News in Brief

Former Staff

Peter Freeland, Former Science Teacher 1970-1999 is still writing books with a biological connection. His latest volume, Alternative Nursery Rhymes, has illustrations by Steve Goodwin and all proceeds go to maintenance of The Ashdown Forest. If you would like a copy for £10 (+£2 postage) call The Ashdown Forest Centre on 01342 823583.

George Daly 1976-1993 & Liam Bauress 1977-1993

In addition to our musical life story of Siddhartha which can be found on www.zenow.net Liam and I have also composed an Eco Song Cycle. This consists of seven songs in different dance rhythms together with some narration about the Environment and limericks. It has been performed in English and in French by two Primary Schools. If anyone is interested, the piano score and lyrics are available.

Worth Prep School

Peter Agius WPS’66 is now part-time Administrator for The Lay Community of St Benedict (born of the Worth Abbey Lay Community).

Worth School

1960s

Vincent Ellis-Brown R’63 My grandson Lucas Ellis-Brown has just started his first term in Chapman. He’s number 3: myself, Benjamin and now Lucas. Let’s hope some more will come. There are three little ones in the wings.

Alexander Nauta G’64 I am living in the United States (Florida) and am still doing part time simulator instruction for a local airline. My wife Elena is doing well as are my two children. My daughter Silvia is living in Nashville, Tennessee and my son Alex is living in The Netherlands. I have at the moment 5 grandchildren and all are doing well. Lovely to be in touch with my old school!!

Michael May StB’67 Jane and I moved to our new house in Earnley south of Chichester in March of this year. While we still get to London fairly regularly life here on the coast proving to be a joy of swimming, socialising and then gardening a plenty. Still painting and working on a few projects but feel that after 30 years of trading Rostron and May am now in gentle decline.

1970s

Jonathan Wilkins C’70 Once upon a time, my father told me to uphold the flag and improve the breed. The Union Jack is still flying high here in Brazil. Family News: My daughter, Jaqueline who visited Worth with me in 2018, is adding a daughter to the family line due in early October. That brings my grandchildren count to seven. It would seem that I heeded latter piece of advice.

Jim Piddock B’74 Splitting my time these days between Los Angeles and London. In October 2021, I’m filming a supernatural thriller called The Queen Mary, in which I’ll be playing the good ship’s captain in the 1930s. In March 2022, my mostly light-hearted, often irreverent, and shamelessly gossipy memoir GETTING CAUGHT WITH MY PANTS DOWN and Other Tales From a Life in Hollywood will be published in the US and the UK (and, naturally, there’s a chapter on my time at Worth). And in April 2022, Frankel, a film that I wrote and am producing - starring Jeremy Irons and Minnie Driver - will begin filming (and I’ll try and find a role for myself to pop up in!)

Charlie Whelpton B’74 Having retired at 62 I have now started a new business building and operating Padel tennis centres across the UK. Padel is a racket sport, a cross between tennis and squash but much easier to play. It is the fastest growing sport in Europe and we are building centres in Southend, Swindon & Bristol with many more sites in development. Worthians should get in touch to learn how to play this fun and exciting game.

Suresh (Muda) Mudannayake C’75 After a degree in Maths from Christ Church, Oxford, and a career as a builder in ‘80s Brixton, I returned to Sri Lanka and took to writing, under the pen name of Ashok Ferrey. Am the author of 5 books, all nominated for Sri Lanka’s Gratiaen Prize or its State Literary Award and am Sri Lanka’s bestselling author in the English language. My latest The Unmarriageable Man was released in March 2021 (see page 44 for review) and can be ordered from Foyles or Waterstones. My son Rehan B’08 also attended Worth. I live in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and would be delighted to see anyone from Worth passing through!

Michael Bernard C’77 Still living in Wiltshire and have retired from my first career in IBM. All three sons have now fled the nest, and one is married. I am enjoying my work as a Governor at Downside, as well as work with two charities, an NHS Foundation Trust and Exeter Business School. I recently also joined the board of a social enterprise that provides a mental health app for schools and universities. My book Creating Strategy : A Practical Guide will be published in October. Lastly, got a mention for Worth on Saturday Live on the 11th Sept 2021 when I recounted how Annie Nightingale had been the judge of the school music competition and had played the Chapman House version of Crocodile Rock on Radio 1, albeit briefly.

Anthony Ringrose-Voase C’77 has been living in Canberra, Australia for the last 36 years working as a research scientist with CSIRO (the Australian Government scientific research agency) studying soil and agriculture. Much of his work has been research to assist agricultural development in neighbouring countries: Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and, most recently, Myanmar. Sadly, his work in Myanmar, already interrupted by Covid travel restrictions, has now been terminated by the military coup in February 2021. After a rewarding career – coups (Myanmar), insurgencies (Philippines) and earthquakes (Philippines) notwithstanding – he’s currently intending to retire in 2023. He is married to Ethel and has four adult children and four grandchildren.

Ewan Ward-Thomas B’77 Appointed to Hall School, Wimbledon as History and Religious Studies teacher from 1st June. Got engaged to Cordelia Brunt in the Lake District in September, to be married in 2022.

Edward Mannix StB’79 Still in Zermatt teaching skiing and renting out chalets. We were lucky to be the only Alpine country with skiing last winter so we weathered the season well. The big question is over next winter. Currently recovering from shoulder replacement surgery. We were joined last December by (Crazy) Daisy, another English Springer spaniel. Still very much a puppy and a complete monster but we love her to bits!

1980s

Philip Lundberg C’80 Lucy and I moved to a Georgian farmhouse on the North Hampshire Downs during lockdown 2020. I suffered a stroke in Dec 2020 so have reduced my working hours for the time being. We have two dogs, Schnapps, a Jack Russell, and Jäger, a black Labrador. The house has an orchard so we have started cider making this year which is a great adventure. Lucy has started a dog hotel and day care which is a hit with the local owners who are all going back to work. All five children are at various stages of leaving, boomeranging so the house never seems to be empty.

Stephen Rhind-Tutt StB’80 A reminder of the new date for the postponed Class of 1980 40 Year Reunion (including 1979 leavers) – Friday 8th July 2022 at The Century Club, 61-63 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6LQ. centuryclub.co.uk

Giles Hamilton B’82 I’ve retired after an extremely unremarkable career in the City having worked for at least eleven (!!! I’m easily bored!) brokers and banks since 1982. I’ve also left London after the same amount of time and like a homing pigeon returned to the old country (I was born in Crawley) and have moved to Sedgwick, just outside Horsham. My daughter Lexi, 16, is at St Mary’s Ascot and my son Hugo, 20, is at Exeter. I continue to write about the golden age of rock music for various publications (some things never change).

Ben Drummond R’83 Some of my old muckers might like to know that my eldest daughter, Eliza Jeanne, got married on 16th July (having been postponed twice) to Tom Bates.

Paddy Morrissey R’84 Jo-Jo and I are still living very happily in Mid Suffolk near Hadleigh (and John Bennett!). This is my 28th year with Sheffield Haworth having helped set the firm up all those years ago. SH is a leading International Executive Search firm and we are always happy to hear from Worthians who are seeking career advice. We have two boys Will and Freddie; Will is living in London and seeking a new job. Freddie started at York University this September reading International Relations. Hoping the year group of 1984 are well and looking forward to seeing you at the next Worth ‘do’!

Mark Collini StB’89 Still thriving in Barnes. The girls (5 and nearly 7) are loving school and growing fast!

News in Brief continued

1990s

Tim Starkie G’90 Was fortunate enough to win a place to run in The Virgin London Marathon on 3rd October 2021 courtesy of New Balance & Sports Direct on behalf of Pancreatic Cancer Action (see page 32 for full story). My Godmother & Father-In-Law both sadly recently passed away from the disease. My lifelong love for sports & running was inspired by Worth, starting in Junior House with the help of staff who gave their time & support across a wide variety of sporting activities; Mr Robertson, Mr Potter, Mr Denman, Mr Daly, Dr Miller, Mr Margret, Mr Fagan, Mr Dowling, Mr McRobert, Fr Luke & Fr Rod - but my love for distance running, especially the Marathon, has to be credited to Mr Norman Philby who realising that I was very poor at French would take me running with him and practise French along the way! My running has certainly been more consistent and enjoyable than my French has ever been. This will be my 10th London Marathon & 12th in total.

Angus Gairdner StB’96 In July, after 20+ years living in London, we finally took the plunge and moved out-oftown to Crondall in Hampshire having bought something of a project that will keep us very busy over the next few years! Myla and Jago joined the village school in September in Year 2 and Reception respectively and seem to have settled in well, and we are all enjoying our new village life. The Gairdner family gathered en masse at the beginning of September to belatedly celebrate Julian’s StB’89 50th birthday, with some 31 immediate family in attendance (see Caught on Camera). Still working at Sky and getting used to the new commute in the car – thankfully though I am only doing 2 days a week in the office!

Alex Kenney B’97 Continue to live and now work from home down the road from Worth in Haywards Heath. It has been good to be able to meet up with some old school friends in person over the last year.

James Murphy C’98 is a Director at Urban Hawk Ltd. The company's current projects include the 5-G Victori programme in Europe. One-Post are an ongoing client. Have also worked with the European Space Agency and Innovate UK. With life now (almost) back to normal, am making the most of non-zoom, actual in person meetings. Starting with Monaco maritime and DSEI conferences this month, with more events to follow. For more details see: www.urbanhawk.space

2000s

Jack Harrison G’00 Had a great summer back in Europe mixing business with pleasure – just relaunched our business (www.arconbrands.com) helping Western brands grow in Asia. Let us know if you have or know any exciting brands that want to expand in China. Looking forward to seeing some WOBS over lunch with no doubt a few drinks before I head back East…

Giles Turton F'02 Still living in Cambridge, but plenty else has changed this past year. After 10 years in surveying, I’ve been undertaking an MBA at Cranfield University over the last 12 months (including half the year online from home!) and will be entering a new business and role in Kent later in the autumn. We also welcomed our daughter, Florence, on 1st September – a sister for our 2 year old son, Hugo - and I’m enjoying some great family time with her now that the studying is over.

Hugo Boys StB’03 We recently welcomed our second son Rollo into the world who joins his little brother Rafe. Both mother and baby doing really well. I continue to run my design and manufacturing business, BOSCO London, but still find time to fish on the chalk streams that surround us here in Wiltshire. I hope it will be something the boys love too and enjoy being taught by their grandfather, Andrew Boys R’65.

Charlie Sunnucks R’04 has published a new book this year, The Company Valuation Playbook, which explains in easy-to-understand steps how to value a company and its shares. Written as a practical guide largely for those seeking a career in finance, it introduces how to interpret financial statements, project a firm’s longterm outlook, calculate for risk, and produce a valuation output. It is applicable to all companies, no matter their size or industry, and also includes chapters on mergers, acquisitions and leveraged buyouts. The book shares the industry-standard tools used by professionals globally, with plenty of examples to make it an engaging read. At its premise is a simple principle - if you overpay for a stock you are likely to get stung, and if you underpay then odds are you will profit. Therefore, to stack the deck in your favour when investing, the ability to objectively assess and value a company is vital.

Edward Hall-Smith R’07 Now living in Geneva, working for the Sotheby’s Jewellery division. Swiss residents do get in touch!

Ben Oakley F’08 is now engaged to Sabina Dewfield, his partner of ten years. Popped the question atop Hampstead Heath at sunrise on Christmas Eve 2020 and the wedding will take place in the chapel of King’s College Cambridge in September 2022.

2010s

Marc von Croy StB’10 I got married on 22nd May 2021 in Brissac, France, to my now wife, Délia de Brissac. We just moved to Düsseldorf together where I'm working in PE.

Lucy Whitehouse StM’10 Launched an exciting new award-winning youth charity, Fumble, which is going from strength to strength. The work is created by young people, for young people, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to successfully manage their sexual and mental health and relationships today. We do this through trusted, co-created digital content, and programmes in schools and universities. Since gaining charitable status in February 2020, we've reached over 350,000 young people online and directly supported 50 young people in person, and our support content series helped young people get through the pandemic. We’re backed by some amazing funders so far: the National Lottery, The Chapman Charitable Trust, The UK Youth Fund, and the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust. Now we want to keep going and growing and are running an urgent appeal to keep our amazing work going in 2022. Any contribution would be very gratefully received. You can donate via our JustGiving charity page: justgiving.com/fumble Here's to happy, healthy young people! Find us at fumble.org.uk

Kitty Gibson StA’12 After furlough and then redundancy from my old job in 2020, I was able to secure a position as Event Manager at McCullough Moore Event Management Limited, an event agency in West Sussex. I had previously worked for them in 2015-2017 and so have loved being back with the team! I work remotely in London, with 2 days in the office and have broadened my skill set to include virtual and hybrid events. 2021 and the future is looking positive with many events coming up! I hope all Worthians are safe and well. Will Siebert F’17 Whilst at Worth, in no small part thanks to the brilliant teaching of Mr Lavis, I developed a fascination with international affairs, and as naff as it sounds the School's ethos helped me develop what I hope is a strong moral compass. Since leaving Exeter University, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in a field that allows me to blend my love of politics and international relations with a desire to do good. I now work for a small strategic communications company and with an Afghan colleague have set up a new charity, Good Morning Afghanistan, to provide immediate and urgently needed advice and support to a known number of journalists and other media staff left behind in Afghanistan, whose lives are at immediate risk from the Taliban. These journalists have played a significant part in keeping the freedoms and opportunities of the Afghan people alive over the last twenty years. GMA was the voice of freedom, pioneering content and programming on Radio Afghanistan, empowering women and young people. This is the spirit the charity is trying to keep alive.

Jacopo Tancredi Bianchi R’19 I’ve been offered a place on the King's Investment Fund (run by students and staff at King's College London), as Co-Head of Operations. The point of the fund is to introduce students to financial trading and investing with a more hands-on approach, and the profits made are re-invested in the fund and used to offer a scholarship to some Economics and Finance students. It was a great honour for me to be asked to join the fund as I am currently studying at Queen Mary University of London instead of KCL, and I intend to give it all the effort and time I can afford to see it grow and help students get the experience they need to flourish in the world of high Finance. I would advise current Worth pupils looking to study Finance later on to look out for opportunities like these, a low-risk but high-reward investment (which they will learn are very rare indeed).