MAKING A DIFFERENCE

DEREK TWINE CBE FRSA (RGS 1962-1970)

Having retired nine years ago, and having passed yet another milestone birthday, life is just as busy and fulfilling as ever, and with continuing thanks to RGS for the foundation years.

At the risk of sounding like a paid contributor to The Reigatian magazine, I must say that my years at Reigate Grammar School influenced me considerably and laid the foundations for my future life and career.

I was born in Egypt of Greek-Cypriot parents, who, as British subjects moved to what was then a British protectorate and were involved in banking, cotton trading, etc, and my mother was a civil servant at the British Embassy.

Cairo was at that time a very cosmopolitan city with British, French, Greek, Italian and many refugees escaping wars. International schools were of a high standard and education was multilingual. It was a happy life and my future seemed bright, the only dark cloud was my father’s bouts of anxiety and depression since the war.

There were, of course, several disturbances – the Arab /Israeli war, Nasser’s takeover, the Suez Canal crisis – but, as a child, these didn’t impact me much.

Then one day it all changed. The British Embassy announced that it was getting dangerous for British subjects and strongly advised us to leave immediately, with the last departing merchant ship escorted by British warships. We left with a couple of bags. I have to say, for me and my brother it was rather exciting, but not for my parents who fled Egypt basically penniless.

In England, we were lodged in prefabricated World War II cabins at the St Annes grounds in Redhill. We were not like the refugees one sees on TV escaping war, but for the first time in my life I felt poor and sad as I saw my father’s health deteriorating considerably.

In Egypt, I had been an excellent student, but now realised that my English language fluency was inadequate. By a miracle, I was taken for an interview at Reigate Grammar School and was accepted, albeit one class lower. This was the England of the swinging 60s and, although Reigate Grammar had a lot of traditions and rules, most of the teachers were open-minded, supportive and encouraged free-thinking and debate across all types of subjects. One of my favourite sessions was the debating society, which challenged one’s thinking and beliefs. Such openness and sharp intellectual, but polite, exchanges! Just like (or unlike) the House of Commons!

The school gave me a very strong base on which to build a future. After graduating from Surrey University where I studied Metallurgy and Materials Science, I went to the University of Caen for a French Language Diploma and much later to Wharton in the USA for a business one. This started what was for me a perfect career and family life. I worked for a while in steelworks, nuclear research, followed by machine tools, then started a 40-year global career in manufacturing, R&D, marketing, sales, and finally as Corporate President for a major multinational. What I enjoyed, other than the different functions, locations, and cultures, was the multitude of industries: from recording substrates to electronic components, to packaging, to engineering plastics, to paints and textile fibres. This resulted in 21 moves across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, in 42 years of married life; I was lucky that my wife enjoyed the challenges and opportunities to sample different languages and cultures, and our kids had an international education.

I realise that this life is not for everyone, as we each have different needs and ambitions, but the main point is that each one of us should lead one’s destiny and not be led by it! The Grammar School not only gave me a great education, but also taught me to think clearly, make my own choices and be accountable for them, which for me is the secret of a satisfying life!

I often reflect upon the ongoing residual impact of many of the school staff during the 1960s. TWH Holland himself, even though Headmaster, taught an English class each week to our Second Form, leading us in a detailed analysis of The Tyger that lasted a whole term, and induced a love of literary appreciation.

George Paxton and Chris Mason were both truly inspirational as they encouraged creativity and critical thought in both English Literature and English Language, and also supported my sub-editorship of The Pilgrim. Karol Kornel in Economics spoke personally of painful personal experiences of the political protests in the Prague Spring of 1968, which gave great insight into the impact on individuals of political ideologies.

Ken Farries shared his experiences of his visits to the Soviet Union in the 1960s, and of his passion for the place of windmills in the changing rural economy. Aubrey Scrase arranged countless visits to London theatres (not least seeing Paul Scofield in Macbeth with the RSC in 1966). There were rugby matches (only 2nd XV for me) and inter-school swimming competitions. As a Prefect I ran the school tuckshop and supervised the lunchtime waiters. Most of these indelible and formative experiences were beyond the formal curriculum, but addressed the whole person, and for that I am grateful.

After A Levels, my university years were spent in Bangor, North Wales. Again, where I not only enjoyed the formal curriculum (and secured a first-class degree), but the people and the wider experiences had a wider impact. I was fortunate that my Statistics tutor, WR Jones was a global authority in bilingualism and social research techniques, but he also introduced me to fine wines and whiskies! My inspiration in English Literature (my subsidiary subject) was Professor John Danby, who held special tutorials in the evenings in the Ship Inn, home of local folk musicians – I gained quite some insights on those Wednesday evenings. Again, learning beyond the formal curriculum. And time was spent, like many others, with wider student activities – some political, some with community service, and certainly days out climbing in Snowdonia.

There then followed post-grad and published research, teaching on the academic staff, then moving across into national youth work. My career developed in various roles involving non-formal education, adult leadership training, and organisational development. Finally, I spent 17 years as CEO of the Scouts, with national and global engagement: corporate management, financial strategies, intercultural diversity, fundraising, membership management, safety in outdoor activities, media representation, and much more. This then extended sideways into corporate non-executive directorships, projects with various national agencies, liaison across several royal households, giving evidence to numerous Parliamentary Select Committees and Chairing the Commission on Governance in Voluntary Organisations.

After retiring in 2013, my wife and I moved to Yorkshire, and I enjoyed serving on the Council of the National Trust and as Vice-Chair of the Church Urban Fund. When these roles concluded their fixed terms of office, the space in the diary was quickly filled by being appointed by the Secretary of State as a Member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, where, more recently, I have been appointed Chair of Finance, and separately as Member Champion for cultural heritage. Locally, I was asked to lead on delivering a £1.9million Heritage Lottery Fund project, and all this still accommodates my ongoing role as Chair of Council for Bradford Cathedral, plus days walking in the Dales.

Certainly, RGS instilled a sense of being busy, multi-tasking and being socially active to make a difference. Thank you RGS, staff and peers alike.

ROBIN OAKE (RGS 1949-1954)

Not the brightest star in the school, I managed the 11+ exam and left with five O Levels. My father spent WWII underground in the Cabinet Office with Sir Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower. Mum and my two sisters were evacuated to Poole in Dorset, having been bombed out at Hooley, Surrey. We watched much of the army leaving for the war in Northern France!

We returned to Hooley in 1946, going to school at Chipstead Primary and saw my Dad once again after many years as he was in London.

While at RGS, I became a Christian through Crusaders. Following RGS, I joined the Prison Commission working as a junior clerk, which gave me an inkling for police work – I would catch thieves instead of looking after them in prison!

I played rugby for the Old Reigatians as a No. 8.

I joined the Metropolitan Police in 1956, and was stationed at St John’s Wood, North London on the beat. After three years, my Chief recommended I transfer to New Scotland Yard in 1959 and I married Chris in 1961 (she was a nurse at St Thomas’s Hospital). We had three children – a son and two daughters.

I passed my Sergeants’ exam and was posted to C Division in Soho, then passed the Station Sergeants’ exam and became an Instructor at the Training School. After two years, I was promoted to Inspector and after a six-month course, was awarded a scholarship to University College, London to read Law. After graduating, I was posted to A Division in Westminster. This was a difficult time, with IRA bombings, but it was interesting to have links with politicians, miners’ leaders, and others related to marches.

I was promoted to Chief Inspector in

Brixton and after two eventful years, I was seconded to the National Police College, Bramshill with a remit to study and promote policing with counter terrorism – to oil rigs, working with European police forces and on corporate policing.

On promotion to Superintendent, I was invited to transfer to Greater Manchester, which involved remits in Northern Ireland, Miami and Scotland as well as continued visits to Bramshill to lecture.

I was promoted again to Chief Superintendent and then Assistant Chief Constable, after which I was invited to become Chief Constable of the Isle of Man which was way out of date with modem policing! This was supposed to be a three-year undertaking, but I stayed there for 13 years having left Manchester, where my son, Stephen, had followed me into the police. He was in counter terrorism and was very sadly killed on duty as a hero.

Following retirement, I was asked to be Chancellor of The Order of St John, which was going through a difficult time, and I continued working in London and throughout the UK with St John until retirement. I now live in Shropshire, was a local preacher and Christian speaker throughout my adult life.

I continue to be an ardent supporter of rugby and local church life. And I am proud to be a Reigatian!