Worth Society Blue Paper 2016

The 2016 Magazine

blue paper Our Olympic Silver Champion

Worth Society Life

The Old Place

Experiencing Life from another Perspective

A Special Moment with Pope Francis A new era of Development at Worth

Life and Times of Worthians

Worth to Walt Disney with Chris Coxall

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE & OUTSTANDING PASTORAL CARE

OPEN DAY S

2017 4TH FEB 18TH MAR 29TH APR

CATHOLIC BENEDICTINE 11– 18 CO-EDUCATIONAL BOARDING & DAY SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF SUSSEX

admissions@worth.org.uk

www.worthschool.org.uk

The

blue paper

Contents Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

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Chairman’s 2016 Report Jeremy Fletcher (G’72)

34

Our Olympic Silver Champion

38

Meet Anthony Ward Thomas (B’76)

05

A Message from Mary Lou Burge Worth Society Committee

41

Worth to Walt Disney Chris Coxall (R’02)

06

Worth Society Events 2015 Hong Kong Dinner – Robert Carroll (R’71)

44

My Year in China Louise Moon (StM’12)

2016 Careers Networking Evening – Sasha Richards (StM’11)

48

Ice, Snow and Awesome Artists Matt Chan (R’98)

2016 St Benedict’s Day Mass – Ben Oakley (F’08)

52

The ‘Boris Bike’ Challenge

St Mary’s Farewell to Fr Stephen

54

Belpassi Bros Restaurant Review Tess Ryan (StM’11) & Nick Elvidge (C’11)

55

Book Reviews: Introduction to Personal Branding by Mel Carson (B’90) Reviewed by Nicholas Lobb (C’90)

56

Living with the mind of Christ by Stefan Reynolds (G’89) Reviewed by Dom Martin McGee

2016 City Lunch – Michael Ryan (F’14)

Class of 1965 50 Year Reunion – Michael Bray (R’65) Class of 1966 50 Year Reunion – Terence Calnan (R’66) Class of 1986 30 Year Reunion – Damian Chunilal (R’86) Class of 1995 20 Year Reunion – Toby Rumford (R’95) A Farwell Farewell to Dr Duncan Pring Class of 1996 20 Year Reunion – Bobby Acworth (StB’81)

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18

Worth Careers Fair 2016 Duncan Pring, Head of Careers

The Secret Broker by Simon Crane (StB’70) Reviewed by Bobby Acworth (StB’81)

58

Worthians Caught on Camera

18

Work Experience Giles Holland (B’15) – Pretzel Films

62

Announcements

64

News in Brief

68

Isabella Lee (Year 13) – McCann

Obituaries Anthony Aris (R’64)

20

Global Action Awards 2016 Overview: Mary Lou Burge

Michael Boyd (R’66)

22

GAA: Experiencing Life from another Perspective Stephen Free (C’15)

Dominic Rolls (StB’81)

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GAA: The Slums of El Dorado Antonia Foldes (StM’11)

Valentina Maccario (StA’13) – Ogletree Deakins

28

Frank Ormsby-Gore (G’72) Fabian Aiken (StB’84) David Francombe (B’85)

Worthians Sport Rugby – Desmond Calnan (R’69)

The Old Place

Cricket – Michael Bilbé (StB’06)

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A Message from the Head Master Stuart McPherson

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A new era of Development at Worth Edward Schneider, Development Director

77

Worth School Choir makes History Br David Jarmy

79

A Special Moment with Pope Francis Abbot Luke Jolly (C’71)

80

A Look Back in Time The Worth Community 25 Years ago

81

Worthians – The Second Generation

82

University Destinations 2016

Golf – Ken Ross (G’65) Squash – Jeremy Dowling Football – Andy Taylor

Worth Society Directors Nicholas Barnett, Fr Mark Barrett, Mark Collini, Jeremy Fletcher, Michael Gabriel Worth Society is a not-for-profit limited company (number 06506005)

The Worthians Charitable Trust Patron Fr Luke Jolly, The Abbot of Worth Trustees Nicholas Barnett, Fr Mark Barrett, Robert Bodnar-Horvath, Jeremy Fletcher, The Hon Crispin Hayhoe The Worthians Charitable Trust (registered charity number 1084948)

Advertisers We would like to extend our grateful thanks to this year’s advertisers: Farleigh School Matterhorn Chalets Worth Abbey Projects Worth School Magazine designed and produced by: Green Lizard: 01892 619888

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Chairman’s 2016 Report

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nother year, another Blue Paper. And this year it’s a bumper edition, the largest ever. Without in any way wanting to measure the value of this or any other book by its weight, the size of this year’s edition is particularly heartening. There is no shortage of either school, monastery or alumni news and there is an extraordinary diversity to what Worthians get up to, from winning an Olympic silver medal to Benedictine Abbot, to building an industry leading removal business and pretty much anything and everything in between. Secondly, there is a willingness to share those experiences and stay in touch, which is hugely valued both by fellow alumni and those back at base in West Sussex.

Of course The Blue Paper is also a sort of end of term report and I can confirm, once again, that the Society is both alive and kicking and steadily moving forward in new directions. After 3 years in the job, Mary Lou, the Society Manager is now completely in the groove.

As Chairman, I therefore have the luxury of just watching as ‘things’ (decade reunions, our careers evening, St Benedict’s Day Mass, the City Lunch and the compilation and publication of this journal amongst others) just seem to happen, apparently effortlessly.

Of course nothing could be further from the truth and, as ever, immense thanks are due to Mary Lou for the huge amount of time, effort, patience, attention to detail and experience that she brings to bear on all Society matters. This year, she has been working in close proximity to, and coordination with, Marianne Eyre, a new arrival as Development Manager, to whom I must also extend our thanks. This has been an immensely productive cooperation; not only in terms of sharing some of Mary Lou’s workload but also because a range of new ideas for events and the development of the Society now emanate even more frequently from the bowels of the main building.

In my 2015 report, I touched on the Society’s need to hold more events and my hope that we could broaden the appeal of the Society by encouraging and facilitating gatherings in the field of the Arts. I am delighted to be able to report that your Committee has made progress on both fronts. We have plans to hold a very large dinner in London next year to cover all alumni from the 1960’S and 1970’s. We hope to be able to get roughly a table full of Worthians from each year group in the period. These events inevitably tax the Society’s administrative capacity to its limits but we fully intend to follow up with similar events for later decades. It is however important that we start at the beginning as it were. None of that generation, myself included, are getting any younger and such an event would want to include the monks who played such a large role in the early life of the School. In that connection, we should just remember that Dom Charles celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year. Similarly, whilst I can reliably report that Dom Kevin (who readily negotiated goat paths, olive groves, and tenders to and from a superyacht, when officiating at my eldest daughter’s wedding in Greece this summer) is still a very spritely 86, and seems to look younger every year, time is marching on.

Entirely separately, we are now starting to avail ourselves of the rich Worthian heritage of music and matters choral which of course

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Jeremy Fletcher and Mary Lou Burge

started with the compositions of Dom Thomas Symons and continued with Dom Philip but which more recently reflects the quite remarkable contribution of Michael Oakley in his 24 years as Director of Music. Nowhere is benefit of this reservoir of both musical and choral talent and goodwill more dramatically evidenced than in Worth School choir becoming the first school choir ever to sing at a Papal Mass. This was only possible with the help of Worthian, Mark Spyropoulos (St’B’99), now a professional chorister at the Capella Sistina, working closely with Michael. For the Society, out of the seeds of an ad hoc alumni choir put together by Ben Oakley (F’08) for the St Benedict’s Day London Mass, has come the Society’s inaugural Christmas Carol Service at St Patrick’s Church in Soho, the choir for which will be a combination of alumni and the current school choristers. The evening is a sell out (there is, in good Worth tradition, a drinks reception afterwards) and we hope that it will become a regular annual event. There are a number of other potential Society driven music and choral initiatives to be explored.

Last year, I also flagged the need for a Development Office. This has now been set up following the recruitment over the summer of Edward Schneider as Director of Development, who brings a wealth of experience to the role. At the end of the day, Worth, like every other institution of its size, has buildings to build (both monastic and school) and funding to raise to secure and shape its future. More immediately, the various constituencies of Worth need to reconnect and support each other more effectively. With Ed’s input and guidance, the Society can play a pivotal role here and I am happy to say that the Society is already working closely with him to explore ways in which we can better help each other. I am confident that the fruits of this co-operation will be a stronger, more active and dynamic Society with enhanced connectivity to both Worth and its alumni. Part of this means tapping more effectively into the immense wealth of experience, know-how and talent of Worthians from all walks of life to help each other and their Alma Mater. There are so many different ways, of which the Papal Mass referred to above is just one example, in which alumni individually and the Society collectively can contribute to the future development of Worth. All ideas are more than welcome.

Jeremy Fletcher (G’72)

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Go to www.worthsociety.org.uk for latest news, event information and to update your contact details

Message from Mary Lou Burge

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so enjoy putting this magazine together and getting to hear what Worthians have been up to over the last year. I can’t get over what a multi-talented group of individuals you all are. Our network certainly demonstrates the School’s ethos of educating pupils into well-rounded individuals. Whether it’s captaining the country’s Rugby Sevens Team to a Silver Olympic Medal; opening restaurants to rave reviews; directing choirs; writing thriller novels; volunteering to help the disadvantaged; taking part in crazy challenges; or running multi-million pound businesses, Worthians are out there doing wonderful things in the world and it’s fantastic that we can all read about just some of their exploits in the following pages.

The other notable quality in Worthians is their willingness, even eagerness, to help others. Whether through organising work experience, general advice by email or in person, coming back to Worth to speak to pupils, or when I’m pestering them for articles and news for The Blue Paper. There are so many thank yous to be made this year – way too many to mention individually – so to those who have contributed anything at all this year to the Society, we are hugely grateful to you.

A group of our network that we are keen to reconnect with are our Prep School Worthians, many of whom we have lost contact with

over the years. In addition to the Worthians Facebook page, there is now a Worth Prep School Facebook Group with some fabulous archive photos. Do please spread the word and get in touch if you think we may not have your latest contact details.

Looking ahead, we are planning some fantastic new events for you, starting with our very first Worthian London Carol Service in early December. With such hugely talented singers and musicians in our network we are keen to get them more involved with other Worthian musical events, such as the annual St Benedict’s Day Mass in March.

Please remember that I am here to help in any way I can; whether that’s putting you in contact with an old friend, helping to promote a specific event, challenge or reunion, or making an introduction to someone who can give you careers advice.

It’s always a pleasure to see Worthians back at Worth, so do let me know if you are planning a visit, and do bear us in mind as a venue when planning your decade reunion. In the meantime, I very much look forward to meeting many more of you in 2017.

Mary Lou Burge, Worth Society Manager

Worth Society Committee Nick Barnett (G’73) – Director, Trustee Office: 020 7404 4022 Email: nick.barnett@hotmail.co.uk

Michael Gabriel (C’85) – Director Office: 01892 619888 Email: michael@greenlizardhomes.co.uk

Tess Ryan (StM’11) Mobile: 07840 098323 Email: tessryan10@hotmail.co.uk

Fr Mark Barrett – Director, Trustee Office: 01342 710340 Email: jmbarrett@worth.org.uk

The Hon Crispin Hayhoe (StB’82) – Trustee Mobile: 07718 339802 Email: crispinhayhoe@hotmail.com

Fr Kevin Taggart Office: 01342 710338 Email: ktaggart@worth.org.uk

Michael Bilbé (StB’06) – Worthians Cricket Club Mobile: 07545 002803 Email: michaelbilbe@hotmail.com

Maddy Ilsley (StM’10) Mobile: 07952 481636 Email: maddyilsley@hotmail.co.uk

Andrew Taylor – Football Office: 01342 810548 Email: ataylor@worth.org.uk

Robert Bodnar-Horvath (B’74) – Trustee Office: 020 8408 2524 Email: robertdodnarhorvath@blueyonder.co.uk

James Madsen (B’02) Mobile: 07738 324438 Email: jamesmadsen@live.com

Worthians Golfing Society Ken Ross (G’65) Home: 01323 733499 Email: kandbaway@gmail.com

Robin Burdell – Director of Finance & Operations, Worth School Office: 01342 710205 Email: rburdell@worth.org.uk

Stuart McPherson – Head Master Office: 01342 710222 Email: smcpherson@worth.org.uk

Mary Lou Burge – Worth Society Manager Office: 01382 710241 Email: worthsociety@worth.org.uk Mark Collini (StB’89) – Director Office: 020 7783 4941 Email: markcollini@yahoo.co.uk Jeremy Fletcher (G’72) – Chairman, Director & Trustee Office: 020 7070 6611 Email: jeremy.fletcher@kewcapital.com

Ben Oakley (F’08) – Music Mobile: 07973 899330 Email: boakley@cantab.net Daniel Pring (R’03) Mobile: 07865 064439 Email: Daniel.Pring@tokiomarinekiln.com

Worthians Rugby Club Desmond Calnan (R’69) Mobile: 07535 939582 Email: dcalnan@tecres.net Worthians Squash Jeremy Dowling Email: jdowling@worth.org.uk

Duncan Pring – Careers Office: 01342 710239 Email: dpring@worth.org.uk

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Hong Kong Dinner

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Events

Worthian dinner in one of Hong Kong’s most chic clubs, on 23rd October 2015, graced by the presence of the incoming Head Master, was fated to be winner and it was.

International socialite, Sir David Tang, set up the China Club on the top floors of the iconic art deco Old China Bank Building some years ago, appointing it in his trademark period style. It retains its lustre. In one of the Old Shanghai-inspired private dining rooms we paid homage to incoming Head Master, Stuart McPherson, and Deputy Head, Gordon Pearce, our various memories of Worth and to the grandeur of the Club, courtesy of members Andrea and Chris Hunt (StB’85). Chris was joined by his old rugby pal Sean Taylor (C’85).

Ensconced in the discreet wood-panelled room we enjoyed a superb eight course banquet; highlights of which were peking duck, sautéed Angus fillet and steamed garoupa, downed with a combination of wines.

The following Worthians and Worth School Staff attended the Hong Kong Dinner: Stuart McPherson – Head Master Gordon Pearce – Deputy Head Robert Carroll (R’71) Nick Bodnar-Horvath (B’72) Helen Bodnar-Horvath Chris Hunt (StB’85) Andrea Hunt Sean Taylor (C’85)

Catherine Taylor Justin Jaques (G’90) Marc McAlister (G’98) Maximillian McGowan (B’05) Alvin Chan (R’03) Mark Chan (B’03) Osvaldo Kwan (StB’03) Ai Yoshino (B’03)

Above the restaurant there’s a rare sight in Hong Kong: a penthouse bar with a terrace, a bijou of a room, a throwback to the heady days of Shanghai of the thirties and forties. Nick Bodnar-Horvath’s (B’72) Cuban cigars, and brandy were savoured whilst enjoying the spectacular view over Central, our equivalent of the City of London.

As a long time Hongkonger it was heart-warming to be once again with fellow Worthians who have made their home here in one of the former jewels of the empire, which has retained its position as one of only several world financial centres.

The evening actually spun off to another exceptional Worthian gathering at the Hong Kong Club box of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the races, hosted by Helen and Nick Bodnar-Horvath (B’72), and their son and daughter; attended by the Hunts, myself and Hilary and Lance O'Neill (R’74) whom I discovered is the son of the late, renowned, society photographer Desmond O’Neill. Lance took me by surprise by reminding me that I had been his – rather liberal – dorm prefect. Funny how we remember our seniors but few of our juniors. He recollected that I had been “a bit of a rebel”.

Over the years I have been pleasantly surprised at how many Worthians have washed up on these shores and how many local boys have been to Worth. Long may it continue.

Speaking on behalf of all of us attendees, many thanks to Stuart McPherson, Worth Society, Chris and Andrea Hunt as well as Helen and Nick Bodnar-Horvath for organising such fantastic events.

Robert Carroll (R’71)

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

2016 Careers Networking Evening Drew Davy and Sasha Richards

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The best part about the evening was its intimate and informal setting as guests mingled over a glass of wine, exchanging a diverse range of stories and experiences.

There was even a professional life coach, Drew Davy (G’87), using similar techniques to Derren Brown, curing people of phobias to interviews and even holes!

Events

ur annual Careers Advice & Networking Event was held on 7th January 2016 at The Ship, a cosy pub in the heart of the City. The event is directed towards younger Worthians who are looking for advice and contacts with other more experienced Worthians from a variety of industries. Before the event we emailed Mary Lou to let her know which career paths we were considering and she matched us up with a Worthian – or, in my case, a friend of hers – from each desired field. So there was an array of people to talk to.

Sara Hancock, Jack Dickerson and Rory Ryan

It was a great opportunity to see familiar faces from fellow houses and year groups filling the room with joyful chatter. Everyone found the evening significantly beneficial, with most of us walking out with a handful of business cards, and everyone leaving with a fresh insight into various careers.

Thank you Worth Society for organising such a wonderful event, as well as to all of those who came along to chat to us.

Sasha Richards (StM’11) Ed Long and Mike Eddleston

Worthian Advisors included: Ben Goodger (R’80)

Osborne Clarke LLP (IP Law)

Giles Sacarello (StB’08)

Howden Insurance

Drew Davy (G’87)

Leading Outcomes Ltd (Professional Life & Executive Coach)

Rory Ryan (C’09)

Engineering

Chris Loftus (B’91)

Parker Lloyd Group (Wealth Management)

Mike Eddleston (R’98)

URS (Environmental Services)

Ian George (C’01)

Astins (Quantity Surveyor)

Daniel Pring (R’03)

Tokyo Marine Kiln (Insurance)

Ed Long (G’03)

Faraday (Insurance)

Mark Corbyn (R’04)

HSBC (Business Analyst Banking)

Andy Furness (F’08)

Quest Professional (Business Training)

Tess Ryan (StM’11)

Interior Design

Dom Suckling (B’14)

Insurance (Alesco Risk Management)

Mary Lou Burge

Worth Society Manager

Dr Duncan Pring

Head of Careers, Worth School

Arthur Ashman

Inspiring Interns

Sara Hancock

Kantar Panel (Market Research)

We are always on the look-out for Worthians who wish to share their valuable experience, so do get in touch if you would like to help our younger Worthians.

We welcomed the following young Worthians to our Careers Advice Networking Evening: Jack Dickerson (C’09) Jessica Coffin (StM’10) Edward Bridge (StB’11)

Ben O’Donnell Bourke (R’11) Rajesh Patel (C’11) Sasha Richards (StM’11)

Markie Poole (StB’13) Tom Poynder (F’13) Dylan Lall (C’14)

Michael Ryan (F’14) Aless Hermitage (StM’15) Ed Hermitage (R’15)

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2016 City Lunch

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Events

n Thursday 3rd March 2016 I had the pleasure of attending the annual Worthian City Lunch, at its regular spot by the Thames at London Bridge – Vivat Bacchus. As the youngest Worthian there, upon arrival I was introduced to Mark Lee-Barber (C’73) and we enjoyed chatting about some of our amusing memories of Worth.

Following the initial congregation, drinks and grace said by Abbot Luke, we sat down to lunch. I sat next to Fr Kevin whom I hadn’t seen for a couple of years, and Philip Lundberg (C’80). Mary Lou had previously put me in contact with Philip regarding some mentoring and advice about working in the insurance industry. It was great to meet him in person and receive some more valuable career advice.

We enjoyed a high quality three course meal accompanied by plenty of fine wine and reminisced upon our experiences from school, and how its changed in recent years. After lunch a group of us headed on to another establishment in the area where the conversation and drinks continued. The whole day was a fantastic experience and I thoroughly recommend it to Worthians old and new.

We welcomed the following 40 Worthians and guests to the 2016 City Lunch: Mary Lou Burge Fr Christopher Jamison Abbot Luke Jolly (C’71) Stuart McPherson Fr Stephen Ortiger Fr Kevin Taggart Terence Calnan (R’66) Desmond Calnan (R’69) Tim Pethybridge (StB’70) John Weguelin (C’70) Jeremy Fletcher (G’72) Nick Barnett (G’73) Mark Lee-Barber (C’73) Nick Norton (R’73) Simon Cope (R’74) Liam Hammond (C’74) Jeremy Sandle (G’74) Richard Breen (StB’75) Mark Breen (StB’76) Mark Simpson (StB’76)

James Blake (B’77) Philip Lundberg (C’80) Alex Walters (StB’80) John Bennett (R’81) Mark Jenner (C’81) Henry Thornton (B’81) Edward Horgan-Goumas (C’85) Sean Donnellan (StB’86) Tim Ross (R’86) Chris Rybak (B’86) Matthew Scouller (G’86) Alex Buckley (G’88) Mark Collini (StB’89) Simon McMenemy (R’89) Charles Gerada (R’90) James Chaplin (R’96) Darran Smith (B’96) Alistair Myles (G’99) James Henwood (C/B’07) Michael Ryan (F’14)

Michael Ryan (F’14)

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Desmond Calnan and Tim Ross

James Henwood

Mark Breen and Darran Smith

Michael Ryan and Philip Lundberg

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

St Benedict’s Day Mass 2016

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Kathy and Terence Delaney (G’64)

Events

Stefan Reynolds (G’89), Michael Morrissey (R’77), Jerry Fletcher (G’72) and Fr Christopher

ollowing the success of last year’s relaunched St Benedict’s Day Mass with Worthian choir and preprandial drinks reception, this years’ service on 5th April 2016 heralded a further step in the right direction, drawing a larger and more varied set of faces new and old!

The burgeoning congregation included a typically eclectic smattering of Worth monks, ex pupils, governors and staff both past and present, cementing the long and lasting relationship that Worth builds with those who experience its spiritual influence. One such example was Nick Robinson (StB’75), whose relationship with Worth spans back to the early days of the School’s off-shooting from Downside as both a boy and later Housemaster of St Bede’s. It must also be noted the distance and lengths some Worthians went to making the Mass – including James Minch (F’08) who came direct from the tarmac of Heathrow upon returning from Hong Kong.

The ever inconspicuous church of St Mary Moorfields played host once again to a service of rousing seasonal hymns (risking sounding like a restaurant critic), challenging homily from Fr Christopher Jamison OSB and a chance to reflect in prayer together after a long day’s work. Despite some last minute additions and withdrawals, the Worthian choir was once again out in good numbers to support the liturgy musically with music from Durufle and Vaughan-Williams, accompanied by Luke Navin (F’13) on the organ.

Tess Ryan (StM’11), Jane Burnell (StA’15), Luke Navin (F’11) and James Partridge (F’08)

Following a few reflective words from Society president Jerry Fletcher (complete with unmistakable turquoise specs!), the faithful retired to share wine, pale ale pitchers and sausages around the corner at Bangers Bar and Grill.

A New Direction for Worthian Music Brennan Alleyne (StB’15), James Minch (F’08) and Ben Oakley (F’08)

This year’s mass also marked the inaugural baton work of Worth’s Director of Music, Michael Oakley, and served as yet another strong reminder of the wealth of musical talent that exists across the vast community of pupils, past and present, who have contributed and benefited from The Arts at Worth.

Worth Society Chairman, Jerry Fletcher, has long felt the musical and artistic spirit and skills amongst the Worthians has been under promoted so the Society is therefore very excited to announce a raft of new initiatives to encourage music making amongst Worthians over the coming months and for the future.

To kick things off, we will be launching a new programme of events and activities this winter with the first annual Worthians Christmas Carol Service in Central London on 7th December. This new event promises to be an exciting occasion, capturing the spirit of the candle-lit Abbey Carol Service that Worthians will doubtless remember so fondly from their school days, and bringing together a wider Worth community to celebrate a very special time of the year. The School Choir will be leading a service of carols and readings, and we want to warmly invite all Worthians from all generations to join the ranks of choir and congregation.

Ben Oakley (F’08)

Tom Wood (B’07), Michael Oakley and Guy Salimbeni (F’07)

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Fr Stephen’s Retirement as Chaplain of St Mary’s Events

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n Wednesday 23rd March 2016, we were delighted to welcome back a select group of St Mary’s Worthians to mark the retirement of Fr Stephen who had been Chaplain of St Mary’s House since its formation 7 years ago. It was a wonderful opportunity for the girls to express their many memories of someone who will always have a special place in their hearts.

“Fr Stephen; the man on the end of the phone, always with good advice and kind words. Always reminding us of our whoness and whatness and of our value in this world as women. You are a fantastic role model and father figure.

Thank you for all your support throughout my time at Worth and beyond.”

Izzie Pollard “Fr Stephen’s reading of Winnie The Pooh is now the only way I hear it – absolutely treasured memories!”

Frances Hampson “The most fabulous man – always up for a girly chat over dinner. Our resident Agony Aunt who helped us become the women we are today – we wouldn’t be the same without him.”

Laura Hurley, Charlotte Hutchinson & Sophie Bowe “Fr Stephen has always been there with a friendly smile. We share so many amazing memories – such an inspiration.”

Victoria Cotterell, Eleanor McKillop & Sarah Buller “Thank you so much for your wonderful stories. Winnie the Pooh narrated by you will always be a great memory.

Mia Ryan My best memories of Fr Stephen were when he came up to the House in the evenings and we would share (and eat most) of his chocolate and cranberry juice that Matron had brought in!

He always had the best stories, advice and would cheer everyone up. St Mary’s is definitely not going to be the same without you!

Kaeshini Sivananthan

In December 2015 I stood down from formal involvement with the School after quite a while. The while began in January 1967 and my innings of almost half a century has comprised several very enjoyable incarnations: teacher of O level French, A level History and RS, Assistant Housemaster in Rutherford, St Bede’s Housemaster, Head Master, St Mary’s Chaplain, and, for the record, Robin to John Denman’s and Roger Stokes’s Batman with, respectively, Worth’s Under 14 and Third XV Rugby. Other feathers in my cap include Patron of Andy Stewart’s (B’72) Motor Racing Club and Tim Hobbs’s (G’87) Reeling Society.

The Recording Angel is duly impressed.

I’ve loved the roles I’ve had and, much more, I’ve loved the people I’ve met, that is, your excellent selves; thank you for the great pleasure of your company. To be able to spend one’s life doing interesting things with interesting people is a mighty gift from God and I am deeply grateful both to Him and to you. I call to mind delightedly the many students, staff and families I have been privileged to meet; some have gone ahead of us and are making heaven an even more interesting place but most of you are reassuringly still out there and I treasure the continuing contact; hooray, hurrah!

Of all the incarnations, my Top of the Pops are the years as St Bede’s Housemaster (1971-1983) and as St Mary’s Chaplain (2008-2015). The second of these, unexpected, unsought and a further proof of the existence of God, has been the brandy and cigars completing an already memorable feast. Thank you, St Bede’s, and thank you, St Mary’s; special thanks, dear ladies, to those of you who came to the valedictory soirée in March and for the lovely things you said. As monks go, I am very blessed, very lucky.

‘All that matters is work and love’, said Freud. Thank you for the labours we have shared but thank you most of all for the gift of your friendship.

Every blessing on you and your families, now and always.

Love and prayers Fr Stephen

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Class of 1965 50 Year Reunion

Friday 2nd October 2015 now joins that list as I returned to celebrate and remember leaving Worth in July 1965. I and the others from that illustrious year returned to enjoy a wonderful, memory-filled, happy and reflective day so well organised by Mary Lou Burge. Sadly only a valiant few, Tim Hely, David Greenland, Ken Ross and I, were able to make the day which started with a guided tour by two very patient sixth-formers, Emily and Annabelle, who tried to steer a course around the School within the timeframe, but had to put up with much deviation to explore odd corners and places of the School and grounds – the Head Master’s clock has gone from outside his office (where I often waited for well-deserved punishment), the midnight swimming pool is no more, the pig stalls are now a music centre and the smoking bush is still there!! Goodness how the old place has changed and grown – I wish we had had some of the excellent facilities now enjoyed, but it has not lost that very unique ‘Worth’ sense of family, excitement and encouragement.

Tim Hely, David Greenland, Ken Ross and Fred Belcher were enthralled by Fr Kevin’s Scrapbook of the early years of the School

We then joined the monks for midday prayer, a special time of peace and calm before moving to a delicious and very convivial lunch when we were joined by the new Head Master, Stuart McPherson, (who looks young enough to be a sixth-former or maybe it’s just that we are all slightly older now!!), Fred and Anne Belcher, Frs Kevin, Stephen, Philip Gaisford, Richard Wilson, Bede Hill and briefly by Abbot Luke who professed he would not be dining with us in splendour but the more frugal fare of the monastery.

As usual Benedictines all have incredible memories and our lunch companions were able to fill in many of the gaps in our knowledge and remind us of our time at Worth with affection and slightly rosy memories.

A wonderful day and we look forward to the sixtieth anniversary. Thank you Worth for the years of guidance, encouragement, control (some) and freedom you gave us all up to 1965 and for the welcome we always receive and especially received on this day.

Michael Bray (R’65)

All our guests for the Class of 1965 Reunion

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o you remember the butterflies in your stomach as you turned through the imposing main gates into Worth at the beginning of each term? Every time I enter the School, even 50 years after leaving, they come back – but there are many happy memories and the painful ones have dimmed somewhat.

Class of 1966 50 Year Reunion Events

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don’t know why – running in the corridor, jacket middle button undone, or generally obstreperous behaviour: in those distant days it could have been anything, I suppose – but Mary Lou gave me a Blue Paper. Mindful of Worth Boys’ perennial lack of timeliness, she set a deadline of 30 September, a date that I inevitably exceed, albeit only by 3 days.

two decades) were immediately recognisable; others (including several I have not seen in 50 years) took a moment’s thought, and perhaps in one or two cases a discrete enquiry with someone else. But even with them, once identified it was so obvious who they were, although some had changed shape (working out at the gym?) and hairstyle (new barber?).

That it was she (rather than a ‘he’) who had done this may have been the most indicative sign-of-the-times for this sometimes Not-so-Good Old Boy, namely: the undeniable presence of girls – everywhere! Yes, I’ve been back to the School for Baptisms, Memorials, Old Boys Rugby and Sunday Mass. But this was the first time I’d really seen inside the operations of this Brave New World of coeducational Worth.

Remember those two barbers in the white coats (perhaps they weren’t barbers!) who arrived every 5 or 6 weeks to cut 120 very reluctant heads of hair in a couple of hours in the Pickering washroom? It has always puzzled me how a lucky few managed to game the process and emerge with barely half an inch neatly removed, while all others suffered the whole nine yards!

Arriving almost just-on-time, hot-foot from Malta (Easyjet to Gatwick, taxi to Worth), I joined the assembled group on the lawn outside the Head Master’s Office, with the breathtaking view thankfully unchanged. I hadn’t studied the guest list before so suffered those few seconds of puzzlement: that must be…

This perhaps was the second most interesting aspect of the day: some attendees (primarily those I had seen in the past

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Of course, there were one or two Old Boys – the two Peters (Symonds and Stein) for example – whose immutable form and style had held fast. However even after 50 years, once engaged in conversation time rolled back and it was all as easy and casual as before.

Old Boys aside, the presence of Fred Belcher and Keith Owers – as well as Frs Kevin, Bede and Richard all from our day – was another jolt to memories, almost all good. That being said, Fred brought me down to earth the next day by

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

The following Worthians and guests attended the Class of 1966 50 Year Reunion: Mary Lou Burge Abbot Luke Jolly Fr Kevin Taggart Fr Bede Hill Fr Richard Wilson Fred & Anne Belcher Keith & Gilly Owers Sharon King Bridget Ross Carol Lomas

Richard Archer-Perkins Clive Bayne Terence Calnan Chris Dobson Adrian George Ivar Grey Michael King Ken Ross Peter Stein Peter Symonds James Windle

Lunch followed in the ‘old’ Monks’ Refectory – and what a lunch! With hand on heart, I can state it was by far the finest meal I – and I expect every other Old Boy present – have ever had at Worth. Now, in my case that’s not saying much, as I recall surviving five years on cornflakes, milk, sugar, toast & marmalade/marmite, milk, custard-with-sugar and more milk.

And maybe a few boiled eggs, when I knew what I was eating.

Nevertheless, it was a sumptuous three-course meal with fine wines, cheeses and coffee. So my congratulations and thanks to all those behind its organisation and preparation.

Food aside, it was a delight to have this excellent meal in the Monks’ Refectory, which remains one of the finest rooms at Worth, with its beautiful interior and ever more magnificent views down to the Pond and up and then across to the southern horizon and the North Downs, still without a building in sight.

emailing me a very tricky mathematical problem to solve, just for fun. For a few hours I puzzled over the question – never mind the solution – and then sent it to my kid brother, Desmond, who has the mathematical brain in the family. He and Fred are, I believe, still engaged in a lively email exchange about Desmond’s unorthodox solution, which Fred is challenging! Oh the never-ending joy of mathematics!

Before lunch we split into two groups, each led by prefects, India Walden and Ted Piper, who gave us a fascinating tour of parts old and new of the School, many of which were unchanged although being put to new use. I think it was the old Austin House that held the interest of many of our group (ex-Worth Prep School Boys?), in its new guise as the girl’s St Anne’s House. Meeting the Housemistress was a novel experience, as were some of the posted notes on the House Notice Board (‘how to handle sexts and other unwelcome advances from boys’ struck me as a startling reminder of the realities of today’s world, which even Worth can’t keep at bay).

After lunch, as ranking Head Boy, Ken Ross gave a brief but graceful speech of thanks on behalf of the Old Boys attending. I would like here to add my thanks to our hosts – Abbot Luke and Mr Stuart McPherson – to our highlyefficient organiser, Mary Lou Burge – and all those involved in this most enjoyable event, not least those other Old Boys who attended, including intrepid travellers from distant Mexico City (Clive Bayne), Bangkok (Peter Stein) and Shanghai (Richard Archer-Perkins). Special thanks too to Adrian George and Clive, with whom I shamelessly cadged a lift to my brother’s home in Fetcham where we all descended without warning on Desmond and Julie, getting an undeserved cream tea in the garden, so neatly demonstrating that charming combination of enterprise and sheer gall that frequently results from an education at Worth.

Now I can’t end this Blue Paper without a stern point of criticism. I was horrified to hear several of the pupils refer to the new Gervase House as Ger-vase, with the stress on the second syllable. Now everyone should know it’s named after Blessed George Ger-vase, and not that one-trick joker, Ricky Gervaise. This is a matter that I wish to bring to the attention of the Head Master, and prosecuted by all those who have any respect for the valuable traditions and lifelearnings most of us gained from our time at Worth: an open approach to lasting friendships, a relaxed if sometimes casual approach to life, a touch of tardiness at times – but still providing us the opportunity to excel and, incidentally, enjoy a good meal whenever we have the chance.

Terence Calnan (R’66)

While the ‘old’ Austin, Bede's and Butler Houses held little direct interest to me as a two-year Gervase Boy (before being exiled to Rutherford for my final three), my socks

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were knocked off by what they have done around the back where part of Bede’s, the Theatre and the terrible old Changing Rooms used to be. There we had a glimpse of the new Music Rooms and Theatre, the latter stunningly equipped – an impressive and considerable investment, indeed.

The following Worthians and guests attended the Class of 1986 30 Year Reunion:

Class of 1986 30 Year Reunion Events

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ome of our most formative and distinctive memories are formed during our school years. I can honestly say that I have wonderful memories from my time at Worth. There was something very special about it. We were taught very well. The relationship between masters and students was close. So too was the relationship between our year and the year above. Worth was quite a young school in the ‘80s. It was progressive and unbound by long-standing traditions when compared to its then more established peers. The culture, ethos and atmosphere of the School at the time encouraged us to develop as individuals. We were made to feel confident being ourselves and to respect others being themselves. Underlying everything was the very strong sense of community that Worth had, and obviously still has.

The weather was magnificent on the evening of 12th May 2016. Worth was looking its very best. We started off with drinks on the front terrace outside what used to be Fr Stephen’s Head Master’s office and, before him, Fr Kevin’s.

Like many, I had lost touch with nearly all of my friends from Worth. Maurice Stagnetto, one of the 1st XV stars of the era, observed that we had all grown older and were less fit. But it was easy to recognize everyone. The monks hadn’t changed at all. I am amazed and intrigued by the secret elixir of youth that some of them seem to have discovered. Maybe it’s the communion wine or perhaps something in the hot chocolate that they used to and perhaps still drink at breakfast from large bowls. Fr Kevin looked little changed from when he was Head Master 30 years ago. Fr Stephen no different, and Fr James who was not able to attend the dinner but who I saw recently, exactly the same.

Mr & Mrs Fred Belcher Mary Lou Burge James Cockburn Abbot Luke Jolly Mr & Mrs Stuart McPherson Mr & Mrs Paul Miller Fr Stephen Ortiger

Mr & Mrs Keith Owers Mr & Mrs Roger Stokes Helen Sweetman Fr Kevin Taggart Damian Chunilal Matthew Clayton Sean Donnellan

Jessica Fagan Simon Laguarda Tim Ross Chris Rybak Matthew Scouller Maurice Stagnetto

have today’s UK health and safety or legal risk management teams fainting. Matthew Clayton and I were able to resolve who was responsible and who was completely innocent when we were caught fighting in the new classroom block in its very first week of operation.

Very sadly many of the cast of characters that were our year could not attend the reunion. So in their honour we remembered the more colourful events of the era. There are so many; the ones that immediately come to my mind include the distinct character and rivalry of some of the houses. The compulsory annual cross-country run and the measures taken to shorten or avoid it. The first Bronze D of E practice expedition; a bull charged one group and some of the tents caught fire that evening. Radio Tool; Worth’s own pirate radio station – it went live every night for several hours after lights out for about a week until it was shut down. Our amazing music tastes. The weekly Dance Committee meetings and subsequent dances. The Sixth Form Bar and Smoking Room. Wearing coats during lessons and prep in the prefab classrooms because they were so cold during our first winter in the Senior School. The Rock Mass in the Abbey Church in front of parents; there was only ever one – it was an epic as the Rock took over the Mass and was consequently never permitted again. The water fights using fire hoses in the corridors and dorms on the last night and dawn of term and all the carnage following this.

We had so much fun!

Abbot Luke, who also is looking very fit, hosted the dinner.

He started as a novice when we were at Worth and taught

We toured the School and the grounds. Some of the Houses are now in different places. The ‘cardboard castle’ of Rutherford no longer exists. Being a proud member, I was always of the opinion that the rooms in Rutherford were amongst the very best in the School and never subscribed to the widely held view that the building was sinking into what was then the Orchard playing field. The grounds have changed in some places but all feels much the same. We walked down to the Oval where on Speech Day we had picnics on the lawn before the formal part of the day began in the Abbey Church. We looked down the hill where Parades were administered at dawn on Friday with Monks’ Pond lying at the bottom. This is where I was thrown in after my last assembly as per the tradition of the time.

The Abbey Church had, as always, its unique Zen sense of spirituality and calmness. The monks were saying evening Mass, standing around the altar, their arms raised, saying the Eucharistic Prayer with the rest of the church completely silent and empty. It was very beautiful. The sense of peace, silence and spirituality has always been very special and unique.

At dinner it was so good to sit next to people with whom I had shared so much but hadn’t seen for 30 years. We swapped stories and memories. I could finally compliment Dr Miller for his battlefield medical prowess and his ability to fix injuries on the soccer field in a way that I guess would

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Damian Chunilal and Keith Owers

It was sad not being able to see more of the Class of ’86 or the other masters who did such a fantastic job teaching us.

We all have our own lists of those we wish to thank and remember. Starting with some of the masters who don’t always get mentioned in these histories. Mr Freeland who taught Biology at a level way beyond what was required to pass A Level. Mr Dowling who always tried to convince us of the ‘beauty’ of his Math theorem proofs even after the class had dissolved into laughter at the very suggestion of this.

Mr Williams and Mr Stokes, who gave up so much of their time in my final term to teach Economics to me one-onone. Mr Parsons who saved some of us from extreme hunger when we were in JH by allowing us to make Pot Noodles in his kitchen; the school food was really bad then.

Mr Denman who spent hours giving some of us extra oneon-one soccer coaching that allowed us to play at the level that we were capable of playing at. Everyone in the Class of ’86 will be able to multiply this list based on their own experiences. The common theme is that the masters and monks went way beyond the call of duty for our benefit.

It is sad that some of our year and some of those that taught us are no longer with us. To name just a few whom I knew well, Dr Robinson, who was an outstanding teacher, tutor and careers advisor. Mr Fagan and Mr Mayne. The former a unique personality. The unauthorised explosions and fires that often occurred in the latter’s lessons were unique to the era. GT Robertson was very close to so many as Geography teacher and 1st XV Rugby coach. Mr Stanton who taught us about the Angles, Saxons and Vikings in Junior House; Fr Christopher, the JH Housemaster of our time, frequently had to interrupt these lessons to restore order due to excessive desk banging and class laughter in response to Mr Stanton’s sense of humour. Jimmy Law, who insisted on teaching me how to speak English when I was in JH. Mr Colbert who took it upon himself to teach some of us how to write English in our final term. And last but not least, Fr Bernard who as Housemaster and History teacher was simply incomparable. Memories of his teaching the epic moments of British political history or the conquests of Lord Kitchener and the British in Africa by acting out these events himself in the classroom will never fade.

We all have many memories of Worth. Many are distant, hopefully most are good, a few may be bad. But all are everlasting. What came through loud and clear during the reunion is that Worth has changed, evolved and progressed.

Yet the spirit of what made Worth such a special place when the Class of ’86 was there survives today.

Damian Chunilal (R’86)

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some of us so it was so nice to see him now as Abbot. Keith Owers who now, just as then, gave so much valuable common sense advice and perspective. Mr Cockburn, who took us on O level History of Art trips to London, followed by drinks in the evening at his house. And Helen Sweetman who was matron when I was in Junior House. I don’t think I had really spoken to her since then. She hasn’t changed and is as sharp as she was when I was 11.

Tim Ross, Jeremy Dowling and Maurice Stagnetto

The following Worthians and guests attended the Class of 1995 20 Year Reunion: Fr James Cutts Fr Stephen Ortiger Alan Mitchell Jeremy Dowling

Class of 1995 20 Year Reunion

Toby Abbott PJ Bailey Tom Calnan Ray Coman Tom Elliot Jan Frackowiak

Dan Harlow Chris Jackson Hugh Lynch Hugh Murray James Reilly Eiran Reilly George Ross Toby Rumford Simeon Stevens Rupert Townsend Ted Tracey

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n 26th September 2015, a brief 20 years after leaving Worth, a merry band of 1995 leavers convened at the Prince Albert pub in Battersea, London for their first reunion. We were absolutely honoured to be joined by Fr Stephen (Worth Abbot when we began), Fr James (Housemaster to many in Rutherford), Jeremy Dowling (Maths) and Alan Mitchell (Head of Sports) as well as a fantastic turn-out of Worthians from that vintage. A few others would have joined but it sadly coincided with the Six Nations. The company, the reminiscing (fuelled by various antique copies of the Worth Record), the food and drink were, of course, all excellent. England rugby was not quite on such form, losing narrowly to Wales. 20 years was considered slightly on the long side for a reunion and those present were keen to repeat, so plans via the Worth Society website in due course!

Toby Rumford (R’95)

The Class of 1995

Ted Tracy, Raphael Coman (with Toby Abbott in the window!)

Jan Frackowiak, Dan Harlow and Fr Stephen

A Farwell Farewell to Dr Duncan Pring

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r Duncan Pring was surrounded by more than 200 old boys, parents and pupils on the evening of Sunday 12th June 2016 as they said a very fond, Farwell farewell to their long-standing Housemaster, who stepped down at the end of the academic year.

Duncan has been Farwell Housemaster since its creation in 2001 as a new boys’ day house and numbers other members of staff among his 'old boys'.

Although the new house was given the motto ‘Per Angusta ad Augusta’ – against all odds - because it was a minnow among the houses, under Dr Pring Farwell it has gone on to scoop many of Worth's prizes in its 15-year history – including all the main sporting and house music awards.

Duncan will continue in the School as Head of Careers.

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Class of 1996 20 Year Reunion

“On Friday I was lucky enough to be invited to the 20 year reunion of the Class of 1996; Mad cow disease, Nintendo 64, Charles and Di divorce and the horror of Dunblane. And how appropriate that the best-selling single of 1996 was ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls. What did those in the room Wannabe in the summer of ’96?

Surveying the room was fascinating; an eclectic mix of Hugo Boss, Levis and t-shirts. Photos of children proudly shown.

Stories of past glories and close shaves accompanied by much laughter and wine. Stories of present glories, of companies bought and sold and of present difficulties and pain too… Some wannabes had become calm consultant doctors and maverick human rights lawyers. Some had become who they never thought they would and are all the more impressive as a result.

I walked thoughtfully back from Holborn to my hostel in St Paul’s, musing on the reasons why I became a teacher 28 years ago. It was for nights like this. You buy stock and shares and you see them go up or down. Your patient arrives with a broken arm, you set it and it heals. But if you teach like I teach –

believing that the process is more important than the product – then you don’t get immediate feedback. My understanding is that education is an artistic process. A teacher challenges students with words, ideas, images, dreams and every student reacts differently as we all react differently to Hirst, Picasso, Coldplay or the Spice Girls. It’s not until 20 years later that you see the results of the artistic process.

Thank you, Barney, for your kind invitation. You made an old teacher very, very happy.”

The following Worthians and guests attended the Class of 1996 20 Year Reunion: Fr Mark Barrett Fr James Cutts Seb Watts Bobby Acworth Roderick Aris Ben Babington James Chaplin John Concanon Freddie Crossley Ian De’Ath Barney de Burca (Coordinator) Nick de Wilton Corrado di Mascio Oliver Donaldson Richard Elwes Edmund Fitzgerald O’Connor

Angus Gairdner Tom Gaisford John Haan Simon Holland-Brown Niccolo Infante Philip Jacques Andrew Keatley Chris Kelly William Lockhart Andrew Micallef-Eynaud Duncan Miller Liam Naidoo Joe Osgood Jack Smales Darran Smith Julian Stevens Ben Stokes Jamie Symons

The Class of 1996

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hanks to the sterling efforts of Barney de Burca (R’96), on the evening of 8th July 2016 thirty Worthians gathered together again at St Etheldreda’s, Ely Place, for a mass concelebrated by Frs Mark and James, followed by a reunion dinner at The Bleeding Heart restaurant. Worthian and former teacher, Bobby Acworth (C’81), attended as one of the honorary guests and later reflected on the event in his online blog:

Simon Holland-Brown, Richard Elwes, Tom Gaisford and Ben Babington

Worth Careers Fair 2016

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or the tenth year in a row, Worth School organised a Careers Fair for its Lower Sixth Form students on 2ndJuly 2016. It was felt that this date would give more students a chance to attend – and so it proved to be, with over 100 pupils taking part. The morning was designed to encourage them to think about possible options beyond Worth and indeed beyond University. The decision on which career to pursue is one of the most important that anybody makes, and the more that our pupils are aware of what really happens in a given career, the better placed they will be to make a wise judgement. The format we employed was similar to previous years, with a number of outside speakers talking about their own career to small groups of students.

Each speaker made their presentation four times, so students had the opportunity to learn about life in four careers that were of interest to them.

Once again we were indebted to Worthians who contributed a total of four of the eleven speakers. It is on occasions such as these that one really appreciates the willingness of former pupils to give back to the place where they were educated. We were delighted to welcome back our first lady Worthian to speak at this event – Kitty Gibson (StA’12) who is involved in Event Management and spoke with authority about careers in Marketing in general. Angus Lam (R’06) was one of many pupils here who studied Economics and

went on to read the same subject at Bath and Durham, which has led to important jobs in different areas; and he was able to advise our boys and girls on the opportunities available to those who study this subject. Mark Churchman (C’02) has had a varied career in Law, recently specialising in mergers and acquisitions and was able to give a fascinating insight into the legal background to many of these big business deals. Last but by no means least, we had James Padolsey (R’08) who has worked for Twitter and rather whimsically claimed that his IT career started at Worth as a freelance developer in his dorm. If only his Housemaster had known! IT is a huge growth area and we were most grateful to James for his insights into career options in this field.

All four Worthian speakers were relatively young as it was our intention to invite speakers who were closer in age to the students themselves, thus making their sessions more immediate. The feedback we received was very positive and, as always, we are most grateful to the former students who come back to pass on their experience to the present cohort of pupils.

After a hard morning’s talk, most of the speakers enjoyed a lunch that was I am sure even better than those which they used to enjoy in the Refectory a few years ago!

Duncan Pring, Head of Careers, Worth School

My Introduction to the Film Industry

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ollowing my request for some work experience in the film industry, the Worth Society put me in touch with PJ Bickford (C’91), Managing Director of Pretzel Films, one of the UK’s top 5 production companies.

From the moment I walked into the office of Pretzel Films and was introduced to the team I felt a warm welcome.

Almost immediately I was learning about the industry as a whole, but what made it so great was the fact that it wasn't strictly always about film. I learnt a lot about the complicated relationships between companies, finishing of products and general economic practice.

I learnt a lot being in the office itself, however there were a number of things that needed to be done around London, and so I was rushing all over the place completing errands and dealing with the various associates of the company.

I was also tasked with a number of problems to solve, often to tight deadlines, such as, mundane as it sounds, the need for a bike to be welded back together within a day – a feat that pretty much no one in London was able to do in the time, but I managed it!

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Probably the most exciting part of the work experience was the ability to go out on shoots and watch the professionals at work. I was still a runner throughout those days, and as usual it was my duty to run errands. It was an immense opportunity to meet freelance film makers, establish contacts, and of course see how it’s meant to be done.

Towards the end of the 3 weeks of work experience I was also tasked with doing various pieces of sound work – a big thanks must go here to Mr Matthews for teaching me so well – which was extremely good fun and required a great deal of initiative to complete tasks that I had never undertaken before.

All in all it was an amazing experience and I couldn't recommend it more highly to anyone who is looking into going into film. A big thank you to the Worth Society for organising this for me and to PJ Bickford and all at Pretzel Films for giving me such a fantastic insight into the industry.

Giles Holland (B’15)

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Finding the right Legal Path

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alfway through my second year at University I started thinking about careers and what I want to do after I graduate. I am currently studying Law at Exeter University which, strangely, I quite enjoy, so I started looking into work experience in the legal field. A lot of the vacation schemes offered by legal firms are mainly in commercial law and I knew this was not something I was particularly interested in. In all honesty, I was very confused about what I wanted to do and what a career in law would actually be like. Both my parents are in the medical field and as the rest of my relatives and family friends all live in Italy I was a bit stuck on how I would be able to find some work experience.

I remembered the Careers Fair that I had attended when I was at Worth where Worthians from a range of fields had come in and offered careers advice, including some from legal backgrounds. I emailed Mary Lou Burge to see if she could offer any guidance or contacts in the legal field.

Luckily, this led to the most amazing opportunity. She put me in contact with Simon McMenemy (R’89) who is the Managing Partner of Ogletree Deakins, an American firm specialising in employment law based in London. Through this I was able to arrange a two-week placement.

I really enjoyed the placement and it was an incredible insight into employment law, which will be particularly valuable as it is one of my chosen modules in my next academic year. I helped with research, visited employment tribunals and received some really helpful advice from all the staff.

Up to this point I think I was quite complacent about careers and assumed everything would fall into place after I graduate, but these two weeks have made me realise that I need to be so much more pro-active in order to succeed in what I choose. Particularly after advice from Simon to look into legal opportunities with charities or NGOs, I now have a much clearer idea of what I want to do and how to get there.

Most importantly, it pushed me to really start thinking about careers and showed me the vast opportunities that are available in the legal field. I’m incredibly grateful to both Simon and Mary Lou for this opportunity and I would urge any Worthians or current Worth students to use the contacts and networking opportunities we are so very lucky to have available to us.

Valentina Maccario (StA’13)

My First Taste of Ad Land

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ith an increasingly competitive workplace, more so than ever before, Worth students are strongly encouraged to have a view and considered direction about which career path they wish to pursue and gear what A-Levels to study accordingly. With that in mind, Dr Pring, Head of Careers at Worth, works with the Worth Society on our behalf to connect current pupils with former pupils for potential work experience and advice. One such connection proved to be fantastic for me.

I am fortunate in so far as I’ve known for some time that my core interests and skillset lean towards marketing and, more specifically, the advertising sector, however work experience can prove scarce to come by. With the Worth Society’s help Dr Pring connected with Worthian, Daniel Taylor (B’80), Group Board Director for McCann Erickson, a highly reputable global advertising agency with offices in over 120 countries. After several exchanges with Daniel last December, he generously organised two weeks work experience for me in their London office. His offer was a ‘backwards somersault moment’ for which I am duly grateful.

Fast forward 6 months and there I was sitting at my desk immersed in the most creative, colourful and innovative office I could have imagined. My first taste of the big wide

world of advertising. I had expected to be making teas and shredding paper, but my time at McCann was far from that.

I was brilliantly mentored and included in every meeting ‘huddle’ and ‘storm’ session. I was asked for my ideas and opinions, once I found my feet I was challenged with various tasks working on accounts from L’Oréal and MasterCard to Microsoft. The people that I met were truly inspirational and the experience has confirmed what career path I am heading in and which university courses I will apply to. My UCAS application can now demonstrate that I have experienced what I would like to do in the future and have had a taste of what life is like in an advertising agency.

Now for the ‘hard yards,’ passing my A-Levels with flying colours in the hope of studying Business Management and Marketing at Durham, Edinburgh or Bath.

Thank you to Daniel and everyone on the McCann team for making so much time for me, to Dr Pring for all his support and to Worth Society for making the connection. School connections and networking really have benefited me hugely and I hope my experience will encourage Worthians to help other pupils like me. I certainly fully intend to do the same one day.

Isabella Lee (Year 13)

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The Global Action Awards

The Global Action Awards

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unfortunately had to delay her teaching project in Cambodia but hopes to undertake it sometime over the next 12 months.

We continue to encourage Worthians to apply for a GAA and spend some time in unpaid work for the good of others and the community, either here in the UK or overseas. This is open to Worthians at any age or stage of their lives – whether that’s during their last year at School, during a gap year, or perhaps in anticipation of taking a sabbatical from work later on.

This year we received one very impressive application for GAA funding from Antonia Foldes (StM’11) who was awarded £2,100 for a volunteering project with TECHO in Colombia – a youth-led community development programme – during the summer of 2016. I hope you enjoy reading Antonia’s fascinating, thought-provoking, article.

The adjacent table lists the GAAs that have been awarded by the WCT since the programme’s launch in 2000, and demonstrates the depth and breadth of projects that it supports.

We also awarded £250 to Cameron Pring (R’16) to help fund his trip to Lourdes on an OMV Pilgrimage.

he Worthians Charitable Trust (WCT) Global Action Awards (GAA) programme has now awarded a total of £25,280 to Worthians since its formation 16 years ago.

Since the 2015 issue of The Blue Paper we have seen the return of Stephen Free (C’15) who spent 3 months in the autumn of 2015 working with VSO & ICS in Tanzania. You’ll enjoy reading the full report of his incredible experience on the following pages. Frances Oesterlin (StA’15)

If you’d like to apply for a GAA, donate to the GAA fund via the Worthians Charitable Trust, or just want to find out more; then do please contact me at worthsociety@worth.org.uk or take a look at the Community Support section of our website www.worthsociety.org.uk Mary Lou Burge, Worth Society Manager

Stephen Free and Peter Webb came back to Worth to talk to students during ACE Week in July 2016

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GAAs Awarded since 2000 2015-16 Antonia Foldes (StM’11) – volunteering with TECHO in Colombia

£2,100

2014-15 Peter Webb (C’14) – volunteering with the Manquehue Movement in Chile

£1,000

Benjamin Booker (B’13) – volunteering with the Puericultorio JAVA Orphanage in Peru

£500

Beatrice Lewers (StA’13) – volunteering with the Puericultorio JAVA Orphanage in Peru

£500

Stephen Free (C’15) – working with VSO & ICS in Tanzania

£500

Frances Oesterlin (StM’15) – teaching English in Cambodia

£500

2013-14 Merrick Winter (F’13) – teaching English with Global Vision International in India and Nepal

£500

Charlie Bridge (StB’09) – teaching English with TASK Brasil in Rio de Janeiro

£500

Thomas Harrison (StB’92) – founding Fusion Enterprise Music & Drama Group for adults with learning disabilities

£150

2012-13 Charlotte Bonhoure (StM’13) – working with the Manquehue Movement in Chile Naomi Dring (StA’13) – volunteering for Worth Abbey’s ‘Outreach Peru’ programme in Peru

£750 £1,000

James Folger (B’10) – teaching English at schools in San Jose in Costa Rica

£400

Ciaran Stordy (StB’12) – working with the Manquehue Movement in Chile

£500

2011-12 Niamh Fogarty (StM’11) – volunteering with Tanzanian NGO, TanzEd Xavier Geissmann (B’11) – working with the Manquehue Movement in Chile

£500 £700

Francis Dring (C’12) – volunteering with The Peru Mission in the Amazon

£1,000

2010-11 Jack Clancy (F’11) – working for a remote Maasai community in Tanzania

£900

Chris Napleton (C’11) – volunteering at an orphanage in Nepal

£700

2009-10 James Harrold (StB’10) – working with the Manquehue Movement in Chile Will Desmond (C’09) – working with Cross Purposes in the UK 2008-09 Tristan Stutchbury (StB’01) – teaching English in Uganda

£750 £400 £750

Max Watson (F’05) – voluntary work in Tarma, Peru

£250

Benedict Wintour (B’09) – working as a teaching assistant in Kenya

£750

2007-08 Benedict Kelly (StB’78) – fund-raising for communities in Peru

£500

Tom McMurray (B’08) – nature guide training in South Africa

£500

Fridolin Steinbeis (R’08) – working with aids orphans and as a hospital volunteer in Mexico

£780

2006-07 Luke MacWilliam (R’07) – eco-tourism in South Africa; teaching in Malawi Rob Carson (G’94) – running a camp for disabled children in Ireland 2005-06 Dominic Moor (StB’00) – medical elective in Uganda

£750 £500 £500

Michael Burr (F’06) – conservation work in Cambodia

£500

Rob Carson (G’94) – running a camp for disabled children in Ireland

£850

Edmund Chedgy (G’00) – medical elective in China

£500

Johnathan Craik (C’00) – medical elective in China

£500

2004-05 Daniel Grace (F’05) – teaching in Chile Elliott Webber (R’04) – teaching in Nepal

£500 £500

2003-04 Andrew Welsh (B’04) – teaching in the Galagapos Islands

£500

2002-03 Francis Binney (G’00) – conservation work in Indonesia

£200

2001-02

Mark Haden (G’03) – the building of nurses homes in Zambia

£250

James Powys Lybbe (B’02) – working as a carer in a Romanian orphanage

£500

Alex Tyrwhitt (G’02) – teaching English in China

£250

2000-01 Nick Smith (C’01) – teaching in Uganda Ed Bonn (G’01) – teaching in Kenya

£500 £250

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The Global Action Awards

Experiencing life from another Perspective

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ome people take gap years to get away from all the hassle of education with all the assignments and deadlines that come with it. Others just want to go and make a bit of money to lessen the monumental debt they will have after university. However, the time can be used for something so much more; to go out and see the world for how it really is, live life like you have never done before and in the process change both your life and those of others for the better.

The whole process of applying for an overseas placement can be incredibly daunting. You need to find an organisation whose projects you feel you’d best suit. I applied for International Citizen Service – ICS – through Voluntary Service Overseas – VSO. There is quite a large amount of paperwork to get through as you have to send copies of academic reports, proof of address and apply for a DBS check. After this come the cornucopia of vaccinations you need for the country you’ll be visiting.

I headed to Leicester for a weekend VSO training course. It was great fun meeting new people who would also be volunteers and exploring each other’s backgrounds and reasons for volunteering. I also thoroughly enjoyed the team-building exercises and invigorating group discussions on issues such as comparing poverty in our country to absolute poverty in developing countries.

When we first arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s capital city, our group of 9 UK volunteers met the 11 Tanzanian national volunteers who would be living and working with us. We spent a week living in a catholic convent’s youth hostel. Here we learned in great detail about how we’d be expected to help the community of Lindi where we’d spend the next two months on placement. Lindi is a coastal, rural town in the south-east of Tanzania and is very impoverished. The only businesses there are local entrepreneurships and they partake in relatively little trade as they have little to offer. However, due to a new road built by the Tanzanian government straight from Dar es Salaam through Lindi and on to Mtwara, (another town further south where another group of VSO volunteers would work) there was now much more potential for Lindi as a town.

Our job was to ‘Make Education More Relevant’. We would be facilitating the education of children aged roughly between 11 and 19 about how they can increase their employability, improve their English, use ICT to network,

communicate and make themselves more employable as well as how to set up their own enterprises with help from their government through loans, grants etc. It was drilled into us very early on the importance that we should facilitate and not teach. Simply listing off facts and figures would not help these kids become independent and selfsufficient, rather we had to help them realise that they already possessed all the tools they needed. The first 2 weeks were all spent making sure that we would know what we were talking about. We would learn about Tanzania and how it operates, formulate lesson plans and come up with ideas on events we could host to involve the local community – but we would also have moral debates and fun group activities to keep us engaged and help us to learn what it means to be an ‘active citizen’.

On our third week we began work at our respective schools.

My School, Ngongo Sekondari, was an hour’s bus journey, followed by a 20 minute or so hike up a huge hill in the midday sun. It’s safe to say it got very tiring, however the scenery was truly beautiful and the School was extremely well organised. I worked in a team with one other UK volunteer and three national counterparts. The children came across as well-disciplined and eager to learn and the teachers were very welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable.

However, from our first lesson it became quite apparent that gender inequality was a large issue in Lindi. The girls kept quiet and showed little confidence whilst the boys were loud and seemed to care little for their opinions. After meeting up again with the other volunteers, we all decided we should split the class into a boy’s class and a girl’s class once a week and teach them about gender equality in a way that was sensitive and respectful of their culture.

I’ve always had a passion and a talent for languages and so, armed with a phrasebook hastily bought from Amazon just before I left England and with lessons from my amazing counterpart I picked up Swahili extremely quickly. Little did I know at first just how crucial this would be. Not only did it help me to get my points across to the children I was teaching, but it was also extremely useful in day-to-day life.

I could confidently order Tuk-Tuk taxis (known locally as Bajajis), ask for directions, shop and, most importantly, communicate with my host family – a lovely, Islamic household. I had a host dad, mum, grandmother, little brother and sister and even a pregnant cat. However, they did not speak a word of English. Most volunteers’ host families didn’t, so this was of little surprise to me, yet only 4 weeks in I would lose my counterpart due to the death of his father. I was offered a transfer to another home but I liked my family, and so, I decided I’d make it work. I had one final lesson with my counterpart before he left and tried to pick up as many useful phrases as possible.

My host home was a small, one-storey house with a courtyard containing the well from which I’d have to draw water for washing myself and my clothes. I lived on the other side of the courtyard where my host dad had built a separate building in which his mother-in-law could live (cultural reasons meant they could not sleep under the same roof). Our toilet – a small room with a hole in the floor was also where we’d shower and brush our teeth. There was no running water, only a large bucket and scoop and

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Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

noticeably, also lacking, was toilet paper. Our food was also basic. Bread and fruit in the morning or some Weetabix and UHT milk sourced from the local shop. Lunch was normally either an omelette, or Ugali (a nasty, tasteless carbohydrate paste that you would eat because you were so hungry) along with beans or spinach and some fruit. Dinner would normally be fish, although occasionally our family liked to surprise us with pancakes or chips. You get used to eating so little, however I found it much harder to adjust to the fact that the only water you can really drink had to come bottled. Our families had purifiers given to them by VSO, however this makes water taste like the white cliffs of Dover so I never had more after my first taste. I personally took a little bit of a risk in just boiling any water I didn’t buy, but I never got ill and my taste buds certainly thanked me for it.

Every Friday we would have ACDs (Active Citizenship Days).

We were divided into groups of three or four and would make a presentation on a global issue to our fellow volunteers. These days were extremely fun and filled with activities and intelligent discussion and their contents have definitely stuck with me. A week or so after my counterpart left we would also have our first of two CADs. (Community Action Day). Our first one was smaller and was based in a school near the centre of the town. There we talked about the importance of communication and I held a table on communication’s use in raising awareness of global issues.

I would be even more involved in our second CAD, taking the role of secretary. We put a much larger budget into this, creating posters and banners to go up across the town, flyers to hand out and even a radio advertisement. We hosted this at my School due to the fact it was on the opposite side of town and gave us a large amount of room to work with. We based the CAD on opportunities in Lindi and had sections on opportunities in agriculture, for

women, through VETA (a national vocational training organisation) and hosted a room focusing on general health and how they could change their diet in an affordable way to increase life expectancy. We even set up a tent where students could have a free HIV test. We provided music and drinks and ended up attracting well over 200 people!

We would also visit several local enterprises. I worked with a small welding business called Umoja Welders. We would check up on them each week to see how they were doing and would provide helpful advice on how to expand their custom as well as help them through the process of becoming a registered business and applying for a bank loan. They were so glad to see us and it made us very happy to see their growth and progression. Other teams worked with local tailors, furniture stores and dance troupes and they too showed great improvement. It is a truly wonderful feeling to watch people and businesses grow right before your eyes and think to yourself "I helped make this happen".

Sure, volunteering is by no means easy – it can be tough work with lots of planning, assessments and reports in a country with unfamiliar tradition, food, risks, facilities and climate. However, despite all the challenges it may throw at you, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Becoming a volunteer is more than just helping others. In return, you will experience personal growth and development. I hoped to gain a lot from this trip and I was not disappointed as my social, communication and leadership skills – to name but a few – skyrocketed. Volunteering changes you and it was truly the most wonderful experience of my life. I simply hope that more of you will feel that inclination to go and do it for yourselves.

Stephen Free (C’15)

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The Global Action Awards

The Slums of El Dorado

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Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Colombian Colours

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arrived in Bogotá to volunteer with TECHO two weeks after the formal ceasefire had been signed between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), concluding 52 years of conflict. For the previous 8 months I had been in charge of monitoring the Colombian conflicts for the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK), researching the conflict between the neo-paramilitary groups and drug cartels against the government and then also inter-cartel violence, which have caused mass displacement. Many of these displaced people, once farmers with land and livestock, are forced to abandon their homes due to the violence plaguing the countryside. They end up on the street and are often washed up in the outer slums of big cities like Medellín and Bogotá. Like Los Alpes, a neighbourhood of Bogotá’s southwestern slum Ciudad Bolívar. Here on my first day I met a displaced man from Nilo, Cundinamarca. Every time we visited the communities, people would stop us on the street and ask us for help.

TECHO, or Techo para mi pais (‘A roof for my country’), is a non-profit organisation founded in 1997 by Jesuit priest Felipe Berríos in Chile. TECHO was established, is run and continues to employ most of its volunteers locally. It is a sustainable volunteer programme, a proud project by Latin Americans trying to help themselves. They are not only active in Colombia but across 19 Latin American countries, aiming to alleviate poverty and develop local communities.

TECHO’s projects are not only known, but also appreciated by the communities they are trying to help. A key component of their work is to include local leaders and discuss with the communities what they need.

Development is done hand in hand with the community, rather than as an outside force imposing change. Hence we would interact a lot with locals, speaking to citizens and community leaders.

For example, we visited the ‘house’ of Maria de Pilar Rodriguez, who is one women that sells sweets on the Transmilenio buses. She described how hard her work is, especially when the police catch her, and showed us the varicose veins on her legs from standing all day. Recording her job, education and health situation all plays a part in evaluating her living conditions, beyond just the infrastructure of her house. She then showed us the leaky tin roof, carpet placed on the bare ground and her lovingly decorated bedroom. Last winter she suffered the first stages of pneumonia.

We cannot mistake poverty for an undignified life.

Poverty is not just poverty. It is as varied and nuanced as the slum itself. People may not have running water, but they would own hairspray and make-up. They might not have a fridge, but they would adorn their bedrooms with family photos. We cannot mistake poverty for an undignified life.

Another of TECHO’s projects is Educación Para La Paz (‘Education for Peace’) for children of the slum, which I supported in the neighbourhood El Paraíso (a slight

Left: Antonia visiting Comuna 13, formerly Medellín’s most dangerous slum Above: Street art commemorating the conflicts

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The Global Action Awards

The Slums of El Dorado continued

Maria de Pilar Rodriguez shows us her home during a TECHO evaluation

Opposite: Antonia with TECHO volunteers in Bogotá’s Cuidad Bolivar slum Below: IDPs Educación Para La Paz

misnomer) in Cazucá, Soacha. Soacha ‘houses’ the highest number of displaced people in the country, nearly 17,000 IDPs of the armed conflict. At the foot of the hill, buses and official transport stop. We had to pile onto jeeps to take us up the steep mountains until the streets were no longer paved and we climbed on foot to TECHO’s little hut. Inside it we had tables, pens and paper to keep the children occupied for a few hours every Sunday. The idea is to provide a safe space, to keep them off the streets and pass on values such as sharing and compassion.

opposite. Although with little guidelines, concrete targets or clear schedules their work can be equally frustrating.

I would call my colleagues at 10pm to find out my meeting time and community for the next morning at 7am.

Everyone is late and matters can always be discussed another day. This is understandable as everyone working at TECHO is a volunteer; young students from local universities, studying psychology or architecture. This makes them very friendly and informally ad-hoc, however hierarchy and efficient management are absent.

It was back in the autumn of 2015 during my internship at the UN that I witnessed the global launch of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (including SDG 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable) and after my work in the shiny offices of New York concluded, I wanted to finally put these idealistic goals into action on a local level.

I have no idea how TECHO manages to achieve what it does, but somehow it works. Houses are built, community infrastructures are evaluated, leaders are trained and children are taken care of. Working in Colombia made me very calm, patient and resilient to external factors.

While the work at the UN is frustratingly bureaucratic and codified, TECHO’s work on the ground is the absolute

This volunteer experience was markedly different and gave me a deeper insight than my previous two trips to Colombia as a tourist, where I travelled from colonial Cartagena to the green coffee plantations of the Valle de Cauca (Colombia has the second greatest biodiversity in Latin America, after Brazil – a country several times larger).

This time I was able to visit Medellín and the Antioquian countryside, where I joined the Feria de las Flores (‘Flower Festival’), celebrating the proud and hard-working paisa culture of the region. Despite the drug violence of the ’80s, Medellín has become Colombia’s second-largest city and economic hub, boasting modern infrastructure and a high quality of life. The city is still very much aligned to former president Álvaro Uribe and his critical view of the peace agreement’s lenient transitional justice, so it was very interesting to see the regional political differences.

My time in Colombia as a TECHO volunteer gave me the briefest glimpse of the immense scale on which the armed conflict has affected Colombia. In September, as I prepared to leave after my two months with TECHO, Colombia was preparing for the upcoming plebiscite on 2nd October, where the public would decide to accept or reject the peace agreement. As I was leaving, the real work was only just beginning.

Antonia Foldes (StM’11) Antonia’s research on Colombia’s conflicts will be published in February 2017 as part of the annual Conflict Barometer produced by the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research.

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Life and Times of Worthians

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... after my work in the shiny offices of New York concluded, I wanted to finally put these idealistic goals into action on a local level.

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The following Worthians donned the ‘blue and gold’ of WOBS RFC in 2015-16:

Worthians Rugby 2015-2016 Season Sport

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Tom Mitchell (F’07) presents Youngers Captain, James Kemp, with the Glenn Robertson Trophy

he 2015-2016 season was a great success for WOBS RFC with the Club achieving our highest ever place in Surrey League 2. Having just been promoted to Surrey 2, we knew that the games were always going to be tougher, as we were competing against Old Boys clubs and Town clubs like Croydon and Cranleigh, who often have 3 teams playing for them.

And once again we had a challenging start, with many regular WOBS assuming that September was the time for off-peak holidays and stag weekends, rather than the rigours and commitment of League rugby. The first five games saw us languishing near the foot of the League table, with just a single win and a draw to our credit. But the omens were good, as we had discovered some exciting talent from the School, in the form of Tommy Ferguson, a centre with real pace and power, George Suckling, a talented and gutsy flanker/winger, and the find of the season young Toby Jozwiak, who was to prove our key player, anchoring the front row throughout the season.

What followed was an amazing purple patch for the WOBS as we won week after week (7 times, nearly matching our club record of 9 successive wins). The forwards were a light but impressive unit who enjoyed playing regularly together.

Marco Boodramsingh and Andrei Kanchelskis joined Toby in the front row and we had back-up in the form of Amplefordians, James Wetenhall and Phil Swann, who both preferred the ‘blue and gold’ of the WOBS to the sombre ‘red and black’ of their Alma Mater. We also had the Burbidge brothers, Jonathan and Adam (guests), to provide the main bulk in the forwards and, with the rampant pairing of Dom Suckling and Nick Elvidge in the back row, our forwards were always going to trouble our opponents. We had strength in depth too with regular appearances from Peter Osborne, Dom Robinson, Giles Sacarello and Jack Bodkin.

The half-back pairing was usually the ever-prominent Neil Pickford at 9 with Christian Killoughery at 10, joined also by Aussie Mick Carmody later in the season. The pairing of Tommy Ferguson and James Kemp in the centres, reprising their 2013-4 season together at Worth, was truly formidable as they plundered tries throughout the season. The back three comprised Ed Kemp, who captained the team from

Jack Bodkin (G’03), Lorenzo Belpassi (B’04), Richard Brown (F’05), Craig Monteiro (StB’05), Alex Williams (R’06), Peter Osborne (R’08), Giles Sacarello (StB’08), Kevin Danagher (StB’09), Ed Kemp (F’10), Christian Killoughery (R’10), Joe Rivers (F’10), Marco Boodramsingh (C’11), Nick Elvidge (C’11), Dom Robinson (B’11), Ben Parry (B’11), Sanche de Montesquiou (’11) Tom Cummins (C’12), Andrei Kanchelskis (StB’12), Eoin O’Connor (F’12), Finbar Tilford (F’12), Miles Bateson (B’13), Ben Derbyshire (B’13), Max Bergot (F’14), Angus Bonner (R’14), James Kemp (F’14), Hugh Murphy (B’14), Ollie Rivers (F’14), Dom Suckling (B’14), Freddy Boag-Jones (F’15), Ryan Choi (R’15), Luke Cummins (C’15), Tommy Ferguson (C’15), Will Harries (R’15), Toby Jozwiak (StB’15), Toby Pullan (C’15), Jim Salmon (R’15), George Suckling (B’15), Max Rivers (F’16).

full-back, and various wingers including George Suckling, Guy Evans, Joe Rivers, plus the multi-talented Archie Village (guest) who was comfortable in all positions from 9 to 15, and occasional games from Jamie Bruce.

From humble beginnings the WOBS rose rapidly up the table to third in the League at Christmas and then started the second half of the season with a bang by delivering a hammer blow 11-5 defeat to arch rivals Old Georgians. In February the cracks started to appear as we scraped a win against a plodding Old Guildfordians team, followed by a defeat to Amplefordians. Notwithstanding this we set ourselves the target of 5 wins out of 5 for the final games of the season to achieve promotion, and hit our top form again for three successive wins – before stumbling in the last two games against mid table teams who needed to win, bringing our promotion charge to an abrupt halt.

The season had proved just a bit too long and the absence of key players in critical games cost us dear. But it showed how the WOBS ambitions have risen, that we should not be disappointed with the Club’s highest-ever finish in Surrey 2.

Surrey 1 remains our target.

Success on the field continued into the Sevens season with the WOBS winning a sequence of 13 Sevens games on the trot and with it the Winners’ Cup in the Old Emanuel Social 7s, the Hendon 7s Cup (for the first time in 14 attempts), and the Runners-Up award in the Middlesex Vase. Luke Cummins was prominent throughout the Sevens campaign, adding real class to our Squad. The fun continued into our own domestic Sevens and Touch Rugby event – dubbed the ‘Worthians Summer Festival of Rugby’ – the report of which follows.

The annual ‘Older’ versus ‘Younger’ Worthians match took place on Sunday 11th September 2016 at Worth. On a gloriously sunny late summer afternoon the Youngers beat the Olders 60-38 despite both teams playing short. The support was boosted in no small part by the appearance of our very own Silver Olympic Medal Team GB Rugby Sevens Captain, Tom Mitchell (F’07), who presented the Glenn Robertson RFC Challenge Trophy to the Captain of the Youngers Team, James Kemp (F’14).

Desmond Calnan (R’69)

The 2016 Youngers vs Older Teams

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‘The Silver Foxes’

Summer Rugby Festival

Sport

After the success of last year’s inaugural event, the Worthians descended upon their home ground at Walton-on-Thames on Saturday 3rd September 2016 for the second instalment of the annual Summer Rugby Festival.

Big changes were made to last year’s format, including: · Organising children’s events throughout the day, to emphasise the ‘family festival’ theme. · Inviting a Ladies team to the Touch tournament – a bold move which proved very successful. · Separating the Sevens competition and the Touch Rugby competition into two events.

The weather was kind, and over 150 players and supporters were pleasantly surprised to see that the WOBS were fully organised this year. WOBS children were there in great numbers – and were kept fully involved in the day’s proceedings by a sequence of their own events every hour.

Things started quietly with a disciplined egg & spoon race, and then the excitement built with running races, before a round of children’s Tug-of-War which was soon hijacked by over-competitive parents joining in to make sure their little ones were not defeated too quickly. Keeping the ‘mini-WOBS’ fully involved made excellent sense as it meant that the parents stayed longer – and consumed more of the food and drink on offer – thus bolstering the chronically depleted funds of WOBS RFC. The Belpassi Bros provided the catering again this year with their delicious Italian meatballs, with vegetarian options, delivered by Club man Phil Swann. Pimms, beer and soft drinks were available all day, complemented by ‘Great Brington’ Colombian coffee kindly offered by Joe and Sarah Sacarello. And throughout the day players and spectators tucked into home-made cakes provided by ever-faithful WOBS supporters.

In keeping with the beautiful surroundings of Whiteley Village, the Sevens team captains adopted a ‘woodland creatures’ theme for their team names.

First up were the ‘Wise Owls’ of 2003/2004 (led by Giles Heather) against 2010/2011’s ‘Squirrels’. After an early exchange of turnovers, the Wise Owls managed to get an early try. The Squirrels, not happy at being outdone by their older opponents made use of some sublime hands to score in the corner. Tries were exchanged in a very even game, which was eventually won by the weight and wisdom of the Wise Owls, who later went on to reach the final.

Meanwhile, on the adjacent pitch, the youngest team of the day, the ‘Bambis’ of 2015/2016, took on the ‘Bears’ of 20122014. A close first half was followed by a less balanced second half with James Kemp and Fergus Ryan scoring well to get

their campaign off to a winning start, which was also good enough to take them to the final.

In the final round, there was an epic encounter between two sides trying to avoid the wooden spoon. A very open game was eventually won by the Squirrels to consign the Bears to fourth place overall. Marco Boodramsingh, usually a prop in the fifteen-a-side game, put down his marker to wear the 10 shirt this season with some deft handling and crafty use of the boot.

The battle for the winner of the Sevens Competition saw the Wise Owls facing the Bambis. The senior team were clever in their use of the ball, keeping it tight where possible, to score some good tries. However, they were unable to match the dynamic running of the younger team who were having a very fruitful day out wide, with Will de la Haye and Christy O’Brien always prominent, to come out as winners of a great day of Rugby Sevens, to give a cracking start to the WOBS season.

The separate Touch competition had a most bizarre start with a long delay while the Ladies were instructed in the Rules of Touch by impromptu Head Coach Mr Tony Ryan. The Ladies were quick to learn and were soon ready to take on the assembled group of ancient WOBS playing under the banner of ‘Silver Foxes’. With former WOBS RFC 1st XV captains Jon Nickell and Chris ‘Jacko’ Jackson (Ball) in the squad, together with the presence of Worth’s ‘most blooded’ player of all time, Mr Robert Acworth, there was always going to be a toxic mixture of competitiveness and chivalry in the encounter.

Fortunately the Foxes remembered their manners and played an enjoyable friendly against Lucy Sacarello’s band of ‘Honey Badgers’, where another Ryan – this time it was Mia – was outstanding in her rapid appreciation of the game.

Adam Braverman’s ‘Bald Eagles’ were equally competitive, with secret weapons Richard “watch that lanky one, he’s quick” Brown and an electric Dan Hyde quickly despatched the ‘Otters’ (2009-2016) in their first round. They followed this with their own encounter with the Honey Badgers, and a comfortable victory.

The Foxes then had a close (and tense) tussle with the Otters in the tightest game of the day, with both sides testing the Referee’s understanding of the offside rule. The Foxes managed to edge it with a single score by Ben Calnan.

Another bizarre feature was the double encounter between the Silver Foxes and the Bald Eagles where they first met in the pool ‘play-off’ game, drawing with 3 tries apiece… and then met again straight after that in the Final. After a long debate about the Touch Rules, the final kicked off and the Eagles grabbed an early lead. The Silver Foxes team included Ben Holloway, Lee Howard and the Calnan Trio of the Fox himself, with his two ‘fox-cubs’, Tom and Ben, but the Foxes were always chasing the game – and in their haste made handling errors, and could never recover the lead. The Bald Eagles ran out deserved winners.

At the end of the afternoon, a Grand Final was played between the Touch Competition Winners and the Sevens Competition Winners – under Touch Rugby rules of course.

Somewhat surprisingly this good-natured encounter was won by the Touch players, making the Bald Eagles the overall champions for the day. Adam Braverman received the prestigious Silver Fox Trophy with great pride and appropriate dignity; following which Nick Elvidge was presented with the Worthians RFC Player of the Season for 2015-16. The children’s day finished with a 70 metre ‘staggered start’ running race won by Amelie Holloway; while the many players and spectators who stayed to the finish were rewarded with valuable prizes from the Raffle.

Thanks must go to all those who attended and supported the Club. It was a fine spectacle and a great day out. Special mention must also go to the organising committee of Giles Sacarello, Peter Osborne, Nick Elvidge, Giles Heather, Des Calnan, Jack Bodkin and Adam Braverman. Please come again next year, as this Festival of Rugby will be an annual fun day for all players, friends and families, with the prospect of even more sports and entertainment for all ages.

Jack Bodkin (G’03), Desmond Calnan (R’69) & Nick Elvidge (C’11)

Desmond Calnan leads the Tug-of-war

‘The Honey Badgers’

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Worthians Cricket 2016 Match Report

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Sport

his season was a ‘winning season’ for the Worthians with two wins and one loss. This could have easily been improved upon but sadly poor weather resulted in two of the five fixtures being called off this year.

The season started with the usual Worthians vs School XI fixture. It was beautiful day and some very strong cricket was played by both sides. Worthians posted a reasonable total with some good batting from the likes of John Manning, Matt Donegan and Thom Wright. The School however had the upper hand from the very beginning of their innings with some strong batting partnerships throughout. The highlight of the fixture certainly was Max Rivers hitting the Worthians bowling for 3 sixes in a row to win the game. Although on the surface this was rather humiliating, it bodes well for the future with Max and many of the other school players being eligible to play for the Worthians next season.

The next game was the Worthians vs Occasionals. We won the toss, chose to bowl and produced some of the best spells of Worthian bowling I have seen for some time.

Wickets were shared evenly between Charlie Forbes, Greg Russell, Thomas Bilbé, Michael Bilbé and Warwick Symcox.

The Occasionals were in some real trouble on 40-6 but managed to pull it back to a respectable 105 all out. With a strong batting line up the Worthians chased down the total with ease, special mention goes to Charlie Gairdner, Thom Wright and Matt Donegan for strong batting performances.

The final game of the season was against St Chad’s on the Oval pitch. Worthians won the toss and got off to a good start, with openers Joe Rivers and James Innes dealing well with a tricky wicket. Highlighted by some typical clean hitting down the ground – one enormous straight six nearly landing on the bowler’s Porsche – Innes moved to a quickfire 63 before being caught. After a few wickets, the ship was steadied by an excellent partnership between Theo Rivers and Matt Donegan. Rivers scored a particularly fluent 58, and Donegan, dealing almost exclusively in sixes and slow singles, scored 47. With an enthusiastic 25 from Hugo Bashall at the death, Worthians ended their 35 over innings with a score of 234-6. Consensus at tea was that given the state of the pitch this was an excellent total, and Worthians took the field with confidence. Immediately, the Worthians began to create chances, with Greg Russell striking in the first over. A series of sharp catches from Tom Wright, Ed Watson, Luke Cummins and Tom Planterose (wk) kept the pressure on, and the bowlers worked well as a unit with wickets for Cummins, Watson, Theo Rivers and Charlie Forbes. Special mention must go to Russell, who returned figures of 9 for 3 off 7 overs and was a constant threat. In the end, St Chad’s were all out for 99, sealing a comfortable 135 run win for Worthians. Man of the match went to Theo Rivers for scoring 58 and taking 18 for 2 off 6.

Michael Bilbé (StB’06)

The following Worthians represented the Worthian Cricket Team during the 2016 Season: Charlie Gairdner (StB’01) Ed Long (G’03) Hugo Bashall (R’06) Michael Bilbé (StB’06) Thomas Bilbé (StB’06)

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Tom Plantarose (R’06) Ed Hall-Smith (R’07) Warwick Symcox (R’07) Tomas Wright (B’08) Charlie Forbes (StB’09)

Ed Watson (StB’09) Ben Wright (B’09) Matt Donegan (StB’10) John Manning (C’10) Jo Rivers (F’10)

Worth Society Life

Theo Rivers (F’11) Greg Russell (F’11) Oli Rivers (F’14) Luke Cummins (C’15)

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Worthians Golf 2015-2016 Season

Last year 13 Worthians spent the weekend at Donnington Valley, near Newbury. The meeting was a great success although the course was somewhat of a ‘concussion corner’ and calls of ‘Fore’ could be heard echoing around the course at regular intervals. Graham Hutchings (G’05), not for the first time, won the Salver with a splendid 39 points with Rory Pickard (StB’11) close on his heels, and Dad, Simon (StB’78), scoring 32 as an honourable third place. Not to be outdone, another Pickard, Jamie (StB’13), won the longest drive as well as a nearest the pin at two short holes, and I managed to scrape in with the remaining nearest the pin prize.

In May we visited Moor Park Golf Club in

Northwood, for our annual Spring Meeting.

The venue has become firmly fixed in our diary. The course is always in excellent condition and the hospitality is on a ‘par’ with a 5 star country hotel (but still reasonably priced). Several Worthians found it difficult to pull themselves away from the beautiful dining room for the afternoon golf round (see photograph).

Once again the indomitable Graham Hutchings came to the forefront winning the Worth Rose Bowl with 33 points, whilst Dominic Pasqua (B’76), with the same score, lost on countback. Paul Moran (G’94) came a close third, beating me on countback with 32 points. Graham also flexed his muscles to win the longest drive, whilst prizes for nearest the pin were awarded to Paul Moran (two), Dominic Pasqua and self. The event will be held there again next year.

Each year we have competed in the Grafton Morrish Public Schools Scratch Stableford Foursomes Competition, and the Russell Bowl Catholic Public Schools Competition at

Woking Golf Club. Regrettably, for the first time, for a variety of reasons including injuries etc., we were unable to enter teams for either event, although I have every confidence that this situation will be rectified next year.

Our cohort of members remains much the same with one or two new members joining each year, and others being posted abroad.

We would welcome any Worthians, high or low handicaps; so should you be interested please contact me by email at kandbaway@gmail.com The final event of the season was the annual match against the Old Gregorians at Royal Ashdown Forest. Worth was represented by Patrick Davey (C’01), Phillip Davey (F’04), Greg Pickard (StB’81), Peter Gottelier (R’70), Hugh Maguire (R’77), Simon Ross (G’98) and myself. I am pleased to report that we won – a good place to close this annual round up of news.

Ken Ross (G’65)

Worthians Squash 2015-2016 Season

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he first match against the School took place on Saturday 14th November 2015 and unfortunately, due to injuries and unavailability, only three Worthians were able to play. They were: Guy Salimbeni (F’07), Ben Oakley (St B06) and Matthew Doggett (F’07). Yet again, the Worthians proved too strong and experienced for the current Worth team, although there were some close matches.

Brooke Benwell put up a strong performance against Guy before injuring herself and having to stop. Ben Oakley played Alex D’Amario and won a close match 3-2.

Matthew Doggett, with his usual determination and tenacity, beat the Worth number one, Oliver Whittam, 3-1. We then had a very enjoyable lunch at the Cowdray Arms to refresh ourselves.

The second match of the season, on Sunday 20th March 2016, coincided with the Worthians Football Tournament and was arranged to start at 11.30am, so they would finish in good time to either watch, or participate in, the various football matches taking place on the same day. Des Calnan (R’69), Bobby Acworth (C’81), Tom Carter (C’99), Thomas Lewis (G’05), Ben Oakley (F’08) and Matthew Hay (R’13) all came along to play.

The wide range of ages led to a fascinating set of styles of play as they played one another in a series of matches. Again it was a pleasure to watch Desmond Calnan on court against his younger opponents, his guile and experience ensuring victory against all apart from Bobby Acworth, who turned out to be the eventual overall winner.

We are much looking forward to arranging further squash fixtures in November and March and wholeheartedly encourage any Worthian who enjoys the game (at whatever level!) to come along and join us. If you’re interested, then please do get in touch with Mary Lou at worthsociety@worth.org.uk

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s I write this report we are enjoying possibly the end of our Indian summer, and my hope is that our October Autumn Meeting at The Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club will be played in fine weather enhanced by some autumnal colours! We have a group of 17 players and the Worth Salver will be keenly contested.

Worthians Football 2016 Match Report

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his was a special occasion for me both personally and professionally.

I have decided to take early retirement and set up a property rental business in the South of France, so this was my last time playing for the Worth teachers team. I will however continue to organise the tournament and serve on the Worth Society Committee.

This year’s competition was a close run affair with the Teachers winning the H Trophy and the School 1st XI defeating the Worthian U23s.

The football is important but the day is special because it reunites friends and families. Henry Surtees’ year group is especially important to the proceedings and they continue

to be well represented on and off the pitch and it was lovely to see, amongst others, the Forbes and Bradley families on the touch line.

Once again we were fortunate to have John Surtees CBE in attendance. He is so pleased to see the boys compete for the Henry Surtees Memorial Trophy and spends time talking to parents, past and present students, and the Abbot whilst supporting the teams. After the matches we all meet in The Pitstop (named in memory of Henry) for the presentations and a beer!

I always introduce John, conscious that I am in the company of a sporting legend. I do try my best to explain to the current students, the Worthians and everyone else assembled why he is so special, but as always in his

The following Worthians played in the 2016 Football Tournament: Under 23s Team Captain: Alex Davis-White (B’14) John Manning (C’10) Joseph Rivers (F’10) Matthew Stagnetto (B’10) Harry Woodman (F’10) Tim Long (B’11)

Andrei Kanchelski (StB’12) Miles Bateson (B’13) Luke Donegan (StB’13) James Kemp (F’14) Brennan Alleyne (StB’15) Matt Kaaber-Gore (C’15)

Over 23s Team Captain: Charles Forbes (StB’09) Dale Bellis (F’03) Ed Long (G’03) James Potten (C’03) Mark Bannister (C’06) James Innes (C’06)

Andrew Talty (StB’08) Tom Wade (F’08) Oliver Wright (StB’08) Joseph Bradley (F’09) Edward Kemp (F’10)

The 2016 Over 23s Team

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Left: 2016 Captains; Alex Davis-White (B’14), John Everest, Charles Forbes (StB’09) and Max Rivers (F’16) Right: John Surtees presents Max Rivers with the Henry Surteese Memorial Trophy

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unassuming way he plays things down and then says a few words about his sporting prowess. This time he explained how he nearly became a professional footballer instead of a Grand Prix World Champion!

John presented the H Award to John Everest, the Captain of the Teachers Team. It is the first time the Teachers have won the competition so I was personally delighted! All those Thursday nights playing 5-aside on the Astro paid off! Then John presented The Henry Surtees Memorial Trophy to Max Rivers, Captain of the 1st XI. The Rivers Family have been great supporters of the School, not just in the football season as they are all outstanding cricketers, and Max is a mean rugby player too! It seems an appropriate time to say thank you to Joe, Theo, Ollie and Max for all their years of service, but also to Mr and Mrs Rivers. You know the really super thing? I will see them all again next year!

Andy Taylor

In Many Ways the Perfect Venue If you are looking for a venue to host a special party, hire sports facilities or hold a business seminar, our stunning location, facilities and dedicated support staff will provide everything you need.

Throughout the year Worth School’s facilities are available to hire, primarily during the school holidays, but, depending on the nature of the event, term-time lettings can sometimes be accommodated.

In addition, Worth Abbey’s ‘The Open Cloister’ gives you the opportunity to leave the hustle and bustle of life behind and the chance to rest, refresh and reflect in our purpose-built retreat centre.

You are invited to attend our day or residential retreats which are run by members of our Monastic Community and Lay Collaborators.

If you would like to find out more about Worth Abbey Projects, please call us on 01342 710318 or email lettings@worth.org.uk or visit www.worth.co.uk

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Our Olympic Silver Champion

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could easily be applied to a glorious summer which will no doubt define the 27-year-old’s life. Instead, though, Tom was actually talking about the Worth School side captained by Ed Armstrong, son of former Head Master Peter Armstrong.

It may be nine years since Tom, who ended up as Head Boy, left Worth but the School still plays a big part in his life. That may be partly because his father, Alan, still teaches sport at the School, but perhaps more so because he appreciates and is grateful for what Worth gave him. That, in essence, was a platform to achieve both academically and on the sporting field through teaching him about a sense of belonging, feeling part of a community and a perspective on life.

“It was a great team and we had a fabulous time”, enthused Olympic silver medallist Tom Mitchell (F’07) This summer Tom Mitchell became the first Worthian to win a medal at a Summer Olympics when he captained the Great Britain Rugby Sevens squad to silver at the Rio Games.

But the side that performed so heroically before losing to Fiji in the final was not ‘the team’ Mitchell was referring to when he made that statement. Of course, similar words

His memories are good ones. “A lot of them are in rugby and other sports,” said Tom. “I always loved the sport side of things, I loved being in teams at Worth. I particularly have fond memories of my final year and the 1st XV team we had in that final year. We were a year that struggled a little bit in Years 9 and 10, we lost a lot of matches and then even in Lower Sixth we didn’t have a hugely successful year but we were building and it just clicked for us in our final year, captained by my good friend Ed Armstrong.

“Ed did a really good job – in a similar way to what we had with GB – of just bringing the guys together. We all had this common purpose of buying into it for each other, it was a really good spirit in the team and that translated to good results.

“I have good memories of that. But I really enjoyed other aspects of the School as well. If I’m honest, I was never

Tom in action during the Olympic Final against Fiji

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particularly excited about the academic side of things but when I look back at the opportunities it gave me – because I was encouraged to maximise my potential academically – then I am fortunate and grateful I was encouraged to do that because it then had a knock on effect that I was able to go to the university I wanted to and things like that.”

Our Olympic Silver Champion continued

When Tom returned to Worth with his silver medal in September, there were plenty of people waiting to greet him: some he did not know particularly well, such as the current pupils and some of the new staff including the Head Master; but also many others from his time at the School who had a firm handshake or a warm embrace.

Tom will say himself there are many people at Worth who have helped to shape his career and indeed his life. Asked to pick out major influences, though, there were a couple of names that rolled off the tongue.

He said, “It is difficult to do this justice because there are a lot of people I would like to thank over the years. A lot of people have had an influence perhaps more than they have ever realised and certainly more than I realised. Going back to my final year we were coached by Brian Sullivan who was here then. He was a brilliant rugby coach. It was the first time I had really decided to back myself and a lot of that was

because of the confidence that he instilled in me. He always encouraged me to have a broader mind set about the game.

That development set me up well going forward into the leadership I took on with England Students, at university and now with England Sevens and GB. “Also my dad has been an amazing influence. It was rough with the smooth having your dad as a teacher at School.

There were times when you think you get the raw end of the stick, certainly in his PE classes, getting stick from the other boys. But certainly, in terms of backing me, supporting me, having belief in me, he was a massive supporter and has been all the way through. I distinctly remember when he was coaching my team here in Years 9 and 10, he often says I should have backed myself more. In a way I wish I had listened to him more a bit earlier on. I am certainly very grateful for his support and it was very special to have him, my mum and my sister in Rio as well.”

One thing Tom didn’t have in Rio was a pint of beer with his mates. That’s hardly surprising, considering he was captaining his country in the greatest sporting show on earth; it is not the done thing in the modern age when expectations, media focus and a seeming willingness to knock people off their perch appears to be greater than ever. However, it is certainly something Tom missed.

Tom meeting students during his visit to Worth in September

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His mates, many of them from Worth School, remain big parts of his life and he will not let anything compromise those friendships, although he knows he needs to maintain standards as a professional sportsman.

Tom said, “I am still very close with a lot of my school mates.

I live with two guys at the moment who I was with at Worth.

Last year there were six of us living in a house who were all Worthians, and I still meet up regularly in London with a lot of the guys.

“I have been a bit of a recluse for the last year leading up to the Olympics because going out and having beers on Saturday night was not really on the schedule! Hopefully now that things have calmed down a bit we will be able to reconnect.

Tom playing rugby during his school days at Worth

“We have a very strong bond, particularly in our year. We were very fortunate to have a good group. We try to stay close. It is our ten year reunion coming up next year and, as Head Boy, it is probably my job to organise that. It will be nice to see some people. I don’t know what it is like at other schools but the efforts people make to keep in touch are good and people do that because we did have something very special. We spent at least five years here together, growing up, sharing experiences and they are big years of your development.”

When he returned to Worth in September, Tom made a speech in assembly and later helped out in coaching sessions. He admitted he felt a bit awkward coming back as the centre of attention and certainly rebuffed any suggestion of being a ‘celebrity’. The day was certainly a long one but within a couple of hours of finishing he had posted on Twitter about how great it had been to be back at his old school. The sentiments were genuine.

Tom said, “It was great coming back. It’s not something I ever thought I would be doing, coming back and speaking about an Olympic Games. I always thought if I came back to make a speech at School they would probably be scraping the bottom of the barrel! It’s nice to have something that I feel is worth speaking about.

“I am fortunate in that I get to come back and visit quite a lot but I don’t always have a chance to mix with the students. It was good to do some coaching and it was nice to see the excitement on those Year 7 faces when they saw the medal.

“The welcome I got was very special. After we won the silver medal, what made it so fulfilling for me was being able to share in the success with the people you represent. That was friends and family that are close to me, but also the School. A lot of people told me they watched it on television and knowing that we have that link makes the success so worthwhile for me.”

Interview by Howard Griggs, Worth School’s Digital Marketing Manager

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Meet Anthony Ward Thomas (B’76), Master Remover and Adventurer Tell us about your time at Worth I started two days earlier than everybody else. My parents sent me down with a driver and I was literally left at the front door with my trunk. I remember Sister Edie being quite surprised, but she found me a bed in a dorm, and I spent the next couple of days investigating the place, which was great as I was able to show all the other new boys where everything was when they turned up.

What was your fondest memory?

Not sure about ‘fondest’ but I remember ‘borrowing’ Fr Kevin’s yellow Escort one evening to come back to find Fr Kev standing in the middle of the drive. I rushed in, got into bed, and a few moments later a torch was shone in my face and I knew I was ‘for it’ in the morning.

• Born London 1958 • Arrived at Worth (2 days too early) in 1971, Butler House

Another memory that stands out was that there was a Sixth Form bar at that time at the top of the main house. For a lark we decided to throw a rope out of the window and about 14 of us pulled a chap up to the window. Unfortunately the poor guy was bashed by every window ledge on his way up and arrived at the top covered in blood with a dislocated elbow and several broken fingers!

There was a rumour that you were expelled?

No I wasn’t, but I probably should have been!

• Excelled at sport – wanted to be a professional cricketer. Was not to be • Trained on London Metal Exchange, became travelling salesman before setting up removals company aged 27 • Anthony Ward-Thomas Master Removers now has annual turnover in excess of £20m, operates more than 100 vehicles and counts Cate Blanchett, Boris Johnson and the Archbishop of Canterbury as clients • Enjoys a challenge; completed the 1000 mile Mongol Derby in Mongolia riding wild horses and has attempted to cross the Atlantic in a pedalo • Has been an amateur jockey (even rode in a movie), and owns several racehorses

Who was your biggest influence at Worth and what do you think makes it such a special place.

Keith Owers, without question, and Glenn Robertson who was a great sportsman.

One of the appeals of Worth for me was that it was a small School and I always got in the 1st XI, not because I was particularly good but because everyone got a chance to play. It makes you raise your game when you’re playing bigger boys from bigger Schools. If I’d gone to Eton or Ampleforth I would never have got into the 1st teams.

People often ask me what is so special about Worth and I say it’s the fact that I am still friends now with the friends I had then.

Did your parents wish you to follow in any other footsteps?

My Mother wanted me to be a guards officer, go to Oxford, and work in the Foreign Office!

How did you fall into the removal business?

• Proud father of 5 • Played drums in Nashville concert for twin daughter’s country music band

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After being moved into a flat in Clapham by a national removal company where I found the removals men trying on my shoes, I decided to buy my own business. I haven’t looked back since.

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

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What do you think is the secret to your success?

The only key skill I think I have is man-management; not the detail, but the pastoral side of it. People work for us because they want to be there, working with me, not for me. There are now 500 people working for us and they’re all doing a better job than I can do so I’m not there much!

What have been your more interesting moves?

There’ve been plenty of disasters. We’ve moved lots of celebrities, and the interesting thing is the ones you think will be difficult usually turn out to be lovely, and the ones you think will be great turn out to be the nightmare. Keira Knightley drove in the van with all the boys, and Simon Cowell and David Schwimmer were really nice blokes.

A funny story was when we moved the Archbishop of Canterbury, one of the Aussie lads, said “great place you’ve got here mate, what do you do?” We’ve also installed an enormous Vatican fireplace in West London for a client which made my heart miss a beat when I saw it dangling from a forklift.

Tell us about your Pedal the Ocean Challenge?

Someone suggested an Atlantic crossing of some sort and I thought I could probably pedal it. We built a fantastic boat, well made and designed which took a year and I linked up with fellow adventurer, James Ketchell. The end of January

is supposed to be the perfect time to make the crossing as you have the northerly wind to take you down to join the easterly which takes you across, and we were doing quite well until Storm Imogen appeared! We did 770 miles – 110 in one day – until Force 7 kicked in and we were unable to move for 20 hours locked in the one man cabin battling claustrophobia. We contacted Falmouth for a 48 weather forecast who predicted Force 8 to 9 winds from the north, creating a whirlpool effect. It was like being in a washing machine, being whacked by a cricket bat in the pitch black with the two of us rolling on top of each other. So we called the cavalry. They came 20 hours later, they couldn’t lift us in the dark and couldn’t reach us in the day as the waves were so big. There was this 200m long tanker with a Chinese crew throwing ropes down to us, rather than a pilot ladder, and we were either under the curvature of the boat, or almost level with the deck, depending on the swell!

So no more challenges involving the sea?

No. I was fit enough, but possibly not totally prepared mentally, but we raised £55,000 for Naomi House Hospice for children and young adults, so it was worth it.

What’s the next challenge?

Namibia in October for The Wild Coast of South Africa Horse Race. 500 miles on proper horses this time, not wild ponies like Mongolia.

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Meet Anthony Ward Thomas, Master Remover and Adventurer continued

You obviously have a great love of horses.

Yes I have 5 racehorses – watch out for ‘Let him Go’ who’s one of them! I stopped riding competitively a couple of years ago – my last ride was at Aintree when one of my stirrups broke and the other disappeared leaving me like a rag doll at each fence.

I believe you’ve even starred in a movie.

Yes, Summer in February it was called, about Arthur Mullins.

Dan Stevens and Dominic Cooper were in it, but there was a scene with a point to point in Cornwall and I knew the producer who wondered if I fancied doing some stunt riding. I said yes, as long as I won the race!

Tell us about your multi-talented children My 22 year-old twin girls formed a country music band called ‘Ward Thomas’ and have now been signed by Sony, so they are going a bit more mainstream (latest album Cartwheels out now). They try and tell a story through their songs, so you need to listen carefully to the lyrics. When

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they performed in Nashville, in the National Football Stadium which takes 80,000 people, I said to Bobby the drummer, “you look a bit tired” and so he let me step in – so thanks to Sammy Bryant who taught me to drum at Worth!

My son Tom is 28 and is a fantastic singer and very creative.

He wrote and performed in a play recently in the Tristan Bates Theatre in the West End called One of Those which had a 3-week run. It was fairly autobiographical and unbelievably good.

But I’m very proud of all my kids.

You are quite an inspiration to young Worthians. What would your advice be to any budding entrepreneurs out there?

It’s very simple. Don’t try to be too clever, or reinvent the wheel. Pick something you are moderately interested in and aim to do it better than the competition.

Interviewed by May Lou Burge, Worth Society Manager

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

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Worth to Walt Disney

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Chris as a student at Worth

hen I took Fr Mark’s AS Level Media Studies class in the year 2000, I had no idea I would end up making a career out of movies. As a student at Worth I didn't really have a particular area of strength, being more likely to be found spending time with the Rutherford boys in the Sixth Form Centre or on the golf course than in the study block. When I left Worth in 2002, I went to Bath University to study Economics and Politics, a course I chose because it suited my broad interests not because I desperately wanted to be an economist or a politician. Once again my strengths at university were probably more on the social side than the academic; I loved playing rugby and couldn't wait for the long summer holidays when I was able to travel abroad for a couple of months and experience somewhere and something new.

The third year at University was a ‘placement year’, to be spent working in industry, so I worked as an Analyst for ExxonMobil, the US oil company. It was definitely not my dream job but it taught me valuable lessons about hard work, the office environment and perhaps the most important lesson: what I did not want to do. It had just taken me a little time to figure that out.

In the period after University, I went to work in finance in London for about three years. All my friends had done a similar thing and it was an easy transition, but it certainly wasn't fulfilling me professionally. Unsure what career would satisfy me I took some time off and travelled around the world for a while. It was an incredible 9 months, probably the best of my life, but I returned to the UK without much career insight and with significantly less money in my bank account. Thankfully, after calling around and trying to find a short-term job to tide me over while I made up my mind long term, I got a job as an extra on a film set in London. I instantly loved the energy and the organised chaos of a movie set. A few weeks later I had bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and made up my mind that the movie industry was for me.

Happy to have decided on a path and excited to get stuck in, as soon as I hit the ground in Los Angeles I was calling studios, agencies and a variety of marketing companies – this was Hollywood after all! I ended up getting my first break at a British-owned Public Relations firm, working in their LA office. My first position was as an assistant where I answered phones, arranged peoples’ schedules and scanned relevant

Organising a photo call in front of a R2-D2 themed jumbo jet with the cast of the film

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Worth to Walt Disney continued The final tour for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Shanghai

news articles. Needless to say that wasn't exactly what I had envisioned as my big Hollywood job but I stuck at it and within 18 months was working hands-on, shaping publicity campaigns for some big movies. I learnt a lot about the industry as an assistant and about the process of independent movie marketing: arranging press junkets, premieres, international tours and the distribution of materials like posters, production notes and generic interviews. Having worked at DDA for just over three years, attending Cannes and various other film festivals, working on the global press tour for The Hunger Games, as well as numerous other films, and having made lots of new friends and contacts in the industry I was approached by Disney to come and handle international PR for some of their slate. This was a situation I couldn't have imagined just 5 years prior.

My current role is Director of Global Publicity for Walt Disney Studios. I am in charge of the international PR campaigns for the Star Wars movies and various other Disney Live Action titles (Maleficent, Saving Mr Banks and Pirates of the Caribbean). A typical day involves talking to our European offices in the morning due to the time difference, working on strategy for debuting new film content and materials, speaking to various filmmakers and actor representatives, approving interview requests and then speaking to our Asian offices in the evening. Last year ended with a career highlight with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens which grossed over $2 billion dollars worldwide and holds the record for the highest grossing movie of all time in both the US and the UK. I had travelled with the film to Japan, Mexico, China, UK, Germany and France as well as managing other trips to Korea and Australia as well.

I am thankful that my job allows me to travel back to the UK regularly and I keep up with my Worth friends whenever possible. I’m actually getting married in a few weeks in Charleston, South Carolina and Sam Middlehurst (R ’02), James Madsen (B ’02), Otto Blom (R ’02), Danny O’Connell (R ’02) and Tom Podbury (C ’02) are my Best Man and Ushers.

Chris Coxall (R’02)

Right: The Disney building in Burbank, CA where Chris is based Far right: With Chewbacca on board the Millennium Falcon

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My first position was as an assistant where I answered phones, arranged peoples’ schedules and scanned relevant news articles. Needless to say that wasn't exactly what I had envisioned as my big Hollywood job...

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My Year in China

A hutong is the name for an old Chinese alleyway, and her home was in a maze of them surrounding Tiananmen Square, the central point of Beijing.

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An example of Beijing Pollution

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eijing is a weird and wonderfully diverse city: a mixture of tradition and modernity, wide highways and narrow alleyways, upmarket restaurants and street stalls. Despite the modern expansion of glass skyscrapers and the influx of KFC, so much of the traditional Chinese culture remains intact. I love the lack of rush to become ‘Western’ and the lack of need to speak English.

The city is so unique; developed yet sticking firmly with its traditional roots.

In September 2014 I flew to Beijing to study Mandarin at Peking University on my year abroad from Edinburgh University. I studied at the Department for Foreign Languages in an extremely international class: French, German, Norwegian, Japanese, American, Russian and North Korean. Meeting people from all walks of life with a mutual interest in China and the Chinese language was fascinating. Even more fascinating was to be with the two North Korean men, who wore badges of Kim Jong-un and were not allowed to socialise beyond the classroom with non-North Koreans.

in my host-Mother’s friend’s traditional ‘hutong' courtyard home. She inherited the home from her father, who was given it when he was in the army.

A hutong is the name for an old Chinese alleyway, and her home was in a maze of them surrounding Tiananmen Square, the central point of Beijing. Such traditional homes are quite rare nowadays as many have given way to modern buildings. We cycled from her home alongside the Forbidden City walls, gave the guards a hi-five, and turned the corner to cycle across the front of Tiananmen Square under the famous portrait of Mao. It was an incredible opportunity, to stay in such an ancient building that was so close to such iconic sights.

I arrived in Beijing hoping to live with a Chinese family, and quickly found out that finding a homestay in a new city is easier said than done! But, after two stressful weeks in a hotel trying to set up a life using broken Chinese, I was introduced to a Mum, Dad and 12-year old son. They completely took me under their wing as one of the family and could not have been more lovely.

Choosing to live in a homestay meant I had less freedom than living with my friends in dorms or a flat. My family were not strict, but university life is extremely different in China.

Students are less independent, and there is a lot of pressure from both society and families to do well. This means that timetables can be quite intense – lessons start at 8am (I had four 8ams a week!) and some go on after dinner, as well as compulsory PE and English lessons for the Chinese students.

Perhaps unlike university in the UK, socialising comes second and is in different forms. Although there are many clubs and bars, clubbing isn’t particularly popular in China, and considered more of a ‘Western’ thing. Students would prefer to go for dinner, or to karaoke.

I wanted to respect this difference in culture, and spend time with the family to immerse myself as much as possible in an ‘authentic’ experience. I may have lost a few nights out, but I gained more valuable opportunities to spend Chinese New Year with the whole family; speak Chinese over dinner every night; chat with the Grandmother about life during Mao’s China, be taken to Xi’an on a ‘girls weekend away’ by the Mum and so on.

Living in Beijing for a year also meant I had the chance to understand and explore the city beyond the typical tourist sites. One of my most memorable experiences was staying Bamboo Rafting in Guilin, Guangxi Province

St Joseph’s Cathedral, Wangfujing

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My Year in China continued A Chinese KFC

During the winter, temperatures dropped so drastically that it was too cold to cycle from home into university. This is when I truly understood just how packed Beijing is! Getting on the bus in the morning was an experience in itself: I witnessed countless scenes of people pushing through large crowds that spilled onto the road, and refusing to step off the bus when the doors couldn’t close. Safe to say, I had my fair share of being squashed against a window, door or Chinese man. Coming back to London after a year, I had to remind myself not to push my way onto the tube if I wanted to stand a chance of getting on.

Cycling on Tiananmen Square in front of The Forbidden City

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What really struck me throughout the year was the ability to control this vast amount of people. A prime example was the November 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC). Obama visited Beijing and, just like that, the city came to a standstill. Everyone was given a week’s holiday to clear the city of congestion, and cars could only drive for one day during the week. Every single train leaving the capital was fully booked. Control even extended to the weather. Much of Beijing’s pollution is from factories in

Hebei Province which encircles the city – factory workers were given a holiday, and the common pollution was swapped for fresh blue skies, hence the media term ‘APEC blue’. It was an impressive switch in air-quality when the important people were in Beijing!

Despite the pollution, Beijing is home to many parks, where toddlers run around wearing crotchless trousers (something I never understood!) and old people do ‘tai chi’ and daily exercises. The energy of elderly Chinese people was a cultural aspect that I found extremely striking.

The 76-year old grandfather of my ‘Chinese family’ was immensely proud of having been the same weight for 40 years – he rode around Beijing on an electric scooter with the grandmother, played an hour of badminton every day, and was known to race us home on his bike.

Going to Church in China was an experience in itself.

Catholicism is one of the five officially recognised religions in China, under the ‘Chinese Catholic Church’ – one cannot officially be both a Roman Catholic and a Chinese citizen.

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To simplify a complicated and sometimes grey area: if a Vatican-approved Catholic priest is not approved by the Chinese state, they will not practice in China. A few priests are recognised by both entities, but are ultimately appointed by, and answer to, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association – a state-run organisation.

I wasn’t sure if, as a foreigner, it was wise to go to Church, or how I would find a Roman Catholic Church. I ventured, only once, to Beijing’s Chinese Catholic Cathedral – St Joseph’s – in Wangfujing, Beijing’s most famous shopping district. An old, beautiful building, surrounded by Gucci, Armani and Prada. The traditional building, mass order and familiar translated hymns, all seemed just as they are in a Roman Catholic Church. Yet it didn’t feel right, being led and watched over by the Chinese Government. Judging by the security cameras and a man standing outside with an earpiece, it quite literally was!

understand the people and their culture. Travelling to China can have a stigma attached to it of being far too difficult to navigate, too foreign or uninteresting, but it is the complete opposite. I cannot recommend it enough. After all, where else could you see a weekend ‘marriage market’ in the local park, climb the un-maintained Great Wall and bamboo raft down a river…

Louise Moon (StM’12) Graduated from Edinburgh University with 2:1 in Chinese (MA Hons), 2016 Starting News Journalism MA at City University, London, Sep 2016

After a few months I was told about Roman Catholic Mass being held in the Canadian Embassy on Sundays, which I attended from then on. The congregation had to hand in their passports and scan their bags upon arrival. Mass was said by Roman Catholic missionary priests, and were therefore not government-sanctioned. Although the Government knows it is happening, they do not stop it, however, only foreigners are allowed to attend. It definitely felt different attending church in an embassy hall, but it was authentic and uncontrived; I much preferred it to the Cathedral.

There is so much more I could say about my year living in Beijing – it was an incredible experience that not only hugely improved my Mandarin, but helped me to

Top: Louise with her ‘Chinese Family’ at The Great Wall Above: Louise with her ‘Chinese Grandparents’

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Ice, Snow and Awesome Artists

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am an architect who grew up in tropical Hong Kong and not particularly good at handling the cold weather; my partner Annie Hanauer is a contemporary dancer who grew up in Minnesota and can handle the harsh Midwest cold like a champion. Armed with these complementary skills, a large dose of fearlessness and a hint of naivety, we submitted a concept proposal for an international competition to design and construct one of IceHotel Sweden’s 20 specially commissioned Art Suites. An acceptance email arrived in our inboxes in April 2015, confirming we’d been selected by the jurors to join other teams of international artists to build the 26th edition of IceHotel, in the small and tranquil Sami town of Jukkasjärvi, 200km north of the Arctic Circle.

We spent the next 6 months developing the design through iterations of drawings, model making and prototyping with homemade ice blocks from large water-filled balloons. Our design, the Cairn Forest, used cairns of ice to mark the paths of visitors from around the world crossing at IceHotel and highlight the raw beauty of ice drawn up from the Torne River. Taking inspiration from dry stone stacking, and the counterbalances that can be achieved through this ancient technique, we proposed to shape the suite with cairns of stacked ice of different sizes and shapes. They would create a labyrinthine environment for visitors to explore, with the stacks growing in density and height as they progressed from the entrance to the back wall. Visitors would pick their way through the balanced cairns, both towering and tiny,

Ice Hotel Bed

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transparent and opaque, lit with an internal glow, to arrive at their destination – the bed, surrounded by stacked bricks of ice, which would create a snug cocoon to rest peacefully.

We anticipated our design would have to adapt to some unforeseen circumstances so we kept an open mind throughout this period of design development. For example, our bodies and work rate would probably be affected by working 10 hours a day in a constant minus 15-degree Celsius environment; we were not able to accurately predict how ice would behave as a building material at life-size scale; we had no experience in operating heavy duty tools and machinery. The list of uncertainties was long but our curiosity and excitement kept us going. We could not wait to jump on that plane and begin the build.

Flying through the misty Nordic clouds our flight landed at a snow-covered airport just before lunch time. By the time we finished lunch and picked up our bulky work clothes, the sky outside was already completely pitch black. We soon learnt this pattern would repeat for the next 14 days of our stay: sunrise after breakfast a little before 9am, and sunset soon after lunch around 1:30pm. We did, however, get lucky with the dramatic Northern Lights, and being able to watch the sky dancing ferociously in hues of green and purple was one of the most magical moments we'd ever experienced.

Our group of talented, enthusiastic and friendly international artists came from all corners of the world. The furthest was Argentina and the closest was Kiruna, a neighbouring Swedish town known for having the largest underground iron-ore mine in the world. To our surprise, we soon found out that only 4 teams, including us, were complete icenovices; there were a number of ice-veterans who had been building and making art for the IceHotel since its inception 27 years ago in 1989.

Back then it was the world's first hotel made entirely out of ice and snow. The founders chose Jukkasjärvi for one very special reason: uninterrupted access to the Torne River. The river produces the most amazingly crystal clear, bubble and frost free ice thanks to a combination of fast flowing water current and rapid drop in temperature at the beginning of winter. Each ice block is a frozen artefact where traces of nature - pine needles, dried flower petals, even small fish –

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can get trapped inside and suspend in time. It was particularly fascinating for us to discover the complete lifecycle that formed around the river and the IceHotel: ice blocks from the river were used as building materials; water from the river was used as a joining adhesive; the tap water was by far the freshest that any of us could have ever drunk, and the hotel even brewed a special batch of tasty beer with water from the river! When the hotel began its slow melting process under the gentle April sun, every part of the build would turn into water and return to the river once more. If there was ever an example that epitomises the perfect circular economy in architecture and design this would have been it.

Ice, Snow and Awesome Artists continued

Operating alongside the international artists was a dedicated team of specialist builders working tirelessly around the clock to construct the iconic barrel-vaulted structural envelope with "snice" (snow mixed with ice to give added water content and strength) and get it ready for us to start building our Art Suites. There was also a dedicated support team who managed the logistics of the build and welfare of the artists. They taught us how to use chainsaw and ice chisels safely, gave us tips on ways to manoeuvre big and heavy ice blocks more efficiently, showed us tricks to level uneven ice surfaces with a board full of sharp nails, and demonstrated how to make strong, tight joints by using a heated flat steel plate to melt a thin layer of ice between the blocks.

Above: Matt sawing Opposite: Detail and Concept Drawing

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The first few days were utterly overwhelming. Our fingers were constantly frozen due to our gloves getting wet from handling ice blocks over an extended period of time; we consumed an ample amount of meat and potatoes with cream sauce and lingonberry jam to sustain our energy level in the cold; we over-exhausted ourselves from chainsawing, lifting and moving heavy ice blocks into position. Since the

technique of cairn building is all about finding the sweet spot of almost improbable balance, we set up lots of trials to ensure the largest ice blocks (circa. 80cm x 50cm x 20cm), each weighing at least 60kg, wouldn’t fall onto sleeping guests or get knocked over by excited visitors. The lessons we learnt were invaluable but they also confirmed our expectation that a large chunk of the pre-designed work would have to be discarded. In the end, we decided to make design decisions as and when we cut the ice, one piece at a time.

Towards the end of the 14-day build we began to get used to the working rhythm. Our architect friend Mei Chan joined us from London and soon we found ourselves confidently putting finishing touches to the ice blocks like we'd been working with the material for years. With the help of the lighting design team and a couple of volunteers, we finished the build right on time for the group presentation evening. Everybody from the canteen staff to the builders gathered to listen to the artists present their designs, getting a first look at the completed Art Suites and celebrating the vision and hard work of the entire team. We even slept in our freshly completed room, which in itself was a surreal and surprisingly pleasant experience.

True to the Scandinavian ethos of a healthy work-life balance, the IceHotel provided us with outdoor activities, good parties and a relaxing sauna after the labour-intensive work. The most memorable party by far was the one that celebrated the project completion, where all of us jumped into the sauna with beers in our hands and then cooled off by skinny dipping in the sub-zero river, only to start the whole process again into the wee hours!

IceHotel was without doubt the most magical project we’ve ever done. Sitting at my desk in London writing this, I still have a vivid image of the sky with dramatic changing tones

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and colours, and the magnificent landscape that has no visual boundary between white snow background and ice cold foreground. The IceHotel 2016 has since melted under the April sun and returned to the Torne River, but it will always have a special place in our hearts. I was particularly pleased that my proud parents managed to visit it in February and stayed in our room for the night. I gathered they thoroughly enjoyed the experience because they talked endlessly about it afterwards to anyone back home who cared to know!

There was a copious amount of work that went into designing and constructing something that had such a short life span and would never be seen again, but it was precisely this temporal and seasonal quality that fascinated us in the first place. It was a one-off project that left a small creative footprint for a moment in time and graciously returned to Mother Nature when its time was up, and I cannot think of another project in our professional lives that could remotely offer such a unique quality. We learnt a huge amount from the hands-on making process and from the people who worked with us to realise our first ice build. We already have a few ideas for the next one and cannot wait to make another design application for next year and the years to come.

Matt Chan (R'98) For more details visit www.mcmchan.com https://vimeo.com/151251221 http://www.icehotel.com/ice-galleries/art-design-icehotel2015-2016/ Or email: mchan.arch@gmail.com

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The ‘Boris Bike’ Challenge one common goal – to get ourselves to, up, and back from Alpe d’Huez within 24 hours on ‘Boris bikes’ each weighing approximately 25kg.

The drive south was uneventful, marred only slightly by us spending too much time waiting to board the Eurotunnel.

I heard tales of glorious sunrises as we sped through the French countryside, but only from Lorenzo as the rest of the car were all fast asleep.

As we progressed through the winemaking regions of France, James Pymont became suddenly animated as he eloquently explained the history of the region (he works for Latimers, the wine merchants, so was in his element).

The rolling countryside of the interior eventually gave way to steeper slopes and pointed peaks as mountains slid into view. Within the car the atmosphere noticeably changed, the sense of what we were embarking on hit riders and crew alike. It was the dawning realisation that we were about to ride up a hulking great mountain as quickly as we could on very slow and heavy bikes.

The roads kept on rising as we climbed higher until, after over 600 miles of constant driving, the sat nav announced that we had reached our destination. We were running slightly late, adding extra frisson as we unpacked and prepared. Some went for casual shorts, others for fulllegged lycra – the weather report had been telling us to expect temperatures of 6 degrees – however at that moment it was sunshine and clear blue skies.

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n 29th April 2016, Lorenzo Curci, owner of cycle clothing company Huez*, Hugo Sanders, Alastair Stirling, James Pymont (all Butler 2000) and a group of friends undertook a 24 hour challenge to take 10 Santander ‘Boris bikes’ to Alpe D'Huez, cycle up the world famous climb and then return them before the hire window expired. All this was to raise money for The Stroke Association and National Brain Appeal in memory of Alastair's father who passed away in 2015. Unfortunately, they narrowly missed the target time, however they have raised over £26,000 for the charities to date. Here one of the team, Martin Cox, gives a thrilling account of their challenge.

With its 21 bends, Alpe d’Huez is one of the iconic climbs in the world of cycling, and with that in mind our small group assembled at Huez* HQ in London at midnight, united in

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Before we had time to settle in we were off, peddling those 3 little gears up to the base of the mountain. We had looked on Veloviewer and we were all painfully aware that the first few km’s would be the hardest – with just 300m of riding as a warm up we hit the first incline and instantly heart-rates soared. The next couple of hours became a private struggle for each of us; there may have been camaraderie in the group, but we had to each individually find the strength to turn the pedals of those bright red beasts.

Cycling is often spoken about in mythical terms; of glory and suffering, of panache and beauty, but this ride was about more than that. As torrid as we found the ascent, we were determined to keep on climbing, knowing that every inch was going to raise funds for those in need. Looking around and seeing the snow covered peaks of the Alps, we felt re-energised to turn the pedals a little faster.

The slowness of the ascent was in stark contrast to the swiftness of the summit victory, the clock was ticking and we had to get back down again. Feeling elated we turned and all glided down like battle-cruisers.

Boris bikes were not designed to be ridden fast down alpine descents. Breaking starts 100m before the corner,

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the drums slowing us down at their own pace. It was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure as we took selfies to commemorate the achievement. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to detect an odd burning smell as we reached the bottom of the mountain again.

Drinks were drunk and bikes packed away as we congregated in the back of the vehicles ready for the 600 mile drive north again. The atmosphere markedly more relaxed now as we prepared stories to dine out on for months ahead.

Despite what the sat nav told us, we refused to take the most direct route, instead opting for detours around Dijon (where I helpfully, but fruitlessly point out the premises of

a delicious drive-in burger joint). Our detours cost us dearly however (as did a run-in with a speed camera) and we sadly got to the train too late to make our 24 hour deadline.

Upon arrival back at Huez* HQ we were greeted by lovedones and with weary bodies unpacked the cars, rummaged for mislaid kit, and prepared to split off into the night for a long-overdue rendezvous with our beds. What an epic challenge! It remains to be seen if the Team at Huez* want to have another crack at this… but watch this space.

Donations are still welcome at www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HUEZ24HR

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MATTERHORNCHALETS.COM INFO@MATTERHORNCHALETS.CH teL +41 (0)79 247 15 88

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Perfecting the Art of the Meatball Restaurant Review

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t has only been a couple of months since the launch of their new home in Tooting but the Belpassi Bros, twins Livio (B’04) & Lorenzo (B’04), have nailed the rustic Italian home-cooked vibe which the locals and visitors are loving in this young and easy going area. Even on a Tuesday evening after work we were lucky to get a table as the restaurant was fully booked with fellow Londoners showing up to have a taste of the new meatballs in town.

After a pause to sip the Italian beers recommended by the waiter, we got stuck into the Belpassi Bros’ classic - the angus beef & duroc pork meatballs with rich amatriciana sauce (£7.50). We also tried the salt marsh lamb meatballs with the San Marzano sauce (£7.50) and of course also had to sample the rosemary and garlic fries (£4) and parmesan polenta chips (£4). The sweet and salty kicks were perfectly balanced and incredibly delicious.

A recipe perfected whilst touring through Northern and Central Italy meeting family members, Livio and Lorenzo’s signature meatball dishes are a quirky introduction to new Italian combinations of foods and tastes. The menu is selective but diverse; you can mix your meatballs with a variety of sauces and bases and accompany these with a mixture of tapas style sides.

Although we were stuffed having tasted almost half of the menu, we couldn’t resist the Italian classic and my favourite dessert of all time, the tiramisu (£4). These twin brothers have done a fantastic job creating an authentic Italian atmosphere on the cool streets of London, take a look at their menu online and head on down to join the queue!

Before we dug into the meatballs we started with the most delicious bresaola salumi (£5). This tender salted beef paired with the pea and ricotta bruschetta (£4) and a creamy mozzarella burrata (£8) on the side was a tempting taste into the vibrant Italian flavours to come. Crisp and velvety, who knew that this pairing of flavours could make peas so tasty?

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Tess Ryan (StM’11) & Nick Elvidge (C’11) Belpassi Bros 70 Tooting High Street London SW17 ORN Tel: 0208 767 6399 www.belpassibros.com

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INTRODUCTION TO PERSONAL BRANDING – 10 steps toward a new professional you

By Mel Carson (B’90) Delightful Communications 2016 Book Review

So how was it that his friends’ dreams of a quiet life were shattered? Mel was made redundant by Microsoft; he started his own company; his career went to another level and it turns out that it's not just his friends who like him but he's regularly paid to fly around the world and stop off in London to teach people about personal branding. So now we see him almost as often as when he lived here!

What about his book? My initial reticence was eased when I discovered I could download it from Kindle for 99 pence, it's only 38 pages long and divided into ten easily digestible sections. Mel's been on an interesting journey in his career to date and its taken me a while to understand what he does.

Whilst I liked the sound of it, I was baffled some years ago to learn he was a 360 degree digital evangelist, but I now understand what he's been working on all these years and having seen what Mel has created with this book I'm pleased to say "it was very good".

Mel's Catholic roots shine through. He begins on an almost philosophical bent, touching on big questions about meaning and purpose, personal growth and wellbeing, while emphasising the importance of authenticity, helping others, empathy and trust. Then in true Worthian style he expounds the virtues of being ‘well rounded’ (you forgot ‘broadly based’ Mel). Of course anyone reading this may be asking what's new about that? Where Mel capitalises on his experience and (dare I say it) beliefs, is in very quickly drilling down to practicalities by showing the reader how to actually apply what he's learnt with useful tips on how to communicate our personal brand effectively, whether using the internet or otherwise.

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itting on the train on my way home from work, my thoughts were interrupted by a message from Mel, asking me to review his latest book Introduction to Personal Branding. I'd said yes and was immediately starting to regret it. When, a few years ago, he moved to Seattle to start a family with his lovely wife Ashley, I and many of his other friends were grateful to Ashley whilst at the same time wondering if she knew what she'd taken on. Any dreams we might have had that out of sight would be out of mind and that now the good people of Seattle would have to live with Mel were very quickly shattered.

Why, you might be asking at this point, would Mel have asked me to review his book? Well, I'm not sure. Probably because we've been friends for more than thirty years, which must make me one of his oldest friends, and I know him well. Which is why, in case you're wondering, I'm allowed to be so rude about him. As all his friends will tell you, Mel's special - he has talents for both making you laugh and being annoying at the same time which he brings together in a way which makes it hard not to love him; well to quite like him anyway.

For anyone who doubts if the idea of personal branding is relevant to them and/or their working lives, I would recommend this book. Personal branding of course is not a new idea, but what Mel has done is take some very sound traditional principles aimed at helping us to be the best we can be and placed them in the heart of the digital world of which we're now all a part, in a practical way, which will benefit anyone who reads his book. The monks of Worth will be proud of him.

I may not yet be a fully paid up believer in the importance of the personal brand, but I'm beginning to see the light and am looking forward to reading Mel's next book – as if I'll have any choice.

Nicholas Lobb (C’90) The book is available on Amazon.co.uk and for more info on what Mel is up to go to www.MelCarson.com

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LIVING WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST: Mindfulness in Christian Spirituality

By Stefan Reynolds (G’89) Darton, Longman and Todd 2016 Book Review

The Gift of the Present Moment

The Danger of Becoming too Self-Absorbed

Stefan’s book is one which many Worthians will wish to read. The word ‘mindful’ has become popular in recent decades as people struggle to find ways of coping with more demanding and stressful workloads. Most Worthians reading this review will, I suspect, fall into the category of overworked and overstretched individuals longing for some time out; and perhaps looking back wistfully on their time at Worth when life was less pressurised and they had the opportunity of enjoying the peace and quiet of the Abbey Church. Stefan writes in his introduction, “The main part of this book offers something of a resource book for those who want to find a Christian framework for mindfulness and meditation practice” (p.6-7). However, along the way he also introduces us to the Buddhist tradition of Mindfulness and the application of this concept in more recent cognitive therapies (e.g. the MBSR, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction of Jon Kabat-Zinn).

One reason for the growing appeal of mindfulness is that it doesn’t carry any institutional baggage. One can practise mindfulness without committing to any religious beliefs.

This is something which is attractive to the post-modern person who does not wish to buy into a ready-made set of dogmas. Stefan points out that the practice of mindfulness in a secular context aims to ‘unhook us from fixed thought patterns’ and to help us to engage more deeply with our own experience in the present, whereas meditation in “the contemplative traditions of the world may take us one step further, to take the attention off ourselves completely… In the end a technique which is practised for personal and corporate benefits may become a journey into the reality of self-giving love” (p.34). There is always the danger of becoming too self-absorbed and of allowing our practice of mindfulness to cut us off from the needs of others. On the other hand, embracing the many challenges of a religious faith, whether it be Buddhism or Christianity, can help us to avoid the tendency to centre everything on our own needs and concerns. “Relating what happens to ourselves – what we do or don’t like – may be cured better in caring for another than through cultivating a peaceful ego” (p.38).

Although I’ve been familiar with the word ‘mindfulness’ for a long time, and have practised silent prayer ever since entering the Monastery almost thirty years ago, I’ve always felt a little unsure about what mindfulness precisely means.

I’ve never been sure if my understanding of mindfulness and the Buddhist understanding completely overlap. Stefan comes back to this issue from time to time in his book. The danger, he thinks, is that we can focus on mindfulness, being fully aware of what we are doing in the present moment, and fail to locate this practice within the broader framework of Christian or Buddhist teaching. “Right effort [in Buddhism] is focused on not getting sucked into human dramas, right letting go means not avoiding suffering if it is present. Christian mindfulness would put more emphasis on responding to any situation of human need. The emphasis in Christianity is on taking responsibility for our thoughts and feelings because they affect others” (p.17).

The Deepening of Mindfulness into Love The book focuses on the Christian tradition of meditation and the search for God in the present moment, exploring in some depth the Desert Fathers, St Augustine, Meister Eckhart, The Cloud of Unknowing, Julian of Norwich, St Teresa of Avila, Brother Lawrence, Jean Pierre de Caussade, St Thérèse of Lisieux, Søren Kierkegaard, Simone Weil and John Main. Paradoxically, the secular pursuit of Mindfulness has reminded Christians of the somewhat neglected treasures of spiritual wisdom and practice within their own tradition. And Stefan concludes, “‘Mindfulness’ in its contemporary secular form is quite a recent phenomenon; and has had a large take up. We are yet to measure how many keep it up. To keep on the way we need to access a deeper motivation; being mindful for the sake of helping others, or, being mindful for the sake of living in the presence of God. Here is where religions can give resources for the on-going journey, the deepening of mindfulness into love. In turn mindfulness practice can help religions to find their contemplative centre again, to bring religion back to its senses, to stop being divided from each other and in conflict” (p.173).

This sensitive and perceptive book, dedicated to his classmate and great friend, Alex Duncan (1970-1989), is the fruit of wide reading and of many years of practising Christian meditation. It would make a good addition to your reading list.

Dom Martin McGee

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THE SECRET BROKER

By Simon Crane (StB’70) Quartet Books 2016

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Book Review

ith echoes of a contemporary Da Vinci Code, Simon Crane’s The Secret Broker is an excellent holiday read. It is dynamic and powerful with all the pace of a film script. It somehow maintains a sense of place while the plot flits effortlessly from Mexico to Switzerland, Russia to Myanmar. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and I enjoyed its wry take on espionage and adventure.

The plot centres on Luca Voss, apprentice assassin, who is forced to come of age as his predecessors are murdered around him. On his shoulders seemingly hangs the future of peace and prosperity as he battles the evil Butakhan for world domination. Sound like a Bond plot? If it were then Hiddleston would be perfect as Voss is cool, collected and with the inevitable lure for the ladies. Voss’s female companion is JJ who exhibits a startling array of talents.

Of all the locations Crane’s evocation of the open cast mine in Myanmar was perhaps the most evocative. While the characters are embroiled in another chase to the death, this time using massive earth moving machinery, he paints a sympathetic picture of the suffering of the mine workers and the local town. I wonder if in Crane’s wide-ranging career he perhaps financed such an open cast monster and met the reality of the earth’s destruction. He certainly writes as if he has.

At times I found the prose a little uneven. It was almost as if the author couldn’t decide on which audience he was writing for; the popular audience of Clive Cussler or the more refined palate of Le Carré? Given his background he could probably do both successfully but a blend is hard to achieve. As an airport read or a few hours beside the pool, The Secret Broker manages it. As a film or television script it would be a triumph.

Bobby Acworth (C’81)

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Caught on Camera A beautiful shot across the lawn on a crisp winter’s morning

Fred Bradley (R’04) with best man and usher Tim Lee and Mitch Wall (on the left) who were Gap students at Worth in 2006 along with fellow Worthian, Elliot Webber (R’04)

Photographer, Jonathan Wilkins (C’70), made his first visit to Worth in 40 years in May, here with Abbot Luke and Head Boy Elikem Logan (G’16)

James Maxwell-Scott (R’89) at the Royal Courts of Justice with his wife, Anoushka, and sons, Alex and Luke, on being appointed a Queen’s Counsel in February James Chick (StB’91) bringing the home-cooked flavours of Spanish food to events and SW London markets with his business Sotomayor & Son

Arthur Russell (C’12) and his brother William (C’13) on parade at Edinburgh Castle in June for the 21 gun salute for the Duke of Edinburgh's 95th birthday

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John Ford (B’82) with wife Teresa and children, Hannah, Edward & Ellie

Three generations of Weguelins; Robert (B’73), John (C’69), & Christopher (B’72) with John’s son Ollie on their father’s 100th birthday

A great catch for Andrew Rome (G’78)

Nick Crossland-Taylor (B’77) was in Alqosh, Kurdistan, Iraq, in his role as a broadcast engineer, where he came across families flooding the village having fled ISIS in Mosul

Simon Hoskyns (StB’83) raised lots of money for charitable causes by cycling from London to St Tropez

Polina Zotova (StM’15) presenting Fr Stephen with a portrait that her Mother painted of him

A pre-Christmas gathering of St Anne’s 2012 girls; Charlotte Cotterell, Lauren Martin, Elizabeth Hill, Kitty Gibson, Marina Holden and Elaine Yim

Johnny Greig (G’85) & John Adeleke (R’80) in Laos, Nigeria, after a chance meeting through a mutual friend while Johnny was doing some photography there

Jem Treays (G'84) is still dancing at 50, seen here on tour with his daughter, Ella 2000 Leavers Lorenzo Curci, James Pymont, Ali Stirling and Hugo Saunders completing the Etape du Tour in the Alps in July as part of Team Huez

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Caught on Camera continued Mark Collini (StB’89) leaving Kingston Hospital as a family of four!

Marcus Elwes (G’83) running in the London Marathon again this year for the mental health charity MIND

Tim Aldridge (B’75) with his children, Henry, Barney, Bruno & Tilly

Martin Hunt (StB’81) leading a 1950s race at this year’s Goodwood Revival

Rohan Cavaliero (B'81), John Bennett (R'81) and Mark Jenner (C'81) and wives whilst on a trip to see Rohan who is based in Malaysia

In the Summer Term of 1979 John Bennett (R ‘81), Mark Jenner (C ‘81), Chris Bloy (R’81) and Giles Hamilton (B’82) went to the Brighton Centre to see Blue Oyster Cult, their favourite band. 37 years later here they are again (in that order) at The Forum in Kentish Town about to watch Blue Oyster Cult (STILL their favourite band)

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Butler boys reunited with Keith Owers; John Shepherd (B’82), Giles Hamilton (B’82), Nick Moore (B’82), Justin (B’76) and Christian (B’78) Whiteside

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Mike Golton (R’80), Jules McCarthy (StB’80), Ivan MacQuisten (B’80), Simon Allen (StB’80), Richard Williams (B’80), Max Walker (StB’80) and Ben Goodger (R’80) on the tenth anniversary of their annual men in wetsuits trip to Cornwall

Dominic Strickland (C’81), Martin Hunt (StB’81), Robert Mannix (StB’81), Aaron Firth (C’81), Justin Mould (StB’81) and Bobby Acworth (C’81) reunited with Fr Stephen at Fr Dominic Roll’s (StB’81) funeral at Worth in May

Ian Bowker (G’76) sailing in this year’s Round the Island Yacht Race – his is the trailing boat

Simon McMenemy (R’89), in his role as Commanding Officer of the Royal Yeomanry, leading the parade into Buckingham Palace in May to receive the first ‘Guidon’ from HRH Princess Alexandra, the Regiment’s Royal Colonel

Michael Bilbé (St’B’06), Toby Ingram (B'06), Alonso Caro (G’06), Javier Triay (B’06), Teddy Sacarello (B’06) and Thomas Bilbé (StB’06) at Javier’s wedding in the New Forest in July

Jonathan Stordy (StB’81) and his daughter Anna (StM’16) with Fr Stephen at the Leavers Ball in July

Justin Whiteside (B’76) was treated to 36 holes at the Mecca of Scottish Golf, Royal Dornoch Golf Club, whilst visiting Anthony Shepherd (B’76) and his wife Deb this summer

Justin (B’76) and Christian (B’78) Whiteside with Fr Kevin on a visit to Worth this summer

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Announcements Sophia Collini

Births

Engagements

Brett Hatton (R’83) and Alana, a son, Ziggy Logan, born on 14th August 2016, a brother for Thomas and Nicholas

Philip Lundberg (C’80) to Lucy Gilchrist on 1st June 2016

Damian Chunilal (R'85) and Anastasia, a son, Nicholas James, born on 24th March 2016, a brother for George, Victoria, Natalia, and Alexandra

Thomas Ludicke (B’09) to Theresa-Maria Werner on 20th February 2016

Mark Collini (StB’89) and Alex, a daughter, Sophia Anna Rose, born on 28th September 2016, a sister for Beatrice Simon Ross (G’98) and Rebecca, a daughter, Isabella Ann, on 22nd June 2016 Michael Matthews (B’99) and Sarah, a daughter, Lucy Olivia, born on 6th March 2016, a sister for Henry

Andrew Welsh (B'04) to Jessica Jordan on 19th February 2016 Michael Bilbé (StB’06) to Emma Woodward on 1st October 2016 Tom Ballard (F’07) to Kathleen Conway on 1st October 2016

Christopher Madsen (B’04) and Hannah, a son, Samuel Henry, on 5th December 2015 Alana, Ziggy and Brett Hatton

Mike and Lucy Matthews

The Chunilal Family with Fr James at Nicholas's Christening

Chris and Samuel Madsen

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Krystian and Kinga Bogusiewicz

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Charles and Jessica Birchall

Marriages Paul Leverton (StB’72) to Annie Mitchell on 27th November 2015 aboard HMS President (The Dazzle Ship) on the Thames, London Robin Taylor-Hunt (B’86) to Hazel Corpes on 9th July 2016 at Guildford Registry Office Jim Condie (B’02) to Kelly Johnson on 26th August 2016 at St Teresa of Avila Church, Chiddingfold Chris Coxall (R’02) to Lindsey Beckner on 21st October 2016 at the Lowndes Grove Plantation, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Charles Birchall (R’03) to Jessica Heaney on the 6th August 2016 at St Mary’s Church, Wimbledon Oliver Platt (G'03) to Angela Connolly on the 12th August at Worth Abbey Javier Triay (B’03) to Harriet Ziegler on 9th July 2016 at St Peter’s Church, Bramshaw Fred Bradley (R’04) to Louise Allen on 3rd October 2015 at Worth Abbey

Javier and Harriet Triay

Marcus Lee (G’04) to Megan Williams on 5th August 2016 at St Catharine’s Church, Chipping Campden Mark Breen (B’05) to Natalie Fast on 31st December 2016 in Sotogrande, Spain Krystian Rybarczyk (StB’12) to Kinga Bogusiewicz on 15th August 2016 at the Capuchin Friary, Lublin, Poland

Distinctions James Maxwell-Scott (R’89) was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel on 22nd February 2016

Deaths Anthony Aris (R’64) on 14th October 2015, aged 69 years Julian Lee (C’64) on 22nd September 2016, aged 71 years Michael Boyd (R’66) on 26th December 2015, aged 67 years Francis Ormsby-Gore (G’72), 6th Baron Harlech, on 1st February 2016, aged 61 years Andrew Strigner (C’69) on 16th April 2016, aged 65

Louise and Fred Bradley being married by Fr Christopher

Fr Dominic Rolls (StB’81) on 29th April 2016, aged 52 years Fabian Aiken (StB’84) on 6th February 2016, aged 49 years David Francombe (B’85) on 16th May 2016, aged 49 years

Oliver and Angela Connolly

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News in Brief News in Brief

Worth Prep School Peter Agius ('62-'66) Younger Worthians may be unaware of the prehistory of Worth School and that Chapman House goes back to the 1940s!

The Agius family connection with Worth goes back to 1934 (a year after foundation) when my uncle, Dom Denis, taught in the new Worth Preparatory School for a couple of years. After the war he was Chapman Housemaster (1949-57) before returning to Downside on Worth’s independence. Meanwhile my brother and myself were in the Prep School ('52-'58 and '62-'66) before going on to Downside. My final year was when the Prep School, as a name, ceased to exist and became Junior House and in that year around 11 boys went on to Downside and 11 went on to what we knew as 'The Upper School'. I’ve been working with some Worthians of that era, especially Peter Pavry ('53-'58), to archive the history of those years and have set up a new Facebook group 'Worth Prep School (1933-1965)' which anyone is welcome to join. We are currently posting most issues of the Worth Record (1950-63) magazine and a set of school photos taken each summer. This is an appeal especially to those Worth School boys who came up from the Prep School (which gets us to around 1971-72, I think) to re-connect with their peers, who left them behind when they went on to Downside. I estimate there are some 1,000 boys who can claim to have attended Worth Preparatory School. My personal connection to Worth continued when I joined the Lay Community in 1974 and was resident (1976-77) in what was the original Junior House/Austin House that is now St Mary's House. There I met my wife and we married in the Abbey in 1977. I'm still a member of what is now The Lay Community of St Benedict and return frequently for meetings and events. And 35 years on from my wedding, my daughter was married by Fr Stephen in the Abbey in 2012.

Former Staff

breaking report for the Department of Energy on the management of corrosion offshore in the UK. My work for the HSE contributed to the change from prescriptive regulations such as SI 289, to the different philosophy of the Safety Case Regulations. I also carried out many surveys and investigations involving corrosion management, throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. During this period I also acted as Chairman of several work groups, and a member of others, involved in the development of international standards. Having become a consultant, I was affected by the consequences of the Piper Alpha disaster, which reduced the number of individual and small contractors. However my expertise in data management enabled me to shift into the wider realm of business data management, developing CRM-type databases for Exhibition Management and many other applications. I am still working on new applications related to the management of genetic cancers in the Health Service, as well as the support and maintenance of others dating back over 20 years. While in the UK I also served in the 21 SAS Regiment (Artists) (V), for a period of 23 years, and I still enjoy getting together on a regular basis with friends from the Regiment. While I was overseas, I met my wife, Mimma, and we married in Rome in October 1973. We have two sons, Martin and Alan, who himself is married and we now have a grandson, Charlie. So after plenty of practice in French on drilling rigs, I am also fluent in Italian. Since I returned to the UK, I have become an active Freemason, and find it a suitable activity for a person of my years, with opportunities for charitable activity, and keeping in touch with old friends. It is also a great way to keep the mind active! I received an appointment to Grand Rank last year (PAGDC), from Supreme Grand Chapter. Over the last few years, my health has not been so good. I have suffered the effects of Type 2 Diabetes, which is now under control, and also been through heart failure (after which I walked 1000 miles in two years and climbed a 3000 metre mountain), but lately I had a partial hip replacement and I'm not so mobile. However there is always hope of improvement!

Roger Stokes, Deputy Head, Left 2001. We are still very happily settled in All Stretton, Shropshire. I spend a great deal of time as Chairman of the Church Stretton and South Shropshire Arts Festival. Do look at the Church Stretton Arts Festival site to see what we have been doing in our Jubilee Year. Margaret works on this too and looks after our Village Hall, is a pillar of the WI and Mayfair, our local Community Centre. Major Ben Stokes has recently gone with the family of four children to be OC with 41 Education Corps based in Sennelager and living in Bad Lipspringer. Emma’s Husband, Capt David Heley RN is in the process of retiring, Anna and David Coreth (in Property), living in Liphook, have three daughters and a son, Harry (StB’14). Rachel and her partner David (we are surrounded by them!) live in Harpley. He looks after Fakenham Racecourse and Rachel is a Personal Trainer. So we were all in England for a while until Ben and Ingrid went to Germany about a fortnight ago. All very exciting and good fun! Best wishes to all Worthians.

John MacWilliam (StB’67) Continue to live and work as a Missionary of Africa priest (White Father) in North Africa where now the Provincial Superior for the eight WF communities in Algeria and Tunisia. Taking part in the Church’s mission of Encounter and Dialogue with Muslims is a rewarding life. The region is more peaceful than the media or UK government sometimes pretend, so always hoping for visitors from Worth (such as Dom Martin last April in Algeria).

Worth School

1970s

1960s

Simon Crane (StB’70) Have written first novel The Secret Broker released in September. Read the review by Bobby Acworth (C’81) on page 57.

Michael (Mike) Anthony Clarke (G’63 Founder Pupil) After leaving Worth I spent five years as a laboratory assistant in Chemistry Research, studying part time to qualify with a Higher National Certificate in Chemistry. I then embarked on a career in the oil industry, beginning as a drilling fluids engineer and after further training, developing into a corrosion engineer, working mainly in North Africa and the Middle East.

I wrote and presented training courses for both junior and well qualified senior engineers including HSE Inspectors, and presented a ground

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Alex Nauta (G’64) Living in Florida, semi-retired and working part time as an aircraft simulator instructor. Also had the pleasant surprise of being a grandfather for the 5th time!!!

Nicholas Kader (G’66) Have completed The Political Rise of Donald J. Trump... How the Political Class & News Media Tried to Stop It & Why They Failed... should be read in conjunction with Part III of Fukuyama's End of History - The Struggle for Recognition.

Jonathan Wilkins (C’70) This May I had the great pleasure of visiting Worth, after 46 years. Having found the Facebook page and chatting with Fr Mark, I was invited to give a short talk to the photography students.

The talk touched on highlight moments of my career as a respected photographer now living and working in Brazil. I was thrilled to see John Wild (C’70) who came all the way for my talk. Upon arrival I met Mary Lou, with whom I had lunch, and Head Boy, Elikem Logan, showed me some old haunts and new improvements. I was also ‘sent to the Head Master’

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

and met Abbot Luke, who was in Chapman House with me, a year younger. I partook of monastery dinner, breakfast and lunch, which was a most moving experience - wonderful vibes. Abbot Luke said a lovely mass in the chapel of the now very beautiful impeccably finished Abbey Church, and kindly mentioned my presence afterwards. I was also allowed to grab scenes at Worth on camera and quietly did a 360° panoramic photo of the interior of the Abbey Church. Father Kevin, with his fantastic memory, filled in some lost memories for me, and later scooted me off to Three Bridges station.

Nicholas (Nick) Norton (R'72) Working as energy security adviser to UK Foreign Office. Just started voluntary work with Prince's Trust as a Next Steps Mentor on their Enterprise Programme for young people in London.

Tony Tyler (C’73) retired from position as Director General & CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in September. Have joined the board of BOC Aviation as a non-executive director and will take up one or two more similar roles. Charlotte and I will be living in Hong Kong, and spending the summer months in France.

Simon (Sam) Willson (C’73) Retired in June 2016 after 22 years at the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. Now pursuing undisguised indolence and lassitude in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, three miles from the Welsh border. Remaining hobbies include laboured guitar playing and occasional polishing of a Dodge Challenger brought back from the USA. Jim Piddock (B’74) Have co-written, produced and appeared in Mascots which was part of the London Film Festival and debuted worldwide on Netflix in October.

Tim Aldridge (B’75) Having now reached 60 my thoughts are turning to retirement in a year or so… to spend more time in West Sussex doing rather more fishing and shooting and playing very bad golf!

Robert Bathurst (R’75) after a new run as David in ITV’s Cold Feet this autumn, will be heading to Chicago to perform in King Charles III by Mike Bartlett at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

Ian Bowker (G’75) Been a while since I’ve been in touch, the reason for this being heart failure just over a year ago. However, with a couple of operations, a rehab programme and wonderful support - particularly from my wife Kate – there has been steady improvement and now I am in good form, exercising hard and enjoying life. This little saga led to retirement through ill-health, and now Kate & I have time to do the things we never seemed to be able to. We’re still sailing (see Caught on Camera).

Our eldest daughter Rosie has just graduated with a Masters in Orchestral Performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and is currently seeking an orchestral position as well as playing in ensembles and teaching the flute in London. Our youngest daughter Laura has returned from a university exchange year at McGill in Montreal, and is shortly starting her final year at Edinburgh studying history.

Justin Whiteside (B’76) June 24 2016 @ Bleeding Heart Bistro, Holborn, met up with closest friends (from the unbeaten Colts Team of '73) Present: James Fraser (C’76), Anthony Ward-Thomas (B’76), Mark Breen (StB’76) & John Courtney (B’76) – a great year to be at Worth. Thanks to Hugh Easterbrook for organising venue. It will be repeated. Alumni welcome, including brothers. This visit to UK was a fabulous trip for me also highlighted by seeing Dom Kevin and Keith and Gilly Owers with my brother Christian Whiteside. Also spent a fab 2 days with my dear friends Anthony (B’75) & Debs Shepherd. AS treated me to 36 holes at the Mecca of Scottish Golf (top 5 worldwide) Royal Dornoch GC - where the weather was splendidly kind to us... starting to rain as we walked off the 18th!!

I'm happy to say that I got my 'clock cleaned ' by Anthony, who is obviously 'skiving' far too often from his responsibilities at Outward Bound & hence his forthcoming retirement, when he will endeavour to hone his skills even more on the 'links'! A beautiful time ‘Chez Shepherd’!! I shall return! My prayers and best wishes to you all: especially the departed.

Michael (Mike) Bernard (C’77) Have just completed 35 years with IBM and am working as the Marketing Director for Portfolio Marketing, Europe.

Living in Wiltshire, with my wife Catherine and the one of our three boys who has not yet left home - he has just finished school. Still playing music

Justin Brown (C’78) Myanmar based executive since 2000 with network to establish and represent: jahbrown@gmail.com Julian Hughes (R’78) After 19 years in the North East, where I’ve been a consultant in old age psychiatry and Honorary Professor of Philosophy of Ageing, I started a new post on 1st August. I’ve been appointed RICE Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Bristol. I shall mostly be working in the RICE Centre, which is an independent charity set up to carry out research in older people. The aim is for me to increase my research activity, although I’ll still be involved in clinical work in the Royal United Hospital (RUH) Bath almost 50% of the time. Coincidentally, Mark Mallet (R’77) is a consultant in the RUH. On about 27th August 1979, Mark and I were in a tent on a beach in Yugoslavia (it was raining). We know the date because it was when Lord Mountbatten was assassinated. We were both thinking about careers and together we hit upon Medicine as a possible worthwhile and stimulating career. Mark went on to complete his Physics degree at Oxford and then went to study Medicine in London.

I completed my degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and then went to Bristol to study Medicine. So it is funny that we are now likely to reach retirement in the same hospital working together. Other news from me: our three children have grown up. Oliver is married living in Kinshasa working for Catholic Relief Services (the equivalent of CAFOD In America); Emma is just completing her F2 year as a junior doctor and then goes to Uganda to work for Hospice Africa Uganda, which she was introduced to

by George Daly (Worth English teacher, amongst many other things), who has strong ties with the charity; Luke is currently on the sub-Saharan Africa desk in the Ministry of Defence as part of his fast stream experience in the Civil Service. Anne, my wife, has just finished teaching Maths at Dame Allan’s Schools and is looking forward to a break whilst also finding us somewhere to live near Bath.

Edward (Ed) Mannix (StB’78) Back and forth between Méribel and Zermatt, accompanied by wife Suzanne and Poppy the spaniel. Still playing bass but the band have to do without me for half the year as I’m in Switzerland.

Jonathan Stordy (StB’79) Our daughter, Anna, finished at Worth this summer and we had a lovely evening at the school. Fantastic to have Fr Stephen at our table.

1980s Philip Lundberg (C’80) Am getting married to Lucy Gilchrist on the 10th December 2016 at St Mary’s Church, Bentley. My boys continue to thrive.

Alexander is now a full time member of the Wasps 1st XV and is living his dream, whilst starting a degree at Warwick University in PPE. Matthew is working at Capita Services during his placement year before returning to Loughborough to complete his degree in Economics and Managements Services. Would welcome contact from any Worthians working in the City, especially insurance.

Mark (Max) Walker (StB’80) Had the tenth anniversary of our annual men in wetsuits trip to Cornwall with Ivan Macquisten, Ben Goodger (R’80), Jules McCarthy (StB’80), Simon Allen (StB’80), and doctors Golton (R’80) and Williams all in attendance, and all in fine fettle. Also seen old Worth band mates and musicians Gerald Berkley and Mike Bernard (C’77), in fine fettle as well, as are my brothers Dom (StB’82) and Alex (StB’87).

Only one child at university now (Joe, doing Philosophy at Sussex, obviously didn’t get his brains from me, but he’s also a drummer so that’s something I can be proud of), one at home, (Maddie, working at the local Estate agents), and Jess the oldest living with her partner who’s a Savile Row tailor (I can highly recommend Anderson and Sheppard for any WOBS in the bespoke suit market, not that I use them myself you’ll understand). Anyway, Claire and I are enjoying our new found freedom.

Work is still mostly enjoyable, with Caravan - the old Land of Grey and Pink band from our days at Worth who I joined several years ago travelling to various far away exotic lands, and the corporate events still going strong post Brexit, fingers crossed it keeps that way...

John Bennett (R’81) Enjoying retirement/farming in Suffolk and am Non-Exec Chairman of a Lloyd's Broker. Have been married to Debs for twenty years now and our three daughters are growing up fast; the eldest

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News in Brief

Andrew Robinson (G'73) Have been in Marseille since 1984 and living happily with Nezha since 1998. Have a daughter Emily who is 25 years old and have been selling tax efficient real estate investments since 2000.

Best wishes to all.

with a local party and wedding band, and occasionally with the Hollywood Killers. Keeping in touch with Julian Ferguson (G’76) and Mark Walker (StB’80). Saw the latter drumming for Caravan recently. A wonderful evening, the most enthusiastic, cheerful and talented drummer ever!

News in Brief

has just left school and is teaching in China for a year before going up to university in 2017. Bumped into Roger and Margot Stokes at Sports Day in the summer as his grandchildren are at school (and great friends) with my lot! Still in touch with an array of Worthians and living life to the full.

James Maxwell-Scott (R’89) Was appointed Queen’s Counsel in February 2016 attending the ceremonies in Westminster Hall and the Royal Courts of Justice with his wife, Anoushka, and his sons, Alex (aged 8) and Luke (aged 5).

Andy Bernard (C’81) I am still based in Hong Kong, still getting to grips with having chickens’ feet and fish balls - these being delicacies, not afflictions. Much travel means a disconcerting familiarity with slightly out of date cinema releases, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of satellite airports in Asia. My work/life balance is way out of kilter, so I am redressing that by heading to Iceland to go fishing, swapping the hurlyburly of the Far East for the deep peace of the midnight sun. My wife (now of 29 years) Catherine remains long-suffering and tolerant, but assures me that I will pay for all this one day.

Simon McMenemy (R’89) Have had a busy year ‘double-hatting’ as Managing Partner of the London office of Ogletree Deakins, a US firm aiming to be the largest labour & employment specialist firm in the world, and also as Commanding Officer of the Royal Yeomanry, the largest Regiment in the Army Reserve, and privileged to receive the first Guidon (cavalry-speak for ‘colours’) at Buckingham Palace in May from HRH Princess Alexandra, the Regiment’s Royal Colonel. Any young Worthian, men and women, looking for a challenge outside of college or work should have a look at The Royal Yeomanry on the web, Facebook and Twitter. We recruit across the whole of the South East and the Midlands.

With my legal hat on I travel extensively in the US and would be delighted to meet up with any Worthians living or working there. Still living near Worth. Charlie 17, Annabel 15 and Lizzie 11, all doing well at their various schools and Marie-Clare now teaching at a prep school. Looking forward to the first Worthian Carol Concert this year - would be good to see lots of ‘89’ers’ there!

Peter Cullinan (StB’82) Left Qatar (Aug 2015), went to Kenya to set up an office there which I have done and employed a Country Manager. Saw a lot of Hugo Douglas-Dufresne (G’82) and family. Left Kenya, back in South Africa (home). Family living in Durban but I have a large project down in the Western Cape and living in Langabaan (a holiday resort) but working in the Port close by. Son is at University of Cape Town. Get home once a month which is better than it was before but still not quite home yet.

Marcus Elwes (G’83) Ran the London Marathon again this year, raising money for the mental health charity MIND. John Ford (B’83) Finally returned to the UK in May this year after working abroad for 27 years with first Schroders and, for the past 11 years, Fidelity International. Work has taken the family, Teresa (Mum), Hannah (19), Edward (16) & Ellie (13) variously to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong during that time. Now working and living in London in a global role with Fidelity, with the odd weekend in Cornwall in our holiday cottage. Hannah off to Oxford to read Theology this October, Edward moving into 6th Form at Eton and Ellie starting 3rd year at Cheltenham Ladies College.

Stefan Reynolds (G’89) New book ‘Living with the Mind of Christ’, reviewed by Fr Martin McGee on page 56, launched in September and is dedicated to Alex Duncan (C’89) RIP who died in the first Iraq war. UK and EU website www.dltbooks.com, or through Norwich Books & Music Tel: 01603 78592; email: orders@norwichbooksandmusic.co.uk or via Amazon or Abe Books. Australian customers can order from sales@garrattpublishing.com.au Otherwise as usual doing some teaching, painting and living the rustic life in Ireland.

Thomas Sullivan (StB’89) After 22 years in Africa, my family and I are moving to Madrid this autumn to take up a global product management role. Mandy, Christian (10) & Tamsin (8) are excited by the challenges ahead. Hasta luego!

Brett Hatton (R’83) is pleased to announce the birth of his third son, Ziggy Logan Hatton, on 14th August 2016.

Simon Hoskyns (StB ’83) Still running Alpine Answers in London. Last summer I raised lots of money for charitable causes by cycling from London to St Tropez.

Damian Chunilal (R'85) Our son, Nicholas James, was born in March and was baptised at Worth by Fr James. For someone who in his earlier years once vowed not to have any children, this has been a good lesson in how different life can be. Nicholas is number five. It was so good to come back to Worth for the Class of ‘86 Reunion earlier in the summer. Worth looked spectacular and it was great to return after such a long time away. We will be returning to live in London for a while having spent the last 12 years in HK. HK was great and we will always spend time there each year.

Robin Taylor-Hunt (B’86) I got married to Hazel Corpes on 9th July 2016.

Chris Rybak (B’86) Tim Hewitt (G’86) and David Owen (G’86) were among the guests.

Antony (Brommers) Bromley-Martin (StB’87) Me, my wife and daughter are now settled and living in Sudbury, Suffolk. We're half way through renovating a Victorian house which hadn't been touched since the 1960's. I'm working in Woodbridge, Suffolk near the coast.

Mark Collini (StB'89) The newest member of our family, Sophia Anna Rose, joined us on 28th September 2016. Beatrice is delighted with her new sister!

Julian Gairdner (StB'89) continues to live in Palmerston North, NZ. We've been here for over three years now - time has flown! I was made redundant at the end of April so we've had a slightly challenging NZ winter but some options seem to be opening up and at the time of writing (September) we are potentially staying here longer or repatriating (job being a key, but not sole, driver)! Our eldest, Ollie (13), is in his final year of primary/intermediate school and has had a great year, particularly on the soccer (as they call it here) front. Freddie (6) is in his second year of primary and doing well and Phoebe (soon to be 5) will join Freddie at the local Catholic school in October. Mel continues to do a fab job keeping us all on track and has immersed herself in numerous community activities as well as studying a distance learning theology course alongside Roman Catholic Introduction for Adults. So we're "busy as..." as they would say here (!) and hoping we will be settled in to whatever is in store in the next few months.

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1990s Philip Barrett (C’90) Still in the USA working as a senior scientist with the largest industrial gases company in North and South America managing a department engaged in air separation research and development. Also a director of the International Adsorption Society and in that capacity attended the 2016 conference of the Society in Germany giving a wellreceived lecture on Absorbent Materials. Will be holidaying in Dublin and Prague with wife Sande in September 2016.

Dominic Stobart (C’90) Living in Pelham NY with my wife and three kids.

Working as a TV producer and racing road bikes. Current New York State Criterium Champion (cat 4).

James Chick (StB’91) Following a long and at times very successful career in IT I decided to reinvent myself, bringing the flavours of good home-cooked Spanish food to the British. I set up Sotomayor & Son six years ago and can be found catering for events and at weekend markets in SW London.

Piers McWhannell (B’91) After 16 years in the US and 3 children later, have finally taken the plunge and become a US citizen. Have spent most of my working career in financial services, currently with Bloomberg.

Nathaniel Holloway (C’94) Part owner of an architectural and construction company based in Auckland, NZ. Clinging on to music through my children playing guitar with Oli and, for my sins, the recorder with Christie and Benji. The saxophone is safely tucked away in the attic.

Phil Jacques (R’94) Moved back to Sussex again, now teaching History at Hurstpierpoint. Married 12 years, two boys, Thomas and William, both in the Prep School here. Loving it, albeit still early September!

Tom Calnan (R’95) I remain a partner at King & Wood Mallesons law firm, and am still living and working in Dubai – coming up for 7 years now in the Middle East – but we are regularly back in the UK for both business and family trips. Happily married to Bonnie, and our little boy Archie will turn 1 in September. Just about keeping the rugby career alive with a recent tour to Madagascar with an Arabian Gulf team, and various appearances in the Dubai 7s over the last 7 years… planning to retire at 40... probably. I also continue to support the mighty WOBS RFC from afar, who had a great season last year! All credit to the Chairman ;-)

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Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Roderick Aris (C’96) Living with Zoe in Oxford. We have two children, Ben (3) and Viviane (6). I'm an associate at Knight Frank.

Angus Gairdner (StB ’96) We introduced Myla (now 17 months) to the world of air travel with a trip to Australia and New Zealand in January to see friends and family including brother Julian (StB ’89) his wife Mel and their children for a lovely few days in the Coromandel. Back at home we are still living in Putney, although we moved recently into a house giving us the much needed extra space. I am still at Sky and thoroughly enjoying the challenges it brings and my wife, Julia, works in luxury travel locally in Putney. It was fantastic to see so many of my year for the 20 year reunion dinner in early July and reconnect after so many years – thank you to Barney de Burca for organising such a terrific evening.

Alexander (Alex) Kenney (B’97) Continue to work in Canary Wharf helping banks with AML and regulatory compliance issues. Occasionally manage to meet up with old school friends.

Ollie Barnett (St’B’98) Living in Esher, married to Rachel with 2 year old Lottie bossing us around and a second baby on the way, due in January.

Working in wealth management as head of lending at Signia Wealth in London. Trying to keep fit (4th London marathon this year) but not always finding time! Brother Sam (C’97) living/working in London in banking (Morgan Stanley) and cycling a ridiculous amount! Married Laura last year.

Matt Chan ( R'98) Together with my partner, Annie Hanauer, we designed and constructed one of IceHotel Sweden's Art Suites, called the Cairn Forest. It was an amazing experience to work with ice, snow and awesome artists from around the world. Read all about it on page 48.

Simon Jones (StB’98) Been living in Singapore for the last 5 years, working as a lawyer.

Luke Kenny (StB’98) Living in London, married with 3 children (Isla 4, Rafferty 2, and Cecily 6 months), get little sleep and work for global ad agency, J. Walter Thompson David Ponsford (B’98) Married to Victoria with 3 children: stepdaughter, Summer (10), daughter Scarlet (4) and son Rex (1). Still living locally to Worth and running a Tree Surgery Business.

Ed Neil-Gallacher (R'99) Qualified from Imperial College Medical School 2007, joined the Navy whilst training and met Fiona Macaskill (RAMC) when posted for house jobs in Birmingham. Married in March 2012 after abandoning the Mob and bought a smallholding in Kent which Fiona has spent the last few years managing and repairing while I specialise in radiology. Now a locum radiologist in Brighton and living in Keymer. Our spare time is spent pandering to an ineffably stupid labradoodle (Boris) and a wilful little basset hound (PBGV called Hector). Fiona is horsey (she's practically a horse), and became an obsessive hunter with the Tyndale whilst at med school in Newcastle. Her Irish draft we hope to hunt in Sussex in due course - do please get in touch if there are other Worthians hunting there. My own little pony (Wendy, a Haflinger) has arthritis and now only one eye (cancer) so is enjoying retirement. Poultry and potatoes have come and gone. Before Fi converted to Rome we walked the Camino to Santiago (Original/Primitivo route) which had a profound effect on us, giving me a lasting admiration for tapas and 'gin y tonica'. Quite how the Camino works I don't know but we feel called to go back and endure it again, which is actually a recommendation of sorts. Worth gave me some excellent memories, experiences and friends, my fondness and admiration for the monks there will never end.

2000s Jack Harrison (G’00) Living between Taiwan and Hong Kong where we have a couple of Jamie's Italian restaurants. Go to mass at St Margaret's in Happy Valley when I can. Cycling on the weekends with Huez gear. Hope to see some WOBS at the Sevens this year.

Christopher Lamb (R'01) now living with family in Rome as The Tablet's Vatican correspondent and working for other outlets including the Sunday Times and La Stampa.

Jim Condie (B’02) Married Kelly Johnson in Chiddingfold, Surrey on 26th August 2016 with a number of WOBS in attendance, including Best Man Chris Kellaway (B‘02) and ushers Gus Wardle (R‘02) and Mark Churchman (C’02). Currently living and working in London.

Charles Birchall (R’03) I would love to share the news that I was married to Jessica Heaney on the 6th August 2016. My best man was my brother, Robert Birchall (R’01), and there were plenty of Worth boys at the wedding as well as two of my ushers, Thomas Middlehurst (R’03) and Thomas Galliano (R’03). Fr Kevin was also there to give his blessing and joined us for some food and drinks.

Chris O’Shea (B’03) will be starring in Hollywood movie, Patriots Day, due out later this year.

Oliver Platt (G'03) married Angela Connolly at Worth Abbey on the 12th August 2016. Fr Mark Barrett (who was my Housemaster) performed the ceremony.

Christopher Madsen (B’04) Am delighted to announce that my wife Hannah gave birth to our son, Samuel Henry Madsen, on 5th December 2015 and he is an absolute cracker, even if I do say so myself! In early 2016 I moved the family to Singapore as I have taken the role of Head of Partnerships Asia for Chelsea Football Club. We are all very much enjoying our life out here and trying to take in the full experience of having so many wonderful destinations on our doorstep. There are a few Worthians - Dan Mourad (B’99) & Matt Pardo (B’01) - out here as well and we’d love to hear from any others if they move out this way.

James Longman (B'05) Another year of news at the BBC. There's been quite a lot of it. I’ve been a reporter for BBC news since last June and have been at the Victoria Derbyshire programme working on longer features since January. I'm heading to Beirut to work as a Middle East correspondent from September for a couple of months. Seeing some of my best friends married - Mark Breen (B'05) to Natalie Fast on New Year's Eve in Spain - was a definite highlight. My 30th at the end of this year may not be.

Tom Ballard (F’07) Qualified as a solicitor in February this year and got engaged to Kathleen Conway on 1st October 2016.

2010s Hugh Dixon (R’10) I recently made Partner at GWD Property Consultants after being one of the youngest associates at Strutt & Parker in London.

GWD Property Consultants is a residential buying agency with a long pedigree, assisting private clients in the purchase of London property.

Jan-Philipp (JP) Hotze (B’11) I had an exciting year in between my Bachelor and Master studies. After graduating in July 2015, I started working for an energy retailer in The Netherlands and ended up in San Francisco where I coincidently met up with fellow Worthian Max Kerz (R’11). In August 2016 I start my Masters in International Energy in Paris.

Let me know if you are around as would like to catch up.

Kitty Gibson (StA’12) Working as an events and marketing coordinator for an events agency in West Sussex specialising in B2B events all over the UK and abroad. Really enjoyed coming back to Worth to speak about my job at the Careers Fair in July 2016 as well as meeting up with other Worthians at the Festival of Rugby in September 2016 where we got our first ladies touch rugby team together!

Krystian Rybarczyk (StB’12) I met my wife, Kinga Bogusiewicz, in September 2014 at the educational summer camp that I organised School of Chivalry (Letnia Szkoła Rycerska). We got engaged in July 2015 and married on 15th August 2016 on the feast of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Capuchin Friary in Lublin. We both live and work in Lublin, in the southeast of Poland. My wife works as a PR specialist for a Catholic charity. Having received a Masters in Polish Literature, she is doing her second degree in Theology and starting a PhD in Polish Literature at John Paul II Catholic University. I have received an MEng degree in Computing from Imperial College and work for an e-payments start-up as a software developer. I am hoping to found my own technology start-up in the near future.

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News in Brief

Robert Cottrell (R'97) In January 2016 I moved to Oxford with my wife Ashley, and am currently Assistant Housemaster at St. Edward's School, Oxford ('Teddies'). I'm still teaching Spanish and thoroughly involved with the sporting programme. I'm now responsible for the rugby sevens programme and a brief encounter with Tom Mitchell earlier this year came about when he came to do a training session with our senior squads. A good catch up!

Jos Seligman (StB’01) Organised a lunch in September for Worthians working in Property. 8 of us got together over some fairly gargantuan courses. All keen to do the same next year and add to the numbers.

Anthony Aris (R’64) 27 March 1946 to 14 October 2015

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Obituary

nthony and his twin brother, Michael, were two of the founder pupils of Worth Senior School, arriving in 1959. Even then they were both very keen students of all things Tibetan, guided by master language teacher Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie, later 78th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Another founder pupil, Rodney Bligh (C’64,) remembers that they both used to faint in church regularly, Anthony more often than Michael. This would happen without warning, and being quite big boys they often brought down other boys nearby, not to mention the chairs which were used in the old church then.

For most of their time at Worth they really were identical, and on several occasions they swapped lessons as a prank.

Since they studied different subjects this succeeded in bating their teachers splendidly, as they would of course score zero marks in any revision test.

Anthony’s brother-in-law Adrian Phillips, wrote the following account of Anthony’s remarkable life.

After Worth Anthony went on to study Anthropology at Durham University and subsequently travelled in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Visiting Michael, who had been invited to Bhutan in 1967 as the tutor of the children of the royal family, Anthony, too, fell in love with what in those days was a truly remote and hidden land. During his travels he met Marie-Laure de Labriffe, whom he married in 1975.

It is above all as a publisher that Anthony made a lasting contribution to Himalayan and Tibetan studies. He had a passion for books and a determination to produce them to perfection.

When he returned to England Anthony first worked for Dillons (London University Bookshop) and then Kegan Paul, the oriental booksellers in Museum Street. Anthony took charge of their gallery of oriental art and learned to buy and sell at auctions and to organise exhibitions. When Kegan Paul closed their shop, Anthony joined Aris & Phillips Ltd in Warminster, commissioning and editing books on Asia.

Aris & Phillips were approached by Kodansha International of Japan to market their great series of illustrated volumes of Oriental Ceramics. Anthony took on the sales and marketing of this personally, which gave him a solid base from which to commission his own titles on his real interest which was Tibet and the Himalayas.

Anthony founded Serindia Publications in 1976, continuing to cooperate with Kodansha as a distributor of their highquality books on East and Central Asian art. Serindia was a successful publishing business for twenty-five years, resulting in a great number of exquisitely produced volumes in many different fields of scholarship related to Tibet, Bhutan, and the Himalayas in general. Anthony eventually sold Serindia Publications, but it continues to flourish along the lines that he established.

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Anthony was also a social entrepreneur. With his open and generous personality and great gift of listening, this came naturally to him. A short time before he passed away in 1999, his brother Michael had taken the first steps towards setting up a Tibetan and Himalayan Studies Centre in Oxford, with the financial backing of generous benefactors, in particular the Koerner and the Rausing families. Anthony brought this project to a successful conclusion, securing the patronage of the Prince of Wales. The Centre is now located at Wolfson College, which also hosts the Lectureship dedicated to Tibetan and Himalayan studies, created in the year 2000 with part-funding from the Centre. For a number of years a librarian was also funded from the same source, making the cataloguing of the Tibetan books in the Bodleian Library possible. In bringing all this about it would be very difficult to overrate the importance of Anthony’s patient, diplomatic, and dedicated efforts.

Anthony arranged for Michael’s photos from Bhutan to be given to the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, and later contributed his own photos from the Himalayan kingdom.

The latter are still in the process of being catalogued.

Michael’s deep personal involvement with Burma, through his marriage with Aung San Suu Kyi, is well known. Anthony, too, was a true friend of Burma, and was for many years engaged in providing support for Burmese students in exile.

He also encouraged the publication of books on the struggle for democracy in Burma.

On the occasion of his birthday in March 2015, Anthony was presented with a volume of sixty articles written by scholars from all over the world, paying tribute not only to his long career as a publisher, but also – and above all – to the man.

This extraordinary book, Tibetan and Himalayan Healing.

An Anthology for Anthony Aris, published in record time, focusing on the theme of ‘healing’, provided Anthony with great pleasure during the final months of his life.

On 22 October 2015, the first ‘Aris Lecture’ took place at Wolfson College. This is to be an annual event, in memory of Michael and Anthony. Anthony had wished to set this up to honour his brother, but was prevailed upon to accept the name it eventually was given as he could hardly deny that he himself had also played a significant role in promoting Tibetan studies in the UK. The lecture was given by Janet Gyatso, on the appropriate theme “Tibetan Studies and its Possible Futures”. Sadly, Anthony passed away a week before the lecture.

Those – and they are many indeed – who had the privilege of spending time with Anthony and Marie-Laure during the last year of his life, always found a warm welcome in their London home and were not only treated to lunch, tea or dinner, a glass of wine or a ‘wee dram’, but above all to lively and wide-ranging conversation. Anthony was always a family man. His and Marie-Laure’s children Arabella and Roderick, and, not least, their grandchildren were frequent visitors, surrounding Anthony with their love and care.

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Michael Iain MacBryde Boyd (R’66) 29 June 1948 to 26 December 2015

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Obituary

orn in 1948 in Ireland, Michael was raised on the Milverton Court farm estate in Somerset with his two brothers. As a child he suffered the loss of hearing due to side effects from medicine at the time. This significant impact shaped the way he lived. He had an ability to overcome adversity and appreciated everything he had while making the most of every moment. He tragically lost both his parents during his early teenage years but kept a life-long bond with his guardian who went on to live to 108.

Following an education at Worth from 1956-66 he graduated from Warwick University and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. It was during his early career that he met his wife to be, Hatsue, during golf lessons in London.

The international marriage with Hatsue opened up a secondary world with many trips to Japan. He was fascinated by the culture, food and sights of Japan and enjoyed exploring the country with his family. Travelling was another important aspect of Michael’s life and he enjoyed constantly flying or sailing off to new and exotic locations.

Golf remained a passion and together with tennis it was a weekly fixture in his calendar. Always active he was keen to take on physical challenges when the natural environment offered an opportunity. The less strenuous activity of walking with Winston, the family dachshund brought back from a trip to Peru, was a favourite past-time.

He enjoyed his career as a chief accountant working for a number of international companies before retiring in 2015 from the Korean Captain Company.

Michael will be remembered for his willingness to help people. He never hesitated to assist someone, however much trouble it was. His small but personal acts of kindness and support often left a lasting impression in the hearts of the people he met.

His three children say that as a father he was like a best friend, always playful and exuberant, childishly competitive and always game for a challenge. He had a perfect life partnership with his wife and their strengths and weaknesses complemented each other.

Michael took his Catholic faith seriously and his funeral took place at the Catholic Church at Old Dean in Camberley, officiated by Fr Chris Dobson (StB’66), a life-long Worth friend, and Fr Bede Hill OSB. In the full congregation were friends from many walks of life, including the Catenian Association, of which Michael was an active member and relations including his two brothers Andrew (R’68) and Francis (R’71).

Michael was very youthful and his sudden death aged 68 was untimely. He however lived the life he had to its fullest.

He was truly a generous and kind-spirited man who enriched the lives of many.

The Boyd Family

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Francis Ormsby-Gore, Lord Harlech (G’72) 13 March 1954 to 1 February 2016

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Obituary

he youngest of five children and the second son of a second son, Francis David Ormsby-Gore was never meant to become a peer. He was the grandson of the fourth to hold the title, a Tory Cabinet minister. But his eldest son (Francis’s uncle) was killed in a car accident in the 1930s. The title, along with 8,000 acres of land on two estates in Shropshire and Gwynedd, passed to Francis’s father, David Ormsby Gore, after the fourth Lord Harlech’s death in 1964. A former Conservative minister, he would serve as Britain’s ambassador to Washington from 1961 to 1965, when he and his wife Sylvia became close friends of the Kennedys.

In 1967, when Francis was 12, his mother was killed in a car crash. His father was subsequently said to have proposed to JFK’s widow, Jackie, who turned him down in favour of Aristotle Onassis.

In an attempt to avoid death duties, Lord Harlech had made over some of his property to his eldest son Julian, but prone to depression, in 1974 he shot himself dead with a Smith and Wesson at the age of 33, making Francis the heir to the title. Eleven years later, in 1985, Lord Harlech himself was killed, again in a car crash, attempting to avoid a sheepdog.

Francis, known to his friends as Frank, left Worth at 16, having inherited estates worth £2.6 million. But he also faced death duties of £1.6 million, while a capital gains tax bill meant that he had to sell £5 million worth of art.

In 1986 Frank married Amanda Grieve, a fashion journalist and subsequently the muse of first, John Galliano and later Karl Lagerfeld. They had a son, Jasset, followed by a daughter, Tallulah, and were happy for the first few years, living on the family estate in Shropshire and spending summers on the other Harlech estate in North Wales.

In the struggle to keep his estates going, Frank did much of the manual labour himself. He even ran a small haulage company, driving his own lorries to London to table questions in the House of Lords about the beef industry or the Potato Council.

He took the Conservative whip and joined a parliamentary group for the former Yugoslavia, although he attracted controversy after meeting the Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, who were subsequently indicted for war crimes.

His marriage was sadly dissolved in 1998 and Alice, the youngest of his three sisters and a former fiancée of Eric Clapton, died in poverty aged 44 in a bedsit in Bournemouth, having taken a fatal dose of heroin. Amid such woes, it can only have added insult to injury when Lord Harlech was deprived of his voting rights in the House of Lords following Tony Blair’s expulsion of most of the hereditary peerage.

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Having tried to hold on to it for years, in 2001, Francis was forced to put the 18th-century Brogyntyn Hall, near Oswestry (the family home for 200 years), on the market.

Having had to identify the bodies of his father, brother and sister, gone through a divorce, with a settlement that can’t have helped his finances, it was a final admission of defeat.

Towards the end of his life Lord Harlech lived in the village of Talsarnau, Gwynned, and continued to farm his family’s remaining land in Wales. After his death, a local councillor said, “He was always wearing a black hat and dressed very differently to everyone else in the village so you always noticed him straight away. He was very well known in Talsarnau and did a lot with the people of the village and Harlech itself. I’m sure he will be missed.”

Extracts taken from The Daily Telegraph 8 February 2016 I read the news, as always, tinged with a little sadness about the passing of Frank Ormsby-Gore, that time is so determined to exact a toll on us all. However it is worth recounting a story of one summer's fun, though it would be frowned upon by the makers of rules and regulations, but it left a fond memory of Frank Ormsby-Gore, a friend at School and strangely never forgotten.

I walked across the front quad with Frank, sometime post high mass and prior to the race for the lunch time refectory. He was to wait for his sister who was coming down from London with her boyfriend and the three of them were going to nip up to the Cowdray Arms for a bite and possibly a sip of the cold stuff.

At the appointed hour through those high gates and under that magnificent cedar drove a very scarlet Ferrari, swept onto the quad and pulled up beside us. Frank's sister de-bussed and flung her arms around her brother while from the other seat emerged a tall thin young man with drooping moustache, equally long brown straight hair, well passed his shoulders, his face smiled almost shyly. After some initial greetings and an introduction to Frank's sister, Frank said he would see me later and piled into the back of a very tight fitting Ferrari, made even tighter when this thin smiling man asked if I would like to come too?

Pints and toasted sandwiches bought, we sat discretely in the garden of the pub. I asked my thin friend what he did. His response was to mumble something about being a musician with a band. They were clearly doing well this band, and so eventually nerve was held while I summoned the next question. "So what's your name? Mine's Shane." To which he replied..."Er Eric, Eric Clapton."

Shane Bisgood (StB’70)

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Fr Dominic Rolls (StB’81) 2 July 1963 to 29 April 2016

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Obituary

orn in Liverpool, Dominic arrived at Worth in 1977.

Given his future as a Historian it was entirely fitting that he went into St Bede’s House, where he lived for 5 years under the guiding hand of Fr Stephen. It was in the House on the Hill that he grew into the person he was, and was to become; a thinker, a listener, and a man who cared for others. He was both passionate and compassionate. He felt strongly on matters of principal and would rage at wrong doing.

Dom was not one of ‘the gang’ and he grew to be happy with that. He was an enthusiastic amateur on the games field, a deep thinker in the classroom and among friends. A brilliant Historian he could throw colour and originality into his analysis of events. This skill became visible as he grew into an increasingly accomplished actor. A young man of rare sensitivity, he had the courage to feel as well as to think. A contemporary recalls that Dom had a memory ‘like a man trap’ with the extraordinary ability to recall details of conversations and events. Even at school this was at the heart of his pastoral care – so profoundly Benedictine – to listen to others in a way that made them feel truly valued.

In his Upper Sixth Dom had a key role in George Daly and Liam Bauress’ production of ‘Benedict’. George recalls, “I gave him a tricky duet to sing with Edward Henry when there was a famine in the land and the monks had to respond to requests for food while running very low on supplies for themselves. St Benedict of course argued for generosity and handing over whatever was needed by the starving. The monk played by Dom argued for a more pragmatic response with a high proportion of prayer to food. In discussion Dom was serious when chatting about the dilemma but had a twinkling smile when asked to sing ‘we'll pray for them instead’.”

Prayer and the spiritual life grew to be increasingly important to Dom and it was no surprise that he listened to the voice of God in his head and his heart when a student at St Andrews and when he became a Housemaster at Westminster Cathedral Choir School. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1993.

He had spells as assistant priest at St Joseph's Church in Epsom, and also in Eastbourne, before moving to Dorking where he was parish priest at St Joseph's Church for 12 years. He was a familiar and important figure on the A&B pilgrimage to Lourdes.

While he taught at Wonersh Seminary, near Guildford, he also developed youth work in the church and established strong connections with young people who responded to

This remarkable portrait of Dominic is by his sister, the artist, Antonia Rolls

his honesty and to his sense of the ridiculous. He also encouraged more parishioners to be involved in helping to run activities there. One example was the creation of a Garden of Remembrance.

Last November he moved to a church in Edinburgh after developing advanced bowel cancer and enduring courses of chemotherapy. He died in a hospice in Edinburgh on 29 April. Over 100 clergy, his many family and friends and a number of Old Boys gathered in the Abbey Church in May for a fitting farewell to pray for Dominic at his funeral mass.

Speaking before he died, Dominic said, ‘’The key is to love yourself enough. I find loving myself is a struggle, and I often fail. But I need to recognise this daily struggle as beautiful and for the greater glory of God. We do our best but sometimes we fail. ‘Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to strive and to seek for no reward save that of knowing we do your holy will’.”

In ‘Benedict’ Dom sang the haunting ‘How lovely is thy dwelling place’. He is singing it now.

Bobby Acworth (StB’81)

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Fabian Patrick Aiken (StB’84) 11 July 1966 to 6 February 2016

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Obituary

abian, who joined Worth in St. Bede’s House in 1979, sadly died in February this year aged 49.

He was the eldest son of Michael and Sigi, and older brother to Alexander and Ralph. His loving wife Annette survives him.

Fabian suffered with a brain tumour which was operated on several times over 19 years but it finally defeated him. He was immensely brave, cheerful and stoical in facing up to his challenge and was determined to live life to the full.

Fabian delighted in challenging sports, in particular rock climbing and ski touring. He was also a passionate collector of vintage vehicles.

Fabian was a much loved husband, a supportive son, a popular very dear brother and a delight to his nieces and nephews.

The well attended funeral service was in Penshurst and Fabian was buried in Poundsbridge churchyard close by.

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

David Francombe (B’85) 23 January 1967 to 16 May 2016

David spent his prep school years at the well renowned Pembroke House School in Kenya where he thrived for 6 years - mostly on the sports field I might add! Following his initials of DP one of his teachers even nicknamed him Dozy Pup. At 13 David was shipped off to Worth to follow me into secondary school. Under the strict regime of his housemaster, Keith Owers, who seemed to be in charge of all the Swahili speaking boys, David excelled right to the highest level of Head Boy. Well respected and well liked by everyone young and old.

Following his successful secondary school campaign David took a year out to travel Australia; harassing kangaroos on his motorbike, surfing the waves with his buddy Tony and teaching the Aussies how to drink a beer properly, before returning to UK for college.

David went to Bedford College where he did a degree in Physical Education. Again sports came before all else apart from the normal antics of student life; girls, beers, discos and the occasional run in with the boys in blue after a long night of sniffing the barmaids aprons.

This is where David really got into his rugby, playing initially for Bedford College and then being invited to join Bedford Club to play for them.

Having attained his degree, of which he said to Dad and Mum,” I'm actually qualified in nothing after 3 years”, Bedford Rugby Club offered David a position playing for them full time. So after a brief holiday in Kenya he returned to Bedford to play in the first division for the whole year.

Playing at number 8, super fit and very big, alongside the likes of Paul Ackford, David did very well indeed on the pitch in what was to be just a year at first division level before he decided Kenya was calling him home.

David then decided that teaching had been great, but, really he wanted to be a farmer. So he and Cally moved down to the wheat fields of Narok where they were married and started their lives together. It is here they settled and built their beautiful home raising their wonderful children Stacey and Toby.

David learnt to fly early in his new farming career, following in his grandfather's footsteps. He went on from his PPL to attain his commercial pilot’s license which enabled him to fly crop spraying aircraft. Another feather in David's cap now as he went on to spray the thousands of acres of wheat each year.

Having now settled into his farming career, retired from the rugby circuit, or so he thought, David was then invited to Durban to play for a rugby team known as The Legends. The Legends is made up of retired Springbok players who get together once a year for a friendly match. David's huge heart and fun loving character left a mark on the Legends and after three years of playing with them he will always be remembered as ‘The Kenyan Legend’ to them.

Along with the love and passion David had for his family and friends his second passion was flying and in the latter years David went back to the books and studied tirelessly to pass out in a larger plane and earn his wings as a fully-fledged Captain of small light passenger aircraft. Another accolade in his life.

David lived life to the full and achieved more than most of us will ever do: From Head Boy at school to First Division Rugby, to sports teacher then farmer and bread miller to captaining his country at International Rugby, to racing motorbikes and deep sea fishing, to playing squash, tennis, cricket and golf at high standards, to captaining aircraft, to be the best family man I know.

Fly high and farewell bro.

Peter Francombe (B’84)

David returned to Kenya where he taught Sports and some Geography at Peponi School. The kids loved and respected David, putting him on a pedestal in their lives. It was here he met Cally, his loving wife, in between all the teaching and rugby he played at Nondescripts Rugby Football Club.

David was a powerhouse for Nondescripts both on and off the pitch and led myself and the team to the heights of consecutive years of raising the trophies in the Kenyan League. His comradery and large heart will always be a part of the Club and Kenyan rugby fraternity.

This led us brothers on to playing for Kenya in 1993 in the pre-qualifying rounds for the World Cup. A very proud moment for us and more so in that David captained Kenya to victory in two of our matches.

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Obituary

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nown to many around the world as Dip, David was born in Nairobi in 1967 just 366 days after me.

Clever parents working on saving birthday parties by having two for one!.

A Message from the Head Master The new art block was opened in the Summer Term

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t gives me great pleasure to write for the first time in The Blue Paper, which demonstrates another impressive and busy year for Worth Society and the School.

For any new Head Master, the first few months in post is a little like arriving in an unfamiliar city that you feel you ought to know: you don’t want to make it too obvious that you need a map to get around, and you try to communicate with the ease of a local, even though you don’t know half the vocabulary. I was very grateful to Gino and Anne Carminati for giving me the bearings I needed to begin with, and to the monks, governors, teachers and staff of Worth for helping me to understand Worth’s ins and outs over the course of the first term. What attracted me to Worth to begin with, its uniqueness and strong sense of purpose, turned out to be entirely true.

There were some outstanding events and achievements across the School during the last year. A highlight was, without doubt, the Choir’s visit to the Vatican, where it was very fortunate to sing with the Sistine Chapel Choir at a Papal Mass. As Br David’s report in this edition of The Blue Paper shows, this tremendous opportunity for Worth pupils would not have been possible without the imagination and support of Worthian Mark Spyropoulos (StB’99) who is a member of the Sistine Chapel Choir.

I was also struck by the tenacity of the latest group of Worth pupils who set out to swim the Channel, after months of gruelling training in Dover Harbour, raising in excess of £10,000 in the effort. This kind of endeavour is a prominent feature of Worth, and central to its Benedictine heart; throughout the year pupils came together with imaginative and demanding ways of raising money for charitable causes. We also saw this in the pupils who travelled to Ayacucho in Peru, where they worked in a children’s orphanage that has a long association with the monks of Worth and is a place that many Worthians are familiar with.

Trips to Taizé and Lourdes continued the School’s tradition of pilgrimage, and there were a lot of new initiatives within the community, such as the Worth in the Community day, which took place at the end of the summer term and took Worth pupils out into the local area to undertake a range of charitable activities.

It was my pleasure over the course of the last year to join several Worth Society events, including reunion lunches at Worth and in London. I am looking forward very much to the Carol Service to be held at St Patrick’s, Soho in December. We were very grateful to the many old boys and girls who came to Worth to speak to senior pupils or who offered work experience placements.

Head Boy and Head Girl Helena Purle and Elikem Logan

Stuart McPherson joins the Channel Swim team during a training day at Dover to give them encouragement ahead of their charity effort

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Students made a pilgrimage to Taizé in July

When Worthians return to the School one of their goals is to see the house they were once a part of. I have noticed more than once bemused old boys staring blankly at the grassy knoll that until recently supported Rutherford House. There has been a lot of change and relocation over the years as the School has grown and embarked on new directions. From next September, a new house structure will see something of a return to the past when Gervase House is re-established as a house for boys from Year 9 to Year 13, which will then be the arrangement in all of the houses. St Mary’s will relocate to the building currently known as Gervase, and Gervase will relocate to the building that currently houses St Mary’s. It will be exciting to see another boys’ house in operation when it comes to house competitions and to have Year 13 boys as leaders in their houses.

Worth in the Community was a new initiative which proved to be a huge success

There is much to celebrate in the way Worth pupils go about the business of being at School, and what they achieve in their life beyond Worth. I’m sure that Worthians of all generations will enjoy reading this year’s Blue Paper.

Stuart McPherson, Head Master, Worth School

The Sound of Music in May was a junior school production full of colour and character

The Channel Swim team present a cheque for more than £10,000 to the Stroke Association

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A new era of Development at Worth

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fter 13 years in Development at various schools, most recently 7 years at Wellington College, it is a great pleasure to join Worth as Director of Development at this particularly exciting time. My role is to work with both the School and the Abbey to build relationships and raise funds to help both institutions realise their ambitious plans for growth. There are a number of buildings projects which need support over the coming years and we are determined to raise significant funds to allow talented, hard-working boys and girls of limited means to experience the advantages of a Worth education and all the opportunities this can bring.

Worth has been wonderfully welcoming and Marianne Eyre, Development Manager, and I have been working closely with Mary Lou Burge to explore ways we can assist each other to connect with Worthians in the UK and around the world. I hope to attend as many Worth Society events as possible and to meet as many Worthians as I can to hear your views and discuss how we can move forward together in support of Worth School and Abbey. While my job is ultimately to secure funding for various projects, my initial task is to connect with former pupils and current parents and help to build relationships among all our constituents.

I would like to know your thoughts on the various projects we are considering for both the School and the Abbey, so that we can focus our efforts in the right areas. This is an exciting time of change and growth and we need your input and support if we are to achieve our ambitious goals.

Please feel free to contact me any time at eschneider@worth.org.uk if you would like to discuss Development at Worth, or if you would like to talk about how you might help.

Edward Schneider, Director of Development

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Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Worth School Choir makes History

I

n April 2016 Worth School Choir visited Rome to be the first English school choir ever to sing at a Papal Mass with the Pope’s ‘private’ choir, the Capella Sistina. This came about because Worthian Mark Spyropoulos (StB’99) is a member of that choir. Whilst at Worth Mark showed great gifts both as a singer and an actor, and went on to study them both at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Whilst in Rome for audition in opera houses, it was suggested to him that he might arrange an audition with the new Maestro of the Capella Sistina, Mgr Massimo Palombella, who is a great fan of the English choral tradition and subsequently hosted the Westminster Abbey Choir to sing with the Sistina.

Mark was offered a contract and became the first Englishman in history to sing in the Papal Choir.

Hearing of Mark’s enthusiasm for all that Michael Oakley has achieved and continues to do at Worth in the area of Choral Music the Maestro was keen to make contact and several visits were undertaken by various people from Worth.

Obviously impressed, an invitation to sing with the Sistina

was offered to the School Choir – and after much negotiation with Vatican Officials – the date of 24th April 2016 was agreed.

Members of the Choir and several staff, plus a group of supporting parents, journeyed off to Rome on Thursday 21st April, and after a brief orientation round the city that afternoon were ready for the start of the first real day. On the Friday there was time for sightseeing in the morning, and two students and Michael had an interview for Vatican Radio. After lunch we all prepared for our first encounter with the Sistine Choir in their rehearsal rooms not far from the Piazza Navona in central Rome. Ascending the wide and spacious ‘renaissance’ staircases we eventually arrived on the second floor where the Choir were half-way through their afternoon rehearsal. After being greeted by the Maestro, we sat for a while and listened to them rehearsing.

This was an amazing preparation – they sing with huge intensity,but very quietly; responding to every one of the Maestro’s directions with great passion. Then the time came for us to sing with them!

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Worth School Choir makes history continued

The piece we were to sing together was a motet by Palestrina, Sicut Cervus. Palestrina is considered one of the greatest of the renaissance composers in Rome, being the Maestro at the Julian Chapel – a while before the Sistine Chapel was built. Singing one of his pieces with the Choir who succeeded his (you might say) and in his native city – was in the words of one of the students, ‘awesome’! It required huge concentration to adjust to their ‘style’ – flexibility to move faster as the Maestro indicated – yet in a flash to reduce speed and volume to almost nothing. All of us, I sensed, felt an enormous relief at the end, that we had made a ‘good showing’ and were given a round of applause by the men and boys of the Sistina as we left, to meet again at St Peter’s on Sunday morning.

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Saturday gave us a break to visit The Forum in the morning – lunch near the Trevi Fountain – then onwards to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where we were to sing at the Vigil Mass. Incidentally Palestrina had also been Master of the music there. This was a good opportunity for us to sing through the whole of the repertoire of what was to be sung the following day at St Peter’s. There was a large congregation at this Mass, and the students were moved by the sense of prayer which permeated the Basilica from the moment we entered. The Cardinal (I think he was) who celebrated the Mass was very welcoming and friendly and asked us to give a short ‘performance’ at the end of Mass.

The moment arrived for our early start to arrive in St Peter’s Square for about 8am on Sunday morning. Characteristically for Rome no one quite seemed to know when the Mass was to begin – 9.30am or 10.00am? The crowds however were gathering and we realised that this was a special Mass for the Young People of the Roman area celebrating the Holy Year of Mercy. Whether or not as a school we were specifically invited on this day, we can’t say – but it seemed very appropriate that the congregation of over 100,000 were going to be mainly young people.

In the vast crowd gathering we glimpsed the purple and white figure of Mark in his choir robes – finding his way towards us – to lead us through security and up to the Logia just behind the Papal Throne from where we were to sing.

The whole scene had a sense of Fiesta about it as everyone gathered for Mass. We were joined by Abbot Luke and the

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Head Master, Stuart McPherson, and Alda Andreotti (Chair of Governors) who joined the parents just opposite the Pope!

The Procession of concelebrants, Bishops and Cardinals seemed to go on for ever, but at last the brass octet sounded a fanfare as Pope Francis came through the Logia, waved to us, and made his way to the altar. We were singing the hymn which won the competition for the Year of Mercy, written by an Englishman, Paul Inwood (well know at Worth). we sang the verses in English whilst the Sistine took the Italian. The most amazing thing was the constant energy that Maestro Palombella exerted to direct the vast array of musical resources. He had twelve TV screens to assist him, so he knew exactly when a fanfare was needed, or when the organ should fill-in.

For all of us I suspect, the most moving part was when we sang on our own during Communion. We sang the beautiful anthem, often sung at Worth, Beati Quorum Via by CV Stanford, a very English piece although in Latin. Although the choirs are hidden under the Logia, the amazing sound system relays the music beautifully round every corner of the Piazza. This was followed by Sicut Cervus – and the two choirs sang as one (most of the time). For many a wonderful completion of the experience was to be able to go into St Peter’s Basilica – which was completely empty of people – where we sang some motets from the choir stalls – knowing we were only yards away from the place where beneath St Peter is buried – somehow this gave meaning and purpose to the whole experience.

Br David Jarmy Michael Oakley with Tom Hammond-Davies (C’03) and Mark Spyropoulos (StB’99) on a preparatory visit to Rome

A special moment with Pope Francis

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n September 2016 I attended my first Abbots’ Congress. Every four years the Superiors of all the male Benedictine monasteries come together in Rome at Sant Anselmo, the site of a monastery and a Pontifical University. It was an opportunity to get a better sense of the monastic movement spread over six continents. While the communities in the developed world generally face the challenges of smaller and older communities, those in the emerging world face the challenges of growing numbers and less established leadership. As part of the Congress we had a private audience with Pope Francis; after his address, every one of us – at least 250 altogether – met him personally. I offered him greetings from Worth Abbey and assured him of our love. It was a joy and privilege; I believe I met a saint.

Abbot Luke Jolly (C’71)

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I

A Look Back in Time

Top Row – L to R Tom Dooley – French Teacher & Reeling George Daly – English/Drama Teacher Alex Watts (G’92) – Rugby Peter Reeve RIP – Head Groundsman Mike Ford – Head Chef Fr Mark Barrett – Junior House Michael Hunt (G’92) – Telephone Duty Christopher Wigan (R’92) – Tennis Captain Angus Milne Home (C’94) – Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Jean-Pierre Ball (C’94) – Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

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2nd Row Down – L to R Nathaniel Holloway (C’94) – Music Fr Christopher Jamison – Gervase House Master Pat Kelly – Learning Support Justin Duckworth (G’91) – Squash Toby Simmons (StB’91) – Art Marc Le Clerq (StB’91) – Drama Tim McCann (G’91) – Music 3rd Row Down – L to R Benjamin Nickell (B’94) Benedict Hughes (B’91) – Football Evonne Gubbin – Nurse Guy Robinson – Music Heatherley Cheshire Home Volunteer Peter (Stumpy) Freeland – Head of Biology Robert Carter (C’92) – Surfing

n 1991 the then Editor of the Worth Record, Worthian Nick Robinson (StB’75) and St Bede’s Housemaster 19861998, decided to run a front cover showing every facet of Worth life. Fr Stephen did the photographic honours and this was the result. We hoped we’ve managed to identify everybody correctly! We’ve had updates from some which appear in the News in Brief section.

3rd Row Up – L to R Jeremy Rowton (R’95) – Fencing William Pollen (StB’94) – Golf Meg Pensotti RIP – Housekeeper Jill Skinner – Head Master’s Secretary Margaret Stokes – Junior House Benedict Stokes (StB’96) Roger Stokes – Deputy Head Master Jamie Douglas (B’92) Athletics/Cross Country A Heatherley Cheshire Home resident representing Voluntary Service Eiran Reilly – Judo James Reilly

2nd Row Up – L to R Piers MacWhannell (B’91) – Head Boy Oliver Barnett (StB’98) – Junior House James Murphy (C’98) – Junior House Nicholas Olivere (StB’98) – Junior House Simon Jones (StB’98) – Junior House Borja Goizueta – Junior House David Newbury – Cycling Proficiency Jane Moore – Head Gardener Mark Walton (R’92) – Cricket Bottom Row Seated L to R Luke Kenny (B’98) – Junior House Athletics Jocelyn Godbold (G’98) – Junior House Cricket

Worth Society Life

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Glenn Robertson Spirit of Rugby Trophy was awarded to Andrew Riley and Tim Riley and the Glenn Robertson Sporting Promise Trophy was awarded to current student Jake Defriend (F’16) Many congratulations to you all!

Worthians—The Second Generation: September 2016 Pupil Surname

Christian Name

Current Year

House

Father’s/relatives name

Bailey

Genevieve

7

Austin

Niece of PJ (R’95)

Byrne

Henry

8

Austin

Nephew of Edward Sherlock (StB’85)

Cavaliero

Ella

13

St Mary’s

Rohan (B’81)

Elwes

Barnaby

13

Rutherford

Benedict (G’81)

Gabriel

Iona

9

St Catherine’s

Julian (C’87)

(house, year left)

Gabriel

Samuel

9

Austin

Michael (C’85)

Halffter

Toby

10

St Bede’s

Nephew of Jaime (StB’77) & Fernando Zobel (StB’78)

Hamilton-Deeley

Harry

12

Rutherford

Gavin (R’72)

Jenkins

Callum

12

Farwell

Jonathan (G’81)

Little

Matilda

9

St Mary’s

Roderick (G’90)

Pack

Frederick

10

Chapman

Nephew of Laurence (G’83) Benedict (G’97) Kennedy

Pack

George

13

Chapman

Nephew of Laurence (G’83)& & Benedict (G’97) Kennedy

Pavry

William

9

St Bede’s

Justin (StB’91)

Simpson

Charles

10

St Bede’s

Nephew of Alistair (StB’95) & William (StB’96) Lockhart

Worthians Children currently registered to join Worth Pupil Surname

Christian Name

Proposed start date

Year group

(house, year left)

Archer-Perkins

Georgina

2022

9

Richard (C’66)

• Did you leave Worth between 2010 and 2016?

Bailey

Miranda

2018

7

Niece of PJ (R’95)

• Were you doing your DofE Gold Award and never quite got round to finishing?

It may not be too late...

If you want to find out if you could still receive your Award (and go to St James’s Palace to have it presented) please contact the School DofE Manager, Giles Watson, at gwatson@worth.org.uk

Father’s/relatives name

Bayles

Sebastian

2017

9

Simon (B’90)

Ceparano

Matthew

2018

12

Anthony (C’88)

Gerada

Frederik

2018

9

Charles (R’90)

Johnstone

Dominic

2017

12

Rupert (R’85)

Le Gouellec de Schwarz

Amedee

2018

9

Nephew of James (G’93) & Simon (G’98) Albert

Le Gouellec de Schwarz

Maximillien

2019

7

Nephew of James (G’93) & Simon (G’98) Albert

Little

Lochlan

2018

9

Roderick (G’90)

Owen

William

2017

9

Nephew of Alex (G’88) & Justin (G’91) Duckworth

Samuels

Raphael

2017

9

Dominic Quennell (C’74)

Store

Poppy

2019

9

Eamonn (C’86)

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Worthians—Year 13 University Destinations 2016 Name

Course

University

Name

Course

Nathan Amin

Business Management

Cardiff

Edward Le Marchant

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Brighton

Aidan Atkinson*

Music

Oxford

Johnny Leadsom

Human Geography

Hugh Atkinson

Geography & Planning

Newcastle

Luke Leszczar

Human Geography

Cardiff

Francesco Bagaini

History & Politics

Warwick

Chun Ying Leung

Theoretical Physics

Bristol

Matteo Bagaini

English

Nottingham

Elikem Logan

History of Art

St Andrew’s

Fabio Macari

International Development with Politics

Sussex

Erin Marshall

Civil Engineering

Bristol

Tighe Martin-Hindson

Economics with Political Studies

Royal Holloway

Bryony Maxwell*

Classics & Italian

Edinburgh

Sam McCarthy*

Rugby Coaching

University of South Wales

Maahan Mirnezami

Biomedical Sciences

UCL

Maxwell Nocton*

Geography & Planning

Newcastle

Jack O’Hea

Creative Music Technology

Falmouth

Sebastian O’Reilly

Fashion Photography

University of the Arts, London

James Olcott

Anthropology & Media

Goldsmith’s

Frances Oesterlin*

Environmental Science

Oxford Brookes

Jack Parry

International Business Management

ARU, London

Thomas Pedder*

Geography

Manchester

Sophie Philpots

Politics with French

Bristol

Joanna Bartholomew

Psychology

Oxford Brookes

Benjamin Blades

Natural Sciences

Durham

Skye Bolton*

Biochemistry

King’s College London

Bertie Bravery

History

Bristol

Edward Brooke*

Materials Engineering

Loughborough

Oliver Bunn*

Geography

Swansea

Anna Campbell

English & History

Nottingham

Oliver Campbell*

Religious & Theological Studies

Cardiff

Asher Canessa

Physics with Philosophy

Manchester

William Chadd

Mechanical Design & Manufacture Plymouth

Chi Ho Chan

International Business Management

Bristol

Shweta Chaudhuri

Economics

Royal Holloway

Ethan Cheng

Law

Reading

Yi Tat Chiu

Aerospace Engineering

Hertfordshire

Jaime Cojuangco

Social Sciences

Applying in Philippines

Edmund Davis-White

Philosophy & Politics

Edinburgh

Brigit Douglas

English

Cambridge

Reindert Eijkman

Law

Exeter

Daniel Evelegh

Economics

Giacomo Fenzi

Computing

William Field

Life Sciences

Guy Piechoczek

Professional Musicianship

BIMM

Rural Enterprise & Land Management

Harper Adams

Royal Holloway

Cameron Pring

Music

Bristol

St Andrew’s

Helena Purle

Medicine

Birmingham

Manchester

Andrew Quinn

Construction Management

Reading

Luca Quirici

Football, Business & Media

Buckinghamshire New University

Simran Ramewal

Medicine

Leicester

Martha Rockhill

Modern Languages & European Studies

Bath

Thomas Roundhill

Geography

Oxford Brookes

Luke Rush

Music Performance

Chichester

Fergus Shaw*

Business Economics

UEA

Ishmael Soriano

Marketing

UWE Bristol

Antonia Stanley

Art & History of Art

Reading

French & German

Manchester

Nicholas Gordon

Modern History & Economics

Cardiff

Calum Goring

Psychology

Liverpool

Roy Green

Spanish with Management

King’s College London

James Griffiths

Politics & Philosophy

Hull

William Hay

Sport Psychology & Coaching Sciences

Bournemouth

French with Management

King’s College London

Edward Hermitage*

Press & Editorial Photography

Falmouth

Ronan Hickey

Human Geography

Leicester

Edward Higgs

Economics

Swansea

Giles Holland*

English Literature

UEA

Emily Hollings*

English Literature

Nottingham

Patrick Hollings*

Law

Oxford Brookes

Danielle Horney

International Business

Portsmouth

Annabelle Jones

Biomedical Science

Cardiff

George Jozwiak

International Politics & Conflict Studies

Belfast

International Politics & Conflict Studies

Bradford

Toby Jozwiak* Jonathan Kemp

Natural Sciences

University College London

Alexander King

Business Studies

Bangor

Jessica Kingswell

Criminology & Psychology

Southampton

Niall Kirby

Management with Marketing

UWE Bristol

Benedict Konst*

Anthropology/History

Oxford Brookes

Mona Kou

Microbiology

Bristol

Nicholas Sweeting

Computer Sciences

Surrey

Gherardo Tavella

Music Technology

SAE Institute

Nicholas Taylor

History

Royal Holloway

Max Tew

Economics

Cardiff

Lucia Tomsig

Business Management

King’s College London

Piers Toulorge

Robotics

UWE Bristol

Gabrielle Van Asselt

Ballet

Royal School of Ballet

Anastasia von Croy*

Social Anthropology

St Andrew’s

India Walden

History

Edinburgh

Oliver Whittam

Philosophy & Politics

York

Thomas Wiggins

Medicine

Cambridge

Benedict Wishart

Drama & Theatre Studies

Royal Holloway

Lok Hin Wong

Law

Queen Mary

Hugo Young*

Philosophy & Politics

Edinburgh

Zilin Zhang

Data Science

Warwick

*denotes 2015 leaver

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Reading

Harriet Prince

Alexander Goody

Robert Hearn

University

Worth Society Life

Please note: these details were correct at time of going to press

Life and Times of Worthians

The Old Place

Sparkling WITH

POSSIBILITIES...

Come and see us at our next Open Morning Spring Open Morning Saturday 11th March 2017 Register at: opendays@farleighschool.com

Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire SP11 7PW

www.farleighschool.com @FarleighSchool REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1157842

Farleigh School is a leading Catholic co-educational prep school in Hampshire for boarders and day pupils aged 3-13

Wearing the Society Colours Worth Society Merchandise

www.worthsociety.org.uk

Ties @ £20.00 each Choice of: • 100% smooth silk with Worth cross and crown motif embroidered onto a navy background (pictured above) • 100% smooth silk, navy blue and gold striped tie • 100% reppe silk, navy blue and gold striped tie

Enamel Cufflinks Each pair comes in its own presentation box and is available in either a chain-link or T-bar fitting • Chain-link @ £35.00 per pair • T-bar @ £30.00 per pair

Sterling Silver Charm @ £30.00 Engraved with the Worth crown and cross motif, has a sterling silver lobster claw fitting for attachment.

Hallmarked on the reverse and comes in its own navy blue presentation box

Socks @ £10.00 100% cotton striped in Worthian colours, choice of: • Gentlemen’s, short (size 6-12) • Ladies’, long (size 3-7)

Visit the Merchandise section of the Worth Society website at www.worthsociety.org.uk and purchase items safely and securely using PayPal.