OK NEWS 2016 The magazine of the Old Kimboltonians’ Association
Spring 2016
The Committee & Representatives of the Old Kimboltonians’ Association OKA Committee... President:
Adrian Petty (91)
Treasurer:
Simon Page (82)
Vice President:
Jonathan Belbin (Headmaster)
Secretary:
Helen Hopperton (Alumni Officer, 85)
Steve Kingan (72) Ken Laflin (Former Staff) Arthur March (42) John Mayes (51) Claire Murphy (90) Charlotte Ralph (06) Peter Saxton (75)
Theo Gibbs (68) Ben Goakes (96) Charlotte Goodson (88) Alaster Gray (73) James Hopperton (94) James Hodges (11) Jonathan Hunter (80)
Andrew Bamford (Staff) George Beverly (08) James Brown (94) Michael Capps (65) Hetty Dean (90) Joanna Doyle (84) Will Ford (11)
Bill Skinner (Former Staff) Jim Townley (Former Staff) Roger Watson (Former Staff) Fiona Whiteman (85) Peter Willmer (46)
OKA Sports Managers... CRICKET - 1st XI
George Richards
07840 793227
george.richards12@gmail.com
CRICKET - 2nd XI
Will Ford
willpnford@live.co.uk
FOOTBALL
George Wilson
07411 101363
ga.wilson@virgin.net
GOLF
Charles Robinson
01480 860581
cjr@robinsonkimbolton.co.uk
HOCKEY (Men’s)
Jack Gallifant
gallifantjack@googlemail.com
HOCKEY (Ladies)
Helen Hopperton
alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
NETBALL
Danni Belbin
danni.belbin2120@gmail.com
ROUNDERS
Charlotte Ralph
07969 882797
cl.ralph@live.co.uk
SAILING
Alaster Gray
01480 461141
alasterlesleygray@hotmail.com
TENNIS (Men’s)
James Hodges
07715286475
jameshodges93@ymail.com
TENNIS (Ladies)
Helen Hopperton
01480 862223
alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
Old Kimboltonians’ Association
01480 862223
‘Old Kimboltonians’ Association’ group
Follow @OldKimboltonian
Cover Photo: Courtesy of Alison Ainsworth
The OKA is always keen to hear from Old Kimboltonians, former parents and friends of the School. Please do stay in touch and share your news, stories and reminiscences with us. Submit content for future editions of the OK News or nominate someone to receive a copy by contacting us:
OKA Office, Kimbolton School Kimbolton, Huntingdon Cambridgeshire. PE28 0EA Tel: 01480 862223 Email: alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
www.oks.co.uk
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT’S NOTES Adrian Petty reflects on activities within the OKA over the last year.
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A WORD FROM THE HEADMASTER Jonathan Belbin updates OKs on recent events in Kimbolton School.
OKA SHOP 6
Purchasing OK Merchandise
OKA EVENTS
SCHOOL NEWS A summary of the School’s performance and activities, including staff departures.
CONTENTS
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2015 Events 32 OK Gatherings 36
Queen Katharine Building 10
2016 Reunions
37
2016 Dates for your Diary
38
OKA UPDATE New Old Kimboltonians 12 Keeping In Touch 14 Lending Support 15 OKA Sponsorship 18 OKA Accounts 22 OK Lodge 23
OKA SPORT A round-up of OK sports fixtures in 2015
39
NEWS OF OKS News from individual OKs
45
OK Announcements 50 In Memoriam 51
OKA ARTICLES Memories... Ski trips 24
School at war time
26
1966 Pageant 28
Cricket Records
30
www.oks.co.uk
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PRESIDENT’S NOTES
Notes from the
OKA PRESIDENT Dear Old Kimboltonian, As a New Year dawns, it is a time for reflection: both looking back over the previous year and forward to the future. This is very much how I approach the annual task of writing my letter for ‘OK News’ in January each year. This year it has caused me to pause just for a little longer than usual, reflecting over my time as President of the Old Kimboltonians, as this is my sixth and final letter to you. 2015 was another good year for your Association. The London Dinner took place at the National Liberal Club in February, returning to its more usual timing in the Spring. In April once again the annual School’s Careers’ Fair was held in the Sports Hall and a number of OKs returned to the school and shared career advice with the current students. The Summer Reunion was very successful, with large numbers of Old Kimboltonians returning during the day. There were year group reunions for 1985, 1990, 1995, 2005 and 2010 leavers, many of whom stayed on for the Ball in the evening or carried on their year group reunions in other venues. The usual sporting fixtures took place and the hog roast, beer tent and the bouncy castle were as well used as ever. The OK Ball was another outstanding success and, once again, we extended into the Green Room in order to accommodate all those attending the dinner. The Ball has very much become the event where younger OKs (those of the last 20 years or so) tend to have their significant anniversary reunions, so I would encourage you to think, as you approach one of those milestones, about getting a group together to come to the Ball. OK sports teams competed against the school in fixtures during the year and reports of the matches appear elsewhere in this magazine. The biggest disappointment of last year was that, owing to a lack of numbers, the Annual Dinner had to be cancelled. As a result of the demands of the school calendar, the dinner had to be moved from October to November and from the apologies that we received there were just too many other things on that evening. This was disappointing following the excellent attendances in 2013 and 2014, but we look forward to its return later this year. However, it was good to see a good representation of OKs at the Remembrance Parade in Kimbolton on the Sunday after the planned Annual Dinner date. We are always looking for different opportunities to get OKs together and the new event which joined the OKA calendar this last year was an informal drinks gathering at The Old Tea Warehouse in London in late September. Having invited OKs 4
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who live and work in and around London, to join the OKA for a drink after work, a good number met up for an enjoyable evening in a welcoming venue. The event was a great success and will be repeated later this year. The OKA website, www.oks.co.uk, is where you will find details of all our events and photographs from previous OKA events. Many informal gatherings of OKs take place throughout the year and if you are interested in getting OKs together, please do get in touch with Helen Hopperton in the Alumni Office who can help you locate other OKs in your area. I do encourage you to look at our calendar of events for the coming year and I hope that you will decide to attend one of them. I certainly look forward to meeting many of you. Last year I was sorry to report the deaths of three long serving former members of staff and this year I am saddened to record the passing of Geoff Coles in March 2015. Geoff was on the staff from 1958 until his retirement in 1994. For well over 30 years, he was also Treasurer of the OKA and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is largely thanks to the work of Geoff and his “old mate” Ken Laflin over a considerable period that we have the Association that we have today. Geoff’s impact on generations of Kimboltonians, as well as on the Kimbolton community as a whole, is legendary and the numbers attending his funeral in Kimbolton Parish Church was a testament to that – there was standing room only half an hour before the service began and during the service several
PRESIDENT’S NOTES
affectionate tributes were paid by former colleagues and students. I was fortunate enough to be taught by Geoff for three of the years that I was at the school and, whilst he ensured that I achieved a good GCSE grade in Geography, I also learned a great deal from him about what it is to be a teacher. It was no surprise that we received so many enquiries about marking Geoff’s memory and, as many of you will know from the letter that I sent to OKs last Autumn, the Geoff Coles Memorial Trust Fund has been set up to support the work of the Scholarship Trust Fund. As every year, but particularly in my final year, I would like to record my thanks to those who make your Association the successful one that it is today. I would like to thank Helen Hopperton for all her work in the Alumni Office, the members of the OK committee for their commitment and the team who manage the Scholarship Trust Fund. As always, I would also like to thank the Headmaster as well as both his immediate predecessors, Roger Peel and David Donaldson, for their support of the OKA.
In May each year since I have been President, I have been invited into the school to speak to the Upper Sixth about becoming an Old Kimboltonian and I am always impressed by the enthusiasm of the students on the cusp of their university careers who have come to the end of their time at the school – increasingly many who have been at Kimbolton for no less than 15 years. As I think across those generations, I am reminded of the wisdom and philosophy of Geoff Coles speaking in 1994: “Youngsters are youngsters, and they all make the same mistakes. They’ve all got to learn to grow up, and I’d say that Kimboltonians now are just as super as they used to be – just give them a chance, respect them and try to remember that you were young once yourself.” Spes durat avorum. With best wishes,
It is a quarter of a century this year since my year group left Kimbolton School and I look forward to marking that anniversary at the Summer Reunion. In that time since we left a great deal has changed, but there is still so much in terms of values and traditions that have remained the same.
From the EDITOR
I
hope that you enjoy reading the 2016 edition of the OK News! Thank you to everyone who has sent in their news and contributed to articles. It is no easy feat tracking down news and finding out what OKs are up to, so all contributions are gratefully received! I know that a lot of you will have news to share over the next few months and look forward to hearing about it as I collate information for the 2017 OK News! The OKA Committee are always seeking more help and if anyone feels they can usefully contribute, either by being on the committee or helping out in support of the committee, please do let me know. We are particularly keen to find OKs who could become year group reps for their leaving year. As a year group rep you would act as the communications co-ordinator for your leaving year and help get people together for reunions and events. Please get in touch if you can help. As before I have captioned as many photographs as possible, but apologies to those I have omitted or been unable to name... or may have misrepresented!
Your Data... Just a reminder that your personal data held by the OKA will be used and held in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, and will be used by the OKA and Kimbolton School only. From time to time, however, your name and contact details may be passed to an individual member of the OKA for the purposes of organising a specific OK reunion or event. If you do not want your information to be passed on for this purpose, please advise Helen Hopperton in writing.
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A word from the Headmaster
A word from the Headmaster Dear OK, The new school year coincided with the opening of the Queen Katharine Building and refurbished Donaldson, completed on time and on budget – at £10.3 million, no snip. Thus the single storey Spinney, the demise of which was reported (and pictured) in last year’s OK News, has been replaced by a two-floored state-of-the-art structure, attached by a first floor walkway, to the existing Queen Katharine Building (completed in 2008). The entrance to the Donaldson is now via (electric) doors which open onto a plaza at the nexus of the two QKBs. All exciting stuff, and ready for OKs to see for themselves at the coming Summer Reunion. Whilst externally impressive, it is the internal aspects which have predominantly piqued pupils’ interest. Each room/laboratory is named after a famous proponent of that subject. If you pass your iPad (which every pupil outside the Upper 6th now has) over the photograph of the said individual, he/ she comes to life on the iPad and either
talks to you or, in the case of the longsince expired, a video appears of, say, Sir Isaac Newton’s greatest achievements. All very much high-tech, in keeping with the building itself. There’s an OK component too. The builtin aquarium in the Biology sector, has been named the ‘Harry Allan Aquarium’ courtesy of a very generous bequest via Harry’s two children. Harry Allan (OK 37) died in 2013 and left a sum to be used as the School saw fit. As it transpired, Harry had been an avid collector of tropical fish, before this was subsumed by his lifetime interest (and career) in philately, and so the die was cast. The loss of Geoff Coles after a lengthy illness, bravely borne with typical fortitude, had a profound impact on the OK community. The outpouring of warmth at Geoff’s funeral spoke volumes for the impact Geoff made on the fabric of Kimbolton School, an impact which continued after his retirement, back in the last century, right up to his death. A true great, Geoff always provided strong support to me personally, not least in his
Official Opening of the new wing of the QKB
infectious enthusiasm and willingness to embrace the future, welcoming change. It is fitting, therefore, that the ‘Geoff Coles Room’ should sit proudly in the centre of the Queen Katharine Building, roughly above where he used to teach Geography. As the School Meeting Room, it will be utilised by a large number of groups, not least the OK Committee three times a year. “We will not see his like again” is an oft-used phrase on the loss of a stalwart. In Geoff’s case, it’s absolutely true. There has been more to Kimbolton School over the past twelve months than just building projects of course. Our A-Level and GCSE results could lay a strong claim to being the best ever. Certainly we have never before achieved such high percentages of A* grades at either A-Level or GCSE, and the A*/A rating (almost 50% at A-Level and twothirds at GCSE) helped us to our highest ever position in those wretched League Tables. Not that we look at them of course. Our move to a ‘Digital School’ has
L-R: Charles Paull (Chairman of Governors), Lucy Napier (Head Girl), Professor Dame Ann Dowling DBE FREng FRS, Jonathan Belbin
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SCHOOL NEWS
proved relatively seamless. As mentioned, the iPad has superseded a number of textbooks and it means that pupils have access to the internet in every minute of every lesson – should this be required. No pupil ‘forgets’ a Prep anymore, because it is invariably emailed to them and can be accessed on the iTunes-U course which every subject populates and follows. That doesn’t mean that the humble pen and paper have been put out to grass. Ultimately, most public examinations are written, not typed, and this is likely to pertain for the foreseeable future (on cost grounds as much as anything). Pupils in the first three years of the Senior School now have Digital Learning lessons (ICT being redundant as a curriculum subject), facilitated by a suite of macs. Macs are also the preferred hardware in the Music and Art departments. We are all hopeful that the return to linear A-Levels, which began in September 2015 and will be complete by September 2018, will give us back our Lower 6th. The end of modularity sees a return to the pre-2000 situation: three ‘A’ Levels studied over two years with all examinations sat in the Summer of the Upper 6th (‘linearity’). For those of you over the age of 33, plus ça change. This provides an opportunity to re-energise 6th Form extra-curricular life, now that pupils can step off the ‘another term, another exams’ treadmill. Midsummer Shakespeare in the Courtyard, cricket matches minus revision whilst your team are batting, engagement in creative writing for its own enjoyment; we hope there will be something for all. The advent of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) has already enhanced learning in the 6th Form. Worth half an A-Level, this is a project dreamt up by the pupil him or
herself, focusing on an area they (probably) intend following in Higher Education: potential medics look at something medical, engineers at bridges, computer scientists build their own 1970s computer (yes, an Upper 6th former really did this, and achieved an A*) and so on. The breathing space afforded by linearity should have positive offshoots in myriad directions. The past year has seen many successes, both individually and collectively, in the wider life of the School. Unbeaten seasons in the sporting firmament, even more fixtures (competition is rife for a place in the girls’ hockey 5th XI), an excellent Jesus Christ Superstar in the Spring, with a welcome return of Shakespeare scheduled for this year – a full-scale production of ‘Macbeth’, and music aplenty (our Chamber Choir frequently sing at Evensong around the county); examples could go on but I have already beaten the record for longest sentence. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the coming year. The London drinks in late September proved stronger on quality than quantity, but it was a positive start to a new initiative. Pick a Central London pub (or it could be Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds etc), order some buffet food and have your first pint on the OK Association. What’s not to like? To those in the Old Tea Warehouse, Aldgate, that evening, thank you for your company. For a usually ‘deskbound’ Headmaster, it doesn’t get any more exciting than an evening soaking up the bright lights of London over a pint or two! Jonathan Belbin
Planning a special event? Why not look at Kimbolton Castle as your venue?
As you know, Kimbolton Castle is the perfect venue to hold a special event. The team at Kimbolton are highly experienced in hosting a wide variety of celebrations and functions including: • • • • • •
Wedding Ceremonies Wedding Receptions Formal Balls Formal and Informal Dinners Family Celebrations Celebratory Afternoon Teas
Our orofessional caterers offer a wide selection of menus and an extensive wine list. For further information please contact: Lesley Parker on 01480 862227.
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SCHOOL NEWS
In Brief...
School NEWS K
imbolton has had another busy year in all aspects of school life.
With numbers in the whole school standing at 969, pupils were involved in numerous activites and achievements, onsite and off-site. Perhaps the biggest news however is the completion of the new wing of the Queen Katharine Building as mentioned by the Headmaster on the preceding pages more on this on pages 10 & 11...
Prep School Activities and successes in the Prep School are not overshadowed by those in the Senior School. Last year saw pupils representing the School in the National Prep Schools’ Athletics Championships, and pupils competing in the IAPS National Triathlon Championships and walking away with 1st and 2nd place. Away from the sporting arena and in addition to the normal academic curriculum requirements, pupils were busily involved in field trips, productions of the Gingerbread Man (Lower Prep) and The Keymaster (Year 6 end of year finale!), weekends away to Bowles and Caythorpe activity centres, a ski trip to Italy, regional chess competitions and... the list goes on! Great opportunities exist all round for all the 4 to 11 year olds at Kimbolton.
seven pupils, over a quarter of the year group, gained at least 3 A*/As. Eight Sixth Form students took part in the British Biology Olympiad and gained excellent results. Madeleine Kluth’s performance placed her in the top 3.5% of students nationally. James Ellison and Leo Penrose were among 6,000 students to enter the International Chemistry Olympiad and were both awarded Gold certificates - the first time Kimbolton students have achieved two gold grades in one year. On the sporting front, 1st Former, Owen Brownston, won gold in the 1500m at the National Prep Schools’ Athletics Championships. Rower Kate Lyster (5th Form) also won gold at Henley in the National Regatta (Under 16 coxless quad category). Both Kate and 3rd former Freya Dingwall are in the GB Rowing Development squad. Josh Smith (4th Form) was selected for the London & East Regional Cricket side last summer. Life in the CCF was busy and the School won the national Air Squadron Trophy Competition in 2015. The winning team were presented with their trophy during a visit to the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden (see below).
Chemistry in Lower Prep Science Week
Senior School Senior School pupils were equally busy. The 2015 GCSE grades were almost the school’s best ever with a third of all grades awarded at A* and almost two thirds A* or A. A level results were also strong, with 46% at A* or A. Twenty
There are plenty more successes and activities to write about, but little room! You can keep up to date with what is happening at the school by reading the news items on the school website, or following / liking the school on social media - the links are below.
www.kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk Kimbolton School
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@KimboltonSchool
In Brief...
SCHOOL NEWS
STAFF DEPARTURES Ben Goakes
Tom Webster
As a teacher and an Old Kimboltonian, Ben had spent over half his life at Kimbolton School before he moved on in July to Streatham and Clapham High School to head-up its D of E Scheme. He was not only DT teacher, but also Head of Sailing and the CCF Naval Section. He was also Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager and his involvement in these significant areas of school life will undoubtedly be missed.
Tom, Head of Outdoor Pursuits, has moved down to the south coast where he now works with a watersports company. Like Ben Goakes, Tom is an OK and he still holds the Kimbolton pupil record time for the Devizes to Westminster canoe marathon. For 9 years, he has endeavoured to help over ninety Kimboltonians beat that record, all to no avail. Tom was integral in helping George Beverly (OK 08) ensure that canoeing was put on the OKA sports calendar; the OKA have retained the winners cup since the first race in 2011. He spent 18 years at Kimbolton (as a pupil and member of staff!), and sums it up nicely as simply “a fantastic place to be” where each individual is accepted and everyone is allowed to be who they are.
Ben has been an active member of the OKA Committee for several years; his help and support in setting up and ensuring the smooth running of the bar for the OKA Summer Ball each year has been second to none. Despite moving out of the area, Ben remains on the Committee and we are hoping that he will continue to be a regular at many OKA events.
Richard Wells After 12 years at Headmaster at the Prep School (and 36 years in the education profession), Richard Wells took early retirement at the end of the summer term. Richard had overseen many significant developments at the Prep and his legacy can be seen in the quality of the buildings and contented pupils he left behind. His replacement, Phil Foley, joined in September 2015.
Pat Binham
Judith Hart
Pat retired from the Prep School at the end of the 2015 Autumn term after a 20 year career at the School. For the last 12 years she has held the senior role of Lower Prep Co-Ordinator while also carrying out her role as Year 2 teacher. One of the long-term figureheads in the Prep School, she will be sorely missed, as will her flair for dressing-up in costume on thematic days!
Amidst the number of staff departures in 2014 we omitted to include Judith Hart who retired at the end of the 2014 Summer term. Judith had been Games teacher at at Kimbolton for some 20 years and will be fondly remembered by many of the girls she taught, in particular those she coached in the 1st and 2nd hockey, netball and tennis teams. She is pictured below with the hockey team when on the sports tour to Malaysia in 2013.
Pat is pictured below (middle row, third from right) with students from the 2013 year group who were the first pupils to start in Reception and go right through to the Upper Sixth.
The school also said goodbye Abi Bruce and Edd Hodgson (OK 09) who moved onto the next stage of their teaching careers, and French Assistante, Chloé Jeanpierre, who returned to France. www.oks.co.uk
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SCHOOL NEWS
New QKB
Introducing the new wing of the Queen Katharine Building
I
n the 2014 OK News we introduced the plans of the largest development on the school site in recent years - the building of the new wing of the Queen Katharine Building (QKB). By September 2015 the project was complete (just about!) and pupils started the new academic year with a brand new building housing 12 large specialist science classrooms, 5 maths classrooms and a Digital Learning Mac Suite at their fingertips.
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In Brief...
SCHOOL NEWS
The project started with the demolition of the old Spinney Block in July 2014. Despite some early teething problems - asbestos issues, ruptured gas mains, unreliable sub-contractors - just 15 months later the building was ready. During the last few weeks the contractors had a team of over 150 men and women on site to ensure that the new facility was ready for use. If wasn’t just the QKB that had to be completed on time; the project also included the renovation of the Donaldson building and it took just 9 weeks for it to change from being a science building to being the new home for Geography, Food and Nutrition, Textiles, Art and Academic Support.
Before...
After...
The Geoff Coles Room We are delighted that the meeting room in the new wing of the QKB has been named in memory of Geoff Coles. Many of you will know that Geoff sadly passed away in March 2015; he was a much loved and respected teacher at Kimbolton from 1958 - 1994 who made Kimbolton School and the Old Kimboltonians much of his life. [See Obituaries] The photo to the left is displayed outside the meeting room.
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OKA UPDATE New OKs
Welcome to the Old Kimboltonians’ Association... Last July the OKA welcomed the 2015 year group to its membership! Their chosen university destinations and courses are listed below. Here they are on their final day wearing their original uniform!
Daniella Adesida Sophie Aldridge Grace Andrews Will Anthony Omar Badawy George Baines Owen Barnes George Barret-Hague Lucy Bateman Holly Beck James Bennett Kerry Blair Joyce Chan Jess Clyne Charlotte Crowley Thomas Cullen Joshua Daniels-Holgate
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Loughborough Architectural Engineering Liverpool Criminology & Sociology In Employment Madrid Dentistry Newcastle Biomedical Sciences Gap Year Nottingham Philosophy Manchester Ancient History Brighton Psychology Nottingham American Studies Leeds Beckett Accounting & Finance UEA Natural Science Nottingham Pharmacy Gap Year Reading Philosophy & Politics Loughborough Mechanical Engineering UCL Mathematics with Physics
George Davison Arran De SousaButterworth
RAU Cirencester Applied Farm Management Bangor Sport Science
Frasier Dibble Seb Doyle Joshua Eddon James Ellison Lydia Evans Lauren Ferdinand Jack Gallifant Joshua Gardner James Geary Bronte Giles George Gill Ella Grant Eleanor Harding Oliver Harper-Smith James Harris
Keele Accounting & Business Management Lancaster Accounting & Finance Cambridge Natural Sciences Durham Business / Management Loughborough Drama UEA Medicine UCL Medicine Gap Year Royal Holloway London Geography Kings London Philosophy Royal Veterinary College Animal Welfare & Behaviour UCL (2016) Medicine Lancaster Business Economics Loughborough Civil Engineering
New OKs
Briony Haynes
Birmingham English & History of Art
Leo Penrose
Jade Hellet
Employment
Alex Percival
Angus Higgins Matthew Hill Izzy Hilliard Pip Hogan Abigail Hooton James Howlett Sophie Hucklesby Millie Hudson Will Ingle Will James Emily Jones Laila Jones Marcus Kenmir Madeleine Kluth Zach Lancaster-Adlam Beth Lee Catherine Lee Finlay Lohoar-Self Claudia Lumbers Michelle Meng Joshua Morey Emily Mott Harry Mullan Hannah Murkett George Napier Henry Nicholson Lauren Owens Daniel Parekh-Hill Henry Pennial
Manchester Science Foundation Warwick Mechanical Engineering Exeter English Literature Birmingham History & Politics UEA Biomedicine Exeter Politics & International Relations Northumbria History & Politics Reading Drama & Theatre Plymouth Geology Nottingham Mechanical Engineering Oxford Brookes Primary Education East London Events Management Bristol Ancient History Cambridge Veterinary Medicine Northampton Primary Education Leeds Science Foundation Nottingham Chemistry Newcastle Architecture Harper Adams Agri-Food Marketing Imperial London Biomedical Science Exeter Geography UCL History Newcastle Economics & Mathematics Nottingham Trent (2016) Geography Oxford Brookes Real Estate Management Cardiff Computer Science Newcastle Law LSE Economics Bath Business
Harriet Poulter James Purdy Jack Rolton Reuben Ruckman Beth Ryman Athena Sargent Jason Schurek Katherine Seddon Megan Simpson Jenna Stairs Steph Stubbs Hugh Suffield James Sutton Will Tatman Joseph Taylor Ade Tejuoso Sophie Tompson Hester Tong Connie Trotman Alistair Watkinson Marcus Watkinson Megan Whittaker Bethan Williams Alice Wilson Francesca Wilson Rachel Winter Darren Wong James Wright William Yates
OKA UPDATE
Cambridge Medicine Kent War Studies Bristol English Nottingham Pharmacy Portsmouth Geological Hazards Liverpool John Moores (2016) Architecture Leeds History & Politics Exeter Politics Reading Management / Business Leeds History Newcastle Marketing Leicester Medicine Gap Year Coventry Automotive Engineering Exeter Ancient History Nottingham Politics Derby Product Design Essex Law & Politics Exeter Psychology Leeds Food Science Manchester Theology UEA Pharmacy Exeter History Newcastle Marketing UEA English & Drama Southampton Sociology with Anthropology Exeter English University of the Arts, London Art Foundation Chester Biomedical Sciences Cambridge Regional College Diploma in Sports Science Liverpool Engineering Foundation www.oks.co.uk
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OKA UPDATE Keeping in touch
Keeping in touch
L
ast year’s OK News reminded you about how to access and amend your own profile by means of a Username and Password.
If you are in touch with any OKs who do not receive this magazine and news updates from us and would like to do so, please ask them to get in touch.
If you haven’t already got your login details, please email alumni@kimbolton.cambs. sch.uk. In this process you can also tell us about your interests and give information that will help us build up an accurate profile of you and ensure that you receive only relevant mailings.
A simpler way of updating your contact details (for you rather than us!) is to complete the online OK Update Form on our website (www.oks.co.uk):
On the front page of our website use the ‘OK Update Form’ link on the left hand side to access the form
We fully appreciate that the OKA isn’t necessarily at the top of your list of organisations to update when you change your contact details, but we are very much reliant on you telling us when you change your postal or email address! Up to date information saves a lot of time and expense...
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
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Lending Support
OKA UPDATE
School Careers
T
he School Careers Fair is devoted to pupils from the 4th Form to the Upper Sixth; the aim of the event is to facilitate open and informal discussions between pupils and OKs and parents who work in a variety of industry sectors and who are at different stages of their careers.
Many pupils are clear right from the start as to which sectors they want to find out more about - how best to access the industry and progress through the ranks. Others however want to keep their options open and learn about something new. One common thread running through the Careers Fair is the willingness of OKs to ‘give something back’ to the School and help pupils become more informed about making the right choice. The 2015 Fair was no exception and we were delighted to see the largest number of OKs since this event started in 2011 returning to chat to pupils.
Sarah Dawkins (OK 09)
Offering guidance on life at university and medical school and a variety of careers including marketing, veterinary physiotherapy, real estate, financial services, journalism and law, the input from OKs was invaluable. Joey Blindt (OK 14)
George Richards (OK 10) & Jonathan Wells (OK 10)
Edward Badcock (OK 11)
Francesca Collins (OK 10)
Leonie Nicks (OK 11)
CAREERS FAIR 2016 Friday 22 April We would welcome contact from OKs working in a variety of professions who are interested in attending the Careers Fair this year to talk to current pupils, particularly those in media, medicine, law, PR, finance and the charity sectors. The event is held in the evening, starting at 6pm, and refreshments are provided beforehand.
Interested in finding out more? Please contact: Alison Bates: ab@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk or Helen Hopperton: alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
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OKA UPDATE Lending Support
OKA Scholarship Trust Fund T
Any donation, however large or small, makes a real difference to the success of the Trust Fund and goes towards creating the opportunity for pupils to stay at Kimbolton who, without the support, would not be able to.
he OKA Scholarship Trust Fund exists to support two pupils through their education in the Sixth Form. As the terms of the trust only allow the interest on the fund capital to be spent, with low interest rates dominating finance markets over recent years, maintenance of the current level of award of £4,800 per annum has been at risk.
To find out more, please go to the information on our website: www.oks.co.uk / Lending Support & Donations
Fortunately, with some input from profits made at OKA events, it has not been necessary to reduce the award yet but with little sign of an increase in interest rates, the future does not look too rosy.
The Geoff Coles Memorial Trust Fund
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any Old Kimboltonians expressed a wish to have a lasting memorial to Geoff. Following various discussions and suggestions, it was decided that a memorial fund should be set up in his memory which the OKA would coordinate.
Geoff was Treasurer of the OKA for many years and a founder member of the OKA Scholarship Trust Fund, therefore it was felt wholly appropriate that the ‘Geoff Coles Memorial Trust Fund’ was set up to support the work of the current OKA Scholarship Trust Fund. He strongly believed in the work that the OKA Scholarship Trust Fund does and it is a fitting tribute to him for the new fund to be created in his memory. We have already written to those OKs who Geoff taught during his time at Kimbolton and a number of donations have started the ball rolling. However we know that there are plenty of OKs out there who still have not taken the opportunity to donate and, to help facilitate easy donations (as opposed to sending in a cheque), we have set up a Just Giving page ... So, if you have not yet made a donation to the Geoff Coles Memorial Trust Fund and you wish to do so, you can either: Complete the Donation Form opposite and return to the OKA Office, or Go to the Geoff Coles Memorial Trust Fund page on www.justgiving.com and make your donation online
Your support will be very much appreciated. Thank you
DONATE ONLINE AT
Michael Michael Capps (OK 65) OK Scholarship Trust Fund Chairman
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Geoff Coles Memorial Trust Fund
Lending Support
OKA UPDATE
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OKA UPDATE OKA Sponsorship
OKA Sponsorship
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he OKA currently has a fund allocated to financially support OKs and current Kimbolton School pupils in exceptional ventures that they are pursuing. Last year we had 5 worthy applications for sponsorship, all of whom the Sponsorship Committee awarded £250. As part of the sponsorship, the recipients agreed to report back on their venture; here are their stories...
COLIN LEE (OK 87) Completed the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in aid of Fight for Sight and MS Society I didn’t excel at school sports so when, in the 4th form, we had the option to take Wednesday afternoon cross country with Mr Brophy, I took it. This sparked an enjoyment for the simple act of running, which has served me so well ever since. Over 30 years later, one Friday evening at the beginning of the August Bank Holiday weekend, I found myself in Chamonix, France, at the start of my most challenging and exciting undertaking yet; the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). To complete the UTMB, you need to cover the hiking trail around Mont Blanc, a 105 mile circuit taking in France, Italy and Switzerland, with 10,000 meters of ascent and descent. The time limit for the race is 46 hours, and a key challenge is that most runners will have to run through two nights. Even though the UTMB is held in August, it has been affected by bad weather many times over recent years; luckily conditions were perfect this year, if a little hot at 35 degrees. After the organisers put on an entertaining build-up and start, I was one of the 2,300 nervous and excited runners making our way out of the crowded town streets, enjoying the buzz and the huge support of the spectators. The first five miles or so are relatively flat, winding through woodland to the first aid station in a town called Les Houches. Then things changed dramatically, with the first of the 11 ascents and descents. These 11 peaks have the following in common: most have large sections of 25% gradient which at times reduced many of us to walking, they have very rocky and brutal terrain, and they often force runners to take time out and have a little al-fresco nap beside the trail.
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Headtorches went on at about 9pm, and we ran through the first night. At about 3am, after 9 hours of running, I turned my ankle coming down one of the climbs. I then took it carefully, and luckily got off the mountain without further incident. Using a little schoolboy French (thanks to Mr Horricks and Mr Laflin!) I asked the fantastic medical staff at the aid station to strap my ankle up, and I was good to go. One of the many strange things that happen to me when doing this kind of event is that my brain seems to prevent rational thoughts - if it had occurred to me that I had over 30 more hours to go on my feet, I no doubt would have thrown the in towel. Previous challenges have taught me that ultra running is as much a mental test as a physical one. My tenacity kicked in and I pressed on. The list of highlights that will stay in my mind include seeing my family the next day at the aid stations, resisting a huge urge to stop at about 10pm going into the second night without sleep, managing to keep eating and drinking, and being excited when dawn broke for the second time and that a finish within the cut-off time was possible. The last climb, over the Tete aux Vents, on which many families were out for a Sunday morning hike, was perhaps mentally the hardest as it was when I really started thinking about the finish line. As we took on the last descent, through the building heat of the day we could hear the buzz of Chamonix again – a mix of cheering, car horns and cow bells. The last kilometre running through the town was very exciting, energy comes from somewhere and, after just under 42 hours, the race is all over. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the OK
Association for their generous sponsorship and support. I also feel indebted to Mr Brophy, himself an experienced marathoner, whose tuition all those years ago took me, eventually, to Mont Blanc.”
OKA Sponsorship
OKA UPDATE
I left Kimbolton School in 2012 to study English Literature at Lancaster KIRI SAUNDERS (OK 12) University and then in August 2015 Works for a school and orphanage in Honduras moved to Honduras to teach second grade in Abundant Life Christian Schools, Yamaranguila (ALCS). Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western World and has the world’s highest intentional homicide rate. ALCS is a bilingual school, offering education in both English and Spanish to allow students the opportunity to pursue further education outside Honduras. ALCS also offers a large percentage of scholarships for the poorest students in the community. One sponsored boy in my class walks 3 hours each way from the mountains to school, a thought quite humbling in our comfortable lives. I have been in Honduras for almost 3 months now and so much has happened, I have met the President of Honduras, visited El Salvador and the Caribbean coast, I’ve even adopted a puppy! Before I left for Honduras I applied to the OKA Sponsorship Committee and received £250 to spend on both the school and a local orphanage called Project Talitha Cumi (PTC). I contacted the orphanage before I left and asked for a list of things I could bring from the UK; simple things such as girls’ underwear and vitamin C tablets were requested. Once in the country I delivered the things I had bought and it was so awesome to see the girls’ faces light up at simple things such as Disney’s Frozen underwear or nail varnish. The school itself has enough supplies to function, but lacks simple things such as art resources or reading books. With the remaining money from the OKA fund I was able to buy colouring pencils for all my class, paint, aprons and put some money aside to buy a projector, which we are getting at Christmas from the USA. The £250 has stretched a long way here in Honduras and I still have some money left to buy more supplies for my class. The donation has affected a lot of children, I would personally like to thank the OKA for their generosity and I know that a lot of the PTC girls and students are thankful for what the money has provided.
TODD LEDWITH (OK 05) Ran the 2015 London Marathon in aid of Hft
I would like to express my deepest thanks to the OKA for their donation of £250 toward my London Marathon 2015 fundrasing effort. I was running for a charity called Hft who support people with learning disabilities and their families so that they may live the life that they choose. I completed the race in 3 hours 24 minutes, under my goal time of 3 hours 30 minutes and enjoyed the experience and incredible atmosphere of my first marathon. Overall we have raised approximately £2000 for this great charity. When asked to tie this event with my time at Kimbolton, my abiding memory was the suffering of the annual cross country competition and the (what seemed like) incredibly steep and ever-furrowed hill which lead to the highest point of the race.
If you are interested in hearing more about Kiri’s adventure, here’s a link to her blog: https://saundersinhonduras.wordpress.com/
It wasn’t until my final year of sixth form that I actually began to run under my own steam and as a result, came through the finish in 11th place (if I recall correctly). I remember clearly that I was not in a good way and as I haphazardly emptied my mouth of the saliva filling it, I nearly hit someone else’s running shoes. I looked up to see that they were filled by the Headmaster. I was horrified by the mistake but Mr. Belbin seemed not to mind the near miss and congratulated me on a race wellrun and I moved away to suffer in silence somewhere else. There have been a few finish-lines since but none sticks in my memory like that one
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OKA UPDATE OK Sponsorship
TIM BRAZEL (OK 14) Completed the Machu Picchu Trail in aid of Worldwide Cancer Research We arrived in the Andes after an interesting 48 hour journey (little sleep, lost luggage, lots of queues...). Day 1 was just an acclimatisation day, but with heat in excess of 30 degrees at around 3500m, we started to question whether we were fit enough to complete the trek and wonder what the following days had in store for us. However, once we reached our campsite underneath the Umantay Mountains at 3600m the pain was quickly forgotten, replaced by a sense of awe. Altitude sickness started to affect a few of us during day 2, which was arguably the hardest day. After a detour to Umantay Lake, our next campsite, Salkantaypampa, was a welcome sight. Sited on a plateau with steep-sided mountains on all sides and Mount Salkantay looming in the background, it was the most beautiful location I have ever camped at. At 4100m The stunning Umantay Lake and Mountain it was our highest and coldest site with temperatures reaching below -9 degrees during the night - the tents were frozen solid in the morning! Day 3 of the trek took us up a 3 hour steep incline to the Salkantay Pass - this was my personal high point (literally!) reaching 4630 m above sea level. This was the toughest day by far, with both the long incline and long distance covered taking their toll. Only the positive attitude and determination of the group as a whole made the day achievable. We trekked over 24km that day, finally reaching the dense Andean jungle for the evening, where a small bar offering Cusquena, the best Peruvian beer, was welcomed with a cheer!
We then crested the mountain and began the long descent down into the valley once more, past the hydroelectric plant and an enormous waterfall. This marked the start of a 12km train track walk that seemed to go on for ever, and also where our amazing chefs and porters would be leaving us. We eagerly awaited Aguas Calientes; as well as being the gateway to Machu Picchu it also heralded a hostel, bed, shower and Wi-Fi on arrival! After trying the local cuisine of guinea pig and alpaca meat, we had a very cosy night in an actual bed before we started the ascent to the lost (but now found) Incan city of Machu Picchu. After climbing too many steps to count in scorching temperatures, we couldn’t have reached the top sooner. Machu Picchu itself is stunning, bar the swarms of tourists that take the buses up and down each day, and incredibly well preserved. Having had our passports stamped during our lunch break we then had a few more hours of exploring the ruins and taking more pictures before starting the long descent back for the train to Cusco. I can safely say that these six days felt like the longest of my life, Hot, sweaty & tired, but I made it! and I would happily do it all over again (without the altitude sickness next time please!!).
“The accomplishment of reaching Machu Picchu with such an amazing group made the challenge an experience I will never forget”. I would like to thank the OKA for sponsoring me to do this challenge and help raise money for such a worthwhile cause.
The next day we walked along a jungle path, following winding rivers and crossing rivers (over very questionable bridges!). We arrived at our campsite at lunchtime, allowing an afternoon of rest. Our first night in the jungle was spent surviving a huge thunderstorm and followed by an early start - on my birthday, of all days! Pedro, our chef, had risen even earlier to bake a birthday cake, which we all had for breakfast - perhaps one of the most surreal breakfast experiences I will ever have. Day 5 was our longest day of trekking, joining up with the normal Inca Trail and other (not so hard core) trekkers. We moved above the clouds again and were rewarded with views of Machu Picchu - a small spec in the distance. 20
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Sporting our Worldwide Cancer Research kit. We collectively raised over £40,000 for the charity!
OK Sponsorship
ED WILLIAMS (OK 05) Swimming the Oceans Seven Challenge in aid of Wateraid On 24th April 2015 I swam across the Gibraltar Strait between Europe and Africa. As the sun rose at 7.28am I took to the waters of Tarifa Island off the Spanish coast and 4 hours later arrived on the shores of Punta Cires on the Moroccan coast. I swam nonstop without a wetsuit covering a total of 8.8 miles in a time of 3 hours and 51 minutes. The swim was not without its difficulties. After 1 hour my support boat informed me that I was only swimming 3.2km per hour; I had planned on swimming at 4km per hour so this news knocked my confidence as I thought I had blown my chance of success. I started to feel a lot of self doubt and after 1.5 hours was wishing I was on dry land again. Shortly afterwards this all disappeared when a flash of silver the size of a man darted under me. My heart jumped as I thought it was a shark but before I knew what was happening I was surrounded by a huge pod of dolphins. They were clicking and talking to each other which I could hear crystally clear as I swam and, for the first time in the swim, I felt truly grateful to be there and to be able to experience such an amazing phenomenon. After this experience I was 100% back on track and, despite having to tread water for 2 minutes to avoid a collision with one of the biggest ships I had seen as it’s captain refused to alter
OKA UPDATE
his course slightly, the coast of Morocco started to come into view. It felt like I was just minutes away, but I still had 3 miles to go. The Gibraltar Strait becomes quite tricky at this point as the tides sweep through and it is vital to get the timing right; I had to either sprint the remaining 4km or risk swimming a lot further and a lot longer. It was an easy decision so I went for it! An hour later I started to see the colour of the ocean start to change beneath me and I knew that I was coming out of the depths and starting to enter shallow waters. It also felt noticeably warmer. Shortly afterwards I managed to find a foot hold and stood up in elation having just swum between Europe and Africa. This swim was one of the big seven I am doing. Last year’s swim between Ireland and Scotland was less successful. I was 18 miles into the 22 miles swim and 10 minutes ahead of the world record when I had to be pulled from the water due to jellyfish poisoning. I had been stung literally hundreds of times and it was starting to affect my breathing. We still raised nearly £8,000 for Wateraid and this will be rolled over to my second attempt in August 2016. I am also booked to swim the Catalina Channel in America in 2017 as well as the Cook Strait, New Zealand, the Molokai Channel, Hawaii, and the Tsaguru Strait, Japan. Thank you to the OKA for the kind donation which was really appreciated. To find out more about my swims and read my regular updates on my expeditions please go to my website: www.edwardwilliams.org.uk.
If you are looking for sponsorship / financial support for a project similar to any of those above, you too are welcome to apply for support... The OKA has a small fund allocated to financially support Old Kimboltonians and current Kimbolton School pupils in exceptional ventures that they are pursuing. The fund is not available for the extension of educational studies and applicants must meet the following criteria: -
raising money for a worthy cause
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charity work
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pursuit of a significant personal achievement
Find out more on our website: www.oks.co.uk/Lending Support or contact the OKA Office: 01480 862223 / alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
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OKA UPDATE
OK to OK...
OKA Business Directory
O
ur ‘directory’ of businesses owned / managed by OKs is (very) gradually building! Our aim is to grow the links between OKs, creating the opportunity for other OKs to either benefit from each others services and preferential offers or simply develop points of contact in specific industries and business sectors. We have recently added businesses set up by OKs David Judd (OK 63) and Edward Williams (OK 05). David owns D & P Consultants who assist clients to establish themselves in the USA as business owners. Based in Florida, D & P Consultants guide individuals through every aspect of relocating to the USA from guidance on driving licences and applying for Social Security Numbers to creating a business plan. Edward runs a company called Elite Swimming Academy Ltd - a private swimming school operating throughout the East of England. More information on both these companies and relevant contact information can be found in the Members’ Area of the OKA website. (If you haven’t already got your login details, please contact the OKA office) If you run your own business or work for a company and are in a position to be able to offer your services or products to other OKs and/or to develop points of contact for those OKs and current pupils who are looking for career guidance and work place opportunities, please contact Helen Hopperton (alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk).
OKA ACCOUNTS Simon Page (Treasurer)
F
or the first time in several years Association has seen a slight decrease in funds with the total balance at the end of the financial year standing at just over £72,500.
Income from membership was slightly higher that last year, however this was offset by increased expenditure in two main areas - postage and donations. While the cost of the printing of the OK News magazine decreased due to economies of scale (3,500 copies were printed in 2015), the cost of distribution increased. Donations and the purchase of stock of OK merchandise accounted for the most significant increase in expenditure. Donations included the gifts purchased for departing members of long-serving staff and sponsorship monies to OKs. The cost of stock will be recouped as sales are made. A payment of £1,391 from profit made at OK events was made to the OKA Scholarship Trust Fund. As reported last year none of the OKA events are intended to be profit-making and any profit made is donated to the Scholarship Trust Fund. The OKA would like to formally thank Stephen Oliver, Finance Bursar, for his support in the administration of the OKA accounts.
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A copy of the full accounts is available on request.
OK Lodge
OKA UPDATE
Old Kimboltonians’ Masonic Lodge Lodge No 7204 By John Hitchin (OK 71), Lodge Secretary
T
he Lodge had 5 successful meetings in 2015 held in March, May, September, October and December. During the year we gained 4 new members in age ranging from 21 to 63 and one of our senior members reached the grand old age of 90 - he was presented with a bottle of champagne and, in return, he put port on the dining tables.....Arthur March had never been more popular!!! On a more sombre note the lodge was shocked and extremely saddened, as were all Old Kimboltonians, by the loss of our long time secretary Geoff Coles who was only a few months short of 50 years as a member of the Lodge. I, as secretary and a good friend of Geoff, was invited to join with other speakers at his funeral to describe this very important side of Geoff’s life. The lodge also mourned the passing of my father, John Hitchin Senior, who had been a member for 45 years. In February the Lodge held a Luncheon at which we welcomed a singer to entertain everyone after dining. The event, held in the White Hall, was attended by 120 lodge members along with their family members and guests. (It was the last occasion when we were to see Geoff at a Lodge event but he was thrilled to be there, especially when his forthcoming marriage to Di Polley was announced). At the lunch Fred Dudley, the Master of the Lodge, announced that the Lodge was to contribute £3,000 per annum for the next 3 years to the Old Kimboltonians’ Scholarship Trust Fund. The Headmaster expressed his pleasure with the donation, confirming that it would assist with keeping pupils at the school who would not normally be able to continue due to their specific circumstances. In August the Lodge held a Summer Dinner with music and fireworks. This was a complete sell out and a brilliant success. A excellent dinner was preceded by a drinks reception
and followed by a recital by 2 concert pianists who concluded with a duet. Although the audience were not ‘professional concert goers’ all were completely dazzled by their performances. The fireworks were kindly donated by Ron Lancaster and there was not a dry eye in the crowd when “GC 1930-2015” burst into light at the beginning of the display. Ron gave us a short talk on the history of Kimbolton Fireworks which, excuse the pun, was most enlightening! The concert pianists were sponsored by Stephen Kingan (1972) and he and his wife presented champagne and flowers to the performers.
On Saturday 25 June the Lodge will be holding The Summer Dinner with Music and Fireworks. There will be 4 concert pianists this time and if you’ve never seen 4 pianists jostling for control of one piano....book early!!. The proceeds from this event will assist the Lodge to maintain its annual donations to the School. In 2017 Freemasonry celebrates the 300th anniversary of the first Grand Lodge of England. This shows the ageless appeal of a fraternity that promotes the traditional virtues among its members, as well as being actively involved with charitable causes (it’s actually a great deal of fun too!). Although The Old Kimboltonians Lodge was founded in 1952, Kimbolton Castle, has Masonic connections going back to the eighteenth century when one of the Dukes of Manchester was Grand Master. As a final note there does seem to be some confusion about women and freemasonry.......the ladies can be Freemasons but obviously for the School Lodge, being founded in 1952, that wasn’t a question at the time.
Presentation of flowers and champagne to the pianists at the Summer Dinner
Our first social event in 2016 is the Sunday Lunch on 7th February, which at the time of writing was completely sold out. At this occasion the Master of the Lodge, Jeremy Allen, will announce that the already planned 3 years of donations to the Trust Fund will be extended by a further year, thus guaranteeing £12,000 to this worthy cause. It is hoped that the Lodge may be able to continue to keep this as a 3 year rolling plan for future years. Just as a footnote to the donations from the Lodge: after discussion with the OKA Committee, the Lodge will be making its donations to the Geoff Coles Memorial Trust Fund which will then pass it on for use in the OKA Scholarship Trust Fund.
Our website, www.oklodge.org (there is a link on the OKA website) will give links for anyone (including ladies!) who may be interested in being part of this amazing, and seemingly bizarre organisation, or indeed just curious! Alternatively, anyone can always get in touch with me using the information below. John Hitchin (OK 71) 07702 597 670 johnhitchin@btinternet.com
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OKA ARTICLES
Memories
Memories Ski trips and others... T
he photo published in the 2015 OK News of the Kimboltonians who went on the school ski trip in 1957 generated a sport of interest from OKs of that era. Robert Pickard (OK 59), Martin Raybould (OK 61) and Peter Howard (OK 60) all spotted themselves in the photo (Peter actually managed to name 15 out of the 17 faces in the photo!) but Roger Edwards (OK 56) was expecting to see himself after reading the title (First Ever School Ski Trip), but he was nowhere to be seen! Roger confirmed that the first ski trip was actually in 1954 - also under the leadership of Philip Burkett. They went to Wengen in Switzerland. Roger distinctly remembers taking the train up to Interlaken one day and skiing back to Wengen. On the way back, Philip Burkett was skiing across an open field when he suddenly disappeared! Apparently his skis, sinking a few inches into the soft snow, had hit the top rail of a fence which stopped them cold and Philip went face down in the snow. Fortunately he was not hurt. Roger, who wrote from sunny Alberta in Canada, remembers sharing a rooom with Justin Wood, but doesn’t recall any other names - were you there?! Neil Lanham (OK 56) also recalls going on an earlier ski trip - in 1955. Although he does not have a photograph of the ski group he does have the photograph taken for his passport. Neil writes “I am exceedingly proud of the photo. You see, plain grey was the order of the day, but times were lean with rationing, mother was a widow and it was hard for her to make ends meet. One day she came home quite
chuffed having given our friend Ted Pritchard, the St. Neots dental mechanic, the princely sum of one pound for his old demob suit. She adjusted it here and there as one did then, and whilst I protested all I could, I was told that I would be wearing it to school complete with pin stripes, turn ups, padded shoulders and lapels the size of running boards. Fortune favours the brave they say, but, I trod in fear of a tap on the shoulder at any minute from the establishment. Miraculously none came, but I still suffered at the hands of a couple of classmates who recognised what it was and I had to pay to keep the peace (I think it was a couple of copies of The Beano!). If only I had that demob suit now but more important: would I be able to get into it? Although Philip Burkett and Jim Challis kept the outward tone of the group highly respectable with their visible dog collars, the rest of the party was not quite so angelic and pranks abounded. I remember being caught out by Mick Leach and Julian Measures. We shared a room on the sixth floor and once the three of us got into the lift to go up to our room; one of them worked the controls. When we got out, chatting away we walked along the corridor, they let me go in front and into what I thought was our room. It was not our room at all, we
John Furnival (OK 57) came across some photos from when he was in the Prep School in the late 1940s. You will recognise one or two of the names from the written memories above...
Prep Football Team 1948/9 Back L-R: Unknown, Disney-Huntingdon, T Shippey, O Williams, J Furnival Front L-R: C Ingham, D Perkins, G Martin, P Todd, R Martin, J Ward (?)
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Memories
were on a different but identical floor and hurriedly backing out of someone else’s bedroom in profuse embarrassment I found that the two of them had now disappeared completely but from round the corner came the sound of muffled laughter! I came to the School as a boarder in the winter of 1946. Ingram interviewed me. He was strict, but, I can remember him joining in a tag games with the boys as he crossed the quad. Running out at the bell, one day, to watch the cricketers in the nets, Jimmy Capey and I stood next to the headmaster and another man. Ingram reached across and grabbed Jimmy’s bat to hand to this gentleman. On returning it we looked on Jimmy’s bat to find a signature Jack Hobbs. Sweets were on ration and when I became a day boy I would acquire all the sweet coupons I could to change into PX chewing gums to sell coupon free, but, at twice the price. Poor Mrs Took at the tuck shop had no chance! Hoppy Hipwell “They were happy was my main competitor, he used days which I to save all his tuck and fruit to be would not change neatly displayed in a portable box which he would discreetly take if I could.” round selling raffle tickets for the contents. That is until one day when he entered the old five shell classroom displaying his wares and selling his tickets, having failed to notice that the master Wip Jones was standing behind the door; Hoppy’s goods got disposed of in
OKA Articles
a manner not to his satisfaction. My last sports day coincided with Derby Day so Mick Leach and I decided to run a book. The situation was ideal because the whole school was out sitting on benches which enabled us to quietly travel around everyone offering our odds and taking bets. We laid far more than we ever should, but, have no fear Charlie Smirk rode Tulyer to a brilliant victory at 8-1 and guess what? Not a single punter had backed it! Things like that seem to stick in the mind – particularly the counting and sharing of the proceeds going home on the school bus! I think that this entrepreneurial spirit stood me in good stead for although there will be no record at the school of any scholastic achievements on my behalf, by the time I was 23, via Grain & Chalk of Cambridge (now Cheffins) and The College of Estate Management, I was a qualified Chartered Surveyor and had my own business - Boardmans - which I ran as sole principal for forty years. Apart from collecting 650 Folksongs from the Suffolk oral tradition (www.oraltraditions.co.uk) in the 1960s, I am most proud of teaching myself to take a football match down in shorthand and then putting it through a computer. This led to a number of interesting adventures, amongst others, discreetly working for several international teams in providing statistical data of every touch of the ball and every change of possession. The world is different when seen factually and clear of emotion, and, this was to alter the way that I think in respect of many things.”
We have done our best to name everyone but there are a few unknown faces and question marks. Please let us know if you can fill in the gaps!
Form X - taken in the Headmaster’s Garden c 1948
Form Master was the infamous Dr Britten (Benjamin Britten’s brother) Back L-R: T Shippey, J Warth (?), I Russell, Unknown, M Enoch, R Bradley, N Lanham, Prior, J Furnival Middle: B Hopperton, D Huckle, O Williams, Disney, P Burton, D Perkins Back L-R: P Green, E Brown (?), J Capey, M Hood-Cree, T Gamblen, A Vidler (?), R Gayton
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OKA ARTICLES
Memories
Memories School at war time... T
he daughter of OK Jack Baxter got in touch with the School last November after she had spent some time with her father chatting about his memories of being at Kimbolton School. Jack was at Kimbolton from 1939-1945 and his daughter wondered if any pupils at Kimbolton would be interested in hearing his stories at school during WW2, including finding out about the teacher who was a spy..! We thought that OKs would be interested too - here is Jack’s story...
We travelled to school by chartered coach from Northampton and surrounding areas due to petrol rationing. Rationing also meant that my parents hardly ever visited me so I knew at the start of each new term, I would not see them again for about ten weeks. I remember my heart used to fail when
Kimbolton School in the 1930s/40s (now the Prep School)
we rounded the last bend and could see the steeple of the school. I had an older brother and a younger sister. My brother William (known as Bill) Hudson Baxter, was also at the school. He became a prefect, which meant a slight uniform change and he had to wear a trilby hat. When I came to Kimbolton I was put into Rectory House in the village on the High Street and shared a room with Bill and four other boys. Mandeville House was another boarding house. Built with a dormitory layout, it housed a larger number of boys. The other two were Kimbolton House and White House. Mr Gibbard, one of the senior masters, was in charge of one of them and I was relieved not to be in it as he had a reputation for being very strict. Just before I came to Kimbolton I had been living with my Grandmother in
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Southport whilst attending Preparatory School. Petrol rationing had already started and I was picked up each morning by a gas powered taxi with a huge gas cylinder on the roof. I thought this was quite exciting! Attending Kimbolton during the war years meant that many teachers who taught us were not fit enough to fight, as the fittest men had been called up. I expect this made it quite difficult for the Headteacher to find good teachers. Possibly that was why we had an English teacher who turned out to have been a spy. He was not at the school for long before this was discovered. We found out when he didn’t return at the start of a new term. An announcement was made in assembly that he had been arrested as a spy and ‘brought to justice’. He had a slight foreign accent which may have been French or even German. Our History teacher, a Welshman called Kyffin Owen, had been gassed in WW1 by the Germans. He was very well liked by the boys. The French teacher, Mr Cheney, lived next door to the church in the village. A number of the teachers were also housemasters and stayed at the various houses with the boys. Food rationing had started in 1939 and food at school was generally awful. The boys shared the dining hall with the Headmaster, William Ingram, and his family at the weekends. He punished me on one occasion. for wandering slightly out of bounds in the grounds. I was taken to see the Head who caned
me. It didn’t really hurt anyway. For breakfast on Sundays he and his family were served bacon and eggs (which were scarce) whilst we nearly always had porridge. On occasions we had sardines on bread but never bacon and eggs. If we were given bread at tea-time we had to provide our own toppings, so we nearly all brought Marmite to school at the start of each term. We had a numbered locker where we kept things like this. People also brought sweets and cakes back with them. Occasionally my mother would send my brother and I a chocolate cake to share, which was a wonderful luxury. Other parents would also send food in and on one occasion a boy called David Horrex and his brother (both also from Rectory House) received a banana each. David sliced his into ‘pennies’ and gave them out to his friends. I had one penny, enough to be very impressed by the flavour! I had last had one many years before in the 30s. I enjoyed sport at the school and was voted in as U13s cricket captain. I then went on to be captain of the U14s, 15s and 16s 1st teams. The over 16s 2nd XI were called the Colts and those selected to play for the school and given their Colours went on to be in the 1st XI. I didn’t get my team colours, as I left at 16. During my time as U13s captain the Colours weren’t doing very well so the school was very pleased on one occasion when we went to play Bedford Modern and won. Each year there was a ‘fathers’ match’ against the boys. A legendary cricketer called Jack Hobbs played for the fathers’ team each year. He was known as ‘The Master’ and played for England in 61 test matches. In a fathers’ match he once scored 94. During one innings
Memories
he hit a six and the ball went through the conservatory window of the Headmaster’s house, next to the cricket field. I am not sure quite why he came every year but the boys loved it. The school used to buy all the cricketing equipment including his Oval stamped bats from his sports shop in Fleet Street.
Jack Hobbs at Kimbolton
Another sporting activity, but one I liked a lot less, was boxing. It was taught by a local builder and was compulsory. One of the boys who was from Australia, Ozzie Edwards, was extremely good at boxing. People were really scared of him and spent a lot of time trying to get away from him. Unfortunately sooner or later he would get you anyway. A few of us tried to avoid boxing by going to the surgery, getting a sick note and being excused from boxing. The school nurse was very sympathetic to our plight. Another regular event was the weekly Sunday afternoon country walk called the Tilbrook Round, which was several miles. The Headmaster would follow in his Wolseley car to keep an eye on us. Sunday, not surprisingly, also meant the compulsory attendance of church services. I was a choir boy and so went to the Communion service in the local church as well as two services in the school. I am afraid that this excessive churchgoing put me off and I have never been a regular attender since. Space for the school services was made by folding back various doors. With the partitions taken down we also had Saturday night films. Some were propaganda films and
I particularly remember the Sinking of the Graf Spee, one of the largest German Battleships. It was hit by the Ajax and the Achilles (British ships) but then scuttled itself in Montevideo harbour. Several years after I arrived at school a murder took place in the locality. A large number of Italians who had been captured had been brought to Britain to the POW camps. There were quite a number of these camps in the Cambridgeshire area, particularly around Kimbolton. These POWs were noticeable by the distinctive shirts they wore. They usually worked for local farmers in groups of five or six, under the supervision of armed guards, and were not regarded as any sort of threat. The British able bodied farm hands had gone to fight and so farmers lacked labourers. One day we were told that one of these guards had been attacked by one of the POWs and that the guard had been decapitated. On our walks around the town, countryside and school we were made very much aware that there was a war in progress as Flying Fortress planes regularly flew overhead, landing and taking off from Kimbolton airfield. Surprisingly, considering the location of the airfield, it wasn’t targeted, so we didn’t have air raids. The servicemen we saw were mostly US rather than British, pilots and army personnel and included Clark Gable, the film star who was also stationed there. The uniforms of the American servicemen were magnificent, much smarter than the British uniforms. They wore tailored jackets with lighter coloured trousers. On one occasion I had been sent out of class, probably for talking, and was the only boy to see from the corridor window a Meteor plane (British) shoot past the science laboratory (in the then modern part of school) over the
OKA Articles
playing fields and crash into an adjoining field, just missing the school. As it nose-dived to the ground a huge plume of smoke and flames shot into the air. The class all heard it and saw the smoke and flames. One boy in the class, Peter Myers, said to the teacher, “I’m going to rescue that man, sir!” The teacher pointed out that the pilot would have died in the crash. In fact the plane was so deeply embedded in the earth that it took two weeks to dig it out, and of course the pilot would have died on impact. When I was in school there were honours boards around the Dining Room. Perhaps they are still there. As boys we spent a lot of time in this room and so I remember one particular name making an impact. There was a legendary name of someone whose last name I think was Cornwell who had been very academically successful. Regarding my own contemporaries there was a boy called Colin Row who married a film star called Shirley Eaton who was a ‘Bond girl’. Other boys I remember are Douglas A Clark and William Locksborough. William had a brother called David who was a contemporary of my own brother. I hope these reminiscences prove to be of some interest. I have really enjoyed looking back over my time at Kimbolton School. Jack Baxter
Do you remember the teacher who was a spy..? If so, please write in with your memories - we are intrigued and would love to find out more! www.oks.co.uk
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OKA ARTICLES Memories...
Memories 1966 Kimbolton Pageant I
t was 50 years ago this year when historic scenes were re-enacted and Kimbolton School presented the 1966 Pageant of Kimbolton.
The pageant was first produced in 1957 when it was seen by over 2000 people, but the 1966 production promised to be a more colourful and spectacular rendition. It didn’t disappoint! The idea of a pageant came from Headmaster Cyril Lewis who had already written a book on the history of the school. Philip Burkett, Head of the History Department, set to working on the content, spending about a year doing research into the history of the castle and town before he started working with John Stratford, Head of English, to turn his information into dramatic scenes depicting notable points in the history of Kimbolton. He chose scenes which he considered would be of interest to everyone and which would be most dramatic and effective.
Sixth Former, John Osborne, designed the posters and programmes.
Left: Scene 2 Costume Rehearsal
L-R: John, Lentell, Marshall, Meadows, Wood, Kydd, Townley, Kingan, Rowland
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Kimbolton Pageant
OKA Articles
ØØ About 350 pupils, aged 8-19, took part and many more worked behind the scenes. ØØ Highlights of the production included the funeral procession of Katharine of Aragon, the trial of Guy Fawkes, and a battle during the Civil War between Roundhead troops and the Royalist army. ØØ Large scale technical effects went into the production, including cannon-fire and horses, but the climax was perhaps the firework tank created by Rev. Ron Lancaster. ØØ More than 400 costumes were needed! With thorough research Mrs Celina Dawson (mother of Andrew (OK 70) and Simon (OK 71)), designed them all. She had a team of 20 people who helped her sew. ØØ Some of the music used was composed by Greta Tomlins, wife of Cyril Lewis. ØØ The 1966 production was seen by 3,300 people over 3 nights and reviews came from far and wide.
Head of English, John Stratford, was Pageant Master and directed the production. Here he is going through some of the actions with the young actors
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OKA ARTICLES Memories...
Memories
School Cricket
K
imbolton School hit the news headlines last summer after Stuart Broad became only the fifth Englishman to pass 300 Test wickets.
In taking his first five wickets in 19 balls against Australia at Trent Bridge, he equalled the fastest five-wicket-haul in Test history before recording his career-best figures. Reflecting on the best day of his career Broad, who went to Oakham School, said “My previous best-ever bowling was 7-12 against Kimbolton School under-15s so it was nice to get that against Australia..”! Not necessarily the best publicity for the School, but comments on Facebook confirmed that it certainly created a flurry of activity amongst those OKs who were playing for Kimbolton that day!
His performance was not, however as good as that of Jon Tassell (OK 62) who got in touch with the OKA after finding a cricket book that had been presented to him by ‘Wimp’ Jones, the Head of the Prep Department, on Speech Day in 1957. Jon writes “this prize was presented to me to commemorate the occasion when I took 8 wickets for 8 runs in an away match against Bedford School. This happened nearly 60yrs ago and I wonder if it is a record which still stands.
My School House, Wingfield, also won the House Cup on Sports Day that year, and I have a photograph of me receiving the cup from the Chief Constable of Huntingdonshire (see right). The Headmaster, Cyril Lewis is in the background. Those days were a great era for school cricket and a contemporary of mine Mike (Ox) Spencer who sadly died earlier this year, still holds the record for taking the most wickets in a season for the first eleven. Records are made to be broken so “come on you youngsters”!
Pictured left is the U13s cricket team in 1958 - most of them we believe played in the match against Bedford School in 1957 referred to above
St George’s Memorial Church Plaque In the 2014 OK News we included details of OKs who lost their lives in WW1 and are listed on a plaque in the St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres. We failed to make clear, however, that the list of names on the plaque is far from complete and since it was put there a further five names have come to light. These names are now included in the list which the Headmaster reads out on Remembrance Sunday and are as follows:
Captain W G Summers Fleet Surgeon Percival Kent Nix Marcel Richard
William Abrahams William T Ramply
We suspect that there may be others. If you can help add to the list please do let us know.
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OKA Shop
OKA Services
Old Kimboltonians’ Association
SHOP Several items in the distinctive OKA purple, black and gold are available to buy from the OKA office. We are gradually building on the range of items available - we have recently added bow ties and T-bar cufflinks! If there is anything in particular that you would like to see, please let us know (in particular, for the ladies!).
OKA Bow Ties
Silk ready tied £25
OKA Ties
Striped silk tie £15 Crested silk tie £15 OKA Cufflinks T-bar £22.50 Chain £30
HOW TO ORDER... OKA Scarf £12.50
To purchase any of the items shown, please visit www.oks.co.uk / OK Merchandise
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OKA EVENTS London Dinner 2015
Reunions and Events London Dinner Friday 27 February 2015
O
nce again the OKA London Dinner took place at the National Liberal Club in London. The Club is a central venue within easy reach of Whitehall, the West End, the City and Theatreland; it offers us pre-dinner drinks in the ornate Library, followed by dinner in our own private room and the use of their bar, which overlooks the River Thames, afterwards.
Representing great value for an evening out in central London (wines before and during the dinner are included in the ticket price!), it is great to see a wide range of OKs attending this event. At the 2015 dinner we had another good turnout and it was great to see a wide range of OKs attending from those who left the School 1951 up to 2008. The evening is very informal - there are no speeches (only perhaps a short word from the Headmaster!) and there is plenty of time before and after the Dinner to socialise. All OKs and their partners are welcome to attend - not just those working and living in and around London. We even organise a coach from Kimbolton to right outside the venue! Anyone looking to get a group together is able to take advantage of our offer of 1 free ticket for each full table booked (tables seat 8 or 10)
Jonathan Hunter (OK 80) with Liz Coles
The timing of the dinner always clashes with the printing of the OK News, so by the time you probably read this the 2016 Dinner will have taken place (on 4th March). If you are interested in coming along next year, please keep an eye on our website; alternatively get in touch with the OKA Office to confirm your interest and we will contact you when the 2017 date is confirmed and tickets go on sale. John Mayes (OK 51) with his partner, Ann
James Ormrod & Bruce White (both OK 85)
Charlotte Goodson (OK 88)
Ollie Wicks (OK 07)
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Rich Gregory & David Washbourn (both OK 80)
Charles Appleby (OK 70) & Adrian Petty (OK 91)
Summer Reunion 2015
OKA EVENTS
2015 Summer Reunion Saturday 27 June 2015
A
fter heavy rain affected the 2014 Summer Reunion, the weather was fortunately on our side last year! The day dawned bright and sunny and our sporting activities got underway without a hitch - see the OK Sports pages for reports on the various matches.
With a good number of OKs taking part in sport, the games were a natural attraction for others and throughout the day there was a general buzz of activity around the grounds as OKs spectated and wandered around the school, many with their families. However, for some reason, it seemed somewhat quieter than usual around the beer tent, and the stream of OKs looking at the memorabilia on display in the Saloon and having tea in the Green Room was not as busy as expected. We are aware that the beer tent and bouncy castle were slightly hidden and the views of the cricket from this area were reduced due to the increasing size of the trees, so we will be looking to try and re-locate to a better position next year to try and build on having a focal point for everyone attending throughout the day. It was great to see a reunion group from 1973 come along during the day; the group were joined by David Landry - the 1972/3 ESU exchange student who spent just one year at Kimbolton. David has kept in regular contact with Frank Atton; in fact they were both Best Man at each others weddings!
2016 SUMMER REUNION Saturday 2nd July Full details are published on our website. Alternatively please contact Helen Hopperton on 01480 862223 / alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
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OKA EVENTS
Summer Ball 2015
2015 Summer Ball Saturday 27 June 2015
T
he OKA Summer Ball continues to go from strength to strength and the 2015 Ball was no exception. For the second year running we extended tables into the Green Room to accommodate everyone and enable the larger year group reunions to sit together without being split up.
This year we welcomed reunion groups from 1981, 1990, 1995, 2005 and 2010. The evening started with a Drinks Reception in the Saloon (spilling out on to the Saloon steps as the evening was so warm), following by Dinner in the White Hall and Green Room. A disco followed the dinner, and after a firework display (provided by Kimbolton Fireworks) there was still plenty of time for catching up and more dancing! Thank you to those members of the OKA Committee who gave up their time to help organise the Ball and run the bar on the evening - this sort of help keeps the ticket price as low as it is! Thank you also to those OKs who were central in organising their reunion groups; they were in touch with the OKA Office at the very beginning of the year and were instrumental in getting such a good turnout for their year group. 1990 Anyone thinking of organising their own reunion to attend the Ball in 2016 take note.. start getting organised now as tickets are already selling well!
Year Group
It’s on Saturday 2nd July... to buy your tickets go to www.oks.co.uk / events.
2005 Year Group
2010 Year Group
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London Drinks 2014
OKA EVENTS
2015 London Drinks Thursday 24 September 2015
A
new event in the OKA calendar! Last year the we decided to trial a new type of event and venue and invited OKs in and around London to join the OKA for a casual drink. Our venue was The Old Tea Warehouse in Aldgate - a unique city pub which was converted in 1996 from warehouse/stores and offices originally owned by the East India Tea Company. Using a “no need to book - just turn up” approach, we had no idea of how successful the evening would be and were pleased to see a good enough number of OKs turn up to know that organising the event was worthwhile. Fredie Valletta (OK 12) was the lucky winner of a bottle of champagne in our ‘business card draw’! If you didn’t hear about this event and currently work in London, please let us know so we can ensure that you are invited to the next one which will take place sometime in 2016 - watch this space..! We are open to suggestions for other suitable venues in the City / central London or even in other cities in the UK; if you have any recommendations or even perhaps have links with a unique location that we could use, please let Helen Hopperton know.
2015 Annual Dinner
T
he 2015 Annual Dinner was scheduled to take place on the 7th November - slightly later than our usual slot in October. With the annual Kimbolton School Fireworks Display (that attracts thousands of spectators each year) on the 6th November, and the Remembrance Sunday Parade down Kimbolton High Street on the 8th November, we had hoped that many OKs would be enticed back to Kimbolton for an action packed weekend. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case and in the run up to the beginning of November it became obvious from the apologies we had received that there was just too much going on elsewhere that weekend. With regret we decided to cancel the Dinner as we simply had not sold enough tickets to make the event viable. This disappointing step was definitely a one-off and this year we will be reverting to having the Dinner in October; the date has been confirmed as Saturday 8 October - to register your interest in attending please email alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk.
“Thank you for organising another very enjoyable London Dinner. It is always good, but this one seemed better than usual!”
“I just wanted to say thank you for organising a great evening last Saturday. It was brilliant fun and great to see so many from 1990 and beyond! Very much appreciated”. www.oks.co.uk
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OKA EVENTS
OKs Gatherings
OK Gatherings We know that many of you actually meet up quite regularly, but below are details of some of the ad hoc reunions in 2015 that you told the OKA about...
“
OKA objective...
to encourage and facilitate the continuation of friendships made whilst at Kimbolton School
“
A
s well as seeing an increasing number of OKs attend our organised events, the OKA is also always pleased to hear when groups of OKs get together and organise their own reunions.
Chris Sutherland (OK 81) was busy again in 2015 getting OKs “down under” together. In June a group met in the Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe in Sydney. Harry Gillam (OK 05), just 2 weeks later, was in Kimbolton at the OKA Summer Ball at the 2005 year group reunion! In December, OKs got together in Melbourne although only a small gathering the conversation was full of yet more stories and memories of Kimbolton!
Melbourne ‘Get-Together’ L-R: Chris Durrant (87), Chris Sutherland Simon Hill (57), John Flack (60)
Sydney Reunion (81), Robert Allan (55),
Back row L-R: Mark Capps (95), Oli Bailey (98), Chris Sutherland (81), Mike Lockwood (70), David Wardle (60), Dominic Busfield (93) Front row L-R: Paul Taggart (95), Shuna Nokes (nee Newman, 88), Kiri Tagga rt (99), Harry Gillam (05)
If you live or work in Australia, keep in contact with other OKs by joining the ‘Old Kimboltonians’ Association (Australia)’ group on LinkedIn. A sub-group set up under the Old Kimboltonians’ Association group, you can find out which OKs are not as far away as you thought! If you are not a member of LinkedIn, get in touch with Chris Sutherland (chris@sutherland.net) who will keep you updated with what is going on. 36
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OKs from 1969/70 met up for a catc h-up & barbecue in September 2015 Back row L-R: Pete Whinnet, Pete Hayn es, Chris Temple, James Measures Front row L-R: Frank Kiddle, John Purse r, Tony Dawson (Mark Schweir was also present, but not pictured)
2016 Reunions
REUNIONS
2016
OKA EVENTS
C
alls were made to the OKA office before Christmas about event dates in 2016 - in particular the Summer Reunion and the Summer Ball, so we know that plans are already underway for reunions for certain year groups this summer. Those that we know about at the time of going to print are outlined below - please get in touch with the contacts below if you are interested, alternatively you can always contact the OKA office.
If you are organising a reunion that is not listed below, please let us know! We would particularly like to hear about any plans for the 1966, 1976 & 1996 year groups...
Year Group(s)
Contact(s)
Contact Details
1986
Tim Fawcett Alex Dobson
timfawce@gmail.com dobson_alex@hotmail.com
1991
Adrian Petty
adriandpetty@hotmail.com
1996
Ben Goakes Anna Guthrie-Brown (nee Collini)
ben_boakes@hotmail.com annaguthriebrown@gmail.com
2006
Alex Benson
Alexander_Benson@ajg.com
2011
Will Ford James Hodges Tash Alexander
willpnford@live.co.uk jameshodges93@ymail.com tash_alexander101@hotmail.co.uk
2017 Reunions - it’s never too early to start getting organised..!
William Horrell is well ahead and has already started to initiate contact with OKs from the 1977 year group who will be celebrating their 40 year anniversary next year. If you have not yet heard from him and are interested in coming along, please get in touch with the OKA Office.
Organising a Reunion? • Let us know if you need help planning or contacting your contemporaries • Don’t forget to tell us about the reunion, however large or small, or whenever it is, and send us your photos! E: alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk T: 01480 862223
www.oks.co.uk/OKAEvents OKA Office: 01480 862223 / alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk www.oks.co.uk
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OKA EVENTS
2016 Dates
Dates for your diary Old Kimboltonians’ Association Sports & Social Events 2016
Date and Venue
Event
Friday 4 March
OKA London Dinner: an ideal event for OKs in and around London! Why not get a group
Sunday 20 March
Netball: OKs v School 1st VII - after the OKs won in 2015 for the first time in several years, this is likely to be a closely fought match... come along to cheer the OKs on and see if we can do it again!
Sunday 20 March Astro Pitch
Men’s Hockey: OKs v School 1st XI - always an exciting & close game, this match looks set to be a good challenge as the OKs go for a fourth year without a loss.
Saturday 23 April
OKA Committee Meeting - to raise an item for discussion, please contact the OKA Office.
Tuesday 26 April
OK Golf Club Spring Meeting - meet other OK golfers at lunchtime and join them for an
Saturday 2 July School Grounds
OKA Summer Reunion - our biggest event of the year! Keep an eye on our website for full details of what’s on during the day. The usual sports activities will be played: Cricket (1st & 2nd XI), Rounders, Tennis (Men’s & Ladies), Canoeing, Year Group Football Tournament
Saturday 2 July
OKA Summer Ball - finish off a day at the Summer Reunion with a champagne reception,
National Liberal Club London SW1A, 7pm for 7.30pm
Roger Peel Sports Centre
Geoff Coles Room, QKB, 11.30am
St Neots Golf Club
State Rooms Kimbolton Castle, 7.15pm for 8.00pm
Tuesday 6 September
together and use our offer of a free ticket if you book a full table of 8? Tickets are available online or from the OKA Office.
informal game of golf. After the 18-hole game, you have the option to join everyone for Dinner.
3 course dinner and a disco in the Castle! A firework display by Kimbolton Fireworks will complete the evening. Tickets are available to purchase now via the website or by emailing alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk.
OK Golf Club Autumn Meeting - the same format as the Spring Meeting, but this time at
Hunstanton Golf Club
Hunstanton Golf Club in Norfolk.
Saturday 10 September
OKA Committee Meeting - to raise an item for discussion, please contact the OKA Office.
Saturday 8 October
OKA AGM - all OKs are welcome to attend the AGM. Drinks will be available from 6.00pm
Saturday 8 October
OKA Annual Dinner - enjoy a 3 course dinner in the White Hall with a table of your
Geoff Coles Room, QKB
Staff Common Room, 6.00pm
White Hall, Kimbolton Castle, 7pm for 7.30pm
for those attending. The agenda is available in advance by contacting the OKA Office.
contemporaries from School! Full details of the evening are yet to be confirmed. Tickets will be available from the OKA Office or our website at the beginning of September.
01480 862223
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OKA SPORT
OK SPORT
An overview of the fixtures in 2015
OK HOCKEY Team Managers: Men’s: Jack Gallifant (OK 15) - j.gallifant@uea.ac.uk Ladies’: Helen Hopperton (OK 85) - alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk With a narrow win in 2014 for the men’s team the OKs were determind to retain the trophy at the match in January 2015, but they were met by a School 1st XI who were equally determined. The OKs took an early 2-0 lead, however this didn’t affect the School team’s morale and they worked hard to keep possession. At half time the score was 2-1. During the second half it wasn’t just the excellent play that entertained the spectators! The skill level on the pitch was relatively equal and both sides created opportunities to score, but both goalies played exceptionally and the score hadn’t changed as the end of the match approached. Over zealous playing by the OKs however forced the umpire to award one yellow card and one red card! With the OKs down to 10 men in the last 15 minutes the School took advantage of this and managed to score just before the final whistle. Very unlucky for the OKs who all put in 100% effort in their play.
Thank you to Charlie May who has organised the men’s team for the last couple of years. Due to other commitments Charlie has handed over the role to Jack Gallifant (see contact details above). The Ladies met for their annual fixture in September. Although the match was held the Sunday before the start of term, the School had just completed 2 days preseason training and naturally their team showed cohesion straight away and they soon scored. Moving through the first half however, the OKs teamwork settled into place and they had equalised before half time.
2015 OK Men’s Hockey Team Back: Ross Gibson, Charles Gingell, James Belbin, Iain Butcher, James May, Gordon Harrison, Jacob Aldridge, Jack Forward Front: Oli Knell, Robert Chitty, Andrew Lane, Matt Chitty, Neil Harrison, Tim McGlashan, Charlie May, Will May
2015 OK Ladies’ Hockey Team Back: Francesca Wilson, Bethan Ryman, Millie Harris, Allie Collins, Kirsty Lucas, Stephanie Stubbs, Jess Tang, Katie Davidson-Smith Front: Charlotte Ralph, Hattie Gellatly, Mary Holyoak, Sarah Palmer, Kate Sutton
toll as towards the end of the match the OKs were looking the stronger and fitter side. The OKs equalised and were unlucky not to be able to notch up a winning goal. Final score 2-2.
The School took the lead again in the second half but perhaps their pre-season training started to take its www.oks.co.uk
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OKA SPORT
OK FOOTBALL Team Managers: George Wilson (OK 13 ) - ga.wilson@virgin.net/ 07411 101363 Simon Doyle (OK 82) - doylie64@btinternet.com (OK Veterans) Old Kimboltonians’ football has had a difficult year due to the weather, a lack of available players in the 1st XI and a dwindling number of players for the Vets. We entered teams in the Old Boys’ Cup Competitions again this season after we enjoyed relative success during our inaugural season last year. The Ist XI were given a bye in the first round of the Junior League Cup and were drawn away against Old Alleynians in the second round (the match was scheduled to be held at the time of print). Unfortunately, we often struggle to put out our best squads in the Old Boys’ Cup games; this is not necessarily due to lack of enthusiasm, but distance and timings are frequently against us. With away matches held all over the country it is difficult for OKs to commit to the time away (the OKA generously contributes towards travel expenses). Early in 2015, the Vets had their annual game against Manchester University Vets and ran out a 3-2 win. Jonathan Hunter (OK 80) thought he had drawn the game for The University side with a sizzling free kick in the last minute only for the OKs to win with the very last kick of the game thanks to Jonathan Belbin. The Vets also tested themselves against a very strong Hemingford Vets side who came to Kimbolton on an eighteen match unbeaten run. The OKs disappointingly lost 2-1 having done enough to win the game but conceded two soft goals. In between these fixtures the OKs as a group (ages 20-52) travelled to Bolton for The Generation Cup; a four way tournament between Bolton Grammar School, Huddersfield Amateurs, Manchester University and Kimbolton. The tournament was hosted by Bolton School having
been the previous years winners (in 2014 it was held at the Reebok Stadium,) where they claim to play on the oldest ground still in use in England (and hence the world). Whether it was true or not we went along with it!! Picking Huddersfield out of the hat in the semi-final we felt pretty pleased with ourselves seeing that Neil Lennon was playing centre midfield for Bolton; but things didn’t turn out as we had planned and we lost 2-1, before picking up the wooden spoon in the 3rd/4th play off against Manchester University. A great day out and we will endeavour once again in 2016 to bring the cup home. Better news came our way towards the end of 2015! In the annual game against the school in December, a strong OKs team always looked in control and comfortably beat the School 3-0 .
OK 1st XI winners agains the School!
Back: Sam Findlay, Johnny Bowers, Sam Lindley, Nick Brown, George Wilson, Oli Knell, Jason Schurek, Seb Doyle Front: Jack Kenmir, Peter Taine, James Belbin, Tom Biddle, Michael Lane, Jack Rolton
Both teams are always looking for new players but unless you contact us we may not know you are out there... For whatever reason you may not be on our radar so please get in contact via Helen Hopperton. To make it fun and hopefully successful we need a regular influx of new blood, so don’t be shy - e-mail or phone today and hopefully we will see a few new faces in the future.
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OKA SPORT
OK ROUNDERS Team Manager:
Charlotte Ralph (OK 06) - 07969 882797 / cl.ralph@live.co.uk
The OKs rounders players had another good year! Following the success of the School & OK fixture against England Rounders in 2014, the tournament was repeated this year. The timing of the match in May was unfortunately in the middle of university exams, so we struggled to get a full team together. With a couple of additional players ‘borrowed’ from the School, our team played a great game which resulted in a very respectable score against the best rounders players in England. More good news was to come... at the Summer Reunion not only were we able to field two teams, but the OKs 1st team beat the School 1st team for the first time in many years! Although only a narrow win (8.5 - 8), it was a game that everyone involved in should be proud of - especially considering the only other team to have beaten the School 1st team that term were England Rounders!. On the next pitch the OKs 2nd team had an equally close game but they were narrowly beaten. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back this year for another win!
2015 OK Rounders Players
Back: Emily Gaukrodger, Cassie Graham, Amy Peace, Lucy Head, Danni Belbin, Lottie Underwood, Natalie Belbin, Nicole Rouwenhorst, Sophie Bates, Kate Sutton Front: Harriet Sharp, Fuchsia Curry, Charlotte Ralph, Kiri Saunders, Emily Warrener, Francesca Collins, Allie Collins
OK SAILING Team Manager:
Alaster Gray (73) - 01480 461141 / alasterlesleygray@hotmail.com
Due to several OKs who usually sail being involved in a year group reunion, the OK’s sailing match was changed from the Summer Reunion day to the beginning of the Autumn Term. Although the September day proved to be mild and sunny, the winds were very, very light. Unfortunately two of our team, Ben Goakes and Andrew Lawman, had to cancel attending at the last minute so a team was made up with the help of two school members as crews. The team consisted of father and daughter partnership Mark and Abby Aldridge, Peter Saxton and light school crew and Alaster Gray and an even lighter school crew.
We managed to complete two races drifting around a short course and I am pleased to announce the OK’s won by a margin of 26 points to 16. Despite the trying conditions we really enjoyed the afternoon. Our thanks go to Vanessa Weedon-Jones for providing rescue (towing us in after racing!), and to Paul Goakes and Gordon Oscroft for race management. The OK sailing race will be run on the OKA Summer Reunion day this year (2nd July). Anyone interested in sailing should please contact Alaster Gray (see details above).
www.oks.co.uk
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OKA SPORT
OK NETBALL Team Manager:
Danni Belbin (OK 12) - danni.belbin2120@gmail.com
This year the timing of the annual fixture against the School 1st VII changed and played earlier in January as opposed to the end of term. We were therefore not at the usual disadvantage of playing a School team that had gained plenty of practice over the term! Regardless of this, we fielded a strong team, most of whom are still regular netball players, who made an impact straight away. The first half of the game was relatively equal, but during the third quarter the OKs started to take a steady lead. Excellent play by the OKs continued to extend the lead in the last quarter resulting in a final score of 25-15 - our first win for a long time!
OK 1st VII winners!
Back: Isa Telford, Sarah Dawkins, Danni Belbin, Beccy Cox, Bliss Laurence Front: Jess Gingell, Maddy Stokes, Kiri Saunders
There was enough enthusiasm amongst OKs for us to field two teams, but unfortunately lack of availability of umpires on a Sunday morning prevented two matches being played. Hopefully this was a one-off and we will see more teams out playing for the OKs in the future.
OK TENNIS Team Managers:
Men’s: James Hodges (OK 11) - jameshodges93@ymail.com Ladies’: Helen Hopperton (OK 85) - 01480 862223 / alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
OKs enjoyed a successful year on the tennis courts in 2015. In perfect playing conditions on the morning of the OKA Summer Reunion two men’s teams (3 pairs in each team) and one ladies teams (comprising 4 pairs) played the School teams. Both men’s teams got off to a good start by winning two of the sets in round one. This continued through to round three and at the end the OKs walked away with a very credible wins: 1st VI won 6 - 3 and the 2nd VI won 7 -2. On the other courts the ladies had slightly closer games but still managed to hold the school to a draw. It was good to see players from quite a wide range of year groups (1985 to 2015) playing. Knowing that there are plenty of OKs who still play tennis, James Hodges organised additional fixtures against another alumni organisations. The first one was planned for August against the Old Westminster boys on their courts in Vincent Square, London; unfortunately the typically unpredictable British weather forced the match to be cancelled a few hours before it was due to start. 42
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2015 OK Men’s Tennis Team
Back: Henry Chamberlayne, Alex Benson, Tim Brazel, Rory Beet, Rory Sullivan, Dan Hardy, James Hodges Front: Sam Horry (guest!), Toby Horry
If you enjoy tennis and would like to play for the OKs, whether on the Summer Reunion day or for other fixtures, please let either James or Helen know.
OKA SPORT
OK CRICKET Team Managers:
1st XI: Charles Gingell (OK 13) - gingell.charlie@gmail.com 2nd XI: Will Ford (OK 11) - wpnford@live.co.uk
Firstly, the OKA would like to thank George Richards (OK 10) who we saw step down as captain of the team in 2014. After several years of successfully organising some strong sides to oppose the school, George leaves a tough act to follow in the challenge to win back the trophy. However this is a challenge the OKs were well up for taking on! We fielded a young 1st XI side this year which included four 2014 leavers and a further five OK’s who have left within the past five years. We also saw the return of some consistent representatives all together resulting in a very strong opposition for the School 1st XI. The OK’s won the toss and, in a somewhat unspoken tradition, elected to bat first. Andrew Ramply (OK 88) got us off to a good start opening up with a steady 43, however his partners were struggling to stick around with wickets falling at regular intervals. Andrew was dismissed just short of his half century with the OKs on 108-4. At which point George Richards (OK 10) took over and scored a classy 54 not out. Helped by a quick fire 22 from Thomas Biddle (OK 14), this took the OKs to a respectable total of 201 all out from 46 overs. Despite being bowled out sooner than we had hoped following some good bowling from the school, the OKs took to the field remaining confident of defending their total. This confidence was short lived however with the school getting off to a flying start putting on 121 for the first wicket. Johnny Bowers (OK 14) eventually made the OKs first breakthrough and quickly went on to 2015 OK 1st XI Cricketers remove batsman number three a few overs later. Johnny Back: Andrew Ramply, Charles Gingell, James Belbin, Adam Masters, Johnny Bowers, Tom Biddle, Josh Spink finished up pick of the bowlers taking 2 wickets for 74 Front: James Hopperton, Callum Richards, George Richards, Michael Lane, Dan Wright runs off 14 overs. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to pick up any more wickets and the School chased down their target with a few overs to spare, mainly thanks to a well-crafted century from the School’s captain, Marcus Watkinson. So despite our best efforts, the Coggins Cup remains with the School for another year. Two weeks before the Summer Reunion it looked like we were going to have to cancel our 2nd XI fixture as getting a team together was proving very difficult. It all worked out in the end though as a few stalwarts rallied round and such was the enthusiasm and willingness of everyone to ensure that the game went ahead, we had two extra players - it would have been three had Mark Lowther not been involved in a car accident days before the match (he was unharmed, thankfully). The team was comprised of OKs whose year groups spanned five decades and included an OK parent who was keen to play against his son! They proved to be a very strong match against the school who, despite putting up a good effort, were just not able to score the runs to beat the OKs. Thank you to everyone involved - the team embodied the spirit of the OKA! Thank you also to Roy Butler, who despite hanging up his Team Manager’s hat a few years ago, always turns up to support the OKs. 2015 OK 2nd XI Cricketers
Back: Simon Doyle, Sami Mukhtar, Marcus Telford, James Moore, Will Taylor, Will Briggs, Charlie May Front: Will May, Peter Aylott, Peter Fielding, John Purser, Roy Butler, Adi Shukla
www.oks.co.uk
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OKA SPORT
OK RUNNING Team Manager:
Mark Klein (97) - tootinghammer@gmail.com
In 2013 Mark Klein organised an OK team to run in the Thames Hare and Hounds Alumni Race - a 5 mile race around Wimbledon Common. After coming a very creditable 10th place (out of 21 teams) it was disappointing not to be able to get a team together in 2014. In 2015 however, with plenty of forward planning, Mark had a team ready to run. Despite a few pull outs nearer the date and no shows on the day, we were still able to enter a team thanks to last minute recruitment by Mark! If you are interested in running for the OKA next year, please get in touch with Mark.
The OKs finished 13th out of 28 registered teams - a great result!
OK GOLF CLUB Team Managers: Charles Robinson (OK 76) - cjr@robinsonkimbolton.co.uk Tom Harrison (OK 68) - harrisonsatblighters@btinternet.com The OK Golf Club meets twice a year; the Spring meeting is traditionally held at St Neots Golf Club and, in recent years, the Autumn meeting has been held at Hunstanton Golf Club on the North Norfolk coast. These meetings provide an opportunity for OKs to meet informally and simply enjoy a game of golf! The OKs also compete in the Grafton Morrish Golf Competition. This is an annual tournament for former pupils of schools who are members of The Headmasters’ Conference. Teams initially play in a regional qualifier in the Spring, with the successful teams going on to the finals in September at Hunstanton and Brancaster.
Next Golf Event:
SPRING MEETING 26 April 2016
While golf is not a regular sport played at school, we know that there are plenty of OKs out there who are golfers and we invite any of you to come along to one of our meetings and play alongside other OKs. The club is open to all OKs - whatever your handicap - and we would “The club is open to welcome the opportunity to grow our membership as well as all OKs - whatever develop a competitive team that your handicap ...” is able to represent the OKA in Grafton Morrish tournament. We are not wedded to the idea of always playing at the same courses, so if you would like to arrange a game at your local club please do let us know. For further information on the OK Golf Club, please contact either Charles Robinson or Tom Harrison using the contact details above.
Find us on
Old Kimboltonians Golf
St Neots Golf Club
If you are a low handicapper and are available to play in the next Grafton Morrish Qualifier on 15th MAY - please get in touch with Charles Robinson. The competition will be at the Gog Magog Golf Club.
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NEWS OF OKS
NEWS OF OKS Catch up with OKs from around the world...
Pre - 1970 PETER WILLMER BEM, JP (OK 46) has finally retired from his involvement in public activities. As well as serving a term as President of the OKA, Peter’s many appointments included 60 years on the Great Staughton Parish Council (including 19 as Chairman), 34 years as a Magistrate, a member of the County Probation Committee for 20 years, member of the governing body of Longsands School in St Neots for 19 years, Liberal County Councillor 1961-1967, and Churchwarden for St Andrew’s Church, Great Staughton, for 38 years. In addition to the above, Peter and his wife, Jean, have been providing direct aid to The Gambia every year for 36 years. Peter continues to be a member of the OKA Committee. ROBERT E WARTH (OK 48) was walking across Zanzibar in February to celebrate his 80th birthday and to raise funds for the charity he founded, BOOKS FOR AFRICA. ROBERT ALLAN (OK 51) contacted the OKA in 2015 - the first time he had been in touch since 1951 when his father accepted a 24 hour cancellation on a ship bound for Australia and, instead of returning to school on 19 September, Robert found himself boarding that ship! Robert was amongst the new students to join Kimbolton in September 1947. He recalls that it was the first time that a private music teacher joined the staff (Mr Poulter?) and Robert was one of his first pupils. He remembers performing in the Castle Saloon soon after the school had started relocating there. Robert continued with his violin studies soon after he arrived in Melbourne, Australia. Music became his life and he recognises that it was Kimbolton School
that opened the door for him into a passion he has had since the age of ten. History has also always had a strong influence on his life and naturally his keenest period was the reign of Henry VIII. He is currently studying with the University of Third Age; his subjects are the History of Art and Mentoring your Memoirs. Robert has the school photo from November 1950 on display in his home in Melbourne; taken to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the school, the photo keeps Kimbolton very much in his focus! When Robert first got in touch with the OKA last year we put him in contact with other OKs in Australia and, with a sense of anticipation, he attended the OK Reunion in Melbourne on 10 December (see page 36). It was rewarding when Robert wrote to us again saying “I did not feel that I qualified as an OK, having only been at the school for three years. It appears I was wrong. It was a wonderful night, everyone was so warm, friendly and welcoming... I came away feeling that I had made a connection to my past and that I could legitimately lay claim to Kimbolton School being my prime seat of learning. Thank you for making this possible and thank you Kimbolton School for making me appreciate you even more than I had in the past”. JAMES DODSON (OK 56) won an Open Scholarship to the University of Nottingham (thanks to the excellent education at Kimbolton under C H Lewis!). He graduated with a BSc (First Class Honours) in Zoology, then held a MRC scholarship for post-graduate studies at Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge (member of Corpus Christi College). After a postdoctoral Research Assistantship with Dr Arthur Hughes in the Zoology Department of the University of Bristol, he gained a Lectureship in that Department and lectured there until taking early retirement in 1989. Since
then, James has worked part-time as a Guide at the Roman Baths in Bath. James still corresponds with his contemporaries - Michael Hood-Cree, Tom Robinson and Roger Edwards - and they frequently reflect on how their education at Kimbolton has contributed greatly to the satisfaction they have achieved in life! SIMON ELKS (OK 67) is now retired from his career as a veterinary surgeon and is making the most of living in West Cornwall with his wife Mary, also a retired vet. PHILIP GREENHAM (OK 68) retired 2 years ago after working offshore in the North Sea and Angola for 33 years. He lives in Ayrshire where the scenery is magnificent. Phil spends his time playing golf and he plays table tennis in the West of Scotland league. The rest of his time is spent babysitting for his 2 grandchildren which he says is great fun!
1970 - 1979 MICHAEL CLIFFORD (OK 71) started working for Lloyds Bank in High Holborn after leaving Kimbolton. From there he was fortunate to have been able to work all over the world and is currently working for the Royal Bank of Canada in New York. He spent 4 years in Hong Kong, and experienced the Far East, both in Business and playing rugby. Mike has been in the States since 1994 and is married to Margaret Mary, living at the Jersey Shore. They have two children and he is a grandfather of twin girls! He has recently reconnected with the class of ‘71 on e-mail and Facebook and looking forward to meeting them after such a long time. Reconnecting with them has brought back good memories of the school life he thoroughly enjoyed and that prepared him for the life he has been able to experience. www.oks.co.uk
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NEWS OF OKS
ANDREW GULLIVER (OK 71) took early retirement from lecturing at Grimsby College in 1997 but continues to work part time in the education field as a Quality Reviewer for Certa, an awarding organisation. He remains active in church work and has just retired after 45 years as a Deacon, and 22 years as Church Secretary of Grimsby Baptist Church. Andrew is a keen philatelist and enjoys railway industrial archaeology. PHILIP GULLIVER (OK 74) worked with his oldest brother on the family farm but his health deteriorated after a serious accident on the farm and he is now suffering from diabetes and other debilitating conditions. He lives in Helmdon, near Brackley, with his family, and is active in church life. MARTIN GREEN (OK 75) started working for BREL (British Rail Engineering) in 1988. Part of Margaret Thatcher’s first wave of privitizations, this organisation went through various owners over the next 19 years. First in 1990 was ABB, then in 1996 ABB and Daimler-Benz pooled their rail interests into a joint venture company called Adtranz. With this company Martin went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 3 years as a regional controller. In 1999 he moved to Zurich as the worldwide controller for the Propulsion Division. By this time, ABB had sold their interest to DaimlerChrysler. Martin was in Zurich until 2001 when DC sold all their rail interests to the French Canadia Company Bombardier. He moved from Zurich to Kingston in Canada as the worldwide controller for the Transit Systems Division. In 2003 he returned to Derby as Head of Finance UK for Bombardier. In 2007, after 19 years, Martin looked for other opportunities and landed a job as a Group CFO in Dubai for a Facilities Management (EMCOR) group of companies. From Dubai, in August 2010 he moved on to Oman to the Electricity Holding Company initially responsible for Strategy and Planning, and then as the Executive responsible for Finance. In 2012 he moved from Oman to Lagos, Nigeria, working as a controller for an EPC Contractor in the Oil industry supply sector. In August 2014, he has returned to the UAE, this time based in Abu Dhabi, heading the finance, IT, HR
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and commercial teams for anotehr Asset Management Company, Eltizam. SIMON EVANS (OK 78) is a Writer / Sub-Editor / Review Editor for Choice Magazine. He has been in journalism for 33 years and previously worked on the Dover Express, Mid-Sussex Times, Brighton Evening Argus and Birmingham Post before joining Choice in 2001. He is married to Sue, and they have a son who, at the time of writing in 2014, was studying Journalism at Trent University in Nottingham.
1980 - 1989 SARA DONALDSON OBE (OK 86) launched Donaldson Creative in 2015 formerly Unspun Creative, the agency creates and builds high profile events, ceremonies and campaigns. Sara has had a prestigious career to date and her projects have included London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the Invictus Games. In 2000 she was appointed OBE for services to the Millenium Celebrations. More recently, she was Executive Producer of the Opening Ceremony for the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
long walks in his ‘spare’ time, Richard achieved his target in 2015 (with a few days in hand) raising in excess of £2300! He is now planning his next challenge... KIERAN HARVEY (OK 94) opened a new guitar teaching academy in 2015. [see Announcements] KATHERINE KENNEDY (nee Allcott, OK 96) married her husband, John, in 2008. They have a 3 year old daughter, Bethan Bridget Kennedy, and live in Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire, where Katherine has achieved her life long dream of keeping her horse at home. Katherine is working as an in-house lawyer in the payments industry. DOUGLAS HALL (OK 89) is a Senior Network Engineer with Proquest LLC. He visited North Korea in 2012 and routinely visits China and the USA. [see Announcements]
1990 - 1999 VICTORIA DE KOCK (nee Gell, OK 90) moved to Bangkok in January 2015. She previously lived in Dubai where she once bumped into Simon Paddick (OK 92) in the local supermarket!
COLIN LEE (OK 87) lives in Newbury with his wife and 2 children (Adam 13 & Poppy 10). He currently works for Three in Maidenhead as a Customer Lifestyle Manager in Marketing. He enjoys ultrarunning (see feature on page 18) and would be happy to catch up with any OKs from his year!
CATHERINE MACMILLAN (nee Rich, OK 91) has recently started working as an independent inventory clerk, providing inventories and check in/out services to letting agents and private landlords in the Bristol and Bath areas. Catherine would be happy to offer a discount to any OKs who contact her on info@lets-check.co.uk.
TIM JENNESS (OK 89) now works for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope as the Deputy System Architect for Data Management. He lives in Tuscon, Arizona.
OLIVER BURBAGE-HALL (OK 94) was back in Colombia last year working on a volunteer programme with the Ministry of Education which teaches English in the struggling public school system.
RICHARD BUTLER (OK 92) set himself a marathon target of walking 2,015 miles in 2015 to raise money for Cancer Research UK. In June he reached his target so he extended it to 4,750 miles; later in the year with this revised target in sight it was extended again to 5000 miles. By walking to work and going for
TOBY HORRY (OK 94) is now Digital Marketing Director at Tesco PLC. He was previously Managing Director at Dare Digital Advertising for 9 years. PATRICK LATHAM (OK 94) was the first ever ‘official event’ cartoonist at Burghley Horse Trials in September 2015. He was on-hand during the
NEWS OF OKS
OKs GUY NEWSOM, Sam Griggs, Chris Kelley & David Childs, all from the 2009, (plus non OK Simon West) aka The Alice Band entertained the crowd attending the Kimbolton Fireworks Spectacular in November. They performed before and after the display, which was attended by over 10,000 people.
event to capture the excitement with illustrations of competitors in action, spectators and other attractions. GILES WAGSTAFF (OK 96) is Director of Ecoflo Ltd which offers bespoke commercial and domestic building services, and specialises in interior and exterior design and build. ADAM BROWN (OK 98) is on the writing team for the new cartoon series Wussywat The Clumsy Cat.
2000 - Present TOM WEBSTER (OK 01) has moved on after 8 successful years at Kimbolton School leading Outdoor Pursuits. He has re-located to Dorset and now works with Rockley Watersports. BEN WRIGHT (OK 01) and his partner received great reviews for their musical version of A Christmas Carol which ran at the Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, in December. In 2016 they have a musical version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice opening in the Autumn, and they will also be writing the Christmas show (A Pied Piper) again for the Castle Theatre. CHARLES COOKE (OK 04) went to Oxford to study History and Politics after leaving Kimbolton, and then moved to America. He works as a journalist in New York writing for the National Review and for other newspapers such as the New
York Times and Washington Times. He often appears on television - CNBC, CBS and Fox - as a political comentator. In 2015 he published a book - The Conservatarian Manifesto. KATIE GREENING (OK 04) was Producer of the Last Days of Charles I and Last Days of Mary Queen of Scots episodes of Channel 5’s new series which looked at the final moments of the lives of a variety of notorious and infamous characters in history. The programmes were broadcast in May 2015. HELEN GUILLEBAUD (nee Beverly, OK 04) is in her last few months of GP training, having worked as a doctor for over 6 years, which included some time abroad in New Zealand. [see Announcements] ASHTON CULL (OK 05) has been working in Zak Goldsmith MP’s constituency office in Richmond Park since August 2014, and is increasingly involved in his campaign for London Mayor. CHRIS ABINGTON (OK 07) combines working three days a week at the Apple Store in London (Regent Street) with using his drumming skills at motivational and other corporate events run by DrumPulse, both at home and abroad.
ALEX BOARDMAN (OK 07) went on to study Economics, Politics and History at Royal Holloway University and Hong Kong University. He is currently working for Amazon.co.uk as a Vendor Manager, helping companies sell to Amazon and grow their business across Europe. OLIVER BRIDGE (OK 07) launched his new business Cornerstone in 2014 and the business has gone from strength to strength. In June 2015 they launched a ‘crowdfunding campaign’ and racked up £630,000 in investment in just 6 days! The business - selling men’s shaving products over the web - has featured in The Daily Telegraph and Esquire. MATTHEW JORGENSEN (OK 07) backpacked up the east coast of Australia (via a short holiday in Thailand) in 2012 before settling in Melbourne for a few months working as a ParaLegal in a legal firm. He then explored further travelling the Gt Ocean Road, went to Ayres Rock and Alice Springs and back to Asia to continue his travels round Thailand and Laos. He arrived back in the UK in December 2013. Matthew worked in the Legal Department of the Nationwide Bank before heading back to Melbourne in October 2014 (via Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia). Melbourne is now his home and he holds a permanent position as an articled clerk with a firm of Solicitors, where he is hoping to obtain his Solicitor qualification. JOSH SPINK (OK 07) is studying for a Master’s degree in Rural Land Management at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester. [see Announcements] www.oks.co.uk
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NEWS OF OKS JAMES DUNMORE (OK 08) joined the cast of Made in Chelsea in April 2015. KARL JACKSON (OK 09) qualified as a nurse at the University of Nottingham. After working in Nottingham he decided that he didn’t like the big city life so accepted an offer to work in a small health service in the Falklands Islands. He returned to the UK in January 2016 after spending a year in the Falklands. BARNABY SPINK (OK 09), having passed out from RMA Sandhurst, is a Lieutenant with the Queen’s Royal Hussars at their base in Germany. TOM DEARLOVE (OK 10) graduated from the University of Bath in 2014 with a degree in Business Administration. He is now working in management consultancy for Accenture.
JULIAN CAITHNESS (OK 11) celebrated his formal commissioning as a Royal Navy Officer in July on parade at Britannia Royal Navy College after completing an intensive 30 week training course. CHRISTIAN COWAN-SANLUIS (OK 12) hit the headlines again in December 2015 when Miley Cyrus wore his designs in her Milky Milk tour. She also appeared at the World Aids Day concert wearing his pink sparkly suit. Christian’s ‘selfiehat’ also features in the 2016 Ripley’s Believe it or Not Annual. MATT GEORGE (OK 12) is finishing his Degree in Geography (BA) at Newcastle University. He plans to stay in Newcastle and take a gap year working for a church, with the view of applying for a PGCE in 2017.
JESS TANG (OK 13) is a third year law finalist at Durham University. She has accepted a training contract offer from Hogan Lovells International LLP which is due to commence in August 2017 GEORGE FURBANK (OK 15) was named as one of four players to join Northampton Saints Senior Academy for the 2015/16 rugby season. George left Kimbolton School in the 5th Form in 2013 but it looks like his name might crop up a bit in the future rugby circuit!
ws ems of ne it y n a e v t OK If you ha to the nex n e t u ib r t n to co ct us o ase conta mbs. le p , s w e N n.ca kimbolto alumni@ h.uk. sc
Congratulations to the following OKs who (we know) ran the 2015 London Marathon:
Stephan Abdallah (OK 12)
04:39:40
Delaney Brown (OK 96)
03:46:16
Alice Irwin (OK 10)
04:13:47
Todd Ledwith (OK 05)
03:24:48
Will Mackay (OK 08)
02:26:41 (wow!)
Looking for accommodation in and around Kimbolton? Go to: www.kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk / Kimbolton Castle to find a list of local B&Bs and hotels.
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NEWS OF OKS
An update on OK Ben’s bid for a place at the 2016 Olympics
B
en Saxton left Kimbolton School in 2008. In the 2012 OK News we wrote about his aim to compete for gold at the 2016 Olympics. Ben provided the OKA with an update in January on his challenge as the Olympics approach..
A New Year through Ben’s eyes…it’s all about hard work, focus and consistency! As 2016 is now well underway it seems a fun time to check in on what’s been happening and where we are heading…. 2015 ended successfully for us – that’s my sailing partner Nicola Groves and me. In late September we won the Nacra 17 European Championships in Barcelona, Spain, which was followed by a training camp in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Our trip to Rio finished off with the Copa de Brasil Regatta just before Christmas where we continued our good form to collect a Bronze Medal. The Copa de Brasil was the last major event organised in the 2016 Olympic venue before the Olympics themselves – only seven months before the start of the Olympic Games 2016. Yeah – the Olympics are coming around again…four years have passed since London, even if it doesn’t feel like it! Nic and I are currently fighting for selection for the Olympics for Team GB. Only one team can go per country for each class of boat and our recent form has been a great show of strength by us, but more importantly it shows that we are moving in the right direction. Furthermore, we are not about to relax and take it easy now – we have to push on and solidify our position. The overall goal is Olympic Gold, not just selection to represent GBR. In the very simplest of terms we need to make sure those French and Australian teams that beat us in Rio in December 2015 do not beat us again in August 2016…..but there’ll be a lot of water flowing under our hulls between now and then! So how will we make these gains over the next seven months? It’s basically quite simple… work hard, train hard, and focus on the little details. On 2nd January we flew out to Florida where we are currently training. Soon we have two regattas out here – at the end of January we have Miami World Cup Regatta, and then in mid February we have our World Championships in Clearwater. After that, it’ll be back for more training and events in Europe in the build-up to the Olympics. Whilst all that’s going on, we’ve already started 2016 with a success! The results of the 2016 Yachts & Yachting awards (voted for by the public) have just been announced and my good friend Toby Lewis and I won the ‘Racing Performance of the Year’ award for our performance at the 2015 Endeavour Trophy. This event is a ‘champion of champions’ regatta for current UK dinghy national champions, held over eight races on one weekend in October – and we won all eight of them! Nice! I’ve been on the shortlist for this award once before but it’s my first win. The award runner-up was Ben Ainslie’s BAR America’s Cup Team which is an awesome feeling and a great honour – he is pretty much the biggest name in the sailing world!! Like many, I follow the developments of the Americas Cup teams with great interest and hope BAR have a great 2016. Maybe one day I’ll be lucky enough to be part of a team like that, but not this year – hopefully this year is all about Rio! January 2016 To keep up to date with our progress see benandnicsailing.com and our Facebook page Ben and Nic Sailing - Nacra 17
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NEWS OF OKS
Announcements
ANNOUNCEMENTS OK Engagements / Marriages / Births MATT ANDERSON (OK 03) and his wife welcomed the arrival of their second son, Luke Anthony, on 18 October 2015 weighing 7lbs 11 oz. A brother for Joshua, who is 2. Captain RACHAEL ANDERSON Royal Artillery (OK 05) announced her engagement to Major Guy Lock MBE Coldstream Guards on 4 January 2016. LUKE BAILEY (OK 02) and GEORGIE (nee Parker, OK 03) celebrated the arrival of Beatrice Pearl Parker Bailey on 31 December 2015. HELEN BEVERLY (OK 04) married Dr Chris Guillebaud on 23 May 2015. OKs at the wedding were Lara Stark (nee Cooke, OK 04), Emily Themistokleous (nee Coates, OK 04), Morgan Garner (OK 04) and Emma Ashdown (nee Ivell, OK 04)
GEMMA KNOWLES (nee Hudson, OK 01) and Steve are completely besotted with their daughter, Isla-Rose, who was born on 8 October 2015 weighing 6lb 9ox. Nicola Roberts (OK 01) is her Godmother! THEA MACLEOD-HALL (nee Macleod, OK 94) and Tim welcomed Samuel Isaac Hall into the world on 21 August 2015 weighing a healthy 9lb 2oz - a brother for Freddie. NICK ORMESHER (OK 04) married Helen Stratton on 5th September 2015 at All Saints Church in St Ives. They spent their honeymoon in Kenya and Tanzania. SIMON PARTRICK (OK 94) and his wife Catherine proudly announced the arrive of George Samuel Partrick on 12 February 2015 weighing 8lb 1oz. A brother for Elizabeth.
PHILIP BEVERLY (OK 05) is engaged to be married on 13 August 2016 in Sweden where he is now living.
FRANCESCA PATEL (OK 03) married Oz Aygin on 26 September 2015 at Tofte Manor near Sharnbrook.
JAMES BROWN (OK 94) married Nicola Gray on 12 December 2015 in Guyzance Hall in Northumberland. His brother, Michael (OK 96), was Best Man, and ushers were his other brother David (OK 89) and James Hopperton (OK 94).
LEO PATEL (OK 06) married Ross Cornish on 17 July 2015 at South Farm near Royston.
GEORGINA EATON (OK 08) is engaged to Nicholas Devlin. They are getting married on 27 August 2016 and the wedding reception will be in Kimbolton Castle. NICK GOODSON (OK 92) became the proud father of a baby boy in July 2015. DAVID GREEN (OK 11) got engaged to Amy Streitmatter in March 2015.
ADRIAN PETTY (OK 91) and his wife Mary celebrated the arrival of their daughter, Isabella Charlotte, on 30 July 2015. Alastair Gray (OK 91) is a Godparent. MARK RALPH (OK 04) married Chloe James in Kimbolton Castle on 20 August 2015. JOSHUA SPINK (OK 07) got engaged to Louise Agnew in April 2015 and are planning their wedding in Norfolk in July 2016.
BEN GRIGGS (OK 10) and ANASTASIA Beskhmelnitskaya (OK 10) got married on 10 July 2015 at Waresley Church.
ROB SPINK (OK 00) and NATASHA (nee Patel, OK 01) welcomed the arrival of Benjamin (Benji) on 17 August 2015. Weighing in at 8lb 2oz he arrived with a lot less drama than his older brother Freddie!
DOUGLAS HALL (OK 91) is engaged to Sarah Caesar - a distant relative of Cyril Lewis!
ADAM STRINGER (OK 01) married Thanusha Sithirapathy in December 2015. They honeymooned in South Africa.
KIERAN HARVEY (OK 94) and Michelle celebrated the arrival of their son, Tate Michael Harvey, on 31 October 2015.
JULIAN SYMONS (OK 94) and his wife Elinor became the proud parents of Benedict Charles in the early hours of 23 February 2015.
LUCY HEAD (nee Moss OK 05) and Dom became the proud parents of Felix Alfred on 17 November 2015. EDWARD HOPPERTON (OK 87) and his wife Sarah welcomed the arrival of their son, William Edward, on 21 August 2015. AMELIA JARVIS (OK 02) married Martin Morrissey on 29 March 2015 at Tortworth Court, Wootton-U-Edge. James Allen (03) gave her away. 50
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EDWARD WILLIAMS (05) and his wife Rebecca celebrated the arrival of Jasmine in February 2015. A sister for Isabella. Many recent OKs will be delighted to learn that Head of Drama, Beth Copeland Jordan Hore, welcomed the safe arrival of baby Theodore (Teddy) in September 2015.
In Memoriam
NEWS OF OKS
DEATHS & OBITUARIES The OKA is saddened to report the deaths of the following OKs and colleagues: OSWALD JOHN BENNETT (OK 52) on 13 April 2015 ROGER BENTON (OK 66) on 28 September 2015 GEOFF COLES (former Staff) on 13 March 2015 MICHAEL DODSON (OK 52) on 14 March 2015 TONY FRENCH (former Prep Staff) on 30 October 2015 TONY GAMBLEN (OK 57) on 29 November 2015 JOHN HITCHIN (OK 46) on 23 April 2015
MATTHEW RADFORD (OK 47) on 12 May 2105 PETER RICH (OK 63) on 11 May 2015 MONICA SIMPSON (former Deputy Head’s Wife) in February 2014 MICHAEL SPENCER (OK 63) on 22 June 2015 CATHERINE STERRY (former Staff) on 14 October 2015. SYLVIA WILLS (former Staff) on 9 February 2016
GEOFF COLES (former Staff) passed away on 13 March 2015. Geoff was on the staff at Kimbolton from 1958 until his retirement in 1994. He was Head of Geography 19581994, Senior Master and Head of Sixth Form 1989-1994, Officer Commanding the CCF 1967-1989 and Housemaster of Kim House 1962-1977. He was also involved heavily in sport, music and drama. Geoff was the quintessential schoolmaster who gave his talents to all areas of school life and generations of Old Kimboltonians have good reason to be very grateful to him. Geoff’s wife, Mary, was the Sanatorium Sister from 1973-1990. Mary sadly pased away shortly after Geoff’s retirement in 1994 after a fight against cancer. Geoff went on to dedicate much of his time in his retirement to supporting and fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Care. Back in 2002, through this work he met Di Polley who he married just 10 days before he died. The number of OKs and colleagues who attended his funeral in St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton, on 26 March, showed just how much he touched people’s lives, whether as a teacher, housemaster or a friend. Tributes at his funeral were given by Simon Page (OK 82), John Hitchin (OK 71), Clive Mantle (OK 75) and Geoff’s good friend Ken Laflin (Former Staff). The following is the piece read by Clive Mantle: Geoff was at Kimbolton School for many years and he loved the school and the time spent as Housemaster of the boarding house he considered his ‘golden years’. Geoff’s daughters have written a few memories and I am sure there are many of you here today who have your own recollections too. Geoff and Mary moved into Kim House on 31st December 1961 with two young daughters (Carolyn and Liz) and a dog and that became home for the next 15 years and 2 terms. Geoff considered it an honour to have been asked to take on the House but it was not the most auspicious start as Geoff was initially sent to Coventry by the existing boarders in the house, probably not happy with the new broom. Fortunately a bout of flu changed that as Mary had to take over running the house and the boys then rallied round. He probably never looked back from that point. Through those years there were often 50 boys in the house and, after Fiona came along, one of those poor boys was selected by her as her brother for the year and then had to endure being called ‘Geoff’s son’ by all the other boys.
Geoff, as any boarder in the house will know, was an early riser and without doubt a man of routine. The day began with a pot of tea and a chocolate digestive biscuit and then he would be off waking up any miscreant boys who had been given a punishment called a ‘seven’ which meant they had to be up early doing chores to help the boarding house – polishing the front door brasses, weeding the courtyard, etc. One boy, who shall remain nameless, had so many ‘sevens’ that he ended up joining Geoff for the early morning cup of tea and biscuit. Boys from the house will remember shoe cleaning in the boot room, Radio 4’s Today programme blaring out, ‘You are missing the best part of the day’ he would say. A quick walk with the dog with clothes over his pyjamas with his good friend Ken Laflin followed by a spoonful of malt and cod liver oil, which he swore by. Not only was he responsible for getting the girls breakfast as Mary was definitely not keen on early mornings, (she was www.oks.co.uk
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In Memoriam
often seen running across the lawn to the San eating a makedo bacon sandwich) but he also had the boys in the house to get going in the mornings. Geoff and Mary endeavoured to create a family atmosphere in the house and managed this remarkably well. The house was hardly salubrious, quite cold in truth, a fair few mice (dealt with by Jim Mumford and the elkhound Nina) and hardly any electric sockets, which was always a bone of contention. Geoff’s girls would like you to know that it was the same in their part of the house too. The walls between the fifth form dorm and Fiona’s bedroom were quite thin and at night she would hear her mum and dad going round chatting and saying goodnight to the boys, and likewise they would hear Geoff reading bedtime stories and in class would sometimes ask -what did happen to Uncle Fred Bear in the story! In fact Fiona owes her life to some observant fifth form boys who could smell smoke coming from under the adjoining bedroom door. A race up stairs by Geoff found that their electric blanket had malfunctioned and the bed was on fire. In the 60s and early 70s sixth form boys in the house would be the girls’ babysitters. The girls were quite good at convincing them that we were allowed to stay up later than the boys and that glasses of corona orangeade and biscuits were allowed before bed. Geoff and Mary’s reward for the babysitters was a Vesta curry meal, with additional banana and sultanas and some CCF compo ration boiled sweets and chocolate. Juggling family life and a boarding house could be fraught at times. David Seddon’s relentless complaining about the girls practising the piano. And high moments when Fred Harrington’s beloved Sunderland won the cup and having watched it on Geoff’s TV he ran round the house shouting in celebration. In the last few years as housemaster Geoff also had to cope with Carolyn and Liz having boyfriends in the house and it was not uncommon for Fiona, bribed with David Cassidy pictures, to crawl outside along the covered way under Geoff’s study windows to smuggle love letters into the house on her sisters’ behalf. As you can imagine with so many boys it was not all rosy and there were some difficult and sad times; breaking bad news to a teenager and dealing with misbehaviour and occasionally expulsions; both Geoff and Mary tried to handle these occasions with great care. In the mid 60s the Headmaster Cyril Lewis expelled a boy for thinking he could run the school better than him and inciting a rebellion. He asked that if any other boys felt the same they should speak up and one of the boys in Kim House did so. Geoff was instructed to ask Mary to give the boy breakfast in the house and then he drove him to the train station to be sent home. The boy fell apart at the station and refused to get on the train. Geoff phoned Cyril to say that the boy wouldn’t leave and asked what to do. Cyril’s reply was to ‘put him on the next train Mr Coles’ which Geoff found very hard to do. At the start of the year Geoff would hold discussions in the front study regarding who was sharing with who, what electrical equipment the (Wills) boys had brought back with them, and sort out issues regarding linen shelves (we believe there was a request by Clive Mantle and Chris Goddard to swap theirs due to height differences!), not that any of the boys seemed to wear their own clothes anyway.
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Back in the 60s the boys in the house didn’t have access to a television so Geoff would invite some of them through to watch Match of the Day. Once there was a TV in the Common Room, watching was restricted and the boys had to come to the study door to ask for the lead – they did of course smuggle in their own lead for a while until it was discovered. Needless to say as the years went by with 3 daughters, Geoff quite often had to resort to watching football with the boys. At the end of Saturday school it was tradition for a group of teachers to have a swift half pint in the pub. Geoff followed it with a lunch cooked at home by Mary and it was always the same – mince and tatties, followed by rice pudding and there was usually a knock on the study door later in the afternoon when a boy (Jeremy Pickford was a regular) would ask if there were any rice-pudding leftovers. There are so many stories and quite a few them relate to boarders frequenting local hostelries. Two boys in the house (Paddy Larking and Dick Houchin) Geoff later found out were apparently on the darts team at the Bell (referred to as ‘bellringing’) and secretly used both Geoff and Fiona’s bikes to get there! Another time Geoff had a call from a colleague telling him that some of his sixth form boys were in the Half Moon. Instead of going there and dragging them out he phoned the pub and in his best ‘informant’ voice said ‘Oi mate, there is going to be a police raid on your pub tonight. If you have got any underage drinkers in there get them out’. Geoff then sat at his desk in Kim House study and watched them come back one by one and nod through the window to him saying ‘evening sir’ and Geoff never said a word about it. This story sums up Geoff’s style well. He understood what it was like to be young and he set boundaries but was firm, fair and trusting and he and Mary created a warm family atmosphere in the house. As David Donaldson, who sadly can’t be here today, recently wrote ‘he was the most conscientious, caring and compassionate of men’. They were extremely happy years, Geoff always said, a young family of his own and a busy boarding house with great staff there to assist amongst them Billy Best, Michael Petty and Piers Wood and lovely domestic staff helping - Mrs Read, Gladys, Daisy Dunham. It was a different era - the school had more than 250 boarders so without question life was dedicated to the school in term time and Geoff rarely left the village. As you can imagine in the holidays the house would seem so quiet but there were many staff on site and close by and Geoff and Mary made many lovely lasting friendships on the staff and in the village (and they threw great parties in the house). Geoff loved the school and the village. Without fail every time he drove back into Kimbolton he would say: ‘This looks like a nice place to live and gosh this looks a good school.’ …and he meant it.
In Memoriam
NEWS OF OKS
JOHN HITCHIN (OK 46) was born in London on 2 November 1930, but came to Stow Longa as an evacuee in the early part of the 2nd World War. He attended Kimbolton School for 6 years and followed an initial career in the RAF and Royal Fleet Air Arm before becoming a qualified pilot. Leaving the forces when marrying a local girl from Great Staughton, Georgina Day, he pursued his working life in the motor trade and in the world of sailing founding Jonti Sail Boards in the early 1980s. He and Georgina had 4 sons the eldest of which, John Hitchin Junior, attended Kimbolton School for 10 years from 1961 to 1971. John was an excellent rifle shot and only a shoulder injury prevented him from being selected for the Olympic Team in the 1960s. He became an avid fan of sailing and was Fleet Captain of the 505s at Grafham Water for many years having been one of the founding members of the Sailing Club in the mid-sixties. He was also a member of The Old Kimboltonians’ Lodge and completed some 40 years of membership shortly before he passed away on 23 April 2015. John was very proud to have been an Old Kimboltonian and whilst his passing was a great loss to his family and friends, he had attained the good age of 84 and had made his mark with 4 sons, 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. [Kindly written by his son, John Hitchin Junior (OK 71)]
Aberystwyth University where he met his future wife Mary. Peter taught at the same school in Corby, Northamptonshire, for his whole teaching career, seeing it through several changes of name and head teacher before ill heath saw him take early retirement. He had a life-long passion for education and learning, earning a further two degrees after university and introducing his great nephew to googolplex some twenty years after retirement. That retirement was a busy one allowing him to devote more time to a wide range of interests including family history, philosophy, gardening and cricket (the watching of). He had recently made contact again with former classmates at the fiftieth reunion of the class of 1963 and his family would like to thank the OKs who made the journey to Northamptonshire for the funeral. Fiercely proud of his family he is survived by Mary, two daughters and three grandchildren. [Kindly written by his daughter Catherine MacMillan (nee Rich, OK 91)]
MATTHEW RADFORD (OK 47) died on 12th May 2015. As there was no suitable grammar school within wartime daily travelling distance of the family farm at Abbotsley Matthew (known as Fred at school) became a boarder at Kimbolton. Following national service in the Royal Signals he went on to St. John’s College, Cambridge where he read Mathematics. He joined the Research Department of the Marconi Company in Chelmsford, where he pursued a distinguished career. With 20 or so patents to his name, his main interest was in antenna design. In 1987 he was awarded the GEC Nelson Gold Medal for his antenna research including a wideband long-range search radar which went into service in the Falklands conflict and remained in service on our aircraft carriers and other Royal Navy ships until recent times. He subsequently became a respected international expert in various types of radar systems taking part in many multinational studies. Matthew’s strong Christian faith and love of traditional Anglican worship were undoubtedly influenced by his formative years at Kimbolton under the headship of William Ingram. He had a fine tenor voice, sang in several choirs during his time at Cambridge and later in the Chelmsford area. He became a dedicated Reader, leading many services in local churches over some fifty years, greatly respected for his well researched sermons and his particular skill in bringing the Bible to life for his listeners. He always retained a strong affinity with the countryside and enjoyed regular walks and tending his garden throughout his retirement. He also travelled extensively, initially for work, then later for leisure with his wife.
Dr MICHAEL SPENCER (OK 63), retired GP, died peacefully at Cransley Hospice on 22 June, aged 70 years.He leaves his wife, Gill, children Rowan and Charles, and four grandchildren.
MONICA SIMPSON (wife of Peter Simpson - Deputy Head 2001-2004) died on 12 February 2015 after battling with cancer for over two years. Monica was very involved in the arts at Kimbolton and produced some very interesting drama, for example a Shakespeare night put on in the Saloon in 2002.
SYLVIA WILLS, who worked in the School Shop for many years, lost a brief, but brave battle with cancer on 9 February 2016. Sylvia only took the decision to retire from the School in October 2015 - just a few months after she celebrated her 80th birthday. All the memorials and dedications of Old Kimboltonians and former members of staff are listed on our website under Lending Support & Donations. Alternatively please call the OKA Office (01480 862223) and we will send you a leaflet detailing the memorials and their locations.
PETER RICH (OK 63) died suddenly at home on 11 May 2015, just four days before his 70th birthday. A scholarship boy from Raunds he spent most of his life in the town and indeed his childhood home. After leaving Kimbolton, Peter went to www.oks.co.uk
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Organising a reunion? A page for your notes...
Old Kimboltonians’ Association Kimbolton School Kimbolton Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE28 0EA Tel: 01480 862223 Email: alumni@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk
www.oks.co.uk