APRIL 2015, ISSUE 13
www.kgs.org.uk/alumni
KGS Friends
...INCORPORATING THE OLD KINGSTONIAN ASSOCIATION
KGS CCF Celebrates 100 Years!
T
he Celebrations of the Centenary of the CCF began on Thursday 19th March with the biennial inspection at Ditton Field. Despite the cold weather, a good crowd of parents, alumni, staff and governors gathered to enjoy a range of displays and
Fe a s t a t t h e Fe i l d
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activities. These began with a parade, followed by stands dotted around the field where cadets could demonstrate and explain the various activities the contingent is involved in. (Cont. on page 6)
Ye a r G r o u p R e u n i o n s
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Recent Events
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KGS Friends
April 2015
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Feast at the Field We extend a warm invitation to all KGS Friends – OKs, staff, governors, parents – and their families (we often have three generations of some) to join us entirely free of charge at the annual Feast at the Field on Sunday 21st June, any time from about 1.00. Enjoy a lazy summer Sunday afternoon at beautiful Ditton Field, with a delicious BBQ and a lavishly stocked refreshment tent, with Pimms, beer, wine and soft drinks. There will be cricket to watch with the traditional fixtures between the RJ Sturgeon XIs, representing the past, and the School. The energetic among you might even get a game, or may prefer to play tennis - the courts will be open and the ever-popular Family Tennis Tournament will be taking place as well. You don’t have to enjoy cricket or sport of any kind to enjoy the day – we have guests join us who have never even been to the Field before, let alone played any sport there, and they always have a very pleasant afternoon. It is as restful or as active a day as you want it to be, and there is plenty of space for the kids to run around and play their own games, too. Do feel free to bring a picnic or any items you think would enhance our BBQ – you might want to supply your own salads, desserts, a cheese course etc. If you would like to come, please let us know so that we can organise the catering accordingly – please contact Katie Raymond at friends@kgs.org.uk or go to http://www.kgs.org.uk/Alumni-Events to book online. If you would like to play for the School’s 2nd XI, a scratch team made up of pupils, parents, staff and their friends and families please contact Head of Cricket Pete Scott at pscott@kgs.org.uk or if you would like to play for one of the RJ Sturgeon XIs please contact James Gordon at Jame@gordonsols.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you there!
Class of 78-80 Reunion
Henley Royal Regatta
Saturday 20th June
Saturday 4th July 2015
2015
KGS Friends and the Sherriff Club invite all rowing alumni to the KGS tent at Henley Cricket Club to enjoy drinks and canapés and meet staff and pupils from the KGS Boat Club.
Year rep Keith Foreman and KGS Friends would like to invite you all to a summer reunion at the school on Saturday 20th June. Join us from 1.30pm for an informal lunch and drinks, hopefully in the sun! Please RSVP to Katie Raymond friends@kgs.org.uk. 2
Last year we had over 200 guests attend so do come and join the fun. Please RSVP to Katie Raymond friends@kgs.org.uk
Dates for your Diary Pre 1970s Decade Reunion, Saturday 10th October 2015. Kingston Grammar School.
KGS Friends Quiz Night, Saturday 17th November 2015. Kingston Grammar School.
Class of 2015, One Term On Reunion. December 2015.
Forthcoming Events
Class of 1985 30 Year Reunion Saturday 9th May 2015 Year rep Elisabeth (Bennell) Dymond has taken on the organisation of a thirty year reunion for the class of 1985. Join us from 7pm at Ye Olde Swan, Thames Ditton for a chance to catch up over some drinks and nibbles. Summer Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0QQ.
Class of 2010 Five Year Reunion Friday 12th June 2015 The class of 2010 will reunite at Gigalum bar in Clapham. Join us from 6.30pm for drinks and nibbles. Cavendish Road, Clapham Common Southside, SW4 9DW So that we can cater the entire evening, we ask that guests please give a small ÂŁ5 contribution.
We ask for a ÂŁ5 contribution so that we can cater the whole evening. Book your place here http://www.kgs.org.uk/Alumni-Events We are also looking for an additional rep for this year so please get in touch if you would like to become more involved!
Follow KGS Friends @ KGS _ Friends
ww.kgs.org.uk/Alumni-Events Book your place here - http://www.kgs.org.uk/Alumni-Events
Meet KGS Friends Wednesday 29th April 2015 KGS Friends invite you to join the committee and year reps for some drinks and nibbles at Ditton Pavilion from 7.30pm. This is a great chance to meet the team and find out a little more about what we do. RSVP - friends@kgs.org.uk
Class of 2005, Ten Year Reunion Saturday 27th June 2015 Year rep Sophia Christie has teamed up with KGS Friends to organise a ten year reunion for the class of 2005! Join us at KGS from 2pm for drinks and a BBQ, a great chance to catch up, see the School and then continue the day at a local pub. To book your place please speak with Sophia or emial Katie Raymond, friends@kgs.org.uk. Fingers crossed for a sunny day! KGS Friends
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Careers In... Finance Dinner On Tuesday 9th February, some twenty-five students from the Fifth and Sixth Form attended a dinner to discuss potential careers in finance with seasoned professionals. The venue was the Waterloo Bar & Kitchen, which had reserved the entire restaurant for the event. Of course I was there to learn about the financial industry, and it was soon clear that I was in for a treat. Owing to transport issues, for the first ten minutes or so of the ‘meet and greet’ I was alone with the experts. I decided to get to work and at once I struck up conversation with the formidable Thor Askeland, who is currently working for Citibank’s family offices. Mr Askeland is a parent at the School, and has worked in investment banking for over 20 years. As more people began to arrive, I made my way around the room in an attempt to hear as many points of view as I could, before we were asked to take our seats. Once we were seated we heard a few introductory words from the two hosts for the event, Guy
Whittle and Elizabeth Dymond, who thanked us for our participation and urged us to make the most of this opportunity to gain valuable insights into a desirable career. Mrs Dymond also raised the important point that it was necessary for more women to see finance as a viable career option, and not be put off by the perceived masculine culture of the City. With these words said, the dinner could begin. The plan was for the students to switch tables between courses and talk to as many experts as possible. I believe that this was intrinsic to the success of the evening. In my time there I met manyy interesting people, and I believe thatt the most important lesson I learntt e was that there is no orthodox route e into the industry. That being said, the e value of adaptability and intelligence e in finding a job in finance cannot be e overstated. In the aftermath of the event I asked my fellow sixth formerss for their opinions, and the consensuss was that the evening was ‘veryy worthwhile’.
Connor Holt U6 JMD A mother adds: “My son, came home thrilled at the opportunity to talk to such interesting people in the industry. He was amazed that they would give up so much of their precious time to talk to KGS students. He was inspired and motivated, talking excitedly till midnight about the experience!”
Alumni Profile - Alexander Wade (OK 198 1989) 89)
After the Finance Dinner, KGS Friends met with guest Alex Wade to find out a little more about his career and his exciting new venture into education. “I was never a sportsman at School – quite the opposite. Drama was my thing and I still remember coming 1st place in House Drama when I directed! I think my love of drama and public speaking through the Gibbon Society gave me great grounding and confidence to go out into the world. I certainly wasn’t the most studious of pupils but 4
I remember RE with Mr Stribley, History with Mr Howat and Mr Bond directing me in many plays. When I left KGS after A Levels, I was so keen to utilise my skills and get into the workplace. It was KGS that gave me that desire to learn more in the wider world, and the confidence to go out and get it. I got a job straight away in the City and I have worked my way up, now running my own wealth management business, Knightsbridge Wealth, which specialises in overseas investors. It’s a job that takes me all over the world but it’s the great, rounded base that KGS gave me that has really enabled me to be whatever I wanted to be. I’ve kept in touch with a few from KGS and Nigel Llewellyn-Davies is still one of my best friends, over 30 years after leaving School. My other great passion is education and I think, looking back, this began with how grateful I am for the education I received as a KGS pupil. I received an assisted place as my mum wouldn’t have been able
to afford to pay the fees, so I am hugely privileged they put faith and investment in 11 year old me. I’m so very grateful for the support I received and encouragement that seemed to lift me above personal struggles. Knowing personally the difference a good education can make has been one of the factors which have driven my wife and me to set up our free school, The Fulham Boys’ School. We have three young sons in primary and in our area many parents either move away to find better state schools or pay for education. We felt there should be more options, so for the past six years we have been working on setting up a free school. This September I’m proud to say that we opened our doors to the first year of 110 boys and I’m so pleased to think we have created a local school our sons can attend, very much based on the values that became entrenched in my days at KGS.” For more information on the school Alexander has founded, go to: www.fulhamboysschool.org
Recent Events Careers In...Healthcare Dinner Martha Prior 5JG
All the students who were interested in a career in healthcare were invited to join fourteen healthcare professionals from a variety of different sectors, from plastic surgeons to radiologists, for dinner in a private room of the lovely restaurant Brasserie Blanc in Waterloo. Having the opportunity to speak to and learn from so many experienced specialists is very rare and we were very fortunate to have such knowledgeable and insightful people with us. When at the dinner, we were seated next to a few medics at each table. After each course the students moved tables in order to sit with and gain wisdom from as many people as possible. After the meal, the students had time to speak to anyone they wished in order to ask any further questions or ask for an opportunity to work with them. I was fortunate enough to secure a work experience placement with a hand surgeon, Valarie Perry, at St. George’s Hospital and will be able to shadow her for an entire week. Valerie will guide me through different areas of the hospital which interest me most, allowing me the chance to witness a variety of different branches of medicine. The dinner was a great success and I am more inspired than ever to pursue my goal of going to Med School. I learned h o w to improve my application, tips on how to impress interviewers, and about the positive and negatives of the job itself. On behalf of all the students who attended the dinner, thank you very much to all the healthcare professionals who gave up their time to pass on their advice and knowledge to us. It was a most valuable experience.
Gibbon Society Dinner This Year’s dinner was an historic one for several reasons. Not only was it the first (of many, we hope) for new Head Master Stephen Lehec, but it was also the first (for many years) to have a Fifth Year presence. It was not the first to have OKs turning up either unannounced or at a couple of hours’ notice, but we were happy to accommodate them, and their contribution was much enjoyed. There was a very healthy turn-out of OKs, mostly from 2013 and 2014, and we were particularly pleased to welcome back James Heale as it meant we would have someone never knowingly lost for words to present the cup. The two secretaries, Ben Doble and Serena Sekhon, gave a brief but entertaining report on the year’s activities and it was they who were the worthy recipients of the cup in recognition of all their efforts and their achievements in their short time with us – is it another first that both secretaries joined the School in the Sixth Form? After an excellent four-course meal, with just enough wine to lubricate the social wheels, but not so much as to make them fall off, there was plenty of mingling and chat across the years until eventually people began to fade into the night, going on to who knows what further and no doubt louder and less intellectually stimulating entertainment, looking forward to next year’s dinner already – keep an eye out for the traditional end-of-Spring-Term date provisionally 23rd March 2016. Put it in your diaries now!
KGS Friends
April 2015
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KGS CCF Centenary (cont. from front cover)
After a splendid lunch in the pavilion there were events in the arena, followed by a final parade and address by the reviewing officer, Lt-General Jonathon Riley, OK 1973. The General declared himself well-pleased by all that he had seen and commended thew contingent, its officers and cadets, on an excellent turn-out. The contingent, he said, is finely placed to face the future. The Review was followed two days later by the Centenary Dinner, a grand black-tie event organised in collaboration with KGS Friends. Current staff and cadets were joined by members of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, with whom the contingent is affiliated, and some sixty Old Kingstonians, who proved themselves to be in fine voice and high spirits, and a very enjoyable evening was, it is fair to say, had by all. It was a great pleasure to see so many gathered together but sad that previous Contingent Commander Eric Thomas was unable to make the journey from Wales. We hope he will be able to attend the reunion in October. Also worthy of mention, for having come the furthest, is Rodger Emsley (OK 1960), who came all the way from Canada. Lt-Gen Riley was the guest speaker, and in his address he recalled the highlights of the last hundred years, its successes (the Queen’s visit in 1961, the successful military careers of so many alumni such as Graham Fitness, Jon and Jesse Powis, and Leslie Edwards, who were at the dinner) and its disasters (such as the fire in the armoury, a wooden building where the fire-power of a small third-world country, including mortars and anti-tank weapons, was stored, much to the alarm of the fire brigade who had to tackle the blaze), its camps (the first in 1916, when ‘the weather was sweltering and the food left much to be desired’), field days and night exercises, and many of the characters who had served the contingent with such selfless distinction and who illuminated its history. Much had changed, but the values the CCF represented remained – the self-confidence, sense of responsibility and qualities of leadership it instilled in cadets, the commitment to duty and service it fostered and the fundamental decencies it taught. Lt-General Riley closed with a toast – to the next hundred years. After the formalities, the guests lingered and swapped reminiscences and tales, which grew ever taller as the evening went on, before many departed to continue their recollections elsewhere. Our thanks go to alumni officer Katie Raymond, the catering staff, archivist Joanne Halford and the cadets and officers of the CCF for laying on such a splendid celebration of this historic milestone. We hope to see many familiar faces reunite once again at the School for the Pre-1970 Reunion on 10th October.
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Alumni News Michael Fernando
Visits to the school John Snelling (OK 1980-1988) On Thursday 12th February we had a visit from John Snelling. John is still living in Surrey and now works at Trinity School where he plans to implement the new ‘Firefly’ system KGS has recently introduced. Elisabeth Thomas (OK 2002-2009) On Wednesday 11th March Elisabeth Thomas popped in for a visit and meeting with Louise Collison (Head of Maths). Elisabeth studied Illustration at UWE Bristol and lives in North London. She has now gone onto working in Maths Education for La Salle Education - lasalle-education.com
I attended KGS between 2005-2012, playing hockey throughout and appeared in the 1st XI for my two years in sixth form. I was also a senior prefect, vice-captain of Walworth and academic scholar. I remember my time at KGS fondly, not least as it sowed the seed for my love of hockey. I am now at Oxford, where I won a Blue in my second year (2014) for representing Oxford against Cambridge in the Varsity match. I didn’t play any hockey in first year but somehow, in my third year, find myself as President of OUHC and faced formed KGS team mate Guy Morris. This spring I am running the London Marathon in aid of Cancer Research UK. This marathon is a little different as I am running in my hockey goalkeeper kit. Hockey, for me, has always been a bit of an escape. When I am wearing the kit and playing I know that I can think about nothing else other than a rock hard ball flying towards me. The whole concept, while a bit ridiculous, seems appropriate. In all seriousness I have considered doing this for a while. Many of my close friends lost a parent to cancer. I have been lucky enough that medical improvements over the past few years have led to my dad being described as a “medical miracle” having been diagnosed with stage four (out of four) bowel cancer over five years ago. On top of this my Aunt is in remission from breast cancer and my Gran has also suffered from breast cancer. While I agree that my dad, aunt and gran are amazing, the true miracle is the medicine and the advancements that are being made. This is due to the work of charities such as Cancer Research UK. Please find my fundraising page at the following link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage. action?userUrl=fernandogetssweaty
Golf Society Changes at the Top With the retirement of Don Wilson from the Presidency of the KGS Golf Society, Vice-President John Elvidge has taken over as Acting President from now until the Society’s AGM in September when it is anticipated that the appointment will be ratified. Don’s resignation is for health reasons. Says the Society’s 2015 Captain, Gordon House: “We’re sad that Don has had to step down. He’s been an inspirational leader to the Society over the years.” Don has been a distinguished sportsman, playing hockey for Scotland and the OKs. Legend has it that in one international, playing with a new ball, his shot at a short corner rammed into the post and imprinted the ball-maker’s name on the woodwork. In golf, he was Captain of Wentworth a few years ago and won most of the honours within KGS GS over the years. He instituted what is now the Surrey Schools Golf Society’s Festival, a fierce contest every Summer between the rival schools in the county, with KGS up against Tiffs, Surbs and KCS, amongst others. He has
been a keen advocate of the drive to make the Society more eclectic, welcoming parents, pupils and staff to play alongside former pupils. “We shall miss him as President,” says Gordon, “but we hope he’ll be fit enough soon to join us at our events once more.” Don is being invited to accept the title of “Honorary Life President” of the Society. John Elvidge, who was Chairman of the Governors for ten years, has been Vice-President of the Golf Society for some time. “We owe Don a great debt of gratitude,” says John. “There is no way I can hope to fill his shoes, but I will do my best.” Amongst John’s early engagements will be the Past v Present golf match, instituted last year, scheduled for Hampton Court Golf Club on Wednesday May 6. Other major events include the match v Tiffs at Betchworth (June 1), Surrey Schools on June 19 at Clandon Regis, the match v Surbiton at Surrey Downs on July 15 and Captain’s Day at Surbiton on Sept 4. For details contact makin@johnmakin.demon.co.uk KGS Friends
April 2015
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**************************** Friday 8 May
From the Archive
Jazz and Popular Music Night KGS Theatre 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm Everyone welcome
Email Josh Selimi for details Jselimi@kgs.org.uk ****************************
Gap Year in Ghana KGS has an established link with a school in Ghana. Sacred Heart is a school of 150 pupils aged 2-16, 3 hours north of Ghana’s capital, Accra, set amongst rural fields and lush rainforest. As part of our link with Sacred Heart, we have successfully launched a gap-year programme for four of our U6th leavers. We would like to extend the offer to 4-6 alumni in September 2015 or January 2016, to spend 3-5 months teaching English or another specialist subject. In addition, you would teach another co-curricular interest such as sport, music, art, drama, etc., anything which would enrich the education of the Ghanaian children. You would be hosted in comfortable quarters at the school and in all matters would effectively be adopted as part of the Headmaster’s family. Prior to arriving at the school, an acclimatisation week is spent in Accra to gain an insight into the best of Ghanaian culture. Make the most of free time to travel or get involved in the local community, and after your time at the school you would be offered the opportunity to see the best of Ghana and West Africa’s world class jungles, wildlife and beaches. This would be offered at a considerably reduced price compared to that offered by other gap year operators. Benefits also include far greater training and support, both in country and from KGS. In terms of a gap year choice, it is hard to imagine a more worthwhile and exciting opportunity. If this is of interest please get in touch with Neil Mackay: nmackay@kgs.org.uk
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The T he Eccentric Art A rt Master, M aster Albert ‘Techy’ Perry We were delighted to be contacted by Roy Charles Allen (OK 1938-1948), who has sent some fascinating reminiscences, particularly of his teachers, and wonderful photographs taken during his time at the School. Mr Allen was a keen amateur photographer and he took this rather splendid portrait of his art master Albert ‘Techy’ Perry. Techy was first so nicknamed because of his habit of speaking to the boys constantly about technique. Mr Allen remembers him as “struggling most of his life to get one of his paintings into a London art gallery”. Indeed, the Kingstonian affectionately describes Techy as “the World’s most rejected artist”. This was not entirely true as he was in fact a fine portrait painter who exhibited at the Society des Artistes Françaises, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal College of Art. Eccentric, with his unique quiff, Techy taught at the School for thirty-four years, between 1919 and 1953. He was well-known for his bohemian style of dress and for sending vividly coloured envelopes through the post. Pulling the leg of the Royal Academy was his chief hobby, and many were the exploits in which he indulged. He often displayed his paintings in unexpected places including a costermonger’s cart, a Thames barge towed up the river from Richmond and a Tooting hostelry. (The Kingstonian, September 1953) Another wonderful image from Mr Allen’s collection will appear in the next issue of KGS Friends. To contact the Archivist, Joanne Halford, please email: archives@kgs.org.uk or call 020 8865 0111.