specially adorned with Drum Major stripes, along with a Corps polo shirt. Louis and cast members rehearing in the PAC. We are also delighted to announce Richard’s appointment as Senior Drum Major. This is the first time this title has been awarded, and it is difficult to imagine a more deserving recipient. His decades of dedication to the Corps, both as a former Drum Major and as a steadfast supporter, make him the perfect choice for this unique honour.

I am sure everyone associated with the Corps of Drums will join us in congratulating Richard on this well-deserved recognition and in wishing him a very happy 70th birthday.

Don (right) in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre with Laboratory Assistant Harold Girdlestone.

Whitgift staff 1960-1994 A group from the class of ‘83 6ScA recently got together at the Royal Academy of Arts to remember Don Gillard who taught at Whitgift for 34 years and sadly passed away in July 2025. In his time, he was chemistry teacher, Head of Science and form master of U6ScA, and a dab hand in the Domini cricket team. He was a great lover of classical music and played the piano and organ.

L-R: Ian McGillivray, Richard O’Meara, Richard Newman, Alan Ross-Guy, Richard Pavesi and Craig Tillotson.

DOUBLE BEAT OF TRADITION AT

HORLEY CARNIVAL

Whitgift made history at this year’s Horley Carnival in June when not one, but two Whitgift Corps of Drums took part in the same procession for the very first time. The School Corps of Drums proudly paraded through the streets alongside the OW Corps of Drums, marking what is believed to be the first occasion in the School’s 120-year drumming tradition that two separate Whitgift Corps of Drums have marched together in a single parade. While the sight of both groups performing side by side was a memorable moment in itself, the undisputed star of the day was David Lawrence OW (OW 1949-54). At 89 years old, David took on the entire 1.5-mile route carrying and playing a full-size drum, demonstrating remarkable stamina and enthusiasm throughout the procession.

Marching alongside drummers several decades younger than himself, David maintained the pace for the whole route with ease. Spectators would have been hard pressed to guess his age as he performed with energy and determination from start to finish. In contrast, by the time the parade reached Horley Recreation Ground, many of the School’s younger drummers appeared considerably more exhausted than their veteran counterpart. David’s commitment shows no sign of slowing down. He will celebrate his 90th birthday on 27 April next year and has already declared his intention to march the full Horley Carnival route once again next summer.

Left: Two generations of the Corps of Drums Below: David Lawrence pictured far right

Chris Trott

Robbie Bulloch Guests at the Evening of Cricket

Sir Timothy Fancourt Guests at the Evening of Cricket

Major General Jon Swift Guests at the Evening of Cricket

OWs IN THE NEWS HONOURS CVO – HE Chris Trott (OW 1976-84) British Ambassador

to the Holy See. Chris received this honour, which is awarded solely at the discretion of the King in recognition of distinguished personal service to the monarch and members of the royal family, after the very successful State Visit to the Holy See in October 2025. The visit, during which for the first time King Charles III met Pope Leo XIV, was undertaken to “celebrate the ecumenical work by the Church of England and the Catholic Church, reflecting the jubilee year’s theme of walking together as pilgrims of hope”. In addition to the CVO, Chris Trott was awarded a Papal knighthood. After a very successful term of five years as UK Ambassador to the Holy See, Chris Trott left Rome in August 2026. Although there has been mention in previous editions of the remarkable events of Chris’s time in Rome, including the death of a Pope and election of his 20

replacement, his final year was capped by the State Visit of H M King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The success of this visit reflected great credit on Chris and his team.

NEW YEAR’S HONOURS LIST 2026 OBE– Robbie Bulloch (OW 1982-90) Lately, Director

Gibraltar Negotiations, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to Gibraltar negotiations with the European Commission and Spain. In his early years Robbie followed his father and brother Jamie into acting but after school studied English and Hispanic Studies in Cambridge and Belfast. He was Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 2011 to 2014 and subsequently had various roles in London including Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister. From 2015 to 2017 he was Private Secretary to the Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before being

appointed Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Berlin from 2017 to 2021 where he also acted as chargé d’affaires in the interregnum between ambassadors. From there he became Director Gibraltar Negotiations and, as reported in last year’s OW News, is now Director for Overseas Territories and Polar.

NEWS OF OWS Sir Timothy Fancourt (OW 1974-82) After Whitgift, Timothy

Fancourt read law at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1987 and took Silk in 2003. He was appointed as a Recorder (Crime) in 2009, authorised to hear cases under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in 2013, and appointed a High Court Judge assigned to the Chancery Division in 2018. He was also appointed as a Chair of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in 2018, served as President of the Lands Chamber between 2019 and 2022 and as Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster and Supervising Judge of the Business and Property Courts on the Northern and

General Sir Peter Wall

Tucker (right) GuestsWarren at the Evening of Cricket

Derren Brown

Simon Thomas

Domini Match v Alumni XI

OWs IN THE NEWS North-Eastern Circuits between 2021 and 2025. He is also Chair of the High Court Judges’ Association.

Major General Jon Swift OBE (OW 1983-91) is currently serving

as Assistant Chief of the General Staff. The Assistant Chief of the General Staff supports the Chief of the General Staff - the professional Head of the British Army. General Sir Peter Wall (OW 196573) held the latter post between 2010 and 2014). In his responsibilities, he sets the conditions for the British Army to contribute to success on operations, ensures coherence across the ‘Defence Lines of Development’ and develops the Army of the Future. The ACGS is the Army Board member responsible for the Army’s international engagement strategy and internal and external communications policy and, as the Army’s senior officer in the Ministry of Defence, provides the gearing between the Ministry of Defence and Army Headquarters.

Warren Tucker (OW 1973-80)

Trustees of Help for Heroes, the leading charity supporting members of the British Armed Forces community with their physical and mental health, as well as their financial, social and welfare needs. Warren has had a distinguished career in business serving for a decade as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Cobham, a leading British aerospace manufacturer, and subsequently as non-executive director at global companies Tate & Lyle, Modulaire, Reckitt Benckiser, and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Derren Brown (OW 1981-90)

brings his live show Only Human to the West End stage at the Apollo Theatre from 10 October 2026 to 30 January 2027. The publicity for the show, which has already been on a successful tour, describes it as combining “mind-reading, psychological illusion, and breathtaking storytelling in a way that is both deeply personal and utterly electrifying.

Only Human explores what it means to be human - our perceptions, our beliefs, and the fragile line between reality and illusion. Smart, unsettling, and wildly entertaining, this is theatre at its most compelling. Some experiences stay with you. This one could change you.” After his term as UK Ambassador to Croatia HE Simon Thomas, OBE (OW 1985-93) spent a year as UK Ambassador to the UN General Assembly in New York and has, since June 2026, been serving as UK Envoy to the Commonwealth. In his new role Simon represents the UK within the Commonwealth, including being on the governing Board of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Envoy works to support the three main pillars of the Commonwealth to implement the principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter. The three pillars consist of the Member States (56 including the UK), the Commonwealth Secretariat and the many accredited Commonwealth organisations.

has been appointed Chairman of the 21

Andrew Whittaker

Sam Sharpe Guests at the Evening of Cricket

Leonard Barden

Rev Raymond Bowers Name goes here

Guests at the Evening of Cricket

OWs IN THE NEWS Andrew Whittaker (OW 1986-94)

In his role as Head of Cyber Policy Department and UK Cyber Ambassador at the FCDO, Andrew Whittaker presented the UK national statement at the signing in Hanoi on 25 October 2025 of the UN Convention against Cybercrime.

Sam Sharpe (OW 1972-80) is

now Chief Financial Officer at Oxfam International after a number of years in a similar role at Save the Children International.

Iain Cox (OW 1995-2003) has

completed his period as Deputy Director of the UK Pavilion at the 2025 Expo in Osaka, Japan. The Expo, which closed in October 2025 after six months, attracted some 29 million visitors a large percentage of whom visited the very impressive UK Pavilion. Following his successful completion of this assignment Iain has been appointed, on secondment to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as Head of Ceremonial Events where his responsibilities will focus on the cross governmental efforts that lie behind important national occasions 22

such as Remembrance Sunday. The remarkable life of Sir Demis Hassabis, the founder of DeepMind, the AI research company owned by Google, is chronicled in a new book The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind and the Quest for Superintelligence. The book states that Sir Demis was a child chess prodigy and quotes the words of Leonard Barden (OW 1940-47) who told Sir Demis’ father “Your son is the best six-year-old I have ever seen” after watching him play. Powerful endorsement from a former international chess player but also an interesting allusion to Barden’s life as one of the world’s most influential writers, organisers and promoters of chess. Barden, now 97, learned to play chess in the shelter on Puntabout during German air raids together with Alan Truscott (OW 1936-44). Both Barden and Truscott later represented Oxford at chess, but Truscott concentrated thereafter on bridge becoming the Bridge Correspondent of the New York Times for some forty-one years. Barden, as chess correspondent, outdid his school contemporary. His daily chess

column in the London Evening Standard was published for 63 years, 7 months and 27 days - by far the world’s longest running daily press column. In addition, he has been chess correspondent for the Guardian since 1955 – and remains active in 2026! The research of Professor Steven Gunn (OW 1971-78) into accidental death in Tudor England led to the 2025 book An Accidental History of Tudor England: From Daily Life to Sudden Death by Steven and his co-researcher Tomasz Gromelski. The Trinity Term 2026 edition of the Oxford Historian magazine tells us that Steven and Tomasz are now engaged in a new and fascinating research project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Curiosity Award scheme, which aims to transform understanding of Tudor imprisonment. Working with a number of heritage sites across the country, the project seeks to ask who was in prison, why they were there, and how, other than by execution, they died. Knowledge of Tudor prisons is patchy. Big-name prisoners in the Tower of

Bridge Book by Alan Truscott

OWs IN THE NEWS London – Perkin Warbeck, Anne Boleyn, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex – catch the eye. Prisoners for religion on both sides of the Reformation divide – Anne Askew, Edmund Campion – found devotees to chronicle their sufferings. London playwrights made knowing jokes about the capital’s gaols and even set scenes in them. Moral reformers saw the new workhouses, led by London’s Bridewell, as places to teach the pilfering vagrant or part-time prostitute the virtues of honest hard work. But all this does not tell us much about the average prisoner in the average prison at Exeter, York or Norwich, awaiting trial for theft or detained at their creditors’ pleasure until they could clear their debts. Research will concentrate on the remarkably wide range of documentary evidence about how people finished in jail and their fate. As an example, inquests on the deaths of prisoners show glimpses of the realities of prison life. While two-thirds of the inmates at Colchester in 1502 were chained to a wooden beam in the dungeon, Isabel Bowman died in bed and John Boothe had an accident jumping in ‘the sporting

place’ at Nottingham Castle. Some prisoners were said to have died of the cold or of lack of clothing, more from hunger, and poor Robert Darsy from sadness. John Vaughan had to drink his own urine out of his hat when the prison-keeper refused him beer in the town gaol at Eye in Suffolk. The findings and the publications that follow will be well worth reading. The year 2026 marks the eightieth anniversary of the formal link between Croydon and Arnhem – for many years Philips, the Dutch electronics company was a major employer in Croydon, and the Fairfield Halls recognises the link with its Arnhem Gallery. The story of Operation Market Garden, the ill-fated airborne assault on occupied Netherlands, is well known from the film A Bridge Too Far. One participant in that engagement was Rev Raymond Bowers (OW 1927-33), his subsequent career as missionary in Uganda and rural vicar in Cumbria has been reported on in an earlier edition, who served as Chaplain 4th Class (equivalent to Captain) to the 10th Parachute Battalion and landed at

Arnhem in September 1944. In a PhD thesis entitled The Roles of British Army Chaplains in WW1, A C Robinson wrote “it was significant that newly formed units like the Parachute Regiment, the Special Air Service and the Chindits (who operated behind Japanese lines), took chaplains on operations indicating the extent to which chaplains were integrated into the army and, although unarmed, performed useful functions within it. Even though chaplains attached to airborne units were particularly robust, their actions at Arnhem revealed far greater determination and certainty as to their battlefield role. The Arnhem operation included 15 participating chaplains - eight landed in gliders and seven parachuted in. Casualties on landing included the Revd R.F. Bowers, who broke his leg, following which he was captured and became a POW at Stalag V11-A at Moosburg”.

Captain Claude Morley medals

Tim Davie

OWs IN THE NEWS Occasionally chance brings information about matters from the increasingly remote past. We are indebted to the eagle eye of Bob Johnstone, former head of Design Technology and collector of militaria. He noticed in the catalogue of the specialist auctioneers Noonans Mayfair a medal group awarded to

Captain Claude Morley (OW 191315). The description of the medal group

is as follows: “A good Great War 1918 ‘Western Front’ D.F.C. group of four awarded to Captain C. L. Morley, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, who flew in Sopwith Camels of 65 Squadron and Sopwith Pups of 204 Squadron in 1918, claiming 3 enemy aircraft and a kite balloon. Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. L. Morley, R.A.F.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, the reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze Star on riband, mounted for display.” The London Gazette of 2 November 1918, records the award of his D.F.C. as follows: ‘On 10 August 1918, this officer saw that a party of our cavalry charging down a road were being fired at by two

machine-guns. Diving down to within a few feet of the ground, he engaged one of the guns, silencing it. This is only one of many acts of gallantry performed by this officer, who displays entire disregard of personal danger.’ Claude Louis Morley was born in Beckenham, Kent in May 1899 and was educated at Whitgift School and the Polytechnic Engineering School in Regent Street, London. Enlisting in the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917, he was commissioned in September of that year and was posted to 65 Squadron, a Sopwith Camel unit, in France, in May 1918. And he was quickly in action, claiming his first victory in a combat north of Amiens just three days later: ‘I left the formation to dive on a twoseater which I saw east of Bois de Vaire. He dived away east and I followed him, getting right on his tail at point blank range firing a long burst. I pulled out to avoid hitting him and did a complete left-hand turn. He went down in a left-hand spiral from which he did not pull out, hitting the ground left wing tip first and completely crashing in a road.

I was absolutely lost so turned and flew west eventually landing at a French aerodrome.’ During another patrol on 7 June, Morley attacked a German kite balloon near Mametz and saw the observer take to his parachute, but owing to the fact he was then attacked by a pair of Albatross Scouts, he was unable to ascertain the actual fate of the balloon. Among 65’s growing band of aces was Captain John Gilmour, who would claim 35 victories with the squadron, including, famously, five enemy aircraft in one combat on 1 July, a frantic action in which Morley was present - thus his aircraft’s inclusion in Joseph Simpson’s commemorative painting of the same occasion. Having flown many sorties in the interim, including the low-level attack referred to in his D.F.C. citation, Morley claimed his next victim, a Fokker biplane, following a combat on 4 October: ‘I was on an offensive patrol when we observed a formation of Fokkers, one

Guests at the Evening of Cricket

Sir Peter Schofield

Jeremy Hargreaves

Domini Match v Alumni XI

OWs IN THE NEWS consisting of four enemy aircrafts and the other of seven enemy aircrafts. We attacked the formation of four and the other formation joined in. I fired at one going across my front at 80 yards range. He went down in a steep spiral. I was unable to follow him as I was attacked by another E.A., but I feel sure he was out of control.’ And four days later, he compelled another German observer to take to his parachute after attacking a kite balloon, though on this occasion the balloon was winched back down to the ground. Later in the same month, Morley was posted to 204 Squadron as a Flight Commander, and shortly afterwards, on the 31st, claimed a confirmed enemy kite balloon as destroyed: ‘While leading a low bombing raid I saw a hostile balloon at 2,000 feet over Huyske. I attacked it from the east. I fired about 600 rounds into it and the observer jumped out. I then dived right on to the balloon firing all the time, and only just pulled out of the dive in time to miss it. I observed a large tear in the balloon, also it was going down with the big end on top.

Lieutenant Fenton saw the balloon afterwards completely ripped open, and the basket fall off. The balloon was absolutely destroyed but did not burst into flames as I was not using “Buckingham”.’ Finally, on 4 November, during an offensive patrol over Melle, Morley claimed another Fokker: ‘Captain Morley fired 100 rounds at 10 yards range from the tail position into the E.A which did not manoeuvre but simply flew straight. The E.A. turned on its back, and fell down, flopping about like a leaf, absolutely out of control. E.A. almost certainly destroyed.’ Morley, who had been advanced to Captain, was awarded the D.F.C. and French Croix de Guerre and was demobilised in March 1919. All this by the age of 19!

stepped down as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Work and Pensions after thirty-five years in the civil service and, after over twenty years at the heart of policy making for the Liberal Democrat party, Jeremy Hargreaves, MBE (OW 1987-92) comes to the end of his six year term as Vice Chair of the Board of the party.

The year 2026 marked significant change in the careers of three distinguished OWs – with much publicity, Tim Davie, CBE (OW 1980-85) resigned from his role as Director General of the BBC,

Sir Peter Schofield (OW 1983-87)

From left to right: John Hamilton, Kenneth Rokison, Peter Warren, Brian Halfacre.

OW REUNIONS REUNIONS There are two reunions which deserve special mention this year. The first, that of the Upper Fifth 1952-53 is a tribute to the longevity of its attendees and also the determination of Dr Peter Warren (OW 1947-56) to maintain its existence. The records of Upper Fifth 1952-53 are a remarkable example of the creation of a living archive – if only we could all be so diligent.

And so to bed...

This is the story of the 1952-53 Upper Fifth of Whitgift School, South Croydon. We (28 of us) first came together in September 1952 when assigned to the recently created Upper Fifth form. This required us both to polish-up our learning for the Ordinary (O) Levels that we would take at the end of the academic year, and simultaneously be engaged in the first year of our chosen Advanced (A) Levels. We then left school at different times between 1954 and 1956 according to our varying destinations: earning a living, apprenticeships and the like, teachertraining, and higher education. In 26

Summer 1959, one of our number, John Maynard (at the time a Music Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge), spotting that no fewer than nine of us were in Cambridge that term, invited us all to afternoon tea in his spacious scholars’ rooms in college. Thus began an unbroken sequence of 67 annual Upper Fifth Reunions (including two of which were successful online gatherings during Covid times). With substantial help from the inimitable Freddie Percy, Master and School Archivist at the time, and some phone calls to classmates’ parents, we succeeded in building up a complete contact list for all 28 of the class. At first, we were kindly entertained at homes of various parents. But, for the most part, our annual get-togethers were held either at my (Peter Warren’s) parents’ home or later hosted by myself and my wife Angela (latterly our Upper Fifth Honorary Member). Typically, we would have some 12-16 of us present. From our 20th Anniversary (1972) onward we held “Specials” every five years, in London (notably including one at the House of Lords courtesy of an OW

peer, Lord Freeman) or at the School. In 1973, we honoured our Form Master, Mr Holden, when he joined us for our 21st anniversary. Subsequently, at our 40th anniversary we enjoyed the company of 12 of those who had taught us back in 1952–53. To our delight, 5 of those could also join us five years later and one, Robert Schad, came annually for quite a while longer. Alas, it is us who are now light in number (11), ranging in age from 88 to 90 and just four of us attended our last two Pub Lunches (in 2024 and 2025). So given the opportunities provided by modern technology (and invaluable assistance of our friends and families!) we shall now go virtual with some kind of e-mail chatter days 2 or 3 times a year or when significant news arises over/from a fellow Upper Fifth member. Who knows, we could soon become AI generated ghosts of our former selves! Accordingly, we take this opportunity to thank all our readers over the last 67 years, and the many who have had a hand in publishing our yearly news and take leave to cease our role in reporting

Valete reunion

OW REUNIONS on this group of former Whitgift pupils and bid you all a very good night and “So to Bed”!

Valete

The second reunion is a single event that marked the 70th anniversary (to the day) of 26 small boys joining Form A1 at Whitgift in 1955. Peter Cox and Nigel Platts, both at the school from 1955 to 1964, started the ball rolling about a year in advance and trawled internet and reference books plus personal memories to find as many as possible of those involved. We knew a number had died and some remained resolutely untraceable but eventually we tracked down a dozen or so and received confirmation that seven would be able to make lunch in the West End on the appropriate day. Peter chose a suitable restaurant, and he and Nigel checked it out with a pleasant lunch. On the day we were six because Roger Briggs (from Perth, WA but living part-time in his house in the South of France) announced the previous day that he was injured after tripping on a carpet in a restaurant somewhere

in Morocco (is this the life of elderly pensioners in the 21st century?). We met, retired eighty-year-olds – Michael Bussell (structural engineer) Peter Cox (IT director of Waitrose), Nigel Platts (partner in KPMG), Geoff Richards (aerospace engineer), Derek Turner (consultant urologist) and Peter Wright (doctor specialising in occupational medicine and admitting to the fact that he was still practising). There was plenty to talk about – careers, families, aches and pains and inevitably far off memories of school – not surprisingly it was the more eccentric of our schoolmasters that we remembered and the school lunches presided over by the formidable Mrs Henry. We had received good wishes from those unable to attend including Ken Ashken, David Elliott, Alex Jarrett (Jaretzki when at school) and Colin Macfarlane (resident in Hanoi but on the day hiking in the Himalayas). We also remembered those who were uncontactable or had died.

group of pretty much unsorted boys had been. Perhaps most remarkable was that at least fifteen had gone on from school to university and of those seven had been at Oxbridge – at a time when nationally only some 2% of school leavers went on to university. We had a lot to be thankful for.

It was an enjoyable event which should probably have been organised twenty or more years earlier but it was also interesting to note how successful that 27

Guests at the Evening of Cricket

Gladwin Buttle Guests at the Evening of Cricket

PUBLICATIONS WITH AN OW CONNECTION The Lifesavers and The Trailblazers of the Second World War Who Took Blood into Battle is an acclaimed new

book by Roderick Bailey which deals with the little-known heroes who were at the forefront of battlefield care as they deployed their skills in making blood transfusions available to the wounded. Prominent among the leaders of this unconventional group of pioneers was

Lt Col Gladwin Buttle (OW 1909-16) who left school destined for a career as an army officer and, after passing out from RMA Woolwich, was commissioned into the Royal Engineers towards the end of World War I. Shortly after the end of the War, he changed direction to read medicine at Cambridge. Described as a larger-than-life dynamo or in the words of one commentator “Not so much a man as a force of nature”, Buttle, affectionately known to many simply as ‘B’, was a pioneer in the use of sulphonamides and an outstanding wartime leader in the development of blood transfusion services. Throughout his career Buttle retained his engineer’s skill in improvisation, 28

ability to overcome practical difficulties, and a habit of storing away any bit of equipment “in case it might come in useful”. As an example of his ingenuity, he modified a broken-down steamroller to act as a sterilising kit. At the outbreak of the Second World War Gladwin Buttle was persuaded to transfer from the Royal Engineers to the newly formed Army Blood Transfusion Service. This began a major part of B’s career which has not received much public recognition; his OBE in 1942 acknowledged outstanding leadership of No 1 Base Transfusion Unit in Cairo, but might reasonably have been the prelude to higher awards. His invariable custom of giving credit to others probably hindered wider recognition of his personal supreme contribution to war medicine. One expert wrote afterwards that “the greatest surgical advance of the war, more important even than penicillin, (was) the development of the transfusion service ... and (it was) Lieutenant Colonel GAH Buttle who taught us how to use it”. Plasma was being produced in large quantities in England, but for casualties on the field of battle it was replacement

of whole blood which enabled early and effective surgery to be carried out. The UK authorities did not agree and would not send equipment. Buttle, with his devoted team in Cairo and the Middle East, had to improvise local manufacture of rubber tubing, bungs, drip-chambers and needles and adapted them to fit many hundreds of gin and whisky bottles - which were then sent forward to the Field Transfusion Units in the boxes of blood and plasma. The bottles were collected after placards appeared in Cairo with the message “BOTTLES FOR BUTTLE” – there was no shortage of bottles in the luxury hotels of Cairo. Buttle’s initiative and determination, against the declared wishes of the War Office, were protected by senior officers close to the action. One later said “it was much easier to give Buttle what he wanted straight away, than to be forced to do so a week or two later and have to apologise for the delay”. Countless men owed their lives, or their freedom from more severe disabilities, to Gladwin Buttle: he set a magnificent example of never taking “no” for an answer, and never saying “no” to any request for help.

Jason Okundaye

PUBLICATIONS WITH AN OW CONNECTION At the end of 1943 Buttle was summoned to Carthage to help treat Churchill’s bronchial infection; the Prime Minister, despite his illness, wanted an explanation of the action of penicillin and an assurance that adequate supplies of the “wonder drug” would be available for the invasion of Normandy. Buttle was also involved in saving Chindit leader Orde Wingate’s life by blood transfusion after Wingate had cut his throat during the insanity of an attack of cerebral malaria. As soon as the war was over Gladwin was appointed to the Wellcome chair of pharmacology at London University, continuing his own research on the chemotherapy of bacterial diseases and extending his investigations into resistance to tumours in animals, work which unfortunately could not be extended successfully to human beings. His other selfless task in life was to accept from his remarkable brother,

Frank Buttle (OW 1890-95)

responsibility for the work of the Buttle Trust for Children. Gladwin was chairman of the Trust from 1953 to 1974 and

under his guidance it grew in national importance in its work for the welfare of children. Gladwin Buttle the “force of nature”, was a man larger than life in the breadth of his intellectual scope, the depth of his scientific curiosity and his personal courage, humour and determination – his status as a great, if little known, OW is demonstrated by this extraordinary and most readable book.

Peter Cox (OW 1955-64) is the

author of a remarkable two volume work,

125 Summers – England’s County Cricket Championship 1890-2025.

For anyone with an interest in cricket and/or social history this is an essential read. Every season is reviewed in detail, the books are well illustrated and the sophisticated statistics provide useful comparisons between players of different generations. To describe this book as a work of devoted scholarship is to run the risk of demeaning its significance and readability – its importance has been acknowledged by leading cricket experts. Peter can be heard on YouTube talking about his book

and will be speaking at a meeting of the Cricket Society in October.

Jason Okundaye (OW 2008-15),

whose first book Revolutionary Acts:

Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain, was reported last year as a

finalist in the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. He was also the winner of a 2025 Somerset Maugham Award. The Somerset Maugham Award is given each year by the Society of Authors and was established by William Somerset Maugham in 1947 to enable young writers to enrich their work by gaining experience in foreign countries. Awards go to writers under the age of 35 with works published in the year before the award; the work can be either nonfiction, fiction or poetry.

Guests at the Evening of Cricket

PUBLICATIONS WITH AN OW CONNECTION James Ellson (OW 1981-89) Peak District small holder, apple grower and beekeeper has published two more thrillers – Rockburn is the first in a new series about a former Manchester detective working as a motorbike-riding private investigator. When private investigator Rockburn discovers an abandoned child at a bus stop, he’s drawn into a world of people traffickers. A truncated phone call from a distressed woman takes Rockburn to Fenwick Street in central Manchester. His first case after months of waiting. He discovers a young boy, but before he can ask questions, the two of them are being chased . . . Being a detective had been easy for him – regular wages, backup, forensic help, intelligence databases. Being a PI is far harder, but he has no choice. He has to make it work, not only for himself, but for the boy. James has also published the fifth book in his series about Detective Chief Inspector Rick Castle.

The Rule of Threes is set in south Manchester where duty prevents taking days off. Days before his wedding, DCI Rick Castle is pulled into the one case he cannot refuse - finding a missing protected witness who could finally bring down an untouchable Mancunian crime lord. The trail leads him to the desolate Scottish Highlands and explodes into violence and conspiracy, revealing a suspected leak within the police. Cut off from support, and fearful he’s being watched, Rick pushes on. But the closer Rick gets to the witness, the closer his family gets in to danger, turning his obsessive investigation into a fight he cannot walk away from - and a battle for survival he may not win.

remains the leading interpreter of German literature to an English-speaking audience.

If the case does not break him, they will go after the one thing that will.

Celebrated TV producer and musician Pip Burley (OW 1955-62) has spent the best part of the last four years writing three novels under his pen name Philip G. Walsh.

Since the last appearance of OW News Jamie Bulloch (OW 197987) has seven more translations from the German in publication. There are novels, thrillers and non-fiction from authors whose work he has translated on numerous occasions and from others new to Jamie’s skilful pen. Jamie

A visit to a local garden centre resulted in the acquisition of a book by the late Jeremy Harwood (OW 195866). World War II from Above – from Bombing Campaigns to Reconnaissance Missions is a fascinating short history of airborne warfare lavishly illustrated with contemporary photographs and diagrams of aeroplanes. Jeremy was a prolific author on subjects ranging from Freemasonry to card games but his books on military history are a particularly worthy memorial to this talented writer.

The Harmony Trilogy follows the life of Harmony Nader, a young heiress thrust into a dangerous world of wealth, corporate intrigue, and personal discovery after her father’s murder. Each

Written by Pip Burley, pen name Philip Walsh

Pip Burley

Translated by JamieofBulloch Guests at the Evening Cricket

Jamie Bulloch

Domini Match v Alumni XI

PUBLICATIONS WITH AN OW CONNECTION book promises a compelling read for fans of suspenseful, character-driven thrillers and have enjoyed excellent reviews. The three books - Villa Harmony, Harmony’s Smile and Go, Harmony!

were written to be read in sequence, however, each stands firmly on its own feet. All three books are available on Goodreads and Amazon in hard back, paperback and, of course, on Kindle - or can be ordered through Waterstones.

A hundred years on that devoted, but far away, Colin McKinnon (OW 1964-72) writes the following from Melbourne: “Having moved house, I have been going through my library and finding new homes for my 1,000+ books. Fortunately, we have a building in our back garden that the estate agents referred to as the “Pavilion”, which is now my “man cave” and home to most of my rugby books. I was recently looking through the first edition of Wisden’s Rugby Almanack (for 1923-24). (There were only three editions and I am lucky enough to have a copy of each of them. After 1925-26 Wisden was superseded

by another Rugby Annual. The Wisdens contain reports on the national teams, trial matches, the Counties, Services, Oxford and Cambridge and the public schools.) In the three seasons covered by Wisden, 1923-24 was Whitgift’s most successful, playing 14, winning seven, losing six and drawing one game with 158 points for and 112 against. It wasn’t a golden era for Whitgift rugby. Out of personal interest I thought I’d investigate the lives of a couple of the players. The captain was B.O. Massé, who played in the 1st XV in 1920, 21, 22, 23. The wooden panels inside Big School shows that he was also school captain in 1922. According to Wisden “he was the hardest-working forward in a good pack - a genuine front-row man - always well up and buried in the thick of the fray. Never spares himself from start to finish, and though lighter than the average in the pack, did the shoving of two. As captain, he set his team a splendid example in every way”. Bernal Osborne Massé was born in Fulham in 1904. His father, whose ancestry was French, was a civil

engineer. His mother had been born in India to a family with longstanding links to the Raj. She was sent back to England to be educated. Bernal was brought up in West Croydon. I am not sure how his career progressed after school, but by the early 1930s he was travelling back and forth to Egypt and referring to himself as a merchant. By 1934 he was a representative for the Shell Oil Company in Egypt and he appears to have remained with Shell, apart from the war years, until his retirement. Perhaps the most remarkable fact about his life was that he married five times. A couple of his wives also had extraordinary lives. His third wife, Jocelyn, had previously been married twice. Her first husband had been Sir Robert Gooch, who on official documents when asked his occupation always wrote: “Baronet”. His fourth wife, 10 years his junior, was Sybil Hempson, a well-known fashion journalist in Britain and later in the U.S. She herself married five times and died at the age of 94 in Florida in 2009. His fifth wife, 15 years his junior, outlived him by 26 years.

PUBLICATIONS WITH AN OW CONNECTION Bernal Massé served in the Queen’s Regiment in World War II, rose to the rank of Major and was awarded a military MBE in 1944 in the Middle East. After the war he returned to Egypt with Shell, retiring to Norfolk in the 1960s and dying there in 1973, aged 68. I also took a look at the career of T.M. Calhaem, described by Wisden as “an excellent forward, who uses his height at the line-out and shoves hard in the scrum. Can dribble and find touch”. Thomas Martin Calhaem was born in Essex in September 1903 but was

brought up in Horley. His father was the Property Editor of the Morning Post newspaper. After school Calhaem studied dentistry at Guy’s Hospital. In the 1930s, he and his wife Jean, a Scot from Falkirk, moved to Singapore where he continued to practise dentistry. On the outbreak of war, he became a Private in the Singapore Volunteer Force. In February 1942 he was captured by the Japanese and sent to a POW camp. His wife escaped to Australia. After the war, Calhaem resumed his career in Singapore then moved to England in 1958, settling

near East Grinstead. Some years later he and his wife moved to Melbourne, where they both died (I haven’t been able to find dates for their deaths). Their son, Colin, was an architect in Melbourne and invented a particular type of road bollard on which he took out an international patent. Colin died here aged 56 in 1991. It’s been fun tracking down two OWs of whom I knew nothing a couple of months ago.”

2025-26

WHITGIFT SCHOOL SPORT REVIEW STUART LITCHFIELD, DIRECTOR OF SPORT

The 2025-26 academic year has been one of the most successful in Whitgift School’s sporting history. Across 22 sports, pupils participated in more than 2,500 fixtures, representing the school through 280 teams. An exceptional 83.3% of the school competed in at least

one fixture, reflecting the breadth and inclusivity of the programme. Alongside this outstanding participation record, Whitgift pupils continued to excel at the highest level. The school qualified for 45 national finals, won 29 national titles, and celebrated 19

international representative honours. These achievements demonstrate not only the strength of our elite performers but also the quality of coaching, commitment and opportunities available throughout the school.

W H I TG I F T SCHO O L SPO RT R EV I EW

RUGBY

Under 15s winning squad

Rugby once again enjoyed a hugely successful season, underpinned by strong performances across every age group. The year began with a pre-season tour to Canada, where 52 senior players competed across Calgary, Kamloops, Vancouver and Vancouver Island, returning well prepared for the challenges ahead.

U15s, who produced a memorable run to become National Cup Champions. Victories over Harrow in the quarterfinal and Millfield in the semi-final set up a final against Northampton School for Boys, where Whitgift delivered a superb performance to secure the title in front of passionate support from the school community.

The Sevens programme was equally successful. The U16s reached the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens semi-finals, while the senior squad captured the Ipswich Sevens title and progressed all the way to the Rosslyn Park Open Cup Final, narrowly losing to Wellington College after an outstanding two-day performance.

National Cup competitions proved a particular highlight. The U14s reached the National Cup semi-finals, the U16s progressed to the quarter-finals, and the 1st XV enjoyed an excellent campaign, reaching the national semi-finals. The standout achievement came from the

The younger age groups continued to thrive, with strong participation and development throughout the programme. The U13s also benefited from an international tour to Dubai, gaining valuable experiences both on and off the field.

These achievements are a testament to the commitment of players, coaches and families, and further reinforce Whitgift’s reputation as one of the country’s leading rugby schools.

W H I TG I F T SCHO O L SPO RT R EV I EW

HOCKEY The hockey season has been nothing short of extraordinary. Of the nine national titles available, Whitgift reached eight national finals, winning six and finishing runners-up in two others.

National Indoor Champions, the U14s were crowned National Champions, and the U13s won the National Independent Schools Championship while also finishing as National Runners-Up.

The 1st XI enjoyed a historic campaign, being crowned U18 National Champions and U19 Independent Schools National Champions, whilst also finishing as Indoor National Runners-Up. Across the programme, success was widespread. The U16s completed a remarkable national indoor and outdoor double, the U15s became Independent Schools

The depth of the programme was equally impressive. The U12 age group regularly attracted over 60 players to training each week, fielding up to six teams on Saturdays. Their A team finished runners-up in the London Finals, while the B team secured its own title-winning success.

Under 18 Hockey Champions

Individual honours reflected the quality of player development within the programme. Oli B. represented Great Britain at the U21 World Cup, while Rory W., Mathis N. and Harry B. earned England U18 selection. Kieran C. and Rohan G. were selected for England U16, highlighting the exciting talent emerging through the younger age groups. With 377 matches played across a demanding two-term season, Whitgift Hockey has enjoyed one of the finest years in its history.

U11s reached the Surrey Cup Finals

FOOTBALL Football continues to be one of the school’s largest participation sports, with over 500 pupils representing Whitgift across 26 teams throughout the year. Success came at both county and national level. The U15s reached the ISFA National Final, while the U12s progressed to the ESFA Elite National Final. The U16s reached the National Semi-Finals and the 1st XI progressed to the last 16 of the prestigious U18 ISFA competition. At county level, the U13s

were crowned Surrey Cup Champions, whilst the U15s and U11s both reached Surrey Cup Finals. The programme also continued to produce players progressing into the professional game. Hakeem A. and Ollie M. signed scholarship agreements with Arsenal FC and Barnsley FC respectively. Off the school fixture programme, the wider Whitgift football family continues to flourish. Recent leavers Dante W.,

Jalil C. and Aidan E. earned international honours with England U18, Algeria U20 and Canada U20 respectively. Old Whitgiftian Jamal Musiala will represent Germany at his second FIFA World Cup, providing current pupils with further inspiration and illustrating the exceptional pathways available through the programme.

W H I TG I F T SCHO O L SPO RT R EV I EW

CRICKET It has been another excellent year for cricket at Whitgift, marked by success across all age groups and all levels of ability. The depth of the programme was clear throughout the season, with teams and individuals achieving impressive results locally, regionally and nationally. The U11 and U14 teams were crowned County Champions, while the U15s finished runners-up in the County T20 competition. The U13s were also well

placed for success, with their county final postponed until September because of the summer heatwave. The outstanding achievement of the year came from the U11s, who became ESCA Hardball National Champions, a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to their talent, dedication and hard work. Individual development continued to

U11 Cricket Team

be a major strength, with more than 40 pupils representing their counties during the season. Pupils were also inspired by the achievements of ten Old Whitgiftians currently playing professional cricket around the world across county, domestic and franchise competitions. From broad participation to national success, cricket continues to thrive at Whitgift and remains one of the school’s flagship sports.

Junior Sports Day

ATHLETICS Athletics enjoyed an exceptional year, highlighted by success at local, county and national level. The U15 boys qualified for the English Schools Track and Field Cup National Final, while the U13 team reached the South East A Final after winning their county round. Three athletes earned selection for the prestigious English Schools

Championships: Freddie H. (400m), Tommy C. (400m) and Thomas H. (1500m). The programme also celebrated 19 Surrey Schools selections, with several athletes earning medals and Inter Counties representation.

Sports Days across the younger year groups continued to provide memorable opportunities for participation, personal achievement and school spirit.

Whitgift dominated the Croydon Schools Championships, winning all four age-group competitions, while

W H I TG I F T SCHO O L SPO RT R EV I EW

AQUATICS Aquatic sports have enjoyed another outstanding year. Whitgift competed strongly in national swimming competitions, hosted the annual Whitgift Invitational, and performed with distinction at the prestigious Bath Cup. Water polo provided one of the highlights of the sporting year. Both the intermediate and senior teams

qualified for the ESSA National Finals, placing them amongst the top six teams nationally. The senior team went one step further, becoming National Champions after defeating City of London School in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

while swimmers achieved notable success in the LISL B Finals and other regional competitions. Zach B. also earned selection to train with the Great Britain U18 water polo squad.

At junior level, the U13 water polo team reached the ESSA Junior Plate Finals,

U18 Water Polo Open Champs

FENCING Whitgift Fencing continues to establish itself as one of the leading school programmes in the country. This season brought national, regional and international success, with Whitgift teams becoming U15 Foil and U13 Epee National Champions at the British Schools Team Championships.

Austin Y. secured silver at the British Youth Championships, while Guilly H. became Spanish U15 Foil Champion. Alfie R. represented England and Guilly H. represented Spain internationally, showcasing the strength of individual development within the programme.

Participation continues to grow, with 85 pupils competing this year, while the outreach programme introduced approximately 500 primary school pupils to fencing.

W H I TG I F T SCHO O L SPO RT R EV I EW

RACKET SPORTS Racket sports have continued to flourish. Squash enjoyed significant growth, with the KS3 team qualifying for the National Championships for the first time and finishing an impressive fifth nationally. Badminton participation reached record levels, with KS3 pupils finishing third nationally and the U18 squad placing second in the Area Competition.

Padel delivered a historic achievement as Whitgift became inaugural U13 National Champions, whilst both U15 and U18 teams reached the national semi-finals. Tennis saw increasing participation and continued competitive success. The U14s became Surrey Champions, while the school achieved its best-ever ISL results and once again progressed deep

into the National Cup competition. U16 Tennis Team finished second in the Nationals winning silver medal. Table Tennis also enjoyed another successful year, highlighted by qualification for the Jack Petchey Team Event Finals and expanded opportunities for pupils at all ability levels.

Lower First former Jeremy winning the Tenterden Open Boys U18 catergory!

U16 Tennis National silver medalists

U13 National Champions

CYCLING, GOLF, JUDO, GYMNASTICS & FLAG FOOTBALL Golf continues to go from strength to strength, with junior players securing numerous national titles and senior golfers enjoying success at both national and international level. The continued development of the golf facilities provides an exciting platform for future growth. One young golfer to watch is Jeremy. Aged just 11 he competed in the Justin Rose Qualifier: Tenterden Junior Open this July where he finished 1st in the Boys’ Under-18 category! Later that month he competed in the European

LOOKING AHEAD

Junior ranking event: North of England Under-14 Championship, where he won the U12 title. Looks like he has a very bright future. In cycling, Whitgift’s young U16 team secured a podium finish at the InterSchools Cycling Championships, with Huxley R. earning an individual silver medal and Jacob D. continuing to excel on the national circuit. Judo pupils produced another outstanding performance at the HMC Championships, finishing runners-up

This remarkable year reflects the dedication of our pupils, coaches, support staff and parents. Whether competing for national titles, representing counties and countries, or enjoying their first experience of school sport, Whitgift pupils have demonstrated exceptional commitment, ambition and sportsmanship.

overall and securing six gold, five silver and five bronze medals. Gymnastics continues to benefit from the performances of Huxley R., who has enjoyed another successful year representing England in tumbling and achieving multiple podium finishes. Flag Football also enjoyed international success, with Douglas T. captaining the Great Britain U13 team and helping his club win the U16 National Championship before embarking on an exciting opportunity in the United States.

The breadth of participation, coupled with unprecedented success at the highest levels, ensures that sport remains a defining feature of a Whitgift education. As we look ahead to the coming year, there is every reason to be excited about the future of Whitgift Sport.

Commonwealth Games Bronze medal winner Lawrence Okoye

SPORT TO ADMIRE

SUMMER OF OW SUCCESS SIMON BECK, REGISTRAR The summer of 2026 saw a fantastic array of Old Whitgiftian sporting achievements on some of the world’s biggest stages. At the FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Germany’s standout performer was Whitgift alumnus Jamal Musiala. Although Germany’s campaign ended in disappointment following a penalty shootout defeat in the knockout stages, Musiala received widespread acclaim for a series of outstanding performances throughout the tournament. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, former Whitgift pupil and Great Britain discus record holder Lawrence Okoye added another major medal to his collection, securing a bronze medal in a highly competitive field. Hockey continues to demonstrate Whitgift’s strength not only at schoolboy level but also on the international stage. Zack Wallace captained England during

the FIH International Series and was once again joined in the senior squad by fellow Old Whitgiftian Jack Waller. The future remains equally bright, with 2026 leaver Ollie Bennett and Jonny SturchHibbert representing England Under21s at the European Championships. Their selection follows appearances for England at the recent FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup. It is perhaps in cricket that Old Whitgiftians have attracted the greatest media attention this summer. Jamie Smith has continued to establish himself as England’s first-choice Test wicketkeeper while also proving to be one of the few bright spots in a challenging campaign for the Southern Brave in this year’s Hundred competition. Jamie was joined in The Hundred by Laurie Evans and Jason Roy, who represented Birmingham Phoenix and MI London respectively in front of recordbreaking crowds. Earlier in the summer,

both Evans and Roy played key roles in Surrey’s T20 Blast campaign ensuring they reached the knockout stages again. Whitgift’s presence was also strongly felt in the County Championship, where Rory Burns continued to captain Surrey, while Dom Sibley and Ryan Patel were regular contributors throughout the season. Indeed, on Tuesday 11 August Surrey’s batsmen 1-4 were all OWs - Patel, who scored a hundred, Sibley, Roy and Burns - whilst James Hayes was playing for the opposition (Nottinghamshire). Five out of twenty two! Meanwhile at Rugby School, Vansh Jani scored 98 for Warwickshire against Kent. All in a day’s work!. From football’s greatest stage to international hockey, athletics and elite county and international cricket, Old Whitgiftians have once again exemplified the school’s proud sporting tradition, inspiring the next generation of Whitgift athletes with their achievements.

WHITGIFT STUDENT SELECTED FOR

BUNBURY FESTIVAL 2026 A very proud moment for U15 Tom W. who was selected to represent the South & West U15s at the prestigious annual Bunbury Festival, held at Loughborough University in late July. A left-handed opening batter and leftarm orthodox bowler, Tom played for the Whitgift 1st XI this season. Tom’s Bunbury selection is a wonderful recognition of his hard work and talent; a brilliant opportunity to play alongside some of the best young cricketers from across the country. A fantastic experience, and one that Tom, his family and everyone at Whitgift School can be incredibly proud of.

NEWS 2026

OW GOLF SOCIETY PETER GALE, HON. SEC (OW 1963-69) The society’s golfing year began, appropriately enough, with the AGM, held in April at Tandridge. We were delighted to welcome as our guests the new headmaster, Toby Seth, and three past presidents of the society, Mike Spanswick, Dudley Thompson, and Mike Wilkinson. The headmaster addressed us all at dinner and told us of the plans to upgrade the golf practice facilities at the school, and various presentations were made, amongst them the gift of Halford Hewitt centenary books to the guest presidents, shown below with existing President, Pip Burley.

Serious golf began at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, with the annual Halford Hewitt competition, contested each year by the same 64 schools. It is a scratch foursomes, knock out format, and this year Whitgift had a new Captain, Martin Hayes. Martin has himself played over 100 matches in this competition, but in this instance, he acted as a non-playing captain, able to watch from the sidelines and see who was playing well and who was not. Unfortunately, Martin’s reign did not start as he would have wanted, and Wellington defeated us 3 ½ - 1 ½ (results shown in the attached photo). There was a commanding win for Laurie Evans and Jack Raison, playing the leading pair, but elsewhere the news was not so good, the difference in many cases, as it so often is, being down to the relative standard of the two teams’ putting. Rossall beat Winchester in the Hewitt final, thus scoring a notable first overall victory. Whitgift still awaits that moment.

Also in Hewitt week, but before the main competition, Whitgift fielded ten pairs of foursomes in the society’s Thompson Tankards, the normal entry of team supporters and hangers-on boosted this year by the presence of the Hewitt team, who were preparing for their Halford Hewitt opening match the following day. It was a typically blustery day at Princes and the scores generally reflected that. Stuart Hollins and Carl Hills finished in top spot, with a commendable 34 points; but not enough also to win the Peter Kenyon Bowl (which is the foursomes competition organised by the Hewitt committee for participants from all 64 Hewitt schools).

NEWS 2026

OW GOLF SOCIETY (CONTINUED)

There was better fortune however in the other scratch foursomes event that we enter, the Grafton Morrish. Whitgift were successful in qualifying this year. Led by Toby Kemp, the team won the preliminary round held at Royal Ashdown Forest, scoring 92 points across the three foursomes pairs. Laurie Evans and Jack Raison led off the field and scored 29 points; Rocky Chapman and Nick Baxter-Brand (photo) had an eventful round with two eagles and five birdies, but with three double bogeys thrown into the mix, finished with 32 points; Carl Hills and Rob Sandford, a newcomer to these events, played very steady golf without much joy on the greens, and came home with 31 points. Such are the ups and downs of golf; Wellington, Whitgift’s nemesis in April’s Hewitt (see above) finished fifth, outside the qualifying places. Well done to the team; Whitgift will now play the Grafton Morrish finals in October, at Hunstanton and Royal West Norfolk (Brancaster). The temperature reached 36 degrees during the first round of the Cyril Gray (the Hewitt for over-50s) at Worplesdon in June; with the heatwave forecast to last the duration of the competition, the organisers took the sensible decision to push the start of the Plate back to Thursday and to limit the further rounds (not the Final) to nine-hole matches, to ensure no-one was expected to play more than 18 holes on any one day. And there were iced towels available at the half-way hut. This is the ‘old man’s Hewitt’, after all! Worplesdon GC

And Whitgift found the first-round competition from St Paul’s too hot to handle. St Paul’s started far the stronger of the two teams and some extravagant early putts put them two up after two holes in both the top matches, and disappointingly, these were leads that were maintained throughout. So, Whitgift entered the Plate competition. Last year, Whitgift beat Ampleforth in the Plate final, but this year, Ampleforth turned the tables and won a slightly truncated final 2-1; it was played over only 13 holes (omitting holes 11-15). Congratulations to Rob Casebourne and Richard Kiddell (both playing in the Cyril Gray for the first time), who won all their Plate matches.

Whitgift (l to r); Neill Williams, Martin Hayes, Jonny Ufton, Mark Haswell, Rob Casebourne, Richard Kiddell.

We have held three ‘open’ events so far this year (the fourth and last is still to come, at Shirley Park). Anyone can play in these. Mark Chatham’s Captain’s Day meeting was held at his home course, Wildernesse GC, in the middle of the end-May heatwave that we had, but not so hot that the golf was unduly affected. Laura Thomas (the captain’s sister-in-law – both are shown in the photo below) and Kevin Prideaux de Lacy both scored 37. Laura, a 10-handicapper, became the first female ever to win an OWGS event, claiming first prize with a stunning 23 points on the back nine and therefore the better countback score. Kevin however won the Captain’s Cup, given the society rule that only members are permitted to win the trophies!

It was another hot day when we visited Copthorne GC for Pip Burley’s umpteenth President’s Meeting, but we had a good turnout. The ball was running a long way on bone dry ground. That was fine if you were straight off the tee and with your iron play, but less good if you were a little wayward; many an errant shot kept running until it found the rough. But despite this, and maybe despite all evidence to the contrary, Whitgiftians demonstrated themselves to be quick learners, because in 2025 the winning score had been 34 points, a tally which this year was only enough for fourth place. Look away now; in first place with 38 points was Laura Thomas – again! The President’s Putter went to Derek Turner; a first society win for him. Betchworth Park was the venue for our Hornsey-Walker meeting in August, and it was another lovely day, but with a wind that became quite blustery at times. Scoring was varied, but there were two standout rounds which eventually won the day. The runner-up was Richard Bowen, on 39 points. Beating everyone was society captain Mark Chatham, who had clearly ensured that his sister-in-law Laura Thomas was absent for this one! He scored an excellent 40 points, one of the highest winning scores we have seen in recent times, and took home the Hornsey-Walker Cup. Next year will see the 100th anniversary of the first Hornsey-Walker Cup meeting, and plans are afoot to make it a special celebration for our oldest society trophy. We played four matches during the year, against Dulwich (won), Trinity (drawn), Croham Hurst (lost) and against the School (abandoned due to rain).

The match against the school was played at Croham Hurst in May. Although the photo shows Rocky Chapman in sunshine, this soon disappeared; storms took over! All of the matches were called to a halt before the 18th, and the luckier groups abandoned their games on the 10th or 11th, next to the clubhouse. 40

WHITGIFT

VETERAN RIFLE CLUB NEWS SSI HENRY PARRITT (OW 2009-16) The glorious occasion of the Whitgift Veterans Rifle Club’s 130th Anniversary Dinner is fast approaching. We will be holding it at Bisley, at the London and Middlesex Rifle Association, and we are very much looking forward to celebrating with members, both young and old, more than a century of shooting at Whitgift. The highlight of the past year was announced just a few weeks ago. Our very own Guy Hart will be representing Great Britain in Canada in August 2027 for the National Rifle Association. Our warmest congratulations go to Guy, who has previously represented Ireland internationally. We will keep you updated on his and the team’s progress. In other, sadder news, the MOD has withdrawn sponsorship for Cadet Target Rifle Shooting due to funding pressures and changing priorities. As a result, the Ashburton team, which was reformed in 2023 and competed admirably over the past three years, was unfortunately unable to enter the competition this year under its new NRA auspices. It is our hope that, in the coming year, we

will be able to find the time and funding to support the school’s entry into the new Ashburton competition, which has become significantly more expensive without MOD funding. However, without the red tape previously imposed by the MOD, many of the barriers to young people taking up shooting have now been removed. Our small-bore shooting programme continues to go from strength to strength, with teams shooting weekly targets in postal competitions. The B team won its league this summer, while the winter league is only just beginning. We shoot every week at the School range, and our numbers continue to grow steadily, with a real sense of community developing on Tuesday evenings.

Match were respectable, although not our strongest this year, and several shooters were personally disappointed with their results. Despite this, our three teams achieved 5th place in the overall aggregate of school teams, which is no small feat considering the challenge of assembling 15 shooters for a single day of competition. This was followed by our customary dinner at the Artists Rifles Clubhouse, which was fantastic as always. It has been another busy and enjoyable year for shooting at Whitgift, including the inaugural Students vs Alumni Cup. I will not spoil the result here, as we are saving that announcement for the dinner, but it was hotly contested and I am sure it will be again in the coming year.

Our full-bore calendar also continues to thrive, with monthly shooting and the introduction of more black-powder pistol events into our programme. This discipline will be the focus of our fun shoot before the anniversary dinner. Our scores in the NRA Schools Veterans

Top: Archie Adlington firing at the Public Schools Veterans Match Left: The 2025 Ashburton Team Bottom: Guy Hart coaching the Public Schools Veterans Team

FROM THE ARCHIVES DAVID CLIFFORD, SCHOOL ARCHIVIST

FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN NATIONS: A DECADE OF PERFORMING SHAKESPEARE IN EUROPE INTRODUCTION From the late 1950s the Whitgift School Dramatic Society spent 10 years touring western Europe performing Shakespeare to delighted audiences. The story of these productions from 1955 to 1966 is retold here using school magazine articles and photographic albums. The tours were about making personal friendships and experiencing another country in its architecture, landscape, and tradition; and staging high-quality performances. The Society chose Germany because it ‘has long been a land of Shakespeare lovers, due to a certain extent to the enthusiasm of Schlegel, Goethe, and Ludwig, the actor’.

THE PLAYS The plays performed were the following: excerpts from Macbeth, HMS Pinafore, and Iolanthe in Hameln (1955); Romeo and Juliet in central Germany (1956); Henry IV Part 1 in France and Germany (1957); Julius Caesar in northern Germany (1958); and Macbeth in Switzerland (1959); Hamlet in central and southern Germany (1960); The Winter’s Tale in southern Germany (1962); and The Taming of the Shrew in central and northern Germany (1966). According to a newspaper report nine plays were performed abroad for a total of thirty-three performances though records are available for eight of the plays. Each tour was a large undertaking 42

with the number of pupils taking part ranging from 22 to 35 with teachers producing the plays and providing technical support. Rehearsals demonstrated the camaraderie of the touring party. One report remarked the boys looked relaxed despite there being no formal discipline. Each boy was conscious of the common responsibility and demands of the ensemble: calm, factual, intelligent, and with an absence of friction. Every tour was a success. German audiences loved and appreciated Shakespeare and over the decade the performers played ‘to an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience’. Other factors contributing to the successful tours included the excellent acoustic properties of the halls of post-war German schools; the cast in their highest holiday spirits, eager for success on a foreign stage; getting more of a ‘feel’ of the part and casting aside imposed restraints by performing in front of familiar faces; and the friendly atmosphere created by the Society to bring their plays as a gift for the hospitality enjoyed.

THE PEOPLE No tour was complete without the hospitality of the hosts. Most tours stayed with families. Families were the preferred choice because the boys were appreciative to ‘the parents for the great friendliness and hospitality shown to all of us’. One student remembers our ‘respective mothers’ providing them each morning with ‘little packets of

sandwiches’. Always welcomed ‘where charming hosts and hostesses made our stay too short, and where farewells were said with great regret and photographs.’ Or arriving at Hameln on their first tour and accidentally finding out later that their arrival had been broadcast over the radio! The Whitgift School boys all played their part in the productions: the older students had the talent and experience to bring the best out in others. One special mention must go to Herr Minartz, the coach driver for 1956 to 1958, and 1960. His ‘warm friendship was one of the most vivid recollections, and whose constructive criticisms after each performance were highly valued.’ Herr Minartz acted as guide and philosopher; by his ingenuity solved many awkward problems; and ‘suffered the technical ignorance of his passengers.’

THE AUDIENCES The high-quality performances and atmosphere were lauded by the audiences and critics alike. Julius Caesar was a hit with audiences with one critic writing that the audience was so absorbed ‘that at times we completely forgot that English was being spoken.’ At Oldenburg, the ‘applause lasted for a good ten minutes and with such a show of enthusiasm’ by an audience that had a thorough understanding of the play. While audiences in Hameln, watching Macbeth, were surprised that ‘such a pleasing interpretation could be given by boys still at school.’

The shows were always popular. In the small theatre at Neuss, theatregoers were turned away due to lack of space; with an applause of an intensity usually reserved for other forms of entertainment. While the Switzerland tour saw all the performances crammed to capacity. Nine hundred people saw two shows in Geneva, with six hundred each in Lucerne and Basel. Basle could have been filled twice-over. The boys noticed the different audience reactions: the ‘rather serious Lucerners…sat in such silent, rapt attention… did not applaud until the end of Part 1’, while the people of Basel laughed heartily and clapped lustily between scenes. Henry IV was well received by ‘the sort of applause that comes from a real love of poetry and acting.’

THE THEATRES In every year and in every location the school groups never let challenging stage conditions hinder their performances. Some theatres provided excellent stages while others needed the knowledge and skills of the superb Whitgift drama technicians to create the right conditions for the cast. Osnabruck provided a long, deep ‘horseshoe’ stage; Oldenburg’s stage was flat with steps running all along the front; Hamburg provided what was called a ‘truly Elizabethan stage, with a large front apron and a small inner set’; and Wolfsburg had ‘an enormous, splendidly equipped, modern stage and auditorium.’ During the 1959 tour, Geneva had an exquisite 18th-century interior and every modern lighting device that could be desired but lacked a stage with an apron and front entrances and back curtains that could only be closed at the interval. Lucerne provided an austere modern church hall with adequate yet indifferent lighting, a tiny stage, and no way of getting from one side of the stage to the other except for going outside of the building – not too bad unless it’s

raining. Basle had a fine modern hall and a well-fitted stage, but small dressing rooms and off-stage space. The cast couldn’t pass behind the scene during the action and exits and entrances had to be carefully reordered. Herchen offered a tiny and intimate theatre with ‘adequate lighting and no particular staging problems.’ Erlangen offered up a ‘dazzlingly beautiful baroque theatre, the finest in Southern Germany’ and with fantastic stage facilities. A more unusual location was a ruined castle, four hundred feet above Bad Godesberg, which featured a moonlight performance of Romeo and Juliet.

SIGHTSEEING AND RELAXATION Just as the plays were the core part of every trip, the sightseeing played an important role in introducing the students to an unfamiliar cultural and industrial environment that made the trips an enjoyable and rewarding experience. The boys adapted very well to the demands of the trips. Brian McGinnis commented that: ‘The combination of official functions, drama, musical interludes, sightseeing, social gatherings, and living in a foreign household ought to be extremely tiring. As a matter of fact, it is nothing of the kind, at any rate for the boys.’ Throughout the years, the students had a varied programme of cultural, industrial, and sporting highlights. Coach trips took boys to Innsbruck; Bavaria to visit Linderhof Castle, home of King Ludwig II; Ettal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery, near to Oberammergau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria; Cologne Cathedral, the ‘jewel of German churches’; Nymphenburg Palace; and areas like Fränkische Schweiz (Franconian Switzerland). The Bundeshaus in Bonn (the Federal Parliament building from 1949 to 1999) showed that ‘modern interior design

need not be ugly and can be beautiful’. There was also a “border incident” in 1958 with the forces of the “other side” clutching their rifles and bicycles. Unfortunately, the records don’t give any detail about this incident. Sporting highlights feature being beaten at football on the heights overlooking Aachen or losing a game of basketball to the Einsiedeln Monastery pupils after the football game was cancelled due to snowfall. On the industrial side, there was a visit to a Volkswagen factory. We only have a single entry in the Whitgiftian and two photographs in the 1958 album of the boys viewing the factory’s massproduction line. We have no other details of the Volkswagen visit.

RECIPROCAL VISITS One of the successes was the making of personal friendships and contacts leading to return visits of drama and musical groups. 1957 saw two trips from Germany: a party from Osnabruck spent three days at Whitgift and attended a supper party given in their honour and attended the School Concert. The Collegium Musicum of the University of the Saar brought a party of 42 students for a concert. Hameln’s Schiller Gymnasium (formally Schiller School) came over in 1958 and performed ‘Der Zerbrochene Krug’ (The broken jug) a comedy by Heinrich von Kleist in Big School. The decade of tours was very successful in bringing the boys’ interpretation of Shakespeare to appreciative audiences in western Europe. All the plays were befitting everything Whitgift School stood for then and stands for today: presenting high quality plays with passion, skill, and knowledge. And, wherever they went, friendships were made, sights seen, and new connections forged with the shared love of the arts.

MR PERKINS

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE DID YOU PLAY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE FINANCE GAME IN 1974? The daughter of former Whitgift Economics teacher Mr David Perkins recently got in touch after discovering newspaper articles from January 1974 featuring the five Whitgift teams that took part in the London Stock Exchange Finance Game.

Whitgift appears to have achieved remarkable success, with three teams finishing in the UK’s top 10. Mr Perkins would be delighted to learn what became of those budding financiers and where life took them after Whitgift.

DO YOU HAVE ITEMS THAT MAYBE OF INTEREST TO THE ARCHIVES TEAM?

This article has only been made possible by the retention of the school magazines and a donation by an Old Whitgiftian of several photographic albums. We are always pleased to receive material about drama productions, at home or abroad, such as photograph albums, scrapbooks, trip documents, and personal recollections.

If you were involved in the competition, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch at alumni@whitgift.co.uk.

OW OBITUARIES

Bruce and Jenny, aged 19, Cambridge

which he did a few years later.

Alan Cowing (1953-59)

The highlight of his career was probably as Project Manager for the construction of the Jamuna River (formerly the Brahmaputra) Bridge. With a length of 4.8 kilometres, it remains the second longest bridge in Bangladesh. At the time of its construction, it was the 11th longest bridge in the world and remains the 6th longest bridge in South Asia. Until the construction of the Jamuna Bridge, all road and rail communication between the two parts of the country had to rely on time-consuming ferry services that were often disrupted because of navigability problems.

“Alan Cowing was at Whitgift from 1953 to 1959 and was proud to appear in later years in the filmed series I am Whitgift as an alumnus who had benefited from a life changing bursary – in many ways that short film epitomised Alan, who was Whitgift through and through. Alan left school from L VI Modern with a modest academic record but as a member of the 1st XV, the Athletics team, the 2nd XI and the 2nd IV for fives. As an OW he was a formidable rugby player on the wing or full back – he had the height and build of a second row forward which belied his speed. My first clear memory of him was as he kicked a penalty goal from a great distance in a match at Croham Road. What stood out then was the power which he put into the place kick: no silky, subtle approach, just a big man filled with enthusiasm putting everything into his work for the team. I got to know him pretty well some years later when we were on the OW committee. Alan had the same enthusiasm and dedication to the cause then as he had previously shown on the rugby field. He was not only conscientious but visionary and his plans for the club were remarkable. Sadly, there were not many others who were able to see the validity of his ideas and I feel sure he felt a great sense of disappointment. Alan was devoted to Whitgift and to the OWs. He will be missed by many.” - Nigel Platts (1955-64)

Bruce Claxton (1953-61) Bruce Claxton, who has died at the age of 83, was a senior prefect and house captain of Dodd’s. He was a talented sportsman representing the 1st XV for three years, was captain of athletics and CSM in the army section of the CCF. He left VI Science A with a place at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where he read engineering. His time at school overlapped with his cousin John Claxton (1952-59). He worked as a civil engineer, was a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers as well as earning a law degree and an MSc from London University. Beyond his work on numerous major structural projects across the world, notably bridges, he was an arbitrator, an expert witness and company secretary/in house legal adviser in many of the companies where he worked. At Cambridge, Bruce met Jenny, a student nurse, and they married in 1963. Bruce was seriously injured in 1964, when a badly maintained lorry crushed him and his car. After three months in a coma, he was advised by medical professionals that he would never be able to walk again. He defied everyone by making a solid recovery and went on to pursue an active life and career principally with Redpath Dorman Long and latterly High-Point Rendel Group. Bruce and Jenny had two sons one of whom, sadly, died in the mid 1990s. In his role as a project manager Bruce and family moved frequently, the highlight, according to his son Simon, being a few years in Brazil. In total the family moved 28 times. Bruce had a heart attack at 50 and was advised to take early retirement,

Project manager Claxton with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at the Jamuna Bridge

In retirement, Bruce continued to be active in many areas including a period as Chairman of the Standards Committee for the Isle of Wight, where he and Jenny made their home. As an active churchman he was a member of the Parochial Church Council for Shalfleet Church where he chaired the restoration appeal – his work in saving this ancient building received recognition in the national press. Simon Claxton says of his father “I feel very privileged to have had such a good relationship with my father for so many years. He was a clever, caring and principled man who was also very competitive, putting lots of thought and effort into pretty much everything he did. He used his many talents, both academic and practical to help many people over the years. In retirement he worked hard on multiple projects. As I said at his funeral, he had and will continue to have a profoundly positive influence on my life. I am confident that I am not the only person who feels this way.” Thanks for this tribute are owed to Bruce’s son, Simon.

Alan, second on the left, at the races – to his left his racing colours are on display

Alan joined the Bank of England when he left school but soon moved into advertising where he joined up with Pip Burley (1955-62) and Richard Trendall to form a very successful marketing company. Richard’s eulogy at Alan’s funeral told of this time – “It was 1975, 50 years ago that Alan and I joined forces in business. I was 29, Alan, always the senior partner was going on 34. 45

OW OBITUARIES Let me remind you. 1975 was the year that Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party. Concorde had its first test flight, Mohammed Ali beat Joe Frazier in the Thriller in Manila and our fledgling advertising agency took shape in a small office in Kensington, shared with Pip Burley and his publishing company.

the favourite. Far from it. An 8-1 shot I seem to remember. It romped home by a distance, celebrated with a bottle of champagne and a fistful of tenners. Alan my friend, just like Colonial Kelly that night at Lingfield, you ran a great race. And now finally you’ve made it to the winner’s enclosure. Go well. Rest in peace.”

After we both retired Alan and I didn’t see very much of each other. I live in the north of Scotland so we were not exactly near neighbours. However, I did manage to catch up with him a few months back. It was good to see him again. But he didn’t understand who I was, he didn’t understand what I was doing and he certainly didn’t understand a word of what I was talking about. 50 years on and nothing had changed.Back in those early days did we have a business plan? I don’t think so. Did we have a considered strategy? Not that I remember. We simply shared the belief that to build a successful business we would have to work damned hard. And we did.

The following is adapted from the eulogy given by Alan’s friend Brian Holliday: “Alan and I met some 20 years ago through our involvement with point-topoint horse racing in the south east. Alan and Barry, the Cockerell/Cowing Racing Partnership had been a very successful syndicate since 1995. The pink with blue cross of Lorraine would eventually be carried to 139 places in 280 races a 50% return made up of 69 winners, 34 seconds and 36 third places. I thought that the pink and blue was a bit feminine for Alan but Barry (Barry Cockerell, 1956-63) says it made it easier to follow the horse during the race (and those are the colours of the flowers on Alan’s coffin). Interestingly the cross of Lorraine is a symbol of hope and faith in victory – very appropriate.

I wouldn’t be honest if I described our relationship as perfect harmony. We had our differences, not always seeing eye to eye. Different talents and different viewpoints. But we dovetailed. The strength of our partnership was greater than its individual parts. Over the period through those madmen years we grew, moving into larger offices and taking on more staff. We enjoyed success with a wide range of companies. From airlines to air conditioning, wallpaper to cigarette paper, baby food to chocolate bars, camping to car rental. From minnows to multi nationals. And through that time, we were fortunate to work with some fine clients, many of whom became enduring friends. And then of course there were the many colleagues who worked with us over the years. Some are here today. All of us who worked with Alan will remember him with fond respect, for his dignity, his sound judgement, his fairness and his friendship. The founder and the foundation. The rock on which the business was built. As many of you will know, Alan had a passion for horse racing, both as a racegoer and an owner. It must have been about 30 years ago. An evening at Lingfield Park. I backed one of Alan’s horses. Colonial Kelly was the name. Not 46

Alan was very proud that Elliot Daly, the Lions and England rugby player and recent England cricketers Jason Roy, Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley and Jamie Smith were all Old Whitgiftians. Alan loved a day at the Test Match, a round of golf (as a precursor to a good lunch) and visiting the stables to see how the horses were faring. Overall though he was interested in you and he was interesting - this meant he could have a good conversation with almost anyone, but now the umpire has called close of play. We will all miss him – he was a good man.”

Clive Elton (1945-53) Clive Elton, who died in April 2026 at the age of 91, left VI Science A in July 1953. He had been a Warrant Officer in the RAF section of the CCF and was awarded a flying scholarship - it was clear that flying was going to be his life. Clive grew up near three important RAF stations, Kenley, Biggin Hill and Croydon and as a boy witnessed the Battle of Britain, the Blitz and the attacks of V1 Doodlebugs. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and as a Canberra pilot he marked targets during the Suez campaign. However, the

prospect of defence cuts encouraged Clive and many others to leave the service. He joined BEA as a commercial pilot in 1958 and continued with them as they became BA until his retirement in 1990. For the last twenty years of his career, he was a Training Captain and indeed continued his training role on simulators for several years after formal retirement. He was also keen on light aviation and was an early member of the Tiger Club.

Clive Elton as Master of the Honourable Company of Airline Pilots (photograph courtesy of the Company)

In 1965, Clive joined the Honourable Company of Airline Pilots and became actively involved firstly on the Education and Training Committee of which he became Chairman, then on the Trophies and Awards Committee, where again he became Chairman. He received a number of awards from the Company including the Award of Merit. He was also awarded the Master Air Pilot Certificate and was the last surviving founder member of the Air Pilots Flying Club. In 1993/94, Clive was Master of the Company and in that and other Company roles he maintained close contact with the Grand Master HRH Prince Philip – “They were always talking together”. This obituary is based on that which appeared in the June 2026 Air Pilot magazine of the Honourable Company of Airline Pilots.

OW OBITUARIES Timothy John Hancock (1963-71)

competition with the local rock venues - Fairfield Halls, The Greyhound and Purley Orchid Ballroom (!) - all of which were featuring the biggest bands of the time. But educate us it did and Tim went on to study law at Southampton University. Having qualified as a solicitor, he left the UK in 1980 for Hong Kong which was to become his home. He worked for a number of law firms there, forging a very distinguished career in Intellectual Property - latterly as a highly regarded consultant at Haldanes. He met his wife Helen in the early 80s and they were married in 1985. Two children, Nicola and Christopher soon followed.

Tim Hancock pictured on a ski trip

My great friend Tim Hancock died in Hong Kong on the 23rd July after a short illness. He had been in the UK with his wife Helen visiting their daughter Nicola and grandchild in Edinburgh and was then due to travel with us for a week’s skiing, something that had become an annual event in recent years. Between Edinburgh and the Alps he had arranged a visit to meet Andy Marlow at the School to sort out the arrangements for a drinks party at the Hong Kong Club to bring OWs together and to promote the school generally. He was a proud ambassador for Whitgift. However, It was evident that Tim wasn’t himself and instead of his planned visit to the school he was admitted to A&E, where within a few hours he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. I met Tim on our first day at Whitgift in 1963. We have been the closest of friends ever since. Tim was an all round sportsman and represented the school in most sports at some point. A great diver too, it was galling to many of us that under Mr Murray’s tuition, by the end of the Lower 1sts, he had perfected the English header when most of us were still stinging from successive belly flops! Our formative years at Whitgift coincided with the developing pop and rock culture of the 60s and it is fair to say that this left Tim with an encyclopedic knowledge of the music of that era which stayed with him for the rest of his life. The school had a job on its hands in trying to educate us in

Leaving a cohort of close Whitgift friends in Croydon, and as many again from university, Tim’s popularity soon spread in Hong Kong, and for good reason. He was a lovely man, generous in spirit, and warmhearted with never a bad word to say against anyone. He had an extraordinary memory and whatever the time or circumstances he would have a relevant anecdote or joke which would leave the assembled company in fits of laughter. He continued playing hockey and squash well into his late 60s and had yet to give up skiing, tennis and golf. His boundless energy was only surpassed by his wife Helen’s! I am certainly not alone in missing him terribly. Tim is survived by his wife Helen, his children Nicola and Christopher, his grandchildren Lewis and Morven and his brother, Peter - all of whom he loved dearly. This tribute comes from Jeff Worboys

John Leech MBE (OW 1939-40)

John Leech MBE – photograph by The Worshipful Company of Paviors of which at the time of his death he was the oldest Liveryman

John Leech, who died on 22 November 2024 at the age of 99, lived a long life of great achievement marked by remarkable circumstances from birth onwards. John/ Hansi was born Hans-Joachim, Freiherr (Baron) von Reitzenstein, as his memoirs tell, “the second child of Hans-Joachim and Josefine, and was delivered on 21st April 1925, at the Marmor-Palais in Potsdam, where Frederick the Great had his famous colloquies with Voltaire, adorned his pleasure palace Sans Souci with floor tiles depicting the newly imported potato and exercised his acclaimed troops which put the fear of God into him as much as into his foes. Distinctly Prussian, with its simplicity, directness and moral contradictions; but a very different world from nearby Berlin. Close at hand lay Neubabelsberg, site of the film studios where some of the books his parents would write together came to be filmed”. Both parents were active anti-Nazis, his father from an aristocratic Franconian family and his mother Jewish. John’s father died in 1935 from the delayed effects of gassing during the First World War. As a child of mixed race, the future in Germany was bleak and John and his mother were able to leave thanks to the initiative of George Bell, Bishop of Chichester, whose committee trawled public schools to find those prepared to offer scholarships for refugee children. John was taken in by Major and Mrs Leech of Bramley Hill, South Croydon and John, who soon adopted their name, joined their son Hugh at Whitgift. The Leech family arranged a visa for John’s widowed mother after Mrs Leech telephoned and said “We cannot bear 47

OW OBITUARIES the thought that we are taking your son away from you, and leaving you to your fate, so we thought, if you would like to come over with him you could stay with us for a few weeks until you found your feet.” They arrived at Croydon Airport on 27 April 1939. The following is adapted from the eulogy given at the Celebration of John’s life at the Travellers Club on 14 February 2025 by Guy, the son of John’s adoptive brother Hugh Leech: “The life of my Uncle Hansi, John, spanned three quarters of the 20th Century and a quarter of the 21st. In many ways, his life was moulded by the central trauma of the 20th century, World War 2 and its aftermath. In April 1939, aged just 14, Hansi left Germany for England, thanks to a charity which introduced him to and placed him with the Leech family, where he became a brother to my father who was just a year older than him. At the last minute, his mother came too, but not his older sister Finette who finally got to England with three-year-old Johnny just after the War; tragically Finette died of TB weeks after being reunited with her family. Hansi could have followed my father to Oxford, from where he became a Medieval Historian and academic, but Hansi felt obliged to defer to my grandfather’s wishes – he was an engineer and a selfmade man - so Hansi took articles and trained as an engineer. In one of several engineering jobs, he worked for some time in Calcutta in the 1950s. A major part of his working life was with the Commonwealth Development Corporation – CDC invested in poorer Commonwealth countries and he was involved in a number of agricultural and business projects and practical enterprises. Later he was External Relations Director for CDC, an essentially diplomatic role where his skills were supreme. If they hadn’t been deployed in the Development branch of the British Government, he might well have prospered too in the Foreign Office, although I suspect that he would not have wanted to represent the views of all British Governments. He had strong respect for British institutions, its rule of law and its establishment, his beloved Travellers’ Club for example, but he did not always see the world as they did. He became a writer, like his parents, 48

especially after retiring from CDC aged 60, 39 years ago. He was an enthusiastic supporter of and pamphlet writer for the Federal Trust which pre-dated the Common Market and the European Union; it was founded in 1945 and promoted a united Europe but a Federal one. To his great joy, the former came to pass but to his disappointment, not the latter. To anyone whose family had been fractured onto opposite sides by the War as his was, the peaceful unification of western and central Europe since then has been a triumph, and, especially for his generation, not one to be taken for granted the way we sometimes do now. Another great pillar preserving post 1945 peace in Europe has been NATO, and Hansi devoted an enormous amount of meticulous effort to the West-West Agenda, a group he founded in the 1990s and whose meetings he ran for over ten years. At these, US and European defence strategists and military leaders met to discuss transatlantic military co-operation. In 1991 he published Halt! Who goes where? The future of NATO in the new Europe, he edited and contributed to a Federal Trust book which came out in 2002 called Whole and free: NATO, EU enlargement and transatlantic relations and, also in 2002, he published Asymmetries of Conflict: war without death, an extraordinarily prescient book about modern warfare and other means of conflict between nations and groups, and how to counter and minimise them. In spite of their grim sounding subjects, these were hopeful books; he was an optimist and believed in the essential goodness of human nature, he expected it and brought it out from those around him. In 1960, Hansi met Noretta. In January 1963 they married and ever since, nearly 62 years, his life has been anchored by her. They were in many ways very different but became totally complementary: he supported and loved her, and she him. In 1991, his present to her on her 60th birthday was the foundation of the Keyboard Charitable Trust which identifies today’s most promising young keyboard talent and enables them to perform in many of the most important music centres in Europe and the Americas. Their work was recognised by the award to both of them of the MBE in 2014. Music was central to John’s life and he was for several years a member of the Advisory Council of the

London Symphony Orchestra In so many aspects of his life, he lived, worked and knew so many different cultures and he knew them well. He fitted into them all, not as a chameleon but as himself. He had many lives, but not too many, and has ended his long life peacefully, as he lived, with much love, given freely by him and to him.”

Michael Luetchford (1943-50)

Mike Luetchford

Mike was born on the 22nd March 1932 in Dorking, closely followed by his sister Jean. This was a surprise to his parents, Claude and Hilda, as they had not been expecting twins. So began a life full of surprises and excitement which he met with fortitude and a wonderful, wicked sense of humour. He grew up in Selsdon watching the Battle of Britain and building a shrapnel collection with his pals. Delia also grew up in Selsdon and her first memory of him was walking along the top of his father’s garage roof. He also was able to climb in and out of top-floor windows of the house by using the guttering. This was stopped when he fell at his mother’s feet. In 1943 he went to Whitgift School and joined the Army cadet force. In 1950, when he left school from VI Maths, he got on his bike and cycled around Europe that was still recovering from the devastation of the war. He was called up for National Service in November. He was selected for officer training, went to Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers. He married Delia in 1956. Thus began a loving marriage that lasted almost 70 years: a relationship that defined his life and created a large family of children, grandchildren and a

OW OBITUARIES great-grandson. Towards the end of his life his almost constant refrain was what a lucky man he was, and how fortunate he was to have Delia looking after him. His sense of adventure never left him as he explored the world and served his country. As an Army officer he served in Germany, Cyprus and, probably most significantly, the Far East. In 1960 the family travelled to Singapore by ship to start a new life. The first posting was to Penang with the Royal Engineers his particular specialism was building bridges. The time in Penang was always remembered with particular fondness and he was proud to have received medals for his service in Malaya and Borneo, and later from the Malaysian Government. The stories are numerous, but an interesting one was travelling into the jungle in Sarawak in a dug-out canoe with Delia and his three young children to visit a longhouse where people lived who had never seen a white woman or children before. The family slept in the “king’s” bed and were a source of fascination, as much as the tribe were for the family. All of this was documented on a cine camera that was his constant companion. The films show a family life of exploration and holidays all over the world. On camping trips to France and visits to the Netherlands his family was often regaled with stories about when he had visited there on his bike - it became a bit of a family joke. Food also played a big part in his life, and travelling to Italy to see daughter Sara meant he was able to experience a wonderful new cuisine, some very fine wines, and explore most of Italy. The love of travel never left him, and with Delia they spent much of their retirement flying or taking trains to every continent of the world apart from Antarctica. His visit to Costa Rica was a particularly memorable experience. His children and grandchildren have inherited this love of travel and adventure. However, he also loved walking in the English countryside and sometimes just sitting looking at the view. He walked the Pennine Way with his son Mark and grew to love exploring the Somerset countryside, particularly the Mendip Hills. On retiring to Wells he was able to find more time for golf and spent many an hour walking the course at the Wells golf club and loved a game that meant he could spend time in the great outdoors – come rain or come shine. This tribute comes from his widow Delia.

Rev Canon Brian Macdonald-Milne (1947-53)

Brian Macdonald-Milne, who has died aged 90, left Whitgift in July 1953 from U VI History for Corpus Christi College, Cambridge although he first undertook two years of National Service before going up in 1955 to read for the Theology Tripos. He graduated in 1958, then studied for Holy Orders at Cuddesdon under the future Archbishop Robert Runcie. He was ordained priest in 1961. At Corpus he was President of the Fletcher Players (the College drama society) and a member of the Footlights. On announcing his death, The Master, Professor Christopher Kelly, said, “Brian was a long-time close friend of this College. It is his continuing generosity which has enabled the Pacific Island Visiting Fellowship.” This Fellowship recognised Brian’s early years as a priest in the Solomon Islands; he went in 1964 to join the Melanesian Mission, played a major role with the Melanesian Brotherhood and was first Vicar-General of the Central Solomons when four dioceses were formed in 1975. He wrote of this time in his book The True Way of Service: The Pacific Story of the Melanesian Brotherhood 1925-2000 and in 2021 published Seeking Peace in the Pacific: The Story of Conflict and Christianity in the Central Solomon Islands. This book provided much detail of migrations into the Solomon Islands, conflicts, the arrival of Europeans, Christianity and the impact of the Second World War. Brian also wrote a chapter on Christianity in the Solomon Islands for the Edinburgh University Press series on World Christianity. Until 2022, he remained Honorary Archivist of The Melanesian Mission UK. On returning to Britain, Brian became Chaplain of Trinity and St Peter’s Colleges, Oxford before becoming a research fellow at Queen’s College, Birmingham. From 1983-88 he was Rector of Landbeach (a College living since the 1360s) and Waterbeach and was very proud of the Landbeach links

to Corpus. He wrote: Landbeach “has been a Corpus living since the 1360s and the College retains many links with the village; for example, the Choir has given many concerts there. Furthermore, the 18th-century Rector, Corpus Fellow and historian of the College the Reverend Robert Masters is buried in the churchyard and both he and the 16th-century Master (later Archbishop of Canterbury) Matthew Parker lived in the now restored former rectory, a building which has retained its Elizabethan core.” Later he became Rector of Radwinter and then Rural Dean of Saffron Walden. Brian’s incumbency at Landbeach was also an opportunity to reopen his own links to the College. He wrote regularly in The Record (and its predecessors) and in a recent edition he reflected on his personal navigation of COVID: “During the pandemic lockdown I have written more poetry than usual. I am a member of Pelican Poets and Writers at Corpus, which includes alumni and alumnae. Ten of my poems have been contributed to the COVID-19 Project at Cambridge University Library.”

Brian at All Saint’s Landbeach Church in 2024, where he anointed the church’s restored bells.

Brian’s long retirement saw him become chairman of the Cambridge Branch of the Retired Clergy Association, which is an honorary and voluntary post and he continued to officiate in the Dioceses of Ely and Chelmsford, usually in the parishes of Waterbeach and Landbeach. At the time of his death, Brian was working on a final memoir, which it is hoped will be published. Brian was a great servant of the Church of Melanesia and more recently, a much-loved parish priest in the dioceses of Chelmsford and Ely. The story of how he came to serve in 49

OW OBITUARIES Cambridge and Corpus Christi. He would also recount the stories, events, and experiences of his remarkable life in Melanesia, a place that always held his heart. He was a man of indefatigable industry, deep faith, kindness and faithfulness to those he cared about and served with life-long dedication and devotion. This tribute acknowledges the numerous

appreciations published by Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, The Melanesian Mission, the Diocese of Ely and other friends of Brian.

David Straw (1945-53)

Rugby playing brothers at Croham Road

A youngish priest

Melanesia is intriguing - in 2021, on the 60th anniversary of his ordination, Brian preached a “fine sermon” in Corpus chapel during which he talked of his missionary work in Melanesia. It all started with stamp collecting at Whitgift: “One day when visiting south London, I saw an interesting set of stamps in the window of a stamp shop. It was the first issue of the Pitcairn Islands in the South Pacific and on it were pictures associated with the famous mutiny on the Bounty. I bought that set with my pocket money. I then asked the school chaplain, who was preparing me for confirmation, if he had any books about the church in the South Pacific. He replied ‘I have never been asked that question before. Are you going there?’ I had never thought of that but replied ‘That might be a good idea’. He then said ‘Will you go as a layman or as a priest?’ I was taken aback. There were no priests in my family, but plenty of Scottish farmers and engineers. I thought and prayed about it and came to the conclusion that perhaps this was the way God called people to ordained ministry”. Brian was a good linguist and shortly before his death, enjoyed conversing in pijin English with some Melanesian sisters who were visiting Cambridge. Brian had a historian’s attention to detail and loved nothing more than showing Melanesians and friends around 50

David Straw in jovial mood

David Sorby Straw was born in Croydon in May 1935, the younger brother of John (also a Past President of the Old Whitgiftian Association). Their mother was Swiss, although English born, and even before the War the two boys went on European holidays where they met Swiss relatives with whom they maintained lifelong ties. In 1945 David went to Whitgift following in John’s footsteps – in his daughter’s words “I am not entirely sure that either of them ever really left school”. The Whitgiftian magazine does reveal that David left Whitgift in July 1953 from VI Maths as a school prefect and Vice-Captain of Tate’s. He was three years in the 1st XV and three years in the 1st XI (of which he was captain in 1953). As he was also in the school athletics team for four years and the 1st IV for fives, it seems fair to say that sport was predominant in his school life - he was a corporal in the CCF and is recorded as achieving a reasonable quota of O levels but no A levels.

In 1953, David headed the batting averages with 473 runs at an average of 43. As wicket keeper he also took 11 catches and 7 stumpings - the comment by the master in charge was that he “batted very well and most consistently throughout the season. He was much more mature this season and has eradicated most of his faults … he kept wicket extremely well and was a very adequate captain”. This was merely the start of his season because he then went on to score the second highest number of runs that season for the OWCC including over 250 runs in cricket week - a foretaste of many summers and many thousands of runs in top class club cricket. David played cricket for Surrey Young Amateurs, Surrey Second XI and made one first class appearance (in 1964) for the MCC against Ireland in Dublin. As a rugby player he represented Surrey and London Counties. His high jump record, set in the school sports of 1952, of 5 feet 9 1/4 inches survived until well into the 1960s. David served in the RAF during his National Service and acquired a great love for flying. He later obtained a private pilot’s licence and but for the early onset of deafness he might well have become a commercial pilot. After his time in the RAF David qualified as a company secretary – for a time he ran the business affairs of a dry-cleaning company in Sutton but then became secretary to the Grimston Trust, the family interests of the Earl of Verulam. David spent over thirty years with the Grimston Trust, only retiring as a director when he was well into his seventies. His

OW OBITUARIES work with Grimston Trust involved twice yearly trips to Zimbabwe, a country that David loved with its spectacular scenery and numerous sporting activities. David was a diligent and active member of committees at the OWA and was an outstanding President in 1993. He gave freely of his time and talents to the OWs and still found time to be a committee member and later President in 1985-87 of the Surrey RFU. David took delight in his boat (he lived close to the Thames for many years), friendship, holidays and family. He was an extraordinarily talented sportsman – how many have played rugby at Twickenham and cricket at Lord’s? – but above all he was a fine man, and a dedicated OW. His services to the Association, the Benevolent Society, the cricket and rugby clubs have few, if any, rivals. He is a great loss to his family, friends and Whitgift. This tribute is based on the eulogy given at David’s funeral by his daughter Bev.

Derek Tisdell (1948-54)

years as a development engineer at a company in Stockton on Tees before joining Esso in 1969 where he became Engineering Manager at Esso Research in Abingdon. At Esso Europe in London, he became involved with negotiating software licences in Europe and the USA. In due course Derek took early retirement in 1994. Derek had a long, 63 years, and happy marriage to Dina. For many years they lived in Oxfordshire in an old cottage which they restored and then in a new house that they built (much of the work being carried out by them) on land adjacent to the cottage. Tributes were paid at Derek’s Thanksgiving Service to him as a devoted family man, a man of very high integrity and moral principle and an active participant in Oxfordshire village life as a local school governor, organiser of a Saturday morning swimming club and as a volunteer at Wantage Museum. He loved to walk the downs and, as a former research and development engineer had a continuing interest in the physical world that surrounded and intrigued him.

Jon Tullett (OW 1988-91)

through squash. In France, he owned and supported a squash and fitness club for 12 years, driven by his love of the sport and the community it garnered. After founding and running a successful hedge fund for 14 years, Jonathan retired aged 49 and married his wife, Pim. Together they relocated from Monaco to Thailand with a plan to live life, love each other and experience everything. After his cancer diagnosis, Jonathan pushed harder and further, not allowing that to change him or the plans they had. We lost him on 24th March 2026 but the world will always remember him. This tribute comes from Jon’s brother Kevin.

Anthony Westnedge, OBE (1955-62) Anthony Westnedge, “the last of the Westnedges” as he was greeted by our form master when he joined Whitgift in September 1955, was one of numerous members of the family who were at the school. He was preceded at school by his brother David, who happily survives, by his father Edward “Ted” Westnedge, OBE, who was a distinguished President of the OW Association, and by several uncles. When we met to celebrate the 70th anniversary of entering Form A1, Anthony was, sadly, too unwell to join us – he would, no doubt, have been life and soul of the party - Nigel Platts (1955-64). The following is, with minor adaptations, the eulogy given by his old friend Roderick Chamberlain at Anthony’s funeral on 21 May 2026 in Henbury, Macclesfield:

Derek Tisdell, who has died at the age of 89, came to Whitgift in 1948 from Aberdour Preparatory School. He was one of the celebrated Upper V of 1952-53 whose reunions over so many years have been recorded in Whitgiftian publications. Derek left school in 1954 and took an apprenticeship with Vickers Armstrong at Weybridge. This led to him being awarded a Vickers scholarship to Selwyn College, Cambridge where he read mechanical sciences. Although on coming down from Cambridge he returned to Vickers, he did not enjoy the largeness of the organisation and left to join an innovative engineering consultancy in Sussex. He spent some

Jon was a second-generation Whitgiftian who shone on the rugby pitch, the squash court and the athletics track. His sporting prowess led him to university in the USA where he continued to impress as a 110m hurdler and graduated as a Dean’s List student. From there he continued his studies, gaining a Masters in Mathematics and Derivatives Trading in Chicago. This led him into a career in finance which took him from London to the USA, Denmark and Geneva. Jonathan settled in Monaco where he continued to push boundaries in every sense, and run his hedge fund. Never one to shirk away from a challenge, in every country he found a tight social circle and dived into the sports world

Thank you, Pip, for the privilege and responsibility of telling you about Anthony, my dear, infuriating, fascinating friend for over 65 years. Our friendship like many others was formed and forged in the Suffolk seaside village of Thorpeness which belonged to the Ogilvies, old family friends of the Westnedges and led then by Stuart, Anthony’s godfather and for whom he was named. In the mid-1960s there was no better place for a teenager to be in the summer holidays, very heaven. The epicentre of the village was the country club with its twice weekly dinner dances and tennis tournaments, its weekly general knowledge quizzes (whose junior section Anthony and I won with pleasing regularity) and much else. Together Anthony and I went through all the 51

OW OBITUARIES angst-ridden rites of passage: meeting girls, first hand-hold, first kiss, surreptitious drinking in the Aldeburgh Festival Club. As Dylan Thomas put it “All the sun long it was running, it was lovely”. Bliss indeed. He was quite ridiculously good-looking with his silken hair, sparkling blue eyes and permanent, radiant smile. He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, leaning forward with a slight spring in his heel: those of a certain age will realise why my mother christened him Anthony Armstrong-Jones. He was brought up with impeccable manners and unfailing courtesy and blessed with magnetic charm: he remained throughout his life a gentleman. Already he seemed, in the wonderful German phrase, to know God and the world. And throughout his life, in contrast to so many people who tell you how many important people they know, all the important people Anthony knew really did know him back. Both his sister Heather and their older brother David remember him forever asking and answering questions, another lifelong trait, for he was always both interested and interesting. This earned him the nickname of The Professor, somewhat ironic for a man whose formal education ended when he left school after his O levels.

Anthony Westnedge in Johnnie Walker days

So, what became of him? He was honoured by three countries: first by Venezuela with the Order of Francisco de Miranda (First Class); then by Chile with the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins, Commodore; and finally by Great Britain with the OBE – after which many letters used to arrive for “Dear Mr. Obe”. He was Chairman of the Anglo-Latin American Foundation, Chairman of the Hispano-Luso Brazilian Council (better 52

known as Canning House), Chairman of the Anglo-Venezuelan Society and on the boards or committees of many more Anglo-Latin American country Societies and Chambers of Commerce. He was Deputy Chairman of the English-Speaking Union; Vice Chairman of the Latin American Trade Advisory Group; Court member of the Worshipful Company of Distillers; Committee member of the Caledonian Club; Board member of the European Atlantic Group. For decades he was a stalwart of the Honourable Artillery Company, the Scotch Whisky Association, the Kensington and Chelsea Conservative Association; the Cofradía del Merito Vitivinicola de Chile, the “brotherhood for the promotion of Chilean wine”; and, most recently, the Society of BOFs which, in Church, we’ll call the Boring Old…Friends. Most significantly for him, perhaps, he was, in his own words, the man who made Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky the gift of choice at any party in Latin America.

inside out and enjoyed, shall we say, a a boisterous social life.

What a CV. What a life. And yet Anthony really led two lives, in two senses. You can split it vertically, between his weekday life in London and his weekend life here in the Cheshire he grew to know and love.

And then it all came to a juddering halt as parent company Distillers came under severe stock market pressure to increase shareholder value and Johnnie Walker became no more than one of many brands in an office block rather than their previous Mayfair town house. Anthony, aged 44, was left with a pension pot and redundancy money.

In his early working years, he had jobs rather than a career, including (in no particular order): in London, where he worked for the prestigious stockbroking firm of Greenwells, and then sold paint for Berger, Jensen and Nicholson where he met and was briefly married to the chairman’s daughter. In Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, he followed David to work for their Uncle Peter in the splendid titled job of grease monkey, pumping gas in a service station. Then in Paris, again working in finance and paint in January 1964 he was able to obtain the signature of all four Beatles - this was less than a year after their first hit and a month before their first momentous tour of the United States, and with its impeccable provenance, that piece of paper proved agreeably valuable when he sold it last year. His career really started when he arrived in Jerez de la Frontera, capital of the sherry industry. He was taken up by Don Zoilo Ruiz-Mateos, owner of the hugely successful drinks firm Rumasa. Anthony perfected his Spanish, learned all the workings of the drinks industry

In 1970 he joined Johnnie Walker & Sons at 63 St James’s Street, Mayfair. He stayed for 18 years but in his heart he stayed for life and never fully came to terms with leaving. They gave him Latin America to build up and with typical panache and commitment he did just that. Mostly of course he dealt with the social, commercial and political elites of their countries, families who typically acted as agents for luxury brands: Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, Dom Perignon, Cartier. Anthony was hobnobbing as an equal with the great and the good and not so good of South America. The exception was in Guatemala, where he had to deal with the toughest of duty-free concession holders – an order of nuns. Anthony was in due course appointed to the Johnnie Walker board and given wider responsibility - Black Label became by some distance the market leader in Latin America.

Anthony’s subsequent business exploits were unsuccessful: a joint venture in Latin America took care of his redundancy money when his partner vanished and a second promising venture also failed and lost him his pension pot. Then came a happier time in Anthony’s life when he was introduced to Pip Hancock, whose first thought was “What a gentleman”’. They kept in touch - after a while he invited her to a do in London – and the rest is history. Thereafter he spent all his weeks in London in his treasured mews house in Notting Hill. In London, Pip was his partner for events and parties and every weekend he was her plus one in Macclesfield as he gathered new friends and developed new interests through her large family and huge network of Cheshire connections. With much encouragement and sage business advice from his brother-in-law he set himself up as a consultant on

OW OBITUARIES

Pip and Anthony

brands in South America, a carefully defined niche which worked pretty well for some years and included a couple of global household names, Heinz and Royal Doulton but when the sponsoring executives moved up or out his contracts ended and there were no more clients. So ended Anthony’s executive career. From this point on the Cheshire part of his life became much more important, as his love for the countryside, community and companionship grew deeper. The evidence is there: Anthony’s will requests that his funeral service should be at St Columba’s, the Scottish church in London – but, following recent conversations with Pip, here we are today in Macclesfield. Back in London the beneficiaries of Anthony’s financial woes were that raft of institutions that I named earlier, what he called his alphabet soup, to each of which Anthony, in characteristic style, gave heart and soul. This was the period when he was most in his element never happier than sitting in a meeting or working a room with like-minded colleagues. The impact of his experience, professionalism and personality on them is evidenced by the tsunami of respect, gratitude and affection which has swamped Pip since his death. However, it will not have escaped your notice that all these roles were voluntary: none produced an income, so after his financial woes life was never easy. He sold his house in Notting Hill and lived for several years at mates’ rates in one friend’s flat in London and then with us near Newbury until in 2019 we decided to move and he needed to go also. There was a plan. He would move to Macclesfield, stay with Pip for a few weeks. perhaps a couple of months, find a home of his own near her and take the train to London for his commitments down there. The first issue to face was

the pandemic, which left him legally unable to leave Pip’s house. The second was his Parkinson’s disease which had been edging into his life for some years but now rapidly tightened its grip, so he became physically unable to move. Thus Pip, who had been for so long his friend, lover and partner now became his chief carer as well. If ever there were a surefire candidate for fast-track sainthood, it is she. Anthony died in Pip’s arms in the afternoon of the 21st of May. I am very confident that on the dot of 6:00 o’clock that evening he will have marched up to the pearly gates, immaculately suited, shoes shined and wearing his HAC tie, clutching a bulging address book in one hand and a case of Black Label in the other. He will have shaken a startled St Peter vigorously by the hand and greeted him in flawless Spanish before joining a group of convivial angels whom, always interested, always interesting, he could pepper with questions and opinions while they all enjoyed a dram or two together. And we’ll leave you there with them now, my friend, with the phrase with which you ended every letter and email you ever sent me: “con un fuerzo abrazo”: “with a great big hug”.

in memoriam With sadness we report the passing of the following Old Whitgiftians in the last school year: SEPTEMBER 2025 Peter G. Shepherd (OW 1952-1959) Died 3 September, Aged 85 NOVEMBER 2025 Leslie J. Packer (OW 1942-1948) Died 29 November, Aged 93 JANUARY 2026 John R. Bird (OW 1958-1963) Died 17 January, Aged 79 John Canova (OW 1956-1964) Died 26 January, Aged 79 FEBRUARY 2026 Barry Sutton-Jones (OW 1940-1947) Died 6 February, Aged 95 MARCH 2026 Barrie Roach (OW 1945-1951) Died 2 March, Aged 90 George H. Hollobone (OW 1946-1951) Died 2 March, Aged 90 APRIL 2026 Graham L. Bond (OW 1942-1948) Died 7 April, Aged 94 David J. Stewart (OW 1940-1949) Died 10 April, Aged 95 JULY 2026 Michael R. S. Turner (OW 1958-1965) Died 18 July, Aged 78 AUGUST 2026 John Taylor (OW 1962 - 1970) Died 23 August, Aged 74

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