If you would like to contact someone on the Committee, please liaise with Alex Hume: ods@deanclose.org.uk 01242 258 048
Old Decanian Society, Dean Close House, 67 Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 6QD
Contents
Welcome
PODS 2023/24 International Representatives
from the Decades
from the Archives
from the School
Old Decanian Events
WELCOME
Just before the start of this academic year I announced that I will be leaving the Foundation at the end of the Trinity Term 2025 Inevitably this means that the year includes a series of ‘lasts’ including this, my last introduction as Warden to an edition of the Flecker
I want to start by expressing my gratitude to the Old Decanian Society, its President, Chairman, Committee and members, for the wonderful support you give to Dean Close in its present incarnation It is normal for alumni to enjoy meeting one another, sharing memories and reliving the glory days of the past. However, I truly believe Dean Close alumni are second to none in the close interest you take, and in the enthusiastic backing you give in so many ways to the work we are doing with today’s Decanians You can read more about this support and its powerful impact in the pages that follow
We are living in challenging times for the independent schools’ sector, as you will all be aware Unwanted as the imposition of VAT on school fees and the loss of Business Rates Relief are, it is good to be able to report that we are well prepared for these changes A phenomenal amount of work has been done by the Finance Team to ensure that we are ready, and careful cost-saving measures have meant that we have been able to pass on less than half of the additional cost to parents We have also set out to communicate frequently and in as plain English as we can with our families, reassuring them of the actions we are taking and of our determination to limit the impact on them and on their children In this, as in everything, we look not just to do the right thing but to do so in keeping with our values
Our Schools are in good shape at this stage, both in qualitative and quantitative terms The Senior School remains busy at over 500 pupils, with a healthy mix
of local day pupils, British boarders and international pupils, while Dean Close Prep School began this, its 75th anniversary year, with no fewer than 326 pupils, a historic high With the growth of the Litte Trees nursery group and the development of camps, courses and residential activities during the school holidays, this means not only that we are remaining commercially strong, but also that the distinctive Dean Close brand of education and care is reaching ever more young people in various ways
I love the fact that so many OD visitors comment on a sense of ‘coming home’ when returning to Dean Close. This is perhaps particularly so in relation to the Chapel and the playing fields, but I’d like to think also in the continuity of our educational philosophy, which has an eye not just to passing exams and accessing the next stage of education or work successfully, but to a carefully planned balance of activities and challenge, rooted in our Christian values and designed to equip pupils with the skills and attitudes they will need to contribute positively and to make a difference in their communities long into the future Many of you also comment on the teachers who inspired and influenced you, and of course it remains true that our wonderful teaching and support staff are by far the most important factor in achieving these goals
The search for the next Warden is well underway and the Trustees will be making an appointment by Christmas, so it is likely that the publication of this magazine will roughly coincide with the announcement of the new appointee Whoever they are, they will be fortunate to have the support of such a great Community of alumni Once again, my personal thanks to you all
With warmest wishes Emma
Taylor - Warden/CEO
Dean Close Community Emma Taylor
Old Decanian Society Secretary Alex Hume (Dale 2002)
Welcome to the latest edition of our Flecker magazine!
As we turn the pages of this issue, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our alumni and the vibrant Community that continues to thrive. From innovative projects to impactful contributions in various fields, your stories inspire us all.
This issue features highlights from recent alumni events, snippets from the archives, School news, and exciting upcoming projects. Notably, the planned construction of a new Humanities Centre by 2027 and the expansion of our successful Foundation Awards programme, which aim to educate 20 Foundationers (Foundation Award recipients) at any one time by the School’s 150th anniversary in 2034. To learn more, please see our development updates on pages 60-64.
At the most recent Old Decanian Society AGM, we recapped what has been a busy year, with alumni engagement reaching record numbers. Highlights included reunions in Cheltenham, the UK, and overseas in countries including Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea. A special thank you goes to our International Representative in Japan, Kona Matsui (Fawley 2016), for supporting our Marketing and Admissions Team during their recruitment events and helping to make the trip a tremendous success.
I also want to extend gratitude to the School for its ongoing support of the Alumni Society, which has enabled us to welcome hundreds of alumni back this year. I am especially grateful when thinking back to the summer and our 1980s reunion, where the School were so welcoming on Speech Day (see the article on page 55.)
Also, when we welcomed back the classes of the 1940s/50s, the School allowed us to join in with their Chapel service. This was an incredibly special time, with some of the alumni having not stepped inside the Chapel for over 70 years.
Finally, I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to all the alumni who have supported the School this year. Your contributions have made a huge difference, and it’s been wonderful to see the students benefit.
President
(Tower 1962)
I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2024 edition of Flecker and thank you for all your contributions. This publication is not just a collection of stories and updates; it is a celebration of the remarkable journey we embark on together.
I am particularly excited to share that we will be naming the new Humanities Centre, scheduled to open for the 2027 academic year, in honour of The Revd Douglas Graham, who served as Headmaster of Dean Close School from 1954 to 1968. His leadership was marked by foresight, confidence, and an unwavering belief in his students. An example of this foresight, confidence and trust in his School Prefects is encapsulated in the story of the Prefect’s cane…
As Head Boy of Tower House in the early 1960s I had the temerity to approach the Headmaster to request a symbol of authority for the School Prefects. Asked what this might be, I suggested to him that it should be a cane. Without hesitation, Douglas Graham quizzed me as to where I might find these canes. Having walked past the umbrella shop on many occasions, I told him about James Smith and Sons on Shaftsbury Avenue, in London. To my surprise, the Headmaster reached into his pocket, took out his cheque book, and wrote a blank cheque!
I returned to the School after half-term armed with 12 silver-topped canes and handed them to the Headmaster, who, I suspect, was a little bemused by my achievement. The canes were allocated to the School Prefects, whose authority was rarely challenged thereafter! Unlike the depiction of the prefects ‘caning’ in the film ‘If....’ directed by Lindsay Anderson (which included an Old Decanian, Richard Warwick, as one of the actors), I can confirm that the canes were never used in this manner during my time at the School.
I invite you to reconnect with your alma mater, share your own experiences with the School, and engage with the vibrant Community that continues to thrive long after your school days. Together, we can nurture the bonds that unite us and inspire future generations.
Thank you for being an integral part of our story. Your contributions and support make a lasting impact.
Lord Ribeiro CBE
Chairman
Andrew Troughton (Field 1991)
“Thank
I would like to welcome new and old members of the OD Society to this edition of the Flecker During my first year as Chairman, it has been exciting to see the diverse range of events that have allowed old and young Old Decanians to re-engage with each other and the School.
One particular highlight for me was our first OD ski trip, an adventure which saw a group ranging from 22 to 74 years old with varying abilities all enjoying the slopes with old and new friends. It was great to see how the group bonded – with the help of dancing on the tables at the après ski and playing Ibble Dibble at the hotel! Memories of this fun, friendly trip will stay with us for a long time. I look forward to more OD ski trips in the future!
More recently, we had a fantastic day celebrating Dean Close Prep School's 75th Anniversary with over 80 guests, including Old Decanians, Current and Former Staff, Council Members, and Trustees. It was lovely to attend this event along with two very special ODs; Viv Troughton, my mother who taught in the Junior School from 1968 to1970 and 1980 to 1996, and my father, Roy Troughton, who
was at the school from 1952 to 1959 in Fortfield and then Brook.
The day was filled with lovely music, a beautiful Chapel service, and a special tour of the School led by current pupils, allowing Former Staff and Old Decanians to reminisce. It was a joy to reconnect, share memories, and enjoy a delicious lunch together.
I would also like to welcome Leah Barton (Hatherley 2022) and James Hunt (Dale 2019) onto the OD Committee, and to sincerely thank Rupert Lane (Gate 1962) who is stepping down after 12 years on the OD Committee and the F&GP Committee.
Finally, I am delighted to see an increase in collaboration regarding careers between the School and the OD Society. We have supported the Careers Fair, the Speed Interview Challenge, Sixth Form work experience, and provided a panel of ODs to discuss career journeys. As a Committee, we continue to strive to improve communication and events, and always welcome any thoughts or ideas that you have.
PODS 2023/ 24
Pupil Old Decanians, or PODS, are a key link between the OD Office and the pupil body at Dean Close Thank you to all this year’s PODs, your help has been greatly appreciated
Brook Court L6 Anthony Tam
Dale L6 Alex Ristic
Fawley L6 Elouise Dransfield
Field U6 Barney Mason
Gate U6 Ethan Cummins
Hatherley U6 Louisa Sharp
Mead L6 Daisy Salisbury
Shelburne U6 Lucy Webber
Tower L6 Noah Currie
Turner L6 Ella Lee
International OD Representatives
AUSTRALIA - Perth
Stefanie Jones (née Brooking) (Shelburne 1990)
CANADA - Alberta
Sara Lynn Burrough (Shelburne 1976)
CANADA - Ottawa Chuck Kennedy (Gate 1986)
HONG KONG
David Ho (Gate 1985)
USA - Pennsylvania
Kirsten McTernan (née Spalholz) (Shelburne 1997)
USA - Los Angeles
Ian Bishop (Court 1981)
International Representative Role
USA - San Diego Caroline Harwood (Shelburne 1981)
USA - San Diego Charmaine Haworth (née Lamb) (Shelburne 1991)
USA - Seattle David Richardson (Tower 1954)
USA - Washington DC Farrokh Jahandari (Tower 1981)
• To be point of contact in their country for other ODs, both residents and visitors (on business or for leisure).
• To relay information to the OD Office about ODs in their country and to enable increased cultural understanding for the DCF representatives.
• To suggest ideas to be incorporated into OD Committee thinking and strategy
• To have an annual video call with the OD Office to be apprised of DCF plans to disseminate to OD residents within your designated area
• To consider hosting reunions both with Senior Leaders visiting from DCF but also for local ODs, and to keep the School informed with a write-up, photos and other news
JAPAN - Tokyo Kona Masui (Fawley 2016)
NEW ZEALAND
Nadia Hardie (née Stradling) (Fawley 1989)
If you would like to contact any of the representatives, please liaise with the Old Decanian Office We are actively trying to increase the number of International Representatives If you think you could be a country representative, we would love to hear from you ods@deanclose.org.uk
NEWS FROM THE DECADES
Francis Bacon’s surprising other side!
An exhibition entitled ‘Human Presence’ is being held at the National Portrait Gallery (10 October 2024 – 19 January 2025), which shows that Francis wasn’t just obsessed with blackened human history, he also painted such moving portraits Francis was born in Dublin in 1909 and attended Dean Close in the 1920s He was in his prime in the 1950s, that especially dank decade, and was there to witness every milestone of the journey towards nuclear destruction
Having proved that Bacon was always a portraitist of sorts, the show goes from the general to the particular and begins looking at the specific friends and lovers he painted and repainted: Peter Lacy, the love of Bacon’s life who died of alcoholism in Tangier; George Dyer, the petty criminal from Kray circles who gave him a stolen Rolex as a hello present; and John Edwards, the last lover, to whom Bacon left his estate when he died
1950s
Nigel Fuller-Shapcott (Brook 1958)
Nigel, a former Head of School, came back to visit Dean Close for the 1940s/50s reunion His two sons attended DCS too Emma Taylor (the Warden) sat next to Nigel at the reunion lunch which was held in Dean Close House Afterwards, Emma took Nigel to see his name on the board in the Flecker Library
Peter Knight (Court 1957)
A recent edition of Flecker carried, as a supplement, a narrative verse by Peter Knight covering his pre-school years and his time at DCS from 1949 to 1957 The work has now been completed with Part three, dealing with his life in the Army as a National Serviceman The whole piece can be found in the online version under the title ‘Reflections on a Young Life’: www.deanclosefoundation.org.uk/peterknightspoem
John Harding (Tower 1958)
Samuel Beckett and Douglas Graham, both pupils and friends at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen.
Back in July 2015, I was on a cycle tour with my son and grandson by the Brittany canals At the end of the tour, we caught a train from Rennes to Cherbourg before taking the ferry home We had to change trains for an hour's wait at Lisons, a sleepy village just outside the cathedral town of Saint-Lô
In the station waiting room, I encountered a retired couple from Cork in Ireland, who were also waiting for the connection to Cherbourg We talked about the glories of Irish literature, including contemporary novelists such as John Banville, Colm Tóibín, and Sebastian Barry - and of course I mentioned the master, Samuel Beckett
To my surprise the Irishman, who had been a GP, knew Beckett well from when he was a medical student at Trinity College, Dublin I pricked up my ears He said his best friend at university was Edward Beckett, the nephew of the playwright (Edward went on to become an international flautist of great distinction himself)
For about three years, he and Edward made an annual Easter visit to Paris to stay with Beckett and his French wife, Suzanne He reminisced about the great man, saying that contrary to assumptions, he was not pessimistic or a gloomy person Rather, he was agreeable, funny, and excellent company for young students - and liked nothing better than taking Edward and James to a local billiard hall in the evening
James reminded us that Beckett was a keen sportsman who loved boxing, rugby, golf, and cricket In fact, he is the only winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature to appear in the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, scoring 18 and 12 for Dublin University against Northamptonshire in 1926 Beckett also loved the thrillers of Sexton Blake and the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, whose work he knew by heart
He said that Beckett was born a Protestant, and that the writer had great integrity, boundless generosity, and a saintly self-denial He finally asked me if I knew about Beckett's post-war record “As a writer?” I asked “No,” he replied, “as a humanitarian working for the Irish Red Cross ”
We knew that Beckett won the Légion D'Honneur for his work with the French Resistance in the war years After 1945, the Irish government asked Beckett if he would act as an intermediary, supporting the Irish Red Cross in rebuilding the bomb-damaged hospital in Saint-Lô Beckett agreed and went to live in SaintLô for over six months, acting as the link between the Irish and the French local authority The hospital was rebuilt, with Beckett playing a leading part in all this
Nearly 75% of Saint-Lô had been destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944, with Beckett describing Saint-Lô as “the capital of ruins.” I remembered seeing a production of ‘Waiting for Godot’ with Ian McKellan and Roger Rees in character as the tramps Vladimir and Estragon, walking across a stage set as a desolate landscape as if trampled by the effects of war James said almost certainly the image of the opening to the play is Beckett's memory of the devastated Saint-Lô
Fast forward to 2024, when I picked a second-hand copy of the authorised
biography of Samuel Beckett by James Knowlson, the Professor of French at the University of Reading There is a section in the book that relates to Beckett's school days at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen In the footnotes of the book, there is a story about Beckett by a friend and schoolboy contemporary of his the Revd Douglas Graham Coincidentally, I knew Graham well as he had been my Headmaster at Dean Close School from 1954 to 1958 Prior to his appointment at Dean Close, Graham had been the Headmaster of his old school, Portora
Graham tells the story of a young Beckett tormenting an unpopular Schoolmaster during the evening prep
On Beckett's prearranged signal, the school burst into a programme of songs which he had distributed beforehand As chaos reigned, the Master slapped Beckett around the head in a desperate attempt to restore order "Hit on someone your own size!” was Beckett's reply The inadequate teacher slumped over his desk sobbing uncontrollably
The unfortunate Master then uttered the words: “To think I've come to this, a convenient piss pot for the whole school ” Later, it is said, Beckett regretted the misery he had caused
Let's leave the last words with Graham, describing Beckett's rugby prowess: “Blind without his spectacles, but bold as a lion behind the scrum ”
Robin Oram (Gate 1957)
At my year’s conclusion in 1957, we were addressed by G V (“Man”) Harries in the Library, exhorted to be good Decanians, and to authorise the payment of five pounds by our parents for Life Membership of the Old Decanian Society It turned out to be good value I hope to get a few more years of the good value yet!
Mike Sedgwick (Gate 1956)
The most important lessons are learned outside the classroom at school, including at Dean Close In my first term, back in 1951, I joined the Photographic Society Under the guidance of a boy called Morris, I developed, enlarged, and printed pictures, three of which have survived
Morris had a top-of-the-range Voigtländer 35mm camera and could take action shots, freezing the heroic jumps of players at rugby lineouts He financed his hobby by selling the pictures. I had to eke out my developer, which cost three shillings (15p) a bottle; my weekly pocket money was only 12p. There was no chance of action shots for me with a camera one notch higher than a Kodak box brownie!
I enjoyed time in the darkroom, mixing ammonium thiosulphate and using pyrogallol as a developer Pyrogallol soon became obsolete in photography and was replaced by hydroquinones, but I came across it again as an oxygen absorber when studying respiratory gases at university Once I had prepared the chemicals, I had to control the light from the enlarger Two seconds exposure, four, or eight? I tried several
Watching an image appear in the developer in the darkroom’s dim red light was magical A ghostly grey cloud appeared on the paper, slowly forming an image as I rocked the developer bath to agitate the fluid Judging when to stop the process was a skill
After a dreary spell of wet weather, a clear, frosty day dawned Headmaster Mr A N Gilkes - known as Trickle to us boys - ordered us to report to the top of Leckhampton Hill and return in time for lunch “No boy shall climb or attempt to climb the Devil’s Chimney,” intoned Trickle Climbing the Devil’s Chimney became the ambition of several boys, including me I failed, but my picture shows two who succeeded
To be in the CCF band was quite something In 1951/2, I F C S Clair was Head Boy and led the band The drummers in the photograph are Fordham, Williams, and Peacock I admired Peacock; he was the staple of the rugby forwards but was expelled I will not disclose why
I F C S Clair enhanced Dean Close’s reputation by rowing in the Cambridge VIII He entered the mission field in Borneo, where he
translated the Bible into a tribal language I met him in Winchester during the 1970s, where he had settled down and worked for an engineering firm
My interest in photography served me well at university I used it to produce photomicrographs of the kidneys’ filtering apparatus and to record the fleeting discharges of nerve cells in the brain in response to skin stimulation For me, the peak of chemical photography happened at the Badminton Horse Trials in the 1960s, when Princess Anne came a cropper at the water jump. One thousand cameras clicked madly as the bedraggled but cheerful-spirited Princess recovered her mount. Alas, my record of the event has not survived. From then on, all was digital.
Neil Wooler (Gate 1959)
This photo was taken of the Chapel Choir in March 1958 Dean Close has for long punched above its weight in the world of school music, especially choral singing
I believe this dates from the time of David Lepine, Director of Music in the 1950s
Two boys succeeded in climbing the Devil’s Chimney in 1952
The author with his sister during his first term in 1951, and enjoying his 86th birthday, 2023
Fordham, Williams, and Peacock lead the CCF drums in 1952
I F C S Clair leading the CCF band in 1952
1960s
Graham Milne (Tower 1960)
A lunch outing together at The Caledonian Club, Halkin Street. I think we would all agree that, as usual, it was a most convivial occasion, and we look forward to many more. Our thanks to Peter Smallwood for organising it.
Among the attendees were five members of the 1960 Rugby 1st XV – Graham Milne, Bernard Ribiero (Ribs), Richard (Buzzer) Pearse, Ian Dimmer, and Robert Reed It shows that a little exercise stands you in good stead!
Rear - Tim Lomas (Tower 1965), Ian Hutchinson (Court 1963), Ben Millington-Buck (Gate 1963), Robert Farnes (Brook 1963), Jeremy Winter (Walton Court 1961), Brian Martin (Brook 1965), Graham Milne (Tower 1960), Bernard Ribeiro (Tower 1962), Richard Pearse (Brook 1962), and Tim Stokes (Court 1964)
Front - Bill Andrade (Tower 1962), Derek Lewis (Brook 1962), Ian Dimmer (Tower 1960), Robert Reed (Brook 1962), and Peter Smallwood (Field 1963)
A Catch-Up After 57 Years
Clive Holland (Field 1967) and Jonathan M Holmes (Field 1967) Clive lives in New Zealand and was visiting the UK for his daughter’s wedding Jonathan is a Life Member of Queens, his association with the college commencing as an undergraduate on leaving Dean Close
OLD DECANIAN CRICKET CLUB REUNION DINNER
Written by Mike Bawden (Gate 1965)
On Tuesday 2 July 2024, 17 of us sat down to dinner in the Duke’s Lounge in the Queens Hotel, an ideal venue for such an occasion Most of those present had played in the OD Cricket Week in the 60s, 70s, and 80s We remembered Chris Kenyon, who ran the cricket at Dean Close for 33 years, played such an integral part in the cricket week, and took on the role as Club President for many years We were delighted that his wife Sarah Kenyon was able to be with us as our guest.
Also present were the Chairman of ODCC, Tim Odell, his wife Dorothy, and Sue Padfield Other attendees included Chris Badger (Brook 1966), Malcolm Bateman (Tower 1967), Mike Bawden (Gate 1965), Tim Graveney (Dale 1979), Richard Hardy (Tower 1971), Joe Lane (Tower 2000), Tim Lawrence (Field 1976), Richard Long (Tower 1975), Robert Reed (Brook 1962), Richard Rose (Brook 1961), Will Thomas (Gate 1978), Mike Wigley (Court 1967), and Jeremy Winter (Walton Court 1961). Nigel Newport-Black (Tower 1980), Brian Wilson (Former Staff) and Rupert Lane (Gate 1962) had been due to be with us, but Nigel was held up by work,
Brian was not well enough to attend, and Rupert, now Club President, was in hospital Rupert had been one of the instigators of the dinner His son Joe represented him and sent a message on his behalf.
In 1973 Dean Close entered The Brewer’s Co Cup, designed for schools with under 400 boys Rupert was Captain of the team; in the first two years we lost in the first round to St John’s School, Leatherhead, but in 1975 we beat Ellesmere College, Denstone (who had won the title in both of the previous years) and Chigwell School en route to the final which was held at the Guinness Sports Ground at Park Royal Our opponents again were St John’s, but on this occasion we managed to win by eight wickets In subsequent years, we got to two other finals but did not win again
The OD Cricket Week during the 1960s comprised of five days, starting with a match against the Gloucestershire Gipsies on the Tuesday, away at Ross-on-Wye on Wednesday, the South Oxford Amateurs on the Thursday, away at Bourton on Friday, and ending with the Worcester Gentleman on the Saturday
Most players stayed in the school for the whole week and many of the staff, such as Mike Girling, Denys Carnill, Chris Kenyon, Brian Wilson, Richard Padfield, and Vaughan Harries were also available Quite a few of the ODs were Schoolmasters on their summer holidays, so there was no problem in raising sides
During the 1970s the week was extended, and matches were played against old boys of schools where we had connections: Bradfield College (Mike Girling), Marlborough College (Rupert Lane), Clifton College (Douglas Henderson), Wellington College (Mike Bawden) and Charterhouse (Mike Bawden) We also played Hampton Wick (Mike McMahon) Very much part of the scene were Bill Mason (Umpire and Head Groundsman) and Willie Jones (School Cricket Coach)
On the day after the dinner, some played golf on Cleeve Hill and then watched the ODs play against the Gloucestershire Gipsies before enjoying the post-match barbecue put on by the School for players and supporters
I was a very young Assistant Teacher at Dean Close School, almost 60 years ago. I was appointed by the then Headmaster, Christopher Turner, in September 1969, teaching alongside the school’s iconic Director of Physical Education
That period in my early teaching career was nothing less than halcyon, and I learned so much while I was at the School, where I was surrounded by some extraordinary teachers
Here is my pathway from that time to my current life, and I hope that readers might honour the way that my story was influenced by the teachers who set standards and examples, as well as the many pupils I was privileged to teach under the tutelage of Major Benjamin Chapman DSO.
I was inspired by my time at Dean Close School, which led me towards a career in education, and I have never looked back
As I continue writing books, tutoring, and consultancy, I have given my life another positive turn, having overcome cancer this year with clear health My educational life still has a long way to go, and I hope that the current Dean Close School will continue to be a first-class independent school
Graeme Edward Brooks Whiting (Former Staff 1969-1974)
British Army
1962 – 1969 – Exemplary Service Record – QT – DipPhysEd Active Service Cyprus (Infantry (Seconded) Badged 1 Glosters)
1974 - 5th Bn Royal Anglian Regiment – NATO Training Officer, Detachment, and Company Commander Commandant, 5th Bn Royal Anglian Regiment
Teaching Career
1969 – 1974 – Teacher, Dean Close School
Assistant Director of Physical Education and Outdoor Pursuits, Dean Close School
Master in charge of Shooting - awarded Country Life Shield, Dean Close School
CCF Adjutant - under Major the Reverand David Innes Gibson Officer Commanding - Dean Close Sandhurst Platoon
RLSS Award of Merit, QST (STA)
1974 – 1975 – Teacher and Deputy Headmaster – Head of Physical Education and Scholarship Mathematics, Shrewsbury House School
Teacher and Chairman Elect of The College of Teachers
1975 – 1986 – Head of Physical Education, Class Teacher, and Upper School Teacher, Rudolf Steiner School, Kings Lanley
Teacher and Chairman Elect of The College of Teachers
1986 – 1988 – Class Teacher and Teacher of Physical Education, Wynstones School, Gloucester Teacher and Chairman Elect of The College of Teachers
1988 – 1991 – Class Teacher and Physical Education Teacher, Hereford Waldorf School
1991 – Founder, Headmaster, and Proprietor, The Acorn School
2000 - Co-Founder, The Aquilla Upper School
Education Consultant and Adviser - The Whiting Education Model
2012 - Co-Founder and Education Consultant, The London Acorn School
2013 - Founder, The Moray Acorn School Scotland
2013 - Present, Academic Tutor, Education Consultant, and Author
Books Published
From Little Acorns An Autobiography of Graeme Whitting (Amazon) Carp Fishing the Way it Was (Amazon)
Books in Progress for Publication 2024
A Different Education - A Renaissance for Children (To be published October 2024)
30 True Short Stories from my Life (Published June 2024)
What Every Parent and Teacher Should Know (To be published November 2024)
I also have three further books on education planned
I flew back from Malayasia (Malaya in those days) in September 1954 to start at DCJS I was placed in Fortfield House where Mr and Mrs Harwood took me under their wing, as I don't mind admitting that I was distraught at leaving my family
Nonetheless, I quickly recovered and had a super time for the next two years, trying, like all of us I suspect, to win the approval of Mr Langhorne by prowess on the rugby field I will never forget his slogan, "I don't wish you luck, I wish you guts, skill, and determination!” Sometimes, even to this day, I remind myself that World War II had only been over a matter of nine years or so, and his generation's thinking was still coloured by their experience then
Mr Langhorne was a keen bird watcher and would take us on walks where we would vie
for the privilege of carrying his enormous pair of binoculars, captured, we understood, from a U-boat captain
As for names, I remember A.B. Edgington who was so tall he was allowed to wear long trousers, whereas the rest of us wore corduroy shorts with a matching corduroy windcheater – and didn't we need it!
Richard Rose was there, Milton, Stevens, and no doubt many others who joined me in the Senior School in September 1956 I also remember a boy called Gill who I was particularly friendly with who went to Blundells
As a postscript, I never did make the 1st XV at DCJS and so never did win the approval of Mr Langhorne However, I made up for it at DCS, ultimately captaining the School in the 1960 Michaelmas Term - so there!
A Trip Down Memory Lane
We had the pleasure of welcoming back two Old Decanians, Nick Norman (Field 1963) and Simon Pollock (Court 1964)
For Simon, it's been a remarkable 60 years since he was last at the School, and for Nick, the 1980s! It was heartwarming to listen to stories and walk down memory lane with them, transporting us back in time
Thank you for visiting Nick and Simon
I've spent most of my career as a Consultant Physician in the NHS, although I did work in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) for about five years For the last few decades, I've also been involved in helping to set up new medical schools, mostly in the UK, but also one in Africa I now live in Gloucestershire and am interested to hear from anyone who remembers me
Graeme Milne (Tower 1960)
John Cookson (Court 1963)
1970s Mark Garland-Jones (Brook 1975)
Paul Harris (Court 1978)
I own a manufacturing business involved in aerospace based in Cheltenham and I’ve recently become a grandfather for the first time My grandson’s name is George Henry James Harris, and he was born on 3 September 2024
After selling my chemical company, I retired with my wife Rachel to the coast in Folkton, a very small village in North Yorkshire. We have two grown up children, Louise and Thomas, and a grandson. I would love to hear from any Old Decanians around my time at Dean Close
Dean Close Junior School is where it started, and then onto the Senior School from 1972-1975
Peter Jonathan Hodge (Court 1971)
I am related to Dean (ecclesiastical) Close, as my grandmother on my mother's side was part of the Close family In addition, the Revd Tanner, a former Master at Dean Close, was my godfather He was very close to my father, who became a vicar, and was ‘under the wing’ of the Revd Tanner during his training
Many enjoyable days were spent in Tanner's garden in Weymouth by me and the rest of my family on our holidays to Sussex during August, with Tanner's place being a stopover for breakfast
In terms of my current news, I am still working at the ripe old age of 71 After leaving school, I trained as an Accountant and continue to live in Torquay in Devon I am indeed still enjoying working, so why give up something one enjoys that continues to keep the brain cells going!
I have been associated by way of employment with a family firm in the South Devon area for many years where I am currently Executive Finance Officer. The company's trade is the supply of food products (frozen/ambient and chilled) to the hospitality, education, and retirement home sectors, covering an area from approximately Gloucester and Cheltenham, throughout the southwest, and all the way down to the Scilly Isles.
We are a company operating with a turnover of more than £70m a year, and we are intending to expand eastwards in the next year or so I am also involved with the Devon Hockey Association and continue to umpire Men's League Hockey throughout Devon
We had a reunion for 24 people on 19 July 2024 at The Court House in Cheltenham where we enjoyed a buffet lunch We all left Dean Close in July 1974 Jane Wilkinson (Mead 1974), Pippa Mason (Mead 1974), Louisa Somerville (Mead 1974), and I organised this event I was Head Girl alongside William Lucas (Tower 1974) who was Head Boy, and it was lovely for us both to attend this special reunion
Isaac Fisher (Field 1972)
Returning to DCS after 50 odd years was not precisely what I had expected I was determined not to wallow in nostalgia nor be disappointed by the disappearance of youthful remembrances
Yes, it brought back a wealth of memories and names I looked at the old Flecker Hall under its new occupation and walked over the old Yearling Common Room that wasn’t standing in the quad I got the chance to see for myself things I had heard by report, such as the crescent of Day Student houses I also got to see the Chapel, which was much like itself from my time, despite sporting a tasteful glass addition outside the walls
I had emailed from the US asking to simply walk the School on my own, and I’m very happy that Leah Barton (Hatherley 2022) offered a guided tour The conversation we had was informative and entertaining I also watched my daughter, who was with me, discover the School, and enjoy the tour and the stories It also put me back in touch with friends I had not kept up with for years I was able to remember and appreciate what it had been like, while also seeing the present of DCS It is a fine thing to be associated with the then and the now
Susanna Morel (née Biddulph) (Mead 1974)
Michael Martin (Gate 1972)
Mike Martin and daughter Claire at Blenheim Palace on 25 April 2024 celebrating Pam Martin’s 70th birthday (photo taken by Mike’s wife, Pam)
I sit quietly in the calm of a wet autumn evening here in Warminster on the southwest tip of the beautiful chalk grassland landscape of Salisbury Plain, situated halfway between Salisbury and Bath, and once a centre for the wool trade The Army is still here and has been since Queen Victoria’s acquisition of Salisbury Plain as a military training area in the late 1890s
However, the town is now striving to re-establish itself as a bustling trading and tourist town, with famous businesses already well established, such as Dents (Glove Maker to His Majesty), Lyons Sea Foods, Longleat Safari Park, Centre Parks Resort, and many smaller startup businesses There is optimism and opportunity in the air, despite the challenges facing UK communities and the impact of conflicts raging around the globe on our economy
My younger brother Colin and I were both lucky enough to be educated at DCS and thrived during our teenage years in Gate House, until I left in 1972 to join The Glosters, and Colin in 1973 to join The Royal Welch Fusiliers We have both been deployed many times on peace making and keeping operations to help bring about peace in troubled lands
Fortunately, our childhood experiences forearmed us of the challenges we faced, as we had lived in areas of conflict, such as Malaya, during the 1950’s communist insurgency, Cyprus during the EOKA insurgency in the early 1960s, and Singapore during the Borneo Confrontation of the mid1960s Indeed, my brother and I witnessed the gun flashes of a naval engagement in 1965 between Indonesian Gunboats and the Royal Navy off the coast of the island of Blakang Mati, opposite Singapore Docks where my father’s Gurkha Regiment was based (it is now a Sea Resort called Sentosa).
But it was the event of September 1970 which shaped the future for my brother and I Travelling back to DCS on a BOAC VC 10 after spending the summer holidays with our parents in Bahrain where my father was stationed, we were hijacked by armed terrorists We were both unaccompanied, Colin aged 14 and I aged 17 I will not dwell on the awful details of the now infamous Dawson’s Field Hijacking as much has been published and filmed about it over the years, alongside the many subsequent and more recent terrorist events in the troubled lands of the Middle East
We were fortunate to survive safely after four days of being held hostage in an aircraft on the scorching heat of a sandy desert emergency air strip The Jordanian Red Crescent (Red Cross) volunteers were magnificent in feeding us throughout the ordeal The British pilot and his crew displayed immense courage, calmness, and utmost professionalism under extreme duress
The Palestinian Freedom Fighters of the PFLP who were our captors were men, women, and children who were all armed to the teeth and had placed dynamite in some of the toilets on board Yet despite their obvious hostility, they also showed humility; indeed, many were in professional occupations such as doctors, engineers, and teachers with degrees
It was the cheerfulness, resilience, humour, and natural humanity to support each other, plus a strong faith that we would survive the ordeal that kept us going – particularly as about 40% of the passengers were unaccompanied British kids going back to school I attach an amusing cartoon which fully characterises the humour displayed by us children, but I am sure I was not as brash and brazen as the schoolboy depicted; we two DCS boys and brothers in arms were better behaved?!
Colin and I continue to extend our immense gratitude, 54 years after this event, to all the staff and friends of the School who supported and cared for us so well on our return to DCS, seven days late Special mention must be made of the wonderful support given by the Headmaster, Christopher Turner, as well as our Housemaster of Gate House, Chris Kenyon, and his kind and caring wife Sarah Indeed, in the summer of 1971 Chris and Sarah were invited by my parents to come and stay with us near Maastricht in the Netherlands where we had relocated with the Army
I retired in 2018 at the age of 65 after 46 years of Army service, including 10 years as an MOD Civil Servant managing Salisbury Plain and other defence field training facilities My wife Pam joined me in the seventh decade this April, which we celebrated at Blenheim Palace We also celebrated 32 years of happy marriage this June, the highlight of which was the adoption of our daughter Claire in 1998 when she was just one year old – but who is now 28 and working as a Marketing Executive in London
I keep active by doing voluntary conservation work locally, and Pam is even more active as a Volunteer Room Guide at Stourhead (National Trust) and as Secretary of the Warminster Branch of the NSPCC Staying mentally and physically active but slowing down calmly and gracefully is our approach to life now Definitely less haste!
However, I never say no to meeting up with DCS friends, some of whom joined The Glosters with me: Peter Marks, Mike Motum, Stephen Oxlade, Tony Ayres etc Also, our Warminster Garrison Padre who is now retired with his wife here in Warminster, The Pollards. They sent their two children to DCS, and we were also close neighbours on the Married Quarters patch.
Nicola Taylor (née dyer) (Fawley 1989)
A thank you to Mr Keith Davis who taught me Art I learnt so many skills from his teaching, particularly my use of oils, for which I am so grateful I remember listening to radio recordings of Annie Nightingale as our background soundtrack during lessons
Mr Bowden fostered a love of Art History, which I pass on today in my own teaching I shall never forget his genuine passion and enthusiasm when sharing images of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's designs His awe and enthusiasm were contagious
I am currently Head of Art and Photography at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School, Bristol Stephen Holliday appointed me and was my Headmaster before his retirement in 2020 after 20 years in the post Upon his retirement, I was commissioned to paint his portrait, which now hangs in the School Room
Before his time at QEH, Stephen was a History Teacher at Dean Close when I was a student I was never taught by him; however, I had been awarded the Art Scholarship at Dean Close during my time at the School A very sweet, full circle story
1980s
Jon Rooke (Field 1985)
On 31 August 1940, an Old Decanian, Flight Lieutenant Percy Stevenson Weaver DFC, was shot down and killed in The Battle of Britain He was just 25 years old when his Hurricane fighter crashed near Osea Island on the River Blackwater Percy has no known grave and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. During his time at Dean Close, he played hockey for the School
The Author and Historian Dilip Sarkar MBE has released a YouTube video about the Missing Aircrew of The Battle of Britain, in which Percy Weaver is one of the subjects of the post It is number nine of his ongoing series, ‘The Battle of Britain with Dilip Sarkar MBE’
Jon Foster (Dale 1981) ‘Paddington in Peru’ was released in UK cinemas on Friday 8 November 2024
With a premiere night in Leicester Square, the film will be released to the rest of the world cinemas in January 2025, which is extremely exciting Jon is currently developing film and TV projects for Marvel, Netflix, Sony and Film4
“We are so pleased that ‘Paddington in Peru’ has been released it is such an amazing achievement!”
Nick Cavell (Brook 1987)
After 19 years reporting on sport for the African Service at the BBC World Service, I decided a change was needed I resigned in 2022 and took a job in media relations at the Aspire Academy (a sports and secondary education academy) in Qatar, where I have now been for two years.
Ibrahim Hisham Darwish (Court 1981) and Ahmed Hisham Darwish (Court 1981)
Ibrahim and Ahmed would like to pay a tribute to both Mrs Iris Edward Long (Former Staff) and Mr John Richardson (Former Staff) who have influenced our lives and will never be forgotten
Mrs Long took in my brother and I as her own sons, as well as my other siblings, Huda and Huwaida, before they were sent off to Lawnside Girls School in Malvern. Our youngest brother, Mohammed, attended a Summer Term at Dean Close Junior School.
We didn't know a single word of English except the basics such as ‘thank you’, ‘no’, and ‘yes’ I remember Mrs Long read Ladybird Books to us and paid so much attention to us that we were referred to as her children My own mother even refers to Mrs Iris Long as my British mother, and I am proud of this reference
Indeed, Mrs Long was a great woman, mother, and educator I am sure every parent and child who have ever known her would agree with this statement, not forgetting the close relationships she had with other faculty members within both the Junior and Senior Schools Mrs Long gave her life to all
Gary Tredgett (Field 1980)
In 2022, I had the privilege of stepping into the role of Head Coach for the Lansdown Women's First Team Over the past two years, this dedicated squad has been made up of a unique blend of players, including eight Old Decanians, four current Dean Close students, one Former Staff, a parent managing the team, and myself, an Old Decanian as well
Mr Richardson, who was a ‘young father’ to all the occupants of Court House, was also a great mathematician, a teacher, and someone who has become a great friend until this day. If I ever have a problem or when I need some advice, I automatically call John. However, it does feel sort of incorrect to refer to a great man such as Mr Richardson on a first name basis!
All I want to say to John is thank you so much for being there for us during our time in need, for being there for us today, and for continuing to be there for us in the future, as I know you will
I do miss lots of my friends and teachers at Dean Close, such as Miss Halfpenny, Mrs Bailey, and of course, the Physics and Biology teachers Dr and Mrs Aris Being at Dean Close was the prime time and golden age of my life, and it was all possible thanks to my wonderful parents who only wanted their children to have an excellent opportunity in life
Watching these talented players grow and compete at this level has been incredibly exciting We are off to a good start, defeating our local rivals, Cheltenham, 3-1 in just the second game of the season
These women have shown remarkable dedication, achieved back-to-back promotions, and been unbeaten for 42 consecutive games Coaching these women has been a joy and I am excited to see what the future holds for this team
James Charlesworth (Court 1989) and John Harries (Court 1989)
James and I completed the Scilly Swim Challenge together in September 2024, a one-day swim event between the five inhabited Scilly Isles. The route was adapted due to jellyfish, but the total distance was around 13km.
Joni Peskett (Court 1989) ran support activities from Penzance onwards and joined us on the island It was great to complete this together and hook up with Joni
Gareth Harries left money to a number of charities in his will, one of which is a Zambian charity he had visited who look after orphaned and vulnerable children We took the opportunity to raise some additional funds for them, raising just shy of £3,000 Several ODs donated
1990s
A TRUE DEAN CLOSE WEDDING!
On 18 December 2023, OD and Council Member Tim Widdowson (Gate 1991) married Marie Carter, Dean Close Foundation’s Commercial Director!
Mark Philip-Sorensen (Field 1991) was Tim’s Best Man, along with several of their OD friends as Ushers
Mr and Mrs Widdowson shared their special day with friends and familymany with a Dean Close connection!with a ceremony and celebrations at Lapstone Barn, Chipping Campden
From left to right in the photo: Charlie Griffiths (Brook 1991), Hugo Hunton (Gate 1991), Dom Makin (Court 1991), Andrew Troughton (Field 1991), Tim Widdowson (Gate 1991), Edward Turfrey (Dale 1991), Mark Philip-Sorensen (Field 1991), Jan Heuff (Field 1991), and Al Negus (Gate 1991).
Charlie Ogden-Metherell (née Bevan-Dimmer) (Mead 1993)
I have had the pleasure of founding and running a business in the heart of Cheltenham that is fast approaching its 20th anniversary It’s an incredible feeling to be responsible for so many local candidates and clients, creating long-lasting relationships and having an impact on the corporate landscape of Gloucestershire Recently, i2i Recruitment has been shortlisted for SoGlos’s Customer Excellence Award and has been named as one of the UK’s leading recruiters in 2024 by the Financial Times Both are something the team and I are incredibly proud of It’s also been a great experience going back and having our consultants volunteer at Dean Close and offer CV writing workshops Dean Close is a very special place
Hannah Settatree (Fawley 1993) who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and Martina Fleming (née Calvert) (Fawley 1993) met up in Thailand for a long overdue catch-up!
Anthony Thompson (Dale 1996)
In January 2021 I made the decision to change career paths, switching from a successful career in banking to re-train as a Firefighter I started my development and training as an on-call Firefighter in Cheltenham, and in July 2024 I was successful in landing a full-time role within the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, currently based at Stroud Community Fire Station
I am enjoying it very much and I am grateful to my loving wife Didz and daughters Caitlin (Hatherley 2025) and Niamh (Hatherley 2028), both at Dean Close, who continue to support this change in lifestyle! I have recently passed my LGV licence and come October I should be driving the fire engine on blue lights, so look out!
Siobhan Aris (Mead 1990)
National Award Recognition for Dedicated Cornwall Hospice Care Staff
We’re delighted to share that Siobhan won the Excellence in Palliative Care Nursing Award that was presented to her by Good Morning Britain TV personality Kate Garraway
The award brochure said of Siobhan, ‘Siobhan is tenacious in the delivery of personalised care of complex symptom management and advanced communication, ensuring patients and families receive personalised care and advance care planning. Alongside, enabling colleagues and systems through leadership, service development, advanced practise, education, and research across all care settings ’
Siobhan says; “The awards are both a celebration and recognition of palliative and end of life care nationally, the collaborative representation from Cornwall and the South West was exciting, the award, a surprise and very humbling ”
The aim of the awards is to pay tribute to individuals, organisations, and charities that provide high-quality end of life and palliative care, enabling people to have a good life and a good death Lisa Shephard is Cornwall Hospice Care’s Clinical Lead;
“It says a great deal about the expertise and commitment of our charity’s teams that we were finalists in three categories of these new awards ”
James Mears (Brook 1997)
Whilst continuing to teach Business and Economics at DCS, I am also playing Touch Rugby for England Masters In 2023 I played for the Men's 40s, and we won the European Championships in Vichy France
This summer I was selected for the Men's 45s at The Touch Rugby World Cup in Nottingham It was the biggest tournament to date, with 187 teams from 39 nations and around 4,000 participants Highlights included facing the Haka against New Zealand, meeting people from all over the world, getting some great stash, and playing Australia, who we lost to in the quarter final
I am grateful for all the support of friends, family, and the School It's also exciting to be involved with a growing Touch Rugby programme at DCS We have an expanding number of fixtures, including Malvern, Wycliffe, and Sir Thomas Rich’s Touch Rugby emphasises quickness, tactics, and teamwork, which has engaged a new audience of pupils in the broad church called rugby!
Ed Taylor (Field 1998)
Ed is pictured here, hosting the NATO Forum on ‘Engagement and Mission Content of the Armed Forces’ Response to Natural and Other Disasters and Accidents’ in Banja Luka The event was held in NATO HQ in Sarajevo, in partnership with the UK Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina
2000s
James
Richards
(Dale 2007)
James has joined the Charles Ede Gallery in Mayfair, London as Director The gallery specialises in ancient works of art from Egypt, Greece, and Rome, exhibiting at the London gallery as well as at major art fairs around the world. James is expanding the business this year to also deal in 19th and 20th century paintings and works on paper
Jack Losh (Dale 2006)
Jack has worked on several new documentaries over the last year, including an upcoming Channel 4 series about the plight of asylum seekers The series follows a group of Britons as they retrace the dangerous journeys made by refugees from war zones in Somalia and Syria to the UK Jack was also involved in shooting and producing a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation into transnational organised crime Jack's earlier film for BBC Newsnight, which followed two men running in vital aid to civilians inside the besieged Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, was shortlisted at the British Journalism Awards in the Foreign Affairs category
On 1 September, James Bailey (Field 2006) christened Nick Hume’s (Dale 2006) baby boy Theo at Christ Church Fulham, where James and his wife Rachel are Lead Pastors
Pictured L-R; Chris Davies (Field 2006), Mike Phillips (Field 2006), Nick Hume, James Bailey, Jono Watkiss (Field 2006) and Alex Hume (Dale 2002)
Chris Haslam (Former Staff 2001-2014)
Chris was a Senior Tutor at Dean Close from 2001 to 2014 and loved every minute of it During that time, he headed up the Decanian Common Room point-to-point racing syndicate, A Close-Run Thing; they enjoyed one glorious winner with their horse, Born to Dream.
Since retiring, Chris has spent nine years researching his book on the perils of life as a National Hunt (Jump) Jockey, spending time behind the scenes and getting to know some of the top and several of the journeyman riders
His book, Jumping into Jeopardy, covers much ground relating to the sport: female jockeys, coming second, injuries – and worse; retirement, the Irish (essential in any overview of the Sport of Kings), mental health challenges, and, of course, the horse, which constitutes his opening chapter
But he also probes the shadow side of jump racing, so that his readers can understand the full gamut of emotions, deprivations, disappointment, long hours dashing across the country for very little financial reward – and the occasional win
These men and women push courage to the limit, always just one stride away from paralysis, straining every sinew in their blazing quest to win: every one of them is remarkable, admirable, and more…
Jumping into Jeopardy can be obtained from the author on toadatmerlin@gmail.com or from the Old Decanian Officeods@deanclose.org.uk; 25% of all proceeds will go to the Racing Welfare charity
James Bashall (Brook Court 2006)
Explaining to my American wife how a single term at a school in the Cotswolds could have had such a significant impact on me has always been a challenge; how could such a fleeting period of time be so formative in a person's being? I have often wondered if I had aggrandised the memories and experiences, further evidence of a rose-tinted lens of the past I definitely fall prey to
It was by pure chance that my wife and I happened to drive through Cheltenham after a family wedding in the UK, presenting
an opportunity to test the truth of my memory and to show my wife around my briefly enjoyed old stomping ground
While the School certainly has changed for the better, the flood of positive memories were wonderful: of the world-class Art Department, the hockey pitches, Brook Court, and, most importantly, the Theatre
The cherry on top was running into my old Housemaster, Mr Slade, a shade of recognition on his face of this now grown South African, currently living in New York City, who briefly crossed his path all those years ago
School is such a brief period in the greater scheme of life, and a one-term exchange even more so, but the impact it has, particularly in a school as incredible as Dean Close, is far beyond that warranted by its time
Thank you to the Alumni Team who so kindly showed us around, and to the School Community as a whole to provide the opportunity for a South African to visit every year Dean Close is a very special place indeed
James Townsend (Dale & Tower 2005) has launched a startup supporting the nation's 11 million unpaid carers
Mobilise (www.mobilise.co.uk) provides practical information and emotional support to those caring for a family member or friend As of October 2024, they have been commissioned by 25% of the local authorities in England
2010s
Oliver Brown (Tower 2014)
From 20-27 July 2024, I ran a 242-mile ultramarathon crossing the country of Switzerland This race went along the main Alpine Route, covering 14 mountain passes with a total elevation gain of 25,000m It took 154 hours to complete the race (with only 16 hours of sleep throughout the week!) At my lowest moment, I was motivated by the messages of support coming in from Old Decanians. A huge thank you to those who helped me accomplish this challenge!
Aleksei Kotovrasov (Field 2016) and Svetlana Kotovrasova (née Fisun) (Shelburne 2016)
We wanted to share the lovely news with you that a year ago we had another baby, Michael Kotovrasov, born on 11 May 2023
Aleksei Kotovrasov, Veronica Kotovrasova, Svetlana Kotovrasova (née Fisun), and Michael Kotovrasov
Helen Daltry and Becky Daltry (Hatherley 2015) went to see the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, where Laurence Kilsby (Brook Court 2017) was one of the soloists in an evening of French music He was the tenor in a piece called ‘Vieille Prière Bouddhique’ by French composer Lili Boulanger It was very well received by the audience!
We bumped into Laurence outside afterwards This is a photo of him and Becky who was singing in the BBC Symphony Chorus, which was part of the Proms in various items including Laurence's piece
Liam Brignull (Dale 2011) and Ollie Horne (Field 2019)
Ollie Horne and I had the privilege of playing for Dumbleton CC at Lord's in the Voneus Village Knockout Final, an unforgettable experience even though we didn’t manage to secure the win (I’m not entirely sure of the final score!) We were treated like Test Match Cricketers, with access to the prestigious Lord's changing rooms, the renowned Lord's lunch, and full use of the pavilion's facilities
The day culminated in a dinner in the historic Long Room, alongside the opposition, sponsors, and MCC members, surrounded by iconic paintings and cricketing history Despite scoring only two runs, that did not spoil my day! Ollie, meanwhile, got 15 runs and bowled well with figures of eight overs, 0 maidens, 50 runs for one wicket
Izzy Fairthorne (Hatherley 2017)
From an early age, my passion for sports was ignited at Dean Close School, where I thrived as a sporty girl who truly enjoyed every moment spent on the hockey field Under the guidance of Gary Tredgett, I not only honed my skills but also developed a profound understanding of athletic performance and teamwork
This enjoyment of sport fuelled my love for physical activity and laid the foundation for my academic journey I pursued a degree in Sports Science at Cardiff Met University, where I gained invaluable insights into exercise physiology, nutrition, and the psychological aspects of fitness My education equipped me with the knowledge and expertise necessary to excel in the health and fitness industry.
Today, I am proud to serve as a successful online health and fitness coach, specialising in empowering women to achieve their personal health and fitness goals Through personalised
coaching programmes, I provide my clients with the tools and support they need to overcome obstacles and embrace a healthier lifestyle My approach combines evidence-based strategies with a strong emphasis on motivation and accountability, ensuring that each woman I work with feels inspired and confident in her journey
My dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive community has allowed me to build a thriving business, where I celebrate the achievements of my clients and help them unlock their full potential And yes, even at 25, I still spend my Saturdays playing hockeybecause who wouldn’t want to swap a cosy weekend for a chance to run around a field, all while pretending they’re still a star athlete in their prime!
Please get in touch via my email address, izzy personaltraining@hotmail.co.uk, for more information about my personalised programmes
Tom Pearson (Tower 2018)
Tom has re-signed with Northampton Saints, penning a contract extension to remain beyond the current campaign Tom is only 24 years old and has made 21 appearances across the 2023/24 season as Saints lifted the Gallagher Premiership trophy and reached the semi-finals of the Investec Champions Cup. Tom said: “I feel very settled here in Northampton. Last season was a whirlwind, but Saints is a place I feel I can really push on and develop It’s a place I’ve learnt loads already and somewhere I’ve really been enjoying playing rugby ” Saints’ Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, is delighted to be keeping the once-capped England international at Northampton
Dani Gibson (Hatherley 2019)
Dani has just represented England at the Women’s T20 World Cup which was held in October 2024 in the UAE England’s campaign started strong, with three consecutive wins fuelling high hopes of reaching the final four However, despite their impressive performance, they narrowly missed out, with South Africa joining the West Indies in advancing from their group based on net run-rate, placing England third in their group, our English Women were extremely disappointed with this result
Our England Women’s team have delivered outstanding performances, securing victory in 21 of their last 28 matches Highlights include a triumphant T20 series in the Ashes and an impressive 11-match winning streak against New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland
Their remarkable progress and resilience over the past year have put them in a strong position, and we couldn’t be prouder of Dani and all her accomplishments
George Barton (Dale 2019)
George continues to be a driving force at the core of Gloucester Rugby, bringing energy and flair to the fly-half position Starting his journey in the Gloucester Academy back in 2014, his progress through the ranks to the first team has been a remarkable achievement Dean Close are extremely proud to sponsor George this season and are looking forward to watching his ongoing growth and influence on the field throughout the season
2020s
Freddie Thomas (Field 2020)
Freddie has proven himself an invaluable asset to Gloucester Rugby, showcasing remarkable versatility, slotting in at lock, flanker and throughout the back row He began in Gloucester’s Academy at the under-13 level and has since made an impressive impact on the Senior team. This season, Freddie has appeared in all four of Gloucester’s Premiership matches, starting in three and scoring three tries
Freddie has earned a well-deserved spot in the 35-player squad for the autumn internationals, alongside fly-half Gareth Anscombe, scrum-half Tomos Williams, centre Max Llewellyn and wing Josh Hathaway
Freddie was capped by England at under-18s and under20s levels but switched allegiance as he qualifies through his Welsh grandparents His journey reflects both his skill and dedication, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for him on his international journey
We were delighted to welcome back Kevin Xie (Tower 2020) Kevin returned with his father and sister, who were visiting from China, to give them a tour of the School and share memories of his time at Dean Close It was a pleasure to catch up with Kevin and to hear about his journey since leaving Dean Close
The U18s national winning side from 2020 are excelling at the very highest level of hockey
Jacob Payton (Field 2020), Nick Nurse (Field 2020), Olly Smart (Dale 2020), Ellis Robson (Dale 2021), and Alex Chihota (Field 2022) have all played for England U21s, with Jacob Payton, Ellis Robson, and Alex Chihota currently very much involved in the Senior Men's GB Programme
Additionally, the following Old Decanians are currently playing National League, with Olly Smart (East Grinstead), Jacob Payton (Surbiton), and Nick Nurse (Surbiton) playing in the Premier League
Richard Swan (Dale 2021) is in the Richmond side that got promoted to the Premier League this year, Theo Bancroft (Field 2021) is playing Division One, and Paddy Benson (Dale 2021) is also playing National League for the University of Exeter Finally, Alex Chihota (Field 2022) and Ellis Robson (Dale 2021) are playing for Loughborough University
All these players have put in a huge amount of hard work and dedication to get to this very high standard of hockey Gary Tredgett, Director of Hockey, is extremely proud of all these boys have achieved
Phoebe Channing (Shelburne 2022)
I started my half marathon training in October of 2023, after deciding that I wanted to raise money for Emily’s Gift, Julie Kent’s appeal for a Psychologist to be employed for children and families having cancer treatment on the Emily Kent Unit at Gloucestershire Hospital.
After hearing a few stories about the families and children dealing with the quite traumatic experience that is cancer treatment, I was really inspired to help Julie in her mission to support these young people and their families through their difficult journeys, both in treatment and in remission
As I am currently studying at the University of Bath, the Bath Half seemed like a fitting race because I would be surrounded by my friends and community when running Everyone offered amazing support during training and throughout the race, and I ended up running the half in a time of two hours one minute - and enjoyed every bit of it!!
More importantly, I raised £700 for Julie and the team on the Emily Kent Unit Julie has since reached her target of raising £500k, ensuring the Psychologist will be employed for 10 years It was an unforgettable experience, and I am truly thankful to all those that supported me
Ioan Jones (Gate 2023)
During the World Cup, we played three pool games, facing Argentina, Fiji, and South Africa As a team, we performed exceptionally well in all three matches, securing victories that took us through to the semifinals, where we faced Ireland Personally, this was the best game I played throughout the tournament It was a tough match, especially after having drawn with Ireland 32-32 in the Six Nations That experience only fuelled our determination to win and reach the final
In a repeat of the Six Nations, we faced France in the final Just like before, we defeated them, this time on South African soil Winning the Six Nations and then the World Cup was an incredible and proud achievement and topped off the end of my U20s journey
Charlie Harris (Brook Court 2023)
I have just begun my second year at Durham University, where I am studying Classical Civilisation at Collingwood College Alongside my course, I’ve become very involved in Purple Radio, the student-run radio station
Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to host shows, produce content, and collaborate with many other societies This experience has sparked a growing interest in media and production, and I’m now considering a career in this area
Ethan Bareham (Dale 2021)
Huge congratulations to our Old Decanian, Ethan Bareham (Dale 2021), on graduating from Teddy Hall, Oxon Ethan has now been accepted into the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) to pursue acting An amazing achievement - we wish Ethan all the best for this exciting new chapter!
Isabella Stevens (Shelburne 2022)
Congratulations to Isabella Stevens (Shelburne 2022), Equestrian Scholar 2018-2022 who has qualified for Badminton 100 Grass Roots Championships for the second year running on her horse Totally Worth It Bella won the Regional Championships at Bicton, giving her a direct qualification to Badminton
James Humphreys (Field 2020)
Recently James graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a 2:1 in BSc Geography. James returned home to Ireland in 2020, during the middle of Covid. James says, “Balancing the demands of professional rugby and full-time education have been challenging at times, but playing sport and studying at Queens University has given me great friends and wonderful memories of both sporting and student life in Belfast ” James is now enjoying the opportunity to be completely focused on professional rugby and being a part of the Ulster Rugby set up
Charlie Street (Dale 2020)
After finishing my undergraduate degree at the University of Exeter, I am currently studying my master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Amsterdam, specifically in an IR track (International Relations)
I was torn between where or what to study for my master’s, but if one thing was for sure, I wanted to move away from the UK and have the experience of working or studying in a different country As one of the top IR courses in the world, it was hard to look past Amsterdam!
So far, I am loving my time here It is such a beautiful city, and I have met some wonderful people. What takes some getting used to is walking past all the lovely canals and bridges which are deeply embedded in the personality of the city But so far it has been all I could have dreamed of, and I can’t wait to carry on with my studies and continue living here in Amsterdam!
Dean Close Little Trees
Providing a nurturing environment where children aged 3 months- 4 years old can learn and grow together.
• Full and Par t Time Nurser y places available
• O fsted Registered
• Designated baby depar tment in each nurser y
• Highly qualified and experienced staff offering quality childcare
Alchemy 16
Patrick Sword (Field 1998) founded Alchemy 16 with a goal in mind to create a unique health and fitness studio combined with the most supportive environment
Combining his Sports Science degree and lifelong love for exercise, personal training and well-being knowledge, Patrick's passion is providing guided training in his studios that are personal and bespoke for each Alchemy member
“At Alchemy 16 everything goes hand-in-hand when we work with you My absolute goal is to help you live the best version of yourself.”
As an OD, Patrick would love to welcome any current or past Dean Close parents with an exclusive special offer rate
NEWS FROM THE ARCHIVES
This year in the Archive Department | Grace
Pritchard-Woods
(Dean Close School Archivist)
A Centenary Since the Retirement of Dr William Flecker
This year marks 100 years since the retirement of the first Headmaster of Dean Close School, Dr William Flecker
Arriving here in 1886 as a 26-year-old young man, Flecker and his wife Sarah were instrumental in the School’s early success as it increased in size and stature From just 12-14 boys in 1886, by the time they left, the School numbered close to 250
On Flecker’s retirement, Sir Thomas Inskip, President of the School, said of Flecker in his Prize Day speech, “He came 38 years ago when there were neither buildings or boys nor playing fields and now, they saw all around the monument he had created ” (Decanian, December 1924)
The gifts were numerous and illustrated the high regard in which he and Sarah were held
On behalf of the school parents, Dr Flecker was given a desk and chair whilst Sarah received a Chippendale china cabinet A silver canteen in table form was given by the Old Boys, whilst members of staff presented them with a clock The Senior Prefect, J S Smith, presented them with five Salvers on behalf of the boys of the School
Flecker, in his parting speech, looked confidently to the future He knew that the School would grow, and he asked for everyone’s wholehearted support for its work
After his retirement, Flecker took charge of a new church in Staines, Middlesex, where he remained for the rest of his life. He died on 26 August 1941 aged 81 years old.
Many thanks go to Cathy Dahan who so kindly sent in the photographs of the retirement gifts
MINI ON THE SCHOOL ROOF!
Recently, an Old Decanian who was in the Junior School from 1964-1970 talked about an incident when the Junior boys were walking to Chapel one day and there was a Mini on the roof of the Science Block! If anyone remembers this incident, or was involved, could you please let us know as the Archivist would love to hear the story and how they got the car up there in the first place You won’t get into any trouble now!
MISS JEWELL
Also, you may be able to help with a recent family history enquiry If any of you can remember a Miss Fanny Elizabeth Jewell, who may have lived in the Caretaker's Cottage and been on the Domestic or Teaching Staff, could you please get in touch as we have little information, and the family are keen to learn about her life.
75th Anniversary of DCPS
This year also marks another big anniversary as the Prep School prepares to celebrate 75 years since its membership of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools
Prior to 1949, it was the Junior Department under Francis Horsley as Master in Charge, but overall authority was held by the Senior School Head
To mark the occasion a book, Preparing for Life, has been produced and was distributed during Speech Day of July 2024 Other events will continue to mark the anniversary throughout Michaelmas
Author, Charles Whitney, with the new publication on launch day
Langhorne Visit
Richard and Judith Langhorne visited the School, having both spent much of their childhood at Dean Close as their father was the first Headmaster of the Junior School
During the visit, Judith and Richard took part in an oral history interview with the Archivist and School Historian as well as very kindly donating several items to the collection
This photograph shows Judith and her sister, Penelope, with several boys from the school Do you recognise yourself? If so, please get in touch as we would love to put names to the faces
New Acquisitions
Mauchline wooden egg with ‘Dean Close School, Cheltenham’ written on the front and a picture of the School. Usually made from Sycamore wood, there is a thimble and thread sewing kit within. These were produced in Mauchline Ayrshire and made by W & A Smith up until c1933 This is
House, now Hardy Sen by Ada, one of its new occupants, on 27 March to Alice at High School, In it, Ada mentions that
y p
surprises, and this automobile badge was certainly one of them We have never seen one before, so if anybody knows when these were produced and how many, we would be most grateful
NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL
Exploring Ancient Rome
30 pupils who study either Latin, Classical Civilisation, or History of Art from Remove up to Upper Sixth headed off to Rome They had an early start, leaving for Gatwick at 1 30am, so the coach was very quiet on the way to the airport!
When they landed in Italy, they first went to Ostia Antica, the port city of ancient Rome,
where the sun was shining and pupils were able to explore the many different surviving buildings, including the impressive theatre
They experienced so much during their travels, from visiting the Colosseum – Rome’s amphitheatre in which gladiatorial fights, mock naval battles, public executions, and animal hunts used to take place – to the Vatican Museums, where Mr Allen gave the pupils an excellent ‘treasure hunt’ of various sculptures, vases, and paintings to locate throughout the museum
On the last day they visited the Pantheon, a former Roman temple which is now a Catholic Church. To this day, this building still has the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome – a pretty impressive feat nearly 2,000 years later.
Throughout the trip we enjoyed plenty of pizza, pasta, and gelato, which fuelled the 25,000 steps we managed to walk on a couple of the
days! Overall, it was an absolute pleasure to take all the pupils involved, who seemed to really value this time to immerse themselves in a modern city with so much history and culture
Thank you to everyone who made this an unforgettable, inspiring trip
Dean Close Senior Easter Trip to New York
38 pupils travelled to New York on a History and TPE trip On our first full day, we undertook a walking tour of Harlem on one of New York's wettest March days on record, followed by a visit to the Top of the Rock, which is normally one of the best vantage points in the city Following a meal in the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, we were lucky enough to watch Moulin Rouge on Broadway, featuring Boy George in a starring role!
During our New York trip we also travelled to The Battery for a boat tour of Liberty and Ellis Islands, with a visit inside the historic immigration centre A sobering moment for us all was seeing the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Ground Zero
On the last day we went to the Jewish Museum, where we undertook a workshop focusing on exhibits based around experiences during the Holocaust In the afternoon, we were lucky enough to meet Dorothy Zellner, a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee (SNCC) during the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s
Overall, a fantastic trip with a super group of young people!
Sport
Huge congratulations to our current pupil, Mariam (Shelburne Lower Sixth), who was selected for the National Wales Women’s tour to South Africa recently
Mariam was the youngest girl on the trip and scored a very impressive 50 against Western Province. Well done, Mariam!
Elite European Duathlon Champs 2024
Location: Coimbra, Portugal
Format: 5km run - 20km bike - 2.5km run
Mr Ben Price, Geography Teacher and Dale Housemaster, competed in the elite race before the end of term, finishing 25th overall and second among the four GBR pro athletes!
Competing against Europe's best was an incredible experience for him The weekend saw 2,000 age group athletes representing their countries, with the race featuring top athletes selected by national triathlon federations Congratulations, Mr Price - we are all so proud of you!
We marked a historic milestone as our girls stepped onto the cricket pitch for their inaugural hardball match against Malvern College! Their performance brimmed with promise, matched only by the radiant sunshine blessing the occasion Anticipation mounted as we prepared for our home fixture, eager to showcase our prowess once morehopefully under the sun!
Two Hatherley sisters continue to excel with their hockey Caitlin (Hatherley Upper Sixth) had a great tournament for England U18s out in Granada for the 7 Nations, held in July England came third, which was a super result, with wins over Germany and Spain Since then, Caitlin has begun playing for Birmingham University in the Women's Prem and has been attending selection camps for England U21
Meanwhile, her sister Niamh (Hatherley Remove) performed at the Talent Academy Festival in Nottingham in July, before representing the West Panthers in the U14 Mercia Cup, with her team winning the whole tournament Niamh has since been invited to participate in the England U16 Age Group initial assessment and has been representing Lansdown Ladies at 1st team level
Following an intensive four-week trial period – coupled with an impressive three-year journey in county hockey –Dean Close pupils Lucy (Hatherley Fifth Form), Emme (Hatherley Fifth Form), and Darcey (Hatherley Fifth Form) have emerged triumphant, securing coveted spots in the prestigious England Hockey Talent Academy These academies are designed for the most promising players aged 15 to 18, marking a significant milestone in their athletic prowess and dedication to the sport Well done, girls!
Hockey Success
We're thrilled to announce that our Boys U18s and Girls U18s Hockey Teams successfully qualified for the prestigious National Indoor Hockey Finals Both our boys and girls made the National Final, which is an outstanding performance
The Girls National Finals were at Repton School The squad had trained hard and were in a very strong group with Repton and Wellington School Dean Close drew with Wellington and beat hosts Repton in a very close match Sophie (Mead Upper Sixth) was outstanding in goal with Lara Hill (Hatherley 2024), Olivia (Hatherley Upper Sixth), and Flo (Hatherley Upper Sixth) strong at the back Caitlin (Hatherley Upper Sixth), Lorna Willmott (Hatherley 2024), and Fluff (Mead Upper Sixth) were also outstanding in defence and attack
Dean Close won the group and played a good Framlingham side in the semi-final The match was a tight affair with both sides having good chances, but with Framlingham going ahead with an outstanding finish Despite creating several chances, Dean Close were unable to score and another good finish led to Framlingham winning 2-0 However, third in the country was an amazing achievement from a very talented squad!
For the boys, the National Finals were held at Whitgift School in London. The squad lost the first match to Yarm, but had a good result in the second match against Ipswich and should have won the match.
Ed (Field Upper Sixth) was outstanding in defence and Henry (Dale Upper Sixth) was strong in attack Will (Field Upper Sixth), Jack Thomas (Field 2024), and Jonty (Field Upper Sixth) grew in confidence with a high level of indoor being played
A must win last group match against Peter Symonds did not go our way, however, and they unfortunately didn’t qualify for the semi-finals Seb (Dale Upper Sixth) continued to show his excellence at indoor in goal, and with Barney (Field Upper Sixth) and Ed improving as the tournament went on it was great to see the squad competing so well at the very top stage! Jack led the side well and showed all his experience A playoff win against Altrincham was a great way to finish a simply amazing indoor campaign
DCF Riders Shone at NSEA County Cup Dressage and Arena Eventing National Finals
The Foundation riders from DCS and DCPS headed to the All-England Show Ground at Hickstead for the NSEA County Cup Dressage and Arena Eventing National Finals
DCF riders, having already qualified to represent Gloucestershire in both the restricted and open sections in the National County Cup Dressage Finals, did a fantastic job up against very tough competition The three days of competition took place over the half term break, and the riders really stepped up to the plate
The Restricted Team consisted of all DCPS riders, a young and developing team For some, it was their first major National Championships 21 teams battled out the section, but the DCPS riders Rose and Fenella (Year 8), Joe (Year 7), and Beatrice (Year 5) put in brilliant tests to take overall
team eighth, with only 2 4 marks between the winning and eighth team
The Open Team saw Maddie (Mead Fifth Form) joined by Fenella and Rose with different horses and Amelia (Year 5) to post incredible scores and take bronze, coming in at third place out of 22 teams Maddie and Amelia went on to become individual reserve Prelim and Novice Champions Maddie, who didn't drop below 70% all competition, also became NSEA Pop Up Champion
The Eventer Challenge tracks were tough championship tracks, but the 70-75cms team of Fenella, Rose, and Joe all flew to complete on a score of four and take the team to 20th out of 48 teams For the 80-85 team of Maddie, Rose, Fenella, and Joe, it wasn't to be as riders and horses parted company
Fenella completed with a score of four but Rose, also riding as an individual, did an incredible job, coming 11th out of the 268 competitors that day Rose should be commended for her courage and skill as she didn't pick up a single fault all championship
For Captain Corinna (Mead Upper Sixth) the 1m Arena Eventing course was tough and it wasn't her day, but she flew clear with Rose in the 90-95cms to show great courage and resilience The Show Jumping Team of Maddie, Rose, Fenella, and Joe took a brilliant team second in the 80-85cms National Qualifier, qualifying them for the NSEA National Finals in October
Overall, there was some truly fabulous riding from this young and developing team They represented the Foundation well and did themselves and their Schools proud
DCF Eventer Challenge
We were delighted to run our fifth DCF Eventer Challenge at Rectory Farm Arena We came away with a wonderful five National Qualifications!
Celebrating Unity in Sport: Dean Close Sixth Form Sports Dinner
Dean Close School recently hosted its first ever Sixth Form Sports Dinner, a lively celebration honouring the contributions of both pupils and staff across all sporting disciplines The event, held in the Dean Close Dining Hall, buzzed with excitement and camaraderie as attendees gathered to pay homage to the School's sporting community
The evening kicked off with a spirited Buck’s Fizz reception, setting a festive tone for the night Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively conversations, guests mingled and shared in the anticipation of what lay ahead
Among the highlights was the presence of our guest speaker, Dr Jamie Roberts, a Welsh rugby union player who rose to prominence with the Cardiff Blues in 2006, showcasing his powerful running and defensive prowess. Making his international debut for Wales in 2008, Dr Roberts quickly became a linchpin in the Welsh midfield and earned selection for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2009, where his contributions were integral to the Lions' series victory
Roberts' career saw him play for clubs including Cardiff Blues, Racing 92, Harlequins, and the Stormers, while simultaneously pursuing a medical degree at Cardiff University Renowned for his physicality, intelligence on the field, and leadership qualities, Roberts retired in 2020 after a distinguished career spanning over a decade, leaving an enduring legacy in Welsh and British rugby Roberts shared anecdotes with us all on the night, from sitting medical exams whilst on rugby tour and all the different highs and lows of his illustrious career, to now working as a Doctor, and why his academics was so important to himinspiring us all with his passion and resilience
The Dean Close School Community was abuzz with excitement as we welcomed Mr Wayne Barnes, widely regarded as the greatest rugby referee of all time He retired from the rugby field and cemented his legacy with a remarkable milestone: officiating the Rugby World Cup Final in October 2023, a spectacle witnessed by an astounding 94 million viewers worldwide!
Mr Barnes' visit to Dean Close marked an installment of the ‘Talks@TheBacon’ series, a platform aimed at inspiring and engaging pupils with remarkable individuals from various walks of life
Mr Barnes, now a full-time Criminal Barrister, brought a wealth of experience and insight to our entire Community. The atmosphere was electric as conversations flowed freely, fuelled by sandwiches and a shared passion for sports and law Mr Barnes even recounted a Dean Close vs Bournside School rugby match in 1996 that he had refereed on our pitches!
Following his talk, Mr Barnes graciously engaged in a 'meet and greet' session with a select group of Sixth Form pupils Their eagerness to learn and their insightful questions underscored the lasting impact of Mr Barnes' stories and experiences.
We were all so grateful for Mr Barnes' visit and would love to welcome him back in the future
Dean Close U18s Rugby 7s
The Dean Close School U18s Rugby 7s team went to the Collegiate School Tournament, winning all of their matches and then seizing a hard-fought victory in a gripping final Going head-to-head against tough opponents such as KES Bath, Malvern College, and Exeter School in the group stages, the team displayed grit and skill, securing wins that propelled them into the semi-finals
In a tense semi-final match against hosts Collegiate School, Dean Close delivered a solid performance, setting the stage for an intense final against Kingswood Bath With the scoreboard tied 17-17 at full time, the pressure was on as the game entered the golden point stage
In a decisive moment, Billy Benson (Dale 2024) rose to the occasion, scoring the winning try and sealing the victory for Dean Close. Billy’s exceptional performance earned him the title of ‘Man of the Tournament’, underscoring his invaluable contribution to the team's success.
It's worth noting the sporting prowess of the family, as Billy's sister, Nuala (Hatherley Upper Sixth), was crowned Netball Player of the Tournament in the previous year's event This dual success highlights the competitive spirit and talent within the family and the Dean Close School Community
The team's victory is a testament to their dedication, showcasing their ability to excel under pressure Well done to everyone involved
An Epic Adventure Along The Silk Road
Our very own Physics Teacher from Dean Close School, Mr Ascham, is on an epic adventure cycling the legendary Silk Road!
He's just cycled into his sixth country, Kyrgyzstan, and conquered the Pamir Highway's highest point at 4655m – the second highest road in the world!
Mr Ascham is riding solo and unsupported for 9000km from Istanbul to Xi'an, passing through Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and China - and mostly wild camping along the way
Recently, after a border closure, he crossed into China What was supposed to be a
short day turned into a 127km ride, but he was met with amazing roads, friendly people, and delicious food! A scooter rider invited him home for noodles, spicy vegetables, beef, and watermelon Later, some gardeners shared pancakes and more watermelon
Mr Ascham’s journey is in aid of Kids Club Kampala, which helps children in Kampala's slums After their Encouraging Education Centre in Naguru was demolished, he aims to raise £27,000 to buy land and build a new centre, supporting 35 children aged between three and six with free education and lunch every weekday He also hopes to raise £40,000 to fund new school buildings
Nicole Radley represented the Great British Age Group Team in the Sprint Duathlon at the 2024 European Triathlon Multisport Championships in Coimbra, Portugal on Saturday, 15 June
The race comprised a challenging 5km run, 20km bike ride, followed by another 2 5km run
Nicole, thank you for demonstrating all three of our School values through this challenge and for inspiring the whole community!
Congratulations to Megan (Hatherley Remove) (Under 15 Girls Long Jump) and Elinor (Hatherley Lower Sixth) (Under 17 Girls 300m) from Gloucestershire, who were selected to represent in the English Schools’ Track and Field National Championships in Birmingham over summer Megan and Elinor, your dedication and achievement in your respective events are truly commendable!
Sophie (Hatherley Upper Sixth) has been successfully campaigning for GBR selection for the 2024 European Championships in Belgium On the back of two fantastic scores at Wellington and Aachen CDIs and a lot of hard work and training, Sophie has been selected as the First Reserve for the Junior European Team
Billy Benson (Dale 2024) had an international representation over the Easter in the Ireland U20 v Wales U20 It all started at Stow RFC, but in contrast to the white strip and red rose of England, Billy ran out in the green of Ireland!
The Irish boys were impressively supportive and accommodating to Billy, who returned the favour with a quality performance. He looks well set to continue far in the Irish setup. It was great to hear how many boys went along to support Billy too!
House Tug of War
What an epic House Tug of War! The whole School came out to Chapel Lawn for this much-loved annual tradition, and the atmosphere was fantastic! The competition was fierce, with every team pulling with all their might and the crowd cheering them on every step of the way!
Music
Another superb House Music Instrumental Competition with a massive representation from Dale In the Initial Class, the Dale boys, Rufus, Morgan, George, and John strutted their stuff with the final two coming first and third respectively
Isaac, Max, William, and George treated the crowd in the Intermediate Class, and then in the Senior Class it was Eddie, Tom, Harry, and Isaac with the chance to shine And shine they did! Eddie needs a special mention as he performed three instruments in this class and took the win in the String and Brass classes
The day culminated with the Sherratt Cup Comp (Grade 8 and higher) in the evening with Dejan, Marceau, and Bertie (pictured) winning their categories and sealing a wonderful overall victory for the House
Photo courtesy of Seb, who was ruled out of the Sherratt with concussion from his last hockey match, but who turned out and enthusiastically supported the boys.
RocSoc
Lights, Amplification, Attitude - they were all in abundance at the annual RocSoc event From 1970s rock classics to R&B hits, alongside an original composition by Will Senior, the music spanned generations, ensuring a diverse and thoroughly entertaining evening Congratulations to all the talented singers and musicians!
We are delighted to share the outstanding achievement of Bertie McVittie (Dale 2024) on the French horn and Cassian Pichler-Roca (Field 2024) for singing, who both earned Distinction and scored over 90% in their recent ARSM diploma exams This is a phenomenal achievement at any grade, let alone a diploma exam!
We are so excited to celebrate with Immy (Mead Fifth Form) who has been accepted by the Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Immy has also won a residential place on Rodolfus Foundation Choral Course, which she participated in this summer A huge achievement and we are incredibly proud!
Dazzling performances and diverse talents lit up the stage at this year's Acoustic Night! From soulful renditions to mashup magic, it was a musical journey that left us wanting more
Field House Part Singers
The singers did a beautiful rendition on "Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)” in the 2024 House Singing Competition They were very chuffed to win the Boys' Part Song Section!
Commemoration of Benefactors 2024
We welcomed almost 500 members of our Dean Close Foundation Community, along with special guests, to our annual Service of Commemoration of Benefactors, celebrating the School’s founding on 5 May 1886 It was an intimate service held in the Dean Close Chapel and very fitting for the occasion, allowing us to give thanks for all of those who have made the Foundation what it is today We were treated to anthems from the DCS Choir, as well as the DCPS Jubilate and DCSJ Choirs, and heard readings and prayers from all ages across the Foundation The service was led by our Reverend Ian Gulland, with an inspiring address from the Reverend Canon Nick Davies Vicar of Tewkesbury speaking on the guiding theme of Gratitude
Spring Concert in Cirencester
The Parish Church of St John the Baptist roused with wonderful music as the Dean Close School Spring Concert unfolded for the first time in Cirencester
The concert showcased the exceptional talents of Dean Close School Pupils, as well as current and past members of the Dean Close Foundation Staff, Old Decanians, and members of the Choral Society From orchestral pieces to solo performances, the evening offered a diverse array of musical expressions that captivated the audience
The concert was dedicated to the memory of Diana Walkley, one of Dean Close School's earliest Peripatetic Singing Teachers, who was honoured for her very generous bequest she left for the Music Department The lasting legacy of her contribution will continue to inspire our Music pupils
Hatherley Soirée
As has become tradition, this year the Hatherley girls hosted a soirée for an audience of around 200 guests The girls baked sweet and savoury canapes, and the House was decked out with examples of the girls' paintings, sculptures, and photography for this annual Celebration of the Arts
Later in the evening, the audience were treated to various live performances that ranged from popular songs to poetry recitals, and from musical theatre to piano and guitar tunes! As always, guests enjoyed Mrs Donaldson's infamously fiendish quiz and a look back at the events of the year, as well as wishing a fond farewell to our departing Upper Sixth
It was a superb evening and a joyful chance to get the whole Hatherley community together.
Jazz Band
Our jazz band had a wonderful time at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival! It was great to hear other school bands, too, and experience the great jazz happening in and around Gloucestershire! Thank you to all of those involved
Art
Dean Close School hosted its first ever Art Skills Workshop, inviting pupils from various local primary and prep schools to receive specialised Art tuition in a highly enjoyable afternoon
The event featured participants from Leckhampton Primary School Year 5, Dean Close St John’s Year 5, 6, and 7, Dean Close Prep School Year 5, 6, and 7, as well as pupils from Beaudesert Park School, Hatherop Castle School, and Pinewood School This diverse group of young artists came together to explore and enhance their creative skills
The afternoon began with a guided tour of the BonBernard Gallery, where Dean Close School pupils led the tours, providing insightful commentary on different pieces of GCSE and A level art and discussing the inspiration behind each work. This peer-led approach not only enriched the visiting pupils' experience but also showcased the depth of understanding and passion of our own students.
The workshop was led by the Dean Close School Art Department Teaching Staff and focused on a collage art piece, allowing the pupils to experiment with various materials and images with techniques to create their own unique pieces
Overall, the Art Skills Workshop was a tremendous success, fostering creativity and camaraderie among the young artists and leaving a lasting impression on all who attended Dean Close School is proud to have hosted such a vibrant and inspiring event, and we look forward to many more in the future
Richard Gilbert Art Exhibition and Workshop
Richard Gilbert's 'Tree Stories' exhibition was held at the BonBernard Gallery for four weeks during the Lent Term. It included ‘a selection of paintings and drawings from 2012-24 of remarkable, notable, and ancient trees that tell stories about Art, Literature, and History - from William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, and Camille Pissarro to the English Civil War and the Spanish Armada’
The exhibition was uplifting and had a tremendous response from pupils, with a selection choosing to analyse his body of work to inspire their A level and GCSE exam projects
While the exhibition was on display, Richard Gilbert conducted a workshop for our Fourth Form and Remove Art
Scholars, along with a few students selected from the A level course The artist started off by giving a brief overview of his works and focusing the students' attention to the beauty of the surrounding area and our relationships to specific places and trees.
The workshop's goal was to serve as a gentle reminder of the importance of sketching directly from observation and the pleasure of working from natural forms
We are grateful to Richard Gilbert for sharing his knowledge and skills; it has undoubtedly been one of the most exquisite exhibitions that has been held by a professional artist for many years
OTHER EVENTS and ACHIEVEMENTS
Speech Day
Speech Day at Dean Close School was an unforgettable end to an amazing year! A huge thanks to Hollywood Director and Producer (and Dean Close parent) Simon West for his inspiring speech We enjoyed a fun fair, stunning art in the BonBernard Gallery, a fantastic Valedictory Concert, and a thrilling Quad Run, as well as cricket and tennis matches
It was our delight to extend a warm welcome to John Bowen who came to visit us John is the beloved husband of the late Margaret Bowen, who served the School faithfully for 44 years We met in the Margaret Bowen Room, a space named in honour of Margaret's remarkable contributions to the School - it was a truly special moment to reconnect with John and hear the cherished memories of years past
We also had the opportunity to reunite John with some members of our team who had the privilege of working alongside Margaret during her tenure One such heartwarming reunion captured in this photo features John alongside Julie from our wonderful Catering Team
Senior Debating Night!
The Sixth Form Latin and Classical Civilisation sets (Class of 2024) enjoyed a brilliant talk delivered by Professor Llewelyn Morgan The talk was on a text which all of the pupils are studying, Virgil's Aeneid, and the parallels which can be drawn between Aeneas and other famous figures in Roman literature, such as Romulus and Hercules
It was so wonderful to see so many of our lovely Dean Close parents at our first coffee morning at No 131 Cheltenham
It is such a great chance to connect and share different day to day experiences with each other Thank you to Alex and her team for being such great hosts
To start the event, the Leiths students treated everyone to delectable canapes, a gastronomic delight that perfectly set the tone The heart of the evening comprised two thought-provoking debates that explored whether the UK should transition to a republic and questioned the relevance of monogamy in contemporary society.
Both debates captivated the audience with compelling arguments, prompting insightful questions from the crowd The latter debate sparked heated exchanges on the floor, adding an extra layer of intensity to the proceedings
The grand finale featured an unexpected culinary twist: deep-fried Celebrations (yes, the chocolates) This unconventional treat – skilfully prepared and served by the industrious Leiths students – provided a sweet conclusion to the night's festivities
A Level Results
Dean Close School is proud to announce the achievements of its Upper Sixth pupils in this year’s A level examinations These results reflect not only the hard work and dedication of the pupils but also the unwavering support of the School’s faculty, the Futures Team, and the entire Dean Close Community
This year, two-thirds of all grades achieved were A* to B, with 10% of pupils earning AAA or better, and 40% achieving at least AAB Headmaster Bradley Salisbury remarked, "We are proud of the effort and perseverance shown by our pupils, with over 90% receiving firm offers from universities at the beginning of the day "
In addition to celebrating these successes, Mr Salisbury also acknowledged the challenges faced by some pupils "Amongst the celebrations, we recognise that there are those who have worked incredibly hard but have fallen on the wrong side of the grades they wanted These pupils have shown remarkable resilience and determination, and it is a privilege for us to stand alongside and support them in securing the next steps in their future "
In conclusion, Dean Close School extends its wholehearted congratulations to the Class of 2024 for their individual and collective successes. Mr Salisbury summed up the sentiment perfectly: "We are incredibly proud of what our pupils have achieved, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and succeed in the future "
GCSE Results
Dean Close School is delighted to announce the impressive achievements of its pupils in the 2024 GCSE examinations
As a School with a broad intake and a wonderfully diverse Community, these results reflect not only the abilities and hard work of our pupils but also the dedicated support and guidance provided by the staff at Dean Close
This year, 51% of all grades awarded were between 9 and 7, with 10% of pupils earning at least eight Grade 9s and 8s (A*s) Headmaster Bradley Salisbury expressed his pride in the pupils' accomplishments, stating, "We are delighted for
those who have worked hard to earn their place in the Sixth Form, as well as the 20% of pupils who have been rewarded with at least nine Grade 7s (A grades) "
Looking ahead, Mr Salisbury extended his congratulations to the Fifth Form, wishing them the best as they transition to the Sixth Form or explore other paths in their educational journey
For those who didn’t achieve the results they were hoping for, he shared a thoughtful reminder: "Results don’t define you
Qualifications are part of our picture, but there is so much more "
Karting Update!
Sixth Form Mentoring Programme
The Sixth Form Mentoring Programme is underway with the Upper Sixth joining the Fourth Formers in their separate tutorials yesterday
As well as a bit of a get-to-know-you, there was advice shared on what the Upper Sixth wished they’d been told (and more importantly, acted upon!) when they were in Fourth Form, what is expected from a boy in Dale, social media help, and guidance on self-care, as well as basic question time – plus much more! It was a very productive and uplifting start
Oscar (Field Fifth Form) is an amazing karter driver His team (ADX Karting based in Hertfordshire) was set to fly out to Italy this October for the 2024 ROK Superfinal in the beautiful town of Lonato del Garda Unfortunately, there was a problem with the registration process, so ADX had to pull out This has made Oscar even more determined to compete next year – so watch this space!
Public Speaking
What an enjoyable evening spent at Junior House Public Speaking 2024. From nationalising railways to the best Batman, we were all kept entertained. Well done to all involved. Teamwork made the dream work for these three Fawley girls, bringing home the cup for Best Team and Charlie for Best Chair.
‘Ma ly Angel’ Premieres at the Bacon Theatre!
Written by Director of Drama and professional playwright, Mr Shakeshaft, the world premiere of ‘Mayfly Angel’ took place in the Bacon Theatre this March The 36 strong cast of senior actors enthralled and entertained their audience with this steampunk, dystopian tale of families, climate change, and always hoping that the ‘grass is greener’ somewhere else This was an outstanding ensemble performance from a group of brilliantly talented actors – and what’s more, it even rained on stage!
Anything Goes
The Drama production 'Anything Goes' took centre stage during the final week of the Michaelmas Term, showcasing enchanting performances, wonderful music, and heartfelt moments in this year's School musical
This year's highly anticipated musical ‘Anything Goes’ marked its triumphant entrance onto the illustrious stage of the Bacon The enchanting production unfolded as a harmonious blend of dance, song, and slapstick comedy, brought to life by the collaborative efforts of 60 talented students Each member, ough their unwavering dication and enthusiasm, played vital role in creating the collective agic that was ‘Anything Goes’
Beyond its artistic triumph, the production achieved a commendable social impact by raising an impressive £1,865 for the Papyrus charity Papyrus is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preventing young suicide and providing support for those dealing with suicidal thoughts
Summer Stories Shared
Alexa (Mead Upper Sixth) and Antonia (Mead Upper Sixth) spent some of their summer with Cotswold touring theatre company Tethered Wits in a production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ This was an incredible opportunity for the girls, and we were thoroughly impressed by the dedication and hard work put into this production
Six the Musical
The Drama Department had an exciting trip to the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre to watch Six the Musical. The Drama team took 50 pupils to experience the musical, which was so much fun and an outstanding performance. It’s no wonder the show was a complete sell out!
DEAN CLOSE COMMUNITY SKI TRIP
A group of 16 Old Decanians, along with past and current parents, embarked on an unforgettable ski trip to La Plagne, France The trip was filled with memorable moments, wonderful reconnections, and plenty of fun on the slopes It was a resounding success, and we are looking forward to choosing our next ski destination for 2026
2 0 2 3 ~ 2 4
Dean Close Sixes Hockey Tournament
The Dean Close Sixes Hockey Tournament was held this year in the lovely sunshine Our girls dominated from the start with an impressive four out of four wins in the pool stage, securing a place in the final against Malvern College for the third consecutive year Excitingly, Dean Close won their final 3-0, winning the trophy for the first time in seven years! A huge thank you to all the teams and spectators for their support throughout the tournament
Close Community Golf Day
Our Close Community Golf Day was a huge success this year! We had over 30 players join us for the day, with a wonderful mix of former parents, current parents, former pupils, current pupils, and staff members It was a joy to welcome everyone who came along to play and support Thank you to Cotswold Hills Golf Club for your hospitality throughout the day!
Old Decanians vs Old Cheltonians
Congratulations to the Old Decanian Golf Team who beat the Old Cheltonians at the stunning West Hill Golf Club The OCs have won or retained the Spa Trophy for the last three years, so it was good to bring it home to Shelburne Road!
Back Row (L-R): Alasdair Carroll (Court 1984), Andrew Odell (Field 1992), Jack Ford (Dale 2010), James Ford (Dale 1980), and Tim Lawrence (Field 1976) Front row (L-R): Jeremy Winter (Walton Court 1961), Robert Reed (Brook 1962), Alex Hume (Dale 2002), and Ian Leopold (Field 1976)
Close Clay Pigeon Shooting
A wonderful day of clay pigeon shooting was enjoyed by 30 members of our Dean Close Community at Notgrove Estate. There was a range of abilities, from people who had never shot before to experienced Old Decanians who didn’t miss any clays We finished the day with a lovely lunch and presentation, rounding off a great experience that was thoroughly enjoyed by all
Tethered Wits –‘The Railway Children’
A talented team brought the remarkable production of ‘The Railway Children’ to life at the Tuckwell Theatre. It was wonderful to see so many Old Decanians and Former Staff in attendance, supporting our actors in what was an outstanding performance It was also truly heartwarming to see so many children taking part from the audience in a memorable performance
A special congratulations to Old Decanians Amy Backshall (née Porter) (Hatherley 2016), Gabbie Sills (Shelburne 2018), and our Former Head of Drama at the Prep School, Lynne Lawrence, for their dedication and hard work
OD Cricket Week
Written by Anthony Thompson (Dale 1996)
On Wednesday 3 July, the ODs played the Gloucestershire Gipsies, competing for the Dr John Andrews Trophy in a fixture that has regularly been played since the 1940s The skies were grey, but the rains held off allowing for an enjoyable game – one which turned out to be the only game to be played that week, with the two other planned matches cancelled due to inclement weather
The ODs put out a well-balanced side captained by Anthony Thompson (Dale 1996), but ultimately the Gypsies captained by Paul Craig proved too strong on the day Having won the toss and chosen to bat, the Gypsies posted a score of 234 runs for five wickets (Declaration) and the ODs were subsequently bowled out for 172, giving the Gypsies the win – and the trophy – for the second year in a row
In the bowling department, the pick of the bowlers for the ODs was Ben (Field Upper Sixth) who bowled with pace ending with figures of 13 overs, two wickets for 55 runs Alex Oliver (Dale 2022) also put in a big shift bowling 11 overs conceding only 48 runs Devon Gover (Current Staff) picked up two wickets and Nawaz Mucadam (Field 2001) one The tale of the OD batting was a number of ‘good starts’, but no one managed to go on to that big score which was really needed Ben 39, Alex Oliver 29, Charlie Watkins 25, Anthony Thompson 22, Charlie McKinnes 17
Thanks go to Andrew Hume (Umpire) (Past Parent) and Janet Sawyer (Scorer), as well as the Dean Close Ground Staff and the School Caterers who, as always, provided a marvellous lunch, tea, and a BBQ that was enjoyed by players, supporters, and senior members of both clubs. The OD Cricket Chairman Tim Odell (Former Staff) thanked all involved for organising such a good day and presented the Trophy to the Gypsies’ Captain, Dr Paul Craig.
Heritage Open Day Dean Close School
Our Heritage Open Day tours of Dean Close, run by our Archivist Grace Pritchard-Woods, were extremely popular There were over 60 guests throughout the week, including guests from the Dean Close Community and many external guests, who all enjoyed the Dean Close history. It is an extremely fascinating tour, including the original Headmaster's House, the Old School Room and Chapel, as well as some of the more modern features including the Poppy Cloister, Theatre, and Dining Hall. Following the tour, tea and cake was served for everyone!
Old Decanians Team who played on the day: K Hemshall (Gate 1985), A Thompson (Dale 1996), A Hume (Dale 2002), C McKinnes (Dale 2023), A Oliver (Dale 2022), C Watkins (Field 2024), Ben (Field Upper Sixth), N Mucadam (Field 2001), D Gover (Current Staff), and N Dano (Current Staff) Three ODs also played for the Gypsies: F Thomas (Field 2020), S. Porter (Dale 2020), and J. Hamilton (Field 2020).
Seoul Visit
Rebecca Chaplin, our Director of Admissions, recently embarked on a journey to Seoul representing Dean Close During her visit, she had the delightful opportunity to connect with members of the Dean Close Community It was such a lovely evening for Rebecca and the Dean Close Community
Tokyo Visit
Rebecca Chaplin, our Director of Admissions, and Tracey Colbert-Smith, our Director of Marketing, have recently been in Tokyo for the Metropolis Education 'Celebration of British Education' event It was such a joy for them to connect with families considering Dean Close School, and to reunite with past parents, Old Decanians, and other members of our Dean Close Community
Sunset Swim
We enjoyed a stunning sunset swim at Cheltenham Sandford Lido sponsored by Dean Close, and it was fantastic to see nearly 400 people from various places join us for the evening. The atmosphere was lively with games, merchandise displays, and plenty of snacks available for everyone!
1980s REUNION
The biggest, most magical, and most memorable reunion of all reunions took place on the School playing fields on Speech Day –and what a day it was! Two years in the making, and with some trepidation of our target number, the Development and Alumni Team agreed to hold a rather unique 1980s Decade Reunion
Bob Lindsay (Gate 1984), keen to celebrate 40 years since leaving, and Robin 'Bic' Bayliss (Gate 1985), wanting a big reunion as his leaving present having resigned as OD Society Chairman, roped in Liz Robertson (Shelburne 1980) and Jeremy Harcup (Field 1987) for support These four, together with Alex Hume and his colleagues, set about creating a memorable day for the Classes of 1980-1989, with some very welcome friends from the late seventies, nineties, and the early noughties as well!
Over 250 ODs and teachers past and present came together for this day of days Arriving for pre-lunch drinks on the lawns, it was clear to see that many had not met since their time at the School It was a marvel to watch and brought many a tear, along with much laughter and smiles Herding them all down to the Tuckwell Theatre took some doing, but we succeeded and were rewarded with a wonderful group photo! Entertaining speeches by the Warden Emma Taylor, as well as Bic
and Bob were then followed by a fabulous buffet lunch Our huge thanks go to Peter and his superb Catering Team
It was truly wonderful to see so many happy memories being shared between old friends and their old teachers or Housemasters Grace had even produced a wonderful display of archives and photography, which allowed the ODs to add notes or names on School photos In the afternoon we enjoyed dodgems and fairground rides and went on tours around the School, remembering good times
There was time for a little pause before carriages were provided to take us to the evening event at The Montpellier Wine Baran old haunt for many of us, now owned by our very own ODs Darren (Brook 1985) and Lee Hiscox (Brook 1984) and managed, at the time, by Simon 'Billy' Connolly They had very kindly closed the bar for our private party, and as the weather remained kind, most people stayed outside
We were joined briefly by the late Mikey Fateh (Gate 1976) and his wife Eve, which was very special indeed Drinks flowed all night long and the music – a mix of 80s pop, punk, ska, mod, and disco – was provided by music guru Ben Langmaid. A wonderful time was had by all, with the last person
leaving the bar at 2am! Suffice to say the day went far too quickly; friendships were rekindled, and wonderful reminiscing was the name of the game Some networking and new dates were made too
We would like to thank everyone who attended most sincerely - you coming is what made the event such a remarkable success, and we are so thrilled that you all had such an incredible experience. Also, thanks to Peter and the entire DCS Catering Team, and our deepest thanks, of course, go to the School and the fabulous Development and Alumni Team of Alex, Natalie, and Leah for actually doing all the work - we cannot thank you enough Emma Taylor, Warden of the DCS Foundation - thank you for trusting that we would behave and for agreeing for this event to happen
It is now down to us ODs to return the favour as we have started the task of raising funds to support the development of a new classroom in our name (more to follow on this fabulous opportunity).
Thank you all, from Bic and Bob, Liz, and Jeremy
SPEECH DAY CRICKET - THE SCHOOL VS OLD DECANIANS
The much-anticipated Old Decanians vs The School Cricket Match was a highlight of Speech Day 2024. Festivities began the evening before, with Mike Powell and Ben Jenkins hosting the Old Decanians at No.131 for drinks and a team catch-up.
On the day itself, the Old Decanians were bowled out for 131, while The School put up a solid 163 with Billy Benson (Dale 2024) leading the scoreboard, scoring an impressive 55
Toby Greaves (Field 2022) stood out for the Old Decanians, contributing a commendable 51 runs. Although James Humphreys (Field 2020) was unable to play due to injury, he made the trip from Ireland to support his team and assisted in umpiring alongside Mike Powell.
It was a delightful day of cricket under the sun, with both teams showcasing great skill and sportsmanship!
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
It was such a joy to welcome over 400 members of the Dean Close Community to join us for our Nine Lessons and Carols Service in the Dean Close School Chapel, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the dining room It was an absolutely beautiful and magical event Thank you to all those who attended
MEMORIAL SWIM FOR KAREN WHITTON (NÉE VENN)
Written by Marian Venn (Karen’s mum)
As Karen had fought her aggressive cancer so bravely – and even ran the 5k twice whilst undergoing intensive treatment to raise funds for Cancer Research – I wanted to honour her by setting up a ‘Swim for Life’ in her memory
I hoped the Pre-Prep pupils and older pupils could be involved I met with James Cowling (Head of Dean Close Pre-Preparatory School), Lorraine Scull (Pre-Prep PE & Games Lead) and Tom Howells (Swim Coach) to discuss an internal Dean Close swim, with all pupils aged three to 18 swimming in their sport sessions and raising funds for the Sue Ryder Hospice
For the ‘Memorial Swim for Life for Karen’ in aid of Cancer Research, we must thank Dean Close and Cheltenham College for generously allowing us to use their pools on Saturday 7 September 2024 The events challenged Dean Close pupils and the memorial event swimmers to complete 25-minute swims, either individually or in relay form,
and combine all their distances to swim 220 miles, the length of the River Severn Amazingly this was finally achieved, and it was wonderful to see so many of Karen’s friends from the swimming world, past school friends from Pates Grammar School, plus family and friends of all ages joining us and enjoying the occasion I was even asked whether we could make the Memorial Swim an annual event!
Grateful thanks must go to all Karen’s Pre-Prep colleagues who spent numerous hours counting and recording lengths, plus the teachers and ODs who swam, as well as my family and friends I would like to especially thank my granddaughter Chloe, who is currently teaching in Bahrain and managed to create a team and raise £750 for Cancer Research
ODs Chris Walker (Gate 1985) and Rob Holmes (Brook 1991) also sent in recorded distances from abroad, and I would also like to give thanks to Head of
Development and Alumni, Alex Hume, who generously donated funds from the ODs towards the Memorial Swim medals
Finally, it’s a huge thank you to everyone who assisted and donated to the School’s Just Giving page for Sue Ryder which raised £900, and to the Just Giving ‘Memorial Swim for Life for Karen’ which raised a massive £10,756 plus £2,000 Gift Aid for Cancer Research
Dean Close Preparatory
75th Anniversary 2024
We had a fantastic day celebrating Dean Close Prep School's 75th Anniversary with over 80 guests, including Old Decanians, Current and Former Staff, Council Members, and Trustees.
The day was filled with lovely music, a beautiful Chapel service, and a special
tour of the School led by our current pupils, allowing Former Staff and Old Decanians to reminisce. It was a joy to reconnect, share memories, and enjoy a fabulous lunch together.
Thank you to everyone who made the day so special!
Marian Venn (Karen’s Mum) – Swim Coach Dean Close School 1977-2000
FAWLEY HOUSE REUNION 2024
We enjoyed a fantastic Fawley House Reunion, where Old Decanians, Former Staff, and Current Staff came together for a day filled with memories and reconnections
With around 40 guests joining us, the event began with a warm welcome from the Warden, Emma Taylor This was followed by heartfelt reflections from our current Housemistress, Cathy Feltham, who was joined by our former Housemistresses Vanessa Aris, Viv Burroughs, and Julia Abbott who all shared their cherished memories! Together they unveiled the new Heads of House Board.
Our current Fawley girls led tours of both the House and Dean Close School, sparking fond memories for many The day concluded at Dean Close House with a delightful meal A big thank you to everyone for joining us and who made it so special!
THE HARDY TROPHY
An 8:32am tee time on the Red Course meant an early start for the OD golfers But when you are heading to play golf at The Berkshire Golf Club, an early start is not a problem!
This year’s competition was again a close fought affair, with Alastair Smith (Field 2003) missing out by one point to Jack Ford (Dale 2010), who gained 38 points and was one over gross
A special mention must go to the ODGC Chairman, Robert Reed (Brook 1962) who was dialled in on the 18th hole and won the closest to the pin, as well as to Alastair Carroll (Court 1984) who opened his shoulders and won the longest drive
A lovely three course carvery lunch followed, before we all headed back out for another 18 holes at this amazing golf course
Jack is pictured here with his dad, James Ford (Dale 1980), a previous winner of the Hardy Trophy
1940s AND 1950s REUNION!
We had the most amazing 1940s and 50s reunion, welcoming back Old Decanians from this special era! It was a day filled with memories, laughter, and connection as we revisited old stories and friendships A highlight of the day was returning to Chapel for the Harvest Service, bringing back that cherished sense of tradition Here are a few photos capturing just a glimpse of this wonderful day
EDWARD HARRIS CUP
Eight teams competed for the prestigious Edward Harris Cup at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.
The Old Decanians ended up in sixth place this year in the 4BBB Stableford Competition. Congratulations must go to the Old Bromsgrovians who amassed a very impressive 122 points, beating the Old Cheltonians by just three points. The Royal Porthcawl Golf Club is an absolutely stunning venue, and we were treated to a beautiful day on the links – even though the easterly winds did cause some issues!
The team this year consisted of (L-R) James Ford (Dale 1980), Jack Ford (Dale 2010), Alasdair Carroll (Court 1984), Robert Hornby (Field 1967), ODGC President Brian Wilson (Travelling Support), Matthew Shayle (Dale 2000), Ian Bevan-Jones (Tower 1972), Giles Barton (Dale 1995), and Alex Hume (Dale 2002)
DEVELOPMENT
This year in the Development Department | Natalie Norman (Development Manager)
The Development Team has been busy strengthening alumni connections, launching new projects, and celebrating key achievements.
Inspiring Futures at the Dean Close Careers Fair 2024
Our first Careers Fair since before Covid was a resounding success! With 28 incredible businesses in attendance, our Fifth Form and Upper Sixth pupils had an inspiring opportunity to explore their career paths and expand their networks The energy in the room was electric, and the feedback has been nothing short of amazing!
One pupil shared, "I found the fair really useful. It was great to speak to a range of businesses and many of my year group have said that it gave them both new directions that they didn’t expect and helped them understand that some things
probably weren't for them. I definitely think we should do this again, with even more companies, as it really seems there is so much out there to explore "
It's moments like these that remind us of the power of connection and knowledgesharing.
“The Lower Sixth students who greeted us and helped us to our table/area were a huge credit to themselves and Dean Close: polite, helpful, and quietly confident We enjoyed meeting and speaking to many of the Fifth Formers that came to our stand. A few were very well
prepared, with questions for us and about us (some had really done their homework!) It really struck me that all the students that visited our stand seemed genuinely interested in hearing about a career in law: they all asked questions and listened carefully It really was a pleasure to meet so many of your Fifth Formers (and a few from Lower Sixth) ”
Ingrid Whitehead, Director: Business Services, Croft Solicitors
We can't wait to organise the 2025 Careers Fair and continue preparing our young people for life’s adventure.
Summer OD Panel Alumni Guidance for Future Success
The Summer OD Panel in June brought alumni back to share insights on their university and career journeys. Their advice helped guide our Lower Sixth pupils in their university applications. A huge thank you to our amazing Old Decanians for their contributions to this and other Skills for the Future events.
Speed Interview Challenge
On 24 September 2024, we held the Speed Interview Challenge, designed to give pupils valuable practice and build their confidence in job interviews
The day began with a 55-minute workshop on ‘Essential Interview Skills,’ where the core principle was to de-mystify the job interview process
The aim was to equip pupils with knowledge, confidence, and a positive attitude, helping them realise that they have plenty to offer and that interviewers are trying to uncover their strengths
Following the workshop, pupils took part in five-minute 'speed interviews', followed by three minutes of feedback. A whistle signalled each changeover, and the fast-paced, light-hearted format made the challenge both fun and educational Thanks to all those who supported this vital event
In September 1995, Diana Walkley was the first Peripatetic Singing Teacher at Dean Close Junior School She left a generous bequest of £65,500 for the school's Music Department in her will, which will positively impact aspiring musicians. This gesture serves as a heartfelt testament to her profound love for music. Her memory lives on, and the lasting legacy of her contribution continues to inspire.
“…will positively impact aspiring musicians ”
Spring 2025 Telephone Campaign
We are excited to announce that a Telephone Campaign will be held in Spring 2025. Stay tuned for more details!
Professional development has been a key focus this year.
In April 2024, we relaunched our Business Networking events, providing a platform to foster valuable industry connections and collaboration within our community The event was a resounding success, with over 50 business professionals in attendance
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Jason Prior, Director of Prior + Partners, for graciously serving as our Guest Speaker Jason’s career has been centred on largescale, transformative masterplans and strategies that shape thriving new communities
and revitalise existing towns and cities Notably, he was instrumental in the design and delivery of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, overseeing the masterplan from bid stage through to legacy, and played a key role in the transformation of Manchester City Centre
In September, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Dean Close Community to the Panter & Hall Art Gallery in Pall Mall, London It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect and enjoy an inspiring talk by award-winning documentary photographer and Old Decanian Alan Gignoux (Gate 1982)
Alan Gignoux is also the founder of Gignoux Photos, which produces documentary photography and film projects focussing on socio-political and environmental issues around the world His notable works include
‘Homeland Lost’, featuring Palestinian refugees, and documenting Saharawi refugee camps since 2005
Recently, he used a camera obscura for UK asylum seekers in ‘You can see me, but I don’t exist’ Additionally, Gignoux's decade-long work on fossil fuel impacts includes ‘Oil Sands’ and ‘Appalachia: Mountaintops to Moonscapes’ His work was also showcased in the ‘Bruised Lands’ exhibition in 2021
Photos from the evening capture the wonderful atmosphere A special thanks also goes to Old Decanian Matthew Hall (Court 1987) for making this event possible!
Looking ahead, we are excitedly planning our events for 2025 – stay tuned for more information
If you’d like to access the recordings of the talks, please contact Natalie Norman nnorman@deanclose.org.uk
From One Generation to the Next: Celebrating Legacies
This year, we celebrated legacies in meaningful ways. The Dean Close Community has shown remarkable generosity, especially through the legacies we’ve received These legacies strengthen our Foundation and allow us to expand the possibilities in education
We are deeply grateful for the trust and support, which profoundly impacts the future of Dean Close School, thriving because of the dedication and commitment of our Community To view our new Legacy Brochure and find out more, scan the QR code
Connecting Alumni Worldwide with Live-Streaming!
We’ve taken our events global by live-streaming key moments, such as the Commemoration of Benefactors service in May 2024 This initiative allows alumni from around the world to feel connected and part of these special occasions
Foundation Awards Supporting Future Talent
Through our Foundation Awards, we want to offer talented young people the chance to flourish These awards support pupils who contribute to school life and inspire others
Our goal is to have 20 Foundationers within the Dean Close Foundation by 2034, marking the 150th anniversary
To learn more about the Foundation Awards, hear from current Foundationers, and discover how you can help make a life-changing impact on a young person's educational journey, simply scan the QR code
Speaking from the heart - scan here to listen to Lev Fawzi’s story
Cornerstone Society
Those who pledge a legacy gift to Dean Close are invited to become a member of the Cornerstone Society.
Members are:
• Invited each year, with their guests, to an annual Cornerstone Society Luncheon
• Recognised in the Annual Report (if you so wish)
• Thanked with a small token of appreciation, along with a Cornerstone Society pin
If you would like to leave a meaningful and enduring legacy for the next generation, we would be truly grateful
Lower Sixth Work Day
In June, our Lower Sixth pupils participated in the Lower Sixth Work Day, gaining placements in local businesses across various sectors. Over 50 Gloucestershire businesses supported this initiative, providing invaluable experience to our pupils
Would you like to join us for 2025, or perhaps you know someone who would be interested?
By opening your doors to our pupils, you're not just offering them a glimpse into your profession; you're shaping their futures and inspiring them to pursue their passions
Feedback: “You are both a credit to the School and your families, and whatever career you decide, we are all in full agreement that you will be huge success stories in your chosen fields ” Adjacency Recruitment
Shaping the ACADEMIC HEART of the School, our 21st Century Campus
The development of our 21st Century Campus is a central pillar of the Futures Campaign at Dean Close, our vision to ensure the School remains equipped to deliver outstanding education for many years to come
We are proud to have completed Phases 1 and 2 of our academic quad redevelopment, and we are incredibly grateful to the generous donors whose support has made this significant enhancement to our facilities possible
We are now focusing on Phase 3 of this vital project – creating a beautiful and inspiring Humanities Centre This new space will provide a lighter, more spacious, and creative environment for learning, enhancing the educational experience for both pupils and staff
To date, we have raised £200,000 towards this project, bringing us halfway to our fundraising goal There are several ways to get involved, with opportunities to name a classroom or have your name featured on a donor wall
We would be delighted to discuss bespoke ways you can contribute to the Humanities Centre. Please contact Natalie Norman, Development Manager on 01242 267 446 or email nnorman@deanclose.org.uk to discuss this further
All donations will be acknowledged, or they can remain anonymous if preferred You can donate by scanning the QR code below
We are also pleased to announce that the new Humanities Centre will be named in honour of the late Revd Douglas Graham, Headmaster of Dean Close Senior School from 1954 to 1968, affectionately known as ‘Jag’ due to his iconic Jaguar car
Douglas Graham, originally from Ireland, was educated at Trinity College Dublin, where he boxed for the university, a passion marked by his famously broken nose After serving as a Chaplain in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he embarked on a teaching career, first at Eton College before becoming Headmaster at Dean Close
Graham’s tenure saw significant development at the school, from increasing pupil numbers to over 300 to modernising the facilities with a new gym and swimming pool, in addition to opening the first dayboy house in 1957
Beloved by pupils, his love of horse racing often led to school holidays on the days of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The new Humanities Centre is scheduled to open for the 2027 academic year This new facility will transform the learning environment and provide greater opportunities for cross-curricular collaboration
Tim Graham, Douglas Graham’s son, added:
“I am thrilled to hear about the forthcoming Douglas Graham Centre for Humanities My father would be extremely proud of this recognition, as indeed am I ”
W A M Edwards, Chair of Governors during Douglas’ era, commented:
“The defining characteristics of Douglas Graham's time as Headmaster were his imagination and boundless energy No period in the School’s history has witnessed expansion and improvements on the scale seen during his 14 years of service ”
Peter Smallwood (Field 1963) shared:
“I was fortunate to have an inspirational Headmaster in Revd Douglas Graham, whose influence left a lasting impression on me during my time at Dean Close.”
Work on the project is already underway, with the Common Room being relocated to the old changing rooms near the Cookery School to make space for the new Humanities Centre
The success of this project relies on the generosity and involvement of the Dean Close Community – whether through donations or by serving as ambassadors
To learn more, take a virtual tour, or scan the QR code below to explore our Humanities Brochure.
This is an exciting time for the school, and we are also looking forward to the next phase – the development of our new Science Centre, which will complete our 21st Century Campus and further enhance Dean Close’s facilities.
Natalie Norman Development Manager
If you would like any additional information or have questions, please contact Natalie on 01242 267446 or by emailing nnorman@deanclose org uk
Class of 2024
The Class of 2024 Foundation Award raised £23,000, including Gift Aid – a truly remarkable achievement This generous support will be life-changing for any individual who receives the opportunity to join our School in 2025 The funds were raised through the option of donating a portion or the entirety of the leavers’ deposits, making this initiative possible We were also pleased to see the global reach of our efforts, with communications in Mandarin receiving positive feedback from our international families, further enhancing the success of this campaign
Nine Peeraamornkiat
Alumni Marketing and Relations at Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok Riverside, joined us for a tour of Dean Close School with one of her colleagues.
Nine kindly wrote to us recently saying:
We were so pleased to meet the wonderful team at Dean Close School; it was clear to see the strength of teamwork in maintaining the relationships for the school community Mr Mochan, a former Teacher and now serving as the Director of Higher Education at our school, connected us and provided the opportunity to witness firsthand how a professional team manages your Alumni Association
Given the number of alumni and the complexities of the donation system, it was inspiring to see how effectively everything is run The tour of the School’s incredible buildings and facilitiesfunded by alumni donations - was truly impressive.
The warm and welcoming Staff made it evident how positive the School environment is, and their sincerity left a lasting impression Our time at Dean Close School was an enriching experience, inspiring us to continue strengthening the relationships within our Community, and extending our efforts towards societal and charitable causes
OLD DECANIAN OBITUARIES
Roll of Remembrance 2023 -24
Forename Last Name House Class of
Richard Boswell Court 1952
Richard Bunting Field 1978
Michael Dash Gate 1953
David Edgington Gate 1957
Michael Fateh Gate 1976
Gareth Harries Court 1991
Vivian Harris Court 1943
Philip Habershon Brook 1949
Quentin Haslam Former Staff 1991-2024
John Hawes Brook 1959
Peter Holland Field 1960
Gordon Holmes Former Staff 197 1-1978
Tony Honeysett Tower 1954
Timothy Idiens Walton Court 1942
Christine McKelvey Former Staff 1989-2017
Ben Powell Dale 2005
David Renfrew Brook 1957
Derek Reynolds Gate 1946
John Ridler Former Staff 1953-1958
Peter Russell-Sienesi Brook 1950
David Smith Gate 1949
Michael Tupper Tower 1951
Matthew Turner
Karen Whitton Staff DCPPS 2006-2023
Sarah Wight Shelburne 1993
Richard Wintle Brook 1953
David Yorke Tower 1948
Richard BOSWELL (Court 1952)
Died 31 July 2022, aged 87.
Richard Boswell was born near Evesham in Worcestershire in 1935 He attended Dean Close School from September 1944 until 1952 A jovial and friendly boy, he took school in his stride In the classroom, Maths was his only strong point, but he was also good at Sport, especially rugby and hockey Notably, he was High Jump Champion in the Junior School
Richard left school quite early with the intention of joining his father and brother John on their some 450 acres of farms growing vegetables. However, this was delayed when Richard broke his leg very badly in a horse-riding accident, which took two years to mend before he could commence work
Richard and John worked together for about five years before dividing the business Richard took on Sandfields Farm in Luddington, near Stratford Upon Avon, where he grew 50 acres of plums, 40 acres of parsley for drying, and various vegetables on his 160 acres
Richard’s broken leg never fully recovered, causing him to give up hockey and take up shooting He joined with his neighbouring farmers to set up their own shoot, which was a good friendly and enjoyable situation.
Richard married Pauline in 1958, and they had three children, Penny, Rosemary, and Michael. The family were always very much involved in village life He died on 31 July 2022, sitting in his chair watching horse racing on TV, with his pen in one hand, and a newspaper in the other
Always jovial and friendly to the end.
Richard Irby BUNTING (Field 1978)
Died 17 May 2024, aged 62.
Richard Irby Bunting was born on 15 March 1962 in Wells, Somerset and had a happy early childhood on an old farm that his parents never quite tamed When he was seven years old, the family moved to a much more ordered life in Cheltenham, and Richard began in a primary school. However, it became clear that Dean Close would offer a much-enriched experience, and Richard settled into Field, the new dayboys’ house at that time
After school he attended Mountview Theatre School, but his future was not to be front of stage He then went to Solent University to study Electronics (and run a pirate radio station). This enabled him to launch his highly successful career in theatre lighting, beginning with Theatre Projects Lighting Services in Covent Garden, followed by nine years with Strand, an international market leader. He achieved promotions through several other lighting companies, focussing on sales and client solutions and including helping to light the Athens Olympics in 2004 He also salvaged unwanted theatre lighting equipment to reuse in schools
Richard’s last company, where he spent nearly 20 years, was LSI Projects where he loved his work with theatre, concert hall, opera house, conference centre, and broadcast markets throughout the UK He was highly regarded, and at his funeral a large group of colleagues came to pay tribute to his work
Richard married Karen in 1995 and later his son William arrived, but he tragically lost Karen in 2013 after a lengthy illness. It was a joyful day when he married Wendy five years later.
Richard is remembered by all – at home and at work – as an eternally charming man always ready with a smile He loved his steam trains and film and theatre music Richard died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack and leaves three older brothers who feel ‘it was not his turn’.
Michael Glenmark DASH (Gate 1953)
Died 27 February 2024, aged 89.
Michael, the son of Glen and Kay Dash, was born in Wallasey on 20 August 1934 and brought up in Bath and Cheltenham where his father was a Martins Bank Manager. His younger brother, Christopher, sadly predeceased him in 2013
Michael joined Dean Close in 1948 where he was involved in many activities, especially sport. He played Centre Forward in hockey, was 1st team Cricket Captain, won the Taylor’s Cup for cricket, and was Fly Half for 1st XV. Michael was also Head of Gate House, a School Prefect, a Sgt in CCF, Vice Chairman of the Debating Society, Secretary of the Chess Club, Secretary of the Gramophone Club, and he won the OD General Knowledge Prize at Speech Day
Regarding cricket, an extract from the Decanian reads, ‘As a captain, Dash showed a shrewd common sense in the handling of his team and if the care with which he placed his field sometimes took a little more time than it should, his final placings were very satisfactory ’
Regarding debating, the Decanian reads, ‘The first debate of term was held on 17 February in the School Hall, the motion being that "In the opinion of this house, modern advertising is out of all proportion to the requirements " G D Inkin opened for the proposition and was seconded by M G Dash, while M J. Stock seconded by D. Cecil opposed the motion. Although attendance was small there were many willing speakers on both sides of the house. The motion was defeated by 29 votes to 15.’
Michael studied Medicine at Bristol University where his sporting prowess continued He captained the university’s hockey and cricket teams and was also Vice President of the Union His medical career progressed through a sequence of hospital posts in Bristol where he met his future wife Anne, daughter of Geoff Cole, and a fellow Occidental hockey team member. Michael was a family man, and he and Annie had three children born in 1964, 1965, and 1967
Mike was an Assistant General Practitioner in Brighton and Cheddar before joining the Mannamead Surgery, Plymouth in October 1964 as a Partner, where he remained until retirement as Senior Partner in 1999. Under his leadership, the GP practice
expanded and adjusted through several contractual changes, including fundholding It pioneered the first appointment system in Plymouth and supported the BMA in the formation of the Doctors Deputising Service.
Additionally, Michael was Occupational Health Physician to Plymouth Hospitals and Clarks Shoes and was also involved in the commissioning of Derriford Hospital As a dedicated, able, and compassionate family doctor, he was highly regarded by his patients. Michael was a member of the Local Medical Committee, chairing in 1992, and served on the Devon LMC as the representative for the local NHS GPs He was involved in the local BMA branch serving as its Secretary, Treasurer, and Chair, as well as the Plymouth Medical Society where he served as Secretary and President
Michael became a proficient golfer and yachtsman winning cross channel races He was an avid supporter of Plymouth Albion Rugby Club where he served as a Medical Officer, Somerset County Cricket Club, and the Lions Club of Plymouth. He was a generous host, and appreciated modern art and sculpture, theatre, classical music, and jazz, as well as having a taste for fine wines.
Michael and Annie retired to Liskeard in 2000 before moving to Braunton in 2005 to spend time with and support their two grandsons Both were keen sportsmen at West Buckland School where Mike delighted in cheering them on from the sidelines as well as attending many school functions, including concerts, drama, and jazz nights.
Michael and Annie were also involved in the church, Saunton Golf Club, and the U3A Michael was the Founding Chair and later President of the Braunton branch, and he also served on the Parochial Church Council. Colleagues, patients, friends, and family benefitted from Michael’s charm, ability, and commitment to whatever he did
Sadly, his last few years were compromised by a slow decline in health, and he passed away peacefully at North Devon District Hospital having suffered a cerebral vascular event.
David EDGINGTON (Gate 1957)
Died April 19 2022, aged 82
David Edgington was born in Swindon on 28 March 1940 and attended Dean Close School in Cheltenham before joining his father’s estate agents and building society. He went on to become an Auctioneer and later took over the property side of the business
As a young man, David played rugby and field hockey to a high standard. He also played golf and maintained a respectable handicap throughout his golf career, joining Ferndown Golf Club In his late teens, he was introduced to sailing This became a passion for the rest of his life, and he became a member of Poole Yacht Club and Parkstone Yacht Club.
In his early forties David married Christine, and they had two children, Louise and Robert. The family was based in Swindon but skied and sailed together and had many interesting trips in Europe and North America In later life, he retired to Poole where he married Caroline and enjoyed his four boisterous grandsons
David was very fond of good wine and food and travelled as much as possible; sailing in Turkey, Greece, and the Caribbean whilst owning a second and much-loved home in San Pedro, Spain. Driving from the UK and across Spain together and visiting new cities became an almost annual adventure!
David supported various charities, such as the RNLI and the Red Cross He was a quiet man with a great love of architecture, but above all was a man who had a kind and generous heart and was genuinely loved and appreciated by his family and friends He will be missed by all
Michael FATEH (Gate 1976)
Died 20 September 2024, aged 66.
We will be including an obituary for Michael in the next edition of the Flecker magazine.
Gareth HARRIES (Court 1991)
Died 13th May 2024, aged 51
Gareth Harries sadly passed away on 13 May 2024. He was just 51 years old and is survived by his mother, Thelma, and his brother John Gareth had been diagnosed with melanoma seven years ago but often kept the details of his health very private, wanting to live his life unrestricted by the diagnosis and not waste energy on thinking about it
He certainly spent the time since his diagnosis living his best life. However, the disease had spread rapidly in his last months, which came as a shock to many He passed away surrounded by loved ones
Gareth’s life was celebrated on 27 June and a number of ODs attended He was remembered by many for his kindness, loyalty, and humour, for his many small acts of kindness, for being a football fan, joker, parkrun participant and advocate, charity volunteer, animal lover, and traveller. His passing leaves a big hole in many people’s lives, and he will be greatly missed
Vivian Hedley HARRIS (Court 1943)
Died 16 January 2024, aged 98.
Vivian Harris was born in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire in December 1925 to his parents, Montague and Elsie His father was a Solicitor in the town He had a sister, Patricia, and a brother, Tony, who was also at Dean Close School.
Vivian attended Dean Close from 1935 to 1943 and became a House Prefect in Walton Court. He achieved a distinction in his School Certificate and was an accomplished sportsman, winning school colours for rugby, cricket, and hockey. He was also heavily involved with the JTC (CCF)
On leaving school, Vivian joined the Army and, after attending the Indian Military Academy in 1944,
served in Burma. After the war, Vivian stayed in the Army for a period and served in Belize and Jamaica
After leaving the Army, Vivian followed his father into the legal profession and joined the family law practice in Chipping Sodbury. He became a Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1952 and continued as a Solicitor until his retirement
Vivian married his wife Beryl in 1954, and they had two sons, Anthony and Christopher, both of whom also went to Dean Close.
Vivian remained an enthusiastic and highly capable sportsman for all his life. He was an active member of Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club and later became a keen sailor (owning a succession of boats which he kept on the South Coast) and golfer (which he only stopped playing in his late eighties)
Vivian and Beryl lived independently in South Gloucestershire until 2023. Vivian passed away on 16 January 2024
Philip HABERSHON (Brook 1949)
Died 9 February 2024, aged 91
Philip died on 9 February after a two-week battle against Covid and general frailty A day before he died, we managed to arrange to move him from the local hospital ward back to his care home and his beloved ‘Room 41’ which, over the months he had resided there, he had come to very much see as home
The care home was a couple of hundred yards from our own home, so we had had lots of opportunities to spend time with and support him, especially when he struggled to truly understand what was going on around him or to use the technology on which he increasingly relied – from his mobile phone to hearing aids!
On his last day he was surrounded by the staff who had grown to love him, together with a nurse from the local GP practice who had been caring for him, as well as my wife and I. It was a tremendous honour to have been with him as he breathed his last
Written by Paul Habershon, Philip’s son
Quentin HASLAM (Former Staff 1991-2024)
Died 17 April 2024, aged 65.
Quentin was born in Maidenhead on 2 April 1959 and died on 17 April 2024 from a sudden cardiac arrest
From early childhood, Quentin’s life was filled with music, firstly as a choir boy at the local church, and soon progressing to learning the organ. When he reached secondary education and attended Maidenhead Grammar School, he also took up the bassoon, which remained a lifelong passion.
Following a Music degree at the University of Exeter, Quentin trained as a Music Librarian and worked in Aldeburgh with the archives of Benjamin Britten and
Peter Pears, before becoming the Music Librarian at Hereford Library
Quentin moved to Cheltenham in 1987, where alongside full-time employment at Goodmusic Publishing and then with various music publishers, he played and taught the bassoon widely across the area
This included 30 years as a visiting Bassoon Teacher at DCS He loved sharing his passion for the instrument with enthusiastic students and enjoyed being a part of many orchestral performances and productions at the School
Quentin leaves behind Jo, his wife of almost 40 years, three children, and two grandsons.
John
Anthony Harington HAWES (Brook 1959) Died 29 January 2023, aged 81
John A. H. Hawes died from mesothelioma after a period of increasing illness at his home in Speen, near Newbury in Berkshire, on 29 January 2023
John was born at Port Dickson, Malaya, on 22 March 1941, escaping with his mother and grandmother only a few months later following the attack on Pearl Harbour and the Fall of Singapore They were very fortunate to make it to Australia as refugees on the small Dutch coaster, The Bontico, dodging Japanese ships through the Indonesian archipelago John returned to Malaya with his parents in 1946, his father having survived the Fall of Singapore and four years as a prisoner of the Japanese on the Burma/Siam railway
John attended junior school as a boarder in Cameron Highlands (Malaya), returning to the UK with his mother and two younger brothers, Geoffrey and Robert, in 1951 to start at Dean Close Junior School (where two uncles and his paternal grandfather had preceded him)
After Common Entrance, he joined Dean Close Senior School in Brook House, with the wonderful Stanley Hoare as Housemaster. He enjoyed his time there, taking up the oboe under David Silk. Music became an important pursuit out of school hours, together with drawing,
painting, and the design and construction of model aircraft, working in balsa wood from scale drawings
John was a keen member of the CCF and Choral Society He took Maths and Science at A level and, in addition to his considerable musical and artistic skills, throughout his life had a strong design and engineering mindset A particular friend was Alan Ryder (Tower 1959), who died in Canada on 8 April 2020
John left school in 1959 Whilst considering his career path, he took a job for a few years at British Cellophane in Bridgwater. Unfortunately, it later emerged that it was in this role, which involved use of asbestos materials, that the seeds of his final illness took root
John moved into a career with Lloyds Bank in Southwest London in 1965, subsequently joining the investment bank, Kleinwort Benson, in 1973 During that same year he married Audrey, and their daughter Sarah was born in 1974 In 1989, John turned down a relocation within Kleinwort Benson to avoid disrupting Sarah’s schooling mid-GCSEs Instead, he started a new career in the NHS as the Practice Manager for Hungerford Surgery, where Hugh Pihlens (Field) was Senior Partner.
John met up with Roger Brown, a Dean Close contemporary, in the mid 1980s
and he and his wife, Diana, remained friends of John and Audrey, often sharing both art and music events together
John retired in 2004 and enjoyed a rewarding retirement travelling with Audrey around Europe and the UK He also enjoyed painting, cooking, gardening, playing the oboe, and attending many concerts John had a keen interest in history and politics, and a passion for music, especially opera, which gave him much inspiration and solace. He held a lifelong appreciation of Dean Close, supporting a number of the School’s projects
John is survived by his two brothers, Geoffrey D H Hawes (Brook 1965) and Robert E H Hawes (Brook 1968) His brothers, Audrey, and his daughter Sarah would be very glad to hear from contemporaries via sjhhawes@gmail com
‘Music became an importantpursuit out of school hours, together with drawing andpainting. ’
Peter HOLLAND (formerly Thompson) (Field 1960)
Died 8 March 2023, aged 79.
Peter passed away peacefully on March 8, 2023, in the hospital in Newport Beach, California. The cause of death was respiratory failure and lung cancer Peter was also a diabetic
Pete did not want a funeral, so instead we had a big party at his local bar with food and drink, as well as a live band, which his son Paul and family came over for Peter would have loved it
Peter was cremated and his ashes were scattered at Cheltenham Racecourse, which he travelled to every March. It is sad that he fell at the last fence, just short of the 2023 Festival.
Pete’s claim to fame is being the youngest player to have ever played for the School Rugby 1st XV, playing the 1959/60 season as a nifty scrum half at aged 16
Pete also had an elder brother at Dean Close, Gerald Alan Holland (Field & Court 1958) who died in Devon in 2022 Both came to school as Thompson but changed their names by deed poll to Holland in 1957 Their father was one of the first motor insurance brokers in Cheltenham.
Pete is survived by his wife in the USA, as well as his son, daughter, and four grandchildren in Cheltenham.
Written by Diane Holland, Peter’s wife.
Tony HONEYSETT (Tower 1954)
Died 13 December 2023, aged 86.
Tony always stayed connected with the OD Society, who were aware of all his achievements in the surveying world He certainly would have loved to have known that the Old Decanains went on a ski trip to France this year! Tony wrote in whenever there was a major milestone in his life, from when he got married to when he passed his final examination at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Tony entered the Senior School in 1951, leaving in 1954 At the time he was living at South Lawn, The Avenue, Cheltenham. Whilst at the School, he was also a Cadet in the RAF section of the Cadet Force. Tony was a great skier; indeed, his last run was down the Schilthorn! He said to his son, “If James Bond can do it so can I!” He was in his seventies at the time
Tony died peacefully in hospital on 13 December 2023, aged 86, surrounded by his family. He had three children, Marcus William (Church Minister),
Angus William (Chartered Accountant), and Georgina Esther-Claire (Commerical Solicitor). He also had seven grandchildren.
Tony came from long-standing Cheltenham family. His father Leslie William was one-time Chief Quantity Surveyor at Cheltenham Borough Council, and Old Decanians may remember his grandparent’s shop, Honeysett and Howlett, in Clarence Parade
Written by Cynthia Honeysett
Revd Gordon HOLMES (Former Staff 197 1-1978)
Died 29 March 2024, aged 87
Gordon Holmes was a Geography Teacher and then Head of Geography at Dean Close School from 197 1 to 1978. These seven years in Cheltenham were an important part of his life, both professionally and personally.
Professionally, Gordon thrived in supporting students at DCS understand more about the physical world and to grapple with global issues In addition to departmental responsibilities, including field visits to the Gower, one of his passions was being Stage Manager for numerous plays He became known for producing props out of nowhere!
His involvement with Salem Baptist Church in Cheltenham also encouraged Gordon to explore a change of career. After leaving DCS, he trained as a Baptist Minister in Bristol and went on to work as Christian Aid’s Area Secretary there for many years, as well as supporting a huge range of international, national, and local social justice, community, and environmental activities
Personally, after six years teaching in Uganda and then Monmouth, Dean Close School provided Gordon and his wife Hilary the opportunity to settle down, start a family, and bring up their two boys, Keith and Tim Gordon eventually became father-in-law to Joanne Holmes (nee Simmons) who also attended Dean Close School as a pupil with her two siblings (Mark and Claire Simmons) in late 80s/early 90s DCS has therefore had a significant impact on Gordon and his wider family over the years.
Gordon was born in London in 1936 and was the son of Raymond and Nora Holmes Gordon’s father was serving as a Baptist Missionary Society Medical Doctor at Yakusu Hospital on the Congo River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo Sadly, Nora died when Gordon was just 11 months old, an event that, not surprisingly, had a huge impact on the rest of his life.
Ernest Payne, a leading Baptist Theologian and Church Leader, and his wife Freda became his guardians, while Gordon’s father returned to Yakusu and later re-married.
Gordon evacuated from London with the Paynes in 1939 and settled in Oxford, where he began his schooling. From the age of 10, Gordon boarded at Eltham College in South London. Gordon played rugby for the first team, backstroked for the swimming team, and became Head Prefect and Senior Scout. The return to England by his father and stepmother Irene in 1949 gave Gordon what he felt to be two sets of parents, as he also maintained strong connections with his guardians.
National Service took Gordon into the RAF as a Flying Officer, and then came University College London, where he read Economics and Geography By 1961, a vocation to teach turned his path, which saw Gordon completing his Postgraduate Certificate in Education. For a few years there were teaching posts at Cheshunt and then East Barnet Grammar Schools By 1964 he was Head of Geography and Economics at Busoga College Mwiri, near Jinja in Uganda, helping to encourage and teach young people who would become leading lights of their nation in a host of fields He was joined in Uganda by his new wife, Hilary (née Abel), who became a much loved and incredibly supportive lifelong collaborator
During his time with Christian Aid, Gordon undertook numerous overseas visits Hilary and Gordon also hosted many international visitors in their home, which enabled him to bring to life the realities of life in the Global South and highlight what Christian Aid was doing with local partners to support those seeking a better life. These
experiences, and Gordon’s passion for social justice, undoubtedly had a huge influence on the lives and careers of his sons, of whom Gordon was always so very proud and supportive.
After his ‘retirement’, Gordon served as College Secretary at Bristol Baptist College and then chaired the college’s community He was the focal person for the Africa Forum of the Churches’ Commission on Mission for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, before chairing the forum for a further six years
Gordon also chaired the Elsie Briggs House Trust and Management Committee and Churches Together in the Westbury Area. Additionally, he served on the steering committee as Bristol became a City of Sanctuary, campaigned for asylum seekers, shared in Bristol Interfaith Group, and became deeply involved in supporting the work of Sabeel in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign
Closer to home, Gordon worked for a more sustainable Henleaze, supported the Westbury-on-Trym Country Market and the Friends of Badock’s Wood, attended Bristol Cathedral Chapter and the historic St Stephen’s Church in the centre of Bristol, worked on the Bristol Diocese Uganda Link, and moderated a Baptist Union Training Programme And, for more than 20 years, Gordon grew fruit and vegetables with Hilary on not one, but two and a half glorious allotments!
Gordon and Hilary had a shared commitment to follow Jesus Christ, and a Christian discipleship of depth and the most marvellous openness. They had a faith that cherished all the world, and that crossed borders and built bridges within and between communities and nations Their faith held to a vision of a world united in peace and justice, in which every single human life was cherished and respected with all the dignity given by the Creator of all.
Gordon passed away on Good Friday, 29 March 2024 in Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
Timothy
IDIENS
(Walton Court 1942)
Died in 2022, aged 95
In 1938, Tim’s father, Leslie Idiens, bought Hailes Farm near Winchcombe – and in doing so, set the course that would steer Tim’s life. Alongside being a charming farm, Hailes had an unusual feature in that it had a railway running through it that went directly to Lansdown Station in Cheltenham, only a few hundred yards from Dean Close School. So, young Tim was soon catching the train at Hailes Halt every day to get to the School, which he attended between 1938 and 1942.
Tim married Stella Coe in 1954, and they had three daughters, the youngest of whom, Kathy, also attended Dean Close In 1967, Tim not only had to deal with the death of his father, but also an outbreak of foot and mouth disease Her Majesty the Queen met Tim, together with other local farmers, at The Three Counties Showground to express her admiration at the way that British farmers had recovered from the appalling epidemic
Tim farmed at Hailes his entire working life, finally retiring at the age of 77 During his career, he won the Root, Fruit and Grain Society ‘Best Farmed Farm’ several times. The judges were always impressed by the range and quality of the crops he
grew. However, while Tim was at the forefront of modern agriculture, he was always careful to tread lightly on the environment, establishing woodland, planting trees, and even creating a lake
Tim is, and will continue to be, sadly missed by his family, friends, and the rural community around Winchcombe Tim leaves behind his beloved wife Stella, three daughters, Carol, Sally, and Kathy, eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
Christine McKELVEY (Former Staff 1989-2017)
Died 23 May 2024, aged 84.
Christine was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in January 1940, on what would have been Mozart's 184th birthday
She grew up there, later moving to Cheltenham and attending Sixth Form at Pate's Grammar School where she
studied Latin, French, and Music A level
Christine was a superb concert pianist, having received her training at the Royal Academy of Music and having taught at Whitefriars School (now St Edward's Junior School) as their first full-time Music Teacher.
After a period of employment in Sussex at Christ's Hospital School, she moved back to Cheltenham in 1989 and taught piano and keyboard harmony at Dean Close until 2017 Christine's great skill was to enhance the musicality of each and every pupil by providing a rigorous and ambitious programme of individualised study
She was a great believer in the fundamentals of technical exercises, sight-reading, and aural awareness However, she also had the ability to allow her pupils to show their own expressiveness through the study of keyboard harmony (which she taught to embellish the A level Music course), or through improvisation.
Christine maintained excellent friendships with her colleagues in the department – including Helen Porter, Julie Kent, and Ciara Allen – and expupils, many of whom still wrote to her to keep in touch long after they left the School. Going the extra mile for her students was her starting point, and came naturally to her caring, and in some cases quasi-parental, nature
Christine passed away on 23 May 2024 after a period of illness whilst in the excellent care of Whittington House Nursing Home She was 84 Matthew Martin (Gate 1994) played the organ for her funeral at St Mary's Church, Prestbury, where Christine's husband, Malcolm, was Church Organist until his passing in 2005. Many Dean Close Music scholars would remember this church, as Christine had welcomed them to perform recitals in this space
Her son James (Dale 1996) also became a Music Teacher and is currently Director of Music at Bromsgrove School.
David was born in Broadway on 11 February 1939, a second son for Veterinarian Archibald Renfrew (1917), and a brother for Peter (Brook 1954). He attended two kindergarten schools in the village
In 1947, David moved to Purton Stoke Preparatory School at Barton Court near Kintbury, which was run by OD H. G. Clark. Soon after, in 1948 he moved to Dean Close Junior School when his brother joined the Senior School from Purton Stoke. Coincidentally, Peter White joined the Junior School at the same time as David He got on well with Peter, and on his 84th birthday, he recalled that they played cricket together later in the Senior School They both left in 1957
Upon leaving DCS, David was deferred from immediate National Service as he was doing an apprenticeship in Estate Management Time was on his side, as
David RENFREW (Brook 1957)
Died 21 February 2023, aged 84
when he finished his training and had RICS after his name, National Service had already been abolished
His father’s interest in golf appealed to David’s love of sport, and he joined his father as a member of Broadway Golf Club. Born left-handed, he decided to play golf right-handed, and in his twenties he got his handicap down to low single figures David continued to
Derek REYNOLDS (Gate 1946)
Died 4 March 2023, aged 94.
At Dean Close, Derek was a House Prefect of Gate, and in 1945 he was appointed C Q M S Derek was very much into Drama during his time at Dean Close, and in 1944 he was in the school play ‘King John’ where he played a principal part as the Blanche of Spain!
Ben POWELL (Dale 2005)
Died 22 October 2024, aged 38.
We will be including an obituary for Ben in the next edition of the Flecker magazine.
play golf – including OD competitions –at various courses in the Cotswolds and surrounding counties until his late seventies.
David married Denise Lymn in the late 1960s, and they had two children in the 1970s, Amelia and Benjamin David worked for various estate agents as a Surveyor for about 20 years, before setting up his own building surveying business, Renfrews, in Banbury in his early forties, which he ran successfully until his retirement. During his stay in Banbury, David supported and took part in the Banbury Lions Club fundraising events, particularly at Christmas.
David’s interest in the construction of buildings reappeared rapidly on his retirement when he got involved in the improvement of a number of properties, the last of which was completed in early 2022 in Clifford Chambers David leaves behind his daughter Amy and son Ben
John RIDLER (Former Staff 1953-1958)
Died 11 June 2023, aged 94.
John died peacefully at home in Brighton on 11 June 2023, aged 94. He taught Modern Languages (primarily French) at Dean Close, moving to Denstone College (1958-1972), then Brighton College (1972-1989).
John met Margaret in Cheltenham, marrying in 1956 The oldest of their four children was born in Cheltenham. They stayed on in Brighton after retirement, enjoying many cultural activities, especially choral singing Margaret died in June 2016.
John was delighted to have been remembered by Ewen Bird after many years (see recent editions of Flecker), and they exchanged at least one letter.
Peter John RUSSELL-SIENESI (Brook 1950)
Died 10 March 2023, aged 90
In 1949 Peter was one of the readers of the Nine Lessons and Carols Service During Peter’s time at Dean Close, he was very much into sport and was awarded his colours for Rugby in 1949. He also became a House Prefect in December 1949.
David was born on 17 January 1931 in Paget, Bermuda, where he was the youngest in a family of six children. His Bermudian father was a Puisne Judge in the West Indies and Africa David’s English mother’s parents had retired to Cleeve Hill near Cheltenham by the time David entered Dean Close in June 1944 –and it may have helped that his interviewer at Dean Close had previously taught at the school David attended in Trinidad!
To reach Cheltenham, David had travelled across the Atlantic with his mother and two sisters in a ship that was part of a large convoy guarded by two rings of destroyers, and which at one point warded off attacks by German submarines. While David’s ship headed for Liverpool, arriving on 1 June, the rest of the ships went round the north of Scotland and then south to take part in the D-Day invasion.
David recalled that on arrival at Dean Close, the other boys “came to see this ‘American’ boy who’d come, and they were quite amused by my accent.” However, he soon settled in and met a lifelong friend, Peter Leech (Gate 1948) Used to warmer climes, David remembered fondly that the Junior Common Room “had big hot pipes going round to keep us all warm.” He enjoyed the leadership roles Dean Close gave him, as Head of the Successive Common Rooms and finally Head of Gate House
David had a particular admiration for his Housemaster, Revd E. V. Tanner, who taught him how to read the lesson in Chapel, a skill which he enjoyed displaying in his local church until very recently He remained in communication with his Housemaster up until the time of Tanner’s death.
The subjects David enjoyed most were Mathematics and Physics, and it was in these that he passed his Higher School Certificate He remembered playing a lot of sport – rugby, hockey, and cricket –though confessed he “didn’t have the zest to be a good player ” He also took part in plays – an aged monk in Sayers’s ‘The Zeal of Thy House’ and the sea captain in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ (and was proud that in his late eighties he could still recite some of it!)
During the school holidays, David stayed with relatives or friends in England. While visiting Peter Leech’s home in Moreton-in-Marsh, he met Peter’s twin sister Daphne and fell in love with her. They married in 1955 after David had enjoyed National Service as an Army Officer on the Gold Coast, before working there for a trading company
David and Daphne set up home in Lillington, Warwickshire, and along came their three sons, Peter, Andrew, and Michael. David worked as a Sales
Representative for a car finance company, and on being appointed Branch Manager for a rival company, the family moved up to Keyworth, Nottinghamshire. Within a few years, David had founded his own company, Ace Finance Ltd, which specialised in financing used cars. Daphne taught in the local village school
David was always active in the community He was a Magistrate for some 20 years, a Group Scout Leader, Treasurer of a number of local societies, and a Freemason for over 60 years He loved inventing devices and being a handyman in the house and garden. He and Daphne loved the countryside and enjoyed walks with his family and a succession of dogs.
After Daphne died in 2016, David was keen to live independently for as long as he could, but when dementia and prostate cancer closed in, he moved into a local care home Barely eight weeks later, he passed peacefully away on 2 January 2024. David is survived by his three sons, three grandsons, and his dear friend Helen
Written by Peter Smith, David’s son
David Henr y SMITH (Gate 1949) Died 2 January 2024, aged 92
Michael John TUPPER (Tower 1951)
Died 18 September 2023, aged 89
Michael was born on 31 August 1934 in Worcester, the only child of Frank Chalk and Patricia Irene Tupper He attended the Convent and King’s School, Worcester, where his Maths teacher told him he was very good at Maths and the Art teacher suggested he steer clear of Art!
His grandparents, aunts, and uncles on his mother’s side all lived on a large farm at Netherwood Manor in Tenbury Wells, where he spent a great many happy years in the summer holidays and at Christmas
He had a collection of animals as a young boy including Pretty Hen the Chicken and Maggie the Magpie, who was brought up in the house. For a birthday, he received another chicken, which he said was the best present ever!
This chicken, however, was in a tin and had come from Canada during the War from his aunt
Michael moved to Pittville in Cheltenham when he was 11 and started at Dean Close School in 1945 where he became the first in a long line of Tuppers to attend Dean Close. He was a good athlete and played rugby in the Dean Close 1st XV He was also a keen member of the CCF and an excellent shot At age 18, Michael left Dean Close and started his training for accountancy, whilst working with his father in the family business
At 20, Michael went into the Army It was the first time he’d travelled
abroad, and he visited many places including Malta, Cyprus, Sharjah, Aiden, and finally Africa, where he spent most of his time.
Michael always enjoyed the finer things in life and even when fighting in the hills above Nairobi, he loved to come back to the Raffles Hotel and have some well-deserved R&R, baths, afternoon teas, and cocktails (very different from the meagre rations in the hills!) Unfortunately, he spent his 21st birthday in the Army jail having been out the evening before and arriving back late to barracks
It was in Aiden that he eventually purchased his beloved Omega watch which he bartered for over a long time – nearly two months He wore this same watch for over 60 years. Michael was exceptional at bartering and continued exercising his talent through to his later days in Cavendish House and Majestic Wine, where they didn’t stand a chance against his bartering skills!
As a young man, Michael loved to dance and always said he knew where to go dancing every night of the week in Cheltenham He enjoyed evenings at Aspinalls and Crockfords in London and was lucky enough to visit the casino in the Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo, where he brushed shoulders with stars of the day such as Grace Kelly, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Omar Shariff, and Frank Sinatra.
Michael eventually settled back into life in Cheltenham. Having run the family business successfully for many years, he sold it and retired to focus on his growing property portfolio A legendary card player, one of his first property ‘investments’, the Bar B Q Coffee Club, was won in a card game! He later turned it into the Wi-Ki-Ki Club in Cheltenham where he had Brian Jones play, a skittle ally, one armed bandits, and dancing every night
He spent the second half of his life in a beautiful house near Evesham with his family. Under the creative eye of his wife Tina, they restored an almost derelict house to its former glory. The gardens they created are now open to visitors in the summer as part of the National Gardens Scheme raising money for local charities.
Michael died peacefully at home in September 2023. He had packed a great deal into his almost 90 years of life!
‘As a young man, Michael loved to dance and always said he knew where to go dancing every night of the week in Cheltenham. ’
Matthew TURNER (Christopher Turner’s Son)
Died 25 June 2024, aged 60
Matthew was born at home on 24 March, 1964 in a school flat at Charterhouse. Dean Close House was his home from April 1968 to July 1979, when the family moved to Stowe.
He attended Cheltenham College Junior School as a day boy, until he went to Oundle School as a boarder in 1977 He had a Foundation Year at Nene College, Northampton on leaving school in preparation for a degree course at Loughborough College of Art and Design, where he developed his skill as an artist.
Matthew was always highly literate and edited the student magazine at Loughborough College He was also fluent in French. Matthew had considerable practical skills, typically using them for the benefit of others and improving his own home. He was passionate in his care of animals of all shapes and sizes, and very fond of dogs. With people he was always kind, thoughtful, and gentle, but that did not stop him from being very angry at injustice, arrogance and cruelty
After leaving Loughborough (ending with a semester at Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, USA) he first worked for Bridgeman Art Library, then International Masters Publishers until 1994, before freelancing for various publishers including Eaglemoss (where he worked on Horrible Histories), Marshall Cavendish, and DeAgostini
Matthew married Gabrielle, a New Zealander, in January 1997 They lived in London until January 2004 when Matthew, Gabrielle, and their first two children moved to New Zealand Their third child was born in 2007. In Auckland, Matthew was first employed as an Editor by New Holland Publishers, where he managed projects and staff, and consulted in editing and art direction.
Matthew then decided to form his own company, Wooden Shed Publishing, editing, writing, proofreading, and guiding other writers through the process of publishing He was much in demand as an editor; he was known as ‘a man of ethics and patience’ and professionalism. His thoroughness, high standards of presentation, meticulous accuracy, and flawless command of English attracted universities, the Auckland Children’s Hospital ‘Starship,’ and the National Museum, among other bodies.
Matthew was always practising his considerable artistic and creative skills He won a prestigious prize in Auckland for his story of the two Polish Spiders which was illustrated in a cartoon style, and was mastering a substantial talent in printing, with his work both displayed and sold in local galleries in Masterton, NZ His irrepressible sense of fun was never far below the surface, and this was evident in many of his works of art
Matthew decided to celebrate his 60th birthday in 2024 with a brief visit to Berlin followed by three months based at his father’s home in the Cotswolds, seeing as many of his friends and family as he could manage. He flew home to Wellington, NZ, in early June as planned He died in his sleep on 25 June; there were no symptoms - the autopsy revealed heart disease.
Matthew was a master of many talents which he developed to an extremely high level, but essentially, he was a very warm-hearted family man.
On Saturday 2 September 2023, Dean Close lost a beloved member of the Community; colleague, friend, Swimming Coach and Teaching Assistant Karen Whitton, who passed away at the age of 56 years Karen died from cancer which she had bravely fought for two years before her passing, and she is so very much missed by her family, friends, and the whole Dean Close Community.
A moving and fitting memorial service was held at Dean Close Chapel on 5 October 2023, drawing together members of the Dean Close Community from across the Schools, as well as family and friends, at which we were all able to celebrate Karen’s life and achievements together.
Karen WHITTON (Staff 2006-2023)
Died 2 September 2023, aged 56
Karen was born in Letchworth Garden City and moved to Cheltenham with her parents when she was six, her brother Laurence was four, and her sister Louise was two. She attended Richard Pates Prep School and then Pates Grammar School. Karen joined Dean Close Pre-Prep School in 2006 as a Teaching Assistant, and from the beginning made her mark as a key member of staff She was a positive, energetic, and caring member of the team.
Karen was loved by all who knew her and has left us with wonderful memories, such as her ability to work with every age group, her willingness to help and go the extra mile, and the fun, laughter, and colour she brought to every classroom she worked in – as well as to the whole Staff team
Karen’s family were also part of the Dean Close Community, with her daughter Holly joining the Pre-Prep as a pupil, Karen’s sister Louise having been in the Sixth Form, and her mother Marian teaching in the Senior School PE Department.
Karen had a natural, engaging, and caring rapport with the children, which was clear in the pupils’ enthusiasm to work with her, as well as in the enduring relationships she developed with them and their parents during the years she worked at ‘The Squirrels’ In particular, she was able to get alongside and work with children who needed a little more support than others –and as a result of her encouragement, fun, and positivity, they flourished and made progress It was lovely to see past pupils grow up through Dean Close wanting to come back to the PrePrep to share their journey with her
Karen had a passion and talent for swimming Growing up in a swimming family, she competed at County level until she was 18. Dean Close benefitted from her skills as she set up and ran Aquasplash Swim School and Big Waves Swim School with her mother, Marian (who had also coached swimming at Dean Close School) She taught swimming for many years, passing on her talent and passion not only to the Dean Close pupils but also to many in the wider community
Karen briefly left Dean Close Pre-Prep to use her considerable talents and knowledge of swimming, becoming a Regional Executive for Speedo in April 2015 We were, however, delighted when she returned once again to Pre-Prep as a Teaching Assistant in 2018.
Many children gained confidence and expertise in the pool as a result of Karen’s teaching and encouragement, so it was a fitting tribute that the Pre-Prep initiated ‘The Whitton Cup’ to celebrate and honour Karen’s legacy. The cup is presented to a pupil demonstrating outstanding progress and achievement in swimming each year at the end of our special Trinity Term Celebration Assembly in the marquee. The cup is engraved, “In loving memory of Karen Whitton 13/3/1967 – 2/9/2023, dedicated Teaching Assistant and Swim School Coach ‘Inspiring Excellence in and out of the Water’ ” A wonderful tribute, the cup was presented to Evelynn Binder last summer by Karen’s mother, Marian Venn.
It was also fitting that at the beginning of this academic year, an anniversary swim was held by pupils, staff, friends, and family in Karen’s honour to raise money for Cancer Research and the Sue Ryder Hospice
Karen had a special way of touching lives with her warm spirit and dedicated service She was a beacon of light and joy, not only among staff but also with the interactions she had with pupils. Her kindness and generosity enriched us all, and her absence will continue to be deeply felt within the walls of our School and the wider community. Whilst we mourn the loss of a treasured colleague, we also strive to uphold the values that she embodied: love, courage, and a tireless contribution to education.
Thank you, Karen
Sarah WIGHT (Shelburne 1993)
Died 17 December 2023, aged 48
Sarah Wight passed away on 17 December 2023, aged 48, after a brave battle with metastatic endometrial cancer.
Sarah was born on 19 April 1975 in Aylesbury to Gillian and Andrew Wight. They left as a family for Jakarta, Indonesia in October 1979 for Andy to take on a new, adventurous job as an Exploration Geologist. After a few years at the British School in Jakarta, Sarah started boarding at Hardy House, Dean Close Junior School from 1986-88, followed by Shelburne House at Dean Close School from 1988-1993. She went on to earn her degree in Leisure Management at Southampton in 1996
Hockey was a big part of Sarah’s life As an inspiring goalkeeper, she won many accolades, including the Girls’ U16 National Hockey Championship with Dean Close First XI in 1991 – the first team of either sex from the School to achieve this accolade Later in life, in 2016 and 2022, she won the England Hockey O35 Trophy with Epsom Hockey Club (Tier 2) and again in 2019 (Tier 3), where only one goal was conceded! Sarah was awarded the club’s Goalkeeper of the Year award in the 2018-19 season. She was also selected to represent South Hockey Women’s O40s and London Hockey Women’s O45s
Sarah made a significant impact on and off the hockey pitch, expertly managing Epsom Hockey Club’s social media, and she has left a lasting
legacy A new award, the ‘Be More Swight’ Trophy, was introduced by the club in 2024 in her honour, recognising acts of kindness and inclusivity.
Sarah had a successful career as a dedicated and loyal Scuba Diving Travel Executive at Barefoot Traveller and more recently with Dive Worldwide, who generously supported her unconditionally during her illness. As a gregarious and likeable character, she excelled at product development and building strong customer relationships throughout her working life.
Sarah was a loving partner and later fiancée to Penny Woods (‘Woodsie’) for 16 years, and a devoted friend to many people far and wide Sarah was also a cherished, much-loved sister and daughter
Sarah had a passion for padel, badminton, scuba diving, swimming, and Frances Allberry's Cardio Tennis! Sarah’s kindness, fun-loving personality, and wicked sense of humour lit up the lives of all who knew her, and she was often the life and soul of many parties and gatherings She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her partner, family, friends, and all the lives she touched from various walks of life.
Sarah is survived by her partner Penny, parents Gill and Andy, brother James, and nephew Jude
Richard WINTLE (Brook 1953)
Died 7 October 2023, aged 87
Born 3 January 1936 in London, Richard’s parents moved to Staffordshire in 1938 He attended Dean Close from 1947-1953, representing the School at hockey, rugby, and cricket. On leaving school he trained as a Brewer before completing his National Service in Germany with the 13th/18th Hussars.
After National Service, Richard returned to brewing and married Kay who he'd known from the age of 10. They moved to St Helens in Merseyside, where he held management positions with brewers Greenhall Whitley and Whitbread
Richard went on to take roles as Head Brewer at smaller breweries, most notably at Moorhouse’s Brewery in Burnley where he invented the awardwinning Pendle Witches brew in 1982. Richard retired in 2000 after working at Enville Brewery in Stourbridge.
A keen sportsman, Richard continued playing cricket into his sixties and hockey until he was 72. He became a huge rugby league fan and followed St Helens avidly.
Richard passed away peacefully in October 2023 after suffering a series of debilitating health issues over the previous two years Widowed in 2013, he is survived by his children Catherine and Brian
David Yorke, who died on 30 March 2023 aged 91, was a commercial Chartered Surveyor and Auctioneer who started his professional career in Bognor Regis and rose to become President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
David was born at home in Minera, North Wales on 5 December 1931, and was educated at Maltsis Prep School in Yorkshire and then at Dean Close. He excelled at school with some glowing reports Always regretting not going to university when he left school, he put that right some years later, when after retiring, he enrolled with the Open University and achieved a BA (Hons)
David was articled to Tregear & Sons before doing his National Service in the
Harr y Robert YORKE (Tower 1948)
Died 30 March 2023, aged 91
Royal Artillery When asked to name his choices for possible postings, the apocryphal story goes that he listed Hong Kong and Germany but was sent to Woolwich The day after he passed out in 1955, he married Patricia Fowler-Tutt at St Thomas à Becket Church, Pagham in Sussex. They enjoyed 65 very happy years of marriage until Pat died in 2020.
David joined Weatherall, Green, and Smith at 22 Chancery Lane, London in 1960 and was their Senior Partner from 1984 until 1992 Most of the organisations he was involved with were property based, but he particularly enjoyed his role with British Waterways as he and his family spent much time exploring the UK canals on his narrowboat, Clover.
From summers on the Canal du Midi to mooring in Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin in winter, the variety was endless.
David also became a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors, and President of the Royal
Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1988 He was awarded a CBE in 1993
David, Pat, their daughter Sarah, and their extended family of nephews and nieces enjoyed life in rural Sussex together with their many dogs, horses, and donkeys They enjoyed entertaining and loved any excuse to throw a party Life was never dull, and Pat was a constant support to David in his professional life, both in this country and on frequent trips abroad
Widely read with an excellent memory, David was particularly useful in the days before online search engines He had a keen sense of humour and was an accomplished speaker. He also managed to fit in the Times crossword, playing the piano, cookery, the arts, and a little gardening
After retirement, David and Pat moved to St Mawes in Cornwall, where they spent 25 very happy years. Latterly they moved to Kintbury in West Berkshire to be nearer their family
David
Dates for the Diary 2025
Friday 7 February
Spring Concert
Pittville Pump Rooms (7:30pm)
Wednesday 12 February
Chapel Choir Evensong Evensong at Salisbury Cathedral (5:30pm)
Saturday 1 March
Dean Close Open Morning
Open Morning for parents and prospective pupils aged 2-18 years Please call 01242 258044 to register or for more information
Tuesday 4 March
Careers Fair
Please contact Zach Suckle - zsuckle@deanclose org uk for further information
Sunday 30 March
Dean Close Sixes
Ladies’ alumni hockey tournament at Dean Close School
Friday 2 May
Business Networking Breakfast
Guest Speaker - David Wint from Roberts Limbrick
Tuesday 6 May
Commemoration of Benefactors at Dean Close School
Saturday 10 May
Dean Close Open Morning
Open Morning for parents and prospective pupils aged 2-18 years. Please call 01242 258044 to register or for further information
Friday 16 May
Close Community Clay Pigeon Shooting at Ian Coley Sporting
Thursday 22 May
Business Networking Event London on Liverpool Street
Guest Speaker - Chris Davies (CEO of UNCOMMON)
Saturday 21 June
DCS Speech Day
One year on drinks for Class of 2024
Reunion for Class of 2020 (5 years)
Reunion for Class of 2015 (10 years)
Reunion for Class of 2000 (25 years)
Monday 23 June
Work day for all the Lower Sixth
Please contact Zach Suckle - zsuckle@deanclose org uk for further information
Thursday 26 June
Summer OD Panel
Please contact Natalie Norman - nnorman@deanclose org uk for further information
Wednesday 2 July – 4 July Cricket Week
Friday 4 July
Close Community Golf Day at Cotswold Hills
Friday 10 October 1960s Reunion
Wednesday 10 December
Nine Lessons and Carols
All the Dean Close Community is welcome
Please email the office: ods@deanclose.org.uk or visit the alumni section of our website: www.deanclosefoundation.org.uk
HOCKEY CLUB
Regardless of whether you already play, haven’t played for a long time or have never played, everyone is welcome to join the Dean Close Hockey Club
A mixture of Old Decanians, current and past parents take part and everyone is welcome to come along and have a go Coffee is served in the Dining Hall after practice every Saturday morning and there are plenty of opportunities to socialise, culminating in an end-of-season event
Matches are fun and competitive, with rivals including Common Room staff, parents from other schools and even the team’s own children
If you would like more information, please call Sarah Hick on 07815 937 755, email dcparenthockey@gmail.com or come along to the astros at 8:15am on Saturday mornings.
Old Decanian Flo Edwards (Hatherley 2012) appeared on the latest season of ‘The Apprentice’
Her journey to the show began in early 2023 when watching season 17 Encouraged by family and friends to apply, she went through a rigorous inter view process to gain her spot, beating thousands of other candidates to get herself a seat in the boardroom.
In the 12-week long season, Flo was on the winning team for seven out of ten tasks and was honoured to make the final five, earning a prestigious spot in the inter view episode
Flo says: “It was an honour to be named in that cohort They were award-winners in all their specialised fields. In terms of what the interviews were like, ultimately, I was fired for being too ambitious, which I’ll absolutely take. If you’re going to be fired for anything, at least it’s your ambition!”
Having learned a lot from her experience on The Apprentice, after launching an Executive Search consultancy, Flo made the decision to step away from recruitment and follow her true passion in life: ar t
Ar t was a huge par t of Flo’s life at Dean Close, and she still stays in contact with many of the teachers that helped foster her passion.
OLD DECANIAN
Editors: Leah Barton (Hatherley 2022), Thea Foote Designer: Adam Hathaway
