The OC Mitre 2020

The Magazine of Chigwell Alumni Issue 16, December 2020 @chigwellschool

@OldChigwellians

@chigwell_school

/ChigwellSchool1629

The OC Mitre Editor: Gill Punt

BEM B.Ed. M.Ed.

Foreword from the President of the OCA

Development Office Chigwell School High Road, Chigwell Essex IG7 6QF Tel: 020 8501 5748 development@chigwell-school.org

The OC Mitre This is the official annual magazine for the Old Chigwellian Community.

It aims to keep OCs in touch with the School and with each other.

The opinions expressed in its columns are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of the School.

Advertising in The OC Mitre For our current rates please contact the Editor, Gill Punt: development@chigwell-school.org

Thank you to Pauline Dalton for proofreading the magazine.

Forthcoming OC Events Shrove Tuesday Supper 16th February 2021 TBC National Careers Week 1st - 6th March 2021 Chigwell Ball 10th July 2021 OC Day 11th September 2021 OCA Black Tie Dinner 11th September 2021 OCA AGM 13th September 2021 For further details see the OC section of our website www.chigwell-school.org

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This year has certainly brought the School motto to the fore-front of my mind but despite the difficulties we have all encountered throughout the year, the Old Chigwellian Association has made good progress culminating in a positive update and discussion within our AGM in September. I am excited to enter my third year as President with a strategy to build on the partnership we have with the School and greater engagement with the ever increasing world-wide alumni.

In collaboration with the School, prior to the pandemic, we were able to host a number of successful events. The onset of COVID-19 obviously meant a number of our planned events were either postponed or cancelled, which included the very popular OC Football Supper at the Clubhouse and the Black Tie Dinner which was due to follow the AGM. You may have seen the updated and refreshed Chigwell School website, influenced by the history of the school, picking up on the colours and emblems which make Chigwell unique.

As part of the website, the OCs have a prominent Alumni section to summarise our role and vision statement of keeping OCs connected amongst themselves and with the School and it’s developments. The OCA are also working closely with the Development Office and the School’s Director of Marketing and Admissions to align ourselves in three main areas i) social media and communications, ii) events and engagement and iii) equality, diversity and inclusion.

Together we are setting up a series of working groups to

take each area forward as part of our strategic vision. We are looking to gather and reflect the views of all OCs to ensure we deliver what OCs want and not what the committee thinks. I am excited to be working with some of the more recent leavers in this regard, to take on-board their ideas and suggestions. The first key takeaway from the OCA AGM was that younger OCs prefer less formal engagement and more use of WhatsApp groups, Facebook and LinkedIn feeds. This is an area where we have some work to do as an OCA and I’m confident that with the right influencers joining the committee, we will get there.

The second key takeaway was to explain the value of the OCA – to really understand ‘what’s in it for me’ – to banish the perception that we are an ageing committee who are out of touch and have no relevance. Let me assure you, the range of age and personalities around the table (although ‘virtually’ currently via MS Teams or Zoom), gives us a depth of experience and breadth of network and knowledge which is highly regarded.

The OCA value proposition is to provide an elite and ever expanding alumni with a lasting network of connections. n The OC alumni are integral to supporting the School with career talks, professional days and sharing expertise and time n We have active sporting teams made up of OCs in Football, Golf, Tennis, Hockey

to maintain connections and friendships and provide introductions n The OCA provides updates from the School to OCs via the annual OC Mitre publication and other social media communications

The last key point from the AGM was diversity and inclusion. As a committee we are keen to welcome all OCs into the fold to help shape the future. We are eager to ensure we promote the balance of diversity and inclusion, so if you’d like to play your part within the OCA or one of the working groups, or would just like the opportunity to express your views, then please do get in touch with me either via the Development Office or via my personal email Ae ge anSimpsonOC@ yahoo. com.

Hopefully as we embark into 2021 we be able to look forward to gathering together once more at our OC events. You will always receive a warm welcome from both the School and myself as we embark on another year as we drive the OC agenda through a number of new initiatives to ensure we keep the Old Chigwellian network vibrant and meaningful for generations to come.

Aegean Simpson (1985-1987)

n We host a range of networking events throughout the year n When did you last visit Chigwell School? If you are planning a visit, please contact us first so that we can be prepared for your arrival and have the time to show you around properly.

We are always delighted to see OCs back at School but it can be disappointing for both you and us if we cannot allocate enough time to your visit due to other commitments. These days we are governed by strict health and safety laws, safeguarding and security measures which mean that visitors have to be accompanied around the grounds.

These rules apply as much in the holidays as in term time as the School has various commercial lettings involving large numbers of children.

In this Issue...

Message from the Headmaster

2020 really has been a year like no other and, as I write this, the Prime Minister has just announced that England will be entering another period of lockdown. It can all feel rather gloomy but challenging though it all is, we will get there, even if we have to adapt in the meantime.

At school, frequently we have had to react to imposed changes unlike any we have seen before: the closure of the school site to most pupils for a period of time, the cancellation of public examinations, restrictions on the mixing of pupils outside their

bubbles when they could come back to school and then periods of self-isolation for pupils and staff who developed symptoms or come into close contact with someone else who had. All of this coming and going has interrupted the usual rhythm of the school year and the activities which go with it. However, the school community has admirably risen to the Covid challenge.

Who would have thought that face to face lessons, thousands of them, could and would be delivered remotely using MS Teams? Assemblies, services, parents evenings have all worked really well this way; they haven’t been quite the same as the version with human beings in the same physical space but the virtual equivalent has been impressive and I am delighted with the determination shown by the community, as we have worked to keep those things going that we really value.

Meanwhile, as you will read in the pages which follow, the School has continued to look to the future. We have considered

the values which are core to Chigwell and rearticulated them alongside a refreshed logo.

Do visit the website to look for yourself. It is important that the School is a kind, inclusive and diverse community which prepares the pupils of today for the world of tomorrow and we have been asking ourselves how we can be better in this area. I am delighted that two new OCs have joined the OCA committee with a view to supporting this work.

Some OC activities have, understandably, been more limited this year but they will return. In the meantime, do stay in touch with us, and please ensure Gill has your contact details. I hope you enjoy the articles in the pages that follow with stories from across the Chigwell community, relating to OCs and current pupils alike. I wish you and all your families a happy and healthy Christmas and may we all be able to see each other again in 2021.

Michael Punt

Welcome from the Development Office classrooms may have gone quiet for a while and for a school normally buzzing with activity, the quiet, like so much else about the pandemic, was unprecedented, but School mobilised rapidly to provide continuity of education for all our pupils online (or for some key workers’ children, in School).

I feel very lucky to have been a part of the Chigwell Community for several years but none more so than in 2020!

The resilience shown by our School has been extraordinary throughout these trying times.

It is clear to me that there is something very special about the School, and about the education it continues to provide. This spring, as COVID-19 swept across the globe, our School motto was never more apposite and pertinent. “Find a way or make a way” we did. Chigwell’s

This past year has seen new levels of engagement from our alumni. We were pleased with the response to our first survey about OC events (page 32) and will look to build on the results in the future.

This OC Mitre showcases some of the diverse educational and career pathways that OCs follow when they leave School.

If you feel that you could assist OCs starting out on their career journey or support current pupils by providing an insight into your career path via offering internships, interview practice, mentoring or work placements we would like to hear from you.

Another way you can help

change a life is by supporting our Bursary Fund campaign (pages 46-47).

Chigwell School’s mission to assist children who possess talent, ability and dedication, but who lack the financial means to benefit from the educational experience we offer, remains as true today as it did for Samuel Harsnett nearly 400 years ago. Our Bursary Fund campaign offers life-changing opportunities. To find out more about it please contact the Development Office development@chigwell-school. org or visit www.chigwells c h o o l.o rg /s u p p o r t-u s / welcome-to-development / bursary-fund My grateful thanks go to all our contributors be they from the Czech Republic, Canada, Croatia or Chigwell! I do wish you and your families good health during these difficult times and hope to see you at a future event in 2021.

Gill Punt, Development Manager development@chigwell-school.org

School News

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OC Past & Present

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OC Careers Support 33 OC News in Brief

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OC Book Corner

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OC Lodge

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OC Events

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Leaving a Legacy

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Bursaries 46 OC Sport

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Lives Remembered

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High Road, Chigwell Essex IG7 6QF +44 (0)20 8501 5700 www.chigwell-school.org Chigwell School is an Incorporated Charity No. 1115098

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School News A glimpse into the Chigwell School year...

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DRAMA...

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School News

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School News

Covid-19: When the world stayed apart we all stayed together When schools were instructed to close in late March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, new and innovative ways to continue the education of Chigwell pupils of all ages were devised at speed.

“We thank you for reacting so swiftly and decisively in the midst of an escalating and changeable state of affairs. I say ‘bravo’ to you and the teachers for getting something up and running so soon.”

Year 7 & 9 Parent (2020)

Embracing an Innovative Approach Teaching and support staff across the school were superb in terms of their commitment and pupils, with the support of their parents in many cases, adapted to this new way of learning with remarkable skill.

For the youngest children, carefully devised programmes of work were sent home but there was daily interaction with teachers through MS Teams.

Older pupils had MS Teams lessons according to their normal timetable and these

n Speech Day 2020 guest of honour Rachel Lund OC

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proved remarkably effective.

Assemblies and chapel services continued by video; daily contact with tutors took place online; all pupils in Year 7 and above took their end of year exams remotely and ways were found to continue as much as possible of normal school life in all its forms. We even staged our Speech Day online!

10,500 Digital, Live Lessons Pupils in three year groups were able to return from the beginning of June but in the weeks that followed we were able to bring all primary year groups back safely and there was almost 100% attendance. For pupils in Year 7 and above, over 10,500 live lessons took place using MS Teams. 25,500 online conversations took place across the school community between staff and pupils and 19,000 meetings took place in which individual support was provided.

But why did any of this matter?

Firstly, it was important that all pupils continued learning; we wanted to provide structure, motivation and a sense of normality through the lockdown period; it was also important that pastoral care continued and we wanted, as much as possible, to bind the Chigwell community together as we went through this challenging period, together.

Since 23 March 2020, the School continued to provide education for all its pupils remotely. School

Values of resilience, innovation and resourcefulness were amply demonstrated by pupils and teachers as we all learned together. It was heartening to experience the school community in full force online.

Learning in ‘Real Time’ Pupils had interactive lessons according to their normal timetables in which they could communicate in real time with their teachers and peers. This allowed pupils to make good learning progress and engendered increased motivation and a sense of normality as the structure of the school day remained in place.

Accelerated Digital Innovation A wide range of learning strategies were implemented through Microsoft Teams in addition to face to face teaching.

These included PowerPoint presentations with audio insets, OneNote tasks, quizzes, video clips, traditional exercises using textbooks and exercise books and recorded lessons. Teachers rapidly learned to implement these new strategies alongside many effective traditional strategies. Pupils made good use of the Teams conversation space to communicate with their teacher and peers.

School News

“I wanted to say how grateful we are for the way the School has been handling the situation. You are all doing an incredible job.”

Year 11 Parent (2020)

“Thank you for all your efforts – we think the School is a fantastic institution. These are difficult times but the motto of ‘find a way or make a way’ is apt in the circumstances.”

Year 2 Parent (2020)

“I think you are all doing a marvellous job. We were exceptionally impressed at how quickly you had everything up and running. Chigwell seemed far ahead of the other schools in the area. The good thing that can come out of this is the children’s appreciation of their daily life at Chigwell.”

Year 12 Parent (2020)

“I just wanted to express my gratitude to the entire team at Chigwell. I know that everyone is doing their best to ensure that our children receive the best education and pastoral care and I feel fortunate that our children are members of the Chigwell School community.”

Year 9 Parent (2020)

To view the Speech Day 2020 speeches www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO2cHJvYusE

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School News

Design & Technology Department Produce 1000+ Visors

by Jayne Burton, Director of Marketing & Admissions

Those we have supported include:

D&T Team Produce 1000+ Visors

Utilising our D&T Facilities

We are incredibly proud of the hard work of our D&T department; Mrs Jermyn, Mrs Chan and Mr Garth, who produced more than 1,000 visors for local GP surgeries, hospitals, care homes, hospices and pharmacies from the very start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The visors were distributed directly and also via Redbridge resident and volunteer lead, Mr Ghosh.

At Chigwell, we are very fortunate to have sophisticated D&T facilities – inspiring a number of students to go on to study engineering. These facilities enabled us to support the provision of PPE and support our friends in the community who are working so hard on behalf of all of us.

• Freshwell Health Centre, Finchingfield • Newham CCG • Newham Care Homes • Newham Pharmacies • Beechlands Care Home, Loughton • Peabody Housing Association, Romford & Walthamstow • St Thomas Hospital • Ridgeway Surgery, Chingford • Ongar Health Centre • Gants Hill Medical Centre • Palmerston Road Surgery, Buckhurst Hill • Goodmayes Hospital • Newbury Group Practice (GP hub) • Woodgrange Medical Practice • Forest Practice, Loughton • Abridge Surgery • Clayhall Group Practice • BHR & Barts Trust, Whipps and Havering NHS Trusts • GP surgeries across Barking and Dagenham • Churchill Medical Centre • Oakwood Pharmacy • St Clare Hospice • Many more local GP surgeries, doctors & nurses

“Thank you Chigwell School, especially the D&T department! for supporting frontline NHS Services with masks which have been disseminated across three boroughs.”

Dr Jagen John

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School News

Public Exams 2020

by Michael Punt, Headmaster

There are far better mountain climbers than me, but over the summer, whilst in the Lake District, as a family we scaled Helvellyn and Skiddaw. Many teachers have compared preparation for exams with the task of climbing a mountain and I was reminded of this as I trudged, several steps behind the rest of the group, through the mist up the third and sixth highest peaks in England.

Like the mountaineer, exam candidates have a clear objective as regards the results that they want to achieve; they need to prepare how and when they will revise; they may well encounter some pain and frustration along the way and might need to call on others for some help but ultimately, if they keep going in the right direction, they will summit their mountain, achieve the results they deserve and feel that huge sense of personal achievement.

Sadly, the exam candidates of 2020 lost the opportunity to climb their GCSE and A level mountains when, in late March, the Government took the decision to cancel public examinations. Schools were asked to generate Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs), their very best and thoughtful estimates of what students would have achieved in each subject had they sat their exams in June in the normal way and the plan was that those grades would all be moderated. In the event, candidates were awarded the higher of their CAGs and the moderated grades and most Chigwell students were very pleased with the outcome.

These two year groups of hardworking and able young people were awarded some very impressive grades: at A level, 25% of grades were A*, 59% of grades were at least an A and 35% of students achieved at least three A grades; meanwhile at GCSE 30% of all grades were a 9;

83% of all grades were at least a 7 (the old A grade), and almost a quarter of candidates had all grade 8s and 9s.

But in the midst of all this success, something was missing: despite working so hard for so long, 2020 candidates did not get to sit in the sports hall and answer their exam papers themselves; to feel the nerves beforehand and the relief afterwards; they didn’t get to summit their mountains.

That was, of course, no fault of theirs, nor should it diminish their achievements at a time when they coped admirably with working in a different way because of the pandemic. Going forwards, there will be plenty more opportunities for them to be tested and, having struggled a bit themselves along the way, to feel a real sense of achievement. After-all, those who endure the climb up the mountain are best placed to enjoy the view from the top.

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School News

Revealing a Refreshed Look for Chigwell School

by Jayne Burton, Director of Marketing & Admissions Over the past 16 months, we have been listening to the views of our school community about what you think makes Chigwell unique. Your feedback has affirmed our strengths, and importantly, has helped guide our vision for the future.

In particular, we heard how proud you were of our school’s traditions, but with a clear keenness to modernise too.

We have worked hard to find that balance, and as such, we are delighted to share our School Values with you and our refreshed style which brings these to life through a new look and feel.

Our Values Our values guide our moral compass, behaviours and decision making as we forge our paths in the world. They represent what makes our school distinctive, as well as fuelling our vision for the future, as we cultivate young people who we hope will go on to become inspiring role models for others.

Our School Values are: • Happiness First • Courageous and Resilient • Innovative Approach • Community of Kindness • Lifelong Learning Read more on our Vision, Mission and Values www. chigwell-school.org/about-us/ our-vision-mission-and-values/ Design Inspiration At the heart of the designs are the foundations of our school. The leaded stained glass windows of our chapel are representative of the support structure that holds our community together and this leaded styling features gently throughout the look.

We have retained the mitre as an important symbol of our founder, building on this to 10

encompass the memorable year of our foundation. The shapes from one of the original crests have been brought back and reinvented with a softer styling. They are used to frame, or hold, images – emphasising our caring and nurturing ethos, as well as an outline of the crest, again ‘holding’ us together.

Read more on how the Chapel provided inspiration www. chigwell-school.org/about-us/ facilities/the-chapel/ Our Colours Our primary colour of navy remains; symbolic of education and academic success. In addition, we drew upon our surroundings to add Skyline Blue, Top Field Green and The Glen Green, as well as brighter pops of colour which evoke our values; from Happiness Pink, to Innovation Blue and Courageous Green, and Chigwell Gold – a modern take on the gold of our original crest.

Just like the School buildings themselves, our new look blends heritage with modernity.

View the new look video www. youtube.com/watch?v=acsRh3 pf2YY&feature=youtube The roll out will be a gradual process and began with the launch of our new website over the summer.

“Our motto, Find a Way or Make a Way, is prominent, and perhaps more relevant now more than ever.”

School News

New Sports Centre

At Chigwell, our holistic approach means that physical education plays a vital part in developing the whole person.

We believe that sport supports the character development of our pupils.

It enables them to thrive in all aspects of their life at school and beyond because they are resilient, able to work with others, able to win or lose well, be healthy, balanced and rise to a challenge.

Like any good school, we are always seeking to improve our provision.

Through ongoing conversations and parental surveys last year, we have recognised the need to update and modernise our sports facilities. Therefore, we are hoping to develop a new Sports Centre which will provide new and exciting opportunities for Chigwell pupils and members of the wider community.

How the centre will drive our sports agenda: Updated facilities – which enrich the learning experience Increasing the breadth and flexibility – opportunities to try new sport Inclusivity for all abilities – an ethos of sport for all Transforming strengths into talents – developing and improving existing skills Enhancing wellbeing for all – and facilitating a love of participation in sports that lasts a lifetime.

Facilities: • Eco-friendly design • 6 lane indoor swimming pool • 5 court multipurpose sports hall • Gym and studios • Café.

For more information please visit the sports centre consultation portal www. chigwell-school.org/supportus/welcome-to-development/ new-sports-centre/

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School News

out & about...

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School News

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OC Past & Present

Head to Head

by Heads of School (1960-61) and (2020-21) includes the Drama Centre, the Sixth Form Centre, the Leiper pavilion, the Pre Prep and the Junior School.

By John Hill (1953-1961) There are countless differences between Chigwell now and the school of 60 years ago, some more obvious than others. The size of the school, the gender balance, the ethnic mix, the buildings, the grounds, the academic regime.

The first task was to join the Headmaster in filling vacancies among the Praefects and appointing new propraefects to replace those who had been promoted. There are no propraefects today. They were created in 1912 by Canon Swallow to assist the Praefects in what was then an expanding school. They ceased to be of use when the current house system was introduced – with its House Praefects – in the 1970s.

The School’s grounds then were not dissimilar to those of today. No 4G, of course! Quite considerable acquisitions have indeed been made since 1960 but they are, for the most part, at the west (M11) end of the school and not therefore visible from the main buildings.

In 1960, the Old Chigwellians Clubhouse, pitches and tennis courts did not exist – the Clubhouse dates from 1980 – and neither the School nor the OCs owned the land on which they are now situated. Very many of the current buildings were yet to be built and that 14

Academia was quite different in the 1950s. The brighter pupils in the “A” stream were syphoned off after the Lower Fifth and taken straight to the Sixth Form.

O Levels (GCSE’s) were taken in one’s stride, either in the Lower Fifth or Lower Sixth. This could involve as many as 15–20 pupils in a good year and many of these, like myself, went into the Classical Sixth. This was a deliberate move in favour of early specialisation – creating, if you will, an academic situation which mirrored life at the Universities to which these students aspired. These days the education system favours a longer spell of generalisation for its pupils, no doubt again reflecting a world in which breadth of knowledge and skill is more highly valued.

Of course, the system of the 1950s meant that those who missed the Upper Fifth had three years in the Sixth Form and therefore two attempts at A-Levels if they wished, though, for some, that third year involved one term only in which Oxford and Cambridge Scholarship or Entrance exams were taken.

For those, like myself, who were a year younger than their contemporaries this could mean four years in the Sixth.

The other huge difference between then and now was the procedure for Oxbridge entrance. No question of

getting an offer and then awaiting A-level results to see if they were up to the required mark. We were at liberty to arrange interviews at Oxford and/or Cambridge and try our luck (usually alongside the scholarship examinations). I was able to arrange interviews and/ or exams at two Cambridge colleges and two Oxford colleges, receiving a conditional offer from one of the Cambridge houses and a firm offer from one at Oxford a year or two before leaving Chigwell.

All of this was of huge benefit to that final year because it gave the opportunity to read something different and I took Music at A Level in that year.

The more relaxed academic environment also enabled me to put more effort into praefectorial activities and, eventually, the duties of Head of School.

Which brings me to the Praefects Room. It has never ceased to amaze me, when swapping stories with Praefects and Heads of School at Speech Day, Shrove Tuesday or other social occasions, to find how well-bonded are the modernday sets of praefects, even without the advantage of a P.R. Our Praefects room could be likened to the modernday professional footballers’ dressing room.

The day began, as now, with Callover, for us, in New Hall.

The Praefects’ job was to quieten the excited assembly before the Headmaster arrived at 8.45 a.m. We bellowed, using

n Chigwell Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Lent Term 1961 John is the Colour Sergeant, standing to attention (between the two visiting officers) on the far left.

OC Past & Present

n 1stXI Football Tour of the Channel Islands, December 1960 Back row, L-R: M. Deakin; John Wood; John Turner; Derek Boreham; Henry Hodge; Martin Peck; Roderic Dowle; Graham Oliffe; John Dutchman.

Front row, L-R: Julien Manning; John Hill; Rod Jefferies; Howard Sherman; Bernard Collyer; Roger Mansfield.

stentorian voices acquired, for many of us, in our roles as NCOs in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).

Then Chapel, with the praefects, as now, I suppose, reading the lesson. I enjoyed doing this and took great care, eventually winning the Knightley Chapel Reading prize. The Praefects of today are amazed, if not appalled, that a prize could be awarded for Chapel reading because, I imagine, it should be seen as a privilege and not a contest.

Indeed, the Knightley prize is still awarded, but for something quite different. It was, of course, a privilege and a service but, as a prize for reading (as opposed to dramatic performance), it seemed little different from prizes for musical performance.

Mention of the CCF prompts the memory of Monday afternoons devoted to military training. A worthwhile exercise, which was not compulsory and in which not all praefects took part, the end-year camps were another opportunity to bond with one’s contemporaries. Our final camp (in 1961) was cancelled due to an outbreak of a strange virus at the end of term. In addition, the CCF taught us how to shoot with rifles. Recently, I visited the RSPB Sanctuary at Rainham which was acquired a few years ago from the Ministry of Defence who had used the site

for military training since WWI. And there one can still see the self-same rifle butts from which I and other Chigwell boys fired live .303 rounds from our WWI Enfield rifles in those long-gone days. Brought a lump to my throat!

successive Trinity weekend, each successive Speech Day rendition of that lesson brings another lump to the throat as we hear that clarion call so apposite for young Chigwellians moving out into a wider and unknown world.

Mondays certainly saw a different form of activity in the P.R as brasses were shined, boots polished and uniforms brushed into shape. Otherwise, there were several aspects of life which distinguished then from now.

In 1961, however, there was one final event which may have been the first of its kind, and therefore lacking precedent, but certainly was not and did not become an annual fixture. That was a School Fete. Each form had a stall (on Top Field) and each form master had responsibility for putting that stall together.

Someone, however, had to put the whole event together and that fell to the Headmaster and Head Boy.

As a one-term head of school, I was spared the “privilege” of speaking at Shrove Tuesday, although I would pay for that in spades in years to come!

Speech Day, however, was perhaps the crown of the year.

Strangely, I have no memory of having to speak at the prizegiving – perhaps Heads of School were spared that experience in the 1950s and 60s. The real privilege, however, was that of reading the first lesson at Matins in the Parish Church. Now, because Speech Day was not infrequently timed to occur on the same weekend as Trinity Sunday, the first lesson was often and still is now that brilliant passage from the prophet Isaiah (VI: 1-8). “Whom shall I send and who will go for us…. And I said “Here am I. Send me!” Each

And so to the end of term. One last Callover. One last Chapel.

No Cadet camp. I have every memory of that morning. I simply could not go home. A long time taken to pack up what was left in the P.R. Then successive goodbyes to the Chaplain and the Headmaster (who had already gone home!).

He firmly but kindly pointed me in the direction that took me home and wished me well at Oxford. I probably grew up in that moment with the realization that dozens of OCs had been there before me and dozens would follow. One final lump...

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OC Past & Present

By Zachary Edwards (2014-present), Current Head of School I joined Chigwell School when I was 11 years old, and I am currently in my 7th and last year. The school has offered a great range of opportunities, many of which for me have been through the music department. I received a music scholarship upon my entry to the school due to my abilities on the piano and the oboe, and my progress in both of these studies has accelerated under the guidance of the brilliant and supportive music staff. I have participated in the annual Musician of the Year contest since I joined the school, and I have also consistently been part of the wind band and first orchestra as head of my section.

Performing regularly has helped my confidence to grow and has aided me in my A-level music where performance is an integral part of the course.

I was also encouraged to take up singing in my 3rd year at the school, and I subsequently joined the school’s chapel choir. This has given me some wonderful experiences like singing in Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, but the aspect I enjoyed the most was the choir tour to Catalonia, where we sang in worldclass venues like Montserrat Cathedral and the Sagrada Familia.

I have never been the greatest sportsman; the school however has given me opportunities to 16

improve my abilities greatly. I have developed from a C-team footballer in Year 7 to now a U18 second team player, and I have also represented the school in hockey and cricket fixtures. The highlight of my sporting experiences at Chigwell was when I was in Year 8 and I was given the opportunity to go on a football tour to Barcelona with the school. This was an amazing experience: I got to play football against local teams, train under the coaching staff at RCD Espanyol at their training facilities and got to see Barcelona play the Nou Camp.

As well as going on school trips with the music and sports departments, I have learnt more about the world through academic school trips. Visiting Auschwitz in

Krakow on a history trip was eye-opening and was an important experience in my life, and science trips including a physics one to the Savoy theatre to watch some lectures by leading scientists, has inspired me to learn more about the natural world.

I have excelled inside the classroom as well as outside at Chigwell and I have really found a passion for mathematics and physics. I have competed in the international mathematics challenge every year, and also the senior physics challenge last year. As well as international competitions, the school runs internal contests, like the Howard and Mitchell Essay competition. I was thrilled to win the science category with a piece that discussed the fields of relativity and quantum theory and the two most promising attempts at unifying them: String Theory and Loop Quantum Gravity. I subsequently gave a talk in the school library about my essay, which was a very enjoyable intellectual experience. I am also currently working on an Extended Project Qualification aside my A-Levels of Further Mathematics and Physics on the interdisciplinary field of Quantum Biology, where I discuss examples of the field’s theories. I presented my ideas on the EPQ presentation evening in front of several people, where I managed to convey the concepts successfully. My interests in these ideas is why I plan to

read physics at university.

Following this decision came, as it does for all sixth form students, a somewhat stressful experience of assembling a UCAS application to submit to the various universities you are interested in. I was able to get through this with the extensive support from both the Head and Assistant Head of the Sixth Form and submit a promising application.

Despite dropping drama before taking my GCSEs, my experiences in the Drama Centre have certainly not been limited. I was involved in the School’s production of ‘Into the Woods’ where I played ‘Rapunzel’s Prince’ which was thoroughly enjoyable and I was having a great time working on a production of ‘Les Miserables’ as ‘Enjolras’ which would have gone ahead due to the collective efforts of the music and drama departments had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic.

These pursuits have helped me in public speaking, which I have needed to carry out my talks on science and my roles as Head of School.

This role is obviously a slightly different one this year amidst the ongoing pandemic, nonetheless it remains a great honour to be considered and selected for it. Although I am filled with excitement for the next chapter in my life at university, I will always look back at Chigwell fondly given the wonderful experiences they have presented to me.

OC Past & Present

‘All the things I’ve learnt’

by Shreenidhi Subramanian (2005-2012) and always found a way. As a Product Manager, in much the same way as I did as a DT student, I work my way through user and tech problems till I can make a breakthrough and deliver a great product to my end users.

Often people comment on how we don’t use what we learn in school in the ‘real world’ and it would be easy for me to agree if I thought about trigonometry proofs and anthology booklets.

However, in contemplating what to write for this article, I’ve realised that some of the important lessons I learnt at Chigwell were not isolated to textbooks and whiteboards within the classrooms but were also learnt through the opportunities, experience and relationships formed outside of the classroom. Having had this revelation, it seemed only apt to use this as an opportunity to reflect on all the things I learnt at Chigwell, appreciate how it’s shaped me today and speculate on how it may continue to influence who I become in the future.

Today as a Product Manager at Salary Finance, my life revolves around creating financial products employers can offer as benefits to help improve financial wellbeing within their workforce. Creating digital products for a start-up sounds super glamorous and dreamy, as a millennial, but the reality of start-up life is that it requires a lot of grit and resilience.

Never in a million year would I have thought that the endless evenings working on my GCSE DT project would have taught me just that. I think about the numerous times I failed to execute on my perfect design, how I’d pull the pieces apart and try again. Other times I’d try to find a way to fix the imperfection, with a little help and encouragement from my classmates (who were often facing their own project crisis).

Regardless I never gave up

Last year, I co-founded the ‘On The Money’ podcast with a friend from university. The podcast was borne out of my own frustration with the poor understanding and inconsistent education young people have on personal finance during school, university and even as young professionals once we graduate. The aim of the podcast is to share personal experiences and help young people understand the world of personal finance in a simple and engaging way. When I consider the ease at which I feel when hosting the podcast and discussing subjects with our guest, I can’t help thinking back to the shy Year 7 girl that felt nervous to read chapters from ‘Women In Black’ out loud to the rest of the class. It wasn’t until I was given an opportunity to speak about my experience at Chigwell School in front of prospective students and their parents a few years later at Open Day that I really got out of my comfort zone. I was so nervous, but I do remember that a few words of advice and encouragement from Mr Gower gave me the boost in confidence I needed. I can say, without similar nudges and opportunities throughout my time at Chigwell, I don’t think I could have confidently stood in front of the senior school as

Head of House, successfully pitched my ideas at work or have the courage to sit in front of a podcast mic each week on my own podcast. The change these experiences brought out in me is so immense that people I meet now can never believe I was once a shy and quiet girl.

When it comes to things I learnt inside the classroom, Mr Punt will be happy to know that I was able to dust off some of my physics knowledge as a Management Consultant working in the energy sector.

While I can’t say I actually used any of the equations I learnt, my knowledge of the half-life of a radioactive substance did come in handy while I tried to earn the trust of a Radioactive Waste Engineer as a consultant. Safe to say - trust earnt and process improvement successfully completed!

After studying Economics at Warwick University, I learnt that my love for the subject was not merely founded on superficial enjoyment of Mr Spicer and Mr Harston’s entertaining (and informative) lessons but a genuine interest in the subject.

Being part of the Target 2.0 team in the sixth form gave me a flavour for the subject in real life

- where it is not quite a science nor quite an art. I learnt that the greatest skill is the ability to critically analyse a problem, based on assumptions and their limitations, to help form an opinion. My parents will tell you I am not lacking in opinions nor in ability to critically analyse a situation, maybe sometimes to a fault, but nevertheless this is yet another lesson learnt that I have inadvertently fallen back on time and time again in all aspects of my life.

Finally, there is no work without play and still to this day dancing is my passion but some might find it surprising to know that it hasn’t always been that way.

Again, I think back to Year 7 and the dance show Mrs Bint organised. It took me weeks of circling the school playground to muster up the courage to tell her that I wanted to be part of it. It would be my first ever solo performance and once again I was so nervous but it was the encouragement from Mrs Bint and others in the show that motivated me to take the leap. This performance ended up being the first of many to come in my dance career but also fundamentally taught me I had to be fearless and take the leap - what’s the worst that could happen!

So I’ve talked a lot about how my learning at Chigwell has shaped me but it’s hard to speculate about the future (especially now). I still can’t say I know what I want to spend the rest of my life doing (in true millennial style) or where I’ll be.

However, what I know for sure is that my love for learning, that blossomed at Chigwell, will continue to grow and shape my future throughout my life.

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OC Past & Present

To Your Street Tour… by James Hobbis (2007-2014) So far, the year 2020 has been a difficult one for musicians.

Most professional players are freelancers, and, just as with many other areas of society, the shutting down of all but essential services has kept many of us away from doing what we love. For myself and my band, Hyde Park Brass, this was no different.

the street of every person who had donated, no matter where they lived in the country. We’d also film a daily vlog to keep people online up to date with our journey. To reach our target we had to hit one hundred bookings, and by early July we had far surpassed this target: To Your Street Tour was born.

n James Hobbis On-stage - a typical gig for Hyde Park Brass, 2019

Fresh from touring Europe with the B-52s (most famous for their 1989 hit Love Shack) and a wealth of festival appearances in the summer of 2019, this year looked to be our busiest yet – or so we thought. As the world began to reel with the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic we watched as our busy gig diary emptied before our eyes until a once packed itinerary of shows and festival dates became a wide chasm.

Being a group of lads who can’t sit still, we decided to record the parts to new tunes from our bedrooms. Spread around the country due to the pandemic, rather than in our adopted home of Leeds, these bedroom recordings were the only way we could keep making music together. They gave us a buzz and the videos we produced kept our followers happy, but compared to the thrill and energy of a live gig it just wasn’t enough. So an idea was born…

Funded by a Crowdfunder campaign, our plan was to travel the length and breadth of the UK and bring live music back to the streets – an ambitious task in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. The idea was simple: as people couldn’t make it to our gigs any more, we would bring the party to their doorstep; playing a gig on

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Of course that was the easy part. Not only did we have to organise over a hundred gigs – all on people’s streets, which presented a whole host of logistical challenges in itself – but crucially the safety of the band and our audiences had to be our top priority. We knew that if just one member of the band were to contract the virus the tour would be over and it would be back home to daytime television and two weeks of self-isolation. Armed with masks, hand-sanitiser, and a Ghostbusters-style disinfectant spray, we had to make sure that everything was in line with government regulations, ensuring that audiences kept three meters distance at all times.

At the end of July we were reunited in the Peak District to form our “bubble” and to begin preparations for the show we

were about to take on the road – somewhat literally – for the next month and a half. After a week of rehearsals amongst some stunning scenery we were ready to set off. There was a distinct feeling that we were doing something unique.

Whilst every other musician in the country was wondering what on earth they would do next, we had taken the matter into our own hands. Here we were: the only UK band on tour in 2020.

We began just north of London and by the end of our first weekend found ourselves in Cornwall, eating freshly caught fish on the beach before settling down to a night of camping.

With the difficulties of booking accommodation during lockdown, and the fact that this was a Crowdfunded tour, hotels weren’t really an option, so for a large part of the tour sleeping together in our second-hand 12-man tent became the norm.

A pretty unenticing prospect, but luckily we’re used to living in each other’s pockets. Certainly after a full day of travelling and usually four or five gigs (our busiest day was seven), a cramped tent looks a lot more inviting than it might otherwise.

After the south coast, we began to work our way back up north to Scotland, stopping just about everywhere in between. As we continued our journey around the country the impact that we were making soon became clear. The atmosphere on every street was tangible. The sense of joy and relief felt by people able to experience the energy of live music after months of isolation reminded us time and time again of the impact that

n The boys perform a street tour gig in their hometown of Leeds

music can have, especially in such desolate times.

Of course there were a few hairy moments whilst we were on the road. From losing our gazebo to a heavy storm – and almost losing a saxophone player as he tried to hold it down – to herding runaway cows for an elderly couple whose farm we were staying at, not to mention the number of times we had to push-start our bright yellow van on an almost daily basis.

Luckily as a group we’re pretty resilient; nothing could stop us loving every minute.

During the tour we began to get noticed by the media. We had articles in the Yorkshire Evening Post, local newspapers around the country, and even on the Leeds University Alumni website. We were interviewed on BBC radio and featured on both BBC Look North and BBC Breakfast. At one point we were nervous we might get stopped by a group of police officers who arrived in a van, but it turned out they were fans and just wanted to see the show!

As a band we’ve never gone with the grain. We’re a brass band that plays Electronic Dance Music and songs from the charts; we once flew to Belfast because we threw a dart at a map; we’ve played a gig up a tree; we even recorded a tik-tok video during lockdown and played live on BBC Sports Personality of the Year. But organising a tour during the time of Coronavirus is certainly never something we expected to do. Not only was it one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far, but it also goes to show; if you can’t find a gig, make one.

For social media, further news, videos and vlogs and about Hyde Park Brass please go to: www.hydeparkbrass.com

OC Past & Present

One-two-three-four-five

by Arijana Simic (2002-2004)

n Arijana and her family with the Morrisons

I came to Chigwell in 2002 from Croatia to join the Sixth Form on a scholarship offered by the Soros Foundation, the HMC and Chigwell School.

The opportunities I was given by this privileged schooling during my formative age and maturation greatly affected the person I am today, both privately and professionally.

Having completed my A levels at Chigwell, I was offered a place at UCL Medical School.

Since Croatia was not yet part of the EU at the time, tuition fees were a couple of times higher than today, so returning home was the only option. I enrolled in The University of Zagreb School of Medicine, where I completed a six-year course. I graduated with honours and the Dean’s Award in 2010. After oneyear residency training at the University Hospital Sisters of Charity in Zagreb, I obtained my MD licence.

At that time, I was married to my husband Petar and soon we had baby Angelo, who is now almost eight years old, and soon after that came Laura, who is now six years old. Later we had Jakov who is four years old, then Luka who is three, and the youngest, baby David who is now 6 months old.

Petar and I hoped for a big family, although in the beginning we probably did not plan five children. We have taken it one child at a time and have been so blessed with each one. Though there are many challenges to raising a large family, I believe the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. I myself was always quite organised but being organised with five little kids is still an everyday challenge and prioritising our time with focus on those things that really matter is the most important.

Sometimes I think of our family as a little army, but my husband rather calls us a little football team (yes, Croats really love their football). Onetwo-three-four-five, it is the rhythm of everyday counting

to make sure everyone is ok and making sure nobody gets left behind. I know I cannot do everything but realise that this season of our life is full of people, hard work and sacrifice, and I opened my heart up to it. I learn every day how to simplify things, and another important thing is that we try to teach our children to become more independent, which they probably will become anyway, by necessity. I was happy that the pregnancies were neat and I was able to work up to almost a month before each of them was born. Find a way or make a way - this saying from Chigwell follows me everywhere in life, no matter what the challenges are with children, at home or at work.

n At Sandon Lodge with Alison Lord

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OC Past & Present I always knew I wanted to specialise in Paediatrics.

Since it is not easy to get a specialisation in Croatia, for the first 3 years I worked as a family doctor, where I treated adults and children older than 7 years.

During my work experience as a GP, I learned a couple of things. I realised how much different work GPs need to do in a very limited time slot, and that has improved my timemanagement skills. I did not like paperwork, which is a huge part of GP life here in Croatia.

The work does not end when the patient has left the room.

Letters must be written to consultants, physiotherapists, councils… and it cannot all be done as soon as the patient leaves, because there is always, of course, another patient to be seen. I have also learned that a nice word is sometimes more than halfway to a cure.

Perhaps the most valuable but also the most difficult thing I have learned in those three years is working with the array of parental personalities.

Both the paediatrician and the parent may have the best interest of the child at heart, but misinformation from the internet, old wives’ tales and occasionally even Aunt Sally can confound clear communication and good intentions. It was nice to treat the whole families, but I realised that I was at my happiest when working with children.

In 2015, I started working at a Children’s Hospital Srebrnjak in Zagreb and started specialising in Paediatrics. This takes five years and I am halfway there now. Srebrnjak is a Reference Centre for Clinical Allergology in Children at the Ministry of Health of Croatia. Eventually, I plan to subspecialise in Paediatric Allergology and Clinical Immunology. According to the EU Global Health Status Report, one out of four children younger than ten years old is affected by an allergic disease in the European Union. For me, the most interesting and challenging areas are complex allergic diseases (e.g. allergic rhinitis and asthma or eczema), severe allergies (e.g. to foods, drugs or insects) and life threatening severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

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Several times I have been asked why I work at all? I think being a doctor is not a job but rather a vocation. Everything that is known about role models and social learning suggests that children are actively picking up life skills from the adults around them. It is all about what they are exposed to as children. As a working mother I think I can create the right work ethics for my children.

I found that each step of my professional journey so far has been enormously rewarding and I am also looking forward to going back to work after I finish my maternity leave with baby David. Of course, there are always some unfulfilled wishes, and one of them is a PhD degree that I hope I will manage to finish by the end of my specialisation.

The Coronavirus situation has made this year harder and more complicated for all of us. Social distancing with friends and family has been the hardest. Family is everything in Croatia. An extremely high value is placed on family relations, and they can often act as the social centre of life in the country. And as if that was not enough itself, in the middle of lockdown, on the morning of 22nd March 2020, a very strong earthquake (magnitude

5.5 M) hit Zagreb, and caused substantial damage in the historical city centre. The earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks, some of them still felt now, more than 6 months later.

It has now been 16 years since I left Chigwell, and I am immensely grateful that I had an opportunity to live as a boarder and to study at such a welcoming community as Chigwell School. I owe a great thank you to all who cared for me, especially Alison Lord who was the most caring housemistress ever, also to Chris Lord who was also always there. My special thanks go to Loredana and David Morrison, who through the years that followed my Chigwell adventure have become not only lifetime friends, but also the guardians of our young but numerous family, our best advisors and confidantes even now when my own family is here and they are miles away.

Despite the distance, we keep in touch and visit each other every opportunity we have, whether it is Chigwell, Italy or Croatia. There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family.

Thank you!

OC Past & Present

Three Lives, Three Countries: An Unforgettable Experience

by Hodson Harding (2005-2009) It’s been just over ten years since I left Chigwell. It was about halfway through the school year when my parents informed me that the entire family was moving to Canada, Vancouver to be exact. I remember having ambiguous feelings towards the decision.

I was excited about the move, but at the same time I knew I would sorely miss the lifelong friends I had gained during my time at Chigwell. I was in the middle of completing my GCSEs, not to mention the Duke of Edinburgh program I had signed up for. I knew I would miss the lessons, the sports days, the lunches, the school plays, and all the other things that provided the foundation for my future educational career. I had no idea just how vital my time at Chigwell would really be.

The move to Canada included my parents, myself, and my younger sister who was ten years at the time. The high school experience in North America was a far cry from what I was used to, to say the least. Imagine, no school uniform! I went in expecting things to be like the wellknown Disney movie of ‘High School Musical’. From my very first day, things were eventful. Having been already over 6-foot-tall at the age of

15, I was practically forced to join the basketball team. I had not once played before. I was used to playing football for the 1st XI or cricket with the 2nd XI. I adjusted accordingly, prospering both academically and athletically due to the foundation instilled from my Chigwell days.

Fortunately for me, Facebook was on its unprecedented rise and it allowed me to stay in contact with my Chigwell friends. Despite the 8-hour time difference, I was able to catch up with my peers every now and then. During these conversations, I would often be reminded of my exploits competing for Lambourne at previous sports days. This was something that prompted me to join the track and field team at my new high school.

I had always been aware of my natural speed, often winning numerous events for Lambourne or blazing past everyone down the wing on the football pitch. After about a year of serious training, I became the British Columbia Provincial Champion in the 400m. Having garnered a fair bit of attention in the athletic world, I gained the opportunity to compete internationally. As a dual citizen at the time, I had to decide between competing for the UK or Canada. As I

n Competing in Texas for Rice University

started my athletics career in Canada, my parents convinced me to compete for Canada. My achievements began to pile up, culminating in me being heavily recruited by a large number of universities in America. I began to receive phone calls from schools like Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA and the University of

n Graduating from Rice University with a BA in Sociology & Psychology

North Carolina. As my family and I began to look into the options, we realized I could obtain a full academic and athletic scholarship, which would cover all expenses for my degree. After taking the maximum of five paid visits to different universities, my family and I decided it would be best for me to attend Rice University in Houston, Texas.

Having the best balance between academics and athletics, the University was known as the “Harvard of the South”.

In 2012, I moved to Houston where I grew immensely as a person while studying and completing my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. My life at this point was unique, having lived in three different countries.

My perspective on things was different from most of my peers. I was fortunate to have the ability to travel throughout many of the states in America, whilst acquiring a tremendous educational experience that still serves me well to this day.

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OC Past & Present

n The Executive Commitee of the Black Law Students’ Association

After completing my degree, I was faced with a decision of whether to stay in America to begin a professional athletic career, or return to Canada in order to attend law school (entry requires a Bachelor’s Degree). I discussed my options with friends and family, but with political tension rising in America, it became clear to me it would probably be best for me to return to Canada.

I did just that, enrolling in law school where I thrived exponentially. No longer did I have to juggle classes each day with 4-5 hours of grueling practice in the blistering heat.

I reveled in the classes, where the professors still employed the Socratic Method in the hope that they would catch you out on one of the dozens of cases we were supposed to have read each night. My time during law school provided me with experiences which aided my growth as an individual. I regained my love for reading, I learnt how to ski, and gained an affinity for cooking new recipes. Most importantly however, I became inspired.

While there were almost 400 22

students, I was the sole black male. At no point in time did this bother me, primarily because I was used to it. I was the sole black male in my year at Chigwell, one of two on the athletic team at Rice, and was now the only one in the entire student body at law school. The difference at this point was that I was much older and it was painstakingly obvious. There were more discussions on race and more conversations where my experiences became prevalent. I began to wonder why this was the case. Did no one desire to pursue a career in law? Were my peers just not being accepted? These were some of the questions which prompted me to join the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada, an organization which encourages diversity within the field of law.

Through the organization I was able to get involved with various initiatives in the local community, where I spoke with young students and encouraged them to consider different career paths or seek mentorship.

Upon graduation, I moved to Calgary, Alberta where I began my legal career practicing civil litigation with Miller Thomson LLP. I immediately settled into my new occupation, but again I was reminded that there were very few people who looked like me or had similar life experiences. Looking back, I am very appreciative of my time at Chigwell where I was able to connect with students and teachers from all walks of life, who broadened my horizons and enabled me to look at life with such a unique perspective. As I continue to navigate through life, I hope to continue pushing the boundary and making a difference however small it may be.

OC Past & Present

Redefining Success

by Natasha Gandhi (2002-2013) There’s nothing like a global pandemic to shake you up and make you question how to define yourself and life successes so far. After graduating top of the class in psychology, I’m now a fourth year PhD student submitting papers for consideration by world-class journals. This was always a dream of mine and I’m really proud to have got here. However, 2020 demands I share more of me, more of the rawness, the reflection and, the reality.

I spent 11 years at Chigwell; for a large chunk of my life, it was my whole world. I formed some of my strongest friendships there and I feel strangely nostalgic about church hymns, school lunches and house music. I can look back on my childhood with overwhelmingly fond memories, in a bubble where I felt safe and the world was my oyster. I feel very lucky.

I still find myself saying, “find a way or make a way” when I hit a roadblock. It at least makes me smile.

rambling on to Mr Punt about all of this and him engaging in conversation with me.

Psychology was put on the A-level curriculum a few years later, and while this probably had nothing to do with me, I felt heard. Funnily enough, when I was being interviewed for my PhD, my future supervisor mentioned she knew Mr Punt.

She had turned up to an event and was feeling lost in the crowd. Mr Punt saw her, struck up a conversation and made her feel at ease. It left a lasting impression on her. This is what I learnt from my time at Chigwell; something as simple as observing and actively listening carries more weight than just saying the right thing.

While I’m on the subject of teachers I must mention Miss Cantopher. I probably talked about psychology too much at school to the point Mr Lonsdale nicknamed me Dr Gandhi. Miss Cantopher, saw my passion and actually ran some GCSE level psychology classes for a

n Swallows at House Music

I always knew I wanted to study psychology. I just couldn’t stop asking questions about what makes people the way they are. Is anything we think, do, or say “random” or are we just a reflection of what we’ve been exposed to? At the time, psychology wasn’t on the school curriculum at all. I distinctly remember when choosing GCSE options,

few of us who were interested.

I’m still overwhelmed by her generosity and the time she gave me, it made me feel seen and heard.

I remember results day like it was yesterday. The pit of the stomach feeling and tears when walking out of exams knowing I couldn’t answer so many questions. It came as no real surprise when I didn’t

get into my university of choice but it still hurt like hell. It felt like the longest day of my life. My mum convinced me to go into school to see Mr Long and Mr Saunders. I still had options and I could still study psychology.

The world would carry on. I got in to Brunel University London through clearing and I truly think that was the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

n Undergraduate graduation day, Brunel

At Brunel, I felt like I excelled.

A big part of it was learning to ask for help. During this time, I had a job as a wellbeing assistant at the university where I ran campaigns to raise awareness about mental and sexual health support services. I was literally going around campus asking my peers to share their concerns about intimate topics. After that asking questions in a lecture hall and saying, “Can you go back over that, I’m lost” wasn’t as scary.

A PhD is an emotional rollercoaster. My supervisor told me that in the interview.

Your sole goal, at the end of a four-year period, is to produce research that is “an original contribution to knowledge”. A PhD is a project you do on your own, but you are helped by two supervisors who guide you and give you regular feedback.

You sum up all your work in 70,000 words (a thesis) and then have to verbally defend and justify all your decisions to a panel of experts in the field (a viva). I chose to research 23

OC Past & Present

n Speech Day Prize

people’s perceptions of food healthiness and the influence of the associations we hold about different foods. This includes what we learn from the media and that’s not necessarily supported by science. To become an “expert” in this area, I’ve had to learn about computer science, linguistics, statistics, nutritional science and, of course, psychology.

Feeling out of my depth (stupid) is something that I’ve had to get comfortable with on a daily basis. Asking for help is the only way to progress most times. Pushing aside the ego is essential; as it is constructive criticism that helps you develop into a better scientist.

Ultimately, this is how peerreviewed science allows us to advance our understanding of the world. It is certainly hard, but it is necessary.

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I listened to a podcast episode recently that I haven’t been able to shake (Unlocking Us with Brené Brown and Austin Channing Brown). A quote that particularly resonates is “despair [is] the fear that tomorrow will be just like today”. I am feeling this a lot recently and not just in terms of COVID-19. Truthfully, much as I’m grieving it, I think it would be a missed opportunity if life went back to how it was before lockdown. I hope that we can create a world where everyone can be their authentic selves and feel seen, heard, and accepted. I can’t speak for others, but I know that I have said things out of ignorance, been passive when things were said in my presence, and internalised discriminatory comments rather than question them.

I know I can be better. I want to be called out when I get it wrong. Quoting Brené Brown again, I want to take the mantra of “I’m here to get it right, not to be right.” That’s how I want to define myself and my life successes going forward. It is certainly hard, but it is worth it.

n GRP conference

OC Past & Present

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

by Sandy Birdi (1999 – 2007) can I understand what I’m truly drawing if I never see the construction process.

Eventually I landed on Liverpool Street Crossrail Site office. I was away from my creature comforts of shiny furniture, Nespresso machines and fancy stationary. Instead I was given orange PPE and steel toe-cap boots. It was safe to say I looked like a walking traffic cone … but so did everyone else. For some reason wearing this felt quite empowering. Everyone was in uniform again and there was a sense or comradery.

“What do you want to be when you grow up” – a familiar phrase we all heard at some point in our childhood. It can be a really daunting prospect; I mean how are we supposed to know what we really want to do and ensure we pick the right path to give us the best fighting chance for our dream career?

I think my career choice had changed a lot from wanting to be a zoo keeper or dolphin trainer at the age of 5 to exploring a career in design during my time at Chigwell School. One of my most vivid memories was at the “careers evening” where somehow, a guest speaker from an Architectural practice convinced me to pursue a degree in Architecture which would take on average 7 years.

Lo and behold 7 + 2 years later and I became a fully qualified Architect! At this point I’m going to pause and give a shout out and say a huge thank you to my Design and Technology teacher Mr Mills who supported me and encouraged me throughout my time at Chigwell to pursue the career I have today. Chigwell School definitely gave me the opportunity to explore different avenues and gave me the confidence to create my footprint in the world I live in.

My time at University gave me a chance to explore what kind of designer I wanted to be. I realised that my forte was understanding the overall design issues and implications which eventually lead me into a career in Infrastructure and more specifically Crossrail.

Changing from an office to site also meant a change in the ratio of men to women.

I found myself being one of very few women in any room at any time. It was difficult at first to get my voice heard and to convince people I wasn’t a

I have to be honest, University did not prepare me for the real world and that was a bit of a shock to the system. One moment I was working on my final year project designing a conceptual food market in New York on a site I had only visited via Google Maps; and the next, I was having to take ownership of complex plans and details for Liverpool Street Station, that was currently under construction. This time there was a lot at stake (much more than ensuring I knew the lyrics and choreography to the House Music song).

Over the next few years I worked on various Crossrail, HS2 and London Underground Stations and for the most part I was always at my desk revising drawings, 3D models and presentations. For some reason it wasn’t easy to gain access to a site visit and I had been persistent in asking my Director for site experience.

My argument being that how 25

OC Past & Present

work experience student. But I remember something my Dad taught me when I was younger.

“Learn your trade and learn everyone else’s trade. Know what you’re talking about when you walk into a room”.

I embraced the metaphor of being a sponge and soaked everything in. I listened, I asked questions, I got my PPE gear on and watched installs and concretes pour. I wanted to understand how things came together from paper to real life. I wanted to have a presence on site and show my interest and investment in the project. I finally found my voice and vowed I would promote women in construction or in any industry for that matter. I documented my time on site and gave insights to a life in construction on social media and hopefully encourage even just one person to go for what they wanted.

My time on Crossrail made me find my true passion in Architecture. I realised I loved putting on my grubby orange gear and being on site in extreme weather conditions.

I loved engaging with all the trades on site and learning something new every day. I don’t know how often or how many people get to say they love their job. But for that moment in time I truly did.

Someone once told me about the buzz you get from seeing 26

something come to life that was once a sketch on a page.

I have to say the feeling did not disappoint. Seeing something you have drawn from conception, be physically built on site and knowing that one day, hundreds of thousands of people will be walking through something I designed was the best feeling in the world and a true highlight of my career so far. I can look back on that time and say – I was part of that. I did that.

This year has been a rollercoaster of a ride for so many of us. A lot of highs and lows which no one could predict. For me, a bitter sweet moment was bidding farewell to Crossrail. I’ve now begun an exciting new venture within the Estate Management Team at the British Transport Police.

If you had told me upon leaving Chigwell that this would have been my career path, I definitely would not have believed you.

Not everything is black and white and sometimes you have to fight for what you want and accept the knock backs because they still provide valuable lessons.

So, if you had asked my 5-yearold self, knowing what I know now – “What do you want to be when you grow up” – my answer would be … I want to be happy. Because at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about. Do what you love, break the mould. No matter what fears you have about your future career I can promise you, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep going.

OC Past & Present

The ‘Old Chigs’: A Personal History by Keith Mitchell (1957-1962) the covenants. The School Governors, led by Alan Brooker, were great, allowing us to increase the subscriptions to the Pupils Instalment Scheme to reflect the value of the new OC home we were building.

When I was at School I knew who the Old Chigwellians were – we played a game of football against them. When I left School in 1962 I hadn’t thought that right at the start of the next season they would ask me to play football for them for the Veterans! I’m 18, I said.

Yes, they said, we often start the new ones with the Vets.

During the game from a goal kick I called for the ball and our centre forward thrust his totally bald head and headed 30 yards straight to my feet. This I came to discover was Tony “Tubs” Twynham, ex Millwall. After the game he took us to a night club in the Kings Road. I had never been to a nightclub. Everyone there knew him. Such was my introduction to the OCFC. I went to Bristol University, but before I could sort out any football there I was asked to play for the Old Chigs “B” team (the 4th out of 7 sides then).

It was a brilliant team with the likes of Ian Grundy, Ken Burnell and Roger Good. We won nearly every game. Soon I got promoted to the 3rds, a decent side with such as Rod Jeffrey, Tony Prince and a very young Martin Brett. We had a good few years. The Club Secretary, Tony Regan, then bribed me to go on the main committee – the bribe being making me captain of the 3rds.

As time and age wore on John Dutchman persuaded me to accept the inevitable and play for, and later captain, the Vets.

When Nigel Davies became skipper we suddenly turned into rather a good side – well at least, when the “stars” were playing, e.g. the likes of David Morrison, Peter Rand, Graeme Inch etc. We even won the AFA Vets final. A year or so later I retired with a celebrity charity match in my own honour.

I enjoyed my 35 years playing for the OCFC. I played for all 7 teams including the wonderful All Stars, a great social team run by Martin Bryant. I went on all the tours, starting with the Easter Liverpool Ramblers Festival and the eventful Vets tours of Holland and Dublin.

Off the field I somehow became Chairman I think in the early/mid ‘70s. The first task was to find a new ground.

We played at Buckhurst Hill Cricket Club in Roding Lane and then School told us about some excess motorway land available right next to the School bottom grounds – ideal.

There was of course the minor matter of finding the money, let alone the organisation. We set up 100 committees thinking that sounded a good start.

The fund raising bit got going with the Mayor of Epping, the indomitable Stanley Reed and “JT” John Turner in charge.

We went on sponsored walks, got donations and covenants and Tom Stokes somehow persuaded the Allied Irish Bank to back us and provide the funds against the security of the land and buildings and

So we, the OC football club, decided to go ahead - a new base for all OC’s. Twenty-four acres of land. The plan to build a Clubhouse, 3 football pitches, cricket square, 2 squash courts (squash very popular then – 1980), car park and all the facilities (showers, changing rooms etc.).

We took a new name (imaginatively The Old Chigwellians Club) and merged the old society and the sections into it. So many volunteers involved – Ian Kennard with the development project, Tim Norris with the bar, brewery loans, staff etc and just so many others – Steve Redrup, John Smith (from the old FC committees), John Turner a central figure in the fund raising, marketing etc, John Dutchman, Peter Rand with the grounds and Stanley Reed, a huge goodwill ambassador for us – just so many, sorry I forget all the names (it was 40 years ago).

There were many mistakes made (mostly by me I expect) and many downs, but it actually turned out a big success – opening ceremony in May 1980. We were open every day and night. We had well over 100 squash playing members (mid-week cups and leagues). In total over 300 very active members and over 3000 members in total. On Saturdays we would have 100 or so people crammed into the clubhouse, many staying late, all controlled by Len Fisher, our lovely Bar Steward.

And all this went well for 20 years really – with many problems of course.

The Football Club excelled, winning many Cups and leagues and we even managed to win our first ever Dunn Cup in 1980 under 27

OC Past & Present Unfortunately, I got ill then so was a bystander in the negotiations with the School.

A team took over and with the help of the then Bursar David Morrison sorted out a solid legal deal with the School.

They purchased the big asset of our land and buildings, while assuming all the liabilities and the management.

We still have our OC base, our great clubhouse and bar and our football pitches which are the envy of all the clubs we play.

Very few alumni associations have what we have. That is the deal with the school (terms and conditions apply).

n Howard Berndes raises the cup after the 1980 Arthur Dunn Cup Final

Howard Berndes. That was a day (and night!) to remember.

We had some great players to rival the likes of the superb Howard Sherman and Colin Seward (the greats of bygone years) –to say a few – Chris Sydenham, Richard Tapper, Ian Grover, Andy Brandon.

The 2nds were big winners too under the guidance of Radio 2 disc jockey Bob Kilbey.

Then later we built 3 allweather tennis courts with floodlights, so we soon had a lively tennis section run by Jim Tribe and the Bakers.

After 10 years or so we had a turnover of £60,000 pa plus – we were a proper business - crikey!

There were so many people doing so many tasks – David Scrivener (the Mitre), Tony Regan, Peter Gordon, Gerald Dawe (Club Secretaries), Nick Peace (socials), Nigel Davies (Football club), Geoff Gough (our brilliant President from the Bank of 28

England), Doug Sweet (Tennis) and finally Norman Murray our treasurer –an absolute rock for us. I know I’ve forgotten others worthy of mention – apologies.

But times change. By 2000 we started to struggle. Squash was no longer popular – we were down to 20 members – a huge loss of income. It was the cultural and society changes which did for us. Much more emphasis in society quite rightly on careers and family. Many fewer volunteers so getting very hard to manage what was quite a complex undertaking.

The final blow was the School understandably needing to abolish the Pupils Instalment Scheme – no hard feelings – it was a proper business decision by them and the end was nigh anyway. We did try everything – lettings for private functions made us a lot of money - but it was a small patch on a big wound.

So the School effectively runs the club (now called the OC Association) and that is the case now with many alumni associations. They have the administration – we do not now. Please support them as much as you can – come to socials, help with the careers advice, donate to their causes etc. We the OCs are still well represented on the main OCA committee, with the likes of Pat Ward, John Connolly, Paul and Clive Garfield and others.

Malcolm Rogers and Richard Rosser run our Wednesday Lunches for all OCs. We still have our OC Lodge and sporting sections – OC Golf at Chigwell Golf Club, Tennis and Football goes on with a tremendous take-off of the Vets inspired by Peter Vohmann and Mark Flashman. The Football Club Supper is our social event of the year. The School continues with the traditional Shrove Tuesday Dinner and with the OC Mitre.

I must be honest and say that like a few others I was upset by the loss of our little venture, but I have totally come to terms with it now – as we all have. It was an adventure, a moment in time. We loved it, the excitement of what we had achieved, the ups and downs.

COYOC – The war cry of the Vets and their band of merry supporters.

Apparently it means “Come on you Old Chigwellians”. Indeed!

OC Past & Present

A Czech at Chigwell

by Ivo Horák (2013-2015)

More than 7 years ago, young, inexperienced and not aware of the big world, I arrived at the gates of Chigwell School as a boarding student. I was an HMC scholar, for whom a new phase of life was to begin. Everything was new, unknown to me, and as a boy of only seventeen, I wanted to discover everything that English culture and school life has to offer. At first I wasn’t at all worried, I just knew it was always my dream to study and live in the Harry Potter style, and to be a part of my House (in my case the best House ever - Penn’s with Mr Morris).

Studying was very challenging for a newcomer like me, on the one hand it was a question of English, my second language, which I had previously learned only as another compulsory subject in my former high school, on the other hand the general difficulty of my subjects like History, Government & Politics, Maths and French.

At the beginning, there were difficult moments, but thanks to the team that always stood around me, I managed to get on this fast train. By that team, I mean a family of four boarding houses, where we shared all the joys and worries with other international students. Our boarding house “parents” were unique in how much care they gave us in addition to their other classic “family” problems. I have always admired this full devotion to the whole boarding system and I had due respect for them.

Chigwell School was a great gateway to learning about England and its culture. I was very happy to be able to

penetrate ordinary English life and become acquainted with realities that until then I only knew from television or English school classes. Thanks to the great accessibility of the Tube - Red Line, I always had London at my fingertips and I enjoyed wandering through its streets and discovering the amazing places of this famous metropolis, where I would never have a chance to get to as a tourist. In addition, the boarding community organized great trips, which we always looked forward to, such as the Jack the Ripper Walk in London or a weekend trip to the Othona Community.

However, the best experience I had was a trip with the whole year group to the Lake District, which I remember to this day. I would very much like to return there as well as to Chigwell School and meet all my classmates and boarding students.

I must not forget the teaching staff. I was lucky enough to be taught by real experts in their fields, namely Mr Pepper, whose Politics lessons were very inspiring and he always presented us with the most current affairs in British politics.

Plus, we had a lot of fun jokes from the Yes, (Prime) Minister series. Furthermore, the great mathematics teacher Mr Patel, always had an explanation of mathematics conceived humorously, and thanks to him I understood most of the mathematical problems that were presented to us. Mrs Inch was also an excellent mathematics teacher who brought an order to our classes and settled our mathematical thinking. Mrs Matthews was an amazing history teacher, which we all liked mainly for her help with structuring and writing essays, which is for an historian their daily bread.

Mr Goddard, Head of History, was a good tooas he was able to present the issue of the Elizabethan Golden Age so that we, international students, understood it. In addition, his

History Enrichment classes were a lot of fun and a great way to deepen our knowledge.

Mr Gower and his maths lessons were rewarding, if we didn’t understand a problem, Mr Gower never hesitated to explain everything to us.

Mr Fletcher was an expert in French literature and a great librarian. The French lessons with him were well structured and I still remember how we analyzed the work by Molière - Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme for our A2 exam. Likewise, Mme Feeney, Mme Chery and Mme Clarke were very good and their French lessons were dynamic, Grand Merci à vous tous, j’ai bien profité de nos cours! Thanks to my French lessons, I was able to complete a double-degree, franco-czech, when part of my studies took place in Rennes, France and Luxembourg.

When I look back at boarding life, the people who took care of us did their job flawlessly, and I thank them for that. In particular, Mr and Mrs Meier, who at the time led Church House, Mr and Mrs Lord, Mr and Mrs Saunders, Mr and Mrs Goddard and Mr and Mrs McKenzie. Unfortunately, during my studies, Mr McKenzie tragically died, which was extremely sad.

All these people must take a great deal of credit for making us feel at home in Chigwell and managing our daily problems. Last, but not least, of my thanks shall go to Mr and Mrs Punt who deserve my gratitude as they played

a crucial role in boarding life.

We all had chances to enjoy sharing our times and feelings about our life in Chigwell with them. Needless to say, when Mr Punt reviewed my first year at Chigwell School and offered me to do the second year and finish my A-levels, that moment was very rewarding for me and one might say, a turning point.

Thank you for that.

My time at Chigwell School gave me a lot, both academically and humanly. The two years I spent as a boarder gave me, above all, a new relationship with Britain as my second home, and whenever I come to the UK, I still feel that sense of belonging. Even though the UK will no longer be part of the EU, it will always be part of myself. I am very happy for that and I will always treasure my Chigwell memories. I wish every person who reads these lines to realise that education is not a duty but a privilege. Chigwell School provides you with this privilege with a high quality education.

In today’s complex world, it is your education that will make a difference from the others and give you the incalculable value you will have in the job market and as a human. I realised this when I finished my MSc in Economics and Public Administration this year. I am continuing with my PhD and at the same time studying Law and Jurisprudence now, but will be forever grateful for my Chigwell education!

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OC Past & Present

From Archaeology to Aviation to Baking

by Adam Chaudhri (1995-2006) As the title suggests, I have never been much of a planner and my time at Chigwell was broadly characterised by the same haphazard approach to life. I left Chigwell in 2009 with plenty of happy memories and good friends. I began at the school at the age of 7 and saw a substantial amount of change during my time there. From the ending of Saturday school to the transition to co-ed, there was certainly an atmosphere of evolution to the way the school was managed and run.

It was less of an out with the old and in with the new, but a careful balancing act of introducing new ways of teaching and inspiring us, whilst keeping some of the older traditions in place that made school feel special.

The change at Chigwell was also visible in what was taught.

The introduction of new subjects like graphic design became paramount to sparking my interest in media and design, and more traditional subjects like Geography were taught by passionate teachers like Ms Carroll, who inspired their students to go out into the world. She was also fundamental in helping direct the more ‘distracted students’ like myself and channel our energies into more productive activities.

By the time I had left Chigwell I knew that I loved design, I had become Head of Swallows, and I had already begun to exercise some entrepreneurial flair. So naturally the subject I studied at York University

All I can remember is that I thought it was remarkable that the Headmaster knew my name. That level of care is a trait that I’ve continued to value in leaders to this day.

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lectures a week, which left another 160 hours to get up to other things and learn a little more about life. I got a job at Phones4u (RIP) and whilst I did study, I found that what university really gave you was independence and responsibility. It was training wheels for the next stage of life.

In my final year at York it dawned on me that achieving gainful employment was not just a want, (as my parents had politely made it clear that I would not be returning home) but a need, and so I applied for the sum total of two jobs.

One at Mars, which I did not get. And one at British Airways, which miraculously I did get.

Out of 3500 applicants I had made it down to the final 20 to enter BA’s Leaders for Business Graduate Scheme.

n Last Day at Chigwell

Chigwell always felt an intimate place where you mattered.

I distinctly remember that when I joined, Mr Little, the Headmaster at the time would wish me a ‘Good Morning Adam’ every day at 8.15am when we crossed paths, as he walked down from his house, and I walked up from Roding Lane to the Junior School (drop offs were quicker at Roding Lane in my Dad’s opinion).

n A press event for BA

was…. Archaeology. (A general result of messing up some A levels and accepting it as an alternate to History, which I had originally been accepted for).

The next 10 years at British Airways and latterly at International Airlines Group were fantastic fun. During the graduate scheme I worked

First off, Archaeology as it turns out is way more interesting to me than History.

It’s more hands on, more practical and it deals with the portion of our past that really gets the imagination going. So for three years I specialised in Egyptology.

Secondly, going to university isn’t the be all and end all. I loved it, and had the time of my life. I only had 8 hours of

n BA Shoot in Kenya

three rotations where I got roles far bigger than I thought possible, from managing 200+ cabin crew at the age of 21, to heading up BA’s entire European Public Relations, which became the job that helped shape my future.

I loved PR. It brought together marketing, filming, events, production, as well as sitting at the heart of the airline. (Nothing gets you out of bed quicker at 3am than a call from the Daily Mail about an aircraft incident over the middle of Africa.)

I got to launch new destinations, aircraft, products and I also learnt how to work with the press, what stories sold and how to manage risk. Press offices often have a disproportionate level of influence in businesses, and being at the heart of that was thrilling. I was fortunate to have people who believed in me at British Airways and 5 years after joining the business I had become the group’s youngest

OC Past & Present

n Adam, Eloise and Roger Daltrey

ever Head of Marketing and Communications. It enabled me to build and mould brands and provided a huge creative outlet.

When I finally ended my 10year stint at BA and IAG, I had clocked up well over 500,000 air miles, I’d got to work with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Roger Daltrey, as well as getting to fly the world with my friends (OCs included) in a level of comfort no person in their 20’s deserves.

However, during my whole time in aviation, I adored the creative work, and despised the politics. For my entire time at BA, I had constantly wanted to go out and run a business of my own, and in 2016, whilst still employed at BA, I began working on a new immersive baking concept. It may sound odd but by that time I had become quite adept at running large events, and my theory at the time was, ‘If I am any good at press and marketing, I should be able to launch my own business’.

n The Big Birmingham Bake

we launched The Big London Bake.

I write this I am on my way to visit our third potential location.

Our first year we gained 5 star reviews, double page spreads and more press than we could have possibly hoped for. The irony was that despite all this press, we couldn’t feature in any of it as we didn’t want work finding out. Although ‘side hustles’ are very common today, big corporates don’t like their employees being distracted, so we grew our business in our spare time.

Over the next 3 years we welcomed over 60,000 customers, launched a second venue in Birmingham and as

During that time, we were also able to hand in our notices and become the faces of our business. My business partner Eloise has won ‘Most Inspirational Female Leading a Startup’ at the Everywoman awards, and in September 2020, we were awarded ‘Small Business Entrepreneurs of the Year’ at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Today, The Big Bakes are now the highest rated events in London and Brum, and the largest baking event in the UK.

Whilst 2020 has been a challenging year, our business has put its best foot forward.

We have treated our staff with care and consideration, our 24-person team hasn’t had to shrink at all, we’ve been full to the rafters since re-opening and with every challenge we face I honestly do turn to our Chigwell motto, and believe that ‘I shall either find a way or make one’. In today’s world, I can’t imagine a better way of thinking.

Immersive events are certainly the future of entertainment, from escape rooms, to the Crystal Maze and even the resurgence of crazy golf, it is a burgeoning market.

So I partnered with a colleague who was working for me at the time and we began planning.

Myself and my business partner Eloise worked evenings and weekends developing our concept and in May of 2017

n Adam & his business partner Eloise

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Alumni Survey

ALUMNI SURVEY: RESULTS ARE IN! Earlier in the year we asked for feedback on our alumni events, and invited additional suggestions too. We were delighted with the sizeable response, and all of the ideas.

Age of respondents 18 - 24 = 12% 25 - 34 = 12% 35 - 44 = 9% 44 - 54 = 15% 55 - 64 = 14% 65 - 74 = 19% 75+ = 18% Preferred not to say = 1%

Suggestions for the future

69% have been back to Chigwell for an event since leaving... Always enjoy returning to School.

...and location was the overwhelming reason for non-attendance Enjoy viewing the new developments at School.

The current events offered cover a good range but my own opportunities to attend are restricted as I live 150 miles away from London.

58% said that Alumni events held at Chigwell are of most interest The Shrove Tuesday supper continues to be a fine event.

I do enjoy coming to the clubhouse for the lunches.

Networking “Profession specific events or an alumni network for careers”

School tours “Tour of the School and grounds. Maybe arranged round dinner/lunch/drinks for year groups.”

“The walking- tour before last years’ Black-Tie Dinner was a real eyeopener and most welcome, making me wish I could start all over again.”

Reunions run by year group representatives “Year-specific reunion (eg 20-year reunion).”

Overseas “Would be quite good to get overseas groups together in various countries.”

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45% would like more OC events to include

partners/families More unique experiences, e.g. Tower of London visit, that can be attended with partners or the whole family

29% would like to attend more School events Enjoying School concerts or watching sporting fixtures.

93% currently do not play any OC sport, with OC Football representing 53% of those who did OC Football is such a big part of my post-school life.

Thank you for your continued efforts with keeping OCs in touch with the school and each other.

Keep up the good work.

Our sincere thanks to all those alumni who responded.

OC Careers Support

National Apprenticeship Week

National Careers Week

8th – 14th February 2021

1st – 6th March 2021

The 14th annual National Apprenticeship Week will take place in the 2nd week of February. The annual weeklong celebration of apprenticeships, taking place across England, will shine a light on the amazing work being done by employers and apprentices across the country.

National Careers Week (NCW) is a celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education across the UK and, here at Chigwell, we will be embracing everything this event has to offer.

During the event, we will be giving students the chance to explore apprenticeships, at all levels, and what they have to offer.

Running in place our annual Careers Convention, National Careers Week will see the School offer a whole week of virtual talks, presentations and workshops from a whole variety of businesses and career pathways.

The aim of the weeklong event is to empower students to make informed choices about their career pathways, giving them all the information and guidance they need to make their next steps after GCSE and A levels, whether that be university, apprenticeship or employment.

Details of the all events running during that week will be sent out nearer the time, but if you would like to get involved or have some online content to share with our students, please do get in touch.

If you would like to be involved in either event, or feel you could provide support with careers advice, work experience or potential job opportunities, then please contact Roxanne Darkin, Head of Careers: rdarkin@chigwell-school.org

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OC News in Brief

The Smiles with Grace Virtual Gala Concert 2020 by Laurence Brooks (2009-2016)

On 1st August 2020, the first ever ‘Smiles with Grace Virtual Charity Concert’ was premiered. Organised by three of our wonderful patrons, OCs Tom Bromwich, Rhea Patel and Laurence Brooks, the virtual concert featured an array of incredible performances, including music, comedy and dance by OCs and a few current pupils.

‘Smiles with Grace’ is a charity set up by Grace Boxall (20092013) who sadly passed away in 2013.

Due to the global pandemic and the resulting ban on large gatherings, the concert was organised virtually, which meant performers had to record themselves performing their pieces at home and send them in, for them to be edited into a two-hour extravaganza.

The show opened with a hilarious comedy sketch featuring the lead host, Tom Bromwich, Rhea Patel, 34

Maddie Prior and the Prior Family and, following this, Alice Melvin sang Iceland’s Eurovision 2020 entry ‘Think About Things’ while “dancing around her garden” with Christian Green; a highly entertaining and dynamic start to what was a brilliant concert filled to the brim with incredible talent.

The concert was also hosted

by Imogen Padwick, Rhea Patel, Laurence Brooks, Max Albert and Henry Bird.

The amazing ‘Annie’ Brown performed two beautiful, original poems, ‘Into the Blue’ and ‘Lupita Nyong’o’, before an all-star team of nine performed a Bollywood Dance to the song

n Alice Melvin and Christian Green performing Iceland’s Eurovision song ‘Think About Things’

OC News in Brief ‘Chammak Challo’ by Akon, a performance organised by Tanu Kugathasan.

Ben Copsey and Anika Jay both performed brilliant piano solos with the former playing ‘Brahms Intermezzo in A Minor’ and the latter performing ‘Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum’.

It was wonderful to see so many group performances, with Old Chigwellians teaming up for such an amazing cause.

Rhea Patel, Maddie Lovett and Alisha Evans performed a stunning virtual trio of ‘Let Her Go’ by Passenger. Max Albert, Hana Edwards, Rhea Gupta and James Botcher beautifully performed ‘Lord for Thy Tender Mercy’s Sake’ and Serena Dench, Aaran Vijay, Max Albert and Lucas

amazing cover of ‘Sugar Pie Honey Bunch’ (featuring Tom Gulliver on guitar) and Rhea Patel’s cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘When the Party’s Over’, which left no dry eye in the house…or rather on YouTube and Facebook (where the concert was streamed).

The immensely gifted Immy Osborne sung Kacey Johansing’s ‘Hide and Seek’ while playing the guitar, Henry Scott sung and played ‘Fly Me to The Moon’. Rosie Singha performed a show-stopping cover of ‘Yesterday’ by the Beatles and Myrtle Watts performed ‘Why Do You Feel So Down?’ by Declan McKenna, showcasing her musical talent by singing, whilst playing the guitar and percussion.

n Immy Osborne’s cover of ‘Hide and Seek’ by Kacey Johansing

Sky’ and the talented Josh Copsey performed ‘A Little Prayer’ on the xylophone.

The two-hour concert ended with a powerful finale, in which eighteen talented singers performed ‘You Will Be Found’ from the musical ‘Dear Evan Hansen’. The song featured the amazing patrons of the charity, thanking those watching for their donations and continued support of ‘Smiles with Grace’.

The virtual concert was a huge success and has already raised over £1,600.

n Alisha Evans (top left), Maddie Lovett (top right) and Rhea Patel (centre) singing ‘Let her Go’ by Passenger

Abrami-Gill performed an amazing cover of ‘Ocean’ by Karol G. Hana Edwards and Max Albert also teamed up for a beautiful cover of ‘Moon River’, by Audrey Hepburn.

Tamra Nathan and Laurence Brooks teamed up for a smooth cover of ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ by Stevie Wonder, Justin Morse performed an original comedy Sketch ‘How to be an actor’, featuring his parents and a few more OCs, and Calico Jack, the superb funk-pop group made up of OCs, Will Lord, Luke Piper and Kyle Dewar-McKay played their upcoming single, ‘Mad Matt’.

There were some beautiful solo performances, including Brooke Newton’s heartwarming rendition of ‘Once Upon a Dream’ from Disney’s Maleficent, Daisy Mansfield’s

The Antoniou family performed ‘I Feel It Coming’, by The Weeknd, before Yasmin and Nadya Antoniou played and sung ‘Love is an Open Door’ from Disney’s Frozen, showcasing the many musical talents of the Antoniou Family.

The amazing Odette Clark gave a tear-jerking performance of ‘She Used To Be Mine’ from The Waitress: The Musical. Laurence Brooks smoothly sung another Stevie Wonder song, ‘Ribbon in the

To watch the concert, visit the link below: www.youtube. com/watch?v=RX0A-6heCjQ And via the ‘Smiles with Grace’ Facebook page.

To donate, please use the link below which will take you to the concert’s Just Giving page! www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/smiles-with-grace

n Odette Clark’s performs ‘She Used To Be Mine’ from The Waitress: The Musical

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OC News in Brief

Engagements, Weddings & Births ENGAGEMENTS

n Myles & Megan

n Myles Webb (2002-2009) and Megan Willmore are thrilled to announce their engagement which took place in Southwold, Suffolk on 24 December 2018. n Shreenidhi Subramanian (2005-2012) and Laven Sivarajah are delighted to announce their engagement which took place at Chigwell School on 8th February 2020. They are looking forward to setting a wedding date when there is more certainty that they can celebrate with all their family and friends.

n Viboo & Billie

n Viboo Skanda-Kumar (1998-2009) and Billie Grace Jessie Pearson are pleased to announce their engagement which took place in the Cotswolds on 29th February 2020. They are due to be married in August 2021 in Suffolk. n Shreenidhi & Laven

WEDDINGS n Max Kempe (2001-2008) and Lisa Posnett (1998-2005) were married on 31st October 2019 at Zorgvliet Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Many OCs attended including Peter, Harry and Jack Kempe, John, Andraea and Marissa Posnett, Ed Richardson, Chris Smith, Jack Benjamin, Josh Levy, Rachael Cooper, Roberta Glasper, Cheryll Baker and James McKenna.

n Max & Lisa

n Aegean Little (1985-1987) and Nick Simpson were married at Barrington Hall, Cambridge on 9th November 2019 after spending 24 years apart on different life paths. They had a very small reception with just family and close friends to celebrate their big day. n Vanessa Albert (2003-2010) was married to Michael Coles on 29th August 2020 in St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church, Woodford. Despite restrictions they managed to sing Hymns with Mr Simon Winters playing the organ. OCs Nina McMillan and Peter Smith were amongst the Bride’s party, whilst OCs Oliver and Max Albert were the masters of Ceremony. The Wedding cake was made by OC Henry Bird, so all in all quite a Chigwell affair! The couple Honeymooned in the Lake District.

n Ailah Rose Winner

n Aegean & Nick

n Vanessa Albert

BIRTHS n Sophie Winner née Rose (2001-2008) and her husband Elliott are glad to announce the arrival of their first child Aliyah Rose Winner on 26th December 2019. She was born at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone. n Daniel Fielding (1998-2003) and his wife Gemma are happy to announce the birth of their first child Florence Rae Fielding on 17th March 2020 at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

n Florence Rae Fielding

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n Arijana Simic née Simunac (2002-2004) and her husband Petar are delighted to announce the birth of their 5th child, David Filip Simic, who was born on 17th April 2020.

n David Filip Simic

OC News in Brief

University News Year Group 2015

n Theo Gheorghiu

n Theo Gheorghiu (2010-2015) graduated with a First Class (Hons) Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London. He has accepted an offer to study at the EPSRC Fusion Centre for Doctoral Technology. This is a PhD program run by the Universities of York, Manchester, Oxford, Durham, and Liverpool. He will be based at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, Oxfordshire, where he will be conducting research into plasmas and novel field configurations in fusion reactors.

n Laurence Brooks

Year Group 2016

n Grace Styles

n Laurence Brooks (2009-2016) was awarded a First Class BA (Hons) in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of West London. He has completed some work experience with Sky News and the BBC World Service.

n Emma Tibrook

n Grace Styles (2009-2016) graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from Cass Business School, City University of London. She has recently started her own small catering business. n Emma Tilbrook (2005-2016) gained a First Class BA (Hons) in Animation from the University of the West of England Bristol.

The animation she made for her finals has been accepted by the Turkish Film Festival. n Sonja Bhangal

Year Group 2017

n Emma Cadman

n Sonia Bhangal (2010-2017) graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) in Geography from Queen Mary University of London. She is currently tutoring GCSE students in Mathematics, English, Science and Geography, whilst looking forward to her career in consultancy.

n Liam Farrant

n Emma Cadman (2010-2017) was awarded a First Class BA (Hons) Degree in Natural Sciences from Newnham College, Cambridge and has started studying for a MSc in Immunology at Imperial College London.

n Greg Garland

n Liam Farrant (2006-2017) gained a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Industrial Economics from the University of Nottingham. He is hoping to start a career in the Financial Industry. n Greg Garland (2010-2017) achieved a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Geography from the University of Lancaster.

n Anna Gleadell

n Anna Gleadell (2010-2017) graduated with a 2:1 BA (Hons) in History and International Relations from the University of Exeter.

She is starting work on the Guy Carpenter reinsurance graduate scheme in January.

n Natalie Kwan

n Natalie Kwan (2010-2017 was awarded a 2:1 BA (Hons) in Geography from the University of Exeter. She completed an internship in Cornwall and is now hoping to pursue a career in sustainability. n Akisha Pindoria (2010-2017) was awarded a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Geography from Queen Mary University of London and has started an Audit Graduate Scheme at PwC. n Akisha Pindoria

n Ben Sanders (2006-2017) graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of Nottingham. He is beginning a career in the property world.

n Ben Saunders

n Ellie Sibley (2006-2017) gained a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English from the University of Bristol. She has secured a paid internship at Six, an award winning creative agency based in Bristol, and looks forward to starting there soon.

n Ellie Sibley

n Niamh Smith (2015-2017) was awarded a First Class BA (Hons) in Politics from the University of Warwick in July 2020. She also received the Jim Bulpitt Award for ranking first in her degree cohort.

She will be studying for a MSc in Culture and conflict in a Global Europe at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

n Niamh Smith

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OC Book Corner

Sharing the Burden Charlie Laderman (1994-2005) Charlie Laderman’s new book, Sharing the Burden, was published by Oxford University Press at the end of 2019. It explores the American and British response to the massacre of Armenian Christians in the Ottoman Empire, offering a window into America’s rise to great power status, decline of the British Empire and emergence of a new AngloAmerican led international order after World War One. It was

recently awarded the Arthur Miller Institute Prize from the British Association for American Studies as the best first book on any American studies topic in 2019. Upon receiving the award, Charlie said, “I am honoured to receive this prize. My book grapples with issues, the mass killing of an entire community and strategies for preventing it, which sadly remain as pressing as ever.” In addition, the book was shortlisted for The Royal

Historical Society’s Whitfield Prize in British History.

Dr Laderman is a lecturer in War Studies (International History) at King’s College, London. His research focuses on the United States and its relations with the wider world, exploring the intersection between US and international history, and the interconnection between US foreign policy and domestic politics.

A Speech Day Postscript: A New Author Adventure by Sharath Jeevan (1992-1994) Being Guest of Honour at the 2018 Chigwell Speech Day was both wonderful and surreal. It brought back many memories, including innumerable hours at the Penns’ table-tennis table, where I developed an enduring nickname: ‘The Angle Man’.

Sharing my experiences at Speech Day of founding a global education charity, STIR Education, gave me time to reflect on the journey I’d been on since leaving the corporate world. STIR is now re-igniting the spark and love of teaching among 200,000 teachers in 35,000 schools across India, Uganda and Indonesia. In doing so it’s made a difference to the lives of 6 million children. The speech was a reminder of the intense journey I’d been on – from fundraising in billionaire penthouses in New York to listening deeply to communities in the poorest Delhi slums. It reminded me of how fortunate I’d been to meet such a crosssection of people, from all over the world.

I owe Chigwell a huge debt of gratitude for inculcating a pretty adventurous spirit. I’ve tried my best to nurture a similar sense of adventure in my two young boys Eashan and Sayan, who have spent each of the last three summers with me (except this most recent one of course) living in Indonesia, Uganda and India and enrolling for a few weeks in a local school there.

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Little did I know, however, that my life was about to become yet more adventurous. Six months after Speech Day, I got to meet a leading London literary agent, Rachel Mills. We started to talk about whether the core of what I’d been learning in education – about how to re-ignite the spark and motivation in teachers – could apply to other areas of our lives: for example, in our roles as parents, spouses, managers and citizens.

I started to become fascinated by the wider topic of re-igniting our inner-drive (or intrinsic motivation) in our lives today – of doing something not because of a reward at the end but because it’s satisfying and engaging in its own right.

Eighteen months later. ‘Intrinsic’ is in on its way to being published by the Hachette Group – one of the major global publishers – in a few different countries. Writing a book while also leading an organisation has certainly been satisfying and engaging – and exhausting!

I talked to almost a hundred people all over the world from it, from Indonesian parents to the Editor of The Economist, to Indian police officers to American political hopefuls to Parisian divorcees. And I waded through hundreds of academic studies across a range of disciplines, from behavioural science to psychology to neuroscience and economics.

‘Intrinsic’ argues that we are in a motivational mess today. And that’s because we are deeply confused about what matters in our lives and the state that our organisations and world are in.

As a result, we often feel like we are going through the motions - as individuals, organisations and society at large. Most importantly, the book shows how practically applying cuttingedge insights from motivation thinking can re-ignite our inner drive and open a new door into solving these problems.

The trends in parenting that I researched really struck a particular personal nerve. I came across a 2020 survey that suggested British young people have the lowest levels of life-satisfaction in Europe, due to a “particularly British fear of failure.”

Another realisation was thinking deeply about the role Economics

has (indirectly) played in our lives and how it’s affected our mental models (in a pretty negative direction). It was a great chance to go back to what I learned in my A-Level Economics lessons, and to the Economics degree I subsequently pursued at Cambridge.

I’m now building a global motivation lab, Intrinsic Labs, to help organisations apply these insights to a range of problems, in areas such as Work, Education, Entrepreneurship and Government. I’m particularly interested in applying motivation insights to solve our deepest social problems.

I’ve mentioned Chigwell’s influence on my own life in the book, and feel eternally grateful for the sense of adventure it gave me.

I’d love to stay in touch with any current Chigwellians or OCs – please email me at sharath@ intrinsic-labs.com or connect with me on Linkedin.

And ‘Intrinsic’ comes out in May next year.

OC Lodge

The Old Chigwellian Lodge No. 6648

Our new Worshipful Master, Graham Richardson (1969-75) was installed at the February meeting a few weeks before lockdown.

Unfortunately, Freemasonry, like many other activities, has been severely impacted this year and all meeting activity was suspended from mid-March until July. Regrettably, our annual May School Meeting was a victim and we all look forward to returning to the School next year.

Despite the difficulties, the Lodge managed to maintain regular contact with three social meetings via Zoom during March to May. Meetings resumed in September and November with restricted attendance due to ‘the rule of six’.

The Old Chigwellian Masonic Lodge was founded in 1948.

Lockdown Community Support During lockdown, Bro. Kalpesh Kapasiawala brought together Voluntary Action Epping Forest and the Rotary Club of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill & Chigwell to provide cooked meals to residents at Norway House (a homeless hostel) and local sheltered housing schemes. This initiative has now developed into three local food distribution hubs plus a semi-permanent shop in Waltham Abbey.

Masters’ Charity Each year the Worshipful Master selects a charity or charities to support during his year in office. The charities for 2020 are Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and the Metropolitan Masonic Charity-COVID 19 Community Fund.

300TH Lodge Meeting In September, we would have celebrated the Lodge’s 300th meeting but this took place in November without any fanfare due to present restrictions. We hope to recognise this milestone at an appropriate meeting next year.

New Members Are you curious about Freemasonry or the charitable work undertaken by the lodge (such as contributing to the purchase of the latest London Air Ambulance)?

New members are the life blood of our Lodge and we have been remarkably successful in bringing on new candidates in recent years.

If you would like to learn more about the School Lodge, please contact: membership@oclodge.co.uk or visit our website: www.oclodge.co.uk

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OC Events

The Luncheon Club

by Richard Rosser (1955-1962) & Malcolm Rogers (1950-1959) We began well with our lunch at the OC Clubhouse in February and carried on with another excellent one in March, before the world fell in and all lunching activity ceased. On the 18th March Malcolm and I sent this email to the membership: “Following the advice of HM Government, Malcolm has asked me to write to you, confirming what I’m sure you already suspect.

All OC lunches are cancelled for the next few months. We are hoping that the situation may improve in time for us to hold the Away Day at the Punch Bowl at High Easter in August. As those of us aged over seventy commence our period of “self-isolation”, I comfort myself with the knowledge that my time will be filled with a thousand domestic tasks that I have been ignoring for some years. Malcolm and I send you our best wishes and look forward to seeing you as soon as the “All Clear” is sounded.”

The rest is now history or history in the making.

August came and went without any sound of an “All Clear”, and as I write there is no prospect of an immediate resumption of our monthly lunches, because the coronavirus is making a comeback and nobody knows just how it will affect us all as winter approaches.

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One of the immediate and lasting effects of the lockdown was that people have been working from home and many are continuing to do so. Malcolm and I are keen to point out that the lunches are not restricted to any particular age group. Any OC working from home is very welcome to attend all or any of the lunches when they resume at some stage next year, if all goes well.

The lunches are very informal occasions, mostly attended by between thirty and forty OCs of varying ages, and take place, with one or two exceptions, on the first Wednesday of each month. There are no speeches and no demands for money, other than the £15 for the cost of an excellent two-course lunch, provided

by Chartwells, the School Caterers. If you find yourself with time on your hands on the first Wednesday of the month, or just want to get away from the “office” for an hour or two, all you need to do is to send an email to Malcolm Rogers or Richard Rosser, the organisers of the lunches, who will be very pleased to include you in the list of invitees. Their email addresses are: malcolm@themusickecompanye.com and richard.rosser@hotmail.co.uk

OC Events

Class of ’90 & ’91 Reunion

by Paul Garfield (1983-1990) The annual reunion lunch for the classes of 1990 and 1991 was held once more at the Culpeper, Commercial Street, London in December.

The

event was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by the following OCs: Avi Bradman, Nyree Lane, Matthew Mace, Clive Garfield, Dave Timpson, Jon

Arrowsmith,

Dan

Raymond, Paddy Mordecai, James Grant, Julian Kirkby, Simon Chapman, Paul Garfield and Neil Ballard.

OC Tower of London Visit Last December another large group of OCs enjoyed a Yeoman Warder led exclusive tour of the Tower of London at night. The OCs saw some of the gruesome sights and heard the extraordinary stories which make the Tower world famous. They discovered tales of past residents, royal gossip and secrets kept within the ancient walls. The festive evening also allowed them to

delight in the refreshments at the Yeoman Warders’ Private Club and then witness the ‘Ceremony of the Keys’ with the armed escort and bugler on parade. In addition, this event managed to raise over £800 for the hospital radio station ‘Forest Radio’. A big thank you again this year to Chris McDonald OC who arranged this opportunity for everyone.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, our calendar of events was depleted. We are keeping a close eye on government restrictions and will provide an update when we are able to do so about forthcoming events such as Shrove Tuesday (16th February 2021).

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OC Events

Shrove Tuesday

by Joseph Ahern (2009-2020) The Old Chigwellians 152nd Shrove Tuesday dinner took place on Tuesday 25th February 2020.

The evening started with a chapel service given by Reverend Gary Scott. Many OCs were in attendance to reflect, sing hymns and listen to the Chaplain. There were also readings from some of the current praefects.

Following the service, the event got into full swing as we all sat down for a three-course meal.

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Chartwell’s came up trumps yet again, providing us with three sumptuous courses. The praefects found themselves distributed around the room conversing with many OCs who were regaling them with exciting stories about their time at Chigwell. The OCs were equally keen to hear the praefects speak about their aspirations for the upcoming years.

After the meal, the audience listened to three speeches.

The OCA president, Aegean

Simppson, spoke first, followed by the Headmaster, Michael Punt, and finally the Head of School, Joseph Ahern.

The evening ended with the whole dining hall singing the school song which was accompanied by Anika Jayanth on the piano. This outstanding performance rounded off a magnificent evening which the praefects and I thoroughly enjoyed. It seemed all the OCs did too.

OC Events

Celebration of Choral Music by Chigwell Choristers – past and present

by Howard Ebden, Director of Music

The choirs of Chigwell School travelled to West London to perform at the prestigious Cadogan Hall. For the first time the annual Choral Concert included performances from Year 4 right up to Chapel Choir with every year represented in between.

The concert featured a broad repertoire, back to the Baroque period with Vivaldi’s Gloria, all the way up to 1960s pop with a rousing

Beach Boy’s medley. Former Head Boy, Lucas Abrami-Gill, returned to sing excerpts from Mozart’s Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, accompanied by a professional orchestra and joined by peripatetic teachers Mr Alex Garziglia and Mr Matthew Duncan. We were honoured to have our Old Chigwellians back, from either end of the country, to give us a most beautiful recital including

Tavener’s ‘The Lamb’. Whilst the Choral Society entertained the audience with a rousing performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria.

This featured contributions from staff, parents, OCs and pupils. It also provided opportunity for our own young soloists, Anika, Rosie, Lisa and Nadya to shine. The finale of the evening was a powerful rendition of Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’.

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Leaving a Legacy

Leaving a Legacy to Chigwell School Chigwell School has always been ahead of the times. It was founded by Archbishop Samuel Harsnett with a mission – to provide free or heavily subsidised places for local ‘poorer Scholars’.

Four centuries later, this is still very much one of the School’s top main goals.

Legacies are vital to our ability to fund bursaries for the neediest of pupils at Chigwell School. We understand that decisions concerning your Will are very personal and your family will be your first priority, we hope you might consider supporting future generations of pupils by including Chigwell School in your Will.

The 1629 Society

Legacy bequests are free from inheritance tax and gifts of shares and property are exempt from capital gains tax. Making a Will is an important step and it is recommended that you seek independent professional legacy advice. When making a bequest in your Will, please note that the beneficiary should be Chigwell School, registered charity number 1115098.

In order that we can recognise the kindness of those who have remembered Chigwell in their Will we have created the 1629 Society, marking the year our School was founded by Archbishop Samuel Harsnett. Everybody who has made us aware of their intention to include the School in their Will automatically becomes a member.

We appreciate that making a bequest to Chigwell is a very personal decision. We understand that and, of course, would guarantee anonymity and respect privacy. However, we hope that you will inform us of your intentions so that we can thank you for your kindness and generosity during your lifetime.

For further information please contact the Development Office, T: 020 8501 5748, E: development@chigwell-school.org

n School 200 years ago (1820)

n School today

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OL

S’ N

D

IGWELLI H C A

BLACK TIE DINNER

Saturday 11th September 2021 Programme: 6.15pm – Evensong with the Chapel Choir 7.00pm – Drinks Reception in the Swallow Room 7.30pm – Three-Course Dinner in the School Dining Hall Tours of School are available before Evensong.

Ticket: £45 per person (Under 25s: £30 per person)

(includes pre-dinner drinks reception and a three-course meal with half a bottle of wine) Please return to: Mrs Gill Punt, Development Office, Chigwell School, High Road, Chigwell, Essex IG7 6QF, not later than 1st June 2021. Enquiries: Tel 020 8501 5748. Email development@chigwell-school.org

Name (IN BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE): Address: Town: Tel No:

County:

Post Code: Mobile:

Email Address: I would like to attend the Black Tie Dinner on Saturday 11th September 2021.

Please book me

places at £45 per ticket (£30 for Under 25s), for a total of £

Signed: Date: Cheque payable to Chigwell School, or you can make a bank transfer payment by using the following details: Bank: HSBC Sort Code: 40-47-15 Account No: 00232157 Please use the reference BTD2020 and add your surname to identify your payment.

If you have any special dietary requirements or would prefer the vegetarian option for this event please contact the Development Office.

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Bursaries

CHIGWELL SCHOOL BURSARY FUND

Changing Lives since 1629 Helping the Next Generation Bursaries provide financial support for children who show great promise in the entrance exam process, but whose families could not otherwise afford to send them to Chigwell School.

In addition, the Chigwell School Bursary Fund provides financial support to families whose children did not join the School with an assisted place, but whose circumstances have since changed.

Attending Chigwell School had many benefits, benefits that represented true differences from alternate paths that were available to me at 11, ultimately shaping my life trajectory.

Zach Bacon Bursary recipient – Class of 2014 – is a Consultant at Quod

8% of pupils across the School are currently benefiting from bursaries Michael Punt, Headmaster

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Chigwell School helped me to identify my path and then gave me the tools to forge it. I will always be grateful to Chigwell, and I hope that current students will, when they are ready, reflect on their good fortune and find ways to help others thrive, as many generations of Old Chigwellians have done before them.

Gurminder K. Bhogal Bursary recipient – Class of 1992 – is the Catherine Mills Davis Chair in Music at Wellesley College near Boston, U.S.A.

It was a genuine privilege and honour to be there. I am eternally grateful for what Chigwell offered me and I cherished every moment I was there. I hope that there will be more students, from backgrounds similar to mine, who will be sitting in the classrooms at Chigwell School feeling the way I did and getting the most out of the brilliant education the school offers.

Shehab Khan Bursary recipient – Class of 2012 – is a Political Journalist and Political Reporter, ITV News

Could you help us change a life?

Chigwell School’s mission to support those children who possess talent, ability and dedication, but who lack the financial means to benefit from the educational experience that we can offer, remains as true today as it did for Samuel Harsnett nearly 400 years ago.

Our Bursary Fund campaign offers life-changing opportunities for young people whose parents would not otherwise be able to afford our fees.

I can honestly say it has changed my life. It was really quite special to come to a place where the teachers and other students both enjoyed it as much as I did and even though I may not have had the same background I have never felt so included in such a tight-knit community.

We cannot thank you enough for giving her this opportunity. Her life has almost certainly been changed by the hard work, time, effort and attention from your wonderful teachers. Chigwell really is a special place.

Bursary recipient

Bursary recipient Parent

Class of 2019

Class of 2019

To find out more about it and how you can help to support such an important cause please contact Gill Punt in the Development Office, 020 85015748, development@chigwell-school.org or visit www.chigwell-school.org/support-us/welcome-to-development/bursary-fund 47

OC Sport

1st XI Football by Christian Purdy It was a very tough season for the 1st XI team last year which unfortunately resulted in relegation from the premier division. All oppositions were stronger than the year before and although we play the best football in the league we found ourselves chasing almost every game. However, I can’t commend the attitude from the boys enough. They showed great desire and we battled our way back into the season. A small flurry of victories towards the end left us within a chance of staying up before COVID-19 shut everything down.

n Back row (L-R): Christian Purdy, Ali Taylor, Rory Taylor, Matt Rutherford, Ben Alexander, Chris Kay, Will Sibley, Dean Ben-Yosef, Will Taylor Front row (L-R): Ed Sibley, Ben Avery, Jack Nolan, Max Salador, Jack Redmond, Sonal Ohrie

A few players deserve a shout out, Will Sibley grew in confidence and really showed his worth as a very good goalkeeper. A fantastic midfield partnership between Rory Taylor and Jack Nolan will be a real threat to oppositions next season. Although he only had a brief stint in the team due to

university commitments, Ryan Farrant was a very welcomed member to the squad and is a fantastic prospect for the future.

Not the season we wanted however I enjoyed it all the same. Whether it’s a threehour round trip to west London to play Kings College or the short trip to Forest, Saturdays will always be a football day.

Unfortunately, due to another knee injury, I am stepping away from Chigwell for next season but leave the team in the very capable hands of Rory Taylor.

The club has a fantastic set up, great facilities and I wish all the teams the best in seasons to come. With new club captain Ed Sibley at the helm I am in no doubt the club will be back where they belong in the premier division soon.

2nd XI Football by Ed Sibley (2001-2012) & Ant Koczan (2006-2011) The 2nd XI’s season usually goes a bit like this – an average pre-season consisting of a few training sessions and then a slow start to the season. A few losses early on leaving us with some ‘must win’ games which we draw and then we go on a run of wins that undoubtedly make us the best team in the league and lead us to believe a trophy is ours next season.

However, this season was not to be your stereotypical 2nd XI’s season. Under new leadership we set out for a professional pre-season with strength, fitness and wellbeing coach Ed Sibley leading from the front (disclaimer - not a strength, fitness and wellbeing coach).

A pre-season drubbing of local rivals Bancrofts and a huge turnout victory against the OC 1st XI led the 2nds into unchartered territory could we win our first game 48

of the season and get on one of those famous late 2nd XI’s charges?

Alas, first game of the season arrived, away to Rugbeians who’s home ground is a delightful three-hour round trip to Twickenham. We scrape together 11 men, 10 of whom turn up on time, the other, our very own Jack Redmond AKA Benjamin Button for his incredible ability to get better as the game goes on, sends a message tn the group ‘lads I’m running late, locked out of my house’. We start with 10, Ed Sibley standing in as GK and Redmond turns up 15 minutes after kick off at 0-0.

The Old Chigs dominated proceedings and took a 2-0 lead with 15 minutes to go.

A late Rugbeians goal had the back 5 in a bit of a panic but we stood strong and came away with a season defining win. Another talking point from the game was the

2nd XI’s new motto created by new member James Pearlman that simply states ‘no ego, we go’.

We then go on a run - 2nd position by Christmas with notable 3-0 and 4-0 victories against Eton and Forest respectably leading club veteran Will Taylor to state on the pitch ‘Sibs...what have you done with them?!’

As we all tucked into our Christmas dinners, we were all dreaming of a 2nd XI’s league win. Brunnie was giving centre backs nightmares, CK was razzle dazzling his way through midfields and Tom Steward was kicking opposition strikers into touch.

Our Goalkeeper Nick Brown, outstanding as ever.

2020. What could go wrong?

The roaring 20’s they were calling it. The local press were gearing up for a 2nd XI’s league win.

However, the 2nd XI go on to be without a victory until COVID-19 strikes in March.

The season is cancelled with the 2ndXI in 7th place, thankfully avoiding relegation on average points per game.

It seems we had our usual season but in reverse!

In all seriousness, we were hit with real squad depth issues last season. Thankfully at the time of writing this I can report that we have had a number of excellent new young OC recruits that are hungry for success.

Special thanks go to all those that played, trained and helped out last season.

Unfortunately, no photo was taken as the season was cut short, but you only have to look across the page to the 1s picture to note we are undoubtedly the best looking club in the Arthurian League.

OC Sport

Vets Football by Peter Vohmann

n Back row (L-R): Luke Berry, Paul Somers, Dan Carter, Jamie Smith, Pete Vohmann, Kelvin Taaffe, Paul Garfield, Creag Lawrence. Front Row (L-R): Sam Butler, Dave Costello, Dylan Williams, Phil Barnes, James Gilzean, Jon Mahoney, Steve Beverly

The 2019-20 season commenced with the vets present in the lofty heights of the Greene King Essex veterans First Division. We had strengthened accordingly with Dave Costello and Kelvin Taaffe the latest school leavers to graduate through to the over 35s. Both had very good seasons, and on paper we looked a better squad again, but results in the league campaign were mixed and we were midtable as COVID-19 closed the season down early.

We progressed well in the cups, reaching two semi-finals and making the Old Boys Cup Final, a tournament founded in 1913. This may well yield some silverware as it will be played on November 1st 2020 v Old Meadonians. So despite the abrupt end and mixed league

results early on, 2019-20 may well prove to have been one of our most successful.

Our best moments occurred in the changing room or the bar where we were supplemented

by Messrs’ Ward, Rosser, Davies, Mitchell, Hutchins, and Brian Garfield- the glorious self-anointed ICF who follow us everywhere and in every condition, or did before lockdown segmented them as vulnerable (a generous description of that lot I have always felt). On the pitch Dave Costello, James Gilzean had big seasons at the back, and Sam Butler up front. Mark Flashman produced a few saves of high class between the sticks, and always played better if he partied hard the previous night.

Paul Garfield, Jon Mahoney and

Dylan Williams huffed and puffed hard for the cause but our best players were Sam Cooper who began to play regularly and still looks like the pro he once was, and my player of the year Creag Lawrence. Once in charge of all things football at the school, he took charge of most games we played. I’m hoping that by the time this report reaches print those two will have won us the OBC cup. The Vets continue to play way too many matches, chat far too often on ‘Chigs bants’ the WhatsApp group, stay for too many beers post game, and laugh too hard at our teammates misfortune and occasional good fortune. In that sense 2019-20 was the same as every year and it was a pleasure to be involved.

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OC Sport

Golf Society

by Miles Taylor (1971-1978), OCGS Hon Secretary & Treasurer He managed to get a team of 20 together and mostly all were youngsters, relatively.

Just what the OCGS needs.

We narrowly lost, but it was enjoyed by all with much banter with the Old Foresters, as normal, with a BBQ after. It was great to see the younger OCs playing, although it did make me feel very old. Just think how Mickey Wood must have felt!

Obviously Coronavirus decimated our golfing fixture list this year. We, at least, got to play as OCs twice though.

We had our annual match against the Old Foresters at Chigwell Golf Club, brilliantly organised by Adam Tomkins.

Looking ahead...

That was the end of OC golf for this year. Due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions we have had to cancel the Yuletide meeting for 2020. The whole Society and especially myself, would like to thank Martin Brett for faultlessly running the Yuletide Meeting for the last 12 years. He has decided to stand down as organiser, as he is moving south of the river (and getting a bit doddery), but will still be playing with us. That means we are looking for a new Yuletide organiser for 2021.

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We also managed to play our Autumn Fixture at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club at Deal on 5th September, as always fantastically organised

by Antony Robson. What’s normally a 2-day event was reduced to just the one day due to the COVID-19 restrictions. We had great weather, the course was in the best condition anyone could remember. I think,

Chippie Carpenter will be Captain again for 2021 and let’s hope he will get to have a proper year as Captain.

We are always looking for new members and keen to get more OCs playing golf with us. It’s always good fun meeting back up with other OCs especially if they are from your era. There are some serious golf competitions and some much more relaxed fixtures against the other Essex Public Schools Old Boy’s golf teams, but mostly just good fun days where all can play, of all standards.

because we hadn’t had any OC golf everyone was looking forward to it more than ever. Twenty-four of us had a great day. Richard Gull won the Scratch Salver, Tom Galvin the President’s Cup and Tom also triumphed in the Foursomes Cup partnering, a Deal newcomer, Tom Gibbs. I feel I ought to point out that Tom Galvin drove the 17th at RCPGC. This hole is about 370 yards long, with huge mounds and bunkers requiring at minimum a 300 yard carry to clear the huge (Howard’s) Bunkers.

Plus, the wind was against if anything. Sam Oxley won nearest the pin and, guess what Tom Galvin the longest drive on the 12th hole. He must have been doing a bit of Bryson DeChambeau bulking up during lockdown!

If you join us, I’m sure there are already members from your era who you will know.

Please just contact me at milestaylor@btinternet.com and I’ll add your email address to my OCGS list and whenever I send anything out, you’ll receive it. You can decide whether to join us for anything at the time, at least you’ll know what’s going on.

Let’s hope that we can get back to normal in 2021.

OC Sport

Ladies Hockey

The OC Ladies hockey squad played the School in a closely fought match held at School earlier in the year. Due to the COVID-19 situation, sadly this proved to be the only match they were able to play but they are keen to resume fixtures as soon a s possible in the future.

Get involved If you would like to get involved then please do contact Gill Punt development@chigwell-school.org

Tennis Report

by Howard Berndes (1967-1974) Sadly, due to COVID-19 the season was devastated this year and the West Essex League was cancelled.

Players have been down to the club for some practise (when the imposed government

restrictions allowed) but we have not been able to hold a proper club night for a long time.

However, we are a friendly and welcoming club and are always on the lookout for new members who wish to

play tennis. Whether you are young or old, are looking for competitive league or social tennis, do come along and join us. We are very fortunate to have superb facilities and are the envy of many clubs.

Join our club If you would like to join us then please contact Ross Berndes, ross@rossmotors.co.uk

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Lives Remembered

Brian Wilson (Headmaster 1971-1989) Tributes by his sons from the Service of Thanksgiving and from the Headmaster sense of irony. Mum and Dad were both inextricably linked through a mutual zest for life and very much in love. It was an impressive balance; and they made it look effortless.

Friends have all spoken of Dad’s dedication and loyalty to caring for Mum as her MS progressed. But he never saw this in himself. He was always interested and questioning of others. Questions that often prodded and provoked thought.

Dad’s travels have taken him all over the globe. From his days in the army on the Suez Canal, to taking ice core samples on glaciers in Alaska in the early 60’s with lifelong friend Tom Bizby, to running GAP Activities in Indonesia and Nepal, to traveling with mum, plus wheelchair, around India, Borneo and Europe, and more recently traveling the Trans-Siberian express to Vladivostok.

Justin Wilson (1980-1985) I wanted to find something that I felt was appropriate to Dads life and came across this quotation from Ernest Shackleton who passed away 5 years before Dad was born.

“Life to me is the greatest of all games. The danger lies in treating it as a trivial game, a game to be taken lightly, and a game in which the rules don’t matter much. The rules matter a great deal. The game has to be played fairly or it is no game at all. And even to win the game is not the chief end. The chief end is to win it honorably and splendidly.”

Christopher Wilson (1977-1986) Dad was a caring and gentle man, and almost without exception, all the messages have mentioned the word “gentleman”. I never once heard him swear; he would use phrases such as “jeepers” and “Lord above” without any 52

Nothing fazed him. He just pressed on regardless.

Eyebrows were raised when he and mum decided to take a sabbatical in the late 70’s, packing everything, including a wooden homemade mobile kitchen come child entertainment unit, affectionately known as the coffin, alongside two boys under the age of ten, into a proper Range Rover and set off overland to Iran. Through sandstorms, via trigger happy soldiers and sheep’s’ eyeball soup, we made it to Tehran.

Where most would be asking the questions “what if…”, he would always reply with “what happens if it snows”. Dad’s contact in Nepal during the GAP years and beyond, a chap called Om, sent a lovely message on hearing of Dad’s passing, summing up this part of his character perfectly: “His simplicity of life-style and cool character (not worrying, not hurrying in the most difficult of situations) are some of the things I will remember him for the most!” Dad was all about the “experience”, long before

“the experience” become a social media phenomenon in today’s society. He somehow managed to constantly live in the now. A lot of this was down to his lack of vanity and the fact that popular culture completely washed over him.

Which Justin and I always found amazing.

Dad very much enjoyed volunteering at The National Trust’s Tyntesfield Estate on the edge of Bristol, but drew the line at having to go in costume for one day over their Christmas periods. I suppose that might have been where a small level of vanity, or sanity, kicked in. Bridge was also a life-line for him. Playing with close friends he had known for many years brought him a great deal of joy, along with some frustration of his skill levels. The Welsh cottage, Bryn Derw, was possibly the place where Mum and Dad felt most at home. Dad was under no illusion that work is an absolute necessity, but the solitude and silence of the cottage was just bliss for them.

Extended family and friends have visited the cottage on numerous occasions over the past fifty years, and I know it’s brought joy to many. It is a place that continues to play a big part in our lives. It is a special place that Mum and Dad loved.

Meeting interesting people, lively debate and travel were his passions. He was also a tireless worker, as teacher and headmaster. Self-confessed

Lives Remembered poor teacher of Physics, he knew his strength was more in the people side of the education sector. We have had some lovely correspondence from masters and staff at Chigwell School who mention how he helped pave the way for it to be the school it is today.

As with any loved one that passes, it’s extremely difficult to capture your love for them, and how they have enriched family, friends and colleagues lives.

The seemingly insignificant things such as Dad’s over enthusiastic wave from his office window when approaching his front door, and the hand squeeze when saying goodbye; to the constant support, encouragement and love of Justin and I and his grandchildren Ruby, Polly and Charlie. The pursuit of contentment rather than happiness (he was always suspicious of people who were permanently happy). His knowing that life is made up of challenges and setbacks, which can lead onto the best of times and his unwavering

and unknowing loyalty and dedication to mum.

Before Dad died, Justin and I had several nights sleeping on the floor in the same room as Dad. A perfect time to talk deep and shallow in equal measures. He made his 93rd birthday then went into a deep slumber and passed away just over 24 hours later. With his boys beside him. As Justin put it so perfectly, it was a charmed life and a charmed exit.

We will all miss him.

existing Junior School. In addition, Brian planned other extensions to cater for the needs of the School which expanded during his time and also became co-educational in the Sixth Form. Brian ended corporal punishment which had, until then, been administered by both teachers and praefects. We were delighted when in 2009, Brian came back to Chigwell to open the Wilson Building which houses the Modern Foreign Languages Department and form rooms for the Third Form.

Michael Punt, Headmaster: Brian Wilson was Headmaster at Chigwell from 1971 to 1989.

During his tenure, Chigwell developed a great deal and many of his innovations are still important today.

For example, he introduced the current house system and the existing format of Speech Day and the Ball; he established the Senior School library in its current location; built the art school and created the

Martin John Hipkin (1942-1949) by his wife, Juliet Hipkin Martin died very suddenly and unexpectedly on the 16th January this year in Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.

His funeral took place on the 5th February attended by members of his family, including his elder daughter and family who live in California, and many friends from Theydon Bois Golf Club, Forest Probus, Westbury Bridge Club, the U3A Bridge Club and the Old Chigwellians.

Martin was born in Loughton on the 19th July 1932, the eldest of two boys.

He attended a local primary school until he was aged 10, then he continued his education at Chigwell School. He cycled there daily, sometimes dodging random doodlebugs en route, because of course those were the War years and the reason why his attendance at Chigwell

School was sometimes disrupted by periods when he was evacuated with his family down to Herefordshire to avoid the bombing. Those were very happy interludes for him, even memories of being naughty and playing truant, playing ‘Pooh-sticks’ in the River Lugg included.

Martin left Chigwell School in 1949 and the plan was that he would join his father in his blouse-manufacturing business. But it was not to be because his father died at the untimely age of 47 and the business was sold. Martin went on to do his National Service in the Army, where he was selected for officertraining, and during which time he was stationed for a while in Monchengladbach, Germany.

Again he often referred back to this experience, during which time he learned to drive in 53

Lives Remembered rough, open countryside and also took up horse-riding.

Once back from doing his National Service, his Hipkin uncles invited him to join them in the family business - originally started by his grandfather, Frederick William Hipkin. They were hardware and plumbing distributors, situated in Stratford, London.

He accepted their offer and began to work as a Salesman in about 1955, eventually becoming a Director of the company together with his two cousins. He finally retired in 1997 after a career spanning 42 years, and the business was sold.

Martin married Juliet in 1957 and they began their married life in Dukes Avenue, Theydon Bois. He joined Theydon Bois Golf Club in 1960 - the same year that their elder daughter Lesley was born. Whether there was any significance in this it is hard to say. Their second daughter, Philippa, was born in 1962.

Old Chigwellians. Sadly, for the last months of his life he was confined to a wheelchair following a catastrophic fall down the stairs and several weeks in hospital, but he did manage to attend the bridge club he himself had started under the auspices of U3A for a last game of bridge on the 9th December 2019.

Martin was a very dedicated golfer and was Captain of the Club in 1983. He only gave up playing when he became severely disabled, but continued to enjoy playing bridge, light gardening, Probus activities and those lovely friendly lunches with the

He is greatly missed by his wife Juliet, his two daughters and their husbands, and his four grandchildren, Sophie Bishop (who also to his delight attended Chigwell School), Luke Bishop and twins Caitlin and Bianca Jeffs.

John Piper (1945-1952) by his brother Michael Piper (1945-1952) with his Portuguese wife, Odette, in the Algarve. Here he was much appreciated as a doctor to British expats as well as to local people.

n John with his wife Odete

54

John and I joined Chigwell immediately after the war at the age of eight in 1945. Neither of us continued there until the normal completion of our education, because in 1952 I left to join the Royal Navy and shortly after that John left to start the long process of qualifying as a doctor and subsequently as a surgeon.

John trained at the London Hospital and later had jobs of increasing responsibility at other London hospitals.

His life was complicated by medical issues which inhibited his promising medical career.

He was married three times and after a challenging series of surgical posts in Zimbabwe and South Africa he settled

John’s character is illustrated by an incident in South Africa, when as Deputy Superintendent of a hospital, his boss fell foul of the medical authorities and John found himself acting as Superintendent. In that capacity he decided to correct what he saw as an unjust situation in which the black nurses had very cramped accommodation and the white nurses lived much better, with room to spare. He therefore arranged for some black nurses to go into the white nurses’ accommodation. This was at the height of apartheid and when the government authorities got wind of what he had done he received a confidential message to say that if he didn’t leave the country in a hurry he would be arrested. That was when he decided to go ahead of his wife to Portugal, where they lived happily until his death in January 2020. In this period he wrote three novels which seemed to do well.

Lives Remembered

Alan Bernard Brooker (1942-1949) by his daughter Mrs Jane King Alan Bernard Brooker was born in 1931 to Bernard John and Gwendoline Ada Brooker. They became a close and loving family, sharing a wonderful sense of humour and capacity to look on the bright side, which became hallmarks of our father’s life.

Alan attended Chigwell School from 1942-49, which he enjoyed immensely, making life-long friends and playing an active role in all aspects of his school life. Chigwell School would always be a big part of his life, and he later became Chairman of the governors for several years.

He served his National Service in Hildesheim, Germany, once again, making friends for life and making the most of the opportunities he found there, including taking his driving test in an army truck in a farmer’s field and developing a fondness for the mess curry.

Alan trained in accountancy, experiencing something of a baptism by fire when his first appointment was working for the National Dairy. He became an immensely successful businessman in the following years, the majority of which he spent at Extel (The Exchange Telegraph Company), working his way up through the ranks, eventually becoming Chairman and CEO. Throughout his life Alan enjoyed many sports, but his first love was cricket. For many years he played for the Woodford Wells Cricket Club and enjoyed many days watching his beloved game as a member at the MCC. He also played golf at Chigwell Golf Club, and in his younger days, played for the Old Chigwellians’ Football team. It was playing in one of these matches that our mother, Diana (nee Coles), first spotted him and remarked to her friend what a good looking chap he was. It wasn’t long before they met, fell in love, and were engaged and then married at St Mary’s church in Chigwell in 1957.

Alan and Diana made a wonderful team and no one appreciates this more than us, their children, Jane, arriving in 1963, Robert, 1965 and Sarah, 1970. Alan was the most generous and loving father and taught us all so much, but especially how to laugh.

We spent so many wonderful times together at home and on holidays where we were fortunate enough to create very many happy memories. Later, as grandfather to Thomas, Phoebe, James and Lucy, he passed on his great good humour, generosity and love of life to another generation.

Alan, as mentioned, made many, many friends in all

aspects of his life, and became part of so many people’s lives through the many and varied things he did. As a JP, he sat on the bench at Epping Crown Court, was a sidesman at St Brides Church in Fleet Street and became Master of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers. Alan spent some time as Deputy Lieutenant of Essex and worked for a number of charities including the Royal British Legion.

Alan died peacefully in his sleep, in front of the rugby on television, at his home in Evershot with Diana by his side, on 7th March, 2020.

55

Lives Remembered

Dr. Anthony “Tony” Pruss (1954-1964) by his son, Michael Pruss (1987-1998)

n The Pruss family at the school named for their son Timothy in India Tony passed away on April 10th 2020 after a long and heroic battle against cancer. He was born September 8th 1946 in Islington, London. His father, Dr. Sidney (“Michael”) Pruss, was a General Practitioner in Essex having served in WWII in the Royal Army Medical Corps. His mother, Dorothy (nee) Ewen, was a nurse.

The eldest of four children, Tony was educated at Chigwell School in Essex, where in later life he became a Governor. Leaving at 18 to follow in his father’s footsteps to train at the London Hospital, Whitechapel, in Medicine, he qualified as a doctor in 1970 graduating also with a First Class Degree in Biochemistry.

It was here that he met his wife Rosemary (“Mary”) (nee) Quinn whom he married in 1972.

After two years working in hospitals, he joined the Practice of Dr. H. W. Martin – in North-East London - and within a few years became the Senior Partner. He went on to run a highly successful and busy GP Surgery in Ilford, 56

combining this work with a burgeoning career in forensic medicine, ultimately being appointed the Senior Forensic Medical Examiner for the North-East London area of the Metropolitan Police.

Tony retired in 2007 and moved with Mary to Lymington, Hampshire, a place where they had previously enjoyed many good family holidays.

He continued to pursue his hobbies of golf and sailing, while also allowing himself the time to be a devoted member of the community – supporting two local schools as Governor, being an enthusiastic and active Rotarian and also volunteering for the New Forest Hospital Radio.

Tony was also a Child Bereavement Counsellor for Great Ormond Street Hospital, which he started doing following the death of his younger son Timothy in a tragic accident in 2005. It was soon after this event that he established the Tim Pruss Memorial School in south India together with Mary, Chigwell

School and a group of friends from the Bede Griffiths Charitable Trust. Tony made his final visit to the school in November 2019, alongside Mary and their elder son, Michael, and a small group of Rotarians and friends. The school continues to thrive and prosper.

An avid reader and aficionado of WWII History, Tony also loved classical music, opera and film and was on the committee of the Lymington Film Society. His passion for travel and culture took him to countries all over the world but nowhere was he happier than in Lymington. Until recently, he loved walking with Mary in the beautiful New Forest countryside.

He is survived by his wife Mary, his elder son Michael – who is a film producer in Hollywood for Sir Ridley Scott – his daughter-in-law Hilary and two granddaughters, Lucy and Juliette.

Lives Remembered

Rodney Lawrence Jeffery (1956-1961)

by Gerald Dawe (1953-1960) It was a bright summer morning when Rod drove his car into our driveway. He got out and helped his wife Sue out (she was blind) and let her guide dog Lindy out of the back of the car. With one bound Lindy disappeared into the garden and, splash, ran into the pool. We got her out no harm done. Rod said that’s strange she is perfect on her guide dog harness and looks after Sue perfectly!

Rodney was always called Rod and was born in Canterbury in 1941 to father Leslie and mother Gwen. In the early years the family moved around due to his father’s job as a Borough Surveyor. For the two years before coming to Chigwell he went to school at Berkhamstead. Then the family moved to Buckhurst Hill as his father was appointed Borough Surveyor at the London Borough of Redbridge.

At Chigwell Rod was a member of the CCF and excelled at ball games. He was a leading member of the football first eleven at left back. In cricket he played for the second eleven and was a deadly accurate medium pace bowler.

In 1962 on leaving Chigwell he joined Monk Dunston and Associates as a trainee Quantity Surveyor. He duly qualified and remained there for the whole of his working career, retiring in 2006. During his long career in the construction industry Rod worked on many highprofile products.

These included amongst others the National Air Traffic Services at Swanwick, work on Centre and No. 2 Court at Wimbledon and the refurbishment of Royal Holloway Prison. He was highly regarded by his colleagues and others with whom he worked.

Due to a sports injury Rod had to give up weekend football in his 30’s, and from then on took up golf with a passion. He was a member of Bearsted Golf

Club from 1975 and he was very much a regular member and a familiar face around the 19th hole!

In 2018 Rod and Sue celebrated their Golden Wedding. Their first meeting years ago was on Boxing Day at Leytonstone Underground Station. Sue a qualified Physiotherapist had travelled up by herself from her parents’ home in Plymouth to her job at Whipps Cross Hospital. Rod helped Sue with her white stick off the train. Sue asked to be taken to the steps out of the station so she could get a cab. Rod suggested that he give her a lift to the hospital as his car was in the station car park. He revealed that he was going to the New Year’s dance at the hospital. Sue mentioned this to the ward sister and got a ticket so they met up at the dance.

They married some two years later and I was the best man at

their wedding. They bought a maisonette in South Woodford and then moved to a house in Maidstone where they stayed. They have two sons, Mark and Stuart, and three grandchildren. Since Rod’s retirement Rod and Sue have enjoyed many exotic holidays and had a love of cruises.

Rod’s mother is still alive and has just celebrated her 106 birthday!

At the beginning of May this year Rod had a heart attack and was rushed to Maidstone Hospital. After various tests he was awaiting transfer to a London Teaching Hospital for an operation. Tragically he contracted COVID-19 and died a week later.

Rod was a fantastic son, husband, brother to two sisters, father and grandfather.

He will be sadly missed and remembered by all who knew him with great affection.

57

Lives Remembered

Kevin Thomas O’Leary (1947-1954)

by David Hoppit (1949-1957) Brendon, Ambrose, Kevin, Declan, (who was in the crosscountry team) and Fergus (known as Fudge). They all attended Chigwell. There was also a beautiful daughter, Roisin, the third born, who went to Ilford Ursuline. She now lives in Norfolk.

The family lived for many years at the top of Chigwell High Road, opposite Vicarage Lane, immediately next door to the headmaster’s house.

Kevin was born on December 21st 1937. His father, John, was born in London in 1900 but the O’Leary family originally hailed from County Cork and they retained their Irish characteristics, including the hint of an Irish dialect and a deeply held Roman Catholic faith.

I always remember after morning assembly as we strode towards chapel the O’Leary boys stood by the chapel door but did not enter.

I always assumed they used the time to catch up with homework.

It must have been around 1948. I was about 10 and Kevin was six months my senior. We were at the council school at the top of Vicarage Lane and during lunch-hour we came to blows. In fact, it became the fight of the century, lasting well in to afternoon lessons and watched by the entire school, including the headmaster himself.

I had been for boxing lessons in Woodford Bridge so I eventually out-punched my Irish rival. As so often happens in these circumstances we became best friends. A year later we found ourselves in form 3B at Grange Court.

Classmates would not believe that I had beaten Kevin and we nearly had to fight again, over by the old Fives Court – but friendship prevailed and peace was declared.

58

Nearly seven decades later we were planning to get together for a reunion, but sadly it was not to be. Kevin died in Winchester Hospital on June 8th this year after a short illness.

Those old days may seem distant to younger boys but our lives have flashed by. At the time of our fight Prince Charles had just been born and Donald Bradman had just played his last test match innings; Joe Louis had retained the world heavyweight championship by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 11th round; and Israel had just been formed.

Kevin was the third of five boys born to John Gerard O’Leary, a leading librarian and his wife Nora, known as Nonie, from Newfoundland. She lived to 104. Their children were

Sport played such an important part in boys’ lives in those days and Kevin’s skills lay on the football pitch. I concentrated on athletics and cross-county running so we drifted apart; but he made the 2nd Eleven and became an excellent goal keeper.

We lost touch as he left before I did, to do his twoyear National Service in the Royal Artillery, based most of the time in Germany and eventually reaching the dizzy height of lance bombardier.

Kevin married Carol Blyth at St Mary Mother of God RC church in Hornchurch on February 29th 1960 and 60 years of happy marriage was to follow. They celebrated their diamond anniversary with a super party just before ‘lockdown’ started. They had three children – Sean, born in 1964, Theresa, born in 1966 and in 1968 Madeleine, who sadly died two years ago.

Lives Remembered Kevin worked for many years at Ever Ready, first in the Walthamstow and Dagenham factories, transferring to the Tanfield Lea factory in Durham in 1970 and in 1973 he was appointed factory manager of what was then the largest dry battery plant in the world.

In 1975 he transferred to a factory in Wolverhampton with various moves, finally moving to Wellington, in Shropshire.

The family lived through this period in Shropshire.

Following the take-over of the Ever-Ready group by Hanson Corporation in 1982 Kevin was made redundant and he got a job working for Thorn EMI, in Birmingham. Three years later he was made redundant again.

He found work with Croydex in Andover as production director when he and Carol moved to a small village near Andover then in 1988, after being made redundant again, they moved to nearby Anna Valley.

He became involved in the production of a local plan and also other village clubs as well as helping to found the Andover Foodbank. He also worked closely with the Liberal Democrats.

Among the many people who remember Kevin with great affection is our contemporary Ian Hardy, member of another well-established Chigwell family. He recalls: “Kevin and his family grew up in Chigwell next door to Mr. Thompson, the headmaster.

There were six O’Leary children, five of them brothers, all of whom attended the school. My family of five lived about 100 yards from them and I and my two brothers also went to the school. It was during the war years and we used to chase doodlebugs and go to Fairlop to watch bombers taking off. Kevin was a quiet, thoughtful boy and

he helped other pupils who were finding life difficult. This attitude continued throughout his life and he was greatly respected for it. He was my best man and best friend. He will be sorely missed.”

Keep in touch with Chigwell To ensure we can benefit you and keep our OC community growing stronger and stronger, we rely on having up-to-date information from OCs. We ask that whenever your details change – whether a change of name, address, email, phone number or a change to your career or role – that you let us know.

You can complete the form here or on the website www.chigwell-school.org

Update your details Surname:

Forename:

Title:

Maiden name (if applicable):

Email:

Tel / Mobile:

Your years at Chigwell:

Current profession:

University attended:

Degree / Course:

Address:

If you know of an OC who would like to get back in touch please encourage them to do so by completing the form or contacting the Development Office development@chigwell-school.org or 020 8501 5748

59

Plan for tomorrow, cherish the today We know that family is the most important thing in your life. So it’s good to know that, with the right advice, transferring wealth to loved ones can be extremely easy – as well as immensely rewarding.

Whether it’s helping youngsters onto the housing ladder, contributing to a grandchild’s education or a parent’s care fees, we can help you share your wealth whilst you’re still able to see the joy that it brings. We offer a friendly, local service backed by the strength and security of FTSE 100 company, St. James’s Place Wealth Management. Please do get in touch for a chat.

ONEWEALTH LTD Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

Josh Cohen

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Old Chigwellian

Adviser Tel: 02080421000 | 07717 313174 Email: josh.cohen@sjpp.co.uk www.one-wealth.co.uk The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

SJP11494g V1 (11/19)

SJP11494g V1 A5 Landscape Advert_Intergen.indd 1

29/11/2019 15:08

Weddings at Chigwell School When not in use during term-time, the School is proud to share the excellent facilities and private rooms with Old Chigwellians and the community.

Set in the heart of Chigwell Village, only seven miles from central London and close to Epping and Hainault Forests, the School enjoys its own beautiful grounds of nearly 100 acres and offers a private, unique and historical venue, which can be tailored to specific individual requirements for celebrating important events.

Dining Hall – The Dining Hall is a perfect venue for a wedding reception and can cater for sit-down luncheons for up to 150 guests. The School in-house caterers offer bespoke menus and its highly experienced staff will discuss your requirements and advise on options for your special day. The Chapel Quad provides an attractive setting for a drinks reception and a beautiful backdrop for photographs. The Swallow Room is also available for hire.

New Hall – If you prefer a buffet luncheon, then perhaps New Hall may be a preferable alternative – a stunning wood panelled hall with a stage area for your band or DJ, again with a stunning vista over the School playing fields.

The Old Chigwellians’ Club – The Old Chigwellians’ Club boasts magnificent private grounds and a fully licenced bar which is ideal for a variety of events and available for hire.

For further information please direct all enquiries to Mrs Tina Page.

Tel 020 8501 5711 Email tpage@chigwell-school.org

Televisions

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Visit us online to buy the latest and greatest tech at the UK’s lowest prices* VISIT 78-80 CRANBROOK ROAD, ILFORD, ESSEX IG1 4NH CLICK WWW.PRCDIRECT.CO.UK CALL 020 8911 0311 THE ORIGINAL ESTABLISHED OVER 40 YEARS * If you find the same product cheaper within 3 days of purchase supplied by an authorised dealer, brand new, boxed and in stock, we will refund the difference plus 1% of the difference. Proof of pricing required by an official quotation. Price promise valid till 31.10.20. All trademarks are acknowledged. E&OE. Images are for illustration purposes only. Offers available while stocks last and subject to change.

Sporting Corporate Days & Family Days at Chigwell School The Chigwell School site extends to one-hundred acres and includes a number of grass pitches, a running track, tennis and netball courts, an Astroturf pitch, a sports hall and an outdoor swimming pool. If you are looking for a venue for a team-building day, staff reward day or family fun day, then please contact us. We can provide facilities for a whole or part day. We have a fully licensed bar at our clubhouse and can arrange drinks, a BBQ or hog roast to end your day.

We have availability for corporate sports days on the following dates in 2021: n Saturday 29th May to Saturday 5th June n Thursday 15th and Friday 16th July n Saturday 21st August to Saturday 28th August Prices will depend on numbers, timings and facilities hired; we will build a price around your exact requirements.

For details please contact the Operations Manager, Mrs Tina Page. Tel 020 8501 5711, Email tpage@chigwell-school.org

BURSARY FUND

Your gift will change a life

I wanted to thank Chigwell for the fantastic opportunities it has given me because of my bursary. I am determined to make everyone proud of me.

Bursary recipient Class of 2018

Together we can change lives www.chigwell-school.org/donations/bursaryfund The School’s mission remains as true today as it did for Samuel Harsnett nearly 400 years ago. We need to support those children who possess talent, ability and dedication, but who lack the financial means to benefit from the educational experience Chigwell School offers.

For more information

Contact Gill Punt in the Development Office on 020 8501 5748 or email development@chigwell-school.org