Worth Society Events Class of 2010 10 Year Reunion

Class of 2010 10 Year Reunion

July 2010 was a moment of transition for Worth School (and perhaps relief for some of the staff!) as the first ever mixed cohort of students went their separate ways to embark on further studies and work opportunities ranging from close to home to the other side of the world. Fast forward 11 years, as we emerge from a turbulent 18 months that has left no part of the globe untouched. No better time then for 50 or so of this original mixed cohort to touch base on how the last decade (and a bit) since leaving school has shaped and changed them.

On 2nd October 2021 members of the Class of 2010 were joined by both current and past staff members in the historic and elegant setting of the Cavalry & Guards Club, with thanks to Captain Andrew Pring R’10 for kindly hosting us. School reunions seem to mainly conjure up two sentiments: intrigue – at what your peers might be up to now and whether they are still the same as they were at 18 years old; and dread – at the thought of awkward small talk with people you don’t really remember... The latter need not have applied to this reunion. As soon as coats had been hung up and champagne poured, the room was filled with chatter and laughter as attendees dispelled all the social awkwardness from pandemic precautions and revelled in reconnecting with long lost classmates.

Ascending the stairs to dinner, and stopping for the compulsory photo opportunity, it was heart-warming to observe former schoolmates massed together in their

Class of 2010 Girls with their former housemistress, Caroline Brown, and former St Mary’s Chaplain, Fr Stephen Ortiger

“If the last year or so has taught us anything, it is that our human connections are indispensable… it is reassuring to be reminded that our network, and our connections from it, aren’t going anywhere.”

black-tie finery, some sporting wedding rings, others with imminent new arrivals, a number who had travelled a fair distance to be there – in particular, an impressive representation from Germany! It didn’t seem to matter how many years had passed; people were simply happy to have been brought back together.

Following Grace from Fr Stephen Ortiger (whose legendary status as St Mary’s Chaplain and Winnie the Pooh reader precede him), the evening took a turn as the electricity of Piccadilly gave out and we were treated to an atmospheric dinner by candlelight. Dotted around the tables were members of staff who played a pivotal role in those early years of co-education at Worth, not least Caroline Brown and Andy Taylor, whose respective roles as housemistress of St Mary’s and housemaster of Gervase cannot go without recognition. After three courses of delicious food, the catching up continued with drinks and all too soon midnight came, and the cohort were forced once again to part ways, with promises of afterparties and catch-ups being planned on the steps of the Club.

If the last year or so has taught us anything, it is that our human connections are indispensable. Though we may easily get caught up in our busy lives, there really is no substitute for standing face to face with someone and telling them news, or sharing a memory, or simply connecting over one thing you had in common many years ago. We know now that much can change in a year, let alone a decade, but it is reassuring to be reminded that our network, and our connections from it, aren’t going anywhere.

With many thanks to Christian Killoughery R’10, Andrew Pring R’10 and Mary Lou Burge for their support in organising our event.

All the guests on the Club’s grand staircase

Maddy Ilsley StM’10

Class of 2010 10 Year Reunion Attendees:

Olivia Barclay-Hudson Aidan Baun Sophie Bowe John Buller Jessica Coffin Jack Corr Hugh Dixon Matt Donegan Joseph Gahan Soham Gehani Charlotte Hart Anna Hocker Laura Hurley Charlie Hutchinson Maddy Ilsley William Kan Christian Killoughery Chris Kirkman Otto Lindner Barbara Löfflman Harry Luff Wilf Lytton Felix Milstrey Charlotte Perry Natasha Plummer Andrew Pring Joseph Rivers Christoph Roggemann Clara Schmitz Matthew Stagnetto James Tighe Seb Triay Will Watkins Will White Basti Witte Harry Woodman Celia Young

Honorary Guests:

Alda Andreotti Caroline Brown Jonathan Cuff Stuart & Johneen McPherson Alan Mitchell Fr Stephen Ortiger Duncan & Ditas Pring Andy Taylor Julian Williams

Andrew, Ditas & Duncan Pring with Alda Andreotti

5-a-side Football Tournament 2021

The School hosted our first 5-a-Side Tournament on Saturday 26th June 2021. As lockdown started to ease in May this year I received an email from Worth Society Manager, Mary Lou Burge, telling me that an old boy was trying to get in touch to discuss football. Those of you who remember me will remember that I made a career out of teaching history and talking football - quite often in the same class! The old boy in question was Harry Woodman F’10 and his idea was to have a 5-a-side tournament on the School’s Astro pitches.

Sadly, the pandemic had prevented our annual Football Tournament from taking place for the last 2 years, usually held on the last Sunday of the spring term, with an U23 team playing the 1st XI for the Henry Surtees Cup and a staff and alumni match. I still play 5-a-side at Worth on Thursday evenings with some teachers and old boys, and some who are both! The teachers agreed to enter two teams and suggested the best date was as soon as the summer term ended. That way we reduced social distancing issues with students as they would have gone home. With Worth teacher Robin Moss acting as gaffer, helping muster staff and provide essentials like bibs and balls and acting as nominated first aider, my job was made easy. A big thank you to Robin. Whilst thanking people... I was especially pleased that my good friends, Alan Mitchell and Conrad Ware agreed to help me with the refereeing. Their impact on football at Worth over the years has been immense. Finally, Mary Lou, who did all the administration for the Tournament with a positivity that makes you feel like you may achieve sainthood for your actions! Invitations, collations, bookings, risk assessments, check in, team teas, team programmes (she even employed Mr Burge to be photographer!!) the only thing she didn’t do was play! Talking of playing. We had over 50 alumni and teachers playing on the day. The football was of a very high standard, especially as we reached the final knockout stages. The Kemp Team who lost on a penalty shoot-out, were unlucky not to make the Final, to play for the “H” trophy (donated by the late John Surtees) but it did seem apt that The Woodman Team did, after all it was Harry’s idea in the first place. Although they were defeated 2-1 by the Teachers’ Team, there were no losers on a day that ended with a socially distanced beer and a presentation of the trophy by Stuart McPherson, the Head Master.

Andy Taylor

TEAM 1

TEAM 2

TEAM 3

TEAM 5

TEAM 6 TEAM 1 Charles Holt StB’04

James Bannister C’04 Jon Newton F’04 JP Matthews B‘06 Fraser Moyle R’08

TEAM 2 Harry Woodman F’10

Joseph Gahan StB’10 Christian Killoughery R’10 Tim Long B’11 Harry Luff C’10 Joseph Rivers F’10

TEAM 3 Raphael Gruber R‘11

Anthony Bellm R’11 Ed Everington B’11 George Fleet ‘11 Mark Newton B’11 Nick Shelbourne R’11 Nick Wallendahl StB’11 Harry Whelpton R‘11

TEAM 4 James Kemp F‘14

Angus Bonner R‘14 Tommy Ferguson C‘15 Fergus Ryan B‘15 James Tomlin F‘15

The Winning Staff Team TEAM 5 Will Mersh C’18

Tom Bentley C’18 Fred Greenslade G’18 Ciaran Nye C’18 Matthew Redfern G’18 Ben Ritchie F’18 Tom Roberts F’18 Tim Riley G’18 Andrew Riley G’18

TEAM 6 Tom Orssten G‘19

Charlie Barakat F‘19 Mathew Brown F’19 Emil Farr G’19 Thomas Lovill G’19 Oli Paisley C’19 Josh Shaghaghi C’19 Monty Sparkes G’19 Nick Watson G’19

STAFF TEAM A

Daniel Weaver Lawrence Parker Matthew Doggett F’07 Alick Macleod Dominic Fiest

STAFF TEAM B

Daniel Harris Robin Moss Ceiran Sheehan Joe Fava Cameron Mackie Robert McCabe Liam Richman