Headmaster’s Welcome
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Celebrating the Freemen’s Community Spirit p.4
Freemen’s Foundation
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Alumni Stories p.14
FREEMEN’S CALLING SUMMER 2020 | ISSUE 5
Thank You
OFA News
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Hello from the Headmaster Dear Alumni, I could hardly have imagined the last time that I put ‘pen to paper’, as it were to write an introduction to Freemen’s Calling that I would next be doing so at a time of global crisis. First and foremost, I hope that this edition finds you and those you love safe and well. Ashtead Park has been a beautiful refuge during the pandemic. With fewer people around and a lot less traffic on the roads, I have been struck by the way that nature has reclaimed our School: buzzards, cuckoos, ducks, geese and woodpeckers have all been heard or seen and the deer have become braver in their interaction. I expect many of you have fond memories of the beauty of the site here and it is of course sometimes too easy to take it for granted. VE Day of course had an added poignancy this year as was so carefully explained by Her Majesty the Queen in her second address to the nation in a short period of time. I was heartened to hear that many of our brass players – we have a particularly strong group of trumpeters in School, presently – stood on doorsteps at home and played the last post to mark this occasion. This edition celebrates the strength of the Freemen’s community and I should have to say that I have felt that strength tangibly over recent weeks with staff, pupils and parents pulling together to support the continuation of academic progress, pastoral support, spiritual enrichment and co-curricular involvement in the face of lockdown. Many of us have found skills in new technologies and many of our pupils have developed new skills and interests as a result. We have at the heart of our mission statement a commitment ‘to learn, to lead and to make a difference’ and it has been heartening to see so many colleagues and pupils involved at this time in supporting the local community and I hope that you enjoy reading about some of those initiatives in this issue. I hope that Freemen’s Calling provides some welcome relief at this time and am grateful to all who have contributed and to Reema, who has edited it. As ever, Roland Martin
www.freemens.org | Email: development@freemens.org | Telephone: 01372 822454
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Message from the Development Office Welcome to the summer 2020 edition of Freemen’s Calling. This edition of the magazine celebrates our wonderful Freemen’s community spirit that continues to shine through a particularly challenging time in School history. We highlight some of the key projects set up by Freemen’s pupils, staff, parents and Old Frees to support the NHS and our local community. I’m sure you will all feel extremely proud to hear about our achievements as a School community. Alumni features in this edition include
an interview with Desson Thomson (Class of 1975) who shares stories from a successful career in politics and speechwriting. Ellie Irwin (Class of 2014) writes about becoming a doctor in a virtual graduation ceremony and the challenges that lie ahead for her in her profession. Ross Marshall (Class of 1998) shares his thoughts on the impact that the global pandemic has had on the travel and hospitality industry, specifically his startups YourGolfTravel and Spabreaks.com.
I hope that you will enjoy this edition as much as we have enjoyed creating it. I look forward to kick starting our events calendar as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, please keep in touch and stay healthy. Reema Agarwal, Development Officer Reema.agarwal@freemens.org
Main House Update The transformation of Main House has progressed significantly since the last edition of Freemen’s Calling. Below are some highlights from the work conducted on Main House to date. The Orangery Bird cage scaffolding has been erected so that renovation can begin on the architectural trusses of the Orangery roof. The steel trusses of the original roof will soon be sandblasted, painted then glazed. The walls of the Music department practice rooms and offices have all been dismantled to open up the space. Four windows have been discovered in the first floor rooms overlooking the Orangery. It is possible that these windows were covered up by a resident of the house in order to avoid paying window tax.
The Dining Hall In the Dining Hall, the glass panels of the ceiling have been removed so that the ceiling can been cleaned and renovated. The Art Deco inspired wooden panelling of the celling will remain but the glass light fixtures will be replaced with more modern and energy efficient lighting. The Lift One of the most unique original features of the house is the lift. Installed by Pandia Ralli, the last resident of the house, the lift was one of the first to be installed in a private household in the UK. To preserve this feature as part of the heritage of the building, the lift is being renovated. The lift shaft will be removed, but the lift car will remain in situ where it can be viewed.
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Celebrating the Freemen’s Community Spirit The first half of 2020 has provided schools and communities around the world with a series of unprecedented challenges. We are proud of our pupils and staff who showed incredible resilience through it all and organized some wonderful initiatives to support the NHS and our local community. Students across the school wrote letters to the elderly and baked cakes for NHS staff. The Freemen’s Medical Centre
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THANK YOU FROM EVERYONE AT FREEMEN’S
donated gowns, masks and aprons to the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher. Some of our teachers sewed scrubs and scrub bags for local hospitals and other staff volunteered for the NHS and the Community Coronavirus Care group to help support some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Freemen’s Pen Pals
Sarah Parkin (Head of English) and Reema Agarwal (Alumni Relations and Development Officer) launched the Freemen’s Pen Pals project to Freemen’s Scholars at the beginning of the summer term. The goal of the project is to support Old Frees, who are alone at home, and becoming increasingly isolated. We were pleased to get an enthusiastic response from Old Frees in their 70s, 80s and 90s, living in the UK, USA, Canada, Israel, Philippines and Hawaii who were keen to engage with our young students through letters. The Pen Pals initiative has led to a wonderful exchange of experiences, allowing our students to share their Freemen’s world with Old Frees, and vice versa. If any Old Frees would like to participate in the project by becoming a Pen Pal for Freemen’s pupils, please get in touch with reema.agarwal@freemens.org.
L2 Pupils Print Covid Face Visors
Henry and Ethan in Lower 2, used their Easter break productively by 3D printing parts for masks to help protect NHS staff. Henry, aged 9, enjoys everything to do with computers and was keen to do his bit to help the community at a challenging time. “I like things to do with computers so when I realised I could use my computing knowledge to help the NHS, I was really excited to get involved.” Ethan, also in Lower 2, was also keen to get involved for a great cause. “I have printed lots of Minecraft characters, a book mark, rockets, owls, dogs, chickens, pandas and dolphins before but never anything so useful.”
The masks are made of PLA and can take some time to print. Both boys have worked hard on the project and their headbands and face shields have been delivered to Epsom and St Helier Hospitals. The boys have received messages of thanks from NHS staff as well as local MP, Chris Grayling. When asked how he feels about the impact he has made on the community, Henry says “I felt happy, proud and busy!” Ethan is also pleased to have made a difference and says that he feels ‘proud, happy and helpful.”
Cakes 4 Key Workers
Gus in Upper 5 set up Cakes 4 Key Workers to bake cakes for NHS workers at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. His project expanded quickly with several other Freemen’s students from Lower 2 to Upper 6 joining in to bake cakes for key workers at local surgeries in Ashtead, local care homes, Epsom Hospital, St George’s and Charing Cross Hospital. At the time of writing, Gus and his baking volunteers have baked over 1100 cakes for key workers. “My aunty is a Matron at St George’s so my project started with making her colleagues cakes to lift their spirits. At 16, I was limited to what I could do to help but we had really positive feedback from St George’s.”
Gus has over 30 Freemen’s families baking regularly for the Cakes 4 Key Workers project and feels ‘happy, humble and grateful’ to have made such a positive impact in the community.
Freemen’s Face Shields Campaign
The Freemen’s DT Department produced over 1000 face shields to support local hospitals and care homes. Made in batches of 18, using polypropylene and acetate added for the visor, the face shields were made using a 3D printer purchased for the School by the FSA. The face shields were donated to Walton Heath Care Home, a local care home in Epsom run by Old Free and current parent, Tania Dymock as well as the Paediatric A&E at Epsom Hospital. Mrs Catherine Bennett (Community and Partnerships) organised the Freemen’s Face Shields Fundraiser to enable the School to buy material to produce more face shields. Many Old Frees donated to the cause and we are truly grateful for your support to this initiative. 5
SCHOOL NEWS
Worshipful Company of Carmen Livery Luncheon
In January, our Heads of School were invited to attend the Worshipful Company of Carmen charity luncheon held in the City at Carpenters’ Hall. The Head Girl, Head Boy and staff received a warm welcome and it was a memorable experience with the students being invited to join the procession into the Dining Hall and being seated at the top table. Heads of School Natalia and Adam commented on the experience;
“On the 29th January, we had the privilege of attending the Worshipful Company of Carmen charity luncheon held in the City at Carpenters’ Hall. Upon arrival, we attended a drinks reception where we were introduced to the Master, Wardens and court of assistants as well as other guests. After taking official photos we were invited to join the procession into the dining hall where we sat at the top table as special guests of the Carmen! The food was fantastic and we felt honoured to be part of such a unique experience representing Freemen’s.”
Joint Chamber Music Concert at St James’ Church in Piccadilly The City of London School for Girls and City of London Freemen’s School joined together for their annual chamber music concert on Friday 28 February at 7pm at St James’ Church in Piccadilly. The programme included works by Mozart, Ravel and Holst, and the School combined forces in joint String and Brass Ensembles. The concert featured some of our most talented Freemen’s musicians from L3 to U6 performing trios, quartets and quintets including a very unusual Haydn trio for French horn, viola and double bass. The two schools came together on the day to create three combined school groups: a brass ensemble, a cello octet and a string orchestra of more than forty players, this year led by one of our Freemen’s pupils.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Love Languages
On Friday 14 February, our Modern Languages team hosted the 10th anniversary of the ‘Love Languages’ Competition. This highly successful languages competition has now been running since 2011. Ten years on and Freemen’s Love Languages competition is as popular as ever. To mark the special anniversary of this popular event, it was held on Valentine’s Day to tie in with the title and pupils were judged by a panel of external independent judges with a wealth of expertise in this field.
National Maths Final
Four of our Sixth Formers competed in the National Team Mathematics Final which was held in the Royal Horticultural Hall in London. 88 teams with the best mathematicians from across the country came together to pit their wits against each other. As preparation, they were required to research an unfamiliar area of maths and construct a poster on the day. Teams also participated in several competitions on the day including a group round, cross-number, shuttle round and relay.
Jenny, Grace, Yuexuan and Marco did a splendid job representing Freemen’s in the final and came in the top half of participating schools. 1,200 schools entered the competition which puts Freemen’s in the top 3% in the country. Our pupils had a great day and enjoyed the challenge of an academic team competition.
Sarah Hankin, Head of Languages commented
“When I first came up with the concept for this competition, I did not imagine that I would be hosting our tenth anniversary in 2020. It is thanks to the dedication of language teachers and the enthusiasm and creativity of the pupils that the event continues to be such an important part of the Freemen’s calendar”.
Class of 2020
It was a sudden and abrupt end to our Upper 6 students’ time at Freemen’s. We would like to send our warmest wishes and thanks to our talented U6 for their hard work and dedication. Their learning continues at a distance and we know their futures are full of endless possibilities and they will always be part of our Freemen’s family. We look forward to celebrating their time at the School with them as soon as possible.
Pupils from Freemen’s competed against pupils from Avenue Primary School in Sutton, Newland House School in Twickenham, Ashford Prep in Great Chart, The Raleigh School in West Horsley, Kingswood House School in Epsom, St David’s and Box Hill School in Dorking, Therfield School in Leatherhead, Manor House School in Great Bookham, Notre Dame School in Cobham and Nonsuch High School for Girls in Cheam.
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Under the spotlight
Jemima Edney HEAD OF BOARDING & CO-CURRICULAR
Matt Robinson
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL How long have you been at Freemen’s and where were you before you joined the school? I arrived in September 2014 having been the Deputy Head at Junior King’s, Canterbury for 4 years. I had known of the school for many years so was excited by the prospect of joining. I was made to feel very welcome by everybody, especially the children when I was toured and taught a lesson.
Tell us about your first day at Freemen’s! I was very nervous. I started on the same day as the present L4 started their first year and the present U6 started their final JS year. I walked around in a bit of a daze, but Mrs Jowitt and Mrs Anklesaria looked after me!
What are some of your favourite highlights from your time at Freemen’s so far? I always enjoy the trips ... I try to go with every year group on at least one excursion a year. Wake-boarding with L4 last summer, JS snow trip a few years ago, Bough Beech in the pouring rain ... maybe not that one!
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning and come to Freemen’s? The calmness, kindness and fun of the children, staff and parents. It’s a lovely school to be part of - a real community.
How long have you been at Freemen’s and where were you before you joined the school? I joined Freemen’s in September 2016 from King Edward’s School, Witley where I was Director of Sport and Assistant House Mistress. I was attracted by the opportunity for development in boarding. Whilst there was a successful boarding community, it was clear that there was so much more that Freemen’s could offer, including offering boarding places to those who have a need to access the best education in a boarding setting. Mr Martin sealed the deal for me as I instantly sensed he had a passion for boarding that matched mine, and that he would give the support and leadership needed to build on the success.
What are some of your favourite highlights from your time at Freemen’s so far? As you can imagine, living with 60 teenagers creates so many funny anecdotes and I’ve often thought of writing a book of the hilarious things the pupils (and adults) have got up to. I regularly come home at 11pm saying to my husband, ‘you will NOT believe what happened today...’ They are exasperating and amazing, exhausting and fulfilling and (almost) every day with them leaves me with a smile on my face.
There are more changes currently in motion with the school’s Master Plan – what are you most looking forward to? The opening of Main House will be incredibly exciting. I can’t wait to see how that beautiful historic building is married with modern learning resources.
How would you describe yourself in three words? If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why? Julius Caesar - an amazing, visionary, political, social person. Joan of Arc - such courage, such faith, such purpose. Sammy Davis Jr - such an entertainer who overcame extraordinary prejudice. And a bit of a scamp, so he’d have some great stories. Not sure how they’d get on ... 8
Mum, educator, lucky
How would you spend the perfect Sunday? Lie-in, a good church service in a beautiful building, brunch and a countryside or seaside walk with the family and the dog. Supper (probably a rare steak) in front of a crime drama on TV.
Alumni Events
It has been a pleasure to welcome Old Frees at various alumni events hosted by Freemen’s over the past year including the special luncheon at the Ashtead Park Garden Centre, an alumni networking event in the City, the Paul Dodds retirement concert and the International Women’s Day Careers Panel held in March. We have also recently hosted our first ever virtual event, the Old Freemen’s University Panel that brought back alumni from the Class of 2019 to speak to our Upper 6 students about life at university.
Retirement Concert
A special retirement concert for Mr Paul Dodds was held in December 2019 in the Music Recital Hall and brought together 230 members of our Freemen’s community, including 16 Old Frees who performed at the event. We were also fortunate to welcome previous Headmasters Mr David Haywood and Mr Philip McDonald who joined current Headmaster Mr Roland Martin for a memorable evening. More wonderful photos from the concert on page 23!
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Flashback Mr Paul Dodds
Mr Dodds reflects on memories and highlights from a 34 year long musical career at Freemen’s. Where were you before Freemen’s? I came to Freemen’s straight from having completed my music degree and PGCE at the University of Exeter. Ashtead is very much part of Dodds family history – my mother was Head Girl at the now sadly closed Parsons Mead School; my uncles went to Downsend; my parents were married in St Giles Church and I spent my first birthday in Ashtead at my grandfather’s bungalow!
Tell us about your memories from your first few days at Freemen’s back in 1985. I arrived a few days before term started as I was taking up residence as Assistant Housemaster in Philp House which was the Boys Boarding House at that time. I do remember the very warm welcome I had from so many staff, in particular Paul Terry (Director of Music), Bill and Eleanor Deighton (PE), Anne and John Cole (Maths and Latin) and George Lewis (Art). When I first arrived there was a TV film crew filming the outside shots for the forthcoming series of The Benny Hill Show. You can still find the clips on YouTube.
What was music education at Freemen’s like when you first started compared to what it is now? Very, very different from today! Music was based in Main House. There was one classroom, three practice rooms and a recently converted office in the basement which doubled as a room to teach A Level. Junior classes were 30 in size – I still have my class lists!
What are some of your favourite memories from the past 34 years? Obviously the senior musicals! These have without doubt framed my time at Freemen’s, starting with Cabaret back in 1988. Since then the bar has continuously been raised culminating in Oliver! at The Leatherhead Theatre last November. Other highlights include Chess, Crazy for You, 42nd Street (with Andrew Garfield as the male lead), Sweeney Todd, Evita and Oklahoma! (twice). The two real standout productions are Les Miserables (2003) and The Phantom of the Opera (2013). We were among the first schools in the country to perform these huge productions.
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Also, Music Tours across Europe and closer to home, it has been a privilege to be part of the team taking the biannual drama production to the Edinburgh Fringe since 2003. It is an amazing experience to see such a diversity of music, drama, physical theatre and comedy. And, of course the Music School – when Philip McDonald told me that there were plans to build a dedicated building for music, I knew that it would be the project of a lifetime. The School now boasts one of the best facilities for music. We have come a long way from the cramped conditions of 34 years ago!
You have obviously experienced a lot of comings and goings in your time at Freemen’s. Any staff members or incidents that stand out? Freemen’s is very fortunate to have staff who are so loyal to the school and so supportive to each other and the pupils. It is extremely difficult to single out individuals, however four staff in particular have been a key component in my Freemen’s journey. In the drama department, Phil Tong and Jo McCullagh without whom the quality of musicals would never be of the high standard we achieve. In the music department Simon Rushby and Natalka Eaglestone were both so supportive as Assistant Director of Music, as well as being outstanding teachers and musicians
Any leaving messages for your colleagues and students at Freemen’s? Once Michael Kemp offered me the job, he said “Welcome to the Freemen’s family” – something I have never forgotten and treasure to this day. Freemen’s has a unique, positive atmosphere. It has been a honour to work alongside so many colleagues and teach thousands of pupils over the last 34 years. The school is moving into an exciting new period. I wish you all every success for the future.
Meet our new Director of Music Mr Christopher Potts This year, we welcomed Mr Christopher Potts, our new Director of Music to Freemen’s. Mr Potts joins us after spending three and a half years as the Assistant Director of Music at Sevenoaks School. Having studied for a bachelor’s degree in Music and French at Durham University, he continued his studies in the clarinet at post-graduate level at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His first teaching position was at Ampleforth College as Teacher of Music, Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion, and an Assistant Housemaster. Mr Potts enjoys playing the clarinet and the piano.
What is top of your bucket list?
What attracted you to your role here at Freemen’s?
Tell us about one of your career highlights so far.
I think there are so many aspects about Freemen’s that make it an enticing school to work at. From a musical perspective the facilities are exceptional and it was clear to me at interview that the students here are bright, talented and keen to learn. The campus is stunning and it seems to me that the School is in a really exciting phase of its development. It’s clearly a place to which you can bring new and exciting ideas.
In recent years I have ticked a few off the bucket list including cycling the Stelvio Pass, a bizarre ski trip in Kazakhstan and exploring some of the more extraordinary sites of the old Silk Road. In terms of a musical bucket list I really want to learn Franz Liszt’s monumental Sonata in B Minor for the piano and attend the Bayreuth Festival (the seven year waiting list is proving hard to contend with).
I have been very privileged to have worked at two excellent schools before coming to Freemen’s where I have been given license to run some great projects. I think the highlights have always been the tours. There’s something really exciting about putting a programme together to take to a country like Italy and perform in some of the most stunning cities in the world.
Do you have a role model? Who and why? What would you like to be known for at Freemen’s? I suppose for sharing a genuine passion for music. I really believe it is one of the most precious windows to knowledge we are afforded in life whether you are approaching music as a listener or as someone who performs. All too often music is considered a nice ornament in social life, I hope I can communicate something more significant about the musical/ aesthetic experience in my time here.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
When growing up I always had sporting heroes. I used to have a season ticket to Sale Sharks and was in awe of Jason Robinson as a phenomenally talented athlete who could change games of his own accord. I also admired his modest and understated manner. Zinedine Zidane was a footballing hero until the ridiculous headbutt in the 2006 final. Now I would say I try to model a lot of my own traits on more immediate people in my life; the good friends I have been lucky to make and some of the more extraordinary colleagues I have had the privilege of working with.
Interested, honest, urbane. 11
What are some of your favourite highlights from your time at Freemen’s so far? The Junior School Talent Shows in the Assembly Hall stand out in my mind – especially all those sketches taking the mickey out of staff. I never minded seeing myself impersonated, whether by males or females, however bossy the portrayal was! One L4 girl looked so like me, people assumed she had actually borrowed my clothes – and even my own daughter thought it was me when she saw her in the wings!
How has the school changed since you first joined?
Flashback Mrs Louise Jowitt Deputy Junior School Head
How long have you been at Freemen’s and where were you before you joined the school? What attracted you initially to your job at Freemen’s? I joined Freemen’s in 1994. Prior to that, I worked at Barrow Hedges Primary School in Carshalton Beeches for four years. One half term break in the early nineties, some friends had invited me to meet them for lunch in the LOMAC. I had never been to Ashtead before and, as I map read (no Sat Nav then!) my way along Rookery Hill, I was struck by the beautiful building (Main House) and parkland on my left hand side. It looked to me like something out of a film, and I couldn’t believe it when I realized it was a school.
Almost beyond recognition in terms of layout/buildings; only Kemp House and the Stable Block are broadly the same as they were back in 1994. However, in many ways the school still feels the same; there is still the same friendly, family feel - and successful mixture of hard work and fun.
There are more changes currently in motion with the school’s Master Plan – what are you most looking forward to? The return of Main House in all its new glory, and ultimately, a new Junior School building. However, for the time being, I am delighted with how the new dining facilities in the old Assembly Hall have turned out. So much more space, and the acoustics (always so bad for choir concerts) are perfect for dining hall chatter.
When, a few years later, I was idly looking through the jobs section of my local paper, the image of Main House caught my eye, and, as I read the job advertisement, I couldn’t believe my luck. And the rest is history….
Tell us about your first day at Freemen’s! It wasn’t as memorable as you might think, as I’d been into Freemen’s a number of times between being appointed in March and starting in September. Therefore, by the time I started officially,I already felt like one of the team. I do remember, however, that our new classrooms (in the new Form One area) weren’t actually ready, so Mrs Symonds and I had to teach in temporary huts (positioned in front of the Junior School) until November. And, we also had the joys of a school inspection in the first term, plus the Head of the Junior School leaving and being temporarily replaced by first the Deputy, Mrs Spicer – and even Mr Haywood at some point.
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How would you describe yourself in three words? Organised, sensible and positive.
What would you like to be known for at Freemen’s? Someone who inspired a love of Maths, History and musical theatre. I suspect, however, I may be remembered for my insistence on clear enunciation of the letter t when conducting the Lower Junior Choir.
Freemen’s Foundation Since its foundation, Freemen’s has always welcomed pupils from all backgrounds. As evident from our consistently high academic results and alumni success stories, a Freemen’s education can provide a transformative experience to our students’ lives. We are truly grateful for the support we receive from several City of London Livery Companies as well as members of our Freemen’s community including current families and alumni who continue to support our bursaries through their generous donations to the Freemen’s Foundation. Many in the current Freemen’s parent community recently chose to donate their 20% summer term fees reduction to the Hardship Bursary Fund set up to support families who face financial uncertainties due to Covid-19. The Freemen’s School Association (FSA) have also generously donated
£16,000 to the Freemen’s Foundation, allowing us to support a deserving student.. We recently were also in receipt of significant legacy donation bequests left to the School by former pupils. Donor support to the Freemen’s Foundation has allowed us to directly impact the lives of young people through full and partially funded bursaries. Any donation, no matter how large or small, can collectively truly make a difference. Donations to the Foundation are available for Gift Aid and, in addition, the City of London Corporation will match donations to the Bursary Fund, pound for pound, thereby making a gift go even further. If you would like to make a donation to our bursary fund, please contact reema.agarwal@freemens.org for more information.
The 1854 Society
FSA Donation
Freemen’s was originally set up to provide an education for orphaned children of Freemen of the City of London. The School has changed tremendously since its foundation in 1854, but the ethos here remains the same.
The Freemen’s School Association (FSA), run entirely by parent volunteers, organize a number of social events throughout the year to help raise funds to enrich student life at Freemen’s. The in-house production of face shields by the DT department would not have been possible without the FSA donation of two 3D Printers. Earlier in the spring term, the FSA Committee voted to donate a generous £16,000 to the Freemen’s Foundation. Their donation will be matched by the City of London allowing us to make a significant and direct impact through bursaries.
The Freemen’s Foundation was launched in 2018 and we are extremely grateful to individuals and families who give to the School to support bursaries as well as our estate development plan. Through the 1854 Society, we aim to recognize and honour donor contributions to Freemen’s. All donors giving cumulative gifts of £1,854 or more will receive: •
A written thank you letter from the Headmaster inviting donors to join the 1854 Society.
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Recognition on school website and annual report.
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Annual drinks reception hosted by the Headmaster for members of 1854 Society.
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Invitation to Donor appreciation event for all donors.
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Invitation to and reserved seating at selected school events
We are grateful to the FSA for their continued support and all the hard work and energy they put into enriching the lives of our wonderful Freemen’s community. Thank you, from all of us at Freemen’s!
Earlier in the spring term, the FSA Committee voted to donate a generous £16,000 to the Freemen’s Foundation.
Cumulative gifts of £18,540 or more will also receive recognition on a Donor Appreciation Wall in the new Main House for their support.
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ALUMNI STORIES
Peter Lam Class of 2012
Peter was at Freemen’s between 2010 to 2012 for his A-levels and went on to read music at King’s College in London, followed by a film scoring postgraduate degree at the University of Southern California. Peter composed music for a dozen short films and independent projects in Los Angeles before taking up his first “official” job as a music proofreader for the animated film Smurfs: The Lost Village. He has since been part of the music team on a dozen US TV series, such as Narcos: Mexico (Netflix), Jane The Virgin (CBS), Titans (DC Universe), and most recently the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney +. His score for the film Where Dreams Rests was nominated for Best Original Score at the Madrid International Film Festival last year. Music has always been a part of Peter’s life. “I grew up learning to play instruments and playing in orchestras and bands etc., I guess it is hard not to enjoy music when you are so immersed in it! I was a big fan of the composer Hans Zimmer during my teenage years. I was blown away by his music in the Pirates of the Caribbean and Batman films, which made me realize that there is such a cool industry of composing for film and media. It was around then that I wanted to learn to compose, and create such dramatic and evocative music. It was during my time at Freemen’s that I decided to pursue a career in music.”
Peter has fond memories of his years at Freemen’s, almost a decade ago, and credits Freemen’s for providing him with a great environment for personal growth. Not surprisingly, Music was his favourite subject at School. “Mr. Dodds and Mrs. Eaglestone gave me a lot of support and freedom in my musical development both as a performer and composer, including allowing my first orchestral piece to be performed by the Freemen’s Orchestra at the Annual Class Act Concert at the Dorking Halls. I will always remember spending a lot of time in the music department after school to work on my own music, and Mr. Dodds was always supportive with the resources available then (how I envy the new music building 14
though!). I certainly wouldn’t be a composer today if those early stages of musical trials (and failures) hadn’t happened.” Peter recounts the annual House Music Competitions as his top Freemen’s memories. “As House Music Captain in my L6 year, I was in charge of programming and rehearsing all the different musical acts. It was great fun making music with housemates across different years, and I gained a lot of experience in arranging and rehearsing music throughout the process. It was also a sweet victory at the end as we swept away the major prizes!” Peter’s most memorable professional experience to date has been his work on a short film towards the end of his film scoring postgraduate programme at USC. “As a composer, the ultimate quest is to find one’s “voice” or musical identity. There are already lots of great music and content around, and you do constantly ask yourself what hasn’t been done yet and what I can add to the scene in a unique way. I am still working on it, but it does challenge me to continue to be creative!” Peter’s advice to current Freemen’s students is to make the most of their time at School – to explore their interests and strengthen talents. “Looking back at my life, I would say that I was the most free during my time at Freemen’s - free to explore and equip and improve. The school has great resources and really supportive staff, so don’t be afraid to ask for help or opportunities that could widen your horizons. If you want to work in the entertainment industry, it is important to realize that it is a very competitive and stressful business, so a lot of the time you just have to enjoy the ride and don’t take things too personally. Connections and relationships are very important, so your attitude and professionalism is top priority. As my professor at USC always said, the key to success is “work hard, be nice, and get lucky”! www.peterlammusic.com
ALUMNI STORIES
Ross Marshall Class of 1999
Ross joined Freemen’s from Danes Hill Prep School in 1994 and left in 1999, just over 20 years ago. As a student at Freemen’s, Ross enjoyed studying Biology, Physical Education and Languages and participated in house drama and the Debating Society. He has fond memories of several teachers including Headmaster David Haywood and Head of Sport, Bill Deighton. “Mr Deighton worked hard to get the best out of me on and off the field. It was great to see Jon Moore the other week and I’m still in touch with Neil Stewart, who has given so much to cricket in Surrey and always gave us boys so many laughs and perspective over the years.” After Freemen’s, Ross went to study Business and Finance at Durham University followed by a Master’s degree in Management. He worked as a junior trader at an investment bank, ING Barings and eventually launched a series of start-up businesses including SpaBreaks.com and Your Golf Travel. He also joined the Guild of Scholars and became a Freemen of the City of London. “My father was an entrepreneur who was a trailblazer in the stock photography sector and he built up an International business. He normalized starting your own business and I guess you can say it’s in the blood. The challenges we had early on were a lack of cash, knowledge and experience but we made up for that with tenacity and drive.”
“I am most proud that we have opened offices in London, Brighton, Scotland, Ireland and the USA and created hundreds of jobs. We have also set up our own charity Sporting Ambition which gets underprivileged children into sport plus we have a partnership with Prostate Cancer and our new NHS 200 campaign during COVID-19, which supports our heroes.” Covid-19 has undoubtedly led to incredible challenges across industries but travel is certainly one of the most impacted. “It’s been a bloodbath for everyone but the tourism and travel sector has been hit extremely hard. We have had to make redundancies and put staff on Furlough leave. This has been my greatest challenge in business since I started my first company. Trying to keep morale high whilst working has been a real challenge but we have had to step up.” Despite the challenges he continues to face as a business owner, Ross has a lot of positive advice to give to those keen to start up on their own. “If someone wants it hard enough and their idea is strong enough then they will make it happen! I would stress it takes as much energy and business acumen to run a small business as it does a large one... so you might as well go big!” Ross is still in touch with many of his peers from his time at Freemen’s and feels that the friendships you make at school are just as important as the subjects you study.
“ James Arnold, Robin Fenwick, Alex Charalamabos, Sarah Reynolds, Louise Cowley, Barney Slater from my year are all still great friends. Matt Selby, John McGuffie and Matt Sanders all came to Freemen’s with me from Danes Hill. These relationships have been enduring.” Ross and his business partner have had tremendous success in the start-up world winning a number of awards including the Ernst and Young London Entrepreneurs of the Year, Spear Wealth Management Entrepreneur of the Year and six Virgin Fastrack awards which interestingly allowed them the opportunity to spend time with Richard Branson in his home. Other professional highlights for Ross include playing a game of golf with Tiger Woods and being invited to meet David Cameron at 10 Downing Street to acknowledge their contribution to UK tourism.
Ross has a lot of useful advice to share with current students at Freemen’s and was able to share this with many of them directly when he spoke as a panelist at our Careers panel in March. “School is really important and it’s essential that your students study the subjects that they are passionate about. I think this was an error I made when I was at school as I was too influenced by others. You can never be truly great at anything that you don’t love. More importantly to max out the time you have at school by taking part in as many things as possible and trying new things.” www.yourgolftravel.com
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ALUMNI STORIES
Desson Thomson Class of 1976
Desson left Freemen’s in 1976 to pursue a university degree in America. He went on to work as a film critic for the Washington Post for 25 years before making a switch to political speechwriting. Tell us about your time at Freemen’s. I came to CLFS in 1968. It was so long ago that England were still the holders of the World Cup at the time. I was 10 years old! I left in 1975 in the Lower Sixth, rather than the Upper Sixth because I was going to university in America, which starts a year earlier than it does in the UK. People will wonder why I used to be a Howe at school and a Thomson now. I started life as Desson Thomson but my parents were divorced. When my mother remarried, I was around five years old. Her husband adopted me and changed my surname to Howe. I remained Howe for a considerable amount of my life. But in 2002, I went in search of my birth father. I found him in Aberdeen (Scotland, not Maryland!) and after an emotional reunion, which included becoming aware of two new siblings (he had married again too), I decided to change my name back to Thomson.
What are your best memories from Freemen’s and life in the UK? Well, they are many. On the sports field, I was a winger in rugby for our school team, and I scored quite a few memorable tries on a Saturday morning on the games field. My favourite game has always been football, though. Freemen’s never had a football team but we boarders played football all the time, especially after tea. If I could categorize my best memories in other ways, it usually had to do with having a great laugh. I’m not sure if I brought an innate sense of humour to Freemen’s, or life at Freemen’s nurtured it. Either way, in the company of some of the funniest humour-appreciative fellow pupils – day and boarder – I think I developed what has become my way of looking at just about everything in life. Actually that extends to being British too. It’s a way of life in the UK. My goodness: Morecombe and Wise, Monty Python, the Two Ronnies, and on and on. What brilliant humour. Always has been. Maybe that’s how our fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers got through the bombing raids of World War II.
Any teachers who made a significant impact during your time here? You know, I never really cared for economics, though I do now. And there was a teacher Bennie Weston, if I remember 16
the name right. He brought so much personality into economics, he almost made me like the subject. I also liked the way he turned my two names into one syllable: Dessonow. You know who was a great influence? Phyllis Taylor nee Dart. She always appreciated my history essays which were better on writing than they were on actual history. But it made me want to learn more history, so I could write more, so I could please her.
What made you choose America for university vs staying in the UK? What was the adjustment to life in the USA like after your education at Freemen’s? My family emigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and, while I was allowed to finish school at Freemen’s, the deal was, I had to go to university in America. It was disappointing. I really wanted to experience university life in England. It was a really intense adjustment, I can tell you. The system of teaching, the way the teachers interacted with students, was a bit of a surprise. It took some getting used to. Even after all these years, I am still getting used to it. I had to learn the American way fast when I got a job as a reporter and then a movie critic. I had to communicate with readers without them thinking I was strange and weird!
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You worked as a film critic for the Washington Post for 25 years. What were some of your most memorable highlights from your time at the Post? I worked for 25 years at the Washington Post, so you’d have to say there were a lot of highlights. Back in the day, a Freemen’s teacher (sadly, his name escapes me right now) sat with me to discuss career options. I must have been in the Lower Fifth or something. I mentioned journalism which sounded appealing. It sounded like a great career but I never thought it would really end up coming to pass. While at Freemen’s, I was fascinated by films. I pored over magazines on the subject. I went to every movie I could. I was proud to organize a group called the Senior Film Society and have a Saturday night screening for students.
“And there I was, years later, working at one of the most iconic newspapers in the United States, thanks largely to the work of Woodward and Bernstein who brought down a president.” My interest was deep, but again, I never thought it would amount to anything like a career. Well, both things would come together. And there I was, years later, working at one of the most iconic newspapers in the United States, thanks largely to the work of Woodward and Bernstein who brought down a president. In the first years I was answering the telephone and assisting reporters. Twenty five years later, I left in 2008 after a long career, first as a features reporter and then, for most of my time there, as a film critic. For more than two decades, I saw and reviewed practically every movie that was released. I never had the pleasure of interviewing Peter O’Toole, who was my first screen idol. But I did have interviews with stars and filmmakers such as John Travolta, Meg Ryan, Woody Allen, Sir Richard Attenborough, Annette Bening, Nicolas Cage, and others. Those were fun to do!
What inspired the switch from film to political speechwriting? At the time I left the Washington Post, it was widely thought that newspaper journalism and film criticism were largely coming to an end, as least as we understood both things. The paper basically offered early retirement to scores of reporters, just to get them off the books. So when such a thing was offered to me, I felt as if I were doing something smart. I knew I had to reinvent myself somehow. A friend of mine (there’s always a friend) who was a speechwriter to Al Gore and others, offered to teach me the art of speechwriting and I jumped at the offer. To cut about three years short, I learned the trade, and I applied everywhere. Eventually, I got a job as a speechwriter for the American ambassador to London, which brought me back to the UK. I loved living in the old country again. I felt like a British Rip Van Winkle! I worked for a year at that job before I was hired to work at the U.S. State Department for Hillary Clinton’s policy speechwriting team. Ultimately, I would work for
seven years in the Obama administration, primarily at the State Department. So my reinvention definitely worked!
What was it like working in the Obama administration? Any stories/memories/anecdotes you would like to share? Working for Hillary Clinton was a truly fascinating and life changing experience. There I was, working with an amazingly talented team of smart and inspired people, in areas that ranged from women’s rights around the world to the importance of open markets. To write speeches that incorporated such lofty messages was unnerving for someone who, just a few years ago, was writing reviews of movies like Jackass 2. But I got better at it, and I learned a lot. Although I hardly ever had one-on-one time with Hillary Clinton, the times I did get were remarkable. One of the great tragedies of American political life is that she was not elected president. She would have been the kind of leader the United States needs, and has needed badly for the last four years. One of my favourite memories was writing a speech about the importance of making sure more women have opportunity to be political leaders, and to watch Hillary Clinton delivering it, while an audience that included IMF Chair and Managing Director Christine Lagarde, looked on. I left the US Government because I was a political appointee. When the Trump Administration came in, they pretty much got rid of most appointees. But that is pretty standard custom, anyway. I now work for the Motion Picture Association, which is the political lobbying arm for the Hollywood studios, so I have definitely come back full circle!
Are you still in touch with friends from Freemen’s? Any plans to visit the UK in the future? I keep in touch with a close circle of about a dozen people from Freemen’s. It’s always so wonderful to get together and remember old times. There is always a lot of love and laughter at these gatherings but these reunions are a plane ride away, and I wish I could do them more often. I mean, these are now among my oldest friends. In the end, your friends are the real riches of a life, aren’t they?
How do you think your education at Freemen’s helped shape your career choices? What advice would you like to give to current students at Freemen’s? Here’s what I would say to everyone at Freemen’s. To those that have done well, well done! But to those who feel as if it’s always the other boy or girl winning that debate competition, scoring that try, getting that six, getting all those O levels, or being the one that everyone seems to love gathering around…. remember, what you learned at Freemen’s stays with you. It lurks, just waiting to be retapped. I felt that way and now I feel as if so many things I learned at Freemen’s set me up to be successful. I just didn’t recognize it as much at the time. 17
ALUMNI STORIES
Ellie Irwin Class of 2014
really taught me the importance of balance, determination and hard work. He was also one of the kindest people I have ever met.
Where did you go immediately after Freemen’s? Did you feel prepared for adjustment to life at University? Following school I went straight to Newcastle University to study Medicine. There’s obviously a huge transition from school to university but academically I felt as well prepared as you could do. In terms of other basic life skills, like cooking, I definitely wasn’t as prepared! A lifetime of getting my sisters to cook for me when my parents were away let me down. My course had a lot of contact hours so whilst selfmotivation was still important it wasn’t as fundamental as I’d imagine for other courses with minimal contact hours and more essays to complete.
When did you know you wanted to study medicine and become a surgeon? How did your education at Freemen’s prepare you for university and career?
Tell us about your time at Freemen’s. How long were you here and when did you leave? Freeman’s has always been and continues to be a massive part of my life; I don’t think you can escape it in the Irwin household! My indoctrination into Hale House began when I was only 2 weeks old: my mother brought me along to my first house assembly wearing a bright red baby grow. I officially started school when I was 7 in 2002. I stayed all the way through and into Sixth Form and left in 2014 to go to Newcastle University.
What are your best memories from Freemen’s? I absolutely loved my time at Freemen’s and have so many fantastic memories. I remember well playing sardines throughout the Science Block with my Chemistry class and Mr Newell. I always enjoyed hockey matches and particularly the dance routines we would devise en-route to matches ready to perform to our bemused hockey coach.
What were your favourite subjects at Freemen’s? Any teachers who made a significant impact during your time here? I always loved the Sciences; I think my Mum (Mrs Irwin) would have disowned me if I didn’t! There really is an endless list of teachers and other staff members who made a significant impact during my time at Freemen’s. If I was forced to name a single teacher it would have to be Mr Lewis, my old fencing coach who was also a History teacher at Freemen’s. I used to fence at a high level and Mr Lewis 18
It’s a bit of a cliché but I always loved the Sciences and wanted to do a job where you could make a real difference to people’s lives. During school I did a great deal of work experience including a period shadowing a Junior Doctor at Epsom Hospital. I simply had the best week ever and that really confirmed what I wanted to do. In terms of wanting to pursue a career in surgery that only happened later when I began my clinical years of medical school. I really enjoyed time spent in theatre, the practical skills and ability to identify a problem and fix it, at times transforming people’s lives.
What has been your most significant and memorable professional/medical experience to date? I think it would have to be the first birth I ever got to witness. I was allowed to help bring the baby out and give her to her mother, which was truly magical. There have also been a number of moments that have been significant for less positive reasons such as the breaking of bad news. It’s a real privilege to be allowed to be part of people’s worst moments and witness the love and resilience within family units.
Tell us about your experiences and emotions over the past few weeks since the Covid -19 outbreak started in the UK? It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster as I’m sure it has for most people. Within the space of a week and a half I found out that my finals were cancelled, I had graduated as a doctor and that I will be working on the wards within the coming weeks. I must admit there was absolutely no happiness or relief when I found out my final exams were cancelled. One of my friends gave a good analogy saying: “It’s a bit like training for a
ALUMNI STORIES
marathon, running the marathon, and then getting stopped a mile before the finish line, but being tossed a medal anyway.” I’m sure many A-level students will be feeling the same. As a cohort of medical students, what I know for certain is that we are all desperate to help in any way possible. Whilst finals may have been cancelled and we may feel that our knowledge base won’t be as robust, we hope that first hand experience helping the NHS through one of it’s most challenging times will more than make up for any missed book learning.
What’s next for you? Where will you be practicing? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I’ve just found out my set of jobs for the next 2 years, based in London. I’ll be starting at the Whittington Hospital and have rotations including surgery, paediatrics and accident and emergency. I really can’t wait for my combination of jobs and to get stuck in. In 10 years time I like to hope I’ll be almost out the other side of surgical training and maybe have seen some more of the world.
Are you still in touch with friends from Freemen’s? Tell us about your experience going through an online graduation ceremony and becoming a new doctor during these surreal times? When I started medical school 6 years ago I certainly never envisaged reciting the Hippocratic oath to be uploaded online for my parents and other family members to view. I gather we were the first UK cohort of medical students to be graduated virtually. Newcastle University did a fantastic job and in years to come I’m sure it’ll be brilliant to look back and see the ‘covid class of 2020’ graduating.
What do you think will be your greatest challenge as a doctor in the weeks and months ahead? I’ve always been my biggest critic and in the next few weeks I think I need to remember that this is what medical school has prepared me for and I am ready and capable. We are due to start as ‘interim foundation doctors’, a non-existent role pre-covid. Hospitals and medical schools alike are ensuring we have adequate support in these roles as starting work as a doctor can be quite a daunting task even in normal times!
Very much so! In fact a group of 10 of us had a group zoom call yesterday for a friend’s birthday. One of my best friends from school, Alice Roberts, has also just graduated as a doctor, from Sheffield University.
What advice would you like to give to current students at Freemen’s and specifically, those wanting to study medicine? My advice would be to make the most of your time at school and take advantage of every opportunity especially at a school like Freemen’s that has so much to offer. For Medicine, you should start working towards your application early. There are so many components to a successful medical application and it really requires you to start thinking about things 2-3 years in advance. Ensure you have long term volunteering and all the work experience necessary. Also make use of the teachers such as Mrs Fox who have a wealth of knowledge and years of experience of helping students through the application process.
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From the Archive Our School Archivist. Mrs Pat Jenkins (Class of 1953) looks back through war-time history at times when the School faced its largest crises and how we overcame them. There have been three of these events during the history of the City of London Freemen’s School , the first being the Great War, that is 1914-18, when the school was based in Ferndale Road, Brixton and was called The City of London Freemens Orphan School. It was set up by the Corporation of London to help families of the Livery Company members whose father and breadwinner had died. The children were housed in a purpose built property with food, education and clothing provided for the selected boys or girls who were to be admitted. To gain admission they had to have a sponsor and provide a doctor’s certificate declaring them to be in good health. As it was a boarding school, the boys and girls were to be kept separately and not to talk to any pupil of the opposite sex. Brothers and sisters could meet up on Sunday afternoons in the Dining Hall, under supervision, if they had news from the family. It was very unusual to have both sexes in one building during the Victorian era. So, when the first World War was declared, one of the first changes that the pupils noticed was that as the male staff were called up to serve in the Forces, it became necessary for classes to be merged. This meant that for the first time boys and girls would be taught in the same room and
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maybe with a female teacher. Naturally, as the school was near to London there were raids so the children were trained to shelter in corridors during air raids. The Zeppelin was the first aerial invader. In September, an alert was sounded by the firing of a maroon rocket and police who were blowing whistles so the children went to collect their coats whilst the gas lights were extinguished, and they all assembled in a given place in a corridor to sit and sing until the “All Clear” was sounded. Gradually during the war, rationing was introduced and a few of the older children were given their own ration books. As the war progressed the zeppelins were replaced by very basic aeroplanes and one of those dropped a bomb on a Munitions factory and the explosion woke the whole school and caused a great deal of alarm, and bewilderment until they heard in the news the next day, what had happened. That was the loudest and most memorable of the bombs but there were many others. They lost and mourned a number of the boys and the male staff who were killed or injured during those four years.
“Naturally, as the school was near to London there were raids so the children were trained to shelter in corridors during air raids. The Zeppelin was the first aerial invader.”
Finally, on the morning of November 11th 1918, as they sat in class they noticed something outside the window. It was a huge balloon towing a banner saying “PEACE.” By 1926 the Corporation of London had bought a Stately Home and its Park for the orphans and decided to admit paying day pupils, first just boys but later the girls, and that was expanded to include boarders but the facilities were still extended to suitable orphans. At the time of the Second World War, the school was safely settled in a Surrey village, so would be safe from attack. So they invited the “City of London School for Girls” to come and share the school premises whilst being billeted around the village, which they did. The School in those days consisted of the Main House for boarders, girls on one floor and boys on the other, with lunches and other meals for the boarders served there. Then there was its Stable block (6th Form Block) already converted in to classrooms, similar to today and one other large rectangular building which housed the Gymnasium with subterranean changing rooms. There was another building that was used for Carpentry and Electronics, Teddy Bear Cottage and a couple of garages. The only one of these buildings still standing is Teddy Bear Cottage. Schooling was changed to classes in the morning for Freemen’s and Sports in the afternoon, with the Girls School doing Sports first and classes in the afternoon. But Ashtead received more than its share of bomb damage so after just that one term the Girls School transferred to Yorkshire and Freemen’s returned to a somewhat limited timetable as all the younger male staff had been called in to the Forces.
“Fortunately, the basement was fairly easy to protect with sandbags and above, every window was covered by blinds so that the lights did not show out. The boarders had to sleep in the basement on camp beds during bombing raids and all knew exactly which room they were to occupy” Rationing was very strict so the food was very monotonous even with the home grown salad items planted where the current swimming pool now stands. The nights were very disturbed as Hitler sent his bombers over then. Fortunately, the basement was fairly easy to protect with sandbags and above, every window was covered by blinds so that the lights did not show out. The boarders had to sleep in the basement on camp beds during bombing raids and all knew exactly which room they were to occupy. It was fortunate that the sports changing rooms were situated there so there were toilet facilities available. One of the lady teachers who was in charge of the youngest boys trained them to hang on to the belt of the boy in the dressing gown ahead so she did not lose any of her sleepy boys as they descended through the large building. One of the highlights of that early period of the War was the arrival of Canadian Troops to the Park. They were encamped
behind the fencing around the cricket pitch. Naturally, they became friends and the girls were warned to ignore them, but the boys were allowed to challenge them to a game of cricket in return for them sharing their baseball equipment. Both the Home and Away matches were played on the same pitch. So the difference was the Home tea, which consisted of a couple of slices of fish paste sandwiches, a bun and lemonade made by adding water to crystals. Whilst the return match with tea in the woods was a wonderful affair as the Canadians had no rationing. Sadly, one morning the school awoke to find the woods cleared and the only thing remaining was the baseball kit which the soldiers had left for their hosts. Very few of those young men survived the war but a few did come back and they donated a chair to St Giles church which stands beside the altar. There were a few bombs that landed in the Park but fortunately no one was injured and it was probably the parachute and the flying bombs that were even more frightening. The Parachute bombs were aimed at children as they were pretty, but if touched would explode, killing instantly. So the pupils were warned not to touch them but one did kill the school horse that pulled the mower on the cricket pitch.
The flying bombs could arrive overhead at any time of day or night so were more terrifying. It was the sound of the V1 that was worrying because whilst the engine sounded there was a chance to try and seek safety, but once it cut out, it would dive down and explode. Then came an even worse type, the V2 which you might or might not spot up in the sky but did not hear until it landed with a very loud explosion – as if from nowhere. As with every form of crisis, whilst it is occurring it seems as though there could be nothing worse. Indeed the Coronavirus is devastating and is leaving so many families grieving. However, at least with care and conforming to advice, it is mostly possible to self preserve - there was no such help available in the two World Wars. If “it had your name on it”, there was no way to avoid it. So, perhaps if we ignore the difficulties of studying, the lack of contact other than by video, email or phone and the curtailing of sport and exercise, we can look back and think well, at least I was able to help someone who was in a worse position than me, so perhaps it could have been worse. 21
OFA News Old Freemen’s Cricket Club
We are looking forward to a shortened 2020 season with two Saturday XI’s playing in the Surrey Downs League (www. sdl.play-cricket.com) and “The Dragons” XI playing in the “Surrey Slam” – a midweek T20 competition played in the evenings. It is hoped to repeat the success of last season’s brief but highly enjoyable tour to the West Country and an all-day game vs Wiltshire Queries at Dauntsey’s School is also planned for later in the summer. The Sunday side offers a light hearted, friendly alternative to Saturday league cricket, playing against long standing opponents with similar cricketing values. Whatever your experience, age or ability, everyone is welcome to play. This is a very sociable side with post-match drinks and the odd BBQ or social (tickets to the Oval) during the course of the summer.
The club is therefore very active and caters for all ages and abilities and offers all types of cricket, in a variety of delightful locations. As always, we are very keen for recent and past school leavers and parents and friends of Old Freemen to join us. When conditions allow, we will also be holding mid-week nets. For more information, please contact: David Hammond - Chairman - 07773 525405 WollHammond@gmail.com Andrew Brooks - Club Captain - 07794 436410 Brooksa92@hotmail.co.uk Tom Glover - Sunday Captain - 07850 980369 caricaturestom@gmail.com
We enjoy the use of both the School’s 1st XI square and Headley CC - two superb and quite unique grounds in Surrey.
Old Freemen’s RFC
With school master Alan Auld leading the club once again supported by Olly Mays and Max Davies as his vice captains, we were looking forward to a successful season - his injury in October and the pull of the Rugby World Cup in Japan and then further injuries to key players robbed us of a number of regular players, so it is safe to say we struggled with consistency this season in the 1st XV. We would beat the top 3 teams and lose to the bottom 3 far too regularly so ended up 9th out of 10 teams. Next season we may still be in the Surrey 1, however only if they expand the league to 12. The losses however didn’t stop the enjoyment felt by the players and the good humour and social nature of Old Freemen’s sports. The 2nd XV faired far better and were top of their league going into the final two games, but narrow losses saw them end up 3rd on points difference. The cup we have won for the last three years wasn’t played due to the Covid-19 lockdown, so at least we haven’t lost that and are defending champions for next season. The social side of Old Freemen’s remains strong - with post match celebrations either in the Leg of Mutton or at the Ashtead Cricket Club Pavilion. 22
The annual under 25 vs over 25 match was played again once more at Christmas with over 200 school leavers and rugby members watching a close fought match that the unders just sneaked a win. Maybe I didn’t help the overs by coming out of retirement aged 53, but it was great to play with and against a brilliant bunch of lads. Training will start again in the summer run by coach Jon Moore once the lockdown rules are in place and we look forward to playing once again in Ashtead Park in 2021 which will be our 90th anniversary - having played our first game as ‘Old Ashteadians’ against Dorking Town A’s. Check out our Facebook group and re-launched website for more details and get yourself assigned to the WhatsApp groups. We welcome former pupils, staff members, parents and friends and relatives into the club. Bob Davies Chairman OFRFC 07920 518788 bobclaredavies@btinternet.com
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Careers Talk
The Senior School would welcome alumni to come into school and talk about their professional experiences with current students to inspire the next generation. If you are able to help, please contact: development@freemens.org for more information.
We’ll always be mindful of how often we communicate and you will be able to update your preferences so they’re never set in stone.
Would you like to feature in the next edition of Freemen’s Calling? If so, please email: development@freemens.org or call 01372 822454
Retirement Concert for Mr Paul Dodds
Rachel Thornhill Photography 23
FREEMEN’S CALLING SUMMER 2020 | ISSUE 5
Editor: Reema Agarwal Email:reema.agarwal@freemens.org Telephone: 01372 822454 www.freemens.org
Follow us on social media City of London Freemen’s School @Freemens_Alumni City of London Freemen’s School @FreemensCalling
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