From the Head
Dear Old Edwardians,
It has been another busy and enjoyable term at King Edward’s, one filled with memorable moments across all aspects of school life. These have included the wonderful musicality of our Spring Concerts, which saw well over a hundred pupils perform a huge range of pieces across a myriad of different styles and genres; through to the creativity displayed at our annual Dance Gala and the energy of our Battle of the Bands. These fantastic events have ensured that our corridors have been busy with young people showing off their artistic talents all term. Alongside these creative endeavours, equal commitment and skill has been seen on the sporting pitch, in clubs and trips and of course within the classroom. This breadth of opportunity remains a vital part of a King Edward’s education and pupil experience. Behind every success, every performance, and every achievement at KES stands our teaching staff. I know from many conversations with Old Edwardians that your school memories often include the teachers who taught you –individuals who shaped not just your academic journey but your wider development. With this in mind, we have decided to dedicate a section of each edition of the Edwardian to our longest-serving colleagues. We begin with Richard Cross, who retires this summer after 31 years of service to King Edward’s. His reflections on page 4 offer an insight into how our School has evolved while maintaining its character – I hope you enjoy reading them.
In our last edition, I encouraged you to join our new KES Alumni Hub, and I am pleased that we now have over 1,000 online profiles. Thank you for joining this initiative. It has been good to see nearly 100 OEs volunteering to support our current pupils with careers advice, leading to some inspiring talks. The platform has also helped reconnect old friends – members of the Classes of ‘75 and ‘76, who attended their 50-year reunion, have used it to reestablish connections half a century in the making. Please continue to share your news and stories; this is your community platform, and we have appreciated the content submitted since launch.
Join us on our networking and social media channels.
The School has an active Linkedin networking group and KES alumni Facebook page. Join us to keep in touch with other alumni and friends and hear news on school activities and reunions.
Where are you now?
Have you recently moved or changed your email address? In order to continue hearing about alumni activities relevant to your year groups and receive your free copy of the magazine, please notify us of any changes to your contact details, particularly if you think we may not have an email address for you.
This term has also seen the introduction of our new Giving Circles, recognising the financial contributions made by OEs to our School. The 1553 Circle acknowledges anyone who has given or pledged over £1,553 – a nod to our School’s founding date. I am proud myself to have become a founding member and would encourage you to consider joining me. A regular gift can make such a difference to our Bursary Award holders and their educational journey. The William Capon Legacy Circle encapsulates all those who have so generously left a gift to the School in their will.
On the bursary front, KES has recently been accepted as a partner school by the Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation, which supports looked after children in gaining places at independent schools. Following this accreditation, we will welcome our first Southampton ‘Springboarder’ to KES next September on a full Bursary Award.
We are also grateful to the EPA Cephalosporin Fund for their continued support. Thanks to their recent gifts, we can now offer two new annual Bursary Awards for promising young scientists from our city. These awards honour the memory of Sir Edward Penley Abraham (EPA), who studied at King Edward’s from 1924-32 before becoming a biochemist who was instrumental in the development of the first antibiotics – penicillin and cephalosporin. These bursaries continue his legacy.
Looking ahead to the Summer Term, we have several special events planned. Our Heads of School and their Deputies’ dinner provides a great opportunity for former pupil leaders to reconnect. We are also introducing a new event this year – the OE Sports Festival, which you can read more about on page 8. This is open to Old Edwardians of all ages, and we would be pleased to welcome you back in June, whether to participate or simply to watch.
As ever, there are many ways to stay connected with the School. I am grateful for the continued support and involvement of our OE community – thank you for your many contributions. Your ongoing engagement helps ensure that King Edward’s continues to be not just a school of excellence today, but a thriving community for generations to come.
With warmest regards,
Neal Parker Head
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The easiest way to amend your contact preferences or to unsubscribe is via our new KES Alumni Hub (alumni.kes.school). Alternatively, you can email edwardians@kes.hants.sch.uk stating your full name and date of birth.
How to stay in touch!
The KES Alumni Hub
The KES Alumni Hub is accessible to all OEs who are aged 18+ and enables you to reconnect with school friends, read about news from the school and alumni achievements, book tickets for events and make a donation to support our bursary fund. It is the central point for all OE news. You can create an online profile and use the platform to contact other alumni, submit your news and offer your help with volunteering. You can also update your contact preferences via the Hub. It is quick and easy to create a profile, just log on to alumni.kes.school.
Alternatively, you can contact a member of the Alumni Team via email or phone.
E: edwardians@kes.hants.sch.uk
T: 023 80 704561
News from the School
Changing faces
Geraint Davies BSc
In September, we were delighted to welcome Geraint Davies as our new Chair of Governors. Geraint is an OE (KES 72-74) and graduated from Bristol University where he read Economics and Accounting. He has worked in senior positions in the ‘Big 4’ accounting firms in the UK, Switzerland, the Channel Islands and Malta, including being Senior Partner at EY Southampton. He has recently retired to pursue a portfolio career. He is married with 3 daughters, two of whom attended KES, and two of whom attended KES Prep. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, cycling, travel and promoting all aspects of Southampton, his home city, and where he was Chair of Governors at City College from 2017 to 2023.
“I am delighted to be appointed to the role of Chair of Governors at KES. As an OE myself, this is a great opportunity for me to help the School promote and develop its position as a leading education provider in our region. I look forward to having the chance to catch up with our alumni, who are such an important community within
Giving Circles launch
On 19th March members of our new Giving Circles were invited to attend the School’s Spring Concert to mark their launch.
The King Edward’s Giving Circles are designed to recognise and celebrate the generosity of our donors and benefactors. They are our way of saying thank you to them for their kind support, and keeping them updated on the significant impact their donations are having.
We are pleased to introduce the following Circles:
The 1553 Circle
Based upon our founding year, this Circle celebrates those who contribute £1,553 or more through single gifts, pledges, or cumulative regular giving. This circle connects donors who, like our school’s founding benefactors, are creating pathways to brighter futures for today’s students.
The William Capon Legacy Circle
This Circle brings together those who, inspired by our founder’s
the KES eco-system, to hear about the paths they have pursued post-KES, and to explore ways we can further strengthen the links between them, the school and its current pupils.”
Nikki Slowey
We are delighted to welcome Nikki Slowey to the School. Nikki takes on the role of Bursar and joins us with nine years’ experience as Bursar at Heath Mount School and, more recently, Walhampton School. She has a proven track record in financial management from both the commercial and education sectors having worked as the Head of Finance at the Pensions Regulator and interim Finance Director of the commercial bank at RBS before moving into education. Nikki is passionate about making sure everything we do has the maximum impact for our pupils and families. Outside of work, Nikki enjoys riding and cycling in the New Forest.
vision, have chosen to include King Edward’s in their will –ensuring future generations continue to benefit from exceptional education.
We were delighted welcome members of each of the Circles to join us for the concert and for interval drinks with the Head and the student soloists. The Head presented them with their pin badges during the event and thanked them all for their continued support.
Thanks to the generosity of alumni and supporters, each year we are able to provide life-changing educational opportunities for several local young people through bursaries. The Giving Circles allow us to celebrate your collective commitment to King Edward’s and the next generation of learners.
If you would like to make a donation you can do so online via the KES Alumni Hub (alumni.kes.school). To discuss membership of either of the Circles please contact Richard or Suzanne at edwardians@kes.hants.sch.uk or call 023 80 704561.
Feature a Teacher
Richard Cross
We know from experience that many OEs attribute their passion, drive and success to the teaching staff at KES. With that in mind, we have decided to introduce a new section aptly named, Feature a Teacher. In each edition we will find out more about those who helped shaped your lives in those formative years.
Our first member of staff is Richard Cross (Chemistry). Richard first joined KES in 1977 as a fresh faced 12 year old in First Year. He returned again in 1993 to take up a teaching post and some 48 years after first crossing the Crush Hall threshold, we asked him to reflect on his time at KES (both as a pupil and as a teacher) before he retires in July.
What are your earliest memories of the school as a pupil? A predominantly male teaching staff patrolling the corridors in big, black gowns. I recall being terrified of most of them. How would you describe the atmosphere of the school when you were a student compared to now? Completely different! Let’s just say that education these days is far more child-centred with a significant emphasis on student wellbeing.
What originally inspired you to become a teacher? I would like to be able to answer that one with comments like ‘to make a difference’ or ‘share my knowledge’. Truth told, I
couldn’t think of anything else at the time. Mind you, I haven’t regretted a minute. (Well, maybe one or two).
What was your first day of teaching like? I was teaching at a private boys’ school in Nottingham. I drove my Vauxhall Chevette into the staff car park and was greeted by a fuming deputy head who told me, in no uncertain terms, that sixth formers had to park outside the school grounds.
Can you share one of the funniest or most unexpected moments you’ve had in the classroom? I’ve been lucky enough to share so many amusing moments with the students that I’ve taught. The funniest have often been during the extremely competitive Blockbusters ‘lessons’ at the end of a term. (They know).
Do you remember a time when a lesson went wrong?
During a demonstration on ‘properties of alkali metals’, I coolly leant on the cold water tap and completely snapped it. Water shot up like a geyser, lots of people soaked, alkali metals had a great time. Lesson over.
What’s been the most rewarding part of teaching all these years? Definitely the genuine thanks you receive from students after a long, hard year. Makes it all worthwhile.
What are you most looking forward to in retirement? The opportunity to have a holiday during school term time and not having to get up and go to work on dark winter mornings.
What or who will you miss most? The whole package really. It’s why I’ve stayed so long.
Quickfire questions:
Tea or Coffee? Both
Rugby, Hockey or Cricket? Football
Best KES lunch? Curry
Teacher superpower? Another pair of eyes at the back of the lab.
Favourite film? Get Carter
Best school trip? Watersports in SW France
Best School House? Got to be the reds
Reunions and events
Class of 2014 – 10-year reunion
What a fantastic turn-out for the Class of 2014 10-year reunion. In November, we welcomed alumni, former and current staff to School for drinks, a curry night and lots of conversation. Class of 2015 – this year it’s your reunion. Mark your diary with the date (see forthcoming reunion dates).
Christmas Drinks
Our inaugural Christmas Drinks event was well attended by OEs from all year groups. From a group of last year’s leavers to one nonagenarian, all enjoyed the festive music (played so professionally by three of our current KES pupils) that accompanied the mince pies and mulled wine. It was a great chance for OEs of all ages to network with each other and to meet up with old friends in the run up to Christmas.
Classes of 75 & 76 – 50-year reunion
We were delighted with the number of OEs who returned to School in January for their 50-year reunion. There were no late returned library books this time but guests did travel from as far away as the US just to join us. It was lovely to see everyone and thank you to Dave Dykes for coming along, as one of their first teachers.
Forthcoming Reunions
Former Deputies and Heads of School Dinner:
Open to all former Heads of School, Deputy Heads of School and Senior Prepositors.
Date: 16 May 2025
Time: 7.00 – 10.00 pm
Venue: KES, Hill Lane
OE Sports Festival:
Open to all.
Date: 28 June 2025
Time: 10.30 am - 6.00 pm
Venue: KES, Hill Lane
London Drinks:
Open to all (Booking opens in June. Limited places so early booking recommended.)
Date: 18 September 2025
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Venue: PwC, 1 Embankment Place, London, WC2N 6RH
Booking for all the above events is via the KES Alumni Hub: https://alumni.kes.school/events
Class of 2015 – 10 year reunion: Open to 2015 Sixth Form Leavers and 2013 Fifth Year leavers
Date: 28 November 2025
Time: 7.30 – 10.30 pm
Venue: KES, Hill Lane
Alumni sport
Inaugural OE Sports Festival – Saturday 28th June 2025
We are delighted to announce that we will be holding an inaugural OE Sports Festival on Saturday 28th June 2025 where teams of OE sports enthusiasts will face the KES current 1st teams.
This Saturday event will combine ladies’ and men’s hockey and cricket matches and a ladies’ netball fixture, all followed by a barbecue. As well as looking for OEs who
wish to play in matches, spectators are most welcome. Come to play or watch – the choice is yours.
We are now registering interest for this event via the KES Alumni Hub. If you would like to represent the OE side or if you just wish to come along, please do go on-line and register.
Golf
The 2024 OE golf season drew to a close with the last two events being played at Corhampton Golf Club. The course was in excellent condition, despite the heavy rain in the preceding days, and the players found the small greens quick and tricky to read.
In the Wally Kemp Competition, Dave Creal (KES 64-66) put the disaster of taking eight shots to exit a bunker on the 9th hole behind him to finish on 33 points. However, he was beaten on the final stroke by John Spencer (KES 64-71) who holed a long putt on the last green to win with 34 points.
Rob Putt (former KES Deputy Head) took the Ray Paull Medal with his 83-shot round which allowed him to steal 2nd place in the Order of Merit. 1st place went to John Spencer who achieved two individual wins, a team win and a 2nd place - all in his first full season of OE play.
2025 will see three OE golfing events in the calendar with new members of all levels always welcome.
The Inter House Cup
Venue: New Forest Golf Course
Date: 12 May 2025
Time: Breakfast at 10 am, Tee off at 11 am
The Triangular Cup v Old Symondians & Old Tauntonians
Venue: Hockley Golf Course
Date: 25 June 2025
Time: Tee off at 2 pm
The Wally Kemp/Ray Paull Competitions
Venue: Corhampton Golf Course
Date: 16 October 2025
Time: Tee off at 10 am
For more information on how to join in with events please contact Nick Creal (KES 86-91) via squealer13@yahoo.com
Miriam is currently a Police Inspector in the Metropolitan Police Force but she has had a somewhat non-traditional pathway into policing having firstly studied Music at undergraduate level at Oxford. So, what set her on her journey to being a police officer?
“After university, I took a year out to work part-time and decide what I wanted to do. I made a list of what really mattered to me; doing something that made a difference, not being stuck at a desk and working with others and collaborating. Policing just made sense. This list was what drew me to music in the first place and I was surprised to discover transferable skills with policing. As idealistic as it sounds, music is all about creating a medium in which to communicate with people and bringing them together. Similarly, policing is about finding any way that you can to communicate with others during some of their most difficult times and give them a voice, building trust and finding common ground.”
With all this in mind, Miriam joined the Met in 2019 and has since worked on a variety of teams including Safer Neighbourhoods, a proactive team to tackle vehicle thefts, a violence against women and girls team and response policing. She was successful in the fast track to Inspector promotion process and for the past two years has been working as a Sergeant and a trainee Inspector.
“I have enjoyed being proactive, including an operation to tackle an OCG committing theft offences. This resulted in a large hit day with warrants and over 400 officers. I also found my role as a Violence against Women and Girls lead incredibly rewarding. I worked with key partners and engaged with women across London to increase trust and reporting. I wouldn’t say I massively enjoyed it but managing a murder as an Inspector on a response team was also definitely memorable. This involved coordinating resources, managing the scene and working with multiple teams to ensure evidence was preserved.”
Now in her role as an Inspector on a town centre team, Miriam’s typical day involves tactical planning for proactive operations, meeting with key partners to promote joint working and project management, such as setting up initiatives to tackle issues like knife crime and drug dealing, looking at what assets we could use and how best to disrupt different types of crime.
“Going forward, I would like to expand work to improve internal culture. I have set up a career development scheme for female probationers which aims to improve retention and create a strong network of women who support and help each other. Ultimately, we need the organisation to be more representative of the public it serves and encourage diversity of thought internally. I joined the local Culture, Diversity and Inclusion panel, so it has been rewarding to work on D&I initiatives with other officers and help to coordinate their implementation.”
Although her days working for the Met are very different to her days at KES, Miriam feels that many of the skills she uses on a daily basis can be attributed to her formative years at school.
“One of the core policing values is courage. You have to be able to make quick decisions, be accountable for those decisions and stand up for what you believe in. I found that KES always pushed me to make bold decisions and challenge myself, whether that was performing in front of the School or taking part in exciting experiences such as the Madagascar trip. I also remember KES had every sort of club imaginable. Collaboration is a key aspect of policing, and throughout KES I was definitely encouraged to work with others, find common ground and learn new skills.”
Miriam is a regular visitor back to KES having attended our annual Careers Fair for several years. Hearing about her professional experiences, along with those of the many other OEs who help at these events is invaluable to our current student body.
“I enjoy seeing what everyone is up to! It is so interesting to find out about the different paths people have taken. I also like promoting the police. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made and recruitment at the moment is challenging. I understand why there are these challenges, but young people need to be part of the change and it really is one of the most diverse and rewarding careers.”
We wish Miriam all the best as she continues to rise through the ranks and will follow her career with interest.
The path less travelled – Magnus Wheatley (KES
Sailing was always my passion, but I had no idea, literally no idea, that it would eventually lead to a rewarding, diverse, travel-filled career that has taken me all over the world.
I’m incredibly proud that during my brief few years at King Edward VI in Southampton between 1984 and 1988, I had the opportunity to represent England, won the Hampshire County Championships and had my name adorned in the Hall. It’s still there. It wasn’t something, however, that I ever thought would lead anywhere. How wrong I was. The biggest clue was that for a period between early 1986 and February 1987, I would catch an early train to school to get into the library before anyone else and cut out the America’s Cup reports from The Times, The Telegraph and the Guardian.
I own up and apologise for this flagrant vandalism of school property but in my defence, the ‘blog’ that I created, long before that term had been coined in the internet age, housed in a Lever Arch file, is still in my possession and the most valuable thing I own. Clues you see, clues.
I ignored the clues, and with it being the late 1980s, I set out on a career in the Money Markets that was both challenging and rewarding. I chased the big bucks punting Forward USD/Yen and just two years later, at the age of 20 found myself in an office overlooking Wall Street in a whirlwind of New York City. A wonderful time, I stayed for three years before the urge to travel bit again and I was posted to Tokyo. Where to start with Tokyo? Deep waters, a wonderful and baffling place, and truly the only city where I walked three blocks and was completely lost. It was a magical experience, and I impart the advice willingly that when you are in your 20s, and if you have the opportunity to travel the world, take it. Don’t stay still. You won’t regret it.
After a year in Tokyo, I moved on to do six-month stints in Hong Kong and Singapore before returning to London and taking a senior brokerage role for the next five years where funnily enough, every day I would take a call from a journalist at the Financial Times newspaper asking for a
market summary. Four years of talking without meeting, one day this chap proposed a lunch, during which he asked about my sailing and then whether I could write. The FT had a problem. Their biggest advertiser was a software company whose boss was challenging for the America’s Cup, and they needed someone in New Zealand in the next three months.
A meeting with the Sports Editor sealed the deal. I signed my life away on an exit contract from the brokerage, and a week later was on the long-haul flight to Auckland. It was a moment that changed my life. For the 2003 America’s Cup, I worked my socks off, putting in the hours to try and break into a clique of highly experienced journalists who had been doing the job for decades. The harder I worked, the luckier I became, and my style of writing developed alongside multimedia work, corporate work and interviews with some of the most interesting people on the planet.
However, after three years of journalism an opportunity arose in Financial PR and with a baby on the way, I took the security of regular pay and became the PR Manager of the
oldest stockbroker listed on the London Stock Exchange whilst keeping a side-hustle of sailing writing. With the internet and several international magazine deals bubbling along, I was able to keep developing my voice in sailing, knowing that one day it would become my full-time career again. That happened during the pandemic and one million words on my blog later, I was head-hunted by the holders of the America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, to become their full-time editor-in-chief. In the 27 months leading up to the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup I documented every single training session of every team for the Cup website and wrote some 1.886 million words plus a 92,000-word book – for context, JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series over ten years and completed 1.084 million words.
Writing is my passion and now my life. The path to my personal happiness and fulfilment however was the one less taken but I wholeheartedly reflect that following your passion is the key to all success.
Life at Marwell - Dominik Reynolds (KES 11-18)
Dominik Reynolds has been a wildlife fanatic since childhood. Whilst at KES he set up his own wildlife charity – Dominik’s Wildlife Fund – and, over the years, he has organised multiple awareness and fundraising events and donated thousands of pounds to charities from the RSPB to ORCA, a charity working worldwide to protect whales and dolphins. With this degree of commitment to animals and their environment, it was only natural that Dominik should pursue his dream to read for a degree in Zoology and in 2022 he graduated from the University of Bristol with a 2:1.
Today he is fortunate to be working in his ideal environment at Marwell Zoo within the role of Guest Experience Host. He is involved with everything relating to the experience of the public in the zoo and, on an average day, could be standing in the Tropical House and talking about the animals, cleaning windows and signs, closing off areas of the zoo for any number of reasons (from broken fences to animal births), driving the road train whilst doing the commentary or giving the introductions for the premium animal experiences - where people pay to have up close and personal encounters with animals like the penguins and giraffes. No two days are ever the same and there’s definitely no chance to get bored!
Dominik says:
“It may sound corny, but honestly everything about my job is my favourite! I always jump at the chance to head down to the giraffe house and join in on the experience fun as I will often go in to take pictures of the people taking part. This means I get up close and personal with one of the most interesting and incredible animals on earth. Giraffes are amazing. I also think the Tropical House is one of the
highlights of any day. A lot of my previous experience has been working with birds, so naturally this means I am in my element with the variety of tropical birds found inside. Depending on the time of day, I can either talk to hundreds of people or watch the birds for long periods of time with no one around, and this means I see all their quirks and interactions. But of course, the other star of the Tropical House is Santos, the Linné’s two-toed-sloth. Before working at Marwell I knew nothing about sloths, and now I think I have rammed just about every sloth fact possible into my head. They are wonderful creatures and I will never get bored of watching him – even if some days they do absolutely nothing!
The zoo is chaotic at times, and I have had many random funny moments. Not only is my team a joy to work with but all the departments make it a great place to be. However, I have had some unusual moments already whilst working here. There is, for example, one particular bird in the Tropical House called Trish (a Fischer’s turaco) who often takes a particular interest in the top of my head (depending on her mood and nesting situation) so I have quickly had to learn to recognise the signs of an incoming divebomb!” It is wonderful to see Dom doing a job he loves and we look forward to watching him as his career progresses.
Obituaries
John Lawson Beven (KES 51-58) came from a working class background but his keen interest in his education and desire to forge a successful career for himself ensured he achieved Ordinary levels across multiple subjects, before obtaining Advanced levels in Chemistry and Biology. John began his career at Harwell Medical Research Council and was swiftly promoted to Technical Officer, before furthering his skills at Beecham’s Research Laboratory as a Computer Operator. Joining British American Tobacco in 1964, he worked in several roles before rising to the post of Senior Technician and Research Scientist. He stayed with BAT until his retirement in 1996 and throughout his successful 32-year career John became a patent holder for numerous other inventions relating to his research. He was well known for his extensive knowledge and was always the person people would be advised to seek for an answer. John had a strong wish to ensure that other children from less fortunate circumstances could continue to access the same opportunities as he did many years ago at KES. His family hope that the legacy John left to the school will allow others to pursue educational opportunities, providing the ability to achieve their goals and forge success, such as he did, for themselves in the future. He will be sadly missed by his wife June and his family and friends.
University of Hull. Upon graduation he took up a post at BAT (British American Tobacco) where he spent his entire professional career rising to the position of Senior Research Manager. In 1962 he married Maureen and they had two daughters, Kathryn and Dawn. Harry developed a life-long connection with St John Ambulance which began in 1953 when he was chosen to be on duty during the Queen’s coronation. He served for six years as Chief Commissioner of Operations for England. His leadership was invaluable but particularly during the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and during the 7/7 terrorist attack on London. In 2007 Harry achieved Knight of Grace of the order of St John and in 2014 received an MBE from the late Queen at Windsor Castle to recognise his contributions to first aid and charitable work. He also chaired Southampton’s health forum and multiple NHS committees as well as conducting inspections of local hospitals. Above all, Harry’s life centred on people; his adored family, cherished friends and his community. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Charles Trippe (KES 54-62) played tennis with his parents from an early age, joining KES in 1954. Whilst at KES, he played in the school tennis team and won many individual local tournaments, developing a lifelong passion for the game. At 16, he won an American Field Service scholarship and went to live in Oakland, California for a year. Here he enjoyed attending the local school, playing tennis with the host family’s four sons and was a member of the school choir that sang at the opening ceremony of the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Upon his return to KES, he was appointed Head of School before going on to study Industrial Economics at Nottingham University. His love for tennis continued and he played at Junior Wimbledon and as a senior in the AELTA Wimbledon qualifying tournament. He met his wife, Helen, at the World Student Games in Budapest in 1965 when they were both members of the British team. Throughout his adult life he was involved as a volunteer in tennis administration at local, national, European and world level, was appointed President of the Lawn Tennis
Harry Dymond (KES 50-56) passed away on 7 December 2024. After finishing at KES he studied Chemistry at The
Association (20032005), and was awarded an MBE for Services to Tennis in 2013. He represented Hampshire at county level until he was well into his 60s and played tennis twice weekly at the Winchester Tennis Club until he was 79. Charles was delighted to revisit KES – the school he believed set him up for life – in later years as his grandchildren attend King Edward’s. He will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Tony Ellingham (KES 58-65) passed away in January this year. Whilst at KES he was a keen rugby, hockey and cricket player representing the School and his House, Capon. Upon leaving school he played goalkeeper for Hampshire Men’s hockey team for many years. Tony forged a successful career in banking spending his entire career working for NatWest. He married his wife, Carol, who he met at work and, after a brief move to Fleet, they settled in Ipswich. Tony’s hobby was horseracing and before ill health meant that he could no longer travel, he often visited race courses around the country. Tony’s wife predeceased him, but he leaves a son and a daughter, several grandchildren, a sister and many friends who will all miss him immensely.
Brian Maidment (KES 57-63) excelled academically and in sport whilst at KES representing the school in tennis, cricket and hockey. He proceeded to the University of Bangor where he completed a Master’s before studying for a PhD on John Ruskin at the University of Leicester, staying on as a member of the department of Victorian Studies. Following a brief period at the University of Aberystwyth, Brian moved to Manchester Polytechnic and, at this time, wrote The Poorhouse Fugitives, a groundbreaking book on working class poetry. After a turn at Edge Hill College
as Head of English, he became Professor of English at Huddersfield University where he published his book Reading Popular Print. Joining the University of Salford in 2000, he incorporated work on early 19th century print culture into his teaching, producing a range of writing, and was frequently invited to speak around the world. After attempting retirement, Brian accepted the post of Professor of Print Culture at Liverpool John Moores University, continuing to teach and working on his book Comedy, Caricature and the Social Order. He was a leading authority in many areas, from John Ruskin to comic images of dustmen and from print-making techniques to workingclass poetry. He was an internationally significant writer on nineteenth-century print culture as well as on visual culture. In addition to his work, Brian was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. In full retirement Brian continued his academic work donating many of his books and prints to academic libraries. In addition, he volunteered for local charities and took up Crown Green bowling with his wife Maxine. He died after a battle with pancreatic cancer and will be greatly missed by his wife, his wider family and colleagues and friends.
Sophie Harwood (KES 19-24) was selected to play in the U17 Football World Cup in Dominican Republic last year. She was also signed by Nike last summer and moved to play for Arsenal.
Rory Penrose (KES 16-21) has been called up to the Men’s England Hockey Squad. The team travelled to Argentina to start their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign against Argentina and Ireland in December.
Will Tall (KES 15-20) and James Tall (KES 16-23) are running the London Marathon this year, alongside their Dad, Nick, to raise money for VICTA. Will and James’ youngest brother, Ben, suffers from a rare eye disease known as Congenital Glaucoma. VICTA helps blind and partially sighted children and their families through providing important resources in education and social activities and has been instrumental in shaping Ben into the boy he is today. To read more about their challenge or if you would like to support them in their running efforts, please check out their fundraiser https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/team-tall
Charlotte Dunkley (KES 15-22) was selected to represent Netball Scotland Thistles squad in their recent international game. Her call up to the senior squad comes after 4 years of representing the U21 squad, most recently winning the European leg of the 2025 Youth World Cup qualifiers in Cardiff. Charlotte and her team faced the senior squads from Wales, Northern Ireland and Zimbabwe in her first international game played at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow.
Alice McNicholas (KES 10-17) is an Offie & Standing Ovation Award nominated Costume Designer, with experience working both in the UK and internationally. She specialises in productions where music drives the storytelling - musicals, opera, and dance, and has been working with KES pupils on the design and production of the costumes, puppets and masks for the forthcoming production of The Lion King.
Bronwyn Lee (KES 10-17) currently works for OSRL. OSRL is the largest international industry-funded cooperative which exists to respond to oil spills wherever in the world they may occur, by providing preparedness, response and intervention services. Speaking recently to Sixth Formers, Bronwyn explained firstly about the organisation itself and its global footprint, before talking about the specialist equipment that they use in their work and the different tools or techniques that can be used to tackle oil spills. She also gave some interesting examples of spills to which OSRL have responded including in Tobago in 2024, and another interesting spill of plastic nurdles in Sri Lanka in 2021!
Tom Meredith (KES 04-11) studied History at university and, after graduating, embarked on a career in Financial Services, culminating thus far with working for the regulator (the FCA). In his spare time, he loves to write and started doing this again seriously during the pandemic. In February 2025 he became a published author with his historical novel, ‘Blood in the Water’ hitting the shelves.
Matt Scarborough (KES 88-95) lives in New Zealand. Last year he won the New Zealand Open Snooker Championships in Auckland - the event was a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Q Tour Title. He is currently ranked 2nd in New Zealand.
Lil Green (KES 03-08) is currently living and volunteering in Tonga in the public library. Before 2019, Tonga never had a public library and were a new concept before the Kolovai Library opened. Lil commented: “The Kolovai Library is a real treasure here on the island. There are many strings to the bow that make this unique resource sing.” In the last four months alone, there’s been a 115% increase in library patrons.
Ed Scrase (KES 86-93) is currently working for the UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency, as a Senior Statistics and Data Analysis Officer. Based between his home in the New Forest and their offices in Copenhagen, Ed works closely with regional and country-level statistics focal points to produce high-quality population statistics. The dissemination of these population statistics - through platforms such as www.unhcr.org/ refugee-statistics and its associated mobile app - supports communication and research on forcibly displaced and stateless populations. The study of these reports enables the analysis of relevant trends in population data. In November, we were pleased to welcome Ed back to school to talk to Geog Soc members about his work.
Chris Baker (KES 03-10) studied Classics at UCL and, after a spell working for Deloitte, is now working for Studio Zao, a company that assists organisations make innovation ideas happen, faster and more efficiently. He visited KES this term and delivered an engaging and inspiring session to our Business and Economics students.
Lt Colonel Tim Osman (KES 87-94) kindly spoke to students as part of Open Forum in the Autumn Term. With a military career spanning more than 26 years, Tim has worked in a wide variety of roles and shared his experiences with our Sixth Formers, talking about his time in Afghanistan and Iraq, and highlighting the importance of preparation and fully informed decision making. He is currently Head Coach of the Army 1st XV rugby team. Tim is the youngest of 4 brothers, all of whom attended KES. Now a current KES parent himself, we couldn’t miss the opportunity for a multigenerational Osman family photo.
Simon Williamson (KES 90-94) is an OE and a current Prep and Senior School parent. Over the past 12 years he has been on a huge fundraising journey, starting in 2013 when he set himself the task of raising money for Parkinson’s UK by running 100 different marathons. He successfully completed this in 2021, having raised an impressive £15,000. In 2024 he set himself a further challenge - to run with a different running buddy every single day of the year covering a total of 2,920km, the equivalent of running from Southampton to Istanbul! On New Year’s Eve, Simon completed this extraordinary feat, crossing the finish line alongside his wife, cheered on by family and friends. In total, he has raised over £50,000 for Parkinson’s UK across both challenges.
The Class of 56-63 still meet regularly with the 2024 Christmas get-together taking place at The Ship Inn.