The Reigatian 2020

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N C O M M U N I T Y

THE REIGATIAN 2020

ROB PIERRE “WE SHOULD RECOGNISE OUR PRIVILEGE AND USE IT TO AFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE” See page 36

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

CONTENTS

04 WELCOME Notes from the Headmaster and the Head of Foundation

LIVES 07 CHANGING An update on what we’ve accomplished

for our bursary campaign – with your help

WE CARE 08 RGS From supplying PPE to delivering shopping, the focus in 2020 was on community outreach

11 Can you help us offer bursary places to the children of NHS NIGHTINGALE FUND and front-line workers?

12 Over 36 hours, our amazing community NIGHTINGALE GIVING DAY

helped us raise an incredible amount

13 Sign up to give a regular gift to the THE PILGRIM SOCIETY

school and join this philanthropic group

14 Things were done a little differently FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

in 2020, but we rose to the challenge!

DAY 16 FOUNDER’S Reigatians from across the globe came together to celebrate this special day

18 Read snippets from interviews with SPOTLIGHT ON...

some inspiring RGS Professionals

PROFESSIONALS 20 RGS Adapting to the times, networking

FEATURES YOUR PASSIONS! 36 PURSUE RGS parent, Rob Pierre, walks us through the twists and turns of his life and career, highlighting the values he holds most dear

APP LAUNCHES 40 RGS Get all the latest RGS news at your fingertips with the new Reigate Grammar School app

HIGH 41 FLYING James Reader (RGS 1987-1992) shares his career journey and talks about his love of aviation

42 Rohan Hemingway (RGS 1977-84) MY MEMORIES OF DR KAREL KORNELL

reveals insights into this former teacher whose family perished at the hands of the Nazis

ABOUT 45 TALKING MY GENERATION Our Head Girl and Head Boy both

hail from former Reigatians – we caught up with all four to see how much has changed since the 1980s!

ADVENTURE 48 OUTBACK With travel restricted, Rob Jasper (RGS 1999-2006) explored Australia’s Outback from his home in Queensland

VISITS AND SPEAKERS 50 SCHOOL Some careers talks and school tours still took place in 2020!

54 RECOLLECTIONS Reigatians explain how their time at Reigate Grammar School shaped their lives THE ARCHIVES 60 FROM Howard Ballance’s drive as Headmaster

helped return the school to independence

NEWS AND SPORT 64 REIGATIAN Celebrating Sir Keir Starmer’s new appointment and success for Reigatians across the generations

A GIFT IN YOUR WILL 68 LEAVE Leave a gift to RGS in your Will and help a child start their journey with us

NEWS 70 SCHOOL Highlighting achievements across the school and internationally

76 PUBLICATIONS From children’s fiction to business books BIRTHS 78 OBITUARIES, AND MARRIAGES

We pay tribute to fond friends and celebrate new arrivals

88 MERCHANDISE Treat yourself or a friend to a unique gift THE FOUNDATION TEAM 90 MEET We’re here to help – from finding lost friends to work experience introductions

events were a mixture of virtual and face-to-face

TOPIC OF WILLS 24 THE Ensure that your assets are left to

those you love, with advice from our partners at Morrisons Solicitors

AMBASSADORS 26 OVERSEAS From Mike in NY to Stuart in NZ –

find out what life has been like in 2020

AND HONOURS 32 AWARDS Several Reigatians received notable

awards, while others graduated from university in 2020

Tell us if your details change Moved house, new job, updated your email address? Please let the RGS Foundation know so that we can keep in touch.

Email foundation@reigategrammar.org Call 01737 222231 or Online at rgs.foundation/update-details or scan the QR code 3

T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 2 0

WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER

T

hese tricky times have shown us again why we mustn’t take precious childhood days for granted, we need to cherish this time and grasp opportunities with both hands.

This has been a year like no other, but it has still been packed full of adventure and new experiences. Our students have benefitted from opportunities to be coached by international stars, to perform at the highest level and to experience wonderful trips and activities. They have enjoyed exciting lessons, embracing the collaborative benefits of new technology.

Of course, the daily experience changed during the lockdown of spring/summer 2020, but students continued to have daily live learning, a full range of pastoral care, online concerts, broadcast drama productions, sports on a daily basis and clubs and societies held via Teams, virtual school trips and much more.

I am especially proud of the way that the RGS community shows we care. During the difficult times, our staff and students helped to make and distribute personal

protective equipment (PPE) for local health settings (see page 8); we turned the playground into a drive-through drop-off point for Foodbank donations; we shared our facilities to help local schools reopen to younger students; and we remained open to vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

Through the RGS Foundation, in our RGS We Care programme, as a school and wider Reigatian community we reached out to thousands of local people who were elderly or otherwise vulnerable and offered practical help by collecting prescriptions and food shopping.

During the summer term we implemented a plethora of risk management measures and that, combined with some good fortune, meant we were able to be open all term, never having to send a year group home. We were back! I love to hear the buzz of learning and the laughter of children on the playground outside my study door.

They have such fun and get up to so many great activities. Yet, somehow, they manage to secure some of the best exam

results in the country! In 2020, 97% of students received offers from Oxford, Cambridge, Russell Group or Medical School universities. The Class of 2020 left RGS with a fist full of qualifications that will open doors but, more importantly, with qualities of character that set them up to be happy, healthy and high achieving.

I write this introduction during the 46th President of the United States’s first 100 days. I think the idea of a fresh start for a better future transcends the political. It is surely what we all need to look forward to, but also what we all need to be: we need to be the change, the optimism, the future. That is at the essence of being a Reigatian: to be a pilgrim is to be on a special journey with a good purpose.

Providing our communities and the wider world with that good purpose is more important now than ever before in my lifetime.

“There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

These words from Amanda Gorman, poet for the US Presidential Inauguration, reminded me of the importance of being a beacon of light in difficult times.

I sometimes feel in a fog during Covid times, trying to progress, but in need of a lighthouse; a voice in the fog. Gorman reminds us to look for the light and to be the light. Our RGS community continues to provide friendship, keep relationships going and embody our sense of common purpose – seen so strongly through the school’s RGS We Care programme.

At the worst of times, I saw the best of people and was proud, yet again, to be a member of the Reigatian community.

Shaun Fenton Headmaster

“Things are different, but we need to catch this moment and make it perfect: we can’t wait for the perfect moment. We need to take the opportunity to make things better – different, but better.

That positive can-do approach to life’s journey is part of what it is to be a Reigatian.”

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FROM THE HEAD OF FOUNDATION

The Power of Community

Former bursary recipient, Dan Beasley (RGS ’14) was just one of the RGS heroes of whom we are so proud

Dr Stephen Fisher (RGS ’67) joined Reigatians around the globe in raising a glass to Henry Smith for Founder’s Day in May

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” This quote, by American author and civil rights leader, Coretta Scott King, seems apt in a year when society has faced severe challenges.

I define ‘community’ as a diverse group of people connected by common interests, social ties and shared values. We are all Reigatians, whether past or present pupils, staff, parents, and friends – with the common link being Reigate Grammar School.

A significant observation this year has been how unified our community has been in a year dominated by a global pandemic.

Throughout this publication, you will find numerous examples of the power of community, through the deeds, actions and values of Reigatians. Community means not being alone, happy in the knowledge that, through the bonds of friendship and affiliation, there are others there for us when we need support. It is this common association, which binds us together.

The RGS We Care initiative (p8) has been an important and focused response by the school to the Covid-19 pandemic, spearheaded by the RGS Foundation.

Keeping our community informed through letters from pupils to over 70s; phone calls to this shielded Reigatian group; highlighting the work of our RGS front-line heroes; numerous e-newsletters celebrating talent and positive actions; providing practical support (PPE, deliveries, support for vulnerable families in the local community), and caring for the children of critical workers. I am immensely proud of my team and all those staff, students, and volunteers from our community who have given their support and encouragement this year.

Supporting key-worker families

RGS Foundation Ambassadors joined in with Nightingale Fund Giving Day by selling charity wristbands

Of course, what this pandemic has highlighted is the epic work of key front-line staff, who have been the bedrock of our country’s response to this dreadful virus. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.

It also demonstrated that it is the vulnerable and disadvantaged within our society who have been most affected by this pandemic. Whilst providing equipment

and supplies to those most in need, as a community we were passionate to do more. Aside from the volunteer support provided through the RGS We Care initiative, the most obvious way we could initiate long-term impact is through the provision of first-class education to the children of critical worker families who would not otherwise be able to access Reigate Grammar School.

The creation of the Nightingale Fund (p11) – to provide bursaries for children from key-worker families – is a natural extension of our important Changing Lives social mobility work, which provides access to RGS through assisted places. It is our pledge to provide life-changing opportunities to talented children through this scheme – at 11+ and at Sixth Form. This has been well received, both morally and practically, by the Reigatian community and I am thankful for the wonderful support we have had since the launch of the fund.

Indeed, the power of community was obvious on Nightingale Fund Giving Day, which raised almost £150,000! All of us at RGS are thankful to David Walliams (RGS ’90) for supporting the event and to those who have donated, and continue to do so, through regular giving, meaning that by the end of 2020 we had received over £200,000 in support of the Nightingale Fund. Consequently, we were able to welcome our first Nightingale Scholar (Loyce O) who will soon be applying for medical school. Furthermore, we have received much interest for opportunities at 11+ for the next academic year.

Social mobility in action

Through the power of the Reigatian community we have raised just under £1m for the Changing Lives campaign this year – a staggering amount and a wonderful testimony to our core values. This enabled us to welcome a further eight new bursary recipients to RGS in September, taking the total to 58 children benefiting from your generosity since we launched the campaign. To demonstrate the impact of this community power in action, I urge you to read the piece by Daniel Fitzgerald, one of our first recipients (p13).

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WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF FOUNDATION The Reigatian network

Although 2020 meant that, with restrictions on travel and on gatherings, we were limited in the number of events we could have, we were able to engage people in new ways. Founder’s Day in May allowed many Reigatians to raise a glass to Henry Smith and to feel part of something bigger.

The participation of our international community was amazing and we are lucky to have such a global network of friends.

We managed to squeeze in an RGS Professionals City Breakfast, hosted by FLM, in February and welcomed notable Reigatians to speak at our Inspiring Minds to Think Big event (p20-21) a month later.

That said, the lockdown did not stop us and we held our very first online RGS Professionals event ‘Workplace Wellness’ in June. I am most grateful for all the help we receive from our professional community. Indeed, a highlight for us was

the amazing support received from Jellyfish, the award-winning digital marketing company based in Reigate.

RGS has benefitted hugely from its help with digital communications, virtual school tours and the creation of a new app.

It would be remiss of me not to highlight some of the achievements of Reigatians, ranging from those achieving outstanding A level results, university degrees and publishing books. I applaud the school for receiving the Tatler 2020 School of the Year award. Staff and pupils have much to feel proud of and special praise should go to Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, who has been awarded with an OBE for services to education by Her Majesty the Queen in the Birthday Honours list. Meanwhile, it is important for us to recognise the achievement of former pupil, Sir Keir Starmer (RGS 1974-81), elected to Leader of the Labour Party in April. Our

Our congratulations go to Sir Keir Starmer who, in April, attained the highest political office of any Reigatian to date

The ethos of current parent, Rob Pierre, is that whatever you do, you should do it with passion

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As part of the RGS We Care initiative, we were overwhelmed with donations of stationery and nappies

congratulations go to him and we will cover more on Keir in our next edition of The Reigatian magazine.

Sadly, we lost many from our ranks in 2020 and I wish to pass on my sincere condolences to the families of those Reigatians who have passed away. We note the death of Robin Bligh, an RGS legend who gave almost 40 years of service and established the Scout movement at the school (p78). He was a big advocate of the work of the Foundation in terms of reunions and Changing Lives support.

As a member of the 1675 Society, his legacy will allow us to remember him through bursaries in his name. In addition, once regulations permit, we will hold a memorial event in his honour. The power and impact of leaving a legacy gift is well illustrated through the story of Alan Oates (p68).

Be the change

The front cover features Jellyfish CEO and current RGS parent, Rob Pierre.

His is a truly fascinating story of a local lad who has gone on to create one of the largest independent digital marketing and communications companies in the world.

Rob has ‘superpowers’ and, through his own life experiences, has built a culture of innovation and excellence which empower those around him. He is an impressive man who has been a huge friend to RGS and acknowledges our shared values. With two children attending the school, he understands privilege and the importance of a first-class education to enable children to fulfil their potential. Therefore, support for the Changing Lives social mobility campaign and affecting positive change in the support of children from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds is a natural action for Rob and his wife Lisa. As he says in his interview (p36), “We should recognise our privilege and use it to affect positive change.”

The year 2020 has been one we will not forget. It has helped define us as a community and has shown the best of us, in how we respond and act together in challenging times. I’m proud to be a member of the Reigatian community and wish to thank everyone for their contribution to this excellent edition, not least Nikki Burch (Reigatian Community Officer) for her brilliant work!

Sean Davey Head of Foundation

CHANGING LIVES UPDATE 2020 IN 2020 WE RAISED OVER

£984,000! £202,000 OF WHICH OVER

GOES TO THE NIGHTINGALE FUND

“The Changing Lives bursary I received, provided through generosity and love, has defined my last seven years here at RGS, and the impact of it will shape the rest of my life.”

Prutha Vyas (RGS 2013-20) Former bursary recipient, medical student

Can you help us achieve our 2025 target?

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NEW BURSARY STUDENTS JOINED RGS AT THE START OF THE 2020/21 ACADEMIC YEAR

SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE CHANGING LIVES CAMPAIGN WE HAVE RAISED OVER

£7.2m

WHAT AN AMAZING COMMUNITY

Thank you

The award-winning Changing Lives campaign launched in 2014 and has supported 58 children to date. To celebrate the school’s 350th anniversary in 2025 we have set ourselves a target of having 50 fully-funded Changing Lives bursary students in the school at any one time.

The gift of education, as provided by the 1675 Bursary Fund, aims to provide opportunities to transform lives and raise aspirations, but our vision can only be realised through the help of our friends and supporters. Reigate Grammar School, unlike many other charitable institutions, does not have any major endowed funds to call upon. Currently, RGS offers financial support through means-tested bursaries to only a small percentage of the school population. The school receives a high demand for financial assistance each year. Sadly, we are unable to help a number of eligible children and, if a network of support is not secured, RGS risks losing many gifted pupils.

Scan the QR code or visit rgs.foundation/changing-lives for more information.

FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT

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RGS WE CARE 2020 brought uncertainty and disruption, but also a huge outpouring of compassion and generosity. We launched the RGS We Care initiative – to galvanize help for those who need it. We reflect on how we, the Reigatian community, rose to the challenges that the pandemic presented.

In March 2020, when the seriousness of the virus really became evident, the Foundation team reviewed its plans and went into action. We wrote to those who were isolating and put out a request for volunteers and began coordinating a range

of outreach projects. A programme of weekly email newsletters and phone calls began to help inform, inspire and support.

We believe our community is stronger than ever and we were overwhelmed by the positive response.

We informed We drew on the talents of our community to provide support and information:

• Coronavirus: an epidemiologist’s

view: an expert Reigatian answered common questions • Psychologist Joe Cheal (RGS 1980-1986) shared bespoke guidance on protecting your mental wellbeing in lockdown • Morrisons Solicitors supported the business community with a Corporate Insights webinar • Steam Wine Bar ran a quarantine quiz night • From the front line: hospital ICU – Tom Kirschen (RGS 2002-2009) • From the front line: GP surgery – Ketan Kansagra (RGS 1984-1992 and current parent) • From the front line: care homes – Lucy Gillett (RGS friend) • From the front line: Physiotherapist – Ellie Rowland (RGS 2002-2010)

• From the front line: medical graduate – Dan Beasley (RGS 2007-2014)

• Reigatians in action: we gave social

shout outs to those Reigatians who were working on the front line through the pandemic • In partnership with RGS parents Jo and Luke Gray, we offered a free online health programme • With help from Reigatians, Martin Jacks (RGS 1986-1991) and Ed Luck (RGS 1984-1989), we provided a guide to creating a Covid-secure workplace (see p22) • In November, Clinical Psychologist Siobhan Blackwell (current parent) shared some practical tips for looking after your mental health

Top: One of our fabulous RGS volunteers, Louisa Mamalis (RGS 2005-2012) delivering a prescription Bottom: Reigate resident, Michael, happy to receive his prescription delivery

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Thank you to all our RGS heroes

We provided practical support • We stripped science labs, food tech and

art rooms for gloves, aprons and goggles, which were sent to support NHS and other front-line staff • Our Design Technology department made over 1,000 visors, which were delivered to 20 local healthcare organisations • Our minibuses were registered with Reigate and Banstead volunteers distribution hub • The Foundation team wrote to, and called, our older or vulnerable Reigatians, offering practical help

• With the support of volunteers, we

coordinated the pick up and delivery of shopping, prescriptions and had cheques banked, for local Reigatians • In partnership with Loveworks, RGS became a drop-off point for Foodbank donations in April and November • We worked with local charity, Stripey Stork to collect donations of nappies and stationery for families affected by the pandemic • And of course, the school has remained open for vulnerable students and the children of key workers

The Design Technology department heroes: Mr Oates, Mr Alvarez and Mr Ward

e r a C e W

In June, we collected an incredible 2,693 nappies and 4,902 colouring pens, pencils and notepads for local charity, Stripey Stork

For the November Foodbank collection, Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, brought along a boot full of donations from parents who couldn’t make it themselves The Foodbank collection in April filled four RGS minibuses!

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We celebrated the talents of our community • Just before the March 2020 lockdown,

the Music department recorded a series of Plugged Unplugged performances • Current Sixth Form students recorded a quarantine version of One Day More from Les Misérables • We shared interviews with current and former sports men and women with the PE department’s Pilgrim Podcast series • The RGS Drama department live-streamed past productions of Sweeney Todd, Abigail’s Party, Les Misérables and more • Acapella singing group, Quintus recorded a special version of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles • RGS parent, Hari Ghotra showed us how to cook curries in her weekly online cook-along

5,000+ 5,000+

10,000+ 10,000+

20 20

10,000+ 10,000+

PPE (visors, gloves, goggles PPE (visors, gloves, goggles and aprons) distributed toto over and aprons) distributed over

local NHS hospitals, local NHS hospitals, care homes, surgeries and care homes, surgeries and front line services front line services

250 250

families donated toto our families donated our Foodbank appeals, which Foodbank appeals, which filled thethe equivalent of of filled equivalent 6 RGS minibuses 6 RGS minibuses

views onon videos, created toto entertain, views videos, created entertain, inform and connect our community inform and connect our community

letters and phone calls letters and phone calls toto thethe community community

101 101

stories shared through stories shared through 1717 email newsletters email newsletters

120,000+ 120,000+ emails sent emails sent

300+ 300+

Reigatian community volunteers Reigatian community volunteers have delivered food and prescriptions, have delivered food and prescriptions, deposited cheques and looked after deposited cheques and looked after key worker children key worker children

4,000+ 4,000+

hours dedicated toto looking hours dedicated looking after thethe community through after community through RGS We Care RGS We Care

2,700 2,700

nappies distributed toto disadvantaged nappies distributed disadvantaged families through Stripey Stork families through Stripey Stork

RGS We Care – can we help?

At the time of writing, the Foundation team is working remotely, but we are still coordinating outreach projects wherever needed.

If you know someone who might benefit from our support, please email rgswecare@reigategrammar.org or call 07535 799344.

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We Care

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

The school was honoured to support NHS key workers, and the wider community, through our RGS We Care initiative. But we want to do more.

The new Nightingale Fund will support children from disadvantaged backgrounds by: P roviding bursaries to the children of essential key worker children at various entry points throughout the school Providing bursaries in our Sixth Form for children who specifically wish to follow A level courses to access Medicine and related studies at university

• •

To recognise the outstanding work of front line staff in the NHS, care homes and the emergency services, Reigate Grammar School is prioritising 10 assisted places (bursaries) specifically for the children of health workers, such as nurses, paramedics, care workers, porters and cleaners.

We wish to raise awareness of this commitment and ask members of our community to help spread the word.

“ The Covid-19 crisis has reminded us that there are a host of professionals who keep hospitals and the wider health community running. These are the parents who we hope will be inspired to apply for a place for their child on our Nightingale Fund programme.”

Shaun Fenton,

Reigate Grammar School Headmaster

Developing the medics of the future Did you know that last year there were over 108,000 unfilled posts in the NHS? Access is so difficult for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. To discover and nurture the NHS medics of the future, the Nightingale Fund also prioritises places for students with a desire to pursue careers in medicine.

Over 25% of RGS students go on to study Medicine or related STEMbased courses at university. And RGS already has a strong reputation in this field with 100 percent of applicants accessing first-choice places at medical school in recent years.

We want children from disadvantaged backgrounds to be able to access these courses, too.

In September 2020, we were thrilled to award our very first Nightingale Fund Sixth Form bursary place to recognise a student whose goal is to follow a career in medicine.

A current recipient of a Changing Lives bursary, Loyce O is a talented scientist and an enthusiastic ambassador for the RGS Foundation and the Nightingale Fund.

“I am extremely grateful to be a Nightingale Scholar – through the generous support of the Reigatian community, I’ve had the opportunity to study subjects I am passionate about, in a happy environment, with enthusiastic and supportive teachers. RGS has provided me with an excellent education, built my confidence and inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. Please support the Nightingale Fund and help more ambitious young people like me to fulfil their dreams.”

Loyce O, Lower Sixth

For more information on how you can help, visit rgs.foundation/nightingale-fund/ or use the QR code.

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RAISED £144,907 THANK YOU! For 36 hours – between 00.00 on Thursday 24 and 12.00 on Friday 25 September 2020 – Reigatians from across the globe came together for Nightingale Giving Day. As a community we smashed our original target of £125,000, raising a staggering £144,907!

There was a buzz of excitement as members of our global community helped to unlock our four challenge gifts, wrote messages of support and engaged with us through social media.

As part of wider activity in the school, RGS Foundation Ambassadors, with help from student leaders on the Charity Committee, sold 552 charity wristbands on the day, raising over £1,500.

We were thrilled to receive a video from RGS Foundation Ambassador, David Walliams (RGS 1981-1989), calling on the Reigatian community to get behind Nightingale Giving Day.

Four generous benefactors provided match-funded gifts to encourage other to dig deep: 1. When we hit £10k another £10k was added 2. With 125 donors we released £12,500 3. 10,000 likes and shares on social media added another £10,000 4. We unlocked £30,000 once we hit £62,500 and achieved 250 donors

“Love that RGS is a school/ community with a social vision. Good luck!”

While our main focus was on fundraising, this was also about engagement and participation and we were particularly pleased to have so many likes, shares, comments and video views across the RGS Foundation’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube platforms. Indeed, our social media activity achieved a total reach of 45,200!

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the 399 people who made a donation and all those who joined in with the excitement. We cannot emphasise strongly enough the impact that your ongoing support has on deserving young people and their families.

We are so proud to be part of such a positive and caring community.

The Nightingale Fund forms part of the wider Changing Lives campaign. Our work to raise funds to give bursary places to the children of NHS and other key worker families continues.

To support the Nightingale Fund, visit rgs.foundation/support-us/nightingale-fund or take a photo of the QR code.

Pierre and Louisa Davis (current parents)

“Excellent initiative – well done RGS – proud of my old school.”

Alan French (RGS 1962-1969)

“I am very proud of my school. As a doctor, I really encourage everyone to consider a career in the NHS – such an interesting and fulfilling life. Please support this excellent cause.”

Ketan Kansagra (RGS 1984-1992 and current parent)

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Make a regular gift The Pilgrim Society is a philanthropic group which recognises the commitment of members of the Reigatian community who support the Changing Lives campaign with a regular gift.

Together we can transform the life chances of disadvantaged children from our local community by providing educational opportunities and hope. To date, through Pilgrim Society members alone, we have already given places to 20 Changing Lives bursary students.

Your support of the Changing Lives campaign is crucial because now, more than ever, the twin drivers of low social mobility, economic and educational inequality, are on the rise.

“The triple whammy of the global financial crisis, Brexit and Covid-19 has not been good for current and future social mobility.

Covid-19 looks set to increase the toxic mix of rising economic and education inequality.

Failure to do something will store up greater problems for future generations.”

Professor Machin London School of Economics

Power in numbers

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people giving £20 a month = a 100% bursary for one academic year people giving £50 a month = a 100% bursary for one academic year

Can you help more children like Daniel?

Daniel joined RGS as a Changing Lives bursary recipient in 2013. He has flourished and now has the world at his feet!

“I wish I could show my 11-year-old self exactly how important sitting the 11+ and meeting with the Head of Foundation was going to be. The outright joy in knowing I would learn to play rugby and go on tour to Biarritz and South Africa; have access to incredible music teachers and perform in state-of-the-art venues; meet some of the most amazing and inspiring friends and teachers; all while achieving grades at GCSE and A level that I could only have dreamed of. All thanks to the Changing Lives campaign, and the selfless, philanthropic support of its sponsors.

To these people I can only say thank you for giving me, and others, the opportunity of a lifetime, and to promise that this investment in nurturing young, talented Reigatians will be the best you ever make.

Since completing my A levels (A*A*AB + A* extended project) at RGS in 2020, I have gone on to the University of Warwick to study Discrete Mathematics. Admittedly I haven’t had the typical university experience in a year as unprecedented as 2020, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the new independence, friends, and experiences I have had so far.

I am enjoying further increasing my depth of knowledge in maths and computer science and hope that I can take what I have learned at RGS and apply it throughout my undergraduate studies. Looking further ahead, I hope to specialise in machine learning and artificial intelligence and to go on to study a PhD in this field. I believe the next great step in human innovation is the creation of an artificial general intelligence (AGI), and I would love to be able to apply my knowledge and expertise to help solve this problem.

Once again, I would like to thank my sponsors and the RGS Foundation for all the opportunities they have given me over the last seven years, and I hope to be able to give back in some way in the future.”

Dan Fitzgerald (RGS 2013-20)

Talk to us about making a regular gift The more members we have, the more children we can help.

Sign up to give a regular gift and become a member of the Pilgrim Society.

Visit rgs.foundation/support-us/donate-now/.

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FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES HARRISON SCHOLARS’ TEA PARTY TUESDAY 14 JANUARY

Despite being a wet and windy January afternoon, there was a warm atmosphere in the Harrison Centre for the annual Harrison Scholars’ Tea Party!

We were delighted to welcome special guests from The Peter Harrison Foundation: founder and Chair Sir Peter Harrison CBE (parent of alumnus), Trustee Nick Harrison (RGS 1976-82), Director Andrew Ross OBE, Linda Simms and Carrie Gilbert.

Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, commended Sir Peter for his philanthropy, likening him to a modern-day version of our school founder, Henry Smith. The Headmaster emphasised the amazing impact resulting from this relationship, before presenting Sir Peter with a bespoke book of photographs and personal messages from Harrison Scholars past and present.

Sir Peter then shared his inspirational journey with guests. From borrowing £100,000 from the bank to buy his first business (using his house as collateral) to working with Cisco Systems to distribute its multi-protocol router system in the UK, playing an instrumental role in the growth of the internet here.

On selling his business, Sir Peter set up The Peter Harrison Foundation, an independent grant-making trust which supports education, disability sports and

special educational needs. Sir Peter is understandably proud of the charity’s achievements, but he is so much more than a grant-giver. Indeed, it is his emotional investment in RGS that is truly remarkable, and The PH Foundation’s keen interest in the success of the school and its students.

Since 1999, the partnership between The Peter Harrison Foundation and RGS has resulted in the building of the award-winning Harrison Centre (opened 2018) and lifechanging support for more than 70 scholars.

NIGHTINGALE BEER In the summer of 2020, Reigate Grammar School was delighted to work with its friends at Pilgrim Brewery to launch the school’s very first charity ale in support of the new Nightingale Fund.

At the end of July, the Foundation team popped into the Pilgrim Brewery, accompanied by the Headmaster – who rolled up his sleeves to help brew a batch of the delicious NIGHTINGALE. Pilgrim Brewery in Reigate is owned by former RGS pupil Adrian Rothera (’84) and RGS parent Rory Fry-Stone, and has been brewing beer on site since 1982, making it one of the oldest craft breweries in the South East of England. Pilgrim produces a variety of beers but is best known for its flagship ale Progress – a firm favourite in the local area.

Made with a mixture of hops from the USA, NZ and Czech Republic, NIGHTINGALE is a vibrant golden ale that is light on the palate and full of flavour. Cases (12 x 500ml bottles) sold for £35 and this initiative contributed a fabulous £3,770 for the Nightingale Fund.

FOUNDATION TEAM FUN IN LOCKDOWN In keeping with government guidance, since March 2020, Sean, Nikki, Clare, Jonny and Catherine (pictured left to right) have largely been working from home.

The weekly team meetings have been held via Zoom, and we have taken turns popping into school to attend to post.

In an effort to maintain a sense of camaraderie, we held a regular Wednesdaynight quiz throughout the first lockdown, taking it in turns as quizmaster. Various 14

family members were drawn into the fun, with the host setting a theme and dress code. Questions included a St George’s Day-themed red and white logo round, a scavenger hunt and name the album cover and artist. While our memories of these evenings are a little foggy (and Mr Davey might dispute this), we believe that Clare – with help from husband Sean Adams (RGS 1988-1995) – was crowned the overall winner!

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

VE DAY FRIDAY 8 MAY

To mark 75 years since Nazi Germany surrendered, we sent an RGS We Care email bulletin with links to testimonials written by former students and documents from our archives.

Bomb damage 1940: Next time you’re on the school playground or at the war memorial in Reigate, look out for signs of the damage sustained 80 years ago.

1939-1945: a potted history of RGS: Did you know that at the start of the September term 1939, the school was closed for 10 days while air raid shelters and trenches were built? Read recollections from former pupils and information gathered from back issues of The Pilgrim.

VE Day celebrations: a day off school!

Derek Wright (RGS 1944-1949) recalls attending a street party, feasting on food saved especially for the occasion and a trip to Trafalgar Square.

Recollections of RGS in WWII: John Ticehurst (RGS 1942-1950) captured his memories of life as an RGS student in WWII, from Doodlebugs flying over the playground to trying to learn geometry in a damp, dingy air raid shelter.

Remembering those lost in WWII: Watch our tribute video to those Reigatians who lay down their lives that we might live in peace.

POWs letter to his wife: David Bishop (RGS staff 1993-2006) taught History and Politics at RGS. His Uncle, Alan Newman, was a prisoner of war in Singapore between 1942-1945. Read moving extracts from Alan’s diary.

Read the full articles on the RGS Foundation website at rgs.foundation/news/.

GERMANY 1945: LETTER TO THE HEADMASTER Dear Sir, Tonight it is very quiet in the camp after last night’s celebrations. The general feeling is one of thankfulness rather than rejoicing, for we know that this is the first night we can go to sleep and expect to awake alive in the morning. We haven’t had that feeling of security for many months now.

Yesterday the front was very quiet and we knew that peace negotiations were going on and we prayed that they would be successful.

In the evening, I was out on reconnaissance patrol when the quiet was disturbed by the rattle of machine-gun fire. I thought at first it was a counter attack but when I saw an infantryman walking up the road in a bowler hat and waving an umbrella, I knew that the negotiations had, in fact, been successful.

My first reaction was to fire my guns wildly in the air and add to the din that was already going on.

I suppose now we shall settle down for a time to the comforts of occupation and then set sail for the Far East. I shall still have a lot to do as my Squadron Leader was killed last week and also the Sergeant Major – a grievous loss to us all.

I’m off to bed now – at a ridiculously early hour.

Yours very sincerely, Barton Kirby (RGS 1933-39)

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE 11 NOVEMBER

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, our Service of Remembrance was unable to take place in the normal way, therefore, it was recorded beforehand.

Students watched the pre-recorded service from their classrooms and we shared the link with our Reigatian community; inviting everyone to come together to remember the sacrifice of Armed Forces personnel from Britain and the Commonwealth.

The service was led by School Chaplain, Reverend Phil Jackson, and we were delighted to have Surgeon Captain Sarah Stapley (RGS 1983-1984) of the Royal Navy as our Reigatian community

Left to right: Buglers Lance Corporal Anuja S and Colour Sergeant Charlie B, Reverend Philip Jackson, Surgeon Captain Sarah Stapley, Contingent Commander Lieutenant Andy Pruvost and School Staff Instructor (SSI), Sergeant Carl Fairclough

representative. The ceremony followed the traditional order of service, taking in the school’s three war memorials, with readings, poems, a blessing, a hymn from the school’s polyphony choir and the Corp of Drums.

The virtual Remembrance Day recording

is available to watch via RGS’s YouTube channel: go to youtube.com and search for ‘RGS Remembrance Day 2020’.

Note: we added a three-minute countdown so that the two-minute silence fell at 11am on the day.

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FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

FOUNDER’S DAY A GREAT SUCCESS Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate our first Founder’s Day on 5 May 2020. While unable to get together with friends and loved ones due to the pandemic, it was heartwarming to receive so many emails, photographs, memories and social media messages from Reigatians across the globe.

O

ur founder, Henry Smith was committed to improving the lives of those less fortunate. The last year has shown just what can be achieved when we pull together, and the messages of support and actions being taken by Reigatians around the world has been truly incredible.

Four years from now, we will be celebrating the school’s 350th anniversary.

It is in preparation for this approaching milestone that we launched Founder’s Day in May 2020. The day is intended to act as a reminder of the benefits of being a Reigatian: the sense of belonging and shared values; the friendships, and connections we have made through the school.

We call on you once again, to join us this May to celebrate the life-long pride of being a Reigatian.

Raising a glass to Henry Smith

To help us mark the first ever Founder’s Day, we asked every Reigatian to raise a glass to our founder, Henry Smith, and to share your memories with us. We were overwhelmed by the number of photos that came flooding in from all parts of the world, which really highlights the amazing community we have!

In 2021, we’re going one step further and are in talks with Pilgrim Brewery about launching a special Founder’s Day Ale – make sure we have your up-to-date details or sign up to the Reigate Grammar School community app (see p40) to be the first to hear about it!

Founder’s Day quiz

Congratulations to Tim Bowling (RGS 1982-1989) whose knowledge of school and local history was unsurpassed! Tim was the winner of our Founder’s Day 2020 quiz, and is now the proud new owner of an RGS rugby shirt (pictured right). Our thanks go to RGS Archivist and local history buff, Peter Burgess (RGS 1967-1974) for compiling the quiz.

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What does being a Reigatian mean to you?

“I passed the 11 plus examination in 1950 and was delighted to be offered a place at Reigate Grammar School.

There followed seven years of wellbalanced secondary education. The then Headmaster Mr TWH Holland (Clogs) strictly looked after our moral direction often with corporal punishment for those who transgressed.

In our later years our future direction was steered by Mr SVJ Edwards, who was Head of Chemistry, and importantly our Careers Master who pointed me towards my higher education path. He directed me towards a four-year course in Metallurgy which I completed in 1961.

This led to a fruitful and varied career starting in welding technology and taking me initially to manufacture and construction of major plant and equipment. Following this, metallurgy took me into the marketing of a primary metal in a worldwide arena and then into mining ventures development.

This led ultimately into the wider field of new business ventures, which included the then new and exciting field of genetic engineering and microbiology.

I hasten to add that I never aspired to

5 MAY 2020

be a microbiologist but enjoyed the business development aspect.

My career included worldwide travel and we had two extended periods working and living in the United States firstly in New York and later near Allentown, PA. Having given up the day job, in retirement we set up our own small antiques business buying and selling 18th and 19th century silver and glass. We finally gave this up and fully retired about five years ago.

At various stages I have referred to ‘we’. If I had not attended Reigate I would never have met Margaret (Maggie) one of the colourful and rebellious students at Reigate School of Arts and Crafts.

Maggie wore jeans and colourful shirts in contrast to our navy blazers and school caps. Margaret has been my lifelong wife, partner and best friend for fifty eight years.

Thank you RGS for initially starting me on this exciting and most interesting life and for now giving me the opportunity to write this down.”

Roger Tharby (RGS 1950-1957)

Join us for Founder’s Day 2021!

Our plans for 2021 are still underway. To get all the latest news as it’s released, sign up to the Reigate Grammar School community app – see p40 for more details.

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RGS PROFESSIONALS

SPOTLIGHT ON...

RGS Professionals members work in a variety of fields, doing the most fascinating things. In 2020, a number of them shared their career journeys, ambitions and advice. Here are some snippets from those interviews.

Read the full interviews on our website at rgs.foundation

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RACHEL STIRRAT

IZZY RADFORD

On graduating from Oxford with a degree in Maths and Philosophy, Rachel joined the HM Treasury graduate scheme.

Now Head of VAT and Financial Services, she enjoys the intellectual challenge of learning about a new policy area, finding the problems, coming up with solutions and making them happen. Her time in the MUN at RGS served her well!

After just six weeks at university, Izzy determined that it wasn’t for her and she left. She found herself thrust into a limbo between student life and adulthood, neither of which she fitted into. Having done a variety of weird and wonderful jobs has made her more confident and capable. Izzy now gives motivational talks in schools.

(RGS 2002-2009)

(RGS 2011-2018)

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

Want to network with like-minded individuals? Join the RGS Professionals group via LinkedIn (Reigate Grammar School Professionals) or by emailing foundation@reigategrammar.org.

SUDA PERERA

PROFESSOR SIR DAVID HALL

SAMANTHA ROBINS

After her Masters in Post-War Recovery Studies, Suda worked for the Government of Rwanda, helping to reintegrate Rwandan child soldiers who had fought in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) back into civilian life. Indeed, Suda has conducted fieldwork in the DRC, Jordan and Lebanon as well as coordinating research projects across Africa and the Middle East. At the Developmental Leadership Program, Suda was a policy-advisor and has been called as an expert witness for various organisations, including the UK Parliament, the UN and the World Bank. Suda now lectures in International Development at the University of Sussex.

With a long and illustrious career in medicine, one of David’s most significant appointments was as President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2000-2003), where he advised the Department of Health on a variety of topics including screening, SureStart, child protection and adolescent health.

In the early 1970s, David specialised in paediatrics and neurology at a hospital in Soweto – the township south west of Johnnesburg, before being appointed consultant at St George’s in London.

On retiring in 2005, David and wife Susan returned to South Africa where they continue to work on local child health and literacy projects.

Samantha was one of the police’s first Intelligence Analysts in the UK at a time when psychological profiling was still in its infancy. During her incredible career, Samantha has led the intelligence research teams on hundreds of serious violent crimes, including high-profile cases such as the abduction and murder of Milly Dowler. Samantha’s job is to develop an intelligence strategy, gathering a wealth of data to provide new lines of enquiry for the investigating team.

Once a suspect is arrested, she supports the interview process by checking facts and, when charged, preparing the information a jury needs in order to understand the case.

JEMIMA DICKINSON

MELINDA GREENACRE

AAKSHAY GULATI

Jemima is Channels and Alliances Manager at MuleSoft, an enterprise connectivity platform working within the insurance, higher education, banking, and healthcare sectors. Since taking on this role in 2018, Jemima has won the EMEA Rookie of the Year award for partner management and a Growth Award for expanding the capability and sales pipeline.

While at university, Melinda took part in a lot of extra-curricular activities, from running a magazine to organising events – experience that helped secure an internship at Juicy Couture. This led to an exciting career spanning brand marketing, creative strategy, advertising, digital and PR within the fashion, lifestyle, health and fitness sectors.

Aakshay is Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead and Training Programme Director for Kent, Surrey and Sussex. As a specialist in head and neck oncology and reconstructive surgery, during the pandemic, Aakshay was working in one of the UK’s first designated surgical cancer centres.

(RGS 1997-2004)

(RGS 2003-2010)

(RGS 1956-1963)

(RGS 2000-2005)

(RGS PARENT)

(RGS PARENT)

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RGS PROFESSIONALS CITY BREAKFAST

TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY Make your money a force for good proved a popular theme for the RGS Professionals City Breakfast in February.

We were thrilled to return to the award-winning M Restaurant for this informative presentation delivered

by FLM Wealth Management.

Over the past few years, the RGS Foundation has established a strong connection with FLM. We were absolutely delighted that former pupils Imogen Allard (’13), Harry Vaughan (’09) and Ed Forsyth (’08) – all now plying their trade as Financial Advisers for FLM – were on hand to present a brief insight into the world of sustainable and ethical investing. Individuals can now make conscious investment decisions, with companies whose practices and values align with their own personal beliefs. This type of investment has become increasingly more popular in recent years.

Following the presentation, Sean Davey, Head of Foundation, provided an update on

all things RGS. Guests then enjoyed a delicious ‘firecracker’ eggs and chorizo breakfast with the opportunity to network.

Our enormous thanks go to the Reigatian team at FLM for their support with this event and to M Restaurant for hosting us once again. If you would like to follow up with Imogen, Harry or Ed for a free, no obligation, financial evaluation please email them at rgs@flmltd.co.uk.

CAN YOU HELP?

The coming year is likely to pose challenges for students seeking work experience or young Reigatians graduating university. If you can offer placements, or have vacancies to fill, please share the details on the Reigate Grammar School Professionals group on LinkedIn or email the Foundation team at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

INSPIRING MINDS TO THINK BIG! THURSDAY 5 MARCH

The Harrison Centre was buzzing as current and former parents, former students and current Sixth Formers gathered together to talk about equality and diversity.

After some networking and nibbles, Head of Foundation, Sean Davey thanked everyone for coming. He expressed his excitement for this event, which gave current students the chance to network with our Professionals members. He impressed upon Sixth Formers the importance of seizing opportunities like this to talk to people, stressing that, “Anything is possible, as long as you have belief, aspiration… and maybe a bit of help from the Reigatian community!”.

Catherine Hutchison, RGS Foundation Development Executive introduced our panel of speakers before handing over to outgoing Head Girl, Amy Brill (RGS 2013-2020), who showed great confidence and skill in posing questions to each of the panel in turn. The key pieces of advice were: EMMA WOODS (RGS PARENT) CEO of Wagamama and Non-Executive Director of The GymGroup PLC: “A corporate culture that embraces diversity helps drive growth. When staff can rock up to work and be themselves, they feel safer, and are able to give more of themselves. The most brilliant version of myself was aged 18-20. As a marketeer, 80% of my ideas were great, but 20% were rubbish, but being in an environment where I was encouraged to be brave and put forward those ideas was empowering.

Follow your passions, find your drive and set big ambitions for yourself.”

LESLEY-ANN MORGAN (RGS PARENT) Head of Multi-Asset Strategy at Schroders: “My current boss is an inspirational woman, and I strive to be a mentor/ sponsor to others in my team, but there were very few female role models in my early career. Instead, I took notice of the men who were NOT role models, which taught me about the type of boss I didn’t

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T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

WORKPLACE WELLNESS (VIRTUAL) THURSDAY 25 JUNE

want to be! My advice is to shake things up once in a while – don’t get too comfortable and set yourself new challenges: ask yourself, ‘What can we learn today?’. Continue to grow by asking questions – be inquisitive!”

JOOSJE HAMILTON (RGS PARENT) Consultant Lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and a Land and Property Manager: “As a foreigner, I might have been rejected for being different, but the culture at Norton Rose Fulbright was (and still is) to embrace those differences. Everyone, including trainees, is invited to contribute in meetings, which builds knowledge and confidence. You can’t plan your life, so grab opportunities and trust that every new path will lead somewhere if you work hard. Use all the contacts at your disposal to find out about different professions. Don’t be afraid to try new things and be open to ideas.”

PAUL MORRIS (PARENT OF FORMER STUDENT) Former Head of the Western Europe Region at Willis Towers Watson: “Being inclusive is good for business – if you can’t attract and retain staff from the full range of talent that’s out there, companies put themselves at a competitive disadvantage. Business leaders need to be authentic and be prepared to reveal their own vulnerabilities; being the loudest in the room isn’t encouraged – be kind and say thank you! There’s no handbook for life.”

CAMILLA AYLING (RGS 2003-2010) Equity Analyst at Legal and General Investment Management: “Don’t get caught up on job titles and the idea of a career ladder that only has an upwards trajectory. As Sheryl Sandberg wrote, ‘Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder’, so don’t reject lateral moves as you don’t know where it might lead. I suffer terribly from imposter syndrome: Am I credible? Do I know enough? Do colleagues respect me? It’s hard to be what you can’t see, so I aim to be a visible role model and constantly challenge stereotypes. Don’t try to mirror other people in order to fit in – you’ll end up shutting down and being more reserved, which means less dialogue, which is bad for business. My advice would be to believe in yourself and know your value – rely on the fact that the people who put you there have confidence in you.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

The Inspiring Minds to Think Big event was part of our wider programme of activities around International Women’s Day. This included career talks, Henry Smith Club lectures, spotlight interviews and a wealth of advice from our community via video snippets.

If you would like to take part in future events of this nature, please contact the Foundation team – email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

The first virtual RGS Professionals event was held at a time when many Reigatians were working from home, gyms were closed and exercise routines disrupted.

The added anxiety brought about by the Covid-19 crisis put mental wellbeing at the top of the agenda, too.

The presentation was delivered by RGS parents, Jo and Luke Gray from Living (weareliving.co.uk), whose vast experience includes working with A-list celebrities, multi-national businesses and, in 2020, NHS staff.

Living has been in the wellness and lifestyle industry for over 20 years and specialises in biomechanics, sports psychology, functional medicine, nutrition and holistic practices.

Living’s methodology looks at mental health, physical health and nutrition.

Rebalancing these is fundamental to implementing sustainable changes, by addressing sleep management, anxiety, memory, water intake, and many other areas.

Luke emphasised that this 360 degree approach of looking at movement, nutrition and mental wellbeing creates a happier, healthier workforce. It also aids recruitment and improves staff retention, with employees feeling valued and rewarded. Greater productivity and fewer sick days means the cost of supporting staff in this way (approximately £4.99 per person, per month) delivers an excellent return on investment.

Following the presentation, Jo and Luke answered questions and left us with the final piece of advice: ‘Make a small change to your lifestyle – make a huge change to your life’.

For more information, email Jo and Luke on info@weareliving.co.uk.

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RGS PROFESSIONALS



Reigate Grammar School Professionals

Martin began by explaining that economic uncertainty was widespread before 2020, but that the pandemic has exposed the fragility of many businesses. Where companies may have tentatively discussed flexible working, hot desking and home working in the past, the pandemic has kick-started discussions about embedding these into future plans.

THE FUTURE OF THE WORKSPACE (VIRTUAL) THURSDAY 30 JULY

The RGS Professionals event on The Future of the Workspace, provided an insight into the many considerations that business leaders face as they navigate their way through the pandemic.

We were delighted to be joined by Reigatians from around the world, including Dr Alan Jeary (RGS 1957-65) in New Jersey, Steve Lynch (RGS 1980-84) in France and Tony Grant (RGS 1978-86) in Dublin, as well as parent of alumni and Chair of Governors, James Dean.

Foundation Associate Director, Jonny Hylton began by welcoming everyone and introducing our hosts.

Martin Jacks (RGS 1986-91) has spent his 26-year career in construction, refurbishment and fit-out across multiple sectors including commercial, charity, industrial, technology (data and disaster recovery centres), retail, education, healthcare, hospitality and super prime residential. Ed Luck (RGS 1984-1989) has experience across multiple sectors including energy, telecommunications, leisure, gaming, construction and education.

Martin and Ed reconnected two years ago and quickly recognised the complimentary nature of their work. The result is Skape (skape.london), an end-to-end change process that focuses on people, strategy and the physical environment.

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TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT The pandemic has proven that we can adapt. So,do we look to create an environment that takes us back to near normal? Or do we embrace a new future, with some form of remote-working, and/ or satellite offices at its heart?

The sustainability agenda also has a crucial role to play, i.e. can you reduce your carbon footprint if your workforce no longer needs to commute?

CONSIDER STAFF WELLBEING Managing uncertainty effectively has tested the mettle of leaders. Business culture will undoubtedly change. Leaders need to acknowledge this and think about the culture they want to build.

While working from home may be beneficial for some (and flexibility is a key driver for the new workforce), for others, working from home may not be practical.

And don’t discount the value of informal office interactions – those water-cooler moments – which help form long-term friendships and create a buzz.

Communication within teams, between teams and across the business is crucial, especially for those who struggle even in near-perfect conditions.

ASSESS YOUR PRIORITIES Your strategy needs a careful and deliberate audit and assessment of priorities for both near-term implementation as well as the midto long-term needs of your people, environment and strategy.

Speak to Martin (mjacks@skape. london) or Ed (ed@skape.london) to discuss how Skape can help your business.

RGS PROFESSIONALS CHARITY GOLF DAY THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER

In a year when so many events had been postponed, it was particularly special to see so many Reigatians for the annual RGS Professionals Charity Golf event in aid of the Nightingale Fund.

Despite being a wet and blustery day, 42 players across 11 teams braved the elements – and the challenging Old Course – at the magnificent Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club.

To manage social distancing, our teams were given staggered start times. Players fuelled up with bacon butties and coffee before setting off from the first hole. The Foundation team caught up with them at the ninth, where they stopped for snacks and refreshments (and shelter from the elements!), before continuing onto the back nine.

The weather didn’t dampen spirits – indeed, those who were still working from home enjoyed the opportunity to be out in company! Back in the dry of the clubhouse, the day was capped off with a delicious curry, where players remained on their large tables of six.

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

Rob Pierre and his Jellyfish team enjoying the conditions

“I would highly recommend joining the RGS Professionals network” Will Bennett (RGS 2006-2013) Executive Team, Advies Private Clients LLP

In accordance with Government guidelines, some popular elements from previous years – nearest the pin, longest drive and the Thunderball Challenge – had to be omitted. As teams’ finishing times were staggered, our raffle was also drawn slightly differently, with winning tickets stuck to prizes so that players could take their goodies once they returned to the clubhouse.

But these adjustments hardly affected the enjoyment of the day and there was lots of laughter and gentle ribbing to be heard!

Congratulations to the winners of the Team Competition: Sean Davey (Head of Foundation) Jack Riddy (current parent), Ben Rutland (RGS staff), Ken Benoit (parent of former pupil) with 111 pts.

Closely followed by Mark Elsey (RGS 1974-78, Chair of the Foundation), Ali Tye (RGS 1975-80), Ted Kennedy (parent of former pupil), Nick Torlot (RGS 1970-78) with 108 pts.

The event raised over £5,000 for the Nightingale Fund. We are extremely thankful to those who supported the day and to everyone at Royal Ashdown Forest for making us feel so welcome once again.

“When I left school to do a degree in Economics and Finance I hadn’t the foggiest what avenue within the financial world I would end up in. My first introduction to the RGS Foundation was as a final-year student at Swansea University. I spoke to Sean Davey with the aim of getting some guidance as to where to start!

Fast forward a few months and, with plenty of time before my final exams, I had secured a job for which I’d been recommended by the Foundation.

I have now completed my professional exams and have a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and, although I have since moved companies to Advies Private Clients, I can thank the Foundation for my introduction to the industry.

One standout benefit I have found having attended RGS Foundation events is being able to interact with a wide range of like-minded individuals, who are at varying stages in their own careers. Whilst it may seem daunting to attend such an event, I have found that the common denominator of being part of the RGS community means there really are no barriers to talking to anyone. I have been amazed by the depth and variety of the network in more or less any industry you can think of.

Despite now living and working in London, and rarely heading back to Reigate, I’ve always left each event with a real sense of belonging to a community. To any Reigatian, whether you are at the beginning of a career or the end, I would highly recommend and encourage you to join us at the next event (whenever that may be!).”

To join the RGS Professionals group, head to LinkedIn and search ‘Reigate Grammar School Professionals’ or email us at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

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PA RT N ER S H I P P RO M OT I O N

THE TOPIC OF WILLS It’s a subject we might not want to think about, but a Will is probably one of the most important documents you will ever have prepared. Large or small, you will have accumulated an estate which will no doubt be important to you. Your Will provides the vehicle to carry out your wishes for all of your assets, ensuring they are left to those you love and want to benefit rather than being governed by statutory rules of intestacy.

R

easons for making a Will can include owning property, owning a share in a business, having children, living with a partner, planning to marry, protecting your assets, and ensuring you have left provision for children from a previous marriage. There are important factors to consider when making a Will, and some myths regarding what happens to your estate on death, let’s look into these: My spouse will get all my estate anyway Not necessarily – if you die without a Will your estate is governed by the laws of intestacy. The division of assets will depend on whether you have children, and how your assets are held. Your estate may not end up with the security for your spouse you might have wanted.

Consider your children If you have children under the age of 18, you’ll want to ensure that they are looked after by the appointment of guardians in your Will. Your Will can include a trust to take care of their financial needs until they are old enough to inherit and look after their own finances. Guardians can decide with who the children can live and where, and will be responsible for them while they go through education.

What about your business?

If you own company shares or are a Partner in a business, you will need to take advice on how the business should operate after your death, and what will happen to your interest. We can advise on business property relief to make the most of any allowances you may be entitled to.

Getting married won’t affect my Will This is not true. If you marry, your Will is automatically revoked. You must make a new Will at this time. If you get divorced, your Will is still valid, but your ex-spouse is effectively 'read-out' of your Will, but it is always wise to get legal advice at this point.

Can I preserve assets for my children?

If you are in a second relationship, with children from the first marriage, you may wish to benefit your current spouse/partner, but ensure that there are assets preserved for your children.

My family can sort everything out Those entitled to your estate under intestacy might not be the people you would like to inherit. A Will enables you to appoint suitable persons to be your executors; the people or person who are responsible for carrying out your wishes.

It is always prudent to get good strong legal advice, taking into account your individual situation and requirements. This is one of the most important documents you will ever make, and you must ensure you choose your advisor wisely. Everyone has differing needs and every Will is different. RGS Foundation has partnered with Morrisons Solicitors, whose team of experts are available to listen to your needs and can offer the best advice to achieve your desired outcome, providing a professional and up-to-date Will.

As solicitors, the team at Morrisons have many years’ experience of Will-writing and are generally able to see you within a few days of enquiry. For those who may be unable to attend Morrisons offices, the team can offer home visits.

If you do not have a Will there could be a significant delay in dealing with your estate or property, simply because there is no one to take on that role.

Wills are complicated It’s true that Wills must comply to legal requirements in order to be valid, but that is exactly what you will need to ensure, so that your wishes are carried out. Morrisons can guide you through the requirements and explain why they are needed.

Can I include foreign assets?

Morrisons can advise you on dealing with foreign assets and whether these would be covered by your UK Will.

What about leaving a gift to charity?

Leaving a gift to charity in your Will can make a massive difference to the charity and can be very beneficial for tax purposes.

The gifts are exempt from inheritance tax, and if your charitable gifts are at 10% (of the baseline amount) of your estate, any inheritance tax payable is reduced from 40% to 36%.

Morrisons Solicitors is a valued supporter of the Changing Lives campaign, and currently funds a bursary student at the school.

Morrisons has further supported the Foundation by providing guidance on our gifts in Wills programme and by hosting RGS Professionals events.

Please contact Morrisons for more information or a quote

01737 854500 www.morrlaw.com

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THE REIGATIAN NETWORK OVERSEAS AMBASSADORS

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With global gatherings on hold, we thought we’d catch up with our Overseas Ambassadors to get a glimpse of what life (in 2020 as well as in normal times) is like in their part of the world and what they miss most about the UK.

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MATT FALKNER

(RGS 1976-1981) VANCOUVER, CANADA

I’ve lived in Canada since 1987. I participated in the RGS rugby tour to Canada in 1981, then, on leaving school, I worked in the aviation industry for a Canadian Airline, Wardair. So, I was able to travel back and forth and re-establish friendships from my tour days. Then I met my wife Michelle.

In 2014, Sean Davey and I held a Reigatian reunion in Vancouver. Since then, by coincidence, I bumped into an old Reigatian on the rugby field during an over 40s match in Kelowna, British Columbia. We were introduced in the bar afterwards as we had both attended RGS, albeit 10 years apart. Stephen Borer (’93) and I have met a few times since.

Vancouver is an incredible place to live.

The scenery is amazing and the climate fantastic – there aren’t many places in the world where you can be skiing in the morning, then playing golf in the afternoon!

Life in 2020 was difficult with lives disrupted and people ill or losing their

jobs. The government has assisted with various programmes, but people are suffering. My industry has been particularly affected, as I am still in aviation, but now on the security side.

We have lost over 400 front-line staff and over 60 management positions.

Fortunately, I am still employed, but am always looking over my shoulder.

We miss travelling, and I have not been able to visit my family in the UK or see my daughter in the US, even though I only live ten minutes from the border.

What do I miss about the UK? Country pubs and getting my hands on a jar of Branston Pickle and a bag of Frazzles!

I also miss seeing England play rugby at Twickenham and Chelsea play football at Stamford Bridge.

We are grateful to our Overseas Ambassadors who are the points of contact for anyone wanting to meet up with existing established Reigatians. If you are living, travelling through, or visiting any of these territories, please email foundation@reigategrammar.org so that we can put you in touch with your local Ambassador.

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DAVID MYCROFT (RGS 1970-1976) SEATTLE, USA

My ex-wife is American and her brother was living in Seattle. After 14 years of living in Hong Kong, we had the chance to look at alternative places to live and moved here.

I own 17 acres of Cascade Mountain foothills and in 2020 met, face-to-face, a mother black bear and her three cubs on my property.

Fortunately, I was downwind!

Seattle was and still is an employment hot spot, with Amazon, Boeing and Microsoft based here, as well as the Gates Foundation and Vulcan, formerly run by Paul Allen.

I am retired, but always on the lookout for opportunities! My son is a professional e-gamer, playing for Twitch and the Seattle Seahawks.

He is currently world number two for Electronic Arts. My daughter is at senior school and hopes to become an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Teacher. She is more left

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BEN JONES

(RGS 1987-1994) TEXAS, USA

I’ve been in Texas since the end of March 2020. We arrived in Singapore just after SARS and left mid-Covid, always fun to move mid-pandemic!

We were in Singapore for 15 years and decided to move to Texas with work for a change of scenery, the lure of oil...

I haven’t met any Reigatians here yet (unsurprisingly), but saw plenty while in Singapore, but I’m not aware of any others living in Texas.

Texas makes a nice change from the jungle weather of Singapore and it’s good to be back to having some seasons – the

wing than me and is delighted that Sir Keir Starmer is a Reigatian!

Covid-19 hit the US really hard and the political upheavals of 2020 didn’t help. There is almost a complete job freeze across the American workforce which does curtail business opportunities. A lot of people here are really hurting with 40% of the population being one pay day away from disaster.

The thing I miss the most about the UK is the ORRFC! I miss rugby in general, but we do have the US Champions based in Seattle and the standard is high. I also really miss club cricket and a decent curry after both games!

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MIKE LLOYD

(RGS 1981-1986) NEW YORK, USA

I moved to New York in 1992, after falling in love with America on a trip with Kevin Loth (‘86) in 1984. I found a job at an American bank and jumped at the opportunity to relocate!

I met and became friends with Keith Dawson (’78) through the RGS Foundation and reconnected with Phil Drury (’91), Max Linnington (’85), and Richard Murphy (’90) all of whom I knew back at the Grammar. Through the American Friends of Reigate Grammar I connected with others, including Andrew Sullivan (’82) who’s well known over here. The

kids had never seen frost before! We have amazing BBQs! Texas has largely avoided any shutdowns, so it was relatively normal here in 2020.

We managed to get up to Colorado skiing and across to Austin a few times.

What I miss? A good country pub and a bit of English banter!

Foundation office does tremendous work reconnecting alumni in a way that’s quite customary in the States, but was pioneering for a British school at the time.

The cultural scene in New York is one of the best in the world (in a normal year) with extraordinary restaurants, amazing museums and galleries, great live music and theatre. Apart from real estate, the cost of living is pretty reasonable compared to London. The best thing about it is the people, though.

There was a lot going on here in 2020, with high infection rates and casualties and election madness. It did bring our family closer together and reinforced how fortunate we are.

If I had to pick one thing I miss about the UK, I’d say it was the spontaneity of British pub culture. Since people tend to be quite busy in New York, the ability to meet someone at the pub in thirty minutes’ time for a quick beer after work is limited, relative to how I remember it back in the UK. I’ve never had a good Ploughman’s with fresh bread over here, either – it’s just not a thing!

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GREGG TURNER (RGS 1990-1994) SWITZERLAND

We moved to Switzerland in 2018.

I had spent many years living and working in Switzerland when I was younger and my wife is originally from Le Jura across the border in France. When we were expecting our daughter the opportunity presented itself to take an exciting new position here. With family and friends living nearby it made sense and we love it!

I met up with a few Reigatians during an overseas gathering event organised by Jonny Hylton in Geneva, but the door is open for any Reigatians passing through!

The best thing about living here is the nature. Life is simple and being able to spend time by the lake and in the mountains within minutes of where we live is hard to put a price on. The sunsets and sunrises are the

most breathtaking we have seen.

The Swiss system also views everything through the lens of family life, which makes it easy to plan trips and be active.

Life in 2020 was relatively unchanged. Heavy socialising was not commonplace with a newborn anyway! The biggest difference (and sadness) has been the lack of time that grandparents and family have had with our daughter. The impact of this has grown significantly and my heart goes out to any family in this position. Being confined is

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PAUL THORNTON (RGS 1988-1995) DUBAI

I’ve lived in Dubai since coming to Abu Dhabi in 2007 for a summer of work and staying! As a Civil Engineer, it’s such a great place to live with all the crazy building projects.

My parents split their time between Lindfield and Wexford in Ireland, we keep in touch over Skype and they regularly visit me here. I met up with about 30 Reigatians when the RGS Foundation organised a great reunion bash a few years ago.

The best thing about Dubai is that it’s a great, safe place to bring up my three kids in permanent sunshine. In 2020, there was a strict lockdown that lasted over a month, but things are getting back to normal, though with everyone wearing masks.

What’s the one thing from the UK that I miss the most?

Sunday roasts!

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incredibly hard on grandparents and seeing them on FaceTime – hearing their sadness and frustration – brings home just how important the simple things are and how much family matters.

The reunion will be something epic though!

The things about the UK that I miss the most, apart from family, are definitely the variety of food and places to eat and pubs with sport and locals! A good roast lunch at The Duke with the Six Nations on the TV is sorely missed!

LAWRIE WEBB (RGS 1969-1977) HONG KONG

After finishing school, I wanted to expand my horizons – Manchester University seemed a distant destination at the time! Wishing to explore further, I applied for jobs internationally. After two years of working in Dubai, I arrived in Hong Kong in 1984 – for a two-year assignment – and stayed!

My wife, Vivien, and I have three sons, born in Hong Kong. They went to secondary school in the UK, and to universities in the US. The two older boys are now back in HK, but our youngest son is working in San Francisco. My sister and Mum live not far from Reigate.

My Mum is in a care home and has had no visitors for months so I try to Skype her most days.

I am surprised how many Reigatians there are in HK, which I only found out when Sean Davey made his first trip here in 2012.

The Reigatian I am closest to is Grant Kennedy (’80). We became friends when our sons were

playing rugby together.

One Sunday evening, after years of friendship and after three days of watching the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Grant and I retired to a pub. We talked for the first time about our backgrounds – and discovered our RGS connection!

Until 2020, the best thing about HK was its global connectivity. It is a very international city, is efficient for conducting business and is also extremely safe. And whilst it is highrise living and skyscraper working for most, the sports and outdoor adventure opportunities are amazing.

I’m a keen triathlete and can swim in the sea, cycle outdoors and run on the trails all year round, all on my doorstep. In the summer,

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RYAN YOUNGER (RGS 1983-1991) SINGAPORE

I was transferred to Singapore in 2008, by my old company, to help integrate their commodities business into the bank. Most of my family live near Toulouse in France and we mainly chat using WhatsApp. I used to meet Ben Jones (’94) a lot before he moved to Houston. Over the years I’ve met quite a few Reigatians at various functions here.

The best thing about living here – besides the sunny weather all year round – is the tax rate!

I only wish I’d moved here sooner!

2020 was a difficult year, but Singapore handled the lockdown very well.

The main thing I miss from the UK is log fires!

it’s incredibly hot and humid, but it’s a price worth paying, I think.

Life in 2020 has been difficult.

Luckily, we’ve had very few cases of Covid infections and just a handful of deaths, but there have been restrictions on gatherings and limitations on bars and restaurants and team sports. Everyone wears masks – there is zero dissent about that. It has been a little restrictive and, of course, there has been a large economic impact, but we are luckier than most. The biggest challenge for me is the curtailment of travel. This is by far the longest period I have remained in HK in the 36 years since I arrived.

What do I miss from the UK? Fish ‘n’ chips!

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KARL HACKETT (RGS 1982-1990) PERTH, AUSTRALIA

I’ve lived in Australia, on-and-off, for 12 years (we spent two years in Mozambique in the middle), but in Perth for three.

I was working for Rio Tinto in The Pilbara region of Western Australia, about 1,600km northeast of Perth until 2017. The opportunity came up to move to Perth and we’ve really enjoyed living in the most remote city on

the planet. In 2020… that proved to be an unexpected benefit!

Our family are back in southeast England. Social media is useful for weekly updates, then we have periodic video calls.

The best thing about living here is the weather…and the beaches… and there’s just so much to see in Western Australia (WA). WA is the size of Western Europe, it’s 20 times the size of England so there’s lots to see with vineyards and rolling hills, to the baking desert Outback, all while surrounded by the incredible coastline.

WA shut its borders pretty early in the pandemic and most businesses went into early lockdown. This allowed us to return to near-normalcy quite quickly. The border to the rest of the country was closed and restrictions were in place. It’s fair to say, however, that Perth and WA have probably been the most normal places on Earth.

The thing I miss most is my family and friends. My Mother and her partner were planning on visiting Australia for the first time in April 2020. Sadly, this had to be postponed.

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CHRIS SMEDLEY

(RGS 1978-1985) BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

I’ve lived in Brisbane for 13 years, but I’ve been in Australia for 19 years now. My wife is Australian, and the deal when we got married was that we would raise our kids here!

I met up with other Reigatians at the Sydney gathering in 2014. I knew a few people there, notably Chris Thorpe (’85) who was a friend of mine at school, and we caught up again a couple of years afterwards.

The best thing about living here is the space, the weather and the lifestyle that goes with it, no Brexit and barely any Covid!

What was it like here in 2020? In one word, ‘Lucky!’. Australia has largely escaped lockdowns compared to other countries. Restricted interstate travel has been inconvenient, but life has mostly gone on as normal. Limits on international travel haven’t really affected us yet because we weren’t due to have any trips after several big ones in 2018/19. We don’t work in education, tourism or hospitality, which have been the worst-affected sectors of the economy.

The one thing I miss? Real pubs and real beer!

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(RGS 1973-1980) BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Back in 1989, the UK company I was employed by was opening an office in Sydney, so I jumped at the opportunity and have been here ever since.

My Australian family includes my wife and four daughters. My parents and brother reside in Spain.

We see quite a few Reigatians here when sporting tours are on – Ashes, Lions, Rugby World Cup – but there aren’t many here on a permanent basis.

The best thing about living here is it’s so clean, wages are high and the climate, for nine months of the year, is brilliant. We can sit out in a park and watch footy all day long and kids sport of all types seems to be a national obsession!

I came here as a 26-year-old with no preparation or expectations; it was just an adventure. But 2020 shocked me, I never imagined having to request a permit with extenuating circumstances just to leave the

country. Indeed, life here in 2020 was pretty strange, it felt like we were going through a dress rehearsal before the virus really hit. The buses and trains were empty, the city centres were empty. We’d sit in half-empty restaurants and pubs with very low locally acquired virus cases and were told not to move around and to socially distance.

What do I miss the most? When the sun is out in July you can’t beat the UK countryside. The UK music scene is also fabulous, it’s the most influential in the world for driving new sounds worldwide.

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RAY BUCKETT

(RGS 1961-1966) MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

My partner and I have lived in our current place on the Mornington Peninsula (50kms southeast of Melbourne) for two years.

Of our three sons, one is in Queensland, one in Sydney and the other in Melbourne. The Melbourne family is an hour’s drive away and we see them reasonably often. The others we only see once a year on our drive up to the Gold Coast for our annual holiday. Other than that, we talk regularly via Facebook Messenger or Zoom.

I met up with a few Reigatians in Sydney a few years ago, when a gathering was organised by the Foundation. No-one from my year, but it was great to talk to people 30

NEIL BRETT

from other eras and hear about their time at RGS. One of the great things about living in Australia is the cultural diversity and learning about our indigenous culture.

The weather is another plus!

Life in 2020 was very tough – especially after the second wave hit us. We were subject to very harsh restrictions and a curfew for a while.

There are a couple of things I miss: the atmosphere and history of a good English country pub; my brother and two sisters.

STUART DONALD

(RGS 1977-1978) AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

We have lived in Tauranga for nine years.

I was born and raised in NZ before joining my parents on a posting to England, where my brother and I attended RGS. The highlight was touring British Columbia in 1978 with the rugby team. I then read Agriculture at Reading University before cutting my teeth in large-scale farm management in Brazil. After four years in Brazil and a short return to Reading University, I took a position in Papua New Guinea, before joining an American multinational to start up an agriculture business in Zambia.

That’s where I married Annabel before being transferred to Brazil. After a few years I started my own consultancy business, dealing with foreign investors, in Brazil. The family and I returned to NZ in 2011 and began working for an

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THE REIGATIAN NETWORK RECENT RGS LEAVERS CURRENTLY OVERSEAS

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KATE NORMAN (RGS 2009-2016) SPAIN

Kate is working as a Copy Editor in Spain.

Photo taken in front of the southern gateway to Los Picos de Europa in Castilla y León.

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ED KIDD

(RGS 1990-1998) AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

We have been in Auckland, NZ since late 2005. My wife and I came here on a working holiday visa as I had been given a 12-month contract on a civil engineering project. We liked it so much we never left and in December 2020 we finally became NZ citizens.

All the family are back in the UK and we

international firm developing a global farm investment business. I have been fortunate enough to return regularly to the UK to catch up with friends and other Reigatians.

Our three boys are all at University in various parts of New Zealand. My brother, Martin (’84), lives in Kent. My wife’s family are spread between Zambia, South Africa and the UK. I met up with Mark Elsey (’78) and Graham Price (’80) during the British and Irish Lions tour in 2017, along with Ted Kennedy, who played for Old Reigatians.

We went to the second and third tests and had a great time touring in between, with wives.

NZ is where I was born and raised so it’s good to be back! It’s a great place to experience the outdoors with some varied and dramatic landscapes. The population is small too, so it’s easy to get away from the crowds, it’s safe and the weather is refreshing. The country punches above its weight in most sport and in many areas

keep in touch fairly regularly, but the time difference can be challenging!

We had a small RGS gathering in 2019 with a diverse bunch, which was great.

We will try to meet up again in 2021.

The best thing about living here is the open space and having beautiful beaches on our doorstep. Nothing is ever that busy. There are also great business opportunities and a population that enjoys innovation.

What do I miss? Harveys Bitter

CHARLIE BENNETT (RGS 2010-2017) HOLLAND

Charlie is currently studying for a Masters in Finance at the University of Amsterdam in Holland. Photo taken in front the Royal Palace in Dam Square.

of business, which is a source of pride for a country that can be regarded as isolated.

NZ managed the pandemic well thanks to some sensible leadership presenting clear and practical guidelines to a cooperative public, who appreciates a common-sense approach. This made life in 2020 quite bearable.

The biggest things I miss are the old pubs, sporting events at great grounds like Twickers and Lords, and friends.

GOYA VERITY (RGS 2013-2018) ITALY

Goya is currently studying in Italy as part of her Classics degree at Durham. Photo taken by the statue of the fallen soldier in Piazza Augusto in Bologna where Goya paid her respects on Remembrance Day.

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AWARDS AND HONOURS HEADMASTER, SHAUN FENTON AWARDED OBE

In October 2020, RGS Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, was awarded an OBE for Services to Education – a great honour for him and something for the whole Reigatian community to celebrate.

During Mr Fenton’s career he has

worked in schools serving disadvantaged communities and he was also part of a local authority team sent in to help failing schools. He is the only person in the country to have been Headteacher of a state comprehensive,

a state grammar, an academy and now a leading independent school.

He has been a National Leader of Education, Chair of the Grammar Schools Heads’ Association, Chair of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) and he is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers.

At RGS, he has led the school to multiple awards; pushed hard to develop our bursary campaign and local community partnerships; and had the vision to pioneer our international schools programme.

On receiving news of the award, Mr Fenton immediately pointed out that it is a testament to the talented students, hardworking staff and supportive parents of RGS. He added, “The important thing is the positive experience of children in our care and the impact of our partnership work on the local community.”

Of course, we know Mr Fenton will continue to improve RGS, to push ahead with our sports hall and school theatre plans, to strengthen further our pastoral care, to build our capability for online learning and he has a long and urgent list of areas where he will focus his energy for the good of current and future RGS children for years to come.

CAMBRIDGE TENNIS BLUE FOR JACK WILSON-SMITH

11-10. It was a memorable way to earn his tennis Blue and, with three years left of his engineering degree, Jack hopes to have the opportunity to compete again. Jack said, “I would like to thank Reigate Grammar

School for all its support, especially letting me leave school to train twice a week.

I’m also grateful to Mr Nicholson (RGS staff 1979-to date) for his encouragement and support for school tennis in general”.

Jack Wilson-Smith (RGS 2013-2019) played tennis at RGS for many years and captained the boys’ team in Upper Sixth. Following trials, he was selected to play in Cambridge University’s 1st tennis team, committing to training five days a week, with weekend matches against other universities.

The year builds towards the Varsity match against Oxford in which six players compete in 21 matches – both singles and doubles. Covid resulted in the match being postponed to September and Jack was lucky enough to be selected, having navigated some injuries over the summer.

As the sun set on the second afternoon, they were drawn 10-10, with one doubles match remaining. Jack, playing with the team captain, came back from one set down to win, resulting in success for Cambridge: 32

Jack – back row, third from the left – with his fellow Cambridge University tennis team winners.

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PIVOT FOR PURPOSE AWARD

In November 2020, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains was presented with the inews Pivot for Purpose Corporate Award in recognition of its astounding work – in partnership with University College London – to manufacture 10,000 breathing devices to support the nation’s battle against Covid-19. We’re proud to say that our very own Liam McLean (RGS 2005-2012) was part of the team at Brixworth who reverse-engineered and produced the CPAP units.

After leaving RGS, Liam studied Automotive Design Technology at Sheffield Hallam University. Knowing that he wanted to work in the competitive world of motorsport, he contacted Mercedes in his second year about placement opportunities. His application was successful, and he is now working on projects for next season’s F1 power units, as well as the Project One hybrid hypercar.

“Having completed a placement year in 2015-16 and secured the degree required, I started back at Mercedes in August 2017 as a Build Support Graduate, working on bespoke build tooling and calibration equipment. I had my placement years’ experience to call upon, so I was straight back in at the deep end, being responsible for a number of components that were required at the track and throughout the factory to help the build of these complex power units. It is definitely pressured with deadlines coming along thick and fast for delivery, but I get a bit of a kick out of knowing ‘This needs to be in Bahrain by Tuesday’, to help the teams effort for the race weekend.

I have worked on F1 car power units, but my focus more recently has been part of the development of the Project One hypercar, which involves adapting F1

technology so it can sit in the back of a road car. It has an F1 derived hybrid power unit in it and sounds like an F1 car too. I’m looking forward to finally hearing or seeing one on UK roads.

At Mercedes, it’s always a fast-paced, positive, problem-solving environment, where everyone works as a team. So, when we were challenged to create breathing devices, the attitude was, let’s crack on!

Race season usually starts in March.

The race team had flown to Australia, but as Covid was spreading across the globe and two cases were reported in the paddock, the season was put on hold.

This was when the CPAP project began.

HPP was contacted by UCL to discuss involvement with the CPAP devices.

Meetings started on a Monday, by Tuesday we started reverse engineering. From Tuesday afternoon to Friday evening four of us from my department worked flat out, devising a way to assemble the unit as efficiently and safely as possible. Teams worked on three 24-hour shift patterns, around the clock. It took four weeks from the first discussion to completing 10,000 units.

I would say they were some of the most rewarding weeks of my life. Being a part of race wins and championships is thrilling of course, but everyone was excited to be doing something to contribute to the ongoing Covid effort.

I had no idea that we’d been nominated for the Pivot for Purpose award. We usually have a debrief on a Monday after every race. We were all contacted by the MD to join an online meeting, where he announced the award. Obviously, I’m proud that we won, but it’s just the cherry on top – the real sense of achievement was having confirmation that 10,000 units had been distributed and used successfully.”

TAYLOR WEBER WINS HARVARD FRESHMAN AWARD Sport forms an important part of life at Reigate Grammar School, so when we heard that Taylor Weber (RGS 2012-19), had won Harvard University’s Freshman of the Year Award for her field hockey work, we couldn’t have been more excited!

The Freshman Award is given to the player who has had the most positive impact on the season with her commitment, work rate and attitude on and off the field.

Taylor told us, “Winning this award means so much because it demonstrates the impact I can make on a team off the field. I played less than others, but I didn’t let that keep me from showing up with a positive attitude and a desire to make the team better where I could. It is also special because this award was voted on by all players and coaches.

Everyone who knows me will know that I am absolutely awful at time management, and I suspected before arriving at Harvard that it would be a challenge! At the beginning of the field hockey season, I made it my mission to control all the controllable elements, which included being prompt and reliable. I had to learn to prioritise, be more efficient, and wake up earlier than my teammates, knowing it would take me longer to get ready in the morning or pack my bag for an away game. But I am proud to say that I did it! I wasn’t late for a single practice, video meeting, bus journey, early morning lift, nothing!”

Have you won an award? Or perhaps a friend or relative has, but they’re too shy to tell us! We love to share the successes of our community with others, so email foundation@reigategrammar.org.uk with all the details.

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UNIVERSITY HONOURS 2020 Congratulations to all those who graduated in 2020 and we wish you all the very best of luck with your future careers. Don’t forget to join the RGS Professionals group on LinkedIn for networking, connectivity and support in a variety of sectors.

 Reigate Grammar School Professionals Melvyn Ali (RGS 2011-2016) University of Kent Electronics and Communications Engineering BSc 1st

Lucy Coyle (RGS 2009-2014) University of Oxford Classics BA 1st

Sophie Gunning (RGS 2015-2017) University of Oxford History BA 1st

Dan Beasley (RGS 2007-2014) Imperial College School of Medicine Medicine MBBS BSc (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with BSc in Pharmacology) 1st Class, MBBS with Distinction in Medicine

Alexa Dewar (RGS 2010-2017) University of Plymouth Law LLB (Hons) 1st

James Hawrych (RGS 2009-2016) University of Oxford Engineering Science MEng 2:1

Sam Dukes (RGS 2010-2017) University of Nottingham Politics and Economics BA 2:1

Emma James (RGS 2010-2017) University of Reading Human Geography BSc (Hons) 1st

Oliver Edwards (RGS 2008-2015) University of Bath Chemical Engineering MEng 2:2

Pankaj Lal (RGS 2010-2017) University of Manchester History with Economics BA 1st

George Elliston (RGS 2010-2017) Durham University Law LLB 2:1

Charles Lee (RGS 2010-2017) Durham University Physics BSc (Hons) 1st

Billy Elliston (RGS 2010-2017) University of Nottingham Economics BSc 2:1

Cat Lynn (RGS 2009-2016) University of Edinburgh History MA (Hons) 2:1

Niamh Brown (RGS 2015-2017) University of Birmingham Philosophy BA (Hons) 1st

Romy Evans (RGS 2009-2016) King’s College London Biomedical Sciences BSc (Hons) 1st

Cameron Martin (RGS 2012-2017) University of Leeds Geography BA 2:1

Matthew Chippendale (RGS 2008-2015) University of Bath Chemical Engineering MEng (Hons) 1st

Kate Fedrick (RGS 2014-2017) University of Exeter Zoology BSc 2:2

Olly Massey (RGS 2009-2016) University of Exeter Economics BSc 1st

Chris Colacchio (RGS 2008-2015) Newcastle University Geography BA 2:1

Michaela Gaston (RGS 2011-2016) University of Birmingham Clinical Anatomy (intercalated) BSc 1st

Ailie McGilligan (RGS 2010-2017) Durham University Psychology BSc 1st

Louisa Collier (RGS 2009-2016) University of Exeter Physics MPhys 1st

Joe Gregory (RGS 2010-2017) University of East Anglia Chemistry BSc 2:1

Jen McKendrick (RGS 2009-2016) University of Edinburgh International Relations MA (Hons) 2:1

Charlie Bennett (RGS 2010-2017) University of York Economics and Finance BSc 1st George Blackburn (RGS 2010-2017) University of Nottingham Microbiology BSc (Hons) 2:1 Sam Brill (RGS 2009-2016) University of Exeter Law LLB (Hons) 2:1 Hugo Brown (RGS 2012-2017) University of Southampton Modern History and Politics BA 2:1

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CLASS OF 2020 RESULTS Despite a difficult final year, over 97% of the Class of 2020 received offers to Russell Group, Oxbridge or medical school. The average grade profile for RGS students is AAA and A* and A*/A grades were up again even compared to last year’s record-breaking set of results.

Gaia Moroni (RGS 2009-2016) University of Bristol French and Russian BA (Hons) 2:1

River Sparkes (RGS 2009-2016) University of Warwick Mathematics MMath 1st

Lucy Moyle (RGS 2011-2016) University of Exeter Economics and Politics with industrial experience BSc 1st

Dan Studholme (RGS 2009-2016) University of Exeter Accounting and Finance BSC (Hons) 2:1

Christian Newman (RGS 2008-2015) University of Warwick Project and Programme Management MSc Merit Kate Norman (RGS 2009-2016) University of Exeter English Literature and Modern Languages (Spanish) BA 2:1 Lucas Overtoom (RGS 2010-2017) University of Exeter Business and Accounting BSc 2:1 Alexander Pangalos (RGS 2010-2017) King’s College London Politics BA (Hons) 1st Rhiannon Potts (RGS 2014-2016) University of St Andrews Geography MA (Hons) Scottish equivalent of BA 1st Olivia Prophet (RGS 2009-2016) University of Leeds Classical Civilisation BA 2:1 James Reynolds (RGS 2009-2016) University of Liverpool Aerospace Engineering MEng 2:1 Ananya Sengupta (RGS 2009-2016) University of Nottingham Physics and Philosophy BSc Joint Honours 2:1

Harry Swann (RGS 2010-2017) University of York Economics BSc 2:1 Alice Timmons (RGS 2010-2017) University of Exeter History BA (Hons) 2:1 William Triggs (RGS 2010-2017) University of York Economics BSc 2:1 Finlay Walker Long (RGS 2008-2015) University of Leicester Aerospace Engineering MEng 1st Lucas Webb (RGS 2010-2017) University of Exeter Economics BSc 1st Maddy Withers (RGS 2010-2017) University of Oxford Music BA 2:1

UNIVERSITY HONOURS SUPPLEMENTARY YEARS GRADUATED IN 2019 Alfie Edwards (RGS 2009-2016) University of Sheffield Human Geography BA 2:1 Hannah Garmston (RGS 2009-2016) University of Liverpool Physiotherapy BSc 2:1 Oliver Hangartner (RGS 2008-2015) Loughborough University International Business MSc Merit Aayushi Sharma (RGS 2009-2016) University of York Economics BSc 2:1 GRADUATED 2018 Oliver Hangartner (RGS 2008-2015) Loughborough University English Literature BA 2:1 Megan Hanlan (RGS 2006-2013) University of Glasgow Spanish and Latin MA Philip Pangalos (RGS 2007-2014) Henley Business School, University of Reading Marketing (Digital Marketing) Masters Alistair Luckman (RGS 2008-2015) Newcastle University Politics BA 2:1

Thank you to all those who shared their results. We endeavour to obtain as many university honours as possible.

If you did not appear in this year’s list and would like to feature in a future edition, please let us know. Email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

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FEATURES

ROB PIERRE BE THE CHANGE! Whether it’s work, family, golf or philanthropy, ‘be the change’ is the ethos that underpins every aspect of RGS parent, Rob Pierre’s life. As CEO of award-winning digital marketing company, Jellyfish, his passion and drive show no sign of diminishing. But his journey has not been a simple one...

Schooled by priests in the West Indies

Rob (pictured left) with his younger brother Kenric, who drowned when he was nine.

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My Dad was from Trinidad and was in the Royal Air Force – he met my Mum while stationed in the UK. I was born in Chertsey Hospital, and we lived in Woking, but moved to Trinidad when I was four.

So, from four to 14, I lived in Trinidad.

I attended Briggs Prep School, followed

by St Mary’s College, which was known as ‘CIC’ (College of the Immaculate Conception), where I was taught by priests. Trinidad is a small island and the perception is that to make your mark on the world, you need an education.

My parents split up when I was 14 and I returned to the UK. When I joined the Third Form at St Bede’s I felt like I was ahead of everyone else, so I just cruised. Bear in mind that my peers had been together for years and here I was from the West Indies with the strongest Trinidadian accent! Ironically, when I went back to Trinidad, everyone thought I had a strong British accent, so neither side treated me like it was home.

Some of my best friends today didn’t talk to me because they didn’t understand me. My core group of friends from St Bede’s are still my core group of friends today.

I was quite artistic and loved problemsolving. Any subjects that required me to

read and retain information weren’t great.

I often joke that I’m like a computer: my processing chip is okay, but my hard drive is terrible! I have to keep dumping information to make space for more.

When things don’t go to plan!

I didn’t know what I wanted to do – possibly something around animation, robotics or computing. We didn’t have a lot of money, but then I saw a Computer Studies degree course at Portsmouth, where IBM paid you to study for three years, with a guaranteed job at the end. Places were highly sought after, but I completed the application form and made it through to the two-day assessment, which was like the most aggressive episode of The Apprentice!

The smartest people congregated at IBM HQ for aptitude tests, role playing, group sessions and interviews. It was tough, but I was accepted. I told my friends and family that my life was on track… then failed my Physics A level and the offer was withdrawn.

I had to figure out what to do next! I looked at studying Computer Graphics at Ravensbourne but needed to have done a foundation course. It was too late to apply to Reigate Art College, so I figured I’d take a year out. I went to Gatwick Airport looking for a job and ended up at Sunglass Hut.

Managing the world’s number one store, aged 21

My job at Sunglass Hut was all about problem-solving and motivating a team to care about what they were doing.

By the time I was 21, I was Manager of the departure lounge store at North Terminal – I enjoyed selling, loved KPIs and started to explore scientific ways to improve performance. I loved playing computer games, and could apply the same principles – of testing, analysing and refining my strategy – to work. I started achieving great results, with the North Terminal outlet becoming the number one store in the world out of 2,200.

But if I saw my job at Sunglass Hut as a stop-gap job – and I was the manager – how did those working for me see it?

To motivate my team, I put lots of different initiatives in place. We had league tables based on the volume or the value of the glasses they sold. We explored how to change the store displays based on the different flights that were coming through.

I looked at who was good at what: a more artistic person would merchandise the store; a good salesperson would be on the shop floor in peak times and would train others to sell; a natural organiser would have responsibility for inventory control.

The pivotal moment was when the area manager was sent to fire me because I wouldn’t work in the proscribed way.

Instead, I explained my rationale for working the way I did and ended up being sent to Miami to share my strategy with the President. The meeting went well and by the time I was 25, I was European Sales and Operations Director!

From Sunglass Hut to Jellyfish

In the late ‘90s, the President of Sunglass Hut, who was Australian, went to work at Brazen, which owned Sanity, which bought Our Price in the UK. He made me Managing Director of Sanity UK, but they sent over a new COO from Australia – we didn’t see eye-to-eye and within six months I left.

I went to work with an entrepreneur in Southampton who owned a motorcycle and mobile phone accessory manufacturing and distribution business, as well as a chain of mobile phone accessory stores. Here I learned the sharp end of business.

While he was a multi-millionaire, he was a self-proclaimed market trader at heart, so this was quite an agile, innovative role.

By the time I was nearing 30, many of my friends were getting married and there was an endless round of stag dos! I kept

“People ask about my work-life balance, but to me there’s just life! There are a bunch of things at work that I don’t enjoy doing, but equally, there are things I have to do outside of work that are a bit of a chore! All I’m always doing is prioritising life.” bumping into Paul Walsh (RGS parent), who was already engaged in digital marketing at the company he founded, Avondale IT. Our conversations often turned to business and I liked his passion.

Finally, we met at the Abbot Pub in Redhill, waiting for a train to another stag do in London – by the end of the journey, I said to Paul, ‘Okay, let’s do it!’ I will always be grateful for his persistence. I am also grateful to the original Avondale IT angel investors who sold me the majority of their shareholding: Kevin Uphill, Tim Hardman (both RGS 1981-86), Denise Uphill and Paul Uphill.

In 2005, we consolidated the business to focus on digital marketing, rebranding as Jellyfish.

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The Jellyfish leadership team

The Jellyfish vision

At Jellyfish, we encourage everyone to own their career like it’s a hobby. Why do I find the time to golf? Because it’s my passion, and my handicap is the way I calibrate my success. But how do I get better? No-one else is responsible for helping me get better – it’s my hobby!

So, I practise, get a coach, watch YouTube videos, play with better players. At Jellyfish, we encourage people to take full responsibility and accountability for their growth. They create the tangible KPIs that demonstrate their success.

Progression is all evidence based, taking out all the subconscious bias. It’s about putting forward a business case outlining what you’ve done and the outcome.

Traditional hierarchical management structures keep people down, where your only chance of promotion is if someone above you leaves, and where managers are concerned about colleagues displacing them, or being more innovative or smarter than them. And we get the benefit, because we’ve dealt with this challenge at the core.

We don’t have ‘Heads of...’, so we don’t have to lose our senior people to bring others in. Everyone owns their careers – you put a business case about your value exchange and get a vertical line of progression.

We have career stages, but we can have multiple people in each career stage.

So, instead of one Head of Global, we have a steering group, which gives more 38

My car number plate is ‘9KAP’ and I often get asked, ‘Rob, if you’re going to have a personalised plate, why don’t you have your initials?’. But it’s in memory of my brother, Kenric Anthony Pierre, who drowned when he was nine.

I was just eleven and was in the water with him. I don’t know how much that has impacted me, but undoubtedly it has.”

people the opportunity to get to that next level. It means we have cognitive and cultural diversity. Not to mention an environment where everyone works to their superpower.

What’s your superpower?

‘Superpower’ is a term we use a lot at Jellyfish and it’s very defined. It’s something you do on a day-to-day basis, where you can rate yourself eight or above out of 10 on five things: skill, knowledge, experience, aptitude and passion. Your aptitude means you can continue to get better; your passion means you will love it, do it and won’t consider it a job; your knowledge and experience are applied; and if you’re brilliant in all of those areas, I want you

doing that thing 95% of the time. And I’ll put you back-to back with someone who has a different superpower. It’s all about formation and knowing what part you play, and the value you bring to the collective goal.

The challenges of 2020

Jellyfish is evolving, and while we’re nothing like we were when we were six people in a small office in Reigate, our ethos is the same.

Within Reigate, we have 120 people, plus the spin-off, Infinity... we’ve hit 1,400 people globally and that’s soon to increase.

Jellyfish occupies one of the buildings on the one-way system in Reigate and, importantly, we have a good reputation.

With the pandemic, 2020 has required me to be a philanthropist, entrepreneur, philosopher, activist, politician, medical expert – it’s unbelievable what’s been expected of a business leader in these times. With Covid-19, Black Lives Matter, diversity and inclusion... my social responsibilities have been amplified.

You really learn about your community in a crisis. Some people couldn’t fulfil their role because they had children at home, others were working remotely. We knew we couldn’t have everyone using their holiday allocation in November and December, so we ran a holiday donation scheme, giving days to a pool that could be shared with those who couldn’t work through that period. We had over 700 days donated.

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FEATURES

Top left: The Sunglass Hut days...

Right: Rob with wife Lisa, daughter Ria and son Marley and bottom left: With some St Bede’s friends.

Skills for the future

It’s difficult to prepare students for the careers and skills needed in the next five years. Especially in the digital marketing space, the river is flowing so quickly with innovation and change, that there are no veterans! What’s important is having the fundamental problem-solving skills, and a foundation of knowledge. But if you have the right skills, mindset, dedication and passion, you can jump in and compete.

At Jellyfish, we ask for four core values: to be positive, passionate, be the solution and be accountable. Even if someone has had a difficult boss, it’s about their response to that – do they say, ‘poor me’ or do they talk about how they used this as an opportunity to learn and grow?

Passion doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room. If someone quietly said, “I love Google marketing and have 10,000 followers on my blog”, they’ve demonstrated passion.

What about life beyond Jellyfish?

There’s no way I can answer that! My ambition is to make Jellyfish one of the top three global marketing communication companies in the world within three to five years – by number of people, revenue and the level of global brands we work with. I still have the passion and capability to lead the business on this journey.

I’m safeguarding the future of Jellyfish by divesting responsibility to those whose

superpowers make them better at various aspects than me. What I’m left with is the bit I’m great at, so how can I not be successful and add value?

Family and philanthropy

Talking about philanthropy is my most challenging subject – for me it’s just something you do. For communities to survive, people need to identify any privileges they have and see how they can use this to support others.

I’m privileged that my children can enjoy all the opportunities that Reigate Grammar has to offer. So, much as you might offset your carbon footprint by planting trees, if I can put my kids through school, can I also put two more children through the school?

As a family, we agreed that when we buy something decadent, we put the exact same amount to a good cause. It’s important to me that my children grow up understanding privilege and embracing a culture of community.

I have a controversial opinion on the meaning of generosity. My feeling is that if you don’t have to sacrifice anything, you’re not generous. I might be thoughtful and kind, but I’m not generous. I didn’t give my family’s holiday money to the homeless and say, ‘We’re not having a holiday this year, because these people need that money more than we do’.

It might not resonate with people, but

I won’t be revered for being generous.

It’s like Bill Gates – it’s admirable that he gave $589m last year, but his net worth is still over $100b! Then you have people like Jenny Raynor, who runs a local Redhill-based charity supporting mental health and bereaved families – she takes a minimal salary and dedicates all her time.

She’s generous.

I have a different path – to build a great business and help a lot of families – but I won’t be compared to those who do so much more.

We have an incredible community at Reigate Grammar, and no-one needs to apologise for what they have, but we should recognise our privilege and use it to affect positive change. I couldn’t be happier to have my children at the school and feel confident that they will emerge with all the core values and ethics that RGS instils.

RGS is hugely grateful to Rob and his Jellyfish team for their support in creating a virtual tour of the school, capturing videos from our Inspiring Minds events and developing the new Reigate Grammar School community App. 39

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KEEP UP TO DATE WITH REIGATIAN COMMUNITY NEWS Members of the Reigatian community can now download the new Reigate Grammar School app for on-the-go, up-to-date information, stories and resources.

The RGS app provides an interactive mobile platform that enables you to:

• Connect with other members of the Reigatian community • Receive information about school and RGS Foundation news and events • Join live-streamed RGS events, such as the Remembrance Day service • Tailor your news feed to receive Reigatian community information • Receive push notifications about upcoming Foundation activities • Sign up to attend events

Intrigued to see how RGS has changed since you were last here? Take an interactive tour of the school through the app!

To access the app, simply scan the QR code and set up your account, indicating whether you are a parent or a member of the Reigatian community.

For the Reigatian community – encompassing current parents, former students and their parents, staff, governors and friends of RGS – the app enables you to stay up-to-date with the latest news, all at your fingertips.

Sincere thanks go to Rob Pierre (current parent) and the Jellyfish team for their outstanding support for RGS and the Foundation in developing this app.

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Access the RGS app today!

Alternatively, the RGS app is available on the App Store and Google Play

FLYING HIGH When James Reader (RGS 1987-1992) attended his Silver Reunion in 2019, his love for the school was reignited. We recently caught up with James to see how 2020 has been for him and heard a bit about his career journey, too...

R

ather than head to university after A levels, I decided that the desire to travel, and my love of aviation, was too strong! My first job was in the sales department of United Airlines at their London Heathrow HQ. From there I took a leap of faith and joined the commissionorientated world of exhibition space sales, for the organiser of an airport show that still runs today: Passenger Terminal Expo.

I had found my niche! I quickly worked my way up to Exhibition Director. From there, I went on to launch further exhibitions in the airline and automotive industries.

After 10 years working for a medium-size business in Dorking, I moved to London and joined the world’s largest exhibition organiser at the time, Reed Exhibitions

(RELX). In 2009 it was time to launch my own business. With the backing of an industry mentor, I launched Smarter Shows – at the height of the global credit crunch!

A more challenging backdrop to launching a business I can only imagine might be this current pandemic!

Over a 10-year period I grew the business from three employees to nearly 50, and launched eight leading international tradeshows. I sold parts of my business in 2016 and 2018 before agreeing a staged sale of the rest of the business in 2019. I remain on the board as nonexecutive Chairman.

Aviation has always been my passion and in 2005 I got my pilots licence and I’m now an instrument-rated pilot IR(r) with my

own hangar at Shoreham airport. I’m the proud owner of several aircraft, including a Citation Mustang business jet! I have been truly lucky and definitely feel like I’m living my best life!

2020 has been the most challenging year on record for most of us. Personally, and professionally, it has posed so many challenges. I’m still involved in the exhibition industry as Chairman and I mentor other business leaders. I have spent most of the last 12 months working as an angel investor for some start-up ventures that caught my eye! I always appreciate the spirit of entrepreneurialism.

As tough as it has been (and still is), I’m confident that once we get through this, we will bounce back brighter, more successful in what we do and better placed to be happy.

We would like to thank James for his support of the Changing Lives campaign 41

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FEATURES

MY MEMORIES OF DR KAREL KORNELL (RGS STAFF 1969-1985)

As people around the world marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, former student, Rohan Hemingway (RGS 1977-1984) was moved to share his recollections of a teacher who left a positive mark on his life.

L

ike many pupils at Reigate Grammar, my first experience of Dr Kornell was to see him standing outside the Cornwallis Building, beside his white VW Beetle, smoking a cheroot. In the Sixth Form I took additional curriculum lessons on European Politics, where I developed a particular friendship with Karel due to a twoweek visit, in 1982, to see my grandmother in his homeland of Czechoslovakia. On my return, he was very interested in my experiences and the impact of Soviet occupation on the day-to-day life of his people. I had been staying in Klimentska, the old Jewish district of Prague, which he knew well and was able to share the experiences of the family I had stayed with and those of an Auschwitz survivor Lottie Feigeova.

He was particularly interested in her story.

It was when I was discussing her experiences, he revealed that his parents and sister had been murdered in the Holocaust.

Escape from Czechoslovakia

Karel wrote an interesting biography in 1986, called I am a Czech (ISBN 0 863321755).

He kindly gave me a copy not long before his death, which gives a fascinating account of his life and resistance to totalitarians, both fascist and communist.

Karel was the son of Arthur, a Czech lawyer and former Austro-Hungarian military judge in Trieste, and Eliska, a farmer’s daughter from southern Bohemia.

They met at her sister’s wedding and within the year Karel was born (1920).

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He had a happy childhood. His sister Alena was born in 1926.

He developed a keen interest in politics and, through his father’s contacts, was able to meet important politicians of the day.

While on a skiing holiday in 1933, he came across his first Nazi on the opposite side of the Czech-German border. Karel finished the equivalent of A levels in 1939 and soon after, Germany occupied Czechoslovakia.

He began resisting the occupation by organising demonstrations, which brought him to the attention of the Nazis. This led his family to suggest he flee abroad. His first experience of Nazi brutality was when he was beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs by a Gestapo official for requesting a Durchlassschein, an exit permit, from the Bohemian Protectorate. In the process, he lost his passport and had brought himself to the attention of the authorities.

His father sent him to the countryside to ‘disappear’ while he arranged the retrieval of the passport and obtained both a Durchlassschein and a British visa.

His father’s contacts, including one of Himmler’s former secretaries, helped Karel to escape Czechoslovakia, via Berlin’s Tempelhof Airfield. He flew to Amsterdam, then to Britain, arriving at Croydon Airfield in July 1939.

The fate of Arthur Kornell

Karel had some knowledge of the fate of his father, but knew little of what became of his mother and sister.

Arthur Kornell, born 1 December 1885 in Raudnitz, was one of 956 Czech men and women who were arrested on 1 September 1939. Most were released, but Arthur was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar where he continued to resist by organising lectures and talks for other inmates. Arthur took his fate in his hands when he wrote to Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, Konstantin von Neurath, to request a trial in court. State Secretary, Karl Frank, intercepted the letter and sent Arthur to Dachau with the letters marked ‘RU’, meaning ‘return undesirable’.

He arrived on 24 October 1940 and was put to work, but broke his glasses, rendering him almost blind and obviously vulnerable. After the war, Karel met two inmates of Dachau, but they would not tell him exactly how his father had died.

Arthur’s ashes were returned to Karel’s mother with the notice of death listing pneumonia and blood poisoning, (the Dachau records state ‘failure of the cardiovascular system’). The camp records state that he died at 2.45pm on 10 January

“Karel’s first experience of Nazi brutality was when he was beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs by a Gestapo official...”

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1941. His money was confiscated on 21 October 1941 and his remaining property was confiscated on 24 November 1941.

Karel’s Mother and sister arrive at Auschwitz

Documents have only recently been released that explain the suffering of Karel’s Mother, Eliska Kornellova, born 4 August 1893, and sister, Alena Kornellova, born 17 April 1926 (-ova is added to surnames in Czechoslovakia if the person is female). On 8 July 1943, they were sent from Prague to Terezin – Theresienstadt (Transport Dh, no 145) – a concentration camp and a ghetto in the north of the Protectorate.

At 2pm, on 6 September 1943 (Transport Dl, no 1116), they were among 2,479 people transferred from Bauschowitz Station to Auschwitz. The journey took three days in crammed cattle cars without food or water.

They were not murdered straight away but were kept in section BIIb in what was known as the ‘Theresienstadt family camp’ of Auschwitz-Birkenau. There is a work card for Alena Kornell stating her occupation as a photographer, prison number 58943.

There is no work card for her mother.

Of the 2,479 people on the Dl transport, 38 survived. They were given numbers between 58,471 and 61,183 which were

tattooed on the forearm. (Dina Babbitt, known as the ‘Artist of Auschwitz’, who married Art Babbitt – the creator of Disney’s Goofy, was in the same group and is the source of much information of the experience in BIIb. She managed to survive because she was an incredible portrait artist who Dr Mengele used to draw portraits for his studies. She gave an interview on life in the camp shortly before she died which is available on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website, ushmm.org).

Section BIIb was under the control of Corporal Fritz Buntrock, ‘the Bulldog’.

He employed German criminals to keep the inmates under control and was himself one of those supervising the gas chambers.

Known for his exceptional cruelty, he was executed on 24 January 1948 in Krakow after the first Auschwitz trial.

Conditions in the section were unhygienic and muddy with daily roll calls taking place in all weather. Only about 25% of the September arrivals survived until February 1944. The survivors were then told they were being relocated to better accommodation in Heydebreck. This was part of the ruse in which they had been writing letters back to the Theresienstadt camp to hoodwink inspections by the Red Cross and to reassure other inmates.

By March, they were no longer required and were separated from new arrivals on the night of 8/9 March 1944. Many suspected the truth because they had been forced to write postcards dated 25 March to send back to relatives in Theresienstadt.

A potential rebellion was thwarted when the section’s resistance leader, Alfred Hirsch, was found dead. Leaderless, the survivors of the September transport were loaded onto trucks. The ruse would have been shattered when the trucks transporting them turned towards the gas chambers and not towards the main gate.

The women were driven to Crematorium II and men to Crematorium III. The Sonderkommando prisoners reported that they sang the Czech national anthem, the Hatikvah and the Internationale before entering the gas chambers. In total, 3,791 or 3,792 people were gassed and cremated.

Their ashes were thrown in the Vistula River, scattered nearby or used as compost. This is the most likely outcome for the two women.

Karel did not appear to know anything other than they had died during the Holocaust but, sadly, he may have unwittingly heard of their fate on the radio when, on 16 June 1944, the BBC European Service reported, with some inaccuracy, that “Four thousand Czech Jews who were taken from Theresienstadt to Birkenau in September 1943 were massacred in the gas chambers on 7 March”.

Karel settles in the UK

In his book, Karel recounts how he attempted to become a soldier to continue to resist the occupation and liberate his family, but his services were not required by either the British or Czech forces – a matter that hurt him greatly. Instead, he was installed in the Czechoslovakian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in London and took some nights as a firewatcher at St Paul’s Cathedral.

After the war, Karel returned to Prague to find what remained of his pre-war life and family. He worked for the press offices in the British and American Embassies in a ‘Tinker, Taylor’ sort of way, not knowing a senior was working for the StB/KGB. Karel left Czechoslovakia after the Russian invasion in 1968 with the help of the British Ambassador but his failure to return meant the confiscation of his property in Prague.

He settled in the UK and became the Economics teacher I knew at Reigate.

He gained the nickname ‘Chopper’ for his jocular threat to karate chop offenders, in a Roger Moore fashion, for misbehaviour in his lessons. On one occasion, during a mock examination, he appeared to invigilate brandishing a bull whip which he cracked a few times. So taken with his frolic, he didn’t realise that tables had been stacked against the stage and he crashed among them. The whip flew in a high arc and landed among the students whose concentration was shattered as he was helped back to his feet. He was one of the great characters of Reigate Grammar and was sorely missed when he passed away, on 14 May 1988, soon after his retirement.

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TALKING ABOUT MY GENERATION How much has changed at RGS since the 1980s? We caught up with current Head Girl, Jess, and her Dad Chris Bates (RGS 1980-1988) and Head Boy, Charlie, and his Dad, Steve Jenner (RGS 1978-1986) to see how their experiences of school compare.

What were your highlights?

Chris: RGS was a different place when I was there – predominantly because it was all boys up to Sixth Form. But also because people come from much further afield now – there was one bus from Horsham in my day! Most of my memories revolve around sport, with rugby in winter and cricket in summer. The friendships are the most important thing I took away.

Every morning, Martin Russell (RGS staff 1975-2019) ran a basketball club, which people from across the school could attend – it was a great way of gelling together students from different year groups.

Steve: I agree that it feels very different now, especially with the academic pressure on students, but that’s what we all aspire to. In my day we had boys with wider academic abilities, and fees were around £1,500 a year, which was a lot at the time.

My father had died when I was younger and my Mum was working as a nurse and it was a real stretch for her to send me and my brother to RGS, but it was absolutely the making of us. Like Chris, the highlights are the friendships I made. I’m still in touch with a lot of my school friends, which becomes more important the older we get. Most of my friendships were founded through sport – the school has always had a strong rugby pedigree. I played a lot of rugby and Chris and I were both 1st XV captains. And then Old Reigatians RFC has been a big part my life, having played there for ten years, then coached minis and juniors for another 14! Like Chris, early morning basketball was an absolute hoot!

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Charlie: My highlights come from sport and the atmosphere which creates – the team that you spend so much time with – you build a close bond. There are a lot of good memories from rugby – we’ve never been quite as successful as in Dad’s era, but a lot of my best memories come from that. Jess and I had an hilarious time in Wales doing our Duke of Edinburgh Award. Those are the sort of experiences that I’ll never forget.

Jess: Oh, DofE! It rained for five days straight, but no-one cared that we were soaked and looking awful... it was nothing but laughter! The people at RGS are the best – we were in the middle of Wales, with nothing but each other, and had a fantastic week. I’ve loved playing netball – spending so much time with my teammates – training and going to matches – that’s what I’ve missed most in 2020. The people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made are the highlights for me.

How different do you think RGS is now?

Chris: It was strange to turn up on Jess’s first day and bump into Martin Russell and get embroiled in a conversation, forgetting that I had my little girl standing there!

Jess: I actually really like the fact that I had a connection to the school already, albeit a long time ago! It’s great that we can compare experiences and teachers and we all love listening to Dad’s stories and hearing what’s changed. Dad was obviously quite good at school, which makes it easier! I haven’t actually been taught by any of the teachers he had, but I see them in the corridors and my brother, sister and I are all called ‘Batesy’!

Steve: I was pleased that my boys could go to RGS. I was surprised by the number of teachers who were still here!

Charlie: Like Jess I really enjoyed having a prior connection to the school – it almost

Charlie with his Dad, Steve Jenner (RGS 1978-1986)

felt special! For me, with my brother Joe in the year above, that connection was much more recent which meant a lot of my teachers already knew what to expect. Thankfully Joe left a good impression which I hope I didn’t tarnish!

Any favourite subjects and teachers?

Chris: I loved Economics, which had a great department with Geoff Simpson (RGS staff 1980-1991), who I still keep in touch with, and John Manfield (RGS staff 1979-2010), who was a huge influence both in the classroom and on the sports field. André Genillard (RGS staff 19861997) was my Form Teacher. They were all great fun. I had Dai Bader (RGS staff 1982-2019) for Maths from Second Form – his first job, I think – and he really knocked me into shape. For sport, Alan Reid (RGS staff 1971-2017), Andrew Whiteley (RGS staff 1978-2015) and Stuart Nicholson

(RGS staff 1979-to date) were a huge influence. Likewise, David Jones (RGS staff 1975-2013) for cricket – I think we had 25+ 1st XI fixtures in our final year.

Steve: Along with all the names mentioned, I was stronger in the sciences, so Allan Sims (RGS staff 1964-2001), Dai Griffiths (RGS staff 1949-1984), Alan Clarke (RGS staff 1973-1989), Dr Kathryn Knapp (RGS staff 1973-2004) for Chemistry – I always thought it was cool to be taught by someone whose name was on the text book! I loved doing Latin in the earlier years with the absolute legend that was Aubs Scrase (RGS staff 1955-1995). We didn’t appreciate at the time how much people like DJ – who was involved with everything – used to do across the school. I have fond memories of the old blue Sea Scout double-decker bus that Martin Russell used to drive for basketball games; coming back late at night and stopping off for fish ‘n’ chips. Going down the M25 was an experience given that the back was open!

How do you think your experiences differ?

Chris: Being co-educational is the biggest difference – this makes the school a bit softer. Whilst I was lucky because I loved sport, I have friends who weren’t into rugby who spent two winter terms having to play sports they didn’t like.

Jess: I’ve loved my time at RGS and Dad did too, so from that perspective, we had similar experiences. There are so many opportunities to get involved in different things, so while those opportunities might be different, that’s the common theme.

I did more in my earlier years. In fact the one thing I wish I’d carried on with is drama – the productions are incredible and Dad loves coming back to watch these.

Steve: I think Charlie has had to work a lot harder. The school’s a very different place, but I’ve been very pleased with what it’s given both of my boys. Charlie and his friends will be going out into the

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The PE department interviewed the Bates family during the spring/summer 2020 lockdown – listen to the podcast at spoti.fi/2LS4x9j.

Chris Bates (RGS 1980-1988) with daughter, Jess

world as well-educated, well-rounded and respectful individuals. I’m glad I was able to give my children the same springboard that RGS gave me in terms of both education and confidence.

Charlie: RGS is more diverse in terms of what people are offered. Sport is still a big thing, but it’s no longer the only thing!

People do so many different activities, be it music or drama, and I think this has a big impact. The stories Dad tells are similar to my own – so I think RGS has kept its culture.

Being Head Boy and Head Girl

Steve: I’m hugely proud that Charlie was elected Head Boy and think Charlie and Jess have done an outstanding job of representing the school and their fellow pupils in these difficult times. The early video shoots from home were a learning curve for us all, but now Charlie has it all in hand.

Jess: Obviously it’s been different, given that there have been no events. But we’ve 46

written and recorded a lot of speeches.

Though being positive when it hasn’t been a great year for some people is a sensitive balance.

Chris: The process was different in my day, where you were appointed. I was asked to go and see the Headmaster and my heart sank, but thankfully Peter Lee (RGS 1981-1988) was given the top job!

He had to give this huge speech on Speech Day. He was my height and build and afterwards we were loitering around and several Governors came up to me and said, “Great speech!” I said “Thanks!” while grinning at Pete! I’m thrilled for both Jess and Charlie – it’s a just reward for their efforts all the way through the school.

Charlie: It has been tricky trying to fill the role virtually but, in many ways, that’s created a lot of opportunities. With events like the Remembrance Service and Carols by Candlelight, producing videos gave everyone a chance to be much more creative – being a part of that process was a lot of fun.

How do you feel about this being your final year?

Charlie: I’m sad about leaving, but grateful that we’ve been able to be in school continuously for the whole autumn term.

This is such an achievement. Everyone has followed the guidelines and been so careful – and shown such maturity, especially the younger years. I’m excited for the next chapter now, but don’t have any concrete plans.

Jess: I can still remember arriving in the First Year and thinking I don’t know anyone and how would I survive in this big school!

I can’t believe how quickly the last seven years have gone. I’m lucky that my brother and sister are here, so I’ll still hear what’s happening. But the good thing about our school is that we’ll always have a link through the Foundation.

Have several generations of your family attended RGS? Let us know by emailing foundation@reigategrammar.org.

OUTBACK ADVENTURE

ROB JASPER (RGS 1999-2006)

When the pandemic put a halt to international travel, Rob Jasper seized the opportunity to explore Australia’s remote Northern Territories from his home in Queensland.

A

t the start of 2020, myself and my wife Brittany moved from Sydney to sunny Queensland, however

by April, we understood the seriousness of the global pandemic.

As the weeks passed with no end to lockdown in sight, we looked out the window at Vinny the Vee-Dub (a Volkswagen Transporter) and decided that now was the time to convert it into a campervan.

I enlisted the help of my brother-in-law and his carpenter friend, deciding on a design over beers and pizza in a truly Aussie way. Before we knew it, we were ripping out the back of the van (doing our best to avoid some questionable wiring).

Within a couple of weeks the Vee-Dub was complete with roll-out kitchen, floating bookshelf and a ridiculously comfy mattress (deemed essential by my wife).

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By August we were ready and the Northern Territory border was open again.

Our plan was to work our way through rural Queensland and into the Northern Territory where we would visit both the rugged Kakadu National Park and the spiritual Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock).

Our first stop was Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland’s central highlands, with towering sandstone cliffs, unique wildlife and incredible Aboriginal rock art.

We camped under the stars and, for the first time in months, were able to breathe deeply and relax. The National Park was begging to be explored so we hiked a trail that ran through a narrow gorge, spotting platypuses, echidnas, wallabies and kangaroos.

Next up was Lawn Hill in northern Queensland. We naively assumed that

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FEATURES

all roads across rural Australia would be campervan-friendly or at least paved.

The road to Lawn Hill was neither, with 40 miles of painful bumping over corrugated dirt roads. The journey was well worth it though as we arrived at an emerald freshwater spring. We jumped straight in before realising that the spring was also being enjoyed by freshwater crocodiles!

Having finished the Queensland section of our road trip, we headed for the Northern Territory. We nervously drove towards the border, not knowing what reception we’d get. To our surprise we came across a couple of army guys who said, “G’day”, took our details and waved us through, openly jealous of the next stage of our trip.

Driving long hours, we followed the sun west, then drove directly north to the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. We arrived to find a huge smoke cloud heading over from the neighbouring Arnhem Land (home to Australia’s traditional Aboriginal owners). The smoke

was from an out-of-control forest fire, which was ‘nothing to worry about’.

At this point we realised how wild and dangerous the top part of Australia was.

This was accentuated further during a boat trip in the vast wetlands where we saw an abundance of saltwater crocodiles (or ‘salties’ to the locals), which can reportedly grow up to six metres in length, and feral water buffalo, with their huge horns.

For the final part of our trip, we headed to the world-famous Uluru, a sacred Aboriginal site in the red centre. You can look at photos and listen to stories of Uluru as much as you like, however, nothing will prepare you for the raw beauty and aura of this place. The sandstone rock formation is massive, changing colour throughout the day and appearing to glow at sunrise and sunset. Despite the heat and persistent flies, we hiked the six-mile loop of Uluru, learning the importance of the site to the traditional owners who have lived here for over 30,000 years.

Tired and covered in red dust, we headed

home to the east coast of Queensland, listening to the Australian country singer Slim Dusty to pass the time. With only three days left, we managed to cover the 1,900 miles, avoiding the hundreds of kangaroos we saw on the way. In total, we covered over 6,500 miles in the space of 30 days, averaging approximately 220 miles a day.

On arriving home, we reflected on our trip and how blessed we were to be able to visit such epic places while large parts of the world were still in lockdown. Although the global pandemic continues to cause widespread health issues and disruption across the world, my advice is to bunker down, stay safe and plan your next adventure…

“We naively assumed that all roads across rural Australia would be campervan-friendly or at least paved. The road to Lawn Hill was neither!”

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SCHOOL VISITS VISIT US VIRTUALLY! While visits from external guests were limited in 2020, we did manage to welcome back a couple of former students. If you would like to visit the school, we would be delighted to give you a tour as soon as it’s safe to do so – please email foundation@reigategrammar.org to book your visit.

Sign up to the RGS app and enjoy a virtual tour of the school – see p40

Jon Smith (RGS 1998-2006) visited the school on 21 January to speak to students about his career as a pilot

Dr Kaushal Kansagra (RGS 1984-89) gave a talk on careers in medicine on 12 February. He enjoyed a tour with his former Maths teacher, Dai Bader (pictured)

On 11 March, three former school friends – John Twaites (RGS 1973-1980 and parent of alumni), Brodie Branch (RGS 1973-1976) and Neil Watson (RGS 1973-1980) – came back to RGS for a tour.

They were shown around by John’s son, Keiran Twaites (RGS 2013-2020)

Surgeon Captain Sarah Stapley (RGS 1983-1984) visited the school on 3 November 2020 as our Remembrance Day guest of honour. Sarah toured the school and spoke to CCF students and Sixth Formers about her career as a surgeon in the Royal Navy

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VISITING SPEAKERS One of the greatest assets our students have is access to careers advice from our extensive network of Reigatians. We were fortunate enough to host a couple of talks before the March lockdown, with others run virtually.

Our huge thanks go to all those who have supported students this year.

Jon Smith (RGS 1998-2006) came to RGS in January to speak to prospective pilots.

Jon talked us through the process for training and explained about the dayto-day life of a pilot.

Kaushal Kansagra (RGS 1984-1989) delivered a talk on medical careers. While here, Kaushal met up with his former Maths teacher, Dai Bader (RGS staff 1982-2019) for a tour of the school.

Kent Massey (current parent) spoke to students about his career in chemical engineering. Kent explained how chemical engineering impacts upon just about every aspect of our lives, including everything in the room. He explained how his career began and which aspects he particularly enjoyed.

In the autumn term, we went virtual: Emon Uddin (’16), Hasan Huseyin (’18) and Luke Greenland (’19) spoke to students online at the November, Medicine, veterinary and dentistry evening Amanda Wiltshire (née Ingram, ’05) spoke to prospective veterinary students. Katy Peters (current parent) talked to medics about legal ethics in medicine in September.

Abby Cox (current parent) presented a session on CV-writing in December

TALK TO ASPIRING MEDICAL STUDENTS AND CCF On 3 November, Surgeon Captain Sarah Stapley QCVS MB ChB FRCS (Eng) FRCS (Tr & Orth) DM Royal Navy (RGS 1983-84), spoke to aspiring medical, and CCF, students. Sarah left RGS in 1984 after just one transformative year, before attending Glasgow Medical School. She is

CAREERS CONVENTION On 5 February we were lucky enough to hear from three former students: Melissa Read (’89), who provided an invaluable insight into helping students to understand how to find careers that suit their strengths; Clare Hartley-Marjoram (’09), who told us about her career in engineering, including her work on the restoration of Big Ben; and Natalie Jones

(’10), who talked about the Dyson degree, which is something that engineering students certainly ought to consider.

We were also grateful to a further sixty members of the Reigatian community – RGS parents, former RGS parents and former RGS students – for giving up their evening to offer students from RGS, and local state schools, an insight into a huge array of careers.

now Surgeon Captain in the Royal Navy and Defence Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedics. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of medics.

Sarah explained that getting into medical school is tough, but once you get there, if it’s what you really want to do, you’ll start to fly. She also stated that working in the NHS is quite tricky when you start, with your

responsibility going from not very much to huge quite quickly.

She stated that she chose to specialise in orthopaedics and trauma because it suits her personality – she likes seeing instant results, where a patient can arrive on Friday, have an operation on Saturday and be up walking by Monday. It was useful for students to consider how their personalities might inform their own specialisms.

Sarah believes that her accomplishments would not have been possible had she not taken a military route. Sarah spoke about her incredible Naval career – which includes six tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, where she was Medical Director of Camp Bastion Field Hospital. Sarah was the first female within the armed forces to make the transition from Cadet to Surgical Consultant and she was the only female Orthopaedic Consultant in the armed forces for 13 years. As you can imagine, the students had lots of questions!

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SCHOOL VISITS If you would like to support the school’s careers programme, or can offer mentoring or work experience to current or former students, please contact the Foundation office at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

HSC LECTURE BY EY PARTNER MAGGIE STILWELL On 2 March, Sixth Form students were treated to a thought-provoking and interactive Henry Smith Lecture

by Maggie Stilwell (current parent).

The focus of the presentation was ‘Who do you think you are?’, which challenged students to consider their ambitions.

Maggie invited audience members to stand up, then asked a series of questions, with students sitting down if they were: taking a gap year, not going to university, didn’t know what they wanted to do for a career, or were pursuing a route on the recommendation of their parents, family or friends.

Using example school reports from Roald Dahl, which described the acclaimed author as, ‘An illiterate member of the class.

Consistently idle. Ideas limited’, and Gary Lineker, which recommended that the ex-England international footballer and BBC pundit, ‘…devote less of his time to sport if he wants to be a success’, Maggie urged students to create their own narrative of who they are.

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Don’t be afraid of failure!

About Maggie Stilwell

EMMA WOODS (Current parent), CEO of Wagamama, delivered an inspiring lunchtime lecture in the Old Library in February. She focused on three aspects: her career path, her role as a CEO and how the current generation will be the ones to shape the future. Emma began by saying that when she was a Sixth Former she attended a talk by a successful female businesswoman, which helped her realise that being ambitious was allowed. Her career began in marketing, but has not followed a traditional path as she focused on doing things that interested her. She is

fascinated by consumer behaviour, always thinking about the future, is a good problem solver, loves leading teams and works very hard. She gave three key bits of advice: choose a course at university or college that really interests you, be prepared to follow a different career path to your parents and be ready to embrace technology (even if you don’t feel particularly tech savvy). Her talk was warm, encouraging and gave the students who attended a brilliant glimpse into the flexibility and dedication that may be required in their chosen careers.

While at university, Maggie saw an advert for a summer placement in Australia. This proved a pivotal experience, where she found herself surrounded by successful characters with Masters degrees and PhDs. On returning to Edinburgh, she asked her tutor what she needed to do to achieve a 1st. Not wanting to shatter her dreams, he was hesitant to outline the hard work she would have to put in to bring her grade average up. Maggie achieved her 1st and even won a prize for her dissertation!

The lecture went on to explore how your mind-set affects your performance.

She asked the question, ‘How big is your imagination?’ noting that this will affect what you strive for. She emphasised that: “If you are too worried about failure, you will be too cautious in your outlook and may fail from not having had enough failures!”

Maggie Stilwell is Dispute Services Partner at Ernst & Young LLP. Maggie has comprehensive expert witness and determination experience in accountancy and finance matters. She is listed as an expert in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration and was voted in the top five for Accountancy Age’s Women in Finance 2018. She has been with EY for over 20 years and has experience in a number of sectors.

From 2015, Maggie was a member of EY’s leadership team, as Managing Partner for talent, with responsibility for graduate and school-leaver recruitment, sponsoring high-potential development programmes (including collaboration with Oxford Said Business School), designing and running the process for assessing readiness for partnership and creating a more diverse and inclusive environment. She returned to client work in 2018.

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HENRY SMITH CLUB In the spirit of our founder, we have a club in his name in support of the Changing Lives bursary fund.

A great philanthropist, Henry Smith, was born in Wandsworth in 1548. He went on to accumulate great wealth through the acquisition of land and estates through the City and south of England.

Henry died in 1627 and declared in his Will that a gift of £1,000 be used for the relief of the poor and to educate local children in Reigate. In 1675 RGS was founded and has remained on the same site to this day.

Membership to the club is through an annual donation of £1,675, representing our foundation date, for a minimum seven-year term (the school cycle of a child). Your donation would be used for the sole purpose of providing bursarial support.

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Member benefits Have a significant impact on the life chances of a talented young child Gain membership of an important network of like-minded individuals Collect a handmade, bespoke membership pin Receive invitations to the annual Henry Smith Club Dinner Receive a membership certificate Get exclusive HSC mailing updates

• • • • • •

To become a Henry Smith Club member Sign up online at: rgs.foundation/ support-us/henry-smith-club, email foundation@reigategrammar.org or call 01737 222231.

It takes just 10 Henry Smith Club members to provide a full bursary

The school’s very foundation was built from philanthropy for those young people with the necessary ability and dedication, but who lacked the means to benefit from such excellent educational provision.

The Henry Smith Club supports those children who possess talent, ability and dedication, but who lack the financial means to benefit from the educational experience RGS can offer.

“I firmly believe that a good education is a powerful enabler of social mobility and am extremely proud to be the President of this important philanthropic group. I urge you to join the Henry Smith Club so that together, we can continue to change the lives of future students of RGS and help them fufil their potential.”

Sir Peter Gershon CBE (RGS 1958-66), President, Henry Smith Club

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RECOLLECTIONS & MEMORIES FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL MEMORIES

Thousands of students have passed through the doors of RGS over the years. Buildings have been added, teaching styles reformed and exam systems updated, however, some things connect pupils across the ages: the values and ethos, sense of community and the quality of education.

The French teacher is English and I am in trouble!

“My first day was a shock. Not only did the teachers refer to us by surname, but so did the other boys! By the end of the morning the trauma of this alien environment was taking its toll and I felt physically nauseous. In retrospect I was blessed with excellent teachers, including Cedric Harrald, whose first French lesson is imprinted on my mind.

Mr. Harrald breezed in and – presumably to determine who in the class had already learnt some French – proceeded to ask questions in French, such as, ‘Comment appellez vous?’. I whispered to the boy next to me, ‘What is he saying?’. Not quietly enough! Mr. Harrald, ears as keen as his mind, spoke the first words of the lesson in English – to me. Until then I was convinced that he was French! My worries were both allayed and enhanced – he is English – and I am in trouble!

By the fourth period I was a wreck and told the Master that I felt sick. I went to the secretary’s office (probably the late Miss Sandall), where I was given an aspirin (the 1960s cure for all ills) and told to sit outside in the Headmaster’s garden. After a minute, the aspirin and my stomach parted company.

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Bob Harden took me home in his car, much to my Mum’s surprise. The next day I was back in school and got on with my new routine, realising that the school was not going to change for me.

Much of what I have come to enjoy over the years I can trace back to the excellent teachers at RGS, not only what they taught, but the values they promoted, and the respect they gave us, which perhaps we should have reciprocated more at the time!”

PETER BURGESS (RGS (1967-1974)

My first day at school: 15 September 1953

“At the age of 10, I arrived at Reigate Grammar School along with 120 other boys. We took our seats in the art room, the large classroom in the main corridor.

We had our caps with us and were all wearing short trousers – the usual dress for the first two years.

The Second Master, Mr Raw, called out the names of those who would be in which form. We were put into sets. He called out 1A, 1B, then 1C… was I going to be in 1D? But the last names called were to be in form 1X. I was embarrassed when he spoke to me recalling that he had taught my father thirty years earlier.

We went to our classroom – the

Geography room, half of a one-storey building set up outside the rest of the main block. Forms kept to one classroom but as the room was used for Geography our group had to move and we were a travelling form for our first year. We were seated in alphabetical order and I can still remember all twenty-seven names. As I was last, I had to be listening and ready to answer the roll call.

We went across the road for lunch in the large house, Annandale, then settled into what would be seven periods a day of a fixed weekly timetable and went home at 3.50pm. The start of eight happy years.”

IAN WHITEMAN (RGS 1953-1961)

RGS in the 1980s, with rules to be challenged!

“It was daunting and exciting to join Reigate Grammar – with so many rules and regulations. I liked getting to know my way around; the chaos of the tuck shop off the small corridor from the hall; the confusion of the six-day timetable.

Having lessons with Masters we called ‘Sir’ who wore black gowns; dusty classrooms and teachers with bad breath!

Learning Latin with Aubs; getting the nickname ‘smiler’ from Mr Sims; the furious temper of Miss Benson, the French teacher.

‘Dickie’ Burrows’ incandescent rage at someone forgetting their Latin books.

Mr Bruce, the English teacher who always wore a bow tie and had the unfortunate nickname ‘Ripper’ due to his resemblance to Peter Sutcliffe – the best teacher I had.

Making friends; fear of Prefects; fancying girls in the Sixth Form; walking through the town to the old playing fields; playing rugby; CCF drills and parades in the playground; the groups we formed and who was ‘cool’ or ‘hard’; the ‘bad lads’ queue up the staircase to get special reports signed.

It was all a game that could be played, with authority to push against, reputations to make – so much simpler than real life, or so it seems looking back.

Being a Reigatian is being one of the fortunate few lucky enough to experience the school – its buildings, staff, traditions, ethos, and the others you share your time with.”

NICK PHILLIPS (RGS 1979-1985)

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Do you have memories of your time at Reigate Grammar School that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you – email the Foundation team at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

CRICKET 1950s

OLD REIGATIANS VS SCHOOL

ARTHUR HUGHES (RGS 1942-1948)

Seeing Sir Keir Starmer elected as the leader of the Labour Party brought to mind the most distinguished Reigatian of my time at the Grammar, Sir Godfrey Ince (RGS 1903-1910). He had been the senior civil servant who served under the wartime Minister of Labour, Ernest Bevin.

Although I was fond of cricket, I wasn’t much good at it, though I did keep wicket for the 2nd XI. After National Service abroad I returned to Redhill and joined the Old Reigatians, playing both rugby and cricket with them for some years.

In the early 1950s, I turned out to play in their annual cricket match against the school. Sir Godfrey only played occasionally but liked to participate in the annual match. Such was our batting line up that we were glad to have him!

He brought his own kit (dated pre-war).

Most noticeable were his pads (open latticed) and his narrow brimmed school cap (no

baseball cap for him – or for the rest of us!).

He was at the top end of our age range, probably twice the age of our newest recruit, fast bowler, Neil, who had not long finished school. Neil was a real quickie at our level, but his batting skills were negligible.

I have no recollection of the outcome of the match nor how it progressed. What I do remember was that somehow Sir Godfrey and Neil were batting together. Sir Godfrey’s mobility was limited but his eye was still keen, as was his technique, and he had the skill to shield Neil. He could, and did, thump the bowling about to good effect. Just as well, as our higher-order batsmen didn’t spend long at the crease.

There came a point, however, when Neil had to face the bowler. Surprisingly, bat struck ball. Neil, eager to break his duck, called for the run and sped down the track. Sir Godfrey heard the call and dutifully (as was to be expected of a knight of the realm), took

off as fast as he could, tripped and ended up prone on the turf. Neil completed his run, but Sir Godfrey was run out by yards, much to the delight of the school’s XI and the dismay of the Reigatian team.

I do not recall precisely what the outed batsman said as he trudged back to the pavilion, but it was not only students of the Anglo-Saxon language who understood Sir Godfrey’s negative comments about his younger partner! He did not play again.

Sir Godfrey Ince (1891-1960) in 1908, age 17, from a set of individual portraits of all students

CCF INSPECTION 1962

Inspecting officer, Major-General Arthur Julian Hadfield Dove, CB, CBE and Colonel inspecting, George Gutteridge. Front row from right: Andrew Waller (RGS 1957-63), Richard Bales (RGS 1957-65), David Foster (RGS 1957-63), Michael Perryman (RGS 1958-61); second row: Frank Edwards (RGS 1957-65), Keith Head (RGS 1957-64); third row: Doug Cusden (RGS 1957-63)

This photograph was kindly sent in by Doug Cusden (RGS 1957-63). The report in The Pilgrim from the time states that, “As a result of intensive training on two field days before the inspection, the standard of drill was very high.

The basic platoons deserve special praise, since it was decided that they should take part in the march past in slow time. This they did very well. The success was due largely to the band, which achieved a very high standard this year.

The signal’s platoon demonstrated how a signal’s centre would operate under battle conditions.

The General was equally impressed with this.”

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RECOLLECTIONS & MEMORIES

GREAT LANGUAGE TEACHERS LED TO A STIMULATING CAREER

David Neary (RGS 1956 to 1964) travelled to over 75 countries as part of his rewarding career, which included a stint at the BBC. A journey that began with passionate language teachers at RGS...

Institiute of Export examinations.

As part of my HND course, I worked in Madrid for an international company as a commercial translator which gave me valuable experience. In 1969 I gained a Diploma in Marketing.

Working in imports and exports

In Istanbul for a sales meeting with Turkish agents

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hilst at RGS I achieved eight O levels and two A levels (Spanish and French). I also played tennis for the school and was a member of the CCF and later transferred to the RAF cadets. I remember playing rugby, cross country runs and shooting at the rifle range in the roof.

Languages were always my favourite subject and, if I remember correctly (it was over 60 years ago!), my Spanish teacher was Reg Gutteridge. I was taught Latin

by Dick Burrows, who I think also taught Biology, and somehow I managed to pass Latin O level but always struggled. In the Sixth Form we studied a year of Russian and, to my surprise, I can still remember a few phrases!

I always knew that I wanted a career in exports where I could apply my language skills. So, after RGS, I studied for an HND in Business Studies combined with Languages at the City of Westminster College in London and, at the same time, became an Associate of the Institute of Linguists in Spanish. At evening classes at Whitechapel College, I also took and passed the 56

My first job was as an assistant to the Managing Director of an international import/export company in Wallington, Surrey. In July 1968 I received a call from Cassell (Collier Macmillan Publishers) about the job of Area Sales Manager for their exports division and I started working for them, in London, from August 1968 until 1971. This involved frequent trips to Europe.

From September 1971 until October 1985, I worked for 14 years as International Sales Manager for the BBC in London. This was one of my most exciting jobs. It was in a department of external services called ‘English by Radio and Television’. It produced radio and TV programmes, videos, films, books and CDs/cassettes for teaching English to foreign students. I worked with the British Council, embassies, overseas TV stations, publishers and distributors of educational materials and was constantly travelling to Europe, Central and South America, the Gulf and the Middle East, Asia and the Far East – around 75 countries over my time at the BBC. A truly stimulating place to work.

In October 1985 I worked as Sales and International Marketing Director for Harper Collins Publishers until March 1995 when I was faced with redundancy. I went on to work for an International School in Uckfield, where my responsibility was to promote the school overseas by setting up educational exhibitions in different countries, often working with the British Council and educational organisations.

My last 10 years before retirement were spent as Sales and Marketing Manager

for Naxos (HQ in Hong Kong) who produced and distributed Classical Music CDs and audio books – again, this involved considerable UK and overseas travel.

Retirement and RGS reunions

I finally retired about nine years ago.

My wife and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in September 2019 in Armenia and Georgia. The travelling bug is still with us and always will be, I think!

I certainly look back on my time at RGS with pleasure. I am in touch with a couple of people who were in my form – one lives just three miles away and I see him and his wife regularly (in normal times). I have been back to RGS several times for reunions and it always evokes fond memories.

In Cannes, France exhibiting for the BBC at the video and film exhibition, VIDCON

In Japan for a sales conference

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SURVIVING THE 1960s!

From cross-country disasters to a near miss in the Chemistry lab, Tim Whittle (RGS 1962-1969) gives a humorous account of his experience of Reigate Grammar in the 1960s

What health and safety?

Another problem I had was that I was very small (I shot up at fifteen). The Grammar School played rugby and I was not exactly built for that game. To add to my woes, while on my first ever cross-country run, I managed to trip over on a road which had just had chipping laid. I ended up skinning both knees and my hands were cut to pieces. When I arrived back from A&E with bandages everywhere, my Mother commented that the only thing I lacked was a black eye! Despite this, I was actually quite good at cross country and normally did well for my school house in the annual cross-country run. I can remember us charging down a flight of steps that I now walk down very gingerly – the sight of boys careening down the steps would have given anyone from health and safety a seizure!

Despite that, I do not actually remember any boys falling and injuring themselves.

Duke of Edinburgh hikes

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romwell Road Junior School had six boys pass the 11+ and go to Reigate Grammar in 1962, which was a record year. It might also be noted that there were not too many pupils from the Batts Hill council estate, where I lived.

Going to the Grammar School was quite a shock! I went from being near the top of the class to near the bottom for the first two years. My biggest problem was languages – we had never studied languages at Cromwell Road, and suddenly had to learn French and Latin. I was useless at both! Eventually, I was able to drop them and concentrate on the sciences, maths and history at which I was always better. I was also good at chess and played for the school team.

If cross-country running has, in my opinion, been largely neutered due to health and safety concerns; then I also felt the same about Duke of Edinburgh Award hikes.

With my bronze and silver hikes (I never got as far as gold), we were just sent off – in groups of two or three – with a tent, a map, a route and some cooking gear.

We were expected to find our way, camp in a farmer’s field and get back in one piece. When my sons did their hikes, they went in large groups, with checkpoints along the way, carrying hi-vis clothing, and emergency rations (only to be eaten in an emergency) and camped at a proper camp site. Although I can understand the view that the safety of pupils was paramount, I cannot remember the Headmaster back in the 1960s ever having to announce either that two boys had been found murdered in their sleeping bags or that the Army had had to be called out because

of a group hopelessly lost on the Ashdown Forest! I found myself slipping into ‘The Four Yorkshiremen’ sketch with my sons.

Are children more intelligent now?

Let me compare the O levels we took to the later GCSEs. For a start you could fail O levels (and many of the boys at Reigate Grammar did!), there was no continuous assessment and no resits if you did badly. Boys needed at least four O levels to move into the Sixth Form and I would estimate that no more than 75% of the boys achieved this. I like to think that this difference has more to do with the methods of assessments and the marking having got easier, rather than that we were less intelligent or the teachers were worse back then!

Chemical reactions

All the teachers were men – the one exception being our Chemistry teacher.

She could manage to reduce the class to fits of hysterical laughter with comments such as “urea isn’t really my cup of tea”!

For the chemistry O level practical exam, we were required to devise our own system for measuring the amount of hydrogen produced by combing zinc with sulphuric acid. I think she was worried that, with the method I was using, there was a danger of me blowing up the entire exam room. I failed (to blow up the class that is) but did pass sufficient O levels, including chemistry, to get into the Sixth Form.

In September 1967 I started as one of fifteen in Lower Sixth Z, taking Biology, Chemistry and Maths with statistics. Soon after joining the Sixth Form, my mother was thoroughly irritated during a pastoral visit from the Curate from Holy Trinity.

He managed to imply that it must have been through some kind of freak of genetics that a council estate oik had managed to get into the Reigate Grammar Sixth Form!

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RECOLLECTIONS & MEMORIES

MUSIC FOR LIFE RON AKEHURST (RGS 1949-56)

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ehearsals were on Tuesday lunchtimes, from 1pm to 2.45pm. The Master in charge was George Thompson, also known as Tomcat (we had nicknames for all the teachers). Mr Thompson was an excellent pianist, but also a wizard woodworker. I still use – almost every day – the woodworking skills learned under his guidance.

I played the occasional solo at the spring concert, and the orchestra was sometimes asked to play during Tuesday assemblies (the hymn only), when we musicians had brought our instruments to school. My accompanist and friend was Peter Turner (RGS 19471956), later Bursar at RGS (1980-2009).

Pushing my musical talents

“At the age of about eleven, I joined the school orchestra and played second, and eventually first, violin, ending as leader of the orchestra for four years between 1952-56”.

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My predecessor as leader was Michael Nutt, who went on to lead the Guildhall School of Music orchestra, and later played for twenty years with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The LA Phil was used in many Hollywood films, so you have probably heard Michael play! He would sometimes come back to school at Mr Thomson’s request, to play at concerts and even rehearsals. Back then he had to sit next to me and turn the pages!

I was in touch with him a few years ago – he was living in retirement near Seattle, still very busy. For a few years I played violin duets with David Killick, who later played with the National Youth Orchestra.

I lived in Purley, where I played with the Croydon Youth Orchestra. Most of the players were attending various London music colleges, and I barely scraped into the first violins. At one concert, playing Percy Grainger’s Mock Morris I was demoted to third violin with another Reigate Grammar School student. We had our own separate part in this complicated piece, and, at one point during a concert, we lost our place. The conductor made frantic signs, but we never got back with the others. It was in that orchestra that we played Schubert’s Fifth. The last

movement was taken at such a furious pace that I had to resort to keeping my bow an inch above the strings, to give at least the appearance of contributing!

Time as a spy!

In 1956 I left school and joined the Royal Air Force. I was put in the Russian programme, and went to the Joint Services School for Linguists (JSSL), then stationed in Fife, Scotland. Instruction was for six hours a day, alternately grammar (with an Englishman) and Russian oral practice (with a Russian man or woman). We took A level Russian after nine months of study and almost everyone passed. Someone formed an orchestra, which once again I led. Many of the pieces we played were in manuscript, with Russian annotations (Pervaya skripka = first violin!). Anyone interested in JSSL can read an account of it in Leslie Woodhouse’s book, My Life as a Spy. Leslie was my roommate in Berlin and has since been awarded an OBE for his work as a documentary filmmaker.

The book explains what we did in Berlin.

In the orchestra at Oxford

After my service as a spy, I went to Brasenose College, Oxford, where I joined the local student orchestra, the Collegium Musicum Oxoniense. Rehearsals were in an upstairs room in St. Mary’s church.

We played various pieces, including, in Merton College Chapel, Haydn’s Farewell Symphony, where I was able to get off the stage and run to the back of the auditorium before the last movement ended and the lights went out. Our conductor Laszlo Heltay was a Merton student, a Hungarian who had left his homeland at the time of the Hungarian Revolution (1956). He had been a student of Zoltan Kodaly in Budapest, who was invited to Oxford to receive an honorary degree. Of course, our conductor was in touch with Kodaly, and invited him to

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THE JON FIELDER MUSIC FUND conduct the Collegium. We practised a Kodaly piece, the Budavari Te Deum, written by Kodaly to commemorate a Hungarian victory over the besieging Turks at Budapest in, I think, 1536. Before the single rehearsal, Kodaly told us, in English, this story: A celebrated visiting conductor was rehearsing the Vienna Philharmonic.

A bystander later asked a member of the orchestra if the famous visitor had made special movements that made the performance extraordinary. He was told that, “No matter who is conducting we play it the same way!” Kodaly urged us students, that no matter what signals he gave us, we should play the piece as rehearsed by Heltay. For the words of the Viennese player, spoken in the local Viennese dialect, Kodaly gave a very fair imitation of a cockney!

Jon Fielder was the beloved Director of Music at Reigate St Mary’s, who also worked with students at RGS. Sadly, Jon passed away suddenly in 2014. The aim of the Jon Fielder Music Fund is to offer music lessons to our Changing Lives students.

An enduring love of music

I left Oxford in 1962 and went on to do post-graduate work at the University of Colorado. I did not join an orchestra there, but I was invited to meet Isaac Stern when he played on campus in a concert series.

I asked him if he realised that when he played a broadcast on radio or TV, there were amateurs like myself who played along with him at home. Mr. Stern graciously said this was news to him, but I am not sure I believed him.

I have many happy memories of playing the violin in various orchestras.

The apprenticeship at RGS under Miss Moore and Mr Thompson was invaluable.

My musical education at Reigate was purely classical, however, I see American students who play in orchestras that never venture beyond show tunes, and never play anything written before 1940 by Americans. They are missing a world of music that has informed and entertained my life. I would encourage all RGS students to learn an instrument, practise, join an orchestra, enjoy it, and never let go.

These young people may not have had access to music before arriving at RGS; had no opportunity to play in an orchestra, jam in a rock band or sing in a festival hall. £600 a year or £50 a month would fully-fund a child for one year of music lessons.

“Everyone owes their successes to those who have helped them along the way. When someone recognises potential in you and nurtures it, you cannot help but feel enormous gratitude. With this gratitude comes a determination to make the most out of a hugely valuable opportunity such as an outstanding education. Were it not for my highly academic and well-rounded school, I almost certainly would have not gone to Cambridge to

study music and perform in one of the most vibrant musical environments in the world. I would like to thank those who made my education, and my development as a musician, possible and furthermore to those who are doing the same for future generations.

To know that there are young people with difficult financial circumstances, who will nevertheless be able to have one-on-one music lessons, without needing to worry about cost, fulfils what I think should be every child’s educational right.”

Karolina Csathy (RGS 2008-15) Cambridge University (2015-18) Bursary Recipient

Find out how you can bring music into a child’s life. Contact Catherine Hutchison on cxh@reigategrammar.org.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES WITH THANKS TO ARCHIVIST, PETER BURGESSS

A turnout of archive material in 2020 revealed a small file of papers from Aubrey Scrase (RGS staff 1955-1995), including an article he wrote about former Headmaster, Howard Ballance and how he returned Reigate Grammar School to independence. It is a fitting tribute to both men.

HOWARD BALLANCE: HEADMASTER 1968-1982

D Former teacher, the late Aubrey Scrase had nothing but praise for Headmaster Howard Ballance

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uring my time at Reigate Grammar, I have served under five heads, Holland, Ballance, Hamlin, Dixon, and Thomas. All very special, but none more special than Howard Ballance. He was hugely student-centred and aimed to be able to address every child by his first name.

At the beginning of every school year he would take home the record cards of the new boys and flip through them until he could match the name to the photo and then, to the amazement of the boys themselves, would stroll into the playground and show off this skill.

He was absolutely the right man for the time for the school was then a county grammar school and took boys from every social background, many of whom had little parental support. But at least they were known and supported at school. Ballance delighted in every success, however trivial, and made sure it received publicity. Hardly a week went by without the Surrey Mirror featuring a photo of a Grammar School boy publicising his latest achievement.

Sometimes, of course, boys got themselves into trouble and, because he had his ear to the ground, Ballance

would know and would ring the police before they charged him and would use all a Headmaster’s influence to get the boy released. Of course, they would be trivial offences, but, as Ballance would explain, no one wants a police record and, if the police were confident that Ballance would deal with the problem appropriately and effectively, it could be avoided.

Ballance also knew how to lavish (and withhold) praise on the staff.

Exam results and Oxbridge entry improved dramatically, the orchestra and drama productions improved, and the school began to build its reputation in rugby. Students began to achieve DofE gold awards. Have you seen the film The History Boys? It accurately depicts Reigate Grammar School under Ballance.

The rocky road to independence But what Ballance will be chiefly remembered for was bringing the school back into independence. The previous head, Holland, took the view that he was the servant of his employer, Surrey County Council, and if they decided to adopt comprehensive

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About Mr Ballance Howard Ballance left King Edward School Birmingham to read history at Magdalen College Oxford. This was interrupted by war service. He joined the Army and became a captain in the Royal Artillery. He went to Europe with the big guns soon after D-Day. At the end of the war he went to India for a year to train Indian troops. He resumed studies at Oxford and, in 1948, married

schools as their preferred system, he would do what he could to assist.

He did not like the idea and looked to delay, hoping that the politicians would change their minds. He kept a low profile and was against press coverage for success. Not Ballance. The Grammar School was something special, had a long history and, unlike most schools in the state system, knew what it was about, and it should be preserved.

He fought, but it was a lost cause.

The school had of course been independent originally and boys had paid fees, but it had always struggled to survive. Not until early in the twentieth century when the 11-plus was introduced and the county began sending and paying for their able boys,

Gwyneth. His teaching career began at Kings School Taunton, then briefly at the Nautical College, Pangbourne, before moving to King’s School, Worcester. From there he became Headmaster at Alderman Newton Boys’ School Leicester, and after that, Headmaster at Reigate Grammar School. He strongly opposed comprehensive education and worked tirelessly to preserve the grammar school system. He was delighted to achieve the status of independence for Reigate Grammar School in 1976 and was accepted as a member of the Headmaster’s Conference. (He was the first Head of a VoluntaryControlled School to achieve the status of independence). After retirement to Sidmouth in 1982, he and Gwyneth travelled the world and enjoyed many cruises.

They later moved to Tewkesbury to be nearer their family and subsequently to Cheltenham.

“In all 300 years of existence, the 14 under Howard Ballance were probably the most critical and the most successful...Howard and Gwyneth Ballance handed onto their successors a school with an impressive record in both the academic scene and on the sports field.”

Extract from The Pilgrim magazine, 1981-82

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

did the school become confident that it could maintain numbers and be financially viable. Then in 1944, following the new post-war Education Act, the school opted to become voluntarycontrolled and was funded and run by the county. However, the rules allowed the school to opt out provided the county did not object. Well, why should it object? Opting out was obviously preferable to being closed down.

The County had planned to send Sixth Formers to the new Sixth Form College, to recruit the new boys, and to allow the school gradually to die.

They planned to build two new primary schools on the Broadfield site, one facing Reigate Road and the other Blackborough Road.

If the school went independent, it would not affect these plans and who would want that huge old ungainly ugly nineteenth century building that was Reigate Grammar School?

Ballance may have believed, as I do, that all a good teacher needs is self-belief, a few textbooks, and a blackboard; but would parents pay out good money when all they could see was the old building? He also had to face up to 62

the financial implications. The county agreed to pay what they regarded as fair fees for all boys presently in the school but not for the Sixth Form, whom they planned to accommodate in the Sixth Form College. The county did agree to allow us to use their playing fields until the boys had gone through, but then the school would have to find and buy new playing fields.

What a prospect! Ballance was wondering how he was to raise the money to buy Cornwallis and Broadfield, the dining hall and the new science block on Broadfield and his house in Chart Lane; all provided that the council would sell. The council applied for planning permission to build garages on the Head’s garden alongside Reigate Road; not that they had any intention of doing so, but such permission would put up the cost to the school hugely.

Well, Mr Ballance, dream on!

But he did. And what’s more, he persuaded enough Governors to dream with him. Even more, Barclays Bank were on board, too, given that the school would need a huge borrowing facility.

Would the school be viable?

Ballance was fearful he would lose the staff. The county interviewed each of the teachers, offering them posts elsewhere. The school promised they could keep their jobs with their present salary plus a 5% raise. A few left on principle as they did not wish to work in a private school, but most stayed on, though few realised how precarious the situation was. How Ballance slept at night, I shall never know!

So, independence began. Was money flowing in? Hardly! The First Formers paid fees and we created an extra First Form. A Lower First form was introduced, and we took in an extra Third Form. We also expanded the Sixth Form. And, of course, the council did pay fees, though lowish, for their boys.

But then, suddenly, the whole situation was transformed. I well remember Ballance ringing me up, “Aubs, come across for a glass of sherry, we have something to celebrate!”

We had applied to become a charity as it would bring us certain advantages and the Charity Commission had come to inspect us. They pointed out that, according to the 1944 Act, as we were

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“There can be no doubt in my mind that had the Governors, in 1968, appointed a lesser man than Howard Ballance as Headmaster, the school would not exist today.”

OPENING OF THE BALLANCE BUILDING

Former Headmaster Mr Thomas (RGS staff 2001-2012)

a voluntary-controlled school, all buildings built or purchased for school use, should have been made over to the school Governors! The Headmaster’s house, Cornwallis, Broadfield, and the new science block all belonged to us!

The only question was to whom did Broadfield Lawn belong? If it was a playground, it belonged to the school, if a playing field, to the county. It was agreed not to go to court but that the county should have the third adjacent to Blackborough Road and particularly valuable because of its location, while we kept the two-thirds nearest to Broadfield House.

From then on, Barclays Bank and everyone else relaxed. The school was viable. Thanks to the efforts and vision of Howard Balance, Reigate Grammar School, founded in 1675, would live on.

Behind every successful man...

I absolutely refuse to write about Howard Ballance without paying tribute to his wife Gwyneth. They were a team.

And if Ballance was boy-centred, Gwyneth was parent-centred. If there was any activity in which parents were involved, she was there – whether it was running a stall at a school fete or washing up at cricket teas. And, of course, she shared his burdens. At the end of each day, Howard could, and did, share his anxieties with Gwyneth, absolutely confident of her discretion.

The school decided to name the new science block the Howard Ballance Building in recognition of our debt to him. But perhaps it should be called the ‘Howard and Gwyneth Ballance Building.

On 18 November 2011, Reigate Grammar School’s Ballance Building was officially opened by renowned British Chemical Engineer, Professor Sir William Wakeham.

The £3m science and humanities building took just over 12 months to construct and contains four laboratories, a suite of prep rooms, 10 classrooms. The building, which connects to the school’s existing science facilities, was designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, and constructed by Croydon-based Mansell Construction. The threestorey building hosts the school’s History, Classics and Economics departments in addition to providing extended science facilities. During the opening ceremony, Professor Sir William Wakeham paid tribute to the school’s dedication to academic excellence and highlighted the importance of a strong scientific education for young people.

Following the official opening of the building, a portrait of Mr Howard Ballance was unveiled by his wife, Mrs Gwyneth Ballance. Mrs Ballance commented: “The plan was for the school to become a college and

Howard believed in all-through education. He persuaded the Governors to agree and so began his six-and-a-half-day week for two years, against strong opposition.

We applied to the then Education Minister (Margaret Thatcher). We had no endowment money with which to fund the new school and so had to make regular appeals.” Reflecting on the growth of the school and the naming of the new building in the memory of her husband, Mrs Ballance added: “I feel sure that Howard would be delighted to see all that has happened since we left.”

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REIGATIAN NEWS KEIR STARMER LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY In April, Sir Keir Starmer (RGS 1974-1981) was appointed as the new Leader of the Labour Party. According to our Archivist, Peter Burgess (RGS ’74), this is the highest political office achieved by any Reigatian to date.

In his speech at the Labour Party conference in September, Keir said, “The thread that runs through my life and the belief that will inspire my leadership of this Party is the desire to change lives for the better. I am thankful to the National Health Service that cared for my mum for much of her life. For the chance to be the first in my family to go to university. To go on to practice law and to have the privilege of leading the Crown Prosecution Service.

Family values mean the world to me. I was

lucky enough to grow up in a loving family and I have the great joy now of a family of my own. The mission of the Labour party I lead is to extend that same opportunity to everyone. And my vision for Britain is simple: I want this to be the best country to grow up in and the best country to grow old in.”

RGS Headmaster, Shaun Fenton said, “We are proud of the many Reigatians who go on to do great things and we are extremely proud of Keir and wish him all the very best as one of the most senior politicians in the country at this difficult time of crisis and for the years ahead. He was a success whilst at Reigate Grammar School and so we are delighted, but not in the least surprised, by his accomplishments.”

NAG’S HEAD FLYERS VIRTUAL REUNION We were delighted when David Bleasdale (RGS 61-68), President of the Nag’s Head Flyers, contacted us to let us know about a virtual reunion that took place in September for this group of Reigatians who have remained firm friends for over 60 years.

The Nag’s Head Flyers, named after a pub in South Earlswood, is made up of players from the RGS rugby 1st XV team from 1967/8. Since the beginning, the ‘gang of four’ leading the Flyers has been Richard Jopling (RGS 1971-89), Chris Berry (RGS 1963-69), Tony Earl (RGS 1961-69) and Graham Brown (RGS 1961-68).

The group has met for annual dinners, with their partners, ever since leaving school, as well as getting together for other regular events, such as enjoying longboats on English canals, walking in the Lake District, and the occasional informal gathering in rugby club bars after watching SPIRIT UNDAUNTED

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The 1967-68 1st XV team, most of whom are, or were Flyers (sadly Steve Arbury and Iain Margetts have died).

Those who attended the tea party are: Chris Berry (back row, third from left), David Bleasdale (back row, fifth from left), John Atkins (back row, sixth from left), Graham Plummer (back row, fourth from right), Richard Jopling (back row, second from right), and Tony Earl (front row, far right).

various school vs Old Reigatian matches!

Due to the pandemic, this year’s annual dinner, having already been postponed from March, was eventually held on 28 September as a Zoom tea party.

This decision led to high participation, with UK-based Flyers being joined by others from as far afield as Australia and Indonesia.

After introductions, each Flyer took two minutes to talk of their hopes on entering RGS, and then what went wrong! This was followed by a Flyers pub quiz with questions on 1960’s music, rugby history,

sport questions, 1960’s beer brands, RGS, and 1960’s political events.

A discussion session followed, entitled ‘British Bulldog’ – sharing memories amongst all Flyers in a surprisingly polite and organised fashion.

The tea party concluded with an enthusiastic rendition of the RGS school song, John Bunyan’s To Be a Pilgrim (original version).

With all spirits clearly remaining undaunted, the Flyers look forward to next year’s dinner in Richmond and being able to meet and socialise together again.

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REIGATIAN SPORT 2019-2020

RUGBY

ARTACA WINS HORSHAM’S BATTLE OF THE BANDS Third Form students Oscar L-D (vocals, rhythm guitar), Omar A (lead guitar) and Annis W (drums) make up the band Artaca.

Their journey started with some covers, before Oscar and Omar began writing their own songs. They have now written 16 songs with more on the way. Annis joined towards the end of First Form as the drummer. The band has played at school concerts, the Americana festival in Horsham, and New Music nights in Reigate. In 2020, Artaca recorded their debut EP at Panther Studios. Shortly after, Levitate Me was selected as BBC Introducing’s ‘track of the day’ and played on BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey.

In October, Artaca won Horsham’s 28th annual Battle of the Bands. They met fierce competition and were judged on originality, stage presence, content, musicianship, audience reaction and potential. Aged just 13, they are the youngest-ever winners.

Their prize included a photo shoot, a recording studio session and a single release with record label AWAL whose other artists include FINNEAS, The Kooks, Moby and Neneh Cherry.

Artaca’s EP Invisible is available to download on all major music providers including Spotify, iTunes and Amazon Music.

With a wet post-Christmas period that caused game cancellations, followed by the Covid-19 epidemic, the 2019/20 season wasn’t a positive one. The pandemic brought an early end to recreational rugby and will go on to affect us, not least with the impact on events due to take place in our clubhouse.

Luckily our financial results are satisfactory and we thank our Treasurers for their watchfulness.

Our 1st XV team was in a worrying position at the Christmas break but recovered well and finished an encouraging fifth in a competitive league. The A and Extra A XVs had enjoyable seasons with excellent results, however, our objective of putting out four regular senior sides didn’t come to fruition. The talent and numbers coming through the youth sections remains high but maintaining player involvement into their thirties is a challenge.

Our age group sides, from Under Sixes to Under 21s, have had successful seasons and their love of rugby is obvious. Measuring their performances is difficult, after a season where only a few competitions were completed,

but their commitment shines through.

The girls section continues to grow with four squads now and over 100 players – congratulations to all those involved with their growth.

The Club would like to thank all the Managers and Coaches for their contributions towards their players’ developments. It is a pleasure to stand on the clubhouse balcony on a Sunday morning and observe the happiness and enjoyment in every age group.

We now run a significant operation.

We have 21 sides playing each weekend (in normal times) and have some form of activity at our clubhouse every day of the week. Thank you for your support in what has not been an easy year!

New members are very welcome to join us with our existing membership numbers over 1,200. For more information visit oldreigatianrfc.com.

With thanks to Peter Tharp (RGS 1954-1962) ORRFC Hon Secretary

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REIGATIAN SPORT

HOCKEY In the 2019-20 season the 1st XI, after nine years in Surrey division two, finished bottom and were relegated. It was a tough season with just two wins out of 21 matches (the final one was cancelled). The 2nds continued in Surrey Open League division one and finished tenth out of 12. The 3rds finished eighth out of ten in division four in 2018-19 but, seeing possible difficulties in raising a team, voluntarily dropped to division five where team selection is more relaxed.

The summer saw a revival in the number of players, with a group of younger members

taking an active part in recruitment.

The usual mid-season matches had to be postponed to later in the summer and were used for training. A large number of new and returning players arrived.

The 2020-21 winter season was played through the pandemic but stopped in December missing the last match. There were no after-match refreshments. Things went much better for the 1sts, lying in third place in their new division. The 2nds did not win a game but team spirit remains high.

The 3rds were sixth out of ten.

The Club turned 60 on 16 December 2020 – the anniversary of the meeting in 1960 where the Club was set up – celebrations will have to wait for a suitable time.

Old Reigatians Hockey Club is always keen to recruit at any age and ability. If you would like to return to hockey, please contact Rob Evans on 07718 128575 or email re@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

See orhc.info for training dates and times.

With thanks to Ian Whiteman (RGS 1953-1961) ORHC Treasurer

CRICKET

is high. The B team won all 12 of their matches, to gain top spot in the league and a well-deserved promotion to division eight.

Our third team competed well in the new league, and we will look to continue this momentum into the new season. The whole club look forward to building on our successes once competitive netball is able to return.

Old Reigatians Netball Club welcomes new players. For more information email oldreigatiansnetball@hotmail.co.uk or visit oldreigatiansnetball.co.uk.

Covid put a halt to many of our matches and we were sorry to miss our annual game against the school’s 1st XI team. Once the club cricket season started, we were fortunate to play old friends Reigate Priory CC. It was a perfect Friday night, with a mix of old and young OR’s and friends, family and former RGS staff in support. RPCC batted first and posted 160 off 20 overs. Ollie Harris (’20) was the pick of our bowlers. The ORCC reply started slowly and we didn’t really look in the game until an injection from Robin Hardman (’12) and Simon Hygate (’92).

Richard Stevens (‘08) and Ollie Harris brought us closer to victory, but Priory won by just one run in a thrilling game. We managed to squeeze in one more match against Merstham CC, which is managed by Laurie Nicholson (’12). The game was somewhat one-sided and ORCC bowled out Merstham for 57.

ORCC players, umpires and scorers tend to be alumni. For more information on joining the club, contact Phil Davies by email pjbd@hotmail.co.uk on 07446 055543, or via Facebook (search ‘Old Reigatians Cricket Club’).

With thanks to Charlotte Frith (RGS 1999-2006) ORNC Chairperson

With thanks to Phil Davies (RGS 2001-2008) ORCC Chairman

NETBALL Old Reigatians Netball Club had the best season to date in 2019/2020. Both our A and B team squads compete in the Surrey Netball League and this season we have been able to field a third team which joined the Metropolitan league. Our A team had a fantastic season, winning 10 out of their 12 matches, with a notable win against Putney Ladies A team. Old Reigatians A team topped the division five league and achieved promotion to division four.

Our B team has been working hard for promotion and only narrowly missed out.

This season saw the team go from strengthto-strength, building on successes from previous seasons, and team camaraderie

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LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL AND CHANGE A LIFE FOREVER

ALAN DAVID GEORGE OATES RGS 1939-1943

With a gift in your Will, you would transform the lives of talented children from poor and disadvantaged backgounds – removing barriers to social mobility – ensuring that any child wanting to study at Reigate Grammar School gets the very best start on their journey in life.

T

he pandemic has led many of us to consider our own mortality.

In April, the Which? Wills service saw a 682% increase in Will orders.

And online Will-writing platform, Farewill, saw a 267% increase in people writing online or telephone Wills in 2020. In such uncertain times, it makes sense that more people are making plans to support their loved ones after they’re gone or updating their Wills to reflect their current intentions.

If you are reviewing your Will, please consider including a gift to the RGS Foundation in support of our Changing Lives campaign.

We appreciate that the decision to leave a gift in your Will is a big one, and that friends and family come first, but even just a small residual gift can make a significant impact. Furthermore, since a legacy gift is exempt from Inheritance Tax, it also has the potential to reduce the tax burden on your family.

Since the launch of our Changing Lives campaign we have received over £1m in support from legacies. This has had an amazing impact, having provided life-changing opportunities thus far to twelve students from poor backgrounds.

Legacy gifts vary in size, but they always have a collective impact.

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Ways to leave a gift in your Will A popular and straightforward way is to leave a percentage of your estate, known as a ‘residuary’ gift. There are other ways to do so, too. We would advise you speak to a solicitor. They can recommend the best type of legacy and add your wishes to an existing Will using a Codicil (or help you draft a new Will). Please ensure that any legacy is made to ‘Reigate Grammar School Foundation’ (Registered Charity No. 10 8189 8).

• A share of your estate (residuary

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gift). This involves leaving all or part of the net residue of your estate to Reigate Grammar School once other gifts have been made. It has more flexibility than a cash gift because you do not have to quantify the sum or take inflation into account when you draw up your Will A specific sum (pecuniary gift).

As the value of a specific sum would decrease over time, owing to inflation, it is possible to index-link the sum so that it maintains its current-day value A specific gift. This involves leaving a specific personal possession to Reigate Grammar School: examples include property, jewellery, antiques, works of art, stocks and shares.

Small or large, it all makes a difference

Alan David George Oates (6 April 1927 to 16 January 2019) grew up in Godalming, then Reigate, attending Reigate Grammar School – something he was very proud of all his life, wearing his RGS tie with pride. Alan became very involved with the work of the Foundation as one of our early 1675 Society members and was passionate about the importance of education and social mobility.

Alan reluctantly left school at 16 in order to help contribute to the family and got his first job as an estate agent. Sadly, his 19 -year-old brother was shot down flying a Lancaster bomber over Germany and shortly afterwards, in April 1945 , Alan was called up to the Army, aged just 18. He was sent to Egypt, to help establish a British Prisoner of War camp for soldiers who had been captured by the Allied Forces. He had many interesting stories about his role in interviewing prisoners to see if they were true fascists or if they were, like him, just following orders. Alan demonstrated great empathy for the young soldiers.

After his return to England, he worked in the City for Insurance Brokers Baines Dawes. At the age of 50, Alan took early retirement due to anxiety, but went on to achieve a BA in Philosophy from the Open University.

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The 1675 Society The 1675 Society was established in 2010 for those who wish to support the Foundation by remembering RGS in their Will. A legacy is a permanent testimony to your affection for the school and the values RGS holds. By pledging a gift in your Will to the RGS Foundation, you become a member of the 1675 Society – a growing and vibrant community.

As such, you will be welcomed to special events that allow us to say thank you.

He met Marjorie at a psychology conference and they were soon married.

They moved to South Norwood where they lived for 30 years, and then to Old Coulsdon in the late ’9 0s, at which time Alan became a philosophy teacher.

They both loved classical music and good plays on BBC Radio Four.

In his last couple of years, several years after the loss of Marjorie, Alan immersed himself in his poetry and occasionally singing hymns. He would write snippets of advice on how to be a good person, without judging others and would often read Rudyard Kipling’s If and say it was a recipe for life. He attended several Foundation events at the school and was particularly keen to see young people fulfilling their potential.

Alan Oates’ legacy Alan wanted to leave a legacy that would make a significant impact. He chose to do this by leaving a considerable percentage of his estate in his Will to the school and, in 2020, the RGS Foundation received a major gift in support of the Changing Lives campaign. With his generosity, we have been able to establish the Alan Oates Scholars Fund, which will provide full bursaries at RGS in perpetuity, ensuring that his passion for education and social mobility lives on.

“Our work focuses on providing the most disadvantaged children in our area a transformational education to help them fulfil their potential. With so many children in our region living in extremely challenging circumstances, we have much more work to do.

Alan understood this and we are most grateful for his support, both during his lifetime and now through his legacy. We will endeavour to remember his impact through bursaries in his name. His legacy gift is already changing young lives with two Alan Oates Scholars now attending RGS.”

What to do next Read through the supporting documents on our website (rgs. foundation/support-us/leave-alegacy) or contact us to request a copy in the post (01737 222231). This will provide you with suggested wording, explain how to amend an existing Will and give helpful information on related areas such as reducing your tax Contact the Foundation team, who will be happy to discuss your personal requirements and explain how your gift will be used Speak to your solicitor. They will be able to advise you on the best way to record your intentions, maximize the impact on your financial arrangements and be able to advise on amending your Will.

Sean Davey, Head of Foundation

Act today... transform tomorrow

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Reigate Grammar School has partnered with Morrisons Solicitors to provide legacy guidance. Contact Morrisons for advice on writing a Will by calling 01737 854546 or go to morrlaw.com/giftsinwills.

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SCHOOL NEWS ®

SCHOOL OF THE YEAR! Reigate Grammar School has been named School of the Year in the prestigious Tatler Schools Awards. The announcement was made at a special online event, hosted on Tatler Schools’ IGTV (Instagram).

The Tatler Schools Guide is one of the most prestigious school reviewers operating across the sector and we are proud to have been listed in its 2020 Schools Guide and named as the top school in the country.

The review says Reigate Grammar is a “caring and inclusive school… producing down-to-earth yet high-achieving all rounders.”

Adding that RGS has a sense of “community at its heart”.

Headmaster Shaun Fenton said: “I am delighted that Reigate Grammar School has been announced as School of the Year by this prestigious school reviewer and magazine.

Of course, it is the experience of our students and staff on a daily basis that trumps any award but it does help to see how the school is held in high regard by respected external sources.

I see these nominations as testament to the quality of our teachers, the support of our parent body and to the credit of the fine young Reigatians in our care.”

RGS was also shortlisted for ‘School of the Year’ in the Independent Schools of the Year 2020 awards programme.

DRAMA Setting aside the challenges, 2020 created an opportunity to explore new concepts, technology and ways of working for the Drama department.

A production of The Secret Diary – originally scheduled as a stage production for June – was adapted into a film and recorded during lockdown by Third and Fourth Form students. This really showed the commitment of students and staff and the film was a delight! The autumn term was packed with a variety of exciting performances, including the First Form’s new interpretation of A Christmas Carol, featuring over 25 separate scenes rehearsed and performed in bubbles.

The show was filmed in a day and released online for the whole Reigatian community to enjoy. Visit rgsdrama.net for all the latest news.

MUSIC Throughout 2020, the Music department has explored innovative ways for students to showcase their talents. In September, it launched RGS Sounds, where students’ solo and ensemble performances were shared each Friday on the RGS Music YouTube channel. The new First Form recorded a socially-distanced version of John Legend’s All of Me. Polyphony and the Brass Ensemble gave a moving performance of Abide with Me for the Remembrance Day service. RGS in Concert at Leatherhead Theatre was the first live concert since March – what a treat it was to be able to share music with a real-life audience! Students performed superbly. As part of the school’s outreach programme, virtual performances, including the Advent Playground Performance series, were shared with local care homes. Visit youtube.com and search for ‘RGS Music’ to enjoy the performances.

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ART, DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Talented RGS students consistently produce a plethora of beautiful works of art using a wide range of creative techniques and media

Prosthetic make-up effects: Students applied a variety of ready-made prosthetics based on themes such as science fiction, mythical or aquatic creatures

First Form students created fun and dynamic mini planters, designed to hold a small plant, for a project studying portrayal of the human form

Lower Sixth students have been exploring different photographic techniques and chose their own themes to develop into their foundation projects

ReiMUN RGS proudly engineered the world’s first online Model United Nations (MUN conference), welcoming 16 schools to the all-day event. Advanced filming of some regular ReiMUN staples included the

keynote address and the Chair’s briefing.

This year’s keynote speaker was Alan Bates (RGS 1990-1997), a top Barrister working in competition law in London, who spoke about the making and breaking of

international law. Other debate topics included gender pay gap equality, the sharing of water resources and the colonisation of Mars. More virtual conferences are sure to follow.

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SCHOOL NEWS

COMPUTER SCIENCE Six RGS Upper Sixth Form students successfully completed the Qufaro and City & Guilds Cyber Security EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). At their virtual graduation ceremony David H, John O, Max C, Tae K, Harrison B and Ahmad H were all awarded A* grades and, in recognition of their achievement, have been given honorary membership to the prestigious Chartered Institute of Information Security (CiiSec). David H’s project on Bitcoin security and Harrison B’s project on the role humans play in creating security risks, were both awarded additional prizes.

DofE Despite turbulent times, DofE students at all levels were able to venture out on expeditions. Third Form students achieved their Bronze Award by putting their camp craft and navigation skills to the test on the North Downs. While Silver students trekked 50km along the South Downs.

Gold Award students had mild weather and challenging hills to climb in Wales.

Covid-19 presented challenges, yet the Gold students showed that with proper planning, and the skills and experience gathered over their DofE careers, anything is possible.

SPORT When summer cricket, tennis and athletics were put on hold, students became well versed in the phenomenon of online PE lessons. As the autumn term began, sport did return but, in the absence of competitive fixtures against other schools, students enjoyed a more varied and creative training programme. The aim throughout 2020 has been to strike a balance between physical and mental health, with a focus on developing skills. When competitive sport does return, our students will be ready!

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RGS INTERNATIONAL CONTINUES TO GROW

An artist’s impression of RGS Zhangjiagang primary school

Given the considerable impact of the pandemic and the global challenges that it has created, we can look back on 2020 with some satisfaction, with significant progress made in our international business and education activities.

Encouraged by the growing strength of the school’s academic results and the RGS brand, and the worldwide reputation of British education, Reigate Grammar School has been exploring options for international expansion.

Reigate Grammar School International Limited was established in 2017 to develop our international footprint and to identify partners who would enjoy a long-term collaboration with RGS. This began in 2018 when we signed a multi-school deal with the Chinese Kaiyuan Education and identified the ancient city of Nanjing to be the location of our first school. Having initially established the kindergarten, 2020 saw the emergence of the primary school. Phase two of the project will see the middle school completed and operational by September 2021.

Meanwhile, rapid progress has been made with school two, based in the free-port city of Zhangjiagang, near Shanghai. Currently under construction, with the junior school almost complete, the whole school will be fully operational by September 2022.

RGS International is now looking forward to officially announcing the launch of RGS Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, to be our third school in the territory which will open with a senior school.

Meanwhile, in February, we signed a non-commercial MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Zhixin High School, one of the highest-rated schools in China and based in Guangzhou, with the aim of developing educational collaboration through cultural exchange and joint initiatives involving both children and staff.

There has also been progress with other projects in other countries, to broaden our portfolio and relationships. We are hopeful that RGS will be the first British school brand in Morocco, having signed an MOU in January with the British International School of Casablanca, as part of the UK-Morocco trade agreement.

In June, a further MOU was signed with the International School of Vietnam, based in Hanoi. Again, when completed, RGS will be the first UK school to establish formal links in the country.

It has been important to welcome overseas visitors to Reigate and share educational ideas and perspectives, whilst promoting our ethos.

We are extremely grateful to all RGS staff and students who demonstrate all that is excellent about our school and create such positivity to our visitors and partners.

By developing international links and perspectives, we hope to enrich the RGS community further through exchange opportunities for students and staff.

It will open up cultural and educational links across continents, which is crucial in the increasingly global world in which we live.

Children and staff in Nanjing and Reigate are already enjoying active collaboration.

Finally, let us remember that income generated by the international schools helps to fund RGS bursaries for disadvantaged students. The school is committed to an ambitious drive for social mobility via its Changing Lives campaign.

Sean Davey, Managing Director, RGS International Ltd.

In January, RGS signed an agreement to open a school in Morocco

Nanjing primary school opened in 2020.

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LEAVING STAFF PHIL WILLIAMS (RGS STAFF 2011-2020) Head of Design Technology and Head of Sports Scholarships If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? Brace yourself, there’s a lot to take in but enjoy it! Under promise and over deliver (I would often get ahead of myself) – this is something that I developed over my time at RGS. What are you most proud of? Taking the DT department to a new level and increasing participation.

I think that staff, students and parents saw the value in the creative subjects and it was a privilege to help develop the designers of the future.

What will you miss the most? It sounds clichéd, but I will miss being in the classroom with such talented students – seeing their ideas develop into real-world concepts. I also made some good friendships over the years and will miss having the odd beer in The Venture at the end of term!

What will you miss the least? Meetings! I have the concentration of a child and trying to listen for long periods of time was not my forte, but generally I enjoyed everything else so it was a trade-off I could cope with!

Your fondest memory? Sports days were the highlight of the school year – to see students out of the classroom excelling in various events. The atmosphere down at Hartswood was always good and it was a fitting way to round off the school year.

Any other comments? I’d like to say thank you to all the staff, students and parents that I came across at RGS. Leaving in a hurry prior to the first lockdown meant I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. Hopefully, I’ll get back at some point to say hello.

JAN THEW (RGS 2007-2020) School Office Administrative Assistant If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? Not to think of the school as job, but as a family.

What are you most proud of? Setting up new procedures and working on cover and training What will you miss the most? I will miss the student contact and not working with Lucia Sileo.

What will you miss the least? Carrying out First Aid and the fact that it meant being constantly interrupted!

Your fondest memory? Taking part in the fashion show for the summer festival and choreographing the dance.

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We were sorry to say farewell to the following staff in 2020...

RACHEL ELLEN (RGS STAFF 2005-2020) CCF Contingent Commander and former Head of Design Technology and Teacher of Art and Design If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Sometimes it’s okay to say ‘no’!

What are you most proud of? The genuine and huge impact that the CCF has on Cadets, their independence, self-confidence and approach.

What will you miss the most? The lovely students and the truly amazing staff. RGS will always be a part of who I am. The friends I have made, and the fantastic students, will always be in my heart.

What will you miss the least? The paperwork!

Your fondest memory? Our first DT exhibition and endless, truly enjoyable lessons. I loved getting messages from past students and cadets.

SANDRA PERCY (née CLARKE) (RGS STAFF 2010-2020) Head of Learning Support and Teacher of English If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Everything is going to be alright!

What are you most proud of? I feel privileged to have played a small role in the journey that our students with SEND have been on – from their very first days in the school until they leave seven years later. For some of them, there have been considerable challenges, and to watch them flourish and achieve their very best has been the most amazing experience.

What will you miss the most? Being able to make a difference, even if only in a small way, to the day-to-day school experience of some of our most vulnerable young people.

What will you miss the least? 8am meetings!

NIVETHA VASANTHAKUMAR (RGS STAFF 2015-2020) Teacher of Mathematics and Assistant Head of Fifth Form If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Talk to everyone and go to all social events. Try new things!

What are you most proud of? All of the connections made with the Reigatian community – pupils, parents, teachers, etc. Career progression from NQT to Assistant Head of Fifth Form.

What will you miss the most? My colleagues – it’s such a supportive environment, both within the department and in the common room.

What will you miss the least? The commute!

Your fondest memory? My A level and GCSE Class of 2018 students – my first groups, where relationships with parents and pupils were built over two to three years.

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WE ALSO BID A FOND FAREWELL TO: Beverley Channon (RGS staff 2005-2020) Learning Support Assistant

HAZEL LIGHT (RGS STAFF 2006-2020) Assistant Librarian

Hayley Robinson (RGS staff 2014-2020) Head of Personalised Learning, Head of Scholarships and Enrichment, Assistant Head of English Anne Lloyd (RGS staff 2014-2020) Librarian Richard Birkett (RGS staff 2015-2020) Performance Director of Rugby

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Make more use of folders in Microsoft Outlook!

What are you most proud of?

My ability to cope with wild camping in the Cambrian Mountains in Wales whilst helping with a DofE Gold expedition. I even went back the following year and did it again!

What will you miss the most?

The sheer quantity of books that are available in the school library.

I have read so many over the past 14 years, many on subjects that I wouldn’t have ordinarily chosen. I have discovered new authors, and revisited classic ones, as well as learning about subjects that were not offered when I was at school.

What will you miss the least?

I will be very pleased not to keep having to keep saying, ‘Shhhhhh’!

Your fondest memory?

Seeing the children start at age 11, then watching them grow and mature into the young adults who go off to university, knowing that in some small way, I have helped them on their way.

Chris Bowen (RGS staff 2015-2020) Performance Director of Hockey Charlotte Carter (RGS staff 2015-2020) Drama Support Stuart Ellen (RGS staff 2016-2020) CCF volunteer/SSI Josh Evans (RGS staff 2016-2020) Teacher of Mathematics Kelly Mumford (RGS staff 2016-2020) Office Assistant Caroline Donald (RGS staff 2017-2020) Reigatian Community Officer Louise Ehren (RGS staff 2017-2020) Admin Assistant Martin Morgan (RGS staff 2017-2020) Premises Assistant Kirsten Mackison (RGS staff 2018-2020) Athletics Coach Anita Fernandez Gonzalez (RGS staff 2019-2020) Language Assistant Gaelle Heripret (RGS 2019-2020) Language Assistant Sean Watson (RGS staff 2019-2020) Tennis Coach

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PUBLICATIONS DAVID WALLIAMS (RGS 1981-1989)

Little Monsters Howl with laughter and squeal with delight at this monstrously exciting picture book from David Walliams, illustrated by the awesome Adam Stower! Howler is a small werewolf with a big problem – he is just not scary! And that makes him the odd one out at Monster School. When Howler finds some new friends, however, he discovers that being the odd one out might just make him the coolest one of all.

the stinkiest feet in the world; Harriet Hurry, the fastest mum on two wheels; Monty Monopolize, the dad who takes all his kids toys; and Supermum, brandishing a toilet brush, a mop and a very bad homemade outfit…

Code Name Bananas It’s 1940 and Britain is at war with Nazi Germany. Eleven-year-old Eric spends his days at the place that makes him most happy: London Zoo. And there’s one animal that he particularly loves: Gertrude the gorilla. With bombs falling

The World’s Worst Parents Get ready to meet the worst parents ever!

While some parents can be embarrassing, they have nothing on this lot. Over ten tales we meet Peter Pong, the man with

CLAIRE S LEWIS (RGS parent)

No Smoke Without Fire Celeste has been running from her traumatic past, but now her past has caught up with her. For seven years, Celeste has battled her guilt and shame over the tragic events that led to her little brother’s death. Life is almost getting back to normal, with new friends, new dates, a new job training as a florist. But when her high-school boyfriend, Ben, comes back into her life just as she discovers that she has a stalker, she wonders if there’s more to her half-buried memories than she can recall. Celeste is determined to expose the truth – but she’s about to find out that when you play with fire, you get burned…

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She’s Mine The audiobook version of Claire’s 2019 debut novel was also released in 2020.

When Scarlett falls asleep on a Caribbean beach she awakens to her worst nightmare – Katie is gone. With all fingers pointing at her, Scarlett must risk everything to clear her name. As she begins to unravel Katie’s mother’s complicated past, she begins to think there’s more to Katie’s disappearance than meets the eye. But who would want to steal a child? And how did no-one see anything on the small island? Time is running out and Scarlett is certain of only one thing – she didn’t kill Katie. Did she?

over London, Eric must rescue Gertrude.

Together with his Uncle Sid, a keeper at the zoo, the three go on the run.

But while hiding out at the seaside they uncover a top-secret Nazi plot…

Slime Isle of Mulch is a little island that is home to some horrible grown-ups. The school, the local park, the toy shop, even the island’s ice-cream van, are run by adults whose goal is to make children miserable.

And the island is owned by the most awful one of all – Aunt Greta Greed! Something needs to be done, but who could be brave enough? Meet Ned – an extraordinary boy with a special power.

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BEVIS HILLIER (RGS 1951-1959)

ELEANOR BRAHAM (RGS 2014-2019)

RIYA M (First Form student)

Elgarado! How I cracked Elgar’s Enigma Sir Edward Elgar always hinted that a well-known tune lay hidden at the heart of his Enigma Variations (1899). What was the ‘Enigma’?

Over the years, various guesses have been made – some of them bizarre.

In Elgarado! How I cracked Elgar’s Enigma, Bevis Hillier puts forward a totally new theory: that Elgar encoded the tune of the old Welsh song, Men of Harlech, in the Variations. Advancing a series of powerful arguments – five killer proofs – Hillier makes his case, not as a music academic, but in clear, layman’s language and vivid prose. It is a momentous discovery, a grand revelation!

Elaine Gill and Peter Westward need to move house. With ageing parents to look after, and their children, Sam, Hagar and Gus needing more space, they have no choice but to find somewhere bigger to live. When Gill’s dream home comes onto the market, at a suspiciously low price for the size, it seems like a dream come true. The only drawback is the sinister previous owner, Elaine. When she moves out and the Westwards move in, everything is fine. Until Elaine starts appearing everywhere, watching them from afar, and ghosts are seen around the house. Discovering that not all is as it seems, the family are sucked into a world of murder, ghosts and revenge.

The Great Escape A fictional adventure for children aged eight to 12 years old, the main protagonists are a brother and sister called Nate and Heather, who live in Oak Town.

They thought it was the safest place in the world... until now! When three thieves arrive, not even the police can stop them. Heather and Nate discover a hidden letter and a map.

Following the map sets them on an adventure and they soon realise that the fate of their town lies in their hands.

While the thieves are causing lots of trouble, Heather and Nate soon realise that the criminals have a much bigger secret. Will they be able to save the town, or are they too late?

JOHN STANTON (RGS 1997-2002)

JOE CHEAL (RGS 1980-1986)

Public Law (Second Edition) Dr. John Stanton (Senior Lecturer in Law, City University of London) has recently published the second edition of his leading Oxford University Press textbook, Public Law. Co-authored with Dr Craig Prescott (Bangor University), Public Law explores the essential elements of Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Rights in the UK. It is intended to serve as a core text for students studying Law at either undergraduate level (LLB) or postgraduate level (GDL), as it covers one of the fundamental aspects of legal education in the UK. Discussing issues from Brexit to devolution, Parliament to the rule of law, and judicial review to rights to protest, it provides one of the most up-to-date accounts of the UK’s constitutional and governmental system.

Driving Your Destiny: Taking Control of Your Career and Living Goals Joe started writing this on 22 March 2020, not fully appreciating how relevant it would become! It is based on 30+ years of evolving tools, tips, models, concepts, techniques, processes, questions, thoughts, reflections, philosophies, mindsets... inspired by the strategies of the most successful, motivated and happy people he has encountered in life. Joe said, “I wanted it to be the guide I wish I’d read when I was 20”! The book features 125 practical pieces exploring topics such as resilience, motivation, confidence, purpose, progression, success, happiness, achieving goals, networking, influence, success at interviews, finding work-life balance and handling difficult situations.

you need to resolve them. This updated book is a unique guide to greater innovation, heightened wellbeing and enhanced thinking power through paradox and tensions management. Author, Joe Cheal, has been helping people work through impossible problems since 1993. He has a degree in Philosophy and Psychology, an MSc in Organisational Development and a fascination for the weird things that organisations do!

Solving Impossible Problems (Second Edition) Impossible problems are those that twist and turn and defy resolution. When you think you have them nailed down, they loop, split and flip, taking you round in circles until you find yourself back at square one. Solving Impossible Problems will give you a greater understanding of organisational tensions and paradox and the practical tools

Had something published?

Many of our Reigatian community are published authors and our school library proudly includes many a signed book!

If you’re writing something, please let us know by emailing: foundation@reigategrammar.org.

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DEATHS & OBITUARIES

ROBIN BLIGH 1929-2020 (RGS STAFF 1953-1994) Robin was born in Teddington in 1929, the second of five children, and the eldest of four boys. With a bossy older sister and boisterous younger brothers, even from an early age, Robin kept himself to himself.

He was a man of few words, independently minded with professional discretion, who was trustworthy and governed by personal integrity.

Our parents came together as Christian pacifists in WWI and continued to be conscientious objectors in WWII. Interestingly, before he married, our Father had an interview for the Headship at Reigate Grammar, but when they discovered that he hadn’t fought in the war, they ended the interview!

In the late 1930s, our parents accommodated young German Jewish children fleeing Nazi persecution. It was one of those youngsters who introduced Robin to the Hampton Hills Sea Scouts, which he finally joined in 1942.

Robin’s secondary education was a wartime experience – he was ten at the outbreak of war and 16 when it finished.

Heavy air raids were common during his first winter at Hampton Grammar School. Indeed, his two-mile cycle journey in pea-souper fogs on icy roads in the blackout must have been terrifying.

Robin could not join the Sea Scouts until Hitler had invaded the Soviet Union and air raids ceased. Supervision was thin at 78

times, because former Scout Masters were all away fighting, but Robin and his friends learned a lot of skills messing around in boats. Robin perfected his strong breaststroke in the Thames as there was little river traffic during the war. For summer camps they went along the river to Marlow or the River Wey. Food rationing made organising camps particularly difficult. I have no doubt that the skills Robin learnt at this time were passed on to the Reigate troops decades later.

After leaving school, the post-war revelations of the Nazi atrocities meant that Robin could not follow the pacifist route and, in January 1948, he was conscripted into the RAF for 18 months.

At Cambridge he attended a course on leadership for Scouts. He read Mathematics and Geography to strengthen his teaching potential and represented the University in the 200m breaststroke and Clare College in cricket, rugby and water polo. After Cambridge, he took a postgraduate course at London Institute of Education, specialising in the teaching of Geography.

From April 1953 he applied to leading grammar schools, including Manchester and Leeds, without success. Quiet and analytical, Robin was a poor interviewee.

He applied to Reigate Grammar saying, ‘I don’t mind if I don’t get that one!’.

Perhaps because of this he was more relaxed and displayed more of himself.

36 hours later he received a telegram offering him the post. He stayed in Reigate for another 67 years!

He started and ran a successful Scout troop; organised foreign trips with adventures that were exciting and risky; was active in coaching cricket and rugby.

All of these outgoing, visible-to-all activities seem at odds with the introvert he was at home. So, I asked him once, what drove this high-level of activity for 40 years?

His statement was simple: he was interested in helping boys. This was a significant private declaration; central to who Robin was.

He was a superb teacher, but what made his teaching superb? In helping boys he was not just teaching – he was interested in people at a personal level. Although superficially, the concept of education was about teaching a whole class, his methods were to ask questions of individuals and get them to use logic.

This Socratic method suited his personality.

He developed students’ thinking skills, not just imparted knowledge.

The same principles applied in the Scouts, where older children were encouraged to mentor younger ones; to take their own decisions and assess their own risks. His skill was to create the conditions in which freedom could be responsibly exercised, where it was less about instruction and more about management of learning.

The reticent, undemonstrative personality developed in childhood was conducive to this style of teaching decades later. Most statues or monuments are erected to great people. Robin was a quiet man and probably wouldn’t be classed as such, therefore I am so pleased that the school has planted a tree in his memory.

He was much deserving of such recognition as the floods of personal testimonies Robin received on his 90th birthday bear witness. Robin was truly a model for humanity.

Obituary with thanks to brother, Donald Bligh A Robin Bligh memorial event is scheduled to take place this Summer (subject to Covid restrictions). To register your interest for this event, please email the Foundation team: foundation@reigategrammar.org.

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

JOHN O’HARA 1946-2020 (RGS STAFF 1990-2008) It is with great sadness that we report the death of John O’Hara in April 2020. John taught Maths at Reigate Grammar for 18 years, from 1990 until he retired. He will be best remembered for running the school’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, building it to become the popular and successful scheme that remains today.

John was unwavering in his dedication to supporting students in both Maths and DofE. Dai Bader remembers John being accommodating within the Maths department, always saying, “I’ll fit in wherever you need me”. The same can be said with regard to DofE as he continued to come on all the Gold expeditions long after he retired, offering his total support

SHIRLEY MORRIS 1928-2020 (RGS STAFF 1973-88) When her sons, Peter (RGS 1964-72) and Michael (RGS 1965-1972), were pupils at the school, Shirley Morris played the role of enthusiastic parent par excellence and was frequently to be seen on sports

through thick and thin, indeed his last expedition was as recent as 2018.

John was always quiet, fair and kind but students and staff were under no illusion that he expected the very highest standards. John’s method was to impart advice patiently so that students would arrive at sensible decisions and learn how to cope independently and apply their learning in difficult conditions, whether in the exam room or on a remote mountain.

In some ways, John never ‘taught’ anyone, we all learned through a kind of absorption of his excellent example.

Although not a typically sporty figure, John was a true man of the mountains.

He was a tough, fit character and would frequently surprise younger and more athletic colleagues by walking the legs off them! He led school adventure trips in the UK as well as to Peru. He completed challenges such as the Three Peaks and the Welsh 3000s with students and teachers who were inspired to join him. From these trips John cultivated a tremendously loyal band of RGS students and staff, many of whom went on to become qualified Mountain Leaders themselves. John’s heart was in the mountains, probably somewhere over Plynlimon where he will be remembered by many as the person who cultivated their love of the wild.

John was skilled at getting colleagues to

assist with DofE expeditions, often without them realising they had agreed!

He made teachers feel appreciated and valued on his trips so they would return year after year. He suffered from increasingly painful arthritis, which he must have found particularly difficult whilst camping, yet always remained positive. He was a solid tower of strength, even in later years, supporting expeditions in ways that will be impossible to replace.

John had an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and wildlife, spotting rare birds and naming obscure mountain grasses as passing points of interest rather than seeking to impress companions. Many will not realise that John’s talents included that of being a croupier before he began his teaching career – probability must have been one of his favourite topics!

John’s modesty and aversion to self-promotion was part of his charm.

Accompanying this was his dry wit.

His delightful personality made him such splendid company that a day’s walk in the mountains was a pleasure. We mourn the loss of this friend and former colleague, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his partner, Sheila. He will be greatly missed by the RGS community.

Obituary with thanks to Simon Collins, Teacher of Geography and Head of Outdoor Training

touchlines, in play and concert audiences and at a variety of other school events.

In 1973, Shirley joined the school in her own right as a secretary in the school office. Her cheerfulness and enthusiasm endeared her to staff, pupils and parents alike, until her retirement in 1988.

It was in organising a variety of extracurricular activities that she really shone.

Barely a month went by without Shirley pinning notices to boards about outings for staff, parents, Sixth-Formers and Scouts to operas, musicals and plays in London and elsewhere. There was scarcely a school event that did not benefit from her involvement!

Typical of her enthusiasm was a Scout concert that featured a short sketch of The Magic Roundabout. Not only did she write the script (with Scout Leader, Robin Bligh), she also masterminded the costumes (rallying

a team of mums to help), devoting an amount of time and effort that were out of all proportion to the duration of the sketch!

Faced with the task of turning a Venture Scout into Dougal, Shirley scoured the county for supplies of plumbers’ hemp and spent hours sewing countless yards of it onto a large body stocking to create the star of the show – a four-foot long Skye terrier that was more realistic than Dougal himself!

In her later years, Shirley succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease and lived in a care home in Cambridgeshire near her daughter, Anne. In February 2020, she passed away at the age of 91. She will be fondly remembered by staff and pupils from her years with the School, just as they provided many of her own fondest memories.

Obituary with thanks to Shirley’s son, Peter Morris 79

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DEATHS & OBITUARIES

ROSEMARY FEW 1932-2020 (RGS STAFF 1979-2004)

MARTIN ELLIS 1943-2020 (RGS STAFF 1986-2003) I met Martin Ellis, Director of Music, in 1993. Little did I realise the impact that first meeting would have on me, not just throughout my five years at RGS, but in the two decades which followed.

We all have that teacher who stands out from our school days, and for me it was Mr Ellis.

For anyone with an interest or passion for music, there were always a wealth of opportunities made available at RGS – both within the school, and beyond. Martin arranged performances for the orchestra, band and choir in venues ranging from Dorking Halls to Southwark Cathedral.

And on several occasions at St. Martin’s Church in Dorking, where he was also Director of Music and Organist for 28 years until relocating to Ipswich in 2014.

The school carol service was a highlight of the calendar, and there was always a genuine sense of trepidation as the choir waited to see who Martin would pick to sing the opening solo verse to Once in Royal David’s City. Even as a tenor or bass, it was stressful to watch as one of the sopranos waited for that infamous tap on 80

the shoulder, seconds before we walked on.

RGS was blessed to have Martin’s presence at the school for some 17 years, and many pupils went on to enjoy his support long after they left. I’ll never forget the day I received a call, out of the blue, to say he’d heard I was getting married, and could he please play the organ at my wedding. Suffice to say, I don’t think All Saints Church in Banstead has ever witnessed such an amazing recital, and it made one of the most memorable days of my life, all that more special.

Nor could staff or pupils forget the trademark bad jokes he brought to almost every encounter. Being able to gauge when you’d heard the punchline required great skill and was something I was clearly still mastering when we last met for an evening out in 2019.

It therefore seems both fitting, and entirely appropriate, to end with one of Martin’s better jokes, as shared to a packed congregation during the service of thanksgiving to celebrate his life, which was held in February 2020.

What do you get when you drop a piano down a mineshaft? A flat minor.

Obituary with thanks to James Keeler (RGS 1993-1998)

Rosemary Few (Hill) (née Bannister) was born in Croydon in 1932. Already learning piano, she took up the clarinet at Croydon High School. At the early age of 17, she left school to attend the Royal College of Music.

On graduating, Rosemary joined the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, however, within a year, it was under threat of closure and Rosemary, together with horn-playing partner Raymond Few, had to consider other options. By 1955 they were married, enjoying an extended working honeymoon as members of the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra.

On returning to the UK, Rosemary freelanced with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra before being offered a position with the Festival Ballet and Ballet Rambert.

But within a couple of years the couple were setting sail (with their newborn daughter, Debbie) for Wellington, where Rosemary played with the New Zealand Broadcasting Company Symphony Orchestra.

In 1964, the now growing family returned to the UK. Teaching gradually took the place of performing and in 1979, Rosemary joined the music staff at Reigate Grammar School. As her local influence grew, Rosemary was appointed woodwind secretary for the Reigate and Redhill Music Festival, organising classes, booking adjudicators and choosing the repertoire.

Rosemary continued to perform, playing at the annual Holland Park Opera Festival.

She joined the Crawley Millennium Concert Band (in 1994) and the Band of the Surrey Yeomanry (in 2000). After Ray’s death, she had a happy second marriage to Robert Hill.

She lived for music and was a talented, all-round musician who could accompany her pupils at the piano in Brahms, then demonstrate the phrasing on the clarinet.

She died suddenly and tragically on 25 June 2020 and will be sadly missed by her family, friends and former pupils. Rosemary is survived by her three children, Debbie, Richard and Jonathan.

Obituary with thanks to daughter, Debbie Thackeray, née Few (RGS 1976-1978)

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DEIRDRE HICKS 1934-2020 (RGS STAFF 1978-2000)

When I became Director of Music in 1979, it was clear that, due to rising demand, I would need more teachers. Rosemary was my first appointment.

She was a rock-steady presence at concerts, operas and musicals. Famously, she was a member of the orchestra in the production of Richard Rodney Bennett’s All the King’s Men in 1983 which featured the young David Walliams as Queen Henrietta Maria. When David returned to RGS in 2012 to make a television documentary about this production, Rosemary was there, in company with other students and staff from those days thirty years earlier.

Rosemary had a distinguished career and personally knew many big names, including John Williams, composer of the music for some of the most famous films of our times, including Star Wars, Jaws, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and Superman. Yet she remained modest about these connections.

Though saddened to hear of Rosemary’s passing, the news reminded me of happy times at RGS. The school had newlyreverted to independent status, and a large number from that era have gone on to national and international prominence.

Rosemary played her part in the story of RGS as the school travelled on that exciting path.

Tribute from Professor Robert Marsh, Director of Music (RGS 1979-86)

Deirdre Davidson Ive was born in London in 1934 and lived with her parents at The Hermitage, an old woodsman’s cottage close to the Dunottar Woods.

Her father, Dr Oliver Ive had been a prisoner of war in Italy for three years, whilst her mother, Isobel, worked as a physiotherapist at Redhill General Hospital helping to rehabilitate soldiers.

Deirdre attended Dunottar School, followed by Cheltenham Ladies College, where she studied music. She went on to study piano and clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music, before starting a long teaching career. She spent two years in Austria and two more in Canada before returning to the UK to marry Jon Rees in 1963. She took up a teaching post at The Hawthorns school, Bletchingley, then taught at Heathersett RNIB school and lobbied passionately for the RNIB to increase the

availability of Braille music in the 1970s.

Deirdre joined the RGS music teaching staff in 1978, having remarried to become Hicks. I remember her enthusiasm for her pupils, encouraging their creativity and delighting in their achievements. As a young child I sat in on many of her lessons and rehearsals for musical theatre productions such as Oliver!.

Deirdre was active in wider Surrey musical life having been involved in the Leith Hill Music Festival for many years, starting as the conductor of Buckland Choral Society and later becoming Chairman of the festival. She sang in LHMF performances conducted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, the then Festival Conductor, and appeared in a television documentary about him.

Deirdre sadly passed away in July 2020.

Her ability to cope cheerfully with adversity will always be an inspiration to me. She valued determination and courage and taught me to see the best in people. Her positive energy and enthusiasm for life were never dented by the difficulties she endured.

Obituary with thanks to daughter, Rebecca Rees (RGS 1982-84) I first met Deirdre when I joined RGS in 1978. Deirdre was teaching woodwind instruments (except oboe and bassoon).

She was also an excellent pianist, accompanying students in graded exams.

One of Deirdre’s flute students was none other than Keir Starmer. Deirdre prepared him for a performance of the Suite No. 2 in B Minor by J.S. Bach, one of whose movements is the famous Badinerie, which Keir performed expertly at a concert in St Martin’s Church, Dorking.

Deirdre and I also worked together at the Leith Hill Music Festival. When I conducted the Dorking Choral Society in Benjamin Britten’s St Nicholas in 1981, Deirdre acted as sub-conductor as her own choral society were part of the semi chorus.

Deirdre may have been slight of stature, but she had a big personality. She had formidable authority as both a musician and a leader, but she also had a great sense of humour. I count it as a real privilege to have known and worked with her.

Tribute from Professor Robert Marsh, Director of Music (RGS 1979-86) 81

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DEATHS & OBITUARIES

BARBARA MEHMOOD 1935-2020 (RGS STAFF 1994-2008)

PROFESSOR PETER FOOKES 1933-2020 (RGS 1944-1949) Peter was an internationally renowned geologist who applied his considerable skills to hundreds of civil and military engineering projects. He played a significant role in establishing engineering geology as both an academic subject and a rewarding career path. Throughout his career he mentored many aspiring geoscientists and took pleasure in communicating his love of his subject to the wider community.

Peter received numerous awards from organisations ranging from the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Royal Geographical Society (he was an Honorary Fellow) and the Geological Society of London.

His work took him to over 80 countries, from the jungles of Papua New Guinea to the Empty Quarter of Arabia, the high Himalayas and the wind-swept Falkland Islands. He was a world expert on subjects as diverse as salt attack on concrete, railways and pipelines, and the engineering properties of construction materials.

Peter survived several helicopter crashes, overturned dug-out canoes, snake bites, bouts of malaria, amoebic dysentery and being arrested by over-zealous military 82

patrols. He spent his life in the back of a four-wheel drive, travelled on horseback and in camel trains, walked through the Himalayas, scrambled along an experimental permafrost tunnel in Alaska and surveyed pipeline routes across the Great Western Sand Sea from a low-flying light aircraft.

His working life was like one long adventure holiday! Peter always said that his work had been his hobby and he never retired, still travelling to far-flung places in his 80s.

After leaving Reigate Grammar School Peter worked as a Technician in a Chemistry laboratory, where an implosion damaged his left hand. He turned to geology and won a scholarship to Queen Mary College, London, where he graduated with Special Honours in Mineralogy and Petrology.

His first steps as a field geologist were in Pakistan, working on the Mangla Dam. In 1971 he developed his own consultancy practice, however, he didn’t lose touch with the academic world, and was appointed as Honorary Professor at many universities including Queen Mary College, City University and Newcastle University.

Peter had five children and a soul mate in his wife, Edna. He had a mischievous sense of humour that will be much missed.

Obituary with thanks to Dr Mark Lee, one of Peter’s closest colleagues and friends

Barbara Mehmood had three sons at RGS between 1981 and 1995 – Mali, Jamie and Kamal – all of whom attended the school with the help of the Assisted Places Scheme following the death of their father.

Barbara first became involved in school life by running the secondhand clothing sale from the cellar under the Headmaster’s house, where she was able to give back by helping many a parent in need. Having also helped the PFA by serving refreshments at evening events, in the early 1990s Barbara was asked to take up the mantle of serving the staff teas and coffees every break time, which she did for over a decade.

She enjoyed the role that she had in the heart of the school, acting as a confidante or providing a comforting word to a teacher in need of a chat and a biscuit.

Barbara was proud of both her involvement in the RGS community and also the role that RGS played in her family’s life. She counted former Headmaster John Hamlin and his wife Marion as good friends and took great joy when they met up at the Hamlin’s house in the Lake District in 2015.

Barbara died in July 2020 at the age of 84 at home with her family by her side.

She had nine grandchildren (two at RGS), of whom she was so proud. Mrs. Hamlin wrote, “There goes the passing of a truly remarkable person whom we greatly respected and admired. Barbara was the most down-to-earth and positive person, totally selfless, and overcame huge odds with such cheerfulness.”

The family were grateful for the kind tributes from teaching staff, new and old.

Obituary with thanks to son, Jamie Mehmood (RGS 1985-1993)

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JOHN ERIC FUNNELL 1925-2020 (RGS 1933-1941) John was eight years old when he started at RGS and 16 when he left in 1941. At his interview in 1933 the Headmaster asked him how many pence there were in one shilling and sixpence. He said 17 (correct answer 18), but they accepted him anyway and so began eight very happy and successful years!

He enjoyed everything at school, spending happy hours on the cricket field, browsing the shelves in the school library, playing the piano, cello and organ. But, perhaps, more importantly he learned to be considerate, generous, thoughtful and intrinsically honest and it was for these attributes that so many loved him.

A few years ago, when our friends across the road sent two of their children to RGS, he loved to chat with Nick Cain (RGS 2005-2012) about the school and particularly

enjoyed returning to RGS to see Nick in the school play, The Wind in the Willows, and re-visiting some of his old classrooms.

John left RGS in 1941 after taking his school certificate and was apprenticed to a firm of local solicitors (the war was at its height but to his regret the Army wouldn’t have him due to his poor eyesight).

From 1947 until retirement in 1997 he remained a solicitor and in 1960 moved to a family firm, Eager & Sons, in Horsham.

He had no great ambition, just wanted to do a thoroughly good job and feel satisfied that he’d left no stone unturned. As a result he was much respected by his clients.

In December 2019, while out for coffee, someone recognised him even after all that time. Sadly, by then dementia had taken a firm grip and he deteriorated quite rapidly in the final few months.

Obituary with thanks to John’s wife, Yvonne Funnell QUENTIN ENGLISH 1943-2020 (RGS 1955-1961) It is my sad duty to report that my brother, Quentin died on 23 June 2020 from a rare form of cancer. Although we were only about 18 months apart in age (both wartime babies), we were in different school years and thus our experiences differed. Quentin’s First Form teacher was Mr Burrows, whereas mine was Mr Andrews.

Quentin’s interests always leant more towards the arts, whereas I preferred the sciences and, indeed, once he left RGS Quentin went to Chelsea Art School to pursue his desire for a creative career.

It was whilst at Chelsea that he met the lady who was to become his wife, and he and Ann were married for 53 years.

Interestingly, neither Quentin nor I eventually had careers in our respective areas of interest – we both ended up in the travel industry, as did many others in our family and we have received many tributes from those in that sector.

Quentin leaves behind his wife, Ann, a son and daughter, Matthew and Lucy and two grandsons, Noah and Ezra.

Obituary with thanks to brother, Richard English (RGS 1953-1958) 83

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DEATHS & OBITUARIES

VICE ADMIRAL SIR GEOFFREY DALTON KCB 1931-2020 (RGS 1942-1948) Geoffrey Thomas James Oliver Dalton was the second son of Jack Rowland Thomas Dalton and Margaret Kathleen Oliver. He was born in Kuala Lumpur when Jack was a rubber planter in Malaya. Soon after Geoffrey was born, the family returned to England, settling in Tadworth, Surrey.

Geoffrey attended Wick and Parkfield Prep followed by Reigate Grammar School and joined the Royal Navy in 1949 as an engineering cadet. He was the first Admiral to be National President of the Royal British Legion since Lord Jellicoe in the 1920s. In 1957, he married Jane Hamilton Baynes and they have four sons.

Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Dalton, KCB, died on 26 September, 2020, aged 89.

I knew him well from our days together at school in the late 1940s. Our backgrounds differed somewhat.

He was always an enthusiastic member of the Army Cadet Force and I recall him entering into the sometimes precarious exploits we enjoyed with blank ammunition and thunderflashes that enlivened our manoeuvres at summer camps on the Isle of Wight. He was, in fact, an excellent marksman and a keen member of the school small-bore rifle team.

We went our separate ways, but unknowingly, were serving a common cause when, as a Naval Officer on the frigate Dido, he was engaged in the irregular war with Indonesia in 1961, whilst I was on the Naval Base support staff in Singapore. He completed the Naval Staff course at Greenwich in 1962, which (unusually as a civilian) I attended in 1966 and subsequently, Geoffrey had three frigate commands, followed by prominent shore appointments.

His seamanship was of the highest order.

It was in command of the frigate Jupiter in 1979 that he came to the rescue of a Greek freighter, Iris, which was breaking up in appalling weather off south-west Portugal. Manoeuvring his ship for several hours, and coordinating the efforts of two other ships assisting, all hands were rescued. Several awards to his crew 84

members resulted and Geoffrey received the Commander-in-Chief’s commendation.

Later in his career, as Assistant Director of Naval Plans, he worked on the future size and shape of the fleet, which prepared him for becoming Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy) in 1981. We met on occasion in Bath, where I was serving in a civilian capacity as Director of Supply Management.

His last appointment on promotion to Vice-Admiral, was as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia from 1984-87 and he was knighted KBE in 1986. In his retirement, he became the first Admiral to be President of the Royal British Legion, overseeing the reintroduction of the nationwide two-minute silence.

A good man to have as a school friend and occasional colleague, it is an honour and privilege to have known such a distinguished Reigatian.

Obituary with thanks to Peter Elsey (RGS 1941-48)

NOTICE OF DEATHS 2020 Donald Rhodes (RGS 1941-1946) died 24 October 2020 Sarah Corbett (née Belcher) (RGS 1997-2004) died October 2020* Bryan Seymour (RGS 1941-1948) died 17 October 2020 Brian Boniface (RGS 1954-1961) died 3 October 2020 Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Dalton (RGS 1942-1948) died 26 September 2020 Peter Fookes (RGS 1944-1949) died 8 August 2020 James Whitter (RGS 1975-1982) died August 2020 Barbara Mehmood (RGS staff 1980-2007) died 31 July 2020 James Dalton (RGS 1993-2000) died 24 July 2020 Deirdre Hicks (RGS staff 1978-2000) died 6 July 2020

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JAMES NEALE DALTON 1981-2020 (RGS 1993-2000) We are very sad to report the untimely death of James, the son of Michael and Kate Dalton, on 24 July 2020 at the age of just 38.

James left RGS to read Mathematics at University College, Oxford. His university career also took him to Southampton and to Malardalen University in Sweden on an Erasmus Programme placement.

He graduated from the University of Southampton in 2004.

James’ working career started with Shell, where he was highly regarded by colleagues. His last post was as Senior HR Manager for Shell Global Finance, based in The Hague. The tributes from Shell colleagues are testimony to his success.

Speaking of James, one commented, “It is rare to meet someone who is witty, sharp, kind, caring and gives you advice which makes you crack up and not ignore”. His last boss talked of him as a sparring partner to many, helping them to think ahead and become better versions of themselves.

Outside work, James was a keen sportsman – he played hockey and cricket; he was a runner and a cyclist. He ran in four marathons, two in London, one in Berlin and another in Hamburg. His other passions in life were travelling, food and cooking.

Shell afforded him many opportunities to travel and his friends will forever remember enjoying good food and wine in his company.

In 2007, James met Sandra Jurzok, a Shell colleague from Hamburg who remained his partner until 2019. Their daughter Elena, born in Calgary in 2013, survives him. James was originally diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2009. He had major surgery in 2015 and again in September 2019. Further treatment following this second operation was going well until he was taken ill again in June 2020. His medical team confirmed that there was nothing more they could do.

His life was led to the full and his illness was bravely born. He will be much missed by his parents, daughter Elena, sister Julia, and his many friends and colleagues.

Obituary with thanks to James’ Father, Michael Dalton

Sir Geoffrey Dalton was James Dalton’s fourth cousin once removed. The two met a few times when James was a boy.

NOTICE OF DEATHS SUPPLEMENT Rosemary Few (Hill) (RGS staff 1979-2004) died 25 June 2020

John O’Hara (RGS staff 1990-2008) died April 2020*

Dennis Coles (RGS 1939-1944) died 27 December 2019

Quentin English (RGS 1955-1961) died 23 June 2020

John Griffin (RGS 1960-1968) died 7 March 2020

Malcolm Green (RGS 1958-1964) died 10 December 2019

Robin Bligh (RGS staff 1953-1994) died 17 June 2020

David Joel (RGS 1993-1998) died 3 March 2020

Peter Dench (RGS 1945-1950) died November 2019

Andrew Thom (RGS 1958-1963) died June 2020*

Shirley Morris (RGS staff 1965-1983) died 15 February 2020

Gerald White (RGS 1942-1949) died 21 November 2019

John Eric Funnell (RGS 1933-1941) died 26 May 2020

Martin Ellis (RGS staff 1986-2003) died January 2020*

Martin Wedlock (RGS 1960-1966) died 11 November 2019

Stanley Whitmore (RGS 1939-44) died 5 May 2020

John Walder (RGS 1938-1944) died 28 January 2020

Brian Leonard Francis Clarke (RGS 1937-1942) died 8 October 2019

Martin Baker (RGS 1972-1979) died May 2020

Brian William Gale (RGS parent of alumni) died 18 January 2020

David Tremlett (RGS 1932-1942) died 5 October 2019

Brian Wickens (RGS 1951-1958) died 20 April 2020

Keith Sharp (RGS 1944-1952) died 5 January 2020

Charles Atkinson (RGS 1950-1958) died in September 2019*

Simon Kaye (RGS 1972-1975) died 17 April 2020

Dr Godfrey N Lance (RGS 1940-1946) died 4 January 2020

Mario Betés (RGS 1971-1978) died 26 April 2019

Michael Stonard (RGS 1955-1963) died 14 April 2020

Bernard Hester (RGS 1939-1943) died 2020*

David Boyd (RGS 1971-1975) died 31 January 2019

*Exact date of death unknown

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BIRTHS & MARRIAGES CASSIA ALDRED, GUY ELLIS AND BABY EDEN ELLIS Double congratulations go to Cassia Aldred (RGS 2000-2008) and Guy Ellis (RGS 1997 -2005) who were married on 2 February

2019 (The Reigatian missed this last year) and were blessed with the arrival of baby Eden Ellis on 7 January 2020. Cassia wrote to say, “I wanted to inform you of my wedding and birth of our son as Guy and

I both went to RGS, although we weren’t a couple whilst we were there! We thought it might be nice for those who knew us both (especially staff) to hear our news as I think people might think us an unlikely match!”

CASSIA ALDRED (RGS 2000-2008) married GUY ELLIS (1997-2005). The following Reigatians made up the wedding party: Sarah-Jane Edwards, Andrew Mays, Paul Morgan, Kirsty Jordan, Matthew Ellis-Jones, Lois Bufton, Tory Yeomans

ELI JACK EDWARD SHEPHERD was born on 30 October 2020 at Royal Sussex hospital to parents Rebecca Puttock (RGS 1998-2006) and Graham Shepherd.

ELODIE GRACE GARDINER was born on 27 February 2020 at St George’s Hospital to James and Zoë Gardiner (née Duhig, RGS 2002-2004). She is an absolute delight and her big sister, Mia, is besotted!

CASSIA with baby EDEN ELLIS

GEORGE ERIC MONTY WALLACE (known as ‘Monty’) entered the world on 27 April 2020. His proud parents, Stephanie (née Jackson RGS 1998-2005) and Tom Wallace (RGS 1997-2005), both attended Reigate Grammar School, which is where they met. Stephanie’s father, Peter Jackson and his twin, Michael Jackson, attended RGS between 1959-66 and we are hoping that Monty may see fit to continue the family tradition!

ELLA ROSE EISENBERG arrived in the world on 7 March 2020 to the absolute joy of parents Emma Eisenberg (née Gabe, RGS 2001-2008) and Chris Eisenberg.

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 2 0

MERCHANDISE

Looking for a unique gift for a loved one?

All profits from the sale of commemorative products go towards our Changing Lives campaign, so why not treat yourself?

£50

MINIMUM DONATION

RGS ‘OLD SCHOOL’ RUGBY SHIRTS Authentic cotton ‘old school’ rugby shirts, featuring the old embroidered school crest on the chest with the Roman numerals ‘XV’ on the back with ‘1675’ (the year RGS was founded) on the collar.

Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL (sizes come up slightly on the large side).

£25

MINIMUM DONATION

RGS CREST NECKLACE This sterling silver necklace is engraved with the school crest on one side and ‛RGS’ on the back.

The pendant hangs on a 46cm chain and comes in a ribbon-tied presentation box.

£20 each £30 set

£20

MINIMUM DONATION

MINIMUM DONATION

RGS FOUNDATION UMBRELLA Make a statement with this classic, large black golf umbrella with the RGS logo on one side and a lime green Changing Lives logo on the other.

(Please note that an additional £5 p&p surcharge applies for this oversized item – collection from RGS is also available) 88

RGS TIES & CUFFLINKS The tie width is eight centimetres (three inches) at the widest point. Colour options: blue and silver or green and blue for both ties and cufflinks.

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E R E I G AT I A N CO M M U N I T Y

£45

MINIMUM DONATION

£10

MINIMUM DONATION

RGS SILK SCARF This elegant ladies 100% silk scarf features the RGS castle logo in a repeating pattern in cyan on navy, with a silver border.

The wording ‘Reigate Grammar School 1675’ is printed in one corner. 174cm x 40cm.

RGS BASEBALL CAP In a navy and royal blue colourway, this unisex RGS one-size-fits-all baseball cap, features the embroidered RGS castle logo on the front, along with ‘1675’ emblem on the back.

PLACING AN ORDER

£50

MINIMUM DONATION

To place an order please email: foundation@reigategrammar.org or call: 01737 222231.

Please include the following details with your order – Item, quantity, colour and size (if applicable) – Your full name – Delivery address and contact number

We offer free UK p&p with each order (exception: there is an additional £5 surcharge for umbrella orders – collection from RGS is also available) On receipt of payment, allow five working days for delivery. Please bear with us, delivery may take a little longer during periods of lockdown

£2.50 MINIMUM DONATION

RGS SCHOOL PICTURE: A3 PRINT / A5 GREETINGS CARD Commissioned by RGS and designed by local artist Helena Vaughan (helenvaughan.co.uk), this unique picture of Life at RGS is available as an A3 print, ready for framing, and comes with authentication certificate. An A5 greetings card with white envelope is also available.

PLEASE NOTE: Some items have limited stock availability for immediate dispatch.

We will, of course, notify you at the point of enquiry as to whether the item is available or not.

FREE P&P WITH MOST ORDERS!

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 2 0

MEET THE FOUNDATION TEAM HOW WE USE YOUR DATA THE GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION (GDPR) In May 2018 The General Data Protection Regulation came into force, extending the data rights of individuals. It requires us as an organisation and a charity to update our data-processing policies and take appropriate and extensive measures to protect your data.

SEAN DAVEY Head of Foundation spd@reigategrammar.org

JONNY HYLTON Associate Director jdh@reigategrammar.org

Currently, we hold information on you as a member of the Reigatian community on our database. This includes your name, address, email and phone number.

Depending on the extent to which you have been involved with the school, we may also hold information on donations you have given, Gift Aid declarations and possible correspondence we may have exchanged.

It is important for you to know that we do not share your data with other organisations or individuals, with the exception of those carefully selected to provide us with an essential service such as a mailing house (to send the Reigatian Magazine) or data cleansing (to ensure records we hold are accurate). We are committed to respecting your privacy and the GDPR enhances our data policies.

We contact individuals on our database with school and Foundation news, reunion and event invitations and fundraising campaign information, always giving you an opportunity to opt out.

CATHERINE HUTCHISON Development Executive cxh@reigategrammar.org

NIKKI BURCH Reigatian Community Officer njb@reigategrammar.org

Copies of our Privacy Notice and Data Retention Policy can be found on our website: rgs.foundation.

We hope you enjoy hearing from us and being part of the Reigatian community.

If you have any questions about how we handle your data, please do not hesitate to get in touch at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

CLASS OF EXPLAINED…

CLARE ADAMS Reigatian Community Administrator cla@reigategrammar.org

General enquiries Phone: 01737 222231 Email: foundation@reigategrammar.org Website: rgs.foundation 90

We record the dates that alumni attended RGS based on the year that they would have left had they stayed until the end of the Upper Sixth.

So if somebody left after the 5th form, their ‘Class of’ would be two years later than the date they actually left.

We record it this way to ensure that alumni are always categorised in the correct year group. If we organised a 50-year Gold Reunion, for example, we will invite the Class of 1971 (in 2021).

The Foundation Office exists to support the development of Reigate Grammar School and to foster the friendship and support of all Reigatians. The Reigatian community includes current and former pupils, parents, staff, governors and friends of the school – all, in fact, for whom the school is, or has been, an important part of their lives. Our future success depends upon the benevolence of the whole Reigatian community and we invite you to contribute with them and help to shape the future of our great School and its pupils.

Foundation Office Reigate Grammar School Reigate Road Reigate RH2 0QS 01737 222231 rgs.foundation

 @foundationRGS  Reigate Grammar School Foundation  Reigate Grammar School Professionals rgsfoundation Stay connected via the new RGS app Registered Charity number 1081898.

WE REACH OUT WE CONNECT WE INFORM WE ASK