The Arch, Winter 2020

THE THEARCH ARCH OLD OLD REPTONIAN REPTONIAN NEWS NEWS

WINTER 2020 AUTUMN 2019 ISSUE 336 ISSUE 335

Officers of The Old Reptonian Society 2020 President: L Michael L Barnwell (Orchard 1957) President Emeritus: Susannah K C Fish (Abbey 1978) Vice President: Mark J Semmence (Headmaster) President Elect 2020: Rachel E Bacon (Abbey 1986) President Elect 2021: Nick R S Smith (Brook 1969) Chairman: Nick C Walford (Brook 1969) Treasurer: John S Wallis (Latham 1971) Governors’ Representative: Matthew J C Needham (Priory 1980) Chief Development and Commercial Officer: Andrew J Cook (Staff) Old Reptonian Liaison Officer: Nigel Kew (Staff) Old Reptonian Liaison Officer: Anna Parish (Staff) Old Reptonian Society Officer: Jan Cobb (Staff) Elected General Committee Members Lloyd A Evans (Orchard 2002) - Appointed 2014 Tom Poynton (School 2006) - Appointed 2014 Andrew J Churchill (Priory 1982) - Appointed 2015 Simon C Johnson (Orchard 2004) - Appointed 2016 Eleanor J Tyler (Mitre 2005) - Appointed 2016 Rachel E Bacon (Abbey 1986) - Appointed 2017 Charlotte Ashley-Stojak (Mitre 2003) - Appointed 2019 Daisy Heath-Abbott (Garden 2006) - Appointed 2019 Ex Officio Members Simon D Armstrong (Cross 1963) - Lancs. & Cheshire Anthony E Bishop (Priory 1972) - Golf Society James W Blackwell (Priory 2000) - Pilgrims David A Exley (Priory 1995 & Staff) - Fives Martin G Grayshon (Cross 1961) - Yorkshire (Interim) Charles A M Haydn-Slater (Cross 1990) - LGBTQ+ Martin L Jones (Cross 1997 & Staff) - Hockey J M Guy Levesley (Hall 1975 & Staff) - Arts Nicholas P Le Poidevin (Cross 1964) - Law Society Oliver R Pepper (Brook 1990) - Cycling Jamie R Muirhead (Cross 2009) - Tennis Club Mark R Norton (Mitre 1986) - Masonic Lodge Nicky Samra (New 2002) - Football Club Edward R U Rhodes (New 1995) - Squash Club Edward J N Sheasby (School 2012) - Music Club Edward T Sloane (Priory 1997) - Pilgrims Michael J Watson (Priory 2003) - Football Club

The Old Reptonian Society The Hall, Repton School Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH Tel. 01283 559320 Email: jcobb@repton.org.uk Editorial Team: Andrew Cook, Nigel Kew & Jan Cobb Front Cover: Winter at Repton Back Cover: The Arch in blue to support the NHS

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Welcome to The Arch President of The Society 2020, Michael Barnwell (O’57) What a strange year – as we are all too well aware. Thoughts inevitably go to those who have lost family and friends, those who have lost their businesses or find them beleaguered and those who have lost their livelihoods. There is no compensation for these trials and tribulations but I know that the whole Repton Community will be feeling for them.

What a year, too, for The School. Every admiration must be accorded to The Headmaster for his leadership and for his team who have laboured positively and innovatively to maintain as good a service as possible for the pupils. How sad for those in their final year to be robbed of the full pleasures and excitement of the climax to their school careers. I take this opportunity to wish them well as they go out into the world and welcome them, one and all, as Old Reptonians. I am confident that they will find an OR Society that has not stood still and is becoming stronger and more inclusive at every step. I hope, too, that they will maintain links with The School and continue their friendships forged at school and support the wide range of opportunities on offer to them. Chairman Nick Walford’s (B’69) 3-Year Plan for the Society has progressed well, despite the difficulties and interruptions that have occurred this year. The support and enthusiasm of the Chief Development and Commercial Officer, Andrew Cook, has ensured that the Society continues to move forward. The setting up of the LGBTQ+ branch of the Society is another step towards increasing inclusivity and I hope you will join with me in extending a warm welcome to Branch Members. Please contact Charles Haydn-Slater (C’90) via Alumnet platform (if you do not have a contact for him) for up to date information on this new branch.

Jan Cobb continues her sterling work in the OR Office but, sadly, Nigel Kew will not be seeking re-election as Secretary. He has been a stalwart for a number of years, and I am delighted that he will be one of the proposed new Liaison Officers linking The School and ORs. Welcome, too, to Anna Parish who will be joining him in this role. We owe all those who give their time so willingly a great debt of gratitude. Thank you so much.

As you well know, all events planned for the Society since March have fallen prey to the regulations governing Coronavirus control, culminating with the cancellation of the OR Dinner on 7th November. I can but hope that many events postponed from this year will be able to be held in 2021 and that members will make every effort to celebrate this by supporting them strongly next year.

Unfortunately, Anniversaries wait for no-one and have passed by without the anticipated and planned celebrations. New Anniversaries await next year. The 30th Anniversary of full co-education at Repton and the Centenary of Repton Pilgrims Cricket Club among them. Let us hope that these landmarks can be celebrated in appropriate style, along with the Summer Ball, initially planned as a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of girls starting at Repton, at the Hurlingham Club on 15th May 2021, masterminded by Daisy Heath-Abbott (G’06).

Two opportunities to attend an OR event finally arrived in mid to late September.

The London ORs had reached the final of last season’s London Old Boys Cup but sadly went down to a well-taken late goal in a close and fiercely contested match.

Denied by the post twice and the crossbar, they were out of luck despite a fine save from an opposition penalty. The replayed semi-final of the Arthur Dunn Cup followed a week later, but the Carthusians, almost certainly the strongest current Dunn side, won 3 – 0, but not before the ORs had given their supporters several moments of encouragement. Let us hope we are back to winning ways against the Marlburians in the 1st round of this year’s competition, presently scheduled for 17th October.

Exciting developments surround the re-emergence of a flourishing OR Eton Fives Club, with thanks due to long-standing enthusiast Rodney Knight (O’54), the Hings brothers and David Exley (P’95)…with active and generous support from

the Eton Fives Association. We look forward to seeing the renovation of the Fives Courts and their return to full use.

I would just like to refer to Richard Harding’s book “Repton School On This Day”. It is an amazing work of fascinating research which merits time spent looking at it. A copy is easily accessible in The Library and I would urge you all to spend a few minutes to take a look. I would wager you will go back for more! I have been fortunate enough to be guardian of the President’s copy this year and have had the time to dig deeply into the book. It has opened my eyes to many aspects of Repton, both recent and historical, some I never knew and some I was happy to be reminded of.

Michael Henderson’s foreword alone is worth a read.

It is difficult to appreciate that my year as President is already ebbing away. Whilst the excitement and privilege I felt on first being approached has not quite been met due to the unprecedented circumstances we have found ourselves in, it has been a gratifying reminder of what Repton offered, still offers and will continue to offer its alumni. So many people have helped to

make the experience memorable and satisfying, despite the almost wholesale cancellation or postponement of events.

The Chairman and Chief Development and Commercial Officer have ensured that The Society has moved forward, the OR Office has been unfailingly supportive (and patient), and many OR friends have kept up a wide variety of entertaining messages throughout lockdown.

It makes me proud to be a Reptonian and to be appreciative of The OR Society and I thank all those who have contributed to the pleasure of my year and wish every success and pleasure to those who follow. I just hope that Rachel Bacon has a wonderful year as President and is rewarded by a return to wider normality in our lives.

May all the Reptonian community be spared the ravages of Covid-19, and I hope that we will be able to look back on this extraordinary period in our history in the not-too-distant future as we return to some semblance of normality.

Chairman of The Society, Nick Walford (B’69) Covid - A catalyst for change Covid 19 has been described as an accelerator and catalyst for change. Six years in six weeks or six months, depending on your view of how fast the accelerator has been pressed down. There is no change without loss, and let me on behalf of you all say how saddened we all are for those of the Repton family who have suffered loss to their own family, their friends or their businesses.

It is hard to think of anything which has affected the whole world as much as Covid since the Second World War. This sounds like an enormous exaggeration, but I think it is probably a valid comparison.

Covid has been the catalyst for enormous innovation in business. On a personal level it provides the time and space to really reflect on what and who are important to us in life. As a society and as individuals the way we live and our value systems are being challenged in the wake of Covid and future pandemics which must surely follow. Let us hope that as the world’s leaders cope with the current virus and the realisation that more will follow this, acknowledge the implications that we face as a result of globalisation, urbanisation and climate change, and that these issues will be looked at with fresher and more urgent eyes.

Repton certainly had to respond urgently to Covid and you will have seen from Mark Semmence’s recent, upbeat-communication to us all how the School adapted superbly to the challenges faced during lockdown in the summer. Online teaching capabilities were honed in quick time. As Repton develops its international network of schools, maybe forms of blended online and live teaching in certain subjects will emerge.

We as individuals, and the OR community as a whole, have also adapted and become used to the joys of Zoom meetings. During lockdown families and ORs stayed in touch via regular Zoom calls which became increasingly less frequent as everyone realised that there was little new information to impart! Andrew Cook organised an extremely entertaining OR Sports Quiz which was won by OR footballer, cricketer and soon dad-to-be, Ricky Kniveton (S’04).

The life of the OR Society is based upon our events and activities which have sadly been restricted since March. As everyone is aware, even before Covid , the OR Society was undergoing change in how we wants to improve how we engage with more ORs, more often. We have been reviewing the structure and capability of the OR Office in Repton. Managing an alumni community nowadays requires extensive skills and expertise, not least in the digital area. Nigel Kew who has been the Secretary of the OR Society for a number of years informed me earlier this year that he is not standing for re-election at the AGM in November, as he is unable to dedicate sufficient time to the role due to his teaching and football coaching commitments. Since we began the 3-Year Plan the role of the Secretary of the OR Society has expanded, and so I fully appreciate Nigel’s decision. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nigel for his commitment and dedication to supporting the OR Society over many years. Over his time as our Secretary he has developed extremely strong relationships with many ORs. So I am delighted that he has agreed to remain in the new role of OR School Liaison Officer to ensure that the link between the Common Room and the OR Society remains strong. I am also delighted to say that Anna Parish has agreed also to take up the role of OR School Liaison Officer alongside Nigel. So, what of Jan Cobb I hear you say! Well Jan is still very much with us, albeit on reduced days so that she has more time for herself and her family, especially her grandchildren.

Therefore, I want to thank on your behalf the increasing amount of involvement with the OR Society which Andrew Cook has made since he started at Repton in September 2019. You will have seen Andrew’s increasing visibility in the running of the OR Society, not least in the producing of Repton Life. I am in regular Continued on page 4 3

Welcome to The Arch

Chairman of The Society, Nick Walford (B’69) Continued communication with Andrew and, without wishing to associate him with a recent unpleasant virus in his role as Chief Development and Commercial Officer, he is a catalyst for accelerating positive change for the OR Society! The final member of the OR Office team is our Digital Officer Harriet Boyles, who will be working weekday mornings for us and in the afternoon as a Marketing Assistant for the School’s marketing department. So we now have in place a really strong team to accelerate the development of the OR Society to where we want it to be.

You may recall one of our main objectives was to increase the integration between the School, the Foundation and The OR Society. Harriet’s role typifies this, working for both the School and the OR Society, as do the new roles of Nigel Kew and Anna Parish. Susannah Fish, a recent President of the Society and a Repton School Governor, has been invited onto the School Foundation Board, as have I, which really completes the strategic and structural integration of the School, the Foundation and OR Society.

Another key ambition for the Society is to have a detailed database of ORs. This means that we are able to communicate between ourselves, with the OR office in Repton, with the wider Repton community including the School, Sixth Form pupils and parents past and present and increasingly in the future with our international schools.

Andrew Cook undertook a review of our current system, MyRepton, which aimed to combine a customer relationship management (CRM) system with a Content Management System (CMS). After three years we have a system which in many aspects is still clunky, lacks the infrastructure to generate compelling OR engagement and has complex functionality with few intuitive applications, all increasing management time within the OR Office.

Andrew has reviewed our needs in the medium and long term and had detailed proposals from two market-leading alumni networking/ engagement platforms. We have decided to go with Alumnet and are already working with them and you will all see the benefits of this new arrangement in 2021.

Anyone with children at school and university will be only too aware of the difficulties of finding suitable careers. We are extremely keen to improve how we as a community help the School Sixth Formers and indeed all ORs in their careers. Clearly a more detailed database will contribute significantly to this. Let me support Andrew’s work on this by appealing to you to volunteer in helping to provide careers guidance for current pupils and ORs in the sector in which you have experience at whatever level you are.

This may involve attending Careers Evenings at school, initiating sector events in which to network, being on the end of a phone or Zoom call to provide invaluable insight into a career or indeed a potential career change, providing work placement experience etc.

Visiting Repton Due to Covid restrictions, we cannot at this time welcome you to visit the school, though we very much look forward to seeing you in the future.

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Please just get in touch with Andrew, and let’s really develop and extend the careers support that we provide to each other.

At the General Committee meeting we had on Zoom on September 5th, which was to be our inaugural OR Day (postponed until 2021!) the proposal was carried for our President Elect next year to be Nick Smith. Nick is an excellent candidate, having been our previous Chairman before me for six years, his father was at Repton, his three daughters were all at Repton and he has been a huge supporter of the School all his life, living close by in Abbots Bromley. His appointment was confirmed at the AGM recently, so welcome back Nick!

May I take this opportunity to offer thanks, on all our behalf, to our President Mike Barnwell for his year as President Elect and President. Mike has had a very truncated experience as President, but his enthusiasm for all things Repton has never wavered except perhaps once when first technologically challenged by our first Zoom OR Executive meeting! Mike had been to all OR events prior to the lockdown and been on the touchline of every major OR football match this year, whether in Repton or London. However, as an ex RAF man, he will miss greatly the honour and emotionally charged experience of placing the OR Society wreath on its place in the Garth this year on Remembrance Sunday because of the restrictions around visitors to the school. Thank you, Mike, for all your support and good company this year.

I look forward to working next year with our new President, Rachel Bacon (A’86). Rachel has been hugely influential in helping the Society understand itself better through the insights generated from her recent research into our OR Women and their views on the Society currently and how we can make the society more relevant to them. She will welcome the opportunity to help the society be more diverse in its appeal and Mike’s loss will be her gain in being able to be in post at the rearranged Dinner from this year at The Hurlingham Club in May next year to celebrate 50 years of girls at Repton.

On behalf of the OR Society I would like to pass on our thanks to Mark Semmence, his leadership team, staff and support staff for their determination to deliver the best possible Repton experience for Reptonians over this Covid-infected period. At the same time they have successfully launched the ‘through school’ that is now Repton and Repton Prep. So, as you can see, in spite of Covid a huge amount of work has been happening on all fronts to make Repton in the UK, internationally, and as an alumni community even stronger.

Finally, a very warm welcome to all recent Old Reptonians who were denied their appropriate farewell to Repton in their final term. We very much hope that over the next year there will be opportunities to welcome you to OR events and activities at Repton, London and around the country to enjoy the wonderful spirit when Reptonians ‘see’ each other once again.

@OrSociety

OR SOCIETY ON TWITTER: Keep up to date with current news and events.

News and details on events from the Repton Houses, Clubs and Societies are also on Twitter – addresses can be found throughout The Arch.

Engaging the OR Community

Andrew Cook, Chief Development and Commercial Officer I recall commenting last autumn what a privilege it was to be joining the Repton community, and, alongside a rich heritage, passionate alumni and visionary leadership team, how we could all look forward to a tremendously exciting future. Although our immediate plans have been somewhat curtailed in recent months, the resilience and collegiate spirit I’ve experienced from pupils, staff and the OR community during this period leave me feeling even more energised and optimistic for the opportunities that lie ahead and our ability as the OR Society to support and enhance the experience for Old Reptonians.

Our ambition has been to build relationships and diversify the OR network, making it easier for ORs to stay in touch with one another and to develop a highly engaged global community of ORs, parents and friends of Repton and to ensure the OR Society and Repton Foundation are closely aligned, supporting one another in their respective endeavours. To this end, I am delighted with the progress that has been made during the last 12 months despite global events, and am extremely grateful to Nick Walford (B’69) in particular for his continued support. We remain committed to our three-year strategy, a key component of which is to ensure we provide genuine benefit to ORs, and believe firmly that the absolute priority of the OR Society must be to create opportunities to grow wider OR engagement.

This means engagement between ORs themselves, ORs and the OR Society as well as ORs and the wider Repton community including the School, Sixth Form pupils and parents (past & present).

The OR survey undertaken during the summer highlighted that ORs are keen to be engaged and offer support; however, there has been a lack of breadth or regularity of events from which to support/engage. Without meaningful engagement we will not achieve a critical mass across our global community, the OR Society will not flourish, we will not deliver the benefits being part of a global community of ORs can offer, and our fundraising efforts for transformational bursaries and capital projects will become increasingly more difficult to support.

REPTON LIFE: Key to our progress is a core infrastructure which will enable us to grow and provide greater benefit to the OR community. With this in mind we have decided to adopt a new OR communications’ tool called ‘Alumnet: Repton Life’. Before going into detail, it is important to have a sense of context as to our decision, as we are acutely aware of our current platform, MyRepton, only having been launched in 2018.

In 2018 the decision was taken that Repton required use of both a database as well as a communications platform for ORs to network, the result of which was to migrate our data to a single platform, and thus MyRepton was created. After three years of operating with MyRepton, there have been several challenges due, in many aspects, to a system which is clunky, lacks the infrastructure to generate compelling OR communications and has unnecessarily complex functionality. In addition to which, due to the complex and clunky nature of MyRepton, we do not believe it will deliver on our needs to provide scale in line with our projected growth, to deliver a robust career development and mentoring service for ORs / current pupils or possesses the capability to support multiple fundraising campaigns. As a result of this we have taken the decision to adopt a communications’ tool which is specifically designed for alumni relations and which we feel confident will support those key areas of scale, OR networking, careers support and fundraising, whilst also providing user friendly functionality and a ‘Marketplace’ for ORs to benefit from a breadth of discounted commercial offers provided by other ORs, such as holiday home rentals, business services or retail promotions.

Key to our success is building a community which serves and supports one another professionally and socially, and so we ask you to visit www.get.alumnet. social/reptonlife and register your details to reconnect with old House mates, team mates, year-group and classroom friends and teachers, to meet other ORs who share similar memories and passions and to help us create a global ‘Repton Life’ community to benefit all ORs, past, present and future.

A more detailed introduction will be available in the next edition of the digital magazine, so if we don’t have your email please do provide us with one via or@repton.org.uk.

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Engaging the OR Community continued Reviving Fives at Repton: Courts Restoration Appeal

Fives is not only an important part of our history, there is now growing recognition that the physical skills that Fives develops - agility, ambidexterity, achieving the perfect balance required to play that perfect shot - complement and support other sports such as cricket and hockey, and it is very encouraging to see a national dialogue starting up between the Eton Fives Association and bodies such as the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on the wider benefits that participation in Fives can bring our young sportsmen and women.

It is also interesting to note that Old Reptonian, former professional cricketer, and current Director of Cricket Operations at the ECB, John Carr (H’76), is so heavily involved in these cross-sporting conversations.

As part of our ambition to reinvigorate Fives at Repton we have appointed David Exley as Master i/c Fives, and fixtures against schools and clubs will be played across multiple age groups. All B-block pupils will be introduced to the game as part of the School’s formal sports programme, and pupils at the top of the Prep School will be encouraged to learn the game. The Old Reptonian Eton Fives Club (OREFC) will be re-established, and once the courts are refurbished, we will be able to host regional and national tournaments.

There are several ways to support the ‘Renovation Appeal’, from naming rights over one of the courts, or, potentially, the Fives Pavilion, to providing funding for one of the Repton crests which we plan to have painted onto each court, or simply by making a donation to support the overarching aims of the project. Whilst there is a need to evolve, innovate and adapt to the ever-changing environment in which we operate, it is equally important to promote and safeguard those traditions at Repton, which have given its pupils an opportunity to broaden their horizons, build friendships, compete and create life-long memories.

For further information on how to support our Fives Courts Appeal, pleaser contact me on 01283 559248 or email ajc@repton.org.uk to receive a Fives Courts’ Restoration Appeal brochure.

On behalf of pupils, current and future, staff and Governors, thank you in advance for your support.

Best wishes Andrew Cook - Chief Development and Commercial Officer

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OR Society - Introducing Harriet Harriet joined the Development Office in June 2020, after finishing her Marketing Degree in May. Albeit a different start than usual, her main roles have been to help implement the change to the new CRM and networking platforms, helping to improve engagement across the OR and School Communities. Harriet is also a member of the marketing team - in the role of Marketing Assistant and Database Officer - and splits her time between the OR office in the morning and the marketing department in the afternoons.

In her spare time, Harriet is a keen tennis player and plays within the Derbyshire Winter and Summer club leagues.

She is also an avid skier and hopes to get back to the slopes soon!

She looks forward to working closely with members of the OR society, as well as meeting and getting to know the OR community over the coming year.

OR News: Snippets

Brook House

Myles Taylor (B’77) won the Senior Steeplechase in 1982 – Myles says “this is something I am still proud of and in no small part due to Chris Parker’s enthusiasm and support. In 2020, I decided to do the Parker 100 as part of the Covid challenge set by my hospital in Exeter, and, more importantly, because I had bought the tie after leaving Repton, but, to my shame, had never done the distance! You will be pleased - and perhaps CDP will be looking down too with a smile - that I have gone beyond the call and done 432 miles in four months. I can wear the tie with pride - he was a great man”.

The Cross Edward Wilkinson (C’46). As Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers, Edward has been appointed ‘Father of the Company’ some three months before his 88th Birthday.

Alexander Rose (C’92) was an expert witness to the House of Lord’s Internal Market Sub-Committee talking on the subject of Brexit and Competition Law (in particular State aid for the steel sector). For more information www.parliament.uk/businee/committees/ committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-internal-market-subcommittee/news-parliament-2017/ brexit-state-aid-british-steel/. Alex has also been an expert witness on how Subsidy Control rules can support Government priorities such as tackling climate change and levelling up deprived areas.

Julian Turner (C’91) has been awarded the West Midlands Director of the Year 2019 and the West Midlands International Exporter of the Year 2019. Julian’s company has also purchased Chesil Cars and launched the UK’s First Pure Electric Chesil. www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2019/06/14/ black-country-car-boss-named-top-company-director-in-thewest-midlands/ www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/westfield-and-chesillaunch-pioneering-electric-kit-car www.iod.com/Portals/0/PDFs/Regions/West%20Midlands/ Magazine/West%20Mids%20Summer%20Magazine. pdf?ver=2019-07-22-105129-963

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OR News: Snippets continued Latham House

Edward Oakden (L’73) has been appointed Ambassador to Tunisia.

Matthew Rhodes (L’14) is Musical Director of another musical; The last Five Years.

This was due to be live streamed from a studio in Norwich, but now, due to lockdown, has been turned into a film. This was live streamed on 19th, 20th and 21st November. www.uea.su/events/7071/14000/ www.uea.su/events/7071/14001/ www.uea.su/events/7071/14002/

The Mitre Ben Hughes (M’89), Jules Turner (C’91) and James Ellis (C’91) came a respective 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Abersoch Mirror week in the Summer of 2019.

Izzie Hearnshaw (M’11), has been awarded a Cambridge Blue for Tennis, beating Oxford 18-3 in the Varsity match.

New House Nick Campion (N’86) recently completed a four-year MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy and is now combining practising as a psychotherapist with his freelance writing career.

The Masters was taken at the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute, with the degree validated and awarded by Staffordshire University.

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Tom Chambers (N’90) has appeared in a brand-new production of the blueprint for the modern thriller, Dial M for Murder at the Dubai Opera in The Opera District.

TV and stage favourite, (Top Hat, Strictly Come Dancing) Tom is the charismatic and manipulative Tony Wendice, a jaded ex-tennis pro who has given it all up for his wife Margot.

New House Continued ReptonIAN. The 1990-1995 period saw the regular distribution of a slightly subversive underground publication, the ReptonIAN. Edited by Ian Hall (N’90) with contributions from carefully selected contemporaries, the ReptonIAN blended reporting on school life, surreal humour, a little bit of anti-establishment editorial and even regular free gifts* taped to p1. At its peak the print-run exceeded 150 copies, finding its way to every Boarding House, as well as the Staff Common Room.

Twenty-five years on, Ian and contemporary David Hart (N’90) have been digitising the 62-edition back catalogue to preserve this time capsule that captures the zeitgeist of the early 1990s. However, inexplicably, edition 59 is missing from their otherwise impressively well-preserved archives.

We know that the missing edition was released in early 1994 and continued edition 58’s agitation against ‘elite’ Reptonians having an alleged monopoly on the School’s first astroturf pitch. Edition 60 signalled an apparent stepping-up of the campaign, with a plan to instigate ‘total chaos’ at the astroturf’s opening ceremony (Summer Term 1994), as well as a listing of 10 songs to chant at House-matches.

Do you have a copy of edition 59? If so, please contact ianmurrayhall@hotmail.com - there’s a *Chewit (bulk-purchased from Repton Spar, né Cross Stores) in the post for any OR who can help.

Paul Needler (N’91) has invented iParcelBox, a smart parcel delivery box that you monitor and control from your smartphone. The innovative smart home product was recently featured on The Gadget Show on Channel 5, in a feature which looked at technology solutions to make home parcel deliveries easier. iParcelBox was selected as the clear winner in “The G-Team challenge”, which also included an app to track deliveries and an audio doorbell. The presenters applauded the fact that iParcelBox meant that you would never miss a parcel delivery, and liked that the real time communication between iParcelBox and the app allowed you to securely accept multiple parcel deliveries.

The Orchard Peter Nixon (O’68), former conservation chief at Swindon-based charity the National Trust, has been awarded a MBE.

Francis Habgood (O’78) was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2020 New Year Honours List.

The Priory David Hings (P’59) latest viewing of the locomotive Repton was on Saturday October 12th 2019 heading an early morning excursion from Loughborough to Leicester on the Great Central Railway. David has seen it stationary with Mike Barnwell (O’57), in pieces in the States in 1982 courtesy of Guy Orton (O’41), and now in action in all its glory as it is today.

Robert Bond (P’68) has been appointed as an Officer and Honorary Solicitor of the City Livery Club.

Richard Emms (P’73) would like to announce his retirement from General Practice (medicine) after 35 years working as a doctor. Richard recalls “some fond memories and some non-fond memories from my time at Repton - the old plunge bath by the side of the library at 07.30 in the morning cold, and no one had ever cleaned the leaves and flies prior to the event, springs to mind, alongside seeing ice on the inside of the dormitory windows of Priory House. Happy days” Jason Windsor (P’88) was appointed Chief Financial Offer for Aviva plc in September 2019.

School House Matty Bowman (S’17) has made his full debut for Dunfermline Athletic.

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OR Events continued

German OR Reunion 2019 in Berlin

This year’s German OR reunion took place on October 12th, 2019 in the capital city of Germany. The reunion was, as always, split into three parts: a tour and a formal dinner on Saturday, followed by a casual breakfast/brunch on Sunday morning. The guided tour took us up and around the dome of the Reichstag, the home of the German parliament. The formal dinner took place at the International Club, which was formerly the British Officer’s Club in Berlin.

In total, 14 ORs attended this year’s reunion in Berlin.

We were also proud to welcome three special guests: Firstly, Rupert Holborow (P’71) who is New Zealand’s ambassador to Germany and therefore living and working in Berlin. We thank Rupert for taking the time to join us on Sunday morning and hope to see him again at future reunions.

Secondly, Robin Merrill (C’67), actor, singer and broadcasting host of TV and radio shows. To listen to him, sign up for the Reichstag tour and grab an English audio guide. Robin’s voice will then lead you around the dome and across the roofs of Berlin. Special thanks go to Robin for finding the grand location for dinner and for taking us to the Reichstag.

Lastly, we would like to extend especial thanks to Mr. Semmence for joining our event. Other ORs attending the Reunion were: Peter Osgood (M’53), Andrew Stockman (H’67), Caroline Gronack (G’93), Joe Steele (P’01), Nils Cooper (N’01), Lasse Loell (L’02), Justus Schoeneich (P’03), Moritz Wiesel (N’03), Hendrik Heenen (O’04), Friederike Juncker (A’08), Nic Reinecke (P’09) and Constantin Bauer (L’09).

The next German OR reunion will take place in Nuremberg in November 2021. If you are an OR currently living in Germany and wish to be invited to future events in Germany, please send an e-mail to: nils.cooper@gmx.de Nils Cooper (N’01)

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Annual Dinner 2019 For a while there had been talk of holding the Annual Dinner in London rather than at ‘home’ in Repton, and 2019 marked the year when this happened. The date was the 12th November, the venue the Caledonian Club in Belgravia. Following the AGM, also held at the club, there was a Drinks Reception, before the assembled company moved into the Johnnie Walker Room (how apt and poignant) for the Dinner. An impressive 3-course meal was served, washed down by the odd glass or three, and there were also fine speeches from OR President, Susannah Fish (A’78), and the Headmaster.

The evening was most enjoyable, and it certainly provided a change from Repton. However, well under 100 ORs and guests were there to enjoy the occasion, suggesting there is probably not enough of a demand amongst the London-based OR community for an evening of this sort to move away from Repton other than every now and again.

This year’s Dinner, scheduled to be held at the School on the evening of Saturday, November 7th in the Sports Centre’s new Hospitality Suite was unfortunately cancelled owing to Covid restrictions.

Nigel Kew (OR Liaison Officer)

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OR Events continued Drinks in the City

As has been the case for a few years now, the impressive ballroom of the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair was the venue for Drinks in The City 2020 on Thursday, February 27th. A late surge in numbers saw around 130 ORs of all shapes, sizes and ages (!) mingling happily, along with a small group of staff (Jon Hill (English), Russell Embery (Classics), Martin Jones (Director of Hockey), Nigel Kew (Modern Languages and OR Secretary) who were able to escape the village. Owing to a ‘no-warning’ Inspection at the School, the Headmaster was sadly unable to attend, so it was left to Chief Development and Communications Officer Andrew Cook to bring the assembled company up to date with events from the shire, following words from this year’s OR President, Michael Barnwell (O’57).

It was a lively, fun evening, and wonderful to see a really significant number of young female ORs present. Hopefully this has now set the trend for future years.

Nigel Kew (OR Liaison Officer)

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Cambridge Dinner 2020 On Saturday, March 7th, an OR Dinner was held in Cambridge for the first time for over 20 years. A happy combination of circumstances, including a most generous donation from Sir Nicholas Barrington (O’47) and the fact that Richard Penty (H’78) is currently Master of Sidney Sussex College, meant the time was right, and it was a most successful, enjoyable evening. There was a wide range of ORs present in the elegant Old Library of Sidney Sussex, some with guests, and including a number of present undergraduates. During the meal the Master welcomed those present and introduced the Headmaster, who brought all the news from School, as well as fielding some impromptu questions.

Nigel Kew (OR Liaison Officer)

Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire Simon Armstrong (C’63) organised a Lancashire/ Cheshire/Yorkshire dinner at the Manchester Tennis & Racquet Club on Thursday 30th January 2020. Prior to a champagne welcome drink and 3-course meal, the 20 ORs and guests were able to watch a game of Real Tennis. Simon Armstrong (C’63) is stepping down as Secretary of the Lancs and Cheshire branch and we would like to thank him for all of the support over the years.

Andrew Cook (Chief Development and Commercial Officer)

Forthcoming Events

Hurlingham Club, Summer Ball May 15th 2021

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations of girls attending Repton, we are delighted to announce we are holding a Summer Ball at the stunning Hurlingham Club in Fulham, West London. The evening will consist of a drinks reception followed by a three-course meal with wine, live band and cash bar.

The cost of the ticket is £115 per person, with a reduced price for under 30s of £85.

Dress code is Black Tie. The evening will commence at 19.00 with a Reception.

Carriages at 02.00

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OR Reunions

Brook, an unusual House

In November a small contingent of Brook boys gathered in Amberley, West Sussex to expel some London air, reminisce and celebrate the 150th birthday of Brook House. Some of us had attended the main event in June, so we appreciated the more agreeable weather as we bimbled through the Chalky South Downs. Inevitably our conversation turned to our lives at Repton in the late eighties and early nineties. It was a rich and amusing seam. Amongst the tales of wedgies, communal ablutions and Dibs, there was one particularly interesting point of discussion; how the Brook of our era, had been quite different to previous ones. We had discovered this during the summer reunion. Addresses given by old boys from each decade stretching back to the 1950s, made us realise it had in the main, been an incredibly sporty, laddy place, brimming with machismo. Worlds apart from the House we knew.

In our era, many will remember that Brook House was labelled “Odd or Gay” by rival Houses. It was chanted at House-matches, and, although probably meant as an insult, for most of us it became a badge we wore with pride. Even more so now. Yes, there were some Brook boys who weren’t odd or gay, but they were the minority, and tolerated as oddities in their own right. They were controls in the experiment. I was in the odd camp and was very lucky to be given the name “Oddy Mills” when I first joined B Block.

Perhaps it was my oddness that propelled me to Head of House. But I wasn’t the only oddy. The place was positively teeming with them, and their gay counterparts, and it was all the more brilliant for it.

Despite the fact I had been a self-confessed “corps-keeno” at school, someone suggested on our walk that Brook was the only House to have had “Corps Buns” - a sweet treat to entice the reluctant Odds and Gays to take up arms in the name of their school. Could this be why we won both the Russell Cup and Barnes Squad trophies? Or was it because, much like the Artists Rifles (later 21 SAS), Brook was full of talented painters, performers and musicians? A glance down New Wing might reveal a Chinese Sword dance mid flow, while at the other end a troubled art-scholar smoking a cheap cigarette at the extractor fan.

Whatever the reason, and whichever the era, anyone who was there would agree that Brook was the best House. That was the conclusion on our walk, encouraged by several bottles of Pinot Noir and disputed only by our imposter from The Priory. But he was on a walk celebrating Brook House, so we know where his loyalties actually lie.

Attendees of the inaugural Brook House Walk A.Q. Mills (B’88), T. Daley (B’91), T.J. Toulmin (B’88), I. Wimbush (B’91), T. W. Juneau (P’91), Buddy (Labrador).

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Two Judges and a Juror Regular annual luncheon get-togethers in the Chelsea area kicked off a few years ago when an ancient OR footballer -Toby Turl (C’50) – was called for Jury Service at Southwark Crown Court. While awaiting the start of the trial in the courtroom, said budding juror was tapped on the shoulder by a court clerk who said to him: “You’re excused, Sir – the Judge knows you”.

Toby peered up at the be-robed and be-wigged figure on the Bench, but, as was no doubt the intention, failed to recognise him. Invited for a drink afterwards in the judge’s chambers, however, the judge turned out to be his junior at school – Robert Hardy (H’52) – who informed him that being released was a blessing as the trial about to start was one of fraud due to last at least two months.

All having been revealed, Robert was soon in touch with another Circuit Judge from The Hall – Christopher Barnett QC (H’49), also a past President of the OR Society, who had clashed with Toby on the football field at Repton. In consequence, there has followed a series of most enjoyable annual lunches, with wives, which survive to the present day. These occasions, full of sparky, irreverent OR banter, are now much looked forward to and even the ladies find as much to laugh as to groan about.

Toby, Christopher and Robert

The Fifth Annual Cross House Reunion The reunion took place on August 28th 2020 in Somerset.

Those present this year were Pat Vaughan (C’52), Andy Jenkins (C’51), Gerard Wyllys (C’52) and Mike Potts (C’55).

Scottish Gathering - hopefully next year Simon Pengelley (H’68) was planning a Scottish Gathering on October 3rd which has obviously with current restrictions had to be postponed and says “I would not be comfortable at this stage in bringing together a group of people of varying ages who hale from different parts of Scotland. The whole point of our meeting is to enjoy a social gathering based around sharing a meal together and at the moment this would not be prudent.” Simon hopes to re-arrange in 2021.

Seattle Drinks Chris (H’72) and Ed (H’70) Huson organised the inaugural ‘British Cocktail Party’ in Seattle, USA. It was a great success, with live music by Choro Loco, home-made egg nog, and party cocktails. Chris and Ed are planning another next year.

Ed and Chris

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OR Reunions continued Inaugural Meeting of the Famous Five ORs at the Tanglin Club, Singapore Alfred Cheng (O’75) arranged an inaugural dinner for five ORs residing in Singapore, the largest number he knows of at the moment. The dinner was held at the Tanglin Club, Singapore.

Repton continues to broaden, having recently opened two new Schools in Malaysia and China.

Seated left to right: Juliet Wolfe (née Ryalls) (A’ 83); Aoife Broderick (A’ 07).

Standing : G eorge Hudson (S’06); Richard Coventry (B’73); Alfred Cheng (O’75).

OR Christmas Quiz Christmas Quiz 1.

Ben Cross played which Repton athlete in the 1981 film ‘Chariots of Fire?’

2. The lecture room built over the top of the old power house in 1934 is named in honour of which OR, who had a long and distinguished career in the army?

3.

Which author, famous for his Berlin novels, boarded at the Hall in 1919?

4.

Which Headmaster abolished Eton Tails?

5.

Which feature has under it the words ‘fucit hora ora labora?’

6. The architect Sir Arthur Blomfield, who designed the Royal College of Music in South Kensington, is famous for which notable Repton building, opened in 1886?

7.

What was the surname of the 1880s Hall brothers Lionel and Richard who both went on to play cricket for Somerset?

8.

The 1621 Charter of Incorporation joined the school with which other institution?

9.

A passage from which ancient Roman poet gave rise to our motto in the 1870s?

10. The first two girls at Repton arrived in which year?

11. Which Mitre boy made his cinematic debut in the 1921 silent film ‘The Fruitful Vine?’

12 Which master once took his English Literature Class on to the frozen waters of the Old Trent to deliver a lesson on Geoffrey Chaucer?

13. If the Tip Fag tidied up the cracks and the Middle Fags swept the floor, what did the Bim Fags do?

14. In which year did the Mitre cease to be a Boarding House for boys?

15. Which former Repton headmaster detailed his career in ‘The Road to Winchester?’

16. What did the School celebrate in 1857?

17. What mode of transport crashed into the Arch at 3.40am in December 1983?

18. Which Headmaster only lasted two terms, before becoming Headmaster of Winchester?

19. What links the classrooms built in 1864 to a dream in Genesis 28?

20. What MGM film was shot on the School grounds in August 1938?

Paul Stevens, Archivist and Librarian A bottle of fizz for the first to submit a full house of correct answers to or@repton.org.uk 16

Branches of the Society

Football

@oldreptonianfc

ARTHUR DUNN CUP OR Society officials, past, present and future supporting at the Arthur Dunn match vs Old Eastbournians on October 19th 2019.

ORs supporting ORFC winning 3-1 vs Kings College Wimbledon on February 9th 2020.

Pictured below, from L to R: Paul Brownhill (P’80), Adam Phillips (B’79), James Ross (H’68), Nick Smith (B’69), Mike Barnwell (O’57) and John Hings (P’55). David Hings (P’59) took the photograph.

Pictured below, from left to right: Ed Sloane (P’97), Tom Poynton (S’06), Martin Grayshon (C’61), John Hings (P’55), James Ross (H’68), Ian Payne (L’55), Richard Harding, Michael Barnwell (O’57), Chris Twells (O’68), Mark Boulton (O’68). Photographer David Hings (P’59).

OLD REPTONIANS RECORD AGAINST OLD CARTHUSIANS IN THE ARTHUR DUNN CUP Rivalry with the Carthusians extends right back to the inception of the competition, with Repton being defeated by Charterhouse in each of the first four years from 1902/03. Two of these defeats were in the final. The two schools were dominant in this pre-war phase, with Carthusians winning the cup on six occasions in the first eight years of the competition. In 1903 their side included three full England internationals and nine of the side were Oxbridge Blues. Reptonians, however, achieved three cup victories in this period and contested three further finals, holding the trophy in the School library for six years after victory in 1914 until 1920, when the competition resumed after the war. Repton fielded six Blues in this winning side, which scored 22 goals in the four matches, conceding only one.

Four of these finals in those early years took place at Queen’s Club.

On those occasions when the cup draw has pitted us against one another, the Carthusians have retained the upper hand --- until the 1960s when Repton won the Dunn Cup on four occasions. While we may have had the better of these exchanges, in the past fifty-odd years the draw has not produced so many clashes. The competition has attracted more entries in the past twenty years or so, with Tonbridge successful twice already. The record shows that we have lost to Carthusians in only four matches since the 1960s. But Carthusians have had an outstanding run in recent years, winning ten finals since 2006. They come into this semi-final as Arthurian League champions, Dunn Cup holders, as well as AFA Senior Cup champions.

The ORFC played their 281st match in the Arthur Dunn Cup when we turned out against the Old Carthusians in the semi-final on 14th March. It is noteworthy that our 11th and last Dunn cup victory in 1991 was achieved after a replay against Carthusians. May this be the omen which gives the present side impetus.

Ian Payne (L’55) February 2020

SUMMARY REPORTS by Nicky Samra (N’02) LEAGUE: A final position of seventh is very disappointing and something we have set ourselves a target of drastically improving next season.

The fact we twice beat Old Wykehamists, who ended up getting promoted on a points per game calculation, shows we can beat anyone on our day. The problem is “our day” comes around too infrequently to have any success in a league. Our major issue over the past few seasons has been post-Christmas form, winning just two from seven in the New Year. The squad is becoming more experienced with the likes of Josh Golding (P’06), Cal McIntosh (P’06), Doug Redfern (P’09), Fraser Lane (L’08), Andrew Jopson (P’07), Alex Monro-Jones (C’12), Ben Mann (P’11) and Jack O’Callaghan (S’12) all being in their second, third or fourth season. With the ability of these players there is absolutely no reason we should not be up near the top of the table; we just need to focus on becoming more consistent and managing games better.

2020/21 Pre-season started early this year with our sights set on a top-four finish. After a dull few months of lockdown, everyone was excited to get back and numbers at fitness training in Battersea Park and pitch sessions in Barnes were higher than ever before. Competition for places was high and performance levels were raised as a result. We had James Glover (P’13) and Jamie Slack (C’14) move down to London and join the club over the summer, and both have had excellent starts to the season. So far, we have played three games in the league, beating Old Marlburians and Old Westminsters and narrowly losing to newly-relegated Chigwell. Assuming the season can go ahead as normal, the squad is looking in fine shape for a successful campaign and hopefully this will be the start of regaining Premier League status.

Continued on page 18 17

Branches of the Society continued Football Continued

SUMMARY REPORTS continued ARTHUR DUNN CUP: 2019/20 We breezed through the early rounds of the competition beating Eastbournians 8-0, Old Suttonians SV 5-1 and KCS Wimbledon 3-1.

The semi-final saw us drawn at home to Old Carthusians, winner of the cup five out of the last six years. Early injuries spoiled our attacking threat, so the team knew it was a case of game management to force a replay. It was a heroic defensive effort to keep the match goalless, and Jack Bull’s (O’12) performance must go down as one of the most impressive defensive displays in an OR shirt in quite some time. We knew for the replay (which came after a 6-month delay) we had to be braver if we were to win the game. We had early chances in the game with Ed Jackson (P’14) and Tom Buffin (S’14) causing problems up top, but we could not find an opener.

The Carthusians’ quality and squad consistency shone through, and despite Oli West’s (P’10) best efforts, their striker netted a hat-trick to make it 3-0 and send them through to the final at our expense.

2020/21 A home walkover thanks to the Old Marlburians means we will face the winner of Old Bradfieldians (finalists for the 2019/20 competition) or Eastbournians. The game will be played at Repton some time before Christmas, pandemic-pending.

LONDON OLD BOYS’ CUP This year was the first time we had taken this competition seriously and we set ourselves the target of getting to the final, which is exactly what we did. The semi final was a close-fought affair against Old Wykehamists, with Tommy Speed (P’14) getting the winner.

The final saw us take on an unknown opposition of Hale End Athletic and, due to problems finding a neutral venue, we played the final at their home pitch. The small, bobbly pitch did not suit the way we had been preparing for the game, but we still managed to cause their backline problems as we rattled the woodwork four times. Our narrow misses cost us as we conceded with ten minutes to play, and the game ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Nicky Samra (N’02)

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Golf It will come as no surprise that Covid 19 has devastated Public School golf to a large extent this year.

The first casualty was the Halford Hewitt, which should have been Martin Priesley’s (C’81) last of his three year Captaincy; not really the end one would wish for, especially as his track record was so good, having taken the team to the semi-final in 2018.

Although Martin was offered another year, he has a lot on his plate trying to steer The Lees through the slalom course of Covidembattled private education. Thus the mantle has passed to seasoned team member Mark Anselm (C’86) who, hopefully, will be picking his first squad in 2021.

Robert Miller (L’76), the Bernard Darwin Secretary, made every effort to play the competitions in a revised format this autumn but the second spike quashed his efforts.

The only good news is that a lot of the younger members played in the two Southern fixtures; both of which were skilfully organised round the guidelines by Adrian Pepper (H’83).

Tony Bishop (P’72)

QUEEN ELIZABETH CORONATION SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT, ROYAL BURGESS, 28th-30th September 2019 Repton made a return to the green pastures of the Royal Burgess after too long an absence, and, although it was a disappointingly short stay in Edinburgh, there was nothing about the experience to suggest that it won’t become once again a regular fixture for the ORGS. Our revived participation was due almost entirely to the enthusiasm of DWT Campbell (H’71), who steered the ship in the right direction on and off the course. If he could have done one thing better, it would have been to draw slightly less fierce opposition in the first round, though he can hardly be blamed for this. Old Grammarians, from Glasgow, were operating under an alias, for while they may have been Grammarians, they were emphatically not old.

Douglas Campbell (H’71) and Myles Elliot (N’61), two of a contingent of three Sunningdale members, led the way, but their rhythm was disrupted at an early stage by a highly unfortunate wrong-ball incident, and, though they had their moments, they never recovered their equilibrium. The second pair was the Lindrick duo of John Wood (L’78) and Richard Hodgkinson (M’81), who had the better of the early exchanges.

Wood’s iron shot to the par-three 13th gave his partner the chance to put Repton ahead again, but Hodgkinson’s short putt lipped out, and the chance was gone. Defeat on the 17th ensued, rendering the other narrow loss, that of Adrian Pepper (H’83) and Dominic Watt (N’86) irrelevant.

Repton’s hopes of a triumphant return to Barnton were, therefore, sunk, but not the spirits of the team. All the hallmarks of the ORGS were in shining evidence – enjoyable golf, great camaraderie and an instinct for seeking out the best places to eat and drink. A giant, floating, luxuriously-carpeted Thank You is owed to Douglas for his inspiration to re-join the competition and for his glorious hospitality aboard the matchless Fingal, pictured right with some of the more dubious guests to have graced its berths in recent times.

L-R: Dominic Watt (N’86), John Wood L’78), Myles Elliot (N’61), Adrian Pepper (H’83) and Douglas Campbell (H’71).

SOUTHERN SPRING MEETING The Old Reptonian Southern Spring Meeting at New Zealand Golf Club was oversubscribed, such was the keenness of ORs to enjoy the company of fellow school friends on Friday June 19th. 24 ORGS members played 36 holes of golf, with a picnic lunch - taken at a social distance in groups of six - sandwiched in between each round.

The winner of the Handley Seymour Cup in the morning was Mike Watson (P’03) with 37 points; the winner of the van Zwanenberg Tankard was Pete Forster (N’87) with 38 points, both pictured here with the Hon Southern Secretary, Adrian Pepper (H’83), who awarded the prizes and gave the elbow acknowledgement.

Pete Forster (N’87) and Adrian Pepper (H’83).

Mike Watson (P’03) and Adrian Pepper (H’83).

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Branches of the Society continued Golf

SOUTHERN AUTUMN MEETING Nineteen ORs gathered at Woking Golf Club on Friday 11th September to play on the fast sloping greens laid out in 1893 by John Low (Brook1885), founder of the Old Reptonian Golfing Society. In the morning a singles Stableford competition took place for the Barnett Bowl. The handicap competition was won by David Scarrett (P’04) with 37 points, ahead of scratch winners James Glover (P’13) and Jeff David Scarrett (P’04) and Adrian Chow (C’11) who both took gross 77 Pepper (H’83). shots. Scarrett’s combined Spring and Autumn scores also won him the Prickett Platter.

Rod Neal (C’60), James Gilderseve (O’71) and Adrian Pepper (H’83).

There followed a convivial, socially-distanced lunch, at which the younger ORs were encouraged to take a postprandial Kummel to improve their putting. Sadly it did not improve their all-round game and veterans Rod Neal (C’60) and James Gildersleve (O’71) sneaked home as worthy winners of the EH Sale Tankard and John Stroyan Salver with 31 points.

The next ORGS southern meeting will take place at Worplesdon on Friday April 30th 2021.

Ladies Golf “Seeking Lady Golfers for The Silver Tassie Tournament 2021” The Silver Tassie is a Ladies Public Schools golf event played at The Berkshire golf club in June.

The format of the competition is a team of four to play in pairs, playing 18 holes Stableford, 4BBB format. All players must have an official golf handicap to be eligible to play.

In 2020, we were hoping to enter our first ever OR Ladies team but unfortunately it got cancelled due to Covid19. In 2021, it would be fantastic to enter an Old Reptonian Ladies team to make our first appearance in this prestigious golfing event.

If you are interested in playing or would like more information, please contact Bec Brookes (A’93) via: Email: rsmi98@hotmail.com Bec Brookes (née Smith) (A’93)

OR Hockey Leah Wilkinson (A’03) and Shona McCallin (A’08) represented Great Britain at Lee Valley in November in a two-legged victory over Chile to qualify for Tokyo. Esme Burge (G’12) is also now part of the training squad preparing for the Olympics.

At the end of the US hockey season, there was considerable success for Old Reptonians. Hannah Davey (F’14) (Princeton) was a regular goalscorer, Fenella Scutt (G’13) (Stamford) ranked third in the whole of the USA for number of assists this season (0.74 per game!) and Mimi Tarrant (M’12) (Harvard) captained her side this season.

Maddy Wray (G’16) (UConn), Esme Gibson (F’16) (Iowa) and Emilia Kaczmarczyk (M’14) (Louisville) also contributed heavily in teams that competed in the Final-16 Tournament, with Rebecca Nelson (M’13) (Kent State) our only former pupil playing in goal in the USA. Martin Jones (C’97), Director of Hockey

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OR Lodge In January the OR Lodge met in Covent Garden for the first of its two annual London meetings, followed by dinner at the Farmers Club in Whitehall. This year the Lodge members hosted 19 visitors from Östersund in Sweden, at the request of the United Grand Lodge of England.

Masonry can be found across the globe, with many common values: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity. It was thus our pleasure to extend the hand of friendship. Our Swedish guests had planned their trip to London for about six months. It consisted of the usual sight-seeing; as well as a special trip to our regular home and meeting place, the iconic 1930s art-deco building, Freemasons’ Hall. Their schedule was fairly packed; and they even managed to get to a Premier League match to watch Brighton & Hove Albion against West Ham. They were immensely grateful for our hospitality and have asked to reciprocate next year in Sweden.

Freemasons’ Hall, London - The Grand Temple.

This year the charitable focus of the OR Lodge is to support a worthy cause that has a direct connection within the OR community. We would be very grateful to hear from any ORs who run or support a registered UK charity so that we can make a donation in the summer to a deserving cause.

At the time of writing, we are hoping to plan a trip in autumn around Freemasons’ Hall in Covent Garden, which is a very impressive and popular venue for film production and TV. Currently, the Grand Temple is undergoing restoration work on the impressive mosaic around the ceiling, which should be complete sometime after summer.

More information about the OR Lodge and contact details can be found below.

My Repton: myrepton.org.uk/clubs/view/masonic-lodge Website: www.orl.org.uk

LinkedIn Group: www.linkedin.com/groups/13600476

Mark Norton (M’86)

The Farmers Club, Whitehall.

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Who? What? Where? When?

Major Mick Stanley (H’54), Retired FUND RAISING IN THE ‘TINTANIC’ Mick Stanley (H’54), a former British Army major, is rowing 100 miles along the Chichester canal in a homemade boat, the ‘Tintanic’. He spent three months building the vessel which is made from two sheets of corrugated iron. He is rowing from Hunston to the Chichester Canal basic and back again every Wednesday and Saturday until the 100 miles are complete.

He is raising funds for St Wilfrend Hospice and to celebrate his 80th birthday. At the time of going to press Mick will have 29.5 miles to go. Mick says “It’s all down hill from here, finishing on December 18th at the Chichester canal basin. I calculated that it takes me 1,000 strokes to do 1 mile, so 100 miles is 100,000 strokes! Lots of people say nice things about me, none of which I can relate to. However, this week a lady said, looking at me and the boat “you make me feel very proud to be British”. I like that very much. The teenagers call me ‘cool’; that I take as a real compliment”.

The picture shows the Tintanic leaving Itchenor for Dell Quay.

Olivia Brown (M’12) Olivia Brown (M’12) has set up her own cupcake business during lockdown after being furloughed and is delighted by how well it is going. Liv set up TheBakehouse By Liv in August 2020 and has seen her business go from strength to strength.

She makes cupcakes from her kitchen at home in 11 different flavours, including a special luxury cupcake made with chocolate and strawberries and finished with an edible 24-carat gold leaf.

She delivers the cakes in her car to those who are isolating and has seen a huge demand,especially among families who are picking them as gifts to make up for not spending time with their loved ones. Liv says “the lockdown pushed me to reignite my passion for baking and I thought why not set up my own business?, which so far is doing really well.”

JFM Walker (H’51) ‘Blue Plaque’ Following the death of John Walker (H’51) a man who gave so much of his life to Repton and the Old Reptonian Community as pupil, teacher, Housemaster, OR Secretary & OR President, both School and Society agreed it would be fitting to have a lasting memory of him.

This plaque now resides on the door of his classroom of many years, Room 4 in the Cloisters.

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Repton Literary Festival

It is very good news that Repton has commemorated Christopher Isherwood (Hall 1919) with a plaque in the Library, for he is arguably the greatest writer the School has ever produced. He is less well known than Roald Dahl, but deserves to be more widely celebrated here – if for no other reason than capturing his alma mater in print without any of the selective amnesia of the author of ‘Boy.’ Isherwood’s fame rests on novels such as ‘Goodbye to Berlin,’ (later adapted into the musical Cabaret), his theatrical collaborations with W.H. Auden, and his refreshingly candid memoir ‘Christopher and his Kind.’ The experience of Repton and the friendships he made here were a key influence on his development as writer.

He arrived at The Hall in Repton in January 1919, and at the age of fourteen found himself in the top form of the Lower School where most of the boys were nearly all a year older than he. However, he thrived from the outset, particularly in anything literary or cultural.

His form master commented at the end of his first term that he was ‘thoroughly painstaking and his English essay is most promising.’

He was very fond of poetry at Repton, compiling a handwritten anthology of it for his own pleasure, and towards the end of his time here several of his poems appeared in The Reptonian under the pseudonym Cacoëthes. At the age of sixteen, ‘The Hang-Yü Mysteries,’ his pastiche of the novels of Sax Rohmer, was the first occasion on which he appeared in print as a writer of fiction – in a very short-lived Repton publication, The Phoenix (it only ran to one issue!)

One of Isherwood’s best friends at school was Edward Upward (Latham 1917), of whom he later said “everything about him appealed to me. He was a natural anarchist, a born romantic revolutionary.” Peter Parker, in his biography of Isherwood, states that if had not been for Upward, Isherwood might have pursued the sort of career his mother had in mind for him, that of an academic or a librarian.

Upward later became a prolific short-story writer and novelist, and when he and Isherwood were undergraduates they collaborated on creating the fictional world of Mortmere, using the stories set there as a platform from which to attack the ‘poshocracy’ of well-heeled students and Cambridge dons. Upward was not the only friend Isherwood had at Repton who went on to achieve success as an author.

Rupert Shephard (Hall 1922) recalls in his memoirs that “School prefects and sixth formers were distinguished from lesser members of the school, by the black and white straw hats that they wore, and in my first year at the Hall there were two of its members, who were to achieve literary distinction in later years – Christopher Isherwood and Vernon Watkins. I remember seeing them side by side walking up School Yard often to attend classes.” Watkins (Hall 1920) later described himself as a Welsh poet writing in English, and his work resounds with the musical rhythms and intonations of his home country.

At Repton, Isherwood’s literary output wasn’t just confined to poems in The Reptonian and the short story in The Phoenix; several of his letters from school survive and were posthumously published. Most deal with relatively mundane matters, but there are occasional interesting glimpses into life at Repton. He was put in charge of sorting out the Book Room, where all the textbooks for the School were stored: “It gave me plenty of work during the first two days. Imagine a rather damp cellar, lighted dimly by a couple of electric bulbs in the centre and lined with rows of filthy, rotting lesson-books – amongst which you grope in a sightless way, with a continual blockage of cobwebs in your mouth and hair.”

He writes that he spent much of his time in the Library reading set books, and details how much pleasure he got out of them (an amusing description of the Library appears in ‘Lions and Shadows’) Less agreeable activities are also discussed: “We have just been through a most harrowing experience – the House Drilling Competition. It was boiling hot, for the weather had changed completely, and we were almost liquified!”

Isherwood also writes as a senior boy of having his own study, with two fags to clean it for him. These two later make an appearance in his novel ‘Lions and Shadows’’ which blends fiction and autobiography and contains some fine and thinly veiled descriptions of life at Repton: “The fags were both new boys, their names were Berry and Darling. I caused my friends much amusement whenever I shouted down the passage: “Berry, darling!” or “Darling Berry!” Darling was one of the smallest boys in the whole school; his hair stood on end and his voice squeaked. He and Berry were both very intelligent; they used to help me with secretarial work for the school magazine, of which I was a literary editor.”

‘Lions and Shadows’ is not his only work which uses Repton as an inspiration. His second novel, ‘The Memorial’ (about the legacy of the Great War) describes a fictional commemoration service, and, as Hugh Brogan discovered, Isherwood faithfully imitates the idiom of the dignitaries at the dedication of the Repton War Memorial in 1922, copying their prayers and speeches almost word for word.

He even borrowed Repton names for his fiction, a notable example being Arthur Norris, the art master from 1922-1952, whose surname is given to the central figure of Isherwood’s first great success, ‘Mr Norris Changes Trains.’

One of the great influences on Isherwood at Repton was another master, Graham Burrell Smith, who taught History. He was charismatic, unconventional and slightly subversive, and in the latter part of his school career Isherwood went to him to seek advice on many different matters. Isherwood’s novel ‘Lions and Shadows’ begins with a description of him (Isherwood gives him the name Mr Holmes throughout) and there are many interesting references to his personality and teaching style in its opening chapter. Appropriately, when it is time for the schoolboy protagonist to leave, Isherwood writes that Mr Holmes invites him for lunch, and they discuss what he is going to do for a career: “He plied me with claret till I was mildly drunk and had to rest on his sofa with my feet up. Viewed from this position, the future seemed very bright indeed. I told Mr Holmes that I wanted to be a writer. He agreed, cautiously, that this might be possible.”

PJ Stevens, Librarian & School Archivist 23

Repton Literary Festival continued Second Repton Literary Festival – October 2019

Thanks to the efforts of a small group of dedicated enthusiasts, the inaugural festival took place over the last weekend of October 2018.

As a result the organisers have made a five-year commitment to establish an annual Octoberfest of Literary Arts in Repton. Actors, poets, authors, historians, artists and celebrities brought an eclectic mix to the occasion, which also included plenty of family fun through children’s activities. With the caption “Little Village: Big Stories” the 2019 Festival was centred on the 400 Hall foyer which proved to be a successful focal point.

Though the weather once again was unkind, it failed to dampen everyone’s spirits. Game of Thrones’ star, David Bradley, appeared in the theatre for a question-and-answer session, as did Edwina Currie, Johnny Leavesley (N’82), Dan Capurro, Ben Lamb and Alan Millband in “Lies, damn lies, and politicians - who’s telling the truth now?” Several ORs returned, including Nick Burns (N’90), George Rainsford (M’96), and Blair Dunlop (S’05), who took part in a fascinating discussion chaired by Guy Levesley (H’75 and current staff) .

Historic Repton tours took place, led by Paul Stevens and Richard Harding. Dr Cat Jarman from Bristol University gave a fascinating talk on the Vikings at Repton during the winter of 873 and focused on very recent discoveries both at Repton and at Foremark. John Plowright, former Head of History and Master of the Scholars, spoke eruditely on “Churchill - hero or villain?” Cath Edwards and OR Caroline England (A’79) returned once again and spoke about their latest books. Another highlight was an opportunity to meet the illustrator of Anna Sewell’s “Black Beauty”- a stunning new colour edition of the classic tale from Victorian Britain. This and other work by Christian Birmingham were beautifully displayed in the New Court Gallery. In the Library Katherine Bucknell spoke about Christopher Isherwood (H’19), novelist, author, teacher and playwright, whose writing inspired “Cabaret”. Also in the Library, Katherine Connelly, a writer and historian who led school student strikes in the British anti-war movement in 2003, spoke on the remarkable life of Sylvia Pankhurst.

It’s not possible to mention all the events and their contributors, but the programme director, John Cavey (former parent), is to be congratulated on putting together such a stimulating mix of events, including plenty of music, workshops and a ‘Super Saturday For Children’ .

The Festival is gathering momentum and additional help will be needed in the future. If anyone reading this who lives locally might be interested, we are looking for help on the administrative and technical side with a possibility of using a school-based facility nearer the time. Unfortunately due to Covid restriction the 2020 festival was unable to go ahead. www.reptonliteraryfestival or FACEBOOK @reptonliteraryfestival Richard Harding (Hon OR) RLF Working Group

OR Publications A School in England: The History of Repton is the last book by the respected historian and Old Reptonian Hugh Brogan (O’49). This final masterwork is the fruit of twenty-five years’ research, completed shortly before Brogan’s death in 2019, using hitherto untapped sources (such as the Fisher family papers) and delivered with his trademark acid wit and astute observation.

Here is a clear and invaluable account of how Repton evolved from grammar school to major public school, acquiring a national reputation and sending out boys across the globe in quest of fortune or adventure, as well as producing such sporting greats as CB Fry (Cross 1885), Harold Abrahams (M’1914) and ‘Bunny’ Austin (O’1920).

There is drama in events such as students rioting under Macaulay; humour in accounts of staff–student relations (as when Headmaster Lionel Ford walked slowly back to school with two of his boys after observing them hastily concealing their lighted pipes in their trouser pockets); and pathos in the stories of those sent off to war.

“I cannot recommend it more highly to anyone interested in the history of school and the history of this country. In its scholarship, elegant prose and warmth, I doubt very much whether it will ever be surpassed” Paul Stevens, Repton School Librarian & School Archivist

O N LY

£25.00 (not incl. P&P)

Books can be purchased from the School shop – 01283 559323 or shop@repton.org.uk

01283 559323 shop@repton.org.uk

24

A School in England is the first scholarly history of Repton for many years and the first by an award-winning historian. Treating Repton as representative of English public schools, Brogan sheds light on many corners of national history in a work which will entertain and inform not only members of the Repton community but any educated reader.

Last but not least, his book will serve as a vital treasure store not only for those engaged in critiquing or defending private schooling, but also for those reflecting more generally on the purpose of education and how it has changed over the centuries.

Order your copy from the Repton School Shop

REP002 Book Flyer V2.indd 1

Brogan’s poignant treatment of the Great War reveals for the first time an OTC sergeantmajor struggling with his own pacifism and tells in unprecedented detail how the school was split down the middle and came under the War Office’s unwelcome attention, resulting in the dismissal of two of its most talented teachers. Readers will also learn the truth of much else, including why Clarke resigned in 1943, why staff celebrated the 1968 departure of Thorn, why girls were admitted in 1970, and how the Beldam millions were made and spent.

04/09/2020 09:20

Frank Marsh (C’53) was one of the last men called up for National Service, it ended two weeks after he joined up. A serviceman in the Royal Horse Artillery this book follows his experiences from training in Wiltshire to Kenya and Aden. It traces the final days of National Service and the disappearance of the British Empire.

Mark Oulton (P’73) Global Agricultural Market Research Manager for the Swiss Company SGS SA. The Lure of the Red Dragon. Life & Love for a foreigner in modern day China. This paperback first published in 2019, ISBN 9781072881933 “ This is the real thing- the inside story- and extraordinarily well written. If you are planning to visit China, let alone live there, this book is compulsory reading” Sir Alan Wilson, FPA, FRS, Director Special Projects, the Alan Turing Institute and Executive Chair, the Ada Lovelace Institute, Nuffield Foundation, London.

Richard Heller (C’61) has published a new book, The Prisoner Of Rubato Towers.

“It is an increasingly crazed account of my life in London lockdown, shared with a literary mouse, a poetic cockroach and a bridge-playing goldfish, and blighted by two sex-crazed urban foxes.

It contains songs and satire and many new ways to insult Donald Trump. It reveals fascinating details of the secret lives of famous people who know me. “Raises English comic prose to heights never before attempted, let alone achieved” said one of them, when I asked.

There are a few Repton memories too. You can demand it from your local bookshop or order it online” http://www.richardheller.co.uk/2020/08/books/my-new-book-theprisoner-of-rubato-towers/

“ I want to go to China, eat in China,learn Chinese and have a Chinese name. He is a global citizen and writes with a warm and generous tone”Tim Rayment, Sunday Times, London.

“He feeds on Chinese delights, roams through streets teeming with spirited people, shrinks into high rise apartments for culinary delights and reveres unlikely heroes.

The tamed Red Dragon and our cosmopolitan author hosts us on an enriching visit to an unfamiliar China.

Dr. Rick Gilmore. Member of the US Council on Foreign Relations and former Presidential Adviser on Agriculture, Washington D.C.

Robin Snook (L’76) used lockdown to fulfil a life long ambition to write a book.

“I Was There” will appeal to the sporting all rounder …from an unforgettable FA Cup goal in the 1970s to the thrilling climax of the 2015 At Andrews Open championship, the tragedy of the Bradford City Fire disaster, to the most memorable Ashes series in history, dive and enjoy this unique sporting journey.

25

OR Publications continued Caroline England (A’79) has had two new books published; CONVICTIONS on the 29th January and CONFESSIONS on 10th June 2020. Caroline has written both these books under the name of Caro Land.

CONVICTIONS: There are two sides to every crime… Returning home to care for her ill mother, and approaching her fortieth birthday, Natalie Bach is devastated when she’s dumped without explanation by her long-term boyfriend. Struggling to pick herself up, she’s offered her old job at Goldman Law. Jack Goldman’s estranged son Julian has been arrested for attempted murder and he wants Natalie to find out why. With the help of fellow solicitor Gavin Savage, Natalie sets out to investigate, but with a series of red herrings ahead, will she ever discover the truth? And can Natalie avoid her personal problems interfering with the case?

Convictions is the first book in a gripping new legal, crime suspense series.

Caroline also writes under her own name – BETRAY HER is now in paperback and TRUTH GAMES will be an ebook, out in 19th November 2020. BETRAY HER, which is currently available on Kindle and audio was published in paperback on 9th July.

BETRAY HER: Best friends forever. That’s the pact you made.

You’d do anything for her. And you have. She’s always had it all.

If you could take it for yourself ..... would you?

STOP PRESS: The second book: TRUTH GAMES has been released... Family is everything to Ellie Wilson. She tries hard to be the perfect mother, the perfect partner, the perfect daughter - but she can’t always seem to get it right. When an old friend from university re-enters their lives, dark memories from Ellie’s past begin to resurface. Memories that have been buried for a long time. As Ellie starts to unravel some shocking and sinister realities, she realises that she must choose between keeping the family she loves - and facing the truth.

From the Top Ten ebook bestselling author, this twisty psychological thriller will have you hooked from the first page to the last jaw-dropping twist. Available at https://amzn.to/2H0DdDl

Luke Brown (N’14) has set up a magazine company. He started it in October 2019, whilst at Exeter University calling it The Guide and it is a magazine that focuses on Travel, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Style, Music, Interviews and much more. It has been expanding gradually and it has seen a steady rise in the readership.

Published articles include interviews with Jonathan Joseph, England and British Lions Rugby player, Anna Toman, England and GB hockey star and Aaron Hibell (O’09), upcoming artist and music producer. In February 2020, Luke published the first printed edition of The Guide. www.theguidearticles.com

David Walsh and Anthony Seldon have published Public Schools and the Second World War – David says, regarding the connections to Repton School, “It features Headmasters and future Archbishops in William Temple and Geoffrey Fisher, the runner Harold Abrahams and the revelation that in 1943 Repton had a doubtful future, with numbers down from 353 in 1939 to 273 in 1943, and debts of £50k. Nick Hillman, an OR who is now Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, gave me a lot of help with the more political chapters.”

Notes on the authors - Sir Anthony Seldon is Vice Chancellor of Buckingham University having previously been the inspirational Master of Wellington College and Headmaster of Brighton College. He has written or edited over 35 books including the standard works on Prime Ministers Major, Blair and Brown. He is the authorised historian to 10 Downing Street.

He was knighted in 2014.

David Walsh is former Deputy Head of Tonbridge School and has taught in Australia.

He co-authored Public Schools and The Great War (Pen and Sword Military 2013) with Anthony Seldon. He leads battlefield tours.

26

Repton Memories

Frank Russell (O’69) has sent in this photograph, and says “My father (James O’35) is kneeling on left and he looks about 14 or 15 so suggest the picture was taken in ‘35-’37.

It is not captioned so I have no idea if it is an Orchard House team or a School team pic.”

Perhaps The Arch might be the place for a bit of research?

BLUE Dear Mr Holliday, I have to write these lines for you As you were in so foul a mood Yesterday I really do not see why your indisposition Should result in this imposition Or be allowed to outweigh The facts about that day I still maintain that I was only just a minute late Hardly long for you to have to wait Moreover, I’d just had PE And I’d guess You’d rather me be tardy Than punctual but undressed I realise school-mastering Can, for some, cause stress And, wonder, in all frankness, If for you it’s quite the right career to impress So far this term you’ve issued 1500 blue Thus the powers that be may very well conclude That rather than us boys simply being rude This rather signifies your inability to crack the whip: That you’re a Master lacking ‘grip’ Whose relations with his charges are no better than a feud Your last report despaired I’d learned no Latin But let me reassure you I’m living for the day When the school magazine allows me to read Your Valete John Plowright (Former Master)

From the Archive

@reptonarchives

Thank you to Geraly Wyllys (C’52) who says “ Having reached the age that one has to turn out old files, records etc I have come across some more Repton Photos of my era 1952/’57.

This photo is of the Repton 2nd X1 Cricket Team 1956, as I was struck by what a good looking bunch of Reptonians we all were ! (Only 10 in the photo).

Back row – L-R DCM Vaughan (C’53), REC Rayner (C’52), JA Stanley (N’52), DC Knight (H’51), TCH Sale (C’53).

Front row -L-R CS Warner (H’52), WG Wyllys (C’52), ME Cross (H’52), TJB Locker (P’52), HW Waters (M’54).

Won 4, beating Shrewsbury and Rugby, Lost 2 and drawn 3.”

27

From the Archive continued

Thank you to Kenn d’Oudney (B’59) and David Hings (P’59) for sending in these pictures.

Kenn recalls: Not many people, and certainly few Reptonians, ever had the privilege and pleasure of playing against a team containing the cricketing legend, Sir Leonard Hutton. Deservedly, he was the first “player” ever to achieve captaincy of an England side and forever break the class taboo on professionals not ‘qualifying’ for that role. Len remains unsurpassed as the batsman with the highest ever Ashes test score, with a knock of 364 not out at the Oval in 1938.

However, sharing a pitch with Len had a special private significance for me — which is why I came to take that clipping from the local ’paper.

I first met Len in Sri Lanka when I was nine years old! In those days the England side went out by slow ocean liner to Australia to play for the Ashes. The ship had a stopover in Colombo, and the players were wont to try to get their land-legs working with a one-day game there.

My father, who worked in tea in Sri Lanka and was an avid cricketer, was a pal of the Director of Colombo Cricket Club where the game took place. I remember thinking the then fastest bowler in the world Frank Tyson’s all-too-frequent bouncers were most unsporting; but, to be fair, perhaps he was just not able to get the pitch right after a couple of weeks at sea and nothing more energetic than deck quoits!

Len was one-degree-under on that day and spent the duration of the game in a part of the dressing room from which he could watch the game. There, he was accompanied by my father, my father’s pal and me. Len was charming to me, and I was much impressed. No doubt he was reminded by my presence of his two fine boys at home… one of whom came to feature in that Derby press photo.

Later on, John Hutton and I played Pilgrims cricket together, sometimes with Richard too, who played for England. I got to know Dorothy and Len and went to dinner with them for John’s Twenty-First (majority in those days).

28

@reptonarchives

Thank you to John Harrison (H’59) for sending in the photograph of the Barnes Squad winners in 1961.

Thank you to Nick Gallop (B’85) for sending in the following:30 YEARS AGO THIS SUMMER: WHEN REPTON SCHOOL HAD THE BEST ATHLETICS TEAM IN THE COUNTRY In 1990, over 40 Repton athletes travelled to London to challenge for the hotly-contested Chomley Shield, the athletics event that brought together the nation’s top performing school teams. What was then called the Chomley Shield, is now called the Guy Butler Shield, still hosted annually by Harrow School. In 1990, the Repton School A team – unbeaten on the Midlands circuit – won all three age-groups. Not content with that, the School B team came a narrow second overall, with times, heights and distances to beat all other A and B teams. Whilst the prize has been retitled in the intervening decades, the event remains the most competitive athletics team meeting on the independent school circuit.

Pictured with Repton School athletes in 1990 are coaches Noel Bennett (left), David Gallop and Keith ‘Bernie’ Workman (right).

Erratum It is with deep regret that an error was made in the obituary for Alan Leslie Ambrose (H’48) in the Autumn 2019 issue of The Arch.

Our sincere apologies to John Hings (P’55), Rosemary Ambrose and Alastair Ambrose.

29

Announcements

Births

Jeremy Stanton (B’89) and Sabreena are proud to announce the birth of their second child, James Anthony Edward Stanton, born October 18th 2019, a brother for Michael aged two.

Alexandra Heggie (née Morton) (F’99) and husband James are delighted to announce the birth of Edwin George Jonathan Heggie on June 4th 2019.

Catherine Bexon (G’92) is delighted to announce the arrival of her son, Raphael John Montgomery on January 27th 2020.

Patrick McConvey (N‘02) and Michelle are delighted to announce the birth of Noah Christopher Vinton-McConvey on October 13th 2020.

Engagements Elliot Sheasby (S’04) to Harriet Cornish (M’06).

Their marriage will take place on July 4th 2020.

Andrew Freedlander (S’06) to Erin Banks-Kelly on August 15th 2020. The marriage will take place in Repton in April 2022.

Emily Summerton (G’06) to Adam Byrne. The wedding will take place in Yorkshire on September 26th 2020.

30

Weddings Caroline Hartley (A’78) to Jon Willatt (B’75) on Saturday, March 14th 2020 at Chelsea Old Town Hall.

Left to right are Todd Hogue, Nicola Hartley (A’82), Owen Darbishire (teacher of economics circa 1988), Caroline Hartley (A’78) (and clarinet teacher 1992), Jon Willatt (B’75) (and English teacher 1988/90), Lady Cohen and Sir Jonathan Cohen.

Emma Close (G’01) to Shaun Doughty on July 20th 2019 at Harlaxton Manor, near Grantham.

ORs in attendance were Sophia Harlow (née Stewart) (G’04) and Rebecca Close (G’03) who was also the Maid of Honour and MC.

31

Announcements

Weddings Continued

Rachel Smith (A’02) was married on September 5th at St Nicholas’ Church, Studland, Dorset with the reception at Smedmore House, Kimmeridge.

Photo right, L to R: Michael Schneider (Groom’s Brother and Best Man), Christian Schneider (Groom), Rachel Schneider (née Smith) (A’02), Bridesmaids Victoria Honan (née Smith) (A’00) with Ivy Honan, and Charlotte Smith (A’02), outside St. Nicholas’ Church, Studland.

Photo below: Rachel Schneider (née Smith) (A’02) and Nick Smith (B’69) at Smedmore Hall, Kimmeridge.

Sean Smale (S’04) to Rebecca Voisey on October 5th 2019, in Hawick, Scottish Borders.

ORs in attendance: From left to right: Abby Smale (A’05), Oliver Townley (S’04), Elliot Sheasby (S’04), Jack Williams (S’04), Sean Smale (S’04), Rebecca Voisey, Edd Carver (S’04), James Kettlewell (S’05), James Waddilove (S’04), James Sisson (S’04).

32

Farewell

Brook House

The Orchard

John Brandford Ringer (B’47) on December 28 2019. th

David Charles Ratcliffe (B’49) on January 16 2019. th

Roger Philip Laurence Chetwode Clarke (O’52) on July 10th 2020.

William Frazer Dukes (B’70) March 17th 2019.

Christopher Leslie Bryant (O’72) on July 28th 2020.

Son of C William Bryant (Mathematics teacher and Housemaster of The Priory).

The Cross

The Priory

Neil Roger Wilson (B’53) in September 2019.

John Dudley Rose (C’54) on April 19 2020. th

Gilbert Alexander Kennedy Reuss (P’33) on January 13th 2020.

Raees Rauf (C’09) in 2018.

Michael David Keeling (P’44) on June 7th 2020 at his home in South Africa, where he had settled for the past 20 years, following a successful career as a veterinary surgeon in Guildford, Surrey.

The Hall

John Michael Trott (P’44) in July 2018.

John Park Shackleton (H’40) on May 23rd 2020.

Christopher John Bullock (P’48) on December 17th 2019.

John Antony Nichols (H’44) on August 31st 2020.

Nigel Gwyn Symons Jones (H’45) on August 25th 2019.

John Garrett Richardson (H’47) on October 12th 2020.

Roger Keith Stanley (H’49) in July 2020.

Alastair Morris (Jumbo) Barnett (H’57) on March 31st 2020.

Michael Frederick Hasenfuss (H’58) on September 28th 2019.

Richard Francis John Atkinson (H’60) on September 1st 2019.

Ben Bruce (H’87) in October 2020.

Anthony John Marden (P’52) on October 18th 2017.

Richard Walton (P’57) on May 6th 2019.

Richard Heneage Morton Kelsey (P’58) on February 1st 2020.

Richard John Bradburn (P’67) on March 15th 2020.

John Robert Norton Page (P’68) on November 7th 2019.

FORMER STAFF Michael Anthony Lloyd Bower (Tony), Assistant Housemaster 1949-1950 on December 13th 2019.

Latham House Timothy Lester Townsend Robey (L’48) on January 20 2020. th

James McLaren,1972-2002 and Housemaster of Orchard House 1986-1993, on March 28th 2020.

JJF Robinson 1964 -1967, teacher of Mathematics, on February 1st 2020.

Michael Walter Bacon (L’52) on June 1st 2020.

Michael William Bolton (L’55) on August 16th 2020.

Mrs Sue Watkinson, fomer Matron of Field House, on March 29th 2020.

The Mitre

Catherine Hadwen, former School Nurse, on October 13th 2020

Lindsay Barclay Scott-Wood (M’42) on December 12 2019. th

Robert Blackburn - Michaelmas 1964 - Summer 1968.

Richard Carver Budenberg (M’43) on December 29th 2019.

Adrian (Ben) Barman (M’44) on May 290th 2019.

FORMER STAFF - FOREMARKE

David ‘Benjie’ Hives (M’45) on November 25th 2019.

Mrs Jan Harding, former Head of Girls’ House, Foremarke Hall, on February 27th 2020.

Michael Steward (M’45) on January 6th 2020.

Barry Anthony Heaney (M’46) on September 22nd 2019.

New House George Walter Stott (N’40) on October 15th 2019.

Malcolm Emmerson Else (N’45) on November 27th 2019.

Michael Mawdesley Applebee (N’47) on March 15th 2020.

Ian Hugh Richards (N’51) on June 24th 2020.

Harold ‘John’ Woodcock Pepper (N’55) on September 10th 2019.

Michael Andrew Linton (N’56) on August 2nd 2019.

Paul Stuart Fletcher (N’59) on April 14th 2018.

Christopher Carey (N’94) on January 20th 2020.

33

Farewell continued

John Tooley (New’38) and Governor ‘84-’94 John Tooley, born June 1st 1924, died March 18th 2020 Sir John Tooley was general director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, during some of its more turbulent years.

He picked up the pieces of Rudolf Nureyev’s dramatic defection from the Soviet Union to the West in 1961; engineered the appointment of Georg Solti as musical director; and made the case for better public funding of the arts to an increasingly intransigent Margaret Thatcher and her ministers.

He also went some way to improving the accessibility of opera – fighting to retain affordable ticket prices, introducing the heavily branded Midland Bank Proms in 1972 (which lasted until the house’s closure for refurbishment in 1997) and taking “Big Top” seasons out of the capital.

When Tooley arrived at Covent Garden in 1955 Karl Rankl had not long resigned as music director after learning that Thomas Beecham and Clemens Krauss had been invited to conduct there without his knowledge. Rafael Kubelik’s appointment that year brought a period of musical joy as well as rigorous discipline, the Czech famously making his mark by sacking Tito Gobbi after the baritone failed to appear at the first rehearsal for Otello in 1955.

The Solti era, from 1961, coincided with the introduction of directors such as Peter Ustinov and Sam Wanamaker, although the Hungarian maestro was not universally welcomed, and Tooley had to persuade Solti not to resign when his car was covered in graffiti that read “Go home Solti”. With Colin Davis, who arrived in 1971, Tooley was able to introduce Peter Hall as director of productions, as well as command a greater profile for contemporary works, such as Tippett’s The Knot Garden. His final music director was Bernard Haitink, who joined in 1987, the year before Tooley’s departure.

He was a staunch believer in a Keynesian, rather than a market-forces, approach to arts funding, using every opportunity to trot out his firmly held view that “the arts should never be seen as a luxury, they are part of life.” Nevertheless, when the BBC was unable to find the funds to broadcast a remarkable Otello in 1980 starring Margaret Price and conducted by Kubelik, he did not hesitate in taking it instead to the commercial Capital Radio.

John Tooley was born in Rochester, Kent, on June 1 1924. During his time at Repton he nursed an ambition to be a singer. He read Classics and History at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

After war service with the Rifle Brigade, where he gained administrative experience as an assistant adjutant, he joined the Ford motor company at Dagenham in 1948 as a graduate trainee. He was soon involved in his first dispute, taking his complaint to Sir Patrick Hennessy, the managing director, after discovering that the next intake of graduates were to be paid 4s 6d a week as opposed to his 3s 10d.

He was appointed secretary of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1952, working under Edric Cundell, the principal, and three years later joined the Royal Opera House as assistant to David Webster, the general administrator. During the 1960s he gradually assumed many of the ailing Webster’s responsibilities, formally taking over his predecessor’s post in 1970. His position was retitled general director tw0 years later.

In retirement he was much sought-after by musical organisations for his Establishment connections, serving on the boards of the Walton Trust, the Britten Estate and the Bath Mozartfest, among others.

Tooley, who was knighted in 1979, published his memoir, In House, in 1999. Its appearance coincided with that of his successor, Jeremy Isaacs, for whom Tooley displayed his displeasure in what Petronella Wyatt once described as a “lofty tone”. However, while the critics acknowledged Tooley’s unrivalled experience at the heart of Covent Garden, the arriviste Isaacs’s account made for a more entertaining read.

Tooley relished the informality of his era, recalling how a member of the percussion section would visit his office an hour before curtain up, clear his desk of papers, lie him down and massage his back; or how a wigmaster once followed him down the street shouting: “Come on John, it’s time to get your bloody hair cut.”

He generously encouraged young musicians rather than boring them with tales of yesteryear. His nieces recall with glee how when the Royal Box at Covent Garden was not being used by its intended incumbents he would smuggle them in.

John Tooley was a man who enjoyed the company of many ladies, though he admitted that his family “paid a price for my attachment and commitment to the Royal Opera House”.

Extracted from The Daily Telegraph

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Charles Sydney Rycroft Giffard (P’40) and Governor ‘88-’94 October 30th 1926 - February 21st 2020 Sir Sydney Giffard, who has died aged 93, was appointed Britain’s Ambassador to Japan in 1984, having been an intimate observer of the Japanese scene for more than 30 years, not only as a diplomat but as a linguist and a translator of Japanese literature.

Having entered the Diplomatic Service in October 1951, three months later Giffard arrived as a language student for his first posting in Japan. His second posting in Tokyo came in 1964, the year Japan hosted its first Olympic Games and three years after the publication of Giffard’s acclaimed translation into English of the novel Ai no Shogen, (“The Flowers are Fallen”), by the Japanese novelist Rinzo Shiina.

On his return to London on promotion in 1968 Giffard took up the sensitive post of head of the Eastern European and Soviet Department at the height of the Cold War. He immediately became involved in negotiations for the release of the London lecturer Gerald Brooke, who had been arrested in 1965 for allegedly smuggling anti-Soviet leaflets. In 1969 Brooke was controversially exchanged for Peter and Helen Kroger, key figures in the Portland spy ring, a move described by critics of the Wilson Government as succumbing to Soviet blackmail. In 1971 Giffard was involved in the expulsion by the Heath Government of 105 Soviet diplomats in what was later seen as a major turning point in Cold War counter-espionage activities in Britain.

In the mid-1970s, after a posting in Tel Aviv, Giffard had his third tour in Japan on promotion to the rank of minister. This was during a time of Japan’s trade disputes with developed countries, characterised in the UK by a large Anglo-Japanese visible trade imbalance which overshadowed bilateral relations. Giffard was at the centre of the British Government’s efforts to encourage the Japanese to buy British and invest in British manufacturing. This was no easy task. In 1977 he was called in by Japan’s foreign ministry for a formal dressingdown following the broadcast of a Granada TV World In Action documentary, “Eastern Promise”, prompted by Hitachi’s bid to open a factory in the north of England. The programme had infuriated the Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda by including wartime footage showing a prisoner with his Japanese guards, an animated graphic of a Trojan horse being sliced open with a samurai sword to reveal the names of Japanese corporations competing with European firms, and a sequence showing a Japanese business executive on a golf course transforming into a picture of a samurai warrior brandishing his sword. Giffard later wrote to London: “I was told … in strictest confidence, that the ‘most unpleasant’ communication which Mr Miyazawa [director of European affairs at the foreign ministry] had to make was the result of an outburst by Mr Fukuda personally.” He also expressed concern that the row could make Japan less likely to ease Britain’s balance of payments problem.

A final posting in London, as Deputy Under Secretary, saw Giffard again as a diplomat at the centre of events during the Falklands conflict, keeping in touch with allies. Afterwards he worked to keep in place the arms embargo against Argentina while seeking to improve relations with Chile and other South American countries.

Giffard’s time as Ambassador in Tokyo, from 1984 to 1986, were years of progress in UK-Japanese relations. In 1984 Nissan established its huge manufacturing plant in Sunderland, triggering a steady flow of inward investment by Japanese firms into Britain in the years that followed.

In 1994, after his retirement from the Diplomatic Service, Giffard published Japan Among the Powers, 1890-1990, in which he set out to show that the search for “status and security” that had fuelled the country’s drive to become a great power in the pre-war era continued to motivate the new Japan in the post-war era – with the difference that the country had learnt from earlier mistakes. In a review in The Daily Telegraph Ian Nish praised the study as an “admirable commentary on a country which, after a century of ups and downs, is still finding its way towards a place among the powers”.

Giffard made a particularly significant contribution to the Peace, Friendship and Exchange Initiative, established by the Japanese government in 1995 to confront the painful history of Japan’s relations with neighbouring Asian and other nations. He served for eight years as chairman of the Joint Committee of the UK-Japan History Project, one strand of the Initiative – an ambitious venture involving researchers from both countries tackling the 400 years of relations.

The project was brought to a successful conclusion in 2003 with the completion of five volumes, in both Japanese and English, and the same year Giffard was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in recognition of his efforts to foster friendship between the two nations and of his promotion of Japanese studies in the UK. “Post-war Japan is perhaps the first country ever to reach first-class status without disposing of military power commensurate with its economic strength,” Giffard observed in an article in The Times in 1988. “The latter, however, is now such as to ensure that Japan’s influence must continue to grow, both regionally and internationally. For those of us who first saw Japan in the early post-war years … this is an astonishing transformation. It is the kind of achievement for which one’s admiration is enhanced, not diminished, by familiarity with the less spectacular stretches of what has often been a painful journey.”

Charles Sydney Rycroft Giffard was born on October 30th 1926 to Walter and Minna Giffard and brought up at Lockeridge in Wiltshire.

His father had lost his leg in a shooting accident before the First World War but served in balloons for the Royal Flying Corps. Three of Walter’s five brothers had been killed in the conflict and in 2003 Giffard published Guns, Kites and Horses: Three Diaries from the Western Front, the wartime diaries of his father and his uncles Jack and Eddie.

Giffard was educated at Repton School and read Classics at Wadham College, Oxford, which elected him to an honorary fellowship in 1991. After National Service he entered the Diplomatic Service in 1951.

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Farewell continued

Charles Sydney Rycroft Giffard (P’40) and Governor ‘88-’94 Continued He spent nearly half his diplomatic career in Japan, becoming Ambassador in 1984 after serving as Ambassador to Switzerland from 1980-82. Tall, slim and quietly spoken, Giffard had a natural air of authority and a highly analytical mind. But he was also a raconteur with an engaging sense of humour – a “diplomat’s diplomat”, as a colleague put it. As well as his books, Giffard contributed many book reviews over the years to the publication Asian Affairs. He also wrote poetry, a hobby begun as a teenager. Wadham College intend to establish a poetry prize in his name.

Giffard was appointed CMG in 1976 and KCMG in 1984.

He married first, in 1951, Wendy Vidal, with whom he had a son and a daughter. The marriage was dissolved, and in 1976 he married, secondly, Hazel Roberts, who survives him with his children.

Extracted from The Daily Telegraph

Geoffery Boothby Saunders (N’43) January 25th1929 - October 30th 2019 Geoff’s wife said “After being encouraged to run whilst at Repton, Geoffrey became an International cross country and steeplechase runner”.

The name of ‘Geoff Saunders’ lived on for many years after he left Repton. He was known as an inspirational runner, who won the international cross-country championship at Caerleon Racecourse, Newport, on Saturday 31st March 1951. Geoff was captain of running at Repton in 1946 when cross-country running was a flourishing inter-school sport, all helped by the fact that local countryside was less built upon, and roads were quiet and traffic free. The Repton running VIII in1946 entered the Northern Public Schools’ championships at Wythenshaw, Manchester, and Geoff Saunders was the individual winner. He inspired further generations of runners at Repton, so that in the ‘48/’49 season the running VIII had nine matches and won every one, leaving Uppingham, Rugby, Shrewsbury and Oundle well beaten. Geoff was at prep school at The Leas, Hoylake and lived in Bolton where he was a valued member of Bolton Harriers. He was at Manchester University and ran in the U.A.U Cross Country Team, ’52, ’53 & ’54. His only rival up north was Walkter Hesketh.

Geoff was a pharmacist by trade. He was not without a rather wicked sense of humour and he delighted in some mischief occasionally.

At Repton, he not only made his mark in the running world, he also livened up the village. It was the occasion of the ‘village show’ and at The Cross were several signs saying ‘to the show’. This kindled Geoff’s imagination. He ‘borrowed’ some of the signs and re-directed them to point towards the old music school, which was then on Boot Hill. He didn’t stop there. He placed them carefully so they directed visitors up the narrow staircase to the music room towards the glass door of the Music Director’s room. Imagine the expression on Mervyn Williams’ face when he looked up from his desk and saw the crowds assembling outside his door. Geoff’s Housemaster was not amused, and Geoff was denied ever being a House Prefect.

Martin How (H’45)

Norrison Alexander (Alec) Harker (H’46) May 23rd 1933 - February 15th 2020 My father arrived as a pupil at Repton just after the war in 1946, following in the footsteps of his brother, Ian, who was seven years older. Having gone on to read medicine at St John’s Cambridge, he trained at Guys and other London hospitals before coming to Cirencester where he was a General Practitioner and Obstetrician before retirement.

He always spoke fondly of Repton and over the years attended some of the alumni events as well as keeping in touch with some of his fellow classmates. He is survived by his wife Sylvia and sons Robert and James, Robert Harker (son)

John ‘Martin’ Hattersely (O’46) November 10th 1932 - June 7th 2020 Born in Yorkshire, Martin graduated from Cambridge with a BA majoring in Economics and Law, and LLB and an MA in 1959, followed by a Bachelor of Theology in 2013.

Martin was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1957 and continued his career as a lawyer in Edmonton until his retirement in 2006. He was an ordained minister with the Anglican Church and was active in the Diocese of Edmonton for over forty years. Following the death of his daughter, he helped to found the Victims of Homicide Support Society of Edmonton. Martin was a proud recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee medal in 2012. He had a passion for politics, having been active with both the Societal Credit Parties of Canada and Alberta.

Matin was also a valued member of Mensa.

A hundred of Martin’s monthly columns and sermons were compiled into a book “The Fifth Column” published in 2016.

Nancy Whistance-Smith (Daughter) 36

Edward Ernest Greenhalgh (N’47) January 3rd 1934 - May 17th 2019 Ted Greenhalgh was the Repton XI’s talented wicket-keeper in 1951 and 1952; the team’s unbeaten record in his first season was due as much to him as it was to the strength of the School’s bowling. By the end of the second, he was picked as The Rest’s gloveman for the annual encounter against Southern Schools at Lord’s, in which he shone, up to the stumps and standing back. A left-hander, Ted showed promise with the bat in 1955, averaging 40 on Repton Pilgrims’ South Coast Tour. He made his debut for the strong Lancashire 11 the following summer and averaged 42 in his first four qualifying matches for MCC. By now he was also a skilful bowler. His 109 matched for MCC between 1954 and 1985 brought him 69 wickets including 6.37 against Merchant Taylors’ Crosby in 1975. A Lancashire trialist in 1958 Ted was always a popular and versatile cricketer. When not in an MCC sweater he would be in the XL Club’s, the Cryptics’ or that of the Gentlemen of Cheshire, such was his fondness for all four clubs.

Extracted from MCC 2019, from Edward Wilkinson (C’46)

Mark Cary Sedgwick Barnard (C’48) March 23rd 1932 to August 27th 2020 Mark was the elder son of John and Cecily Barnard who were Houseparents of The Orchard from 1939-1965. His early years were spent in Switzerland where his parents ran a finishing school for English boys which, sadly, had to be abandoned at the start of WW2 when they had to return to Britain or risk being interned for the duration.

The school was relocated to use Cross House which was empty at the time. It became Alpine College for a year, after which the pupils dispersed having finished their course. The Barnard family took up residence in St Wystan’s Cottage where they lived until taking over The Orchard. Mark became a day boy at the school when ill health forced him to leave Bryanston School. He was in The Cross which was up and running again. He subsequently achieved a BA in Mechanical Engineering at St John’s College Cambridge. He became one of the first two graduates to be taken on by The Rover Company, with whom he remained for the whole of his career. He was a gifted engineer and was one of the team working on the small gas turbine work for the company, leading towards – they hoped – gas turbine cars. His most exciting time came when he was project engineer on the Rover BRM which ran at Le Mans on two occasions. The first was to win an award for the first gas turbine car to complete the 24 hours. The second time was as a competitor in the actual race when they successfully stayed the course when large numbers of other cars did not!

In his later years Mark suffered a brain haemorrhage which ended his working life. He continued to take an interest in most things mechanical – he did not think much of “this electronic stuff” – and was able to remain active almost to the end of his life.

We were married for almost our diamond anniversary and have four children and 12 grandchildren, some of whom, although they were not educated at Repton would very much like to come and see Repton, one day!

Diana Barnard (Wife)

Gerald Alfred Reddington (B’48) August 8th 1934 - June 17th 2020 Businessman and philanthropist. A family man, a keen sailor. A man who challenged - but managed not to cause offense. A friend to everyone, witty and popular; a man who was very much as irreverent as he was a reverend. A Husband Father and Grandfather.

A Stockbroker, Psychotherapist and Priest.

He was the youngest of 3 boys; John, the eldest and then Bruce with whom he was closest. Tragically his mother, Yvonne, died when he was five. His father, Mortimer, a Harley Street Gynaecologist, married two more times, giving his sons a disjointed and rudderless early upbringing. Later Gerald was to look back at his father’s lifestyle, and consciously to choose a life of sobriety, decency, loyalty, and truth.

During the Blitz he was sent to Seaview with his brother Bruce to stay with a former girlfriend of his father’s. Sheena Shankland was known as “Cousin S” and, with her two sisters, ran the Orange Tree Hotel. She was his main mother figure, and the house, village and Cousin S remained the central focus of his whole life …A village where lifelong friendships were forged.

He was orphaned at 16, and there were no finances to support his return to Repton. National Service followed and a posting to Gibraltar, which was the happiest of times. He spent two fantastic years as a Lieutenant in the Duke of Wellington’s regiment. He was a young, unattached subaltern and very much in demand to attend the many parties there were. (Much like a summer in Seaview). By the time he returned, his stepmother, Beryl, had married Lord Colwyn, and he essentially became Lord Colwyn’s stepson. Gerald joined his firm in the city, but it didn’t suit. He then took his first of many, resourceful steps that mapped his life. He advertised himself in The Times, and was taken up by the stockbroking firm, Cohen, De Smit and Bierer. He later successfully made partner but realised there would be no opportunity to go further there.

Another £15 advertisement in the Financial Times, and in 1970, aged 36 he joined Scott, Goff and Hancock. He was Head of Sales and became Senior Partner, insisting everyone go home by 6pm to be with their families. Later all the money he made, he lost in Lloyds, only to recover some again. Ever philosophical he would say “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away”. He was ever aware, though, of the tragedy Lloyds had made on many lives.

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Farewell continued

Gerald Alfred Reddington (B’48) Continued Much earlier, in ‘57 Lady Colwyn organised a drinks party, having met Valerie, and was very keen for Gerald to meet her. Mother was beautiful, famous and clever. She had just been in the first Hammer House of Horror film, The Curse of Frankenstein. The perfect wife to be, of a future vicar….She had been about to convert to Catholicism when she met our father, and went with him to All Saints Margaret Street, where he was a server. The beauty and solemnity of the High Anglican services, kept her there. They shared a devotion to the Anglican Christian faith throughout their marriage, …. As Gerald put it, ‘We never really left All Saints’. It was the cornerstone of their lives, faith, and they were married there.

A young couple about town they were often in the hotspots of the time. Later in life, when encouraged, he’d muse “when we were at the Ivy with Judy and Nureyev”. I think he liked to remember that he wasn’t always the intellectual psychotherapist vicar. Judy Garland was a friend, and he would go daily to support her getting on stage at the Palladium, while she battled with drugs, drink, and stagefright. Later in the 70s he joined The Garrick Club in London. He adored taking friends and family there for lunch and dinners. He was the chair of the Garrick Charitable Trust for a few years. Recently, he tried to resign from the club, but they gave him life membership instead. He was so pleased.

Our parents had four children, Marcus, Adam, Benedicta and Victoria. Adam had been born with no pulmonary aorta in his heart. In 1970 my parents took Adam to America to the Mayo Clinic for three months. They left the rest of us under the care of Susan Swallow, who has stayed a member of our family ever since. Unfortunately, the clinic was unable to help Adam despite performing open heart surgery. A year later, in England, he died aged nine, four days before Christmas. Gerald had lost his mother, his father and now a son.

He was just 36.

Three years later he got involved with Centrepoint, through a friendship with Tim Miller, who had started it with a priest. He had met Tim on a silent retreat and later had tracked him down. Gerald told me he had always wanted to work with the homeless – he said because his mother had died early, and his father was always away, it was a classic piece of self-identification. He was chairman of the charity for 11 years. Working in the city by day, doing an ordination course in the evenings, having a family and working nights at Centrepoint, he knew he was doing too much, but in a typical-Gerald way he thought, “he could do it all”... until he fell asleep during a meeting with a VIP. Somewhere in all this he had a family life. Summer holidays were fun, either in Somerset or later in Seaview in a house on the beach, where he would take us sailing (terrifyingly), and bought one of the first speedboats in the bay, encouraging us all to have as much fun as possible. Years later his grandchildren, first Piers, then Thomas and Arabella would also enjoy Seaview, much to his delight. On Friday evenings collecting Gerald from the ferry, we would look out for him standing at the gangplank, always the first to disembark.

He always wanted to be a priest or a doctor. As soon as he had enough money to get his youngest through school (thank you) he joined the church. He was so grateful to our mother who supported him all the way. He was ordained deacon at 45 and became assistant curate at St.Vedast Alias Foster in the city, and later ordained as priest there. He was still working out his five-years notice as senior partner of his city firm. He was also training to be a psychotherapist at the same time – he said he thought, “it might be useful” ….

After he had left Scott, Goff and Hancock, he became Chaplain at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, while still at St Vedast.

Now a qualified psychotherapist he would walk the corridors and chat with music students practising alone and in need of guidance.

Just recently he received a letter from a grateful student, saying what a lifelong gift his spiritual guidance had been. Gerald received an Honorary Degree from the School, which somewhat made up for missing his formal education. For a man who had to leave school at 16 he had become an academically thoughtful and spiritual man with a great understanding of personality through his experience of being a Jungian analyst.

Aged 51 he returned to All Saints and became a full time non-stipendiary priest there. He said the first-ever service he took was the 8 o’clock morning mass. He described the experience as “wonderful”. I think he felt, with our mother, that he was Home.

He spent four happy years there, but really, he needed a ministry of his own. Although they were looking for a younger man, he became vicar at St Barbabas in Ealing. He said this was the happiest time of both of their lives. They were not the usual vicar and wife team.

Although Valerie didn’t ‘do catering’, she supported him by putting on plays, editing the Parish Magazine and organising play readings.

Gerald was by then an outstanding and memorable preacher, and brought the community together with his short, insightful sermons and empathic ear. The “bums on seats” tally grew steadily; he was ever the broker wanting numbers to rise. The quiet church filled up.

One of his proudest legacies was the fund raising and building of the new church halls. The eventual cost was £950,000, half coming from a heritage grant. Only Gerald would manage to get the Bishop of London to swing the first sledgehammer blow in full clerical regalia.

A parishioner wrote, “As a vicar Gerald was second to none. He worked so hard for so long, he always remembered people’s names and what was happening to them, his sermons were inspiring, so often just right for where I was at the time. He was always hands on with every event at St Barnabas, being present, moving chairs around, organising better heating. I don’t think people realized how much he did until he left. I have never met a vicar quite like him. He was an example to us all and a man who gave his all to our parish…. I just wanted you to know what a special person he was to us here at St Barnabas.””.

He had a wicked sense of humour and loved to shock. He was infamous for forgetting the punch line of a long joke, followed by groans from the family. He adored the witticisms of Gilbert and Sullivan and loved spoonerisms; at any given meal there was always ‘aspother noonful’ to be had.

After 10 years at St Barnabas he retired to Seaview. He continued to marry, christen and bury he friends and neighbours. Mostly he looked after our mother, who was increasingly suffering from Parkinson’s. She was the love of his life. He was devoted to her, and

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displayed enormous loyalty, self-sacrifice and kindness looking after her as her illness progressed. He promised that she would never have to go into a home; he doggedly kept the promise, but it was not always easy, and he was torn between his needs and hers.

His final years were the last test of his resilience. Our mother died a year after his stroke. This should have set him free, but he was already lame and dependent on others to live. We sincerely thank all the carers who eased his life at that time. He would ruefully tell me his great Aunt’s adage, ‘getting old is not for weaklings’.

He eventually died after a short respiratory illness, at home with Benedicta reading him his bible, on June 17th 2020. We pray that Gerald will now rest at peace with God and here is a final favourite thought from Gerald “If you want to know why God seems so far away, ask yourself – who moved?

Marcus Reddington (Son)

Gilbert Joseph Rowland (C’48) February 5th 1935 – May 28th 2020 As a child, Gilbert lived in Burton on Trent and attended Repton, initially going to the prep school, housed in Latham in 1942. Gilbert always talked fondly of Repton, especially playing cricket and happy days boarding during the war years and beyond.

Gilbert left school and joined the RAF to do his National Service (circa 1953 – 1955), of which he again had happy memoires. After National Service Gilbert went to Keele University, to study French and History and was presented with his degree by Princess Margaret. Gilbert went on to work for Nat West Bank, where he met his wife Maureen, but soon found his calling lay in teaching. In April 1962 he married his soul mate, Maureen (1937 – 2020) and they moved to College Town near Sandhurst Military Academy, to tie into Gilbert’s teaching job (French) at Farnborough Grammar School.

Two sons followed in 1963 and 1964 (Philip and Richard) and in the 1970s Gilbert moved to Collingwood School, a very large comprehensive school in Camberley, where Gilbert later became Head of the campus Sixth Form.

Throughout his life Gilbert remained a very keen birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast, steam train enthusiast, along with piano player, avid learner and he was a great history buff. Following taking early retirement in 1990, Gilbert filled his time with birdwatching (leading various local groups), tutoring, community work, world travel, the fine art society, music appreciation, family, friends and as a committed husband to Maureen.

Gilbert’s love of learning would come in hand, when in 2006 he appeared on Egg Heads as part of a winning team.

In later years Gilbert, always a true gentleman, steadfastly took on the mantle of being a dedicated and loving carer for Maureen, who sadly passed away just seven weeks before Gilbert succumbed to a cancer, undiscovered at the time of Maureen’s death. Gilbert is survived by both his sons and their extended family.

Gilbert’s niece Alison Jones (A’79) and late nephew, Guy Jones (L’78), followed in his footsteps to Repton and the connection to Repton continues, as Gilbert’s sister, Gillian Hartley now resides in Repton.

Richard and Philip Rowland (Sons) with assistance from Gillian Hartley (Sister)

Robert Nelson (L’49) September 24th 1935 - September 26th 2020 Robert attended the Prep School at Foremarke before coming to Repton in 1949. His childhood was dominated by illness, and he lived his life with asthma and diabetes. Being unable to share in the traditional outdoor sports, he excelled at chess and table-tennis. He also acquired a remarkably extensive knowledge of history, politics, music and the financial world. He was a keen philatelist, with a particular interest in the stamps of Western Africa. He took a law degree at St. Catherine’s, then the newest college at Oxford, and proceeded to read for the bar at Gray’s Inn, specialising in tax law. After practising law for a few years he decided on a change of career and joined the Ionian Bank in the late 60s. Merchant banking was evidently a good choice, because he remained at the Ionian for the rest of his working life, rising to become Managing Director.

In 1959 he married Annelise Larsen from Denmark, and they had four children: Karen, Charles, William (Wilf) and Annemarie (Mimi).

There are ten grandchildren. In 1982 Mimi (A’82) followed her father to Repton.

Robert died peacefully in hospital on 26th September from multiple causes after a short final illness. He will be remembered for qualities that make a good friend, such as loyalty, generosity, humour and an interest in other people.

Clive Bate (L’48) 39

Farewell continued

David William West (B’51) September 10th 1937 - July 20th 2020

David was born in Sheffield in 1937 and attended St Anselm’s Prep School in Bakewell in 1947 before entering Brook House in September 1951 where he was followed by his brothers Christopher in 1959 and John in 1962.

David was articled firstly to Watson Sons & Wheatcroft, transferring his articles to the Sheffield office of Coopers and Lybrand and then worked for them in London. Following qualification some two years later Coopers and Lybrand deployed him to Persia, not Iran, where he travelled the country with an interpreter investigating rural funding on behalf of the Shah’s agricultural bank. He then moved back to Sheffield setting up his own firm, West Hopkins in 1968. The firm continued to expand during his life-time with clients spread over a wide area of Great Britain until his retirement in 2000.

David loved nature and walking, and living in The Peak District was ideally placed to enjoy both as well as being a gifted artist, no doubt taught by ‘Artie’ Norris in his time at Repton. He was also a model railway enthusiast and had built an impressive model layout.

David was closely involved with the early days of the Repton Foundation giving expert financial advice to the then Director, Chris Charter and to the Committee.

He successfully fought off serious cancer in 1999, but it returned in a different form recently, and he died at home in Ashford in the Water on 20th July 2020 aged 82. Due to Covid-19 restrictions a private family funeral was held in Chesterfield on 14th August.

David is survived by his wife Rowan, daughter Harriet, son Alex and five grandchildren

Edward Wilkinson (C’46)

Michael Walter Bacon (L’52) December 18th 1938 - June 1tst 2020 Michael and I were at the same prep school, Stoneygate School from 1946 to the time when Michael, then nicknamed Eggy, moved to Foremarke School, where he and Charles Sayer (B’66) became long time friends. The three of us met up for OR functions on a number of occasions, with rendezvous a the Royal Hotel Ashby de la Zouch, and The Bubble for an overnight stay before the Repton events. We were all, I believe, members of what Housemaster Birdie Thomas called “lude fellows of the baser sort” John Austin (L’51)

Richard Hugh Atherton Doudney (B’54) March 15th 1941 - March 13th 2020 Recently, one of Richard’s Reptonian contemporaries sent me an e-mail enquiring about him, so I replied with a biography along the lines of this obituary. Sadly, as brother Richard has just passed away, I now share it with others of Richard’s contemporaries, Reptonians, present and Old, his many chums and fellow Pilgrim cricketers. Richard had a happy, fulfilling life, so I hope readers will empathise with and enjoy this account about him, his colonial forebears and the wondrous Isle which is Sri Lanka.

Richard left Repton in 1960 and went straight out to the providentially-productive tropical island then still generally referred to as Ceylon. The following explains background to his reasons for doing so.

After various earlier attempts of dubious outcome, our ancestor Colonel John Atherton had led the British force which took Rangoon from the Dutch Army, finally to acquire Burma as another British Colony. For this feat of arms, he was subsequently appointed ADC (Aide de Camp) to the scarcely mentionable Hanoverian dynasty monarch, King George the Third. (George, that man of avarice and folly, is principally to be blamed for the irredeemable political separation of the New England Colonies from the United Kingdom.)

On his return voyage, Atherton’s force and vessels revictualled in the world famous natural harbour at Trincomallee, an historic city, old “almost beyond reckoning,” with holy complexes containing ornate shrines and the massive statue of the Deity Shiva, who, along with Brahma and Vishnu, was the third god in the Hindu Triumvirate. Atherton took advantage of the pause to tour the Island and was so taken with the ‘Pearl of the East’ that his enthusiasm eventually led to his progeny going out to see for themselves. This in turn led to generations of our forebears coming to live and become active in the judicial and civil administration of Ceylon. They settled there in times when the population was still relatively small (I mean not numerous!) and famine unheard of.

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Sri Lanka’s infrastructure (that is, universities, technical colleges, hospitals, libraries, museums, botanical gardens, wildlife preserves, public buildings and courts of justice, as well as the development of industry, modern intensive agriculture, roads, dockyards, telegraph, telephone, and postal services, railways, schools, hospitals, and indigenously staffed Army and Police) was set up by the Empire’s British colonial administrative personnel who were impartial between the disparate (and post-independence, warring) Tamil and Singhalese factions. The small company of well educated, incorruptible colonial administrators devoted to the well-being and progress of the gifted Sri Lankan population, achieved demonstrably admirable results. It is worth noting that the majority of these came from a public school background. A fully functioning, efficient modern apparatus was in place generations before Independence. Hence, in Richard’s day, the mass of the population were profoundly content with a status quo which they knew was so much at variance with that of many another post Second World War Asian country, such as Siam (Thailand), Malaya, Singapore and the former French colonies, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, whose native populations were cruelly beset with numerous, well-supplied, ruthless Chinese communist infiltrators. Those colonies mentioned which were British were literally saved by the famous “virgin soldiers” and SAS force dispatched. These latter endured great hardship, but blended successfully into the densest jungles to beat the Reds at their own game. But that’s a tale for another day. Suffice to say that, for whatever reason or motive, the Americans under LBJ and Nixon pursued an altogether different strategical approach; one predictably doomed to failure from its outset.

In late Victorian times, our grandfather had purchased a hundred acres of the then pristine East Coast jungle teeming with various species of deer, wild boar, crocodiles, leopard, elephant, brown and black bears, jackals, (water) buffaloes, Asian python, Russell’s Viper, cobra, King Cobra, fabulous peacock, Golden Oriole, raptors, hoopoe, porcupine, flying foxes, flying squirrels, brown monkeys and the large, furry grey, black-faced Wanderoo monkey, loris, the civet and fishing cats, myriad species of gorgeously coloured birds and butterflies along with parrots of all hues, shapes and sizes, and the large Green and Lady Torrington pigeons. Richard and I spent much of our childhood there. Out of his coastal acreage he had planted around fourteen acres with coconuts, later to be disastrously nationalised along with all the privately owned and run tea, rubber and cocoa plantations, by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s socialist government.

I say ‘disastrous’ because, Ceylon, not being a country of heavy industry but instead relying principally on agronomical output, Bandaranaike’s policy caused something of a British exodus, a consequential significant drop in productivity, employment, exports, profits and thus government tax revenues, all to the severe detriment of the people. The man’s measures were deeply divisive. They were much hated by the educated and the adherents of the pacifist majority religion, Buddhism. Bandaranaike was assassinated by a Buddhist monk.

On a wave of sympathy, his socialist wife was elected and served several terms. After many failing administrations, the population came to their senses and elected politicians on a privatisation ticket. This did not include our exemplary former property because it had been turned into the Sri Lankan Coconut Research Institute. That was the background in which Richard found himself.

After having studied and acquiring the appropriate Tropical Agriculture qualification, Richard, who was born in Ceylon and fluent in Tamil, the language of the tea and rubber plantations’ workforces, threw himself enthusiastically into the management of tea plantations, becoming a ‘tea planter’. Actually, the job entailed much more than agriculture. The Superintendent, as they are called, sees that the children of the workforce receive on-site a primary and early secondary education, along with the running of an Estate Dispensary cum Sanitarium. The Superintendent manages a clerical staff for bookkeeping and salaries, and supervises and ensures the well-being and housing of several hundred outdoor and in-factory workers. He oversees the functioning of the factory itself where the harvested, or ‘plucked’, tea leaf is withered, rolled and fired into the finished product. It is then packed into the familiar lined tea-chest and trucked off to tea-tasting (every bit as serious as wine-tasting) and auctions in Colombo. In the ’Sixties, Richard achieved the highest price ever per kilo of tea, Assamese and Darjeeling competition notwithstanding. This was accomplished first of all by his acquiring specialist knowledge about the preferences of the Arab market, and then adjusting some of his factory production techniques accordingly.

He met and was soon to marry Sally, the sister of a pal of his, a merchant-banker who worked in Colombo. He was never much at soccer, but discovered and loved rugger, becoming adept at scrum-half. He played masses of cricket, of course, it being available in Sri Lanka at all times of the year. It could be said that his and earlier generations encouraged and brought along the game until it came to enjoy its present inclusion in world status tournaments. When he came back on leave in the ’Seventies, it was huge fun to play with Richard on the same Pilgrims side, with Chris Walford (B’59), John Hutton (H’59) et al.

Richard retired, returned to Blighty and had two boys. He looked around for a job and tried his hand at farm management but soon gave that up in favour of a semi-retired lifestyle and got a kick out of helping another pal of his who had also been a tea planter, with the work involved in a commercial vinery producing a well-reputed English Sherry.

Richard took over as Secretary of the Ceylon Association, writing for and editing its twice yearly journal. The membership consists of British and Sri Lankan ex-pats who had grown up in Sri Lanka or worked in its multifaceted agriculture. Nowadays, members are spread out across the globe.

When the fatal tsunami struck Sri Lanka in 2004, Richard set about motivating members to raise funds for the calamity-stricken survivors, carefully channelling the funds through to established, reliable locally-based Charities who husband their contributions carefully (i.e., which are not profligate and over-self-paid as are some world-known organisations). He was diligent in ensuring resources were directed right to the point of need.

Richard became afflicted with dementia and following his wife’s passing a couple of years ago, was admitted to permanent residence in a care-home. He passed away in the caring company of his sons on the 13th of March just before his seventy-ninth birthday.

Kenn d’Oudney (B’59) continued on page 42 41

Farewell continued

Richard Hugh Atherton Doudney (B’54) Continued Peter Cameron (B’55) recalls Richard and I were great chums in Brook House. I think we were initially drawn together as both of our parents lived in the Colonies, mine in Rhodesia and Nyasaland and his in Ceylon. He was bright and an accomplished sportsman and ended up as Head of House under John Eggar for the Winter Term of 1959, by which time l had left Repton to join the Royal Marines.

Richard was good fun and from an early age he always had an eye for the girls and was ticked off by John Eggar on several occasions for it! However, in particular I remember walking in step with him and with another mutual chum, Robert Packe (B’54) (who had family connections with the Falkland Islands), on most mornings to Chapel with books that we required for the morning lessons piled high in our left hand and swinging our brollies in the right hand, three abreast and in time with each other and every third or fourth step. Crazy, but we enjoyed doing it at the time! Presumably, we stopped doing it whenever a Master was in sight, as we were required to ‘tick’ masters as we passed them in those days. Richard’s brother Kenneth, who was also a good friend of my brother John, was also in Brook House.

After we left Repton we rather lost touch with each other. I had joined the Royal Marines and Richard was destined for the Royal Air Force, but years later he told me he had failed the medical as he was found to be colour blind and as a consequence, he returned to Ceylon as you will read. We met up by chance again in 1990 on us joining the Ceylon Association after returning to UK following a tour for me and with my family in Sri Lanka (Ceylon!) and we have kept in touch ever since. I had been the Defence Adviser to the British High Commission, Colombo at that time.

We have lost a good friend and colleague of many years.

Andrew Howard Quick (N’59) November 22nd 1945 - April 29th 2020 It was with great sadness that I learnt from The Arch of the death of Andrew (“Bernard”) Quick, who was my contemporary not only in New House (1959-1964) but also at Moorlands Preparatory School (1953-1959) in Leeds - which, in its time, was one of Repton’s main “feeders” It might come as a surprise to those who knew him only at or after Repton, that at Prep School, until the age of 11 or 12, Andy (“André Vite”, as he was nicknamed in French classes) was a fairly small boy, who suddenly shot up overnight in the Fifth Form to become a stalwart member, then captain, of the cricket team - a sport in which he continued to excel at Repton. In our last term at Moorlands, Andy was promoted from being my deputy House Captain to Captain of another House, when the only contender in our year left early. Together, we shared the inter-House cricket cup; and I accompanied him as scorer for his school first XI. From time to time we also visited each other at home; and once spent a weekend in his parents’ caravan in the Yorkshire Dales, trying to catch fish with a bent pin on the end of a piece of string. Recalling this incident years later, apparently there was a problem with the gas supply of which we were blissfully ignorant.

Whilst remaining friends in New House, where he was nicknamed “Bernard” on account of his similarity (not least in height) to Bernard Bresslaw, the comic actor of Carry On fame, Andy’s prowess as a sportsman and my acceleration as a non-sporty scholar sadly meant that we tended to move in different circles. Nevertheless, we caught up with each other - thanks to Friends Reunited - in our early fifties, and continued our friendship at a distance over the telephone, through e-mail and the then OR LinkedIn Group.

Unfortunately, ill-health (a stroke followed by heart problems, macular degeneration and latterly diabetes) beset Andy from about that time onwards, hastening early retirement from the police in 1996 and preventing us from meeting up at Repton, which he did re-visit after leaving, but many years earlier. Instead, I would telephone him each year on his birthday, 22nd November, when we would inevitably reminisce about how John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Andy’s 18th birthday, and how, when he heard the news, he mistakenly thought the victim was Alastair Kennedy in Latham House! He was also proud (if that is the right word) of reminding me that one of his forebears had been hanged as a highway-man several centuries ago, a story that he had first recounted in the 4th Form at Prep School.

Throughout his last years, his communications with me were always cheerful and optimistic, typical of which was his comment in 2014 that “You can be sure that, like a bad penny, I will survive for some years to come”. The last time I heard from him, after his 2018 birthday, he dismissed his ill fortune in typical upbeat fashion: “I have had four procedures for my heart problems which have all failed.

My macular degeneration which has been in check for four years has now gone active again which is a b****y nuisance. And now it turns out I am diabetic” In Her Majesty The Queen’s birthday honours in June 2015, Andy was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to retired police officers and staff in Devon and Cornwall Rest in peace, my oldest school friend Andrew M. Williamson (N’59)

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David Hodgkiss (B’61) June 2nd 1948 - March 29th 2020 David Hodgkiss (B’61) industrialist and cricket mover-and-shaker, died in March, having contracted coronavirus. Tributes have been paid both to his stirling work on the Lancashire County Cricket Club committee - latterly as chairman - and to his qualities as a man. Awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to manufacturing and exporting, David was chief executive of Bolton steelmakers William Hare Group. He was widely respected as being a central figure in the renovation of Old Trafford during a period which saw the construction of ‘The Point’ and the raising of £9 million of public funding for the new Hilton hotel.

David’s Repton contemporaries remember him as a modest, cheerful personality. Winner of the Pilkington Prize for Mathematics, he was also a keen cricketer. From 1998 on, teenage affection for the game translated into devotion to Lancashire, where he was particularly keen to develop the youth scheme.

“Aside from friends and family (he was married with two children) his passions in life were Lancashire CCC, Bolton Wanderers and Timothy Taylor’s beer,” said Reverend Malcolm Lorimer, Lancashire’s club historian and a close friend. “He was a very unassuming gentleman and had a way of getting on with everybody from the cleaner to the top businessmen. People loved him.”

Michael Atherton, friend and fellow fly-fisherman, paid tribute to his sense of humour. England all-rounder Mike Watkinson looked back fondly on a 40-year connection, while another former England player, Ken Shuttleworth, spoke of a “warm, sociable, cheerful man, and a remarkable optimist.”

Martyn Beckett (B’64), President of The Repton Pilgrims

Michael Stennett (B’63) June 15th 1946 - June 1st 2020 Michael famously designed Opera Costumes for his friend Dame Joan Sutherland and other Opera Stars including Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Dame Janet Baker, Marilyn Horne and Rita Hunter.

He played a pivotal role in establishing Australian Opera as one of the World’s Great Company’s at the new Sydney Opera House.

At Repton he was fortunate to benefit from the new 400-Year Memorial Theatre. This was his first experience with theatre and he became involved in all aspects of productions with his friend Christopher Frayling (P’60) (later Sir Christopher, Chairman of the Arts Council 2003-2009). He graduated from Wimbledon College of Art where he decided on a career in opera costume design; under the inspirational tutelage of Richard Negri.

Michael’s first big break came in Australia in 1971, when he designed the costumes for “Le Nozze Di Figaro”, directed by John Copley CBE, with sets by Henry Barden. A second production followed in 1972. Once again, John Copley directed (with sets by Henry Barden) and Michael producing more stunning costumes. This production was Dame Kiri te Kanawa’s debut role at the Royal Opera in Covent Garden where she made a stunning impact as the Countess.

Moffat Oxenbould AM, Artistic Director of Australian Opera said that Michael’s artistry, professionalism and practical knowledge immediately endeared him to craftspeople who worked for him. His knowledge of period and style and his passion for research was extraordinary. His range was immense – from the grandeur of the 19th century such as La Traviata and Rigoletto to the whimsical and theatricality of Fra Diavolo and the grittiness of Jenufa and Peter Grimes.

Michael’s first production for Dame Joan Sutherland was a sensational “Lucrezia Borgia” at The Royal Opera in Covent Garden, directed

by John Copley, and sets by John Pascoe, in 1971. The friendship with Dame Joan and her husband (Richard Bonynge AC, CBE) developed and she chose Michael when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II commissioned her portrait at Windsor Castle for the Order of Merit Series. Michael accepted a number of Portrait commissions such as Canon John White, Precentor of St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

He slowly began to decline theatrical work after this, and in 1994 entered a new life as a Suffolk Artist. Dame Joan Sutherland opened Michael’s Barnsdale Gallery in 2000. Over many years he created a beautiful garden with waterfalls, bubbling fountains, ponds, streams and in the spring, his favourite delphiniums. He hosted his Open Garden for a different charity each summer. He regularly exhibited at Aldeburgh. One of his most special activities was the “Portrait Group” which he tutored.

Michael was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis last year. He died at home on June 11th 2020. The photo shows Michael with Dame Joan and his portrait of her as Violetta in “La Traviata”.

David Stennett (B’58), Brother

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Farewell continued

William George Woodward (C’83) August 20th 1970 - December 21tst 2019 William George Woodward, pupil at Repton from 1983 to 1988, sadly died of cancer at the age of 49 on 21st December 2019. His funeral was held at St Andrew’s Church, Twyford, followed by refreshments at Repton Sports Centre. Over 300 people attended, which is testament to Will’s immense popularity and a life lived to the full. Anyone who met Will at Repton would remember him for his larger-than-life personality, sense of fun and ability to challenge the status quo. He was a very memorable individual.

Will grew up at Poplars Farm, Twyford, only four miles from Repton. As a young boy Will was full of fun and mischief, but with a heart of gold. Early on he demonstrated abilities with technology and communication by wiring the whole house with speakers so that he could speak to people wherever they were in the house, even in the bathroom!

He went to Sale and Davys Primary School in Barrow-on-Trent, where his brilliant mind won him a scholarship to Foremarke Hall and he then went on to Repton School. He greatly enjoyed Physics as a subject, but also got involved in performing arts with his friend Alan Powell (C’83). He is remembered for donning full drag and playing Mrs Northrop in ‘When We are Married’, styling out an accidental trip over a doorframe by ad-libbing “and another thing…fix that blooming stoop or I’ll have your guts for garters”. Will also demonstrated a talent for smuggling contraband into school, teaching others to mix Malibu with milk to disguise the smell and taste and distilling gin under a desk in the study. He also shared his wisdom of short-cuts to the Junior Cross Country Steeple Chase in exchange for “2 sausage rolls on a plate with ketchup” in the School Grubber.

Leaving Repton, he forged a career in pub and hotel management at the Saracen’s Head, Balsall Common and various other hostelries.

His former colleagues say that it didn’t matter whether they had a black-tie dinner or a football presentation; he gelled with everyone.

Perhaps this was down to his immense ability to be intellectually profound one moment and then joke about passing wind the next.

His enthusiasm for life was truly infectious and he had an incredible ability to draw people together and turn something normal into something memorable.

When the internet was young, Will came up with the idea that holiday postcards could be replaced with a picture taken on a digital camera then sent back to the UK using the internet, printed with a message and mailed from there. Being excited by the possibilities of new technology and business, Will bought a digital camera with his savings, borrowed a laptop and modem from a friend and quit his job to go to Gran Canaria with his new friend Ian to see how this idea would work. It was a huge leap of faith and incredibly hard work, but it was a success, paying for Will and Ian to live a good life in Gran Canaria for an entire season. Even though selling postcards didn’t last for long, the experience of innovating and thinking outside the box stuck with Will all his life.

After returning from Gran Canaria, he took up a temp job at Egg, the internet bank, whilst working out his next move. He quickly proved his worth, being promoted to call centre manager and then progressing his career further into the area he has worked in until recently; customer experience; effecting and managing change; and facilitating innovation. Along the way he became the ‘Voice of Egg’, which was always very strange for his sister when using Egg’s telephone banking. Along with his team, Will introduced a whole new way of thinking to an entire business, designing training courses on innovation and injecting his own creativity and sense of fun into their delivery. One of his famous cameos was to step out of the training room and then beam himself aboard the Starship Enterprise, showing a video of himself which he had previously created using special effects. He always kept the same clothes as worn in the video so that the ‘beaming’ would continue to be authentic many years later.

During his time at Egg, Will also used his creativity, sense of fun and ability to make things happen to raise money for various charitable causes, such as forming a boy band for Children in Need, actually recording a charity single and then that same evening embarking on a lightning tour of the pubs and clubs of the East Midlands, performing the song to adoring fans. Or somehow getting Gordon Ramsay to make an Egg version of Hell’s Kitchen, putting the Egg leadership team through their paces in the kitchen under Gordon’s instruction.

After leaving Egg in 2006, Will forged his own path by working for himself as a consultant and starting his two businesses; ‘Deliberate Innovation’ and ‘No More Rhubarb’. In between those businesses he had an employed role with Pera Training. As a consultant he was called upon by many of the people with whom he’d worked at Egg to help them to change and innovate in the businesses they’d moved on to. During this time Will has described his consultancy offering in various ways, as an ‘Innovation Coach, ‘Organisational Development Facilitator’ or ‘Transformational Change Consultant’. His father would say, when asked what Will did for a living; “when you find out, let me know”. The truth is that Will was so engaged with whatever problem or need his clients had, and so able to help in many different ways, that he would approach each piece of work with a completely bespoke offering, which often seemed quite wild and wonderful, but which always delivered the outcome sought.

In 2008 Will met Caroline. They bonded over a love of venison sausages at a friend’s BBQ and an attraction sparked due to their shared sense of humour and zest for life. It wasn’t until 2009 that they met again and realised they had met someone special; their first date came about from there and marriage was soon to follow. During Will and Caroline’s 10 years together, they lived life to the full, both sharing a positivity for life and passion for food and travel. As a couple they were best known for their parties and fundraising events, where Will’s amazing cooking and mass-catering skills, from nine-course gourmet evenings, to tapas nights and giant paellas, would take centre stage.

Will and Caroline achieved a dream together of building their own home at Poplars Farm, to live next to Will’s side of the family. Will had always dreamed of building a home capable of throwing huge parties and wanted to move back to the farm where he’d grown up and where he felt a connection to the beautiful countryside. Although only for the last 18 months of his life, he lived life at the farm to the full, throwing an Autumn Ball for 80 people only six weeks before he died.

To everyone that had the privilege of knowing him, he will be remembered for making things happen that the rest of us wouldn’t have even considered trying.

Caroline Woodward 44

Andrew Cox – Repton Staff September 1976 to July 2006 Andrew was born in Evesham, Worcestershire and went to Bromsgrove School where he developed his love of sport, travel and expeditions. He completed his school career as Head Boy with the additional achievement of being made a Queen’s Scout. He left school to work as a VSO student in Nigeria, teaching in Abeokuta Boys’ Grammar School and helping in a Leprosy Settlement. At the end of the first term he hitched lifts from lorries and finally reached Timbuktu on New Year’s Day 1967. At every opportunity he grabbed the chance to make journeys on his trusty Honda 50. By June, however, the Biafran War had broken out, and he had to be evacuated. On his return to the UK, he read Geography at Aberdeen University, where he joined the King’s College Choir, the Dramatic Society and the Lairig Club (Climbing Society). Never losing an opportunity, Andrew had bagged 50 Munros by the time he graduated. Most importantly it was here that he met Joan.

During university vacations he worked as a volunteer with the National Trust, repairing the roofs of crofts on Fair Isle. He also worked with the International Voluntary Service constructing roads in the Atlas Mountains. In his last summer he spent two months in Israel working in kibbutzim.

Andrew married Joan in 1972. The service was conducted by Joan’s father who was a Highland minister. They lived in Edinburgh, and Andrew sang with Edinburgh Choral Union and was awarded his Winter Mountain Leadership Certificate after intensive training in the Cairngorms.

After completing his PGCE, he taught at Craigflower Prep School in Fife for two years before joining the Repton School Common Room in September 1976.

During his time at Repton Andrew will have featured in the lives of many Reptonians. First and foremost, he was an inspirational Geography teacher with a passion for his subject, going on to be an excellent Head of Department. For many years he was a hugely popular House Tutor in The Mitre, when it was a Boys’ House. As a member of the Careers Department he introduced the Gap Fair to the School. He was heavily involved in the Sale of Work. He also embraced so many other aspects of school life including CCF, DofE, Adventurous Training, MuSSoc., hockey and, of course, cricket. In all the above he will be remembered for his wholehearted involvement by pupils and staff alike. Who could forget that ghoulish cackle of the mad Professor of Humour in The Pedants? (see photograph overleaf) His irrepressible sense of fun was ever-present.

In all he did Andrew’s hallmark was his meticulous planning, energy and infectious enthusiasm. This was especially evident in all the school trips he organised, from the long-distance walks (such as The West Highland Way and Coast-to-Coast) and Geography field trips (UK or abroad) to the major World Challenge expeditions to the Himalayas, Bolivia, the Andes and Tanzania. He always relished a challenge and, for all those who were privileged to join him, he ensured a safe, but exciting and intensely memorable experience.

Andrew and Joan retired from Repton in July 2006 to North Berwick. They continued to travel and explore, though Andrew made sure there was always a supply of chocolate in his rucksack. Underpinning all that Andrew did was his unwavering Christian faith and his huge interest and consideration for others.

Andrew will be remembered with huge respect and affection by a generation of Repton pupils and staff as an inspirational teacher, a loyal colleague and a truly wonderful friend.

His legacy was not a building or an institution, but an example of a life lived to the full - of shared experiences, generous friendship and fun.

From Andrew’s daughters, Emma and Jennie Growing up in Repton as children was an enormous privilege. We were innately aware that this was a job that Dad loved. His colleagues and their families were our good friends and extended family, and we have many happy memories of picnics and parties amongst the school grounds and in the various staff gardens around the village and Foremarke. When we both eventually started at Repton as Sixth Form pupils, Dad maintained a professional distance (we unanimously decided that we didn’t want him to be our Geography teacher!) and there was a family rule that whatever was discussed at the supper table never went any further…This worked well! Dad was both balanced and decisive – immensely reassuring qualities in a father. All problems were approached with a sense of perspective and optimism; nothing was unsolvable.

We were both fortunate enough to be members of adventurous World Challenge teams that Dad took to India and Tanzania. We still flick through the journals and photos from these wonderful expeditions and are hugely grateful for the opportunities and friendships we forged whilst walking and travelling.

When Dad retired in 2006, he and Mum headed permanently to their beloved North Berwick, just round the coast from Edinburgh.

Retirement was only from teaching, however! Mum and Dad continued to travel, and their adventures took them to New Zealand, South Africa, St. Petersburg, Iceland as well as on many walking holidays in the Alps and the Inner and Outer Hebrides. A man of unerring faith, Dad was centrally involved in the life of St Andrew’s Blackadder church and the wider community of North Berwick. He led heartily from the back in two local choirs with his not insignificant bass voice. Living near Edinburgh allowed him to attend Royal Geographical Society lectures at the University and the Banff Mountain Film Festival. His interest in Geography and the world around him never waned.

He was a hugely inspiring teacher and father, but the role that gave him particular pleasure was that of devoted Grandpa to Tom, Rosie, Bethan and Ali. He loved playing games of all kinds with the children and was endlessly inventive and resourceful. He was unstinting in his support from the touchline or the boundary whether in Edinburgh or South London. Numerous trips to Murrayfield (accompanied by continued on page 46 45

Farewell continued

Andrew Cox – Repton Staff September 1976 to July 2006 Continued compulsory chips) and walks through London parks with excessively large ice creams have punctuated his 17 years as a grandfather. In the garden he strove prodigiously for the perfect lawn, but generally threw this obsession out of the window if it meant getting out the cricket stumps. Dad’s qualities of modesty, kindness and positivity have made a tangible and lasting impression on all four grandchildren.

In 2015 Dad miraculously survived an unexpected and dramatic cardiac arrest and thereafter was aptly and affectionately renamed Lazarus (or Laz for short). A bit of a medical mystery, he got going soon after with walks round London’s Capital Ring and the Thames Path. He continued to love watching sport of all kinds, but especially the Six Nations and the fortunes of the England cricket team.

A rare cancer snuck up on him in 2018, but the beach trips in North Berwick continued, and he was generally the one striding ahead of the rest of the party with an IKEA bag of beach equipment in one hand and a wind break in the other. With a courageous heart to the end, Dad died peacefully in the care of his local Cottage Hospital on Friday 13th March 2020. As the lockdown approached, The Times described it as ‘The Day Sport Fell Silent’. Dad was, as ever, the meticulous timekeeper.

November 30th (AAC’s birthday) was the date of Andrew’s Service of Thanksgiving.

Our whole family would like to thank the Repton community for their continued love and friendship and all their many kind messages of condolence and support.

David Gallop (Staff 1985-2002) David Gallop died on September 12th, 2019 David was an academic who spent most of his professional life at the University of Derby. However, one of his abiding passions, since his youth as an all-England sprinter, was athletics. Many hundreds of Old Reptonians will have benefitted from his enthusiasm, expertise and support on the Tanyard over the 17 summers that he spent coaching athletics at the school between 1985 and 2002. On his retirement from university faculty leadership, and from the visiting professorships that he held, he also spent a year teaching in the School’s History Department from 2001, drawing upon his depth of knowledge of 19th Century social and economic history. He is survived by his wife Trish (Staff 1982-1992), well known to many ORs as Repton’s first Director of Girls’ Sport.

Nick Gallop (B’85)

David Stormont Gibbs (Staff 1955-1964) David Gibbs was a very fresh breath of air when he blew into the Physics Departments at Repton in 1955. From Rugby he had gone to Clare College, Cambridge, on an Exhibition to study Engineering and had then spent his National Service (with the Royal Engineers) in Brecon and Tripoli, Libya, where he met his wife Sally. At Cambridge he had played rugger for the university and later for Harlequins, as hooker, though these skills were too early for Repton which had not yet adopted rugger even as a minority sport. David’s outdoor skills- he was a keen climber – made a valuable addition to Repton’s CCF. Science teaching at the School then was under some criticism, and David brought practical and up-to-date skills which were in turn built upon by John Fishley when he joined the department in 1961. Between them, they revolutionised the teaching of Physics at Repton. In the CCF also David favoured a shift away from traditional “square-bashing” to Outward Bound and Duke of Edinburgh schemes. He had a great sense of humour and irreverence, and on the annual CCF camp it was David who presented a Cup – a pewter tankard – to be awarded to the least considerate officer – for instance, for returning to camp after a Night Op and unnecessarily waking everyone else up! It was originally and eponymously called the Kunza Cup but when the allusion faded it was renamed (with irony) the Consideration Cup. John Fishley, Russell Muir, Chris Parker and Colin Carrington were all recipients in their time.

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David was always ready with practical solutions and when Roy and Shirley French (recently married) moved into their new home in The Pastures they were unable to get their double bed up the stair-well. David got a saw and sawed off the ornamental obelisk atop the newel-post. Job done. The Bursar was less pleased.

With energy and skills to spare and despite a young family David applied for headships overseas and was destined for one in Taunggyi in the Shan States of Burma in 1964 but this in fact went to another member of Repton’s staff, Tim Slack, who was unlucky to have the post closed down by the military junta soon after his arrival. David Gills was luckier to end up at St Paul’s School in Darjeeling where he served for nine years.- the highlight of his life- and where his practical skills effected much-welcomed change, including the provision for the first time of hot water for the boys to wash in. When David arrived, I was coming to the end of my second spell of English teaching in India and it was David who steered me to Repton. Roy and Shirley French spent an exchange year there.

David Gibbs was awarded an O.B.E. for services to education in India. From 1974 until his retirement in 1988 he was Warden of St Columba’s College in Dublin. He had a happy retirement on his 25-acre farm in County Laois, putting his practical skills into the restoration of a large and rambling stone-built house. He was a much-loved character, high-spirited but also high-principled, and always a gentleman. He died on 21st June 2020, two weeks short of his 94th birthday.

John Billington – Former Staff

J R Muir (Former Staff) 1968 - 2020 Russell Muir belonged to a generation of utterly devoted but utterly individual Repton staff and will be warmly and affectionately remembered by all who knew him at Repton, especially those who were boys in his House.

Housemasters when I first arrived at Repton in 1984 were august, forbidding figures who seemed to have more time for senior prefects than callow young masters, but Russell swiftly revealed that they could be human when not long into the Michaelmas Term he invited me to New House for an ad hoc Messiah. He was a conscientious and generous host, making sure that our throats and glasses were never dry, and I think it was from that moment on that I realised that schoolmastering could be great fun and involved infinitely more than preparing lessons and correcting essays. Indeed, throughout my time at Repton Russell’s dry sense of humour and skilful one-liners punctured the pomposity which can so easily beset the schoolmastering profession and reminded us all not to take ourselves too seriously.

Despite his untiring service to the OR Society and great love of Repton past and present, Russell was not an Old Reptonian; he joined the Mathematics Department at Repton in 1968, after an education at Bramcote, in Scarborough, Shrewsbury and Queens’ College, Cambridge (woe betide anyone who misplaced that apostrophe!), followed by four years’ teaching at Brentwood in Essex. He and Kathleen met soon after his appointment to the staff at a party given by the Bryants in the Priory. The dress code was ‘tropical’, and Russell, doubtless attired in solar topee and safari suit, must have looked his best, for they became engaged that summer.

Russell swiftly made his mark at Repton and was created Fire Officer — an august role in those days with its own uniform and helmet and even a mini fire-engine to be maintained and supervised. It was his good fortune — and the School’s — that there were no fires during his reign. Promotion soon followed, and in 1973 Russell became Head of the Mathematics Department, a position which he filled extremely capably for ten years. His degree having been in Mechanical Sciences, he never claimed to be a mathematician, something which perhaps explains why he was an especially sympathetic teacher of those who found the subject difficult and did not claim to be mathematicians either. But he was able to stretch and elicit excellent results from the abler pupils as well: twenty-eight out of seventy A-level candidates gained A grades in his final year. During his tenure he re-introduced the taking of Maths O Level in A Block followed

by AO Level in O Block, a system which enabled good candidates to get well ahead while still relatively young. He had teaching down to a fine art and latterly managed to distil into twenty minutes what lesser mortals could only teach in forty.

But it is as Housemaster of New House that Russell will probably most keenly be remembered. Having spent a number of enjoyable years as a House Tutor in The Cross, he and Kathleen began their highly successful tenure in 1983. Russell immediately set about establishing lines of communication with prep schools, in particular his own old school of Bramcote, and it was seldom, if ever, that there was any lack of good-quality new boys at the start of the Michaelmas Term. Russell’s philosophy and key to success was simple: he expected boys to behave like gentleman, to be decent chaps, and, responding positively to the confidence placed in them, they generally rose to the challenge. Encouragement rather than coercion was the rule, and he was punctilious about supporting each boy in his several pursuits, be it scoring goals for the 1st XI or beavering away in the workshops. Russell led by example, one moment playing a mean game of fives, the next singing away with lusty abandon in Mus. Soc. He knew his flock and they knew him, and if on the odd occasion they should go astray that was something for him and them to sort out and of no concern to the outside world. Should enthusiasm on the touch line or at House Unison threaten to become rowdy, order was swiftly restored with the gentle admonition: ‘Steady the Buffs!’ He showed particular facility in ensuring that new boys settled in happily — in helping them to find something they were good at and in making sure that those long Sunday afternoons when they might have pined for home were filled with vigorous games of fives or a round of golf. continued on page 48 47

Farewell continued J R Muir Continued

Senior boys were also made to feel useful beyond the traditional role of house prefects, many being pressed into service as waiters at the buffet suppers Russell and Kathleen generously hosted on the private side, a system which both taught the boys how to behave in adult company and ensured one’s glass was never empty.

Most boys leaving New House were civilised individuals having been nurtured on a rich diet of leeks and rhubarb grown in the House garden, Scottish dancing, robust House unisons and a wide variety of plays ranging from Black Comedy to The Real Inspector Hound to Black Comedy. Russell himself was always fully involved in these productions; indeed I remember vividly one dress rehearsal which he’d asked me to cast my eye over: Russell had more lines as prompter than the principal actor.

Even the best-run houses can occasionally experience disruption in the even tenor of their ways; there was one occasion — a Confirmation Lunch, I think it was — when Russell suddenly noticed to his consternation that the wine was about to run out. The bishop was lunching with the Headmaster, so no miracles could be wrought; but luckily Russell was on nodding acquaintance with the landlord of the Red Lion and managed to persuade him to let him have a case of Liebfraumilch at cost price.

One measure of the success of his methods and the affection and esteem in which he was held is the huge number of old New House boys who returned to wish him and Kathleen well on their retirement from the House in 1996. The festivities spread over three days and included a chapel service, a fives match and a football game lasting well into the early hours.

But it was not just as Housemaster that Russell contributed hugely to Repton. He was a loyal servant of the Corps over a great many years, filling a number of roles with efficiency and inconspicuous commitment and becoming a past master of the art of delegation.

On one particularly snowy day in the Lake District he suddenly remembered that he had to collect the lorry. Miraculously by the time fifteen Reptonians and their junior officer had staggered through half-frozen bogs to the village hall where they were staying, Russell was already happily installed, an empty plate and a full glass beside him, his socks steaming in front of the fire.

On leaving the House Russell took up the secretaryship of the OR Society, a role for which he was singularly well equipped, having a memory for former pupils which few could equal and an ability to cope with e-mails that few would have expected, and one which he relished, giving him the opportunity to keep in touch with the many former pupils who became close friends and in whose careers and personal lives he took a keen interest. It was an interest he was able to sustain to the very end of his life: Russell and Kathleen retired to the village and remained regular attenders of school chapel, first XI matches and OR Days, Kathleen driving Russell to watch games being played on the Square from the car when illness made it impossible for him to walk.

He was an erudite philatelist, and his annual lecture on the Postal History of Hong Kong 1901 to 1903 always filled the Burd Library to bursting. And he was an arbiter of sartorial elegance, whether clad in streamlined football shorts, a tweed suit for the steeplechase which looked as if it had been designed for a bookie at Newmarket, or a figure-hugging surf-boarding outfit for Wear-what-you-dare Day. A colourful character with an enormous sense of humour in a profession which increasingly has to bow to the pressures of conformity and accountability, Russell will always be remembered for his inimitable contribution to the Pedants and the roles which only he could have created: The Black Russell Witch Fairy and the always studiedly out-of-step biker in YMCA. An OR wrote some years ago to say that Russell was a cornerstone of the joy he received in being educated at Repton. The school chapel was packed for his Memorial Service and with the return of so many New House boys the singing of Russell’s favourite hymns was as lusty as he could have wished. It was a wonderful send off for someone who clearly meant so much to so many people.

Martin Amherst Lock (Staff 1984-2001) We would like to thank those ORs who sent letters or cards paying tribute to their memory of Russell Muir. Whether you knew Russell as your Housemaster in New House, your House Tutor in The Cross, your Maths teacher, or just because he made a positive impact on your time at Repton, so many of you have been extremely appreciative of his support, humour, and made mention of his ‘legendary’ status!

Russell would have been overwhelmed by the number of ORs who attended his Thanksgiving service on Saturday 1st February in the Chapel, and thank you to those members of Repton School staff for their support in organising what he would have thought was a perfect tribute for his life.

Thank you also to those who have donated to Parkinson’s UK in his memory. To date, over £2,500 has been raised, and if anyone else wishes to contribute, please go to russell-muir.muchloved.com.

Kiki, Nick and Katharine Russell Muir’s Service of Thanksgiving and the Influence of a Housemaster Russell Muir’s Service of Thanksgiving was a massively uplifting occasion, just as Russell would have wanted. The well-designed and comprehensive Order of Service contained great hymns, well-chosen lessons, prayers, tributes and addresses that combined to make it one of the best I’ve attended in the Chapel at Repton. Notwithstanding Nick Muir’s excellent tribute to his father, and that of Sarah Tennant delivered in her typically sensitive way, the highlight for me was the tribute of Colin MacIntosh, Head of New House in 19931994. Not only was it entertaining, justifying spontaneous applause, but it reminded us of how a Housemaster can influence the enjoyment of your school days and the values that remain with you forever. Those of us who were lucky enough to have had such Housemasters, and there were a number that stood out in my years from 1955-1960, benefitted in ways that enhanced our time at Repton and stood us in good stead thereafter.

John Hings (P’55)

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Ronnie Silk, former Bursar Died on July 14th 2020 Brigadier RG Silk CBE DL of Worcester was commissioned into the The Worcestershire Regiment in 1962 and served with 1 Worc R in Minden, UK and Gibraltar. After a tour as an instructor of the School of Infantry he rejoined 1 Worc R as adjutant shortly before amalgamation in 1970. In January 1972 he served in MOD before attending the Australian Staff College, followed by a tour as a company commander in 1 DERR. He then returned to Australia as an instructor at the land Warfare Centre before rejoining 1 WFR as second in command in Belize, He next served as SO2 MS in BAORT before commanding 1 WFR in Hemer and on a four month tour in NI where hew was awarded a Mention in Despatches, He served as MA to the C-in-C BAOR from July 1984, followed by a short tour as a DS at the Staff College before promotion to Colonel and appointment as COS NI where he was awarded the CBE. He returned to the Staff College as COS in August 1989 before promotion to Brigadier and appointment as Commander of 143 Brigade in January 1992.

He retired from the army in 1994 and worked as a school bursar for some years., He served as a very conscientious Colonel of Regiment from 1992- 97 He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Hereford and Worcester in 1996. He was one of WFR’s outstanding officers..

Extracted from WFRA Newsletter

In Memory

Harry Lownds - Charity Concert The Beldam Hall of Repton’s Music School was packed out on Saturday 7th March for a charity concert in memory of Harry Lownds (L’10) whose sudden, unexpected death was announced in the Spring 2019 edition of The Arch. The evening brought together many of Harry’s contemporaries at Repton and Foremarke, along with music teachers from both schools and family friends, to raise money for the child bereavement counselling services of The Laura Centre in Derby. The audience was treated to a fabulous programme from a very accomplished group of performers, who could easily have filled the time available ten times over. The evening was bookended by Harry’s fellow OR Lathamites joining his younger sister Evie (A’16) and other current members of Reptiles for a rendition of Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’, and former members of Foremarke Winds reuniting to play ‘Tequila’ and the theme from Wallace & Gromit. In all the evening raised £1,900 to support the work of The Laura Centre in Derby with bereaved children and those who have lost children at any point in their lives.

The previous week Harry’s parents Becky and Matthew had travelled down to the University of Sussex to attend a reception for current students in receipt of scholarships. This provided them with an opportunity to meet the first recipient of the Harry Lownds Memorial Scholarship, Ieva Didziokaite. Ieva is now half way through the MSc in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology that Harry had planned to undertake at the end of his undergraduate Genetics studies. Generous contributions from many donors, including the OR Society, have so far generated a total sum approaching £18,000. This should mean that Ieva will be followed by further scholars to 2025 and beyond. Harry had a particular interest in potential therapeutic applications of modern genetic techniques and hoped to go on to earn a PhD and undertake research into the interplay between genomic disorders and mental health. His family hope that this scholarship will assist students with similar interests whose personal circumstances might otherwise hinder them from taking up an MSc place to pursue their academic dreams in ways that will in time benefit wider society.

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School News

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Letter from the Headmaster Dear Old Reptonians Never has it felt better to be back in school for the start of the new academic year.

We opened on August 30th with relief, excitement and a palpable sense of joy at the opportunity to be back together, and how glorious it has been to see classrooms and Houses, playing fields and practice rooms, once again filled with Reptonians going about their regular business in the September sunshine.

It has been an extraordinary six months and I think we can be very proud of how all quarters of the Repton community – pupils, staff and ORs – have risen to the challenge. 2020 has reminded us of our common humanity, of the need for resilience and agility in equal measures, and that the mark of a community lies not just in the magnitude of the threat it survives but also the creativity and ambition with which it bounces back. So I am delighted to have this opportunity to share news of the new academic year and current developments within the Repton family.

Examination Success For GCSE and A-level candidates the national furore in August did little to support a generation of young people who had already been through a period of enormous uncertainty, but at Repton we were able to celebrate some superb results for both our examination cohorts – thoroughly well-deserved success at the end of two years of hard work.

At A Level well over half the grades achieved by the outgoing Upper Sixth were A* or A, with some 23% at A*, and these outstanding results saw Reptonians off to the universities of their choice, including all those holding offers from Oxbridge, for Medicine and Veterinary Science, and several heading to the US on sports scholarships.

At GCSE/iGCSE 27% of grades were awarded a 9 and over 70% 9-7, with five pupils achieving 11 9s and no fewer than 41 pupils with 9 grades at 987/A*A. This year group now start their Sixth Form courses with justifiably high aspirations.

Michaelmas 2020 - A successful reopening required comprehensive planning throughout the summer.

Our return to school included the provision of a quarantine camp in August for a number of our overseas pupils. This proved invaluable practical experience of managing the House environment ahead of term starting and greatly strengthened our position when we opened our doors to the whole school population, including 185 new Reptonians.

We were delighted to be able open with the traditional House structure that we all recognise. This offers a vital sense of familiarity for pupils in uncertain times and ensures that all the tried-and-tested pastoral support from Houseparents and their teams is right where it always is.

School operations are based on the basic unit of the House yeargroup bubble. Each has its own zone in the House, where the day begins with temperature testing for all and is then followed

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by lessons taught in separate teaching blocks for each cohort – A Block in the Old Mitre, Lower Sixth in Furneaux School and so forth.

An adjusted timetable minimises passing traffic in enclosed areas like corridors, but masks, fixed seating plans in class and regular hygiene measures are all part of the new routine.

Meals continue back in the House dining rooms but with two sittings, one for Sixth Form and another for Lower School, and all extracurricular activities – sport, cultural and social - are conducted on a year-group basis.

As ORs you will understand better than anyone how significant these measures are in a community built upon the integration and sense of belonging that school life, and the House in particular, normally provides. But what stands out is the exceptional energy and resolve with which everyone – pupils and staff alike – has embraced the opportunities that can exist.

It has been the greatest pleasure to see so many of the usual features of Repton life back in full swing: pupils chatting as they watch cricket from the Paddock (late-summer compensation for the loss of last season), the lights going back on in the 400 Hall, the roar of House-matches rising above the Astro and Hall Close, the organ ringing out again in Chapel, and, above all, that steady pulse of lessons and learning every day – the heartbeat of the School.

Inevitably, there are some casualties in terms of the school calendar; but pupils have shown a remarkable willingness to put up with the restrictions necessary for the health of the community, and a strong culture of personal responsibility has swiftly emerged around the site.

When our procedures and risk mitigation have been tested by events, they have been found to be robust and effective, both internally and in the eyes of Public Health England - but there is no room for complacency. We can be sure that further tests will follow and we must maintain the highest standards and be ready to adapt our provision as required.

Growing and Strengthening However, we will not simply weather the Covid storm. We move forward with our eyes on the horizon, always seeking to improve the experience of our pupils and to celebrate and strengthen our outstanding educational brand.

The start of the academic year saw our formal merger with Foremarke to create a single through-school – Repton – and the rebranding of Foremarke Hall as Repton Prep: one purposeful, integrated educational journey from 3-18, offering exceptional provision throughout and placing us in the educational vanguard regionally and nationally.

St Wystan’s School, originally founded by the wife of a Repton Headmaster and now located on the High Street, also joined the Repton family in September – another natural evolution that strengthens the local educational provision.

Across the sector there are some very exciting opportunities for an organisation of such proven and enduring prestige as ours and we are currently exploring the potential for relationships with other schools on a national basis.

And meanwhile, further afield, we celebrate the opening of two new schools – Repton Malaysia and Repton Xiamen – who join our established international family.

Digital Development There are significant positives to be drawn too from the experience of recent months. The period of remote teaching and learning rapidly accelerated digital development in the School and, while we are delighted to be back in the physical classroom, we can now complement this with an outstanding IT offer. To this end we have formed an exciting new partnership with the Greenwood Academy Trust. They already deliver world-class educational IT for the 37 schools in their organisation and, as their first, and exclusive, external customer, work will begin shortly on an IT transformation across both Repton sites, encompassing an infrastructure replacement to ensure excellent wi-fi, a device reconfiguration and remote management assistance. This groundbreaking partnership will go live at Repton and Repton Prep on January 4th 2021.

The OR Community I am delighted that so many of you are getting to know Andrew Cook in his role as Chief Development and Commercial Officer and engaging with a newly vibrant OR Society. Keep an eye out for the third edition of Repton Life with further news on all OR developments, including events, careers support and networking opportunities.

I continue to look forward to the time when we are able to meet in person more easily, although the national picture makes this timescale uncertain at present. But in the meantime please know that we at Repton are thinking of you, and may you and your loved ones remain safe, healthy and happy.

With very best wishes, Yours sincerely Mark J Semmence Headmaster

Fives I am delighted to report that Fives has made a return to the Repton courts this academic year. There had been a hiatus of five years since the retirement from the staff of Peter Bradburn (P’67), whose tutelage I was privileged to be under as I learned the game. I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to play a part in reintroducing the idiosyncrasies of Fives to current pupils. There is great joy in its unpredictability, and the self-refereeing aspect of the game plays brilliantly into the sense of fair play that is hardwired into many Reptonians.

To date sessions have been offered in a very ad hoc fashion around the busy schedules of the pupils, and around forty of them have attended, with a core group of some fifteen to twenty boys and girls turning out once or more each week. The game sold itself to them, and merely getting pupils into the courts was the key. There has been enough interest and enthusiasm for a friendly fixture with Shrewsbury School and their novice players. In addition, two of the keener and more able players, Joe Sookias (4S) and Henry Barton Smith (4C), travelled to Eton to play in a qualifier event for the Under 15 National Schools Championship. They had a fantastic day, learning plenty and securing some good results along the way.

From small beginnings, where next? Plans are afoot to broaden the player pool, and sessions will continue to be offered regularly next year in both the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. The aim for 2020/21 in terms of fixtures will be for Sunday festivals of Fives to be hosted and attended with other Midlands schools. Housematches will be another key part of the programme, and it will be good to introduce the first ever girls’ House event. The facility next to the Music School is playable, yet the courts will need some tlc, and there will be a fundraising effort launched to achieve the significant money needed for the roof to be rebuilt. I also hope to formalise a link with Fives-playing ORs and it would be excellent to hear from any of you who would be interested in a friendly game in 2021.

David Exley (P’95) and staff - dae@repton.org.uk As highlighted earlier in this publication, Fives will be enhanced by the forthcoming restoration, to find out more about our fundraising campaign please contact Andrew Cook via ajc@repton.org.uk

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@reptonschool

2020 – Celebrating 50 years of Girls at Repton!

Having run The Mitre for the last 10 years (2008-2018), championing and celebrating the position and achievements of girls at Repton has become an ingrained part of my role at the School; and there has been a great deal to celebrate in the last decade, let alone the last 50 years. Repton now has four established Girls’ Houses – with Mitre’s re-opening as a girls’ House in 2003, joining The Abbey (1979), The Garden (1992) and Field House as the now well-established girls Houses. Indeed there are currently over 270 girls on the School roll, so Repton can truly fly the flag of being a fully co-educational HMC boarding school, with all the benefits and experiences that this brings.

Girls are now very much an integral part of Repton life, with the first girls joining the School roll in 1970 and gaining their own Boarding House in 1979. The first girls at Repton arrived as a pair – Carole Blackshaw and Sally Keenan. Carole first asked the Headmaster, John Gammell, whether she could join the School after church during the Christmas holidays of 1969. Having not managed to get a positive response following her initial request, she pursued her aim and, with the support of her parents, tackled him a second time. On this occasion, the Headmaster said he would bring the matter to the next Governors’ meeting. It was in this meeting that the Governors indicated that they would allow Carole to come to Repton, if a second girl could also be persuaded to join her. This was very much in keeping with the 10-year Headship of John Gammell. His Telegraph obituary described him thus: “An awe-inspiring figure some 6ft 3in tall, with a booming voice and a tin leg, Gammell abolished weekday chapel, adopted an amused tolerance of long hair and pop music, and introduced girls”. (Daily Telegraph, 9th August 2007). It is perhaps fitting then that girls came to Repton during his tenure, a time when the School became a calm and welcoming place. I would argue that the arrival of girls may have aided this development! Notably a survey of the pupil body, published in the 1969 edition of The Reptonian, indicated that for the boys one of the changes they most wanted to see was the arrival of girls at the School and a change to the “Victorian attitude” towards girls. This potent combination of a favourable pupil voice and a Headmaster who had sent his own daughter to Marlborough as one of the 15 inaugural girls joining their Sixth Form in 1968, saw Repton ahead of the curve amongst the HMC group in becoming a co-educational school.

Carole and Sally joined Repton as Sixth Formers in 1970 and proved to be very successful additions to the School community.

Although Carole made a robust argument for her entry to the School (her younger brother was joining the Mitre), there was no agreed nor formulated plan for allowing girls to remain at the School, with Carole herself recognizing that her time at Repton was an “experiment”. That said, the success of Carole and Sally’s time indicated that this was to be a long-term trend. The trend developed as other girls joined the School, many the daughters of Masters at the School, and others the sisters of boys on the Repton roll. They did not have an allocated Boarding House and lived in the houses of those Repton teachers who were willing to take them. The result was that by 1977 Repton had 43 girls on roll, although no Boarding House for them all to belong to.

In the 1970 edition of The Reptonian Carole describes a “Feminine view of Repton” and speaks of her experiences of her first day at the School. She goes on to say that her fears were dispelled as “we [Carole and Sally], quickly settled down as everybody was so kind and helpful.” It is very interesting to hear her thoughts on the benefit of being educated in the Repton environment and her reflections on the fact that her lessons were “a more interesting way to learn … encourages much more initiative and individual development which is so important” – sounds like a very similar situation to today with the School promoting the @reptonlearning values.

The “experiment” proved successful and the first girls’ House finally emerged as The Abbey – the Headmaster linking the first girls’ House to the ecclesiastical names of The Mitre and The Priory boys’ Boarding Houses. Having existed in temporary accommodation, the permanent building for this new House opened in 1979, next to the Orchard. It was formally opened by the Duchess of Devonshire.

The first Houseparents of this newly established boarding House were Jill and Gerry Pellow. The House opened with 42 pupils, quickly filling to a capacity of 60 the following year, and remains in its central location on the school site. It seems that Repton rumour quickly circulated amongst the boys’ Houses that The Abbey was “luxury accommodation” compared to their own Houses. The rumours were so strong that in 1980, as part of their Sale of Work fund-raising, Abbey girls offered tours of the House to try to dispel the rumour and allow the boys to see what they actually had. The Abbey girls tried further to dispel the rumours in a Reptonian article in 1981, with descriptions of having to do their own washing, the heating system thermostat regularly failing (creating either a sauna or fridge effect), an unmovable 6pm lock-in and a large Houseparent-girl generation gap. Clearly the girls were not without their own gripes.

The next girls’ House to open was The Garden, officially opened by the Duchess of Kent in September 1992. The first Houseparents were Mr and Mrs Wimbush, still very much a presence in the village today, and especially so in the annual Sale of Work event. The Duchess was generous in her praise of The Garden following her tour of the building, stating that the House was the “best school building that she had seen”. For the School perhaps the highlight of her visit that day was the Duchess declaring a full day’s holiday to the then Head Prefect, Simon Webster. The sister House to The Garden, Field House, quickly followed, and the two Houses sit proudly in their position on Tanners Lane, with the benefit of a shared dining room that can be used for large-scale events such as the Garden and Field House Cabarets. Up to the start of the 2019 academic year, Field House had seen just two House magisterial leaders, the now Deputy Head Outreach & Staff and Head of Classics, Mrs Tennant and Mr and Mrs Griffiths.

The newest House in the girls’ fleet is The Mitre. Originally a boys’ House, built in 1937, The Mitre was fully refurbished and reopened as a girls’ House in 2003. It is very apt indeed that it was Carole Blackshaw, in her role as Mayoress of London, who officially opened this new facility completing the four girls’ Houses, 33 years after she was the first girl to join the School. The Mitre, with its trademark pinkand-blue colours, quickly established itself on an equal footing to the other girls’ Houses. It is now in its 16th year under the stewardship of its third set of Houseparents, Mr and Mrs Jenkinson.

Today there is much to celebrate about girls at Repton. Many, like Carole, have gone on to become very successful in their lives beyond the Arch. We have proudly celebrated the success of old girls playing hockey for the GB team, with Susie Gilbert (F’02) and Ellie Watton (M’05) winning Commonwealth Silver medals, and Shona McCallin (A’08) and Georgie Twigg (F’02) returning from the Rio Olympics in Summer 2016 with Gold medals for Hockey. It has been wonderful to see these girls returning to Repton and inspiring the next generation of hockey players.

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2020 – Celebrating 50 years of Girls at Repton! Continued Wonderfully; Charlotte Stapenhorst, also an OR, who won an Olympic Bronze playing for the German hockey team in Rio, was recently back in Repton playing for the “All Stars” team at the opening of Sports Hall 2, and it was lovely to see her fondness for Repton on her return. In Carole Blackshaw’s Reptonian article back in 1970, she wrote, “I hope we will be able to join in many of the activities in the future, except of course football and hockey, which I think it will be far safer if we continue just to watch!” How times have changed!

There have been lots of other girls who have gone on to achieve a great deal. These include the British historical romance novelist Kate Allan and author Caroline England. A number of other female ORs have gone on to take key leadership positions, including Susannah Fish, the former Chief Constable of Nottingham Police, who was awarded an OBE for services to policing in 2008. Joining the current Governing body is Squadron Commander Fleur Bassett. It is lovely to think that she will be able to champion the position of girls from her role within the governing body. On the annual careers conference day female ORs have returned as doctors, vets, lawyers and journalists. Other female ORs, unable to shake the pull of the Arch, have returned to Repton as members of common room. Currently on the staff these include Mrs Dalton, Miss D’Arch Smith and Mrs Politowski – all members of staff fully immersed in the full boarding ethos of the School. Perhaps the 50th anniversary of girls in the School is the time to add another girl to the gallery of famous ORs in the Old Priory!

It seems right that the tenacity of Carole to challenge Headmaster John Gammell opened up a whole new chapter in the history of Repton school, and 50 years after their official arrival I would hope that the boys at Repton can continue to admire and accept the Repton girls with the same gallantry they demonstrated in 1970. After all, as I write, current Repton pupil Ella Rush (4M) is ranked number one in the world for U16 Pentathlon. It would be hard to argue that girls have not been a great addition to life at Repton, and it is a matter of great pride that the school was one of the first HMC schools to become fully co-educational.

Anna Parish (Assistant Head Pastoral & OR Liaison Officer)

Careers In the Lent Term we held the first L6 Careers Convention, a new event involving all L6 pupils and their parents. We were truly delighted with the level of support, with over half the year group bringing parents along, and our final guest list numbering over 250 people, including a wonderful line-up of ORs coming back to inspire them. The morning started with an keynote speech on Higher Education, delivered by OR Nick Hillman (B’85), Director of the Higher Education Policy Initiative thinktank in London. His talk covered topics of interest to pupils and parents when making decisions about further study, from subject choices and finance to graduate career prospects and work experience, with many guests commenting on how informative the session had been.

From here pupils and parents heard five pre-selected talks from speakers working in a variety of professions, including STEM, finance and business, law/politics and the arts. We were delighted so many ORs and parents agreed to give up their time to deliver these sessions voluntarily, and the feedback received from guests was incredibly positive. Many commented that they would now be doing further research into career areas they had not previously considered as a result.

We particularly thank ORs: • Nick Hillman (B’85) for delivering the keynote speech and talking to pupils about careers in policy-making • Abi Rodwell (F’04) for talking about her job as Publications Manager for EFL • James Ridgeway (L’86) for discussing the Energy Industry and the variety of global jobs open to people in this field • Dr Rachel Bacon (A’86) for speaking to pupils about careers in the pharmaceutical industry • Andrew Churchill (P’82) for talking about careers in Engineering and Business In addition to these talks, guests had the opportunity to visit a Higher Education Fair, with 16 exhibitors based in the Sports Centre Hospitality Suite. Both UK and overseas universities were represented, along with companies offering short courses on different industries.

The event finished with a networking lunch in the Hospitality Suite, with pupils, parents, guest speakers and exhibitors happily chatting and exchanging ideas for the final hour.

The level of unprompted positive feedback was wonderful and we hope to build on the success of this event when we plan next year’s Careers Convention.

The full speaker list was as follows: Dr Rachel Bacon, Dr Nisha Ari & Dr Surj Kainth, Professor Rajan, Andrew Churchill, James Ridgeway, Chris Hibbs, Rowan Ewart-White, Richard Harrison (H’92), Ambrose Shannon, Stephen Gould, John Ikin (H’90), Narinder Sekhon, Peter Thomas, Nick Hillman, Abi Rodwell, Georgina Turton, Trudy Wilson.

Rebecca Auterson (Teacher of Mathematics & Computer Science & Careers Co-ordinator ) 53

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OR Society Educational Development Grant CALLUM INMAN (U6O) As an aspiring Engineer curious about turning theory into practical solutions, I sought to explore the Engineering world and enhance my experience. The Old Reptonian Grant allowed me to take steps towards achieving excellence in Engineering and enjoying its diversity through exposing me to highly specialised fields from rocket design to cement encapsulation.

I used funding that I received through the OR Grant to attend two summer residential courses, the first being a Headstart course in Broad-based Engineering at the University of Exeter and the second on Advanced Nuclear Engineering at Leeds University.

The Exeter course was perfect for exploring exciting career opportunities and helping students to make a more informed UCAS application. The course appealed to me as I saw it as an opportunity to explore which industry I might like to enter. I experienced a flavour of undergraduate life with lectures, experimental work and projects in the University’s Engineering Science Department. Specific Aerospace and Civil Engineering tasks were really enriching, forging not only Engineering understanding but also confidence in applying complex theoretical knowledge towards a problem.

A specific highlight in the 4-day course was the Rocket Construction task, which refined my analysis skills through focussing on rocket and parachute aerodynamic design. For example, I developed an argument for why a parabolic nose cone is of greater benefit in subsonic flight, yet a pointed cone is more effective for supersonic flight. As a group we also explored the corresponding air flow/aerodynamics according to parachute shape and composition of material. With the elementary knowledge understood, the task of designing a rocket and parachute to maximise the time airborne was set, and I was eager to get involved. I particularly enjoyed this, as derailed analysis was necessary to rationalise compromises and achieve maximum success with limited resources. Finishing the task, we realised that the positions of the centre of pressure and centre of mass of the rocket were also critical factors to consider, realising the centre of mass must be forward of the centre of pressure for stable flight. These realisations allowed me to experience the value of hindsight and proactive failure analysis and brought excitement into the task. Importantly in a Civil Engineering task, I was able to develop communication and management skills in designing a new building within Exeter to be extremely eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable within a budget and then present it to the rest of the group. Whether I was using pressure-plate transducers or specialist, wind-energy technology on my building, I enjoyed the logical steps in justification and budgeting.

The whole course was great as I was able to mix and collaborate with students as enthused about Engineering and its potentials as I was.

The course opened my eyes to the General Engineering degree courses and put me on track to excel in forging solutions at University in the near future.

The second course the OR Grant enabled me to attend was Advanced Nuclear Engineering at the University of Leeds. This course presented opportunities to find out about entry routes into Nuclear Engineering whilst being able to network with industry professionals to portray the exciting field and careers it entails. My particle physics skills were also something I wanted to improve upon and delve deeper into; this 4-day residential course allowed just that. The course utilised lecturers’ industrial experience to teach in amazing facilities, like their Imaging room (with a SEM and TEM), which gave a professional atmosphere to the way we were working which was inspiring. I particularly found A-level particle physics useful, which excited me as it presented me with application of my A-level knowledge.

Our main task throughout the course was to present on different sectors and processes in the nuclear industry, and my group presented on the current decommissioning process at Sellafield. My individual role outlined critical problems with the work and explored future decommissioning and new innovative technology coming from universities such as robotics and autonomous drone systems. In the end, after a great team effort revolving around using key detail and managing our tasks to cooperate efficiently, we were able to win the task.

This was extremely enjoyable as it had a feeling of undergraduate project work and it stretched my ability in the area, which I had not experienced before.

As this was a specialist course, there were overarching themes that apply to any specialist study, which inspired me to inquire into a specialist degree. It has made me more ambitious, evoking my fascination with autonomy and my passion to learn about it despite its complexity. I now, with my newfound experience and enthusiasm, look forward to the opportunity to implement solutions as I venture to further fields I could not be more thankful for the opportunities the OR Grant made available to me. With new challenges such as University applications and examinations, I am now more confident and knowledgeable in elementary and specialist theory and am evermore curious of how theory generates practical solutions and how Engineering can revolutionise previous theoretical landscapes. I prize the experiences given to me and I am certain they will give me a head start to University and will aid my career in the future.

Repton’s Landmark Tree Last year the Copper Beech tree that has stood majestically for centuries outside the Chapel was found to be diseased by a specific type of fungal rot that causes this type of tree simply to fall over. Other means of mitigating the danger were considered, including reducing the tree’s height, but with considerable regret the tree has been felled.

54

Opening of the Sports Centre The new sports centre was a £9.2 million development that took 2 ½ years to complete on the existing site of the Sports Centre. The project was competed in two phases. The first phase saw the addition of the new sports hall and strength and conditioning suite. The new sports hall is equipped with spectator seating for 236 people, a state-of-the-art spring loaded timber floor lined for basketball, indoor hockey and netball. Two glass-backed squash courts were added to the first floor to make the most of the additional space.

The second phase saw the most dramatic change to the centre as a whole.

The extension of the middle building allowed for better access to all facilities by creating a central entrance on the ground floor into the new reception and coffee shop. On the first floor a hospitality and conference room were added that can seat 225 for formal dining. Five new changing rooms and a physio suite were also added to continue the School’s pathway to offering the most complete programme for all our sporting pupils.

Leanne Chandler, Head of Enterprises

Duke of Edinburgh Awards During 2019-2020, 24 ORs and Reptonians have gained their Gold DofE Award. The highest number in the history of the School.

Congratulations to ORs Bradley Sharratt (N’12), Rebecca Nelson (M’13), Phoebe Roberts (M’09), Izzy Emmett (M’12), Abigail Allin G’15), Sophia Hudson (M’13), Georgie Field (M’10), Barnaby Buckley (S’15), Arnav Rai (P’13), Joanna Goodhead (M’11), Will Ackernley (C’13), Frederick Holt (N’14), Oliver Parker (C’10), Daniel Ananda-Rajan (C’13).

Also congratulations to future ORs, Imogen Nieper, Millicent Bridge, Ryan Hanks, Serena Cole, Emily Smith, Edward Albone, Luke Brown, Sophie Earp, Martin Thomas, Joel Muir.

The structure of the Award is as follows: • 12 months Volunteering for the community • 6 or 12 months Skill (music/coaching a sport/journalism, etc.)

• 12 or 18 months Physical (basically, sport) • a three-day Practice and four-day Assessed Expedition, on which they have to carry all their food and equipment for the whole time • a five-day Residential - working on a camp for inner-city kids/a winter mountaineering course in Scotland/crossing the Bay of Biscay in a tall ship Clifford Dammers, DofE Manager says “I could not be more pleased for all the Reptonians who gained their Gold Awards this year. Their success is unequivocal testimony to their commitment and character, their willingness to embrace new opportunities, to work in a team, and to strive to bring out the best in those around them. That this is a record Gold year reflects the consistent strength and accomplishment of recent Gold cohorts, with whom it has been an unalloyed pleasure to work. It has been very pleasing, too, that our participants have been able to support the local community - Rainbows, Cubs, Beavers, Brownies and Scouts - and now the newly-opened Repton Community Café.”

55

School News continued

@reptonschool

Pedants

‘Once again treading the boards…’

‘We’re the Pedants, you know and it’s some time ago / Since you last heard our opening chords…’: the opening lines to the 23rd edition of Sir John Port’s Pedants will have been heard by some readers of The Arch as little as four years ago; by others, a fair time ago more. But what is magic about The Pedants is that, while it evolves a little with each edition, in its fundamentals it is Reptonian – and that means it speaks to all in our community.

It defies belief, in such a busy term for such a busy school, that there were only four weeks of rehearsals to put on a two-and-ahalf hour show (closer to three hours, if you include laughter!), but dance moves were choreographed between Tea and Prep Duty; sketches eked themselves into existence in half-hour slots – sometimes with no more than half the cast able to be present; and song lyrics were practised sotto voce during classroom tests and hockey drills. Because a Repton without Pedants would be a poor place.

Masterminded by Nigel Kew, making his Pedants swansong, the show retained many old favourites, including the self-deprecating songs ‘About Ourselves’, the borderline slanderous songs ‘About Other People’ and the ubiquitous ‘Dying Swan’ – where the hilarity of watching middle-aged men in tights and tutus was only slightly tempered by the knowledge that Simon Earwicker was making his own swansong as Swan-Princess.

Jon Hill

In a significant, but necessary, re-casting, the Chaplain, Fr Neil Roberts, found himself filling the very large (metaphorically) shoes of lately-retired John Plowright as ‘L’Autre Homme’ in the franglais-speaking ‘Une Drama Francaise’: the decision of who gets the opportunity to jump on Sarah Tennant is not one that the producers take lightly.

Alongside these Pedants staples that have weathered the storm of time, new sketches and dances were required to satisfy today’s young Reptonians. Following the tradition of parodying a recent school play, ‘Narnia Business’ began as a pastiche of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but, in a plot-twist revolving entirely on the flimsy twin premises of the phrase ‘total melt’ and a scurrilous reference to talking beavers, the prim and proper Pevensie children soon found themselves immersed in the hedonistic and egocentric vapidity of Love Island – to the audience’s delight! Clearly, there’s no accounting for taste…

A keen fan of the show, the Headmaster, Mark Semmence, performed a one-man sketch as The Devil – a punchline that might have seemed better suited to some of his forebears, but the pupils certainly weren’t holding back in their appreciation of his being up for it.

That is, after all, the point. Many a colleague and pupil new to the Pedants experience says in advance of the show, “What’s all the fuss about?”. Having seen it, they never ask again.

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Evensong

On Monday, January 27th 2020, for the second year running, the School’s Chapel Choir, Schola Cantorum, had the immense privilege of singing Evensong in St Paul’s Cathedral. As last year, the School and OR Society joined forces to host a reception afterwards in a very conveniently located nearby hostelry. It was lovely to see the parents and friends of those in the choir mixing convivially with a strong number of ORs who were able to be present at what was another beautifully sung service and really moving occasion.

Nigel Kew (OR Liaison Officer)

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Pigeon Post

Dear Editors The Lynam Thomas School It is surely significant that Repton chose to honour this particular Headmaster. TLT was a man of principle and an outstanding Headmaster. The accompanying photograph does him justice. I had not realised that he had been Headmaster for so long. This is in contrast to the recent rapid turnover of Headmasters, which seems to reflect the volatile and highly competitive world in which we live.

And another thing.....The last two issues of The Arch have begun to reflect the growing influence of political correctness, which I suppose is inevitable in this day and age. Looking on the internet, I see that Repton claims to be a “Christian” school, but to what extent PC (which has its roots in the US counter-culture) is compatible with Christianity is questionable.

Stephen Etches (H’55)

Dear Editors It was really good to see Michael Potts’ (C’55) photographs in The Arch 335. Summer Term 1957 was my first, along with Julian Baldwin (C’57) and Patrick Wild (C’57). He is quite right, the trophy shelf groaned in those days.

Sadly, not to be repeated. The number of trophies declined hugely, but we were starting to do other things, like the House Orchestra, whose cup we won two years on the trot.

I am sorry that David Vaughan (C’53) could not have been present at that rather illustrious gathering. He is remembered with affection.

He did his best to teach me at least how best to defend myself in the boxing ring. A lost cause, I’m afraid.

Thank you Michael for times well remembered and with great affection.

Best regards, James Buxton (C’57)

Dear Editors It may be of some interest to know that The Preparatory School, which started life in The Cross on the 29th April 1940, is now 80 years old. Having been shut down in 1939, it reopened with 8 boys of prep school age under the direction of Mr Bernard Thomas formerly the Housemaster. One of the founder members that Summer Term was J O M Robotham (N’42), former Governor, who is now 92.

Richard Harding, former member of Staff, Repton Prep and Hon OR.

RESPONSE TO ‘REMEMBRANCE DAY ONLINE’ This year, as with so many things, Repton’s Act of Remembrance was quite different. However, the School would never be content to let such an important national moment pass by without it being properly marked.

We were proud to gather with Heads of House, a small number of cadets and staff, observing social distancing and group protocols, to pay our respects and reflect upon remembrance as an act. We captured this on film, along with a moving performance of Pie Jesu sung beautifully in our glorious School Chapel and set to images of the fallen, taken from the Repton Archive.

This was shared with our OR community, and we have had some fantastic responses. If you wish to view the service please sign up to Repton Life www.get.alumnet.social/reptonlife/ Dear Editors Thank you for thinking of us. I was also very sad to see my friend John G.Richardson (H’47) has died. Apart from knowing him at Repton our paths subsequently crossed in Africa. First when he was a District Officer in the Colonial Service and then when he was M.D.of Metal Box in Dar -es -Salaam,Tanzania.

Best Wishes, John Hunt.

F.J.Hunt (Hall ‘46) Dear Editors I have just watched the Remembrance Day Service.

Beautifully done and very moving.

Thank you.

James Blood (H’48 )

Dear Editors Very moving. Thank you for including us in your act of remembrance.

Nick Charlesworth (O’53) Dear Editors I much appreciated the Remembrance Service film and thank all those who took the trouble to make it available for ORs. Rodney Knight (O’54) Dear Editors Thank you for this intensely moving film, which I watched on this my 79th birthday, having conducted a much simpler service at our village War Memorial on Sunday. With the world in the state it’s in, we need to remember all the more.

Dear Editors Thank you for sending this out to us. Beautiful !

Richard Cowdell (L’52)

It was also good to hear today from my friend Michael Barnwell, whose year as President of the OR Society has been rather spoilt.

Dear Editors Thank you for sending this through. The photographs of boys who had lost their lives were extremely poignant PARTICULARLY as one looked exactly like Robin Human who was in The Hall with me (he would be 1950/55) so it must have been his father who I knew had lost his life in the Second World War. David Pepper (H’53)

(The Revd Chancellor) Geoffrey Morris (M’55)

58

Floreat Repandunum.

Dear Editors I very much enjoyed watching and listening to the Remembrance Day service. Thank you.

Yours, John Sharp (H’55)

Dear Editors Bonjour.

What an excellent idea to enable us to see the Remembrance Day ceremony. We watched it from our home in S W France, where because of Covid we have used up nearly all of our 180 day yearly allowance, for the first time in 31 years. Thank you for the email and link. There but for the grace of God. Michael Tinn (B’56) Dear Editors Thank you very much for the remembrance film.

When the whole world seems ‘upside down’ I was grateful to receive your reverent and uplifting service.

Yours sincerely, Stephen Helliwell (L’57) Dear Editors Thank you so much for allowing us all to watch, and indeed take part In, your Remembrance Service. It was very moving and a very special way to observe the two minutes silence, particularly in this time of lockdown.

Yours sincerely Guy Bagnall (C’59) Dear Mr Semmence, I am writing to endorse Steve Clarke’s praise for the trouble and consideration which clearly went into the production and presentation of the above. Steve and I were colleagues at school from aged 8.From St Hughes ,Woodhall Spa we simultaneously passed C.E. and went to Latham in 1960. We have remained friends ever since , and frequently meet ,when circumstances allow. We are both proud and impressed by the way the school adapts and flourishes.

I wish you well in your endeavours.

Aye, Peter Benson (L’60) Dear Editors I am very moved, touched and grateful that the school has by passed Covid with this far reaching tribute. Please would you pass on my grateful thanks to your creative team, pupils and staff who made this possible, including the clearly talented musicians. The stream of young Reptonians who fell makes the memorial human and personal. Any young person watching must surely be struck by the sight of so many some of whom will see faces that remind them of living friends, not just old black and white pictures. I saw my half-brother, P.H.W. Clarke. my father’s eldest son, Captain of cricket in 1938. He dies on the 3rd March 1945 at the Battle of Winnekendonk, and the vary last day that the Lincolns fired a live round on the entire war. He must have known many other boys featured in the roll of photographs of course.

Yours sincerely, Stephen Clarke (L’60) Dear Editors Very moving! Thank you very much.

Michael Hector Kier (B’60) Dear Editors Thank you for this - very moving - only seen after I’d led a similar socially distanced service at Morley - not very far away The Very Revd Geoffrey Marshall (M61)

Dear Editors To all those involved, Thank you. Beautiful, and extremely moving.

Martyn Beckett (B’64) Dear Editors Thank you for sharing this moving tribute to those who exchanged “their tomorrow for our today.”

I think often and fondly of my year in Brook House (1964-65) -and of Scotty Cheshire, Stuart Andrews, John Thorn, and others.

It was a coming of age story for me, but I’m afraid that I received more value from Repton than I contributed.

I will be retiring from education at the end of the current school year after a 52-year career, and I look forward to what will undoubtedly be a final trip to Repton at some point during the 2021-22 school year.

Until then, be well and stay safe!

With warmest regards Guy A Bramble (B’64) Dear Editors Brilliant…Thank you Seamus Lefroy-Brooks (C’71) Dear Editors Thank you. I found it very moving, particularly the faces of the fallen - as they were at Repton. I was wondering though whether they were a mix of WWI and WWII killed or all victims of WWI. I was also reminded of this scene - which may have been filmed in the same chapel. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D9yjWwZU80 Art Schankler (P ‘72) Dear Editors This tribute was extremely well put together and a very good way to keep abreast of what is going on in Repton.

Congratulations, I continue to be a proud OR. Jeff Higgins (C’77) Dear Editors Thank you very much for posting this moving event. I have long memories of the Garth Service and look back on the occasion as an event that Repton did especially well. The beautiful setting of the war memorial and, for this year, accompanying photos of past pupils who fell, is most poignant. I was most moved by the entire presentation. Well done to everyone who contributed.

Thank you once again Neil Millensted, (Staff 1973-2007) Dear Editors Just a word to congratulate everyone involved in the Remembrance Service, a remarkable effort in the circumstances!

Thank you for including me in this.

Best wishes to all Mike Stones (Former OR Secretary) Please keep sending your stories and thoughts as ORs enjoy reading and responding to them. Here is a reminder of where to send them to:Email: jcobb@repton.org.uk or write to us at The Old Reptonian Society, The Hall, Repton School, Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH

59

Lost Contacts

We have a long list of ORs with whom we have lost contact. Below is the list from The Hall. If you are in contact with anyone on the list, or you know who is not in contact with us, perhaps you would like to ask them if they would like to receive copies of The Arch and correspondence from us. They can email, post, or fill in the form on the web page with their current details.

First Name/Surname

Year

First Name/Surname

Year

First Name/Surname

Year

Herbert Lees Martin Ardern Richard Cockin Peter Crossley-Holland Watson Rogers John Taylor Paul Widdows Peter Dawson Ronald Munro Guy Newton Reginald Norton Hugh Batzer John Blayney James Fletcher Richard St George Julian Evans Alan Gray Claude Hare John Mellor Archibald Trew James Essenhigh Peter Rowe Thomas Canning Peter Swain Kenneth Keighley Maurice Wilson Gerald Langlay-Smith John Hardwick Patrick Page Jean Bergery David William Humphrey Squire William Parkinson Harry Wilson John Bridgford Richard Connell William Pooler John Richardson Derek Smith John Cripwell Geoffrey Cottrill Robert Wainwright Richard Crittall Michael Harris John Wardill Charles Trethewey Owen Butcher Brian Cunliffe John Richardson Peter Bates Carnochan Garnett John Porter Christopher Squire John Adshead Nigel Sligh George Eynon Michael Bradley Herbert Stacey John Cammell Michael Webb

1925 1926 1928 1930 1931 1931 1932 1933 1933 1933 1936 1936 1937 1937 1937 1938 1938 1938 1938 1939 1939 1939 1940 1940 1940 1940 1941 1941 1941 1942 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1944 1944 1944 1944 1944 1945 1945 1945 1945 1945 1945 1945 1945 1945 1945 1946 1947 1947 1947 1948 1948

Simon Eccles Robert Belmont David Burgess Anthony Cammell Jack Johnston Thomas Meinhard Christopher Sweatman Roger Wright John Fraser Anthony Carr-White Michael Robertson Nicholas Webb David Grieve Malcolm Mead Kenneth Alexander Robert Anderson James Francis David Corbett Christopher Blomfield Derek Fawcus Stephen Ingham John MacKenzie Christopher Owen Michael Newland Thomas Eden Alastair Gillies Christopher Waddilove Ralph Cowdy William Henson Timothy Tetlow Richard Cooke John Southern David Milner-Moore John Tufnell-Barrett Christopher Lees Stephen Stacey Thomas Wolff Christopher Bailey David Beattie Michael Walton Charles Taylor James Robertson Stephen Fry Christopher Strong (Revd) Roderic Unwin Jeffrey Cox Timothy Aitken Richard Andrews Roger Terry Kirke Vernon John Pope Timothy Hetherington John Hooper Peter Mosgrove John Eccles Julian Caithness John Emery Robert Turner Christopher Durnford Kenneth Henderson

1948 1949 1949 1949 1949 1949 1949 1949 1950 1950 1950 1950 1951 1951 1951 1951 1951 1952 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1954 1954 1954 1954 1954 1954 1954 1954 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1955 1956 1956 1956 1957 1957 1957 1957 1957 1957 1958 1958 1958 1958 1958 1959 1959 1959 1959 1960 1960 1960 1960 1960

David Robson John Heath John Fleming Peter Clark Michael Ellis Thomas Bold Paul Fryer Charles Greswell Richard Hoppe Nicholas Mercer Gyles Stephens Robert Rogers Andrew Hellicar James Pilkington Piers Browne Alan Munro Robert Young Rodney Ringrose Thomas Brewis Andrew Nimmo-Smith John Phibbs Peter Tobin Christopher Radford David de Piro Roland Wainwright Bernard Wilkinson Christopher Mayes Peter Simpson David Barnett Francis Greaves James Hamilton Richard Boreham George Unwin Niall Cooper Naushad Fancy Christopher Mok David Morris Philip Unwin James Graham David Knight John Polding Keith Robertson Stephen Smith Shaheen Fancy John Bridgford Richard Moore Anthony Dragonetti Julian Adams John Cox Peter White Andrew Hall Michael Benson Derek Dewees Selwyn Morris Simon Paul Robert Tiltscher James Redman Stephen Hayes Stuart Leake Jonathan Lee

1960 1961 1961 1961 1961 1961 1962 1962 1962 1962 1962 1963 1963 1963 1963 1963 1963 1964 1964 1964 1964 1964 1964 1964 1965 1965 1965 1965 1966 1966 1966 1967 1967 1967 1967 1967 1967 1967 1967 1968 1969 1969 1969 1969 1969 1969 1969 1969 1970 1970 1970 1970 1970 1970 1970 1970 1970 1971 1971 1971

60

First Name/Surname

Year

First Name/Surname

Year

First Name/Surname

Year

Robert Polding Robert Bennison Jeremy Stacey Walter Jack Jonathan Burnett Benjamin Dewees Charles Grant-Ives Francis Hunt Alan Kam George Nguya Richard Paul Hamish Wallwork Arthur Tong Gregory Daville Lal Murjani Philip Nickels Nigel Burdett Chresten Meulengracht David Jacobi Mark Saunders R Morris James Johnston Adrian Watts Christopher Wong Tim Haller Andrew Hartley G Wilcox J Gerlach M Gregory Ian Holmes Andrew Jackson Harry Stafford Jeremy Twigg H Sookias M Whitehouse R Skinner Robert Moore Lawrence Benson Jonathan Allsop S Crowley Simon Daville M Nugent Mark Parsons Richard Spafford Guy Stafford Anthony Gould Jonathan Pilkington Richard Polding Alexander Karmel J Anderson Alasdair Speirs C Fillipone T Lawton A Spiers Philip Marlow James Lawton Adrian Maxwell Simon Cope Charles Pinder James Waite

1971 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1973 1973 1973 1974 1974 1974 1974 1975 1975 1975 1975 1975 1975 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1979 1979 1979 1980

Kevin Chan Nigel Matthews Julian Hurst Antony Froggatt Dominic Newton Jonathan Ward Jonathan Trigg James Mcneilly Jonathon Webb Nicholas Wilson Nicholas Richmond Robert Kingsborough P Taylor James Terry Anthony Holme Darren Jackson Ross McNeilly A Richmond D Sen Rupert Miln Timothy Ryan Rupert Newton Winston Chan Michael Terry Stephen Heron Eddie Kam Richard Kershaw Andrew Norris Olushola Adesina Sean Bennett Christopher Round David Chalstrey Peter Turner Darren Smith Nicholas Addy Stephen Banks Christopher Harrison Nicholas Smith Carl Yeung Mark Callahan Michael Callahan Adam Billingham Dermot Sweeney Chi Chan R Babalola Andrew Johnston Hubert Chan James Foulk Edwin Leung Benjamin Thomas Simon Appleyard Felix Chan Sam Dickerson Dhira Yesufu Adam Smith Sanjay Sanghani Philip Bennett Mark Brett Peter Saacke Daniel Grandfield

1980 1980 1980 1980 1980 1981 1981 1981 1981 1981 1981 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1982 1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1984 1984 1984 1984 1984 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986

Christian Foster Matthew Smith Vaughan Westwood Julian Blundell-Thompson Simon Parker Ian Marsh Rauri Ypma Daniel Buckley Ivan Chan Matthew Keniry James Martin Simon Morgan James Lindemann Niklas Pahl Robert Potter Richard Browne Thomas Grandfield Jonathan Heap Gerald Lee Jeremy Crumplin Anildeep Mann Hubertus Von Rosenberg Adam Wilkinson Matthew Berry Parvinder Sandhu Guy Myles Simon Littlewood Gregory Hill Christopher Howe Simon Hryhoruk Marten Schnier Matthew Brown James Elliot Corey Mwamba Andy Li Ross Gemmell Koji Kiyokawa Jesal Patel Daniel Ung Henning Richter Nicholas Brodie Peter Bull Dickson Chiu Fo Seiji Kiyokawa Christopher Brandt Kevin Smith M Roderick Dominic Hatton

1986 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1990 1990 1990 1990 1990 1990 1990 1991 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1993 1993 1995

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Overseas Contacts Below is a full list of those ORs who have volunteered to be ‘Overseas Links’. We are very grateful to those who have volunteered, but there are many gaps in the list of countries. If you would be willing to act as an Overseas Link in a country not already covered, please contact Jan Cobb on jcobb@repton.org.uk Country AUSTRIA Alps AUSTRALIA Queensland Perth Sydney Victoria (Melbourne) BELGIUM BRAZIL CANADA Eastern Ontario & Quebec Toronto Western CYPRUS EAST AFRICA (Uganda) EAST AFRICA (Kenya) ESTONIA FRANCE GERMANY (North/West) HONG KONG IRELAND NEW ZEALAND NIGERIA NORWAY (Oslo) POLAND QATAR SINGAPORE SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town SPAIN South & Gibraltar Madrid Mallorca SOUTH KOREA SWITZERLAND THAILAND TURKEY UNITED ARAB EMIRATES All Dubai USA All California Chicago Los Angeles New York New York North Carolina Texas Washington WEST INDIES All Barbados

Name Ollie Hayes Doug Fletcher

House & Yr Brook’91 New ‘98

Email oehayes@googlemail.com contact@dougsmountaingetaway.com

Telephone

David Miller Frank Smith Natalie Wynne Simon Crabtree Hadrian Coulton Susan Hawkins

Hall ‘59 Orchard ‘53 Abbey ‘95 Orchard ‘90 Mitre ‘82 Abbey ’98

David.Miller@aigroup.asn.au frank@happygardener.com.au nataliedzenis@outlook.com Simon@jossimo.com notharry@googlemail hawkinsusan@gmail.com

0417 779 690 0892 997 363 / 0411 116 363 +61 41 238 660 +61 415 905 898 +32 484 593 167 +55 119 5470 2603

Tony Houghton Kamil Alam David Laing Richard Sale Mark Dudley Philip Hechle Kadi Lilis Saar Rev James Barnett Beate Erdmann Nils Cooper David Poon Douglas Campbell Richard Hedley Liam Foster Ibrahim Dikko David Llewelyn Stephen Collyer Steve Targett Richard Coventry Alfred Cheng

Latham ‘51 Mitre ‘88 Latham ‘70 Hall ‘61 Priory ‘91 Hall ‘50 Garden ‘09 Hall ‘57 Abbey ‘99 New ‘01 Hall ‘85 Hall ‘71 Hall ‘66 Cross ‘89 New ‘83 Orchard ‘63 Cross ‘83 Cross ‘76 Brook ‘73 Orchard ‘75

dtbears@kingston.net kamilalam@gmail.com dl@laingnet.com richard.sale@cytanet.com.cy mark.dudley3@gmail.com philipandroshechle@gmail.com kadiliissaar@gmail.com james.barnett@wanadoo.fr beate_erdmann@hotmail.com nils.cooper@gmx.de dgkpoon@gmail.com douglas.campbell@halbmond.de r-s.hedley@xtra.co.nz liamfoster@hotmail.com ibrahim.Dikko@hitelcomms.com davidlle@online.no sp.collyer@gmail.com juliastevet@gmail.com richard.coventry@rcc.com.sg alfredcheng18@gmail.com

+1 613 547 6551 (647) 861 4254

Ryan Brews

Mitre ‘00

ryanbrews@gmail.com

+27 766 170 098

Mark Smith John Wilcox Jonny Greenall Ga Jeun Lee Andrew Neville Jom Salakshana Huseyin Yardimci

Orchard ‘78 Mitre ‘82 Orchard ‘89 Abbey ‘02 Hall ‘69 Mitre ‘06 Hall ‘83

mshsmith@btinternet.com jdw@fidentiis.com jonny@balearic-helicopters.com gajeun.lee@gmail.com aaneville@outlook.com jom.salakshana@trs.co.th huseyin@yardimci.gen.tr

+34 662 143 442 + 00 349 141 534 15 00 34 639 702 411 +82 10 5360 1046 +41 79 607 42 60 +66 2261 3210 +90 532 426 3504

Charles Neil Lizzie Tebbs (née Waller) Sandy Farquharson

Priory ‘65 Abbey ‘92 New ‘97

charlesjohn.neil@gmail.com lizzietebbs@hotmail.co.uk sandyfarquharson@hotmail,com

+ 971 506 550 92 +971 52 501 8659

Mark Wilhelm Verheyen Edward Huson Robert Perks Ash Joshi James Kirtland Toby Fricker Russell Elliott Shaheen Ladhani Christopher Huson

Cross ‘77 Hall ‘70 New ‘71 Latham ‘82 Orchard ‘88 Priory ‘88 Mitre ‘93 Cross ‘89 Hall ‘72

mverheyen@comcast.net eahuson@gmail.com robertperks@earthlink.net ash@capitalrealtysolutions.com james.kirtland@gmail.com tobyfricker@hotmail,com russelliott@gmail.com shaheenladhani@gmail.com mrhuson@mindspring.com

415 203 9225 +1 773 230 9845 +1 (818) 501 9898 +1 917 558 1079 +1 917 442 0836 +1 919 813 8285 +1 281 850 4292 + 1 206 697 3360

ds@griffithsandpartners.com james@ellcorentals.com

+44 7768 763 522 + 246 256 4637 / +246 434 7395

Latham’77 David Stewart Edward James Hutson Elliot Mitre ‘68

+ 357 995 956 62 +256 783 805 022 0797 4064 708 + 33 546 949 925 +49 175 565 8903 +852 968 803 15 +44 7500 796900 + 0064 927 765 77 +234 809 944 4545 +47 977 14286 07522 106970 +974 553 040 64 +65 96393097 +65 67357735

We have ‘re-permissioned’ your consent to remain an overseas contact and have your contact details published. If you have previously been included, or would like to be added, please get in touch with the OR office.

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How to keep in touch

In the OR Office we are keen to ensure that we keep our records updated for all ORs. To this end we would be grateful if you could contact us if any of your details change, such as address, email, telephone numbers etc.

We are also delighted to hear your ‘good news’ such as engagements, marriages, births, qualifications gained, new jobs etc. We will only publish such information in The Arch with your agreement. The editorial staff retain the right to edit any submissions.

Thank You!

Please email the office: or@repton.org.uk or telephone: 01283 559320 Or write to us at: The Old Reptonian Society The Hall, Repton School Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH

Would you prefer to read The Arch online instead of a paper copy? Please advise us accordingly.

Our monthly School news, The Repton RoundUp, is sent electronically. Please ensure we have your email address if you would like to receive this. For the most instant updates follow @orsociety and the various school Twitter feeds.

You can ‘like’ us on Facebook or follow Repton on Instagram.

Repton School Shop - Memorabilia

New items to our range of memorabilia include a China Coaster (£10) to match our China Mug (£12), both made in the Staffordshire Potteries.

We are delighted to be stocking; ‘A School in England, The History of Repton School’ by eminent historian and OR, Hugh Brogan (O’49) (£40).

OR Ties:

House Scarves:

Miscellaneous:

Silk

Cross

Crested Wine Glass

Bow Tie

Latham House

Glass Crested Paper Weight

New House

China Mug

OR House/Sports Ties:

The Orchard

China Coaster

Brook House

The Priory

Jute Bag

The Cross

School House

Repton Water Bottle

The Hall

The Abbey

Repton Cards

Latham House

Field House

Repton Teddy

The Mitre

The Garden

Repton Keyring

New House

The Mitre (Girls)

Golf Umbrella

The Orchard

Repton Cuff Links

The Priory

Miscellaneous:

Repton Cricket Cap

School House

Repton Crested Silver Charm (to fit all pendant and bracelet chains)

Repton Leisure Socks

OR Football OR Golf OR Hockey

Repton Crested charm with Bracelet Pint Glass Crested Tankard Half Pint Glass Crested Tankard

Repton Lounge Pants Repton Crested Notebook Repton Pencil A School in England: The History of Repton

Champagne Crested Flute All items are available from the Repton School Shop, The Paddock, Repton, which can be contacted for price details and to place your order on Tel: 01283 559323 or by email: shop@repton.org.uk 63

The Old Reptonian Society, The Hall, Repton School, Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH @OrSociety

Email: or@repton.org.uk

Tel: 01283 559320