The Arch Spring 2016

THE ARCH

Nº 328 Spring 2016

OLD REPTONIAN NEWSLETTER

Inside this issue

Drinks in the City - Page 15

Ancient Finds - Page 20

Recognise anyone? - Page 21

Officers of The Old Reptonian Society 2016 President: James M Ross (Hall 1968) Vice President: W M Alastair Land (Headmaster) Chairman: Nick R S Smith (Brook 1969)

Welcome to The Arch President of The Society 2016 James Ross (H’68)

Treasurer: John S Wallis (Latham 1971) Governors’ Representative: Robert M Kirkland (Orchard 1959) Old Reptonian Secretary: Nigel Kew (Staff) Old Reptonian Society Officer: Jan Cobb (Staff) Elected Committee Members Sarah R E Bentall (Field 1998) - Appointed 2008 J M Guy Levesley (Hall 1975 & Staff) - Appointed 2009 Sarah E Fearns (Field 2001) - Appointed 2013 Edward T Sloane (Priory 1997) - Appointed 2013 Lloyd A Evans (Orchard 2002) - Appointed 2014 Tom Poynton (School 2006) - Appointed 2014 Suzie C Chamberlain (Abbey 2002) – Appointed 2015 Andrew J Churchill (Priory 1982) – Appointed 2015 John F M Walker (Hall 1946 & Ex Staff) - Life member Ex Officio Members Simon D Armstrong (Cross 1963) - Lancs & Cheshire Sanjiv Basu (Orchard 1989) - Fives Anthony E Bishop (Priory 1972) - Golf Society James W Blackwell (Priory 2000) - Pilgrims Benjamin D E Dewhirst (New 1996) - Yorkshire Martin L Jones (Cross 1997 & Staff) - Hockey Nicholas P Le Poidevin (Cross 1964) - Law Society Jamie R Muirhead (Cross 2009) - Tennis Club Mark R Norton (Mitre 1986) - Masonic Lodge Thomas R Pepper (Hall 1949) - Midlands Edward R U Rhodes (New 1995) - Squash Club Nicky Samra (New 2002) - Football Club Cathy Twigg (Staff) - Marketing & Development Director The Old Reptonian Society The Hall, Repton School Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH Tel. 01283 559320 Email: jcobb@repton.org.uk Editorial Team: Nigel Kew & Jan Cobb

DEADLINE for articles for the next edition (Autumn 2016) is 31st August 2016 Front Cover: The Repton Chalice Back Cover: Last Lists for Acting Head Sarah Tennant, Lent 2016

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I’m thrilled to be, I think, the 80th President of the OR Society and am looking forward to attending a variety of events during 2016.

I arrived at Repton forty-eight years ago this spring and during the intervening years there has always been one absolute certainty; any gathering of Reptonians, from whichever era, is always convivial and full of fun. To date this year has been no exception. I’ve attended the Repton Pilgrims CC dinner and Drinks in the City. DITC moved this year from Tuesday to Thursday and to a new venue at The Brewery, Chiswell Street. Both changes were a success, with over 150 ORs and staff attending a splendid evening, as always excellently organised by the OR office.

Repton is one of the cornerstones of my life and I’m certain that I’m not alone in having a sense of anticipation and pride every time I visit. The school, be it pupils or staff, always presents a happy and friendly welcome, and the combination of the historic and modern buildings provide a unique location.

On behalf of The OR Society I would like to thank Sarah Tennant, the acting Head, for her support of us during the past twelve months. She has enlightened our events and with a gentle and informative touch has kept us abreast of all the successes Repton continues to achieve in and out of the classroom. I wish her well as she returns to a quieter life and look forward to meeting the new Headmaster, Alastair Land. I know he will be given a warm welcome by the OR Society.

School Calendar of Events Chairman of The Society 2016 Nick Smith (B’69)

MAY 2016 11 Subscription Concert: David Briggs: Silent Film Organ Improvisation, Jekyll and Hyde, Chapel, 7.45 pm 14 Boys’ 1st XI v Uppingham (a), dep 9.20 am

Welcome to the Spring edition of The Arch. I am delighted that our President for 2016 is James Ross (H’68), who will be well known to a large number of you.

James is a wonderfully loyal and supportive OR, and I know he is thrilled to become our latest President. Please do try and come along to support him and the Society at as many events as possible. I also want to thank his predecessor John Hings (P’55), who had a splendid year and attended virtually all of our major occasions. As Chairman it is great to have such tremendous backing from our Presidents, as well as the Committee and everyone involved with the Society.

We try to run functions that appeal to a wide range of ORs and it is particularly pleasing when we attract a cross-section from different generations. Indeed we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve our regular events and, if there is the demand, try out new ones. Therefore it was good to not only see many ORs at our inaugural drinks evening in Birmingham but also another very strong turn-out at the recent Drinks in the City. We had decided to alter the latter to a new venue, the Brewery in Chiswell Street, and to hold it on a Thursday. This followed feedback from several of you, and I believe these changes proved a great success. Later on this year we will be holding the second of our sporting drinks evenings, on 13th October, and I hope we will see another good attendance. Having mentioned some of our relatively new events, I also want to remind you that the Summer Gaudy and November Annual Dinner are extremely convivial and I do urge you to support these. If any of you would like to provide us with feedback or suggestions we would be delighted to hear from you. Please feel free to contact the OR office with any thoughts.

When you receive this newsletter new Headmaster Alastair Land will have started and I know you will wish him and his family well as they begin their time at Repton. Links between the School and Society are very strong and in due course I hope many of us will have the chance to meet him. In my last report I mentioned the wonderful job done

by Sarah Tennant whilst acting as interim Head. She has been a great supporter of the ORs and I sincerely hope we will continue to see her at many of our functions (and without the pressure of having to update us on school news!). We have also been delighted to welcome several members of staff to our events and they always seem to thoroughly enjoy themselves. It is great to be able to chat with them and gain a feel for modern day Repton and I am always impressed by the sense of camaraderie between them and the pupils.

Girls’ 1st VI, v Uppingham 2.15 pm 15 Coffee Concert: B Block Music Award Holders, The Beldam Hall, 11.15 am 21 1st XI v Worksop (a), dep 9.15 am Girls 1st VI & U15A v Shrewsbury (a) dep 12.20 pm 22 Prep Schools’ Tennis Tournament 24 Boys’ Tennis 1st VI vs ORs, 4.00pm 25 Derbyshire CCC 2nd XI v Warwicks. CCC 2nd XI, The Square, 11.00 am 26 Informal Concert, Opera / Musical Theatre, Music School, 9.05 pm 27 Half Term begins, 4.30 pm JUNE 2016 8

The Donald Carr Trophy: Prep Schools Cricket Tournament Subscription Concert: Alexander Ardakov, piano, & James Mayhew, Author-illustrator: Pictures at an Exhibition, Music School, 7.45 pm

11 OR Society Gaudy Boys’ 1st XI v Nottingham High School, 11.30 am 14 Informal Concert, Music School, 9.05 pm 15 Boys’ 1st XI v KES Birmingham. 2.00 pm 18 Boys’ 1st XI v Trent College (a), dep 9.15 am 22 1st XI v Ashville College, 11.30am 25 Boys’ 1st XI, 15A & 14A v Sedbergh, 11.30 am 27 Junior School Play, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 1st XI v Derbyshire U17, 11.30 am (2 day game) 28 Junior School Play, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 1st XI v Derbyshire U17, 11.30 am (2 day game) 29 Piano recital: Luis Parés, Beldam Hall, 9.00 pm 30 Speech Day Art Exhibitions Preview 6.00 pm Scholars’ Concert, Beldam Hall, 6.30 pm JULY 2016 2

Speech Day Speeches, 10.15 am Speech Day Concert, Pears School, 11.30 am Boys’ 1st XI v Repton Pilgrims, 11.00 am Term ends 2.30 pm Leavers’ Service in Chapel, 6.00 pm Leavers’ Ball, The Paddock, 6.45 pm

I hope to see many of you during the year.

All dates and times are correct at time of going to print.

Please check the school web page. www.repton.org.uk 3

Forthcoming Events PARIS

An Old Reptonian Dinner in France is planned for Friday 3rd June.

Invitations will be sent to ORs in France and Belgium and the dinner will be in the Restaurant Patton in Fontainebleau. The town is the site of a château used by the Kings of France for eight hundred years and we hope that there will be a possibility for an English speaking group visit.

There is a good train service to Paris so access to Fontainebleau is easy with a good bus service from the station, though the restaurant is within walking distance of la gare Avon.

ORs who would like an invitation but who have not received one are invited to contact James Barnett (H’57) on james.barnett@wanadoo.fr.

Spouses and partners will, of course, be most welcome at the dinner Please see web page for more details. www.repton.org.uk/or/ forthcomingevents.

GAUDY

The 2016 Gaudy is on June 11th and we would like to welcome back all ORs who started at Repton pre 1955, 1964-1971, 1997-2002 and Sixth Formers who joined in 1972, 1973, 1974, 2003, 2004 and 2005. You should by now have received your invitations either by email if we have your current details, or by Royal Mail. Numbers are restricted to 220 in Pears School, so early booking is advisable.

REP THEATRE COMPANY

The company returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer, after a five year gap, with a revival of last year’s Equus, which was performed entirely in-the-round in the 400 Hall.

This very small, very part-time charitable company was founded in 1996 to give challenging opportunities and wider experience to ambitious young men and women, who showed exceptional promise and absolute commitment as young actors, directors, composers and technicians working in theatre, TV and film, and who were able to respect, learn and develop the key values of the entertainment industry and grow as potential professionals working in all aspects of it. Originally, invited company members were alumni of Repton School, but this gradually grew to incorporate graduates of University Drama Departments – many of whom have forged successful careers in the entertainment industry subsequently. However, the core ethos has always remained and the company is only recreated when the potential membership is considered to fulfil the criteria laid down by the founders, maintained by the directors.

Four years of ambitious site specific outdoor promenade productions were followed by a first tour to the Fringe with ‘Shaffer at 7.30’ in 2000, performing Amadeus and Equus on alternate nights, with the same acting company. The company enjoyed standing ovations for both shows and five star reviews for Equus but was not reviewed for Amadeus.

Fiona McLaren (G’91): Past actor: TV Producer: The Wright Stuff and This Morning.

Nicholas Burns (N’90 ): Past actor: Actor: Nathan Barley (writers Charlie Brooker, Chris Morris), Absolute Power, Man stroke Woman, Benidorm (2007 - 2014 Martin Weedon), The Crimson Field, War Book (with Antony Sher, dir. Tom Harper, 2014) and The Lady in the Van (dir. Nicholas Hytner 2015).

Tom Chambers (N’90): Past actor: Actor: Holby City (Doctor Sam Strachan 2006 - 2008), Strictly Come Dancing (BBC 1, Winner 2008), Top Hat (Aldwych), White Christmas (Dominion), Private Lives (ATG).

George Rainsford (M’96): Past actor: Actor: Waking the Dead (Luke Boyd), Call the Midwife (Jimmy) and Casualty (Doctor Ethan Hardy).

Equus by Peter Shaffer, directed by Guy Levesley (H’75).

Previews 18th and 19th August at 7.30 pm in the Charlesworth Studio Theatre, the 400 Hall, Repton.

All tickets £10. theatres@repton.org.uk 01283 559200 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 21st to 29th August.

C+1, C Venues, Adam House, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HR. Telephone: 0845 260 1234 cthefestival.com Times and ticket prices to be announced.

Guy Levesley (H’75)

OR FOOTBALL DAY

If you are interested in playing in the annual football matches against the School on September 3rd please contact captain@oldreptonianfc.com

SPORTS EVENING

Following the successful launch of the OR Sports Night in October 2014 – when we had as special guests our international hockey stars Susie Gilbert (F’02), Georgie Twigg (F’03), Jo Leigh (G’09) and Ellie Watton (M’05) please join us on the 13th October for our next biennial event. The event will be held again at Queens Club in West London, with special guests from the world of cricket.

We do hope you will join us for another celebration of OR Sport.

Nick Walford (B’69)

AGM

The Old Reptonian Society AGM will take place on Saturday November 12th 2016 at 6.00 pm in the High Chamber.

AGENDA 1. Welcome & Apologies 2. Approval of minutes from Annual General Meeting November 14th 2015 3. Matters Arising from meeting on November 14th 2015 The company continues to enjoy the support of its own alumni: 4. President’s Report Ben Cavey (P’92): Founding and current Director: Past Head of Comedy 5. Chairman’s Report and Comedy Entertainment at Tiger Aspect. Currently producer at 6. Secretary’s Report Cave-Bear Productions, part of the Endemol Shine group. Film and TV 7. Treasurer’s Report Director and Producer, recently responsible for Benidorm, Grandma’s 8. Future Events House, Bad Education, Backchat with Jack Whitehall and Psychobitches.

9. Election of Officers Tom Harper: Past Artistic Director: Film and TV Director: Misfits, The Scouting Book for Boys (2010), This is England ’86, The Borrowers (2011), 10. Any Other Business Peaky Blinders (2013), The Woman in Black: Angel of Death and War and 11. Date of next AGM Peace (BBC 2016).

Tom Daley (B’91): Past actor: Film, Theatre, Opera and Games Director: ANNUAL DINNER Tiger House (2015), The Rules of the Game (2009), After Miss Julie The Annual Dinner and AGM will be held on Saturday (Salisbury Playhouse), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Watermill Theatre) November 12th 2016 in Pears School. Please see enclosed and Invisible Mountains (Royal National Theatre). booking form.

The company has returned to Edinburgh eight times subsequently, with carefully considered productions of established plays by respected playwrights.

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EAST ANGLIA LUNCH

After two successful mid-week East Anglian OR lunches, consideration is being given to a Saturday gathering towards the end of September in the hope that Saturday may be preferable to a widest age range as possible. By way of a straw poll, could initial messages of interest either way (Saturday or mid-week) be sent to nicholas@nicholasnewton.wanadoo.co.uk or by phone to 01728 638894, as soon as possible after this edition of The Arch is published. I intend to continue using the Wentworth Hotel and to keep the cost as close to £26.50 as possible. The CB, CO, CM, IP and NR postcodes are the anticipated catchment area.

Nicholas Newton (H’75)

VISITING THE SCHOOL

We always welcome visits to the School by ORs. If you are planning to come please would you email to let us know. We will ask you to go into the Lodge where you will get a visitor badge. We are more than happy for ORs to come and have a look around the estate, but unfortunately not go into the houses and classrooms.

If you would like a group of your contemporaries to join you at any of these events and you need any help with contact details, please do not hesitate to call the OR office on 01283 559320 or email jcobb@repton.org.uk.

OR News: Snippets William Ackernley (C’13) has been awarded a Choral Exhibition at Queens’ College, Cambridge, and is now a regular member of their Choir. Will was Head Chorister at Repton and is reading Medicine, and combines his singing and trombone with his busy academic schedule.

Stephen Larard (N’61) was appointed High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire (Appointed 12th April 2013) and more recently has been awarded the MBE for Services to the Magistracy and Charity in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire (HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours List June 2015).

Joshua Benn (S’06) has been granted a commission into the Royal Tank Regiment.

John Litchfield (B’54) has received The Umpire Support Award for 2015. Each year the National Programme Umpiring Association, which is part of England Hockey, makes an award to the member of the support team who has contributed most to the development of its umpires and other umpire coaches.

Graham (Grimes) Blakesley (M’74), graduated from Birkbeck College, University of London with First Class Honours Degree in History of Art in November 2015.

Fyodor Cherniavsky (H’67) has appeared on the orchestral concert scene, conducting the symphony orchestra in the film ‘Parental Guidance’ starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler.

Andrew Clarke (H’62) has been appointed manager of the England Over 60’s cricket squad which will visit Australia in mid-November. Andrew had two seasons in the first team at Repton and topped the bowling averages in 1966.

Aaron Hibell (O’14) has just had a song released with Britney Spears. Following on from putting some of his remixes on to sound cloud, he was contacted by Sony Music to do a remix of Britney Spears’ ‘Tom’s Diner’ song. It was chosen by Britney Spears and Georgio Moroder to feature alongside Britney’s new version of the song and has been released on iTunes. It is also on YouTube www.youtube.com/ watch?v=55RWsV6lsWA Aaron has also been asked by Warner Music’s Adam Lambert to do a remix of his new single.

Stephen Hoddell (O’62) has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours, for services to the Samaritans following 42 years of volunteering with the charity including periods as Director of Bristol branch, Regional Director for the South West of England and finally chair of the Samaritans for the UK and ROI. He completed his period as chair at the end of 2014, although he continues to volunteer with Bath branch.

President James Ross (H’68) and Chairman Nick Smith (B’69) at the recent Test match at Newlands, Cape Town with Charlie Sale (B’70).

Nigel Somerville (M’85) has left the Royal Marines after 17 years of Commissioned service. During his time on active service he was awarded the Military Cross, mentioned in Dispatches and appointed MBE. Laura Young (née Taylor) (A’84) has been awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to chronically ill children in Scotland.

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Births Sophie Weber (née Bauer) (F’02) and Valentin would like to announce the birth of their son Anton Jakob Friedrich on September 27th 2015, brother for Philomena.

Niki Wigram (A’97) (née Harding) and Harry are delighted to announce the birth of Polly Grace June on September 1st 2015, a sister for Ivy.

Weddings James Balfour (N’00) married Hannah Akers on October 3rd 2015 at Boylestone Church, Derbyshire. The reception was held at Yeldersley Hall, Ashbourne. ORs in attendance were brother Richard Balfour (N’91), Bill Auden (O’72), Tom Auden (O’99), Ed Auden (O’01) and Rob Kenning (O’97).

Tom Boulton (P’99) married Rebecca Holmes on July 4th 2015 at Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall. The service was taken

by Rev. James Graham (H’67).

Elliot Bishton (L’99) was Best Man and Henry France (S’02) was an usher.

ORs in attendance from left to right: Mark Boulton (O’68), Chris Twells (O’68), Richard Watson (C’70), Craig Clarke (S’96), Tom Boulton (P’99), Elliot Bishton (L’99), Henry France (S’02), James Bishton (L’02), Laura Bradley (M’05), Kim Bradley (M’05), Kristian Charlesworth (P’04).

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Weddings Chris Cavey (P’96) married Kirsten Mason on May 17th 2015 at Gate Street Barn, Guildford.

ORs James Soar (C’96), Tom Chambers (N’90), Clare Chambers (A’95), Fiona Harold (A’93), Nikki Wigram (A’97), Richard Allsop (L’96), Tim Smith (N’96), Ben Steele (P’96), Tim Jones (C’96), Matt Bracegirdle (O’96), Robert Goode (P’96), Matthew Gooderick (C’92) and Ben Cavey (P’92) attended their wedding.

Melissa Christodoulou (F’01) married James McBrearty on October 24th 2015, at Repton School Chapel with the reception in Pears School. Former school chaplain Rev Bob Short conducted the ceremony.

ORs and staff in attendance at the wedding were as follows: Lucy Politowski (F’01), Sarah Fearns (F’01), Anna Kaleva (F’04), Marjie Griffiths (F’04), Michelle Hutchinson (A’01), Ayane Fujiwara (A’01), Caroline Eldred (G’01), Victoria Cairns (née North) (M’06), Vanessa Cuthbert (née Bordoli) (M’04), Simon Johnson (O’6), Andrew Christodoulou (P’05), Pauline Christodoulou (current Foremarke staff), Paul and Jenny Martin (current Foremarke staff). Susan Bloor (current Foremarke staff), Ann and Victor Pelech (former Foremarke staff), Anne and Jeffrey Mills (former Foremarke staff), Becky Bussey (former Foremarke staff), Sarah Tennant (Acting Head, Repton), Brenda MacNeill (former Repton staff) were also guests.

Nils Cooper (N’01) married Marina Schmidt on September 5th 2015 at Schloss Gottesaue (God’s Meadow Palace) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The party took place on the edge of the Black Forest at Schloss Eberstein (Boar-Stone Palace) in Gernsbach, Germany.

ORs attending were Christian Peters (N’03) and Anthony Russell (N’02).

The guests had been invited by the following limerick: In Karlsruhe it has been said: Marina and Nils to be wed!

Two palace locations, for grand celebrations Like fairy tale endings you’ve read.

Natalie Wynne (A’95) married Daniel Dzenis on August 8th 2015 at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The photograph with all the ORs was from their UK celebration on August 22nd 2015 at the Dovecliff Hall Hotel in Rolleston.

ORs and Old Foremarkians in attendance were, from left to right: Emma Cornish (née Jones) (A’95), Cath Hutchison (née Brown) (A’97), Georgie Williams (née White) (A’95), Clare Chambers (née Harding) (A’95), Tom Chambers (N’90), David Wynne (former Foremarke member of staff), Linda Wynne (former Foremarke member of staff), Natalie Dzenis (A’95), Richard Wynne (P’92), Jan Harding (former Foremarke member of staff), Merrill McGahan (former Foremarke member of staff), John McGahan (former Foremarke member of staff), Julian Hawtree (former Foremarke member of staff), Richard Harding (former Foremarke member of staff), Rupert Major (P’98) and Sophie Bloch (née Hanson) (A’95).

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Death Notifications CROSS

NEW

Patrick Robin Starkey (C’51) on December 28th 2015.

Ian Mcneill Lauchlan (N’45) on June 3rd 2015.

Godfrey Kenrick Lloyd (N’48) on October 19th 2015.

Robin Ardra Fegan (N’49) on February 22nd 2016.

Alan Jeffrey Carlisle King (N’63) on April 6th 2016.

Angus Jurkschat (N’79) on December 21st 2015.

HALL George Courtenay Yorke (H’37) on February 8th 2016.

Reginald Deighton Whitehead (H’46) on March 11th 2016.

David Alun Huw Rolfe (H’52) on January 14th 2016.

Richard William George (H’57) on March 23rd 2016.

Christopher Sutherland Hopkinson (H’67) on December 11th 2015.

William James Wesson (H’73) on March 19th 2016. He was a Don at Radley from 1992 – 2003 and was Tutor of A Social from 1995 – 2003. James was in charge of cricket at Radley during the great era in the 1990s.

A Memorial Service will be held at Radley, in Chapel, on Saturday 14th May at 12.00 noon, and all are welcome. There will be refreshments after the service in Clock Tower Court.

LATHAM George William Humphreys (L’37) on March 4th 2015.

Philip James Hall (L/P’38) on March 27th 2013.

David Charles Taylor (L’47) on September 25th 2015.

ORCHARD Gerald Goodall Copestake (O’32) on January 31st 2015.

PRIORY Peter Alan Trott (P’48) on November 6th 2015.

Peter Kerry (P’49) on April 14th 2015.

Malcolm John Nicklin (P’49) on December 12th 2015.

Andrew Duncan Simon Hamilton (P’55) on November 5th 2015.

David Scott Hudson (P’64) on December 10th 2015.

FORMER STAFF Lady Margaret Pringle, widow of the late Air Marshal Sir Charles Pringle who was President of the Board of Governors on December 24th 2015.

Christine Tadman, former member of the Mathematics Department in the Lent and Summer terms of 1999 on September 20th 2016.

MITRE David Cohen (M’43) on October 14th 2015.

Reeves Michael Charlesworth (O’41)

Mike’s ashes have been interred in the Precinct looking up at the 400 Hall in the lawn to the East.

Obituaries Timothy Herbert Abbott Sharland (C’34) Timothy H.A. Sharland, died 16th September 2015, two days after his 95th birthday. My father lived an ordinary, but extraordinary life. To survive to 95, having been wounded in the war and over the years seen so many relatives and friends die comparatively young, is remarkable.

In the war, he joined the East Lancashire Regiment. He was badly wounded in Tunisia and lucky to survive; an explosion embedded shrapnel in his brain. I have always been proud of his bravery.

When questioning him about how terrible it must have been; his response was, “but it was so much worse for many others”.

After the war, he joined the SAS in an administrative role based in Burma. Thereafter, he went to agricultural college and farmed in Natal and Kenya.

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In 1954, after a summer visit to England, he returned by ship to South Africa. On board, he met Freydis Leaf who was en route to her brother’s wedding. They subsequently married in Lorenzo Marks, New Year’s Eve, 1955. They returned to England, followed by an aborted attempt to emigrate to Canada and finally settling in Buckinghamshire where they farmed.

Dad’s father was in the army and consequently, as a family they moved regularly. This gave him a wanderlust that never left him.

He loved travel more than anything. He had the most phenomenal memory and it never ceased to amaze us, his knowledge of everywhere he, and indeed we, had ever visited.

Timothy is survived by Virginia, Angela and Charles and to quote his eminent Godson at his funeral, “He was a thoroughly decent, honest man”.

Angela Stanbury (Daughter)

John Vernon Swallow (B’40) John passed away on December 1st 2015 at the Horton Hospital in Banbury. John was born and bred in Yorkshire in Bradford in 1926. After school he joined the Army and took a short-service commission and served in the Middle East during the last year or two of the Second World War as a Subalton in the 6th Royal Tank Regiment. After the war the Regiment was stationed at Scotfon before moving to a summer camp at Ludgershall, near Tidworth to look after Reservists on fortnightly refresher courses. John remained there in charge of the rear party of the Regiment and then joined the main Regiment who had moved into permanent barracks. He was promoted to Captain and became the Regiment’s

Bernard Gordon Hastings (B’43) 24th January 1929 - 24th November 2015

Gordon was a day boy at Brook House, Repton, along with only four other day boys from 1944 –49. His time at Repton was followed by degrees at both Glasgow and Oxford universities and provided a platform from which he led the very richest of lives. He spoke of Repton often – his time there no doubt nurtured many of the natural talents he developed during his career. The story goes it all began for him in the Repton debating society – the motion was “This house believes that idealism must shape the post-war world” and he was moved in the moment to speak without notes, and won a rousing ovation. He had found his calling; the die was cast.

His talent catapulted him at the tender age of 26 to the ministry of Queens Road Baptist Church in Coventry where he became the spiritual and pastoral leader of more than 400 people. Then still only 32, he went to the Baptist Cathedral in Sutton, South London, he stayed there for 11 years – in many ways his halcyon days – he led a membership of over 600 people. He was a fine preacher, engaging and intelligent, and it was substance not just style that got him noticed. His theology was liberal not evangelical. He was a consummate communicator in all contexts - at the church door, at the hospital bedside, in the classroom or in the personal counsel and guidance he gave to so many in their hours of need. His ministry in Sutton was marked above all else by his commitment to ecumenism and he devoted himself to the union of the four churches of different denominations that stood on the corners of the crossroads at the heart of that London suburb.

He also travelled the length and breadth of the country preaching in small chapels, great cathedrals and most places in between. He travelled the world as well – to Brazil as a student and later on two extended preaching tours of the USA. He participated in the

Signals Officer; he retired from the Army in 1952 to follow a civilian career. He married Rosemary in 1952 and worked for EMI in Hayes and became Personnel Officer as well as employing university graduates for the Company. His hobbies were walking, photography and small-boat sailing and, in more recent years, computing. He and his wife assisted their son in building up a wholesale plant nursery and at 89 John was still assisting most days almost to his death.

Vernon Hurst (Brother in Law)

opening of the new Coventry Cathedral, spoke in the Royal Albert Hall, preached live on national TV and, in the days when television came to an end each night with appropriate solemnity, at a sensible hour, he gave the broadcast epilogue!

At the age of 43 he turned to teaching. He became Head of Religious Education at Wyggeston Boys Grammar School in Leicester and started a new chapter. During this time he often reflected on his time and rich experience at Repton. He took to teaching with commitment and determination but never stopped preaching. He adopted an ailing church in Leicester and guided them over several years to unity with another nearby church.

A tribute from a former student read “You were the first person who really showed any belief in me and your constant encouragement was absolutely pivotal to developing my sense of self belief”. The school magazine marked his retirement with a long tribute, ending: “Few teachers have offered expertise over so wide a range of subjects or have been so widely respected”.

He had a rich retirement travelling the world, remaining involved with the church and many clubs and societies and pursuing his hobbies – gardening, DIY, home brewing, sports fan, lover of classical music, walking his dog. Like most driven and focussed people, he rarely sat idle.

And for 63 years the constant presence, influence and love of his life was his wife Phyllis. He rejoiced in the achievements of his three children, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He took great interest in them all, made each of them feel special and he didn’t shy from telling them how much he loved them. He has left a huge hole in the lives of many, but inspired the strength and confidence to try to do justice to his memory.

Phyllis Hastings (Wife)

Graham Daniel Swerling (B’44) On 17th October 2015 I undertook a gigantic challenge: Trekking the Great Wall of China for five days. Huge, steep and long, this trek covers some tricky terrain which, for someone who gets vertigo on Marylebone station escalators, was very taxing. But I do love a challenge and fundraising for charity, particularly Pancreatic Cancer UK which is so close to my heart. Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers where survival rates have barely improved since the 1970s. Only three per cent of patients survive the disease for five years or more. Funding and research is the key to improving this. Sadly this came too late for my Darling Dad who passed away on Christmas Eve 2013, having bravely fought the disease after it was diagnosed only a few months earlier.

Dad was a very hardworking farmer throughout his life, he was lucky enough to pursue his passion for the farm 24 hours a day, 365 days a year along with my two brothers. Limbo, a driving horse purchased on Dad’s 80th birthday gave him many hours of pleasure. Cricket, hockey, and being an active Old Reptonian, socialising with friends and family also kept him active and

avoiding retirement, right up to the age of 83 when his untreatable condition was confirmed.

Dad had a very happy and fruitful marriage to Dumpy for over 50 years – four children, Simon, Janie, myself, Guy and 10 wonderful grandchildren – he himself had five siblings. He was blessed to be surrounded by the family, right to the end. A celebration of his life, held a few months later, drew a gathering of 500 - loved ones, friends and many well-wishers from the wider Buckinghamshire community.

The trekking challenge is mine alone, and I am aiming to raise £13,000 plus for Pancreatic Cancer UK. We held a hugely successful Barn Dance for 180 people at the farm in July raising over £7,000 in one evening, Wow! Raffles, auctions, a pig roast and dancing... Dad would have loved it. www.Justgiving.com/joswerling Jo Swerling (Daughter) 9

Obituaries Richard Grew (O’46) (1932-2016).

Richard Grew first came to Repton as a boy in the Orchard in 1946. Academically he was so far advanced that he went straight into the Sixth Form (aged 13!) where he spent five years accumulating nine A levels before winning an Open Scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences. National Service followed, after which his old headmaster, T.L.Thomas, invited him back to Repton to teach Chemistry, which he taught alongside Maths, General Science, and Divinity. It was only later in his career that he concentrated on teaching Physics.

As a schoolboy Richard committed himself to the Lord Jesus Christ: a commitment which would shape and direct his life in all its aspects. When asked what he rated as the greatest achievement in his time as a teacher he typically modestly dodged that question but went on to say that “I would like to think that there are some boys and girls I have helped to come to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ”.

Richard made another commitment in 1962 which would also shape his life – he married Sue-Mary (in the words of Richard’s father “the best thing you ever did”!) – and so began a partnership which over the years brought joy and happiness to so many people, not least to their three children Pippa, Tim and Jenny and their families.

Richard Grew was a naturally gifted man (he was ever ready to acknowledge all the abilities he had were gifts from a gracious God) and he brought those talents to bear in abundance in all the areas of school life in which he was involved. At various times he was Master in Charge of photography, golf and tennis; he coached most of the hockey teams up to the 2nd xi, and helped with cricket and fives, as well as doing the normal refereeing of football matches. During the severe winter in 1962 he was

appointed Master in Charge of Snow, but when it was realised he possessed some skates he was promoted (?) to Master in Charge of Ice. This apparently involved taking boys over to Foremarke to play ice-hockey on the frozen lake: well before the days of risk-assessments! Music was also a big part of his life, whether providing accompaniment on the piano or playing the violin every week in the orchestra.

The bare bones of his pastoral roles are easy to relate but they do not tell the manner in which he went about these, to him, the most important of roles. In simple terms he was a house tutor in New House and he later took on the role of Assistant Chaplain: something he did for seven years before becoming Housemaster of Brook House for 15 years.

Aside from his many talents and achievements, what is it about Richard Grew that so many of us remember? The appreciation by Barry Downing in the October 1993 Terminal Letter highlighted Richard’s attributes: “….sensitivity, observation, meticulous preparation and composition, gentle humour, balance and awareness of others. …..His games playing also revealed a quiet determination, apparently effortless timing and total sportsmanship as anyone will testify who has been, slightly apologetically, destroyed on the tennis court or golf course.”

One of his former colleagues remarked recently that “no other colleague surpassed the breadth and depth of Richard’s many talents – nor of his humility, his integrity and his faith: he was so modest that no-one begrudged him his prodigious success in so many fields”.

Mike Keep (O’69) and member of staff

David Charles Taylor (L’47) David died on September 25th 2015 at his home in Tallwoods, New South Wales. He emigrated to Australia upon retirement from his practice as a solicitor in Bexhill-on-Sea. It is about his sporting ability that I write rather than his involvement in the law. David was someone of whom one might say that he played all games well and some games very well. At school he was excellent at fives, hockey, football, and cricket and very good at table tennis, but his first love was golf. During National Service he was selected to play for the Army and from there he went to Selwyn College, Cambridge. He was soon in the University team and in due course he was awarded his blue. Another member of the team was E R Dexter (also captain of England cricket) whom David frequently partnered. On one occasion, Dexter – known as ‘Lord Ted’ – invited David to accompany him to Switzerland to play in the Swiss Open.

He told me that they stopped at the top of each pass and hit golf balls as far as they could into the valleys below. During this period he entered the British Universities Championship and in particular the long-driving competition. David was the last to strike off. The leader at the time was a full international, later a tournament pro, who had pitched the ball 260 yards (they did not measure the bounce or run). David hit his drive well over the judges’ heads.

His pitch was 296 yards; in other words 36 yards further than any other university student.

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Club houses across the UK and Australia are littered with the name D C Taylor on their winners’ boards. However, David remembered two victories with pleasure and pride. The first was as a member of the winning Repton team in the 1963 Halford Hewitt competition.

He met up with the surviving members of the team in 2013 (when they held a 50th anniversary reunion). The other victory was when he entered the Harlech Gold Cross, stuffed with internationals and scratch golfers, and he beat the lot.

Early in the New Year (2015) he was challenged to a round of golf by his sons. After 4 holes he was 4 down and they took pity on him and offered him shots. “Never”, he replied, and in the end without any help he won the game 2 and 1. He never played again because of deteriorating health.

We often talked about our experiences at Repton all those years ago. An abiding memory for David was fairness and the requirement to play the game you were playing within the rules.

David married Nikki and they have three sons.

Michael Taylor (L’51)

Michael John Ducker Jolley (O’47) On November 27th 2015.

After National Service as a pilot in the RAF, and basic training with a variety of aircraft manufacturers Mike joined Rolls Royce aero engines, moving to the USA to become Vice President in charge of Public Relations for all of the USA. After some years with Rolls Royce he moved to become Vice President of Public Affairs for British Aerospace Inc. and eventually retired to Arizona with his wife Judy, having by then lived in the

States for over 40 years and never losing his English accent.

With his wife he was a keen traveller and golfer as well as a frequent returner to England.

Mike was an enthusiastic pilot, he was Past Chairman of the New York Wings Club, and was involved with the National Press Club and the Aero Club both of Washington.

David D P Jolley (O’49)

Peter Alan Trott (P’48) 1934 - 2015 Peter Alan Trott, was born in Tehran on 30th December 1934.

Peter’s father, Alan, was for a time the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and with parents abroad, he spent term time at Repton where he had very happy school years and school holidays frequently with family friends in Norfolk particularly Cromer and Blakeney.

Peter was a member of the 1st XI football team and often spoke of the Master in Charge of Football at that time who, as some may remember, was Mr Dick Sale, a Derbyshire cricketer. Peter went on to play also for the Old Boys in the Arthur Dunn Cup (the second oldest sporting cup in the country after the FA cup) whilst at St John’s College, Cambridge where he read medicine. He undertook his practical training at Guys Hospital in London and after qualifying his intention was to become a country GP. He caught the tail end of National Service, and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was posted to the 2/7 Ghurkas in Singapore. He thoroughly enjoyed his time with them, until, following a swim in the sea, he woke up the next morning unable to move a muscle. He was diagnosed with the ‘bulbar’ form of polio (the most severe form) and was repatriated back to the UK to Stoke Mandeville for treatment and recovery under the care of Guttman, who had an international reputation for rehabilitation.

He also spent time at Headley Court, the then RAF rehabilitation unit. It was nothing short of miraculous that he survived, let alone that he learned a devilishly difficult ‘knee lock’ style of walking which kept him mobile for the next 40 or so years.

Peter met Celeste whilst he was in Stoke Mandeville and they married in 1965. They had two girls, Katharine and Linky, who arrived in 1966 and 1967 respectively. Peter’s links with the Ghurkas and Nepal continued until his death and he undertook the role as Treasurer of the Britain Nepal Society, enjoying AGMs and curry suppers at the Nepal Embassy in Kensington.

After his polio, a career rethink was required and he struck upon the idea of becoming a cytopathologist. Having retrained and qualified, he commenced a long and fulfilling career at the world reknowned Royal Marsden Hospital where his work helped to pioneer the technique of the ‘fine needle aspiration’ which became the standard technique for the diagnosis of cancer. He was also instrumental in establishing a ‘slide club’ of the top London pathologists to exchange details of cases to enhance learning and share knowledge. It was innovative and effective and contributed to the enviable international reputation enjoyed by London pathologists at that time.

Peter and the family moved to East Hanney, South West of Oxford in around 1975 and Peter threw himself into village life appearing in a number of pantomimes and village fetes. After he and Celeste separated in 1986, Peter moved to Marylebone High Street, London, where he continued to live until his retirement. He joined the staff at the London Clinic initially combining it with his role at the Royal Marsden and in later years working on a part-time basis.

He continued to work until he was 70, noting that cytopathologists “just get better with age because there is little they haven’t seen before”. Once retired, he moved to live close to Katharine and her family in Wymondham, Norfolk before he went to Saxlingham Nursing home only a matter of months before he died.

Toby’s final words to Peter at his funeral were to say “an enormous thank you; thank you for giving us so freely of your time; thank you for brightening our lives with your sense of fun and humour.

Thank you for the incredible example you set us. Thank you for inspiring us with your indomitable resilience, your fortitude, perseverance and your ‘never-say-can’t’ attitude”.

Linky Trott (Daughter)

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Obituaries Peter Nicholas Stott (M’49) During his time at Repton, Peter became an accomplished saxophonist and founder member of the Jazz Band. However, neither of these achievements endeared him to the then Director of Music, Mervyn Williams, who considered neither the instrument nor the music appropriate for practising in the Music School and firmly indicated that Peter and his band should find a room in the condemned Old Mitre for their activities!

After National Service in Germany with the Oldham Tank Regiment, Peter returned to join the family firm of Stott’s Of Oldham. He soon left to establish his own successful catering equipment business, Excel Equipment, which he ran until his retirement.

acquisition of historic photographs, letters, personal anecdotes and memorabilia. A spin-off of this was his interest in, and collection of, the paintings of William Stott of Oldham, a distant relative and Victorian artist with a colourful life history. Peter persuaded the Oldham Art Gallery to host an exhibition of the artist’s work, which he helped to curate. He was also a founder member and enthusiastic clarinet player in the Oldham Symphony Orchestra, of which I am sure Mervyn Williams would have approved.

Above and beyond all these interests and enthusiasms, Peter was always fascinated by the people whom he met throughout his life.

He delighted in discovering from them about their lives and what made them tick. Quite simply he loved people and so he developed an almost intuitive understanding of them and an ability to win them over with his wicked and wonderful sense of humour and to encourage them to share his enthusiasm, a gift which won him many firm friends. He was a man of generous and unfailing kindness, utter loyalty and deep compassion and concern for others.

Throughout his long life he also developed an astonishing range of interests and hobbies, which he pursued with extraordinary enthusiasm and thoroughness. He acquired and restored a sizeable collection of veteran and vintage cars and successfully completed the London to Brighton run, contrary to a contemporary report that “Stott’s car was last seen heading backwards uphill and in the wrong direction”! He also became an authority on Lancashire Co-operative Wholesale Society commemorative plates and filled a He is survived by his wife Dinah, whom he married in 1966 and large display cabinet with his collection. He had a lifelong interest in with whom he found lifelong happiness, and their four children. family history, which for Peter was not just the creation of an Edward James Stott (M’52) extensive family tree, but also meetings with distant relatives and

Tim Steuart Hallam Piper (B’52) Tim arrived at Brook House in the Summer Term of 1952 from St Anselm’s, Bakewell where his father Donald was the Headmaster.

Donald, (B’21) was a good cricketer who regularly played for the Pilgrims and was also a golfer of some note captaining Repton in the Halford Hewitt Cup for many years.

After a distinguished career at Repton where he captained the second eleven at cricket and was Head of House, Tim won a place at Cambridge where he read Classics and also played for the Cambridge Stymies golf team.

In 1963, after many unsuccessful years in the Halford Hewitt Cup, Donald decided to leave himself along with others of his generation out of the Repton side and placed his faith in youth, picking a side of ten young bachelors, all aged under 30 with a handicap of no more than 3, and this included Tim. The pundits rated Repton’s chances of winning six matches, and hence the Cup, at 1,000 to 1, but against all the odds Repton got through to the final against Fettes. As the match progressed it was clear that two matches were going to Fettes and two to Repton, so it was all down to the fourth match, in which Tim and his partner were 2 down after 9 holes. Slowly they pulled the holes back and were level after 14 holes. Thereafter, to quote the words of Leonard Crawley, the golf correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, ”There followed three agonising halves and then at the home hole, Fettes topped their tee shot and Piper, rising to the occasion, hit a glorious brassie shot bang into the middle of the green which meant a four for the asking”, which was enough to secure the hole, the game, the match and the trophy. Under pressure, it was one of the finest shots ever struck and reduced many of the older generation to tears!

At this time Tim had moved back to St Anselm’s to teach, and in 1965 he became joint Headmaster until Donald retired two years later. Times were difficult, and the school buildings were still owned by a company owned by Donald and his predecessor’s family, which necessitated Tim making several epic road trips around the south of England that summer tracking down the various shareholders in order to acquire all the shares. With the aid of Dick Morris, a parent and successful businessman, they formed the St Anselm’s School Trust – a charity with Dick as Chairman of the Governors, a position he was later to hold at Repton. An appeal to all raised enough money to buy the buildings, and this was followed by further appeals every two years to new parents, which enabled the school to be extended in so many respects, including the Music School based on Repton’s experience and eventually the levelling of the notoriously sloping games fields. Tim, together with his wife Tricia, worked incredibly hard in making the school such a success and achieving remarkably high academic standards based on small classes and employing top class teachers.

All this effort eventually took its toll on Tim and in 1995 he took early retirement after 30 years as Headmaster, and he and Tricia moved to York where they spent many happy years together, enjoying the company of their four children and six grandchildren.

Tim remained active right up to the time of his death at 77 in village life as well as in charities and sport, playing his last round of golf just the day before he died. Like many grandparents, he was pleased to have survived long enough to have been beaten at golf on level terms by his eldest grandson. With there having been six Pipers over three generations in Brook, Tim was deeply saddened when the House closed.

David Pepper (H’53)

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Roger Charles Heading (L’55) The Heading family were well established farmers and produce merchants in Chatteris in Cambridgeshire. Roger joined his elder brother, Bryan (L’53), at Glebe House School, Hunstanton where he excelled academically and won an Exhibition to Repton in the summer of 1955, taking up his place the following September. He was young enough to improve this to a full scholarship during his first year at Repton.

There will be many members of Latham House in the 1950s who will remember the strong presence of Bryan and Roger Heading, lively contributors to the life of the house during the final years of Bernard Thomas’ Housemastership. Once these Headings reached positions of authority in the house, they eloquently questioned the format and traditions but BWT and his wife, Hester, dealt with this verbal jousting with good humour. Roger had a distinguished academic record at Repton but viewed with disdain the emphasis on sport. He succeeded in avoiding athletics “Standards” by being appointed as Secretary to the event, and so armed with a clipboard each afternoon, his absence from competition raised Latham’s achievement. Roger, as Academic Head of School, was one of three School Prefects from Latham in his final year.

During his teenage years, farming was assumed to be his future career and politics his major interest. He went up to Clare College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences and continued his interest in politics with the University Conservative Association alongside Kenneth Clarke, Norman Lamont and John Gummer On leaving university, Roger returned to Chatteris to join the family farming business. Before long he stood for election to the Chatteris Urban District Council. Topping the poll, he became the youngest member of the Council and later became Chairman of the Isle of Ely Conservative Association and, as a great supporter of Ted Heath, thoroughly enjoyed organising the campaign for the 1970 general election. The 1970s were a time of seismic change for local government and Roger played a key role during 1973 in transforming five local councils into the Fenland District Council.

At the same time he continued his interest in national politics and was selected to be the prospective Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the Bassetlaw constituency. Then a by-election was called in the Isle of Ely in July 1973 on the death of the MP, Sir Harry Legge-Bourke. With the consent of the Bassetlaw Conservatives, Roger put his name forward for selection as the

candidate. Much to his disappointment he was not chosen and he saw Sir Clement Freud record a famous victory for the Liberals. With the benefit of hindsight, Roger, as a well known local candidate, was probably the only person capable of beating Freud. In the 1974 February General Election he improved the Conservative share of the vote in Bassetlaw, a remarkable achievement in a mining area at that time. Roger was a kind and generous but very sensitive man and, although intellectually capable of going far in politics, he may not have possessed that single mindedness and thick skin needed to climb the greasy pole of national politics. So perhaps circumstances did him a favour.

Roger remained active in local politics and having been elected to Cambridgeshire County Council, he played a prominent role in the field of education. He was a “one nation Tory” and disagreed with the attitudes and policies of Margaret Thatcher, and found that he could no longer be an active supporter of the party and so by the start of the early 1980s he had given up all his political and council responsibilities. It was a time of complete life-style change for Roger. He had found that farming was not his ideal occupation and after much heart-searching had sold his farming business. It was discovered that he was suffering from diabetes and by a very strict self-imposed diet he managed to lose over four stones in weight.

A complete new way of life beckoned: he supported several new or expanding local businesses and was active in charity work. For several years he served on the committee of the Cheshire Home nearby and a window in the Lady Chapel acknowledges support given by the Heading Family to the Restoration Project. He travelled extensively, visiting over 100 countries mainly through his passion for cruise holidays. He enrolled in a course at the Open University studying overseas development. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Chatteris Music Society.

Many of us were concerned to hear of Roger’s cancer diagnosis, but his zest for life submerged deeper concerns, with treatment in Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge giving cause for hope. His final days were spent in a nearby hospice and his death will have saddened all who knew him.

Roger never married but was godfather to many children from amongst his wide circle of friends. He took a keen interest in their lives, often visiting, thereby sustaining these family friendships.

Ian Payne (L’55)

Ewart Philip Dennis (H’62) May 2nd 1949 – March 16th 2016 Philip attended Foremarke and came to The Hall with a Music Scholarship in 1962. Pianist, cellist and singer, he made a major contribution to the musical life of both schools. Both as a treble and a tenor, he excelled. He also made an outstanding contribution to school drama. At Foremarke, he played Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, and Basil in Where There’s a Will. At Repton, under the expert direction of R.M.Charlesworth, he played Tituba in The Crucible, Witwoud in The Way of the World and the lead in Phineas Finn.

After training at the Birmingham School of Music, Philip went on to a career as a professional singer of lieder, of oratorios and opera. He performed recitals, and concerts all over the UK and

abroad. He was a member of the BBC singers and sang with the Kent Opera, the Travelling Opera, English National Opera and the Royal Opera. He was also a member of The Globe Theatre, performing in A Winter’s Tale, and of the Royal Shakespeare Company, with notable performances as Balthazar in Much Ado About Nothing and Amiens in As You Like It. Apart from music and the theatre, Philip’s other great passion was gardening. He created an astonishing garden of great beauty at his home in London which he shared with his partner, Ross McKenzie.

Professor Paul Whitworth (H’63)

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OR Events Annual Dinner The 2015 Annual Dinner was held on the evening of Saturday, November 14th. It was decided to follow the format of two years previously and start things off in the Science Priory. Thus the AGM of the Society took place in the Kan Library, followed by Drinks in the Atrium. A special feature of this part of the evening was the showing of a wonderful old film of Repton life during the time of Mike Charlesworth, kindly sent to us by Giles Boot (H’72).

Following that, the 70 ORs and guests, ranging from octogenarians to twenty-somethings, made their way across to Pears School for the Dinner. As the delicious meal winded to a close, the President, John Hings (P’59), addressed the room, followed by Acting Head Sarah Tennant to give an update of news from the Repton of 2015.

The evening was great fun and much enjoyed by those present; the only disappointment, perhaps, was that more were not there.

It would be lovely if a few of you reading this article might be of a mind to put a table together for the next Dinner later in the year.

NJK

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Drinks in the City 2016 saw a new departure for the Drinks in the City event. After four years at the East India Club the decision was made to try a different venue, The Brewery, in the heart of the City. The evening also changed to a Thursday (apparently the new Friday), March 3rd.

Interestingly the change to venue and day had virtually no impact on numbers, with once again around 150 ORs, guests, and past and present members of staff gathering to mingle, chat and reminisce, wine or beer in one hand, delicious canapé in the other. Those who escaped the village to be there were Sarah Tennant (Acting Head), who once again gave an excellent round up of school news, John Golding (English and Acting Deputy Head - Pastoral), Russell Embery (Head of Classics), Simon Earwicker (English and Housemaster of The Cross), Jon Hill (English), Kim McCallum (Modern Languages), Jeremy Bournon (recently retired Director of Art), Melissa Blain (Modern Languages and Careers), and Nigel Kew (Modern Languages and OR Secretary). The evening also saw a fine maiden speech from this year’s President, James Ross (H’68). As ever, the occasion was organised with wonderful efficiency

by Jan Cobb (OR /Development Officer) and Cathy Twigg (Marketing and Development Director). There was a tremendous buzz all evening, as everyone really seemed to be enjoying the occasion, once again underlining the importance of the event in the Old Reptonian calendar, whatever the day, wherever the venue!

If any OR (whether an attendee or not) has strong feelings, either about the new venue, or indeed anything to do with the event, please do get in touch with the OR Office.

NJK

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OR Events Drinks in Birmingham After a ‘first’ in the calendar in October 2014, the Sports Evening, October 2015 saw another new event for the Old Reptonian Society, Drinks in Birmingham. As the name would suggest, the evening, Thursday October 15th, followed closely along the lines of the hugely successful Drinks in the City in London. A group of 70 gathered at the centrally-located Hotel Du Vin for drinks, canapés and the chance to renew acquaintances, make new contacts, and, of course, remember school days. The Society’s President, John

Hings (P’55), welcomed ORs, guests, and a number of current members of staff, and Acting Head, Sarah Tennant, gave an excellent review of Repton news. The event, which could not have happened without the efforts of Jan Cobb (OR/Development Officer and Cathy Twigg (Marketing & Foundation Director), seemed to be a resounding success and will surely take place again in the not too distant future.

NJK

OR Reunions German Reunion The fourth German reunion was held on October 10th 2015. ORs were treated to a guided tour by Jeremy Bournon of the Kunsthaus art gallery followed by a meal at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof (The Bavarian Courtyard).

More photographs can be seen on the OR web page https://reptonschool. fluencycms.co.uk/OR-Meeting-in-Munich

Singapore Supper Peter Boult (N’52) was visiting Singapore and called up OR Overseas contact Richard Coventry (B’73). They spent the evening reminiscing about their different times at Repton during dinner at Tanglin Club in Singapore with their wives.

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Branches of the Society Football As I write this the Old Reptonian Football Club’s season is drawing to a close. Despite not being able to get our hands on any silverware this year, it has been a hugely enjoyable season that has seen the club welcome a lot of new faces.

The aim in the league was to gain promotion, and, after going six games unbeaten at the start of the year, things were looking good. However, a few weeks of illness, injury and absentees allowed Old Harrovians and Old Brentwoods to pull away and claim both promotion spots and bounce back up to the Premier Division after only a season down.

Each year we set our sights on the prestigious Arthur Dunn Cup, which is the Old Boys equivalent of the ISFA Cup. For the second successive season we lost in the semi final, this year to a strong Old Tonbridgian side that had only lost one game all season. We had hoped to get revenge for our defeat in the rather controversial 2012 final, but sadly it was not to be. The only goal of the game was an unfortunate own goal by Alex Urwin (L’13); an unlikely match winner at either end! It was great to have the likes of Jake Bullock (P’12), Doug Redfearn (P’09) and Oli West (P’10) bringing the average age of the squad down. With the quality of ORs leaving the school each year I really hope more and more younger ones will be keen to get back on The Square and feature in the Arthur Dunn Cup competition in the coming years.

Despite not having a ‘proper’ keeper we’ve kept six clean sheets so far – which is three times as many as last season’s total. There are two main reasons for this: Tim Lambert (P’01) doing a fantastic job as a makeshift keeper (most notably his penalty save against Old Brentwoods) and the regularity of the defensive unit. Under the leadership of Andy Evans (N’06) the defence has looked as organised as ever with James Bishton (L’02), Alex Haynes (P’04) and Josh Golding (P’06) dealing with any opposition.

Whilst our goal stopping has improved this year our goal scoring has declined. Having lost Clayton Penny (P’97) to fatherhood and with Matt Gooderick (C’92) often unavailable there was a lack of goal scorers in the squad. Mike Watson (P’04), Andrew Jopson (P’07) and Neil Twidle (N’06) had a solid first season for the club and will undoubtedly be long-term threats going forward; their hard work deserved more goals than it got this year.

Our ball possession and passing game have improved enormously since starting five-a-side training every Tuesday night. We’ve created far more chances and played some slick stuff but have not been clinical enough in the final third. Any current school attackers should be licking their lips at the thought of slipping into this team’s attacking line-up; you will get chances!

Over 30 players have donned the shirt this year, ten of whom were debutants and eleven of the squad played in ten or more games. Our youngest player was Alex Urwin (L’13), who was half the age of the eldest player, Matt Gooderick (C’92) (who is still scoring hat-tricks!). Luke Samra (N’05) was the most capped player, only missing one game all season, and had a good debut year with Simon Duggan (O’00) in the centre of midfield.

With the season almost over I would like to thank the Club Chairman Nick Walford (B’69) and Club President Martyn Beckett (B’64) for their support. Not only do I get regular emails wishing the team luck, but Martyn also sends me print-outs of Bayern Munich’s warm-up routine and The FA’s guide on ‘How To Press’ – the fact that we had four clean sheets immediately after receiving these documents is no coincidence!

Alex Kington’s (N’91) Vets were unfortunately drawn against Old Carthusian Vets in the first round of the Derrick Moor Cup and only narrowly lost 3-1 against this youthful opposition. This saw them put into the Plate, in which they were beaten finalists last year, and pitted against Old Chigwellians, another young and energetic side. The game ended up 4-4 after 90 minutes, this meant extra time despite the ORs’ best efforts to skip it and go straight to penalties! Chigwellians were able to make the most of their larger squad and scored twice to secure a 6-4 win. It was another enjoyable season and hopefully the draw will be kinder next year!

In recent years the club has grown from strength to strength both as a sporting and social club. If you’re keen to get involved please get in touch at captain@oldreptonianfc.com. The annual matches against the School will take place on Saturday 3rd September 2016 and all are welcome.

Nicky Samra (N’02)

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Branches of the Society Golf THEY DON’T LIKE IT UPPINGHAM CAPTAIN MAINWARING! Richard Pinder (L’64) led Repton to a 5 - 3 victory over Uppingham on March 19th at Littlestone Golf Club.

The team pictured left to right: Richard Fry (N’60), Tony Sayer (L’58), Richard Pinder (L’64), John Fletcher (L’66), Ed Rhodes (N’95), Gordon West (B’62), Sandip Basu (O’91) and James Porter (L’59).

It was good to see James Porter in a winning side so early in the season as it bodes well for his appearance in the Bernard Darwin.

Richard Pinder has set the benchmark for match managers this year; not only has he led his team to victory, he also emailed the result and a photo to me by 10.30 that night – could all the other match managers please note!

Well done Repton!

HALFORD HEWITT Repton suffered a narrow loss in the first round of the 2016 Halford Hewitt after failing to convert a winning position into ultimate victory against Haileybury.

Splendidly led off by Neal Rushton (P’94) and James Wilson (L’99) who won the top match 4 & 3, the Pearson brothers Myles (P’99) and Sean (P’96) produced a bookend 5 & 4 match in game five to leave Repton needing just one win from the remaining three matches. The captain, Philip Carr (H’72) and Richard Holdsworth (C’92) ran into strong opposition in game three, but Repton enjoyed useful advantages in the other two games.

Mark Anselm (C’86) and Pete Forster (N’87) saw the game taken away from them by Haileybury’s fourth pair winning five consecutive holes, leaving the game level with Martin Priestley (C’81) and Richard Hodgkinson (C’92) two up on the 17th tee. Haileybury holed a stuffy eight-foot putt for a winning four at the 17th to take the game to the 18th. When Haileybury found the stone track behind the green Repton stood clear favourites. But another remarkable recovery saw the game advance into extra holes, and Priestley and Hodgkinson could not resist the momentum that had swung against them, a disappointing five generating a firstround exit for the second year running.

As ever, it was an enjoyable trip for the players and the several supporters who nobly forsook luncheon at Royal St George’s in the name of the Repton cause.

Words courtesy of Richard (Peter Alliss) Hodgkinson (C’92) Pictures courtesy of Tony (David Bailey) Bishop (P’72) For full information about OR Golf, please refer to www.ReptonGolf.com

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OR Lodge What a difference a year can make. I have only recently finished my time as one of the youngest Masters of the Old Reptonian Lodge, had the pleasure of installing an ex-school master, John Sentance, and then travelled the world filming for the BBC on a brand new factual entertainment show. Life never seems to slow down and Freemasonry is much the same.

For some Lodges it seems Freemasonry continues to pick up pace and popularity, especially the Old Reptonian Lodge. Our regular meeting place, Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London, is not only the home of English Freemasonry, but it continues to be a very popular venue for external events.

This year’s Warner Brits 2016 after party was hosted in London’s premier 1930’s Art Deco building, with a spectacular visual display put on by technical production company Maestra.

What once had a reputation for closed doors, Freemasons’ Hall is an extremely popular and accessible venue, not just for event

management companies, but also the general public. It contains an extensive library and museum of freemasonry as well as a shop. Public tours operate most weekdays - www.freemasonry. london.museum/tours/ Being a London Lodge we are very fortunate to meet at this great venue twice a year. In addition, for the past 20 years our September dinner has been held at Repton, inclusive of friends and partners, courtesy of the Headmaster.

On my travels I was thrilled to see so much freemasonry, so proudly enjoyed and displayed. Everyone from young Caribbean lobster fishermen to older established South African gents welcomed me as a friend, despite my sometimes intimidating mohawk, beard, and indeed film crew with me.

Tom Hird (P’00) www.orl.org.uk

Tennis This year is shaping up to being another exciting one in the OR tennis calendar. We are having our inaugural ORs vs the School tennis match on the 24th May. Please do come along to watch and support, there promises to be an excellent standard of tennis. The D’Abernon Cup kicks off once again in early June and we will be battling to regain our title from two years ago, with our first-round match taking place on 12th June. Meanwhile the rest of the

summer we are planning a number of tennis and social events both in Repton and in London to which players of all standards are welcome. If you are interested, or just want to be kept up to date with the latest OR tennis news, please drop me an email at: muirheadjamie@gmail.com Jamie Muirhead (C’09) (OR Tennis Chairman)

Squash The first round of the Old Boys’ squash knockout, the Londonderry Cup, was played against the Old Tonbridgians at the Southbank Club in Southwark on 15th December 2015. The first OR team to be entered for over 20 years was Josh Moore (L’04), Rory Farquharson (N’03), Henry Brown (S’00), Ed Rhodes (N’95) and Rowley Rhodes (N’98).

and we had a couple of drinks and a nice meal in the pub afterwards. The ORs salvaged some dignity by leaving last!

Since then the ORs have played a friendly against Shrewsbury at Lord’s, which was more evenly matched, and we plan to have a couple more matches in the autumn, including one against the School.

The team was very grateful for the support of John (P’55) and Patsy Hings (then President and First Lady of the OR Society) and Vanessa Rhodes (née Whatley) (A’99). Sadly, however, it was to no avail: despite creditable attempts, Repton was thrashed 5-0 by a very strong Tonbridge side. The OTs were a good bunch

If you are keen to play squash, particularly in London, please get in touch!

Ed Rhodes (N’95)

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OR News ORs Support Repton Beach Bike Ride It was great to see ORs supporting the annual charity Bike Ride 2015 from Repton to Hunstanton in Norfolk. ORs Sarah Huish (A‘08), Charlotte Gough (F‘08), Diana Bench (A‘07) and member of staff) and James Frost (O‘14) joined this year on the 150 mile ride over two days of the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend.

As in previous years OR Jon Gough (H’74), also rode with his son Jack (School House) and the ride enjoyed sponsorship from OR Rob Mercer (H’81). In this year’s team of 28, several Repton students and parents were involved in the ride and members of staff, Nick Crombie and Diana Bench rode a tandem while Mark Warrilow rode a tandem with his son Thomas. As ever there was a squadron of helpers driving support vehicles. The riders were extremely grateful to them as well as the school for the use of a minibus, as well as the support of Major Wadsworth and use of the CCF bike trailer.

The event proved to be a combination of a physical challenge and heart-warming communal event, with lots of teamwork across the generations in evidence, as well as fun at the various refreshment stops along the way. A champagne moment was definitely enjoyed by the riders on the Saturday evening at Rutland Water Golf Club when a notable group stalked guiltily up the 18th fairway after they had taken a wrong turn and had to climb the fence and wheel their bikes through the course to the clubhouse in front of a rowdy gallery!

A spectacular moment was also the final arrival en masse into Old Hunstanton where riders enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the beach, followed by a celebratory meal at the Le Strange Arms Hotel.

The course runs from Repton across beautiful countryside to Rutland on the first day. The second day’s ride via Stamford crosses the Fens to Wisbech then King’s Lynn and on to the coast, picking a scenic route through the Sandringham Estate and a few testing hills beyond.

The ride was organised again by Abbey House parents Lou and Tim Wilbraham in support of Team Bryant, a charity which supports young adults fighting cancer. The charity was set up by the friends of Jo Bryant who had been a student in the boarding

house that Tim and Lou ran at Trent College. Jo was a courageous and inspirational young woman who raised funds for others fighting cancer and wrote a blog report of her experiences in the years before she unfortunately died of a rare heart cancer, shortly after her 30th birthday. Team Bryant raises in excess of £30,000 per year and directs these funds to small charities that help young people, who like Jo Bryant, find themselves fighting cancer at a time when they no longer live under the umbrella of their immediate family and who have yet to enjoy the support of spouse or children. More information can be found on http:// www.teambryant.co.uk/.

The riders raised over £3,500 from donations and the sale of Team Bryant t-shirts and wrist bands. They ride again on 28th – 29th May 2016 and will welcome support from ORs. Donations can be made online to https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/ reptoncycle2016. The Repton Beach Bike Ride activities can also be followed on Twitter @ReptonBeachRide. ORs wishing to join the ride are welcome to contact Tim and Lou Wilbraham at The Abbey on 01283 559258, or via email at timwilbraham@ repton.org.uk.

OR Office During the past four months there has been a lot of activity in The Hall. The OR office has moved to the former library of School House. It was with great excitement that when the white fire doors were opened at the bottom of the ‘rickety stairs’ the original wall was exposed.

Further probing found these newspapers in the cavity in the original wall and the new wall. This piece of paper was folded in half and OPEN ME was written on it (which the builders did on 6th April 2016).

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Also found during the work was this cigarette packet. This was in the attic above School House, though it would have been The Hall when it was left there.

Might the guilty party be reading this?!

The wall is now going to have a glass-fronted panel (fire protected) and will no longer be ‘out of sight’.

Repton Memories John Marsden (N’50) has kindly sent us some photographs he found when sorting through his archives.

Taken at Corps Camp, Fylingdales camp 1952, Richardson and Edge

Fylingdales Corp Camp

New House, Junior Steeplechase 1950 L-R Back Row - ?, Haldane, ?.

Front row – J Marsden, ?, Richardson

John writes:- “note that the rifles are stood up in the open.

Under current regulations I have no doubt that, although no live rounds would have been available, they would have to be locked away in a secure cabinet”.

If you recognise yourself or any of your contemporaries please let us know.

New House Hockey Team from about 1953.

L-R Back row - Haldane, ?, ?, ?, J R Fletcher, F Scott.

Middle row - ? , J Marsden, Beresford, ?

Bottom row - non recognised.

Peter Tubbs (C’35) has kindly sent in this photograph of the staff side in the annual football match against the 1st XI in 1953. He recalls at least four of them became Headmaster.

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Repton Memories

Anthony Beater (H’46) recently showed this picture to John Walker (H’46) who wrote to Anthony saying: I have done some research on your picture and the Pilgrim we could not identify, seated far right, was in fact H L Frenkel (B’18).

He was born in 1904 so would have been 45 when he played. He got the last place in the 1923 XI, but not as the wicketkeeper. He was, however, the keeper in 1950 and got two stumpings (and a “duck!). I don’t know how often he played for the club.

The match was not a good one for the school, and we were saved by the rain after the Pilgrims made 299 (we had been all out for 81 in our first innings). Quote from The Reptonian: “Beater (34 not out) played an imperturbable innings of the highest class (why does he not do it more often)” (Second innings). Maitland and

Chaumeton did not retain their places in the side and Bill Pyne was missing. According to The Reptonian he missed four weeks of the season.

The match was 12-a-side. I seem to remember that this was so that boys could go and sit with their parents for part of the fielding time. 12 batted but 11 fielded.

Jimmy Barber made 102 (st Cropper b Walker – he must have sacrificed his wicket!) opening with Archie Steel who made 65. So it must have been a big opening stand. Tony Wesson was not out 75.

OR Publications Stephen Baines (B’59) has had his second book Captain Cook’s Merchant Ships published.

While the story of Endeavour is widely known, Captain Cook sailed with eight ships, which began their lives as merchant vessels. This detailed illustrated history tells the story of these vessels and the people who sailed in them. In placing these ships and people in the personal, political, social, financial, scientific and religious contexts of their times, this book provides a comprehensive and readable account of the ‘long eighteenth century’.

Using contemporary sources, this gripping narrative fills a gap in Cook history and attempts to catch something of the exciting, violent, gossipy but largely untaught and unknown period through which these vessels and their people sailed literally and figuratively between the old world and the new.

ISBN 9780750962148

Richard Stokes (H’59) has just published The Penguin Book of English Song – Seven Centuries of Poetry from Chaucer to Auden. The book will be launched at Wigmore Hall on Saturday 28 May at 1.00 pm by Sarah Connolly, Robin Tritschler and Joseph Middleton.

The volume will be on sale at a reduced price.

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Who? What? Where? When?

Jordan King (C’07) I first came to Repton in 2007 in B Block and I chose to go to Cross as it is obviously the best House. I was awarded a C B Fry scholarship, so for me I really came to play as much sport as possible and make it into as many teams as possible. Shortly after receiving the scholarship, and before attending Repton, I fell into the world of motorsport, so this led to my saying to the Headmaster at the time, Mr Holroyd, that I wanted to pursue my ambitions in motorsport. Obviously the school was very committed in supporting me to achieve the best I could - on the condition I still kept up the school work. In B Block I found it quite easy to keep on top of everything and still managed to play for the Football, Cricket and Rugby teams. In A Block I broke my collar bone playing football. which put me out of racing for 8 weeks, so after this I decided to call it a day on interschool sports and stuck to just Athletics and interhouse competitions. Unfortunately I never won the Steeplechase, being beaten by Will Hughes (N’08). During my GCSE years the workload increased, as so did my driving commitments. A typical week for me: I left on Wednesday evening and arrived back Monday morning, when I would cram as much learning into 3 days as possible, spending a lot of free time in class rooms chasing teachers for answers.

more serious, with more and more travelling. In 2013 I stepped up again to Formula 3 and went on to win the British Championship and then moved up again in 2015 to GP2 which is the Formal undercard to Formula 1.

Now, in 2016, I will be racing in GP2 again and aiming to win the title alongside a Development role with the Manor F1 team hoping to get into Formula 1 as a full-time driver next year.

Jordan King (C’07)

I left Repton in 2010 and went to my local sixth form, so had more time at home and for racing; I now wish I had stayed on. But in 2011 I stepped up into car racing and everything started to get

School News Repton International Repton International has announced a landmark agreement to open a satellite school in Bangalore, India, the first such venture to be established in the city and amongst the first in the country.

The venture will also include the establishment of a sports academy on the same site which plans to host international sports events as well as specialist sports coaching courses.

Agreement to enter the Indian education sector has been secured with the VR Group, a major Bangalore-based real estate development group with interests in several IT and business parks, as well as experience in the education sector. It will see establishment of a premium Repton international school, together with four pre-schools in various locations around the city. The exciting collaboration with TENVIC, an Indian sports development and training company founded by India’s highly-acclaimed former cricket captain Anil Kumble, will see establishment of a sports academy on the same site as the school. Facilities will be available to Repton’s pupils.

The school will be located on a 34-acre site in the south east of Bangalore, home to a number of multi-national IT companies and with a growing population of highly-educated professionals seeking a quality education for their children. Repton Bangalore will offer the IGCSE curriculum and the IB Diploma, enabling the best pupils to gain access to international universities. It is scheduled for opening in September 2018 and will be co-educational and cater for over 2,000 pupils. We hope to follow this initial project with

further schools in other Indian states where suitable collaborations with local partners can be agreed. The Bangalore school will be the latest addition to our existing family of four international schools operating in the Middle East.

Chairman of Repton International Schools Ltd (RISL) and OR, Robert Owen (P’53), said: “We are extremely proud to be bringing Repton to India in such an innovative format, combining our academic and sporting ethos with the vision of the VR Group and TENVIC. We are delighted that we will be able to play a part in promoting sports development in India with TENVIC. Traditionally India has focused on academic achievement. In addition to a first class academic education, this platform will allow us to provide a full array of extra-curricular activities, helping children achieve on the sports field as well as in music, drama and the arts.”

K.C. Vijay Kumar, Chairman of the VR Group commented: “We are very excited to be introducing Repton to India and to Bangalore.

Repton has a deep commitment to providing an all-round education as well as being tried and tested in running schools internationally. We are delighted that our integrated model will, for the first time, allow children to fulfil their potential both in the classroom and on the sports field and that we will have the combined dedication of Repton International and TENVIC to establish a new benchmark for schools in India.”

From Web Page

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School News Repton Chalice & Communion Plate The School has made an appeal for information after a rare chalice dating back to the early 20th century was stolen in a burglary.

The chalice is rarely seen and usually only brought out for the annual Confirmation Service in May. It was given as a gift by the father of pupil Frederick William Hesse, who joined in 1894 but very sadly died in the Sanatorium on March 16, 1895 at the age of 14 after he fell victim to a disease that most would survive today - measles. His funeral service in the School Chapel was attended by all the masters and the boys, who afterwards lined the Willington Road all the way to the bridge as Frederick’s coffin was carried between them.

There is a window in the School Chapel dedicated to his memory and, as well as the beautiful chalice, his father gifted a communion plate, which has also been taken, books and many other presents to Repton.

Money was also given by Frederick’s father to found a scholarship and an annual prize in his son’s honour. Today, the Hesse Scholarship is the top academic award scholarship awarded each year for the best overall performance at Repton School.

Commenting on the burglary, Acting Head, Sarah Tennant said: “Whilst the Chalice carries little financial value to anyone and it is not something that could be readily sold to an antique dealer or auction house, it is of vital importance in terms of the history of the school.

“We hope that anyone who knows the whereabouts of the Chalice appreciates this and can help to see it returned to us by any means possible.

“It is instantly recognisable and we implore anyone who knows anything about its theft to contact the police immediately.”

Anyone with information about the burglary should call Derbyshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference 9116-16 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously using 0800 555 111.

Pedants 2016 The Acting Head as a French ‘pièce de crackling’, a number of grown men, who should know better, in a tutu, the School Librarian and Head of Ethical and Religious Studies as wholly convincing Ugly Sisters, the OR Secretary as a cowboy in YMCA….Yes, Pedants was back! Over three nights in early February the 22nd show ‘graced’ the 400 Hall to the acclaim of enthused, amused, appalled, incredulous pupils. I guess most of you reading this will have experienced at least one yourselves? I bet you remember those tutus!

NJK

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Stephen Hazell-Smith (O’67) writes an occasional column in The City Grump. The latest one, by coincidence, mentions the Repton Pedants.

Below are some extracts, the complete text can be found at http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/28964are-we-becoming-too-scared-to-laugh-at-authority …………Yes, and why shouldn’t there be satire in the workplace as well? For example, I rather think that most highly paid FTSE 100 executives, together with their brethren forgathering in Davos this week, continue to use a stultifying mixture of fear and political correctness to govern their employees. Actually they could learn a lot from the event that took place when I was incarcerated at a very austere house of learning in the 1960s - The Repton School Pedants.

This was a pantomime performed by all members of staff that sent each other up and satirised some of the more notable school goings on of the time. It acted as a wonderful diffuser of tension (Paris was then in the news for the 1968 student riots and Lindsay Anderson had just released his seminal film “If”) and helped bond teacher and pupil. The Pedants are still going strong to this day.

Careers When Head Girl Sarah Fearns (F’01) left Repton to study languages at Durham University, she had already made a fine contribution to the charitable efforts of the school and had it in mind that this would be her chosen career path. She recently returned to school to talk about her professional life to a very receptive audience of O Block and Sixth Formers. Now working for Plan UK - a charity that enables children to help realise their rights in education and health care in their communities worldwide - Sarah explained how, from the head office in London, she is part of the philanthropy team that recruits donors and keeps them informed of the developments carried out with the raised funds. During her most eloquently delivered talk she was able not only to communicate valuable career advice about the charity sector but also to recount many of the back stories of the great work that makes her role so profoundly important to the lives of countless individuals around the world. I am sure that many of those attending will wish to encourage the School, in turn, to support Sarah and the work of Plan UK through our charitable giving in the future.

MJB

CCF Barnes Squad Competition 2016 The annual cadet inter-House Barnes Squad competition and the Guard of Honour inspection was accompanied, for the first time, by a CCF band.

We welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Jane Hunter (Army Education Corp) as the Inspecting Officer, and the Senior Cadet conducting the parade was Staff Sergeant Mary Hunter (U6G), the colonel’s daughter.

There cannot be too many parades past or present, that have seen a daughter salute and ask her mother to inspect the troops!

During the afternoon the A Block Cadets displayed their new-found skills in navigation; map and compass, bearings and distance; drill and turnout; first aid; air rifle shooting; command tasks; water based command tasks; weapons testing and sling fitting. In addition to

the military stands, two challenging pursuits in the form of mountain biking and climbing were also put into the competition to add a fun, physically demanding activity.

Three major trophies were awarded, the overall shot was won by Orchard, Drill and Turnout by Mitre and the cup for the overall winners of Barnes Squad was won by Orchard.

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School News D of E The Diamond DofE team raised £1,231.32 to enable underprivileged children across the country to participate in the DofE Award, an opportunity that would otherwise be denied to them. The team camped for two nights in the School grounds, and carried all their kit around the School to lessons for two days.

Girls’ Football The Girls’ football team has made the ISFA final for the first time since 2009 with some excellent results over the course of the Michaelmas and Lent terms.

After a bye in first round, we played Uppingham in round two and the 4-0 score line was convincing, but could have been greater. All the goals came from distance with two from Fenella Scutt (5G) and two from Anna Jowle (L6M).

The quarter-final saw us take on reigning champions Oakham in what proved to be a most enthralling game of football. With windy conditions making it a real ‘game of two halves’, Oakham raced to a 3-0 lead before Scutt scored just before half time. We dominated play in the second, but struggled to break down a resolute defence until Jowle lobbed the ‘keeper from the halfway line and then scored a free kick with the last action of the game. In extra time we scored a goal in each half to win 5-3 through Jowle and Isobel Emmett (L6M).

The semi-final against Wycombe Abbey tested our depth, with many players missing out through injuries. We controlled the game for the most part, wining 3-1 and only conceding with a penalty in the latter stages. Emma Williamson (L6F) scored two and Jowle took her impressive tally to six with a composed penalty.

Squad: A. Lloyd (L6G), C. Potter (5F); M. Allen (L6F), K. Monteiro (L6F), L. Bramall (L6A), M. Hunter (U6G), C. Newstead (L6M), M. Whitfield (U6M), E. Williamson (L6F); F. Scutt (5G), E. Ewins (L6G), A. Jowle (L6M), L. Morris (L6A), H. Lipton (5G); H. Davey (5F), I. Emmett (L6M), H. Wright (L6G), E. Harris (5M).

The final will be against King’s Taunton at 6.30 pm on Monday April 25th at The ASM Stadium, Meadow View Park, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3RN.

Hamlet Society We all know our five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell, but can we always rely on them? On Friday 4th of March at Hamlets Society, we tested the capability of our senses: stretching them to understand if they can truly be trusted.

The first meeting of Hamlets, the junior section of the Hampshire Philosophy Society, was organised by the Secretary of Hampshire, Mary Hunter (U6G) and was an overwhelming success. The session itself was split up into five different pupil-led stations, one for each sense. The ‘touch’ station was run by Georgina Hakney (4A), the ‘smell’ station was run by Serena Cole (4F), the ‘sight’ station was run by Emma Williamson (L6F), the ‘taste’ station was run by Sophie Palmer (4A) and the ‘hearing’ station was run by Lucas Pringle (4P) and Parras Joshi (4P).

It is argued that our senses can easily be deceived by our state of mind or by expectation and this theory was proven by Callum Smith (U6O) as he showed us two mind-blowing illusions. Using a red 26

ball, he demonstrated that just through the slightest of movements of his hand he could deceive every person watching in Tithe Barn. It was incredible to see how everyone was fooled by this simple but effective magic trick.

As the evening commenced we were guided around five stations, each to represent one sense. At each table one sense was taken away in order to test the effectiveness of the others in its absence. For example, at our first table, we listened to the iconic song ‘O Fortuna’ which to those who aren’t fluent in Italian, sounds like it has no connection with any language at all. It was paired with a YouTube video, containing some comical images and lyrics, such as ‘gopher tuna’. It is almost impossible to believe these lyrics are not those being sung, and this is an example of how our senses, despite how much we rely on them, can easily be manipulated to convince us of something that really isn’t there.

However, it wasn’t just our senses of hearing and sight being tested that evening, we also were tested on our strength of smell and taste without the aid of sight. It was a difficult task to identify the exact brand of sweet just from the smell and the exact make and flavour of crisp without seeing the packaging or the product.

After many of these interesting and challenging activities we were given an eye-opening (!) speech by Laura Bramall (L6A). She explored the theories of René Descartes. He argued that we cannot trust our senses as they are unreliable. A stick in water appears bent, for example, and,

as such, our whole world may be based on illusion. He even postulated that we may be trapped in a dream world, where nothing, not even mathematics, can be trusted. This meeting of Hamlet’s Society was one filled with revelations and a new perspective on our senses. It has really opened up the question ‘can we trust our senses?’

Parras Joshi (4P) and Lydia Staley (3F)

Law Society The Law Society emerged in 2012, at the suggestion of Jaime Carr (A’11) and Brooke Hadeed (A’09). With help from Mrs Blain, contact was made with ORs willing to share their knowledge with aspiring lawyers. This year has again seen several ORs kindly supporting the Society with their time and advice.

Jess Stewart (A’07), a recent Downing graduate, set out with exceptional clarity what studying law involves before looking at the offence of murder to tease out some legal concepts and getting those present to work out their response to several scenarios.

Mark Shell (C’78) illuminated the interface between ethics and law by examining the case of Regina v Sgt Blackman, the Marine found guilty of unlawfully killing a wounded Afghan insurgent.

Radha Kaushal-Bolland (G), Georgia Bridgen (G), Caitlin Binns (M) and Maxim Hibbs (S) also took advantage of the opportunity to learn from Mr Shell’s expertise (including his having qualified as both a solicitor and a barrister) over a meal after his talk.

Last but not least Charlotte Stojak (M’03), spoke entertainingly about her varied career, providing insights into topics such as training contracts, networking, in-house work and intellectual property law. Asserting that there was no such thing as a stupid question, Charlotte stimulated a lively and far-ranging discussion as well as expressing her willingness to help the Society in future with a range of hands-on activities.

Laura Bramall (A) and Rachel Hedley (F) have become the latest Reptonians to attend the Cambridge Sixth Form Law Conference, showing that the Law continues to attract Repton’s brightest and best. Thus I hope that Brooke and Jaime’s initiative survives my leaving Repton. It would be a pity if it fell by the wayside given the continuing demand amongst students and the willingness of ORs in the profession to encourage succeeding generations.

JP

Parry Society The Parry Society (named after the composer of the school hymn, ‘Dear Lord and Father of mankind’) is a forum designed to enrich the experience of the school’s academic musicians by looking at topics beyond the exam specifications through lectures, concerts, workshops and other events.

After a brief period of dormancy, Dr Siepmann (Head of Academic Music) reawakened the Society this term with a presentation given

by Ben Finn - co-founder and inventor of Sibelius - the world’s

leading musical notation software. An audience of students and staff from the music department and beyond enjoyed a fascinating and often amusing talk which told the story of how Ben Finn and his brother Jonathan gave birth to a product that sold just a few years ago for a staggering $34m. We left the Beldam Hall reflecting on the wide ranging careers that musicians can have, and inspired by how much of the Sibelius story started while the Finn brothers were themselves still at school.

Temple Society What is the point of studying the past or, to be more precise given that what students call History varies enormously from what academic historians actually do – what is the point of studying History at school? This was the searching question posed – and persuasively answered – by Maddi Lea (M) and Matthew Jankinson (L) in the course of their joint presentation to O Block Temple Society and it was typical of the way in which the denizens of it and its A and B Block counterparts have addressed interesting questions when their attendance has not been rendered problematic as a result of netball, sex education, Drama exams, Jazz Band, House harmony rehearsals, revision or the myriad other activities which can clash with an early Thursday evening hour in Room 14 in Repton in term time. As well as presentations on body

language and lying and the law relating to the infringement of music copyright, other talks which I remember enjoying include Bobby Fordi (S) and Finn Redfern (L) on problems of perception, Lucas Pringle (P) on the pitfalls of political advertising, William Wilkinson (P) on Crime and Punishment, and Scarlett LloydDickinson (G), Sophie Corner (G) and Florence Schneck (G) and the science and ethics of designer babies. It has been a rare privilege to witness these young minds at work, as they’ve followed their own interests unconstrained by any curriculum. Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire. Long may Temple Society blaze!

JP

RockIt RockIt this year was, in the opinion of many, the best yet, with an astonishing £445 raised from an enthusiastic audience of 178 pupils for the Lent Charity, the Midlands Air Ambulance. A total of 34 musicians played an incredible 32 songs.

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School News Steeplechase It is unlikely that there has been a race with more records broken in the history of The Steeplechase, but the 2016 race was a fast one, no doubt helped by the dry conditions in the last week of term.

With each house needing a minimum of 10 seniors and 18 juniors to count towards their house scoring team, there were a large number of runners out on the courses and the village and routes were filled with house colours.

With the junior girls first to set off, it was no surprise their winner was the first of all the runners to return. However when Fenella Scutt returned for her third consecutive win after just 16 minutes and 55 seconds, 1 minute and 2 seconds faster than ever before, we were barely ready on the finish line! After that came a flurry of pink and blue from The Mitre as their 18 scoring runners all arrived in the first 34 finishers as they secured the Junior Girls Team trophy for the 10th consecutive year. The first B Block girl was won by Georgia Brown of The Mitre, whose time would have been fast enough to win all the Junior Girls Steep events from 1992-2011.

The Junior Boys event was won

by Finlay Dearsly (C), who pushed last year’s first B Block boy Marcus Tarrant (S) into second place.

The team trophy went to The Priory, keeping up their strong Steeplechase tradition in the year their Housemaster is preparing for the London Marathon. William Wright (O) was the first B Blocker over the line in 7th place.

The senior girls race was a tough one to pick, with a lot of girls who had been regular top three finishers during their time in the school. When Maisie Bird (F) crossed the line in her first Steeplechase after just 26 minutes and 52 seconds, she became the first runner ever to break the 27 minute barrier. Cross Country Captain and former junior record holder Liv Mair (F) became the second girl ever to do that just a few seconds later, closely followed by 2013 Junior winner Mimi Tarrant (M) and debutante Mia Foster (G) on 27 minutes dead.

All four of these girls broke the previous record of 27 minutes and 1 second. Quite some achievement. Field House retained the trophy for the team event with a very low score and some impressive runs from their first ten scoring runners.

Having won the Junior Boys event in 2015, William Norcross (S) secured his second Steeplechase title, managing to pip another double Steep winner, Jack Bywater (C) into second place by 15 seconds. The winning time was the third fastest winning time on record. The team event was won by Latham, who were also joint winners in 2015. Although their first runner did not make it back until 10th place, their clustered placings in the 20s allowed them to just pip School and Priory to the senior title again.

It was an afternoon of fine achievements, whether record breaking or simply the achievement of completing the course and scoring points for their boarding house.

IMP

Toyota Nishi High School visit Repton Pupils and teachers from Toyota Nishi High School in Japan came to Repton for a three-day visit which saw them taking part in various science activities.

The first day started with a welcome ceremony where cultural gifts from both schools were gratefully received and the Japanese pupils gave a fantastic presentation about their school before embarking on a tour of Repton.

Throughout the course of the day the pupils conducted Chemistry experiments on entropy with our Lower Sixth pupils, moved a gene from jellyfish into bacteria, set up a DNA fingerprint and 28

extracted their own DNA with the Upper Sixth biologists. They also dined in the boarding houses for lunch, sampling English cuisine.

On their final day they took take part in a Physics pendulum experiment, and were introduced to our 3D Lecture theatre and finally gave a presentation on their research accomplishments from the previous three days.

With our two cities sharing a strong manufacturing heritage, the aims of the visit are to give both schools the opportunity to experience a different culture but also to share scientific and engineering knowledge.

Pigeon Post Dear Editor I was at Repton in Lynam-Thomas’s time. Setting aside his administrative skill and teaching abilities, what has always struck me as exceptionally odd is how a married man can mercilessly cane a child. What sort of mental adjustment or preparation has to be made to enable one to carry out what effectively amounts to torture? And Lynam-Thomas was by no means the only one who used the cane on boys supposedly in their care; was there a master in the years ’48-’52 who didn’t? Interestingly, I attended an Old Dragon lunch with his second son Mike a few years ago, and this topic came up in conversation. He agreed he was appalled to consider what his father did.

I left Repton with the sordid memory of children being caned by grown-ups distinctly in my mind. When our son was born I swiftly joined (as a co-opted member) The Society of Teachers Opposed to Physical Punishment (STOPP). I was made press rep. responsible for analysing the latest PS attitude to corporal punishment. By simply writing to old boys now teaching and to friends I was able to establish that, contrary to what the schools themselves said, the caning of boys by boys was still being carried out. That was 1978 when teachers could still lawfully cane girls. With that fact Dear Editor It is always a pleasure visiting Repton and even more so now that I have three of my five grandchildren in the school, with the other two at Foremarke.

Those now at the school are the fourth consecutive generation to attend the school. My father entered in 1910, myself in 1949, and my son in 1979.

in mind, I wrote to a friend recently appointed HM of a minor Public School, which, like Repton, had just taken in girls. He replied (and I am not making this up) he would restrict his caning to boys only.

In STOPP’s possession were a series of letters written by Americans to the HM of Eton elect asking bluntly how he would accept the responsibility of birching and caning children; was it part of the CV, they wanted to know? That was 1916 when George Orwell was reported to have had “revulsion to CP and his ‘Election’, when they assumed authority, tried unsuccessfully, to ban it!”

In my simple way I assume we are here with a single chance to make things better for those who follow after, which means questioning what exists to see if it can be improved in any way.

In my opinion anyone who caned a child failed miserably in this respect.

I remain yours, sadly, but sincerely Alan Ambrose (H’48) PS Caning was abolished in Poland in 1792.

Dear Editors The obituaries of Michael Charlesworth in The Arch No. 327 were excellent and the reference to the Harvest Camp bought back long-forgotten memories. Like him, I volunteered for this, rather than to go to the Corps Camp, and attended one in August 1948 and have a feeling that a Charlesworth was also there. This brought back three amusing recollections.

1.

F requently in the evenings we swam in the nearby River Wye and one evening this caused a seriously irate fisherman to tell us we were trespassing and to castigate us for disturbing his fish. Unfortunately, we all found the situation and his remarks and attitude highly amusing as one of our party, after swimming, was drying himself and was facing him entirely nude.

2.

A touring fair arrived in the nearby village on the Saturday evening, and after a glass of cider some of us were intrigued by a sign outside a tent announcing that ‘Gloria’ would perform an interesting dance. With much excitement we duly paid the two shilling entrance fee and stood at the back in the darkness watching with great interest the girl doing her ‘striptease’. At the end of the performance, and when down to her bra and pants, much amusements was caused by (I naturally assumed a non Reptonian ) voice from the back of the tent telling her to show her ‘headlights’.

3.

I worked on the farm of a recently demobbed Major, a novice farmer, and we were paid the enormous amount of, I think, six pence per hour. For three days some of us hoed a field of kale, which was backbreaking work, and which caused blisters on our hands. Later on, we helped construct a fence, the main purpose of which was to prevent rabbits from entering the adjoining field. To achieve this 12 inches of mesh wire was embedded into the ground. When we had almost finished the project, the Major was advised by a local that to achieve the purpose of the wire it should be at a depth of at least 30 inches. So the work had to start all over again, at which juncture our time was up. All very educational.

I am sure that there are others who can beat that and it would be interesting to know who they are.

Yours sincerely John Cann (O’49)

Dear Editor My namesake in The Priory in the early ‘50s, Anthony M Chapman (P’49) has had, I am pleased to see, letters in consecutive issues of The Arch. That we had the same surname and were both from Grimsby, yet were not in any way related, defied logic. But he was my senior and clearly a good deal brighter.

How A M Chapman and his older brother, the late R Walwyn Chapman (P’43), happened to be at Repton is both interesting and apposite as we recall the centenary of the 1914-18 war.

Their father, Captain W Henry Chapman, and Len Cattley had both been subalterns in the East Yorkshire Regiment and had both been awarded the Military Cross. Henry Chapman recieved his from the King at Buckingham Palace in 1920. My father’s introduction to our Housemaster was more frivolous. We paid a preliminary visit to Repton, father and I, before my first term.

The old Langonda swung on to The Priory’s gravel drive and my father clambered out. An elderly man, a pipe clenched between his teeth, was digging a rose bed. “Could you tell me where I can find Major Cattley, “ asked my father?

“I am Major Cattley” said the gardener.

Yours sincerely Peter Chapman (P’51)

J M Chaumeton (N’46)

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Pigeon Post Dear Editor I have noted the correspondence about the contrasts between the Headships of TLT and John Thorn. My time at Repton spanned the transition, but having perhaps happily avoided close contact with either, I did not feel it appropriate to comment. After reading the letter of John Franklin (H’48) I would like to add my support for TLT.

Dear Editor Whilst I found the letter from Andrew Molle (P’63) a good read, I have to take issue with some of his comments. Unless it went into abeyance between 1958, when I left, and the arrival of Mr Thorn, the academic title of “Head of School” was not one of Mr Thorn’s creations. The position was certainly live during TLT’s era, the holder in my final year being R A Cooke (O’53).

Not only did I feel he was kindly and welcoming to new boys but I recall, very many years later, my Father telling me the manner in which TLT had handled my admission in 1958. Sadly my Mother had died in tragic circumstances the year before and my Father greatly appreciated the kindness and consideration shown to him

by TLT.

It is also inaccurate to imply that being Captain of Football/ Cricket/Hockey was a requirement for being made Head Prefect.

During my final year none of the three successive Head Prefects was a “teamer” let alone Captain of any of these sports. Whilst becoming a School Prefect was an automatic badge of distinction for these Captains, not only did it not give them an advantage in achieving the Head Prefect’s job but in several cases it did not see them become Head of House. In the 1957/8 school year, in The Cross, whilst David Vaughan (C’53), as Captain of Football was automatically a School Prefect, the top job of Head of House was held by Tim Sale (C’53).

At my level way down the pecking order we guessed the world in the early 60s was changing and that there might be some tension between the new Headmaster and senior members of staff resistant to change. At our level however we debated more burning issues such as the permitted reduction in the width of trouser bottoms and whether it might be possible to obtain a copy of Lady C from the School Shop.

Yours sincerely Richard Corbett (M’58)

Dear Editor, For reasons which I explain later l have only just got around to a serious reading of my Autumn 2015 edition of “The Arch.”

A number of points arise. First I am delighted to admit my error, pointed out by John Newell (P’47), over Derbys. C.C. Scholarships. As he says, such opportunities broaden the horizons of those talented and fortunate enough to receive them. My only regret is that there were so few of them. For far too much of my life public education policy seems to have been intent on forcing “equality of outcome” on the basis that “Since not all are granted the talent to succeed, none shall be permitted to do so!” One shudders to think of the amount of talent that remained thwarted and unfulfilled by that doctrine and the damage thereby done to our National well-being! Like John Newell, I too married a “village girl” – Aylestone, Leics. not Repton – and after all but 50 years of deliriously happy marriage, Dilys sadly passed away last October – hence my preoccupations!

Next I would like to point out that whatever were the undoubted virtues of the headship of John Thorn, Andrew Molle (P’63) makes a similar error over the position of “Head of School” to the one to which I have just admitted above. This position thrived during the headship of his predecessor Lynam Thomas.

Specifically, during academic year ’56 – ‘57 (or it may have been ’57 – ’58) the Head of School was a member of Latham called Dear Editor It was thanks to the late Jimmy Hill that our schoolboy dreams of becoming professional footballers were dashed in 1966, (I stand to be corrected if the year is incorrect). A member of staff had invited Jimmy Hill and his Coventry City Colts to play against our Repton School 1st XI. Unsurprisingly, we fancied our chances – that is until play began. After 20 goals had been put past us and few of us had touched the ball, we were forced to revise our

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I hope this sets the record straight.

Yours sincerely Anthony Costobadie (C’53)

Elliot. Curiously enough during this same year A.Pugh-Thomas (L’52), was Head Prefect, and I am sure he was not any sort of recognised sportsman! Though of course I stand to be corrected!

Finally, a couple of reminiscences of two fellow O.R.s. First I was saddened to hear of the passing of R.M. Charlesworth (O’41). I too remember his classroom at the top of ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ and his brilliant drama productions. I recall with awe the 1959 production of “Hamlet” to which Mark Woolgar (H’54) refers, Knight and Urquart alternating in playing Hamlet and Laertes on alternating performances, each producing utterly different, but equally valid portrayals of the character who fed destructively off each other.

Similarly I remember with affection ‘Bite Your Thumb’ from 1961. (Thank you Professor Sir Christopher Frayling (P’60)).

I bought the record and have just replayed it to see I can hear the “clump” of his plaster cast – I could. Myself, my wife and our younger son (now 45!) were particularly taken by ‘Would you just for Me?’ with I.G.Robertson (M’60) (treble) and R.H.Stanway (B’58) (tenor) which was breathtakingly good. Little Tim, aged 3, sang along with his bell-like voice “would oo just for me…”

Happy days!

Yours sincerely, John Hay-Heddle (L’56)

career options. Jimmy had orchestrated proceedings on the pitch. It was obvious to all of us why he became such a successful manager and why our best path was to stay in education as long as possible and develop other skills. Yet another of Jimmy’s unsung services to football.

Yours sincerely Robert Howarth (P’62)

Dear Editor, Like several other correspondents, I’m grateful to Peter Holden for publicising John Thorn’s 90th birthday in April 2015. I would like to offer a few recollections.

I started at The Hall in September 1961, the same term John Thorn took over as Headmaster, so we were “new boys” together.

At that time the Headmaster was also Housemaster of The Hall, and hosted the tea-party for Hall new boys and their parents. So I was amongst the first Reptonians to meet him: “What’s the new boss like?” my new study mates enquired later that day. “He seemed a little nervous”, I replied, nervously. For most Reptonians their first view was probably the first assembly of the school year in Pears’ School, which included at that time the Headmaster reading out from the ‘blue book’ every boy’s name, form by form, as well as the name of the form-master, designated in the blue book only by his initials. Not surprisingly John Thorn struggled to identify staff from their initials, and so, after a couple of stumbling attempts, he coolly handed the task over to the Second Master, the Rev. Proctor.

Away from routine announcements and similar matters, we soon learned that the “new boss” was worth listening to. His sermons and addresses on significant events were consistently interesting, even arresting, and he had a memorable turn of phrase. He had something of the appeal of JFK about him, of similar age and even a hint in his looks, and his address after the Kennedy assassination was poignant. When Churchill died in 1965, he began: “An old man has died. What, you may be wondering, is all the fuss about?”, and proceeded to explain the “fuss”.

He ended quite soon the arrangement whereby the Headmaster was also Housemaster of The Hall, so, like most junior Reptonians, I had essentially no direct contact with him. But, as The Road to Winchester makes clear and other correspondents have already noted, John Thorn’s view of the changes needed at Repton put him at odds with a significant part, but by no means all, of staff opinion, and even dimly perceptive schoolboys could discern that all was not sweet harmony in the School Yard. Personally, though, I was very happy: I did quite well academically, and was just about competent enough at sports to be acceptable to the “games lobby”, which did certainly exist, though not, at least in The Hall, to the exclusion of wider cultural interests. In particular, music and drama were encouraged strongly by Tim Fisher when he became Housemaster.

I went on to the science side, and so was never taught by John Thorn, but in the sixth form I participated in a regular “discussion group” that he organised and led. After one of these I volunteered to help with the washing-up, and proceeded to break several of the glasses we had used for light refreshments, possibly even beer. My apology was accepted with a rueful smile, my offer to pay for the breakage instantly dismissed. Shortly afterwards I needed to ask him for a Headmaster’s reference for some application; he agreed of course, but, as I turned to go, added: “I suppose I could be persuaded not to mention the business with the glasses.” I have still not met many people who could match him for dryness of delivery.

I finished up as Head of The Hall, where there was a tradition that the outgoing incumbent should write some words of advice or encouragement for his successor in a special Head of House’s book. I do not recall my predecessor’s comments in detail, but the thrust of most of them was that John Thorn didn’t “understand” Repton. I tried, no doubt clumsily, to put a different point of view: that Repton could and should benefit greatly from him.

After Repton I was fortunate enough to go on to New College, Oxford, which shares its founder, first architect and many links with Winchester. When his appointment to Winchester was announced, I wrote to congratulate him, and received a prompt reply in that familiar (from school reports), neat handwriting, asking me not tell too many Repton tales around New College, as the appointment could still be rescinded. I could imagine the twinkle in his eye as he wrote that.

The Autumn 2015 edition of The Arch brought also the sad news of the passing of Michael (Mike) Charlesworth. (Thank you for printing the fine tributes.) I have already gone on too long, but Mike Charlesworth and John Thorn were kindred spirits in many respects, and I would like to add a few words: I started in “Remove B”, Form-Master R. M. Charlesworth, friendly and approachable, but also firm and clear. First lesson, first day, we had to decide if we wanted to specialise in languages or sciences for ‘O’ level, to be taken two years later. This was, if not careerdefining, certainly an option-narrowing decision! I suppose a decision was reversible, but I don’t recall being aware beforehand that this choice would have to be made there and then. No doubt they do such things differently now. I recall also that RMC seemed to walk on air the morning after the Liberal victory at the Orpington by-election in 1962, proclaiming (and he was not alone) a new Liberal dawn. But my main interaction with Mike was later, through drama and two school plays. As well as being an inspiring producer, he seemed utterly indefatigable. As the first performance approached, rehearsals tended to run very late, but on our way into lessons next morning Mike would hand his cast copious notes, hand-written probably around three in the morning and rolled out (almost literally) on some kind of preXerox duplicating device. But my abiding memory of him is an incident that illustrates his detestation of any kind of bullying: a senior boy arrived in a rush, late, for a rehearsal. He had, he admitted, needed sustenance at the “grubber”. “Was there a queue?”, asked Mike. The boy replied that there had been, but that he had “pulled rank” to get to the front. A rather minor ‘offence’ at the time, but Mike was utterly furious. White-faced, he lectured us for several minutes on why this kind of behaviour was simply intolerable.

He had great humanity; so did John Thorn. They have had lasting influence on me, and on many others.

Norman McCubbin (H’61)

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Pigeon Post Dear Editor, In the Autumn 2015, edition of The Arch, Andrew Molle (P’63) wrote that John Thorn created the position of ‘Head of School’ and that the first incumbent was W.E.M.Godfrey (N’61).

Presumably he was appointed in 1964.

I have a Blue Book for the Michaelmas Term, 1957, in which the post of Head of School is shown R.A.Cooke (O’57), so it would appear that it was not John Thorn who introduced this position.

Dear Editor It was a very pleasant but unexpected surprise to receive a birthday card from the OR Society on my return from France yesterday. I would like to thank you and those involved for this very kind thought.

I was fortunate to be at Repton, at all, having failed Common Entrance to Sherbourne. For many years I kept my letter of rejection which stated that I had failed to achieve a pass level in any subject with an amazing 0% in maths!

Robert Belmont was at the same prep school and his grandfather was Lord Kindersley who by chance was Chairman of the Governors and a patient of my father. Politically incorrect, I am sure, but I became a Reptonian, via the back door. At the new boys’ tea party I overheard Lynam Thomas, the Headmaster,

Dear Editors I am glad to see that some of my friends and contemporaries have spoken up for Lynam Thomas whose reputation has been unfairly criticised in recent issues of The Arch. I will not add to what has been written as there would not be space to express how much I admired and respected him and how much I owe to him in so many ways. I cannot, however, let pass Andrew Molle’s (P’63) statement that John Thorn created the position of “Head of School” and that this was his “way of fighting the history that the Head Prefect was always the Captain of Football/Cricket/Hockey”.

In fact, the position of Head of the School predates that of Head Prefect by nearly half a century.

It was, as Andrew said, an academic appointment. The holder was not necessarily a Prefect but the position had considerable prestige including a designated seat at the back of the Chapel

Dear Editor I came to Repton in 1942 and spent a year or so in the Mitre under H H Davidson and many happy times. Bill Blaxland was at this time in charge of the Hall, he was a popular member of staff so there was no lack of support. I was delighted to be enrolled and our first year was a great success as we won a lot of trophies.

Our village of Crowhurst in Sussex had an exhibition in remembrance of the the 1914-18 war and I was surprised to read the attached thoughts of Bill.

He was an excellent Housemaster and his sister Mrs Simpkinson and Bill turned out to be a first class combination. I hope the attached may be of interest to many ORs. Yours sincerely Lindsay Scott-Wood (M’42) 32

I write this to set the record straight, not to take something away from John Thorn, for whom I had great respect. In the short time that our times at Repton overlapped, I could see that he was going to make changes for the better.

Yours sincerely, Chris Shaw (O’58).

telling my father that he didn’t like taking stupid boys and even more so when he was made to take them by Lord Kindersley!

I could not have had a better foundation for life, eventually becoming a medical consultant. Repton, Frank Fisher, my Housemaster and Dickie Sale my last Form master set me on the right tracks and left a lasting impression for which I will be grateful always. My daughter shared the Repton experience some 30 years later.

My best wishes to all concerned and many thanks for the kind thought and bringing back happy memories.

Yours sincerely, Keith Stanley (H’49)

level with the Head Prefect. There were occasional years when the same boy held both positions. The present Prefect system, and with it the office of Head Prefect, was not instituted until 1902 under Lionel Ford’s headmastership.

Lynam Thomas would have appointed thirty-four Head Prefects during his term of office. Among these there were two Captains of Football, three Captains of Cricket (one of whom was also Head of the School) and one Captain of Hockey In the last ten years of his headmastership not one Head Prefect was a Captain; this makes nonsense of Andrew’s use of the word “always” in his letter. It will be a pity if such wild assertions come to be believed as fact.

J.F.M.Walker (H’46)

Note from the Editor - Space does not allow us to print the whole document – it can be found at http://www.crossandcockade.com/Uploads/CCI_1-38index-1.pdf 01.078-080 Flying with Forty; Douglass Whetton Recollections of Lt Lionel B. Blaxland whilst flying with 40 Sqn RFC, 1917 (5p)

Lost Contacts We have a long list of ORs with whom we have lost contact. Below is the list from New House. The full list is available on the OR website http://www.repton.org.uk./keep-in-touch. If you are in contact with anyone on the list, 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 Francis Herbert Fenton 1931 John Thwaites Dixon 1936 Charles Peter Jackson 1936 Harold Thomas Martin Wilson 1936 John Williamson 1936 Victor Alan Hearne 1937 Philip Howard Baker 1938 Ian Sinclair Hallows 1938 John Edward Easton Williams 1941 David Smedley Story 1942 Cyril Hugh Mason Williams 1942 Denis Michael Whelan 1943 David Brereton Snape 1943 Peter Hoyle 1943 Peter Dean Giles 1944 Arthur Roger McKenzie 1944 John Kennedy Hardy McCall 1944 John Southern 1944 Cleveland Michael Geoffrey Butterfield1945 William Robert Adam Cormack 1947 Robert Hugh MacDonald 1947 Bruce Jeremy Maitland Innes 1947 James Wallace Hopkins 1948 Alan Garrett Davenport 1949 Kenneth Michael Thomas 1949 Nicholas Guy Irving Cawdry 1949 Benjamin Thomas Hopkins 1949 Martin Jeremy Higginson 1950 Richard Hugh Lindsay Alexander 1950 Michael Stevenson Bamford 1951 Charles Henry Burkinyoung 1953 Robert Bradshaw Furness 1953 Richard Bertram Overend 1953 Timothy Robert Higginson 1954 Timothy James Herbert 1955 Rodney Humphrey Burchell Grey 1956 Timothy Joseph Kinchin 1957 Simon Firth 1958 Nicholas Jeremy Thomas 1960 Richard Simon Crittall 1960 Robert James Duirs 1962 Andrew Timothy Hayley Bell 1962 Timothy Kipling Nevitt 1962 Richard William Coward 1962 Alan Jeffrey Carlisle King 1963 Richard Michael Hills 1963 Charles Ian Skinner 1963 Christopher John Wragg 1963 Robert Henry Jackson 1963 James Niels Macivor Jarvis 1964 Peter Ronald Maddox Chadwick 1964 Jonathan Kipling Nevitt 1964 John Martin Stark Lee 1965 Gregory Simon Breed 1966 Edward Malcolm Parsons 1967 Jonathan Richard Sage 1967 Simon Anthony Howe 1967 Arthur Christopher Hugh Davies 1967

NEW HOUSE First Name/Surname Peter John Flewitt Ayton Robert Anthony Bloom Simon Machin Furse Edward Chi Shing Kong Richard John Gunner Robin Geoffrey Richard Briggs Charles Nicholas Lindsey Davies Roger John Orrell Harrison Timothy Machin Furse Mark George Stott William Barrett Bowditch Christopher Hampden Boon Richard Alexander Bulmer Oughton Desmond Tak-Man Cheung Mark Richard Hicks Anthony Steven Webster Charles Machin Furse Peter Jeremy Boon Philip Steven Genoux John Anthony Corrie Fabian Miles Daffern Alan Jefcoat Rupert Mark Huntley Flindt Olumyiwa Agboola Folawiyo Irwin C M Kong Harry Brunskill David William Burrows Timothy John Hicks Richard James Hepburn Blackburn Andrew John Broomhead R J C Dynes Andrew J S Fletcher Jeremy Simon Whyte Edward J Saddler P E S-T Wong M M E Hallam M J Holtham Jeremy P Andrews Andrew M Kirk Paul B Jones Stephen J Florence John V Lane A Sykes Robert P Alderton David Ross Williams J Halsall Simon William Clarke C James A St Matthew-Daniel Robert W C Richards Christian A Singleton Rolf R Stauffer Jonathan Paul Malcolm Kay Adrian R Chawner S W Clixby Simon Massey Duncan Ashworth David J Keeton Peter J Walter

Year 1967 1967 1967 1967 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1969 1969 1969 1970 1970 1970 1971 1971 1971 1971 1971 1972 1972 1972 1973 1973 1973 1973 1974 1974 1975 1975 1975 1975 1975 1975 1975 1976 1976 1976 1977 1977 1977 1977 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1979 1979 1979 1980 1980 1980 1980 1980

First Name/Surname Jeremy F Trotter James S Thomas Anthony S-H Wong Mark S Dunning Alvin Kam Andrew Paul Hunt Matthew R Dunning Christopher J Mills Robert C Chatwin Stephen W-Y Ho Stephen R Knowles Jonathan Frank Hall Andrew J Gascoyne Nicholas Alexander Covill Kevin M-K Cheung Andrew John Hart Charles D Hallam Ashley E Davey Thomas H Bennett Gordon C Brockington Marcus J Cumming Ian Philip Maddison Richard P Hart James Thomas O’Gram Alistair Forbes Thomson Mark G Falconer Robert A Overend Giles J Chaplin Alan G F Frazer Frederick J D Scott Andrew H S Chow Thomas Paul Stones Euan Samuel Domloge Joseph Dickens David Allan Yarwood Lee A Meachim Marco C K Poon Daniel McMath Christopher Edward Smith Otto Leung Michael M J Li Stephen Mark Laker Michael H Guan Simon W Lamothe Javier E Donado Alexandre S Kniaguinitchev Patrick J Nancarrow Michael Karcher Alexey Titov Carson Brown Fabian Oehlert Marcus Aaron Vine Steven George Mullen

Year 1980 1981 1981 1981 1982 1982 1983 1983 1983 1984 1984 1984 1985 1985 1985 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1987 1988 1988 1989 1989 1989 1990 1991 1992 1994 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 2008

33

is a full list of those ORs who have volunteered to be ‘Overseas Links’. We are very grateful to those who Overseas Contacts Below have volunteered, but there are many gaps in the list of countries. If you would be willing to act as an Overseas Link Country AUSTRIA AUSTRALIA New South Wales Queensland Perth Sydney Victoria (Melbourne) Victoria BELGIUM CANADA Alberta British Columbia Eastern Ontario & Quebec Toronto Western CHILE CHINA CYPRUS DENMARK EAST AFRICA (Uganda) EAST AFRICA (Kenya) ESTONIA FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY (East/South) GERMANY (North/West) HONG KONG INDIA INDONESIA ITALY JAPAN JORDAN MALAYSIA KUWAIT PAKISTAN MOROCCO NEW ZEALAND NIGERIA NORWAY PHILIPPINES PORTUGAL QATAR QATAR SAUDI ARABIA SINGAPORE SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town Natal SPAIN South & Gibraltar Madrid Madrid Mallorca SOUTH KOREA SWEDEN (STOCKHOLM) SWITZERLAND TANZANIA THAILAND THAILAND TRINIDAD TURKEY UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED ARAB EMIRATES USA All All Arizona California Chicago Florida Los Angeles Massachusetts New York New York North Carolina Ohio Texas Washington WEST INDIES All Cayman Islands Jamaica YEMEN ZAMBIA

34

in a country not already covered, please contact Jan Cobb on jcobb@repton.org.uk Telephone Email House/Yr. Overseas Link +43 650 9686865 contact@chaletexperiences.com New ‘01 Doug Fletcher Lloyd Berger David Miller Frank Smith Natalie Wynne Simon Q Crabtree Vanessa Twigg Hadrian Coulton

Priory ‘71 Hall ‘59 Orchard ‘53 Abbey ‘95 Orchard ‘90 Abbey ‘76 Mitre ‘82

Rev Martin Hattersley Ed Monro Tony Houghton Kamil Alam David Laing Nicolas Ibanez Scott Jipeng Li Richard Sale Mathilde Juul Mark Dudley Philip Hechle Kadi Lilis Saar Roger Smith Rev James Barnett James R Chapman Beate Erdmann Severin J B Zilg Eddie Niem David Poon Tom Goodall John Syed Julie Daniels Natsuko Sato Toby Fricker Ian Grout Tim Wilkinson Oliver Hayes Martin Robinshaw Richard Hedley Ibrahim Dikko David Llewelyn Paul Bleckly Alistair Fairclough Steve Targett Lizzie Tebbs (nee Waller) Tracey Washer Richard Coventry

Orchard ‘46 Cross ‘56 Latham ‘51 Mitre ‘88 Latham ‘70 Latham ‘70 Field ‘97 Hall ‘61 Abbey ‘91 Priory ‘91 Hall ‘50 Garden ‘09 Priory ‘66 Hall ‘57 Hall ‘83 Abbey ‘99 Mitre ‘01 Latham ‘66 Hall ‘85 New ‘93 Brook ‘83 Abbey ‘89 Abbey ‘96 Priory ‘88 Brook ‘81 Cross ‘75 Brook ‘91 Latham ‘78 Hall ‘66 New ‘83 Orchard ‘63 Cross ‘67 Orchard ‘46 Cross ‘76 Abbey ‘92 Abbey ‘88 Brook ‘73

Ryan Brews Peter Hall

berger.lloyd@gmail.com David.Miller@airgroup.asn.au frank@happygardener.com.au nataliewynne@hotmail.com simon@afps.net.au vanessatwigg@optusnet.com.au notharyy@gmail.com hilnedmonro@yahoo.ca dtbears@kingston.net kamilalam@gmail.com dlaing@endeavourfinancial.com richard@edacen.com miss@matty.dk mark.dudley3@gmail.com philipandroshechle@gmail.com kadiliissaar@gmail.com noelsmit@.jyu.fi james.barnett@wanadoo.fr jim@chapmans.de beate_erdmann@hotmail.com niemeyf@netvigator.com dgkpoon@gmail.com jj9749@gmail.com info@juliedaniels.com violino7@hotmail.com tobyfricker@hotmail,com groutid@hotmail.com tcmwilkinson@hotmail.com oehayes@googlemail.com or-overseas-link-morocco@outlook.com r-s.hedley@xtra.co.nz iydikko@hotmail.com davidlle@online.no paulbleckly@yahoo.co.uk

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Mark Smith Luke Allen John Wilcox Jonny Greenall Ga Jeun Lee Peter Stones Andrew Neville Charles Adeogun-Phillips Jom Salakshana Charles Ostick Omar Hadeed Huseyin Yardimci Charles Neil Sandy Farquharson

Orchard ‘78 Orchard ‘87 Mitre ‘82 Orchard ‘89 Abbey ‘02 Latham ‘05 Hall ‘69 Orchard ‘83 Mitre ‘06 Orchard ‘75 Priory ‘99 Hall ‘83 Priory ‘65 New ‘97

mshsmith@btinternet.com luke@atg.com jdw@fidentiis.com infor2@sloanemallorca.com gajeun.lee@gmail.com pete.stones@gmail.com aaneville@outlook.com charles@cjaresantanylaw.com jom.salakshana@trs.co.th ostickc@gmail.com omarhadeed@hotmail.com huseyin@yardimci.gen.tr charlesjohn.neil@gmail.com sandyfarquharson@hotmail,com

+34 662 143 442 Mob +34 654 328 577 + 00 349 141 534 15 00 34 639 702 411 +82 10 5360 1046

Jane Roy Mark Wilhelm Verheyen Mike Jolley Edward Huson Robert Perks Andy Hilton Ash Johsi Andreas Graham Anthony Edgar James Kirtland Russell Elliott Douglas Balchan Shaheen Ladhani Christopher Huson

Abbey ‘86 Cross ‘77 Orchard ‘47 Hall ‘70 New ‘71 Brook ‘68 Latham ‘82 Mitre ’83 Orchard ‘90 Orchard ‘88 Mitre ‘93 Orchard ‘71 Cross ‘89 Hall ‘72

jroy@uab.edu mverheyen@comcast.net MnJJOLLEY@aol.com eahuson@gmail.com robertperks@earthlink.net andyh@totallybrilliant.com ash@caprity.com andreas.graham@verizon.net ajedgar@me.com james.kirtland@gmail.com russelliott@gmail.com djbalchan@aol.com shaheenladhani@gmail.com mrhuson@mindspring.com

+ 1 205 934 1757 +415 203 9225 + 1 520 529 9562 +415-203-9225 +1 773 230 9845 +1 863 858 4000 818 501 9898

Edward James Hutson Elliot Charles Reid Gordon Sharp Huw Thomas Samuel Chibale

Mitre ‘68 Hall ‘64 Priory ‘54 Latham ‘73 Mitre ‘95

james@ellcorentals.com bracmed@candw.ky gsharp@cwjamaica.com hadthomas@aol.com chibale_s@yahoo.com

+ 246 256 4637 & +246 434 7395

+41 79 607 42 60 + 255 272 565 329 + 66 233 190 53 & +661 819 2717 +99 818 169 E61825 001 868 632 2140 +90 532 426 3504 + 971 506 550 92

+1 917 475 -1059 +1 917 558 1079 704 526 7846 + 001 937 322 2040 +1 281 850 4292 + 1 206 328 6112

+ 1 876 986 2870 +967 711 437 124 0978 214 362 (zain network) add international dialling codes

Your Contact Details 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.

Please email the office: jcobb@repton.org.uk or 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

The editorial staff retain the right to edit any submissions.

Thank You!

Would you prefer to read The Arch on line and not receive a paper copy?

Please advise us if this is the case.

Old Reptonians can now keep in contact with the OR office and fellow ORs via Facebook – go to www.facebook.com/ ORSociety and click ‘Like’

We would like to send invitations to our events out electronically. If you do not currently receive emails from us, please email jcobb@repton.org.uk

Repton School Shop - Memorabilia Introduction of new School Shop Manager The School Shop welcomed a new Manager at the start of the Lent term, Pennie Hemsley. Pennie will be responsible for a team of five who serve the Shop, Grubber and JCR. This includes Tina Thompson who has recently completed her 30th year working at Repton School. Pennie has a wealth of experience in the customer service sector and is interested in developing the current offering of memorabilia OR Ties:

House Scarves:

Miscellaneous:

Silk

The Priory

Pint Glass Crested Tankard

Smooth Silk

School House

Half Pint Glass Crested Tankard

Non Crease

New House

Large Glass Crested Goblet

Bow Tie

Latham House

Crested Red Wine Glass

The Orchard

Glass Crested Paper Weight

OR House/Sports Ties:

The Mitre (Girls)

Crested Cuff Links

Brook House

Cross

Crested Key Rings

The Hall

The Abbey

Brass Buttons

The Priory

Field House

Repton cards

School House (Polyester)

The Garden

Repton Postcards

New House

Large Teddy Bear

Latham House

Banded white sweaters

Repton Cricket Caps

The Orchard

(long sleeved and

Leisure Socks

The Mitre

sleeveless)

Mug

The Cross

Repton China Coin Tray

OR Football

Umbrellas:

450th Anniversary Book Repton To The End

OR Hockey

Large golf umbrella

Repton Register 2007 Book

OR Golf (striped)

Repton Register 2007 CD

Cambridge Pilgrims Tie New silk ties for Old Reptonians for all of the Houses are now available.

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 35

Lists, Lent 2016

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

Telephone: 01283 559320 Email: jcobb@repton.org.uk / or@repton.org.uk

Website: www.repton.org.uk