I hope this message finds you well and thriving in your endeavours, wherever they may have taken you since your time at Leighton Park. It is my privilege and pleasure to introduce this edition of The Old Leightonian, dedicated to celebrating the achievements, stories, and continued impact of our remarkable and special community.
As I reflect on the past year, I am reminded once again of the values that have long defined Leighton Park: a deep commitment to nurturing both the intellectual and emotional development of our students, and a steadfast belief in the importance of integrity, peace, and respect for all. These are principles rooted in our Quaker heritage, and they remain as relevant today as they were when the school was founded over 130 years ago.
The past few years have been particularly challenging for schools across the globe, with the pandemic radically reshaping education and our approach to community life. Despite these challenges, I am immensely proud of how our school has adapted and evolved, both in terms of pedagogy and the broader pastoral care that we offer. The resilience of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the support of our wider community—including our alumni—have been nothing short of inspirational.
We were humbled and delighted to be made Senior School of the Year 2023-24 by the Independent Schools Association, and I pay tribute to the work of everyone in the community who made this possible; students, staff, parents, governors, and OLs.
As we look to the future, Leighton Park continues to innovate and grow. We have a greater number of students – some 570 – than at any point in our history but have remained true to our core values. We are embracing innovative technologies and teaching methods, while staying true to our mission: to educate young people not only to excel academically, but also to develop into compassionate, thoughtful, and responsible global citizens. Our focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and our efforts to promote sustainability reflect our determination to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the modern world. The refurbishment of the former Grove boarding house is simply astonishing and its transformation into the new sixth form study centre and new School Library has given the School an exceptional facility for learning whilst restoring the building. I do hope that you will come and see it - whether you were in Grove or not!
I am always excited about the ongoing work of our alumni community. The stories in this edition highlight the diverse paths our former students have taken—from entrepreneurship and the arts to public service and scientific research. These achievements are a testament to the breadth of a Leighton Park education, and a reminder that our values continue to inspire long after students have left the school grounds.
For those who remain closely connected to the school, your involvement has never been more vital or more valued. Whether through mentoring current students, supporting our (ever stretched) bursary programme, or simply staying in touch with former classmates, your contributions help to sustain the rich tapestry of the Leighton Park family.
I shall be leaving LP at the end of this year after seven years. These have been the most fulfilling and happy of my career, with the community feel of the school an incredibly special part of my huge enjoyment of being here. The 100s of OL’s I have met have been a very special group to me, with your pride of, and respect for, our School always shining through.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support. I hope you enjoy this edition of the magazine, and I look forward to seeing how you, as alumni, will continue to shape the future in your own unique ways.
A Note from The Editor
It is an extraordinary privilege to find myself, 50 years after joining the School as a languages teacher, now editing this magazine for former staff and students. The School itself is on the crest of a wave, and we are very pleased that so many OLs share our view that keeping in touch is important and rewarding. While preparing this magazine, I have often found myself in awe of the achievements of OLs, and it is good to think that we may have played a small part in their formation. I am similarly very proud of the staff and students of LP 2024, and I am glad to give a flavour of the present-day School ‘s activities in these pages.
I would like to thank Penny Wallington for her help in compiling this magazine, and also Geri Baker, Isabel Allinson and Jodie Juliusdottir for their assistance in collating the numerous items.
John Allinson
Since the Alumni and Archives departments merged in January this year, we have worked on numerous projects, and simply enjoyed being at the centre of so much activity. It is a real pleasure to be in contact with so many OLs, former colleagues, and indeed other members of the LP community – all of whom are very welcome to read this magazine.
Our core aims are:
• To foster and develop good relations between the School and its former students and staff
• To promote alumni engagement through a programme of communications and events
• To provide an archives service whereby items no longer in current use but of value as a historical and cultural record of the school’s activities, are acquired, organised, preserved and utilised as appropriate.
Those very aims and all the associated values have for many years underpinned the wonderful work of Penny Wallington (centre in photograph). She retired in September this year, after a career of over 20 years at LP, mostly in alumni relations. In her time here she oversaw the development of a well-resourced department and introduced so many features of benefit to OLs and the School alike. Since the announcement of her retirement, many OLs have paid tribute to her helpful and caring approach to them. Thank you, Penny!
New website portal
The Leighton Park Connect online service has been discontinued in favour of a new website portal for alumni which will have more features and will be more userfriendly. We will be sending out details of this new service by email shortly. If you haven’t yet let us know your email address, please would you do this by emailing us at alumni@leightonpark.com
Contacting us
Our department has two email addresses, each feeding into the same account. alumni@leightonpark.com and alumniandarchives@leightonpark.com
When corresponding with us by email, it is helpful if you use one of the above. It enables us to pick up each other’s work when one of us is away!
The main office phone number is 0118 987 9630.
Contacting you
We are able to provide more regular communications electronically than on paper. Those who are unable to use emails and websites are asked if they might be able to give us the email address of a friend or family member who could perhaps agree to act as a messenger!
Please let us know of any changes in your contact details.
Please be assured that you can opt out of communications from us if you let us know.
John Allinson Alumni and Archives Services Manager
Geri Baker Alumni and Archives Services Assistant Manager
A WALK IN THE PARK
AAS launches its first video podcast on the Leighton Park Archives Youtube playlist
Mark Simmons and I have a total of 90 years’ experience of working at Leighton Park. We have a treasure chest of memories to share, and, with a little help from our friends, we have put together our first video podcast. In 15-20 minutes, we reflect on some of those memories, we introduce members of the current school community, and meet up with former students and staff. We round it off with a bit of entertainment – don’t worry, it’s not us singing…. Usually!
YOUNG OLS IN POLITICS
In the 2023 local election, OL George Blundell (Reckitt 2018) a Liberal Democrat candidate in the local elections, caused a huge upset as he defeated the Conservative leader of the council in Windsor and Maidenhead. The Lib Dems took control of the council with 22 of the 41 seats.
George, who studied Politics and International Relations at De Montfort University Leicester.has recently been appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to Joshua Reynolds MP.
He is also an ambassador for charity at the Livingstone Tanzania Trust, established by OL Julian Page; as well as volunteering as a student, he returned to Tanzania a second time with Nick Cameron
In the General Election, Gary Shacklady (Field 2004) stood as Green Party candidate for Earley and Woodley. He explained “The constituency includes Whitley, Shinfield and Sonning, a vast and diverse area. I would say the cost of living, especially in terms of rent and bills is one major concern. Many people tell me about their climate fears around rising temperatures, flooding and the future of these. Finally, many people feel there is a lack of opportunities, resulting in antisocial behaviour and crime.”
The 2024 local elections saw three OLs standing: in Bulmershe and Coronation, Gary Shacklady stood for the Greens and Kirsten Mcfarlane (Field 2021) stood for Labour.
Joseph Barley (School 2020) was elected as Conservative Councillor in Barkham and Arborfield, having won 42% of the votes.
OL NEWS
Edward Bainton Grove 1998
Edward writes:
I am enjoying teaching religious studies (my tenth year, if I’m counting accurately). I’m now at The King’s (The Cathedral) School in Peterborough, and recently took on the leadership of the department. Outside class I am trustee of a couple of small charities, along with my wife, Anna Nayyar. Any OLs in the area are welcome to get in touch for a coffee or similar.
Henry Bainton Field 1998
We congratulate Henry on being a finalist for the Royal History Society Whitfield Prize in December 2021.
Henry, whose qualifications include a doctorate at the University of York, introduces his book ‘History and the Written Word: Documents, Literacy, and Language in the Age of the Angevins’ in this short film:
Jon Barnes Reckitt 1959
Jon writes:
My schooldays at Leighton Park were a long time ago, 1954-59 to be precise. But I can still look back and remember that time and many of the staff who taught me, plus of course John Ounsted, headmaster over this period. On leaving school, I went to St Andrews University, getting a B.Sc. and then going on to get a doctorate. This got me an academic job, at Glasgow University, where I retired as Reader, though still have a link with the University as an Honorary Research Fellow. Although retired, I still keep up my research, the study of biological adhesive mechanisms, mainly in tree frogs! It was in St Andrews that I met Kristeen, now my wife. We have been happily married for over 50 years, live in Glasgow and have two grown-up children, who live close by. Other interests include cricket, where over the years I have gone from player to umpire to my current position as chairman of an all-Asian cricket club and hillwalking. I have climbed all Scotland’s hills over 3000ft (called Munros, of which there are 276!).
Ash Bhardwaj Field 2001
Travel writer, film maker, story teller www.ashbhardwaj.com
Ash is a travel-writer, film-maker and storyteller who explores the world with curiosity, excitement and a sense of adventure. His book “Why We Travel” was published in 2024.
He has just finished an 8500km overland from the top of Norway to Romania, exploring former Soviet countries and their neighbours, at a time of increased tensions between Russia and the West. The project became a 6-part podcast for The Telegraph, “Edgelands.”
He has written for The Daily Telegraph, The Times, Huffington Post, The Evening Standard, City AM, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, BA Highlife, Etihad and Beyond Limits. His photography has appeared on the cover of The Times T2 magazine and he has produced programmes for Channel 4, the BBC, Animal Planet and Terra Mater.
In 2015, Ash travelled to Colombia for the TV series On The Run, which launched on Insight (Sky platform). In autumn 2016, he
Peter Bloch School 1963
In November 2022 Peter sent us this appreciation (below) of the influence of legendary teacher Tony Duckering alongside extensive autobiographical notes on his varied and successful career, encompassing film distribution and production, intellectual property management, museum exhibition management, agricultural research. In 2018 he joined ISDA, a start-up committed to taking precision agriculture to small farmers in the global south. He ends with this reflection:
“As I look back over the last 55 years, I’m seeing that my contributions to iSDA draw on everything I have ever done. iSDA’s mission requires a mastery of science, technology and math. But, like many companies who need scientific and technological expertise, iSDA also needs generalists who can take a big-picture look at how to get products into the hands of the people who need them. I’m sometimes reminded of the old adage, “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one”.
On the death of Jean-Luc Godard, and parents discussing their expectations of school: a belated tribute to Tony Duckering
I was listening to a conversation between three parents on their educational priorities. One talked about the need to
walked through the Albanian Alps, retracing the footsteps of a WW2 Special Operations Executive (SOE) mission by British forces.
Ash accompanied explorer Levison Wood for 700 miles of his Walking The Nile expedition in Uganda and Sudan as a Shooting Director. He also filmed Walking The Himalayas in India, the Honduras leg of Walking the Americas, Georgia for From Russia To Iran and Oman, Israel and Palestine for An Arabian Journey.
In 2012 Ash travelled to Everest to document the journey of wounded British soldiers, and embarked on a pilgrimage with his father’s ashes to the source of the River Ganges. He wrote about the journey for The Sunday Telegraph.
Science and space were his first love, and before travel writing, he taught secondary school Chemistry and Physics. His adventures started as a cowboy in Australia, a rugby player in New Zealand and ski instructor in Switzerland.
help kids find a place in the world, another about finding out who they wanted to be. I thought, as I have done many times, about the profound influence my housemaster, Tony Duckering, had on me during my formative years.
So how does Godard play into this story?
Tony was what we at the time described as a film freak, and every week he would get a film (or several short films) from the British Film Institute and show them to a small group of boys who were interested. These were not your mainstream fodder; he selected off-beat, independent films….I remember The Night Mail, Un Chien Andalou and – yes -- films by Jean-Luc Godard. The informal screenings were usually followed by discussion and debate.
Many years later I ran into Tony on a train and was able to tell him about the impact he had had on me. About how I had organized the first International Festival of Avant Garde Cinema at the NFT, and the first showcase of independent video at the Serpentine Gallery. I went on to set up a multimedia company in Santa Monica, CA, which produced award-winning “edutainment” programs for the likes of Sony, Philips and McGraw Hill.
So, Tony, if you are reading this, wherever you are: thank you! And as I look back over my 50+ year career I can honestly say that you influenced my direction more than any other single person.
Nicholas Bohm Grove 1961
Nicholas recalls a couple of incidents:
TheBursar’sFolly
Does this still exist? Is it still remembered? Its origins lie before my time (56 - 61) and were attributed to an unnamed bursar who tried to save money by killing two birds with one stone. He laid down a concrete tennis court (for summer use) designed to be flooded in the winter to provide an ice rink. The first winter it was filled with water, it immediately leaked below the concrete and then froze. This buckled the concrete, leaving it unusable as an ice rink or a tennis court — hence its derisive title. The only use I can remember anyone finding for it was as a venue for that characteristic LP institution, the Slow Bicycle Race (in which the winner was he who arrived last at the finish without falling off).
ManorFarmSewageTreatment Plant
Given just the right combination of wind and weather (or arguably just the wrong one), the fragrance of Manor Farm could insinuate itself unmistakably into every nook and cranny of the Park. Or almost unmistakably, giving rise to the unforgettable moment when Tony Duckering arrived to take a geography class. He put down his papers, sniffed the air, and enquired of those assembled, “Can I smell Manor Farm, or is it just me?” I’m not sure he ever quite lived it down.
With best wishes, Nicholas
Rosanna Collis School 2020
Rosanna Collis has been awarded the prestigious Young Entrepreneur Award 2024 by the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AMCham EU), and Junior Achievement Europe (JA Europe) for her ground breaking work with her start-up, Tiaki.
Rosanna, who studied Applied Sports Science with Management and graduated from Loughborough College last year, has made significant strides in the entrepreneurial world with Tiaki, having previously won Innovation of the Year at the 2023 Gen-e Expo. Whilst still
Roger Brown School 1953
We thank Roger for this thought-provoking article:
ReflectionsonLeightonPark
At the Vintage OLs’ Tea on 11th May (2023) I was thinking back to my five years at LP starting in 1948. It was a period of post-war austerity, rationing, cold baths, compulsory sport (in all weathers), hobbies, and “stiff upper lip”, “be a man”. Communication was hand-written on paper, no photocopiers, no television, no calculators, no computers, no mobile phones. How times have changed beyond any reasonable expectation!! Were we prepared properly for the future?
I followed the science line at school and then Civil Engineering at UCL and later a Masters at Imperial College. I worked for a leading British Consulting Engineer operating in UK but also internationally, giving me the opportunity to experience, first-hand, over fifty countries. Water was my predominant interest including water resources, water supply and wastewater, ranging from the design and construction of large dams to community-based rural water supply schemes in developing countries in five continents. Projects were funded by the World Bank, IMF, UN, Asian Development Bank, and others. I always visited projects in the field (taking photos) to orientate myself and to seek solutions.
My love of overseas travel began at LP with skiing trips to Switzerland run by Bill Brown and a travel scholarship cycling through Holland, Germany, and Denmark in 1953. I was hooked on skiing.
The relaxed approach to “faith” at LP plus respect for others’ views enabled me to accept and appreciate local beliefs and customs worldwide, especially living for four years in Pakistan, three in Peru and four in Hong Kong (pre-handover). I tried to understand local culture, behaviour, and body language, so as not to inadvertently offend locals and to work better with them.
studying at the College, Tiaki also took the title of Young Enterprise UK Start-Up, having impressed Her Royal Highness, Anne, Princess Royal.
In this latest achievement with AMCham EU and JA Europe – which celebrated the work of female entrepreneurs – Rosanna was praised for Tiaki’s dedication to creating specialist sports gear designed specifically for women and aims to raise awareness about breast health in sports. Speaking on social media, Rosanna shared her excitement, stating, “It was an honour to share Tiaki with the esteemed jury. This award will empower us to forge ahead, allowing me to grow and develop personally
I regret that I was useless at French, (entirely my fault) but did pass Latin. However, I had to learn Spanish (onthe-job) to run a team of sixty local staff supervising construction of a large dam in north Peru. I could now work in other Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries. Latin turned out to be a great help!
I took up photography encouraged by John Simpson who ran this hobby in a small dark room for developing and printing black and white films. I have continued photography, welcoming the changes in technology. Pictures are the most powerful way to communicate with clients, bosses, teams, and audiences to illustrate what you are trying to say. Debating societies at LP nurtured communication skills.
At LP, I did not enjoy running “triangles” around the park!! I played rugby, cricket, tennis, squash, and fives with enthusiasm. I continued playing rugby seriously in UK (London University, county level and Bath). Social squash in UK, Hong Kong (air conditioned), Pakistan (open air at 45C) and Kathmandu (high altitude) was a great way to meet local folk. LP was very physical, which I relished.
Life was simpler post war. You just got on with it. “Vintage OLs” have seen amazing improvements in technology and many social changes. Views have broadened but are now more polarised. You either “like” or “dislike” or asked, “how did we do?”. We were taught to evaluate ourselves as individuals.
Current students are living in an even more rapidly changing and challenging environment with global warming, AI, social media etc., plus more diverse mental pressures. I am sure that LP is still preparing them well, using all modern “tools”. My wife and I had a lovely time meeting some contemporaries and wandering around the few old and many new buildings. The Park looked magnificent on a sunny spring day. It was good to be back, and to meet some of the present staff and students.
while shaping Tiaki for success with mentorship from a top-flight business leader.
“This award is not just a recognition of individual achievements but a testament to the collective effort to foster innovation and equality.”
Alongside the award, Rosanna will receive a cash prize of €10,000 plus executive mentorship from CEOs across AMCham EU’s top European member companies.
What a great achievement, Rosanna!
Josie writes:
I started out in Advertising then re-trained at the National Film and TV School before getting into camera operation/producing/DOP work for a mixture of things from UK Government through to ITV documentaries, commercials and corporate work. I worked out in Dubai, UK and Canada.
At the moment, alongside running my own small production agency Jaybird Productions, I am working for the Sports Content Agency “Two Circles” as their video production lead. We have just finished Wimbledon and are now working on World Rugby and The Hundred Cricket amongst other clients.
Phil Dunster Field 2010
We were delighted that Phil came with Dan Barber to judge the 2023 House Theatre Arts competition.
He has now completed three series of Ted Lasso in the role of Jamie Tartt, and his acting career continues to go from strength to strength.
Here we see him in this June’s BBC D-Day 80 commemoration programme. Poignantly, he is reading a letter written by Major Rodney Maud to his mother before setting off on the D-Day campaign.
Roy Douglas School 1970
Roy has sent us an enthralling account of life at LP in the 1960s. The article will be posted in the ‘Reminiscences’ section of the LP Archives website (see the back page for details)
Meanwhile, here are a couple of extracts:
Reflections on life at LP from 1966 to 1970
(The 1960s were a time of great change……) All this permeated the spirit of Leighton Park during those years. John Ounsted was a quite remarkable head. Intensely intellectual and open minded, he had no fear of change. Far from seeking to keep the outside world out, he welcomed real discussion of all that was happening. He ran a very liberal regime.
As senior prefect, I had to meet with John Ounsted every morning before Collect. I guess the aim was to enable the two of us to discuss the temperature of the school. There was always an event on Saturday night held in Peckover Hall. It might be the showing of a film, the holding of an unprepared speech competition, or some artistic presentation. This week the School Council, of which I was chair, was running the entertainment. We had decided on something rather unusual
Colin Garrett Grove 1960
and I felt it necessary to warn the head that he should be prepared for the unexpected and not to worry. He asked me for no details.
We had a Collect every day which would start with a member of staff or a student doing something to hopefully make us think. I recall one day when, at the time when announcements were made, Cecil Evans, the religious studies teacher, stood up. He had a large cardboard box at his feet. He reached down and pulled out a little red book. He then held it in the air saying “if anyone wants a copy of Chairman Mao’s Little Red book, you can come up now and pick up a copy’. Remarkable.
How did these experiences affect me? Profoundly is the simple answer. Having graduated from Cambridge University, I qualified as a lawyer, a solicitor. I then dedicated my professional career to working as a criminal defence legal aid lawyer for the marginalised, the vulnerable and the persecuted. I felt that my abilities and talent should be used not to earn large fortunes of money but instead to be an advocate for those who had no one other than me.
We are glad to have received this report on Colin’s award:
The Heritage Crafts Association hosts the Heritage Craft Awards annually with awards in four categories. The Volunteer of the Year award 2021 was presented to Colin Garrett who graduated from the Violin Making and Repair course at Newark in 2003.
Since then, Colin has volunteered for many violin-associated bodies, including as a member of the British Violin Making Association for over 20 years serving many roles from Chairman to Company Secretary and General Manager of BVMA Enterprises, a company formed to conduct the purely commercial activities of the BVMA; primarily publishing and selling books.
For the last 18 years he has also been Treasurer of the Rowan Armour Brown Trust, a charity that helps supports student luthiers with financial grants, wood distribution and work experience placements, as well as Treasurer of Luthiers Sans Frontiers, a charity that offers free training to some of the poorest countries in the world.
The Volunteer award aims to recognise the unsung heroes who put in huge amounts of time and effort, sometimes over many years, to make a real difference to their craft.
Colin said: “I was surprised to be nominated for the award and both amazed and delighted when I won it.
“With the award money I have chosen to further fund an award at Newark School of Violin Making for the Most-Improved Student of the Year.”
Simon wrote to let us know about one of those ‘small world’ occasions when he met by chance someone associated with Leighton Park. In this case, Simon met Stephen Pitcher School 1970 - and former teacher and Grove house master - in a small Welsh village. They hadn’t known each other before, but as they got talking they discovered that they each had LP associations.
Let us know of any occasions when you have had a random meeting with another Leightonian!
Josie Copeland Field 2011
Simon Gladdish Field 1973
Martin Griffiths Grove 1968
On June 30th this year, Martin left his post as UN Under-SecretaryGeneral for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Many readers will have read Martin’s article in the 2021/22 OL newsletter or will otherwise know of the enormous responsibilities that he has had in that post.
He has given us permission to quote this extract from his message to his colleagues:
My journey as Head of OCHA has come to an end. To my fellow humanitarians, it’s been my honour to lead you, represent you, and learn from you.
Yours is one of the most important jobs in the world: bringing hope, compassion, survival and humanity to people in their darkest hour.
We all know first hand the horrors of this cruel world, and the privilege that comes with the chance to do some small good.
But I would like to add something that has become so clear and so important for us: the desire of people for a better world is as strong today, despite the horrors.
We are not now, and never alone.
Martin, your fellow humanitarians of the Leighton Park community thank you and salute you for your hard work and tenacity in the face of immense challenges on a global scale. Ed.
Julian Hodgkin School 1986
After meeting The LP contingent ‘Team CLOC’ at the COP 26 conference in Glasgow three years ago, Julian wrote:
Thank you for sharing this video of the impressive and dedicated engagement of the LP Team CLOC with the important topic of climate change. A lot of thought and care clearly went into scripting, presenting and producing a moving, informative clear-eyed, yet optimistic record of your time at COP 26 and your activities since then.
I am flattered to be included among the real experts on climate change in the video. It is nice to watch myself talking and realise I didn’t make a complete fool of myself! I do think though that the culture we grow and learn in is so important in forming who we are at a deep level, beneath and underpinning our everyday lives. I learned a lot from my time at LP and I am sure your students are as well, not least through
Christopher Hancock Reckitt 1970
After a life spent working for nature conservation briefly with RSPB and Cumbria Wildlife Trust and then mainly with Somerset Wildlife Trust, I am now retired. My main work focus has been wetland restoration with pioneering work on the Avalon marshes at Westhay Moor now a national nature reserve.
Timothy Hardacre Reckitt 1955
Timothy writes:
This is a brief snapshot of my somewhat colourful life so far in London with clients, mainly in the music industry for 9 years, including time in New York Southern District Court for a world-famous British rock group. I then went into commerce and was appointed Company Secretary of an oil tanker company which was then having built 2 of the then largest vessels in the world in Japan.
My visit to Japan to attend the floating out of the first encouraged me to appreciate the culture and people of Japan, so much so, I married one from Hokkaido! It was fun working for the tanker company; we had Dom Perignon champagne to drink at lunch.
The event in 1980 when I was 45 was momentous, I had a massive heart attack, probably encouraged by a far too liquid lunch the previous day. While I was recuperating at my home, I received an invitation to join a London Chamber of Commerce Trade delegation to China. In acceptance I chose the role of hotel construction. In previous years I was fortunate in part owning a construction company so knew the basic rules. So, when months later I arrived in Beijing I asked to meet our Ambassador for a
the threading of climate change and sustainability into the tapestry of school life as was described in the video.
I am lucky enough to work in the Capacitybuilding team within the Means of Implementation division at UNFCCC. As the world is now in the phase of implementing the Paris Agreement, the three areas within our division are important - climate finance, technology and capacity-building. It is this last one which may seem intangible, but is really where humanity’s strength lies. We all have capacity - energy, time, resources, ideas. We can work on selfimprovement in all of these areas. But when we work together, talk together, listen to each other, learn to see the world through the other’s eyes, hear through their ears, we gain enormously in perspective, understanding and the sense of possibility.
And when that approach is encouraged within a school, an organization, or any group of people, that builds the capacity
Sadly, I failed to achieve more than minimal academic success at Leighton Park, but after evening classes to pick up missing O levels and an extra A level, scraped an entry to Ulster University where I met Nicolas Acheson and went on to do a PhD at Aberdeen where I met Stephen Baillie. I am now doing research for SWT on a voluntary basis and helping the local Liberal Party.
briefing. He asked me to come and have tea with him ( Nice cake) When he heard I was selling hotels he immediately phoned our Ambassador in Mongolia who was in Beijing at the time and suggested I had a drink with him because the Mongolians needed a new hotel. Some 18 months later I was awarded a contract. During construction I visited China many times to source materials and made friends with many. After I finished the hotel, I was invited to become Vice Chairman of a school in the mountains of Fujian. After undergoing an examination before the Fujian Education Commission successfully the Ministry of Education licensed me to be a Manager in State Schools. This was unusual for a foreigner. I became later Vice Chairman of State Schools in Ningbo and Xinjiang. Last year some of the former Fujian students gave me a Reunion Lunch in Chinatown London. In 2000 I returned to practice law in London. Of course I had many Chinese clients. From this connection some years later I was invited to become General Counsel to a global financial institution based in Beijing from which I retired in 2016.
I note I have not mentioned the 2 years I lived in Prague just after the Velvet Revolution or the year in Kiev. In fact I was in Odessa 2 days before the war started but got out just in time.
of the institution as a whole - it, and the component members of that institution, become aware of its greater potential.
We are in a time of complex systems, of multifaceted challenges like climate change that do not afford simple solutions. We all and each need to take our paths and strive for what is meaningful to us, as best we can. By listening to others, in deep, patient ways such as the Quaker tradition encourages, we can continue on those paths while being aware of, and drawing from others’ life journeys, creating synergies and cooperations that build systemic capacity.
The UNFCCC process encourages capacitybuilding at the individual, the institutional and the systemic level. Finance can be given or hoarded, technology can be transferred or withheld through patent law. Capacity is something within all of us and which emerges when we listen to and learn from each other.
May you, Team CLOC and LP be great capacity-builders!
Anthony Howell School 1962
Poet, essayist, performance artist and dancer Anthony has let us know that his new book is now published.
Robert returned to Leighton Park in 2023 with his son Ben, keen to hear about and see the developments on the Park. Having served as Chair of Governors for 20 years and a member of the Board for 37 years, Robert played a crucial role in the setting the foundation of the school today, through turbulent times in the school’s history.
Meeting with members of staff and Sixth Formers, seeing a lesson in Art and enjoying lunch with the Bursar Keith Eldridge, and the Alumni & Archives team, Robert was fully briefed on the challenges faced in the last few years, and the steps taken to bring the School in the strong position it is in today.
Matthew Judd and John Allinson then visited Robert at his home in Gloucestershire and enjoyed a wideranging conversation over lunch.
We congratulate Robert on becoming a nonagenarian this year!
Field 1969
Nicholas has sent us an article including recollections of his life at LP from 196569. This article has been posted in the ‘Reminiscences’ section of the Archives website (see the last page). Suffice it to say that health and safety may not have been as high up the agenda in the 1960s as they are now in 2024!
Joey McMillan Grove 2007
Joey is Lead Race Strategist for Mercedes F1 team. He has worked in Formula 1 for 8 years after stopping his PhD to get the job. He studied Mathematics at Reading, Birmingham, London Imperial and Cambridge.
“Since 2016 I have been part of the team that has won 6 Constructors` championships and 5 Drivers` championships. During races I spend my time either doing strategy from the UK mission control room or by sitting on the pitwall at the track. The job mainly involves doing all in race game theory for both George Russel and Lewis Hamilton, deciding on pitstop lap and tyre compound but also a suite of other jobs like handling fuel and qualifying run plans.
Hugo Melander Grove 1966
Hugo writes from Sweden:
I am delighted to take part in everything that concerns Old Leightonians, though my engagement with Leighton Park School was short, part of the Summer Term, 1966.
The other day when I was digging, so to say, in my archive I found the small leaflet with the school calendar for the summer term 1966. In the leaflet my timetable says that I took part in the LVI form. My subjects were English (of course), History, Geology, Philosophy and Gymnastics from Monday to Saturday. When looking in the House List, especially Grove House, many names felt acquainted. David Secher who was school prefect gave me a helping hand the very late evening I arrived from Sweden to England. He showed me around and where my bed in the large dormitory was.
Having been on the pitwall in Spa this weekend and getting a surprise 1-2 finish with some well executed strategy our team boss Toto asked if I would go represent the team on the podium. It is tradition for a team representative of the winning constructor to go up, usually a senior or long standing employee. It is the highest honour you can receive in my line of work and a real life highlight.”
The other pupils had already gone to sleep so we had to move around as quietly as possible. That was my first introduction to Leighton Park School.
My interest now concerns all my fellow pupils, those I got to know and were together with during my stay at the school. Nigel Gutteridge, by now 74 years of age as me if he is alive, was one of them. I admired his swimming skills. I would be glad to come in to contact with him. Faris Soubra from Lebanon was another interesting person. I remember when we sat in his room listening to records by Sammy Davis junior.
So my memory goes back in time which is normal when one’s future does not seem to last for many years more.
Kind regards, Hugo
Melander
If you love the movies, you will love the podcast “Pulp Kitchen” with OL George Pundek and James Briefel - a podcast dedicated to the love of Film & TV.
Who remembers George’s brilliant impressions of teachers at School? Look out for his impressions of the stars, as well as reviews and news, games, rankings and rewatches, all of which are broadcast across YouTube, Spotify (and all podcast platforms), TikTok and Instagram.
George has left his job and is now working full-time on the podcast, which has been running for 3 years.
George Pundek Reckitt 2012
Robert Maxwell Reckitt 1952 and former Chair of Governors
Nicholas Pye-Smith
Owen Say School 2019
Owen is now British Para-swimming 400m champ at The British Para Swimming International Meet; he also won a silver and bronze medal in the 50m and 100m respectively. This is a prestigious Meet with British Swimming inviting junior and nonBritish Team swimmers to qualify to swim against the world’s best. We are so thrilled for him, remembering his dedication to his sport. As a Year 8 student Owen did a sponsored swim as his part of a water-aid project for a partner- school in Uganda. He swam 100 lengths of our pool without stopping and with perfect front crawl technique throughout – an incredible achievement. It was a most impressive example of skill, fitness and determination, and alerted us all to his talents in the water.
Owen is soon to graduate from the University of Nottingham having completed a Masters in Environmental Leadership and Management. He is training under Nova Centurion, one of the UK’s top swimming clubs, and has been Captain of the University of Nottingham Swimming Club. He is currently working with the university to set up tailored strength and conditioning classes for para-athletes of all sports. Owen has been in the England Talent Development Squad for the last 5-6 years and hoping soon to be invited into the GBR
Tom Stephens Fryer 1991
How about this for an interesting coincidence! A blessing, more than a curse, we feel!
Tom plays Harry Potter as the understudy in the Broadway “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”.
As well as being the father of triplets, in his spare time, Tom has also written a new play “Three Dots” . Blending vivid theatricality and meticulously researched history, “Three Dots” tells the story of
Billy Sy Grove 2003
Billy is an actor, director and lecturer at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
“I had a joyous visit to LP while I was having my holiday back in the UK in February 2024. Purely by luck, the day I visited was the opening night of West Side Story. Thanks to Peter the drama teacher who invited me to watch the show and meet some of the students in the production. As an OL who studied drama and theatre at LP and now teaching and working professionally in the performing industry, I was incredibly proud of what the school and the students had achieved in West Side Story. Many memories of studying drama and performing on the same stage came back. Since my days in early 2000s, LP has never compromised on the difficulties of putting on a full-length West End/Broadway musical. The students had no idea how much they had achieved.”
Podium and Podium Potential Squads with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on the horizon.
Owen writes “My usual training regime is understandably pretty brutal; I’m usually training about 8 times a week with 6 pool sessions and 2 land sessions. Some of these include 5am wakeups driving to training which is always a tough ask as a uni student, it’s a bit of a juggling act trying to stay on top of uni work, training, working a job, and maintaining a social life but I’ve just about mastered it! Even then, I always prioritise academics above training so if it means skipping some training sessions to put an assessed piece of work together, especially in my final year, then that’s what I’ll have to do. The opposite is also the case where I’ll try to get most of my work done weeks
the 1903 first transatlantic telegraphs from America to Europe. These were sent from a station on the cliffs of Wellfleet, MA.
In the London production of “The Cursed Child”, James Humby Reckitt 2012 is assistant Stage Manager, responsible for Special Effects.
Ibo Zimmerman Grove 1972
Ibo writes:
When joining LP in 1970, it was quite a culture shock after completing O-Levels under the British colonial education system in Kenya. Having been intimidated into silence by teachers who believed their word should not be questioned, I at first felt odd in LP classes where participation by all was expected. After one such class, the teacher called me aside to explain that without feedback he was unable to figure out whether I comprehended his teaching or held any alternative views, so my journey into critical thinking began. This I put to the test when the career guidance counsellor advised that my dream of working outdoors in nature was unrealistic and should rather be set
before a competition, that way I can throw myself fully into training and be at peak fitness in time for race day.
I’m currently working as a swim teacher as well so it’s been useful to apply my knowledge of swimming and pass it onto the younger generation, especially when water survival skills are so essential anyway. After the Masters, I’m going to stay in Nottingham to continue training under Nova Centurion and continue teaching swimming along with a secure job which I’ll hopefully have lined up! After a year I’ll then be moving back down south for further training and job opportunities, I’ll be sure to visit LP while I’m back!
The British Para Swimming International Meet went very well back in March! I had four races across four days and made it to the national finals in all races except 100m breaststroke. I came 1st in the 400m freestyle final (a brutal challenge with a swim in the morning and evening of the same day), 2nd in the 50m freestyle final (known as the splash and dash) and 3rd in the 100m freestyle final. I also managed to bag some PBs as well in the 50 free and 400 free! Overall it was a very successful meet which should hopefully lead to a lot more national and even international recognition.”
Mark Sullivan School 1966
We thank Mark for sending us a copy of a fascinating article he has written, based on his memory of seeing the funeral train carrying Sir Winston Churchill’s coffin at Reading station on 30 January 1965. Hs article is followed by links to suggested Youtube films. His article is to be found on the Archives website features section. Details of how to access it are on the back page of this magazine.
aside as a hobby supported by a career in a more sought after profession. So I set about proving him wrong by studying ecology and for 12 years training staff of Botswana’s Department of Wildlife based in Maun on the southern edge of the Okavango Delta. Then shortly after the independence of neighbouring Namibia, I settled there to facilitate learning and research in agroecology, now in retirement only on a part-time basis.
EVENTS AND VISITS
We are delighted that our recent summer reunions have been so successful. Since the publication of the last OL newsletter, there have been gatherings on the Park of the ‘1s’ the ‘2s’ the ‘3s’ and the ‘4’s. We recently carried out a survey and found that the majority of OLs prefer this model to others that were offered. We do accept though that sometimes people would like to meet OLs from the year before or after them. In such cases, please let us know – it may be possible to arrange it.
Our events have not been limited to the annual year-group reunions: there have also been Vintage OL days, and the reopening of the cricket pavilion, the Fryer centenary and the reopening of Grove have all been excellent occasions. We have also had a number of off-site occasions: drinks in London and a recent leavers gathering at Veeno’s in Reading proved to be very popular. We are always open to suggestions for other events.
It has been good also to host several individual visits to the School, in some cases from OLs who have not been back for decades. One such visitor was Tim Marshall Field 1969. He had several conversations with current staff and attended our Thursday morning Meeting for Worship. He is working on a form of autobiography in which he is asking searching questions about the impact of his education on the rest of his life. It is good to report that he is very thankful that his father chose Leighton Park for him, especially as he was a very highranking member of the British Army, and some raised their eyebrows when a Quaker school was chosen in preference to a school with CCF. Tim was glad to find that the essence of a Leighton Park education was broadly unchanged.
Meel Velliste Grove 1995 visited with his wife Raushan from Estonia. He said that his two years at Leighton Park had been ‘transformative’.
A note about our photos - all of these photos have been posted on ‘Whozatface’ for you to help us name all the people in them! See page 11.
Future events
Friday 16 May 2025
Lunch and Visit of the School for Donors. Invitations will be issued in March.
Saturday 14 June 2025 ‘5s’ Reunion
Full day event for the classes of 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015. Booking details will be issued in March.
Using Whozatface
1. The site url is leightonpark-wzf.cortes.websds.net
2. The user name is lp-wzf. The password to be used is leightonwzfuser!
3. Press the ‘Browse’ button at the top of the page.
4. Click on a folder. Note that there is one for the photos in this mag.
5. Click on the photo you would like to view.
6. Do you recognise any of the highlighted faces? If so, suggest a name in the box and press suggest.
VISITING THE SCHOOL AND SAFEGUARDING
We would like to thank OLs for their understanding and co-operation with us when they visit the School.
Our safeguarding arrangements reflect the high standards of concern for the safety and welfare of our students and also allow us to be in compliance with national regulations and guidelines. Since all visits to the School must now be accompanied, usually by Geri Baker or me, we ask that they be pre-booked by arrangement with us at Alumni and Archives Services. Visits during school holiday periods and weekends are significantly less easy to arrange than in our working days, which are Mondays to Fridays.
Thank you.
John Allinson
GOODBYE BY BICYCLE ON THE GREEN SILK ROAD
SPECIAL FEATURE
These are extracts from Lili Dreikhausen’s enthralling account of a unique odyssey. The full article is to be found on our website (see The Back Page)
We set out from my home in Auroville, an international community in the southeastern state of Tamil Nadu (India), on the 10th of January 2024. Half a year before our departure, Aire (my partner, whom I had known for only a few months at this point), asked a big question. He asked me, “Would you like to travel back to Italy with me, by bicycle?” I hesitated for a whole three seconds before answering, “Yes!” My one condition was, that we take my dog Schnuck with us. As we both agreed that she would go wherever we went, it was decided then and there, we would cycle from my home village (Auroville) to Aire’s home village (Rasai) in the Veneto region of Italy. India to Italy by bicycle. A team of three.
I, Lili, graduated from Leighton Park School in 2011, as one of the first batch of IB students. My time at LP and the introduction to Quaker values and principles, aligned with my upbringing in Auroville and my understanding of the impact a conscious life can have. I am delighted to share an impression of the adventure I am on with this community. Our journey started in Auroville, where we shared our project with my old primary school. I hope to visit LP next year and share the experience of this journey, completing the journey from my first school, to the school where I completed my IB.
Aire and I are training as arborists, carpenters and treehouse builders. We are curious about alternative lifestyles and are driven to live sustainably. Considering these shared interests, skills and passions we soon started defining the shape we hoped this journey would take. We wanted to learn more and also to share the knowledge we would gather on the journey.
We decided to structure this adventure as a knowledge exchange, choosing to focus on three broad topics:
- Conservation of native species and biodiversity,
- Reforestation and afforestation,
- Sustainable construction and practices.
We are collaborating with the Green Silk Road, an organisation based out of Auroville, which promotes and implements overland travel with the purpose of
reducing carbon emissions, engaging in a cultural and knowledge exchange and travel-learning. They helped us with a network of land-based projects and initiatives across India and some of the following countries we have traversed. Through our journey thus far, we have added many new projects to the GSR network and are building connections for ourselves, hoping to make this network available to anyone interested in living sustainably, working towards system change and having a positive impact on their ecosystem and the environment.
As of writing this, we are in Greece and soon to take a ferry from Patras on the Peloponnese to the heel of the Italian boot, for the final leg of our journey. We aim to reach the north of Italy by early December this year. We have cycled over 9,000 kilometres, have crossed 9 international borders, visited over 50 projects and schools, built 1 treehouse platform, climbed innumerable trees and learned a whole lot.
LP NEWS
MATTHEW IS MOVING ON
Many readers will know by now that Matthew Judd will be leaving LP at the end of this academic year. Here is the announcement from our Chair of Governors, Eme Dean-Lewis:
I write to inform you that Matthew Judd will be leaving his position at Leighton Park at the end of the academic year 2024/25, after seven highly successful years of dedicated service and leadership. We congratulate Matthew on his appointment as Head and CEO at Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex. During his tenure, Matthew has been instrumental in steering the School towards significant achievements, fostering an environment where our students thrive academically, socially, and personally. His commitment to the School’s Quaker values has given them real currency and purpose, making a profound impact and sustainable legacy for our community. Matthew sent me the following: “I feel a deep affinity with the values and sense of purpose at Leighton Park and I will be very sorry to say goodbye in a year’s time. The team at Leighton Park are exceptional and I look forward to our time left together, continuing our work to give our students the very best opportunities and fostering their achievement, with values, character and community.”
The Editor adds: I was thinking the other day that the spectacularly successful repurposing and remodelling of Grove House serves as an illustration – perhaps a metaphor – of Matthew’s approach to the work he has done here at Leighton Park. Grove is a fusion of the old and the new. Right from the start, Matthew was down in the Archives making sure he learned the Leighton Park story and understood the values and principles that have underpinned a Leighton Park education from the establishment of the School. LP 2024 is a credit to Matthew’s ability to identify the essence of an institution and to bring change and innovation that are compatible with it. LP has flourished under his management.
NEW HEAD APPOINTED
We are very pleased to print here the announcement made online at the beginning of October this year.
Leighton Park School is delighted to announce the appointment of Luke Walters as Head from 1st September 2025. This is an exceptional appointment, and Luke comes to the School with a remarkable track record of success from Christ’s Hospital, where he is currently Deputy Head. Luke has been instrumental in driving staff and academic standards at Christ’s Hospital, a school that has a focus on values and personalised learning in an inclusive and kind community.
Luke has been Deputy Head at Christ’s Hospital since 2019. He was previously part of the senior team at Ardingly College, where he was also a Housemaster. Prior to that, Luke worked at Marlborough College Malaysia as a Housemaster and Reading Blue Coat as Head of English. He gained his undergraduate degree from Exeter University, before later completing a Master’s in Shakespeare at Royal Holloway. Luke’s professional interests include pedagogy and staff development. Luke also enjoys refereeing sport, exercise and exploring the countryside with his family.
Luke said: “I am hugely excited to be joining Leighton Park School as Head. Leighton Park is an exceptional community of talented individuals, inspired to imagine a better world. As I step into the role, with such a superb foundation to build upon, I am committed to fostering an environment where kindness, compassion, and a holistic approach to learning are as vital as academic excellence. By nurturing both the hearts and minds of our students, we will ensure they not only succeed in their studies but also grow into thoughtful, resilient individuals, ready to make a positive impact on the world.”
New Awards
In the last few years there has been a notable increase in the number of awards presented to students for a variety of achievements
Three that were introduced in 2023 were The Gillmor Award, The Ian Hamilton Award and The Chris Ireland Award, named in memory of much missed former members of the school community. Robert Gillmor’s obituary can be found on page 24; Chris was a biology teacher and Housemaster of Reckitt House who died in a tragic mountain accident in 1999.
The Gillmor Award is intended to inspire a love of nature and sustainability. Osace Scammell and Marcus Yip were the first winners. Their soundscape, entitled ‘Index’, was a mesmerising combination of sound and video
The Ian Hamilton Award is for the encouragement of entrepreneurship. Those who remember Ian and other members of his family will know that, for him, Quaker values were at the core of his understanding of entrepreneurship.
Eme Dean-Lewis
We thank Jan Digby for all her hard work as Chair of Governors. Jan was followed in 2023 by Eme Dean-Lewis
Eme is Research Director at the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, and is multiply qualified and experienced in the eduction, charity and industry sectors. Her focus has been on strategy and professional development.
Eme and her husband Tim have two daughters and a son – all of whom are Old Leightonians.
Old Leightonians at our service!
Our newly merged Alumni and Archives Services department bears that name because the provision of services is central to our aims. We are so grateful to add that this is not a one-way process: increasingly, OLs are giving all manner of service to the School. This much appreciated help comes in the form of careers advice and interviews, work experience, participation in lessons, talks and conferences, acting as adjudicators in our ever-growing list of competitions, and we must not forget the dedication of our OLs on the Governing Board. We thank them all and, by way of illustration, we mention just two examples of this much appreciated service.
U6 student Marcus Ryde-White was featured on Foster and partners’ website after his period of work experience, offered and managed by OL Mike Jelliffe:
I’ve had an amazing week in London at Foster + Partners. I had the immense pleasure of working under OL Mike Jelliffe as my boss and managed to work on a genuine real-life project being built in California.
This past week has been more than I could have ever imagined, and I have never felt as driven to achieve my dream as I do now.
Mike added: It was great to have Marcus –what an enthusiastic, focused and personable young man – an absolute credit to the school!
Julian Page is the founder and Managing Director of the Livingstone Tanzania Trust. www.livingstonetanzaniatrust.com
He was a well qualified contributor to a Y11 Geography class recently.
The JBH Speech Competition
A great LP tradition, the annual Jonathan Backhouse Hodgkin (JBH) Speech Competition is going strong. It’s always a pleasure too to welcome back OL former participants to enjoy the evening, and form the Judging Panel.
In March 2024 six speakers presented their thoughts on controversial self-selected topics to the enthusiastic crowd of animated hecklers. Kemianna was the winner with her talk ‘The UK Should Adhere to Open Immigration’.
Leander whose ‘Stop Smiling’ speech earned her third place after Kimia’s ‘Abolish the Right to Practise Faith’, reflected “It was terrifying but it gets better when you are on the stage, when you’ve actually started speaking. The heckling’s interesting but it’s fun. It’s interesting to hear people’s arguments and come up with answers. It improves your confidence so much and it makes you think really critically.”
Participants impressed the judges and the assembled audience with the breadth and depth of their research, their calm, cool demeanours and their intelligent responses to the questions lobbed from the crowd. The esteemed judges were former LP English teacher and JBH competition manager Nicola Phillips; former JBH Winner, English teacher and Educational Psychologist, Anna Burnett (nee Baxter): Nic Bayley, former LP English teacher and JBH competition manager and Professor Jane Setter from the University of Reading.
In 2023 the speakers and hecklers locked horns on “Care homes should be abolished” (Alex), “Music glorifying gang culture should be criminalised” (Finlay), “Competitive sport should not be categorised by gender” (Harriet), and “Britain should introduce a parenting licence” from Millie, 2022’s winner. Rio was the winner with “Marriage should be abolished”. The five were provided with a public speaking training session by professional public speaking coach and OL, Tim Spratt, which bolstered their confidence and offered practical tips on an individual level. Beyond that the five were left to create their own speeches entirely independently.
Former participants Will Earle a’Hern and Charles Debattista also judged. Tim Spratt commented, “I really appreciated being asked to judge – it took me back to some old memories. These young people were prepared to take a view and seek to articulate it in public and in front of a live audience – as opposed to the ease of hiding behind a social media ‘wall’.”
The event is moving to November from March this year, so there will be a second 2024 JBH competition at the end of November.
Jorge Hortal Award
The presentation of the Jorge Hortal Award, always a moving event in the school year, was even more moving this year as it was the 25th anniversary of Jorge’s death and the first presentation of the award. Javier, Isabel, Mariano and Pablo were all present at the occasion. For only the second time in its history, there were two award-winners, and we congratulate Felicity and Willow on their joint success. See the featured article on the Archives website.
Julian Page Marcus
FAREWELL TO LP STALWARTS
Adrian Stewart
When Adrian left LP for a headship in 2023 after ten years as Head of Fryer, one of his close colleagues Emilia Hicks, said of him:
My first impression of Adrian as a colleague was how he dominated a room with confidence and laughter. Adrian took to Fryer like a (rubber) duck to water. His boundless enthusiasm and energy seeped into every corner of the building from the moment the parents met Adrian on the orientation days, to the day the year 8’s waved goodbye on their way out the door to Year 9 (and beyond)……..
His ‘chickens’, as he liked to call his Fryers, walk cheerfully across the world but they always want to come back and tell Adrian what they have achieved. Adrian has the most wonderful ability to encourage pride in his students and, in those that work with him. Pride on and off the field, pride in accomplishing new heights, pride in oneself for simply making a stand in something you believe in.
This description of Adrian rings true for everyone who knew him, and particularly his students and those who worked closely with him. He is dynamic, creative and infectiously energising, and this has had an enormous impact on Fryer. It felt right that he was in post when we celebrated 100 years of Fryer – it was a true celebration of Fryer simply getting better and better as the years go by.
Jakki Marr
Jakki Marr joined the staff at Leighton Park in January 1998 as Head of Girls Games and PE. Her wealth of experience in a wide range of sports quickly established her as a knowledgeable and committed member of the department. Jakki oversaw the development of a number of individuals and team groups and students who benefitted from her
When Graham retired in July 2023 after 34 years of sterling service to Leighton Park, he and those of us who remember such distant times, could look back on a career at the school which encompassed so many different roles. Geography teacher, lettings manager, housemaster of three different houses, activities manager, tennis coach, 1st XI soccer coach, expedition leader...... the list could go on!
In 2004 Graham led a three-week expedition to Ecuador. One of the participants, Matthew Leopold, said the whole tour was like ‘a living geography lesson, a breathtaking experience for all’. There was hiking, white water rafting, mountain climbing, visits to rainforests, working in a street kitchen providing food for the poor. It needed a versatile and energetic leader and Graham was a natural in that role. As indeed did the skiing parties which he led.
Graham was at one time himself a professional footballer, so he was very well qualified to run the 1st XI soccer team. He was a devoted tennis coach, seeing students through to county level regularly.
His colleagues and students will recall his strong commitment to the Leighton Park Community. This was very important to him.
We already miss this genial , companionable, genuinely friendly and good-hearted friend.
John Allinson
enthusiasm and encouragement will be forever grateful for her support.
Jakki became a tutor in School House before becoming Deputy Housemistress in Field House in 2002. Her caring approach established her as an empathetic pastoral leader and she became Housemistress of Field in 2013, a position she held until Field became the 6th form centre in 2022.
Mark Simmons
Other recent staff leavers
Other staff who have left LP after several years’ service recently include Bridget and John Clarke, Peter Scoggins and Damon Young. All made a distinctive contribution to the evolving life of the School, and we thank them for their friendship on the journey.
and Amy
When Bill Spray appointed Mark Simmons as an Assistant PE and Games teacher in 1980, one imagines that neither he nor Mark himself could forecast that Mark’s length of service at Leighton Park would be a record-breaking 43 years! Not only because of that record but also because of his calibre and contribution to the School’s history, Mark is a living legend.
Over the years, Mark’s roles have included Head of PE and Games, Head of Year, Housemaster and Senior Master. He is an inspirational teacher and he is a gifted tutor. By his mere presence and by sound advice and guidance, he has helped so many young people emerge from difficult phases in their lives.
He has been an amazing international tour manager. In the 1990s he led a highly successful cricket and hockey tour of Hong Kong, and then followed the fantastic trips to Africa to support underprivileged people in practical ways like building schools.
He was an important member of the team of staff that took students to our exchange school in Nantes, an arrangement that was in place for 25 years. One of our favourite Archives photos shows Mark teaching cricket to the French pupils.
Mark is himself an ace athlete and cricketer, and all the students coached by him over the years will have benefited from his positive and enthusiastic approach.
It is good to know that, in his retirement from full-time employment at Leighton Park, Mark manages to assist us in different ways in the School. It is very good to have his support, particularly with AAS. Old Leightonians admire him enormously, and Mark travels great distances to meet up with some of them. Like Australia!
When a colleague of such substance and longevity of experience leaves, it feels impossible to summarise his or her impact on the School in just a few words. So… thank you, Mark, for everything you have done here!
John Allinson
Graham (centre) and Mark (right) with former coleague Richard Griffiths at a favourite venue.
Mark
Graham Smith
Mark Simmons
GROVE RESURGENT!
SPECIAL FEATURE
We are delighted to report that Grove Sixth Form Centre and Whole School Library was officially opened on Friday 18th October 2024 by The Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading. After a speech in which he emphasised the importance of a highquality education such as that provided at the University of Reading and Leighton Park, Professor Robert Van de Noort unveiled the plaque in the Austin Lecture Theatre. Speeches delivered by Matthew Judd (Head) and Eme Dean-Lewis (Chair of Governors) echoed the Vice-Chancellor’s words of admiration of the magnificently remodelled building, and an expression of gratitude to the people who had journeyed with the project from conception to completion.
A small gathering of invited guests enjoyed a welcome reception on the sunlit terrace and listened to members of the Senior Choir and the Orchestra playing a piece especially commissioned for the occasion by the acclaimed Anglo-American composer Toria Burrell-Hrencecin: ‘The Sacred Place’.
Grove Sixth Form Centre and Whole School Library is the result of a two-year renovation project, creating modern learning facilities and pleasant social spaces within a Victorian building. For most of its life since it was built in 1894, Grove had been a boarding house. It was originally designed by the distinguished architect, Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed the Natural History Museum. The new layout includes the double-height whole School Library, classrooms for Sixth Form subjects such as Economics, Business, Politics and Psychology, a Sixth Form Common Room, the Austin Lecture Theatre, silent study room, a student kitchen and a landscaped garden.
The name Grove, of course, comes from Grove House School in London, the forerunner of Leighton Park. And like a grove of trees, this building is a place of shelter, rooted in shared values, but nurturing individual growth. So, as we celebrate this momentous occasion, let us remember that this building is not just a place for learning—it is a testament to the power of community and a belief in the potential and growth of young people.
Waterhouse believed that buildings should inspire as well as serve. In Grove, we see his emphasis on thoughtfulness and balance—clean lines, natural light, and understated elegance, all promoting a sense of calm and focus. This is more than just a school building; it’s a true Quaker space, embodying the values that continue to guide our community today.
Matthew Judd
Matthew Judd
Composer at the centre of the appreciative audience
Eme Dean-Lewis, Chair of Governors delivers her speech watched by Professor Van de Nort and Matthew Judd
Portrait of Elizabeth Fry by James Hargreaves
Professor Van de Nort prepares to unveil the plaque
Michael Leach OL and former Housemaster of Grove with his wife Jessica, enjoying a conversation with Andrew Page OL
Matthew Judd at the lectern
Director of Music Rosemary Scales conducts the choir and orchestra playing the specially commissioned music
THE GROVE PROJECT
Keith Eldridge, Bursar
This challenging renovation project was, in fact, two projects in one. On the one hand, we aimed to create a modern, inspiring centre for our sixth form students – a place that fosters learning, creativity and relaxation both indoors and out. On the other hand, we were committed to honouring and enhancing the architectural heritage of Grove House, originally designed by Alfred Waterhouse, one of the most celebrated architects of Victorian England.
We were fortunate to collaborate with architect Jane Lock-Smith, whose vision aligned with ours: to restore the building in a way that meets the demands of a modern learning environment, while bringing back restore the elegance and architectural integrity of Waterhouse’s original design. With these objectives in mind, an internal team was formed to ensure the building met the needs of both the sixth form and a library for the whole school. Through collaborative workshops with our sixth form and library teams, we worked closely with Jane to define what was essential versus what was desirable. Coupled with capacity analysis (ie how many students and staff would occupy the building), early design decisions were made that would create the ideal space.
Those with longer memories will remember some rather unsympathetic additions to Grove over the years – the single storey extension along the front of the building ( ‘the carbuncle), and the first floor glass-fronted rooms that contrived to be unbearable in both summer and winger are notable examples. These, along with other alterations were carefully removed to largely restore the building’s original footprint and facade. We were pleased to have the local planning authority’s full support, giving us the green light to begin the restoration work in Autumn 2022.
Sustainability was at the heart of this project. Rather than opting for a new build, repurposing Grove itself contributed to our sustainability efforts, as the original materials have stood the test of time for almost 130 years. A sustainability report indicated that Grove was not suitable for heat pumps; instead, highly efficient gas boilers with state-of-the-art control systems were installed. Thermal insulation was dramatically improved with bespoke secondary glazing designed to complement the original Victorian windows. New insulation material was fitted wherever possible, for example, as part of replacing all ceilings in the building. These upgrades not only respect the building’s history but align with our Quaker commitment to sustainability.
The external restoration focused on bringing out the beauty of Waterhouse’s design. Unnecessary clutter was carefully
removed from the walls (eg iron fire escapes, pipework and cabling) while original features like the beautiful hanging tiles and traditional Reading brickwork were lovingly restored. Inside, the aim was to revive the atmosphere of the late 1890s, from period paint colours to the restoration of period features like fireplaces, dado rails and parquet flooring.
We encouraged the design team to embrace the building’s character, reminding them that perfection wasn’t the goal. We were happy to let its history shine through, with imperfections adding to its charm. In some areas, you might spot original wallpaper with sections missing or a piece of coving absent, all contributing to the building’s unique story. In high profile areas, we installed fittings appropriate to the vintage –for example, beautiful cast iron radiators in corridors, but modern fittings in offices. Of course, meeting modern building standards was essential. You will see new, bespoke, timber doors that meet the latest fire regulations. The building has been fully re-wired, fitted with new fire systems and equipped with cutting edge IT infrastructure – with no visible cables or trunking to spoil the freshly plastered walls.
We worked with our furniture suppliers to source modern furniture for the library, classrooms and social spaces to reflect a transition to university or professional environments. Yet we made sure to include at least one item of period furniture in each space to maintain a connection to the building’s past, carefully sourced by the Head’s PA from local antique dealers and online marketplaces.
Equally important was the landscaping around Grove. We envisioned an outdoor space that feels welcoming and serene, offering students a place to study, relax, and connect with nature. From the carefully chosen seating areas to the subtle lighting, the exterior complements the interior design. There are wonderful views across
Grove Field and a much improved sense of arrivals for visitors arriving at the Shinfield Road entrance.
We hope this gives you a sense of the thought and care that went into the Grove project. With so many decisions along the way, we believe we got most of them right — based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, staff, and visitors. As we look to the future, we’re proud to honour Waterhouse’s design while providing a space for the next generation to learn, study and relax for the next hundred years or more.
Complex projects like this are always a true team effort. Our Estates Manager, Alan Rumney, worked incredibly closely with the design team and contractor to make sure all aspects of the build were co-ordinated and safely managed. His team of multiskilled technicians applied the finishing touches across the building. Our contractor, Ash, delivered a superb finished product, navigating countless challenges along the way and ably supported by their specialist team of sub-contractors. We are also indebted to former governor John Crosfield whose expertise and wise counsel were instrumental to the success of the project.
Grove is more than just bricks and mortar. It represents both the history and the future of Leighton Park—a space where ideas will flourish, where curiosity will be encouraged, and where our Sixth Form students will find room to grow as they prepare to step into the wider world. I often say that organisations are what they build. Grove stands as a metaphor for what we are: a modern, thoughtful, and scholarly institution, committed to real excellence and innovation, respectful of our past, yet firmly focused on the future.
Matthew Judd
Reception on the balcony outside the Austin Lecture Theatre
CHANGEMAKERS AND CHALLENGES; VALUES AND VARIETY
SPECIAL FEATURE
A SNAPSHOT OF EDUCATION LP-STYLE IN 2024
I have witnessed one or two changes in the curriculum since I joined Leighton Park as a teacher in 1974. Who now remembers Fifth Special, Social Responsibility, Russian for the two thirds of Fourth Form (Y9) pupils (students) who arrived at the School without a knowledge of Latin? A glance at the curriculum as it was in the 1890s reveals that there were many features that disappeared over the years. Here is a selection of articles that will give you a flavour of what’s on offer at Leighton Park in 2024.
Editor
The Leighton Park Curriculum
Our aim is to create an exciting, forwardthinking curriculum which reflects the values of the school. So many schools claim to have an enriching curriculum, but I truly believe we deliver in this area. Within the curriculum we teach a course called Approaches to Learning, it covers areas such as metacognition, AI, study skills, presentation skills, groups work development to name but a few. We also provide opportunity for Creativity, Action and Service in curriculum time. Across the school students have the chance to experience something different and to enhance the lives of others. At Sixth Form we run both the IB and A levels but have also developed a Sixth Form Oakleaf Diploma. This educates students about crucial life skills from financial talks to loading a dishwasher. The Diploma also includes Changemaker Talks, outreach work and academic extension. At Key Stage 3 we deliver over 20 subjects, including Engineering and Music Technology to support our STEAM focus.
We are rightly proud of our offer and are delighted this has been recognised. We have been shortlisted for the ISA Future Readiness Award 2024.
Dance on the Park
Dance was introduced in September 2018 with the introduction of a purpose-built dance studio and dance specialist teacher (this is when I joined). Dance was introduced to all of year 7, 8 and 9 students as a discrete subject fortnightly. All students in KS3 are expected to take part in dance. They can then opt for GCSE in year 10. Currently we do have both boys and girls who opt for dance. In September 2019 we had our first GCSE dance cohort - 3 F 1 M. WE continue to have boys opt for the subject. In September 2023 A level dance was introduced. In June 2019 we had our first ever Let’s Dance annual performance evening in June. This involved 21 students from years 7-9. It has really grown. June 2024 saw 75 students involved from Year 7-13.
In September 2021 the National Association for the Teachers of Dance contemporary dance grades were introduced and are led by Anja Nash. 11 students enrolled on Grade 5. We had a 100% merit and distinction pass rate. In June 2024 we had 22 students enrolled on Grade 5, 6 and Intermediate. September 2024 will see the Advanced grade also start.
In September 2020 LooP dance company was founded also led by Anja Nash. It is purposely spelt with a capital L and P - this was students idea when coming up with a name for the company that encompassed both something kinaesthetic/action based but also linked to the school.
I have taught dance for 23 years. I am an A level dance examiner for the practical component.
Anja trained in dance from a young age. She also completed her GCSE and A level before going on to train at Winchester University achieving a First Class honours degree in contemporary dance. She is a freelance dance artist working in a variety of settings across Reading.
LP Sports in Brief
The academic year 2023 - 2024 produced some wonderful sporting moments and highlights. In the autumn term the U14 boys rugby team had a superb season winning 5 and drawing 1 of their 6 games to finish their season undefeated. Our senior hockey team were nearly as successful winning 4, drawing 1 and losing only 1 of their 6 matches. In this term there were also some excellent performances in cross country events.
Unfortunately the spring term was hit by poor weather, which hampered the boys football programme but there were some encouraging performances from the Fryer rugby teams. The senior netball C team would go on to win their league only losing one game all season. There were also some excellent performances in the Berkshire Schools Cross Country and the ISA Cross Country Events in this term.
The summer term saw the hugely successful introduction of a girls football league in which both our U13 girls and U15 girls both winning their league and the U13’s also winning the plate tournament in the 5-a-side competition held at Leighton Park. This term also saw the very first House Pickleball Competition in which Tubman were the winners. The house sporting competitions came to a climax with annual track and field competition at Palmer Park. No fewer than 7 records were broken on the day: two by Mia in the junior girls 200m and Long Jump, Youssef in the junior boys 200m, Charlotte in the senior girls 200m, Alice in the junior girls high jump, the junior girls Cadbury relay team and Harry in the junior boys High Jump, soaring to 1m.80cm and beating the school record held since 1977, which in turn helped Tubman win the Richard Coleman Shield.
Alex Wallace ( Deputy Head Academic)
Beth Butler
Simon Bradbury Head of PE and Games
Jenny Powlesland Head of Teaching and Learning
The Fryer Project Qualification
Have you ever wondered what is the best way to get away with first-degree murder? Or how many advertisements a person sees each day? Or whether there is science or magic behind a winning streak in sports?
The Fryer Project Qualification, or FPQ, is a four-month project which is the culmination of the two-year ‘Approaches to Learning’ programme, a hallmark feature of teaching and learning at Leighton Park. The programme aims to foster a spirit of enquiry, and develop critical thinking and practical skills that will be useful to students as lifelong learners, in line with the Leighton Park Learner Profile.
The curiosity and originality displayed by the students as they choose their research questions, and the tenacity and maturity with which they tackle their independent research, never fails to impress. It is a substantial achievement for every student in Year 8 to write a fully footnote-referenced dissertation of 1000 words, or to create an artefact to address more practicallyminded questions (Question: “Can you make a working guitar amp from completely recycled materials?” The answer: Yes - and it sounds great when you play Hendrix on it! No surprise that this was the choice of Head of DT Mark Smith’s eldest!). As students come to the end of their time in Fryer, the FPQ Expo is a rite of passage that I find quite moving: to see every single student Fryer present their research in front of a substantial crowd is an academic and creative hurrah on a sunny June evening.
Resounding with character and individuality, the students’ enquiry questions also reflect the values and concerns that form the basis of the school’s learning. Artificial Intelligence was the most frequent area of research in 2024 (‘How will AI change the restaurant industry?’); many titles are political (‘How close are we to World War 3?’) or explore sociological questions (‘Should prisoners be legally forced to go to their sentencing hearings?’); many are concerned with sustainability and building a better future (‘Is climate change going to cause the next pandemic?’), whilst others challenge existing preconceptions and the status quo (‘Should we feel guilty about going on holiday?’). All are a reflection of personal passions and interests.
Feathers in our cap?
It’s a long while since caps were worn at Leighton Park, but if they were…… there would be plenty of feathers in them!
Leighton Park has received several recent accolades, including winning Senior School of the Year in the Independent Schools Association Awards 2023/24 and being a Finalist for the same award in the TES Schools Awards 2023/24. The most recent UK Government analysis shows that the School’s Sixth Form leavers achieve the best academic progress in Berkshire, while the Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded it excellent in all areas in January 2022 – the highest possible attainment for an independent school.
The School was recognised as a national leader for Pupil Personal Development in 2022, winning the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Award for Excellence in this area. In the same, year the School gained the Wellbeing Award for Schools, accredited by the National Children’s Bureau.
And as we go to press we have learned that the music department has been shortlisted for the Outstanding School Music Department Award 2025. We will know in January about the Award ,but we can already congratulate Rosemary Scales and her team on reaching this stage.
Reaching out
Leighton Park has a broad range of partnerships and outreach programmes across academic and pastoral sections of the school. The programme is spearheaded by Tash Coccia, Senior Assistant Head, and Pablo Gorostidi, Co-ordinator of CAS, Charity and Social Impact. The work brings together staff, parents, other schools and other organisations who share our values-based ethos and culture. This is rooted in our Quaker heritage which champions simplicity, truth, integrity, peace, equality and sustainability to build community.
Here are some – but not all- of the ways in which our LP students and staff have been busily reaching out.
• Engaging with local primary schoolchildren through arts, crafts, reading and games
• Acting as Literary Ambassadors for the ABC to Read programme
• Festivals of sport led at LP by our students
• Sixth-formers coaching of numerous sports at local primary schools
• Art and Design Workshops
• Green careers events and joint conferences with local state secondary schools
• The LP and Kennet Music Partnership enabling more pupils at local primary schools to have regular access to music education
• Cooking workshops with several local primary schools
And that’s not to mention all the charities supported by the whole school and by the competition houses!
GIVING BACK
As we have already said elsewhere in the magazine, we are very grateful to those OLs who offer service to the School in a variety of ways.
We are also deeply grateful to those OLs and other friends of the School who donate to our Bursary Fund. More than ever, the School strives to help those families who simply cannot afford the full fees for their sons and daughters to benefit from a Leighton Park education.
It is perhaps immodest of us, but we would claim that an LP education is one of the best available. And yet, given the recent rise in fees – due inter alia to the Government’s imposition of VAT liability on private education, there is a risk that more and more families will find the fees inaccessible without support. It is an
opportune time for us to ask OLs to help us sustain a healthy bursary fund.
If you would like to make a one-off donation, a regular donation, or perhaps leave a legacy to the School, please contact Alumni and Archives Services and we will gladly send you further details: alumni@leightonpark.com. Tel. 0118 987 9630
We work closely with the Bursar and the Accounts department to ensure that donations are collected and used efficiently.
If you had a bursary when you were at LP, we would be grateful to hear from you, especially if you have a comment on your education here, how the bursary helped you, and what you are doing now.
Thank you
ARCHIVES
A Generous Donation
We are indebted to Michael Darby for the gift of a set of the seminal series ‘Birds of Europe’ by H.E. Dresser. As we already had an incomplete set, we intend to sell the spare volumes. Anyone interested?! The money raised will go towards the bursary fund. Thank you again, Michael, for this generous gift.
Leighton Park and the University of Florence Collaboration
Professoressa Patrizia Guarnieri of the University of Florence contacted us recently, seeking information on an OL, Silvio Benaim, who was at LP in the 1940s. This was in connection with her research on intellectuals who fled from Italy in the Fascist period. The result of the research can be seen on this website:
As well as telling Silvio’s fascinating story, it illustrates Patrizia’s truly admirable gift for detailed research and clear presentation. An English version can be found by clicking on the EN at the top right of the article. It is of interest that the translator studied at the University of Reading.
The Archivist is grateful to Patrizia for this opportunity to have this brief collaboration between our two institutions……. And the opportunity to use his Italian!
Archives Work for the Remodelled Grove
It has been good to help ensure that the new Grove Sixth Form Centre and Whole School Library retains reminders of the building’s fascinating past. The renovated and re-framed painting of Grove House School, Tottenham , now has a prominent position in the hall, Portraits of the Binns family now hang in the Elizabeth Fry Room. Thomas Binns was the first and most celebrated headmaster of GHST.
The Elizabth Fry Room also has on display one of the Archives’ most treasured items. The first housemaster of Grove was F.J. Edminson. We know that he was a highly respected educator. Frederick kept a record of all manner of things that happened at Leighton Park in those early years. The book has been rebound and an explanatory panel nearby tells the story. The contents have been digitised and put in the publications section of the Archives website.
The splendid Austin Lecture Theatre is named after Ian Austin and his parents, Bryan and Janet. Their story is one of tragedy, loss and sadness but it is a story with an astonishing end. The display panel in the theatre recounts that story, and the text has been posted on the Archives website.
Travel Scholarships Digitised
We are pleased to say that our wonderful and maybe unique collection of travel scholarship reports has now been digitised. This has enabled us to answer enquiries more quickly and also to allow our current students to see what their predecessors have achieved!
The Archives Website
We have been delighted recently to launch the new Archives website; many staff, students, OLs, governors and friends of the School have already visited it and found it a source of a wide range of information and entertainment. As the publications contain many individual names and images, there is a basic login required.
The digitisation of hundreds of images and documents, not to mention of key publications like ‘The Leightonian’ magazines, “The Park”, Annual Reports and Bill Brown’s ‘The History of Leighton Park’ has enabled us to create this online facility.
Here is a brief user’s guide:
• Enter the website address www.leightonparkarchives.com
• Go to the bottom of the home page and click on ‘admin login’
• For user name enter Peckover and for password enter Jan1890
• From the top menu, click on HOME and read the introduction.
• From the top menu, click on USER INFORMATION to read this section.
• From the top menu click on BROWSE. Images will appear representing different topic areas: see photo.
• Click on an image and a number of images related to that topic will appear.
• Most images have some descriptive text.
• There are two ways to see it: i) hover your mouse over the image and the text appears or ii) open the image and click the box under it for description.
• The website has a very good SEARCH function, accessed from the top menu. This brings up all instances of the word, by each publication or photo to explore.
If you have photos or reminiscences from your Leighton Park days that you think would be enjoyed by the wider community, do get in touch.
OBITUARIES
As most readers will know, more than two years have gone by since the OL newsletter of 2021/22. Inevitably, there are more deaths to announce than is usually the case. It feels right to thank those friends and relatives who have submitted obituaries for their patience as they have waited to see them published. We extend to them once again our sincere condolences, and ask for their understanding when we have had to reduce the length of some texts.
Editor
Cathy Avent (former governor)
Cathy died on 3 December 2022, aged 103.
After graduation from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, Cathy served in the WRNS (Women’s Royal Naval Service). She then completed a Graduate Diploma in Social Sciences and Administration at LSE, before embarking on a distinguished ‘career in careers’, lecturing, writing and consulting on careers education as well as giving guidance on the relationship between educational qualifications and the requirements of careers. She became Head of Careers Education within ILEA (the Inner London Education Authority)
She was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1977.
Cathy served as a Leighton Park governor for many years in the 70s and 80s. She had significant responsibilities in that capacity. She was a vigorous, able woman whom teachers of that time will remember also as very kind and supportive.
John Boardman Staff 1968-1969
John Boardman came from New Zealand to teach English at LP for a year. Those who remember him speak of a man who engaged energetically in many different activities, including co-producing a play and learning how to use a canoe.
Sonya Butterfield Grove 1990
Sonya very tragically left us on Thursday 7th September 2023. She leaves behind her beloved daughter Laila, the light of Sonya’s life.
In her 52 yrs, Sonya made friends all over the world. She had a passionate kindness, and a wonderful tolerance of others, that made her the very best of companions. A steadfast patient loving mother to Laila, Sonya fought ferociously for her daughter in every possible way
Extract from a remembrance book produced by her friends.
James Cadbury OL and staff
James’s son, Thomas, writes these abridged notes
Dad went to Leighton Park School where he found teachers, Duncan Wood, John Ounsted and Richard Schardt eager to encourage his love of birds and plants.
That love of nature, fostered by those all important teachers, became the prime driving force in dad’s life. It was while at school that dad started to keep diaries with lists of birds, insects and plants that he had seen. This almost daily record became a dedicated practice that lasted until his early 80s. Over 70 years of detailed and accurate recording - a dataset that now has vital importance to the understanding of species distribution and population levels as well as habitat and ecosystem development. These diaries have been bequeathed to the Bodleian Library in Oxford where they will be digitised and made available worldwide.
In 1956 dad took up his place at Kings College Cambridge to read for a Natural Science Tripos. He thrived in Cambridge becoming the Secretary of the Natural History Society and editor of the Bird Club report. His degree led on to become research assistant for Dr Kettlewell in the Genetics Laboratory of the Department of Zoology in Oxford. He completed a PhD in the relative melanism of the peppered moth in industrial areas compared to rural areas such as Caithness and Shetland.
He and his new wife moved to Reading so that Dad could take up his first job, a return to Leighton Park School to teach in the Biology Department under Richard Schardt. They lived there for four happy years surrounded by a wonderful community, and building some strong, lifelong friendships. Dad threw himself into the life of the school, teaching many talented pupils.
This happened in 1969 when Dad was appointed as Head of Research at the RSPB.
He joined at a crucial time in its existence and played a leading part of its transformation into a world-leading conservation organisation. Suffice to say that the job forged Dad’s life just as much as he helped to forge its ethos.
As everyone who has ever met dad knows, his passion for nature was all-consuming and so much of his personal and family life was fuelled by this.
How to sum dad up? A gentleman and a gentle man is how so many people have described him. He was. He loved nature and was absorbed in it, but never to the exclusion of the people around him. He loved to educate and involve people in the natural world and I know all of us have been touched by this.
by Antony Barlow
John Roger Barlow, known simply as Roger was at Leighton Park from 1943 to 47 in School House. In fact, Roger was one of a dynasty of Barlows who went to LP, the first being his father John C Barlow who was there from 1915 to1920, his Uncle, my father, F Ralph Barlow 1923-28. The next generation comprising my brother David J Barlow, went in 1951 till 1956, I was there from 1954 to 1959, and our brother Stephen H Barlow from 1959 to 1962 with finally Nicholas from 1971 to 1976. All of us were in School House.
Just a little background. Being one of the pre-eminent Quaker schools, many of our cousins were OLs as well, being either contemporaneous with my Uncle and father or with one or other of their children. As that early generation of Quakers still largely married within the faith, we were all interrelated. Through our paternal grandmother Mabel Cash Barlow for instance, we were related to George Cadbury and their children, and through marriage to the Braithwaites and Doncasters – as well as the Priestmans from which Roger’s mother Enid came. The title of my first book was a history of our old Quaker family and entitled ‘He is our Cousin, Cousin’, as indeed we were!
Prior to Leighton Park Roger went to Sidcot School in Somerset, one of the oldest Quaker schools dating back over 300 years. LP by comparison was started in 1890, but both schools along with the seven other surviving such schools in the UK are exemplars of the Quaker dedication to education. It was probably at Leighton Park, which always encouraged an interest in such hobbies as metalwork and woodwork that Roger first developed a love of all things mechanical, which was further encouraged when he joined the army’s Royal Engineers as part of his national service.
This training stood him in good stead as he subsequently went to work with Ariel Motorbikes then based near the family’s home in Selly Oak, Birmingham, designing many well-known bikes of the 50’s and 60’s. Roger was first engaged at Ariel as a design draughtsman in 1956 and did much of the design work on the Ariel Arrow.
He continued as a draughtsman and designer in the motorcycle and car industry, including his time at Ariel and BSA in the 1950s and 1960s, before moving on to Rover, where he had the chance to join Norton-Villiers in the 1960s to work on a new design and he became part of the team at Wolverhampton in April 1967. He maintained his enthusiasm for motorcycles in later life and was a member of the Ariel owners motorcycle club, members of which honoured him with an appearance at his funeral.
In 1963 he married Mary Biddle and soon after their daughter Annabel was born who survives him. Mary sadly died young in 1997.
Our brother Stephen Barlow’s death in March this year, follows closely on the death of his beloved wife Linda’s last autumn after a prolonged struggle against MS. Not long previously his best man OL Graham Carter had also died. Both events distressed him greatly and left a big gap in his life.
Stephen always held a soft spot for his time at LP in School House (1959-1962) which had been the house the family went to ever since our uncle and father were at the school in the 1920’s. To Stephen, family and tradition meant a lot. He enjoyed attending reunions and meeting up with old boys, especially Graham with whom he shared a lifelong love of sport. Indeed, he was looking forward to joining up with us at this year’s ‘Vintage’ reunion in May.
Following LP Stephen went to the College of Food in Birmingham to study Hotel Management and after graduation he enjoyed a successful time as Manager of a family-owned hotel, The Norfolk in the centre of Birmingham, which led to his meeting with Linda. Their subsequent marriage was a very happy one and they were extremely proud of their two children, Christopher and Colin, who devotedly helped to care for their mother as she became increasingly disabled.
Perhaps more than any of us Stephen inherited our father’s placid nature. Fate has not always been kind to him, yet he bore every set back including an early stammer with equanimity and an uncomplaining acceptance. When the hotel was sold to new owners, he was not happy with the proposed set up, and bravely bought a milk franchise on his own which he developed with indomitable stamina and determination. He was backed by a very loving and supportive family, who learned, like him, how to cope with adversity and move forward.
Following retirement, he had more time to enjoy watching his favourite teamsBirmingham City and Warwickshire cricket – loves he inherited from our father. But just
as importantly he gave willingly of his time to the community, being for many years one of the City’s School Crossing Wardens, and was much loved by the children and parents, many of whom left floral tributes at the crossing out of respect. He was also a devoted member of his local church, where he regularly served as Sidesman each Sunday.
Throughout everything, family and loyalty have been paramount, which he has always instilled in his children, bringing the best from the past to the future. He was a remarkable person as well as a very special brother, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Antony and Nicholas Barlow
Trevor Craddock Music Staff c1977 - c2012
Rosemary Scales, Director of Music writes:
When I arrived at LP one of the first sounds I heard was Trevor’s booming voice introducing himself to me! A voice, I soon learnt, belonged to one of the kindest and most thoughtful colleagues you could ever wish to work with. After a mere 35 years, Trevor retired from Leighton Park having taught singing, piano and theory to hundreds of students and staff! Over the years, Trevor managed to combine his work at Windsor Castle as a bass lay-clerk in the choir of St. George’s Chapel, with his teaching at LP. A few of us were privileged enough to attend concerts Trevor organised at Windsor Castle for his students with a nice cup of tea afterwards!
Trevor was a boy chorister at St. Alban’s Cathedral, going on to study with the celebrated baritone John Carol Case, and piano tuition with Iris Loveridge. From 1970-1977, Trevor was a member of the Temple Church Choir. He was awarded the Medal of the Royal Victoria Order by H.M. The Queen for service to music at St. George’s Chapel. Trevor has sung as a soloist at many cathedrals, churches, universities and concert halls throughout Britain. His performances have included oratorio works, opera roles and recitals.
We have received numerous tributes for Trevor: they all speak of a kind & thoughtful man who is an outstanding musician and a wonderful, inspirational teacher.
Roger Barlow School 1947
David Bothwell Grove 1943
David died on 29 June 2023.
His engrossing autobiographical blog, complete with a laudatory account of his time at Leighton Park, can be found at:
An affectionate tribute to David can be found in the journal ‘Humanistically Speaking’: https://www.humanisticallyspeaking.org/post/david-bothwellobituary-a-very-good-life-which-has-touched-many
Tony Davies was a former LP pupil and a former LP parent. A former colleague of his, Dr William Cutting, described him as ‘an academic medical doctor of distinction, and a man of Christ-like compassion’.
Tony graduated from University of St. Andrews and its Medical College in Scotland in 1958. He did junior hospital jobs before Conscription. But because he was a Christian pacifist, a Quaker, he refused to join the armed services: instead he was sent as a medical officer on the British Antarctic Survey 1959-1962, to the South Pole!
From the mid 1960s to mid 1980s, he taught Physiology at Birmingham University and Medical College, and was attached to the Women’s hospital
He had had a deep concern for the people of Africa: from 1984-1986 he was Professor of Physiology at Juba Medical College, South Sudan. From 1988-1991 he was Field Project Leader for an MRC-funded research into HIV infection in women and children in Kimpese, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Then from 1992-1994 he was Professor of Physiology in the University of Zambia, Lusaka.
Tony combined intellectual discipline with a deep compassion for all. He had a deep concern about injustice and a desire to help deprived people. He was a staunch pacifist and an active campaigner against nuclear weapons.
Tony never really retired, but in his later years he did many things to help the most vulnerable of people.
During the last 20 years of his life he was honorary visiting Professor of Physiology at Al-Quds University, Gaza; he made 12 visits to teach and help in that impoverished, beleaguered medical college.
When almost eighty he altruistically donated one of his kidneys to an unknown person in renal failure. Although he had had a double hip replacement himself, he walked miles every day to keep himself fit and “to give the recipient the best chance of a healthy organ”. Tony helped drug offenders in their struggles to get free from the habit, and was also a member of a small dedicated group that befriends and monitors sex-offenders when they are released from custody.
Tony is greatly missed by his family and his many friends.
Goodenough
Hugh died on 31 May 2024 at the age of 99.
In 2014 Hugh published his autobiography. It was called ‘A Long Life’. His was a life largely devoted to the medical profession. After LP, he studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge and he served with great distinction in the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Royal Air Force.
In his autobiography he wrote appreciatively, and often amusingly, of his time at Leighton Park. He was Senior Prefect at School House. Throughout the rest of his life, he was a loyal and very supportive OL. He was a regular visitor to the School.
One of the highlights was the burial of a time capsule, part of LP’s 150th birthday celebrations. Hugh spoke about his memories of schooldays during World War II and how the school’s ethos and values remain strong, almost seventy years after he left. He then scattered soil over the capsule.
A life very well lived.
Keith Durham Staff 1986-91
Keith packed a lot into the relatively short time he was at Leighton Park – he taught in the English department, became Deputy Housemaster of School House, Editor of the ‘Leightonian’, Clerk of Monthly Meeting, Secretary to the Curriculum Committee and an occasional play director.
He was renowned for his energy and his sense of humour, as well as for his incisive intellect and his ability to be critical and challenging without threatening. His friend and colleague Nic Bayley wrote of him at the time he left Leighton Park to become Head of English at Wells Cathedral School:
‘He has been a challenger of orthodoxies, a subverter, a coiner of phrases, and a genial and relaxed figure on the Park’
Keith was a highly qualified, inspiring teacher, ‘the champion, sometimes, of the very weakest but more than a match for the brightest’ …. He is succinct, penetrating but compassionate, and a listener’.
His skills and temperament also enabled him to understand and help his tutees. Countless young people will have benefited from his advice and support. Countless people of all ages will be glad to have known him.
William
(Hugh) Dawson School 1943
Antony Graham Davies Grove 1952
1955
Nicky Gaunt died on 27 July 2022 of complications from injuries sustained three weeks earlier in a gliding accident. He was 85.
Nicky’s family had been weaving wool in Yorkshire for centuries: Reuben Gaunt and Sons, specialised in high quality worsteds. Its staff members were treated more like family retainers than standard employees, just as they always had been. The chairman, Nicky’s uncle, was “Mr Reginald”. Nicky was “Master Nicholas” till the day the mill closed in the 1990s. This was good industrial relations, old-fashioned, paternalist but humane. Nicky’s parents, although not Quakers themselves, admired Quaker values, which is probably why they sent Nicky to a Quaker school.
Nicky spent five happy, cheerfully mischievous years at LP. He was a serial breaker of school rules, but misdemeanours, such as illicit visits to the cinema or hitch-hiking expeditions to London, were routinely forgiven, since he was without guile or malice. He excelled at sport, especially gymnastics, rugby and athletics. He was one of the school’s best artists. And, above all, he shone as one of its elite band of glider pilots, under the tutelage of the Head of Physics, John Simpson.
He went on to Leeds University, where he studied textile engineering. While there he applied to join the University Air Squadron in order to learn how to fly powered aircraft, telling the interviewing panel of retired RAF officers that, in the event of armed combat, he would, as a Quaker, be able to participate only in a non-combatant role. Impressed by his sincerity and his charm, they agreed.
It was also while he was at Leeds that he met Diana Hotchkin. They were married for 64 years, each busy with their own interests and yet a solid team, based on mutual support and encouragement. Diana would regularly drive hundreds of miles towing their glider trailer to wherever Nicky had landed, while he would join in and support her literary and dramatic activities.
Not only was Nicky an enlightened manager and employer, he was also a leading light in the wider industry, always ready to share ideas and advice. He was president of both the Confederation of British Wool Textiles and the Bradford Textile Society.
Gliding, which he had first taken up at LP, was his great passion. He competed all over the UK and Europe, and even in New Zealand. He was a member of the Yorkshire Gliding Club for over half a century and its chairman for many years. Even the onset of ankylosing spondylitis failed to dampen his enthusiasm.
Nicky was very much a renaissance man, keenly involved in the arts in Yorkshire, particularly with the Ryedale Festival, and further afield with the Edinburgh Festival. He had an amazing memory, able at the drop of a hat to quote from a wide range of poetry and prose, and in later life joined a writing group.
Children adored him. One of our daughters lives in Yorkshire, and her children called him their Yorkshire grandpa. He seemed eternally youthful, and one of my abiding memories will be of him, aged eighty, sliding down the banister to greet them in the foyer of the Grand Theatre in Leeds. He is survived by Diana, his son Patrick, his daughter Rachel, and two grandchildren.
Richard Thomas School 1956
Robert died on 8 May 2022. This is an abridged version of a published obituary.
Robert was a consummate and renowned bird artist. His artwork is striking, beautiful and distinctive and has appeared in many books, on cards and on several series of stamps.
His maternal grandfather, Allen Seaby, was one of the finest bird painters of the first half of the 20th century, and professor of fine art at Reading University.
Robert lived in Northcourt Avenue, near LP until he was 62 years old. He and his brother, Philip, were educated at LP, and Robert returned to teach art for several years. Robert’s early interest in wildlife art was encouraged by the teachers at Leighton Park school, although he later described his school career – art aside – as “pretty hopeless”.
At the age of 13, he was elected as the first ever junior member of Reading Ornithological Club, ultimately becoming its life president. He also served on the councils of the RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology and British Ornithologists’ Union; later, in recognition of his long and devoted service, each of these organisations awarded him their most prestigious medal.
He was co-founder of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA)and remained its driving force for more than half a century.
In 1998 Robert and his wife, Susan (nee Norman), a fellow artist whom he had married in 1974, moved to the north Norfolk village of Cley. Over the following two decades, he continued to create a prodigious output of paintings, prints, linocuts and drawings – each one instantly recognisable as a “Gillmor” – and many of which were displayed at the nearby Pinkfoot and Birdscapes galleries. He would also spend time in the hides at Cley Marshes, quietly sketching birds, to the delight of the other visitors.
In recognition of his lifetime’s achievements, in 2015 this kind, inspirational and deeply modest man was appointed MBE.
Nicholas Gaunt School
Robert Gillmor Grove 1954, Staff 1959-65
John Allinson writes:
John died in a tragic car crash in March 2022.
John will be missed by all who have known him, and especially by those who are close to him, for his kindness, his sincerity, his commitment to social justice and the protection of the environment. Unassuming and self-effacing by nature, John took a sensitive interest in other people, sharing their news, listening and counselling on so many matters. He espoused Quaker values and lived a life that was in harmony with Quaker testimonies.
John gave unstinting, loyal service to Leighton Park. For twenty of his thirty years on the teaching staff he was Head of Modern Languages, teaching Russian and French. He also had pastoral roles in Reckitt, School and finally Grove, where he was Housemaster and Elisabeth, his wife, was in charge of what was then Grove House girls’ hostel.
He was a gifted all-rounder who gave generously of his time and talents in numerous areas of school life. A fine cricketer and hockey player, he coached hockey at a high level for many years. As a very enthusiastic ornithologist, he shared his expertise with countless pupils and colleagues who were members of the Bird Group. John loved music: he played bassoon in the school orchestra and sang in local choirs.
Coming out of retirement in 2004, John worked hard to help ‘relaunch’ Old Leightonian communications and events when a number of factors had resulted in a loss of these important contacts. It was typical of him that he maintained many personal contacts with former students and colleagues, as well as a strong interest in the ongoing development of the school.
It was John who, with the encouragement of John Ounsted, introduced Russian to the LP curriculum. He taught the Russian language and culture enthusiastically until the subject was dropped in the mid-eighties. I have very good memories of being with him in the Soviet Union with a party of students, as indeed I have of so many other ventures we embarked on together as linguists, as Leightonians, and as very good friends. John was a man of peace who would have been greatly distressed to know of the hostile action between Russia and Ukraine.
I am heartbroken to share with you the news that Joe Groom passed away in January last year after a long and difficult struggle with all the nuances of life. I know that, like us, his friends and teachers are devastated and deeply saddened by recent events, but love, support and empathy have come pouring forth from Leighton Park and an astonishing number of people attended his farewell to laugh, cry, remember and just celebrate Joe. We had a party which he would have loved!
It was at Leighton Park that Joe met his ‘band of brothers’ with whom he experienced every aspect of school lifefriendships that went deep and were so very precious to him both at school and later in the real world. Leighton Park was the place where Joe developed, amongst many other things too numerous to list here, his exceptional and generous sporting prowess, captaining every team of every sport he took part in - a gentle lad before a game but a true warrior once on the pitch.
Joe was valued and loved by everyone
who crossed his path (you could not miss him!): his quick wit, mischievous nature, spontaneity, instinctive warmth, sensitivity, loving nature, huge grin, effervescence, enthusiasm, and good humour - ‘a tease always on his lips’, were all characteristics that his friends, teachers, and tutor comment on and remember.
After leaving LP Joe travelled abroad mostly in New Zealand and Australia coming home to train as a head barman, an electrician, a lighting designer and finally as an exceptionally compassionate and talented Personal Trainer - many people said that meeting Joe literally changed their lives. He had many strings to his bow….and wherever he went, whatever he did he wholeheartedly threw himself into his role, made friends and generally just made the world a better place; something he often failed to see for himself.
Leighton Park is a remarkable place filled with remarkable people both now and over the past years. A community that takes care of their own, allows for individuality and does everything to support one of their ‘team’. I have been overwhelmed by all the support.
Some lives shine brightly for just a fleeting time and the cruel reality of life can sometimes be too much. To have had an island of happiness and tranquillity in your life is precious. And Joe certainly experienced this. I am so grateful to everyone who enriched Joe’s life.
Gilly
Oliver Heal died on 23 January 2024. He was the grandson of Sir Ambrose Heal (18721959) and followed his father, Anthony Heal into the family firm, becoming a director and the last family member to be Chairman. His later life was devoted to researching and publishing about Heal’s and racing his beloved 1927 Sunbeam motor car.
Oliver will be fondly remembered for his unassuming, gentle and good-humoured nature. He leaves his wife Annik, three stepdaughters and a son.
Joe Groom School 2008
John Gould Staff 1967 to 1997
Oliver Heal School 1967
Over four decades Kit Hill, who has died aged 94, worked to develop the use of ultrasound in medicine, from the earliest handbuilt scanners with little computational power through to very much higher levels of sophistication. He and his team at the combined Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Royal Marsden hospital in London also explored the biological impact and potential for risk from ultrasound exposure, developing safe codes of practice for worldwide application.
From 1958 to 1994, as a student, through research and teaching, and onwards as he became professor and head of the combined physics department of the ICR and Royal Marsden, Kit set great store in
Jonathan Hodgkin Grove 1960
John Allinson writes:
The Hodgkin family name is strongly connected with the history of Leighton Park and, indeed, goes back to the very beginnings of Quakerism.
I first met Jonathan when he and his wife Jennifer brought their son Julian to School House. I was the Housemaster there in the 1980s. It was then that I learned so much about their family history from both Jonathan and Jenny – the latter being an LP governor for several years. Jonathan was the great grandson of the first Leighton Park pupil, Jonathan E. Hodgkin.
collaboration and nurturing individuals. He boosted international friendship by welcoming students, colleagues and visitors to the family home for simple, tasty meals, and good conversation would ensue.
Born in Carshalton, Surrey, after Leighton Park, he studied physics at Oxford, where he met Susan Maguire, whom he married in 1953.
Approaching retirement, and looking for “what next”, Kit became involved in Pugwash Conferences on science and world affairs, soon becoming treasurer and then secretary. In this role, he joined Sir Joseph Rotblat, president and founder of Pugwash, in travelling to Oslo to receive the 1995 Nobel peace prize for the efforts of the conferences “to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms”.
Kit hoped he might leave the world a better place. He played his part.
Ralph Jameson, who died on 29th May 2023 at the age of 99, had a remarkable life marked by his service during World War II and his contributions to both the legal profession and naval aviation. His education at St. Andrew’s University was interrupted by the war, leading him to join the Royal Navy in 1942. He trained as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, flying various aircraft including the Swordfish Torpedo Bomber. Ralph’s flying skills were exceptional, earning him a commendation in his logbook.
After Leighton Park, he did a first degree in Mechanical Engineering at Birmingham University. He worked in Worcester for a number of years with the Metal Box company before, in the 1980s he was headhunted by a Swiss company. This led to nearly 10 years living in Zurich.
On returning to England, having always wanted to build his own house, Jonathan and Jenny bought an old orchard, then designed and built an environmentally sustainable timber framed house in Essex.
Wherever he lived, Jonathan was a very active Quaker. He served on several national and local Quaker bodies and committees, including being Clerk to LP’s General Meeting.
He was highly regarded as a caring, compassionate and sociable man who lived a happy, well rounded life.
During the war, Ralph served with distinction, including a deployment to the British Pacific Fleet. He participated in the relief of Hong Kong and the repatriation of POWs, a task he found deeply rewarding. After the war, Ralph pursued a career in law but continued his passion for flying by joining the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and later the RNVR (A), where he commanded 1842 Squadron.
Ralph’s contributions extended beyond his military service. He was a founding member and the first Treasurer of the Fleet Air Arm Officers’ Association, playing a crucial role in its development over 60 years. In recognition of his dedication, he was made an honorary life Vice President in 2017.
In his personal life, Ralph married Anne Law in 1957 and was an active member of his community in Dorset. He was known for his quick wit, curiosity, and sense of humour, as well as his modesty and courtesy. Ralph’s legacy is one of dedication, service, and a lifelong passion for aviation. He is survived by his wife Anne and two sons, Mark and Andrew. His daughter, Leonie, predeceased him in 2019.
Gillian Hopkins Governor
It was with sadness that we received the news that Gill died on 11 February 2024 . Older OLs remember her with affection as Hoppy’s daughter gracing the Park. In later life she served for eight years as a governor, and she was a wise and kind friend to many. Most of her career was devoted to social work. At her Memorial Meeting for Worship, many spoke of the different ways in which Gill had touched their lives.
Editor’s note: I first met Ralph in 2016 when I was carrying out research for the book ‘Great Ideals: Leighton Park and The Second World War’. Ralph readily told me about life at Leighton Park in the early years of the War, and we subsequently had several chats on the phone.It was not until I met him that I discovered that Ralph had been the editor of ‘The Leightonian’ jubilee edition in 1940, and that he had held office in the Old Leightonians committee. JA
Ralph Jameson Grove 1941
Christopher ‘Kit’ Hill School 1947
Karl Otto Lehmann
In the last few years of his long and remarkable life, I got to know Karl well. He came to Leighton Park on a number of occasions, and shared generously with me and others information about life at LP in the thirties and his experiences during the Second World War. He was a wise and insightful friend, and I miss the conversations we had. We are grateful to his wife Helga for preparing this obituary. John Allinson
Karl was 101 and a half when he died on 2nd September 2022. He arrived at LP in 1936 from Cologne, Germany, where conditions were no longer safe for him. Karl always stressed how welcome he was made to feel by LP staff and pupils and how this helped him to adapt quite quickly to a new language and a new way of life. Indeed, his integration was so successful that his brother, Hans Georg, joined him at Leighton Park in 1937. Karl represented the school at athletics, hockey, rugger, captained the tennis team and was made a prefect.
At Oxford Karl read French and German. But being an “enemy alien”, he was summoned by the police and taken off with others to spend six months at internment camps in Paignton, Shropshire and the Isle of Man. This turned out to be not as bad as might have been: fellow internees, many of them academics, set up classes, debating societies, a drama group, so that camp life was quite versatile muting the inmates’ fear about the future. LP headmaster Edgar Castle moved heaven and earth to get Karl released early. After returning to Oxford to complete his degree, Karl joined the BBC Monitoring Service, first at Evesham, then Reading, where he listened to and translated German wartime broadcasts, including the one on first May 1945 announcing the death of Adolf Hitler. Karl continued at the Monitoring Service after the war retiring in 1981 as Editor News and Publications.
Throughout his life Karl maintained strong links with Leighton Park attending events and holding regular summit meetings with John Allinson. He played tennis into his nineties and pursued his main passion, following the horses, to the very end. As he explained in an LP interview a few years ago: This is an excellent retirement occupation because there is a problem every morning and a solution every afternoon. A day before he died Karl said Cancel the Racing Post!
Igor Lester Reckitt 1957
Over the years Leighton Park has thrown up a number of memorable characters and I have little doubt that Igor Lester (Ralph Igor Lester) was one of them.
He was two academic years ahead of me, but I got to know him via the “sixth rugby game” – the repository for those of us who were either averse to or inept at sport. On those occasions Igor was always good for a worldly chat.
The school held a mock election to coincide with the General Election of 1955. Igor stood as an independent and received the fewest votes. The penalty was suffering the indignity of having his photograph in babyhood pinned to the Headmaster’s noticeboard.
After LP, Igor read law at Wadham College Oxford where, in 1959, the Oxford OL Letter to the Leightonian reported “In Wadham, R I Lester may be seen enveloped in clouds of smoke from an enormous pipe which helps him to cultivate the legal mind.”
I always felt Igor’s natural habitat was a pavement café in Vienna or Rome sipping on a glass and making comments as the world passed by.
Igor is survived by Lissa and by their four children.
MWB
died on Sunday, 3 April
Fred was born in 1932 to Dutch parents living in Hampstead Garden Suburb. World War 2 dominated Fred’s childhood and he recalled the Blitz and guns on Hampstead Heath firing at German aircraft. After school he studied civil engineering at Imperial College but took a holiday job as a ward orderly at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. This transformed his life and inspired a permanent dedication to medicine. Fred learned that patients elsewhere who were unable to move would often die from pressure sores, gangrene and sepsis yet at Stoke Mandeville they would be saved simply by being turned every two hours by six nurses, allowing them to progress towards wheelchair mobility.
Fred asked to watch an operation and realising what technology could do
to improve lives, he took a nursing qualification and became first a state registered nurse for three years at Barnet General and then a doctor for another six. Internships followed at St Helier and the Royal Free, both medical and surgical, and another in obstetrics. At the Royal Free he met his future wife, Margaret Birtwhistle, an anaesthetist, in an operating theatre. Both wore masks as their eyes met. They were married in 1960 and would have four children.
Fred found a general practice partnership in 1968 at Ashlea serving patients in Ashtead and Leatherhead. He chose Leatherhead in particular because of its cottage hospital. In those days this was owned by GPs who had admitting rights for their own patients and could call in consultants if required. Seamless care from the cradle to the grave.
In 1970 Fred and colleagues created the League of Friends which raised funds for Leatherhead Hospital. It brought in £4 million. He retired around the year 2000 and was still a busy GP when he first became a voluntary steward at Leatherhead Museum in the 1980s. He soon became chairman of the Friends of the Museum, then a museum trustee.
When illness first arose he maintained his usual stoical approach and refused to let it undermine his commitments, continuing to provide input by phone, zoom and email. He also continued his concern for the League of Friends and for Leatherhead Horticultural Society of which he had been president and had organised annual fundraising garden parties every May.
Fred Meynen Reckitt 1946
Fred
2023 after a long illness.
James Y McLeod Reckitt 1963
James died on 12 May 2023. His brother Charles wrote:
After attending Leighton Park, James (Jim) studied geography at St John’s College, Cambridge and then started work with Barclays DCO. He then moved to the Commonwealth Development Corporation which involved two-year spells in East Africa, Jamaica and Fiji. On returning to the UK he fairly soon started work as a freelance consultant. At a relatively early age, he realised that he needed to work only about eight months a year to cover his living expenses, leaving four months for his many interests and for pro bono work. For many years he was a Special Police Constable, and this was followed by many years as a Magistrate at Richmond Crown Court.
to OBE in 2015. From a concern about nomenclature and metrology – the study of measurement – he was recruited to be one of the authors of the first editions of the IUPAC Green Book. He became involved in the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures and eventually being president of the Comité Consultatif des Unités from 1995 to 2013. This led to the acceptance of a scientific need to redefine the SI system of units, and the implementation of this redefinition of the SI units in terms of fundamental natural constants.
He had a wide range of friends, as was evident by the very large attendance at his funeral, as well as a large number of interests. I remember him, in particular, for his great sense of humour and for his ability to talk, with knowledge, on a very wide range of subjects.
Avrion (Av) died peacefully on 28 December 2022, aged 94. Nicholas Avrion (Av) Mitchison FRS was a pioneering immunologist who made ground-breaking contributions within the field of immunology in understanding the role of T lymphocytes in immunological regulation and tolerance, and by crafting an environment to inspire and educate. He also played an integral role in the launch of the British Society for Immunology.
In his career he worked at Oxford and Edinburgh universities, but the longest stay was at UCL. One of his friends and colleagues wrote of him:
Av was a visionary immunologist with a magnetic personality that attracted scientists from around the world to his long-term base at UCL, and subsequently to the German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ) in Berlin. Across the decades, scores of aspiring scientists clustered around him to enjoy his conversations, ideas, encouragement, humour and not infrequent teasing.
We were delighted to welcome Av back to Leighton Park in 2016. He spoke at length about immunology to Gemma Sims, Head of Biology and was thrilled to return to the Biology classroom where his journey began, under the auspices of Ricky Schardt.
Ian Mills died aged 92 on 23 December 2022.
Professor Mills was a longstanding member of Reading’s Department of Chemistry, specialising in infrared spectroscopy – a technique using infrared radiation to study materials.
It was his later work on the standardisation of metric units that led to his appointment
Pearson died aged 92 on 15th February 2024
These are abridged notes sent to us by his family.
Irwin made lifelong friends at Leighton Park. We all heard the stories of various escapades and adventures from those years. He was very proud of being part of the first unbeaten Senior school rugby team. In 1949, in an era when foreign travel was a rare thing, he won a school travel scholarship to Norway with his best school friend, Lyn Wilson. Aged 18, the two of them, on a £25, each, budget made their way on a Polish coal boat from London to Copenhagen, then hitch hiked to Oslo, Bergan, trekked across the mountains above the Arctic Circle to Tromso, and over to the Swedish iron ore mines in Kiruna, close to the perilous
As a student at Reading he started a sailing club. He was always a practical mechanic, and as a child had a workshop in the garden where he learned to do proper woodwork and metalwork. As an adult, he enjoyed DIY and made his own furniture at home, and he relished the chance to learn glassblowing and making his own equipment at work.
After retirement he continued to sail and walk with friends, celebrating his 80th birthday by climbing the 1,959-ft high Haystacks in the Lake District.
border with Russia. Stranded and broke, they were not deterred from labouring endless miles to Oslo. There, Lyn embarked for Leighton Park studies for Cambridge. Irwin’s earnings from three month’s farm work permitted his return to Dublin. An incredible journey when you consider WW2 was just over and Europe was still in turmoil and Norway, in particular, had suffered so much during the war years.
Irwin worked for many years in the family firm of Smith & Pearson Ltd, a large and well-respected structural steel and ironworks business, based in Dublin. At the age of 50, he set up his own company and travelled extensively.
In the 1990s, in the Quaker tradition of giving back, Irwin became involved in the governance of Quakers in Ireland. He was centrally involved in the sale of Bloomfield Quaker Hospital, in Dublin city and the purchase of alternative lands in County Dublin. This was followed by a major building project which today houses the The central offices of the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland (Quakers) their historical library, and a state-of -the-art healthcare facility for older adults with dementia.
He was old school in many ways and ahead of the curve in others, a great role model who lived through turbulent times. The lessons and friendships learned from his LP school days showed us all how to live an upstanding, full and eventful life.
Ian Mills OBE Reckitt 1948
Avrion Mitchison Reckitt 1944
Irwin
Irwin Pearson School 1949
Arthur Pedlar School 1950
John Allinson writes:
Arthur died on 18 August 2022.
Although many former pupils speak generally of the influence of their education on their careers and their adult lives, it is only rarely that the course of a life is attributable to a single experience at school. Arthur was one of those rare examples.
On more than one occasion I heard Arthur describe himself at school as ‘ nonacademic, non-sporting, non-everything’’. Of course, this was due in large part to his selfdeprecation, but also due to comparisons made with his younger brother, Anthony. They both joined Leighton Park in 1946. Opportunity knocked for Arthur, however, when he was asked to take part in a house social evening. He overcame his natural shyness and resolved to deliver a short act as a clown. He had been inspired by a specific Bertram Mills clown, Emmett Kelly, whom he had seen perform, and he had had some experience doing make-up for school plays.
His performance signalled a major turning point in his life: ‘I put my head round the curtains…. and the place exploded’.
Although Arthur’s subsequent main occupation was running the family business in Southport, he also developed a parallel career as a professional clown. He was to travel throughout the world, gaining experience, acclaim and international
Martin Slowe Reckitt 1959
Martin practiced as a surveyor since 1958.
friendship, and eventually becoming the President of the World Clown Association. It was at Leighton Park that Arthur learned how to ride a monocycle and introduced it into his act. The picture of him on his monocycle remains one of the most iconic in our picture archive, and allows us to speak of the eponymous Arthur Pedlar!
I had the good fortune of meeting him on several occasions, and I recall in particular his talks on the art of clowning and his enjoyable performances at ‘Sixth Special’ and on a memorable OL evening. I loved my conversations with Arthur: his natural bonhomie and renowned sense of humour always led to entertaining encounters. Like all good clowns, he was also a serious and principled man: his perspective on life was reflected in the quotation from Shakespeare that I learned from him: The web of life is of a mingled yarn – good and ill together.
Arthur was, above all, a very good-hearted and generous man, and two major interests in his life demonstrate this in particular ways. He was a member of The Holy Fools, a dedicated ecumenical group of international clowns who visit prisons and hospitals as well as churches and schools. He was also greatly involved in the Israel Circus School, an organisation which brings together Arab and Israeli young people to share their common interest and enthusiasm.
We can be truly thankful for the life and witness of this wonderful man.
As a founder of the business Martin Slowe Property Services, Martin brought a wealth of experience of dealing with acquisition, investment and the management of Commercial Properties. He had wide-ranging knowledge and expertise in handling property portfolios of all sizes – from single units to large commercial developments.
Over the years he shared this knowledge and experience with the Company. In the later years, when he was a consultant, most of his day-to-day duties had been passed on but was always there to lend an ear and offer advice.
Words cannot express what an incredible person he was, and he will be dearly missed.
Andrew Pettinger Reckitt 1972
Andrew’s brother Henry, also an OL, writes:
After LP Andrew attended Worcester College Oxford: following graduation he trained to become a Probation Officer in Leicester before re-training and spending most of his working life as a GP. He had a full life based from his farm house in Devon where he brought up his 4 children.
He loved his music and sport at LP and continued running throughout his life; he was the organist in his local parish church for many years and sang with a local respected choir in Totnes.
Michael Plunkett Grove 1949
Michael died on 25 September 2023
He was in touch with LP a few years ago and bequeathed a small photograph album, including some photographs that demonstrated his passion for buses.
From notes supplied by Ian Thompson and Denis McCoy:
Michael worked for many years as an architect in Islington.
He was also very knowledgeable about Irish music and dance. His musical talents were harnessed from 1956 while at London University for more than 30 years to a traditional music group calling themselves The Rakes, with whom he played fiddle and flute. They played at various venues including an appearance at The London Palladium, and much later in the foyer of the then recently built Royal National Theatre.
His retirement was devoted to the Amberley Chalk Pits museum, a few miles west of Storrington in W. Sussex, where he lived for many years. In the museum are several 90+year-old Leyland buses that owe their survival and restoration largely to Michael and a now meticulously restored 1927 Tilling-Stevens that ran for Thames Valley in Reading until the early 1940s is another of Michael’s long-term projects.
Niki Smyth née Oei School 1988
Niki died in New York on 26 December 2022
Niki burst into the Leighton Park sixth form in September 1986. She had a passion for music, whether it was playing Vaughan Williams on the piano or listening to Bon Jovi on her Walkman. She took full advantage of LP’s music facilities, learning the saxophone from scratch and playing with the Jazz Band and Big Band. Along with her musical talents, she had a potent combination of intelligence and hard work. No one was surprised at her leaving the school with three As at A-level. She could have studied anything anywhere and chose to read Music at the University of Bristol.
Graduating with an inevitable First, she decided not to pursue a career in music.. After qualifying as an accountant, she moved quickly up the ranks of KPMG and Clifford Chance, eventually heading up her own division. She remained a social linchpin for her LP friends.
At one of the many concerts she went to, she was introduced to Steve Smyth, guitarist with such metal bands as Nevermore and Testament. Niki and
Philip Thornley Grove 1951
Philip was born into a Quaker family and subsequently attended Sidcot and Leighton Park.
At 18, at a time of conscription, he applied to be a conscientious objector. His allowed alternative to serving in the army was two years of work on sheep farms in Craswell and Longtow, experiences which were to change him. He decided this was what he wanted to do with his life but had difficulty persuading his parents. They agreed to support him if he still wished it after getting a degree.
He met Alma at Cambridge. They married, had four children and farmed at Brimstone, St Weonards. Many friends recall with great affection happy times spent at Brimstone. It was never long before newcomers to Meeting were invited to a meal. These were warm and welcoming occasions where conversation flowed easily and Philip was a kindly host.
His faith and Quakerism were of great importance to him and unselfconsciously he lived out the testimonies. He was an active supporter of the Herefordshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group helping to promote farming in harmony with wildlife.
One of their children was born with learning difficulties so he involved himself with Mencap and, later, Aspire, helping to develop suitable provision and accommodation. Peace issues mattered to Philip. He was a member of Hereford Peace Council and carried the responsibility of the Millichap
Steve hit it off immediately and were clearly made for each other.
They married on the roof of a hotel overlooking San Francisco. They were settling into a beautiful bungalow in California when Niki was diagnosed with cancer. My wife and I were lucky enough to visit Niki and Steve in February 2020, just before the world shut down for Covid. Niki was facing her illness with a mixture of determination, dark humour, and unshakeable Christian faith. She died on Boxing Day 2022. She was generous, caring, and always great company. Everyone who knew her will miss her terribly.
Arthur Burke
Peace lectures for many years. He played a full part in the life of Hereford Meeting He was a conscientious Clerk, a wise Elder and a diligent and careful Treasurer. If difficulties arose he was an excellent conciliator.
He was still giving service to the Society even after his health began to fail. He indexed the Trustee minutes for AM at a time when he was too unwell to attend.
Someone once said: “Every life leaves behind an echo that is available to those who take the trouble to listen”. Philip Thornley thank you for the echoes you have left us.
Mark Turner School 1991
Nick Mattinson OL writes:
Mark Turner sadly passed away in June 2022 after a brief but awful battle with cancer. He leaves behind Samantha, his wife, and their two boys, Charlie, 6 and Freddie, 9.
Mark and I were close at school and started together at 14 years old. John was our house master at the time in the
Patrick’s wife, Lorraine, writes: Pat died suddenly in May 2023 aged 61. He was so kind, stoic, funny & joyful. I was so lucky to call him my husband.
Even when he was at LP there were signs of the renal failure that would affect his future life. Pat endured over 40 years of kidney failure, but he refused to be defined by it.
He studied Mechanical Engineering at Birmingham University. Sadly, advancing renal failure prevented him from completing his degree. It was at Uni that he met good life-long friends. He and I met there in 1982, married in 1990, and remained happy together for almost 33 years.
Pat’s career path was stymied by hospital admissions, operations, dialysis and transplants - mostly in London. Nevertheless, he set up and ran his own burglar alarm business for many years until ill health intervened.
We relocated to my hometown Shrewsbury in 2004 and Pat took up a post with McConnells in Ludlow as an agricultural engineer and was happy there for many years. He retired in 2020 and began to develop his hobby of working with stained glass. He had started to create some amazing artwork - he was a talented & creative engineer. Sadly, he ran out of time to take this further.
He left us far too soon, but his was a life well lived.
old School House I recall. Mark was a very good friend at school and we grew up together during those awkward teenage boy years. I said to Samantha that my memories were of him being fun, carefree and a genuinely nice person.
It is testimony to Mark that there was a huge response from friends to return to LP for the reunion and to remember him and plant a tree
Patrick Smart School 1979
Nick was an expert cartoonist and film animator who was educated and trained at Chelsea College of Art and Design, ARTTS International, Cheltenham and Gloucester C.H.E, and London Animation
Jo Watkins Reckitt 1975
Jo was born into a Quaker family in Swansea on 31st July 1956: the sense of equality, fairness and peace was something all those who knew Jo would recognise. After leaving school he worked locally before enrolling on the Landscape Architecture diploma at Thames Polytechnic.
After graduating, Jo worked at Philip Cave Associates before joining the Landscape Partnership running a small London Office. Jo then set up his own practice, forming a partnership Watkins Dally a few years later with Des Dally, in 1999. They worked on a number of award winning schemes across parks, education and public spaces.
Jo was a gentle giant of a man. In recent years illness began to affect his mobility and fitness, but never his good humour and generosity of spirit. For Landscape
Geoffrey Weaver Staff 1963-66
Geoffrey died in summer 2024.
Studio, where he gained a Distinction in a Postgraduate Certificate of Animation.
His long cv reveals a host of achievements. He was involved in the production of a number of wellknown cartoons, such as Peppa Pig, and he undertook a wide variety of commissions. The editor of this magazine can blushingly add that one of these commissions was for him – a long story!
His sudden and as yet unexplained death came as a massive shock to his friends and family.
These are extracts from tributes paid to him .
When I was at school, I wanted to be Nick Wade, handsome, funny and talented, so talented. Jon Horsley
….a marvellously eccentric and irascibly talented gent with an artistic genius you could only gawp at. We grew up together in so many ways. We shared music and books, and a love of kipper ties - while everyone else was listening to Duran Duran and Run DMC, Frank Zappa and Danzig were among his favourites. He also loved Dali and vintage pinstripe suits. A real, unpredictable tinderbox of strange beauty. Saptarshi Ray
Architecture his legacy lies perhaps not in grand statements but in his influence on how we are perceived as a profession and for the support he provided to those beginning their careers. For those who knew him it was simply the pleasure that he was part of our lives.
David Withycombe, CMLI. (abridged)
Television producer and broadcasting executive John Whitney died in November 2023. H was a pioneer of commercial radio and independent television drama in postwar Britain. His biggest hit as a producer was the period drama ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’, which ran for five years from 1971 on ITV, and was revived in 2010 by the BBC.
After 16 very successful years as Managing Director of Capital Radio, he became Director General of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). Shaped by the principles, social conscience and behaviour of his Quaker parents, he took the role because he thought he could do some good.
Following his departure from the IBA, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Company snapped him up as director in 1989. In 1995 he moved on to chair a radio investment and management company. and busied himself with a range of charitable, industry and arts appointments.
Those of us who never knew Geoffrey have formed an image of him as an inspirational teacher of History who had a lasting influence of many people’s lives, students and staff alike. He was a fine cricketer and managed cricket at the school ably and enthusiastically.
We also regret to announce the deaths of the following OLs. Any further obituaries received after publication of this magazine will be published on our website: leightonparkalumni.com
Ross Learoyd School 1995
Philip Meitner Reckitt 1948
Guy Nash School 1952
Michael Ounsted Reckitt 1962
Anthony Pollock Reckitt 1980
Brian Portsmouth Reckitt 1965
John Whitney School 1947
Nick Wade Field 1992
AAS CROSSWORD
In the first of a series of one so far, here is a crossword challenge from Alumni and Archives Services! If you are struggling with one or two of these clues, the Archives website may help you. Solution will be posted on our websites and in the next edition of this magazine. Send an s.a.e. to us if you would like a paper copy.
Across
6 Surname of future film director who was taken to town by the Headmaster on his first day to buy a bike (5)
8 Surname of family resident at Leighton Park before it became a school (6)
9 Northern seaside town named after a former member of staff? (11)
11 Building in Northcourt Avenue, once LP’s junior school (8)
12 Charity fundraising group (6)
13 First word of old Latin school motto (3)
14 A Quaker school that closed in 1878 was in this district of London (9)
15 The name of this subject was changed to ‘Beliefs and Values’ in the 1970s. (8)
16 OL poet; a conscientious objector in WW1 (7)
17 The name of this town was also the surname of two of the original four LP pupils (9)
18 Missing word on WWII memorial plaque: Whatever * is yours was my life too. (4)
Down
1 An award in this former pupil’s name is given to current students who demonstrate outstanding all-round achievement. (2 words) (11)
2 Surname of Music teacher 1895-1918 (7)
3 A past to treasure; a future to .......... (last word of LP Archives strapline) (7)
4 Now lost in time, this whole school fitness activity preceded morning lessons (9)
5 One of the new competition houses (7)
7 Andrew Robinson taught this (9)
WEBSITES: OUR URLS AND QR CODES
1 Our new Alumni website retains the features of the lpconnect site, enabling students to exchange information about their occupations and keep in touch with each other. We will also be posting news of our AAS activities, news about OLs and other items of interest. You can also book our events on this site. You don’t need to share your personal information to view the pages.
https://leightonparkalumni.com
2 Our Archives website contains a huge selection of our digitised Archives content and has a powerful search feature. Access to the full site is obtained by logging in at the bottom of the home page. Username: Peckover Password: Jan1890
www.leightonparkarchives.com
3 A selection of videos, including our new video podcast ‘A Walk in the Park’, can be found on our Leighton Park Archives Playlist. www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeW7DC9fZvTYFESiPkZLX3OIR_Mts0nQY
But you might find the simplest way to access it is to search in Google ‘Leighton Park Youtube Archives.’
Alumni and Archives Services, Leighton Park, Shinfield Rd, Reading RG2 7ED T: 0118 987 9630 E: alumni@leightonpark.com or alumniandarchives@leightonpark.com
9 The name of the honours board recording the names of pupils who had excelled in creative leisure pursuits (10)
10 First name of first Headmaster (8)
14 A cardinal number which was once the name for one of the houses (5)
16 Michael Foot OL played this character in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (6)
A GENTLE REMINDER!
Please let us know any changes in your contact details by the end of the year! If you are not currently an email user, please let us know if we can send emails to a friend or relative who would be willing to read or print them for you.
Data protection
The General Data Protections Regulation (GDPR) came in to effect in 2018. This new regulation means that Leighton Park requires a specific “Opt In” from all of our community so that we can stay in touch with you. We maintain our promise that we will not pass your data to third party organisations except where they are assisting us in the fulfilment of our activities or where we are required to do so by law. If you are unsure if you have given your consent for us to stay in touch, please do contact us.
