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OC news Churcher’s crest at home on a boat Following the launch of Churcher’s Community, Ray Martin (49) made contact to tell us about his inspirational use of a blazer badge once owned by his uncle, Harold Martin (15). Sadly, Harold died in 1918 in the First World War and Ray never knew him, but the hallmarked sterling silver blazer badge (orginally it would have been sewn onto the blazer by pin holes top and bottom) was passed to Ray, who has made sure it has always had a home on on his sailboats, currently ‘Tantivy of Hayling’. Ray commissioned a local jeweller in West Vancouver, British Columbia to make up a scroll with ‘Credita Coelo’ - the original spelling of the College motto. For Ray, ‘being entrusted to heaven’ was a “comforting feeling” during voyages around the North and South Pacific, the last of which was from Vancouver to Cape Horn via Mexico, the Galapagos Islands and Chile, returning via Robinson Crusoe Island, Pitcairn Island, the Marquesas Islands, Hawaii and back home to Vancouver. Communicating during COVID In February 2020 I celebrated my 80th birthday, oblivious to the risks and restrictions that the COVID pandemic would deliver shortly afterwards. From my wife, a surprise cake themed my lifelong interest in newspapers. During the successive lockdowns I have
re-engaged with my campaigning and journalism activities, have contributed press and magazine features, given quotes to national media, been interviewed by Nick Ferrari on LBC on my area of expertise - access to banking services - and necessarily learned the intricacies of communicating by Zoom and Microsoft Teams for the first time! I remain well and virus free and, having had the first vaccine, am beginning to look forward to real life visits to Churcher’s and my many more local interests in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire later in the year. Recently I caught up with Peter Culf (58), my coorganiser of Year of 58 reunions, and am pleased to report that he and his wife continue to manage challenging health issues but have not succumbed to COVID. Derek French (58) A new award During the country’s initial lockdown, Old Churcherian and long-standing supporter of the school, Commander William (Bill) Evershed (55), contacted the Headmaster to offer his OCC blazer badge to the school archive. As a reflection of Bill’s continued support and his service in the Royal Navy, it was decided to incorporate the badge into the new ‘Commander Bill Evershed Award’ with Churcher’s Design and Technology Department crafting the final trophy. The award was presented before ‘lockdown 2’ during a
regular Tuesday afternoon CCF parade. The new annual award will be presented to a senior Cadet of the Royal Naval section of the Churcher’s College Combined Cadet Force each year in recognition of the time and commitment they have given to the CCF and the role model they are for the lower ranks. Congratulations to Josiah Wilson for becoming the first recipient of the award. Remembering school OC architect, Howard Johnson (52), included a chapter on his time at Churcher’s College in his memoirs, published by Westwood Books Publishing. At that time, Mr Hoggarth was Headmaster and Mr Cottle was Housemaster at Mount House. Howard’s older brother, Malcolm Johnson (49), also attended the school. Howard wrote: “I am retired now after a 63year career in architecture and had my own practice in San Francisco for 23 years, contributing one high-rise to the city’s skyline. I am glad to see the school is progressing so well into the future. It left an indelible impression on me for the rest of my life and I’m now in my late 80s.”
