News in Brief

Former Staff

Paul and Carol Miller (1980-2003) send their regards to all former pupils. Paul is currently teaching English to Ukrainian refugees in and around Evesham. Carol is involved in the Community Care programme and is a member of the Parochial Church Council in their home village of Bredon. She is also an authorised lay minister for pastoral work in the Church of England. They recently enjoyed a pub dinner with Andy Bernard C’91 and his wife, Catherine.

Dr Duncan Pring 1999-2021 A huge gathering of Worthians attended Daniel’s R’03 wedding in the South of France in June; and Cameron’s R’16 graduation with Emmi Baines StC’16 who followed an almost identical path to him, with Music degree at Bristol followed by a Masters in Management!

Worth School

1960s

Tim Clarke G’66 Am currently a parishioner of Downside's lay parish in Stratton on the Fosse. Living close to Bath at present and retired; so I have time to dedicate efforts to supporting the St Benedict's Parish Pastoral Council and local community in the absence of our monastic community who are all now relocated to Buckfast Abbey, since March 2022. There is a roster of monks who can drive, who come up for a couple of days at weekends to say mass and administer sacraments. We have access to the School Chaplain, Fr Michael Patey, not a Benedictine, who lives in a flat over St Benedict's Church and is available for annointing the sick and helps with some of the masses. We don't have a locally-based parish priest as such. Dom Nicholas Wetz, the Abbot of the monastic community of St Scolastica from Downside, is acting Parish Priest; but from Buckfast, which is restrictive. We are praying that a parish priest can be found soon since winter is drawing in and makes travelling from Devon to Somerset more difficult for older monks. The Diocese of Clifton are unable to help, perhaps another Benedictine community could find a volunteer? I trust my former Housemaster Dom Kevin Taggart is in good health as well as other remaining members of the Worth monastic community from my days at school. Worth remains in my daily prayers and includes many fellow pupils as well as teachers who are no longer with us. Would love to hear from Old Boys who were in the Prep School between 1959 and 1961, or Upper School from 1961 to 1963 who may recall me. I was the brother of Founder Pupil Michael Clarke G’63 RIP who was Clarke 1, I was Clarke 2. My younger brother Christopher G’68 was Clarke 3. Chris now lives in Canberra and is a retired Australian Civil Servant having got a degree in Anthropology after studying Archaeology and becoming a specialist in Rock Art. He obtained a Churchill Fellowship to work in Oman, where he had discovered some ancient cave paintings above dry waddis out in the Southern Arabian desert in Oman whilst doing voluntary work overseas. He then took on a role with the Western Australian Museum involved with Aboriginal rock art and culture and progressed to the Department of Aboriginal Studies and a job in Canberra, most recently with the Department for Veteran's Affairs. Chris founded a singing performance folk group called The Shiny Bums, a term for Civil Servants, due to their suit pants getting polished by sitting at their desks. Chris has written over a hundred songs, mostly candid or satirical reflecting on the politics of the day. The Shiny Bums continue to perform to appreciative audiences in Australia and have done a tour of the UK, mainly with audiences of public servants here, including the Met Office and other government departments, such as DCMS, which I worked for myself as a purchasing officer with the Royal Parks Agency. You can find a lot of their material on YouTube. They take well known tunes and write new lyrics for them. Some of it is Monty Pythonesque. Chris is also a key member of the Nariel Creek Music Festival each Christmas and New Year on the border of NSW with Victoria State. He also plays the harp and has performed at the Sydney Folk Festival and other events.

1970s

John Smythe R’70 Greetings all! Following my book on female entrepreneurs I’ve been commissioned to write a sequel on male and female entrepreneurs in the West Country across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. If you are a West Country entrepreneur or know of one do let me know at johnsmythe@engageforchange.com or 07710 130755

Dominic Quennell C’74, Michael Spencer G’73, and Chris Quennell C’73 met for lunch in London in September (see Caught on Camera). Great opportunity to catch up – last time Chris and Michael saw each other was (just) pre-COVID in Singapore. We enjoyed a delicious meal at a restaurant in central London and chatted about sport, politics and old times as well as happy memories of Worth, of course. Dominic also enjoyed catching up with Michael at a lunch he generously hosted in June 2022 which was attended by several Old Worthians.

Michael Bernard C’77 In the last year, I have published a book, Creating Strategy: a Practical Guide (see Book Review on pg 55), and been elected Chair of Governors of Downside. I continue to serve as a Non-Executive Director for Southern Health Foundation Trust, a Trustee for the Royal Humane Society, and a Board Advisor for Exeter University Business School and for the newly renamed Tellmi (a start-up who have created a mental health app for young people). I still enjoy playing in a wedding and party band, as well as much golf as I can fit in (not much). Living very happily in Wiltshire with my wife Catherine, with our three sons all happily living in London and Bristol.

Justin Brown C'78 Broadly experienced business executive with Asian Emerging Markets focus. Import, marketing & distribution channels with network to establish and represent. Most recently (~2020) engaged in animal health & nutrition in Myanmar supporting local feed mills.

Christian Whiteside B’78 Recently graduated from the Open University, Year of 2022. The learning experience was a joy to undertake, culminating in my Graduation ceremony on Friday 23rd September at the Barbican Centre, London (see Caught on Camera). It’s never too late to learn. May my achievement be an inspiration to others! Sandy Mallet R’79 Now working as an artist, making abstract aerial views of land, gardens and estates on commission. So much happier than when I had to sell other people’s art for a living. Still a countryman in Ladbroke Grove.

1980s

John Bennett R’81 Still farming up in Suffolk with a little bit of insurance consultancy work thrown in and I am still a JP, sitting a couple of days a month. The drought this year has been quite a challenge to say the least. Debs is keeping well and two of our three daughters are now forging busy careers in London, with the third in her final year of study at Exeter. Dominic Strickland C’81 and I are organising a tardy 40 Year Reunion at The Lansdowne Club, Mayfair on 14th April 2023 so please note the date in your diary. More details to follow but if you’d like to register your interest please contact me at ramseyfarm63@gmail.com or Dominic at dominic@ strickland.co.uk

Rob Burroughs R’82, James Cox G’82 (Sydney) and Mike Hughes G’82 (Switzerland) met up for the Sydney 40th Anniversary Reunion (see Caught on Camera). Joe Hurley C’82 another Sydney resident and 1982 leaver attended the 40th reunion proper in the UK. The last time we were together was 40 years earlier... in the Worth Smoking Room. We also had a Bar in the sixth form back then – very gentlemanly tributes. The only downside we were not allowed to mix the two (beer and smokes). I distinctly remember nicotine dribbling down the lead light windows in the smoking room and Mike Margrett saying smoking would give you lung cancer - most of my year finished Worth as smokers, with plenty of O and A levels and a healthy like of dances with Roedean, Woldingham, etc.

Jonathon Taylor B '83 Been married to Yvonne for 24 years and we live in Denmark, after meeting and living in Mallorca for 10 years. Our two children Jasmin and Oliver have left home and are both studying in Copenhagen, so we still see them. I am a senior copywriter at an international ad agency. I saw Dominic Latham Koenig B’83 a few years back and we had a great lunch together

News in Brief continued

1990s

Justin Kelly StB’92 Recently set up a social enterprise called ‘How To Basically’ which provides a place where people come to be taught how to do useful things (see Caught on Camera). Whether it's how to use a power drill, jump start a car, fix a leaking tap or sow a seed, each of our 3 hour courses provides clear and hands-on guidance to demystify the subject and enable people to save money, the environment and feel better about themselves. Any profits are reinvested to subsidise the courses for those with financial, mental and/or physical challenges. Our first workshop is 25 minutes from Worth and we're open to all ages. www.howtobasically.co.uk

James Murphy C’98 Helped to develop a tech company Urban Hawk Ltd. www.urbanhawk.space. Teamed with Robert Sugar (CEO) and John Tapsfield (CTO); we focused recent efforts on a new mapping platform. POLARON WORLD ENGINE has its pilot test-fire launch in October. That follows from our work with the 5-G Victori programme in Europe and other contracts including ESA (European Space Agency) and Innovate UK. No doubt, via Linkedin/Facebook/other networks, you might bump into us? Also, numerous events and conferences in London and elsewhere. We hope to keep you posted of progress and meantime, feel free to drop in for tea, anytime! I have fond memories of Worth and remain in touch with teachers including Brian Klopper and Guy Walker. Congratulations to Abbot Mark (not to be confused with Mark Abbot/ WOB!), on the recent appointment, too. God Save the King!

Andrew Micallef-Eynaud B’96 In September 2021 the Class of 1996 had a Silver Anniversary Reunion in London organised by our very own Barney De Burca R’96 (see Caught on Camera).

Alistair Myles G’99 Married with two daughters aged 10 and 7, living in south London. Launched my own family law firm, Ribet Myles LLP, with a business partner in April 2021. Setting up in lockdown gave us some challenges, but it has proved to have been a very good decision

2000s

Christopher Lamb R’01 Working as the Vatican correspondent for The Tablet and in 2020 published a book The Outsider: Pope Francis and His Battle to Reform the Church. (Something must have gone in during those RE and Theology classes at school). I am also working on a podcast and giving talks on Francis’ reforms of the Church. Living in London with Isabel and our three children: Joseph 13, Martha 10, and Tom 2.

Robert Tyler G’02 Still based in Bangkok, but came back to UK to visit Mum in June. Enjoyed attending the annual Worth, Ampleforth and Downside Bangkok dinner.

Mark Corbyn R'04 About a year ago, Mark and his wife Zyrah welcomed little Zoë Lúthien into the world, their first child (if we're not counting Otter the mini dachshund), and have been enjoying every sleepdeprived moment with her. She was baptised in early 2022 at St Etheldreda's in the City of London, with Charlie Sunnucks R'04 becoming her godfather or ‘ninong’.

Oli Mulcahy C’05 Thrilled to have been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2021 for my work as a Combat System Engineer in the Combat System Design Authority base in Portsmouth (up on the hill where the Ship mock-up is - aka the Land Based Test Site). It was awarded for being "instrumental in the delivery of a mission critical system that ultimately ensured better protection of sailors in front line operations" and "exceptional leadership, professionalism and foresight in the delivery of strategic effect in a unique global environment". Due to COVID delays I was invited to Windsor Castle in April 2022 to be given the medal by Princess Anne. A truly amazing day and an incredible honour to be recognised in this way.

Max Sohler StB’08 My wife Marina and I got married in church in September 2022 in Split, Croatia. Our civil marriage was two years ago and due to COVID we waited for the right moment to celebrate our love with our families and friends. Our daughter Lea Caroline was baptized on the same date. Furthermore, we’re happy to share the news that we are expecting our second child in April 2023, which makes us so proud and happy. We moved to Warsaw, Poland in August 2022, where I will be taking over the operations of a German Food Retailer.

2010s

Andrew Pring R’10 Finished 4.5 happy years living in Fife and have moved to my next Army posting at a busy headquarters in Gloucestershire. Also on the verge of buying a flat near South Croydon and will hope to take in a lodger in early-mid 2023. Would love to hear from any Worthians in the Gloucestershire/Cotswolds area or anyone interested in flat sharing!

Kitty Gibson StA’12 Living and working in London for Ashfield Event Experiences, part of The Creative Engagement Group. I am part of the Environments/ Exhibits team as a Project Manager, working in a small team to assist in managing the build and design process of exhibit booths in Europe and the US for multiple pharmaceutical clients. Lots of travel planned for 2023. Hope all at Worth are safe and well.

Sam Steers C’14 On 22nd September 2022 I completed an English Channel solo swim – you can read the full report on page 50. At its shortest the distance between England and France is 21 miles, however due to tides I swam a distance over that. The duration of the swim was 14 hours 35 minutes and 10 seconds. This was about 2.5 hours longer than I had mentally prepared for. My swim ended at 21:30pm , I barely had time to take in the fact that I had landed on a beach in France before I was whisked back on to the boat and forced into warm clothing. Overall the day was the hardest physical endurance challenge I have ever done and hope I ever will do. I would like to thank everyone who donated to my Justgiving page in aid of Bart's Charity and to especially thank my mother, father, brother (who also did a relay Channel swim whilst at Worth) and my fiancée.

James Thompson C’15 On 29th April 2022, I set out from the US-Mexican border in an attempt to thru-hike 2,650 continuous miles to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail (see Caught on Camera). On my back I only carried the essentials in order to be ultra light-weight (less than 8kg of gear by the end). Throughout the 4 and a half months I hiked through deserts, mountain ranges, forests, vast meadows, burn zones, forded through river crossings, dodged wild fires, cowboy camped under the stars and sheltered from lightning storms. The trail takes you through small settlements every few hundred miles, meaning it can be up to 9 days before the next resupply. This also results in being able to experience some of the more remote wilderness areas the US has to offer. I was lucky enough to encounter a variety of wildfire including black bears, mountain lions and bald eagles. Every section of the trail was beautiful (and challenging) in its own way, with the highlight always being the local Trail Angels giving support, and more importantly, cold beer to hikers. I became part of a great thru-hiking community, consisting of people from all walks of life, each of whom looks after one another to a fault. I can confidently say I made friends for life. Walking 25 miles every day takes its toll on the body, but it is well worth the feeling of elation once you see the monument at the Canadian border which you have been dreaming about since mile 1.

2020s

Fred Newington-Bridges C'21 ran the Battersea Park 10K in August 2022 on behalf of Housing Justice having seen the tremendous impact this charity has on alleviating homelessness and changing people's lives, particularly for refugees.